Nikola woke in the wee small hours of the morning when Helen crawled into bed and curled up against him, her back to his front.

"Mm." He said gruffly, slinging an arm around her waist and tucking her neatly into his chest and dropping a lazy kiss on her hair. "Where have you been?"

"There isn't another abnormal with EM abilities. We're safe from the threat of more mind control devices." Helen said.

"Been visiting with Druitt?" Nikola yawned.

"I couldn't sleep." Helen said. "Not surprisingly, neither could he. He was quite ready to admit everything he knew. I sedated him."

"Hm." Nikola was still sleepy enough to take a few moments to process everything. "And you believe him?"

"He was nearly hysterical." Helen said softly.

"Don't feel guilty." Nikola ordered, his voice clearing and his arm tightening. "He would have cheerfully cut your throat yesterday."

"I know." Helen said. "I can't help it."

"Sweet girl." Nikola said with his voice full of amused disgust. His hand tangled with hers and squeezed.

"He told them about you. Gave them what information he had. Betrayed us again." Helen said dully.

"It still hurts you." Nikola stated.

"Yes." Helen said. "I can't change what I am."

"What you are is a soft hearted fool." Nikola said without any venom in his tone. He sat up, putting one hand on the mattress on either side of her body. She turned to her back and looked up at him in the dim light with a crooked smile.

"I suppose I am." She said sadly.

Nikola frowned at her and brushed a hand over her untidy curls, cupping her face with a gentleness that bordered on worship. She gazed at him with wide blue eyes.

"Would you have me any other way?" She asked.

"I'll have you any way I can get you." Nikola replied frankly. He bent and kissed her, his lips firm and insistent.

"Then have me." Helen murmured the invitation against his mouth. He made a rough sound of satisfaction in his throat and the hand holding her face stroked down her neck and body. She purred.

"Are you going to keep Druitt?" Nikola had to ask.

"No." Helen said. "It's no use."

"Are you going to keep me?"

"Oh, I suppose so." Helen smiled, her eyes soft.

Nikola grinned and he skimmed one clever hand up her thigh. "I thought you might be more resistant." He said. "I was prepared to convince you with a well-formulated argument." His hand stroked her sensitive skin.

Helen gasped softly then gave him a smile as old as Eve. "I'd be happy to hear you out." She said. Nikola's grin grew and he bent to kiss her briefly.

"First point, I'm in love with you." He said matter-of-factly. "Second point, I am very good with my hands…"

He demonstrated and neither of them cared about reaching point number three.

Some hours later the dawn light broke through Helen's bedroom window, rousing them from the half-doze they had tumbled into. They rose reluctantly and Helen went to ask for help moving John Druitt. Henry and Bigfoot wheeled the gurney out of the Sanctuary gates and unstrapped the restraints. Helen gave Druitt a bottle of antibiotics. "Take these so your wounds don't become infected." She said tightly.

John took them with a long look at her. He cleared his throat. "Helen…" He started uncomfortably. "I…I apologize. There is no excuse." He reached out, as if to touch the wound on her throat. Nikola stepped forward and tucked Helen protectively behind him. John's eyes became flat. "Tesla." He bit off.

"Druitt." Nikola said in a calm voice. "Goodbye."

"So long, old boy." Druitt said, with an unreadable expression on his face, and disappeared in a flash of red.

The residents of the Sanctuary stood for a moment before turning back into the gates.

"There's breakfast ready." Bigfoot offered with a grunt.

"Breakfast sounds lovely." Helen said brightly, trying to change the tense mood. "Shall we?"

"I take it you're planning to stick around, huh?" Henry said to Nikola.

"Hm." Nikola said enigmatically with a slow grin spreading across his face. "I don't think we've seen the last of Druitt. Best that I stay."

Henry gave him a wary look. "Sure, man." He said.

"And I can't ignore the fact that Helen is hopelessly in love with me." Nikola added smugly.

Helen shot him an exasperated look.

"What?" Henry said, looking deeply uncomfortable. Bigfoot grunted in disapproval.

"Breakfast." Helen said firmly, smothering her laughter and leading them in her wake into the Sanctuary and toward the dining room.

All around them the residents of the Sanctuary began to wake and greet the new day. A day with one less threat, one more ally, and infinite possibilities.