Chapter 30: Truthfully

Disclaimer: Leo's leaving. Enough said.

A/N: So here's another chapter, up within a week as promised. Just a quick little poll-type thing—who do you prefer Pam with: David or Bane?

"Pam," David began, "Do you feel like explaining what's going on?"

"Truthfully?" Pam laughed, "Not really."

"Pam, who is this bozo?" Bane solicited, indicating at David.

"Look buddy," David began to Bane, "I don't know who you are but Pam and I have a date tonight. So if you wouldn't mind—"

"Date?" Bane almost yelled, "With this guy? Pam—you have to be kidding me."

"You know what?" Pam stated, dodging Bane's question and kneeling down to help Piper up, "I need you to leave," She addressed Bane.

"But Pam—" Bane tried

"Go," Pam enforced, trying and failing to get Piper off the ground.

"At least let me help you with her," Bane pleaded, "It doesn't look like you'll be getting her up any time soon."

"Sure…whatever," Pam trailed off as Bane came forward to help her.

"David," Pam chimed with a large and somewhat fake smile on her face, "I'm so sorry about all this—I'll completely understand if you want to cancel for tonight—and tomorrow. It was nice—"

"Nonsense," David beamed, "If anything this has made me want to date you more—if every night with you is going to be this exciting, well then I have a lot to look forward to."

"Really?" Pam smiled, cocking her head to the side.

"Really," David reinforced, "I'll just wait out here on the porch until you're ready."

"Okay," Pam nodded, in much higher spirits than she had been only moments before.

"Come on," Bane said, rolling his eyes, "Let's get her on the couch."

The two of them hoisted Piper onto the living room couch and Pam looked at Bane expectantly.

"Well go then," Pam said, waving an unconcerned hand at Bane.

"Oh come on Pam," Bane begged, "No thank you? No 'Gee Bane, it sure is good to see you—where've you been for the past day and a half?'"

"Well I've been trying to refrain from lying lately, so that discounts everything you just said."

"Is that how it's gonna be with us?" Bane inquired throatily.

"Bane there is no 'us,' you made sure of that," Pam shot.

"Why are you acting like this?" Bane solicited, "Is it because of that Dax guy outside?"

"No it is not because of that 'Dax' guy over there who, by the way, is named David—"

"I don't care what his name is," Bane laughed wryly

"It doesn't matter what you care about!" Pam yelled over Bane, "What—just because you came back I'm supposed to fall into your arms and tell you how much I missed you and profess my everlasting love?"

"I'm not asking—" Bane began.

"It wouldn't work," Pam said sternly, "I don't understand what you don't get about that. You can't just jump from sister to sister when you feel like it—that's not how things are."

"I know that's not how things are—it's not what I want to do," Bane said rather loudly.

"Just—just tell me this," Pam started, "And you need to answer truthfully."

"Whatever you want," Bane stated awfully smugly.

"If Andy hadn't come back—if he wasn't in your way at all—would you still be standing here?"

"Pam…" Bane trailed exasperatedly.

"You said anything," Pam reminded.

"Truthfully?" Bane questioned.

"Uh-huh," Pam said, her arms folded.

"I couldn't say for sure," Bane started, "But truthfully—I don't think I would be."

"That's what I thought," Pam sighed, "Now go."

"Pam, it doesn't change what I feel for you—" Bane started.

"I said go," Pam reinforced, "Don't make me use my powers on you."

"Fine," Bane gave up, raising his hands in defeat, "I'll go out the back way. But believe me—this isn't the last you'll see of me."

"I'll be looking forward to it," Pam jeered.

As soon as she heard the back door close she lowered her voice a bit and summoned some help for Piper.

"Leo," Pam whispered, "Leo I need you—it's Piper."

Leo orbed in with a worried look on his face—much like the one he had worn in Prue's room earlier.

"What is it?" Leo asked, "What happened to her?"

Leo rushed over to Piper and kneeled by her side.

"Nothing," Pam concluded, "She just fainted when Bane came to the door—"

"Bane came to the door?" Leo asked worriedly, "What did he want?"

"Something he can't have," Pam said softly but just loud enough for Leo to hear. He turned his attention to his wife and decided not to further inquire on Bane's time spent in the Manor.

"Piper," he said softly, "Piper, come on—wake up."

Piper began to stir and looked terribly confused when she finally did open her eyes.

"Ugh I really have to stop doing this," Piper said groggily as she rose from the couch.

"Pam where'd Bane go?" Piper said, rounding on her older sister.

"He, uh, left," Pam said uncomfortably. Piper got the message and changed the subject abruptly.

"I'm so sorry about David," Piper said, "Did you guys reschedule or what?"

"Who's David?" Leo commented.

"No, actually he's waiting outside for me," Pam said brightly.

"Really?" Piper said, unbelieving, "That's one impressive date."

"Pam has a date?" Leo questioned.

"Don't act so surprised," Pam and Piper said in unison.

"Speaking of which," Pam continued, "I should probably go and get said date before his legs give out on him."

"Okay," Piper obliged, "I'll see you later tonight."

"Don't wait up," Pam joked as she exited the Manor door and went on her way.

"So," David began across a table for two at a small out-of-town bistro, "What do you do for a living?"

"Besides managing the club?" Pam answered, "I help people who've lost their way find it again."

"So you're a like a guidance counselor?" David tried to clarify.

"In a way, yeah," Pam answered.

"That's nice and vague," David joked.

"Yeah, well it comes along with being reserved," Pam joked back.

"So; not to be intrusive, but who was that guy at your house earlier?" David continued.

"He's just…just someone that's lost his way—except I couldn't help him find it." Pam answered even more vaguely than before.

"Oh," David said bluntly and a bit awkwardly.

"What?" Pam questioned, sensing the fact that David hadn't believed her.

"It's nothing…just I thought I heard him saying something about you two being together…I thought maybe…"

"No," Pam cut David off, "We're…not together. We never were. He's just…it's just a misunderstanding."

David sensed Pam's look of hurt and felt bad for bringing up the subject.

"I'm sorry if he hurt you," David said softly.

"What?" Pam almost yelled, serving as a sharp opposite to the tone of David's voice.

"I said I'm sorry if he hurt you," David repeated.

"Don't be," Pam said a bit roughly, for the feeling that David knew too much about her had returned a bit.

"I guess I'm not doing too well reaching that goal," David said, sounding genuinely sad.

"What are you talking about?" Pam questioned.

"My goal to make you happy—I'm not doing too well on that one."

"Don't be silly," Pam said, her mood rising, "You're doing a fine job—better than most people could, believe me."

"That's certainly gratifying," David smiled.

"What do you say we get out of here?" David continued, "It's getting late—I want to make sure you're rested for our club date tomorrow night."

"Well aren't you thoughtful," Pam laughed.

David paid the check and helped Pam out of her chair. He wrapped Pam's jacket and led her to his car.

The ride back to the Manor was a pleasant one. When David and Pam were finally on the front porch of the manor, Pam was considerably happier than she had been in a while.

"I can't wait for tomorrow night," David commented.

"Surprisingly," Pam began, "Neither can I."

"I'll take that as a compliment," David concluded.

"Here's something you can remember my by until then" Pam stated, handing David the pin that was holding up her hair and turning to the door.

"Wait," David stated, "Didn't you forget something?"

"Umm…no…" Pam said with a raised eyebrow.

"I bed to differ," David challenged.

He then swooped in and gave Pam another one of his amazing kisses.

"Until then," David repeated Pam's words before walking down the front steps and into his car.

Pam walked back into the Manor in a daze only to bump into a pajama-clad Piper.

"He's that good, huh?" Piper laughed.

"Were you spying on me?" Pam said with mock indignation.

"Well I'm just sneaky like that," Piper said with a wave of her hand.

"Jokes aside," Pam started, "He's wonderful. I can't find a thing wrong with him."

"Really Pam?" Piper said happily, "That's wonderful. So do you think you see a long-term relationship with this guy?"

"Truthfully?" Pam began, "I think I'm falling in love."

David walked out of his car and up the steps to his apartment. He walked in and dropped his keys on a table after hanging up his coat on a rack. He went into his bedroom and opened his top drawer.

He pushed some clothes out of the way and slid aside the wood to reveal a secret compartment. Inside was a lone small metal box. He opened it and dropped Pam's hairpin inside after removing some papers.

"Are you sure it's love?" Piper questioned of her oldest sister.

"Love," Pam concluded.

The papers David removed were many different articles, all with a similar headline.

Fourteen Year Old Girl Disappears From Sacramento Home

The articles went on to describe a girl—Pam Recanter—having disappeared from her home after the double murder of her father and mother.

The various articles also included the same color photo of a 14-year-old Pam

"Love?" Piper questioned once more.

"Love," Pam repeated.

David put the articles back in the box and closed the compartment.

"Truthfully."

A/N: If you didn't read Her Destiny you might be a little confused. You might want to just read chapters 3 and 4 to understand what's going on.