Dane

Chapter 22

Julia brought herself out of her daydream, at the sound of knocking on her office door. "Come in," she called, turning back to the window. From behind her, the door opened, and quickly closed.

"You said you wanted to be notified when Daniels transference from the high risk wing, to low risk, was ready to proceed," came Nick's voice. He waited, but after a few minutes and still not receiving an answer, he added, jokingly, "Earth, calling Julia Hoffman. Come in, Julia Hoffman."

She stirred from her thoughts, and turned to look up at him, surprised to see him there. "Nick, when did you arrive?"

He looked at her worriedly. "I've been here almost five minutes. I came to tell you that Daniels was ready to be moved. Is there something wrong?" It was obvious to him, that something was bothering her.

She fetched a deep sigh that seemed to come form the depths of her being, and his alarm grew. Perhaps, their "special" patient was worse than Julia had believed? "There's nothing wrong, Nick. In fact, things couldn't be better." She took a few minutes to compose herself, before dropping her bombshell, and taking a great delight in seeing her second in command's shock and surprise. "It won't be a secret for much longer anyway, and I don't think Barnabas would object in my telling you." She paused, dramatically, before saying; "Barnabas has asked me to marry him."

"What!" he exclaimed, not expecting her news. "When?"

She smiled, and leaned back in her chair. "Last night at the Old House. I accepted," she said, un-necessarily.

Nick whistled softly, and shook his head. "Barnabas Collins asked you to

marry him?" he asked, still in shock. "The Barnabas Collins asked you to marry him?"

Julia chuckled. Nick had long known of her love for the Collins English cousin. She could well understand his shock over her announcement; she still couldn't believe it herself. But, despite her long working relationship with Nick Andrews, and despite her deepest trust in him, she couldn't reveal her one greatest worry - that when she saw Barnabas at dusk, he would have changed his mind.

Nick helped her push the bleak thought out of her mind, by coming around to her side of the desk and giving her a hard hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"Congratulations, Julia!" he said as he released her. "I'm so happy for you! When's the happy day?"

"We saw no reason to wait, so we decided on tomorrow night. Of course, we have to tell his family yet...and Dane."

"Oh," said Nick simply. "Dane."

"Precisely. I can't say that I'm looking forward to telling him. He and Barnabas aren't exactly on the best of terms."

/

Julia glanced at her watch irritably, and then headed the car towards Collinsport. She glanced anxiously up at the sky, wondering if she would be in time to keep her appointment with Barnabas. What would he think if she were late, she wondered. She quickly pushed the thought to the back of her mind; if she put any further obstacles in the way, then she really would be late.

She'd left Wyndcliffe early in the afternoon, and had driven to Rockport, to do some shopping. After all, she was about to become a bride, and she wanted to look her best. She glanced at the package on the passenger seat beside her, and a smiled at the thought of its contents. She hoped Barnabas would like it.

Her heart jumped at the thought of his name, and she glanced worriedly at the sky again; dusk wasn't all that far off and she was still a few miles from Collinsport. She pressed the accelerator, and watched as the needle nudged up a few more notches. Her doubts that he would be changed began to crowd in on her again. And this time it wasn't so easy to push them out of her mind. She supposed she'd find out, when she faced him.

She finally reached the Old House, just as the sun was sinking below the horizon. She left the car unlocked, and hurried up the several steps to the double doors. Her heart hammered, with both her run up the steps, and anticipation of seeing him again.

When she entered the house, the drawing room was empty, and she continued on down to the cellar, not bothering to call for Willie.

She reached the coffin room, not a second too soon. The lid creaked as it slowly rose, and then Barnabas sat up. He smiled on seeing her, and her heart leapt into her throat. She turned her back on him, while he climbed out of his wooden prison, and then turned back to face him, as the sound of the lid closing, immediately followed.

"So, you came," he said, as he turned to face her again. He frowned slightly, and stepped closer to her. "Julia, my love, what's wrong?"

She sighed in relief, up until now, unaware that her doubt's had been so obvious. "I was afraid that you might have changed your mind."

He smiled indulgently, and took her in his arms. She surrendered willingly.

"I'd never do that," he said, and kissed her ardently.

The kiss grew deeper, his hands roaming the length of her back, stirring feelings inside her that had been hidden for so long. A moan of longing escaped her, and Barnabas chose that moment to pull away from her, and stand with his back to her, shoulders rigid. He bowed his head, and stared down at the floor.

"Barnabas?" she questioned, temporarily hurt by his sudden reaction.

He gathered himself before he spoke, and when he did; she knew what was wrong, immediately. "It's not your fault, Julia. It's me."

She went to him and but her hand on his shoulder. She felt him flinch, and tense. A multitude of emotions warred on Barnabas' face. He clenched his fists, until they shook. He concentrated on what Julia had taught him, when his vile hunger first awakened. He clenched his teeth, his fangs still exposed, and he closed his eyes. He would not harm her! He would not!

"I understand completely, Barnabas," she soothed him, rubbing his shoulder.

"We'll get through this, just like we always have. Maybe in another few days, we can begin again on a serum."

Knowing that he would lose this struggle if he didn't get away from her, he said, in a tight voice. "We'll discuss this another time, Julia. Go upstairs, I'll follow you in a few minutes."

He turned to face her, the conflicting emotions telling her everything, even if she hadn't seen the glint of his fangs.

She nodded, and turned to leave. As she reached the steps she turned, looking back. "I'll be alright, Julia," he said, answering her unspoken question. She nodded and continued on up to the drawing room. This was one fight he had to do on his own.