Author's Note: I was kind of disappointed last chapter as nobody reviewed. But hey, let's put that behind us and do this one. I'm in the middle of my exams so stress levels are high and writing time is limited. Anyway, a review would make me very happy and help me through these long, boring days of revision! So thank you.

An Old Allegiance

Chapter 8 –

The Doctor was feeling happy as he stepped out of the TARDIS. He found himself in the grounds of the Old City Sanctuary and not surprised by his location, began to hike up the hill to the front door. He'd simply let the TARDIS choose a location and gone along for the ride. She seemed to like the Sanctuary. He could understand that completely.

When he reached the front steps, he knocked on the door. Nobody appeared. He knocked again. When still nobody appeared, he pushed on the door, expecting it to be locked but giving it a try nonetheless. It was unlocked. The Doctor raised an eyebrow and stepped inside, his concern rising. The table inside the door was knocked over and the vase that had been sitting atop it last time he'd been there was smashed on the ground. Further away, a few of the rungs from the banisters lay scattered at the bottom of the stairs.

"Helen?" The Doctor called. The fear was starting to rise. "Helen?"

Taking off at a run, he mounted the stairs two at a time and sprinted down the residential corridor, nearly passing the door to Helen's office. He didn't knock, he simply burst in and what he saw broke his heart.

Helen was curled up on the window seat, wrapped in a blanket. She was staring vacantly out of the window and with the sunlight shining on her, he could see the tear tracks on her face. At the disturbance, Helen looked up.

"Doctor?" Her voice was somewhat hoarse. "What are you doing here?"

The Doctor ignored her question. "What happened?"

"Ashley." Helen told him sadly. "The Cabal had modified her DNA to make her a superabnormal. She and others similar were used by the Cabal to bring down the Sanctuary Network. We lost the Tokyo, New Delhi, Beijing and Moscow Sanctuaries. We almost lost London too. They attacked us last night. Nikola created a weapon for us. We'd taken out most of the superabnormals when one tried to kill me. Ashley stopped her and attempted to teleport them both out but the EM shield was up." Fresh tears spilled down her face.

"I'm so sorry, Helen." The Doctor felt a wave of sympathy for her. He knew just what it was like to lose everything. "I'm sorry I wasn't here to help."

Helen shook her head. "You couldn't have done anything." She wiped her face with her hand. "But, thank you."

"Always." The Doctor smiled. Then he looked up, back at the open door. "Where is everyone?"

"I don't know." Helen shrugged. "Henry's probably in the lab, Will in his office. The others, I don't know."

"It's been hard for you all." The Doctor murmured.

Helen was looking out of the window again. "I just wish..."

"I know, Helen." The Doctor touched her face. "You know this wasn't your fault, I know this wasn't your fault. But if that's what you need to feel, to deal with this, then it's up to you. You did everything you could but sometimes it isn't enough. That's sometimes how the universe works and it's just not fair."

Helen nodded. "No, it's not."

"I'll put the kettle on." The Doctor stood up and was stepping towards her desk when she spoke again.

"Doctor?"

He turned.

"I've missed you." She managed a small smile.

The Doctor smiled back involuntarily. "I've missed you too."