Jane smiled and nodded. She had been pretty certain that Helena would decide that way, but it was important that the decision be hers. When one has been through...whatever Helena had been through, Jane felt that the best way to help them back to themselves was to allow them a sense of self-direction, of having the power to choose what they will and won't do. Now that Helena had elected to take the elixir, Jane hoped that this would give her that added confidence that could give a little extra help.

"Good," Jane said aloud. "I'll find the Healers in charge of your treatment right away and discuss it with them. Though they may want to wait at least until tomorrow--I'll need to prepare a dose of the elixir and bring it back here, at least." Merlin, but all these Blackthornes were all so impatient!

Violet beamed and impulsively reached over and hugged her mother. "Oh, Mum, I'm so glad. You won't regret it, I'm sure." If this kept up, Violet P. Blackthorne was in danger of becoming an emotional sort of person.


Scene 5: Helena's bedside in St. Mungo's Janus Thickey Ward
Time: November 2108

As it turned out, it had taken nearly two weeks to clear the new treatment with all the Healers involved, plus get authorization for its use from the Ministry of Magic. But Jane had managed to get it through all the red tape and was back in her friend's hospital room with a small vial containing a bright, dark-green liquid. She had convinced Violet to stay away during the treatment itself. After nagging them to get Helena to take the elixir, now Violet had become nervous that it might actually cause some ill effects to her mother after all, and Jane did not want her here now. She was afraid her nervous energy and suppressed fears would affect Helena, and they didn't need that sort of thing. Besides, Jane was beyond impatient with her young friend--no one had ever had a bad side effect from this elixir to date, and there was no rational reason to think there would be one now.