A/N: Okay chickadees! Enter chapter four! So, the trio is not allowed to see the visitor. I wonder how they'll react to a little twist I added…wait, who am I kidding, I know exactly what's going to happen! And yes, I realize the chapter names are different than the ones on the documents, but I'm too lazy to change them.
Disclaimer: Do not own anyone but Jane so far. If I did, I would have little Stinkie Juniors running around everywhere.
Surprisingly, Casper came down the next morning to the sight of his three anxious uncles fidgeting at the table. It was enough of a shock to see them up before he was to make him come to a standstill. He could only stare dumbly as Stretch gave him an annoyed look.
"Move it short-sheet, yer block'n the doorway!"
Rattled out of his temporary paralyzed state, Casper merely raised an eyebrow before starting breakfast. After making sure that he wasn't paying attention to them anymore, the trio went back to staring at the door.
An hour went by, and right as Casper was finishing setting the table, James walked in.
"Good morning Dr. Harvey. What's the matter?" he asked, noting the slight furrow in the Doc's brow.
"It seems Jane is going to stay longer than planned," he replied, rubbing his temples and taking off his glasses. James had sent Kat earlier that morning to check on Jane and ask her to come down for breakfast. Kat had hurriedly ran from Jane's room in a panic, babbling something about an emergency. She was found huddled in a fetal position around the toilet, evidence of retching her guts out earlier in said toilet.
After carefully placing her back in bed, the Doc confirmed, without a thermometer, that she had a high fever. He also concluded that it was probably from being in the rain for so long.
"Hey Doc, is dat…blood?" Stinkie asked a little cautiously. That got Fatso and Stretch's attention as their transparent heads snapped towards a small trickle on the side of his white nightshirt.
James had always found it a little odd how the Trio got a bit queasy around blood. He had noticed it throughout the years as he watched their reactions to small things like kitchen accidents or his occasional paper cuts. Sure, they could handle the gore in movies, but not the real thing. After awhile, he concluded it probably either had something to do with their deaths, or it was just a well hidden phobia they all shared.
"This isn't mine," he began with a sigh, putting his glasses back on and standing. He didn't have to say anything else for them to get his drift. After tucking Jane in, she had surprised him and Kat both as her nose began gushing blood. Kat freaked and James calmed her before instructing to get towels and stay put.
"Casper, we're going to need your help. Kat has to go to school, and I have a couple sessions out of town today. We'll need to introduce you as soon as possible to see if she'll let you take care of her."
Casper nodded, already floating out the door. James turned to leave, but of course, the trio had to butt in.
"Now listen here Doc. Why in da hell are you even take'n care of dis other skin sack? Get her outta here! And if not, then we'll do it ourselves!" Stretch threatened heatedly.
"Yeah! How come Casper gets to meet her and we don't?" Fatso asked, starting to get genuinely curious about the stranger.
"Boys, you already know why. All three of you always come on too strong, and what if she rejects even Casper? How far do you think the three of you well get with her?"
The trio backed off, knowing he was right. Plus, they did promise…and it was the last promise they'd ever keep for the rest of their afterlives.
"All right Doc, we'll stick wit our word for now. But if she stays longer den three days, we're make'n ourselves known. We ain't gonna be sneak'n around our own house like a bunch of fugitives."
Dr. Harvey wanted to comment on the fugitive part but thought better of it. No need to snap the thread that was already wearing thin.
After the Trio had grudgingly left the house, James made his way back to Jane's room. Casper stood outside the door looking solemnly to the ground.
"Casper? What happened?"
"Kat tried to break it easy to Jane and introduce me, but she took one look at me and fainted!"
Dr. Harvey sighed, having expected this and instructed Casper to wait by the door. Kat was sitting in a chair pulled up next to the bed, and Jane lay unconscious, shivering every once in awhile.
"How long has she been out?"
"Not too long, but we really need to get this moving. I have to leave soon"
James nodded and shook Jane gently, quietly calling her name in hopes of rousing her. Jane's brow suddenly wrinkled, and she let out an annoyed moan, swatting away the Doc's hand. After opening her eyes, she stared at them both in confusion.
"What's going-" She suddenly gasped, her hands shooting out to grip the doctors shirt. "Th-there was a ghost! I-I saw it!" Her eyes were panicked, and by the way she reacted James figured she really wouldn't do well with the trio.
"Calm down Jane, it's all right."
"You don't believe me do you?" she asked, realizing how stupid she must sound.
"No, no, I most definitely believe you. But you need to calm down and listen to me." Jane nodded, swallowing hard and letting her training take over. Both Kat and James watched in amazement as Jane relaxed almost instantly. Brushing off the strange reaction, Dr. Harvey decided to just give it to her straight. "What you saw earlier…it was real, that was a real ghost."
Jane swallowed again, but held up her calm exterior. "Will he hurt anyone?"
"No, in fact, he's going to do the exact opposite." Casper must have taken that as his cue, because at that moment, the door slowly creaked open, his large head peaking in. There was a sharp intake of breath, and Kat watched out of the corner of her eye as she gripped the sheets. Cautiously, he approached them all, his head hung low and eyes shifting up from the floor.
"Jane, this is Casper. He'll be taking care of you while Kat and I are gone."
What happened next, none of them expected. Jane's jaw clenched, eyes widening in disbelief. Facing the ghost, she asked incredulously, "C-Casper? Casper McFadden?" Her voice shook slightly as she continued, turning sharply to Dr. Harvey. "We're in Whipstaff?"
Everyone went silent. Kat and Dr. Harvey shared confused glances while Casper openly gaped. Nobody knew how long they had sat there staring, but eventually Jane broke the silence. "May I be alone? Please?" Her voice was haggard, and shaky. The other three occupants hesitated but finally consented, leaving quietly.
"If you need me, just call my name," Casper informed before closing the door.
When Jane was sure they were at least downstairs, she let out a sigh that carried all her pent up fatigue and relief. So, she had made it to Whipstaff and hadn't even known it…