A/N: Hey all,

Sorry bout the delay but here you go, next chap.

25. Evil Comes Knocking.

Prue walked through the double doors leading into the police station, just us somebody was being escorted out. The man seemed drunk and a little crazy, however when he caught sight of Prue he began shouting in a slurred manner.

"The dead always…fall. It's been told."

"Come on you drunken freak." one officer said to him and continued to push the man past Prue, where he smiled apologetically to her.

Prue watched the disillusioned man leave before she shrugged it off and proceeded further into the station. She stopped by the doorway and saw the desk she still expected to see Andy sat at. Only now it was covered in junk and belonged to somebody else, who probably wouldn't even know who Andy was.

She always found a pang of hurt when she came to this place. Prueremembered how for a long time she couldn't even bring herself to go near it.

Pushing the thoughts away, she searched the room for a friend who had become a part of her family. He was like her big brother; loyal, caring, protective and at times annoying. Prue knew that part of him did it for the man she thought of moments ago, but there was also a part of him that had grown to love the sisters just as much.

She spotted him talking to another two officers and decided she would wait somewhat patiently for him to finish.

Darryl noticed the eldest Halliwell stood to one side of the room and soon motioned for the other officers to move on. He then moved towards Prue with a smile on his face, although for her unexpected visit the Inspector was predicting bad news. He watched as she smiled in return, the only difference was hers was a lot more forced.

"Hey."

"Hi, you busy?" Prue asked, glancing round the room to see if her question had a more visual answer.

"Slightly, but I'll make time for you." he smiled, "Unless it's the whole you-know-what department." Darryl also glanced around but was more wary of what people could hear.

Prue snuffled a laugh, "Kinda is." she whispered slightly.

"And I thought I was having a good day." he muttered.

"You got some where we can talk?" the witch asked louder than before.

"Yeah, sure. Follow me."

Darryl's tone of voice showed he wasn't really up for the chat but never the less he lead Prue down to a room she instantly recognised. She had been held and questioned in the same room the day of Piper's wedding. Maybe I should see a shrink, she thought, remembering yesterday's breakdown and her alter-ego from a few months ago.

"Take a seat." Darryl offered, as they both stepped into the room and closed the door behind them.

"Is anyone, you know?" Prue asked, indicating to the large mirrors around them.

"Don't worry Prue, your not in for questioning." Darryl smirked only now realising Prue was held in here not so long ago. In response she sent him a playful glare then sat down with him.

"So, what brings you here?" the Inspector asked, not really wishing for an answer.

Prue played with her hands that were placed on her lap. "I'm sorry for what happened when you came round." she began, not having seen Darryl since then.

"It's hardly your fault, Prue. Your Dad shouldn't have acted the way he did." he replied, aware that Victor's words were probably more damaging to Prue than any other reaction he could have given.

Prue laughed hollowly as she ran a hand through her hair, "Yeah, well, nothing new there. Actually that's one of the reasons I'm here. I was wondering if you could give this to him." to which, Prue handed over an envelope.

Darryl looked at it briefly, then glanced back at the raven haired Halliwell. "Sure, but wouldn't you rather do it?"

"To be honest, I don't really want to see him at the moment."

He nodded in understanding but couldn't seem to find an adequate response, so instead he decided to change the subject.

"What's the other reason?"

"Well…um…the Source has called us out…..meaning it's taking place tomorrow." Prue replied shortly and watched as Darryl was silent for what seemed like hours. However she did understand his shock, she too was surprised by how quickly the Source reacted to her message. Prue assumed evil would draw it out longer, keep them all on their toes but apparently they were just as anxious.

Eventually, after Prue's mind had wandered for quite a distance, Darryl broke his silence. "That soon?"

"Yeah. I did kind of prompt him though." she smiled slyly, which caused the Inspector to roll his eyes. "What? He sent demons, I just sent one back with a message saying it was now or never." Prue defended herself.

"Diving head first." he muttered, showing his disapproval.

"It's the only way I know." she grinned. "All or nothing."

"You better come back Prue. All of you." Darryl's voice was low and although he would complain about his involvement with the Halliwells, he would hate for something to happen to them.

Prue smiled softly. "We will," she paused for a moment, "…but if I don't, look after them for me."

"Of course I would, you wouldn't have needed to ask me…" he replied sincerely, "…but your coming back, you hear me." Darryl was slightly surprised when Prue grinned at the big brotherly nature then hugged him.

"Just a precaution." pulling away she added, "Thank you Darryl."

"What are friends for?" the Inspector asked with a soft smile, which was returned as Prue stood preparing to leave.

"Could you not give that to him until tomorrow, once we've left?" she requested, indicating to the envelope still held in Darryl's hand.

"Yeah, sure."

"Thanks. I better go, the rest will worry." Prue replied, beginning to head towards the door.

"Be safe Prue." Darryl called as the door opened, filling the room with the hectic sounds of the station house.

Prue spun back round and grinned. "I always am." she retorted before finally leaving the room.

It was then Darryl gazed down at the envelope. I really hope Victor doesn't shot the messenger, he thought, wondering what Prue could have wrote.

----------

"Hey, I'm back." Prue called into the manor as she threw her keys down on the side.

"Where did you go?" Paige asked, walking into the foyer, surprised she didn't actually know Prue had left the house.

"I went to see Darryl. Didn't Piper tell you?" Prue was equally as surprised that Piper hadn't told anyone.

"No, she's a bit preoccupied right now." at her sister's expression of bewilderment, the youngest continued as she followed her into the kitchen, "They called Leo away and he hasn't came back yet."

"Where is she?"

"Upstairs. Why'd you go see Darryl?" Paige questioned jumping up onto the counter, while Prue went over to the coffee pot.

"Give him a heads up, I thought he should know. You want one?" she asked facing her sister as she indicated to the coffee. Paige shook her head and instead opted for an apple, which sat perfectly in the fruit bowl.

The oldest turned back round and began to allow her mind to stray. Prue started to worry about her actions yesterday and the repercussions it could have for her family.

She couldn't seem to work out ifit had came from actual impatience or as a consequence to her breakdown of control earlier and her need to find something to control. Both were plausible; which frightened her slightly, especially the risk she hadn't even considered at the time.

Finally Prue decided to face her sister again, who seemed very content with her apple and swinging her legs aimlessly. "Do you agree with what I did?"

"You mean Darryl?" Paige replied trying to swallow what was left in her mouth.

"No, the demon yesterday."

"Well, yeah. I can't say I wasn't surprised but it's about time the Source pulled his finger out." she answered, taking a bite of her apple to finish her sentence.

"You have a way with words." Prue laughed, sipping her coffee.

Paige shrugged with a broad smile. "Prue, at least now we know it's coming. It maybe soon, but we'd still be waiting and if you haven't noticed, we're not exactly the most patient of people." she stated, knowing that really Prue and herself were mainly the impatient ones but the rest were close behind. "Plus now we get to kick some demon butt."

Prue laughed again, watching as Paige took another bite out of her apple, making her seem completely unfazed by the impending battle. Then she realised one of those reasons and glanced around the room. "Where's Glen?"

"Gone to the market. He'll be back soon." the youngest beamed, glowing at the mention of him.

"Oh, really…" Prue replied with a smirk, "..do tell."

However, before Paige could even begin, Leo orbed in, causing the Halliwell sisters to exchange irritated expressions. Then both of them turned to face him and instantly Paige jumped off the counter.

"I'll go get them." she announced already halfway out the door.

"You want some coffee?" Prue asked her brother-in-law.

"No thanks."

"Is it bad?" she asked, trying to read his face.

"No, it's quite good. Living room." he answered, pointing behind him.

Prue nodded and began to follow him out of the room.

----------

Everyone, including Glen and Cole, had gathered in the living room. Now they were waiting for Leo to begin his explanation, particularly Piper, who had been worried and growing more and more annoyed when he had left and just wanted answers.

"Well I was 'Up There' because they wanted me to give you something." Leo began and pulled out a cloth bag he had.

"I like presents, even if the Elders are trying to butter us up." Phoebe stated, knowing this was Their way of making the sisters feel appreciated. Although another part of her knew this wouldn't last, only until after the battle.

Leo now pulled out three daggers, which looked slightly bigger than the typical dagger they had came across. He then handed one to Piper, then to Phoebe and then they watched, wondering if the final one would be passed to Prue or Paige.

He handed the final weapon to Paige, who was stunned at the fact she received it. However she noticed the tag with her name written creatively on it and then the other tags on the two daggers her sisters held. She glanced at Prue, who was finishing her coffee and looked completely neutral to not being handed one.

"What' s all this for Leo? And why are there only three?" Piper questioned, also aware that they were specifically meant for each of the younger Halliwells to have.

"Well there for the battle with the Source and the reason there's only three is because Prue's is arriving tomorrow I believe." Leo answered, smiling to his wife, who seemed to have cooled down from earlier.

Prue was slightly intrigued by the mention of her own, although she had to admit if she was handed one, she probably would have given it to the sister who hadn't.

"Supposedly they've each been blessed." the whitelighter added, watching as the sisters looked at the weapons in more detail.

"There beautiful." Phoebe stated, then her face creased as she noticed something about hers. "Are yours marked with, what looks like an element?" she asked them.

"Yeah, mine looks like water." Paige answered, also puzzled by the decoration. Then showed it to Glen, who was sat behind her with his arms lightly wraped around her waist.

"I think mines meant to be earth." Piper added, then showed Prue, who nodded in agreement.

"Well that would make Prue's fire because I'm pretty sure mine means air." Phoebe said and handed it to Cole to get his approval. However when he did see the symbol, the half demon laughed softly, causing all eyes to stare at him.

"They've got the elements to much the more prominent aspects of your personalities. The aspects that represent you more anyway." he explained.

Each Halliwell looked at the others and eventually smiled at the obvious connections that Cole had pointed out.

"Does this actually have any significance?" Prue asked.

"As far as I know, no. It's more of connections being made; like the four elements and the four points of a compass. The four of you, the four of them." Leo answered.

"Directions of a compass?" Phoebe questioned.

"Yeah. I think Prue represents the North, you as the East, Paige as the South and Piper as the West."

"Oh great, I'm the Wicked Witch of the West." Piper spat sarcastically making the others laugh.

Leo sat on the arm of the chair next to Piper and placed an arm around his wife, "Nothing's proven, honey, it's just theories." he offered, trying to hold back the grin, which was itching to come out.

"So many clichés, so little time." Paige muttered, receiving a glare from her older sister.

"Well, as much as I would love to sit around here all day, I don't…so what do you want to do?" Phoebe asked cutting in before Piper had a chance to retaliate with words.

"We could always go out and then go to the club later on." Piper suggested, forgetting Paige's quip. Instead she gazed around the room and gathered a round of nods, all but her oldest sister. "Prue?"

"I'll meet you guys at the club later. You should go out and have some fun." Prue answered. There was two reasons to her reluctance to join them and one was, she didn't like the idea of being the seventh wheel for a day out.

"So should you." Phoebe tried to coax, however Prue remained quiet.

"Aren't you going to come?" Paige whined playfully. She didn't like the fact that Prue would be left there, alone.

"I promise I'll meet you all at the club later." when nobody budged or seemed to register what she was saying, Prue continued, "I will, just go and enjoy yourselves."

"Prue we can't just leave you." Piper replied in concern. After yesterday, she was more worried about her sister. Piper didn't like the thought of leaving Prue out and with the added pressure of the Source and her sister's current emotional state, having Prue home alone seemed somewhat irresponsible.

"Yes you can. I have some stuff to sort out anyway."

The younger Halliwells rolled their eyes at the stubbornness. Although they all wanted for her to join them, there was the indication that they would spend the majority of their day trying to convince Prue.

In defeat they began to disperse, with Paige and Phoebe breathing out a sigh. Both were slightly annoyed at the fact that their older sister didn't want to spend time with them, especially as to what was happening tomorrow.

Before Prue could disappear like everyone else from the room, Piper grabbed her arm. "What stuff?" she whispered, hoping Prue wouldn't summon Patty.

Leo had returned last night with news that her mother was fine, emotional but she was okay. However Piper wasn't so sure with Prue and when Leo told her that her mother wouldn't arrive if she was summoned, she didn't want Prue to start believing that Patty didn't want to see her.

"Krolan." Prue replied shortly, offering a smile. It held no happiness but mainly a lingering sense of pain and very slight bitterness.

Prue then walked away as Piper still stood in the same spot, wondering if it was actually a good idea to leave. Prue had filled her in on the current state of the Krolan situation, although she was glad for her sister, she and Prue both knew that it was pretty much doomed.

"So where shall we go?" Leo asked, bring Piper out of her thoughts. "Movies?"

"Yeah, sure. Then what?" she replied, a little distracted,

"Don't know, let's just make it up as we go along." he suggested with a grin.

Now that's a happy smile, Piper thought, unable to resist the urge to mirror her husband's expression.

A/N: There you go. Chapter 25 done...but still more to come. (I so should try poetry.)

Thanks for all the reviews; I'm glad you all liked the last chap and hope you all like this one too.

Also auntiedoc; welcome and thanks for putting me down as a fav author, really sweet of you.

So, I will try my hardest to update during the week at some point but please don't hold me to it. :o)

Talk... or rather I write you read... to you later. ;o)