Disclaimer: Charmed and Alias don't belong to me. So don't sue me. I only have about $20 to my name right now, anyway.
A/N: Don't freak. It'll make more sense soon, I promise.
It could easily have been said that Penny Haliwail was beside herself. She'd warned that girl she was headed for trouble. She'd specifically forbid her to see that boy again. Grams had even gone so far as to threaten Michael Vaughn if he touched so much as a hair on her Pru's head. But here she was anyway.
She ran a finger over the page she'd tucked into the Book of Shadows for safekeeping. Clarissa would be only too happy to receive this burden. If a few things seemed off, neither she nor Jason would question it too closely.
But what she was about to do was widely--and, more importantly, by the Elders--considered black magic.
Grams took a deep breath. She knew she had no choice. If she didn't do it, Pru's destiny would be irreversibly altered, and then Piper and Phoebe, as well, would be unable to fulfill the destiny they were born for. With trembling hands, Penny Haliwail unfolded the sheet of paper and began to read…
A little more than 12 years later…
Setting aside the slide labeled Piper Haliwail and jotting notes in the accompanying file, Dr. Becker prepared a slide of the next blood sample and labeled it, Pamela Wright. Adjusting the microscope slightly, the doctor thought at first that she must have made a huge mistake and taken the sample from the vial bearing Piper's name. Setting the slide aside and pealing off the label, she made sure to take the second sample from the proper vial.
This time when she saw how similar the samples were, she knew she could not be mistaken. As far as she knew, though, Piper Haliwail and twelve-year-old Pamela Wright weren't even acquainted, let alone related. It would be worth closer scrutiny, if she had the time later, Dr. Becker thought as she proceeded with the routine blood test for the child.
Sydney and Vaughn walked together, meeting up with first Weiss, and then Jack outside of Kendall's office. For Kendall to summon them all to his office as opposed to a conference room within the highly secure building meant something unusual was up. By unspoken agreement, everyone stood in silence until Kendall himself rose and handed them each a summary of a series of police reports.
"I received these reports from the San Francisco PD one week ago. Someone inside the department noted that the names of the Haliwail sisters appeared on a very high number of witness lists of unsolved cases, mostly murders and disappearances. All three--Piper, Phoebe, and Paige--live together," Kendall said.
"I don't see what this has to do with the CIA," Jack interrupted, his voice coldly flat as usual.
"The unusual state of the murders the sisters acted as witnesses to would attract attention," Kendall said, then paused for effect. "But it is also known that no less than three law enforcement officials have cried 'witch' on the sisters. Now, I've worked closely with DSR on a few cases, and it's a safe bet that this is more in their jurisdiction than ours, but I want to know if there's anything for them to look at when they get there before I call them in."
"Director Kendall, surely you don't believe these women are really practicing some kind of magic?" Sydney demanded.
Kendall didn't bat an eye.
"The validity of a centuries-old prophet has been proved to the point that we look to him for answers and strive to beat criminal organizations to his artifacts. We should at least be open to the possibility that there are things beyond what we understand."
Vaughn sighed.
"What's the Op Tech?" he asked resignedly.
"You will evaluate how to advance when you reach San Francisco. Whatever the situation, Agent Weiss is to provide technical backup. You four are some of my best agents. If there is something the CIA or DSR should be aware of going on at the Haliwail manor, you four alone have the resources to find out what that it," Kendall said, an air of gravity pervading the room.
Reviews, please? I know this is completely separate right now, but the CIA operatives and the Haliwail sisters will meet up in the next chapter, and I think the results will be humorous. Please review, and I'll have the next chapter up soon!