Dean was still hungry. He decided to hit the nearest Gas n Sip for some snacks and booze. Good thing he had his debit card. After getting his entourage of junk and beer he went to pay for his stuff. He picked up a candy bar and started chewing, not realizing his teeth hurt like a bitch.
"Ow!"
The cashier looks at him sympathetically.
"You too? Yeah, I had a root canal done, it sucked." He scratches his red neck. "Eczema is a bitch." He tells Dean as he rang up his basket.
Dean just nods politely. He took another bite.
"Arrh!" Holy shit. Why does his teeth hurt?
Sam ran into the kitchen as he heard the alarm.
"No. No. Not again." This was the third meal he destroyed. He was trying to prepare dinner for his wife and brother. He usually didn't cook, him and Dean usually went out, or Piper and Dean cooked. He wasn't thinking as he opened the oven rack and took out the roast, forgetting to put on oven mitts. When he dropped the pan, he accidentally knocked over the boiling potatoes. "NO!"
"What do you mean the card's declined. Try it again." Dean and Jenna shared a bank account. They were married and had a joint account. Both had more than enough for their everyday expenses.
The cashier swiped it again. He shook his head.
"Sorry buddy." He took back the items and grabbed the candy bar out of Dean's hand. "You owe me $1.25."
Dean grumbled as he payed the guy. Luckily he had small change as he walked out.
"Hey watch it!" He called to the passing kid. "You almost hit me! Stupid kid." The teenager didn't slow down. Dean already was already in a bad mood. First Sam, then Jenna, than his friends. What else can go wrong. "Seriously?!" He grabbed the ticket off his car. "Shit." So much for buying his wife flowers. San Francisco charged a lot for parking tickets. Great.
Piper walked in with a small bag. She looked at her husband with sympathy. Poor Sam was bandaging up his hand.
"You need first aid?"
"I'm fine." He sees the bag and immediately turns red.
"I just thought to give you a break. I hope you like burgers, that is all I could afford."
Once Sam was bandaged up, Piper was cleaning up when Dean stormed in.
"This card is junk!" He slams the card on the counter. "Declined!"
Piper looked up.
"Yeah. I forgot to tell you. Norman Bank is having difficulties right now, all transactions are down. Good thing I had some money. I bought burgers."
Dean grumbled as he took off his jacket. Seeing the mess, he went to help his sister in law. Sam was embarrassed.
"I was watching the news when I heard the alarms. Dinner is, ahem." He couldn't finish. He was too ashamed. Poor Piper was stressed out as she is.
"Don't worry about it. These burgers should fill us up." Piper always knew Sam was clumsy. But lately, it has gotten worse. Paige told them about the guardian angels. Since magic was down, everyone was on their own. "Prue's flight is coming in tomorrow. I plan to cook her favourite dinner."
Sam knew she was just saying that. Poor Sam either burnt the food, undercooked, or in this case, spilled it all over the floor. Sam knew he wasn't the best cook, but lately it was like he was jinxed. Good thing he didn't burn himself too badly.
"Sorry. Next time I'll do better."
Both Piper and Dean shook their heads.
"I can cook. Luckily there is breakfast cereals and milk."
"I can cook a mean omelette. Lunch is my specialty."
Sam looked down. He hoped for a distraction. He sneezed.
"Achoo!"
"Are you getting sick?" Piper asked with concern.
"Don't get me sick." Dean grumbled.
Garth cooed at Gertie.
"Who's the hungry baby? Yes you are. Here you go."
Garth closed his eyes as Gertie threw her plate of crushed peas at him.
"Yeah, pea paste isn't my favourite either." He cleans himself up. "You are too young for meat though. How about you finish this and I can give you a bath."
Bess was upstairs putting her family's laundry away when her phone rang.
"Hello?"
Garth was bathing Gertie in the kitchen sink when Bess came rushing in.
"Babe? Where are the car keys?" Bess looked frantic.
"What's going on? Bess?" Garth was worried seeing her expression. She looked so worried.
"Keys. Keys. Aha! I'll be back."
"Bess! Where are you going?" Garth was really worried now, Bess looked like she was going to cry.
"Remember Brad?"
"Your cousin? Did something happen?" He took Gertie and was now drying her.
"He was taken to a hospital somewhere in Minnesota. I have to pick him up."
Garth immediately stops her.
"Bess! That is a long drive! There is a full moon tonight! It is too risky!" A full moon appears, Beth will be fully exposed as a werewolf. Since she is a purebred, she will be affected by the full moon. She will most likely be hunted and killed. Hunters were everywhere.
"Brad. He is hurt."
'What a time for magic to disappear.' Garth thinks. He would have asked Dean's sister in law Paige to pick him up.
"If Brad is in a hospital, he will be okay for one night. If he is unconscious, the moon won't affect him. I'll make arrangements for him to catch a bus. We can pick him up tomorrow." He hands Gertie to his wife. "I can't watch Gertie myself. I never had experience with a baby werewolf before."
Bess smiles a small smile.
"Yeah. Your right. The bus ride won't take Brad very long. Dammit. Okay. I have to give the hospital Brad's insurance. His injuries are serious, but he will be okay. I have to set up the spare bedroom for him. Garth, is it okay?"
"I won't abandon family. Brad, he is a good man. C'mon, let's close the curtains. The full moon, I don't want Gertie to be exposed."
Prue was sitting in her seat. Business class, a step up from coach, but at least she was comfortable. She looked out the window. A full moon. Good thing she wasn't a werewolf. She closed the blind. She leaned her chair back and tried to sleep, she had a long flight to San Francisco. Too bad she couldn't pop home. Wait a minute. Pop? She wasn't a warlock.
Prue was barking orders at her army. Heaven, Hell. Both were working together to defeat the Old Ones. The ones God sent to destroy the world. Her Generals, the Four Princes were leading her armies to fight. She looked up at the sky. She saw Him. The Destroyer. He was watching with amusement. Her heart hardened seeing His amused smile. Asshole. Good thing He didn't know about her secret weapon. Her child. Her son, the one that can kill Him. But was the price heavy? What about afterwards? Her child was strong, but he is nothing.
Prue woke up when she felt her seatmate knocking her with his elbow. Her son? She shuddered at the boy's face. It was blank. Not physically, but inside. His soul, it was just a void.
Dean got off the phone the next day. He tried calling Jenna, but she wasn't answering. Despite his countless messages, she never called or wrote back. He called again. He couldn't care less it was in the middle of the night in Paris, he needed to hear her voice. He hung up in frustration. Sam, he was a klutz. Good thing he didn't cook, both him and Piper were afraid he'll burn the house down. Especially now. Sam tripped walking down the stairs.
"Did you forget to walk?"
"Give me a break. The rug slipped out from underneath me."
Dean just rolled his eyes. Hearing his phone buzzing, he quickly answers it.
"Jen?"
"Ah. No. It's Garth."
Dean sighs in disappointment. He liked Garth, but he really wanted to hear his wife's voice.
"How's it going Garth?"
"Dean, I need your help."
Kellman Enterprises downtown San Francisco
Mark was sweating sitting in his chair. He thought he had a sure thing last night. He thought he had enough money to pay back his debts. He looked up at Mr. Kellman.
Kellman was pacing back and forth. He knew his client couldn't pay him back. No one ever could. He looked down at Mark who was trembling. He had to wrap this up, he had a flight to Missouri later this week. He owned and ran several businesses, including contracts. His star employee was getting sloppy, he lost a few deals already. Since magic was down, he had to use his own private jet. No matter, he ran the show now.
"Mr Kellman, I just need some more time. I'll pay you back. I swear."
"Do you know why I'm as successful as I am. Because, I'm no fool. I gave you enough time. Your debt is due."
A bead of sweat ran down Mark's face.
"You know I'm good for it. I'll do anything. I swear."
"Yes you will." He walks over to his desk and presses a button. "Send them in."
"Yes sir." His secretary tells him.
Mark turns around and sees two burly looking men walk in. He pees his pants.
Kellman nods at the two men.
"You don't have a choice. You can't pay back your debt. I put out my neck for you, and you couldn't pay me back in time. I don't have a choice."
"Wha...what's going on?" Mark says in a terrified voice.
"You'll see. Take him away."
Mark didn't have time to react before he was knocked out by one of the men.
"You know what to do."
"Yes sir."
Tom Peters waits outside Kellman's office. He watches grimly as a client was being carried out. The demonic secretary nods at the two men. She then looked up.
"Mr Kellman will see you now."
Tom gets up and walks inside his boss' office. Mr Kellman waves him in.
"Tom. What can I do for you."
Tom swallows. What was worse. Working for a god or a demon.
"I hadn't been able to fulfill my duty sir."
Kellman looks up sharply.
"Just because there is no magic, doesn't mean you are free. Four of your classmates graduated. You are the last one."
"My powers burnt out before I can kill the innocent." He jumped when Kellman slammed his fist on his desk, cracking it.
"Idiot! You don't NEED magic for murder! The hell is wrong with you?!"
Tom felt terrified. The hell was he thinking?
"We are on a deadline. You know damn well what's coming. The Queen, she won't be happy with what we are doing. You have a week."
"Yes sir."
"Get out of my sight."
Tom walked out and walked to the hallway and waited for the elevator. While waiting he saw the picture of Ronald Kellman shaking hands with the legendary football star Brick Holmes. Tom knew what got Kellman where he was, he made a deal.
Tom goes in the elevator. He remembered meeting Kellman.
Tom was drinking in a bar. He ignored what was happening on the television, the San Francisco 49ers were scoring a touchdown. The bar was loud with everyone screaming. He gestured to the bartender for another drink. That should have been him. Getting Gatorade splashed on him from behind, getting interviewed by television networks, hell, being a spokesperson for Gillette hawking razors. He knew why he was here instead of the stadium. His knee.
He downed the drink the waitress gave him. Three weeks. Three lousy weeks. He sighed and stared at the table.
"Why aren't you watching the game?"
"Hate football."
"I doubt that. Tom Peters. All American Star, Star Quarterback, the guy who brought his team all the way to the National Championship, and won. I am a huge fan."
Tom snorted.
"Ancient history."
"You ever miss it?"
"No." He lied.
The guy chuckled.
"Yeah right. Fame. Money. Women. Invisibility. You had it all."
Tom finally looked up. There was a middle aged man sitting next to him. The guy smiled at Tom. He raised his arm.
"Two beers! And not the cheap stuff! Kellman." He held out his hand.
"Tom."
"Pleased to meet you. Listen. I'll cut to the chase. I am recruiting. Former athletes for my company."
"A has been star? Ha!" Tom thanks the bartender and drinks his beer.
"It was bullshit what happened to you. But you have a spark. Want to be a superstar again?"
That got Tom's attention.
"What are you talking about?"
Kellman pulls out a business card. Tom takes it.
Kellman Enterprises, Ronald Kellman CEO.
Kellman Enterprises? The Kellman name was synonymous with athletes and pro sports. They owned many pro teams in many sports all over the country. They recruited many former athletes from all walks of life to their company. Football, baseball, boxers, wrestlers, horseback jockeys, it didn't matter. There were many former athletes who had lucrative positions in the company. But there were a select few that worked under Kellman himself. Rumor was the ones that worked in his "secret" school became superstars in the company. Details were very secretive, but if you were chosen, you had to be chosen by Kellman himself. Tom couldn't help but be flattered. It was too good to be true.
"You know my knee is fucked."
"You can have a broken neck and I'll still give you my card. Call me sometime."
If Tom knew what he was getting into, he would have ripped up the card.
Tom was watching a documentary about Brick Holmes. Shame about his car accident. It was because of Brick that Tom became a football player. Ever since high school he was enamoured with Brick. He was watching television with his mom when the announcer introduced the new quarterback Brick Holmes. Tom didn't much of it. At first. But when Brick kept scoring touchdown after touchdown that Tom started to take notice. Once the game ended Tom became a fan. He signed up for junior high football tryouts the next day. Years later became a college superstar. He had it all. Dating Head Cheerleader Prue Halliwell, almost every NFL team fighting to recruit him, fame, fans, Tom was on Cloud 9. In the end chose to be close to home. He didn't want to be too far away from his mom. Three weeks later was forced into retirement when he injured his knee in practice. The 49ers just shrugged their shoulders and told him "Too bad kid." Tom hung up his gear and once he left the hospital, disappeared from society. Even from his mom.
Tom never came home again. He knew his mom missed him, but Tom was too ashamed to see her. He promised her the world, but failed. He looked down at the card. What can Kellman want with him? He debated with himself. Finally he couldn't take the curiosity anymore. He picked up his phone.
Six years later realized why Kellman wanted with him. He was recruiting humans to be demonic agents. Tom shuddered at his training. What he experienced down there, it was awful. According to the other "superstars" it was Hell Lite. Tom knew he should have took church seriously. At least after he bites it, he never will experience Hell. He was already on his way to becoming a demon. Once he becomes one, he doesn't have to take the long road to become one.
He thought about Brick. He was Kellman's number one spokesperson for the company. Tom wondered if Kellman and Tom knew each other on a personal level. They were incredibly close. Kellman was a demon, Tom knew that. But Kellman didn't start his "Academy." Whoever turned Kellman, turned these students as well. But Brick wasn't a demon. Wasn't he? Tom wondered.
One week. Once week to kill an innocent. Then after that was done, he was free.
Piper and Prue were sitting in the kitchen eating lunch when Sam and Dean walked in.
"Ladies, I'm afraid we can't stay." Dean announced.
"You have a case?" Piper knew it. Even without magic, their jobs never ended.
"Our friend called. He needs our help." Sam hated being away from his wife. But Piper needed to stay to be close to her sisters. Especially when two of them were off world.
"Yep. We don't know how much time we are going to be away, so we are packing the trunk."
"In other words you need money."
Dean looked embarrassed.
"Sorry."
"No judgments. I can give you a loan. Unfortunately, I can only loan you so much, our accounts are frozen too thanks to that data breach." Prue takes out forty bucks. "I wish I can give you more but we need money too."
"We pay you back." Sam thanks them and pockets the money, Dean was his brother, but he tended to be reckless with his money. He ignored Dean's glare.
"We have a first aid kit downstairs. Plus some emergency flares, blankets, and water. Plus Dad's old toolkit."
"Thanks Piper." Sam kisses her.
Prue smiles, Dean clears his throat.
"Ahem. We hate to ask..."
"We have bread and sandwich meats, but I recommend peanut butter and jam for long term trips. There is ice packs in the freezer." Prue waves toward the fridge. Dean eagerly starts digging around.
Sam just shook his head.
"Don't be so greedy Dean."
Dean looked up and gave Sam a dirty look.
Once the guys left, Piper and Prue wondered about their next step.
"What do we do now?" Their sisters were gone, neither knew how long they'll be back. Piper remembered being gone for weeks, but everyone else said it has been only a few minutes. God knows how much time will pass. Plus with magic being down, it can be days or even months. No one knew when magic will be back.
"With Paige and Phoebe gone, there is nothing to do but wait." Prue was considering checking the Book when the doorbell rang. "I'll get it."
"Sam has keys. But lately he has forgotten things." Piper says out loud to no one in particular.
"Coming! Hold your horses." She grumbled. When she opened it she was surprised to see her father Victor standing in the porch.
"Dad!" Prue hugs him.
"Hi Pumpkin." He hugs Prue back. "Where are your sisters?"
Piper hearing her Father's voice looks surprised seeing the blonde woman standing behind Victor.
"Hi Dad...Who is this?" Piper wondered. When she saw the wedding bands, both Prue and her went pale.
Victor was glowing. He handed his gift basket to Prue. Once his hands were free, he wrapped his arm around the woman's waist.
"This is Doris. My new bride, and your new stepmother."
Detective Henry Mitchell was pouring over the crime scene photos. Four murders. All unsolved. These cases were recent. Only a few days apart. Usually murder cases were a dime a dozen, but the brutality of the murders that shook Detective Henry's soul.
"Still obsessed with this case?" His partner asked pouring a cup of coffee.
"I lived in LA for most of my life, and worked with young juvenile offenders. When I moved up here, I didn't expect a shit show."
"Yeah, welcome to the Great Bay. We have our shares of weird cases." Detective Diana Ballard tells him. "I been on this force for fifteen years and never get used to seeing cases like this." She picks up the picture of the dead woman. "She was a good person. Got the Metal of Honour from the Mayor for saving suicidal people away from the bridge, then found washed up the next day dead."
Henry looks up.
"Yeah, it was believed to be a suicide."
"But it wasn't. Coroner says she was already dead when she took that swan dive. Her lungs and insides were ash. No way the water did that."
"Plus the other three. Nathaniel Swan 42, he was found with a literal hole in his chest, a clean cut. April Bensen 19, her burnt skeleton was found in her bedroom by her college roommate. Her roommate swore she was alive when they went to bed the night before. She was just a kid." Many of Henry's former parolees were around April's age. Plus Nathaniel, he was a father of two and a store clerk.
"Not to mention Shirley Paul, age 87. She was found ripped apart in the community garden where she volunteered. Who would do this?" She seen weird cases before, especially around here, but lately it has gotten worse.
"I don't know. These people were butchered. What do they have in common?" Henry was scratching his head.
"Nothing. All victims came from different walks of life, different ages, different income brackets, none knew each other."
"The latest victim, Vivian Murphy 34." He didn't believe in random chances. There had to be a pattern. There had to be. He picked up the photos again. All had nothing in common, or did they. He went and looked at their past actions. The first victim, Nathaniel, he organized a food drive for the poor from his job as a grocery clerk. April, she volunteered at the animal shelters around the city. Shirley, she was a former nun who planted vegetables in the rough section of town for the poorer residents and to keep the local youth out of trouble. Then Vivian. She saved seven people from killing themselves. "All helped the community in some way."
"Everyone of them sounded like saints." Diana tells him.
A lightbulb appears in Henry's head. He took out his phone.
"Check this out."
"It's the headline for The Bay Mirror. So?"
"I read the online newspaper religiously when I moved here. Every person was in the front page at least once. All four died in order."
Diana's eyes went big.
"Look at yesterday's paper."
"Derek Chang 29. Was featured for planting endangered trees along the highway. We have to bring him here for questioning." Henry knew it. His father, before he died and Henry went into the system at age six, always told him there was no such things as random or coincidences. He was killed on duty, and without any relatives, he grew up in various foster homes. He managed to beat the system and avoided joining the life of crime, instead became a cop, specializing in working with troubled parolees. But when he moved to San Francisco, he transferred over to the major crime unit. His father's murder was never solved, and he wanted to solve cold cases and bring justice. Unfortunately, things around here were weirder than Los Angeles. Like those angels. What was that about?
"What will I tell Mr Chang?"
"To put him in protective custody."
Tom was waiting with a gun. He wished he still had his powers, but magic was extinct for now. He was waiting for Mr Chang. A random robbery gone wrong. Luckily this was a rough neighbourhood. He failed the first time, he won't fail again. He waited till the guy threw out his garbage. When he was about to shoot, he saw red and blue lights. Dammit! Going to jail will make him a sitting duck. He had no choice but to stay behind the dumpsters. Once the cops left, he had no choice but to leave. No matter he had his next target. Claudia Gibson, mayor's spokesperson, and the person responsible for raising funds for a new ICU wing for newborn and sick infants at San Francisco General Hospital. Her picture was going to be in tomorrow's paper.
Prue and Piper were sitting on the couch watching TV with the volume turned way up. They were trying to drown out Victor and Doris upstairs.
"How long have they been up there?" Piper was trying very hard to pay attention to the television.
"I have to burn my blankets and sheets. About an hour and ten? Give or take." Prue was concentrating very hard to drown out everything.
Doris seemed nice, it when her and Victor started yammering on about how they met, they started groping one another. Soon they were all over one another. It was Prue that suggested they go upstairs. Unfortunately, they chosen Prue's old bedroom instead of the guest room. Both sisters were happy for their dad, he's been lonely these last few years. But he was acting like a horny teenager. The noises coming from upstairs, they wanted to stab out their eardrums.
"I thought you and Sam were bad. But Dad and his new bride? Ugh."
"Sam and I don't act like that! Do we? Wait don't answer that." Piper says seeing Prue's knowing smirk.
Prue was about to tease her sister when a news story came on.
"The San Francisco Police just released the names of the four mysterious deaths these last few days."
Both sisters were watching with interest. A typical murder was left to the police, but anything unusual, that was their department. Four deaths in a few days? Before Phoebe left, she told Prue and Piper she had premonitions of four people dying. Before Phoebe can elaborate, the whole thing with the Holy Grail and magic disappearing distracted all of them. Four people were dead. They knew it wasn't their fault, but four deaths in a short amount of time, Phoebe only got premonitions to save innocents that needed to be saved.
Prue lowered the television.
"Four deaths. Look like we have our own case."
"The Book?"
"Lets go. Hopefully we don't have to hear them form the attic."
Five minutes later both Prue and Piper were staring at the Book in disbelief.
"Are you kidding me. The Book too?" Piper wanted to bang her head.
"All magic is down, including this. Great. Hopefully our potions are still useful." Now what? They were about to go downstairs, but something stopped Prue. She took the blank Book and locked it inside the family trunk. Can't be too careful.
She went and locked the attic behind her. She went downstairs to join her sister. Hearing the doorbell, she threw up her hands.
"Now what." She went downstairs to answer the door, to see Piper already standing in the hallway standing beside an old man. "Hello? Can we help you?" The first thing Prue thought was evil. She and her sisters fought demons on a regular basis. She knew already, he was a dark sorcerer.
"Prue Halliwell. I met your sister Piper. My name is Cronyn. We need to talk."
All three were standing in the backyard, neither Prue or Piper wanted to wake Victor or Doris, who thankfully stopped.
"You know why I'm here."
"You have three minutes before we vanquish your ass." Prue tells him in a cold voice.
Cronyn smirks.
"You can't. All magic is down. We are in a middle of a crisis." He looks around. "You have beautiful flowers. Shame they are going to die."
"Get to the point." Piper had no more patience. She should be in Lawrence with Sam enjoying being a married woman. Not being stuck in San Francisco fighting demons and listening to her Dad and new step - no. Doris, enjoying each other's company.
"These flowers, all plants on Earth? They are kept alive and bloomed by fairies, gnomes and nymphs. Without them, they will wither and die. There is fear and panic everywhere. My message should have been delivered a while back ago. My apprentice, he was supposed to tell you."
"You mean, that bald guy? We sent him back downstairs. Anna took his vessel away to a secret place." Piper was glad the guy was okay. They sent him to Sacred Meadows.
"He was the message. Lower tiered demons like himself, they were the first to be affected. Then good magic like fairie magic, started to disappear. Then when the planets aligned, everyone lost their magic. Heaven, Hell. Earth and the Underworld. Everyone is helpless."
"And?" Prue didn't trust him. Not one bit.
"You know Archangel Michael? Tell him to bring his nephew here. He is the only one powerful enough to bring magic back, at least temporarily. His presence can keep things running. At least till things return to normal."
Jack? No one knows what happened to him. Michael never mentioned him once. Castiel and Hannah was worried sick about him.
"Michael is dead." The sisters especially Paige was stricken. He was their friend. Especially Paige. They were really good friends.
"But his alternative self is around. He is living on Earth somewhere. Call him. He has his Sword and his Father's Treasure. The crisis didn't take all his powers away. Here." He hands them a business card.
"Cronyn huh. Did you just print this at the library?" It was literally a piece of paper with Cronyn's name and phone number printed on it, with a generic border around the edges.
Cronyn looked insulted.
"You think that's bad? I have a taxi waiting outside." He waves towards the front entrance. "Call me."
Both Prue and Piper had to hide their smiles. A sorcerer taking a cab?
Tom was hesitant about this latest kill. But he knew his boss was getting impatient. He had to shoot now. He had Claudia in his sight. But before he can take that shot, he was hit with a tranquilizer dart. He was unconscious before he hit the ground.
Andy Trudeau picks up his body before anyone could see him. He knew Tom, they were rivals in high school. Both of them wanted Prue. But it wasn't till college that Prue and Tom started dating. He wasn't sure why he was following Tom, but he was glad he did. He needed to hide Tom somewhere, to keep him out of trouble. Plus he had to talk to Prue. It was time.
Prue and Piper were standing in the yard when Doris came down.
"There you are! I was looking all over for you!"
"You were?" Piper asked in a surprised voice. "I thought you were sleeping?"
"A quick nap. Your father. Woo! Boy he can wear a woman out."
Prue and Piper wanted to spend the rest of their lives never hearing that. Doris giggled oblivious.
"Anyways. I plan on cooking you a elaborate meal. I been taking lessons, oh Piper! I know you are a professional chef, maybe you can give me some pointers?" Doris smiled.
"She'll love to." Prue pushed Piper ahead, ignoring Piper's glare when she gave Prue a sharp glance.
"Ah, Prue. You know about that thing we have to do?" Piper says with clenched teeth smiling.
"You can handle waiting for a few hours. I need to practice anyways. Go. Have fun." Prue smiles back tightly at her sister. Doris claps back with glee.
"Oh how exciting! Your father. I want to prove how much I learned at the cruise ship. I took lessons. My late husband, rest his soul, was the cook of the household. He joked that I can burn water. I did. Kind of. He was so mad that I almost burnt the kitchen down. From that day on, he always cooked. But since he died, I been eating nothing but sandwiches and TV dinners. Piper, having a daughter like you would make our new family complete." She threw her arm around Piper. "I need to pick up some groceries. Come. I'm not familiar with the city, you can show me around." She babbles to Piper as she leads her back inside.
Piper turned her head around and she points to Prue with a obscene gesture. Prue just waves 'good luck.' Piper gives her a dirty look back. Once the front door closed, Prue went back inside. Victor was standing at the foot of the stairs.
"Isn't she something?" Victor says in a dreamy voice.
"She certainly is." Prue had no opinion. But she was glad to see her father smiling.
"I never met anyone like her before. Not since your mother. Rest her soul."
Prue was surprised.
"You and mom were in love?" She was just a small child, but remembered how ugly the divorce was. Lots of fighting. Victor looked hurt.
"Your mother and I were sweethearts. We loved each other so much back in the day. Yeah, we weren't meant to be, but we ended up having three beautiful daughters. It was a shame we split up, but then again, Paige wouldn't exist. I care about her as well. She is my stepdaughter." He hugs Prue. "Its been years. Patty, may she rest in peace, was a amazing woman and mother. When we divorced, it broke me. I spent years being alone. I didn't want to date, I was too heartbroken."
"Oh Dad." Prue squeezes her dad closer. For years she blamed Victor for her parents divorce. It was only when she got older than her and her sisters found out the truth. It was Patty that cheated, but it was their grandmother Penny that kept Victor away. In her misguided beliefs, she unfairly blamed Victor for breaking up his marriage for always being away. He was a travelling salesman and had no choice but to be away to support his growing family. It was then that Patty and her whitelighter Sam Wilder got closer. They had a passionate affair and Victor found out. Victor wanted a divorce, even though his soon to be ex wife was pregnant with Phoebe. He wanted custody, but Penny went out of her way to stop it. Especially when he wanted his daughters magic bounded. He had no choice but to walk away, with Penny threatening legal action if he came around. Then when Patty got pregnant with Paige, her and her boyfriend Sam had no choice but to give Paige up for adoption in secret, fearing the Whitelighter Elders punishment.
It took years for Prue to forgive Victor. But now she was glad he was around. Especially now. For the first time in his life, he was smiling hard. He clearly was happy with his new bride. Hopefully her father found his true happiness.
"I'm happy for you Dad." Victor squeezes her back.
"Thanks for that." He looks around. "Where is your sisters? Plus my son in law? I want them to meet Doris. She is cooking a family dinner. Her first for the Bennett family."
"Ah." Shit. What can she say? Her sisters were in another dimension finding a Holy Artifact god knows where, and Sam and Dean were on a hunt.
"If they are busy that's okay. They can meet Doris another time. Especially after the wedding."
Now Prue was really surprised.
"Wedding? What wedding?"
"Doris and I eloped. It was a quickie wedding I admit. However we did it for legal reasons. We are having a real wedding. Hopefully at the Manor. That is why I am here."
"I don't really live here anymore. I live in a apartment downtown, and Piper lives in Lawrence. You have to ask Paige and Phoebe."
"Well, I have to ask. Will all four of you stand at the altar with us?" Victor asked in a nervous tone.
"Of course. I'm sure everyone will say yes." Hearing her phone ringing she excused herself. "I'll be right back. Hello?"
Andy hearing Prue's voice was scared. Prue. She was okay. The rumours of her being evil were false. Thank god. He was confident calling her, trying to tell her about her college ex, but now hearing her in person for the first time, he lost his voice.
"Helloooo?"
Andy swallowed. He knew how impatient Prue was. It was now or never.
"Ahem. Prue Halliwell? I'm calling on behalf of Tom Peters."
The silence on the other end told Andy everything. Tom was considered a missing persons for years.
"Shouldn't you be calling Fran Peters? She's been searching for her son for a long time now."
"Believe me I would. But this matter is magical. Evil magic."
Prue's blood went cold. She recognized that voice. But that was impossible. Andy was killed by a demon.
"How..."
"I'll explain when you get here. I'm texting you the address. Hurry. I don't know how long before he wakes up." He hung up before Prue can ask more questions. He was terrified. Not of the demon tied up in this warehouse, but of Prue. He was alive all this time, and never told anyone.
Prue was in shock. Andy. Her first love. He was alive. But how? Yeah her and her sisters, plus Sam and Dean died several times. But normal people rarely came back from the dead. Usually they came back, but were immediately killed afterwards after their task was done. Why was Andy alive? He was dead. Prue saw his murder. Plus talked to him in her dream. What he said about Tom Peters? What was exactly going on? Telling a surprised Victor she couldn't stay for dinner, she took her car keys and rushed out.
Piper was getting a migraine listening to Doris. Did this woman ever shut up? She immediately slaps herself in her mind. Doris was probably nervous. Everyone told Piper she babbles whenever she was scared, maybe Doris had that same quirk.
"Your father. He is the kindest man I ever met. Other than him being away for work all the time, he is exactly the kind of man I been searching for. It doesn't bother me that his daughters are witches."
Piper nearly crashed her SUV.
"Oh! Sorry. I should have told you when we met. Forgive me. Your father told me." Doris says with a nervous laugh. Piper clenched the wheel even tighter. "Don't worry, I can keep a secret. Promise."
Cronyn was waiting for his signal. He was planning on stealing the Book. He was just waiting for his fellow demon to open the front door. She was going to distract the sisters so he can sneak in. Then once magic came back, he was going to use Its magic. The Book was evil thanks to Prue Halliwell. Then he was going to track down that nephilim Jack Kline. With his magic, he can turn him evil. Then he can use Jack to kill the Charmed Ones. He had plans for his new position as the King of Hell. There was the matter of God, but he'll get to that when the time comes. Doris texted him back.
Two are gone. They are MIA. Sam and Dean Winchester are halfway across the country. Prue went out for the evening. I can handle Piper. The drugs in the food and drinks will make both her and her father pass out.
He texted back.
Good. Merrill is waiting. Once the Book is in our hands, we can hide It. I'm sure Jack Kline will return soon.
Prue was sitting in her car. Andy was possibly alive. But how. She was excited to see him, but also afraid. What was she supposed to say? So many questions. Plus the news about Tom. What was that about? Swallowing her fear, she got out of her car.
Andy was playing with his phone when he heard footsteps. He was watching Prue for a long time now. Ever since he came back. But he also knew he was on borrowed time. The person who brought him back, he warned him this was his only shot. Once he was done his mission, that was it. He was going back. What his mission was, he didn't know. But he had his orders. Protect Prue. He watched as Prue came into view. He swallowed hard as he stood up.
Prue walked in the warehouse, and seeing Andy, she stopped dead in her tracks. Andy. He was older, but was definitely Andy. But she wasn't stupid enough to touch him. Not until she finished her tests.
Piper's migraine was getting worse. It was bad enough hearing Doris and her never ending blabbermouth, but having her and Victor smacking their lips on one another and talking baby talk, Piper should have ordered from Quake instead. She silently cursed her sisters for being away. Especially Prue. She took off before the cooking started. She had a case.
"No, Victor! Chop those shallots like this." She takes Victor's hands and slowly demonstrates how exactly things should be with her hands on top of Victor's. Victor groaned in pleasure. Piper wanted to stab out her eardrums. Instead she banged the pot she was holding loudly against the stove. Thankfully, both stopped what they were doing.
"Is there something wrong honey?" Victor asked while smiling that same dreamy look. Piper wondered if her and Sam looked like that. No. Her sisters never complained.
"I, just remembered. I have to be somewhere." Piper took off her apron.
"You leaving? Oh too bad. I was hoping you will stay for dinner." Doris said in a hurt voice. "I went out of my way to buy all this food."
"I'm sure Piper can stay. Whatever is going on. It can wait." Victor says in a stern voice. He was giving Piper that LOOK.
Oh no. Victor is using his "Dad" voice. Piper was really young, but she remembered it. That voice meant he meant business. Piper was a grown adult, but that voice scared her more than Grams. She was about to give another excuse, but seeing Victor's expression made her stop in her tracks.
"Heh heh. Um Dad. Can I talk to you in private?" Piper pleaded in her little girl voice.
Victor was about to say something, but Doris waved them away.
"Go ahead. I just have to keep an eye on things. Take your time. But! Hurry back. I have wine being chilled including chocolate mousse for dessert." She winks at Victor.
Victor immediately melted. Piper wanted nothing more than to run. She prayed hard demons attacked, so she didn't have to sit through this.
"Sure. Baby Doll." They kiss. Piper was tempted to run to the sink. There was bleach under it. Her eyes needed to be splashed.
Once Piper and Victor were in the living room, they started talking. Not realizing Doris was listening.
"What is it honey? What can be so important that you have to leave."
"Dad. I'm sure Prue told you."
"About everyone being busy, plus magic being down. Yeah I know."
"Well, there is a case. Four people are dead."
"That's too bad. But I'm sure the police are on it." Victor slaps his hands on his hips in a casual gesture.
"Phoebe had a premonition. Four times."
"And you couldn't save them? Or something? Piper. What is exactly going on? Where is Phoebe and Paige anyways?"
Piper was about to answer him when the fire alarms went off. Victor looked worried.
"Doris. Excuse me." He shoves Piper out of the way. He rushes to the kitchen to see Doris crying.
Piper came rushing in to a cloud of smoke.
Cough. "What is going on! Is everyone alright?" The smell was awful.
Doris was crying hard.
"I'm so sorry! I just wanted to hurry dinner. So I turned up the heat. The food. I'm so sorry!" She started crying harder.
Victor wrapped his arms around his wife.
"Don't worry about it baby. Don't cry. So what if dinner was ruined. No marriage starts up perfect. Look. We'll clean up, then I can send out for a pizza. Okay?"
Sniff. "Thanks honey."
Piper's migraine was coming back. Those were her expensive cooking set. Grams bought her those when she graduated from college. She was planning on taking those back to Lawrence.
Once Andy was proven to be the real deal, Prue threw her arms around him. Then slapped him. Andy looked surprised.
"What was that for?" He asked holding his cheek.
"All this time you were alive. You should have called! I saw you die. Rodriguez killed you."
"He was a rouge crossroads demon. He was working for The Source."
"Not a very strong one. I used his own powers against him. His boss, The Source is dead. I don't know about Tempest...Wait a minute. The Source? No one knows about him. Not even hunters know about him."
"I'll explain later. Prue. You are in danger. That's why I'm here."
"Me? What about The World. Everything is going to end. What all of us are doing? We are trying to save it."
"I know. But I have to make sure you stay alive."
"News flash. I died a few times already. I may die again. It comes with the job."
Andy shook his head. He was about to say something else, but was interrupted by Tom's moans. He nods towards Tom.
"He is about to become a demon. Take a look at his arms."
"A demon? What are you talki..." Her sentence was interrupted by Andy pulling up his left sleeve.
"See this? These marks are known as chevron marks. He has five. Gain six and he becomes a demon."
"Faustian Deal." She remembered reading those books at Magic School when she was a substitute teacher for one week. Humans who voluntary make deals usually make those with crossroads. But a select few can become demons, bypassing Hell. Unlike regular demons, those demons are demon hybrids. Hybrids with a soul. Prue couldn't help but feel angry. A part of her felt cheated. She slammed her hands on Tom's wrists. "The hell were you thinking?!"
When Tom's eyes cleared he was staring at his old girlfriend Prue. But when she saw who she was with, he had to blink.
"Andy? Did you make a deal too?"
"Why did you let him go?" Andy asked. He watched as Tom walked out ten minutes later.
"I have this feeling. He won't talk. He can lead me to his master. Andy. I have to get back. I have a case."
"I can help." Andy insisted.
"Look. I'm assuming a Soul Trader brought you back. Usually they bring back souls from Hell. You went to Heaven I hope."
Andy nodded. Prue sighed in relief.
"There will be countless questions if anyone sees you. Stay hidden. You can tell me everything after. I'm sure Piper is bored stiff."
Piper lost her appetite. She loved pizza especially from Home Italy Pizzeria, but hearing about her dad's low fat, high fibre diet and monthly colonic made Piper turn away in disgust. She needed to lose a few pounds anyways. Hearing the door slam, she quickly gets up.
"Prue! Come sit." She begged. She was glad her dad was happy, but she needed to escape. Thankfully her sister freed her.
On the drive home after dropping Andy off, she got a phone call from Cronyn.
"Hello?"
"I have a proposition for you. Meet me at Manny's Pizzeria. A summit between good and evil."
"Cut the bullshit." Prue didn't trust him. She hated demons, but she wondered about Tom.
"Just bring your sisters. No knifes, no weapons. We have to work together to bring magic back." He hung up.
Prue was no fool. Good thing she took chemistry in college.
"Hi Dad. Hi Doris." Prue greeted when she walked in.
Victor smiled at his oldest.
"Prue! Have a slice. Sit! We want to talk about the wedding."
Prue smiled regrettably.
"I love to, but I have a date."
"You what?" Damn you Prue. Piper thought.
"Oh? That's too bad. We are hoping to discuss bridesmaids dresses." Doris said disappointed. Victor holds her hand.
"Can you reschedule it?" Victor asked.
"Yeah Prue." Piper gave her a dirty look.
"I can't. I have a date with destiny. Piper too."
"Me?" Piper looked surprised.
Victor looked pleased.
"Sam is in town? Oh good. He can meet Doris."
Doris looked nervous.
"Oh! It is getting late. Victor honey. I really need to lie down."
"It's only eight o'clock."
"Yeah, but I am still worn out from our trip. Girls. Is it alright if we stay the night? I don't want your father driving at night."
"Oh baby girl. You look out for me so much." They rub noses. Both women wanted to gag.
"It's not our home anymore. I'm sure Phoebe and Paige won't mind." Piper was DONE with those two.
"Well, there is a spare bedroom. Let's go." They walk upstairs.
Both women wave goodnight. Once they were safely out of earshot, Piper demanded Prue's whereabouts.
"Alright. What is exactly going on?" Piper demanded.
"Long story. Piper. Do we have saltpetre and cayenne pepper?"
"Yeah why."
"We have a case."
Two hours later they had their homemade arsenal of weapons. Both were wearing mythril chain mail, disguised as clubbing outfits, and steel toed boots. They weren't stupid, they knew they were walking in a trap. Piper was shocked when Prue mentioned Andy.
"Andy? How?"
"I don't know. First things first. Take care of these people." She bent her fingers. "Then start interrogating. Cronyn may know where Michael is at."
"He did say Jack is the key. He is more powerful than anyone we know."
"Lets hope we win. Don't forget to lock the front door."
Doris waited till the front door closed. Victor was knocked out, the wine she gave him will keep him unconscious for hours. Normally, she'll kill him, but she can't draw any attention to herself. Not until she gets the Book. Cronyn's plan was flawless. Jack Kline, he'll come when he senses when his friends are in trouble. Castiel and Hannah are helpless. Once he turns, she can ditch this meatsuit.
Both sisters drive up to Manny's. They were carrying their arsenal. Hairspray, lighters, homemade smoke bombs and sleeping gas. They knew they had to protect everyone inside. If it was a trap, innocent men, women and children were inside. Good thing they had handcuffs. When they walked in, they saw Cronyn, along with a old man with a long beard, and a young guy. They stiffened. This was gonna be tricky.
"You came. This is Merrill. Our highest ranking wizard. This is Kane, the newest graduate of the Academy."
Kane gestured to their bags.
"Check for weapons."
Once they searched the bags, they hand the purses back to the sisters.
"What about you? You won't be stupid enough to bring weapons in front of mortals." Piper wished she had her freezing powers. She trained as a hunter, but was still learning. She and Sam hunted together, but she spent most of time training Sam with his magic.
"You mean this?" Kane pulled out a knife. Prue noticed right away, the restaurant getting silent.
"Are you serious?"
Cronyn smirks.
"Do you think we'll pass up the chance to destroy the Charmed Ones?"
Prue and Piper were surrounded.
"Yeah. Everyone here is on our side. Except the owner. He is browning in the pizza oven." Merrill laughs.
"On three. One, two.." Piper may be a witch longer than a hunter, but she wasn't a amateur. She took out her hairspray and Prue lit the match.
The sounds of chaos were everywhere. Piper was thrown across the room, Prue dove under a table. Since both were outnumbered, they used their homemade arsenal to give a pincer attack. Piper threw her homemade smoke bombs, good thing she was wearing a mask and goggles. She had them hidden in the hats they wore. Good thing she and Sam hunted those creatures. Prue was wearing her mask as well, she activated her sleep gas inside her lotion bottles.
It was a tough fight, but once everyone was sleeping or unconscious, they head over to Merrill who was trying to sneak out. They handcuff him and everyone else who was still conscious.
"It's too late! It's over!" Merrill declares.
Prue was arguing back when Piper noticed something.
"Son of a bitch." Prue looked up.
"The Book."
"Dad."
They call 911, but not before chanting the ritual to bound Merrill's powers. They knew it was unlikely that it would work, but just in case.
"I hope you enjoy your twilight years in prison." Prue tells him. Kane was unconscious, but Prue chanted the ritual as well.
Once they get back to the house they saw the body of Cronyn laying in their hallway.
"So much for demonic loyalty." Piper checked his pulse anyways.
They were about to rush upstairs when they heard arguing outside. Andy walked in carrying Doris on his shoulder, and the other hand carrying the Book.
"I believe these belong to you."
Once they concluded Victor was okay, (Andy took him to ER just in case), they interrogate "Doris."
"Okay. Who the hell are you?" Piper demanded.
Doris just smirks. She was handcuffed and tied up, but she was smiling.
"Cronyn there. He was going to kill me. I used to be a witch back in the day. Fool thought he was a powerful sorcerer. He forgotten, I have a few centuries over him."
Piper paled. No fucking way.
"Ruby?"
"In the flesh. Wow. I really pulled the wool over your eyes didn't I? First Sam, then your father. When you destroyed my meatsuit, I had to find another one. I admit Doris here wasn't my first choice, but when I was in Mexico, I saw your dad looking at Doris. I know a crush when I see one, so I took it. Your dad and I had a whirlwind romance, then we got married. It was only a few weeks, but I convinced him people our age were on a ticking clock. I wasn't lying when I said your father was a terrific lover, almost as good as Sam." She taunted.
"Shut up." Piper wanted nothing more than to kill her, but if Doris was inside, then she may be alive.
"What do you want?" Prue demanded.
"My Queen." Prue was confused when Ruby bowed her head in respect. "Forgive me. I just needed the Book to open the Door."
"What Door?" Piper asked. She took out her angel blade and held it against her throat. Ruby smiled.
"The Door where Jack Kline is hidden."
Jack was crying. He never stopped since he arrived.
"Why!" He screamed. "Why are my wings like this?!"
Grace could only stare with sympathy. She ran into Jack in this pocket dimension, but Jack never acknowledged her once. She teared up when Jack opened his wings.
His once beautiful wings were hideous. Instead of glimmering angel wings, his wings looked like a bat.
"I'm a monster."
Sam and Dean were walking the rest of the way to Garth's house. Their car, the Impala was broken down ten miles back. Both hoped Garth was awake. It was the middle of the night.