for John

Helen wasn't exactly the sort of person to avoid someone for a length of time except, well, when it came to John Druitt. He was the exception to most of her rules and since the disappearance of Joan last month (or not-disappearance, as it turned out) Helen had kept her distance. Feeling for even a moment that John might have betrayed her was too much to think about and having gotten so close to him again, it hurt to think he'd still hunt and kill women the way he had when they were younger.

It had made things strained with Will, too, and Helen obviously had more of an investment in preserving her relationship with her husband over rekindling a friendship with her ex and that had taken time. She had come to the labs to see Nikola, catch him for a chat and a cup of tea, but seeing John arrested her in her tracks.

"Ah, right. I should have known you'd make your way down here eventually. Have you seen Nikola?"

Damn, but this was awkward. Helen hated being anything but poised and perfect and, worse, she knew John would more than likely pick up on her discomfort. He knew her far too well.