Disclaimer: I do not own Treasure Planet

Rescuing Helen

For awesmninja

It took them a few days until they returned to Montressor. Sometimes she thought it was because they were taking a long route back or maybe it was because it was just her. When you lost everything time seemed to go slower. Time seemed irrelevant once you lost everything you held dear to you because time determined when you would be able to achieve it, the time you left to spend with those you loved but once you lost that there was no point with counting the days. When she first arrived Cassandra felt like she had been away from there for decades rather than weeks. That was another thing. Time became disjointed. Disorientating. You didn't know when was when or how much time had passed. It seemed to be a journey that went on for an eternity. The planet seemed so strange and foreign to her now. She couldn't understand how a place she loved so much had become so...alienating. She dreaded seeing home again, she blessed those extra days it took for her to return to those empty rooms. She looked across her old rooms and knew now that she had lost everything. She had lost her parents, she had lost her freedoms, her hopes. Everything was gone now. Now that her father was gone it would be devoid of laughter and happiness.

She would be trapped in the repressed life of a woman which society had merely escaped but not from her brothers ideals. Now that Fredrick was to be head of the family there was nothing to stop him from asserting what he wanted for the family, not what their father wanted. She had seen over the years their debates and arguments about the financial future of the family and her father simply dismissed his ideas. Not because they were bad ideas but because they were ideas about money. Something which her father had no interest in, like his daughter he was a free spirit who didn't want to be tied down by such things. Money was too complicated and it was complicating the world with it. It was better to leave such things alone. Now she knew sometimes what they were discussing when she heard her name being spoken in a hushed, angry hiss. She knew now that she lay at the core of one of his schemes and now there was nothing he could do to stop it. Now she had arrived there was no knowing what was waiting for her. They made a detour via another planet which Cassandra couldn't remember. She didn't bother thinking on such things. They were not important. Nothing was important now. Her father was dead.

She was now an orphan. Now under her brothers care, her dreams were now swiftly blown away with the solar wind. He would send her to a boarding school and would laugh at her attempts to persuade him otherwise. Then she thought of a more pressing matter than her own welfare. And what of poor Helen? What was going to happen to Helen? Now that her father was dead her brother, Fredrick would be the head of the family and he despised her. He would sooner throw her out the door than pay her tuition for medical school. What were they going to do? Cassandra knew that she had come up with something. With being the only one who was strong enough to defy her brother out of her other siblings she had to think of plan to save Helen from poverty. She tried to steer her mind away from the thoughts of her becoming a governess to some bratty children. She knew every time she looked in her direction she saw that petrifying fear polluting her thoughts. She was determined to not dash away her dreams if hers were to be destroyed./ As she ponder on these thoughts she glanced in the direction of Mr Hawkins who was speaking to an official and then it just occurred to her. Perhaps he could help. He told her that his mother ran an inn therefore he might be able to get her a job there. If the Academy was told her predicament then they may be able to give her a scholarship or at least a bit of flexibility on the payment. He was their only hope.

She picked up her skirts and walked towards him in determination. She probably looked utterly ridiculous doing so but she really didn't care much for her integrity right now. Strangely enough it was the least of her concerns. She had to save Helen but in the worst possible way. A way which involve her having to be deceived for as long as the secret could be kept hidden. She knew that it was dangerous meddling with secrets and lies, but she knew she had no other choice. She had to seek out her help even though she knew it was unlikely that he was going to forgive her for this. He would be able to see through her act of her kindness the selfishness beneath. There was no other person she could turn to. She couldn't think of anyone else who would be willing to help an orphan or someone whom society were likely to mistreat or abuse within their laws which they disguised with words which implied that they thought they had their best interests at heart. Helen needed help. She wasn't going to take any money from him, God forbid. She was simply going to ask for his assistance. She needed someone to protect Helen if she couldn't. She would do anything for her. She would stand by her side if she could but she was still a fifteen-year-old girl. If could support her, if she was only three years older she would help her but she couldn't and she couldn't make Helen wait that long either.

"Mr Hawkins. There is something I must ask of you." She whispered.

She didn't want anyone hearing her, least of all Helen. She didn't want any of this information by any means possible getting back to her brother.

He nodded and brought her to one side. "What is it? I'll do anything, especially after what's happened."

She shook her head. "You shouldn't blame yourself. The cause of my fathers death was not of your doing and I do not want you to think of this as a payment of that loss either. It's just that now that my father is dead this makes my brother, Fredrick the head of the family. You may not know him so you may think that my opinion and this news to be a little biased but I can tell you this...He is not been the most welcoming of brothers when my father adopted Helen and I fear he may cast her out on the streets now the head of the family."

Jim nodded. "I understand, but I don't understand how I could help. I mean like you said I don't know your brother so it's not likely he'll listen to a complete stran-"

"You said that your mother owned an inn." She interjected. "I hope that this isn't too much to ask but is there any chance that your mother could provide her with a job. Or at least a temporary home there. Helen has applied to the Medical Academy and has surely gotten in but the problem is payment. If someone wrote to them and told them of her sudden situation then yes she may get a scholarship but I know that there is so much of a chance of that happening in the near future. Perhaps next year. If you do not want to get yourself involved that is fine-"

Jim shook his head and took her by the shoulders. "I am sure I will be able to help. I could probably do more than that but I'm just wondering why you can't speak to anyone else about this. Isn't there an uncle or a family lawyer?"

"Because you're my only hope. You're the only person who can help me. Help Helen." She corrected herself.

He was quiet for a while before he replied. "And what about you?"

Her eyes drifted away and shrugged her shoulders. "My brother certainly won't allow me to go to the Interstellar Academy. He's probably going to send me to a finishing school and hope I get married off to a rich gentleman."

She closed her eyes and sighed. She couldn't look at him right now. She couldn't bare the idea of him looking at her right now. Just hearing that being said out loud filled her with dread. It filled her with shame and made her feel disgusted with herself. She couldn't believe that it came to this. All those dreams, all those afternoon lessons her father gave her in his study had come to waste. All those passionate ambitions she had were gone in an instant. All she had to do was say those words and now they were all out of reach. Even though she had known about this for days it was only until now when she said it aloud when she admitted to the finality of it. She had the same feeling she had when she was at her mothers funeral. She felt the same inevitability of her fate as she did when she realised her mother was never coming back. She wouldn't even be able to bury her father. His body was gone along with the ship. Forever floating about in space. She didn't want to think about the idea that there would be nowhere to visit her father even when he was dead. There was no where she could go to seek out his comfort he could give her in his deathly silence. There was no way she was going to escape from her fate now. It was almost like she had given her consent for her brother to send her there. She turned to Mr Hawkins timidly and could see the shock in his eyes and it made her feel ashamed.

"What? Why would he do something like that?"

"Because he has old fashioned ideas about women. That they should be just housewives and stick to piano playing or sewing. Anyway, I'm more concerned about Helen, I'm at least going to be financially supported."

"I can't leave you like this." Jim interrupted. "You're so unhappy. I can't-"

"It's not your place-" She stopped herself to collect her thoughts. "It's not your job to care for me. I only ask of you to care for Helen's welfare and no one else's. Least of all mine. If you cared for us both I wouldn't be able to forgive myself because I know it would be too much of a burden."

"Miss Richardson it would be no burden I assure you."

She shook her head and looked down knowing she was on the brink of tears. "No. I have to care for my sister now. She will be all alone and I need some comfort in knowing that my other sister is cared for."

"Cassandra!" He almost cried out. Her body went rigid and stared up at him. "I can't let you confine yourself like this!"

"It's alright. He'll send me to finishing school but that doesn't mean I plan to marry. I know that my father provided for my future in case my brothers died also. When I come of age I will receive enough money for me to go to the Interstellar Academy and still a little to live on. I will get a job perhaps in the summers in between. It's alright. I'll be alright. I can take care of myself."

"And Helen can't?" He questioned.

"No. She can't because she has no money and needs to go to the Medical Academy so that she can." She pressed. "Please. Just do this one thing I ask of you!"

He pressed his lips together tightly and nodded. "Yes. I suppose that you will be fine then I have no need to worry for you."

The words stung her a little but she was able to take it. It was nothing compared to what she suffered from at the present time.

She looked down at the ground then peered up at him with a hint of malice in her eyes. "Thank you. I won't forget this...I won't forget your kindness, Mr Hawkins."

"And I certainly won't forget you Miss Richardson." He replied gravely.

He bowed and walked away and left her there.

She had never be so confused in all her life. She felt reassured now that Helen was going to be alright so she had achieved what she had set out to do. But was that going to be enough for her? That sense of achievement sounded very much like the thoughts of a simple housewife who had finished decorating the dining room. She couldn't believe that she was already thinking like that. Mr Hawkins had been so cold to her and he had such a determination to help her also. She couldn't understand why he was being so difficult but then again her gut was telling her that she knew the reason she just didn't want to admit to it because it would contradict all the reasons why she refused his help if she admitted her feelings for him were mutual. But she knew of the salary of graduates and knew it was would be a great financial strain on him if he tried to help them both. Had she done the right thing? Maybe Helen didn't need rescuing. Perhaps she had been wrong in going behind her back and determining her future. She knew that Helen was such a strong spirit she could imagine what would happen if she found out. She hoped that Mr Hawkins wouldn't tell her the truth of her good fortune. She hardly had any at all but at least they would both be a little more fortunate than they could've ended up being.

"Cass?"

She looked up and saw Helen. She saw how haunted she looked. How dead she looked in her eyes and wrapped her arms around her.

"Shhhh. It'll be alright."

"Cass...You're brother doesn't like me." She sobbed.

"It's alright. Don't you worry about a thing." She assured her. Don't worry. Someone's watching over you.

A few weeks later...

Jim still regretted leaving Cassandra with that pompous, proud-faced ass of a brother. He saw him at the state funeral and could see from the way he was handling her when they were leaving that she was right. He was nothing but a controlling, money-wanting wretch. He was even having trouble believing that he was Xavier Richardson's son. When he rode away in the carriage he was tempted to jump out, run back to the house and drag her back with him. He couldn't bear the thought of leaving her in such a life. He has escorted her to the Richardson home where she was greeted solemnly by her nursemaid who wrapped her arms around her tight in a maternal manner. He was glad in that moment that she would have someone to care for her. He wasn't so forgiving towards her brother however. He was very curt and to be frank quite rude to Jim. He had inquired as to where Helen was and Jim simply answered him that she had died on the ship. There was no sign of remorse nor regret. He simply nodded as if it was something which had been conveniently gotten rid of. In truth she was at the Benbow Inn with his mother settling a room for her to stay in the summers in between her studies. They had discovered that she had gotten into the Medical Academy. They were going inquire on a scholarship but they highly doubted that this was going to work. They could still use Doppler's connections but still...

When he arrived back home it was beginning to rain. How appropriate. His Grandmother would always tell him that when it rained it meant that someone you loved had passed or God was in mourning. Perhaps it was the former mourning for the fact that his children were opposing their father's wishes. Mostly due to the fact that the new patriarch was more in common with a dictator than with a brother. Jim wanted to go over to her and say something comforting to Cassandra but her brother had stolen her away so quickly when he reached her carriage and called out for her she was long gone. He felt like he had been shot in the chest a thousand time over with the pain becoming so numbing after a while he couldn't feeling anything at all. He stepped out of the carriage and tipped the driver who gave him a grateful smile and rode off. He turned back to his old childhood home with a sigh and ran back into the inn. Lightening flashed and the thunder boomed around him and throughout the valleys which surrounded his childhood home. It was practically empty. There was hardly a soul there. There were the odd few who noticed him and patted him on the back and shook his hand. He was polite and made small talk to hide the frustration and sadness he was feeling. He saw his mother at the desk and soon caught sight of him. She smiled at him and glided round the desk to embrace him.

"Are you alright?" She murmured. He nodded but he knew that his mother wasn't convinced.

She rubbed his back. "You did all you could. Like she told you, Jim. She'll be fine. I'm sure she will she seemed like a very capable girl."

"I know but she playing by his rules just until she can inherit the money to allow her to go to school but what if she gets so used to playing by his rules that she decides she doesn't want to go to the Interstellar Academy by the time she can."

Sarah Hawkins looked at her son sceptically. "Jim. Do you have any feelings for this girl?"

Jim blushed and looked away. "No."

"Really?"

"I think I want to go check on Helen." He lied and walked up the stairs. He swore he could hear his mother chuckling after him.

He sighed and brushed her hand through his hand as he walked down the corridor to her room. He always hated lying. He did it all the time when he was Cassandra's age but looking back on things in hindsight was always a good way to look back upon your old faults or the old habits which were better off discarding sooner rather than later. He had no idea how he was going to pull this off. He didn't know how he was going to look that girl in the face and tell her that she was never going to see her sister for many years. Until she had the courage to take her life into her own hands. He knew Cassandra would be able to do it now, whether she could inherit her money now or only in three years time. He knew the real reason why she was refusing his help. He knew he had to make sure that Helen knew nothing about how and why he was helping her. He could see that was something else Cassandra wanted of him. She didn't want Helen to know that she was giving up everything she wanted so that Helen could be free and she knew Helen wouldn't be happy about that. He knew that much from Cassandra's behaviour. He had to make up some sort of lie even knowing that one day she was going to find out the truth. Lies never stayed hidden forever. He rubbed his forehead before knocking on the door.

"Helen?"

Helen got up from her bed and spun in the direction of the door. Her eyes were red. "Are you alright?"

She nodded. "Yes. It's just I miss Cassandra so much. I'm s-so grateful f-f-for you taking me in."

He shook his head. "Think nothing of it. I was aware of the position you were going to be put under and I knew I had to help."

She smiled and looked away regretfully. "I'm just sad that you were..."

"What?"

"Well that you couldn't help Cassandra." She replied in a small voice.