BIIIIIG thanks to Emmy1512 for her super quick beta work! Love that kid a little too much :P

I'll admit the end of this is a little bit... well, unrealistic to say the least but the point of this series is to have lots of Helen and Nikola lovin' and remove certain other elements for the equation whenever I can. So I apologise if anyone finds this a bit too 'fangirl goes crazy on a hot Sunday afternoon and decides to do massively unrealistic things'... I just couldn't resist doing this the way I did this...

xx

He walked quickly through the deserted corridors, ears pricked for any sounds. They had to act quickly if this was going to work. Not that it would but he was sure as hell going to try. Walking away was not an option, not for any of them. And that was regardless of the fact that the crazy super abnormals wouldn't let them out alive.

Then he heard it, the click of metal, the dull thud of boots and he hurried, praying to any deity who'd yet to give up on him that it wasn't-

Crap.

"Your mother would be so disappointed," he growled at the blonde, shoving her back with all his might. She may have been a slight little thing like her mother had been but with her now amped up DNA she was far stronger than he expected. She growled, baring teeth and claws similar to his own and Nikola chuckled. Even when manic and possessed by super abnormal DNA she had the spunk and backbone he'd expected.

"Am I supposed to be impressed?" he asked, reaching for the closest power conduit. It wasn't safe and it might actually cause some serious damage upstairs but he had a distinct feeling that she'd survive it. Electricity filled the corridor, the water now spraying from the roof ruining his suit but conducting the electricity well. He growled, fighting the pain, reminding himself of the Bhalasaam tunnel of horrors and Helen's terrified face when she'd watched him suffer.

"Okay," he breathed when it became apparent the girl wasn't going to fall to the ground like the sack of potatoes he had hoped for. "I'm impressed."

And with that he realised the conduit, hurrying back to where he knew the control for the six inches of steel that could come crashing down between them was. It wouldn't hold her for long but as he turned on his heel and sprinted for the main lab, cursing vividly as he went, he once again prayed that it might slower her down a little.

"Okay, it's officially a party now!" he cried, coming to a stop as he looked to Helen. He'd heard the almighty crash of steel as Ashley broke through the door but there had been nothing else he could find that would come even close to slowing her down.

"Where's Ashley?" Helen asked, eyes cold as she tightened her grip on the weapon he'd created.

"She'll be along in a minute despite my best efforts," he replied, heading to his hiding spot up in the rafters. He heard the others talking, ironing out the final details of a plan he was certain they all knew wouldn't work but, as he took a deep breath and waited, Nikola hoped that, for once he was wrong.

Quickly the others all took their positions, out of sight as Helen and Druitt knelt on the centre walkway, gun poised. Barely a second passed before Ashley and her merry band of abnormals came crashing into the room, their movement still perfectly synchronised. He knew he should be watching the abnormals, watching just in case they spotted someone and decided they'd rather feast on Huggybear than destroy the rest of the lab but from the moment Ashley stepped into the room, he couldn't take his eyes off Helen.

She held herself well; her inner strength meaning her hands shook only a little as she aimed the hulking weapon. Druitt crouched beside her, hand resting on the small of her back and Nikola felt ill. He should be the one by her side, the one who pulled the trigger so that she didn't have to. Just then, Druitt looked over at him, a flash of both hatred and understanding flashing through his cold grey eyes and then Nikola realised something he probably should have picked up on long ago. Druitt was afraid. Not for the harm that could befall the daughter he never knew but for what it could do to Helen. For as much as he was a monster, John would always love Helen above anything else, would do absolutely anything for her regardless of whether or not Helen felt the same way for him.

The madman had a soul, Nikola mused, just about ready to smirk at his own mistake in not realising it sooner but, as Helen fired the weapon, his heart stopped in his chest. Screw Druitt and his inability to leave her alone, did it work?

The blue beam seemed to take an age to reach them but as it did and they crumpled to the ground like they were damn well supposed to, Nikola finally remembered to breath. How it had worked, he wasn't sure but, as they all quickly clambered down he felt his own heart swell not so much with pride as relief.

"Good work Nikola," Helen said, giving him one of those spine-tingling smiles and suddenly he remembered why he'd never pursued world domination until he'd left her side. For that smile, he would do absolutely anything.

"Believe me, I'm moderately shocked right now," he replied, looking over to the unconscious bodies. There were too many reasons they shouldn't be lying there but part of him didn't really care. He was a miracle worker and, as per usual, the miracle had worked. Perhaps he ought to have more faith in himself.

"Quickly, let's get them into secure cells," Helen began, looking between the team with a smile and sigh of relief.

He was just about to stroll to her side and make a lewd quip (because the urge to see her flush was overwhelming) when out of the corner of his eye, he noticed something moving. At once, everyone turned, watching in horror as the three super abnormals woke.

"Fall back!" MacRae yelled as everyone hurried from the room. Helen tried to shoot them again, the beam this time having an almost non-existent effect. Blasted thing was barely slowing them down.

"Ashley!" Helen cried as she was shepherded from the room. They shot one last blast from the weapon to buy them time before MacRae entered a code into the nearest pin pad, allowing a thick steel door to slam shut between them. The pounding of fists followed them as they headed back to the control room. Nikola was vaguely aware of the others talking, of the note of heart break in Helen's voice as she ordered the elemental released but, despite his best efforts all he could focus on was the fact that he failed, that he'd screwed up.

So much for genius, so much for miracle worker, so much for being able to provide what the love of his life needed most. He failed, he failed her, he failed her daughter, and he'd failed the Sanctuary Network. Of course, the latter didn't matter so much to him but failing Helen and the one thing she prized above all else was... was... was wrong.

"There were only three of them in here," Druitt said as they returned to see the damage first hand.

"Fourth one must have broken them out," Helen replied, a tiny note of relief in her voice. Of course, if he hadn't been so much of a bloody screw up then none of this would have happened, Nikola spat internally.

"We held the line, that was the objective," Wannabe-James said, his voice sombre and Nikola spun on his heel, anger bubbling up.

"You know, Churchill may have been wrong," he said, trying to will his voice to remain even. "Victory at any cost?"

The others may not think it but this, this cost? This cost was far too high.

He'd been working non-stop since they arrived back in Old City, his mind swirling with ways to improve the weapon and guilt until he heard her soft footsteps approaching the lab.

"I know, I know, I know, the spectrum settings were totally off, I'll fix it," he said, not daring to properly look away from the blackboard only she was standing to close, making it too hard to concentrate. Stepping back, he turned for the desk.

"Nikola," she began softly. "Did I ever tell you why my father founded the Sanctuary Network decades ago?"

Oh great, he thought, the philosophical pep talk. Because that's really what he needed before she stomped on his heart and told him she wasn't angry, just disappointed.

"Because he was a crappy doctor?" he retorted, hoping to scare her off.

"Because there was a need, a multitude of beings, lost, in need of help," she said, a hint of humour in her voice as she followed him, making sure that, as he tinkered with something, he'd not be able to concentrate. "The Sanctuary was found more out of necessity than for science. We protect the two dominant species of life from one another, humans and abnormals. It's a fragile balance that cannot be compromised. If we fail fear and chaos would reign and the Cabal would win."

And you are an absolute dud so get out and let someone capable finish this off, he finished in his head.

"You knew the weapon wouldn't work," Helen said, her voice not even a little accusing. "I asked you to make something that would only disable Ashley, not kill her. I realise now that was an impossible task."

"Quite impossible," he agreed, barely meeting her eye. The proximity between them was still making it hard for him to focus; to keep his mind on the fact still had a weapon to complete.

"This is Ashley's before she was changed," she continued, holding up a vile of blood and his heart sank as he took the small, sealed tube.

He wanted to double check, to ask if this was what she really wanted but he couldn't, the words stuck on his tongue. Maybe if he hadn't gotten the chance to be with her, to comfort her, to hold her. Maybe if he could step back he could play the scientist she wanted but not now.

"No," he replied, making to hand the vial back as he again looked down. "I'll find a way."

She sighed and took the vial from his fingers, placing it very carefully on the bench by his side.

"Look at me Nikola," she instructed, voice wavering but he couldn't continuing to fiddle with the wiring. "Just look at me, please."

Taking a steadying breath, he looked up just as she took a step closer, her hand landing on his shoulder.

"You have to do this," she said softly, eyes blazing. "We... we have no other choice."

And with that she leant forward, pressing her lips to his in what he assumed was supposed to be a gentle kiss but, the second their lips touched, a beast within him awoke, driving him to grab her and haul her closer as he kissed her hungrily.

She responded quickly, tightening her grip on him as her mouth opened beneath his and they devoured each other.

"I'm sorry," Nikola growled, coming up for air before leaning in for her throat, placing a series of hot kisses against her pulse. "I'm sorry for everything Helen, for the weapon, for this..."

"Shut up," she ordered, fisting a hand in his hair as she dragged his lips back to hers. For a few furious minutes they kissed passionately, everything Nikola had going into that kiss but, slowly it morphed, became desperate and needy as they ran hands over each other's bodies. They were both hanging on, using their stolen moment to forget about the problems, about the tragedies and while Nikola normally wouldn't object to having a warm and whimpering Helen Magnus pressed against him, his body was beginning to react in ways it shouldn't. Now was not the time for a quick romp, however much it might make the feel better.

Ripping his lips from hers, he pulled back, breathing heavily.

"This... we can't," he breathed and she nodded, eyes wide, accepting it far too quickly for his liking. She tried to turn away but his grip on her arm was strong, pulling her back to face him.

"After we save her," he promised softly. "After we fix this and get Ashley back, I promise to screw you on every available surface, alright?"

She chuckled half heartedly at him but nodded, wiping a stray tear from her cheek before stepping forward and giving him a soft, lingering kiss.

"If we get out of this, I intend to collect on that promise," she whispered huskily before turning and striding from the room.

Nikola grinned despite himself before turning back to the vial of blood, his heart sinking at the red liquid.

She was right, they had no choice, this was the right thing to do but still, he mused, watching it, there had to be something he could do to stop her from using the damn thing.

When she came back to collect the weapon hours later, Nikola was unsure of how to act, babbling about how it was his finest work but as she pressed a kiss to his cheek and squeezed his hand, he felt the band around his chest loosen. This one would work and they both knew it but she was still there, smiling softly at him through the pain.

There had to be something he could do, he decided as she walked away. After all, he was Nikola Tesla.

"She doesn't hate you yet," Nikola said conversationally as he and Druitt headed towards the main lab.

"And something tells me that I have reason to hate you," the other man replied, voice smooth enough to make Nikola second guess his decision to actually talk to the murderous old bastard.

"This isn't about me," Nikola replied. "This is about her, them."

Druitt said nothing, his face carefully blank.

"I know she's your daughter," he began.

"That's right," Druitt snarled. "My daughter. Don't you even try to-."

"But she's not your daughter anymore," he snapped. "And when push comes to shove, you have to remember that... that Helen is not as strong as you and I."

"Are you telling me to sacrifice my daughter in order to save Helen?" Druitt asked, coming to a stop.

"I'm telling you that this is about more than just your wounded pride at not getting to play Daddy," Nikola bit back. "I'm telling you to keep in mind that Ashley means more to Helen than you can ever understand and that this will be hard on her. I'm not saying that you ought to go out there with the intention of killing her, only that when it comes down to pulling the trigger, neither of us can actually expect Helen to go through with it. She loves Ashley and she loves her Sanctuary, this is an impossible situation for her."

John remained silent, regarding Nikola with a peculiar look before he began walking once more.

"You think it'll go better this time?" he asked John after a moment of unbearable silence. Whether or not Druitt was going to kill him for his outburst was still up in the air but Nikola needed to say something.

"Wits and courage old boy, we'll be fine."

Classic Johnny, he thought, unable to disguise his distaste at the slogan.

"I'm not British, you know all that 'tally ho' crap doesn't work on me," he retorted as they rounded the corner, coming to a stop as three rather brutish looking abnormals appeared in an all too familiar red cloud before them.

The two men shared a look of understanding before launching themselves at the creatures, Nikola more than happy to take his anger out on the by-products of the Cabal's insanity.

The fight was a long one and he caught only a snippet of the other's, saving Wolfboy and being saved by Helen. Never in all his life had Nikola felt so evenly matched. He fought tooth and nail, making no progress as he followed them into the main lab, ready to fight. He saw the dark haired mercenary girl with Helen but before he could do more than note the fact that Helen looked well and truly distraught, the woman he had been fighting changed course, heading straight for Helen. Out of nowhere a streak of blonde rushed past his post on the outskirts of the lab, grabbing the arm of the other abnormal.

"Ashley," Helen breathed from where she lay on the floor, bleeding and clearly heartbroken.

He heard the young woman whisper for her mother but before he could take one step, Druitt was racing past him, another abnormal on his tail. Nikola grabbed the super abnormal, tackling him to the ground as he slashed at the man's chest.

"Ashley, no!" Helen cried before letting lose a scream only moments before another body flew into Nikola, knocking him and the man he was wrestling into the wall. He looked up just in time to see a red flash explode into flames, the heat of which radiated across the room.

Helen sat on the floor, eyes wide and breathing heavily for a second before she looked over to where Nikola had the other abnormal pinned to the floor only she was looking through him, past him to-

"Get back," a voice growled in his ear as strong hands yanked him away from the super abnormal still hissing on the ground. He went willingly, hurrying to Helen's side and grabbing the weapon.

"Get back!" he roared and, quicker than he'd ever have believed possible the same streak of blonde he'd seen before was hurrying towards him.

He shot the weapon, hitting his mark and the man he'd been fighting for what felt like an age, crumbled to the ground soundlessly.

For a long moment, no one said anything, just the sound of heavy breathing filled the air but then, as if out of nowhere, a loud growl echoed through the room.

"Mom!" she wailed, eyes screwed shut as clawed fingers grabbed her head. The girl stumbled back a few steps, eyes opening for just a second to show bright blue before she howled in pain again. Helen stumbled to her feet, lurching towards her daughter but Nikola caught her, holding her tight.

"Let me go," she screamed clearly desperate to get to her daughter but Nikola held her firmly.

The girl cried out in pain one more time before falling to the ground and Nikola released his grip on Helen. She rushed towards her, cradling her daughter's head as she stroked her cheeks.

Slowly Nikola approached, not sure if he should be interrupting but still wary as to what state the girl was in.

"Was that..." he asked softly, moving to kneel beside Helen.

"John, yes," she replied curtly, eyes never straying from her daughter's face. "The EM shield is up and he teleported."

"He's a better man that I thought," Nikola whispered to himself before gently reaching out to place a hand on Helen's shoulder. She sighed at the contact, raising one hand to pat his knee before returning her attention to her unconscious daughter.

It wasn't until late the next day that Nikola saw Helen again. She'd been consumed, working non-stop on a sedated Ashley to figure out what they'd done to her and he hadn't tried to interrupt her. She needed to do this as much as he wanted to give her space. He'd heard updates of her progress from the others and, from what he could tell everything was going well. This was why only 26 hours later (because he'd been counting) he was surprised to see her in his room.

"Nikola," she said with a smile, her exhaustion showing.

"Helen," he greeted, springing off of his bed and shoving his hands into his pockets. "How are you? How's Ashley?"

"Well," she replied with a small yawn. "I administered the first dose of what I hope to be the cure about two hours ago. She won't lose all the abilities but it should give her the ability to regain her old personality once more."

"You mean she won't try and kill us every chance she gets?" Nikola quipped weakly and she chuckled.

"That's the hope."

Unsure of what to say, Nikola remained quiet, studying his sock clad feet as he wondered why he now felt so uncertain around her. Never in all his life had he felt more like a young child than he did now.

"I came to say thank you," Helen said suddenly and he looked up, pleased to see she was avoiding his gaze too. At least the nerves weren't one sided.

"All in a day's work," he said dismissively.

"No really Nikola," she insisted, stepping towards him. "Thank you, for everything these past two weeks. None of this would have been possible without you."

Nikola just smiled, not sure if he was blushing but the burning in his cheeks was rather foreign to him.

"What about John?" he asked, not sure why he was being so foolish as to bring that up now.

"What about him?" she asked cocking her head.

Nikola simply shrugged and turned away.

"I shall always be grateful to him," she said carefully and he could hear her footsteps on the carpet, following him towards the window. "And part of me shall miss him but... but I'd like to think he's at peace now."

Nikola's breath caught in his throat, certain there was more she wanted to say.

"But it doesn't change how I feel about you," she said quickly, voice thicker than usual and he spun around, smiling like a fool. God she was perfect!

She smiled back before chuckling lightly and stepping close enough to him that she could place her hands on his chest.

"The truth is Nikola; I came here to collect on your promise."

He smirked, placing his hands lightly on her waist.

"Well then dear, where would you like to collect first? After all there are many surfaces in this room alone."

She cocked her head, pretending to think about it for a moment as they drifted closer together.

"I like the look of that window," she offered huskily.

"Perhaps," Nikola allowed, leading her back towards the bed. "Though would you mind terribly if we went down the more conventional route?"

She looked over her shoulder and grinned.

"I like the way you think Mr. Tesla," she whispered. "And I am awfully tired."

"If you want to rest, you can," he said hurriedly, all thoughts of amorous activities gone from his mind as he raised a hand to cup her cheek. "You've been through a lot these last few days and I completely understand if you'd rathe-."

She silenced him quickly, grabbing his head and pulling him into a heated kiss. Nikola stood still for a moment, too confused to do anything before his mind kicked into gear and he pulled her closer, deepening the kiss.

She moaned, hands pulling at his waist coat and jacket while he tore through her clothes, tossing the useless garments to the side and, soon enough bare skin was pressed to bare skin.

Together they clambered onto the bed, Nikola's lips never leaving their place on the side of her neck. Once she was settled on her back, arms around his neck and legs around his waist, he began to move, pressing kisses down the length of her body before moving back up to suck one sweet nipple into his mouth.

She gasped, clutching at his head while her hips moved restlessly beneath his.

"Niko," she murmured in pleasure as he moved to the other breast, this time nipping at the soft flesh.

He spent as long as he could worshiping her body, licking, sucking, biting and caressing every inch of her he could while avoiding the one place he wanted to taste more than anything.

"No more," she whimpered as he returned to her thoroughly abused nipple. "Please Nikola; I need you, no more teasing."

He tried to ignore he, tried to continue discovering every inch of her but her pleas were too much and, without a second thought he was plunging into her, lips on hers to muffle the cries of pleasure that escaped.

Her body took his cock willingly, squeezing him tight enough that he thought he might blow but as she looked up at him with wide blue eyes, he steadied himself, leaning down to kiss her as he began to thrust as slowly as he dared.

She was so keyed up that, after a few thrusts, he felt her starting to shake beneath him and he smiled.

"Let go Helen," he whispered in her ear, snaking one hand between their bodies to rub at her swollen nub but she shook her head, groaning in response.

"Come for me," he insisted, picking up the pace but still she hung on.

Growling, Nikola pulled back grabbing her hips as he sat up.

"Let go," he ordered with a hard thrust deep into her. She cried out, back arching in pleasure but it wasn't enough. Gritting his teeth, Nikola began to pound into her beautiful body, enjoying each and every inarticulate cry that slipped from her quivering lips. Her body was arching, meeting his thrust for thrust and it was driving him insane, bringing him so close that when she reached out to touch his face, he lost it, thrusting into her harder and harder and harder as he came with such ferocity that it took him a second to realise what the grimace of pleasure on her face meant.

She was moaning, arching and writhing as she clung to him, her body spasming around him until he thought he could take it the pleasure no more.

With one last growl, he slumped over her, just managing to brace himself as she let lose a final whimper of pleasure, eyes fluttering closed as she wrapped an arm around his shoulders loosely.

"Can we... can we try the window tomorrow?" she murmured in his ear. "I think I'd quite like to rest now."

"Good idea," Nikola breathed in response, rolling to the side but making sure to drag her with him.

"And then can we try the desk in your office?"

"After the shower," she agreed with a yawn and he chuckled, eyes closing as he let a feeling of utter peace wash over him.

For so many years he had sought a home, a place to belong and finally he had found it. In the place his heart had always been.