A/N: Wow... okay, I didn't think I'd be back here so soon but this story idea just couldn't stop wriggling around in my head and eventually I had to sit down to get it out. This may well be the longest fanfic I will ever post... the concept is too long to get down in 15 chapters or less so be prepared for a long and confusing ride. Ships will be thrown about like confetti, but I am mainly sticking to Bering & Wells and Cleena.

Please let me know if you enjoy... I think I'm the most nervous I've ever been about posting a fic.

Chapter 1

oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox oxoxo

Auburn hair scattered across a slightly soggy pillow as the incessant buzzing of a cell phone alarm rang. Its owner sunk further under the covers, stretching and whining at the sound.

It was too early. It had to be.

The woman in bed held still with a bated breath, thinking for a few minutes that she'd gotten away with it. But of course, as the clock turned from 5.59 to 6am, another alarm went off – this one silent. Streams of light shot down onto the bed and the four pillows, its source; a large globe suspended from the ceiling.

It was a wonderful invention at the best of the times; simulated sunshine with no need for curtains, or windows for that matter.

But now the temporarily blinded woman squirmed irritably and flailed around on the mattress.

It didn't last long though. For a second, Claudia Donovan thought she had a guardian angel when the pseudo-sun was put out, but then the bed dipped and she sighed, opening her arms wide for her morning snuggle.

A snuggle that didn't happen.

She pouted and blinked open her eyes. "We have a ping, darling," came the silky voice and the redhead sat up sulkily.

"Ping yourself."

The woman, clad in dark green slacks and a crinkled grey cotton shirt sat at the edge of the bed with a frown, clutching a cup of tea for her friend. "That's a euphemism I haven't heard before."

Claudia sniggered despite herself and took the tea, thinning her lips in appreciation. She took a sip and sighed, ruffling her sleep-mussed hair with her free hand.

She felt strange. Though truthfully, strange was possibly the biggest understatement of the century. She felt like she'd downed an entire bottle of tequila the night before, skinny dipped, then stepped in a sauna. Fuzzy, clouded bits of memory floated around in her brain and she assumed it was just because she was tired.

But that didn't stop the erratic beating of her heart telling her that something… something was a little off.

"Be ready to leave in ten minutes." Ms Wells said softly with an endearing smile.

"Mm-hmm," Claudia's noncommittal grunt echoed her. She scowled when the dark haired woman stood and grasped the edge of the caretaker's shirt sleeve.

"Hey…" she husked.

"Claudia…" The caretaker warned but one look into the chocolate eyes that nearly matched her own caused her to exhale in defeat. She sat down, swiped the hair away from Claudia's face and kissed the woman's forehead then the corner of her lips. "Pack light. We're going to Vancouver."

"Yes, ma'am." Claudia grinned, pointing over to a bra that had probably been flung the night before. Again, she couldn't be sure. She couldn't even remember getting to bed at all, let alone getting undressed.

Helena Wells rolled her eyes and handed the modestly cupped, purple bra over to its nude owner.

"You getting ready then?" Claudia smirked to herself, easing herself into the garment. Everything seemed to hurt today… maybe she had overdone it on the liquor front. Ms. Wells' mouth had been open and she quickly shut it, straightening her back and clearing her throat.

"Eight minutes." The Englishwoman muttered, and scuttled off out of the younger woman's bedroom.

Both bedrooms suited each woman perfectly. It was one of the main reasons the Warehouse caretaker and guardian worked so well as a team. They were both geeks from separate centuries all together.

Helena was old. Claudia was new… and yet they worked together seamlessly. There would be nights, or…

Claudia paused, shaking her foggy mind irritably. She thought she remembered nights when they'd both been so exhausted, so completely wiped out after a long night of inventing and tinkering that they'd fall into bed together and pass out in each other's' arms.

It wasn't proper, this kind of relationship between caretaker and guardian. But the Regents had to choose between a successfully running Warehouse or no Warehouse at all.

At the moment, though, they were severely understaffed. Pings were usually quite rare… but recently the duo had been rushed off their feet with nearly 3 pings a week. The rush of the missions combined with the jet lag was wearing the two women down.

And anyway, they shouldn't have been doing their own missions at all. That too was inappropriate for both caretaker and guardian but they were the best for the job.

Claudia had conjured up the safest security system for the warehouse known to man, while Helena invented various gadgets that helped with the upkeep of the enormous storage system they called home.

Claudia stretched and winced, rolling her neck and shoulders. "I need a holiday," she mused aloud, pulling a pair of boxers up her legs. "Maybe that's why I feel so weird," she mumbled.

"Vancouver," Helena's voice suddenly reminded from the communal kitchen. "Think of it as a holiday!"

Claudia rolled her eyes. "A holiday that doesn't involve getting whammied, and/or possibly killed!" She huffed, throwing various articles of clothing into her duffel bag.

"Claudia, my dearest," Helena lamented, throwing her voice to the other room, " if you're ready in three, I promise we'll go surfing afterwards, or whatever it is you kids do."

Claudia tried to continue her scowling session, but when Helena walked in with a rucksack on her back, flippers on her feet and a pair of goggles over her face, she lost all remnants of her sulky composure. "I'm partial to a little diving," Ms. Wells grinned excitedly.

The redhead sighed and looked at the ceiling, biting her lip to stop the fit of giggles bubbling up her throat. "So many dirty jokes, so little time," she wheezed.

"Exactly," the caretaker nodded, her own eyes twinkling. "So do come along, Miss. Donovan." She said haughtily and stuffed her goggles, swimfins and snorkel into her large rucksack. "Time to save the world."

And with that, Helena Wells re-shouldered her bag and disappeared out of the bedroom door.

Claudia rubbed her sore head, shaking it to rid herself of the foggy feeling that still remained. Her belly rumbled from not just from hunger but something else…

Something just didn't feel… right. Whatever it was, she knew she couldn't dwell on the reason. Not if it meant her precious surfing privileges being taken away. She heard Helena humming to herself by the umbilicus and smiled infectiously, then jogged out of the room to join her partner.

Time to save the world, indeed.