This is my first Helen/Nikola Sanctuary fic and I'm still trying to get their voices down... So if his seems a bit OOC (the ship aside ;) ), then I'm sorry.
I'm still in play mode here! :P This story was loosely inspired by the song ''100 years'' by Five for Fighting and this chapter by um... *whispers* Johnny Logan's ''Hold me now'' *blushes*

Set after ''Sleepers''.

I really hope you'll enjoy the read. There will be more chapters, but I have no clue how many. I have no plan. Yet ;)

There's still time for you

~When words are not enough

He had seen enough movies in his life to be able to imagine what this scene would look like in one. She would be dressed in a flowing dress and he would look pretty much like he did right now. Sharply dressed and well styled. An open window would blow wind into the room she was in while he would stand outside, looking in. As he would step on a dry twig, she would turn around to find nothing but a moving string of leaves. The sound of a violin would break the silence and the camera would zoom in on her face where a single tear would roll down her cheek right on cue. He would whisper a goodbye and disappear into the dark night…

Nikola sighed, relieved that even though it was still in the running to be called epic, real life was hardly like the movies. If only if his main motivation for that was that he wouldn't have to stand outside like a mere stalker in order to stare at Helen Magnus in secret.

She was one of life's true mysteries. A conundrum. A puzzle. A complete…

''Nikola.''

He blinked his eyes as if he had been waken from deep thoughts. An action that wasn't even fully based on a lie. He didn't respond using words, but directed his attention to her and raised an eyebrow. She sighed and he knew that she was waiting for an answer to a question he had not heard. Helen mimicked his facial expression before shaking her head.

''You can't change anything about the situation…''

He smiled.

''I'm Nikola Tesla. Of course I can, in time. But I wasn't thinking about my 'situation', Helen…''

He looked at the heavy book he had apparently picked up somewhere along the line and strolled to where she was standing. He saw how her expression changed as he approached her. As he put the book on the table she was leaning on. As he came to a halt inches from her. Her breath stopped for a second before she looked him in the eyes.

''Why do you always leave the moment I actually start to *like* having you around?''

Nikola smirked and held her stare a little longer that necessary.

''I can't stay.''

''You never can.''

Her voice sounded strong and challenging, but her eyes revealed an emotion that Nikola did not want her to feel due to something he did.

''Helen…''

She stepped back and turned around to look out of the window. She was clenching her fists. He looked over her shoulder searching for the right words to say to her in the sight of the almost full moon. Nothing came to him. Nikola gently grabbed her shoulders and turned her around so she would face him again.

''You have no idea of how much I will miss you when I'm gone…''

He knew it sounded like a line from the movie he had envisioned in his head earlier, but somehow, it was the first coherent thought he managed to get over his lips.

''And what are you planning on doing, Nikola? You can't just go and …roam anymore. I know you. I know that once you find a new obsession, you'll hold on to it. You'll hold on so tight that everything else will stop existing. You'll end up working yourself to…''

She didn't finish her sentence and looked away from him.

''You can say it, Helen. Death.''

He lowered his hands down to hers.

''It's hardly something one should not be able to say…It's just a word.''

She looked at his hands and to his surprise, she grabbed them and let her thumbs trace the lines of his fingers.

''You can't just leave and turn up again sixty years later anymore. Heal when you're morally wounded… There will be no more second chances. You're the last one, Nikola. The last one who knows what it's like. What it used to be like.''

He swallowed and hoped his voice would remain steady.

''Druitt's …around.''

Helen let go of his hands, but kept the same distance. Nikola knew it was hardly fair to mention him to her right now, but he needed her to step back. He had hurt her, he could tell and deep down, he knew he would regret it later.

''You still love him. Focus on him, use the hope you have in your heart to fight the loneliness, or whatever it is you do… He might come back, who knows how long that… man will live?''

She bit her lip and something seemed to dawn on her.

''That's why your leaving. You do not want me to see you die… Nikola…''

He grabbed his long coat and prepared to leave without responding. He simply couldn't. Helen was right. They were the last of The Five and even though their relationships had mostly been based on the connection they shared due to the source blood, they had a long and winding history. They had *written* history. They were a family formed around a secret. One that once had the opportunity to make mankind… It had crumbled into pieces, its members had fallen and in a way, turned against each other in more than one way. Helen and he were the last fully functioning members… For now. He didn't want her to see him die. Just like he didn't want to stick around to age and fade away, knowing that she would go on.

He made his way to the door and Helen followed him. Something had changed between them. He had never needed anyone the way he needed her now.

''At least talk to me, Nikola…''

She pleaded with him without sounding desperate. He wished he could talk. He had plenty of words, there were poems to recite and singers to be quoted but he knew that words wouldn't be enough to make her understand.

''Stay safe Helen…''

He kissed her on her forehead and smiled inwardly, knowing that the only reason why the gesture wasn't misplaced, was that he would never see her again. Helen knew him well enough to simply nod and let him go. She pulled him into an embrace and whispered.

''You too.''

He lingered, unwilling to let go. All good things had to come to an end though… He was terrible a saying goodbye. What to say when all words failed? He let go of her and knew that even when they had been apart, they had always been together. He knew she knew that as well. He scraped his throat even though he wasn't planning on saying another word. He nodded at her and stepped out into the night, and looked back only once. One word he couldn't say evident in his eyes: Goodbye.

Where was the ship you might ask...
Stay tuned! ;)

Thanks for your time!