Bored. So bored... :P

Anyway, here is the next chapter. This may be the second to last chapter, it depends how the next one goes :) A huge ass thank you to Emmy1512 for poking and prodding me into completing this. Also, thank you for all the kind reviews to the previous chapter! Really appreciate! :)

xxx


Sail - Part 8

Helen sat clutching his hand. His real hand. The one that hung limp and life-less by his comatose self. The one that barely held a pulse. She stroked soft circles onto the patch of skin between his index finger and his thumb, the rest of her fingers entwined in his. She clutched desperately to her best friend, the best friend who'd now become her lover, even if it was only in their minds. Slowly, she brought their tangled hands up to her mouth and placed a gentle kiss on his skin, her eyes slipping shut and a rouge tear coursing down her cheek. She stayed like that for some moments, her heart beating painfully in her chest, threatening to burst. She turned her head away from their hands quickly and instead pressed her cheek to the skin of his hand, the tear released moments ago wetting the pasty whiteness of his fingers. She sighed heavily before pulling away from him and resting their hands back on his hospital bed.

She'd almost not recognised him when they'd entered his room. His face was gaunt and his eye sockets were hollow, making him seem like some sort of macabre skeleton – obviously not having his consciousness within him did not agree with his body. There were tiny cuts which were healing, far slower than normal, etched into the entirety of his pallid skin and his hair was a complete mess. Helen tried to focus on the faint bleeping that signified that he was indeed alive but the acrid glow of the flat-line of brain activity distracted her and she turned in her seat to face Henry, who was hunched over beside her.

"OK." She choked out painfully and Henry and Will both swallowed hard. Heaving the large metal suitcase, that house his wonderfully named "Un-deading device", onto the bed Henry hesitated in flicking the switch which would emit an electrical pulse that would sever the connection of Nikola's consciousness to Helen's.

Helen watched him nervously.

"Doc, don't you want to... to..." Henry began and ended awkwardly.

"What? Don't I want to what?" She enquired, still gripping Nikola's hand.

"Don't you want to say goodbye?" Will added softly, not looking at his boss.

Helen blanched for a second before her eyes locked onto two eyes she'd been deliberately avoiding. Nikola stared wordlessly at her.

"No," she sniffed resolutely, "There is no need to say goodbye."

Henry glanced nervously before flicking up the safety on the switch and pausing, waiting for a possible change of heart by his boss.

As he did Nikola sprung up from the chair he'd shoved himself into and strode purposefully over to Helen. With one knee pressed onto his own bed her leaned across to grasp her face with one hand, pulling her into a harsh and all-consuming kiss.

Helen gasped at his rapid actions before her eyes slipped shut and she became lost in his lips. The two men in the room blinked at the scene in front of them before Will regained his sense and reached down, flicking the machine into life.

A harsh buzzing sound filled the room as the device powered up, the noise reaching its crescendo quickly. Helen's eyes flew open and she made to pull away at the noise but Nikola clutched to her tightly, needing to feel her as he slipped away. When she realised he would not relinquish her mouth she sighed and closed her eyes once more, her tongue darting out to enter his mouth.

The space was filled with a blinding light as the pulse was released and she felt Nikola gasp into her mouth. She felt his grip begin to fade, eventually his fingers lying slack against her cheek.

"Nikola." She breathed against him as he fell away from her.

"I love.. you Helen." His voice sounded faraway as his entire body flickered before her eyes. All she could do was stare hopelessly into his sad eyes as he slipped away from her. This was the last thing she remembered before a pain so intense shattered inside her mind and she clutched at her head, crying out loudly. She could feel him fade away, his hold on her mind cracking and breaking away to leave her empty. Her vision tunnelled then, the world instantly fading to a point before she hit the ground.


"Doc?"

"H-Henry?" Helen opened her eyes blearily.

"Dude! She's awake!"

Will scurried over to Helen's prone form, they'd moved her to her own room and she was splayed out on an uncomfortable bed. She groaned and her hand flew to her head.

"Magnus? Are you OK?" Will hurried.

"Nikola!" She managed to gasp, her hand still clutched to her aching head and her eyes screwed shut.

"The doctors are still with him... Are you alright?"

"Nikola!" She demanded, trying to sit up but failing miserably. Will grasped her shoulders and pushed her back onto the bed, holding her there.

"Magnus! You need to take it easy!"

"No... Nikola, don't... don't leave him..." She managed, her eyes cracking open to plead with Will. He stared at her for a few seconds before nodding solemnly. She gasped then and fell backwards, passing out in pain.

Will looked at her for a few more seconds before turning and heading to the door.

"Uh, Will?" Henry questioned.

"Make sure she's OK." He said before leaving her room and making his way over to Nikola's. He was taken aback as he entered the vampire's room. Robed doctors were swarming around him, desperately trying to revive his weak and frail form. Will stared, wide-eyed before sinking down into a nearby chair and watching the scene unfold. She'd not wanted him to be alone, so he'd stay, even if it was just to hold his hand while he died.


Helen Magnus was having a wonderful dream. She didn't quite know where she was but it really did not matter. She was safe and warm and being held close to a lean and muscled chest. She smiled happily and snuggled closer to the body she was lying next to before daring to open her eyes. Everything was bathed in shimmering gold and she squinted her eyes at its brightness, even the skin she was pressed against glistened and shined in the light.

She gazed at it for a few moments and then shifted her focus upwards. Nikola was smiling down at her, his face full and healthy again, a naughty smirk playing on his lips. She beamed up at him as he slid his arms tightly around her waist and pulled down to her to rub his nose against hers.

"You're alive, darling." He whispered against her face and she frowned slightly at him. He gently touched his lips to hers and stroked her cheek softly, cupping her face.

"Live." He breathed.

She opened her mouth to protest that she would live with him, here, but her entire world turned to instant black and she recoiled as he transformed under her, his eyes turning black and his nails and teeth elongating.

"Live!" He growled out at her and she cried out.

Will and Henry both held Helen down as she thrashed about on the bed.

"Get a doctor!" Will shouted at his friend, struggling against Helen's powerful flailing.

"Nikola!" Helen suddenly sat bolt upright, her eyes flying open, both her hands clutching at their arms. Will gripped onto her tightly, trying to pull her back down.

"Magnus! Magnus, lie down..." He ground out.

"No!" She blinked rapidly, as if trying to clear her vision. "Nikola, where is Nikola?" Her breathing was erratic.

Will was still trying to force her backwards as he answered. "He's... He's fine Magnus... He's alive... Magnus, lie down!"

For the first time, she looked at him, her eyes strange.

"He... he's alive?" She whimpered slightly at the news.

"Yes, he's alive. Please, lie back down." Will finally succeeded in pushing his boss back into the bed. She looked rapidly between both men as she grabbed the sheets and pulled them up to her chin, shivering slightly.

"Are you... sure."

"Yes, Doc. I've seen him. He's alive and his brain-function has returned. He's just unconscious." Henry chipped in, hoping hearing it from him would convince her. She stared at him, wide-eyed.

"He's OK?" She asked in a small voice.

"Magnus, you need some rest. You're vitals have been all over the place today."

"Today?" She shook her head, trying to clear it.

"You've been here for a week, Magnus." Will informed her.

"A.. week?" She asked incredulously.

"You've been out cold for four days now Doc, we didn't think you'd wake up." Henry shuffled nervously, his worry for her spilling over. Helen's brow knitted in worry and she reached out to grasp his hand.

"It's OK, darling..." She began but got no further as Henry leaned forward and pulled her into a tight hug, burying his face in her neck. She smiled softly and stroked the back of his head soothingly, still not fully aware of everything around her. Henry pulled away from the woman who'd become a mother to him abruptly, swiping roughly at his cheeks before mumbling something and darting from the room. Helen wore a pained expression as she watched him go, turning to Will.

"He'd already said goodbye to you," he explained, looking to his shoes, "So did I."

Helen sighed and raised a hand to cover her eyes, trying to fathom what had happened. It felt like seconds ago that Nikola had been kissing her goodbye... Nikola...

"Where is he?" Helen removed her hand to glare at Will.

"Magnus, you need to rest. You almost died, please..."

"Tell me where he is. Now." He knew that tone, well. It was her 'I am gonna kill you if you don't do exactly what I say' voice. Will knew what to do when that tone was used – relent.

"He's down the corridor, first door on your right... Magnus!" He grabbed her arms as she shuffled out of the bed and tried to stand, falling forwards onto him.

"I'm...fine..." She was breathing heavily.

Will shook his head at her complete determination but made no comment, only helping her to walk as they moved towards Nikola's room.

He had to hold her up as she stumbled when she saw him lying comatose and haggard and alone. Walking her as fast as he could he guided her to his bedside, swiftly turning and leaving her, knowing she needed space.

Helen smiled softly and took his limp hand in hers once more. He looked better. Less pale and less gaunt. Her ears were pricked by a soft double bleep and she almost fainted in relief as she saw that his brain-function had almost returned to normal. She almost jumped clean off her chair as he mumbled and tightened his hand on hers. She stared at him, wide-eyed and clutched his hand even tighter.

"Nikola?"

He shuffled a little before turning his head to her and opening his eyes blearily.

"H-Helen... Where am I?"

For the second time that day, Helen nearly fainted in relief.

"You're at SCIU, you made it back Niko..." She smiled at him and he frowned.

"Back? Where did I go?" He was still unsure of himself and blinked slowly. As he took in his surroundings more fully he glanced down, noticing his hand grasped tightly by hers. Helen faltered at his words.

"Nikola... please... tell me you remember."

He was still frowning down at their hands.

"Remember what?"


o.O

Just so you know, I killed off Niko 3 times before I settled on this. :)