This has been nagging at me for a while. At some point it might evolve into something a bit longer, but I think it stands alone just fine. Takes place right after the big boom of the season 4 finale (fingers crossed for season 5). So spoilers if you're behind the times. Enjoy!

Ps. Reviews make me smile during my very boring day job. ;)

"Could you please stop pacing, Heinreich?" Nikola took another long drink of the wine that he had personally stocked the safe house with. He was growing as concerned as his companion at the unnerving lateness of one Helen Magnus.

"She should have been here by now." Henry bounced on his feet, punched at the wall, and continued his journeys around the tiny apartment.

"She'll be here." She should have been here by now. His words betrayed his thoughts, but centuries of hiding secrets made lying as natural as the truth.

"What if the jacket didn't work?" Henry questioned his mentor. If it hadn't activated, if the power source became disconnected, hell, if the damn thing didn't fit her properly… "There were too many variables! I should have never agreed to let her do this!"

"She'll be here." Please tell me that your little force field worked. Another long drink of whine. Nikola never took his eyes off the door. Willing her to walk through it.

"What if she's not?" Henry sat roughly on the coffee table in front of Nikola, effectively blocking his view.

"Then we do what she wanted and carry on with Plan B." Nikola rose from the couch and leaned against the arm. Once again he was staring at the door.

"Plan B? What's Plan B? There was no Plan B." Henry was jumping again much to the annoyance of Tesla.

"Yes, Henry, there was." The use of his given name was not lost on the HAP. "If she's not here within 24 hours we proceed to the new Sanctuary, contact young William and carry on as planned." Nikolas was matter-of-fact, almost smug. It was a practiced defensive art not to fall apart, but Helen Magnus had always been his greatest weakness.

"Carry on? Dude! You seriously want to carry on without the Doc? Business as usual? She is the Sanctuary! Are you really that egotistical that - "

Nikola's eyes blacked. Claws and teeth came out as he shoved Henry into the wall with near enough force to put him through it. "Don't you dare," the vampire growled, his hand drawn back to strike as Henry began his own transformation.

"Honestly, can I not leave you two unsupervised for more than an hour?" Helen stood in the door way, leaning heavily on its frame. She was a mess of soot, sweat, and blood.

The two men stood frozen, relief evident on both of their transformed faces as they slowly came back to themselves. Henry was across the room as soon as Nikola released him. He pulled Magnus tightly to him, giving no sign of letting go. She winced from the sudden contact. "Henry," she gasped out. "Pretty sure I broke a couple ribs getting out of there." He lessened his grip on her waist, but would not relent the contact. It was then Helen felt his face wedged in her neck and his hot tears pooling on her shoulder. "I'm okay, Henry." Her arms circled around his back, her hand cupping the back of his neck. "It worked brilliantly. I'm okay."

Nikola hung back, not daring to come between the two. Helen had been the only mother Henry had known and he had no intention of taking this moment from the young man. He stood against the wall content to keep his eyes locked with Helen's. Their centuries of friendship negated the need for physical conversation. For now. He would hold her later.