This is a little short, but this felt like a good place to stop. I'm not a huge fan of how this turned out, but my next chapter will be better, I promise. It's already mostly written out, and I really like it. Anyway, this chapter. Yeah, not a whole lot to say about it...I just felt the need to have some drama. Also some Nikola/Kiri sibling fluff at the end. I really love writing those two together. Enjoy.
Disclaimer.
When Nikola received Gregory's letter, he nearly went crazy with worry. He could only imagine what had happened to cause Helen's father to send him a letter. When Ellie came by three days after the letter had arrived, Nikola nearly bowled her over.
"Ellie, what happened? Is Helen alright?" he demanded, grabbing the older woman's hands. Ellie smiled reassuringly at him.
"Helen is going to be fine, Nikola. James and her father brought her home just this morning. I was sent to bring you back, so you can see her." Ellie was dragging Nikola out the door before he could even react, and soon they were at the Magnus residence. Ellie brought Nikola up to Helen's room, which was already very crowded. James and Gregory were standing on one side of the bed, and on the other side was a woman Nikola didn't recognize. She had long, golden-blonde hair and grey-blue eyes. She was taller than any women Nikola had ever seen, even taller than most men. She was dressed as a man, with a white dress shirt, dress pants, and dress shoes. She wore a leather belt with two pouches, a gun holster, and a knife sheath. Her hair was braided behind her, kept completely out of her face.
"You must be Mr. Tesla. I am Minku Shadori. Helen spoke very highly of you," the woman remarked, smiling and extending a hand. Nikola took it, looking unsure as to what she expected until she shook his hand, her smile widening.
"Yes, Helen told me about you in her letters," Nikola responded, smiling as well. It was only then that Nikola looked at the bed the others were surrounding. Helen was lying on the bed, a bandage around her head and another around her abdomen. Whether she was asleep or unconscious, Nikola couldn't tell, but she was looking more vulnerable than he had ever seen her. James followed his gaze and moved slightly closer to his friend, who was standing there in shock.
"There was an accident. The Doctors in Vienna think she'll be fine, but she hasn't woken up since," James told him quietly. Nikola swallowed with difficulty, his eyes not leaving Helen's face.
"Does Kiri know?" he finally asked. Minku nodded from behind him.
"I sent her employer a message before we left Vienna. They were in Smiljan at the time, so she shouldn't be too far behind me." Nikola nodded at the knowledge before moving to sit gently on the edge of the bed, taking Helen's hand. He spent most of the next few days with her, only leaving when Ellie or James dragged him away to sleep. Minku left two days after they had arrived, and Kiri showed up the next day. She, like Nikola, only left when someone dragged her away. Nigel drifted in and out a few times, and even John stopped in a few times. John would only stay for about half-an-hour and then leave. Nigel, on the other hand, would stay for hours, talking to James and Nikola and even including Kiri in those conversations that she could understand.
Helen finally woke up a week and three days after her return home. When she opened her eyes, it was to see Kiri asleep on her left while Nikola slept on her right. She raised a hand to her head, which was aching enormously. The movement was apparently enough to wake her two friends, as they both shot upwards at once, looking around in confusion.
"Helen!" they both exclaimed as one. Helen laughed softly at them, smiling.
"Hello. How long have I been asleep?" she inquired, glancing outside.
"From what James has told us, it's been about three weeks," answered Nikola, reaching out to take her hand.
"Minku wanted me to tell you that she's very sorry for what happened," Kiri said. Helen and Nikola both looked at her in surprise, and she shrugged. "Minku is good friends with my employer, so we spend a fair amount of time together."
"Your employer seems to know everyone," remarked Helen, raising an eyebrow. Kiri shrugged again, but offered no explanation. Instead, she stood and bounced out of the room, leaving Nikola and Helen to watch in confusion. She returned not long after, carrying a tray with tea and some toast for them to share, James following close behind her.
"Helen, it's so good to see you awake," he commented, standing at the foot of her bed.
"Thank you, James. I must say I will be happier when I am able to walk around again," replied Helen, smiling. Kiri moved to sit next to her on the king-sized bed, grinning.
"I'm sure you'll be up and walking in no time." Kiri assured her, patting Helen's legs. Nikola and James chuckled as they both nodded.
"Knowing you, you'll be trying to walk tomorrow," James added, joining Kiri on Helen's right.
"I doubt that," Helen protested, indicating her bandaged abdomen. Nikola reached out and gently stroked Helen's hair out of her face; the bandages on her head had been removed two days previously.
"Does it hurt much?" he questioned, the concern clear on his face.
"Only when I breathe," Helen joked, taking Nikola's hand. The four of them spent the rest of the day talking quietly, and were joined at one point by Nigel. Helen tried to kick them all out when she wanted to go to sleep, but Nikola and Kiri flat-out refused to leave her side, and eventually gave in. The two of them remained silent, allowing Helen to sleep. After she had been sleeping for about an hour, Kiri moved to sit next to Nikola, leaning into him.
"I'm scared, Nika. I want her to get better," she whispered. Nikola wrapped an arm around her comfortingly.
"She'll be healthy in no time, sestrice. Don't worry," he assured her quietly. Kiri made a worried sound as she shifted so her head was resting on Nikola's chest. She soon fell asleep, comforted by Nikola's presence.