Chapter 4:
Disclaimer: I don't own Ghost Whisperer. I am a little behind in the show itself, so this story is really what I want it to be. Melinda has been in the tunnels by the time my story takes place.
I entered the room, unsure as to why I was needed. Rick was standing next to his bed looking at me. I stayed near the door.
"I want to thank you officially Leah. You mistook my confusion. I remember you and everything you did for me. I was more confused being in my body again. It will take a while to get accustomed to my physical body." Rick said. I took a step towards him. He smiled at me.
"When is my birthday?" I asked. His eyebrows knitted together in confusion. "If you really remember me then you should remember my birthday."
"April 13th." Rick said with a smile. "And you said we would celebrate my birthday in a month." I grinned.
"Please don't leap into his arms just yet." Jim said. "He did just stand up after several attempts."
"Well, I am back to work." Melinda said with a smile. Delia said the same and they left with goodbyes. Jim followed them out.
I walked up to Rick with a smile. He grinned back at me. I grabbed his hand and put it on my cheek. We were in uncharted territory for us.
"I can touch you now." He murmured. I touched his cheek, happy to have him physical.
"I am glad you remember me. I don't know what I would have done if you didn't remember me." I said. He pulled me into his arms and hugged me. I wrapped my arms around him, hugging him back.
Several hours later Jim walked in with Ned. I was sitting on the bed laughing to one of Rick's jokes. He was laid out on the bed, under the covers. His dinner fully consumed.
"Visiting hours are over for the night Leah." Jim said causing me to pout.
"You can come back tomorrow." Ned said. "Mom wants you to work a couple hours then you can come here."
"When can I leave?" Rick asked Jim.
"Tomorrow, maybe the next day. We just want to keep an eye on you." Jim said. I stood to leave when Rick grabbed my hand. I looked at him, silently questioning him.
"I hope you come back tomorrow. It is boring in hospitals." He said. I smiled.
"Of course. I will miss your jokes and ramblings tonight." I said. I squeezed his hand gently before following Ned out.
I tossed in a fitful sleep that night. When morning came I was tired. I wondered into the kitchen to have a bowl of cereal. Delia entered with a grin on her face. I smiled back as I ate.
"How'd you sleep?" She asked. I shrugged. "Still trying to adjust to not being followed?"
"Yea. Something like that." I said as Ned wandered in still in his pajamas.
"You know you've worn that outfit the last two days." Ned said.
"I own three outfits. Kind of hard to wear new clothes when I am still waiting for my paycheck." I said putting my bowl in the sink.
"I could ask Melinda. She has some clothes she doesn't wear since she had Aidan." Delia said.
"Thank you Delia. Ready for work?" I redirected our attention. At least I shower every night.
Delia nodded and we headed out. I was almost done with having all of her files organized. When lunch rolled around Delia told me to go ahead and leave. I smiled my thanks and headed to the hospital.
"Hey there sunshine." Rick said as I stopped at the nurse's station. He was in a pair of sweats and a t-shirt. "They released me. Want to get some lunch then help me apartment hunt?"
I smiled. "Sure." We headed to lunch. We were finishing up when Melinda ran up to us.
"I need your help Rick." She said.
"I just got out of the hospital. I think I deserve time to rest." Rick said seriously.
Melinda ignored him. "What do you know about birds?"
"What kind of birds? Each type has a different meaning. Eagle means something different than a hawk. For example, ravens have long been rumored to bring the omen of death. Crows are seen as the gossipers or as the death bringer." Rick said as I drank my water. I smiled at the enthusiasm he has when Melinda asked him a question.
They continued talking a bit longer before Melinda left. Rick paid for our meal and we were off to look for an apartment. I had asked why an apartment and not his house. He told me that his house was still being rented and he had told Delia to let the family keep renting the house. The only apartment that Rick liked was a two bedroom. His excuse was then I could spend the night if I chose too. I smiled.
Three months later Rick and I were walking around the square. Rick had taken to taking me out on dates. We would kiss and hold hands. We had cuddled watching movies. I had moved into his apartment, using his guest room. I worked with both Delia and Melinda.
"Is there a park with a lake around?" I asked suddenly. Rick looked at me funny then thought about it.
"Yea, come on I'll drive." He said pulling me along. Once there I walked to the pier. Rick followed behind, still not used to my random ideas. I striped down to my bra and panties. "What are you doing?" He asked unsure.
"Taking a swim. Come join me." I said jumping into the water. Rick joined me once my head was above the water. I swam away from him a bit, he followed me. When he got to me I wrapped my arms around his neck. His hands grabbed my hips and pulled me to him. I wrapped my legs around his waist as we leaned in to kiss.
Just as our lips were about to connect a light hit our faces. We broke apart and looked in the direction of the light. A cop stood on the pier.
"Get a room." The cop told us.
I started laughing as I swam to the shore. Rick followed grumbling about how the cop interrupted our moment. I ran to our pile of clothes on the ground next to the pier and put my skirt and shirt back on. Rick followed suit, less than thrilled.
"Do this often?" The cop asked with a grin.
"I used to. I haven't in almost a year. Thanks for not cuffing us." I said with a smile.
"I would have, if you were teenagers. But it is nice to see Rick Payne letting loose." The cop said. I started giggling.
"Yea, laugh at my expense." Rick said grabbing his shoes. I grabbed his hand and we left. We headed back to the apartment. Melinda was standing outside the building, waiting for us.
"Can I help you?" Rick asked. He was still unhappy about being interrupted.
"I'm here for Leah." Melinda said looking at me. "Do you have a brother?"
"Yes. How did you find that out?" I asked confused. My brother, Daniel, is eight years younger than me.
"He, ummmm. Wow this never gets easy. But he died and he found you. He refuses to cross over until he gets a message to you and your parents."
"Then tell them the message. I don't need to see them." I said getting upset. Melinda sighed as Rick put an arm around my shoulders.
"Your parents are here. Your brother wanted you all in the same room." Melinda said as my parents joined us. I groaned as I saw them.
"I will do this once I have had a shower. I'm sorry our date got ruined." I said looking at Rick.
"It's ok. Let's head up to the apartment so you can shower and get comfortable. I will put on clean clothes and join if you want." Rick said leading us all in.
"Please." I said hugging him.
Melinda led my parents to the living room while Rick and I showered and changed. I sighed as I pulled Rick's old sweatpants on.
"What is wrong now?" Rick asked entering my room.
We agreed when I moved in I would have my own room until we decided to take our relationship to the next level. Sure we would fall asleep in the same bed, holding each other, but that didn't mean we had sex.
"I bet this is how it feels to be Steve Urkel." I said making a reference to the TV show Family Matters. Rick grinned as he kissed my forehead.
"I still find you hot and attractive. Especially in my clothes." He said making me smile. "Let's go talk to the family."
My mother stood holding her arms out. I looked at her and sat on the couch away from her. Rick sat next to me and pulled me into his side. My mother sat back down with disappointment written on her face.
"You knew she wouldn't hug you." My father said, scolding my mother. I rolled my eyes.
"Ok. Before Leah says something and kicks us all out." Melinda said. "Daniel is here."
"If he is here why can't you see him?" My mother said looking at me.
"Because I can only sense them. Unlike Melinda who can see and communicate with them." I said.
"Daniel says that he wants Leah to know the truth as to why you kicked her out." Melinda said. I looked at her funny. "He says that he overheard your parents talking one night right before you left. He heard your mom say you were a disappointment to her. She couldn't stand the fact that you were looking into other religions."
"Because I grew up knowing my religion. Same for my parents and their parents and so on." My mother said. I rolled my eyes.
"I wanted to know what was really out there. Why would God demand you know only one religion? Especially if that religion he condones those of his following to throw their kids out because they are curious." I said angrily. "I only wanted to find out where I fit in. All my friends believed differently than us. I wanted to know for myself. I never told Daniel anything I learned. I made sure that he could make his own choices."
"All the good kicking you out did. Daniel blamed us for all the troubles we had after you left. When he turned seventeen he began looking for you. He managed to find you right after you would leave a town. He tracked you to here because you got a job. He died coming to meet you so he could talk to you." My mother said coolly. I laughed.
"How poetic. You lost both of your children to your selfishness." I said. My mother gave me the stink eye.
"Daniel has something to say." Melinda cut in, ending our spat for the moment. "He says that he didn't want you all together to start a fight. He says that he wanted you all to know that he will be alright. But he is worried about you three. I will Daniel hold on."
I started laughing. Daniel was always impatient. "Impatience gets you nowhere Danny." I said aloud. I could feel him now.
"He says that he knows you are where you belong Leah. It took you long enough to open your heart to another person." I smiled at that. "He wants your parents to let go of their stubbornness and get to re know you."
"I will try. I have missed Leah." My father said. I crossed my arms. I really didn't want them in my life. I haven't seen or heard from them in eleven years.
"I will try to accept Leah if she will allow me to try." My mother said. Did I really want to do this? How would I deal with them invading my life?
"I know it is hard dealing with a parent who doesn't want to acknowledge your abilities." Melinda said. "My mother refuses to acknowledge that she can see ghosts and doesn't like it when I mention anything about them."