DISCLAIMER: I don't own the Mediator series. Although, I'd like to own Jesse.

Holy crap... I just noticed something reading chapter two again. I put two different ways that Suze knows CeeCee :P. I'm such a dork. In case anyone was confused, they met in high school.

Suze's POV

After talking to Dad briefly (there wasn't much to say... the ghostly world is kinda boring, and he had just witnessed the biggest social moment I had that year), I went to work. As soon as I stepped in, my boss came up to me with a manila folder in hand. I sighed.

"Not another one..." I said walking past him.

"Suze, Dan's still in the hospital. I need you to take this one." He said, following me to my desk.

"I don't care. I'm working on three other cases already." I was whining, but I didn't care. He was pulling me down from cloud nine. I like it up there.

I put my cup of tea down on my desk and turned around. He was still there. I groaned and rolled my eyes, holding out my non-casted hand.

"You know I love you, right?" He asked, holding out his hand.

"Enough to give me a raise?" I retorted, grinning.

"Not that much." He told me, turning around to walk away.

"By the way, her body's still at the hospital."

I was gone 30 seconds later.

After an endless cab ride, I arrived at Sacred Hearts Medical Center Emergency Room. I felt like I lived there now, after being there two weeks ago with my stupid broken hand.

"Hi. Susannah Simon. NYPD." I flashed my badge, as I gave my habitual introduction. "Could you tell me which doctor worked on Claire Fortman?" Please let it be Jesse... Please let it be Jesse...

"Dr. de Silva." The receptionist pointed down the hallway.

"Thank you." There truly is a God.

I saw him at the end of the hall, jotting down some notes on a clip board.

"Hey." I said approaching him. He looked up at me with a smile that could break millions of hearts.

"Susannah? What are you doing here?"

"Official detective work." I flashed my badge. "Susannah Simon. NYPD. Can I ask you a few questions." I said jokingly.

He laughed. And intoxicating sound. "Wow... you look like you just walked off the set of Law and Order."

"Haha... seriously, can I ask you some questions about Claire Fortman?"

Jesse smiled. "Sure." He led me into the doctor's lounge and pointed to the table, beckoning me to sit. I did so obediently.

I pulled out a tape recorder and turned it on. It wasn't like I could write down notes, with this big cast. He started pouring himself a cup of coffee. "What time did she arrive?"

"10:32."

"When was she pronounced dead?"

"10:40." He took a sip of his coffee, leaning on the counter casually. It was very difficult to remember the next question, since his top button was undone, revealing the beginning of what looked like an amazing chest.

I cleared my throat. "Um." I began pathetically. "Can you describe her injury?"

"She had 3 bullet wounds: one in her stomach, one in her left thigh, and one in the right ventricle of her heart. The bleeding was too severe. There was nothing we could do."

I could tell it was hard. I imagined it's pretty hard to declare someone dead.

"So it was defiantly a murder."

"Defiantly."

"Do you know where the shooting took place?"

"Corner of 10th and Bleaker. It was a drive by."

"How old was the victim?"

"30. She was a wife and mother of two." He shook his head. "Such a shame."

I nodded in agreement, turning off the tape recorder.

"Off the record, have any ghosts appeared around here?"

He nearly choked on his coffee. I couldn't help but laugh.

"Um... no. No ghosts yet." Once he regained his composure, he smiled. "Sorry, it's just... weird for me to talk about ghosts. I've kinda learned to ignore them for the past few years. Although, now I guess I can't since I have a daughter carrying out conversations with them now. And, well, you of course."

I blushed a little. "It's OK. I guess I'm used to it. I knew a couple of mediators when I lived in California."

"Your the first one I met." He said. A long silence passed.

"Why have you been ignoring ghosts?" I couldn't help but ask.

I shouldn't have though. He immediately closed up. We shared another awkward silence.

Suddenly, it clicked. "Oh... your wife..." I whispered, saying my thoughts out loud without even realizing it.

A sad look filled his face, and it pained me to see it.

"I... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything." I said lamely. "I need to see the body, could you show me where it is?"

He nodded. "Sure."

Jesse's POV

The rest of the day went by like a blur. Finally, at 7:00, I was free. I usually enjoy my work, but for some reason that day was especially hard.

I picked up Abigail from my Mom's. We took the subway back, as our routine went.

"So, what do you want for dinner?" I asked once we got inside the apartment.

"Hm... Macaroni and cheese." She looked up at me with a smile.

"Sorry, but not the second night in a row." I opened up the freezer. Of course, it was bare. Luckily, in the fridge, I found some cheese and bread.

"How about grilled cheese?" Abigail nodded enthusiastically.

After we ate, I took her down to the grocery store. Abigail navigated from her seat in the cart, trying to convince me that all we needed to eat was macaroni and cheese, and Teddy Grahams, but she was unsuccessful.

I didn't buy much, so I carried the food in one hand, and picked Abigail up in my other arm. On the way back, Abigail shrieked in my ear and pointed behind us. "It's Suze!" She said.

I turned around and saw Susannah, coming up the stairs of the subway. She saw us and waved shyly, walking over.

"Hey." She said.

"Hi!" Abigail greeted her loudly enough for the both of us. I could only smile.

"We've been seeing a lot of each other today, haven't we?" I asked, with a small laugh.

"Yeah. You live around here?" Her emerald eyes sparkled with curiousity.

"Yes, a few blocks down." Since I didn't have a free hand, I could only move my head in that direction. "You?"

"Right here." She pointed at the apartment building we standing next to.

I nodded. It got quiet suddenly, but not for long.

"Do you wanna come play Kerplunk?" Abigail asked, with her heart melting smile.

I laughed a little, not quite sure what to say. I couldn't help but wish that Susannah would say yes.

She appeared to ponder the simple question hard. "Um..." After looking up at Abigail's hopeful face, she said with a big grin. "Sure."

Suze's POV

I was afraid it might be odd or awkward, but sitting with Jesse and Abigail playing an annoying marble game was the most fun I had had in a long time.

We played other games (Chutes and Ladders, Candyland) for 2 more hours before it was Abigail's bed time.

"But I'm not tired!" She whined.

Jesse laughed. "Yes you are." He picked her up, and she rested her head on his shoulder, yawning. "Say 'Goodnight, Ms. Susannah'." It sounded weird to hear "Ms. Susannah"... It made me feel old.

"'Nite." She said, with a weak smile. I saw a glimpse of Jesse in her.

"Good night." I said with a grin.

After putting the game back in the box, I decided the time had come to be nosey. His apartment was very neat and organized, which didn't really surprise me. He seemed like the organized type, even with a 3 year old kid.

I also wasn't surprised to find that he had more books than DVD's and CD's. I saw the occasional picture frame, with pictures of who I assumed was his family.

Eventually I came across a wedding photo. Jesse stood with an arm around his new bride, smiling that grin I had come to love. She was beautiful. I couldn't help but wonder what he saw in me that made him ask me out that day.

I heard a door close softly, and quickly went back to the couch. Jesse came back, and I had to remind myself to breathe.

"Thanks so much for coming up." He said, picking up Candyland and putting it back in the hall closet.

"It's no problem. She's a great kid."

"Abigail really loves you. She couldn't stop talking about you." He said with a surprised tone and a half smile.

I laughed. "Really?" It was weird to hear that a kid loved me. My little nephew barely said a word to me.

He only nodded. "Hey, do you want a drink or something?" Jesse walked into the kitchen, and I followed.

"Sure."

"I don't have any wine or anything... It's been so long since I've had grown-ups here." He said with a sad smile, opening the fridge. "I do have Sunny D. And some coke. I could make coffee."

I smirked. "Wow... that's a tough choice. I think I'll go with some coffee, though."

He began to make some, and I looked at him, wanting to memorize every detail. The way he smelled, how he moved, the little mole on his hand.

God... I'm so pathetic.

"Cream? Sugar?" I shook my head. I realized that I had been staring at him for a whole minute, making my pathetic-ness even more obvious.

We made small talk as we waited for the coffee to brew. He told me about his family (5 sisters... I have no idea how he survived). But it was obvious how important his family was to him.

Jesse poured two cups of coffee, and handed me one.

"So... any new leads on Claire?" He lead me back to the living room.

I shook my head, sitting back down on the couch. "Not really. It was probably a random gang shooting, with no suspects or witnesses."

He only sighed. "Welcome to New York City."

"Yeah." I took a sip of coffee. He looked down, with a sad look.

"I'm sorry." Jesse said, looking back up at me. "I'm not really good at this. You know, the dating thing. I haven't done this in a long time."

"Well, technically, we haven't been out on an actual date yet. So don't worry."

He smirked a little, looking up at me under his long lashes. "I did tell you I'd take you out for coffee." He reminded me, holding up his cup.

"That's true..." I said. Yet another silence passed. "So... why has it been so long for you?"

"Well... Abigail, mainly." The way he said it made it seem like it was much more than Abigail, but I let it slide.

"If it makes you feel any better, I don't date much either."

For some reason he laughed at this. "Now that's hard to believe." He said, confusing me.

"Why is that?" I asked, putting down my coffee cup, and tucking my legs beneath me.

"Do you even know how beautiful you are, Querida?" He asked.

I blushed. Profusely. Not just because he called me beautiful, although that didn't help much either. It was what he called me. Some beautiful Spanish word, and judging by the fact that he called me beautiful, it could only be complementary.

I couldn't help but ask. "What does that mean?" I didn't intend to whisper the question, but I realized that my voice had failed me.

"It's good, I promise." He whispered too, and I had to lean in to hear what he said. At least that was my excuse.

I didn't even realize how close we were until then. He looked into my eyes and I looked back. I could hear him swallow. As if they had a mind of they're own, our lips touched.

I know I said this chapter would be the date, but Jesse and Suze kissing is so much better, right?

Please review!