Chapter 32
Julia continued to stare at the prone, withering form of her husband, as Sebastian bustled about the room, gathering the equipment they would need.
He glanced towards the window; it was still dark outside, but dawn would not be too far off. He hoped that time would be on their side. But time had never truly been an ally of Barnabas in the past. He would have preferred to operate after dawn had come and gone, but that now was impossible.
He paused in his frantic attempt to gather the things he needed. Julia was still standing staring at Barnabas. "Julia!" he barked, "We must hurry, if we're to have any chance of saving Barnabas!" When he still got no response from her, he replaced the items, he'd gathered, and strode over to her. Taking hold of her upper arms, he slowly tightened his grip. Giving her a slight shake, he barked, "Julia! Look at me!" Slowly her green eyes turned from Barnabas. "I can't do this without you, Julia," he said gently. "If we're to save Barnabas, that bullet must be removed now. Are you with me?"
Her eyes slowly returned to Barnabas, and then quickly returned to look at him. Slowly she nodded. He smiled, slightly. "Good," he said, "We haven't much time."
/
They prepared for the operation ahead of them, unaware that a small figure, shrouded in shadows, was watching them. The strangeness that had surrounded him, before, was upon him. It puzzled him. Something was very wrong with his father, and no one seemed willing to explain it to him. He's father was very sick, that he knew. He frowned as he tried to figure it out in his young mind, but it made his head ache all the more. There was a funny smell, that made him want to be ill, and he gagged. He hid further in the shadows, as it seemed that either his mother or Sebastian might discover him there. "Daddy," he whispered to himself, "please get better. Please!"
/
"Normally I'd agree with you, that Wyndcliffe, would be the best place to call, but the way things are, it'd be better if it's done this way, Julia. I'm sorry."
"But that's ridiculous! "Julia insisted. "The amount you're talking about, you'd die from blood loss."
"Julia, I know what I'm talking about, and so do you. No one else can know that the three of you are here. You know what would happen to Barnabas if they discovered him here. Now stop arguing with me, we're wasting time. I'll talk you through it. Everything will be fine. Trust me."
And he began setting himself up as a donor for Barnabas. Julia folded her arms, and remained where she stood. Sebastian sighed. "Would you prefer to do it yourself, Doctor?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Or maybe Matthew would do?"
"You wouldn't!"
"Then we're agreed," said Sebastian, as though it was settled. Julia sighed, knowing that she was beaten on this subject. A glance at Barnabas was enough for her to realise that there was no time to argue the matter.
She sighed again, and then began assisting Sebastian with the transfusion set up.
/
Sebastian watched Julia closely as she closed the wound in Barnabas' shoulder. The bullet lay on a table, nearby. He noticed her hand shake only slightly, at the very beginning of the operation, and again now, at it's end.
He felt weak, the effects of the transfusion. For a time he thought that they had begun too late to make a difference in the vampire's condition, but he saw now, that some little improvement had been gain. The withering of his face and hand, on the side he had been struck, did seem to have slowed, if not altogether halted. He was glad; maybe his mission could still be salvaged.
Julia was just about to remove the needle form his vein, when there was a pounding on the front door. It was a demand that brooked no ignorance.
Julia stared down into Sebastian's pale face.
"Roger?" she whispered, then looked startled by the fear she heard in her voice. She glanced at Barnabas. He was in no condition to be moved. A glance towards the window showed that daylight had arrived at some point during the operation.
"No," said the Watcher, with assurance. "There are others, beside Roger Collins looking for your husband - or know what he is." He winced, as Julia finally removed the needle, and then applied a cotton wool ball to the small wound, and tilted his arm back, while she prepared a more secure and adequate plaster. "I'm afraid, that some of my...colleagues are also involved in the pursuit of Barnabas. You've already met one of them, at the Old House. I must confess that Barnabas being shot is partly my responsibility. If I had only gotten to the Old House, sooner!" he admonished himself.
Julia couldn't help the small smile that crossed her weary face. "I hardly think that would have helped, Sebastian. They both seemed pretty determined to find him one-way or the other. It was probably you're turning up when you did, that saved his life. If you hadn't gotten there when you did..."
Her voice trailed off as the persistent pounding came again.
"I'd better answer it," replied Sebastian, rising to his feet. Immediately, a wave of dizziness swept over him.
"You see how foolish that idea is," reprimanded Julia, lightly.
"You don't understand, Julia. They more they demand entrance, the worse it will be, for you and your family. Besides, they won't find you here, if you stay in this room. I have a few tricks under my sleeve."
Julia turned apprehensively in Barnabas' direction once more. Sebastian understood her glance. "He'll remain like this until after sun down. Perhaps even tonight. All he needs now is the rest of the day, as you do. Once I've eased the suspicions of Joel and Marcus, I'll be able to better explain why I'm here. I think it'd be a good idea, for Matthew to spend a little time with his Daddy, anyway. Don't you?"
Staggering a little, Sebastian entered the room where Matthew had been sleeping. A few minutes later, Matthew ran to her and buried his head in her stomach, wrapping his hands around her waist. All they could do now was wait.