Secrets Past chp 8
Date: 6/13/98
From: barnster
Barnabas sat with his head in his hands. All around him, the bustle of the hospital carried on,
almost unheeded.
Somewhere further down the hall, a buzzer sounded, summoning a nurse to a patient.
Raising to his feet, Barnabas paced the hall anxiously. His face betraying the worry he felt.
Why was Julia taking so long? Surely she had news of Sarah's condition by now?
He couldn't bare to loose her. Not after Maggie and Lucas.
He thought back to when she and the others had been born.
He had thought it ironic at the time, that Barnabas had been born on his own birthday, and
amusing, when Sarah and Daniel, had been born on his sister's birthday.
Now the unpleasant thought that his daughter might follow the same path as his sister, crossed
his mind.
He glanced at the wall clock, then resumed his frantic pacing.
Why did it have to happened today, of all days? Why!
He spied a doctor coming in his direction, and anxiously asked, "Is there any word on my
daughter?"
The doctor eyed him briefly, before returning his attention to his medical records. "I understand
that she's Dr. Hoffman's patient, Mr. Collins."
"Can't you at least tell me how long she's going to be?"
"I'm sorry, Mr. Collins," sighed the doctor, patiently. "But your daughter's case is not in my
jurisdiction. But she is in the hands of a very capable doctor. I'm sure when she's discovered..."
but Barnabas interrupted him, when he saw Julia.
"Excuse me, Julia, is there any news, he asked worriedly.
Julia watched the other doctor, as he checked a clipboard, and then disappeared down the hall.
Then she guided Barnabas over to the bench, and said, "I can't be certain, but it almost certainly
looks as if it could be the same illness as what Maggie and Lucas had. I'll be more certain, after
I've run more extensive tests."
*** Sabre, still barking furiously, strained on his leash, pulling Barnabas away from the graves
of his mother and 'baby' brother.
"Sabre! What's the matter with you!" demanded the youth, as he tried to get Sabre to heel. But
the dog seemed intent on getting him away from the graves...
***
At the hospital, Barnabas' face drained of colour, at the news. "No!" he whispered.
He would have collapsed, if Julia hadn't held onto him. She helped him sit on the bench, and said,
"Barnabas, if it is the same as Maggie's illness, I'll do whatever I can to save her. Maybe, finding
out early enough, will give me that extra time."
The anguish on his face told her all she needed to know. "You must save her, Julia! You must!"
he implored her, his voice cracking.
Placing an arm around his slumped shoulders, she said seriously, "I'll do all I can, Barnabas. You
have my promise."
***
Sabre had literally dragged Barnabas away from the cemetery, and now the boy grumpily entered
the house.
Willie, waiting in the drawing room, heard him enter, and followed him to the kitchen.
"Where have you been, all this time?" he demanded of the boy.
Barnabas gave him a contemptuous glance. "Obviously out with Sabre, Willie," he intoned
matter-of-factly. "Not that it's any concern of yours," he continued, as he directed his attention to
Sabre.
"But you are my concern, while your father ain't here," Willie informed him, with authority.
"And I can guess who he's out with," said the boy nastily. "With Julia."
"This time he has a reason," began Willie, unsure ho to tell him about Sarah.
"He always has a reason to be with her," he answered back.
Daniel came into the kitchen, and seeing that his younger brother was alone, and upset, Barnabas
said, "Daniel, what's the matter? Where's Sarah?"
The youngster looked at his older brother, with tears in his hazel eyes. "She's sick."
"Sick?" he repeated, frowning. "Where is she?"
"At the hospital. Father took her there, with Aunt Julia." Barnabas, hiding his own concern for
his sister, turned furiously to
Willie. "Why didn't you tell me?" he demanded.
"You didn't give me chance. Now where are you going?" he asked, as Barnabas headed out the
door.
"Where do you think? The hospital."
"You can't. You have to stay here," said Willie, as he followed him out the door.
Barnabas shrugged back into his jacket. "You're not my father, Willie! You can't tell me what to
do!" he said bitterly, his eyes flashing with anger. "You're not master of this house."
"But your father is, and he said for you to stay here," continued Willie, grabbing the lad's arm, in
an effort to stop him.
"Don't order me, Willie! Now let go!" he hissed, yanking his arm free.
***
He arrived at the hospital, just as his father was leaving.
"Barnabas, what are you doing here?"
"Daniel told me about Sarah. Is she going to all right, Father?"
"I don't know, son," said Barnabas, shaking his head. "Julia believes it might be the same illness
as your mother's."
"And what is she doing about it?" demanded the youth, with undisguised vehemence.
"She's doing more extensive tests," began Barnabas, trying to ignore his son's obvious anger.
"She's of the believe that if it's isolated early enough, Sarah could be in with a chance."
"Why couldn't she do that with my mother?"
Barnabas sighed deeply. "Barnabas, must we go through this just now?"
His son relented. "May I see Sarah?"
His father shook his head.
"Why not?" demanded Barnabas indignantly.
"The doctor's are with her. They'll likely be some time, and we'd only be in the way. Julia has
promised to call at the house, as soon as she discovers anything."
***
Five hours later, Julia called at the old house.
Barnabas was sat in his usual chair, when she entered the drawing room. He rose immediately,
when he saw her, and knew from the look on her face, that the news wasn't good.
"It's the same as Maggie, isn't it?" he asked anxiously.
Julia nodded. "I'm so sorry, Barnabas," she said sincerely, going over to him.
Barnabas closed his eyes, and swallowed audibly. Opening his eyes, he went over to the window,
and bowed his head.
"Can you do anything for her?" he asked after a while. From his voice, Julia knew that he was
very close to breaking down.
She went over to him, and said, "I'll do all that I can. I'll find away to fight this."
He whirled to face her: his eyes bright with unshed tears.
"You must, Julia!" he begged her. "I can't lose he again!"
Then as the tears threatened to fall, he turned away from her.
Only for Julia to turn him to face her. The anguish on his face, stabbed at her heart. Impulsively,
she drew him to her.
He finally submitted, as his arms encircled her, and he sobbed brokenly into her neck....
To be continued..
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