Charmed: Another Halliwell

by Brenna's Urbangirl Projects

Summary: Buffy Summers is the daughter of Joyce and Hank Summers. Joyce was born Patience Joyce Halliwell she was Prue, Piper and Phoebe's aunt. When Joyce dies Buffy is left in the care of her cousins. Pairings: Prue, Piper, and Phoebe (and later Paige) canon pairings. Buffy/Dawn (Yes, Forbidden Sibling Love). A/U Set during and after Charmed Season 1 and Buffy season 1.

74. Chapter 74: Look Who

Q/A: Leana - The chapters were layed out when I first started doing season 3. But I am happy to report that Graduation is before All Hell Breaks Loose.

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Chapter 74: Look Who's Barking

May 10, 1999 – Monday

Halliwell Manor

Phoebe sat on the cozy couch, the family's Book of Shadows open on her lap like a sacred tome of memories. With a sense of delicate reverence, she carefully glued pictures of Cole onto the pages, each image capturing a moment frozen in time. As she adorned the pages with mementos of his human form, her heart seemed to linger in the echoes of a love that once was.

Buffy, standing by the window, observed the scene with a quiet intensity. Beyond the glass, Prue entered the manor, her footsteps echoing in the quietude of the room.

"Why didn't you invite him in?" Phoebe inquired, her eyes shifting from the Book of Shadows to the sister she felt an unspoken connection with.

Prue, momentarily surprised by the question, looked at Phoebe with a quizzical expression. "Who?" she asked, her thoughts momentarily detached from the world outside.

"Your date. The guy you've been smooching on the porch for the last ten minutes," Buffy interjected, her tone carrying a playful curiosity.

"Eavesdropping, were you?" Prue shot back, a knowing smile playing on her lips as she caught Buffy in the act.

"I don't know about Buffy. But, I'm single again, so I have no choice but to live vicariously through your love life," Phoebe confessed, a playful glint in her eyes as she joined the banter.

Buffy's mischievous smile widened as she admitted, "Yep, you caught me. I was eavesdropping." She met Prue's gaze unapologetically. "Hey, can't I worry about my big sister?"

Prue, appreciating the concern behind Buffy's words, smiled warmly. "Yes, you can," she affirmed, her steps carrying her into the living room. "That said, though, I'd forget about my love life if I were you two. Lately, mine's been rated PG for pretty grim."

Phoebe, always one to inject humor into serious matters, chimed in. "That's because no one ever makes it through the threshold, Prue. And don't get me wrong, I'm glad that you're out there looking, but you can't keep saving yourself for Mr. Right. I need more vicarious thrills than that."

Prue chuckled, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "I am not saving myself for Mr. Right. I mean, Mr. Interesting would do, or Mr. Personality, or even Mr. Take-My-Breath-Away. I don't care."

Phoebe, ever the romantic realist, offered a cautionary note. "Ooh, be careful with the last one. They tend to surprise you in all the wrong ways."

As Prue continued the banter, she glanced at the page Phoebe was crafting in the Book of Shadows. "Cole likes walks in the park, jazz, and fine wine. Phoebe, what are you doing?" she inquired, a mix of curiosity and concern etched on her face.

"Well, Cole's a demon," Buffy gently reminded Prue, her voice carrying a note of caution. "We write about demons in the Book of Shadows, don't we? And that's what Phoebe's doing. She's already added a page to mine about Cole."

Prue scrutinized the Book of Shadows, her brow furrowed in contemplation. She then looked pointedly at Phoebe, a silent question lingering in her eyes. "Right, but this kind of stuff?" she asked. "Do you really think that's necessary?"

Phoebe, unfazed by the skepticism, met Prue's gaze with conviction. "Yeah, if it prepares future witches in case he attacks. Absolutely. I mean, the more that they know about Cole, the better chance they have of hurting him before he hurts them," she explained, her words reflecting a sense of responsibility and a commitment to safeguarding others from potential threats.

Prue, sensing the underlying emotions, reached out with empathy. "Do you want to talk about it?" she asked, acknowledging the pain that lingered in Phoebe's heart.

Phoebe shook her head, a mixture of sadness and determination in her eyes. "No, there's nothing to talk about. I loved, I lost, and now I'm moving on," she declared, her voice carrying a resilient tone that hinted at a journey of healing.

As the words hung in the air, a sudden explosion reverberated through the manor, cutting through their conversation. "What was that?" Prue asked.

"Piper," Buffy said with a note of concern, breaking the focused atmosphere in the living room as Phoebe carefully set aside the Book of Shadows. In unison, Phoebe and Prue followed Buffy into the kitchen, their collective worry etched on their faces.

"Where is she?" Prue asked, her brow furrowed with a mix of curiosity and concern.

"In the bunker formerly known as the basement," Phoebe responded with a hint of wry humor, her words carrying the weight of recent magical challenges.

"I thought she was getting a handle on her new powers," Prue remarked, her tone reflecting a desire for reassurance.

"Yeah, that was before her new powers got a handle on her," Buffy explained, her words tinged with a touch of grim reality as they approached the basement door. She knocked on the basement door, the sound echoing through the quiet house. "Piper!"

From the depths below, Piper's voice floated up in response, a mix of frustration and exhaustion evident. "What?"

"Are you okay?" Buffy asked, her concern evident in the furrow of her brow as she stood on the other side of the basement door.

"I'm fine. The Christmas decorations are not," Piper replied, her voice carrying a mix of frustration and resignation. The seasonal ornaments seemed to have fallen victim to the unpredictable consequences of Piper's still-evolving powers.

"Can we come down?" Prue inquired, her eyes searching the door for any signs of Piper's well-being.

"No. Stay away from the door. It's not safe," Piper cautioned, her protective instincts kicking in even as she grappled with the challenges of mastering her newfound abilities.

"Piper, that's ridiculous, we're your sisters," Phoebe protested, her tone a blend of frustration and worry. "Maybe we should back up just a little."

As Prue, Phoebe, and Buffy obediently moved away from the door, a sudden chorus of barking dogs echoed from outside, their presence adding an unexpected layer of tension to the already fraught situation.

"Geez, who let the dogs out?" Prue quipped, a wry smile playing on her lips as the distant barking continued.

"You can't stay down there forever," Buffy called down to Piper, her voice carrying a mix of gentle insistence and concern.

"Yes, I can," Piper retorted stubbornly, her tone indicating a reluctance to face the challenges awaiting her beyond the safety of the basement.

Buffy sighed, the weight of responsibility evident in her expression. "No, you can't. You have my club to run and a husband who can't stand to live without you."

Prue, echoing the sentiment, chimed in, "That's right. And three sisters who need you to cook for them and fight evil with them."

"Okay, do you want her to come up, or do you want her to stay down there?" Phoebe interjected, her words cutting through the deliberation with a practical question.

"Oh," Prue exclaimed, her gaze flickering towards Kit who hissed in an uncharacteristically agitated manner.

"What is going on?" Phoebe wondered, her eyes narrowing in concern as she attempted to make sense of the sudden disturbance.

Kit, fueled by an unseen force, darted through the kitchen with feline grace, knocking over the trash can in a clatter of chaos. She zipped past Phoebe, inadvertently causing her to stumble into a counter, sending utensils clattering to the floor.

Piper, emerging from the basement, entered the scene, her eyes wide with confusion. "What was that? What happened?" she inquired, seeking answers to the unexpected commotion.

"Uh, nothing, just relax. It was only Kit, don't blow anything up," Buffy reassured, her words carrying a calm demeanor as she attempted to downplay the situation.

"What the hell is going on out there?" Prue demanded, her tone more insistent now, as the mystery deepened, and the unusual behavior of the usually composed Kit added an air of urgency to the unfolding events.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Buffy, determined to unravel the mystery behind Kit's unusual behavior, headed towards the source of the commotion. She navigated through the manor, following the echo of the feline's rapid movements until she reached Kit's designated room.

Upon opening the door, Buffy discovered Kit huddled in a corner, her fur slightly puffed up, a clear sign of agitation. The room, usually a serene sanctuary for the magical cat, felt charged with an unexpected tension.

"Hey, Kit. What's going on, girl?" Buffy approached cautiously, sensing that something beyond the ordinary was at play. Kit, recognizing Buffy's presence, met her gaze with a mixture of distress and uncertainty.

Buffy extended a hand in a soothing gesture, offering a reassuring touch to the perplexed feline. "You've got everyone downstairs on edge. What's got you all worked up?" she asked, her voice a gentle murmur as she tried to decipher the enigma that had disrupted the tranquility of Kit's sanctuary.

Kit, unable to articulate her distress in human words, responded with a plaintive meow, her eyes conveying a sense of vulnerability.

May 11, 1999 – Tuesday

Halliwell Manor

Phoebe sat at the kitchen table, bathed in the soft morning light filtering through the windows, a focused expression on her face as she delicately inscribed words in the family's cherished Book of Shadows. The air in the kitchen carried a tranquil ambiance, punctuated by the occasional rustle of pages and the rhythmic scratching of Phoebe's pen against parchment.

Buffy and Prue strolled into the room, their greetings resonating with the warmth of a new day. "Morning," they chorused, their voices intermingling with the calm energy that enveloped the space.

"Morning," Phoebe replied, her attention momentarily lifted from the Book of Shadows as she acknowledged her sisters with a genuine smile.

"Uh, you're not still writing in there about Cole, are you?" Buffy inquired, her tone a mix of concern and curiosity. The mention of Cole's name held a complex weight, a reminder of a chapter in their lives marked by love and loss.

Phoebe, however, shook her head, dispelling any lingering doubts. "Nope," she affirmed, her gaze returning to the pages of the book.

Prue, reassured by Phoebe's response, offered a warm smile. "Good," she said, her eyes reflecting a sense of support and sisterly solidarity.

"I'm actually writing about his demonic half now," Phoebe disclosed, her voice calm as she continued to focus on the intricate details of Cole's dual nature within the pages of the Book of Shadows. The morning light cast a gentle glow on the kitchen table, where the sisters had gathered for their routine family moments.

Buffy and Prue, each armed with a cup of coffee, joined Phoebe at the table. Prue held a newspaper in her free hand, the headlines of the mundane world serving as a backdrop to the magical concerns that occupied their thoughts.

"Phoebe, I'm—I'm starting to get a little worried about you," Prue confessed, her eyes reflecting a mixture of care and concern.

"So am I, Pheebs," Buffy added as she took a sip of her coffee, her words punctuated by a genuine worry for the sister who had weathered the storms of love and loss.

Phoebe, however, brushed off their concerns with a casual dismissal. "Oh, don't worry about me, worry about Piper," she deflected, her gaze returning to the Book of Shadows.

Buffy's brow furrowed in confusion. "Why? She's still locked in the basement?" she asked, her concern shifting to the immediate wellbeing of another sister.

Phoebe shook her head, a somber expression crossing her features. "No, she's locked herself in her bedroom now," she revealed.

"Well, at least somebody's improving," Prue remarked, a trace of humor in her tone as she flipped through the newspaper. Her eyes fell upon an article about the barking dogs that had disturbed the peaceful night before. "Huh, looks like we weren't the only ones annoyed by the dogs barking last night. It says that there was a record number of noise complaints," she noted, her eyes scanning the details with a mild interest.

Phoebe, however, seemed preoccupied, responding with a noncommittal "Mm-hmm." Her attention waned as the newspaper continued to unfold its tales of the mundane world.

"It says here, at the exact same time, there was a man murdered in our neighborhood," Prue revealed.

"Do you mind?" Phoebe asked, her eyes meeting Prue's, a plea for understanding as she grappled with the unfolding revelation.

Prue delved into the details of the unsettling news report. "No motive, nothing stolen, nothing that suggests how he was killed, lots of shattered glass everywhere," she recounted, the ominous details painting a disturbing picture of the inexplicable crime.

Phoebe, struggling to be distracted by the newspaper's contents, shook her head in frustration. "You know this isn't gonna work, you trying to distract me with..." Her words trailed off as her hand grazed a page in the Book of Shadows, triggering an unexpected premonition.

In an instant, the room seemed to fade away as Phoebe found herself immersed in a vision. She saw a girl trapped in a phone booth, the glass around her shattering violently. The girl covered her face, and blood trickled down from the cuts inflicted by the shards of shattered glass.

Buffy observed Phoebe's intense expression, a familiar recognition passing between them—the shared understanding of the weight that came with a premonition. Concern etched Buffy's features as she asked, "What?"

"I saw a little girl. She couldn't have been any older than fourteen or fifteen. Did you mention something about shattered glass?" Phoebe explained, her voice tinged with a sense of urgency.

Prue, catching on to the connection between Phoebe's premonition and the recent news, nodded. "Yeah."

"I think you're right. I think a demon was responsible for that man's death," Phoebe concluded, her conviction evident as she rose from her seat, clutching the Book of Shadows. "And I think I know which one."

As Phoebe moved into the living room, Prue and Buffy followed, their concern deepening. Buffy, her brows furrowing, questioned Phoebe's actions. "Uh, Pheebs, what are you doing?" she inquired, her eyes tracking Phoebe as she set the Book of Shadows down on a chair and began clearing the table.

Phoebe, her movements purposeful, turned the table onto its side, creating a makeshift space for the a barricade. "We'll use the magic to magic spell to summon Cole, and then we vanquish him," she declared, her tone resolute.

"Okay, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, wait. What makes you think that Cole's responsible?" Prue interjected, her brow furrowing with skepticism as she sought clarification from Phoebe.

"Because I was holding the Belthazor page when I got the premonition," Phoebe explained, her voice carrying a mix of certainty and frustration. The connection between her premonition and Cole loomed over the room like an unspoken verdict.

"Uh, okay, but shattered glass, an old man, a teenager? That's not exactly his thing," Buffy pointed out, her mind questioning the correlation between Cole and the diverse victims of the premonition.

Phoebe sighed, the weight of her premonition pressing down on her. "Then why else would I get the premonition?" she questioned, her eyes searching for understanding and validation.

Prue shook her head, a gesture of caution and concern. "We don't know, Phoebe, but I think that you're barking up the wrong demon. Look, I know that he hurt you, but that doesn't necessarily mean that he's—"

"Buffy, Prue, I can do this with you or without you. Just please, get the vanquishing potion," Phoebe interrupted, her voice a mix of determination and urgency.

Buffy's sigh echoed the lingering uncertainty that hung in the air. "And what if the potion doesn't work?" she questioned, voicing the unspoken fears that resonated within each of them.

"It'll work. It has to," Phoebe asserted with a mixture of conviction and desperation. Determination etched her features as she flipped through the Book of Shadows, searching for the Belthazor summoning spell. Buffy and Prue flanked her, their collective focus narrowing on the task at hand.

As they gathered behind the table, the room became a stage for the convergence of magic and mortal will. Phoebe began the incantation, her voice intertwining with Prue's and Buffy's as they chanted in unison, their words resonating with ancient power. "Magic forces black and white, reaching out through space and light, be he far or be he near, bring us the demon Belthazor here."

The atmosphere crackled with anticipation as a tunnel of wind manifested in the center of the room, a portal connecting their world to the realm where demons lurked. "Here he comes," Phoebe announced, her eyes fixed on the swirling vortex.

However, as quickly as it appeared, the tunnel of wind vanished, leaving the room unchanged, and Cole remained absent. Confusion etched Phoebe's face. "Wait a minute, what happened? Why didn't it work?" she questioned, her frustration mirroring the unease that permeated the room.

"I don't know," Prue admitted, her uncertainty evident as she moved from behind the table into the middle of the room.

"Damn it!" Phoebe exclaimed, frustration coloring her words as the failed summoning left them grappling with the uncertainty of their next move. The room seemed to echo with the echoes of their thwarted efforts.

"Alright, we're just gonna have to find the girl another way. Was there anything in your premonition that might help?" Buffy suggested, her pragmatic approach cutting through the tension that lingered in the room.

Phoebe, still grappling with the remnants of her thwarted magic, shook her head. "Dark alley, late at night, phone booth. I mean, there's not much to go on."

"Okay, so we'll have to go to the first victim's apartment and see if there's anything there," Prue proposed, her strategic mind already working to formulate a plan.

"Should we get Piper?" Phoebe inquired, her concern for their sister evident in her voice.

Buffy, however, shook her head, her gaze unwavering. "No, let's not put her anymore on edge than she already is. Come on."

Park West Apartments

Buffy, Prue, Phoebe, and a police inspector found themselves in the solemn atmosphere of a victim's apartment. The air was thick with an unsettling energy as Prue, Buffy, and Phoebe moved about, conducting a thorough search for any clues that might shed light on the mysterious events that had unfolded.

"So what kind of specialists are you anyway?" the inspector inquired, a sense of curiosity coloring his tone as he observed the sisters at work.

"Inspector Morris didn't tell you?" Phoebe responded, her brows furrowing slightly in surprise.

"No, he didn't," the inspector admitted, leaving a note of mystery hanging in the air.

Prue's attention was drawn to a photo album on the floor. "Can I pick this up?" she asked, her hand gesturing toward the album.

The inspector nodded in approval, indicating that the forensics team had completed their work in that area. "Sure, Forensics is done here," he assured, allowing Prue to lift the photo album from the floor. "Are you those psychics we keep hearing about he was working with?"

Buffy couldn't help but chuckle at the mention of psychics. "Psychics. Right, that's a good one," she replied, a hint of amusement in her voice. The word "psychic" seemed almost comical in the context of their extraordinary abilities and the supernatural challenges they faced regularly.

"Is this the victim's wife?" Prue inquired, her fingers delicately turning the pages of the photo album as she pointed to a picture, seeking confirmation from the inspector.

"Yeah," the inspector confirmed, his expression carrying a note of sympathy. "She died a couple of months ago. Sad to say, the poor guy never got over it."

Buffy interjected, "Any suspects?"

"All we know is whoever did it busted through that window," the inspector shared, a sense of perplexity evident in his words. "Although, three stories up, nobody can figure out how."

Phoebe, attuned to the mystical nuances of their investigations, asked a crucial question. "Do you see any scorch marks by where the body was?"

"No, I don't think there would have been a body if…" Prue hesitated for a moment, as the inspector's gaze lingered on her, "...that particular weapon had been used."

"Are you from Arson?" the inspector asked, his confusion evident as he tried to make sense of the seemingly unconventional line of questioning about scorch marks.

Buffy shook her head, dismissing any association with Arson. "Uh, no, she was just curious about how he died."

"He drowned in his own blood according to the M.E. All his blood vessels just burst. No reason. Are you Feds?" the inspector inquired, his curiosity evolving into suspicion as he sought an explanation for the peculiar interest in the details of the crime.

"Actually, Inspector, we're witches, okay?" Phoebe disclosed, fully aware of the skepticism their revelation would likely evoke. "We actually think a demon might have done this. Probably my ex-boyfriend, and if he did do this, then we have to find him and vanquish him. Satisfied?"

The inspector, his initial confusion giving way to disbelief, responded with a dismissive tone, "That's very funny," as he exited the room.

"Okay, are you out of your mind?" Prue questioned, her gaze pointedly fixed on Phoebe, a mix of disbelief and concern etched on her face.

"Well, it got rid of him, didn't it?" Phoebe defended, a hint of defiance in her tone.

"Besides, without one of us showing him our powers, it's not like he would have believed Phoebe anyways," Buffy interjected, offering a pragmatic perspective on their unorthodox encounter with the inspector.

As the room held the weight of their recent actions, Phoebe turned her attention to Buffy and Prue. "So what do you think?" she asked, her eyes shifting between her sisters.

"Definitely supernatural, but was it Belthazor?" Buffy pondered, her mind at work as she sought to unravel the complexities of the crime.

Halliwell Manor

Buffy, Prue, and Phoebe sat on the couch, their attention focused on the ominous depiction of Belthazor in the family's Book of Shadows. The air in the room was tinged with a mix of tension and uncertainty as Phoebe asserted her conviction.

"I'm telling you, it's gotta be Cole," Phoebe insisted, her words carrying the weight of a personal connection that transcended the boundaries of their supernatural investigations.

"Phoebe, just because you want it to be him doesn't necessarily make it him," Prue cautioned, her pragmatism attempting to inject a level-headed perspective into the discussion.

"This isn't about me and Cole, this is about what I saw. Unlike Buffy's, my premonitions are always directly connected to what I'm touching at the time," Phoebe clarified, emphasizing the reliability of her visions in relation to physical contact.

Buffy, ever the one to explore alternative possibilities, interjected with a suggestion. "Oh, okay, well, wait a minute." She deftly turned the page to the Banshee entry. "What if the back of your hand was touching… this page? Right, a Banshee, whatever that is."

Leo and Piper descended the stairs, their presence adding a new dimension to the conversation. "It's a demon who feeds on souls and great pain," Leo explained, his knowledge of the supernatural realm adding depth to their understanding.

"Hey, Dad," Buffy greeted her father.

"Hey, stranger, long time, no see," Phoebe warmly greeted Piper.

"Well, like you said, I can't hide forever," Piper replied with a wry smile. "Although you guys should be wearing asbestos suits," she added, injecting a touch of humor into her cautionary words. Buffy, ever resilient, rolled her eyes at Piper's playful warning.

"Oh, I think we'll risk it," Prue chimed in, her confidence unwavering as she settled into the familiarity of their sisterly banter.

"I just don't want anybody to get hurt," Piper expressed, her concern for her sisters evident in her words.

"Well, since you can't freeze us, you probably can't blow us up either," Buffy countered with a teasing grin as Piper joined her on the couch. "Though let's not try it anyways," Buffy added, emphasizing the importance of caution even in the midst of their supernatural abilities.

"Just keep your hands where we can see them," Phoebe cautioned.

"Alright, so the Banshee," Prue continued, steering the conversation back to the matter at hand.

"They're pretty rare. What they do is hunt for their victims with a high-pitched call. Something beyond our range to hear," Leo explained, offering insights from his extensive knowledge of the magical realm.

"Okay, so then how do they find their victims?" Buffy inquired, her curiosity fueling the desire to understand the intricacies of their latest adversary.

Phoebe, her focus returning to the Book of Shadows, shared the information she unearthed. "By hearing the inner cry, by zeroing in on the waves of pain that emanate from the stricken," she read, each word carrying a weight of significance as they delved into the Banshee's method of detection.

"Then their call turns into a scream that kills," Leo added, his words resonating with an ominous tone that underscored the urgency of their mission.

"Well, that explains the broken blood vessels and the shattered glass. Looks like it's not Cole after all," Prue remarked, a mix of relief and realization coloring her words. The revelation brought a shift in their focus, redirecting their attention toward the true threat they faced—the Banshee.

"So what do we do? Wear earplugs?" Piper suggested, her dry humor attempting to lighten the gravity of the situation.

"Uh, there is no spell to vanquish the Banshee, but there is one to track a Banshee. Okay, so all we need is a designated tracker," Phoebe proposed, offering a solution that hinged on their combined efforts.

"I'll do it," Buffy volunteered, stepping forward with a sense of determination.

"No, I will," Prue countered, her protective instincts urging her to take on the responsibility.

Buffy sighed, proposing a collaborative approach, "Why don't we both do it? Couldn't hurt to have two of us tracking." The suggestion carried a practical wisdom, acknowledging the advantages of a united effort in facing the elusive Banshee.

Prue nodded, recognizing the merit in Buffy's proposition. The decision to have two designated trackers not only bolstered their chances of success but also reflected the strength that lay in their collective abilities.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Buffy and Prue found themselves encircled by an arrangement of candles in the attic, the flickering flames casting dancing shadows across the room. Outside the circle, Piper and Phoebe, along with Leo, observed the ritual about to unfold. Piper clutched a piece of paper in her hand, bearing the incantation for the Banshee tracking spell.

"Are you two sure about this?" Phoebe voiced her concern, her eyes reflecting a mix of worry and uncertainty.

"Well, with everything that you and Piper are going through right now, Buffy and I don't really have much of a choice," Prue replied, her resolve unwavering. "Besides, it's just a tracking spell, what's the worst that could happen?"

"With our history, don't go there," Piper warned, her memories of past magical endeavors serving as a cautionary reminder.

"Agreed," Buffy chimed in, acknowledging the potential risks with a nod.

"Yeah, well, it's almost night, and that's when the girl in Phoebe's premonition was attacked. So let's just do it," Prue asserted, her determination steering the group toward action.

Piper and Phoebe, holding the key to the mystical incantation, began chanting the words inscribed on the paper. "The piercing cry that feeds on pain, and leaves more sorrow than a gain, shall now be heard by one who seeks, to stop the havoc that it wreaks," they recited in unison, the resonance of their voices weaving through the attic like an enchanting melody.

The incantation's magic surged through the attic, enveloping Buffy and Prue in an ethereal glow. As the mystical energy intensified, an unexpected transformation began to unfold. The sisters felt a strange sensation coursing through them, as if their very essence was being reshaped by the enchantment.

In a swirl of magical energy, Buffy and Prue underwent a metamorphosis that defied the boundaries of the ordinary. The glow surrounding them manifested into a cascade of sparkling light, shrouding them in a mystical aura. As the radiant energy dissipated, an astonishing sight unfolded – where Buffy and Prue once stood, there were now two elegant white dogs, their fur gleaming in the ambient light of the attic.

Buffy blinked, suddenly aware of her new, four-legged form. She wagged her tail tentatively, exchanging a bewildered glance with Prue, who was experiencing the same canine transformation. The sisters had become majestic white dogs, their eyes reflecting a mixture of surprise and curiosity.

Phoebe's eyes darted around the attic in confusion, searching for her sisters in their familiar human forms. "Prue? Buffy?" she called out, the anticipation of their shared magical endeavor now clouded by uncertainty.

Piper's expression shifted from curiosity to shock as she and Phoebe both realized the unexpected outcome of the tracking spell. "Oh my god," Piper gasped, her eyes widening in disbelief. She knelt down to get a closer look at the two elegant white dogs that had taken the place of her sisters. "Prue? Buffy?"

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Phoebe crouched down, peering under Prue's bed with a mix of concern and determination. "Come on, Prue," she pleaded, her voice a gentle coaxing. "Come on, come on out. We're still your sisters, you know."

Inside her canine form, Prue remained nestled under the bed, her eyes reflecting a mixture of confusion and vulnerability. 'How could this happen to me?' she thought, a whimper escaping her as she grappled with the unfamiliarity of her transformed state.

Buffy, lying next to Phoebe, observed Prue with a keen gaze. The canine connection between the sisters seemed to extend beyond physical presence. To her surprise, Buffy found herself privy to Prue's inner thoughts. 'Prue?' she thought, a telepathic connection forming.

'Buffy?' Prue's mental voice responded, a mix of surprise and recognition.

'Wow, we can hear each other,' Buffy thought, a sense of amazement coloring her telepathic communication. 'Must be something to do with the spell.'

Phoebe, still on her knees, cast a reassuring glance at Prue under the bed. "Oh, gee, honey, don't sound so sad. It's gonna be okay," she said, maintaining her attempt to coax Prue out from her sheltered spot.

Piper, kneeling beside Buffy and gently stroking her fur, couldn't mask the concern in her voice. "How? How is this gonna be okay?" she asked, her worry evident.

In the midst of the canine commotion, Prue's thoughts echoed her sister's sentiments. 'My question, exactly,' she thought, her mental voice conveying a mixture of frustration and uncertainty.

As Leo entered the room, Phoebe glanced at Piper's hand resting in Buffy's fur. "Hands in your pockets," she instructed.

Piper sighed, withdrawing her hand from Buffy's fur. Turning her attention to Leo, she sought answers. "What did you find out? Why did the spell backfire?" she asked, her eyes reflecting a mix of worry and anticipation.

Leo, thoughtful and composed, shook his head. "I don't think it did," he revealed, introducing an unexpected layer of mystery to their predicament.

'Of course it did, Dad,' Buffy thought with a mix of sarcasm and frustration. 'Prue and I are dogs, how could it not have?'

Piper, still trying to come to terms with the bizarre situation, voiced her concern to Leo. "What are you talking about, Leo? Prue and Buffy are walking around on all fours and barking. If that's not a backfire, then what is?"

Inside her canine form, Prue couldn't help but feel a deep sense of distress. 'I don't want to be stuck as a dog,' she thought, emitting a soft whimper.

Buffy, ever the optimist, reassured her sister through their telepathic connection. 'They'll find a way to fix it, Prue,' she thought, offering a glimmer of hope.

"Shh, you're scaring her," Phoebe intervened, glancing back at Prue and recognizing the distress in her canine demeanor.

Leo, maintaining his calm demeanor, attempted to shed light on the situation. "Alright, all I'm saying is that you guys cast a tracking spell, and since dogs can obviously hear a Banshee's call, what happened makes sense. Prue and Buffy should be able to track it now," he explained, introducing a perspective that added a layer of purpose to their unexpected transformation.

"Yeah, if Prue ever comes out," Phoebe quipped, turning her attention back to the hesitant Prue. "Prue, honey, okay, you can't stay under there all night. Okay, if you won't come out for you, will you at least come out for an innocent? We can't save that teenage girl without you," she urged, employing a mix of coaxing and a sense of purpose.

Prue, with a reluctant demeanor, finally emerged from her refuge under the bed. Phoebe greeted her with enthusiastic praise. "That's a good girl! That's a good girl. Who's a good girl?"

Inside her canine form, Buffy couldn't help but roll her eyes at Phoebe's attempt to communicate. 'Really, Pheebs,' Buffy thought. 'We maybe dogs but we're not dumb.'

Piper, finding amusement in the situation, remarked, "Well, at least we know she understands what we're saying."

Phoebe, fascinated by their canine appearance, gushed, "Oh, they're such pretty dogs."

Piper, ever the pragmatist, questioned Phoebe's expectations. "What else did you expect?"

"A Doberman for Prue at least?" Leo jokingly suggested, prompting a growl and bark from both Buffy and Prue in response. "Easy," he added, realizing the limits of their patience.

"Oh, honey, watch your orbs," Piper cautioned Leo. "I don't think you want to become your daughter's snack."

Phoebe, her curiosity unabated, inquired about the solution to their canine conundrum. "So what do we have to do to get our real sisters back?" Prue, still in her dog form, couldn't help but share the sentiment. 'Good question,' she thought. 'I don't want to be stuck like this.'

Leo, offering a glimmer of hope, explained, "Once the Banshee is vanquished, the spell should reverse itself," just as Buffy and Prue bolted out of the room in pursuit of their newfound canine instincts.

Piper, following the erratic movements of her transformed sisters, voiced a valid concern. "Well, what if the Banshee doesn't show up until like next year? Then what do we do then?"

Leo reassured them, "I don't think you'll have to wait that long. Banshees have an insatiable appetite for pain. They feed every night."

Phoebe, contemplating the practicalities of the situation, raised another crucial question. "Okay, what do we do once they find the demon? I mean, there's no vanquishing potion, there's no Power of Three Augmented," she noted, the reality of their limitations sinking in. Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by the sound of Buffy and Prue barking downstairs, followed by a crash.

"Oh my god, Prue! Buffy!" Piper exclaimed, urgency in her voice as they hurried downstairs to assess the situation.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Downstairs, chaos ensued as Buffy and Prue engaged in a lively chase around the house, with Prue determinedly pursuing Kit and Buffy hot on Prue's heels. The furry fiasco transformed the living room into a makeshift doggy racetrack.

'Leave my cat alone, Prue,' Buffy thought, a protective streak emerging as Kit skillfully dodged Prue's canine pursuit. Kit, unflustered, gracefully navigated the chaos, effortlessly evading Prue's attempts to catch her.

As Kit sprinted up the stairs, passing by Piper, Phoebe, and Leo, Phoebe mistakenly assumed that both of her sisters had been in hot pursuit of the feline. "Prue, Buffy, no!" Phoebe exclaimed, thinking they were both after Kit. "No-no-no-no, very bad, Prue. Very bad, Buffy. Very, very bad Prue. Very, very bad Buffy," she scolded them, only to be met with growls from the two canine culprits. "Hi, Cujo, who are you two growling at?"

'You,' Buffy thought. 'Who else?'

"Maybe I'd better go check with the elders and see if they know how to vanquish a Banshee," Leo suggested, sensing the urgency of their mission.

Phoebe, however, found humor in the situation and playfully teased Leo. "Wait a minute, don't tell me you're afraid of Prue and Buffy," she said with a mischievous grin, finding a moment of levity amidst the peculiar predicament.

"More Prue than Buffy but, yeah," Leo admitted, acknowledging a hint of anxiety about Prue's canine antics.

Piper, however, proposed an alternative plan. "Well, wait a minute, hold it. What if we find the Banshee in the meantime?" she suggested, contemplating the possibility of resolving the situation before Leo's return.

Leo offered some advice before orbing out. "Just remember what we talked about. Just try and relax," he advised Piper.

"I really wish everybody would quit telling me to relax," Piper grumbled, voicing her frustration as Buffy and Prue, now at the front door, signaled an urgency that couldn't be ignored.

"What is it? What is it, girls?" Phoebe inquired, joining Piper by the door. The sisters exchanged uncertain glances as Buffy and Prue barked in unison. Phoebe opened the door, and the eager dogs darted outside.

"Wait," Piper called after her canine sisters, a mix of concern and curiosity etched on her face. She and Phoebe quickly grabbed their coats, preparing to follow Prue and Buffy into the unknown.

Streets of San Francisco

Phoebe and Piper stood on the sidewalk, casting uncertain glances at each other as Prue and Buffy, still in their canine forms, discreetly attended to their doggy business behind a bush.

"This is worse than I thought," Phoebe remarked, her eyes fixed on her transformed sisters. The bizarre situation had surpassed any expectations she might have had for their magical mishaps.

"I never imagined anything like this could ever happen to us," Piper confessed, her tone a mixture of disbelief and resignation. The absurdity of the moment weighed heavily on her shoulders.

Inside Prue's mind, a stream of disgruntled thoughts echoed. 'How do you think we feel? This is so degrading,' Prue lamented, her inner frustration evident even without spoken words.

Buffy, sharing Prue's sentiment, mentally agreed. 'I have to agree with you there,' Buffy thought, finding herself in a surreal predicament that defied the logic of their usual supernatural encounters.

"All I know is this can't go on much longer," Phoebe said, voicing a sentiment that resonated with the collective hope that their canine interlude would soon come to an end.

"So what are we gonna do?" Piper asked, her voice tinged with a mix of exasperation and resignation.

"Rock, paper, scissors?" Phoebe suggested, attempting to infuse a touch of humor into the bizarre situation.

Piper shook her head, a small smirk playing on her lips. "No way, you already lost."

Undeterred, Phoebe persisted, a hopeful glint in her eyes. "Two out of three?" she proposed.

Piper chuckled, a wry smile forming. "Na-uh," she responded, not willing to entertain the idea of a prolonged game. Instead, she handed Phoebe a plastic bag, a practical solution to address the immediate concern.

As Buffy and Prue emerged from behind the bushes, their canine forms adding to the surreal scene, Phoebe couldn't help but express the awkwardness of the situation. "This is so humiliating," she muttered, capturing the essence of their predicament with a touch of self-deprecating humor.

'Tell us about it,' Prue thought, echoing the collective sentiment as the distant sound of barking dogs reached their canine ears.

'Do you hear that?' Buffy's thoughts merged with the unspoken communication between the sisters.

'Yeah,' Prue responded mentally, 'Banshee, you think?'

'I think so.' Buffy's thoughts concurred, their shared understanding pushing them into action. As a response to the growing urgency, Buffy and Prue barked animatedly, trying to convey their instincts to Piper and Phoebe.

"Phoebe? Does this mean what I think it means?" Piper queried, seeking confirmation as she observed the heightened behavior of their doggy counterparts.

Phoebe, realizing the implication, dropped the plastic bag, her face lighting up with a mixture of relief and newfound purpose. "It means I'm off the hook! I'm off the hook!" she exclaimed with a touch of glee.

"Buffy, Prue, wait!" Piper called out, her voice echoing with a blend of concern and determination as she and Phoebe chased after their canine sisters.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

In the dimly lit alley, the teenage girl, from Phoebe's premonition, anxiously spoke into the phone booth, desperately reaching out to her parents. "Mom? Dad? Are you there? Pick up, please, it's me," she pleaded, relief washing over her as someone on the other end answered. "Mom? Oh, thank God. I'm so sorry; I never should have gone away. I want to come home," she confessed, her voice tinged with regret. The Banshee's distant scream began to draw near. "I don't know. Somewhere in San Francisco."

Perched on top of a dumpster, the Banshee prepared for its assault. Its piercing scream shattered the glass of the phone booth as it leaped down, ready to unleash havoc. The girl covered her face in terror just as Buffy and Prue, now back in their human forms, rushed around the corner to confront the supernatural threat.

Piper and Phoebe quickly followed, their concern evident as they rounded the corner. Piper immediately attended to the frightened girl. "It's okay, it's okay. Run, run," she urged, ensuring the girl's safety as she hurried away.

Meanwhile, Buffy and Prue, fully aware of the Banshee's imminent danger, barked ferociously, diverting their attention to the approaching demon. Phoebe, with quick reflexes, reached up and pulled the Banshee down from its perch on the dumpster. Piper rushed over to assist but was met with a forceful blow that sent her tumbling onto wooden crates.

Facing down the Banshee, Phoebe called out to Piper, "Piper, now?" In an attempt to freeze the Banshee, Piper inadvertently exploded the dumpster instead. The Banshee recoiled from the blast, momentarily stunned. Buffy and Prue continued to bark, ready to pounce again if necessary.

n the aftermath of the explosive encounter, Piper rushed over to Phoebe, genuine concern etched across her face. "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry.

Phoebe nodded, taking a moment to collect herself. "I think so, yeah."

As the Banshee hastily retreated, Prue and Buffy instinctively gave chase. "Buffy, Prue, no, wait!" Piper cried, her plea echoing in the alley.

However, the Banshee darted into the street, utilizing cars as impromptu platforms to elude the determined pursuit. Buffy and Prue bounded onto the road just as the blare of a car horn warned of impending danger. Buffy halted abruptly, narrowly avoiding the oncoming vehicle, but Prue was not as fortunate. The car struck Prue, sending her tumbling to the pavement.

Rushing to her sister's side, Buffy nudged and nuzzled Prue, checking for any signs of injury. Simultaneously, the concerned driver of the car hopped out, his attention divided between Prue and Buffy.

'Prue,' Buffy thought, her worry permeating their mental connection. 'Are you alright?'

"Oh, God," the driver exclaimed, a mix of relief and concern in his voice. "You stay there, baby. You're alright. Good girl. Shh. Can somebody give me a hand here? It's alright, good girl, good girl. Can somebody help?" he called out, seeking assistance for the injured canine.

Soma Square Apartments

After a visit to the vet to ensure they were both alright, the driver, compelled by a soft spot for animals, took Prue and Buffy back to his apartment. Prue lay peacefully asleep on the couch, while Buffy sat on the floor, her head affectionately propped against the edge of the couch where Prue rested.

Prue stirred and slowly opened her eyes, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. Her gaze met Buffy's, who sat nearby with a mix of concern and relief in her eyes. Meanwhile, the driver was engaged in a phone conversation, discussing his predicament.

'Buffy,' Prue thought, initiating a mental connection with her canine sister.

'Yeah, Prue, I'm right here. You got hit by this guy's car. He took us to the vet and then brought us both back here. I guess he assumed since we both looked alike, we probably belonged to the same person,' Buffy thought, filling Prue in on the recent events.

"Are you kidding? I'd love to go but I can't. The vet said someone has to keep an eye on one of the dogs. I have a soft spot for animals. Sue me. No, no tags on either of them. Maybe I should write an article about irresponsible pet owners, make them feel like dirt." As the driver wrapped up his call, he walked over to Prue and Buffy. "Hey, what are you doing? You're supposed to be resting," he gently admonished Prue, who seemed eager to get off the couch. "No, no, you're not going anywhere. Not until you're better."

'Prue, maybe he's right,' Buffy thought. 'We don't know how badly you were hurt. Let's take it easy for now and figure things out.'

Halliwell Manor

Piper's fingers danced anxiously over the pages of the phonebook, her eyes furrowed with concern as she navigated through the alphabetized names. The soft glow from her cell phone illuminated her worried expression, casting a flickering shadow on the pages. As she spoke to Darryl, her voice trembled with a mixture of urgency and desperation.

"No, Darryl," Piper pleaded, her tone laden with worry. "I know you can't put out an APB for a dog, but couldn't you at least ask the other cops to keep an eye out for Prue and Buffy?"

Darryl's voice crackled through the phone, a reassuring anchor in the sea of Piper's fears. "Yeah, that I can do, Piper," he responded, picking up on the palpable anxiety in her words.

A fragile sigh escaped Piper's lips as she concluded the call, her shoulders slumping as she sank into a chair. The weight of the unknown pressed heavily on her, and her eyes flickered with a mix of exhaustion and apprehension.

"Do you think that the animal shelters are even open this late?" Phoebe mused, her concern mirroring Piper's.

"They better be because this is a disaster, I am very worried," Piper confessed, her words carrying the weight of a sleepless night filled with the unknown fate of her beloved pets.

Phoebe, sensing her sister's distress, offered words of comfort. "Well, don't worry, we will find them," she assured Piper, her voice infused with a determination that matched the gravity of the situation. "And we will find the Banshee."

Phoebe, ever resilient, retrieved a bottle of water from the fridge, a small act of normalcy in the midst of chaos. "At least we saved that girl," she added optimistically, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "I'm going to check the Book of Shadows."

"Why?" Piper questioned, her eyes narrowing in confusion and skepticism.

"So, we can cast the tracking spell on me," Phoebe replied, her tone resolute and determined.

A look of incredulity crossed Piper's face as she processed Phoebe's unconventional proposal. "You want to turn yourself into a dog too?" she asked, her raised eyebrow a testament to the surreal nature of the situation.

Phoebe met Piper's gaze with unwavering determination. "Know any better way to find the Banshee and to find Prue and Buffy?" she challenged, the urgency in her voice underscoring the gravity of their predicament.

Piper hesitated, caught between practicality and the absurdity of the plan. "No, but—"

"Okay then, I'll go get the book," Phoebe declared, her decisiveness cutting through Piper's uncertainty. With purposeful strides, Phoebe turned away, leaving Piper to grapple with the audacious plan unfolding before her.

As Phoebe disappeared into the next room, Piper couldn't help but shake her head in disbelief, a mix of worry and bemusement etched on her face.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Phoebe stepped into the dimly lit attic, the air thick with the weight of magical history and the scent of old leather-bound books. The soft glow of flickering candles cast dancing shadows across the room as she made her way to the revered Book of Shadows. Its weathered pages held the secrets of generations, a repository of the Halliwell sisters' magical legacy.

Her fingers traced the edges of the ancient book, and with a determined yet gentle touch, she opened it, the parchment whispering softly in response. Phoebe navigated through the pages with a sense of purpose until she found the section dedicated to Cole. The memories of their tumultuous past, a dance between love and darkness, echoed in the stillness of the attic.

Phoebe's gaze lingered on the pages, each word etched with the indelible ink of their shared history. As she stared at the familiar words describing Cole's existence, a flood of emotions surged within her.

She clutched the Book of Shadows to her chest, her eyes welling up with tears that mirrored the tempest of emotions within her. The chair creaked softly as Phoebe sank into it, surrendering to the overwhelming grief that had gripped her heart. The tears cascaded down her cheeks, each droplet a testament to the pain of longing and the echoes of a love that defied the boundaries of the supernatural.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Piper's frustration hung in the air as she held the phone in her hand, her brows furrowed in deep concern. "Well, there isn't any shelter open," she muttered into the receiver, the urgency of the situation pressing down on her. "This is an emergency. Well, there's got to be some place." Her voice wavered with frustration as she sighed heavily. "Never mind."

With a decisive click, Piper ended the call just as Leo materialized in the room with a soft orb of light. His presence brought a fleeting hope that dissolved as quickly as it emerged. Piper's eyes met Leo's, the gravity of the situation etched on her face. "We lost Prue and Buffy."

Leo's confusion was evident as he tried to make sense of the sudden turn of events. "What?" he asked, his eyes searching Piper's for an explanation.

"They ran off after the Banshee attacked," Piper explained, her words heavy with the weight of worry.

Leo's expression shifted from confusion to concern. "Wait a minute, you fought the Banshee, and you and Phoebe are okay?" he questioned, trying to piece together the unfolding mystery.

Piper's gaze met Leo's, a mixture of bewilderment and apprehension in her eyes. "Yeah, we're okay. Why do you ask?" she inquired, her worry deepening.

"Because the Elders just told me that Banshees are former witches," Leo revealed, his voice carrying a solemn tone. "A Banshee's scream doesn't kill witches; it turns them into Banshees."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"Why, Cole? Why did you have to do that to me?" Phoebe's anguished cry reverberated through the attic, a painful lament that seemed to echo in the very walls of their magical haven. The vases and bottles surrounding her trembled in response, caught in the tumultuous energy of Phoebe's emotional outburst.

As Phoebe rose from her tear-streaked perch, the Banshee's piercing wail, like an ominous harbinger of fate, grew louder, its haunting cadence sending shivers down her spine. The atmosphere in the attic crackled with an unsettling energy as the vases and bottles succumbed to the force of Phoebe's emotional storm, shattering into countless shards.

The windows, unable to withstand the mystical turbulence, yielded to the pressure, fracturing into a cascade of shards that joined the chaos. Phoebe, gripped by an unseen pain, crumpled to the floor, her vulnerability laid bare as the Banshee's approach intensified.

With an eerie descent, the Banshee materialized through the shattered window, its form a spectral silhouette against the moonlit night. Leo and Piper, responding swiftly to the unfolding crisis, rushed into the room, their faces etched with determination.

The Banshee, driven by an otherworldly instinct, honed in on Piper. A swift flick of Piper's wrist, fueled by the essence of her magical prowess, caused the Banshee to detonate in a burst of ethereal energy. The threat extinguished, Piper turned to her sister with a relieved smile.

"Shut her up," Piper instructed with a nod of approval, gesturing towards the dissipating Banshee. Her attention then shifted to Phoebe, concern etched across her face. "Pheebs, are you okay?"

As the Banshee's cry lingered in the air, the room fell into a tense hush. The sisters, breathless from the encounter, watched in stunned silence as Phoebe's once-dark locks transformed into a startling shade of white. Phoebe sprinted towards the window, her scream joining the haunting chorus that now echoed through the night—an unsettling reminder of the consequences wrought by the Banshee's wail.

Soma Square Apartments

Prue found herself lapping up beer from a bottle that the driver had offered. The driver, amused by Prue's choice of beverage, commented, "Oh, you like the imported stuff? That's my kind of girl." He then turned his attention to Buffy, asking, "You want some?"

'I wish he could hear us,' Buffy thought. 'I would tell him no thanks.'

Meanwhile, as Prue and Buffy were caught up in their canine perspective, the distant wail of the Banshee's high-pitched scream reached their sensitive ears.

'Do you hear that?' Prue thought.

'Yeah. Do you think it's the Banshee?' Buffy thought.

'Only one way to find out.' Prue thought determinedly. With a shared glance, Buffy and Prue abandoned the comforts of the apartment, darting toward the door as they prepared to confront the looming threat of the Banshee once again.

"What is it? What's the matter?" the driver asked as Prue and Buffy barked. "Shh, you're gonna wake the neighbors," he said as Prue and Buffy continued their urgent barking. "Okay, you want out, I get it." As he opened the door, Prue and Buffy, fueled by their instincts and the Banshee's distant cry, dashed out into the night.

"Hey!" The driver, sensing the urgency in the situation, grabbed his keys and hurried after them. "Come here!" He called out, attempting to catch up with the determined canine duo that seemed to be on a mission only they could comprehend.

Parking Garage

Phoebe crouched behind a row of cars, her eyes fixed on the unsuspecting woman who strolled past. The dim light of the parking lot cast elongated shadows, adding an eerie quality to the scene. The woman paused, glancing around as she fished her car keys from her purse. Unaware of the danger lurking nearby, she resumed her walk toward her car.

"Oh, Ramone," the woman exclaimed with a smile, relief evident in her voice when she spotted him leaning casually against her car.

"I was beginning to think you stood me up," Ramone replied, a flirtatious grin playing on his lips as he embraced her. The moment seemed innocuous, a typical romantic encounter unfolding in the quiet night.

However, just beyond their oblivious embrace, Phoebe, consumed by the anguish of her Banshee nature, ran behind a nearby wall and unleashed a primal scream. The sound echoed through the night, a haunting and otherworldly wail that cut through the calm air like a chilling gust of wind.

Halliwell Manor

Leo and Piper descended the creaky wooden stairs, the air thick with tension as Piper cradled the ancient Book of Shadows in her arms. The weight of its pages seemed to amplify the gravity of the decision they were about to make.

"Piper, think this through, please," Leo pleaded, his eyes reflecting a genuine concern that tugged at his heart.

"You were the one that told me to trust my instincts," Piper retorted, her steps purposeful and her gaze fixed ahead, a determined fire burning in her eyes.

"Yes, that was before you said you were gonna summon Cole, though," Leo countered, his words a desperate attempt to appeal to reason, his worry etched on his face like fine lines etched in stone.

Piper halted on the staircase, turning to face Leo. "Well, believe me, it was not my first idea," she explained, frustration seeping into her voice, like a bitter undercurrent in a calm sea.

Leo's eyebrows furrowed with worry, and he took a step closer, his hand reaching out to gently touch Piper's arm. "Well, then what was your first idea? Let's do that instead," he suggested, a glimmer of hope in his eyes, hoping for an alternative that didn't involve potentially summoning a demon.

"That won't work, this will," Piper asserted, her voice carrying a subtle undercurrent of determination as she displayed the Belthazor vanquishing potion with a firm grip.

"The last time Cole was here he killed a witch, remember?" Leo interjected, his caution cutting through the air like a chilling breeze.

Piper met Leo's gaze, her eyes holding a resolute resolve as she raised the potion. "That is what this is for."

Leo's expression tightened with concern. "Well, what if he makes his move before you get a chance to vanquish him?" he questioned, the weight of the potential consequences palpable in his words.

"I'll freeze him," Piper declared confidently, her voice laced with assurance, a glimmer of her powers shining through.

"Now you're confident in your powers?" Leo asked skeptically, his eyebrows furrowing as he sought reassurance.

Piper shrugged, a mixture of determination and uncertainty playing across her features like a flickering flame. They continued into the conservatory, the dim light casting shadows that danced on the walls. "Okay, so maybe I'll blow him up."

"But what if he blows us up first?" Leo voiced the lingering concern, a shadow of worry crossing his features.

Piper released a weary sigh, her shoulders slumping slightly under the weight of the impending danger. "Well, you're already dead, what's the difference."

Leo's eyes bore into hers, a deep earnestness reflected in his gaze. "The difference is that I don't want you to join me," he affirmed, the sincerity cutting through the tense atmosphere.

"Leo, I love you, and it's because of you that I have the courage to even attempt this, but we don't have any other options," Piper confessed, her voice a blend of determination and vulnerability. The gravity of their situation hung heavy in the air as they faced the perilous unknown together.

"The Banshee targets people who are in pain, that's why it went after Phoebe, and Cole is the source of Phoebe's pain. So if we can get him to find her and eliminate that pain, then we might be able to get Phoebe back," Piper explained, her words a strategic plan born out of a desperate need to save her sister.

"Do you really think he'll help us?" Leo inquired, skepticism lingering in his tone.

"Feelings like theirs don't go away. We should know," Piper asserted, her gaze shifting towards the spell in the Book of Shadows. With a determined resolve, she began reciting the incantation, her words a whispered plea to the forces of magic. "Magic forces black and white, reaching out through space and light, be he far or be he near, bring us the demon Belthazor here."

A swirling tunnel of wind materialized in the room, and with a sudden gust, Cole emerged. "You rang? Piper, not the sister I was expecting," he greeted, his voice carrying a mix of nonchalance and curiosity.

"Phoebe's in trouble. She's been turned into a Banshee," Piper declared, urgency imbuing her words as she confronted the source of her sister's anguish.

"A Banshee? Well, that's different," Cole remarked, his expression morphing into a curious blend of surprise and concern.

"It happened because she was hurting, over you. And I think you're the key to turning her back," Piper explained, her eyes fixed on Cole, searching for any sign of empathy within the enigmatic depths of his gaze.

"Sorry, I don't do good anymore," Cole responded, his tone tinged with a hint of regret and a darkness that seemed to shadow his every word.

Piper sighed, the weight of the situation pressing down on her shoulders. "Not even for somebody you love?" she pleaded, her voice carrying the echoes of desperation as she tried to reach the remnants of the man she once knew.

"Love-d. Past tense," Cole declared, his words cutting through the air like a chilling wind.

"I think we've heard enough," Leo interjected, his voice firm as he attempted to steer Piper away from a conversation that seemed to be going nowhere.

Piper shook her head, defiance etched on her face. "Feelings like that don't just die, Cole."

"Wrong," Cole countered, his tone tinged with bitterness. "They died when Phoebe gave up on me. Now all I can do is return the favor."

"You've helped us before, and we've helped you," Piper insisted, her plea laced with the history they shared.

"Oh, is that what you were doing when you called me this morning," Cole retorted, a hint of sarcasm coloring his words. "Helping me? Or trying to vanquish me?"

"Piper, the potion," Leo pleaded, his urgency echoing in the room as he implored her to take decisive action.

"Phoebe loves you, Cole," Piper insisted, her voice a blend of empathy and desperation. "And I know that you love Phoebe. All I'm asking you to do is find her and tell her."

"It's over, Piper. In more ways than one," Cole declared, his words carrying a weight that seemed to settle the fate of their desperate attempt.

"Throw the potion," Leo urged, his eyes fixed on Piper as he sought to break through the mounting tension.

"You're right, Cole, it is over," Piper conceded, her hand releasing the potion with a swift motion. But to her and Leo's astonishment, nothing happened. The air hung heavy with a pregnant silence, the room frozen in suspense.

Cole chuckled, a sardonic smirk playing on his lips. "Surprise!" he declared, revealing a twist in the unfolding drama that left Piper and Leo stunned.

"But..." Piper began, her confusion palpable as she tried to grasp why the potion hadn't worked as intended.

"Did you really think that I would come here without magical protection?" Cole interjected, a sly smile playing on his lips as he reveled in the unexpected turn of events. "Question is, do you have any protection for yourself?"

Leo stepped forward, a warning edge in his voice. "Don't threaten her."

"I suggest you orb her out of here, Whitelighter, before there's nothing left to orb," Cole countered, his tone carrying a veiled threat that hung in the air like a storm cloud. The room was charged with tension as Buffy and Prue, now transformed into dogs, rushed in and barked at Piper.

"Prue? Buffy?" Piper exclaimed, surprise etched across her face as she took in the surreal sight of her canine sisters.

'Come on, Piper,' Buffy thought. 'Banshee incoming, get the message.'

"Prue? Buffy?" Cole asked, genuine surprise coloring his voice as he took in the sight of Prue and Buffy transformed into dogs. As the realization dawned on him, the house began to shake, an ominous prelude to the impending chaos.

"What's going on?" Cole questioned, his eyes darting around as if seeking answers from the shifting surroundings.

"Phoebe's home," Piper responded, her voice laden with a mix of urgency and concern. The atmosphere crackled with magical energy just as the windows of the house shattered, scattering shards of glass like crystalline raindrops.

In the midst of the chaos, Phoebe materialized, flying in through a broken window with a determined grace. Without hesitation, she dove at Cole, a fierce determination etched on her face. As her scream echoed through the tumultuous scene, Cole underwent a rapid transformation, his form shifting into that of Belthazor, the demon that lurked within him.

With an otherworldly shimmer, Belthazor and Phoebe vanished, leaving behind a lingering sense of unease in the aftermath of their abrupt departure.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"You think they're alright?" Leo inquired, concern etched on his face as he gently rubbed his hands in both Prue and Buffy's fur. The canine forms of the sisters seemed to absorb the tension in the room.

Piper shook her head, momentarily misunderstanding Leo's focus. She assumed he was referring to Phoebe's well-being. "No, I don't. Either way, Phoebe's screwed."

"No, I mean Prue and Buffy," Leo clarified, his attention shifting to the transformed sisters. "They seem kind of down."

"Well, they would be. We're about to lose a sister," Piper explained, her voice heavy with the weight of the impending loss that hung in the air like a storm cloud.

"I thought you said Cole would never hurt her," Leo pointed out, a trace of confusion in his expression.

"In self-defense, he would," Piper countered, her words revealing the complexity of the situation. "Did you see her? She was pissed off. On the other hand, if she kills him, then she's a Banshee forever."

"Do you hear that," Prue communicated through her thoughts to Buffy, her keen canine hearing attuned to the piercing wail of Phoebe's banshee scream.

"Loud and clear," Buffy responded telepathically. With a shared understanding, the two transformed sisters raced towards the front door, their barks becoming a desperate plea for attention.

"Oh, this is all my fault," Piper lamented as Buffy and Prue barked in unison. "She zeroed in on Cole's pain for her, I led her to him."

"We found Prue and Buffy; we will find Phoebe," Leo reassured, his voice carrying a comforting tone as he tried to quell the rising panic in the room. The canine sisters continued to bark, their urgency echoing the gravity of the situation.

'Come on, guys,' Prue thought, a silent plea directed at her human counterparts, urging them to understand the urgency of their canine communication.

"But how? What if it's too late?" Piper questioned, the weight of uncertainty settling over the room. She glanced at her canine sisters, the barking persisting in a relentless chorus. "Buffy, Prue, would you two be quiet?"

"Maybe you should try scrying," Leo suggested, offering a practical solution as the tension in the room escalated. Prue, sensing the urgency, walked over and tugged on Leo's pants, her canine eyes reflecting a sense of urgency that couldn't be ignored.

"Ow, hey!" Leo exclaimed, caught off guard by Prue's unexpected tug. Piper turned just in time to witness the canine sisters, Buffy and Prue, leap through one of the shattered windows. Their movements were swift and purposeful, driven by an instinct that echoed their shared bond and the urgency of the situation.

"They hear Phoebe. Hurry, hurry! Go-go-go-go!" Piper urged, her voice filled with a mixture of desperation and determination. Leo and Piper quickly responded, hopping up from their positions and running after Prue and Buffy.

Memorial Cemetery

In the dimly lit mausoleum, the air thick with tension, Belthazor exerted force, pushing Phoebe forcefully across the cold stone floor. Phoebe, fueled by a surge of adrenaline and a primal instinct to survive, retaliated with a swift kick, causing Belthazor to stumble backward over the crypt.

Undeterred, Phoebe leaped onto him, her desperation manifesting in a flurry of scratches and wild movements. She screamed, a haunting and guttural sound that echoed in the confined space. In response, Belthazor, his demonic instincts surfacing, pushed her off with a forceful shove. The struggle continued, a chaotic dance between two conflicting forces, each driven by their own powerful emotions.

With a menacing roar, Belthazor seized Phoebe around the neck, his grip tightening as he issued a stern warning, "Don't make me kill you." Phoebe, gasping for breath, pushed against him, her eyes reflecting a mix of fear, defiance, and a glimmer of recognition.

"Damn it, Phoebe," Belthazor growled, his demonic features contorted with a mix of frustration and conflict. And then, in a transformative moment, he morphed back into Cole, the man Phoebe had loved and struggled to reconcile with.

"I love you," he declared, the words heavy with sincerity and an underlying plea for understanding.

Phoebe, caught between the tumult of emotions, screamed once more. In a climactic moment, after what seemed like an eternity, she reverted to her normal self.

Streets of San Francisco

As Prue and Buffy raced down the street, the wind whipping through their fur, the unexpected transformation occurred. Suddenly, they were no longer canine companions but human once more, their bodies reshaping with a surreal fluidity.

"Ow, ow, ow, ow," Prue winced, gripping her hip in pain as the abrupt shift took its toll.

"Prue! Buffy!" Piper's voice echoed down the street as she and Leo hurriedly caught up to the sisters, the relief evident in their expressions when they realized that Prue and Buffy had returned to their human forms. Piper enveloped them in a tight embrace, a mixture of joy and concern etched on her face.

"Ow! Ow, ow, ow, my hip," Prue continued to express her discomfort, the pain radiating through her body after the sudden and jarring reversion.

"What happened?" Piper inquired, her eyes narrowing with worry as she sought to understand the events that had unfolded.

"Prue got hit by a car while chasing the original Banshee," Buffy supplied, filling in the details of the chaotic pursuit that had led to Prue's injury.

"Hey, Leo, not that I'm complaining, but why are Buffy and I human again?" Prue asked, a mix of curiosity and relief in her tone.

"The spell must've played itself out," Leo explained, his voice carrying a note of relief mixed with uncertainty. "Phoebe must not be a Banshee anymore."

Piper's brow furrowed with a mixture of hope and concern. "So does that mean Phoebe's alive, or...?" Her voice trailed off, the unspoken fear lingering in the air.

Leo and Buffy exchanged a knowing glance before both closing their eyes. Drawing upon their Whitelighter senses, they reached out, attempting to connect with the essence of Phoebe's existence. The quiet intensity of the moment enveloped them as they delved into the unseen realm, searching for the telltale spark that would confirm Phoebe's presence or absence.

Memorial Cemetery

"Stay away from me. Just stay away," Phoebe's voice trembled with a mixture of pain and determination as she held her ground, creating a visible distance between herself and Cole.

"Phoebe..." Cole began, the ache in his voice mirroring the pain etched across her face.

"I don't want to hear your lies, Cole," Phoebe interrupted, her words cutting through the air like a sharp blade.

"They're not lies," Cole countered, his earnestness evident as he tried to bridge the emotional gap between them. "You're not the only one hurting here. We both are. That's why we're drawn into this mess. I tried to deny it too, I tried everything to break my feelings for you, even magic. But nothing works."

Phoebe's expression remained resolute, her walls fortified against the emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. "It doesn't change anything," she insisted, her voice a steady force in the midst of the emotional storm.

"No, it doesn't. It doesn't change the fact that I killed a witch. Even if I was tricked into doing it," Cole confessed, the weight of his admission hanging heavily in the charged air.

"What do you mean?" Phoebe wondered, her brow furrowing with confusion as she sought to unravel the enigma of Cole's cryptic statement.

"Forget it, it doesn't matter," Cole deflected, a hint of resignation in his voice as if he preferred to bury the painful truth beneath layers of evasion.

"Yeah, well, maybe it matters to me," Phoebe admitted, her eyes searching his face for any sign of vulnerability.

"Raynor cast a spell. He made me kill her against my will," Cole confessed, his words heavy with a burden that seemed to weigh down not only his shoulders but the air around them.

"And why would he do that?" Phoebe questioned, her voice a blend of curiosity and concern.

"Because he wanted to turn me," Cole answered with a deep sadness in his eyes. "And he knew the only way to do that was to destroy the one thing that was keeping me good. He knew that my killing a witch would destroy your faith in me."

"I don't know what to say," Phoebe admitted, her voice a mix of emotions ranging from disbelief to a profound sense of sorrow.

Cole, wearing a bittersweet smile, gently lifted his hand to Phoebe's face, a tender gesture that conveyed both love and regret. "There's nothing to say. Like you said, it doesn't change the fact that I did it, or that we'll always love each other. I guess it's a pain we both have to live with."

As Cole finished speaking, he shimmered out of view, leaving Phoebe standing alone in the weighty silence. The sudden absence of his presence in the dimly lit room felt palpable, and Phoebe was left grappling with the magnitude of the truth that had just been revealed.

Tears welled in Phoebe's eyes as she confronted the harsh reality of their situation.

Streets of San Francisco

Leo and Buffy exchanged a quick glance, their eyes reflecting a shared sense of relief and affirmation. When they opened their eyes, both nodded in unison.

"Buffy and I sense her," Leo declared, the certainty in his voice cutting through the lingering tension. "Phoebe's alive."

Prue couldn't help but seek clarity. "So, Phoebe/Banshee..."

"Is Phoebe, Phoebe," Leo clarified, his gaze fixed on Piper. "Looks like your plan worked after all."

Piper, a mix of concern and determination in her eyes, acknowledged the success of their unconventional approach. "Yeah, but if she had to vanquish Cole, then she's probably not doing very well. Why don't you go get her?" she urged as Leo orbed out, disappearing with a shimmering light.

Turning to her sisters, Piper observed their puzzled expressions. "What are you doing?" Prue questioned as Piper ran her hand through first her own hair and then Buffy's.

"I think you two have got fleas," Piper said, a hint of amusement in her voice as she playfully teased them.

"You know what?" Buffy said with a hint of annoyance. "That's so not funny because I think I do."

"Yeah, same here," Prue agreed, her expression a mix of mild irritation and resigned amusement. She sighed. "You have no idea how hard it was being a dog, okay. I mean, peeing outside, eating everything and anything, and just smelling everything."

Piper couldn't resist a playful jab. "Must have been 'ruff'. No pun intended." She smirked, enjoying her own wordplay.

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Ha, ha."

Piper couldn't contain her laughter, a lighthearted moment breaking through the seriousness of their recent ordeal. The street resonated with the sound of shared amusement.

"At least I got to meet a really cute guy," Prue said, a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

"You met a guy?" Piper asked, her curiosity piqued by the unexpected revelation.

Buffy nodded, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Mm-hmm."

"As a dog?" Piper clarified, incredulous at the idea of romantic encounters in canine form.

Prue chimed in with an affirmative nod. "Mm-hmm."

Piper's curiosity deepened. "How?" she pressed, eager to unravel the details of this peculiar love story.

Buffy exchanged a conspiratorial smile with Prue before sharing the surprising twist. "Well, he's the driver that ran her over."

Piper's eyes widened in astonishment, a mixture of disbelief and amusement playing on her face. "You met him as a dog, and he ran you over?" she repeated, struggling to reconcile the seemingly contradictory elements of the story.

Buffy shrugged, her tone lighthearted. "Fate works in mysterious ways, I guess."

May 12, 1999 – Wednesday

Payson's

Piper stood diligently behind the bar, her focus on serving drinks as Buffy, Prue, and Phoebe settled onto the stools. With practiced efficiency, she filled glasses and slid them across the bar to the awaiting customers.

"Here you go," Piper said, presenting two drinks to two customers. "Thank you."

As the atmosphere in the club remained casual, Phoebe offered a suggestion with a mischievous glint in her eye. "You know, you might want to raise the drink prices."

Buffy, ever curious, inquired, "Why?"

Prue seized the opportunity to present the evidence, handing Buffy the bill for the window repair. "The bill, from the window repair guy."

Buffy's eyes flicked over the itemized charges, and she nodded in agreement. "I think she's right, Piper," she said, passing the bill along to her sister.

Piper, engrossed in examining the charges, winced at the unexpected expense. "Oh, ouch," she muttered, realizing the impact of the repair cost on their finances.

"Yeah, we really keep that guy in business, don't we?" Phoebe remarked, an amused smirk playing on her lips.

"Are you expecting someone?" Piper inquired, her curiosity piqued by Prue's searching gaze.

Buffy couldn't help but smile, well aware of who Prue was anticipating—the driver who had become an unexpected part of their lives during their canine escapades.

"A certain journalist with an empty fridge and a soft spot for two of man's best friends," Prue answered, her voice holding a subtle note of anticipation as she scanned the entrance.

Phoebe chimed in with a playful tease. "He hit you, you hit on him, it's only fair."

Prue chuckled, recalling the intriguing circumstances that had led to their peculiar connection. "Hey, how could I resist a guy who put up fliers to find me and Buffy?" she mused, a fond smile gracing her features.

As if on cue, the door swung open, revealing the familiar figure of the journalist who had unwittingly become entangled in the sisters' magical lives. Prue, seizing the moment, stood up and excused herself.

"Excuse me," she said to her sisters, walking over to the driver. "Hi," she greeted with a warm smile as they both walked toward an awaiting table.

"It's good to see you out. It's been a while," Piper remarked, her eyes reflecting genuine warmth as she looked at Phoebe, acknowledging the subtle shift in their circumstances.

"Yeah, I guess we're both out of hiding," Phoebe replied, her tone carrying a hint of relief at the prospect of emerging from the shadows that had enveloped her.

Buffy, ever curious, interjected, "For what?" Wondering what prompted Phoebe's gratitude toward Piper.

"Calling Cole," Phoebe answered, a genuine smile forming on her lips. "I mean, if you hadn't, Piper, I'd probably still be screaming."

Piper, humbled by the acknowledgment, returned the smile. "Yeah, well, nothing like trusting your instincts."

Phoebe's expression turned thoughtful, a spark of determination in her eyes. "I know what you mean. I think I'm gonna act on some of my own," she declared, the resolve in her voice hinting at a newfound sense of agency and purpose.

"Do we even want to ask?" Buffy asked, a hint of apprehension in her voice as she observed Phoebe's contemplative demeanor.

"I think I made a mistake giving up on Cole," Phoebe confessed, her tone carrying a mix of regret and determination. "I now know why he did what he did."

"Phoebe," Piper warned, her concern evident as she recognized the complicated history between Phoebe and Cole.

"He loves me, which means that there's still good in him," Phoebe declared, her conviction unwavering. "I can bring him back. I know I can."

Buffy offered a supportive nod, acknowledging the complexity of Phoebe's emotions. "I believe you," she said, understanding the depth of the connection between Phoebe and Cole.

As Phoebe walked away, Piper shared a concerned glance with Buffy. "Should we be worried?" Buffy inquired, the question hanging in the air as they both grappled with the implications of Phoebe's newfound determination to bring Cole back into their lives.

Piper sighed, her expression reflecting a mixture of concern and contemplation. "I don't know, Buffy. Phoebe's heart is in the right place, but we've been down this road with Cole before. Bringing him back, it's not that simple."

Buffy nodded in understanding, acknowledging the complexity of the situation. "Yeah, I get it. But if anyone can handle it, it's you and Phoebe."

"Let's just hope Phoebe knows what she's getting into," Piper said.