"Well," said Phoebe, "it's too bad we can't wish the Source away. It would solve a lot of our problems and the problems of a lot of other people."
"Well now, darlin'," said Patrick. "If me power could do that there would be no need for me wishes, now would there? Besides, that would be causing harm to another. And there's the whole free will thing. Even demons have free will. Your friend here proves that. If demons didn't have free will, he wouldn't have been able to change from evil to good."
"I know," said Phoebe. "It's just nice to think about."
"We all have to have our dreams, that's for sure," said Patrick.
"Okay," said Phoebe. "I guess I have to wish for something. Well, let's see. With Cole fully human now, it would be nice to spend some quality time alone together. Somewhere far away from demons and magic and everything. Some place where we can relax and enjoy being together."
"Now that's the kind of wish I could go for," said Cole, smiling.
"Ah, yes," said Patrick. "Well, there are so many places you could choose from for your little get away. And I can't be waiting around until you decide to come back. I do have a bit of work that's been piling up.
"I'll tell you what I'm going to do. If memory serves, Belthazor had the ability to shimmer from place to place. With him gone, I'd be a betting that Cole no longer has that ability. So, in order for you to get your wish, I'll be granting him the ability to shimmer twice. Once to get where you want to go and once to bring you back."
"You can do that?" asked Piper.
"Sure," said Patrick. "Now mind you, you'll only be able to do it twice. So don't be a wasting it. Where you go and how long you'll be staying will be completely up to you. Would you be saying that's a fair way of granting your wish?"
"It's perfect," said Cole. "I know a few places that no one will look for us. We can be completely alone."
"Okay," said Phoebe. "It sounds fair to me. Just as long as Cole and I get to go together."
"Done then," said Patrick. "Young man, you now have the ability to shimmer twice. Whenever you're ready, just take the pretty young things' hand and away you'll go. And you'll be able to come back in the same way when you want to."
"We'll have to give it some thought," said Phoebe. "I guess we can leave in the morning. If that's okay with you, honey?"
"Fine by me," said Cole.
"Well now, missy," said Patrick, "that would seem to leave only your wish. You can have some more time if you'd like. Considering everything you've been through and I just sort of popped up out of nowhere, I guess I can't begrudge you some extra time to get your thoughts together."
"No," said Piper, "I don't need any more time. That would just be delaying everything."
"Fine," said Patrick. "So, tell me what your wish is?"
"Well," said Piper, "to be honest, there's really nothing I can think of that I need. I have my husband, two wonderful sisters who are happy, we're all healthy, and at least for the moment, there are no demons attacking. I guess there's really only one thing at this moment that I'd wish for."
"And what would that be?" asked Leo.
"I could wish for a baby," said Piper coyly. "But then, as Patrick said, I can't wish for something that we can do ourselves. So I guess my wish is that Darryl be able to solve his current case. Without any supernatural intervention."
"Ah, your policeman friend," said Patrick, "and the series of arsons that none of the police officers can seem to figure out."
"Yes," said Piper. "It's got everyone stumped. I'd like Darryl to be able to solve the case and arrest the guy. I swear, I think he's actually loosing sleep over this one."
"Well, now," said Patrick, "since he's a policeman, isn't it possible that he could solve this one all by himself?"
"Probably," said Piper, "but after how many more fires? And how many more people get hurt or die? I'm not asking you to solve the case for him. Just arrange it so that he can solve the case himself. Maybe point out a common link or something like that."
"That should be easy enough," said Patrick. "A bit of rearranging of the evidence so that the he gets a clearer picture of what's going on. But arranging for him to arrest the man. Now then, I'm afraid I can't be doing that. Free will and all that. I can't be forcing him to arrest anyone. I can give him the information he needs, but what he does with that information is totally up to him."
"That's good enough," said Piper. "If he gets the information, he'll arrest the guy. That's what he does after all."
"Fine, fine," said Patrick. "Done, then. The next time your friend looks over the case, he will have all the information he needs to solve this case. I should imagine he'll be arresting the culprit very soon after that."
"Thank you," said Piper. "Is that it then?"
"Well there be only one way to find out now, isn't there?" asked Patrick.
Patrick looked at the chest of gold still sitting on the table. He smiled slightly, and then reached for the chest. Without any trouble, he took hold of the chest and slid it across the table to sit in front of him.
"Now, then," said Patrick. "As you can see, I have no trouble reclaiming me gold. Your wishes have been granted and I can be about me business. I can tell you it's been a real experience here."
Patrick didn't seem to be making any effort to leave. As if he was waiting for something to happen. Suddenly the front doorbell rang. Phoebe started to rise from her seat at the table.
"I'll get it," said Phoebe. "With my luck it's someone wanting to give me the Monkey's Hand or something."
"Why don't you be letting this pretty young thing get the door this time," said Patrick, patting Paige on the hand. "I'm feeling it might be for her."
"How could you possibly know that?" asked Paige.
The doorbell rang again.
"Me magic, darlin'," said Patrick. "Now, I'm thinking you should be answering the door before whoever it is decides you're not home and leaves."
Perplexed, Paige got up from the table and headed for the front door. The rest followed her, wondering just what was going on.