Sanctuary For All Part I

This story takes place during Sanctuary For All.

At the beginning the story it's from the point of view of Helen.

The focus in this story is on Will.

Hope you enjoy it.

She had known from the beginning that someday he would be of great help to them. He had this attitude even as a small child. He had analysed all around him. Had been and most likely still was a loner. She had monitored him over the years. And she knew that he had most likely been called to the same case as she had. The case of that strange boy. But there was one difference – she knew about the boy and was searching for him. But he – didn't know that there was a boy involved – even so she guessed that he may find out.

Bigfoot – like Ashley had referred to him since a small age - and even so he hadn't really liked that name – had accepted it long ago. There was just one person that would call him different – and that was her. After she had healed him at the Sanctuary and he had insisted to stay he had asked for a name. Ne pave – which meant "Have no fear" was a good suggestion and since then she called him Ne-Pave.

Well Ne-Pave and she were in a car following Ashley who had insisted on taking her bike. She had always been a danger-seeker. Ashley just turned around a corner at an alarming speed and Ne-Pave also speed up. They drove around the corner – and in the dark of the night she could make out a person. A man standing directly on the street – been just barley illuminated by the lights coming out of windows.

"Halt!", she cried out so Ne-Pave would stop. He slowed down the car but the man collided with the front of the car and was thrown back onto the hard ground. She could just guess that it had hurt – she had also been hit by a car once in her life.

She got out of the car and went to the man – to check if he was okay. Well she was surprised to see Will lying on the floor. He was slightly moving around.

"Not the way I'd hoped we'd meet.", was the only thing she could say. Will tried to look her in the eye and then she could see that he lost his consciousness.

Well since they had lost the track of the boy and of her daughter there was no need to hurry. And she had to get Will off that street. She ordered Ne-Pave to pick Will up and to put him on the backseats of the car.

We were on the way back to the police station when she heard heavy breathing – and thought Will might wake up. So she turned around and watched him. He was turning around and his eyes were moving rapidly under his closed eyelids. He was dreaming. He cried out and it pierced through her heart: "Mother! Ah! Mommy! Ah!" Ne-Pave was concentrating on the street and she turned back around.

"So he does remember!", Ne-Pave said in his dark and deep voice. She could just nod.

"I hope he understands when he learns more." And this time Ne-Pave nodded.

4 Minutes later they were at the police station and Will was still unconscious. So they drove to the back entry and Ne-Pave loaded him onto a stretcher – which she then brought on the 6th floor of the building – in the knowledge that he would be fine there.

Then she went to the morgue to do her job and was happy to be occupied – since she really didn't know what her daughter was up to right now.

Will and that police agent were talking to each other. She leaned a wall just out of sight and listened – to catch up something useful and to see what Will made out of all this.

"No. I'm just saying, if you find the kid, then you'll know how those tree men died tonight.", Will said. And she had to say he was right.

"Go home, Zimmerman.", the police officer answered. Well that police officer apparently didn't think as she did.

"Why don't you want to hear this?", asked a irritated Will.

This time the police officer sounded angry to her ears: "Because this is … Because this is exactly the same kind of B.S. that got you bounced from the agency. Now, if I were you, I would just back the hell off." Well that was very clear. She knew that Will's skills brought him to the job of a profiler and that they helped him there a lot – but sometimes the things he saw just didn't make sense to anybody but him. Well and that had brought him trouble in the past. Maybe at the Sanctuary he would be capable to use his skills to the fullest.

She saw Will walk away and followed him with a few feet distance.

Will stepped out of the building first – into the pouring rain – he took his paper to shield his head of the water. She put her hat on and closed her coat around her body – then followed him.

"The detective is right, by the way.", she said – but he just kept on walking and asked: "Excuse me?"

"He can't use anything you gave him!", she just stated a fact.

"Do I know you?", he asked still walking. Good question she thought – and she had to make him stop from walking. She did hate it when people just kept walking when they were talked to.

So she stopped and asked: "How's your head?"

Well that got his attention – he stopped and turned around to look at her – paper still shielding his head. "Wait. You ran me over.", Will asked reproachful. She didn't like the way he had asked that question so she coldly answered: "You got in the way."

"Of what?", he asked and seemed to be a little confused. Well he will be a lot more confused when she would show him the Sanctuary.

Well she could tell him: "My pursuit of the boy. The police have the wrong man. The evidence will bear it out if they don't suppress it for a quick conviction. But the boy is indeed real, and he needs our help."

"Who are you?", he asked again.

"Let's just say I'm someone who's chosen to embrace the full spectrum of our reality. There are things in this city – in this world that no one wants to admit are real.", she tried to explain without giving away to much – but Will just answered: "Okay, you're creeping me out now."

He turned away from her and started walking again. Oh, how she hated that.

Okay another tactic had to be taken.

"Dr. Zimmerman.", she called out to him. He stopped and turned back to her startled. He hadn't anticipated that she would know his name. Well she did – she did know a lot about him. She had to show him that she knew who he was: "Have you ever asked yourself why you lost your job at the agency?"

He sighed: "That's impressive. What did you do, Google me?" Well if she wanted to know something about him she would have more affective ways to find out – but she didn't really had to tell him that now.

"Your theories were controversial. You were headstrong. Your so-called failures were really theirs. They failed to keep up with your insights…" She wasn't finished but he just interrupted: "Lady, I'm getting soaked here. What do you want?" Oh, she didn't really like the way he had said the first word of that sentence – well she couldn't blame him.

"You, Dr. Zimmerman. As I see it, you have two choices. You can go back to a life where you're unheard and unappreciated, or … you can squarely face the truth you've been seeking since you were a child. We both know you caught a glimpse of that truth tonight. Don't turn away."

"Who are you?", again – he isn't giving up – she thought.

She rummaged trough her pocket and pulled the Sanctuary business card out. She then held it out to Will. He took it and looked at it. She thought she saw curiosity in his eyes but it was gone again.

"I have a proposal. All I ask is for a little of your time.", she had to show him her world – and after that he could decide if he wanted to stay there or not – or she would convince him.

"Thanks, but … if you're looking for resumes, why don't you try ? I already have a job.", he answered and walked away.

She had to say he was adroit. She watched him go and began smiling – she had the feeling she could expect a call that evening.

She had been working in her office on a rather boring case report when her phone started to ring.

She smiled to herself and answered the phone – already knowing who had phoned her that late. But she did not want to make it too easy for him.

"Doctor Helen Magnus here, of what could I be of assistance to you?" She could hear someone cleared his throat and then his voice – a little unsure what to say. "Ehm, it's Will Zimmerman. The one that … the one you ran over."

She had to suppress a laugh at his straightforwardness – but years of training let her keep her control. She would have liked to ask – which one? – to his question about the one she ran over – but stopped herself. "Well I remember!"

"Sure you do! – I thought maybe we could … meet or something.", Will said still a little unsure of his own choice of words.

"Alright I will collect you at your house. Be advised to be ready in half an hour.", she told him. He sounded surprised: "How do you know where I live? I hadn't told you?"

"Half an hour.", and then she hung up. This was going to be long day – she thought to herself. And set off to get dressed and get Na-Pave.

Half an hour later she saw him standing in the rain – with an umbrella – on the pavement. Na-Pave stopped and Will got into on of the backseats right beside her.

"Good evening.", she greeted him and he just nodded: "Hi."

He looked nervous and saw Na-Pave in the mirror – and that just made him more nervous. She had to make small talk – if she wanted to prevent him from getting a heart attack before they reached the Sanctuary.
"So, what made you decide to call?", she began. His response was immediate and she thought that he might have guessed that this would be her first question.

So he answered: "Uh, You said you were pursuing the boy."

Well: "Indeed."

"Why?", he asked. She thought it might be rhetorical: "I suspect you know why."

He looked totally confused: "Uh, no. Honestly, I don't."

Okay – very long evening she thought.

"Ah … well, then. This will be a very illuminating evening."

The rest of the way he was very quite. But when the Sanctuary came into view she heard him exhale and stiffen at her side. This was really going to be a long evening.

After they had gotten out of the car – and Will hadn't said a single word – she walked through the foyer.

"Would you like a cup of tea, Dr. Zimmerman, or perhaps something stronger?", that might keep him calm enough for this evening she thought.

"Uh, no. No, thanks. I'm good." He said looking around the whole place.

"You no doubt have questions about this place.", she said – showing him that he could ask her what he wanted to know.

He answered: "Just one. How come there's no organ music?"

She hadn't thought he would joke about it, but well: "I'm glad to see you maintain a healthy sense of humour."

She took of her hat and then began to take of her coat – watching Will out of the corner of her eye.

"Yeah well, it's invaluable in police work. Nothing brightens up a murder scenes like the right zinger.", Will said.

It was her turn now: "Levity helps keep far more insidious things at bay. The boy you saw. He's very special, or so I was led to believe by people I've come to rely on for such information."

"Did he kill those men?", he asked straight to the point.

"Yes and no, not the boy per se.", Helen answered – and then started to walk down the hallway – Will following her.

"If the boy did do it, any you have knowledge either way, I need to know.", Will insisted.

"And if the answers I provide pose even greater questions?", she countered.

"I'm willing to take that chance.", he said.

"Are you certain about that?", she wasn't so certain right now – she wanted to know if he was.

"You know what? Next time you just want some company, don't give your card out to strangers on the street.", Will said now totally blocking.

"By the time the night is out, I expect to have the boy in my custody. Until then, I hope you'll understand that I'm reluctant to speculate on his guilt or innocence.", she hoped he would understand – she did not want to loose him because she had no time to explain all to him.

"But you're saying that you can find him?", he asked – good she had gotten his attention back.

"I believe so. And when I do, I could use your help.", she could try alone but with him the chances were a lot better.

"Really? For what? You call this place a sanctuary. For whom?", oh you're asking to many questions – Helen thought.

"Or what.", was her simple answer – that seemed to make Will more distant.

He let out a bitter laugh and then said: "Ah, you know what? This was a really bad idea. I'm sorry to have wasted your time, and I'm even sorrier that you've wasted mine."

Okay young William that struck a nerve – Helen thought and tried to find a way to explain it to him so he would be able to understand.

He had turned away and started to walk back to the foyer when she knew what she would say.

"Your instincts told you that the boy was anything but normal. Otherwise, you wouldn't be here. Inside these walls are beings that make his qualities pale by comparison. Sanctuary for all – is not an empty motto."

Will turned back to her again – and continued to follow her across the hallway again.

Helen could also make out that he was very careful of his next move.

Helen stepped into an elevator – Will followed her and she could feel that there was the next question already forming in his head.

"So you're a doctor of what, exactly?", he asked.

So she had been right – he wanted to know with whom he was dealing with.

Trying to profile me, doctor – Helen thought.

"The specific discipline depends entirely on the patient.", that was the easiest way to explain it – she thought.

"Do you have anything for chronic insomnia?", he asked – and she knew if he would stay at the Sanctuary she would have to take care that he would sleep enough.

"Fair warning, Dr. Zimmerman, you're about to leave the world you know behind.", she said. As if on cue the elevator stopped and Helen stepped out.

"I take that as a no.", Will said still standing in the elevator.

She turned back to him: "This way."

Will walked out of the elevator and joined Helen – then they continued walking.

Well she could tell him something about her if he wanted: "I specialize mainly in cryptozoology and xenobiology. Teratology, too, when the need arises."

Will seemed to be confused: "Teratology, what the hell's that?"

She stopped walking, and then some of her guests made strange noises that seemed to alarm Will. He turned to her with a shocked expression.

"Welcome to the Sanctuary."

Will started to walk again – trying to take all in – what was in the big room. Then he stopped and turned back to her.

"Please.", she said and led him to a large window. It was the section of the mermaid – and she now swam toward the window.

"A mermaid, you got to be kidding me?", Will asked.

Now she could answer his question from before: "Teratology, from the Greek – teratos – meaning – deformity, hideous creature, unknown being."

"How is that even possible?", Will asked.

Helen moved to the next window – Will still following her.

"He's a little frightened of strangers.", she tried to explain.

"He's frightened? What the hell is that?", asked Will – and Helen thought he most likely was as afraid as the abnormal behind the window.

"His classification is less importance than the simple reality of his existence. I discovered him after his natural habitat was destroyed by South American mining operation. Sadly, he may be the last of his species.", she explained.

"Oh, my God.", Will said as he moved to the next dark window.

Helen knew what would come but she wanted that Will would find out on his own – she wouldn't be able to warn him every time.

The fire streamed toward the window.

"Whoa!", Will screamed and jumped back. Helen caught his elbow then stepped toward the window – talking sense into her patient.

"Come, now, don't be shy.", she then turned back to Will, "Elementary powers can be very difficult to control, but we have been making progress. The purpose of this Sanctuary is to find and help the unfortunate creatures of this world. Some need saving, others can't be allowed to roam free. Case in point …"

She moved to the next window to make her point - with Steve.

"New guy … new guy! Welcome!", Steve said then turned around: "Watch your back!"

Helen said annoyed: "Stop it, both of you.", and turned to Will again, "I apologize. They're incorrigible. Nature is nothing if not diverse."

Both continued walking around the room – walking past the windows.

"The patients on this level are kept in cells mainly for their own well-being. For others it's a refuge of last resort.", Helen said.

Will was surprised again – but Helen thought that he took it better then she had believed he would.

"What, you mean some come here, what, voluntarily? Does that mean that others are …", he got distracted when on of the flying abnormals entered the Sanctuary.

"Running free? Absolutely. This isn't a zoo, and it's certainly not a prison.", she stated.

"Yeah, but some of these things, they look dangerous as hell.", Will said.

Well some of them are dangerous as hell.

"We have a dual obligation: to study the miraculous, and to protect against the perilous.", she said – he had to learn a lot here.

"Yeah, but … the dangerous ones, what's the point of keeping them?", he asked.

Oh, exactly the same question Ashley had asked her once. And Helen had tried to explain to her why they would keep them. But well Ashley didn't understand – or better she hadn't wanted to understand. Sometimes Ashley was so stubborn.

And now she had to explain Will.

She just hoped he wasn't as stubborn as her daughter – or she would have a hard time dealing with them.

"Every creature expands our knowledge. We learn from the deadly as well as the benign.", she said.

"How many more are there?", Will wanted to know.

"Many.", she stated then started to walk away – sure that Will would follow her.

And she was correct he followed her directly into the living area. A place she had redecorated so many times over the years – like her office.

"So I'm guessing few people have seen what I've just seen.", Will said.

Oh, when you would know, she thought: "Very few."

"How do you keep a secret this big?", he wanted to know.

"Very carefully. The survival of my patients depends on it. Please.", Helen sat down and motions Will to sit also. Just as he wanted to sit on the couch another door had opened and Na-Pave stepped in – with tea.

Will stepped to a wall: "Whoa!"

The second time this evening he had screamed – whoa.

A very very long evening.

"It's all right. It's all right … he's just as unnerved by you. He's been relatively isolated since I first treated him.", Helen tried to explain. Na-Pave moved forward and gave Helen a cup of tea – very carefully.

Helen bowed her head: "Thank you."

When Na-Pave offered Will also a cup of tea – Helen had to stop from grinning. That whole scene with Will against the wall – and Na-Pave holding the cup in front of his face was just priceless.

"I … uh … No", stuttered Will.

Na-Pave left the room and nodded friendly to Helen before he closed the door. Helen knew that he was used to that reaction. But since the beginning of their friendship – there had never been fear. The first time she had seen him she had been angry at him but never afraid – and Na-Pave cherished that. Helen knew that Na-Pave would give his life for her – there had been many situations in which he had stepped in front of her and had protected her. But she would do the same for him – if needed.

"This … thing is your patient?", Will asked slowly relaxing after that shock.

"Former patient actually, after I removed more than a few bullets from him, he refused to leave. So I gave him a position on my staff. I'm not sure he'd appreciate you calling him a thing.", Helen said, sipping her tea.

No abnormal would appreciate that – especially not her.

Will now sat down.

"Why me?", Will asked seriously.

"Because, Dr. Zimmerman, I believe there's a vital role for you to play here.", she answered.

"By helping you capture monsters?", he said shocked.

First he called them things and now monsters – there was going to be a lot of teaching for him. And she would leave the capturing in the capable hands of the trained persons.

"We prefer to call them abormals. The most important thing is that my patients have a place where they can feel safe. Where we can help them, learn form them.", she explained.

"My head's kind of doing the backstroke. Are you offering me a job here?", Will asked.

Oh, so much more Will – I'm offering you a new life – Helen thought.

"I'm offering you a chance to explore a world that you've been trying to understand on your own, with very little success." Will laughed.

"You find my offer amusing?", she asked and hoped she hadn't misjudged him.

"No, it's not that. It's just …", he began.

"You're afraid.", that was the only explanation for her right now.

"You work with monsters!", he said. So he was afraid – she thought.

"I work with sentient beings, each worthy of the same respect that humans, even animals receive automatically. These creatures are the key to the evolution of our race, past and future, and yet we revile them, destroy them. And worst of all, pretend they don't even exist. But they are out there, Dr. Zimmerman. Lost, like the child you saw tonight. Misunderstood, haunted … and they need our help your help.", Helen had now given him a hell lot of explanations and he still wasn't satisfied.

He sighed: "I – I still don't understand why you would come to me."

"Because I need someone who can see beyond the surface, see the world as it really is.", she said.

"I, I profile criminals, not monsters.", he countered.

This time she had to grin: "You can't see the irony in that statement?"

"You know what I mean.", Will said.

"You are a student of the human animal. You see things, you read things in behaviour that, that I believe cut across the variations of outward form. Where others see stubbornness and failure, I see great potential. Good doctors come and go, but the great ones have always seen beyond the boundaries of science, beyond the known. The great ones dare to believe in the unbelievable.", Helen said – watching him carefully. She had wanted to tell him that she believed in him – that she saw potential.

When she heard the buzzing sound of her mobile phone she got up and walked over to her desk. There she picked up her cell phone and read the text message. That massage told her two things: 1 – her daughter was okay – even so she hadn't called in hours. And 2 – they had the boy.

She turned back to Will: "We've found our boy."

On the way to the tunnel she had anticipated many questions from Will – but he seemed to just have two.

"So you have found the boy? How?", he asked.

"I told you that you got in the way on my pursuit of the boy. Well, I wasn't the only one searching.", Helen answered.

"And how did you get the information of that boy in the first place?", he asked.

"I already told you – I have my contacts. I rely on them in such cases.", she said, "Here we are. Follow me."

She stepped into the tunnel and kept going – until they were in tunnel 4. Voices could be heard and Helen saw two police officers been treated by EMTs. She watched them as Will asked: "What happened to those guys, the boy again?"

"Seeing as they're alive, I doubt it. I have my theories.", she said – and that theories involved her daughter.

She began to move off – Will following – they entered another area.

"What I still don't understand is, who tipped you off that the boy was down here?", a very irritate Will asked.

Just in that moment Ashley joined them: "I did. I've been tracking that little dweeb all night."

Helen didn't turn around – she just concentrated on their surroundings – in case the boy would attack them.

"Who the hell are you?", Will asked shocked and Helen had to smile as her daughter shot the question right back.

"Who the hell are you?", Ashley said.

Okay she had to stop the pleasantries – they had a boy to catch here.

"You said you had him.", she asked.

"I did, until the circus arrived.", Ashley said.

Good time to ask if it really had been necessary to attack the two men – Helen thought: "Still, roughing up two policemen."

Helen already knew that her daughter would have an explanation for that one again – and she was right.

"They were going to get themselves killed.", Ashley countered.

"Uh, guys?", Will said standing in front of a large box.

She heard Ashley pull out her gun at the same time that she got her gun ready.

Will was now standing directly in front of the box – Helen knew that this wasn't such a good idea.

"It's okay.", Will said – and in that moment a snake-like thing darted towards Will. Ashley – always the fast girl – tackled Will to the ground – stood up again and aimed at the boy.

"Don't! We need him alive!", Helen shouted – she didn't wanted that boy dead.

She walked in front of the box and talked to the boy: "We want to help you."

She lowered her gun – but Ashley standing behind her had her weapon still drawn.

"Do you understand me? We're not going to hurt you, I promise.", unless he should be making trouble – Helen thought.

The boy stepped out of his shelter and now stood before them – the snake-thing still waving wildly around.

"That's it.", Helen said – and in that moment the snake-like thing stroked out and bite Ashley in the shoulder. Helen turned around to her – her own weapon now drawn again.

After Helen had almost forgotten that Will was still here – she was surprised to hear his next words but took the opportunity.

"Hey, hey, hey" Over here. Over here … yeah that's it.", Will said – trying to distract the boy and it worked.

"That's is … nice and easy.", Will turned to Helen and Ashley, "Any time …"

Helen raised her gun and shot the boy with a tranquilizer dart – he then collapsed onto the floor.

Good, boy caught. And Ashley injured – again.

Great, Helen though.

"You okay?", Will asked Ashley.

"Yeah, I'm fine.", Ashley answered and Helen had to sign inwardly – her daughter would never admit that she wasn't fine.

"This chaos was completely avoidable.", Helen said to her daughter.

Ashley just looked at her and said: "These tunnels reek and I need a bath. I don't need a lecture."

"Seriously, who are you?", Will asked – Helen knew that he wouldn't take this one that easily.

Every time the same excuses, Helen thought.

"Dr. Zimmerman, this is Ashley.", she added a small pause and then continued, "My daughter."

And from the reaction that was now displayed on Will's face – he really hadn't expected that one coming.

To be continued …