Timeout

By: ChocolateEclar

Disclaimer: I don't own anything that has to do with the Mediator Series by Meg Cabot/Jenny Carroll, including Jesse (no fair), Suze, Paul, Father D, CeeCee, Adam, etc.

Claimer: I own Miss Evelyn "Eve" Gemma and the plot. (I still wish I owned Jesse instead of Eve.) I may not own the fact that Jesse has five sisters (ages 6-16 when he died), but I do own who the five girls are – i.e. their personalities and names. In short, I also own Juanita "Nita" De Silva, Estefana De Silva, Felicidad "Felly" De Silva, Dolores "Dolly" De Silva, and most of all Carmen De Silva.

To Luna Gypsy: Thank you!

To AngelicHalo: Hehe. Sorry this update took awhile.

To Ghost Magic: "One of the best stories on fanfic"? I don't think so, but okay. Thank you.

To Clavel: It is encouraging, isn't it? Hehe. Thanks again.

To aZn-DiViN3-bLeU: I would've stopped with Jesse coming back to life, but I found my imagination wasn't quite done yet. Thank you again!

To melissakahillz: Thank you very much!

To Sma: You read it all in one day? Not bad. Thanks for the review! Here's the next installment…

To Lizzie9: Hehe. Yes. A lot of o's. Thanks again!

Chapter 18: Going Ghost

Dematerialization was harder than it looked. I had to scrunch up my eyes and concentrate on being at school. It would be lunchtime there… Perfect. I could hear Jesse's worried pacing nearby and blocked it out.

It was a strange sensation that came over me – like being light-headed and invigorated at the same time. Then, my eyes snapped open as I began to vanish like vapor. I was in a totally different place than I had been before. I was standing in the breezeway at the Mission. I checked to make sure I hadn't lost an ear or something in the process before sighing in relief. Now to find CeeCee…

I felt a little sting when walking. I had a feeling I hurt the farther I went away from my body, so I backtracked a bit. Sure enough, the pain lessened. I shrugged. It didn't matter. I had to do this.

I stepped out on the lawn and peered at the picnic tables. Towards the back sat CeeCee, Adam, and a few others. Adam was telling another one of his stories. I caught a little of it and laughed.

" – hag accidentally went into the boys' locker and –"

"Adam!" yelled several of the girls.

"We don't want to hear about how much Sister Ernestine enjoyed seeing your muscles, Adam," sighed CeeCee wearily.

I tapped CeeCee on the shoulder then, concentrating on not going through her arm. It worked as CeeCee's head snapped around, and she shivered. Blinking in confusion, she turned back to the table.

"CeeCee!" I hollered in her ear. CeeCee shifted slightly. She could sense me. "HELP! S.O.S.!" If only I knew how exactly Jesse had gotten David to do what he needed.

"CEECEE WEBB! LISTEN TO ME!" I yelled. "Go to Paul's house! I need help!" And then I backed away from her because she was standing up and tugging on Adam's shoulder.

"Adam!" she hissed. "We have to go!"

"What?" Adam questioned. "Are you nuts? It's lunch –"

"Now!" screamed CeeCee.

"Okay. Okay," Adam said, standing up and following CeeCee. "See ya, guys!"

"Now, Adam!" roared CeeCee.

I left them then. My ears were throbbing. Not from CeeCee, but from the strain of being a ghost. I closed my eyes and dematerialized back into the cell. I landed on the floor…hard. Jesse hurried to me and asked anxiously, "Are you all right, Susannah?"

"Yeah," I muttered, crawling towards my lifeless body. I shut my eyes again and reached out to go back into my body – only to grimace. Eve had been right…

Darn it. Why does this stuff always happen to me? Now Jesse is alive and I'm not! GRR!

I feel like I'm in a freakin' soap opera!

I could tell when CeeCee and Adam arrived. The whole upstairs was filled with swears and pounding feet.

"Suze?" Adam called out. "Get outta my way, Slater!"

"Simon?" CeeCee followed up with.

"Go find her, CeeCee," hissed Adam. "I'll be talking with Paul over here."

"Just try it, McTavish," Paul snapped.

After that, Jesse and I heard CeeCee hurry away and down a flight of stairs.

As for Jesse and I, we were panicking. "I can't do it, Jesse!" I said.

Groaning, Jesse mumbled, "If you had just turned me into a ghost this wouldn't be happening, and your friends would not be involved in this!"

"Well, we can't exactly change that now, can we?" I riposted.

"Susannah –"

"This fighting isn't helping! I have to get back in my body somehow!" I hollered.

"Susannah!" shouted Jesse. "Hush! Just let me help you!"

I paused. "How?" I whispered.

"Shut your eyes and focus. I'll do the rest," explained Jesse.

I complied as he rested me on my back. It was kind of disconcerting not knowing what your boyfriend is doing, and to say my mind wasn't wondering a bit would've been an understatement. I did concentrate once I heard Jesse set my body down next to me though. Then, he carefully pushed my body and spirit together until whoosh! I was in my body again. I sat bolt upright and asked, "How'd you do that?"

"I just remembered how it felt to go back into my own body and how you are in yours," Jesse replied, standing up.

Why couldn't I have done that?

It was then that we heard, "Suze!"

"CeeCee!" I called back.

Bang! Bang! She was pounding on the metal door. "You in there?"

"Yeah!" I yelled.

In the following moment, the door opened with a creak, and CeeCee peeked in. "Hey, guys," she said, grinning. I laughed as her braces winked at us.

Standing up, I helped Jesse and CeeCee open the door wide enough for Jesse and I to slip out. "Are you okay?" inquired CeeCee.

"Just great," I answered sarcastically. "It's not everyday I get kidnapped by a teenage maniac."

Chuckling, Jesse said, "It's a pity it happens so often."

"I freaked out when you gave me that message, Simon. How'd you do that?"

"Long story." I laughed at the look CeeCee gave me. "I promise I'll tell you as soon as we leave," I assured her.

"You'd better, Simon. Let's go help, Adam," CeeCee insisted.

We hurried up the stairs. In the foyer, Adam and Paul were wrestling on the tile floor. Without the use of his minions – which were pretty much useless against a non-mediator like Adam – Paul had to do the dirty work himself. In the far corner of the room though, I could see Eve hovering behind a little potted plant.

I left the brawl for Eve. She was leaving this world whether she liked it or not. She was too absorbed in the fight to notice me until I had yanked her from her height by the collar of her jet-black turtleneck sweater and was holding her against the wall.

"Let go of me!" she hollered. I could see her levitating the plant behind my shoulder. As it was launched at my head, I dropped Eve and dived out of the wave. The pot shattered above our heads as I pinned Eve down again – this time to the floor before she could recover.

"Bitch!" she hissed.

"I know," I snapped, punching her in the face with my other hand.

Meanwhile, Paul had decided he could atleast attack Jesse with his minions. I spotted Biker Bob going after Jesse. My boyfriend – the amazing man of my dreams – kicked Paul's buddy's feet out from under him.

CeeCee was now shouting at Adam to, "Get that bastard!"

"CeeCee!" I yelled as I hit Eve again. CeeCee looked up at me. "Go find Paul's grandpa and call Father Dom!" I continued.

"Going!" CeeCee replied, rushing down one of the hallways in her search.

Now all I had to do was kick Eve's ghostly butt…

Ow! Damn ghost bit me! That's it. Now I'm really pissed.

I turned her onto her stomach and twisted her arms behind her back. She let out a little cry – remembering the pain.

"Now," I hissed in her ear, "are you going to move on like a good ghost?" I tightened my grip on her arms.

"Ahhh!" she yelped, squirming.

"Well?" I grumbled, digging my nails into her a bit.

"I…argh…I…"

"Yes?"

"I'll go! I can't take this anymore!" screamed Eve. And suddenly, I was flying across the room, and Eve was hovering again. "I'll move on, Susannah! Anything is better than this stinkin' half-life with you always pestering me!" Eve hollered.

Whoa. Was she serious?

Apparently, she was because in the next instant she was fading away. It was like a breeze was carrying her away…but we were inside with no windows open.

SHE FINALLY MOVED ON! HALLELUJAH!

It only took one dip in the ocean, one flight off the roof, countless broken items, and a lot of screaming… Jeez. Couldn't it have been easier?

Oh darn. Adam actually is losing now. Just great. Great chokehold, Paul. NOW LET GO!

As I was diving to Adam's aid, I heard a battle cry like no other…

…and then a pale figure dressed in blue went whizzing past me. CeeCee had kicked Paul in his side before I could run two feet. Paul roared and clutched his side, releasing Adam.

It just goes to show you: even someone that weighs far less than you can take you down.

Adam sputtered and was helped to his feet by Jesse. I could make out Biker Bob lying spread-eagle on the floor behind him. Go Jesse!

I went over to CeeCee and grabbed her hand. Her kick had sent her backwards and onto her butt.

"Nice job," I told her as she stood up.

"It was nothing," said CeeCee, grinning.

"Webb, I'll –" began Paul before a male voice rain out.

"PAUL SLATER!" We all looked up. It was Dr. Slaski in his wheelchair, moving himself with a remote control.

"Grandpa?" Paul muttered.

"Father Dominic will be here in fifteen minutes," announced Dr. Slaski. "When he arrives, we need to talk about your abuse of mediation, Paul." Dr. Slaski's eyes were cold as he eyed his grandson.

Oh yeah. Paul was so busted. I love it!

You know what I love more though? Seeing the way Adam is looking at CeeCee right now. He looks like he's gazing at his savior…and in a way, he is.

It's exactly how Jesse looks at me when I do something he never expected. Which tends to be a lot because I – being a girl from the 21st century – and him – being a guy from the 19th – sometimes have very great differences. Like when I go to the beach in a bikini…

I sidled towards him. He was looking a little worse for wear after going up against someone twice his size. I leaned my head against his shoulder and just stood there. He stiffened before relaxing.

"Susannah?"

"Yeah, Jesse?" I replied wearily. I was more tired than I had first thought.

"Are you all right, querida?" he anxiously asked.

Yeah, except I need one thing from you…

"I'm fine. Just…" I paused and smiled. "Can you say 'querida' again?"

"Why?"

Laughing, I said, "Because I know what it means."

Jesse chuckled. "Very well, querida." I sighed and closed my eyes.

It's amazing how one word can make or break you, can excite or disappoint you, can please or anger you.

I have my one word. It belongs to Jesse.

Just like my heart.

A/N: Next chapter: EPILOGUE! (Probably anyway.) You'll find out if Adam and CeeCee get together and what happens to Paul… (Of course they'll almost certainly be more Jesse/Suze goodness too.)

A/N 2: PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE REVIEW! I need to know what you guys think. Okay? Thanks. - Bye!