I don't own Ghost Whisperer and any of its characters.

Chapter One -

Don't meet trouble halfway!

„The night that'll last forever - The night that will never end"

It was a usual day in Grandview.
The sun was shining through the windows of a little store in the middle of the town square. In front of the glass windows autumn leaves were twirling around falling to the ground and wandering away with the wind.

One the benches which was placed in front of the big display windows two little boys were peeking inside hoping that this would be a new ice cream or candy shop. But all they could see were brown cardboard boxes, a huge table and unpainted walls.

A young woman wearing a white dirty apron, was running from corner to corner, grabbing this, placing that...the whole time it went on like this. Under the other display window a big golden sign was lying, with a dark green font reading "Same As It Never" and "Was Antiques" and some other boxes. That wooden thing was was split in two parts. The boys went over to it, looked at it for a few minutes and then ran away laughing.

Inside that little shop, Melinda Gordon was preparing everything for the big opening. She thought that finally her biggest wish would come true and she'll be able to have her own business. She extra moved from Hamilton to Grandview to start a new life, find a new job and find new friends. Or better find any friends at all because at nights she felt lonely. She didn't have anyone whom she could call at 10pm chatting for 20 minutes to overcome this loneliness.

All of them, even her own mother thought she was a real freak, insisting on seeing ghosts and other weird things. And even her boyfriend, who she thought she loved the most, left her after mocking her for her secret. That event really turned her life upside down and she decided that it was really time to do something new. Something exciting. Something daring. And this was it. She needed some new friends whom she didn't have to tell her secret, at least she'd try everything not to tell.

Antiques have always been a big delight for Melinda and she knew that someday she was going to sell them and find out all the stories behind them. Even as a little kid she had a big collection that her grandmother gave her. Old toys and dolls, jewelery and other little things. Of course that she wouldn't sell but other things such as furniture.
After strolling around for many hours she finally stopped in the middle of the mess, placed her hands on her hips and sighed. She felt the need for another two hands who could help her with everything.

After deciding that it was time to bring in the rest of the boxes inside and hang on the big sign on the wall she went outside and was greeted with the fresh vespertine air.
The heavy boxes were finally inside, even the ones from her old red jeep.

Now to the sign. Mel always believed that she was a strong, tough girl and that she would be able to do anything on her own. Even hanging a huge wooden sign on the wall, standing on a ladder in the wind. And she couldn't even think of asking one random person to help her. She was too shy for that after everything that has happened in her life.
Grabbing the first part, Mel swayed a little on her high heels.

Maybe it was a bit too heavy for a girl like her, but trying never hurt. At least she thought she could make it without putting off her shoes.
She slowly moved to the ladder and stepped on the first step.

Still being stubborn she stepped on the second one, but in this second a strong gust of wind passed by and slued the plate, but she couldn't let it fall and even her strong grip couldn't help her keeping the balance and she could feel how she started to fall to backwards. After she finally realized that she was falling down those few steps she left out a loud scream and waited for the impact with the dirty stone ground.

But there wasn't any.
Instead she felt how she fell into two strong arms who supported her and pulled her back upright. She was afraid to open her eyes and die of shame.

"Are you all right?" A soft male voice asked worriedly.

Now her eyes shot open and she stared into a face of a guy who was more than a head taller than her.
Hesitatingly she opened her mouth to say that everything was fine, but suddenly she couldn't speak.
"You need some help maybe?" He asked again, feeling awkward, smiling a little.

"Eh...E...everything is fine thanks. No I'm fine I think" Mel babbled quickly, staring down on the ground.
She felt like the last jerk, not knowing what to answer or how to behave, still clinging to that wooden board.

"Jim." He stretched out his hand, grinning slightly.

And only now Melinda recognized how dark his hair was, and how blue his eyes. His face was adorable and nice. And overall he seemed to be a very nice guy.
He wore a light blue shirt with a badge that Mel didn't pay attention to and dark pants with a walkie-talkie in the back.

"Well I think that you need some help. Let me help you I don't bite." He said, as his smile faded and he grabbed the wooden thing out of Mel's hands and stepped on the ladder himself.

"Wow it's quite heavy lady. Quite impressive that you tried to hang it by yourself."
"Than...thanks" Mel answered with a shaky voice. "Oh and thanks for saving me." She said.
"No problem."
"And I'm Melinda by the way" She called out "Sorry, I'm not very talkative."
"Melinda, nice name. Like it. Your store?" He asked curiously.
"Yeah, I moved here two weeks ago. I lived in Hamilton" Melinda didn't know why she told him that but somehow she felt like she knew that guy forever.
"Hamilton? It's not far from here is it?"
"Nope, only like one hour"
"Nice, I already wondered because that building was quite empty after the former owner left"
"Well, now I will own it"
"Antiques...quite original"
"I always loved that stuff... I hope the people here are into such things"
"I bet so. Well at least at the fire house the guys are always like looking for something original for their girlfriends. Now I can give them an address where they might find something"

Melinda only laughed on that. That guy was really nice.

"So you're a fire-fighter?"
"Actually a paramedic. But the town is small so I'm doing both of the things. Fighting with fires and saving people"
"That's really one interesting job" Mel replied minding his look. She dealt with death everyday and was grateful for every single life that is saved.
"Could you handle me that second sign over?"
"Sure...."

After a real teamwork Jim stepped down and smiled.

"Thank you so much Jim." Mel said, feeling much better.
"No problem. And if you need anything again just drop over there. The opposite side of the road. Just tell them your my friend and everyone is going to help you. Don't be too shy. Bye. See you around" He replied and ran over the road, in the direction of that fire house.

And Melinda, she just stood there in the middle of the sidewalk, smiling. The people passing by, looked strangely at her. Somehow she felt like a little girl who just got the best present ever. She was happy. Somehow she felt like this town was the right choice, and that store was the right thing to open.

Hope you enjoy :3