FOUR
"And you think there's some kind of connection?" Leo asked.
"It makes sense," said Phoebe. "And we all know that our powers are passed through our blood. What if someone got hold of our blood and used it to give our powers to those doppelgangers."
"I don't see how that's possible," said Leo. "You saw what happened to Dr. Williamson when he was accidentally injected with your blood. It drove him insane and it ended up killing him."
"Yeah, but you said that was because he was a mortal," said Piper. "You said he wasn't ready for our powers and that's why he was driven insane from it. These doppelgangers are magical creatures. They would be better equipped to deal with our magical blood."
"Yes, but not with your power," said Leo. "Doppelgangers are really considered very low level for demons. They couldn't handle the potency of the magic in your blood."
"They could if it or they were altered in some way," said Phoebe.
"Well, yes," said Leo, "but it wouldn't make much sense to alter your blood. It would alter the magic in it and it wouldn't be useable for duplicating your powers."
"But what about altering the doppelgangers?" questioned Paige. "Maybe whoever this man in gray robes is found a way to alter them so they could take the blood. That would explain how they could duplicate our power."
"I think you're grasping at straws," said Leo. "You're talking about a lot of trouble and expense just to duplicate your powers. There are easier ways to do that."
"So how do you explain that doppelgangers were trying to replace us and the same med tech who drew blood from both Paige and me is dating a doppelganger?" Piper asked.
"I can't," said Leo. "Maybe it's just coincidence."
"You don't really believe that, do you?" Phoebe asked.
"No, I guess not," said Leo. "But what connection does this David Post have with demons trying to duplicate your powers?"
"We don't know," said Piper. "But we're going to find out. Zyoff said he works nights at the hospital. Paige is going to orb us there tonight and we're going to have a little chat with him. Maybe he can give us a lead on who this man in gray robes is."
"Just be careful," said Leo. "If this is a coincidence you don't want to give away that you're witches. He could just be a med tech who happened to draw blood from both of you. Just go slow and easy."
"We will," said Piper. "I remember him, too. And Paige is right. He's a real nice kid. All we want to do is find out if he knows anything about this man in gray robes."
"Oh, yeah, that's not the least bit suspicious," said Leo, smiling slightly. "Just take it slow. You don't want to spook him."
"We won't spook him," said Phoebe. "We're just going to talk to him."
"Well, if I remember correctly," said Paige, "the night shift begins at eleven o'clock at the hospital. So I guess we should wait until about midnight or so."
"Good idea," said Piper. "I guess I'll get us some dinner while we're waiting. Paige can orb us in when we're ready to go."
"I forgot how dead this place could be at night," said Piper.
"Only down here in the labs," said Paige. "Upstairs in the emergency room I'll bet it's a different story."
"Well, the directory said the labs were down this hall," said Phoebe. "We should find David in there. Or at least he'll be there eventually. All we have to do is wait for him to come down here."
"Maybe not as long as you might think," said Piper. "I think there's someone in the lab down the hall right now. If it's not David I'll bet they can tell us where he is."
"Well, let's get this over with," said Paige. "It might be hard to explain if we were found down here. Only the staff are supposed to be down here especially this time of night."
They walked over to the door leading into the lab and looked inside. In the back of the room was a young man who was apparently washing his hands. The room looked like a normal laboratory with equipment that the girls couldn't identify. They all recognized David Post as the man washing his hands. They looked around and walked into the room.
"Hello, David," said Piper. "It's been a long time."
Post spun around obviously startled at the sound of Piper's voice.
"Oh, you startled me," he said. "I'm sorry but only staff are allowed down here. If you're looking for someone the nurse at the night desk can help you find them."
"We're looking for you, David," said Paige.
"Paige, isn't it?" Post questioned. "Paige Matthews. Well, it has been a long time."
"You remember me," said Paige. "I'm flattered."
"And Piper Halliwell, isn't it?" questioned Post. "And your sister, Phoebe."
"You remember all of us?" Phoebe asked. "You have a really good memory."
"I always remember the nice ones," he said. "You said you wanted to see me?"
"Yes," said Piper, looking around the lab. "We were just wondering what you did with the blood you drew from us when we were here?"
"You came all the way down here this time of night to ask that?" Post said, drying his hands on a towel. "That seems like an odd thing to be curious about."
"It's kind of important, David," said Paige. "We just need to know what you do with the blood you draw for the tests and things."
"It's disposed of," said David. "Just like all hazardous material."
"Our blood is considered hazardous material?" questioned Phoebe.
"All tissue is," said David. "Especially blood. Most human diseases are transmitted in the blood so we have some very specific protocols about how to deal with it."
"And just how do you dispose of it?" Paige asked.
"It's all sealed into containers and we have a hazardous disposal company that removes it," said Post. "I'm not sure exactly what they do with it but I'm sure they have special protocols they have to use to dispose of it as well. The law is very specific about how to dispose of hazardous material."
"So you wouldn't be selling our blood to someone?" questioned Piper. "Maybe to make a little money on the side?"
"Of course not," said Post. "In the first place, no one is going to buy it. In the second place the law prohibits me doing anything like that."
"So there's no way someone else could get hold of our blood?" questioned Phoebe.
"Of course not," said Post. "Why would you think that?"
"Because you're the one supplying our blood to them," said Piper. "The only question is, why?"
"I don't know what you're talking about?" Post said. "I think you guys better get out of here before I call security."
Piper responded by raising her hands and freezing Post where he stood.