Dream: The fog had crept in and the air turned crisp. Melinda stood next to the tree staring at the old cabin. Her thoughts went back to that day, the day her life changed forever. She stood watching the scene play out again and wasn't able to change anything. No matter how much she screamed or tried to run she remained silent and unable to move. She watched Jim gather up a few remaining chairs, watched him walk inside the cabin, and struggle to get the gun away from Hunter. Melinda could see herself get out of the jeep and run to the detective. Over and over again the shot rang in head, playing out like a broken record. She tried to tell herself she was dreaming and she needed to wake up, she couldn't bear watching this again and again. Her vision started to get foggy and her heart started beating rapidly as once again the gun went off.
Melinda shot straight up in bed screaming, flipping her arms around as if she was trying to get the image out of her head. She turned to see why Jim wasn't comforting her but the only thing she saw was an empty spot next to her. She tried to think if he was working or if he'd come home but she couldn't think straight. Her heart was still beating a million miles an hour and she was shaking uncontrollably.
"YOU HAVE TO HELP ME!" A ghost yelled appearing suddenly.
Melinda hadn't regained control of herself yet and the ghost scared her enough that she could only let out another scream. The ghost disappeared immediately and she turned to see him stepping into the room, not expecting it, she let out another scream. Jim walked quickly to the bed, before he even reached the bed Melinda was clinging to him. He put his arms around her waist and held her tight trying to calm her. She was trying climb inside him, she needed to feel his protection and she didn't feel like she was close enough to him. He could feel her shaking and her tears on his neck.
"Are you okay?" Jim asked whispering in her ear.
Melinda couldn't answer; she only continued trying to pull him closer. She hated that dream and couldn't understand why it still frightened her. She still had her Jim but for reasons unknown to her, she still hated that dream. Her body clung to him for dear life. Jim, carrying her, stumbled over to the bed. She wouldn't let go of him enough for them both to get on the bed but at least her on the bed took some pressure off his neck, she'd been choking him and she didn't even realize it.
"Its okay, honey, I'm right here." He continued whispering in her ear in an attempt to calm her. So far he was unsuccessful.
"Jim…" She managed to get out. She needed him to know that she was coherent enough to know he was speaking to her.
"I'm right here. What happened?" He asked trying to pull away to look at her, but Melinda wouldn't let him go.
She only shook her head. She hated these moments. The tears fell and she had no control over them. Neither had noticed that Aiden had walked into the room. Jim tried once again to pull her away enough to look at her.
"Mel, you're scaring the hell out of me here. What happened?" Jim asked closing his eyes. He felt so helpless. Melinda knew if she could just get one word out he'd understand. She also knew it would tear his heart in two when she did. Jim wasn't too fond of her having that dream either.
"Cabin…" Melinda said through her sobs and began clinging to him even more. She hated what it did to him when she said that. She knew he wouldn't stop until he knew what was causing her distress. Jim instantly tightened his grip and whispered.
"I'm so sorry, honey." He whispered through closed eyes. It was almost too quiet for her to even hear. Melinda pulled away and looked at him. Jim had closed his eyes and refused to look at her.
"I'm happy you're here now. I just still hate that dream. It was the worst day of my life. I hate seeing the shot over and over and over again." She was now trying to reassure him. Jim still hadn't looked at her.
"I know. I wish you didn't have to though. I wish I could take that memory away from you." He finally looked at her, taking her face in his hands gently. "I'm not going anywhere again. You know that right?"
Melinda nodded and leaned back in to hug him when she noticed Aiden standing there. She pulled away and watched him wondering how long he'd been there. Jim followed her gaze.
"Hey, little man, did we wake you?" Jim asked not sure if Melinda would let him go but he tried to pull away softly.
"Yeah, I heard mom scream. Is everything okay?" Aiden asked from the door way. He wasn't sure what was going on but he knew enough not to ask too many questions.
"Sorry about that, bud. Mom, just had a nightmare." Jim turned to look at Melinda.
"I'm okay, sweetie." Melinda did her best to smile.
Jim gently tried to pull away from Melinda making sure it was okay if he did and walked over to Aiden and threw him over his shoulder.
"Let's get you back to bed." Jim was carrying him like he was a sack of potatoes.
"Wait, mom do you need a hug?" Aiden asked grabbing a hold of the door before Jim could leave the room.
"I would love one." Melinda smiled and this time it was real. She loved how both Aiden and Jim knew just what to say or do to make her feel better. With only words and a smile they seemed to comfort her in a way no one ever had before. Melinda smiled as Jim took a few steps back towards her and dropped Aiden on the bed. Aiden popped up and threw his arms around his mothers neck and squeezed her has hard as he could.
"Thank you, sweetie. I feel so much better now."
Aiden pulled away and smiled. "That makes me like daddy too."
"What do you mean?" Melinda asked wondering if he some how managed to read her mind.
"I can see ghosts like you and can make you feel better with a hug like daddy."
"You are a very special little man." She smiled and kissed his check.
"Good night mom." Aiden flew off the bed and out the door. Jim watched and then turned back to Melinda.
"You okay, if I leave you to go tuck him in? I'll be back in a second." Jim asked taking a step towards the door.
Melinda grabbed his hand, shook her head no, and pulled him back to her. "I think you forgot something."
Jim thought for a moment then smiled. He pulled away enough, took her face in his hands, and kissed her softly. "I'll be right back."
"Thank you. Please hurry."
"You know I will." He walked down the hall to his Aiden's room and flicked his light on.
"Is mommy really okay?" Aiden asked getting into bed.
"Yes, she just had a bad dream."
"Me too." Aiden said a little nervous about how Jim would react. He was smart enough to know how much Jim worried about both him and his mother, and was also smart enough to know that Melinda tried to protect him, Aiden figured he should do the same.
"You did? What was yours about?" Jim asked pulling the blankets around Aiden and then sat on edge of his bed.
"I don't know. I can't remember. It's just… I think something is going to happen."
Jim tilted his head to the side. He always got a sickening feeling when Mel or Aiden said they thought something was going to happen, because something always did happen. "You can't remember anything, anything at all?"
"I don't know. It's something with mommy. I don't think it's bad but I just can't remember." Aiden said feeling as though he was disappointing his father.
"It's okay, little man. I'm sure everything is going to be just fine. Get some sleep okay or you're going to be tired tomorrow."
Jim kissed Aiden on the forehead and headed out of the room switching the light off on his way out. Now he just needed to figure out what exactly was going on with his wife, how to make her feel better, and hope that she'd forgotten all about him having to work this weekend. He felt a little guilty; almost every time they had a fight she had that dream. Jim hated causing her pain. What he hated most was lying to her.
