Ghost story

A/N: Hey guys. This is the 3rd installment to my "Jeremy has a story of his own" universe. Reading the previous stories "Compulsion and Decision" and "Christmas with family" is adviced but not required. The story is based on one too many hidden objects game and specifically "Hidden Objects". Enjoy!

A/N2: Oh yeah, I own nill!

Jeremy was whistling sitting next to a clapping Charlie. They were attending Bella's graduation along with the grandparents and Renee. Phil wasn't able to make it thanks to him having broken his leg while attempting a slide. Yeah, he's that good of a player. When Bella proposed to her mother that she should stay and deal with her hubby, Renee had rolled her eyes and asked her nephew to pick her up. She wanted another ride on the bike!

"You made it"

Jeremy teased his older by a year cousin as she walked up to their family grinning.

"Now we have to see if you will too"

Bella poked fun right back at him. The two had met for the first time a year ago when Jeremy's other cousin (who was adopted by his parents and raised as his sister) had all but thrown him out of the town by asking her boyfriend's brother to compel him to leave. It didn't work but Jeremy left, hurt by his sister's actions.

Now he had reconciled with his paternal grandparents and lived with Bella and her father in their small town. A town that had its own paranormal and supernatural activity.

"You know you'd be bored in a normal town"

Was Bella's only response every time the brown eyed, floppy haired teenager complained.

"Kids I have to go"

Charlie called standing form the table of the diner. Whereas everyone else had gone to fancier places in Port Angeles to eat on graduation day, the Gilbert-Swans had opted to go to the empty diner.

"What is it?"

"B&E"

Throwing money on the table Charlie made a run for his cruiser, swearing under his breath. He had promised himself he'd take the day off! Bella and Jeremy exchanged a glance and in one voice mumbled excuses and made a bee-line for Jeremy's bike.

"The one day I chose to wear white"

Bella grumbled lifting her Marilyn style white dress higher as she settled behind Jeremy and the green Yamaha bike sped behind Charlie's cruiser.

The two vehicles drove straight through town and pulled in front of what looked like a clearing in the woods. A mansion was built in the clearing protected by a black, ugly, metallic fence. Even though the day was bright, the thick woods around the property concealed the bright orb, making the mansion seem unfriendly and downright evil.

It was also deathly quiet.

"Shouldn't there be more sounds if there was a burglary?"

Jeremy asked aloud taking off his helmet. Charlie nodded and exited the cruiser making sure to wrap his cop belt around his waist and rest his hand on the gun that was safely there.

"Stay here kids"

He ordered but he knew he'd be ignored. As he reached for the digital lock besides the gate an eerie form in white reached a pale, bony finger straight through the alarm. As the form shrieked in an evil cackle the digital alarm gave sparks and died.

The form disappeared

"Did you see that?"

Bella whispered. Jeremy nodded

"My God! What happened?"

Charlie asked drawing his fingers back feeling the particles of eletricuty around them. Jeremy and Bella exchanged a look

"A ghost"

"And it doesn't want us inside"

The next generation of Gilbert-Swans replied. Charlie sighed closing his eyes momentarily. Ever since he took Jeremy in, he had become accustomed to... let's say more than met the eye. Even though he had long ago been informed of the treaty that involved the local werewolves and vampires, spirits and ghosts were new to him.

"I don't suppose you two will stay out of it"

Charlie proposed. With an incredulous look, Jeremy shook his head making his slightly long hair shake like their dogs.

"I thought so. Be careful"

He advised and using his radio he told dispatch to cancel the backup. The last thing he needed, the last thing everyone needed, was for Bella and Jeremy to be seen as they died and come back to life. Worse, to be seen talking to ghosts!

Wordlessly the two teens popped open the seat of the bike and retrieved identical beige bags to sling over their shoulders. The bags were equipped with notebooks and walkie talkies and band aids. This wasn't their first rodeo.

Looking around Jeremy located a broken knob. In the bushes next to the closed gate Bella and Charlie found two more knobs. Charlie took them and pried open the alarm. Fumbling inside he managed to reconnect everything.

The circular insignia on the double gates began moving until the gates unlocked and opened by their own power. the cobblestone path was illuminated by bear shaped lights that revealed topiaries in animal shapes littered in the vast yard.

"Is it me or is anyone feeling like we're in a hidden objects game?"

Jeremy asked. Charlie nodded as Bella took a few tentative steps forward. Crossing the yard the group reached the double doors of the mansion. They were open.

"Is anyone here? It's the police"

Charlie called out. A pained moan was their only answer and the three entered the mansion. Just inside the doors there was a large room. Furniture was covered with white cloth everywhere, no light entered it and the air stank with dust. An elderly man was fallen among the chaos.

Charlie ran kneeling next to him. Looking for a pulse he found none and he began compressions.

"I have to take him to a hospital"

He announced.

"Go, we have the bike"

Bella reasoned with her father. Jeremy who was walking inside the room looking around turned and offered his assistance in carrying the man to the cruiser. Bella looked around at the room only then noticing the life size play Mobil toys standing guards on all doors and the hanging toys from the chandeliers.

"It looks like a real side dollhouse"

Jeremy commented joining her.

"I only hope no child is playing Jerry"

Bella retorted. Cautiously the two cousins walked around looking for the ghost.

"Someone hasn't paid the bills in a while"

Jeremy commented tumbling through a stuck of bills, all way past their due time, on a dusty table. Bella knelt to a fallen picture book. Inside it she found pictures of toy girls and various paper dresses.

"You're right. Everything is covered in dust. Huh, I had one of these as a child"

Bella said softly reaching for a dusty white bear. As her fingers were about to take the toy a small black cat came from underneath a table and scratched her

"ow"

"You okay?"

"Yeah"

"Take this"

Jeremy tossed his kneeling cousin a toy mouse he had stepped on. Giving the cat the mouse, Bella retrieved the bear and a lighter that was hidden underneath it and lit all the candles in the room.

Jeremy picked a photograph from another table.

"The father looks like the guy Charlie took. What was he doing all alone though?"

"Beats me"

A noise was heard behind on the closed doors. Exchanging one look they ran to the closed and locked door. in front of it was a mess of fallen toys.

"Let me guess, we need to comb through them"

Bella said. Jeremy let a deep breath

"Just like a hidden object game"

He repeated his cousin's earlier observation. Hearing a soft murmur besides her ear Bella signed and complied. Going through the pile Bella grabbed a medicine bottle. All sounds stopped

"Come on, we need to take this to the hospital"

Jeremy urged her and blowing the candles out the two teens mounted the bike heading the same way Charlie had taken earlier.