Chapter is, of course named for the song by Snow Patrol, one of my favourites. Bit short too but I hope it explains a few of the issues people were having :P

Thank you to those reviewing and generally being amazing human beings. And to people who make my week :)

xx

Over the next few days, Helen was only vaguely aware of Nikola's presence in the Sanctuary. He was never with Rosie and from what she could tell, spent most of his time hiding in the catacombs. If they passed in a corridor he said nothing, strolling by as if she didn't exist. Once or twice she'd tried to call him on his childish behaviour but he simply walked away and then she'd not see him for a good few hours but in truth, Helen was far too preoccupied to deal with his childish reaction to their lack of answers.

After Rosie's early morning outburst, she'd been startlingly quiet, not even a whisper had been heard from her despite Helen's best efforts. She needed more because what little information she had painted a picture Helen didn't particularly want to consider. The message was clear as day but she was determined to find an alternative.

The worst thing was that the one person she needed to talk to was the one person who wouldn't listen. She'd shared what she'd learnt with John and her team but none of them were willing to weigh in on the situation. Helen understood their reluctance but the proposition before her wasn't one she could accept on her own.

As an alternative to proper discussion, she'd taken to speaking with Rose, simply voicing her concerns to the silent woman in the hopes that eventually she'd get an answer to the ever present question.

"Is there nothing else for it?"

So, with a heavy heart, Helen was striding towards Rose's bedroom, trying not to think of the fact that Ashley's room was so nearby. If Ashley were here, she'd most certainly have something to say, Helen knew it. She tried not to dwell on it but the thought always seemed to pop into her head. Sighing she pushed away the thought, focusing instead on the fact that Rose's door, for the first time since they'd arrived back from Serbia, was partially closed. Slowing, Helen cocked her head, listening for any clue as to why it wasn't thrown open wide.

"Rose," Nikola said quietly as Helen peered through the gap. He was on the other side of the bed to her, holding Rosie's hand tightly between his own. "Rose I know you can hear me so you better listen." He paused, taking a deep breath before beginning again, his voice quieter than before and Helen had to strain to hear him. "You have to open your eyes Rosie, you have to open your eyes because this has gone on long enough. I need you to open your eyes, Helen needs you to open your eyes, hell, even Johnny needs you to wake up. We need you Rose, so I'm asking you, before this goes on any longer, open your eyes. Just... Just tell me you'll open your eyes. Please."

"Nikola," Helen whispered, against her will and his eyes flicked up to where she stood by the door. In a second the gentleness in his eyes was gone, replaced by the cool indifference he'd been toting.

"What are you doing here?" he asked quietly, his voice smooth.

"I came to... to talk to her," she said uncertainly. "I just... We need to talk," she tried, taking a step into the room as he glared at her.

"You could have knocked," he said icily, looking down at Rose.

"Have any of the others told you what she did?" she asked hurriedly, hoping he'd at least hear part of the story before storming out.

"I know she spoke to you momentarily," he said, not looking her in the eye. "But huggybear told me to speak to you about it."

"She told me how to help her."

At that he looked up, eyes wide. "Do it," he almost barked, clearly clinging to the idea. "Why haven't you already?"

"It won't help her wake up," Helen said, speaking softly. "If we... if we inject some of your blood into her she will... she'll be at peace."

"No."

"Nikola-."

"No Helen," he spat. "You can't kill her, you cannot end her life. You don't have that right."

"But is this a life?" she asked, hands on hips. "She's not going to get any better Nikola, she's stuck like this for all eternity. Do you really think she'd want to live like this?"

"That's not your decision to make," he all but roared at her, standing up and dropping Rose's hand back to the bed. A tense few seconds passed, both glaring furiously at the other, the only sound in the room their heavy breathing.

"Show me her blood work," he ordered, his voice sedate once more. "And yours."

"What?" Helen breathed, completely thrown by the direction he'd taken.

"Blood work," he said again. "Both yours and hers. I'll give you a sample of mine too and I'd like the results as soon as they come through."

"Nikola, please don't do this," she tried but he held up a hand.

"The blood work," he said once more before heading to the door. "I'll be in my laboratory," he called over his shoulder, not stopping until he'd taken a few steps out the door.

Helen watched as he came to a sudden stop but she said nothing, not trusting herself to contain her anger. He couldn't honestly believe she wanted to make this choice or that she relished the idea of losing Rose any more than he did. She knew her anger would be evident in her eyes but as he turned back to face her, the cool and snide veneer back in place she didn't care. He was and always would be an arrogant son of a bitch who paid little attention to the feelings of others. He didn't care about anyone but himself and-

"I'm sorry," he coughed out uncomfortably.

Helen's jaw slackened. She'd heard those words leave his lips voluntarily on only a handful of occasions.

"About what I said the other morning," he continued, eyes darting around as if searching for something safe to look at. "I shouldn't have... I mean this is... I know you're trying."

She swallowed, not sure of what to say. Slowly, Nikola met her shocked gaze, his eyes still carefully guarded but she could see the cracks in his armour.

"I need you to keep trying," he said quietly. "Because if you don't, if you give up, I know you'll blame me and I can't... I don't want... You already have enough reason to hate me. I can't... lose you."

And with that he was gone, leaving Helen even more confused than she'd been about their situation in a very long time. Trying to push the confusing thoughts from her mind, Helen turned to leave the room, unable to watch the sleeping figure of her friend any longer.

Betrayal, hurt, pride, desperation and fear swept through her as she walked down the corridor, the combination making her walk faster as if she could outrun the insanity of her own mind. She tried to set her mind to the task, to focus on what Nikola had asked but, despite her best efforts, she was having trouble concentrating.

Even once she arrived in her lab her mind refused to cooperate, swirling away of its own accord as she gathered what he'd asked for. She tried to figure out why he needed such information but, as she began her descent to his laboratory, all she could think about was the crack in his façade.

37 hours later:

"Helen," he said quietly from the door way. All the others looked up at the interruption to their morning meeting.

"Yes?" she asked, slightly confused to see Nikola standing before her. Since she'd given him the results he'd asked for and free reign over her medical equipment she hadn't seen him for even a wine break.

He took a deep breath and looked straight at her, his cracks more than clear.