Author's Note: Hi everyone. I'd just like to take the time to let you all know that I'm back. Also, I know I've been gone over four months, but I'd really like to take the time to thank everyone for their very kind words and understanding over my situation. When I got to reading them, all of your comments meant a lot to me and they just reminded me how great my readers/reviewers are and have been. Some of you even went out of your way to send personal PMs. You all know who you are so thanks a bunch (Big hugs).
Here's a bit of an update on my situation. Luckily, my family and I have secured a place to live, and we have been rebuilding slowly. Some positive news is that I do now have access to a secondhand computer so I will be able to continue with my stories. Yay, lol. My updates will continue to come as I get back into my writing again. I did take some time to read through my other chapters and to edit them. There is some dialogue shifting but nothing that changes the plot of the story whatsoever. Also, I changed my summary to give readers a better idea on what the story is about. In the beginning, I wasn't too sure how much I wanted to put in it but I like this one better. I Just wanted to make you all aware of it.
Anyway, here's a new update that I've been able to piece together for all of you. I've been away awhile and had to re-watch season 8 to recover from the writer's block. So, if my writing seems a little rusty, I offer my apologies. Hopefully, it'll pick back up again. Hope you enjoy it and that it's not too disappointing.
On with the next chapter ...
Chapter 34: All Signs Point to Fear
The crisp cool night air had settled everywhere under the San Francisco night sky. Rubbing her arms, Billie could feel it as she strolled at a steady pace.
An internal battle was playing out inside of her mind. Desperately, she sought a way to justify her actions in order to ease her own conscience for not coming forward with the truth sooner. Her mind wouldn't rest and the debate with herself continued until reaching the smoothly paved pathway leading into the cemetery.
As angry and frustrated as she felt, she was beginning to realize that her biggest problem wasn't really with the sisters at all. It was with herself. A big part of her was still living in the past and trying to prove herself to the sisters because of her past transgressions involving Christy. In spite of all of their reassurances of forgiveness and moving on, she still felt inadequate. Nothing would erase her involvement in the events of the previous year. If all that wasn't challenging enough, then came along another Charmed One.
Her mother.
With the dark sky, bright crescent moon, and stars hovering overhead, Billie found her way to the headstones of the two people lost to her forever. The inscriptions read: Bill and Samantha Jenkins. Since she knew she'd be spending most of her time at school and with the Halliwell's, Billie had made the difficult decision to have them buried close by instead of back home. There was only one missing: One for Christy and then her entire family would be complete.
Billie knelt down in front of the last remnants erected in memory of her parents.
"Mom? Dad?" she called out to them, running her fingers over the new inscriptions embedded beneath their names. "I wish you could hear me."
Her eyes began to water, and she wiped against them.
"I really need someone to talk to," she brought her voice down to a whisper.
The crickets were the only sound within the silence.
"I need for you to know how sorry I am. I've screwed up so bad. And Mom, if you were here, I know you'd say that having me wasn't a mistake, but it shouldn't have come at the expense of Christy. And it was my bright idea to go looking for her. I can't help but think that if I hadn't tried to find her, you'd still be here."
The tears began to fall.
"She was your daughter, your real daughter, and she didn't deserve to have her whole life ripped away from her like that."
The hoot of an owl sounded off in one of the trees close by.
"Dad? I can't help but think that Christy was the reason we had such a hard time getting along," Billie really felt like she needed to get it off her chest. "We would barely talk as I got older, and I didn't understand why. All I wanted was to know I mattered to you as much as Christy did. I'm sorry that you lost her, I am. But I was only a kid and how was I supposed to know the truth? You kept it from me."
Billie took some deep breaths to calm down.
"Sometimes I feel like being a witch is all wrong," she confessed. "Sure, it seemed fun and kind of cool at first but it's not what I thought it would be like. And everything I do just seems to end up all wrong, ugh!"
A slight rustling sounded behind Billie.
"I guess a part of me thought that if there was some way to save her," she stressed, referring to Lana, "then it could make up for Christy. That trying to find her wouldn't have been for nothing. But I either get people killed or I almost do. I was just trying to help and make things right."
Another rustling sound came off in the distance only this time louder.
"Hello?" Billie caught it this time and immediately put herself on guard.
Looking around, she couldn't make out much of anything. The trees and the bushes were moving with the wind but that was about it.
"Okay, Billie. Alone in a cemetery after dark? So horror movie cliche," she sighed.
Billie let herself relax. She was starting to feel a little better. As much as she felt like quitting on the sisters right now, she knew that walking away from being a witch was not that easy. That much was obvious when the Charmed Ones tried to fake their own deaths. Nope, she was going to have to suck it up, pull herself together, and make amends. After all, they were the only family she had left.
The sounds of branches breaking in the background put Billie back on alert.
"Okay, whoever's there, come out and show yourself," she demanded.
Nothing.
"Screw it," Billie muttered, picking up her pace.
As she prepared to leave, the unexpected appearance of blue and white orbs materialized behind her. The newcomer coughed to get Billie's attention and then she shot around.
"Oh my god, JD?!" she exclaimed, upon seeing him there.
He smiled. "Do I know you?" he teased.
JD wasn't expecting what came next. Billie rushed forward and threw herself into his arms, holding onto him tightly. Surprised, he held back onto her. Something must be bothering her, he immediately concluded. He stood with her for a moment before deciding to disappear within his orbs, taking Billie away with him.
A dark figure emerged from the shadows.
The figure calling himself Richard had watched their departure from a safe distance. He decided to wait and make his move at a later time especially since there was no sign of the other girl, Lana. Instead, his next stop would be to check on Inspector Richardson for updates on the progress he was making.
X
"Okay, baby, lift your arms so mommy can pull this over," Prue instructed her daughter.
Molly lifted her arms up as Prue proceeded to pull the pink-laced nightgown over her head, making sure no damp hair got caught. Molly had just finished with her bath and was now getting ready for bed. With a heavy sigh, Prue reached down to plug in the hair dryer. Placing Molly in front of her, she turned it on, and began brushing.
Prue felt uneasy given the circumstances. It was difficult to remain calm when a demon was essentially lodging just a floor above them. This also wasn't just any demon. Apparently, she belonged to the Triad. Granted, this Lana character was virtually powerless to do anything while being contained by the crystals, but it still didn't offer any guarantees.
Then there was Billie. She had stormed out of the manor a few hours ago, completely upset, and hadn't been seen nor heard from since.
"Momma? Do we get to stay here?"
The question broke Prue from her train of thought. "What baby?"
"Can we stay here? Like Billie," Molly sat with her doll on her lap. While her mother brushed hers, she combed the doll's matching hair.
The doll wasn't brand new by any means, it had seen better days, but Molly had grown attached to it. Billie had come across it while packing up what was left of her parents' belongings and had decided to hang onto it. However, it only would have ended up in storage, or in the trash, so Billie then chose to give it to Molly instead. The doll had been one of her favorites growing up and had actually belonged to her sister Christy before the abduction. As a child, Billie had clung to it for a long time because it used to help her feel closer to Christy.
Prue thought about how to best answer the question "Sure, sweetie, we can stay here for a little while," she settled on.
"If we leave, can we take Billie? I like her. She gave me my doll," she explained to her mother with a bright smile.
Prue looked at the doll. "That was very nice of her. Did you thank her?"
She nodded. "Mommy?"
"What baby?"
"Billie plays games too. My favorite game," the little girl shared, oblivious to her mother's discomfort on the subject of Billie.
Prue continued to listen.
"That means she can come with us?" the little girl repeated a second time. "Because she's nice and not like that mean girl from the scary place."
Prue frowned and gazed up at the ceiling.
"Billie said she doesn't like the scary place either," Molly told her mother.
Prue turned off the hair dryer, closed her eyes, bent down, and kissed the top of Molly's head. "I love you so much. I'll never let anything happen to you again, I promise," some of the guilt settling in over not being able to prevent her daughter's abduction over a year ago. "Always remember that, okay?"
Molly nodded. "Billie can come with us," she persisted.
"Billie's a big girl, Molly," Prue sighed, trying to explain in the best way she knew how. "So that means she gets to live wherever she wants to but that doesn't mean she won't still visit you, okay?"
"How do you know?" Prue could hear the disappointment in her daughter's voice. "What if she goes far away like you and daddy did?"
Prue sighed; she hadn't given much thought to when the right time to tell Molly the truth about Billie would be. She was still coming to terms with the truth herself and dealing with the aftermath of telling Andy. They still hadn't really worked past the secret yet.
Prue shifted her daughter, so they were face to face. "Billie's not going to move far away, baby, because she's just like us," she opened up. "I promise."
Molly eyed her mother. "Cause we both like Chutes and Ladders?"
Prue couldn't help but smile.
"You like Chutes and Ladders too, mommy."
"Yes, of course I do," Prue played along, "but when Billie was very little she was given to your daddy and me, just like you were. Then she went to live with another mommy and daddy who wanted to love her," she explained.
Molly appeared to be thinking about it. "Oh. She got two mommies, and she got two daddies?" she lifted up her fingers to count.
Prue cupped her daughter's face. "Exactly. And big sisters stick around for little sisters." Or rather, they're supposed to. The guilt nagged at her.
"Okay." Molly's attention reverted back to the doll. "Doesn't she look pretty mommy?" she asked excitedly, immediately flashing the doll at her mother and waiting for approval.
Prue nodded. "Beautiful, baby. Just like you."
"She's going to sleep with me tonight," Molly announced, hugging the doll.
"Well, then," Prue turned playful on her daughter. "I guess it's time for some little girls to get some sleep before the tickle monster attacks," she launched her fingers against her daughter's sides and began tickling.
Molly broke into fits of laughter and arched herself backwards onto the bed, rolling to each side as she tried to escape the onslaught. "Stop."
"Stop?" Prue teased her daughter though her own laughing spurts. "I don't think so, I got your tummy right where I want it."
Eventually, the playful onslaught came to an end. She picked Molly up so that she was standing on the bed. Pulling back the covers, she placed her daughter down and tucked her inside. Bending down, she kissed her daughter's forehead.
"Love you, baby. Sweet dreams."
"Emma too, mommy?" she instructed.
Leaning back down, Prue planted a quick kiss on the doll too. "There."
Molly turned on her side.
Reaching over for the lamp on the nightstand, Prue turned off the light leaving the room blanketed in darkness.
X
Piper and Paige orbed inside of a dark room at the San Francisco police precinct. Cautiously, they began to move about, Piper on extra guard.
"Paige, this really wasn't such a good idea," Piper voiced her doubts. "We should have just waited until Prue talked to Andy first."
Paige found a light switch and flicked it on. "There. That's better."
"Better, yes, I don't want to go blind in here," Piper cracked, "but smart? Still a no, this is risky."
"Piper," Paige sighed, addressing her sister's concerns, "I'm sure Prue will talk to Andy when she gets the chance, but it certainly doesn't hurt to check this guy out now," she asserted rather strongly. "The more we can find out ahead of time, the better prepared we'll be to deal with whatever is coming our way. Relax, this is a good thing."
"Okay, Paige, you can try and flower it up all you want but it's definitely not a good thing," Piper cracked, testing the doorknob at the same time to make sure it was locked, and nobody would just walk in on them.
Paige headed for the desk drawers. She squatted down and when she tried to open one on each side, she discovered she couldn't. "Dang it. They're locked."
"Well, of course they're locked. What did you expect, a key sitting on his desk with an open invitation for us to snoop?" followed Piper's witty sarcasm.
Paige smirked. "Hey, a girl can hope, can't she?"
"We're going on a theory here, Paige, remember that, there may not even be anything to actually find," Piper sighed, reminding her.
"He could be a demon?" Paige threw back.
"And he could be another annoying Inspector nosing around," Piper countered.
Paige eyed the layout of the office. "Keys, keys," she uttered.
"Paige, are you even hearing me?" Piper threw up her hands. She was hoping to convince her sister to abort mission and return home.
"I hear you," she answered back in a distracted manner while searching above the doorframe for a potential hiding spot.
"Okay," Piper continued, "so then you get the last thing we need is to draw anymore unwanted attention to ourselves. Attention, I might add, that usually winds up with one of them getting killed and the finger pointed back at us."
"I get it, Piper," Paige sighed, not ready to give up, "but help me out here, will ya? Where would an egotistical and annoyingly arrogant cop stash some lousy keys? The sooner we figure this out; the sooner we can be done. And when has any of that ever stopped us before?" she began shuffling things around on the desk.
"I vote for not stirring the pot, his pot," Piper argued. "What are you doing?" she threw her sister a questioning look.
"Using this staple to try and pick a lock," Paige was attempting to straighten out the small steel wire.
"Long shot," Piper gave a nod.
"It's still a shot, hey, you were the one who voted against using our powers on this one," Paige reminded her.
"And with good reason," Piper countered, "we're still learning to get a handle on all our powers and I'm not going to blow up cabinets."
"They're drawers," Paige corrected.
"Whatever," Piper nodded again.
"The guy is suspicious," Paige went to work on one of the locks.
"But didn't Andy say Richardson closed out the investigation into the club fire?" Piper was doing some thinking of her own. "I mean, if he was really out to get us, why do that?"
"Um, yeah, but Andy also said the guy is just weird," Paige stressed, rolling her eyes. "Darn it, no luck," she threw the bent staple on the desk.
"Well, hey, weird is one thing," Piper went to the other side of the desk to try and assist her sister. "We've dealt with a lot of weird over the years, but it still doesn't prove this Inspector is a demon."
"Okay, but it's not a stretch, right, I mean, isn't that how they tried to get to you the first time around? By posing as a cop?"
"Yeah, Rodriguez, he was pretending to be with Internal affairs ... what is that?" Piper picked up a strange container on the desk before placing it back down.
Paige moved to the small window next. "Andy said he's been fishing for information while giving off the vibe like he knows things, things he shouldn't," she moved the shade to possibly reveal a hidden key.
"He's a detective; it's his job to pry," Piper felt under the desk to see if perhaps a key was taped to it. No luck.
"Or he could be lying. Closing the case out could have just been a clever move on his part to take attention off himself," Paige wasn't ready to let go of her demon theory.
"Paige, did you ever think that he keeps the keys with him?"
"Shoot," Paige turned around, feeling a bit defeated now. "Of course he would," she shook her head.
Piper could tell her sister was disappointed.
"We tried," Paige sighed.
"Paige, look, I'm not saying it's impossible, but we need real proof of that," Piper offered. "I just don't think we're going to find the answer to that in some locked drawer; he'd be smarter than that."
"True," Paige sighed, "it just seems like the Underworld is pretty big on recycling the same attempts against our lives over and over again. They seriously need to come up with some new stuff already."
"Hey, watch yourself, sister," Piper scolded playfully. "The last thing we need are any new surprises."
"Tell it to the demons," Paige threw up her arms.
Deciding that they were wasting too much time and getting nowhere, Piper made a split-second decision and focused all her energy into tapping into Prue's power of telekinesis. "Alright, stand back, I got this," she instructed.
"Have at it," Paige stepped aside.
Piper waved her hand at the desk drawers, but nothing happened. "This isn't going to work."
"Never say never," Paige sang.
Piper waved her arm a second time but still yielded no success. "I didn't but I will now. This is never going to work which is why I always say hope for the best but expect the worst."
"Since when?" Paige eyed her sister.
"Since now," Piper widened her eyes and smiled.
"Billie told us this Inspector thinks this Lana person, demon, whatever, is Christy. Maybe it's just me, but I don't find it to be a coincidence that Lana is part of the Triad, and this guy is looking for her," Paige voiced.
Piper tried to tap into telekinesis a third time. "Damn, why isn't this working at all?" she looked down at her hands. " I give up. I can't move them open, you try," she nodded towards her sister. "Then we're out of here."
Paige stepped up and Piper moved back.
"I think he's looking for Lana because he knows who, or rather, what she really is," Paige insisted.
"Or he could just be doing his job to track down a missing girl. We may know that Christy's really dead but that doesn't mean they do," Piper reasoned.
"Okay, then what about Agent Murphy?" Paige attempted to argue further. "He told us Inspector Richardson was calling up and playing twenty questions."
"Fine, then let Agent Murphy get to the bottom of it," Piper retorted. "It's the least he can do, since we're going to like, oh I don't know, owe him for the rest of our lives."
"Eh," Paige considered it. "If he gets too demanding, we'll just pull out our get out of Homeland Security magical free card."
"Wishful thinking," Piper jested. "I think we already used that up after that fiasco with the Krycheks."
After a few tries, Paige was successful in using Prue's form of the power to fling the drawers out on each side. She threw Piper a very smug smirk of satisfaction which only earned her a roll of the eyes.
Piper smirked, giving a roll of her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, okay. Let's just get a move on before we get caught in the act."
Both Piper and Paige went searching inside of drawers found on both sides of the desk. As they each shuffled things around, Piper finally managed to discover what felt like two folders stacked together. They were stashed underneath a bunch of other stuff.
"Uh, Paige, I think I got something here," she announced to her sister.
Paige stopped moving. "What is it?"
Piper pulled out the folders and placed them on top of the desk. Paige pulled one over to her and each sister took the initiative to open one up and examine the contents found within. Quickly, their eyes scanned the pages.
"Piper, you are not going to believe this," Paige finished reading information, flipping to another page.
Piper continued to read through the contents found in the folder in her possession and was dismayed to discover what she was starting to piece together. "Neither are you. Paige, listen to what this says. In the case of Inspector S ... " but as she began to read aloud, both sisters were alerted to the sound of the doorknob twisting back and forth.
Quickly, both of them scrambled as fast as they could, flipping the folders closed. Piper shoved them back into the desk drawer.
"Hurry!" Paige hissed in a whisper.
"I am hurrying!" Piper gritted out in a low tone, eyes widening.
After closing the drawers, Paige grabbed onto Piper as both sisters orbed out of the office just in the nick of time. The door swung open and in walked Inspector Richardson. He examined the room carefully, suspicion rooted within him. He didn't remember leaving the light on and he could have sworn he heard something. The Inspector took quick strides in the direction of his desk and checked the drawer found on his right side.
The drawer was unlocked.
X
After Molly had fallen sleep, Prue made her way downstairs, intent on waiting for Andy to return home from work. It was late but she was really hoping to catch him alone so they could talk.
Prue entered the conservatory but was surprised to find that Phoebe still in the Manor.
Prue smiled. "Hey you. You're still here," she greeted her sister.
Phoebe looked up and smiled.
She was sitting on the wicker bench, the Book of Shadows opened on the table in front of her. Clearly, she was flipping through the pages looking for something.
Prue came to take a seat beside her.
"Yeah, I'm still here," Phoebe answered her sister, her attention returning to the Book. "I take it everything's alright upstairs?"
"So far so good," Prue answered. "We've been checking on her in intervals. But you didn't have to stick around if that's what you were worried about. I think we pretty much got everything under control."
"No, it's not that," Phoebe sighed, continuing to flip through the pages. She was a bit reflective before turning the conversation in a new direction. "Have you heard from Billie at all? I know she was pretty upset when she stormed out of here earlier. We've certainly had plenty of that going on lately."
Prue sighed, turning away. "Uh, no. She hasn't come back to the house."
"Knowing Billie, she'll probably just spend the night at her dorm," Phoebe provided her best guess to Prue. "Hey, it'll give her some time to cool off. And us," she added as an afterthought.
"Yeah, well, probably for the best," Prue decided. "Somehow, I don't think testing our powers out on each other when we get mad is the smartest way to go about getting used to this Ultimate Power."
"No, definitely not."
Prue was still trying to sort through the confusion when it came to Billie and what their relationship should be. Over the course of the past few months, they had been getting to know one another and their interactions took on a casual vibe. Prue tended to relate to her best as a young witch who was learning about the craft, helped them out when needed, and as someone who looked to them for their guidance from time to time. It still felt strange thinking of herself as the girl's mother.
A few more moments of silence passed between the two sisters.
Prue sat with her hands folded and her arms resting against her legs. She observed her sister both carefully and quietly before breaking ground to find out what was really troubling her. She had a pretty good hunch what it was.
"Nothing," Phoebe muttered to herself as she flipped pages. "Nothing."
"Well, whatever the problem is, I have a pretty good feeling that the answer isn't going to be found in any new spell or potion," Prue offered gently. "Especially when it comes to matters of the heart." She sighed. "You know, I really am sorry that Coop ended up in the middle of all this."
Phoebe smirked, slightly amused by how her sister seemed capable of slipping right into the empath role so easily. "Yeah, Prue, so am I." She closed the Book of Shadows and pushed it away from her. "I guess a part of me was just hoping that maybe Billie could have been onto something. That the Ultimate Power would have offered some new spell or potion to fix this whole mess."
Prue flashed Phoebe a smile full of understanding. "Well, I hear you. If only all our problems could be solved that easily."
"It's all just so unfair, you know?" Phoebe began to vent, shaking her head. "After everything we've been through. Prue, after Cole, I really started to give up on ever finding anyone that could fill that place again. And now when I finally found the courage to open up my heart again, it can all come crashing down around me."
"Okay, but Phoebe, you don't know that for sure. Maybe you're not giving Coop enough credit?"
"No, Prue, yes I do," she quickly countered her sister's assessment on the situation. She looked her sister straight in the eyes. "And believe me, it's not that I don't appreciate what you're trying to do, but Coop's past is definitely an issue for him. And, unfortunately, for us too. I can't go down that road again, I won't. And if we have to vanquish her," she pointed out in reference to Lana, "I'm scared. That's the truth. Scared that it will be over for us because I'll be forced to choose again."
A look of confusion spread across Prue's face. "Phoebe, who said anything about having to choose? If we have to vanquish Lana, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. I'm sure Coop will come around in his own time."
"Prue, you don't get it." Phoebe locked her eyes with the floor. "You weren't here the last time when I had to make a choice between Cole or Piper and Paige. It was either my sisters or the love of my life and it nearly killed me to have to do it. And if Coop decides to stand by Lana no matter what, I might be forced to choose you guys all over again. Over him." She released the heavy breath she was holding. "I just don't think I can handle that kind of pain a second time around."
"Okay, first of all, Cole was a demon, Phoebe. He was battling something inside of himself all along that he couldn't overcome." Prue paused for a moment. "Coop's good. He loves you and as hard as it may be to wait and to watch, you may just have to let him come to terms with the truth the same way you had to," she advised.
"Maybe," Phoebe relented. She threw her sister a smile of sadness.
Prue leaned in to hug her sister. "You know, maybe it'll help if you go home and share your fears and concerns with him," she suggested. "I mean, not that I mind lending out my services," she smiled, pulling back out of the hug. "After all, we both know how good I am at it," she teased.
This earned Prue another smile. "Actually, believe it or not, I've missed you butting into my business," Phoebe admitted. "It's really great to have you back home."
"It's good to be home."
The moment was interrupted by the appearance of orbs. The orbs brought Piper and Paige into contact with their other two sisters.
"Okay, you guys, we got some bad news," Piper cut to the chase.
"And then we got some more bad news," Paige followed up sarcastically. "Which do you want first?" her hands went to rest on her hips.
Prue and Phoebe shared a look.
"Uh, well, since it sounds that great, you choose," Phoebe chided, resting her hand against her forehead and then closing her eyes, waiting for the inevitable.
"Where did you guys go?" Prue asked, a puzzled look settling across her face.
Piper and Paige both moved to take a seat in the two white-wicker chairs found on opposite sides of the small table.
"Well, we paid our Inspector friend a little visit," Paige informed them. "Or actually, more like his desk drawer. Don't worry, we didn't get caught, " she quickly moved to put Prue and Phoebe's fears to rest.
"Well, now, don't lie to them. We almost did," Piper cracked, smirking in the process.
"Well, almost doesn't count," Paige gestured with her hands and a smile.
Piper turned her attention towards Prue and Phoebe. "We can actually start with a bit of good news. Which is that I don't think we have to worry about him being a demon. At least, not the kind we're used to vanquishing," she decided to amend on second thought.
Prue smirked. "Okay, well, one less demon is always good."
"But the not so good part?" Paige jumped in. "We did manage to get a quick look at some files that he's been stashing at the station."
"Yeah, and it seems like he's either connected to or interested in whatever happened with Inspector Sheridan," Piper relayed to them.
"What?" Phoebe exclaimed. Piper had her full attention. "Not good!"
"Yeah, no kidding, " Piper agreed, "and since we don't have any idea what it is he's fishing for, I think we should think about asking Agent Murphy to look into it more," followed the suggestion.
"What he's fishing for?" Phoebe laughed. "I think it's pretty obvious what he's been fishing for. Us," she concluded strongly. "Inspector Sheridan died here, no wonder why he's all over us. And Agent Murphy is already supposed to be looking into it anyway," she brushed off the suggestion.
"I guess it kind of makes more sense now why he's been so interested in Agent Murphy and our so called 'arrangement,'" Paige made air quotes. "Homeland Security probably covered up Sheridan's death after we faked ours."
"And the official story is we were working with them," Piper finished.
"Awesome," Phoebe rolled her eyes.
"Talk about the past coming back to bite us," Paige quipped.
Prue listened. She hadn't been around during the time they experienced problems with this Inspector Sheridan, who had apparently died here at the manor. "The more important question still stands," she offered her input. "Why does he care? What's the connection, his interest in her?"
"Well, that would be the million-dollar question of the day," Paige sighed. "I'm still not completely sold he's not a demon though," she added. "Sorry Piper."
"Eh, you're forgiven this time," Piper teased.
"Why are you convinced he may be a demon?" Phoebe was interested to know.
"Because of what I saw inside the other folder. Unfortunately, it looks like it involves Coop," Paige divulged with regret while looking back at Phoebe. "Sorry."
Phoebe tensed; Prue felt it and looked over at her.
"Great," came Phoebe's reaction. "Let's have it. What did you find?"
"The investigation you already told us about. When he was still alive as Richard," Paige revealed. "He had all this personal information in there on Coop and his dead sister. References to a missing baby," she shrugged.
"Which according to Billie, and you Phoebe, would be Lana," Piper added. "He might have been the Inspector on the case at the time, who knows, it could be why he has the file on hand," she rushed to offer her sister some reassurance.
Phoebe felt on edge. "Yeah, but for like twenty years?" she countered, "you're telling me it makes sense he's been holding onto it for that long?" she challenged, getting up from the wicker couch. "Coop was arrested and didn't even make it to trial because he died. In prison. I don't think so, there's nothing left to even find."
"Except maybe the real killer," Piper threw out there.
"Which we already know was a demon," Phoebe argued. "Dumain is gone."
"Well, see, that's why I'm still open to the idea that he is a demon," Paige reinforced. "He could have been involved from the very beginning. Maybe he helped Dumain and the Triad get their hands on Lana. Maybe he's the one who killed Coop's sister."
"And set Coop up?" Prue finished. "I suppose it's a possibility but Phoebe's right. Why would any of that matter now? Why does the file matter?"
"Creepy souvenir?" Paige joked.
"Still, none of that clears up what any of this has to do with Sheridan," Piper jumped back in. "Especially since she's dead and as far as we know, she's not connected in any way to Lana, Coop, or even the Triad."
"Agreed," Prue acknowledged. "There's got to be more we don't know yet."
"There always is," Piper cracked, "but I'm way too tired to be figuring out what that is tonight. I'm off to bed," she announced, getting up from the chair. "All these problems will still be waiting for us tomorrow."
"Unfortunately," Paige nodded.
"I'm right behind you," Prue announced, yawning, as she got up ready to hit the pillow for some much-needed rest. "Night you two. Don't stay up too late."
Paige smiled and waved them off. "Night ladies."
Phoebe didn't move from the place she was still standing in, her arms crossed together. "Yeah, night," she told them in a distracted manner.
After Prue and Piper left the room, Paige continued to observe her remaining sister from her seated position. A big part of her really was hoping for her sister's sake that all of this wouldn't mean big trouble for her and Coop. It appeared as if that area of Phoebe's life was becoming more and more complicated by the day.
X
JD orbed into a safe location on the college campus.
After materializing behind one of the many buildings found on the school grounds, Billie's grasp on JD only tightened more. She didn't want him to let go just yet but waited for the moment he would pull back. Surprisingly, it didn't come.
JD took a few deep breaths before asking the inevitable. "What's wrong? You're upset," he pulled back gently, cupping the sides of her face.
Billie looked up into the warm eyes of a young man she had come to consider a very close friend. She felt a mess, she figured she must have looked it too with her puffy eyes. In the heat of the moment, she didn't care about much else. Without uttering any words, she moved her head and in one swift motion her lips found JD's.
JD's eyes widened in surprise. "Uh, Billie, wait a minute," he protested.
"What?"
"Bad idea," he shook his head.
"Bad idea?" she huffed. "Why, I'm not good enough anymore," she lashed out, feeling the all too familiar sting of rejection.
"Not it," JD threw up his hands to shoot it down. "You're not thinking straight right now."
"And how would you know what I'm thinking?" she retorted, still feeling the hurt. "Don't tell me what I'm thinking or how to feel."
"Billie, stop," JD tried to reach out and calm her but she only pulled away.
"Just leave me alone," she turned her back, running both hands through her hair and feeling more embarrassed now than anything.
He was intrigued with becoming more than just friends, to melt into the warm feel of her soft lips against his, but he knew he had to force himself to pull back. It would have felt like he was taking advantage otherwise.
"Thanks for the orb you can go now," she instructed him.
"C'mon, Billie," JD protested.
"JD, you just turned me down," Billie spelt out for him. "I don't think there's much left to say right now."
"No, I just think you shouldn't do anything you're going to regret later."
"The only thing I'm regretting right now is coming here with you," she countered, making a move to walk around him.
JD immediately reached for her arm, intent on stopping her. "Billie, please wait! Just tell me what's wrong," he pushed.
Billie stood face to face with him. "What's wrong?" came a voice carried with heavy emotion. "What isn't wrong!" she shot back rhetorically. "Everything in my life is just way beyond wrong. Starting with me, okay?"
JD pulled her into another hug, and she fell into it.
"Hey, it's okay," he tried to soothe, rubbing her back.
Billie took a moment and then backed out of the embrace, trying to pull herself back together. Leaning back against the building, she slid down to sit on the ground. JD made his move to join her, sitting next to her.
"I'm sorry," she blurted. "I feel like such an idiot," she admitted, bringing her knees up against her chest. She closed her eyes, hands resting on her knees and her head leaning against the brick wall for support.
JD placed his hand over hers as a show of support. "You're not an idiot," he reassured her. "But something is obviously bothering you. Lay it on me."
Billie looked him in the eyes. "They know," she shared in a solemn manner. "About Lana, I mean."
JD released a low whistle. "Got it." He nodded his head. "I take it things didn't go well with the news?"
"Understatement," Billie rolled her eyes, "but, uh, it doesn't matter because I kind of realized they were right. I should have told them. It's not like I knew what I was doing," she mumbled, but JD still heard it.
"Billie, hey, that's not true. You're totally great at what you do," he praised her.
Billie gave a small smile in return. "Sure, whatever," she rolled her eyes playfully. "You have to say that because you did the Lana deed with me."
"No, I mean it," he pushed. "Look, you're the only chic I've ever met who can kick some real butt but still look totally hot while doing it."
Billie blushed, looking away.
"Your powers are incredibly cool." His voice then softened a bit. "But more importantly, you've got a big heart."
"Thank you. For saying that," she smiled.
"Even when you do mess up," he slipped in, smirking.
"Hey," Billie swatted him playfully, but laughed too. "You can stop while you're still ahead, you know," she joked.
"I'm not saying anything that isn't true. You're willing to give people the benefit of the doubt, Billie. And that's important. Because sometimes people need that second chance in order to be saved, to be able to save themselves. Just look at me," he pointed out, using his experience as an example.
"JD, that's hardly the same thing. You were an innocent, a demon came after you because you were destined to become something good," she argued. "It was never a question about whether or not you should be given a second chance. You were supposed to be saved and that's why Sam never gave up on you."
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean I didn't give Sam a hard time while he was trying to look out for me. Before the demon got me. Billie, my whole mortal life, I was seen as this rebel. By my family, my friends, and even at school. But the point here I'm trying to make is that nobody thought I could be saved, that I could be worthy, do anything worthwhile," JD voiced with passion. "And they were wrong."
Billie tore her gaze away from him and began picking at the grass. "But what if Lana can't be saved?" she asked. "I just feel like I'm never going to be good enough. And thinking about what happened to my parents is a constant reminder of that. What I am and the life I now have is what got them killed to begin with."
Affectionately, JD reached his hand out underneath her chin and gently turned her face back around to meet with his. "I think you're being way too hard on yourself. We all make mistakes, Billie, it's how we learn but it doesn't mean that we're responsible for everything bad that happens to us. Or others. Besides, it's only because of me that you agreed to help keep Lana a secret in the first place." He took a deep breath. "Which is why if you need me to set things straight with your family, then I will," he offered.
Billie smiled. "Thanks, JD, that's sweet but totally unnecessary. I'm a big girl and I can take my own hits. You didn't force me, and I knew what I was getting into. You've done more than enough just sitting here listening to me rant."
"What are friends for," he teased.
The energy in the air was highly charged as they stared intently at each other. The spark in the air hinted that things were about to definitely surpass friendship, but the moment passed when JD and Billie both broke it, feigning coughs and averting their stares.
"Well, it is getting late," JD remarked uneasily, getting himself off the ground. "I'll walk you back to your dorm room."
Billie moved to lift herself from the ground. "Uh, I know I planned on spending the night in my dorm room, sulking and all," she stressed while making a face and brushing her pants free from the grass. "But would you mind taking me back to the manor instead?" She smiled at him. "I might have better luck finding a second chance there."
JD smiled back at her. "Sounds like a plan to me."
"Thanks," Billie offered with sincerity. "I mean for everything."
"My pleasure," he tried to shake it off modestly, while straightening his collar. Then his voice turned playful. "By the way, has anyone ever told you what a great kisser you are?"
This earned JD a playful glare. Her eyes widened and he was rewarded with a playful swat as he started laughing and lifting his arms up to shield himself while giving up in mock surrender. Then their hands found each other as both of them disappeared amongst JD's whitelighter orbs.
X
The Inspector rifled through his desk until his hands landed upon what he sought to find. The two folders. They were still here but he knew the drawer had been locked. Suddenly, he was alerted to the sound of another.
"I take it things are moving along as they should be," the sinister voice announced from behind.
Richardson spun around in his chair, completely startled. He began looking around the room, trying to figure out how the other man had virtually appeared out of nowhere.
"How did you do that?" the Inspector demanded, getting up from his chair.
The dark figure sneered. "I have my secrets. None of which are of any concern to you. Where is the girl?"
Richardson swallowed nervously. "I'm working on it."
"Have you had any more luck getting closer through that cop partner of yours or his daughter?" the figure interrogated.
"Like I said, I'm working on it," he reinforced. Richardson had managed to uncover Billie's connection to the Halliwell's but apparently the man before him had already known. Richardson made sure Inspector Trudeau wasn't aware that he knew though. He did take some amusement out of engaging in mind games and needling him with subtle hints on occasion.
"Work harder," the figure demanded.
"I thought you already had that part under control. Didn't you find where she was?" Richardson questioned.
"The girl hasn't been around. I lost tabs on her."
"Why is this Christy of any interest to you anyway?" Richardson couldn't help but ask what had been on his mind from the beginning.
"She's of interest to me because she's of interest to me. Your job isn't to ask questions here, it's simply to do what you've been told to do," the figure calling himself Richard shot back at the Inspector.
"I will ask questions as I see fit because it's my job on the line," Richardson boldly asserted. "I pulled a file, so you'd be able to use a dead man's identity. Again, what does any of this have to do with the Richard and Jenna Devlon case?"
The figure wouldn't answer.
Richardson narrowed his eyes. "It was you in my office before I came in?" he accused. "Snooping through my drawers?"
"Please don't insult my superior intelligence," the figure mocked snidely at whom he considered to be the inferior little Inspector before him. "If I wanted to take something, I'd just take it. I don't ... snoop. And if I want to make my appearance known to you, then I will. I don't lurk."
The two men became embroiled in a glaring match.
"Just remember. If I don't get to the girl, you don't get your revenge," the figure finally spoke again. They were his parting words.
Richardson then watched in awe as the figure shimmered out.
X
Prue tossed back and forth in bed. She was restless and unable to get much sleep. Reaching out, she discovered the other side of the bed was still empty.
Molly was fast asleep. The time on the alarm clock read 2 am.
She didn't want to worry but some of the insights regarding Inspector Richardson earlier played through her mind. He was Andy's partner and nothing like Darryl Morris. Andy really needed to be careful or else they risked opening up a whole can of trouble. He should have been home hours ago.
Prue got out of bed.
Coming downstairs, Prue heard the sound of the front door opening and closing. Anticipating Andy, she was surprised to find that it was Billie instead.
"Hey," Billie greeted low key, surprised to be running into Prue this late.
"Hey," Prue returned. She came closer but then stopped. "I take it the dorm arrangement was less than ideal?"
Billie's lips curved a bit. Not quite a smile but it passed. "The mattress is nothing to brag about, but the company can be nice," she made in reference to her roommate.
Prue nodded and then Billie looked away.
The awkwardness in the air picked up and some of the tension returned.
"Billie, listen. It's pretty obvious you're frustrated. We are too but it's only because we're concerned. I know I wasn't here when everything went down between you and my sisters, but I do remember them well enough to know that they wouldn't get that upset without good reason."
"Um, yeah, it's late. Do you think maybe we can talk about it tomorrow?" Billie went to move past Prue.
Prue closed her eyes, her back facing Billie as she began walking up the stairs. "Sure."
"They may not believe me, but I am sorry," Billie stopped on the stairs. "I was only trying to help." Her voice softened a bit as Prue turned around to face her. "I am sorry," this time the apology being directed at Prue. "Next time I'll definitely come to you guys with anything that's important," she offered.
"Okay," Prue accepted with a nod of her and agreed to leave it at that.
Billie visibly relaxed. "Night."
"Night," Prue returned.
Prue headed for the conservatory. She felt restless and knew she wouldn't be able to get back to sleep. Then something caught her attention. A door was open and through the double glass doors leading out into the very small courtyard, she saw a figure. He was seated on one of the lawn chairs.
"When did you get home?"
Andy turned to look but then averted his gaze.
Prue passed by some flower beds and then sat down next to him on one of the other chairs. He didn't say anything. "Is everything ok?"
"You tell me," He sighed, sounding a bit distant. "I mean, you're supposed to be the big expert on all this, right? Magic and demons and witchcraft. I'm just still trying to figure out how it is I fit into all of this. Where my place is."
"Well, I hope it's here with me," she answered him.
Andy didn't offer any reassurance.
Feeling guilty, Prue took in a deep breath of the fresh night air. "Look, Andy, if this has anything to do with finding out about Billie, I really am sorry."
"Prue ... " Andy began shaking his head.
"I just feel so lost not being able to remember any of it," Prue jumped back in. "But I feel I wanted you to know ... " she was recalling her dreams.
"Prue, it's more than that," Andy interjected, speaking over her. "I mean, there are the secrets and everything, but the more I think about it, it's just the whole way of life itself. And then having to come home and deal with it every single day? It's just ..." his sentence trailed off.
"Just what?" she pushed. "Andy, what are you saying? That you don't want to be with me because I'm a witch again?" Her heart rate picked up.
"Prue, I don't know what I'm saying, okay?" he sighed, feeling the uncertainty pass through him. "I've just been doing a lot of thinking about things lately. The truth about Billie I can get over. Richardson, I can handle. But a life where I have to come home to watch you risk your life day after day? The kids being exposed to it. I don't think I could ever really handle having to watch you die. It can happen at any moment."
"It won't."
"You don't know that for sure!" he countered. "Have you thought about what it will mean for Molly or the baby if you're gone?"
"Andy, you're a cop. You face the same risks every day," she shot back. "Do you want me to offer you guarantees that I can't keep?" Her eyes watered. "In case you've forgotten, I did live to see you die." She resisted the urge to tell him it happened against her better judgment when he decided to show up at the manor anyway.
"I know," Andy acknowledged in a softer tone. "And being a part of this life, it can easily happen again. It's not that I'm not grateful for this second chance at life but what will it cost us this time around?"
"It won't happen again. I won't let it," She squeezed her eyes tightly becoming upset at the turn of the conversation.
"You won't let it?" Andy laughed, not amused. "And how do you propose to stop it? By risking your own life?"
"Andy, I love you," Prue asserted strongly, not wanting to dwell on all the possible scenarios that could become a factor in their future.
"I love you too, Prue, but that doesn't mean it's enough," his tone came across sounding a bit sad and defeated.
Prue hated feeling out of control. "I never meant to get you involved with all this again," she started to apologize; however, sensing where she was going, Andy jumped in quickly and beat her to the finish.
"I'm not blaming you for what Gideon and the other Elders did," he sought to clarify for her. "And I don't regret being able to spend these last five years with you. I told you once that I wanted a normal family life to come home to one day. I can sit here and tell you that feeling has changed," he looked at her. "Actually, for the most part, the years we had gave us that even if we couldn't remember who we really were. I got to experience what it would be like having a normal life with you."
"But, Andy, you know it can never go back to that," she delivered the truth with a mixture of sadness and regret.
"I know," he accepted. "And that's why I need some time." He got himself up from the lawn chair and headed back in the direction of the house.
"Where are you going?" she asked, worried what his words meant.
He stopped. "To get some sleep. I'll just take the couch for tonight. See you in the morning," he answered, turning back around.
Prue was left by herself.
They really had been doing a good job of avoiding the new issues impacting their relationship because it was easier to pretend like things would just go back to being the way they were all on their own. The reality was unknown events were likely to arise and could very well shape their relationship and entire future.
Prue let out a heavy sigh, her heart constricting.
All her thoughts were focused on how things would work out. For herself, her children, with her sisters, and most of all with Andy.
X
Piper woke to the sounds of shuffling and scratching. Her immediate thoughts turned to the captive upstairs.
Lana.
Quickly turning her head, she saw that Leo was still fast asleep.
Throwing off the covers, she got herself out of bed and exited the room. She headed in the direction of the attic and began walking up the stairs leading to the closed door. After entering the attic, she was greeted by a very troublesome sight. Her eyes went straight to the center of the attic where there should have been a demon. Only, there wasn't. Lana was gone. The crystals lie on the floor, somehow deactivated.
"Uh oh. Prue? Leo?" Piper shouted, hoping somebody would hear her.
She went to turn around when she was suddenly struck with an intense burn in the middle of her back. She froze. She had been hit. Spinning around, she came face to face with a sneering darklighter. His crossbow was in hand, and he had fired an arrow into her. Without saying a word, Piper tried reaching behind her back but began to grow faint. She fumbled and then finally passed out, hitting the floor.
The darklighter released an evil laugh. Before he disappeared within his traditional dark orbs, he left his parting remark.
"Too easy," he chided with a sneer set in place.
To Be Continued: Alright. That's the end of the next chapter. So, I hope that got you interested again. Please don't forget to review, it's helps to let me know that people out there still want to read this especially since I've been away for a while.
Stay Tuned: I'll try to get another chapter out as soon as I can.