I do want to apologize for the incredibly long wait, work has been kicking my butt lately.
Secondly I want to say, this episode is more written out that I have previously done, and I hope it does justice for those of you who really enjoy this series so far.
Please read the end Author's note.
Secrets and Guys
Halliwell-Winchester Manor
The Three Sisters and two of the Winchesters were in the attic sitting at the table. Dean had been exhausted from all the lack of sleep he had been getting so he took the rare opportunity to get some sleep. He wasn't going on a hunt anytime soon. He and Sam came to an agreement. Sam would take the next one they had while Dean would stay at home with the sisters.
Piper had a box set on the table and went through it. "Can I just say I am absolutely enjoying this?" Phoebe asked applying the last of the nail polish on her toes.
"Pheebs. Your not doing anything." Adam pointed out.
"Not true. I've painted my fingers and my toes." She pointed out as if that was the most exhausting thing in the world.
"I just hope that this doesn't fall under the personal gain category." Prue piped up.
"How could it? A good witch is a clean witch." Piper quipped.
"Yep. I think we should spring clean like this more often. You go girl." Phoebe encouraged with a grin to her oldest sister.
Prue squinted her eyes at various objects that started to be organized neatly through out the attic.
"Good job Prue." Piper said.
Sam rolled his eyes and smirked while waving his hand at a broom. Causing it to clean the floor. "Oh look. More toys. I told you Grams wouldn't throw them away." Piper said.
"Yeah. But we will. Why don't you just put that stuff in the discard pile?" Prue suggested and pointed at said pile.
"Wait," Phoebe chimed in and leaned forward. "What's in there?" She asked curiously
Piper stared a little condescendingly at stuffed animals and dolls that she pulled out. "Stuffed animals without eyeballs. Dollies that look like they've been through the mill once or twice…" Piper replied, laughing softly as she tossed the particularly sad looking ones in the discard pile. "Oh, and looky here, Ms. Phoebe's diaries."
Phoebe placed a hand on her chest, "The place where I kept all my secrets. Give me those."
The four remaining witches in the room all gave her a look. "Really?" Sam asked.
"What?" Phoebe asked innocently looking at her family.
"The place where you kept your secrets?" Prue asked in disbelief.
"Uh-huh." Phoebe said and went to open one of her diary's
"Pheebs. You cant keep a secret." Adam pointed out.
"That is so not true, Adam." Phoebe argued.
"What about Prue's surprise birthday party?" Sam piped up.
"Guess again." Prue said with a small smirk.
"You knew?" Piper asked and then glared at Phoebe. "Phoebe, you swore you wouldn't tell her." She reminded after hitting her sister playfully.
"I'm sorry. Okay? It was an accident." Phoebe began and Piper sighed. "I say we keep all the toys." She changed the subject.
"Subject changer." Prue quipped.
"For our children, for our future." Phoebe concluded.
"That's a good idea." Sam said with a thoughtful expression.
"Well, you can get rid of mine." Prue said, surprising her family members. "What?" Prue wondered, her eyes flickering nervously from one sister to the next and then from one cousin to the next. "It's just that, you know, we live in a world with so much violence and then you add the evil demons and various creatures and it's a pretty scary place to raise kids in. Besides, I don't really think I'm cut out to be a mom." She explained to their wondering stares.
Sam shook his head at her older cousin's last comment. "How can you say that?" He questioned, a not-so-subtle reminder that Prue had definitely stepped up to care for them after his aunt and mother passed.
Adam put his hand on Prue's shoulder and agreed with his brother's words. "You raised us, and we turned out pretty damn good." He said proudly.
"Why don't we have this conversation later? Like say five years?" Prue asked.
"Good. Ooh. Ooh. I think dinner's burning. Phoebe, lend me a hand." Piper ordered her younger sister and walked out of the attic.
"Don't look in my diaries." Phoebe said following Piper out of the room.
~PO3~
Dean lied in his bed, he was tossing and turning. He had a hard time getting to sleep. Because for the last few months he had a hard time sleeping. Due to hunting all the time. The life of a Hunter was exhausting.
With a groan, Dean sat upright in his bed and checked his phone. He didn't have any missed calls, which means his father hadn't sent him a text yet to go on a hunt.
~PO3~
Prue was seated with Sam at the table. Adam decided he wanted to copy some of the spells from the Book of Shadows into his own personal spell book.
Prue noticed the pointer on the spirit board move on its own. "Piper! Phoebe! Get in here." She yelled as Sam wrote down what the board said.
Phoebe and Piper ran in, "What is it?" Piper asked and then saw the pointer move. "Oh no, not again." She said.
"What's it saying?" Phoebe asked.
Sam held up the paper, "Help Max." He said.
Opening Credits
Halliwell-Winchester Manor
The group of four were in the parlor the next morning. Piper on the phone and pacing back and forth. Sam and Dean at the table, Dean looking though the paper, Sam drinking a cup of coffee. And Adam was doing research on Sam's laptop when the two remaining sisters walked in.
Prue holding the spirit board and Phoebe right behind her. "So maybe Max is a ghost. I mean, after all, that is a spirit board." Phoebe started the conversation.
"A ghost who needs our help? I don't think so." Prue dismissed right away.
"Wasn't Max the name of that psychic who had telekinetic powers we faced last week?" Sam asked.
"Exactly. How do we know this isn't something like that?" Adam asked.
"We have to consider every possibility." Prue remained neutral in the situation. "What if it's just someone in trouble crying out?" She asked the room.
"I don't know much about those damn things." Dean began pointing at the spirit board. "But I do know it has to either, be a ghost, or someone with powers needing help." He explained.
"It's not exactly AT&T" Phoebe quipped
"'Help Max' that's not a lot to go on." Prue murmured distractedly
"Yeah. I mean there's nothing really you can do unless he sends another message." Phoebe watched as Piper paced around and was silent for a while, she turned to her sister, "What... are you on hold or something?" She asked.
Piper turned to her family members, took the phone and covered the part you speak into. "It's Harry, the new chef at Quake. He threw out all my Henkel knives. Apparently, he prefers Forschners!" She snapped in response before turning away and placing her attention back on the phone.
"Did you follow any of that?" Phoebe asked turning to the four family members at the table.
"No." Prue answered quickly. "Look, we wouldn't have gotten the message if it wasn't important." She brought the subject back to the matter at hand.
"Okay. So, what do you wanna do?" Adam asked his cousin.
"Maybe go see Andy. See if he knows anything about a Max needing help." Prue suggested helpfully.
Dean looked at her, "I can see if Bobby knows anything about spirit boards and if there is anything he knows?" Dean offered with a helpful expression.
"That's a good idea Dean," Sam said and then turned to Prue.
Phoebe cut her cousin off, "Can you say long shot?" She asked and the two sisters shared a knowing look. "All right. You're obsessed. I accept that. I'll thumb through the Book of Shadows. See if there's anything in there about spirit board SOS's." She said.
"And maybe Piper can…" Adam began but was cut off when he turned to his cousin.
"Look. Wait. I'm the manager. If I say I want Henckels, then I want…hello?" She snapped and hung up the phone. "The jerk hung up on me." She snapped in irritation and slammed the phone on the table. "Okay. How can I help you five?" She asked.
"I think we got it under control." Prue said.
"Okay. Then I'm going to Quake before Harry does any more damage." Piper informed and left the room.
Adam sighed, "I'll go with her and try and keep her sane." He said and followed after his cousin.
~PO3~
Adam followed his cousin when she opened the door. "Ha. Ding-dong." Leo said and he and Piper laughed a little.
"Leo. You're back. Come in." Piper invited him in and the two hugged. "It's so good to see you. How are you?" She asked.
"Better now." He answered, reluctantly pulling away slightly.
Adam walked up to them and smiled, "Hey man, nice to see you again." He said
"I'm great," Leo answered. He looked at Piper. "How are you, Piper?" He asked as the other members of the family walked into the room.
"Better now too." Piper admitted, glancing over her shoulder to see her sisters and other two cousins coming up to the doorway behind her
Phoebe and Adam were the two who really liked Leo the most, because they could always sense a good vibe from him. not only that, but he made Piper happy. "Leo!" Phoebe cheered when she walked in.
"Hey stranger. Good to see you." Prue added with a warm smile, the spirit board in her hands as she reached for her jacket.
"Leo, what's up man?" Sam asked and shook his hand professionally.
Dean just waved at the man; he had a hard time trusting anyone that wasn't family anymore. "Leo." Dean said stiffly
"What brings you back?" Phoebe with a knowing look toward Piper.
"Phoebe," Prue hissed in warning.
Dean could tell what his cousin was doing so he changed the subject all together, "You know, the chandelier in the living room keeps flickering." He said. "I tried to fix it, but to no avail." He explained.
"Yeah?" Leo asked. "Well, I'll get my tools." he offered,
"Oh no. No. Take your time." Phoebe exclaimed dramatically and none-too-subtly
Sam pushed Phoebe gently towards the stairs. "Uh, attic. Remember? You have some reading to do." He reminded his overly excited younger cousin.
"Right." She said and walked up the stairs.
Leo finally saw the object in Prue's hands, "Is that a spirit board?" He asked curiously
Every single person's eyes widened when they realized it wasn't hidden very well. "Uh, this?" Prue asked and held it up. "Yeah, it is. Um, I'm just taking it to the auction house to have it appraised." She explained quickly and grabbed her coat. "So, I'll call if I hear anything." She said and walked out of the house.
Dean was rather impressed with how quickly Prue came up with a story. Damn, she'd make a good hunter indeed. He thought.
Sam turned to his brother and nodded in agreement as he heard the thought in his mind.
"Adam and I will be at the restaurant." Piper informed her cousins in the room.
"Do you have to go now?" Leo wondered.
"Uh, yeah. Sort of, but I'll be back soon. I promise. Uh, can you wait?" She asked him.
"Uh, sure." Leo said and the two kissed.
"Ooh. So glad you're back." She said.
Adam rolled his eyes with a smile, "Let's go," he said and pulled Piper out of the house.
San Francisco PD
Prue sat next to Andy's desk. "Okay. Let me get this straight. You think a guy named Max might be in some kind of trouble, but you have no idea why. You've never meet him, and you really don't have no idea who he is. Is that about, right?" He asked her.
"Okay, fine." Prue said. "See, I had a dream last night and uh, in my dream my sisters and I were cleaning the attic, Sam and Adam too, when we found this old ouija-type board and the pointer started to move until it spelled out 'Help Max'." She explained the situation the best she could to him. "That's it." She said after a short pause.
Andy stared at her silently for a few more seconds before turning to his computer and typing 'Max' into the missing persons database. He clicked enter and turned back to Prue as the computer began its search. "You know, I hear a lot of stories in my line of work, but yours are always very entertaining." He remarked casually.
"Thank you." Prue said.
"You're welcome." He said and looked at his computer. "Sorry. Nothing on anyone named Max."
"Oh. Thanks for checking." Prue replied, appearing slightly disappointed in the results.
"Anytime." Andy promised with a smile that quickly cheered her up.
"Okay. Bye." She said and walked towards the door.
Quake
Piper burst through the kitchen door with Adam in tow and walked straight to Harry. "Harry!" She yelled.
"Hey. You must be Pippy." He said.
"Piper, and..." Before she could continue, the man cut her off.
"You know, your voice doesn't do justice. You're actually attractive." He said.
Adam glared at the man, "No one talks to my cousin like that, I don't care who you are!" He snapped.
Piper put a soothing hand on her cousins back, "Its okay Adam." She said, grateful he was there if she needed him. she turned back to Harry. "You cannot come into this restaurant, throw away all of our knives, and refuse to make the house specialty." She informed him.
"What the hell is that?" Adam asked still very upset with the man but remained calm for his cousin's sake, he pointed at the mans outfit.
Piper turned to him and noticed that Harry was wearing shorts. "That is not a proper chef's uniform." She informed him.
"Will be. I'm a trendsetter." He went and grabbed a bowl of ravioli. "In fact, I, uh, decide to change the menu, so I threw out all the old ones. Now my crab ravioli, there's a specialty." He said and sniffed it. "Mmm. Straight from Eden."
Adam gawked and turned to the man, "You threw out all the menus?" He asked. "They weren't yours to throw out." He added.
Harry handed Piper a phone. "Hey. Complain to your sister Phoebe. She's on line one." He said completely ignoring Adam in the process.
"You're fired!" She yelled and pointed the phone at him.
"Ooh. Attractive and feisty. Um, you can't fire me cause you're just a manager. Unless you prefer to be the executive chef." He remined smugly and laughed.
"Now wait a minute…" Adam said.
"Ooh!" Piper shouted and threw her hands out and froze the kitchen. She took the knives out of the trash and dumped the ravioli in. "Take that." She said aloud, grabbing Adam's arm and pulling him out of the kitchen in time for it to unfreeze.
Halliwell-Winchester Manor
Phoebe walked down the stairs with the phone in her hand, "Yeah. He sounds like a real piece of work. He has a nice voice though. What's he look like?" She asked curiously.
"A complete and total jerk. Is Leo around?" Piper's voice asked on the other line.
"Yeah, he's working away. He wants to know when you're gonna get back though." She informed her sister.
"Uh, I think it might be a while. Maybe I should talk to Leo." Piper said.
"Sure. Hold on a second." She said walking into the dining area and saw Leo floating in midair under the chandelier and a light bulb in his hand. "Oh my god! Dean!" She hollered through the house and hung up on her sister.
Dean ran in from the kitchen at that moment, "Leo?" He asked and drew his gun and pointed it at the handyman.
"Phoebe! Dean!" Leo said and fell to the floor.
"Let me call you back," Phoebe said into the phone and hung up and pointed it at him as he got up with the light bulb still glowing and walked towards them.
"Phoebe, Dean, wait. I can explain." Leo said.
"Like hell!" Dean muttered and cocked his gun.
"You are a warlock, aren't you?" Phoebe asked him, one arm pointing the phone at him and the other hand clinging onto Dean's arm.
"No," Leo said, and Dean was about to fire the gun. "Wait. Wait. Wait." He tried to grab the gun but Dean jerked it back and aimed it once again. "Think about it. If I was a warlock and I wanted to hurt you, don't you think I would have done it the last time I was here?" He asked the two witches.
"OK. Good point, but still most, normal handymen use ladders to fix chandeliers." Phoebe reminded him.
"Are you a witch?" Dean asked pointing the gun at him.
"No." Leo replied. He wasn't worried, he knew Dean's attitude all to well.
"Then what are you?" Phoebe asked curiously.
"Demon?" Dean asked.
Leo grabbed a thing of salt from the table and poured some on his hand. "No, not a demon." He said. Leo waved the light bulb, still glowing in front of Phoebe and Dean accidently.
Leo was at a loss for words and made a goofy smile.
~PO3~
Sam stood in front of the Book of Shadows and looked through the damn thing cover to cover. "I wish I knew how to help this Max person." He said aloud and frustrated. "There is nothing in here on talking boards at all." He said to himself.
Sam felt a slight breeze in the room and the Book of Shadows opened on its own accord. "A hint would be nice." He said aloud as the pages flipped. When they stopped he read the title. "Psychokinesis?" He asked aloud and read the page.
After reading the page and remembering what he read, Sam walked out of the attic and to the front door. "Going to Buckland's." He hollered through the house. He needed to get to Prue and tell her what he found.
~PO3~
Phoebe, Dean and Leo all sat in the conservatory, Dean with a beer in his hands, Phoebe with a mug of Coffee and Leo with a glass of water. "I really don't know what to say. I mean up until today, I thought you were a handyman, and now I find out that you're a..."
"Whitelighter." Leo finished for her.
"A whitelighter." Phoebe smirked. "What exactly is a whitelighter?" She asked.
"Well, we're really just messengers. Guides." Dean listened with interest. Leo continued, "Think of us as guardian angels for good witches. While there are real angels out there. Whitelighters protect witches." He explained to the confused look on Phoebe's face.
"Mom always did tell us that angels existed." Dean pointed out. "Were you…?" He asked.
Leo shook his head, "No, another whitelighter was your mom and Aunts whitelighter." He explained. He looked at the cup in Phoebe's hands, "Your tea is cold." He waved his hand over the top and it became hot again.
"Ow," Phoebe whispered jerking her hand away from the mug and eld onto the handle. "Well, you are handy." She said.
Dean got back to the topic at hand, "So, all this time, you knew who we really were?" He asked.
Leo looked at the Hunter. "Yes. I was sent to watch over you, your brothers and cousins when you first got your powers. You know, help out wherever I could." He explained.
"Where were you a few weeks ago when I needed someone to help me because I was electrocuted?" Dean asked. "I could have used it," He added.
Leo put his hands up in an I surrender manner. "I was told not to. I was informed that there was a case you needed to be on in Nebraska." He explained.
"Sent by who?" Phoebe asked him
"Whom." Leo corrected her. "They're a group of elder white lighters. They're known as the founders. You were never supposed to find out. I screwed up and got caught." He explained.
Dean was shocked as hell, the man sitting before him was magical. One of the rarest beings by the sounds of it. "Leo. You know everything, Hunting, us being Charmed?" He asked.
Leo looked at the man and shook his head, "Yes." He said. "You guys were never supposed to find out." He kicked himself.
Phoebe looked at Leo, "So, what? You're here again to help us out with something else?" She asked.
"Uh, actually I'm here to help a boy named Max." Leo answered. "Much different than the Max you guys helped last week." Leo assured Dean.
"Max? Wait. That's the…" Phoebe said and turned to Dean.
"The Spirit board." Dean whispered in shock.
"I know." Leo said. "See, Max is a budding good witch new to the powers. But he's very young and vulnerable. And he's in serious trouble. Someone wants to take advantage of his gift." Leo explained.
"So why don't you help him?" Phoebe asked questioningly.
"I did. I made sure Prue and Sam received his cry for help. That's why I was sent here. That's all I'm supposed to do for now." Leo explained to the two witches. "The rest is up to Prue and Sam." Leo concluded.
"They don't know anything about Max, they don't know he is a little boy." Dean argued lightly.
"Well, they will." Leo answered. "In the meantime, you must help me keep my secret or I could get into trouble." He explained and Pohebe tried to hide a smile. "Piper, Sam, Adam and Prue can never know what I really am." He explained.
"Me? Keep a secret? Hello, wrong Halliwell." Phoebe laughed. "Wait, uh, you have to tell Piper because if I know her, she's gonna think that..." She said.
"I know. I know. And that's where I need your help." Leo agreed and slowly stood up from his chair, his face creased with agitation. "See, White lighters and witches aren't allowed to fall in love. It's like humans and angels aren't. But I did. I fell in love with Piper." He explained with a sigh.
"And I know how much she cares about you." Phoebe said.
"We cant do that to Piper," Dean said, putting on his best poker face.
Leo sighed, "It isn't fair to keep her in the dark... but I have to keep this secret." He said, sitting back down. "So somehow I have to tell Piper that I can never see her again and I can't tell her why." He said.
"You don't need my help Leo. You need a miracle." Phoebe clarified.
Buckland Auction House
Sam pulled up to the parking lot of the Auction House. He had taken Dean's impala. Not that Dean minded though, he wasn't going on a hunt anytime soon. He got out and made his way into the building and got into the elevator.
Sam walked up to the familiar red doors of Prue's office. "Hey," He said softly as he walked in.
Prue stopped her typing and looked at him and smiled, "Hey, Sammy." She greeted.
"I think we are dealing with someone who can…" Sam was cut off by a knock on the door.
"Got a minute?" Andy asked and walked into the room.
"Uh, sure," Prue said. Andy walked in and closed the door. "Why don't you sit down here?" She asked him and pointed to the chair in front of her desk. After he sat down, she glanced at Sam who stood behind him. he shook his head slightly. "That's perfect." She said. She was trying to hide the spirit board so Andy couldn't see it. "So, um, what's up?" She asked.
"I got some interesting information about a boy named Max." Andy revealed.
"A boy?" Prue asked in disbelief.
"Named Max. Yes." Andy finished.
"Whoa." Prue mumbled, having not really expected Andy to find anything out.
Andy watched her reaction closely. "Curious, huh?" he asked.
She nodded, uncertain about how much she should say to him. "Very." Prue allowed, deciding it best to remain neutral. She glanced at Sam who sat down next to Andy, in awe.
Andy started to speak again the same time the pointer on the spirit board began to move. "Earlier today, a microchip plant was broken into but nothing was taken…" He began.
Prue saw the movement of the pointer out of the corner of her eye and tried to inconspicuously read the letters and write them down on the little notepad in front of her. "… Stranger still, the alarms were turned off before the front door was opened on the outside."
Prue nervously glanced toward Andy, realizing he was waiting for a response. "Uh, what does this have to do with this boy, Max?" She asked, her eyes flickering back to the spirit board.
"Well, uh, security cameras picked up a car in the front parking lot with a boy in the backseat… matching this photo taken at an arcade last week…" He explained, passing a picture of Max and another boy playing in the arcade. "… Where a couple of kids snuck in-in much the same way. Same boy, Max Franklin."
Sam listened with interest plastered all over his face, "Do you know who else was in the car?" He asked upon seeing prue a little sidetracked.
Andy shook his head. "Just that they shot and wounded a security guard at the scene. This boy's in serious trouble, Prue. This is not a dream." He leaned forward, forcing her to meet his gaze. "I need to know what you know about this." He continued.
"Well, I mean, why would I know anything? I think that you need to talk to his family." Prue replied feigning ignorance that didn't fool Andy and sneaking another glance toward the spirit board where the pointer was still moving.
Andy leaned back in his chair, disappointed by Prue's response. "I did. His father. He pretended not to know anything either. Claimed the boy was out of state visiting grandparents, will be back tomorrow, but something's wrong. He wanted to tell me something but he was scared. He was afraid to say anything." Andy suddenly trailed off, watching Prue write something else down on the notepad in front of her which had claimed her attention since he'd come in. "What are you writing?" Andy demanded.
Prue hastily met Andy's gaze before he became more suspicious. "Nothing." She answered, a little too quickly to be truthful. "Uh, I'm just doodling." She lied carefully.
He watched her silently for several moments as if trying to read what she was thinking. "You're not going to tell me anything, are you?" He realized, none-too-surprised. Andy nodded as if he should have known when Prue didn't reply and slowly stood up. "One day, I'm going to figure out your secret, Prue. Count on it. and I will figure out where Dean is as well." He warned her before turning and leaving her alone in her office.
Prue sighed as he left, but quickly looked back down at her completed message. 'KIDNAPPED AUTO SHOP'
Sam sighed as well, "Prue, eventually he will figure it out. it's only a matter of time before another hunter comes and spills the beans." He explained looking towards the door of the departed Andy.
"Bobby said Hunters won't come to California. Hopefully we won't encounter one and Andy will never know." Prue said hopefully and showed Sam the message she got on the spirit board.
Quake
Adam had taken it upon himself to help Piper out at the restaurant, he had an apron on and a pad and paper in his hands. He was currently helping a table. "Don't forget we also have the house special tonight." He said.
Piper was the only one with a job that allowed her sisters and cousins to help if they needed too. In exchange she gave them free food when they came in.
So of course, Adam knew the menu like the back of his hand by now. "I will take the house special. And do you have wine?" the lady he was serving asked.
"We do." He said.
"Its our 25th wedding anniversary." The woman said to Adam. "I'm going to take a glass of Chardonnay." The woman told him.
Adam wrote it down and then turned to the man. "And for you?" He asked.
"Same thing." The man smiled.
Adam looked at his watch. "All right. It should be a few minutes for your drinks. I'll go get those now." He said and walked up to the bar.
~PO3~
"Telephone." An employee said to Piper, and she took the phone.
"Hello?" She asked into it.
"Piper? Sam." Sam said from the other line.
"Oh. Hey Sammy." She said with a small smile.
"Hey. Um, look, Max is a boy, Piper, and he's been kidnapped." Prue's voice said from the other line. It was clear that she was on speaker at Prue's office.
"What?" Piper asked in shock.
"Yeah. I got another message on the spirit board. I have to help." Prue explained.
"Uh, I think we should call the police." Piper suggested.
"Uh, Andy's already been here and I think I have an idea what to do." Prue explained. "I'll be with Sam." She added to her sisters benefit.
Piper sighed in relief knowing her cousin was going to be with her sister. "Okay. So you've got everything under control?" She asked.
Harry walked up and grabbed the phone from Piper and dropped it on the counter, "Uh, no. Everything's not under control." He said. "I need more crab for my ravioli because somebody threw it all away and I just got five more orders, Pepper." He tossed her the orders and walked away.
Adam, having witnessed the entire thing, growled in frustration. "That's it." He said and marched towards the kitchen.
"Don't." Piper asked her cousin. She knew he was a lot like Dean in the aspect of not watching what you say.
Adam looked at her and sighed. He went back to the customers and started taking another order.
The couple that Adam helped walked up to her, "Excuse me are you the manager?" The lady asked.
"Yes." Piper said.
The lady smiled at her sweetly. "Our server was one of the best ones we have had. Rest assured we will definitely be coming back here."
The woman's husband piped up. "Treated us with such respect and gave us recommendations on the specials. Please, give this to him as a tip." He said and handed Piper a fifty-dollar bill.
"Who was it?" Piper asked, shocked.
The man looked around. "That one. There." He said and pointed to the man.
It turned out to be Adam who was helping another costumer. "Oh." She sighed in relief. "That's my cousin." She said with a smile. "He's working here until he graduates." She fabricated on the spot.
Mr. Franklin's house
Sam pulled up behind Prue in the impala. "Thank you, Sammy. For coming." Prue said. "Truth be told I didn't wanna do this alone." She added. They walked up to the door and Prue knocked. "Mr. Franklin?" She asked when someone answered the door.
"Yes." He said.
"My name's Prue Halliwell. This is my cousin Sam Winchester; we need to talk to you about your son." She explained.
"Sorry, um, you have to leave, Okay?" He pushed suddenly and started to close the door.
"We know that he has been kidnapped and he's in trouble." Sam began but the man wasn't budging on the subject.
"I don't know what you're talking about." He returned, feigning ignorance.
"I think you do." Prue argued. "What I don't understand is why you won't talk to the police." She said.
"Please. You gotta leave. Alright? Thank you." He began to close the door again when Prue pushed it open.
"Unless you can't talk to the police." Prue realized suddenly. That would explain his reluctance and the sudden fear that shot through his eyes, "The kidnappers won't let you, will they? That's why you wouldn't say anything to Inspector Trudeau." She continued.
"Look, I don't know who you two are, but I'm begging you…" He said.
"We can help." Sam tried to reassure the man.
"No. No. You can't. Alright? Good-bye." He began to close the door on them again.
"Mr. Franklin…" Prue began and squinted her eyes and the picture floated to his hands.
Mr. Franklin looked at the two people in awe. "Dear God." He whispered
Quake
Adam had been so into what he was doing, he walked up to a table, "Hello, my name is Adam, I'll be your server for today. How can I…" He finally saw the three people sitting in front of him. "What are you guys doing here?" He asked his brother, cousin and handyman.
Piper walked up to the table, "Hi. I know you guys have been waiting a long time..." she trailed off when there was a crash heard from the kitchen.
"Hey. Have you heard from Prue?" Phoebe asked; she tried calling Prue and Sam before they left but both phones were going to voicemail.
"Uh, yeah. Uh, she's got everything under control. Sam is with her. I'll be right back." Piper explained and took off for the kitchen.
"You guys ready to order?" Adam asked them. "Dean, the usual?" He asked.
Deans usual was a burger with fries. "Yes. And can I take a beer?" he asked.
"On it." Adam said. "Leo? Pheebs?" He asked.
"We're good, Ads." Phoebe answered.
Adam shook his head in understanding and left the three alone. "Okay. It's actually good that we have a few more minutes. We can go over your plan. You know. What you're gonna tell Piper." Phoebe began.
"Oh, well. I thought that I'd tell her that, uh, as much as I love her and as much as I'd like to stay in San Francisco I can't. A-and I don't know how long my work will keep me away." Leo explained.
"Sounds reasonable to me." Dean agreed with a satisfied look.
Phoebe, on the other hand, shook her head, "No. No. What you just said is as much as you'd like to stay and have sex with her, you've got a wife and kids in another part of the country. Try again." She ordered.
"Uh, Piper, um, you know how much you mean to me, and more than anything, I wish things could work out, but they can't, and no one is more sorry then I am." Leo suggested.
"Translation-I found someone I like even better." Phoebe said.
"What is he supposed to say then, Phoebe?" Dean snapped with a frown.
Phoebe turned to Leo, "Uh, look Leo. Its not that complicated. Okay. Um, just avoid the following. We can still hang out. I don't deserve you yet. I need more "me time" before we can have "we time". And my personal favorite, "It's not you. It's me." And whatever you do, do not start a conversation with "we need to talk". Other then that, you'll do fine." She explained to oth men for their benefit and took a sip of water that Adam had just brought them.
Franklin House
Prue, Sam and Mr. Franklin were seated in the living area. Prue and Sam on the couch and Mr. Franklin on the chair across from them. "Then they hit me, and I passed out." He was explaining what had happened. "I've been going out of my mind crazy ever since last night. Should I go to the police? Should I do what they say? They promised to bring him back, but after what the police said happened this morning, I... I don't even know if he's alright." He explained.
"No. I know that Max is okay right now." Prue assured the man. "If he wasn't, he couldn't have sent me that last message." She added as an afterthought.
"So I take it your…witches too huh?" Mr. Franklin asked. "The both of you?" He asked looking at Sam as well.
Sam shook his head slowly, "Yeah. Is that what your son says he is?" He asked.
"It's what Paulette, my wife, says he is. It's what she was. You know, it would have been a hell of a lot easier to handle her family secret had it been revealed a lot sooner." Mr. Franklin said.
"Maybe she was afraid of how you would react. Maybe she was afraid that you might not accept her or love her." Prue suggested knowing all to well.
"Speaking from personal experience?" Mr. Franklin asked.
Prue softly smiled. "Yes I am." She said.
"Well, when Paulette, she had to tell me, she was running out of time. She passed away 3 months ago. Then suddenly, Max, he starts having this power. I don't have a clue what to tell him what it all means. And he uses it and he nearly gets busted at an arcade and now this." Mr. Franklin explained.
"I'm sure that Max…" Prue began but he cut her off.
"Do you have any children?" He asked.
"No, but…" Prue tried but was cut off again.
"Then you possibly couldn't understand what I'm feeling." Mr. Franklin said.
"Still. I'm sorry... about what happened to Max and your wife, but if you could just find a way. Forgive her." Prue argued lightly.
"Forgive her?" Mr. Franklin asked, "She should have told me. Maybe if she had I would have been better able to protect Max.
Sam cleared his throat and looked at the man, "Sir, do you know of anybody who owns an auto shop of any kind?" He asked getting back to the topic at hand.
Mr. Franklin made a confused look and shook his head, "Why?" He asked.
"I think your son was trying to send me a clue." Prue explained.
"No I-I... although I think Max's friend, Danny, his brother work at one over in Oakland." Mr. Franklin said.
"Is Danny the one that broke into the arcade with Max?" Sam asked.
Upon seeing the look on the mans face, "Got an address?" Prue asked him.
Auto Shop
Max sat there with ropes on his hands, he was fiddling with the ropes trying to get free. Prue and Sam walked into the doorway, "Max?" Prue asked approaching the man.
"Who's there?" He asked and turned to the two people walking towards him.
"My name is Prue, this is my cousin Sam, we're here to take you home." She explained while trying to undo Max's ropes.
"But how'd you find me?" He asked in shock.
"We had a little chat with your friend, Danny." Prue explained.
"Lets go." Sam said in a hushed voice with his gun drawn and pointed to the door. "You're dad, is waiting for you." He explained to the boy.
Max was obviously becoming increasingly confused. "You know my dad?"
"Yeah, he…" Prue began but Sam cut her off.
"Prue, hurry up." Sam begged looking at the door. he had no idea what kind of being they were dealing with.
Mickey walked into the room and paused when he saw the two adults in the room. "Hey, who the hell are you?" He asked.
Prue turned to the man and squinted her eyes; Mickey went flying backwards into the wall and onto the floor.
Sam watched the door as a second man came through. Sam waved his arm, and the man went flying backwards landing next to his companion "Come on. We need to hurry." He said and grabbed Max gently.
"You two have powers?" He asked in shock at the two people standing before him.
Yeah, we'll explain them to you in the car." Prue replied.
Max pulled out of Sam's gentle grip, "I can't leave. They'll kill my dad if I do." He informed.
He saw Sam fall to the floor and a second later Prue fell to the floor both witches unconscious.
~PO3~
Sam woke up and found Prue already in a daze as she came too as well both Prue and Sam had been tied up. "Hey. Naptime's over. Wake up." Mickey said harshly to Prue. "I got a little surprise for you." He replied.
Prue ignored the man and turned to Max, "Max, are you OK?" She asked softly. "Sam?" She asked with a voice of worry.
Max shook his head and before Sam could reply, Mickey spoke, "He's fine." He said.
"Look, don't worry…" Prue began but was cut off.
Mickey hit Prue on the shoulder, " I said he's fine!" He snapped at her and she glared at him dangerously. Sam was just waiting to be free from the binds, he was not about to let him speak to his cousin that way. "Now before either of you go trying to pull any of that magical, uh, hocus pocus crap again, I wanna show you something." He said and pulled out a little trigger with a red button on it.
"What is it?" Sam asked in disdain.
"All that matters is what happens when I flick that little switch. Now I flick that little switch, and Max here takes a nap. A long one." He explained.
Sam's gaze became a clear glare at the man. David, the other guy, spoke up, "Mickey, why don't..."
"Shut up!" Mickey said to his partner who left the area. Mickey walked over and knelt beside Max to show Prue and Sam a bomb attached to Max's waist. "Plastic explosives. Little trick I picked up in Corcoran. Prison system's very educational." He explained.
"Mickey, he's just a child. He's already proven that he's not going anywhere. If you're going to wire anyone. Wire me." Prue argued with a worried glance at Max.
Sam couldn't help but tear up at the situation. It wasn't often he teared up, last time he actually cried was when Jess died. "Wire me," Sam argued as well. "What the hell is wrong with you doing that to a kid?" He asked.
Mickey looked at him, "What is it with the three of you? What are you, like magicians or freaks of natures? Aliens? What?" He asked.
"Witches." Prue answered, glaring daggers at him.
Mickey laughed in disbelief. With another pointed glance at the bomb attached to Max and the trigger he held in his hand, he glanced at Sam who glared at him still, he sauntered off to join David in the adjoining room.
As soon as he left, Sam glared at the door, "Max, Prue, you guys okay?" He asked.
"I'm scared." Max replied.
"I know." Prue nodded slightly in understanding. "Just, uh, do as they say and everything will be fine. They need you, remember?" She reminded him gently. She turned to Sam and answered his question, "I'm fine Sammy." She said.
"I'm sorry I got you into this. Sorry I have these stupid powers." He apologized, glancing away from her and to his hands that were tied in front of him.
"No Max." Prue sighed with a shake of her head, "Don't ever be sorry about that. It's a gift. It's like being a, uh, musician or athlete." She explained.
Sam nodded in agreement but before he could reply, Max beat him to it, "It's a pain. I'm a freak. My dad hates it too. He hates me." He said.
"No. No, he doesn't. He just doesn't understand it, that's all. It's new to him too." Prue explained.
Sam Piped up at that moment, "Don't worry Max. we won't let anything happen to you. I promise. Okay." He said softly.
"Okay." Max replied.
"Okay." Prue repeated, lightly tapping him on the arm with her elbow and a reassuring smile.
~PO3~
In the other room, David and Mickey were discussing the plan, "You really think it's necessary? Wiring the kid like that?" David asked.
"You saw what that man and that chick did. Pretty cool actually. Might come in handy tonight. It's the only reason they're still breathing." He commented.
Quake
Piper walked up to them, "Sorry. Small mutiny in the kitchen." She informed Leo and sat down. "Where were we?" She asked.
Leo hesitated a moment, glancing nervously at her. "Piper, there's something I need to tell you." He began.
"Yeah?" Piper pressed and listened closely.
"Uh, look. Forgive me, but I could be summoned at any moment, so I have to tell you this now. I can't…I can't, uh…I can't believe how much I missed you." He trailed off when he looked into her eyes.
Piper frowned, she wasn't exactly sure that's what he was going to say, "Well Leo, I missed you too, but what do you mean 'summoned'? Summoned where?" She asked instead.
Harry walked out of the kitchen and stood by the door, "Hey, uh…Piper. No respect I can live with, Okay, but where the hell is my coriander?" He shouted across the restaurant and walked back inside the kitchen.
"Okay. That's it. I'm ending this now." Piper got up and walked over and pulled Adam with her who stood watching the entire thing and walked towards the kitchen when Phoebe stopped in front of them.
Dean came back to the table, Dean had his phone in his hand. "Dammit Sammy." He said and hung up the phone. "Oh my gosh. You know." Phoebe commented and put her hands on Piper's sides in a soothing manner.
"Of course, I know. The whole restaurant knows. Didn't you hear him scream across the room?" She asked.
Phoebe glanced at Leo with a frown, "I thought it was a secret." She said in confusion.
"Phoebe," Leo tried but was cut off.
"I wish. It will probably be in the newspaper tomorrow." Piper said.
"No. It can't be. Look Piper, he never meant to hurt you." Phoebe began.
Adam looked at his cousin with a confused look, "Pheebs, you haven't met the moronic maniac yet." He said.
"What has gotten into you?" Piper asked and pulled Adam into the kitchen.
Phoebe looked at Leo questionably, "She's talking about the new chef." He clarified.
"Oh, that guy?" Dean asked with a sigh. "Yeah, I've heard all about it from Adam." He explained.
"Oh, right. So does that mean she took your news well?" Phoebe asked the handyman and considered Dean's comment.
"That means she doesn't know. I can't tell her Phoebe. I can't stand to think about it, much less, talk about it." Leo explained.
"Well, here's something else you might not want to think about. Piper said that Prue and Sam had everything under control. Well, I can't find them." She explained.
"Sammy isn't answering his phone." Dean explained further. "Neither is Prue." He added.
~PO3~
As the group of three walked towards the door, a man in black watched them leave and kept an eye on the kitchen door. Leo smiled at the guy slightly before walking out of the restaurant with Phoebe and Dean in tow, who didn't register the guy watching them.
The man in black was John Winchester. He had finally taken an old friends' advice and was going to ask his family for help with his problem fighting this thing he was after. He watched as Dean's back walked out the door. "Soon, son, we will be reunited." He promised himself.
First thing first, he was going to take care of the man that was berating and harassing his niece, he didn't care how he did it, but he was going to make sure this guy left Piper alone from now on.
When Piper and Adam walked out of the kitchen with tray's of food, John snuck to the back and slipped into the kitchen.
Halliwell-Winchester Manor
Leo sat on the couch and Dean had his phone to his ear, trying to call Sam for the hundredth time. "Dammit," He growled and dialed again.
Phoebe on the other hand, picked up the house phone and dialed a number when the call was connected, she instantly said, "Have you seen Prue since this morning?" She asked.
Dean cast her a curious gaze, 'Andy' she mouthed.
"No. As a matter of fact, I was about to ask you the same question." Andy replied on the other end.
"Really? Why?" Phoebe asked.
"Because I think she knows something about a boy named Max." He replied. "Do you?" He asked.
"Uh. Ooh. Oh. That's my call waiting. Gotta go. Could be Prue. Bye." She explained and hung up the phone.
"Sam isn't answering." Dean said and turned to Leo. "You got anything?" He asked the man.
"No. I can't reach either Max, Sam, or Prue telepathically." He answered.
"Does that mean they're in trouble?" Phoebe asked with a worried expression towards Dean.
This was Sam and Prue. The two members of the family who wouldn't go 'off the grid' without a good reason. So, Dean and Phoebe started to worry.
"Who's in trouble?" Piper asked when she and Adam walked into the living room.
Adam had a curious gaze as he turned to Dean, who had a look of 'not now' written all over his face.
"Oh. The 49ers. No secondary. They need a really good draft pick next year." Phoebe fabricated on the spot. "Well, I'm gonna go into the kitchen and see if I can get in touch with Prue." She said and walked towards the kitchen.
Dean pulled Adam towards the foyer, "And we are going to do some reading." He said and then turned to Adam. "Book of Shadows." He said quietly under his breath and then turned to Leo. "Carry on."
Piper watched her family disperse in various areas of the house in confusion and then turned to Leo while taking her coat off and sitting on the couch, "Alone. Finally. Don't have to worry about any more interruptions from Harry. He, uh, quit." She explained to the man. "It was so sudden. Like the fear of god or something." She smirked at the fresh memory in her head about him being white as a sheet.
She went to hug Leo, but he pulled away from her, "Okay. Not the enthusiastic response I was hoping for." She said.
"Look, uh, Piper, I've been searching all day for an easy way to tell you this." Leo began.
"Oh, uh," Piper muttered and flicked her wrists and froze Leo. "Phoebe." She called through the house and then had a knowing look, "Phoebe, I know you're not in the kitchen." She said.
Phoebe, being her usual nosey self, walked into the living room. "That is so weird. I was just on my way back." She said feigning ignorance and surprise.
"Is Leo about to tell me he doesn't want to see me anymore?" Piper demanded, cutting right to the chase.
Phoebe swallowed nervously and sat down beside Piper on the couch, gently taking her sister's hands in hers. She started to say something but glanced around Piper to the frozen Leo. Phoebe stood up quickly. "You'll have to ask him." Phoebe mumbled, taking off out of the room. Likely going up to the attic to see what her two cousins were up too.
Piper turned back to Leo in time for him to unfreeze, "And that's the problem. I fell in love with you, and I shouldn't have." He explained as if nothing happened, which in his mind, nothing had.
"You're married." Piper guessed.
"No," Leo replied.
"Engaged." She guessed again.
"Um... I'm involved. But it's not…the way you think. The truth is that I lead you on and made you believe that I was coming back." He said.
"Leo, you are back." Piper pointed out.
"Yeah, but I… I have to leave again. Now, and… and it's not because I want to, though. It's because I have to. I'm sorry." He apologized.
"That's Okay." She assured him.
"It is?" Leo asked.
"Yeah. I mean Leo, you're a nice guy and I like you a lot, but let's face it. You're, uh, geographically undesirable. I mean, you said you live really far away right?" She asked.
"Yeah. Pretty far." Leo replied.
"Well I try never to get involved with guys I can't see regularly. So, don't feel bad. I mean, I understand. Really, I do." She said and gave him a kiss and then left the room.
Dean and Phoebe walked in, "So how'd she take it?" Phoebe asked.
"Not bad." Leo answered.
"I have Adam looking in the book about anything that can block a telepatic connection." Dean explained.
Leo heard a jingle in his head, "Oh. Um. Excuse me, but I have to go." He said and grabbed his coat and headed towards the door.
"Leo, what—wh—where you going?" Phoebe asked.
"I uh, have to leave. Now." Leo said walked out of the house.
Dean frowned, "How are we supposed to find Sam and Prue?" he asked but when he followed Leo out, he was nowhere to be found.
Auto Shop
Mickey prepared van for the robbery while David walked over to him with the blueprints. "So the thing is, once Max shorts out the alarm, we got like three minutes till the guard realize there's a signal interruption." He explained
"Just make sure the kid knows what he's supposed to do. And keep an eye on that girl and the tall guy. I don't trust them." Mickey explained.
~PO3~
Max, Sam and Prue stood on the other side of the room, watching the two kidnappers. "Has anything like this ever happened to you before?" Max asked, looking up at Prue.
"Uh…not exactly like this." Prue began not knowing how to word her next sentence.
"Usually the creatures that we have to deal with..." Sam continued for her cousin.
"Creatures?" Max asked in confusion.
Sam shook his head, "Warlocks, Demons…" He began to list off when Max cut him off again.
"Demons?" Max asked with wide eyes.
"Your mom didn't get to tell you much about being a witch, did she?" Prue asked with a bit of sadness in her voice.
"No. I just found out about my power when she died." Max explained.
Sam nodded in understanding so that prompted him to begin talking, "You know, my mom and Aunt, her mom." He pointed to Prue, "died when we were young too. I know how much it hurts, and it doesn't ever really go away." He explained to the young man.
Prue nodded in agreement. "I didn't even know that my power was coming. I had to figure it out all by myself, which means so can you. Especially with your dad's help." She explained.
Max shook his head, "He'll never understand." He said.
"Max, you have to help him understand." Prue stated.
"You sound just like my mom." Max admitted.
"Well, I care a lot about you too." Prue clarified.
"I wish you could be my mom right now." Max whispered to the two of them.
Sam let the two have their moment. He knew he would like hunting with Prue, she knew exactly what to say and what to do. She was a quick study and she wasn't as controlling on a hunt as Dean was.
"So, what is your power anyway?" Prue asked the man.
"Psychokinesis?" Sam asked remembering what he read in the Book of Shadows.
Max shook his head at the tall man. "Mom called it psychokinesis. It means I can move things I can't see." He explained.
Before Sam or Prue could ask anything else Mickey walked up to them, "All right. Remember, just do everything I say. And uh, nobody gets hurt." He reassured.
"Lets roll." David said.
"Max?" Mr. Franklin called as soon as he had caught sight of them walking through the front door.
"Dad!" Max responded, taking a step forward only to stop as David and Mickey both pointed guns at his father.
Mr. Franklin stopped, as well, holding his hands up in a sign of surrender "Hold it. Hold it. Don't shoot. I'm unarmed." He pulled open his jacket so they could see that he was indeed unarmed. "Nobody else knows you're here. I swear. I found you the same way those two did." He said pointing slightly at Prue and Sam. "Through your brother."
Max turned to David, "Your brother?" He asked in disbelief,
"Gordan, they have him wired." Prue warned the man.
"Shut up," Mickey snapped.
"Dad," Max mumbled, Sam had his arms around Max in a protective manner.
"it's okay." Sam assured the boy.
"It's alright son." Mr. Franklin assured his son and then looked at the kidnappers. "Look man. I'll give you anything else you want. Just... let me have my boy, please?" He asked.
Mickey lowered his gun, "Alright, David, go, um, go put them in the van." David hesitated. "Do it." Mickey ordered, his patience running thin.
David ushered Sam, Prue and Max to the van. As thye walked by Mr. Franklin saw Max, "My son." However David pushed him aside, "Max. Max." Mr. Franklin cried.
Prue, Max, Sam and David got in the van. "Please man, let him go. I beg you. Please. He's my son. I beg you. Please." Mr. Franklin began to negotiate with the kidnapper.
Mickey pointed his gun at Mr. Franklins chest, "Sorry." He said and pulled the trigger.
Prue watched with wide eyes, Max clinging on to her burying his face in her coat.
Sam, on the other hand, was ready to get out of the situation. However he was letting Prue take the lead on this case.
Mickey closed the van and got into the passenger seat. "Drive." He ordered his partner.
As the van took off, Prue looked back towards Mr. Franklin. She gave Sam a look. He knew that look. That was a look of doing what ever it took when they got to where they needed to be.
~PO3~
Outside the Bank
David stopped the van across the street from the bank. He glanced up and down the dark streets looking to see if anyone was paying them any attention. When he found no one around, he turned around to Max, Sam and Prue. "Alright, it'll be just like this morning, Max." He explained, passing the blueprints to the young teenager. "That's where the alarm panel is, you know the rest." David finished, pointing to the room where the alarm panel was located.
Max didn't respond but instead of turning his attention to the blueprints, he looked directly at Mickey.
"What are you looking at?" Mickey demanded harshly.
"What are you going to do to my dad?" Max returned just as sharply, his eyes cold. It had helped that Sam was with him, he felt this man had been through a lot and admired his confidence, which in turn made him confident enough to speak the way he was.
David cast a nervous glance in Mickey's direction while Mickey sighed loudly and in irritation. Prue quickly spoke up as she knew time was of the utmost importance for Mr. Franklin. "Max, the sooner this is over, the sooner we can get to him. We need to hurry." She prodded gently and glanced at Sam, who looked at Max in agreement.
"She is right, Max." Sam agreed.
Max sighed but slowly nodded in agreement. He closed his eyes in concentration and slowly rocked back and forth as he mentally located the control panel and shorted it out, effectively downing all security, including opening the vault. "Okay." He assured them.
"Out." Mickey ordered as he pulled a ski mask over his head. Beside him, David did the same. They both stepped out of the van and forced Max, Sam and Prue to follow them.
David and Mickey led the way through the deserted bank and to the vault with a gun ready to shoot in case they ran into anyone. "We got two minutes." David reminded Mickey
"Alright, you get the cash. I'll watch them." Mickey decided and tossed the money bag to David, who entered the vault. Mickey waited in the doorway, his eyes flickering from Prue, Sam and Max to David behind him.
Prue turned inconspicuously to Max. "Use your power." She whispered. Max looked at her in confusion. Prue squinted her eyes slightly and Max's jacket moved just enough to reveal the bomb strapped to his waist. She glanced at it pointedly.
Mickey noticed her subtle glance and stepped forward to grab Max. Mickey pulled him back to the vault door and pointed the gun in Prue's direction. "I don't want you guys getting any ideas." He explained needlessly. When Mickey turned his attention back to David, Prue nodded for Max to go ahead. Max looked at Sam who also nodded slightly. Max closed his eyes and slowly began to rock back and forth. "What the hell are you doing?" Mickey demanded, lightly hitting Max in an attempt to stop his concentration. Before he could really do anything, the bomb shorted out followed by the ring of an alarm.
Two guards came running from down the hall. "At the vault!" One shouted followed by "Put him down!"
Mickey irritably pushed Max away where Prue caught him and pulled him down beside her out of the way of any inevitable shootout.
"Stay down, Max." Sam ordered lightly upon seeing the guards coming and he too was crouched down.
"Hold it right there!" A second guard yelled. David and Mickey pulled their guns out and pointed. "Drop it!"
Prue quickly squinted her eyes and sent the guards flying to the side out of harm's way just as Mickey and David pulled the trigger consecutively. The bullets shot harmlessly through air.
Mickey turned his dangerous glare on Prue. "Big mistake." He pushed the trigger, only to have nothing happen.
"Yeah, right back at you." Prue returned coldly. She squinted her eyes, and their guns flew out of their hands.
Sam, catching on to his cousin's idea, waved his hand and sent the two kidnappers flying inside the vault. "Cool," Max whispered upon seeing what Sam did.
Prue squinted her eyes again, the vault door shut them in and locked. She then turned to Max and pulled him to his feet. "Come on." She ordered lightly.
Max hesitantly followed after her, glancing back behind him to where the guards were. "Shouldn't we wait for the cops? Explain everything?" He wondered.
Prue shook her head and continued to pull him after her. "No. Look, we cannot explain without telling and you have to protect yourself by protecting your secret. Besides, we really need to get back to your dad, okay?" She prompted, leading him back to the van.
Auto Shop
Mr. Franklin weakly opened his eyes to find the bright lights of orbs surrounding him. He reached very slowly toward them. "Paulette?" He whispered as he could swear, they formed the figure of a person.
Leo appeared standing in the place of the orbs who kneeled down next to Mr. Franklin and placed his hand over Mr. Franklin's bullet wound. "It's not time for you to be with your wife, Gordon. It's time to be with your son." Leo explained.
"But…" Mr. Franklin started to argue with a pointed glance at the blood that was spilling onto the floor.
A golden light emanated from Leo's hand and the wound suddenly began to close until not even Mr. Franklin's shirt was cut or stained with blood.
"Raise the boy well. Heed Prue's advice." Leo offered, standing up and stepping away.
He disappeared in a swirl of blue and white lights, leaving Mr. Franklin in the auto shop with the newly arrived Prue, Sam and Max.
"Dad, you okay?" Max yelled the moment he had jumped out of the van. He ran forward to meet his father.
"Max!" Mr. Franklin responded loudly. He ran forward and pulled is son into a tight hug. "Oh, I'm fine Max. Thank you, God. Thank you. Thank you. You're alright."
Sam was at a loss for words, "How?" He mumbled as Prue rounded the corner of the van.
Prue halted as she came around the van and saw Max with an obviously unhurt Mr. Franklin. she turned her gaze on Mr. Franklin. "But I saw you get… you're not bleeding…" Prue mumbled,
Mr. Franklin had pulled back from Max. "It's a miracle. Thank you… Thank you for protecting my son." Mr. Franklin appreciated wholeheartedly.
"But how?" Sam asked once again, determined to know what happened.
"Angels," Mr. Franklin informed with a half-smile. "My wife always said Angels were watching over us." He smiled at the memory.
Sam's eyes teared up and he turned to Prue. "My mom used to say that." He commented offhandedly
Prue smiled faintly. "I'm just glad it worked out. Raise the boy well." She looked even more confused when Mr. Franklin stared at her strangely. "What?" she asked
"There's somewhere we need to go. I'd like you to come with us." Mr. Franklin's gaze flickered to Sam, who was still standing to the side with a content expression on his face.
"Both of you." He amended with a kind smile in his direction.
~PO3~
Max and Mr. Franklin were kneeling down beside Paulette's grave, both holding flowers that they placed in front of the stone. "I was so busy being angry at your mother for leaving, for not telling me her secret, your secret… it was like a… a weight on my heart. I hope you both can forgive me." Mr. Franklin admitted softly.
Instead of responding in words, Max turned away from his mother's grave and threw his arms around his father in silent forgiveness.
Prue smiled, a content and watery smile, she had her arms linked with Sam's as Mr. Franklin nodded gratefully in their direction before slowly leaving the cemetery and the father and son in each other's arms. "Let's go, Sammy." Prue suggested and led the way to the impala.
Halliwell-Winchester Manor
Up in the attic, Piper, Phoebe, and Prue were finishing up the last of the spring cleaning, meaning Piper was working while Prue sent a toy train at Phoebe with a childish giggle. Phoebe cast her a mock glare but burst out into laughter as she picked it up.
"Can you believe that? Dad's old train." Prue exclaimed, holding her hands back out for the toy which Phoebe cheerfully passed back to her.
Piper sat the next to last box down on the floor, slightly harder than necessary. "I can't believe you! You get mad at me for chasing monsters on my own. Not to mention you didn't even tell me!" Piper snapped, crossing her arms and staring dangerously at her elder sister.
"I wasn't on my own," Prue defended herself innocently. "I had Sam with me." She argued as if that would make it all better and innocent smile o n her face.
"That's supposed to make it all better? One of you should have called us." Piper scolded harshly.
Prue's smile faded slightly in acknowledgement. "Well, I figured I could handle it when I found out they weren't demons, but… I probably should have asked for more help." She admitted.
Phoebe rolled her eyes. "Even though it kills you." She joked. "And almost did." Phoebe added as an afterthought.
"Live and learn." Prue replied, tossing her hair over her shoulder carelessly.
"Yeah, you didn't even get to say goodbye to Leo." Piper lamented a little bitterly.
Phoebe glanced up nervously. "What is that supposed to mean?" She asked in what she hoped was a nonchalant tone of voice.
Piper shrugged, lost for words. "I don't know. It's just weird. I felt like… he was holding something back from me." She explained slowly.
"Holding something back? What do you mean?" Prue questioned curiously.
"Who know? It just seems like he wasn't telling me the whole truth. Like… he had some secret he was afraid I couldn't handle." Piper elaborated.
"Well, that's his call." Phoebe spoke up and then frowned when her sisters cast her a scrutinizing glance. "Uh, assuming that he had a secret… he might not have." She amended hesitantly.
Piper turned away, back to the box of toys. "What are you talking about?" Her voice echoing her disbelief.
Phoebe sighed loudly and threw her hands up in defeat. "Okay, okay. You don't have to beat it out of me. Leo is a Whitelighter and they're not supposed to get involved with witches. But Leo couldn't help it. He fell in love with you and that broke all the rules, and got him in all sorts of trouble. And even though he'll love you forever, you will probably never see him again." Phoebe explained dramatically and all in one breathe. She stopped and the attic was filled with silence.
Prue and Piper exchanged a glance before they both burst out laughing. "What? Phoebe… that's… that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Leo, our handyman, a Whitelighter. Oh god, don't be so silly." Piper laughed, tossing a toy in her direction.
Phoebe appeared stunned but smiled, deciding it best to go along with it. "Me? Silly?" She repeated in a 'never' voice.
"I gotta go get more tea." Piper mumbled, still giggling to herself as she stepped out of the attic.
"You know, Pheebs, with an imagination like that you should be writing children's stories or something." Prue joked.
Phoebe turned back to Prue, completely serious. "No, but…" She trailed off, remembering that she wasn't supposed to say anything… and technically it wasn't a secret anymore so she just didn't have to bring it up again. "… I didn't even think of that. That's a really good idea, Prue." She amended thoughtfully. Looking away, she started to place the toy train into the 'going' box only to have Prue snatch it out of her hands.
"That… stays here." Prue insisted, smiling fondly down at the toy.
Phoebe crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes curiously at Prue. "Wait, I thought all of the toys were going to the Salvation Army."
"Well, like you said… we should save some for our children." Prue replied with a half-smile in Phoebe's direction.
"Do I sense a hormonal shift here?" Phoebe teased lightly.
Prue rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "It's no big deal. I've just had some time to think, that's all." Prue offered.
"Yeah, in all that spare time of yours." Phoebe quipped.
Prue cast her a playful glare. "And I realized that I do want kids. I think I'd make a great mom."
Phoebe nodded in agreement. "So did you save Max or did Max save you?" She wondered. She smiled wider as Prue didn't answer and slowly stood up to take the last box out of the attic, leaving Prue alone.
~PO3~
The three Winchester brothers were in the living room, "I can't believe it, Sammy. You and Prue go off and nearly get killed. What's wrong with you?" Adam asked as he paced around the living room; he was somewhat upset with his older brother.
"Protecting the innocent. That's all Prue and I did. They were just people, not a creature." Sam assured his brothers.
"Right, but these people could lure Hunters to California if given the chance we all need to be more careful when we are at home." Dean explained; he remembered what Leo said about exposure and how drastic it could be.
"Hunters won't come here, you and Bobby have said it." Sam reminded his older brother.
Dean sighed and then spoke, "I know, but like Piper, I worry about hunters coming and killing us. There is always that one hunter," He explained and then left the room.
"Sammy, I'm sorry I was so harsh, it's just, we do need to be a lot more careful on hunts." Adam explained and walked out of the living room as well.
Sam instantly began to wonder why the sudden change of behavior from his brothers, he then realized that he and Prue had used their powers on mortals. He was going to look into that and ask Bobby to keep an ear out for hunters who may come to town.
Author's Note
Alright guys, this is the latest chapter. I really hoped you liked it.
Next episode will be a combination of Is there a Woogy in the House and The Benders which I am currently half way through right now. That is part of the reason why this chapter took so long, I needed to make it enjoyable not only for myself but for you as readers. I got bits and pieces of the next few episodes written and I hope you stick with me until the end of the series.
I have been asked if I am doing all 15 seasons, I am sorry to disappoint but no, I may only do eight, I may do more. But it depends on where I am when I finish season 7 and where I want to go.
So, that being said, I am introducing a bunch of supernatural characters early on and earlier than they were in the original of supernatural. Starting in season 2 we will see a lot of faces we love throughout the duration of supernatural.