Tegan Chronicles Sanctuary Style:

Step Through the Looking Glass 38

Two days later Helen was in the infirmary checking on supplies with Will's help, when she dropped the wrong thing into the biohazard waste bin that Kate should have emptied before now. She grumbled lightly letting it slide. She knew Kate was slacking mainly because of the sutures in her arm. She reached in a pulled out the box planning to dump the containers and return the cardboard to the trash. As she lifted the box out she saw the young girl covered in dried blood looking up at her. She picked it up and flipped the picture over.

"It's Tegan's, she used it to temporarily seal your chest wound." Will pointed to the approximate area.

"It's laminated, and I'm sure it's salvageable." Helen put the box down and walked over to the sink. "It's the only picture she has from home."

"Who is she?" Will asked as Helen started cleaning the blood from the picture with copious amounts of alcohol.

"I don't know, but she carries it with her most of the time, so I assume it's someone important."

"A daughter?"

"It's possible, though she listed zero pregnancies on her medical history."

Helen stopped unseen in the partially open doorway to Tegan's quarters when she heard soft strains rising from with in.

"'Home is behind, the world ahead, and there are so many paths to tread. Through shadow, to the edge of night, until all the stars are alight. Mist and shadow; cloud and shade. All shall fade, all shall fade." *

Tegan turned as she heard Helen clear her throat. She blushed lightly. "I didn't realize the door was open."

Helen smiled softly. "It was lovely."

"You can come in."

Helen stepped past the threshold and held the disinfected picture of Cassie up. "I found this while checking inventory."

"You're supposed to be resting."

"Will is doing the heavy lifting." Helen stretched her arm out and Tegan took the picture from her fingers. "Who is she?"

"Cassandra Fraiser, Cassie." Tegan flipped the picture over and looked at the lines from Dylan Thomas on the back. "It's complicated."

"I'd like to tell you it gets easier, but I'd be lying."

"She's not my daughter." Tegan sighed knowing Helen was referring to Ashley. "Not really anyway. Thank you for returning it."

"Thanks for using it to save my life." Helen realized she didn't want to talk about it.

Tegan looked away. "I wish you would stop saying that."

"What, that you saved my life?"

"Yes." She looked back.

"But you did."

"Oh hey." Henry stopped in the entryway to the kitchen. "I didn't know you were fixing dinner."

Tegan turned as he was backing out of the room. "Are you avoiding me Henry?"

"Avoiding you?" Wh-why would I do that?" He stuttered.

"I didn't see anything." She admitted. "I was a little preoccupied at the time."

"Oh, that." He played dumb. "No problem."

"There you are." Helen found Tegan up on the roof Friday evening. "Pizza's here."

"I think I'll pass." She looked out at the skyline and took a deep breath.

"You need to –"

"I know." Tegan glanced sideways as Helen stepped up onto the merlon on the parapet beside her. "I'll get leftovers from last night in a little bit."

"Kate told me you passed your driving tests today."

"I did."

"Then you'll need these." She held out the keys to the Ducati.

"I couldn't." Tegan shook her head.

"You can and you will. It's not doing it any good just sitting in the garage."

Tegan shook her head even as Helen placed the keys in her hand.

"Please."

"Thank you." Tegan looked down at the keys.

"You can wear Will's helmet tomorrow when you go out to get your own, and some riding leathers. I left money in an envelope on your pillow."

"The tooth fairy leaves the money under the pillow." Tegan commented dryly.

"Very funny." Helen smiled sarcastically.

"I'm planning on applying at the ER on West Street, see if they'll hire me on as an orderly or something while I'm waiting to take boards and for the results to come in. I'll pay you back."

"I wish you wouldn't."

"Pay you back?"

"Yes, or apply for a job."

"I can't keep taking advantage of your hospitality."

"You're not, you've stepped up when I've needed you and you've taken over the cooking responsibilities which I don't expect you to continue." She looked out on the city. "Besides, you sit for your exams next week."

"And it could take another three to four weeks before I get the results."

"Still, I would prefer if you didn't take an outside job at this point. A few more weeks is going to make little difference."

Tegan bit her lower lip. She liked Helen, for the most part, but she'd seen her somewhat controlling personality with the others from time to time. It hadn't bothered her too much. Despite the closeness they all shared she was still their boss. But Tegan wasn't her employee and she wasn't sure what to make of Helen's request. She looked back down at the keys in her hand.

"Don't second guess it." Helen said as she turned and stepped off the merlon.

When she went into her room that night there was an envelope on her pillow with a mobile phone sitting on top of it and a post it note on it. "You'll be needing this."

She wondered why Helen hadn't mentioned the phone earlier. Must be slipping in her old age.

Chapter End Notes:

A/N: *Lyrics from "Edge of Night" (Pippin's Song) from LOTR Return of the King

It just happened that two LOTR songs worked perfectly in this story, it wasn't intended.