Myka stared at the woman huddled next to her in the basement with sad eyes. So much knowledge, so many wonderful ideas and witty quips unspoken. Helena was gone, but looking into Emily's innocent eyes filled with tears still evoked the protective streak she had always held for HG. Always the need to defend her, to see the good she was capable of even when the impulses weren't acted upon.
Emily's eyes swam with tears as she looked to Myka for a cue of any sort. There was no real recognition, and she felt as though she had met the other woman only minutes before. And in her mind, she had. The intensity in Myka's eyes was unsettling as they searched her face, desperately longing for any sign of perception. None came. Emily was shaking, and Myka could no longer look on without action.
"Hey, Emily.. Everything is going to be okay. I promise," she tried to smile brightly for the other woman's benefit, but the smile had no effect.
Emily was scared witless. Thoughts rebounded across her cortex, jumbling into a mess of incomplete sentences. The idea that her life was of any interest to the Secret Service made no sense whatsoever. She searched her mind for any out of line conduct with a student, and came up blank. She had never stolen, never been violent, and as an English teacher, certainly never cheated. Nothing made any sense, least of all the intensity of Myka's gaze. She felt it burning through her cardigan, directly into her soul. It was obvious this woman cared for her, but she could not for the life of her puzzle out why.
"Please," Emily spouted weakly, "I can't help you, and I can't go with you- my students need me. I promise not to cause any trouble if you'll just leave me alone."
"I'm afraid we can't do that, Emily. I've already told you there are very dangerous men coming after you. I can't really explain why, but they're not anyone you want to be around. Please trust me," Myka said, the words cracking in her throat. Seeing Helena like this, so weak and scared, was disconcerting, but under the layers of whatever the Regents had done to her, she was still HG. This new version needed protection now more than ever.
Myka approached the scared woman, slowly, but with determination. It was tearing her apart inside to watch the tears soak Emily/Helena's face. She reached her hand up to wipe away a tear. "Hey, listen. I know you're scared, but I'm not going to let anything happen to you," she smiled weakly. And even though she had no way to guarantee the promise, she believed it.
Emily grabbed her hand suddenly, "I don't know why, Myka, but I trust you."
"Well…" Myka hesitated, "you should. You look exactly like someone I care very deeply for. Watching anything happen to you, given this similarity, well.. it would be too much. I couldn't handle it.," she stuttered, "Y-You're safe with me," A pause. "C'mere." She opened her arms, and Emily allowed herself to be enveloped in them. They clutched around her with a quiet desperation, and all at once, Emily felt much safer, though she still sobbed.
"Shhh," Myka whispered, stroking Emily's hair and pushing her bangs out of her eyes, "It's going to be okay. It's all going to be okay… I'm here…" A rogue tear slid down her chin. "I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."