A/N: Well, this was an intense chapter to write. Today's title is from 'Vampire Heart' by HIM. Honestly that whole song is this chapter.

Disclaimer: It's not mine, except that which is.

Chapter Nine: Scorching the Blood in My Vampire Heart

Helen stepped back from the lab table. She had done it. It had taken her days, but she had developed a serum from the vampire blood that should have the desired effect, and not a moment too soon. There was no way of knowing exactly how much time Tesla had left, but Helen knew it couldn't be long. She loaded a syringe with the serum and headed for the infirmary.

She once again found Alice sitting on an empty bed. The young woman had been hesitant to leave, even thought she now had a working time machine at her disposal. She had often kept watch while Helen was busy working with the vampire blood. Tesla was unconscious, and paler than even a Hollywood vampire should be.

"You show a lot of concern for a man you shot," Helen observed.

Alice looked up at her. "Yes well, things have changed a bit. When I shot him, I didn't think he could actually die."

The two were interrupted as the even beeping of the monitor became irregular, then dropped to the constant tone of a flatline. Helen set the syringe she carried down on the side table and jumped into action.

"Bring me the defibrillator," she said to Alice.

"The what?" Alice asked, looking helpless.

"That!" Helen said, pointing at the cart. "Bring it over here."

"What are you going to do?" Alice asked.

"I'm going to restart his heart," Helen replied, quickly prepping the machine.

"Not to sound heartless, but why?" Alice asked. "What good is that going to do? I mean, what else can you do?"

Helen picked up the syringe and held it in the air momentarily. "I can save his life."

Alice looked at the serum. "You finished it."

"And I intend to use it," Helen replied. She picked up the paddles and moved them into position. "Charge to 200."

"I, uh," Alice stuttered.

"Second button," Helen said, and Alice did as she asked. "Clear!" Helen shouted as she pressed the button. The monitor still registered nothing.

"300," Helen instructed, and they repeated the process. The monitor stuttered and registered a pulse. "Oh, thank God," Helen said, setting the paddles back on the cart.

Tesla's eyes half opened, then started to slide closed again. Helen leaned over him, saying, "Nikola, stay with me."

His eyes opened again and he blinked at her. "Why?" His eyes unfocused and tried to close.

"No, Nikola, I need you to stay with me," Helen said.

"Took you long enough to realize that," he replied sleepily.

Helen rolled her eyes. "You really are incorrigible," she said, and then held up the syringe in front of him.

Tesla squinted at it. "Is that…?" He looked at Helen and gave her a weak grin. "That's what you've been doing?"

"Yes, and we mustn't waste any more time," she said, preparing to inject the serum into his arm. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Tesla smiled. "What the worst that could happen?"

"True enough," Helen said, pushing the needle through the skin and pressing the plunger down. The moment she removed the needle, Tesla inhaled sharply and grabbed Helen's hand. The monitor began beeping quickly and erratically. Tesla's eyes rolled back in his head and the monitor fell back into its monotone death knell.

"Nikola!" Helen shouted. She leaned over him but was unsure what to do. There was nothing left that she could do, she had been too late. She reached over and turned off the monitor, then sat down heavily on the edge of the bed.

Behind her, Alice stood with her hands over her mouth, whispering, "Oh God, oh god."

Suddenly, Tesla gasped and his eyes shot open, the irises turned black. Both women jumped in surprise. Tesla spoke, showing vampire fangs. "Well. That was different." He shook his head and reverted to his human appearance.

Helen put a hand on either side of his face, leaned down and kissed him. His trademark grin returned.

"Now, what did I do to finally deserve that?" he asked.

"You're not dead," Helen replied with a relieved sigh.

"I've been not dead for 154 years," Tesla said. "I'd say you owe me."

Helen tried to look stern but couldn't contain her smile. "Don't push your luck."

A/N: I hope you enjoyed it. I'm leaning towards doing an epilogue, just to tie up the loose ends and make it all pretty and presentable.