| Mini Challenge
"Another Way" |
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The Setting: In Parallel Time, Julia and Barnabas go to Stokes' house to destroy the body whose life force is keeping Angelique alive. When Barnabas sees the beautiful woman, he refuses to proceed as planned. (Episode # 1039)
Barnabas looked down at the young woman who lay unconscious on the table. How could he destroy such a beautiful, innocent woman? He turned away, distraught.
"I cannot do it."
"Because she is beautiful?"
"In a world filled with so much ugliness, do I have the right to destroy such beauty?"
Julia's stomach sank. This was not the time for Barnabas to allow his heart to overrule his head. She had to reason with him, useless as it would be.
"You will be destroying Angelique."
"We'll have to find another way."
"There is no other way."
"There must be."
"Angelique would kill you if she had the choice."
" I know that. I will deal with Angelique."
"How?"
Julia stared at Barnabas, frightened that he was allowing his emotions to influence his thinking, angry that he'd already decided to risk everything for a beautiful exterior. He'd made that same mistake before and apparently learned nothing from it.
"Tell me a way, Barnabas. We've been given this one opportunity. I feel as sorry for this girl as you do."
"Sorrow isn't all I feel."
"What is it, then?"
"It doesn't matter."
"It does, because whatever you feel condemns everyone at Collinwood to more of Angelique's plots. They're all in danger, Barnabas, and you're maintaining that danger."
Barnabas turned to face Julia, frustrated that she was opposing him, forgetting it was he who insisted the only way to stop Angelique was to destroy the life force.
"Julia, I want you to examine that body."
Julia sighed heavily and shook her head. She was fighting a losing battle. It was usually so with Barnabas but in this case, she could not give up, she could not give in to his demands.
"You haven't been listening to anything I've said."
"If we're able to bring her back to life, Angelique will be in that state. You said yourself that Stokes told you that Angelique exists on the strength of this girl's will to live."
"Yes, I told you that, but I haven't the vaguest idea how he accomplished it."
"Julia, you're a doctor. If you examine her, surely you'll have some idea."
"Barnabas, I'm not as confident as you that we even have the time for all this delay. If I could take her to a hospital and make tests, it would be different."
"You can come here any time you like. You can tell him that you're here to help him."
Julia stared at Barnabas with overwhelming disbelief. He was desperate to save this girl he knew nothing about. He was not thinking rationally and would have ruthlessly pointed out the idiocy of such a suggestion had she made it.
"Hoffman is a housekeeper. Stokes would laugh at me."
"I am determined to bring this girl back to life."
"Barnabas, in the past I always thought you knew what was best, but this time you are wrong. As we delay, whatever happens at Collinwood will be your responsibility."
"I will see that nothing happens at Collinwood. Now, begin the examination."
Feeling her stomach begin to roil, Julia took a small step back from where Barnabas stood nose to nose with her and turned toward the body. She reached out to check the girl's pulse but stopped just short of touching her. No. She was not going to be pushed, intimidated, or bullied into this.
"No, Barnabas."
"Julia, you will examine that body."
He stepped close to her again, his voice harsh, his eyes hard with angry determination, the slight movement of his arm indicating he was near the point of physical violence against her. Julia held her ground.
"No, Barnabas, I will not. I have done what I intended. I have learned of Angelique's plans. I have found the way to destroy her. I will not help you to keep her alive based on the physical appearance of someone you know nothing about. I don't want to destroy this girl any more than you do but we have no other choice. There is no other way."
"You must, Julia."
"No, Barnabas, the only thing I must do is what you wanted when I first arrived. I am going to return to Collinwood, go to Angelique's room and wait for it to change. These people are not your family, they are not my friends, and they mean nothing to me. My life is in that other Collinwood, in that other time, so is yours. I am going back to it."
"You would leave me here, Julia?"
"You're welcome to come with me, Barnabas. Your family is worried about you, and I can do nothing to help you if. if you are not even with me."
"The people here."
"Are not your family. They care nothing about you, would turn on you in a second if they were to learn the truth. Angelique is determined to learn that truth - your secret. Come with me, Barnabas."
Barnabas studied Julia for a long moment, then slowly shook his head.
"I cannot."
"And I cannot stay, Barnabas. I'm sorry."
"Julia."
She met his gaze one last time, then turned and left the room. He heard the door close and shut his eyes. The girl was beautiful, but. After a few moments, Barnabas opened his eyes again, took one last look at the body, and faded from the room. He'd been right, there was another way; to do as Julia requested. When she stepped into Angelique's room and locked the door, Julia was pleased and relived to see Barnabas waiting for her. He stepped close to her and gently rested his hand on her arm.
"We will wait for the room to change together, Julia. We have found another way."