1899
Expert fingers glided softly over ebony and ivory keys. Elizabeth's eyes were lightly closed and her expression rode the wave of music, swept up in the rising and falling notes the older woman lost herself in the Moonlight Sonata. The low pitch changed and the music evolved into something entirely new, the notes became higher but they only seemed to radiate the sorrow that haunted her. Helena. G. Wells stood at the door of her friends study, her young eyes not knowing the burden she carried. The playing paused, "Can I help you Helena?"
Moving into the room Helena sat beside the older woman at the piano, "What were you playing?"
Brilliant green eyes opened and studied her, she could feel the weight of the other woman's knowledge, "You know the moonlight sonata, I have played it for you oft enough."
Shaking her head she asked, "I was referring to the piece you began to play before you paused."
"Little Helena, so full of questions." She gently stroked the younger woman's cheek, "It is your finest quality, love."
Helena closed her eyes in contentment when Elizabeth placed a kiss on her forehead, "Humour me then." Her dark eyes danced playfully, "You know when my curiosity is not satisfied then my imagination finds itself wandering all sorts of obscure paths."
The older woman gave the slightest hint of a chuckle, "Curiosity killed the cat dear one."
The knowing vulpine grin Elizabeth had come familiar with tugged at Helena's lips, "And it is killing me! Are you writing a piece?"
Her friend's face became solemn and she turned back to the piano, resting her fingers unpressured on their cool keys, "My music flows as my thoughts, they are one and the same."
Tilting her head Helena dropped her voice to a sombre tone, "And where do they wander this evening?"
Meeting the young woman's ebony gaze Elizabeth replied softly, brushing an errant hair from Helena's cheek, "Places too dark for one so young to fret about."
"NO!"
Elizabeth's head shot up when she heard the agonised cry tear from the lips of her young friend. Helena collapsed to the floor, she screamed her grief, her shoulders shaking violently. The older woman swooped down beside her, "Helena! What is it what is wrong?"
But Helena could not reply, she could not stop the grief filled cries that ripped up her throat. Wrapping her arms about herself she lay in the foetal position on the floor, eyes tightly closed and trembling. Her screams stopped replaced by soft whimpers.
"Helena." Elizabeth's voice was softer, seeing the letter crushed in her friend's fist she gently touched Helena's clenched fist.
Without a word Helena released the letter before curling tighter into a ball.
Brilliant green eyes scanned the copperplate writing. Reading the letter's contents the older woman closed her eyes and released a long breath, "Helena, I'm so sorry."
Carefully she guided Helena into a sitting position, wrapped her arms around her and pulled her shaking friend onto her lap.
Helena buried her face in Elizabeth's midnight black curls at her neck and began to weep. Stroking the inventor's soft hair Elizabeth rocked her gently.
"My baby." Helena's voice was cracked with tears when she finally spoke, "How... Why..." The rest was lost in another heavy sob.
It was days before Helena could last any amount of time without breaking down. Elizabeth had kept visitors at bay, guarding her friend like a lioness would her cub. Even Charles realised attempts to reach his sister would be futile until Helena wanted to be seen.
Elizabeth quietly entered Helena's room. The inventor's voice came from the arm chair, "How did you cope? How could you stand it?"
Blinking slowly Elizabeth lowered her head before approaching the back of the chair, "It is amazing what a stone cold exterior can hide." Rounding the crimson piece of furniture she knelt before Helena, "Darling, you cannot let this consume you." Taking the young woman's hands in hers she pleaded, "Helena, please, do not lose yourself in this grief."
But Elizabeth knew it was too late, when Helena's ebony eyes met her own she could see Helena's soul shattered.
2011
Helena gave a startled breath as she was pulled out of oblivion. She found herself standing in the Warehouse, looking about she heard Pete, Artie and Myka speaking hurriedly. "What on earth?"
Myka looked up to her, "Helena! Don't, wait!"
She looked down to see the wires in her hands, ready to place a force field around the team.
Artie snatched up the bomb and placed it on the floor before shoving Pete and Myka away from it. He barked, "Now, put it around the bomb."
Nodding she did as instructed. When the conduits overloaded and she dropped the cables she looked up to Myka, "How?"
Tears were welling in the agents eyes, ignoring Pete and Artie Myka ran the short distance between them and pulled Helena against her chest.
When a happy sob escaped her throat Helena realised she too was crying. Wrapping her arms around Myka she stroked the agent's hair. Myka pulled back slightly looking into the inventor's eyes she said, "Just in case it doesn't work." Myka placed a hand on the back of Helena's neck and kissed her.
The inventor felt as if her heart had exploded in her chest, tightening her grip on Myka she crushed her lips harder against the younger woman's. Behind them they heard the timer on the bomb beep as it erupted. But neither woman could give a toss about the bomb, they were lost in the feel of each other's touch and the taste of each other's lips. When their lips finally parted they stared into each other's eyes breathing heavily. Pete coughed, "I'd hate to interrupt the lady lovin' but... We did it."
Turning Myka looked to the blackened crater on the floor, then to the otherwise undamaged Warehouse. She released a laugh, "We did it!" Spinning back to Helena she hugged the inventor fiercely, "We did it!"
The inventor smiled warmly, "Yes we did."
Helena unwound one arm from Myka's waist and held it open, "I believe the phrase is 'group hug'."
Pete flashed a wide grin, "There's hope for you yet lady!" before running over and picking both women up in a bear hug.
Myka choked in Pete's grip, "Pete! A little tight there!"
He dropped them with a chuckle, "Wuss!"
Helena backed away slightly and looked towards Artie. Their eyes met in a moment of mutual respect, Helena inclined her head. Artie nodded, "You did good Wells."
Helena's vulpine grin spread over her features when her eyes caught sight of the pocket watch, "You didn't do so badly yourself Nielson."
