"The hell were you thinking Phoebe?!" Piper was yelling at her sister. After hearing what Phoebe went through, Piper was pissed that her younger sister took off without telling her and Sam.
"I'm sorry Piper. That vision was too overwhelming. I had to help."
"Phoebe, we just got you back. We were worried sick."
"I know Sam. But this vision was a little too real for me. The sounds of her neck breaking. I felt like I lost someone I care about."
"In the future, please wake us up. That is how we lost the others."
"Sorry sis. Next time, we will stick together. Um, I hate to ask, but is it okay if I take a small catnap?"
Piper waves her away. A few minutes later both Sam and Piper were strategizing on what their next move is.
"Okay, we know now that Prue was brainwashed. But she did save Phoebe's life back in LA. But there is the threat of the Men of Letters hidden base. Plus Dean and Paige are still prisoners. Do you remember what Charlie and Frank said about them?"
"Just they need to be stopped. They plan to take over globally, like a bad virus."
"Piper. What else did they say?"
"That they had files on every hunter in the country. So?"
"What about witches. Or any other special children?"
"Both said that there was a special file on the ones born with gifts."
"Then that means that they were watching you since you were small children."
"Ugh. Don't remind me."
"Hmm. Piper, that place Phoebe was at. What was it, Sacred Meadows? It is a recovery center for former demonic hosts and people born with special gifts such as witches. What if they plan to take over that place as a training grounds for their people to brainwash to be deadly agents. Prue was Agent 0."
"What are saying?" Piper looks at Sam with dread.
"Prue was a success. Yes she is strong, but is still human and susceptible to being reprogrammed. Imagine if those patients were all magical agents. They would be unstoppable."
Piper looks at Sam with horror. "There is hunters watching that place. If they get massacred, they will bring in their own people. Sam, I know I said I'll come and save your brother, but there is innocents there."
"Piper..."
"When we woke up our magic, we took an oath. Save the innocent. Not punish the guilty. We are going to save Prue, then Phoebe and I are going to save those people."
Sam nods. He understood. He knew Piper had a job to do, but so did he.
"I need to make some phone calls."
An hour later, Sam was getting ready to pack up. Seeing Piper's face he goes up to her and kisses her.
"Don't worry. I'm not leaving till Prue is safe and sound. After your sister is saved, and this Chris guy is subdued, I'm heading to my friend's Jody's. We are going to gather some hunters and storm their base. Fast and hard."
"Do you even know where it is?"
"I am just waiting for Charlie's call. She sent me an email earlier. She almost tracked down the location."
At that moment, Sam's phone rang.
"Speak of the red headed devil." Piper quipped.
She was thinking on what to do next, when the back door broke open. Sam hurriedly hung up his phone when Prue stormed in and used her powers to flung Sam across the room.
"Sam! Prue! What are you doing?" Piper screamed. Then the front door opened. Another Prue walked in. Damn it. Astral Projection. Which one was the real Prue? She barely had time to think before that British agent, Chris Barker walked in.
"Thank you Prue. You just saved me the job of killing Sam. But knowing you, he is not really dead. But no matter I will kill him anyways. We have Dean. One of two hunters isn't that bad. Well hello Miss Halliwell, how are you this fine evening?"
"Go to hell. I'm so glad that demon spit on you all those years ago at P3. I knew you were slimy the first day I met you."
"Oh yes. When Prue approached me for that loan all those years ago, she saved me the trouble of tracking you three down. What I didn't count on is how beautiful Prue was and still is. Now she belongs to us."
"Prue will break out of that spell. We were under many spells before. All of us broke out of it. This will be no different."
"Au contraire. Those demons were amateurs. We been doing this for decades. Having a witch working for us, this is a first. Now we know Lady Bevell's experiment was a success."
Then Prue was knocked unconscious on the floor by Phoebe. Before Chris can react, Piper froze him.
"Great work Pheebs."
"That was dangerous. Piper. What if that plan didn't work?"
"Remember how smug and conceited he was when he thought his money and power could control us? We figured this would be no different."
"Still. That was stupid and reckless."
"What can I say? I'll be a Winchester soon."
"Oh my god. Did Sam propose?" Phoebe squealed.
"Not yet. But I have a feeling he will after this is all over."
"When he does. I want to hear every detail. Including the ring."
Then Prue started groaning.
"Phoebe, tie her up. Make sure her hands are tightly bounded."
Sam woke up. "Ugh. Piper. How did you know which one was the right Prue?"
"I been fighting with my sisters for years. I can tell the difference. Sam, I'm going to unfreeze Chris. Get ready to fight."
"The hell? Clever witch. Freezing me. But I'm not dumb. I brought reinforcements." He then took something out of his pocket and blew a whistle. The sounds of growls were unmistakable.
"Hellhounds. Run!" Sam yelled.
All three including Prue went running to the back door where the washing machine was with all three using their powers to keep the hellhounds at bay.
"Now what." Phoebe asked. "We're witches, but I never fought a Hellhound before. How do we kill it?"
"Same as demons. We have to use angel blades." Sam answered.
"There invisible. How do we know what direction it is coming from?" Piper asked.
"Claw marks. All Hellhounds like to intimidate their victims before they kill them." Prue said.
"Just how do you know that?" Phoebe asks annoyed.
"I brought one along on a hunt once."
"Prue! The hell's wrong with you!" Piper and Phoebe both yell.
"Guys. Guys! The Hellhounds are about to burst in. Piper, can you freeze them?" Sam tells all three exasperated.
"I don't know. I never used my powers on a Hellhound before."
"What about the Power of Three. Piper. We are the original Charmed ones. Well, before we met Paige. Can we conjure up a quick spell?" Phoebe asks. Terrified that she is about to be puppy chow.
"Um, how about the hell spawn vanquishing spell. Just need to retweak it a bit. Prue, you ready?" Piper tells her.
"Sure. Why not."
"Hellspawn creatures, demonic hellhounds, return to Hell and remain bound!" All three chant.
There was hellish sounds of howling then they seen the creatures outlines before they were banished.
"Are they gone?" Phoebe asked. Terrified to come out just in case there was more.
"Positive. There was only two." Prue answered.
"And just how you know that, Prue?"
"Because that Crossroad Demon only supplied us with two. Cheapskate. Bravo ladies. You all passed the test. Prue you can come out now."
Everyone looked at Prue with astonishment when she walked out standing next to Chris. Sam seen both Piper and Phoebe clenching their fists.
"Come on out. Don't be shy. Especially you Sam. Don't forget we still have Dean."
''Go fuck yourself."
All three reluctantly walk out.
"Well. Your reputations were well received. Too bad I have to kill two of you."
"Huh? We are the Charmed ones. Sam here is a great hunter." Piper tells him astonished to hear the news. She knew Chris was conceited, but a psychopath?
"You are too much of a liability. Prue, Paige and Phoebe are great assets to our team. We cannot risk us being frozen, and we cannot have Sam live. With him dead, Dean will have nothing to live for and will be easy to program."
"Is that why you were with Jenna back in San Diego?" Phoebe asks.
"Is that her name? No wonder she looked so familiar. Actually, it was just a coincidence. I just thought she was cute. She offered to show me around the mall. She turned me down when I asked her to dinner."
"Good. She deserves better."
"Anyways. Phoebe come here. Piper, don't bother freezing. I bounded your powers. Go ahead and try."
Piper swore when she found out she couldn't.
"I won't leave my sisters or my friend."
"You sure about that Phoebe? As you wish."
"What are you going to do? Kill us? What are you going to tell your bosses." Sam asks.
"That you were killed by the Hellhounds. No matter. You see. This house is rigged. If any of you leave this place goes sky high."
"Your bluffing." Sam says.
"Am I? Miss Halliwell. Keep an eye on all three. If any try to escape, trigger the bombs. That includes the one on yourself."
"Yes sir."
"Well I shall be going. Good luck." Chris leaves.
After the door slams, all three look at each other than at Prue.
"Prue. You have to snap out of this." Phoebe pleads.
"Prue. It's me Piper. Your younger sister. You remember Sam? My boyfriend. Your good friend?"
"Quiet. I have my orders."
"You guys. She is too far gone."
"Don't say that Sam. She's our sister. You save Dean if he was in the same position." Piper tells him annoyed that Sam giving up on Prue.
"The Men of Letters did a number on her. Phoebe is there anyway to reach her? Like you did with Piper?"
"I can try. It was very hard to reach Piper in a dream. But Prue is awake, but has no emotion. Damn it! Just our luck we have no angelic help. We need a place to sit down. Prue, let's go to the living room."
"Don't try to escape."
"I won't sweetie. Sam, can you get me some candles, Piper, can you turn off the lights?"
After the candles were set and the lights went out, Phoebe begins her mind meld with Prue.
"Prue. I want you to look in my eyes and relax. Just keep your eyes on me please don't look away. Relax, you feel your eyes getting tired and sleepy, imagine you are opening the door to the manor. I can't get in. I lost my keys, so you came down and open the door."
''The doors stuck Phoebe."
"Keep tugging at the door, don't use your powers. You know Grams will be mad if that door gets broken. You feel the door tugging?"
"Yes Phoebe."
Next thing Phoebe was in was outside the manor doors. Phoebe starts knocking.
"Prue! Prue!" There was nothing. Not even footsteps, not until the door opened. When Phoebe checked inside it was silent.
Meanwhile, Piper and Sam were searching the manor for bombs. Neither one was sure if there was any, but weren't taking any chances.
"Sam, any luck?"
"Not at the moment. However, one thing Bobby always told me is that I have to be looking in the most unusual places, since most people tend to overlook them." Sam proceeds to check behind any closets, underneath rugs, and even inside Piper's underwear drawer.
"Sam!" Piper blushes when she noticed Sam digging around in it.
"Hey, I found weirder things. Besides, when are you planning to wear this around me?" Sam asks teasingly holding up a sexy red thong.
"Never mind. We have a job to do. How about the basement." Piper said yanking the thong away.
Phoebe was inside the foyer when she heard the sounds of laughter coming from the kitchen. When she walked in she saw herself and her family when they were younger. Piper and Grams were cooking and Prue was sitting on the table looking at family portraits. Phoebe's younger self was checking out a catalog for shoes.
Phoebe smiled at the memory. She remembered this is around the time before Grams had that fatal heart attack. Phoebe's younger self was a stubborn teenager. She always took her family for granted and never thought to think this was the last time they will sit down together as a family.
"Dinner is served." Younger Piper says proudly, setting down a bowl of hot soup.
"Yum. That looks good. Good job Piper." Grams said bringing over a pitcher of ice tea.
"Soup? It's a hot day. Plus ice tea? Weirdos." Younger Phoebe says rudely.
Present Phoebe winces. Why was she so rude back then. Grams just wanted them to sit down for a family dinner. The sounds if utensils clicking and laughter were the sounds that Prue clearly treasured. This was around the time that she was engaged to Roger. Neverless, Phoebe noticed that his name never came up once.
"Prue? It's Phoebe. Hi. Um, I know this is a happy memory for you, but this happened a few years ago. We need you now. Wake up."
Prue says nothing. She was too busy talking to their grandmother and sisters. Phoebe sighs in frustration. How far gone did they put Prue?
"Okay, we didn't find any bombs, but Piper. That guy said there may be a bomb on Prue."
"God. I hope not."
When Piper checked out Prue, her heart sank. There was a small amount of C4 strapped on her chest.
"Prue, this dinner. It happened a long time ago. I know you miss Grams, but you still have us."
Prue said nothing. But Phoebe noticed she put her spoon down. Phoebe puts her hand on Prue and squeezes her shoulder.
"Prue, it's time to get up. We need your help. Don't forget, we have a another sister. Paige. She needs us."
"Paige?" She looks at Phoebe. "Where are we? Where am I?"
"At home. But you need to wake up. Take my hand." Phoebe holds up her hand, then when Prue grabs it they found themselves back in the living room.
Unfortunately, they had a gun aimed at them along with a remote detonator on the other hand held by that guy Chris. Phoebe and Prue both noticed that both Piper and Sam had their hands up in surrender.
"Games over. I wasn't lying about the bombs. But how are you going to save your sister from blowing up? Hmmm? Now all of you are going to do what I say. Prue, Phoebe come along slowly and I will spare your sister and Sam."
Before any of them had a chance to react, a gunshot was heard and when Chris looked down at himself, there was blood seeping out of his chest. He was shot. He looked down at himself again than at the person that shot him. It was the same guy that saved Phoebe and Prue back in Los Angeles. The mask was still on, but there was something really familiar about how he stood. Before Chris could say anything, Sam immediately grabbed the detonator away from him, careful that he didn't trigger the bomb. Then the masked man shot him in the head.
All three women were horrified. They saw death before, some from innocents that couldn't be saved, but those were killed by demons. This one was killed by another human being. The guy who shot Chris was gone. Piper immediately spoke up.
"Prue? How are you doing?"
"Fine. Other than this bomb on my chest, I'm doing fantastic."
"Piper, can you freeze that bomb from going off?" Sam asked.
"I don't know. It is not alive. I doubt it would work on Prue anyway."
Phoebe felt scared. She just got her sister back. Now there was a possibility that she could lose her permanently.
"Sam, did your family teach you have to disarm a bomb?"
"Bobby Singer had some general knowledge to create bombs, but I never had a chance to disarm one before."
"I can just separate the bomb and the wires away from each other using my powers."
"Too risky. Phoebe, can you take Piper and go take another look in the house to see if there is any other bombs using your psychic powers?"
"Sam, I'm not leaving you and Prue."
"Neither am I."
"Look. I know that you care about Prue, but the danger is real. If we try to leave this manor, the bombs will go off and the house will explode with us in it."
"But that guy came and went and no one exploded."
"But Phoebe, I hate to say this, but Prue may be the trigger. She tries to leave this place, it's the end."
The realization sinks in for the sisters. Those guys are sadistic. They would rather kill them plus countless others from exposing their secrets. Phoebe reluctantly goes up to Chris's body to get a vision. Nothing.
"Try me Phoebe." Prue asks pointing at the bomb strapped to her chest.
"What if it goes off?" Piper asks worried. The thought of Prue dying was too much. She tears up along with Phoebe.
"You don't have much of a choice. Do it."
Phoebe gets a vision. She saw where the bombs were located. There was two in the basement, one in the kitchen under the sink and one beside the doorbell in the front door area. If any of them go off, they would trigger a explosion that would flatten the neighborhood since the gas lines were connected to one another.
"We need to call the bomb squad." Phoebe tells everyone grimly.
"But what about the Men of Letters? If they are watching the house, they trigger the bombs remotely." Piper says to her sisters and Sam.
"I can help."
Everyone looked up. It was the guy that shot Chris.
"I'm an expert on bombs. Let me take over."
"How do we know we can trust you?" Prue tells him not trusting him since he was still wearing his mask.
"You don't. But you have no other choice."
"You are a hunter?" Sam asks.
"No. But consider me a free agent."
"Now all three of you. Please leave this room. I need space to disarm this bomb and trigger."
"What about the hand detonator?" Sam asks still holding it.
"Fake. If you look closely at it, it says 'Made in China.' That is nothing but a kids toy. Prue is the detonator."
When Sam takes a good look at it, he realizes it was fake. He groans. Piper must have sensed his embarrassment she rubs his arm. Sam gently puts the toy down. He squeezed his girlfriend's hand.
"Okay. I'll check out the doorbell. Can you guys check the basement, and I'll check the sink out. Don't touch anything."
All three leave the room leaving the masked man and Prue.
"Why are you helping us?" Prue asks him.
"Because you save the world. Because of you, Armageddon was averted."
"Actually, I have some bad news about that."
"That was a decoy? Figures. Looks like whoever wants to challenge the Charmed ones want to finish the job permanently."
Prue smiles at him as he worked. There was something about him that put her mind at ease. She swore she met him before. She had to ask.
"I feel like I met you before. Have you ever worked at the gallery?"
"Are you hitting on me Miss Halliwell?"
"NO. I was just curious." Prue was insulted at the suggestion. But blushed anyway.
"Maybe in a past life. Okay Prue. Hold very still. Try to relax. I'm going to take out the wiring."
Prue holds her breath. She wanted to pray, but she knew God wasn't listening. She wished Gadreel was here. Unfortunately he was busy with Heaven's orders. Apparently every angel was under orders to search for someone that the Archangels wanted. He came to her in a dream before she was kidnapped and told her the bad news. She was gone for so long, she had no clue how much time has passed. The last thing she remembered was seeing Phoebe at that place before she was checked in, after that was a blank.
"Okay. I'm going to take out this wire. Prue. Hold very still."
Prue closes her eyes along with her sisters and Sam who were standing in the entrance way. None of them wanted to leave Prue just in case. Then the guy rips the wire.
Prue waited to see if her chest was ripped open.
"Phew. That is done. Prue you can open your eyes now. I'm going to take off this C4. You don't have to worry about anything."
After the guy takes off the bomb, he fully disarmed it. He than asked Sam to help him disarm the other bombs. After they left the sisters ran up to Prue and gave her a long hug. After they finished hugging, Prue looked at Phoebe and asked her a question.
"Thanks for saving me, again. So Pheebs are you back? All of you?"
"Yes." Then proceeded to tell her how she woke up.
"The bombs are all disarmed. We quadrupled checked this place. There is no more bombs."
"Thank you. Whoever you are." Prue tells the masked man. He just nods at her before he walked out.
"How do we know we can trust him?" Phoebe asked.
"Sure he isn't a agent of the Men of Letters?" Sam suggested.
"I trust him to be on our side." Prue said. She felt like she met him before. He has a kindness about him she not seen in a long time. She blushed at the thought of his hands on her. Even with the mask on, he was hot.
"Okay. Now that is safe, what do we do about him?" Piper points to the dead agent on the floor.
"I'll get a sheet." Phoebe says.
A short time later Sam and Piper were saying goodbye. Sam had called Jody and informed her of the plans to raid the Men of Letters main base. He had called other hunters including someone he hadn't seen in a long time. Ellen Harvelle. When Sam heard her voice he immediately wanted to go drive off. He was like a aunt to him. He was also happy to hearing Jo was safe as well. Apparently, she and 'Alfie' escaped in the trunk when Chris left the facility. They escaped the trunk in Los Angeles when Chris was tormenting Phoebe and her friend. Luckily he didn't care about the damage to his trunk. He was too distracted.
"Will you alright by yourself Sam?" Piper asked. She already missed him. She was scared she'll never see him again.
"I won't be alone. I got my friends with me. Plus Dean. Don't worry, Paige will come home too."
"Be careful than. Tell Dean I said hi. Love you. Better come back to me." Piper sniffled.
Sam wiped her tear away than grabs her and dips her for a kiss. "I promise, future Mrs. Winchester."
After Sam lifts her back up, Piper slaps him on the arm. "No proposing till you come back."
Sam smiles at her. Then after discussing the plans for Sacred Meadows, Sam gets into his borrowed car and drove away.
"Dean. I'm coming."
Notes:
*None of them know Ketch's real name, just his alias.