After a moment it was Holly who opened her eyes and sat up. "Whoa," she said. Her voice startled Alyssa and Rose who sat up also. Holly's expression was clearly understated. For they found themselves in an enclosed room, in fact, in a complete mansion. The Halliwell manor.

"What is going on," asked Rose.

*********************************

"Okay you three lets go," said a stage hand. Piper, Phoebe, and Paige opened their eyes and sat up with a start. They passed confused looks to each other. "What is going on. Is this some sort of sick demonic spell or a practical joke," whispered Phoebe. Again, confused looks.

"Shall I escort your highnesses to your trailer," asked the same stage hand. Piper nodded yes. They needed someplace to think. "Lead the way unworthy knave," Piper commanded. With a grin, he waived them on. A few minutes later they arrived at a trailer marked Holly Marie Combs. "Your castle awaits," he said cheerfully then left.

"Who is this Holly person," asked Piper.

Phoebe and Paige scanned the area and finally saw two more trailers. One with name Rose McGowan stenciled on. The other with Alyssa Milano.

"You must be Holly," Paige told her after returning from the other trailers. "I am Rose, and Phoebe here is Alyssa," concluded Paige.

Piper waived them inside her trailer. "The question is. If were are here, who is at the manor," she asked.

*************************************

Halliwell Manor:

"Leo," yelled Alyssa. "Well that is what we do when we are in trouble".

Sure enough a shimmer of light and then. "Shannen, what are you doing here and how did you do that," asked Holly. "How did you get here," asked Alyssa.

"Who is Shannen," asked Prue. "Why did you call Leo. I am your whitelighter here." Then Prue gave all three on front of her a hard look. "You are not my sisters. "Who are you," she asked suddenly suspicious.

"Actresses I think," said Holly. She ventured a question. "Maybe you can tell us how we got here. Also if we are here where are the real Charmed Ones".

"Stay put," demanded Prue. Then she orbed.

"Do you think we have any powers," asked Holly. Alyssa and Rose simply shrugged. "Well," said Rose, "lets find out".

****************************************


"Do you think we have any powers," ask Piper. She attempted to blow up an apple. Nothing.

"Apple," called Paige. Again nothing. Phoebe tried to levitate. Same result.

"Okay, no powers," concluded Paige.

It was clear to all that there was a unique spell cast. The problem was who and why. Equally important. How do they get back.

"Lets go to my place," said Piper. "Just wish I knew where my place was". She picked up a phone without buttons. "Yes Miss Combs, would you like to go home," said a polite yet mysterious voice. Piper said yes and said the "Alyssa and Rose" would be going with her. The voice seemed nonplussed. A moment later they heard a knock. "Time to go," said Piper. She just wished she knew where.

***************************************
Prue returned and had to duck as a piece of apple went whizzing by. "I was trying to freeze it," said a frustrated Holly. Alyssa was sitting about ten feet off the ground. Then a pillar of light and Paige appeared and promtly fell down.

Prue had to stiffle a laugh. She regained her composure.

"We have some serious problems," said Prue. Her voice was taught ."Listen and learn," she said.

****************************************

Driving in LA is a unique experiance. Piper was glad she had a driver to get her home. While in most major cities, San Francisco included, freeways and expressways are often referred to by the the highway number. I-75, I-10, and so on. Not in LA. Here the freeways are named. The Santa Ana Freeway, I-5 or US 101, Hollywood Freeway, the same highways. The Golden State Freeway, I-5, Ventura Freeway, Santa Monica Freeway and San Bernadino Freeway are the main ones. There are also others. Moreover, it seems that one must become a racecar driver and daredevil to drive those same freeways. At least this was the same in San Francisco mused Piper.

They arrived at Piper's home without incident and Piper stood in awe. "Wow, this is where I live," she asked to no one in particular.

Once inside, it took all three an hour just to find the kitchen, bedrooms and bathrooms. They decided to stay in the kitchen. at least here they could speak in private. First dinner and they all raided Holly's refrigerator.

**************************************

"Prue, calm down," said Rose amiably. "We have real powers here. Not some special effects".

Prue gave Rose a menacing look. "That's the problem," she said tersely. Her voice turned more serious. "It seems this demon was able to switch you and your alter egos to different plains. The problem is they like you have retained their identities. But you have their powers. Also, should anything happen to them, you three will be affected also. If they become injured I cannot heal you,"
she concluded.

Holly turned to Alyssa. "Maybe you can contact the real Phoebe," she asked.

"Worth a shot," Alyssa agreed. She had found Phoebe's room and brought with her some lipstick. She held and concentrated.

She gasped, she saw all her counterpart. At Holly's place. "They are at your place Holly," Alyssa said still holding the vision.

"Great, hope they don't eat me out of house and home," snapped Holly. Rose and Prue gave a low chuckle.

Alyssa went on, as their counterparts were safe she shifted her concentration to the set. There he was. The demon who was after them. He turned. He saw her. He hurled a fireball. It struck. Alyssa snapped back and was hurled accross the kitchen. A huge ugly wound on her shoulder. She was ashen.

************************************

At the same moment, Phoebe did the same. Piper checked her over. She looked at Paige with a tear in her eye. "She is dead," whispered Piper. Piper and Paige held each other. They were helpless and vulnerable. More, Phoebe was dead. It appeared that this demon may have won.

**************************************

Prue did not hesitate. She held a healing hand over Alyssa. "She is badly hurt. Rose, I could use your help". Rose not sure what to came over. One hand on Prue the other over Alyssa and concentrated.

Slowly the wound closed, colour returned to Alyssa's face, she awoke with a start. "That was to close," said Alyssa still out of breath. "I think Phoebe was affected also. Prue, I felt her die".

Phoebe snapped awake. "Phoebe," cried Paige and Piper.

They held each other. "What happened," said a breathless Phoebe.

"You died," said an emotional Paige. "We need help," she said.

"Yes," said Piper, "but from whom and how".

*************************************

The demon smiled. His spell had worked and he had killed a Charmed one. He gave a feral grin. The next one will be tortured first.

**********************************

Alyssa regained her strength. Much to the relief of Rose and Holly. The situation had become much more complicated. Not only had they switched realities, if either person of either reality became injured or died so would the other. They were fortunate the Prue, their whitelighter, as there. But even then, she needed Rose's additional strength to heal. The next time they would not be so fortunate.

Alyssa was able to give a good description of the demon and his image was quickly found in the BOS. Plus the potion required to destroy him.

"The problem is," stated Prue matter-of-factly, "is that he can easily move thru the different realities. So far I don't see how we can. Even whitelighter's have their limits".

"Maybe," said Holly, "but, we are actresses and we do play the parts of the three in our reality. Maybe we need to convince this demon that his spell did not work. Better, that we can change also".

"Just how do we do that," asked Rose.

Prue had given this some thought. It was a risky plan but it might work. Alyssa was the key in this reality. Phoebe in the other. Finally she said, "Holly may be right. But Alyssa is the key. I won't lie. This is risky, I may not be able to save any of you". Tears began to swell in her eyes, "I don't want to lose you again".

*****************************************

Phoebe had also recovered from her near death experiance. She also knew why.
"What bothers me though is when we have dealt with this before. It seemed that," she had to look at the script book, "this Alyssa who portrays me had a vision that went awry. I felt the backlash, it was the demon who switched realities".

This made more sense to Piper than Paige. They nearly lost Phoebe then. This last time was to close.

Suddenly, Phoebe sat erect. It was Alyssa trying to contact her. Then Phoebe slumped back.

Piper came to her side. "What was it," she asked.

"It was Alyssa I think, trying to contact me. Prue is helping that I am sure of. But the message was garbled. Something about them pretending to be us. To fool this demon".

Paige shook her head. "I don't know. He seems hard to fool".

Then a ball of fire and there he stood. He grabbed Phoebe and was gone.

Piper and Paige stood helpless and no where to turn. Piper cried out in despair, " help, dear lord we need help. I don't want to lose another sister." She collapsed and sobbed. Paige sat and stared numbly. Was this their end.

*********************************************

In a grey distant fog, Phoebe found herself wandering aimlessly. Time and space had no meaning. It wasn't purgatory, heaven nor hell. It was an endless void. It was a fate worse then death. And she couldn't even scream for help. Death would have been better. She sank to her knees in despair. No hope, No hope. No hope......No......hope. Then nothing but blackness.

********************************************

"ALYSSA," shouted Holly. Prue caught her before she hit the floor. Her face was straw white. The look and palor of death. Prue attempted to heal. Rose helped her. No avail. Prue turned to Rose and told her to stop. She ran her hands over Alyssa. Finally, she looked at Holly and Rose. "She is alive. But, I can't heal her. It seems as if her mind has been stripped from her. No conciousness, no nothing," she concluded. Never had Prue felt so helpless.

Holly went over to the BOS and started flipping pages. "This almost smacks of two different shows we did. The first, a demon Abraxis, appeared to have stolen the book. As it was he was on a seperate plain. Eventually, we were able to remove the book by going to a wiccan site. Abraxis was destroyed and the bood recovered. The other is where you Prue, played by Shannen, went to an alternate reality with Cole to save Phoebe. As Prue you also retained your powers. Phoebe was saved, well she had to be, and we had prevented a needless death," concluded Holly.

"But that did happen," said Prue.

"Wait," said Rose, "are you saying that what we do on a TV show actually happens here".

"Yes, so it would seem," said Prue.

"But this is not scripted, this is real. We must save Phoebe and Alyssa. Just wish we knew how," Holly was crying.

********************************************

No pain, no senses, not dead, thought Phoebe. She didn't know if she was standing, sitting, or laying down.

The demon had made one mistake. Phoebe still had her mind. Somehow, she could sense her counterpart, Alyssa, she thought. Phoebe had to focus. Problem, what do I focus on.

*********************************************

Piper and Paige froze. Helpless, no powers, no possible chance of trying to help. Phoebe was gone to where ever. Helpless.

After a moment, Piper sat up, "we need to return to the set. No one should be there and I doubt we would be questioned".

Paige gave her a critical look. "Somehow, the key to this demons motive and defeat lies there. Just wish I knew what to look for. Lets go". She summond her driver and they were gone

************************************************

Phoebe decided to concentrate on her body. It was exhausting. Eventually she found her left foot, then right. Finally arms. Slowly, she did not know how long, she fianlly regained feeling in her body. Now she thought. What am I doing and where am I.

**************************************************

Alyssa's color started to return. She moaned softly but otherwise incoherant. Prue went to check with the elders. Maybe they might know something.

"You know, maybe the way to save Alyssa is to find Phoebe," chimed Rose. "Maybe I can sense her then call her".

Without waiting for confirmation she called, "Phoebe". Nothing. She repeated. Holly picked on what whe was doing. They linked minds. "Phoebe," yelled Paige.

Suddenly a shimmer of light, then Phoebe appeared next to Alyssa. Then Alyssa was gone. "Prue," yelled Holly. Prue orbed, realized that this was Phoebe and healed her. Phoebe shook her head, looked around then sat up. She appeared dazed and confused.

***********************************************
Alyssa opened her eyes. Darkness, numbness, not hot or cold. She was frightened. She screamed. No sound. Nothing. She closed her eyes. This was a fate worse than death. Despair and loneliness. Maybe she would get lucky and die.

**********************************************

Phoebe nearly fainted. She could feel Alyssa's despair. Her fear. Phoebe turned to Prue. "What can we do," she asked.

Before Prue could answer, Holly and Rose came over and stared. This was the real Phoebe. Not Alyssa playing the part but the real deal. Phoebe smiled, "first let Prue and I calm Alyssa down". She turned to Prue, "I have an idea. But, first can you sense Alyssa thru me".
"I can try," said Prue. She reached out and held Phoebe. After a tense moment she found her. She felt her terror. Prue reached out and touched Alyssa's mind.

*************************************************

Piper and Paige paced about furiously. They felt totally helpless. Piper had dismissed her driver as she had discovered that Holly had driven herself to work. The driver also pointed out Alyssa's and Rose's cars as well.

"The key lies here. That I am sure of," stammered Piper. Paige said nothing. All they could hope for now was that Phoebe was okay and that somehow their counterparts would figure out what to do.

Being helpless was worse than fighting the Source.

*************************************************

She thought she heard a voice. It seemed familiar somehow. Alyssa somehow knew she had to swallow her fear. Take control. But how. She heard the voice again. Stronger this time. The voice was in her mind. Then a soothing white light formed around her. The fear gone.

Alyssa never knew the the source of the voice; but, she knew that help was at hand. Be patient. This ordeal was about to end.

**************************************************
Prue let go of Phoebe. Pheebs looked at Prue. "Thank you," was all she said.
Phoebe turned to Holly and Rose. Both were holding their breath. "Alyssa is okay. She is no longer afraid," Phoebe informed them.

A visibly relieved pair of actresses were about to give praises of thanks when Prue raised her hand. The contact between her and Alyssa had taken a lot out of her. Phoebe as well. Both needed to recover. But, first there was a demon to catch and vanquish.

Paige finally asked, " two questions if you please. How is it that Phobe and Alyssa are linked. Why did Alyssa go to where you were".

It was Prue who answered. "Are you familiar with symbiotic relationships," she asked. Then Phoebe, "what do you remember about magnets".

Holly and Rose looked mystified.

**********************************************
"I have it," Piper.
"Have what, you sanity maybe," said a sarcastic Paige. They had been there for hours now with no apparent in in sight.

"NO, the relationship between us and these actresses who pretend to be us. She turned to Paige, "are you familiar with symbiotic relationships". Paige nodded in the affirmative. Then it dawned upon her. Dear Lord she thought.

*************************************************

Prue, " a symbiotic relationship is when two living being beings, while able to live on their own also depend on another living being. Examples are birds riding on wild animals and eating nasty ticks. Thus, both benefit from each other. In your cases, Both must remain alive and free of injury." Rose interrupted, "you told us this earlier". Prue nodded, "but I did not realize until now how serious this is".

Phobe added, 'there is more. Think of magnets. When two positive sides of a magnet come together they push each other apart". Holly and Rose understood. Holly added "that is why when you came here, Alyssa had to go to where you were. Why then don't we just have Rose do the same with Piper and Paige".

"Because Phoebe somehow was trapped in the worlds between the two realities. Rose was then able to retrieve Pheebs. Unfortunately, that also propelled Alyssa back to where Phoebe was," Prue concluded.

Phoebe had been reading the BOS. "Found him," crowed Phoebe. She had found a potion. Gleefully she went to the kitchen to prepare.

More confused looks from Holly and Rose.

Prue smiled, "destroy the demon. You both return and we get our sisters back".

"About time," said Holly. "My dog must be hungry by now".

***************************************************

Piper and Paige had fallen asleep. Suddenly, the demon was there. "You are mine," he said. "Oh and your dear Phoebe is dead".


"The demon, he is with Piper and Paige," yelled Phoebe. "He thinks I am dead. He can't tell me from Alyssa". As Phoebe settled down she began to concentrate. She could feel Alyssa. Alyssa was smiling. It was a bluff. But, somehow she sensed that Piper and Paige were in great danger. That she knew.

Prue, Holly and Rose came running in. They had heard Phoebe's cry. pheebs turned ro Prue, "lets end this".

"Wait," Prue instructed. She turned to Holly and Rose. "We are going to call the demon to us. When he appears, you two will no longer be actresses, you will be Piper and Rose. We must convince him that his spell did not work. Are you both up to that," she concluded.

Both nodded in the affirmative. Prue stepped forward and hugged them both. "You two look so much like my own sisters, I will miss you". Prue ran her hands over their forheads. "One final question. Are you able to use you powers or their powers now".

Holly picked up a small apple hurled it in the air then froze it. Next she blew it apart. Rose orbed out then back. "Pillow," she called. Then pillow then appeared in her hands.

Prue turned to Phoebe and nodded. Phoebe called the demon forth. He appeared as a wall of flame. Holly attempted to blow him up but only succeeded in knocking him down. He formed a fireball. "I was so sure," he screamed. Then he hurled the fireball at Prue. "Fireball," yelled Rose then she sent it back to the demon. He snuffed it out. Moving quicker than they realized her came forward and backhanded Rose accross the room. Her back broken on impact.

Phoebe managed to place the energy stones around the demon. He was trapped.

Holly was visibly shaken. Prue rushed over to heal Rose. She succeeded.

**********************************************

Paige cried out in pain. She could not stand. She could only hope that this demon would be destroyed before she and Piper were.

*********************************************

Phoebe never hesitated. She hurled the potion at the demon. An ear splitting scream then flames. An enormous explosion shattering the attic. Then. he was gone.

Phoebe turned to her sisters.

"About time," said Piper and Paige.

Phoebe and Prue ran over and hugged their two sisters. Tears flowed.

***********************************************

Holly, Alyssa, and Rose opened their eyes. The set was empty. All had gone home. With confused looks they turned to each other. "Did we sleep the weekend," asked Holly. Alyssa glanced at her watch. "No, only an hour. Lets go," she said. "Had the strangest dream though," she said as the three left.

**********************************************

Prue, Piper, Phoebe, and Paige sat around the dining room table. Phoebe and Prue had done most of the talking to fill in the blanks.

"Wow, talk about a plan that almost worked. Except he forgot about our whitelighter and sister," said a joyful Paige.

"Do you think your little trick worked," Piper asked Prue. "Oh yes," said Prue, "as far as they are concerned they simply fell asleep from exhaustion and had a wierd dream. But, you three must cast a spell to never allow an a switching of realities. Those three actresses did themselves proud though".

As her sisters set about to cast the spell. Prue finally had to ask. "Who is Shannen".