Fic: Three Reasons Nikola Didn't Come Back To England (And One Reason That He Did)

[grav_ity]

AN: So Normandy happened! This is written based on the idea that after faking his death in January of 1943, Nikola went to Jasenovac and went very, very vampire on the Germans who were slaughtering his people. Of course, since he’s in England during the episode, he has to get back somehow.

Spoilers: Normandy

Rating: Teen

Disclaimer: Not mine, and right now, I don’t even really care!

Characters: Nikola Tesla, Helen Magnus, James Watson, John Druitt and Nigel Griffin

Summary: Despite all evidence to the contrary, three plus one is five.

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Three Reasons Nikola Didn’t Come Back To England (And One Reason That He Did)

1. James

You might have left your notes in better order. Or provided some manner of clue as to your filing system. I’ve figured it out, naturally, but there’s a war on and I don’t really have the time to spare for your eccentricities.

It might interest you to know that after some six months of concerted effort on my part, I have managed to convince Whitehall and our American friends that your device is, in addition to being inherently unstable, grossly impractical, which ought to prohibit any of the governments you were foolish enough to send it to from producing a working model. You no longer have anything to fear from any country, save the one to which you have exiled yourself.

Our attentions have turned elsewhere, but there has been a small set back. Your assistance would be appreciated.

2. John

Next time you decide to take on evil, old boy, you really ought to invite me along. Together, I think, we could work more effectively than when we are at odds. I have a plan that you would do well to mark rather than work against.

You know where to find me.

3. Nigel

I know why you’ve gone. I fought the first time around too, remember, much closer to the front line than you did. And maybe you are making a difference, in your way. And maybe that is the best you can hope for.

It’s not like the other times, Nikola. This time our enemy is organized, brutal and efficient. You’ve probably seen evidence enough of that now. But you’re behind the lines and we’re on the fore of it. Things look different up here.

I’m not saying we’re worth more than your homeland, but you’ve belonged to us for more than half a century now. Put your teeth away. Come back and use your brain with us again.

4. Helen

I’m the one that sent you away in the first place, I know that. And I’m not sorry. It had to be done.

They’ll be sending us abroad soon, and I don’t imagine we’ll be on England’s side of the Channel for any long period of time once we start slipping about in France. They need us there too badly, even James. Especially James, it turns out.

They won’t let you leave once you come back. They’ll assign some wet behind the ears lieutenant that you’ll probably hate to shadow you everywhere. The food will be terrible. And you’ll be stuck in London, alone.

There is something I am going to have to leave behind. I cannot leave it unguarded.

Come to London, Nikola. I need you.

Five

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finis

Gravity_Not_Included, May 24, 2011

Comments

[icarus-chained.livejournal.com]

I’m not saying we’re worth more than your homeland, but you’ve belonged to us for more than half a century now. Put your teeth away. Come back and use your brain with us again.

I believe I may be madly in love with Nigel Griffin. Just, you know, a little bit. Heh.

And Helen asks, so of course he comes.

Wonderful.

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

"Put your teeth away" is definitely my favourite part. :)

Thank you.

[icarus-chained.livejournal.com]

Would you hate me very much if I'd taken 'put your teeth away' as the inspiration for a John/Nikola fic? *ducks sheepishly*

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

Oh god, no. At this point, anything I don't have to write myself is a bonus (seriously, I haven't had this many fics exploding in my head since...possibly ever).

[icarus-chained.livejournal.com]

*smiles faintly* Know the feeling. Believe me. Heh.

[querulouspeg.livejournal.com]

Yes, Nigel has gone up up up in my estimation!

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

He is freaking adorable. I love him.

[lferion]

Every one of these voices is so very spot on.

*Tags 'might as well be canon'*

And I love the tiny little achy bit in Helen's letter about James. She loves all of them, in her own way, and I don't think it has much to do with whether she is sleeping with them or not.

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much!

And yes: Helen loves them all. And they would tear the world apart for her.

[querulouspeg.livejournal.com]

Comeback Nikola, I need you. *SOBS* Of course my Darling Helen, I love you!

(loved this)

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

She is not afraid to manipulate the crap out of him to get what she wants. I adore her.

[artaxastra.livejournal.com]

Oh good! So very in character for all of them. I can hear each of them saying it, John particularly. Yes.

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

As always, John's was the easier. But Nigel was definitely the most fun. Glad it worked for you. :)

[darthanne.livejournal.com]

Wonderfully IC for all of them.

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[jerusha]

I loved this, all of it.

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much!

[jessica-eliza.livejournal.com]

Come to London, Nikola. I need you.

Just... ♥

I love them all--the characters' voices are just spot-on.

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

I love how completely not afraid of manipulating him she is. She needs him to look after Ashley, so she plays him. Again.

(poor Nikola! Such an easy target. All you have to do is listen when he talks and he'll follow you FOREVER. Or, you know, until you betray Helen to the Nazis. Then you're screwed.)

[jessica-eliza.livejournal.com]

I think she knows that Nikola is completely smitten by her beauty and intelligence that even though he is one of the most dangerous abnormals in the world, he will never take her life.

(Nikola is probably a big softie with a tough exterior. After all, he did give his blood to John to keep him alive. :P)

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

(Nikola is probably a big softie with a tough exterior. After all, he did give his blood to John to keep him alive. :P)

...he did?

[jessica-eliza.livejournal.com]

If I didn't remember wrongly, it was mentioned at some point, in Revelations Part II? (I actually re-checked the eps. lol) It was mentioned/hinted that he helped John after Helen gave John the "corrupted" blood that should end his life, but not whether if he re-created whatever John's body needed or he gave John his blood. lol

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

I suppose it could have gone down like that, but it's never explicitly said. All we really know is that Tesla saved his life and then tried to kill him. ;)

[jessica-eliza.livejournal.com]

It seems like that they alternate between trying to kill, then help/save each other, and occasionally work together. xD

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

What are friends for?

[jessica-eliza.livejournal.com]

...to help each other pass time in their seemingly never-ending life span. lol.

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

And how!

[eldanna.livejournal.com]

You know, I'm just thinking something over in my head. I might be glaringly wrong or it may be glaringly obvious to everyone else.

Is the French woman Nigel takes a liking to, Clara's grandmother?

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

I'm reasonably sure that's what everyone else came up with.

[eldanna.livejournal.com]

Oh good. I may be behind, but at least I'm on the right track!

Also, I really enjoyed Nikola, The One Man Show this time around. Two great Tesla episodes in a row. It's like..we're being spoiled.

And the fic was good too. ;D

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[shadadukal]

I think I love John the best. And then Nigel's.

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

John's was super easy, which I think is all that prevents me from loving it...well, that and I adore "put your teeth away" and have been imagining it in Nigel's voice. ;)

Thanks!

[midwifeonboard.livejournal.com]

Perfect. Each character's voice was exactly right. Well done.

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I love changing the words around for each character (and, in John's case, saying his sentences out loud and making everything as long as possible).

I think both this and Sketches will frame my Sanctuary Big Bang story, so getting good reception for them is great. :)

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

My fics are pretty much mostly The Five (in various combinations), so yeah: this fandom has very much made a multi-shipper out of me! ;)

I really think that Nikola ignored the first three letters and then Helen fell back on outright manipulation because she needed someone to look after Ashley, but yes: he probably loves them all (as much as they all love each other).

I'd love to know what you think of "Venatus Debitum", which is the very first Sanctuary fic I wrote. [/shameless self-promotion]