Right arm crossed over her abdomen, left elbow resting on the back of her right hand while she gently rubbed the knuckles of her left hand under her chin in a gesture of worry, Julia Hoffman slowly paced the Collinwood drawing room. She checked her wrist watch, trying not to worry about Barnabas and having little luck. He'd gone out hours before to look for the animal that had attacked Carolyn in her mother's mausoleum earlier that night. The brief respite from worry she'd experienced when she'd gone to the cottage to check on Chris Jennings hadn't eased Julia's fears much, for when she reached the small house, she found it a mess and Chris missing.

Julia sighed and looked at her watch again. She had gone to the cottage to check on Chris because it was the only way she could prevent Amy from going there herself. Julia had not liked telling Amy that everything was all right when she feared it was not, but she knew it to be the only way to ease Amy's fears and get the child back to bed. Julia's own concern for Barnabas grew when she saw the condition of the cottage, and Julia feared both men might have been attacked by the animal.

Hearing the clock in the hallway begin to chime the hour, Julia moved to look out the windows of the drawing room. It was nearly an hour past dawn. She took a deep breath to calm herself and resumed her slow pacing of the room, not knowing what else to do.

Beginning to think she should just get her coat and go out to look for Barnabas herself, Julia turned from the window when she heard the front door open, then close. She hurried into the foyer, relieved to see Barnabas. He looked tired and pale, and as he hung his cape and cane on a hook in the entryway, Julia realized he also seemed to be in pain.

"Barnabas...?"

He gave her a weak smile as he walked toward her, meeting Julia's worried gaze.

"Did you find the animal?"

"Yes, I did, Julia."

"And?"

"I shot it, almost at point blank range. I know I hit it in the chest, but it seemed to have no effect, except to anger it. We struggled and after I used my cane to strike it, the animal ran off."

"I don't understand. It makes no sense."

"No, it doesn't, and yet..."

Barnabas shook his head, puzzled, and looked down at his hands, at the makeshift bandage he'd put on that was beginning to soak through with blood. Julia followed his gaze when mild pain crossed Barnabas' face, and she took a step closer, reaching out to touch his arm.

"Barnabas, what happened?"

"My hand was injured - scratched - during my struggle with the animal. It's nothing."

"You'd better let me examine it."

"I'm fine, Julia!"

He was tired and frustrated, and he'd not meant to snap at Julia. She seemed not to notice or else chose to ignore it. Instead Barnabas saw an impassive, stubborn look cross Julia's features. It was a look with which he was well acquainted, and knew it meant she did not believe him and was not about to argue with him concerning a medical matter.

"I would know that better than you, Barnabas. Let me examine your hand."

Her tone told him he had no choice in the matter, and Julia fixed him with a hard stare. Barnabas took a deep breath to protest and refuse, then released it slowly, giving in. She was right and he couldn't argue.

"Very well, Julia."

His tone of voice made it sound as if the examination was to be a great imposition, but in truth Barnabas would welcome Julia's ministrations. His hand hurt and he could feel the blood beginning to seep from the wound again.

Julia studied Barnabas for a quick moment, then smiled to herself as she took his arm and led him to the couch in the drawing room. He wasn't fooling either of them, but if he wanted to think she didn't see through his small ruse, she would let him. So long as he let her examine the wound, she really didn't care.

Julia directed Barnabas to sit on the couch. She reached for her bag on the table, where she'd left it earlier that night after treating Carolyn. Julia sat beside Barnabas and drew his injured right hand into her lap. She began to carefully cut away the handkerchief he'd used for the bandage.

"How long ago did this happen?"

Barnabas watched, fascinated, while Julia cut the bandage away and eased it from the wound, revealing his injuries.

"Two, perhaps three hours."

"Why did you wait so long to come back here?"

"I wanted to see if I could track the animal. Injured as it was, I was certain I should be able to easily follow it, but... I was mistaken. It is no normal, ordinary animal, Julia."

She nodded, but her concentration was on Barnabas' hand. She used a square of gauze to blot the blood away, then gently lifted his hand to carefully examine the scratches on the back of it, moving each finger to be certain there was no tendon or muscle damage. Julia then reached for a bottle of antiseptic and another square of gauze.

"There doesn't seem to be any permanent damage, Barnabas. I have to clean these scratches thoroughly, and this will sting."

He nodded and watched while Julia went about cleaning his wounds, sucking in a hissed breath as the first of the antiseptic made contact with his injured flesh. While Julia worked, she commented on his wounds.

"Some of these lacerations are rather deep, but none so bad that you'll require stitches, Barnabas. However, until the flesh begins to heal, I suggest you use your hand as little as possible. I know that won't be easy, but do try."

Julia glanced up to meet Barnabas' gaze as she placed a clean dressing on the wound, then began to wrap a bandage around his hand to keep the dressing in place. When she finished, she again met Barnabas' gaze, smiling in response to the grateful look he gave her.

"Thank you Julia. It feels much better."

"You're welcome Barnabas. I'll check your wound and change the dressing tomorrow, but I don't think there will be any complications, and the chance of infection is minimal. After the wounds heal, there may be some faint scaring, but that should fade with time."

Barnabas nodded his understanding, then leaned back against the couch while Julia cleaned up the mess from her ministrations. She watched him for a moment, then gently laid a hand on his arm. Barnabas opened his eyes and brought his head forward.

"I can give you something for the pain if you'd like."

"No, thank you, Julia. The pain is not bad. I'm just tired."

"Go upstairs and lie down. I'll wake you in a few hours."

Barnabas met Julia's caring gaze, very much wanting to do as she suggested, but he could not. There was too much to do that day. He wanted to be there when Chris Jennings came by to see Carolyn.

"I'll be all right, Julia."

"At least go into Roger's study and rest until Mrs. Johnson has breakfast ready."

Slowly Collins nodded and rose from the couch, smiling tiredly at Julia.

"Very well."

Julia stood with him and gave Barnabas' arm a gentle squeeze, her gaze telling him things she would never voice because he was not ready to hear them. He acknowledged with a nod, then turned and left the drawing room, heading for Roger's study. Julia hoped he would fall asleep, and while she would check on him when breakfast was ready, she would not wake him if he slept.

Gathering up the debris from having treated Barnabas' wounds, Julia headed toward the back of the house to dispose of it in the trash. She was puzzled by the fact the gunshot had not killed or even seriously injured the animal, and knew this was just the beginning of something horribly frightening.

Terry S. Bowers
December 20, 1999