"Timothy, calm down," Leo said as Timothy nervously paced the floor.
"Calm down?" Timothy questioned. "Leo, none of our powers are working. How can you tell me to calm down? Has anything like this ever happened to you before?"
"No," said Leo, "but getting emotional about it isn't going to do any good. Piper's checking the Book of Shadows now. Maybe there's something in there that can help. You just need to stay calm and not go off half cocked."
"Okay," said Timothy, sitting on the sofa. "You've been doing this a lot longer than I have. It's just so unnerving. In the last nine years I haven't been without my powers. It's just kind of weird not being able to do things I took for granted only yesterday."
"Nine years?" questioned Phoebe. "I thought you said you had been a Whitelighter for seven years?"
"No, I've been Steph's Whitelighter for seven years," said Timothy. "Whitelighters go through a lot of training before they get their first charge. You don't instantly know everything when you become a Whitelighter."
"Oh," said Phoebe, "I never knew that. I guess I just figured when you became a Whitelighter you all ready knew what you needed to know."
"Hardly," said Leo. "There's a lot of intensive training. The amount depends on whom the Whitelighter is being assigned to. I received even more than Timothy did. I didn't know at the time I was being groomed to be your Whitelighter."
"Not like a demon," said Cole. "Most of them grow up learning as they grow, just like humans."
"So I've heard," said Timothy. "Maybe we could chat some time about that. I'd love to hear what it was like growing up as a demon among humans."
"Maybe," said Cole uncomfortably.
"Well," said Piper, coming down the stairs, "I can't find anything in the book about Whitelighters' loosing their powers."
"Does that mean it's never happened before?" Timothy questioned.
"No," said Leo. "It simply means that no one in Melinda Warrens' line has encountered it before. That doesn't mean we're out of options. There are other Whitelighters in San Francisco. Some of them have been around a long time. We can call them and let them know what's going on. They might be able to help."
"Call them?" questioned Timothy. "How? Our telepathy isn't working."
"On the telephone," said Prue. "You've been a Whitelighter too long. Telepathy isn't the only way to contact someone."
"Oh, yeah, right," said Timothy. "I'm sorry. This whole thing has me rattled."
"Understandable," said Phoebe. "Now, like Leo said, just relax and take it easy. I'm sure there's a perfectly logical explanation for what's going on. We just have to find out what it is."
"I'll make a few calls," Leo said. "With a little luck I should be able to get hold of another Whitelighter soon. Then maybe we can begin to get some answers."
"You can use the phone in the kitchen, honey," said Piper. "There's a phonebook on the counter if you need to look any numbers up."
"Great," said Leo. "I shouldn't be long."
As Leo went into the kitchen the others sat around chatting. They were all worried about the turn of events. But they had weathered bad events before. They knew they would figure it out. It would just take some time. Right now their main concern was keeping Timothy calm.
"No luck," Leo said, coming in from the kitchen. "None of the ones I called were home or they weren't answering their phones. I know some others but I couldn't find their names in the phonebook. They probably have unlisted numbers."
"I could shimmer you to one of them," Cole offered.
"Now there's a great idea," said Prue. "Shimmer into a witches house with a defenseless Whitelighter. You know the witch will attack in self-defense, don't you? And you have no way to prove that you aren't there to kill her. Not to mention you can't prove Leo's a Whitelighter without his powers."
"Cole has an idea," said Leo. "I know where some of the witches live. We could shimmer into the backyard or something and knock on the door. That should prevent any attacks and I can choose one whose Whitelighter I know. He might even be there which would make things a whole lot simpler."
"Is that a good idea?" Piper asked. "What if the witch recognizes Cole? She might not trust you."
"You guys didn't recognize me at first," said Cole. "It's unlikely that another witch would."
"Besides," said Leo, "Cole can wait outside. Once I'm inside he can shimmer back here. The Whitelighter can orb me back after I've had a chance to talk with him."
"Assuming he can orb," said Prue. "What if this isn't restricted to the two of you? What if other Whitelighters have been affected?"
"That's unlikely," said Leo. "Even if other Whitelighters have been affected it's possible the one we go see won't be. If he is Cole can shimmer me to another one until we find one who hasn't been affected. It might take some time but it should work. And the more we find out about what's going on the more likely we are to discover why it's happening."
"Maybe someone put a spell on the manor," offered Cole. "Something to prevent your Whitelighter powers from working."
"That's an idea," said Prue. "It could be a prelude to a demon attack. Make the Whitelighters powerless so they can't heal or go for help. Which means we need to be on our guard."
"It also means that once I shimmer Leo outside," said Cole, "he might be able to orb. Or use his other Whitelighter powers. It's worth a shot. If it doesn't work I can shimmer him to another Whitelighter who might be able to help."
"Sounds like a plan to me," said Piper. "Only be careful. This might be a trap to lure you out of the manor. Somebody may be after you and not us."
"She's right," said Timothy. "A demon that takes out the Charmed Ones Whitelighter would gain a lot of prestige in the underworld. Almost as much as taking out the Charmed Ones themselves."
Just then there was a knock at the front door. Phoebe jumped and said she'd get it.
"Be careful," Prue said. "If this a prelude to an attack that could be the demon now."
"Knocking on the door?" questioned Phoebe.
"You never know," said Prue. "In the mean time, Cole and Leo can go see if they can find another Whitelighter who might know what's going on. You guys be careful, like I said. Until we know what's going on any or all of us could be in danger."
"We'll be careful," said Cole. "Leo may not have his powers but I still have mine."
"See that you do," said Piper. "I don't want to become a widow while I'm still on my honeymoon."
"I'll guard him with my life," said Cole, smiling.
"Uh, Leo," said Phoebe from the front door. "Before you leave I think you'd better come here."
Curious, they all got up and walked into the entryway. Standing on the front porch was a man in his late fifties. He had white hair and had his hands folded in front of him. Folded inside the sleeves of a white robe he was wearing.
"An Elder," gasped Timothy as they all stood looking at the man.