Warehouse 13
High School AU
Eventual Bering and Wells and Cleena; current Myka/Sam and Claudia/Todd
Beta'd by Massivenerdywarehouse on tumblr

I would call it a filler chapter, but things do happen, just not intense things.

Chapter Twenty-five

Myka moved her finger down the margin of the page as she read. Her eyes were sore and the lines blurred together despite her guiding finger.

She sighed, closed the book, and put it back in her bag. She still had to make it through two classes before she could get her medicine. She was sure there was a reason why they refused to increase her dosage, but she didn't like it.

She closed her eyes and massaged her temples. She sensed Helena take her seat. She slowly looked up to her concerned gaze.

"Headache," she brushed it off.

Helena nodded slightly, then tilted her head and moved closer to Myka.

"So, you are in the program."

Myka looked up at Helena at the words. "What program?" She knew what Helena meant, there was only one possibility, but she had to make sure.

Helena smiled and tilted her head slightly. "With Peter and Leena and Claudia."

"Oh, that program." Yes, best to continue to feign ignorance. Wait. "You're in the program?"

Helena's smile grew. "It is, in fact, the reason I came to this specific school."

"Really?"

Helena tilted her head in response. "It seems it was more than mere luck that we have met."

Myka raised an eyebrow but Ms. Belk got the attention of the class before she could say anything.

-oOo-

Helena mentally cursed herself for her slip. She couldn't be so flippant with her words around Myka. Myka had a boyfriend. Myka would never be with someone like her. Hell, she didn't even know if Myka was into girls.

She turned her attention to Ms. Belk. The teacher was explaining their first assignment.

A short story, due at the end of the semester. Yadda-yadda. Peer revision throughout the semester. Blah blah blah. Minimum of fifteen pages.

Ms. Belk started to pass out rubrics and Helena fully tuned her out.

She watched Myka instead.

Subtly, of course. Glancing at her direction every few minutes. Watching the teacher the rest of the time.

She made every glance count, however, noting the little things about Myka.

The way her fingers curled around her pen.

The fact that she used a pen instead of a pencil.

How intent her attention on the teacher was.

How she made neat notes on the rubric.

How her curls shifted every time she moved.

The vivid green her eyes turned to in the light streaming through the window.

Helena sighed lightly and turned to her rubric. She was starting to feel a bit creepy, staring at Myka the way she was.

She moved her left hand beneath the desk to wrap around her stomach, around her child, and highlighted random words on her rubric with her right.

She had already expected it to be a long year, but the presence of Myka Bering was going to do her few favors.

-oOo-

Myka looked at Pete over her sandwich. He was staring at his food as he pushed his green beans around the tray. Their conversations had been slightly strained before he had trailed off.

She looked at Leena, who tilted her head slightly, then put her sandwich down and sighed.

"What's wrong, Pete?" she asked.

"Nothing," he said. "Why would anything be wrong?"

She narrowed her eyes at him. "What's wrong?"

Pete sighed and put his fork down. "I'm worried about you," he finally said. "You're there so much. Either there or here and I don't like it."

Myka smiled shrewdly. "I'm fine," she said.

"Myka…"

"Besides, I'm not just here or there. I'm going out with Sam on Friday."

She hadn't planned on telling him, but the way he perked up was worth it.

"Yeah?"

She nodded and her cheeks turned a pale red.

"Where are you going?" he pressed.

"The movies, then the diner."

"Your dad's letting you do both?"

She shrugged. "Why wouldn't he?"

He gave her a look, making her shrink slightly and concede to his point.

"It's all fine," she muttered. "I'm fine, I'll be fine. You don't have to worry."

"I'll worry about you until you're out of there."

Myka sighed and, as the bell rang, stood up.

"I'll see you tomorrow," she said before slipping into the crowd.

Pete groaned. "I'm an idiot," he murmured.

"You're just trying to look out for her," Leena told him.

He sighed and nodded.

-oOo-

Myka was ready for it when Claudia threw herself at her in the hallway outside their math class.

"It's only been a day," she chuckled after pulling back.

"It should be less," Claudia grumbled. "It was weird yesterday."

"You'll be fine without me there," Myka told her.

"It's not the same." Claudia hit the doorframe with the side of her foot as they walked into the classroom. "You're not there, and we have two new people."

"Two? I know about Helena, but who else?"

"Steve."

Myka nodded slightly, taking her seat. Claudia leaned against Myka's desk.

"Isn't it odd how we're all connected?" Claudia mused as she pulled her notebook out of her bag.

"I guess," Myka replied. She had never really thought about it, but it was odd.

"Anyway, Artimus has us reviewing for now. Just a little before we take some sort of assessment."

Myka nodded. Pete and Leena had told her all about it at lunch, but she wasn't going to stop Claudia.

"Oh, and the next time you get a new, hot, British friend, you tell us, okay? Especially if she's preggo."

Myka laughed and nodded. "I'll be sure to."

"Good."

The teacher moved to the front of the class and Claudia slipped into her seat.

-oOo-

Claudia felt her anger start to rise again as the teacher dismissed the class. She was going to have to part ways with Myka again, letting Myka go to that place while she and the rest of them did nothing about it.

"So, you think Helena's hot?" Myka absently said as they walked into the hallway.

"What? When did I say that?" Claudia replied, her voice strained. She had hoped Myka hadn't noticed her slip.

Myka just glanced at her and smiled. "I don't mean anything by it," she said. "You would have to be blind to not see how hot that girl is. I'll see you tomorrow."

It wasn't until Claudia was halfway down the hallway that she realized that Myka had just been trying to distract her.

She shook her head and smiled despite herself. The smile vanished when she approached the entrance to the basement, only to see Tracy Bering hovering by the door.

The girl looked distressed. She kept running a hand through her hair while her other hand was clenched around the strap of her bag.

"What do you want?" Claudia asked her when she was close enough.

Tracy jumped and spun to her. Her eyes were wide and Claudia couldn't help but notice that she hadn't put make-up on that day.

"Oh, thank God," Tracy murmured. "I didn't want to have to go down alone."

"Why do you think you'll be allowed down there?"

Tracy ducked her head and shuffled her feet slightly. "I need help."

"With what?"

She looked up. "Myka."

Claudia raised an eyebrow. "What about Myka?"

"You know what. I want to help her."

Claudia moved back slightly, then opened the door. She gestured for Tracy to go down, then quickly followed. They walked through the hallway silently. Claudia moved in front of Tracy as they approached the Room.

"We have a guest," she said as she walked through the door.

Everyone stared at her until they noticed Tracy, then they all started talking at once. She couldn't make much out, but she figured that most of them were confused, while Artie was mad at her for bringing 'unauthorized personnel' with her.

"Shut it," she yelled, silencing them. "Let her speak."

Tracy threw her an appreciative look as she stepped forward. She scratched the back of her head and took a few deep breaths before speaking.

"I didn't know where else to go," she started. "I know you all care for her, so I figured you could help me." She choked on her own words for a moment.

Claudia watched as dark understanding washed over Leena, as Pete fought to keep his anger down, as Helena and Steve watched with concern. Artie's face was set, as if he was already planning something.

"Myka needs…needs to get away from our father but I-I can't get her out by myself, and my mom's too scared to really help." She glanced at each of them, tears welling up in her eyes. "Please."

Artie was the first to react. He stood, let out a gruff 'stay here', and left the room, closing the door behind him.

The teenagers all stared at Tracy, watching her tears begin to fall, until Leena stood. She moved to Tracy, then pulled her to one of the armchairs.

"We'll get her out," she promised. "We'll get her out."

Tracy nodded. "Good."

Claudia watched for a few more moments before escaping to the bookshelves across the room. She sat with her back against the books, her legs crossed, and her head in her hands.

She didn't realize that anyone had followed her until she felt someone sit next to her. An arm wrapped around her shoulders, making her tense up until the person spoke.

"We're getting her out," Pete whispered. "She's going to be safe."

Claudia nodded and leaned into him.

-oOo-

Myka put the pen down and rubbed her temples. The damned headache refused to let up and going through the ledger only irritated it.

She jumped when the door crashed open. She looked up to see Sam, eyes wide and chest heaving.

"This weekend," he gasped out. "We're leaving this weekend."

Myka froze. "What?"

"They decided they want my mom there by the end of next week, so we have to leave this weekend, right after I get home from school on Friday."

"No," Myka groaned. She moved around the counter and stood in front of him with her arms around herself. "That's…that's too soon."

He stepped closer to her, and cupped her cheek.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Myka. There's nothing I can do."

"About what?"

Myka flinched as her father walked into the store, a box of books in his arms. Sam straightened and turned to him.

"I found out that I'm leaving on Friday," Sam said. "My mom told me this morning."

Warren watched him closely. Sam continued after a moment.

"The plans Myka and I had were for Friday, but I want to know if I can take her out tonight instead."

"It's a school night," he commented as he walked past them to put the box onto the counter.

Sam turned, following him, while Myka did her best to keep Sam between her and her father. Perhaps, she reasoned, if he only really saw Sam, he wouldn't get as mad.

"I know, sir, but I don't know when I'll get to see her again. I just want to make the most of the time we have now."

"Please," Myka said before she could stop herself.

Warren's eyes flicked to her and his nostrils flared.

"Mr. Bering," Sam cut in, unaware of the tension between father and daughter. "I haven't been able to take Myka on a proper date since before the accident and this may be my last chance for a while. Please. I'll have her back by eleven."

Warren considered him before speaking again. "You will have her back by ten."

Sam instantly nodded. "Of course, sir. Thank you. Thank you so much."