He brushed some stray hairs out of her face and watched her with a worried
expression. "Everything will be fine, we'll work it out," he told her. He
sat by her side for a while to make sure she was truly going to be all
right.
NM:
"fine......work it out...... "
The words drifted to her and she felt something.. or was it someone?..
brushing her forehead. Who...?
Derek. The one sure thing in all of this, the thought drifted across her
mind as her inner vision began to swim before her, swirling into the abyss
of the other realm before hearing another voice...... the voice of the one
that had trained her.
Julia could seen the scene of the other realm clearly, as if she were there,
even as she was aware her physical body fought exhaustion usually foreign in
nature to it considering the amount of energy and power it had just
experienced.
"... he's worried about you."
She was looking in a small pool as she had during limbo those times she had
been allowed to look in on her friends and frowned with concern for him "I
know...... he feels responsible..."
She then turned towards the Archangel "It wasn't his fault, Michael. Why
can't he see that?"
Michael, who usually dealt with the more physical side of heaven and
battling the forces of evil, looked at the one before him and smiled gently
"Because he's a leader. Leaders always feel the responsibility when one of
their own is lost."
"But I'm not lost. Not really. I'm there..."
The Angel smiled gently "You are in a position that's unique even to us,
Julia Walker. You're in both places. Until such time you will have to
choose to which you will ultimately exist in.
"For now, because He knows it must be like this until that time comes, you
will continue as you are now.
"But Julia," his tone dropped, gentle and yet with warning "There will come
a time when you are asked to choose. Everlasting salvation with us or
uncertainty. Make your decision wisely when that happens."
Julia had been watching Derek's expression in the pool during Michael's
warning but turned to him and nodded solemnly in response.
"You have questions..." Michael said, sensing the woman's feelings.
Julia tried for a smile and managed a curve of one, even as she went back to
looking at Derek's concerned features. Her voice was a bare whisper "Why
was I allowed to go back?"
She had thought it was because of Nick or how he had cared for her at one
time, or how she felt about him. But that obviously wasn't the reason. She
had heard as much from Alex's room, knowing even now that neither of them
were aware Julia had overheard or even knew about their relationship.
"Because it was time." he answered simply "There is a time and place for
everything, even when a force interferes such was your case."
He nodded at the pool and at the Precept's expression and commenting "If he
only realized how many times he's interfered with the Dark side's plans.....
he's a stubborn one and I'm glad he's on our side. I've only met two others
that matched his tenacity and..."
"Bull headedness?" Julia teased before looking at him curiously "Who's the
other two?"
"Yes," Michael admitted with a chuckle "bull headedness........ and the
other two would be myself... and you."
Julia grinned and remembered a few times Alex had had her approach Derek
about some things, saying something along the same lines -- that Julia had a
way of making Derek listen when most couldn't penetrate his stubborn streak.
And for once, thinking of the woman that was her best friend didn't hurt
immediately.
Progress, she thought wryly before looking back at the pool.
"I'm going to go back now." she told Michael quietly, already walking toward
the pool.
The Arch Angel watched her go and straightened his shoulders as Julia's
essence disappeared to return to the mortal realm. They both knew she was
going back before she was regenerated and therefore would feel the effects
of a body exhausted and the pains that went along with it. But they each
also knew why she was going back -- even Julia didn't fully realize the
reason the Beings did.
"Do you think she realizes?" one of those Beings spoke from the blurred
realm and behind Michael.
He watched the pool a moment longer, saw Julia's spirit re-enter her body
and the ghost of strain on her face as the physical aspect of being mortal
settled about her, and then turned to them "Not yet. But she will."
Julia Walker had surprised them a time or two with what she actually knew of
the immortal world -- things that were usually reserved for the Beings
serving Him as well as the Arch Angels. Michael himself had come to the
point that he could only grin and once again count it in the Light's favor
such a person was on their side when she .. what was it she called it?
'pulled another one out of the hat'.
* * * * * *
Julia stirred and forced her eyes open. They were feverish but she managed
a weak smile at Derek.
"At least.." she whispered with a small chuckle, even if it did end up as a
half cough "You.. didn't throw me.. over your.. shoulder..."
"Feels.. good." she added as she closed her eyes, feeling his fingers
against her heated forehead and slipping into a half waken, half sleeping
state.
She couldn't go back right now. She didn't want to leave Derek worrying and
by himself.
