Subj: FFL: Burning Embers Chapter 6
Date: 99-02-25 14:03:40 EST
From: Cassie Rademacher

"Maggie?" Maggie felt a sudden chill run through her as she looked guiltily at the ragged man who stood before her. He looked exhausted and ill.

"Joe?" she whispered.

Nicholas looked over at them, smiled charmingly at Maggie, and then turned his attention back to Elizabeth. Maggie was stunned; she'd thought Joe was still at Windcliff. "Yes, it's me--do I look so different?"

"Well, I--" Maggie began, stuttering, trying not to hurt Joe's feelings. Of course he looked different--he looked like a ragamuffin, one of the homeless Vietnam veterans who were beginning to show up in more frequent numbers in the big cities. "It's just that I didn't expect to see you--"

"I know." Joe smiled a little grimly. "I've been in a half way house down in Bangor. I had a job, but I kind of lost my temper and had a disagreement with the boss--well, I hit him. I didn't want them to send me back, and so I thumbed my way back here. I thought Chris might still be in town, but he and Amy are gone..." His voice trailed off. When he spoke again, it was a little reproachfully. "You never came to see me, Maggie."

Maggie was filled with guilt and pity. "I know. I'm sorry, Joe."

"I mean, I knew it was over between us--but I thought we could be friends..."

"Of course we're friends," Maggie interrupted, miserable now. "I'm so sorry! I never meant to hurt you, Joe. Do you have a place to stay?"

He shrugged. Maggie threw a quick glance over her shoulder at Nicholas and Elizabeth. The hell with Nicholas, she thought.
She stood up. "Why don't you come with me to Collinwood. You look like you could use a good meal and a shower, too."

"Collinwood?" Joe echoed blankly.

"Yes--there's been a lot of changes here, too. I'm the governess now."

"I always knew you were smarter than you gave yourself credit for, Maggie," Joe said humbly. "Are you sure no one will mind? Maybe
we better ask Mrs. Stoddard..."

"Yes, of course," Maggie answered, feeling resentful at having to approach her employer. However, she arranged her features pleasantly and went to the table where Nicholas and Elizabeth were sitting to ask if it would be all right to bring Joe to Collinwood.

"But of course, Maggie," Elizabeth replied pleasantly and with some compassion. "Poor Joe! He doesn't look well. He needs to be fattened up!"

"Yes, he does," Nicholas agreed smoothly, a gleam in his eye.

"Well, thank you, Mrs. Stoddard," Maggie said, backing away. She turned to tell Joe that he was welcome to come to Collinwood with her. He was staring beyond her, though, with wide frightened eyes. He was staring at the back of Nicholas' head.

"My dear Julia!" Barnabas exclaimed, drawing his old friend into the bedroom with his friendliest smile.

"Barnabas," Julia greeted him, with a hesitant smile. She felt lost and thrown off balance. She hadn't felt this way in a long
time, not since those confusing days when she'd hovered between love, hatred, and jealousy for Barnabas. Now she felt as if her heart was breaking. Her marriage seemed to be crumbling into dust as her errant husband pursued first Roxanne and then Maggie--faithless and feckless fool, she thought bitterly. She wondered what would become of the children, only just beginning to recover from the emotional wounds of coming from broken, abusive homes.

"Please come in. We need to talk. First, though, I wonder if you would mind examining Roxanne for me?" Barnabas asked softly, taking her by the arm.

"I don't mind," Julia answered. "Is something wrong?"

"Well, as I told you," Barnabas whispered smoothly, "I believe that Nicholas Blair is the cause of all our troubles here. I believe he's placed a spell on Roxanne, and I am very worried about her. If she is physically all right, I would really like to send her back to England--to keep her safe." He led further into the room. Roxanne stood at the window with her back to them, staring moodily at the lawn outside. Barnabas half turned and gave Julia a significant look, as if to say: You see?

"Roxanne," Julia greeted, and the younger woman started. She looked at Julia, blushed furiously and then looked away guiltily.

"My love, I would like Julia to examine you to make sure that everything is well. I will give you some privacy."

Roxanne got up without question. She, too, felt completely off-balance. "Very well, my dear," she responded, not knowing that Barnabas flinched inwardly and writhed with anger at the endearment.

"Julia, did you leave Jamie in the kitchen?" Barnabas asked.

"Well, no, Willie just came by looking for Quentin. He took Jamie along with him to see Jon and Donna."

"I see." Barnabas' features remained composed but he was extremely angry. "Well, then, I shall go for a walk for a few minutes then."

"I thought you were tired?" Roxanne asked faintly.

"I am, my love, but you know how a good walk always refreshes me," Barnabas responded with his most charming smile. "Now, you cooperate with Julia and I'll return shortly." He gave Julia a significant look and left.

Julia felt confused. From her many years of friendship with Barnabas, she knew what he wanted: Roxanne was to go to England and that was that. Besides, Julia thought to herself, that would effectively remove her from Quentin's sight. She sighed. As if that would help save the marriage, she thought despairingly. There's Maggie, too...and yet, Barnabas was her friend. If for nothing else, she would do as he wanted to help him save his own marriage.

Maggie brought Joe into Collinwood, speaking to him in low, reassuring tones. On the drive here, she'd tried to get him to tell her what was frightening him so. He insisted that he couldn't remember, but it had something to do with that dark haired man and a house by the sea. Maggie almost reminded him that Nicholas had once rented the house by the sea but then decided against it. Something obviously disturbed Joe about the memory, and she didn't want to worsen matters by saying something that would inadvertently trigger something traumatic to resurface in his mind.

They heard voices speaking from the drawing room. Maggie recognized Roger's and Cassandra's voices. So, they were finally home! "Let's go say hello, Joe, and then I'll ask Mrs. Johnson to fix you something to eat," Maggie suggested gently, taking Joe by the hand. She led him to the door of the drawing room, where the tanned and happy couple turned toward them. There was a faint look of dismay in Cassandra's eyes. Maggie didn't have time to wonder about that, though, because Joe groaned and fainted, falling to the floor in a heavy heap. His head made a dull smacking sound as it hit the ground.

"My God!" Roger cried, rushing forward to bend over Joe's still form. Maggie knelt beside her former fiancé, distraught. Roger felt for Joe's pulse. Finding it, he looked at Maggie.

"Where did he come from? Wasn't he at Windcliff?"

"He was," Maggie answered tearfully. "He was released..."

"Roger, perhaps you could bring him in here," Cassandra suggested.

"Good idea," Roger agreed. He managed to get under Joe's shoulders and, with Maggie and Cassandra each taking a leg, they managed to get the unconscious young man onto the sofa in the drawing room. "I should call Julia."

"Yes--he may have a concussion," Cassandra agreed. As Roger left to use the phone in the foyer, Cassandra suggested, "Maggie, why don't you get some blankets? He might go into shock and we'll need them." Maggie rushed from the room, and Cassandra knelt down beside Joe. She had to act quickly. Placing her fingers lightly on his forehead, she whispered into his ear: "Hear me, Joe Haskell. When you open your eyes again, you'll look at me and you won't feel any fear at all. You will not remember me or she who victimized you at the House by the Sea. You will see only Roger's wife, Cassandra."

Roger came into the room. "I just spoke to Quentin. It seems Julia is not there. Shall I call another doctor?"

Cassandra removed her hand and answered, "It might be a good idea, Roger. He seems feverish." She stood up. Joe moaned and began to stir. He moved restlessly on the sofa and then opened his eyes, looking around in confusion. Maggie came in just then with a blanket.

"Haskell," Roger asked, "how are you feeling?"

Joe looked blank for a moment. "Mr. Collins?" he asked hesitantly. He looked directly at Cassandra and then at Maggie. "What happened to me?"

"You fainted, man! How are you?"

"A little woozy, I guess, but I think I'm all right."

"When was the last time you ate, Joe?" Maggie asked.

After a moment, Joe answered, "Sometime yesterday morning, I think."

"Well, it's no wonder you fainted then!" Cassandra exclaimed. Joe looked at her again, and Cassandra was relieved to see her spell had worked. He no longer remembered her. "You feel a bit feverish, too, Mr. Haskell, but more than anything else, I think you need something to eat."

"I'll ask Mrs. Johnson to prepare something," Roger offered, leaving Cassandra and Maggie alone with Joe.

"I--I just met him in town," Maggie explained, feeling nervous. For some reason, Mrs. Collins had always unnerved her. "He came into the coffee shop--I was just there with Willie, and then Mr. Blair and Mrs. Stoddard came in and Willie left, and then--" Maggie realized she was dithering but couldn't seem to stop herself.

Cassandra's eyes flashed with anger that Maggie didn't see. "Mr. Blair and Mrs. Stoddard!" she interrupted, sounding shocked.

"Yes," Maggie answered miserably, her head still down. "They've become quite--close."

Cassandra's eyes widened further as she realized the implication of Maggie's words.

This wasn't supposed to happen, she thought furiously. What happened to my spell? He was to fall in love with Maggie and out of favor with Diabolos! That Nicholas was now involving himself with Elizabeth could only mean trouble--for her and Roger, that is. She didn't care about anyone else, but she did care about her marriage and her children, who were now safely upstairs with their nanny. "Well, Maggie," she said softly, hiding the menace in her voice, "you must tell me all about it."

The children tried not to giggle as they hid from their "Cousin Shane" in the library. They knew that he would not have an easy time finding them because they were little and could squeeze their little bodies into tight spaces. Donna noted that Daddy was ineffectively hiding behind a lamp. "He'll see you, Daddy!" she hissed warningly. Her father put his finger to his lips and grinned at her.

"Ready or not, here I come!" Shane called out. Immediately he cried out, "Aha! There you are, Grant!"

"Got me," Quentin readily admitted.

"You're 'it!'" Shane declared, and three little heads popped up. "Oh, I never would have found you!" The little ones giggled gleefully. At that point, someone pounded at the door.

"You know, Grant, it's at times like these that you really out to dig into your advance and find the funds to get yourself a gentleman's gentleman," Shane advised, trying to be helpful. "Look, you get the door and I'll play with the kids."

The children were all wildly enthusiastic about that idea, so Quentin went to answer the door, wondering who it could be. It had been a very difficult two days for him--the misunderstanding and fight with Julia, Barnabas' spell, Maggie's pursuit, and now Willie's bizarre behavior which he was just humoring for the moment. What now? He opened the door and was dismayed and frightened to see his cousin standing there, smiling at him. "Hello, Quentin!" Barnabas exclaimed. "How are you?" When Quentin just stood staring at him, Barnabas went on mildly, "Aren't you going to invite me in?"

"Ah--yes," Quentin stepped back and reluctantly let Barnabas into the house. "I thought you were still at--"

"Windcliff? I was, but Julia had me released when she saw I'd recovered."

"You have?"

"Yes--and I want to apologize to you most sincerely for the abusive way I've behaved toward you since--well, since Alexandria."

"It's all right," Quentin said, trying to keep his teeth from chattering. He could hear and understand what Barnabas was saying to him, and so he could not understand what was happening to him. He wanted Barnabas to come to him, pull him into an embrace, caress him...

"Quentin, are you feeling all right?" Barnabas asked, concerned.

Quentin tried to pull himself together, looking away, feeling ashamed and guilty. "Yes, yes," he muttered.

"Are you quite sure? I understand that Jamie is here, and I can take him home if you're not well--"

"No, no!" Quentin protested. "He's fine, Barnabas, he's playing with Jon and Donna and--"

He broke off and Barnabas leaned toward him and very gently stroked his cheek. He felt suddenly dizzy, as if he couldn't breathe.

"That's better now, isn't it, Quentin?" Barnabas said soothingly. "Come, let's sit down and you can tell me all about it." He took Quentin's hand gently and led him into the sitting room as if he was a child. They sat on the sofa together, and Barnabas pulled Quentin's head onto his shoulder, gently caressing his face. "Poor Quentin, you've been so terribly confused, haven't you?"

In spite of the gentle, soothing words, Quentin could hear a hint of menace. Barnabas fingers' were lightly stroking his face,
outlining his ear and his brow. The sensation made him shiver with pleasure; he could feel himself becoming aroused. It was not just desire for Barnabas that was causing it--there was also the knowledge that there was violence poised in those fingertips. The anticipation was maddening. "This is more than comforting to you, isn't it?" Barnabas whispered into his ear. "You're enjoying the feel of my touch upon you. You'd like me to go further, wouldn't you?" His cousin's fingers were now rubbing the back of his neck and had begun to stray below his shirt collar. "Would you like to feel my hands on your back, massaging you, relaxing your aching muscles? Are you wondering what it would feel like for me to kiss you?"

"Yes," Quentin replied immediately, in a soft, hypnotic tone. Part of him recoiled with horror.

Abruptly, Barnabas pulled away and got to his feet. "You dare!" he roared in fury. He struck Quentin with his open hand hard enough to knock him to the floor. Quentin was too stunned, ashamed, and horrified at himself to try and defend himself even when he saw that Barnabas intended to kick him. He shut his eyes tightly, waiting, and heard Barnabas' surprised yelp. Opening his eyes, he was astounded to see that Shane was standing over Barnabas, who was now prone on the floor, too.

"Don't you hit my cousin again, see?" Shane growled menacingly. "I dunno who the hell you think you are comin here and treatin Grant this way!"

"Willie, you ass!" Barnabas roared angrily, struggling to get to his feet. "He is not your cousin at all, you idiot! Besides, ask him what he tried to do--"

"No!" Quentin protested, finally finding his voice. It wasn't true! He hadn't done anything! It was--as he looked into Barnabas' eyes, he realized suddenly that his cousin had them all fooled--Julia, included. He was a madman on the loose. But you won't say a word, dear cousin, he heard Barnabas' voice in his mind. You want my touch too much to give me away.

The three children were suddenly there. "Daddy, daddy!" Jamie cried, running to his father. Jonathan sucked his fingers, staring at his adopted father. It was something he did to soothe himself when he was upset.

"What's wrong?" Donna asked hesitantly. It was obvious that she was frightened, too.

"Nuttin, honey," Shane said to the little girl. "We was just having a game of freeze tag, your daddy, me and Jamie's daddy. Ain't that right?"

"Of course," Barnabas agreed smoothly. "What else would we be doing?" He cuddled his little son to him and ruffled his blonde hair.

Julia was just coming to the bottom of the steps at the Old House when the door opened and Barnabas swept in, carrying his son in his arms.

"Oh, good, Barnabas," Julia said. Barnabas thought contemptuously that she seemed pathetically grateful to see him. "I've examined Roxanne, and she seems to be all right physically. However, we did discuss the complications that deep stress could put on her pregnancy. She's agreed to go back to London until after your child is born."

Barnabas looked relieved. "Good news! Then we can fight Nicholas Blair freely--I won't have to worry about Roxanne. It will be like old times, Julia, you and I."

"Quentin--" Julia began hesitantly.

"Quentin is unstable, unreliable and unfaithful, isn't he, my dear old friend," Barnabas said in a soft low voice. "You deserved better, my poor Julia."

Julia felt as if she'd been hit in the stomach. For just a moment, she thought she'd detected cold hatred in Barnabas' eyes and in his tone. How could he say that? She opened her mouth to speak and then realized that Barnabas was looking at her with compassionate and sympathetic concern. His brown eyes were filled with pain because of her suffering. My God, she thought, am I losing my mind? "B-Barnabas," she stuttered, trying to regain control of herself, "I-I can call the airline and use my discount through Windcliff to book a flight for Roxanne and Jamie--"

"Not Jamie!" Barnabas broke in.

Julia was shocked. "But--"

"Jamie stays with me!" Barnabas declared firmly.

From the top of the stairs, Roxanne announced: "Then so do I!" Julia spun around to look at her. At that moment, Roxanne looked down and made eye-contact with Julia. The two women stared at each other mutely. Neither saw the look of bitter hatred cross Barnabas' features.