Chapter 11

"Nick?" Melinda looked at the man standing next to her bed.

"Yeah, hi." he replied nervously, one hand going to the back of his neck.

"What happened?"

He told her about his kidnaping, and being buried alive, then said, "I'm scared. I want to cross over. I've seen Greg, in the light, he's waiting for me, but..."

"What?"

"I broke my promise. I committed suicide in that coffin. What if I cross and I'm not allowed to stay with Greg because I killed myself?"

"I don't know the answer to that, but here's what I think. I think that if you can see Greg waiting for you, then if you cross, you'll be allowed to stay with him. I don't think the powers that be are so cruel as to dangle what you want before you so you'll cross over, only to yank it away from you again."

A relieved look crossed Nick's face, as he looked longingly at something Melinda couldn't see. An easy smile spreading across his rugged features.

"One more thing, please contact Gil Grissom. Tell him I'm sorry. Also tell him I'm buried in a nursery. I couldn't get the name, but I could see it was a plant nursery."

"Okay," Melinda said softly, as she watched Nick step toward what only he could see, and fade away.