Weakening

Terry S. Bowers

October 17, 2000

Unaware of exactly what it was, but certain she was being drawn to the parallel time room, Julia Hoffman carefully made her way through the darkened hall of the east wing. She had made this trip so many times she knew the way as well as she knew the path to the Old House, but she brought her flashlight long anyway. The light helped dispel some of the extreme quiet that filled the hallway.

As she neared, Julia could feel the pull of the room increase. It wasn't because of her link to Barnabas that she felt the urge to visit the room; but something else, some force even stronger. Julia didn't fully understand it, or understand what it was that compelled her, but she was not about to try and resist it. Something was telling her it was very important that she be there this evening.

Barnabas stood outside the door to Alexis' room, wondering what he would find when he opened the door, wondering how he could get back to his own time and to his friends who would protect him. This room was the key, his only way to return to his own time. He had to spend as much time here as possible.

Barnabas stood by the fireplace as Alexis left, thinking of Angelique - both in his own time and in this world of parallel time in which he now existed. He glanced toward the double doors and slowly made his way across the room.

All I can think is that it is possible that Julia in the other time - in my time - stands in that hallway seeing me here.

Barnabas moved forward several steps, his gaze resting in the near distance, in the hallway just beyond the door, wishing he could see past the barrier, wishing he could see into his own time and see if Julia was standing there, was trying to reach him.

"Julia, are you here? Julia, I must get back, I must. But how? How?"

A feeling of urgency pushed Julia forward more quickly than she felt safety would permit, but also knowing she had to hurry. She turned the corner leading to the parallel time room. The doors were open, she could hear voices. As she drew nearer, Julia saw Alexis turn and leave the room, fearing her exit would break the spell, fearing she would be too late.

"Julia, are you here?..."

"Barnabas!"

Julia Hoffman stopped short of the barrier that would not allow her to cross into parallel time. At the moment she didn't care. Barnabas was there! He was safe. Whatever had kept him from her, from this room had changed.

"Barnabas, I'm here! I see you! I'm here!"

"... Julia, I must get back, I must. But how? How?"

"I don't know, Barnabas... Stay. Stay in that room as long as you can. It will change. It will bring you back."

Julia watched as Barnabas' gaze wandered about the room, seeking something. She ached to be able to weaken or break the barrier, to stand in the same room with him again, to talk with him again.

"Barnabas..."

Not daring to close her eyes, fearing if she did the room would change and she would lose Barnabas to parallel time again, Julia fixed her gaze on him and concentrated. She watched as he slowly turned from the door, looking around the room again.

Barnabas, I'm here! I'm here...

Collins paused, as if he'd heard a noise, distant and faint. Slowly he turned back toward the door again and crossed the floor until he stood mere inches from where Julia stood. Had the barrier not kept them inaccessible to each other, they could have reached out, touched, pulled each other into a re-uniting embrace.

"Julia, are you here?"

"Yes, Barnabas, I am here." Yes, Barnabas, I am here.

Julia strained against the barrier, her hand pressing into it, trying in vain to get past it. Barnabas raised his hand, pressing against the barrier as well. To the naked eye, it looked as if their palms touched, as if their hands made contact, ready to lace their fingers together; that a weakening of the barrier was taking place; a weakening that would almost - almost - allow them to touch. To Barnabas and Julia they felt a pressure trying to push them away, the steady force of like ends of two magnets repelling each other.

"Barnabas."

His eyes, although unable to see her, met Julia's. His expression was one of longing, of loneliness, of desperation. He wanted to be home.

"Julia, I want to come home. I want to be with those who care about me, with people I know, who will protect me, those who... love me. I want to be with you, Julia."

A lump had formed in Julia's throat and she swallowed it down. She knew Barnabas could not hear her, but she had to answer him anyway.

"I will protect you, Barnabas. I have always loved you. Come home, Barnabas. You must."

"Julia..."

The room winked and was gone, the barrier weakening for only a brief moment, allowing Julia and Barnabas to believe they had felt the touch of each others' hand for an instant. The empty, dark room of this time was suddenly before Julia.

"No! Barnabas!"

The pain of being separated from Barnabas grew more acute. Julia slowly stepped into the room, hoping it would change, hoping she could go to Barnabas, or he could come to her, but nothing happened.

Julia took a deep breath and mastered her emotions, forcing herself to think more clearly. This was the first time she had seen Barnabas in parallel time. Whatever had kept him away was no longer a concern. He now had access to the room, which meant his chances of returning had drastically increased. A smile of hope played across Julia's face.

"Barnabas, I'm here. We'll find a way."

Barnabas Collins had just stepped from Alexis' room when he felt something different in the air. He turned around and gasped. The room had changed. He saw Julia entering it from almost the exact spot where he now stood. She took a deep breath and he watched as a small smile came to Julia's face.

"Barnabas, I'm here. We'll find a way."

"Julia!"

He stepped back to the barrier and raised his hand, pressing it against the invisible wall that allowed him to see Julia, but nothing more. She turned back toward the door slowly and retraced her steps. Standing directly in front of him, Julia raised her hand and pressed it against the invisible barrier, her hand touching Barnabas' save for the invisible wall between them.

"We'll find a way, Barnabas."