A/N: I thank you all for reading and reviewing this story. I do respond to reviews, especially if a person is registered. I would PM them directly.

To Glinda: you have great imagination. You should try writing. I plotted this story out from the beginning and, of course, I don't want to ruin Jack's life. He and his friends will face this problem head-on. You will see that development soon (next chapter). They might not fully understand it yet, but they are getting there (I do not want to give away the plot just yet, but there are some hints in the previous chapters). While Ghostbusters, both the original and remake, were wonderful movies, there won't be any ecto-plasm machines. I also don't plan to involve Albert or Brett too much. It is always harder for me to write ensemble stories. I sometimes have difficulties writing Jerry (I mean to convincingly portray him, his speech patterns, his characterization), let alone some episodic characters. So, if you don't see them utilized as you hoped, consider it a failing of mine as a writer. I also answered emeralgreenlove that Jack won't be forcing himself on Kim.

I hope this answers some of your questions and suggestions.

He aced his try-outs. He would be the wide receiver and the alternate quarterback. Which was not surprising: residual anger and fear (and an unhealthy amount of jealousy) fueled his performance, with added stimuli of seeing Brett bested.

And because Kim was talking to Brett amiably on the sidelines (she was his!). He and his newly enhanced motor skills spun the 'spheroid' (thanks, Milton) so that the football smacked Brett on the back of the head and, despite the perfunctory reprimand, he could see the coach was impressed.

Jack reveled in the decision, if only because Brett had to formally congratulate him. Jack squeezed his hand hard enough to make Brett not exactly wince, but lock eyes with Jack knowingly. And then Jack proceeded to kiss Kim a little harder and longer than was strictly appropriate in front of his new teammates. When he was done Kim pulled back looking at him askance, questions obvious in her eyes, and he soothed her, by kissing her nose gently.

"I am just glad I'll get to spend more time with you now." She smiled at that, pleased and relaxed and he smirked at his teammates, who hollered and whistled.

It was good that he got to monitor what went down at all those games. It would keep Brett on short leash and help Jack himself feel better. As it was, she has been busy recently placating Mima and trying to help Phil with the pretense. Jack got a first hand experience with Mima and her strong opinions and only because she was an old woman, an elder, that he did not go off on her.

That night, after another nightmare with Kim disappearing like the morning fog over the river burning in the morning sun, Jack had to concede that he could not stay away from her. Another night of watching her sleep and another early morning trip to her house. This time he skipped going through the front door and easily climbed the pergola to tap lightly on her window.

Kim was so surprised, she stood frozen for a moment, her phone in her hand (who was she talking to?) and he had to smile and wave his hand in exaggerated fashion to get her to open the window.

"What are doing? Why the window?" she was whispering while pulling him through.

"You forgot this."

She stared at her scarf and then slowly lifted the phone, "I'll call you back."

"You... kept it?" There was something, tremulous and unsure, in her voice that he did not like. She made it sound unhealthy and suspect.

He put the scarf over her neck and pulled her gently to him, "Well, you had that 'family' dinner with Mima and I forgot it yesterday..."

They stood millimeters apart and he could feel her reluctance (why?), so he spoke his next words in a low whisper, fanning the small tendrils at he temple. "It smells like you. I like it... I held it close to me and it was like you were there... with me... everywhere..."

His hand came up, tucking a stray bit of hair behind her ear, the vibrant gold falling around his hand. Her arms fell on his biceps, gesture still gentle to be considered defensive, and he only had to lean a little more to close the last bit of distance between them.

Kim's lips were soft and yielding beneath his own, whatever reservations she felt (why? why?) were making her hesitant.

So he erased her concerns by bringing her lips to his, and Kim's tense body soon relaxed into him while their mouths moved together in a series of long, leisurely kisses.

When Kim sighed Jaaack audibly into his mouth, it was by far the hottest thing Jack had ever heard. He eagerly deepened their kiss until it became hard and urgent, a sense of desperate need developing between them... She clutched at him with new strength, swiping her tongue over his lips, small hands on his biceps, nails managing to bite at his skin through the fabric of his shirt, surging up to meet him.

The scarf fell between them, drifting to the floor, as he pushed her to the wall. She was something so small, so delicate, his hands roving the length of her torso, sweeping over her hips before tracing upward over her breasts, not quite touching them (yet). Kim let out a low exhalation, her tongue flicking his own as she pulled him closer.

Yes... This was perfect...

Her hands felt small and cool as they dug into his shoulders. Stepping closer, her back arched as her body searched for his. Hunched over as he was, it was out of reach.

Without thought, his hands dragged down the curve of her back, incidentally committing each millimeter to memory. His palms slowed over the subtle flare of her hips; he could feel the hipbone under the soft skin on his palms, but his fingers spread to dip into the flesh of her butt. While his lips continued to explore that giving mouth, he straightened, luxuriantly pulling her up his body like she weighed nothing. He relished the way the supple swell of her breasts caressed the hard ridges of abdomen and chest until they were pressed soundly to his chest. He could feel her heart madly pumping in syncopation with his own as her legs instinctively encircled his waist.

"Oh, fuck..."

The curse was ground into Kim's mouth and he could feel the smile on those lips, sweet and indulgent.

Hungry hands, now free from holding her up, roamed everywhere and he brought them close to her breasts, bold and unthinking in the rush of the moment. His mouth was already on that spot between the shoulder and neck, worrying the skin into a satisfying love bite, which also made her squirm and whimper. One such move made her grind into him and it was Jack's turn to groan and he instinctively thrust up into her, the pressure and sensation making his vision blurry.

"Fuuuuuck..."

The curse was practically growled into her ear and could sense the goosebumps on her skin, a reaction to his reaction, an infinity loop of sensation and feedback.

She pulled his head up by pulling on his hair and the next kiss was hard and deep, hips bucking up against her in a small taste of what he wanted to do.

"You feel so good," he murmured against her lips, giving her a particularly suggestive thrust and she almost squeaked and threw her head back...

Right into the wall, making a thudding sound.

"Ow," she breathed just as he mumbled, "ouch, you ok?"

She brought her hand up to rub at the sore spot and he followed with his own. Soon, the ache was soothed, but it did diminish the mood for them and she put her legs down, making him (reluctantly) step back.

"I have to go grab breakfast... Oh, crap!" she whispered to him, just as she looked at herself in the mirror. She went about fixing her appearance, while still talking to him, "you need to go back out and come through the front."

He knew she was right, but he was having some rather obvious issues with doing it right now.

"Jack!" Kim was impatient. "You need to..."

"Just give me a second, sweetheart," he said casually. "I am rather not fit to be seen yet, if you know what I mean..."

"Wha...?" she turned to look at him and he did not event try to angle himself away from her. Her eyes fell on to his fly, where a noticeable bulge gave away his state, and she blushed furiously at what she saw. Just as quickly she turned away, but he was still visible in the mirror and he saw her sneak a look at him again. When she looked up to meet his eyes, he could not help a cocky insouciant smirk curl his lips.

She liked what she saw...

Kim felt like her life was changing too quickly. Somehow the Halloween changed the pace and the tone of the interactions with so many people in her life. She lied to her parents about the party and the origin of the lip injury. She was positive they did not believe her. She was even more positive that her dad blamed Jack for it. And in a way, it was Jack's fault - as in his lips caused it, but that was not the full story. In the meantime her dad was watching Jack closely and made sure she knew to leave the door open, whenever Jack was visiting. Of course, that was mostly for show and her did not actually walk by the door to check on them. Plus, he could not know about the time Jack climbed into her room?

Then she lied to her parents again about Jack's suspension and grounding, because she could already imagine how her dad would react to that.

Then there was a keeping secrets from Grace. Although, in Kim's defense, Grace was a gossip and would not be able to keep any secrets, even if Kim made her swear. Kim rather not add to to the soap opera that her life was according to the official gossip in Seaford High.

She also did not tell Milton or Jerry about Jack and his more forward and assertive attitudes when they were alone. They made out a lot and Jack was raising the level of their intimacy with each encounter. The latest stint with the surprise visit through the window and the near dry-humping by the wall was so hot and heavy, she was still blushing. Which was why she would never tell this to other boys. Never. Milton would blush something fierce and Jerry... She'd rather not imagine what Jerry would say and do with that sort of information. It was enough that Kim herself wondered if she had a personality disorder for acting so... so... wanton.

She did not tell Milton about her conversation with Brett. She was not sure what it would achieve: she did not want to lend the crazy story about an ex and the current boyfriends fighting over her like some peacocks any more credence.

But she was beginning to question whether there was something off with Jack. And not just the processing of the event of Halloween. She saw the change in him, even if it was fractional. While she did not see most of the jealous outbursts, there was not denying that Jack was very overtly protective with her. He was very vocally praising her and paying her compliments, making every girl envious and every other boyfriend pale in comparison. He was also far more passionate and sometimes, when he was focused and quiet, she felt that his entire attention was on her and her only. It was unnerving.

And then there was this morning. She was not sure exactly what it was: the scarf that he kept or the fact that he so easily climbed into her window like... like he knew what he was doing. She supposed he did. He was strong. Stronger that before, although he did show a dramatic improvement in his martial arts, so it was possible that it was simply the effect of better or consistent training. But, he was strong, he climbed those stupid peg boards all the time in the dojo, so climbing the pergola was not a challenge. And the scarf thing... He explained himself and it all was neat and logical, but...

Kim sat in the passenger seat of the car. Jack was driving them to school and she was trying desperately not to look at him. Because despite the changes and all the the events since Halloween, Kim was still attracted (even more so) to him and this morning's interlude was making it hard for her to concentrate on anything else.

I can't look at him. If I look, I will never stop. I'll look and drool over those arms and hands, the sure strength in them, the agility of his fingers.

Oh, god, those arms held her up this morning and those fingers were almost cupping her breast and she wanted, really wanted, him to do it. To finally touch her because anticipation was driving her mad.

So she stared out the front window, at her hands, into the mirrors, anywhere but at him.

Kim was not sure what was happening. But she never felt such …

The thought made her blush... Such lust.

When they were alone, him close to her, all these thoughts would disappear. Kim's doubt would simply evaporate under his heated gaze. When he climbed in this morning morning, Kim was so surprised and... and questioning his presence, but then he stepped closer...

She felt him undressing her with his gaze, though his eyes never left hers. It was as if he could see past her, past clothing, makeup, perfume, to her true self. Tension radiated out of him, not nervous so much as … intently withholding. He was restraining himself, through tremendous force. She was excited by it, terrified of it. She felt safe with him, but also didn't. It felt as if he could lose control any minute, and … and she wanted him to.

Jack wasn't making it easy. Every time her eyes skittered to his face or look at him through rear view mirror, his unrepentant and cocky smirk would greet her, but his eyes were the same intense and dark pools that made her feel like her skin was raw.

By the time they reached school Kim was upset and relieved that she did not have the first class with him. She threw a mumbled bye at him and got out of the car. She knew he was watching her and it was making the love bite on her neck throb.

To feel the curve of his mouth, the touch of his fingertips, the...

This must stop. She had a class ahead of her. Being a hormonal teenager sucked sometimes...

By the time her first class was over Kim recovered her equilibrium and went to the next class determined to have a conversation she felt like she needed to have.

Milton was already there, his things neatly laid out in front of him. She dropped into the seat next to him and said instead of a greeting.

"We need to talk. I need your perspective on something serious. About Jack..." she said ominously and Milton whipped his head at her sharply.

"Did you break up with Jack?" His eyes were free of judgment, but full of determination.

"What?! No!" she exclaimed and smacked his arm for good measure.

"But you want to, right?"

She smacked him again.

"Ok, but just for the record, I am not interested if you are looking for someone else." Milton said with a painfully earnest face.

Kim huffed in exasperation. "Don't flatter yourself, you're not my type."

"Oh," said Milton, looking relieved. "I just thought if things are still touchy with you and Jack and I thought you might be at the 'any port in a storm' point of it all."

"Trust me, there will never be a storm bad enough to make me dock at that particular port," she grunted and then gave a really hard smack on Milton's arm that moved him a little in his seat.

Milton righted himself and was looking at the blackboard. "Thanks, Kim, that was starting to get awkward."

"Starting to...?" repeated Kim, rolling her eyes.

"So, what did you want to talk about?"

"I... I think that Jack isn't handling the aftermath of the possession very well," she said quieter and far more serious than the previous exchange.

Milton looked at her for a long moment and then pulled his tablet and opened the folder titled Possession. "Okay, we are prepared. I have done some research so we only have to..."

Kim shook her head. "Milton! I thought more along the lines of the trauma and post-traumatic stress..."

"Oh... Are you sure?" at her resolute nod he closed the folder and out away the tablet. "All right, let's consider your theory, but if its not the answer, just remember, I have the research."

She sighed and went about to tell Milton of her observations and conclusions. Milton was attentive ans she could see him mentally cataloging her points. When she was done, she looked at him, "so, do you think he has some sort of PTSD?"

"You know, your theory does make a lot of sense. He lost control of himself, quite literally, hurt you, thought he might have lost you... I still think it's possible that he is suffering some sort of possession poisoning." Milton said thoughtfully. When Kim looked at him in exasperation, he flowed on, "he housed Yoshimi for a time and Yoshimi was quite a determined spirit. Maybe some of his character traits overlapped with Jack's nicely and ... amplified them, if you will. Jack was always a little jealous of you paying attention to any other guy. Then comes Yoshimi with his obsession with Mariko and now Jack is extra jealous."

She was thoughtful for a moment. "Ok, it is possible. What is a solution to that?"

"It is always the matter of balance and Jack's own personality has to adjust back to his 'normal' default state. I think only time would correct it." Milton said and patted her hand. "Sorry it's not a more useful response."

"That's fine. What about the post traumatic stress? I did some cursory review and we need to get him to talk through the event. Make him explain what he felt then and how he feels now. I am not sure if he would open up to me willingly, if I, or rather our relationship is one of the triggers..." Kim trailed off despondent and Milton patted her hands again.

"I can try to set up a situation, where I bring up Halloween and start with how I felt. Maybe poke Jerry for his input. Hopefully Jack would volunteer some information as well." Milton was silent for a moment, fidgeting with his tablet, "if it goes nowhere, or if doesn't improve, we need to consider the paranormal, Kim." This time his bright blue eyes looked at her with determination.

"You think the spirit is not gone?" she asked quietly, afraid to even consider the possibility.

"It should be full gone. The unfinished business was completed: you kissed him and then some..." Milton said and Kim blushed hotly again. "But, it could be that he re-possessed Jack again."

"But we would have seen that. It was very obvious when he was there on Halloween!" Kim protested.

"I know, I know. And it makes no sense, but Jack is 'off' and something is going on... I told you I am not an expert on it. We might have to talk to the temple priest about it."

"But first, lets rule out PTSD, ok?"

They agreed on the plan and Kim felt marginally better.