Flames of Purification

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#CC9900" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="047005a0dwnjzk.gif"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cassies Writing"><U><B>home</B></U></A><B>     | </B><B> </B><B> </B><B>  </B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>Cassie's Writing</B></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id87.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="All Hallows Eve"><U><B>All Hallows' Eve</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id88.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fall Camoflage"><U><B>Fall Camoflage</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id89.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Puzzle Pieces: Cyrus"><U><B>Puzzle Pieces:  Cyrus</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id90.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Puzzle Pieces: Roxanne"><U><B>Puzzle Pieces:  Roxanne</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id91.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Puzzle Pieces: Claude"><U><B>Puzzle Pieces:  Claude</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id92.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Christmas Magick"><U><B>Christmas Magick</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id93.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Puzzle Pieces: Maggie"><U><B>Puzzle Pieces:  Maggie</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id94.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Winters Deep Freeze"><U><B>Winter's Deep Freeze</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id95.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Puzzle Pieces: Sabrina"><U><B>Puzzle Pieces:  Sabrina</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id96.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Frostbite"><U><B>Frostbite</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id97.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Puzzle Pieces: The Collins Family"><U><B>Puzzle Pieces:  The Collins Family</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id98.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Biding Time in Purgatory"><U><B>Biding Time in Purgatory</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id99.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Puzzle Pieces: Quentin"><U><B>Puzzle Pieces:  Quentin</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id100.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Family Secrets"><U><B>Family Secrets</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id102.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Vortex"><U><B>Vortex</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id101.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Spring Whirlwind"><U><B>Spring Whirlwind</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id103.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Den of Vipers"><U><B>Den of Vipers</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id104.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Puzzle Pieces: Angelique"><U><B>Puzzle Pieces:  Angelique</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id105.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Converging Forces"><U><B>Converging Forces</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><B>Flames of Purification</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Flames of Purification</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id85.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Adam in Parallel Time"><U><B>Adam in Parallel Time</B></U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> "Adam, we're just running all over Collinwood getting nothin done," Randy complained, out of breath and exasperated.  The caretakers' cottage was empty.  They were at the carriage house, now, and someone had been here recently.  Roxanne, both men were sure of it-there were remnants of a meal on the table.  She was gone again.  Where?  Adam concentrated, trying to think.</div> <div> "She goes to and from Barnabas," Adam said slowly.  "Why?  He has some hold on her."</div> <div> "Yeah?  Well so does this motherfucker Stokes.  Where the hell is he?  You ask me-we find him, we find Roxanne," Randy snapped.   He'd become increasingly irritable as the night hours wore on.  Adam knew that it was because he was missing his  fix.  He wondered how much longer Randy would be able to go without an injection.  If he waited too long, he would begin to shiver.  "Why don't we call the cops?"</div> <div> "Do you have your horse?" Adam countered, referring to Randy's heroin.  Randy gave him a startled look.  "Maybe you need to pop a little of your horse under your skin."  He knew that Randy did that sometimes in between injecting himself in the veins.</div> <div> "You never tried to get me to use before," Randy said in a wondering tone.</div> <div> "I need you to help me.  I don't want you to start shaking!"</div> <div> Randy looked as if he was going to make some objection but then abruptly changed his mind.  He reached into his pocket for his paraphernalia.  Adam watched dispassionately.  "You really think I can't do without this shit, don't you?"</div> <div> "You can't," Adam answered flatly.  He wasn't interested in arguing about it.  He wanted to find Stokes.  Randy opened his mouth to say something else but changed his mind again.  Adam waited impassively for him to inject the heroin under his skin.  He let his mind go blank, trying to search for Roxanne.  He got an impression of the Old House again-and of Barnabas.  Although he was upset about facing Barnabas, he was relieved that she was safe.  Barnabas wouldn't do anything to hurt Roxanne.</div> <bR> <div> Quentin parked the car as close to Loomis House as the police allowed, slamming the door impatiently.  He flicked the flashlight on.  He was too eager to see Maggie again to walk and began jogging along the path.  There seemed to be deputies and state policemen everywhere in the woods, obviously looking for Tim Stokes.  Just before he'd been released, word had come back that Claude North's body had been found. </div> <div> He didn't know what had happened to North and fervently hoped that Adam and Randy hadn't had anything to do with it.  "I'm going to get Maggie, and then I'll come to the Inn," Quentin said to the lawyer, T.J. Sheridan.</div> <div> "Would you like me to come along?" the attorney offered.</div> <div> Quentin shook his head.  He didn't want to have to explain anything if he didn't have to, and he didn't know what he was going to find.  "Would you tell my aunt I'll be there as soon as I can?"  He noticed an odd, protective flicker in the attorney's eyes and wondered how close a friend Sheridan was to his aunt.   He felt a brief moment of protectiveness toward her himself before pushing the thought away.  His aunt had a right to be happy, and he had to find Maggie.</div> <div> "I'll tell her," Sheridan was saying.  "Don't be too long."</div> <div> Quentin had been about to leave.  He turned and looked at Sheridan and saw that same look-it was there, all right.  Quentin nodded and left.  Well, well, he thought briefly before forgetting his aunt and the attorney.  As he trotted along the path, he thought he heard a low moaning sound and stopped.  Had he imagined that?  He cocked his head, listening.</div> <div> There it was again-it was coming from his right.  He left the path, making his way through the trees and underbrush carefully, shining his light back and forth.  The light fell on a crumpled form-it looked like that woman, Julia!  "Oh, God!" he exclaimed, kneeling down and rolling the woman over.  It was, indeed, Julia, and she was beginning to come around.  Where was Maggie?</div> <div> "Julia, good God!" Looking up, Quentin saw the form of his cousin Barnabas.  "What happened?"</div> <div> "I don't know-I just found her," Quentin replied.  Barnabas nearly shoved him to the ground, getting down beside him and lifting Julia into his arms.  "Where's Maggie?"</div> <div> Barnabas wasn't listening.  "Julia!" he exclaimed.  </div> <div> She moaned and then opened her eyes, blinking, stunned.  "Barnabas?"  She sounded confused.  "Where are we?"</div> <div> "What happened?" Quentin demanded.  "Where's Maggie?"</div> <div> "I don't know-we were walking along the path," Julia began.  She put her hands to her head.  "Ooooh," she moaned.</div> <div> "You're hurt!" Barnabas exclaimed.  Quentin shone the light over Julia's head so that it didn't go into her eyes.  The hair around her ear looked flattened and red-it was her own blood.</div> <div> "I think I was hit with something," Julia guessed weakly.  Barnabas was up on his feet, carrying her toward Loomis House. </div> <div> "Where's Maggie?" Quentin asked again, helplessly.  He was badly frightened, adrenaline pumping throughout his body.  This was taking on an air of unreality to him now.  He'd just been holding her and kissing her, how could she be gone now?</div> <div> "We'll try to find out!" Barnabas barked over his shoulder.  Of course he would be worried about his friend, Quentin thought, feeling unreasonably resentful.  At least Barnabas knew where Julia was for God's sake!  They got to Loomis House, and Barnabas carried Julia into the drawing room.  Roxanne got up from the chair before the fire, her face unnaturally pale.  She gasped at the sight of them.  She looked at Quentin and swayed.  "Roxanne!" Barnabas cried out, laying Julia on the sofa.  "Can you help?"</div> <div> "I'll try," Roxanne said faintly.  She put her hands on either side of Julia's face.  "Superficial-she'll be all right," she said in a decisive manner.  "It's Stokes-Stokes has Maggie."</div> <div> "Watch her," Barnabas said to Roxanne.  He moved so fast Quentin didn't see him leave.  </div> <div> "Where did he go?" he asked Roxanne.</div> <div> She looked up at him.  "I'm not sure."  She frowned.  "I know you, don't I?"</div> <div> "Don't you remember me?" Quentin asked frantically.  "What happened to you?  Where did Stokes take Maggie?"</div> <div> Roxanne began to answer, but just then the telephone began to ring.  Quentin picked up the phone and answered automatically, "Hello?"</div> <div> "Mr. Collins?"  The voice on the other end sounded surprised.  Then he laughed in a cold, evil manner.  "Why, I couldn't have asked for better luck!  I wasn't expecting to hear your voice-I was expecting Mr. Interfering Barnabas Collins!"</div> <div> "Stokes!" Quentin shouted, furious.  "Where is Maggie?"</div> <div> "She is with me and, for now, she is unharmed."</div> <div> "You sonuvabitch, you lay one filthy finger on her-"</div> <div> "Shut up!" Stokes broke in harshly.  "You're not in any position to dictate terms to me anymore, do you understand?  You'll do as I say if you want to get your precious Maggie back!"</div> <div> "All right, all right!" Quentin was immediately subdued.  He was afraid Stokes was crazy enough to hurt Maggie.  "What do you want?"</div> <div> "I'm at Collinwood.  I want you-alone and unarmed."</div> <div> "Collinwood!" Quentin exclaimed.  "How did you get past the police?"</div> <div> "Oh, I have my ways," Stokes laughed snidely.  "I know about the secret doors-my Angelique told me about them.  See that you use a secret door yourself-I don't want you detained by one of Collinsport's finest."  Laughing, he put the phone down.</div> <div> Quentin hung up and started for the door.  "Quentin, no!"  Julia cried.  She struggled to sit up.  "Where are you going?"</div> <div> "Collinwood!" Quentin called back.  He wasn't stopping.</div> <div> "Quentin, please wait for Barnabas-"</div> <div> "No!" he shouted, turning the corner of Loomis House and running down the path.  He'd leave the path before he got to Collinwood to avoid the police and approach from the rear.  He had no idea where Barnabas had gone and had no intention of waiting for him to show up.  There were several deputies posted around Collinwood; Quentin moved slowly and cautiously so that they wouldn't hear him circling around them.  The kitchen door was probably being watched, too, but they wouldn't know about the side door leading to the inner hallway system of the mansion.  </div> <div> Quentin slipped inside, thinking.  Where would Stokes be?  He could be almost anywhere but most likely either the drawing room or Angelique's room.  Quentin decided to try the drawing room first.  There was a panel in the drawing room that opened-perhaps he could even surprise Stokes?  Even as he began to move the door, though, he heard Maggie scream:  "Quentin, no!  Go back!  He's going to kill you!"</div> <div> Someone pulled on his elbow.  Startled, he looked back to see Roxanne and Julia's pale faces.  "What the hell are you doing?" he hissed at them.  "Go back!" He pulled away and pushed the door open.  The lights were on in the drawing room and even though he didn't need the flashlight, he gripped it tightly.</div> <div> It wouldn't help him much against a gun, though.  Quentin saw the snub nosed gun in Stokes' hand, pointed first at Maggie's chin and then slowly moving so that he was looking at the barrel.  "Well, well, come in, dear son-in-law," Stokes spat.  He was drunk and disheveled.</div> <div> "Let her go," Quentin growled, keeping his eyes on Stokes.  He was afraid to look at his wife, who'd begun to cry.  "You're quarrel is with me, not with Maggie."</div> <div> "That's true," Stokes agreed, "but don't think I'm such a fool-or so drunk!  I don't want any tricks from you, you hear?"  Even though he pointed the gun at Quentin, Stokes continued to hold Maggie tightly around her waist.  He backed up a step or two, staggering.  "So!  They've done the autopsy, have they?"</div> <div> "Yes," Quentin snapped.</div> <div> Stokes snarled in fury.  "They've cut into her and removed her organs, have they?  You must be feeling very satisfied with yourself, you smug bastard!"</div> <div> Quentin controlled his fury at the old, hated epithet.  "Satisfied?  Are you completely insane?  It's over, Stokes-that's all I care about!  Let Maggie go!"</div> <div> "No, no-you see, I know what you did, and I'm going to have my revenge for her sake!"  Stokes' eyes blazed madly.  He struggled to cock the gun.  Quentin began to move forward and Stokes placed the gun against Maggie's cheek.  "Stop where you are!  You killed my darling, and I will kill you!"</div> <div> "No, don't hurt her!  I didn't do it-it was Roger!" Quentin shouted, frustrated with terror. </div> <div> "Roger?"  Stokes blinked, looking momentarily stunned. Then he laughed wildly.  "Roger was my friend!  D'ye really think I'm that stupid?  It was you-she told me herself not two days ago!  It's you I'm to punish!"</div> <div>  If only he could distract Stokes so that he could free Maggie.  "You'll never get away with it-you're a drunk and a fool!"  Perhaps he could goad Stokes into coming for him.</div> <div> "I may be a drunk, but I'm no fool!  I'm a genius!" Stokes shouted, beginning to rave.  "I performed a miracle!  I brought a dead woman back to life-that is my crowing achievement!  My life will be judged by my achievement and I tell you now that I have nothing to lose.  For by destroying my love, you destroyed my life!"</div> <div> Suddenly, it was all clear to Quentin-he knew what Angelique's awful secret was, and his stomach heaved.  "You perverted, sad, sick old man!" He shouted.</div> <div> "Shut up!" Stokes yelled, shoving Maggie aside.  He moved toward Quentin, raising the gun.  It was exactly what Quentin wanted, and he moved too, raising the flashlight.  They both froze in shock when the drawing room doors were kicked open and Barnabas strode in.  Quentin recovered more quickly than Stokes did.  Angelique's father screamed in fear, standing stock still.   Quentin grabbed the man's arm, twisting in, and forcing him to drop the gun.  "No!" Stokes screamed again, in a panic.  He shoved Quentin away and began backing up.   "I know what you are!"</div> <div> "Stokes, stop where you are!" Barnabas commanded.  His eyes seemed to blaze an unnatural red, and Quentin felt his hair on his head and arms prickling. Stokes bolted for the secret door.  A moment too late, Quentin tried to grab him.</div> <div> "Aha!" Stokes screamed triumphantly, dragging Roxanne into the room now.  He pulled her to him, one arm thrown around her neck.  Her eyes were wide with fright.  "Stay back!" Stokes shouted.  "I'll break her neck-I swear it!"</div> <div> Quentin grabbed the gun from the floor.  He was still just a few inches from Stokes.  "No!" Barnabas shouted.  I can get him, Quentin thought, raising the gun.  Barnabas moved so fast he seemed to be a black blur, throwing his body against Quentin's, knocking him to the door.</div> <div> "Quentin!" Maggie screamed, running to his side.  Stunned, Quentin looked up and saw Stokes pulling Roxanne with him out of the drawing room.  He heard the key turn in the lock.  He jumped to his feet, running to help Barnabas try to force the door open.</div> <div> "Why did you stop me?" Quentin yelled.  "I could've gotten him!"</div> <div> Barnabas looked at him.  It was no illusion.  His eyes were red with rage and fear.  "I couldn't take the chance-don't you see?"</div> <div> What are you?  Quentin thought, even as Barnabas broke the door.  The foyer was empty and the front doors were wide open.  Already the deputies were spilling in.  "What happened?  What's going on?" they were yelling.</div> <div> "Stokes has a hostage!" Quentin managed to tell them.  Barnabas moved so fast, he was already past the deputies and out the door.  Quentin turned back toward the drawing room, opening his arms for Maggie.  They clutched at each other, trembling violently.</div> <div> "How'd you get in here?" one of the deputies asked, puzzled.</div> <div> "Does it matter?" Quentin asked.  "You've got to find him-he's psychotic-God only knows what he'll do to Roxanne."</div> <div> "Roxanne Drew-the missing girl?"</div> <div> "Yes, yes!" Quentin snapped. The deputies looked at each other and followed Barnabas out the front door.  "Maggie, let's get out of here."</div> <div> "Oh, Quentin, I'm so scared!  I don't want to run into him out there!"</div> <div> "Come on-I've got the gun now.  I want to get out of this cursed place.  We'll go back to Loomis House for now."  Quentin led her through the secret door, dismayed to see that Julia was no longer there.  Maybe she'd run back to Loomis House, too.</div> <div> As soon as they got outside, Maggie's knees buckled.  Quentin grabbed for her, but she turned away from him.  "Maggie!"  She leaned over, grabbing her abdomen and vomited into the bushes.  Quentin patted her back gently, murmuring to her reassuringly.  At the same time, he was eager to get away.  He could understand why she'd get sick, though-she'd been through so much and Stokes really was a revolting person.  </div> <div> "Oh, I'm sorry!" Maggie exclaimed, beginning to tremble again.  She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.</div> <div> "Don't be sorry, Maggie.  I'd puke too, if I was you."</div> <div> Maggie laughed, a little wildly.  "Maybe not."</div> <div> "What do you mean?"  He was confused.  "I'm not any better or braver than you, you know."</div> <div> "Oh!"   Maggie was trying to control herself.  Maybe she was on the verge of hysteria.  "That's not what I meant!  Oh!  Quentin, I need to tell you something but not here and not now!"</div> <div> "We have to get away from here," Quentin agreed.  He took her by the arms.  "Look, Maggie, are you really all right?  No one did anything to you?  That scum didn't hurt you?"</div> <div> "No, no-he just frightened me, that's all."  Maggie had calmed down considerably, pulling herself together.  "I'm all right, now."  She took Quentin's hand and followed him to the path.  They could hear someone coming toward them rapidly, and Quentin pulled her with him behind a tree.  Maggie pressed her face into Quentin's back as he quickly shut the flashlight off and peered to see if he could make out who it was. </div> <div> They could hear voices-Barnabas and Julia.  "I should have known better," Barnabas was saying.  "They never left Collinwood!"</div> <div> "We have no idea where he would have taken her.  Don't you think, under the circumstances, we should have Adam help us find her?"</div> <div> "Adam has the mind of a child!  What you told me is totally ridiculous!  Come, Julia, I will be able to find Roxanne myself through the bond we share."</div> <div> "Oh, no! You didn't--?"  Julia's voice trailed off and Barnabas didn't answer.  Within a few moments, they were at the side door that Quentin and Maggie had just exited.</div> <div> What bond?  Quentin wondered.  What the hell is this?  He couldn't see or hear them anymore and assumed they must have gone into the house.  "This is so weird," he told Maggie.  "I wish I knew where Adam was."  He led Maggie back out onto the path and turned the flashlight on again.  "Listen, we'll call the sheriff-or whoever answers there-from Loomis House and tell him Stokes is inside Collinwood with Roxanne.  At least I've got the gun."</div> <div> Maggie gasped a little.  "Darling, that awful man has gasoline in there with him, too!"</div> <div> "Gasoline!"  Quentin suspected that Stokes had a little arson in mind-the man was a screwball all right.  He bit his lip, thinking.  Roxanne could be in real danger.  Maybe he should go back into the house and look for her-then he looked at Maggie and decided not to play hero.  Stokes and Angelique had made his life hell-what if he got killed in there, just when he was starting to be happy?  Quentin thought being selfish was all right in this instance.  He'd call the sheriff, as planned.  "We better hurry-if Stokes has gasoline, he can't be up to any good," he said to Maggie now.</div> <div> Maggie grabbed his arm.  "Someone is coming!"</div> <div> They could hear the sound of someone running toward them.  There was the flare of a flashlight, too.  "Good, maybe it's the deputies!"  Quentin exclaimed, relieved.  It wasn't the deputies, though-it was Adam and Randy.</div> <div> "Roxanne was at the Old House, but now she's come here!" Adam had skidded to a halt in front of Quentin.  "Do you know where she is?"</div> <div> "Stokes has her-she's inside Collinwood!"  Quentin answered.  "Listen, Adam, Barnabas and Julia are in there too, and Stokes has gasoline with him."</div> <div> Adam blanched as Randy began cursing.  When Adam didn't move or speak, Randy barked, "Okay, Boy Scout, where'd they go?"</div> <div> "They could be anywhere," Quentin began, thinking that he really should go with them at this point and help.  He didn't want to leave Maggie, though.  Adam was so strange, too.  "Adam?" </div> <div> Adam looked at the looming form of Collinwood, hating the sight of it.  The palms of his hands were slick with fear.  Barnabas was in there.  He was going to have to fight Barnabas for Roxanne, and he was trying valiantly to fight the panic and fear he felt.  Another thought occurred to him, too.  He had no idea where to begin to look for Roxanne or Barnabas.  He didn't know Collinwood very well.  Quentin did, but Quentin was reluctant-and with good cause.  He needs to protect his wife, a voice whispered into Adam's ear.  She's going to have a baby.  He can't go in there-but I can.  I know Collinwood.</div> <div> With sudden determination, Adam began to stride toward the side door.  "Adam!" Quentin called.</div> <div> "Does he know where he's going?" Randy demanded.  He decided not to wait to find out.  He sprinted after Adam.</div> <div> Quentin followed, too, pulling Maggie along.  "Adam!"</div> <div> Adam whirled suddenly.  "Go back!  I know what I am doing!"</div> <div> Quentin stopped.  He was relieved and felt guilty.  "You don't know the inside of the house.  I'd better go with you-"</div> <div> "No!"  Adam barked.  "You can't!  Go back to Loomis House, and make sure you take Maggie with you.  You better call the police-and call Aunt Nancy, too!"  He grabbed Randy's arm.  "Come on-let's go!"</div> <div> Quentin called again, "Gabe!"</div> <div> Adam didn't stop this time.   "NO!  Don't you come after me, Quentin!  Do as I told you!"</div> <div> "Quentin?" Maggie asked, confused, but Quentin was unable to speak.  He grabbed her hand and squeezed it tightly, watching Adam and Randy slip through the side door.  There was an explosion, then, which blew windows out all over the east wing.  There was a roaring sound and flames began to shoot out of the broken windows, climbing up the walls of Collinwood.  "Oh!" Maggie screamed, throwing her hand up in front of her face.  </div> <div> Quentin pushed her to the ground, covering her, even though they were too far away to be injured by the falling glass.  It was an instinctive, protective gesture and now, as they sat up and looked toward Collinwood, the thought occurred to him again that he should go in to help.   Maggie had begun to tremble violently again.  "Maggie?"  Her eyes rolled back into her head, and she fell back.  That did it!  Quentin picked her up in his arms and half ran back toward Loomis House.</div> <bR> <div> Adam and Randy heard the explosion from the inner hallway.  "Jesus, what's that?" Randy yelled.</div> <div> "Gas bomb!" Adam shouted back.  "It's in the east wing-come on, we'll go to the kitchen first."</div> <div> "Kitchen?  What the fuck for?"</div> <div> "Towels-we've got to wet them!"  Adam ran and Randy followed.  In the kitchen, Adam grabbed several towels and ran them under the water.  He soaked them through.  Without bothering to squeeze the excess water off, he handed some of the dripping towels to Randy.   "For your face," Adam said tersely.  He wet several for himself.</div> <div> Somewhere, they could hear Roxanne screaming.  Randy began to run out of the kitchen and into the hallway but Adam barked:  "Not that way!  Come on-this is quicker!"  He led Randy back inside the secret hallway.  He knew the way to the east wing-that was where Stokes had set the fire, so Roxanne must be trapped there.  When they came out into the main hallway of the east wing, Adam could hear Roxanne's screams mingled with Stokes' wild laughter.  They were no longer together.  He ran toward Roxanne's voice, hardly feeling his shirt sleeve being torn away.</div> <div> Randy, though, stopped to face the madman as the flames grew hotter and higher around them.  "You can't stop it!  You can't stop it now!" the man howled wildly.</div> <div> "Fucking lunatic!" Randy yelled, in a rage.  He drew his hunting knife out of its sheath in his boot and drove it into Stokes' chest.</div> <div> Surprised, Stokes' eyes bugged out for a moment.  Then he continued to laugh, leaning against the wall and sliding slowly to the floor.  "Angelique!" he called.  "We will be together!"</div> <div> Through the billowing smoke, Adam could see Roxanne standing in a doorway, holding her arms out and screaming Barnabas' name.  He reached her in three bounds, pulling her into his arms and lifting her.  He had just a moment's glimpse of the man and woman he'd so feared inside the room-and then they were gone.  Roxanne went limp in his arms.  He draped one of the wet towels over her face.  He was beginning to choke.  They had to get out.</div> <div> He ran back toward Randy, who'd covered his own face with a wet towel and was staring down dispassionately at Stokes. "Go, go!" Adam shouted, racing past him.  He couldn't take the time to protect his own face, and his lungs burned with the noxious smoke.  Randy seemed ready to follow Adam's lead again, but his friend shouted:  "I don't remember the way!  I don't know how to get out!"</div> <div> Confused, Randy reacted without asking any questions.  He did remember the way out, and so he ran swiftly for the opening to the secret opening that would take them back through the house and out to safety.  Here, within the center of the house, the plumes of smoke diminished; the fire hadn't spread here, yet.  However, Adam continued to cough harshly as he ran.  As soon as they were out of the house, Adam was able to make it to the edge of the woods before he fell to his knees.</div> <div> Gasping for air, he laid Roxanne gently on the ground and then fell forward, choking and coughing.  He rolled onto his side.  Randy looked at him, concerned, but thought that as long as he was able to cough he'd be all right.  He took the wet towel off Roxanne's face and began patting her cheeks, trying to bring her around.  "Roxanne!"  he called to her.  He saw something odd and turned her head to one side.  He pulled out his penlight to look and saw two round puncture marks in her neck.  "Roxanne!  What happened to you?"  Even as he spoke, he watched with horrid fascination as the marks grew smaller and faded away until they were gone.  Dumbfounded, he sat back on his heels.</div> <div> In the distance, he could hear sirens wailing.  He was aware that the deputies who'd been stationed around Collinwood were back and shouting questions at him.  "Stokes is in there," he told the deputies.  He had no idea what they were saying to him; he was going into shock.  He was sure they must have been asking about the madman, though.  "He's in the fire somewhere.  He set a fire bomb."  He felt someone clasp his shoulder.</div> <div> He looked back at his sister's still form numbly.  Adam was stretched out beside her, barely conscious himself, choking and wheezing.  I have been to hell and back twice now, Randy Drew thought, just before he, too, passed out.</div> <bR> <div> Quentin could hear the sirens of Collinsport's only fire truck and ambulance speeding toward the mansion.  He thought grimly that they'd have to bring in reinforcements from Rockport if they were going to hope to stop this fire.  Frankly, he didn't care if the damn place burned to the ground.  "Maggie?"  He whispered to his wife, whose eyes were beginning to flutter.  </div> <div> Her hands moved to her abdomen protectively as she opened her eyes and looked at him.  "Are we safe?" she asked.</div> <div> "Yes-we're at Loomis House," Quentin assured her.  "You hear that?  I called the sheriff, my aunt, and the doctor.  I mean, I did that after I made sure you'd just fainted.  I mean, you were breathing."  His words tumbled out over themselves.</div> <div> Maggie put her hand over Quentin's mouth to stop him.  He grabbed it and kissed her palm, laying it against his cheek.  He looked at her adoringly and with great relief.  He loves me, Maggie thought.  "Quentin-Adam was acting so strangely, wasn't he?"</div> <div> "Yes," Quentin agreed without elaborating.  He would tell her everything, but not now.  It was too much.  Someone knocked at the door.  "It's the doctor," he said to her softly, getting up.  He went to the door and admitted not only the doctor but also his aunt Nancy and T.J. Sheridan.  "My wife is in the drawing room," Quentin said, leading the doctor to Maggie.  He turned and hugged his aunt.</div> <div> "I think the whole thing is going to come down," Sheridan observed from the portico.</div> <div> "Good!" Quentin snapped harshly.  "The hell with it!"  Now that the doctor was here, he moved to the portico, too, so that he could watch the blaze.  </div> <div> "You might feel that way, but it's still your home burning down," Sheridan commented.</div> <div> "It's not my home," Quentin objected.  He watched, fascinated, as the flames spread across the roof of the east wing, consuming the center of the house, and moving inexorably toward the west wing.</div> <div> "Incredible," Nancy murmured, just behind him.</div> <div> "It doesn't matter," Quentin muttered.  He didn't care.  "It's insured."</div> <div> He looked at the attorney in a challenging manner, but Sheridan didn't seem to have any interest in sparring with him.  Quentin looked back at his aunt.  "I was already talking about moving, anyway."</div> <div> Nancy's eyebrows shot up.  "Well!  This is a night full of surprises!"</div> <div> "Is the baby all right?" Maggie asked from inside, her voice filled with concern.  Shocked, Quentin looked at Nancy and then Sheridan.  Both of them carefully masked their expressions.  Without a word, Quentin went back into the drawing room.</div> <div> "I don't think you have anything to worry about," the doctor was assuring Maggie, putting his stethoscope back in his bag.  "Oh, Mr. Collins, your wife is just fine."  He smiled broadly at Quentin, who only looked back at him, dazed.  The doctor went out of the drawing room and outside.</div> <div> Quentin looked at Maggie, trying to speak.  Maggie swallowed, and her eyes filled with tears.  "You heard?  I didn't mean for you to find out this way."  She reached for Quentin, and he took her hand, falling to his knees beside her.  He brought her hand to his mouth again and kissed her knuckles, never taking his eyes off him.  Maggie laughed hesitantly.  "You don't seem to mind?"</div> <div> Quentin finally found his voice.  "Mind!" he burst out.   He started to laugh, trying not to sound as hysterical as he felt.  "Maggie, for God's sake!"  His eyes filled with tears.  "How long?"</div> <div> "How long have I known?  Well, I suspected I might be, but I wasn't sure-not until, well, when I went to Jennifer's.  She told me I was.  I didn't believe her.  But then I kept feeling sick in the mornings, and finally, I just went and I got the blood test."</div> <div> "No, I mean, how far along are you?"  Quentin asked.</div> <div> "Oh!"  Maggie blushed, feeling silly.</div> <div> "Maggie, don't," Quentin said softly.  "You always think it's your fault if we don't understand each other.  It's not-sometimes I don't ask the question right."</div> <div> Maggie smiled faintly.  "About twelve weeks, I think.  The doctor thinks the baby will come around Thanksgiving."</div> <div> Quentin's features brightened, and he grinned in delight.   "Really?  Won't we have something to celebrate!  Maggie!  We met again on Thanksgiving!"</div> <div> Maggie laughed.  "I know!  We move fast, don't we?"</div> <div> Quentin laughed, too, and kissed her.  "Aunt Nancy!" He called, turning his head.  "Hey-did Maggie tell you our news?"</div> <div> Nancy came in and stood in the entryway to the drawing room.  She looked at them lovingly.  "Let me guess-a special Christmas bundle?"  Her expression grew serious.  "There are policemen here, dear.  They're talking to T.J.  Apparently, Adam, his friend, and the young girl who was missing got out of the fire safely."  Quentin stood up, looking relieved.  "I'm afraid the other three have not come out."</div> <div> The other three? Quentin thought.  Then he realized: Stokes, Barnabas, and Julia.  "Oh, God," he said softly.  Still, he thought, the fire was in the east wing-which was where the strange parallel time room was.  Was there a chance that at least Barnabas and Julia had gotten away?  He cleared his throat.  "Are they all right?  Adam, Randy, and Roxanne, I mean?"</div> <div> "I don't know, dear, I think so-they were just beginning to talk about it when you called me."</div> <div> "Go and see," Maggie urged.  Quentin winked at her and took Nancy's elbow, escorting her back out to the portico.  Collinwood still blazed through the trees, like a giant bonfire. </div> <bR> <div> Wheezing, Adam was finally able to raise himself enough to crawl to Roxanne's side.  "Roxanne," he whispered weakly.  Every time he tried to breathe in, he would begin to cough again, violently.</div> <div> "Man, lie still, you inhaled too much smoke!" Randy advised brusquely, but Adam didn't pay attention to him.  He ignored the movement around them: more policemen, firemen, and now an ambulance with medics.</div> <div> "Roxanne!"</div> <div> She opened her eyes wide, looking up into his.  "Adam!"  Her voice was weak, but she knew who he was!</div> <div> "No!" Adam protested when two medics came between them.  </div> <div> "Adam, let them do their job-they're trying to help you and Roxanne!" Randy cried. Adam wasn't able to fight them off; he was coughing too hard.  Still, he felt Roxanne's fingertips lightly rest on his arm.   "You have any oh-two man?" Randy was saying.  "Smoke inhalation, he's inhaled all that smoke, man!" Adam felt a mask going over his face; he was too tired to fight.  It was suddenly easier to breathe.  He lay back on the grass, his fingers touching Roxanne's.   He listened to Randy talking to the two medics.  "Man, I'll ride with them.  I'm okay-you don't need to call anyone for me.  Just let me ride with my sister and my buddy."</div> <div> It's over, Adam realized.  He is gone, and Roxanne is safe.  She is here, with me.  He wasn't sure which `he' was gone: Stokes or Barnabas-maybe both.  There were no images and no voices clamoring in his brain anymore.  Barnabas must be gone, then-and with him, the images he'd seen through Barnabas' eyes and Roxanne's eyes.  Gabriel was gone, too.  As the medics lifted him onto a stretcher, he felt momentary sadness for Quentin.  No good-byes-but Quentin and Maggie were safe, and that was good.  His feet dangled well over the edge of the stretcher, and he felt some annoyance and the discomfort.  He shut his eyes, trying to block everything out.</div> <div> "We're going to the hospital," he heard Randy say, but he didn't answer, breathing in the cool gas slowly.  His chest didn't feel quite so tight anymore.  There was less burning in his lungs.  "Roxanne, Roxanne, I was so scared."  Adam heard Randy sobbing now.  Roxanne's voice was soothing and comforting.  He wondered if they were going to the same hospital as Sabrina was in, and he wondered if Carolyn would be there.  Everything else became a blur.</div> <bR> <div> Adam twitched his nose, feeling uncomfortable.  Someone had stuck a barbecue fork up his nose, and his nostrils felt irritated.  He put his hand up to grasp the tubing, his eyes opening when another hand covered his.  "No, let it stay," he heard a familiar voice say in a quavery tone.  He turned and looked at Rear Admiral Stuart, who was sitting beside his bed.  He looked like he'd aged about twenty years.</div> <div> "The oxygen is good for you, Adam, dear," Mrs. Stuart was saying.</div> <div> "Helps you breathe," the admiral agreed.  His tired features softened as he tried to smile.  "Hero."</div> <div> "How is Sabrina?" Adam asked.  His voice was hoarse; he realized his throat hurt a lot.</div> <div> "She's better," Mrs. Stuart answered, a little brightly.  "She spoke with us a little."  At that, the admiral growled.  Surprised, Adam looked at him and saw that his brows were constricted in a tight frown.  Mrs. Stuart sighed.  "I'm afraid that Ed is upset because Sabrina would like us to-to-help-to help-" She broke off, helplessly, as if she was unable to speak the name.</div> <div> "Cyrus?" Adam filled in for her, looking back at her.   She nodded, her eyes spilling over with a few tears.  He felt so sad for her, knowing how she must feel about what Cyrus had done to Sabrina.  "He is very sick, Mrs. Stuart."  </div> <div> The admiral made another growling noise.  "That's what Sabrina says," Mrs. Stuart said hesitantly.  "I did call-once.  I spoke to Mrs. Longworth."  She shuddered visibly.  "They have no attorney for their son.  They are trying to get a judge to commit him to Pilgrim State."  She wiped away tears.  "I know I should have told her that she should get a good attorney for her son, but I just couldn't!"</div> <div> "Not your job!" Admiral Stuart barked.  "They take care of their own mistakes!"</div> <div> "What is Pilgrim State?"</div> <div> "I think it is a hospital for insane criminals," Mrs. Stuart replied softly.</div> <div> "Good!" her husband exclaimed vindictively.</div> <div> This was not helping anyone, Adam decided.  "Will Sabrina go home with you?"</div> <div> "She still needs a little more care-for her injuries.  She still needs some physical therapy, and it's just too much for us all alone.  We were arranging to have Sabrina brought to a nursing home closer to our house-just until she's well enough to care for herself.  Then we heard that you were here.  We stopped by so that we could see you before we leave.  We wanted to give your young lady and her brother a break, too-they've been sitting with you since you got here."</div> <div> "Roxanne is all right?" Adam whispered.</div> <div> "Yes-she's just fine.  You and her brother saved her.  They didn't have complications from smoke inhalation because their faces were covered.  You'll be all right too-you were just held overnight for observation.  I'm sure when the doctor comes, he'll let you go," Mrs. Stuart told him.  Adam felt relieved.  Roxanne was alive and she was all right!  Mrs. Stuart was speaking again, and Adam focused on her face.  "When you're ready, you must come back to us.  You will, won't you?"</div> <div> "Yes-of course," Adam replied.  Mrs. Stuart's eyes filled with tears and she patted his arm again.</div> <div> A doctor came in, carrying a chart.  "Well, Mr. Knight!  How are you feeling this morning?"</div> <div> "Better," Adam answered cautiously.  He wondered how long he'd been sleeping.  </div> <div> "Good, good," the doctor said cheerfully.  Adam wondered if he was even listening.  He put his stethoscope in his ears.  "Mind if I have a listen?"  He didn't wait for Adam to reply.  He pushed a button on Adam's bed to raise it.  Mrs. Stuart moved out of his way.</div> <div> As the doctor listened, he took the oxygen tubing from Adam's nose.  "I guess you don't need this anymore," he remarked.  "Breathe in.  Breathe out."  Before the doctor could tell Adam to breathe in, Roxanne came into the room and Adam automatically drew his breath in, holding it as his eyes met Roxanne's.  Randy stood at her shoulder, but then he leaned down and whispered to her, turned and went back out.  "Breathe out, Mr. Knight!" the doctor exclaimed.  Adam started, and then obeyed, coughing.  "So, do you want to leave?"</div> <div> "He's all right?" Roxanne asked, sounding relieved.</div> <div> "Yes, he's coming around all right-there don't seem to be any lingering effects.  I think he can be discharged.  Why don't I go take care of that?"  the doctor answered before taking his leave, too.</div> <div> "Roxanne," Adam said, reaching his hand out for her.</div> <div> Mrs. Stuart moved around the bed to her husband's side as Roxanne came into the room and sat beside Adam, taking his hand.  "We'd better go now, Adam.  Ed and I will see you when you come back home?"</div> <div> "Yes, thank you," Adam whispered.  "Did you meet Roxanne?" he added, feeling stupid a moment later.  Of course they must have met.</div> <div> Mrs. Stuart beamed at Roxanne.  "We are so glad that you are safe, my dear, and we hope to see you again soon."</div> <div> "Thank you."  Roxanne's voice was soft and gracious.  "Thank you for looking out for my brother, too."</div> <div> The admiral ha-rumphed.  "Adam did more than we did," he said honestly.</div> <div> "Still, you offered him a home when he had no where to go.  I am grateful."</div> <div> The admiral's eyes filled with emotion.  He stood up, and Mrs. Stuart took his arm.  It would take a practiced eye to see that the admiral was actual leaning on his wife, rather than the other way around.  "See you soon," he said.</div> <div> As soon as they were gone, Roxanne got up and leaned over the bed to kiss Adam.  "I was so worried about you," she said, her kind eyes warm and filled with love.</div> <div> "Roxanne!" Adam wanted to cry.  "You were worried about me?  I couldn't find you for so long!  I didn't know what happened to you, and I was so frightened.  I knew you did not just leave me.  Did those bad men hurt you?"</div> <div> "No-not the way you think," Roxanne assured him. "I know what happened to Sabrina, and I'm so sorry for her and for her parents.  A long time ago, I touched her hand, and I had a feeling something awful would happen to her.  Sometimes I sense things from touch, Adam, and that's how I knew you were good.  I never guessed about Cyrus-we never had any reason to touch.  Not until John Yeager grabbed me.  I knew he was Cyrus, but there was a handkerchief and I went to sleep."</div> <div> "Poor Roxanne," Adam whispered.  "Do you know where you were now?"</div> <div> Roxanne grimaced.  "In the home of that horrible Timothy Stokes."  She shuddered. "Adam, I was asleep most of the time.  When I did wake up, there was a man-and in a dream I had, he was you.  He told me he was looking for me, and he asked me to call out so that he could hear me.  So I tried." Roxanne frowned.  "That man didn't look like you.  Later, I heard your voice telling him to help me."</div> <div> "Yes, I remember."  Adam thought back to the vision he'd had of Barnabas with Roxanne.  "I think he wasn't going to help you."</div> <div> "They wanted to kill me," Roxanne confided, and Adam jumped.  Roxanne put her hand on his arm.  "It's all right," she soothed.  "He heard you.  Barnabas?  That is his name?  He heard you-he told the woman that there was something about me.  There was some compelling reason he wouldn't kill me.  He thought it had to do with him, but it was you, Adam-it was your love."</div> <div> Adam felt a little jealous in spite of Roxanne's reassuring words that it was his love that led Barnabas to help her.  He wasn't so sure.  "Do you remember Barnabas?" he asked.  "He seemed to like you very much."</div> <div> "Did he?" Roxanne asked thoughtfully.  "I remembered him more yesterday.  He had another kind of hold over me, but I can't remember what it was exactly.  It wasn't you-that felt different.  The woman who was with him was very angry with him.  I think she wanted to kill me."  She looked at Adam.  "Do you know why?"</div> <div> Adam shook his head.  "She has always been mean," he said bitterly.</div> <div> "No-it wasn't because of that.  Stokes told me what he'd been doing.  Adam, I was sleeping.  Stokes kept giving me some kind of medicine that kept me unconscious."</div> <div> "Was it a drug called row, um, rowhip something?" Adam asked suspiciously.</div> <div> "I don't know.  You see, I have a little bit of power myself-like Claude did.  Like Angelique."  When Adam's eyes popped in alarm, Roxanne assured him hastily, "I'm not a witch!  I don't usually use my power-it's very undeveloped.  I think it came from having a gypsy heritage.  I don't understand all there is about my power, but I do know that Claude tried to make me use it his way-and I didn't want to.  I think Stokes was using my power to keep his daughter Angelique alive."</div> <div> "Ah-that is how she came back from the dead?"</div> <div> "Yes-and as long as I was asleep, she was able to use my power.  I think that is why the woman wanted to kill me-she only wanted to kill Angelique, you see?  But you intervened, Adam-I felt your love when the man said he could not kill me."  Roxanne looked at him tenderly.  "So, you see, you have power too."</div> <div> Adam shook his head, overwhelmed.  "When Barnabas was here, I felt weaker.  I could see things he saw.  I could see things you saw-and there was another.  Gabriel Kiernan."  Roxanne frowned a little.  "Quentin's brother.  That was not me who pulled you from the fire, Roxanne.  I did not know where you were.  I was afraid of the fire, and I was afraid of Barnabas.  But Gabriel knew how to find you."</div> <div> "And once he found me, you came back," Roxanne said.</div> <div> "That's true."  Adam agreed, remembering the parting between himself and Gabriel.  You'll be all right now, old man, just follow your friend out.  He could still hear Gabriel whispering those words to him as he left Adam, holding Roxanne in his arms.  "I wonder where he went?  Quentin needs him."</div> <div> "Quentin has you, Adam," Roxanne said.  "That will have to be enough-unless his brother makes contact again.  And Quentin has Maggie, and Cyrus-" She stopped, frowning.  "Cyrus!"</div> <div> "Roxanne, Cyrus is a very sick man!" Adam began to explain what had happened to Cyrus as Roxanne listened with growing horror.  He was just finishing his story when they heard someone come in.  Adam looked up and saw that Quentin and Maggie had arrived, looking flushed and happy.  They hadn't heard what he'd just said about Cyrus, he realized.  "Quentin!  Maggie!" he called out, delighted to see them.</div> <div> "How are you, old man?" Quentin asked, coming to the bed and reaching over to shake Adam's hand.  "You're the hero of the hour, you know that?"</div> <div> Adam blushed, pleased.  Maggie and Roxanne embraced each other.  "You are free from jail at last?"</div> <div> "Yes, we've just been in to see Carolyn."  Quentin turned and hugged Roxanne.  "Are you okay, Roxanne?"</div> <div> "I feel as though I've been away on a long, long trip," Roxanne exclaimed.</div> <div> Quentin's features darkened.  "I'm sorry.  If I'd suspected anything at all about Cyrus, I never would have…I mean, I never would have believed that you…" He broke of, turning a dark shade of red.</div> <div> "You have nothing to blame yourself for," Roxanne cried.  "Please!  You mustn't feel guilty about any of this."</div> <div> "It was Angelique and her father who did this, and I was married to her."</div> <div> "All the lonely people," Maggie said softly, and everyone looked at her.  "Roxanne's right, darling.  We are all broken in some way-none of us saw this coming."</div> <div> "But broken things can be mended," Roxanne took Maggie's hand and squeezed it.  "Even people-especially when there is something to look forward to in the mending."</div> <div> "Thank you, that means a lot," Quentin answered, as Roxanne and Maggie exchanged meaningful looks.  Quentin looked back at Adam.  "As we were coming out, I overheard the doctor talking to the nurse about discharging you.  We thought we'd take you and Roxanne back to the Inn with us."</div> <div> "Thank you," Adam said gratefully.  "I would appreciate that.  How is Carolyn?"</div> <div> "Better."  Quentin looked solemn.  "She knows-everything.  We had to tell her about her moth-about Elizabeth.  I, ah, called Rome.  I managed to get ahold of Signora Correale-that's the Devlins' housekeeper.  They weren't there, of course, but I left a message.  I imagine they'll come back."  He reflected that he hadn't seen Vicki in months.  She hadn't come home last Christmas.  Maybe it was last Easter he'd seen her.  He hadn't seen Burke since the wedding. "Vicki will know that Carolyn will need her now."</div> <div> "Who is with Carolyn now?" Adam asked.</div> <div> "Chris came in.  He'll stay with her for awhile.  They've always been close too," Quentin answered, without the usual jealousy he felt.  Chris and Carolyn were just as much victims as he was, he supposed.</div> <div> "I wonder where Randy went?" Roxanne wondered.  "He said he would leave us alone to talk, but just for a few minutes."</div> <div> Adam shifted uncomfortably and answered, "He should be here soon, I am sure, Roxanne."</div> <div> Roxanne looked at Adam for a moment and then said softly, "You don't have to pretend for me.  I know."</div> <div> "What?" Quentin asked, confused, looking between Adam and Roxanne.</div> <div> Adam, however, felt deep relief.  He wouldn't have to lie or cover up.  He took Roxanne's hand.  "Marry me, Roxanne."</div> <div> Surprised, Roxanne laughed.  "Adam!  You can't take it back!  There are witnesses!"</div> <div> "And we'll hold you to it," Maggie added, kiddingly.</div> <div> "I wish we could marry now," Adam declared.  "Before we leave the hospital.  I never want to lose you again, Roxanne."</div> <div> "You won't," Roxanne assured him.</div> <div> "You could get married in Brightwaters," Maggie said excitedly.  "Think how pretty it would be now-or even later in the summer!"</div> <div> "Not too much later," Roxanne said, giggling.  "I'd like you to be my matron of honor, Maggie."</div> <div> Maggie blushed again.  "I won't show for a long time."</div> <div> Adam grinned.  "So it is true, then?  There is a baby?"</div> <div> "It is true," Quentin said, reaching out for Maggie.  She moved into his arms, and they fit together like two gloves.  Quentin put his hand on Maggie's abdomen, which was flat.  "When will I feel it?"</div> <div> Maggie laughed.  "I don't know!  I've never had a baby before!  But when I feel it, I'll tell you."</div> <div> "I hope I'm with you when you feel the baby move," Quentin said fervently.  "I want to feel it, too."</div> <div> "Do you want a boy or a girl?" Adam asked.</div> <div> "Both!" Maggie and Quentin said together, looked at each other, and laughed.  "First one, then the other.  Then maybe another." Maggie went on, looking at Quentin, who looked back at her with love.</div> <div> "Finally-you deserved to be happy!" Adam exclaimed.</div> <div> Randy came into the room, a silly look on his face, crooning "Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love-it's easy!"  Everyone looked at him.  Adam realized he was high and hoped the others thought he was just in a good mood.  "All you need is love, rum pa da da dum," he continued singing.  When he noticed everyone staring at him, he said, "What, you never heard of John, Paul, George, and Ringo?  You know-we all live in a yellow soup tureen, a yellow soup tureen-"</div> <div> "Here, Randy, let me talk to you about what the doctor said to take care of Adam," Quentin said, pushing Randy back  out into the hall.</div> <div> "What's your problem, Boy Scout?" Randy was saying, but it was in a non-challenging way.  He seemed very relaxed and didn't resist when Quentin pushed him down the hall and out of earshot.  "Hey!" He exclaimed, surprised, when Quentin shoved him into the pay phone.</div> <div> "Listen, you jerk, your sister's been through hell!  The last thing she needs is to worry about is you being stoned!"</div> <div> There was resentment in Randy's eyes as he answered mildly, "Yeah, I'm fucked up, but you're a fine one to talk about somebody being to hell.   Roxanne, she'll understand.  But you, Boy Scout, you don't know nothing about hell. Having your family shit on you don't count, now get away from me or I'm gonna forget I've become a pacifist and I'll break your sorry ass in half!  Tell  my sister I'll see her at the Inn!"  Randy pushed past Quentin and walked down the hall.  Quentin realized he'd made a mistake and had probably mishandled the situation.  He sighed.</div> <bR> <div> Roxanne bowed her head, and Adam took her hand.  Maggie laughed nervously.  "He's just under stress," she said nervously.  Adam wondered who she was talking about, Randy or Quentin.</div> <div> Roxanne shook her head.  "It won't help him if we just make excuses.  He needs help."  She looked at Maggie, who flushed.  Roxanne went on, "Taking drugs is a lot like drinking too much.  Making excuses won't help him get well."</div> <div> "You're right, of course," Maggie mumbled.</div> <div> "But you can help Adam and me help Randy."  It sounded like a request.  "It can't be okay for him to do that-no matter what reason he uses."</div> <div> Adam closed his hand around Roxanne.  "I care for Randy-not just because he is your brother.  I didn't know him at first, Roxanne.  Now I've gotten to know him, and I like him.  He is a good mechanic.  He needs to stop the drugs.  I'll help."</div> <div> "I will, too," Maggie agreed.</div> <div> Quentin came back in.  "Ah-he just went to get some air."  The other three looked at him.  "What?" His brows rushed together.  Roxanne burst out laughing.  "What?"</div> <div> "Quentin, would you see what's keeping that doctor?  I think it's time we got out of here!" Roxanne replied, controlling her giggling with a great deal of difficulty.  Quentin looked at them suspiciously, wondering what was up, but he obligingly went looking for the doctor.</div> <bR> <div> Later, T.J. Sheridan took them all out to dinner.  Randy begged off, pleading a headache, but everyone else enjoyed the meal in Rockport.  After dinner, Sheridan suggested Irish coffee and dessert.  "Are the coffee beans grown in Ireland?" Adam asked innocently and was mildly annoyed when everyone laughed.  He realized he'd made another blunder and that it was nothing to get upset about.  He looked at Roxanne and decided it after everything that had happened, it was definitely not worth irritated about and smiled.  "I guess not," he answered himself.  "What is it?"</div> <div> "Coffee with Irish whiskey, cream and sugar," Roxanne explained.</div> <div> "Whiskey?"  Adam shook his head.  "I will try, but I am not sure that whiskey will agree with me."</div> <div> "Good-I hope it doesn't," Sheridan said.  Surprised, Adam looked at him but saw that the attorney was smiling kindly at him.</div> <div> "So-when do you leave?" Quentin asked.</div> <div> "Tomorrow, unless Nancy needs me for anything else," Sheridan replied easily.  </div> <div> "If you have nothing pressing, perhaps you could stay through the funerals," Nancy said gently.  She turned to Quentin, whose brows were knitting a little.  She put his hand over his.  "I thought I would attend the services for your cousins, too-out of respect."</div> <div> Quentin gave a short laugh.  "All right, I appreciate that."  He looked down at his plate.  He didn't want to say what he was thinking.  It didn't mean anything to him.  He was doing this for the sakes of his younger cousins-Carolyn, Chris, Amy, and Vicki (if she showed)-and not because he felt anything for the dead.  I don't, he told himself.  I don't feel anything for them.  He thought he believed it.</div> <div> "What are your plans afterwards?  Will you come to Boston, then?" Sheridan was asking.</div> <div> Quentin looked at his aunt's friend.  That was what he'd intended-he hadn't expected this complication.  He wasn't sure how he felt about it.  "Well," he began cautiously, "of course I need to discuss it with Maggie.  Boston, maybe.  Maybe Long Island-Maggie's sister lives there."  There was a quick intake of breath beside him and he turned to look at his wife.  Her eyes were shining.  Was she happy-or dismayed?  He wasn't sure, suddenly.  He fumbled with his cup of Irish coffee, gulping it a little.</div> <div> "You'll need someone to help you to run things here, I imagine," Sheridan went on.  "I suppose you'll rely on your cousin Chris?  He seems to be a bright corporate attorney."</div> <div> "And there's Joe Haskell-he's the operations manager," Quentin added, nodding.  "You're a strictly a criminal attorney then, isn't that right?" </div> <div> "Yes, I'm afraid I wouldn't be of much use to you-not unless I can help you with your friend."</div> <div> "Oh!" Adam exclaimed.  "I hadn't thought of that-"</div> <div> "What friend?" Quentin interrupted.</div> <div> "Of course, Dr. Longworth's parents probably have their own attorney," Sheridan said.</div> <div> "No, not yet," Adam began again.</div> <div> Quentin put his cup down with a bang.  "Why are we talking about him here?" he demanded angrily.</div> <div> "Cyrus needs our help," Adam said.</div> <div> "After what he did to Maggie?"</div> <div> "Quentin!"  Maggie put her hand on her husband's arm to try and quiet him.  "I don't think he meant to.  I don't think he knew what he was doing, really.  I don't blame him-not really."</div> <div> Quentin got up abruptly, knocking the chair over.  "You may be forgiving toward him, but I can't be!" he shouted, his face twisting with anger.  He stormed away from the table, ignoring the looks from the other patrons and restaurant staff.</div> <div> "Well, that was a mistake," Nancy declared, looking at Sheridan with dismay.  "He seems to lose control of himself so quickly!"</div> <div> "He's a pressure cooker about to blow," the attorney said and got up.  "I'll go after him."</div> <div> Nancy grabbed his hand.  "I don't think he likes you, Tom."</div> <div> "Perhaps I can talk to him," Adam suggested.</div> <div> "Maybe between the two of us, we can talk some sense into him," Sheridan agreed.  He got up and Adam followed, feeling Roxanne squeeze his hand slightly as he stood.</div> <div> "Perhaps we can talk, too, dear," Adam heard Nancy say to Maggie.  He saw the older woman put her hand on Maggie's.  Adam followed the attorney.  He thought he would let the lawyer talk first.  He was a very smart man.  He would stay nearby.  If Quentin was stubborn or behaved childishly, Adam would step in.  He wasn't sure what he would do or say.</div> <div> They found Quentin in the parking lot, pacing, and kicking at stones.  Adam stopped at the edge of the parking lot, watching Reardon approach Quentin.  "You've got an awful lot of anger pent up in there, don't you?" Reardon asked mildly.</div> <div> Quentin bent over, picked up a stone, and threw it.  It  sailed over the hood of a car and slammed harmlessly into the wall of the adjacent building.  "Really?  What makes you think so?" Quentin asked sarcastically.  He picked up another stone and got ready to throw it.</div> <div> "What if you break the window, Quentin?"</div> <div> "I'll pay for it!" Quentin snapped.  Still, the question caused him to hesitate before he threw the stone.  It fell far short of the first one.    He kicked the next stone and sent it skipping across the lot.</div> <div> "It just doesn't work this way anymore, does it?"</div> <div> "What the hell are you talking about?"</div> <div> "The way you deal with your anger.  It worked when you were younger-having these fits of temper.  I guess you got your way sometimes-when you were a child.  It doesn't really work now that you're grown up, does it?"</div> <div> Now Quentin turned and faced Sheridan.  "What do you know about that, anyway?  You don't know anything about me-or my family!"</div> <div> "Well, son, actually I do know a little-"</div> <div> "And that's another thing!" Quentin interrupted.  "Where do you get off calling me `son'? You did that at the jail, too! I'm not your son-I never even heard of you until just a couple of days ago!"</div> <div> "Forgive me-it's just an expression I use," Sheridan answered placatingly.  "I just meant to say that I do know some things about you and your family.  I'd just like to help."</div> <div> "Help?  Where did you hear things about me?  From my aunt?"  Quentin glared at Sheridan suspiciously, sounding betrayed.  "Why is she such close friends with a criminal attorney?  And why have I never heard of you before?"</div> <div> "That would bother me, too, if I was you.  Well, I think the reason you've not heard of me before is because of where I met your aunt and how we know each other."</div> <div> Sheridan seemed about to go on, but Quentin interrupted:  "You're married?"</div> <div> That shocked the attorney.  "No!  I'm not married!  My wife died.  It's been, oh, I guess three years."</div> <div> "Oh."  Quentin had the good grace to be embarrassed.  "I'm sorry.  You just made it sound like my aunt would have some reason to keep you a secret-like something she's ashamed of.   So what is it about where you met and how you know each other?  There must be something-or she would have told me about you."  He was curious now, studying the lawyer and wondering how his aunt really felt about the man.</div> <div> "Some family secrets are hard to give up," Sheridan observed.  "Let me tell you how my wife died.  She had cirrhosis of the liver.  When that happened, the rest of her organs began to fail, too.  Technically, what actually killed her was heart failure, and that's what the doctor's certificate said.  My wife's death certificate and your step-uncle's death certificate should have been identical, though-acute alcoholism."</div> <div> Quentin's jaw tightened.  He didn't know what to say.  He didn't understand why this man was talking to him about his wife or Aunt Nancy's second husband.  It has nothing to do with me, Quentin thought.  Then Adam said:  "Quentin, your brother wanted you to talk about it."</div> <div> "About what?"  Quentin knew, and he was angry again.</div> <div> "Your brother told your aunt that you need to talk about your mother and your Uncle Frank and the other people in your family who drink," Adam explained, not understanding that Quentin was playing dumb.  "He said you should talk to Maggie about her father."</div> <div> "Why?"</div> <div> "Because if you talk to each other, you will see that you have felt a lot of the same things.  You can help each other."</div> <div> "Maggie and I are fine!  We don't need to talk about her father-or my mother."</div> <div> "All right, Quentin, I don't want to alienate you totally," Sheridan said.  "Do me a favor, though, would you?  I'd like to take you and Maggie to the place where I met your aunt.  I think it would be good for you both.  Will you think about it?"</div> <div> "It's the right thing to do," Adam put in.  "Gabriel would want you to do it."</div> <div> Quentin rolled his eyes, putting on a great show of being put upon.  In reality, he felt frightened that the lawyer-and Adam-seemed to know him so well.  "All right," he grumbled.  "I'll think about it."  </div> <div> "Good," Adam said enthusiastically.  "Are you feeling better?"</div> <div> Actually, Quentin was surprised that he did feel a little better.  It was strange-once Sheridan began to talk about family secrets and his wife, Quentin had suddenly had a feeling that maybe he wasn't alone in the way he felt.  Gabriel had always advised him not to let the others know how he felt; he could stay in control if he didn't show his feelings.  Yet, especially over the last few years, Quentin had found it harder and harder to control his feelings-especially the rage.  The rages frightened him because he wasn't in control anymore-and he had to stay in control so that he could take care of everyone…including his mother.  He couldn't remember when he didn't feel she needed to be taken care of, even when he was a child.</div> <div> He felt the lawyer's hand on his shoulder.  Sheridan said, "You're not the only one who's felt the way you do.  That's the important thing to remember." Quentin started, surprised.  "Are you ready to come back in?"</div> <div> Quentin nodded, thinking that he would give a lot of thought to Sheridan's invitation.  "Look, I think I want to go with you to this place you're talking about-I'll talk with Maggie, first, but I think she'll want to."  He'd blurted this out without even knowing what kind of place Sheridan was talking about.  He'd gotten this far, and that was enough.  He didn't really want to know any more right now.</div> <div> Sheridan nodded.  "Good.  And I'm glad you said something now-before you changed your mind."</div> <div> Quentin bit his lip.  There was something else, too.  His eyes filled with tears as he thought of the shy, curly-haired blonde boy who'd turned an ashy color when they'd performed the ceremony of blood brothers.  He remembered what Gabriel said to him-that Cyrus had always been his friend.    Sheridan waited patiently, realizing there was something else.  Finally, Quentin asked:  "Do you think you could help Cyrus?"</div> <div> Sheridan gave a slight nod.  "One day at a time, all right, Quentin? I'll see what I can do for Dr. Longworth, but as for you-I'd like for you to let go of this now and take things nice and easy, all right?  You've been through a lot, s-young man.  Let's go back inside before the ladies wonder if we've gone off and left them."</div> <bR> <div> It was an uneventful, peaceful night-for a change-in Collinsport.  In town, the people soon wearied of the talk about the deaths and destruction at Collinwood.  They were weary of the number of burials at Eagle Hill-and now there were three more funeral services to be borne-and talked about.  Joe Haskell finished his beer and started for home.  It was over, all over, and he was going to stay after all.  He would stay and help run the cannery for poor Quentin Collins.  He would help Chris as much as he could, too.  Maybe Chris and Amy could move in with his family for a while-if they wanted.</div> <div>  In his room at the Inn, Adam was too exhausted and overwhelmed to do anything but hold Roxanne tightly in his arms.  He would never lose her again; somehow, he could feel it and he knew it within his bones and muscles-all the way to his soul, if he had one.  He didn't know if this was something he knew from Roxanne, or if the belief came from within himself.  It didn't matter.  Together, they would take care of Randy and help him.  They would marry-they would go to the park they'd admired so when Quentin and Maggie had come down to talk about being married on Long Island.  Perhaps even the same church-but Roxanne would decide.  Whatever she decided would be fine with Adam.</div> <div> Roxanne was exhausted and overwhelmed, too.  The whole experience had completely unnerved her; she still couldn't face it all.  She almost died-only Adam's love had saved her and brought her back.  She didn't want to examine her feelings yet toward Claude, Stokes, Angelique, Cyrus-and Barnabas.  She had held back some information from Adam; she couldn't bear to tell him yet and wasn't sure she ever should.  She remembered what Barnabas had done to her; she knew what he was.  She wasn't sure it would do any good to tell Adam.  Perhaps trying to forget was the best way to go about it, and yet Adam had spoken of how lack of honest communication had nearly destroyed Quentin and Maggie's marriage.  Well, it wasn't something she had to decide or to tell tonight.  She stroked Adam's face lightly and snuggled closer to him.</div> <div> "I love you," she heard him say in the darkness, his voice hoarse.</div> <div> "I love you, too," she answered simply, closing her eyes.  They would have lots of time for getting to know each other again and for loving.</div> <div> Maggie and Quentin came together out of a mutual and overwhelming need to join together and become one.  They needed to reaffirm their commitment to each other.  Maggie tried to stifle her cries of passion as Quentin moved within her; that seemed to drive him further-as if he needed for her to lose control and cry out her need for him.  She finally did, and when she did cry out, he lost himself in his own powerful orgasm.  "Everyone probably heard us," Maggie snickered, after Quentin had collapsed on top of her, out of breath.</div> <div> He was totally spent and realized he'd made some rather noisy passionate sounds himself.  He began to laugh, his body shaking uncontrollably.</div> <div> "Are you all right?" Maggie giggled, petting him.  "It almost seems like you're-" She broke off when she touched his face.  "Quentin!"  She was surprised.  She didn't think it was that funny, although he continued to laugh.  At the same time, though, he was crying-Maggie had felt the tears on his cheeks.</div> <div> "Maggie, I'm so confused," he blurted.</div> <div> "About-about us?" Maggie asked, immediately concerned.</div> <div> "No, no!  That's the only thing I'm sure of-us."  Quentin assured her.  "You don't think I'd have been banging you so hard if I didn't-" he stopped abruptly, thinking how his words must sound to her.  "I love you," he started over again more softly. "I think that's all I really know for sure right now, and it scares me."</div> <div> "Oh!" Maggie drew her breath in.  "I know how it feels to be scared-not to know what you're supposed to be thinking or feeling.  Feeling like you're spinning out of control-"</div> <div> "-and not knowing how to stop it," Quentin finished for her, in a wondering voice.  "Gabe said you'd understand."</div> <div> "I do," Maggie whispered, putting her hands on either side of his face.  </div> <div> He put his arms around her, pulling her close.  "I'm glad you like to cuddle, Maggie," he told her.  He was thinking of all the lonely nights he'd spent alone when Angelique was finished with him.</div> <div> "I feel safer," Maggie confided.  "I don't remember ever feeling this way.  I always felt alone at night.  Mom and Pop would fight, and I would lie in my bed and listen to them.  I wished I could make them stop, but I couldn't.  I thought if I was the best little girl in the world I could make it better, but I couldn't.  Jennifer thought I was silly.  She didn't like to stay with me.  She was always more independent, you know.  I felt so lonely."</div> <div> "Me, too-especially after Gabe left.  I felt all alone-I had no one." </div> <div> "You?" Maggie was shocked.  "Quentin, I'm sorry, I didn't know…"</div> <div> "Why are you apologizing?" Quentin sounded mildly annoyed.</div> <div> "I'm apologizing because Adam told me that you would understand if I talked to you about-well, about Pop and my mother and things like that.  I just couldn't believe it.  I thought your family was-" She hesitated.</div> <div> "Perfect?"</div> <div> "Well, yes, in a way."  Maggie moved so that she was facing Quentin.  He had the impression that she was gathering her courage together because she hesitated, pressing her lips together as if deep in thought, and then finally, she blurted:  "Why did you sound angry with me just now?"</div> <div> Good, he thought.  Not "are you angry?" or "I'm sorry I made you angry!"  Now it was his turn to think.  "It's because you think you're not as good as they are-were, whatever.  Maggie, you're better.  You're a nicer person.  You're more real.  So when you say you're sorry like that, I get angry because I know you're better and I think that you should know it, too. Maggie, you're better than I am, don't you know that?"</div> <div> "Not better than, darling," Maggie objected.  She looked at Quentin.  "Maybe we are the same in many ways-do you think so?  I think maybe we have felt a lot of the same things and just never told any body."</div> <div> Quentin considered it.  He thought about the things he'd told Adam and about the things Gabriel had said to him through Adam.  He looked at Maggie again, her eyes clear and wide and filled with love.  He moved closer to her again so that they were lying cheek to cheek.  He said softly, "I think we can start telling each other.  I love you, Maggie."  He smiled when she whispered she loved him, too.  He closed his eyes, feeling totally at peace for the first time in months.  He maneuvered so that he could place his hand against Maggie's belly, a small smile curving his lips.</div> <div> There's just the burials to get through, he thought, just before drifting off. Adam was right-I'm free.  Maggie is free.  We can go anywhere-and we can be happy.  He was on a sailboat, he and Maggie.  The water was as smooth as glass and the breeze was such that the ship seemed to skip and dance through the warm salty water.  The sky was so blue-not a storm cloud in sight.  Maggie trailed her hand in the water and looked at him, smiling.  She was beautiful-and her belly was huge.  This is the real magic, Angelique, you never understood that, Quentin thought, and I didn't-until now.</div> <div> I like this dream, he realized.  Maybe this is the future?  I hope this is the future…maybe we can make it be the future…</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="id105.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Converging Forces"><U>Converging Forces</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id85.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Adam in Parallel Time"><U>Adam in Parallel Time</U></A>     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cassies Writing"><U>Cassie's Writing</U></A></div> </td> </tr></table></body>