Chapter 14
After Barnabas left the morgue without Maeve, he intended to go through the tunnels again. He thought against it since he suspected Maeve would follow him there. He hated to be trapped like an animal so instead, he headed upstairs towards the main lobby of the hospital. Since the sun had set, maybe he could flee without anyone noticing. No one took the stairs any more since elevators were invented. Crude invention and the worst place to be trapped, he thought.
Barnabas used his psychic radar to scope ahead to see if the coast was clear. He did not sense anyone up the first flights of stairs so he slowly walked each step while thinking about his encounter with Maeve. What did Maeve mean when she said, "we are in a hospital?" Of course, he knew he was in a hospital and . . . Sniffing, he could smell the blood everywhere! His heighten senses were so strong, he could smell it pouring out of the walls. Trying to ignore his blood-lust, he continued to remember what Maeve said. She didn't seem to want to harm him. In fact, he recalled her saying, "I can help you with your current problem." Something still puzzled Barnabas. What did she mean when she said, "I know what you are feeling right now and I know what you want to do." He wondered how she KNEW what he was feeling. Unless, and his thoughts abruptly ended when he arrived at his intended floor.
He opened the door and found he wasn't at the lobby but on the third floor. Barnabas looked up and down the empty wing. Not seeing anyone, he walked up to the directory and read it. Ah, he thought, "Blood Repository", Room 333. Staring at the threes, he remembered Julia's warning. So far he had met Maeve at 3 p.m., gone to the morgue in room 3 where he witnessed a ferocious battle, and now he knew where the blood was stored, in room 333. He pondered the threes for any connections and found nothing that made any sense. While he considered these clues, he kept his eyes diverted to the floor and walked in the direction of Room 333. His main concern now was blood. Barnabas considered being here a bad idea since he was out in the open. However, he had to have blood NOW. Maeve flashed into his vision so he glanced around to see if she was around.
He walked half way down the hall and then turned a corner. After passing a few rooms, he heard his name called by a male's voice. No one knew he was in town except Maeve. He kept walking as though he didn't hear anything and slipped into an empty room. Hearing the steps of someone running after him, he positioned himself behind the open door. The steps slowed down to a walk and then stopped right in front of the room. Barnabas felt he was in a standoff with the unknown pursuer, again uncomfortable without the advantage. Once the individual got closer, he sensed a familiarity in this person's aura. Hearing the man speak again, Barnabas immediately recognized whose voice it belonged to.
"Barnabas, are ya there?"
"Willie!" Barnabas moved out from behind the door and Willie Loomis stepped into the empty room. Both men stood like statues waiting for the sun to set. Slowly both men smiled. Willie started to move closer to Barnabas, in hopes of giving his friend a warm friendly hug.
"No, Willie," Barnabas insisted with his arm raised out to Willie's chest. "It would not be wise for you to come any closer."
"Why Barnabas, we're ol' friends, ain't we? Ya ain't forgot about ya're ol' friend Willie?" Willie asked slighted hurt.
"Of course not Willie," Barnabas replied with affection in his voice. "It's just . . . that things are not the same as they were when we were last together."
"Yeah, I heard about Julia, Barnabas, and I'm real sorry about that. I read about her death in the newspaper obituaries when it happened but when I wrote to ya, ya already left Collinwood. And no one knew where ya gone off to, neither! I was really surprised too, 'cause ya was real close to ya family."
"Thank you for your concern, Willie, but I didn't mean that."
"What then, Barnabas, what's changed?" Willie asked looking intently into Barnabas' face. Barnabas diverted his eyes from Willie because he felt the blood-lust surge again and he did not want to attack Willie, starting all over again. However, Barnabas did not have to say anything to Willie because he always knew what was going through Barnabas' head before any explanations were given. "NO! Not again Barnabas. Tell me it ain't so!"
"I am afraid so, Willie, and this time I don't know if I will survive."
"What are ya talkin' about Barnabas? Ya're not makin' any sense," Willie asked, shocked at hearing Barnabas talk like he was already defeated. "Ya know ya can trust me."
"I know that Willie. This time is different. I have a vampire slayer on my trail, I need blood and I have to get away," he confessed for the first time in his life to the man he once held in contempt.
"Oh, Barnabas, this is bad, I can tell. Listen, I can help ya. I can hide ya and get ya some blood at the same time." Willie said excitedly.
"What do you mean?" exclaimed Barnabas, excitedly staring into Willie's eyes. Willie felt a surge of energy penetrating into his awareness, numbing some of his senses.
"Barnabas, what are ya doin' to me?"
"Oh, sorry Willie, please go ahead and explain what you meant when you said you can hide me and get me some blood." Barnabas said letting go of his psychic stare that bonded the two for a moment.
"Barnabas, I work in this hospital, down the hall, in Room 333. Do ya know what that means, Barnabas? Do ya?"
"Yes I do, Willie, and it would be dangerous for you to help me. This slayer is smart and will find me. I don't know what would happen to you if there was a fight between us. I have seen the slayer in action and there might not be any hope for me under those circumstances."
"Then we better hurry and get ya some blood so ya can get out of here, fast. If ya want, I could hide ya at my house."
"NO! I can't go to your house like I am. You know how dangerous that would be for you and your lovely wife." Barnabas remembered when he last saw Willie, on his wedding day. It would be too easy for him to change Willie and his wife forever.
"Ya, ya're right, I can't tell Alondra about ya, not like ya are now." Willie said sadly.
"If you are going to help me, Willie, we better do it. I have a feeling the slayer is very close by," Barnabas said as he extended his psychic radar out into the hallway and searched for any feelings of Maeve. So far the coast was clear but he was not sure that would last long. This was new for Barnabas. Accepting Willie's help made him feel indebted to Willie and he would remember this.
"Ok, follow me." Willie stepped out into the hallway again and looked around. "Come on, Barnabas, no one is around. I'll take ya to room 333.
Barnabas came out of the room and followed Willie down the hall towards the Blood Repository. The smell of blood got stronger the closer they approached the room.
"Willie," Barnabas whispered as he walked beside Willie, "We are being watched. Trust me and don't be frightened no matter what happens."
"What's up, Barnabas?"
"Shh, the slayer is following us."
Willie turned his head and saw a young, beautiful woman, in an open black overcoat with a stake sticking in her belt. Willie felt himself get very agitated and Barnabas could sense his nervousness.
"Barnabas, what are we goin' ado? The room is just several doors away."
Before Willie knew what was going on, Barnabas grabbed him by the throat, twisted him around in front of Barnabas and stood facing the slayer as she rapidly approached their position.
"Barnabas, what are ya doin' to me?" Willie whispered feeling his nerves shake and his face quiver. Although Barnabas did not use a strong choke hold, it was hard for Willie to stay calm under the circumstances.
Both men watched as the slayer approached them at a fast pace, with the stake in plain view.