Chapter Five:

Henley was surprised to find the ghosts were no longer lingering in the clinic waiting room. She had peeked into the room as Michelle closed up for lunch, and was taken back to find it completely empty.

She, however, couldn't help the spark of guilt that she hadn't even been able to help them, even in the slightest bit. She had always figured that after awhile, she eventually would talk with them, understand what troubled them. She always usually did. But they were nowhere to be seen, and she had a feeling they wouldn't be bothering her again.

"They will not be returning."

Henley jumped at the unexpected voice, glancing over her shoulder at the vampire that hadn't bothered her the entire morning since their little chat in her bedroom. "You don't know that. Maybe they just wanted a coffee break."

He raised an eyebrow at her. "We're ghosts."

"It's called humour," she rolled her eyes, turning and crossing her arms over her chest. "What do you want?"

"You know what I want."

"Well you're not getting that, so maybe you should just give up."

"I can assure you that I will not."

She snorted and turned back around, only to freeze as the door to the clinic opened. She cursed under her breath, praying that whoever it was hadn't heard her one sided conversation.

"Jackson?" her eyes grew wide at the unexpected figure. The pediatrician she hadn't seen in over a month stepped into the waiting room, his black labrador at his side. Her cheeks grew a bright shade of red as the doctor flashed her his charming smile. "Er…ah…what are you doing here?"

"Sorry for intruding, I know you're usually on lunch," he apologized, reaching down to scratch the lab behind his ear. "But I was worried about Raven."

She immediately forgot about her pestering ghost problem, or at least she tried to. Godric wouldn't give her a moment alone, however, as he placed himself directly behind her.

"From the blood rushing to your cheeks, I believe you find this male attractive," he whispered into her ear.

Her cheeks flushed an even darker shade of red as a whine for attention emitted from Raven.

"I hope you don't mind," Jackson's smile faltered at her hesitance.

"Oh no, not at all," she shot a dark glare over her shoulder at the annoying ghost before motioning to Jackson. "I don't mind at all. Why don't you bring her on back and I'll take a look."

"You sure? I don't want to take up your time."

"It's no problem at all," she assured, offering a small smile of her own as she led him and his lab through the back hallway and into an examining room. She peeked behind them and groaned inwardly as Godric too was following close behind.

"I'm not ruining any lunch plans, I hope."

She was trying desperately to ignore Godric's eye roll while simultaneously avoiding those two distinct dimples as Jackson smiled. She may detest dating, due to her curse, but she couldn't deny how handsome this doctor was. He stood tall with broad shoulders, his hair a dark brown. His smile had been the first attribute that drew her to him, those toothy grins able to charm even stone statues. His personality hadn't lacked either, not like with some of her previous boyfriends. He was kind and caring, and an absolute gentlemen. She was certain there had to be a catch; no guy could possibly be this perfect.

But the Doctor had been. The only reason she had kept her distance was because of those pesky ghosts. She couldn't keep a relationship to save her life when she always eventually slipped up. Poor Jackson didn't deserve a mental case.

"You may want to answer before he assumes you detest him," Godric mused from behind, leaning against the wall with an amused smirk on his lips.

She tried to mask her annoyance and instead flashed Jackson the widest grin she could muster.

"You're not ruining anything at all. So what seems to be the problem with Raven here?" she knelt down beside the lab, chuckled with she immediately licked happily at her face. "Someone is happy."

"She hasn't been eating the last few days. I thought she might be sick," Jackson explained. "Do you need her up on the table?"

"I can take a look right here," she shook her head. "Has she thrown up at all?"

"No, she's been perfectly fine other than that."

"Well I'll just take a look. I'm sure Raven is just fine though, aren't you girl?"

"He's lying."

Henley paused at Godric's comment. She tried not to look at him, not wanting to make Jackson suspicious.

"He's lying to you," he repeated, and as Henley risked a glance around the room, she found the ghost beside Jackson, scrutinizing the oblivious man.

She tried to drown him out by engrossing herself in her work. She examined the lab, diving into the work that she loved. It was the only time she was able to forget about her curse, about the ghosts that drove her insane.

"Everything's looking alright," she gave the lab one last scratch behind her ears before pushing herself up to her feet. "How long has she been not eating?"

"Probably just a few days. Maybe two at most," Jackson admitted. "I probably overreacted."

"There's no such thing. You did the right thing in bringing her in. I can't find anything wrong, but I can always…"

"He's lying."

Henley pursed her lips and sent a short glare to where Godric stood before focusing back on the very much alive man in the room. "As I was saying, I can…"

"Are you so attracted to him that you do not care that he's lying to you?" Godric raised an eyebrow. "I was under the impression that women did not like it when men lied to them. Perhaps Isabel had been wrong."

"Are you alright?" Jackson frowned at her.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she assured, doing her very best to pretend Godric didn't exist. It was impossible, however, as he continued to annoy her.

"So Raven is looking alright?"

"She's looking…" Godric suddenly appearing directly before her startled her. She jumped, a low yelp sounding from her lips.

"Henley?"

"Sorry," she tried to compose herself, moving to the left to try and avoid Godric. He moved along with her and she had to stifle a grunt in annoyance. "I can't find anything wrong. Is there anything else you might remember? Has she been acting oddly or…"

"Perhaps he's merely lying, and that is why you cannot find anything wrong," Godric mused.

"Perhaps someone should shut the hell up," she muttered as quietly as she possibly could under her breath in hopes Jackson didn't hear her.

It didn't seem that he did, however, as he knelt down to pet the tail-wagging dog. With his attention elsewhere, Henley took the opportunity to shoot Godric a dark look. He merely shrugged, his smirk growing as her frustration grew. If she had been alone, she would have thrown the closest object right at his head. Even if it went right through the vampire, it still would have made her feel better.

"I have a confession to make," Jackson admitted, glancing up at her with a sheepish grin.

"Oh?" she gladly moved her attention from the smirking ghost to Jackson's charming smile.

"I may have over exaggerated just a bit," he patted Raven on the top of her head before standing. "Raven's been eating just fine."

"I did tell you he was lying."

Henley battled against the desire to roll her eyes at the ghost.

"I may have just been looking for an excuse to see you again," the doctor confessed.

She was surprised at the confession. "Really?"

He shrugged, his smile growing. "I had a really great time when we hung out, but we both got busy, and I regret not calling you."

"Did Michelle put you up to this?" Henley asked skeptically. She wouldn't put it past the woman to call the gorgeous doctor up and beg him to take her out. She was worst than her own mother when it came to her love life.

Jackson laughed, and her cheeks flushed as she noted it was a deep, rich laugh. She wouldn't mind hearing that laugh more often.

"He lies and you are still attracted. Will you take him to your bed?"

Her mouth dropped open in shock and she quickly had to compose herself.

"Hm, from the shade of your cheeks, I will assume that is a yes."

"No, though I did run into her the other day," Jackson hadn't noticed a single change in her, to her great relief. "She may have hinted at something."

"I'm going to be giving her an earful when she gets back then," she moved over to the desk in the room, fiddling with the papers lying across the surface. She needed a moment to try and collect herself. Godric, however, wasn't giving her a moment of peace.

"I believe he wouldn't mind you taking him to your bed. Or perhaps he would rather take you to his bed," Godric leaned against the desk beside her. "It's tradition for the man to take the lead, but I have a feeling you would be too stubborn to accept."

Henley was gritting her teeth. "Shut up,"

"Sorry?" Jackson questioned.

"I, uh…" Henley quickly twisted around. "I was just saying that I'll have to talk to Michelle about meddling in my love life."

"I don't know, I think she's just looking out for you."

"She's worst than my mother," Henley rolled her eyes. "But I suppose her meddling isn't all that bad."

"Oh?" he raised an eyebrow.

"I had a great time with you too. But like you said, things got a bit…crazy," not to mention ghosts had grown extremely determined since she last saw him.

"I'd like the opportunity to rectify that."

She was surprised at the doctor's own persistence. She had never experienced anyone working to such lengths to see her. No one had ever faked their own pet's illness just to ask her on a date. The only persistence she had experienced in her life had been the ghosts that haunted her existence. And none had been more than the vampire still settled beside her in that very moment. She wasn't used to having anyone desire her, and she had to admit, despite where she knew any relationship with Jackson would lead, she enjoyed the attention.

She would, however, enjoy it much more if Godric wasn't there ruining the entire moment.

"Yes, he would very much enjoy taking you to bed."

Henley was able to ignore Godric this time, however, as Jackson stepped around the examination table and towards her.

"How would dinner sound? Tomorrow night?"

"Perhaps you should skip dinner and…"

"Dinner sounds great," Henley refused to let Godric make her slip up, for Jackson to think she was insane. She knew eventually it would happen. It always did. But maybe Michelle was right. Maybe she needed to at least try.

And she could definitely use a distraction from her pest problem.

"Great," Jackson smiled widely. "There's an Italian place just down the street from my office that I hear is pretty good. I can pick you up for 7 tomorrow?"

"You may as well accept; this may very well be your only offer. I suspect not many would enjoy their significant other speaking to beings they cannot even see."

"7 sounds great," Henley nodded, doing her very best not to let Godric get the better of her.

"Well see, a little meddling wasn't so bad," Jackson winked before grasping onto Raven's leash. "I should really be heading back to the office, and I have someone who needs to get dropped off first."

"Poor girl is probably exhausted from being used to get a date," she teased.

"It worked, didn't it?"

"Maybe a little," she followed him out of the room and into the waiting room. "So tomorrow then."

She was surprised when Godric didn't follow them, but was grateful for the singular moment alone with the man.

"Tomorrow," he leaned forward, pecking her on the cheek and causing her entire face to flush the exact shade as her hair. "I look forward to it."

She could only smile as Jackson waved, slipping out of the clinic with Raven happily following behind. The minute the door was closed, Henley let out a squeal that embarrassed her the moment it escaped her lips. But she didn't care. She liked Jackson. She liked not being viewed as a freak. Maybe it would all get ruined eventually, but for now he was just a nice guy giving her the time of day.

"You like him," Godric commented.

"I would yell at you right now if I wasn't so happy," she shot at him, not even giving the ghost a second glance as she passed by him and slipped into the back hallway. She couldn't wipe the grin from her lips as she grabbed the phone from her pocket and began texting Michelle. She should have been angry that the older woman had been meddling, but she felt grateful that the woman cared enough to nudge the doctor her way.

"Yes, you do appear very pleased," he mused. "Is this due to your desire for him to have you?"

She stopped dead in her tracks, mortified at his accusation. Not that he was entirely wrong, but his crudeness still rubbed her the wrong way.

"Could you be any ruder," she grumbled, sending him a glare. "I would appreciate it if next time, you didn't try and meddle in my life."

"You and I both know I will not stop meddling until you agree to help me."

"Maybe it's time to get your head checked then, because it's not going to happen," she rolled her eyes. "Just move on already. Go into the light. I'm really getting tired of you."

"I have ways to make you help me."

She turned towards him, her eyebrow rising. "And how exactly are you going to manage that when you're transparent?"

"I was quite impressed that this doctor didn't catch on to your…uniqueness." Godric tilted his head to the side. "Perhaps I will have to try harder."

Her mouth gaped open. "Don't you even dare."

"Tomorrow night then?" he smirked widely before vanishing completely.

Henley just stood there, eyes wide as she stared where he once was.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me!"

A/N: Seriously, you all are so amazing. Thank you so much for reading this fic and reviewing. I never require or expect it. But it's an amazing feeling to read each and every one of your reviews. You all rock so much. So here's a little gift, yet another chapter, to show my thanks.