Charmed: A Fifth Sister/Adopted Daughter

4. Prue Quits and Piper's Audition

The next morning, Phoebe was sitting on the front steps of the manor drinking a cup of coffee. Piper came out dressed and sat next to her. "You're up early."

"I never went to sleep."

"Don't tell me you put on a black conical hat and spent the night flying on a broomstick."

Phoebe laughed at that. "The only broom I ever had was kept in a closet next to a mop."

"So what WERE you doing?"

"Reading." She replied and looked at her. "Is Prue around?"

"She went to work early. Reading aloud?" Piper asked changing the subject.

"NO. But... according to The Book Of Shadows, one of our ancestors was, a witch. Named Melinda Warren."

"And we have a cousin who's a drunk, an aunt who's manic, and a father who's invisible." Piper said getting up and going to her car.

"I'm serious." Phoebe said getting up to follow her. "She practiced powers. FOUR powers. She could move objects with her mind, see the future, stop time, and throw electric energy balls from her hands. Before Melinda was burned at the stake, she vowed that each generation of Warren witches would become stronger and stronger, culminating in the arrival of four sisters. And these sisters would be the most powerful witches that anyone has ever known. They're good witches and I think WE are those sisters."

"Look, I know that what happened last night was weird and unexplainable. But WE are not witches. And we do not have special powers. Besides, Grams wasn't a witch and as far as we know, neither was Mom." Piper said and kissed her cheek. "So take that, Nancy Drew." And she got in her car.

"We're the protectors of the innocent. We're known as The Charmed Ones." Phoebe said, but Piper ignored her and drove off.

[With Prue]

"There's been a change of plan." Roger said.

"Change of plans? Regarding the Biels Exhibition?"

"The extra money that you helped raise through private donations has sparked some major corporate interests. The Biels artifacts will now become a part of our permanent collection."

Prue shrugged. "Well, that's terrific."

"Which is why the board wants someone a little more, qualified to handle the collection from now on." Prue looked at him shocked. "You look surprised."

"I don't know why. I'm FURIOUS. NOT only have I been on this project since its inception, but I'M the curator that secured the ENTIRE exhibition." Roger just looked away and realization dawned on her. "YOU'RE the person a little more qualified, aren't you?"

"I could hardly say no to the entire board of directors, could I? But I know you'll be happy for me. After all, what's good for me, is DEFINITELY good for you." He said. "Right, Miss Halliwell?"

"Miss Halliwell?" She asked a little surprised. "Since when did we stop being on a first name basis? When we stopped SLEEPING with each other? Or when I returned your engagement ring, ROGER?"

"Well, I didn't realize that the two were merely mutual. Although I certainly enjoyed one more than the other." He said looking her up and down.

"Bastard." She replied and began to walk away.

"Prue, wait!" Roger said stopping her in her tracks. She turned around. "I feel like I should say SOMETHING if only to avoid a lawsuit."

Prue ignored him, but thought about his pen opening up and walked away. Just as she turned around, Roger's pen in his shirt pocket seeped ink.

[With Piper at her cooking audition]

Piper was rushing around trying to finish when the owner came in. Clapping, he said, "Your TIME is up." Then he picked up an index card. "Lets see. Roast Pork with Gratin of Florence Fennel and Penne with a Port Giblet Sauce."

"Uh, Chef Moore?"

"What?" He asked picking up a fork.

"The port..."

He cut her off. "Without eet, the sauce ees nothing more than a salty marinara. A recipe from a woman's magazine." He said then scoffed.

"I didn't have time for..."

"Ah." He raised his hand to stop her.

"But..." She started. He was about to put the fork in his mouth when she threw her hands up scared. "Chef Moore?" She asked and when there was no reaction, she waived her hand in front of his face. "Chef Moore?" She asked again then walked to the side of him waiving her hand again. "Hello?" Still no reaction. "Hello?!" She continued. When he still didn't respond, she quickly took some port into a baster and sprinkled it on his bite.

Just as she pulled her hand away, he unfroze putting the bite of food into his mouth. "Mmmm. Zat ees VERY good." He said and swallowed. "C'est Magnifique, eh?"

Piper just nodded smiling awkwardly.

[Back with Prue]

She walks into Roger's office who's talking on the phone and says. "I quit."

Looking surprised, he speaks into the phone. "I'm going to have to call you back." Then hangs up. He fixes his tie and stands up. "Think about this, Prue."

"Lousy job, lousy pay, LOUSY boss. What's to think about?"

"Your future. Because BELIEVE ME, if you walk out with No notice, you can kiss ANY references..."

She cut him off. "DON'T threaten me, Roger. Not again."

He reluctantly sat back down as she glared at him. "You know me. Had to try." Then he stood up walking around his desk. "You're hurt, you're angry, your pride is WOUNDED. I understand all that." He said sitting on the edge of the desk. "That's why you can't see that I'M doing you a FAVOR."

"Excuse me?" She asked insulted.

"I HAD to take the exhibit away from you. If I hadn't, the board would have come in and...and put a total STRANGER in my place. Think about it, Prue. I'm here for you. Not some stranger. You should be THANKING me, not LEAVING me." He said slightly smiling.

"Well, I'm not worried. I'm certain your intellect will make quick work of the 75 computer discs and the THOUSANDS of pages of research I left in my office."

He frowned, standing up. "You're gonna regret this."

"Oh, I don't think so." She said confidently. "I thought breaking up with you was the best thing I had ever done. But this DEFINITELY tops that. Goodbye, Roger." She said and turned to leave.

As she walks out he frowns more. "I hope there are no office supplies in your purse."

Her mood ruined, she squeezes the air with her hands pretending it was Roger's tie and walks out. Suddenly his tie starts to choke him getting tighter and he quickly takes scissors from the drawr and cuts it off.