And the Tarnished Knight

Chapter 12

Life in the library was slowly returning to relative normality after what had seemed like an eternity of upheaval. But then there was always something wasn't there? Always some new magical threat to deal with, but wasn't that normal for the library? Cases came and went over the following weeks with varying degrees of success and although Jenkins still had his times of distress and seeming flashbacks on the whole he was improving and he had become more open and willing to share these moments with his family as he had somewhat begrudgingly admitted to them that that was what they had come to mean to him.

Cassandra looked up from the cluttered table, deciding to take a break from pouring over the latest papers on string theory. She stretched and allowed her eyes to roam over the room and its occupants and she couldn't help but smile as a warm tingly feeling spread through her chest. She tried not to dwell on her past, it was over and gone. But sometimes her thoughts turned to her parents and she had come to realize, especially of late that their absence in her life no longer hurt as much as it once had. She had found love and acceptance somewhere else, somewhere unexpected. Hell, she didn't even have a death sentence hanging over her head anymore. The last few months had been difficult and in many ways traumatic but she believed it had brought this bunch of oddballs closer, in some ways they were closer than family. She smiled to herself again and thought "yes, I may have lost a lot but I am lucky with what I have gained in return".

Ezekiel strolled in to the annex taking in the people occupying it and not for the first time over the last while he felt like he belonged, he never thought he would ever feel this sense of belonging or that he would grow to understand the whole concept of family, but that is exactly what happened, he couldn't tell when or how it had transpired, all he knew was that it had and he was ecstatic about it, not that he would let on to others, he did have a reputation to uphold after all.

Jake looked up from his laptop after saving what would be his latest paper to be published. It felt good to be able to sign his real name to his work and be acknowledged for it, to not have to hide who he really was and a big part of that had come from the support he had received since coming to the library and although he couldn't quite bring himself to openly say the words, he loved this group of misfits, they are his family. They not only saved the world on a regular basis, but they had saved each other too and he was proud to be a part of that.

Jenkins took his attention away from the magnifying glass he had been starring through for the last couple hours and rubbed at his tired eyes thinking "I could really do with a cup of tea". He took in his surroundings and the people in it and smiled at how amicable and natural it felt, how unobtrusive and his mind strayed back to when these fine people had first come into the annex and how he had disliked and resented all of them for it, he couldn't possibly consider ever feeling like that again, he couldn't begin to fathom how empty life would be without them, he didn't want to think about it, he only wanted to think about how grateful he was to have them in his life and how he had come to accept that he needed them as much they needed him. Each of them in their own unique way had saved him over the last two months and continued to do so just with their mere presence.

Eve brought her gaze up from the book she had been reading and took in the faces of her charges, her family and sighed contentedly. She recalled how she had at first fought against joining the library but could admit freely now that it had been one of the best things, if not the best thing that had ever happened to her. They had their ups and downs and had their traumas and trials to face, but they faced them together as a family and as friends and recent events, although tough had only strengthened that bond between them. She looked at each face, in turn, allowing herself to feel the love and respect she had for each of them and as a whole and for the first time in her life she felt complete. Eve smiled as she looked around and realised that they were, all of them looking to each other, with similar expressions on their faces and Eve could see when it dawned on each of them that they were all thinking the same thing, they all gently smiled to one another in acknowledgment before returning to their respective tasks.

December came around far too quickly and as they were all busy with cases and getting ready for the holiday season their recent trials and traumas seemed to take a back seat. Cassandra was ecstatic when Gretchen Claus had unexpectedly called bearing cookies and candy canes and much hilarity had ensued when Ezekiel had begun teasing Jenkins over his and Nick's drunken singing of the previous year, asking if they could expect similar behaviour this year and if Jenkins really thought that was setting a good example for the kids. Jenkins had just glowered and walked off muttering about getting tea. Ezekiel had taken to teasing Jenkins quite often of late and Eve suspected that behind the glowering facade that the knight secretly enjoyed the camaraderie.

It was a quiet day that found them all sitting around stringing popcorn together when Ezekiel suddenly broke into the quiet conversation around the table to inquire "Jenkins, you know how Santa is real?" Jenkins glanced up and replied suspiciously "yes Mr. Jones". Ezekiel looked very serious at the caretaker and continued "does that mean the Sandman is real?" Jenkins replied with a sigh "no Mr. Jones the Sandman is fictitious "Ezekiel looked thoughtful for a moment "what about Jack frost?" He asked expectantly "also fictitious" was Jenkins reply. Ezekiel brought his hand up to rub his lower lip seemingly in thought before asking "what about the Tooth fairy?" Jenkins looked up and in a voice that clearly indicated he was losing patience said "fictitious Mr. Jones" Ezekiel now with a mischievous glint in his eye asked, "and the Easter Bunny?" Jenkins gave up all pretence of patience as he declared exasperatedly "oh Merlin's hairy backside no" silence descended on the annex for a few minutes before it was broken again by Ezekiel first clearing his throat and then tentatively asking "erm, Jenkins, how do you know Merlin has a hairy bum" Jenkins glowered at the young man and looked about ready to tear him limb from limb before his face softened and he too got a glint in his eye as he began to talk "ah Mr. Jones let me enlighten you to Merlin's predilection for running naked through Camelot". The shocked laughter of disbelief echoed through the annex as Eve came over to join in on the merriment and Jenkins began to tell tales of Merlin's exploits.

THE END