The Premonition Teen

[NoAzMale]

CHARMED
"The Premonition"
by J. B. Tilton
email: aramath@isot.com
Rating: K
Disclaimer: “Charmed” and all related characters and events are the property of the WB television network, except for those characters specifically created for this story. This is a work of fan fiction and no infringement of copyright is intended.
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(Authors note: This story takes place between season 1 episodes “Dead Man Dating” and “Dream Sorcerer”.)
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When an innocent dies after a premonition saves Phoebe’s life, she begins to question why she should have survived at the expense of another. And that she might have actually caused the death of that innocent.
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ONE
Phoebe rushed to the curb and tried to flag down a taxi. She had promised Prue and Piper she would try to do some cleaning around the house and she was already nearly an hour late getting home. Getting a taxi at that hour was difficult and she was afraid she wouldn’t get home in time.
Suddenly a cab stopped directly in front of her. What a stroke of luck. She’d make it home in time to do the cleaning and maybe Prue would stay off her back for once. She grabbed the handle of the door and started to open the door.
A premonition began to play out in her minds’ eye. After only a month of being a Charmed One, she was still getting used to the premonitions. Each was a new experience for her.
In this premonition she watched as the very taxi she was touching proceeded through a green light at an intersection. Suddenly a large truck in the cross traffic lane ran the red light and crashed into the cab, all but obliterating the back portion of the car.
Phoebe waved the taxi on. If she took that cab her premonition would come true. If she didn’t take it, she reasoned, it would go somewhere else. No doubt it would avoid the intersection where the accident would occur. By avoiding the intersection at that particular moment, there would be no accident. Chalk one up for the power of a Charmed One.
She watched as a young woman about her age got into the taxi farther down the street. Then Phoebe turned to hail another cab. She might be a bit later getting home, but at least this way she’d get there.
The sound of a horrendous crashing sound brought Phoebe around. She saw the cab she had just waved on come skidding to a stop on the opposite side of the street. The truck that had struck the car stopped just short of the sidewalk as dozens of pedestrians scrambled for safety.
Phoebe ran to the accident site. The driver of the taxi climbed out of the front of the car, holding his head. Phoebe would learn later that he had sustained only minimal injuries in the accident. His passenger, however, had not been so fortunate.
The young woman had died instantly on impact. Her crushed and mangled body couldn’t be extracted from the tangled mess of the destroyed car for almost two hours. Even then, it was so badly disfigured the casket would have to remain closed at the funeral.
Phoebe stared at the twisted metal of the cab. If not for her premonition, that would have been her in the cab. The realization of just how close she had come to death hit her hard. Her power as a Charmed One had saved her life. But what chance had that young woman had? She had gotten into the cab fully expecting to arrive at her destination safe and unharmed. Now, she was dead, unrecognizable by even her closest family.
Phoebe sat down on the curb. She was safe and well because she was a Charmed One. Did that mean she had more of a right to live than someone else? Was she so important that someone else had to die in her place to preserve the Power of Three?
The Charmed Ones were tasked with protecting the innocent. And now that responsibility had just cost the life of one of those innocents. Phoebe felt herself becoming sick.
TWO
“You’re lucky you had that premonition,” said Prue after Phoebe had told her sisters about the accident. “It could have been you in that cab.”
“Lucky?” snapped Phoebe. “Prue, a woman died because of that premonition. As long as I live I’ll never forget the look of her body inside that mass of twisted metal. She died because I was able to avoid it.”
“I’m sure that’s not true, honey,” said Piper.
“Isn’t it?” insisted Phoebe. “If I hadn’t had that premonition, I would have gotten into that cab. Then it would have been me in that accident.”
“But you did have the premonition,” said Piper. “It saved your life.”
“At the cost of someone else’s life,” Phoebe shot back. “Is that the price we have to pay for being Charmed Ones? Do people have to die so we can fulfill some sort of destiny we don’t even know about?”
“I don’t know,” said Piper.
“I don’t either,” said Prue. “But I do know I’m glad it wasn’t you in that cab. I know we don’t always get along, but you’re my sister. I wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to you.”
“What about that woman?” demanded Phoebe. “Don’t you think she had family? Do you think they wanted that to happen to her?”
“Of course not,” said Piper. “That’s not what Prue meant.”
“Phoebe, you’re still upset over this,” said Prue. “Who could blame you? But she didn’t die because of you. People die in accidents every day. You can’t blame yourself.”
“Can’t I?” asked Phoebe. “I knew that accident was going to happen. I just figured if I didn’t get in the cab, it would go somewhere else and wouldn’t get into that accident.
“Oh my God. It’s all my fault. I caused that woman to die. It’s my fault she’s dead. Because of my premonition, I just turned and walked away. She died because I didn’t do anything to change it.”
“No,” said Prue sternly, “that’s not true.”
“Yes it is,” said Phoebe. “Don’t you see? I knew the accident was going to happen. I knew whoever was in that cab could be killed. And I didn’t do anything to stop it. I just turned my head and looked the other way.”
“Phoebe, it’s not like that,” said Piper. “You thought you had changed the premonition. Any one of us would have thought the same thing. You had no way of knowing when that accident was going to happen.”
“And I didn’t do anything to prevent it either,” said Phoebe. “I could have said something to the driver. I could have kept that woman from getting in the cab. I could have done something to try to change my premonition. Instead I just walked away.”
“You did everything within reason,” said Prue. “The driver wouldn’t have believed you. And that woman would probably have just been annoyed or angry that you tried to keep her out of the cab. The accident would probably still have happened.”
“Or maybe not,” said Phoebe. “I should have done something to change it.”
“Phoebe,” said Prue.
“I’m kind of tired,” said Phoebe suddenly. “If you guys don’t mind, I think I’ll go lie down for a while.”
“Sure, sweetie,” said Piper, rubbing Phoebe’s back. “Rest as long as you need to.”
“She’s probably still in shock,” said Prue after Phoebe had gone upstairs.
“Who can blame her?” asked Piper. “Can you imagine what it must have been like for her?”
“No, I can’t,” said Prue. “It has to be a strain on her. But it certainly wasn’t her fault.”
“Of course it wasn’t,” said Piper. “Maybe she’ll be thinking more clearly in the morning.”
“I hope so,” said Prue. “We just need to give her some time. I’m sure she’ll come to terms with it soon.”
“I hope so,” said Piper, “I hope so.”
THREE
Phoebe had a restless sleep that night. She dreamt of the accident. In her dream, however, she was the one who had been in the cab. She awoke in a cold sweat just seconds before the truck struck the cab.
She couldn’t get the image of the woman’s twisted body out of her mind. It was bad enough she had seen it all. It made it even worse to know it had totally been her fault.
And it had been her fault regardless of what Piper and Prue said. If she had only gotten into that cab, she might have been able to prevent the accident. At the very least, an innocent wouldn’t have had to die in her place. She didn’t know how she’d be able to live with herself after what she had done. She didn’t deserve her powers. And she had no right to call herself a Charmed One.
The next morning Prue and Piper were already in the kitchen when Phoebe came down. She took her usual place at the table. She was also wearing a pair of white gloves.
“Are those mine?” asked Prue.
Prue didn’t use the accusing tone she normally did when Phoebe borrowed things without asking.
“Yeah,” said Phoebe. “I know I should have asked first. I hope you don’t mind. I thought I’d borrow them until I could get some of my own.”
“Sure, no problem,” said Prue confused.
“Honey,” said Piper, “it’s over eighty degrees out. Why would you be needing to wear gloves?”
“It’s very simple,” said Phoebe. “I get premonitions when I touch something. If I can’t touch anything, I can’t get a premonition. As long as I wear gloves, I cant’ touch anything. I may not be able to get rid of my power, but I can make sure I can’t use it.”
“Sweetie, that’s crazy,” said Piper. “You’re one-third of the Charmed Ones. Your premonitions are a part of the Power of Three.”
“Not any more,” said Phoebe. “I can’t be the cause of another innocent death. We still have the Power of Three. But I can’t have any more premonitions. Not knowing what the cost might be. I can’t risk killing someone else.”
“Honey, you didn’t kill anyone,” said Prue. “It was just a senseless accident, that’s all.”
“An accident I could have prevented,” said Phoebe. “If I had done something that woman might still be alive. She’s dead because of me.
“It was a mistake for me to get this power. Or any powers. I don’t have the right to call myself a Charmed One. The Charmed Ones don’t kill innocents. They’re supposed to protect them.”
“And we do,” said Prue. “But we aren’t perfect. Even if somehow the accident was because of that premonition, it’s not your fault. Or your responsibility. You did the best you could under the circumstances.”
“No, I didn’t,” said Phoebe. “I caused that woman’s death. And I’m not going to let it happen ever again.”
Just then there was a knock at the back door. Prue opened the door to find a man about her age standing on the back porch. He was dressed in work clothes with a pair of work gloves in his hand. He clothes had some fresh dirt on them.
“Hi,” he said smiling. “My name is Jeff. I’m filling in for your regular gardener today. He had a minor family emergency.”
“Okay, fine,” said Prue.
“Could I bother you for a glass of water?” asked Jeff. “It’s getting a bit warm out here already.”
“Sure,” said Prue.
She got him a glass of water as he waited in the doorway. He looked at Phoebe who simply stared down at her untouched cup of coffee. Prue handed the glass to Jeff. He drained it and then handed the empty glass to her.
“Thank you,” he said.
“No problem,” said Prue.
“Those are nice gloves you’re wearing,” Jeff said to Phoebe.
“Thanks,” she replied without emotion.
“They’re totally unnecessary, you know?” asked Jeff.
“What?” asked Phoebe.
“Prue and Piper are right, Phoebe,” said Jeff. “That woman’s death was not your fault.”
The three sisters looked at the gardener wondering how he knew their names and what they had been talking about.
FOUR
“Who are you?” demanded Piper.
“A friend,” said Jeff. “And I’m not a threat to the Charmed Ones. I’m what you would call one of the good guys.”
“Then tell us who you are,” insisted Prue.
“I’m a cherub,” said Jeff.
“A cherub?” asked Prue. “You mean, like an angel?”
“Something like that,” said Jeff. “There are different levels of angels. I’m a caseworker of sorts. My job is to deliver information and clarify misunderstandings.”
“What do you want?” asked Phoebe.
“Only to keep you from making a mistake,” said Jeff. “You are not responsible for that woman’s death, as I said.”
“I ignored a premonition,” said Phoebe. “That makes me responsible.”
“No, you didn’t,” said Jeff. “You followed a perfectly logical course of action based on your premonition. Just as you were supposed to.”
“What do you mean?” asked Phoebe.
“Why do you think you have premonitions in the first place?” asked Jeff.
“To help the innocent,” said Phoebe. “So we’ll know who needs our help.”
“That’s true, but only partially so,” said Jeff.
“What do you mean partially so?” asked Piper.
“Phoebe’s premonitions are for a number of reasons,” said Jeff. “The reason you’ve stated is one of those reasons. She also has them to prepare all of you for what’s going to happen. You can’t change everything. Some times it’s necessary to prepare you for the things you can’t change.”
“Is that why she had that premonition?” asked Prue.
“Not in this case,” said Jeff. “Occasionally, a premonition is meant to guide you in a particular direction. To get you to do or not do something. In this case, the premonition was meant to keep Phoebe out of that cab.”
“I don’t understand,” said Phoebe.
“Some things are destined to be, Phoebe,” said Jeff. “No matter what you do, you can’t change them. That taxi was destined to be in that accident. And that woman was destined to be in it when it was. You weren’t. There was only one purpose for that premonition. To keep you from getting in that cab.”
“But I could have saved that woman,” protested Phoebe.
“You weren’t meant to,” said Jeff. “That’s what Prue and Piper have been trying to tell you. And that’s why I’m here. To tell you that your premonition had nothing to do with her death.”
“I didn’t cause her death?” asked Phoebe, a tear in her eye.
“Of course not,” replied Jeff. “You did exactly what you were supposed to do. You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. It became necessary to move you, so to speak.”
“It wasn’t my fault,” said Phoebe, the realization of what Jeff was saying finally sinking in. “I wasn’t responsible.”
“No, you weren’t,” said Jeff, smiling. “As I said, you were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. So, since weren’t responsible for her death, you can understand why you don’t need the gloves.”
“I guess you’re right,” said Phoebe. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure,” said Jeff. “I just hate seeing people blame themselves for things that aren’t their fault.”
“Wait a minute,” said Prue. “If we’re not supposed to change every premonition, how are we supposed to know which ones we are and which ones we aren’t?”
“That, I can’t help you with,” said Jeff. “I don’t even know why that accident was destined to happen. I only know that it was.”
“So there’s nothing you can tell us?” asked Piper.
“No, sorry,” said Jeff. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get back to your yard. Your gardeners’ minor emergency was real. It provided me the opportunity to come talk with you. But I still have to do the work. One of the pitfalls of the job.”
As Jeff went back outside, Phoebe removed the gloves and handed them to Prue.
FIVE
Even though Phoebe no longer felt guilty over the woman’s death, she insisted on going to the funeral. She was glad to see such a large turnout at the funeral. The young woman obviously had many family and friends who cared about her a great deal.
Prue and Piper went with her for moral support. For Prue, it was a major undertaking. She disliked funerals or graveyards or anything associated with death. She stayed until she was just too uncomfortable, and then told her sisters she’d meet them at the manor. They both understood completely.
“She still hasn’t dealt with mom’s death, has she?” asked Phoebe.
“Not completely,” said Piper. “She’s still angry over it. I know she didn’t completely buy Jeff’s explanation of things being destined to happen. And that there’s nothing we can do about it.”
“That might mean mom was destined to die when she did,” said Phoebe. “And that there was nothing any of us could have done about it.”
“Yeah,” said Piper. “That’s something she’s always had trouble dealing with. She didn’t say anything for your sake, but I know she had some questions she would have liked to ask.”
“I kind of now how she feels,” said Phoebe. “It’s hard to imagine that fate or destiny or whatever planned to have that woman die at such a young age.”
“Yes, it is,” said Piper. “But you’re okay. I guess it just wasn’t your time.”
“At least I don’t feel responsible for her death anymore,” said Phoebe. “I just wonder how we’re supposed to distinguish between the premonitions we can change and the ones we can’t.”
“We’ll just have to play it by ear, little sister,” said Piper.
“Oh, wait,” said Phoebe. “I think I’m having another premonition.”
“What?” asked Piper, suddenly very serious. “What is it? An innocent in danger? A demonic attack?”
“No,” said Phoebe, smiling coyly. “It’s about the three of us. In that little ice cream shot on Dalwood Street. With triple scoops and sprinkles.”
“Now that’s the kind of premonition I like,” said Piper.
The two sisters moved to their car to get their older sister to make Phoebe’s premonition come true.
The End
If you’ve enjoyed this story, you can find more “Charmed” stories at my website, http://www.geocities.com/killeenmale/ . You can also post your own “Charmed” stories if you like to write fan fiction.