Honestly, if Jim ever wanted to, he could be a scary, sassy antagonist.
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Barbara left to go change out of her scrub and shower, and Jim rushed around with a grin on his face, grabbing ingredients from the pantry, fridge and various cupboards and dumping them on the counter.

"What are you making?" Toby walked behind him with a curious expression on his face. Jim stopped suddenly, and Toby crashed into him. "Whoa!"

Jim grabbed the olive oil. "What do you want me to make?"

"Really? Hmmm... maybe some tacos!"

"Are you sure? They won't be as delicious as Stauart's. I guess I could, though. Good idea, Tobes."

Toby watched Jim bustle around looking for taco filling ingredients. "Wow. You're in a good mood."

"Well, I can use my legs properly!" Jim threw his hands up excitedly. "Of course I'm happy. Well, other than the limp."

Claire, with Enrique on her hip, walked into the kitchen to see them. She raised her eyebrows, but Enrique beat her to speaking. "Augh! THIM! THIM!"

When he was done, he reinserted his thumb into his mouth innocently and looked around at everyone else with wide eyes. His big sister laughed. "Do you think Thim will make something for you to eat, Enrique? Yeah?"

Toby came over and played peek-a-boo with Enrique, and to the sound of happy laughter, Jim cooked a huge dinner.

Suddenly, as Jim was heating up the tortillas in the oven, he had an idea. He hurriedly finished putting them in and grabbed his phone to text Douxie.

Jim typed, You haven't been in touch all week. Wanna come to dinner and we can talk? He waited a few moments, then decided to text him again. I can walk better now. Don't make me spam you.

He put the phone down and started to walk away, but it chimed, so he checked it.

You can walk!? Brilliant ofc im coming! What time would u like me.

"Hmm," 5:45 or 6. Sent.

The reply was: 👍🏻

"That smells so good, Jim!" Dr. Lake said, breathing deeply through her nose as she strolled into the kitchen. Jim turned off his phone and put it down. "Are those tacos?"

"Yep!"

"Can I test-taste? Just the beans?"

Jim smiled and gave her a spoon. "Douxie's coming for dinner. Sorry about the late notice,"

Barbara dipped the spoon into the pan of refried beans and daintily ate off of it, then placed the spoon in the sink. "I love it! The paprika adds a very interesting undertone. In a good way, of course."

"I'm glad you like it... Toby! Can you help set the table?" Jim asked, leaning out into the walkway. Toby jumped up and got right to it. "Oh, and just so you know, Douxie is coming for dinner, guys."

"Okay!" Claire answered. She was sitting at the table with the tea Jim had made her, and NotEnrique was there too, keeping Enrique entertained.

A short while later, when the food was just on the table, someone knocked on the door. Claire stood, Toby looked at her, and Jim rushed out of the kitchen. Jim beat Toby to the door and opened it

Douxie, with a grin, gave Jim a hug and looked him over. "You look much better!"

"I agree!" Archie said, falling off Douxie's shoulders and falling into his arms. "It must feel rather weak, doesn't it?"

"It does, but it's as good as it can be."

Claire brought Enrique over and her little brother grabbed for Archie with his tiny hands. Archie's eyes widened and Douxie chuckled.

Archie sighed as Enrique cooed at him. "Ahphee! Ahphee," The one-year-old pulled Archie closer and Claire and Douxie both laughed.

"Let's go to the table, Enrique. Are you hungry?" Claire bounced him lightly as they moved to the dining room.

As they sat down, Douxie asked, "Do you think we can meet up tomorrow at the museum?"

Jim nodded. "Yeah, we can do it after school is out."

"Sounds good."

Toby showed up at Jim's door early in the morning. Jim handed him his lunch and they headed out.

At school, the students stared at him , Toby, and Claire. Stares lingered on their faces where there were still markings from Marcus's knife, Claire's bandaged hand, and Jim's slight limp.

Steve Palchuck shoved teenagers out of his way and crossed his arms. He had a frown on his face. "Are you okay, Jim?"

The kindness in his voice threw Jim off and he blinked, not sure what to say for a second. "Oh. Yeah, I mean. I'm doing alright."

Eli showed up beside Steve and pushed his glasses up his nose. "Jim!" He exclaimed. "You're back!"

"Let's go to class, guys. We're a little late." Claire said, gently nudging them to the doors.

After school, they told Steve, Eli, and Krel where they were going and asked them if they wanted to come. Their friends agreed wholeheartedly, and Claire's father picked Jim, Toby, and Claire up.

They met their school friends at the museum, as well as Varvatos, NotEnrique, and Douxie and Archie.

"Don't get into anything dangerous, Clara." Claire's dad told her, before driving away.

"Well then, let's go in." Douxie said, leading the way inside. Jim walked beside him with the others trailing behind. The friends all kept quiet, except Vartatos, who needed someone to explain to him what Excalibur was, and Claire did.

The halls were muted and peaceful, no one even there but them. All of the damage that had been done to the museum previously had been repaired and it looked as good as new.

"Finally coming to try your luck with the sword, little gynt?" A new voice smoothly spoke beside Jim's ear. He gasped, turning to see Numora her eyes flicking to meet his.

Jim shrugged. "Whether it works or not, it won't be luck."

"Well spoken," Douxie stated. "Pleasure to see to you today, Numora."

"Same to you," Numora shot back, walking with them.

They walked down a dark hallway that led to a back room where the Janus Order had hidden the Killahead Bridge and behind the ancient sheet-strewn ship. The space by the back wall was surprisingly spacious and not very well-lit. Dust was suspended in the air and swirled up a little when Douxie walked through it.

And there it was. The famed, timeless sword.

Even in the musty setting, it seemed to shine, reflecting what little light there was off the golden hilt. It was buried deeply and the dark lines showed from where it had been broken and reforged with magic.

Douxie looked at Jim, who felt a wave of panic abruptly. He wiped his palms on his jeans and approached it, trying to figure out exactly why Excalibur might come free in his hands. He wasn't sure what Douxie had seen in him, but he hoped it was something that he could use to help his friends if anything bad happened in the future, worthy of the sword or not.

He'd try. That was all he could do. His footsteps sounded too loud to him. Way back a year ago, he hadn't been in the right place to be a leader for his friends. He felt more confident and capable now that he was (mostly) healed of that nightmare that the Arcane Order put him through.

No more thinking. No more hesitation.

His fingers slid down and around the hilt. He planted his foot on the rock and tightened his grip.

Jim pulled. He pulled harder than he'd ever pulled before. The blade shifted in the stone, and he pulled even more unyieldingly.

Excalibur slipped out smoothly, and his arm and the sword swung with the momentum he'd made. A pulse, almost like a heartbeat, vibrated from the point where the sword and stone disconnected. He panted, holding it up.

Light filled the space, coming from the sword. It glowed golden and slowly transitioned into red and burst into flames.

The blaze lit up and reflected in his eyes as he lowered Excalibur.

It filled him with reassurance that he could do this.

Do what, though?