Author's Note: sorry it's taken a few days, RL has been a b***h lately :( hope you enjoy, please review :) As before, ## for paragraph breaks :|
The large, reinforced Oak door of the Old City Sanctuary swung open to reveal Dr Helen Magnus and Dr Will Zimmerman, both smiling politely. Bigfoot, Kate and Henry were conspicuous by their absence but Declan figured Helen probably thought the best people to greet their new arrival would be herself and Will. One of Helen's finely shaped eyebrows rose fractionally as she took in the sight before her, and her eyes held a multitude of questions.
"Welcome to Old City Morwenna," Helen greeted their guest, stepping back to invite her into the house.
"Wena," the abnormal replied, giving Helen a wan smile. As she went to step over the threshold, she stumbled and Declan grabbed her arm to steady her. She jerked her arm from his grasp, shooting him a look of pure hatred as she walked ahead, a single step behind Helen. Will closed the door and brought up the rear of the party, lightly touching Declan's arm in an indication of both support and query.
"So, what happened?" Will asked, as Declan took the hint and hung back. The two men walked in silence for a moment, listening to Helen as she gave the guided tour to Wena.
"She tried to do a runner at the airport mate, and I had to stop her," Declan replied quietly, his voice emotionless and his shoulders slumped. He wasn't his usual self and every compassionate molecule of Will's body wanted to know why, and how he could help his friend. While the men had not always seen eye to eye, their shared experiences had wiped away the animosity which Will had felt after Declan had been forced to investigate Helen on a murder charge. Since their experiences in India, Oldham and Carentan, among others, a strong friendship had developed between the two men and it hurt Will to see his friend so lost, so destroyed.
"You know you can talk to me, Declan," Will told him, not wanting to push the issue until the Brit was ready to talk.
"I know mate, thanks," Declan replied, giving Will a half-hearted smile. He saw the women had stopped outside the lift and hurried over, smiling sadly at Helen as she looked at him quizzically.
"I'm going to give Wena the guided tour. Do you want to join us or do you have other things to be getting on with?" Helen asked, her gaze flitting between the two men.
"If it's ok with you, I'm gonna grab a couple hours sleep," Declan told her, studiously avoiding looking at Wena. The look of hurt and betrayal that flashed across her face for the briefest moments caused his heart to contract but he maintained an outwardly calm demeanour.
"Of course," Helen agreed, her tone neutral. "Sleep well." She ushered Wena into the lift and started to tell her about the other residents, clearly seeing the look that passed between Declan and his former charge. She couldn't help but wonder exactly what had happened between them on their journey, and resolved to find out as soon as possible.
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Declan woke with a start, the remnants of his dream still fresh in his mind. He could still feel the touch of Wena's hands on him as power coursed through his veins; hear the growling of the cat shifters and the sound of someone breathing quietly. He was beginning to wonder whether the shifters he'd met had been the threat Wena had be running from when she contacted him. Her comments about being "no better than 'them'" had him worried, but he knew she was no longer his concern. He had willingly handed over custody and responsibility of her to Magnus, and he felt like he'd condemned her to death by doing so. Getting dressed, he resolved to try and talk with her before he left to return to London, wanting to try and clear the air before he walked out of her life, and she out of his.
##
Declan knocked on the solid oak door which led into the guest room which had been given to Wena until more permanent quarters could be made available. He heard her say enter and opened the door, stepping in and closing it behind him quickly. He looked at her, standing in front of the window and staring out at the city, unaware perhaps of who had just entered her room.
"So, you're going home then?" she asked him without turning, her voice lifeless and her posture defeated.
"Yeah, I leave in a few minutes for the airport," he confirmed, his entire being aching to see her so destroyed and listless. "Wena..." he started, wanting to tell her this had all been a huge mistake and he was going to take her home, back to London, with him.
"Don't," she cautioned him, turning away from the window to face him. "You've already proven you have no honour, no integrity." He opened his mouth to dispute her accusations but she cut him off. "You've shown beyond doubt that you can't be trusted, that you are no different to those who wanted to use me for their own ends!"
"Now wait a minute, I saved you from them," he challenged, angry at her words, more so because in some ways he knew they were true.
"No! You saved me from a bunch of smelly, selfish shifters, nothing more! All you're doing by leaving me here is condemning me," she snarled at him, her voice beginning to rise.
"Condemning you to what? A cosy life where you have nothing to worry about all day?" he shouted back, his temper at breaking point.
"Is that what you think I have to look forward to?" she demanded, stunned by his ignorance.
"What the hell else is there to worry about? You're safe here," he snapped, the sinking feeling in his gut starting to grow at her words.
"Get out!" she ordered, spinning away from him to stare once more out of the window.
"Wena..." Declan said, not wanting to leave this way. He knew she had more to tell him, more to say about the danger she thought she faced, and now she wouldn't.
"GET OUT!" she screamed, tears streaming down her face as she hugged herself tightly. Before Declan could say another word, the door burst open to reveal Henry and Will, drawn by the raised voices. Declan knew there was nothing more he could do at that moment; all he could do was warn Magnus of the danger Wena believed herself to be in, and let the Old City team try to help her. With a last look at her, stood by the window with her eyes closed and her cheeks tear-stained, Declan turned on his heel and walked from the room.