Jacob and Cassandra had been excited about the case since it popped up in the main clippings book. The occult in America had been a special research project of theirs since they'd reunited (the occult books being moved to an area infested by giant spiders was just a bit of a setback) so being able to put it to practical use at the unusual university was a big thrill. Then there was the very idea of being on a college campus. As far as Jacob knew (one never actually knew about the thief) Baird was the only member of the assembled staff that had a degree and she'd gone to a military academy. Cassandra, by all rights, should have gone to her choice of schools, probably had a half dozen doctorates by now. But the tumor had made that impossible.

As for Stone, well . . . . Even if he'd been honest about his intelligence, there had been no money for college. He'd actually won a scholarship for football at a minor school, his momma had been more than excited about it and even Pop had thought that him majoring in business would have been useful. But Momma got sick right after graduation and he'd given up the scholarship to hold the family together. There had been no money afterward even for a community college and even though he'd dreamed, he knew it was never going to happen.

So for both Stone and Cassandra, this case was a bit of a dream come true. For a little while, until things went south as they almost always did. Why Jacob ever thought these things would be easy, he never knew.

He did learn a valuable lesson that day. The old adage never meet your heroes was absolutely true. Roger Bancroft turned out to be a pompous blow hard who barely knew what he was talking about. And that was before he got sucked into a rift by a tentacle monster.

But then a cheerleader mistook him for a guest lecturer. Cassandra's voice rang through his head, reminding him of how Flynn used to give lectures and seminars when he was the only Librarian. His spine straightened and he smiled at the girl. He was indeed.

He uncovered something very important that opened up the case. But at the same time, he discovered something important about himself. He loved lecturing. Right there on the fly, with a whole bunch of young eager minds hanging on his every word. How much of a rush would this be if he could do this with time to prepare?

Proud of you. Followed by a heart came the text from Cassandra when he quickly sent a text letting her know that he was going to finish out the class and meet up with them afterward.

But it was Cassandra that he would come to be proud of as the day went on. Found out it was possible to be both terrified and have your heart swell with pride at the same time. He imagined he'd feel this way about his son at some point in the future. But for now, it was directed at the woman he loved.


Originally the case had been exciting, Cassandra reflected. She'd always longer to have followed that path she'd been set on as a small child. The ultimate reward for sacrificing her childhood had always been a good school. Then maybe a well deserved gap year before she settled into doctoral studies. But her tumor had ended that dream and had shattered her parents who were completely unable to dream a new dream for their only child.

Aunt Gertie's home had become a temporary refuge, the two of them giving back to the community. But whenever Gertie had done some work with anyone college aged, Cassandra had always found something else to do. Even now, Cassandra sought out volunteer work with children or the elderly, never with high school or college aged people. The pain was still real. Though it had eased a little bit in Chicago, helping a young woman named Amy find her own path instead of the one her mother had chosen.

She'd tried that same approach with young Lucy. But unlike Amy, who had really wanted to be a typical teenager and had been in love with her young man, Lucy wasn't interested in following any path that was not academic. She even had some degree of popularity, she'd gotten them into the frat party, no questions asked. But none of that was for Lucy.

Lucy . . .it was all Cassandra's fault. Baird and Jenkins had been reluctant to let an outsider get involved. Cassandra herself had tried to discourage her, feeling like a hypocrite over how she'd been upset with Jacob over Mabel. But Lucy refused to be discouraged and the Library's magic cover stories didn't work at all on the young woman.

Then the monster had taken Lucy. And it was all Cassandra's fault for letting the girl get involved.

Jenkins and Baird tried to discourage her from going after Lucy. Cassandra's insides were churning, she was more than afraid, she was terrified at what lay on the other side. But she showed none of it. Because even though she was frightened, the fear had no power over her. She was going to do the right thing.

"I'm a Librarian, Eve. And we're going after Lucy."

Jacob's eyes met hers and even before her heart finished a beat, he said, "I'm with you." No hesitation, just his trust and his love holding her up. That sick knot in her stomach loosened a little and she wondered if this was how he'd felt after she'd hugged him in the Annex before the sun. She'd seen him visibly straighten, his spirits improving. That's how she felt right then too.

Ezekiel agreed straight away, always up for adventure. Then finally Baird, her face full of pride, agreed.

Cassandra detailed her plans, Jacob silent beside her, but she felt his eyes on her and his quiet support.

Just before Jacob and Ezekiel were due to head out on "Operation Distraction," Jacob came up to Cassandra and touched her elbow.

"Cassandra?"

"Stone, we don't have much time, we don't know . . . ." Cassandra looked at his face and stopped. "I can give you a minute."

He nodded and walked her around a corner. They were somewhat secluded but someone could come by. But that was okay, they had next to no time.

She looked at him, feeling just a little impatient with him when all he did was stare at her. If it wasn't for the fear on his face, she would have walked away. But instead he seemed to be holding her in place by the weight of his stare. Still they didn't have time for their personal issues right now. She needed to save Lucy.

She started to huff, open her mouth to tell him she needed to leave, when suddenly his hands were on either side of her face. He pulled her in and like every other time he kissed her, she went willingly. This kiss was a bit rough and desperate, she could taste his fear on her tongue and this kiss wasn't the pretty pink of the last couple of kisses. This one was red. But it was the red of more than just fear, it was the red of passion and love.

It lasted less than a minute and then he released her with a gasp and a quick intake of breath. She rested her forehead against his, their breaths mingling.

"Cassie . . .I l . . . .just be careful, okay?"

She nodded, blinked a tear away. "I will. You be careful too, okay? Don't let that thing grab you or Ezekiel. I don't wanna have to rescue you too."

He chuckled, but she knew there wasn't much humor in it. Then he released her.

She quirked a small smile at him. "See you on the other side, Jacob."

He grinned back, remembering. "You better."

She took a deep breath. "Alright then, let's go save the day."


As Cassandra set up the magnetic field, she went over her plan in her mind. If it all went according to plan, she'd be able to get through rescue Lucy (and possibly the others that had been grabbed) and get back without the monster harming Stone, Ezekiel or anyone else. Then they could seal the rift and keep Wexler safe. If her plan didn't go right, however . . .well there was one way to insure that Wexler and the others would be safe. That knot twisted in her stomach again. She knew what she had to do.

She went over the plan verbally with Baird and then dropped the bombshell that she, not Baird was going to go through the rift.

Baird wasn't not at all pleased. Not until Cassandra, with a hitch in her breathing, explained her reasoning. She hoped that it wouldn't come to it, but Baird was the only one who could overlook her heart and do what needed to be done to save everyone else. And Baird, the soldier, sighed and reluctantly agreed.

Ezekiel and Jacob were distracting the monster and everything was ready to go.

"You sure about this?" Baird asked one last time.

"No," Cassandra sighed. She wasn't sure but she had to do this. It was the right thing to do. "Just make sure the monster doesn't get the kids or Ezekiel or Stone. And you do what you have to do. Promise me."

"I promise. Find Lucy."

"And Eve . . ."Cassandra looked at her. "If I don't make it, tell Stone . . . ." She bit her lip and Baird's face confirmed that she knew about the relationship between her two charges. But Cassandra couldn't say it. Jacob knew and if she said it out loud here . . .well somehow it would mean she wasn't coming back. And she was, she was. "Tell Stone's little boy that I love him."

Baird smiled gently. "I will."

One last look back and Cassandra took a deep breath, straightened her spine and walked through worlds.


Though she'd felt bad about it, after it was all over, she'd gone home alone. She'd managed to slip out without having a conversation with Jacob. She knew that if she'd asked, he would have been there for anything she needed, from taking Max for ice cream to a hug or just a text. But she needed to process a few things and the only way she could do it was on her own.

She'd been settled on her sofa in her pajamas, mindlessly flipping through stations when a text came from Jacob. It wasn't much just letting her know that he was there if she needed to talk and that he understood if she needed some alone time. I owe you that was the last thing he sent before a little heart. It was the first time he'd used an emoji and it made her smile.

She thought back over the events of the day. There was a lot she should be reflecting on, from the strange Lake Foundation and their powers to Jenkins' warnings and concern for her. But her mind kept coming back to two things: death and decisions.

Peter and the professor had met untimely ends at the hands of the monster. Sure the professor was pompous and arrogant but that certainly didn't deserve death. The boy by all accounts was just a very devoted fan of his school. So very young, his whole life ahead of him and instead it was over. Today could have very well been her end had the ladies of the Lake not rescued her.

Young Peter probably did live his life to the fullest in the way only the young did. But could Cassandra have said the same if she'd died that day? She'd spent more than half of her life living in fear of her illness, or her death. And she could have died today. Any of them could have.

They say Librarians die. We all will die. Why do I keep myself from living?

Decisions. . . .Cassandra had to admit she'd been tempted and flattered by the Lake's offer. But the Library was more than her job, it was her home. She was happy there. Just as she told Jenkins, it felt like she was finally controlling her own destiny. Until she was 15, her parents had made her decisions, put her on her path. After that, every decision she'd made from dropping out of school, to moving out of her parents' house to working as a janitor to betraying the Library, it all had to do with her tumor. Even taking the job when Flynn offered was really more about circumstance than choice. She had felt like she had nowhere else to go so she took what was offered.

But today? She thought nothing of her tumor. She thought only of the job and the people that she loved. She chose to stay with them.

Choice.

Her choice.

And this time the decision was obvious and clear.

She'd been running after someone else's choices (even if that someone had been pre-Librarian Cassandra) but now? She was choosing her life. And this time she was choosing to live.

It might take a bit of getting used to. But like Jacob had in Oklahoma, she put her old self away on a shelf.

She was a Librarian and she choose to live.