I got mail a few days later. I know, because Maxine barked, alerting me to her existence for one of the few times when I wasn't serving her dinner. It was from the government. Great, jury duty. I opened it, because in my line of work, it doesn't pay to ignore these things. "Oh my god!"

"What's wrong, querida?"

"This isn't jury duty…"

"What?"

"It's a subpoena! I'm being sued!"

"For what?"

"M—Mal—Malpractice!"

"By whom?"

"3 Guesses."

"Slater?"

"Yes, Slater!" I growled, utterly frustrate.

"He hasn't a case!"

"He might. This says I'm due in court on… Tuesday!"

I recognized the first bit of the Spanish Jesse said. "I'm going to…" But after that, it was something they didn't teach you in college Spanish. Maybe they'd send me to jail… I could take Jesse with me! And see Tim sometimes… and I'm sure they'd give all my live friends visiting hours…

Did you go to jail for malpractice?

Jesse didn't leave my side once for the next couple of days. I even went with him to Claire's. She'd have just forgotten about the rest of the money, but Jesse said something about a debt of honor or something like that.

Soon, Tuesday came. I went to court. Paul was his own lawyer for the prosecution. I was my own for the defense. I didn't trust anyone for this case.

"What possible evidence…" I said 'to myself'. Actually, to Jesse. We'd already been over 'no shaking things'. I really hoped he could stick to it.

The prosecution called the first witness. "I call Leon McGurty to the stand." Didn't anyone find it odd that the prosecution was grinning at the defendant and watching her expression? They swore Leon in. "Mr. McGurty, have you seen this woman before?"

"Yeah. We had a 'session'."

"Can you describe this 'session'?"

"I was telling her some shit about these ghosts I used to pretend to see, and she said she could see ghosts, and had a ghost boyfriend, and then everything started shaking, and she threatened me."

"Thank you, Mr. McGurty. No further questions."

I declined to cross-examine. "Any witnesses, Miss Simon?"

"Not at this time."

"I present," said Paul, smirking, "Exhibit A. It is a video." They pulled out a TV. It showed the hallway of my apartment.

Paul's voice narrated the tape. "My name is Paul Slater and I am wearing a camera on my glasses." Oh. SHIT! "I am trying to prove that Susannah Simon is insane, and not qualified for her occupation." DAMNDAMNDAMNDAMN! Insane now too? Video-Paul's hand came out and knocked at the door. "Su-uze! Lemme in!"

Video-me shouted "No-o! Stay out!"

"You have till 1. 10, 9, 8…" There was frantic running sounds from inside and a door slamming. Well if I'd known I'd been that loud… Then, there was the sound of the door unlocking and opening. No one found it suspicious that a door unlocked while the sole occupant was hiding in a closet? The camera went into the apartment and focused on a very obvious eye from the closet. "I couldn't miss that emerald anywhere, Suze."

"Objection!" I shouted at random. The tape was paused. "The prosecution lawyer clearly knows the defendant personally!"

"That is irrelevant at this time," decreed the judge. "Roll tape."

"Bryce says he's still not over Kaitie. Whoever that is. And speaking of emeralds, I'm engaged." 'I' wiggled my fingers, emerald and all, at the camera. "So get out."

"To whom?"

"Jesse!"

"Jesse…"

"De Silva, Paul." For the first time, I realized where this was going.

"You mean the Jesse de Silva who died 160 years ago?"

There were some murmurs from the audience. Er, jury. "Yes, that Jesse."

The Jesse of whom we were speaking was watching the proceedings with interest, but at this, he put his arms around me. Paul, watching us, just grinned. Paul's voice-over continued. "The one whose picture is on the wall." The camera moved from my frustrated face and focused in on the picture of Jesse.

"Yes, Paul, that Jesse."

"Objection!" I tried, as a last-ditch effort. "This was a private conversation! I was just kidding around with a friend! This can't stand in court!"

"Well then, you shouldn't have any objection," Paul interrupted, "to letting the audience view the rest of the tape.

"Slater, you know perfectly well why I have an objection to the rest of the tape! Has this tape been viewed beforehand?"

"No."

"It contains offensive material!"

"Relax, Suze, I turned the glasses away."

"I hate you, Paul."

"Order in the court!" shouted the judge, banging the gavel.

"Your honor, I was just trying to divert Pau—Mr. Slater—from his obvious intentions!"

"Which were?"

I couldn't glance at Jesse for help. He reassured me that he could see that I really had tried, and advised me to let them finish the tape.

"Roll tape!" commanded the judge.

"How?" asked voice-over Paul.

"Father Dominic's going to marry us."

"Mazel tov."

"Get out, Paul."

"You don't really want that, do you Suze?"

"I'm engaged, Paul."

"You didn't answer my question. But this will." The camera flew a bit and landed pointed at a random spot on the wall. There was a thump of my ring hitting the wall.

"Stop it, Paul! I don't want this! I promised Jesse!"

"Nuts to Jesse." I'd wondered at the time why he hadn't said something worse, but now I realized he'd been videotaping it. Kissing noises.

"No, Paul! Stop!"

An answer from the heavens. Sexual harassment charges. That was why I didn't shout 'objection' again. I could countersue! But first, I had to clear up my charge. A shirt was thrown purposely into view of the camera. I about died laughing. Not. The door opened. Looking at it from the jury's perspective, only Claire's voice. "Get the freak off of her!" Only, of course, she didn't say "freak". More kissing sounds and the sound of a bra strap being unhooked. And being thrown. A grunt of pain. Paul's. Loud footsteps and a slamming door. The camera was lifted up and put back on a face. Claire's angry visage came onto the screen. There were other faces there too, but I was pretending for the moment not to see them, but Jesse looked murderous and shattered. Back in the courtroom, he pulled me close and said he forgave me. I couldn't respond, but I grabbed his hand and squeezed. More silence. Me pointing across the room.

Claire's voice. "What the hell is it doing there?"

I pointed at Paul. "J—"

Silence. Some random thumps that the camera carefully wasn't looking at.

Claire whispered at thin air, bit her lip, and crossed over to an 'empty' chair. Whispered to that. Wiped an invisible face and said "She doesn't deserve you, Jesse." Then, she pulled thin air toward her and started kissing it. The camera pulled to my face, staring at Claire, biting my lip. It started bleeding a little. I looked near tears. All the blood had drained from my face. I looked intensely unattractive. Mortifying much? Claire continued kissing air and went for its shirt.

Camera flashed back to me as I suddenly shouted, "OK! I get it! Jealousy sucks! Please stop! Please!" Claire pulled away from the air. The shot focused on her 'told ya so' look. "Jes—" I began. "OK, I won't say it." Tears were falling freely down my face.

"Wow Suze!" interjected Paul's voice. "I haven't seen you cry since high school! Junior year. That was 'him'," I could suddenly hear the quotes he put around that word, "too, wasn't it?"

"I was mistaken then. And it's not him this time either. It's you. And… me."

"So you get jealous when 'Jesse' kisses Claire."

"Yeah. Jealousy seriously sucks."

"What about…" Close up on Claire's face. The me in the courtroom laughed out loud at the look on her face. Tim was laughing too. I hadn't even seen him and Claire in the jury box. The camera, apparently by an involuntary reflex of Paul's, flashed to the window.

"I have no problem with any girl kissing Paul. Aside from the fact that he might enjoy it. On the other hand, Claire, you are married. And your husband just walked through the window."

Back in the courtroom, Paul said "That's enough."

"No," I disagreed, "It's not. Please, Paul, let us show the part where you talk to yourself too."

"Objection!"

"Overruled. Roll."

Claire almost walked up to the window, then turned around. 'Silence'.

"But I want to watch the fireworks. All my work to make them…"

The camera went mad as Paul danced out the door. The camera turned off.

I noticed suddenly that throughout the movie, the camera had never focused on the 'floating' ring.

"May I consult with 'Jesse'?" I asked. "What should I do, 'Jesse'?"

As the judge threatened contempt, Jesse quickly said "I think the truth would be wise here."

"The truth?"

"Yes, querida."

"I agree!" Shouted Claire before anyone could stop her.

"Order in the court!"

I stood. "The truth is… I… will this remain private?"

"It won't leave the court."

"The truth is…" I sighed. "I see… dead people."

"I'm holding you in contempt of the court."

"Please don't. I can prove it."

"Do what you did with me!" shouted Leon. Well, nice of him after testifying against me… I guessed he just liked the drama.

"Jesse? Little help?"

"No clipboard."

"No time for jokes… Mr. De Silva."

"Alright, future Mrs. De Silva."

I couldn't help but grin. "Mrs. De Silva… Sorry. OK… does anyone have a small but visible object? Like a watch?"

Claire handed me her bracelet. I handed it to Jesse. Jesse tried to put it on.

"It fits… maybe you really are pregnant, Claire."

"Haha."

"It's not floating, my boyf—fiancé is holding it."

"Objection!"

"Overruled. I'd like to see where this is going."

"He is a ghost, and I love him. I can see them and touch them and talk to them. My job is to get them to move on."

"It is NOT!"

"Paul, for once in your life, shut UP! You know how I could prove Jesse exists? Get him to kick your—"

"Miss Simon!"

"Sorry." The word made me think of Jesse. He grinned. "Wait! I've got it! Your honor, is there anyone you know who is dead and might have some… unfinished business?"

"Well… there's… well, not that I buy all this or anything, but… my husband died a few years ago…" (A/N: OK, how many of u changed ur image of the judge? Answer plz!)

I thought really hard about the judge's husband. And lo, a ghostie appeared! "Hi. Are you the judge's husband?"

"Me?"

"Yups."

"Uh… yeah… yeah, I am…"

"What's your name?"

"Edward… Edward Gannis…"

"Your honor, is your husband's name Edward Gannis?"

The judge started. "How on Earth…"

"So, Edward, Ed, Eddie, which d'ya like?"

"Ed's fine…" (yes, I named a person Ed Gannis. Sue me.)

"OK, Ed. I got an idea. Your honor, whisper something in Ed's ear, and I'll tell you what it was."

"Ooh!" shouted Claire. "I wanna help! We can both write it down!"

I borrowed some paper from the stenographer.

"Ed, stand right up next to the judge. Judge, he's standing on your left. Turn a bit more… OK, whisper it. Now Ed, say it out loud."

"He didn't say anything."

(A/N: I'M TRICKY! THE JUDGE WAS A GUY AFTER ALL! This story takes place in the future. So a guy can have a husband and then be a judge without being ridiculed. Tadaaaa!) "Your Honor, please say something."

"He says 525,600," Ed informed us. "It's the number of minutes in the year."

I wrote it down and we both passed it to the judge. He made a shocked face and said "They're both right… This one says 525600 in numerals, and this one actually wrote down 'Five-hundred-twenty-five-thousand-six-hundred minutes, same as above, moments so dear'!" I grinned at Claire. How had she written all that so fast?

"Hey Ed, any inside things the judge'd recognize to prove your identity?"

"Trinidad."

"Umm… Trinidad?"

The judge wiped his eyes. "T—Tobego! Ed, is it really you?"

"Yes, honey, it's really me!" I repeated this sentiment.

"Any closing arguments?"

Paul started. "This is idiotic. You all can't honestly believe all this easily refutable bull!"

"Paul, shove it. You're a mediator too."

"I state, under oath, that I am not!"

"Oh, shifter whatever! That means we can move back and forth between the living realm and limbo, leaving our bodies behind. And I can prove that. Paul, if you want to prove your point, let me touch you and REMAIN CONCIOUS." He couldn't. I shifted us into the shadowland. "Fancy meeting you here."

"Finally, a little privacy, eh?"

"Get the hell away from me, Slater."

"No."

I shifted back immediately. I came to in Jesse's lap. I must have shivered or something, because he put an arm around me and lifted me up. He literally carried me back to my chair. Yeah, that didn't prove his existence. If they really still thought otherwise, the world was full of morons.

"Right, closing arguments," I tried to say through my pounding headache.

I looked through the jury and mentally tried to call up anyone they might know. "Oh my god, lady in the blue shirt, your old friend Jess says you left the stove on. It's about to catch fire."

"Jess! Thank you! Your honor, may I call 911?"

"No, but I will. If you're right about this, Miss Simon, it'll be fairly obvious that the ruling must be in your favor." The lady in the blue shirt went out of the room with the judge.

"It's not fair!" Paul suddenly burst out.

"What's not, Paul?" I asked, bored.

"I never even had a chance with you! When we met, you'd already known him for… just a half a year!"

"And I'm glad Jesse gave me the chance to see what you're really like."

"Suze. I'm jealous. Are you happy now? I said it. I hate Jesse because he has the one thing I don't. You."

"Real sweet, Paul, really, but couldn't you find another girl who isn't the most happily taken girl on Earth?"

"Ever heard the song 'Jesse's Girl?'"

"Yes…"

"I wrote it."

"No you didn't."

"No, not literally, but I could have. Except the 'Jesse is a friend' bit." Then he put a tape on that he had been carrying and started singing it. I kid you not. Actually, he wasn't bad. OK, it was almost heart wrenching, because I knew he really meant it. It really was freakishly in character.

"'Jesse's got himself a girl and I wanna make her mine

And she's watchin' him with those eyes
And she's lovin' him with that body, I just know it
And he's holding her in his arms late, late at night

You know I wish that I had Jesse's girl
I wish that I had Jesse's girl
Where can I find a woman like that

I play along with the charade
That doesn't seem to be a reason to change
You know I feel so dirty when they start talkin' cute
I wanna tell her that I love her, but the point is probably moot

'Cause she's watchin' him with those eyes
And she's lovin' him with that body, I just know it
And he's holding her in his arms late, late at night

You know I wish that I had Jesse's girl
I wish that I had Jesse's girl
Where can I find a woman like that

Like Jesse's girl
I wish that I had Jesse's girl
Where can I find a woman
Where can I find a woman like that

And I'm lookin' in the mirror all the time
Wonderin' what she don't see in me
And I've been funny, I've been cool with the lines
Ain't that the way love supposed to be

Tell me
Where can I find a woman like that

You know I wish that I had Jesse's girl
I wish that I had Jesse's girl
I want Jesse's girl
Where can I find a woman like that

Like Jesse's girl
I wish that I had Jesse's girl
I want, I want Jesse's girl'"

"Wow… Paul… that was… eloquent. It did almost make me feel bad." Jesse's arm tightened around me. "Paul, if Jesse weren't my soulmate, you might possibly have a chance. Until you somehow showed your true colors, we might have fun. But it's not happening." He looked so crushed. I sighed. "Maybe we can be friends." Then, in an undertone, "Jesse, you're hurting me." He loosened his grip, but only slightly. "I seriously doubt I'll be seeing you alone in the very near future, but even if I do, hands, and every other part of your anatomy, to YOURSELF. And if any harm comes to Jesse, or he inexplicably disappears, you will be so far down my priorities list, most men would come first, then being single, the REST of the men, and then WOMEN, DEATH, and EVERY ANIMAL ALIVE. And then SOME DEAD ONES. And, of course, I'd countersue. Don't even try it, Slater. But we can be friends, if you know how."

"OK… I guess… for now… but please don't be lovey-dovey in front of me. And if you and de Silva here should break up, leave me on your list?"

At some point in my monologue, the judge had come back in.

"We've settled out of court, Your Honor. Well, more or less."

We walked out. On the subway, I used my favorite trick. I got out my cell phone, typed some random numbers and hit hang up. I held the phone to my ear. "Hi, Jesse, you wanted to talk?"

"Susannah, I don't trust him."

"Me neither. But he can't do anything while we're both there!"

"No, I don't just not trust him. I hate him."

"Maybe he's changed…"

"Susannah, you've never hated anyone before, have you?"

"Yeah, lots!"

"No. Not like this. Really, really hated with every fiber of your being. Want the person to disappear from the face of the earth and any other plane of existence. Or suffer eternal torture."

"Wow, Jesse… I didn't know you felt that… strongly…"

"Stronger."

"Ladies and gentlemen, we're experiencing some technical difficulties. The train should be moving very soon."

"Sorry."

"Jesse…"

"Excuse me, there's no cell phone reception in here. Who are you talking to?"

Great. Now I'm the crazy on the subway talking to herself. "Hold on a sec Jesse." I turned toward her. "This is a special plan just for the subway. Hey Jesse. So do you really think he's that bad?"

"Worse. He's Satan."

"He's not Satan! Baby, if he tries anything, I'll kill him."

"OK. Well, that makes me feel a lot better given your past record."

"Jesse! I've been a lot better lately! You saw! On the tape!"

"Yes, querida. I'm sorry, it's not you I don't trust."

"Weren't you moved by his song?"

"Not in the least. I suspect hypnosis."

"Jesse!"

"Querida, he was trying to make a move on you! If we should break up, he would remain on your list?"

Someone cut in. "Hi. I don't mean to intrude, but I can, umm, hear the other side of your conversation."

"Thank you for your courtesy. Jesse, we will have this conversation later. Right now, my subway is broken."

"I said I was sorry!" There was a guffaw and a gasp from somewhere on the train.

"Goodbye, Jesse. I love you."

"We'll talk about this later, Susannah. And soon, or Slater will be dead before you have a chance to be 'friends'." He turned to the couple of shocked faces. "Sorry. You don't know Slater."

"Satan." The guffawing one nodded.

"He's not Satan," I protested involuntarily. The subway shot forward and started moving again, without the customary warning.

"Sorry."

I sighed. "Jesse…"

I almost fell; the subway was moving too fast. But Jesse caught me, which must've looked funny.

"Quit it."

He gave me an offended look, but the subway slowed down. "If I can say it, I'm sorry."

He rolled his eyes. "Susannah, I'm dead serious about this."

I covered my mouth. I tried really, really hard not to crack up on the subway. I mean, come on, dead serious? But I knew he'd be mad if I laughed anyway. "Jesse, I'll be fine." I didn't care anymore if people saw me talking to myself. "You'll be right there."

"He'll find a way."

A/N: PHEW! Longest chappy YET! 13 PAGES B4 A/NS! W00TW00T! I kno where this is going, but there's no end in sight. All my ideas work better in the future, esp when suze has a career 2 think about! Oh, and they're not acting QUITE as OOC as one might think….. bwahahahaha Oh, and the next chapter… is in PAUL'S POV! AREN'T YOU EXCITED? HURRAH!