A new Power of three Part 11:
Andy
2004, 3 days ago, Wednesday evening
As soon as Prue was gone, Andy called the station calling in sick for the rest of the week. He knew Prue wouldn't be back any time soon, so he just picked the girls from the Manor and started their every day bedtime routine. Setting their dinner, showering them, changing them, reading them a story, then tucked them in
"can I cuddle a little with mommy before I go to sleep?" Meghan asked, as she finally laid in her bed
"mom's not home sweetie" Andy told her truthfully
"but mommy's sick, how can she not be home?"
"well, mommy felt a little better and so she took a job in New York. She doesn't know how long she'll take there though"
"I miss mommy" Meghan said as a few tears spilled from her eyes. She wasn't used to not have Prue around. Andy sighed and pulled her out from under the covers and onto his lap
"I know" he whispered and kissed the top of her head softly. He held her for several minutes and stroke her head tenderly. His thoughts were set on Prue and so he didn't even notice how time passed with his daughter in his arms. When he finally looked back at her he noticed she was asleep. He softly shifted her so she was now laying on her bed. He grabbed for the covers as he still looked at Meghan
flashback
"I miss mommy" 8 year old Prue told Andy as he sat on the edge of her bed after Patty's funeral. Penny had sent her straight to bed after the funeral, as she still was with a little fever. 8 year old Andy had still played a little with Piper and Phoebe to cheer them a little and give them some distraction, but when Penny had called the girls for dinner he snuck off to Prue's room. Without another word Andy just pulled his best friend into a hug. He shifted her slightly to sit in his lap and just held and stroke her. He noticed how she fell asleep after a good while, but still kept her in his arms. He wanted to be there for her. He heard a light knock on the door and whispered an 'come in'. His dad walked into the room and looked at him. Andy put a finger to his lips, signalizing his dad to be silent. Richard nodded and walked over to them. He knelt down in front of them
"it's late already. Mom and I wanted to go back home now, leave Penny and the girls some space" Richard whispered
"I dunno if I should leave..." Andy sighed "she had to be so strong all day. I think she needs someone where she can fall apart with" he whispered back
"she's sleeping now, Andy. You need something to eat and some sleep as well. Mom and I intend on coming back tomorrow anyway." Richard told him and Andy nodded. Richard then got up again. He carefully, not to wake her, took Prue from his son's arms and laid her down on the bed. Andy fought the urge to lay down next to her. Instead he grabbed her covers and pulled them over Prue.
Andy covered Meghan up. He stroke her hair some more. He couldn't leave her side now. He wanted Prue to be there and Meghan was the best of her he could get. They were just so alike. After over an hour he finally left his daughter's bedroom and closed the door after him. He leaned back on the closed door and closed his eyes. His emotions ran high. Prue was pregnant. Prue was gone. His dad was dead. His girls were sad to no end. He didn't know what emotional distress he should work out first. Andy like never cried. But now he did. Still leaning on the closed door of his daughter's bedroom. He then pulled out his cell phone and dialed Prue's number
"hey, this is Prue Trudeau speaking. Unfortunately you can't reach me right now, but if you'll just leave me a message, I'll call you back as soon as I'm free again" Prue's answering machine told him. Andy sighed and wasn't sure what to do for a second. He heard the beep on the other end of the line and sighed again
"hey baby, it's me. I know you don't want to talk to me right now. But please, just leave me something, so I know where you are and that you're alright. I'm gonna go to bed now. I love you" Andy said and then hung up. Prue's image flashed on his cell for a second and he just stroke over her image, then went to their bedroom, showered and went to sleep.
2004, 2 days ago, Thursday
The next morning he continued routine as always for the girls. He took Anna again over to the Manor, acting like he'd go to the station, instead he walked the town, called Prue several times. He checked the swing, the lake, their hotel room, the cemetery, everywhere his wife could possibly be. But there was absolutely no sign of her being anywhere. He called several hospitals. He grew more worried by the second. He not only was scared something happened to her, but also that she would do something he wasn't sure he could ever forgive. He sat at their swing and just starred ahead. He again got his cell out and dialed her number
"Prue, I know you don't wanna talk, but I'm worried sick here. Please leave me a message! Please don't do anything stupid. Don't do anything without me. If you wanna have an abortion, then..." Andy sighed, he couldn't believe he'd say that "it's alright, but... please call me. I wanna be there. I wanna be there for you." he once again hung up his cell and starred at the picture in front of him. His eyes fell to the clock on his cell. Meghan would be out of school soon. So he got his act together again and drove to Meghan's school. After he had picked her, he also picked Anna at the Manor and to cheer them a little he first went with them to pizza hut and afterwards got into some toy store. The girls immediately spread around the place. He just wandered the floors, nodding slightly to some of the stuff his girls dragged along. He stopped on the baby section for a second and his eyes scanned the items in the shelves and hanging on the wall. His eyes set on a little star shaped music box. He went closer and pulled on the string. A tear fell from his eyes as he heard the melody of twinkle twinkle little star play from it.
"daddy!" Meghan yelled and ran up to him. Andy quickly pushed the tear away and turned around to face Meghan "can I have that dress for my Barbie, too?" Andy knelt down and forced a smile
"yes. Just add it to the basket, okay?" he told her and ruffled her hair. Meghan then noticed what her dad held
"who is that for?" she asked. Andy looked back at the little star in his hands
"uh... nobody you know. Just someone at the station" he lied to her, still forcing a smile. "can you do me a favor and get your sister? I think you guys picked enough"
"uh hum" Meghan answered nodding and ran off again. Andy added the little star and the Barbie dress to their basket and went over to the till. There he still added some bubble soaps and balloons to the cart and then paid for everything. He took the girls for some ice cream and then they went home. Andy just prayed Prue was finally home, but again there was no sign of her. A few minutes later the telephone rang though and he jumped to it
"hello?" he asked into the phone, desperate to hear Prue's voice.
"hey sweetie!" his excitement fell as he heard his mother's voice
"mom, hey!"
"i didn't hear from you guys since Meghan's birthday, how are you?"
"yeah. I'm sorry mom. We were kinda busy since..." Andy struggled to say it and grew as white as the wall. Their kissaversery. Prue had said... he shook himself out of it. He knew if he didn't want anybody to catch on something he needed to keep going
"our anniversary. Prue had some shoots and I was working a lot lately and with all the birthday preparations and everything."
"yeah right. How are the girls? Prue? You?"
"we're great. I mean, Meghan's still busy with her presents and Anna is... well growing" he stifled a laugh "she learns a new word like every day. I'm... a little tired right now. I'm dealing with work and everything home right now kinda alone, as Prue's in bed with some stomach flue."
"oh really, she is? Well tell her to be better soon"
"i will... umm listen mom, you kinda caught a bad time. We were just about to eat dinner. Can I call you back at the weekend, please?"
"yeah sure. Kiss the girls for me."
"i will. Promise. Bye" he said and hung up, then again did the same as the day before... eat with the girls and tug them in. then again called Prue before going to sleep himself.
2004, yesterday, Friday
The next morning, he too, did just the same. Though he was absolutely miserable and practically had no sleep at all. He brought Anna to the Manor, took Meghan to school, acted like he'd go into the station. Then checked again all kind of places. Called hospitals. Nothing. He got out his cell again, but this time searched for Darryl's number
"morris?"
"Darryl, hey, it's Andy. I need you to do me a favor. Can you please hand out Prue's picture to the department. They shall leave an eye open... if anyone sees her, they shall report it"
"what?"
"Prue disappeared on me on Wednesday night. I'm growing desperate..."
"wait. Andy you can't just let her be searched by the police. How about we meet for lunch and talk?"
"alright. At buddy's. One o'clock" he said and hung up again. He thought he'd go insane any second now. He again dialed Prue's number
"Prue! I don't care anymore, alright?! You come home this instant, understood? I'm worried sick here. Just call. Just say something. Where are you? God, please... just give me some sort of sign. I need to know you're okay!" he almost yelled into the phone. He knew exactly he'd not get a reaction out of her this way. But he really was growing more than worried. There was just simply nothing. It was like she had disappeared. What if some demon got her? What if some criminal did? What if she had an accident? Prue normally drove when she was upset. He knew she could handle it, but what if something happened afterall?
"damn it!" he yelled as he pressed the button to hang up again. He again pressed a few buttons and ended up on the phone with Phoebe, telling her, he couldn't make it to pick Meghan and asked her if she could do it once more for him. Then headed off to buddy's to meet Darryl
Andy already sat in a booth at buddy's drinking a coffee when Darryl entered. He already noticed his partner from a far and also could clearly see what a mess he was. He went up to the booth and sat down
"hey" Darryl greeted him. Andy handed him a picture of Prue over without saying a word. Darryl sighed
"Andy, you know I can't just hand that out at the station. You would have to report her as a missing person"
"she IS missing, Darryl." Darryl sighed. He wasn't sure if there was sense in talking to his partner. A waitress walked up to them and he ordered another coffee and two burgers with fries
"what happened, Andy. And not just she ran away stuff. Before that?"
"I..." Andy let out a big breath "I told her I wanted to hear the truth and that I was sick of her lies." he told Darryl and looked down again "you were right. She's pregnant" he said lowly
"really? That's great, partner! Congratulations!" Andy just forced a small smile at Darryl and then the waitress returned placing a coffee in front of Darryl "OK, it's not great? What is it?"
"it is great. I was thrilled as well... but Prue. She doesn't want another kid. She..." he sighed "she said she thought our family was complete. She meant it was perfect the way it is. Why change something? She said she thought about our future and she just couldn't picture having another baby. She wanted to go to work again. She wanted us to date. She... she said all her life she was a noone, because she never was able to be herself. She always had to be someone for somebody. And now she thought she could finally be herself. Do what she wanted, when she wanted to do it. And I can kinda understand her. We never again were those teenagers from back then anymore. Just her and me. Well maybe the few weeks after I returned. We should be able to... be just us once in a while. I miss it as well."
"every married couple with kids misses that, Andy. Do you think Sheila and I spend much time alone?"
"but you had time before you had Michael and junior." Darryl sighed
"but we didn't know each other forever. Anyway, that still doesn't explain why Prue's gone."
"well. She was being stubborn. I was being stubborn. You know..."
"what happened Andy?"
"Prue said she had no confirmation on being pregnant yet and so, to her, she wasn't pregnant yet, so if she wasn't pregnant for sure she wouldn't think about it either. She just like... lied to herself. She completely refused to see the fact. And I told her, that she was being ridiculous..."
"you did what?" Darryl asked "seriously Andy? You tell a woman high on hormones she's being ridiculous? And here I was thinking you already had experiences with pregnant women... women at all!"
"gosh, don't you think I know that was wrong? I know I screwed up, okay? I just wanted her to see that she really was pregnant and that we had to deal with it somehow. No matter if dealing with it meant starting to create a baby room or make an appointment to abort it..."
"you really think she'd do that?" Darryl asked him as their burgers arrived
"i don't know, Darryl. I've never seen Prue this way. She even used her powers against me. I don't know what she'd do or not. I'm just scared right now. Completely worried. Usually I find her at one of the usual places, but I don't okay? I... Prue usually drives when she's upset, but what if she this time couldn't handle it and was involved in an accident?"
"did you..."
"call the hospitals? About 5 times. Also left my number. And as noone is calling me, I go to the assumption one of the bad guys or the reeeeally bad guys got her. Or what if she is in one of the hospital, but told them not to tell me and does an abortion? I know she'd regret that, Darryl. And she would blame me, because I drove her mad. What if she had a stroke... a heart attack... some bleedings because of the fight and just lays somewhere?"
"well, that is a little over the top Andy, really!"
"i know, but I just... I can't stop these worst case scenarios from playing in my head. I'm so worried. I just need to hear from her, Darryl"
"have you called her?" Andy nodded as he turned silent "did that thing you do?"
"i can't sense anything of her. I just feel like deep down... I dunno... I feel like she still exists. But I can't sense feelings. Emotions. If she's in pain. I can't locate her."
"then you just have to wait and trust your feeling, that nothing too serious happened to her"
"i know. But I can't. I need a sign of her!"
"so you really want me to report her missing?" Andy looked down his mind racing with worry. He again got his cell phone out and dialed her number
"Prue, hey, I'm sorry for the way I behaved, okay? Please, you need to call me or come home. I'm driving insane. I really am worried. It's Friday. Come home. We'll do that test and then we can talk. But if you don't want to... just call me. I need to know you're alright. Please. I love you" he said into the phone and hung up again. Darryl put a hand on his upper arm and gave it a squeeze
"I'm sorry, man" Andy just nodded and lent back on his seat, starring outside. His burger still was untouched, but he just couldn't eat right now.
"daddy" Meghan yelled, her face lighting as she saw her father sneak in. she jumped from Leo's lap and ran to her father. Leo smiled a little and put Anna down on the floor as well. Chris kept sitting in his fathers lap. As fats as the toddlers feet could carry the girl she went over to her father as well.
"dadi" she too yelled and Andy hugged the younger one immediately as well
"heeeey" he said forcing a smile and tightened his grip around them a bit "i missed you guys today as well." he told them then looked up at Leo and smiled tiredly at him as well "hey to you, too" he said and let go of the girls
"bad day?" Leo asked
"a hell of one, yes" Andy answered nodding "thanks for taking care for them. Hope they behaved."
"nothing to thank about. I love the girls. And sure… they were perfect angels. But…. Umm the girls want to talk to you..."
"okay" Andy said carefully
"they're in the kitchen" Leo added. Andy just nodded and by how his old friend looked it was nothing good. He set his girls back on the floor
"daddy's just gonna talk to your aunts for a second I'm right back. You just listen to uncle Leo read the end of the story okay?"
"come here you two" Leo said softly
Anna right away went back to Leo and joined Chris on Leo's leg again. Meghan kept standing where she was, Leo ruffled her hair a little and then started to head for the kitchen, Meghan right behind him. He stopped in his tracks, knelt down and sighed
"sweetie… I need to talk to your aunts. Please..."
"i wanna come, too!
"you can't. It's adults stuff, you know?"
"they're mad at you" Meghan said lowly looking down. Andy again sighed. They were on his tracks. They knew something. Just how much?
"i know" he answered her, smiled a little and kissed her forehead "now go for uncle Leo, okay? I'm sure it's a great story..." Meghan put on a pouting face and looked again at her father "Meghan, please?" he said, just putting on that exact same pouting face. He lived with three girls, he knew better than to give in on a pouting face.
Meghan now got angry and stamped her foot "no!" she said in a slightly raised voice
"this behavior is stopping NOW, Missy!" Andy commanded, now too looking angry and sternly at his oldest. Meghan and Andy looked on another in the eyes. Starring one another down
'gosh, she's as stubborn as her mother' Andy thought, trying hard not to smile. Meghan then crossed her arms and stamped away. But she didn't go for Leo, she passed him and went for her dolls stroller, where her new doll was sitting in. she picked it up and ignored everyone else. Andy looked at Leo
"angels, huh?"
"well, she's got a lot of her mom" Leo just confirmed what he had thought before. Andy sighed and then went for the kitchen
"hey! You wanted to talk to me?"
"what was that screaming all about?"
"oh just Meghan being stubborn." he put it off "so what's up?" he asked smiling slightly, not showing he knew he was in trouble
"you can leave that smile right where it came from!" Phoebe snapped at him
"where's Prue?" Piper asked
"i… I dunno. In bed most likely..." Andy lied, even though he knew it made no sense
"i was over at yours today, to check on her and bring her some soup. She wasn't home..."
"well maybe she was at her doctor's appointment..."
"that was yesterday" Paige answered "plus… she won't answer her telephone"
"plus… Meghan said, Prue wasn't home for three days now." Phoebe told him
"don't get us wrong, Andy. We love the girls and we don't mind watching them. But we'd anyway would like to know, where the hell Prue is..." Piper reasoned
"and we don't really like being lied to!" Phoebe again told him, her voice clearly showing she was pissed. She like always was the one, not keeping her temper back.
"can we please talk another day. I had a long, hard da..." he looked at them and saw how he could just spare his breath. They wouldn't let him off the hook. He sighed heavily "I'd tell you, if I knew" Andy said sighting again and looked down
"yeah sure" Phoebe said rolling her eyes
"I mean it, okay? We've had a huge fight Wednesday night. She drove off and I didn't see her since then. Can't sense her. Can't call her."
"but.. she's sick.. don't you worry?!" Paige asked
"i almost can't breath from worry" Andy admitted looking down
"what about the girls?" Piper asked a little shocked
"i told them she had to go on a business trip to take some pictures in New York..." he told them, now looking from one sisters to the next. They all three felt bad for yelling at him, as they saw in his eyes how worked up he looked
"well… we.. we have to find her… for all we know she could be in a coma god knows where…." Phoebe started running and started to leave the kitchen to head for the attic
"Phoebe wait… she… she needs some time. time to think." Andy told her, grabbing her by the arm
"thinking's all well and good, but.. you just said yourself: you're worried." Piper argued
"i really am… but i feel it in my guts she's somehow fine" he told them "I'd feel if something serious had happened to her..."
"what did you fight about, anyway?" Paige inquired
"the truth please" Piper said as she saw how Andy struggled with the answer
"we'll tell you when she's back, okay?"
"what if it wasn't okay?" Phoebe asked
"i can't tell you. I'm sorry" Andy told them "and I took off next week, so you won't have to take care of the girls anymore"
"well… we'll still bring her back somehow. She also can think about things when we know where she is and whether she's fine or not." Phoebe said determined.
"I'll handle it as soon as the girls are in bed. I promise. If I can't handle it tonight, you can do whatever you want tomorrow. Just give me tonight, okay?"
