----- Original Message ----- From: spfoley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Legacy Sim <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, April 20, 2001 9:15 AM Subject: [PTL Game] Julia, Derek, Mall The girl spotted her almost at the same time and watched her as Julia approached her, a soft, open smile lighting her features. Julia smiled back and knelt down to her level. The girl was sick and was having to breathe through an apparatus. Julia would have placed her age at about seven. The girl reached up when Julia was close enough and smiled, touching her dark hair and whispering "Pretty." Julia reached out slowly and traced the girl's pale cheek and balding head, whispering in return "Very pretty." "I'm sick." the girl informed her, a sad sigh as she looked at her mother, who was purchasing something at the register and hadn't looked their way yet "Mommy's so sad... because I'll be leaving." Then the girl felt Julia's forehead, tilting her head to the side a little "You're a little sick too." Julia smiled softly. All she had was a fever, and slight at that, from over extending herself last night. "Just a little." she admitted as she continued to stroke the girl's cheek and side of the head "But I'll get better. I have a friend watching out for me." She glanced back and gave Derek an assuring half grin before turning back to the girl. The girl looked at Derek and smiled before looking back at Julia and whispering low "Friends are good. I wish..." Julia lowered her voice and looked at her curiously "You wish what?" The girl looked at her mother again, sad that she was told by doctors she'd have to leave Mommy when it was time for her to go to heaven "That I had friends..." Julia's palm settled against the girl's face "You do have friends, Caroline." The girl looked at her and blinked. The woman's hand was getting warm.... and it felt good. And like the time Julia had cast out the spirit with Derek and the others, a small surge unseen passed between the one she was in contact with and her hand. "Caroline?" The girl's mother turned just then, seeing Caroline smiling at Julia and the woman smiling right back. Julia turned to the woman before looking back at Caroline and winking a little and then standing. "Who are you?" the woman ask, for some reason the worry of finding a stranger being so demonstrative with her daughter as she regarded the younger woman. "A friend, Mommy," Caroline tugged on her mom's sleeve and pointed to Derek "and she has a friend too. Can I have ice-cream?" Her mother blinked and Julia chuckled a little before excusing herself to return to Derek's side. Caroline's mother was so happy that her daughter actually wanted something to eat without being urged that she managed a nod and wave and was taking Caroline out of the store. Julia heard something about vanilla or strawberry. "Don't be upset, okay?" Julia whispered to Derek, getting the clothes back from him and hoping he wouldn't get upset by what just happened. She was flushed from the fever but... "I had to do it." She had felt so drawn to Caroline..... just as she had before. She held the clothes close to her and moved toward the register to check out, wondering what he would do. Julia looked at the exit that Caroline and her mother had taken. Caroline would make a full recovery. Her mother wouldn't be sad and wouldn't lose her daughter. She placed her hands on the counter and waited for the saleslady to ring up the sale. If she looked like she was weakened or anything she was sure Derek would take her right back to the house and to her room. Julia looked up and to the side as Derek came up to stand beside her. Derek: Derek had stopped a few feet away and watch the exchange between the child and Julia. When Caroline smiled at him, he smiled back, shift Julia's new apparel from one arm to the other. He knew what she was doing the moment it start, he could see the physical toll it took on her body and he watched closely, ready to intervene at the first sign of trouble for Julia. It was amazing to watch these things, but she had to learn some control, self preservation was a skill she needed to learn, though he'd always thought that was something she lacked. He followed her to the counter, "I know," he replied with a wan smile, he couldn't blame her for wanting to help the child, "but Julia you can not keep over extending yourself like this." He looked at her closely touching her face, she was warmer than she had been. His first instinct was to take her home, though he wanted to meet this group, but he wouldn't do it if he thought Julia couldn't get through it. "How do you feel," there was tone in his voice that said he wanted the truth and not some glossed over version of it. Derek
