Answer

Terry S. Bowers

November 1, 2000

Closing the door to Buffie Harrington's small apartment behind him, Barnabas Collins briefly closed his eyes in relief. It had been a close call, and he hoped Cyrus Longworth believed his explanation for Buffie's faint. If he did not, something would have to be done about Doctor Longworth.

Checking the immediate area to be certain he was unobserved, Barnabas swiftly left the shelter of the house. He was at the end of the street, heading for the Old House - Loomis House - when he felt what could only be described as a pang in his mind. It was a quick, fleeing moment of fear, of loss, of dread. It had not come from him and almost without thinking Barnabas realized it had been from Julia.

Barnabas concentrated on the thought - the sensation - for a moment, puzzled by the reaction he'd sensed from her. Not only loss, but anger and sorrow had come from her and it took Barnabas several seconds to realize Julia was reacting to the fact he had just taken Buffie as his victim. He knew his link with Julia was far from strong, no where near as unbreakable as that which he shared with most victims, but she nevertheless felt and experienced what he now shared with Miss Harrington. Julia would have been able to sense his great need for blood through their link, just as he suspected she now felt his need to have been sated.

Barnabas continued to walk back toward Collinwood, his thoughts on Julia and what her reaction could mean. He had never given any thought to what his victims felt or experienced. Their purpose was to serve him and do exactly what he commanded them to do. Their own wishes and needs and reactions were unimportant. But Julia was not his victim, she was not a source of blood for him. She was a dear friend, his anchor to his own time, to his own existence. Julia was more than a dear friend, she was the woman who loved him unconditionally, who would and had done anything for him. She was the one person he needed more than anyone - in ways far more important that someone to sate his physical needs or to quench his blood lust.

Barnabas didn't fully understand what Julia's reactions were or what she was sensing through their link, how his taking Buffie's blood had affected her, but he knew he had to - somehow - reassure her that nothing had changed between them.

He was waiting for the message he received from her each night and was a little taken aback when, instead of her usual request that he come home, Barnabas heard Julia's frightened, almost plaintive voice ask, Barnabas?

Barnabas paused, his concentration now fully on Julia. He did not understand, but he did not want to cause Julia any further dismay. His answer was a simple one, filled with as much warmth, affection, reassurance and sincerity as he could send her over the distance of time bands through the link he sensed had somehow weakened slightly this night.

Julia, I shall always need you.

He smiled when he felt her calm. Somehow they would find a way to make it all well.