A/N: I'm so sorry it has taken me so long to complete this story! To tell you the truth, for the longest time I had suffered with writer's block when it came to my Sanctuary stories but I am certain the muse has returned and so I want to assure you all that I will be returning to all of my unfinished Sanctuary stories in due course! Now, I have always been and will always be a Teslen shipper but I will say that in the course of writing this particular chapter I have come to understand the love that Helen has for John more than I thought I ever would. It is there and will always be there, plain and simple. That is the one and only time I will ever say that – phew! I really hope this is a satisfying end to a story that was originally intended to be a one shot! Enjoy…
The tranquillity that had descended with the approaching nightfall was abruptly broken when Nikola heard of John's sudden appearance in his daughter's room. "That no good blade wielding...! Let me have a crack at him! I'm going to rip him into pieces limb by limb for this stunt!"
"No, Nikola! You know more than anyone how well your confrontations with John turn out and I want to be able to reason with him. Let me go to Father Ryan as we'd planned and see if we can come up with a solution quickly?"
"But Helen…"
"Please Nikola, do this for me? Sophia has never seen you angry before and I'd like it to stay that way a while longer." Helen appealed to Nikola's paternal instincts in the hopes that it would deter him from doing anything rash, she needed a little more time to find a solution to John's problem and certainly one in which Sophia could be confident that John was happy. From listening to her daughter converse with John from outside her room, Helen could tell that her daughter had grown fond of John, much to her chagrin and she knew Nikola would be far from happy about this fact, but it could not be helped now and so finding a peaceful solution was her only option.
Nikola could never say no to an earnest request, any request really, from Helen and this was no different. He nodded his consent, not trusting himself to speak so heightened were his emotions. And with a kiss, Helen was gone.
ooOoo
Helen spent the duration of the long drive to St Mary's rehearsing what she was going to say to Father Ryan. She would tell him the truth of course but she may have to blur the lines with regard to John's real identity. It would not do for John's name to be bandied about in connection with 'The Ripper' murders after all this time. As far as Helen was concerned John had served his penance harbouring the electrical entity within him for all these years. Helen knew that if she did reveal John's real identity in 'confessional' that Father Ryan would be honour bound to keep that information close to his chest but one could never be too careful. If they were to resolve John's predicament soon, Father Ryan would have to travel back to their villa with her. Helen did not expect that John would speak to Father Ryan but at least the priest would on hand to offer advice if their first idea did not go to plan. Better safe than sorry.
Surprisingly, a nervous tension gnawed within Helen's stomach as she approached the church doors. She did not fear Father Ryan but rather that John would resist leaving after all, Helen dearly hoped John would find the peace he craved in releasing the burden that held him bound to this almost non-existence. It had to be the cruellest torture imaginable; to exist between two worlds and not be able to participate physically in either. It gave Helen shivers at the thought. She was more determined than ever to help John 'cross over', Helen winced as she thought those words; they were as clichéd as one could possibly get and Nikola would have laughed at her silliness!
Within the inner sanctum of the church Helen felt a sense of peace descend upon her that was sorely missing in the last few days and she relished the feeling. It was while her eyes were closed that she heard a door creak open and the pleased voice of Father Ryan rang out between the pews.
"Helen, my dear child it is so good to see you! Where's little Sophia? Is she not with you today?"
Helen smiled warmly at the jovial priest. She hadn't realised she'd been holding her breath until she tried to speak to him. He had an open countenance that invited his congregation to feel free to speak with him about any concerns they might have no matter how big or small. And being part of this small congregation despite the fact she was not of the faith Helen felt instinctively, borne from worldly experience no doubt, that she could trust Father Ryan with anything she would or could divulge. It was in this moment that she decided to divulge everything including those 1888 murders. "It's wonderful to see you too Father, I've left it too long I'm afraid. Do I need to say a few 'Our Father's' in penance for my tardiness?" Helen gave the priest a cheeky grin as she teased him. "And no Father", Helen suddenly grew more serious, "I'm afraid this isn't a social call as much as I would wish it to be. I've come to seek your advice about someone and I would ask that you keep an open mind as I tell you this tale."
Helen observed as Father Ryan processed her words and immediately knew when he'd accepted her word and was prepared to listen. "What I'm about to tell you Father goes beyond the bounds of what you believe possible including miracles. You see, Father, I'm not what I appear to be or at least I'm not as young as I appear."
"I don't understand, Helen. What do you mean?"
"I come from the Victorian age that is I'm over two hundred and eighty years old." Helen brought her hand up to stop the onslaught of questions she knew was coming from the priest, "I shall explain…"
"So what you're asking me is how do you help a troubled soul to further his journey into Heaven?"
"Yes. After all that I've told you do you think you'll be willing to help him, Father?"
"God teaches us to turn the other cheek and to forgive, Helen I would be a hypocrite if I refuse help now, wouldn't I? I think it's in my job description!" Father Ryan knew he needed to break to sudden sombre mood that had enveloped them in the past few minutes. "Just give me a few moments to prepare and I shall gladly come with you, Helen."
In the vestry, Father Ryan tried to gather his jumbled thoughts. Never in his wildest dreams would he have thought that he'd hear a confession such as that in his lifetime. Jack the Ripper on this very island, in this century no less, it was unheard of – Oh Lord grant me the wisdom to deal with this situation for I know not what to do! Taking a deep breath he re-joined Helen at the door of the church. "I'm ready when you are, my child."
On their arrival and as Helen parked her car, the front door of their house was swung open and Nikola greeted them somewhat impatiently. "Welcome back. It's been a while, Father. I hope you are well. Would you care to come in for a cup of tea or perhaps something a little stronger before you commence with your discussions? Helen, Sophia wishes to say goodnight to you. I told her you'd stop by and read her a story if she settled in for the night."
"Yes of course. If you will excuse me for a few moments, Father. Nikola will show you into the library, there's a fire lit so feel free to warm yourself as you take refreshments. I shall be back presently."
ooOoo
"I'm terribly sorry to have kept you waiting. Shall we precede, Father?"
"Lead the way, Helen."
"I should like to warn you again Father, John can be abrupt when he's confronted with something he does not approve of or that which he thinks he's not entitled to due to his, shall we say, colourful past."
"Understood. Thank you, Helen."
They came to a stop outside the room where most of the occurrences happened, Helen and Nikola's bedroom. Helen silently counselled the priest by placing a finger to her lips not to utter a word as they entered the room. Helen called out to John in the hope that he would appear. "John, I've brought someone who is willing to help with your predicament, are you here?"
The temperature in the room ran hot then cold as a soft breeze blew past Helen and Father Ryan. Once he felt a stirring in the air, Father Ryan thought it prudent to begin in earnest and so he opened proceedings by offering up a prayer.
"In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti."
"I DO NOT WISH TO HEAR YOUR PLATITUDES AND SERMONS, OLD MAN! THEY WILL DO NOTHING TO HELP MY CAUSE!" John's voice boomed across the room as an invisible force sent the unsuspecting priest careening into the nearest wall.
"JOHN! How could you? He is only trying to help!" Helen was furious at her guest's treatment.
"I do not need to be told all that I have done wrong in this world, Helen. I am well aware of the facts, as you know!"
"The only way you can achieve what you want, John is by making peace with all that you've done and this man is the only one here uniquely qualified to help you. He will not pass judgement that I can promise you. Please give this a try." Helen looked up at John as she said this, for she had gone to help the poor priest and was now kneeling by his side tending to a small gash on his forehead.
"I will do no such thing! My repeating my mistakes in the past will not help matters; I will still be stuck here!"
At that moment Sophia burst into the room questioning what was going on with her father hot on her heels. She immediately took stock of the scene in front of her and did something that made her wise beyond her years; she approached John and calmly spoke to him, "It is time you said goodbye, John, you know this. You promised you'd look after Ashley until I can go to Heaven to play with her. She needs you. She has no one to look after her like Papa and Mama look after me, she must be very lonely. Don't you want to see Ashley?"
"More than anything I do, Sophia but I don't know if I'll be allowed into Heaven. I did some very bad things here."
"Mama says that God forgives all those who wish to wipe away their sins. He'll listen to you, I know he will."
The forgotten witnesses in the room marvelled at the child's intelligence and Father Ryan couldn't resist the temptation to break the spell by whispering to the couple beside him, "You've got a very special child there. She knows instinctively what to say to him in order for him to see the sense in what she is trying to tell him. I fear I will not be need at all tonight!" The priest chuckled as he turned back to watch Sophia at work once more.
"Do you really think so?"
"Yep, I know so. All you have to do is say you wish to talk to God and to say your goodbyes and you will go to Heaven."
"Is that right?" Sophia nodded as John shared a smile over her head with her astonished parents.
"Uh huh. I'll say goodbye first then Papa and Mama can say theirs. I will miss you, John. Bye!" Sophia told him as she went skipping out of the room not seeing her mama tear up at her last few words.
"I shall follow the child and give you the chance to say your goodbyes in peace."
"I am sorry, Father, for earlier. My temper gets the best of me, I'm afraid."
"All is forgiven." Father Ryan smiled at the man as he left to follow Sophia.
"Nikola, do you wish to have a few words with…"
"Oh we've said our peace, Helen, a few days past. I will leave you to say your goodbyes but I'm not so sure…"
Helen walked over to Nikola, stood in front of him and said, "Do you trust me, Nikola?"
"Yes but Helen…"
"Do you trust me?"
"You know I do." Nikola reluctantly conceded the point.
"Well then", Helen replied as she gave him a soft kiss, "He is just frightened, Nikola. Let him have this moment."
"But Helen, how do you know…?"
"Because I knew him, Nikola as sure as I know you now."
"Helen, I'll go now. See you on the other side, Druitt."
Helen watched as Nikola left the room knowing he wasn't happy with the situation. As she turned around she said to John, "Does Nikola have cause to worry, John?"
"No I promise you, Helen. I just have six words I wish to say to you before I go. For all eternity, Helen, remember that." And with those whispered words he was gone.
Helen stood at the window looking out at the moonlight for the longest time after John went away until she shook herself aware and with one last fleeting glance she closed the door to the room where an era had just come to a dramatic close.
On her way back down to the library, Helen stopped at her daughter's bedroom door. She put an ear to the door and listened intently for a few moments before heaving a sigh of relief. All was as it should be. Silent. Helen entered the room as quietly as she could and tiptoed to Sophia's bed. Looking down at her daughter Helen finally gave her grief a free rein and her tears fell in copious amounts. Of 'The Five' there was only the two of them left now. Sophia had never gone to sleep but waited for her mama to say goodnight she turned around and told her mama that everything was going to be alright, Ashley wasn't lonely anymore.
Helen took a deep breath and wiped the remnants of her tears from her face. "That's right, my darling. Now let's go find your papa and see what expensive bottle of wine he has decided to open, shall we?" As she walked to the library with her daughter in her arms, Helen gave up a silent prayer hoping for his sake that John had finally found peace.