As Eve fell through the back door, she rightened herself from the usual unstable landing. All of the Librarians were there, doing some form of reading or research. Cassandra was sitting at the main table of the Annex reading a book that appeared to be so old she had to turn the pages so delicately so as to not damage the book. Ezekiel was also sitting with a book open in front of him but he seemed to be doing more sleeping than reading. Jacob was lying in the stacks reading a book that appeared to be entitled something about art. As she entered all three turned to look at her.
"It's a bit early for you isn't it, what time did you drop Lucas?" Cassandra asked. She always noticed the little things, and cared enough for the others in the group to point out oddities in their routines and check that they are OK.
Eve turned and stopped to consider for a second, should she lie and say she dropped him off early and then they would all turn on Flynn when he showed up, or should she tell them Flynn had dropped him off at school. She decided to go with the second option.
"Flynn is dropping him off this morning" she said casually, and waited for the words to sink in with each Librarian. All three of them looked at her with strange looks. Looks that told her they thought she had lost her mind.
"Flynn is back? When did he get back?" Jacob asked, a hint of anger in his voice.
"He got back last night and decided to take Lucas to school so I could come in and 'prepare you for his return'" Eve explained to the three of them. Jacob was become more and more of a seething ball of anger as the minutes passed.
"He what! He's been gone 2 months, leaving you and Lucas alone, and he just turns up one night and expects the world to go back to the way it was before!" Jacob was yelling at this point, making violent gestures with his hands. "I can't believe him!" This however was the moment that Flynn chose to step through the glowing light of the back door into the scene in the Annex. Jacob turned towards the librarian. "You!" He bellowed, and chased Flynn around the table until he caught him and tackled him to the floor. Eve however, was just as fast as Jacob was and pulled him off her husband before he could do any real damage.
"Jacob let him go." Eve grunted, and pulled the burly man off of Flynn. Jacob grunted in Flynn's general direction but left him be. Eve helped Flynn up and he leant on her shoulder, his legs were not quite painless from Jacob's attack yet and Eve supported him while he regained control of his limbs.
"Where have you been! How could you do this to her, to them?" Jacob was back on Flynn's case. He took another step towards Flynn but Cassandra put a hand on his shoulder and he took a step back again.
"I was tracking this." He pulled out the Cintamani Stone. At this moment Jenkins walked into the Annex, a large book in hand. He turned towards Flynn, and analysed the scene in front of him. He grumbled at Eve and Flynn like he always did when they showed any signs of affection around him, but he quickly stopped when his eyes dropped to the item in Flynn's hand.
"The stone. You found it! Well done Mr Carsen. However, I imagine your adventure has upset the others." Jenkins took the stone from Flynn and walked to his desk, placing the stone upon it. "How about some tea?" He asked the group and when no one responded he turned around and walked into the kitchen anyway.
"I can't believe you Flynn!" Jacob returned to yelling at Flynn, but caught the glance in Eve's eyes, telling him to drop it. "But I guess I'm glad you are back." Right then the clippings book took the opportunity to start flapping about, trying to get their attention.
"Calm down!" Eve yelled at the book and it seemed to lessen its flutters. "Let's see, two kids have been kidnapped from a local kindergarten in Portland" Eve's voice trailed off to a whisper. She turned to look at Flynn who had the same look in his eyes she had in hers. It was the same kindergarten that Lucas attended.