Hey my lovelies.
So, no throwing things at me please. Read the WHOLE chapter before going all crazy fangirl on me.
As always, thank you times a million-billion-gazillion to all the lovely reviewers.
Also, thank you to everyone who suggested songs! You guys have some awesome ideas and I now find myself with too many ideas! :P I'm still playing around with them. I'll be sure to let you know when I'm done. That being said, if anyone has a specific song request (happy or sad or anything Teslen really) be sure to let me know. I'll usually oblige if I like the idea. :P
Enough of me, on to the chapter!
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Helen felt as though the air in the room had gone from chilled but pleasant to the kind of winds only seen in the likes of Antarctica. She'd always prided herself on managing to maintain a semblance of calm, even when the world was falling apart about her, but right now she was sure she looked like a deer caught in headlights. Panic washed through her, leading her to wonder just why exactly she was so terrified of the thought of John discovering what she and Nikola had found. She wasn't his. He had no claim on her, and she was free to do whatever with whomever she pleased.
John's icy blue eyes were darting with unconcealed suspicion between them both. Helen could have hit Nikola for his grin, but settled for a mental jab instead. They always seemed as effective, despite her sadness at loosing the chance to physically touch him, which was becoming a rather concerning necessity of late.
Thankfully, mercifully, a beeping from her computer broke the three from their stand-off. Helen seized the opportunity without second thought, immediately walked over and addressed the call from the welcome intruder. John hadn't moved, which was rather unnerving, but something she had grown quite used to in his methods of intimidation.
"Hey Doc," Henry said, nervously, his face appearing on screen. "Didn't mean to interrupt...anything, but I have sort of a technological situation down here and could really use the help of a snarky vampire."
Helen wasn't quite sure whether he meant her and Nikola's romantic liaisons or the fact that John was present by 'anything'.
"What did you do to the system?" she immediately accused Nikola. It was more out of second nature.
"Me?" Nikola said, the picture of innocence, "Why would I sabotage the system if I had to fix it?"
"With you?" she said, "There's always a hidden agenda. He'll be down to fix whatever he's done in a minute, Henry, thank you."
Henry nodded and disconnected the call. He evidently did not wish to witness any further conversation between herself and the vampire.
Nikola was obviously confused by her frosty words, and her accusation. She obviously knew he had not done anything to harm her Sanctuary's precious network. Not only because she could see into his mind, but also because they'd been literally inseparable for the past week. It took him a moment to figure out that she was putting on a display for John, to throw him off the scent so to speak.
"I take it I have my orders then," he said, petulantly.
I'll go and play with Wolf-Boy, he sent, letting her feel his displeasure, but if he so much as looks at you the wrong way, I'll be back.
She didn't respond. It was no use in trying to convince Nikola he didn't need to get so bloody protective. He shot a glare at John, before casting Helen one more pointed look before heading out of her office, pointedly leaving the door open behind him.
Yes, I am aware you're still here even if not technically present, Helen sent in response to Nikola's third mental poke.
Just checking, he responded.
"Tesla is still working to his own agenda," John chuckled, "Nothing's changed then."
"As are you with your agendas," she retorted coolly, "So indeed it does seem as though nothing has changed."
His face flashed darkly and he was back to the menacing look of moments ago.
"I came here to warn you, Helen," he said, taking a step towards his former lover.
"Partly," she said, "But you could have called, could have sent a message."
"You don't wish to see me?" he said, "We're...friends...Helen, if nothing else. Am I not allowed to ever see you now? Is that what we've come to?"
"That's not what I meant, John," she bit back, "And you know it."
He always did have the nasty habit of taking her words and twisting them, like he had done with so much else about their relationship. Even before he'd become the Ripper it had been like that, of course she hadn't realise that until much later, so captivated by him.
"No, I gather it's not," he all-but hissed. He'd taken another step to her now, and she instantly regretted remaining with her back so close to her desk. The distance between them was shrinking rapidly and she no escape without raising suspicion and playing right into his hand.
"If you have something to say, John," she said, remaining strong, "Then, please, go ahead and say it, don't hold back. I don't have time to play these trivial games with you."
"I think you're the one who's playing games, Helen," he replied darkly.
"I have no idea what you mean, John," she said, firmly.
He said nothing and she stood nervously for a moment, awaiting his next move. Helen Magnus was never someone to cower, or to run from confrontation. She was formidable, notorious even, as an opponent. But John always made her nervous. John was a volatile variable, he was unpredictable. His madness – or the presence of the energy beast – always meant she could never quite see what he was doing to do. If there was one thing Helen Magnus hated, it was being in the dark. The dark was not a friendly place for someone who liked being in control.
That was why, in the next moment, when he acted as he did she stood stunned. Even in his unpredictability she had not seen that one possibly coming. He'd bridged the remaining pitiful gap between them and kissed her, all in the span of a few seconds. She didn't even realise what he was doing until his lips were firmly and insistently pressed against hers.
It took her a few more moments for her brain to catch up, but when it did she pressed her hands against his broad chest and pushed him away. Mercifully, he allowed her that and relinquished her lips. He still stood uncomfortably close, though.
A cripplingly powerful wave of emotions surged through her body, a combination, no doubt, of both her and Nikola's reactions. She didn't even presume to hope he hadn't realised what was going on. Her surprise at the kiss had meant her mental barriers were non-existent to him. Not that she should have hidden it from him anyway, she'd done nothing to welcome the kiss nor had she wanted it.
"What do you think you're doing?" she snapped. Her voice was fierce, she was livid. She wasn't quite sure herself whether all of that anger was her own, or intensified by Nikola.
But he wasn't reacting as he should be. He was watching her face almost curiously, as though the kiss had been some sort of test and he was waiting for her reaction.
She didn't need to mentally speak to Nikola as she knew he was already on his way, storming back up to her office from Henry's lab. The poor techie must be beyond confused, having had Nikola arrive in his lab only to depart a few minutes later abruptly, rage written across his features as clearly as words on a page.
"What the bloody hell are you playing at?" she hissed again, side-stepping her way around his body to increase the distance between them.
What was more frustrating than the kiss was his lack of explanation. Hell, he hadn't even spoken despite her fiery questions.
Helen unconsciously moved closer to the door, anxiously awaiting Nikola. He was taking too long. She wanted him here, now. Even though she could feel he was practically running, it still felt too long.
John's eyes never left her as he watched her cross the room and go to stand beside the door. He made no move to follow though.
That's how they were when Nikola finally arrived. Helen was by the door, hand reaching out instantly to grab his, and John by her desk watching in an eerily hawklike manner.
Nikola's eyes were black and she suspected the only thing preventing him from physically attacking John was her firm, needy grip on his hand.
"So it is true then," John ground out.
Rage was suddenly replaced with shock as she realised what he'd been doing. She sent out soothing mental signals to the enraged vampire in an effort to calm him down. If he'd just calm enough to regain rational thought then he would see what John had been playing at.
Nikola, she sent, Nikola!
I am going to kill him, he sent back. At least he was using words now.
No, calm down, she insisted.
Calm down? Nikola sent, are you serious, Helen? Of all the ruddy things to say, all you have to say is 'calm down'?
He wasn't really kissing me, she sent hastily, knowing she would get nowhere unless she just came out and explained.
I saw it, Helen, Nikola said, don't try and deny it.
I'm not denying anything, she sent calmly, but he didn't kiss me for the reason you think.
Oh, this should be good, Nikola responded harshly.
Just, listen! She sent, frustrated. Why were all men so pigheaded?
"Calmed your little pet down yet, darling?" John said, the words dripping like acid from his tongue.
"I don't believe it," she hissed, "That's why you really came here, isn't it? To check and see if we did have a telepathic communication?"
"And it seems it was a wise decision on my part!" John spat.
He was provoking you, Nikola, she said, finally sensing he was moderately calm again, though irrational rage replaced by a more rational version directed at John, he wanted to force us into revealing our telepathic link.
He could have done it another way, Nikola insisted, he didn't need to kiss you. He could have come out and asked us directly.
Would we have told him the truth? She queried. She wasn't quite sure herself.
Nikola wasn't having any of it, though.
"You bastard," he spat at John. "You just can't let go, can you? You can't accept that Helen loves me."
John simply rolled his eyes, looking back at Helen.
"Shall we continue to discuss this like grown-ups?" he said, "I didn't lie before, Helen. I did come here to warn you, even if it was not my sole purpose. I needed to confirm these suspicions too. They are relevant, even if they do have a personal aspect to me."
"Why would you want to help us, John?" she said. It was hard to trust John. One could never know how much of the truth he was telling. "Why would you warn us when you probably don't like this situation at all?"
John looked between the pair, glaring.
"Not help you both, Helen," he said, "Help you, he's just collateral. You may be currently helplessly tangled up with him, and I don't want any harm to come to you because of it."
"Why? What do you know?" she said.
Despite his overwhelming urge to rip John apart, she could feel Nikola's curiosity (and too his protectiveness) pique at John's words.