Disclaimer- I don't own any of the Charmed characters, but I sure wish I did. So don't sue me please.

Warning- This story does contain the topic of rape and child abuse.< BR>
P3 was packed to the limit with people, Cherry Poppin’ Daddies were well into a swing number, and all three sisters were together laughing and talking. Yet Phoebe’s mind kept wandering, she couldn’t seem to shake the strange feeling. It had started almost a full week ago, and since then she could barely sleep, and wasn’t eating like she should. She hadn’t mentioned it to her sisters yet, it was too hard to explain, and they would only worry. It was getting more and more intense, even as she sat there.

“Are you O.K. Phoebes?” Piper questioned.

Phoebe shook herself back, “Yeah, just thinking” she lied.

“You are kind of quiet tonight” Prue commented.

“It’s nothing, I just need to rest, I’ll meet you back at the manor.” Phoebe distractedly stated as she stood to leave, yet in her heart she knew something was very wrong.

“Your going home in the middle of the show?” Prue asked in disbelief.

Phoebe managed a nod and headed for the stairs.

“Something is way wrong” Piper stated.

“Ya think!” Prue answered sarcastically.

“She hasn’t been sleeping. I have heard her up almost every night lately. I’m really starting to worry.” Prue said watching Phoebe make her way out of the club.

“That’s not all, she hasn’t been eating either,” Piper shared. She just picks at her food. I was hoping this concert would help, she seemed so excited about it.”

“Why can’t she just tell us when something is wrong?” Prue said in an exasperated tone.

Piper smiled, she knew Prue was only trying to cover up how worried she was. “I think we need to talk to her Prue, waiting for her to come to us is obviously not the answer.”

“When?” Prue asked agreeing with her sister. It drove her insane when one of them had a problem that she couldn’t just step in and fix. It seemed to happen so much more now that they were witches.

“Let’s give her a little time to pull herself together, and then we will go home and talk to her.” Piper suggested and Prue nodded in agreement.
Phoebe was up in her room when her sisters arrived home. “Pheebs, please come on down for a minute.” Piper called from the bottom of the stairs.

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Prue whispered to Piper.

“We have to find out what’s going on Prue.” Piper answered.

“I know”, Prue consented, “It just seems like Phoebe and I always end up fighting when we talk.” Prue explained.

Piper laid a hand on Prue’s shoulder for support and comfort. She knew Prue worried about both Phoebe and herself constantly, it came from practically raising them, it was just that sometimes her concern came out in the wrong tone.

“What’s up?” Phoebe questioned as she reached the shadowed landing.

“We just want to talk to you, you haven’t seemed like yourself lately.” Piper started.

“I’m fine!” Phoebe said loudly as she turned to head back to her room.

“Phoebe, please let us help you.” Piper tried again.

“I’m fine, r-really” she said again, her voice cracking.

“Your crying” Prue announced, taking the stairs two at a time to get to her baby sister, with Piper hot on her heels. As Phoebe gratefully turned into their hug, they could tell by her red puffy eyes that she had been crying for quite a while.

“What’s his name and address, I’ll handle him” Prue demanded going into full over protective mode.

“It’s nothing like that”, Phoebe started “I-Its’ just a feeling........” Phoebe let her sentence trail off as her knees gave out. Prue and Piper still holding her gently lowered her to the landing.

“A feeling? Are you sick, hurt,...” Prue started.

“No, It’s not my feeling....” Phoebe said feeling safe in her sisters arms.

“I’m not following Pheebs...” Piper said her voice filled with concern, as she continued to check Phoebe over for signs of injury or illness.

Phoebe tried to think how she could explain...”It’s like I am connected to someone else..” she started.

“Like the Sucubus?” Piper questioned, her voice raising.

“No, whoever it is isn’t evil, just.....”again Phoebe trailed off beginning to tremble.

Prue stroked her hair and continued to hold her. “It’s O.K. Pheebs, you can tell us.” She encouraged.

“She’s ..........alone” Phoebe blurted out and then collapsed into hysterical sobs.

Prue and Piper exchanged worried looks. Gently they helped their baby sister to her room. Piper rushed to get a cold washcloth, while Prue whispered words of comfort to a distressed Phoebe. Once she had calmed a bit Prue questioned “Alone?”

Phoebe nodded, “Alone like I have never felt, it’s s-so intense.” she stumbled trying to explain. “And scared, something is very wrong.”

“You said “her” before?” Piper questioned.

“It’s a girl” Phoebe explained. She paused wondering if she should tell them the rest. “I’ve had flashes” she admitted, looking down at her hands.

“Phoebe!” Prue scolded. “How long has this been going on?” she demanded.

“A few days.........maybe 6” Phoebe answered like a child in trouble.

Piper laid a hand on Prue’s tense shoulder, Prue took the cue and then took a deep breath.

“What kind of flashes?” Piper asked.

“There not premonitions, just pieces that don’t make sense..” Phoebe took a shaky breath and continued. “Old ugly wallpaper, chipped paint, a very angry face, and blood..... It’s like I am seeing out of her eyes.” She finished quietly. Piper cringed when the word blood came up. “I’ve never felt that alone before. It was awful, I just can’t imagine having on one at all...” “I mean, we’ve lost so much, Mom, Grams, Dad,......... but, I have you guys. I have you.” Phoebe finished as the tears returned.

“Were right here Phoebe” Prue said confidently.

“And we won’t leave you” Piper announced pulling a chair up to the side of the bed.

“I agree, I’ll get some extra pillows” Prue said giving Phoebe’s hand a reassuring squeeze as she stood.

Soon all three were asleep, not comfortable by any means, but asleep. Phoebe was tossing and turning. The flashes entering her sub-conscious yet again. This time they were even more troubling than ever before.

“Ouch!” Prue cried out. She had been curled up at the foot of the bed, and had just received a sharp kick in the ribs.

The noise woke Piper, “You O.K.?” she asked groggily rubbing the crick in her neck.

“Yeah” Prue grimaced rubbing her side. “But Phoebe’s not!” she said turning her attention to where the kick had come from.

They tried to wake a fitful Phoebe, but she only seemed to thrash about more, and even began to whimper .

“Phoebe Please!” Pure cried out panicking.

Suddenly Phoebe shot up gasping for air. “Pain, she’s in pain, man with the angry face, I have to help her!” Phoebe cried out trying to untangle herself from the sheet and make her way out of bed. While Piper and Prue tried to hold her still until she was fully awake. As the struggle continued, the swirling lights near the dresser went unnoticed.

“Girls, Girls...”

All three spun around and simultaneously shouted “Grams!”

“Yes, my darlings. I only have a short time, so you need to listen.” Grams said

“Is this about Phoebe?” Piper asked.

“Yes, and No” Grams began.

“This is a long story and I only have a short time to explain, so please try to understand” Penny rushed. “Oh how to even tell you this, I had so hoped this day would never come....”she fretted and wrung her hands. “You have to save your sister!” she bluntly stated.

“Phoebe?” Prue questioned.

“No, your other sister!” Penny tried again.

Prue and Piper looked to each other wondering which one of them was in danger.

“No, No, No.......” noticing the confusion. “I guess I need to start at the beginning....” Taking a deep breath Penny started to tell her story. “You see when you were around 14 Prue, your mother came back for a visit. It was a one time kind of deal, and totally against the rules, but she just had to see and hold you girls again. Part of the spell was that you girls couldn’t recognize her as your mother, other than that she was completely human and alive, so we told you she was your mother’s old roommate. She was only supposed to stay for one week, but alas things did not go as planned....” Penny paused.

“Abby? Mom’s old roommate Abby, was really mom?” She remembered Abby’s stay well. The woman had spent so much time with them, trips to the park, long talks, baking cookies..... “I do have memories of mom” Phoebe said in awe.

“Yes” Penny smiled. “And all was well, until Victor came to town” Penny’s voice turned venomous when she said Victor’s name. “He wanted to meet with your mother at his motel, in the worst possible part of town” Penny shook her head sadly. “The meeting did not go well, your mother left upset, it was late and very dark, she wasn’t paying attention....., she was attacked......, a-and raped” She finished as a tear rolled down her cheek.

The girls were in shock. Piper gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. Phoebe openly wept. While anger flashed in Prue’s tear filled eyes, as she whispered “No, not mom.”

“I know this comes as a shock, but it is only the beginning, and I am running short on time” Penny wiped her teary eyes and continued. “Due to the rape, your mother became pregnant, and then all Hell, and I might add, Heaven broke loose...... This was a truly unique situation. No one knew what would happen, and speculation ran rampant. The child may or may not have powers. The child may endanger The Charmed Ones. Would your mother even be able to carry the child. The Elders urged your mother to have an abortion. Your mother refused, she was determined to have the baby.”

“It’s her, isn’t it, the girl I am connected to?” Phoebe choked out.

Penny nodded sadly. Her granddaughters now huddled and clung to each other in terror. Penny felt guilt burning at her heart, for she knew it would only get worse when she continued.

“W-What happened to her?” Piper’s voice trembled, as she tightened her hold on her sisters.

“Your mother was able to carry her, and then right after the birth the unthinkable happened. She was whisked away and lost in the shuffle. She was mistakenly put with a group of babies entering the foster care program. With Good and Evil both hovering near waiting to snatch her away, they both lost out due to simple human error. She was immediately lost in the social service system.” Penny turned and looked out the window to avoid the eyes of her horrified granddaughters. “She was taken away before your mother or I could even touch her......God help us, we decided not to look for her, we had hoped she could lead a normal life...... Oh, if we had only known......” Penny turned back to them, anger burning in her tear filled eyes. “We have just discovered that this is not the case. Unfortunately she has lead a very hard life filled with pain, and I am afraid it is about to come to an end. She has lived through so much...... Please, I am begging you, don’t hold how she was conceived against her, she needs you!”

A deafening silence followed. So much information so fast. Their minds tried to process all that their grandmother had revealed. It would take time, but time was one thing they did not have.

“W-Where is she?” Prue stuttered feeling numb and nauseous.

The elders were content to let destiny have her way. When your mother heard a rumor that the child’s death was near, she did some investigating, shall we say. She discovered that the child never left the San Francisco area, and was given the name Frisco as a play on the city’s name. We knew you were her only hope. Your mother created a diversion, and here I am. I beg your forgiveness, and pray you get to your sister in time to show her the love of a family.” Grams finished and looked at the beautiful young women her granddaughters had become. She so wanted to wipe their tears and hold them, but alas it was not possible and this broke her heart. Her eyes then lifted upward, and she nodded understanding the silent message. “The jigs up girls,” she announce with a sad smile. “I love you my darlings” she whispered as she disappeared into sparkling bits of golden light.

No one moved, no one spoke. Emotions too strong over took them, time lost all meaning. They clung to each other as a lifeline, knowing in their hearts that only their bond as sisters could get them through this. And then just as suddenly the world began to spin again.

“She needs us”-Prue
“We need her”-Piper
“We have to find her”-Phoebe

The three spoke at once startling each other. Then smiling through the tears, pulled each other into a loving group hug.

Piper and Phoebe stood back and watched Prue work, she was in high gear get down to business mode. She stood toe to toe with a long line of secretaries, case workers, and higher-ups, and when Pure Halliwell spoke people listened, jumped, and dove to get out of the way.

“I really don’t have any idea how this has happened Miss Halliwell, but is seems that we have lost track of your sister......” the current desk jockey in Prue’s sights was explaining.

“I would suggest that you look into your records a bit harder then” Prue’s voice was on the edge, and she bit her lip. She wanted to scream “You lost my sister! How do you just simply misplace a child!!!”

“I wonder,” the woman looked up from her files “Maybe Liz would know something.....”

“Liz,” Prue questioned.

“Yes, Liz Fontaine, she seems to have incredible luck at placing, well.... our harder cases. I’m not sure why, she’s not very personable, or nice for that matter. Oh my, I guess I am rambling...You’ll find her office on the second floor, Liz Fontaine.” The woman explained.

“Thank You,” Prue said simply and made way for the elevator.

Moments later they were all three seated in chairs opposite Liz Fontaine’s desk, and as promised she was not very personable. The word hostile came to Pipers mind.

“So what exactly do you want, and make it quick” Liz snapped at the trio as she smoothed out a rumple in her business suit.

Phoebe’s eyebrows rose in amusement. She could picture this lady and Prue going a few rounds. And from the look in her sister’s eyes at the moment, Phoebe began to worry that Prue would leap over the desk at the woman.

The woman listened with feigned interest as Prue explained the details of their plight. “All I can do is check my files, what’s her name?” the woman snapped her fingers in Prue’s face.

Prue’s fists clenched, her vision blurred, and she went to move forward out of her chair. Piper also noticing the signs of her big sister melting down gently reached forward and laid a hand on Prue’s arm. “It’s Frisco, like San Francisco” Piper answered for her.

Prue silently thanked her sisters. If they hadn’t been with her, she didn’t think she would have been able to handle this alone. As a matter a fact, she was pretty sure the building would be in rubble and she would have dear Miss Fontaine in a choke hold.

Upon hearing the name, the woman seemed to go pale and she literally dropped the pen she had been taking notes with. She abruptly stood, “I can’t help you, now if you will excuse me I have work to do”

“What? Aren’t you going to check your files?” asked a stunned Phoebe.

“I have never heard the name. Your search is hopeless and a complete waste of my time. Now if you don’t mind” She gestured to the door.

“Oh, I mind all right!” Piper mumbled and tossed her hands out freezing the woman in place. Prue and Phoebe looked to her in surprise. “What, she was lying!” Piper defended. Phoebe immediately rushed to a file cabinet and began to rummage through it.

“Phoebe!” Prue scolded, “That’s a federal offense!”

“Just hurry before she thaws!” Piper barked at both of them.

“Nothing!”, Phoebe slammed the last file drawer and ran her hand through her hair in exasperation.

“Maybe the desk” Prue suggested looking up from a stack of papers.

Phoebe ran to the desk and began to open drawers. “Now what do we have here?” she asked in her Phoebe voice only moments later. She had stumbled across some hidden files, flipping through them she called out “BINGO!” and held up the file for Prue, who quickly headed to the copy machine in the corner with it.

“Guys Hurry!” Piper warned feeling the edge begin to wear off her freeze. Phoebe slammed file back into place, Prue stuffed the copies in her purse, and just as they all returned to their original places the short tempered woman unfroze. “Thanks for your time” Piper spoke sarcastically as they exited the office with the woman glaring behind them.


Quickly they piled back into Piper’s jeep and Prue immediately pulled the copies from her purse. Handing Piper half of the papers they began to search for the location of the sister they had only just learned about.

“Oh my” Piper looked up from the papers she was holding, sadness evident in her eyes. “Apparently she has been shuffled from one bad home to another, they have all been abusive” she finished in a whisper.

“What’s that?” Prue questioned in a shaky voice, still reeling with what Piper had just revealed.

“It looks like a ledger of some sort” Piper’s brow creased as she studied the list of numbers. “Prue you don’t think...”

“That’s exactly what I think! That woman is taking money from child abusers and then placing children in their homes!” Prue shook with anger and was actually reaching for the door handle to go take care of Miss Fontaine. When suddenly both she and Piper seemed to realized at the same time that Phoebe hadn’t spoken since they had returned to the Jeep.

“Pheebs?” they both questioned, turning to the back seat.

Phoebe sat turned away from her sisters with her forehead resting on the cool glass of the window. And when she slowly looked to her sisters they saw a look of pure anguish. Silent tears streaked down her cheeks, “she’s giving up” her voice was raspy and desperate.

“Oh, Pheebs!” Piper cried out as Prue climbed into the back with her.

The minute Prue pulled Phoebe into her arms, she could feel her sister’s shaking. “Piper, I think we need to get Pheebs to a Dr.” she spoke quietly. Piper nodded and turned back to start the Jeep.

“No!” Phoebe yelled. “She needs us! We have to help her!”

Prue tried to soothe a distraught Phoebe by holding her and rubbing her back. “Pheebs, honey you need......”

“No! I’m fine. We don’t have long, please.” Phoebe knew they had to hurry, she could feel the hopelessness in her baby sister. After holding on for so long, she was letting go, she had to get to her. She gripped Prue’s arms and looked into her eyes trying to convey what words couldn’t. Prue fought an emotional tug of war, torn on how to help her sisters. “Please Prue” Phoebe whispered one last ragged plea.

It was the deciding vote, Prue reached forward and grabbed the papers. “1127 Rooks Avenue, step on it Piper.”

Piper started the jeep and tore out of the parking lot, giving Prue a worried look in the rear view mirror. Twenty five minutes later Piper whirled into a neighborhood full of houses that should probably have been condemned. Most were faded to a gray institutional color and several had boarded up windows. “There!” Piper called pointing to a deserted looking house with an old car up on blocks parked out front. The yard was littered with beer cans and the picket fence was mostly falling down. Her mind reeled, a child lived here, this was her sister’s home.

As they climbed out of the jeep a voice erupted from inside the house, “You damn kid! This time I’ll teach you....”

They stood frozen by the angry voice, but the next sound mobilized them into action. It was the sickening sound of someone being struck. All three raced up the uneven walk and stairs, they didn’t even slow down when they reached the door, Prue simply tore it off the hinges. The sight inside stopped them cold. A young badly beaten girl dressed in tattered and torn clothing lay chained by her wrists to an old radiator against the wall. A nasty looking man with a pipe in one hand and a bottle of whisky in the other was bringing the pipe down again. The girl instead of crying out closed her eyes and waited for the inevitable blow. Piper’s hands flew up and froze the room. They were to shocked to realized that the girl had not frozen and what that fact implied. The girl cautiously opened her pain filled eyes to see an angry Prue send the man flying into the wall where he slumped unconscious to the floor.

The trio rushed toward the girl, who in turn tried to scoot away from them in fear and pain. They slid to a stop, not sure how to proceed. Less than ten feet away lay their baby sister and she was scared to death of them.

Phoebe instinctively got down on her knees, bringing herself to her sister’s level. She looked into eyes that looked remarkably like her Grams’ “it’s O.K., we’re here to help you” she spoke softly. She could tell from the look that her sister gave her that she didn’t believe a word of it. “We won’t hurt you” she continued slowly beginning to inch closer to her baby sister.

The girl lay gasping for breath, fighting to stay conscious. Her unruly curly reddish brown hair fell across her face, as she eyed the newcomers. There were three of them, and in her state she knew she didn’t stand a chance. It would be over soon. Then the one in the middle spoke claiming to be there to help. She wasn’t dumb enough to fall for that, but couldn’t find the strength to fight back anymore. So she watched with caution as the women approached.

Prue and Piper exchanged amazed looks, leave it to Phoebe to know what to do. They followed her lead, got down on the floor and slowly approached the girl. Phoebe reached out a tentative hand and touched her sister’s arm, causing Frisco to flinch and Phoebe’s heart to break. “It’s O.K., we’re family” she tried to reassure.

A confused Frisco corrected her, “I don’t have anyone.” Her voice was soft and weak, as her eyes closed and unconsciousness took over.

Prue quickly used her power to free Frisco’s wrists from the chains and then they sadly checked Frisco over to see how badly she was injured. Piper lifted her T-shirt and revealed black and purple ribs, hot tears stung her eyes and fell. Phoebe reached over and held Piper’s hand, as they tried to gain strength from each other. Prue, noticing blood on the floor, gently rolled Frisco to her side. She gasped at what she saw. Frisco’s back was criss-crossed with fresh and bleeding lash marks, and scars from past whippings. Phoebe took off the silk scarf from around her neck and tried to apply pressure to the nasty gash across the side of Frisco’s forehead.

“This is bad.” Prue whispered and looked up at her pale sisters. She stood and gently scooped Frisco up into her arms, as Piper and Phoebe led the way back to the Jeep.

Phoebe and Prue sat in back with Frisco laying in their arms, and Piper started the Jeep.
“We can’t go to the hospital!” Phoebe protested.

“Why?” a confused Piper asked looking into the rear view mirror.

“We basically just kidnapped our sister, they will just take her away again.” Phoebe rushed to explain.

“Pheebs, she needs medical attention....” Piper reasoned from the front.

“Who was that Doctor that Grams used to call?” Prue asked as she began to make a plan.

Dr. Latimore! Here’s my cell Pheebs, give her a call!” Piper passed Phoebe her phone beginning to follow Prue’s line of thought.

“She’s going to meet us at the manor” Phoebe confirmed a few minutes later after explaining the situation to the Dr.

“How about you Pheebs? Prue asked softly touching her sister’s shoulder.

“Actually I feel much better. I think the connection was broken when we found her, I don’t have that feeling anymore. Not to mention I’m starving.” Phoebe finished with a tired smile. Her sisters smiled back and breathed a small sigh of relief.

‘She hardly weighs a thing” Prue commented as she laid Frisco on the couch. “I’ll get the first aid kit.” she hurried up the stairs.

Piper returned from the kitchen with a tall glass of milk and handed it to Phoebe who was sitting near Frisco in the overstuffed chair. “Thanks sis” Phoebe smiled sadly.

“Anytime” Piper replied rubbing her sister’s back.

Frisco began to stir, slowly coming back. Sensations surrounded her, whatever she was laying on was soft, she felt warm, it didn’t smell of beer and cigarette smoke... Suddenly she remembered the women, where was she! Panicked she awoke and quickly took in her surroundings. She flinched as blinding pain shot through her as she tried to sit up. Piper and Phoebe jumped up to help her, but it only caused her to scurry to the end of the couch like a frightened animal, wincing with every movement.

“It’s O.K.” Piper spoke as she and Phoebe took a step back to reassure her. At the same time Prue came running back down the stairs and bound into the room.

Fear and panic took over for Frisco. She pulled back her hand as if to throw something and a bluish-purple ball of lightening appeared in her hand.

“Whoa!” they all spoke at once.

Frisco’s eyes darted wildly between them, ready to hurl the orb at the first sign of trouble. “W-Where a-am I” her voice shook with fear and pain.

Prue’s big sister heart took over as she took a small step forward and spoke, “Your in our home. We can explain everything, just please let us help you.” She used her calmest voice even though she was anything but calm, and held the gauze up for the girl to see.

Frisco’s breath was coming in gasps, no one had ever helped her. That was something that she had learned early on, adults always hurt you. Yet, somehow these women looked familiar, and they had taken her away from Ed and brought her here. She looked deep into the eyes of the one holding the bandages. They were so blue, yet soft and warm, nothing like the cold eyes she was used to seeing. Should she let her guard down.
Prue looked back into eyes that had seen far to much for their age. They showed how frightened, hurt and truly alone her littlest sister felt. Phoebe had been right, it was overwhelming. Frisco ended the standoff by slowly flexing her fingers and the colorful lightening disappeared. Prue slowly approached the couch and knelt down. Then as gently as possible she began to clean the gash on their sister’s forehead.

“well, I guess that answers the question, does she have powers” Phoebe raised her eyebrow.

“Phoebe!” Piper hissed.

“What? She already saw us use ours.” Phoebe explained her logic and then turned to Frisco. “Prue moves things with her mind and astral projects. Piper freezes time, and I see the past and future and levitate. Your power looks active in a big way! You see we’re witches, so are you. She finished excitedly.

“Good witches!” Piper quickly put in.

“Phoebe” Prue’s annoyed voice reached Phoebe’s ears.

“”You said we would explain everything!” Phoebe shot back.

“I didn’t mean everything in the next five minutes” Prue grumbled turning her attention back to taping the gauze in place. “Speaking of explaining...... I know this is a lot coming at you all at once....... but you need to know that we are your sisters.”

“What?” Frisco’s voice was whisper soft. She was trying to take in what they were saying, and her mind was spinning. Sisters? Witches?

“We know it’s overwhelming, but just give us a chance” Piper urged moving slowly forward so she wouldn’t spook her sister.

A loud knock on the door made them all four jump. After a quick peek out the window Phoebe announced, “It’s Dr. Latimore, I’ll let her in.”

“A doctor?” Frisco looked nervously between Prue and Piper.

“She’s on our side, now lets get you up stairs” Piper tried to calm Frisco. She stepped forward and easily picked the girl up in her arms. At first Frisco tensed up and Piper thought she would panic, but then she slowly relaxed a bit. Piper started up the stairs, but not before sending Prue a look that showed how shocked she was that the child weighed so little.

They had all helped the Dr. get Frisco into a bath and carefully cleaned her up. They then dressed her in a pair of Phoebe’s flannel pj’s and left the Dr. to do her exam. Frisco had been pretty out of it due to the amount of pain, so she hadn’t fought them to much. Now they were all seated around the coffee table, waiting for the Dr. to finish, each sipping a mug of Piper’s herb tea and lost in their own thoughts. While Darryl paced endlessly back and forth in front of the fire place.

“Darryl” Piper asked sweetly.

“Yeah” he answered.

“Sit!” they all three barked.

Darryl gave a sheepish smile and slid into a chair. “You could have called me before you committed a federal crime” he mumbled

“There wasn’t time, but we did call you after we got home.” Piper patiently began for the third time. They had given Darryl the stolen and incriminating paperwork, and explained everything. He in turn thought they had a very strong case and was already working out the details in his head. Dr. Latimore descending the steps saved them from having to go over everything with him again.

“How is she?” Prue questioned anxiously standing.

The 50ish woman with blond hair pulled back from her face in a French braid surveyed the situation. She hated this part of her job, the delivering of not good news. She had known Penny and Patty Halliwell well, and now she faced the younger Halliwells. “Well she isn’t the worst case of abuse I’ve seen, but she does rank in the top five.” She took a breath and continued. “Physically she has several broken and cracked ribs. Too many lacerations and bruises to count, a major concussion, exhaustion and malnutrition are at the top of the list. I think you got to her just in time” she confirmed Phoebe’s worst fears.

“And emotionally?” Piper questioned quietly.

“I can’t soften this, she’s been through hell. She is used to being alone, she knows nothing of family life, every adult in her life has inflicted pain on her, the transition will be hard, if not impossible. She has no trust, and with good reason.” The Dr. paused.

“Y-you mean, she thinks we’ll hit her........” Phoebe wondered aloud.

“I am sorry to say, she doesn’t think it, she knows it. Everyone before you has. Taking on this child would take an infinite amount of time, patience, and love. Which brings us to your next decision. There is the option of putting her back in foster care, or there are institutions that handle these kinds of cases.........”

“There is no decision” Prue cut in. She glanced to her sisters for approval and was so proud when they nodded back. “Frisco is our sister, she will stay here where she belongs. This is her home” she finished with confidence.

“are you aware what an undertaking this will be?” the Dr. questioned.

“We’ll work it out as we go” Phoebe backed her big sister up.

“I just want you to know what your getting into. I actually expected that this would be the decision you would make, and I admire you for it. It won’t be easy, but Frisco deserves to have a home and family. You can count on me in court, I took photos of the abuse, and documented everything.” Dr. Latimore smiled at the sisters who would be there for Frisco no matter what. “I gave her a shot for the pain, so she should be out for the night, but you really need to watch for signs of infection, especially a high fever. Also I ran some tests, pregnancy, aids, .....I’ll let you know when I get the results back”

“You don’t think he.........” Prue couldn’t finish her sentence her world spun off it’s axis again.

“I can’t say for certain, there was some bruising in that area, and it is pretty common in these types of cases. We may never know the full extent of the abuse she suffered.” The Dr. sighed sadly.

Piper sat with her head in her hands, and Phoebe couldn’t help the tears she was shedding again. Prue willed herself to not pass out.

“I’ll stop by tomorrow afternoon. I want you to call if anything changes, especially if you see any signs of infection. Or if you just need to talk, I know this must be incredibly hard for you..... Here’s my home number as well as the office” she handed Piper the card and headed for the door.

The trio managed a soft “thanks”

The silence that followed was broken by Darryl “I have a few ideas on the legal side of this mess” he spoke quietly. He had seen far too many cases like this in his career, he would never get used to them. The cop in him wanted to put these people away in prison, the father in him wanted to have an old fashioned lynching. “I know a judge that specializes in helping children, and taking on the system. He would be perfect for this case. Unfortunately he’s out of town on a fishing trip, but I’m going to track him down, he owes me a favor...... If there’s anything else I can do.......”

“We appreciate your help so much Darryl. Thanks” Prue softly put her hand on his shoulder.

“Anytime. Lay low until I get back to you, and try to keep the crimes to a bare minimum” Daryl spoke heading out the door as well.

The three were now alone, and trying to deal with the events of the last 48 hours. Phoebe suddenly threw up her hands and yelled “What good is this power if I can’t use it! If only I could of seen her sooner, I should have tried harder, If I had focused..........”

“Phoebe no!” Piper cut her off. “You can’t blame yourself.”

“Pipers right Pheebs, without you we never would have found her. You saved her life.” Prue pulled a crying Phoebe into her arms and rubbed her back. Yet deep inside Prue was wrestling with her own guilt.

Early the next morning Piper meet Prue in the hall and sleepily bumped into her as she pulled her robe on. “How did you sleep?” Prue questioned steadying her.

“Not well, how bout you?” Piper asked, thankful her sister had saved her from bumping into a wall.

Prue shrugged, Piper didn’t need to know the truth she thought. The truth was that Prue had been plagued with guilt, and spent all night crying.

Phoebe startled them both by rushing out of the spare room. “She’s gone!” panic filled her voice.

“What?!” Prue practically yelled back.

“She’s not in the bathroom!” Piper called after a quick look.

They rushed down the stairs, coming to a halt on the landing when they saw her .She was dressed in the same torn jeans, and one of Phoebe’s T-shirts. She stood at the door, and was reaching for the doorknob, when Prue called out to her “Frisco?”

Panic hit Frisco in a wave, she spun around, but still grabbed the doorknob in her hand. RUN! Her mind screamed, but she was barley able to stand, much less take off running. She knew she would be sent away, if not back to the same place then another just like it, she had to get out of here before that happened.

They all seemed frozen in place, until Phoebe finally spoke, “Where are you going?”

Frisco shrugged, in truth she had no idea where she was going. The streets and alleys were her most likely destination. She tightened her grip on the doorknob, partly to strengthen her resolve, and partly to keep herself standing.

As if knowing that a distraction was needed, the book of shadows that Phoebe had left on the dining room table, on cue began to flip pages. They all four jumped.

“Don’t worry it does that a lot” Phoebe said easily as she descended the stairs and walked to the book. “This is the book of shadows” she made the introduction with flare gesturing to the book with her hands. “Hey, this is your power, Electroknesis, wow......” she read from the open page.

Both her sisters on the stairs, and the one by the door moved to read with her. Focus, don’t fall down, Frisco ordered herself, but with every step pain screamed through her body. Reaching the book, she was careful to stay back a bit from her sisters. The yellowed page before her explained how she used her power to channel electricity, how she could also use it on electrically powered machines as well as concentrating it into projectiles. It also explained that it took a lot of energy, so that after using the power she was usually physically weak. As they finished reading they all looked to Frisco.

“Cool” was Phoebe’s whispered comment. “The book is full of spells and info on warlocks and demons, it’s been passed down through the generations.” she explained.

“D-Demons? Is that what they are?” Frisco tried to make her voice sound strong, but the pain was making it hard to even speak.

”You’ve had run-ins with demons? Prue asked in disbelief. And Frisco nodded.

“Since when..... I mean how old were you...... when they started to come after you?” Piper asked what they all were wondering.

“Six” Frisco simply stated.

Piper, as well as her sisters were shocked. My God, she thought, we as adults can barley deal with it, how could a little child handle this.

Suddenly the pages flipped again, this time coming to stop on the page with the family tree. They watched in awe as Frisco’s name was added magically alongside their own names.

“That’s it, I’m outta here!” Frisco bolted. Witches, demons, and warlocks were one thing, but it was far too much to believe she had a family. She willed her legs to run.

“Frisco!” Prue cried out.

But her escape was cut short when after only a few steps her legs were too weak to hold her upright any longer. She landed hard on the floor, but she wasn’t giving up, she tried desperately to combat crawl to the door. Phoebe reached her first, rolling her over and pulling Frisco’s head and shoulders onto her lap. “Oh no! Prue, she’s burning up!” she called out, she could feel the heat of the fever radiating from her little sister.

Piper grabbed the phone and dialed the Dr. “She’s on her way” she told her sisters as she tried to help them calm Frisco.

She thrashed about weakly, “I can’t go back.” she repeated over and over as she tried to push them away.

“Honey, you aren’t going back, we want you to stay with us” Prue tried to explain.

“You don’t even know me” Frisco shot back.

“Then give us the chance to” Phoebe pleaded.

“We love you” Piper tried to make the girl understand.

Frisco’s struggling stopped immediately, “No ones ever said that to me” her stunned voice came out in a whisper as she once again lost consciousness.

“Prue?” Piper called as she and Phoebe stood outside Prue’s bed room door. Dr. Latimore had given Frisco a shot of antibiotics, and let them know they had done the right thing in calling, some of the wounds had become infected. She also had news that the tests had come back negative, but she still was not sure what Frisco had been through. After she had left Prue had stormed up the stairs and slammed her door. Now Piper and Phoebe were trying to get Prue not only to let them into her room, but into her heart as well. Prue tended not to share what she was feeling, instead thinking she was protecting her sisters she kept her emotions dangerously inside. “Damn it!” they heard Prue curse on the other side of the door, and then a huge crash followed. Piper and Phoebe looked to each other and then pushed the door open. Prue with her power had thrown everything on top of her dresser against the wall. Now she was turning on the vanity, her arm drawn back. Phoebe quickly grabbed her from behind and held her, half restraining her, half hugging her.

Piper rushed to help Phoebe, “Prue what’s wrong? Talk to us!” she pleaded.

Prue broke loose and turned away from them. They couldn’t see her like this, she had to be strong for them. Almost as if Phoebe knew what she was thinking she laid a hand on Prue’s shoulder “Your human Prue, your don’t help us by holding all this inside. If we are going to do this, we have to be able to share our pain and lean on each other. If we can’t do that for each other, how can we expect Frisco to do it.”

Prue turned back to face them, her face streaked with tears. “How could they do this?” she choked out.

“The system failed her Prue, she never should have been placed in that home.....” Phoebe began.

“No, not that.......” Prue shook her head.

“Who then honey?” Piper asked as she tucked a stray piece of hair behind Prue’s ear.

For a long moment it looked as though Prue wouldn’t answer them and when she spoke it was so soft they almost didn’t hear her. “I-I mean Grams and M-Mom” ashamed she tried to turn away again.

Piper stopped her, “Prue your allowed to be upset with them, they can’t stay on the pedestal you’ve put them on. They were human honey, they made mistakes, it doesn’t mean you love them any less, your just angry with them.” She pulled her big sister in for a hug.

That was it, Prue felt everything crumble and she fell into Piper’s embrace sobbing. Her shocked sisters held her, they had never seen Prue like this before.

“It was my fault” a voice so childlike they almost didn’t recognize it as Prue’s said.

“What?” they asked.

“I promised mom, I promised I would take care of my sisters. I failed, I failed...” Prue continued sobbing.

“Oh, Prue! You didn’t know, how could you be responsible? This isn’t your fault!” Piper tried to reason.

“I should have felt it, I know when you and Pheebs need me! How could I not know that I had another sister out there! I should have felt it. My God, she’s never been told that she was loved before! I didn’t keep my promise.” Prue completely fell apart.

“Prue!” Phoebe grasped her by the shoulders and forced Prue to look at her. “Prue, last night you said it wasn’t my fault I didn’t see anything sooner. You can’t blame yourself like this. Mom and Grams should have looked for her, they messed up, not you. You were a child, who took on a huge responsibility, and did a wonderful job. This is in no way your fault!”

“Please listen to her Prue! You have to believe that it isn’t your fault and stop torturing yourself over something that you had no control. We need you, Frisco needs you.” Piper hugged Prue.

They held each other while Prue cried a lifetime worth of tears. “I don’t know how to fix this” she finally confessed.

Piper chuckled, “O.K. while your at it your going to have to admit that you can’t fix everything! We