Written by Andrea V. Haag

copyright  2001

   Alexandra didn’t have many friends. She didn’t have the time or a need for them, since she was constantly traveling. She seemed the type of person who wanted to settle in one place, but an indescribable invisible force kept driving or pushing her on. No family, no house, and the only possessions she had was what she carried in her backpack. Though she wasn’t destitute, she did have an ample supply of money, due to several trust funds bequeath in her name, by now dead relatives. Yeah, she could have the good life, living in a ranch house surrounded by friends and pets and all the other luxuries that comes from money, but that mysterious force would never allow her to relax. Never resting, never staying too long and always looking over her shoulder. Not the life she really wanted to lead, but the only one she knew.

She had just arrived in San Francisco, and automatically felt that this could be a place she would love to live the rest of her life in, if she were allowed. The city had a presence of its own, almost magically welcoming her with open arms. She was doing her own self-guided tour through the more popular tourist sites since she wasn’t on any schedule. The only place she was looking for now was a place to buy something to eat. After purchasing some lunch, which consisted of sandwiches and fresh fruits, she settled herself in a park, making a quiet picnic for herself and just enjoying the sunny day. It was moments like this she loved the most, watching kids having fun playing ball, dogs running around playing catch with their owners, watching lovers walking hand in hand totally immersed in themselves without a care in the world, and just listening to the sweet sounds of songbirds happily chirping nearby.

As time passed, the park became quiet, apparently the people in the park going home for the day. So Alexandra decided to take a nap underneath a strong and sturdy oak tree, which provided her shade from the sun’s hot rays. She didn’t get the chance to fully fall asleep, since a scream pierced the late afternoon air, which was followed by a sinister laugh. It was that laugh that sent chills up her spine and made her blood turn icy cold. She had heard a laugh like that so many times before; that she knew predicted impeding doom.

The Halliwell sisters tracked the demon to this park, or had it lured them here? They couldn’t be too sure who had the upper hand. What they did know and had confidence in was, that they had the power of three to vanquish him. They were several feet away from this demon, but distance never bothered them before, its all the same when you had to vanquish something evil. This demon was just another one in a long line of demons and warlocks that appeared this year, hoping to kill the Charmed Ones.

                    “So have you got a spell in mind, Pheebs?” Prue asked.

“I’m working on it Prue…. but he keeps blinking all over, so it’s hard directing it at him.” Phoebe said in a hurried voice.

“Well, do something Pheebs! I feel like I’m looking at a tennis match.” Piper said in an excited voice.

“So, I’ll finally get rid of the Charmed Ones, or should I say the Condemned Ones! You damn bitches won’t survive!”

                    “Stick and Stones… Piper responded so that only her sisters could hear.

                    “Why do they always have to call us names?” Phoebe asked no one in
                    particular.

“Not if I can help it!” Prue yelled back, as she used her power to strike back at him.

 

The demon grinning, re-tallied by sending a fireball directed towards the girls, but specifically at Prue. Piper and Phoebe screamed, as Prue deftly redirected the fireball back at him, just missing him by inches and landing in the grass next to him.

                   “We can’t go on like this all day Prue.” Piper said.

                   “Yeah, I know…Pheebs got anything yet?”

                   “Hold on… almost have it!” Phoebe answered.

“We don’t have much time Phoebe! I’m tired playing tennis with this creep.” Prue exclaimed, ready for another volley of attacks and holding her hands ready to deflect them.

 

Actually, what the sisters didn’t know was that this demon was just playing with them and not showing it’s full potential. Unbeknownst to the girls was that this demon had a twin. Unusual for demons to have a double, or to be twins that shared their powers. If one fought the other would channel all its energies toward the other making it twice as powerful. Right now the other twin was having fun watching what was unfolding in front of him. Yes, this twin was behind the Charmed Ones, out of view and unnoticed by the Halliwells.

It was after the screams and the fireball that rocked the ground, that Alexandra got up and peered around the tree to view the scene in front of her. Three ladies, close to her age, were battling a gruesome figure, which she instantly recognized as a demon. She had been in similar situation as these girls some time ago and knew exactly that feeling of doom and dread that rushes into your soul. She decided to wait this one out, to watch safely behind the tree, since this time the demon wasn’t after her. She just didn’t want to get involved and risk her life for some strangers, though she felt some kind of strange kinship with these girls. She felt ashamed that she stood passively by, not helping where apparently assistance was truly needed.

It was then that out of the corner of her eye, she spotted another demon, hanging back behind the girls. He wasn’t doing anything but smiling, apparently amused at the scene in front of him. It was this demon twin that Alexandra kept a very close watch on, ready to intervene and act if necessary.

“ Ok, freezing him doesn’t work! He just blinks before I freeze everything.” Piper said in her hyper voice.

“Maybe, if we used our powers at the same time, Mister demon over there, won’t know which one to react to.” Prue replied, apparently becoming pissed that this demon was hard to vanquish.

Prue sent the demon stumbling back as she yelled out “Now” signaling her sister to freeze him. Piper froze time, stopping the demon in front of them but not his twin. Apparently the twin got wind as to their strategy and blinked out just as Piper brought her hands up. Blinking back just a few feet behind the witches.

                   “Ok Pheebs, send Mister demon there to a vacation in hell.” Prue said.

Just as she finished saying this statement, she noticed a girl who had bolted out from behind a tree towards them.

“Prue….” Is all Piper got out, surprised that this person wasn’t frozen, like everything else around them.

That girl was now running towards them, with her hands in front of her cupping a blue-white light. Prue, Piper and Phoebe looking at her stood there shocked. Prue was confused that this person wasn’t frozen, then saw that this girl directed the blue-white light flying towards her, didn’t have much time to think but reacted instinctively by bringing up her own hands, sending this girl flying back, just as she let go of her power. Prue’s power sent Alexandra with a powerful force into the tree behind her and knocking her unconscious.

All of this happened in a span of a few short seconds, almost like watching a movie in slow motion. It was also in that short time span that Phoebe looked at Prue and noticed out of the corner of her eye, another demon standing directly behind them.

“Nooo…Prue!” Phoebe said too late. For she understood now what this girl was trying to do. She was helping vanquish the demon behind them, but it was too late.

The blue-white ball of light whizzed past Prue and directly into the chest of the twin demon behind her, sending him screaming to demon hell. Time unfroze. The other twin demon in front of them then saw what happened just as time unfroze but only had time to let out a scream, as he to was vanquished. They shared more than powers, now they’ll share hell together.

                    “Boy I’m glad that’s over!” Piper said

“Prue…I think that girl was trying to help us. There was another demon standing behind you.” Phoebe got out.

Now realizing what happened, Prue exclaimed, “Oh god I hope I didn’t kill her!”

They all ran up to where she was lying on the grass, just a few feet in front of the tree. Phoebe got there first and knelt down to lift her head a bit and felt something warm and sticky in her hands. Pulling her hand back, she noticed it was covered with blood and noticed the terrified look in Prue’s eyes.

“I didn’t mean to hurt her…I thought she was a warlock or a demon…” Prue whimpered.

                   “Prue, she’s still breathing. Call for an ambulance.” Phoebe said.

Piper comforted her devastated sister as she called for some help on her cell phone. Phoebe continued to check the unknown girl for any other possible injuries.

“Boy, she really got whacked against the tree. I surprised she’s still alive.” Phoebe thought to herself knowing that if she said this out loud it would only make Prue feel worse.

“Piper, what are you doing?” Prue asked, seeing her sister searching through the backpack, which was next to the tree.

“Well, we have to find out who or what she is…. don’t we? Looks like there’s not much here anyways other than clothes, a small book…hold on, here’s something.” She said as she pulled out a black leather case. Inside she found cash and a Manhattan Bank credit card.

“Wow Prue, she’s not a vagrant. She has at least two thousand in cash here and a credit card from a bank in Manhattan! It says on the card that her name is Alexandra Parker.”

“It least we know what name to give to the EMT.” Prue said as she heard the siren off in the distance.

Piper was re-packing the items she took out of the backpack as the ambulance came closer to their location. Piper and Prue watched as the emergency medical technicians pulled the gurney next to Alexandra.

“Careful, I think she might have broken her neck and she’s bleeding bad from the back of her head.” Phoebe told the EMT.

“Thanks, we got it from here…” He responded back to her. “Any idea what her name is?”

                    “Alexandra Parker” Piper replied.

                    “Did one of you ladies want to go to the hospital with her?” He asked again.

Piper, Prue and Phoebe all looked at each other, hesitating before answering him back. In this short time Prue came to the decision that she should at least go since it was her life that Alexandra saved and that it was her that injured Alexandra.

                    “I’ll go.” Prue said seeing the amazed looks her sisters gave her.

The technician was already loading Alexandra into the ambulance as Prue turned to her sisters.

                  “I have to. She saved my life….our lives and I’m the one who almost killed
                  her.”

“Ok Prue. We’ll follow you to the hospital. Maybe we can find out something more on Ms. Parker.” Piper said.

Piper and Phoebe stood there watching the ambulance take their sister and Alexandra to the hospital. Looking back on the scene, Phoebe noticed that dark patch in the grass where it once occupied Alexandra’s head. It was a scene that was going to stay fresh in her mind, as well as Prue’s. Piper picked up the backpack and headed off to her jeep.

                    “Come on Pheebs. Piper yelled back.

Phoebe turned and ran back to the car. Piper’s green Jeep then sped off into the direction that the ambulance had taken, to the hospital.

  Phoebe and Piper arrived at the hospital, just in time to see Prue finish talking to a nurse.

                   “So what’s the verdict? Pheebs asked in a soft voice.

“They won’t tell me. The nurse said that she’s still with the doctor in the emergency room. She said that we’ll have to wait til the doctor comes out to speak to us.”

“Don’t worry honey, she’s going to be all right.” Piper said as she gave Prue a hug.

   Meanwhile in the emergency room, the doctor was busy trying to save Alexandra’s life. He ordered x-rays due to a possible spinal injury and a CAT scan to find out how much damage was done to her head, as well as another pint of blood. Right now he was doing everything in his power to keep the blood pressure stable and treating her for shock. Once he had her stabilized he orders the nurse to take her up for the tests and went out to find the relatives or her friends. The doctor, thinking to himself, that it would be a shame that such a beautiful vibrant life could be snuffed out at such a young age.

The doctor headed down the hall towards the waiting room to deliver the news to the waiting relatives. The nurse had pointed out Prue to him, saying that she came in with the victim in the ambulance.

                    “Are you a relative of Ms. Parker? “ The doctor asked Prue.

                    “Ummm…no, just a friend.” Prue said, hesitating before she answered back.

“Well, I really can’t release any information other than to relatives but apparently there are no relatives that we can reach.” The doctor told her.

Phoebe and Piper stood behind Prue, listening intently to the conversation the doctor was having with Prue. They knew by the look in his face that he was about to tell something serious about Alexandra’s condition to Prue.

“Ms Parker sustained a major blow to the back of her head, causing some swelling of the brain. She is in a coma right now and she will be monitored around the clock for any changes. It is critical that she comes out of this in the next 24 hours to see if there is any brain damage. As for other injuries, she has pinched nerve on the 4^{th vertebrae and a possible hairline fracture on her 5th vertebrae. Meaning she’ll be a little sore and not able to walk for awhile. It was extremely lucky that she didn’t severely injure her neck or severed her spinal column. “}

“How are her chances? Will she…make it…” Prue asked hesitantly, holding back the turmoil that was running deep inside her.

“Well, at this point it’s hard to say. She has a 50/50 chance of surviving, but I really can’t say at this point. We need to get her out of the coma first, to update her progress. I would say that if you believe in miracles then pray for one. I will let you know if there is any change in her condition. If you wish to see her, you can go into her room now. Maybe talking to her will somehow bring her out of the coma and that will be the first step in her recovery.”

The doctor left the waiting room. Prue just stood there and watched as the doctor walked away, frozen with grief and fear at what she did to Alexandra. Piper and Phoebe came up behind Prue and gave her a supporting hug.

“Honey, it wasn’t your fault. You didn’t know she wasn’t a demon.” Piper’s words trying to comfort her.

“Yeah, it happened so fast! And we didn’t expect that there was another demon behind us.” Pheebs went on to say.

“I know but I still feel responsible. What if she doesn’t make it? What if she’s brain damaged? I might have killed an innocent, which we are supposed to protect.” Prue said. And we still haven’t figured out what she is and why she didn’t freeze.”

“Maybe I can try to find out who and what she is.” Phoebe said. I’ll go back to the manor and check the Internet on any articles on her, or information on her credit card.”

“And maybe I can get a hold of Leo and see what he knows about her.” Piper added.

                    ^{“Thanks, you guys are great!” Said a grateful Prue.}

As she watched her sisters leave, Prue said a little mental prayer. “Please let her come through this and let her forgive me for what I did to her.” Then she started walking slowly to Alexandra’s room, in intensive care. She walked into the room, just as a nurse was finished checking the IV and heart monitor and waited until the nurse left before standing next the bed to see her handy work. Lying before her was a beautiful sandy blond hair girl, just about the same age as Phoebe. The only difference was that she had tubes coming out of her arms, her head was heavily bandaged and EKG wires running from her head to the machine standing in the corner. The only noise that could be heard in the room was the beeping of the heart monitor and the hissing of the oxygen machine made as it helped pump oxygen through tubes in her nose. This site in front of her was something that broke Prue’s heart to see. She made herself comfortable in the chair next to the bed and started talking softly to Alexandra.

“I wish you can tell me who and what you are. I’m sorry that I did this to you and I hope you can eventually forgive me.” She said

Then she began by introducing herself, and telling Alexandra about herself and her ^sisters.

   Meanwhile back at the Halliwell Manor, Piper was flipping through the pages of the Book of Shadows with determination and a look of frustration. Phoebe was at the table nearby, typing away on the laptap doing research of her own, though she is having better luck than Piper, in finding out about Alexandra Parker.

                    “Any luck in finding any reference to witches named Parker?” Phoebe
                    asked.

“No not really. There was only one reference in the Book of Shadows, that there were two sisters who were burned to death at the Salem witch trials for revealing an unusual power. Doesn’t say what power though. And their last name was Parker. But that still doesn’t tell us if Alexandra is a witch.” Piper answered back.

“It could be the same family tree.” Phoebe said. “The Internet newspaper search I did found a Samantha Parker. It seems she died under mysterious cause, though it’s listed as a suicide.” Hmmm…let’s see…Upstate New York, Samantha’s car found submerged in a shallow lake. The reporter goes to say that the mysterious circumstances was, that the victim could have easily gotten to shore safely but drowned in five feet of water.”

                    “That is curious.” Piper said reading over Phoebe’s shoulder.

“The funeral was attended by a surviving daughter and an Uncle, but it doesn’t give any names.” Phoebe added. Also, I called that Credit Card Company and they told me that Alexandra has excellent credit ratings and that card has a cash advance of five hundred thousand. If I had any problems, I could contact the president of the bank for further information.”

“Then I wonder why she is traveling like she has nothing in the world?” Piper asked.

“You know…we could always ask Leo?” Phoebe said smiling with a little twinkle in her eye.

“Leo…Leo…LEO!” Piper yelled as Phoebe joined in with her sister yelling for the Whitelighter.

The corner of the Halliwell’s kitchen started to emit a golden glow, as Leo is seen orbing in. He looks at both sisters but his eyes stay on Piper and he smiles. Leo walks over to Piper and gives her a deep loving kiss.

                    “So what’s up?” Leo asked.

                    “We need some help in finding information on someone.” stated Phoebe.

Phoebe goes to explain that day’s events to Leo, everything from the twin demons to the unexpected help from Alexandra, and that she didn’t freeze when Piper used her power. Then she went to explain the accidental injuries Alexandra received from Prue and that Prue is now at the hospital watching over Alexandra. Leo just stood there listening intently to the story that Phoebe was telling him.

                   “So, what do you think? Can you find out more about her? Piper asked him.

                   “No need, really… I already know who she is.” Leo said.

Both Piper and Phoebe gave Leo a surprised look, waiting for Leo to explain further.

                    “WELL!” both sisters replied. “Out with it! Who is she?” Phoebe asked.

“Alexandra is a witch just like you, but she doesn’t know it. She thinks she’s an outcast, a freak of nature and questions her normalcy.” Leo said. “I really don’t know that much about her since she’s always on the move and she doesn’t have a Whitelighter looking after her anymore.”

“So let me get this straight…Alexandra is a witch…she doesn’t even know she is one… thinks she’s a freak…and she doesn’t have a Whitelighter watching over her anymore because she’s never in one place for too long. And now we have to tell her ourselves, because she has no one looking out for her. Am I right?” Phoebe recapped.

                    “Exactly.” Leo confirmed.

                    “So what do we do now? Doesn’t she have family somewhere?” Piper asked
                    Leo.

“I have no idea. The Elders haven’t said anything to me yet about this. She might have been in the wrong place at the wrong time when she saw you fighting the Demons.” Leo explained.

“So at this point we’ll have to wait and see until Alexandra wakes up. Prue’s with her now.” Said Piper. “Til then I guess we all have to wait.”

     At the hospital, the hours past by slowly, as Prue still sat by Alexandra’s bed, talking about anything that just came into her head. Prue was hoping that by some miracle, Alexandra was listening and might stir from her deep comatose slumber. The nurses came by once in awhile just to check on her IV’s but then left, saying nothing to Prue. Prue spied a stack of books and magazines on the table in the corner and searched for something that she could possibly read to Alexandra, keeping her company until her sisters arrived with some news. She found a child’s fairy tale book mixed with the other magazines. Beauty and the Beast, it wasn’t one of her favorites but it did have a certain romanticism and moral to it. Prue thought about that moral before she started to read. Never judge anyone by his or her appearance on the outside but by what is shown on the inside…our true souls. Prue took Alexandra’s hand into hers and turned to the first page, reading in a soft hushed tone.

Prue was so intrigued reading the last chapter that she didn’t even see or hear her sisters and Leo entering the room. Not wanting to disturb Prue, Piper, Phoebe and Leo just stood by the door listening to Prue read the end to the fairy tale. Prue looked up to see that she wasn’t alone in the room anymore.

“Any changes, honey?” Piper asked as she went to stand behind Prue, comforting her by stroking her hair.

“I remember when you used to read me stories before bedtime. And I loved you for it too!” Phoebe said to Prue.

“And I loved reading then to you Pheebs. No Piper, though she has stabilized.” Prue responded back to both her sisters.

“Prue, we might have some news about who and what Alexandra is.” Phoebe said.

Phoebe recapped to Prue all the information that they had gathered hours before, not forgetting to leave any detail out. Prue took all this in and looked to Leo, who was standing on the opposite side of the bed, next to Pheebs.

                    “So can you help heal her?” Prue asked Leo.

“Prue, I can only help heal her so much, because you really don’t want the doctor’s becoming suspicious about her miraculous recovery. You don’t want the same thing that happened to Piper, when she had Oro Fever, to happen to Alexandra. I’ll help her out of the coma, the rest is up to her, and to time.” Leo explained to Prue.

Leo held his hands over Alexandra’s head and they emitted a soft glow. The soft golden glow enveloped her whole head. Prue felt a twitch in her hand, which was still holding Alexandra’s. A glimmer of life came back into Alexandra’s face, as her eye flickered open, focusing on the handsome man standing next to her bed.

“Are you an Angel? Am I going to heaven? Alexandra’s hoarse voice whispered.

Leo smiled as he replied. “Well….no.”

                   “But you are an Angel….you have a soft light surrounding you.” She replied
                   back.

                   “Alexandra, this is Leo and he’s here to help you, like we are.” Prue spoke
                   up.

Alexandra didn’t realize anyone else was in the room until Prue spoke, and that is when she felt a hand clasping her own. She turned slowly, wincing from the pain that surged to her head from her injuries. There next to her bed stood the three beautiful women that she instantly recognized from the battle in the park. At that moment she felt frightened and recoiled back, taking back her hand from Prue’s. This just brought her another wave of pain, showing cringe lines on her face and little beads of sweat on her forehead. The EKG machine was also registering an accelerated heartbeat, reacting to the surprise her guests gave her. Afraid that Alexandra was in trouble, Phoebe left the room to summon the doctor.

                    “You have nothing to be afraid of, we’re here to help you.” Piper said to her.

“We’re not here to harm you…you have to trust us…if you can.” Leo said trying to calm her.

The doctor walked in at that point, followed by a nurse, and then Phoebe. He came up to Alexandra and started doing his routine checks while the nurse checked the life support machines. No one said a word during the doctor’s checks, even Alexandra was quiet.

“Well…it seems your recovering faster than I expected and I’m glad you’re out of the coma. I’m amazed by the speed of your recovery, but that’s always a good sign. It means that you only had slight brain swelling and suffered no permanent brain damage. I do want you to take it easy and rest a bit. That means no unnecessary stress. It will take you awhile to get over the other injures though.” The doctor said to Alexandra and than looked at her visitors.

The doctor smiled at Alexandra and turned and left the room, with the nurse following close behind. Phoebe went to the side of the bed, in which Leo was standing and gave Alexandra one of her friendly cheerful smiles.

“Hi, I’m Phoebe!” she said, And these are my sisters, Prue and Piper. And the cute guy standing next to me is Leo.”

Piper gave her sister “That Look” when Phoebe described Leo. Remembering the rivalry she had to go through to go out with Leo long ago. There was a noticeable difference in Alexandra, after Phoebe introduced everyone. She relaxed a bit after hearing and seeing Phoebe’s friendly disposition.

Phoebe went on to say…”And I would like to thank you for saving our butts in the park yesterday. You were definitely at the right place at the right time for us, but we are truly sorry for causing you injury. We didn’t know who or what you were. Sorry….” She said in her cute Pheebs voice.

                    “How long was I out?”

                    “Well, a better part of a day, since its morning now.” Piper said.

“How come that demon was after you, and…who or what are you that you have magical powers?” Alexandra hesitatively asked her visitors, and then looked at Leo and asked, “And why bring an Angel?”

The Halliwell sisters looked at each other, then at Leo, confused as to why she would ask such a question and continue to mention Leo as an Angel.

                    “What makes you believe that Leo is an angel?” Phoebe asked.

“Because every time I look at him he is bathed by this soft light… a kind of a glow. I can barely see it, but it’s there.”

Leo and the girls were perplexed by her ability to see this and were hesitating to give her a direct answer, since they didn’t want to scare her. The seconds felt like minutes before anyone spoke up. Phoebe stepped closer to the bed and took the initiative. She took Alexandra’s hand into her own and then in her carefree honest personality blurted out the answer to her questions and more.

“Ok Honey… here goes everything…It’s because Leo’s a Whitelighter. They protect good witches….which we are. Pheebs said as she pointed to her sisters and herself, then said, “And….that you are too.”

Alexandra’s visitors stood there waiting what kind of reaction they would receive to Phoebe’s announcement. All they received was a stunned silence, broken only by the sound of the EKG monitor in her room. At this point the only thing that was going through Alexandra’s head was fear, confusion, shock and her emotional wall of protection going up. She was asking herself if this was a trick of some kind to get her to trust them or to rely on them for information or help. Were these people next to her bed really whom they say they are? Witches? A Whitelighter? Or just another dark sinister trick by something evil that was chasing her. The silence was finally broken by Alexandra, who turned to Prue, and said.

                   “I’m really tired, maybe we could talk again later? It’s been a really eventful
                   day.”

Surprised at this reaction, Prue said, “Sure honey, we’ll be back tomorrow after you’ve gotten some rest.”

With that, Leo and the Halliwells turned to leave the room. Phoebe last to leave, turned back to Alexandra and wished her pleasant dreams.

“That wasn’t the reaction I thought she was going to have.” Piper said in the hallway.

                    “Well it’s all that we can expect of her right now.” Leo said.

“Give her time. I think right now she has to feels she can trust us.” Prue responded back.

 

       Back in the hospital room, Alexandra was going through a range of emotions trying to sort out the new information. She felt like a caged animal, here in her hospital room. She knew if she stayed too long that “He” would find her, and she wasn’t physically strong enough to challenge or stand up to his powers. And another factor was these Halliwell sisters and Whitelighter. Why were they going out of their way to help her? At that point she decided she couldn’t stay in her room a minute longer. She looked down at the tubes providing saline solution and other medications and pulled them from her arm. Ever so gently she tried to raise herself from her bed. This caused a tremendous wave of pain that she courageously held her breath on. She knew that it was either this pain or …she didn’t even want to think of the other. Each slight movement registered a sharp pain to her body, making her pause to catch her breath. Alexandra used a table that was alongside the bed, for support to get up, and rolled herself to the closet that contained her clothes and her backpack. By now the pain was constant, which made her almost numb because of the adrenaline that was being released. Once she got her clothes on, she used the table again as a crutch to get her to the door of her room. Here she stopped, and started to use a relaxed breathing technique to calm herself and push back some of the pain. She then opened the door, looked for signs of life in the hallway and continued on her way.

   At the Manor the sisters were getting ready for bed. Piper knocked and entered Prue’s room to check to see if she was all right.

“Prue, are you going to stop by again in the morning to visit Alexandra?” Piper asked.

“Yes, I think she needs a friend right now and maybe some company. Something about her tells me that she’s in trouble and she doesn’t trust anyone to help her...yet.”

“Well, so long as you’re not doing it because you still feel guilty about hurting her”. Piper winked back.

“No, I might have at first, but Grams always said that there was a reason why things turn out the way they do. I have a strong feeling that in helping or saving us that we have to do so in turn, for her.” Prue explained her feelings.

“You have a point there! And that’s scary because you’re starting to sound like Grams!” Piper giggled. Next you’ll be telling us what to do…oh wait; don’t you do that too? Piper said jokingly as she headed towards the door for a quick escape.

“Bite me!” Prue said as she threw a pillow in Piper’s direction to hit her back. I love ya Piper...Goodnight sweetie.” Prue said as Piper peeked her head back in the room.

Piper grinned back and said, “Nite Sweetie”.

     Alexandra rolled her way down the hall and stopped right before the elevators. The only problem she had now was getting on it, without being seen or heard, since the nurses station was directly across from the elevator doors. It was then she spied the exit doors for the staircase. Alexandra walked stealthy for the door and quietly opened it and stepped through and then hung onto the door so that it would only make a small click as it closed. Sighing with a big relief, that she made it this far without being noticed, Alexandra then noticed that she was on the eighth floor. She wondered if she really could make the journey down several flights of stairs tonight, without being noticed. Then she decided that she would make it up to the roof and spend the night there, were she knew it might be safe from her pursuer and other visitors. Luckily there was only one more floor to the roof. Once on the roof Alexandra found a nice corner, out of the view of anyone looking for her. It was there that Alexandra spent the night, hoping to slip out in the morning when she felt stronger.

Astraroth exited the eight floor elevators and walked directly across to the nurses’ station. The night nurse that was stationed there was busy reading a romance novel and only looked up when Astraroth coughed. This dark looking late night visitor startled the nurse.

                     “May I help you?” She asked the dark stranger.

                     “Yes, I would like to know which room Alexandra Parker is in.” He asked.

                     “I’m sorry sir but visiting hours are over. You can come back in the
                     morning.”

This didn’t deter Astraroth a bit. He just stood there looking into the nurse’s eye, reached over, and touched her forehead extracting the information he needed. After extracting the information, Astraroth sent a charge surging into her body, killing her instantly. Then continued on to room 813. He paused, holding the room door handle, preparing to confront and kill the last witch of the line of Parkers. Once this accomplishment was done he would be able to return to whence he came with honors and an elevated status in the evil realm. Victory was just beyond this door for Astraroth and he knew that Alexandra wasn’t well enough to fight back with full strength. He quietly opened the door and slipped into the room. When he got to the bed he let out a grumble of anger and frustration, since the bed before him was empty. He searched the room for any belongings, thinking that she might come back for them. Alexandra took all her belongings with her. Astraroth was overcome with rage as he swiped his hand at the items on the nightstand knocking them to the floor. He noticed the piece of paper that floated to the floor. Bending over to pick it up, he read the name and number that was written there.

“Prue Halliwell, 983-4564. Interesting…” Astraroth mumbled. “Maybe I can find you after all!”

Astraroth left the room and the hospital as quietly as he entered, leaving no clues behind as to his presence there.

     The morning was looking like a bright a beautiful day, high in the mid 80’s. Prue was up early and already in the kitchen eating breakfast when Piper entered the kitchen.

                    “You’re up very early Prue. Making an early start to the hospital?”

“Yeah, I thought I’d check in on Alexandra and maybe getting her to trust us a little more.”

                    “Can I come too!” Phoebe cheerfully said as she entered the kitchen in her
                    PJs.

“ I guess we can all go together to the hospital and cheer Alexandra up. And I’ll even pack a small lunch for her too.” Piper said.

                    “How about making some Death by Chocolate Brownies?” Phoebe asked.

“Hehehe…Pheebs you know that you would eat most of them, so for you it would be Suicide by Chocolate Brownies!” Piper said as she made a face at Pheebs and chuckled. “But it does sound like a good idea!”

Phoebe just made a funny face back at Piper and laughed.

                    “It’s not often you make calorie loaded sweets for us!”

“And here I thought you were trying to watch your girlish figure Pheebs.” Prue chimed in.

                    “Oooohhh… Phoebe said as she motioned with her fingers and smirked at
                    Prue.

      Alexandra spent the whole night sleeping uneasily up on the hospital roof, waking at every small noise that emanated the air. She was afraid that she would be found out, either by the hospital staff or her evil pursuer. The sun was just peaking out from the cloud cover, a start to a wonderful day. Or would it? She thought. Now would be the perfect time for her to slip out of the hospital and to a place with less people around. Alexandra tried getting up to head for the roof exit door but found that she had stiffened up during the long night in that sitting position. The pain was unbearable, with just trying to get up and was worse than her pain walking up to the roof. Tears of pain, fear and frustration rolled down her cheeks. ‘What am I going to do now?’ she thought. ‘I could stay up here til the afternoon but I really need to get something to eat’. The frustration and emotional drain took all the energy Alexandra had left. Exhausted to the point where it was hard keeping her eyes open and not wanting to relive the pain she went through earlier trying to get up, she just let herself fall into a deep sleep.

When the Halliwell sisters exited the hospital elevator they were greeted with a lot of commotion and activity. The nurse’s station had a couple of police officers questioning nurses and patients. The sisters just stood there wondering what was up, until they heard a familiar voice calling to them. Looking in the direction of the hail they saw that Darryl was heading towards them with a surprised grimace on his face.

                    “Now WHY wouldn’t I be surprised to see you here?” He asked them.

“Trust me Darryl, we don’t know what’s going on. We’re here to visit an injured friend,” Piper said before her sisters.

                    “What IS going on here?” Prue asked.

“Well, this morning when the relief nurse came in to change shift with the overnight nurse she found her dead behind the nurse’s station. No apparent physical injuries. She was only 25 years old and a mystery as to why she died. I’ll be getting the autopsy report later to determine what really happened. Right now we are just taking down a routine statement from everyone here.” Darryl explained.

“That poor nurse…I’m glad that we have nothing to do with that this time Darryl.” Phoebe said sadly. “Hope everything turns out.”

With that they turned to leave, and headed to room 813. Prue was the first one in the room to find the bed empty. Prue looked confused and concerned, wondering what could have possibly happened to Alexandra.

“I’m going to see if they took her for some tests.” Prue said as she turned to leave.

Prue tracked down a nurse, and asked about the patient in 813. If she happened to be taken to the lab for tests or if something serious happened to her. The nurse, Lindze, checked her chart on Alexandra Parker.

                    “Nope, no tests. Why do you ask?” Nurse Lindze asked.

“Well she’s not in her room… Prue responded. And it would be very difficult for her to move around by herself.”

“It shows that she wasn’t released yet. I’ll check security and front desk if they saw anything.” She answered.

Darryl was close-by when he heard the tension in Prue’s voice, when she asked the nurse regarding a patient. He walked over to the sisters and asked if there was any trouble and if he could help? Prue was wondering to herself if there could be any connection between the dead nurse and Alexandra’s disappearance. It was the same thought that was running in Phoebe’s and Piper’s heads too. She does have a certain power, Prue thought to herself.

“I don’t think so Darryl. Maybe she was bored and went visiting.” Prue answered with a little white lie.

                    “But thanks anyway…” Pheebs said.

After Darryl walked off, Prue told her sisters that she felt that there is something terribly wrong. How could a person who was in pain when she moved her head just walk off? Piper suggested that they split up and search the hospital for any signs of her. Phoebe was to search the first floor up to the 8^{th and Piper from the 8th floor down, and meet with Phoebe somewhere in the middle. Prue went back to Alexandra’s room to search for any clues. In the room, Prue noticed that everything that was on the nightstand, next to the bed, was on the floor, even the phone. Then she checked the closet for her clothes. Everything was gone, even her backpack. But another curious thing that was out of place in the room was the table the patients used to eat their meals on. It was next to the door, placed hap hazardly there. Prue thought that maybe it was possible for Alexandra to slide off the bed, onto the table and roll herself to the door, then leave the room without being noticed since it was quiet in the hall. Wonder if she had something to do with that nurse’s death or was that a mere coincidence? Guess I’ll find out later, she thought.}

“Ok, if I was sick and hurt and didn’t trust anyone where would I go?” Prue spoke out loud, talking to herself. “Well, first I don’t think I would use the elevator since it’s across from the nurses’ station and I would be noticed.”

Prue walked out of Alexandra’s room trying to retrace the steps she’d take without being noticed by anyone. She stopped, looked around, and noticed that the emergency exit door was close-by. Entering the hospital stairwell, she wondered if she should go up or down.

^{‘Ok…I’m injured, and in pain every time I moved. Would I choose to go down all 8 flights of stairs and make a hasty exit? Or… Prue looked up, would I go up to the roof with only one flight of stairs to climb? Hide out until I felt better.’}

Prue walked the short distance up to the roof and opened the door slowly. She really didn’t know what to expect, or to find her on the roof. Her only thought was not to spook Alexandra when she did find her. The roof wasn’t very large but did have many air duct exhausts and cooling pipes all around. It was under one of these large cooling pipes that Prue found Alexandra all cuddled up and asleep, hidden from the general view. She looks so peaceful. I wonder what spooked her so much that she ended here? Prue was thinking to herself. Prue was more determined to help Alexandra at this moment that she forgot to look where she was walking and stepped on a stone making it crunch under her foot. Alexandra woke with a start and first reaction was to call on her power and throw it at the sound. Prue too had a very quick reaction to the onslaught and deftly deflected it away where it wouldn’t hurt anyone.

“Hold on Alexandra. I’m not here to hurt you…you have to trust me. I only want to help!” Prue quickly told her before she had another chance to throw something else at her.

“I’m sorry…that was reflects and instinct kicking in.” Alexandra answered. “I had to get away. Not because of you but because… well…before anyone got hurt.”

“Did you have anything to do with that nurse dying last night?” Prue ask hoping that she didn’t.

Alexandra look confused at Prue, then a look of realization as she let the news sink in. Prue noticed this but waited til Alexandra answered on her own.

                    ^{“How did she die?” Alexandra asked.}

“Well, the police said it looked like natural causes but they will have to wait on the corner’s report. They said it was confusing since she had no medical problems and was in 100% health.”

Alexandra had a look of fear and dread when she heard that. She tried getting up, in a sitting position. This brought some pain but not as bad as it was yesterday, thought she couldn’t stand it for too long and slumped back into a more comfortable position. Prue helped her by lending an arm to hold onto.

“Prue you have to trust me …I had nothing to do with that. I didn’t kill her.” Alexandra said almost in tears.

Looking straight in her eye Prue said “Sweetie I believe you. But I think it would be better for you to go back to your room. Your still not well enough to move around so much.”

                     ^{“I CAN”T!!” She cried back. “I can’t go back…please…don’t make me!”}

Surprised by the emotional reaction she asked, “why honey. They are there to help, not hurt you.”

“It’s not them, but HIM!” He’ll find me again. Just like he tried to last night. I have to get away from here…have to leave again before anyone else gets hurt, or before he kills me.”

Prue noticed how upset she was getting by suggesting to go back to her room. She also knew that if she didn’t step in here, Alexandra would once again disappear, showing up in some other city trying over again to start anew. Prue also realized that it wasn’t just this one innocent she had to protect, but any and everyone that Alexandra came into contact with. Prue then came to the decision that she would take Alexandra back to the Halliwell Manor with them.

“Alexandra, I would like you to come home with us. That way we can try to help and protect you.” Prue said. Then smiled with a little twinkle in her eye, and said, And four witches are better than one! Let me call my sister and we’ll help you get down from the roof unnoticed.”

With that, Alexandra seemed to calm down a bit. Prue took out her cell phone and dialed Piper’s cell number.

                    ^{“Hello?” Piper answered}

“Piper, Prue here…I found her on the roof. Could you get Pheebs and meet me up here unnoticed?”

                    ^{“Sure. Are you Ok?” Piper asked.}

                    ^{“Yeah hon… but its going to be a long day!”}

            ^{“Love ya Piper!” Phoebe said in her girlish voice.}

                      ^{“Bite me. “ Piper said smiling.}

Alexandra could but help laugh at this exchange of sisterly banter. She felt more relaxed than she had in a long time and at that moment was glad that she had the Halliwell sisters as friends.

   ^{The trip down the stairs was uneventful. Piper only had to use her power once. A nurse that happened to walk into the stairwell just as Piper passed the door to that floor. They stopped a few times, so that Alexandra could get a breather and Prue and Phoebe could get a rest. This was a painful process for Alexandra, but she didn’t let on to the sisters that she was in extreme pain. She knew that it would be worse for her if she stayed here so she endured the pain for now. Prue and Phoebe waited with Alexandra by the exit door as Piper went to get the jeep. Piper jumped out of the driver’s door and went to the passenger side to open the doors there. Then flicking her hands she froze everything in site as Prue used her powers to lift Alexandra into the back seat. Everyone got into the jeep as Piper unfroze the scene around her.}

                    ^{“Looks like that went Ok!” Pheebs said}

“I want to thank you ladies for going out of your way helping me.” Alexandra said gasping to catch her breath and beads of perspiration rolling down her temples.

                    ^{“Just remember well always be here to help you.” Phoebe said.}