Author's Note (2013): There will be a surprise guest in Chapter 26: Morality Bites.
I also have actually got a few chapters done so am actually slightly ahead again with this story. Right now I have Chapters 21, 22, 26, and 38 done. Which is why I decided to go ahead and post a second chapter today.
Chapter 21: Love Hurts
June 30, 1997
Anna's Mini Mart
Daisy hastened across the busy street for the car that waited on the curb. The young woman glanced nervously over her shoulder and her hands clutched the bag of groceries that she held. She pulled out her keys and started to unlock the door when a car horn blared nearby. Daisy jumped in fear and her groceries dropped from her hands, spilling out onto the sidewalk. "Ow! Damn it!" she cursed as a piece of broken glass cut open the palm of her hand.
"It's all right, Daisy," Leo assured her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.
Daisy jumped at his unexpected presence, but couldn't help but feel a little safer. "Oh, Leo, thank God it's you. I've been so scared," she admitted, brushing a strand of her curly blonde hair away from her face with her uninjured hand.
Leo nodded in understanding and tightened his grip comfortingly on her shoulder. "Look you just have to stay strong a little longer and then you'll be safe."
"He's out there, Leo. He's going to find me," Daisy insisted, her voice shaking. "I've seen what he can do. His powers." She fell silent as Leo carefully took her bleeding hand in his and held his other hand over the cut. There was a warm golden glow that emanated from Leo's hand and the wound disappeared from Daisy's. Her eyes widened. "How did you do that? Who are you people?" she demanded softly.
"You just have to trust me, Daisy," Leo answered cryptically.
She shook her head quickly, appearing overwhelmed by everything. "Why me, Leo? I still don't understand," Daisy whispered.
"You have a very special future ahead of you. That's why I wanted you to come to San Francisco. I have powerful friends who can help you," Leo replied.
"What if Alec finds me first?" Daisy wondered aloud.
"He won't be able to. I've made you invisible to him," he assured her quickly.
"Hello, Leo." Alec's voice caused Daisy and Leo to turn around to find the darklighter quickly approaching. "I've been looking all over for you. Figured you could only be here for one reason," he remarked with an air of casual indifference. His gaze shifted around Leo, searching for any sign of Daisy. "Where are you, Daisy? I know you're close by."
Leo kept his gaze fixed on Alec. "It's okay, Daisy. He can't see you. Don't say a word, just leave quickly," he ordered.
Alec strolled around Leo. "Don't listen to him, sweetie, don't do it," he argued. Daisy glanced from Alec to Leo before dashing off in the opposite direction and disappearing into the crowd.
"She's already gone, Alec," Leo stated.
Alec didn't appear put out but instead advanced toward Leo slowly. "I love her, Leo. Much like you love your little witch. What's her name? Piper?" he mocked.
"Darklighters aren't capable of love, Alec," Leo retorted.
"This one is. I love Daisy and you are keeping me from her. Only a couple days ago all I had to do was think about her and bang! I'd be there with her, right there. Then suddenly she vanishes from my radar. Cloaked by a whitelighter. By you," he accused.
Leo narrowed his eyes slightly at Alec. "Then if you know I cloaked her, then you also know that you won't find her as long as I live," he replied, a challenge in his voice.
Alec nodded casually. "Yes, well, I have a solution for that," he admitted. A sadistic smile crossed his features and in his hand, he conjured a crossbow with a puff of black smoke. Without pause, he aimed and shot the arrow at Leo.
Leo yelled in agony as the arrow pierced his shoulder. It took all his energy to orb out.
Halliwell Manor
"I can't believe you two are wearing your bikinis on the plane." Phoebe exclaimed as she descended the stairs with several large bags.
Prue and Buffy were just behind her and the obvious topic of conversation as they were already wearing their bikini with only a light jacket. "Timesaver. We have all of forty-eight hours in Cabo. The minute we land, I'm on the beach getting all golden brown," Prue announced. She and Buffy flashed Phoebe a mischevious grin.
Phoebe laughed softly and rolled her eyes. "I know but you two are making me look frumpy. It's like a sign of the apocalypse," she joked.
"It better not be," Buffy said shaking her head. "I just had one not too long ago, remember?"
"Anyways, I practically had to beg the guy in accounting to lend us his condo. There are no warlocks in sight, no vampires, no demons and least of all no Hellmouths. Buffy and I are going to get crazy," Prue defended as Buffy smiled in agreement.
"It's about time. How long have I been after you both to find some new male blood? Preferably tan and buff." Phoebe replied with a distant and dreamy look.
Prue smirked. "With limited verbal skills," she added.
"And…?" Phoebe prompted.
"No strings attached!" Buffy, Prue and Phoebe finished together.
"Stella, we are getting our groove back!" Phoebe exclaimed. The three eagerly high-fived but missed. "Okay, so, speaking of which, where is Piper?"
Prue fell silent for a moment and glanced back to the stairs. "I think Piper's gonna be in a groove-free kinda mode for awhile," she stated, heading into the kitchen for a last-minute mug of coffee.
"She's not seriously…" Phoebe started.
"…taking a vacation from men. Yep," Prue followed. "Afraid of falling in love again, I think."
Buffy sighed as she followed Prue with Phoebe trailing behind her. "Can you blame her? She hasn't had the best of luck lately," she remarked casually. "Anyways, while we're partying all weekend, what is she gonna be doing?"
"I don't know. Last time I checked, she was in the attic searching for a suitcase to put her books in," Prue responded, raising her eyebrows pointedly at the word 'books.'
Phoebe tilted her head to the side questioningly. "Books? What kind of books?" she wondered.
"Kind they make into Kevin Costner movies," Prue elaborated.
Phoebe's mouth dropped in mock horror. "Oh, we've got to stop the insanity." Phoebe insisted.
"Well, maybe we should just let her be. I mean, we're not the ones who fell in love with a warlock, a ghost, a geographically undesirable handyman, and a very dorky grad student," Prue pointed out.
"Hey, vampire, remember?" Buffy said as Prue and Phoebe glanced at her shaking their heads. "Well its not like Piper can corner the market you know with unusual guys."
"Maybe she's just in a slump. It happens." Phoebe said bringing their conversation back to Piper. She paused when Buffy and Prue both sent her a look. "Okay, it happens to Piper a lot…" she conceded. "…But celibacy's not the answer."
"Phoebe's got a point," Buffy agreed.
"A couple of dates not picking up the check, that's a slump. This is more like a sucking void," Prue argued lightly.
"Now Prue has a point," Buffy said as Phoebe and Prue looked at her. "What it's kind of hard to side with one person when I live with three people. No one is right twice in a row in this house."
"Buffy has a point there," Phoebe agreed.
It was at that moment they jumped at the sound of a thump followed by Piper's familiar scream. "Prue, Prue! Phoebe! Buffy!" Piper's voiced carried down from the attic. Buffy, Prue and Phoebe took for the stairs. They skidded to a halt just inside the door next to Piper. All eyes were transfixed on Leo. His hand clamped against the shoulder where the arrow protruded.
"Leo?" Prue was the first to break the stunned silence.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Prue burst into the upstairs bathroom and grabbed the half-empty trashcan next to the sink. Dumping out it's contents for later clean-up, she threw open the medicine cabinet and drawers and pulled out everything that could possibly help Leo. When the trashcan was packed full with medical supplies, she dashed back out and up the stairs.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Buffy had carefully gotten Leo off the floor and was supporting him as she stumbled toward the couch. Piper followed behind with her hands outstretched behind her cousin to catch Leo if Buffy accidently dropped him," she hissed for no other reason than to break the tense silence.
"I'm being careful," Buffy snapped.
"I can't believe you knew." Piper continued, now turning her head to glare at Phoebe as she slowly helped Leo down on the couch. "The fact that our handyman, the man I was dating, was supernatural just happen to slip your mind?" she accused.
Buffy carefully set Leo on the couch as Phoebe answered Piper, "There was no slipping. I told you, you just didn't want to believe me."
"Piper, I wanted…" Leo choked out but Piper interrupted.
"…But you didn't," Piper returned, she noticed that Buffy had grabbed a pillow and stuck it behind Leo to make him more comfortable.
Buffy stepped between the fueding siblings. "Okay, can we have this conversation later? Like say when Leo is not hurt?" she suggested.
Piper gave her a half-nod but stalked past them to the attic door. "Prue!" she yelled to hurry the eldest sister up.
Buffy turned back to Leo. "Are you comfortable? I can prop her legs up if you want?" she asked.
"Don't worry about me. There's someone… AHH!" His statement ended in a yell of pain as his shoulder pressed against the back of the couch.
"The arrow," Buffy said mumbled, leaning forward.
Leo's hand shot out to grab Buffy's wrist. "No, get away. Don't touch it, it's tipped with poison," he ordered and sent a look at Buffy that she immediately backed away.
"If I just flame it…" Buffy started.
"No. If it cuts you, you'll die," Leo argued.
"Well, how are we supposed to pull it out if we can't touch it?" Phoebe demanded.
Prue walked in at that moment carrying the trashcan of medical supplies. "Oh, you came to right girl…" she announced. "Hold this." she ordered Piper, pushing the trashcan into Piper's arms. "You ready?" she asked Leo.
Leo shook his head and Prue hesitated. "Not with Buffy in the room. It's too dangerous." he groaned with a faint nod at Buffy.
Buffy looked at Leo in confusion. "Why?" she asked.
"Buffy, go downstairs." Piper ordered suddenly.
Buffy narrowed her eyes defiantly. "But…"
"Listen to Piper," Prue snapped. Buffy huffed and stormed down the stairs. She looked questioningly at Leo who nodded that he was ready. She bit her lip slightly as she telekinetically pushed the arrow through Leo's shoulder where it pierced the wood of the wall. Prue immediately ran forward to help Leo lay back. "Okay, I brought everything that I could find, I just didn't know what to use on a, uh, what was he again?"
"A Whitelighter," Piper muttered as she passed Prue some gauze.
"Yeah, they're sorta like... You know how Peter Pan has Tinkerbell?" Phoebe tried to explain. "They're sorta like that, minus the tutu and the wings. He guides witches."
"And future Whitelighters," Leo added. "That's why I had you send Buffy away. Slayers were always considered to be future Whitelighters. We don't know if that is still the case with Buffy though since witches aren't future Whitelighters generally. Regardless a future Whitelighter is why I came to you."
"Buffy! Bring some more gauze," Piper called before transferring her gaze to Phoebe. "You should have told me."
"I should have told you," Leo interrupted apologetically. He yelled as Piper pressed down particularly hard on his wounded shoulder.
Piper glared down at him. "Oh, did that hurt? Good." She pulled away when Prue cast her a warning glance.
Buffy ran into the attic with bundles of gauze that she had brought up from the downstairs bathroom. "This is all we have," she stated.
"There's a woman. Daisy. You have to protect her from the Darklighter." Leo said.
"A Darklighter? Is that what shot you?" Prue asked.
Leo nodded slightly. "Yeah, they, uh, seduce innocent women. Their goal is to create evil through reproduction," he explained quickly.
Buffy groaned and passed more gauze to Piper. "Great, generation 666," she quipped without humor.
"… Only he broke the rules. He, uh, fell in love with one of his victims. A human. And she loved him back," Leo finished.
"Until she found out who he really was, right?" Piper guessed with a pointed look at Leo.
Leo sighed and glanced apologetically at Piper. "Piper, you have every right to be mad at me."
"Thanks for the permission." Piper responded, turning away to dig through the basket of supplies. "Where are the pain meds?"
Buffy handed the rest of the guaze to Phoebe and then kneeled down beside Piper and helped shift stuff out of the way in their search.
"Please, you have to find Daisy before he does otherwise she won't be able to do the good that she's destined to. She won't be able to become a Whitelighter," Leo pleaded.
"Okay, where is she?" Prue inquired.
"I don't know. The last time I saw her she was at a mini-mart in the Castro, heading for a rental car," Leo answered. "If he finds her first, he'll never let her go. Ever."
"Any tips on how to vanquish a Darklighter in case we run into him?" Buffy wondered curiously.
Leo paused uncertainly. "Just don't let him touch you. His power is in his hands and when he chooses to, he has the touch of death…" he trailed off again with a glance at Buffy. "Buffy could be vulnerable. His arrows could do the same to her as me."
"Why?" Buffy asked having missed that part of the conversation.
"We'll explain later," Prue said with a sigh. "Phoebe, you call the airline, cancel our tickets. I'll call Andy, see if he can help me locate her, you two…"
"We'll take care of Leo," Buffy finished to which Piper nodded reluctantly.
"Perfect," Prue remarked, heading for the stairs without another moment to waste.
San Francisco Police Department
"You enjoying this as much as I am?" Darryl asked sarcastically from behind his desk. He leaned back into his chair, watching Andy with narrowed eyes.
Andy glanced up from the papers he was reading over. "What's that?" he pressed.
Darryl returned by dropping what he was working on his desk and leaning toward Andy. "Oh, you know, the silent treatment, the cold shoulder," he answered coldly.
Andy turned in his chair to look behind him where the internal affairs officers were chatting in the next room over. He rolled his eyes and turned back to Darryl. "I know, it's been over a month since Internal Affairs has made a move. What are they waiting for?"
"I'm not talking about I.A. I'm talking about you and me," Darryl corrected.
"I've got no problems," Andy replied, allowing his attention to drift back to his work.
"Well, that makes one of us," Darryl muttered. "I.A. is on our ass and I still don't know why, but I'm pretty damn sure you do. You feel like sharing?"
Andy sighed at the conversation turn and eagerly grabbed at the phone when it started ringing so as to avoid answering. "Homicide, Trudeau," he answered professionally while Darryl leaned back in his seat, watching Andy with interest.
"Andy, hi, I…" Prue's voice carried through the line.
"Hey…" Andy interrupted with a subtle glance at Darryl. "…Franklin, how are things in forensics?" he asked, hoping Prue would get the message.
"You can't talk," Prue realized.
Andy frowned, hearing the disappointment in her voice. "No, actually… Why don't you have it checked out by the F.B.I. lab?"
Prue was silent for a moment trying to figure out what she could say safely and how she could even talk to him. "Look, Andy, I really need your help, it's important. Quake?" she pleaded.
"Okay, I'll be there," Andy promised before quickly hanging up on her. He nodded to Darryl as he stood up and pulled his jacket on.
"Franklin's wife had a baby girl yesterday, took a week off. Did he call you from the maternity ward?" Darryl inquired sarcastically. He stood up and approached the guilty Andy. "You don't want to tell me what's going on, fine. Just don't lie to me, okay, partner?" Andy gave the faintest of nods before slipping past Darryl for the door. Darryl watched him go before casually closing the door to hide the prying eyes of the I.A. officers.
Halliwell Manor
Buffy sighed as she placed a washcloth to Leo's head. "Leo?" she said.
"Yeah," he answered as he looked at her.
"What was that about the arrow being dangerous to me?" she asked clearly confused.
"You could potentially be like me, Buffy," Leo explained. "You see Slayers have always been considered future Whitelighters. You see a future Whitelighter is usually a mortal who dedicates their life to helping others and doing tremendous good deeds that ultimately help them earn the right in becoming a Whitelighter when they die."
"Which is basically what a Slayer does," Buffy said as Leo nodded.
"The thing is," Leo said. "We don't know if in your case that is still true."
"Because of the witch half of me," Buffy realized.
"That's right," Leo agreed. "So when I had them send you out of the room when the arrow was removed it was a safety precaution just in case. You will have to be careful when it comes to Darklighters. If you are still a future Whitelighter then an arrow from a Darklighter's crossbow could kill you."
Quake
Prue met Andy outside the restaurant ten minutes after the call. They took a seat in a secluded corner where Andy's gaze could shift over the majority of the people around them. "Andy, what's going on?" she asked, raising her eyebrows at his uncharacteristic paranoia.
Andy turned back to her and leaned forward so only she could hear him. "Internal Affairs is looking into all of my unsolved cases. All of the ones that involve the supernatural," he explained.
"All the cases that involve me," Prue realized, biting her lip slightly in thought. "Do you think that they followed you here?" she wondered, glancing around the crowd as well.
He shrugged. "I wouldn't put it past them," Andy offered.
Prue ran a nervous hand through her hair. "Andy, if we… if I put you in this situation…"
"I put me here, Prue," Andy interrupted before she could start blaming herself for something that wasn't her fault.
"Yeah, but you had help," Prue argued, falling silent. "Can they force you to tell them?" she questioned, a hint of worry in her voice.
Andy shook his head. "About you? I won't," he promised and Prue gave a slight nod. "… But we have to be careful about being seen together. It has to look like we're still… friends," he cautioned.
Prue tilted her head to the side, giving Andy a calculating look. "Andy, we are still friends. We always will be," she stated.
He didn't say anything for a moment but returned the calculating look. "Are you sure I'm not just someone who's keeping your secret, Prue?" Andy finally asked.
A small smile crossed Prue's features. "You know me better than that," she pointed out to which Andy smiled a little in agreement. "I'm glad I told you. I am."
"So am I," Andy allowed. "Now, when you need me, all you have to do is ask," he replied, leaning forward against the table.
"Well, I am asking. I need to find someone. She's in danger and I have to get to her before he does," Prue explained hopefully.
"He?" Andy repeated before holding up his hand to stop her from elaborating. "You know what, I don't need to know. Specifics always get me into trouble," he joked. "Where was the last time she was seen?"
Prue thought back for a moment. "Headed to her rental car outside a mini-mart," she answered quickly.
Andy appeared thoughtful for a moment. "Well, we can get the security cameras from the mini-mart and surrounding businesses. See if we can get the car's license plate and see if it leads us to where she's staying."
"Thanks," Prue whispered. She smiled, taking Andy's offered hand and he led her out of the restaurant to find Daisy.
Halliwell Manor
Phoebe carried a tray of food and various other items into the attic where Leo still sat on the couch with Buffy sitting on the floor next to him. "Leo, I brought you some food in case you're…" Phoebe trailed off in thought. "…You do eat, right?" she amended.
Leo chuckled weakly. "Yes, Phoebe, I eat," he assured her.
Buffy took the tray from Phoebe and passed it within reach of Leo. "Where's Piper?" she asked curiously.
"She's searching through both Book of Shadows," Phoebe answered to which Buffy nodded.
"How's she doing?" Leo questioned hopefully.
Phoebe smiled and shrugged. "Oh, you know, she's dealing. I mean, its not everyday you find out the guy you're seeing isn't human… although, in Piper's case…" she stopped with another shrug.
Leo groaned softly. "I wish she didn't have to find out about me like this. Being with her broke the rules but not being with her breaks my heart," he admitted.
Buffy looked down remembering how she had taken Angel being a vampire. "I know how that goes," she admitted as Leo looked at her. "I'm in love with a vampire," she explained. "Before you say anything Angel was cursed with his soul. He's good."
"Anyways, Leo, it's not like we rushed to tell you that we're witches," Phoebe pointed out.
Leo was silent in thought for a moment before speaking again. "Any word on Daisy?" he wondered, changing the subject. Buffy's gaze flickered to Phoebe for an answer as well.
"Yes and no. Prue called. Andy thinks he found out where Daisy's staying. They're on their way now," Phoebe answered.
Buffy got up to her knees and reaching out to change Leo's bandage. Phoebe attempted to keep from looking disgusted but failed.
"It's okay. I know it's bad," Leo mumbled, watching Phoebe's face.
Phoebe laughed a little nervously. "I guess I need to work on my poker face a little bit, huh?" she guessed, passing Buffy some cotton balls soaked in peroxide.
Buffy gently dabbed the wound on Leo's shoulder. "Why can't you just heal yourself?" she asked.
"My powers are for others. I can't use it on myself," he explained. Leo suddenly fell into a fit of violent coughing that caused Phoebe to run forward and help Buffy try and relax Leo.
Buffy and Phoebe exchanged a worried glance. "Ah, you know, we just gotta get you better and then you and Piper will have lots of time to talk when you're well." Phoebe rambled.
Leo shook his head slightly. "Phoebe, Buffy, I'm not going to get better."
"Leo, don't talk like that," Buffy ordered sternly. "Piper's gonna find something in one or the other of the books … or Prue, she'll fix it," she argued stubbornly.
"No, the Darklighter's poison can't be reversed. It's meant to kill whitelighters. That's what it's doing. It's working its way through my system. It's just a matter of time," Leo warned.
"How much time?" Phoebe asked.
"Not much. I'm gonna die and there's nothing either of you can do about it. My power is ebbing and with it my ability to cloak Daisy," he admitted.
Phoebe pulled out a large piece of gauze, a look of determination in her brown eyes. "We're gonna save you both, Leo," she insisted.
"Phoebe's right," Buffy agreed.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Piper was flipping hastily through the Charmed Ones' book when Phoebe and Buffy joined her in the kitchen. Phoebe took the seat next to Piper while Buffy sat on the edge of the table.
"I've looked everywhere in the damn books for something, anything to help Leo and I can't…" Piper started but trailed off when she glanced up at Phoebe and Buffy. "…What's that face? What's the matter?" she demanded.
Buffy bit her lip slightly. "Leo doesn't look very good and he's not going to get better…" she began.
Piper stubbornly turned her attention back to the pages of the book. "I know. That's why I need to find an ointment or a cure or something." Buffy looked to Phoebe for help.
Phoebe reached out and took the book from Piper's hands as Buffy reached across the table and grabbed her own book. "You need to listen," Phoebe said. "This is really hard to say but I… we think you need to hear it. Buffy and I think that you need to learn to accept the possibility that… maybe we're not supposed to save Leo. Maybe he's not our innocent. Maybe we're only meant to save Daisy."
Piper shook her head after a very tense moment of silence. "We have to save him whether we're meant to or not," she snapped, grabbing the Charmed Ones' book back and heading for the stairs.
Senator Hotel
Daisy shut the door to her hotel room and ran forward, dropping her bag of groceries on the small table. Her eyes landed on the vase of flowers by the window but before she could react, Alec black orbed behind her.
"I got you your favorite. I thought you'd be happy to see me," Alec remarked with a small shrug. He slowly advanced toward her. "I miss this. Us."
Daisy took a deep breath, attempting to keep calm, while she backed away. "There is no us, Alec. Please stop," she pleaded.
"Never. You're the one, Daisy. Indian summer. Do you remember that, Daisy? When it got so hot in the city you could barely breathe and we sat in the fire escape, taking turns rubbing ice cubes down each other's necks and backs?" Alec reminisced, circling around her.
"Stop!" Daisy shouted.
Alec ignored her. "That's when you first said you loved me. 'Forever, Alec. I'll love you forever.'" He quoted, imitating her voice. Daisy grabbed the vase of flowers next to her and tossed them in his direction. It didn't seem to faze him as they crashed against the wall just inches from him. "Now, is that any way to treat the man that loves you?" He asked rhetorically.
"You're not a man, you're not even human." Daisy retorted.
Alec advanced quicker this time, pushing Daisy up against the window. "Don't make me regret telling you who I really am. Don't you get it, Daisy? I love you and now no one can stop us from being together. Think about it. I found you. What do you think that means?" He demanded. His hand reached out to push a lock of Daisy's hair away from her face. She flinched from his touch, but he stepped closer. "That's right, I've clipped Leo's wings and soon he'll be gone so I can find you whenever I want." Alec stated, a smile widening on his face. He paused when someone began banging on the door behind them.
"Hello, Manager, is everything okay in there?" A voice called through the door, apparently coming to investigate the screaming and sound of breaking glass that had been reported.
"I win," Alec finished.
Daisy shook her head, fighting down her fear. "No, you only win if I come willingly and I never will," she argued.
"Then I'll never go away," Alec replied.
"Hey, I'm coming in!" the manager shouted, using his master's key to open the door.
Daisy tried to move around Alec. "No, don't!" she screamed in warning.
Alec spun away from Daisy and grabbed the manager as soon as the door was open. He pulled him into the room and slammed him against the wall. "Nobody can keep us apart now, Daisy."
"Please, stop!" she begged, her eyes fixed on the powerless manager.
Alec turned his attention to the manager and his hand began to glow a bright red. The manager's skin blistered at the touch and he yelled in agony until he died and Alec let his body drop to the floor. He turned back to Daisy to find her climbing out the window. "You can't run from me!" he yelled after her.
"Daisy!" Prue called, running through the hall at the sound of a fight. She didn't pause to assess the situation but ran right in to find Alec in the room alone. He started toward her but Prue threw her hand out and sent him crashing into a wall mirror at the same time Andy came up behind her with his gun drawn and pointed. Alec blacked orbed out before Prue could stop him.
"What the hell was that?" Andy asked, his eyes following the last of the black orbs.
"Welcome to my world," Prue replied without a glance away from the window where Daisy had disappeared.
Halliwell Manor
Phoebe threw the door to the attic open to find Buffy and Piper on the floor reading through both Book of Shadows. "Hey, Prue's home, she just…" Phoebe trailed off as she heard Buffy and Piper reading aloud. "I hear rhyming. What are you two doing?" she demanded, hands on hips and eyes narrowed for an explanation.
Piper pushed herself to her feet. "Everything I can. Look, I know Leo can't heal himself but maybe with his powers, I can," she explained with an almost eager glint in her eyes.
Phoebe raised her eyebrows, prompting further explanation. "What are you talking about?" she pressed.
"It's a power switching spell. If Leo and Piper can exchange powers then she will have the healing touch and maybe she can fix him," Buffy elaborated.
"Hey, what's going on?" Prue asked as she entered the attic.
Phoebe shrugged thoughtfully. "Oh, you know, the usual, made some coffee, read the newspaper, walked in on Piper, with Buffy augmenting, switching powers with Leo. You know," she replied casually.
Piper looked to Prue. "I have to save him, Prue," Piper insisted.
Prue's gaze shifted around to where Leo was laying unconscious on the couch before giving a faint nod. "Okay, is it safe?"
"To tell you the truth, I don't really care. He's slipping away and if either of you have a better idea, I'm all ears. If not, I'm casting the spell, with Buffy augmenting me, and I would like to do it with the support of my sisters and my cousin." Piper decided.
Prue nodded faintly, giving her consent and Phoebe readily followed. "Cast away," she allowed.
Buffy smiled as she placed a comforting hand on Piper. "I wouldn't be augmenting you if you didn't have my support," she said.
Piper turned away and knelt back down in front of the Charmed Ones' book. She took Buffy's hand and they turned and looked at the spell. "What's mine is yours, what's yours is mine. Let our powers cross the line, I offer up my gift to share. Switch our powers through the air," she and Buffy chanted together.
Phoebe looked around curiously as Piper and Buffy finished the spell. "Did it work?" she wondered.
"I don't feel any difference," Buffy announced.
Piper stood up, looking around for something to try and freeze. Kit ran into the attic at that moment and she threw her hands out. Nothing happened and she turned to face Buffy and her sisters. "I can't freeze," she stated.
"Oh my god…" Prue mumbled, feeling very light-headed. She swayed and Buffy steadied her to keep her from falling over. Phoebe was in a similar trance but she, having more experience with her own premonitions, was able to take it in stride and ignore the ringing in her head.
Kit jumped onto the side table, narrowly missing the vase that sat upon it. The vase flew across the room and shattered against the wall of it's own accord.
"Oh, I had a premonition," Phoebe announced, appearing confused.
Prue stared at Phoebe in disbelief, "No, I had the premonition. The vase shattered," she argued, pointing at the vase she'd seen.
"You don't have premonitions…" Buffy started but stopped in thought at the fact Prue had said the vase shattered. "Kit no!" she yelled instinctively throwing hand out her hand when Kit jumped onto the table. The vase flew across the room and shattered against the wall. She looked down at her hand in shock. "We've got a problem…"
"Okay, um, what just happened?" Piper demanded quickly.
Prue's eyes flickered from silent sister to silent sister. "I had a premonition… Buffy threw the vase across the room, Piper can't freeze anymore… which means…"
Piper tilted her head to the side expectantly. "Am I gonna get yelled at?" she asked rhetorically.
"…It switched all of our powers!" Prue exclaimed in disbelief.
"Supernatural Freaky Friday," Phoebe quipped.
"I thought Phoebe said she had the premonition," Piper argued stubbornly while crossing her arms across her chest.
"If it switched all of ours," Buffy said. "That means Prue likely got Phoebe's premonition power and Phoebe got my premonitions coupled with my Slayer powers. Only one way to know which." She picked up her Book of Shadows. "Concentrate on the book and call for my book. It also helps if you are a little bit angry."
Phoebe and Prue raised their hands in a mimic of what they had seen Buffy do. "Book of Shadows," they called out simultaneously. Buffy's book flamed out of Buffy's hands only to reappear in Phoebe's.
"That answers which of you has my premonitions and my Slayer powers and which of you has Phoebe's premonition powers," Buffy said. "Which also means we currently do not have a Power of Three. Since Leo has Piper's powers."
Further conversation was interrupted by the phone ringing downstairs. Phoebe started for the attic door, offering to take the phone. "Oh, you know what, I'm gonna get that and I'm sure you guys will have all of this worked out by the time I get back."
Piper glared after the disappearing Phoebe before turning to face Leo. "Okay, I can do this. Now heal," she ordered, flicking her wrists out over Leo. "Come on, heal. Why aren't these working?" she demanded, spinning on Prue and Buffy when nothing happened.
"Okay, okay, okay. Piper, relax," Prue comforted, running forward and gently taking Piper's hands. "Remember when we first got our powers? It took us awhile to figure out how to trigger them," she prompted gently.
"Well, I'm doing what I always do," Piper insisted.
"Yes, but maybe you have to find his trigger. Not yours," Buffy explained.
Before Piper could try it again, Phoebe came back into the attic with an urgent expression on her face. "Hey, that was Andy. A new charge came up on Daisy's credit card report. She bought a bus ticket twenty minutes ago. She's running again."
"If she leaves town we'll never be able to find her. Let's go," Prue ordered, waving for Phoebe and Buffy to follow her.
"Wait, we have to switch our powers back," Phoebe argued.
Piper shook her head stubbornly. "Not until I heal Leo."
Phoebe frowned sympathetically. "Piper, we have to go get Daisy," she reminded gently.
"Phoebe drop it," Buffy ordered. "Believe me I know how Piper feels. I'd be doing the same thing if it were Angel."
Prue stepped up quickly before a full-blown argument could erupt. "Okay, you know what, you stay here. We have to find Daisy before the Darklighter does. We'll just have to do it using each other's powers. Come on."
"And, Phoebe, you have to stay here," Buffy said.
"Why?" Prue said confused.
"Leo explained to me about the future Whitelighter thing," Buffy said. "If I was a future Whitelighter. That means since Phoebe has my powers, she is now…"
"The future Whitelighter," Prue said in understanding. She looked at her baby sister. "She's right, Phoebe. You have to stay away from the Darklighter. Buffy and I will go," she pointed out.
Phoebe opened her mouth to protest but Piper grabbed onto her arm and pulled her down next to her. Buffy and Prue quickly left before Phoebe could get away from Piper and insist on coming with them.
Bus Station
Daisy pushed through the crowd of people, trying to get to the bus ticket monitors as fast as she could. She lightly tapped the counter to get the workers' attention as they both had their back turned to her. "Excuse me, where can I find bus 24?" she asked politely with only a hint of the hurry in her voice.
One of the men turned around to meet her and Daisy gasped as she recognized Alec in the uniform. "I told you I'll always be there for you, Daisy," he told her. His small smile faded when Daisy spun around and walked hastily away.
"I'm sorry," she apologized when she accidently knocked into another person in her haste to get away.
"It's quite all right," Alec replied, turning around to face her. Daisy stared at him in disbelief at his second appearance as she backed away again. "I'm in no hurry. I have forever. Care to join me?" he offered.
Daisy looked around her for somewhere to run but she suddenly caught sight of Alec, now on the landing, watching her from afar. Her breath now coming in huffs as her fear set in, she dashed off in a random direction.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Buffy stopped just inside the building, her eyes scanning the area for any sign of Daisy despite the large crowd that obscured her view. Prue came up behind her and poked Buffy in her side, a wide grin on her face.
"Are you trying to piss me off?" Buffy rounded on her cousin and crossed her arms across her chest for emphasis.
Prue's widened innocently to keep Buffy wrapped around her little finger. "Actually, yeah, but I'm not doing a good enough job apparently," she admitted, watching Buffy with a thoughtful expression.
Buffy started walking without a glance back at Prue. "How can you tell?" she wondered curiously.
"Because nothing's flying through the air. Look, Buffy you're gonna need to know how to use my power in case the Darklighter shows up, remember. You and Phoebe are the only ones with active powers right now. And Phoebe isn't here, remember? When I first got my power it was anger that triggered it, so I need to push your buttons," Prue explained, suddenly reaching out and pushing Buffy to the side so that she stumbled
Buffy rolled her eyes. Instinctively she waved her hand but nothing happened. She then rememebered that Prue squinted. She squinted at the magazines on a nearby magazine rack. They flew through the air and landed with a crash among the surprised people that had been the nearest. "Prue you just don't know how to push me. Remember when I had you and Phoebe test to see which of you had my Slayer powers. You and I have always shared the same trigger. Just as Phoebe and I have always shared the premonition power. Anger has always been the trigger for my Slayer powers."
Buffy then grabbed Prue's hand and dragged her across the room to where a woman with curly blonde hair, much like Daisy's, was waiting. They stopped when they realized it wasn't Daisy. "Okay, now it's your turn. We need a premonition, where's Daisy," she decided.
Prue's smile faded as Buffy used her hand to start touching random objects. "Do I have to? The last time I got all woozy and, and..." She reached out to touch a random chair that they passed only to get nothing. "I don't see the point in this. You and Phoebe have both said that you can't force a premonition."
"See you and Piper take me and Phoebe or granted that we're your innocent yellow pages. This takes work," Buffy returned.
Prue rolled her eyes before sitting on the edge of the ticket monitor booth in the hopes of having a better view of the crowd. She was quickly pulled into a premonition of Daisy leaning against the bathroom wall. "Do your ears ring when you do that?" she said when she came out of the premonition.
"Yeah," Buffy said with a slight sigh. "It's a little disorienting. Don't know how Phoebe handles it. Being the Charmed Slayer its not as bad for me as I don't lose my balance easy. Speaking of my powers. I will be glad to have them back. Feeling this weak is the pits."
"I don't know how it feels to be weak like that, but I have to agree though," said Prue.
"Okay, so what exactly did you see?"
"Bathroom," Prue answered as she hopped down and led Buffy in the direction of the bathrooms.
Halliwell Manor
Piper stared down at her hands in frustration before once placing them over Leo. "Oh god, please work. Come on. Work," she whispered pleadingly but there was no warm golden light and Leo remained barely breathing in front of her.
Leo weakly opened his eyes and moved his head just enough that he could see Piper. "When I die…"
"You're not going to die," Piper interrupted softly but sternly.
"When it happens… know this is where I want to be," he continued as if she hadn't interrupted him. Leo offered her a small smile. "I love you," he breathed. Tears spilled from Piper's eyes as she clung to him, letting her head rest against his chest. Leo's hand gently took hers in silent comfort.
Bus Station
"Okay, it's going to be okay. I can handle this," Daisy whispered to herself as she ran her hand through the water flowing out of the faucet and then proceeded to let the water cool the skin on the back of her neck. She looked up into the mirror to find Alec standing silently behind her. She spun around and tried to slip away but Alec blocked her path, cornering her against the wall.
"You can't run from me, Daisy," he remarked.
"Why won't you leave me alone?" Daisy demanded.
Alec let his hand rest gently against her cheek. "Because we can be happy together. We were once, remember? All you have to do is come with me willingly," he explained as if it was obvious.
"And what? Watch while you kill more innocent people?" she retorted, on the verge of tears.
"You made me do that. That man would still be alive if you had just come with me. That's all I ask and the killing will stop. We can have eternity together," Alec insisted. He leaned forward to kiss her when Daisy kicked up, kneeing him in the groin and he stumbled back. He recovered quickly and grabbed her by the neck, tossing her against the bathroom wall as he heard the door open behind him.
He spun around to find Prue and Buffy standing next to the door. "I believe this is the ladies room," Buffy said, stepping forward dangerously with Prue on her heels.
"This is a private conversation, Witch," Alec countered, conjuring his crossbow in his hand and pointing it straight at Buffy.
"Okay, Buffy, it's time," Prue ordered. In response, Buffy threw her hand out instinctively. "Crossbow!" she called temporarily forgetting that Prue's power did not actually work like her telekinetic flaming power.
"Buffy," Prue whispered from behind her cousin. "My power doesn't work like that."
Alec laughed. "I've never used this on a witch before," he mocked, readying his crossbow.
Buffy nodded as she remembered to squint and Alec crashed into one of the cubicles dropping his crossbow.
Prue ran forward to grab the crossbow. She leveled the crossbow at Alec. "I've never used this on a Darklighter before," she taunted, shooting the arrow at him. He black orbed out and the arrow stuck into the wall where he had been a moment previous.
"Oh god, is he…?" Daisy started but trailed off.
"Daisy, Leo sent us, we have to take you to him. Come on." Prue explained. Buffy took Daisy's hand and they ran out the bathroom door back for their house.
The Halliwell Manor
"Phoebe? Piper?" Prue called through the silent house as soon as she pushed the front door open. She held it back as Daisy and Buffy followed her in. "That's weird their not answering."
Buffy linked arms comfortingly with Prue. "They're probably just busy with Leo. Don't worry so much, you'll get wrinkles," she joked to lighten the mood.
"Oh God, he found me again," Daisy shouted.
"How do you know?" Buffy asked looked at the woman.
Daisy motioned toward the flowers on the table. "That's what he does, he sends me flowers so I know he's watching."
Buffy went over to the flowers and picked up the card. "No, these are for Prue." She handed the card to her cousin.
"They're from Andy, he needs to see me right away," Prue said reading the card. She looked up at Buffy and Daisy. "But I can't leave you guys."
"Prue," Buffy said. "We'll go up and check on Leo and, remember, Phoebe and I are the ones with the active powers now. Go."
"Are you sure?" Prue asked.
Buffy nodded. "Yes, absolutely, we'll be fine," she said as Prue turned and walked out the door. She turned directly for the stairs. "Come on, let's check on Leo." She suggested over her shoulder. Daisy followed her to the attic. "Piper, Phoebe, Prue and I found Daisy…" she trailed off when she saw Phoebe cradling Piper on the ground next to the couch.
"He's gone," Phoebe told her eldest sister and cousin.
Buffy ran forward and knelt next to Phoebe and Piper. She ran a comforting hand through Piper's hair. Daisy spun around and dashed down the stairs without a word.
"I'll get her," Phoebe said as she moved to stand.
"No," Buffy said as she stood up. "I will. Take care of your sister."
"Are you sure?" Phoebe asked as Buffy nodded. She watched as Buffy walked out of the attic before returning her attention to her grief stricken sister.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Buffy hastened down the stairs after Daisy. She had just reached the bottom of the stairs when she heard the front door open. "Daisy, wait!" she yelled after their innocent. She paused, closing her eyes and concentrating. She took off after Daisy again, catching up to her on the street. "Daisy, hold on. I know you've been through a lot today and you're scared and that you don't know me, but I need you to trust me. Please, I can help," she insisted, slowing down so that she approached less dramatically and hopefully so she wouldn't scare Daisy anymore than she already was.
Daisy spun back to Buffy on the verge of tears. "Who are you people? What the hell do you want from me?" she screamed.
"My name is Payson Halliwell, but my friends call me Buffy," Buffy said. "I'm kind of like you. Or at least that's what Leo said anyways." She trailed off when Daisy shook her head appearing overwhelmed. "I know this is a lot to process but I really just want to help you," she finished softly.
Daisy sighed and hesitantly took a step toward Buffy. "I feel like I'm going crazy," she admitted, wrapping her arms around herself as if trying to hold herself together.
"I think after these past few days, anyone would," Buffy sympathized. She paused before holding her hand out to Daisy. "I promise, I'll protect you from Alec. We'll stop him."
"I don't want you to try. Too many people have died because of me… and now Leo," Daisy trailed off as a soft sob shook her body.
Buffy carefully placed an arm around Daisy's shoulder. "I'm going to miss Leo too. He was… my friend, but it's not your fault. You're not responsible for other people's actions." Buffy bit her lip slightly as it suddenly began to sink in that Leo was really dead, but she stubbornly held herself together. "Leo trusted us to help you and we can, but I need you to trust me." Daisy finally nodded and allowed Buffy to lead her back into the Manor.
The Park
Prue slipped onto the bench swing next to Andy, fiddling with her hands in her lap. The only sound was the faint wind through the trees and the soft squeak of the swing as Andy rocked it back and forth with his foot. "I guess we're not here for the same reason we used in high school," she stated lightly so as to break the silence.
"Unfortunately, no," Andy lamented, tossing a rock into the grass to let out a little of his frustration.
"Kind of makes me wish for the good old days," Prue whispered. She leaned back against the swing, watching the horizon as the sun slowly set.
Andy smirked and lightly nudged Prue's arm with his elbow. "We tried that already," he pointed out with a soft laugh. Prue rolled her eyes good-naturedly and couldn't help but smile a little in return. "Listen, Prue, Rodriguez is eventually going to connect you to all those unsolved cases and he'll put the heat on you to get to me… Unless you're careful, he's gonna figure out it's you and your sisters that he really wants…" he warned gently. Prue looked away guiltily back at the setting sun. She had a feeling she knew what he was going to say next and she dreaded it. "…Until I.A.'s off my back, it's better if we're not even seen together. You don't want him to connect the dots, believe me."
Prue said nothing for several moments but eventually turned to Andy to find him watching her in concern. "I feel like an awful person," she admitted to his questioning gaze. "I ruined everything you've ever worked for and you're still trying to help…"
Andy thought carefully about what to say before answering. "Every one of those unsolved cases that Rodriguez is tracking down, is an innocent life you, your sisters and Buffy helped to save. What you're doing is the reason I became a cop," he assured her but he could tell that she wasn't convinced.
"I'm sorry," Prue apologized softly.
Andy shook his head and smiled genuinely back at her. "Don't be. Everything happens for a reason. Remember, you taught me that."
Prue nodded faintly before leaning forward and kissing Andy on the cheek. "Thanks…" she whispered as she pulled away. "…For everything." She reluctantly stood up to leave, only getting up because she knew she had to get back to Buffy and her sisters. With one last smile to Andy, she walked around the swing back to the path that would lead her out.
"Take care, Prue," Andy wished, watching her leave. He stared at the spot where Prue had disappeared long after she was gone.
Halliwell Manor
Buffy leaned against the door of the attic next to Piper. She had just come up after Phoebe had come down to check on Daisy. She carefully took Piper's hand in hers in a show of silent support. Piper showed no sign of noticing, her eyes transfixed on the unmoving Leo that was still on their couch. "I thought you might like to talk," she remarked gently, inwardly begging Piper to say something.
Piper didn't say anything for a long moment and Phoebe almost thought she wasn't going to reply. "He could have stayed with us. He could have fought harder," Piper finally stated, her voice emotionless.
"He was in pain. He had to let go," Buffy whispered.
Piper pulled her hand roughly out of Phoebe's and stepped away. "He didn't have to. Our magic's never failed before," she argued. "You augmented me while I cast the spell, I took his power, all he had to do was show me how to do it and he never did," she snapped while she fought back tears.
Buffy's eyes flickered from Piper to Leo and back again. "How can you be mad at him?" she asked simply.
"Because it should have worked!" Piper yelled. Several tears slipped down her cheeks as she spun back to face Phoebe. "Prue is having premonitions, you figured out how to use her power, and even Phoebe is learning to use yours. Why couldn't I find a trigger? Why couldn't he just help me, give me his power?"
Buffy slowly approached the distraught Piper and pulled her cousin into a tight hug. "He wanted to live. He didn't want to leave you…" she started, stroking Piper's hair. "It's hard to lose someone you love. Believe me, I know."
Piper nodded very faintly as she glanced at Buffy. Her cousin out of everyone did know. After all just a few months earlier, Buffy had lost someone too. She let her gaze shift back to Leo before she buried her face into Buffy's shoulder.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Night had fallen and Buffy had moved on downstairs to help Phoebe with a plan, allowing Piper to mourn Leo in peace. Piper sat next to the couch and held Leo's hand tightly in hers while her head rested on the edge of the cushion. "I love you, Leo," she whispered. It was the only sound to penetrate through the eerie silence that surrounded her.
Piper's shoulders shook with soft sobs and a tear fell from her cheek to land on her hand. Her hand began to glow with a soft golden light that she didn't notice at first as her eyes were tightly shut. When she did Piper froze in surprise but she realized immediately what it meant. "I found it. Leo, I love you," she repeated, holding her hand over Leo. "Can you hear me? I love you, Leo. Please hear me," she pleaded when there was no response. The light disappeared from her hand and she was about to start panicking that it didn't work when Leo's eyes fluttered open.
"Piper," Leo breathed, a small smile forming on his face.
A grin spread across Piper's features, quickly followed by her throwing her hands around Leo's neck. "Oh, thank God. I tried so hard and I couldn't make it work before. Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, her voice muffled because she had buried her face in Leo's shoulder.
Leo's hand carefully stroked her hair. "That love was the trigger? You had to find that out on your own," he explained gently. "Why couldn't you tell me?"
"I don't know. I was afraid, afraid that if I admitted how I really felt it would hurt more if I lost you," Piper choked out with a slight shrug. "I'm so sorry. I should have said it before."
"It's better late than never," Leo allowed, pushing Piper a little away from him so he could see her face. He smiled and pulled her back forward until their lips met in a passionate kiss.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Piper carefully supported Leo as they climbed down the stairs only minutes later. Buffy and Phoebe jumped up in surprise when they saw them, while Daisy was too stunned to speak.
"Leo, oh my god… how did you…?" Phoebe stuttered but Piper interrupted her by waving her hand in a sign for silence.
"There's no time to explain," Piper began.
Leo, now leaning on the stair rail for support instead of Piper, looked at Daisy. "You've been out of the cloak too long," he told her before directing his attention to Buffy and Phoebe. "Alec can find her."
"Where is Prue?" Piper asked. "We need to get her back here and we need to find a spell to vanquish the Darklighter."
"A Power of Three Augmented spell," Leo offered.
"Prue should have her cell on her, I'll call," Buffy said pulling out her own cell phone and walked toward the kitchen.
"I'll try, Andy," said Phoebe as she moved to the phone in the foyer. Before she had even finished dialing the number Alec appeared in a swirl of black orbs in their foyer. Her eyes widened and she held up her hand as fireball formed in it. She threw it and missed, hitting the chandelier, which dropped to the ground and shattered behind Alec. Piper ran forward and pushed Daisy behind her.
Alec grabbed Piper, who was closest, and pulled her away from Phoebe and Leo. Buffy came running back in after hearing the crash of the chandelier. "Piper!" sje yelled.
Alec's hand began glowing a bright red as he activated his touch of death and held it threateningly close to Piper. "Don't move," he snapped at Buffy, who obeyed reluctantly. "No more tricks, ladies," he warned carefully, maneuvering Piper into a better position.
"Let her go, Alec," Leo growled but his silent threat was negated by the fact he couldn't move away from the steps that was his support.
"I don't think so. I have what you love, you've got what I love. Care to trade?" Alec suggested. In response Buffy squinted, fully prepared to send him flying. "Don't do that!" Alec threatened, moving his hand closer to Piper so that she had to lean away to keep from being touched by his touch of death. "I will kill her if I have to." His triumphant gaze shifted to Leo. "You still think I'm incapable of love, Leo? You wanna see how far I'm willing to go?"
"Alec, no!" Daisy screamed.
"Daisy, stay back," Piper ordered.
Alec shook Piper in frustration. "You shut up," he snapped. He heard the door behind him open as Prue walked in through the front door. He easily side-stepped her but used the resulting confusion to his advantage. Alec tossed Piper into Phoebe and grabbed Daisy.
"No!" Leo yelled, stumbling forward.
"Buffy, Phoebe, stop him!" Prue hissed from her where she stood. Phoebe prepared to form another fireball or call something to her hand just as Buffy prepared to throw Alec. Neither of them had time to finish their actions as Alec black orbed out. Buffy ran forward at the last moment and grabbed onto the disappearing Alec and Daisy. Black orbs surrounded Buffy and all three were gone, leaving the sisters and Leo in a stunned silence.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Prue, Piper and Phoebe went into action after about three seconds. After all, not only had their innocent been taken, but their cousin too. And that was unacceptable.
"Leo! What do we do?" Phoebe demanded, pacing back and forth around the room with a panicked expression on her face. "That Darklighter just took Daisy AND Buffy!"
Prue quickly stepped up as Leo was looking rather overwhelmed by both Phoebe and Piper. She grabbed Phoebe's hand, pulling her around so that they were face to face. "Phoebe, calm down. Breathe. I need you to focus, okay?" she soothed, her voice carefully calm. She pushed a lock of Phoebe's hair away from her face as Phoebe took a deep breath and nodded.
On the other end of the room, Leo had sat a nearly hyperventilating Piper down on the couch and was attempting to explain to her about sensing. "Take deep calming breaths, close your eyes, and try to find her," he was saying.
Piper took a moment to copy his instructions before her eyes fluttered open. "I can't do it," she stated in annoyance.
"Yes, you can, you have every one of my powers, including the one to find Daisy and Buffy," Leo insisted gently.
"Why don't you guys just switch your powers back?" Phoebe suggested as if it was obvious. She looked to Prue for support.
Prue shrugged but gave a slight nod. "It'd probably be faster."
"No, I'm still too weak. Piper has to do it," Leo countered before looking back at Piper again. "Trust me, Piper…" he pleaded and Piper closed her eyes and took another long, deep breath. "…Okay, look deep inside yourself, peace, the place where you find love," he instructed.
"Right, I can hear Daisy," Piper announced following several moments of tense silence.
Leo nodded to himself. "Listen to her. Let her tell you where she is."
Piper shifted a little and closed her eyes tighter as she attempted to listen for Daisy. "She's screaming, she's afraid… He's pushing her past some trees," she began, pausing after a moment. "I don't know about Buffy," she added with a hint of fear.
"Don't worry about Buffy. She's more than capable of taking care of herself," He assured Piper. Though in reality he feared for Buffy's safety as well. With or without her Slayer powers, Buffy was vulnerable to the Darklighter. With she was vulnerable to the poison. Without she was vulnerable to Alec's touch of death. "Now, can you recognize the place? Can you tell where they're at?"
Piper's eyes fluttered back open in realization. "Heroes Grove. Golden Gate Park," she answered promptly.
"Let's go," Prue ordered, already heading for the door.
Piper hesitated with a glance at Leo as she pulled him to his feet. "Uh, what about Leo?" she asked in concern.
Leo tried to wave her away. "I'm fine. Save Daisy."
Prue exchanged a glance with Phoebe. "Piper, we really need the four of us to do this," she pointed out carefully.
"Wait, I don't think we do. I think there's a better way," Phoebe interrupted. "Piper, stay with Leo. Prue, you drive I'll talk."
Golden Gate Park
Alec turned to face Buffy as soon as they reappeared amidst the dark orbs in the park. "Witch." he hissed, spitting the word out as if it was a curse.
"Charmed Slayer, actually," Buffy retorted. "Half witch, half Slayer."
Alec didn't care if that were true as he kept one hand tightly around Daisy while his other hand glowed red and reached threateningly toward Buffy. Buffy dodged to the left so that his hand swiped just by her.
"Alec, stop!" Daisy yelled, using her weight to knock Alec slightly unbalanced in order to give Buffy a few more moments to react.
Alec growled in frustration and tossed Daisy to the ground. "You could have been my mate, Daisy, my equal," he snapped at the cowering woman. Daisy attempted to crawl backwards away from Alec but he easily kept up with her.
"Hey, leave her alone," Buffy ordered, her eyes scanning the park for something that she could use. She desperately wished she had her Slayer powers back. She figured her best option was just to keep him talking until Prue, Piper and Phoebe got here. She tried not to think about how they would know where they were. She took several warning steps forward.
Alec spun back around as his crossbow conjured in his hand. He pointed it straight at Buffy, who forced herself not to flinch. "I can't just leave the woman I love," he countered with a sadistic grin.
Buffy looked around him to where she met Daisy's eyes. Daisy gave the faintest of nods before Buffy let her gaze flicker back to Alec. "If you truly loved her you wouldn't hurt her like this," she argued. Daisy quietly got up and stepped carefully away while Alec's attention was transfixed on Buffy.
"That isn't for you to decide." Alec snapped. He fired the crossbow, forcing Buffy to dive out of the way again. Alec stalked toward Buffy while pointing the reloaded crossbow at her. She was too close this time and he knew she wouldn't be able to dodge again. His eyes met Buffy's determined ones before he realized what she was doing. Alec looked back over his shoulder, fully expecting the absence of Daisy, but it didn't stop the anger that boiled inside him. "Nice try, but I can always find her. She can't get away."
Buffy smirked as she Prue and Phoebe walking up behind Alec. "That wasn't the idea," she assured him.
"Crossbow!" Phoebe called before Alec could figure out what Buffy had meant. The crossbow flamed to Phoebe's hand and she took off in the direction Buffy was pointing after Daisy.
"She's mine." Alec stated harshly. He started to black orb out after Daisy.
"Son of a…" Buffy started as she squinted. She sent Alec flying through the air where he hit the ground several feet back.
"What's mine is yours, what's yours is mine. Let our powers cross the line…" Prue chanted.
"You really should have stayed out of this," Alec threatened, activating his touch of death.
"…I offer up my gift to share, switch our powers through the air," Prue finished.
The red glow faded from Alec's hand and a moment later Prue's hand began to glow the eerie bright red. "What? Where's my power?" Alec demanded, staring at his hands in disbelief.
Prue's gaze was on her hand before she glanced over at Buffy. "Hate," she realized. She knew Buffy would get what she meant.
Buffy nodded. "Then hate him," she ordered.
"No, problem. Bring him to me, Buffy," Prue said as she held her hand out as Buffy telekinetically brought him to her. She grabbed hold of Alec when he was in reach. Alec yelled in agony as his skin began to blister under Prue's touch of death and he dropped to his knees. Prue fell down next to him and whispered under her breath the spell. "What's mine is yours, what yours is mine, let our powers cross the line. I offer up my gift to share, switch our powers through the air."
The glow faded from her hand as it had Alec's moments earlier signaling that she had finished the spell in time. She pulled back quickly, a little horrified at the power of the touch of death.
"You okay?" Buffy asked quickly, running over to kneel down next to Prue.
"I can't believe how much hate that took. I never wanna feel like that again," Prue said. She allowed Buffy to pull her to her feet.
"Now what?" Buffy wondered as her gaze scanned the park.
"We find Phoebe and Daisy," Prue answered. "Phoebe?" she called out as Phoebe and Daisy came running out of the trees.
Daisy stared down at the scorch mark on the grass that was left of Alec. "He's gone. You did it! You just gave me my life back!" she exclaimed. Daisy threw her arms around Buffy's neck gratefully. Prue and Phoebe exchanged a smile.
"Let's just get back first and then we can celebrate," Buffy suggested. Prue and Phoebe smiled as they led Buffy and Daisy toward the car.
"Now, when we get home, you're gonna give me my power back, right?" Phoebe questioned nervously looking at Prue.
"Only if you give me mine back," Buffy replied cheekily.
Prue looked thoughtful for a second. "I think I need my telekinesis back. It's just so much fun," she allowed with a dramatic sigh. "I guess I'll have to give you your power back."
Buffy patted Prue on the back comfortingly. "I know the feeling. I missed my Slayer powers."
Halliwell Manor
Piper lay against Leo on the couch in the attic, her head resting on his chest with his arms wrapped around her. "I almost wish I didn't give you your powers back. Then you wouldn't be able to leave," she admitted softly.
"Me too," Leo sighed though there was a faint smile of content on his face. This was how it was supposed to be. Just able to sit and hold his love without the worry of demons or rules.
Another moment of silence fell between them before Piper tilted her head to look at Leo with a question in her eyes. "So if Buffy and Daisy are Whitelighters-to-be… doesn't that mean you used to be…"
"Human?" Leo finished. His smile widened. "Yes, it does. I actually was born right here in San Francisco. I had lived here all the way up till I went off to the war."
"You mean like Vietnam?" Piper asked.
Leo shook his head at her misunderstanding. "No, World War II," he answered to which Piper shifted a little in surprise so that she could see him better. "I left med school and enlisted as a medic. I wanted to help save people, not shoot them. The last thing I remember, I was bandaging a soldier's head wound and I felt a sharp pain and the next thing I knew I was surrounded by the Elders. They offered me immortality and the chance to help special people like you." His eyes met Piper's curious brown ones. "I never once ever doubted that I didn't make the right choice. Until I met you. Ever since, all I can think is how I'd give it up and have a mortal life again to have a family, grow old… with you."
Piper suddenly pushed herself into a sitting position next to him. "Is that possible?" she questioned quickly.
Leo nodded, leaning toward her. "Yeah, I can become human again, Piper, if you want me to."
"Are you kidding? I want that more than anything. I don't want to lose you again," Piper admitted, but she ran a hand hesitantly through her hair and appeared to be deep in thought.
"But…" Leo pressed, sensing it coming.
"…But then you wouldn't be able to help other witches or other future whitelighters, would you?" Piper realized. "You couldn't help save the next Daisy."
Leo's silence was answer enough. He sighed softly as he realized what she really wanted of him. "I better go," he stated reluctantly. Leo leaned forward, kissing Piper one last time. His hand lingered against her cheek. "I love you," he whispered before he slowly stood up from his place beside Piper and disappeared in a swirl of orbs.
"I love you too," Piper echoed even though Leo was already gone. She leaned back against the couch watching as the last of the orbs fade away.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Piper grabbed the last blanket off the couch and folded it neatly before placing it on the arm of the couch. She glanced over the now semi-clean attic and started to take all the medical supplies back to the bathroom when her eyes caught sight of something on the couch. Piper changed her course to pick up the chain, the dog tags tinkling against each other. She looked at the names and smiled faintly as she read Leo's name engraved on the metal. "Leo," she whispered. Piper looked over the empty room as if she expected to see Leo. When she didn't see him, she sighed and slipped the chain over her head.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Phoebe dropped down into the seat at the table next to Buffy while Prue fixed herself a cup of tea. She noticed her cousin had her eyes fixed on a crossword puzzle and she wondered when Buffy had started doing crosswords. She glanced over at Prue who didn't appear to have any intention of starting a conversation. "Is it just me or can you draw a chalk outline around this place?" Phoebe quipped to break the silence.
Prue rolled her eyes good-naturedly as she joined Phoebe and Buffy at the table. "Well, I don't know what you could possibly mean, Phoebe, I mean, the weekend's almost over, we never made it to Cabo, I'm never gonna see Andy again, and Piper just lost the love of her life," she replied dramatically pessimistic.
"The glass is way more than halfway full here, Prue," Phoebe argued lightly. She glanced at Buffy pointedly. "We just need to lighten the place up, right Buffy?"
Buffy smirked and stood up from the table. "No problem." She skipped over to the refrigerator and pulled out three pineapples and a bottle of coconut milk that she placed on the table. "See, Prue, it's all about perspective. Leo is still alive, this whole thing with Andy will blow over very soon, and we can bring Cabo to us."
Phoebe nodded in agreement as she poured the milk into the pineapple for Prue. "Plus, Alec is gone and Daisy is on her way back to her family. And we even managed to straighten out our powers, thank god."
Prue tilted her head to the side in surprise. "Thank god?" She repeated. "I thought you always wanted an active power," she pointed out.
"Maybe, but having Buffy's power was like wearing a dress that was too tight," Phoebe admitted. "Not that would ever happen," she remarked for good measure.
"Well, Remember when I said you had no vision?" Prue asked.
"Which time?" Phoebe countered, purposefully keeping her answer cryptic to save herself from further embarrassment.
Prue held her hands up in a sign of peace. "I was just going to say that I'll never mention it again," she assured her sister before looking at Buffy. "It takes a lot of strength for you both to see what you two see."
"Thank you," Buffy said as she smiled at her cousins. "I think we can all drink to that." she joked, passing Phoebe and Prue their pineapples, complete with cute umbrellas. "We can't go to Cabo, we might as well bring Cabo to us."
Prue sighed as she took the offered drink. "I don't know. We still have some serious problems."
"Problems, Prue, are for Monday mornings," Phoebe returned. "What do you say?"
"It's going to be a hell of a Monday morning, but until then…" Prue allowed, clinking pineapple glasses with Phoebe and Buffy was answer enough.
Buffy turned around and flipped some music on with the remote to the stereo. "If I ever get a teleportation power… I'll take us and maybe we'll actually make it." She laughed just before she, Prue, and Phoebe each took a sip of the drinks.