Here I am again, trying to cope with Instinct... This is going to be a two shots. It's set about two weeks after Instinct. I hope you'll like it :D. Also, don't hesitate to drop a review - These are always nice - or join me on my facebook - link in my profile.
Artie had already retired to the warehouse for the night when the doorbell rang, echoing through the B&B, making everyone jump at the unfamiliar sound.
Abigail, Myka, Steve and Claudia, who had been companionably playing Monopoly for the last two hours, looked at one another. It was already strange to find someone ringing during day time, but at night? That was suspicious, and the atmosphere changed as everyone tensed.
"Maybe Pete ordered a pizza?" Claudia suggested.
Myka shook her head.
"He's sleeping." she answered, wondering if her partner's skills included ordering food while asleep.
But really, had Pete ordered food, awake or not, he would have been pacing back and forth between the living room and the front door, impatiently glancing at his watch and groaning, waiting for the delivery man to actually deliver.
"Should I go open the door?" Abigail asked, whispering and leaning forward to put the dice slowly back down on the table soundlessly, as if afraid that their visitor would hear her.
Once again, glances were exchanged. Yet, this time, there was no doubt they were silently planning. With one last glance at Myka, Claudia nodded.
"Yeah. Steve and I will cover your back. Myka will go out the back door and get them by surprise." She explained.
They all jumped to their feet, and Myka headed to the dining room, where she did her best to open the glass door without a sound.
Steve and Claudia each took a side of the arch separating the living room from the hallway, teslas in hands, and motioned for Abigail to go open the door.
"That's all so very reassuring." The proprietor mouthed before she went past them, swallowing hard.
She hesitated a few seconds with her hand on the handle before she finally worked the nerve to open it.
The cool night air brushed past her, and she found herself facing a rather harmless-looking woman in her thirties, who flashed a sheepish smile at her. Her dignified looks and silky black hair looked somewhat familiar to Abigail, as if she had seen a picture of her.
"Good evening. I'm awfully sorry to bother you at such an undue hour. I – Is Myka here?" The brunette asked in an unmistakably English accent.
Abigail opened her mouth to answer, but Claudia's squeal cut her.
"Oh my freaking, non-existent God! Is that H.G?!"
The young woman ran past Abigail, dodging her, and threw herself at the visitor who looked clearly taken aback as she was suddenly firmly clasped against Claudia. It took Helena a few seconds to register the situation and hug Claudia back, awkwardly patting her back.
"Keep asphyxiating me and you might have to switch to past tense, darling." She finally remarked with an impish smile.
Claudia quickly set her free, still holding her by the shoulder as if she expected her to run off.
"Sorry, I'm so glad to see you and I've missed you so very much and... Hey, are you gonna stay?!"
From behind Abigail, Steve cleared his throat, effectively putting an end to Claudia's joyous demonstration of affection for the artificer. The two women followed his gaze.
Myka was standing a few meters away. She was completely still, and she looked lost, as if wondering whether she was hallucinating or not. Claudia noticed the sad look in her friend's eyes, and she took a step back, letting go of Helena's shoulders.
"But you're here to see Mykes. Got it. Just come give me a goodnight hug before you decide to vanish into the night again, will you?" She asked.
The older woman smiled at her fondly, and nodded. It didn't escape Claudia that her face mirrored the look in Myka's eyes, so she retreated inside of the house, leaving the two alone with whatever the matter was.
"Helena..." Myka whispered when the door was closed and they were perfectly alone for the first time in ages.
When the writer was close enough for her to register the scent of her perfume, Myka finally seemed to become aware of Helena's presence, and she flipped out.
"Are you alright? Has something happened? It's about Adelaide, isn't it?"
Helena shook her head, smiling kindly.
"Myka!" She snapped, getting the agent's attention. "Adelaide is perfectly fine. I came here to have a chat." She finished, nervously fidgeting with her pendant.
Myka raised an eyebrow.
"You came all the way from Boone to have a midnight chat? Couldn't you have called?" She asked, still not convinced that everything was alright. How strange was it that she could understand this woman so completely and yet not be able to tell whether she could just turn up without any reason to socialize in the middle of the night or not.
"One thing I love about this century is cellphones. However, I've found that my list of things you don't say via letter still stands, even though letters have gone out of style." Helena confirmed, laughing nervously.
"And?"
"And begging for forgiveness is one of them."