FOUR

"Ana says these are the right pills," said Phoebe, dropping the bag in Piper's lap.

"Good," said Piper, taking the bottle out of the bag. "Did you have much trouble filling the prescription?"

"No," said Phoebe. "I just told Mr. Thompson I had left the other prescription in a cab. He was glad to refill it for me."

"Stanley wasn't there?" asked Piper.

"No," said Phoebe. "Its his day off. Where are Leo and Paige?"

"Leo had to check on one of his charges," said Piper. "In Russia, no less. Paige went to get some potion ingredients."

"I need to get to work," said Phoebe. "Are you going to be okay by yourself?"

"I think so," said Piper. "If anything happens I can always call for Leo. Besides, if someone is after the baby it doesn't seem that a front on encounter is what they want. Leo or Paige will be back in a couple of hours. I have some water on for tea. I'm going to have a cup of tea and then I'm going to take a nap."

"Okay, honey," said Phoebe. "I'll have my cell of if you need me."

Phoebe got her keys and left for work. The two had been so intent on their conversation that neither had heard any movement in the kitchen. Neither did they see a furtive figure pour a colorless liquid into the teapot sitting on the stove. Silently, the figure slipped out the back door and hid in the bushes in the backyard.

Piper went into the kitchen, when the teakettle began whistling. She poured the water into a cup on the table. After waiting several moments to let it cool she sipped the tea. She sat drinking her tea as she thought about the events of the previous night.

Suddenly she yawned. She hadn't realized she was so tired. Last night must have worn her out more than she realized. She put the cup in the sink intent on washing it later. The she went up to her and Leo's room to take a quick nap.

As she climbed the stairs, the figure in the bushes slipped on the back porch. Quietly it moved into the house and across the kitchen. It watched as Piper climbed the stairs, yawning again. Then it quietly slipped into the cellar.

"Piper," called Paige, coming into the house, "I couldn't get everything on the list. The store was out of..."

Her voice trailed off as she smelled the scent that hung heavy in the air.

"Gas," she said, "Leo? Leo, get down here."

"What is it?" he asked orbing in. "I was..."

His sentence went unfinished as he smelled the gas.

"Where's Piper?" Leo asked fear in his voice.

"I don't know," said Paige. "I just got home."

"Get the doors and windows open," ordered Leo.

Paige opened the front door and headed for the living room as Leo orbed out. When Paige moved to the kitchen, she saw Leo on the back porch, holding Piper in his lap. She was coughing and trying to catch her breath, Paige hurried out the back door.

"Are you okay?" asked Paige as Piper sat up.

"Yeah, I think so," said Piper, still coughing. "If Leo hadn't orbed me out of the bedroom...

"Thank Paige," said Leo, "If she hadn't come home when she did, I wouldn't have known you were in any danger. I'd better get you to Ana so she can check you over.

"I'm okay," said Piper. "I just need some air."

"Nonsense," said Paige. "Let Ana look you over. Let's make sure the gas didn't hurt the baby."

"Okay," said Piper, "just give me a few minutes to catch my breath first."

"Paige, watch her," said Leo. "I need to check on something."

Paige put an arm around Piper as Leo orbed out.

"What happened?" asked Piper.

"I don't know,' said Paige. "I got home from shopping and the house was full of gas. I called for Leo and I guess he found you in the bedroom.

"Yeah, I laid down for a nap," said Piper. "I guess the pilot light went out on the furnace. That's why the house was filled with gas."

"It didn't go out," said Leo, orbing back in. "I just checked it. Someone put out the pilot light and turned the gas on full. This wasn't an accident. Someone tried to murder you."