Chapter 8: Chapter 8

"Man I must be tired" Henry thought has he collapsed on his new very comfortable sofa "there's no way I just saw what I thought I saw"

Henry had been awake for almost 12 hours before receiving the mysterious email and the map. At the time he had felt fine and awake enough to start the journey straight away. As he sat on the sofa the weight of being awake for over 24 hours hit him.

Helen held the vile in her hands "It doesn't look like much does it"
"only forever"
"you can still back out you know?"
"How many times do I have to tell you Magnus, I am not changing my mind"
Helen smiled "do you know how I know you're serious?" she asked.
"How?"
"You call me Magnus. When you want to make a point you call me Magnus"
"So, Doctor Magnus, what do we do next?" Will said smiling.
"Well, Doctor Zimmerman, I suggest we go and have dinner with Henry then retire to your apartment. I can give you some pain killers to help you sleep through the procedure"
"Ok, dinner then forever"

Helen placed the vile in to a secure container and offered her hand to Will "forever"


"Hey sleepy head" Will said as he woke Henry "you're drooling"
Henry wiped the drool from his face "am not"
"You want dinner or not?"
Henry checked his watch "Sure, must've fallen asleep"

Will took Henry down to the large kitchen where Helen had already prepared dinner.
"Something smells good" Henry said.
Will started to help Helen automatically, like he'd done many times since he'd been here, He and Helen moved in unison plating up a risotto and salad.
"Hey Doc this place is amazing" Henry said taking a mouth full of food.
"Thank you" Helen asked
"Wait until you see the habitat areas" Will said.
"Grand tour tomorrow?" Henry said, exciting to be able to spend some time with his best friend.
"Sorry Henry, but you're on your own tomorrow. I've got to help Helen with something"

The rest of dinner was spent talking about various things. From how exactly Helen had managed to create this place to all the abnormal now residing at the New Sanctuary. Of course Will had heard it all before but it never failed to amaze him how Helen had done most of it by herself.

When dinner was finished and plates tided away all three people rode the elevator to.

"So we neighbours?" asked Henry.
The elevator stopped at Henrys floor "Goodnight Henry" Magnus said feeling Wills hesitation "Will and I have a few things we still need to do this evening"
"Um, sure. See you tomorrow." Henry turned and made his way to his room. He was most definitely glad to be back at The Sanctuary and he was definitely happy that Magnus was alive, but he couldn't help but think he was missing something.


"Thank you" Will said as entered his apartment.
"I know this is hard for you, you can still change your mind."
"Spending forever with you is the easiest decision I've ever made. Telling Henry about us however is probably going to be the hardest. He's my best friend"
"I understand. I've spent many years keeping people at arms length, not wanting to let people in because I know I will outlive them. Telling you about this serum was the hardest thing I've done in quite some time."
"Why?"
"Because no matter how much I hoped that one day you might say yes, I always feared you'd say no, even now"
"Helen" he breathed her name "why would I say no?"

Magnus took a deep breath to calm her emotions and said the words that she always seems to say to Will at the beginning of their adventures "Shall we begin?"
Will lay down on his bed "I want you know that I am doing this for me as much for you. I know you've lost people, but I honestly don't know what I would do if I lost you, again."
Magnus attached the IV needle to his left hand "Last change to back out"
Will held Helens hand "never"

Helen administered a strong pain killer before attached the serum to the IV drip and prayed she was doing the right thing. She had tried her best to make it compatible, she had run every test she could think of, twice. She was 96% certain that this would work, that Will would be granted longevity.

"Relax, try to sleep and I'll check on you soon" Magnus said in her best Doctor voice.


Despite the fact that Henry was very tired he was also very excited to be in this amazing place. He couldn't sit there much longer so he decided a sandwich might help him sleep better. Starting on the ground floor he explored the library and after not finding the cinema went to the kitchen to make a snack.
"Hey Doc"
"Good evening Henry. Cant sleep?" Helen asked.
"Nah, to many things to see."
"I'm glad you like it. What did you think of your lab?"
"It's amazing!"
She smiled. "I'm glad you're here Henry"
"Me to. Any idea where Will is? Thought we could catch a late night movie"
"He's in his room. Can I ask you something"
"Anything"
"Will has a lot going on right now, promise me you'll be patient with him"
Henry wasn't sure why exactly the Magnus was asking this but of course he would "sure"

"AAARRRRGGHHH" A blood curdling scream echoed around the building.

"Will!" Helen ran for the elevator, with Henry close behind her "hold on" she said as she placed a key into a hidden lock, the lift flew to the top floor in half its usual time.

Helen was out the door and running for Wills room before the doors where fully open.

"Hey" said a very drowsy Will as Helen came into view.
Helen began checking his pulse, the IV, pupil dilation all the usual things "Tell me what happened?"
"I don't know"
"You screamed" Henry said slowly walking into the room.
"Did I? I don't remember"
Helen was worried "How are you feeling now? Be honest"
"Fine, I think" Will said trying to sit up "A little dizzy maybe"
"Any pain?"
"Not really"
Henry was worried about his friend "what's wrong with you?"

"I'll leave you two alone" Helen said walking passed Henry "just listen" she said to him.

"Nothing's wrong with me" Will began.
"So why he IV?" Henry said moving further into the room.
"So Helen, so Magnus doesn't have to be alone" Will sat up a little better "you better take a seat"

After pacing for a few minutes Henry finally sat at the end of Wills bed.

Will took a deep breath "This IV is made up from Helens blood, purified blood. She isolated the parts that gave her longevity" Will took a deep breath, this was harder than he thought it would be. He was far more tired than he thought "A few days ago, during a movie, we got talking, she showed me this serum and the rest is history"
"Why didn't she tell me?" Henry was almost hurt.
"I don't know, you'd have to ask her. All I know is a couldn't say no, I couldn't let her be alone; I couldn't let her be the last of The Five"
Henry started to pace again "What about the rest of us? What about me?"

Magnus reappeared with a glass of ice for Will "Just too wet your lips" she said handing Will the ice "Henry, due to your unique physiology the source blood wouldn't work on you."
"So you tried?" Henry asked.
"Yes, sort off. While I was perfecting the serum I tried it on different DNA profiles. Your blood just wouldn't work. Besides as long as you look after yourself your HAP DNA will have you living longer than the average man anyway."
"So I wasn't your first choice?" Will sounded hurt.
"Yes and No" Helen sat on the edge of Wills bed and took his hand "Will, I've wanted nothing more for this to work for some time now. But in order to get to this stage I've had to test and retest it. I couldn't have this going wrong, if you agreed"
"Thank you for being honest" he said as he closed his eyes.
"I am totally missing something here" Henry said
Will and Helen had forget they had company "Sleep Will and I'll check on you later" Helen ushered Henry out Wills apartment.


Henry paced Helens living room not quite sure what to say or do.
Helen tried to explain why she had started the research. Despite having such a good team around here sooner or later they all left. In the end it was just her. She needed someone to stand by her and Will was, well he was her salvation in more ways than one.

"Answer me one thing Magnus"
"If I can"
Henry took a deep breath "Do love him?"
She didn't need to say anything; the smile that slowly spread across her face said it all.
"Okay" Henry said "Okay. Give me a second to get my head round this"
"I know it's a lot to take in, but I know what I'm doing" Helen replied crossing her arms.
"Does Will?"
"Will is a grown man and can make his own decisions" Helen took a calming breath "it's late, and you haven't slept that much lately"
Henry tried to protest but was cut off by a yawn "Might be a good idea"
"Good night Henry"
"Goodnight Doc"