Secrets Past Chp 9
Date: 6/16/98
From: barnster
When Barnabas had calmed down, considerably, Julia insisted on staying the night, and giving
him a sedative, to help him sleep.
He stared at her a moment, with re-rimmed eyes, and insisted that neither were necessary.
But she insisted, saying that she was speaking as a doctor, as well as, his friend.
Now, as the sedative began to work, he was glad that she had been so insistent.
She came over, and sat on the side of the bed, saying "The sedative should be taking effect now."
He nodded, and settled more comfortably in the bed.
He looked at her drowsily. Impulsively, he took her hand. "Thank you," he said, in a voice heavy
with sleep.
"What for?" she smiled.
"Everything," he said, as his eyes closed. "What would I ever do, without you?" he asked as he
drifted off to sleep.
She stared at him, a moment, her eyes bright. "I'm not going to ever let you find out," she
whispered. "You'll only get yourself in some kind of trouble."
When she went downstairs, Willies was waiting at the bottom. "How is he, Julia?"
She looked back upstairs, and said, "He's sleeping now. The sedative I gave him, should make
him sleep until morning."
"And what about Sarah? She will get well, won't she?" he asked with concern.
She sighed. "Oh, I hope so, Willies. If she dies, it'll destroy him."
"Aye," agreed Willies. "He worships them kids."
"You don't have to tell *me* that, Willies? I hope, that once, time is on his side."
"You don't think Angelique, or Nicholas, could have anything to do with this, do you?"
Julia shook her head. "I don't know. I hope for his sake, they're not. When ever those two are
involved in anything, he's the one who usually suffers."
***
The next day, by the time Barnabas awoke, Willies informed him, that Julia had already left for
the hospital.
While they were talking, Daniel appeared from the kitchen.
"Hey, happy birthday!" beamed Willies, on seeing the boy.
Daniel regarded him, sullenly. "Is it?" he asked. Then turning his attention to his father, he asked,
"Are you going to the hospital, Father?"
"Yes."
"May I go, too? It is Sarah's birthday, as well."
Barnabas was about to refuse, but the look on his son's face, stopped him.
"Very well. But be ready in 15 minutes."
***
Sarah smiled weakly, on seeing her father, and Daniel. Barnabas leaned over, and kissed her
fevered forehead. "Happy birthday, sweetheart," he said.
Looking at him with too bright eyes, she said, "Thank you, Father." As the door opened, her
smile broadened slightly. "Aunt Julia!"
"Well, it seems that I'm a little late for the party!" she said in greeting.
"Happy birthday, to you both," she added, as she ruffled Daniel's coppery hair, and kissed Sarah
on the cheek.
Barnabas observed everything, with his curious half smile, and a twinkle in his eyes.
After chatting to the twins for a few minutes, she turned her attention to Barnabas.
"Can I have a word, Barnabas?"
"Of course."
Out in the hall, Julia got straight to the point. "I think it would be wise, to take a blood sample
from Daniel. Since he and Sarah are twins, it might be worth finding out, if he'll be affected."
Barnabas stared at her, shocked. "Is that possible?"
"We should look on it as a possibility. Though my guess is, that he won't. He'd have shown some
sign my now."
"But there is still a chance?"
"I'm afraid so."
"What about Sarah? Have you found anything to help her?"
Julia shook her head. "I wish I could have more hopeful news," she said regrettably. "But I will
say this; if she doesn't reach the second stage, we could be in with a definite chance."
***
Almost a fortnight, had passed, and Sarah's condition had improved, slightly. At least, she
showed no signs of the second stage of her illness, to which Julia was more than grateful for.
Julia's idea that Daniel might not be affected had given Barnabas hope. Though Julia remained
cautious, keeping a careful eye on Daniel's behaviour.
During that fortnight, Barnabas' relationship with Barnabas, Jr. improved. Barnabas, Jr. silently
put this down, to the fact that Julia hardly ever came to the house now. And when she, it wasn't
for very long. Which pleased him a great deal.
Though he remained distant to his father, things weren't as strained whenever Julia's name was
mentioned.
When Julia called at the house, early one evening, Willies informed her that Barnabas was still at
the cannery.
"I'll wait. Will he be long?"
"Nah. He'll be home soon. He doesn't like leaving the kids long, now," he replied, before
disappearing down the hall.
"Aunt Julia!" came a delighted cry.
Julia smiled, "Daniel! How are you feeling?"
He looked at her seriously. "I'm O.K., I guess." Then after a pause, he asked, "Sarah will get
well, won't she?"
"Of course, she will," soothed Julia, hoping for all the world, that it would be true.
"Barnabas says she won't."
"And is he a doctor?"
"No," laughed Daniel.
"I promise to do all I can, to make her better."
"Why do you make promises, you can't hope to keep?" said Barnabas, Jr. so unexpectedly, he
made both Julia and Daniel jump. Julia stared at him, and frowned. There was something about
him, that suddenly made her afraid of him.
But she admonished herself silently, and forcing herself to keep calm, she said, "This is one
promise, I have every intention of keeping."
Barnabas looked at his brother. "Daniel, that rat of yours, needs feeding."
Daniel frowned. "No he doesn't! Anyway, I want to talk to Aunt Julia," he sulked.
Barnabas' eyes narrowed. "I say he does! Now scoot!"
Daniel considered answering him back. But the look on his older brother's face, frightened him.
He silently left the room, watched by a scowling Barnabas.
Once he'd gone, Barnabas turned his attention back to Julia. He's eyes glittered, darkly.
"Stay away from Daniel," he said dangerously. "And Sarah."
"I can't. Sarah is my patient. And Daniel is my responsibility."
Too late she realised her choice of words. Barnabas rounded on her, with a vicious tongue.
"Daniel is *not* your concern! Just stay away from him!"
"Barnabas, listen to me..."
"I've listened to all I want! If anything happens to Daniel, I'll hold you responsible. And that goes
double for Sarah."
"*Barnabas!*" came furiously from behind him.
He whirled to face his irate father, with contempt on his face.
"Aplogise to Julia, *now!*" he intoned totally outraged.....
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