Title: Sanctuary – Beneath The Dark

Summary: Doctor Helen Magnus and her team discover more than an Abnormal and things that go bump in the night when on the hunt in Seattle. A/U.

Pairings: H. Magnus & OFC, A. Magnus & W. Zimmerman.

Rating: M for Mature readers.

Disclaimer: No profit or copyright infringement intended during the writing of this story. All characters other than original remain the property of creator Damian Kindler, Sanctuary 1 Productions and Stage 3 Media. Please note that this tale features a relationship between two women and if that is not your cup of tea, then go make a coffee elsewhere.

A/N: Cheers to my splendid proof reader Wendy Woo and please remember this all takes place in an alternative universe, so I do not follow the story line of the actual series to the letter. It's called creative licence and I use it to bring back to life characters who may have fallen to the wayside on television. Now if I could only use it to inject a bucket load of cash to SyFy so the fifth season of Sanctuary could actually see the light of day!

Chapter 11

Rousing from a deep slumber, Madison clearly heard the soft tapping on the bedroom door that had awoken her.

Helen stirred beside her and noted, "That will be Ashley." She reached for the bedside lamp and both women blinked at the sudden bright light illuminating the room.

Madison watched as Helen climbed out of bed and reached for a robe on the back of an armchair. There was an instant flame of desire licking at her groin as she observed the graceful movements of her lover. She moaned deeply and crossed her ankles in an attempt to suppress the desire.

Helen heard her girlfriend's reaction and smiled back at her. She opened the door and greeted her daughter, "Evening Ashley, I assume you've received your text?"

Looking at her mother's bed hair, Ashley smirked, "Uhm yes. Oh god mom, you are just too cute."

Rolling her eyes backwards, Helen retorted, "Ashley, it's well past midnight, can we please keep on subject please?"

"Ah right." Ashley stuck her head past the doorjamb, "Hello Madison, sorry to disturb the love fest."

Her comment was answered with a flying pillow directed at her head.

Helen couldn't help but laugh at the frolics, "Location please Ashley?"

The young blonde grinned at Madison and gave her the thumbs up.

Madison had the last laugh; she jumped out of bed and boldly strutted into the bathroom.

Helen turned to see her lover's taut buttocks disappear into the ensuite and Ashley stood frozen in place gobsmacked.

"I am seriously thinking about smacking you right now Ashley," quipped Helen.

"God mom, she really is something else."

"That she is and if you don't mind, I'd like to get back to my girlfriend."

"Yeah sure. The Lab is located four miles east out from Letlhakane, the diamond mine. I'll organise the plane A-SAP and our best option is to fly into Johannesburg then use the long-range helicopter to fly to Letlhakane. If we depart from Vancouver at 1700 hours, it will be two am in Johannesburg so after the twenty hour and thirty minute flight then set up time plus another two hours in the helicopter, it will be around two in the morning when we arrive at Letlhakane."

Helen smiled at her daughter's presentation, "Well done Ashley."

"I'll arrange the backup teams. I was thinking we'll need at least two."

"We are going in blind, so I'd prefer three," suggested Helen.

"That may not be necessary mom, my contact told me there has been no sign of any activity around the Lab, but it is definitely a military run operation."

Light brown eyebrows knitted together, "That doesn't sound good."

"My thought exactly, it could also mean they've closed up shop and moved on."

"Or worse, there may be eight other creatures on the loose."

"I guess we'll soon find out and on that note, I will get together a third team."

"Goodnight Ashley and good work."

"Night mom and I'm really happy for you and Madison."

"I am too, see you in the morning."

Ashley stepped into the living room and Helen asked, "Oh, before you go, how did your date with Will go?"

Turning with an enormous smile, Ashley answered, "It went well and the play was wonderful as was Will. He was fun and a true gentleman."

"I'm glad and you can tell me more in the morning."

"I will, night mom."

Closing the door, Helen slid back into bed and waited.

Moments later, Madison exited the bathroom and cuddled into Helen's shoulder.

"You smell nice darling," commented Helen while switching off the lamp.

"I felt a little sticky, so I decided to have a shower."

Helen groaned, "I rather enjoy your body scent, it's very earthy and sweet."

"Oh really?"

"Yes."

"So Ashley received the locale?"

"Yes and we will be leaving here no later than 1700 hours tomorrow."

"Will you be taking Bule with you?"

"Yes, I believe he is fit enough to travel and I don't want him to become anxious while waiting to be reunited with his family."

"How will you get him back into the country without a passport or identification?"

"Henry will organise the necessary paperwork for him and we have contacts at Johannesburg Airport that will afford us safe passage."

Madison shook her head at the enormity of Helen's network, "Unbelievable and you are definitely way out of my league." She reached up and kissed Helen hungrily.

When the need for air parted their lips, Helen brushed a stray strand of blonde hair off Madison's forehead, "You are well within my league Madison and I love you dearly."

Madison lowered her mouth to Helen's neck before saying, "I want you."

"Oh dear lord darling," mumbled Helen before latching onto her lover's shoulders with a tender grip.

-o-

Ashley walked into the kitchen and greeted the cook, "Hey Big Guy, what's on the menu for breakfast?"

He grunted in his usual manner, "Ack, Ack. Good morning Ashley and pancakes is the answer."

"Yummy," the blonde answered as she took a seat next to her mother. "Morning mom, where's Madison?'

"Morning darling and she is still asleep."

"Way to go mom," sniggered Ashley with a sly grin.

"Oh Ashley, please behave."

Reaching across, Ashley poked her mother on the left side of her clavicle, "I believe you should heed those words. You have a hickey young lady."

Helen's face went a fine shade of red, "Oh goodness."

Ashley continued to tease her mother, "So, is Madison "the one" mom?"

A glaze crossed over Helen's eyes as she looked at her daughter, "Yes Ashley, I believe so."

"I think so too and I love how open you are with her. You never used to bring Stella here very often."

"Who's Stella?" asked Will as he entered the room and patted the Big Guy on the shoulder.

"Mom's ex-girlfriend, she was a doctor and I only ever met her three times."

Will looked at Helen, "Oh really, so tell me more Magnus."

"There is really nothing to tell Will."

Ashley butted in, "She was pretty but not as beautiful as Madison and she tried too hard to be nice to me. I actually thought she was a tad snobby."

"And thank you Ashley for that lovely assessment of my past lover."

The Big Guy handed Will a plate, "I didn't like her either."

Ashley shrugged her shoulders, "See mom."

"Well I'm glad to see you all approve of Madison," joked Helen cheerfully.

"A fine choice," commented the Big Guy before talking a seat next to Will. "I like her a lot."

"Me too," added Ashley between mouthfuls of food.

Will chimed in with his opinion, "Make that three out of three and thanks for breakfast Big Guy."

Helen giggled at the threesome, "You lot are bloody hopeless."

Henry walked in carrying a laptop, "Morning all. Hey William and Ash, how did the date go?"

Will glanced at Ashley and grinned, "We had a wonderful night."

"Yes we did," agreed the blonde with a flip of her head.

"Good to hear. Hey Doc, the plane is all set for 1700 hours and the helicopter will be primed when you land in Johannesburg."

"Outstanding Henry," replied Helen. "Now, if you will excuse me, I'll be down in the Lab talking to Bule." She stood and immediately buttoned up an extra hole on her sky blue shirt.

-o-

After eating breakfast Madison went to Helen's Lab and found her with Will speaking to Bule. The young man was dressed in a pair of denim jeans, dress shoes and a long sleeved buttoned navy blue shirt.

"Good morning everyone," Madison announced chirpily. "Have you got a minute Will?"

"Sure Madison, what's up?"

Madison walked out of the room and Will followed. She handed the younger man a business card and gave details, "That's a friend's number and if you are ever looking for a nice restaurant to take Ashley to in Seattle, just mention my name and you'll be looked after."

"Gee thanks Madison, I appreciate it."

"You're welcome. I'm hoping to take Helen there myself."

Turning the card over, Will read out loud, "Nikita's Fine Cuisine and Romantic Ambience."

"It's the place to go if you want to impress."

Will smirked, "Well, I certainly want to do that. Thanks again for the theatre tickets last night, it was a terrific show."

"No problem, well I better let you get back to work."

"See ya later Madison."

"Will do, Henry is showing me his latest high tech gadgets."

"Have fun."

Madison retuned down the hall and met up with the self-proclaimed Tech and weapons geek.

-o-

It was after noon when Helen walked into the kitchen for lunch. She leaned over the back of Madison's chair and kissed the top of her head, "Hello darling."

"Hey sweetheart, how was your morning?"

"Productive, I've manufactured enough supplies of the serum for tonight's transport and managed to pack all the necessary equipment."

"Good and I was thinking I'd leave for home after lunch."

Sitting down, Helen reached for Madison's hand and curled their fingers together, "I was hoping you'd stay a little longer. I've only a few things to attend to then I am free for around three hours."

Madison's eyes lit up, "Oh really? Then consider my plan dusted."

"Magnificent," replied Helen merrily.

The couple chatted about the upcoming mission until it was time for Helen to return to work.

"I'll be in your room waiting," suggested Madison with a devilish smirk.

"And I hope you will be resting your leg during that time."

"I will be, so I'll see you soon." Madison walked Helen to the lift and kissed her deeply until the older woman broke away.

"See you shortly," she said as the lift doors closed.

Madison went to Helen's rooms, undressed then slipped into bed with a novel she had previously selected from the vast amount of volumes located in the massive library.

-o-

Opening her bedroom door, Helen stopped and took in the sight of Madison lying on her bed. "Oh dear lord, she's glorious and I'm a fortunate so and so," she said to herself.

Madison was stretched out on her back with her right leg elevated atop a pillow with a leather bound first edition Jane Austin novel opened on her chest and awe inspiringly naked. The doctor stifled a groan as she neared the bed.

Madison's eyelids fluttered and her darkened eyes focused on the smiling brunette. "Hello Helen," she said in a croaky voice. "I must have dozed off. Did you finish your work?"

Helen started to disrobe on her way into the bathroom, "All done and I am happy to announce I am all yours for the next three hours." She was not surprised when she felt Madison's soft touch on her left hip as she stepped into the shower. "Well, I am awfully glad you decided to join me."

"How could I resist?" retorted Madison as she laced her fingers through Helen's ponytail. "I like your hair up like this," she added before placing a soft kiss on the exposed nape.

Helen moved under the strong steady stream of water and pulled Madison closer, "Thank you and how is your leg?"

"Hardly aches at all."

With Helen pressing her lips to the blonde's, all conversation ceased for the following twenty minutes while the couple reaffirmed their love and desire for one another.

-o-

Gentle fingers were tracing a line across Helen's right hip and down the iliac furrow, causing her to sigh heavily. "I'm afraid I've become very accustomed to your presence here and will miss you terribly."

Leaning over Madison dragged the blade of her tongue along the cut of her lover's inguinal ligament, "I'll miss you too and especially this intimacy we share."

"Have you always been this vigorous with past lovers?" inquired Helen as she tangled her fingers in blonde strands.

"No, although my sexual appetite has always been active when I am with someone, it certainly has reached new levels with you."

Giggling softly, Helen responded, "I am not complaining at all. I too, have discovered new and dizzy heights."

Madison repositioned herself beside Helen, "You are simply in my blood."

Draping her left arm over her lover, Helen sighed again, "As you are in mine my love."

"How long do you estimate you will be gone for?"

"Depending on what we discover. Three days at least, but I will want to collect as much data as I can as well as account for the other eight soldiers that we are aware of. I'm hoping there are no more."

"I guess time will tell," replied Madison as her stomach rumbled with a protest of needing to be attended to.

"It sounds like someone requires feeding," teased Helen.

Laughing, Madison countered, "Yes, I need to keep my energy levels up."

Helen rolled to the edge of the bed, "I'll go make us something to eat."

With a demure grin, Madison reached for her lover's hand, "I'll give you some help."

Looking into dilated eyes, Helen moaned and returned to the bed. Nuzzling into Madison's open arms, she admitted, "I thoroughly enjoy your assistance."

Madison seized Helen's offered lips and it was another seventy minutes before the couple showered then went to the kitchen in search of nutrition.

-o-

It was a tad past four when Madison limped to her truck. Helen held her hand tightly and walked slowly beside her. Madison had already bid farewell to the others and was reluctant to end her time with Helen. Early, her girlfriend had shown her around the remaining lower levels of Sanctuary and introduced her to all the previously unseen Abnormals housed within. Madison had been stunned by the collection and her respect for Helen and the work she carried out, increased twofold.

Noting her lover's hesitancy, Helen leaned her back against the Chevy and drew Madison into her arms, "I won't be gone too long then I'd like to take you out to dinner."

Placing her bag on the ground, Madison smiled, "I know baby and I'm just being a big sook. This feeling of emptiness is new to me, so please bear with me while I sort it out."

Helen pecked the tip of the blonde's nose, "I think it's a charming quality darling and I will call you as often as I can. There is a nine hour time difference, so I'll try to make it during your night time."

"Thank you sweetheart and I won't phone you in case I disturb you."

"I appreciate that." Helen's hands reached under Madison's coat and gently kneaded her buttocks. "I love you with all my heart."

"I love you too," responded Madison before kissing Helen tenderly.

When the couple separated, Madison opened the rear door and placed her bag on the back seat. Turning, she closed the door then embraced Helen again, "Be careful and I will see you soon."

"You take care and I'll speak to you as soon as I can. Drive safe my love."

"I will and happy hunting."

They kissed again before Madison climbed into her SUV and with a wave, was gone.

Helen hugged her arms around herself and smiled when she heard her daughter's footsteps behind her on the gravel.

Ashley wrapped an arm around her shoulders, "I hate goodbyes."

"I do too," agreed Helen in a soft whisper. "I'm bloody hopeless over her."

"Yeah, I kind of noticed mom. Come on inside and get out of this cold."

-o-