Chapter 5

"Owww!" Phoebe complained looking up at Richie.

She had been doing well in class but convinced Richie to spar with her off hours occasionally. He tended to be a little tougher on her when it was just the two of them. He explained that because he knew she was capable of more, he was going to push her until she pushed back. She was usually able to get him at least once per session but still spent most of the time on her butt.

"Up you get," Richie said hauling her to her feet. "One more time, and we'll call it a day."

Phoebe groaned but got ready. They started to circle slowly. Richie opened with a series of punches and kicks that Phoebe either dodged or deflected. She followed with several kicks, one of which connected knocking the wind out of him for a moment. Phoebe pressed her advantage by grabbing his arm and flipping him to the mat. Yes! she thought then felt Richie sweep her legs out from under her causing her to fall to the mat.

"Owww," she groaned. "I don't think my ego can take this much longer."

"You're doing really well," he encouraged as they both sat up resting their elbows on their knees catching their breath.

"Let's just say I'm glad we don't have the same standing bet that you and Duncan have. I'd owe you a brewery by now. We better hit the showers. Prue's expecting us in 45 minutes."

Richie finished first and was waiting in the gym for Phoebe who was giving him a ride to the antique store to get Duncan's car. Richie was due at the airport the next day to pick up his friend who was returning from New England. Suddenly, he felt a familiar static in his head warning him an immortal was nearby.

"No, not now," he groaned thinking of Phoebe. The buzz was quite faint so he figured he was relatively safe for the moment. Still, he headed for the office to get his sword.

Five minutes later, Phoebe entered the gym and noticed Richie in the office. She was waiting by the benches when a vision assaulted her.

"No, not now," she moaned as she crashed to the bench with a thud. She caught a glimpse of Richie watching her through the office window before she was forced to close her eyes. Images of a mugging flashed through her mind. She recognized the place as an alley near the antique store and saw two young men attacking a woman.

"Phoebe? You ok?" a voice asked startling her.

Phoebe gasped looking up to find a pair of concern-filled eyes returning her gaze. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little dizzy from the workout."

Richie stared at her skeptically as she got up too fast and immediately fell back down.

"Ok," he said. "Give me the keys. I'm driving."

"I'm fine," she insisted.

"Either give me the keys," he warned, "or I'll hotwire the car."

Phoebe regarded the determined look in his eyes then, with a sigh, gave him the keys. Ignoring his outstretched hand, she got up off the bench and headed toward the door.

Richie shook his head and followed her.

Phoebe and Richie entered Bay Street Antiques to find Prue finishing a sale. They watched as the woman left the shop happily clutching her purchase.

"Teapot?" Phoebe guessed.

"Clock," Prue corrected. "How'd the workout go?"

"Fine," Phoebe answered.

"You're driving home," Richie told Prue as he handed her the car keys. "Phoebe had a dizzy spell at the gym."

Prue looked at her sister as though to ask "vision?"

Phoebe nodded slightly.

"It's fifteen minutes until closing. Why don't you two go," Richie said. "I'll lock up."

"Are you sure?" Prue asked.

"Go on," he insisted. "I'll see you tomorrow, Phoebe. Get some rest."

As they left the shop, Phoebe explained what happened in the gym to Prue. They looked around as they cautiously walked toward the alley that appeared in the vision.

"That was close," Prue said.

"I know. At least, Richie bought my story. I hate lying to him."

"So do I, but what else can we do?"

"Prue, there they are," Phoebe whispered pointing at two men who were coming up behind an unsuspecting young woman.

Unaware they were being followed, the men grabbed their victim and dragged her into the alley. Prue and Phoebe ran after them. When they reached the scene, the men had the terrified woman pinned against a wall.

"Hey!" Prue shouted distracting them. With a motion of her hand, she used her telekinesis to send the men sprawling.

Phoebe went to the victim and pushed her toward the entrance of the alley. "Get help," she ordered the crying woman and left to help her sister.

One of the would-be thieves was getting to his feet when Phoebe kicked him in the back of the knee. She followed with a kick to the head for good measure causing the man to fall to the ground inert.

The other man was foolish enough to pull a knife on Prue. Stepping forward, she used her power to slam the man against the wall knocking him unconscious. She turned around to find two police officers running toward her. She went to her sister.

"Did they see?" Prue whispered referring to the cops.

"I don't think so," Phoebe answered in a low voice.

A small crowd waited for them as they headed for the sidewalk.

"Just a quiet day in the city," Prue muttered.

Suddenly Phoebe tensed and started scanning the crowd.

"What is it?" Prue asked.

"I don't know," Phoebe answered distractedly still searching the faces around them. "I just got the feeling like we're being watched, and not in a good way."

Author's Note: I have a confession. I screwed up. When I first wrote this story, I was watching Charmed and Angel at the same time, and I got my clairvoyants (i.e. Phoebe and Cordelia) mixed up. I didn't even realize until I had already completed and posted this story and its sequel on another website. Unfortunately, given how I structured the two stories, I had to keep the headaches. My apologies.