I know I said Thursday but I just realised that in exactly one month from today, Sanctuary returns (in the US)! So, in honour of that fact, y'all get the final (and I use that word loosely) chapter a few hours earlier! That and I actually had it finished when I posted the previous chapter :P

Now, this is maybe not the ending people were hoping for because I was trying to keep this within the realm of possibility but BUT (there is always a but) there is an alternative ending that I hope will satisfy those who want to see these two together. Because ;et's admit it, that's what we're all hanging out for!

I'll post the list tomorrow and then the alternate ending the day after. I haven't decided if the rating will need to go up for it but, if it does, I'll post it separately under the title "Invisible Exploits: Alternative Ending" (creative, I know...)

I am considering continuing from where this chapter leaves off but if I do, it might take a while to get up here... Midsemesters are coming up and while I don't have exams, I have bucket loads of assignment work to do.

Thank you to everyone who has been reading and review this story, your support was overwhelming and made me feel all warm and fuzzy like a Nubbin ;) Oh, ew, not like that! You know what I mean...

Anyway, let me know what you think :)

Enjoy

xx

The next week was hectic. Despite several small scale catastrophes erupting, Will seemed reluctant to let Helen assume her full duties. She'd concluded that the source blood in her DNA had fought the intrusion the virus presented and her snap into 'the land of the crazy' as Kate had dubbed it, was only shortened by the blast she received from the stunners. Something about the burst of electricity gave her body the push it needed to quite literally burn through all the hazardous material in her body. Unfortunately it seemed that no matter how many times she explained to him that her blood was clear of every trace of the virus, he maintained that she was to take the full two weeks off to recover.

Not that it was much of a recovery considering that he had in fact called on her expertise at least three times a day but Helen didn't mind. In fact, the idea of sitting around with nothing to do was terrifying so she was more than glad to help out in any way she could.

In fact, the only positive of the enforced holiday was the fact it gave Helen the chance to properly apologize to everyone she'd attacked. Although that list was shortened to one when Nikola was almost always nowhere to be found but that never stopped Helen from trying to split her apologies' between the vampire and Will. Of course she'd said sorry to each of the others but they'd waved her off, ducking away whenever she seemed in a 'sorry' mood.

And slowly but surely things were getting back to normal. Except for Nikola of course. He had been avoiding her entirely, never emerging from whichever lab he had taken up residence in until she called for him by name. Of course, then he came at nothing short of a run but somehow managed to be completely reserved.

Helen hadn't had an opportunity to talk to him and she wasn't sure that she wanted one. She knew what she had done wasn't her fault but at the same time it was. Part of her knew how very, very wrong her actions had been and, although she'd like to suppress the thought, she had given in to some of her… urges. Hell, if Will hadn't interrupted them that final day while they were making out in her office (and yes, despite how common the term was, Helen had to admit that it was exactly what they had been doing), things could have ended very differently. While she was thankful for the interruption, part of her mind that she had been denying for so long honestly enjoyed throttling Will. It was silly and immature and she'd never admit it to Nikola but it was true. Between having his lips on hers, his hands on her body and the fact that he had finally shut up, she'd been in the closest thing she'd felt to nirvana in a very long time.

Shaking that thought out of her head, Helen stood up, glancing around her office. Those kinds of thoughts were not conducive to the professional veneer she'd perfected in the past too many years. Desperate for something to do, she grabbed the nearest file and made her way over to the desk. It took her a few attempts but eventually she managed to focus on the report. Reaching for her pen to sign the bottom of the document, Helen looked up and felt her heart stop for a second.

"You shouldn't sneak up on people like that," she chastised Nikola as he lounged on the corner of her desk.

"It's not my fault you're remarkably dense at times," he replied lightly. She narrowed her eyes at him and resisted the urge to throw her pen at him. For some reason he always made her act like a child and it was only sheer determination and a strong British heritage that kept her from sticking out her tongue at him.

"Did you want something, Nikola? Or are you just here to give me a headache?"

"Oh sweet Helen," he said, raising a hand to his heart. "You wound me! Can a gentleman not request the sweet company of a fair maiden without his intentions being deemed less than decent?" He was laying it on thick and she rolled her eyes before pushing back from her desk and standing up.

"You are no gentleman and you are never decent," she replied, walking past him to the discreet filing cabinets against the wall, trying to ignore the pounding in her chest.

"And don't you know it," he said and although she could not see it, she could just about feel his smug satisfaction radiating around the room. Resisting the urge to wipe the grin off with her lips, Helen closed the cabinet with undue force before spinning on her heel to face him, hands on her hips.

"What is it Nikola?"

"Do I really need an excuse to see you?" he asked, seriously this time.

"You've been avoiding me for the better part of a week. I think this intrusion deserves scrutiny." He rolled his eyes at that.

"I haven't been avoiding you, I was just worried you'd molest me if I came to see you."

She pursued her lips and stalked towards him.

"You are on thin ice Nikola."

"I have the strangest case of déjà vu," he said brightly, placing one long finger on his chin as he pondered it. "I'm certain you've already said that to me."

"Nikola," she said warningly.

"Fine," he said with a pout. "I wanted to tell you I was leaving."

"What?"

"Come on Helen, it's been fun but we've played out this game before."

She sat down on the edge of her table and cocked her head. Of all the things she'd expected to come out of his mouth, this was not it. Not that either of them had ever been very good at talking but still, leaving without so much as a single jab about anything she'd said or done in the past few weeks.

"Must you?" she asked softly, hoping he didn't see just how much she wanted him to stay. She'd never, ever be able to voice it, but having Nikola around did wonders for her spirit. That and they really ought to discuss her previous indiscretions.

Seeming to read her thoughts, a slow grin spread across his face.

"Perhaps I could help you finish off that list?" She pulled a face at him. "You know, now your visible, you might want to avoid pulling that particular face," he advised loftily, making his way towards her.

She scoffed at him but made no move to resist his advance. Soon enough he was standing right in front of her, looking down at her with a smirk. Leaning forward to place his hands on either side of her hips, he stopped, his mouth millimetres from hers.

"So, how 'bout it? Number 9?" He bit his lip as Helen drew a shuddering breath. Slowly, so as not to startle herself into a rash course of action she'd later regret, she leaned in.

"Lucky last!" he exclaimed, settling down on her bed.

"I'm dying of anticipation," she said dryly.

"How did you guess?" he said, a dangerous smirk on his lips.

"Guess what?" she said after she realised he couldn't see the blank look on her face.

"I'd make you die of anticipation."

"Nikola," she warned, wanting a full explanation.

"Sex, Helen. Sex," he said with a heavy sigh.

"Oh."

"My my, have I rendered the great Miss Magnus speechless with the use of one word? Because, you know I have a much larger repertoire of dirty words."

"That's Dr. Magnus to you," she corrected throatily.

He smirked.

"Not this time Nikola," she whispered and his face fell. Putting her hands on his shoulders, she pushed him away and smiled.

"Spoil sport," he grumbled at her. Helen's retort was cut off, however as the door swung open and Will walked in. She could have sworn she heard Nikola curse under his breath and she was having trouble keeping the smirk off her face. Perhaps she should have a quick word with her protégé about knocking before entering.

"Will," she said warmly, still biting her lip as the rest of the team entered the room behind him. "What can I do for you?"

"Oh, nothing," he answered, moving to lounge on the sofa. "We were just wondering what you were up to."

Helen quirked an eyebrow but said nothing as she moved to take the seat opposite him. Everyone except Nikola followed suit and took a seat. Helen raised her eyebrow, shot the vampire a quizzical look and, with a sigh, he took the only free seat left.

"What's up Eddie?" Kate asked. Helen bit her lip at the girls spunk but had to admire her obvious disinterest in the now bristling vampire.

"I've been cheated," he growled, shooting Helen a murderous look. Whether he was silently telling her to keep her team in line or chastising her for her denial, she wasn't certain.

Kate looked between the pair and raised an eyebrow.

"Care to elaborate?"

"Not particularly," he growled back, seeing the look in Helen's eye. At his response, Helen settled back into her chair, pleased that she'd managed to convey the multitude of ways she'd kill him if he spoke up through eye contact alone.

With a suffering sigh, Kate shook her head before sending a discreet wink towards Henry who smirked back. That smirk promptly fell away though as Helen stared at him, polite smile on her face. Oh yeah, whatever Will might think, she was definitely back and firing on all cylinders. Helen opened her mouth to ask again about their presence in her office but was interrupted as the Big Guy came through the door.

"Nubbins."

There was a universal groan.

"I'll get the extinguishers."

"I'll get the vac."

"I'll just put my feet up," Nikola threw out and Helen rolled her eyes.

"Earn your keep," she said curtly, holding out a hand to pull him to his feet.

Predictably, he took her hand and kissed it suggestively, his eyes never leaving hers. He tugged lightly and an already off balance Helen stumbled and fell into his lap. Nikola looked at her, genuinely surprised that she was on him, but before she could think about getting up, he wrapped his arms around her, holding her steady.

"Nikola," she warned, attempting to fight off his arms but he held tight.

"Yes, yes, I know. Work to do," he sighed after a moment. Before he released her though, Nikola leant forward and pressed a soft kiss to the spot below her ear.

Helen prayed that he didn't feel her shiver.

Standing up, she walked straight to the door, hurrying after her team. In a matter of seconds both she and Nikola had joined them and she promptly handed him a fire extinguisher.

He looked at it in disgust.

"If I do this for you, then can we do number 9?" he asked. "Please?"

"Not if your life depended on it," she answered, not looking up from the tablet Henry handed her.

"9? What about 9?" Will asked, looking between them.

"There as a list," Nikola answered curtly, ignoring the furious glare Helen set his way.

"But why 9?" he asked again as he grabbed a fire extinguisher for a now intrigued Kate.

"Nikola had always had a thing for three's," Helen answered with a harassed smile. With that, she nodded at Henry and made her way down the corridor.

"You did?" Will asked, looking at the vampire, confused as to what they were talking about.

"Read the biography, it's fascinating," Nikola advised over his shoulder as he hurried after Helen's retreating figure. Maybe she'd convince herself to at least pretend to be affected by those invisible fuzz balls, he mused.

Funnily enough, Helen had the exact same thought.