Chapter 17: The Power of Two Augmented
May 12, 1997 – Monday
"Come on. Give me a premonition." Phoebe whispered as she sat crosslegged on the table meditating. She was trying to call a premonition on command despite the hectic background as she held Piper's plane tickets to her forehead.
"Prue, have you seen my purse?" Piper called out.
"In the kitchen," Prue answered. "Have you seen my keys?"
"By the television," Buffy answered as she came down the stairs.
"I can't find my plane ticket," Piper said as she frantically looked for the offending item. "Did I give it to you?"
Prue shrugged. "Maybe you packed it."
"I didn't pack it," Piper said as she returned to hunting for her tickets. "I just saw it."
"I can't believe it. It worked," Phoebe said excitedly having actually received a premonition.
"I found them," Buffy called out as she snatched the tickets from Phoebe.
"Thank God," Piper said as she took the tickets from Buffy. She then turned and looked at her younger sister. "Didn't you hear me looking for this? What are you doing on the furniture?"
"No, you don't understand," Phoebe said as she smiled at her sister. "I've been practicing how to call a premonition and I did it. I saw a future event on command. Oh, and that's the good news, the bad news is I saw you missing your flight."
Piper let out a sigh in frustration. "Oh, great. If I don't get to Honolulu for the convention, my boss will fire me."
"Well, we can't let that happen especially since my job is hanging by a thread as it is," Prue said as she came up beside the three of them.
"Since when?" Buffy asked suddenly worried.
"A lot of different things have contributed to the problems," Prue admitted. "But mostly it's since all the demon hunting time off I've been taking lately."
"I am so behind," Piper said with a sigh. "I didn't go shopping, or pay the bills, or call the cable guy, or cancel my hair appointment."
Phoebe smiled. "Don't worry about it, sweetie, I'll do it," she promised her middle sister.
"You sure?" Piper asked.
"Yeah, I mean, you've got time right? Prue agreed looking at Phoebe.
"If you like I could help you, Pheebs. I'm out of school today," Buffy said as Prue looked at her. "Water main broke over the weekend. So school is out till they get that fixed." Prue nodded. "Though now that I think about it helping Phoebe would be easier if I had a car and a license. Prue, maybe we can discuss that later after you get home from work?"
Prue thought about it, Buffy have a car and a license would be easier on all of them so that they wouldn't have to ferry her around. "We'll talk," she promised before turning to Piper. "Okay, so listen, we have stopped Phoebe's premonitions from coming true before, hopefully we can do it again. Let's go."
"Okay, but wait, whoa, whoa! I just realised the three of you haven't really ever been alone together," Piper reminded them.
"So?" Buffy said. "We're all big girls here."
"Buffy's right," Phoebe agreed. "I don't think we need you as a buffer anymore."
"All right, what about demon stuff, what if something happens and you need the power of three?" Piper wondered.
"First its not the first time we've not been together to fight something. Remember the day before yesterday. Phoebe was with Rupert while you and I helped Buffy," Prue reminded her middle sister. "So the Power of Two can do it and if need be we can always have Buffy augment us and make us stronger."
"Prue's right," Buffy agreed. "Go, have fun, or at least whatever fun you can have on a work related thing."
As Prue led Piper toward the front door she called over her shoulder. "Hey Phoebe, Buffy, will you two pick up my dry cleaning on the way back from the market, please?"
"And talk to the gardeners about the weeds," Piper added.
"Oh, and light bulbs, we need light bulbs," Prue finished.
"Sure, we'll just add it to the list." Phoebe said with a sigh as they watched Prue and Piper walk out the door. "I'm not even married and already I'm a housewife."
Buffy rolled her eyes as she smiled at her youngest cousin. "Hey at least I offered to help," she reminded Phoebe.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Phoebe's thoughts were interrupted by the incessant ringing of the phone. Her hand snapped out and grabbed it. "Hello?" she demanded. "…Oh, hey, Marianne." She answered, her voice lightening considerably as she recognized her friend's voice on the other end. "…Geez, I completely forgot about Alcatraz. I can't go, I have a million errands to run." Phoebe trailed off as she looked at the list of things she and Buffy had to do today. She hesitated when Marianne began spouting off insistence. Maybe a break wouldn't be so bad. "You know… I'll be right over. Oh and you don't mind if I bring Payson along. She's never seen Alcatraz. Great, thanks." She then hung up and looked straight at Buffy who had overheard her end of the conversation. "Well?" she asked as she scrunched up the list and threw it away.
"Alcatraz? Wow," Buffy said excitedly. "So chores or seeing a famous prison. I think I will go see the prison." She and Phoebe grabbed their jackets and headed out the door.
Alcatraz Island
"You don't seriously plan on spending the rest of eternity around here do you?" the Soul Collector taunted. She flicked a piece of her fiery red hair away from her face as she smirked at the ghost in front of her.
The ghost didn't respond or turn his head in acknowledgement for a long moment. "I'll find a way off this rock on my own, don't worry," he finally offered, pacing the long prison hallway.
The Soul Collector laughed mirthlessly. "Who are you kidding, Jackson? You've been stuck here since they executed you. Thirty-six long years trapped between life and death."
"Big deal," Jackson snapped. He suddenly kicked out against an empty soda can and it crashed into the wall on the opposite side of the jail. "I've learned how to do things in that time…" He started toward her and stepped through the bars into the cell that he often occupied. "… break the physical plane. Prepare for my revenge."
"Revenge. How mortal," she scoffed with a roll of her eyes.
"Go to hell," Jackson cursed, striking at the soda can a second time with his foot.
The Soul Collector shrugged nonchalantly. "That's what I do. Only never alone. I ferry souls there. Everyone I can get my little hands on so to speak," she explained.
Jackson cast her a dangerous glare. "Yeah, well, you're not going to get your little hands on this one, lady, so just forget it." He warned.
"Don't worry, Jackson. I don't want your soul. I want a witch's. They're prize catches. Trophies," she soothed with a hint of sarcasm in her tone.
Jackson suddenly appeared intrigued. "What does that got to do with me?" he questioned.
"If you let me get you off the island, get your revenge, witches will try to stop you and the only way to do that is to become vulnerable to me…" The Soul Collector replied eagerly, "…then I'll have them right where I want them…" She trailed off at the sound of the gate opening as another tour group arrived. "…speaking of witches…"
The tour group stopped in front of the cell that Jackson and the Soul Collector were waiting in. Buffy and Phoebe were among the group, but they had their eyes trained on the information sheet as the tour guide began his speech. "Twenty-eight inmates died here. Nine by attempting to escape, four by execution. Legend has it that one of them still haunts the prison to this very day. The ghost of Alcatraz, believed to reside in this very cell."
"The ghost... oh, geez," said a man who laughed at the thought of a real ghost.
The tour guide waved pointedly behind him at the cell they were standing in front of. Several of the spectators laughed at the prospect but the tour guide continued undeterred. "Let's see if he's in, shall we?" The tour guide took the moment to open the cell door and close himself inside. "Now, if you listen closely, you can actually hear the ghost cries," he went on, appearing enthusiastic as a gust of wind blew through the abandoned prison so that an eerie moan sounded around them. "There. Hear him?"
Jackson had come up right next to the tour guide and rolled his eyes in disbelief as he was obviously not making any cries to be heard. "What an idiot," he hissed, turning away in boredom.
Buffy's head snapped up in surprise and her eyes widened as she saw the ghost and the Soul Collector. "Phoebe!" she said.
Before Phoebe had a chance to look up, the Soul Collector acted. "Look at him as your 'get out of jail free' card," she suggested, clenching her fist at the guide. The tour guide suddenly dropped to the ground mid-sentence.
Buffy reacted immediately. "Phoebe," she said again as she pulled out her cell phone and began dialing 911.
Phoebe finally seeing the ghost and the Soul Collector ran up to the bars. "What did you do? Who are you?" she demanded of the two ghostly people.
"You two can see me?" Jackson asked in surprise.
The Soul Collector rolled her eyes dramatically. "Forget them for now. There's your ride off the island. Hop in," she prompted with a pointed look at the body.
"No, no!" Phoebe warned while the people around her and Buffy had gone into hysterics over the mysterious fall of the tour guide. Jackson grinned tauntingly at them before possessing the body of the dead tour guide.
"Hope you enjoyed the tour. See ya'!" The Soul Collector laughed. She flamed out as Phoebe suddenly became aware of the people in her tour group staring at her. Phoebe hesitantly backed away and tried to appear 'normal' while they waited on the police.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
The inspecting officers lifted the body bag that was now occupied by the tour guide up onto the gurney and rolled it toward the door. Buffy and Phoebe were being questioned by one of the other officers about what had happened. When they were allowed to leave, they rejoined Marianne by the door and they walked out and left the scene behind.
Bucklands Auction House
Prue slammed the door of her car shut and dashed inside the building while attempting to keep a hold of all her papers. Her phone was pressed against her shoulder as she attempted to push open the door with her foot. "No, Monique, just stall for another minute. I'm walking in the door now...Ow!" She trailed off abruptly as she didn't quite make it past the threshold before the door slammed into her back.
She silently cursed and continued with clenched teeth. "I just have to take the elevator up." There was no response from Monique and Prue sighed dramatically as she settled in the corner of the elevator for the long ride up. The elevator dinged as the doors opened onto the twelfth floor. She was out in a matter of seconds and rushing down the hallway. Prue could just see Claire being held back by Monique, Prue's assistant, inside one of the offices. She narrowed her eyes at the door and it slammed shut while Prue hastened by and slipped into her own office. She threw everything unceremoniously on her desk and dropped into her seat just as Claire sauntered in.
"Prue, you're late," Claire stated, pointing at the clock on Prue's wall.
Prue's eyes followed her pointing hand. The clock read 9:00. She ran a hand through her hair nervously. She was an hour late and before she could tell Claire that she was late because she took her sister to the airport, Claire cut in.
"In all honesty, Prue, if it weren't for you, I'm not sure the auction house would've been able to stave off bankruptcy," Claire admitted.
Prue appeared surprised at the praise. She had been sure she was about to get a lecture about her lateness. She smiled faintly, daring to hope that she wouldn't be yelled at again. "Thank you," she said, sitting up just a little straighter.
"Oh, don't thank me yet," Claire warned, smirking faintly as Prue's hopeful smile faded. "Now, I have tolerated your unexplained absences and the endless family emergencies, but no more. Buyers interested in purchasing Bucklands will be visiting on Monday and it's important that we make a big impression… It's important that you make a big impression if you expect to keep your job," she explained coldly. "Do I make myself clear?"
"Perfectly," Prue answered immediately.
Monique opened the door before anything else could be said and walked in with an apologetic glance in Prue's direction. "I'm sorry, Prue, but Payson's on the phone," she announced.
Claire glanced pointedly in Prue's direction, listening intently for her answer. Prue bit her lip slightly, aware of the attention. "Um, I will call her back," Prue decided with a hesitant smile.
"She says it's an emergency," Monique added to which Prue sighed but stood up to get the phone.
Halliwell Manor
"Hey, have you ever heard of the ghost of Alcatraz?" Buffy questioned into the phone as Phoebe absently searched the internet for the supposed identity of the ghost.
"Are you kidding me? This is why you pulled me out of a meeting?" Prue demanded, her voice bordering on hysteria.
"No, Prue, you don't understand. Phoebe and I think the ghost really exists," Buffy explained hastily.
"Did either of you see it?" Prue inquired, lowering her voice slightly.
Buffy hesitated trying to decide whether to admit it or not. "We think so. We went with Phoebe's friend Marianne to Alcatraz." She closed her eyes awaiting the fireworks. There was silence on the other end. "Well, actually I think we saw two ghosts. We're not really sure about one of them…"
Bucklands Auction House
"Look, Buffy, I cannot leave right now," Prue finally replied. She started to say something else when she noticed Claire waiting impatiently at the door. "Um… I'm really sorry you got burned, but you're just gonna have to handle it," she fabricated.
"I get it," Buffy said in realization. "Your boss is looking over your shoulder."
"Yes," answered Prue. "Now put your hand in ice water for awhile and you should be okay. Oh and Buffy, remind Phoebe to buy tampons at the market," she said before hanging up the phone. "Payson's been learning how to cook. First time trying something solo without Piper looking over her shoulder. Didn't go well," she mumbled before heading back to her office as Claire probably wanted.
San Francisco Police Department
Andy was staring absently at the files on his desk when Darryl walked up behind him with the storage box for older files. "Did you take some of the old case files home with you by any chance, Andy?" he asked with underlying suspicion.
Andy offered Darryl a quick glance before turning his attention to the new files in front of him. "No, why?"
"We're missing a couple…" Darryl replied with a shrug. "… Hope the Captain's not reviewing them," he added slyly. There was no response from Andy so Darryl continued. "You want to talk about it?"
Andy raised his gaze for another moment. "Talk about what?"
"About why you've been walking around here like a zombie lately," Darryl elaborated. "Come on, what's up?"
"I wish I could tell you, I really do. I just have to work things out on my own first," Andy replied.
"Okay, you guys are the experts on the freaky cases, figure this one out…" Inspector Blakely interrupted as she dropped a new file on the desk in front of the two cops. "…A victim was stabbed thirteen times in the chest. Circular pattern. CSI combed the scene and other than the knife, found no evidence. Except, check this out," she continued, passing Andy a picture.
Andy's gaze flickered over the photo of the knife with a fingerprint clearly visible on the pommel of the knife. "A solid thumbprint," he remarked, allowing Darryl to take the photo.
Inspector Blakely gave a slight nod as she took a seat next to Andy. "Yeah, but we didn't get it from dusting. We got it from fluoroscoping."
"Ultraviolet fingerprint. Never heard of that," Darryl admitted after a moment.
"We ran the print…" she started but paused with glance around her. "… This is where it gets freaky. It matches up to Jackson Ward, the serial killer that was executed in Alcatraz thirty-six years ago." Inspector Blakely finished passing another picture of Jackson Ward to Andy.
Andy hesitated, his gaze shifting over both the photos thoughtfully. "Are you sure about this?" he demanded, a little too interested.
Inspector Blakely shrugged. "Checked it twice," she offered.
"Dead guy's prints on a murder weapon? It's gotta be a mistake," Darryl decided though he cast Andy a suspicious glance at his interest.
Andy suddenly leaned forward and grabbed the picture. "Can I borrow this?" he asked Inspector Blakely. He didn't wait for an answer nor did he look at Darryl's reaction as he grabbed his jacket.
"Whoa, where are you going?" Inspector Blakely inquired, but received no answer as Andy left with the file.
Halliwell Manor
"Phoebe, Buffy, I'm home." Prue announced, tossing her purse on the table next to the front door and heading for the kitchen. She found Phoebe at the kitchen table surfing the web on the laptop while Buffy washed dishes at the sink. She walked over to the fridge intending to get a bottle of water only to find it empty. "Buffy, Phoebe, didn't you two go to the market?" she asked.
"Uh, no, we sort of got side tracked with this ghost research," Buffy answered. "Besides, there isn't enough money in the household account."
"Well, you two should've told me," Prue said. "I would've had some transferred in. What about the dry cleaning?"
"I will go tomorrow, I swear," Phoebe said.
"I wanted to wear that suit to work tomorrow," Prue said shaking her head.
It was at that moment the doorbell rang and Prue immediately went to answer it. She smiled faintly when she saw Andy at the door. "Andy, hi," she greeted, leaning casually against the doorframe.
"Hi," Andy returned.
"I was wondering if I'd see you again. I thought you might be mad at me," Prue said.
"No, I just needed some space," Andy returned with a sigh. "It's one thing to suspect what your secret was, it's another thing to actually see it with my own eyes."
"So does that mean that you're okay with it?" Prue asked hopefully.
"Actually, I'm here on a case. A kind of case where frankly before, I'd probably be looking for a more logical explanation," he explained hesitantly.
"Well, come on in," she said, holding the door back so Andy could enter. Prue slipped out of her jacket, hung it up next to the door, and led the way into kitchen. "What's the case?" she asked curiously.
Phoebe and Buffy both greeted Andy and then fell silent at the mention of a case. "The son of a former D.A. was brutally murdered. The only quote-unquote evidence points to the last man executed on Alcatraz before it was closed down," Andy briefed them.
"Jackson Ward," Phoebe guessed suddenly.
Prue and Andy turned curious glances at Phoebe as she stood up from her seat behind the laptop. "How did you know that?" Andy inquired.
"Yeah, how did you know that?" Prue followed.
"Phoebe and I told you, we were trying to figure out who the ghost of Alcatraz was, remember?" Buffy answered.
"Jackson Ward's name was at the top of the list," Phoebe added.
"Ghost?" Andy repeated, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully and more than a little in surprise.
Buffy was the first to turn her attention to the folder in Andy's hands. "What is that?" she asked, pointing at the photo of the knife and fingerprint.
"Ultraviolet fingerprint. Although, technically, there's no such thing," Andy answered.
"Could be the ghost's ectoplasm. It's outside the visual spectrum," Phoebe suggested thoughtfully. "Book of Shadows," she hissed under her breath to Prue.
Andy nodded slightly to himself. "Ectoplasm…" he repeated uncertainly.
"The ghost's skin," Buffy offered helpfully though it only resulted in Andy looking more hesitant to further the conversation. "Hey, do you have a picture of this Ward guy?"
Andy flipped through the pictures until he found the picture of Jackson Ward. He turned to Buffy and Phoebe with the photo.
Phoebe took the photo carefully. She held it between her and Buffy and they scanned over it. Buffy nodded to Phoebe. "Yep, that's him," Phoebe announced before turning to Andy. "And what about this former D.A.'s son. Did Ward know him?"
"Ward knew his father. He was the prosecutor who convicted him," Andy explained, slowly turning away from Buffy, Prue and Phoebe as they began to put pieces together.
"Coincidence? I think not," Buffy decided eagerly as she turned to face Prue and Phoebe.
"It's got to be the ghost that got off Alcatraz," Phoebe added agreeing with Buffy.
Prue sighed before turning to face Andy. "Uh, Andy, are you okay?" she asked hesitantly.
Andy slowly turned around to face her. "I don't know. Just getting used to the idea of demons and witches. I don't know if I'm ready for ghosts too."
"You ain't seen nothin' yet," Phoebe remarked, earning an elbow in the side from Prue.
"But if you're right, if it is the ghost of Jackson Ward who's the killer, how do I stop him from killing again?" Andy wondered.
May 13, 1997 – Tuesday
Court House
Judge Renault sat behind his desk while flipping through some paperwork when Jackson Ward walked through the wall and approached the oblivious judge. Next to the door, Jackson Ward flipped the light switch and the room was bathed in darkness. Judge Renault found nothing strange with the situation and calmly reached over and turned on the desk light to continue his work.
"Judge Renault. Long time, no see. You could've shown me mercy giving me life in prison. But you wanted me put to death," Jackson Ward stated though Renault couldn't hear him. With an eager glint in his eyes, Ward picked up Renault's name plate and held it up so that, to Renault, it appeared to be floating in mid-air.
It took a moment for Renault to notice it as his attention was on the papers in front of him. When he did he pushed his chair away from his desk while his eyes widened in fear. "What's goin' on?" Judge Renault demanded. "Who's there?"
Ward let the nameplate fall back onto the desk with a loud crack and Renault stumbled quickly away from his desk. He unwittingly walked right by Jackson Ward, who roughly grabbed Renault's tie in such a way that it began to strangle him. "Do you have any idea how long it takes to die in a gas chamber? How much you suffer, what a cruel and horrible death it is?" Jackson Ward challenged. Judge Renault struggled to relieve the pressure around his throat but to no avail. Ward snatched a letter opener off the desk and brought it around in front of Renault. Renault saw it just before the ghost stabbed him with it. Jackson let Renault's body fall to the ground just as the Soul Collector flamed in next to him.
"I helped you get your revenge. Now it's your turn to help me get a witch," she ordered him.
Jackson Ward laughed at her. "Are you kidding, lady? I'm just getting started." Taking up the letter opener again, Ward began driving it into Renault's lifeless body again and again.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Andy knelt down next to Darryl and the body of Judge Renault while other officers gathered evidence around them. "Thirteen stab wounds, circular pattern just like the other victim," Darryl related without a glance in Andy's direction.
"Matches Jackson's M.O. too," Andy agreed somberly.
"Must be a copycat killer." Darryl decided.
Andy smirked faintly. "How would he know? The M.O. was never released to the public," he pointed out before turning his attention to a passing inspector who held the letter opener. "Can I see that?"
"I've already dusted for prints and nothing," the inspector replied as he set it down on the table in front of him.
"Did you fluoroscope it?" Andy inquired.
The inspector's face fell in confusion and suspicion. "What?" he prompted. Andy reached past him and scanned the fluoroscope over the pommel of the letter opener, illuminating the fingerprints. "What the hell is that?" the other inspector exclaimed in awe.
Andy chuckled. "Don't ask." He passed it back and turned to Darryl, who had come up behind him while the letter opener was taken to search for the owner of the fingerprints left behind. "Ten bucks says it matches Ward's."
"Andy, don't go jumping off the deep end on me, okay. Jackson Ward is dead. Been that way for a long time now," Darryl responded as if talking to a child.
"Well, someone's going around killing people, or the descendents of people who put him away," Andy argued while grabbing his jacket and putting it on.
"Where are you going?" Darryl demanded.
Andy reluctantly turned back to face him. "Look, have someone put together a list of potential victims. Anybody who had anything to do with his conviction."
"Andy, wait! Wait!" Darryl called after him, but received no response as his partner walked out.
Bucklands Auction House
Prue's office fell silent as the three clients had finished their introductions with Claire and Prue had yet to show up. Claire kept casting angry glances behind her at the door as if willing Prue to appear. "I'm sure Prue will be here shortly. She has a lot of… family emergencies," she explained, rubbing the temple of her head in a soothing manner.
The door to Prue's office suddenly burst open and a haggard-looking Prue ran in. "Claire, I'm so sorry…"
"Prue, let me introduce you," Claire interrupted, grabbing Prue by the arm and dragging her toward the clients. "This is Mr. Yakihama, head of Acquisitions. Mr. Yakihama, this is Prue Halliwell, one of our top specialists."
Prue shook hands politely. "Hi, nice to meet you, sir," she greeted with a slightly forced smile.
"Nice to meet you too. I trust everything is all right with your family," Mr. Yakihama replied.
"Oh…" Prue mumbled, hastily pushing a lock of her hair away from her face while trying to come up with a decent response.
Prue's office door opened again and the group turned to find Monique. "Excuse me, Prue," Monique started.
"Not now, Monique." Prue replied through gritted teeth. Monique looked vaguely uncomfortable as Andy walked up behind her.
Claire stared pointedly at Andy. "May I help you?" she demanded.
Andy nodded and pulled out his police mark for Claire to see. "Yeah, I need to see Miss Halliwell. It's police business," he explained.
Everyone turned to look at Prue who forced a smile and an uncomfortable laugh. "Excuse me," she offered to the clients before walking out, not daring to look at Claire. She ran a hand through her hair and spun on Andy as soon as they were out of her office and Monique had closed the door behind them. "Are you trying to get me fired?"
Andy stopped just in front of her. "I think Jackson Ward has killed again, Prue," he admitted, his voice lowered so as not to let anyone overhear.
"Great… just great," Prue muttered, her stress beginning to channel into anger. "Why don't you just wait here a second and I'll take care of everything," She snapped. Leaving Andy, she threw her office door open harder than necessary and forced a pleasant tone in her voice. "Hi…" The door shut behind her.
Halliwell Manor
"Phoebe? Buffy?" Prue's voice carried up the stairs to where Buffy and Phoebe were flipping through their respective Book of Shadows.
"Yeah, we're in the attic," Buffy called.
Prue walked in several moments later with Andy following behind her. He stopped just inside the door and glanced around in awe. "I always wondered what was up here," he remarked casually.
Phoebe and Buffy's heads snapped up in surprise. "Prue, the Book of Sha-ba-da-dows," Phoebe hissed while she Buffy tackled the pedestals to cover the two books up with their arms.
"No, no, no, it's okay. I already told him about them. Look, Jackson Ward has killed again. We have to figure out a way to stop him. Have you guys found anything?" Prue asked hopefully.
Buffy pulled away from the book and glanced back down at the notepad that she had been writing relevant information down on. "Um, no…"
Phoebe rolled her eyes and took it upon herself to elaborate. "It's just that there are so many references. Ghosts, poltergeists, evil spirits, phantasms. We're not dealing with a typical demon here."
"Yeah, well, there's got to be something in here about vanquishing an evil spirit," Prue stated, walking around to stand next to her sisters so she could look at the book. Andy quit his inspection of the attic and moved around behind the sisters so he could look over their shoulders.
"Well, actually there is one spell…" Phoebe started.
"…But we're not going to want to use it," Buffy finished hastily.
Prue frowned in confusion. "Why not?" she questioned curiously.
Phoebe and Buffy exchanged a knowing glance. "The problem is an evil spirit can't be vanquished on the Physical Plane. Only the Astral Plane… his plane," Phoebe explained.
"Okay, so then how do we say the spell?" Prue wondered aloud.
"Our spirits would have to say it," Phoebe answered in which Prue remained confused.
"One of us would have to die for it to work," Buffy clarified.
Prue was silent for several moments. "Perfect," she muttered sarcastically.
"Oh, it gets worse." Buffy added, turning her attention to the notepad in her hand. "We think the other being Phoebe saw was a Soul Collector. If one of us was to die to say the spell the Soul Collector could capture our soul and take it to Hell…"
"Keep looking," Prue ordered lightly.
Buffy, Prue and Phoebe turned around to find Andy staring at the books and seeming overwhelmed by what he was reading. He glanced up and noticed they were watching him with a hint of worry and concern. "I've always believed there was another world behind or beyond this one. I even sort of believe in demons, but I never in my wildest dreams… I could never have imagined that this existed," he explained to which they exchanged understanding glances.
"Yeah, neither did we. But we've come to believe that there's a reason for why that world was opened up to us. Which means there's probably a very good reason why it was opened up to you too," Prue soothed with a half-smile. "Which means there's probably a very good reason why it was opened up to you."
"Welcome, to our little shop of horrors," Phoebe quipped, earning soft laughter and a hesitant smile from Andy.
The pages of both Book of Shadows suddenly began flipping causing Andy to step back nervously. "Are you doing that?" Andy demanded with a glance at Prue.
"No, sometimes they just does that on their own…" Prue trailed off as the pages stopped on the Truth Spell. She immediately blushed and fell silent.
Andy didn't notice at first as his gaze was drawn to the page. "The Truth Spell?"
"Oh…" Buffy mumbled, casting Prue a sympathetic glance. She hadn't been home when Prue had cast the truth spell, she had been staying overnight at Willow's. But she had heard about it afterwards and knew it was the real reason that Prue had broken up with Andy.
"That's weird that it would open up to that page with Andy standing right there," Phoebe remarked, poking Prue pointedly in the side.
Prue swiped Phoebe's hands away and Andy turned his attention to the now very edgy Prue. "There has to be a mistake, Phoebe," she snapped, turning the first one and then the other pages away..
Phoebe shook her head, "Or maybe there's a reason, Prue," she said as she turned the pages in the Charmed Ones' Book back to the truth spell.
"You know," Buffy said as she grabbed Phoebe's arm. "I'm hungry. Phoebe why don't we go downstairs and see if there is any food in the fridge for lunch?" Without waiting for an answer she pulled Phoebe out of the attic.
Prue slammed the Charmed Ones' book closed. "Traitors," she hissed under her breath. In response, the books opened back to the Truth Spell page. Andy didn't comment but rather turned his attention back to the open page curiously.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"You did what?" Andy demanded. His voice was raised as he finally had gotten some cryptic answer from Prue about the Truth Spell. He stomped down the stairs, unsure of whether he wanted more of an answer from her.
Prue sighed loudly as she followed after him. "Look, I just wanted to see how you would react to finding out I was a witch." She explained, desperately trying to keep calm.
Andy hesitated and looked over his shoulder at her. "Why didn't you just ask?"
"Oh, because I was afraid you'd freak out on me. Which is exactly what you did by the way, you just don't remember," Prue snapped. "Part of the spell," she added for his benefit.
Andy rounded on her as he realized another piece of the story. "Wait a minute. My reaction to your being a witch isn't the reason we stopped seeing each other, is it?" he questioned coldly.
Prue crossed her arms defiantly. "You're the one who wanted to stop seeing me first."
"Because you wouldn't tell me what your secret was!" he argued.
"Yeah, which turned out to be a good thing considering how you reacted," Prue retorted.
"Freaked out?" Andy repeated harshly.
Prue nodded sharply. "Exactly, kinda like what you're doing right now."
"You haven't answered my question. Did that have anything to do with why we stopped seeing each other?" he inquired a second time.
"Sorta," Prue replied, suddenly more hesitant. She bit her lip when Andy narrowed his eyes. "Okay, yeah, it did."
Andy nodded as if he expected that answer. "And just out of curiosity, how much time did you give me to react anyway?"
"Why? What difference does it make?" Prue returned.
"How much time?" Andy insisted, enunciating each word sharply.
"A minute," Prue answered off-handedly before she made eye contact and noticed how angry he actually was. "… Or two…" she amended.
"A minute?" Andy repeated in disbelief.
"… Or two… It was a twenty-four hour spell, all right, I was against the clock," she defended herself.
"And that's what you based your entire decision about us on? Prue, I've had over a week to react this time. I still don't know how I feel. You should've given me more time. I think I deserve that, I think we deserved that!" Andy vented. A tense silence fell between the two during which Prue avoided eye contact with Andy and he attempted to calm his frustration with his ex-girlfriend.
Before either of them could say anything else on the subject. Phoebe led Buffy out of the kitchen. "Hey, you guys, since we don't know how to vanquish the ghost we have to try to stop him from killing his next victim…" Phoebe began with a nervous glance between Andy and Prue. "Um, are we interrupting something?" she asked.
"I told you we should have waited longer," Buffy hissed under her breath.
Andy glanced at them a little annoyed and he was silently glad he had been an only child. At least he had been able to leave the Halliwell sisters behind when they annoyed him. "No, we're through," he answered. "What do you mean stopping him from killing his next victim? How do we do that?"
"We have powers too you know," Phoebe pointed out with a hint of indignation in her voice. Andy rolled his eyes as if he should have expected such an answer from them.
"But we're gonna need your help," Buffy added.
San Francisco Police Department
Andy casually threw open the door to the evidence storage warehouse and stepped up to the desk. "Excuse me," he called for the officer on the other side of the desk. The officer turned around to face him with a questioning look on his face. "Inspector Andrew Trudeau." Andy flashed his badge before continuing. "I need the murder weapon for case R-13658." He explained.
The officer passed a clipboard across the desk to Andy. "Sign that. I'll go get it." He turned away again and searched through the folders in an adjoining room before coming back out with the correct one.
"Thanks," Andy appreciated. He made a quick check inside the folder and left with a faint nod back at the officer.
The door closed behind Andy and the officer grabbed the nearby phone. He dialed a number and waited several moments for someone to pick up. "Yeah, you told me to call if Trudeau showed… yeah, he just left…" he spoke into the phone with a short glance at the security camera.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"Did you get that list of potential victims yet?" Andy asked, coming up to stand next to Darryl.
Darryl cast a look over his shoulder at Andy. "Still working on it. It's a lot of names. Especially when you add in the descendants," he answered, pointing down at the file in front of him. "Where you been?"
Andy shrugged and picked up the papers. "You don't want to know," he stated simply.
Darryl reached out and stopped Andy from turning away. "Really? Try me."
"Maybe later, okay. Look, I gotta go. I'll take what you have so far and check back with you later," Andy replied. He pulled his arm out of Darryl's grasp and started for the door.
Darryl narrowed his eyes and strategically stepped in Andy's way. "We're partners, Andy. That means we work together," he reminded him shortly.
"I know, but this is an exception," Andy returned. He lightly clapped Darryl on the shoulder before finally succeeding in escaping out the door.
No sooner had the door closed than Darryl returned to his desk only to find Inspector Rodriguez approaching him with his partner. "Inspector Morris. Inspector Rodriguez and Anderson, internal affairs," he introduced them. "We need to talk to you about your partner."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Andy slipped into the passenger's seat of Prue's car and flipped open the file. "Okay, I got it. That's what Ward used to kill the judge," he explained. Andy handed the letter opener to Phoebe and Buffy in the backseat. "How exactly is this going to work again?" he asked, a hint of nervousness in his voice.
"Well, I've been practicing calling my power, and if the psychic energy is strong enough on this, I should be able to see a future event," Phoebe explained.
"And if she can't hopefully I can," Buffy added.
"Hopefully, Jackson Ward's next victim," Prue said.
"Hoperfully, if we're lucky," Phoebe said reluctantly. "It doesn't always work," she said before she and Buffy closed their eyes concentrating on the letter opener they held between them. Simultaneously they jerked lightly as a premonition was triggered.
An elderly woman screamed in terror as Jackson Ward advanced on her. Jackson pulled his arm back, ready to stab her with a long knife and the woman fell back to the ground.
"Oh my God…" Phoebe finally mumbled.
"You can say that again," Buffy said as she took the letter opener and handed it back to Andy.
"Are you both all right?" Prue demanded immediately.
"We, uh," Phoebe said looking at Buffy who's face was mirroring exactly how she felt. She turned her attention back to Prue. "Buffy and I didn't just see it, Prue."
"We felt it. Her pain, her terror," Buffy added.
There was a short silence, only broken by Andy shuffling through some of the papers that he eventually passed back. "Anyone of these look familiar?" he inquired gently.
Buffy and Phoebe took a moment to flip through the pictures. They stopped at one and nodded to each other agreeing this was the one. Phoebe then passed it back.
"Iris Beiderman. The foreperson on the jury that convicted him," Andy read, casting a glance at Prue, who took the hint and started the car.
Iris Beiderman's Apartment
Iris Beiderman's eyes followed the knife that was poised in front of her, seemingly of its own accord. She let out an ear-piercing scream of terror and she fell back to the floor in her haste to scramble away from death.
Jackson prepared to strike the elderly woman when Andy kicked the door open. The door slammed against the wall with a loud crash, temporarily distracting Jackson from his kill. Andy pointed his gun, his eyes scanning the room though he only saw Iris and a floating knife.
Prue, Phoebe, and Buffy pushed by Andy into the room. Phoebe kicked the knife from Jackson's hand with a well-placed karate kick while Prue and Buffy dashed by the ghost and toward Iris.
Jackson's eyes trained on Phoebe. "You two again," he hissed with a look of scorn.
"Where is he?" Andy asked looking around the apartment. "Is he still here?"
"Yeah, he's right there," Prue answered.
"Point him out, Prue," he ordered.
Jackson grinned evilly, "You can't keep saving her forever," he said as he reached for the knife.
"Prue! Buffy!" Phoebe screeched in warning as Jackson reached for the knife. Prue and Buffy were easily the closest to him.
Andy's eyes scanned frantically over the room at Phoebe's warning. "Where is he? Is he still here?" he demanded.
"Knife!" Buffy called out and the knife flamed into her hand before Jackson could get a hold of it. Clutching the knife, she and Prue slipped by him with Iris Beiderman and ran to the safety of Andy and Phoebe.
"Yeah, he's right there," Prue pointed at Ward.
"Point him out, Prue," Andy replied, his eyes following where she pointed, but still unable to see anything.
Jackson was ominously silent for a tense moment as his gaze flickered over Prue, Phoebe, Buffy and Andy. "You can't keep saving her forever…"
"Prue, what's going on?" Andy questioned gruffly in his frustration. He noticed Prue, Buffy and Phoebe had gone eerily silent.
"… Or the others. Or yourselves," Jackson warned with a sneer at them before he spun around and walked through the wall and disappeared.
"Prue?" Andy pressed nervously but still received little to no response.
Halliwell Manor
"Okay, you guys, we need to figure this ghost thing out and fast," Prue announced as she led the way into the house. She headed straight for the stairs to the attic where the Book of Shadows was waiting.
"Prue, can we stop for a second," Buffy said with a sigh as Prue turned to look at her. "This has been bothering me a little since yesterday. Why aren't you mad at Phoebe and I since we didn't do half of the to-do list yesterday."
"Mad no," Prue answered looking at her cousin and sister. "Disapointed yes. Piper is in Hawaii and I have to work. So it would be nice if you two would pick up some of the slack around here."
Phoebe sighed. "You had to go and say something Buffy," she said at the mention of work.
"What are you talking about?" Prue asked as she looked at Phoebe.
"I think the problem here is," Phoebe answered. "Is that you and Piper just automatically assume that Buffy or I will take care of the house because we don't have real jobs."
"Now that's not true," Prue argued.
"Oh no?" Phoebe said as he eyes widened. "Prue, when was the last time you went grocery shopping, or vacuumed the house, or waited all day for the cable guy to show up, which by the way if I were paid by the hour I'd be a millionaire by now. Or better yet, Buffy how many times has she asked you to go to the store on the way home from school?"
Buffy sighed. "Too many."
"I cannot believe how you two are turning this around," Prue said.
"I cannot believe you're pretending that you don't have a problem," Pheobe argued.
"Yeah Prue," Buffy said agreeing with Phoebe.
"I don't," Prue objected as she looked at both her cousin and her baby sister.
"Okay, well, you know what?" Phoebe interjected. "You just proved our point... our other point, which is neither Buffy or I get absolutely any credit for all that we do around here. It's just assumed that we'll do it. Like that crack that you made to Piper yesterday morning. Don't worry, Piper, Phoebe'll do it she's got time."
"You do," Prue admitted as if it wasn't obvious.
"Yes, and that's exactly our point," Phoebe said. "You are mad at me because I don't work."
"And you mad at me because of the Slayer half of my responsibilities take up a lot of my time, which means I don't help out around the house as much," Buffy added. "So you try and make up for it by giving me even more chores to do."
Prue let out a sigh as she realized they were right. "Okay, maybe you are both right," she said as the phone rang.
Buffy was the first to reach it. "Halliwell Residence, Payson speaking," she said as she answered the phone.
"Hey, Buffy, how's it going?" Piper said.
Buffy smiled. "Hey, Piper. How's my favorite cousin? How's Hawaii?"
"I don't know, I haven't stopped working since I got off the plane," Piper admitted with a sigh in frustration. "Anyways, I wanted to make sure you, Prue and Phoebe were all right. Do you miss me?"
"More than you know, Piper," Buffy said with another sigh as she glanced at Prue and Phoebe. "More than you know."
"Good. I love you," Piper said and Buffy could tell just from the sound of Piper's voice she was smiling. "Tell Prue and Phoebe I love them, too."
"Will do," Buffy said. "I love you, too."
"Bye."
"Bye," Buffy said a little whistfully as she hung up the phone.
"Why didn't you tell her about Jackson Ward?" Prue asked looking at her cousin.
"Why worry her?" Buffy answered as she turned to look at Phoebe and Prue. "The power of three, augmented or not, can't vanquish him. It's up to us."
"Besides what is Piper going to do from Hawaii anyways?" Phoebe added.
"Look, Phoebe, Buffy, obviously we have some issues to deal with and they're not gonna be resolved overnight," Prue acknowledged looking at her sister and cousin. "So, in the mean time we need to figure out a way to stop Jackson Ward before he hurts anymore innocent people, okay?"
"Okay," Phoebe and Buffy agreed.
Prue smiled. "Okay. So, did we actually just reach a compromise?" she asked.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"It's the same story. One of us would literally have to die in order to vanquish the evil spirit." Phoebe insisted, pointing down at the Charmed One's book. Buffy sighed in frustration while Prue dropped her head onto her hand. "Any volunteers?" she joked.
"Actually maybe." Prue stated, her eyes flickering thoughtfully over the book. "But before that we need to figure out a way find Ward first. I mean, we can't count on either of you seeing his next victim even though Andy left us the letter opener to try."
Buffy groaned softly. "I think I came across something about luring an evil spirit," she offered pointing at her own book. She began flipping through the book until she found it. "To lure an evil spirit. Mix equal parts of Mercury and acid with the blood of one of the spirit's victims and pour it over his grave," she read.
"That's disgusting," Phoebe said with a face that highlighted her disgust.
"Yeah, alright, we can get the blood from the letter opener but how are we gonna find Ward's grave?" Prue wondered aloud.
"You know what, I read on the web that his ashes were interred at his family mausoleum in Palo Alto," Phoebe announced helpfully.
Prue smiled faintly at the way everything was falling into place. "Okay, it just might work."
Buffy bit her lip nervously. "What are we going to do if it does?" she questioned with only silence answering her.
Alta Mesa Memorial Park, Palo Alta
Prue led the way down the dark and abandoned hall with Phoebe and Buffy a step behind. "Oh, I hate cemeteries at night," she groaned, looking around her with worried eyes.
"I hate cemeteries at day," Phoebe stated.
"Why is this the first time I'm hearing this?" Buffy asked. "You both have patrolled with me a time or two."
"Because we were with you," answered Prue.
There was a screeching sound as the wind blew against one of the doors and hissed into the hallway. Prue jerked to a stop while Phoebe reached out and grabbed Prue's hand and Buffy instantly went on alert. "What was that?" Phoebe demanded warily.
"I hope that was just the wind," Buffy said glancing around. "I don't think we want me taking on a vampire while we're trying to summon Ward's ghost."
"Probably not," Prue and Phoebe agreed.
"Okay, perfect, there it is. Jackson Ward." Prue announced, motioning at the plaque next to a crypt. Do one of you have the picture?" Prue questioned. Buffy dug through her weapons bag for a moment before pulling it out and passing it to Prue. "Hey, Jackson, let's party?" she read in surprise as she stuck it on the plaque.
"Okay, well, I couldn't think of anything else to write," Phoebe complained, crossing her arms in defiance.
"Okay," Prue hissed. She threw the potion onto the plaque and it began to sizzle and melt. The wind picked up causing the screeching and rattling again. "Okay, okay, alright, let's go."
Streets of San Francisco
Jackson Ward advanced quickly on an unsuspecting truck driver when he suddenly doubled over in agony. He pulled his hand away from his chest to find his skin seemed to be melting. "What's happening?" he yelled at the Soul Collector when she flamed in next to him.
She casually leaned back against the windshield of a large truck. "Witchcraft. Sucks, doesn't it? You should've helped me get them before when I asked," she answered.
"How do I get to them now?" Jackson Ward demanded through the excruciating pain.
The Soul Collector smirked in reply. "Visit your grave," she suggested before flaming out again. Jackson limped off in the corresponding direction, his eyes glowing with a dangerous light.
San Francisco Police Department
Andy placed his book down on his desk when the last officer left the room. Most of the lights were turned off as the majority of officers had gone home. Only those working the night shift were around, but they were few and usually congregated in the coffee room. Andy kneeled down and used a key to unlock his filing cabinet. He paused and glanced around him one last time to make sure no one was around.
When he was positive he was alone, Andy pulled out the lone file that read: Prudence Halliwell. He quickly grabbed the witchcraft papers from the bottom of the filing cabinet and slid them into the file before slipping the whole thing into his bag. He hurried down the hall while dialing the number to the manor on his cell phone.
"Hi, we're not home. You know the drill…" The answering machine beeped and Andy silently cursed.
"Prue, its Andy. I gotta give you something and you gotta get it outta here. I'll explain when I get there," Andy replied as a message. He took the stairs down and had just closed his phone when Inspector Rodriguez and Anderson blocked his path out.
"Inspector Trudeau? Internal Affairs. Let's talk," Inspector Rodriguez ordered more than suggested. Andy shrugged with feigned casual indifference and had no choice but to follow the two officers.
Halliwell Manor
"Maybe it didn't work. Maybe he's not coming," Phoebe rambled as she paced back and forth through the kitchen.
Buffy was sitting atop the counter with her Book of Shadows in her lap. She looked up for a moment at Phoebe's comment. "There's no reason why it shouldn't have worked," she argued, turning her attention back to the page she was reading.
Phoebe shrugged. "Well, he's not here yet. It's been five hours," she pointed out.
"Well, at least if he is coming, we are definitely ready for him," Prue offered. She held up the potion that she had been working on for Phoebe and Buffy to see.
Phoebe raised her eyebrows at it. "What exactly is that?" she asked, uncertain if she really wanted to know.
"A killer cocktail… literally. Little bit of Oleander, some jimsonweed, bloodwort, among other things. Stops the heart immediately," Prue explained casually.
Buffy's mouth had dropped in disbelief. "That's morbid," she exclaimed.
Phoebe had a look that mirrored Buffy's. "Uh, okay, you're scaring us. Where did you learn that?"
Prue smiled slightly. "Book of Shadows," she answered with a nod in the direction of Buffy and her book.
"You're saying that is in mine?" Buffy said as she frowned. "Where? Because as soon as I find that it's going the same way the relinguishment spell went." She shut the Book of Shadows with a loud thud. "So what are we going to do once one of us is dead?"
Prue raised her hands in a sign of peace. "Relax. Whoever takes it can be revived with C.P.R. The only catch is it has to be done within four minutes to avoid brain damage."
"Okay, Prue, that's a pretty big catch," Phoebe commented.
"Yeah, well, it's the only way to say the spell. It's the only chance we have of sending Ward where he belongs," Prue countered gently.
"Wait, what about the Soul Collector?" Buffy asked. "She could be hanging around."
Prue hesitated and bit her lip nervously. "I'm hoping that the soul is safe within those four minutes and that she'll decide to take Ward's soul instead," she replied hopefully.
Phoebe exchanged a glance with Buffy. "Okay, fine, but who's doing it? How do we decide that?" she asked.
"I'll do it." Prue offered immediately.
Phoebe shook her head quickly and Buffy readily agreed with Phoebe. "No," Phoebe ran to the drawer where she cut a straw into uneven thirds. Prue sighed loudly but was ignored by both her sister and cousin. Phoebe threw the straw pieces into a bag and came back. "Whoever draws the shortest straw does it. No powers."
Prue, Phoebe and Buffy reached inside at the same time and pulled out their straw piece. "Apparently I lose," Buffy announced after the moment of comparing. She sighed. "I'm counting on you guys."
"I'm scared. I mean, I'm really scared. I think we've gone too far this time," Phoebe admitted softly.
"We're doing what we have to do," Prue countered.
"I wish Piper were here," Phoebe whispered.
"I second that," Buffy added.
Prue sighed as she looked at her cousin and sister. "Phoebe, Buffy, I never realised how much I probably do take you both for granted and not just for what either of you do around the house either."
"You're just saying that 'cause Buffy's about to die," Phoebe said as she glanced at her cousin.
"No, you both were right about last night, I was upset because I thought you both were slacking off but the truth is you weren't," Prue admitted as she smiled at them. "You were trying to find out who the ghost was and thank God you did."
"Yeah, but I totally over reacted. I mean, I'm the one that's upset with myself for not working for a living," Phoebe admitted.
"I over reacted also," Buffy said as she looked at Phoebe and Prue and let out a resigned sigh. "I don't do as much around here as I should be. I use being the Slayer as an excuse."
"Phoebe, you do work," Prue admitted looking from her sister to her cousin. "And Buffy being the Slayer is important. Just as important as being a witch is."
"I know, Prue, I work around the house, but I want a job, a real job," Phoebe admitted.
"And I would like to have a life outside of being the Slayer, or even a witch," Buffy added
Prue smiled. "And you will find one, Phoebe," she said. "And you will have a life, Buffy. When you're both ready."
"I can't remember the last time we talked like this," Phoebe said as she smiled.
"Neither can I," Buffy agreed as the three of them walked into a group embrace and held each other tight.
It was at that moment their answering machine clicked on. "Prue, it's Claire, you're late, you're fired." The room fell silent following the message.
"Oh…" Prue mumbled, glancing at Phoebe and Buffy. Behind them Jackson walked through the wall and smashed a vase. He threw his arm back ready to throw the broken piece of glass at the sisters. "Look out!" Prue screamed as he threw it at them.
Phoebe had to duck to avoid the shards as Prue waved her hand and telekinetically threw them into the wall where they shattered. "Okay, Buffy, we got him. You just hurry," Prue ordered.
Buffy quickly ran back to the counter and began downing the cocktail as fast as she could.
Jackson Ward grabbed a heavy candle piece off the kitchen table and advanced on Prue. Prue deftly ducked the blows but was knocked unbalanced and she hit the ground. Phoebe ran up behind Jackson and grabbed his arm to stop him from hitting Prue while she was down. He backhanded her and she hit the table and fell unconscious.
"Phoebe!" Prue screamed, scrambling to her feet, but Jackson was already upon her. She threw her hand up to block the blow but was hit over the head and knocked unconscious beside Phoebe.
Behind them, Buffy's eyes widened in fear before she dropped to the ground. Jackson Ward laughed manically as he approached her. "You're making this too easy, lady," he told her, grabbing a metal cake server. He paused when Buffy's spirit floated up in front of him. "What the hell's going on?" he demanded.
Buffy's spirit glanced back down at her body before she turned her attention to Ward. "Ashes to ashes, spirit to spirit. Take his soul, banish this evil."
"No!" Jackson Ward yelled defiantly as he felt the spell take effect. The cake server clattered to the ground beside him.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Andy opened the front door curiously and looked inside. "Prue, you home?" he called. His eyes landed on the unconscious Phoebe that he could just see from the door. Hurriedly, Andy closed the door behind him and pulled his gun out. He slowly made his way to the kitchen.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"Ashes to ashes, spirit to spirit. Take his soul, banish this evil," Buffy chanted while Jackson began to fade away despite his cries of protest.
"Prue?" Andy said, kneeling down next to Phoebe and feeling for a pulse. When he was sure she had one, he felt for Prue's and sighed in relief. He stepped over the strewn flowers and broken vase to get next to Buffy. "Buffy!" Andy yelled when he didn't feel her pulse. He leaned down and began using C.P.R. "Come on…" he whispered.
Buffy's spirit floated closer to her body. "Andy, don't! Not yet!" she pleaded though he couldn't hear her.
The spell began to wear off and Jackson picked the cake server back up. "It's even better. I get to kill a cop too," he taunted, advancing on the oblivious Andy.
"Andy, behind you!" Buffy screamed. Andy turned around just in time to see the cake server heading toward him. He grabbed it and was able to toss it to the side where it slid along the floor. He took off after it, trying to locate where the threat was.
Buffy's spirit floated farther away from her body again. "Ashes to ashes, spirit to spirit. Take his soul, banish this evil."
Ward yelled in agony before disappearing completely. The Soul Collector flamed in at that moment and grabbed at his soul. "You're not here for me," Buffy said worriedly.
"I was hoping to take you or one of your cousins, but it looks like your soul is safe… for now," the Soul Collector explained before flaming out again.
Andy was back down beside her and continuing the C.P.R. Buffy's spirit slowly floated back into her body and her eyes shot open to find Andy above her. She coughed lightly as she regained her breath. "Slow breaths," he advised in relief. He partially supported her as she rose up to try and get a look at her cousins.
"Am I alive?" Buffy asked, a little confused.
Andy chuckled softly. "Yeah, you are, thank God," he wrapped his arms almost protectively around her.
Phoebe groaned as she regained consciousness. "What happened? Is the ghost toast?" she wondered. She rubbed her aching jaw before turning to Prue and lightly shaking her awake.
May 14, 1997 – Wednesday
"So did you burn Andy's file like he suggested?" Buffy asked as she followed Phoebe and Prue into the kitchen, each of them carrying bags of groceries.
"Yeah, you should have seen it," Prue said as she sat her bag down. "It turns out he knew a lot more about us then he was letting on."
"Still doesn't explain how he could hear a ghost," Phoebe admitted as she and Buffy also sat their bags down.
"What do you mean?" Prue asked confused.
"When I was a spirit," Buffy explained looking at her cousins. "I yelled out to him and that's what made him turn around in time."
Phoebe nodded as she looked back at Prue. "How could he hear Buffy?"
Prue shrugged. "I don't know."
Buffy smiled. "Neither do I. I'm glad he did though," she told them. "That's as close as I ever want to come to dying."
"Agreed," Prue and Phoebe said as they smiled at their cousin.
It was then they heard footsteps coming toward them that were followed a second later by Piper entering the kitchen. "Hi."
Pheobe smiled. "Piper, yay, I thought you weren't coming back until tomorrow," she said.
"I took an earlier flight," Piper admitted. "I had this terrible feeling you guys were um..." She glanced at Buffy and winked. While Buffy hadn't said anything she had gotten the impression that something had gone on and that Buffy hadn't said anything for her benefit.
"What?" Prue said.
"Oh, I don't know, at each other's throats maybe." Piper said as she looked at her sisters and her cousin.
Buffy laughed. "Us?"
"Are you kidding?" Phoebe said as she and Prue joined in on Buffy's laughter.
"Never," added Prue.
"So nothing happened while I was gone?" Piper asked looking between them. Maybe she had been wrong.
"No, just the same old boring stuff," Phoebe admitted as she turned to Prue who had started putting the groceries away. "Hey, you need a hand?"
"Yeah, need a hand?" Buffy added.
Prue smiled. "Uh, yeah, that would be great, thanks, Pheebs, Buffy," she said as Phoebe and Buffy began helping her with the groceries.
Piper stood there watching them and smiled.
Bucklands Auction House
Claire dropped a file into her filing cabinet and shut the drawer with a resounding thump. "I'm sorry, Prue, but I've made up my mind," she stated unsympathetically. She slowly turned to face her ex-employee with a serious expression.
"Claire, you cannot fire me. I love this job. I need this job," Prue pleaded desperately. Her grip tightened on the chair in front of her as she silently debated how far she was going to go to try and get her job back. She didn't want to have to resort to begging, but she really couldn't lose this job.
"I told you I wouldn't tolerate any more unexplained absences," Claire replied unwaveringly.
Prue opened her mouth to argue some more when Andy barged through the office door with Monique right behind him as if she had tried to keep him from entering. "Excuse me, Mrs. Price." He gave Prue a casual glance. "I'm sorry to interrupt…" he apologized before walking forward and shaking Claire's hand professionally. "… but I just wanted to stop by and say thank you."
Claire's penetrating gaze scanned over Andy in mild confusion. "Thank you, Inspector? For what?" she prompted.
Andy widened his eyes in false surprise. "Why, for letting us borrow Ms. Halliwell," he explained, waving a hand at Prue and going to stand next to her. Prue unsuccessfully tried to meet his gaze and figure out what he was playing at. "See, an Asian gang was smuggling exotic jewelry and antiques. She helped us set up a sting, bust their operation," he lied calmly.
"Really? Prue never mentioned any of this to me before," Claire commented with a glance at Prue.
Prue ran a hand through her hair and searched quickly for an excuse, but Andy interrupted her before she could say anything. "Well, she couldn't compromise her cover. You're welcome to call my superior, Inspector Morris, and file a reimbursement claim if you'd like."
"No, that won't be necessary," Claire replied.
Andy nodded and turned to Prue. "As soon as you're done here, we need to talk."
"Oh, I think I'm more than done here," Prue stated. She started for the door with Andy following.
"Oh, uh, Prue," Claire called, causing both Prue and Andy to pause at the door. "Don't forget about our lunch with the investors tomorrow. Wouldn't want you to be late," she reminded none-too-subtly.
Prue smiled in relief. "I won't be. Thanks."