PART V
"Yes mom…" Jack had a tight smile on his face. He hated to lie to his mom, but how else could he explain this situation to her? Oh yeah, mom, the reason why Fi and I can't come back to the hotel is because we have to practice out powers so that we can protect Fiona from these evil forces out to get her. He sighed to himself, *Yeah, like she would believe that.*
"I know, mom. But Fiona has her heart set on watching the movie marathon going on at the college auditorium. Besides promising to spend some extra time with her, I also said I'd attend the film festivities with her, Clu, Carey, and Annie. Now, I can't let my baby sister down now can I?"
"Boy," Prue whispered to Fiona. "Your brother is quite the actor."
"Only on the phone." Fi replied back, her volume level as low. "But once you look him straight in the eye while he's lying… it's crash and burn."
"Okay," Jack's face lit up. He turned to Fi, still on the phone with their mother. "Alright, mom. I'll tell her," To his sister, "Mom wants to talk to you, sis."
Once he handed the phone to Fiona, his relaxed facade dropped. He and Prue watched as Fiona calmly take command of the fib with ease.
"I hate keeping things from our mom." He said to Prue pensively. Prue smiled at him sympathetically. Jack walked away as Fiona continued to talk to their mom.
Prue followed Jack, worried about him again. She placed a sisterly arm around him, trying to cheer him up.
Annie, Kiara, Phoebe, and Declan watched Prue as she lead Jack to the side for a private talk.
"Wow, your sister has taken quite a shine to Jack." Annie commentated.
"Well, she's always had to be big sister to us little sisters," Phoebe said, "But I had a feeling that she had also wanted to play big sister to a little brother. Jack would have been the perfect person to fill that role."
"I know that Jack loves being Fi's older brother. He loves her to death… but just like Prue would have loved a little brother, I know that Jack would have loved to have an older sibling to look out for him."
"I'm guessing that having quote-unquote older brothers like Clu and Carey isn't the same as having an older sister like Prue. Especially since Prue is just as level headed as I'm sure Jack is." Kiara added.
"Oh, Jack is as level headed as they come… and you're right, Kiara. Jack and Fi complement each other because he's… well, he's Scully and she's Mulder. But sometimes, Jack needs someone who could also think like him to actually understand him." Annie replied.
"You know what?" Phoebe asked, a smile on her face.
"No, what, Phoebe Halliwell?" Declan responded, an equally charming smile on his face.
"Piper and I would be glad to loan Prue on out to Jack."
"Aww, that's sweet, Phoebe."
"Sweet nothing, Declan." Kiara smirked. "If only you knew the two sides to Prue Halliwell. Then you'll see just how 'glad' the two younger siblings are to loan her out."
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"Hey, Carey. You okay?" Jimmy joined Carey, who was outside on the Halliwell porch, gazing at the rising moon.
He hadn't noticed just how much time went by when they were inside. This whole protecting Fi from evil spirits business was way to… well, the appropriate word would be "weird." Before they could get into too much details, everyone noted on how late the day was. So while Jack and Fi volunteered to explain to the folks on the phone on why they couldn't return to the hotel anytime soon, Carey decided to reflect on the things he has learned in the solitude of the rising night skies.
"Carey?" Jimmy waved his hand in front of Carey, "Hello?"
The young man blinked, then noticed Jimmy waving his hand. "What?… Oh, sorry, Jimmy. I kind of—"
"Zoned out there." He said, completing his sentence.
Carey laughed, "Yeah."
Jimmy glanced behind him, at the Halliwell manor. He sighed, shaking his head in disbelief. "Totally unbelievable, isn't it?"
"I'll say."
"But hey, I've seen and witnessed even weirder stuff."
"Gotta agree on that statement as well." Carey nodded.
A grin appeared on Jimmy's face, "Your brother is quite fond of Fiona, isn't he?"
"The knucklehead loves her, what can I say?" The eldest Bell brother replied. "He would do anything for her."
"She's special, isn't she? I mean, this Fiona Phillips could very well touch other people in a way that only so few can."
Carey nodded at that, then gazed over at Jimmy. He had a smirk on his face as he responded with, "Very deep, Olsen. Are you always this wise in with your words?"
Jimmy laughed, then held up his camera that he always, if not out of habit, wore around his neck. "Nope… just with a camera. I got my wit and intelligence from my friends back home."
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Fiona sat on the bottom steps of the Halliwell stair case. She laid their cordless phone next to her, placed her head in her hands, and breathed in a deep sigh. The young woman had to admit that what she's seen and heard was all too much. *Do I even have the strength to go on… will I even survive this?* she thought to herself wearily. Even having to give her own mother lame excuses took the fighting spirit out of Fi.
The sixteen year old remembered a time not so long ago that she used to crave the risks, the adventures, the runarounds. What had happened to that same Fiona Phillips who wanted to know everything there is to know?
"She's still there, Fi. The same free spirit that makes Fiona Phillips Fiona Phillips is still there."
Looking up, a smile crept on to her face. "Oh yeah? So where is she?" Fiona asked, her eyes on her loving boyfriend as he sat two steps above her. Clu reached for her, and placed her in his arms, craddling her protectively and lovingly.
He took right hand, placing it above her heart. "In here. Where she's always been and always will be."
Fi took his arms and wrapped them around her tight. "If I'm as strong as Leo says… why am I so afraid? I've never been this scared before Clu. You know me, I always wanted something like this. To be so in tune with something as big as the magick and supernatural realm. I knew inside that I'm a part of it… so just when I realize that I am, I'm scared to death. Why?"
"You may be part witch, Fiona." Clu began, "But you are human…" His eyes were shining mischievously, "At least, I think you are. I mean, as cool as it is to have an alien girlfriend and all…"
"Shut-up, Bell." She groaned, yet smiling at his attempt to cheer her up.
"Seriously, it's only natural to be afraid that you might not live up to anyone's high expectations, Fi. That's what's bothering you, huh? Knowing what you are and trying to live up to what everyone expects you to be."
A silence fell on them as Fiona was slowly taking what Clu said into consideration.
Clu broke the silence with, "In the end, no matter what, witch or not, everyone loves you and they know that you can never let them down. You've got the strongest spirit on earth, Fi. You'll get through this… and I'll be there for you every step of the way."
Fi had the biggest grin on her face. "How'd I get myself such a smart boyfriend?"
"You're just lucky to have snagged someone like me." He smirked, earning himself a harsh elbow to the stomach from Fi.
He moaned, then came back with, "Okay, more like the other way around."
"Now that's more like it." She laughed.
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"Leo," Piper took her boyfriend aside. She glanced over at Fiona and Clu on the stairs. "How serious is all this? I mean, is Fiona really a target?"
"Piper, Fiona's father was killed because he knew too much. I mean, he wasn't even born with the Celtic blood, but he was still dangerous to some of the High Powers."
"She's so young, Leo. Has she even come into her powers? And Jack, what about him? Not to mention that blood-pact detail with Clu…"
"I know, Pipe. Those three are just the tip of the thorn in their," Indicating towards the heavens, "Side. Which is why we need to help them now. Fiona will live to be just as powerful as the Charmed Ones… unless they succeed in preventing that from happening."
"And they will succeed."
Leo and Piper jumped, startled by the new voice. Floating before them was a ball of light. It flew around them, laughing at the two. "So don't even bother to stop them, White lighter and witch."
"Guys…" Piper called out to the others, her eyes still on the annoying light with the equally annoying accent.
"Piper?" Fiona and Clu stepped into the living room. They noticed Leo and Piper, wondering what was up. It was then that Fi noticed the glowing light floating in front of them. Her blood boiled at the sight of it, "Bricriu! How'd you get here?"
The will-o-wisp laughed, "Bricriu?! Do I look like a floating ball of stupidity to you, little duck?"
Fiona was speechless. Since when does Bricriu's voice sound… feminine? She quickly found her voice when she felt Clu reach for her hand for support. "Don't tell me that you're his sister."
"Now that's an insult if I've ever heard of one." It responded.
"Who are you?" Annie asked. The others made their way into the living room area, finding their place as they watched the will-o-wisp fly itself around Fiona.
"Don't bother, Annie. Once someone knows the true name of a will-o-wisp, that person has control over them. And I doubt that this spirit wants anyone to have control over… her?"
"For the sake of argument, I'll allow you to believe whatever sex I am."
"Okay, that's weird." Jimmy commented. "A spirit whose voice sounds like a girl, but could be a guy."
"That's not what's important right now, Jimmy." Leo said. He stared intently at the glowing spirit. "What do you want?"
"I just came to warn you all." It snickered. "Only fools would dare to get themselves involve in what is only to be known as Fiona's true destiny."
"My true destiny? Is it my destiny to die? Just because they're threatened by me, I should give up my life just so that they can breath easier?!" Her eyes were livid, shining with anger.
Leo felt a chill go down his spine. His eyes averted towards Fiona, noticing that her right hand was opening and closing very dangerously as she became more upset with the spirit. His eyes gazed heavenward… then a small smile appeared on his face. Taking Piper by the shoulders, whispering, "Come on, Piper."
"Leo?" She was hushed though as he quietly took her aside.
"You're signing your death wish, little duck. You are declaring a battle that you've already lost." It mocked her, causing Fiona to become more upset.
"I think you better leave now." She growled, unknowingly raising her right arm.
"Or what? You'll blink me out of existence? I'm not afraid of you, Fiona Phillips. And you shouldn't be afraid of me."
"Who said that I was afraid of you?"
"You should be more fearful of them, Fiona. And after they're done with you… they'll come after those who you hold dear. Great grandmother Fiona, daddy-dearest, Fiona Phillips… why not have a big family reunion? Jack and Molly could join you… and what about the Bells and Miss Thelen?" It snickered.
Fiona couldn't bear to hear anymore. Electricity traveled through her as she declared, "Enough!!!" Her right hand shot up, a lightning bolt emerging from her palm. It shot out and slammed right into the sneering spirit, sending it to the wall where Leo and Piper had stood before they moved out of the way.
"Fi?!" Jack rushed by his sister's side, just as stunned as Clu, and everyone else, was. "What did you do?"
Fiona didn't answer. Her attention still rabid on the ball of annoyance.
It flickered, a bit dazed by the blast. Finally, it managed to slowly approach Fiona again. "You are asking to be destroyed, aren't you little duck?"
"You are asking to be zapped again, aren't you?" Fi responded, voice dripping with venom.
"You've just triggered a countdown, Fiona. Now that you have at least one of your prowess, they will want to kill you as soon as possible."
"Well tell them that I will wait for them. And mention to them that I will not go quietly."
It was silent for a while, then sneered to Fiona. "You may fight to the end, but what of your family and friends? Are you willing to grant their death wishes as well?"
Fury glowed around Fiona. She raised her hand steady on it, about to strike it down again. The young woman was about to do it, when Jack beat her to the punch.
"Why don't I start with yours?" He held up his arm, a strong bolt blasted at the spirit, sending it back towards the same wall.
"Whoa, Jack." Prue beamed, totally impressed.
Jack placed his hands on his sister's shoulders. "You tell them that *we* will be waiting for whatever they have in store."
"Jack's right. Fiona won't be fighting this battle alone." Clu added, standing by their side.
It slowly got up again… then flew around the room, meeting the angry stares of everyone around. Sneering at them before disappearing into the night, "Maybe not the battle… but she will not live to win the war…"