Darryl let out a deep sigh, letting the door click shut behind him as he stepped into his apartment. He shrugged off his jacket, hanging it up on the coatrack like he always did. Somehow, he didn't feel any lighter. His apartment was dark, quiet, like he was stepping into a lonely refuge. Memories rose unbidden to his mind; him and Andy, laughing together as they drank to their football team's win, late night discussions after tough cases, back when this felt like a home.
Darryl sniffled, slightly shocked when a single tear rolled down his cheek. God, he missed Andy. Nothing had been the same since he'd died. He didn't just lose his partner... he lost his best friend. There'd been a hole in Darryl's heart ever since... and he had all but given up hope that it'd ever be whole again.
The inspector took a deep breath to gather himself, then slipped out of his shoes and headed for the kitchen. He threw a frozen TV dinner into the microwave like clockwork, pulling out a glass to pour himself a shot of whiskey. He definitely needed it after last night. As he watched the microwave timer tick down, he replayed Prue's words in his mind.
It's not a gang, Darryl... it's... I don't know.
I can heal them... I have a new power and it- it scares me...
I can't eat and I can't sleep and I can't escape this horrible feeling that something is wrong and-
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Darryl shook his head to dispel the thoughts, downing the shot of whiskey in one go before opening the microwave. He traipsed into the living room, practically collapsing into the worn recliner with a sigh. Normally, at this point, he'd turn on the TV and fall asleep to football reruns or the morning news, but there was no way he'd be able to concentrate. He needed to figure out what was going on.
Darryl had never seen Prue so broken. She had to be running on no sleep, probably hadn't eaten a full meal in days, and was carrying this burden on her shoulders alone. On top of that, she probably had a concussion and a sprained wrist from the previous night. Where does it end, Prue?
Prue was the most selfless woman Darryl had ever met. She faced monsters that only appeared in his nightmares every single day without fear. She protected everyone around her, giving everything she had to saving Innocents... but she'd run herself into the ground before burdening anyone else. Darryl had seen Prue sacrifice herself time and time again, resorting to patching her up after late-night run-ins with evil, driving her to the hospital on multiple occasions, and sometimes having to call her sisters to ensure Prue actually got some rest. But something about this was different. Prue looked genuinely afraid: afraid of herself or afraid of whatever was hurting these people, Darryl wasn't sure. But he was damn well going to find out before Prue killed herself trying to save them.
He looked down at the microwave pasta bowl in his lap, which had long since cooled. The inspector wasn't even hungry any more. He set it to the side, making a mental note to pick up some stuff for him and Prue before their patrol tonight. A brief thought crossed his mind; would Prue even come tonight? Part of him hoped that she wouldn't, that she would go home and eat and get some rest... but a larger part of him knew that the notion was almost laughable. Prue would never run from danger; if anything, she ran towards it. With a concerned sigh, he pulled out his cell, dialing a familiar number...
Ding!
Prue flinched at the familiar tone of the elevator, glancing up to see the needle over 12. This was her stop. She stepped off as the doors opened, hoping that she was here early enough that she wouldn't run into anyone asking about her black eye. It was bad enough trying to lie to Piper this morning... Prue knew she hadn't fully succeeded.
The elevator doors shut behind her. Prue hadn't even noticed that she'd paused in her route to her office. She scanned the empty hallway, feeling guiltily relieved that nobody was there. Well, it IS a Sunday... the wry voice in her head reminded her, as if she needed another reason to feel guilty. She shook her head to dispel the thoughts, wincing as the pain in her head surged, leaving her dizzy and disoriented for a few seconds afterwards.
The oldest Halliwell inhaled deeply, trying to gather herself. She couldn't help but wince at the pain in her ribs, not wanting to think about the black bruising blooming across her torso. When her vision stopped spinning, she warily took a few steps towards her office, grateful that she'd opted to wear flats instead of her signature high heels.
"Ms. Halliwell?" A soft voice spoke from behind her.
Prue whirled around, startled. The dizziness returned full force, almost sending her toppling to the floor. She gripped the wall beside her for support, hoping that the movement looked casual. She squinted at the small figure behind her, trying to focus her blurry vision enough to make out who was there. "Monique?" She finally asked, mostly sure that her small executive assistant was the only silhouette of that stature.
"I'm so sorry, Ms. Halliwell! I didn't mean to scare you!" Monique hurriedly apologized, almost tripping over her own words.
Prue smiled, somewhat relieved. "It's alright, Monique. I just wasn't expecting anyone else to be here. And please, call me Prue." She added sincerely.
"I could say the same for you, Ms. Hal- Prue." Monique smiled at her. "I was just coming in for a few hours this morning to get caught up on some of the cataloging. I'm hoping to not have to stay as late this upcoming week." She explained, her gaze studying Prue as the smile faded, replaced by worry. "Are you alright?" The executive assistant noticed pointedly that Prue was still gripping the wall for support.
"Um- y-yeah. I'm okay." Prue exhaled shakily, gingerly letting go of the wall. "Sorry, I think I'm just tired."
Monique smiled at her in endearing concern. "That's because you work too hard, Prue. You inspire me to work harder, that's for sure." She gushed, adjusting the files she hugged to her chest.
Prue flashed her assistant a warm smile. "Trust me, Monique, you don't wanna be like me." She shook her head slowly, somewhat self-consciously, trying to stave off the dizziness. "Thanks for everything you do; I know I don't say it enough. But please don't work too hard; take some time to have fun this weekend." She insisted, not wanting her lively assistant to be cooped up in her office on her weekend.
Monique let out a laugh. "Trust me, I'll be out of a here in an hour or so. But please don't tell me you're going to be here all day? If anyone deserves a break, it's you." She half-pleaded, already knowing her boss well enough to know it was futile.
Prue winked. "I'll try not to."
Monique figured it was the best response she could have hoped for. "Alright, Ms. Halliwell, I'll leave you to it. Don't work too hard." She stepped around her boss to continue down the hall to her office. "Wait, Prue, if you happen to get any phone calls, do you want me to transfer them to your line? Or would you rather not be disturbed this morning? I only ask since your sister Piper called yesterday..." She trailed off, pivoting to see her boss's reaction.
Prue blanched slightly, feeling the guilt spark in her chest once again. "I-" she broke off, unsure of what to say. "It doesn't matter." She settled on lamely.
Monique looked puzzled, but didn't argue. "I'll use my best judgment. Have a nice day, Prue." With that, her assistant rounded the corner and was out of sight, leaving Prue in an empty hallway once more.
Prue sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of her nose. After a moment to gather herself, she painstakingly made it to her office, shutting the door behind her and practically collapsing into her office chair. Her ribcage screamed in protest as she leaned over the desk, head in her hands while her feelings reared their ugly head.
Guilt pervaded every fiber of Prue's being. She'd tried so hard to convince Piper that nothing was wrong this morning, but she knew she had failed. It hurt her to look into her younger sister's previously happy gaze only to see confusion and sadness and worry. She didn't know that Piper and Leo were waiting up for her the night before; she would've done a better job at concealing herself, but she'd gotten lazy and now her sister was involved in this mess.
Where does it end, Prue?
She's asked herself the same question a thousand times over the past few weeks. Ever since the Mark, ever since the Prophecy... as if on cue, the mark emblazoned on her chest began to burn, the triquetra seemingly taunting her for her inability to live up to her destiny. In some ways, she longed to tell her sisters everything, hoping that they could figure this out together and stop the madness that was plaguing her every thought... but she couldn't. Piper and Phoebe were so happy, caught up in the lives they deserved to live, finally free of the worry that had been plaguing them for so long. If destiny had chosen Prue, then she would save them, whatever it took.
She was so tired... all of the sleepless nights threatened to catch up to her in these silent moments. Her eyes burned, her body heavy with exhaustion, but her mind raced with anxiety every time she even considered giving in. Her stomach twisted in fearful knots, nausea engulfing her any time she focused on it, drowning out any semblance of hunger. Prue knew she wasn't invincible; she'd taken enough hits to know that. She felt every injury, experienced the sucking feeling of her magic draining... but she couldn't stop. She wouldn't give up. She had to figure this out. For her, for her sisters, for the Innocents...
BRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNGGGGGG!
Prue gasped, practically falling out of the office chair as the phone startled her out of her emotional reverie. It was as if she was plunged back into her own body, the pain of her injuries flooding her mind. She was dimly aware that cold tears had been streaming down her cheeks.
BRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNGGGGGG!
After a moment of hesitation, Prue picked up the receiver, hoping that her voice was stronger than she felt. "Hello?" It wasn't.
"Prue?" Darryl's voice echoed on the other line.
"Darryl... hi." Prue pressed a hand to her forehead, unsure whether to feel guilty or relieved.
"So... you did end up goin' to work." He chuckled lowly.
"You know me. Besides, cataloguing isn't gonna do itself. Trust me, I wish it did." Prue tried to keep the tone lighthearted, but her voice lacked its usual mirth.
"Yeah, I know you." Darryl said, his words somehow comforting. "Did you get any sleep?"
Prue shook her head, then only afterwards realized that Darryl couldn't see her response. "I tried?" She offered after a beat of silence. "You?" She tried to turn the tables.
"I'm gonna try. I just got back." He answered, pausing for a moment. "Does seven o'clock work? I'll come pick you up."
"For?" Prue asked, struggling to figure out what he meant.
"Tonight. You, me, patrolling. Saving the world. Whatever the night entails." Darryl joked, but the concern was clearly unstated. "Prue... you can't do this alone. Let me help. Please. I can't stand by and watch you get hurt." His voice took on a much more caring tone.
Prue inhaled sharply, tears forming in her eyes. "O-okay." She agreed, swallowing harshly. "I'm sorry I got you into this-"
"Prue." Darryl interrupted her, his tone warm and understanding. "We're a team. You don't have to apologize, okay?"
"Okay." Prue agreed, voice shaking only slightly.
"Good. Don't work too hard today, okay?" He insisted, more lighthearted now.
"Get some rest, Darryl." She replied good-naturedly.
"See you tonight, Prue."
"Bye..."
With a foreboding click, the call ended, leaving Prue alone in her office, feeling slightly lighter than before.
Piper sat at the breakfast bar, fingers knitted together beneath her chin as she looked on in worry. She wasn't sure how long she'd been sitting there, contemplating what to do, rifling through her memories to unravel the mystery she was now in the middle of. The middle Halliwell stared at the tray of blueberry muffins, which had long since cooled. Prue hadn't even taken one for herself. While the realization didn't surprise her, it still sent a dagger through Piper's heart.
"Good morning!" Leo's faux chipper voice tinged with exhaustion sounded from behind her as he stepped into the kitchen. Piper turned slightly to face her husband. "Piper, you made muffins? Blueberry is my favorite!" He hurried to the tray, plucking one out of the tray and beginning to unwrap it.
Piper cleared her throat. "I- I didn't, actually. Prue did." Her words felt hollow even to her own ears.
"What?" Leo's smile faltered in confusion as the memories from last night came rushing back. At Piper's silence, he hesitantly asked, "Where is she?"
"Work. At least, that's where she said she'd be. But it wouldn't be the first thing she's lied about today." Piper couldn't help the anger that filled her voice.
They'd talked about it once. Prue called it a defense mechanism. Piper worried that she was angry so often; she hated being angry, especially at her sisters. You're not angry, Piper. Prue told her once, her eyes warm. Piper had scoffed in disbelief. Anger is a secondary emotion. You're worried, you're sad, you're guilty, you're scared... You're not angry. Piper covered up those emotions with anger, because it was easier to deal with, Prue tried to convince her. She almost believed it.
"What do you mean?" Leo asked worriedly, setting aside the muffin and stepping towards his wife. "Did you talk to her?"
"Yes- no- I don't know. I tried." Piper threw her hands up in frustration, but trailed off in defeat.
"Piper..." Leo placed a hand on her shoulder, squeezing slightly for support.
Piper sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I got up a while ago and came downstairs. Prue was already up and dressed for work. She had makeup on but it didn't really cover up her black eye. She was making muffins... she said she felt bad for making us wait up for her." She rolled her eyes affectionately. "I tried to ask her about it... but she just said she got jumped last night. Then she went to work."
"She got jumped?" Leo asked, brow furrowed in confusion.
Piper laughed lowly. "Yeah. I really wanted to believe her, but you should've seen her, Leo. She's exhausted. She's hurt. She's scared. I just-" She exhaled deeply. "I just don't understand why she's pushing us away." Tears stung her tired eyes.
Leo pulled her close to him, wrapping her protectively in his arms. "We'll figure this out, Piper."
"Is it my fault?" Piper practically whimpered. "Should I have noticed sooner? I was too caught up in us..."
"No, Piper!" Leo assured emphatically, kneeling to meet her eyes. "You know how Prue is... she doesn't want you to worry."
"Exactly! I know how Prue is... she carries the weight of the world on her shoulders without ever asking for any help. I can't tell you how much it hurts to see her break under that burden..." Piper took a few deep breaths, trying to keep from sobbing. "I'm just- I'm really scared, Leo. I've never seen her look so broken..."
Leo nodded, brow furrowed in deep concern. "I know, Piper. We'll figure this out, I promise." He repeated, squeezing her shoulder in support. "I'm gonna orb up and talk to the Elders... maybe they have information that we don't."
Piper nodded, exhaling shakily. "Yeah... that's a good idea."
"I'll see you soon." Leo murmured, pressing a kiss to her forehead as he stood, then disappeared in a shower of lights.
Piper looked on, gaze fixated on the long forgotten blueberry muffins, praying to whoever was listening that her sister would be okay...