THE NIGHT OFF

STORY SUMMARY: Its a rare occasion when the team at the Old City Sanctuary has a night off, It doesn't last long.

STORY PAIRING(S): Will & Abby, Helen & Nikola, Henry & Erika, Allister & Original Character

AUTHORS NOTE(S): This is and Alternate Universe Story (its set sometime after "awakening" in season 3 of the series. Reviews are appreciated. Have any Questions or Comments? Feel free to PM me.

DISCLAIMER(S): I do not own "Sanctuary" or any character, creatures, locations, etc. etc. that has to do with it. I only own the story idea the plot and any original characters present.

CHAPTER EDIT: The Chapter was edited on AUG. 22, 2015

.CHAPTER ONE: THE NIGHT OFF.

It was one of those rare moments where everything was silent and the team at the Old City Sanctuary had been given the time off by their boss. Helen Magnus. Most times they would find themselves out hitting the town for a chance of normalcy but tonight was for staying in, it was frightful weather outside giving way to rain wind and thunder Chinese Take Out was the meal of choice and with the media room moved about out of its normal pristine and organized state the team was settling in. Kate came in carrying drinks of the adult variety, Guinness to the delight of some whilst Henry was hooking everything up with a stack of movies next to him. Abby and Erika were setting out the food cartons and casting the plastic bags to the trash bin all whilst Big Guy was busy in the kitchen making some good old fashion trash food of nachos and popcorn. After all movie night was not complete without the standard company of either foods. Helen Magnus had even decide to join them, along with the residential sanguine vampire who Helen had pulled from the lab, against his will. He flopped onto a couch with a childish pout as Helen found her seat next to him,

"Come now, Nikola let loose and take a break." Helen began and pulled him along, "I left my paperwork upstairs, it sure won't kill you to leave your tinkering for a short while. You have forever." The timeless woman reminded the equally timeless vampire who only looked at her and continue to hold the pout firmly in place. She knew him well enough to know a comment would pass his lips soon. He never failed in having some sort of comment and Kate standing and grabbing the movie cases from the entertainment center was cut short when she opened her mouth, before she could speak, as Nikola's own voice perpetrated the air,

"Yes but Helen... May I remind you, that my dazzling genius does not like to be interrupted when I am in the middle of a breakthrough, a breakthrough that will invoke jealousy in those of lesser intelligence than I." Nikola told the brunette next to him, who only rolled her eyes. It was a typical comment reserved to come from the cocky half vampire but once again words were held off by his continuation, "Especially by a movie night slumber party between the kiddies... Come now I have better things to do, Helen." The suit clad abnormal said, causing Helen to sigh. He was always so dramatic.

Kate went to once more speak, and as she opened her mouth she gave Nikola a look and when the once upon a time freelance abnormal hunter was sure she would not be interrupted, she spoke her voice a bit louder than it needed to be, for the case if Nikola tried interrupting her she might be able to talk over him,

"Okay, time for a vote!" She called and paused before holding the hand full of cases up, "We have five movies to choose from folks. There is Sucker Punch, Eat Pray Love, Colombiana, and then some Classics. Rose Red... and then one way before my time... Gaslight." She said the name of each movie as she flipped through and held the cases up individually, before raising an eyebrow at the case containing the oldest movie of the bunch, "1944... Well we all know who suggest this one... Does sound interesting though." Kate said admitting that the sympnosis of the movie on the back of the case was quite interesting. As the dark skinned woman pulled her eyes from the case she looked at the others once again calling for a vote. It was after flashing through the movies once more and gaining a vote that they all decide to watch Gaslight, given that none of them had ever seen it before, something Nikola scoffed at, causing him to mutter something about kids these days not recognizing good films. The vampire was a man of solitary and great thinking sometimes even of ideas of great madness but he was no stranger to movies he sometimes frequented theaters when he felt something was worth his attention, which now a days was so rare that it was almost lost in obscurity. But at least it was a movie he had seen and although his mixed feelings about it, like Kate would admit it was a good story line for a film. It was with the decision made that Kate dropped the movie in and then proceeded to wedge herself between Henry and Big Guy, who moved just a bit to allow her more room and so Henry wasn't squished and uncomfortable, as she grabbed her food and pressed play on the remote.

It didn't take long for the chatter to die down into hushed whispers as they ate and if someone began talking to loudly they were quickly quieted as all of them quickly became enthralled by the movie playing on the large screen TV sat before them. Even Helen, and Nikola who had both seen the movie before were watching intently, Helen finding herself leaning into the half vampire as the movie progressed. Feeling him shift she knew what he was doing the moment she heard a small clink of glass set on hardwood. He had set his wine glass down and was moving to put his arm around her. Which was confirmed when Nikola draped his arm around her, As he did she settled into him further, the scent of her perfume tickling his nose as he took a deep breath. Nikola got lost in his thoughts with the scent filling his nose, as he played with a lock of her hair. His mind filled with things he could do to his Helen if the children weren't in the room. However, alas they were not alone, and he knew at the current moment, suggesting the go some place quieter just the two of them would be shot down. Helen seemed to enjoy downtime with the rest of the team every once in awhile. He'd never understand why, but he knew in a way Helen thought of the rag tag team as family. Which he was part of, although he'd never admit to such a thing for other ears to hear. The night went on and the movie once it was over was stopped and the chatter picked up about the movie they had just watched as Will got up and changed the movie out to the second pick which had been Eat Pray Love, before he went to go throw out some trash.

"This isn't a chick flick is it?" Henry asked looking around at the group, "I mean no protest. But please tell me, its not a chick flick." Henry rambled, his voice ringing out . His eyes searched for someone to answer his question, clueless about the movie that had been put in. The HAP didn't get right away; Will walked back in, and put another drink in his hand then sat down by Abby. She gave the self proclaimed geek somewhat of an answer. Helen laughed at Henry's behavior and uncertainty of the movie called Eat Pray Love.

"Its a good movie... Its not very chick flick, but I think some would categorize it as that..." Will's girlfriend offered as an answer to him, seeing as she had watched it once before. It was about part of the way through the film that the night off was sharply interrupted. A loud crash of thunder was heard above the surround system of the media room and soon after the power flickered and went out. The back up generators were signaled by a beep to Henry's tablet that the abnormal levels were taken care off by the generators. However when the main house lights didn't kick back on Nikola squeezed the cord to the lamp on the end table next to him and gave the room light,

"Something must be wrong with the main house generators." Helen said and with a brief pause looked at Henry who nodded as he grabbed his tablet and began looking at the systems for the sanctuary on it as Helen gave Nikola her thanks for his little party trick, "Thank you Nikola... Why don't you and Henry go figure out whats going on, I'll get some torches." The head of house then stood to go find some torches, or flashlights as some would call them for everyone so that no one would be in the dark. However she was cut short when a rumble was heard and everything in the room rattled and shook, it stopped and everyone looked at each other,

"Would someone please tell me what that was..." Henry said as he stood next to Erika a look of concern etched on his face as well a slight tinge of paranoia given his nervousness as he waited for a response, When no response was given right away he nodded, "Okay, great... um I'll just go check the generators with Tesla..." The HAP said and nodded and then bumped into a table, nearly taking a tumble as he turned followed Nikola out, but once more the room shaking and sensor alerts going off in the main central lab stalled everyone, who all groaned, knowing what this meant,

"Arm yourselves, everyone. Lets proceed with caution..." Helen said, the security was connected to the abnormal and medical bay level generators in case something like this happened and the shaking and alarms sounding made Helen quick to move to find out what was going on, the generators now long forgotten as everyone did what they were told,

"Every damn time!" Will said throwing his arms in the air. It seemed anytime they got time off, something always had to happen. It was really beginning to get old, not only to him but the others as well. There was just never a moment of peace, shit was always hitting the fan. After arming themselves the group of seven made their way from the media room to the central lab of the Sanctuary. The group proceeded with caution, and Helen spared a look at Nikola,

"Now, Helen, Love... I am not responsible for this. So, please hold your fire..." Nikola said to the woman he loved as he held his hands up in surrender. The head of the network gave him the benefit of the doubt as Henry began scanning the place on his tablet and running diagnostics on the sensors as Nikola looked around. He was on edge he could sense something, and it had the hair on the back of his neck raised, and for once he spoke with concern and not with a sarcastic snide remark, "You got anything there, Henry?' He asked waiting for a response, finding himself moving in front of Helen protectively on instinct. He only just got the woman of his dreams, he'd be damned if he was gonna let whatever was around them do any harm, and he knew something was there. He could sense it. Henry did some tapping on his tablet and more sensors went off,

"Whatever it is, Its big, Its really really big..." The awkward tech found himself saying as he backed up and found himself pointing to the center of the room, but before he or anyone else could speak or say something crackling was heard and red sparks ignited from seemingly no where,

"Everyone get back!" Helen ordered her tone sharp like a whip as she moved back and pulled Nikola with her, back the way they had came to some level of protection. The group watched as the sparks grew brighter and the shaking started again. The sparks that were now shooting, were hitting the room at all angles as if they were lightening bolts, leaving charred marks in their wake. As they continued watching a small red circle began appearing, it began growing in size and in it all you could see was black. there was nothing there except endless obsidian raging with lightening bolt like electricity sparks of angry red as the mass in the center continued growing.

"What is that?!" Kate shouted over the shaking of the room and the pops and cracks of what was before them.

"It loos like a vortex!" Henry replied, but no one was sure and they could only stare at it. A soon as it came and formed, a large sound of an explosion occurred, which blasted wind forward in a warm gust which shot around where the group was taking cover, as something hit the floor of the lab and the vortex. It was as gone as quick as it came. Nikola could still feel the charge in the air but he was quite certain the others could as well. It was strong enough even someone as simple as a mortal should be able to feel it. He questions were answered quickly when Kate was shocked from the metal of her gun causing her to drop it as she gave a small yell of surprise. Helen however walked out from around the wall they had took cover behind.

"Helen!" Nikola said and moved to stop her but she moved her arm enough to avoid his grasp and with her gun in hand she moved cautiously into the room, and Nikola could now see why, there laying in the floor with what at first he had mistaken for debris was in fact something of flesh and blood, and he knew Helen's inner nature to care for and to help those who needed it had urged her forward. Following as he vamped he remained at the ready as the others also came forward.

"Dude, a person came out of that thing?!" Henry said a mix of excitement and something akin to being startled in his voice as Helen gently rolled the slight frame over to get a better look at them.

"Fetch a gurney..." Helen ordered as she looked at Big Guy, and watched him leave as she checked for a pulse and found one, Sighing in relief, it was weak, but there was at least one there. The girl before her who was tall in stature, yet slight in frame, was either abnormal or human, she was unsure of but she was going with her gut instinct and saying the girl was an abnormal due to the nature of her arrival, until she knew more. Slim yet appeared to be in good shape, given the definition of the toned muscles that she could see on their arms. She was garbed in a pair of combat boots, leather pants and a tight fitted black top that was somewhat sheer but not completely and had some fringe like detail on the front part of it. However her garb appeared a tad singed and black ash covered her. However she noticed blood as well and Helen quickly checked her, there was no injuries present. Helen found this peculiar and it only mounted to the hundred of questions mounting up into a pile in her mind. "She's just unconscious... I want to get her to the infirmary run a full diagnostic make sure she's alright." Helen said quickly going into doctor mode as Big Guy came back.

Once the girl had been gathered by Big Guy and moved to the gurney they headed down to the Infirmary level. Once they got there Helen found herself asking Nikola to assist her with running tests and various diagnostics on the girl and made Nikola stay with his back turned whilst she cleaned the girl up. She set to work on wiping away the grime that was on the girls skin, being gentle with her despite seeing no signs or breaks or injuries. She then dressed the girl in a hospital gown and told Nikola he could now turn around to help her. They began the diagnostics by taking x-rays, Given that Helen wanted to confirm there were no broken bones that they couldn't see that they needed to tend to. Helen looked over the images in careful scrutiny to make sure she missed nothing and found there was nothing in them, nothing except old fracture lines that were all healed. Next came the drawing of blood and whilst everything was running for diagnostics they turned to doing some scans, but as each scan came back distorted and unreadable. Restraining her as a precautionary matter before connecting her to an IV and several other monitors. She gave the girl one last look and then proceeded to exit. Finding Nikola with the others the next lab over she took her gloves off.

"Well our patient is now resting comfortably... Just waiting for test results to go through on her blood and I might be able to tell what she is." Helen announced to them as they looked at her. All were either concerned or freaked out looking. Helen didn't blame them - what had just occurred was certainly strange even for them. It had her stumped and she could tell by Nikola's silence he was stumped to and wanted to dig his claws into it and understand it. Touching him on the shoulder she brought him from his thoughts which caused him to turn and look at her before he pulled the scans and X-rays up on the larger monitor in the lab,

"Nothing looks out of the ordinary here... except that she likes to play rough according to all these healed fractures..." Nikola said motioning to several of them, covering information, Helen herself already knew. Big Guy made a noise and then spoke,

"The only odd thing are her scans... they're unreadable. It looks like you threw a magnet in the machine with her... Hrk. Hrk." He said and looked at Helen who pursed her lips and studied the scans and X-rays, that meant it was up to blood or her waking up and telling them something to get them in the know. Blood usually was the best way for identifying any abnormalities in some one but sometimes scans or X-rays showed something, however this did not seem to be the case. However she did stop to think about what he said about the images being distorted,

"Yes, but why?" Helen inquired her tone being that meaning what she asked was more of self wonder and was not meant to bring an answer from anyone, but as Nikola nodded and showed them to her once more. She looked at them closely but didn't find anything unusual other than the distortion in them which she knew could be explained several ways. However she was not going to jump to conclusions. She was not that type of person.

"Its obvious that, that was an electrical storm of some sort, it could just be after effects still clinging to her or..." Nikola trailed off, knowing that she knew what he meant. Even without him having to continue his sentence when she gave a nod. They had always been quite good at knowing what the other meant in only a few words sometimes even less. Its why they worked so well together when he wasn't being what she dubbed an obnoxious ass. He hated to burst her bubble but he didn't want to admit that a lot of it he did just to get her undivided attention. Which now he didn't have to fight for, she was all his after that incident in the praxian turned vampire stronghold where they had found Afina, the queen of vampires. It had only taken an incident going way to far south for her to realize her feelings for him, it was feelings he had always known were right there under the surface she was always just to damn stubborn to admit to them, plus he knew a lot of it was because she still after all the years, from him, was scarred by John and what he had done to her, way back when.

Nikola would be lying if he said he didn't still want to rip out the rippers spine and then his liver and force feed it to him piece by piece. However on a side note he thought, John might actually enjoy that. The thought made him shudder. He however could not stew on the thoughts any longer. Henry's tinkering and quiet swearing as he worked on getting electricity back up and running to the rest of the Sanctuary as he came back from tinkering with the generators pulled him from it and he found Helen studying the images on the screen from the girls scans as if she was waiting for information to pop out at her. The Serbian Vampire couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head,

"Helen there is nothing there, just wait for the blood tests..." He chided calmly and turned the monitor off to stop her from staring into the screen, When she blinked and looked away she sighed.

"Alright, Alright..." She said with a sigh and then went and waited for the new arrival to wake up. The questions buzzing in her head, driving her a tad stir crazy. So much so that in her impatient foot tapping and then slight pacing she hadn't realized that her patient had stirred and was waking a few hours later.

END NOTE(S): Well this is the end of chapter one. I don't know quite yet how I am going to update this, but for the first few chapters I might do this on a review count base.