Pete felt himself lifted off his feet, his back slamming into the ground seconds before the air left his lungs as a heavy body landed on top of him. He gasped for air, prying open his eyelids to see his own body flattened on top of him. The look shining out of his eyes was one he hoped to never see again. Myka was glaring at him with pure hatred and it was obvious she was struggling to not beat him to a pulp.

"How. could. you?" she choked out, his voice unrecognizable with barely checked rage.

"I- I . . ." Pete stammered, horror flashing across his features. He was saved from explaining by a heavy hand closing around his throat, steadily cutting off his air supply. Pete scrabbled at the hand, trying to release its hold, pinpricks of light bursting to life in front of him.

A deadly calm voice came from above them. "Release her now, Agent Lattimer." The click of a safety being drawn caused Myka to freeze, but she didn't release her hold.

"P-pl-ease." Pete spluttered. Myka looked down at her own face which had turned bright red, veins bulging in her neck and temples. She quickly let go, horrified.

"Just leave, HG," she said, fighting the tears that were blurring her vision. "This is between us; it has nothing to do with you."

"I think not, Mr. Lattimer. Now kindly get up and step away from Agent Bering." HG pressed the gun against Myka's forehead. "Slowly."

Myka complied. Pete quickly retreated, gagging and gasping for air. Myka stood in front of HG, refusing to meet her gaze. This left her eyes to take in the state of HG's clothing, the scraps of which she was valiantly trying to keep closed over her chest. Bad idea because at the sight, Myka clenched her fists and involuntarily moved toward Pete who was still recovering on the floor.

"Not another step. Myka, are you alright?" HG asked without taking her eyes from Pete's form.

"Uh, yeah. Let me explain." Pete rasped. His breath was still coming a little fast, but he used the wall to help himself up.

"No!" Myka roared.

Pete's mouth snapped shut. Myka continued, "Tell HG that you're fine so she'll leave. We'll deal with this after, uh later."

Myka didn't think she could handle Helena knowing that she was trapped in Pete's body. It was too much, she was too hurt and betrayed and enraged. She just needed Helena to leave so they could deal with this artifact and then she and Pete would never have to speak to each other again.

"I'm so sorry. I mean it. I was wrong. I was just hurt and angry. I wanted to hurt you."

"Shut up! Just stop talking!" Myka yelled; she was shaking now with rage.

HG followed their exchange closely. "So am I to understand that you and he," she motioned toward Pete with her chin, "are an item?"

"No!" they exclaimed simultaneously.

"It's complicated . . ." Myka added lamely.

"So it appears. If this is true, would you care to explain your violent outburst?" HG lowered the gun since Pete wasn't making any movements toward Myka.

"You are a fugitive. Myka shouldn't be with you." Myka invented wildly. "She should be taking you into custody, not-" Myka couldn't continue, afraid her voice might break.

HG had moved to Pete's side during Myka's explanation, never taking her eyes from the agent. She reached for Pete, trying to get a look at his neck. Pete jerked away from her touch, casting nervous glances in Myka's direction.

"He's right HG, you should go. I'm fine. He won't hurt me anymore." Pete held out his hand. "Can I have my gun back please?"

"No."

"No?" Pete inquired.

"No. Your justification does not explain why you attacked Myka instead of me." She turned to face Myka fully.

Myka floundered, not able to come up with a plausible excuse. She still refused to meet HG's eyes. Pete decided to defuse the situation somewhat by gently tugging the gun out of HG's hand. He placed it on top of the dresser and walked back to the others, careful to stay out of Myka's reach.

Pete understood that Myka didn't want HG to know they had switched bodies, he just wasn't sure why. It would be better for him, though, if the secret was kept. He didn't want to be subjected to their combined rage, cowardly as that was. HG was deadly even without a gun, as he had found out when they first met. He turned toward HG, keeping Myka in his eye line.

"I'm sorry HG. Pete's been affected by an artifact that causes him to act like a jealous boyfriend. We need to find it and neutralize it before he does something he regrets." Myka snorted. Pete ignored her. "You have to leave because, obviously, he can't control himself if you're here."

Pete watched HG nervously as she went over his explanation, testing it for inconsistencies. He held his breath, waiting to see if she would accept the story. How in the hell did I end up in this situation? Even for the Warehouse, this was seriously fucked up.

He glanced over at Myka who for the entire world looked like she wanted to disappear into the carpet she was examining as she studiously ignored him. Pete's heart ached, knowing that he was the cause of her pain. Stupid, Pete berated himself, you just lost the best person you've ever known and for what? A stupid emotional reaction to finding out Myka wasn't exactly who you thought she was. When will you ever learn?

He turned back to HG who was carefully studying him as if seeing him for the first time that night. She walked forward, stopping mere inches from him, and looked intensely into his eyes. Pete sucked in a breath, hoping he wouldn't betray himself under her scrutiny. Shit. She totally wasn't buying it.

A second later, HG was kissing him passionately, holding his head to keep him from moving away. Pete forgot himself completely and reciprocated the kiss with equal fervor. Myka released a growl from somewhere deep in her chest. She pulled the two of them apart, pushing Pete hard and causing his head to slam against the wall.

HG grabbed Myka by her collar, hooked a foot behind her and brought her to the ground, flat on her back. Before she could struggle to her feet, Helena straddled her thighs, gripping tightly, and pushed her shoulders into the floor. Myka felt all of her anger and humiliation boil to the surface. Hot tears of frustration sprang to her eyes. She forced them shut and willed the tears back into her traitorous ducts.

"Now" HG said, "how about the truth?"

~M~

This was probably the worst situation she could imagine. She would rather be dealing with deadly artifacts than be in this room. Trapped in her best friend's body who, just minutes earlier, she had caught with her girlfriend? Not really, no. Whatever she was, she wasn't his. So what if they only technically had sex once and she hadn't seen her since? She had no idea what there was between them. Nothing, probably. But it sure didn't feel like nothing when she saw Pete touching her. She knew Helena didn't know it wasn't her she was kissing, but that didn't make it hurt any less either. Pete, though, knew exactly what he was doing, and that hurt more than she would've thought possible.

Resigned, Myka looked up at HG. "Helena-"

Helena looked at her sharply. "What did you call me?" She demanded.

"Helena, it's me, Myka" she admitted.

Helena's eyes flashed dangerously. "What do you mean you are Myka? Myka is. . ." her eyes narrowed to slits and her head swiveled around to pierce Pete with a poisonous glare. "Lattimer" she hissed.

Pete had crept toward the door since the exchange began. He froze when she turned, reminding him eerily of a snake poised to strike. This is how I die then. It was Myka who restrained Helena now, grabbing her wrists as she made to get up. HG jerked out of her grasp.

"I know Helena, believe me, I know! But you can't kill him. It's my body, and even if it wasn't, they'll bronze you for sure." Myka pleaded.

Helena looked down at Pete's face. His expression was tortured, eyes full of sorrow and concern. Helena saw then. She replayed the evening in her mind and her anger was replaced with sympathy.

"Oh, my poor Myka" She caressed her cheek "I'm terribly sorry. I had no idea."

"I know you didn't. I'm not angry with you, honestly. It was a shock," Myka felt sick at the memory "but it wasn't your fault." She unexpectedly felt better. At least now she had someone on her side, who understood how betrayed she felt. Myka looked at Helena who was searching her face for signs of what she was thinking. During their struggle Helena had given up keeping her shirt together and it hung open, revealing her breasts. Myka couldn't help it. Seeing Helena above her caused her to instantly get hard, pressing into Helena's ass.

"I'm sorry." Myka looked away in shame.

Helena didn't move. She grasped Myka's chin and pulled her back to look at her. "It's perfectly alright Myka. Don't apologize for your reactions." She pressed a soft kiss to her lips and then rose, putting out her hand to help Myka up. Myka straightened and moved to the closet to pull out a jacket, which she gave to Helena. She settled the jacket on her shoulders and zipped it shut. As one, they turned on Pete. He raised his hands in a defensive gesture.

"Look, I know I fucked up. Seriously, I'm an awful person. I'm so sorry HG, I wasn't thinking, I took advantage of you. You have every right to do whatever you want to me, I won't stop you." He expelled in one breath.

"My-kes," his voice broke a little, "you're my best friend. I was trying to protect you." Myka grunted her disbelief. "No really, I know it doesn't excuse my actions, but how was I supposed to react to finding out you were sleeping with public enemy #1?" His voice became heated toward the end, some of his indignation returning.

"I don't know, Pete! Any other way than how you did!" Myka spat back. "I mean, what did you expect to accomplish by sleeping with Helena?"

"I don't know. I hadn't really thought that far. I guess I expected you to get so mad you wouldn't want to see either of us. Except maybe you would come to your senses eventually and see that HG was bad news and would end up hurting you. Then you would forgive me and understand that I was looking out for you."

"That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard. You really thought the best way to help me was by hurting me, violating my trust, and raping Helena!?" Myka was incensed now, her words only half coherent.

Pete blanched. Oh god, it was true. He hadn't thought about it in those terms, but that was undoubtedly what he had done. He shuddered; he never thought he was capable of raping someone. And however HG may have responded that's exactly what it was.

"I can't. I'm sorry. I didn't mean." He choked out not hearing what he was saying. He was crying; hot tears coursed down his cheeks as he fell to his knees. Myka looked on, her face blank and fists clenched.

HG had remained silent during their conversation. She moved now to kneel next to Pete's trembling body. She slowly reached around and enclosed him in her arms. Myka's mouth dropped open in disbelief. Pete's body went rigid but he couldn't keep from shaking under the weight of his guilt.

"I understand wanting to protect someone you love from pain." Helena said softly, "I know about being willing to do anything to achieve that. I don't abide by your actions, but I understand, and I forgive you Peter."

Pete sobbed louder, collapsing against her. He clung tightly to HG. Myka watched her friend and lover locked in a much different embrace. Her heart expanded as feelings she didn't realize she possessed for the author grew stronger. Her heart simultaneously shattered as she took in her partner's broken demeanor. Pete quieted and brought his body under control. He pulled back to look HG in the eyes. "I'm sorry HG. Your forgiveness is more than I deserve." He gently extricated himself from HG's embrace and stood up. He took two steps toward Myka and stopped, moving restlessly from foot to foot. His eyes flickered to Myka and quickly away, guilt written all over his face.

"I don't think I can forgive you so easily Pete. I don't know if I can trust you anymore." Myka seemed distressed at the thought.

"What can I do? I'll do anything to fix us."

"May I ask you something Peter?" Helena interrupted. "Was there any other reason why you were so upset with Myka? Were you were feeling more than just hurt and anger?"

"I don't understand what you mean." Pete said, but he could guess what she was getting at. Does she have to be so damn observant? It was annoying. She wasn't going to get him to admit to anything that would embarrass him further. And make Myka more uncomfortable.

"Perhaps you were jealous that Myka was with someone else? Maybe you felt you would lose her?" Helena continued.

"Don't do this HG. Please." Pete pleaded.

"We might as well lay all our cards on the table. You cannot tell me you are not at least somewhat attracted to Myka. She is incredibly beautiful after all. Do your feelings not extend beyond friendship?"

"I mean, I guess. I have thought about it." His eyes darted to Myka to see how she was responding to the conversation. Her face was annoyingly blank. He let out a deep breath. "If she gave me any indication I had a chance I wouldn't hesitate for a second" he confessed.

Satisfied, Helena came to Myka's side. "What about you love? How do you feel about what Peter just said?"

"I don't know what you want me to say. What are you trying to do here Helena?" Myka had a look of concentration as she searched HG's face.

"I am simply discerning if there is a way we can move past this unfortunate situation. I, for one, would be amenable to a scenario where we worked out our mutual frustration in a non-violent way." Myka's eyes widened as she realized what Helena was proposing.

"And how would that help anything?"

"As I said, we are at an impasse, what is hindering us is lack of trust. Peter does not trust me with you, which is understandable. He violated both of our trusts by his actions. And even though you will not admit it, I know you feel betrayed that I responded to his advances. And it is true, if I had thought about it I would have known there was something wrong. He was too violent, he kissed differently, and I chalked it up to the alcohol. But I enjoyed it and I fear you won't be able to forgive me that."

Myka saw the truth in Helena's statements. She was jealous and not just because Pete made out with Helena. But that Helena was so thoroughly enjoying herself. It made Myka's stomach clench painfully to think that Pete could give her something that she couldn't.

Pete's furrowed his brow as he tried to follow what the women were saying. It seemed, at least, that they were not going to start yelling at him. He wasn't surprised by HG's admission; he remembered how she responded to him being rough. He was surprised she told Myka. He was also aware that Myka had made no mention of his declaration.

"Perhaps if we allow these emotions to come to fruition we will come to a better understanding of how to move forward."

"I'm not sure I can stand to see someone else touch you again. And I definitely don't feel comfortable doing anything to my body." Myka said hesitantly.

"Of course, that is why I would be a barrier between the two of you. Peter will not touch me if we are not both comfortable with it."

Helena felt confident that she had sufficiently convinced Myka. With a meaningful look at Pete, she kissed Myka passionately. Pete swallowed hard. What had just happened? Were they going to do what he thought they were? Myka grabbed Helena's ass and lifted her so she could wrap her legs around her waist. Yep they were.