Disclaimer: I don't own charmed, or any of its characters.


CHAPTER FOUR


Prue Halliwell sighed, releasing her brother in law, from a long over due hug.

"How are you?" she asked, smiling.

"Piper? Phoebe? Paige?"

"Everyone's fine." He promised.

She was glad to hear that. Just because she was dead, it didn't mean that she wanted her family to end up that way too.

"Do they know you're here?"

Leo refused to meet her eyes.

"No."

"Leo-"

"I'll tell them. I was going to but I- I will tell them."

-Drop it Prue.- she told herself.

-What doe it matter if he's told them? What matters is why he's here."

"What did you want my help with?" she asked, her intense blue eyes connecting with his.

Leo held the athame out to her.

"This."

"What they were all out of flowers?" she laughed.

Leo smiled subtly.

"It's the murder weapon in three enquiries. I could really use some of your 'Bucklands' expertise here."

Prue straightened up, and pushed her glossy black hair behind her ears, going into 'Bucklands' mode.

"Its an exquisite piece…" she started; weighing it up in her professional hands.

"Solid gold. Emeralds. I'd say it's dated late seventeenth century, or early to mid eighteenth century. I'm sorry it's vague, I've been out of the loop."

"Carry on." He probed, with an encouraging nod.

"There's a, um, inscription on the hilt." She told him.

"It says 'Natasha.'"

"I didn't notice that." Leo said.

"I can't give you much more information. Sorry honey."

Leo shook his head.

"Don't be. You've told me more than id know otherwise."

He flashed her a huge smile, but Prue knew that he was disappointed. She felt bad. Worse than bad. Her sister's lives could depend on this…

"If I had to guess I'd say it was dated from the early eighteenth century. Its more a decorative piece than a manual one, and it probably belonged to someone rich. This kind of thing would usually have been given as a present, on a special occasion, like a wedding or something. Possibly to this Natasha."

She lifted her gaze from the athame.

"I don't know if that helps at all."

"That helps a lot." He insisted.

-He's not telling me everything.- Prue realized.

Familiar thoughts filled her head. If her sisters were in danger, she wanted to know. She needed to know…

"With what exactly?" she asked.

Leo looked confused.

"I told you."

"There's more to it than you told me. What's the supernatural twist?"

"I'm not sure, I only have a theory."

Prue folded her arms across her chest persistently.

"Lets hear it."

Leo took a deep breath.

"I think there's a spirit attached to that athame." He explained, taking it off her, when she forced it back into his hands.

"And if I'm right, I may need your help latter on in this scenario…"


(Meanwhile.)

The soft San Francisco sun persistently cascaded down on the people way too busy to notice it. Undeterred, it bounced off car windows, and shallow puddles in a bid for attention.

From her favourite coffee shop, Phoebe watched, admiring its determination. She loved it here; watching the hustle and bustle of everyday life, knowing that for at least half an hour, she and her cappuccino were not a part of it.

-That's hoe the story usually goes…- she thought, rolling her eyes as Darryl continued with his lecture. She momentarily wondered if he would notice if she placed the screaming cell phone on the table, and got back to her coffee. She decided against it.

"Phoebe? Are you still there?" he demanded.

"Yeah." She muttered.

"Where else would I be?"

"Phoebe this is serious! You promised me that athame this morning. I don't have it. Phoebe I need it back now. Do you have any idea of the kind of trouble I could get into? I could lose my job! You guys could get arrested! Phoebe is any of this actually going in!"

"Hey!" she protested.

"Don't get snippy with me Darryl. This isn't my fault. Leo took it to the elders, and as far as I know, he's not back yet."

Darryl sighed.

"Phoebe I'm sorry but it's not good enough."

"Look like I said, Leo has it. Call the manor. Talk to Piper, he should be back soon."

"Should! Phoebe I ne-"

She hung up.

With a satisfied grin, she turned her attention back to Cole, who was appreciatively clapping.

" 'Round of applause." He smiled, his dark eyes gazing lovingly into hers.

She loved his eyes. She always had.

-The eyes are the gateway to the soul.- she thought philosophically.

Cole had those intense brown eyes; she never could resist drowning in… Right now the pang of guilt in her stomach made her ignore that impulse.

"Maybe we should be getting back." She suggested, revealing how awful she felt about foisting Darryl off on Piper. Phoebe thought about her sister trying, to no avail to calm him down…

"No." Cole said. Simply. Easily. Finally.

"We just got here and you've hardly touched your cappuccino."

"Cole." Phoebe said defiantly, looking at him with big, puppy dog eyes.

"Look we'll compromise: Finish your coffee and we'll go back."

Phoebe smiled. Cole didn't. He didn't look happy at all.

-Great.- Phoebe thought, taking her first sip of frothy warm coffee.

-That's just what I need. A grumpy boyfriend, a pissed off cop, and a missing whitelighter…-


Half an hour later, Darryl was banging on the door of 1329 Prescott Street, like there was no tomorrow.

-For me, there may not be.- He thought, annoyed.

"If they don't, OPEN THIS DAMN DOOR!" He shouted.

He was panicking. That much was obvious. Of course, he trusted the Halliwell's, like he had a million times before, but they were cutting it very fine.

"Paige! Piper! Leo!"

"What?"

The door flew open to reveal an angry looking Paige, hand on hip, and frowning.

"Impatient much?" She said, glaring daggers.

-Speaking of daggers…-

"Paige, I need the knife." He said monotonously.

"Its not here. Leo has it."

Darryl closed his eyes.

-For the love of god!-

"He'll be back soon. 'You wanna come in and wait?" She offered.

"Paige. In half an hour, I'll have the F.B.I on my back. I need it back now."

Paige looked unconcerned. She turned and walked towards the kitchen, leaving the front door open, as an indication for Darryl to follow.

"Paige, I'm not messing around here." He said.

Paige settled two mugs on the counter.

"Coffee?"

"No! I need the athame!"

"Okay! Don't have a heart attack."

Abandoning her coffee plans, she gazed meaningfully up at the ceiling.

"Leo? Leo! Come on, hurry up! Get your butt down here!"

Darryl looked at his watch. The face was distorted, he noticed, by a glaring blue light, that faded to reveal:

"Leo!"

"What's wrong?" he asked, taking in Darryl's fuming expression.

"Athame." He demanded.

Leo handed it to him.

Without another word, and definitely no 'thank you', Darryl stormed out.

" What's wrong?" Leo repeated.

"Oh, he's just pissed over the athame, and stuff…"

Paige trailed off.

"Coffee?"