When she finally extricated herself from the loving concern of her friends, Helen went looking for Nikola. It wasn't like him not to stick around to gloat and receive his proper accolades. And he had really come through for her. Indeed, for the entire Sanctuary. God only knows what might have come to pass if she had lost control of the network.

It had been hell losing herself. Oh pleasant as it could have been, with people to care for her and treat her well. But looking back now, she shuddered at how helpless she had been without the knowledge she had painstakingly accrued over a century at her disposal. It was only her great good fortune that this happened when it did, when she had a team to watch her back and Nikola to find the solution. If this had happened during one of the many decades in her impressive lifespan that she had spent alone.. she shuddered again at the thought.

Helen Magnus did not appreciate being helpless , defenseless, or ignorant.

Thank heavens for Nikola.

There was a sentiment she was sure she had felt before but still never expected to think consciously. With her past returned, the memories of recent days seemed surreal in comparison. Particularly the time she spent with him. Which in hindsight was a lot. More concentrated time than they had spent together in decades. And he had been a perfect gentleman the entire time.

He hadn't turned the charm off, certainly, and Nikola was still Nikola even if Helen hadn't been herself. But his recent minor flirtations didn't begin to approach the advances he usually made on her. And she definitely hadn't imagined that moment in his lab. He hadn't even stolen a kiss.

Maybe she was missing his angle. But no, for two weeks he had been attentive, almost devoted. Free from her usual suspicion and doubt, he hadn't taken advantage to pull his usual tricks. He didn't resume his clandestine dealings when out from under her watchful eye, instead he had watched over her. And her Sanctuary.

She debated what it all meant as she searched for him. Her first stop had been his suite, certain that a sleep-deprived genius would surely think to grab some rest now that the catastrophe was past. There was no response to his knock and when Helen let herself in (what? it was inviting trouble to give him a defensible place he could fortify against them without also giving herself a way in) she found the room dark and empty. Empty also was his lab and her office. She'd even checked her own bedchamber, as it wouldn't be the first time he had visited her there after a triumph to test the waters and try to get closer.

When Helen made it to the wine cellar, she knew she had found him. The door was left agape, strange for he who had given her lectures aplenty on the proper climate controls for storing wine. Nikola was inspecting a bottle when she found him. He didn't acknowledge her presence and she wondered if she had managed to sneak up on him. Unheard of with his vampiric senses but his eyes didn't seem to see the label on the bottle in his hands and she thought he must be worlds away. Or centuries perhaps.

Given a chance to study him for a moment unnoticed, Helen could see a crease between his brows again. A faint but definite sign of concern for the usually nonchalant Nikola. She wondered where he was at in his head that wrapped him up so entirely. Helen could tell the moment he noticed her approach but he didn't acknowledge her presence. She stepped to his side and inspected the bottle he held.

Argentinian Malbec? Good lord, this was the bottle he had been staring at for several minutes now? With a start she realized how rarely she had seen a glass of wine at his side in recent weeks. It wasn't absent entirely of course, it was Nikola after all, but his indulgence had been tempered quite a bit. She couldn't bring herself to speculate why he would give up his beloved grape in trying times. But now with the stressful situation over, to revert to his habits with such an inferior vintage? Helen knew a cry for help when she saw one, even one with a uniquely Nikola accent to it.

She eased the bottle gently from his grip and replaced it on the rack. She left his side and returned short moments later with another bottle offered to his inspection. The stone mask of his face lightening a bit as he read the label then turned to her.

"Remember when you introduced me to Satz?" Her smile was reassuring, comforting. Whatever troubled him, they could work it out. Together.

If they could fix her memories, they could handle anything.

It was a long moment before he smiled, but smile he did. Then he reached out and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, drawing her against his side and pressing a kiss to the crown of her head. Nikola wanted to hold her close and inhale the scent of her, revel in the warmth of her, but he released her quickly. He wasn't ready to hear that warning tone in her voice, that "Nikola..." holding him at bay every time he stepped inside her bubble, trying to get close to her in any way he could.

"Its good to have your brilliance back, Helen. I applaud your choice of libations," he said, brandishing the bottle at her gamely. "Come. I've got just enough energy to properly appreciate a glass before I collapse. It really is exhausting, endeavoring to restore that vast intellect of yours, you know. Remind me to befriend more empty-headed bimbos in the future, if you would."

Helen smiled at his cheekiness and took her dearest friend's arm to lead him from the room.

Author Notes: But wait! What the artifact? How did Nikola fix Helen? What does she have to say about his behavior during her amnesia? For all that plus some tender Teslen moments, please tune into Part II. Coming soon!