Summary: Chase Magnus must travel back to the Sanctuary and to the news that her sister, Ashley, was taken by the Cabal. Reuniting with her family, Chase is about to face her demons… in more ways than one. A/U

Disclaimer: I own nothing of Sanctuary; I'm just a story teller.

Pairing: This will be a John/Helen story….later down the road.

A/N: I would suggest listening to the song So Cold by Breaking Benjamin while you read the scenes following Helen and John being in the Library.

Helen had gone back to her office with the intent to work, but her mind would not engage on what was in front of her. All she could think about was John, and how he had looked sitting next to Chase and talking with Ashley. Just seeing that made her want more from him, more of his taste, more of his touch, but more than anything she wanted to give him the chance to be a father to Ashley and Chase. She had always known that she would bear John's children, but she had wanted him to be around. Circumstances had dictated other wise unfortunately. But he was here with them, with her, now and making the effort to be the man he had been, all those years ago when their love had been passionate.

Her body was in tune with his; she sensed when he walked into her office, her domain where she ruled supreme. This was her world, her turf and John was stalking towards her like a hungry cat, every step measured and calculated as if he feared she would run from him and he would have to pursue. Maybe she would, and maybe she wouldn't. It was likely Helen would let John catch her. Helen Magnus had been running for long enough from what her heart wanted. Her mind dictated that she keep John away, freeze him out of her life, but her heart, oh her heart called to him. There was more to him than the cold blooded killer he had been. Tesla had shocked him to his senses and no amount of telling him that he would murder again would stop Helen from burning for John, from wanting what passion he could incite in her body. It was the power he had over her, over her body, and she wanted him to wield it again. No one knew her like John Druitt, and no one would.

One more step and John was with in her personal space, his scent enveloping her, sweeping her up in memories of shared passions, heated kisses, and burning nights of lust and love comingled in the joining of bodies and hearts. If John would but angle his head Helen would have fused her mouth with his and tasted the forbidden fruit. She wanted him, pure and simple. Her heart was filled with him; her mind thought of nothing but him now, and her body, her body craved his touch. She wanted him to take her, she wanted him to make her his once again. When they had been at Oxford Helen had loved John with her entire being, her entire heart, and she would have given him her soul if he had only to ask. But now, here with him looking at her, a glint of devilish light in his eyes, she just wanted him with lust.

John felt heat leap between them; it started when he had entered the room and only rose as he took more steps towards her. That kiss he had given her in the lab had been everything they had used to be, passionate, fierce, and heated. He wanted that, one more time, just once more. Then she had stayed with him just yesterday while their children were still sedated. Her nestled into his side catapulted him into the past, the first time they had made love, and the last time. Helen had been so passionate in those days, at the height of his abilities, and then darkness came into their life. Now, he had to make up for it. Seeing her, looking into her eyes, the heat rose more and more. He leaned in closer her, dragging in her scent, and feeling her bangs tease his cheek. She moaned, or did he? In this moment they wanted the same thing, passion, flesh, and a kiss. John angled his head intent on taking her lips. But it was Helen who took his mouth, commanded him to submit to him, which he gladly did. John let her take charge; let her dictate the terms of this kiss.

Helen had been caught up in the moment, his body close to hers, his heat seeping into her. The sensory overload was enough to make her mind melt; it allowed her heart to take over. She hadn't forgotten the last kiss they had shared, how she had marveled at how well their lips fit. They melded, bonded, and danced so easily. Helen hadn't realized how much she had missed his taste until the lab, until he had restarted the fire burning in her. If she was going to burn then so would he. She brought her hands up and fisted them in the front of his shirt, dragging his body closer to hers, his mouth was not enough, she needed more, wanted more or him. His arms came around her waist and held her, secured her to him. Their lips danced, tongues dueled, and their blood flowed faster lust mounting for the other.

HALLWAY:

Nikola had the intention of asking Helen to join him for a night out on the town, seeing how Ashley and Chase were on the mend and Druitt refusing to leave them. Maybe he could coax her out with a night of fun and shared memories, hopefully. He had started and stopped a dozen times, every time telling himself that there was no shame in asking. If she said no then she said no, but there was the off chance that she would say yes. One more step, and another, and then he was in her doorway, frozen to the spot. Helen was in the arms of Druitt, locked in a passionate kiss. He was at Oxford all over again. Back then they had been in every dark corner they could fine just to feast from each others mouth. But now in broad day light, and in a new century, Nikola felt as if it were the 1880's again. Helen would always be drawn to the psycho Druitt, like a moth to a flame, repeatedly getting burned and yet going back for more. And he would linger in the background, watching them, wanting to trade places with Druitt.

HELEN'S OFFICE:

Helen had to stop, she had to take a step back and tell John to leave, but he felt so good against her. His lips sliding over hers and his arms around her waist, she didn't want to stop. But she had to; there was work to be done, important work. And with that thought cold water poured through her quelling the lust beginning to build. Helen leaned back and cupped John's face to make him stop. She had to take a moment to breathe, to gain her sense's back, and to gain her self back. John always had a way of corrupting her, secretly she loved it, but now she needed to be Helen Magnus the leader of the Sanctuary, not Helen Magnus desperately wanting a man who was bad for her.

"John… stop... please" Helen gasped out, but leaned back in and kissed along the right side of his jaw line, trailing her lips up and kissing the scar she had left him with.

"Then… perhaps…." John couldn't finish his sentence, hips lips had taken Helen's again. But he needed to stop; he had said he would take her, not like this. It would be a time and place of his choosing, and set to his own mood. Gathering all his will John stepped free of her, of her body, and the welcoming heat that called to him. He noted that Helen had to brace her hands against the edge of her desk as he reached back and felt for the arm of the couch. She could sap his strength and will power, and all with a kiss.

"That… was different."

"Positively, I would go so far as to say top ten." John turned a devils smile on Helen.

"Top ten, definitely." Helen breathed out and gave him a wicked smile all her own. It was a way for her to draw attention away from the fact that he knees were going weak and she just wanted to melt to the floor.

"I came here with different intent, but I have completely forgotten what I was to tell you." John said, his breathing had returned to normal. He only wished that his heart would stop racing and that his flesh would stop aching for Helen's touch.

"It will come to you." Helen joked and found that she could stand under her own will power.

John stood as well came closer to her and leaned in close whispering, "Keep your night clear, I want to take you somewhere."

Before she could answer John was gone. Helen felt her heart give a little skip, a flutter, and her stomach twisted in knots. What could John be planning? Did she want to go? Would he try to seduce her? The only way for Helen to obtain these answers would be for her to clear her night and see what John had in store for her. And that was danger in and of itself. Helen walked back around to sit at her desk and tried to focus on her work, but Druitt kept creeping in, his lips, his chest pressed to hers, and his arms around her waist, all of it flooded her mind and she couldn't work. She sat there and merely stared out the window at New City unable to work.

INFIRMARY:

Ashley and Chase had promised they would stay put in the Infirmary, but they never agreed to the one more day. Together they stood up and wrapped blankets around them so they could each head to their rooms to change into real clothes. Both of them felt fine, nothing out of whack in their systems, no pain, no fevers. So by their logic they were as fit as fiddles.

"What say we meet up in at the shooting range? I feel the need for some practice." Ashley asked before going down the hall that led to her room.

"Sure, meet you there in ten minutes." Chase responded and headed to her room. She kept her hearing trained on Ashley's foot steps just to make sure that her sister was indeed on the mend. When a door opened and closed Chase disappeared into her own to change, and she was stunned. Her room was different. More of her stuff had been brought here and put away and her room smelled like Henry. She would have to pay him back. Going over to her duffle she pulled out a special pair of leather pants that she had gotten in China. The black leather melded to her skin, custom fit, showing off her long lean legs. Down the front of the right sheath was a special monogrammed character from the Chinese Zodiac; the year of the Tiger blazed in a lavender color. As an impulse she had gotten the same pair for Ashley only with the year of the Dragon on hers, even though that wasn't Ashley's Zodiac sign. Chase reached for a black bra and purple tank top. Finally she felt like herself again. After she pulled on her boots she met up with Ashley to go to the shoot range.

Ashley knew that her sister was listening to every step she took; she was doing the same thing with Chase. The last thing Ashley remembered before passing out was the feel of blood on her hands, her sister's blood on her hands. She had taken Chase's life, but due to the vampiric healing Chase hadn't remained dead. Disappearing into her room Ashley dropped the blanket and went to her closet to pull out the pair of pants that Chase had gotten her from China. The dark blue character for Dragon blazed down the left pants leg as she pulled them up her legs and tied the cord to secure them to her hips. She pulled out a black bra and matching blue tank top to go with the color of the monogram on her pants. Slipping into her boots Ashley was ready to head to the range. Ashley was home where she belonged with her family. Chase was home and her dad, well; time would tell where Ashley wanted him to stand.

THE GARDEN:

John had escaped outside, he had to get his head clear of Helen, but there was no getting clear of her, she was his breath, his heart beat and the very will he needed to live. She was his world. Tonight he would take her away, get her to relax and not think about work. She needed it and he needed to be alone with her somewhere that didn't remind them of the past. Now, all John had to do what figure out where he could take her that was not of significance to both of them. He sat down on the bench, letting the late afternoon sun wash over him, as he thought of all the places he had been, and of all the places he and Helen had planned to go. An Oasis. A small voice whispered through his mind. John had gone to one after he had refused Tesla. He hadn't intended to go to the desert, he just needed to get away, and that was where his mind took him. If he remembered correctly the view of the night sky was breath taking and the sunrise was magnificent.

John rose to head back to his room as he made a mental inventory of the things he would need so he would be ready for what he was going to give to Helen. She needed a night of nothing but pure pleasure, whether it was the view of the scenery or taking from his body. There was the small chance that Helen and John would rekindle their passion, a small chance but a chance none the less, and if John could he would to everything he could to ensure Helen ended up in his arms before the sun rose. Gathering what he would need would take most of the day, so he had to get started. It wouldn't cause him much distress to leave his daughters, he was content knowing that they were safe and on the mend.

SHOOTING RANGE:

Ashley had felt like her old self holding the gun her mother had given her. Just feeling the kick back as the bullets were fired was a homecoming all its own. She truly was home and now that she had her favorite gun the world was right. Ashley and chase had been making bets since they had gotten down there. They ranged from betting the other to land a pullet in the ten ring to making a perfect head shot. And each tie the other had completed the bet. Ashley thought that it was due to her super abnormal powers still lurking in her DNA. She could feel those abilities lingering on the edge of her mind, the urge to reach out and tap into them was tempting. Those powers would come in handy when she got back to hunting ghouls. And at lest she wouldn't be alone, chase would be there with her own set of powers, most of which matched Ashley's.

"Ok, how about a combo bet. You get three shots; they have to go in the ten ring, the heart, and the head." Chase bet Ashley. She loved watching Ashley shoot. Her sister did so with confidence. Chase had been a little squeamish around guns for years, she had hated them and they hadn't done much to improve her school of thought when she had been shot. But if they were going to go after the Cabal she would need to get over her own distaste and practice. Ashley leveled off her shots and three blasts later the holes were neat and in the exact locations Chase had indicated.

"Beat that. Now, you have two shouts. One to the head, and then the other shot to the heart." Ashley specified, but before Chase could fire the door to the shooting range opened and their mother walked in wearing a strange look. It wasn't exactly a look of anger, but more disappointment that Chase and Ashley were up and moving around she had asked them, told them to stay in the infirmary. Chase set her gun down and took out the ear plugs, for some reason she got the feeling there was a lecture coming, and she at least wanted to give the appearance of listening.

"I thought I told you two to stay in the infirmary?"

"Aw, come on mom, we're just shooting. It's not like we are going to leave Sanctuary." Ashley said as she reloaded her gun. She, like her sister didn't want to be cooped up in that room one second longer. Ashley wanted to be doing something and she felt fine.

"Ashley, you and Chase went through a massive trauma. The human body does not heal in three days."

"Well then I guess it's a good thing we aren't human then huh." Ashley shot back and let loose another clip into the target.

"Chase, I at least want you back in the infirmary, so we can monitor…"

"Mom, I'm fine too. Completely healed." To prove her point Chase lifted up her tank top, there weren't even scars left from Ashley's claws. It was all pale smooth flesh. Helen walked over to Chase and touched her upper abdomen, testing for pain.

"When you're done, the both of you, to your rooms and rest, you will need all of it for what is coming our way next." Helen spoke, but she left Chase and Ashley to let off some steam. It did her heart good to see them out of bed, but it was her maternal instincts that had her erring on the side of caution. She would have preferred them back in the infirmary, but her daughters were a force unto themselves. So Helen let them be up and around, there was nothing more she could say. At least Chase and Ashley knew there limits.

LATER THAT EVENING:

John had comeback to the Sanctuary with everything set, but there was one more piece he needed and he would have to go to Chase for that. His daughter was a music junkie and she was bound to have something that he could use. It had been along time since he put much thought into romance and seduction, yet he found it easy to fall back into the rhythm, especially where Helen was concerned.

John made his way to the infirmary, but neither Ashley nor Chase was there. Instinctively he headed to Chase's bedroom and found her hunched over her computer with headphones in her ears; she was swaying lightly to the music as she typed. As John got closer he could see that she was posting on a forum site, what appeared to be GateWorld. He hovered for a moment and read her screen name: RippersGirl. John shook his head and pulled her headphones out of her ears. Chase jumped in her chair and turned to look at him.

"Hey, dad, whatcha doin?" She asked as she clicked to another window.

"Shouldn't you be in the infirmary?"

"Mom decided to let us stay in our rooms." Chase looked away.

John shook his head, his daughter had her own way of doing things, and he crouched down beside Chase's chair asking, "I require some music, and I know for a fact you have…"

"Tons?"

"Exactly."

Chase glanced back at her iTunes library and scrolled through her play list. There was nothing there that she thought her dad would be interested in listening to. She went through it two times and nothing popped. While she was looking she had forgotten to pause the song So Cold by Breaking Benjamin.

John heard the dark, somewhat sad, melody pour out of the headphones that rested on Chase desk. He couldn't make out the word but the melody drew him in, wrapped around his mind, "What is the song you are listening to?"

"So Cold by Breaking Benjamin, why?"

"Do you have a melody version, no words?"

"Sure, somewhere," Chase answered and she didn't need to ask why. She had a feeling what he was going to be using it for, and that thought made her shudder. Chase had scented the pain radiating off her father fro weeks, but when she had seen them in the Lab and smelled love, her heart had fluttered fro them. Maybe after all this time, they were on the mend and things with their family would improve. Maybe, just maybe, her father would stick around. The CD with the non lyric version was copied; Chase handed it over to her father and watched he walked out of her room. She didn't give a second thought to what he had planned; she merely went back to blogging about Stargate SG-1.

LIBRARY:

Helen had given up trying to work, the strength and power of John's kiss still lingered on her lips, and the memory refused to abate. Her heart told her to go to him, to let him have her, induce the passion she knew he was capable of triggering in her body. Helen thought that if she could get her mind to focus on something other than John, then in a few hours she might be able to get back to work. But as of yet, she had read the same paragraph for the tenth time. Closing the book she set it aside on the table and stared off down the numerous isles. There were so many things that needed her attention and yet John filled her mind and haunted her dreams, but in those dreams the monster he had turned into crept in casting her into darkness.

"Helen?"

She jumped slightly at John's voice, his light tone, "John, you startled me."

"Forgive, I didn't mean to," He held out his hand to her, waiting, seeing if she would take it. John watched as Helen debated, the question flew across her face and there was indecision in her eyes. He had to let her choose, everything that was to happen had to be because Helen wanted it and not because he lured her, taunted her, seduced her into something that she would later regret.

Helen waited, she wanted to place her hand in his, but would she regret it later. A small foresight slid into her mind. Helen felt that John would seduce her, she knew it, felt it, and wanted it. She wanted him with her entire being, and she was being consumed in the way that she didn't want. Rising from her chair, Helen took that leap of faith and took John's hand. She survived the inferno of his love once, she could do it again.

John released a breath he didn't realize he was holding. She took his hand. For a brief moment John couldn't believe it, it was too real and her hand was so soft in his. He noted that the instant her hand touched his, the fire they had felt earlier in her office ignited again. Now it was burning, soon they would be caught up by passion. John pulled her close and using his free hand he cupped the back of her neck to teleport them out of the Sanctuary and to his Oasis.

Helen opened her eyes and surveyed where John had taken them, she was in the desert at night and in an Oasis. Looking up into the sky she could see the stars clearly winking in the heavens. Then there was the moon, it was so close to the Earth, so full and it cast the Oasis in a silvery light. A gust of wind kicked up and with it a cold breeze. Helen shivered and there were John's arms around her, heating her, but only for a moment. He left her side and as she turned around to watch him John lit a bonfire, and in a blink of an eye he was gone, lighting another and then another until they were ringed in warm golden light. She could feel the heat steadily growing from the fire, but it was John's warmth she wanted, it was his body that she craved.

John watched Helen watching him as he reclined against the base of a palm tree. He stretched out his right leg, bent his left leg and held out his arms for her to come into them. Helen gave him a light smile, and with her back to him she sank down into his arms and instantly felt warmer. She leaned her temple against his jaw and stared out at the open expanse of desert.

It was as if Helen was seeing it in a new way from John's arms. The golden sand looked like an ocean of silver from the moon and reflected the warm glow of the fires that surrounded them. The scent of Jasmine and Roses floated on the air and a dark, sad, melody played. The heat of the fire surrounded them and cocooned them in their private world.

John wrapped his arms tighter around her and felt as the tension flood out of her. She was starting to relax, letting herself go and just feeling. For a moment he held her close, and then he moved his hands up to her shoulders and began a gentle rubbing motion tackling the knots of stress he knew she carried. Helen had had so much stress in the last few months that she needed the massage, and it was a good warming up point for what was to come.

Helen was so lost in his touch that she didn't realize a moan escaped from her lips until seconds after the sound lingered around them. John froze his movements and Helen stiffened her body. Had she just moaned? How could she? Yes she was enjoying herself, but… That line of thought trailed off. She was enjoying herself and subconsciously Helen had meant for John to know it. She sucked in a breath and whispered, "Don't stop."

"As the lady wishes," John replied in a low grumbling tone close to Helen's ear before he resumed his ministrations. He could feel the miniscule shivers that broke out over her body, and it had nothing to do with the cold. Dropping his hands down to her elbows John set to work raising her body to new heights as he trailed his lips over her neck. He nibbled along her jaw until Helen turned and welcomed another kiss from him. She could steal his breath, sap his strength, and John would come back for more, needed more of her.

Helen had managed to shift so her chest was pressing into his, her heart beat synching with his and allowing the beat of the song to wash over them, each note pulsed along their skin. She coiled her arms around his neck as his arms molded around her waist. He was close to her, so close, but not close enough. Their clothes were a hindrance and they needed to be gone. Helen craved flesh on flesh. She wanted him on top of her driving her to new heights making her scream for more. Her lips feasted at his, taking the air from his lungs, and still she demanded more of him. Leaning back Helen took them to the rapidly heating sand so she could feel his weight on her. She cradled him between her legs and was taken back to a time when he was the center of her world.

John had to get her to slow down, not that he wanted her slow. He pulled back and moved onto his haunches. John rose and offered her his hand once again, there was somewhere else he wanted to make love to her and it would be just in the right place for the sun to come up. There remained a little more than three hours before the sun would grace the skies and he needed that time, every second of it. He opted to walk, to give him time to gain his mind, something he would need for the seduction he had planned. Helen's hand tightened on his when they reached the other side of the Oasis. Jasmine and rose incense burned, while the dark melody started again. John motioned to the blankets and scattered pillows and saw Helen knew what he wanted. She settled on her back and draped her hands above her head. This was her choice.

Helen felt her heart leap into her throat; John was looking at her, raking her body with a hungry gaze. Her breathing deepened as he fit his body to her side. John set about slowly unbuttoning her shirt. But John didn't stay at her side; he shifted down so for every button he released he would place a single kiss to her exposed flesh. She could feel her stomach muscles quivering at the warm contact of his lips, at his slow measured movements. One more button, one more kiss, and he was closer to her heart at that moment than he had ever been. A few more buttons and John was placing a lingering kiss between her breasts and Helen sucked in a sharp breath. Never had she been this tormented.

John planned to slowly devour her, taking his time to relearn her body, but truly his own had not forgotten her touch, and he never would. Moving slowly he placed another lingering over her heart, the heart that had loved him, the heart he had destroyed, and the heart that would someday be his again. John was caught up in her touch; he nearly missed her hands feather up and proceeded to remove his shirt. Smiling he took her hands and entwined his fingers with his taking her mouth again. His blood thundered in his ears, drove him to take her, but the man in him said be slow and gentle. John pulled away and together he and Helen sat. He slowly slipped her shirt off her arms as he gave her leave to remove his shirt. Helen mirrored his actions, only she leaned foreword and kissed the slowly fading electro-shock scars Tesla gifted him with. He shuddered at the contact; her lips were hot and gentle.

Helen had known the damaged Tesla had inflicted, but to see the fading arks for herself compelled her to kiss the nonexistent hurt away. John traced his hands up her side, over her shoulders, and threaded his long, slim fingers through her hair. The wind picked up swirling more of the incense around them adding to the drugged feel that already floated through Helen's mind. John's lips traveled her temple, placing light, sensuous kisses that ended once again over her heart. Helen lay back down and watched as John made up his mind as what to do next.

John stared at her, the light from the fire and moon warring with each other as which would light her best. Half of her body was bathed in the gentle silver of the moonlight and her other half was bathed in the warm glow of the fire. Helen looked made of fire and ice, but he knew when he fell into her arms she would be warm and alive and wanting him. He leaned over her again, trailing his lips lightly over her flesh, listening to her gasp. John made sure that his lips barely touched her, but there was enough contact to stoke the pyre fueling her blood. His fingers danced along her side and up to the front enclosure of her bra and released it. He slowly moved aside one cup with deliberate kisses, then he repeated the action with the other until Helen was bare from the waist up.

Helen arched her back, slowly rising into a sitting position; she needed more of John, more of kiss. Running her hands up his bare chest Helen pushed the fabric of his shirt off his shoulders, down his arms. She wanted his flesh on hers. His hands rested on her waist as his fingers slipped under the waist band caressing her flesh. She gasped, pulled him closer and tapered her hands to rest at his waist in turn. Every move he made she would mirror. Their breathing mingled a moment before her lips took him again as they lowered to the blankets again.

John gently lowered his weight over her, on top of her, and felt that head spark again. The feel of her under him was like coming home, Helen was his home and some how he hoped she would allow him to stay, stay with her. She fit her leg high up over his thigh and changed their positions so Helen was on top, the dominant position. Her center burned over him causing him to harden further in anticipation of joining with her, being one with her again. Helen pulled back, rose over him and urged him to sit up as she straddled his waist so she could kiss him at a down angle with her hair falling over them. He set his hands to work on the button of her pants and the zippers, but in truth his fingers shook with need and nerves.

Helen sighed into his mouth, she could feel his nerves, and they were the same as hers. She had not had him in more than a century, but her body remembered, wanted, needed, and craved what he could give her. Rotating her hips she delighted in the sensual growl that emanated from his throat before he nipped her bottom lip. She smiled and feathered her hands down to tackle the belt, button and zipper of his pants. Helen made each move slow, deliberate, as she unbuckled the belt and released the button of his pants. Soon they were going to have to move to shed the rest of their clothing but now, right now she was content to feel, kiss, and torment him with her hands roaming his flesh.

Time stood still as Helen and John removed the last of their clothing. The breeze kicked up, a gentle swaying through the palm leaves and swirled the heat of the multiple fires that were burning around them. Helen shivered but not from the air, from the anticipation that was mounting in her. John took her hand and placed it over his heart, there she felt the thundering beat and knew it was the same with her own heart. She stepped closer to him, taking him in her arms, letting his skin mold to hers, warming her.

John ran his hands up and down her back; passion's fire had a firm grip on his mind, fired his blood, and made him want her all the more. She was his and he was hers just be the grand design. He could feel the heat pouring out from her center, eager for his swelling manhood, and he was eager to be welcomed once again within her velvety depths. He reluctantly moved a step back from her and once again took a sitting position. John held up his hand to Helen and whispered, "I'm so cold will you warm my lonely soul."

Helen took his hand and let him settle her on his lap. She could feel him at her heated entrance and she needed the completion. Her body was strung as tight as a violin string. It would take John very little effort to make her snap. Placing her hands on his shoulders she raised her body up and gave him room to enter her when she sank back down onto him. He placed his hand on her hip and Helen locked her eyes with John as slowly took him into her body. The friction exploded, sending fireworks through her blood, and made her shudder. Her body made room for him, once again feeling complete. Her breath caught in her lungs as she fully joined with him, this is what she had been missing, John. His body was made for hers; it fit like a puzzle piece. His arms once again wrapped around her waist as her arms coiled around his shoulders and she rested her temple against his. For a moment she wanted to just feel him inside her, take the time to be with him before she moved, or he did. As much as she desired the euphoria, she desired the feel of John more.

John held his body still, he was flooded with memories of what had burned between them in the past, it was nothing compared to the pleasure that flooded his system, the pleasure of Helen all around him. He slowly took air into his lungs, just that simple act jarred them and pleasure flooded them. Helen and John gasped as she started to move, slow at first. Her body glided over his like a gentle wave heating his body. John rocked back and forth in counter point to the rotation of Helens hips. It caused more friction and more explosions making the pressure build and build. He could feel the pyre glowing brighter and brighter low in his gut. Soon, so soon he would break and euphoria would wash through him dulling his mind to everything but Helen.

Helen could feel her release growing closer and closer. Every movement John made to counter her had her pleasure building to a fever pitch. That string she could feel getting tighter and tighter was about to snap. She wanted to hold off the moment of release for a little longer. Sweat broke out along her body, his as well, making their skin better able to glide along the other. Helen felt her mind beginning to go, lost to the pleasure of the union and the mystery of the desert. She unlocked her arms from his shoulders, framing his face with her hands; she locked her eyes with him as she changed her motions. Helen raised her body up, pulling away from him, and then slowly she sank back down enveloping him in her warmth again. Her heart rate sped up, her inner muscles tightening, Helen knew release, but she wouldn't give in, not until she made John lose his mind.

John felt his release mounting, his blood burned, and his mind raced. Helen's body was crashing over him like waves on a beach, she was his paradise. He could feel her inner muscles clamping around him, stroking him, taking him closer and closer to the edge, and soon he would spiral into pleasures sweet embrace. John braced one of his hands behind him. Palm to the ground, using leverage he surged up, meeting her with his own thrust, hard and powerful. One, two, three more had John clutching Helen to him as he was swept away, soon after he felt Helen join him. Her muscles clamped down on him kept him locked in her warm depths.

Helen felt the instant that tight string of pleasure snapped. John had driven himself up and into her, and then she came. Pleasure flooded her system and fireworks ignited low in her belly. She had enough energy to wrap her arms around his shoulders and lean her temple to his again. Before her lids closed Helen saw the slowly rising sun, kissing the heavens, and bathing the world in light, "John… it's a sunrise." Helen said between breaths. Her body felt so good, so loose, so in tune. She felt as if she could fall into sleep while still keeping John close.

"So… it is. The light… of a new day." John replied, just a breathy as Helen. He turned his head, kissed her shoulder and hugged her closer feeling the rapid rise and fall of her chest against his. Before darkness took him John had enough semblance of self to teleport them back to the Sanctuary, to Helen's room, the light of the silvery moon shining above new city. John pulled a blanket over their cooling bodies and succumbed to sleep with Helen nestled in his arms.

THE NEXT MORNING:

Helen was roused out of sleep by the scent of John surrounding her. Her last memory was of the rising sun in the desert, now the sun was rising again ad she was in her own room on the floor with John curled around her. Last night they had made love, but not they had used to. The way they had joined, the intensity of it had stolen her breath and dulled her senses. Resting on her forearms Helen looked down at John. He was still in the grips of sleep; peace had descended on his face as well as a knowing smile. At least his appearance in sleep had not changed. Even back then he had slept with a smile. Untangling herself from his arms Helen grabbed one of the many blankets she had scattered through out her room and wrapped it around her still pleasure ridden body. Slowly getting to her feet she tested for aches, for sore muscles, but none were apparent. A full recap of what they had done ran though her mind as she made it to the bathroom. Helen had to get some space between them, she had to think, and she had to breathe. But when she went to shut the door, she couldn't make that barrier between them. She had let him into her life again, let him into her body, and now she feared her heart had taken him in as well.

Helen shook her head and walked back over to the sleeping John. She could be content to watch him for a while, well before some new crisis hit the city and her Sanctuary. Stretching out her hand Helen lightly traced the shock scars she had so lovingly kissed last night. Tesla had done this to him, and it had made John more whole than he had been in years. She could see the John she had loved so passionately stare at her some times, and she had wanted to keep him that way. But what would happen when he tracked Dana? Would he kill her? Would he torture her? Those were some of the questions running though Helen's mind when she looked back to John only to see him staring at him.

"Stop thinking."

"I can't. You…" Helen trailed of and turned away from him. She brought her knees up to her chest and pillowed her head on her right knee. Johns arms came around her and he worst of her fears flew right out of her mind. And with his warmth at her back, Helen knew she had fallen back in love with him.