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[scruffyduck.livejournal.com]

Title: Cures For Insomnia
Author: rolleson
Fandom: Sanctuary
Rating: PG
Character/Pairing: Helen/Will friendship
Spoilers: Episode Three, partly the webisodes.
Warnings: None
Summary: Post Episode Three ficlet.
Notes: It's been a while since I wrote Sanctuary fic. 646 words.



She wasn't sure when Ashley had become her protector and not the other way around. When she had gone from being a mother, to a woman with a bodyguard as her daughter. The transition had been seamless, from one into the other, she hadn't even noticed until she was saying they needed Ashley, until she was saying those words.

Her daughter was supposed to be with her for love, and company, but things were rarely that way now, ever since she could fire a weapon. Before perhaps, since she obtained her first belt in karate, it was a downward spiral in which Helen was twice as loved but somehow twice as lonely.

Sad really, a shame.

She couldn't hold onto her daughters life forever, but compared to her own life span, these twenty years seemed so insignificant in a way, because all the things she had gained out of this, she was losing again.

She had Henry but they had little in common beyond her own systems and technology, and her man servant, but he was no conversationalist. Long, long gone were the days when John was sane and she was in love. Long gone were the days when she had companionship like that, like they had once shared.

Though Will was settling in and surprising her no end. It was a joy, on occasion, to talk to him about the Sanctuary, the different patients she had treated over the past century. He didn't react with any particular enthusiasm, and she still wasn't sure if this was because of his past, loosing his mother the way he did, or because he was still trying to take everything in. It was there though, a little gleam in his eyes that bounced off the lenses of his glasses. It amused her, and gave her a strange sense of hope.

For what? She had no idea.

"I was an insomniac you know," Will said, sitting opposite her as she scribbled at her desk. She cocked an eyebrow and smiled.

"Was?" she said. "You're up awfully late for someone who was an insomniac."

He smiled back, and she liked it when he smiled, because she was getting through to him maybe and bringing him here had been as much about him as anything else. Anyone else.

"I was about to head home but I started reading."

"The 'monster manual'."

"Yeah," he said with a short huff of laughter.

The oddest things amused him, she realised, the strangest things confusing him. But her own perceptions of odd, strange and unusual had long been difference to that of everyone else. Except her fathers perhaps. He's always seen what she had seen.

"I sleep now. I don't know why."

"You could have a room here, there are plenty."

"I'll think about it," he said.

"Did you want something? Other than to tell me your insomnia has been cured?" she asked, amused.

"I have some answers now, it's cleared my head a little," he said, "I wanted to thank you for that."

"You are most welcome," she said with another smile.

"What do you need to sleep?" he asked. She sighed.

"More than answers I'm afraid."

He nodded, accepting her answer easily. Sometimes she made very good decisions about people.

"The west wing is mostly empty. You could have it to yourself."

"Mostly empty?" he asked. He was in his rights to be cautious, of course, and she nodded.

"I have some storage rooms up there, a lot of older books."

"I'll think about it."

"Very well. Sleep on it."

He smiled at that, a full smile that looked like it hurt a little, as he used old forgotten muscles in his face and she understood that feeling all too well.

"Goodnight Helen," he said, the name still sounding a little odd in his accent.

"Goodnight," she said, voice low and soft, and smiling.

Comments

[silerswench.livejournal.com]

You have their voices down so well, the best I've read, especially Helen! Loved it. Helen's observation about Ashley as her body guard, and the distance it provoked. it was a downward spiral in which Helen was twice as loved but somehow twice as lonely. a really beautiful line and thought provoking line.

You also made me love Will by pointing out the characteristics I'd somehow neglected to notice. Suddenly he has a lot more depth than I'd given him credit. So thank you very much!

[scruffyduck.livejournal.com]

I think Will needs some poking and prodding to draw him out a little. it's a good show, it just needs time to bring it out of itself somewhat.

I'm glad you liked the fic, for some reason, I'm chanelling Helen this week, lol.

And mayogate told me you txted her to say I'd written fic. This amuses me greatly. And makes me blush. Cause I haven't even written two long sanctuary fics. lol.

[krissie678.livejournal.com]

Good job. I really enjoyed it.

[scruffyduck.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

[x0xmarie0x0.livejournal.com]

good job... I really enjoy it... I want to see a lot of scenes with them ''togheter'', talking, sharing... I like the chemistry !

[scruffyduck.livejournal.com]

Glad you enjoyed it :)

[talkofcake.livejournal.com]

I liked this one as well! Keep up the good work. :)

[scruffyduck.livejournal.com]

Thanks, will do :)

[draco-somnians.livejournal.com]

Oh you write them so well!

I've just seen that huge list of "pairing" tags at the side of your page. I'm intrigued. jack/pete? janet/vala? sam/ANUBIS?? OMG Sam/HAMMOND??? LOL! I have to go look!!!!

[scruffyduck.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you liked the fic.

I'm trying to pair Sam with everyone. Which was the point of the comm just_that_hot and generally, if someone on my flist asks me to write something, I'll usually do. If someone dares me to do something, I'll definitely do it. Jack/Pete was cause it was one of the worst pairings my friend could think of. lol. Janet/Vala was for a mini-ficathon.

If you have anything you want, usually you just have to ask. Sometimes I still write Sam/Jack too. lol

[annienau08.livejournal.com]

Yay! You wrote Sanctuary fic!

And it was so good. I am loving the friendship between these two, and you captured it nicely.

[scruffyduck.livejournal.com]

Thanks. And yes, I was inspired as they say. Though, I say, I had this idea and it sort of leaked out of my brain.

[audrich.livejournal.com]

OH wow! How do you do it - you just pin them down so well. I can hera them both speaking, see their expressions as the conversation twists and turns.

::applauds::

[scruffyduck.livejournal.com]

I was channeling Helen yesterday. lol. While in Starbucks. lol.

[audrich.livejournal.com]

Meep! What *are* they putting into their coffee these days? ;D

[mayogate.livejournal.com]

dude,
Yep - that sounds right to me. Like her - depth and a bit of bittersweet without veering into indulgent/
Nicexx

[scruffyduck.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :)

[triciabyrne1978.livejournal.com]

VERY nice :-)

Can't wait to see more from you, as this was spectacular!

[scruffyduck.livejournal.com]

Thank you :0

[iibgen.livejournal.com]

How can you get them so well ?? This fic, and the previous one I already commented on are perfect

[ssauei-ssui.livejournal.com]

I love that conversation. The best part of any fandom or any interaction is the chemistry it reveals. You don't have that chemistry, you crash and burn. I admit I was a little leery at first. The beginning few paragraphs felt clumsy to me; it didn't feel like you needed to say both "she hadn't even noticed until she was saying they needed Ashley," and "until she was saying those words," for example. But I loved the conversation. It felt very natural. Both the characters felt/sounded very real. Great job. :)

[firstlady1408.livejournal.com]

Lovely, I do love the Helen/Will friendship or pairing...they have such good chemistry. This was really well written specially Helen, you capturedher really well!