Author's Note: I had forgotten how addicting writing fanfiction could be. Just, wow. Thank you guys so much for reading and reviewing and favoriting and following. And no, that was not a one-shot. Thanks again, now on with the story!

He stood outside the door. He knew he had to do this before he started his journey. In case he didn't make it back in time.

No. He wouldn't think like that. He was going to find the stone and save her.

His hand rested on the doorknob. It was late, so he quietly opened the door. He looked into the dark room. Eve was asleep in a chair. Ezekiel was probably off getting food somewhere. His eyes scanning it until they reached the center of the room.

She was asleep. He took in her frail looking form. She looked sick.

Now, Jake was many things, but he was not a fool.

Cassandra had been getting worse. Deteriorating. It was a slow process, but it had been happening. He payed attention.

Her appetite shrank. The girl that made him hold onto his curly fries, (for fear that she would eat them when he wasn't looking), now couldn't finish her favorite milkshake without feeling sick to her stomach.

Her headaches were getting worse. She thought no one noticed when she'd grip her head while reading, the words getting harder to decipher. Blurry. She had stopped reading outside of missions about a month back.

She lost weight. When she collapsed onto him, he had noticed how much. She was never big to start with, but now...

He shook his head, not wanting to continue that thought.

Cassandra had been dying for a long time.

He walked closer to her. The steady beeping of the machines by her bed and her light snoring served as the only sounds in the room.

He was wrong. Seeing her like this, giving up was the last thing on his mind. Oh no. He was more determined than ever. He would save her.

"Cassie?" He whispered as he carefully took his small hand in his own, almost afraid that it would break, "I have to leave, but I promise, I'll be back. Alright?"

He knew he wasn't going to get a response, but some part of him still waited for one.

"Flynn told me about an artifact. It will fulfill the wish of anyone who finds it... I'm going to find it, and wish for you to get better.

"So, don't you go and try dying on me, alright?" He tried to joke, but felt no humor, "I'll be back."

He ended his little speech by placing a soft kiss on her forehead. A gesture he hadn't thought twice about, unaware of the pair of eyes watching him from the corner.

Jake paced across the floor of the Annex. His messenger bag was on the table, filled with maps and old books about Buddhism and Hinduism.

"Remind me again, why are you flying to Tibet?" Ezekiel asked, lazily sprawled out in a nearby chair.

"The flying part? Or the Tibet part?" he didn't stop his pacing.

"Both, if you don't mind." he grinned, almost as if he found Jake's restlessness to be funny.

"Flynn wanted me to check out an artifact that could be dangerous." Jake lied again, "And the back door needs to be used to get to Cassandra's room and Jenkins can't make it go to the same door twice..." he trailed off, because he knew his point was made.

They had agreed to not tell the others, because Flynn insisted on not getting their hopes up as well. Jake just nodded his head, because he didn't want to hear the same lecture again.

"Dangerous, you say?" the younger man sprung out of his chair, "I could come too. Two's better than one, am I right?"

"No." Jake nearly growled. The last thing he needed was Ezekiel Jones running around and causing problems.

"Why not?"

"Because-" the other one started.

"Because I already booked the flight and you're needed here for a local job." Jenkins entered the room. He handed Jake his boarding pass, "Gate 14b, plane leaves at 12:30."

Jake took the papers and turned to leave, but he was stopped by Ezekiel.

"Go save her, mate." he smirked slightly before stepping out of the way.

Jake only stared at him, confused.

"Rule one when it comes to being sneaky, always case the joint before stepping in. You never know who might be in the shadows."

With that, Ezekiel turned back to speak with Jenkins, letting a semi-flustered Jake leave the building.

A/N: Sorry this one is short, I could have continued with it, but I felt that this was the best place to end this chapter. I promise I will make up for it. More coming soon.