Sanctuary Fic: Someone To Keep You Warm
Fandom: Sanctuary
Title: Someone To Keep You Warm
Author: maekala
Recipient: vivrebarefoot
Rating: PG for mentions of the naughty
Words: 1380
Pairing: Helen/Nikola, barely there mention of Helen/James and James/Nikola
Summary: During WWII, Helen and James have evacuated the UK Sanctuary but stay behind. One night, Nikola shows up.
Notes: I'm way late in posting this and I feel really bad about that. Next year, I plan to limit the number of ficathons I actually sign up for and just do pinchhits as I have time. I had fun writing this and I only wish it had been longer. I was going to write this awesome, lengthy, plotty thing, but time got away from me. Who knows? It may still happen.
The British Sanctuary was quiet since they'd moved the residents to other, safer Sanctuaries around the world. Word of the impending Blitz had given them just under a week to organize a transfer and the chaos had meant nothing but long nights, little sleep and noise. Even now that she and James had been left with only those residents who couldn't be moved for a month, she still couldn't get over how very quiet it was.
"Helen?" called James, breaking her reverie.
"Hmm?" she answered, looking up from her book to see him standing by the door. "Has something happened?"
"No. I just thought you would want to know, we received word that the last of the refugees has arrived. Everyone is safe."
She smiled, genuine relief flooding over her. She had been worried about her people, knowing how much Hitler wanted to get his hands on some of them for both experimentation and extermination. "Good. Very good. Is there anything else?"
"Actually, yes."
She had started to turn back to her book, but now sat straighter, a question on her lips that was answered when Nikola came around the corner, easily moving past James.
"Helen! So good to see you! Please tell me you didn't evacuate all of the wine?"
She smiled at both men, happy that they were safe and a little exasperated that Nikola had come calling without a fair warning. "Of course not, Nikola. You know where it is." Nikola smiled wide, showing his extended canines and then headed back out in search of wine and glasses.
"Did he say how long he was planning to stay?" she asked, watching James enter the room completely.
"No. But he did suggest that Winston is not fond of him right now. Likely he now wants you to help him smooth things over with the old boy."
"Of course. And, no doubt, to flirt with the both of us."
James assumed an expression of disapproval. "I don't suppose you'd be willing to head that off? I've got work to do and I'd rather not be distracted."
Helen chuckled fondly. "Of course, old friend. I'll keep him entertained upstairs. But let me know if you need any help during the bombing tonight. They should stay well clear of us, but you know how accurate they are."
"All too well. Thank you, Helen. Good luck with him."
She smiled and went back to her book, unsurprised when Nikola reappeared a few minutes later with a bottle of red wine and two glasses. "Where's James?"
She looked pointedly at the lack of a third glass. "Do you really care?"
He grinned and set a glass down in front of her, pouring one of her better red wines. "Not really. But it is polite to ask."
"It is also polite to call ahead before you appear on someone's doorstep seeking sanctuary from the Prime Minister."
"James told you, then?"
"What little you told him." She looked up at him, tilting her head in curiosity. "So what did you do to gain Winston's wrath?"
He waved it off, sitting across from her with his own glass and inspecting her book. "You know Winston. Can't take a joke. I'm sure it'll blow over before long. I'm more interested in why you're reading Marx and," he leaned over to inspect the pamphlet sitting on the table, apparently already read. "Stalin."
"Politics, Nikola. All for politics."
"Planning to seduce the Soviets? That won't be as easy as the Americans."
She shook her head slightly. "Not quite. From what I'm hearing of the Soviet-German pact, it's about to fall apart. I'd like to be able to offer Stalin an alternative once he sees Hitler's true colours."
Nikola inclined his head, disbelieving. "Have your sources also told you that Stalin is a narcissistic bastard willing to kill millions of his own men because of his own failings?"
She put down Marx's manifesto, turning her full attention to Nikola. "I know that. But, like it or not, Churchill is going to have to make a deal with Stalin and the Americans are going to have to get involved if we're going to come through this war. I, for one, would not take well to speaking German."
"Assuming, of course, that Hitler let you live." He watched her face, noting the ticks or absence thereof. "You're plotting something, aren't you?"
She smiled deviously. "I've no idea what you're talking about, Nikola. I am simply planning ahead to keep the residents of my Sanctuaries safe."
He laughed at her attempts at coyness. "Oh, Helen, I knew it was a good idea to come here. Whatever it is, I want in on it."
Her head nodded to one side just slightly and a less astute man would not have seen it. "I'll keep that in mind for the future. But tell me, Nikola, what sort of hazards have you been finding for yourself these last few years?"
He told her some of what he'd been doing, but Helen knew there were parts missing. She thought about mentioning some of the things she'd heard about through various sources, but decided to keep it to herself. They all had their secrets, after all and, if Nikola thought he was keeping one or two, who was she to disillusion him?
"So how has the Sanctuary faired with the Germans bombing the city?"
"Very well, actually. They've focused mostly on the port thus far and the governmental institutions. At least as well as they can."
"Yes, I'd heard that their aim is not what it could be."
She smiled. "Nikola, you know they haven't fully realized the practical applications of sonar and radar yet."
He nodded. "Too bad. I'm sure a number of lives would be saved if they did. London is a fire trap and I fear what will happen if the city cannot fight a blaze the Germans set."
She sobered quickly, understanding his concern as she shared it. "We've put some precautions into place, but we can't do what we'd like. The abnormals will help fight any blaze that arises, but we are always limited in our involvement."
He started to speak but paused, considering his next words carefully. She recognized that look.
"Why did you really come here, Nikola? No matter what's happened between you and Winston, I know you have places to stay in America. Why come here in the middle of a war that could wipe the country from existence?"
He sighed. "I was worried. For you and James. Even though the Sanctuary is all but moved to America, you still remain here. What is keeping you here?"
"The Sanctuary's purpose hasn't changed. I've spread word in the community that I will help any abnormal wishing to escape the chaos to do so. I can't do that from America. And, if someone needs me, I will go to them. The soldiers honestly believe they are fighting an evil enemy. Abnormals are being targeted at a higher rate and I won't stand for that."
"Oh, Helen. You and your noble causes. It's foolish, of course, but noble."
"Then I suppose, in answer to your question, I'm here to help you. Someone has to keep you and James out of trouble."
She laughed then, genuinely happy for the first time since this dreaded war had started. "Yes, because you are the one to keep anyone out of trouble."
"Then perhaps I'm here simply to warm your bed," he said, raising a suggestive eyebrow. "I see how attentive James is to your needs. Who better to step in?"
A pleasant heat suffused her body at the mention of sex. It had been quite some time since she had thought about tending to her own needs and she remembered from their Oxford days that Nikola could be a surprisingly thoughtful lover.
She nodded once, smiling devilishly. "Very well. I accept your offer. Come to my room after dinner."
"Why wait until then?"
She chuckled at his impatience. "Because there are still some residents here and I need to do the evening feeding. You're welcome to join me."
He shook his head, wrinkling his face. "I think I'll stay here and enjoy your lovely wine cellar. Maybe catch up on a bit of my own reading."
Title: Someone To Keep You Warm
Author: maekala
Recipient: vivrebarefoot
Rating: PG for mentions of the naughty
Words: 1380
Pairing: Helen/Nikola, barely there mention of Helen/James and James/Nikola
Summary: During WWII, Helen and James have evacuated the UK Sanctuary but stay behind. One night, Nikola shows up.
Notes: I'm way late in posting this and I feel really bad about that. Next year, I plan to limit the number of ficathons I actually sign up for and just do pinchhits as I have time. I had fun writing this and I only wish it had been longer. I was going to write this awesome, lengthy, plotty thing, but time got away from me. Who knows? It may still happen.
The British Sanctuary was quiet since they'd moved the residents to other, safer Sanctuaries around the world. Word of the impending Blitz had given them just under a week to organize a transfer and the chaos had meant nothing but long nights, little sleep and noise. Even now that she and James had been left with only those residents who couldn't be moved for a month, she still couldn't get over how very quiet it was.
"Helen?" called James, breaking her reverie.
"Hmm?" she answered, looking up from her book to see him standing by the door. "Has something happened?"
"No. I just thought you would want to know, we received word that the last of the refugees has arrived. Everyone is safe."
She smiled, genuine relief flooding over her. She had been worried about her people, knowing how much Hitler wanted to get his hands on some of them for both experimentation and extermination. "Good. Very good. Is there anything else?"
"Actually, yes."
She had started to turn back to her book, but now sat straighter, a question on her lips that was answered when Nikola came around the corner, easily moving past James.
"Helen! So good to see you! Please tell me you didn't evacuate all of the wine?"
She smiled at both men, happy that they were safe and a little exasperated that Nikola had come calling without a fair warning. "Of course not, Nikola. You know where it is." Nikola smiled wide, showing his extended canines and then headed back out in search of wine and glasses.
"Did he say how long he was planning to stay?" she asked, watching James enter the room completely.
"No. But he did suggest that Winston is not fond of him right now. Likely he now wants you to help him smooth things over with the old boy."
"Of course. And, no doubt, to flirt with the both of us."
James assumed an expression of disapproval. "I don't suppose you'd be willing to head that off? I've got work to do and I'd rather not be distracted."
Helen chuckled fondly. "Of course, old friend. I'll keep him entertained upstairs. But let me know if you need any help during the bombing tonight. They should stay well clear of us, but you know how accurate they are."
"All too well. Thank you, Helen. Good luck with him."
She smiled and went back to her book, unsurprised when Nikola reappeared a few minutes later with a bottle of red wine and two glasses. "Where's James?"
She looked pointedly at the lack of a third glass. "Do you really care?"
He grinned and set a glass down in front of her, pouring one of her better red wines. "Not really. But it is polite to ask."
"It is also polite to call ahead before you appear on someone's doorstep seeking sanctuary from the Prime Minister."
"James told you, then?"
"What little you told him." She looked up at him, tilting her head in curiosity. "So what did you do to gain Winston's wrath?"
He waved it off, sitting across from her with his own glass and inspecting her book. "You know Winston. Can't take a joke. I'm sure it'll blow over before long. I'm more interested in why you're reading Marx and," he leaned over to inspect the pamphlet sitting on the table, apparently already read. "Stalin."
"Politics, Nikola. All for politics."
"Planning to seduce the Soviets? That won't be as easy as the Americans."
She shook her head slightly. "Not quite. From what I'm hearing of the Soviet-German pact, it's about to fall apart. I'd like to be able to offer Stalin an alternative once he sees Hitler's true colours."
Nikola inclined his head, disbelieving. "Have your sources also told you that Stalin is a narcissistic bastard willing to kill millions of his own men because of his own failings?"
She put down Marx's manifesto, turning her full attention to Nikola. "I know that. But, like it or not, Churchill is going to have to make a deal with Stalin and the Americans are going to have to get involved if we're going to come through this war. I, for one, would not take well to speaking German."
"Assuming, of course, that Hitler let you live." He watched her face, noting the ticks or absence thereof. "You're plotting something, aren't you?"
She smiled deviously. "I've no idea what you're talking about, Nikola. I am simply planning ahead to keep the residents of my Sanctuaries safe."
He laughed at her attempts at coyness. "Oh, Helen, I knew it was a good idea to come here. Whatever it is, I want in on it."
Her head nodded to one side just slightly and a less astute man would not have seen it. "I'll keep that in mind for the future. But tell me, Nikola, what sort of hazards have you been finding for yourself these last few years?"
He told her some of what he'd been doing, but Helen knew there were parts missing. She thought about mentioning some of the things she'd heard about through various sources, but decided to keep it to herself. They all had their secrets, after all and, if Nikola thought he was keeping one or two, who was she to disillusion him?
"So how has the Sanctuary faired with the Germans bombing the city?"
"Very well, actually. They've focused mostly on the port thus far and the governmental institutions. At least as well as they can."
"Yes, I'd heard that their aim is not what it could be."
She smiled. "Nikola, you know they haven't fully realized the practical applications of sonar and radar yet."
He nodded. "Too bad. I'm sure a number of lives would be saved if they did. London is a fire trap and I fear what will happen if the city cannot fight a blaze the Germans set."
She sobered quickly, understanding his concern as she shared it. "We've put some precautions into place, but we can't do what we'd like. The abnormals will help fight any blaze that arises, but we are always limited in our involvement."
He started to speak but paused, considering his next words carefully. She recognized that look.
"Why did you really come here, Nikola? No matter what's happened between you and Winston, I know you have places to stay in America. Why come here in the middle of a war that could wipe the country from existence?"
He sighed. "I was worried. For you and James. Even though the Sanctuary is all but moved to America, you still remain here. What is keeping you here?"
"The Sanctuary's purpose hasn't changed. I've spread word in the community that I will help any abnormal wishing to escape the chaos to do so. I can't do that from America. And, if someone needs me, I will go to them. The soldiers honestly believe they are fighting an evil enemy. Abnormals are being targeted at a higher rate and I won't stand for that."
"Oh, Helen. You and your noble causes. It's foolish, of course, but noble."
"Then I suppose, in answer to your question, I'm here to help you. Someone has to keep you and James out of trouble."
She laughed then, genuinely happy for the first time since this dreaded war had started. "Yes, because you are the one to keep anyone out of trouble."
"Then perhaps I'm here simply to warm your bed," he said, raising a suggestive eyebrow. "I see how attentive James is to your needs. Who better to step in?"
A pleasant heat suffused her body at the mention of sex. It had been quite some time since she had thought about tending to her own needs and she remembered from their Oxford days that Nikola could be a surprisingly thoughtful lover.
She nodded once, smiling devilishly. "Very well. I accept your offer. Come to my room after dinner."
"Why wait until then?"
She chuckled at his impatience. "Because there are still some residents here and I need to do the evening feeding. You're welcome to join me."
He shook his head, wrinkling his face. "I think I'll stay here and enjoy your lovely wine cellar. Maybe catch up on a bit of my own reading."