" Mr. and Mrs. Barnabas Collins"
Chapter 10: " A True Collins Family Medical Emergency"
Collinwood-Collinsport, Maine-Baltimore, Maryland( Christmas 2005- October 2006)
Because of the physical distance between them, the times Julia and Barnabas spent with their grandchildren were precious, but few. Every Easter and Christmas, J.B. and Tracie would make the trip home to Collinwood with their twins to be with his parents. Little Jules and B.J. adored their grandparents, who were also their namesakes. They always looked forward to the visit with glee.
Tracie adored her in-laws, as well. They were always so good to her and treated her like she was their own daughter. For Barnabas Collins, the holidays had become a particularly joyful time. He was surrounded by the family he so dearly loved.
One Christmas, while he and Julia were watching the grandchildren open their presents, Barnabas began to feel very ill-so ill that he thought he would faint. His face turned pale and when he tried to stand, he fell backward into his chair. Julia was alarmed. Immediately, she insisted that J.B. start taking blood samples from his father. Then, she showed Tracie a room in the basement of the old house where she could set up a laboratory to test the blood samples. " Oh God," thought Julia, " this could not be happening-not after all these years! Barnabas could not be reverting! How could he?!"
After getting her husband comfortably into bed, Julia returned to her grandchildren in the drawing room. J.B. went upstairs to tend to his father, while Tracie remained busy in the newly constructed laboratory, testing blood samples. " What's wrong with Grandpa?," asked B.J.
Little Jules asked, " Is he going to be okay?"
Gathering the precious little ones into her arms and onto her lap, Julia spoke to them in her best soft soothing tone of voice. " That is what your papa and mama are trying to find out," she answered. Doing her best to keep her emotions under control and her voice from cracking, their grandmother continued, " Don't fret, my darlings. I'm sure whatever is wrong with your grandfather is only temporary. Once we figure out what that is, we'll be able to fix it. Don't worry, my little ones, I'm certain Grandpa will be just fine."
" You promise?," the twins pleaded in unison.
" Yes, my sweet babies, I promise," Julia replied( even though she was not yet certain of anything).
After Julia had tucked her grandchildren into bed, J.B. came in to give them each a goodnight kiss. " How is Grandpa?," little B.J. asked.
" He's sleeping now, buddy," answered his father.
Jules asked, " Did you find out what's wrong with him?"
" Not yet, my little jewel, but we will...and once we do, we'll be able to fix it."
" I hope so," said Jules, sleepily.
"...so do I," added B.J., with a yawn.
Leaning over to give each of his children a kiss on their foreheads, J.B. added, " Merry Christmas, my pets."
" Merry Christmas, Daddy," they responded in unison. By the time Tracie came upstairs to check on her children, they were sound asleep.
Julia and J.B waited nervously for Tracie in the drawing room. " How much does Tracie know?," Julia asked her son.
" I've told her nothing," he answered.
" What?! Don't you think she has a right to know?"
"...You mean...like I had a right to know?!"
" Touche', son."
" Mother, I simply can't tell her!"
" Why not?"
" She'll never understand...If you think it was hard for me to understand, just think how much harder it will be for Tracie...She will think us MAD!...She will leave me!"
" I don't think you're giving your wife enough credit...Why not give her a chance, Joshua?"
" That's just it, Mother...I can't take the risk of losing her!"
Julia heaved a heavy sigh. With some hesitancy, J.B. continued, "...Mother...perhaps we should take Father to his coffin...just in case...before the sun rises."
"...No, J.B...let him rest...Your father is getting old...He has had a good, long life...It will no longer matter to him if he dies...I know he would rather die than revert...If he is to die...then...I want to be with him when it happens," Julia replied to her son, her voice finally breaking, as tears began to flow freely down her cheeks. J.B. enfolded his mother in his arms, in an attempt to comfort her.
Just then, Tracie arrived from the laboratory in the basement with an ashen look on her face. Looking compassionately at her husband and mother-in-law, she lamented, " I'm so sorry."
J.B. released his mother, as she turned and walked over to her daughter-in-law, grabbing her shoulders. Gazing intently into her eyes, Julia demanded, " Just tell me!"
Speaking hesitantly, Tracie responded, "...It's...Leukemia."
" What?!," exclaimed Joshua. " Are you sure?"
" Yes," Tracie answered him, "...no question about it...There's no mistaking this."
Releasing the grip on her daughter-in-law, Julia walked over to the fireplace, grabbing onto the mantel for support. Placing her forehead on top of her hands, she stared down into the flames. " How could this have happened?!," she thought.
Tracie threw her arms around her husband in an effort to comfort him. They stood together for a moment with their arms around each other, before turning their attention to his mother. Putting his arms around her shoulders, J.B. spoke quietly and gently to her, " Come on, Mother, let's get you upstairs. You need to get some rest." Julia gave a slight nod of her head and turned to walk towards the stairs. Joshua and Tracie walked on either side of her, each linking an arm with one of hers. Silently, they helped Julia to the master bedroom where her husband lay peacefully sleeping.
Julia snuggled down under the covers beside Barnabas and put her arms around him, holding him close. He moaned and smiled contentedly in his sleep. Before going to bed, J.B. and Tracie went to check on their twins, who were also peacefully sleeping. The next few months would not be as peaceful.
It was morning. Julia was the first to wake. She gazed at Barnabas who was still peacefully sleeping. " How am I going to tell him?," she fretted. He stirred as she bent and tenderly kissed his forehead. Opening his eyes and blinking, Barnabas turned to Julia and smiled weakly. Kissing his lips gently with her own, she asked, " How are you feeling?"
"...a little weak still," he answered.
" That's to be expected."
" What do you mean?"
" Barnabas...I have some bad news..."
" I have REVERTED!"
" NO, Barnabas...look outside...Look out the window...The sun is up...If you had reverted, you'd be dead by now."
" Then what is it? What's wrong with me?!"
" Barnabas...I don't know how to tell you..."
" Just SAY it, Julia!"
" You have Leukemia."
" Is that bad?...How bad is it?"
" Unless you receive treatments immediately, you will die."
" What kind of treatments?"
" Chemotherapy...radiation...and we will have to keep taking blood samples from you..."
( Barnabas groaned. " Not more needles," he thought.)...
"...in order to test your blood...to make sure the treatments are working."
" You mean, the treatments might not work? I might not be able to be cured?"
" There are no guarantees, Barnabas. All we can do is try. The sooner we get started, the better your chances are of beating this thing. Leukemia is a form of cancer-cancer of the blood. Our only chance of defeating it is to kill off all the defective cells before more can grow."
Raising his eyebrows and giving a deep heavy sigh, Barnabas remarked, " How ironic. All my life I wanted nothing more than to exist as a normal human being. Now, I'm about to die from a very human blood disorder. Is this what it means to be fully human?"
" Barnabas, you are NOT going to die," Julia declared, " not if I can help it! I won't let you! Barnabas...please...don't give up!," Julia begged. " Our love has seen us through worse times than this. Please, don't lose hope, now. We'll beat this thing! I promise!"
" You're right, Julia," declared Barnabas. " You've never given up on me and I promise, I won't give up, either. Thank you, my love-my dearest, truest friend!"
As they wrapped their arms around each other in a comforting embrace, the door of the master bedroom burst open. In ran Jules and B.J. with their father and mother close behind at their heels. J.B. scolded, " I thought you two were taught never to enter a closed room without knocking first!"
Barnabas spoke to his son with reassurance, " It's alright, Joshua. Let them enter." Then, directing his grandchildren, he continued, " Come here to me, little ones."
Running into his open arms, they inquired in unison, " Are you feeling better now, Grandpa?"
" Yes I am, dear ones," he answered them, " now that you're here with me...but...I'm still a little tired."
Taking her cue from Barnabas, Julia spoke to her grandchildren in the best cheerful tone of voice she could muster, " Come on, sweeties, I need your help. We'll go make some breakfast while your papa and mama take care of Grandpa."
" Oh goody!," the twins exclaimed, as their grandmother took each of them by the hand, leading them out of the master bedroom, down the stairs, and into the kitchen.
J.B. immediately began taking more blood samples from his father. He handed them to Tracie who took them down to the laboratory in the basement for more testing.
After much discussion between Julia, J.B., and Tracie, it was agreed that Barnabas would receive the best care at Johns Hopkins University. A private room was arranged for him to reside in, during his months of treatment. For the duration of his stay, Julia agreed to reside with J.B. and Tracie at their apartment in Baltimore. She checked in on Barnabas, every day, and spent most of her time with him. Periodically, she received updates on his condition, from J.B.
The twins kept a normal routine at their regular child care center, which coincided with the work schedule of their parents. Occasionally, they were allowed a visit with their grandfather, at the hospital. He was always delighted to see them. They brightened his day and never failed to cheer him up when he was down.
With the exception of his wife, Barnabas was never allowed visitors on his treatment days. He was always so exhausted and sick to his stomach, all he could do was sleep. On those days, Julia would just climb into bed with him, snuggle up close, and hold him tightly. She often feared this time together would be their last.
Willie and Carolyn had agreed to reside at the old house, during the absence of Julia and Barnabas, in order to guard and keep it. Their children were now grown-off leading their own lives. The friend and cousin of Barnabas Collins were both genuinely worried about him. So, Julia would phone, occasionally, to keep them informed on his condition. She tried to paint a positive picture and keep a positive outlook, but it was hard. Barnabas seemed to grow weaker, every day.
Then, there was the stress Julia felt from trying to figure out how Barnabas contracted this disease, in the first place. He had no history of Leukemia in his family, so it couldn't have been inherited. She blamed herself. It must have been something she had done, years ago, when she was trying to cure Barnabas of his vampirism. Was something wrong with one, or more of the serums she had developed and injected him with? Had they been contaminated? Even if any, or all of this was true, it was so long ago. After all these years, why was it NOW first affecting Barnabas? What if she could have prevented this from happening, but failed to do so?!
Julia was racked with a sense of her own personal guilt, which she felt she could not share with Barnabas. He had enough to deal with. She finally did break down and shared her thoughts with Willie, when he and Carolyn came for a visit. While Carolyn was in the hospital room visiting with Barnabas, Julia took Willie to the chapel for a talk( There was really no other person she could talk to about this. Willie was the only one who understood.). He tried to assure Julia that the condition Barnabas was now in was not her fault-that she had done nothing to cause the terrible blood disease that was threatening to claim the life of Barnabas Collins, but she was not convinced.
Not knowing what else to say to her, Willie offered Julia his shoulder to cry on. She wept unabashedly, welcoming the comfort of his friendly arms. " Oh Willie," she lamented, " I'll never forgive myself for letting this happen!" Willie said nothing. He just held his friend and let her cry.
When Carolyn came into the chapel and saw Willie holding a weeping Julia, she didn't know what to say, or do. Julia had always been such a strong woman. Nothing seemed to shake her. She had always been the one to comfort, care for, and support everyone else. Now, SHE was the one in need of comfort. Carolyn had instinctively known, for a long time, about the deep feelings Julia had for Barnabas, but she had never before seen her friend lose control of her emotions, like this.
" Let me handle this, Carolyn," Willie told his wife( He was not about to tell her the REAL reason Julia was crying. Even though Carolyn had once been a victim of Barnabas, herself, under his control, she had no memory of it and her husband was NOT going to remind her, either!). " Julia will be okay," he continued. " She just needed to let lose, for once." Carolyn smiled compassionately and nodded her head in agreement.
The months of radiation and chemotherapy treatments were grueling, for Barnabas Collins. He was always so exhausted afterward, all he could do was sleep. It seemed to Julia like her husband was getting weaker and weaker, instead of stronger. Hope for his survival seemed slim. The visits from his grandchildren became shorter, but more frequent. Of course, he was always happy to see them, even though he was very tired.
One day, just a couple of months before the first anniversary of the admittance of Barnabas Collins into the hospital, there was a sudden turn of events. Julia, J.B., and Tracie had given up and decided to stop the cancer treatments. A few hours later that very same day, Dr. Joshua B. Collins came back into his father's hospital room with a surprising announcement. The words that came from the lips of their son took awhile for Julia and Barnabas to absorb. They could hardly believe it! It was a miracle!
Smiling broadly, Joshua began, " It's over. We've won!"
" What do you mean?," Barnabas asked weakly.
" There's no more sign of any Leukemia! The cancer cells are all gone. We got rid of all of them."
" Are you sure?," asked Julia apprehensively.
" Yes," J.B. answered.
" Does that mean I'm cured?," asked Barnabas.
" Yes, Father, but we must still proceed with caution. We'll have to keep a close eye on you, for awhile, and keep testing your blood-just to make sure we've gotten everything, so that the cancer doesn't return."
Julia threw her arms around her son and daughter-in-law, holding them tightly. Weeping tears of joy, she whispered to them, " Thank you, thank you, thank you." Barnabas lay back against his pillow, closed his eyes, and heaved a deep sigh of relief.
After releasing their son and daughter-in-law, Julia walked over to her husband in his hospital bed, took his face in her hands, and planted a deep passionate kiss on his lips. " Well, my dear," he responded weakly, with a twinkle in his eye, when she was finished, giving her his quirky grin, " it's about time! You've neglected me long enough!" This prompted amused laughter from his wife, son, and daughter-in-law. Barnabas laughed with them.
As soon as Dr. Joshua B. Collins was certain that the cancer his father had suffered from would not return, Barnabas was released from the hospital and was on his way home. He was on the mend and had gotten stronger, but was still a little weak.
At Collinwood, Barnabas received the most joyful welcome home celebration, ever. " Well, you had us all worried there, for awhile, cousin," quipped Quentin Collins. " Don't ever do that again!," he ordered with mock authority.
Barnabas smiled weakly, in amusement, and promised, " I'll try not to."
Hugging her cousin tightly, Elizabeth Stokes remarked with tears in her eyes, " I'm so glad you're alright, Barnabas."
" Thank you, dear cousin," he replied, hugging her back. Releasing Liz, Barnabas kissed her hand gallantly and turned to receive the joyful well wishes of his remaining family members, which included Liz's husband( Elliot Stokes), Roger Collins, David, Wendy, Jamison, and Daniel Collins, Maggie Collins( Quentin's wife), and Carolyn and Willie Loomis.
Despite being cured of Leukemia, Barnabas was still quite weak. By the time he and Julia arrived at the old mansion, she had to put an arm around him to support him as they walked inside. His face lit up, drinking in the familiar surroundings. " Oh Julia," he remarked, it's so good to be home!"
" Yes darling, I know," she responded, " but we must get you to bed. You need to rest, if you are to regain your strength."
Once he had been comfortably tucked into bed, Barnabas grabbed his wife and pulled her into it with him, speaking to her enticingly, " My love, there's something I've needed from you for a long time."
" Careful, Barnabas," Julia reprimanded him playfully, " we wouldn't want to do anything that might cause you to have a relapse."
" No chance of that happening," he declared confidently.
" Oh?," she queried. " You seem very sure of yourself, mister."
" Indeed, I am..."
" Why is that?"
"...because YOU'RE going to do all the work."
" Your wish is my command, sir!," said Julia, giggling as she began his TREATMENT. " Well," Julia teased( when she had finished), " it didn't take you very long to regain your strength."
" All I needed was the right kind of medicine," Barnabas teased back. Even at the age of 81( or, shall we say, "235"), he was still very much the man he had aspired to be.
Barnabas Collins was indeed a contented man. Once again, he had conquered death with the help of his devoted, true, and dearest friend. His son and grandchildren were his legacy, but his wife was his life! All Barnabas ever wanted out of life was to experience what it meant to be fully human-to love and be loved. He had accomplished all of that with Julia. She gave him everything he had ever wanted. With her, he had everything he would ever need. With her, all his dreams had come true. He knew that when the end for him did finally come, he would be ready. His life had not been in vain, for his legacy would live on and it was all because of Julia. When all was said and done, SHE had been his reason for living and it was because of Dr. Julia Hoffman Collins that Barnabas Collins could die in peace.
...BUT THE LEGACY LIVES ON...