I promised this would be up before the end of the month and it is! Go me!

So, this next bit will be a sort of 'stolen moments' group from For King and Country, Vigilante, Hollow Men and Pax Romana. I've got the FKAC ones almost finalised so updates should be frequent to start with. Each moment will flow on and impact the one that follows it with the big 'should have' coming towards the end of the arc. Not sure what that is yet because it's been so long since I watched these episodes but I'm sure we'll come up with something Teslen-y enough for everyone's tastes.

xx

"You're hurt," he said again, his voice softer this time. His grip on her wrist loosened and he stepped towards her, eyes dark with concern as he peered down at her. Not taking his eyes from hers, he raised a hand, brushing a wet strand from her forehead so carefully that part of Helen wanted nothing more than to lurch forwards and sink into his embrace. It wasn't even remotely sensible considering the fact that they were only just getting back to being true friends but there was such emotion in his eyes that she had to fight the urge to just sink into it and let him soothe the aches and pains.

Her rational mind reminded her that this was Tesla, the man who abhorred skin to skin contact, the man who wouldn't know how to soothe a minor scrape let alone the persistent throbbing of her whole body. He cared for her, she reminded herself. He cared for her but he was not her lover and would not tenderly fix her wounds.

She tried to pull away and follow the gurney Will was steering down the hall but Nikola followed her, his hands closing around her shoulders with the utmost care.

"Let me help you," he said, his voice so soft she barely heard it. Before she could process the strange words, his hand was cupping her cheek, a thumb brushing across the wounds before his brow furrowed.

"Nikola," she started, trying to pull away.

"What did that little cockroach do to you?" he asked in a growl, eyes darkening. For a brief moment she wondered if his inner vampire would surface before the memory of his mortal state ran through her head.

"I'm fine. It's just a few cuts," she tried, brushing him off but Nikola was determined, grabbing her by the waist and hauling her back into the elevator. The doors slid shut and he hit the emergency stop, leaving Helen gaping at him furiously.

"Nik-."

"What did he do Helen?" he asked again, hands on hips as he gave her a glare that reminded Helen of James when he knew she was lying.

"Nikola let me out of here right this instant!"

"Tell me."

"if you don't, so help me God I will make you pay."

"Tell. Me."

"I have a job to do Nikola," she began, well aware she was too tired to be launching into a proper rant. "I need to make sure Adam lives so that we can figure out exactly wha-"

She noted the exasperation on his face and fully expected a snarky reply but the soft press of his lips on hers as he cupped her cheeks had not been even remotely on the list of expected reactions.

He was so gentle with the way he held her, even his lips crushed against hers managed to be sweet and caring.

Helen was stumped, absolutely frozen by the way his lips felt, the way his long fingers brushed oh so softly against the shell of her ear. She couldn't move or breath or do anything except close her eyes in complete surrender. Nothing in the world could penetrate the haze that had taken over her brain, he was all she could recognise beyond her own body.

Slowly he pulled back, brushing his lips against hers one last time in a fleeting but chaste kiss. His forehead dropped against hers but he didn't release her cheeks.

"Sorry," he mumbled, voice low and rough. "I just... You're hot when you rant at me like that."

The bolt of lust that his words sent through her body shocked her from the sleepy, sweet mindset she'd drowned in during his kiss, allowing her to shove at his shoulders roughly.

She tried her best to glare at him as she reached for the buttons but the shame in his eyes made her heart beat uncomfortably in her chest. There was lust there too, completely undisguised but beyond that his disappointment in his own actions was clear.

As the doors slid back open, Helen cleared her throat and tried not to wobble a she strode down the corridor. Darting her tongue out to wet her lips, she tasted the last remnants of his kiss and had to fight a shiver, reminding herself she had bigger problems to deal with than the overwhelming need tear Nikola's clothing off. Well, for now, anyway.