Nikola breathed in as deeply as he could as the cold stethoscope pressed against his narrow back. The wheezing inhale quickly turned into another of the coughing fits that were plaguing him ever since he got back from Nepal. "Well, Mr. Tesla. It looks like you'll need to have a chest x-ray to check for bronchitis." The doctor directed him over to the x-ray room and did his work with alacrity. Nikola appreciated the no nonsense manner and wondered what part of New York the man was from. As he emerged from the x-ray room he asked, "Did you live on Park Avenue?" Dr. Hughes raised a silver patrician brow, "5th Avenue actually." Nikola smiled, "Yes, I thought so. Why did you leave all that for...this?" An elegant shrug was the only response, then back to business. "Well, you definitely have bronchitis. Not surprising given the circumstances and the symptoms. The weakness, shortness of breath, the nasty cough you've got. I could run tests but I'm willing to bet it's viral. Best get plenty of bed rest, have warm fluids and use a humidifier. Get it?" "Got it." The two grinned at each other as they both said, "Good."

...

Helen was exasperated. Her husband was an extremely whiny and demanding sick person. The last two days she had been kept very busy making soup then remaking it when he complained that it wasn't to his taste, only to watch him mostly play with it instead of eating it. He was also driving her up the wall with his claims of boredom. The electrical engineering journals were "unimaginative," the classic literature was "old hat," the poetry was "no good unless it's in the original language." She gave up and threw a People magazine at him. He read some scandalous story about the British royal family and made fun of her nationality for a while then went back to moaning about having nothing to do. She was surprised at how much he was able to talk at all given the nasty cough he had.

"What do you want to do? Unless you come up with something to pass the time I'm going to just leave you here alone. I won't listen to your belly aching all day." Nikola sighed then promptly had a coughing fit. Helen handed him a cup of lukewarm tea and waited for him to finish. After several minutes he said, "Can't you give me a massage or something? There's some eucalyptus scented oil in the drawer. I'm sure the doctor would say it would help..." The cute sparkle in his eyes got to her and she gave in. "Alright, let me help you get undressed." The sick man grinned manically and pulled up the hem of his nightgown, giving her an eyeful. "Couldn't be bothered with boxers?" she murmured as she pulled the gown off over his head.

Nikola lay down docilly, the corner of his bright eyes crinkling with mirth. "I've always wanted a naughty nurse!" Helen chuckled and poured some oil on her hands, rubbing it between her palms to warm it. Nikola held his breath in anticipation then twitched a bit as she stoked her hands over his chest. The refreshing yet soothing scent was very relaxing and he breathed it in as deeply as he could. Helen frowned at the whistling sound his breath made. "Poor little thing. You never get sick. This must be hard for you." Her slick palms slid the oil over his slim arms, gently massaging the lean muscles, the sharp elbows, the bony wrists and finally, the long, elegant fingers. Nikola hummed happily, eyes drifting shut as she stoked and lightly pulled each finger then pressed firmly on his palms, squeezing and rubbing the muscles in little circles. "You could do this professionally..." he muttered, then groaned as she switched to massaging the narrow arches of his feet.

"What fine ankles. They're nearly as slim as mine." She commented. "You mean weak ankles." He groused, then accommodatingly lifted first one long leg then the other as she stroked and kneaded his calves and thighs. A naughty grin broke out on his face as her hand approached his hips. "A little higher!" He cried happily, then pouted when she slid her hand under one side of his body and started rolling him over. "Time to do the other side."

He accommodated her wishes with a whine, "But you didn't rub my belly..." Helen scoffed then rubbed the oil into his back and shoulders firmly. Nikola enjoyed the strength of her hands. "I like the pressure...feels good..." he sighed. In response his wife leaned into every stroke. He let his mind drift as she took his arm and pressed his wrist against the small of his back, raising his shoulder blade so she could massage underneath. It was a tantalizing feeling.

He remembered one time when Helen twisted his arm behind his back and forced him against a wall. She had been so angry about something, he couldn't remember what anymore, but he could remember how hard he'd gotten. The moan he let out, the way she laughed huskily as he shivered with arousal, the low tone of her voice as she told him to spread his legs for her, the memory was burned into his mind. She had fondled his buttocks then put her hand between his legs, cupped his balls and squeezed. The yelp he let out gave her so much satisfaction, she chuckled cruelly then shoved him face first into the wall with a warning not to anger her again. Of course, they both knew he would look for the first opportunity he could to make her discipline him again.

Nikola felt him cock hardening under his belly. "Helen...I'm getting..." He trailed off into a light coughing spell. "Yes darling?" She asked melodiously, as she pressed her warm hands along the muscles of his lower back, inadvertently rubbing him against the smooth slick sheet. He moaned softly, spread his slim thighs and ground his hot flesh voluptuously against the bed. "I wish you would rub my belly..." he whispered hoarsely then whimpered as his wife's firm hands kneaded his buttocks. "Oh yes, push harder..." Helen gave him a few good hard pushes then took her hands off him abruptly. When he whined in complaint, she slid a hand over the crease of his buttocks down to his sensitive balls. "Ah!" He was a bit startled as she took his sack in her hand and gently felt of the weight of his testicles. She hummed happily, enjoying exploring his body so freely. "Does this feel okay?" she whispered.

"Mmm, Yes Helen, it feels very nice. Can you, could you rub just behind them? It feels very good there." His wife complied and pressed firmly behind his testicles, massaging him wonderfully in small circles. He grunted softly as warmth swelled deep within his body, making him tilt his hips up toward his wife's watching eyes. "Helen, oh, Helen...please..." He spread his legs and started to raise his hips off the bed only to feel his wife firmly press them down. "No, no, no. You need to relax. Don't exert yourself." She whispered teasingly in his ear making him whimper with need. "I-Please, I won't-" He coughed lightly, then whined frustrated. "Could you make me cum? I'll lie still for you. No exertion at all." He turned his head to look back at her with a little smile. "Please, it would make me feel better..."

Helen couldn't say no to such a charming request. "Alright, alright. Let me get you a towel." She lifted him a little bit and put the towel under his hips, giving his erect penis an affectionate squeeze. Then she massaged oil in between his buttocks, sliding her fingers around his anus, gently stroking the muscles around the opening. "Relax darling. Come on and take it..." she crooned as she slipped her fingertips into his hole. He moaned as her finger slid up his ass and began searching for the soft spongy mass of his prostate. "You feel so hot and slick inside. Just like I do. Do you like having me inside of you?" The seductive whispers made him moan then he cried out softly in pleasure as her finger began pressing rhythmically against his prostate. Gradually the raw feeling intensified along with a sensation similar to having to urinate. He knew the difference, but even so it made him feel vulnerable and slightly humiliated.

He imagined Helen's reaction if he pissed himself. She would be gentle even as she scolded him, he knew it. The warmth he felt in his heart made him smile with delight. "Helen! Oh, please...just a little more..." he panted as his heartbeat quickened and his armpits started to sweat. His wife thrust her finger a little more firmly and rapidly against his innermost parts, making them jerk and throb with the beginnings of his orgasm. "Yes, my beautiful baby. Cum for me, that's right. Cum all over yourself for me." Nikola gave a broken sob as the liquid gushed out of him, slick and wet, soaking the towel under his hips. His asshole twitched around the finger gently petting the exhausted little gland until it withdrew, making him gasp softly. "Oh, did that hurt?" Helen whispered. Nikola mumbled something that sounded like a no, then it became obvious he was falling asleep. She smiled as she pulled the towel out from under her husband then placed a warm comforter over his exhausted body. "Sleep tight." She whispered in his ear as she kissed him goodnight.

...

"Henry, can I talk to you for a minute?" The young man looked up from his workbench and nodded quickly. "Sure thing Magnus. What's up?" He gestured toward a swivel chair and took a seat himself. His former boss sat down firmly then swallowed and steepled her fingers together briefly looking contemplative. She sighed and looked him in the eye and said seriously, "I don't think Will is suited to running the Sanctuary." Henry blinked once, shocked. "Uh, well..." He laughed nervously, "the thing is, you're the one who picked him, even trained him yourself. But you're having second thoughts...I guess?" The HAP raised his brows looking a bit bewildered and out of his depth. Helen nodded solemnly and resolutely. He recognized that look. She had made up her mind.

Henry sighed, feeling suddenly exhausted. "I think you should call Declan at the London Sanctuary. He knows more about what you should do, why specifically you picked Will as your successor in the first place. I don't really know what your reasoning was...you were kinda...uh, secretive, to be honest..." Helen shook her head, looking uncertain. "Will has been saying a lot of negative things about how I've chosen to spend the Sanctuary funds that are from my own personal funds and I started to worry about it, so I read through the Sanctuary bylaws. I'd rather leave other Sanctuary heads out of our business. The last thing I want is more people involved in deciding anything about my own money."

Henry nodded in agreement then waved his hand through the air as if trying to ward off any presumptions on her part. "That's totally understandable, but I really don't want to take sides between you and Will. Maybe he's just taking a while to get up to speed-" "No, I don't think so." Helen interrupted, "It's fine for you to sit out on the sidelines, I just want to make sure you won't side against me. Will is making poor decisions and I don't trust the people he's chosen. They're not a good team. They lack leadership, and Will is unwilling to acknowledge who is the best person for the job." The HAP cocked his head to the side bemused, "You're not...are you talking about Tesla?"

Helen nodded sharply, "Yes, he was the best person to lead the team on the last mission. I was there and it was a fiasco." Henry shook his head slowly, "Uh, I guess you would know best as I wasn't there. It's really weird to hear you say something like that though. We both know he hasn't been the most reliable person in the world for, well, probably ninety percent of the time I've known him..." Magnus looked down and furrowed her brow thoughtfully. "Well, yes, I understand he has been unreliable in many ways in the past. It's just, now he, he has become responsible. He has to be. And...I trust him. More than I trust Will at this point to be honest. Something...I just have a feeling that Will is...when he looks at me..." she trailed off uncertainly, then shook her head frustrated, "I think I've forgotten something important. Something he did or said, before..." she waved at her head vaguely, indicating her injury and subsequent memory loss.

Henry sat up straight with shock, "Did he do something-?" His adoptive mother shook her head looking distressed and helpless. "I can't remember. It's just a feeling, so I don't know." His muscles tensed with fear that was rapidly turning into anger. "Are you-do you ever feel scared of...him?" The words were compressed rage as his breath accelerated and he felt himself shift ever so slightly, his teeth sharpening in his mouth. "No, nothing like that." Helen was quick to reply, making placating gestures with her hands. "It's more like a discomfort, stronger than annoyance, maybe a bit of...anxiety. But it's not fear, not disgust, nothing like that."

Her adoptive son took a deep shaky breath trying to force himself to calm down. "Okay, okay...Will, um, he wouldn't do anything, criminal. So, maybe he just said something and it was a bit inappropriate. I have seen him do that once before, then he apologized. Do you think that...he has some kind of feelings for...?" Henry trailed off looking grossed out even having to say the words while watching Magnus' face tensely. Her gaze turned inward as she reviewed her interactions with Will then she shook her head uncertainly. "I don't know. Jealousy would explain some of his attitude though. Do you think he was upset when I married Nikola?" Henry found the vulnerability she was displaying asking him to remember her life for her heartbreaking. Was this how Tesla felt all this time?

Henry sat frozen, uncomfortable with the conclusion he was forced to make. "Yeah. He was. Even took you aside and asked you if you were sure. I don't know exactly what was said after that because you took him to your office to speak in private, but the two of you were real cold and professional for a while." Helen nodded slowly, "Hmm, well, I'm not sure what happened but, I think it's clear from context that I let him know I was sure about Nikola in no uncertain terms." She looked down pensively and muttered almost to herself, "Yes, I was certain then as well…" Henry sighed and shook his head, "Yeah, you know him best, or I guess, you knew him…"

Helen looked up at Henry surprised, "I remember some things from Oxford; how he was then. Enough to know the Blood changed him drastically, and the Nikola we have now, he is like his former self, before the Blood. He was my first and best friend…" Henry cocked his head, puzzled. "I always thought that it was James. Wasn't he a family friend? And I guess you became…close…later on." He coughed to cover up his discomfort at addressing his adoptive mom's love life. Helen nodded, "He was my father's friend for long before I got to know him personally. We were so formal…" She smiled a secretive smile. "Nikola wasn't like that at all. I do remember that…"

Henry decided to bite the bullet. "What was he like then?" She pulled out of her reverie and frowned lightly. "He was…just charming. Like a child; guileless and natural. There was this shine in his eyes and his smile was always…I can't describe it…It was like he had one foot in this world and another in some secret fantasy kingdom that only he could see. But he wanted so bad to show it to you. If he liked you. If he trusted you." Henry grinned, "Yes, he always wants to share his ideas-" She laughed, "Yes, that never changes does it? But, you have to realize, Nikola hardly had any inventions under his belt yet. He was just a dreamy college boy that most people thought half-cracked." "Still comes off that way sometimes." They both chuckled a bit at Nikola's expense. "Yes, he is a grand eccentric, isn't he?"

…

"Henry." The HAP looked up in surprise as his usually flippant coworker addressed him in a low, serious voice. "What's up?" he said softly, wondering if the older man was alright.

"Does Helen seem…different to you? Maybe, a bit…" Tesla furrowed his brow and looked down pensively. "…recovered slightly?" He looked back up into Henry's eyes with palpable anxiety and hope.

Henry cleared his throat awkwardly and stuttered, "Uh, lemme think…um, well, she seems forceful, wants to make some decisions all of a sudden…" He laughed nervously, trying to lighten the mood. "She actually came to me and was pretty much saying-you'll think it's funny-she was saying that you'd make a better head of the Sanctuary than Will. Can you believe it?"

Tesla did a double take. Henry broke out laughing at the sight. "Wow, your face!"

The Serb tsked annoyed by the levity and shook his head, "Quiet down! This is, it's not good. This could lead to very serious problems." The young HAP swallowed and nodded tightly. "Yeah, I guess so. But it's just so crazy, the whole thing. She's turned against Will after Nepal, thinks it's entirely his fault, doesn't trust the new team, said she definitely doesn't want Declan or anyone else in the network involved…Yeah, I know it's bad."

Nikola steepled his fingers, turned and paced restlessly. "I've seen it before. That deep-seated distrust, the snap decision that someone is just…out, and her secretiveness; they combine into an implacable resolve to get exactly what she wants, whatever the means…" Henry shivered as he pictured the wrath of Helen Magnus turned against him, then tried to shake off his disquiet. "But, she, I mean, isn't she wrong this time? It's not like Will is a stran-" Tesla raised a hand, cutting him off.

"She doesn't know any of us that well anymore. What did you say when she told you she doesn't trust Will?" "I told her she picked him, and I said that I didn't want to take sides-" "Good! Yes, that's very good. Stay out of it." Tesla pointed at him imperiously, like some sort of stern father figure, then turned abruptly on his heel and stormed out of the lab.

Henry stared at the door as it swung shut for a moment, then opened his mouth briefly considering if he should tell his mentor about what else Magnus had said, then decided against it. After all, there wasn't really anything to tell, it was just a feeling.

…