Dear ff readers,

This is the fourth chapter. I don't think that the story is going to last very many chapters, but at least this is the first fic that I planned out properly before I jumped into. Since I have left my unorganised ways behind me, I have decided to delete a couple of fics when I find the time and have enough courage. Those fics will be My Infatuation, Dark Stars and It Doesn't Take a Genius. I probably won't delete them from my computer, and after working on them, I might release them back onto the site. But till then, I think I'll stick with this story and It Had Better Be. So, read, enjoy, and review please! :)

Disclaimer: I do not own any original mediator characters.

Back in My Day

Paul Slater strode purposefully towards San Jose Public Library, just off San Fernando Street, his feet clad in black shiny Hugo Boss shoes- probably the only man in miles to wear Hugo Boss shoes on a Saturday morning. His icy blue eyes had spotted Susannah's silver 2002 Honda Civic EX 2-door Coup, parked opposite the library and he grinned to himself. He knew he was always good at the James Bond style spying. Students from San Jose State University walked all around him, the young women staring up at his Ray Ban covered face in awe, all blushing characteristically; the men sizing him up, glancing as nonchalantly as they could at his biceps. A smirk came to Paul's face as he pushed the tinted sleek, albeit dirty, glass door to the Public Library of San Jose. His eyes flickered back to his Z3 BMW black car- students were already fawning all over its waxed, hard, cold surface.

He didn't have to think twice about where to look for the glimmering chestnut headed woman; because he had been here before. In fact he had been to almost all the libraries he could whenever he could, probably in search of the same thing as Susannah. Up the flight of oak stairs, take a left turn, and look down isle 14, right at the furthest and most disused corner of the library. If she wasn't there, he would wait for her to turn up. Not that they'd made any sort of appointment- in fact she probably didn't want to see him all. He was pretty sure she wouldn't react very well to seeing him; yet his clear arrogance was one of the things that made his confidence infectious and, in this instance, made him stride purposefully towards the mane of sleek brown hair.

"Suze?" he said, although he knew it was her, just so that he didn't scare her. Nonetheless, she jumped and squealed, her hand launching to cover her probably fast beating heart.

"Paul," she said incredulously, "what the hell are you doing here?"

"What, so now I can't go and browse in the libraries of California? What about you?"

"Er... ditto." Her voice was defiant and she was regaining her usual attitude. Paul gazed into her bright green eyes, wondering just what she was up to, although he knew he could make a pretty accurate guess.

"What are you up to Susannah?" he said in a curious voice, suggesting that, yet again, he was not unknowledgeable of her inner-most thoughts. Susannah sighed, slightly dramatically Paul thought, and she lowered the book in her hands, simultaneously sitting down gently at one of the many desks surrounding the bookcases. Paul followed suit. His ice blue eyes warmed as they took in her worried features. If only he was the one who could comfort her. Love her.

"I was talking to your grandfather." Paul refrained from sighing- his granddad was always putting silly ideas in people's heads. "and he was explaining stuff about ghosts I've never known before. He told me that... well that Jesse was technically neither dead nor alive. He said it's only his memory that has been passed on." Susannah was trying to explain the best she could without rambling, but now her excitement seemed to bubble over, making her words run into each other in her haste to tell Paul. They weren't sixteen any more, he couldn't stop her. She took a deep breath and stared at his questioning eyes, "I'm going to go back in time Paul. I'm going to save Jesse from dying."

Even though he had been expecting it, Paul felt as though he had been punched in the gut. Here was yet another incident whereby he was reminded of how strong Susannah's love for Jesse was. Now his face felt like a mask. He felt his eyes turn cold once more. But still he couldn't hate Jesse. He made Susannah happy. Just his presence was enough to make Susannah's spirits lift. Even Paul knew... they weren't sixteen anymore, he couldn't exactly stop her. Susannah was stubborn -obsessive even - she wouldn't stop 'till she got what she wanted. Or maybe... "No." He said, assuredly. Susannah's face contorted into something between anger and confusion,

"What? No, Paul, you can't stop me! If I know a way to bring him back-"

"No," he interrupted her again. She looked scandalised, "No, Suze, you misunderstand. I won't let you go back in time. It's just too dangerous. You know it is, you know the repercussions of going back, it- it can kill you." Paul hesitated slightly, hating himself even as the words tumbled out. "I'll go back."

"W-what?" Susannah's mouth dropped open in complete shock."

Paul took a deep breath; he couldn't change his mind now. "I'll go back in time and save Jesse for you."

"But... but you hate him Paul. And you just said: there are serious repercussions!"

"No, I... I don't hate his Suze." Paul sighed, closing his eyes as he did so as though in pain. "No matter how I react Suze, I don't hate him. And you already know I lov-"

"Don't say it!" Susannah's eyes were now wide and panicked. Paul nodded.

"Suze, I would do anything for you. Anything. There is nothing in this world that would please me more than for you to be happy."

"Paul... that's why I can't let you do this, it's just unfair on you."

"I can't let you be in danger," his voice was low and determined now. "I won't let you."

"Paul- " but he cut her off:

"No- Susannah I am going to go back and bring him to you. Ok? Besides, I've done this before." Susannah hesitated, but with great difficulty bowed her head in agreement. Paul knew he had always been a great liar.

"So," Susannah began, "When will you do it?"

"As soon as I find everything I need." He may never have travelled through time, but he certainly knew the theory behind it all.

Paul started to get up, but then realised (with a sickening feeling) that he could find everything he needed from Susannah. Awkwardly he sat back down, Susannah looked confused. "Er- is there anything that, um, you have that belongs to... to Jesse?" His voice getting higher with each word.

Susannah blushed deeply and looked down at her fiddling hands. She nodded. Of course she had something of Jesse's. She was obsessive at times, Paul already knew that.

"It's a picture. Or a painting actually, of him."

"Where is it?" Paul said in a business like tone.

"My room."

"Let's go."