Chapter 3:

Disclaimer: I don't own Ghost Whisperer or the town of Grandview. Leah is my own character. I know now that I am misspelling Aiden's name. Since I spelled it the other way before I found out I am keeping it the way I spell it.

"I swear to you that it is true." I said to Ned as we sat at a café that evening. He bought me a muffin and water. I was telling him some stories about my astral adventures.

"So there are other realms out there. And these things are too?" He asked astonished. I nodded. I'm glad that I found someone who doesn't call me crazy. "So how would someone like me get to one of these realms?"

"Ohhhh no, I am not going to be teaching you that. I will not be responsible for anything happening to you." I said. Eli joined us.

"Where is Professor Payne?" He asked. I gave him the stink eye.

"Is that the only reason you talk to me? That I have some astral guy following me?"

"No." Eli said, clearly offended. "I was just wondering since I don't see him hanging around."

"Buffoon." Rick muttered. Eli jumped. Rick finally figured out how to shut Eli out from seeing him. I giggled. "I like your laugh." Rick said looking at me. I smiled.

"Ok, this is weird. I can still hear him, but why can't I see him?" Eli said.

"Leave her alone Eli." Ned said jumping in. I smiled my thanks. Ned nodded back.

"But it still doesn't make sense." Eli complained.

"It doesn't have to. I know why and no I am not telling you. How are you feeling Rick?" I asked looking up at him. He smiled and shrugged before walking towards Melinda's store. I sighed. He wants to talk to her so bad.

"I think I am going to go walking around town." I said standing. "Thanks for the water and muffin Ned." He nodded and I left. It is a waiting game until Rick's body is at Mercy hospital.

I sighed as I walked by the fountain in the town square. I shoved my hands into my hoodie pockets. I don't know what to do now. Rick is throwing me for a loop and I don't understand my feelings for him now. He is very hot for his age. I groaned in frustration.

"You ok?" Rick asked. Ahh, my personal stalker. I smiled at that thought.

"Yea." I said just loud enough for us to hear. I hope his body arrives soon. I want to touch him now that he has been saying that he wants to touch me. It has made me realize the problems with staying in astral form too long. I saw Ned approach.

"I am headed home. Want a ride?" He asked.

"Sure." I said following Ned. Rick followed of course. The ride was silent and I went up the guest room. I lay down with a sigh.

"You ok?" Rick asked me. I shrugged, not sure myself. "I really wish right now I was in my body so I could hold your hand and let you know that you aren't alone."

I smiled. "That is the sweetest thing you have said to me."

"Well, you have been through a lot these last couple of weeks." He said. I got an idea to get both of our minds off our situation.

"After I eat some dinner, want to take a trip?" I asked Rick. He shrugged. I sighed; this was getting to be harder than I thought. "When is your birthday?"

"What?" He asked surprised.

"Well if we are going to be friends I should know when your birthday is so I can get you presents." I said sitting up. He grinned.

"June 21st." He answered. "When is yours?"

"April 13th." I said with a shrug. "But hey at least we get to celebrate yours. It's a month away." I had a grin.

Ned knocked on the door. "Pizza's here. You might want to get some before Jim eats it all."

I followed behind, unsure of whom Jim is. I saw Aidan sitting at the table with a pizza in front of him. I smiled at Aidan when he waved at me than ate his food. I took the proffered plate from Delia as a man entered.

"That was the hospital. They said Rick's body will be here sooner than we expect. It'll be sometime tomorrow when he should arrive." The guy said.

"Thanks again Jim." Melinda said hugging him. I smiled. This is her husband.

"Yea, thanks Jim." Rick said next to me.

"Rick thanks you too." I said loud enough for them to hear me. Jim looked at me than Melinda.

"He's here?" Jim asked confused.

"Uh, yea. But Leah is the only one who can see him." Melinda said. I shrugged and sat next to Aidan.

"Only until he is in his body again." Ned said. I ate my food quietly.

"You ok Leah?" Delia asked as she sat next to me.

"Yea, just not used to eating this regularly. Or this much at a time." I said looking at her.

"Why not?" She asked. I looked away.

"You should tell her." Rick said. "It will be nice for you to have people to trust and who care for you."

"I have been on the move since I was 16. My parents kicked me out because I stopped believing their religion, to put it nicely. So instead of living on the street near them, I hitchhiked out of there. I would work here and there under the table for fast money so I could eat, or buy a greyhound ticket or a motel room for the night.

"When Rick started following me around I was getting ready to move on to another town. Because he needs the help I ended up here." I said putting it all out there. I wouldn't meet anyone's eyes. "I lived in New Orleans for four years. That's where I got introduced into all of the otherworldly side of my religion."

"You are welcome here for as long as you want." Delia said with a smile. I thanked her.

"How old are you?" Ned asked.

"Ned! That is not nice." Melinda said jumping into the conversation.

I smiled. "It's ok Melinda. I am 27."

"I didn't know that." Rick said. I looked up at him with a smile.

"You never asked how old I was Rick. You just asked an age range so you knew I am in my twenties." I said.

"Sounds like Rick." Melinda said with a smile.

"Very funny Melinda." Rick said. I passed the message on and we all laughed.

That night I lay in bed, still not able to sleep. Rick wasn't in the room talking. I was oddly disturbed by that. I decided to astral to settle myself. I walked around Grandview for a while before I went back to my own body. I saw Rick there, looking out of the window. I entered my body and went to sleep knowing that I was being watch over.

Early the next morning Ned woke me up for breakfast. I groaned as I opened my eyes.

"What do you want?" I asked rubbing my eyes.

"Breakfast than mom has some things for you to do at the office." Ned said walking out. I got up and dressed in the outfit from the day before. I wear an outfit for a couple days, or weeks, then change. I would need new clothes soon. After breakfast I rode with Delia to her office and got to work on what I didn't finish the day before.

Around lunchtime Melinda rushed into the office excitedly. Delia saw her first.

"Where's the fire?" Delia asked with a smile.

"No, no fire. Jim called and said Rick's body just arrived. Come on Leah." Melinda said happily. I grinned like an idiot.

"She's right. I can feel my body." Rick said. "I'll see you there Leah."

"Let's go." Delia said herding us out. I laughed as we made our way to the hospital. Jim met us at the nurse's station, looking uncomfortable.

"Uh oh, that doesn't look good." Rick said appearing next to me. I agreed quietly.

"Rick's body is healed from any injuries he sustained in Egypt. They pulled him off any heavy sedation once they landed at the airport. It's all up to Rick now." Jim said leading us to Rick's room.

When we entered Rick started talking. I approached his bed and touched his hand.

"I remember being on that ladder and then it fell." Rick was saying. "I can feel that Leah." I looked at Rick who was looking at his hand. I smiled and squeezed it a little. "I can feel that too. It feels amazing."

"What's he saying?" Melinda asked.

"That is so weird hearing you say that." Jim said. Melinda agreed.

"He was telling me what happened in Egypt, and then he said he can feel me touching his hand." I said as I trailed my hand up his arm. I gently touched his cheek with a sigh.

"How do I go back to my body?" Rick asked me. I looked at him.

"Imagine going into your body." I said. Rick tried, but didn't succeed into reentering his body. I sighed. "It may take a couple of tries. You have been out of your body for several weeks."

"Weeks?" Jim asked alarmed. I shrugged.

"I've survived months out of my body. Maybe fear is holding you back Rick. I'm not leaving anytime soon." I said sitting down. An hour later Rick was frustrated that he couldn't get into his body. Melinda and Delia had left for food while Jim did his rounds.

"I have an idea." I said to Rick.

"Anything." Rick said with enthusiasm. I smiled as I stood.

"Remember saying you could feel my touch?" Rick nodded. "Maybe if I kiss you, you'll want to kiss me back so maybe you'll go into your body to achieve that."

"Do it." Rick said.

I smiled then leaned down and placed my lips on his. I started kissing him then Rick's mouth moved with mine. I pulled back to look at him. He looked at me with confusion in his eyes. He doesn't remember me. I sighed and backed away.

"I'll go get your doctor." I mumbled before darting out of the room. At least my plan worked. I literally ran into Jim.

"Where's the fire?" He asked with a smile.

"Rick's awake." I said pointing dumbly to Rick's room. Jim looked at me then headed to the room. I stood rooted in my spot until Melinda and Delia joined me.

"You ok?" Delia asked.

"Rick is awake." I said quietly. I followed them to the door then sat outside of Rick's room. I pulled my knees to my chest and tried to keep the tears away.

"Leah?" Jim asked. I looked up. "Can you join us for a moment in here?" I nodded and followed him into the room. My heart was pounding in my chest.