A/N: Serbian translations are provided at the end of the chapter.
Henry lay awake, listening. He and Erika had agreed to stop going to Angelina every time she cried during the night, hoping that without the reward of their attention she would give up and go back to sleep by herself. And it seemed as if it had worked, but Henry wasn't sure.
Angelina had cried and cried, for at least twenty minutes, and then stopped. When the noise ceased, Henry had felt Erika relax and shift into a more comfortable position next to him, and go back to sleep. But he hadn't been able to do the same. What if something was wrong? What if Angelina had stopped wailing because something had happened and she couldn't cry?
He knew he was likely worrying needlessly, but he couldn't help it. What if his little Angel needed him? He got out of bed as quietly as he could; he would just peek in and make sure the baby was all right, he wouldn't wake her. Henry shuffled across the room, across the hall to the open door of the nursery.
And froze; Angelina wasn't alone, he could hear the regular squeak of the rocking chair, a sound he had made himself many nights trying to get her back to sleep. He moved forward silently, trying to see into the shadowed corner nearly unlit by the night light. He half Happed to bring his superior senses to bear.
He smelled vampire, and there was only one in the building: Nikola, who was not himself and unpredictable. Even when he was himself, Henry wasn't at all sure he would trust him with an infant; he'd probably get involved in something and forget where he left her. Henry de-Happed, but didn't know what to do. There was no point in waking Erika, she and Nikola didn't know each other well and she would only be upset and might make things worse. He had to get the Doc up here, quick.
Henry backed slowly away and went to the computer in the living room and sent an alarm to the laptop he had given Helen. But he couldn't wait for her to arrive; he had to rescue his daughter now.
Henry went back to the nursery and slowed down his movements. He did not want to startle Nikola, although if Nikola was vamped then he was already well aware of Henry. Henry stepped into the nursery.
He said, very softly, "Hi Nikola, how's it going?"
The squeaking stopped.
"That's my daughter, Angelina. She's just a baby, be careful with her, please?"
Henry heard the chair rock without the squeak; Nikola had stood up. Henry took a step to the side so he could reach the little lamp on the dresser and clicked it on. It didn't throw much light but he could see Nikola, wearing a light blanket like a toga, with the precious bundle in his arms. He was in vampire mode, the light glinting off his fangs and his razor sharp claws very close to the baby's tender flesh.
Henry wanted to laugh at the image of Nikola in a makeshift toga, but he was too scared for Angelina. Henry swallowed convulsively. He had to be perfect, do this just right and get his daughter safely away. Nikola had only to move carelessly and he would cut her. And what if he was hungry? Poor Angelina would only be a snack. Henry shuddered at that mental image and pushed the thought away. He had to concentrate.
"Uh, maybe I should hold her for a while." Henry took a step forward; Nikola pulled his lips back from his fangs and Henry froze again. Was Nikola claiming the baby for his own, or defending her from an unknown intruder? Henry hoped it was the latter, but either way, how was he going to get close enough to rescue her? He heard a sound behind him and then the Doc was in the room too.
Helen took in the situation immediately. Henry was strung taut, ready to spring but afraid to move. Nikola had the baby, but didn't understand the situation and had no idea what to do. Helen needed to defuse the situation; she said lightly "Nikola, das vas upoznam sa Angelina; Angelina, meet your Uncle Nikola."
Nikola had ignored Henry's words, but seemed to hear Helen's. He looked down at the infant in his arms who was starting to fuss without the rocking motion, and rocked her a bit. He formed her name with his mouth, but didn't say it.
He looked back at Helen, frowning. Then he said "Sestru?"
Helen shook her head. "Henry's cerku" she said, patting Henry's shoulder. To Henry she said "He's a little confused, Angelina was his oldest sister's name."
"Oh. But can we . . ." Henry reached out toward his daughter.
"Of course, I'll get her for you. Don't worry, Henry. Nikola has always loved children, he wouldn't deliberately hurt her." Helen approached the vampire.
Henry muttered "If you say so, except that's not exactly Nikola."
Helen didn't reply, just held out her arms and said "I'll take her now." Nikola understood the gesture she was making, but seemed reluctant to give up Angelina. But then he passed the baby carefully over to her. Helen cuddled her and said "Hvala, Nikola." She took the baby to Henry's waiting arms.
Erika appeared in the doorway. "Henry, what is going on? Did you forget to tell me we're having a party in the middle of the night?"
Henry smiled weakly, not knowing how to explain the gathering. Helen stepped in.
"Nikola decided to baby-sit without mentioning it to anyone. It's all straightened out now. Come along, Nikola." She reached out her hand, and he slowly took it. She led him from the room.
The halls were dimly lit in night mode, and Nikola stayed in vampire form until they reached the detention room. He moved and held himself awkwardly, which surprised Helen. In the vampire society, everyone had seemed to be well coordinated, but then she hadn't seen any very young children while she was there.
When he walked into the brighter lighting he devamped without the usual shake of his head. Helen noticed and realized he wasn't in control of his changes. In fact, he might not even be aware he was changing, his body just automatically adjusting to its environment.
"Now, how in the world did you get out of here? I don't suppose you'd like to tell me, would you?" But Nikola just looked at her blankly.
Helen examined the bed. None of the straps were broken, nothing was damaged. Ah, but she had forgotten to retighten the chest strap. That had allowed him to wiggle out of the straps across his lower body. And then he had undone the straps on his wrists with his teeth most likely for the first one and his free hand for the second.
How had he opened the door? It had a number keypad with a four-digit combination needed to open it. Helen wasn't sure whether he had just watched people going out enough to figure out or even see the numbers they were punching, or if he had used his electromagnetic abilities. It didn't matter, either way the room wasn't going to be able to hold him.
Helen realized she wasn't going to be a very effective guard for him either. In the months they had been together, she had gotten used to hearing him coming and going while she was sleeping, and had learned to ignore the sounds. Well, maybe he didn't need a guard; he didn't seem to be dangerous, even if he had scared poor Henry half to death.
She unwrapped the blanket from around him and put it back on the bed. She pointed at it and said "krevet". It was the noun form of "bed" rather than the verb form, but her Serbian didn't reach to "Go to bed and go to sleep, you bloody vampire." But he apparently got the message from the tone of her voice and crawled in obediently. Helen noticed he moved even more awkwardly when not in vampire mode.
She hesitated; should she put the straps back on him? He was lying on his side, and looking up at her pleadingly. She gave in and said, "Oh, all right." She pushed her cot up against the door. He wasn't going to get out again, at least not tonight.
Helen woke up to the sounds of "Mary Had a Little Lamb". The fish mobile was swinging wildly, and Nikola was examining the music box closely while it played. It was morning, if very early, so she got up and started "Sesame Street" again. That caught his attention, but he was no longer strapped down and he went over to the computer and touched the screen. Then he started poking at the keys.
He quickly lost the show, but he didn't seem to care. Helen watched him for a little while, but there wasn't any pattern to what he was doing, it was just random curiosity at work. She was going to call Will and ask him to come relieve her for a while, but Biggie showed up with a breakfast tray and a paper bag.
"I hear you had an interesting night" he said when she had moved the cot and let him in.
Helen had pounced on the tea and only said "Hmm" in between sips.
"I'll watch him for a while. We could go outside so he can burn off some of his energy."
Helen nodded. "Good idea" she said between bites of toast. "And then perhaps I can catch up on my work for a bit. You'll be all right with him?"
"Sure, I practically raised Henry, I can handle him." Biggie opened the bag and produced a set of Nikola's W-Mart clothing. He got Nikola out of the hospital gown and into a set of clothes without Nikola paying much attention to the process. But when he closed the laptop and tried to lead Nikola away, Nikola resisted.
"Ne! Zelim . . . ". Nikola reached for the computer, apparently not having a word for it.
"Bribe him" Helen advised. She was pleased Biggie was taking an interest. He had been almost a father to Henry when he was a boy, and she suspected he missed having that sort of relationship now that Henry was grown and a father himself. Interacting with a strong male would be good for Nikola right now, too.
"With what?" Biggie asked. He moved his bulk between Nikola and the computer and started to herd him toward the door, but Nikola moved faster than human and dodged around him, and started fumbling at the laptop, trying to open it.
"Nikola," Helen said, "There are pigeons on the roof. Vtacik, Nikola."
That got Nikola's attention. Helen pointed at Biggie. "Go with Biggie to the vtacik." Nikola looked warily at Biggie, who nodded and beckoned him. Nikola gave up the laptop and followed Biggie to the door.
"Bring him back before dinnertime" Helen said. Biggie paused and looked back at her in surprise. He hadn't expected to be a vampire nanny all day, but if that's what Helen needed he would do it. "Ahhh, uhhh, okay" he responded, resigned, but didn't look happy about it.
Nikola followed Biggie through the Sanctuary, and finally up the stairs to the roof. As soon as he saw the pigeons, he ran forward, but the pigeons moved away, startled. Nikola slowed down and went purposefully to the large containers of seed, took some out and scattered it for them, but kept some in his hands. The pigeons were soon perched on him, and all around him.
Biggie just stood back and watched. He shook his head a little and said "That's what you remember, how to feed pigeons? Out of everything that might be useful, you know how to find the pigeon food." Nikola ignored him, he was engrossed in feeding the birds.
When Nikola finished and came back to him smiling openly, Biggie had to admit, maybe it wasn't the worst thing he could have remembered. But seeing Nikola Tesla with a simple, innocent smile on his face seemed very odd. Biggie led him back down the stairs, through the halls, and outside.
Helen spent a productive day; it was after four in the afternoon when she heard something in the hallway that alarmed her. Two sets of footsteps approaching, squelching and sloshing as they came. There were no Abnormals in the Sanctuary that sounded like that. She looked up at the door, and waited, her hand on the gun in her desk drawer.
Biggie and Nikola appeared, smiling and laughing. Both were soaked and muddy from head to foot, their clothes torn and tattered. Biggie had some scratches on his face, but didn't seem bothered by them.
"Good lord, what did you do?" she asked Biggie.
"We played grunchuk; I haven't played for ages, didn't have anybody to play with before now."
"You're making a mess. What is grunchuk?"
"I'll clean it up. Grunchuk is a coming-of-age game. You smack the youngster in the head, he goes flying through the air and goes 'thud'. Then he gets up and smacks you and tries to make you fly through the air and go 'thud'. When a boy can compete with the adults, he is an adult."
"You hit Nikola?" A little anger crept into her voice.
"Just a little bit, you know, a friendly pat. Then he sort of patted me back, and I hit him a little harder, and then we were playing grunchuk. I didn't hurt him."
Helen stared at Biggie in disbelief. "And this is fun?"
"Sure. I haven't had anybody to play it with for sixty years. Henry and Will aren't strong enough, I'd hurt them if I ever gave them more than a baby cuff. But this guy, he can take a pretty good smack. I hit him into the water the first couple of times just to make sure he would land okay, so he hit me into the water too. It's not really part of the game, but it was fun."
"I'm almost afraid to ask, but who won?"
"It was a tie. We both got tired before either one gave up. Anyway, you wanted him back before dinner, so here he is. I'll get the mop." Biggie sloshed off to start cleaning up.
Nikola started to move wetly toward her desk full of papers, but Helen said "Ne" and held up her hand. He stopped and she quickly came around the desk and took him by the hand. She hesitated, and then led him to his suite. He needed dry clothes first; and there were plenty of those in his extensive closet.
She stripped him and shoved him in the shower, adjusting the temperature for him first. The soggy, torn clothing she left on the floor for later disposal. When she was sure all the mud was out of his hair she pulled him out, dried him off and took him into the bedroom to find clothing.
Having him naked in the bedroom was a temptation, but he wouldn't understand any sexual overtures, would he? He was physically an adult, so she might as well check on the development of his libido. She kissed him lightly on the lips, but he just looked at her quizzically with a faint smile. She missed him physically very much, but it was too soon. Right, clothing.
She got him dressed, avoiding the expensive suits and settling for slacks, shirt, and loafers. He looked toward the suits most of the time she was dressing him, but didn't object to the clothes she put on him. She found some pajamas, slippers and a robe and took those with too.
She took him back to the detention room. Nikola's suite was large and had two doors, she was afraid she wouldn't be able to control him physically there. Back in the detention room she fixed him a wine/plasma drink and put it in a sippy-cup she found there. There were also a lot of toys in the room now, and she knew Henry had been his usual helpful self. And he probably wanted to make sure Nikola was occupied and not making any more midnight visits to the nursery.
Nikola sat on his bed and held the cup with two hands. He drank quickly without any difficulty, and gave it back to her as soon as he was done. He gestured at the toys and said "Da li mogu?"
"Da, go ahead and enjoy yourself" Helen answered. Nikola immediately got down on the floor and started playing with a truck. Helen was glad that Henry had been very careful to avoid sexual stereotyping in his purchases for Angelina.
Will came down after dinnertime, bringing her a cold roast beef sandwich. "I heard about what happened last night. You should have woke me up. Henry was still pretty shaky this morning."
"There wasn't time, and afterwards there wasn't any point. You know Henry overreacts whenever Angelina is involved; he'll recover."
Nikola looked up. "Angelina?" he said to Helen.
"Do you remember Angelina?"
Nikola folded his arms like he was holding a baby. "Henry cerku."
"Well, well, well, it appears we are making progress" Helen said, pleased.
"I don't know, he doesn't seem to be much like the Nikola Tesla I knew and hated" commented Will, watching as Nikola went back to playing with the cars and trucks on the floor.
Helen defended him. "Give him time, he's hardly more than a baby, mentally. Was there something you wanted?"
"I just thought you'd like to sleep in your own bed tonight. I'll sleep on the cot."
"I don't know Will, he's . . . "
"Hardly more than a baby right. I can handle it. I want to help, and maybe he and I can get to know each other better. The adult Tesla just put me down, this one, well, we can relate to each other as equals. Maybe when he's grown up again he'll be nicer to me."
"All right. If you need me I'm just a phone call away. His pajamas, robe and slippers are there, and you don't need to worry about anything like tooth brushing."
"Let me guess, vampires don't get cavities."
"No, they don't. Put him to bed around nine. That's early I know, but I think his brain needs more sleep time than an adult. Make sure the cot fully blocks the door, so he's not out wandering around again."
"Yes, Mother. Don't worry, we'll be fine. Enjoy your night off."
Helen took her laptop and went to the door. She turned and said "Thank you Will. I hope you're right, and the two of you can develop a better relationship" and left.
Will got down on the floor and picked up a car Nikola wasn't playing with. He moved it around the edge of whatever game Nikola was intent on, gradually interacting with the vehicles Nikola was using. Will started adding sound effects. "Vroom, vroom" and tire squealing noises and soon Nikola was copying him, their respective toy vehicles careening around and crashing into things, the two of them laughing together.
At nine Nikola let Will change him into his pajamas and settle him in bed. Will set the cot against the door, stripped down to his underwear and turned off the light. Nikola already appeared to be asleep. Well, he'd had a busy day. In bed, Will lay listening to Tesla's slow steady breathing for a while, and he gradually drifted off to sleep. Fortunately, neither of them snored.
/
Bobby and Reena had both come up with several possible Abnormal mercenary groups. Along with Molly they picked the two that seemed most promising. Both had extensive experience, and apparently no morals.
One group consisted of eleven Arrendulics, tall slender lizard-like beings with poisonous fangs, claws and nasty tempers. Their leathery, scaled hides were nearly impervious to blades and small caliber bullets. Besides their natural weaponry, they carried knives, throwing stars, and garrotes, and specialized in very fast silent mass executions. Their last job had been the destruction of a small African village paid for by a rival tribe. When they were done, nothing remained alive except the flies and gathering carrion eaters.
The other group had fifteen members of a mix of Abnormals, and operated very much like human mercenaries; they were armed with automatic weapons and grenades. They called themselves the Slaughter. Their last job had been overrunning a Mexican drug lord's compound. They had been thorough and merciless, killing over forty men, and seizing both drugs and cash for their employer, a rival drug lord.
Bobby favored the Slaughter. Molly suspected her brother liked the name more than anything, but she preferred the Arrendulics. When they were done with the Sanctuary, there would be no doubt that Abnormals had done the killing, whereas the Slaughter would leave bullet-ridden corpses no different than a human attack.
Reena agreed with her. They would have to work through a third party to hire the Arrendulics; they would contact him with their offer of employment. All three of them found thoughts of Arrendulics massacring Sanctuary personnel very pleasing, indeed.
A/N: I don't speak Serbian, so I apologize for any errors. Following are translations of words and phrases used in the text:
Sestru- sister
Cerku- daughter
Hvala- thank you
Das vas upoznam sa- I'd like to introduce you to
Krevet- bed
Ne- no
Zelim- I want
Vtacik- birds
Da li mogu- may I
Da- yes
AnthropologistGirlInTheMaking, Lorienleaf, Carmesdi, and Minderismeer, thank you for your reviews/comments.