Subj: Josette's "Return"
Date: 1/8/01 5:08:01 PM Central Standard Time
From: DSRules

Having sufficiently alibied Willie, Barnabas walked George Patterson to the door, when they were interrupted by the soft tinkling of Josette's music box.

"What's that?" George asked.

"Oh, just a music box I was . . ."

"No." George interrupted. "The melody. It sounds . . . familiar somehow."

Barnabas watched as George's face transformed. "It's . . . my music box." The sheriff said.

"What?"

George turned to face him. "Barnabas?" He reached a hand out and placed it gently at the side of the vampire's face. "It is you!"

{No.} Barnabas thought. {It can't be.} "Jo - Josette?" He croaked.

"Josette?" George asked indignantly. "I'm George Patterson." His voice grew distant. "But I seem to remember another time, on an island. A beautiful, warm, sunny place, with flowers and water . . ."

The two men looked at each other, each seeing the reflection of their own soul in the other's eyes.

"You've come back to me." Barnabas sighed as he took the sheriff in his arms.

"I promise, I'll never leave you." George replied in a rapturous tone, wrapping his arms around Barnabas's neck.

Barnabas lowered his head to George's, pressing their lips together in a passionate kiss.

They separated just long enough for Barnabas to vow, "And I'll never lose you again."