First Christmas One shot of at least two. It's been a while since I've written anything Ghost Whisperer related and I've wanted to write more Krampus so it seemed like the perfect fit. Hope you enjoy and have a very festive season!
Snow fell like torn paper outside Melinda Gordon's living room window. It was Christmas Eve but she was still decorating. Her home was looking like a showroom with every inch clean and shiny. Her artificial white Christmas tree rivaled everyone on her block. Lasagna for one was in the oven; she put on some music on an antique record player she took from her shop. The holidays alone wasn't always easy but seeing how most families were she concluded she wasn't missing much, all she needed was her black tabby, Vincent.
Melinda uncorked a bottle of white apple wine; something about this time of year made her reach for a bottle more than any other. Watching the snow get heavier was fun in the warmth and comfort of her own home. She had no place else to be, no one was coming over, it was kind of great. Of course her car would be buried by morning at least according to the forecast but that was tomorrow's problem.
Vincent jumped up on her lap and begged to be petted while she sipped her wine and watched the houses across the street disappear. No one around, not even carolers in this mess. She got up to check the lasagna, annoying Vincent. Not quite done, maybe another 40 minutes. She should have thawed the thing out first. Before she headed back into the living room she heard a light rasp at the door. Maybe she spoke too soon about carolers. She wasn't one to be afraid of bumps in the night, not like any other single women she knew. Though at times like this she wished she invested in a peephole. She peered out the living room window but all she could see was her own reflection. Another rasp. This time she was jolted.
"You didn't see that," she pointed a finger close to Vincent's eye.
She opened the door a crack, bracing for the cold, harsh wind. She poked her head out feeling ice pierce her face. For the moments she kept her eyes open she saw nothing on her steps, bot even any footprints. There was no soul around. She shut the door before she let any snow in. She chained and bolted it too. Vincent sat there on the couch looking up at her as if to judge her paranoia.
"Don't."
Out of thin air she heard a voice close to a whisper speak out, "Please, can you help me?"
A cold chill ran down her spine. Melinda's eyes bounced around the room but could not figure out its source.
"Hello? Hello? Where are you?"
"I'm right here," the voice of a girl said, almost baffled by the question.
"Who are you? What's your name?" Melinda spun around, trying to get an idea of where this bodiless voice could be until she saw her. This teenage girl, a pale and freckled face with cold blue eyes.
"I don't know my name...can you help me?"
Melinda got closer to her, no more than 17 or 18. She wasn't a scary sight but maybe just how calm she was gave Melinda the willies.
Melinda bent a bit down to get to the young woman's eye level, "Yes...I can help you..."
"I'm sorry...I...I don't know what happened...I was in the snow and..."
Melinda couldn't bare to see her this upset but she knew she could do little to comfort her, "Where were you before you came here?"
"I...I remember...Parker street...I think I fell..."
Melinda knew that street, just a few blocks. It was snowing harder out, that wind had its own voice to it. The young woman watched her throw on a jacket and slip into some boots.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm going to find you."
The girl frowned. What was this woman talking about? She was standing right there!
"Look...there's no easy way of telling you this but...you're..."
The girl looked for her reflection in Melinda's TV but all she saw was the woman and her cat. "I'm...I'm dead..."
"Maybe not. You might just be having an out of body experience."
"Why are you so calm? How can you see me?"
"I talk to ghosts...it's kind of my second job."
"How did you..."
"There's a blizzard going on and you're bone dry!"
The girl looked herself over. In just a light jacket she indeed didn't have any wet snow melted on it.
"But you can't go out there!" She said, blocking the front door like she couldn't just walk right through her.
"I know Parker street, don't worry about me. Just watch my cat, will you? His name is Vincent."
The girl watched helplessly as Melinda journeyed outside. Vincent stared at the girl uncomfortably for a long time. She tried looking out the window for her but could not see the buxom brunette trek through the snow.
"Your owner is very pretty," said the girl as she looked around the home. It seemed so full but so lonely at the same time, there was no one else here with her.
Melinda could hardly make out any of the street signs but managed to make out some boot prints to follow on what she hoped was still a sidewalk. To her surprise she found something sticking out of a small snow bank. A wallet with a high school ID matching that girl's.
"Beth Engle," she said with a smile.
Red flashing lights ahead. An ambulance was loading a stretcher but Melinda couldn't quite tell who it was getting taken.
"Hey!" She called out, waving the wallet as high as she could stretch her hand, "Hey! Over here!"
The ambulance sped away with the mystery person. Melinda was knocked down by the cold wind; it was time to get back home.
Melinda could hear the unwelcomed sound of her fire detector. She pushed her way through the front door, almost falling face first onto the hardwood floor. The lasagna! The girl she now knew as Beth stood by with a scared look on her face.
"I'm sorry! I tried to turn it off!"
Melinda pulled the dish out of the oven and tossed it in the sink. She waved at the smoke with a dish towel before retiring in a chair. She clasped her hands over her face ready to cry but instead started to laugh.
"A-are you OK?"
Melinda wiped away a tear and pulled Beth's wallet out of her pants; she showed her the ID.
"Beth?"
"Yeah, do you remember anything now?"
Beth thought hard but it seemed impossible to come up with any memory before all of this happened. She shook her head sadly, Melinda smiled more assuring.
"Well don't worry...I just saw an ambulance."
Beth's eyes lit up, "For me? They took me?"
"I-I think so. Wait let me check something."
Melinda got on the phone with her only employee, Andrea. "Melinda, what's up?"
"Andrea have you heard about anything happening tonight? Like car accidents or anyone found out in the snow unconscious?"
Andrea was quiet at the other end for a moment, checking her computer for any news. "There was something about some girl."
"A girl?" Melinda's ears perked up, "How old?"
"Doesn't say. So what's up?"
Melinda, sighed, not really wanting to go into it; Andrea had been very understanding of Melinda's gift and supportive. Maybe it was the holidays getting to her but Melinda just didn't want to burden her.
"It's nothing...just saw an ambulance."
"Well, stay home. Maybe if the roads are clear tomorrow we can meet up after."
"Um, yeah...," Melinda said, Beth looking right at her, "I'd like that. Goodnight, Andrea. Stay safe."
"Was it me?" Beth asked. Melinda nodded, confident it had to be, "I'm still here..."
"Yes, but I'm sure you'll pull through."
"How can you be so sure?"
Melinda paused and cleared her throat, "I just have a feeling."
"You know...I never even asked your name."
"It's Melinda. Melinda Gordon."
Beth smiled but frowned when she looked around for any family photos, "Does your husband know you talk to ghosts?"
Melinda smirked, "I'm not married."
"Boyfriend?"
"Nope. Just me and Vincent."
"I know it's Christmas Eve. You don't see family or...anyone?"
Melinda shrugged, "Grew up an only child. Last living relative I had was my Grandma...she had the same gift as me."
"That's really cool though," Beth said, trying not to sound too invasive.
"Is it weird that I don't have anyone to spend the holidays with?"
"Well it's just well...you are very beautiful...," Beth thought she sounded stupid but Melinda didn't mind, "Sorry, now I sound weird."
"Hey, I went through a goth phase when I was in junior high so I know weird."
Beth curled an eyebrow, "Really? I can't picture you like that."
They lost track of time talking, Melinda found herself getting attached, something she was always afraid of doing; this line of work normally didn't lead to friendship.
"I don't know what it is but I feel this...connection to you," Melinda said, looking Beth over; something about Beth's presence made Melinda feel like she could be herself, she couldn't quite understand how she was feeling this other power taking over her whole body.
"I feel something too," Beth said, looking Melinda over with this stone faced expression. She went to touch Melinda's hair and her fingers brushed through to both of their surprise.
"How?...," Melinda felt her fingers like she would any human, they were warm and inviting. Beth touched her face to be sure, "Whoa. That's never happened before."
"Maybe I really am going to be OK," she hugged Melinda, wrapping her arms around the older woman tightly. Melinda hadn't been hugged like this before, it was so much more inviting than it probably should be. Melinda found herself nuzzling her, almost afraid of letting her go, "When I wake up in the hospital I want to make sure I remember to invite you for dinner."
"Oh, Beth that's OK really."
"I want you there. I don't really know what my family is like but I'm sure they'd love to have you."
Melinda's face turned red, "That's very sweet." Beth cringed and closed her eyes, Melinda went to touch her but her hands passed right through, "Beth? Beth what is it?"
"I...I don't know...I think..."
"Beth! Beth! Stay with me!"
Beth held onto her sides, "Melinda...I...I don't want to go!"
"Beth, honey...it might be time. See...I help ghosts crossover that's why they come to me. Unfinished business..."
"I'm not finished...I..."
Melinda somehow managed to hold onto her hands, "Beth you're fading out. Do you see a light?"
Beth stopped and looked up, her eyes glazed over, "I do."
"I need you to go to the light."
Beth looked at her, unable to cry, "No."
"You have to."
"No. I'm staying with you. If I die or not I'm staying here."
Melinda was taken back, no ghost she encountered ever acted like this before.
"Beth...," she started to cry. Beth moved in and kissed her on the lips, unwilling to part, "Beth...Beth...Beth stop you have to...," Melinda got lost in Beth's affection, "We shouldn't...we shouldn't be doing this..."
"How come?" Beth kissed her swan like neck.
"I don't know," Melinda answered, "I guess no one ever told me there was any rules..."
"I like you a lot," Beth said, smiling as she became transparent.
"Beth! Beth! Don't go!" Melinda tried to hold her but then she was gone. Melinda jumped up and looked all around for her. Melinda never felt so alone, she might've just let the best thing to ever happen to her slip away. She ran to her bedroom and sobbed at the end of the mattress. This young girl with so much life had it ripped away.
"Melinda," she heard, "Melinda it's OK."
Melinda felt a tug at her shirt, "Beth?"
She felt the soft touch of Beth's lips on hers. Melinda's shirt was gone, the invisible girl pulled her up to stand up straight and unzipped her jeans. Melinda was surprised but said nothing and let it happen as her jeans fell around her ankles. She felt Beth's touch all over her body. Her bra sprang off and she felt invisible hands caress them. Melinda moaned, not having felt this good in a long time. She collapsed on the bed as the ghost continued. Melinda's whole body was being played with and she loved every second of it. Her legs were opened up. Her moist loins were tended to.
"Oh! Oh, Beth!" she called out, "Oh! Oh god!"
Beth continued playing with her, massaging her breasts and pinching her nipples. Melinda thrusted her pelvis, feeling Beth rubbing against her.
"Oh yes! Yes, that's it!"
Melinda felt passionate kisses working up and down her body. She turned over and was groped roughly. She couldn't see her but she could hear that she was groaning along with her.
"You're so beautiful, Melinda," she said tenderly, "I can't help myself."
"Don't", Melinda laughed. She squeezed one of her own breasts as she felt Beth's tongue in her ear; she was feeling her temperature rise.
Melinda's whole body shook, she was getting off. More like taking off. When she collapsed on her mattress she passed out in a sweaty mess. She had never felt this good, this happy, it was missing from her life. All of these years helping people she hardly ever took care of herself.
When Melinda woke up it was 10:45AM. Her eyes widened, she jumped off the bed and threw on the nearest clothes.
Melinda walked into the blandly white hospital holding a bouquet of flowers. The nurse, an elderly lady looked her over.
"I'm...I'm here to see Beth Engle?"
"I'm sorry?"
"Beth Engle. She was brought in last night."
The nurse looked at her computer. She couldn't find anything on a patient by that name. Melinda's heart sank, the first time in her life she thought she found true love and it was taken from her. 'You were too old for her anyway,' she thought to herself, 'What did you think? She'd move in with you? You'd run the antique shop together until you both die?'
"Excuse me," said a custodian, "Are you looking for a girl? I heard on the radio a teenage girl was rushed to St. Thomas Hospital late last night. That might be the one you're looking for."
"Oh, my god! Thank you!" Melinda rushed out the door, "Merry Christmas!"
Melinda drove to St Thomas Hospital with her heart racing. When she got inside it was somehow even sadder than the last one she was at, one security guard and one overworked nurse. She marched up to the front desk, breathing heavy.
"Beth Engle?"
"...Are you family?"
Melinda caught her breath, she clutched her chest as her heart skipped.
"Family," a man said down the hall.
It was a husband and wife, Melinda knew immediately that they were Beth's mother and father. They waved her over and she went inside to see her. Beth was awake and stable. She looked so weak in that hospital bed but she had this glow to her.
"She said you would be here," said Beth's mother, unsure still who Melinda was and what her connection was with her daughter but she hugged her like a sister.
Melinda held Beth's hand and smiled down at her, "You made it."
"I couldn't let you be alone."
Melinda wiped away a tear, "I'm glad."
Beth stayed in the hospital most of Christmas day but on Boxing day she was discharged and her family had Christmas dinner then. Melinda was invited and never left Beth's side. Beth was still adjusting to everything, she was still foggy on her past but it didn't seem to bother her because her future was looking like something she could get comfortable with.
THE END
Hope you enjoyed! Thank you for reading and Happy Holidays!