DISCLAIMER: All characters in this story belong to Spelling Television and Constance Burge, with the exception of Gary, Kelly, Anthony, Doctor Greensbay, Doctor Sesta, Kevin, Mrs. Callrington and Charlie Stenson who I created.
This story is produced by Kerstin. Unauthorized reproduction of text is not allowed. Contact me by clicking my name above for permission.
"Look at this," Prue tells her sisters, pointing to the front of the newspaper. She goes on reading the article. "Another house burned down last night. This is the fifth house in the last three weeks. Luckily no one was home and the police still do not have a suspect. Those poor people. Imagine coming home and your house is no longer standing." "I don't have to." Phoebe tells her sisters. "What do you mean, Pheebs?" Piper goes on to question. "Well, when I had just moved to New York the first few days I spent in a hotel. Not a fancy one but as long as I had a roof over my head I was happy. Anyway someone had forgotten to put out their cigarette so the small hotel burned down." "Anyway, Pheebs, this is different. These fires where set on purpose. Not by accident." "Well, Prue, we will talk again when you see all your belongings going up in flames." Phoebe tells Prue angrily. "I am sorry Phoebe. I just meant that... these people have no one and at least you still had us." "I understand." "Well I better get to work. Quake is doing a fund-raiser today to help the five families rebuild the homes that they lost. So, see you later." "Hey Prue, can you give me a lift today? I have a sudden need to shop." "I don't think so, Phoebe. Besides Claire has been very vocal in saying that she never wants to see you inside Buckland's again." "Can she not put my little breaking and entering behind her?" (See my story 'Heskab's Globe') "Well, you know Claire. It takes decades to get on her good side and Phoebe with that little stunt you did! Well never mind. It would take centuries for her to trust you again." "So I take that as a no." "See you later, Pheebs." "Bye Prue."
At Quake Piper is organizing the fund-raiser. "Gary, will you wash the dirty glasses today? Jeff is on vacation and I really do not have time for it." "That's cool, Piper. I just need to leave a little early today. Say around 6." "That is fine by me." "Thanks, Piper." Gary walks into the kitchen and begins to wash all the glasses. Meanwhile he is dreaming of what he is going to do tonight. "It is going to be a hot time in the town tonight." Gary quietly mumbles to himself. Yes tonight all the fun begins.
Phoebe in the meantime is looking over the paper. "I wish I knew how to activate my power." Phoebe tells herself. Wishing she could stop the arsonist before he or she struck again. So far no one had died in the previous fires but who knows how long that would last. Phoebe just thinks back to New York and remembers how the small hotel went up in flames. No one was able to stop it in time and three people had died as a result of that fire. No. Phoebe swore to herself that she would not let these fires continue.
Hours later at Quake, Piper has had a busy day. Marsha had just quit her hostess job so Piper was short handed... again. She is just about to enter the kitchen when someone with force pushes the door open and slams it into Piper's right hand. Piper grabs her right hand and looks up to see Gary peering through the door. "Piper man I am so sorry. I guess I did not see you there." "It's okay Gary. I think I just sprained it." Kelly, the waitress, comes to see what happened. "Gary get some ice for Piper." Kelly commands. "Come on Piper we better get you to a hospital to have that arm checked out." "No, Kelly, I will be fine." Piper tries to show her but pulls back in pain. "Sure, Piper, and I make 10,000 dollars an hour. Come on I will drive you."
At the hospital Doctor Greensbay looks over the X-rays of Piper's arm. "Well Ms. Halliwell, it looks like nothing is broken. You are very lucky. I had someone in here a few days ago who broke his arm when the door slammed into his arm. I would have to say that you have a massive sprain. I am going to wrap it up and give you some pain killers and do try to keep some ice on it. And most important. No heavy lifting. That means no working for a few days." Piper is just about to protest when Kelly breaks into the conversation. "Thank you, Doctor Greensbay. Don't worry, Piper, I can handle managing the restaurant for a few days." "Okay thanks Kelly." "Come on Piper. I will drive you home."
When Piper arrives at home she walks into the kitchen and finds Phoebe sitting down with her eyes closed and one hand on the newspaper. "Pheebs, are you okay?" Piper asks concerned. "Oh my Piper, I did not hear you come in. What are you doing home so early and what happened to your arm?" "I got into a little accident at Quake. I was opening the door and Gary slammed the door into my hand and I sprained it so I can not go to work for a few days. So what are you doing?" Piper asks curiously. "I was trying to activate my power but it just is not working and it is really ticking me off. I was trying to figure out who's house the arsonist was going to burn down next but all I have seen so far are the lottery numbers for tomorrow. By the way if you want to win 10 million dollars might I recommend the numbers..." "Not now Pheebs." "Anyway I have also seen who wins the world series but that does not help me in my search." "Phoebe why are you so concerned about finding this arsonist?" "Well Piper. Remember this morning when I told you about the fire in the New York hotel? What I left out was that three people died in that fire. The youngest victim was a four year old girl. I saw what the mother had to go through and I don't want that to happen to another family." "Don't worry, Phoebe. We will find this arsonist and I promise you no one will get hurt."
Gary in the meantime has just finished his shift at Quake and tells Kelly that he is off. Once inside of his car he pulls out a map. He studies it for a few seconds and circles a house that he knows will be empty tonight. He starts his car and drives off into the night.
"Piper. Phoebe. I am home." Prue comes walking in through the front door. "Piper how was your... oh my... what happened to your arm?" "Its just a little sprain Prue." Piper goes on to tell Prue the whole story of how Gary opened the door and hurt her hand. Phoebe, in the mean time, is looking through a drawer to try and find a telephone number when she touches a box of matches. She suddenly has a premonition.
She sees what looks like a man in a black mask walk up to a house, and throw a bottle full of gasoline with a burning rag into the house. A few seconds later the house is completely covered in flames. She is able to see a number. 1303 Prescott street.
"On no," Phoebe says to herself and runs to the telephone her sisters having stopped their conversation wondering what has gotten into Phoebe. Phoebe grabs the phone and calls 911. "911 what is your emergency?" The operator asks calmly. "I want to report a fire at 1303 Prescott street." "Okay I am dispatching the fire trucks now." Phoebe hangs up the phone relieved that she might be able to save another family the grief. "Good work Phoebe," Piper tells her. Just then Kit rubes her head on Phoebe's legs. She suddenly has another premonition.
This is of a young boy huddled in a closet together with his kitten crying for his mommy while the house around him burns down.
Phoebe takes off running. "Pheebs where are you going?" Prue calls after her but Phoebe is already out the door and running to house 1303, Prue and Piper immediately after her. They see a person running from the house but the fire is already raging. The fire trucks can be heard arriving but it will take them a few more minutes. Prue and Piper finally make it to the house. "Piper quick. Try and freeze the fire." Prue tells her. Piper tries but it does not work. "I sprained my hand and it must have sprained my power as well." They look on as the house is slowly being devoured by flames. Phoebe then starts running through the front door. Prue tries to stop her but Piper holds her back. "Phoebe. No." Prue calls after her but it is too late.
Phoebe enters the burning house that is filled with smoke. She feels the smoke filling her lungs and she is finding it hard to breath. She falls to the ground and continues crawling toward the closet.
Meanwhile the fire trucks arrive and the police hold everyone back. Prue and Piper inform one of the fireman that their sister is inside the burning house. He tells them not to worry and orders the hoses to be hooked up.
Phoebe opens the closet door and finds the little boy huddled together with his little kitten crying for his mommy. Phoebe picks up the little 4 year old and proceeds for the front door.
Outside the firemen are being sent inside the house. Prue and Piper look on, worried that something might have happened to Phoebe. Tears streaming down their faces.
Phoebe is about halfway to the door when a fireman comes running in. He takes hold of the little boy and his kitten. Another fireman helps Phoebe outside.
The fireman with the little boy is the first to exit the house. He runs to an ambulance and they proceed to take the young boy to the hospital. His parents following in the car. It seems like hours when the fireman helping Phoebe finally makes it outside. A few meters away Phoebe collapses to the ground having trouble breathing. A paramedic runs over to her carrying pure oxygen. He places it over Phoebes mouth and calls for a carrying board. Piper and Prue try to reach Phoebe but the policeman just holds them back. The last sight they see of Phoebe is her being placed inside an ambulance and being taken to the county Bay hospital.
Prue and Piper arrive later in the emergency room asking about their sister. A Doctor Johnson tells them that their sister is now in a recovery room in room 301. Prue and Piper thank him and run to room 301. When they arrive a doctor is just exiting the room. "Excuse me. We are looking for a patient that was brought in less then an hour ago. Phoebe Halliwell. She was in a house fire." Prue says trying to stay calm. "Are you family?" the doctor questions. "Yes, we are her sisters. I am Prue Halliwell and this is Piper Halliwell." "Well. Let me tell you Ms. Halliwell that your sister is very lucky. She has some minor cuts, bruises and some burns but she is going to make a full recovery." Piper and Prue hug, grateful that Phoebe is going to be okay. "I would just like to keep her here a few days and see how her lungs are doing. We have put her on some pain killers and she is on oxygen at the moment. She is supposed to get some rest but I think we can overlook that rule just this once." "Thank you doctor." Piper tells him.
Piper and Prue enter Phoebe's room. Phoebe is laying on a hospital bed and is staring at the so called hospital food. "Piper. Prue..." Phoebe is not able to finish the sentence because both run over and give Phoebe a great big hug and tell her that they are so grateful that she is okay. "The doctor just wants to keep you for a few more days to see that everything is okay." Prue tells her, tears filling her eyes. They talk for a little while and then Prue and Piper leave telling Phoebe that they would be back tomorrow and that she should get some rest.
Phoebe is still starring at her food when a tall, dark haired young man knocks on her door. "So you are the famous Phoebe Halliwell. I am sorry, where are my manners. My name is Charlie Stenson." "Hi Charlie. What can I do for you?" "Well I am just making my regular rounds to all the patients and I just wanted to meet the women who ran into a burning building and saved a young boys life." "Well, you have met her and what do you think?" "I think she showed a lot of courage." "Well, Charlie. Are we making our usually rounds?" Doctor Sesta asks him. "Of course doctor. You know me. Well I must be off. I will look forward to another talk tomorrow." He bows before Phoebe and exits. "I see you have met Charlie. He is a patient here but he keeps everyone's sprits up. I just came to see if you are doing all right." "I feel fine except I still have a little trouble breathing." "We will see what we can do about that." The doctor walks over to the oxygen machine and fiddles with some knobs.
The next day Prue and Piper arrive at the hospital carrying some flowers and balloons. When they enter Phoebe's room they find her in deep conversation with a man. "Prue, Piper. I was not expecting you so soon. This is Charlie." "Charmed ladies, I am sure. Well I shall see if I can find more of that stuff they call coffee around here. Would you care to join me?" He questions Piper. "Sure she does," Phoebe butts in. "Well let us go." Charlie takes Piper by the arm and leads her out of the room before Piper can even protest.
"Pheebs how are you feeling?" "I feel a lot better Prue." "So who was that man?" "That Prue, was the one and only Charlie Stenson. He is a heart patient here and he tries to keep up everybody's spirits. Plus I think he and Piper would make a cute couple." "So are we playing cupid again Pheebs?" "Yes. He is perfect for Piper. He is sweet and kind. He loves to cook. Plus he is in love with love. I am telling you Prue, this is a match made in heaven." Prue just smiles at her baby sister. "Okay Pheebs, I will play along... but just this once. And don't even think about trying to hook me up!" Phoebe just smiles at Prue.
Meanwhile Piper and Charlie have turned the search for coffee into a lunch break that has turned into deep conversation. "I can not believe we have so much in common, Charlie." "Okay how about this one? Do you prefer long slow kisses or long slow kisses?" "I think I would have to say the third one." "Long slow kisses." Piper and Charlie say in unison. "Well Piper I better get back before the nurses think I went AWOL." Charlie tells Piper and they head up to Phoebe's room.
Later that evening back at the Halliwell household Prue questions how the extremely long search for coffee went. Piper just smiles at Prue. "Tell me Prue. Do you believe in love at first sight?" "Depends Piper. I think it can happen. Has it happened to me, no but yes I think it can happen. Why do you ask?" Prue questions with a smile on her face. "When I was with Charlie I felt like the whole world had slowed down." "Are you sure you did not freeze him?" "Very funny. No it was like... like magic." Prue begins laughing. "I am so sorry, Piper. I am not laughing at you it is just that Phoebe..." "Phoebe did what?" Piper questions. "Phoebe told me that she was trying to set you up. She told me that you two where a match made in heaven." "Pheebs said that? Our Pheebs?" Prue can only smile and nod.
The next morning Prue awakes to the fresh smell of brownies. She comes downstairs to find Piper in the kitchen cooking what looks like a feast. "Piper are you feeling okay?" Prue questions while grabbing a blueberry muffin from a pile. "I feel great Prue and drop that muffin." "Come on Piper just one muffin." "No." Piper walks over and grabs the muffin from Prue's hand before she can even bite into it. "I called the hospital and invited Charlie over for dinner this evening." "Piper that is so sweet." Prue tells her snatching the muffin away from Piper. "And trust me Piper you will not miss one muffin." Piper just looks at Prue and shakes her head. "I think I love him Prue." Piper blurts out. Prue almost chokes on the muffin. "Piper, are you serious? I mean you have known Charlie less then a few days and now it is love." "I can't explain it Prue. It is like the whole world slows down when I am with him. I feel safe when I am with him." "Kind of like when Leo was around?" "Exactly. Except he does not live so far. No Prue I think this is true love." "It is just like Romeo and Juliet. Just don't get any ideas about killing each other to show how much you love each other." Piper just throws a cleaning towel at Prue.
That evening Charlie arrives at the Halliwell house in a nice suit and red tie. He hands Piper a dozen red roses and a box of heart shaped chocolates. Hours later Piper and Charlie are seated on the couch. They have talked for hours and Piper just can not help but look into his big blue eyes. The clock suddenly strikes one AM and Charlie looks at his watch. "Listen Piper... "Charlie. Do you mind me asking as to why you are still at the hospital. I mean it seems as though your fit as a fiddle." "I wish I was Piper." Charlie takes a deep breath and goes on to explain. "I am dying, Piper. I have a heart condition and I have been on a waiting list for a long time but as of today there has been no donor for me. I have tried to keep my hopes up but there is only so much one can do. I am sorry. I really should have told you the first day we met but I just could not bring myself to tell you. I can't see those beautiful eyes and that gorgeous smile hurt. I never knew that there would be such chemistry between us. I am sorry for bringing this up this evening but I had a wonderful time. I am hope we can do this again sometime. I just have to head back before I am missed." He gets up to leave but before he does he gives Piper a quick kiss on the lips. He turns around to leave but Piper grabs him by his shirt and gives him another kiss. After a few minutes Charlie tells Piper good-bye and hopes to see her at the hospital again tomorrow.
The next morning Piper tells all about last night and Prue just continues to smile at Piper. "I am just glad that you finally found the right guy, Piper." "Well come on, Prue. I promised Charlie that I would meet him at the hospital by lunch time." Piper drags Prue out of the door. In less then a few minutes they find themselves in the hospital again. Piper and Charlie are in the cafeteria again and Prue is upstairs talking with Phoebe. Prue has brought Phoebe a few things. She hands Phoebe a nice arrangement of flowers and a copy of that mornings paper. Prue shows Phoebe the article about her saving a young boys life. A knock on the door interrupts there discussion. A women walks into the room. "Hi. You probable don't know me but I am Kevin's mom. I am Mrs. Callrington. I just wanted to say thank you for saving my sons life. If you had not shown up I might have lost my baby." Her husband also appear in the doorway and leads his crying wife away. Prue just looks at Phoebe and gives her a big smile. Just then Phoebe touches the paper and has a premonition. This time she sees a person walking toward an empty house. A soaked rag is thrown into the house. By the time the fire trucks arrive the house is already burned down but the fire keeps spreading. First to 1323, 1325, 1327, and finally 1329. "Pheebs. What did you see?" "I saw a man running from the scene. He is going to try again tonight. But this time the fire spreads. It starts at 1323 and goes all the way to our house." "Okay I will go get Piper and we will stake out the area." Prue gets up and leaves trying to find Piper.
"Piper. I have been trying to find the time to tell you this but I guess now is the best time then never. Piper. I... I love you." "But Charlie. We have only known each other less then a week." "I know Piper but I feel like I have known you all my life. It is in my destiny to be with you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you...however long that is." "Charlie. I don't think I..." "Please Piper. You don 't have to answer now. I just wanted to tell you how I feel." A man walks into the room. "Hey, Charlie. Smile." He takes a picture of Piper and Charlie together and then leaves. "Anthony loves to take pictures." Charlie tells Piper. Just then Prue comes running into the cafeteria. "Piper, I hate to break up your date but we need to talk." Piper tells Charlie good-bye and gives him a little kiss and follows Prue. "What's up?" "Pheebs had a premonition. And tonight our little arsonist is going to try again." "Good! Because I want a piece of him. He almost killed someone and now he tries again. So do we have a plan?" "Yup. The old, you freeze him I slam him against a wall routine. Of course we will be hiding in case someone does see us use our powers. How is your arm by the way. Can you freeze time again?" "Yeah. It has had over a week to heal so its fine. I can freeze away."
Later that evening a man in dark clothing walks up to house number 1323. He holds an oil soaked rag in his hand. He prepares to throw the bottle when Piper suddenly freezes him and Prue moves the bottle from his hand with her power, making sure they do not leave fingerprints. They run behind a bush and Prue slams him into the wall. When the man awakes he looks around as to where his fire bottle is and wonders how he ended up in a wall. He takes off his mask and Piper freezes him again. "That's Gary! He works at Quake! I can't believe that he would do something like this." "Piper lets not worry about that now." Prue walks up to the frozen man and places a pair of handcuffs on him. She returns to her hiding place and slams him into a wall again. When he tries to run Piper freezes him again and Prue this time pulls out her cell phone and calls Andy. "Hey Andy. I just wanted to give you an anonymous tip as to who the arsonist is." Prue slams him into a wall again and he falls unconscious to the ground.
The police arrive in a few minutes and arrest Gary. They take Prue and Piper's statements about seeing him trying to burn the house while they where out walking.
The next morning Prue and Piper arrive at the hospital to pick up Phoebe. They walk into Phoebe's room. "Well Phoebe! Its time to head on home." Phoebe looks up from the bed with tears streaming down her face. "Oh my god. Phoebe what happened?" Piper asks, fear growing in her voice. "I am sorry, Piper. Its about Charlie. Last night he went into cardiac arrest. The doctors tried to resuscitate him but his heart was just to weak." Tears began to stream down Piper's face. "It can't be he was... he told me he would be okay. He said he had hope." "The nurse gave me this. It was in Charlie's possessions." Phoebe hands Piper a small envelope with her name written in blue ink on the front. Piper opens the letter slowly and begins reading.
My Dearest Piper,
I had hoped that it would not have come to this but I feel I have no choice. If you are reading this later then I know I am dead. Imagine a world without Charlie Stenson. I can't. Anyway Piper. I just wanted to tell you that you are the only person I have ever felt such a closeness with. I would wake up every morning looking forward to our little lunch breaks. You have brought joy to my life when I almost gave up living but you showed me more. And your beautiful eyes. I would have walked to the ends of the earth just to look at them one more time. I am sorry I never got to cook for you. You have a wonderful spirit and smile about you and I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you. In life I have learned that one always needs to have hope and Piper that is a quality about you that I loved. Take care and always follow your heart.
In Loving memory.
Charlie StensonPiper looks in the envelope and pulls out a picture that was taken the day before of Piper and Charlie in the cafeteria. Prue walks over to Piper and hugs her.
Later that day, after the doctor has released Phoebe from the hospital, the sisters are sitting in the living room looking at the picture of Piper and Charlie. "I can't believe he is gone. I was ready to spend the rest of my life with him. He was the only other man that I have really loved... besides Leo." "Well Piper at least he was not a warlock." Prue tells her trying to lighten the moment. "I just wish I would have seen it coming. I mean then maybe we..." "Pheebs don't blame yourself. Even one of your premonitions could not have helped Charlie." "Well at least we stopped the arsonist." Piper just nods. "Piper I promise you that one day you will fall in love again and this time he will not be going anywhere. And who knows. Maybe even Leo will come back someday." Phoebe tells Piper with a smile. "Your right Phoebe. Who knows."
