Disclaimer: I still don't own any part of Warehouse 13 and honestly, I really don't want to. It's much more fun to play with the toys and put them back to play with later.
A/N: Without the unending encouragement, support and at times verbal tissue handing by Who wears the crown, this would NEVER have seen completion. There were times of complete emotional and psychological fatigue that incurred during this process and times I felt I would not recover from the aftermath. There are no suitable words available to give the thanks I feel necessary to extend. So, thanks.
She'd been warned. She was the only one that had yet to see her. They had warned her HG looked bad. When they were told about the early release, she was still unprepared for the sight that came through the door, closely followed by Myka and then Dr. Calder.
"Steve?" Claudia squeaked, grabbing his arm for support, tears immediately ringing the rims of her eyes. She'd seen everyone in the team, including HG, come back from missions injured, bruised, and hurting, even incurred some of her own. No one could have been prepared for what lay before her now.
He wrapped an arm around her as they watched the procession into the office where the temporary room was set up. "It's okay, Claudia. She's alive and doing well. She just looks really bad. Come on. Let's give them space to get her settled. I'm sure they're all hungry and tired. Let's make coffee and wrangle up some food."
"But Steve, she looks half dead."
Steve swung around to face her, firmly grasping both arms. He stared intently into her eyes and spoke softly, but sternly to bring her attention straight to him.
"Claudia, listen to me," he said slowly. "She is going to be fine. I'm sure the trip wasn't easy. She would probably still be in the hospital if Dr. Calder wasn't so concerned about her immune system. We still don't know what it can handle. Now, you and I are going to make coffee and put out some food. They've had a long trip home. Okay?"
She looked once more towards the office listening to the commotion involved in settling HG, obviously in pain. Dr. Calder's false cheery, but irritated voice could be overheard. "Well, let's shoot her up then. She's over due. Don't look at me like that. You know what I mean. Now smile and do it. She's in pain. Don't keep a lady waiting."
"Yeah. Right. Okay. Coffee. I can do that." Steve led her away towards the kitchen. Busy minds will sooth the thoughts. "Myka looks like crap."
"Yeah, I know," he sighed taking his own quick look, taking in the tired, strained face.
In the office the chaos quickly dissipated as the ambulance crew finished their task and were escorted out. Myka dropped on the sofa bed pulled out next to the bed Helena occupied. Artie stood at the door speechless, while Dr. Calder made a final evaluation of her patient.
"Helena, you're home. How's the pain now that you're settled? And no lying or I'm dragging my buddy Steve in here."
"I've been in worse shape." She smiled drowsily. "It's easing. It's good to be home, but I'm tired." Myka had started stroking her forehead and running her fingers through her hair; the magic key to quickly putting her into a sound sleep.
"You've had a rough ride home, but I think you'll find it was worth it. Sorry it took an extra day. Mother Nature just didn't feel like cooperating. Now get some sleep." Looking down, she realized her patient probably didn't hear a thing she'd said. She was already asleep, Myka still caressing the purple and green bruised face.
"Myka, as your physician you have two choices; come get something to eat and then get some sleep, or just crawl in and sleep now. You look like shit."
"Gee, thanks, Doc. I can always depend on you for your honesty." She sighed heavily, shoulders slumping.
All signs of formality gone now, Vanessa wrapped an arm around Myka's shoulder, hugging her close to her side. "That's what I'm here for," she said softly, "Among other things."
Artie cleared his throat and spoke from the door, having never left his protective station. "Steve and Claudia have gotten something together in the kitchen. I know Claudia is anxious to see you and keeping her out of here is going to take all of us and an army. Why don't you get something in you and we can fill everyone in." He looked at her over his glasses expectantly.
"Artie's right," Vanessa said with a last squeeze around the shoulder. "With that last dose she'll be out for a while. We'll keep the door open a little, but she's not moving. She needs the rest."
Myka stood reluctantly, pushing down the festering abscess of emotions threatening to burst. With one last look at the motionless form on the bed, she touched the motionless hand and followed the other two to the kitchen.
"Myka!" She had just a split second to catch Claudia in her arms when she was seized with the force of the unexpected and unyielding hug.
"Claud. Hey, it's okay. Everything's okay. I heard we've got some food. Let's eat. I'm hungry," Myka lied, quietly disengaged herself from the young woman, distancing herself from the overzealous greeting.
Artie stepped ahead of Steve, putting his hand on Claudia's arm, gently directing her to the table. "This looks good, Claudia. They've had a long trip so let's get everyone fed. Vanessa's going to catch us all up."
"Not much to catch you up on, really," the doctor started as she filled her plate with fragrant fruit, fresh vegetables, cheese and warm bread. "Thanks to the weather we were delayed by a day, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. She really wasn't ready to leave. It was a rough flight. We decided to administer nerve blocks before we left and they wore off sooner than I'd have liked, but they provided some relief. HG is going to be fine. I think she'll recover much better here than at the hospital and my staff won't quit on me. She's in a lot of pain and she's on some heavy duty pain meds right now. We tried to back off in the hospital but it was too early. I expect she'll be down to NSAID's soon. We'll retake some x-rays at the end of the week to make sure everything is stable and healing like it should be." She smiled. "I've been commanded by the Regents to stay a few days to monitor her progress, probably the week. Guilt duty. HG has become their number one concern at the moment for some reason. Can't imagine why," she said sarcastically. "Most important now is that she does her breathing exercises, try to keep her pain managed as best we can and give her body time to rest so she can heal. Which means…"
"She's going to be a right pain in our asses," Steve interrupted trying to lessen Claudia's shock at seeing the condition of their patient.
Vanessa laughed heartily. "You've got that right. Good luck. She's going to be pretty tired though. HG said you are the breakfast queen, Claudia. Try to get her to eat small meals." She smiled at Claudia seeing the young woman start to relax.
"Myka?" Claudia shook the woman sitting next to her, staring at nothing in particular.
"Huh?" She turned her head looking through the woman beside her.
"Why don't you go get some sleep before you fall on to the table? The sofa bed is all made up. I don't like cleaning around sleeping bodies," Claudia joked, having recovered from the initial shock. "Artie made soup. I'll warm some of that up for you later."
Without a word, a blank faced Myka stood up with a nod and wandered back to the office.
"That's not my Myka." Claudia accused Vanessa, turning sharply in her seat to face the doctor.
"No, it's not. I don't know when she last had a full night's sleep or a decent meal. We have two patients on our hands, I'm afraid. She hasn't broken down yet, and when she does, it's not going to be pretty. I hear from Jane that Pete is quiet, but doing well. We'll have a physical therapist here every day at ten a.m. for both of them. How is everyone else doing?"
Artie looked at her blankly.
"Look, I know you guys face a lot of burden every day, but what you all went through is going took a toll on all of you, not just Helena and Myka. This wasn't a 'snag, bag and tag' operation. Keep that in mind. It might not be a bad idea to have a couple of group sessions to talk about it. Don't give me that look, Artie," she threatened his suspicious look. "You don't realize what this can do to a team. To add to that stress, you have two very fragile family members in that room. I'm actually more worried about Myka eight now than Helena. She's always been Helena's anchor and I'm not convinced either of them realize how much. Myka's carrying a lot of burden on herself and she doesn't need to. She's just as fragile. Helena may have been the prisoner, but Myka's the one that almost lost her."
"When can I see HG?" Claudia asked.
"Whenever she's ready, Claudia. Actually," Vanessa dug into her bag, handing a vial over to Claudia, "If you'd give this to Myka and make her take it as instructed, you can assure yourself Helena's alive and well. I want Myka to get some quality sleep and so far nothing else has worked."
Claudia grabbed Myka's glass of water and started for the door.
"Oh, and don't expect her to sleep on that sofa bed. They've worked around that one no matter what I say. Including midnight escapes." Vanessa waved a hand off in the air, shaking her head. "I finally gave up. At this point it might be the best medicine for both of them."
Claudia laughed outright. "They are freaky, aren't they?"
Vanessa looked between Artie and Steve, frowning, looking for an explanation.
Artie shrugged pointing his finger at Steve. "I don't get it. Ask him."
Steve smiled before starting to explain his theory.
Claudia peeked through the space of the partially opened door, knocking on the door frame quietly.
"Oh, so you do know how to knock." Myka turned her attention from Helena's sleeping form to smile at the redhead.
"I do have my moments. I don't want any goo dropping on me." She smiled at the memory of HG's trap which she was sure was still very functional. Hesitantly, she walked up to the side of the bed to see a breathing HG. She handed the vial and glass to Myka. "Doc V. says you have to take this and I second it. Staring at a sleeping person is never known to do anything. It's up there with staring at the toaster for your Pop-Tart, particularly frosted strawberry ones."
"How can you eat those things?" Myka scrunched her face at Claudia at the thought of the pastry and stared at the vial she'd been handed. "A sleeping pill? Seriously?"
"Just take it. I'll stay with you if you want, or I can leave. You know if you want the company, or not, or…"
"It's okay, Claudia. I'd like the company."
"I can tuck you in for once." Claudia grinned.
"We haven't tucked you in for a while, Claudia."
"Well, sometimes I miss it."
"Me too." Myka grabbed a pillow from the sofa. "Can you help me? Just tuck this in against her stomach. It helps brace her from putting too much pressure on her ribs. I least it's all on the left side for the most part. Can you imagine what she'd be like if she had to sleep on the left side of the bed?" Myka chuckled. "I'm not sure she could do it."
"Don't even go there. I remember when I questioned that one. 'MY side is the RIGHT side.' Has it always been like that?"
"Oh, yes, without a doubt. I never asked why. It was an unsaid declaration. I never really had a preference and I enjoy the company too much to care." Myka gently slid in next to Helena's dead weight. "I never got a chance to thank you, Claudia."
Claudia sat on the sofa bed listening to HG's shallow breaths. "For what?"
"For believing me." Myka closed her eyes, wrapping a loose arm around Helena, well below her ribs, grasping her right hand, feeling the effects of the pill and the relaxation that comes with the comfort of home.
"I never had a reason not to. Please don't thank me. We're all in this together, right?"
"Yeah, I guess so," Myka mumbled, falling asleep.
Claudia stood up watching the two, assured they were both asleep. She kissed both foreheads, happy to have them home. Steve was standing in the doorway when she started to leave. "Sometimes I don't like being a grown up," she said to him as she burrowed her head in his shoulder quietly crying.
"Myka….Myka…can't breathe….Myka…" Helena sharply gasped at the additional pain from elbowing Myka awake. Myka cleared her head, rubbing her face before running her hands through her hair. She jumped out of the bed, causing another wave of sharp pain to course through Helena's ravaged body.
"Vanessa!" Myka shouted to the cracked door.
The doctor came in quickly, evaluating her patient. "Helena, is it pain?"
She nodded curtly.
"Is it the pain inhibiting the breathing or are you just unable to breathe? I need to know the difference."
"Pain," she gasped, having lost what little color that had returned to her face.
Grabbing what she needed she looked to Myka's anxious face. "Myka, help her sit up and calm her down."
Myka did the only thing she knew that would do both. She scrambled onto the bed behind Helena and leaned her up against her body, calmly speaking into her ear as she brushed her hair back from her damp face, dragging her fingers through the dark hair. The doctor shook her head at the method, but acknowledged its success as she administered the injection waiting for it to take effect.
"I can't say that I've ever seen that technique, Myka, but it's working. Helena, I need you to slow down your breaths and breathe deeper. Concentrate. I know it hurts. You should feel relief soon."
Myka continued to coach the woman in her arms. Slowly, Helena concentrated on Myka's words as the pain started to abate and relaxed into the comfort of the warmth around her.
Vanessa reevaluated her patient, nodding her head in satisfaction. "I really hope I didn't pull her out too soon," she said mostly to herself. She looked at the two on the bed, Myka still stroking Helena's head, talking quietly in her ear of nothing she could discern. "How do you plan to get out of that position?"
"I don't for now. I'm used to it." Vanessa looked at her confused. "Nightmares," Myka said simply, shrugging. "It works. It's actually pretty comfortable. Well, for awhile at least." Helena was as relaxed as she could be, head lying back in Myka's shoulder, breathing more easily now and fading back to sleep, oblivious to the conversation around her.
"You're going to need help getting out."
"I know. But for now, it's what she needs."
"And what do you need, Myka? When are you going to think about you?" she asked, brushing away the hair that had fallen in Myka's face.
Myka bit her lip and looked out the window, not allowing herself to remember the events of the past week. "Right now, I need this too."
Vanessa sat down next to the bed, suddenly clasping Myka's hand. "Myka, at some point you're going to have to let go. Have you even really cried yet?"
Myka nodded her head. "Once."
"I mean really cried. Full out kicking and screaming release. I've watched you move blindly from one task to another without question or emotion. That concerns me."
"I'm fine, really. I'm just happy she's home," Myka said drowsily.
Vanessa sat silently for a moment watching as Myka's exhaustion took over, Helena sleeping against her full body. Shaking her head, the doctor whispered to no one in particular, "No you're not."
Restless, Claudia finally gave up trying to sleep getting out of bed. Quietly descending the stairs, she headed into the kitchen to warm some milk. Seeing the soft light from the door she peeked in to find Myka sitting up reading.
"Hi," Claudia whispered, not wanting to wake Helena. "I can't sleep either." She sat on the sofa bed Myka blatantly ignored. "I thought you were supposed to be sleeping here?"
"You didn't really think that was going to happen, did you?" Myka looked over the book at her new guest.
Claudia quietly chuckled. "Not really. Doc V. said the same thing. She said she finally gave up. Something about escaping in the middle of the night?"
Myka smiled. "Something like that."
They sat in silence under the soft glow of the light on the table, listening to the shallow breaths of the sleeping patient.
"I was going to make up some of her special warm milk. I kind of borrowed her bottle of cognac."
"Breaking into my cottage again?" Myka smiled once more, putting the book down on the table.
"Well, she did teach me, and you did take the key away. I thought it was for a good cause. We've been drinking a lot of warm milk here."
"I'd love some." Myka picked up her book again when Claudia unnecessarily tip-toed out through the door. Helena had been given a good dose of pain medication earlier and wouldn't hear a thing, especially with Myka next to her.
The next face peered into the room.
Myka didn't look up from the book this time, hearing the slight rustling belonging to the face. "Hi, Steve. Come on in. Claudia is making the milk."
He padded in on his bare feet taking over the spot Claudia had occupied. "I never got to see her after she got out of surgery. Artie sent us home after Kosan interviewed us."
Claudia walked in with a pitcher of the special recipe and three mugs, setting it on the table. Steve gave her a questioning look at the three mugs. "What?" Claudia looked back, before pouring the mixture, handing him a cup. "I heard you come down the stairs. It's the fourth step down that squeaks, not the third. I don't know why you can't remember that. You need HG to teach you the silent path."
Myka tried not to laugh. "She's had plenty of experience mapping out that path."
"Man, can you guys fight. Sometimes I never knew who actually won." Claudia shook her head.
"That's because you always ran to the warehouse. Neither and both." Myka smiled drinking her milk. "We still do. Making up is too much fun." Her smile broadened glancing at the two, amazed at her lack of embarrassment. "Sometimes I think she picks a fight just for the excuse."
"Yeah, she does," Steve said quickly, without thinking. "Uh, I mean, well…never mind." The two women stared at him, Myka raising her eyebrows. "Fine. It came up in conversation one day. Please don't ask me how, when or where. I really don't want to say," Steve pleaded.
Myka quietly chuckled, shifting the body in the bed next to her. Everyone froze fearing she would wake. She merely sighed, readjusting herself slightly, pulling herself closer to Myka.
Claudia started to tear up. "Are we all going to get past this?"
Myka swallowed deeply, unable to speak, not wanting to face the horrors they'd experienced.
No one spoke.
Claudia yawned. Glancing at HG and then Myka, she asked in a weak voice, "Can I sleep down here?"
Myka nodded, sliding down the bed.
"Me, too?" Steve asked.
Claudia grabbed the sleeve of his tee shirt pulling him down on the sofa bed. "We need to have story time when Pete gets back."
Myka turned the light off. "Find one for us, Claudia. Hopefully, he'll be home soon and everything will go back to normal, whatever that is."