Chapter 21
The next morning at the breakfast table Artie makes his announcement. "I have reconsidered. I think perhaps the case in New York can't wait."
"Great." Says Pete.
"Not you." Artie is quick to explain. "I already told you, one more week before you're cleared to work in the field."
"But you can't..." What he wants to say is 'You can't send Myka alone. She's not thinking clearly.' But he does not dare say that in front of her. It's more than his life is worth to make a statement like that.
"Claudia can go with Myka. It's a fairly straight forward retrieval. They'll be fine." Artie declares.
"You're kidding, right?" Claudia asks, eyes popping out of her head.
"I am not kidding." Artie answers. "Don't give me cause to regret it."
"Wait a minute." Myka protests. "You're asking me to be responsible for her in the field..."
"I can take care of myself." Claudia interrupts, her triumphant smile fading at the insinuation that she needs someone to be responsible for her.
"I'm not doubting your abilities. But you've never been in the field, you have no training. You'll be a hindrance. I'll be more effective on my own." Myka tells her. That comment hurt. Myka sees it in Claudia's eyes. And she is sorry for it. But there is simply no way she is going along with this plan.
"Artie thinks I'm ready." Claudia retorts.
Myka looks to Artie. She hates him in that moment, for putting this on her. God, look what happened to Pete. How can he think that Claudia would be safe with her in any way? Why would Artie do this to her? To Claudia? It is madness. "I will not do this." She tells him icily.
"You will do as I order you to do. That's how things work around here." Artie answers, raising his voice. He resents the way she insists on challenging his authority on every single thing lately. "I'm certain you've read the manual. You are aware of the consequences of defying a direct order."
Claudia's eyes widen at this threat. Pete only looks bewildered because, he still hasn't read the manual.
"Go on, do it." Myka challenges Artie, her voice never wavering.
"Surely this can wait a few days." Pete protests, coming to Myka's defence, trying to defuse the situation. Whatever these consequences of defying a direct order may be, he is certain they aren't good.
"You think you're so fantastic that we can't function without you, Pete?" Claudia demands. "You're not indispensable. Artie made his decision, we all have to abide by it."
"Hey!" Pete raises his hands in defence. "I just think we should all calm down."
"Since when do you abide by anything Artie decide, Claudia?" Myka demands to know.
"Children! Enough! I have made my decision, this is a direct order. End of story."
Pete follows Artie out of the room, leaving Myka and Claudia staring at one another bitterly.
"Artie, this is a bad idea. What are you thinking? You can't send them out to New York. Claudia doesn't know what she is doing, and Myka …..isn't herself." Pete finishes. He saw it all over Myka's face. How afraid she was to be responsible for Claudia in the field.
"I am aware of that. I just feel it would be good for Myka to get out there, do something constructive. It's not good to sit around here all day. She is more than capable of a simple retrieval."
"I know she is capable. I just think, it's been a rough week. I should be with her."
"It might surprise you to know that Myka is perfectly capable of functioning without you by her side." Artie answers.
It's not that Pete disagrees. The sooner Myka got back in the field, the better. She would get her confidence back, realise what what an indispensable part of the warehouse she is. Things would go back to normal. "My leg is really fine, Let me go with her." Pete argues.
"It bothers you, that Myka is working with someone other than you?" Artie asks.
"What's that supposed to mean? Claudia is just a kid. This is crazy. Anything could happen."
"Nothing is going to happen." Artie assures him.
"You don't know that."
"I do know that. There is no artifact in New York." Artie admits.
"What?" Pete wants to know.
"Well, I'm certain there are actually many artifacts in New York, but there is nothing particular that warrants this mission."
"You're sending them on a wild goose chase? Why would you do that?" Pete asks.
"For all the reasons we just discussed. It will be good for Myka to get out in the field. Good for you two to spend some time apart."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"You look tired, Pete. Didn't get much sleep last night?" Artie narrows his gaze in accusation.
"What?" Pete is thoroughly confused.
"Relax, they will be fine. It will be good for everyone, you'll see."
"And what if this guy approaches them?"
"Good. He might be more likely to approach Myka if you're not around. He isn't going to harm her, he needs her. They will be fine."
"Did you stop to think about what's going to happen when Myka and Claudia find out you've lied about this assignment?"
"They aren't going to find out, are they?"
"Pete." She calls his name, running towards him.
He turns, surprised. It's the first time in a long time that she has approached him. Since the incident with the mirror, in fact.
"Myka." He smiles at her.
She comes straight to the point. "You don't think it's a good idea, Claudia and I going to New York." It's a statement, not a question.
He doesn't know what to say, he knows he is on dangerous ground. That whatever he says will be the wrong thing.
"I just don't see why I can't go, my leg is fine." He tells her. "I don't like missing out on the action."
"You think I'm not capable." She accuses him, though there is no bitterness in her voice.
"I know you're more than capable of anything you set your mind to." He tells her sincerely.
"Then why are you so against it?" She asks him.
"I can see it bothers you, being responsible for Claudia in the field. I was trying to stick up for you."
"That's not the whole truth." She challenges him.
"What do you mean?" He is trying hard not to get frustrated with her. He knows what a dark place she is in. And all he has ever tried to do was support her. But it seems everything he says or does gets twisted around and thrown back in his face.
"You think I can't function without you watching over me." She accuses him.
"That isn't true..." He begins.
"You're probably right, Pete. I just don't have what it takes anymore. I really can't do this. What's the point of me even being here if I can't handle one simple assignment without you?"
"That isn't what I think at all. I believe in you, have always believed in you. You'll be fine. Claudia will be fine. She couldn't ask for a better mentor in the field." Pete tries to sound convincing. After all, the words are true. He believes in her. He wants to believe in her, at least. But sometimes, when he looks at that faraway gaze in her eyes, it frightens him.
"I said I would stay at the Warehouse just to catch these people. That's it. I can't do anymore than that. I can't go on all these assignments. I can't take Claudia with me. I tried to tell Artie. He won't listen to me. You tell him. Tell him I shot you, nearly killed you. Tell him Claudia is in terrible danger. Tell him he has to call this off. He will listen to you."
She is looking to him so distressed, that he really wants to tell her to chill out. That this isn't even a real assignment. He wants to tell her to play along, take Claudia on a road trip to New York, go shopping, or whatever it is girls do on a road trip. And just calm down. He wants to tell her not to cry, because he will fix everything. And he won't let Artie force her to do something she doesn't want to do.
But something stops him. Something about the way she is looking at him, needing his reassurance. He wants her to believe in herself. And to know that Artie invented this fake assignment would only shatter her confidence further.
"You can do this, Myka. Artie believes in you. I believe in you. And what happened at the prison was not your fault. Nothing is going to happen to Claudia. And, besides, Artie isn't going to call off a mission because I tell him to."
"Tell him to leave Claudia behind. Tell him to let me go alone." Myka pleads with him desperately.
He almost wants to give in. Because she is finally here, standing before him, looking him in the eyes. She is finally communicating with him. She is asking something of him, and he wants to be able to give it to her. But he can not. And this time it's not for fear of shattering her confidence.
"No." Pete shakes his head. "I won't do that."
"You don't think I can do it alone? You think I need Claudia watching over my shoulder? A kid who has never spent even a minute in the field and you think I can't do my job without her? If you think I'm that incapable then you really should insist that Artie get rid of me right this second." She turns to walk away from him.
"Stop it." He tells her, grabbing her by the wrists. "Stop twisting everything I say. Myka, I trust you with my life. I trust you with Claudia's life."
"But?" She is almost afraid to ask.
"I don't think I trust you with your own life right now." He finishes. "At least, if Claudia is with you, I know that you won't let anything happen."
She doesn't know what to make of that.
AN: Thanks to all the people out there who are reading and adding this story to their alerts and favourites. But please do take a minute to leave a brief comment and let me know what you liked/disliked. It always means so much to get feedback of any kind :) And to all the people who have taken time to leave a comment, I love you guys! It means the world to me :) Thanks for reading. xox