Had so much trouble getting this chapter posted! Not sure why just yet and not sure it's fixed.

Chapter 21 Gloria Gets Her Point Across

At breakfast the next morning, Artie doled out the jobs for the day and said that Dr. Calder had reviewed their files and noted that their tetanus shots were all out of date. Given that they handled many old and rusted items in the Warehouse, she felt it was necessary for all of them to get the shot. She sent over the necessary medicine for Nurse Brown to administer them.

Before they could choose straws, Gloria asked Helena to be first. She had set everything up in the office and Pete really wished she could have found a better spot than that. Having nicknamed it the 'den of iniquity' the room now gave all of them pause to ever wanting to step foot in there again. "Well, maybe it will take our minds off the shot," he said quietly to Myka.

Gloria noticed that Helena was in very good spirits and knew that it was from being with Myka. God, what a power she had over Helena and seemed to Gloria's amazement, unaware of it.

"Will there be a lecture with this shot?" HG teased the nurse and she smiled to hear the lilt in HG's voice.

"No, just the shot," she said getting it ready.

"Then it shall not be as painful as last night," HG said playing with the woman and she laughed at the remark.

"Lecture, eh? You took my advice," Gloria said more than asked.

She knew she was right because there was lightness about Helena that she had not seen before. She knew this would not be easy for HG but she was pleased for both her and Myka that she was trying.

However, Helena could only tolerate this woman's intuitiveness for so long.

"You do know you make me feel completely naked without my permission, madam and in spite of your profession I don't think it is appropriate," HG said to Gloria but she barely paid attention to the accusation.

"Are you leaving today?" Helena asked trying to engage the woman but for someone who couldn't stop talking last night, she wasn't very talkative this morning.

"Yes, Dr. Calder said you could go back to work today if you're feeling ok and so I will leave after I give out these shots," Gloria said.

"Oh, so now I have the good doctor's blessing to return to work, do I? She's very inconsistent with her orders," HG said but Gloria did not react. So HG tried again: "You know I kissed your boss," HG said because she was impressed with herself in a way only HG could be without sounding arrogant.

"Is that right?" Nurse Brown said as she got out the alcohol wipe.

"I didn't know it was she of course. I was asleep and thought it was Myka," HG related the details.

"Well, that would explain things," the nurse said out loud.

"What does it explain?" HG asked with interest.

"Why she couldn't stop talking about you the other night," Gloria reported.

Helena liked the sound of that. So Artie's girlfriend couldn't stop talking about me. HG felt some satisfaction in that and the smirk was all over her face to prove it. Then she looked at Gloria and felt the slightest bit uncomfortable for enjoying it so much.

"What?" HG asked as if the woman was reading her mind.

"You know what," Gloria answered confirming that indeed she could.

"Well if you ask me, I think I actually helped move things along for them," HG said smiling devilishly.

"You are proud of yourself, aren't you darlin'?" the nurse asked.

"Oh, am I to be in trouble for that now? I did a good deed for the doctor and Artie," HG summed up her actions.

"You're a regular cupid," the nurse laughed and HG feigned annoyance at her.

"Not unlike yourself, Ms. Brown with that flagrant set up yesterday with your niece and Agent Lattimer. We all saw through that," HG said admonishingly. "You're not very subtle."

"Well, it seems to have worked out well from what I hear," Gloria said. "OK, we're all set here," Gloria said. HG started to roll up her sleeve but the nurse shook her head.

"You're not going to give me that in my ….," HG asked but the arched eyebrow on the RN's face confirmed that indeed she was.

"Oh, bloody hell," was HG's only protest before she complied.

The nurse had her reasons for doing it this way. She wanted to make sure Helena's injuries were healing which they were. Gloria didn't want her returning to work and overdoing it. When it was done, she cautioned HG that the only side effect could be sensitivity around the injection site and to take something for it if it really bothered her.

"Considering in which part of my body the discomfort might be, it will remind me of you," HG said trying to sound indifferent.

"You are funny," the nurse said laughing at HG's joke.

HG wouldn't admit it but she was pleased that Gloria responded to her quips as others were each called in and there wasn't any yelling except for Artie's yelp which everyone heard.

When it was all over, Pete helped Gloria put everything in her car. She said goodbye to Artie and then Claudia who clutched the woman tightly. She hugged Pete and told him to be on his best behavior and it was intended for his date that Saturday night.

She smiled and pulled Myka into her. There was an innocence about Myka that she adored. "You know you can call me anytime, yes?" she asked and Myka shook her head because there was a lump in her throat. The woman was only going a short distance away and could see them almost anytime but each of them struggled with saying goodbye. Helena stood there doing her best to appear in complete control. She detested goodbyes and especially this one.

"Now you listen to me, Helena G. Wells," she said softly as she held onto her favorite agent. "I am only a short ride away. I can be here whenever you need me," she said in HG's ear.

"Maybe," HG started before clearing her throat, "… we could have tea sometime," she finished with the slightest cracking of her voice.

"I would like that very much, Helena. I really would," Gloria smiled. "Now you be good, Helena. And I know you know what that means," she said warmly. "Now I better get back to Dr. Calder before she wonders where I am."

"Oh, yes do tell the doctor I send my warmest regards," HG said grinned.

"What did I just say to you about best behavior, Helena?" Gloria said with her hands on her hips and now Myka burst into laughter.

"You didn't say I couldn't have fun," HG objected. The nurse just smiled and shook her head at Myka.

Then Gloria went into the kitchen with Leena who had prepared enough food for the woman to last weeks.

"Oh man, I should ask her what I should do if this starts to hurt," Pete said as he touched his left arm with his right hand.

"Yeah mines a little sensitive, too," Myka said touching the same spot.

Claudia pulled up her sleeve to review the band aid on her upper arm. "Mine seems fine," she said.

Helena looked at each of the agents. "Why are you all wearing the band aid on your arms?" HG wondered out loud.

"From the shot, Helena," Myka said but was very confused by the question.

"Pardon me? You…she…..in your arm….are you telling me that….," were just four of the sentences she attempted to complete.

Artie walked in and Helena stared at him. "Artie, show me your band aid!" she demanded and Artie raised his eyebrows in response. Nothing should surprise him anymore and yet this did.

"Agent Wells, I really don't think you want me to …," Artie started but HG cut him off demanding to see it. He just stared at her.

"You want to see my band aid?" he reiterated.

"Yes!" she said out of patience and forgetting to whom she was speaking because she wanted an answer. That 198 score was not dropping anytime soon.

Artie stood there until a smile came across his face. "If you insist, Agent Wells." But instead of pulling his sleeve up as everyone anticipated, he went for his buckle.

Claudia was the first to shoot up the stairs. Myka covered her eyes but managed to escape into the kitchen. Pete yelled for him to stop but Artie had already ceased as soon as he got them to react. Helena was so stunned, that she just stood there like a deer in headlights.

"For someone with an IQ over 200, you really should choose your words more carefully, HG," Artie said walking into the dining room and laughing at his own joke. Pete actually thought it was funny. Well, the expression on Helena's face was funny and he doubled over laughing.

"I fail to see the humor in this, Mr. Lattimer," HG said sternly but it only made Pete laugh louder.

"No, trust me HG it is. The expression on your face ….," and then he looked again and stopped.

Gloria and Myka came back into the hallway, this time loaded down with bags of home cooked meals and things that Leena baked for her. Pete grabbed them and took them out to her car. Then she noticed the look on HG's face. She was standing there with arms crossed, tapping her foot.

"Helena, darlin'? I was in the kitchen for five minutes and now you're all upset. Who upset you this early in the day?" asked the nurse as she stood there in front of her.

"You …. I know what you did and you did that on purpose!" HG said annoyed.

"What are you talking about?" she asked knowing fully well what the sore point was.

"Don't play innocent with me," HG said full of warning that might scare anybody else but not Gloria.

"Oh, you mean that I gave you the shot in your ….," and she stopped there because she knew any reference to that area was offensive to HG. "Yes, I did," she said plainly.

"Helena, maybe Gloria had a reason ….," Myka offered trying to calm her friend but HG shot her a look.

"Oh sure there was, Helena," the woman said soothingly and Myka breathed a sigh of relief.

"I asked each of the agents if they wanted the shot in their arm or somewhere else. The arm tends to become sorer than the other area. Not as much padding," the woman explained. Myka shook her head yes that indeed the woman had asked her.

"You did not ask me," HG snapped.

"Really? Are you sure? " the woman asked.

"You know bloody well you did not," HG said letting the nurse know the jig was up.

"Oh, I guess I forgot to Helena," the nurse said nonchalantly.

"That is no excuse! You cannot do something and then say "I forgot!" the Brit retorted but there was a gleam in the nurse's eye.

"Good! I think you may have learned your lesson, Helena," the RN said smiling as she always did.

"I will report your action to a review board, madam," HG tried to threaten the woman.

"No you won't darlin. The first thing they will want to see is the proof," the nurse said laughing and HG stared at her.

Myka put her hand over her mouth to cover up the smile that broke out across her lips. Was there anything Helena threw at this woman that didn't fall flat on the surface between them?

"But you did it to Artie!" HG almost whined.

"Oh, I just did that because he's a pain in the butt. Don't tell him, OK?" the nurse said laughing so much she shook.

"Fine! Then I will tell your boss! You know, I can be very convincing," Helena said proudly.

"Aha, oh I know you can. It will be one of the things you give up first," Gloria said assuredly.

"Give it up? Are you mad! My gift of being quite convincing is my forte. It gets me out of all sorts of ….," HG was giving her monologue when she caught the raised eyebrows.

"What? What did I say?" she looked at Myka for help. "Myka?"

"You're gonna give up all that looking innocent and being convincing to get out of things because you aren't gonna get into trouble in the first place," the nurse said as she fixed her coat.

Helena was caught between being annoyed at Gloria for being so assuming and trying to figure out what this woman was telling her.

"You're not being very clear, madam. Is that English you are speaking? Because I hardly recognize it as such," HG said.

"You are a piece of work, Helena," the woman said as she walked out of the house and to her car.

Emotions rushed at Helena. She wanted to be annoyed at Gloria for her insinuations at the very least but really what she was feeling was genuine missing. She cleared her throat as she watched Gloria leave. When she turned away from the door, Myka was standing there.

"I'm going to miss her," Myka said. Helena swallowed hard and fought back the same feeling.

"Yes, well I for one find the woman insufferable and pushy," HG lied.

"Maybe we could go visit her on Sunday … for tea, " Myka suggested.

"If we can find nothing better to do then yes, that would be fine," HG said pretending to be disinterested.

"Helena?" Myka said prodding her partner to say what she really was feeling. HG knew immediately what Myka was asking and she knew she could tell Myka anything, even the things that she was not yet comfortable with.

"I would like that very much," HG said and Myka hugged her tightly.

"So let's go work on that high score of yours," Myka said.

"Myka, I'm tired of people talking about my IQ. Ever since we found out about it, it's been a problem," HG said.

"I meant your other high score?," Myka laughed.

"Oh. Very funny, Agent Bering. Very funny," HG chided her.

OMG She does know how to end a story! Yes?