Charmed: A Fifth Sister/Adopted Daughter

5. The Hospital Reunion

A little later, Prue was home and walked in. "Dorinda!" She called.

Dorinda ran down the steps and hugged her mother smiling. "Mommy!"

Prue laughed then picked her up. "How are you today?"

"I'm ok. Aunt Phoebe went on a bike ride and left me here."

"She LEFT you here? ALONE?" Prue asked shocked.

"Yeah. She left about five minutes ago and said she wouldn't be more than an hour."

Prue sighed frustrated. "She should've taken you with her at the very least. Are you ok?"

"Yeah. I locked myself in my room just in case."

"Good girl. I'm proud of you." She replied and kissed her forehead.

Dorinda smiled. Prue put her down and ruffled her hair a little making her giggle. "Mommy! Stop it!"

Prue laughed. "Go play, Silly Girl."

Dorinda ran off and went to her room.

It's thirty minutes later and the phone rings. Prue stands up and answers. "Hello? Halliwell residence."

"Miss Halliwell, your sister was in an accident."

"Which sister?"

"Phoebe."

"Oh, my, God! Is she ok?"

"She'll be fine. She just slightly sprained her ankle. And she has a few scrapes and bruises, but otherwise just fine."

"Oh, thank God." She replied relieved. "I'll be right there." She added and hung up. "Dorinda!"

Dorinda ran downstairs. "What is it, Mommy?"

"Your Aunt Phoebe was in an accident. We need to go pick her up."

"Is she ok?" The five year old asked.

"She'll be fine. Just a few scrapes and bruises and a slightly sprained ankle." Prue replied and they went to her car.

Ten minutes later, they walk into the hospital and there's a man asking for a doctor. Prue walks up and looks at the receptionist. "Hi. I'm looking for my sister, Phoebe Halliwell."

"Just a minute, please." The woman replied and looked back at the man. "What's the name again?"

"Inspector Andrew Trudeau. Homicide. Doctor Gordon's expecting me." He said.

Prue glanced over at him, but didn't acknowledge him until the receptionist walked away. "Andy?"

He looked over at her. "Prue?" He asked smiling. "I don't believe it." He said then saw the small hand she was holding and looked down. "Dorinda?"

Dorinda smiled. "Hi, Daddy."

"You remember me?"

Dorinda nodded. "Mommy kept your picture on her nightstand. I asked her one time who you were because I couldn't remember your name, but I knew you looked fa...famil..."

"Familiar?" Andy helped.

Dorinda nodded again. "Yeah. That."

"I see. Well, I'm glad your doing good."

"Thanks. I miss you, you know."

Andy picked her up. "Well, since I know you're here, I'll come visit more often. How's that sound?"

She nodded and hugged him. "I love you, Daddy."

He kissed her temple. "I love you too, Sweetheart." He said then put her down. He looked at Prue again. "So, how are you?"

"I'm good." She replied smiling. "How are you?"

"I'm, uh, fine." He said. "I just can't believe I'm running into you."

"Yeah. I'm, uh, picking up Phoebe. She had some sort of accident."

"Is she going to be ok?"

"Uh, yeah. She'll be fine. Uh, but what are YOU doing here?"

"Uh... murder investigation."

The receptionist walked back interrupting them. "Your sister's still in x-rays, so it'll be another fifteen minutes." She said then turned to Andy. "Doctor Gordon's office is to the left and down the hall. He's with a patient right now, but you're free to wait outside his office."

"Thank you." He replied.

"Thank you." Prue said afterwards.

The two turned back to each other. "Well..." Andy started. "It was good seeing you, Prue." He finally said shaking her hand awkwardly.

"Yeah. You too, Andy. Take care." She replied and let go of his hand.

He started to walk around her when he stopped and turned back. "You know, Phoebe's busy and Doctor Gordon's busy. Can I buy you a bad cup of coffee while we wait?"

Prue smiled looking down for a second then looked at him again. "Sure." She replied and they turned to walk off. "So, you're an inspector now."

"What can I say? In any other city, I'd be called a detective."

"Hmm. Inspector's classier."

"I'm liking it better already."

"Your dad must be so proud."

"Third generation. You bet he's happy." He replied after putting the money in the machine. He turned back to face her. "What about you? You taking the world by storm?"

"Well, I'm living back at Grams' house, and as of an hour ago, I'm looking for work."

"Oh." He replied.

Prue changed the subject. "I heard you moved to Portland."

"I'm back." He replied then changed the subject again. "You, uh, still seeing Roger?"

"How did you know about him?"

"I know people."

"You checked up on me?"

"I wouldn't call it that."

"What would you call it?"

"Uh, Enquiring minds want to know?"

"You checked up on me."

"What can I say? I'm a detective." He replied handing her, her bad cup of coffee he bought her.

"Did you check up on me too?" Dorinda asked.

Andy looked at her. "I did, but you're not as known as your mother."

The five year old giggled. "I will be. When I'm older like Mommy, I wanna take pictures of people."

Andy chuckled. "A photographer, huh?"

"Yeah. I like taking pictures like Mommy does."

"I see. I'm sure you'll be a VERY famous photographer one day."

Dorinda just smiled then waived as they all departed to their original tasks.