Disclaimer: I do not own Sanctuary or its characters etc
Oxford University, May 1876.
John Druitt, first-year student at Oxford University, watched the auditor as she walked across the courtyard towards the medical students classrooms. He was seated under the large oak tree in the middle of the university's extensive grounds, one arm around an attractive young woman, the other casually holding a textbook from one of his classes. Despite his many female admirers, including the beauty currently dozing at his side, he couldn't help watching the auditor. She was young, striking and, he knew, intelligent. Most of all, she was out of bounds. Helen Magnus was the daughter of Dr. Magnus, a lecturer at the university. He wouldn't cause himself trouble by entertaining a fling with her, especially when he had plenty of company already.
"Another Druitt girl fallen victim to the dreary writings of dead men?" James asked, appearing in John's line of sight and looking down at the girl on the grass.
John drew himself out of his thoughts and smiled up at his friend. "One of the greatest English minds." He held up the book so that James could see the title. "It takes a truly great mind to appreciate the Bard."
"Give me modern literature any day." James replied without hesitation, looking around to see what had caught his eye. "Ah. You should know better John. She is not for you."
"Is that a challenge?" John's face lit up.
James quickly shook his head. "No you don't. I won't be blamed for your attentions towards her. Though why you would go after her when you have lovelies like this one at your side I do not know."
Shrugging, John pulled his arm from around the woman at his side, laid her gently against the tree and stood up. "Because, my celibate friend, women love me and I love women."
As they walked to their next class James told himself that it was for the best that he hadn't told John that Helen already had someone after her (an admirer), John would only take it as a challenge. Then if Helen's father found out he would be sure to have John removed from the university. James Watson didn't have many friends and he wanted to keep the one he had.