A/N: Fun fact, I started watching W13 because years ago my parents found it on Netflix one day and they told me, "You should watch this show, there's a girl on here that reminds us of you." By that they meant sarcastic, use of the words "D-bag" and "Frak" (BSG!) and ever since I've loved this show like crazy.
PS in this story, Yes, HG was bronzed and un-bronzed as it happened on the show, but she never did any of the canon badness that followed.
LOST IN THE ECHO
Chapter 3
Helena had been around for a long time, granted a large portion of that had been in a stationary bronzed state, but many years nonetheless. In her time with the warehouse, both before and after the bronzer, she'd seen a lot of things that tested her emotional control in the field.
Now added to that list – and shooting straight up to nearly top if not claiming the number one spot completely – was the image of Pete walking with measured steps out of the shed; the limp form of a young girl carefully clutched in his arms. Helena felt her mouth fall open slightly at the sight of her.
Thin and sweaty with a sickly pallor and far too young.
It stirred something in the woman she couldn't control. She felt her ire rise as Pete gently set her on the jacket Myka had laid over the frosted ground before informing them that an ambulance was on the way. The inventor watched the scene and then spun around on the still silent woman beside her.
"Is this what passes for the right thing your husband so believes in?" HG asked her furiously, "Is this how he helps people?"
The woman was shaking violently, her wide eyes frozen on the girl on the ground.
"It's can't be," her voice was a whisper as she shook her head and her hand wandered to her necklace once more. "He wouldn't do this. This isn't-"
"Yes it bloody well is!" HG shouted, nearly in her face. Unable to control herself, her hand snapped out and latched onto the back of Mrs. Ballet's neck. The blonde let out a yelp of surprise as she was pushed a step forward," Look! Look what you've been letting happen in your home!"
"Helena!" Myka shouted from her spot beside Pete and the girl. She rose and forcibly separated the two, pushing Helena back and stepping with her; making sure to keep herself between the other agent's view of the woman, "What the hell are you doing?"
"I find it difficult to believe that woman knew nothing about this," Helena declared, "You can't think so."
"You need to calm down," Myka told her, not taking the time to remind her that 'difficult to believe' was practically in their job description. She looked her in the eyes and tried to quell the rage visible in them.
"Calm down?" the English woman repeated as if she were offended by the suggestion, "You want me to calm down? Myka, look what they've done to that child. She's protecting him; as much a monster as-"
"That's enough!" Myka said sharply, speaking to her in a way she never would in their personal relationship and couldn't remember truly needing to professionally either. Her eyes flicked up towards the house briefly when the sound of distant sirens grew in volume, "Why don't you go meet the ambulance, Agent Wells."
The use of the title came out in a pointed fashion, intended to remind her where she was and how she was supposed to be acting. Helena knew they'd be discussing this later and said nothing more. Myka watched her walk off before turning around with the intention to apologize on her behalf to Mrs. Ballent. Her eyes widened when she spotted the woman talking passionately into her cell phone and hurried over.
"Hey!" Myka hollered as she stormed over with the feeling that she already knew who she was talking to.
"…you sick son of a bitch, I swear if you-"The cell was ripped out of her hand and shut off.
"What are you doing? Did you tell him we were here?" Myka asked angrily.
"It was his voicemail," she answered, "I wanted to tell him that he's never coming anywhere near me or my children again. I don't even know who he is!"
Myka shook her head at the woman.
"So he knows we're here. He knows what we found," she pressed her tongue to the back of her teeth to keep from yelling at the woman herself, "Go sit over there. Now!"
Tricia fearfully complied with the agent's order and Myka went over to where Pete was still knelt over the girl. When his partner returned he looked up at her and gave her an update.
"Her fever's out of control," he informed, "and it looks like a couple fingers might be broken."
"We've got another problem."
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Helena was sitting in the chair with her leg bouncing up and down anxiously, a most unladylike sight that her mother would've been all too quick to scold her for in her youth. But that was so very long ago, her mother was long gone, and she needed a safe way to expend the energy that had built up in the events leading up to the moment.
She'd ridden to the hospital with the girl – Lord, they didn't even know her name – while Myka and Pete attempted to confront Officer Ballent before he received his wife's message and fled.
Her eyes went again to the bed, roaming the girl's features as she slept. The flush in her cheeks still told of her high temperature, the short cropped red hair had likely seen better days, and bruises and scratches in various stages of healing peppered several patches of visible skin. She couldn't see it from the side of the bed she was sitting on, but Helena knew on her right hand, two fingers donned splints to keep the bones immobile.
The familiar buzzing broke her out of her thoughts. She eyed the girl once more to see if the sound had disturbed her before taking the Farnsworth out of the room.
"Please tell me you've found something," she greeted, getting straight to business when Artie's face appeared before her.
"There's nothing in any missing person's reports that matches the description you gave," Artie informed her, "If the hospital can't find anything, we'll likely have to wait for her to tell us herself."
HG let out a sigh and looked back into the room through the door she left cracked, "I worry that may be some time yet."
"Alright, keep me updated."
Just like that the screen went out. Artie was never one to mix pleasantries unnecessarily; this included things like greetings and goodbyes.
She was prepared to call Myka to check on the status of their own endeavor but thought better of it. If they were in the middle of any sort of confrontation the last thing Myka needed was a distraction. She would call as soon as she was able.
Still, Helena couldn't help but be anxious to hear from her. She worried enough over the woman on a normal mission, or what passed for normal in their lives. It wasn't as if Myka couldn't take care of herself in the field. A small smile threatened her face as she recalled their many sparring sessions and what they often led to afterward.
No it certainly wasn't lack of faith in her lover's ability as an agent that caused Helena's concern; she'd seen her take down men double her size and barely break a sweat. No, it was the evidence before her that proved this man they were going after obviously didn't care a bit about hurting someone that worried her. Especially if he knew he was found out, chances were he'd do whatever he thought was necessary to get away.
No.
Helena had to actually shake her head to stop the train of worrisome thoughts as well as the images it created in her mind. Having the imagination she did, which Myka enjoyed prodding and praising, was at times a curse. There was no end to the awful scenarios that could be conjured amidst her fears if she allowed it the power.
So she wouldn't allow it.
She returned to her spot in the room, keeping herself grounded by the repetitive sound of the machine beside the bed. She thought perhaps the beeping was a bit off tempo in comparison to the normal rhythm of a heart.
Deciding to occupy her time with logic instead of emotion and possibilities, Helena approached the machine, studying its display and hazarding guesses on the inner workings and how exactly each piece contributed to its function. The distraction worked well enough that she was surprised when the soft rustling sound came from behind her. As the noise suggested, the girl was making small movements beneath the thin blanket. Her head rolled to the side, facing Helena, and her hand clenched the sheet.
Helena closed the space between herself and the bed. She felt the urge to take the girl's hand and gently coax her through waking, but thought better of the idea. She was a stranger to this girl who'd obviously been through a traumatic ordeal. So instead, she held the rail in place of a hand and silently willed the girl to open her eyes. She was rewarded after a few more moments when small slits appeared where her eyes attempted to part.
As soon as the miniscule amount of her eyes appeared, they vanished again beneath the lids and lashes; a moan rolling out slowly.
"It's alright," Helena found herself saying to the girl in a soft tone, "You're safe now. It's alright."
Without conscious control over what she was doing, Helena was leaning forward and reaching a gentle hand out towards the girl. Her fingertips barely brushed the hot skin of her cheek when the young girl flinched and turned her head away. The agent pulled back immediately, the apology on her lips halting when she saw her eyes open once more; truly open.
The brown eyes looked her way, instantly guarded and suspicious of her intentions. Surprised, Helena took an extra heartbeat of time before placing a smile on her face and addressing the girl gently.
"Hello there," she greeted, "How are you feeling?"
The girl's eyes narrowed slightly as if trying to read her before she would decide to answer or not.
"You-"the sentence, whatever it was going to be, was interrupted by a sudden series of rough coughs.
Helena moved right away to fill the small cup on the tray with water and bring it over.
"Here, take small sips," she instructed, surprised when the patient shook her head even as she continued her coughing fit, "Come now, it will help."
The girl grimaced and forced out a "No," between clenched teeth, even while her chest was jerked with the effort to fight down the coughs.
Her face began to redden and Helena worried for the girl's breathing. For whatever reason she was absolutely refusing the water and Helena doubted she would want to resort to having someone sedate her. Selfishly, Helena also thought, if she were to fall unconscious again they would have to wait even longer without any answers about the mystery girl.
Forgetting any consideration of personal space and touches, the older woman – so much older than anyone would ever guess by looking – moved forward. Wrapping an arm around the girl's back, Helena pulled her up into a sitting position.
"It's alright. Let's just focus on breathing," she instructed, keeping a hold on the slouching girl as she continued to twitch and spasm against the fit, "Listen…now we need to get this under control. Otherwise these machines will alert the staff and they'll resort to sedation as they tend to. I suspect that's not something you'd want, is it? So try to breathe with me if you can."
Helena took slow purposeful breaths, moving her free hand in and out in pattern with it. She felt the tightly coiled body slowly attempt to match it and relax. After a few seconds the coughs and jerks began to become less frequent, eventually dissipating completely and leaving the girl sagging with the exhaustion of the episode.
"There we are," Helena said soothingly, running her hand over the slightly damp gown on her back, "That's better."
With her free hand the agent grabbed the controls and adjusted the mattress, raising it up to a reasonable incline before guiding the girl to lie back against it.
"Now, before we try speaking again, it really would be best to drink a little something. You seem to not want the water," she paused, watching the girl as she kept her eyes everywhere but the woman speaking to her, "I believe it has to do with your experience; in which case I wouldn't blame you at all. Perhaps you'd like something from a bottle with an unbroken seal?"
She watched the girl glance down at her lap, one hand trailing a finger over the splints on the other. Her lips quivered a moment before pressing together tightly. Still refusing to look at her, she nodded slightly to the offer.
Helena was quick to fetch a bottle of water from the nearest vending machine. She wasn't completely comfortable with leaving the girl alone, but didn't want her to feel overwhelmed. She believed she may have been making a little headway with her after helping her through her fit. When she returned to the room she found the girl in question sitting on the edge of the bed, her bare legs hanging over the edge as if she'd been in the middle of getting up and her head leaning down into her hands.
Honestly, HG wasn't entirely surprised by the girl's attempt. With a smirk pulling at her lips, she crossed the room and stood in front of her.
"Trying to 'make a break for it' as they say?"
The girl jerked; so absorbed, it seemed that she hadn't heard Helena come back. She glanced up with a look on her face as if she had been caught in a punishable act. It struck Helena and she instantly worked to cover it up and kept talking.
"I suspect I would be doing the same in your shoes," she admitted, "I'm not one for staying still very long."
"Stop," the rough voice came as her head returned to her hands.
"Stop what?" she asked, surprised at the voice and intrigued to build a dialogue.
A groan was her response and Helena suddenly realized the forgotten bottle in her hands. She held it out for her.
"Here you are," she offered, "I thought you'd appreciate breaking the seal yourself?"
A shaking hand accepted it and, after one unsuccessful attempt, she was able to open it on the second twist. She stared down at the open bottle for long enough that Helena almost said something. As she opened her mouth to do so, however, she was interrupted by that same rough voice instead.
"Cup."
Finding the request odd, Helena obliged regardless. Emptying the liquid that she'd offered earlier out of the cup, she gave the empty dish to the still nameless girl. She watched curiously as the bottle was tipped and a third of the cup filled with water. It was then held out in front of her and Helena looked at it unsure of why it was there. She accepted it though when the arm began to tremble as if it were struggling to remain straight.
"Thank you," she said politely as she took it in her hand.
A moment passed before she understood. She realized the girl wasn't just staring at her, she was watching her. She was waiting. The agent's eyes glanced to where the girl held the bottle in her uninjured hand; the grip tight enough to bend the cheap plastic beneath it. Adding it all up, Helena thought she knew what she was meant to do. Casually, she brought the cup up to her lips and took a hefty drink that was far from dignified; something more suitable to be found from Pete at the dinner table.
It appeared she'd judged it all correctly; as soon as she'd swallowed the girl began to drink what remained in the bottle. Helena understood it wasn't merely having an unopened bottle that she needed for assurance. After she'd apparently satisfied her thirst, she spoke again in a voice that sounded much better if still a bit off from illness.
"You were there," she spoke to Helena, "I saw you on the camera."
"I was, yes," she agreed with a nod, "My name is Helena. What's yours?"
The question was ignored as she went on.
"You're not a cop?" she eyes her, "You didn't show a badge when those other two did."
"Perhaps I didn't feel the need," Helena suggested, "As you said, there were already two on display."
"You still would've shown it. That's what cops do. And you…" she paused, once more leaning forward but forced herself back up again when Helena instinctively made a move in her direction. She swiped the back of her hand across her forehead and continued like the interruption hadn't happened, "You introduced yourself with your first name. So I repeat, not a cop."
At this Helena smiled at her.
"Well noted," she praised, "You're quite clever. Of course I gathered that from your manipulation of the camera. That was an incredibly intelligent plan."
The girl just shrugged and looked down, "It was no big thing."
"I'd say it was quite the 'big thing," Helena felt a little awkward using the phrase. It reminded her of her first days after being debronzed. The ambush of all that had changed since her days was a shock to say the least and it took some time for her to become used to it. Even now she still had moments where she had to look to Myka for a translation of something Pete would say.
"So…you got him?" she asked, "The guy who… you know."
"He wasn't on the property, but my partners are after him this very moment," she promised, "I assure you, the two of them will not give up until they've apprehended him. They never give up."
At that the girl looked at Helena warily, "How are they your partners if you're not a cop?"
"It's a bit complicated," she began, "You're correct, I'm not an officer, but I do work for the government."
This made the girl's eyes widen and she looked at Helena with a new wave of emotion on her face.
"Holy crap, you-you're with social services," she pushed herself off the mattress, her legs collapsing the moment her weight was on them. Helena reacted on instinct, her arms reaching out and hooking under the girl's shoulders, "Let me go!"
"You're still very sick," she reminded her as the girl struggled, "You shouldn't be exerting yourself."
"Frak you!" she growled, "I'm not going back! I'm not gonna be a part of your stupid system again! I don't care wha-"she started coughing again; her strength and adrenaline quickly leaving her as she did.
Helena held tight, carefully lowering herself to the floor with her as her body went limp.
"Shh, Shh," she sounded to the girl, "It's ok. I've got you."
"I'm not going back. I won't…" she continued with words along the same line, repeating them in almost a whisper to herself.
Helena ended up sitting back on her ankles, holding the girl against her chest and stroking her fingers through the short hair, trying not to think of the way the action used to soothe another, much younger girl, when she was distraught.
"You don't have to go anywhere," Helena found herself swearing to this girl she felt terribly protective of even though she'd only just met her, "No one is going to force you to go anywhere. I promise you."
"Who are you?" the girl asked breathlessly as she tried to compose herself after the moment of panic.
"My name is Helena," she told her again, "I'm someone you can trust. Can you tell me your name, dear?"
After a moment of silence, wherein HG assumed the girl was working over whether or not she could actually trust this person, she finally had an answer.
"Claudia."
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A/N: Don't get too used to such quick updates. I'm having an uneventful week.