Tegan Chronicles Sanctuary Style 3:
Nubbin Juice 1
Love, Lust and Frank

Helen sat behind her desk and to the common observer she looked like she was hard at work. Instead she was deep in thought making a list of all the reasons she couldn't fall in love. It didn't even matter who she was falling in love with. The biggest cons had nothing to do with sexuality and working conditions. No, the biggest cons had to do with opening her heart up, losing that person, and then having to carry the scars around with her for eternity. And then there was John.

He had been her first love. A true love, until he'd changed. Of course it was her fault and he never let her forget that. It was her fault because she let herself fall in love with him, and because she had discovered the source blood. The very thing that turned him into the monster he was. But she hadn't let that stop her from falling in love again, and again. And every single one of them from John on had left her hurting and alone.

"Hey Doc," Kate walked in and took a spot on the open couch.

Helen pretended to be hard at work as Tegan walked in wearing a charcoal skirt that ended an inch below her knee, and a deep cream silk shell under the matching jacket. She was wearing slightly more sensible heels than Helen would have chosen and it left Helen wondering how long it would be before she ditched the outfit for something more comfortable.

She took the open seat next to Kate, not having picked up on the fact that getting a rectal exam by a blind gorilla was preferable to sitting next to Kate; and since the guys weren't there yet she had plenty of options. Kate had a habit of hitting the couch or slapping the nearest person on the shoulder when she thought something was funny, unbelievable, or just plain cool: which pretty much covered most things. She'd been holding back on Tegan because of her shoulder, but it was completely healed now.

"Morning," Helen glanced out from under her brow as she finished gathering her notes and gave Tegan a half smile.

Tegan nodded her greeting and checked to make sure her pen would write. The day before, she went to write down an address for a pick up she and Henry were doing, and nothing came out of her pen. It would have been even more embarrassing had she not had her smart phone to type it into. "Gang's all here." Biggie announced as he followed Henry and Will into the office.

Tegan wasn't sure why they had to have Monday through Friday staff meetings. Once a week would suffice; It wasn't like they didn't all end up together at some point or other during the day not including the nightly ritual of gathering for dinner, and Helen was always around. Then again Helen was a control freak, and though she would admit it only to herself, Tegan did like seeing her every morning.

"How did the feedings go this morning?" Helen was staring at her.

Tegan blinked. "Fine. Sally didn't want to eat this morning, but I think it was just a ploy to get me to draw that picture she wants."

"No way!" Kate slapped her shoulder. "You can communicate with Sally?"

"Yeah." Tegan gave her a 'do that again and you'll loose your arm' look, but it she didn't seem to notice. "Be glad you can't."

Helen smiled. Sally had really taken a liking to Tegan. Actually, they all had, herself included.

"Everyone else did fine, and I still have all my fingers." Tegan wiggled them in the air eliciting a chuckle from Will.

"Good." Helen turned slightly in her chair and re-crossed her legs. She rarely showed more than just below the knee down to her stilettos which were often more heel than actual shoe. It was almost like a Magnus code to never to wear a skirt that came any higher than just above the knee.

Tegan couldn't help but stare; they were always so smooth and silky. She felt a rather abrupt nudge from Kate, as she leaned in and whispered loudly. "Man, you just totally zoned out. Magnus asked you a question."
She lifted her eyes to see an amused smirk on Helen's face. A blush started to creep unbidden up her neck. "I'm sorry."

"I need your help with an intake today. He's a little, how can I put this delicately – touchy feely."

"That means he's a grabby groper." Kate leaned into Tegan this time not even attempting to whisper.

Tegan wondered if Kate was just being Kate, or if there was any credence to what she said. She looked at Helen and nodded. "What time?"

"He should be here around two. You can show him around the guest quarters and canteen. Then we can meet up here to do his intake interview unless I find him an unsuitable match for this Sanctuary. I am still trying to track down information on his particular species."

For some reason Helen's Sanctuary, which was really considered the main Sanctuary, didn't have as many free roaming residents as some of the others. Tegan wasn't sure why unless it had to do with less staff and higher workload.

At two o'clock sharp the doorbell rang and Tegan's heels clacked on the marble floor, echoing through the foyer as she approached. She pushed the large wooden door open to reveal what looked like a man in a suit and trench coat despite the warm weather, and a pair of sunglasses. Had it not been for the deep maroon scales covering his face, he would have looked like a door-to-door vacuum salesman meets 'Men in Black.'

"You must be…" Tegan realized Helen didn't give her a name, or if she did she'd been too lost in her inspection of sleek legs to catch it. "Our two o'clock appointment? I'm sorry I don't know your name."

"I am," he pulled off his dark shades revealing bright yellow eyes. A bright red wet tongue darted over his lips. "Frank. And you are?"

Frank, such an unassuming name, Tegan thought as she stepped back allowing him entrance. "Dr. Kiser."

"What species are you?" His tongue came out again, this time lingering on his lower lip longer then necessary as she closed the door.

"Human." She stated as a matter of fact, while refusing to react when she felt his eyes burning her flesh as he memorized the lines of her body.

He laughed languidly in disbelief. "I've never had a human before."

Tegan wondered briefly if his penis was covered in the same maroon scales as his face was, if he even had one. The thought was enough to make her stomach churn. "This way, shall we?"

"After you," He smiled.

Tegan was suddenly wishing she'd changed into slacks and boots after Kate's 'grabby groper' comment. But despite the warnings she'd received and her own uneasiness, Frank never touched her. She'd caught him breathing heavily and staring at clothed body parts a little too long and hard, but that was all.

They met Helen as they stepped out of the elevator on the way to her office. Bigfoot was standing beside her. "I was just coming to find you. I'm sorry Frank, but after further review of your information, we just can't house you here. I do have a nice habitat for you in our New York Sanctuary if you're interested."

"Eyes up." Biggie grunted as Frank stared at Helen's ample cleavage.

"I think I'm going to pass." He looked back at Tegan's chest and sighed.

"My friend will show you out." Helen watched as Biggie escorted him back into the elevator.

"What was that about?" Tegan asked as the doors to the elevator slid shut.

"He has x-ray vision and he knew New York meant he'd be behind walls that he couldn't see through with a special glass front preventing him from using his talents." Helen let her eyes drop to Tegan's chest briefly before bringing them back up. "I only just found out."

Tegan nodded, disgust gracing her features briefly as it all sunk in. "I'm going to go take a shower."

Helen nodded with a small smirk.