Curiosity on Wall Street
Chapter I: I owe you, darling.
AN: Hi guys! So, I have been a huge fan of Helena and Myka since the show aired, but until now I didn't see myself capable of writing a fic about them, I just knew I couldn't make the characters justice so I waited. I believe I am on the right track now, but I would love and appreciate your feedback. This is going to be a short multi-chapter story and I'll probably update it once a week. I know this fandom is not very active, but every single comment and kudos is very special for me. And last, but not least, I would like to thank each and every fellow writer, reader or artist who still find inspiration and continue crating amazing stories with these two ladies, you guys are awesome! Hope you enjoy my scribbles :D
AN1: Guys, I have no idea what the grapefruit essence oil is used for, but grapefruit smells good so it fitted the story and I love dogs, I'd never call a dog a mutt, but it was kind of necessary for this fiction to use such language. As I am sure you've noticed I don't like Pete as a love interest for Myka, but I do think they were very good friends, so this fic is going to reflect their friendship, so the last season of Warehouse 13 didn't happen.
Summary: Eight months after the Emily Lake case, the team find themselves in the middle of a new mystery involving a strange curiosity. Myka is thinking about Helena, Helena is on a mission in London. This fic is kind of a cross-over with the last episode of the series "Hustle" (where Jaime starred) so more characters from that show will make an appearance, but they wouldn't meddle too much (it is a Warehouse fiction after all).
"So, Mykes, what was so urgent that I couldn't even finish my second blueberry muffin?" – Pete managed to ask in a barely intelligible manner as he stuffed the last of his breakfast muffin in his mouth. Usually, the human mouth is designed by nature for a certain capacity of food, but Pete seemed to be the exception of this general rule, as he had no problem stuffing an almost entire pastry and chewing on it with the grace of a homeless mutt.
"Dude, you ate like five of these before Steve and I had even finished our coffees!" – The short redhead mocked behind him. Claudia and Steve were walking next to each other when they entered the Warehouse, but now the young woman hurried to get to Myka and hug her.
"I'm so glad you're back, it's been hell with only those two and Artie to keep me company." – Claudia said and Myka smiled softly.
The friendship between the two women had long since transitioned into a full blown sisterly relationship, it was no secret that Claudia admired Myka, but lately the older agent has been spending more time with her, trying to teach her more advanced combat skills, especially after the Alps mission a few months ago.
Their job wasn't easy and it certainly was never boring, they could all agree with that, but the dangers lurking around them were just as real as the astounding wonders surrounding them. A couple of months prior, the team were sent to a small village in the Swiss Alps to retrieve a curiosity (Claudia had picked up that word from H.G and adamantly refused to go back to calling them "artifacts").
Steve and Myka had managed to disarm the goons guarding the room where the Picasso's paintbrush was held, but since Pete got whamied again, they were an agent short and didn't notice the guard that came rushing from the hallway to their left plunging at Claudia. The man was huge and had a knife hidden in his belt, if Myka was just a second slower the redhead wouldn't have been with them right now.
Myka shuddered at that thought, it was the first time in years she used an actual firearm rather than her tesla gun and the repercussions of killing a man, of taking a life, downed on her in the exact moment when Claudia ran to her side and hugged her tight. Yes, she had taken a life, but feeling the raged breathing of the younger girl in her arms was all the assurance Myka would need to know that she had made the right choice.
Nobody spoke about that accident after it, but Claudia had fallen into the habit of giving Myka a spontaneous hugs every now and then, not that the curly agent minded, Claudia was a sweet girl and even though she was no longer a child, she felt safer around the older woman. With the exception of H.G, Claudia hadn't felt that safe around anyone else, not even Artie or Steve. Of course, she knew they'd always help her if she needed it, but Myka and H.G seemed to understand her on a deeper level.
It had been a little over eight months since the Emily Lake case. Seeing H.G again made the team come face to face with some very controversial feelings towards her in particular and even towards each other. After the case itself, she stayed around for a while, almost a month, 3 weeks, 4 days and 7 hours… but who was counting?
Artie never trusted Helena, Pete was siding with him on this one and kept his distance as well, then there was Steve who had no particular quarrel with her, so he was actually nice to H.G without any masked anger or hidden mistrust tainting their conversations. Claudia was glad to see the inventor again; she had found an inspiring, experienced mind to connect with and discuss her ideas about some new gadget or another. Leena was content to see the positive change in H.G and she was ready to put the past behind them and Myka… Myka was feeling many things. On the top of her list was definitely happy, happy to see the brit again, happy to talk to her outside of her dreams. Most importantly thrilled to be able to pass her the coffee cup in the mornings (and not have the cup pass through her projection), just so she could smell the black liquid inside and take a small sip before giving it back with a pretend appalled expression.
That was one of H.G's quirks, she didn't drink coffee, she positively hated it in fact, but each morning she and Myka found themselves in the kitchen, having woken up much earlier than everyone else, she'd take the cup Myka offered her and take a sip. Helena would never trade her Earl Grey even though Myka teased her many times how she would embrace the American way eventually; it was good seeing the curly haired woman feeling relaxed enough around her to joke. It had been a while for them, to find themselves so close to one another again, despite the numerous unvoiced thoughts each of them had when around the other, it felt good to fall into the forgotten rhythm they once had while they worked together.
*flashback*
"I never understood how there is a freshly baked breakfast every morning here and yet Leena is nowhere to be seen so early." – Helena mused quietly. The mornings were quiet times, everything was still and the nature around the B & B was starting to wake up slowly from the nightly slumber.
"Leena loves to bake and meditate early in the mornings. Naturally, nobody can complain from the heavenly smell so we always try to go to that farmer's market nearby for products since she prefers the organic grown foods. Pete makes sure that no food is thrown away and even though she whines about the early get up, lately Claudia adopted a new habit and enjoys baking with Leena." – Myka laughed remembering how excited the redhead was when she had managed to bake (and finally not burn to charcoal) her first edible batch of snickerdoodles.
"Something tells me that not even my presence here will stop Pete from enjoying these cinnamon rolls, they smell divine." – H.G said and took a deep breath in. It was true, the space around them smelled of cinnamon, melted butter, sugar and… grapefruit? There was a very fait trace of it in the air, barely detectable, but when Helena took a step towards Myka that was currently sipping contently her coffee, the grapefruit smell got just a hinge stronger.
H.G always thought of herself as a very attentive woman, paying special attention to the situations and the details around her. This morning, Myka's hair seemed just a tad shinier than usual and then everything clicked in Helena's mind. Myka often complained about how hard it was to comb her curly hair. It would have been a hundred times easier if she straightened it, but she liked the looks Helena was giving her when her hair was down and curly, she even blushed a little when the brit complimented her looks, so she used grapefruit essential oil to help her with the knots. Helena had come associate this scent specifically with Myka, the sweet tone fitted her positive personality so well and the slight bitter tail spoke of Myka's darker side, the one that most people didn't even know existed.
"He'll get over it." – Myka said after a moment of silence.
"For what is worth, I am glad you're here again." – Myka added even more quietly than before, but Helena heard it loud and clear and her heart mirrored a hummingbird's wings before she remembered the look on Myka's face when she betrayed them, when she betrayed her, back in Yellowstone. This memory seemed to have scourged Helena's mind permanently and every time she dared to dream about the curly agent, she felt a pang of guilt, long since forgiven, but still guilt.
"I am sorry, Peter doesn't feel comfortable with me around, I can understand his mistrust towards me and I know you two have an important friendship." – Helena said lowering her gaze in defeat.
"He just doesn't trust you. But, I wouldn't worry about our friendship, it was shaky even before you came back." – Myka murmured.
"May I know why?" – Helena asked but then panic flooded her thoughts, maybe Myka didn't want to talk with her about that.
"Only if you want to share, I would also settle for talking about the latest trends in archeology fashion." – H.G added quickly and nervously chuckled. She wanted to know what was happening with Myka, but she didn't want to push it even if this this walking on eggshells drove both of them crazy sometimes.
"He just tried asking me out, like out on a date… and I said no. I like that he's my partner on the field, even if he is a little childish at times, but I could never see him as my partner in anything else. Besides I can't exactly discuss Dante's Divine Comedy with him." – Myka admitted almost shyly.
"Ah and now things are awkward between you." – Helena nodded in understanding.
"Not always, but I am not as comfortable as before when it's just the two of us doing inventory in the Warehouse, he looks at me as if I have kicked a puppy outside during a thunder storm. I know it will pass, but I just wish his infatuation would pass quicker and go back to our friendship like before. So anyway, when you came back he began acting even colder than before, because I've been spending more time with you and the rest of the team than with him."– Myka chuckled nervously in an attempt to diffuse the tension that had appeared in the kitchen.
"You are a beautiful woman Myka, I can't say it comes as a surprise to me that even an immature man like him would notice that as well, but it's your choice who you date or not and he should respect that." – Helena told her, looking directly into her eyes.
"And as for the Divine Comedy, I believe we have yet to discuss that one. I'm more of a Machiavelli girl myself, but I'll make an exception for you." – Helena teased back.
One of the many beautiful things about Helena was her classical inclinations born out of her non-belonging in this time of course, but impressively delectable nonetheless, they could spend hours discussing literary topics and musical tastes, jumping effortlessly from one era to another.
"Perhaps you'd allow me to steal you away for a little while today? I want to show you this amazing coffee shop I found near." – Helena asked tentatively, bracing herself for the no.
"Artie wants us in the Warehouse this Saturday. He's been a bit grumpier than usual lately." – Myka said looking slightly disappointed, but Helena was already expecting some sort of an excuse and was ready to make her exit, when Myka spoke again.
"But, I am pretty sure that we'll just do the usual inventory check and we'd be done around noon, so maybe we could go to town for lunch and have a coffee after that?" – She asked, careful of not letting her nervousness affect her voice.
"Sounds good to me." – Helena smiled and just as she was ready to ask something else a loud thumping of two sets of feet down the stairs halted her thoughts.
"Steve! I swear I'll shave your entire head once I catch you!" – Claudia was shouting and running just a couple of steps behind him.
"It was an accident! Come on Claudia, I didn't see it was your razor knife." – Steve said running down and hiding behind Myka who looked just as confused as Helena, but the current situation was rather comical. Steve was running around in only a towel from the waist down, with his face half shaved, half painted with shaving foam and Claudia running behind him with a bottle of shaving foam in her hands.
"And the fact that it was pink didn't tell you anything?!" – Claudia asked indignantly.
"I don't think a specific color is property of one gender only!"
"It was my last razor knife Steve! How am I supposed to go out in shorts now?"
"Oh come on, you barely need it." – Steve argued, taking a small step behind Myka.
"Flattery will get you nowhere Steven!"
"Oh she is angry." – Helena laughed, Claudia rarely referred to anyone with their full name.
"I am pissed!" – Claudia tried to sound angry, but it came out more like annoyed.
"Okay, kids! Time to be adults again." – Myka said, she decided to put an end to this before someone really ended with a shaved head.
"Steve, you should pay more attention to the stuff you take, you know we all share a bathroom and as much as we don't like it, we don't have any other alternative." – Myka eyed him sternly.
"Claud, give him a break, he just returned from a mission, he looks like he hasn't slept in days, I doubt he even noticed the color of the razor." – She said to her.
"But how am I…" – Before Claudia could say something though, Myka held her hand up and continued.
"I have an extra razor I can give you, I got some last time I went grocery shopping, so crisis averted… right?" – The older agent asked rhetorically and the redhead nodded.
"Thank you Myka." – Whispered Steve behind her.
"Steve go back upstairs, you're dripping water and shaving foam everywhere." – Leena said as she entered the kitchen. She had heard the commotion and had come back to check on things.
It was 8 am already and everyone seemed to be up and about, ready for work or in the process of it, even Pete got downstairs, lured by the sweet aroma of the cinnamon rolls.
*4 hours later*
Usually Myka wasn't one who could get distracted easily, but ever since her conversation with Helena this morning she couldn't stop thinking about their lunch together and how she couldn't wait to spend some time with the other woman again. Sure, there were topics they would have to build their way to, like her staying away once she remembered who she was, but there were also so many things they could discuss with one another and enjoy their free time.
Free time was a luxury when working for the Warehouse, thus it was a preciously treasured time one reserved for pleasant activities and plans and Myka couldn't think of anything more pleasant than spending time with Helena again.
She even got to the B&B earlier than the rest of the team after Artie dismissed her for "having her head in the clouds today", but she blamed it on the exhaustion of the week instead of the giddiness before her date. Was it even a date? In the 1800' it wasn't uncommon for women to have lunch dates as friends or even hold hands and H.G was raised with certain morals in mind. But then again she also had a kid without being married and worked as an apprentice at Warehouse 12 so… and those looks Helena was giving her every so often, so soft and appreciative and… wanting.
Rushing back to her room, Myka changed clothes quickly and went to Helena's room, ready to knock on the door and get the afternoon started.
*Knock, knock, knock*
"Helena? I just got back from the Warehouse, are you ready?" – Myka asked, but nobody answered.
"Helena?" – She tried again, but when the silence repeated itself, Myka's smile slowly disappeared, her stomach clenched and she slowly pushed the door open.
The room in front of Myka seemed as if nobody had lived there at all in the past few weeks. The bed was perfectly made, the wardrobe was empty from any and all clothes, the windows were closed, but the blinds were up… if it wasn't for the faint scent of sandalwood in the room Myka would have questioned her sanity. Had she made up Helena and their conversation today?
Taking a step inside the room, Myka went to the right side of the bed and sat down, trying to make sense of everything that was happening. Why would Helena ask her out if she was just going to up and leave? What game was she playing this time? Were Artie and Pere right about her?
A million thoughts swarmed Myka's mind, but a piece of paper caught her eye. On top of the pillow, stood a note with elegantly written "I owe you darling. H" and Myka sat there for what felt like an eternity, just clutching the small piece of paper in her hand, thinking.
*end of flashback*
It was a little over seven months since H.G left without as much as a one-line note and even though Myka was very upset and sad the first couple of months, she slowly got back in the rhythm of her job. If anything, she even excelled at her job, suddenly loved doing inventory and always volunteering for missions, she did everything in order to spend as little time as possible in the B&B.
Nobody talked about H.G and her departure. Artie and Pete were glad, Steve saw how sad Myka and Claudia were and decided not to press the issue, so he just made sure to be around and distract Claudia by playing some games or encourage her to bake with him and Leena. However, nobody spoke a word about the elephant in the room and soon they all started acting as if it was never there.
TBC…