Warehouse 13
"Reprobate"
By A. Rhea King
Chapter 1
Warehouse 13
South Dakota
Steve walked into the office from the Warehouse, carrying a stack of boxes and papers.
"Where do you want these, Artie?" Steve asked. "And hurry, I'm starting to lose my grip."
The top three boxes were removed and when they turned away, he found Emory had taken them. He was wearing a muscle shirts and Steve couldn't stop watching his muscles ripple as he carried the boxes and sat them down. Emory turned back to him and Steve realized he'd just been caught staring at him. He smiled, trying to cover the moment.
"Thanks."
"That it?" Emory asked him.
"Yes." Steve nodded.
Emory walked back to the couch and sat down. He picked up a book he was reading and put on his reading glasses. Steve tried not to stare at Emory, but it was difficult since his glasses made him look even sexier.
The moment was shattered when Emory suddenly made a dash for the bathroom. Although the sound was faint, Steve could hear him retching. He felt sorry for Emory. He had gone to every doctor in Univille, twice to a few, and the reports were the same. He was a little anemic but otherwise in perfect health, X-rays or CAT scans found a few fatty growths around his liver but nothing to be concerned about. There was no explanation behind his abdomen cramps and fits of vomiting.
Steve started working on the paperwork in the boxes. Before long he was lost in his work and forgot that his crush was only a few feet from him. He didn't notice Emory come back into the office and return to his books, even tuning out the crunching of him eating ice.
Artie walked in, saying, "Oh good. You're both here. I have an assignment for you two."
Steve turned, expecting to see Claudia. It was still just him and Emory.
"Who two?" Steve asked.
"You and Emory."
Steve glanced at Emory, and then stared. Emory pulled his glasses off and crossed a leg, staring at Artie. He looked like he was about to launch into some very intellectual—
Steve focused on Artie already talking.
"...and so it's a good case for Emory to get some field time in."
"What?" Steve asked.
Artie scowled a little. "I said I know where the artifact is, I contacted the person who has it, they are willing to hand it over, and so it's a good case for Emory to get some field time in."
"Well Claudia—"
"Is where?"
Steve hesitated. "Sweden visiting her... Okay."
Artie produced tickets and a Farnsworth, and held them out. Neither man moved.
"Your flight leaves in two hours and traffic in Rapid Falls will be a nightmare when you get there. Do you two maybe want to move?"
Each man grabbed a ticket and Steve pocketed the Farnsworth. Outside the Warehouse the dry summer heat hit them. Steve suddenly realized his and Artie's car were the only ones in front of the Warehouse. He turned to Emory, to offer him a ride, and found he wasn't behind him anymore. He turned a full circle and found he was alone. Had he gone back inside? Steve shook his head. Maybe he had changed his mind about going. Steve got in his car and headed back to the bed and breakfast to grab his overnight bag and tablet.
To his surprise, Emory was sitting on the bench outside the door with a small leather bag at his feet. He was doing something on his smartphone. Steve slowly got out.
"How... Did you get back before me?" Steve asked.
Emory looked up at him. "Teleportation."
"An artifact called you."
Emory looked back at his phone. "I taught myself to do it on my own."
Steve felt like he needed to say something, that he should be warning Emory not to teleport anywhere, but then he realized he didn't know if that was true. Maybe the reason he felt like this was because he was crushing on Emory as much as he was jealous of his ability to move through time and space.
Steve went inside to pack.
Flight to Reno, NV
Emory hadn't argued about riding with Steve to the airport. In fact, he hadn't said much of anything since they left. Steve was a little uncomfortable with the silence. Claudia and Pete had been non-stop talkers the first time he worked with both of them. Artie never was like that, but at least there was some conversation. Myka always focused on the case but he could sidetrack her into other topics. So this silence was really strange to him. They got to an airport parking lot and took a shuttle to the terminal. Still no words. They checked in and Steve saw Emory say something to the woman behind the counter, but she only nodded and that was the last of it. They went through security, to their gate, and boarded without as much as one word. They stowed their carryon bags overhead, holding out their devices.
"Window or aisle?" Steve asked Emory.
Emory slid into the row, sitting by the window. Steve sat down in the seat next to him. He pulled up a game on his tablet and focused on it until he had to put it away for takeoff. He stashed it in the seat pouch in front of him, and then gripped both arm rests. Flying he didn't mind - so long as there wasn't a takeoff, landing, or turbulence. As long as it was smooth and uneventful, Steve had no problems flying.
"Are you okay?" Emory asked.
Surprised to hear anything out of the man next to him Steve jerked his head and immediately regretted it when he pulled a muscle. He grimaced, turning his head back.
"I'm fine."
Emory didn't comment. The plane's engines wound up and they headed out to the runway. Steve closed his eyes tight and swallowed. He hated takes offs. He hated landings. He hated turbulence. He... Was surprised to feel Emory's hand on his. Before he could look down the plane was rushing down the runway, headed for the sky.
"Just breathe," Emory quietly told him. "It is easy. One breath in. One breath out. Repeat it in your head. The rest is just rhythm."
The plane leveled out before Steve even realized it. He had been listening to Emory. He had been counting one breath in, one breath out, and forgot where he was until it was announced they could move about the plane. He felt Emory's hand leave and secretly wished it wouldn't leave, so he kept his eyes closed to let his fantasy play on.
The last thing he heard was Emory quietly asking, "Miss, can I get just a cup of ice please?"
