"It's a spirit box. Basically the same as what you were bringing back, but with newer, stronger materials. From everything I can piece together, it is the only way to capture the demon. Who, by the way is not so much a demon as an accursed ancient soul, not that the distinction really matters at this point." Jenkins hand the box to Jones, who looked at it briefly and passed it to Cassandra. The team stood at the door, ready to do what had to be done. They had continued to monitor the area for more attacks, but all had been quiet for the last 24 hours. Then the clippings book provided the report of an attack on a cattle herd. Three animals slaughtered. Given the populace had barricaded themselves indoors, it would appear an alternate food source had been sought. But it told them what they needed to know – where to find their friend.

"There is an incantation – it must be delivered without interruption. It's not long, but as soon as the thing hears it, it will try to stop you. "

Jones cut to the chase. "Will it work?"

"Maybe."

"Maybe – well that's encouraging."

"I have taken every step available to make this the best – the only – possible solution. The box is as strong as magically possible. It has been blessed by a shaman. The incantation has been streamlined to be as short and precise as can be. I have powders and waters that may slow it down in battle. I don't know of anything else to make this work..."

"It's OK Jenkins." Baird interrupted. "We're all a bit on edge here. There is no way to know how this is going to come down. I don't think you two" she nodded at her Librarians "should be doing this but" she held up her hand to stop the objections before they could be voiced "but I know there is nothing I can say to stop you." She was so proud of them she could hardly contain it, but this was not the time to add any emotional baggage to the job. "Dial us in Jenkins. We have a demon to take down."

She took a few steps forward as they passed through the door, then took her standard look back to survey the area. She stopped short when she saw Jenkins was with them, raising an eyebrow at him. "It seemed like an 'all hands on deck' kind of moment" he said, shrugging, and looking slightly embarrassed by his gesture. Baird held back her smile and nodded. She had no time for more as they heard someone moving toward them. Turning, she had to steel herself to avoid the reaction that would betray her feelings.

It moved like Jake, and looked mostly like Jake, but there was an evil radiating from the form coming towards them, grinning maniacally. "Well, I suppose it was inevitable that you would make the effort. I'm glad you did - I was getting hungry."

The quartet spread out to try to divide the attention. It lifted an arm to send a wave of energy intended to send them sprawling, but left them barely aware of the force. A puzzled look crossed its face quickly, replaced by a determined glare. This time the force worked, but succeeded only in sending Jenkins and Cassandra to the ground. As he stood, Jenkins grabbed a long straight branch. It wasn't a sword, but might do in a pinch. Baird moved in from behind, delivering a roundhouse kick that sent the creature off balance. A second kick sent it to the ground. She did everything she could to not look it in the face as she prepared for a third kick, this time to the head. It grabbed her foot and threw her back, but with far less force that she would have expected. As she leapt back up, she saw Jones throwing the blessed waters at the creature, and watched it writhe at the burning sensation before turning to look up at them. For a flashing moment the eyes were blue – and scared, but determined. They looked straight at her. They all heard the voice, weak and raspy, but clear. "Kill it – me. Do what you have to." The black eyes returned and the creature rose again. Jenkins swung with his weapon, whipping it across the face, drawing blood, and the creatures attention. As it turned to him, Cassandra started speaking. Low but clear, she began the incantation. She fought to keep her voice calm, knowing she would cry later, but couldn't do that now. Jake was counting on her, and she had to prove to him at the end he could trust her.

As soon as she started the creature turned on her. She must not be allowed to speak. Raising an arm and gathering its focus it charged toward her, to be dragged down by three bodies jumping on it.With no effort it tossed them to the side and started to charge again.But it couldn't focus on where the voice was coming from .A sound in its head was drowning out the words.A hum, music, a buzz, that would not let it focus.Pain shot through its limbs as it started losing control.It could feel itself disintegrating, breaking into particles being drawn back to the prison box.The music was louder, the incantation was being repeated.Light was fading, energy fading.There was nothing but the sound of a closing lid.

Cassandra would not pay for this.It would not reach her.His last conscious thoughts were to stop it; to distract it. With everything he had he raised the energy to send as much confusion and noise at this thing that he could.He could feel it losing focus. Feel it questioning its next move, feel it fall.He could feel all of the pain as it began to fall apart.Then he could feel nothing.

"Seal the box. Quickly – finish the incantation. Don't stop until there is no light."

Cassandra kept speaking, looking only at the box. If she took her eyes from it, she would look at the body on the ground, and she couldn't do that. Not until she knew she had finished this for him. Finally the box went dark. There was no warmth, no light. No sense from it any more. Jenkins took it from her and placed it into a black bag, and that in turn into a white bag. She looked up at him, and he smiled just a little. "Excellent work, my dear. He'd be very proud of you."

They looked over at Jake. Baird had moved over and sat beside him, gently turning his head. There was blood on his face from the lash strike Jenkins had delivered, but other than that, he looked more asleep than broken. She softly placed a hand on his throat, in what was a reflexive search for life signs. She gasped and pulled her hand back sharply when she felt them. It was a weak pulse, but it was there. "Jake, can you hear me?" She took his face in her hands and turned him to her. "Can you hear me? "Come on mate, give us a sign." Jones had dropped to his knees on the ground beside them. Jenkins and Cassandra remained immobile, but Cassandra was quietly whispering "please" over and over again.

After what seemed like an eternity, his eyes slowly opened. They were cloudy and unfocused, but blue eyes stared up at them. One word slipped from his lips before he passed out again. "Home."

.-.. .-.. .-.. .-.. .-..

It was two days before Jake opened his eyes again. When he did, he saw Cassandra curled up napping in a chair near the bed. Jenkins was at a desk that had been set up in what was clearly a makeshift hospital room. Jake tried to speak, but was able to deliver only a dry rasp. It was enough to get attention. Jenkins was on his feet faster than Jake would have thought possible, and was offering him ice chips. "Better for your throat that water will be right now."

"What…?"

"We'll answer all of your questions in a bit. Give yourself a couple of minutes to wake up." Cassandra was awake by now, and holding his hand gently. She smiled softly but couldn't seem to speak.

"You OK darlin'?" he rasped out. "You hurt?"

"OK now" she replied.

"Well Sleeping Beauty opens his eyes. 'Bout time mate." Jake looked at the thief. Must be the light playing tricks on him, but he would swear the young man's eyes were watering.

Baird came and stood at the end of his bed. "You had us going for a while Stone."

"What happened?" He saw the looks they gave each other before returning their attention to him.

"What's the last thing you remember?" Baird asked, praying he would remember none of it.

He took a breath and closed his eyes, trying to gather his thoughts in a cohesive form. "We were looking for a box – no, we had found it. Almost back at the door. Something attacked us – me. Something…" he stopped talking, stopped breathing. His eyes opened wide and they could see the panic spreading on his face as his body started to shake.

"It's over Jake. It's OK, it's over. You won. It's gone Jake." He couldn't tell who was saying what, he heard only a jumble of voices trying to calm him. The panic welled up. Baird waved the others to be quiet, and firmly took him by the shoulders.

"Jake, listen to me. Listen. It is over. We won. You won. Do you understand me? You're safe. Stay with us Jake. You have to focus on me. Stay focused." She could feel the shaking slow to a slight tremble. It wasn't perfect, but it was better. He took a gulp of air, then another and coughed. She continued to hold him still until he settled further.

"He's gone?"

"It – not he. And yes, locked away in a spot never to be found again, with instructions for a binding spell to be reissued annually" Jenkins assured him. "It will never see the light of day again."

Jake tried to sit up, but every muscle fought back in pain.

"Take it slowly. It's a little hard on the body to be possessed. You are going to be hurting for a while. You'll time need to get your strength back." Jake nodded slowly, acknowledging Jenkins was right on that. He felt like he'd been hit by a truck. Jenkins spoke softly again.

"Can I get you something more to drink? I think you should wait a few days before have a beer, but I could make tea."

Jake started to shake his head at the offer. He wasn't really thirsty, but it occurred to him he probably hadn't eaten for a while. Then he realized he had. The horror on his face told the others his memory had returned.

"That wasn't you Jake. You had no part in any of it. Do you understand me? Don't even start to think that way. You couldn't control…"

"Stop. Please. Don't say anything. I know – I just don't… I can't…" He turned his head anyway, unable to look at them, unable to deal with them looking at him. "Please leave me alone."

They stood quietly, not knowing how to help. Halfway out the door Cassandra stopped abruptly, turned and stomped back to the bed. "No – you don't get to make this decision. You used your last words to tell us to kill you to stop it. You used the last bit of energy you had to distract this thing so we could stop it. You may well be the most moral man I have ever met, but that does not entitle you to take on the guilt of some creature that had taken you over. All of us do what we can. Every time we can. The Jacob Stone I know would never take credit for someone else's actions, so you are not allowed to take the blame for them either. You can't help yourself – you're a white hat kind of guy. But this one is not on you. So knock it off."

They all stared as she stormed out of the room, and cautiously turned back to look at Jake. He looked stunned, but with a bit more light in his eyes than had been there moments earlier. He swallowed and looked back toward them. "Is anybody else just a little scared by her?"

"Maybe a little" Baird admitted. "Try to get some sleep. We can talk later. You'll need to do that you know."

Jake turned his head away again, closed his eyes and nodded. He wasn't ready yet, but he would be. They wouldn't give him a choice in the matter.