A/N - This is a long one, sorry.
While I have written specifically for the Rizzles (Rizzoli & Isles) and Jemily (Criminal Minds) fandom, I am also a massive fan of H.G. Wells and Myka Bering. I am not a fan on the direction the show took even though I watched to the bitter end, so I've sort of just silently read fanfic by others, and generally just kept myself to myself, rocking quietly in a corner at what might have been.
Then I was thinking of a story idea for Rizzles or Jemily, and somehow it seemed to morph more into a Warehouse 13 - or more specifically, a H.G. Wells and Myka - story.
It is AU of sorts. It is within the Warehouse universe, but to begin with at least, not set in the Warehouse. I hope that makes some kind of sense. Equally I have taken some liberties with other characters or stories already presented by the Warehouse 13 episodes, simply to allow this story to work in it's entirety. So please don't flame simply because something isn't as accurate as it should be. The overall premise I hope is very much within character.
Anyway, usual Disclaimer: Warehouse 13 does not belong to me. If it did - It would definitely be a H.G. and Myka relationship. I don't own a damn thing other than some cats, an old iMac and the usual assortment of CD's and DVD's. I'm merely doing this for fun, and sore hands after all the typing that's going to happen.
Lastly, I am merely posting the first chapter to see if there is interest in it being continued? If there is, I am working on other chapters, but I prefer to have a good portion of a story already written up (to then change/edit/beta) as I go. Therefore, this will likely be the only chapter for a little while, so apologies in advance. However, once I get the majority written (even if it isn't anywhere near edited) I will post far more frequently as the chapters will be almost ready to go.
Enough rambling.
Imprisoned
Chapter 1
Myka looked up from her desk and barely held back a groan, as she put the pen she was using down. This was the last person she wanted to see, "Yes Mr Kosan?"
Sitting down without invitation annoyed Myka more than she knew it should, but she tried to maintain an impassive look on her face. She waited patiently, not wanting to also be the one to speak first. She hated his mind-games, and many of the Regents she worked for. It reminded her on the old boys network she'd faced within the secret service, and there were times when she questioned why she had taken the job she was now in. Leaning back, she tipped her head slightly.
"Are you aware of the latest prisoner?"
Myka leaned forward again, "Of course. I wouldn't be much of a warden if I didn't know about the intake, transfer or rarely, the release of the people within these walls." Myka barely suppressed the sarcastic 'as well as having an eidetic memory.' that she so desperately wanted to throw at him.
Kosan merely nodded, as he continued to look at her impassively.
"So, now that you know I'm fully aware of the new inmates, including one in particular, is there anything else?" Myka pointed down to her desk, "Its just I have some paperwork that needs completing."
"We felt it prudent to give you some warning…"
Myka put a hand up stopping him mid-sentence, "No, you do not get to do this again. I was told I would have complete control over how I handle affairs here, with no interference from the Regents. Your presence is hardly giving me that control. I know H.G. Wells is an unusual case, and frankly I resent any further interference from you or any others unless it directly helps Wells." Myka leaned forward ever so slightly, her eyes narrowing, "I know you won't allow me to do what I truly want to, despite my numerous protests on the matter, but you will not cross me on this."
Kosan rose slowly, his voice controlled and almost sounding smug he spoke, "You are easily replaceable."
That was enough to get Myka exploding out of her seat, "And I will not tolerate blackmail over my job here, get out!"
Sitting back down, Myka felt her body trembling as she tried to rein in the emotion. She hated that she always felt so small after meeting with any of the Regents, and she knew if it wasn't for some fighting in her corner, including Mrs Frederic, she would be long gone from her position. Taking a deep breath, she turned back to the paperwork, her eyes drawn to the passport sized photo that was clipped to the left top corner of the file. A thumb ran across it slightly, as she took in a deep breath.
"Let's see what we can do for you," Myka barely whispered as she took in the face of H.G. Wells.
H.G. simply looked back with disdain, but didn't say a word as she was handed the folded clothes, a simple black jumpsuit, an undershirt and underwear that looked like it had seen better days, but at least she knew it had been washed. She stared straight ahead, refusing to show any weakness as she changed out of the clothes she was in, the female guard standing, watching her every move. She then stepped back, folded her arms and waited.
"C'mon, this way."
Helena didn't allow herself to resist, even though her instinct was to, as she was pulled none too gently towards a corridor, various doors along its length blocking their route. She watched carefully as they were opened, noting the various types of locks and mechanisms in place for each one, and inwardly sighed, knowing there was no way even she would manage to open them. At least, not in the time she would be limited to should the opportunity ever arise.
"This is now home." The guard said, sounding bored.
Helena barely kept her balance as she then pushed through the doorway. She spun around, glaring, "Bloody hell, what are we, cattle?"
The guard grunted, as the door was slammed in her face, and Helena finally turned to take in her surroundings. A small window, placed high up so she couldn't see through it, even if she used something to stand on at least allowed a little natural light in. In the corner a stainless steel toilet was alongside a small wall, that barely gave the view of any privacy. There was a small metal table and stool, both firmly concreted into the floor and welded at the joints. A single cot was in the corner, again with no signs of bolts, springs or any other possible implement that Helena could have used. The thin mattress and single pillow looked uninviting, as did the single blanket and coarse looking sheets. With a sigh, Helena lowered herself down to perch on the edge of it, the failure of her plans at Yellowstone still fresh in her memory.
"Bollocks." Helen muttered as she finally allowed herself to lie down, shifting to try and get some degree of comfort, realizing it was a lost cause, as she punched the lumpy pillow, before turning her head, so she faced the wall, giving into the tears that she had held back for so long.
"You wanted to see me?"
Myka looked up from her desk, and nodded, as Valda sat down across from her. A Regent, but also the head of the guards in the facility, and someone whom Myka detested, and she knew the feeling was mutual. She put her pen down, and took in a deep breath. "I understand you want to stop the recreation time today. Why?"
Valda sat forward, his eyes firmly fixed on Myka, "You know why, and my feelings on this. We never had anything like this until you arrived..."
"And it is an old system that is frankly barbaric." Myka countered before he had a chance to finish, "Many of the women here need support, not practices that belong in the Victorian period."
Valda's eyes flashed with anger, "Talking of Victorian, why do we have H.G. Wells here? She should have been put back into the bronzer the minute they caught her. I still cannot believe the other Regents went against my recommendation."
Myka shook her head slightly, "Miss Wells is here because she needs help, not to be condemned back into stasis like that. Much of what happened once she was released by James MacPherson was because no-one thought she would need help; instead it was blindly accepted that she'd find her own way without any interference. It was a mistake made by others, and one I don't intend to repeat."
"You'll come to regret it. She won't change, and I will be the first one to say I told you so."
"Fine, if it happens, you can tell it to my face. Until then, you will do as I ask without question. You may go and you will reinstate recreation time." Myka dismissed him as quickly as she could, knowing her temper was rising.
The door rattled slightly as Valda slammed it behind him. Gently, Myka rubbed her eyes, already feeling drained and the day had barely started.
"Hello."
Helena looked up from the table she had seated herself at, as a fairly thin, long dark haired woman sat opposite her. She took in the slightly disheveled appearance, and slowly recognition began to dawn on Helena, and she barely suppressed a gasp as she recognized Alice Liddell, known to so many as Alice in Wonderland.
"I see you recognize me."
"I do." Helena decided trying to hide the truth was a mute point, "I'm a little shocked if truth be known."
"Well, I can't say I wasn't surprised when I heard you were coming here. Didn't really believe until I saw you sitting at this table."
"It's been a while." Helena commented, as she watched the woman twist hair around a finger, obviously agitated but trying to hide it.
"What's a century or so between friends."
"Alice, I would hardly have ever called us friends," Helena replied, as she continued her appraisal of the women in front of her. She was fairly certain that she was on some sort of medication, or illicit drugs. Which, Helena couldn't be sure.
"No, I suppose not. You and Charles were hardly friends, but literary rivals. I do know he hated you with a passion. Why was that again?"
"Because after my brother Charles let slip about my writing, your Charles scolded me on using an alias; when he was as guilty by hiding behind his Lewis Carroll persona, simply because he was scared of the public's reactions to his work. Whereas I had little choice in the matter as a woman." Helena barely held back the scathing anger thinking about that time in her life. "Had I been given the opportunities he was simply for being a man, I would have relished all that was given me. He didn't."
Alice suddenly looked up, and without warning stood, "I've got to go."
Helena watched Alice walked away, a little unsteadily, towards a man in black guard uniform. Helena instinctively knew that guard was in some kind of charge, and then watched as he and Alice said something to each quietly, before he disappeared. Alice looked around, and a few minutes later, followed him.
"Interesting," Helena mumbled, as she continued to then look back down at the table top, inspecting her nails as her hands rested there. It then dawned on her she had no idea why Alice Liddell was imprisoned. "A mystery indeed." Helena whispered, before she realized that people around her were getting restless.
Myka stormed into the open area by the office for the guards, looking across at the locked gate in front of them, women swarming around on the other side. Seeing Valda, she moved across to him.
"What the hell is going on?"
"We were trying to put them back…"
Myka looked furious, "You were what? After I gave you a specific order."
Valda grabbed Myka's arm and pulled her into the guards office, "I don't care what your order was, they need to know who is in charge."
Pulling her arm away, Myka stood there, trying not to erupt, knowing they were being watched not only by guards, but inmates alike. "You will open that gate back up, and I will go in there, and ensure they know that recreation time is not canceled. And the next time you try to override an order like that again, I will put you on report, and I don't care that you are a Regent. I will not tolerate such things."
Valda snorted, the look of contempt obvious, "You go in there now, and you'll start a riot."
"If I don't go in there, a riot is what we're facing anyway. Open the damn door."
Helena was low down on the steel steps that led to another level of cells, watching with interest as the women around her paced, some throwing verbal insults at the guards on the other side of the bars. She was also interested to see Alice Liddell seemed to have some kind of power within the main group, and was directing much of her anger at someone called Bering, although Helena had no idea who that was. Her attention was suddenly caught by a brunette, tall, with long curling hair in a pants suit on the other side of the gate. She watched as the guard, whom she'd learned was called Valda, unlocked it and the woman strode through, despite the whistles and shouts of derision aimed at her.
"Quiet!" The woman shouted, and despite the undercurrent of hostility, the noise muted, and the woman nodded, "I know that recreation was canceled, but it was against my orders. Therefore, it is being continued, and the doors to outside will be opened soon. If you wish to participate, then you need to calm down, otherwise I will have little choice but to send you back to your cells."
"Like you care!" Came the British accented voice, as Alice walked forward, "You don't - not really, you're as bad as the rest of them."
"I am not here to get into a shouting match." Came the reply, although with a raised voice to be heard amongst the growing murmurs, "But you are still under my watch, and while I want to make the stay here as pleasant as possible, you will be placed back in your cells if you don't agree to the terms I've just given you."
"Oh bollocks!" Helena was as surprised as anyone as she called out, earning a look of shock from not only others around her, but the woman who had come in, "We're still bloody pawns in your little mind games, and this is as bad as being bronzed. We're still trapped."
The woman moved forward, and Helena moved down one to the bottom step, so they were almost eye level, "Helena George Wells, we've yet to be properly introduced. My name is Myka Bering, and I'm the warden here."
Helena sneered at the outstretched hand, refusing the shake it, "I don't care if you're the bloody queen of England, we're still your puppets, still being used by the Regents."
The murmurs at Helena's words began to swell, and suddenly the women began to shout again, before Myka felt herself being pulled by someone grabbing the back of her jacket, and she found herself back behind the barred doorway, as some items were being thrown, and the guards moved in, batons drawn.
Valda looked at her as he walked past, his baton drawn, and Myka knew he was enjoying not only her embarrassment at being dismissed so readily, but that he was now able to go in forcefully, and with justification. Myka watched as the women were beaten back, and trying not to look as defeated as she felt, began to move towards her office to begin writing out her incident report.
