*sniff sniff*

Epilogue

Jane Lattimer met with Mr. Kosan in the office at the Warehouse. She expressed her regrets about a failed mission, but he was quick to point out that it was time they extended some faith in Helena to do the right thing and her recruitment efforts might still pay off in the future – after Ms. Sullivan has had time to think it over, he suggested. That day would never come. The bigger issue for Jane was taken care of though. Pete had been gracious in forgiving her and now accepted the responsibility of being her One. It was nowhere as intense as the connection between Myka and Helena.

Eileen, Pete, Steve, and Claudia met at Claudia's for brunch that Sunday to watch football. "I think you should really teach Helena about sports, Pete," Eileen said thinking it would be a benefit. "Sure, and then I can swallow swords and eat fire," he said back thinking those would be easier tasks.

Eileen helped Claudia in the kitchen area cutting up cheese for crackers. "Listen, I hope this doesn't freak you out or anything and if I'm totally off base here, I'm sorry ok? It's just …the other night, you know at the Mayor's dinner..I thought you said ….," and Claudia stopped hoping Eileen would fill in the rest.

"Oh! When I said - "Oh you I like?" she asked.

That was the first part of what Claudia heard. She thought there was more, but it seemed obvious to her that she misheard or Eileen wasn't saying now. Eileen looked nervous and Claudia didn't want to press it. Eileen was a terrible liar and that was because she detested lying. The mistruth bubbled up inside of her until she wanted to explode.

"OK, that's not all I said," she finally said allowing the cognitive dissonance to be released. "I said… oh you I'd like to… bite," she let out and hid her face embarrassed.

Claudia wanted to yell –'Yes! I knew it!' and run in and tell Steve, but she didn't. She saw how hard it was for Eileen to say all that.

"Oh sweetie, come here," Claudia said and hugged her friend.

"I never …..it was the beer ….and that woman offering me the job….and I was all …everything was so intense ….and Ms. Wells hugged me and was so nice …it all went to my head ….and then I saw you and you've been so frustrated and I know what that's like …so I just said that," Eileen blurted out.

"It's okay, Eileen, we're friends," Claudia said. "And you are so fracking sweet – I told Steve I'd go gay for you."

"You did? That's so sweet," Eileen said and then the two of them laughed. "But I like men," the girl said concerned.

"I do, too. Well, maybe not the ones yelling in the next room at the television set," Claudia laughed.

"I like being friends with you," Eileen said.

"Me, too," Claudia said and meant it.

She had never really had a close friend and this was a nice experience for her. She would let it take them where it was meant to go.

Suddenly, an alarm went off on Claudia's computer. She quickly pressed keys to access the program.

"Now how the frack did she do that?" the Teckie wondered out loud.

Helena and Myka spent Sunday the way most New Yorkers do – lying in bed reading The New York Times. It was only after lunch that Myka decided to pull herself up to take a shower. She was drying her hair with a towel when heard Helena's yelling again.

"What is it this time, Helena? Ralph Lauren retiring?" she laughed - until she entered the bedroom and saw Helena standing there –blood running down her leg.

"Helena, what happened?" Myka said rushing over to look at what it was. She gently pulled the blood soaked facecloth off Helena's right cheek above her thigh. There was a gash that blood was slowing oozing out of …..with the distinct darker mark of an X…..

"Helena, is that…. a suture?" Myka asked horrified.

"Yes, I thought I could do it by looking in the mirror…" Helena explained as if they were talking about popping a pimple.

"Oh my God, what did you do?" Myka asked, gently patting the wound with the cloth.

"You told me to take it out," Helena said and it slowly dawned on Myka that she had just done surgery on herself.

"You….took that GPS disc…..out? How?" Myka asked caught between wanting to hug Helena and shake her.

"How? I used a surgical knife of course," Helena said with the equivalent of 'duh' in her tone. "You told me to," Helena said when she saw Myka getting upset.

"Oh, and if I told you to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge, would you do that too?" Myka yelled the national parental response to when kids do something senseless. "Oh my God, I sound just like my mother."

"Of course I wouldn't Myka, nor would you suggest that. It would kill me," Helen said seriously. "The fall alone..,"

"Helena! You removed it yourself?" Myka asked.

"Yes, I knew the exact location of the device….." Helena started to explain.

"I have to remember how literal you are," Myka said putting her head against the woman's thigh out of sheer guilt.

"You could kiss it and make it better," Helena said and then added, " … and I mean that literally."

Myka took the literary genius with the self-inflicted wound who took the world literally and put her back to bed – and made her forget that operation ….all day long.

It was a good thing the friends were all enjoying the Sunday afternoon after a very long and intense week. They would need it to face what was waiting to greet them in the near future.

Mrs. Frederic's sons would be arriving for their new jobs and it would not go smoothly. A female detective would make Pete's life a living hell – and he would love it. Eileen would help Claudia find just the thing she needs.

Myka was right – the charges were being filed against Helena and would be on her desk Monday morning. And she would find out that the media could be cold and calculating.

And Helena will suddenly remember what should have been at the top of her to do list…. when he suddenly shows up out of nowhere.

And that would all happen before the CIA showed up.

A/N First – to thank all of you who returned or joined us on this ride. I am touched by how many of you stayed with me through all these chapters. I know if I were to go back – I could revise this and perhaps remove some things – but for now, I will leave it as is. I especially appreciate that you stayed with me through the more delicate chapters – as those proved to be my hardest. (Which made me question Eileen and Claudia btw).

I feel as if I hosted a party where some of the funniest, wittiest, and nicest people came daily to talk. I don't think I've ever seen such entertaining, well thought out posts and comments. It begs the questions – why aren't you all writing your own stories? I think those of you posting gained your own followers – and deservedly so. I became addicted to your comments – questions – thoughts and they helped me in shaping this story. If I had a conference room big enough – you'd all have a seat.

I will see all soon I hope – for Part III.

I leave you with this thought – Jaime Murray will be in …Manhattan on Sunday.