AUTHOR'S PERSONAL NOTE: Before we begin, when I originally said I personally thought it was the beginning of 2016 on Earth-3 (compared to it currently being Thanksgiving weekend 2015 on Earth-2, and the week before Halloween 2015 on Earth-1 at the moment story wise) that was assuming where we were before the start of such major events as Eric becoming a werewolf, Claire discovering weres exist, etc.
Claire HAS been in Moon Lake "custody" only a day or two at most at the end of this episode, and isn't near her actual decision deadline yet.
NOW THEN, ON WITH OUR STORY...
“Arthur wait up!” Someone called his name from the top of the staircase. Arthur Curtis looked back and saw Cassie O’Sullivan chasing after him. Which was a surprise to say the least. She was with Eric this afternoon, what could she possibly want? Was she here to yell at him too?
"Listen," she says, catching up with him. "I know you're worried about Julie. I think the whole school is to some extent, but you more than others. I just wanted to reassure you that even if there ever was anything between her and Eric, it IS over all. He's moved on and I promise you Eric and I are very happy together."
All Arthur could do was just stare at the young Freshman because in truth, he wasn't sure where his head or heart were in regards to the were-mermaid at the moment.
Thinking he was just being polite to let her finish speaking, Cassie added, "I can't speak for how Julie might feel about you. Only she knows that. But when Julie couldn't cope with Eric wanting to become a werewolf instead of a were-mer so he can join the police force someday, that was the beginning of the end for them, regardless of everything else that's happened. So, I don't know where Eric is at the moment, but we both wish Julie a speedy recovery and the two of you the best of luck."
With that, Cassie turned to head back down the stairs to the ground level of Moon Lake High School, leaving Arthur Curtis confused and stunned again.
With him ascending while she was descending, Eric Anderson met his girlfriend in the middle of the staircase.
"Hey, I've been looking all over for you. Is everything all right?" he asked her.
"It is now my dashing werewolf," Cassie said with a smile before kissing him on the cheek. "Let's go home," she said, grabbing his hand in hers before leading him back down the steps.
MEANWHILE, AT THE SEATTLE HOSPITAL...
"According to the latest MRI, there has been no noticeable change in your daughter's condition, so we are preparing to perform the surgery as soon as the operating room is ready instead of waiting until tomorrow morning," announced Doctor Mera Curry, addressing Julie's parents. "Doctor Tachibana is scrubbing up now, and I'll be joining him momentary."
"Will she be all right?" Melissa Stovall asked, while being cradled in her husband's arms.
"I'll be totally honest with you. Physically, yes, with proper rest and recovery. Mentally and emotionally? That's Doctor Twist's area of expertise to diagnosis," admitted Curry. "What the nurses are doing to prepare her, besides keeping Julie sedated, is giving her a severe crew cut, so her hair will regrow evenly once this is all over. But we will be completely shaving the area over the aneurysm."
"We're not worried about her looks," protested Mrs. Stovall.
"I know, but considering we won't be seeing each other again for a few hours once we begin, I wanted to go over the procedure with you once more," replied the doctor.
"The thing with the laser?" asked Martin Stovall. Having been through so much worrying over Julie, as well as other matters as Mayor of Moon Lake, it was an honest question.
"Yes," confirmed Curry. "Despite the size of the cleared area on her scalp, the surgical laser won't be making a hole in Julie's skull no larger than a quarter. With the injured area of her brain exposed, it will then be an easy matter to cauterize any wounds and repair any other damage with the laser. before we replace and reseal the skull fragment using the laser as well."
"And then what?" Mrs. Stovall demanded to know.
"Then, we keep Julie here in Seattle the rest of this week for rest and observation," answered Doctor Curry. "While I don't foresee any reason why it shouldn't, provided all looks well in a later MRI, we'll take Julie back to Moon Lake over the weekend, but she'll need at least a week's rest at home without any physical or emotional stress, which also means absolutely no transformations and no going underwater."
"Don't worry. We'll do our part," vowed Martin Stovall. "Now you and Doctor Tachibana go save our daughter!"