> And probably another reason why Julia had been urged not to look into the
> 'pool' in the other realm. She closed her eyes and shook in reaction.
She
> wasn't even thinking of the part about being accused of possibly being the
> demon... it was just the thought of something like that happening to
> Derek...
>
> Julia had to try twice before she managed to flush the toilet and let the
> lid drop as she tried to get to her feet, only to move toward the sink.
She
> watched the water running for a moment before gargling and then staring at
> the water again.
>
> "I should have looked..." she whispered, thinking of the times she had
> wanted to but hadn't when requested "I should have helped..."
>
Derek helped her up and kept a steadying arm around her as she stood at the
sink. He pulled a wash cloth from the bar on the wall and held it under the
water that was holding Julia's gaze. Once it was thoroughly soaked, he
turned off the water and squeezed it to get the excess out.
Gently he turned Julia to face him and washed her face with the cool cloth.
"There was nothing you could have done," he told her firmly. "It was my own
fault, for allowing her to cloud my judgement. And it's over now, water
under the bridge, we can't dwell on it."
