disclaimer: Sanctuary and all its characters still belong to the creators of Sanctuary. No ill intent meant just bringing the characters further to life.
This story jumps between Present time and past times - past times are indented and in italics.
Natalie opened her eyes. The night candle had long since gone out and the bed curtains were closed, softening the light that the dawn had brought. Yet, a few rays of morning light glimmered through cracks in the closed shutters, turning the room beyond the cocoon of the iridescent bed curtains to a twilit grey. She could hear the sound of breathing, steady and slow in sleep, and feel the weight of Helen's arm across her waist. She sensed that she was lying on her stomach, her hipbone pressed to hers, her breath against her shoulder. Had she listened, she would have heard the exact moment when Helen awoke, her breath catching slightly. Inhaling. But the great consciousness of the younger doctor was focused solely on the smooth circles Helen's fingertips were creating on her waist.
She had just settled down at the front row when the lecturer entered the room. Watching the woman, she crossed her legs and straightened her back. Her eyes sought her papers once more to confirm that the neatly scribbled words she had already taken still left plenty of room to continue writing. When the lights dimmed again, Natalie reached for her water bottle. Taking a few sips, she tried to calm her up-set stomach. Then, focusing again at the lecturer, she listened.
Helen nodded at the person that was leaving, having introduced the series. "Well, I am honoured to be the inaugural speaker. Fitting as we have gathered to discuss how primogenial mutagenic traits have been catalogued and inventoried through the last century." She gave the crowd a smile as the lights dimmed somewhat so her projected slides could be shown. "What was surprising was the amount of oral records that exist." She used her laser pointer to illustrate a few areas on the current map being projected. "Once we began to record and catalogue the aural history." She moved to the next slide.
"You can see the increase is staggering. We also have been able to subdivide these cases into the genetic categories I mentioned earlier. The range is amazing," She turned to the audience, her eyes roaming.
Her attention taken from her notes, Natalie looked up to meet the eyes of the enchanting doctor as the latter paused to breathe. The word then spoken was the same that ran through her mind as she drowned in the sea coloured eyes that were brought forth in colour by the light of the projector.
"Beautiful." Helen gave a slight laugh and looked to the audience in general. "The pattern that is. We have been able to trace the origin of a number of mutations based on this new information."
The rest of the lecture had passed in a similar manner and thinking back, Natalie found that the yearning and desire later explored had been present from the beginning. But it had not been through passion that they connected, or even understood what they would eventually mean to each other. The events following the lecture had been unforeseen by all joining parts.
When the students began to rise, Natalie took a moment to gather her notes and make certain that she had everything packed in place. Then, standing up she swayed slightly, screwing her eyes shut as the nausea began to build up again.
A steadying hand rested gently on Natalie's shoulder, a voice from behind accompanying the support. "Are you alright?"
"Quite... alright thank you." Natalie said, taking a deep breath before she opened her eyes. "Doctor?"
"Please, call me Helen. Doctor sounds so pompous. Especially in this crowd. I would wager many collect title addresses like bottle caps at these functions." She chased her comment with a warm smile, seemingly forgetting for a moment that her hand was still resting on the woman's arm.
Natalie smiled, "You held a great lecture, Helen. Inspiring is lacking the force of what I'd like to call it."
Helen's eyes widened a bit as she absently straightened at the compliment. Realizing she'd left her hand in place, she let it drop as she replied. "Inspiration is a valuable commodity. I am honoured to have been the catalyst for such thought. You have interests in the subject of the meeting?"
Natalie gave a slight nod, "I certainly do. However, it is more of a private interest than anything else." she said, leaving the cause of her interest somewhat vague.
"Any interest is worth pursuing, knowledge can unlock many doors." Helen paused a full beat, a smile slipping across her face. "Are you staying for the reception? I would be happy to answer any other questions you might have as I am sure the other speakers would as well. Or there are other topics to be pondered. I have heard whispers of an upset in the upcoming local sporting events." Her smile widened a bit as she offered that possible divergence.
Natalie smiled, "I cannot stay for long. I am needed at the headquarters in less than an hour." She paused, "Certainly, our case would sparkle your interest. Perhaps you would like to discuss this further over a cup of tea before the reception?"
"Headquarters? You are involved in law enforcement?" As she spoke, she laid a guiding hand on Natalie's elbow, steering them away from the main crowd, which was filtering to the reception hall. Instead she began to navigate them in the opposite direction.
Natalie gave a soft laugh, "Pardon me, my manners seem to have been completely swept away by your lecture. I believe I have yet to introduce myself. I am Natalie Roper, Chief Medical Examiner at the FBI."
"And here I had hoped it might be something else that had swept you away." Helen countered as she held open a nondescript door. "This is the back way to the kitchens. In setting up this meeting I had a hand in all details and have spent quite a bit of time traversing these back ways. Your early comment suggested a more secluded area. There is nothing quite like stealing away for some solitude and a cup in the kitchen."
"I am inclined to agree." Natalie said in a low voice as she entered the kitchen. Then, closing the door, she said in a lighter tone, "Certainly I will be envied for my current position, alone with you for yet some time." She handed Helen a file, "These photos are from the crime scene I just visited."
"I could say the same. I have been trying to make inroads to your department for quite some time. And here fortune as favoured me by having you fall into my lap." She took the file, her eyes scanning the photos. Taking time with each one. Rotating each photo slowly in a 360 degree circle. "Remarkable."
"There is more." Natalie began but was abruptly cut off when shots fired in the room behind them sent bullets through the light wooden door. Within seconds, she had Helen down on the floor, her hand reaching for her gun.
Helen had already pulled the gun that she kept secreted away out. She turned to look at the doctor, finding their faces mere centimetres apart due to how they had fallen. "My I was right, you do have lovely dimples."
She retrieved her phone then, mindful of her gun as she picked out what she feared, barked commands amid the chaotic screams. "Ashley, yes it seems there is a bit of a row going on. I am fine, please see to the reception hall, the main body was headed there."
"Yes, this is organized. Be careful." She had to smile at the response. "I know you always are." She looked back to Natalie as she replaced the phone, the door splintering. "Well, it seems we may need to shift, are you up for a bit of a jog?"
Her eyes widened slightly as she shifted and her hand went to her side, "Actually..." Natalie's face took on a slightly pained expression, "That might soon become a problem..." She said as she felt the warm blood pulsing between her fingers.
Helen gave the doctor a curious look, which morphed into understanding as she saw the growing red stain. "My daughter would use the phrase, "I knew you were trouble the minute you walked in"." She used the light remark to help mask the growing tension of the situation.
Spotting some towels on a shelf and a few discard aprons, she surveyed the area and managed to scoot/drag them both into a more secluded area, knowing it was a slim chance it would keep them safe. She dropped the linens she had picked up by her knee as she hovered over Natalie. "Let me see." She whispered, her fingers moving to inspect and find the source of the blood.
Her hand moving from her wound, Natalie fought to keep quiet as the pain shot through her midsection. Her eyes fluttered slightly and she willed back the urge to get violently sick. But as Helen's fingers neared the area where the bullet had hit her, she curled up slightly on her side, breathing heavily.
"This will not do." Helen muttered as she examined the wound, trying to bunch up the woman's shirt. "We need to get you to a better facility. The knives in this place are as dull as paper. How is your breathing doctor?" She could not tell from the entry wound how far it had gone.
"Hurts like hell..." Natalie gasped out as she tried to steady her breathing. Her eyes closed as she listened to the approaching voices, "Have to get out of here..."
"While that is a nice idea I am not sure it is feasible." She heard a crash and muttering. "Keep your gun out of sight." Helen whispered, placing an apron over hers as she kept pressure on the wound, trying to balance between enough to slow the flow but as little as possible considering she knew it would be painful. She looked up as three people entered.
She could tell from their attire, weapons and the communication devices that they were indeed a professional group, and she had a number one suspect as to who.
When Helen pressed down, Natalie fought hard to suppress the cry that instead died on her lips. Pain was quickly recovering her senses and she felt her eyes beginning to close. Screwing her eyes shut, she took a deep breath to gather her senses once again but coughed as the movement tore on her injury. Opening her eyes, she focused her gaze on the three men before them.
One of the men pulled out a photo, "This man. Have you seen him?"
"She's been badly injured. We need to find a doctor, please, let us go." Helen schooled her face and voice to show no recognition, although her hand holding the covering in place over Natalie's wound had tensed some as Helen recognized the man they were looking for.
The man's gaze narrowed slightly as he looked at the two women. Then, he quickly scanned the room before nodding to his two comrades. "Search the hallways." He ordered and the group parted no sooner than they had left the room.
Helen closed her eyes, releasing the breath she'd been partially holding. "Dear Nikola, what have you gone and done this time?" Her exasperation voiced. She looked back to Natalie. "We need to get you taken care of and now. I suspect the authorities are on their way now and we should be able to find you medical attention."
Natalie nodded slightly as she leaned back into Helen's embrace. Then, her blood began to burn and she was absently aware of her own temperature rising slightly.
"We're in one of the side pantries. The Cabal has moved through. I need help to carry an injured woman to one of the..." Helen broke off, looking down sharply as she felt Natalie's skin growing warm where she was holding the doctor. "Hurry..." She said absently and closed the phone, her focus now entirely on the other woman. "Natalie..."
"Helen..." Natalie closed her eyes, her hold of the energy within slipping. Seconds later, the table they had previously sat at went up in flames.