A/N: Sorry for the wait. Been out of Wi-Fi reception lately, and had to fight my way through finals at college. Not a pretty sight, for those of you who are wondering.
Spring quickly turned into summer. The Sanctuary had to have air conditioning on full blast as mid-June set in just to keep the rooms cold enough for human occupation. In this time, Tesla had taken off to only God-knows-where, and had not been heard from. Helen had Ashley's studies continued to get her daughter caught up with other children her age.
One such afternoon found Helen in a videoconference with Declan. "I understand that not all heads of houses are happy with my decision," she said through gritted teeth.
"Magnus, some of the heads believe that you no longer have the judgment necessary to run the Sanctuary network. You have been through a lot in the past year."
"That changes nothing, Declan." Helen's voice was snappish, and irritable. She glared at the man on her desktop screen.
He sighed. "All of us remember all too clearly what Ashley has done to the Sanctuary network."
"She doesn't!" She looked up when the door opened to see John standing there. He looked up at her, and noted her thin lips and red cheeks. He had also heard the tone of her voice before he walked in. He strode over to the computer screen.
"Ah, so it is you, Declan, to get Helen all riled up," he said in a somewhat amused tone, though he was nervous to be standing this close to Helen when she was angry.
"Mr. Druitt."
John smiled. "Take my advice, and whatever it is that has Helen angry, drop it before you give her an aneurism, and then I will have to knock down your front door, and make you regret ever having a part of the Sanctuary."
"Right." He looked at Jack the Ripper wearily.
"Now, if you are finished, I really must tutor my daughter."
"There is one more thing, Magnus," Declan announced. He cleared his throat when Helen shot a pointed glare at him. "There have been sightings of a giant colony up in the Scotland highlands."
"Send the files over."
"Already on it."
Helen looked at her other computer screen, as did John. She glanced through the reports. There had already been five confirmed casualties, and many more missing people that have yet to be confirmed. "Dear God. I will get a team prepared immediately."
"Thank you, Magnus." The screen that had Declan's face went black.
She sighed heavily. She was grateful when John gripped her shoulder, yet that simple touch caused a frenzy of once forgotten feelings to surface. "I think that I'm going to need you on this one."
"I would call you foolhardy, if you didn't." They were silent for a long moment, and then John said, "Why not make a family trip out of this? Ashley has not been out of Old City since we found her."
"Who would watch her while we're searching for the giants?"
"Perhaps Kate?"
Helen shook her head. "She's in the Caribbean, looking for a rare octopus."
His eyebrows shot up. "The kraken?"
"It's been taking out more and more fishing boats. Will and Big Guy are our only choices."
"And Mr. Foss?"
"We're going to need him too."
"Then Will it is," John growled.
"Why don't you like him?" Helen shot him an amused glare.
That look still had John wishing that he were any less of a man, and cowering in fear. "I only fear for our daughter's well-being."
Helen did not look convinced, but she did not press the issue. "Right. Well, I will get a plane prepped. Could you brief Henry? And get Ashley ready?"
"Certainly." He bowed his way out of the study.
She leaned back in her chair, feeling drained of all energy. 'Perhaps a family vacation would be a good thing,' she thought. 'Family.' The thought brought a small smile to her lips. Yes, John was becoming a fine father, and Ashley adored her time with him. She seemed to keep the Ripper inside him at bay. She sat back up, and made several phone calls.
Several hours later, and they were getting their luggage onto the private charter that Helen had brought to the Sanctuary. She sat in the cockpit to do the pre-flight check. She smiled when she heard Ashley ask for the ten millionth time where they were going, and why they weren't teleporting, and John struggling to tell her in a patiently calm voice.
The flight to London was long, but entertaining when Ashley would ask a million other questions. Henry had headphones in, and music blasting. On more than one occasion, John offered to cut the wires. Helen smiled when she had told him not to. About half way there, Ashley snuggled close to Will, and fell asleep, and Will joined her soon after with his arm lazily draped across her. John glared back periodically.
"Why didn't you just have me teleport?" he asked when all else was silent.
"Because I want everything to be as normal as possible for Ashley," responded Helen tersely. "And because I do not want her to think that it is ok to use her powers whenever she wants." She glared pointedly at John.
"Is that supposed to be a jest, madam?" He chuckled.
"It just might." She forced a smile before switching to autopilot and leaning back in her seat. She closed her eyes, but remained alert to all activity within the plane.
After the long flight, they landed in one of the private airports that Helen had acquired. She made a call to Declan when the plane was loaded into one of the many warehouses.
"Yes, Declan, we need a car," she said when he answered. She looked down to Ashley tugging on her slacks. She motioned for John to take her away. He did so without incident. "No, we will not be staying in the Sanctuary—I have a few hotel rooms already lined up—Thank you, but I do not think that will be such a good idea." She hung up with a heavy sigh.
"Everything alright, Magnus?" Will asked, noting her haggard expression.
"Yes, fine." She reached for Ashley, and took her out of John's arms. "It was just a long flight."
Will's eyebrows furrowed. "Are you doubting your decision to leave Kate in charge?"
"No, I believe she can handle herself. The Big Guy is with her."
"No offense, Doc, but that spells disaster," Henry yawned. He stretched. "We might have to buy new computers when we get back."
Helen mumbled something about what would he do if he lived before the age of computers. She looked up at the foggy sky, deep in thought. Her thoughts were far from the present. Her breath hitched unconsciously when she felt John stand behind her.
"Mommy?" Ashley touched Helen's cheek. She was frowning when Helen looked at her. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, sweetie." She forced a smile as she looked into the eyes of her child.
London. She had not returned to this place since Ashley was under the Cabal's control. She gathered herself when two black SUVs pulled up. She watched Declan get out of one.
He regarded Ashley suspiciously after greeting Helen. "Are you certain that it is safe?"
"I am, Declan." She handed Ashley to John. "Get her in the car, please." She took Declan aside while her team got the luggage in the car, and John got Ashley in place.
"What are you doing bringing such a dangerous abnormal into London without going to the Sanctuary, Magnus?"
"That abnormal is my daughter, Declan," Helen snapped back.
Declan sighed heavily. "I understand that, Magnus."
"I will be arriving at the Sanctuary in a couple of hours." With that, Helen walked away, and got in the driver's seat of the vehicle that Declan had provided her.
"Mommy, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, Ashley." Even as the words came out of her mouth, she wasn't sure she believed them. John stroked her arm lightly, making her jump.
"Hey, Doc, what are the room arrangements going to look like?" Henry asked.
Helen frowned. That had not been on the forefront of her mind. She thought about it as she pulled away, barely noticing Declan standing off to the side. "We'll get three rooms. Are you and Will ok rooming together?" She gazed at Henry through the rearview mirror.
"Uh…yea, if it's cool with him."
"I'm alright with it," said Will, shrugging.
"Good. Ashley and I will share a room, and John has a room to himself."
"Is that necessary, Helen?" His soft voice made her shudder involuntarily. It wasn't a bad shudder; however, it worried her to a degree.
"John, please don't," she begged.
The drive to the hotel was relatively silent, save for Ashley's quiet singing. When they pulled up, hotel personnel were ready to take their bags. Helen handed the keys off for parking and walked up to the front desk while the men watched Ashley.
"Good ev'ning, ma'am," a young man with shaggy brown hair said. He was short, at least shorter than she was with a heavier build. He wasn't fat; he just had a wider frame than most.
"Evening," she replied in a pleasant tone. "I would like three rooms." She leaned in closer to whisper, "One of them a suite." She slipped him her credit card.
"Of course, ma'am. I have some rooms ready on the fifth floor."
"How private are they?"
He glanced up at her nervously. "Very," he stammered.
"Good."
"Here are your keys. Enjoy your stay, ma'am."
"Thank you." She paused as she looked at his nametag. "Vincent." She walked back toward the others, and handed out the keys. "Our rooms are on the fifth floor," she told them.
"They said that our bags will be delivered shortly," informed John.
"Good. Do you gentlemen mind keeping Ashley entertained while I check on things in the Sanctuary?"
"Of course." John inclined his head. "I can show the children the old sights around London."
Helen shot him a suspicious glare before hugging Ashley and walking away.
"So, have any of you been to London for anything but your work?"
"A few times," Henry replied. "The Doc used to take me here to visit Doctor Watson."
"Mommy only ever took me once to meet James!" Ashley pouted, crossing her arms.
John's eyes softened as he messed up his daughter's hair playfully until she batted his hand away. His attention turned to Will. "What about you, William?"
He snapped back to the present. "Huh? What?" His jaw tightened when Ashley giggled.
"Have you ever been to London?"
"Once."
Everyone was silent until John offered to show them around. They followed him, and he picked Ashley up.