Phoebe and Paige lay on a bed, sweat beaded their faces. Leo wiped their foreheads with a Cole, we rag. Nearby, Prue flipped through the Book of Shadows, hopelessly searching form a spell, potion, amulet, anything, to fix her sisters. Down in the kitchen, Piper, worried that Phoebe would die, stood in the kitchen making endless potions. Piper didn't share their purposes with anyone, not even Leo. Prue guessed she just wanted to stay busy. Prue and Piper cast a spell to make clones of Phoebe and Paige, which would live out their lives as if nothing was wrong. Cole spent all his time at the manor, caring for Phoebe, staying by her side, while Kevin tried to talk Prue into leaving the manor, as she hadn't even left the book for hours. She agreed she would leave if he would take her to the Underworld to terrorize demons into telling her what ailment her sister had.

"Prue," Kevin said, holding Prue by her shoulders. A squish sound came from behind her as Leo pressed the wet rag to Paige's head.. "you can't go to the underworld. The demons will destroy you."

"Kevin, I am a Charmed One. Really strong witch? Nothing can kill me. I'm invincible. Just blink me to the underworld. Now!"

"Shax. He killed you. And I'm not taking you to your death. Just look through the book again."

"I've looked through it all day. There's nothing in there. At least I'm tying to do something. Leo is only up here because when he talks to Piper, she blows up. Plus, she just makes potions all day."

"Leo's up here to take care of your sisters. And Piper's only doing that to stay busy! You too, actually. You're scared, sad, and angry so you want me to take you to the underworld so you can blow off steam."

"No! I want to go to the underworld, to kick demon ass and find out what the hell is wrong with my sister!" Cole-Phoebe walked walked into the room.

"I'm home," she said.

"Fine. Just go downstairs and watch TV or s-something."

"Okey-dokey, then," she turned around and left.

"Prue, just look through the book."

"Fine." Prue sat down, and looked after Cole-Phoebe with sadness, then opened the Book of Shadows and searched through it again.

-P-P-P-

DISCLAIMER: ALL CHARACTERS WHO APPEAR IN THIS FANFICTION, EXCEPT THOSE I HAVE CREATED, ARE THE SOLE RIGHT AND PROPERTY OF THE WRITERS, ACTORS, AND CREATOR(S) OF CHARMED

STARRING

Shannen Doherty as Prue Halliwell

Holly Marie Combs as Piper Halliwell

Alyssa Milano as Phoebe Halliwell

Brian Krause as Leo Wyatt

Julian McMahon as Cole Turner

Chad Michael Murray as Kevin Lane

-P-P-P-

A puff of smoke erupted from the bowl that Piper worked in. She bottle the concoction and pressed a cork in it and set it.

"Number 360," she said. Cone-Phoebe bounced into the room.

"How are the potions coming?" She asked, sounding exactly like Phoebe.

"Fine," Piper relied flatly, dropping a mushroom into a now clean pot. It started to bubble slowly.

"Why do you act like that toward me?"

"Prue roped me into making you. I didn't want to replace Phoebe. I want the real Phoebe. Now leave! I have more potions to make."

"Okay," she started creeping toward the door but turned around and looked at Piper. "I'm not trying to replace her, you know. I want her around just as much as you do." Piper stared after her, loathing hung on her face. She scooped up some powder, a few beads, threw them into a pot, stirred them, poured in some liquid, and threw in a feather, then scooped some up and put it into a bottle. She held it up and looked through it.

"361," she said, "139 to go."

-P-P-P-

Niray cackled in the darkness as she looked into the manor, watching Prue and Piper through a ball of energy as they slowly drove themselves mad.

"Oh, this is wonderful! The Charmed Ones are practically defeating themselves. If only they knew their sisters merely have the common flu."

"Can they cure that?" Rak asked.

"Well of course they can you blubbering idiot! But every day, their temperatures rise. They're at about 106 degrees now."

"But their whitelighter —,"

"I simply blocked his magic. He will not be able to heal them.

"You know what I don't get?" Rak asked, "Is why you don't revive the Source. He could do a number on them."

"The Source is uncontrollable. I shall not raise him."

"But if you bring back the AHHHHHH!" Niray held up her hand and Rak fell to the floor as the mark upon his neck burned.

"Do not dare defy me."

-P-P-P-

Later that night:

Prue opened her eyes to see Rak towering over her. She thrust her hand out, and threw him telekinetically across the attic. Cole, Kevin, and Leo, who slept near the girls, jerked awake, and Piper ran into the room.

"Wait!" Rak yelled, standing slowly, hand up. "I have information for you. Your sisters aren't that sick. They just have the flu."

"Oh my God!" Piper yelled, causing everyone to jump. Then, she ran from the room.

"What do you mean?"

"Niray told us. Your sisters only have the flu."

"Why couldn't Leo heal them?"

"She blocked his magic."

"How can we trust you?"

"Niray is crazy. She offered me power. Instead, she tortures me. She's not even smart enough to kill you herself." Piepr ran back into the room with a box filled with potions.

"Piper, what is that?"

"500 potions," Piper replied, pulling out an orange potions. She threw it between Phoebe and Paige. An orange haze spread over them and they slowly opened their eyes.

"Piper," Prue asked, running to the couch with Piper, "What was that?"

"A potion to cure the flu. These other ones are for fighting, healing, and teleporting. I was going to summon Niray and fight her with these."

"Piper, that'd be suic —," Prue was interrupted by Rak as he began to scream. The four sisters, two demons, and the angel jerked their heads toward him. His pupils were missing and fire erupted over his body and he exploded.

"Noone betrays me," said Niray, who stood behind them. She disappeared in a flash of white energy.

-P-P-P-

Later that night, Prue, Piper, and Phoebe sat on the couch together, their guys close by, while Paige sat on a chair, all alone.

"I'm glad you're ok," said Piper, hugging Phoebe. "You too, Paige."

"We have to vanquish Niray."

-P-P-P-

Niray looked at her two minions. She beat her fist against her stone throne.

"Rak was right," she said, "I need someone stronger." She held up her hand and threw energy into the middle of the room. It flashed brightly. She smiled evilly. "The Charmed Ones are mine."