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Chapter ten:

After checking out the guest room and being pleasantly surprised by the welcome he'd received from Henry and Ashley, Nikola headed to see Anya. She wouldn't be best pleased when she woke up, so he wanted to be there for her to reassure her she was safe.

When he got to her room, Helen was leaning over her checking on something. He found his eyes drifting down to rest on her rear end for a moment or two, and smiled to himself.

"How is she?"

"She's doing okay, considering." Helen replied without turning to face him.

"I wanted to be here when she woke up. If I'm not… getting in the way."

"Not at all." This time she peered at him over her shoulder and gave him a smile. "I've just about finished for now. I'm just waiting on some test results."

"Tests?"

His question came out like an accusation, but Helen saw from the expression on his face he hadn't meant it to.

"Just blood tests. I think she might be anaemic, and I'm concerned about the rest of her systems too. What she does obviously takes its toll on her body, I'd be very surprised if there isn't some sort of damage internally."

"Surely she'd just heal herself?" Nikola replied, sitting himself down in the chair beside Anya's bed and getting comfortable.

"It will do us no good to make assumptions about her abnormality Nikola."

She gathered up some of her diagnostic equipment and headed to the doorway. She hesitated, turning to look back at him as he sat loyally next to Anya. She found her eyes roaming over his frame, and her mind wandered for a moment as she imagined ruffling his hair and…

"Hey mom."

"Ah- Ashley?"

"How's she doing?"

"She's alright." She took in her daughter's attire and quickly realised she planned on going out somewhere. "Will you be back in time for dinner?"

"I-" she let out a laugh that seemed almost nervous. "I'm just going shopping and… I was thinking you could come with me?"

"Oh-"

"I thought we should do more… normal… mother daughter stuff. I mean… if you wanted to. I know you're busy a lot, and I-"

"I'd like that."

Ashley beamed.

"Great."

-

Anya started to stir. She knew before she opened her eyes she was at the Sanctuary. The place had a certain feel to it.

"Anya?"

She heard the apprehension in his voice.

"You promised me you wouldn't leave me here."

"I didn't. I took you back to the hotel."

"Then you bought me here."

Her eyes opened and she glared at him.

"It's been four days. I was worried about you."

"I told you I'd be fine."

He shifted uneasily under her gaze.

"I get the impression you're angry with me."

"Well observed."

"I was only doing what I thought was right."

"You mean, you were sweet talked because you're smitten with her?"

"I am not… smitten."

"Huh… sure."

"You can trust her. She knows what she's doing. She only wants to help you, you must know that."

Her glare softened, and she looked away from him.

"I know."

"So why are you so concerned about being here?"

"Are you kidding? This place is like a sweet shop for the Cabal. Why are you not concerned?"

"I wasn't aware you knew about the Cabal,"

"I know enough."

"Helen can protect you from them. That's one of the reasons she invests so much time in the Sanctuary. Take a look around you. Take a look at the other residents here. Take a good long look at Helen and you'll see it for yourself."

"I don't doubt for a second that she has good intentions."

"But?"

"Sometimes that's not enough."

There was an uncomfortable silence for a few minutes, and Anya felt like maybe she was being too harsh on him. Nikola's lack of a response made her want to smooth things over. Sure he'd bought her here despite her telling him she didn't want to stay there, but he was here with her. She knew her fears of the Cabal were sometimes a little irrational. She knew she could be quite safe here. The real fear was that she'd get too comfortable and want to stay. And she couldn't stay anywhere. She just put people around her in danger by doing that.

"I'm not angry at you. Not really."

"I didn't want to upset you, I just wanted you to get better."

"I know. I do feel a little better. I'm just… afraid."