A month went by mostly uneventful. Payne was finally released from the hospital three weeks after the accident, leg and arm casts removed and replaced with a temporary cane. Melinda's sling was no longer needed either. Gabriel and Romano had been seen here and there, but mostly kept away, something that bothered Melinda more than it should have. She had told Gabriel to stay away, but didn't expect him to listen. So, she and Payne pondered what they were planning.

Melinda helped a few ghosts cross over, and lost a few to Romano and Gabriel. Her belly got slightly bigger and she had an ultrasound, and got a picture of the speck that was her and Jim's baby.

One day, Jim was at the firehouse washing the fire truck when he heard someone come up behind him. "I hear congrats are in order pops." The voice smirked.

Jim turned around to see Gabriel standing in front of him. "What are you doing here?" He hissed.

"Melinda didn't tell you I was in town? I just wanted to visit everyone. Say hi."

Jim glared at him. "You stay away from us."

"I will once I finish what I started. I'm not leaving until I get what I came here for." Gabriel grinned and walked away.

"You stay away from Melinda." Jim yelled after him.

Gabriel turned around to face Jim with a smirk on his face.

OOOOOO

Melinda was home on the sofa when Jim barged through the door. "Why didn't you tell me Gabriel was back in town?" He demanded.

Melinda was surprised. "I-I didn't what you worrying about me."

"He paid me a visit at the firehouse. How the hell does he know you are pregnant?" Jim was shouting in fury without quite realizing it.

"I don't know. He was at the hospital the day I found out, maybe he overheard the nurse. I told him to stay away. What did he say to you?"

"He said he wasn't leaving until he finished what was started, and he gets what he wants." Jim was pacing the living room. "Damn it, Mel. Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because it was a happy night for us, and I didn't want it ruined. I will be careful. Me and Rick are trying to figure out what they are planning, but haven't had any luck."

"They? And why does Rick know before me?" Jim demanded.

"Romano is back too. I've seen him a few times staring into the store from the square. Rick knows because he saw Gabriel in the hospital too." Melinda explained.

After Melinda reassured Jim multiple times that she would be careful, he finally calmed down and they had dinner.

OOOOOO

"I have no idea what they want. There aren't any events or anything similar to last time." Professor Payne told Melinda. She had gone to visit him at the university the next day.

"Gabriel told Jim that he wasn't leaving until he finished what he started, and gets what he wants." Melinda informed Payne, while she helped him unpack his books and artifacts.

"I told you it was unfinished business. Even the living have it." Payne joked, before getting serious again. "What he started last time was a scheme to kill you. He also tried to kill Delia. So if he is wanting to finish what he started, he is going to try to kill you again." Payne paused and took a step toward Melinda. "And if that's the case, I cannot bear to have you die on me again."

"I'm not going to die. I just wish I knew who he was after so I can protect them." Melinda said thoughtfully.

"Earth to Melinda! He tried to kill both of us in that car accident!" Payne exclaimed.

"We don't know for certain that was his doing."

"You said you saw him there. Of course he was behind it." Payne's voice got louder. "Sorry, didn't mean to shout."

"It's ok." Melinda said softly.

"Come on, let's go get some lunch and get our minds off this for a while." Payne suggested.

Melinda nodded and said, "That would be great, as long as you're buying."

As they crossed the street to Payne's SUV, a Suburban came out of nowhere and nearly ran over Payne. Both of their hearts beating out of their chests from the rush, they looked at each other in fear of what was happening. Payne's phone ringing startled them back to reality.

"Professor Payne." He answered his phone.

"You really think I'm after you? You aren't that special. No, you were just a diversion. I want someone much closer to Melinda. And I'll be getting them in the next couple minutes." The caller hung up.

"Who was it? You look terrified." Melinda questioned.

"Gabriel. Where is Jim?" Payne exclaimed, voice shaking.

"At work. What's going on?" Melinda was confused and scared.

"We have to go find him. Get in." Payne instructed and climbed into the driver side of his SUV.

On the way to the firehouse Melinda's phone rang. "Hello?" She answered.

"Melinda, there's been an accident." The voice on the other side said sadly. It was the captain of the firehouse.

"What happened?" Melinda's voice was shaking. Payne looked over at her with concern.

"We were at a call. Someone opened fire on the crowd. Jim went to shield a child from the bullets and was hit twice in the back. We did everything we could to save him, but the bullets hit a lung and his heart. I'm sorry." The captain explained with remorse.

Tears started streaming down Melinda's face as she was told the unthinkable. Payne, noticing something very wrong, pulled over on the side of the road. Melinda, through sobs asked the captain if the child was ok.

"Yeah, traumatized, but no injuries. Your husband is a hero. He is at the hospital."

"I'm on my way." Melinda said and hung up the phone. She looked at Payne and broke down crying uncontrollably. Payne unbuckled and leaned over to pull her into a hug. He didn't ask questions or try to say anything comforting. He knew what happened and so he just let her cry in his arms until she finally pulled away and said, "take me to the hospital to see him."