Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost Whisperer; I merely came up with the plot.

Melinda was in the living room watching the news in horror.

There had been a shooting at Grandview High. Jim was on duty, and Melinda figured he was probably at the high school.

The scene wasn't a happy sight. Teenagers, parents, teachers were all crying.

The TV started to fizz out. Melinda frowned. She changed the channel and flipped back, hoping it would help, but it didn't.

"Help me! Help her! Help me!" A very fuzzy voice choked out.

Melinda stared at the TV. She stood up and turned off the television. Jumping in her car, she sped away towards Grandview High.

Jim came to greet her.

"Hi honey."

"Thank god, you're okay," Melinda said, embracing him in her arms. "Do you know what happened?"

Jim shook his head. "Police won't release anything yet. The kids won't talk. What are you doing here?"

"Help me!" The voice was clear now.

Melinda turned around. There was a girl, who had taken a shot to the head, behind her.

"Help me!"

"Is someone there?"

Melinda nodded. "A girl. She might be a victim."

"You have to help me! Laura's still in there!"

"Jim, is everyone out of the building?" Melinda asked, not withdrawing her gaze from the ghost.

"I think so, why?"

"Please! She didn't leave! You have to get her out of there! They'll kill her!"

Suddenly, the doors burst open. Two policemen were wrestling two handcuffed boys out of the building.

The taller of the boys was putting up a greater fight. "I won't go! Not until she's out! I won't go!"

The smaller boy didn't seem to do anything.

"Jim, I don't think everyone is out of that high school."

"Please!" The ghost urged. "I know she is! I didn't see her come out- I've been waiting!"

"What's her name?" Melinda asked as calmly as she could.

"Laura Woodcroft. Please, get her out!"

"Jim, go inquire about Laura Woodcroft."

"She's a sophomore." The ghost added.

"She's a sophomore," Melinda yelled at Jim's retreating back.

Once Jim was away, Melinda looked straight at the ghost. "Who are you? How can I help you?"

"I need you to get Laura out."

"What's your name?"

"That's my family over there," said the girl, pointing. She disappeared.

Melinda was frustrated. The ghost didn't tell her if she had any messages, just that Laura Woodcroft needed to be rescued.

Melinda walked over to where a woman was standing, held by what Melinda presumed was her husband.

"Um, excuse me, I'm Melinda Gordon. I just wanted to express my condolences." Melinda offered them a wan smile.

The woman broke down in tears. "My baby, my poor baby."

"Our little girl was killed," said the man, putting on a brave face. Melinda had seen that face many times before. "Shot in the head, according to the medics. Nothing… nothing could have saved her."

"I'm so sorry. Was she taken already?"

He nodded and buried his face in his wife's hair as he hugged her.

The girl appeared. "Can you tell him… tell him to be brave for me?"

This ghost was driving her crazy. Melinda walked away from her, only to have the ghost follow her.

"Well, can you?"

"I need your name, first."

"Emily. Tell my Dad that… that I loved him… that… that I never wanted to leave him."

"I can't just do that!" Melinda said. "I can't just come out and say that I can see ghosts, I see you and then give them your message. It doesn't work like that!"

Suddenly, they were interrupted by a girl coming out of the doors, lead by Jim.

"Laura! She's alive!" Emily cried.

"This is your friend?" Melinda asked.

Emily nodded.

"Do you see a light?" Melinda asked lightly, hoping to get Emily to cross over right away.

"I can't leave her. I can't! I won't! You can't make me!" Emily suddenly became very angry. "You want me to leave my life? You want me to just walk out on Laura when she needs me most?"

"You're dead. It's time to move on. You being here won't help her grieving process."

"You can't make me go!" Emily disappeared.

"So what's with the girl?" Jim asked at dinner.

"She doesn't want to leave, she's really attached to Laura."

"That can't be helpful."

"I think it's something about how she died. Like, she needed to say something to her…" Melinda thought out loud.

"Whatever it is," Jim said, kissing her forehead. "I'm sure you'll figure it out."

Melinda slept fitfully that night. Emily was weaving in and out of her dreams. Melinda kept seeing glimpses of a bathroom, and then hearing gunshots.

Melinda opened her eyes, and looked at the clock which was blinking 4:27 in neon green.

Melinda groaned and closed her eyes before she heard "You have to help me!"

Emily was standing right beside her bed.

Melinda sat up, trying not to disturb Jim's sleep. She really hated it when ghosts did this.

"You have to help me first," she said sleepily. "I need your name, your… connection to Laura… and I need a reason to talk with her."

"They told me you could help."

Melinda suppressed a groan with difficulty. The dreaded "they" that many ghosts dragged up as an excuse. "Name, connection and reason or I can't help you."

"I'm Emily. Laura and I were friends since kindergarten."

"Emily what?" prodded Melinda.

"Carter. Please, can you help me?"

"Reason?" Melinda asked.

"Just help us!" Emily shouted, and she disappeared.

A/N: Well, there's chappie one. Please review! I love reviews!