Subj: Kate Chapter 12
Date: 5/2/00 4:34:49 AM Central Daylight Time
From: Karen

Kate woke up with a feeling of contentment. She hugged herself and thought about the previous night. She was surprised she didn’t know about her feelings about Barnabas before. Kate was new to the feelings a man and woman felt for each other. She had never loved anyone except her family and her animals. This feeling she had now was very different. It filled her whole being, threatening to spill out and spread to the world. She wanted to shout her love for Barnabas Collins from the rooftops.

David’s voice interrupted her musings. "I’m hungry. What’s for breakfast?" he said, unzipping his sleeping bag.

"Me, too, bud. Let’s tear down our camp and make for the house. I’ll bet Mrs. Johnson has a hearty breakfast waiting for us at home."

Just thinking about a huge breakfast stirred David to move quickly. "Hurry, let’s get this stuff picked up and packed. Let’s go, let’s go!" he urged.

It took the two of them about 30 minutes to pack up and get underway. They walked silently, David thinking of his stomach, Kate’s mind on Barnabas. As they approached the house, Kate stopped at her van. "Go ahead, David. I am going to put my stuff in the van. I’ll be right in." David was so eager to eat breakfast, he didn’t even question her.

Kate watched as David closed the door behind her. She unlocked the van and stepped in, putting her pack on the floor. Opening the chest, she pulled out the screen. Grabbing a bag, she shoved the screen in it quickly. Kate got out of the van and locked the door. She entered the house and practically ran to her room.

Kate hoped she did not encounter any of the residents of Collinwood in the hallway. Luckily, they were either still in bed or at breakfast. Locking her bedroom door behind her, Kate sat at the desk and opened the bag. Taking out the screen, she put the bag on the floor. Fiddling with the buttons, she was able to make the connection. An image of a man appeared on the screen.

"Well," he demanded, "what do you have to report?"

Kate took a deep breath and said, "I have all the research completed on Joseph’s family. I have also been asking Dr. Hoffman about her medical research. I am hoping she will start to trust me so that I can obtain the other information we need. That’s about it." She finished speaking, waiting for a response.

"We need the information as quickly as possible, Kate. It is imperative that we receive it within the next 3 weeks. Ryan’s life depends on it!" the man said.

"I know, Stephen, I am doing everything I can. How are things at home?" she asked.

"Your grandparents send their love. Nonnie wants to know if you are eating your vegetables, of course. They are anxious for your return, as are we all. Your cats are driving me nuts! I swear they look at me as if to say, ‘Okay, where is she?’. It is getting scary." Stephen complained.

Kate sighed and said, "Tell everyone I am fine and hope to be back soon. How is Ryan doing? Please tell him it shouldn’t be too much longer."

Stephen smiled grimly. "Ryan is doing as well as can be expected, considering the position he finds himself in. We are keeping him comfortable as possible. Hurry with that info, Kate. I am not sure how much longer he will last." he said pleadingly.

Kate looked at Stephen pityingly. Since Ryan’s illness, Stephen had become lost without his friend and partner. He left no stone unturned, looking for a cure for Ryan’s illness. He looked like he hadn’t slept in days. "Don’t worry, man. It will be alright. I had better go. It’s time for breakfast and I am famished! Talk to you in a couple of days, okay?" Kate started to turn off the screen, but Stephen stopped her.

"You look different. Is there something you aren’t telling me, Kate?" he asked.

"Different, how?" she said warily.

"I don’t know, just different." Stephen thought for a moment. "I know, you look happier. What gives, friend? Are you in love or something?" he teased.

Kate blushed scarlet. "Stephen, I don’t know what you are talking about." she said, trying to convince him and herself, but not succeeding.

"Okay, don’t talk about it. Just remember, you have another life here. You don’t have time for entanglements, got it?" he ordered.

"Yes, I have got it. See you in a couple of days, Stephen. Signing off." Kate pushed a button and the screen went black. ‘Damn it,’ Kate thought to herself, ‘is it that obvious?’ She walked to the mirror and looked at her face intently. She looked like the same person she always saw in the mirror. Okay, maybe her eyes were sparkling a bit, but only a little. Kate ran her fingers through her hair. ‘A shower would feel great right now’, she thought. Grabbing her bathroom bag, she headed for the shower.



Barnbas paced the living room of the Old House. ‘When will she be here’, he thought. Willie had come into the room a half-dozen times asking what was wrong. Each time Barnabas had spoken sharply to him. He felt badly about treating Willie so poorly. Poor Willie didn’t know Barnabas was just impatient for Kate to arrive this morning. He decided the next time Willie came in, he would apologize for his gruffness. After all, he had a lot of things to be grateful to Willie for. If Willie hadn’t let him out of his coffin all those years ago, Barnabas wouldn’t be here today; waiting for Kate. Of course, if Julia hadn’t cured him, he would still be that hateful creature; a vampire!

Thinking of Julia, Barnbas felt a pang of guilt. Julia was always there for him. He knew she loved him. He just was unable to return her love. Maybe Julia would be happy that with Kate, his obsession with Josette seemed to have vanished. Kate made him forget Josette. And Kate came to him willingly! Julia would just have to get over any jealous feelings she might have towards Kate.

Barnabas thought about last night’s events. He had never dreamt that kissing Kate would feel like it did. Barnabas was not without experience with women. With Kate, it was all new. No one had excited him as she did last night. Not even his beloved Josette. Perhaps it was because Kate was a modern woman. Vicki had been a modern woman, too, but he didn’t feel the same way then as now. He wandered to the window to check for Kate again just as Willie came into the room.

"Whatcha waitin’ for, Barnabas?" Willie asked. He was a little nervous after his reception earlier, but took a chance anyway.

"Willie, I am sorry about the way I treated you this morning. I am just anxious for Kate to come to see me." Barnabas said.

Willie scratched his head. "Oh, yeah, how was the weenie roast? Somehow I can’t imagine you roughin’ it, Barnabas. Wish I had been there to see it." he chuckled to himself, seeing a picture in his mind.

Barnabas laughed, too. "It was most interesting, Willie. I had a surprisingly good time." he said. He checked the window for what seemed the thousandth time.

"Maybe if you sat down and read, she’ll come sooner." Willie suggested. "I can bring you a cup of coffee. Whatta ya think, Barnabas?" Without waiting for an answer, Willie headed to the kitchen for the coffee.

Barnabas grabbed a book from the shelf and sat down. He opened it and attempted to read, but couldn’t keep his mind on the passage. Willie silently brought him his coffee and left the room. Barnabas stared at the clock. 10 o’clock! Where was she?

Kate took a last look in the mirror before heading out the door of Collinwood. As she walked swiftly towards the Old House, she thought, ‘Stephen is right. I can’t afford to get involved with Barnabas. What am I going to do? I can’t stay here much longer. What a mess I have got myself into!" She continued in this vein until she was in sight of the Old House. Kate’s heart started to race at the thought of seeing Barnabas again. Suddenly, she saw him at the door. Just as suddenly, she broke into a run. She stopped just short of the front of the house. Catching her breath, she looked at Barnabas. Without a word, he came towards her and took her into his arms. He kissed her and said, "Welcome, my dearest."

Kate felt tears well up in her eyes. She was so happy to see Barnabas she couldn’t help herself. He brushed at her tears as they fell to her cheeks. He smiled at her, lovingly kissing the last of the tears away. "I never want to leave here," Kate cried. "I want to stay with you forever."

"I will not let you go, Kate, ever," Barnabas vowed. He kissed her again and arm-in-arm, the two lovers entered the Old House.

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.