The girls piled out of the Prue's SUV. They were parked in the visitor's section at the local hospital. Phoebe was sure that they had been all born at the same hospital, and she knew that this was the one she was born in. It would make sense that their mother's records would be her.
"How exactly are we going to pull this off?" Piper asked.
"We're just going to ask some questions," Prue answered, "and see what we can find out."
"So what are we waiting for?" Phoebe joked. "Let's go!"
"This is not a field trip, Phoebe! We have some serious work to do."
"Prue. You can be such a stick in the mud sometimes."
Prue sighed and started walking toward the hospital's main front door. She paused quickly to make sure that her sisters were behind her before she reached out to open the glass double doors. The glass was covered with various sizes of handprints, some on top of others. It looked as if the shinny silver metal handles were as invisible as the glass use to be. Boy, how often do they wash the windows around here? Prue thought as she waited for Phoebe and Piper to follow her inside the icy cold room.
"Hurry up, you guys, we don't have all day you know," Prue ordered.
"Why don't we?" Piper asked back as she joined her sister in the hospital entrance.
"Huh?" Prue responded.
"What else do we have to do today?" Piper interpreted.
"It's just a saying Piper! But still I have a feeling that what ever answers we get here are going to lead to a lot more work."
"So where should we start?" Phoebe asked with all the energy that had gotten her in trouble at the car.
"I guess at the information desk," Prue replied looking at the long wooden desk that sat in the middle of the fork in the hallway.
"I agree. Let's go." Phoebe's enthusiasm was starting to annoy Prue.
"Calm down!" Prue glared at her sibling. "We aren't going to get anywhere if you act like this. Can't you be a bit more professional?"
"Prue, sometimes--"
"Don't you dare finish that sentence Phoebe? No fighting today. That's an order."
"All I was going to say is that sometimes Prue is too serious. Nothing mean. Honest."
Prue shook her head at the ridiculousness of the conversation. "Well, I don't know what you guys are going to do, but I am going to ask her and see what she knows." Prue walked toward the desk that she saw ahead of her.
A girl, in her mid to late teens, stood by the desk in a red and white striped dress. She held in her hands a large stack of folders that seemed to be exploding with paperwork. "Dr. May told me to bring these down here. I don't know why. Shouldn't they go to records?"
The lady on duty at the desk laughed. "Dr May loves to send his volunteers on Wild Goose Chases. I guess he doesn't think that you have anything else to do."
The sisters looked at each other and Phoebe started to laugh. It seemed like in the last few days that they had been on several of those searches. In fact, Phoebe remembered calling one of Leo's task just that, 'a Wild Goose Chase.'
The Candy Striper looked at the receptionist. "He does what? If he doesn't think that I have enough to do then he can just--" The girl stopped herself before she regretted anything she said.
"Just take them to records, Hun. I'm sorry about this."
"It's not your fault, but thanks for your time." The girl walked to the front of the desk and turned down the right hallway, smiling at the sisters as she passed them.
"May I help you?" the seated lady politely asked the three strangers that stood before her.
Prue took one large step that placed her in front of her sisters. "Yes. We are looking for some records. Where should we go?"
"Are they yours?" the woman routinely asked.
"Ah, yes." Prue justified her answer to herself. The records belong to Mom. When Mom died all her belonging went to Grams, and when Grams died all her belongings went to us. So, in a weird way they do belong to us. "Yes they do."
"Then just go down the right hall and you will find records at the end of it."
"Thanks." Prue looked at her sisters and motioned for them to follow her. They walked down the hall that they had been informed to use. "That was sure easy." Prue finally told her sisters.
"You know you make a good liar Prue."
Prue didn't feel like justifying her actions to her sisters. She was more worried about what they were going to say to the attendant when the reached 'records'.
As they walked down the long hall the white tiled floor changed to dark navy blue carpeting and then back to the tile again. When they reached the large window that had 'RECORDS' written above it Prue stopped as though she was scared to continue the search.
"What's wrong?" Piper asked. "Do I sense a bit of chicken in you?" Piper's attempt to defuse the tense situation only managed to make Prue mean.
"Damn it! It says that only patients or their legal guardian can check out their own folders."
"What did you expect, Prue? Come one, come all? Did you think that we could just walk in here and--"
"Phoebe! That's enough!" Piper had gone back into her motherly mode. "There is plenty that we can do."
"And what exactly would that be? Phoebe asked.
"Just watch!" Piper was getting tired of this. Sometimes Prue and Phoebe act like toddlers. And lately it seemed as if the terrible twos where making an encore performance. Oh well. Live and let live.
Piper walked up to the window and hit the top of the little round metal bell that sat on the desk inside. An older man walked up to the window and asked, "What may I do for you?"
"We think that mother was a patient in this hospital quite a few years ago. Is there anyway that we could get some information?"
"Sorry mam. Only the patient can see their medical information. If you can bring her in she can sign the release and then you can see it."
"I don't' think that that is possible."
"Is there anyway that--"
"Sorry mam, but--"
"Don't call me mam!" Piper screamed at the man as she raised her hands and froze him.
"Piper! Not here!" Prue ordered. "Security cameras."
Piper quickly unfroze the man and continued the conversation as if nothing had happened.
"Sir can you answer a question for me?"
"Ask and I'll tell you if I can answer."
"Where do they keep old records?"
"Sorry, that's classified and off limits."
"Can you tell me what floor it is on?"
"Mam, I mean Miss," the man continued remembering Piper's earlier warning, "I can't tell you anything. I'm--"
"--Sorry. I know." Piper was frustrated, that was obvious. If only I could get him to tell me what I need to know. A smile began to form on Piper's face, and she turned her attention back to the man. "The truth I seek; For you to speak; Of things not told; Of secrets so old; From days of youth; Reveal the truth."
The three girls turned their attention to the man. Could it actually work? It was in the Book of Shadows so it should. Well actually it has to.
Piper looked straight into the eyes of the previously uncooperative man. Now let's see if you can be a little more helpful. "Sir, where can I find the records for my mother?"
"Downstairs in the basement, but only doctors and nurses are allowed in."
"How do I get in?"
"There is a guard at the door and you just have to show him your hospital identification card."
"Do they do any type of electronic tracking on the card?"
"No. Pretty much if you have a card, and you are in either a doctor's or nurses uniform then you can get in."
"Thanks." Piper turned from the window and started walking down the hallway that she had earlier traveled through.
Prue and Phoebe, who had spent the entire time arguing with each other, looked at each other as they saw Piper pass them and followed her sister. When they caught up with Piper they could see the smile on her face.
"What are you planning?" Phoebe asked.
"Phoebe, maybe your expensive Halloween costume will prove worth its weight in gold. Since we certainly paid close to that."
* * *
Carissa walked through the cave and to their secret hiding spot. She reached in and pull out the plastic contain. "Finally!" It was the first note that her brother had left her.
August 13, 1968
To my sister,
I have planted my seed in the mother of the Charmed Ones. She hasn't told me, but I know that a very special child is on the way. It won't be long and you will be a mother.
I know that my task was to seduce the mother of the Charmed Ones, but she has also seduced me. My feelings are so strong and they grow day by day. Still, I know that in a few days I will have to leave this place and this person.
I hope that she will never realize why I came here. I just want her to think that I had to leave and never had a chance to come back to her.
I am ready for your spell to send me home.
Your brother,
Kevin
Carissa could hardly believe her eyes. It had worked! Her plan of revenge had worked, but it was more than that. She longed to possess what her magic had kept her from having, and soon she would.
* * *
"Okay, Piper you stand behind me and if anyone seems to be wondering what we are doing, freeze them."
Piper, Prue, and Phoebe jumped out of the car heading toward the hospital main door.
"Do you think that the doctors and nurses just walk in the front door?" Phoebe asked.
"Don't know. We'll try."
"Piper are you sure that is a wise idea?" Phoebe looked a bit worried.
"Do you have a better one?"
"No, I guess not."
"Phoebe, are you sure that these I.D. cards are genuine?" Prue looked at her sister.
"He's the best," she responded. Phoebe had gotten a hold of one of her friends that specialized in the art of counterfeit identification. His service was mainly used for Driver's License to get teenagers into bars, but he could do almost anything. He'd never been caught--Not yet anyway.
"Okay, her goes nothing," Piper gave a smile to her sisters dressed in nursing scrubs. She was dressed in her sister's Doctor's coat. Since the plan was her idea she got to play the lead.
* * *
"Is anyone watching?" Phoebe asked looking over her shoulder.
"Well, if you would stop acting so paranoid they wouldn't be. But I don't think so," Prue responded.
"Do you think that the records will be shelved still? That is sure going to be a task to find." Piper wondered.
"I don't know. I bet they would be on microfiche by now," Prue suggested.
"You know, you'll probably right. I had to get a copy of some old records of Grams for the insurance company and they were down in the basement." Piper looked around and headed toward the elevators.
Phoebe ran ahead and hit the down button.
"Oh yah, she's acting like a college educated nurse. Sometimes I wonder if she will ever act her age."
"Prue stop it or your going to give yourself away." The door open and Piper stepped in and her sisters followed.
"Basement floor coming up." Phoebe announced as she pressed the button, playing the role of bellhop.
"Ding," the doors opened up and the girls were standing in front of a huge room.
Phoebe made a gasping noise and prayed that it wouldn't be someone who knew that they weren't who they were saying they were.
The door opened and standing in front of them was Leo.
"What are you doing here?" Piper asked.
"I believe I have more reason to be in a hospital than you do, although it's been a few years." Leo was right about one thing; since he had been a doctor in his human life he did have more of a right to be there.
"I suppose you want to know what we are up to."
"No."
"What?" Piper said.
"I already know."
"So you do listen in on us," Prue accused.
"Well someone has to take care of you. It isn't like you think your plans through all the time."
"More like never," Phoebe wasn't too good at getting herself out of trouble.
"Phoebe, you know sometimes it would be better for you to say nothing at all than to try to defend us."
"Your welcome." Suddenly she realized what her sister had actually said, "Hey!"
"It's about time!" Prue snapped back.
"So what are you guys waiting for?" Leo asked.
March 29, 2001
Dear Diary,
Only a few more weeks, and I will be a graduate. No more school. Finally, I will be able to get a job, and I'll be able to own things of my own.
For years now Prue and Piper have been supporting me. I am tired of it. I need to be able to be on my own. I need to be able to live without my sisters' helping hand. I guess if I had a wish that would be it.
Phoebe
"How exactly are we going to pull this off?" Piper asked.
"We're just going to ask some questions," Prue answered, "and see what we can find out."
"So what are we waiting for?" Phoebe joked. "Let's go!"
"This is not a field trip, Phoebe! We have some serious work to do."
"Prue. You can be such a stick in the mud sometimes."
Prue sighed and started walking toward the hospital's main front door. She paused quickly to make sure that her sisters were behind her before she reached out to open the glass double doors. The glass was covered with various sizes of handprints, some on top of others. It looked as if the shinny silver metal handles were as invisible as the glass use to be. Boy, how often do they wash the windows around here? Prue thought as she waited for Phoebe and Piper to follow her inside the icy cold room.
"Hurry up, you guys, we don't have all day you know," Prue ordered.
"Why don't we?" Piper asked back as she joined her sister in the hospital entrance.
"Huh?" Prue responded.
"What else do we have to do today?" Piper interpreted.
"It's just a saying Piper! But still I have a feeling that what ever answers we get here are going to lead to a lot more work."
"So where should we start?" Phoebe asked with all the energy that had gotten her in trouble at the car.
"I guess at the information desk," Prue replied looking at the long wooden desk that sat in the middle of the fork in the hallway.
"I agree. Let's go." Phoebe's enthusiasm was starting to annoy Prue.
"Calm down!" Prue glared at her sibling. "We aren't going to get anywhere if you act like this. Can't you be a bit more professional?"
"Prue, sometimes--"
"Don't you dare finish that sentence Phoebe? No fighting today. That's an order."
"All I was going to say is that sometimes Prue is too serious. Nothing mean. Honest."
Prue shook her head at the ridiculousness of the conversation. "Well, I don't know what you guys are going to do, but I am going to ask her and see what she knows." Prue walked toward the desk that she saw ahead of her.
A girl, in her mid to late teens, stood by the desk in a red and white striped dress. She held in her hands a large stack of folders that seemed to be exploding with paperwork. "Dr. May told me to bring these down here. I don't know why. Shouldn't they go to records?"
The lady on duty at the desk laughed. "Dr May loves to send his volunteers on Wild Goose Chases. I guess he doesn't think that you have anything else to do."
The sisters looked at each other and Phoebe started to laugh. It seemed like in the last few days that they had been on several of those searches. In fact, Phoebe remembered calling one of Leo's task just that, 'a Wild Goose Chase.'
The Candy Striper looked at the receptionist. "He does what? If he doesn't think that I have enough to do then he can just--" The girl stopped herself before she regretted anything she said.
"Just take them to records, Hun. I'm sorry about this."
"It's not your fault, but thanks for your time." The girl walked to the front of the desk and turned down the right hallway, smiling at the sisters as she passed them.
"May I help you?" the seated lady politely asked the three strangers that stood before her.
Prue took one large step that placed her in front of her sisters. "Yes. We are looking for some records. Where should we go?"
"Are they yours?" the woman routinely asked.
"Ah, yes." Prue justified her answer to herself. The records belong to Mom. When Mom died all her belonging went to Grams, and when Grams died all her belongings went to us. So, in a weird way they do belong to us. "Yes they do."
"Then just go down the right hall and you will find records at the end of it."
"Thanks." Prue looked at her sisters and motioned for them to follow her. They walked down the hall that they had been informed to use. "That was sure easy." Prue finally told her sisters.
"You know you make a good liar Prue."
Prue didn't feel like justifying her actions to her sisters. She was more worried about what they were going to say to the attendant when the reached 'records'.
As they walked down the long hall the white tiled floor changed to dark navy blue carpeting and then back to the tile again. When they reached the large window that had 'RECORDS' written above it Prue stopped as though she was scared to continue the search.
"What's wrong?" Piper asked. "Do I sense a bit of chicken in you?" Piper's attempt to defuse the tense situation only managed to make Prue mean.
"Damn it! It says that only patients or their legal guardian can check out their own folders."
"What did you expect, Prue? Come one, come all? Did you think that we could just walk in here and--"
"Phoebe! That's enough!" Piper had gone back into her motherly mode. "There is plenty that we can do."
"And what exactly would that be? Phoebe asked.
"Just watch!" Piper was getting tired of this. Sometimes Prue and Phoebe act like toddlers. And lately it seemed as if the terrible twos where making an encore performance. Oh well. Live and let live.
Piper walked up to the window and hit the top of the little round metal bell that sat on the desk inside. An older man walked up to the window and asked, "What may I do for you?"
"We think that mother was a patient in this hospital quite a few years ago. Is there anyway that we could get some information?"
"Sorry mam. Only the patient can see their medical information. If you can bring her in she can sign the release and then you can see it."
"I don't' think that that is possible."
"Is there anyway that--"
"Sorry mam, but--"
"Don't call me mam!" Piper screamed at the man as she raised her hands and froze him.
"Piper! Not here!" Prue ordered. "Security cameras."
Piper quickly unfroze the man and continued the conversation as if nothing had happened.
"Sir can you answer a question for me?"
"Ask and I'll tell you if I can answer."
"Where do they keep old records?"
"Sorry, that's classified and off limits."
"Can you tell me what floor it is on?"
"Mam, I mean Miss," the man continued remembering Piper's earlier warning, "I can't tell you anything. I'm--"
"--Sorry. I know." Piper was frustrated, that was obvious. If only I could get him to tell me what I need to know. A smile began to form on Piper's face, and she turned her attention back to the man. "The truth I seek; For you to speak; Of things not told; Of secrets so old; From days of youth; Reveal the truth."
The three girls turned their attention to the man. Could it actually work? It was in the Book of Shadows so it should. Well actually it has to.
Piper looked straight into the eyes of the previously uncooperative man. Now let's see if you can be a little more helpful. "Sir, where can I find the records for my mother?"
"Downstairs in the basement, but only doctors and nurses are allowed in."
"How do I get in?"
"There is a guard at the door and you just have to show him your hospital identification card."
"Do they do any type of electronic tracking on the card?"
"No. Pretty much if you have a card, and you are in either a doctor's or nurses uniform then you can get in."
"Thanks." Piper turned from the window and started walking down the hallway that she had earlier traveled through.
Prue and Phoebe, who had spent the entire time arguing with each other, looked at each other as they saw Piper pass them and followed her sister. When they caught up with Piper they could see the smile on her face.
"What are you planning?" Phoebe asked.
"Phoebe, maybe your expensive Halloween costume will prove worth its weight in gold. Since we certainly paid close to that."
* * *
Carissa walked through the cave and to their secret hiding spot. She reached in and pull out the plastic contain. "Finally!" It was the first note that her brother had left her.
August 13, 1968
To my sister,
I have planted my seed in the mother of the Charmed Ones. She hasn't told me, but I know that a very special child is on the way. It won't be long and you will be a mother.
I know that my task was to seduce the mother of the Charmed Ones, but she has also seduced me. My feelings are so strong and they grow day by day. Still, I know that in a few days I will have to leave this place and this person.
I hope that she will never realize why I came here. I just want her to think that I had to leave and never had a chance to come back to her.
I am ready for your spell to send me home.
Your brother,
Kevin
Carissa could hardly believe her eyes. It had worked! Her plan of revenge had worked, but it was more than that. She longed to possess what her magic had kept her from having, and soon she would.
* * *
"Okay, Piper you stand behind me and if anyone seems to be wondering what we are doing, freeze them."
Piper, Prue, and Phoebe jumped out of the car heading toward the hospital main door.
"Do you think that the doctors and nurses just walk in the front door?" Phoebe asked.
"Don't know. We'll try."
"Piper are you sure that is a wise idea?" Phoebe looked a bit worried.
"Do you have a better one?"
"No, I guess not."
"Phoebe, are you sure that these I.D. cards are genuine?" Prue looked at her sister.
"He's the best," she responded. Phoebe had gotten a hold of one of her friends that specialized in the art of counterfeit identification. His service was mainly used for Driver's License to get teenagers into bars, but he could do almost anything. He'd never been caught--Not yet anyway.
"Okay, her goes nothing," Piper gave a smile to her sisters dressed in nursing scrubs. She was dressed in her sister's Doctor's coat. Since the plan was her idea she got to play the lead.
* * *
"Is anyone watching?" Phoebe asked looking over her shoulder.
"Well, if you would stop acting so paranoid they wouldn't be. But I don't think so," Prue responded.
"Do you think that the records will be shelved still? That is sure going to be a task to find." Piper wondered.
"I don't know. I bet they would be on microfiche by now," Prue suggested.
"You know, you'll probably right. I had to get a copy of some old records of Grams for the insurance company and they were down in the basement." Piper looked around and headed toward the elevators.
Phoebe ran ahead and hit the down button.
"Oh yah, she's acting like a college educated nurse. Sometimes I wonder if she will ever act her age."
"Prue stop it or your going to give yourself away." The door open and Piper stepped in and her sisters followed.
"Basement floor coming up." Phoebe announced as she pressed the button, playing the role of bellhop.
"Ding," the doors opened up and the girls were standing in front of a huge room.
Phoebe made a gasping noise and prayed that it wouldn't be someone who knew that they weren't who they were saying they were.
The door opened and standing in front of them was Leo.
"What are you doing here?" Piper asked.
"I believe I have more reason to be in a hospital than you do, although it's been a few years." Leo was right about one thing; since he had been a doctor in his human life he did have more of a right to be there.
"I suppose you want to know what we are up to."
"No."
"What?" Piper said.
"I already know."
"So you do listen in on us," Prue accused.
"Well someone has to take care of you. It isn't like you think your plans through all the time."
"More like never," Phoebe wasn't too good at getting herself out of trouble.
"Phoebe, you know sometimes it would be better for you to say nothing at all than to try to defend us."
"Your welcome." Suddenly she realized what her sister had actually said, "Hey!"
"It's about time!" Prue snapped back.
"So what are you guys waiting for?" Leo asked.
March 29, 2001
Dear Diary,
Only a few more weeks, and I will be a graduate. No more school. Finally, I will be able to get a job, and I'll be able to own things of my own.
For years now Prue and Piper have been supporting me. I am tired of it. I need to be able to be on my own. I need to be able to live without my sisters' helping hand. I guess if I had a wish that would be it.
Phoebe
