Bad to Basics 9: An Apology

The next morning I'm busy in the back of my coffee shop grinding up some coffee when the girl working the counter calls me, "Jack, there's some people here to see you."

I roll my eyes and say to myself, "What now?" as I walk out into the front of the shop, where I spot Paige and Phoebe buying some coffee.

"Hi Jack," Phoebe says with a sheepish smile, "How are you?"

"Ok," I reply warily, "So, what brings you to this part of town?"

"We're here to apologize for not thanking you for your help last night." Phoebe continues.

"Well, isn't this a change of heart. Last night you all but accused me of being the greatest evil alive."

"Ok, you have to admit that you can be a little manipulative at times" Phoebe replies.

"This is supposed to be an apology."

"Don't make it any harder than it has to be," Phoebe continues.

"Why shouldn't I make it as difficult as possible, make sure that you are truly sincere in your apology?"

"Shut up," Paige finally chimes in, "I'm not apologizing to him no matter what Piper says."

"So Paige, you're only here because big sister told you it was the right thing to do."

"Hey, hey, you two, play nice," Phoebe interjects, "Jack you could play nice."

"What? And ruin a perfect reputation, ok, why don't we still down at this table. I have some things to say to you."

We all move around a close table and sit down. I continue, "You guys are so full of yourselves; I'm afraid that you're headed for a thumping, not so much a physical thumping as a spiritual one."

"What? Come again." Paige interjects.

I look Paige in the eye and say, "I haven't come once, but I will if you let me."

"Eew," Paige spits out while Phoebe visibly stops herself from laughing out loud.

"Sorry," I say with just a touch of sarcasm, "But you really think that you know what ultimate evil is and that you met it and defeated two or three times. There are many levels to this good and evil thing and you've seen through maybe to the second level. Warning, you've come to rely on magic too much, and there will be a price to pay."

"Ok," Phoebe says, "What price and where are you getting your information."

"Just an intuition," I reply, "But if I where you I'd take it seriously if I were you. You know me; I don't usually share this much. Just look at Chris right now, I know that you don't trust him very much, but in all of it he's the one you should trust the most. He's playing a very dangerous game with fate and destiny, and it's not all assured that he'll even survive."

"Are you threatening Chris now?" Paige adds, "You've always seemed to get along with him."

"You'll be called on to save him but won't be able to, and those who least want to see Chris survive will cause the circumstances that might cause him to survive. Irony! If you're ever to understand what goodness is, then you're going to have to take some lessons in irony."

"Ok Jack, enough with the cryptic." Paige interjects, "Are you going to give us something concrete to go on?"

"Can't, you need to face the next few weeks without any pre-knowledge. Even so I don't know anything definitive, just intuitions and probabilities. I've probably said too much already."

"Well, nice talking to you," Phoebe says, "And I'm sorry for being such a snit last night."

"Yeah, me too," Paige adds with more than just a touch of sarcasm.

"That's alright," I reply, "Even if you don't mean your apology wholeheartedly. Just your coming here was more than I expected, Paige."

"How come everytime we run into you we also run into Leirda, the seductress?" Paige asks.

"Yeah, I caught another demon spying on Richard and me, and when I chased him, he lead me into a trap that was set-up by Leirda, as if she knoew I was coming. What's up, why were we being spied on, and what do you know about it?" Paige asks me.

"How should I know anything about what some demons are planning? Why would they let me in on their plans? If you were them would you trust me that much?" I reply, "Even so I was through all this with your sisters, and my best defense is that Phoebe came to me on another matter. My involvement is all Phoebe's and Piper's doing. I'm just glad I was able to help, and for that you're welcome."

"It's just to convenient. Some times things are just a little to coincidental. I don't know how you do it, but I know that you manipulated this whole situation for some reason." Paige complains.

"Do you think the Source of All-Evil is the most powerful evil there is? I've got news for you. There are more powerful beings who manipulate things from behind the scenes. You and the demons are just like pieces on a chess board to them. Phoebe, haven't you ever felt that your whole relationship with Cole was manipulated by something you just couldn't put your finger on. Your ex-husband died a greater hero of good than you'll ever know, more than he ever realized. In the end he chose self-destruction rather than serve these forces."

"You make Cole out to be some kind of unsung hero. I've got news for you; he was far from that." Phoebe replies.

"You think that way because of your small view on what goodness is."

"Fraid you're wrong, Jack," Paige interjects, "He didn't sacrifice himself; I vanquished him."

"Yeah, but do you know how he got himself into that position? Do you know how he was able to manipulate time and space that much? Have you ever even asked these questions?"

Both Paige and Phoebe have no resonce to this and just sit there for a few seconds staring at me.

"The last question you need to ask is how do I know all this? With that I'll say good-bye." I get up and walk back to my work, but I can feel their eyes sraing at me as I disappear through the back door.