Autumn is coming soon. The weather is cooling down – slowly – and the leaves are just about to begin to turn orange at the tips. If they were in school, or had full-time jobs right now, Tim and Jay suppose their lives would feel rather hectic. But as things are, it actually feels rather peaceful, slow even. Things are changing both in the weather and in their lives, but it does not feel rushed; it feels right.

She's a lot closer than Jay thought she would be. Ever since he had been released from the hospital, Jay had not asked to see her, and Tim had not once brought her up. But after breakfast this morning, instead of continuing their drive to Florence, Alabama (where one of the victims, Adam, lives), Tim drives to a small library nestled between a café and a park. Ignoring Jay's questioning look, Tim parks the car in front of the library and gets out. Jay follows him, and they enter the library.

Though it's early in the morning, it's actually fairly busy in the library. There's a muffled hum in the air, comprised of people typing on laptops, librarians murmuring to questioning guests, and the occasional shuffle of someone shifting through books on nearby shelves. It's a small building, only one story tall and basically just one large room. In the center of the room is the check-out desk with the waiting librarians. To the left of the desk are the adult and nonfiction sections. To the right are the teen and children's. Squeezed in-between the teen and children's designated bookshelves is a small reading area, which is basically just a colored carpet with a few chairs scattered around it. Sitting on the carpet, their heads tilted upwards in interest, are about ten children. Their attention is focused on a young woman sitting in a chair, who is reading a book to them. Her face is pale, framed by long waves of brown hair.

Jay freezes immediately upon seeing her. His eyes widen and his mouth drops open slightly. He stands there silently, watching as Jessica reads the book to the children, her voice quiet and calm. Her attention is completely focused on the children sitting before her; she watches their reactions as she reads a funny line to them, smiling at their giggles and taking extra care in turning the page, obviously to tease them as they strain to see the next pictures to come.

"She volunteers here every Tuesday and Friday," Tim says quietly. "When she's not working or going to her doctor appointments. She says it calms her, being around children."

It takes a long moment for Jay to find his voice. "You…you've talked to her?"

Tim feels his stomach twist guilty. "Yes. Just to check up on her."

Jay nods absentmindedly. He has eyes only for the girl sitting across the room from him.

Tim does not say anything else. He has done it; he has taken Jay to Jessica. He's fully aware that whatever consequences that might happen now will be because of him, but it's too late to change his decision. He stands stiffly, not interfering with Jay. He will leave Jay to decide what to do for himself.

A long minute passes, both of them standing and staring in silence. Then Jay turns around and swiftly walks out of the library's doors.

Tim is only a second behind Jay, but by the time Tim makes it outside Jay is standing by the passenger side of the car, turned away from the library building and holding himself tightly. He's staring out over the neighboring park, and as Tim approaches him he notices Jay's quick movement of his hand over his eyes.

"Jay?" Tim asks timidly. "You alright?"

Jay does not turn around.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought you –"

"No. I'm glad you did." Jay finally turns to face Tim, and Tim can see the shining in Jay's eyes, though no tears streak down his face. "Thank you, Tim. I needed to see that – see her."

"I know you did," Tim says quietly.

Jay nods, more to himself than to Tim, and then opens the passenger door, sliding in quickly. Tim walks over to the driver's side, his heart suddenly very heavy. Had he made the right decision?

Jay does not look at the library as they pull away. His eyes focus on the park, studying the trees and lingering on the more shadowed, distant edges of it. When they finally put the library behind them, Jay still does not speak. His elbow sits on the car door's armrest, his hand cupping his chin and covering his mouth. Tim does not break the silence, unsure what to say.

"If you see her again," Jay finally says. They've been driving for almost half an hour now, the town long behind them. "Could you tell her I said hi?"

Tim glances at Jay. Jay does not seem sad or upset. Rather, he looks content, at peace. As though he finally accomplished a task that had been given to him long ago and had been unable to complete until today. Tim turns his attention back to the road. "Yeah," he says. "Yeah, I will."

Then Jay smiles. A soft smile, almost melancholy actually, but a smile nonetheless. "Thanks."

Tim does not answer; Jay doesn't need one. Tim leans forward and turns on the radio, allowing the music to fill up the empty space and lift any leftover tension. "So, Florence?"

"Florence."

"Alright, let's go."