A/N: This was written for the "Historical Teslen" day of Teslen week on Tumblr. Enjoy!

A haze of smoke drifted through the air, curling around a tiny, dimly lit booth strategically placed to allow the occupants to see nearly the entire room. In the background, a singer was crooning "Someone to Watch Over Me," accompanied only by a piano. The notes hung heavy in the air, reverberating there for a moment before fading away. But they weren't quite loud enough to cover the excited tones of one of the occupants.

"Helen, all I'm saying is that it's fascinating to watch language change, right in front of us." Nikola lifted his hands, spreading his fingers out with an entranced expression. "Just think, if it's so different now from what it was fifty years ago, what will it be in another fifty years? Another hundred?"

Helen smiled down at him, her fingers threading through his hair and stroking it as he enthused from his comfortable position on her lap. Nikola could barely see her in the dark, smoky booth, but that smile still made his heart go wobbly. "I agree whole-heartedly, Nikola. But if you ever call me 'baby' or 'doll,' I will be forced to shoot you. Multiple times."

He grinned. "But I'm stuck on you, Helen."

"Somewhat literally, at the moment." Helen raised an eyebrow.

"Well, this is hardly the most reputable place in town. A real seedy joint," he added for emphasis. "And clearly unsafe for abnormals, besides which I shudder to think of the last time these booths have been cleaned. My love for ancient history only goes so far."

Helen laughed quietly. "I believe you mentioned something along those lines. And I believe I mentioned that we're here because it's unsafe for abnormals."

"Yes, yes, the kidnappings. I haven't forgotten about your dreadfully boring investigation. In that case it's even more imperative that I stay close to you, isn't it? How shameful it would be for you to lose the last vampire on your watch."

Nikola snuggled closer to Helen with a smug smile as she shook her head.

"I doubt I could lose the last vampire now if I tried, as he seems to be quite securely attached to me."

"Oh, I can always get closer to you, my dear…"

"Maybe later." Helen's eyes were twinkling. "I would prefer to avoid distraction in case our quarry makes an appearance tonight."

"Mmm, so business minded. Very well."

Nikola sat up to take a sip of water and gagged. "Have I mentioned that I hate prohibition? Bleh, you'd think a place like this would at least have some illegal alcohol around…" He settled back down against Helen, still making disgruntled noises.

"Don't worry, Nikola, I'm sure it won't last much longer." She resumed her former movements, twisting his hair between her fingers before sliding her hand through it, caressing his forehead. Nikola let out a soft hum as she continued, while Helen kept watching the door through the fog, looking for anyone who seemed to be following another patron out.

"Oh, Helen," he sighed. "You know I hate to complain, and by all means, keep going, but perhaps you could try not to put my hair into too much disarray? I only just got it to stay down, you see."

"I quite like it like this." Helen's voice was soft as she ruffled his hair, and for a moment Nikola almost imagined he saw a sad, faraway look in her eyes.

"You do? You never mentioned it before."

"Perhaps I should have," Helen murmured, before the sadness faded into a smirk."There's a lot you don't know about me, Nikola."

He sat up, grinning. "I do love a woman of mystery." He leaned in, eyes closing, before Helen pulled back sharply.

"Nikola, look."

Sighing, he turned, focusing on the figures that slipped through the door a moment later. "Suspicious," he said.

"Indeed. Come along, Nikola." Helen got up, taking his hand and pulling him with her.

"With pleasure, my dear."

"Well." Nikola exhaled, looking down at the still-healing bullet wounds covering his chest. "That's this suit ruined. Is my hair mussed enough for you now, Helen?"

"Quite, Nikola, thank you," Helen said breathlessly, leaning out for a glance before retreating behind the wall they had taken shelter behind. They had followed their suspects into a long, dim alley, only to be ambushed by a spray of bullets. If Nikola hadn't darted in front of her…

Nikola's thoughts were apparently running along the same course. "Are you alright?" he asked, checking her over quickly.

"I'm fine. You?"

"A bit put out, but at least the tie is salvageable. So, what now?"

"I have reinforcements on the way from the Sanctuary," Helen said. "If we can just keep them pinned down for a few more minutes, we should be in the clear."

"Well you never have any trouble keeping me pinned down." Nikola winked at her, eliciting an eyeroll from Helen. "I'd say that's a much more substantial feat."

"Really, Nikola?"

"I know, I know… Focus on the bad guys."

"If you would be so kind."

They had no more trouble holding out until backup arrived. Nikola was more concerned about Helen – he was certain that one bullet had gotten through him and grazed her, but it was too dark to see, and too hard to tell with all the blood in the air from Helen's return fire interfering with his sense of smell.

To that end, he invited her back to his hotel room for a drink (Nikola hadn't let prohibition come between him and the comforts of a good vintage in his own home) and a chat after the kidnappers were apprehended. Somewhat surprisingly, she accepted.

"Don't you ever get tired of sneaking into your own rooms?" she asked on their way up in the elevator.

He shrugged. "Eh, it beats the old man makeup." Truth be told, his double life was starting to wear on him. Still, it would be a few years yet before he was ready to leave it behind.

A rich red wine was Nikola's selection for the night, and he poured it for Helen after stoking the fire and seating himself next to her. Now that his senses were clear again, he could easily pick up the distinct scent of blood issuing from her shoulder.

"Alright, let me see," he said as she took a sip.

"See what?" she said with an innocent expression.

"You can't fool me, Helen. I don't know why you're so intent on hiding it from me, but I would have thought you wiser than to go wandering around the city with an open wound like that." He reached for her shoulder, slipping off the jacket she had put on to cover it and gently prodding aside the torn, bloody cloth of her shirt.

"Oh, Helen," he murmured. "Where did you get these?" Even on the small patch of skin he could see, there were two new scars he had never seen before.

"You said it yourself, Nikola." Helen grimaced as he examined the bullet hole. "I'm a woman of mystery."

"Hmm. Stay here." Nikola got up to fetch some water and bandages, as well as a different and much less delicious kind of alcohol. He returned to her side and began dabbing at the wound.

"It went clean through, thank God. I'm hardly equipped for surgery here, and since you're apparently happy to be on your merry way with a gigantic hole in your shoulder..."

His tone was acerbic, but his movements were slow, trying to be as gentle as possible. Helen had to be in pain, even if she'd barely made a sound so far.

"It's hardly gigantic," she said, rolling her eyes and wincing as he continued to bathe her shoulder.

"Yes, I'll make sure to mention that at your funeral after you die of infection."

Helen grimaced again, but Nikola was pleased to see it was from annoyance, not from pain. "That's more like it. Now hold still."

She remained silent as he finished cleaning the wound and began applying bandages. The fire crackled behind him, casting an orange glow over half of her face and leaving the rest in shadow. Her eyes were distant – she looked exhausted, Nikola realized with a pang. Helen had always overworked herself, but perhaps this global Sanctuary network she had spent the last few decades setting up was draining her more than he'd thought.

"Thank you, Nikola," she said rather begrudgingly after a while. "I do appreciate your help, even if I could do without the sarcastic asides."

"Sarcastic asides are my specialty, my dear. You're not holding still."

"You're one to talk," she muttered, but didn't move until he had finished putting on the last bandage.

"There," he said, and bent over to give her shoulder a light, tender kiss. "All done, although I would feel better if I saw you getting a full night of sleep with my own two eyes."

"I'm sure you would," she said with amusement.

"I mean it, Helen," he said softly. Her forehead creased, no doubt surprised at his earnest tone.

"No double entendres this time. A shock, I know." He touched her cheek. "I'm sure you've saved the world more than enough for a lifetime, let alone a single night. Helen… Just this once, get some rest?"

Helen sighed. "Nikola…"

"Shall I bat my eyelashes at you?" Nikola demonstrated, and was rewarded by an actual laugh.

"Please don't," she said, chuckling, then sighed again. "Very well, Nikola, on one condition."

"Anything, my dear."

"Never do that again."

"I swear," he said with a very solemn air, drawing another laugh out of her. "Is there anything else I can get you?"

"Just one thing." Helen took his hand, looking down at their interlaced fingers before speaking. "Stay?" she said quietly.

Nikola stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. "Of course," he said, and wrapped his free arm around her.

As Helen nestled against his shoulder, she whispered something that even Nikola's hearing couldn't quite catch. It sounded almost like, "I miss you," but that couldn't be right, because Nikola was right here with her.

Regardless, there was something in her tone that made Nikola turn his head and press a kiss to her dark hair.

"Of course I'll stay," he repeated, voice soft and low. He'd stay forever if she asked him to.

"Though I warn you," he added, a little lighter. "I have been known to snore."

Helen laughing quietly against his shoulder was, in Nikola's opinion, the sweetest sound in the world.

A/N: Fic title is also from the song "Someone to Watch Over Me."