Warehouse 13
High School AU
Eventual Bering and Wells and Cleena; current Myka/Sam and Claudia/Todd

I'm sorry this took so long, my minds been dragging me down and work's been crazy. I hope the next chapter is up sooner.

Chapter Twenty

Helena looked at the words on the glass. Bering and Son's sounded exactly like the name for a bookstore in a town so small it had been missing on half of the maps she had scoured. She was sure the store was going to be just as quaint as the façade suggested.

It sickened her slightly. It was terribly clichéd and was most likely owned by an elder couple who would take one look at her and turn their noses.

Still, she had been forced to leave her books behind in her exile and while her e-reader was glorious, she missed the tangibility of actually turning a page and the finality of closing the back cover.

She pushed the door open and rolled her eyes as chimes tinkled over the door. Her withholdings lessened slightly as the fragrance of ink and paper hit her. No matter the outwards appearances, it was still a bookstore.

Hand around her stomach, she walked towards a random aisles and started to browse the titles. An older volume on a lower shelf caught her eye. The title was partially faded, just enough that she couldn't make out the words. She crouched, one hand gripping the shelf, to get a better look.

She tilted her head and pulled the book out.

"Do you need any help?"

Helena looked up at the words. A girl about her age was watching her from the end of the aisle. She was leaning heavily on a pair of crutches as her bandaged right leg was lifted slightly. Her eyes were large and glossy.

"Thank you, but I'm just browsing. I wish to figure out which store in town has the best collection."

"This is the only bookstore in town."

"Really?" She had thought there must have been at least one more, hidden somewhere.

The girl nodded. Her curls bounced with the movement and Helena could have sworn a flash of pain crossed her face.

She focused on what the girl had said and grinned. "A prospect both enticing and frightening in all truth."

The girl shrugged. "If you do need anything, I'll be in the back. Just come find me."

"I will be sure to."

The girl nodded. She turned and took a step. Helena was suddenly hit with the desire to keep the girl around, to bring something other than blankness to her face.

"Actually – "

The girl turned back around. Helena settled her hands on her extended stomach.

"Do you happen to have a parenting section?"

The girl's eyes flicked down for a moment. When she looked back up there was none of the judgment Helena usually found.

"This way," the girl said before walking past Helena.

The section was just an aisle over but Helena watched the girl the entire time they walked there. She would put her bandaged leg down every few steps, as if testing it, only to pull it up instantly. Her plaid shirt bunched around her crutches, lifting the bottom hem up just enough for some of her pale skin to become visible.

When the girl stopped, she reached out with one hand and reverently trailed her fingers along the spines of the books on one shelf.

"This is what we have."

"That's not much, is it?"

The girl shrugged. "The only reason we have any is cause my mom insisted."

"Oh, your parents own this store?"

The girl shrugged again.

"It must be a treat, growing up in a bookstore."

The girl smiled as she looked down the aisle. Helena frowned at the obvious pain in the smile. "Yeah, a treat," the girl mumbled, then blinked and looked back at Helena. "Is there anything else you need?"

"Nothing else specific. I do believe I will browse a bit longer, however."

The girl nodded. "Well, find me when you're ready to check out."

Helena let her walk away this time. She had read something about a car crash while she had been investigating this town. It had said the pedestrian hit was lucky to have survived and that the driver, presumed drunk, had yet to be found. There had been no picture but the name stuck in her mind; Myka Bering.

Helena had paid no real attention to the article but knew that she would now have trouble getting Myka Bering out of her head.

-oOo-

Pete looked at his watch as he stopped running. Six minutes.

One mile in six minutes.

He groaned and started a walking lap around the track. His legs burned and his chest heaved. His mouth was dry and his throat tight.

He lifted his arms over his head and took deep breaths.

He had two more weeks to decide if he was going to try out for the football team again. He was pretty sure he would make the team, varsity now that he was a junior, he just wasn't sure if he wanted to.

He loved playing. He loved the sport. He just wasn't sure he would be able to play for the school anymore. Beyond the fact that he didn't know if he would have time with the program, he had come to realize that he had never actually been as close to the guys as he had thought.

He had grown so much closer to the little ragtag group in less than half a year than he had the other players since they had started playing together in middle school.

He shook his head to clear his thoughts as he neared the starting line. He came to work out to keep his mind off of everything for at least part of the day.

He cleared the time on his watch and started to run again as he crossed the line.

-oOo-

Myka bent down to pick up the next book on the pile.

Catcher in the Rye

J.D. Salinger

"'Certain things, they should stay the way they are. You ought to be able to stick them in one of those big glass cases and just leave them alone'," she quoted as she stepped to the other side of the aisle and slid the book into place.

She sighed as the chimes rang and she reached for her crutches on the other side. One more week and she wouldn't have to use them anymore. She hoped, at least. She barely felt pain anymore but the doctor had said that the pain would go before the bone was fully healed so she still had to stay off of her leg.

"I must say, I am quite glad to find you working right now."

"Helena," Myka gasped as she noticed the girl from the previous week leaning against the counter.

The girl tilted her head, her hair cascading down her shoulder. "I don't believe I told you my name during our previous encounter."

Myka blushed. "You paid with your card and I have a good memory."

Helena nodded. "Well then, I don't feel quite so bad for already knowing your name."

"How do you know my name?"

Helena's lips quirked slightly. "An article I read online about…"

"The crash."

"Precisely."

Myka ducked her head for a moment. It figured that even the new girl from another country would know.

"Are you looking for anything specific?" she asked.

"Yes, actually. When I said that I needed nothing else the other day, I lied."

"You lied?"

"Yes. As I told you, I only recently moved here, practically immediately after my school term ended, in fact. Since then I have found myself dreadfully starved for companionship."

"Companionship?" Myka winced after the word slipped out. She seemed incapable of coming up with her own thoughts.

"I have yet to make a single friend in this town."

"And you think I'll be able to help?"

"Where better to find a friend than the bookstore?"

Myka inclined her head and her brow furrowed. Did she mean she wanted Myka to be her friend?

"I'm probably not the type of person you want to be friends with."

"Oh, pish posh. Perhaps you should let me decide that."

Myka stared at her for a moment. Helena raised an eyebrow.

"What?" she asked.

"Pish posh?"

"Too obviously British?"

"Maybe just a little."

"Drat."

"Are you trying to sound more British?"

"It was an experiment, to see how long it would take for someone to question it."

"How long did it take?"

"Longer than expected, honestly."

Myka shrugged. "I'm probably one of the few in this town who would."

"Still better than none, and perhaps the fact that you noticed makes you the type of person I should be friends with."

Myka quirked up an eyebrow. "I don't exactly go out much, so I wouldn't be any fun."

"I don't go out much either. I find that the disgusted looks I receive put quite a damper on my mood."

"Small town America, ready equipped with small minds."

Helena laughed. "Small town anywhere, I believe."

"Is that why you moved here? If you don't mind me asking."

"I don't mind at all, and yes. My parents thought it best if I carried out the remainder of the pregnancy away from the prying eyes of our town elite." The last word came out as a sneer, Helena's lips curling up.

"So they just sent you here?" Myka questioned. "What did they just open a map and point at random?"

"I'm not sure why they chose this town in particular, perhaps the fact that it is so secluded."

"Did they come with you?"

"Oh, heavens no. Neither hell nor high water could get them to abandon their precious social standing to accompany their knocked up daughter to the colonies."

"That's horrible."

Helena shrugged but Myka could see that the nonchalance was forced. Her heart ached as it became obvious to her how lonely Helena actually was. She knew loneliness and knew how it could gnaw at a person.

"Maybe, occasionally, you could help me out around here," Myka slowly suggested. "Only when I'm the only one here, though. My dad doesn't like people helping if they don't work here."

"Have you tried before?"

"My sister has."

Helena smiled. "Then just let me know when it is safe to come by."

-oOo-

"No, not like that," Todd said. He tried to reach around her to the keyboard but Claudia slapped his hands away.

"I've got this," she insisted.

"You're going to…"

He cut off as she let out a laugh and the computer screen did what they wanted.

"How did you do that?"

She smirked at him. "Pure skill."

"C'mon, let me know."

She grinned then shrugged. "I'm actually not sure," she admitted. "I just did it and knew it was right."

"That really is pure skill. I am humbled to be in your presence."

She laughed and shoved him slightly.

She glanced at the clock and stood up.

"I gotta go," she said.

"So soon?"

"Sorry." She grabbed her bag and slid past him. "I have to be somewhere."

Todd reached out and rested a hand on her shoulder. He pulled her back towards him and pressed a kiss to her lips. She couldn't suppress the thoughts that it felt wrong but was able to ignore them.

"Same time Friday?" he said.

"Of course." She smiled at him and headed towards the front door. Her smile faded slightly once she was on the street.

She started towards the park. Sam was going to see Myka that day and she wanted to get to the park before he did.

She kicked a soda bottle on the sidewalk. She hated that this was the only way she heard anything about her friend. Sam was only able to make the drive to Jefferson once or twice a week and the days between were nerve wracking.

She stopped as an idea hit her then started walking again, faster than she had been.

-oOo-

Leena ran her fingers along the spines of the books as she read the titles. She wasn't truly interested in the topic – early monarchs of France – but the first time she had come to the bookstore to see Myka, her father had been there. Leena had claimed to have a summer assignment for European history – a class she had taken her sophomore year but the first to come to her mind – in order to have an excuse whenever she went to the store.

"Philippe Ier l'Amoureux?"

Leena turned at the voice and grinned.

"Myka."

She wrapped her arms around the girl and was surprised when she pulled back and had to look up at Myka.

"You've gotten taller," she said.

"Nearly two months and that's what you have to say?" Myka questioned.

Leena shrugged. "I'm not really sure what else to say."

Myka grimaced slightly. "So, how are you?"

"I'm good. We're all worried about you, though."

"I'm better."

"I would hope so after two months."

An awkward silence fell over them.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Leena asked.

Myka nodded. "You can tell them to stop worrying. Pete especially."

"That's not going to happen."

Myka smiled and laughed lightly. "I know."

"He really wants to come see you, but…"

"My dad hates him. I know."

"Yeah, and Claudia's too worried that she'll let it slip that she knows Pete."

"And you?"

"Your dad thinks I'm here researching for a summer assignment."

"About dead Frenchmen?" Myka tilted her head towards the books on the shelf.

Leena shrugged and smiled.

"Oh," Myka exclaimed. "I'll be right back. I have to go get something."

"Okay."

Leena watched Myka rush away. She was favoring her left leg, not much but just enough to be noticed, and she kept her hand on the shelves next to her.

Leena stood still for a few moments after Myka left her view, then she turned back to the books and pulled one out. She flipped through it until she came upon a heading that looked somewhat interesting and skimmed the passage.

"Learning anything?"

She looked up at the deep voice. Myka's father was standing at the end of the aisle, watching her.

"Yes, sir," she replied. "I'm still figuring out if this book is what I need, though."

He walked over and pulled another book off of the shelf. "Try this one, Brown can get a little dry."

"Thank you," she said.

He nodded and walked off.

Leena flipped through the new book. The font was smaller, but there were more pictures and graphs.

"I can't stand around and talk," Myka said from behind her.

Leena turned in surprise. She was struck by how quiet both Myka and her father moved around but kept the thought to herself. Myka pressed a paper bag into her hands. Worry was creeping into her features and her voice was low.

"But can you give this to Pete. It's for his birthday next week."

"Of course."

"Tell him I would have gotten something better, but I'm kinda limited on selection."

"He'll love it no matter what."

Myka nodded slightly and ran a hand through her hair. "I should get to work. I'll see you?"

"I'll be back, don't worry."

-oOo-

Helena watched Myka as she walked ahead of her. She was finally free of crutches and bandages but she was still limping. It wasn't much and Helena only noticed because she found it hard to keep her eyes off of Myka.

She also noticed that Myka's face wasn't as gaunt and her hair was less limp, the curls bouncing with each step. Her eyes were clearer and brighter.

Myka stopped and scanned a shelf before slipping the book she was holding into place. Helena looked at the next book in her arms.

"Lady Windermere's Fan by Oscar Wilde," she read.

Myka slid the book off of the pile and turned it in her hands.

"'We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.'"

Helena grinned. Myka had been able to quote fourteen of the twenty-two books they had shelved. Five of the other eight were on her 'to-read' list and the other three had never held any interest for her.

"It's two aisles over, on the bottom shelf," Myka said as she started to walk in that direction.

The both stopped with the chimes over the door rang.

"'Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.'" Helena recited the words easily.

Myka laughed. She stepped around Helena, towards the front.

Helena set the books on the shelf before following. She heard Myka say something just before turning to see Myka hugging a tall boy.

They pulled apart after a moment and the boy pressed a kiss to Myka's forehead.

"Look at you, Bunny," he said. "Finally free of the crutches."

Myka inclined her head slightly and Helena imagines she must have been smiling. The boy pushed some of Myka's hair back, leaving his hand buried in her curls.

"How's your head?" he asked.

"Okay. No pain right now, so that's good."

"It is." He pressed another kiss to her temple and dropped his hand.

Myka turned to Helena. She gestured for her to step forward.

"Helena, this is Sam, my boyfriend. Sam, this is my friend, Helena."

Sam looked Helena up and down, a gesture unnoticed by Myka. Helena bristled slightly as the look of distaste when he noticed her baby bump. When he looked up again, however, his smile was genuine.

"It's nice to meet you," he said.

"Likewise."

Sam turned to Myka. "I have something I need to tell you," he said.

"Oh, umm," Myka said as she glanced at Helena with an eyebrow raised.

Helena inclined her head. "I shall take that as my invitation to leave."

"I'm working alone again on Wednesday, starting at ten."

"I'll try to stop by."

Myka grinned and nodded.

Helena left the store, her heart aching slightly. She should have figured that Myka would be attached. The girl was amazing and there was no way she was the only one who had noticed.

It didn't make her heart ache any less or the jealousy dampen.

-oOo-

Myka watched Helena leave then turned back to Sam. He grabbed his hand and gently played with her fingers. A bad feeling settled over her.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

He sighed. "I just found out," he started. "Yesterday, my mom told me."

"What?"

"We're moving. To Denver."

Her heart sank into the pit of her stomach. "Colorado?"

"Not yet, but soon. A few months at the most."

Myka stared at their hands and intertwined their fingers. "What does that mean? For us?"

"I like you, Myka. I really, really like you. So I…I want to see if we can work something out."

She looked at him and smiled. "I'd like that."

He raised their hands and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. "Good."