Shout-outs: obh614, KitKat1995, RayOfTheDawn, JuniorLibrarian, VampirePrincess, maxiefae, and kaminariinzuma

Rated: T

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

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Chapter 3

Jake let her into the apartment and immediately went to the fridge to find something to drink. He wasn't surprised to see that she didn't have any sort of alcohol among the assorted coffee drinks, sparkling water and sodas. He grabbed a bottle of plain water and guzzled it down while she watched him with her arms crossed.

"What?" He asked self-consciously as he screwed the cap back on the empty bottle and chucked it into the sink.

"There's something you're not telling me," Cassandra answered.

"That's because there's nothin' to tell. . ." Jake replied, trailing off. "Maybe."

"There has to be something going on though!" Cassandra said.

"I might just be losin' my mind," Jake quipped, more to himself than to Cassandra.

"Or?" Cassandra pressed.

"Do you believe in ghosts Cassie?" Jake asked.

Cassandra frowned. "Why? Am I dead?"

Jake rubbed his hand across his face, already exhausted and it wasn't even noon yet. "No, I don't think you're dead. At least, nobody you know has told me that you're dead. No, you're just in a coma."

Her frown deepened and he could almost see the wheels in her head going 'round and 'round as she tried to process the new information. "But how am I here? I mean if I'm in a coma. . ."

"Good question. I wish I knew," Jake answered.

Cassandra's face suddenly lit up. "Oh I know who you could talk to about this!"

"You do?"

"Jenkins! He knows everything there is to know about the strange and supernatural. He's made it his life's study. He'll definitely be able to answer any questions you might have!"

"And where would I find him?"

"At the local library, of course!" Cassandra replied, rolling her eyes a little bit but smiling in spite of herself. "Come on! I'll take you there if you'd like."

The truth was Jake did want to know what was happening to him. Even if he was going to find out that there really was such a thing as ghosts. It was decidedly better than the alternative of finding out that he was actually losing his mind.

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The library was almost empty, aside from an odd patron or two of the female variety browsing the new releases. An older gentleman was sitting behind the checkout desk and watching them disapprovingly.

"That's Jenkins," Cassandra told Jake, nodding in his direction.

"He doesn't look too happy, maybe I shouldn't bother him."

Cassandra waved her hand in the air and laughed a little bit. "Oh, he always looks like that! Especially when somebody is choosing Nora Roberts over Jane Austen. Or whatever writer is popular these days. Go on, he doesn't bite! It's his bark that you have to worry about!"

Jake went over to him reluctantly and cleared his throat.

Jenkins sighed and looked at him. "May I help you sir?"

"Um. . ." Jake trailed off and glanced at Cassandra.

"The music is at the back of the library," Jenkins answered. "But I'm afraid we have a very scant collection of country music."

"Actually, I have a question for you. . ." Jake replied, glancing at Cassandra again, who was nodding at him encouragingly. He cleared his throat. "Rumor has it you're a local expert on all things supernatural."

"I may have studied it a little bit," Jenkins admitted, looking rather proud of himself. "What is that you would like to know?"

"Um. . ." Jake floundered a little bit, looking for the best possible way to broach the subject. "Do you believe people in comas can visit you?"

Jenkins raised an eyebrow. "Do you mean like a ghost would haunt somebody after they had died?"

Jake nodded. "Something like that."

Jenkins shrugged. "Nothing is impossible. But the person in the coma is most certainly not a ghost. In fact, I don't think there is a logical explanation for what they are exactly. Maybe they have some unfinished business before they can move on to the afterlife."

"But isn't that the same thing as a ghost?" Jake asked, frowning.

"Except she's not dead," Jenkins answered.

"And I thought you were supposed to be some sort of expert," Jake muttered.

"Excuse me?"

"Nothin'," Jake replied. "It looks like you don't have what I'm lookin' for. Thank you for your time, now if you would excuse me, I won't waste any more of your time."

"You can see her, can't you?" Jenkins asked.

Jake stopped short and turned back around to look at him. "See who?"

"Cassandra Cillian," Jenkins answered. "You can see her; you wouldn't be asking if it's possible to see people in comas if you couldn't."

"Unless it's all in my head," Jake said.

"And why would it all be in your head?" Jenkins replied. "Do you not believe in ghosts, Mr. . .?"

"Stone," Jake supplied.

"Do you not believe in ghosts, Mr. Stone?" Jenkins asked.

"I don't know," Jake replied. "Maybe. I don't think I'd be here if I didn't think they existed in the back of my mind."

Jenkins nodded. "Well, you need to figure out why you and only you can see her. Especially since you've never met her before."

"And once I figure it out?"

Jenkins shrugged. "I can't say for sure. Maybe she'll die; maybe she'll finally wake up. Nobody can really tell until it happens. Now if you'd excuse me, I have actual patrons to attend to. But if you need anything else, you are than welcome to come back after hours and I'll be more than happy to discuss things with you."

Jake exhaled. "Okay, thanks."

"Goodbye Mr. Stone," Jenkins said.

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"So, I guess we have to figure out while I'm still here," Cassandra said.

"Or why you're here," Jake answered. "Medically speaking, you can still be alive with monitors and breathing machines. But why are you here talkin' with me instead of Eve or somebody else you know personally. That's what we need to figure out."

"Okay. How do we do that?" Cassandra asked.

"I don't know," Jake replied. "We'll figure it out together though, I promise."

"What happens when we figure it out?" she asked in a tiny voice. "What if I die after I realize what my unfinished business is?"

Jake was quiet because he honestly didn't know what to tell her. He guessed he was going to have to think about it for a while before he could answer her.

TBC. . .

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Author's Note:

Look at that, I updated! Hope you enjoyed this chapter and that you'll tell me what you think! I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

Love,

Holly, 1/24/2015_