Fire and Ice

Myka spent the better part of the afternoon cleaning up Helena's good intentions. She finally had to ask Millie to make copies of some files even though it was completely unnecessary. The copier was at the other end of the hallway and it at least kept her busy and out of Myka's office. Finally, there was peace and quiet.

It was such a nice day out that when they left work that day, Myka suggested to Helena that they walk home rather than take the car. It was harder to tell who was more surprised by this request; Helena or Pete. "But…," Helena said, pointing to the waiting car because that was their routine. "But…" Pete echoed his boss, because this was his routine.

"Yes, I know…," Myka said to both parties, " …but I'd like to hold your hand and walk."

That was all it took and Helena was walking uptown to their home. Giving Andrew the job of parking the car, Pete followed behind the couple as they walked, because he, too, was in protective mode. Of course, he didn't come close to his boss' DEFCON level.

Tourists from all over the world walk the thoroughfares of Broadway, taking in the wonderful sites. But the sight of the famous couple caught everyone's attention and cell phones snapped away. Myka kept Helena close, and encouraged her not to pay attention to the crowds who were, for the most part, very respectful. Helena's glare was working wonders at keeping those brave enough to approach, at bay.

The farther north they walked, the thinner the crowds got and by the time they reached Central Park West in the 80's – all they could hear was Pete's heels clicking a few steps behind. "Thank you, Pete," Helena yelled back when they reached the house.

"Oh!" he said, coming up behind them. "You knew I was here?" He swore he was quite discrete.

Helena had seen his reflection in the store front windows several blocks back. Myka simply knew he would follow them.

"We appreciate it," Myka smiled at the man who puffed out his chest and said – "Sure." Only then, did it dawn on Pete he would have to take a cab home.


The women ascended the steps and went inside. It was dark in the entryway, which told the couple Leena had already left for the day. Helena's routine of tossing her coat and bag were only hastened when Myka instructed her – "Come here, you." The Brit immediately walked over to where Myka was standing. Myka pulled her into her arms and kissed her lips with such purpose that they immediately started to feel warm. The softest bites of Helena's bottom lip made a spontaneous groan come up from her throat.

"How…do you feel?" Helena asked and interrupted Myka momentarily. She realized the usual tactics to distract Helena needed to be more direct. Myka reached up the back of Helena's form fitting dress and slowly pulled the zipper down as she said whispered in her wife's ear: "I feel …..like ripping something off your body." She then cupped Helena's buttocks to keep her from losing her balance. "You really should take those heels off before playing with me," Myka laughed.

"Yes," Helena said, trying to accomplish the simple task of removing her heels as she held onto her wife.

Myka let her polished fingernails trail down Helena's bare back, making her way around the articles of clothing that got in her way. "Let's go inside," Myka said softly and took Helena's hand. They walked into the library, and over to the over-sized couch. "Will the leather be too cold for you?" Myka asked as she pushed the dress over her shoulders and let it fall. "Lea….ther?" Helena asked, her mind racing to make sense of that question. Leather what? How much leather? Myka caught the sparks in Helena's eyes and pursed her lips to suppress the chuckle. "The couch? Will it be too cold?" Myka asked, trying to keep her voice steady. Whatever was Helena thinking, she wondered.

"I doubt I can feel anything," Helena said, sitting down and blinking when her bare skin hit the sofa.

"Liar," Myka teased her and pulled a blanket across the couch. "Now, how can I keep you warm?" she asked, standing there, her finger tapping the edge of her chin. She looked down at Helena with such a seductive gaze that the Brit immediately knew Myka had the answer. Helena reached up and embraced Myka's torso, slowly unzipping her skirt and pulling her blouse up so she could kiss Myka's bare stomach. Myka lay down and gently pulled Helena to lie alongside her. She pulled the large cover over them as Helena rested her head in Myka's arm. Helena played with a loose curl that fell around Myka's face. "You look more beautiful than you did yesterday," Helena whispered. "How do you do that?"

Myka smiled down and answered: "I walk into your gaze." Myka leaned in and kissed Helena, reigniting the deepest urge to be touched a human knows. Her hand deftly released Helena of her bra and she filled her mouth with a fleshy peak and drew her tongue around it. She repeated the motion on the other breast and Helena arched her back at how wonderful it felt. She ran her fingers through Myka's hair as the nibbling continued and Myka's free hand lowered satin panties off Helena's body. Then she lay back next to Helena – because she knew telling Helena what she was about to do, was something that turned the Brit on.

"Helena?" Myka said, looking down into wanton pools of desire as she continued to tease Helena's bare skin.

"Yes?" her wife answered, because monosyllabic responses were about all she could manage.

"Do you want water?" Myka asked, kissing Helena's rib cage and draping her hand up and down Helena's thigh.

Helena frowned at the question; not only because it seemed out of place, but because Helena's brain was going offline and simple questions were falling by the wayside. "Why?" the Brit asked and it took a couple of seconds for it to appear.

Myka picked her head up. "Because I'm going to make you scream," she promised as she reached up and let her finger trail across Helena's neck, "…and I don't want you to hurt your throat."

"Oh, God," Helena said as Myka began.

Mission Control, we have libido liftoff. (Explosive rocket launch noise here)

Slipping her hand over Helena's sensitive flesh, Myka found her destination ready and waiting for her skilled ministrations. Helena called out to her deity repeatedly as Myka's fingers touch Helena in all the right places. She then made good on her promise, and within a short, yet painfully long time for Helena, screams of volcanic ecstasy filled the room. With the gentlest of touches, Helena's agonizing crescendo shattered into a million sparks of ecstasy.

Myka had been right to offer her water.

Myka lay her head on Helena's thumping heart where she fell asleep minutes after Helena's breathing finally evened out. There was no more talk of ways to protect Myka that night and she was convinced she had found a delightful way to distract Helena …each and every time.


An hour later, the women awoke from the blissful surrender of post lovemaking slumber and had dinner. The only irritation to an otherwise perfect evening was a call from Myka's mother, Jeannie. Now that the first trimester had passed without incident, the future grandmother felt more comfortable talking about the upcoming event. "Myka, I think your father and I have a right to know….," is how the woman started the conversation that she had rehearsed all week after she and Warren Bering talked. "…if you know who the donor is. We don't care, honey. We just want to make sure you went to one of those banks that only take Ivy League graduates with very high IQ's."

"Mother…," Myka said in a low voice so Helena wouldn't hear her. "I am not discussing this with you."

Myka had spent her entire adolescence having her feelings blamed on hormones. Now, her mother really felt it was legit. Covering the mouthpiece, as if that prevented Myka from hearing, Jeannie told Warren: "She's not discussing it now." And then in a lower voice she added, "You're more hormonal when you're pregnant, Warren."

"I'll tell Helena you were asking for her," Myka said, when Helena came back into the bedroom. "Good night, Mother." Given Helena's over protective state, Myka was afraid she'd fly out to Colorado Springs tomorrow to have 'tea and a chat' with her parents. That was the Brit's code for – 'I'll make them understand.'

Helena sensed the mood shift though, in spite of Myka's efforts. "What do they want?" she asked knowing her in-laws well. Myka drew in a deep breath and sighed.

"What everyone wants – they want to know who…else…..might be involved in this pregnancy," Myka said, putting her head down on the pillow and staring up at the ceiling.

"Won't they be surprised when the baby is the perfect combination of us," Helena laughed, but making a mental note to call the Bering's tomorrow.

"Really?" Myka said, relieved Helena seemed so calm. She pushed up on her elbow when Helena lay down next to her.

"Oh yes," Helena smiled assuredly. "Your curls, my hair color," she began. "Your smile, my eyebrows." And Helena ran her finger across Myka's lips. "Your acuity for language, my brilliance for science."

"Oh, I get acuity?" Myka teased in her much improved British accent, "But you get brilliance?"

"Well, darling, we all have our strengths," Helena said, as Myka's hands dove in to tickle Helena who recoiled into a ball and laughed heartily.

"Well, I think she'll have my sense of humor and your impeccable manners," Myka said haughtily.

"I do have impeccable manners," Helena conceded.

"Yes, and no sense of humor," Myka countered quickly.

"No sense of humor? I beg your pardon," Helena said, feigning offense. "We Brits are known for our dry sense of humor."

"I think you mean dried up," Myka said and tried to catch Helena's hands before she could retaliate with her own tickling.

Myka couldn't ward off Helena's quick moves and soon, she was begging for Helena to stop teasing her sides. The two women fell back on the pillows, out of breath and happy, until they both slipped into sleep.


The effects of the wonderfully consuming evening were still apparent on Helena's face when she walked into her office the next day. Not only was she sporting a splendid smile, but there was a definite lilt in her gait. She greeted Sui cheerfully and waltzed into her office, leaving the door opened behind her.

This was an open invitation to anyone wishing to see the reigning CEO.

Helena sashayed to her desk, as if the office was carpeted with Cloud Nine. Her jacket discarded and the bag underneath it, close to, but not quite on the couch. She sat at her desk and opened her laptop, but didn't really see what was on it. She was too busy thinking of how she woke Myka up this morning, with the softest kisses and gentlest manipulations with her tongue until Myka pulled her own pillow over her mouth so no one would hear her. That was the way to wake up!

Morgan Styles was the first to enter the inner sanctum that morning and he could tell his boss was in a very good mood by the way she waved him in to join her. Eileen was already coming through their adjoining door with a cup of tea.

"Do you know the secret to pleasing a woman, Morgan," Helena asked, and the question stopped him in his tracks and made Eileen rattle the teacup until she steadied it with her other hand. They exchanged awkward glances and both hesitated to keep moving forward, discomfited for the other.

"I …would like to think so," Morgan answered smiling and Eileen finally placed the cup in front of her boss.

"Hi," she said and her voiced squeaked because her throat was suddenly dry.

"It is not just one thing, of course," Helena continued her lecture after thanking Eileen. She looked at the woman's sudden red face quizzically, as if she could not fathom what was causing it.

"You must appeal to all her senses," the romantic intellectual continued and her staff found it all too uncomfortable. "For example…..," Helena began and was going to talk about how one should start with their lover's brain.

"OKAY!" Eileen said, doing something she had never done before – talking over her boss. "I GUESS THAT WILL BE IT," she shouted to prevent her ears from hearing anymore.

Morgan lowered his head, pressing his lips to keep the chuckle inside. He grabbed his face with his hand, rubbing his jaw as Eileen walked backwards out of the room and slammed the door shut. Helena stared at the woman's exit and then back at Morgan. "She is a curious creature."

"Perhaps it was a sensitive topic for mixed company," he suggested and smiled.

Only because she was in such a good mood, did Helena give consideration to his proposition. "Oh," she said, even though she didn't quite understand that.

One of the things Morgan enjoyed most about working at Wells Corp was the spontaneous interjections that Helena peppered her meetings with. "Where was I?" Helena asked out loud and she meant in her dissertation, but Morgan placed a business proposal on her desk and distracted her.

"Ms. Sullivan has the team right on target to distribute the hardware to the hospitals in six weeks," Morgan said as Helena looked over the paperwork.

"You make a good team," Helena commented because Morgan's experience in the biomedical distribution business complimented Eileen's natural gifts for leadership.

"She's amazing," Morgan said of the young executive. He had worked in the business world enough years to know real talent when he saw it. He was beginning to understand what Helena saw in her.

"Of course she is," Helena smiled and Morgan thanked Helena and went on his way, leaving the door opened for the next staff member who was waiting her turn.


Irene entered and greeted Helena, immediately aware that she was in a very good mood. "Nurse Brown is here," Irene announced in too cheerful a tone, but Helena didn't care. Only when she thought it was safe, did Irene walk in with her new hire behind her.

"Oh, your things fell," Gloria said, picking up Helena's jacket and bag.

Helena smiled at the action as she watched Irene bite her tongue. "Can we keep her?" the CEO asked Irene in the tone reserved for stray pets.

"I'll remember you asked me that," Irene said as she sat down and Gloria joined her.

"Welcome. I do hope your stay here at Wells Corp proves to be both enjoyable and beneficial," Helena said, giving the official greeting that she just made up.

"Thanks you, Ms. Wells," Gloria said, using Helena's professional name because she had just spent the last hour with the woman who knew all there was to know about the company.

"Call me Helena," the CEO insisted and Irene stared at her boss. She wanted to ask who she really was and what had she done with her boss, but didn't. It wasn't that Irene didn't trust it; it was that she didn't trust it would last.

"That's very kind," Gloria said and could detect the change in mood from the last time she had seen the CEO.

"Oh, and I am glad you're not wearing one of those white uniforms," Helena remarked when she saw the woman in a gray skirt and white blouse. "Although a little color wouldn't hurt," the Brit remarked because she was in the mood to help the world.

"I'll keep that in mind," Gloria laughed. She had a sense that there were many shades to her new boss. "I do wear a white coat when administering…"

"Oh, that makes sense," Helena concurred as if this were a fashion debate. "Unless people have white coat syndrome and then I suggest you switch it up a bit."

Gloria glanced over at Irene and could tell this was nothing out of the ordinary. "I'll remember that," she said.

And then Irene segued into the real purpose behind their impromptu visit. "Nurse Brown has already toured the labs and has made several recommendations to improve safety," Irene started and Helena nodded at the new employee.

"We do want our scientists safe," Helena agreed, still playing nice because of her mood.

"And she'd like to reinforce some of the rules and regulations that we have in place, but that are presently being ignored," Irene said, giving this news to Helena in bite size pieces. "She'd like everyone….who works…in the labs… to retake the safely test."

"Bravo, Nurse Brown. Excellent idea. Carry on! You're already Irene's best hire of the week," Helena said, and now was wishing they'd leave. "You won't be stopping in each morning to update me on the good nurse's endeavors, will you?" she asked Irene, a sure sign they were wearing out their welcome.

"Oh no, of course not," Irene responded, and Gloria watched the back and forth and wondered if this is how they did everything. "Just this endeavor ….to keep anyone who is not compliant with rules ….out of the labs," Irene explained and Helena missed that this was the punch line.

"Bravo! Diligence is next to Godliness, I always say," Helena said, rising from her seat.

Gloria finally figured out what was going on. Her esteemed boss was walking right into the news and didn't know it. "Mrs. Frederic, if you don't mind," Gloria said wondering why they weren't just coming out with it. Irene's expression read – be my guest – and the nurse stood up. "Ms. Wells, it is my unfortunate duty to tell you that you are the most non-compliant staff member in the labs. Your accident rate is far above the average, and in fact, you've set a new time high it appears just last week. Now, perhaps the refresher course we're going to give so that people are prepared for the test…," the nurse was explaining when she saw the darkness fill Helena's eyes.

Irene knew this had to play out if ever this woman were to work closely with Helena. She remained seated as Helena pushed up her dress sleeves, leaned down on the desk with her opened hands. "Are you suggesting that the person with the highest IQ in this entire building …," Helena started, her arm now waving through the air, "…take …a …test…before…she goes back into the labs…to do work that is unmatched and unparalleled?"

If there were a test waiting for Helena downstairs, this was Gloria's test right here. She was experiencing the quickness of Helena's mood change and her defiance all in one meeting. The smirk on Helena's face was enough to make some people spontaneously combust. Gloria never flinched. She was too busy watching the change in Helena's breathing, the rapid pulse in her neck, and the flush of color in her face. She hit a nerve, she thought.

"Yes," the woman said without quivering.

Helena's head shot to look at Irene who pulled back in her seat just a little as if to say – 'Don't look at me.' Wasn't Irene always telling Helena to lead by example? Was this yet another one of those times when Helena had to pretend she was like everyone else?

She hated that.

Irene did know how to help make Helena's decision easier though. "I thought Nurse Brown could check in on Myka after this," Irene said, reminding Helena of why she might want to keep the nurse around.

It worked.

Irene could read the concession in Helena's face. It was like putting water on a campfire – the flames died out, but there was still embers floating about. "Fine! Bring your test to me," Helena said, glaring at Irene as if this were her idea.

"Oh, it's a practical test. You'll have to demonstrate your knowledge in the lab," Gloria explained because she was truly keen about safety.

Helena actually thought it was the right way to do it, but she wasn't about to let the new hire know that. "Have Sui schedule something. Now, would you mind if I turned my attention to the duties befitting the CEO of a company?"

"Of course," Irene said, getting up from her seat. No one knew Helena's limits like Irene and they were right up against one. Gloria thanked her for seeing them and they left. Helena's mood was slightly altered now that she was irritated. She knew what to do to unload those feelings. She reached over and buzzed Sui on the phone.

"Get Jeannie and Warren Bering on the phone," she instructed him and waited. "Time for tea and a chat with my in-laws."