Baby, its cold outside
Chapter 2
Christmas 2011
Helen strolled down the hallways of her Sanctuary, humming quietly. She past towards the front door, heading to the elevator when she heard a loud knocking on the door.
"That's odd…" She voiced to herself. In order to get to the front door, you needed a passcode to get through the front gate. Helen's hand wrapped around the doorknob and she slowly opened the door, one hand poised hovering over her gun.
But when the door revealed who was there, Helen's arms dropped to her sides, eyes just barely widening as she took in the man standing before her.
"Nikola Tesla." He smiled and she smiled, leaning forward to kiss him on the cheek.
"Helen Magnus. Merry Christmas." Helen stepped back, suddenly realizing that Nikola was right. It was Christmas Eve. And then it occurred to Helen why Nikola was here. He was going to spend Christmas at her Sanctuary.
"I hope you don't mind," He said, as she let him in. "I was sitting alone in my lab a week ago and a thought occurred to me. Why spend Christmas alone? I have spent one too many Christmases alone." Helen smirked and raised an eyebrow.
"And what made you want to spend this Christmas at the Sanctuary? Why now?" Nikola placed his many bags down at looked at her pointedly.
"One. I've come to spend Christmas with you, Helen. Not your Sanctuary. And two, I just felt, that it's been a long since I spent Christmas with you. Alone." Helen swallowed as he looked deeply at her. She knew exactly what he was talking about. And if truth be told, that was the reason why Helen avoided Nikola at Christmas. It had been one hundred and thirteen years- well technically two hundred and seventy three years for her since she last shared Christmas with Nikola. And she was afraid that if she spent another Christmas with him, they'd end up in bed. It had happened once, and it could definitely happen again.
There was something about Christmas that made Helen feel lonely. With each passing year, Helen lost those who were important to her. It made her desperate to be with others. Helen did a good job at hiding this need but when Nikola was around, she lost all of her control, and just had to cling to the one constant she had. Him.
"Really? Oh, Nikola it hasn't been that long." She chided.
"Oh yes it has. The last Christmas we spent together was back in…eighteen ninety seven."
"Ninety eight." She corrected quickly, eyes downcast. She felt a blush creep into her cheeks. She would never forget that wonderful night… She didn't have look up to know Nikola was smirking.
"Well then… I guess it has been a while." She looked up.
"Yes. I guess it has been a while." They stood there for a minute, a thick tension filling the air.
"So…I assume you'll be taking your usual room?" She questioned.
"Oh, of course. Wouldn't have it any other way…"
"Good. Then, I'll have Biggie come and get your things…"
"Good…" They stood for several more minutes before Will came running into the main foyer.
"Magnus! Henry and Kate just got back with the newest intake and she's not taking kindly to being handled. Turns out its pregnant and in labour…" But Will stopped short when he saw Nikola.
"Nooooo…I and here I thought we would have a normal, good Christmas for once…but now you're here." Nikola smiled at him cheekily.
"Love you too, Huggybear." He said sarcastically. Helen rolled her eyes and turned to Will.
"Where did they put her?"
"In the medical bay."
"No, no. We need to get her down to the habitat we put up for her." Helen headed towards the elevator, Will and Nikola close on her heels.
"She? She what?" Nikola asked.
"We found a 'Terrae Filius.' Down in the New City park."
"'Terrae Filius?' If my Latin is correct, that means 'Child of the Earth.'" They all stood waiting in the elevator as it descended.
"You are correct Nikola. 'Terrae Filius' is a humanoid plant." The elevator doors opened and the three of them rushed to the infirmary.
When they got there, Henry and Kate were holding down a screaming plant woman. Helen turned to the intercom and called Biggie. He was down in a matter of moments.
"Biggie! Grab her and bring her to her habitat! Now!" He did as she asked scooping the screaming woman and leaving. Helen turned to Nikola.
"Help me!"
"What do you need?" They swiftly made their way to one of her many labs.
"Grab all the herbal medicine from those two cabinets!"
"Why?"
"This abnormal's physiology is very different from ours. Their blood is made of pollen, and their entire bone structure is made of roots. Anything non-herbal, won't kill the mother, but the fetus? Oh yes." Nikola nodded and grabbed everything he could.
They all but sprinted to the habitat where the woman seemed to have calmed down some. Helen's team stood back from the woman at a respectable distance. Nikola looked the woman over; she had short pixie hair made of thorns. Her face was shaped like a tulip, there were two large flowers covering her breasts, and other areas, and the rest of her skin appeared to be made of moss. Nikola realized something and leaned in to whisper in Helen's ear as she started putting on her medical gloves and mask.
"If she's pregnant, where the stomach?"
"The uterus isn't in the same spot as it is with humans. The uterus of this abnormal is placed in her left shoulder blade."
"Why?"
"As you can see," She whispered back, moving slowly towards the woman, "The back is covered by a thick layer of bark; this protects the uterus better than the front."
"I see." Helen moved closer to the woman.
"Doc," Henry said, "I wouldn't do that…" The woman's head snapped up and she glared a Helen and Nikola before raising her hand and shooting thorns at them. They dodged the sharp objects and Helen stopped.
"I'm here to help." She said calmly.
"Do you understand me?" The plant woman roared before she collapsed to her knees. Magnus caught her and help her over to one of the tall, strong oak trees. Helen placed the woman's hand against one of the low branches and she immediately grasped it tightly. Magnus turned to her team and nodded to the door.
"Alright. Thank everyone for helping me get her here. But if you could all leave, it would be appreciated." Everyone went to leave, including Nikola.
"Nikola." Helen called, "Can you stay? I may need your help." Nikola pouted.
"Why me?" He whined. Helen sighed exasperatedly.
"I don't need you to do anything. I just need you to hand me some tools."
"Why me?" He repeated.
"Nikola."
"Fine."
Helen placed her hands on the woman's back. She growled, but as Helen began to massage her back, she relented.
"My name is Helen Magnus. Do you have a name?" Helen asked softly. The woman dropped her head and breathed in deeply.
"Rose. My name is Rose." Helen smiled as Nikola rolled his eyes.
"Hello Rose. Are you ready to have a baby?"
"No." Helen laughed slightly.
"Oh, really? And why not?"
"Never…wanted…a…baby…" She panted. Helen smiled and kept kneading Rose's back muscles. The bark on her back shifted, creating an opening on her left shoulder blade. Rose cried out and arched away from Helen, leaning into the tree branch.
"Nikola, can you grab me some water?" Nikola nodded and rummaged through the bag of supplies Helen had brought. He found the bottle of water and tossed it to Helen. She twisted open the cap and poured the bottle over Rose's back. She moaned and her body relaxed.
"What did that do?" Helen looked over to Nikola as her hands continued to massage Rose's shoulder blade.
"Soothed the muscles." No sooner had Helen said that, the bark on Rose's shoulder blade separated further, giving Helen a view of the baby.
"You're doing great Rose. I can see the baby." Rose nodded quickly.
"Now, you're far enough dilated. I'm going to reach in a grab the baby."
"Alright." Helen's hands slipped tentatively into the uterus sack. Rose grunted and her knees started to buckle.
"Nikola! Hold her steady!" Nikola raced over, wrapping his hands around her hips, holding Rose up. Helen's hands dipped further and she slowly pulled out the baby. As Helen fully drew out the baby was encased in what looked to be a placenta. Rose gasped and fell into Nikola's arms.
Helen carefully held the sack. It was shaped like a flower bulb and was slightly bigger than a bowling ball.
Nikola lowered Rose to ground and leaned her against the tree. Helen moved over to her medical bag and pulled out her scalpel. She sliced into the bulb and amniotic fluid poured from the broken edges. As soon as it was all gone, Helen peeled the outer bulb layer off of the baby.
The minute the outer layer was removed, the umbilical cord fell off. The air hit the baby and it started to cry. Both Rose and Nikola looked up.
Helen grabbed a blanket and swaddled the baby. She moved over to Rose and handed her the baby. Rose stared wide eyed at the new little boy in her arms.
He was very tiny. Small amounts bark covered his back and his skin was made of moss like his mother. He cracked his eyes open just for just a fraction of a second but his eyes were a deep brown. And on top of his tiny head was a small tuff of grass.
"He's beautiful." Rose whispered.
"That he is." Helen said. "What's his name?"
"Reed."
Four hours later Nikola sat in Helen's office across from her on the couch. They had been staring at each other for ten minutes before Helen finally spoke.
"You did really well today. Thank you Nikola for your help."
"You've told me that twice already."
"Oh." They sat in quiet for another few minutes, the tension building up as it had earlier that day. Finally Nikola could take the silence no longer.
"It's snowing out." He said. Helen's eyes followed his gaze to the window as the tiny pieces of snow fell to the ground.
"A white Christmas." She whispered.
"Hmmm. Just like our last Christmas. Do you remember? The snow was up to your knees and…"
"Nikola. Stop." She said firmly. He cocked his head looking at her hard.
"Why?"
"Just…because…"
"Why don't you spend Christmas with me?"
"Nikola…"
"No, Helen. I want to know." He said, suddenly filling up with anger. She turned away and put her cup of tea down.
"I don't want to discuss this right now." She said hoping to shut him down. But Nikola Tesla was not one to give up easily. He put his own cup down and moved around the table and sat down beside her.
"Mind if I move in closer?"
Helen still refused to look at him and scooted farther away from him. He inched closer until she was pressed against the armrest.
Nikola moved a little closer and Helen predictably moved to stand up. But Nikola grabbed her wrist and pulled her down.
"Answer me."
"No."
"Helen…"
"The answer is no Nikola."
"Helen…" He said, grabbing her hands. "Ah! Your hands are like ice!" Helen pulled her hands away.
"I really should be going…" She said attempting to stand again. But yet again Nikola pulled her down. Helen let out a huff of anger and finally turned to look at him.
"Nikola, please! Just drop it!"
"No! Tell me why!" Nikola grabbed her shoulders and shook her slightly. Helen stared at him wide eyed, a small fear in her eyes.
"I really should go…" She said hesitantly. Helen moved to get up and leave. And this time Nikola let her leave.
So I'm not making this a two shot. It'll be a little more than two chapters. I just wanted everyone to think about the end of this chapter.
