Hello! This is my first serious fanfic. I don't remember how I got the idea but it just came to me and I went with it. Hope you enjoy! :D

notes: I put the date and location in bold so make sure to pay attention. Sometimes I may jump weeks or years, so make sure to read the dates!

September 2010- Warehouse 13

"She's going to be fine, Claudia." H.G. Broke the awkward silence that had fallen between the young apprentice and herself. "I assure you."

Claudia looked up and asked something that would have sounded completely insane had she had any other job. "So... where'd you go when you used your time machine?" Seeing as she was talking to the actual H.G. Wells, she was sure it was somewhere really cool. "Um, mani/pedis with Cleopatra? Snog with Casanova." She said with a mischievous look in her eye.

"Paris, 1899." H.G. said in a way that suggested the memory wasn't a happy one. Claudia couldn't help her curiosity; "Why?" she asked, though she was sure she wouldn't like the answer.

After a slight pause, and in a pained, forced voice, H.G. continued; "That's... uh... that's where I had arranged for... my daughter, Christina, to spend the summer with cousins." Claudia's heart fell, this was not going to be a happy story. "I was away a great deal. Single working mother, to use today's parlance. One day Christina awoke with a fever. Sophie, the housekeeper, had her stay in bed. Um... the men who came to rob my cousin's home were expecting an empty house. Sophie tried to fight them, but there were too many. She survived but...um... Christina-" She stopped. She couldn't say it out loud and Claudia didn't need her to.

They stood there in silence, the 150 year old author and the barely 20 year old techie. Claudia knew there was nothing she could say to comfort her and instead tried empathy. "I imagine losing a child is the worst pain a person can go through."

Without hesitation H.G. replied; "No, actually." Her features darkened and her voice took on a tone of emtpy pleasure. "When I tracked them down, what I did to the men who killed my daughter." Claudia had never taken the saying "if looks could kill" seriously before now. The look on the older woman's face was terrifying. Claudia understood Artie now, H.G. Wells as not to be underestimated. "That's the worst pain a person can go through."

November 2010- Abandoned warehouse

"You could have saved her. You could have saved my daughter. Instead you left us with nothing." Helen leaned against the wall, taking in his words. She closed her eyes and he spoke again. This time his words struck a wound that would never fully heal. "I heard about Ashley. Tragic isn't it? Losing a child."

Oxford- September 23, 1883 3:11pm

He didn't hear her approach him. Wouldn't have even known she was there if she hadn't spoken.

"Dear Lord, Adam." He broke from his complex equation to look at her. "Looks like the formula for some kind of toxin." That was an understatement. "Just, uh, some scribbles. Well," he said hopefully, "am I in?"

After a depressing pause, and a remorseful expression she replied; "You are a brilliant scientist." He already knew the answer before she continued, "You don't need us."

He was desperate now. "No, you don't see. You need me. You need me!" He said this much more forcefully than he had intended and it showed on Helen's face. "I'm sorry, I just... I belong with you, Tesla, and Watson. I'm one of you."

"You will have an amazing career, Adam. But we're heading on a different path."

'Helen Magnus, always the diplomat' thought Adam. "What did I do to turn you all against me? I can help!" Her expression did not change. Hadn't he proved he was just as smart as the others? "Let me help." He spoke softly, unable to hide the desperation in his voice.

"I'm sorry Adam." She tried to sound sincere but he could hear the pity in her voice. Without another word she turned and walked away. He turned back to his equation but found he no longer had the will to finish it. Angrily he threw his chalk to the ground, the little pieces flying everywhere.

This is just a little set up chapter. Just so you know where I got the idea. The rest will be completely original and set mostly in the past. It's the story of Adam Worth and H.G. Wells. I've kept things canon, I just filled in the holes.