Chapter 59: The Lost Picture Show Part 3
November 7, 1997 – Friday
Halliwell Manor
A cloud of white smoke billowed from the bubbling potion cauldron, its mystical contents swirling in a mesmerizing dance of magic and mystery. Piper/Leo tossed various ingredients into the seething brew with practiced precision, while Leo/Piper stood before the open Book of Shadows, his brow furrowed in concentration.
"Hey. Watch the face, will you, Leo? I just got a peel," Leo/Piper quipped, his tone laced with exasperation.
"Would you please just try to find a spell to change us back?" Piper/Leo implored; her voice tinged with frustration as she struggled to maintain her composure. "I know what I'm doing, Piper."
"People who know what they're doing don't cause explosions," Leo/Piper shot back, his retort dripping with sarcasm as he met Piper/Leo's gaze head-on.
"You know, it's one thing to have my wife constantly criticize everything I do," Piper/Leo lamented, her frustration evident in every word. "It's another thing when you do it from my own body!"
"Well, since I figure you'd never listen to me, you might listen to yourself," Leo/Piper countered, his words a pointed reminder of the absurdity of their predicament.
Phoebe entered the attic, her steps slow and contemplative, her mind evidently preoccupied with thoughts that weighed heavily upon her. "No romantic dinners. No walks on the beach," she muttered under her breath, her voice tinged with a hint of frustration as she approached Piper/Leo. "There is no way I can be inseminated. I tried. I just couldn't do it. It didn't feel right."
"That's… gross," Piper/Leo remarked, her response reflecting a mixture of discomfort and disbelief at Phoebe's candid admission.
"No. What's gross is me pushing the issue because of some stupid premonitions," Phoebe countered, her tone laced with frustration as she defended her decision. "You know? I want love first. I want what you guys have."
"Not today, you don't. Trust me," Piper/Leo interjected, her tone firm.
"Why? What's going on?" Phoebe inquired; her curiosity piqued by the urgency in Piper/Leo's voice.
Piper/Leo gestured towards Leo/Piper, who stood solemnly in front of the Book stand, his demeanor reflecting the gravity of the situation. "Talk to your sister," Piper/Leo instructed, her words laden with meaning as she urged Phoebe to seek guidance from her sibling.
Leo/Piper waved a greeting to Phoebe, his expression a mixture of resignation and amusement as he acknowledged her presence. "Yeah."
Phoebe's eyes widened in realization, a gasp escaping her lips as she pieced together the bizarre turn of events. "Oh, my God. Did Wyatt switch you guys again?" she exclaimed, her memory flashing back to the chaotic aftermath of her nephew's mischievous antics, which had once before resulted in Piper and Leo swapping bodies.
"No. It was a marriage counselor," Piper/Leo clarified, her tone tinged with frustration as she recounted the recent events that had led to their current predicament.
"Actually… it was a gardener…" Leo/Piper interjected smugly, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he playfully shifted the blame onto Leo, much to Piper/Leo's exasperation. "And it was Leo's fault."
Piper/Leo sighed heavily, her patience wearing thin as she grappled with the absurdity of their situation. "Okay, that's too weird," Leo/Piper admitted, his tone sobering as he acknowledged the gravity of their predicament. "Never mind. We'll figure it out. How's, uh, Billie doing downstairs with JD?"
"There's nobody downstairs," Phoebe revealed, her words landing like a hammer blow as the realization dawned upon them.
"What?!" Leo/Piper exclaimed, her voice echoing with disbelief as she struggled to comprehend the sudden disappearance of their companions.
Streets of San Francisco
Billie watched with concern as JD emerged from the nursing home, his expression heavy with grief and confusion. Rising from the bench where she had been waiting, she quickened her pace to catch up with him, her heart aching at the sight of his distress. "Hey. Are you all right?" she asked softly, her voice laced with empathy.
"They said that… my dad… just died," JD replied, his words laden with sorrow as he struggled to come to terms with the devastating news.
"Oh, god, JD, I'm so sorry," Billie murmured, her sympathy evident in her tone as she reached out to offer him comfort.
"They said he was 93 years old. I mean, 93! How could that be? He had nobody left," JD continued, his voice tinged with disbelief and frustration as he grappled with the harsh reality of his father's passing. "Not my mom, my brother. They said he buried me fifty years ago, even though he never stopped looking for me. I mean, how could he bury me! I'm still alive!"
"I know. I know," Billie responded, her voice gentle yet resolute as she sought to reassure him. "We are gonna figure this whole thing out. Listen. Look at me. JD, listen. You can trust me. Right? You know you can trust me. I'm gonna tell you something you're not gonna believe, but you're gonna have to. It's the only way this whole thing is gonna make any sense to you."
"Okay," JD agreed, his steps faltering as he stopped to face her, his gaze searching hers for answers in the midst of his turmoil.
"What happened fifty years ago… to you… whatever's going on, Sam is — is figuring that out," Billie reassured JD, her voice earnest as she sought to impart a sense of understanding amidst the chaos of their situation. "All I know is whatever it is, it has something… to do with magic."
"You're crazy," JD scoffed, his disbelief evident in his tone as he struggled to comprehend the surreal nature of Billie's claims.
"No, I'm not," Billie insisted, her voice firm as she countered JD's skepticism. "It's real. Ok? Just like what the demon did to you? That's real. And that he's trying to kill you, this is all very real."
JD found it increasingly difficult to dismiss Billie's words, the weight of her sincerity bearing down upon him as he grappled with the unsettling truth of their situation.
Billie sighed, her expression softening with empathy as she reached out to him. "Look, I know this is hard to handle. Okay? Believe me, I'm new at this myself. I just found out a couple of weeks ago that a demon kidnapped my sister. Believe me, I know what you're going through. Or at least, I kind of know what you're going through. Just don't run away from me. I can protect you from this. I promise."
With a gentle gesture, Billie stepped forward and enveloped JD in a comforting embrace, her warmth and reassurance offering a glimmer of solace amidst the uncertainty that surrounded them. Slowly, hesitantly, JD returned the embrace, finding a sense of comfort and security in Billie's steadfast presence.
Chadwick Photography Studio
Sam, Paige, and Buffy combed through the myriad photos and photo albums scattered across the studio, their eyes scanning for any clue or connection that might stand out. The walls were lined with shelves, each crammed with memories encased in glossy paper, the air tinged with the faint scent of old paper and ink.
"Anything?" Paige asked, breaking the silence.
"Nada," Buffy replied, her voice tinged with frustration.
"No," Sam added, shaking his head as he rifled through another stack. "Maybe we should take something back to try and scry for." His eyes drifted across the room and landed on a drawer. Something about it felt off. As if drawn by an unseen force, he walked past the others and paused, his hands hovering in the air, palms forward, over the drawer's wooden surface.
"Everything all right?" Paige asked, her brow furrowing in concern.
"Can you feel that?" Sam's voice was tense, almost a whisper. His eyes were fixed on the drawer, a deep sense of unease emanating from him.
Buffy and Paige exchanged puzzled glances before walking over to Sam. "Feel what?" Paige asked, still not sensing anything.
Sam exhaled sharply, his breath shaky. "The pain… innocents. I can sense them. They were here. Future Whitelighters. That's what he's after. This could be a trap. You two have gotta get out of here."
"No," Paige replied, her voice firm. "I'm not a future Whitelighter. I am a Whitelighter."
"But you're not embracing it," Sam said, his tone edged with urgency.
"That's not true," Buffy interjected, stepping closer. "She can sense me, my sister, and my mom." Buffy's eyes were steady, a mixture of defiance and support for Paige shining in them.
"Well, you are a special case, aren't you?" Sam said, looking intently at Buffy. His gaze was piercing, as if trying to unravel the layers of her soul. "After all, you are her girlfriend. But Paige is not embracing it for anyone else, or she would be able to sense it, too. That makes her vulnerable."
"And why am I vulnerable?" Buffy asked, her tone defensive, the weight of countless battles reflecting in her eyes. "I've…"
"For the same reason," Sam interrupted, his voice softening with empathy. "I've heard the talk up there. About why the Elders steered you and Paige together, hoping the two of you would fall in love. From what I've overheard, they didn't want to overwhelm you. You may have accepted Billie as your charge, but like Paige, you haven't fully accepted being a Whitelighter. And that makes you vulnerable."
Sam turned back to Paige, his expression a mixture of frustration and paternal concern. "Look, you've got to stop fighting this, Paige. You've got to stop fighting yourself. Whether you like it or not, you are my daughter, which makes you a Whitelighter, and it's about damn time you accepted that." He then shifted his focus to Buffy. "And if Leo were here right now, he'd be telling you the same thing."
"The hell it is," Paige scoffed, her voice dripping with sarcasm and pain. "Look, for your information, my father — my real father — the one who raised me, loved me, and took care of me till the day he died, was a firefighter, not a Whitelighter. So how dare you show up here and act like you're my dad? Because I have news for you — you're not."
Her words hung in the air, heavy and bitter, before she spun on her heel and stormed out of the studio. The shop bell jangled loudly as the door slammed shut behind her, echoing her tumultuous emotions.
"I've only known Leo as my father for half a year," Buffy said, her voice calm but laden with the weight of her experiences. "But what it has taught me, despite knowing that Hank was not my biological father, is that I have enough room in my heart for both my step-father and my biological father. Give it time, Sam. Paige will come around." She gave Sam a reassuring look before following Paige out the door, the bell chiming softly in her wake.
Sam closed his eyes, turning away with a heavy sigh. Regret etched into his features, he rubbed his eyes, trying to stave off the looming sense of failure. The bell jingled again, snapping him back to attention. "Paige?" he called out, hope flaring briefly before realizing it wasn't her or Buffy.
"Daughters," Vaklav said, his voice resonating with a dark, eerie calmness. "They tend to outlive their fathers… grieve longer." He held his hands out, and an old camera materialized. Under his left arm, he carried a rolled-up piece of paper.
"Wait. Don't," Sam pleaded, a sense of dread chilling him to the bone.
"Smile," Vaklav said, his lips curling into a sinister grin as he snapped the shutter. The camera bulb flashed, and in that instant, Sam vanished. The camera itself disappeared as Vaklav unfurled the rolled-up sheet of paper. There, in a previously empty spot, was Sam's image, forever captured in a moment of despair.
Halliwell Manor
Phoebe walked into the attic and stopped abruptly at the sight before her. The air was thick with tension. Piper/Leo stood in front of the scrying table, the map skewed, fumbling with the scrying crystal. Leo/Piper was standing next to her, his expression exasperated as he tried to take the scrying crystal from her.
"Any luck finding JD and Billie?" Phoebe asked, her eyes flicking between the two, trying to make sense of the chaos.
Leo/Piper reached out to take the scrying crystal from Piper/Leo. Piper/Leo kept slapping his hands away, her movements sharp and irritated. "Uh, no, because Leo won't let me try," Leo/Piper said, her voice carrying Leo's deeper timbre but full of Piper's familiar frustration.
"Because Piper's powers are still in her body," Piper/Leo replied, her tone firm yet edged with the frustration of dealing with something beyond his control.
"But the knowledge of how to use them isn't," Leo/Piper reminded him, her voice rising in exasperation.
Piper/Leo sighed deeply, the sound more resigned and wearier than usual. "Oh, yeah? Wanna see me freeze you?"
"Ha! Like you even know how!" Leo/Piper shot back, a teasing glint in his eyes that was unmistakably Piper, despite the face being Leo's.
Phoebe raised her hands, trying to restore some semblance of order. "Ok, ok, ok! What the hell is going on here?" she demanded, her voice rising above the bickering.
"Well, first of all, we're in each other's bodies," Piper/Leo said, stating the obvious but with a tone that suggested it was anything but simple.
"Well, yes. Obviously. But the question is, why?" Phoebe asked, her eyes narrowing as she tried to pierce through the layers of confusion to get to the heart of the problem.
Leo/Piper stopped scrying and placed the crystal down on the table with an exasperated sigh. "Stupid gardener," she muttered, frustration evident in her borrowed voice.
"He's a Soothsayer," Piper/Leo corrected, trying to maintain patience.
"He's a quack!" Leo/Piper retorted, picking up the crystal again with a huff.
"Ok. Well, whatever he is, I think he knows exactly what he's doing," Phoebe interjected, stepping forward. The couple rolled their eyes at her in unison, a rare moment of unity. "Come on! Every shrink wants couples to walk a mile in each other's shoes, right? This guy just did it literally."
Leo/Piper glanced down at his own chest, his hands awkwardly hovering over Piper/Leo's curves. Piper/Leo body, slapped his hands away, her eyes flashing with irritation. "Well, it's not working," Leo/Piper declared.
"Isn't it?" Phoebe countered; her gaze sharp as she looked at Piper/Leo. "Look, you've only been in Piper's body for a few hours, and already you see what she has to juggle—being the breadwinner, a mom, a Charmed One."
"See?" Leo/Piper said, nodding in agreement with Phoebe.
Phoebe turned to Leo/Piper. "And you, you finally get a good understanding of what it feels like to be Leo and not have any powers, and to be married to a witch. He has to do all the legwork around here, pick up all the slack. It's a thankless job. You guys have forgotten how great you are together. Everybody wants what you have. Trust me, I want what you have. Don't take it for granted."
A moment of silence fell over the room as Leo/Piper looked at Phoebe with a newfound understanding. "She's right," he admitted, his voice softening.
"I know," Piper/Leo replied, the realization dawning on her. "We need to find more time to spend together, Piper, just the two of us."
"So, we can talk," Leo/Piper added, his eyes meeting hers.
"And listen," Piper/Leo finished, her tone sincere.
As soon as the words left her mouth, a warm, red glow enveloped them both. The light pulsed gently, and in a flash, they found themselves back in their respective bodies. Piper glanced down at her familiar form, a mix of relief and lingering amazement washing over her, while Leo flexed his fingers, feeling the comforting weight of his own skin once more.
"We're back," Leo said, a note of relief coloring his voice.
"Whoo. Thank God," Piper echoed, exhaling deeply as the weight of their bizarre experience lifted.
"Thank the shrink. Now, hurry up and find Billie," Phoebe urged, her sense of urgency pulling them back to the pressing matter at hand.
Leo held out the crystal to Piper, his hand steady now that he was back in his own body. She took it from him, their fingers brushing briefly, a silent acknowledgment passing between them.
Before Piper could begin scrying, the attic door creaked open. "Um, there's no need for that," Billie announced as she stepped inside, JD trailing behind her. Her appearance was disheveled, but her eyes were determined, sparking with a newfound resolve. JD looked around the room, his eyes darting nervously. "JD needs to talk to Sam," Billie continued, her tone making it clear that whatever JD had to say was important and urgent.
Chadwick Photography Studio
The doorbell jangled as Paige and Buffy entered the photo studio, the soft chime almost lost in the tense atmosphere. Paige was on the phone, her voice sharp and frustrated. "What do you mean, he knows everything? I thought Billie was supposed to wrangle him." She sighed, glancing around the cluttered studio filled with photography equipment and scattered prints. "Yeah, we're here, but we're not seeing Sam. Well… just have JD call him. He's his charge. All right, all right, already. Criminy." She hung up the phone and sighed deeply, a mixture of exhaustion and irritation evident on her face. "Sam?" she called out, her voice echoing slightly in the quiet room.
Buffy looked around, her eyes scanning every corner. "Sam?" she repeated, a frown creasing her forehead. "I left him right here." Her voice was tinged with worry just as the bell on the shop door jingled again. Both women turned to see the front door slightly ajar, but no one was there.
"Looking for someone?" a voice said from behind them. Paige and Buffy whirled around to face Vaklav, who stood there with a smug expression.
"Who are you?" Paige demanded, her eyes narrowing.
"Well, not to be defined by my work, but let's just say… I like taking pictures," Vaklav replied, his tone dripping with malevolent satisfaction.
Buffy's eyes darted around the room. "Tripod!" she called out, and the tripod orbed out, slamming into Vaklav and pinning him against the wall with a resounding thud.
"Tell us where Sam is," Paige said, her voice a low growl.
Vaklav chuckled, a dark, sinister sound. "Oh, you love your father more than you think. Which means you'll miss him terribly," he said, his eyes glittering with malice. "You see, I'm an expert in pain. It's my bread and butter, really. I feed off it." He shimmered out and reappeared behind them in an instant. Paige and Buffy turned again, but not quickly enough. Vaklav backhanded them across the face with brutal force, sending both women sprawling to the ground.
Paige and Buffy looked up at him, their expressions a mix of anger and fear. "What do you want?!" Buffy demanded, her voice shaking with the effort to remain steady.
"To keep my collage complete," Vaklav answered, his voice calm and detached. "When JD escaped, I was forced to take Sam." He looked directly at Paige, a predatory smile spreading across his face. "If you want to see your father alive again… bring me JD."
Halliwell Manor
"We don't swap innocents," Piper said firmly, her eyes moving between her sister and her step-daughter. Both had just relayed the harrowing tale of Sam and Vaklav. The gravity of the situation was etched into the lines of her face. "The demon must know that."
"Well… he wasn't after JD. He's just a — a loose end, someone that got away," Paige said as she and Buffy settled onto a couch opposite Piper and Phoebe in the conservatory. The room was bathed in soft, natural light, but the heavy conversation cast a shadow over the usually serene space.
"Someone that he wants to finish off," Phoebe added, her voice low and contemplative.
"Well, he's got who he really wants — Sam," Buffy said, her tone tinged with guilt and worry.
"Yeah, thanks to me. I should've listened to him," Paige admitted, her shoulders slumping as the weight of regret bore down on her.
"Mmm, maybe you didn't want to," Phoebe said gently, her eyes softening as she tried to console her sister.
Just then, JD appeared in the doorway, his expression a mix of determination and defiance. "Hey, what's the problem? If he wants me, let him have me."
"Well, the problem is, he's gonna kill you," Phoebe said, her words blunt and filled with concern.
"I got away from him before, didn't I?" JD reminded her, a spark of defiance in his eyes.
"Yeah. How did you do that?" Piper asked, her curiosity piqued and her protective instincts on high alert.
"It was something I learned from my dad. And it works every time," JD said, his voice filled with conviction. He stood tall, a determined look in his eyes.
"No. Not this time. It's too dangerous," Billie interjected, her tone firm and unyielding. Her concern was palpable, her eyes pleading with him to reconsider.
"I have to agree with Billie," Buffy added, her voice steady but filled with an underlying urgency.
JD shook his head, frustration etched on his face. "Well, it doesn't matter. I owe him. He turned my life around. I—I don't know what I would've done without him," he said, his voice breaking slightly, revealing the depth of his gratitude and desperation.
"Um… why don't we take this up to the attic and see what Leo's come up with," Piper suggested, trying to diffuse the tension and redirect their focus to finding a solution.
"We'll be back," Phoebe said, glancing at JD with a reassuring smile as she, Piper, Buffy, and Paige exited the room, leaving JD and Billie behind.
JD watched them leave, the sense of urgency still gnawing at him. "Well… what about Sam?" he asked, turning back to Billie.
"Oh, they'll figure something out," Billie replied, trying to sound confident. But as JD turned to leave, her composure slipped. "JD, wait. Where do you think you're going?"
"Where do you think?" JD shot back, his eyes blazing with determination.
Billie stepped forward, blocking his path. "Look, I can't let you—hey, you know I can stop you this time," she said, her voice firm but tinged with desperation. She placed a hand on his arm, her grip gentle yet resolute.
JD stopped and sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping under the weight of his decision. He turned to look at Billie, his eyes filled with a sorrowful determination. "Billie… I have to go. And besides, this isn't my time anymore."
"What are you talking about?" Billie asked, confusion and concern mixing in her voice.
"Everyone I've ever loved, ever known, is gone now. I'm not supposed to be here," JD said, his voice cracking slightly as he spoke of his lost past.
"But you are here," Billie insisted, stepping closer, her eyes searching his face for understanding.
"Yeah, by some strange twist of fate," JD sighed, his gaze drifting away. "My time has passed. But Sam's still got family. He's still got friends. He can still help people."
Billie reached out, her hand gently touching his arm. "But you're here for a reason. I believe that," she said earnestly, her eyes filled with conviction.
JD looked at her, a bittersweet smile forming on his lips. "Well, maybe it was to do this. To do good. Or maybe it was just to meet you," he said softly, his gaze locking with hers.
"JD…" Billie pleaded, her voice breaking as tears welled up in her eyes.
JD stepped closer, his expression softening. "Promise me something. You won't waste your whole life looking for your sister like my dad wasted his looking for me," he said, his voice low and urgent.
"I don't understand. I don't—" Billie began, but her words were cut off as JD leaned in and kissed her, a tender yet sorrowful farewell. He brought his hand up and pressed a point on her neck, knocking her out immediately.
As Billie slumped into unconsciousness, JD gently laid her down on the couch. He leaned in close, his lips brushing her ear as he whispered, "I was lucky to know you, Billie." His voice was filled with a deep, aching tenderness.
JD straightened up, taking one last look at Billie's peaceful face. He knew this might be the last time he would see her. With a heavy heart, he turned and walked out of the house, the door closing behind him with a soft click that seemed to echo through the silent room.
Chadwick Photography Studio
The front doorbell of the photo studio jingled as JD entered, the sound sharp and intrusive in the eerie silence. The dim light cast long shadows across the room, highlighting the demonic camera that sat ominously on the countertop. "Sam?" JD called out, his voice echoing slightly as he closed the door behind him. "Sam!"
Vaklav shimmered into the room, his dark presence filling the space. His eyes glinted with malevolent satisfaction as he regarded JD.
"You let Sam go. You've got me now," JD said, standing tall despite the fear gnawing at him.
Vaklav chuckled, a cold, mirthless sound. "Still, I need Sam to complete my collage. Just like I needed you. But not anymore," he said, his voice dripping with sinister intent.
"If you don't free him, the sisters—" JD began, his voice rising with urgency.
"Will never find me," Vaklav interrupted, his tone confident and dismissive. "Once I've taken care of my last… loose end." A fireball formed in his hand, the flames casting a hellish glow on his face. JD's eyes widened, and he began to run toward Vaklav, a desperate attempt to stop him.
But it was too late. Vaklav hurled the fireball with deadly precision, striking JD squarely in the chest. JD's body convulsed, a cry of pain escaping his lips before he crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
Vaklav walked over to JD's fallen form, a cruel smile playing on his lips. He then picked up the demonic camera, its dark power seeming to pulse in his grasp. With a final glance at JD, he shimmered out of the studio, leaving behind a chilling silence.
Halliwell Manor
Billie stood in the kitchen alone, the silence around her heavy and suffocating. The fluorescent light above flickered slightly, casting an unforgiving glow on her tear-streaked face. The air was thick with the remnants of grief and regret. Buffy walked in, her presence a stark contrast to the somber mood. "Billie… it's not your fault," Buffy said gently, her voice a comforting balm.
"Yes, it is. I should've stopped him," Billie said, her eyes locked on Buffy with a mix of anguish and determination. Her hands gripped the edge of the countertop, knuckles white as she fought to steady herself.
"If you could have, you would have. He didn't want you to," Buffy said, her tone firm yet soothing. She took a step closer, trying to bridge the emotional distance that had grown between them.
"It's just so unfair. How—why would JD come back after all this time just to die like this?" Billie's voice cracked, the question hanging in the air like a haunting refrain.
Buffy's gaze softened, and she stepped closer, placing a reassuring hand on Billie's shoulder. "We can't save every innocent," she said softly. "We're witches, or in my case, witch/Whitelighter/Slayer… not… Gods."
"But I promised to protect him," Billie said, her voice barely a whisper. The weight of her promise felt like an insurmountable burden, a chain around her heart.
"Promises can be tricky," Buffy said, her tone understanding and empathetic. "Sometimes you just have to let things happen… in their own time… in their own way. Everything happens for a reason."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Phoebe, Piper, and Leo walked into the attic, their footsteps echoing softly in the spacious, dimly lit room. Paige was hunched over the scrying table, her concentration evident as she moved the crystal around the map with swift, deliberate motions.
"Paige, you're not gonna find Sam that way," Piper said, her voice carrying a note of frustration and concern. She approached the table, her eyes filled with a mix of worry and determination.
"Oh, yeah? Watch me," Paige replied, her tone defiant as she continued her fruitless search.
"Well, how do you know he's even in the city? You don't know who the demon is," Leo interjected, his voice tinged with skepticism. He joined Piper at the table, glancing at the scrying map with a furrowed brow.
Paige stopped abruptly and turned to face them, her face a mask of realization. "You're right," she admitted, her shoulders drooping slightly. She dropped the crystal onto the table with a clink and moved away, her frustration palpable.
She walked over to the Book of Shadows, the ancient tome resting on a pedestal bathed in a warm, amber glow. Her fingers traced the faded, intricate symbol on the cover before she opened it and began flipping through the pages with a sense of urgency.
"You two... make a vanquishing potion, the strongest one we've got," Paige instructed, her voice commanding yet tinged with desperation as she glanced at Piper and Phoebe. The urgency in her tone left no room for debate.
"Uh… you know, there is another way to find Sam," Phoebe said, her eyes brightening with a hint of a new idea.
"Yeah? How?" Paige asked, her curiosity piqued as she paused her search and looked up.
"Call him?" Leo suggested, his tone gentle but firm.
"I already tried that. Thanks," Paige said, a hint of frustration in her voice. Her shoulders slumped as she returned her attention to the Book of Shadows.
"You... called for Sam," Piper said thoughtfully. "I think you need to call for your father."
Paige's face tightened, a conflicted expression crossing her features. "He's not… my father," she said, her voice laced with unresolved emotions.
"He's not your only father, but he is still, in fact, your father," Leo said, his tone softening with understanding. "Just like while I am Buffy's biological father, I am not her only father. You and Sam are connected. At least as a Whitelighter."
Paige rolled her eyes but reluctantly gave it a try. "Dad?" she called out, her voice tinged with a mix of hope and frustration.
After a long, tense moment, a shimmering ripple appeared in the attic, and Sam materialized with a look of utter astonishment on his face. "Paige," he said, his voice laced with surprise and relief.
Just as Sam's bewildered gaze took in the surroundings, all the other individuals whom Vaklav had stolen began to appear behind him, their expressions ranging from confusion to exhaustion. The attic, once a sanctuary of mystical secrecy, was now crowded with faces marked by distress.
Piper, ever the quick thinker, began waving her hands in a calm, deliberate manner. "Uh… okay, everybody, let's back up. We're gonna have some company," she announced, her voice carrying authority and urgency.
In the midst of this chaos, Vaklav shimmered into the attic, clutching a blank piece of parchment. His expression was one of baffled frustration as he surveyed the scene. "I don't understand," he muttered, his gaze darting between the newly arrived figures and the empty parchment in his hand.
Piper stepped protectively in front of Sam, her stance firm and defiant. Vaklav's eyes narrowed as he glared at her with a mix of anger and confusion. "How did you free them?!" he demanded, his voice rising with fury.
"Ooh. I didn't," Piper replied, her eyes shifting to Paige with a knowing glance. "She did."
Paige shrugged nonchalantly, a small, self-satisfied smile tugging at her lips. "I guess my Whitelighter side is stronger than I thought," she said, her voice carrying a hint of surprise and pride.
Vaklav's face contorted with rage as a fireball began to form in his hand, its fiery glow casting an ominous light. Without hesitation, he hurled it toward Paige. Reacting swiftly, Piper waved her hand with practiced ease, redirecting the fireball back at Vaklav. The fireball struck him squarely in the chest, the force of the impact sending him crashing to the floor with a pained grunt.
Seizing the moment, Paige grabbed the demonic camera from the table and aimed it at the fallen Vaklav. "Smile," she said, her tone dripping with a mix of triumph and defiance.
"No!" Vaklav cried out, his voice a desperate wail as he tried to scramble away.
Paige snapped a photo, the flash illuminating the dim attic with a blinding light. As the flash subsided, Vaklav vanished into thin air, his furious cry echoing as he disappeared.
Paige looked at the demonic camera with a satisfied smile, then picked up the blank parchment that had fallen beside her. She examined it closely and saw Vaklav's image captured in the center, now frozen in the photographic frame. "I think I'll have this one framed," she said, a playful edge to her voice.
Leo, surveying the scene and the people now milling about in the attic, turned to Paige with a concerned expression. "What about them?" he asked, gesturing toward the group of rescued individuals.
Paige looked around, her brow furrowing slightly as she considered their situation. "Hmm," she said thoughtfully, her mind already working on the next steps.
November 8, 1997 – Saturday
Golden Gate Bridge
Paige and Buffy stood atop the highest tower of the Golden Gate Bridge; the expansive view of San Francisco sprawled beneath them. The wind whipped through the air, carrying the tang of the bay and the distant hum of the city. The setting sun bathed the scene in a golden hue, casting long shadows across the bridge's steel cables.
Paige's gaze was fixed on the horizon, her posture a blend of determination and weariness. "You may as well show up. I know you're lurking around here somewhere," she called out, her voice carrying over the wind.
With a shimmering, ethereal glow, Sam orbed into view. He materialized beside them with a soft pop, his appearance marked by a calm and composed demeanor. "Nothing wrong with those Whitelighter instincts of yours. Figured you'd want to talk," he said, his tone both warm and respectful.
Paige took a deep breath, her eyes reflecting the fading light as she turned to face Sam. "Uh, actually, I… wanted to apologize," she began, her voice tinged with sincerity.
"For…?" Sam inquired, his eyebrows raising in curiosity.
"For being so hard on you," Paige admitted, her gaze dropping momentarily as she grappled with her emotions.
"Paige, look, you don't have to, uh—" Sam started, his voice gentle as he tried to brush off the need for an apology.
"Yeah, actually… I do," Paige interjected firmly. "Guess I hadn't realized how much… you know, it hurt me — the whole… not-showing-up thing."
Sam's expression softened, his eyes filled with understanding. "I don't blame you," he said. "I should've come by long ago. But… out of deference to your… real father's memory, I… I'm not exactly sure how I fit in."
Paige looked at Sam, her expression a mixture of empathy and resolve. "Well… I think there's room for both of you in my life," she said earnestly. The words seemed to float in the air, mingling with the soft breeze that swept across the bridge.
Sam gave a nod of appreciation, his features reflecting a blend of relief and gratitude. "Agent Murphy managed to track down all the innocents' families?" he asked, shifting the conversation to a more practical concern.
"Yes, he did," Buffy confirmed, her tone firm and resolute.
Paige nodded thoughtfully, a trace of concern in her eyes. "I think it's safe to say Mr. Sawyer got the shock of his life. It'll be a tough adjustment," she remarked, her gaze reflecting a blend of empathy and realism.
"Better late than never," Sam replied, a hint of optimism in his voice.
"Yeah," Paige agreed, her expression turning somber. "Unfortunately, not for JD."
Sam's eyes softened as he considered Paige's words. "Oh, I wouldn't be so sure about that. It might've taken him an extra fifty years, but I think he finally managed to prove himself a future Whitelighter… by saving another. You," he said, his gaze turning towards Paige with a proud and affectionate look.
A smile spread across Paige's face, her eyes shining with gratitude and warmth.
"See you around?" Sam asked, his voice carrying a note of casual finality as he prepared to take his leave.
"Definitely," Paige agreed, her smile widening.
Buffy stepped forward, her voice carrying a note of personal significance. "Sam," she began, drawing his attention. "Paige and I are getting married in a few months. Maybe…"
Sam glanced at Paige, his eyes reflecting a mixture of nostalgia and pride. "I would be happy to attend and even walk you down the aisle, Paige," he said, his tone sincere and heartfelt.
The offer hung in the air, filled with the promise of a meaningful connection. Paige's eyes glistened with emotion as she nodded, her heart touched by the gesture. The weight of the past seemed to lift as the future unfolded, bringing with it the potential for new beginnings and cherished moments.