Dane

Chapter 15

Julia looked around the room, making sure that the room met the required standards, for Barnabas' complete safety. She closed the door, behind her, and was satisfied that no light could find its way into the room. Even the slightest hint, could prove fatal, in the last stages of her treatment.

A knock on the door startled her. Composing herself, she opened the door, to find Nick Andrews, waiting for her. He was tall, with startling blue eyes. His easygoing manner had earned him a position of trust in her medical staff. Indeed without Nick's help, Julia was sure that certain matters would never have succeeded.

He smiled, making his vivid blue eyes sparkle more brightly. "Everything meet your requirements, Doctor?" he asked.

"Perfectly, Nick," she said, with a sigh. "You've done everything and more, with your usual efficiency. You're certain no one else is aware of the patient's rather…special...needs?"

His smile broadened. "Trust me, Julia. It's Nick Andrews, you're talking to. This is a "need-to-know" basis, and only the senior staff you named, have been informed. No one will enter this room, without your orders. Besides, they'll have to go through me, first."

"Thanks Nick," said Julia, gratefully. "I don't know what I'd ever do without you."

"I pray the day never comes, when you'll have to find out. Is there anything else you require?"

Julia looked back into the darkened room. Then returned her gaze back to

Nick. "I think that will be all. If there's anything else, I'll let you know."

"Please do. I have rounds in the North Wing, I should be attending to."

"Of course. Thanks Nick. I appreciate all your help."

He grinned again, "Anytime, Doctor," he said all professional again, and walked down the corridor to begin his rounds.

She arrived back at Collinwood an hour after true night had fallen. Once she and Nick Andrews had arranged the special room, Julia had gone to her lab, intending to prepare the things she needed for the tests she planned to run.

Two hours later, she returned to her office, and began to work on the required papers. While she was there, Nick had returned, informing her of a difficult patient. It was four hours later, before she could turn her attention back to Barnabas' admittance.

/

By the time she returned to Collinwood, she felt drained. She wished only for a relaxing soak in the bath, and the comfortable warmth of her bed.

She had just removed her coat, when Dane accosted her. His easy smile of greeting faded when he saw the drained, exhausted Julia before him.

"You look as if you've had a rough day, " he sympathised. "A relaxing evening is what you need,"

"Precisely," she agreed. "That's why I intended to retire early."

"Have you forgotten our dinner? The table's all booked."

"Dane, I really don't feel like going out tonight," she sighed. "A hundred things went wrong, today, and going out for dinner feels like too much effort."

Dane looked crestfallen. "Well, I suppose if you're too tired, you can't enjoy the evening. If you'd really rather not go out Julia, I can cancel. But, perhaps, an evening out could be just what you need to help you unwind."

Julia sighed, and looked at him, suddenly undecided. He was constantly surprising her. The truth was, she hadn't wanted to go out to dinner in the first place. She was still unsure why she'd agreed in the first place. Yes she did; his persistence. And yet here he was, willing to cancel all his plans. Perhaps he was right, and it would help her unwind. Then she could begin afresh with the troubles and concerns that plagued her, over Barnabas' cure.

Barnabas! All day long she had concerned herself with preparing for his stay in Wyndcliffe, and she had, until this moment, completely, forgotten about him. What was happening to her?

"Dinner would be nice, Dane. But, an early night, is all I really need."

"Very well, Julia. I'll cancel our plans. Perhaps another night?"

"Of course, but there's no need to cancel, why not take Carolyn? I'm sure she'd enjoy it."

Dane's face brightened at the mention of Carolyn. "I suppose I could. Do you think, she would?"

"I could ask her, for you," said Julia moving towards the drawing room.

"No, I'll ask her, I have to see her about something anyway."

He moved towards the study, when the door burst open unexpectedly, and an extremely agitated Willie Loomis, stood framed in the doorway.

"Willie!" gasped Julia, at once concerned by his obvious anxiety.

He saw Dane and gulped nervously, but his mission was too important, to be put off again.

"Julia, you gotta come to the Old House! It's Barnabas! He's real sick, Julia!"

"Just let me get my bag, Willie," said Julia, all signs of fatigue forgotten.

"You gotta hurry, Julia! I dare not leave him long," he rushed back out into the night, looking over his shoulder only long enough to cast Dane a triumphant look. The murderous look he received back spurred him on to his friend and maters side.

Julia looked at Dane, before quickly hurrying after the departing servant.

Afraid to even imagine what could have happened to Barnabas, to leave Willie in such a frantic state?

/

The double doors to the Old House were open, when she reached them, deepening her concern for Barnabas.

As she entered, a cry of pain came from the drawing room, and she quickly hurried in.

"Barnabas!" she gasped, her free hand, flying to her throat.

Willie was knelt beside Barnabas, who was slumped, semi-conscious in his favourite chair. His face was deathly white, except for high spots of colour. His face glistened in the candlelight, and as she watched, he grimaced, as if in extreme pain. His hands clenched into tight fists, his knuckles turning whiter than his face.

"Barnabas!" she cried, in a frightened voice, rushing to his side.

On closer inspection, she realised that he was shivering uncontrollably.

His teeth chattered, and he moaned as another spasm of pain, cut through him, like a knife. He tried to bite back the scream that threatened to force its way out of his throat. For a moment it seemed that he might win, but, facing twisting horribly, he opened his mouth, venting a piercing cry. Julia gasped in shock, as his fangs half descend, before retracting slowly, back into their hidden sheaths.