Disclaimer: 'The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen' movie is copyright of 20th Century Fox. No infringement is intended.

PICKING UP THE PIECES

By Etcetera Kit

Chapter Seven: the Road Diverges

Sawyer walked along the corridors of the Nautilus, not sure where he was going. Their three days in Egypt were over, although no one had been interested in seeing any of the sights. The reappearance of Allan had intrigued them all and he had been out of the normal circulation of events due to the expertise of Nemo. But that had not stopped anyone from being utterly curious. Well, at least the days had been peaceful and booby trap free since Skinner could not just walk into Sawyer's room in the hotel- the doors had keys, unlike the rooms on the Nautilus. And Sawyer was expecting a surprise when he tried to go to bed tonight. Of course, he was not sure what to expect.

He looked down the hallway and saw the door to the library was slightly ajar. Soft voices came from inside.

"Thank you for allowing me to stay aboard, Captain."

Sawyer froze and then crept as close to the door as he dared. That odd English accent tinged with some Scottish- it had to be Allan. He and Nemo were in the library. Well, they didn't call him a spy for nothing.

"It is no problem at all. I remember the story you told us about Africa not allowing you to die. Although I am curious as to how you came back."

Allan laughed, his voice gruff and heart-warming all at once. "That is something unfortunately that you will not know until you die. But rest assured that I am not a ghost or anything of that nature."

"Well, I certainly wasn't expecting an intruder aboard the ship."

He gave an appreciative chuckle. "I know you weren't. But that whole scare with the lights going off worked out for best, anyways."

"Dr. Jekyll and Mrs. Harker?"

"Directly yes. But indirectly no."

"How could it be indirectly?"

"That note. You and Sawyer and Skinner saw the note being written and saw what it had to say. You were expecting something unusual."

"I will admit, we were quite frightened."

"And probably tried to pin the blame on Skinner, if I know any of you at all. It was pure luck that he happened to have the clothes and his face-paint."

"Our suspicions are slow to die. Skinner is not exactly popular with the kitchen staff."

"I'd imagine not. Especially if he goes to the kitchen to nick food and ends up causing the mayhem he is famous for."

"He does… You know you are welcome aboard the Nautilus as long as you like."

"I do thank you, Captain. It certainly makes things much easier."

"Well, I suppose the scare the other night that led us to you was much better than you trying to come aboard at a port. I doubt we would have recognized you."

"Or believed me."

"And besides, you can come right back into the group. I know Sawyer especially and everyone else had been missing you."

Allan laughed again. "I'm sure. And I am glad to be back."

"Yes. You were our leader and the one who kept everyone in line. Perhaps Skinner will refrain from distressing my kitchen and domestic staff workers now…"

Tom sagged against the wall. Allan's story sounded like so many of the fairy tales he had read as a child. He had always placed himself in them as the knight in shining armor on a white horse to rescue the damsel in distress. Maybe now he could be the favorite son of the king…

"Ah! Mr. Sawyer!"

He jumped as Nemo walked out of the library followed by Allan. He was wearing the kind of clothing he would have worn before he met his demise- the khaki safari clothes that seemed to be worn only by Englishmen in Africa. His hair was perhaps a little whiter than it had been before and he had the usual Winchester rifle at his side. He would have been attired just like before except he seemed a little whiter and a little more powerful. And his eyes… those faded blue eyes were now a vibrant shade of blue, almost too much to look upon.

Nemo gave him a curious look. "What are you doing out here?"

Allan looked at him and smiled, a knowing look in his eyes. Tom felt his cheeks redden. "Yes, what indeed?" he asked.

"Uh-" Tom trailed off, not wanting to admit he was eavesdropping.

"Did you need something in the library?" Nemo asked.

"Sure," he replied weakly, feeling more and more like an idiot.

The butler walked down the hallway at that moment, his shoes clicking smartly. "Ah, Captain. Dinner is to be delayed until seven-thirty."

Nemo nodded. "Thank you, Hasaan. Inform the others."

"Yes, Captain."

"No, wait! I'll tell them!" Sawyer said quickly. When he received an assenting nod from both Nemo and the butler, he hurried down the way he came, his cheeks red from embarrassment. This had to be worse than the first impression he made on Mina. Well, now he could see if Jekyll and Mina were canoodling and he and Skinner could raise some hell.


'I should go back to Transylvania. I should at least try to get rid of the Count. If he was gone, all the other vampires would probably turn back to humans. He killed the vampires as powerful as himself. I should do it. The worst that can happen is that he'll either kill me or finish the transformation. I can live with that. But I can't bring anyone with me. But if I don't have help, I'm not sure I can defeat him. But if Henry came and we used Hyde-'

Mina banished the thought immediately. There was no way she would ask Henry to unleash Hyde again, not when he did not want to. And she could not ask him to come with her to Transylvania. She would not put him in danger. Why had she decided to give in to everything she had been feeling? She loved Henry, but now he was in danger. And Sawyer was justifiably angry with her. Less than two hours after she told him she did not want a relationship with anyone, her and Henry were lost in one of the lounges, making love. Oh God, since when had things gotten so complicated?

Someone knocked loudly on the door. Mina started and dropped the glass bottle of perfume she had been holding. It fell to the floor with a crash and shattered, the amber colored liquid making a puddle around the glass, the smell overpowering her senses. The broken bottle seemed like her life lately, all shards of what she once was, nothing whole.

"Oh, Henry! What have I subjected you to?" she whispered, still staring at the mess on the floor.

"Mrs. Harker?" a familiar voice called through the door.

'Oh my God, Tom!' she said inwardly, her thoughts frantic. She quickly grabbed a towel from where they had lain folded at the foot of her bed and mopped up some of the perfume and broken glass. With a gasp, she dropped the towel. The shards a cut into her hand and deep red, rivulets of blood were running down to her wrist. Mina began to cry, not from the pain in her palm, but from a very different, very real pain.

"Mina?"

She looked up. Henry was crouched on the floor next to her. Not even bothering to think about where he might have come from, she threw herself into his embrace. He picked her up and set her gently on her bed. She vaguely heard him asking Tom to get Hasaan to clean up the mess and Tom asking if she was all right.

And then everything went black.


Henry studied the faces around the table as they waited for everyone to arrive for dinner. Mina had woken up a few moments after she fainted and had been ready to go to dinner on time. He still wanted to know what had caused her, of all people, to faint. She was nervous and edgy as she sat in her seat. Sawyer and Skinner were across the table from himself and Mina, arguing about whether or not Skinner should continue to booby trap Sawyer's room.

Allan and Nemo walked in the room. As if on instinct, everyone stood up. Nemo valiantly tried to hide his amused grin.

"You all know Allan Quartermain so sit down!"

The entire party nodded. The place reeked of manners and Henry was beginning to find it quite disturbing. Nemo shook his head, laughing silently.

Allan was giving them a strange look, like they should not still be surprised to see him around the ship. That was interesting. Nemo then seated himself at the head of the table with Allan to his right and Jekyll already to his left. Sawyer turned a deep shade of red as Quartermain sat next to him. Previous embarrassment already? Skinner shook with laughter.

And as he watched Sawyer with Quartermain, a smile spread over his face. The young man was obviously happy to have him back. Perhaps the guilt he felt would disappear and he did almost look like he could be Allan's son. Soon enough, everyone was talking comfortably amongst themselves. Jekyll just shook his head and laughed to himself.


Mina quietly knocked on Henry's door, hoping he would open it quickly. She was so used to everyone coming to her, that it felt strange to be seeking out someone else for once. Her heart hammered in her chest, as she knew what had to be done. And she would not ask him to come with her, even though she knew he would want to.

The door opened slightly. He was still dressed. Did he ever sleep?

"Mina?" he asked. She didn't answer, just pushed past him into his room. He closed the door behind her, expression worried.

"I'm going back to Transylvania," she said softly, her back to him.

"To kill Count Dracula?" he asked. She nodded, feeling him move closer to her. "Can you defeat him on your own?" he whispered.

"I don't know."

"Do you-"

She whipped around and cut him, placing one finger on his lips. "I don't want you to come with me. I have lost too many people I love at the hands of the Count."

"But Hyde-"

"No. I'm not asking you to use Hyde against your will."

"You're not asking me, I'm volunteering."

"Henry, I love you. But I can't ask you to do this. I have to do it alone."

"Then why are you telling me this?"

"I want you to know. I'm a vampire. I can't marry you and raise a family when I know I am a danger to my husband and children." She paused. "I don't want to be a vampire."

He nodded slowly. "I understand what you want to do, but I'm going with you, whether you want me there or not."

"Henry-"

"No. You listen to me this time. I've seen the way you are around crucifixes and things from churches- you can barely look at them or handle them. If we can find Dracula's crypt during the day and seal him in there with holy water or something, then it will be easier to kill him."

She smiled in spite of herself. "You've done your research well."

He took her face between his hands. "I am not afraid to do this for you."

"You're a dreamer."

"And dreaming is what has kept me alive all these years."

She sighed. "I came here to say goodbye and talk you out of coming with me."

He shrugged. "Don't try to reason with a man in love."

Henry pulled her into his arms and she settled against his chest with a sigh. "We're both going to die doing this," she whispered.

"I know."

"Then why am I allowing us to do this?"

"You have to try. If you don't, you'll live a half-live, wondering 'what if'?"


Sawyer was walking down the corridors yet again, only this time, he knew where he was going. Hopefully, the library would be deserted and he could find the books he wanted in peace without questioning looks. And they would be there if someone else was in the library. Everyone expected him to practice shooting and play pranks with Skinner. There was no point in doing any of that anymore.

He got to the open doorway of the library and cringed. The one person he had hoped wouldn't be in the library was. Allan was sitting in one of the armchairs, studying what appeared to be an atlas. His glasses- now somehow completely repaired- were sliding down his nose as he read. His eyes were going quickly, back and forth, across the map. He looked like he had never left- like this was exactly were he belonged. Sawyer tried to comprehend it- to balance the joy with the confusion, to understand.

Allan looked up as he entered the library. A smile broke over his face. He seemed younger while at the same time more careworn. He was still the powerful man he was, but he was different, more peaceful and serene.

"Hello, Tom," he said, placing a ribbon between the pages of the atlas and closing it with a definite snap.

"Uh hi," he replied, praying he wouldn't start blushing again.

He nodded. "Are you all right?" God, why did everyone keep on asking him that? He thought he was all right… "Don't let me keep you from what you were doing. Were you looking for a particular book?"

Tom suddenly forgot what he had come here for in the first place. Allan gave him a bemused smile, much in the way of a father-son relationship. In a trance, he sat down on the small sofa opposite from his armchair.

"So what were you looking for?" he asked with another smile. Tom wished he had a coherent answer to that question, but he honestly couldn't remember. Why had he come here in the first place? Vampires… maybe…

"Oh, excuse me! I just came here for some of the books on vampire legends."

Tom snapped to attention as Henry came in. He walked expertly over to the shelf that held the books he wanted, selected several and began to walk back to the door. Allan motioned Henry over to him as the doctor passed. Jekyll stopped, politely ready to listen to what he might have to say.

"Jekyll," he started and then broke off into French. Tom sat there with his mouth hanging wide open. Jekyll listened to him, a smile becoming more and more evident on his face as he went on in fluent, articulate French. Tom almost wished he knew French so that he could understand what he was saying. How did either of them know French?

Jekyll replied, in French, looking over to Tom with an amused grin. The only part of anything Jekyll said that he understood was 'Madame Harker', obviously referring to Mina. Allan laughed and rolled his eyes as he stood up with his atlas and exited the library. Jekyll looked extremely amused.

"What did he say?" Tom asked.

Jekyll just shook his head. "Learn French, Tom," was all he said as he too left the library with an armful of books on vampire legends. Tom sat back against the couch, wondering what they had said and why it was so amusing. His initial reason for coming to the library was now completely erased from his mind.

To Be Continued...