THREE
"How'd you sleep?" asked Paige as Piper came into the kitchen
the next morning.
"Okay," said Piper with little enthusiasm. "Phoebe's not down
yet?"
"Uh uh," muttered Paige. "I guess she and Cole are still
upstairs."
"I envy her," said Piper. "At least she has her husband back.
I have to go to sleep knowing that my husband is living with another
woman."
"I guess it's hard," said Paige. "Having Leo so close and not
being able to even touch him."
"It is," said Piper. "Everything was going so well after the
Angel of Destiny visited us. I just wish we could figure out what's
going on. I want things to be like they were."
"Don't worry, honey," said Paige. "I'm sure it's only a matter
of time."
"A matter of time 'till what?" asked Phoebe as she and Cole came
into the kitchen with their arms around each other.
"Until we figure out what's going on," said Piper. "I'm not so
sure that's going to happen. There isn't even a clue as to what's
going on."
"Where's Matilda?" asked Cole.
"She went to see if Leo had found out anything," said Paige.
"She should be back soon. Aren't you supposed to be at work or
something?"
"Took the day off," said Cole. "I figured that whatever's going
on, you guys might need me around here."
"I guess I should fix some breakfast," said Piper, standing up
and walking over to the refrigerator. "But I gotta tell ya, my
heart's not really in it today."
"Didn't you sleep well, sweetie?" asked Phoebe, putting her arm
around Piper.
"No," said Piper. "Ever since this thing started I keep having
these strange dreams. I keep waking up during the night. But when I
wake up, I can't remember the dreams."
"Then how do you know they're strange?" asked Paige.
"I don't know," said Piper. "I can just feel it. It's not just
that we aren't the Charmed Ones any more. It's that things seem to
keep changing. There's no focal point. Just as we're about to get
adjusted to the way things are, something goes and changes on us.
Like those necklaces we suddenly found. And Cole and Phoebe suddenly
being married."
"I know what you mean," said Phoebe. "When Cole and I went up
to our room, things had changed. His clothes were hanging in the
closets; there was a picture of our wedding on the dresser, things
like that. I'm sure they weren't there when this all first started."
"Speak for yourself," said Cole. "Everything seems perfectly
normal to me. Well, except with the sudden realization that demons DO
exist. That's going to take some getting used to."
"Maybe that's a clue," said Paige. "Things do keep changing,
don't they? Like someone keeps rewriting a script to get it right."
"Patty and I were talking about that the other day," said
Phoebe. "That this all seemed like some sort of dream instead of
reality. I didn't say anything to her, but I agreed with her. It
doesn't seem real."
"I'm not surprised," said Cole. "If what you told me is true,
this has got to be something of a nightmare."
"That's an understatement," said Piper. "One I'd just as soon
wake up from."
"Well, Patty and I are supposed to go visit Pam again this
morning," said Phoebe. "As much as I love having my husband back, we
still need to find out what's going on here. I'm still convinced that
my premonition has something to do with it. I just can't figure out
what."
"Phoebe," said Paige thoughtfully, "would you mind if I went
instead of you? I don't have anything to do and it will give you a
chance to spend some time with Cole."
"No, I don't mind," said Phoebe.
"What are you up to?" asked Piper suspiciously. "You have the
strangest look in your eye."
"Nothing," said Paige innocently. "I just don't want to be
stuck around the house with nothing to do all day. I can't go back to
my office. If my boss were there, it would be almost impossible to
convince him I left something else in my desk. I just thought I could
stay busy and give Phoebe and Cole some quality time together."
Before Piper could voice an objection to Paige's explanation,
Matilda and Patty orbed into the kitchen.
"Nothing new to report," announced Matilda. "Leo checked with
the Elders and they still don't have a clue as to what's going on.
And no indication of who or what might have this kind of power."
"Phoebe and I are going to visit Pam again this morning," said
Patty. "After the news the doctors gave us yesterday, I think it's
even more important now to spend time with her. We have so little of
it left."
"I'm going instead," announced Paige, jumping up from her chair.
"Phoebe and Cole are going to spend some time together. That is, if
you don't mind."
"Not at all," said Patty, forcing a smile. She was obviously
still upset at the news the doctors had delivered yesterday. "I
appreciate the company."
"Great," said Paige. "Matilda can orb us to the center. It
will be a lot faster than driving."
"Okay," said Matilda. "But I need to get right back here.
Phoebe, keep that vanquishing potion handy. There's no telling when
Belthazor will make another appearance."
"Got it right here," said Phoebe, holding up the vial of green
liquid.
Matilda orbed Paige and Patty to the center where Pam lay in a
constant state of unconsciousness. She left them with instructions
that if anything was to happen, they should call for her immediately.
She would hear them and orb in right away. Then she orbed back to the
manor to be with Piper and Phoebe.
"You want to take the first turn or should I?" asked Patty.
"I will," said Paige. "Why don't you go find Pam's doctor and
see if there's been any change since yesterday?"
"I'm sure there hasn't been," said Patty. "Cases like Pam's
don't just miraculous get better."
"It doesn't hurt to check," said Paige. "Who knows? They might
actually have some good news for you for a change."
"I guess you're right," said Patty. "I won't be gone long. The
book I was reading to Pam is on the nightstand. There's a bookmark
where I left off."
"Okay," said Paige.
She waited until Patty had left the room, and then wandered over
to the window. She looked across the street at Stanford Health Care
hospital across the street. Everything seemed so normal. Nothing
seemed out of place.
"So normal except for what counts," said Paige out loud, to no
one in particular. "I miss my telekinetic ability. I was just
getting used to it. I guess that's gone forever."
She walked over and sat down in the chair next to Pam's bed.
She picked up the book and opened to the place where the bookmark was.
Then she began to read out loud to Pam.
Several minutes later Patty came back into the room. She told
Paige that Dr. Cavanaugh didn't have any news for her. There had been
no change in Pam's condition since she and Phoebe had been there
yesterday. They spent most of the morning reading to Pam, and then
called for Matilda to orb them back to the manor.
"No change," announced Paige to Phoebe, Cole, and Piper, while
Matilda orbed Patty back to her home. "The doctor says that Pam is
stable right now, but she won't stay that way."
"I wish we could help her," said Piper. "We may not be the
Charmed Ones any more, but that doesn't stop us from caring. It seems
like such a waste. If only Leo or Matilda could use their healing
powers on her. She'd be completely healed with no sign of the
accident."
"I thought you said that wasn't allowed?" asked Paige.
"It's not," said Phoebe. "A White Lighter is only supposed to
use his or her power to heal demon attacks. Still, it doesn't keep us
from wishing it was different."
"Isn't that kind of limiting?" asked Cole. "I mean, to have
that kind of power and not be able to use it."
"Maybe," said Phoebe, "but the White Lighters are supposed to be
advisors and guides for witches. Besides, it would take away some of
people's free will. At least, that's how Leo once explained it to
us."
"I guess," said Cole. "Still, to have a power like that and not
be able to use it. It must be frustrating some times."
"It is," said Piper. "Leo and I have talked about it at great
lengths. You have no idea how many times he's wanted to heal someone
but can't."
"Phoebe," said Paige, holding out her hand, "would you pass me
the television listings? I want to see what's on TV tonight."
Before Phoebe could move, the magazine containing the weekly
television listings suddenly lifted off the coffee table as if under
it's own power. Then it simply floated over to Paige and landed
gently on her outstretched hand.
"Yes," said Paige, her tone one of excited success.
The others just stared at Paige for a moment.
"Okay, how did you do that?" demanded Piper. "None of us has
any powers. How can you move objects like that?"
"I think I know what's going on," said Paige, looking at the
magazine. "Matilda. Matilda, you need to get back here right now. I
think I have this thing figured out."
Suddenly, Matilda orbed into the living room. She stood looking
around for a minute, a look of confusion on her face.
"What is it?" she asked. "I thought Belthazor might have
returned."
"No," said Piper, "nothing like that. But something almost as
interesting. Paige seems to have a power?"
"What?" questioned Matilda.
"Matilda," said Paige, "there's no time to waste. You need to
orb us to Patty's house. If I'm right, we should be able to put
everything back the way it was."
"How?" asked Matilda.
"No time for explanations now," said Paige. "Just orb us to
their house. This might take some explaining."
Still confused, Matilda orbed Piper, Phoebe, Paige, and Cole out
of the manor. The others were as confused as Matilda was.
"How'd you sleep?" asked Paige as Piper came into the kitchen
the next morning.
"Okay," said Piper with little enthusiasm. "Phoebe's not down
yet?"
"Uh uh," muttered Paige. "I guess she and Cole are still
upstairs."
"I envy her," said Piper. "At least she has her husband back.
I have to go to sleep knowing that my husband is living with another
woman."
"I guess it's hard," said Paige. "Having Leo so close and not
being able to even touch him."
"It is," said Piper. "Everything was going so well after the
Angel of Destiny visited us. I just wish we could figure out what's
going on. I want things to be like they were."
"Don't worry, honey," said Paige. "I'm sure it's only a matter
of time."
"A matter of time 'till what?" asked Phoebe as she and Cole came
into the kitchen with their arms around each other.
"Until we figure out what's going on," said Piper. "I'm not so
sure that's going to happen. There isn't even a clue as to what's
going on."
"Where's Matilda?" asked Cole.
"She went to see if Leo had found out anything," said Paige.
"She should be back soon. Aren't you supposed to be at work or
something?"
"Took the day off," said Cole. "I figured that whatever's going
on, you guys might need me around here."
"I guess I should fix some breakfast," said Piper, standing up
and walking over to the refrigerator. "But I gotta tell ya, my
heart's not really in it today."
"Didn't you sleep well, sweetie?" asked Phoebe, putting her arm
around Piper.
"No," said Piper. "Ever since this thing started I keep having
these strange dreams. I keep waking up during the night. But when I
wake up, I can't remember the dreams."
"Then how do you know they're strange?" asked Paige.
"I don't know," said Piper. "I can just feel it. It's not just
that we aren't the Charmed Ones any more. It's that things seem to
keep changing. There's no focal point. Just as we're about to get
adjusted to the way things are, something goes and changes on us.
Like those necklaces we suddenly found. And Cole and Phoebe suddenly
being married."
"I know what you mean," said Phoebe. "When Cole and I went up
to our room, things had changed. His clothes were hanging in the
closets; there was a picture of our wedding on the dresser, things
like that. I'm sure they weren't there when this all first started."
"Speak for yourself," said Cole. "Everything seems perfectly
normal to me. Well, except with the sudden realization that demons DO
exist. That's going to take some getting used to."
"Maybe that's a clue," said Paige. "Things do keep changing,
don't they? Like someone keeps rewriting a script to get it right."
"Patty and I were talking about that the other day," said
Phoebe. "That this all seemed like some sort of dream instead of
reality. I didn't say anything to her, but I agreed with her. It
doesn't seem real."
"I'm not surprised," said Cole. "If what you told me is true,
this has got to be something of a nightmare."
"That's an understatement," said Piper. "One I'd just as soon
wake up from."
"Well, Patty and I are supposed to go visit Pam again this
morning," said Phoebe. "As much as I love having my husband back, we
still need to find out what's going on here. I'm still convinced that
my premonition has something to do with it. I just can't figure out
what."
"Phoebe," said Paige thoughtfully, "would you mind if I went
instead of you? I don't have anything to do and it will give you a
chance to spend some time with Cole."
"No, I don't mind," said Phoebe.
"What are you up to?" asked Piper suspiciously. "You have the
strangest look in your eye."
"Nothing," said Paige innocently. "I just don't want to be
stuck around the house with nothing to do all day. I can't go back to
my office. If my boss were there, it would be almost impossible to
convince him I left something else in my desk. I just thought I could
stay busy and give Phoebe and Cole some quality time together."
Before Piper could voice an objection to Paige's explanation,
Matilda and Patty orbed into the kitchen.
"Nothing new to report," announced Matilda. "Leo checked with
the Elders and they still don't have a clue as to what's going on.
And no indication of who or what might have this kind of power."
"Phoebe and I are going to visit Pam again this morning," said
Patty. "After the news the doctors gave us yesterday, I think it's
even more important now to spend time with her. We have so little of
it left."
"I'm going instead," announced Paige, jumping up from her chair.
"Phoebe and Cole are going to spend some time together. That is, if
you don't mind."
"Not at all," said Patty, forcing a smile. She was obviously
still upset at the news the doctors had delivered yesterday. "I
appreciate the company."
"Great," said Paige. "Matilda can orb us to the center. It
will be a lot faster than driving."
"Okay," said Matilda. "But I need to get right back here.
Phoebe, keep that vanquishing potion handy. There's no telling when
Belthazor will make another appearance."
"Got it right here," said Phoebe, holding up the vial of green
liquid.
Matilda orbed Paige and Patty to the center where Pam lay in a
constant state of unconsciousness. She left them with instructions
that if anything was to happen, they should call for her immediately.
She would hear them and orb in right away. Then she orbed back to the
manor to be with Piper and Phoebe.
"You want to take the first turn or should I?" asked Patty.
"I will," said Paige. "Why don't you go find Pam's doctor and
see if there's been any change since yesterday?"
"I'm sure there hasn't been," said Patty. "Cases like Pam's
don't just miraculous get better."
"It doesn't hurt to check," said Paige. "Who knows? They might
actually have some good news for you for a change."
"I guess you're right," said Patty. "I won't be gone long. The
book I was reading to Pam is on the nightstand. There's a bookmark
where I left off."
"Okay," said Paige.
She waited until Patty had left the room, and then wandered over
to the window. She looked across the street at Stanford Health Care
hospital across the street. Everything seemed so normal. Nothing
seemed out of place.
"So normal except for what counts," said Paige out loud, to no
one in particular. "I miss my telekinetic ability. I was just
getting used to it. I guess that's gone forever."
She walked over and sat down in the chair next to Pam's bed.
She picked up the book and opened to the place where the bookmark was.
Then she began to read out loud to Pam.
Several minutes later Patty came back into the room. She told
Paige that Dr. Cavanaugh didn't have any news for her. There had been
no change in Pam's condition since she and Phoebe had been there
yesterday. They spent most of the morning reading to Pam, and then
called for Matilda to orb them back to the manor.
"No change," announced Paige to Phoebe, Cole, and Piper, while
Matilda orbed Patty back to her home. "The doctor says that Pam is
stable right now, but she won't stay that way."
"I wish we could help her," said Piper. "We may not be the
Charmed Ones any more, but that doesn't stop us from caring. It seems
like such a waste. If only Leo or Matilda could use their healing
powers on her. She'd be completely healed with no sign of the
accident."
"I thought you said that wasn't allowed?" asked Paige.
"It's not," said Phoebe. "A White Lighter is only supposed to
use his or her power to heal demon attacks. Still, it doesn't keep us
from wishing it was different."
"Isn't that kind of limiting?" asked Cole. "I mean, to have
that kind of power and not be able to use it."
"Maybe," said Phoebe, "but the White Lighters are supposed to be
advisors and guides for witches. Besides, it would take away some of
people's free will. At least, that's how Leo once explained it to
us."
"I guess," said Cole. "Still, to have a power like that and not
be able to use it. It must be frustrating some times."
"It is," said Piper. "Leo and I have talked about it at great
lengths. You have no idea how many times he's wanted to heal someone
but can't."
"Phoebe," said Paige, holding out her hand, "would you pass me
the television listings? I want to see what's on TV tonight."
Before Phoebe could move, the magazine containing the weekly
television listings suddenly lifted off the coffee table as if under
it's own power. Then it simply floated over to Paige and landed
gently on her outstretched hand.
"Yes," said Paige, her tone one of excited success.
The others just stared at Paige for a moment.
"Okay, how did you do that?" demanded Piper. "None of us has
any powers. How can you move objects like that?"
"I think I know what's going on," said Paige, looking at the
magazine. "Matilda. Matilda, you need to get back here right now. I
think I have this thing figured out."
Suddenly, Matilda orbed into the living room. She stood looking
around for a minute, a look of confusion on her face.
"What is it?" she asked. "I thought Belthazor might have
returned."
"No," said Piper, "nothing like that. But something almost as
interesting. Paige seems to have a power?"
"What?" questioned Matilda.
"Matilda," said Paige, "there's no time to waste. You need to
orb us to Patty's house. If I'm right, we should be able to put
everything back the way it was."
"How?" asked Matilda.
"No time for explanations now," said Paige. "Just orb us to
their house. This might take some explaining."
Still confused, Matilda orbed Piper, Phoebe, Paige, and Cole out
of the manor. The others were as confused as Matilda was.