TWO
"Okay, Mister, uh, Daniel," corrected Prue after seeing him about to object to her calling him "Mr. Kaminski". "How do you know who we are?"
"I know a great many things," Daniel said as Piper placed a cup of coffee on the table in front of him. He took a sip. "You are a very good cook. I appreciate the hospitality."
"I don't know what it is," Phoebe said, "but somehow I know you aren't a threat to us. How could I know that? We've never met before, as far as I know."
"No, we haven't," said Daniel. "Oh, we did pass on the street one day some years ago. In New York City. You were younger then and, of course, weren't a Charmed One But I knew who you were even then. And it's because of your ability to see the future that you know I'm no threat. You have a special gift of second sight that allows you to often seen things that no one else can."
"You seem to know a great deal about us," Piper said.
"As I said," Daniel said, "I know a great many things. When you get to my age, you've accumulated a large amount of knowledge."
"So, you said you needed our help," Prue said. "If you know who we are, you must also know that most of our 'work' involves fighting demons."
"And protecting the innocent," Daniel said. "Mustn't forget that part of it. It's more important to protect the innocent than to fight demons."
"Seems to me the two are sort of mutually dependent," Phoebe said.
"In many cases, they are," said Daniel. "But there are other instances where protecting the innocent has nothing to do with demons. As Phoebe learned when she got a job as a hotel psychic and saved a man from a simple accident."
"Okay, this is getting too weird," said Phoebe. "How could you possibly know about that?"
"And don't give us that 'I know a lot of things' crap," Prue said. "You said you came here for our help. You know who we are and apparently even what we've been through. I want some answers and I want them now."
"You young people are always so impatient," Daniel said. "It's a bit complicated. I'm not really sure how much of it you are prepared to hear. You've only had your powers a few weeks. And you're still adjusting to you new roles as the Charmed Ones. Too much might overwhelm you."
"Let's just start with what you need our help with," Piper said, knowing that Prue would be close to loosing her temper by now.
"Very well," Daniel said, taking another sip of his coffee. "Several days ago I was walking the streets of San Francisco. I travel a great deal, you see. And I've seen some incredible sights in my day.
"Well, as is often the case, I was jostled on the crowded streets of the city on this particular day. Not an unusual occurrence, to be sure. With so many people out and about going about their business, the streets can be quite crowded at times. It is inevitable that one would occasionally bump into others."
"We know all that," Prue said.
"Yes, well, this particular time the bump was not accidental," said Daniel. "The young man who bumped into me was something of a pick pocket. And I'm afraid he relieved me of an item that I must retrieve as quickly as possible. If I don't, there could be some very dire consequences."
"Someone picked your pocket?" questioned Phoebe. "Why do you need us? Shouldn't you go to the police?"
"As I said," Daniel said, "it's a bit complicated. I'm afraid that, in this instance, the police would be ill equipped to help retrieve what was stolen. This young man has some rather disreputable friends. Or rather, he thinks of them as his friends. They will only lead him down a path to ruination, I'm afraid. That is why I need your help."
"I'm still not seeing where we come into the picture," Prue said. "Some kid picks your pocket and is hanging out with his friends. Probably some sort of gang or something. But that still doesn't answer the question of why you need our help. Like Phoebe said, this sounds more like a matter for the police than us."
"Actually," Daniel said, "the young mans friends are far from gang members. They are, in fact, demons who prey on the disenfranchised of society. They begin small, such as simply picking the pocket of an unsuspecting stranger on the street. Each new task is greater and bolder. When that individual has completed enough tasks, when the demons have corrupted him enough, his soul is damned for all eternity."
"Well, I guess that does fall into our purview," Phoebe said. "If this kid is messed up with demons, he might need our help to get away from them."
"Only if he chooses to do so," Daniel said. "You can't force him."
"We know," Prue said. "Free will and all that stuff. Just exactly what is it you need our help for?"
"The item he took from me," Daniel said. "It's very important. It's vital I get it back as quickly as possible. As you can see, I am ill equipped to battle demons. The three of you, however, do that nearly on a daily basis. And these demons should not pose a great threat to all of you together."
"This item must be awfully important," Piper said.
"Oh it is, I assure you," Daniel said. "And as I said, it is vital that I get it back as soon as possible."
"So, just what is this item that was taken from you?" Prue asked.
"My pocket watch," Daniel said.
"Okay, Mister, uh, Daniel," corrected Prue after seeing him about to object to her calling him "Mr. Kaminski". "How do you know who we are?"
"I know a great many things," Daniel said as Piper placed a cup of coffee on the table in front of him. He took a sip. "You are a very good cook. I appreciate the hospitality."
"I don't know what it is," Phoebe said, "but somehow I know you aren't a threat to us. How could I know that? We've never met before, as far as I know."
"No, we haven't," said Daniel. "Oh, we did pass on the street one day some years ago. In New York City. You were younger then and, of course, weren't a Charmed One But I knew who you were even then. And it's because of your ability to see the future that you know I'm no threat. You have a special gift of second sight that allows you to often seen things that no one else can."
"You seem to know a great deal about us," Piper said.
"As I said," Daniel said, "I know a great many things. When you get to my age, you've accumulated a large amount of knowledge."
"So, you said you needed our help," Prue said. "If you know who we are, you must also know that most of our 'work' involves fighting demons."
"And protecting the innocent," Daniel said. "Mustn't forget that part of it. It's more important to protect the innocent than to fight demons."
"Seems to me the two are sort of mutually dependent," Phoebe said.
"In many cases, they are," said Daniel. "But there are other instances where protecting the innocent has nothing to do with demons. As Phoebe learned when she got a job as a hotel psychic and saved a man from a simple accident."
"Okay, this is getting too weird," said Phoebe. "How could you possibly know about that?"
"And don't give us that 'I know a lot of things' crap," Prue said. "You said you came here for our help. You know who we are and apparently even what we've been through. I want some answers and I want them now."
"You young people are always so impatient," Daniel said. "It's a bit complicated. I'm not really sure how much of it you are prepared to hear. You've only had your powers a few weeks. And you're still adjusting to you new roles as the Charmed Ones. Too much might overwhelm you."
"Let's just start with what you need our help with," Piper said, knowing that Prue would be close to loosing her temper by now.
"Very well," Daniel said, taking another sip of his coffee. "Several days ago I was walking the streets of San Francisco. I travel a great deal, you see. And I've seen some incredible sights in my day.
"Well, as is often the case, I was jostled on the crowded streets of the city on this particular day. Not an unusual occurrence, to be sure. With so many people out and about going about their business, the streets can be quite crowded at times. It is inevitable that one would occasionally bump into others."
"We know all that," Prue said.
"Yes, well, this particular time the bump was not accidental," said Daniel. "The young man who bumped into me was something of a pick pocket. And I'm afraid he relieved me of an item that I must retrieve as quickly as possible. If I don't, there could be some very dire consequences."
"Someone picked your pocket?" questioned Phoebe. "Why do you need us? Shouldn't you go to the police?"
"As I said," Daniel said, "it's a bit complicated. I'm afraid that, in this instance, the police would be ill equipped to help retrieve what was stolen. This young man has some rather disreputable friends. Or rather, he thinks of them as his friends. They will only lead him down a path to ruination, I'm afraid. That is why I need your help."
"I'm still not seeing where we come into the picture," Prue said. "Some kid picks your pocket and is hanging out with his friends. Probably some sort of gang or something. But that still doesn't answer the question of why you need our help. Like Phoebe said, this sounds more like a matter for the police than us."
"Actually," Daniel said, "the young mans friends are far from gang members. They are, in fact, demons who prey on the disenfranchised of society. They begin small, such as simply picking the pocket of an unsuspecting stranger on the street. Each new task is greater and bolder. When that individual has completed enough tasks, when the demons have corrupted him enough, his soul is damned for all eternity."
"Well, I guess that does fall into our purview," Phoebe said. "If this kid is messed up with demons, he might need our help to get away from them."
"Only if he chooses to do so," Daniel said. "You can't force him."
"We know," Prue said. "Free will and all that stuff. Just exactly what is it you need our help for?"
"The item he took from me," Daniel said. "It's very important. It's vital I get it back as quickly as possible. As you can see, I am ill equipped to battle demons. The three of you, however, do that nearly on a daily basis. And these demons should not pose a great threat to all of you together."
"This item must be awfully important," Piper said.
"Oh it is, I assure you," Daniel said. "And as I said, it is vital that I get it back as soon as possible."
"So, just what is this item that was taken from you?" Prue asked.
"My pocket watch," Daniel said.