Chapter 12

Matthew remained distant and withdrawn, once they left the Coffee shop. He didn't even make a fuss, when the time for Ben to return home, drew closer.

Ben left, feeling a little hurt that Matthew hadn't put up his usual fight, for him to be allowed to stay longer. But when he thought about it, Matthew had been acting strange all day - well since they had met that friend of Mrs. Collins.

"See ya at school on Monday, Matt," said Ben as he slowly put on his coat.

"Sure," said Matt, still distracted.

"Thank you having him up here, Dr." said Luke Marshall, Ben's father. "I hope he wasn't any trouble?"

"Da-ad!" said Ben, clearly offended.

Julia smiled. "Ben was no trouble at all. It was a pleasure having him here. I'm only sorry that he and Matthew couldn't have the sleepover they'd planned." She turned her attention to Ben. "Perhaps we can have a sleepover in a few weeks, Ben? Would you like that?"

"Thanks Mrs. Collins," said Ben eagerly. "But...c-could Matt come over to mine one time? Dad said he could come over, didn't you, Dad?" he rushed, as he saw that she might say no.

"Of course," said Luke unfazed. "We'd love to have Matthew over anytime."

"May I Mom?" asked Matt, finally adding his voice to the mix.

Julia had the feeling of being "ganged-up on", and was starting to wonder if this had been planned between them. "Well, I'd have to discuss it with my husband, first," she began.

"That's fine, Dr Collins," said Mr. Marshall. "We'd love having him, any time. Come on, Ben. Thanks again. Dr, Collins."

Julia closed the door, with a sense of relief. She turned, and gasped, not expecting Matthew to still be standing behind her. Or the strange look on his face. She quickly noticed that this wasn't the same look he had when he had one of his memory "lapses". This was something completely different.

"Matthew, honey, is there anything wrong?"

"Are you going to see him again, Mommy?" he asked quietly.

"See who again?" she asked, bewildered. "Mr. Marshall?"

Matthew's eyes narrowed. "You know. Him. Your old friend."

"Dane?" asked Julia, trying to ignore the cold chill the mention of his name brought her. "Honey, do you mean, Dane?"

Matthew remained silent, starting at her fixedly. "Matthew!" she said sharply. She didn't scare easily, but whatever was happening to her son, was beginning to terrify her. "Matthew, answer me!"

She'd grabbed his arms in her fear, and shaken him slightly to get his attention. He blinked, and heaved in a gasping breath. The look that had crossed his face disappeared, without trace.

"Mommy?" he asked, his voice, small and frightened sounding. "Please don't see him again! Please!"

"It's alright, Matthew," she said, hugging him to her breast, tightly. "It's alright."

/

Barnabas relaxed in his favourite chair, browsing through a book. Soft music drifted around the room, relaxing him further.

He looked up from his book, his attention briefly interrupted. Julia sat opposite him, head slightly inclined as she gazed into the fire.

On the mantle the clock chimed the half-hour. He glanced at it briefly; 9.30.

He turned his attention back to Julia, his forehead creasing into a frown. Since he had returned home from the cannery, several hours before, she had seemed preoccupied, as though there was something on her mind.

Several times, during their evening meal, he had thought that she might be on the verge of telling him exactly what it was, but had backed away from it. Matthew too, had been strangely withdrawn. As soon as the meal was over, he had asked to be excused, and retreated to his room.

When he had gone up to check on his son, he had found him gazing silently out into the night, Bisket at his side. The fact that he wasn't being punished, so there was no need for him to remain in his room, didn't seem to entice him out of wherever his thoughts were. Nor did a story. Greatly puzzled, and more than a little worried for his young son, Barnabas had left him alone, with the invitation that if he so wished, he could return downstairs when ever he felt ready.

Barnabas closed his book, and fixed his gaze on Julia. "Julia, is everything all right, darling?" he asked.

She jumped, at the unexpected sound of his voice. "What?" she asked, drawing herself back to the present.

Barnabas smiled, "I didn't mean to startle you," he apologised. "But you've been quite all evening. There isn't anything wrong, is there?"

Julia shook her head, slightly puzzled. "No, nothing's wrong. I'm going to check on Matthew," she said, rising to her feet.

Before she so much as taken a step toward the hall, a shriek came from upstairs.

"Matthew!" cried both parents at once, and they both rushed towards the stairs, and the boy that meant so much to them.

When they reached his room, they found him soaked in sweat. Julia reached him first, and when she took him in her arms, she was shocked to find his small body shaking and trembling with fear.

"Darling what is it?" she asked, concerned. "Bad dreams, again?"

All Matthew could do, was sob against her shoulder, his small body shaking.