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

Chapter Thirty-eight

Myka watched Jane as she walked out of the room. She had finished telling Myka what she knew about the transfer to the Featherhead hospital, then had left to get some breakfast.

Myka grabbed Jane's phone from the table next to her bed, and sent a text to Pete.

Your mom just told me we'll be coming home tomorrow.

After making sure the text sent, she set the phone face down on the food tray. Pete should be in school, which meant his phone should be…

The light tone Jane had set went off. Three flashes meant it was a text message, which meant Pete was texting her from school. Of course.

She grabbed the phone, unlocked it, and let out a short laugh.

For real?

Yes, for real.

The next message took a few moments, but when it came through, it was a picture of Pete. His grin was large and one of his hands was holding a thumbs up.

She squinted at the image over his shoulder.

Are you in the bathrooms?

Where else do you expect me to take a selfie at school?

I honestly don't know.

Exactly, so I'm right

Movement drew her attention to the door. Jane was watching her and looked slightly uncomfortable.

I'll be back in a bit.

Jane sighed as she sat.

"Your mom wants to talk to you."

Myka's jaw clenched and she looked away.

She hadn't actually talked to her mother the entire time she had been in the hospital. Her mother had visited her every day, even fallen asleep in the chair a few times, but Myka had always ignored her. She knew it had to hurt, but couldn't bring herself to care.

Myka stared at the window across the room as Jane tried to reclaim her attention.

She didn't want to talk to her mother. She knew what her mother had tried to do that night, but it didn't stack up against everything else. Past excuses and apologies ran around her head, only stopping when something was placed in her lap.

She looked down. The notebook was there, open to the most recent page. When she looked over at Jane, the woman just nodded towards the notebook.

Barely managing to not roll her eyes, Myka looked back at the notebook.

If you won't talk, please at least let her speak.

When she looked back up, she reluctantly nodded.

Jane stood, and walked back to the doorway, where her mother was standing.

Myka watched her as she walked to the chair. They sat in silence for a few moments before Jeannie shifted forwards.

"Myka," she said.

Myka fought the urge to look away. She would at least try to do as Jane asked.

She could see her mother trying to figure out how to start. Finally, her shoulders fell slightly, and she handed Myka a folded piece of paper.

Myka slowly unfolded the paper. It was unlined, so the words slanted downwards as they reached the end of the paper. The handwriting was precise in some places, and hurried in others. Words and sentences were crossed out. Halfway down the page an entire paragraph was scribbled over.

Myka looked up at her mom, who was staring at her hands, then back at the paper to read.

At first, there was almost no organization to what had been written. It jumped from apologies to explanations to promises and back. Towards the end, however, the thoughts and the handwriting cleared.

I failed you, as a mother, as a caregiver, as a protector. Part of me wants nothing more than to take you home and prove to you that I can do better. But, that's not what you need, and I know that. As much as it hurts to let you go, I need to, for your health and safety.

I know that Jane has already told you that I will be signing my custody of you to her. I know that she will be able to care for you in a way I never have been able to.

I have an earlier flight than you and Jane. When I land, I have a meeting with the lawyers, to make sure all of the paperwork is correct. Jane will be able to sign them as soon as you two arrive. I'll see you then.

I'm sorry, Myka.

I love you.

Myka stared at the last words for a few moments before looking up. The chair was empty. Her mother was gone.

She turned to the door, to find Jane carefully watching her. The woman stepped into the room and walked to the chair.

Myka read through the note again before folding it again and sticking it into the back cover of the notebook. She stared at the notebook until Jane laid a hand on her arm. Jane was about to say something when she looked at her, but looked to the door instead. Myka did so as well.

The doctor in the doorway looked apologetic for interrupting them, but she still walked into the room.

"We want to test your hearing," she told Myka when she reached the bedside. "Once more before you leave." She continued, but it was too fast for Myka to follow.

Myka turned to Jane, who took the notebook.

They want to test your hearing again, so they can let the other hospital know where you are now, and how your ears have been healing.

"If they haven't?" Myka asked.

Jane smiled gently as she leaned forwards and pushed some hair behind Myka's ear.

"They have," she said. "And they will keep getting better."

When Myka gave her a disbelieving look, Jane laughed.

"I promise," she said.

Myka watched her for a few moments, then nodded. Jane smiled before pressing a kiss to the side of Myka's head.

-oOo-

Jeannie took a deep breath as the plane left the runway.

It hurt, leaving Myka the way she had, but she knew she had to. Knowing that Jane was with Myka did help, but only a little.

Her eyes teared up as the city vanished beneath the clouds, but she held them back. She wouldn't cry over what she knew was the best thing to do.

-oOo-

Pete turned his phone over in his hands as he leaned against the school wall closest to the parking lot. School had just let out and Myka still hadn't texted him back. He smiled, she was probably too busy getting ready for the next day to text him.

"You look happy."

He grinned at Claudia as she walked up with Steve. He pushed himself off of the wall so he was standing straight. "Myka texted me earlier. She's coming back tomorrow."

Claudia's face went blank for a moment, then she let out a laugh and threw her arms around him.

"Did she say when tomorrow?" Steve asked.

Pete shook his head. "All I know is tomorrow."

"So what you're saying," Claudia said as she let go of him, "is we're gunna spend the entire day at the hospital waiting for her."

"That's my plan," Pete agreed.

Claudia turned to Steve. "How early do you think your mom'd drive us to the hospital?"

Steve shrugged. "As long as we eat first, I don't think she'd care how early."

"Awesome, so zero-dark-thirty?"

Leena walked up to them with an eyebrow raised. "What's going on at zero-dark-thirty?"

"Myka's coming home tomorrow, so we want to wait for her at the hospital," Claudia told her. "You in?"

"Why don't we find out about when she'll get there, so we aren't exhausted when she arrives?"

Pete and Claudia glanced at each other.

"That's a good idea," Claudia sighed.

"That's why we need her," Pete agreed.

"My mom's here," Steve spoke up, watching the parking lot.

"You guys go ahead, I wanna make sure everything's ready at my house," Pete said.

"You know she still won't be there until they let her leave the Featherhead hospital, right?" Claudia asked.

Pete shrugged and rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, I know."

Claudia opened her mouth to push it further, but Leena stepped up and put her hand on Claudia's shoulder.

"Just text us when you want to be picked up," Steve told Pete.

"I will," Pete replied before beginning to step away. "I'll see you guys later."

He couldn't explain his sudden need to be alone, but just the thought of staying with the others irritated him.

He barely heard Steve asking if Leena wanted to spend the night at his place before he walked out of hearing range. He wanted to join them, but not yet.

"Where you off to, Lattimer?"

Pete rolled his eyes at Ralph's voice, but kept walking. He groaned when Ralph grabbed his arm, stopping him.

"You coming to the party tonight?"

"I don't know," Pete replied, pulling away.

"It'll be a mistake if you don't."

"Yeah? Whatever."

He was glad when Ralph didn't follow him. He pulled his headphones out of his pocket and plugged them into his phone.

When he was about halfway home, his phone buzzed.

Sorry, the text began, the doctor's wanted to check my hearing one last time.

He grinned. Myka really was coming back. He quickly typed out a reply.

And?

He made it down another block before the reply came.

The doctors say it's better.

He stared at the words. She wasn't telling him everything.

But?

He could imagine her sighing as she tried to find a way to answer.

What if it doesn't come back?

He grimaced. He had tried to keep the possibility from his mind, but what if it didn't? What if Myka had completely lost her hearing? Would she be able to return to the program? Or would Mrs. Fredric kick her out? What would she do at school? What would she do after graduating?

He knew she would adapt, but he also knew that it wouldn't be easy.

He didn't really think as he typed his reply.

Then I'll have another deaf sister.

His eyes grew wide as the text sent. He had never told Myka about Jeannie.

Another?

He took deep breath as he thought about how he could put the conversation off as long as possible.

I'll tell you about it when you're completely out of the hospital.

He paused for a moment, then started typing again.

Oh, and please don't ask my mom…and delete the texts…it isn't her favorite subject

By the time Myka texted back, Pete had reached his house.

Okay. How's school?

Ugggh

-oOo-

Jane smiled from the doorway as Myka laughed at her phone. A few moments later, the girl rolled her eyes.

"Mrs. Lattimer?"

Jane turned to the doctor. "Yes?"

"We want to perform a few more tests before the end of the day; mostly for her concussion."

Jane nodded and followed her into the room.

-oOo-

"You know, I could stay in the living room if you aren't comfortable."

Leena turned around to look at Claudia. The younger girl was standing awkwardly in the middle of her room as she watched Leena. They had spent the afternoon just hanging out with Steve and it hadn't been until Steve's mom had mentioned dinner that they had even thought of where Leena was going to sleep.

"I'm fine with it as long as you are," Leena told her.

Claudia rubbed the back of her neck. "You sure?"

Leena smiled. "I'm sure."

"Okay."

They just watched each other for a moment, then Leena turned back to the drawings on the wall over the desk. They had just looked like basic shapes – a heart, a tree, a house – but when she looked closer, she realized that they were circuit boards. The lines weaved together to make the pictures.

"Did you draw these?"

"Umm, yeah, I did."

"They're really cool."

"Thanks."

"Do you draw other stuff?"

"Sometimes."

"Like what?" She looked back at Claudia, who shrugged.

"Just stuff."

Leena smirked as she turned back to the drawings.

"I like this one," she said as she pointed to a cross section of a brain.

"That's the biggest one I've done so far," Claudia said.

"Are you working on another?"

Claudia stepped up to her side and opened a drawer in the desk. She pulled a book of grid paper out. Leena kept her eyes on the drawings on the wall as Claudia flipped through the book. She didn't want to intrude on pieces Claudia didn't want anyone to see.

She looked down when Claudia held the book out.

"It's beautiful," she said as she ran a finger just outside the butterfly's finished wing. The pattern on the wing was formed by differing lengths and widths of the circuits.

Claudia was saved from replying by a knock on the door.

"It's time for dinner," Steve said through the wood.

"We'll be right out," Claudia replied. She put her book back into the drawer and looked at Leena. "You ready?"

Leena nodded.

Claudia pulled her phone out of her pocket and put it on her desk.

"Emma says no phones at the table," she explained. "Something about them taking away from 'family bonding time' or something."

Leena nodded and pulled her own phone out. She turned the screen on and was surprised to see a message from Pete.

"Pete's spending the night at his place," she said after reading it.

"Can he do that?"

Leena shrugged as she put her phone down. "Do you want to go argue with him?"

"Not really."

"Momma says to come down already!" Olivia yelled through the door.

"We're coming," Claudia said as she opened the door.

Olivia smiled innocently up at her. "Okay."

Claudia turned to Leena with an exasperated look when Olivia ran off.

"She's a nuisance," she groaned.

"You love it," Leena laughed, pushing Claudia through the door.

"I do not," Claudia grumbled.

Leena smiled, then held back her own groan. She was so done for.

-oOo-

Jeannie was exhausted as she walked up to the hotel door. Her feet dragged. Her arms hung limp by her sides. Even while walking she had to fight to keep her eyes open.

The room numbers were blurry as she tried to find the correct room. She stopped to squint at one. She had to make sure the last number was a four, not a nine, before knocking.

The door opened before she could figure it out.

"Mom!"

She smiled and held tears back as she wrapped her arms around Tracy.

-oOo-

The grass was itchy beneath his bare back. The music was blurred by the cheers and yells of the party. A warm hand rested on his chest.

Pete squinted at the sky.

"Whaa?" a warm voice breathed into his ear.

He squinted harder. "There's two north stars."

The laugh tickled his ear. He turned his head and grinned.

"Keeeelly, m'serious," he said.

"In that case, we better call the science people."

"Tha's a good idea. You have good ideas."

She laughed again. "I know."

His grin dropped.

"I got an idea."

"What?"

He moved his hand to the side of her face and pulled her in for a kiss.

"That was a good idea," she whispered when they pulled apart.

"Not the idea," he replied. "M'mom's not home. W'nna come?"

Her tongue flicked out to lick her lips before she nodded. "Yeah."

Pete kissed her again before sitting up. The hand she had on his chest fell, but she ran the other up his back as she sat up.

He reached behind them to grab his shirt.

"Aww," he whined when the cups sitting on it fell. The liquid inside flowed into the grass. "Tha' was good stuff."

"There's more inside," Kelly told him. "We c'n grab some as we leave."

Pete pulled his shirt over his head, barely managing to get his arms through the holes. When he managed to pull it down, he turned to her.

"See, good ideas. Lotsa, lotsa good ideas."