If Jacob was honest with himself, he knew he could have texted Cassandra and got the information he needed and had the chess set in hand by now. But instead he found himself climbing the stairs to the weather station in order to see her for himself.

He hadn't felt this surge of happiness in a really long time. Probably the last time had been the day his son was born. They were all here in the building working together. That was pretty cool on its own, he'd actually come to miss working with the others despite what he'd tried to claim earlier. But after three weeks of barely any communication from her, Cassandra was there. The woman he loved, though he hadn't quite told her that, but she knew enough of his feelings. Better still, the feelings were mutual. They weren't ready to be together, but at this moment, he didn't care. He just wanted to look at her, listen to her voice, see her smile, maybe even make her laugh.

He couldn't help flirting with her. He didn't even try to stop himself. The look she gave him back was everything. Her eyes dancing with happiness and affection. God he loved her.

But then Jones had to walk in and everything fell apart. He sighed to himself as he went back down to the chess sets after saying goodbye to Cassandra. That old feeling of failure came back. He'd put the blame all on Jones again, when it was just as much his fault as the thief's. He was the oldest and he'd tried so hard to be the leader. But he wasn't Baird, he just didn't have her knack. So the old quarrel was back and once again he'd left Cassandra feeling like she was in the middle.

And he knew he'd chastise himself in the middle of the night for it, but he did find some pleasure in mocking Ezekiel over his failure with the Italian woman. Especially when they reached the weather station and found her with Cassandra.

The Italian had set her earrings on the table and Cassandra cast a glance his way as she adjusted the headphones on the other woman's head. She smirked at him and he had to keep from laughing out loud. Wouldn't want the Italian to notice. Ezekiel's mouth hung open during the whole exchange.

Stone was actually surprised that the worldly thief hadn't picked up the thing about Cassandra that he knew. Ezekiel was very close to Cassandra after all, even if it wasn't in the same way he himself was. She'd been fairly open about her sexuality with him, almost casually mentioning a girl she'd used to date on the same evening that she'd told him about an odd habit of an ex-boyfriend. He'd had expected to be surprised by this knowledge but he found he hadn't really been. It was just another part of what made Cassandra, well Cassandra. But now considering Ezekiel's reaction to this, Jacob felt himself yet again honored by Cassandra choosing to share herself with him.

In another circumstance, he might have been jealous of her flirting with someone else in front of him. Even if like in this situation, he knew it was all an act. But he and Cassandra had an understanding, a pact sealed with a kiss. She had given him the one thing that was most precious to her: time. She didn't need to tell him that she loved him, by giving him that one gift, he knew. No one else could come between them now. The only thing that could would be themselves.

He actually had to admit that watching Cassandra out play Ezekiel at one of his games was a bit of a turn on. That was his girl right there and he almost high fived her. But she had something she needed to show Flynn and so they raced downstairs to meet up with him and Baird. But even in their haste, she threw a playful wink his way as she tossed the Italian's phone number in a trash can.

But the playfulness ended the second that Cassandra had a chance to listen to her rendering. And the stakes got very high indeed when Flynn put together what was going on and Prospero had unleashed a powerful storm over the city before escaping.


Standing in the corridor of doors, Flynn had given instructions to Jenkins and Jones.

"Stone?"

"Yeah?"

"Take a knee," Flynn suddenly looked over at Baird and then at his co-Librarian. "By the way, where is your son?"

Stone swallowed. "He's in Oklahoma with his mama."

The two men exchanged a look and then Flynn nodded. He went on to explain what he needed Stone and Jenkins to do so that their plan could work.

Jenkins was already wearing a protective suit when Jacob brought the second of the mirrors to the hall.

"Ah, Mr. Stone, there's another suit in the upstairs broom closet. You might wish to don it."

"Right," Stone bit his lip. "Jenkins, how dangerous is this?"

Jenkins regarded him solemnly for a moment. "I have taken that envelope with the instructions about Master Maxwell and left it on Colonel Baird's desk. "

Stone breathed in and out. "Thank you, Jenkins." Then he turned to go.

"For what it is worth Mr. Stone, this is a good plan."

Stone nodded but didn't reply.

Time was short, he had no chance to call Max. But before he suited up, he looked at the lock screen of his phone which these days was a photo of Max that Cassandra had taken.

"I love you, cowboy. Daddy'll see you real soon."

He didn't know why though he was feeling so uncertain as he headed down the stairs. He was going to be fine. It was just gonna get a little hot. This couldn't possibly be any worse than Collins Falls. Though hopefully without anyone dying in his arms.

But his internal prep talk failed to stop the shaking. Thank god Cassandra was still there when he got to the bottom of the stairs. He needed to see her.

Though honestly she wasn't being very reassuring. She was right. They hadn't been fine. The cases hadn't been the same. Nothing had been the same. Even he and Cassandra had almost lost each other in those terrible three months.

He stared at her, he wanted so much to tell her he loved her. If he didn't make it back, he needed her to know that. But Jones was there and Jacob just couldn't utter those important words to her in front of anyone else. They were sacred and she deserved to hear them in private at the right time, when she was ready to hear them. Which left him unable to even speak.

"It just happens to people," Jones was saying and Jacob wasn't even sure what he was talking about.

"No! It doesn't. Not to us. It's not happening," the last was said fiercely and directed right to him.

He moved his head, realizing that he wasn't going to be able to stop the tears that had been threatening since he'd said goodbye to Max's picture. Then suddenly she was in his arms. He pulled her tight, just for a moment, gathering strength from her. She went to pull back and he brought their foreheads together.

He knew that Jones was there, so he said the only thing that he really needed to say to her that he was okay with Jones overhearing. "If anything happens, I need you to be there for Max."

She nodded, blinking tears away. "I won't need to be. But I promise."

He released her then, taking a deep breath. But to his surprise, most of his fear was gone. And in its place was some of that profound happiness he'd felt earlier.

His head lifted, his spine straightened. "I'll see you on the other side, Cassie."

"You better," she said with a small smile, answering his.

"Jones."

"Cowboy," the other man smirked and they bumped fists.

"All right. Let's go save the day."

Which they did, though Stone didn't escape injury. Though that was due to his own lack of sense in his celebrations after they'd stopped the storm.


Flynn and Baird seemed to be having some sort of a argument but they both eventually agreed to regroup in the morning. Baird had sensibly made the case that everyone needed to be fresh to face this new threat.

Before leaving, however, Cassandra had insisted on treating the burn on Jacob's hand. Given that it was an excuse to spend time alone with her, Stone didn't argue.

"You're not gonna make fun of me?" he asked as she gently cleaned his palm.

"Well," she smiled. "You were a bit foolish, but we saved the day, so I won't hold it against you. You are gonna have some fun picking up after Max though."

He laughed, then sucked in a sharp breath as the antiseptic hit his hand. "Ouch!"

"Sorry, trying to be gentle."

"I know, I know. Anyway, it's Josie's birthday so Max is spendin' a few days with her, so hopefully I'll be feelin' better before I have to pick him up."

"Ah," Cassandra carefully dabbed ointment over the burn then grabbed the gauze. "Well, that must have eased your mind a little."

Jacob sighed. "I did keep thinking at least he was with his mama if something happened. I don't know . . .this was nothing compared to some things I've done. Hell, some of the rig work was more dangerous than that. I don't know why . . . ."

Cassandra was silent, thinking, as she wrapped up his hand. Then she finished and brushed a kiss across the gauze. "There all done."

"Thank you Cassandra. For that and for the hug. I know Jones was there or I might have . . . ."

"I would have kissed you too," she said softly. "You do know . . . ."

"I do. And you know too. I couldn't say anything in front of Jones and I also feel like I don't have the right to tell you yet. Not until . . . ."

She shook her head. "I do understand. It's like saying it out loud is sacred."

"It is. And that we can't until we're ready to be together. And it's alright, Cassie. You didn't have to say the words to help me today. You gave me strength. You and Max. I kinda lost sight of that for a while. But the two of you and the work we do here, that's what gets me out of bed in the mornin'."

She smiled. "I missed everyone working together."

"I did too. We need to get back to that. Look at what we accomplished just now because we got our heads out of our asses and worked together."

Cassandra giggled. "Well we have a long way to go, but it's a start."

"Hey, I'm sorry by the way."

"About what?"

"Putting you in the middle between me and Jones again. I'm not that good at . . . ." He trailed off at Cassandra's look.

"Jacob, you're supposed to be working past that," she said softly. "It's okay. The something that's missing is Baird, I think. We'll figure it out, okay? Together, all of us."

"Yeah, you're right. Well," Jacob sighed. "I think I'm gonna go home and see about calling Max."

She nodded. "That's a good idea. Tell him hello and I will take him for ice cream like I promised. Night, Jacob. Get some rest." Then she leaned over and kissed his cheek before turning and leaving the room.

"Night, Cassandra."

Tomorrow was another day. Tomorrow they'd go up against Prospero. Tonight though, he had a phone call to make. And with that thought he strode toward the street door and home.