A/N: I've only written fiction for The Mentalist up until now. I've decided to create a collection of drabbles and oneshots and post them under this title so I don't have lots of little drabbles floating about! I'd like to thank The Blue Raven for being a wonderful like-minded Sanctuary buddy. Thank you for inspiring me to actually write for Sanctuary, and for all our late-night conversations spent dissecting characters and episodes! All mistakes are my own.

Title: Alone
Author: Divinia Serit
Pairing: none, just Helen
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Season 2
Disclaimer: I own my student loans, or rather they own me.
Notes: This was written for the Plot Nubbins LJ community drabble challenge. The prompt was 'first time'.

Click. Click. Click.

Her heels echoed across the floor while despair drifted throughout the vast expanse of the Sanctuary. She never realized how lonely the sound was until it had been striped down to a horrid symbol of clinical detachment. A accessory of femininity, a tool of power. The neon sign advertising the woman in charge- the woman who was forced to make the tough decisions and carry on despite adversity.

It was the first time she truly realized Ashley was gone. There would be no sounds of scuffled sneakers, no gentle thud of worn combat boots to follow beside her. Just the silent tap of her heels in the hallway, punctuating each step as if to mock her. Even surrounded by her staff, she would walk these halls alone, and memories could only last so long.