NOTE: My first GW fic, have mercy. Also, un-beta'd. Enjoy!
Melinda woke with a start, only to find a figure standing over her bed. Slowly, it spoke.
"It's over." The figure stepped into a shadow and was gone.
***
Then next morning, Melinda entered her shop, coffee clutched tightly and eyes heavy. She yawned as she sat down at the counter, opening her laptop. When she opened her e-mail, she received a message from a doctor at the local hospital's psychiatric ward. The doctor wanted her to come down immediately. Assuming that it was about Jim, she left immediately, before Delia could even ask.
She entered the ward and went to the desk.
"Hi, I'm looking for Doctor Kent." The nurse pointed down a long hall and spoke.
"Room 77." Melinda thanked the nurse and walked quickly down the hall. She stopped at the door, peering in. There was a man, and a young woman, no older than 16 or 17, sitting in a chair. She knocked on the door and the doctor looked up. He signaled for her to come in and she opened the door.
"Hi." She smiled weakly. Where was Jim? What was this all about? Dr. Kent stood, leaving the girl to sit on the edge of the hospital bed.
"Melinda?" She nodded. "That's Christina, she asked for you. I assumed you were her mother, until her real mother showed up. I don't see how she would know you, she's new in town. Maybe you could talk to her? She won't tell us anything, and her mother had to leave." Melinda nodded; she figured it couldn't do any harm. She walked up to the younger woman. Looking at her more closely, she noticed a strange familiarity in her features.
"Christina?" She looked up, her eyes shined a dark blue, tinted with purple.
"Call me Victoria." She stated, looking slightly irritated.
"Victoria, right. I'm Melinda. Gordon." Melinda pulled up a chair and sat down, slightly distracted by the ever-growing amount of ghosts gathering around the redhead. Victoria seemed to get more irritated as every moment passed.
"You…you can see them, right? Th-the ghosts?" She had begun to hunch over as they leaned over her, murmuring ominously. Melinda nodded.
"Yes, I take it you can too." Victoria flinched, her breathing ragged.
"It's more than that. I can feel them. N-not just feel them, being here, but I can feel them. What they've been through." Melinda was utterly confused.
"I don't…understand." Her brow furrowed, the spirits had begun to circulate around the room, a few backing up as a few stepped forward. Victoria sighed, she extended her hand.
"Give me your hand." Melinda was hesitant, but extended her own hand. The second her skin came in contact with the younger woman's, she was overcome with pressure, as if her body was being crushed, and needles, pricking every inch of her body. She gasped, and felt lightheaded. Just as she thought it was over, a man set his hand on her shoulder, and she nearly fainted as she felt intense pain near her heart. Victoria quickly withdrew her hand, breathing raggedly.
"Thank you." Victoria spoke. "For not thinking I'm crazy."
Once Melinda had regained her composure, she smiled, albeit weakly. "Any time." She breathed. She stood, neither intending to leave, nor address the spirits in the room. She took a step towards the door, and turned around. "How did you know who I am?"