Title: Nova Vita
Author: Shannon – shannyfish
Disclaimer: I do not own "Sanctuary" or its characters, Syfy and other people do. This is merely for entertainment purposes only.
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Magnus, Druitt, and Tesla are captured. A group (possibly the Cabal) capture them and attempt to find a way to reproduce a super abnormal from source blood parents. Takes place after "Neutiquam Erro".
Warning: Season 1-3 is fair for sure, if I have spoilers for 4, it's by complete accident.
Author's Note: Reviews make me happy :D And I'll write faster too! So, keep that in mind! Special thanks to all those who have been reviewing! You have NO idea how awesome that is! It really does motivate me to keep writing! 3
. . .
Chapter 8 – "A New Addition"
The beeping of the monitors were actually rather comforting. Declan and Biggie were running tests and scans. They wanted to ensure that both her and the child she was carrying were both healthy. She could hear the child's heartbeat and brought her eyes around to the monitor. The latest scan of her child was up there and it brought tears to her eyes to see for herself that it was healthy. He or she was nearly full term and almost ready to be born into the world.
"Everything seems to be in order," Declan told her.
She nodded. "I can see that. It's actually amazing…it safely—"
"Not sure I would call it safe," Declan argued. "It puts you into immense pain every time the baby grows. If you weren't a medical doctor, I doubt you would see it as amazing."
Smiling, Helen nodded again. "Good point."
"Are you quite sure you don't want to know the gender now?"
"I'll wait," she responded.
"Now, you really shouldn't be up and walking about too much," he told her. "The Big Guy and I agree that you should give birth by the end of the day…and we'd much rather you be in one location."
"Are you forcing me to bed rest?"
"Yes," he said a bit reluctantly. "And I've called in a few extra hands. Smita and Dulal from the Mumbai Sanctuary will be arriving. I wanted medical backgrounds. You know mine's limited and I just want to be prepared."
"I do trust you and the Big Guy, but I understand your wanting to be prepared," she told him. "Though I'm not too thrilled about the bed rest part."
Declan smiled. "Will is making the travel arrangements for Smita and Dulal… Druitt's agreed to retrieve them so they should be here shortly." He helped her up into a full sitting position and then off of the bed and onto her feet. "Henry and the other Sanctuary Network security folk have all come up with a new and improved security protocol that is being installed as we speak."
"It seems like we just updated it not long ago."
"You're right," Declan said. "But I haven't been able to find any information on the group that had you, Druitt, and Tesla. Nothing. Not even who was behind the group. It's like they never existed. So, we thought this would be a good idea. Given that they want the child, we figured that upping security wouldn't be a bad idea."
"Agreed."
"Let me walk you back to your room?"
Helen smiled at him and took his arm. Declan McRae was definitely an asset. He'd trained under James Watson and she wished that her old friend were alive to see how far he'd come. "Thank you," she said with a smile.
"You seem happier today."
"Well, for the moment," she told him. "The baby isn't growing…so I'm feeling better…"
"I know you're worried about the child."
Helen nodded. "I am. I believe that whoever took us…won't stop coming…"
"Which is why we strengthened the defenses. Stop worrying so much, it's not good for the little one."
Helen shook her head a bit and just smiled at him. She put her full trust in Declan and her team, and she had to admit that they were doing extraordinary. They were doing things that would get them ready for possible attack, without her having to tell them to. They were learning so well.
. . .
She was exhausted. The baby had gone through another growth spurt, what Bigfoot had thought was going to be the last one before she goes into labor. She hoped so. The pain was tiring and she found herself ready for a nap when there was a quiet knock at her door.
"Come in," she called.
It was odd to have the peace of her own room. Nikola was apparently poking holes in the new defenses while John was off retrieving the doctors from the Mumbai Sanctuary. The door opened and she moved into a sitting position. She smiled when she finally saw her visitor. An unexpected surprise.
"Henry! Come in!" she said cheerfully.
"I didn't want to bother you…but I wanted to see you before we left," Henry said, still just peeking in the door.
"Come in," she insisted. It would be nice to have a visitor. Everyone else had been keeping their distance. She'd missed Henry most of all, but she understood that none of them wanted to be in the way.
"Wow…you're definitely larger…I mean—"
She laughed lightly. "I know what you mean," she told him.
"I didn't mean…"
"I know, Henry."
"Halia's all ready…and Erika's downstairs with her. I just wanted to check in with you before we left."
"Are you sure that you're both feeling up to the task?" Helen asked.
Henry nodded. "We've already sat down and made a bunch of tourist plans. It's going to be great."
"Stay out of trouble, though."
"I know." Henry paused for a moment and then spoke before she could speak again. "And Halia's underage, so no drinking. I know."
Helen smiled. "I just…"
"She's like my little sister," Henry told her with a smile. "Don't worry… We'll keep her safe and we'll look out for her."
"I know, it's just…I haven't even had time to spend with her… I spent so much time with the Halia in the other universe…and I feel bad honestly," she confessed. Henry was one of the few people she felt comfortable telling such a thing to. Henry had been with her at the Sanctuary since he was a boy and she'd raised him with Ashley.
Henry smiled. "Halia understands. And when she finds out that she has a baby brother or sister, she's going to be really excited. I know you guys want to keep it from her until things calm down, but she can handle it. She's strong."
"A day or two won't hurt."
"Are you sure you're going to be okay?" he asked as he sat down on the edge of her bed. He stared at her and she could see the worry etched in his face.
Helen smiled at him and reached out to squeeze his hand with hers. "I will be. Two doctors from the Mumbai Sanctuary are being brought here as backup and Tesla's trying to strengthen the security system even more."
"If he wasn't such a genius, I'd be irritated with that," Henry commented.
"He means well."
"I know."
"I'll be fine, Henry. You three just have fun and take care of each other."
Henry nodded and moved in closer to hug her. She kissed the side of his head in return. "Keep me in the loop?" he requested.
"Always."
. . .
Memories of Ashley flooded her mind as she tried to forget reality. She remembered when she first held her daughter and how overjoyed she'd been. Helen had waited nearly a century to finally have the daughter she'd conceived with John. She hadn't wanted to be so alone in the world. And in truth, Ashley was the start of her family…her true and extended family. The family she cherished so much.
It had been a hard decision then. She had worried that she was being selfish and that she really wasn't thinking about the wellbeing of her future child. At that time, she hadn't seen John for nearly a century, so she never had seen the harm in it. John wouldn't be looking for a daughter so many years later.
Ashley had brought such great joy to her life. She had companions; Bigfoot had been one that she'd found nearly thirty years before Ashley. She'd had others along the way. But ultimately, the people who felt right had been Bigfoot and Ashley…and then little Henry…
"Helen! You have to concentrate! The baby's coming!" Declan shouted urgently.
She didn't want to think. She didn't want to concentrate. She wanted to be lost. Helen wanted to live in a world where Ashley existed.
"Helen," came a gentle voice. When she opened her eyes she found Bigfoot sitting at her bedside, one of her hands gently held between his. "Do you remember when Ashley was coming? You were scared?"
Tears fell from her eyes and she nodded.
"You said afterwards that it was all worth it…"
"I'm so afraid, Old Friend," she breathed.
"We're going to protect this child the best that any of us can…"
"What if it isn't enough?"
"It will be," he told her. "Now, you have to do your part because this baby is ready to come into the world…"
"I can't," she cried. "Not without John."
Bigfoot looked down to Declan. "Get them to find him."
"Get her calm," Declan said as he hurried out to the hall.
She squeezed his hand and stared up into his eyes. "I miss her so much," she confided. She knew that he knew that. They all missed Ashley. He, Henry, and she probably most of all.
"When Ashley and Henry were small," Bigfoot said. "They both wanted a sibling. A baby. I always told them that would never happen, but I can tell you now…Ashley wouldn't want you to keep this baby from being born. She'd have been excited to have a baby brother or sister."
Tears fell from her eyes and she felt like she couldn't breathe. She really couldn't do this.
"Breathe," Bigfoot prompted and squeezed her hand.
She shook her head.
"You have to breathe."
And so she took a breath.
"Breathe in and breathe out…" he said in a soothing tone.
Suddenly she was breathing regularly and felt calm. She found herself breathing through a contraction. Declan was back and John was right behind him. Biggie was busy motioning for John to be with her.
"It's going to be okay, Darling," John told her as he carefully moved a pillow from behind her and slid in behind her. He held her and whispered into her ear. "Breathe, Helen…"
"It's going to be time to push on the next contraction," Declan instructed. "I think this little one is ready to be in this world."
It was a blur. There was pain and she pushed and there was screaming. John held her the whole time and told her that she was doing wonderfully and reminded her to breathe. But it seemed like it was over in only moments. There was a cry and it was like the world fell silent around this tiny life that was brought into the world. Declan laughed. And she knew that everything was going to be okay.
"It's a girl," Declan announced excitedly. "A beautiful baby girl…"
John smiled down at her proudly and happily. She smiled back up at him. She was tired, but she was happy. Maybe this was a chance to start over, she didn't know. All she knew was that she was going to tell this little girl all about the big sister she would never get to meet. She supposed that it would be nice for this child and Halia…they'd have each other and they'd have Henry and others to tell them about Ashley.
"Do you want to cut the cord?" Bigfoot asked as he held the scissors towards John.
Helen nodded up to him. "Go on, see her…" She felt like it was important for John to do this. It was something that many fathers got to do, but John had missed out on this unique experience with his older two daughters. He kissed her forehead before moving. He eased her back onto the pillows and she watched as he made his way to Declan and Biggie.
After a moment Declan frowned and turned to her. "I know you probably want to hold her, but we're a little concerned with her breathing…"
"She may just need to be cleaned up a little bit better," Bigfoot said. The newborn was swaddled in blankets in his arm. "But we should run scans to be sure."
"I can hold her once you've done your scans," Helen said. She was more concerned that her child was healthy. She could hold her in a little bit. She needed to think of a name anyways.
"I'm going to send Dulal and Smita up here to check on you…" Declan said. He turned to John. "You'll stay with her?"
John nodded and moved back to her side. He waited until they disappeared before speaking. Tears were falling from his eyes. "She's beautiful…"
She smiled and couldn't help but tear up as well. "We have a daughter," she rejoiced as she grabbed his hand and leaned against him.
"She will need a name."
"We should think then," Helen told him. "It's not proper to call her 'baby' for too long."
. . .
TBC…