Ta-da! Now go review and make my 7am start less daunting. *hugs*

xx

It had been three days since Helen had injected her blood into Rose but since she'd collapsed into unconsciousness there had been no change. They ran hundreds of tests, spent hours pouring over the results and while there had been significant changes they'd found nothing to suggest that their treatment had been anything other than a disaster.

Rose was less responsive than before, nothing rousing her from her sleep yet still, none of the chemical indicators or brain waves she'd associate with sleep were present. Thankfully, Nikola had yet to stop talking to her, instead taking his frustrations out on the rest of her team. Will and Kate seemed to struggle the most with his treatment but Henry it seemed, was coming into his own, more than willing to push back when Nikola decided to use him as a verbal punching bag. Once or twice it had almost come to blows but both had walked away willingly.

This new side of her usually rather timid tech expert surprised Helen. She'd always known that Henry and Rose were close but it was for that reason she'd thought he would be less inclined to fight. He wore his emotions rather proudly on his sleeve but anger had never been something he'd displayed in abundance.

Sighing, Helen shook her head, trying to focus on the reports before her. As much as she wanted to sit and mull over the situation she was still unable to fully comprehend, life kept going. There were other Sanctuary's out there that needed her advice or approval for one project or another. She had to keep reminding herself that there were problems and situations out there far more dire than the death of one woman but it rarely worked. She tried to tell herself that one life lost was one too many but she knew that wasn't just it. Not when she'd been fighting this war for decades. She'd seen many come and go, watched those she admired die before her eyes and while each of those had hurt, she couldn't deny that this was a little different.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door, dragging her from her thoughts. Looking up, Helen cleared her throat just as Will, Kate and Henry came walking in, looking a little confused.

"Is there something I can help you all with?" she asked, trying to keep her voice level.

"Uhm," Will started, looking to the others for answers. "I don't think so..."

"Pardon?"

"I'm not sure," Kate said, shooting Henry an uncertain look. "We were all just down in Hank's lab and then..."

"I was wondering where you'd all run off to," Nikola commented as he and John strolled in behind the others. "Wouldn't want to miss the party."

"What are you all doing here?" Helen asked, standing up as the others continued to look around as if startled by their surroundings.

"You don't think..." Henry breathed. Helen's eyes widened as she caught on to his train of thought but before she could open her mouth three soft knocks sounded at the other doorway and, as one, they all turned towards the source of the sound.

"Morning," Rose whispered, clinging to the door frame as she gave them all a weak smile. Immediately Helen began to rush forwards but Rose held up a hand, waving her away as she took an unsteady step forwards.

"Stay back," she ordered, setting her jaw as she took a few more shaky steps towards the group. She faltered for a moment and Helen tried to dash to her side but Rose glared at her, pushing herself back up off the chair she'd grabbed, taking a deep breath before walking through the group, eye focused on only one point.

She appeared tiny, her small frame drowned by the huge t-shirt she wore, her rolled up sweat pants dangling around her calves with each shuddering step she took. Her eyes were sunken and her hair was thoroughly mussed but there was such determination on her face that the others had trouble speaking.

Plus their shock was a little overwhelming.

With a small grunt she took the last step forwards before collapsing against John, her arms winding around his waist as she hugged him tightly.

"Thank you," she whispered much to the shock of her audience. "For saving them."

She held him tight, hands fisting in the fabric of his shirt as she sighed. John was staring, wide eyed at Helen, asking silently what he ought to do. He quickly searched the gaze of all the others in the room but to no avail. When finally he looked down at the woman hugging him fiercely, she released him, giving him a faint smile before making a face and taking an unsteady step backwards.

"Rose," Helen cried in alarm, darting forwards to steady her friend.

"I'm fine," Rose said softly, making a face as she allowed Helen to lead her over to the sofa. Sinking down into the cushions, she let out a soft sigh before her eyes fluttered open.

"I suppose you've got questions," she quipped quietly and Helen rolled her eyes. The others were all standing around, eyes wide with shock as they took in her exhausted figure. Rose chuckled and sat up a little straighter.

"Gather round children, for it is a tale of woe," she began with a grin but soon it turned into a grimace, followed by a spectacular coughing fit. Nikola quickly handed her a handkerchief and she flashed him a grateful smile before screwing her eyes shut as she continued to cough. Helen rubbed gentle circles on her back as they waited for the attack to pass while the others cautiously took seats.

Nikola and Henry occupied the sofa opposite Helen and Rose, Kate dropping into one armchair and Will the other as John migrated a little further away from the group. His actions didn't escape Helen but nor did she comment.

"Are you sure you're feeling alright?" Will asked speculatively.

"You mean aside from the fact that I've got her nasty blood pumping through my veins?" she croaked, eyeing the now bloodied handkerchief in her hand with distaste. She made a face before balling up the fabric in her fist and grimacing in Helen's direction.

"Oh my," Helen began, but Rose waved her off.

"Don't worry," she said, clearing her throat. "It's actually a good thing. It means that it's not burning through my veins and making me want to take a damn nap."

"Sorry about that," Helen said apologetically but Rose pulled a face.

"Sorry for saving my life? Surely you aren't that callous," she chastised weakly.

"O.K, I hate to have to be that person but, uh, can you tell us, you know, what happened?" Henry said uncomfortably thought his curiosity was obvious.

"You mean with the great white light of vampiric destruction?"

"Well, it was kinda blue," Kate chimed in with a smile.

"If you say so," Rose replied. "I've never actually seen it properly."

"But what was it?" Will asked, sitting forward and Rose made a face.

"It's hard to explain. I don't understand the science of it but, best I can tell it affects the human parts of a vampire's DNA, effectively making everything sort of combust. Tell me something, has anyone been back to the cave?"

"Yes," John replied from where he sat by the window. "I went back a few times but-."

"The bodies had all but disintegrated?"

"I managed to find one that was mostly intact but after a few days it was just as decomposed as the others," he answered with a nod. "Why?"

"Haven't a clue but if that's true then I suppose the other thing was too," she responded, eyes glazing over as her mind began to wander.

"Other thing?" Helen prompted gently and Rose shook her head, shooting her a small smile.

"Oh, well, technically it should have killed you too."

Rose shrugged at the news, grabbing a glass of water from the coffee table before her.

"The silence means you need to say something," Nikola drawled, not looking her in the eye. Rose shot him a dark look before sighing and placing the cup back down.

"The energy or whatever it was," she began again, "probably would have encompassed the whole globe, killing any... active vampire DNA for lack of a better term. Anyone with recessive genes would have been fine but you three... That's why I had John take you away."

Helen looked over to John, a pang of guilty striking at her.

"Hence the hug," Rose threw out, giving John a tight smile. "You didn't have to save them. But you did."

Her words hung in the air, soft and unexpected.

"But wait," Will said, breaking the almost tender moment. "You said it would have covered the world?"

"To be honest, that part was a little trial and error on my part," Rose admitted with a sheepish grin. "See, to the best of my knowledge, that particular quirk of my DNA has never been utilized by any of my kind. I vaguely knew how it was supposed to work so the assumption that I could limit the area I covered wasn't that outrageous but... Well, that you three are sitting here is the result of a lucky guess."

"So, essentially, you released an energy wave toxic to vampiric blood that should have brought about the end of anything vampiric worldwide?" Helen clarified.

"I know, how tragically science fiction," Rose said, sounding a little put off by the thought.

"But you limited the wave to ensure that Nikola, John and I weren't harmed?"

"It seems that way," she quipped, smirking a little. "But Serbia, the rest of Europe and the northern coast of Africa ought to be vampire free."

"If it really did encompass such a large area, shouldn't there have been reports or something?" Will asked. "You know, a giant blue flash of light isn't likely to go unnoticed."

"Possibly, but I think it's more likely that the light you saw was only visible at the epicentre of the explosion."

"But why the nap?" Nikola threw out, his face cold and unreadable.

"Ah well, the 'energy blast'," she said, making air quotes, "sapped my energy. Had I let it expand to the proper size I've no doubt it would have killed me. Thankfully Helen's little concoction based on Nikola's findings gave me the boost I apparently needed."

"And you don't feel any adverse reaction?" Helen asked.

"I don't think I'll heal completely, not with vampire blood in me," Rose said carefully. "But I'm awake which is a welcome change."

She smiled broadly at Helen, clearly trying to convey her happiness before coughing once more.

"Damn blood," she groused, reaching for the glass of water once more. She took a few large gulps before setting it down once more, leaning back and closing her eyes as she sighed.

"I suppose you'll be off soon then?" Nikola asked, a faint sheen of distaste colouring his words. "Crisis averted, lives saved and all."

"Most probably," Rose answered coolly, straightening up in her seat.

"What? Why?" Kate asked, looking to Helen for explanation.

"Oh, you'll see me again soon enough, don't fret," Rosie said fondly, reaching over to pat her knee.

"Rose has never been terribly good at long term arrangements," Helen supplied with knowing smile.

"Commitment-phobe," she agreed with a grin. "But I also have a tendency to revisit old stomping grounds so I'm confident we'll meet again."

She opened her mouth to continue but was suddenly cut off by another coughing fit. She waved away Helen's concern as she grabbed the glass of water once more, knocking what was left of it back in one go. Sighing, she frowned, closing her eyes as winced slightly. Then her eyes flew open

"Because Nikola, they were just as damn haughty as those ancestors you hold so dear," she all but spat, startling the others. Nikola pulled a face, crossing his legs as he gazed absently across the room.

"I am nothing like them," she said after a moment. "They believed themselves to be beyond reproach and the only thing that truly separated them from the vampires was that we never wanted to subjugate the humans. For the most part we were content to sit back and reflect on our own damn perfection. Happy now?"

In an instant she was sitting up again, glaring at Nikola. Her jaw was set and contempt laced her tone, confusing the hell out of everyone else.

"No need to be so vehement," he drawled. Then as Helen shot him a questioning glance he sighed. "I only asked why a race so high and mighty that had the power to eradicate the vampire's so thoroughly decided to hang back and let the human's do the majority of the dirty work in a way that can only be described as barbaric."

"And then you asked why I chose to sacrifice myself, being of such a perfect race," she continued sarcastically, anger clear in her voice. "You know bloody well why Nikola so don't you dare do this."

A tense moment passed as Nikola studiously avoided everyone's gaze, only turning to Rose when she sighed. The two shared a moment before Rose cracked a smile, chuckling at something he'd thought.

His well masked fear and then anger at her faded quickly at her silent and unspoken apology. Helen didn't need to hear what they were discussing to know that the other woman had apologised for causing her sometimes lover such distress. They'd never been able to hate each other for long, it was why they had remained so close after all these years but it sent a pang of something unexpected jealously through her.

Don't be, Rose whispered softly. You'll always be the woman for him. Helen spluttered internally at the words, eyes widening in shock as Rose winked at her.

Don't even try and pretend otherwise, she warned. I heard your thoughts as he was sucking on your neck. Do you have any idea how hard it was to concentrate on pretending to be angry at him when you were practically begging for him to take you then and there?

"Rose," Helen hissed, straightening up in her seat. Sure the sensation had been disturbingly pleasurable but she hadn't been nearly so ready to spread her legs. Had she?

Oh you most certainly were, Rose said with a mental chuckle. I wonder how Nikola would react if I were to tell him as such... she mused, turning to grin at Nikola who, while smiling back, looked mildly confused. Until he took in Helen's distress at which point he grinned, leering at her as he sat up a little straighter.

"Rose," she said again, this time more firmly. Rose chuckled out loud before tapping the side of her nose.

"Have no fear Helen," she said in a mock whisper. "Your dirty little secret is safe with me."

"You two are like an old married couple," Kate joked and Rose laughed.

"Now that's a façade we've never had to put on before," she said, giving Helen a fond look. "Probably because of the age thing."

"Says the grandmother to the foetus," Helen responded with a smile of her own.

"I'd say you don't look a day over two hundred but I've used that one before," Rose replied, dimpling at her as she giggled.

"I was going to ask if you were feeling any better," Will said with a smile, "but you appear to be back to normal."

"Peachy keen, jelly bean," she replied, winking at him. "Although... John," she called cheerfully. "Be a dear and open that window behind you."

John looked to Helen before doing just that, throwing the windows wide open to allow in the gentle breeze.

Smiling broadly, Rose stood up. In a flash she yanked off her baggy t-shirt to reveal a black tank top before walking determinedly towards John and the open window. Graciously he stood up from the window seat, allowing her better passage. When she reached the seat, she held out her hand to him which he took, steadying her as she climbed up to stand on the seat. She released his hand, stepping towards the window. Grasping the frame firmly in hand, she leant forwards, sighing before breathing deeply and stepping forward.

The second she dropped out of sight, everyone else in the room stood up, rushing to the window as one.

"What the hell is she doing?" Helen asked in frustration, reaching the window just in time to see Rosie fly straight up past them, wings working hard as she soared through the sky, dipping and twirling with ease. From where they stood, they heard snatches of her joyous laughter but Helen, worried not only that a girl with wings would make front page news but also that Rose wasn't quite ready for such a burst of energy, knelt on the seat to poke her head out the window. In a matter of seconds Rose flew towards them slowly, rolling her shoulders as her feet touched down on the cushion.

Helen shuffled back, reprimand ready on her tongue but as Rose stepped back onto the floor, she wobbled, legs giving out and forcing John to catch her before she fell.

"That may have been a little premature," she allowed weakly, turning to smile tentatively at John before accepting Nikola's outstretched arms to help her back to the couch.

They settled once more and it didn't escape Helen's notice that the pair of them sat very closely this time, Nikola's arm resting discreetly around her waist as Rosie's shoulder bumped against his chest. Rose looked to Helen, biting her lip but didn't shy away from the contact, in fact, she shuffled further into his embrace, placing a hand lightly on his knee.

"That was a very bad idea," Helen said, finally dragging her mind away from the placement of the young woman's small hand. "You aren't strong enough for things like that Rose."

"I know," she said softly. "I'm sorry but I couldn't help myself. I swear I've got bloody bed sores and I just needed to... to move."

"Next time, move in less life threatening ways," Helen advised and Rose chuckled.

"Yes mother," she teased, poking her tongue out.

"Play nice," Nikola interjected and Rose rolled her eyes.

"You aren't meant to take her side."

"I'll always take Helen's side," he quipped, looking over to Helen with a smirk that made the innocuous statement somehow dirty.

"Oh, Rose, before I forget," Helen said suddenly, standing up and walking towards her desk. "I know how you feel about medical records and such but I had no choice."

"I know," Rose said. "It's alright, you practically brought me back to life so I don't think I'll hold a handful of medical tests against you."

Helen smiled in thanks before moving back to sit opposite her friend, folder sitting on her lap.

"This is everything," she said, tapping the folder. "All the test results I have, all the notes Nikola and I made over the past few days. Everything."

"Keep it," Rosie said, cutting Helen off. "You can keep it, I don't mind."

"But-."

"I know what I said but, well, the tests have already been run and I can practically see your heart breaking at the thought of giving up that folder," she replied with a grin. "Keep it Helen. Just, you know, keep it safe."

Helen smiled, unsure of what to say but once again Rose cut her off.

"And yes, you can have some more of my blood. But on one condition."

"Really?" Helen asked, trying to keep from sounding like an eager child on Christmas morning.

"Really. Just try to be a little more gentle with the giant needles this time. I'm not sure I could cope with an excavation like your last little sample," she said, rubbing her arm as she made a face.

"Perhaps if you squirmed a little less..." Helen suggested with a smile.

"I think she's right, my dear," Nikola said to Rosie. "I've always found Helen's touch with the needle to be feather light."

"Suck up," Rose muttered accusingly as the other's all chuckled at her behaviour.

Oh yes, Helen thought, Rose was most certainly back.