So part 1 is going to be longer than I thought. One, maybe two more chapters after this though I'll try and keep it to one. I know not much has changed in comparison to the real episode but I'm doing part one and two together and most of the big differences will be in part two. I'm sure you can guess why.
Thank you to those who have taken the time to review, makes me ridiculously happy when I have to go off to work...
Also, italics are Nikola's thoughts.
xx
"And here I thought British intelligence had scruples," he said with a smirk for tall, bald and not gettin' any from Helen.
"If you're going to help, do try to remain sober," the other man replied, his voice smoother than silk but it was the look in his eye that made Nikola grin. Well, until his wine was taken at least.
"Half vampire, alcohol doesn't affect me," he called, annoyance bubbling inside him. "Though since you showed up, god I wish it did."
"Explains why my wine cellar is now empty," she said, her tone not kind but not disapproving either. Since their little encounter the previous evening she'd avoided him in many respects though that cool British exterior had prevented him from being thrown from her home. In truth, he was the coward. He'd yet to find the nerve to approach her, whether to apologise or ask for a repeat performance he wasn't sure but he knew he should probably do something. It wasn't like she was going to.
"Consider it payment for averting a global crisis," he drawled, grabbing the bottle and taking a swig. Whether or not she noticed that it was the same vintage as the one they'd shared the evening of his 'death' he didn't know but he really hoped she did.
"O.K MI6, takes six orphans and performs this DNA scrubbing thing on them," Protégé interjected and Nikola fought the urge to hit the boy. "Why? What's the end game?"
Well if we knew that, we wouldn't be here you imbecile.
"Perfectly flawless DNA, is that even possible?" the HAP asked.
Really, if it wasn't possible do you think we'd be here right now?
"They came pretty close," Helen said warily and Nikola noted the way she avoided looking to him. "The idea was to strip any imperfection from their genetic makeup."
"Almost Arian in its aspirations."
Way to state the obvious Johnny boy! Sounds like something you've been a little too involved in.
"Exactly," Helen replied, her disgust evident. "It was far too close to a eugenics project for my liking."
"After you shut it down, what happened to the test subjects?"
Will Protégé ever learn to leave the talking to the adults?
"They became wards of the state, eventually they were all adopted. They'd all be in their thirties by now."
"There must be something about this project Montana the Cabal needs."
No Jacky boy, they're just searching for bedtime stories because DNA scrubbing is preferable to fairytales.
"I agree but it could be anything to do with genetics, a rather large field of study," Helen allowed though Nikola wouldn't allow himself to think too negatively of her. She was dealing with idiots after all.
"Maybe this is all a fluke, maybe they wanted something else from the data farm?" the HAP asked, sounding too hopeful. Clearly the boy was attached to Ashley.
"Nah, I've been through the entire list of stolen files. Everything else has to do with geomapping and-."
"Perhaps I should remind us all that whatever the Cabal is up to it has to do with the Source blood," Nikola cut in, sick of the idiocy before him. "Otherwise why trick us into stealing it, why turn Ashley into a teleporting delivery girl to hand over to them? Now tell me, what does the source blood do?"
He looked to Helen, hoping she'd see him acting so cavalier and do the same.
"Activates dormant abnormal DNA."
Good little Protégé.
"But project Montana creates six orphans with scrubbed DNA," Nikola continued, practically dragging them towards the answer.
"They'd be completely unaffected by exposure to the blood," Helen cut in, just as unable to resist a mystery as she'd always been. "Why steal information about the only six humans in the world the source blood wouldn't affect? And why do they need Ashley?"
"And there's your real mystery," he concluded before taking another swig of wine. Damn how he wished it affected him.
"Well, whatever's going on, it's a safe bet that these test subjects are in some grave danger," Protégé put forward.
"I agree. Henry, go through the list, find out where they all are. We need to get to them before the Cabal does," Helen ordered and Nikola wondered if he was the only person who could hear the fear she tried to disguise. Surely they weren't all thick enough to ignore just how distressed she was by their newly acquired knowledge.
"If they' haven't been found already."
He watched as Helen strode from the room, her anger at the plans of the Cabal radiating from her every move. She was pissed, pissed enough that even Nikola wouldn't have dared cross her. But for some reason, as they others continued to puzzle over the information, Nikola found himself walking. Walking from the laboratory, out the heavy metal doors and in the direction he knew she'd be heading. Why? He didn't know. Would he survive? Probably not. Did he care? Not in the slightest.
The trip to her office was quick, he didn't even need to follow the distant sounds of her thumping footsteps to guide him. In no time at all he was standing by her firmly closed door, hand on the polished knob and then, in a manoeuvre he was certain would get him shot, he pushed open the door, stepped through and shut it behind him.
"Helen," he began firmly, walking straight towards where she sat at the desk.
"Go away Tesla."
Bugger, back to Tesla.
"I'm not going anywhere," he said, coming to a stop at the edge of her table, crossing his arms as he looked down at her, working hard not to leer. Even when her heart was breaking into thousands of little pieces she was still more beautiful than anyone else could ever be. Brushing aside his obvious and rather distressing saviour complex, he plopped down into one of the chairs, crossing his legs and smiling at her.
"I have work to do," she ground out, not meeting his eye.
"Oh, right, like I didn't know that," he muttered, rolling his eyes. "This will only take a moment Helen, I promise." If truth be told, he didn't actually know what he was about to say but words were bubbling up on his tongue unbidden.
"Then out with it," she spat, sneering at him.
"I simply wanted to tell you..."
Tell her what you idiot? That you love her? That she is your muse? That she is the one you dream of? That the sixty years you spent apart were the most excruciating of your life? That you don't want to fuck her, not ever again? That you want to make love to her?
"Tell me what Tesla?"
"That... that there is no reason to worry," he finally said, pleased with the sneer he managed to deliver it with. "You don't need to kill me to keep my mouth shut. We're both adults and I'd appreciate if you could be adult about this... situation we've gotten ourselves into."
She stared at him, big blue eyes wide in the way that made him want to sweep her into his arms and never let her go.
Manipulative bitch.
"And that... if you were so inclined to try that again..."
What? What you coward? You'd be up for it? You're willing to be her fuck buddy? You're at her beck and call?
"I'd be much obliged if you'd not ask me."
With that he stood up, smiled tightly at her and turned for the door. He was halfway across the room before he thought of one last thing that needed to be said before she never spoke to him again.
"And Helen, I'm sorry. About... Ashley."
He slowed his pace, wanting desperately for her to call him back, to throw him from the room. He knew she'd be upset, probably angry, most likely furious but he didn't expect her to actually speak to him.
"Niko," she whispered and he heard the gentle scrape of her chair as she stood. "Niko, I..."
He stopped, hand on the door and closed his eyes.
"I really am sorry," he said under his breath as he twisted the knob.
"No!" she cried in alarm, the sudden change in volume making him jump. "Nikola please I... Just..."
He turned around slowly, fighting the urge to run to her and crush his lips to hers. If only she knew what she did to him.
"I..." she started, looking around nervously as she clasped her hands tightly in front of her. "I'm..." She cleared her throat. "I'm sorry Nikola."
Nikola laughed, a humourless chuckle before turning back around.
"Don't be darling," he drawled, trying to seem alright with it all. "It was fun while it lasted."
"No," she said again, her voice a little less shaky. "No, Nikola I mean it. I shouldn't have... shouldn't have asked such a thing of you. You... you mean... more to me than... than..." She broke off with a sob and Nikola spun around, striding over to her and pulling her into his arms. She came willingly, wrapping her arms around his waist as she buried her face in his chest.
"I'm sorry," he muttered, holding her as tightly as he dared. Part of his mind noted absently how beautifully she sat in his arm. She was neither too short not too tall, her head fitting just under his chin. She also felt wonderfully solid in his arms, her gentle curves comforting in a way some of his more waifish lovers had never achieved. She was real and she was hugging him. Why he'd been so afraid of body contact he couldn't understand, not when it felt this right. She was perfect in his arms and he wanted nothing more than to hold her for the rest of his days.
"I'm sorry," she muttered as she took a deep breath. "I won't ever ask that of you again, I promise." He understood why she hid her face at the admission, the way she shook in his embrace reminding him of just how hard this was for her.
"Helen," he said softly, hating the way his voice broke. She pulled back a little at that, just enough to look into his eye but a little too much for his liking. Tugging her closer, he swallowed and closed his eyes. Why not go for broke?
"I want..." he whispered, enjoying the feel of her soft hair on his face, a complete contradiction to the leather she wore. "I want... more."
He felt her gasp silently and tightened his arms around her, begging her to stay with him. He knew she knew what he was asking, what he was pleading for. He was bearing himself to her, laying everything on the line.
STUPID! STUPID! STUPID!
"Nikola," she said softly and he knew what was coming. The 'no', the 'never', the 'my heart belongs to a serial killer and I can't give it to you'.
"Kiss me?"
He stopped breathing, scrunching his eyes shut as he tried to hang on to whatever dream he was now having. She pulled back again but this time he let her, taking a deep breath as he opened his eyes. It was still Helen in his arms, it was still Helen looking at him imploringly, still Helen whose fingertips drew circles on his back.
"Kiss me," she said again, her voice low and rough, sending a thousand different emotions racing through him. He wanted to kiss her, give in and ravish her lips if only to get another snatch of the intoxicating flavour. It really was no wonder John didn't want to give her up, magnificent creature that she was. Another side of him wanted to tell her no, tell her that he wasn't hers to toy with, as untrue as it might be. Yet another side just wanted to hold her, to tame the fear that was quickly taking up residence in his heart but it wasn't just fear of how she'd treat him, it was everything. They'd avoided global catastrophe by the skin of their teeth, lost Ashley in the process and now, depending on how things went, he could lose her too. He knew she was going to go pick up the orphan with Will, he knew it would be dangerous and he knew, no matter what she'd do anything, risk everything, to get Ashley back.
So he kissed her. Because he could lose her, because she might not feel the same after this all settled down, because he damn well could but it was not frantic, he wouldn't let it be. He kissed her softly, relishing in the feel of her sweet lips moving against his, the way she sighed and tightened her grip on him. For a long, glorious moment, there was nothing but the press of her lips against his, the cheek of her tongue as it asked for entrance, her tiny mewl of disapproval when he refused her. He chuckled as he wound one hand into her hair, she truly was glorious.
But then he remembered everything else. That John was lurking around somewhere, that she may have lost her daughter, that the Cabal were clearly set on global domination. As the realisation struck him, she became more adventurous, one hand moving around to brush against his crotch while she kissed him more and more forcefully. He had no choice but to open his mouth to hers, the pure taste of her, willingly his, was intoxicating to say the least. He lost control of everything, taking as much of her as he could. Because this wasn't going to last and they both knew it.
Suddenly everything was on fire, his entire body needed her like oxygen and she was willing to give, fanning him until he thought he might explode. She was beautiful, stunning, delicious and she was fiddling with his belt, holding him tight, allowing him to grab her hips none too gently. She. Was. His.
It took her only seconds to get inside his pants, her capable hand wrapped around his length, stroking as he panted, ripping his lips from hers. It was too much, all too much and yet not enough. His hands, of their own accord were unzipping her tight leather jacket, slipping inside to brush over the practical cotton top she wore before gently cupping her breast. Helen moaned at the action, arching her back as he slipped his hand down to the edge of her shirt, seeking skin.
Her hand sped up and his erection became ridiculously uncomfortable. Growling, Nikola trailed his hands down her sides until she recaptured his mouth, stunning him for a moment. There was passion yes but something else far more desperate tinged her kiss. As quickly as he could he went for her belt, undoing it with ease. Desperate to feel her he thrust one hand straight into her pants. He felt her damp curls as she shuddered, tightening her grip on his cock almost painfully but he wouldn't be deterred. With startling precision he thrust a finger into her slick heat. She moaned, tilting her head back as she sped up her hand.
Hungry to taste her, Nikola moved in to taste her neck, lips ghosting over the mark he'd left the day before. She whimpered as he began to tease her clit once more and, with a smile, Nikola proceeded to suck on the bite mark. It may not have been caused by his fangs but something primal within him crowed in victory as her heavy pants grew more and more laboured, tiny moans and whimpers interspersed.
"Magnus? Are you ready to go?" came Protégé's voice over the intercom. Helen gasped, eyes flying open as she stood up that little straighter. Nikola was unable to stop himself from thrusting softly into her hand despite the interruption.
"It's probably for the best," he ground out as she pulled his hand from her trousers. With one hand she refastened them but she didn't relinquish his cock, still trailing her fingers along the sensitive underside.
"Helen," he growled warningly but then she smiled at him, a warm, honest little smile that made him melt to be on the receiving end.
"I only have a few moments," she whispered huskily before darting in to press a kiss to his lips. Pulling back quickly, she sunk to her knees. Smiling up at him briefly, she then turned her attention to his cock. With one hand wrapped around the base she quickly closed her mouth over the tip, sucking gently as she slowly took more and more of him into her mouth.
"Helen, no, we can't, you, I, it's, Helen," Nikola moaned as she shifted both hands to his hips. "Oh God, Helen, no..."
She chuckled, the vibrations sending him half way to insane but somehow he managed to hang on despite the skilful massaging of her tongue. She continued for a few moments, bringing him more pleasure than he'd ever expected before pulling back, looking up at him with a pout.
"I have only a few moments before Will comes to find me," she told him sternly. "Now stop being the gentleman and come for heaven's sake."
"But," he began breathlessly.
"No. No 'buts'. I want this Nikola, I want you and I know I can never make up for yesterday but you have to know this has been all I've been able to think about since."
"No," he said firmly, stepping back and hastily tucking himself back in. He saw the hurt in her eyes but as he struggled to make things that didn't want to fit fit, he couldn't bring himself to allow this. She stood, eyes glistening in anger but before she could open her mouth, Nikola grabbed her hands, pulling her to him. He pressed a quick kiss to her lips before looking her in the eye.
"I want nothing more to take you to bed right this very second," he admitted, cupping her cheek gently. "But you know we can't, I can't. Not now Helen. You have to go with William." The words tumbled out quickly and he saw her crumble. He held her tight once more as she let out a shuddering breath.
"Sorry," she muttered against his shoulder and Nikola chuckled.
"Don't be," he replied. "Just go save the world and come back to me."
He felt her swallow and push back from him. She grabbed his face and pulled him in for a quick kiss.
"Always," she said, her voice strong as her eyes shone.
"Go," he said, hating the way the word made his insides churn. "Quickly now."
She nodded once, setting her jaw before striding to the door. Nikola's entire being ached to follow her but he fought it, staying still as he watched her leave.
Helen paused in the door way, turning to give him a look that said more than words ever could and Nikola's heart burst into flames. She nodded once more before leaving, shutting the door behind her and Nikola couldn't help but smile. Things might be grim but she wanted him, him.