A/N: Sorry I didn't upload this sooner. I was forced to miss the new Charmed episode on Sunday and I just found a site that had it, so I watched it. It was good!

Lucy Knight: Well, looks like you're my only reviewer this time around. But that's okay. I'll keep this going for you, just like you will with yours for me if other people stop reviewing it for some reason. I'm glad you read The Lost Halliwell, too. Really helps, doesn't it? And you asked about a special order of the stories... well, I have all the ones with Pam in them listed in chronological order on my user profile page. Don't feel like you have to read them all though! There's like, 6 of them! As long as you know who Pam is, you should be fine reading this. But if I forget and reference something from another story, just ask me what you don't understand and I'll explain it to you. Enjoy the chapter:)

CHAPTER FIVE

The front door of the Manor opened and a train of Halliwells poured in.

"Bastards," Piper said, referring to the Elders for not letting anyone heal her. "Why the hell is this a part of my destiny?"

"Umm, do you want to lie down or something, Piper?" Paige asked.

"I could make dinner," Phoebe offered. Everyone gave her an incredulous look. "Okay, nevermind. But someone can make dinner."

"I'll do it," Pam said.

"And I'll fold the laundry," Leo suggested, eyeing the basket that was on the dining room table.

"Hey, hey, people, people!" Piper interrupted. "Would you please stop treating me like an invalid?"

"Well… we're sorry, Piper," Phoebe replied. "We just want you to relax, and—"

"Well you better forget it, because I'm not relaxing until we find out what's in me and then get it out," Piper interrupted, as defiant as ever.

"Fine…" Phoebe agreed, although reluctance was still obvious in her expression. "But what do we have to go on? We vanquished Edzin."

"I'll get the Book," Piper said. She started up the stairs with all eyes on her. "What? Can't a woman walk up the stairs in her own house without everyone fixated on her?" Everyone instantly diverted their gaze and looked off in different directions. Once she was out of sight, they all turned back to each other.

"Why is she doing this?" Leo asked. "Doesn't she realize that her life just changed completely? She's a sick woman. She can't just go around doing the same things she used to. Especially if she can't control her powers. We can't let her out of our sight, she's too vulnerable to an attack."

"Chill, Leo," Paige advised. "You heard what she said, she doesn't want to be treated like she's completely helpless. She needs some freedom."

"I know… I just don't want anything to happen to her," Leo answered. "I wish she would stop being so defiant."

"Yeah well, Piper's usually defiant," Phoebe reminded. "I'm happy she's acting normal. As far as I'm concerned, we're better off with a defiant Piper than an emotionally distraught Piper."

"She still shouldn't be left alone…" Leo sighed.

"Alright, well, I'll go check on her," Paige replied.

"All this is gonna take some time to get used to. But we'll figure it out eventually. We'll get through it," Phoebe ensured Leo. "At least I hope we will," she thought. But Pam was the only one to hear her mom's inner insecurities.

…………………………………

"Dammit!" Piper said, angry as ever at the attic door and at herself. She knew exactly how to turn a doorknob in her mind, but for some reason no matter how hard she tried she couldn't do it. Her hands seemed to be a step away from paralysis.

"I'll get it," Paige said quietly, approaching from the stairs. It seemed so easy when she did it.

"Thanks," Piper replied sarcastically, not even making eye contact with her sister. She headed over to the Book and tried to open it, but to no avail. She sighed and bowed her head, as if to accept the failure.

"Here," Paige said, still doing her best to be nice although she could tell Piper was in a wicked mood. "What page do you want?" No answer. "Piper?" Piper lifted her head to face Paige, revealing tears down her face.

"I can't handle this," she said. "I'm like a leech, I just feed off you guys. I can't do anything for myself anymore."

"You'll get used to it," Paige reassured, wrapping her arm around her sister. "You'll get better control."

"Yeah, but how long will that take? Will I die before then?" Paige was silent. Piper stepped forward and looked up at the ceiling. "I just don't get it. I kick evil's ass every day, I've been doing it so long I can't even remember a time without my powers, I am a Charmed One for crying out loud, and this is how you repay me?" She raised her arm and awkwardly bent hand up in the air. To her surprise, a chunk of the ceiling blew off. "Great, my powers only work when I don't want them to." She shook her head in disbelief. "This can't be happening."

Paige orbed the wood back into place. "Don't worry about it. I'm sure that wasn't the worst thing this attic's ever seen."

"You're right," Piper chuckled, remembering the time she'd gone into the future and Prue had completely blown the wall away. Paige took the Book from the podium.

"All of us, we'll slave over this issue, day and night. We'll figure out what Edzin put in you, and we'll get it out. We'll get through this. You'll live to be 100," she said, smiling. Piper returned the smile. "C'mon. Let's go downstairs."

A/N: Sorry if everyone saying "this can't be happening" is getting repetative. I just wanted to reference the title of the story a lot, mostly because I couldn't figure out the perfect title for the life of me. I finally settledon "This Can't Be Happening," and I hope it fits well...