A/N. Thanks for the reviews, I'm glad you like it so far.

777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777

Chapter 3

Piper, Phoebe, Paige and their innocent all appeared in the living room of Halliwell Manor in a swirl of light, where Leo was pacing anxiously.

"There you are!" He cried the instant the Charmed Ones materialised. Noticing the unconscious woman in their grasp, he sprung forward and lifted her from them. He carried her over to the sofa and gently laid her down.

"Here we are! You're the one who's been gone for days," Piper all but screeched.

Leo gave an exasperated sigh, as if he was talking to a particularly difficult child. "We've been through this Piper, you know the Elders are piling new charges on me. Don't you think I'd rather be at home with you?"

Piper opened her mouth to respond, but Phoebe intervened.

"This isn't the time, guys," she said. "You can talk later. Right now we need to focus on the innocent."

"You're right," Piper agreed somewhat reluctantly.

"So, what's wrong with her?" Leo asked, gazing down at the pale skinned woman.

"We think she fainted. Can you heal her?" Paige wondered.

"Sure." Leo placed his hand over the girl's chest and concentrated on his healing power. When, after a few moments no glow came, he dropped his hands. "I can't. Whatever's wrong with her, it isn't demonic."

"Which supports our theory that she fainted," Piper said.

"What happened?" Leo asked.

Phoebe quickly filled Leo in one the events, with help from Piper at the bits in P3. By the time they had finished, the innocent was beginning to stir. Her powder blue eyes popped open, and they instantly filled with fear.

"Who are you? Where am I?" She demanded, seeing she was not in the alley anymore and was in the company of strangers. She struggled to sit up, but Leo laid a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"It's okay. You're safe. Just lye still," Leo instructed gently in a kind voice.

He words seemed to soothe the innocent, and she stopped struggling. However, the fear in her eyes dimmed just a little.

'Must be Leo's whitelighter charm,' Piper thought proudly, seeing the effect her husband had on the girl.

"You again!" The innocent shrieked, recognising Piper, Phoebe and Paige. Suspicion flooded into her eyes.

"Hey," Piper said brightly. "I'm Piper. And you are..?"

"I'm the one asking the questions here." In one swift movement, the girl was off the couch, on her feet and standing with her arms crossed in a stubborn and protective position.

"We're here to help you," Paige said, trying to calm the woman down.

"How do I know I can trust you?" The innocent jabbed her finger in Piper direction. "You made that.. that thing explode!"

"Hey! I saved you from that demon, missy!" Piper said defensively.

The innocent sagged and dropped her arm, realising that Piper was right. None of them had tried to hurt her. "I'm Chloe. Wait, did you say demon?"

"Yes. Demon's exist," Phoebe said gently. "So do witches."

"You're crazy!" Chloe spun around and nearly collided with Paige, who had anticipated Chloe's reaction and orbed in front of the door.

"Going somewhere?"

"Yes," Chloe said firmly, stalking past Paige. Paige grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

"Get off!" Chloe shrieked. A yellow light shot from her palms and narrowly missed Paige.

"We're crazy, huh? That looks pretty witchy to me," Piper said smugly.

Chloe sat down heavily on the sofa. "So witches exist?"

"Yes," Leo confirmed, as a whitelighter, he was used to breaking the supernatural news to new witches.

"And you think I'm one?"

"Well, it looks like it. Shooting beams of light from your hands isn't your everyday human ability," Phoebe said.

"So how could I be a witch and not know it?"

Piper's heart went out to Chloe. The poor girl sounded so exasperated and confused. Piper knew what it was like to discover that who you thought you were was all a lie. It wasn't pleasant.

"Were you adopted?" Paige asked. She sat down next to Chloe.

"None of you business," Chloe answered sharply.

"It would explain why you didn't know about your powers," Leo said.

Chloe threw her hands up in defeat. Piper, Phoebe and Paige shrunk back, but luckily no light beam emitted from her palm. "Yes, I was adopted."

"Me too," Paige admitted softly, taking Chloe's hand, offering her support. "I only found out about my powers a year ago."

Chloe's mouth hung open in shock, but she quickly shut it and smiled at Paige, thankful to know someone who understood the surprise and disbelief she felt.

"We need to find the demon who was after you," Piper reminded them quietly.

Chloe broke her gaze away from Paige and looked up at Piper. "How do we do that?"

"Check the Book Of Shadows," Phoebe answered cheerfully.

777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777

A/N. I know it was a bit shorter than the last two chapters, but the next one should be longer.

Please review!