Chapter 3: The dive

A/N: Thanks guys for reviewing the first two chapters, and all the alerts and fav. And a special thanks to Kjay99 for all the great work in beta-ing this story.

Summary: Set few months after Reset. Myka has left the W13. Now she receives news from Warehouse 13 as a friend is in need. Pete Myka

Disclaimer: I don't own anything, besides the characters I created for this story. Warehouse 13 belongs to the SYFY channel, and Neverland to John Barry.


Myka slowly leaned on the bed, her eyes not leaving his pale face. Pete seemed so fragile that it broke her heart to see him like that. She had never thought she would see him down like that, never. I'm trained to take a bullet, he had grunted with a wincing smile at their first mission. And he had proved a couple of times that he was ready for it; the spine being one of those heroic times she had engraved in her memory. Pete, the White Knight. A faint smile spread over her lips. That day, he had taken the spine to protect her and make sure that no one would get hurt after him.

Her lips tightened as her eyes slowly ran over his wounded body wrapped under the blue blankets. Anyone unbeknowing of his ordeal and entering the room right now would have found him deep asleep, pale from a flu or something. But Myka unfortunately knew the real truth about his bruised and wounded body hidden by the thick layers set to warm his failing body. Pete was now alone in a world of torment and pain, and she wondered if she would ever see him playing the hero again, though she would have preferred him teasing her or doing one of his victory dances than seeing him like that.

She sighed and lay down near him. It felt weird to be so close to him on the same bed and not teasing him about one of his comic books. But another part of her, found it comforting at the same time to be finally close to him after so long. She had missed her friend, her partner. She had missed all his jokes and their bickering. Being there with him, although he couldn't talk, felt really as if she was back home. She smiled sadly. Her gaze followed the lines of his pale jaw, marked by a purplish bruise on his right side. Her heart squeezed in her chest at the new pain that had resurfaced on his face.

"You got to hang on, Pete." She whispered, her lips inches of his ear. "I'm coming to get you, okay?" she tightened her lips as he didn't move, his eyelids too damn still. Wait for me, Pete.

She looked up to see Artie sitting on the other side of the bed, both of them now surrounding Pete. "Ready?" His eyes locked with hers and she could swear he was about to ask her to renounce again.

No way! A quick frown creased her forehead and it was enough for Artie to close his mouth, understanding she had made up her mind.

She nodded slightly. Yes she was ready. Only half an hour had passed since Pete had screamed, tearing her heart in pieces in the same way, and she was sure, every human soul around. Artie had taught her a trick to avoid being caught forever in this Neverland and to wake up on her own if she had any problem. He had quickly talked about vicious enemies lingering in the dark corners, but as long as she would stay in the light she had nothing to fear had he precised. That wasn't the case for Pete. He was the main course for these things: "these shadows" as Artie had called them. They feasted on human souls like sharks on a bleeding baby seal.

Artie quickly checked Pete's vitals and avoided her sight doing so. She knew he was frustrated he hadn't been able to tell her all he thought she should know. She just couldn't listen patiently to him while her partner was dying, and screaming in vain terror upstairs. The senior agent had quickly realized this, though she was sure that for him too it was difficult to keep a straight face with Pete's heartwrenching screams. So he had finally shortened his teachings to a dream survival kit. It was now time to rescue Pete.

Her head deepened in the pillow beneath her, and Myka felt the mattress curved under Claudia's weight. "Get him back, Sis," said the young techie, a forced smile painted over her face.

Myka gave her a large smile. "Don't worry, Clau. Even if I have to yank him back by the collar I will bring him back."

Claudia smiled at her reassuring words. "Tell him that if he goes Vader on us, I'll chop all his comic books. Even the mint condition ones," she bragged before stepping back with a sheepish grin.

A weak smile spread over Myka's face as she offered a small wink at her adopted sister. "I will, Claudia."

Behind Claudia, Leena patted her shoulder like an older sister. "Remember to watch out for the shadows," she softly advised.

Myka nodded and turned to see Artie giving her his worried pout. "Where's the ring?"

"I have it here," he replied taking it from the velvet box. With a deep sigh, his gloved purple fingers grabbed the silver ring. He stared at Pete unconscious and then at Myka lay beside him. "Be careful in there."

Slowly, he slipped the ring around her middle finger. A faint, bluish glow instantly surrounded her hand. The blue light remained like a cloud of gas around her skin, before it started to crawl toward her chest and head, wrapping her whole body in a blue, cloudy cocoon.

As soon as she felt the ring's power, Myka tried to speak to Artie. She wanted to tell him that things were going to be all right, but her eyelids were suddenly very heavy. So heavy that she didn't realize the moment they were closed and she had left reality. Everything spun around her. Her stomach churned at the spinning twisting fall into the sudden darkness. She tried to hang on at something, anything but only darkness surrounded her. She was alone now, falling and God knows where she was heading. Hopefully I won't attract a shadow right away...

xxx

Artie let out a deep sigh. His eyes crossed Leena's with dread.

Claudia gave him a weird look as she sensed his trouble. "Dude! Chill out! She's gonna get him out," she said more to reassure herself and counter the worried look he was offering her.

He shook his head with a deep sigh. "Claudia," he replied trying to be patient with his younger one. "I have no doubt about Myka's ability. I'm more worried about what she might see or live there. Neverland is a twisted country where no one should ever set a foot upon, even more if you know someone who has fallen in. There's too many possibilities to stumble on things and..." his voice trailed off, his face becoming grim.

She shrugged, her eyes wide opened. "But we tried. I mean each of us used the ring, two days ago, right? And nothing in particular happened to us."

He shook his head, his eyes narrowed into a smirk. "Yes and how many minutes did you remain there? Remind me?" He asked with a raising tone.

"Huh, some..."

He huffed with a satisfied stare. "Do you even remember anything at all?"

"Ah no. But..." tried Claudia.

"That's the point, Claudia. You don't remember because you were rejected by Pete as soon as he spotted you." He sighed, his hand quickly brushing his salty hair and taking his glasses off. "Probably because his protective side was up and still running." He clenched his teeth anxiously, his tone rising even more from his chest. "He ejected you as soon as he felt you going there. His subconscious knows how dangerous this place is, so that's why he refused your help. He knew it would be too dangerous for you."

"Hey! Nobody kicks Claudia out!" She frowned and wrapped her arms around her chest. "You got tossed away too!" she replied, half hurt, thinking that Pete could have rejected her, even for her own protection. They were like brother and sister. No way he would have done that in real life. Her brows furrowed in deep thoughts. Wouldn't he?

"Yes, he rejected me as well," cut Artie. He pushed back his glasses on his nose. "But I had the time to make a connection with him before, and to see..." He sighed, his lips suddenly tight. No, he couldn't tell Claudia what he had seen. Truth was, there was some stuff that nobody should ever witness about a friend, especially in a land artificially created by an artifact. "Never mind," he finally dropped as he stood up and went to sit in a nearby chair.

"No, tell us, Artie. What did you see? Why are you so worried about?" insisted Claudia. "You're freakin' me out! Now spit it out, Geezer!"

He shook his head as he slightly bent toward his knees with tiredness. "Things that are there shouldn't be spoken of, never!" His voice uttered coldly. He stood up nervously again, and his glare clearly stated that the conversation was over. He glanced at Leena. "It might take her some time."

Leena smiled and patted Claudia's shoulder. "Better prepare more coffee then." She watched as Artie nodded and silently paced the room in deep thought. Claudia watched him, her face getting paler within the minute. Leena considered getting Claudia out of Pete's room for a moment. Artie needed some peace too, and with the young techie she feared it wasn't going to happen soon. "Claudia, can you help me?"

Her lips tight, the young red haired raised a silent gaze checking on Artie before following her. Whatever happened now, Pete's fate remained in Myka's hands. At least she hoped she would have a better chance than any of them, as she didn't really want to think about Artie's dreadful scenario. She sighed. Remembering her own little project, she decided she should head back to the warehouse asap. Maybe it would become handy anyway.

xxx

Everywhere she looked was dark and it seemed the world had no real consistence. Her hand met nothing but air. She breathed heavily. Her heart beat loudly in her chest. Where am I? Anxiety slowly rose inside her and Myka surprised herself by feeling the little panic seeping inside her mind. Usually she had a better control over her emotions. She frowned, not sure it wasn't Neverland that was already affecting her.

She was floating slowly, unable to touch or move. There was no pain; nothing. Her body was light and without substance. Hmm. She frowned. If she had made it into Pete's subconscious, then she wasn't material anymore. That wasn't easy to go with it. She wasn't like Pete. This was a complete new side of reality. In her world, reality wasn't supposed to be so unreal. Even when they had entered Warehouse 2, her soul had conveyed Artie's office. That one was more than real, aside of a few details, but here there was nothing, and that was really creepy.

"Pete." Her voice echoed in the infinity of the darkness. "Pete?" she bit her lower lip as nothing happened. This place was so strange. She couldn't see a thing, not even her body or a light or... Wait! There was a light glowing in the background. Her heart skipped in her chest at the faint glimmer of hope.

Floating nervously closer to the light, the glow seemed to increase in size. She was drawn to it like a fish to the water, and finally, after doing some eerie strokes to get closer, the light wrapped her entirely. She blinked at the hard contrast, and when she opened her eyes she was standing in front of a small house. Standing, she smiled, that was the word. She preferred that. Being on her two legs was more familiar and at least she had the feeling she could act now.

Before her was a giant green field of oaks sparse and a little house nestled in the middle. A green truck was parked in the grass alley. The place looked peaceful and quiet. The sun shone warmly on her face. It felt good compared to the initial, cold darkness she had went through. She smiled at the sound of humming birds flying in the trees nearby. For a moment she closed her eyes, lingering in the warmth of the peaceful place. A feeling of being loved surrounded her. Her smile grew more, wondering if this place was Pete's Neverland or if she was the one who had created it. Artie had told her that everyone created their own Neverland, and though it seemed really appealing at first, there was always something crooked about it. She frowned, though for the moment she had to admit that the place was charming. Like all the artifact in the warehouse before they become a freaking crazy deadly weapon, her mind added in dread.

The main door opened and a tall man dressed in a dark outfit exited. She could see a red patch on his right arm but she was too far to see exactly what it was. The man quickly tossed a bag in the back of his truck and whistled loudly, his fingers in his mouth. Shortly after, a small boy with dark, brown, mussed hair and a mischievous smile appeared from a bush. He rushed up quickly to the man with a boyish grin and plunged blindly into the man's arms who caught him with a joyful laugh. Shyly, Myka walked toward them as both started to talk not paying any attention to her.

"Easy, kiddo! Don't want you to get hurt." The man brushed the kid's hair back revealing the mischievous grin planted on a face blotted with mud. "What have you been doing?" the man asked bewildered, his big thumb brushing away a spot of dried mud over the kid's dark eyebrow.

"Ah just searching for some old artifacts." The kid grinned. "I settled a perimeter and started to sketch the whole area but with the rain from yesterday I slipped and..."

"Yeah, yeah," interrupted the man, ruffling the kid's hair with a smirk. "Keep those stories for your mother." He grinned with a complicit look to his son and broke their embrace. "You were digging. I saw your sketches yesterday."

The kid offered a weak smile as if he had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. "Hey Dad, I needed to train for my summer archeologist class."

Myka smiled at the reply, and wondered a second who was that kid. Pete had never talked about a brother or a cousin being an archeologist. Though the dark brown eyes staring at the father seemed very familiar. She bit her lower lip, wondering if the kid could be...

"Matthew? Have you seen your son?" called a female voice from inside a house.

Matthew raised his brows as he looked at his son. "Told you your mother would be looking for you, Pete. Go clean up before she can see in what mess you put yourself into again."

"Ah she's used to it by now, Dad," quipped Pete with a mischievous grin.

"Pete?" repeated Myka. So she was really in one of his dreams, or his past maybe. But if it was his past, it meant it was before he lost his dad. Her eyes settled on the smiling face of little Pete as he nodded and smiled to his dad, unknowing that he would lose him soon. Her heart squeezed in her chest as father and son hugged each other tenderly. No wonder Pete had chosen this place. It was probably his happiest place on earth. She smiled. Pete had always acted with his heart first.

His father chuckled and offered him a complicit look. "C'mon Pete, Go!"

"Yes Sir," replied little Pete before he offered a mock salute to his father and rushed inside.

Myka couldn't have missed the mischievous grin stained with mud as he saluted his dad. Always the cocky, fancy smile whatever happened. If she had any doubt about the identity of the kid it was erased with that showy, sparkling smile. It was obvious it was Pete. Her Pete, her mind added with a victorious smile, she had found him.

The man cracked a smile and jumped inside his truck. Her gaze followed him leaving the place before she turned toward the entrance. A bit shy, she decided to enter Pete's childhood home anyway, after all she had come to help and there was no point staying outside. Besides, she must admitted she was a bit curious to know more about the little Pete. Until now her friend had been a little secretive, only telling her a bit of this and a bit of that. Aside the death of his father, he had never talked about anything else, unless it came out in their conversation. She tightened her lips, hoping she wasn't going to witness anything embarrassing for him.

"Pete?" called a woman inside. "Where are you, boy?"

Myka stepped quietly inside the house though she wasn't worried about making too much sound. She had noticed his father hadn't even noticed her although she had stood few yards from them. She assumed then that it was going to be the same with everyone.

"Right here, mama."

Myka turned to Pete's voice coming from the dining room. The place was really classy but comfy at the same time. Creamy curtains veiled the shining sunrays, and the floor was covered with a thick golden carpet giving the whole place a real warm touch. She smiled, she had always imagined Pete living in this kind of warm environment as a kid. To be the joyful man he had become, he had to live in a warm and loving place. He had to, right?

She frowned as a soft song filled the room the moment she spotted Pete. His back to her, he was sitting behind a piano, playing. She instantly froze under the charm of his play. Her heart skipped in her chest at the melodious tune he was creating. She bit her lower lip discovering something new about her former partner. Pete had learned to play piano much sooner than she had thought, and for 12, he seemed pretty good.

For a minute she just stared at his back, watching how absorbed he was by the music, his small shoulders slumping forward with the tune. Slowly, she circled him and noticed his eyes closed while his hands danced on the keyboard in perfect rhythm with the song. It warmed her heart to see him enjoying himself. At least, part of him was still alive here. There was hope then.

"Here you are, my little genius," quipped a woman with dark hair and a green nurse uniform entering the room.

Genius? Myka smiled at the nickname. Though she had always known Pete was consciously hiding his skills, genius wouldn't have been the first word coming to her mind. Well minus the fact he solved twice the enigmas than her when they were in the Warehouse 2.

"I'm sorry, Honey but I have to go. Gracie is sick, and Dr March wants me to watch out for her patients as well. I might be out all night. Will you be all right?" She gently patted his shoulder.

"Don't worry, ma. I have plenty of things to do."

She nodded to Pete and bent to read the title of the tabs he was playing. She frowned. "Is it the one your dad bought for you yesterday?" she asked with a genuine smile.

Pete kept playing, and opened his eyes. "Yup." His smile had grown to his ears, and Myka couldn't suppress a small twinge at her heart, recognizing the same cocky warm smile he used to offer her.

His mother stroke his back. "And you already know it?" she chuckled proudly. "Though I shouldn't be surprised, with the top grades you managed to earn again this year. You know Pete, if you keep working this hard at school you should be able to choose whatever college you want later."

Pete turned to his mother with his mischievous grin, his hands still dancing on the keyboard. "Nah, I just want to be an archeologist and play music whenever I want."

His mother gently put back a small tiny strand of dark hair behind his ear as his face turned back to the keyboard. "My little genius," she whispered, lying a gentle kiss on his temple. "Well with the rate and accuracy you're playing with, you sure could make good money with it, son."

Myka observed the scene dumbfounded. She knew about his piano skills but had never asked him to play. She sighed. Nor she had ever thought he was so damn good on piano or even at school. Pete had always appeared like a jock, not the kind of guy you assumed was earning good grades at school. She frowned, unlike her. But on the other hand, Pete had more than once surprised her. But why hide that part of him? Why play the jock when he had been a smart kid? Her brows creased in confusion. Or maybe it was his fantasy? Maybe he had always dreamed to be a genius and was living it with Neverland?

"So are you still going to see Amy today?" His mother gathered her purse and her keys.

He nodded quietly, his small frame moving softly with the music. "Her bike needs to be fixed, and she wanted me to help her out with her homework."

"All right then, Pete. Be good. Your sister should be back home around eight." His mother frowned as he stopped looking at her. "You call the hospital if you need me, okay?"

He grinned and turned to her, giving her a big hug as she had came closer. "I'll be okay. I know the drill. Not the first summer I'll spend here alone."

His mother gently stroke his cheek, biting her lower lip. "I know. I just wish your dad and I could be there more often for you."

"Go work and bring us food," he said with a large smile as to reassure her. "I need more cookies," he stated with a splashy grin.

"Sure you do, Pete." Her smile widened and she walked to the door before she disappeared totally.

Myka shook her head with a wide grin and turned to look at Pete watching the door. The faint roar of an engine filled the room and few seconds later a deafening silence settled in. Looking closer at her friend, a dark shadow appeared in the depth of his brown eyes. A long line wrinkled his forehead as he turned back to the piano. Had she just seen him being worried? But he had said he was fine. What was going on?

She approached him, wondering if she would be able to talk to him, but he started to play again, his eyes closed. Though this time, something stiff in his attitude raised an alarm inside her.

Pete was playing a new song, but this one was moody and sadder. She shivered at the small chills getting under her skin. Oh yeah, he was really good playing piano. For a moment she gazed at his face scrunched into a deep, serious frown. Pete was living his music, but this one obviously was tearing his soul open. Something was wrong, really wrong. Suddenly the idyllic painting of the wonderful family and the warm cocoon fell apart. Pete was sad, she could feel it. Not the first time, he had said. Was he always alone when he was a kid? So young, with both parents out? She had always complained about her father being all over her back, but it seemed it had been the contrary for Pete. She tightened her lips, and realized that this kind of life had to be tough, maybe that was why he had never spoken about it.

"I want you gone. I'm not crazy," echoed Pete's voice, breaking the moody atmosphere.

Surprised, Myka turned around to see to who he was talking to, but after her sight had quickly swept the main room and found no one else but her, she had to conclude they were alone.

The music stopped as his hands rested on his laps. His eyes were still closed when he talked again. "Yes, you, the woman," he said with an accusing tone. "You're not real. You're just a figment of my imagination. So go away!"

He could see her? Well that was great then. Now she just had to convince him to come back with her. Bring him hope, whispered her mind. And how am I supposed to do that? Her rational side quipped bitterly. She frowned. "I'm real, Pete."

He sighed and quickly his fingers rubbed his eyes, drying a few tears that were hidden by his closed eyes. "You're as real as the other ghosts, and I don't want to see any of you." He stood up suddenly, shoving the bench behind him. The furniture banged in a clap of thunder as it fell on the floor, and the walls echoed loudly with pain.

Myka watched as reality seemed to tremble around her. The house and walls wobbled before Pete left the house in a mad dash.

"What? What ghost?" Myka followed him, but as she reached the door, he was already on his bike and running away. "Pete? No, don't leave! Pete!"

She rushed behind him, but he was too far away and she quickly lost him after a few turns. Alone in the middle of the street, her fists tightened against her sides. Ghost? What the hell was he talking about? Pete, her mind questioned. I swear, you're gonna have a lot to tell me when we're back.

...TBC


A/N: Well hope you liked that chapter. Though since the reviews dropped last chapter I wonder if you're still interested in this story and if I should continue?