Hey all. Thanks a ton for all the reviews. I feel so… I don't know. Loved, among the Mediator fanfic community.

Here's another chapter, since I don't have a ton of homework (though I did have school all week.) And now it's a weekend (although a sort of busy one) so I should be able to get a chapter out tomorrow… if I focus.

Chapter Three

It's been two weeks since Krystal died and I moved in with Jesse. Krystal still hangs around, though. And, well, Father Dominic was not exactly enthusiastic when I told him that I'd be living with him for the time being. In fact, he offered to house me himself, but come on. Living with a nearly 70 year old priest, or your boyfriend? Not that Jesse has tried anything—unfortunately. He's still sticking to his abstinence thing. Though living together, and sharing a bed, has made it a little less easy.

It was now Thursday night, the night when all of my friends and I get together and hang out. It will also be the first one since Krystal died (though I was the only one who knew that she would actually be present).

Jesse was kind enough to house my friends for the evening, so by 8:30, his small living room was filled with my friends, Mara, Cate, Beth, Lisa, and Angela. On the coffee table were a plate of brownies (made by Beth) and a bottle of wine (brought by Lisa). Authors note: Suze is 21 now, as are all her friends Jesse came in for a moment, and leaned over the edge of the couch, where I was sitting, and wrapped his arms around my shoulders to whisper in my ear.

"Susannah, there is a ghost of a man in my bedroom, I've asked him to meet me at the park as not to interrupt you, okay? I'll be gone for an hour or so, maybe more."

"Are you sure you don't need any help?" He smiled.

"Enjoy your time with your friends. You guys deserve to have some fun." I gave him a quick kiss, and he stood back up, grabbed his suede jacket, and left, calling out a, "Goodbye, ladies," as he locked the door.

"God, Suze, Jesse is such a sweetheart," Mara moaned enviously. "You two are so sweet together."

I grinned modestly. "Yea, but you and Luke are perfect for each other. You are seriously the epitome of an awesome couple." I argued back. "You guys all have awesome, sweet, funny boyfriends. If it weren't for Jesse, do you think I'd be sitting here, while all of you were out of the way and I knew they were alone?" I joked. They all laughed, but I heard Angela sigh, irritated.

"You guys are all so lucky. You all have awesome boyfriends, and they are all crazy about you. Me? No one likes me." I looked at her, surprised. She was never like this. She was always the pleasant one of the group, though maybe not the brightest. But she had never seemed jealous. Krystal, who had shown up right before Jesse left, shot me an alarmed look.

"Aw, Angela, you'll find your guy," Beth said, older-sister vibes setting in.

"Yea, what about that sandwich maker at Subway? You two seemed pretty friendly," Mara teased. Angela rolled her eyes, but dropped the subject.

The six (seven) of us continued chatting, laughing, and catching up, though it was more subdued than usual, after Krystal's death. We were all still reeling at the fact that she was murdered. Who could murder sweet, carefree, smart, funny, cute Krystal? Everyone loved her.

Jesse returned around 10:30, and told me that he would be going to bed. He had a 8:00 class on Friday mornings. Soon after that, Angela left. She said she was tired, but she had been really tense and irritated ever since Jesse had left. I figured she was pissed off at something, and figured it would be best for her, and all of us, if she just went home and chilled, so we didn't put up that much of an argument. Pretty soon, they had all gone. They didn't want to disturb Jesse, though, knowing him, he was probably still awake, reading. Krystal helped me clean up, before dematerializing.

At about quarter after eleven, I climbed into bed next to Jesse, and he lifted his eyes from his book.

"Did you have a good time with your friends?" Jesse asked.

"Wonderful. Thanks so much for letting us hang out here tonight."

"Was it hard for Krystal, not being able to talk to her friends?" I considered.

"Yea, I think so. A few times she started to say something, but then someone else just kept talking. But she always did sort of like being the fly on the wall, and just observing… so with everything else, it's okay. It's just around Mara and Lisa—they were closest to her, after all—that it's particularly hard." Jesse nodded.

"It was like that with my family, after I died. I tried going home, but I just couldn't. I returned to the boarding house—your house—after I just got so angry at not being able to talk to my family." He said that last few words in a yawn, so I hit him playfully on the arm.

"Go to sleep, you. No more reading." I took the book from him, and put it on my nightstand. Teasingly, he reached to get it, consequently almost laying on top of my stomach. I laughed, and poked his side, and he collapsed on top of me, laughing. I pulled his hands away from the book, and placed them on the bed on either side of me. He forgot about his book, and instead leaned down to kiss me. This was a favorable change of events. I figured it was safe for now to let go of his hands—I didn't think he's make a grab for the book now—so I circled my arms around his neck, and kissed back.

At least, until he suddenly broke off, about ten minutes later. Breathing heavily, he rolled off of me, and onto his back. "I think it's time to go to sleep, querida." Rolling my eyes, I leaned over and switched off the light. I gave him a quick kiss, then curled up under the covers, and let sleep take me.

However, I had just fallen asleep when I heard the phone ring next to me. I couldn't sleep through the shrill tones, and I felt Jesse stir beside me. I reached over and picked up the phone.

"Hello?" I said groggily and softly.

"Suze! It's me, Lisa. Mara's in the hospital."

"What?" Unfortunately, I lost my quietness, and Jesse woke up, and gave me a curious—if not half asleep—look.

"I just got the call from the hospital. It was a hit and run. Someone found her, about half an hour ago, and called 911."

"Is…is she okay?" I asked shakily. Jesse was wide awake now, and worried. He could read me like one of his books, and knew that I was scared.

"She's in surgery. But the doctor I just talked to thinks she has a good chance of recovering. She lost a lot of blood, and has a few broken bones, not to mention a bit of internal damage… but he said she has a 80 chance of full recovery." I groaned.

"I'll be there as soon as possible. Call me on my cell if anything changes." I hung up, and leapt out of bed. I pulled on a pair of sweatpants over my boxers, and a tee-shirt over my camisole. Jesse got out of bed too, and came over to me.

"Susannah, what's happened?" I took a deep breath.

"It's Mara… she was hit by a car." His eyes widened.

"Is she okay? What happened?"

"Lisa says there's an 80 chance of recovery… but she's still in surgery. And it was a hit and run." My voice broke, and Jesse took me in his arms. After a few minutes, I pulled away.

"I've got to get to the hospital."

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Hmm. Now review.