~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Why am I dealing with this feeling
I'm maxed out like a credit card
It's easy but it seems so hard
You're near buy you seem so far
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"This is excellent," said Mr. Corso, editor of 415 Magazine, as he flipped through the portfolio of Prue's photographs. "Especially for an amateur. What shutter speed did you use on this one?"
"125," Prue replied, glancing over his shoulder at the picture of two little girls playing on the steps in front of a fountain in the park.
Mr. Corso nodded slowly to himself. "Very good."
Prue bit her lip nervously. "So does this mean I've got the job?"
"Based on your work, I'd say definately," Mr. Corso replied. "However, based on your resumé..."
"I know my experience is a bit, well, nonexistant," Prue admitted. "I never tried to hide the fact that I'm changing careers here. But sir, with all due respect, you're not hiring my resumé, you're hiring me. Don't you think my actual work should speak louder than a simple piece of paper listing my credentials?"
Mr. Corso sighed. "All right. I'll give you one chance, and only one chance. I've got this assignment, and I need it to be done by 5 o'clock today. Are you up for it?"
Prue nodded, trying not to seem to eager. Truthfully, she was ecstatic over the opportunity, but she acted nonchalant and only asked what the assignment was.
"We're doing a big story on Maggie Murphy, the luckiest woman in San Fransisco," Mr. Corso told her. "I need a photo of her to put in with the article. I want something deep, something that captures her spirit, her essence, you understand? After reviewing your work, I think you just might be able to pull it off. Don't come back here until you do." He handed her a piece of paper. "This is where she lives. She'll be expecting you anytime today. I strongly advise you not to mess this one up if you want any kind of career in photography, Miss Halliwell."
"I'll see you sometime this afternoon," Prue promised. With a quick, reassuring smile to Mr. Corso, she picked up her portfolio and hurried out to her car. She threw everything in the back seat, and slid in behind the wheel, pausing a moment before starting the engine. Her eyes flickered over to the clock on the dashboard. 12:30, it read. Four and a half hours before her deadline. Telling herself that it was plenty of time, she started the car and pulled out of the parking lot, heading toward the address that Mr. Corso had given her for Maggie Murphy.
She pulled up in front of a row of well-kept brownstone apartment buildings. Leaving her car across the street, she checked the address one more time, took a deep breath, and got out. Prue entered the center building and took the elevator up to the top floor, nervously hugging the bag containing all her equipment. According to the paper, Maggie's apartment should be the first one on the left. She was still looking down at the note when she stepped out of the elevator, and almost didn't notice that something wasn't right.
"Oh my God," she murmured when she looked up, about to knock on the door, and saw that it was already wide open. There were marks and dents all over it, definately a sign of forced entry. "Maggie?" she called, hesitating before going in. "Maggie? Are you in here?"
Prue slowly moved deeper into the apartment, going from the small entranceway to the living, and finally the kitchen. It was there that she found Maggie, or at least, she was pretty sure it was Maggie. The petite strawberry-blonde woman was lying on the floor, unconcious and bleeding from the back of the head. Prue ran over to her, and, after checking to make sure the woman was still breathing, got out her cell phone and called 911.
While she was waiting for the paramedics, Prue called Darryl. He was already in the neighborhood, and was the first to arrive.
"Prue?"
"In here, Darryl."
Darryl raced into the kitchen, where Prue was still kneeling next to Maggie, holding her hand and talking to her, trying to wake her up. "I found her like this," Prue said sadly, looking up at her friend. "I came here to do a photo shoot, part of a job interview, but when I got here the door was beat up and open, and she was just lying here..."
"Did you call an ambulance?" Darryl asked.
Prue nodded. "Yeah, right before I called you." She paused, hearing sirens in the distance that were gradually getting louder. "It's sounds like they're almost here. Do you need me to go downtown for any paperwork, or can I go to the hospital with her?"
"We can do the paperwork at the hospital," Darryl said. "I'll drive you." They both glanced out into the living room as the paramedics came in. Darryl helped Prue up off the floor, and they stood back, letting the EMTs do their job. It was only a few minutes before the apartment was swarming with other cops. Darryl gave them a brief report on what Prue had told him, and then they were both free to leave. The ride to the hospital was short and silent.
-x-
"Who would do something like this?" Prue questioned for the first time out loud. It was about an hour and a half after she'd been Maggie's apartment, and now she was in the hospital cafeteria with Darryl, listening as he told her everything he knew about what had happened.
"It's sad," Darryl said, shaking his head. "Some people just go out of their way to keep good people from helping others. I think this is one of those cases."
Darryl's theory, which the majority of the police department agreed with, was that someone had deliberately hurt Maggie Murphy to keep her from doing the kind of volunteer and charity work she was known for. Maggie had dedicated her life to helping others, and for someone to want to put a stop to that was unfathomable to Prue.
"Have you been to see her yet?" Darryl asked.
Prue shook her head. "The nurses told me she woke up an hour ago, but I wanted to give her some time. I'm sure the last thing she needs right now is a magazine photographer buzzing around."
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot about that," Darryl said. "Paige told me you were supposed to be going for an interview at 415 this morning. So what was this supposed to be, an audition or something?"
Prue nodded. "Yeah, something like that. Don't get excited, I'm not getting the job if I don't get the picture, and there's no way I can get the picture now."
"Now hold on just a second, maybe there is," Darryl replied thoughtfully. "You said Maggie's awake now. After all the policemen who've been in and out of her room, I'm sure seeing you would be a welcome change. Go on, go give it a try."
Prue bit her lip. She hated to impose on this poor woman, who'd already been through so much that day, but she knew she had to save her job. "I'll be right back," she told Darryl, getting up and collecting her purse and the bag with her camera in it.
"Good luck," he called after her, but she was already halfway out of the cafeteria.
She ran up to the nurses' station, and asked which room Maggie was in.
"Maggie Murphy is in room 115, but you probably won't find her there now," the nurse told Prue. "I believe she went down to the pediatric ward, to visit with the sick children."
"Thanks," Prue said, before hurrying off to the children's ward. Sure enough, Maggie was there, showing a small group of boys and girls how to build a house out of cards.
"Maggie Murphy?" Prue asked softly, not wanting to disturb them.
Maggie looked up, smiling. "Can I help you?"
"I'm Prue Halliwell, from 415," Prue introduced herself, extending her hand. "I hope I'm not disrupting anything."
Maggie gleefully shook Prue's hand, then pulled her into a hug. "You're the woman that saved me!" she exclaimed. "I know I seemed out of it most of the time, but I remember you holding my hand, and I can't thank you enough for staying with me."
"Oh, I'm sure anyone would have done the same," Prue downplayed modestly. "The important thing is that you're okay. You are going to be okay, right?"
"Yes, thanks to you," Maggie nodded. "You know, you really must be my guardian angel." She paused, noticing Prue's camera bag. "You were supposed to get a picture of me, right? It's why you were at my apartment, how you found me."
"Yeah, well you've been under so much stress today, it's completely understandable that you wouldn't feel up to it-"
"Of course I'm up to it," Maggie interrupted. "If you hadn't showed up when you did, who knows what would have happened to me? The least I can do is give you what you came for."
Prue nodded, and set up her camera as Maggie went back to playing with the kids. She took a whole roll of pictures, but she already knew which one she liked best. It was of Maggie, putting the final touch on the house of cards, with the children all around her. It captured her loving, charitable spirit perfectly, not to mention her good luck. Smiling, Prue thanked Maggie and quietly slipped out.
-x-
"Hey, it's me," Prue said into her cell phone, sitting in her car in the parking lot of 415. The time on the dashboard clock read 4:55.
"How did it go?" came Paige's voice through the other line.
"I want to tell you in person," Prue said. "Is Phoebe there to watch Ava? Can you meet me in the park in ten minutes for a kindof picnic dinner?"
"Yeah, I'll be there," Paige promised.
"Great," Prue said. "I'll bring the food."
-x-
"You are never going to believe this," Prue said ten minutes later, sitting on the grass in the park.
"Believe what, sweetie?" Paige asked, taking a seat next to her older sister.
"I got the job," Prue blurted out, smiling uncontrollably.
Paige broke out into a smile, too. "Honey, that's great," she said enthusiastically. "But where's the part I'm not going to believe?"
Prue giggled. "Fine," she rephrased, "I'm not going to believe this."
"You had better believe it, lady," Paige poked her. "You are the best photographer in San Fransisco, and I'm not just saying that 'cause you're my sister."
"No, you're saying it because I'm witholding your food," Prue countered jokingly. She opened the bag from the fast-food place, and took out two cheeseburgers, handing one to her sister.
"Well now I have my food, and I still think you're the best," Paige retorted, sticking out her tongue.
Prue laughed, but the moment faded quickly as she saw Phoebe running up to them.
"Guys, we have to go, now," Phoebe said, holding Aviva tightly. "Piper's in the hospital."
****************
A/N: Thanks again for the reviews, guys. Any and all input is muchly appreciated. I'll try and have another chapter up soon, but in the meantime, let me know what you think of it so far, and check out my other fics.
~from the song "Wasted & Ready" by Ben Kweller~
Why am I dealing with this feeling
I'm maxed out like a credit card
It's easy but it seems so hard
You're near buy you seem so far
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"This is excellent," said Mr. Corso, editor of 415 Magazine, as he flipped through the portfolio of Prue's photographs. "Especially for an amateur. What shutter speed did you use on this one?"
"125," Prue replied, glancing over his shoulder at the picture of two little girls playing on the steps in front of a fountain in the park.
Mr. Corso nodded slowly to himself. "Very good."
Prue bit her lip nervously. "So does this mean I've got the job?"
"Based on your work, I'd say definately," Mr. Corso replied. "However, based on your resumé..."
"I know my experience is a bit, well, nonexistant," Prue admitted. "I never tried to hide the fact that I'm changing careers here. But sir, with all due respect, you're not hiring my resumé, you're hiring me. Don't you think my actual work should speak louder than a simple piece of paper listing my credentials?"
Mr. Corso sighed. "All right. I'll give you one chance, and only one chance. I've got this assignment, and I need it to be done by 5 o'clock today. Are you up for it?"
Prue nodded, trying not to seem to eager. Truthfully, she was ecstatic over the opportunity, but she acted nonchalant and only asked what the assignment was.
"We're doing a big story on Maggie Murphy, the luckiest woman in San Fransisco," Mr. Corso told her. "I need a photo of her to put in with the article. I want something deep, something that captures her spirit, her essence, you understand? After reviewing your work, I think you just might be able to pull it off. Don't come back here until you do." He handed her a piece of paper. "This is where she lives. She'll be expecting you anytime today. I strongly advise you not to mess this one up if you want any kind of career in photography, Miss Halliwell."
"I'll see you sometime this afternoon," Prue promised. With a quick, reassuring smile to Mr. Corso, she picked up her portfolio and hurried out to her car. She threw everything in the back seat, and slid in behind the wheel, pausing a moment before starting the engine. Her eyes flickered over to the clock on the dashboard. 12:30, it read. Four and a half hours before her deadline. Telling herself that it was plenty of time, she started the car and pulled out of the parking lot, heading toward the address that Mr. Corso had given her for Maggie Murphy.
She pulled up in front of a row of well-kept brownstone apartment buildings. Leaving her car across the street, she checked the address one more time, took a deep breath, and got out. Prue entered the center building and took the elevator up to the top floor, nervously hugging the bag containing all her equipment. According to the paper, Maggie's apartment should be the first one on the left. She was still looking down at the note when she stepped out of the elevator, and almost didn't notice that something wasn't right.
"Oh my God," she murmured when she looked up, about to knock on the door, and saw that it was already wide open. There were marks and dents all over it, definately a sign of forced entry. "Maggie?" she called, hesitating before going in. "Maggie? Are you in here?"
Prue slowly moved deeper into the apartment, going from the small entranceway to the living, and finally the kitchen. It was there that she found Maggie, or at least, she was pretty sure it was Maggie. The petite strawberry-blonde woman was lying on the floor, unconcious and bleeding from the back of the head. Prue ran over to her, and, after checking to make sure the woman was still breathing, got out her cell phone and called 911.
While she was waiting for the paramedics, Prue called Darryl. He was already in the neighborhood, and was the first to arrive.
"Prue?"
"In here, Darryl."
Darryl raced into the kitchen, where Prue was still kneeling next to Maggie, holding her hand and talking to her, trying to wake her up. "I found her like this," Prue said sadly, looking up at her friend. "I came here to do a photo shoot, part of a job interview, but when I got here the door was beat up and open, and she was just lying here..."
"Did you call an ambulance?" Darryl asked.
Prue nodded. "Yeah, right before I called you." She paused, hearing sirens in the distance that were gradually getting louder. "It's sounds like they're almost here. Do you need me to go downtown for any paperwork, or can I go to the hospital with her?"
"We can do the paperwork at the hospital," Darryl said. "I'll drive you." They both glanced out into the living room as the paramedics came in. Darryl helped Prue up off the floor, and they stood back, letting the EMTs do their job. It was only a few minutes before the apartment was swarming with other cops. Darryl gave them a brief report on what Prue had told him, and then they were both free to leave. The ride to the hospital was short and silent.
-x-
"Who would do something like this?" Prue questioned for the first time out loud. It was about an hour and a half after she'd been Maggie's apartment, and now she was in the hospital cafeteria with Darryl, listening as he told her everything he knew about what had happened.
"It's sad," Darryl said, shaking his head. "Some people just go out of their way to keep good people from helping others. I think this is one of those cases."
Darryl's theory, which the majority of the police department agreed with, was that someone had deliberately hurt Maggie Murphy to keep her from doing the kind of volunteer and charity work she was known for. Maggie had dedicated her life to helping others, and for someone to want to put a stop to that was unfathomable to Prue.
"Have you been to see her yet?" Darryl asked.
Prue shook her head. "The nurses told me she woke up an hour ago, but I wanted to give her some time. I'm sure the last thing she needs right now is a magazine photographer buzzing around."
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot about that," Darryl said. "Paige told me you were supposed to be going for an interview at 415 this morning. So what was this supposed to be, an audition or something?"
Prue nodded. "Yeah, something like that. Don't get excited, I'm not getting the job if I don't get the picture, and there's no way I can get the picture now."
"Now hold on just a second, maybe there is," Darryl replied thoughtfully. "You said Maggie's awake now. After all the policemen who've been in and out of her room, I'm sure seeing you would be a welcome change. Go on, go give it a try."
Prue bit her lip. She hated to impose on this poor woman, who'd already been through so much that day, but she knew she had to save her job. "I'll be right back," she told Darryl, getting up and collecting her purse and the bag with her camera in it.
"Good luck," he called after her, but she was already halfway out of the cafeteria.
She ran up to the nurses' station, and asked which room Maggie was in.
"Maggie Murphy is in room 115, but you probably won't find her there now," the nurse told Prue. "I believe she went down to the pediatric ward, to visit with the sick children."
"Thanks," Prue said, before hurrying off to the children's ward. Sure enough, Maggie was there, showing a small group of boys and girls how to build a house out of cards.
"Maggie Murphy?" Prue asked softly, not wanting to disturb them.
Maggie looked up, smiling. "Can I help you?"
"I'm Prue Halliwell, from 415," Prue introduced herself, extending her hand. "I hope I'm not disrupting anything."
Maggie gleefully shook Prue's hand, then pulled her into a hug. "You're the woman that saved me!" she exclaimed. "I know I seemed out of it most of the time, but I remember you holding my hand, and I can't thank you enough for staying with me."
"Oh, I'm sure anyone would have done the same," Prue downplayed modestly. "The important thing is that you're okay. You are going to be okay, right?"
"Yes, thanks to you," Maggie nodded. "You know, you really must be my guardian angel." She paused, noticing Prue's camera bag. "You were supposed to get a picture of me, right? It's why you were at my apartment, how you found me."
"Yeah, well you've been under so much stress today, it's completely understandable that you wouldn't feel up to it-"
"Of course I'm up to it," Maggie interrupted. "If you hadn't showed up when you did, who knows what would have happened to me? The least I can do is give you what you came for."
Prue nodded, and set up her camera as Maggie went back to playing with the kids. She took a whole roll of pictures, but she already knew which one she liked best. It was of Maggie, putting the final touch on the house of cards, with the children all around her. It captured her loving, charitable spirit perfectly, not to mention her good luck. Smiling, Prue thanked Maggie and quietly slipped out.
-x-
"Hey, it's me," Prue said into her cell phone, sitting in her car in the parking lot of 415. The time on the dashboard clock read 4:55.
"How did it go?" came Paige's voice through the other line.
"I want to tell you in person," Prue said. "Is Phoebe there to watch Ava? Can you meet me in the park in ten minutes for a kindof picnic dinner?"
"Yeah, I'll be there," Paige promised.
"Great," Prue said. "I'll bring the food."
-x-
"You are never going to believe this," Prue said ten minutes later, sitting on the grass in the park.
"Believe what, sweetie?" Paige asked, taking a seat next to her older sister.
"I got the job," Prue blurted out, smiling uncontrollably.
Paige broke out into a smile, too. "Honey, that's great," she said enthusiastically. "But where's the part I'm not going to believe?"
Prue giggled. "Fine," she rephrased, "I'm not going to believe this."
"You had better believe it, lady," Paige poked her. "You are the best photographer in San Fransisco, and I'm not just saying that 'cause you're my sister."
"No, you're saying it because I'm witholding your food," Prue countered jokingly. She opened the bag from the fast-food place, and took out two cheeseburgers, handing one to her sister.
"Well now I have my food, and I still think you're the best," Paige retorted, sticking out her tongue.
Prue laughed, but the moment faded quickly as she saw Phoebe running up to them.
"Guys, we have to go, now," Phoebe said, holding Aviva tightly. "Piper's in the hospital."
****************
A/N: Thanks again for the reviews, guys. Any and all input is muchly appreciated. I'll try and have another chapter up soon, but in the meantime, let me know what you think of it so far, and check out my other fics.
~from the song "Wasted & Ready" by Ben Kweller~