A/N: A contribution for Teslen ship day (August 27th), and the current Teslen fic challenge!

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Chapter One

When Helen finally tracked Nikola down, he was staying in a rundown part of the city, in the back end of beyond. She lifted her hand and knocked softly on the wood.

"Nikola?" she called to him. "Nikola, I know you're in there. Won't you let me in?"

"It's not safe." He called back, feeling himself transforming at the scent of her, and sick to the teeth that although it had been many days since he was injected with the source blood, he still hadn't managed to get any control over his awakened abnormality.

"Please, let me come inside?"

"No. I might hurt you,"

"Nikola?" her voice was a little more cautious, hearing the deepness of his transformed voice.

"I might hurt you," he repeated, his tone tinged with despair.

"Nikola, let me help. I know there must be something I can do. This is all about blood work, there's going to be some way I can repress the urges you're having, some way to make it bearable… Please, Niko, at least let's try?"

She heard the door to his room unlock, but when it didn't open she had to push it open herself. He'd already made it to the other side of his room, sitting down in one of the darkest corners as though trying to hide from her.

She locked the door and moved closer, kneeling down beside him.

"Look at me," she seemed to plead, although she hadn't meant to.

"No."

"Why?"

He hesitated.

"I don't want to see the fear and mistrust on your face, Helen. I can take it from the others, but not from you."

She sighed, reaching towards his arm so she could draw his transformed blood for further examination. If only he was able, they could find a solution faster together, she was sure. But he wasn't able right now, and she was the only one willing to help him.

He reluctantly allowed her to take her blood sample, trying to hide the long nails that had appeared on his transformation. She put her needle and sample to one side, and reached for his arm again. She ran her fingers delicately over his skin, until she reached his hands and the claw like nails. But she wasn't alarmed or disgusted by them, and when he lifted his gaze ever so slightly to look at her expression all he saw was a deep curiosity and care.

She could feel him watching her, moving her hand up his arm and to his neck, slowly lifting her eyes to his mouth as she gently lifted the side of his top lip up to see his fangs. She smiled worriedly at him, gently stroking his cheek and running her fingers back through his hair.

"You haven't been looking after yourself."

"I'm fine." He insisted. "I don't need your pity, Helen."

"It's not pity-"

"Yes it is," he argued. "No-one else is here because you got stuck with dealing with me."

"Nikola,"

"I never did fit in, did I," he cursed.

"You know I don't think of you the way they do. You know that Nikola," she insisted. "Do you really believe I'm here out of obligation?"

The vulnerability in her voice betrayed her, despite trying to appear calm.

"No." he confessed. "I'm sorry," he paused, looking at her with regret in his eyes. "I'm alright, honestly."

He wished he'd told the truth when she stood up and backed away from him, putting the vial of his blood in her satchel and straightening her clothes.

"I'll be back as soon as I can." She made for the doorway, stopping and turning back to him. He was still on the floor, hadn't moved an inch. "Please take care of yourself Nikola,"

And then she was gone, and he was alone again.

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More soon :)