Author's Note: Thank you all for the reviews! Hope you like this chapter too. :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Warehouse 13, but sometimes I imagine I do...

Chapter Seven: Where there are twenty hours...

There was silence. Nothing but silence and darkness...

Stupid she thought. Stupid for shutting your eyes. Now there is nothing but silence and blackness.

But then there was a voice. His voice.


Artie sat in the arm chair opposite Myka. He had his elbows resting on his knees but he was looking up at her.

'How are you feeling?'

'The same as I did when I got in here. It's becoming annoying.' Myka was sat crossed legged. Artie nodded.

'It's the artefact, it's- frozen you how you were when you went in.' Artie shook his head slightly before saying: 'Myka I'm so sorry.'

'Artie?'

'The way I've treated you these last few weeks... You were right. I was trying to punish you for leaving. I just hadn't realised...' He dropped his head into his hands.

'It's okay. Seriously... after what I did with HG.' Myka leant towards him gently. 'I deserved it.'

'No! Looking for the best in a person isn't something that deserves punishment! No I should never have gotten mad at you for that. You're the best agent I've ever had through here.' Artie smiled gently at the dark haired woman in front of him who dropped her head in embarrassment.

'Don't let Pete hear you say that.'

Artie laughed and nodded. Myka was really touched by the man's words... He rarely complimented...

'I won't. Anyway- how are you doing?' There was a serious more 'boss-like' tone to his voice now.

'I... Well, 20hours. It's a long time to sit and wait.' Myka's voice was grim.

'Leena suggested we come eat with you. 'Hang out' as Claudia puts it... if you'd like?' He asked.

'That would lovely.' Having the others around her would make the time pass quicker at least. Artie slapped his knees before standing.

'Okay. I'll go get them and the food.'

When he'd gone there was quiet. The glass was always slightly cool to the touch. Myka ran her fingers over the floor of the orb. At least, she thought, all the other times I've been at risk it was instant risk. Do or die, so to speak. But this, this waiting, was barely stomach-able. 20hours was such a long time. At home in her parents store she could done so much with 20hours. Even here in the Warehouse she could a have done a lot.

If there wasn't a case she and Pete could have gone into Univille and had lunch. Or watched a film at Leena's. She and Claudia could have braved the drive into an actual town to go shopping. Or she and Leena would cook dinner together... a huge variety of memories assaulted Myka inside the bubble. Even Artie could be tempted into a discussion about a book occasionally... She loved doing all of those things. Spending time with all of those people.

Myka couldn't remember having felt at home anywhere other than the bookshop until she'd got to Warehouse 13. Now as the memories of shopping, laughing and talking all rushed around her mind she couldn't imagine anywhere else being home. Not that anywhere would be home again. Thinking about it like that, Myka's inner voice said, 20hours isn't that long.

(###)

15hours now, Pete thought as laughter echoed round the Warehouse. They were sat around Myka eating Chinese take-away and talking. It was almost as if there was nothing wrong. They'd always managed to make meals last hours and everyone was putting special effort in tonight. If it was tonight... Pete realised he wasn't sure what time of day it was. He hadn't been out of the Warehouse since getting back from Pittsburgh, apart from his brief trip to Leena's.

Jinks was back finally. He was entertaining everyone now with stories of his ATS days. Despite the circumstances of their meeting Myka and Steve Jinks got on well. Pete was glad he was back. He'd taken the situation stoically, knowing that the others were struggling he'd done as much as he could to make them feel better. That was mostly keeping them laughing.

Standing up Pete backed away from the group quietly. Myka saw him go but he smiled rather than say anything. He needed quiet for a little while. He knew why everyone was trying so hard to help Myka pass the time but every minute was hurting him... it was one minute closer to the awful reality- He was going to lose Myka.

Dropping onto a chair in Artie's office Pete tried not to throw up. Taking a few breaths he leaned back in the chair he let his mind run free. He'd been tightly focused on each task, making the crane work, getting Myka out; making sure Myka was having a good time... He hadn't let himself think about anything else. The dull reality was that without Myka... what was there?

He'd dealt with her being away from the Warehouse when she'd left. But then he'd hoped she'd come back. It wasn't until he'd seen her there that he'd realised what her not being around had done to him. Now he knew, understood how he felt about her.

Pete's watched bleeped. Interrupting his thoughts. 14hours. He shut his eyes.

As he slept he dreamt about Snow Globes...

'Pete!' It was Claudia, he jerked awake.

'What time is it?'

'There's still 6hours.' She replied correctly interpreting the question.

'6! I've slept for 8hours! Claudia!' Pete felt ashamed... he'd left Myka for 8hours! Turning away and ignoring Claudia's response he ran down to where the Globe was.

Myka was talking to Leena in a low tone. She smiled when she saw him.

'I'm so sorry Myka...' He began.

'For what? Sleeping? You need it...' She grinned at his expression. 'Don't stress out Pete, it doesn't suit you.'

'Seriously Myka...'

'Seriously Pete. I slept, I talked to Artie, I talked to Steve and Leena, I was fine. And you needed to sleep. You look like you still do.'

'I'm gonna head back for a while.' Leena said standing up. 'I think you should come too Pete. Shower and eat- you barely ate any take-away.'

'No. I-' But Pete saw Myka's expression. It was full of quiet concern and guilt.

'Go. Please. I have things I need to do... Claudia's bring a laptop and camera down. I'm gonna speak to my parents...' she swallowed to hide the emotion. Pete who felt like he hadn't eaten in weeks, knew she was right, and nodded.

'Okay.' He and Leena met Claudia on their way out of the Warehouse. Artie was in the office hunched grimly over his computer.

(###)

Pete had managed to shower, change, eat and be back in the Warehouse in less than an hour. But Myka's conversation with her parents had taken another 2 and half. Claudia had tracked down her sister too he knew and he was that glad that Myka was getting to speak to them. One of the draw backs of their job was the uncertainty... getting notice on leaving your loved ones behind was a novelty.

But as Pete's watch bleeped to the 2hours mark he felt a little like he was being robbed.

'She wants you.' Claudia said from behind him. She was red eyed and carrying the camera. Pete hugged her and then headed down to Myka. She'd been crying too.

'Hey.'

'Hey.' Myka wiped her eyes inaffectually. 'I've never cried so much in three days!'

'I think I get why though.' Pete said sitting down against the glass. Myka nodded. 'How'd your parents...?'

Myka shook her head tightly. She couldn't talk about; Pete understood and longed to hug her.

'I spoke to everyone while you slept...' Her voice was tiny and he could barely hear her. 'I said... Will you stay with me? I didn't want to put them through it but I need...'

'Course. I'm here.' They lapsed into silence again. After what felt like only minutes Pete's watch bleeped it's 1hour warning. Without speaking Pete pressed his hand against the glass, Myka did the same.

There was still nothing to say. But part of Pete was listening. Listening for running feet and raised voices. Every other time something had gone wrong in the stupid Warehouse they'd pulled it out the bag. Something would come up, surely.

'My legs...' Myka said suddenly shattering his thought. Looking at his watch Pete knew they had minutes.

'What, what's happening? Tell me.'

'They're stiff... I can't move them. I don't feel them. My hips now...' Myka looked panicked. Her forehead hit the glass in front of him. Yet more tears on her cheeks.

'Hey! Myks! I'm here. I'm here...' Pete twisted and pressed his forehead against the glass, against Myka's forehead.

He could pretend that he could feel her there.

'Pete...'

'Artie! Artie! Claudia!' Pete called out loudly.

There had been no running feet. No yelling. No magic solution. He called out again. This was really happening. She was really going. He needed them nearby.

'Pete... I...'

'I'm here Myk. I'm not going anywhere.' Pete heard Artie and Claudia behind him but now he wasn't listening for them it was Myka's voice he couldn't hear. He looked up to see her lips but...

'Myka?'

There was silence. Nothing more to be done. Nothing more to be said.

Pete closed his eyes.