Myka sat anxiously with Pete and Helena. Artie was talking to the regents about Helena's fate. She knew this time she would have no say as it had been her report that had allowed Helena back into the Warehouse and given her the means to nearly destroy the world. Right now she just wanted to take Helena into her arms and tell her that everything would be ok. Helena seemed to sense her need to be close to her. She moved over so their thighs were pressed against one another on the couch.
Pete stood on the other side of the room. He had sat, walked around, laid down and then gone back to pacing until Helena had threatened to take away gravity to glue him to the ceiling again. Now he just looked back and forth between the two women and out the window. Myka knew he was torn. Helena seemed different now. She had worked with him long enough to know he had the same feeling she did. That Helena would do anything and give anything to save both them and the Warehouse. She hoped Artie could sense it as well.
Leena walked in bearing a trey full of tea and cookies. Pete dove on it and used the food as a distraction for the tension. Myka grudgingly left Helena's side to go and pour both herself and the Victorian woman a cup. She brought it back over and handed the hot mug back to Helena who took a long sip.
"Leena darling, for an American you make quite the cup of tea. Or are you using some artifact from an English tea set." Leena smiled and shook her head.
"No, actually Ms. Fredrick taught me when I was hired to run the bed and breakfast. While we were going over my duties she asked me for a cup of tea. That was the only time I've ever seen her spit anything out."
Everyone let out a laugh that lasted a little too long to mask everyone's unease. It made it worse when Claudia walked by. She walked through the living room ignoring everyone and appeared to be looking for something. After a few moments of routing around she threw a drawer out of a table and stomped back upstairs. At the crash of the door Helena jumped and her hand found Myka's. She squeezed tight in response. Pete saw the motion and smiled. Even in high stress situations he was still Pete. Leena was looking at them too with a smile and a slight blush.
Out of nowhere Ms. Fredrick appeared. Everyone quickly shot to their feet and Helena pulled her hand out of Myka's. She instantly missed the warmth and support but it was Helena on trial here and she knew she would be forced to stand alone. Helena took two steps forward quickly and stood before Ms. Fredrick. She was not as proud as she normally was. He head was bowed but she still looked up respectfully. Her hands were clasped behind her back and Myka knew whatever her fate she would accept it with grace.
"Ms. Wells." Ms. Fredrick's voice never betrayed any expression of what would become of Helena. "As you know recent actions have been taken into consideration in your ever reevaluated case. Do you have anything to say on your behalf?"
"No madam." Her voice seemed to waiver. "I am aware of my actions and though I have come to regret them that does not make them excusable. I will abide by the decision you and the regents have come to without a fight or complaint."
"There was quite a bit of talk of restoring Emily Lake and returning you to the Janus coin, but as we know that has been compromised. You also seem capable of escaping what we thought would have been an inescapable bronzing. We are running out of options in regards to you Ms. Wells."
A small gasp escaped Helena and she grabbed for the locket of Christina hanging at her neck. She had to bite her lower lip to keep her composure but true to her word she stood by waiting on their decision.
"That is why we have decided to reinstate you Agent Wells. You will of course be under the closest scrutiny and will be kept on the strictest trial period until you have proven your loyalties. Your clearance level is only enough to do inventory." She paused and looked to Pete and Myka. "And I am sure your fellow agents will keep a close eye on you."
Helena just stammered. "Are you, are you saying that I am, well in fact that I…"
"Are an agent again, yes Ms. Wells. I suggest you thank Agent Neilson. This was all done because of his assurances to us of your character. Welcome back, H.G."
And just like she had arrived she was once again gone. Pete was the first to react. He rushed over and swooped up the Helena. He picked her up and swung her around while she kicked wildly in an attempt to get down. Eventually he set her down and just hugged her.
"I knew there was good in you Lady Cookoo. Now can we finish that kiss we started in London."
Helena backed away laughing. "I am sorry Pete. You were wonderful when I was using you but I am afraid you are not really, what's the expression, my type." They were all laughing then and much more relaxed than they had been before. Pete kept making over-exaggerated pouting faces making them laugh all the harder.
Leena then came over and also gave Helena a much briefer and gentler hug. "I knew you had changed. There is something so different about your aura. There is still darkness there but there always will be. Now though it so small it's almost unnoticeable." Helena smiled in response and then turned to Myka.
Myka stood by the couch were she had sat when Ms. Fredrick had entered the room. She just stood there smiling at Helena. When she approached she held out her hand awkwardly when the writer approached her. Ignoring it Helena moved and pulled Myka close up against her. Myka quickly wrapped her arms around Helena and held her tight as she had wanted to all morning. It took her a moment to realize she was crying. She quickly wiped away the tears away before anyone else noticed as the two finally moved apart.
"Well I do believe a little celebration is in order." Myka glanced at Helena quickly because she thought she had heard a crack in her voice. "We have all come together to save the Warehouse and I must say that I am rather excited that I am not to be incarcerated or executed, so dinner on me?"
A Few Hours Later
Myka sat between Pete and Helena in a small booth at a diner downtown. Leena and Artie sat across from them. They had invited Claudia but said she didn't see anything that needed to be celebrated. They of course had offered to stay with her but she had wanted to be left alone. They had finished dinner and were just taking the last bites of their desserts. All through dinner the conversation had been light. Helena was entertaining everyone with a story of how she had been forced to dress as a man in order to get aboard a ship to New Zealand and then was caught in an act of passion with her partner by the captain.
Halfway through the story her hands had fallen into her lap. One had casually come to rest on Myka's knee. She sat there laughing politely but was completely distracted throughout the story. When it came to how Helena had managed to barter passage home by promising the captain (a new one) a signed copy of The Island of Doctor Moreau the table broke into laughter again and Helena's hand had slipped further into Myka's lap to grab her hand.
When the story had ended the bill came which Helena insisted on covering completely. It turned out she had set up a fund that had collected all the royalties from her books that would have been available to her once she was debronzed. She found herself almost in the situation of the man in When the Sleeper Wakes.
"Well everyone the night is still young and so are the rest of you." Everyone laughed again. "I insist in taking you all to the only place that remains open past 8 in this town."
"The ice cream shop?"
"Pete," Myka rolled her eyes, "you are literally are still chewing your dessert."
"I had a more adult scene in mind. I mean the bar across the street. I called earlier Pete and they have an ample selection of non-alcoholic beverages."
"I'm good. No sleep the past few days. Now that I've been fed I need to sate one of my other two needs and pass out. Leena, you want to stay or catch a ride back with me?"
"I'll go with you Pete I really want to check on Claudia. There is something so dark at the edge of her aura it almost scares me." She and Pete picked up their coats and headed towards the door. Pete cast one glance back at Myka but she was frozen in place my Helena's hand still clutching hers.
"What about you Artie? You look like you could use a drink."
"I could but unfortunately not as much as I could use some rest. Thank you for dinner." He started out and then paused. "Take tomorrow off. Tell Pete not to come in too. I could use a day to sleep in and I think we have all earned it."
Helena got up and went to Artie. "Thank you so much for everything you have done for me."
He stuttered for a moment. Then stopped and surprisingly hugged Helena. "I know you would give everything for the Warehouse. Now do NOT make me look like fool in front of the regents. I called in a lot of favors on this one. Goodnight H.G., Myka good job."
Helena walked back over and glanced over her shoulder. "How does he know these things? Anyway to the bar it is." She extended her hand down to Myka to help her out of the booth. "Looks like it will be just you and I love, not that I am complaining. Come on, we're going on a date."
The last thought in Myka's mind was…date? before Helena was pulling her out the door.