"You are not going in there," Nikola roared, his dulcet tones floating through Helen's thick bedroom door with enough venom to peak her interest. She turned over listlessly, moving to watch the door instead of the grey sky outside her window.

"Try and stop me, Tesla," a dark voice replied. There was the sound of a brief scuffle and someone's back obviously came into contact with the door but then nothing.

"Just... just leave it for now, Druitt," another voice put in, half pleading with the man. "She's resting, let her rest."

"He's been with her since she awoke," John cried angrily. "I want to see her, I have a right to see her."

"And what right is that?" Nikola retorted hotly. Helen could have chuckled to think of the look that must have been on his face. No doubt he stood with hands on hips too.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about, Tesla," the other man snarled. "Now move out of my way."

There was more scuffling, another dull thud and them a growl that sounded to Helen like John backing down.

A few more mumbled words seemed to break up the group, leaving Helen with relative peace for company. Well, for a moment anyway. Soon enough, there was a gentle knock at the door and she forced herself to sit up ever so slightly. The knocker paused for a moment, apparently listening to her side of the door before slowly the wood began to open.

"I'm sorry we woke you up," Nikola said, brow furrowing as he looked around the door. "Try and get some more rest. I'll be back later with some food, if that's all right."

And with one last sweet smile in her direction, he turned, moving to close the door behind him.

"Wait," Helen called out, her voice still shaky. "Nikola..."

His head reappeared by the door and, after a moment where she tried to think of what to say, he stepped through the door fully, shutting it behind him with a gently click.

"Helen?" he asked, taking a tentative step towards her. She bit her lip and looked away, working instead on pushing herself up from the bed.

"Helen!" he suddenly cried, dashing forwards, his arms coming around her middle just before her arms gave out. He lowered her gently to the bed before sitting beside her, cupping one cheek in his hand. He looked overly concerned for her, something Helen found startling. After all, she'd been gone so long, surely whatever fledgling spark their relationship may have held would have dwindled and then some. He was the kind to sit around waiting for her but even so, after all this time, Helen almost wished he'd moved on. It wasn't fair to let him mope over her when she could have been dead.

She wanted to say something, to put his fears to bed and entice him to join her but she couldn't. Those words were somewhere inside of her but they wouldn't come out, no matter how hard she tried so, instead, she settled for something which she hoped would convey the gratitude she felt in every bone.

"Hi," she whispered, not sure if the word was as strangled it felt in her throat, torn up by emotion she daren't identify.

His brilliant smile was startling and alluring, all at once.

"Hi."