It's finally here!

The new ghost appears in this chapter, and there will be some emotional stuff as well.

Free sandcastles to anyone who can guess what Doc realizes in the end!

Disclaimer: Some facts in this chapter are based on the Oregon State and Chicago Police Department

-Aina-

We sat in the bus in silence, lost in thoughts. I watched the houses in an old neighborhood went past us through the window and my heart started to beat a little faster. I had no idea what I had just got myself into, but at the same time I couldn't help being excited.

It all started when the ghost had materialized in Suze's room. I had eyed him in apprehension but Suze and Jesse merely glanced at him, Suze even looked a little bored.

"It didn't work," was the first thing he said. The ghost appeared to be in his forties, with brown hair sprinkled with grey and a well-built figure. He was wearing a dark blue T-shirt and black vest, black pants and black shoes. On his vest was a badge, and I assumed that he used to be a police officer of some kind.

Suze glanced at me, as if to see how I was taking in our latest guest. I looked back at her, trying to look unconcerned.

The ghost turned towards me and looked startled, as if he just realized I was there, and he said somewhat hurriedly, "I'll come back later," then started to dematerialize. But Suze spoke up, "Wait, it's okay. He can see you too." The ghost paused, shimmering, and then formed again.

He frowned at me, but said to Suze, "I thought you were the only Mediator here?"

Suze sat down on the edge of her bed, pushing her books out of the way. "Well, no, there's actually another mediator in Carmel, but he's a priest, and he's busy with other things…anyway this is my step-brother, David. And he's not a mediator. At least, we don't think so."

All three of them looked at me. I shifted in my seat, a slight blush creeping up my face. Spike purred, and Jesse said, "Apparently David had just acquired the ability to see the undead today. We are not sure how it happened."

And I realized that we still don't. And as much as I was desperate to go back to my room and searched the World Wide Web on cases regarding people who can suddenly see ghosts (if there are any at all) or anything relating to the effects of an eclipse, I was much too curious about the prospect of talking to Jesse, and now the new ghost, to make any moves.

Maybe deep down I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to find any scientific explanation to what happened to me, and it might just change all that I believe in. Which was that science explains everything, or at least, almost everything. Of course I know that there are things that science cannot explain because our lives are too complicated for us to figure out in our lifetime and there are things that mankind may never be able to figure out. But I never thought something like that would happen to me.

"Well, I don't mind another mediator. Maybe he can help out." The other ghost walked towards me, and extended his hand after stopping a few feet from where I was sitting on the window seat. I took it, a little surprised, but he shook my hand firmly. "Sergeant Sean Masterson. Nice to meet you, David."

"Nice to meet you too, er, Sergeant." I replied, a little intimidated. The ghost suddenly dropped his hand, then sighing; he shook his head before looking back at me.

"I'm sorry. I'm so used to introducing myself with the 'Sergeant' in front that I forgot…" He shook his head again, then forced a smile at me before continuing, "That's what you get after 23 years in the Squad. You become your job. Just call me Sean, please."

I nodded my head, while Suze said, "I think I would have preferred to be called Sergeant, but that's just me. Anyway, Sean, looks like you're still here. Any more ideas?"

As Suze told me later, Sergeant Sean Masterson was a Hazardous Materials Specialist, or more commonly known as a Bomb Technician, and was the Commanding Officer of the Arson/Explosives Bomb Squad in the Carmel Police Department. He had died on the job a few weeks ago during the botched disarming of a pipe bomb which a few teenagers had set up near a soccer field as an experiment, unaware of its true danger. One of the members on his team, Officer Matthew Parker, had also died during the operation. Officer Parker, however, apparently didn't have anything unfinished he left behind as he didn't end up as a ghost unlike his squad leader.

Suze had been working to mediate Sean since last week, although none of what she had done seemed to work if the existence of the ghost-police front of us was any indication.

Sean looked dejected, but he held up his left hand, which I realized, had been holding something. He opened his fist, and said, "This is all I could think of. I don't know what else to do if it doesn't work."

In his palm was a red toy car, which was an exact replica of a Ferrari, only a mini-version. "This is my son Derek's toy car…I bought it for his birthday, but it fell into the sandbox at the playground, and the wheels became stuck…I sent it for repairs at the toy shop…" He trailed off, his eyes bright.

All of us were quiet, not knowing how to respond. I felt a familiar sharp sadness as I watched him, but I pushed the feeling away before I could recognize where it had came from.

Suze was the first to speak, and it was just like her to speak the unlikeliest thing anyone could think of at that moment. "Did you steal that car?"

Sean half-laughed, rolling the car on its now working wheels on top of Suze's dresser. "Yes, I did. Good thing I'm not in the Police Squad anymore, huh?"

"Won't they notice it being gone?" Suze asked, staring at the toy car.

"It's a small shop. I doubt it. But it makes our job easier, though. Well, your job."

Suze raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything. She seemed to contemplate something, then finally said, "I guess I could pretend to be someone working at the shop. Your…death was in the papers, right? That could be my reason to return the toy car…"

"Of course. Good thinking," Sean answered, looking down at the car.

I felt a strange sense of sorrow for this man, whose life was over before his time, and yet he wasn't angry or shouting injustice about it. He was even gracious to Suze for what she's doing, even though it was – in her words – her job as a mediator. I glanced over at Jesse, who were sitting there watching us and I wondered if he ever felt angry that his life was taken away so soon.

It didn't seem appropriate to ask though, at that time or any other.

"Do you think I could just mail the car? I'm not that good with talking to people…" Suze trailed off when she saw that Sean's good-natured expression had faltered. She looked around at Jesse and me as if asking for help, and when we offered none, she sighed and said dully to Sean, "Or I could go to your house. It's not far is it? I will need the address."

It was after Sean had recited the address to his house (or should I say former house? It seems disrespectful) and dematerialized that Suze spoke. "I think I'll go today. It's not like I have anything better to do anyway."

"You can do your homework," Jesse said, humor in his voice.

Suze rolled her eyes. "Ha ha."

That's when I spoke up. "Can I come with you?"

Suze turned around quickly, a wary look on her face. "No."

"Why not?" I asked before I could stop myself. I knew that Suze was always guarded when questioned about her mediation, and I would never have asked if it wasn't for the fact that I was so curious.

She stared at me evenly. "Because you're too young. And this place is far, and I have to take a bus. And I don't want to be responsible if anything happens to you."

I felt frustration for some reason, and said with more force than I intended to, "I can be responsible for myself. I am already 12 years old, and in some countries children as young as 6 years old are already working to support their families. In India, girls as young as 14 years old are made to commit themselves to marriages and are expected to bear a child and look after her family. We are lucky that in the United States that arranged marriages are uncommon, but in some rural areas it is not uncommon to see young people working to help their families. I think it is hardly justified that you think I'm too young to merely travel to a place that is within the same town, with you even accompanying me. Besides, my mental capabilities exceed my age, if I may so myself."

Both of them stared at me. I was unfazed, because that always seemed to be the reaction from people after I've said something that equals reciting a passage from an encyclopedia.

After a few seconds of silence, Suze said flatly, "I don't see the connection between arranged marriages and you following me halfway across town."

I opened my mouth to argue some more, but Jesse beat me to it. "Susannah, I don't think that there are any problems if David wants to follow you. There are no possibilities of any danger, and I think David is old enough to know how to behave in the presence of a grieving family."

Well, that's true. I fixed a triumphant look to Suze, who looked more puzzled than angry. "I don't like this," she said, looking alternately between Jesse and me.

"I know you don't, but it will only be a one-time experience. Please?" I asked hopefully.

She shook her head, looking at us sitting at the window seat. "No, I meant this as in both of you suddenly being in cahoots together. I can't have a say in anything if it's always going to be two against one. It's not fair."

Jesse and I looked at each other, and he raised his eyebrows in amusement. "I hardly think that David and I are in…er, cahoots, which I am guessing, means having the same opinion. But I do agree with what he has said."

Suze groaned, and flopped back down on her bed. "But Doc, you must agree to keep quiet and follow whatever I say, okay? This is hard enough for me, and I've meet a lot of families who had just lost a family member."

I jumped up from the seat, excited. "Okay! I'll just go change then." I rushed to the door, before something clicked in my head. Turning back, I said in confusion, "Suze, what did you call me?"

She looked bewildered. "I didn't call you anything."

"I could have sworn you called me Doc. Like you did last night."

She laughed somewhat nervously, before shaking her head, "You need to get your ears checked. Maybe we'll stop at a clinic on the way back."

I looked at her for a few moments, then decided that maybe I had misheard due to my excitement. Opening the door, I walked back to my room.

I was sure I heard her call me Doc though.

So half an hour later we were sitting on the bus on the way to Sean's house. I didn't know where we were heading, but the journey took about 40 minutes before the bus halted at a bus stop at the end of a street in the same neighborhood that we had passed earlier. Both of us descended the bus along with a bubble-gum chewing teenage boy and an elderly woman carrying a basket full of groceries. They walked the other way, while I followed Suze as she walked down the street.

The houses on the street were modest two-storeys, with green lawns and a garage each. Some of the houses were painted light blue, yellow or beige, but most had the usual white. They looked boring, but comforting.

Suze looked at the piece of paper with the address that she had taken down from Sean written on it, and walked further down the street before stopping in front of a beige-colored house with a dark brown front door that looked as if it was made from oak. The house looked as normal as the others, but as we stood in front of it I could see that there were signs of neglect. The lawn was in need of mowing, the flowers were already browning from lack of water and the walkway was scattered with loose leaves. There were a few bikes and a tricycle, as well as a basketball on the porch but they looked dusty, as if haven't been used for a while.

Suze took a deep breath, then looked at me. "Ready? This shouldn't take long, I think." She smoothed down her white polo shirt and black slacks – she wanted her outfit to look like the uniform of a shop's staff – and patted down her hair nervously. I started to feel nervous too, but I nodded.

We walked up the three steps to the porch and as we stood before the front door, she looked at me once again – maybe for reassurance - before ringing the bell.

Silence.

A few seconds later, she rang again. When there was still no answer, she turned towards me and was about to say something when voices sounded in the house, and a few seconds later I heard the door being unlocked.

A woman with light golden hair appeared at the door, looking weary. "Yes?"

Suze cleared her throat before saying in a shaky voice, "We – I mean, I'm Suze Simon from the Toy City shop, and is this the Masterson residence?"

The woman looked puzzled, but answered quite firmly, "Yes, it is. Can I help you?"

I watched Suze as she replied, this time not as nervous as before, "I'm sorry for disturbing you, but I'm just here to return a toy that was sent to Toy City for repairs. It was left uncollected for more than a month now, and it's..er, our shop's policy to return…uncollected items back to its owners after…er, a specified amount of time."

Wow, Suze is good liar. I could learn a thing or two from her.

The woman frowned as she picked up the toy mini-Ferrari that Suze held out to her and looked carefully at it. Then she looked up, this time her expression alert. "Thank you, but I didn't send this for repairs. Do you know who….Oh."

She looked back at the toy car in her hands, her lips pressed tightly together as if to keep them from quivering. After a few seconds, she looked back at us, her blue eyes sad. "Sean sent this to the shop?" she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Looking down at the wooden door frame, I heard Suze said in a solemn voice, "Yes, he did. He said he wanted to keep it as a surprise, and when we heard of his…" she stopped before continuing in a louder tone, "we decided to return the toy car."

Everything went quiet. I didn't know what was happening as I was keeping my eyes down, not daring to look at the woman in case she started to cry. But instead, I heard her say, "Would you like to come in?"

I looked up quickly, and Suze and I exchanged surprise looks. Apparently this doesn't happen often when she meets the relatives or family members of the ghosts that she mediates. Suze started to shake her head to decline, but stopped when she saw that the woman had opened her door wider and was looking at us expectantly. Reluctantly, she walked in and I tagged along like her shadow.

Inside, the house was as modest as it was outside, with just enough furniture arranged around the house without the unnecessary cupboard filled with displays of unused china dishware (like the one we have at home). It was a home, rather than a house; I guess it could be said. She led us to the living room and we sat down on the dark-blue sofa.

"Would you like anything to drink?" She asked, getting ready to get up again, but Suze quickly shook her head and said, "No, that's alright. We're fine."

The woman looked at me as if waiting to see if I disagree, but I quickly nodded. I didn't realize that it could have appeared as if I wanted a drink, but she seemed to understand my gesture and settled back in her seat.

"I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Karen, and Sean w – is my husband. I'm sorry, what did you say your name was?"

Suze politely repeated her name and then introduced me as "David, my step-brother. He was the one who saw the article in the newspaper about your husband…and that's why we decided to come here."

Karen gave a small smile to me, and I felt uncomfortable, because obviously what Suze said wasn't true. But I had to play along to make it believable.

"We're sorry for your loss, Mrs. Masterson," Suze said, but Karen continued smiling even though her eyes looked drawn again.

"Just call me Karen, please."

We sat in silence for a while, before Karen spoke again. "I knew Sean's job was dangerous, and in a way I guess we're all prepared for something like this to happen. But…it didn't make it any easier though. It's tough on the kids, especially our youngest one. He's too young to understand that his father is gone."

"Derek?" Suze asked.

Karen looked strangely at her, and Suze quickly said, "He – Sean mentioned that the toy car belonged to his son, Derek, so I assumed that he's the youngest…"

I thought her explanation was pretty far-fetched since it would be unlikely that an employee of Toy City would remember a detail like that about a customer, but Karen seemed to buy it. She nodded slowly before continuing, "Yes, Derek is our youngest child, he just turned 5 years old last February. Our two other children, Lisa and Bryan, are coping as well as they could these days….it's a good thing that I never quit my job because now I could at least support them without having to rely on other people's help."

She sighed. "It's just…sometimes I forget that Sean is gone. I would set the table for five people before I realized that only four of us will be eating. I still half-expect him to come walking in the front door at 7 in the evening, the time when he usually comes home…" She stopped and reached for the tissue box on the side table, unable to continue.

I felt sorry for her and I knew that Suze did too, but there was nothing we could do but listen. Then out of nowhere, I found myself saying, "Sean died while trying to ensure the safety of others. If he wasn't there, the bomb could have killed a lot of kids who usually play at the field. I think he's very brave."

They both looked at me, Suze surprised, Karen grateful. Her eyes were still wet from tears that I guessed would not be the last shed, but she smiled slowly and said sincerely, "Thank you."

Later, we sat in the bus on our way back home without saying a word to each other. I looked back out the window again, but this time I wasn't looking at the houses. Instead, my mind drifted to the framed picture of a blonde boy that I saw being displayed on the cabinet at Karen's comfy home and how his reaction would be when he received his toy car from his mother. I wonder if he realized that it was gone anyway. I wonder if Karen will explain that it was his father who had sent the toy car for repairs. I wonder if Sean still come home at 7 in the evening, only now without his family's acknowledgement.

And that's when I suddenly realized the thing that's been bothering me today.

Something old and painful crawled back into my heart, and I almost wished that I had never been able to see ghosts of any kind.