Title: Out of the Rain
Author :BonesCastleWarehousefan
Spoilers: Nevermore
Rated: M to be on the safe side
Genre: Hurt/Comfort/Friendship/Romance
Notes: The characters of Warehouse 13 are not mine.
After leaving Berring and Sons the second time, Myka and Pete felt both defeated and exhausted. The events surrounding the Poe artifacts and Myka's father were emotionally draining. It was the first time that their work had hit this close to home. They were both trained to deal with personal danger, but threats against family were never easy to bare. They had been driving in silence for the first thirty minutes of their trip, both contemplating what was ahead and how they would retrieve these artifacts for a second time. Each encounter with McPherson had been progressively more menacing.
It was Pete that first broke the silence. "We will get Poe's pen and book…we did it once, we can do it again."
"That is not what I am worried about," Myka sighed as she gripped the steering wheel
"McPherson?" asked Pete knowing the answer before he even voiced the question
Myka simply nodded. Tears were threatening to fall and she was thankful for the darkness to hide her tears. Even after working with Pete for over 6 months, she did not like ever feeling weak. Pete's "gut" kicked in and he knew that Myka was hiding her fears from him. He did not want to push her, but he wanted her to know that he was there for her.
"Hey, I don't know about you, but I am exhausted and hungry . It does not look like this rain is letting up anytime soon. Why don't you pull over at the next exit and we can get a room for the night and get a fresh start in the morning. Besides, Artie does not expect us back until noon tomorrow."
"Are you ever not hungry?" Myka said as she flashed him a quick smile. "Ok. We have an exit that appears to have several choices in about three miles"
"Ok? Wait, what have you done with the real Myka?
"The real Myka is too tired to argue and would welcome a hot shower and a good night sleep."
An hour later they were in the hotel room, Pete was in the shower and Myka had just updated Artie on their location. The hotel had been full save this one room with a King size bed and a small loveseat. They were too tired and it was too late to try any other hotels. The college playoffs in the next town over had filled every hotel in a twenty mile radius. It wasn't the first time they had to share a room. However, Myka felt Pete slowly chipping away at her defenses with each day that passed. He had more than proven that she could trust him. She knew that he was truly a good guy, but the events in Dallas had caused her to build a wall that even she did not fully understand. It wasn't that she wanted to keep Pete out. Quite the opposite, she knew that a solid partnership was built on complete trust. Even though she knew this logically, she still found herself distancing herself from him whenever she felt that he was getting too close. Pete stood up to Artie and insisted on taking time in order to drive all the way to her parent's bookstore just to be there for moral support. Maybe it was time to let some of the walls down. It was probably the least selfish thing that anyone had ever done for her. Myka was pulled from her thoughts with the sound of the bathroom door opening behind her. She turned to see Pete emerging still damp from his shower wearing only a towel around his waist. She must have jumped a little.
"Sorry I did not mean to startle you, I left my shave kit in my bag." Pete whispered as he approached her.
Myka found herself speechless. Pete was now so close that she could feel the heat of his body surround her. He leaned in and reached an arm around her. The scent soap and his shampoo filled the air. This was not the first time she felt this chemistry between them, but it was the first time that he had been this close and with so little covering. They locked eyes and she could not breathe. Then all of a sudden Pete straightens back up and reveals the shave kit that he had just retrieved. She could feel her breath rush out of her.
"Got it", Pete smiled and then looked concerned, "Myka, are you ok? You look a little pale. "
"No, no I'm … I'm fine (humiliated, yes, but fine). I guess I am just a little more exhausted than I realized." Myka chided herself for thinking for a minute that Pete was about to kiss her. (What am I thinking. We are partners, nothing more. I guess I am tired.)
"Hey, I am almost finished. Why don't I get dressed and go find us some dinner. Maybe we will luck out and they will have cookies and milk as well. I know that you don't eat sugar, but I think that you have earned it this once. Meanwhile, you take a shower and change into dry clothes", Pete said with concern still evident in his voice. Pete had never seen Myka so shaken before.
"Thanks Pete", Myka said in almost a whisper
"Hey, no problem. We have to eat", Pete smiled
"No, I …I mean thanks for everything…this… my parents…just being there. Thank you."
Pete approached her again for a second time that night, except this time he did wrap his arms around her in a hug. Myka melted into him grateful for that hug that she would have normally resisted. She felt safe and a little more at peace. She allowed herself this tiny pleasure for a few moments before pulling away. Pete took this as a cue to turn around and head to the bathroom. Before closing the door she heard him say, "anytime partner, anytime".