Chapter 4Rebuilding Bridges

Hands still tied to a post. She could see the man standing there, she could feel his breath on her face. "Let me go, please." She pleaded.

"No." The man's hands ran across her chest as he leaned over her. She felt him as he lowered down and kissed her.

She tried hard to block it out. She chocked back the feeling to vomit right then and there. She could feel the tape as it crossed her mouth. She could feel the heat from the mans now sweaty body pressed against hers.

"NOOO!" She screamed.

"Wake up. Piper wake up."

She opened her eyes and saw Prue and Pheobe sitting there on her bed. It had been a month since the attack and she still hadn't been able to sleep through the night. The night air made her shiver as it hit her now soaked with sweat t-shirt. It took a minute for her to focus, for her to actually see she was in her own room.

"I'm sorry." She looked down at her hands, hoping her sisters didn't see the tears in her eyes.

"It's ok, honey. You're home now, you're safe." Pheobe watched as her sister got up from the bed and walked to the bathroom, letting the door close behind her.

"Maybe we should get her to see that therapist, at least then she'll talk to someone." Pheobe looked at Prue hoping she could say something to ease her mind.

"Andy said to call when she was able. I don't know. I don't know if she's ready yet." Prue stood up and walked over to the door. She could hear Piper sobbing from there. "Piper?"

It took a few minutes but the door finally opened. Piper looked from one sister to the other, trying to gather the courage to say something. She took in a deep breath. "I know this sounds dumb, but can I sleep with one of you guys tonight."

"That's not dumb, of course you can." Prue put an arm around Piper.

"We can all sleep in Prue's bed." Pheobe added.

The three walked together down the hallway to the last door. There they lay down, placing Piper in the middle. Prue's heart ached as she felt her little sister's body shaking from the fear she felt beside her. There had to be a way to help her, there had to be something they could do.

The next morning Piper woke up alone in Prue's room. She glanced over at the clock to see it was already 9:30. She reached her hand up and covered her mouth as she yawned. Her nose crinkled at the smell in the air. She slowly got up and walked down stairs to see the black smoke escaping the kitchen. The house is on fire. She thought. She ran into the kitchen to see Prue laughing as Pheobe was scraping black lumps from a pan. By the looks of it, it may have once been biscuits.

"You're up." Prue was taken off guard by her sister's smile. It seemed like it had been so long since she had seen that.

"I was gonna surprise you with breakfast." Pheobe waved her hand in front of her face to try and push away the black smoke, coughing just a little.

"You gonna make me eat those?" Piper asked as she leaned over to look at the small black charcoal looking blobs.

"No." Pheobe placed the pan on the counter as she blew a stand of brown hair that had fallen from her poney tail.

"I'm glad." Piper pulled out a chair and sat down at the table. She turned as she heard the knock at the door.

"I got it." Prue jumped up and ran to answer. She had hoped deep down it was Andy, she had talked to him at least once a week here lately. She knew she loved him. How could she not? As the door swung open she stopped with a puzzled look on her face. "Leo?"

"Hey Prue. Can I come in?"

"Umm….I guess." She stepped aside as walked by.

"I really need to talk to the three of you. Are you're sisters here?"

"Kitchen." She led Leo to the table where Piper and Pheobe now sat.

"Piper this is Leo. Leo this is"

Leo cut her off. "Piper." A goofy grin crossed his face.

"So he's the one that thinks we're witches?" Piper looked over to Pheobe.

"That's him." Prue chimed in.

"You are witches and right now you really need to believe that. I came here for your help."

"What kind of help?" Pheobe would never admit it to her sisters, but she loved the idea of being a witch. It was actually pretty cool to her.

"There's a young witch that is in trouble. She is being targeted by evil, and could very easily be swayed to their side." Leo watched hoping he was convincing them. "As the Charmed Ones it's your responsibility to protect the innocent."

"Who's in trouble?" Piper was now staring at this young man. Her sisters had told her about their conversation with him. They told her that all three of them were witches, she didn't doubt there was something unusual. She could still see the way that guy just froze in front of her.

"She's a future witch, she doesn't know she has powers though. That's why evil is after her. They can't force her to be evil, but they can sway her. They can tempt her. I need for you guys to protect her. I also need for you to let her know that she's a witch."

"Wait a minute. You want us to go up to a complete stranger, tell her she's in danger, then tell her she's a freak. No way." Prue did not like this. How could they protect someone when they couldn't even control their own powers? She could only use hers when she was angry. She could barely control them then.

"If you don't protect her she could turn evil Prue, or worse, she could die." Leo watched as the three shared a look.

"Sounds like we don't have a choice." Piper looked over at Prue.

"Piper, we don't know that we can do this. Do you really think you're ready to fight whatever evil there is out there?" Prue didn't think Piper could do this. She knew what Leo had said before about Piper being swayed to evil. She really didn't like the idea of actually putting her face to face with evil.

"We can't just sit here and let someone die. We have to do something." Piper looked at Leo, his blue eyes seemed to have a glow to them. He had a smile that made her feel different inside. She shook these thoughts from her mind. She had to focus. "What do we do?"

"Do you know where the Book of Shadows is?"

"That big spell book thingy?" Phoebe had looked through it a couple of times. The pictures were a little frightening, but the spells were amazing.

"Yea, we need to look in there, I know who the demon is. If I'm right, there should be a spell in there to vanquish him." With that they all stood and headed for the attic. Prue stayed a few steps behind and watched as Piper and Pheobe got far enough so she could talk to Leo.

"Hey, um, not to be personal, but were making goo-goo eyes at my sister?" Prue watched as Leo began to blush. She didn't know angels could do that.

"Uhhh, me?" Leo stuttered.

Prue smiled as she walked past him up the stairs. She never thought anyone would be good enough for either of her sisters. This man was literally an angel. She saw how Piper looked at him. She was really glad to see her like that again. Maybe, just maybe, things were getting back to normal for them.

A few minutes later Leo flipped through the book while the sisters stood around him.

"There, that's him." Leo pointed at the picture on the page.

"Ok, says here all we need is this spell. So, do you know how to find him?" Piper asked.

"Well, I know how to find her, that should be good enough. I can take you guys there, if you don't mind orbing."

"If we don't mind whating?" Prue wasn't sure she had heard him right.

Leo smiled. "Just take my hand." He reached out his hands. Pheobe took one while Piper took the other. "Prue, hold Pheobe's hand. Just don't let go."

Within a few seconds orbs filled the room as Leo and the girls disappeared, reappearing in a dark alley.

"Whoa, head rush." Pheobe stumbled a little as did her sisters.

"Just breathe. That feeling will disappear in a minute." Leo watched as the sisters slowly regained their composure.

"If she's so innocent, what's she doing here?" Prue asked as she shook her boot, which just happened to be covered in water from the puddle she landed in.

"Just watch." Leo motioned for them to be quiet as he watched the far end of the alley. A young girl appeared, she looked to be maybe twenty or so. She was carrying a rather large stack of folders and didn't look to be too happy about it. They heard a bang on the other side of the alley and looked up in time to see the demon coming out.

"Ok girls, its time." Leo looked from sister to sister hoping they were really ready for this.