Title: Beginnings

Summary: A look at the Five in their early days, spanning from Oxford to after they discover John is Jack the Ripper.

Notes: My first attempt at fanfiction so I apologize if its no good, I've tried to keep it as canon and in character as possible but of course its not perfect. Spoiler warnings about "the five" and later about "Adam," this is only the first chapter by the way so please tell me if you think its any good or not. Also I do not own Sanctuary or any of the characters, stuff like that so don't sue me.


"Excited my dear?" Gregory Magnus inquired happily of his daughter over breakfast.

"Yes," she agreed simply smiling from ear to ear, "being able to learn at Oxford, its a dream come true."

"Took a few favors but it is worth it, you deserve this Helen," he informed taking a sip of tea.

"Thank you father, I shan't let you down," she promised still unable to contain the bounding enthusiasm scrawled on her face, not that her father blamed her, as a woman he doubted she had ever expected to be allowed. It was a stupid rule in his opinion, Helen was just as and in fact smarter than a lot of men he knew and saw no reason why she shouldn't be given the opportunity to learn at Oxford.

"I'm sure your arrival will bring up quite a stir," he warned her, "ignore whatever imbeciles think you shouldn't be there."

"I don't think everyone is that narrow minded," she announced bravely, "John is glad I can study in Oxford, he will stand up for me."

"John isn't everyone," Gregory pointed out, slightly irritated by the way her face lit up at his name. He liked John well enough and had known him and the Druitt family for years of course but their closeness worried him at times, he was forced to admit that at least she wouldn't be completely alone in Oxford, "and he is your friend, of course he will think better of you."

"I shall be fine father," she brushed of his concerns, her smile unwavering, "when you return in a few weeks I will be top of the class."

"I'm sure you will," he agreed unable to not return her smile, "I will stay a few days to make sure you get settled in but I do have to return to my work."

"I know, maybe one day you will tell me about the work you do," Helen stated hopefully and his smile dimmed slightly, he wasn't entirely sure he wanted her to follow in his footsteps. Not because he didn't think she could but because he didn't want to dictate her life, he wanted her to have a choice. Learning of abnormals had changed his life, it wasn't something one could easily walk away from.

"Perhaps," he offered, "only time will tell."

"I just want to make you proud father," she told him finishing her food.

"I already am proud of you," he told her honestly and gently reached out to take her hand, "I'm certain you'll continue do me proud and if your mother was alive she'd feel the same. My greatest achievement will always be you Helen, you're destined for greatness my child and don't let anyone tell you differently."

"Thank you father, that means a lot to me," she whispered in reply squeezing his hand as tears of joy welled in her eyes.

"Now let's get you to Oxford," he announced pulling away and clapping his hands lest he be caught up in the emotion, besides he didn't want her to be late.


Helen forced herself to take a slow calming breath as she admired the splendor of Oxford University, it was a marvelous building and she was caught up in the grandeur of simply the entrance. It was brimming with character and she felt nothing but admiration for such an institution, she stood drinking in the sight of it for a moment as she registered she would actually be studying here.

"Well hello there," a voice greeted her and she spun to face the odd accented speaker, slightly annoyed she hadn't noticed him approaching. He was tall and slender with brown hair, a mustache and sharp blue-gray eyes focusing on her intently with an amused expression on his handsome face, judging by his accent he wasn't British but he seemed to be a student nonetheless.

"Pleasure to meet you," she offered inclining her head and offering him a smile, "my name is-"

"Helen Magnus," the stranger finished her sentence for her, "the woman coming to study at Oxford, very interesting. No one told me you were attractive, if you're as smart as you are pretty then the pleasure is all mine."

"Thank you," Helen muttered finding herself blushing at the curious stranger's compliment, "Mister...?"

"Where are my manners?" the stranger mused smirking as he took a bow, "my name is Nikola Tesla."

"Well it's nice to meet you Mister Tesla," Helen offered appreciating the welcome as opposed to the cold reception she had been expecting but then he didn't seem like the most conventional person.

"Nikola please," he confirmed still smiling, "care for a tour?"

"Oh please Tesla," John snapped striding over and Helen smiled seeing her friend, "how can you offer Miss Magnus a tour when you're never actually in class?"

"I'm a genius," Nikola answered grandly despite scowling at John, "what's the point in coming to class when I already know the lesson? And that doesn't stop me from knowing where everything is."

"Why bother showing up at all?" John countered.

"You're just jealous of my genius," Nikola stated arrogantly.

"Jealous of you?" John scoffed, "that's hilarious."

"You just don't want to admit it," Nikola retorted smirking, "none of you do."

"Keep telling yourself that," John muttered rolling his eyes, "now if you don't mind I'm going to show Helen around."

"It was nice meeting you Nikola," Helen offered with a slight smile as John led her inside.

"Helen please, don't encourage him," John chided as Helen stared amazed the vast hall and the scattering of alumni inside it.

"What?" she murmured absentmindedly still engrossed in the architecture.

"Nikola Tesla is the most insufferable person in the entire university," John explained while she watched the other people scowling and shaking their heads, "you shouldn't encourage him to speak to you."

"I'm sure he's not that bad," Helen mused as she heard a few people muttering under their breaths about women being stupid.

"He's an obnoxious ass, arrogant, selfish, irritating... trust me he's not the sort of person you want to talk to," John explained leading her down one of the corridors along with others, the way she assumed was to her very first class.

"He didn't seem to mind I was a woman," she pointed out noting the dark glances she was getting from some and muffled laughter from others.

"Probably just desperate for attention because he bores of everybody hating him," John shrugged unimpressed, "he probably just likes you because of your physical beauty."

"Is that why you enjoy my company?" Helen wondered slyly smirking at her sudden speechless friend.

"I happen to think you are a very intelligent woman," John babbled and noticed him trying not to blush as he opened the door and led her into a half full classroom.

"You think I'm intelligent for a woman or intelligent and a woman?" she offered teasingly widening her grin at his discomfort.

"I-I-I is there even a right answer for this question?" John managed to reply as they sat down quietly at the back to which she laughed.

"So you're the woman attending Oxford," announced a man, she glanced up to see the dark haired bearded man eying her suspiciously.

"Yes I am, Helen Magnus," she greeted him pleasantly.

"The woman studying in Oxford?" another man snorted from his chair, "no offense love but studying is for men."

"Don't be so narrow minded Nigel," John chastised him, "Helen is extremely intelligent."

"I'm sure she's smarter than most women John," the man Nigel stated, "but men can't be as smart as women, everyone knows that."

"Well everyone is wrong," Helen announced stiffly shoving aside the niggling doubt in the back of her mind, she had just as much right to be here as everyone else and she had to believe that.

"Tell you what," Nigel offered smiling politely, "if you can prove you're intelligent then I'll take it back but in all honesty I think your just here because of your father, an unusual man."

"He's a brilliant doctor," Helen snapped defensive of her precious father.

"I know," Nigel agreed, "he is brilliant, but still unusual."

"Nothing wrong with unusual, " stated the dark haired man taking a seat in front of them, "I do apologize for my friend Miss Magnus, he means no disrespect. It's just hard to believe a woman can be as smart as a man, you have a lot to prove and I look forward to seeing how you fare in this institution."

"Thank you," Helen said inclining her head politely, "I think."

"My name is Watson by the way, James Watson," the dark haired man offered, "I could tell you'd prefer to have names to faces, most people do."

"How perceptive of you," Helen commented.

"That's what James is known for around here," John explained giving her a smile, "ready for your first class?"