FIVE
"Paige, I know this has been hard," said Leo. "But to expect us
to believe that a woman who's unconscious is doing all this is almost
as incredible as asking us to believe that reality has changed. I
think it's more likely that someone has been playing with your
memories."
"Think about it," said Paige. "The first time things changed
was just after we met Patrice. Here in Pam's room. While Patrice was
out of the room, we talked about Phoebe's vision and us being the
Charmed Ones."
"All that proves," began Leo.
"I'm not finished," said Paige. "The second time things changed
was when Piper mentioned to Patty about the triquetra. That we had
a similar 'heirloom' that we had lost recently. Then, bang, we
suddenly have the necklaces each of us found.
"Next, Phoebe and Patty were talking about Phoebe and Cole being
married. Then Cole suddenly walks into the house. Claiming to be
Phoebe's husband. He's even an assistant district attorney. Only
he's not Belthazor. I'm not sure, but I'll bet no one ever mentioned
that Cole was Belthazor here in this room. So, Pam did what anyone
would have done. She gave Cole back to Phoebe."
"It could all be coincidence," said Patrice.
"I don't believe in coincidence," said Paige. "Especially not
where the Charmed One's are concerned. Remember I said that there has
to be a clue about what's going on? I think this is that clue.
Everything points to Pam. Phoebe, you even said you thought your
premonition was about Pam, not Patrice. And all of the changes have
happened after they were talked about in this room."
"Assuming what you say is true," said Leo, "what can we do about
it?"
Paige stood up and moved to the head of Pam's bed. She leaned
down and spoke softly into Pam's ear.
"Pam, we know what's going on," she whispered. "We understand
you're only trying to help your sisters. But you have to put things
back the way things were. It's not fair to us or to them. Piper has
lost her husband. And her unborn child. No one has the right to take
those away from her.
"I appreciate the power you gave me. But it's not right. My
telekinesis worked differently. I also can't orb. And neither Piper
nor Phoebe has their powers. Since Belthazor is after them, they need
their powers to protect themselves.
"Pam, we'll do everything we can to help your sisters. We
promise. But this has to end. This is not the way things are
supposed to be. You have to put things back the way they're supposed
to be."
Everyone waited patiently to see if anything would change.
Several moments passed with nothing. After a while, the tension
seemed to ease somewhat.
"See," said Leo, "nothing happened. Obviously, Pam couldn't be
behind this."
"That can't be right," said Paige, disappointed. "I know I'm
right. Everything points to it."
"Sorry honey," said Piper, putting her arm around Paige, "but
Leo's right. Maybe its just coincidence that everything happened the
way you said. But there has to be another explanation for it. We
just have to find out what it is."
"Maybe you're right," said Paige. "I was just so sure.
Everything pointed to it. I don't see how I could be wrong."
"No harm done," said Patrice. "I guess we have to explore every
possibility. I'm sure we'll find figure out what's going on soon. We
just have to keep looking."
Leo and Matilda orbed the people back to their respective homes.
Paige seemed a bit despondent over the turn of events. Piper and
Phoebe assured her that no harm had been done. At least, they said,
they had eliminated one possible explanation for what was happening.
They made up the sofa for Matilda as usual. She still had no
other place to stay and she would be needed if Belthazor made another
appearance. Cole and Phoebe went up to their room, while Piper,
Paige, and Matilda sat in the living room talking.
"I'm really sorry I put everyone through this," said Paige.
"It's okay, sweetie," said Piper. "Everyone knows you had the
best of intentions. At least Phoebe and Cole got to spend some time
together. Cole has to be in court early in the morning, so you gave
them some extra time together."
"I'll check in with the Elders again in the morning," said
Matilda. "They're doing all they can to get to the bottom of this.
Maybe they have something for us."
"They haven't been much help so far," said Piper, a hint of
sarcasm in her voice.
"I know you don't have a lot of love for them," said Matilda.
"But just remember. They have done a lot of good. They're the ones
who are responsible for your being the Charmed Ones."
"And now someone has taken that all away," said Paige. "I'm
going to get some sleep. Maybe after a good night's rest I'll be able
to think more clearly."
"Good idea," said Piper. "It's been a long day. I'll see you
both in the morning."
Piper went up to her room and Paige went up to hers. Matilda,
as usual, prepared to sleep on the sofa. Piper had been right. It
was much more comfortable than it looked. Still, she would be glad
when things were set straight and she could return to her normal life.
* * *
Try as she might, Paige found it difficult to sleep. She was
convinced she was right. Pam was behind what was going on.
Regardless of their failure at the center. Paige understood now that
appealing to Pam's good side wouldn't be enough to make her returns
things to the way they are supposed to be.
She didn't think Pam was evil or bad. She was just a thirteen-
year-old girl trying to help her sisters as best she could. She knew
she was going to die soon. She also felt she had to do something to
pay them back for all they had done for her. That was why everything
had changed as they had.
Even though she was concerned about everything that was going
on, there was something that bothered her even more. They had all
been concerned with the changes that had occurred. None of them, it
seemed, had considered another aspect of their current situation.
It bothered Paige. It felt as if she was deciding which of her
sisters would be happy and which wouldn't be. As hard as she tried,
she just couldn't see any way around it. One way or another, one of
her sisters was going to loose her husband.
Well, Paige, reasoned to herself, maybe not. If things remained
as they were, Leo and Piper would probably never get married, while
Cole and Phoebe seemed to be very happy. If they were able to put
things back, Leo and Piper would be together again. But Cole would go
back to being . . . whatever he had become.
Maybe he and Phoebe would get back together, thought Paige.
Maybe Cole was, again, the human she had known instead of reverting to
his demonic former self. Somehow, Paige wasn't convinced of that.
Somehow, she had a very bad feeling about just what they would find
out about Cole.
In the end, she really knew there was no choice. What was it
that Piper had told her that Prue used to say? "The Charmed Ones come
first." That was always the final answer. No matter what happened to
them personally, the Charmed Ones had to be of preeminent importance.
Too many innocents counted on them, even if those innocents never even
knew it. Too many lives hung in the balance.
Still, Paige was torn. It didn't seem right that she be forced
to make this decision. To decide if Leo and Piper or if Cole and
Phoebe stayed together. To decide who would be happy and who would be
miserable. She just wanted to go to sleep and forget about everything.
But she knew she couldn't do that. Even deciding to do nothing
was, in itself, a decision. A decision to allow things to remain as
they are. A decision to let Phoebe be happy but to possibly forever
keep Leo and Piper apart.
That may not happen, Paige reasoned to herself. They still
didn't know how Cole might have changed. And there was that pesky
"the Charmed Ones come first" thing. Paige knew she really had no
choice. If there was any chance of putting things back the way they
were supposed to be, she knew she had to take it.
It was still dark when Paige woke Matilda. The White Lighter
sat up, half expecting to learn that Belthazor had returned.
"Nothing like that," said Paige. "Listen, I've been thinking.
I know I'm right about this thing with Pam. I'm sure she's the one
who's doing it."
"Paige, we've been through this," said Matilda. "You talked to
her. You tried to talk her into changing things back the way they
were. It didn't work. If she is doing this, she's not listening to
you."
"I know," said Paige. "I've been thinking about that. If she
is doing this, it obviously isn't malicious. I think she knows that
she's dying. And she's trying to repay her sisters for everything
they've done for her before she dies."
"Okay," said Matilda, "that makes sense. Assuming she does have
this power. But there isn't anything we can do about it, I'm afraid."
"That's not exactly true," said Paige.
"What do you mean?" asked Matilda.
"What if Pam wasn't dying?" asked Paige.
"Wait a minute," said Matilda. "If you asking me what I think
you're asking me, forget it. White Lighters can only use their
healing powers because of demonic attacks. You know that."
"I know," said Paige. "But, technically, you aren't bound by
those rules. Sure, you're a White Lighter. But you're not bound by
all those rules. You're what you might call a free agent. The Elders
can't expect you to simply sit by while things remain changed as they
are."
"It doesn't work that way," said Matilda. "Being a White
Lighter is more than just following the rules. Whether or not the
Elders would chastise me for breaking the rules isn't the point.
There are reasons for the rules. I agree with them. I can't simply
ignore them simply because it's convenient."
"I know I'm right," said Paige. "This is the only way to prove
it. Listen, if you heal her and nothing happens, no harm. Things
will remain as they are and the only difference will be is that Pam
will no longer be in a coma.
"But what if I'm right? And you don't heal her. What happens
when she dies? The doctors say it's only a matter of weeks, perhaps
days. If she's doing this and she dies, what will our options be
then?"
"None," said Matilda hesitantly. "Assuming she is doing this,
the power to put things right will die with her. They will remain as
they are."
"Exactly," said Paige. "We have the opportunity to change
things back the way they're supposed to be. And all it takes is a
little bending of the rules. I know that Leo's bent the rules on
occasion. I can't believe he's the only White Lighter who ever did."
"No," said Matilda, "he's not. It does happen on occasion. The
Elders frown on these instances, though."
"I know," said Paige. "But there's too much at stake here to
play it safe. This may be our only chance to fix things. I know it's
a risk, but I think it's a risk we have to take."
Matilda looked at Paige, thinking. Paige had a point. If Pam
was behind all this, healing her might correct things. If she weren't
behind it, there would be hell to pay from the Elders when she used
her healing powers for what the Elders would consider a foolish and
irresponsible reason.
"There's no guarantee this will work," said Matilda. "Even if
Pam is behind this, and we heal her, there's no guarantee she'll put
things back the way they're supposed to be. We'll have no way of
knowing if you're right or not."
"I'm willing to take that chance," said Paige. "Since this
thing started, all we've done is look for the cause of it. This is
the first, and only, lead we've had. I don't think we can pass on it.
Not just for us. With these changes, the Source is still alive. That
alone should be enough reason to at least try."
"I see your point," said Matilda, standing up. "Okay, we'll
give it a try. But on one condition. If this doesn't work, you
forget about Pam being behind this."
"Agreed," said Paige. "Besides, if it doesn't work, it's a
pretty good indication that I'm wrong. But I'm not. I know I'm not."
"Well," said Matilda, "we should be able to orb into Pam's room
unnoticed." She looked over at the clock. "Three-thirty seven in the
morning. I'm willing to bet that Pam will be completely alone at this
hour."
"Let's go," said Paige. "The sooner we get there, the sooner
this will all be over."
Paige took Matilda's arm and the White Lighter orbed them into
Pam's room. The room was dark, except for a single light that was on
over the bed. Pam looked as serene and peaceful as she had the on
their previous visits. It was hard for Paige to believe that this
woman was responsible for all the changes that had taken place.
Still, all of the clues pointed to her.
"Go on," whispered Paige. "In a couple of minutes this should
all be over."
"I hope so," said Matilda. "I'm not looking forward to
explaining to the Elders why I healed a woman injured by a simple car
accident twenty two years ago."
Matilda bent over Pam and looked down at the woman. She was
still not convinced that Paige was right. But Paige WAS right about
one thing. Too much was at stake to take the risk.
She placed her hands over Pam's head. A soft yellow glow
covered Pam's head for several seconds. Then it subsided and Matilda
stood up and looked at Paige.
"That's all I can do," she announced.
"I know," said Paige. "I guess we should go home and see if it
worked."
Matilda orbed them back to the manor. Paige looked around the
living room. Everything seemed the same. But then, nothing had
seemed different when things had first changed, either.
"So," said Matilda. "How do we figure out if things are back
the way they're supposed to be? I could orb to the Elders and find
out."
"Wait," said Paige, heading for the stairs, "I have an idea. If
things have changed back, Phoebe should be alone in her room. Let's
take a little peak in on her. We'll look in on Piper, too. Leo
should be asleep in there if things are back to normal."
Quietly, the two women went upstairs and stopped outside of
Phoebe's room. Paige listened at the door but didn't hear any sound
coming from inside. Cautiously, she opened the door only a crack;
just enough to see in side. Phoebe was sleeping soundly in her bed.
Lying beside her, sleeping just as soundly, was Cole.
Paige's heart sank. Cole shouldn't be there. If things were
back to normal, Cole wouldn't be anywhere around. Paige closed the
door and quietly slipped over to Piper's door. She listened for a
moment, then opened the door just a crack. Lying in her bed, sleeping
soundly and very much alone, was Piper. Paige quietly closed the
door.
"I was so sure about this," said Paige. "I don't understand why
it didn't work."
"It didn't," said Matilda. "It was a good idea. I'm sorry it
didn't work. We'd better get some sleep now. We still have to find
out what's going on. And who's behind it. We're going to need our
rest. I'm going to check with the Elders again in the morning to see
if they know anything. With any luck, they may not find out about
this and I won't have to explain anything."
"Blame it on me," said Paige. "I don't mind. Besides, there's
not much they can do to me. I'm not a Charmed One any more,
remember?"
Matilda just smiled, and then went back down to the living room.
Paige went back to her room but found it difficult to sleep. She had
been so sure about Pam. Now, she didn't have any idea what to do
next. It was getting very, very frustrating.
"Paige, I know this has been hard," said Leo. "But to expect us
to believe that a woman who's unconscious is doing all this is almost
as incredible as asking us to believe that reality has changed. I
think it's more likely that someone has been playing with your
memories."
"Think about it," said Paige. "The first time things changed
was just after we met Patrice. Here in Pam's room. While Patrice was
out of the room, we talked about Phoebe's vision and us being the
Charmed Ones."
"All that proves," began Leo.
"I'm not finished," said Paige. "The second time things changed
was when Piper mentioned to Patty about the triquetra. That we had
a similar 'heirloom' that we had lost recently. Then, bang, we
suddenly have the necklaces each of us found.
"Next, Phoebe and Patty were talking about Phoebe and Cole being
married. Then Cole suddenly walks into the house. Claiming to be
Phoebe's husband. He's even an assistant district attorney. Only
he's not Belthazor. I'm not sure, but I'll bet no one ever mentioned
that Cole was Belthazor here in this room. So, Pam did what anyone
would have done. She gave Cole back to Phoebe."
"It could all be coincidence," said Patrice.
"I don't believe in coincidence," said Paige. "Especially not
where the Charmed One's are concerned. Remember I said that there has
to be a clue about what's going on? I think this is that clue.
Everything points to Pam. Phoebe, you even said you thought your
premonition was about Pam, not Patrice. And all of the changes have
happened after they were talked about in this room."
"Assuming what you say is true," said Leo, "what can we do about
it?"
Paige stood up and moved to the head of Pam's bed. She leaned
down and spoke softly into Pam's ear.
"Pam, we know what's going on," she whispered. "We understand
you're only trying to help your sisters. But you have to put things
back the way things were. It's not fair to us or to them. Piper has
lost her husband. And her unborn child. No one has the right to take
those away from her.
"I appreciate the power you gave me. But it's not right. My
telekinesis worked differently. I also can't orb. And neither Piper
nor Phoebe has their powers. Since Belthazor is after them, they need
their powers to protect themselves.
"Pam, we'll do everything we can to help your sisters. We
promise. But this has to end. This is not the way things are
supposed to be. You have to put things back the way they're supposed
to be."
Everyone waited patiently to see if anything would change.
Several moments passed with nothing. After a while, the tension
seemed to ease somewhat.
"See," said Leo, "nothing happened. Obviously, Pam couldn't be
behind this."
"That can't be right," said Paige, disappointed. "I know I'm
right. Everything points to it."
"Sorry honey," said Piper, putting her arm around Paige, "but
Leo's right. Maybe its just coincidence that everything happened the
way you said. But there has to be another explanation for it. We
just have to find out what it is."
"Maybe you're right," said Paige. "I was just so sure.
Everything pointed to it. I don't see how I could be wrong."
"No harm done," said Patrice. "I guess we have to explore every
possibility. I'm sure we'll find figure out what's going on soon. We
just have to keep looking."
Leo and Matilda orbed the people back to their respective homes.
Paige seemed a bit despondent over the turn of events. Piper and
Phoebe assured her that no harm had been done. At least, they said,
they had eliminated one possible explanation for what was happening.
They made up the sofa for Matilda as usual. She still had no
other place to stay and she would be needed if Belthazor made another
appearance. Cole and Phoebe went up to their room, while Piper,
Paige, and Matilda sat in the living room talking.
"I'm really sorry I put everyone through this," said Paige.
"It's okay, sweetie," said Piper. "Everyone knows you had the
best of intentions. At least Phoebe and Cole got to spend some time
together. Cole has to be in court early in the morning, so you gave
them some extra time together."
"I'll check in with the Elders again in the morning," said
Matilda. "They're doing all they can to get to the bottom of this.
Maybe they have something for us."
"They haven't been much help so far," said Piper, a hint of
sarcasm in her voice.
"I know you don't have a lot of love for them," said Matilda.
"But just remember. They have done a lot of good. They're the ones
who are responsible for your being the Charmed Ones."
"And now someone has taken that all away," said Paige. "I'm
going to get some sleep. Maybe after a good night's rest I'll be able
to think more clearly."
"Good idea," said Piper. "It's been a long day. I'll see you
both in the morning."
Piper went up to her room and Paige went up to hers. Matilda,
as usual, prepared to sleep on the sofa. Piper had been right. It
was much more comfortable than it looked. Still, she would be glad
when things were set straight and she could return to her normal life.
* * *
Try as she might, Paige found it difficult to sleep. She was
convinced she was right. Pam was behind what was going on.
Regardless of their failure at the center. Paige understood now that
appealing to Pam's good side wouldn't be enough to make her returns
things to the way they are supposed to be.
She didn't think Pam was evil or bad. She was just a thirteen-
year-old girl trying to help her sisters as best she could. She knew
she was going to die soon. She also felt she had to do something to
pay them back for all they had done for her. That was why everything
had changed as they had.
Even though she was concerned about everything that was going
on, there was something that bothered her even more. They had all
been concerned with the changes that had occurred. None of them, it
seemed, had considered another aspect of their current situation.
It bothered Paige. It felt as if she was deciding which of her
sisters would be happy and which wouldn't be. As hard as she tried,
she just couldn't see any way around it. One way or another, one of
her sisters was going to loose her husband.
Well, Paige, reasoned to herself, maybe not. If things remained
as they were, Leo and Piper would probably never get married, while
Cole and Phoebe seemed to be very happy. If they were able to put
things back, Leo and Piper would be together again. But Cole would go
back to being . . . whatever he had become.
Maybe he and Phoebe would get back together, thought Paige.
Maybe Cole was, again, the human she had known instead of reverting to
his demonic former self. Somehow, Paige wasn't convinced of that.
Somehow, she had a very bad feeling about just what they would find
out about Cole.
In the end, she really knew there was no choice. What was it
that Piper had told her that Prue used to say? "The Charmed Ones come
first." That was always the final answer. No matter what happened to
them personally, the Charmed Ones had to be of preeminent importance.
Too many innocents counted on them, even if those innocents never even
knew it. Too many lives hung in the balance.
Still, Paige was torn. It didn't seem right that she be forced
to make this decision. To decide if Leo and Piper or if Cole and
Phoebe stayed together. To decide who would be happy and who would be
miserable. She just wanted to go to sleep and forget about everything.
But she knew she couldn't do that. Even deciding to do nothing
was, in itself, a decision. A decision to allow things to remain as
they are. A decision to let Phoebe be happy but to possibly forever
keep Leo and Piper apart.
That may not happen, Paige reasoned to herself. They still
didn't know how Cole might have changed. And there was that pesky
"the Charmed Ones come first" thing. Paige knew she really had no
choice. If there was any chance of putting things back the way they
were supposed to be, she knew she had to take it.
It was still dark when Paige woke Matilda. The White Lighter
sat up, half expecting to learn that Belthazor had returned.
"Nothing like that," said Paige. "Listen, I've been thinking.
I know I'm right about this thing with Pam. I'm sure she's the one
who's doing it."
"Paige, we've been through this," said Matilda. "You talked to
her. You tried to talk her into changing things back the way they
were. It didn't work. If she is doing this, she's not listening to
you."
"I know," said Paige. "I've been thinking about that. If she
is doing this, it obviously isn't malicious. I think she knows that
she's dying. And she's trying to repay her sisters for everything
they've done for her before she dies."
"Okay," said Matilda, "that makes sense. Assuming she does have
this power. But there isn't anything we can do about it, I'm afraid."
"That's not exactly true," said Paige.
"What do you mean?" asked Matilda.
"What if Pam wasn't dying?" asked Paige.
"Wait a minute," said Matilda. "If you asking me what I think
you're asking me, forget it. White Lighters can only use their
healing powers because of demonic attacks. You know that."
"I know," said Paige. "But, technically, you aren't bound by
those rules. Sure, you're a White Lighter. But you're not bound by
all those rules. You're what you might call a free agent. The Elders
can't expect you to simply sit by while things remain changed as they
are."
"It doesn't work that way," said Matilda. "Being a White
Lighter is more than just following the rules. Whether or not the
Elders would chastise me for breaking the rules isn't the point.
There are reasons for the rules. I agree with them. I can't simply
ignore them simply because it's convenient."
"I know I'm right," said Paige. "This is the only way to prove
it. Listen, if you heal her and nothing happens, no harm. Things
will remain as they are and the only difference will be is that Pam
will no longer be in a coma.
"But what if I'm right? And you don't heal her. What happens
when she dies? The doctors say it's only a matter of weeks, perhaps
days. If she's doing this and she dies, what will our options be
then?"
"None," said Matilda hesitantly. "Assuming she is doing this,
the power to put things right will die with her. They will remain as
they are."
"Exactly," said Paige. "We have the opportunity to change
things back the way they're supposed to be. And all it takes is a
little bending of the rules. I know that Leo's bent the rules on
occasion. I can't believe he's the only White Lighter who ever did."
"No," said Matilda, "he's not. It does happen on occasion. The
Elders frown on these instances, though."
"I know," said Paige. "But there's too much at stake here to
play it safe. This may be our only chance to fix things. I know it's
a risk, but I think it's a risk we have to take."
Matilda looked at Paige, thinking. Paige had a point. If Pam
was behind all this, healing her might correct things. If she weren't
behind it, there would be hell to pay from the Elders when she used
her healing powers for what the Elders would consider a foolish and
irresponsible reason.
"There's no guarantee this will work," said Matilda. "Even if
Pam is behind this, and we heal her, there's no guarantee she'll put
things back the way they're supposed to be. We'll have no way of
knowing if you're right or not."
"I'm willing to take that chance," said Paige. "Since this
thing started, all we've done is look for the cause of it. This is
the first, and only, lead we've had. I don't think we can pass on it.
Not just for us. With these changes, the Source is still alive. That
alone should be enough reason to at least try."
"I see your point," said Matilda, standing up. "Okay, we'll
give it a try. But on one condition. If this doesn't work, you
forget about Pam being behind this."
"Agreed," said Paige. "Besides, if it doesn't work, it's a
pretty good indication that I'm wrong. But I'm not. I know I'm not."
"Well," said Matilda, "we should be able to orb into Pam's room
unnoticed." She looked over at the clock. "Three-thirty seven in the
morning. I'm willing to bet that Pam will be completely alone at this
hour."
"Let's go," said Paige. "The sooner we get there, the sooner
this will all be over."
Paige took Matilda's arm and the White Lighter orbed them into
Pam's room. The room was dark, except for a single light that was on
over the bed. Pam looked as serene and peaceful as she had the on
their previous visits. It was hard for Paige to believe that this
woman was responsible for all the changes that had taken place.
Still, all of the clues pointed to her.
"Go on," whispered Paige. "In a couple of minutes this should
all be over."
"I hope so," said Matilda. "I'm not looking forward to
explaining to the Elders why I healed a woman injured by a simple car
accident twenty two years ago."
Matilda bent over Pam and looked down at the woman. She was
still not convinced that Paige was right. But Paige WAS right about
one thing. Too much was at stake to take the risk.
She placed her hands over Pam's head. A soft yellow glow
covered Pam's head for several seconds. Then it subsided and Matilda
stood up and looked at Paige.
"That's all I can do," she announced.
"I know," said Paige. "I guess we should go home and see if it
worked."
Matilda orbed them back to the manor. Paige looked around the
living room. Everything seemed the same. But then, nothing had
seemed different when things had first changed, either.
"So," said Matilda. "How do we figure out if things are back
the way they're supposed to be? I could orb to the Elders and find
out."
"Wait," said Paige, heading for the stairs, "I have an idea. If
things have changed back, Phoebe should be alone in her room. Let's
take a little peak in on her. We'll look in on Piper, too. Leo
should be asleep in there if things are back to normal."
Quietly, the two women went upstairs and stopped outside of
Phoebe's room. Paige listened at the door but didn't hear any sound
coming from inside. Cautiously, she opened the door only a crack;
just enough to see in side. Phoebe was sleeping soundly in her bed.
Lying beside her, sleeping just as soundly, was Cole.
Paige's heart sank. Cole shouldn't be there. If things were
back to normal, Cole wouldn't be anywhere around. Paige closed the
door and quietly slipped over to Piper's door. She listened for a
moment, then opened the door just a crack. Lying in her bed, sleeping
soundly and very much alone, was Piper. Paige quietly closed the
door.
"I was so sure about this," said Paige. "I don't understand why
it didn't work."
"It didn't," said Matilda. "It was a good idea. I'm sorry it
didn't work. We'd better get some sleep now. We still have to find
out what's going on. And who's behind it. We're going to need our
rest. I'm going to check with the Elders again in the morning to see
if they know anything. With any luck, they may not find out about
this and I won't have to explain anything."
"Blame it on me," said Paige. "I don't mind. Besides, there's
not much they can do to me. I'm not a Charmed One any more,
remember?"
Matilda just smiled, and then went back down to the living room.
Paige went back to her room but found it difficult to sleep. She had
been so sure about Pam. Now, she didn't have any idea what to do
next. It was getting very, very frustrating.