Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

AN: This was an idea that I just had to fiddle with. Your reviews would be much appreciated.

Warning: Mentions of suicide basically throughout the first few chapters.

"It's a long story." Henry allowed her into the shop.

"Isn't everything with you?" She asked as she entered, and Henry couldn't help a small smile while Abe restrained a laugh to a mere snicker.

"Why don't we go upstairs, it's more comfortable."

"Alright." Jo went up the stairs first followed by Henry, who had paused a moment to share a directing look with Abe. As they reached the second floor Abe was making his way down to the basement to retrieve artifacts that might prove useful. "So what's this long story?" She asked, sitting down on the couch.

Henry remained standing, having grown fidgety upon arriving upstairs. As he paced behind his chair he pondered how he was going to explain himself. Now that he was here, faced with her curious and demanding gaze he couldn't bring forth a single word. Over the years there were very few people he had trusted, and fewer that he'd trusted with this impossible life's story. Of course he trusted Jo, more so than he had anyone in decades. But the past still crept into his head and pointed out the similarities in this situation to Nora's demands to be confided in.

Jo sat waiting and watching Henry pace, as he grew more and more nervous. Whatever he was hiding was difficult for him to let out. What could the Pandora's box of his heart possibly be holding? This man in front of her was still very much a mystery to her, whatever small victories she had had in piercing his shield. He finally stopped and sat down in the chair near where she sat. Henry looked her in the eye, she caught sight of the haunted fear in his gaze, a gaze normally a deep pool was now a dark abyss.

"I suppose I'll start at the beginning. But let me begin with this, I'm immortal. I was born on September 19th, 1779. When I die I reawaken in water-"

Jo couldn't stop the short laugh that escaped her. "And do you die often?" She asked, playing along.

At her tone he felt his heart plummet. "You don't believe me."

"Maybe I would if you told me truth, not this insane story."

"This insane story, as you call it, is the truth!" His voice was as close to a shout as she'd ever heard it.

"Do you really believe that?" She asked quietly, concern growing along with her fear of the man in front of her.

"I don't have to believe it, I live it."

"You're insane, Henry. You're sick." It pained her to say. Henry had always seemed so stalwart, like nothing could unbalance him. But recently, his behavior had been so odd and now this.

"Jo." He pleaded piteously, reaching out to her.

She recoiled from him, turning away. "No. Stay away from me." Jo was afraid, truly afraid of this man for the first time. She felt his pained, pleading gaze bore into her and she couldn't stand it any longer. "I can't. I can't." She fled, covering her face as tears that she didn't understand fell. Rushing through the shop she vaguely registered brushing past Abe who was carrying a box. She didn't stop running away until she'd parked in front of her home and shut the door behind her. What had happened to cause this change in Henry? Or had he always been like this, and she'd never noticed? Henry was the impossible man who had understood her perfectly, now she knew just how impossible such a man was. This was what had become of the man that not long ago she had almost told that she- no, she couldn't think about that now. It was like losing him, and tears came a fresh.

Abe, after watching as Jo raced from the shop, set the box down and made his way upstairs. There he found Henry standing stalk still, looking utterly devastated. "What happened? Jo jus-"

"I'll be in my laboratory." Henry announced, voice tight, making his own quick escape.

"Yeah." Abe said to himself, watching his father descend the steps. Going into the kitchen he put on a pot of tea, which he brought down to the dark basement. Henry was sitting at his desk, elbows on table and head in hands as though trying to hold himself together. "So, I guess it didn't go so great."

"One would think I was Frankenstein's monster by her reaction."

"How far did you get?"

"You mean before she called me insane and recoiled from me as though I were dangerous? Not far."

"What are you going to do?"

"I don't know, Abraham!" He snapped. Abe knew that his father was worried about the outcome of the encounter, there had been some not so hope inspiring cases before, but it didn't stop him from being taken aback by this tone. "I'm sorry, Abe. I suppose I go to work as though it were before I'd met her, seeing as I doubt she'd want anything more to do with me. I just wish- I thought sh-... Could I be alone for awhile?"

"Yeah." Abe allowed, getting up from the seat he'd taken. "I won't be picking you up tonight, right?" He'd said it almost in jest but out of genuine concern.

"Not tonight." Henry gave his son a weak smile that didn't reach further than his mouth.

So what do you think? Next chapter we find out how Jo reacts.