A/N Thanks for the reviews. This story is much darker than the previous ones, I've written. I hope however that you continue to read and review and enjoy the story.

Chapter 10

Barnabas, looking alarmed, hid his hand back within the folds of his cape.

"Barnabas, let me see!" insisted, Sebastian.

"It's nothing," Barnabas tried to brush it off. "I'll be alright in a few days. Please, don't concern yourself."

Sebastian's grey eyes grew cold, and determined. Over the years, Barnabas had come to know him well, and knew what that look meant. "I insist that you show me, Barnabas," he said quietly, and he knew he had judged his mood well.

With a defeated look, Barnabas slowly drew his right hand out from under his cape. Sebastian hissed in breath at the sight. The entire hand looked very much like raw meat. Blisters were beginning to form, and several of the fingers, seemed to be blackened. Sebastian frowned, slightly, as he stared at the burnt hand, keeping very careful control over his expression.

"What the hell happened, Barnabas?" he asked, looking up once more to face the vampire.

Barnabas sighed and looked down, at his hand briefly, before hiding it from sight once more. "My own foolishness," he said, casually. "I lingered longer than I..."

"You tried to destroy yourself?" interrupted Sebastian, horrified. "Barnabas, you know what the prophecy said! Only Matthew can help you!"

Barnabas looked down at the floor, contrite. "I think we should both realise that Matthew isn't capable of forgiveness. He won't listen to a word I say, he can barely stand the sight of me."

Sebastian watched Barnabas closely, and Barnabas felt uncomfortable under his scrutiny. Something he'd said had made him suspicious. "How long did Matt stay at the Old House, after I dropped him off, Barnabas?" he asked suddenly, the idea forming in his mind, seemed impossible, and yet, completely credible.

"Until dawn," said Barnabas, truthfully. "Why?"

"Odd, isn't it, that he can barely stand the sight of you, and then he stays talking at the Old House, until dawn." The grey eyes grew colder with a fury rarely seen. "You didn't linger longer than you should have Barnabas!" said Sebastian in his quite way when he was truly angry. "It was Matthew," he stated.

Barnabas remained silent.

"My God, Barnabas!" he cried, horrified. "Matthew forced you to wait for the sun, and you weren't going to tell me!" He stared intently at him, and then whispered. "You're afraid of him!"

Again, Barnabas remained silent. He stared at the floor. His silence was answer enough.

"Barnabas, he's getting out of control! This is torture! You cannot let him get away with this!"

"He's my son!" cried Barnabas, turning to face the Watcher. It didn't matter that he was afraid of him; he was still his son, his own flesh and blood.

"Barnabas, son or not, he cannot be allowed to get way with this! I will not allow it to continue."

"He's all I have of her!" said Barnabas, desperately, his voice cracking slightly. "He's all I have of Julia!"

The look of all consuming grief broke through Sebastian's anger. He sighed, and shook his head. "Barnabas, I know you miss her. And I know what it took for you to do what you did that night. And, I can even understand that Matthew is your link to her, but he's spiralling out of control. I told you, a few nights ago that there is anger, a rage, building up inside him, and if he didn't find a release, I didn't know what would happen. He's taking that frustration out on you. Yesterday, he destroyed Julian Spencer."

"Yes, he took great delight in telling all about it," said Barnabas, quietly.

"It was also his first slay," said Sebastian, knowingly. Barnabas looked at him, sharply.

"What are you saying?"

"I've tried to train him as a Slayer, Barnabas. But he has a double heritage. He's more than just a Slayer. He's a dhampir, too. All that training is built in. Its natural for him to do what he did to Julian, and what he tried to do to you. But, I'm afraid of what destroying Julian might have done. It's in his blood, Barnabas. He can't help it, no more than you can help what you are. I can only do so much, and if he leans towards the dhampir, I dread to think what will happen. The Council are getting concerned."

Barnabas picked up on Sebastian's tone, and knew that it could mean trouble. "How, concerned?" he asked, worried for his son.

"Right now, Matthew is still useful to them. But if their concerns grow, then."

"What will they do to him?" he asked fearfully.

"I honestly don't know, Barnabas. But they have been known to make those who give them concern to...conveniently disappear."

Barnabas' concern grew. "Are they that concerned?"

"Not yet, but if they learn of this, - and you can guarantee that they will - then…"

"I will not let anything happen to him, Sebastian," said Barnabas, darkly, moving closer to the other man, slightly.

"And you think I do? I have no intention of doing that Barnabas. As his Watcher, I'm not supposed to become personally involved, but, I can't help it. He's like a the son I never had." Realising that perhaps he had said too much, he looked down, suddenly feeling uncomfortable.

A smile twitched at the corners of Barnabas' mouth. "And then you question me, on why I'll endure anything he puts me through. He's my son, Sebastian, and he witnessed me, murder his mother. How can I expect him to act?"

"Not with torture, that's for sure," said Sebastian, swallowing. "Let me tend to your hand, Barnabas."

"No, I have my own ways. I'll be fine in a few nights."

"And what is your way, Barnabas? Fresh blood? The villagers are in an uproar as it is, over Julian. Let me tend to it Barnabas."

"No, Sebastian," said Barnabas, firmly.

Sebastian give him an odd look, then shook his head, "Very well, but be careful."

The door opened, and Matthew entered. He glared at the sight of his father.

As he came into the cottage proper, he walked purposefully towards his father, who took a few steps backwards. A smirk twitched briefly at the edges of Matt's mouth.

"I'm glad that you're home, Matthew," said Sebastian, watching the exchange.

Curious as to his tone, Matthew turned from his father to his Guardian.

"What's up with you, Sebastian? I've looked for Dane, and couldn't find him."

"I'm not interested in your excuses, Matthew!" stated Sebastian, quietly. "What I'm more concerned about is what you did to your father!"

Matthew's dark eyes grew darker, and he turned furiously to the vampire.

Barnabas seemed to shrink back against the wall, as he son approached him.

"You had to come telling tales didn't you!" he hissed.

Sebastian closed the space between them, and grabbed Matthew's arm. "You will deal with me, Matthew!" he ordered. "He didn't tell me anything!"

"Stay out of this, Sebastian!" warned Matt, now turning his anger on the Watcher. "You're my Watcher, not my father!"

"And I think my stars that I'm not! If I were, I'd have washed my hands on you, years ago! I both pity and admire your father, for putting up with you the way he does. I certainly wouldn't. Now, you will go out there, and hunt down the vampire responsible for Julian! I told you yesterday that Barnabas will not be harmed. And I warn you, if any more harm does come to him, I'll hold you responsible!"

Matthew stared at the Watcher, in shocked silence. He'd never heard Sebastian talk to him like this before. He glanced at Barnabas with a somewhat guilty look, and then back at Sebastian. Then, without saying a word, left the cottage, to do exactly what the Englishman had bid.