Sanctuary Ficlets
Each chapter is a new Sanctuary ficlet
Grey - Season 2 speculation
Prompt: Battle Fatigue
She's tired of fighting; Men, women, shadowy organizations, the relentless march of time, herself. Helen stands in the rain at the appointed place at the appointed hour. The conflict has been long and hard this year and she wants it to end, but all she has is another battlefield. Another in an endless supply.
The skies open up. Grey rain from grey clouds finds it's way into her collar and trickles down her neck. The world even smells grey. She wishes for color; laughing blue and sunny yellow. Colors that were taken from her. Helen thinks she could stop fighting if she could have them back.
The particle whisper and flash of light means her adversary's arrival. Helen hates this woman, but the fire is quenched by the chilly rain and the fatigue of time. A misty resignation hovers these days, dark and cold. Ashley never wore so much makeup before, she notes idly. Her eyes are a hard grey under the smoky eye shadow; stone and unrelenting. Helen has to fight the impulse to cross the distance. She's tried of fighting that too.
There is posturing and brave words on both sides. Helen hides the fatigue, relying on her supporters to back her up. They do and she is grateful. She knows they're tired of being hunted, harried and chased. Men in matching black body armor stand arrayed behind her daughter, who stands at the Cabal's right hand. By contrast her group appears ragged and uneven. She wouldn't trade places. Except for one detail.
She's evenly matched against this redheaded demon. Helen resents the flash of color, even as she squashes the impulse. She rejects the offer posed to her. Too many people depending on her would die. It's more reasonable than the last time they had this stand off. Or maybe she's just tired.
Whitcomb's eyes narrow. She threatens politely, and Helen parries with equal civility. The super soldiers opposing them tense. Helen watches her daughter's eyes as the conflict brews. There is a flash of something. A flicker of defiance and contained rage that she knows well. Helen's breath catches as it slides away under the current of ice. John rips her away before a real fight can begin and suddenly she is home.
Helen lets out a long breath and turns to the next order of business. She is worn and weary, but she has found something to fight for.