As the minutes began to pass by slowly, Elizabeth and Julia began pacing the room hoping it wouldn't take them too long in town to get just two things. Mrs. Johnson brought in some tea letting Julia know Vicky was up in her room sleeping peacefully. Thanking her for the information, Julia and Elizabeth went for the tea however it ended up staying on the tray. Mrs. Johnson leaving, stated they better drink it before it get cold. However both worried about Barnabas, agreed starting to drink their tea, until they both jumped to the sound of Barnabas screaming. Not caring about the mess they just made, Elizabeth and Julia rushed over to the bed where Barnabas was thrashing around the bed, screaming.
"Don't take her...noo...Michael stop...Vicky...Vicky!" Barnabas screamed his body moving around.
"Barnabas, calm down. Your safe, please stay calm." Julia tried to get through to him.
Elizabeth watched in worry as Barnabas sat up in bed, trying to get away from them, "Let me go...I need to get to her...no...stop...I must go to her!"
Elizabeth couldn't help but let a tear fall down her face at seeing her cousin in such a sake, "Please, Barnabas you have to calm down."
"Elizabeth, we need to hold him down. He's going to get worse if we don't." Julia spoke to her over Barnabas thrashing around.
Elizabeth only nodded as Julia and her grabbed Barnabas by the shoulders, pushing him back onto the bed, trying to hold him as best they could. As they were trying to hold him, Roger and Willie entered the room alarmed at the sight. Both rushed over to the bed as they took over for the girls, allowing Julia to grab her medical bag. Pulling out a needle, she filled it with a liquid before moving beside Roger, who moved but kept his hands on Barnabas arms firm. Julia pressed the needle into Barnabas arm, pushing the liquid in, before drawing the needle out. In a few minutes, Barnabas thrashing seemed to slow down as his body fell into a sleep.
Julia sighed, "That should let him sleep for a few hours. Did you two get the alcohol and ice we needed?"
"Yes, we have it. What do you need us to do now?" asked Roger.
"We need a big bucket, pot something big enough for the sheets to go in." Julia stated.
Elizabeth nodded, "I know of something." She ran out of the room returning in a few moments with an old tin wash bucket, "Will this do?"
"Perfect. Now we need to fill it with the alcohol and ice. Then place a sheet in, getting it soaked. Then squeeze it out, before placing it over Barnabas chest and arms. Make sure it gets on him, press it onto him. Once the sheet drys, we must keep repeating it until his fever breaks." Julia stated.
Together, Roger and Willie filled the bucket with the ice and alcohol, before Elizabeth took a sheet placing it fully in the bucket. Then wringing it out, Elizabeth moved over to the bed where Julia helped her place it on Barnabas. Sitting down on the edge of the bed, Julia sighed hoping Barnabas would pull through this. Feeling a hand on her shoulder, Julia looked up smiling to Elizabeth.
"Julia, how about you go get some rest. Roger, Willie, and I can handle it for a few hours. I'll make sure to come get you if he wakes or something changes." Elizabeth smiled.
Julia slowly nodded taking one more look toward Barnabas before rising, and heading out of the room. Getting to her room, Julia shut the door behind her before she went over to her bed where she couldn't hold back the tears any longer. Julia laid on her bed letting the tears fall, knowing they were all for Barnabas who was fighting for his life. Julia knew he cared for Vicky, but she had feelings for him as well. She had become more than a doctor to him over the past weeks, and after Michael had kidnapped them, thought she never see him again. Julia stared out the window at the sun that was still shinning, hoping, praying Barnabas would be able to walk in the daylight with her.
"Please Barnabas, you must pull through. Without you, I don't know what to do." Julia said out loud knowing he couldn't hear her. Julia having cried as much as she could, felt her body drift off into the darkness of her sleep.
Julia stirred before opening her eyes staring out the window at the sun. Setting up, her body felt refreshed knowing she had sleep not only the rest of the day, but during the night as well. Taking her hair out of it's braid, Julia brushed it before placing it back up. Taking some deep breaths, Julia changed clothes and washed her face. Thinking about the other day, Julia knew instead of crying and worried that Barnabas wouldn't make it through, that she was going have to be strong for him. About to head out of the room, Mrs. Johnson came in bringing a tray of food for her.
"I hope you slept well, Julia." Mrs. Johnson smiled placing the tray down, "Elizabeth told me you needed your rest, so figured I wouldn't bother you for dinner last night. So that's why I decided to bring you breakfast."
"Do you know how Barnabas is doing?" Julia asked.
"Still has the fever. They have been taking turns all night watching over him, and putting on those sheets." Mrs. Johnson replied.
Julia nodded, "I should go check on him."
"Not before you have had your food. Eat first, Barnabas is in good hands." Mrs. Johnson stopped her.
Julia sighed moving over to the food, taking in the smell of eggs and bacon, along with a slice of toast. Taking her time to eat it, Julia thanked Mrs. Johnson for the food, before heading downstairs to the guest room. Entering the room, Julia found Elizabeth and Vicky in the room having just changed the wet sheet over Barnabas. Figuring Willie and Roger was getting breakfast, Julia entered the room fully coming over to check on Barnabas. Noticing Elizabeth was about to ask something, Julia held up her hand, asking her to wait until she checked Barnabas pulse. Julia frowned feeling his pulse still thready but was getting better, however his body was still throwing off the heat from the fever.
"How is he?" asked Vicky.
"His fever is still high, but his pulse is not as thready as it was. How was he last night?" Julia looked to Elizabeth.
"Cried out in his sleep once or twice, but Roger got him calmed down again. We didn't want to wake you, figured you needed the rest." Elizabeth smiled.
Julia nodded, "Yes, it has done me well, and what about you Vicky?"
"Doing much better, feel rested. Although won't feel fully better until Barnabas fever breaks." Vicky sighed.
"And it will," Julia added, "We will just keep the cool sheets coming and not give up on him."
Hearing a moan Julia turned to find Barnabas awake. Although Barnabas eyes still had the glaze of fever over them, Julia felt at the moment he wasn't under its control. Taking his hand in hers, Julia smiled down at him, while Elizabeth and Vicky moved closer glad to see he was awake.
"Julia.." Barnabas spoke his voice weak.
"Yes, it's me. Do you remember what happened?" she asked.
Barnabas paused, nodding slightly, "Michael took Vicky and I to a warehouse." Barnabas looked to her, "Vicky..where's Vicky? Is she safe?"
"Calm down Barnabas, she is safe. You both are." Julia replied.
"I'm right here Barnabas, and so is Elizabeth." Vicky moved to where he could see her better.
Elizabeth moved next to Vicky, looking down at Barnabas, "How are you feeling?"
"Sore, and tired. Where am I?" asked Barnabas, "Why is my sheet wet?"
"Your in Collinwood, Cousin Barnabas, in one of the guest rooms. Julia thought it best and easier to treat you here." explained Elizabeth, "You have a fever, and this is helping you break it."
"I hope I haven't been too much trouble, Elizabeth." Barnabas smiled.
"Not at all Barnabas, you are always welcome here." Elizabeth smiled.
"Don't talk any more, Barnabas. You might be awake, but you still need rest to get the fever gone."
Barnabas nodded going off to sleep while Julia stood deciding she was going head up to her room to work on the serum knowing that Barnabas would want to continue the treatments once he was better. Vicky and Elizabeth agreed to watch him and to come get her if he took a turn for the worst. Knowing he was in good hands, Julia went upstairs entering her room, going over to mini lab starting to work on a fresh serum. As the hours passed by Julia had successfully recreated enough serum so that Barnabas would be able to walk in the sun in a matter of few treatments. As the afternoon came, Mrs. Johnson brought up some food for her, as Julia started to eat deciding she go down check on Barnabas once she was done.
Just as she had started to finish up, Vicky rushed into the room, "Julia, come quickly!"
"What is it Vicky?" Julia pushed back her chair standing up.
"It's Barnabas" Vicky said before rushing out of the room, Julia following her.
Julia ran down the stairs after Vicky, before coming into the room, finding Roger and Willie beside Barnabas bed, holding him down as he seemed to be struggling against them. Rushing to the bed, Julia moved beside Willie looking down at Barnabas.
"What happened?" Julia asked.
"Don't know, he was fine a while ago, but when we started to change the sheets, we realized all the ice had melted and we needed more." Willie stated.
"We were about to go get some more, when he started calling out." Roger replied.
Julia placed her hand on Barnabas forehead, knowing his fever had rose out, "Barnabas, Barnabas can you hear me?"
"Julia...get out of here Michael going come back..." Barnabas looked to her before looking around the room as if Michael was going come out.
"No, he's gone, Barnabas. Michael isn't coming back." Julia stated, "Just rest now."
Barnabas seemed to hear her through the fever as he relaxed, allowing Roger and Willie to take their hands off Barnabas. Julia assured them they could go get the ice, however to try make it fast as they could. Both agreeing went out of the room, while Julia, Elizabeth, and Vicky stayed behind. Barnabas came in and out of his delirium, as one of them would calm him down so that he go back to sleep. Roger and Willie returned in an hour with the ice, pouring it into the bucket, along with pouring the rest of the alcohol in there. Together they placed a sheet in getting it wet, before placing it onto Barnabas.
Although he tossed some from the cold sheet, Barnabas eyes remained shut unaware that his family was praying for the fever to break. As the sun headed down, Roger and Elizabeth went to make sure David wasn't getting into trouble, and getting ready for bed. Vicky having requested to stay behind, was allowed too knowing how much she and Barnabas had went through the past week. Willie stayed as well, sitting on the edge of the bed watching over his master. The night passed on as they continued to change the cool sheet, before they all settled down in chairs beside Barnabas bedside. Julia awoke with a start, realizing she had fallen asleep looking around noticing Willie and Vicky was also asleep. Wanting to check on Barnabas first, Julia figured she let them sleep a little while longer.
Pushing her chair back, Julia rose stretching before noticing Barnabas face was covered in sweat. Moving over to him, Julia touched his forehead, before realizing the sweat wasn't from a high fever, but that his fever had actually broke. Going to Vicky and Willie she woke them both, smiling as she gave them the news.
"Barnabas fever has broke." Julia smiled.
"You mean, he's going to be alright Julia?" asked Willie.
"Yes Willie, Barnabas is going to be fine." Julia smiled.
Vicky starting to head out of the room, "I'm going to tell Elizabeth and Roger."
Elizabeth and Roger returned with Vicky in minutes asking Julia if it was true. Julia nodded, "Yes, his fever has broke. He might be weak for a few days, and should stay in bed, but he'll be just fine."
"Julia, Barnabas is waking up." Willie stating making them all come over to the bed.
Barnabas opened his eyes, looking up to everyone, "What's going on?" Barnabas started to sit up but found his body weak.
"Barnabas, just stay still." Julia informed him, "You have had a fever for days. Do you remember what happened?"
"I remember Michael, and Vicky." Barnabas thought back, "A warehouse, I think."
"Yes, Barnabas," Vicky nodded, "Michael took us to a warehouse. He was trying to prove that you were a vampire. The police found us and brought us home. We been keeping watch over you, helping Julia try to break your fever."
"He didn't hurt you any did he?" asked Barnabas.
"No, he was more after you. But that's in the past." Vicky replied
"Yes, your both home and safe. We are just glad your alright, cousin Barnabas." smiled Elizabeth.
Roger shook his head, "Yes, there were a few times, Willie and I had to hold you down."
"I'm sorry if I caused any trouble, Roger." Barnabas smiled relaxing on the bed.
Willie noticed Barnabas looking tired, "You alright Barnabas?"
"Yes, Willie, just tired." Barnabas replied.
Julia agreed, "You should rest, and when you wake up. We'll get you some soup to eat and then once your back to your old self, I'll start the injections again. You will see the sun again."
Barnabas nodded going off to sleep, as everyone left the room to give him some peace. In the days that passed, Barnabas had regained his strength and was able to start getting the injections again. Then in another few weeks, Julia allowed Barnabas to see the sun. They started by letting his hand in the sunlight, before letting his whole body after noticing nothing was happening. Standing out in the sun, Barnabas took in all the suns rays not able to keep the smile off his face.
Turning to Julia, he smiled, "Thank you Julia, for giving me back the sun. You gave me back the day and I'll never forget it."
With that, they headed into the woods enjoying the sunshine along with the happiness that would never go away ever again.