A/N: Ahh my favorite episode, even if it's super sad. It's just a great episode though, even with the scary aspects. Jimel wins overall in the end over evil Shane anyway. Enjoy! xx Mariah
It was like any ordinary October day in Grandview.
The early fall has passed and most of the leaves have fallen off the trees as Halloween approached, but the tourists were still in bulk.
The skies have been low and grey these past few days, the rain has fallen as thick as any Melinda has ever seen around here. There was earthen aroma in the air with all of the rain, fog and swirling leaves. The season of fall wrapped around her senses like a well worn glove as she worked around the crowd of people in the store.
The antique store was a madhouse. People moved around the store, looking at various items.
Melinda was on the floor, trying to sell bigger pieces while Delia rang people up. Delia was also on the phone with a private school she'd been scouting for Ned for the past few weeks, which only stressed her out more.
Times were busy at Same As It Never Was right now and a Melinda needed Delia's full attention. But she hadn't given it the last few days because of the school calling her at random times for phone interviews.
At the busiest time of the year besides Christmas.
She'd been on hold for the past thirty minutes and Melinda had come over to help out multiple times throughout the phone call.
The hum of the crowed was immense, it was a blur of people speaking all at once. Peoples' coats rustled like leaves on the ground outside. People has started to trickle out since the nice day into a cold and damp late fall evening. There was barging and pushing to get out once customers checked out.
Delia had excused herself to the back room at some point and Melinda never realized if she came back out. It was so crammed inside the shop, she was glad to have her out of the way and occupied on the phone if she wasn't going to be helpful.
The rush soon subsided and she went to turn the sign to closed, excited for the day to be done.
Her night was only beginning. Once she left here, she was off on date night with Jim. He had written her letter before he'd gone to work that morning, leaving it on her vanity. He said he was picking her up and taking her somewhere for dinner, so she'd dressed accordingly. The location was a surprise, but he'd said that her favorite movie was showing and to bring a light sweater just in case it was chilly.
She'd brought a dress to change into, but the weather outside was gloomy and she was thinking about just sticking to her jeans and blouse. She'd add a nice necklace and pull a sweater over top because she had an idea of where Jim was bringing her.
The bell dinged and she looked up from the stack of money she was counting from the register.
It was Jim.
He smiled at her, the presence of his long day of work in his eyes, but he still looked as good as ever. He'd been working so much lately, like she had with the rush of tourist season and they'd hardly had any time for each other lately.
It was so good to see him. She was excited for a whole night with him.
He was dressed casual, and that soothed her worries about staying in the outfit she was wearing. He was in a brown jacket and graphic tee with a pair of jeans. He was still wearing his work boots, and there was clearly mud stuck to the bottom. Luckily it had dried before he'd stepped in the store and had not tracked all over the hardwoods.
"Busy day?" He grabbed the broom nearby, sweeping up the leaves that had come in with the rush of people.
"Busier than you'd think," she sighed. "Plus Delia's been on the phone all afternoon."
"At your busiest time," he swept around the table and made his way over to her. "That's not fair on you."
"I got everyone out and taken care of," she shrugged, setting a stack of fifties that made one thousand. She moved to finish counting the last of the money, coming to roughly another three hundred and leaving the usual two hundred in assorted bills inside. She moved to the shelves behind her, grabbing the deposit bag. She put the stack of money inside, sitting back on her stool. "It was a great day. I'm pretty sure we made double the usual profit."
"That's awesome Mel!" He exclaimed, stopping to kiss her cheek as he swept around by her. It was the least he could do. It was just one less task for her to do after a busy day. "What else do you have to do?"
"I just have to close the register down and lock up. I need to deposit this money in the bank either tonight or tomorrow morning." She said, pressing a few buttons on the register and a giant receipt printed out. "As long as you keep sweeping that is."
She read through the numbers, grabbing a pen to write in how much cash was in the drawer.
"Do it tomorrow," he set the broom against a nearby pillar, his hands moving up her arms. He kissed her shoulder, moving to her cheek. "I want your undivided attention for one night. Maybe even the morning… I don't have to be in until noon."
Melinda let out a shaky breath and nodded, setting the signed receipt in the bag and zipping it closed. She left it on top of the dresser, turning to look up at him. He smiled at her, brushing some hair behind her ear.
"I missed you this morning," she whispered, touching his face. "Your letter was awfully sweet and poetic. I loved it. So much baby."
"I thought you would," his hands moved over her sides and up her back, pressing against her shoulders lightly. He massaged the muscles in her shoulders, pressing the pads of his fingers into her soft skin, smiling to himself when she leaned into his chest and sighed. He relieved the tension in her body, her head clearing as he pressed a hot kiss against her neck. "You're tense, Mel. Too tense."
"I'm just swamped. It will die down," she opened her eyes, smiling up at him. "Just think of all the savings we'll have after tourist season is over. We could do something."
"Like what?" He whispered, his lips touching her ear and his breath moving over her neck.
"I don't know, but I'm hungry." Her stomach bubbled and she grabbed the deposit bag, turning to face him. She snuck in a kiss, her arms winding around his neck as he leaned into her before she pushed against his chest and moved past him. "Finish sweeping."
He chuckled and grabbed the broom, going to finish the other side of the floor. Melinda shuffled in the back, seeing that Delia was finishing up on the phone still and quietly locking up the deposit bag in the safe. She collected her sweater, buttoning it around her and grabbing her purse. She moved over to the collection of jewelry she hadn't put out to sale yet.
There was a nicer locket pendant that had come in recently from someone whose sister had passed away. It was something that ran in the family, she'd said and she hated to part with it but it had only brought sad memories up every time she saw it sitting in her jewelry box. Melinda understood, but had kept it back here just in case the woman changed her mind.
Would it hurt if she wore it? It did match her blouse.
She held the silver locket to her neck, clipping it and fixing her hair. She felt a heaviness add to her shoulders the moment she let go of the necklace on her neck. A tension headache formed between her eyes and she sighed.
Of course. She could never have a completely peaceful night, could she? "Hey Delia," she waved to her, getting her attention as she walked over to her. Her head spun a little, but she gained control and breathed through the pain. It lessened after a minute or so and she walked the rest of the way over to Delia. "Could you lock up when your done? Jim wants to take me out for dinner."
Delia moved the phone to her shoulder. "I'm sorry for being so distracted," Delia sighed. "This school should not take this much energy to get into."
"It's a great school Delia. Ned will do great there." She smiled, grabbing her phone out of her purse and seeing that no alerts or messages have come in. "Just get him in."
"Will do," Delia saluted her, bringing the phone back to her ear. "Yes, I'm still here." Delia smiled at her, waving. "Have a nice nice Mel. I'll open in the morning for you so you can have a little break."
"That's very sweet of you." Melinda blushed, coming over to hug her friend. "I appreciate it. Today was hard. Could you drop the deposit bag off at the bank? It's in the safe."
"Yup. It's on the way home anyway," Delia nodded and she made her way out to the sales floor as Jim finished.
"Finished?" She laughed as he spun the broom back into its place.
He came over to her, embracing her before kissing her forehead. "Yes, are you ready?" He asked.
"Yes. I am one hundred percent ready for a night with you." She smiled at him, basking in the love she saw in his eyes when he looked at her. He made her feel so good, every day. "It's been too long."
"It really has," he tucked his arm around her waist as he led her outside.
She tucked herself into him once he came through the door, seeking a little bit more warmth to the fall wind that bustled through the streets.
"Where are we going? That rugby team dinner, just a hunch." She suggested, smiling at him. "I heard the menu is supposed to be great."
"Yeah. I won tickets to go during poker at the firehouse a few nights ago," he shrugged, looking for traffic before they started to cross the street. "Thought it would do us some good to have a nice dinner. Plus that movie is showing that you like. And the wine list is good."
"You looked at the wine list?" She laughed at her husband's antics. He'd never been much a wine person before he met her. "How prestigious of you."
They walked the path through the square toward Lento's where the dinner for the rugby team was being held. Jim's arm was tightly wrapped around her waist, her body snug against him as they walked.
"I made sure they had moscato." He muttered, leaning in kiss her lips softly again. Her hand lingered on his face and she smiled. "Because I know how much you love that stuff when there's chicken on the menu."
"That's really sweet of you to check like that for me," she whispered and they crossed the street again to get to the restaurant. "I'm so excited for food."
"I'm excited for the little shrimp plates they will bring around," he said
"Ooh there are shrimp plates?" She gasped, her eyes going wide. "I wonder what else is gonna be passed around. Maybe cheese puffs? Or what about those ham and pickle things?"
Jim chuckled as she continued listing off different possibilities for horderves as they stood in front of the restaurant. He fished the tickets out from his back pocket and gave her one.
She was the only person he ever wanted to be this excited about food with. The only one.
Melinda came over to see Jim checking up on the guy who'd fallen. She held out an orange rose, smiling at him.
Jim furrowed his brow and he nearly made her laugh at loud, but she bit her tongue and held the rose out.
"Who told you to get that?" The man muttered.
"Colleen," she said softly. "She wanted me to give it to you."
He'd fallen back to his seat in the rig, and she'd held onto the flower, awkwardly.
"Colleen? That's impossible," his eyes went dark, a small smile coming to his face. Not everyone would've noticed, but Melinda did. She watched when he looked up, how he'd changed his expression to something more empathetic. "She was my worst nightmare."
He went on to explain and she glanced to Colleen, who sat perched behind him. There was something in her that pulled the wrong way.
Was Shane telling the truth? She couldn't completely tell.
Jim hated the way Shane was looking at her, even if it wasn't against the law to look. You'd think the guy would have the decency to not glance when he was there.
Melinda caught him staring at Shane, with dark eyes and a longing sigh. His tongue swept across his lips and his jaw tightened in frustration. She moved closed, her arm wrapping around his waist as Shane finally stood.
"I think my cab is here," Shane muttered. "Thanks for everything…"
"Jim," He held out his hand to him, shaking it as Melinda went to return the rose. She certainly didn't want a reminder of this stalker ghost. "Jim Clancy."
"And who's that?" Shane turned on his heel as Melinda walked away.
"That would be Melinda Gordon," he smiled, watching the sway of her hips in her jeans and then glanced to Shane, who was as well.
"My my… Melinda," Shane stepped a bit away from Jim, eyes skirting over every inch of her figure as she returned the rose. "What a marvelous creature that woman is."
"Yes," he said, choosing his words correctly. "My wife has that effect on people." She turned, her eyes meeting his with a heat that she only had for him. She'd calmed him, every time, and that was the only reason he hadn't punched the life out of Shane.
"Oh," Shane turned to look at Jim. "I didn't know. I wouldn't have thought… nevermind."
Melinda came back, standing awkwardly.
"It was nice to meet you both," Shane's hand went to touch Melinda's shoulder, but instead lingered and slid down her arm, almost obsessively. "Especially you, Melinda."
She nodded, uneasily, unnerved by the way he'd touched her, but maybe he was a touchy person. She didn't know the guy. She probably wouldn't see him again once she crossed this ghost over. His large, warm hand moved and he turned to leave.
"Pretty nice wife you've got there," Shane chuckled, walking past. "Wouldn't think she'd marry someone with such a little salary as a paramedic makes."
His jaw was set, and his gaze burned hers. She felt like she could melt, and she wanted to throw herself into him right now. She wanted to drag him back home and let him do whatever he wants to her.
He slips his hand around her waist easily, and she can feel his fingers press into her back, firm and solid and she was so glad he was here.
"Hey," she breathed softly against his ear, her lips and nose brushing at his neck. She secured her arm around him, her fingers latching on to the material of his jacket. "Don't let him get to you… I think they are opening up the dancefloor now that the movie is over."
He smiled at her, pressing a kiss got her forehead. She was instantly forgotten. No one would ruin their night out. Not even some sleazy guy a ghost was attached to.
After an hour of dancing and a combined six glasses of champagne, Jim turned Melinda in his arms as they swayed to the classical music, her back pressed against him and his hands tightening around her waist. The coil within her tightened and his strong chest pressed against her back and his fingertips trailing up her arm.
There was just something in the way Jim touched her, that lit a fire in her. Every. Single. Time.
He breathed in the smell of her hair and she closed her eyes as he spoke, his voice low, commanding and desperate all at the same time. "Can we get out of here, please?"
Jim and Melinda walked out of the restaurant after that.
"Tonight was…" Melinda trailed off, linking her arm around Jim's for balance as they stepped off the sidewalk and cross the street. "Tonight was fun… well besides that whole thing with that lawyer. What was his name? He has a creepy stalker ghost."
"A creepy stalker ghost? Is that what we're calling her?" Jim laughed.
"Shane was his name," she muttered, pulling him down to sit on a bench. "Let's sit. I'm tired. And a little drunk."
"A little?" He looked over at his wife, who was currently laughing so hard that her head had fallen back.
She moved to pull him closer, her lips pressing against his jaw. "Okay, maybe a little more than just a little." She hummed. "But Jim… I had fun. That was the point." She sighed, looking over at him with a bubbly smile. It reminded him of how she'd looked after their wedding. She'd been drunk on champagne then, not just tipsy.
"Yes," he smiled at her. "I'm glad we had fun." He stood up, holding his hand to her. "C'mon, let's get you home."
She took his hand, swinging into his arms and kissing his lips. Melinda was tipsy. She was also very touchy. And apparently really, really horny.
Jim had to keep batting her hand away every time she grabbed his crotch as he led her through the square. Luckily it was late, nearly eleven, and no one was around.
"Mel, stop." He laughed, his voice a near whine, when she pushed his hand away and palmed him through his jeans. "I'm begging you… you're killing me."
"Jim," she purred in his ear, teetering precariously on her toes as they crossed the street to where her jeep was parked. His resolve weakened, and he pressed her up against the car to indulge with her for a brief moment, reveling in the way she pressed against him before he pried her hand away and guided her to the passenger side. Melinda pulled him back toward her, folding herself in his arms and tilting her face up to kiss his neck. "I wanna have sex with you," she murmured, and he chuckled uncomfortably, resting his hands on her hips.
"Okay, well, we'll home in a few minutes. Just hold on–" He said, opening the passenger door. Her lips pressed against his throat and his adams apple jumped. "Oh Mel… you make such an appealing case."
"I want you right now. In the car," she demanded, licking a wet trail from his collarbone to his ear lobe.
He whimpered, faltering as he thrust against her involuntarily, then he shook his head. "Let's get home Melin-"
Her teeth dug into his shoulder muscle to cut him off. "I want you. Now, Jim. I want you to fuck me, right here, right now, in the car. Please, Jim?"
He groaned when her hand rubbed against him again. She laughed, pushing the door closed as she moved back from him.
She opened the back passenger door, crawling inside. She was sober enough to push the backs of all the seats down and stretch out.
He wanted to. God, he wanted to so bad, his own arousal making him heady and careless. He wasn't concerned about the public factor. He really wasn't.
He'd just wanted to get her home. After all of the drama tonight, they'd still had their fun, but he wanted to be home, in their bed, making love to his wife in peace. Not in the backseat of her car, no matter how appealing she was to him.
"You know you want too…" She hummed, reaching for button on her jeans. The zipper slid down on its own as her fingers hook the material and dragged it down her hips slowly. Her thighs were revealed as she pushed the jeans off her legs the rest of the way and footed them off. "Should I pull these off next?"
Her panties were slid down her hips some as he stepped closer, nearly getting inside.
She was going to be the death of him.
He stopped her before she could get past her hips, smiling at her.
"My job," he whispered, crawling on top of her and pulling the door closed.
A few days later, Melinda laid in bed, stretched across the comfy blanket. She'd reread the last paragraph of the book she held in her hands about a hundred times.
She just couldn't concentrate.
She wanted Jim to come home. He'd made up some excuse and had just left the station.
After the stunt Shane pulled today, she didn't like the thought of being home alone. He could come by at any time. All he'd said to her was that he'd be by later.
How late was later? Why would he be coming by?
She'd never been interested in him. Not even a little. He had just been someone connected to this ghost that she wanted to get crossed over. Why couldn't he see that?
The sound of moving furniture got her up. She walked through her bedroom, hearing something move again as she crossed the doorway. She made it down the stairs fairly quickly and looked through to the kitchen, seeing it was empty and dark. The dining room was too, and she could hear Colleen whimpering from behind the lounger by the window.
She saw her, just as her neck twitched and she looked down at her.
"It's happening again," Colleen whispered.
"No, it's not. He can't hurt you," she said, sighing. "Not anymore."
"But he can hurt you," Colleen muttered.
A loud bang against the door startled her and Colleen disappeared. It was just knocking. Had Jim forgotten his house keys?
She looked through the window, peeking from behind the curtain.
"Melinda?" Delia called.
"Delia?" She rushed to the door, unlocking it and letting her in. "What's wrong?"
She didn't even care at this point that she was dressed in her nightgown. It may only be eight, but she was waiting on Jim, and she'd hoped to use this time to keep her mind off things with Shane. Jim was always good at keeping her occupied.
"I was on my way home when the academy called," Delia explained. "They said Ned's school counselor called and was talking about his behavioral needs and all these remedial classes."
"Shane," she muttered. "Of course. This is how he operates. He's trying to push you away from me."
Delia huffed, rolling her eyes at the name. "Well it looks like I lied on his application!" Delia cried. "They will never let him in now!"
"It's started," Colleen reappeared and Melinda looked over at her.
"What has?" Melinda spoke softly, hoping Delia wouldn't startle her.
Delia looked around, hoping she'd see someone, but it was only her and Melinda in the foyer.
"He'll destroy everything you love. Until there is nothing but him." Colleen hyperventilated, her neck twitching. "Till there's no safe placed."
She disappeared, leaving a trail of questions in her wake.
What was Shane capable of? Had he killed Colleen? Was she next?
"Really? Shane?"
Jim had just got home and she'd told him everything. About how Colleen was the real victim. That Shane had been lying. She showed him the legal papers.
His hand were at her shoulders, rubbing the tension out of her.
"I didn't see this coming," he muttered, his lips pressed to her cheek.
"Me either," she groaned as his fingers kneaded the muscles in her shoulders. "I just want to get Colleen crossed over and for these tourists go home."
"Are we still on for this weekend?" He asked, his fingers slid down over her shoulders and down her arms.
"Mmm…" She hummed, thinking about a weekend away. Delia would be running errands on Thursday and she was to be all alone at the store. Maybe Delia would be okay opening up Saturday alone since Sunday the shop was closed. "I'll mention it to Delia tomorrow and see what she says."
"That's all I ask," he smiled into her shoulder, kissing the open skin there.
He could feel the tension in her from Shane. He didn't like it. He worried about her. He worried about her so much.
Should he have seen this coming? Shane had seemed like a normal guy. He was a lawyer, he'd even given him his card in case he ever needed legal help.
He thought back, to that night, to when he and Melinda met Shane. Had he shown any signs of being such a creep then?
He remembered helping him over to the ambulance once it arrived. He'd been helping since he'd fallen, so his colleagues let him do his thing. He was the best, after all.
Shane had a bruised his ego and had slight concussion, but nothing serious to worry about. He still couldn't believe he'd felt bad for the guy. Even if it was before they knew the truth.
Melinda, when she came over, she'd given Shane a orange rose. He'd been confused. Why would she do that? He knew then that there must be a reason, maybe she'd seen the ghost that was watching Shane.
But he'd sensed Shane's attention shift. His eyes lingered over, a smile grew on his face. Until she said Colleen's name. He'd fallen back to his seat in the rig, and she'd held onto the flower, awkwardly.
He hated the way Shane had glanced at her, even if it wasn't against the law to look. You'd think the guy would have the decency to not glance when he was there.
Melinda had caught him staring at Shane, with dark eyes and a longing sigh. His tongue swept across his lips and his jaw tightened in frustration again. The things he felt he should have done dominated his mind. He thought about his actions and words, finding them inadequate. He should've punched the guy, like he'd wanted to.
"Hey, I don't like this anymore than you do…" She'd turned when he stopped massaging her shoulders. She took his face in her hands, smiling at him. "But we have to stick together… we can't let him pull us apart, okay?"
"No will ever pull me away from you," he whispered.
"I know that." She breathed, before getting up from the couch. "Want a glass of wine?"
Her form-fitting nightgown was black, the straps were wide on her shoulders and it pooled around her like liquid silk. He breathed in and nodded as he watched her walk past him and into the kitchen. She was a sight for sore eyes, no matter what she was wearing.
His phone buzzed in his back pocket and he strained his eyes to see who it was from.
Unknown - 6:37pm
Your wife is a sight I'd like to see every night in that nightgown
He stood immediately, going to the window at the front. There was no one parked outside and there hadn't been the sound of a car speeding off or anything.
His phone buzzed again.
Looking for me Jimmy? You'll never know where I'm hiding.
His jaw clenched together and he threw his phone on the couch as Melinda came in, bottle in hand and two glasses.
"What's wrong?" She asked, eyes wide when she saw the way his fists were clenched. She placed the glasses and wine on the coffee table, going to him by the windows. "Did you hear something?"
"No," he muttered, brow furrowed. He didn't want to worry her about this. He didn't want her to know Shane was already watching them, hoping for a moment when he could sneak in and see her. "I just... I thought I saw a car parked outside. There wasn't."
He touched her shoulder then, caressing her skin, smiling at her.
He saw that his phone buzzed again on the couch. He sighed, closing his eyes for a moment. If Shane was watching, then he was going to get the full show. He wanted to touch her. He wanted her to touch him. For them to stop letting shane in their heads for one night.
He couldn't keep lying to her. He watched the way she looked at him, the way she was searching for answers in his eyes, in his face.
"Shane's watching the house somehow," he finally managed to say. "He texted me. I don't know how he got my number, but he did."
He studied her for a moment before going to the couch and sitting on the edge of the seat. He put his head in his hands, rubbing his forehead, hoping his headache would go away. Slowly, she walked over to him, careful to take a seat on his lap. He raised his head as she sat in his lap, his hands moving to holding her closer to his chest.
"If he's watching, so what." She huffed, thinking of when she'd showered earlier. Had he seen her then too? "I love you. I will only ever love you."
He smiled, holding her cheek in his hand as she leaned into his palm.
Our lips met and it was the softest connection at first, barely whispering against each others flesh. The kiss evolved into something soft, sweet and reminiscent of previous ones they've shared. She could feel him relaxing, opening his mouth a little more.
"Jim..." She murmured when they broke away. "What about Shane?"
He pulled her lips back to his and the kiss became heated. His tongue softly stroked hers, his hands moving from her face to her hips and pulling her flush against him. She pulled away and stood up off his lap. He leaned back into the couch, waiting for whatever she was thinking about, his hands at his eyes as his eyes raked up and down her figure.
Her hands went to the thick strap on her shoulders and she pushed them off, letting the dress pool at her ankles.
There was something so disarming about seeing Melinda naked. There was a vulnerability in her eyes he couldn't resist. His eyes traveled from her face to her collar bone, delicate in the semi-darkness, then to her breasts. Without lingerie they sit lower, more natural, less close together, each so perfect and moulded to her form. Then to her slim stomach to where her hips go out, wide and beautiful. He went to her thighs, then to her knees, then back up again. He didn't linger too long after that, just enough for her to see how beautiful she was to him.
He stood, his lips crashing against hers as his hands met with her hips, pulling her to him. His hands were at her ass then, spanking her lightly as his lips sucked on her neck. She moaned, grasping the hair at the nape of his neck.
It was quick.
He'd pulled her into his arms in no time, bringing her upstairs to their room, lying her on the bed and looming over her. Besides, there was nothing sexier than her sprawled under him, her tounge running over her lips as his tongue ran over her. Or the way her mouth opened in a silent gasp when their bodies connected, and he was inside her, filling her in every possible way.
As the bed rocked, she studied his expression in the darkness, a mixture of slack-jawed bliss and greed. Beautiful, painful greed.
Which is why she was surprised when he held out, determined for her to get there before he did.
When they laid there after, sprawled over the sheets, nothing but the top sheet covering them, she examined him. He looked so peaceful, sleep was claiming him slowly as he laid there, but he wasn't quite asleep. He was silently watching her, his eyelids drooping as he caressed her back.
He loved her so much. She knew that more than ever now. And she also knew how much she loved him and that she was no longer afraid of how they would move forward from here or if Shane would ever go away.
As long as she had this feeling of love, as long as she had Jim, she was not afraid of anything.
