A/N Just a short chapter about the honeymooners.
The point of which - is to point out the different approaches of Helena and Myka about the very same event.
And to show (I hope) how they each deeply appreciate those differences in each other.
You'll tell me if this accomplished that I hope.
A dear reader suggested I 'soften' Bridget's approach to therapy when she tells Sarah about it and so I added some
lines at the end of Chapter 30.
I Heard an Angel (by William Blake)
Myka made a special request of Helena while they were on their honeymoon. Helena had trouble refusing her wife anything, but that didn't mean she didn't pout before agreeing. It was, after all, an interruption of their time together. "I know I said I didn't want to share you with anyone, Helena. I thought we could make this one exception," Myka said, slowly as they dressed that morning. Myka had agreed to the request when they decided where they were spending their honeymoon.
Helena was all for doing good deeds, but preferred focusing on the electrifying ones she was perfecting in their bedroom. And everywhere else.
"But won't people see us," Helena said weakly as they finished breakfast.
"Only the people I've talked to and a small group," Myka said, leaning over the kitchen counter and kissing Helena on her nose.
"The press will hound us," Helena suggested, pursing her lips. Myka didn't engage the press the way Helena did.
"I don't think they'll be expecting us…. there," Myka said.
There was no dissuading the woman, Helena decided. Between her lawyering skills and those warm pools of green temptation, Helena had little choice but to give in willingly. She lost what little resistance she had staring into those eyes.
The boat took them from the island to the mainland, where a car waited for them to take them to their final destination.
"This wasn't Irene's idea?" Helena said, sitting in the back seat with Myka.
"No, Irene knows nothing about this," Myka said, holding Helena's hand.
"She doesn't? Well, then please tell her as soon as we get back because ….she should know," Helena stated. "Why…. are we doing this?" She felt guilty for asking, but it was still a mystery to her.
Myka turned towards Helena as best she could with the seat belt on her. "You and I, Helena, are so fortunate to have …everything we need. Not everyone…," Myka said, and the emotion got caught in her throat.
"Of course, Myka," Helena said, because Myka was absolutely right. "Is this okay?" she asked, pulling at her dress. Helena never asked anyone if her attire was appropriate. Myka told her she was going to wear casual clothes and meant it. Myka was in white Capri's and in a printed sleeveless blouse and flats. Helena's stilettos nearly got her killed getting out of the boat. The tight fitting aqua dress was anything but casual, but Myka didn't mind.
"It's perfect," Myka said, smiling and putting her hand on Helena's leg.
The car pulled up to the side entrance of the building without so much as a tourist taking pictures. "Right this way, Mrs. and Mrs. Bering-Wells," the man said, holding the door open for them. The couple walked into the quiet hallway, the antiseptic smell greeting them immediately.
"We can't tell you how much we appreciate this," their host said as he walked with them onto the elevator. "Now, we only told people this morning that you were coming. We'll just visit some rooms and see how it goes, okay?" he asked and Myka nodded.
The doors opened and the staff, who was told to keep it low-key, was waiting for them. Dressed in pastel-colored uniforms or white coats, the nurses and doctors greeted their special guests. Every effort to get the staff to act casually was lost once they heard who was coming. People whose jobs required they keep their nerves in check under tense circumstances every day, were giddy when greeting the couple, reaching out to shake their hands.
"We really appreciate you doing this," more than one medical staff member said. The nurse in charge of the floor took them to the first patient's room. As Myka walked to the bedside and said hello, Helena immediately began assessing the medical equipment that was attached to the patient.
"Oh my God!" the young woman who was recovering from her third surgery to her wounded leg said. "They said you guys were coming, but I couldn't believe it. I read you're on your honeymoon!" she said, taking Myka's hand and shaking it.
"Wow!" she let out when she saw Helena. "You…. are even…. more beautiful in person," she said, but Helena was too busy following one of the tube lines from the patient to the machine that was draining fluid buildup.
"Thank you," Helena finally said, taking her hand, not to shake, but to press down on her flesh to see what the response was. "We need more suction on this machine," Helena said and the nurses all looked at each other.
"It's at full capacity," one said, checking the machine.
"Get me a screwdriver," Helena said and no one moved. "A tool? Usually with a metal rod with a tip that will fit into the head of a screw?"
"We can't….you can't…," one of the nurses said and Helena rolled her eyes.
"Well, of course, you can't. Fine! Get me another machine. One not in use then," Helena said, snapping her fingers and sending two people rushing out of the room.
"Helena?" Myka said, quietly because she didn't want to alarm the patient.
"The small motor in this machine is not powerful enough to perform at maximum output," Helena explained. "Don't worry," she said to the woman who had no idea her discomfort was about to be relieved.
The nurse brought in another machine and a screwdriver, which she handed to Helena. Myka smiled uncomfortably as people stood there watching the Brit take apart the second machine. "If we can …give me that surgical tape," Helena said to someone and they did. "Rewire this here," Helena said as she moved wires around in the guts of the apparatus. "Voila!" she finally said and told the nurse to plug in the machine. "Test this on a wet towel. You'll see the suction has increased by 23 percent. The optimum force for draining a wound," Helena instructed.
The nurse did as she was instructed, and then showed it to the doctor and the technician.
"Don't worry. They'll agree with me and you'll have that machine hooked up within the hour," Helena said to the patient.
"Wow," was all the patient could say.
"You're brilliant!" the technician said when the machine operated more efficiently. Myka watched Helena's expression. She didn't say a word, but Myka read that look. It was Helena's own version of what could only be interpreted as – 'Duh'.
"Will you be fixing the equipment on all of our patients?" one doctor laughed as they went into the next room.
"I truly hope not," Helena said and Myka suppressed a laugh because she knew how serious Helena was.
The next room was where soldiers who had just finished physical therapy were sitting. As Myka sat down next to one, Helena watched as he took Myka's hand, thanked her for coming, and talked with her. He told Myka that his girlfriend sent him a letter breaking up with him after he lost his foot in Afghanistan. Helena watched as Myka read the letter and closed it, giving it back to him. "It is her loss," Myka said, as tears streamed down the young man's face.
Helena watched as Myka took the man's hand and just held it while he cried. She wanted to rush over and see if Myka was okay, but it was obvious that she was. In spite of feeling the man's pain, Myka was really okay. In that moment, while a doctor explained to the genius how they were hoping technology could advance to the point of aiding these wounded soldiers more, Helena stood there staring. She was falling in love all over again with Myka.
"We can do that," Helena said, when the doctor was done.
"You can? How?" he asked of the biotechnology that he had just described that didn't exist yet.
"You probably wouldn't understand it if I explained it. We'll have a prototype within a month. You'll come to New York and see if it would fit your needs," Helena promised.
The genius had an easier time looking at technology and building the improvements in her head, than she did with grasping how Myka could walk into this ward of human sadness and deal with it.
The women continued to make the rounds, shaking hands, taking pictures and in one case, getting on the phone with someone's wife so she would believe her husband was talking with the Helena Wells. Two hours later, after signing autographs and shaking hands with staff members, Myka and Helena returned to the car.
"Thank you…," Myka was about to say when Helena covered her mouth with hers in a hard, intense kiss. "Oh," Myka said when Helena finally released her. It wasn't a sexy kiss. It was one filled with urgency.
"I love you, Myka. I love that you are in one of the happiest moments of your life and you still think of others. I see you with people, how you bring them comfort and I ….," and Helena's voice cracked. Her heart was bursting with the love she felt for Myka.
Myka was touched, really touched by Helena's words. She was only doing what she thought was the small part they could do. That it pleased Helena so much was an added benefit.
"I love you," Myka whispered to Helena, as the car sped along taking them back to the boat. Helena leaned into Myka, holding her hand until they arrived at their destination.
An hour later, the couple lay together in the hammock, legs entwined, and Helena's head rising and falling on Myka's chest. Myka leaned in and kissed Helena's forehead. "You were amazing today. Fixing that machine! I am married to a genius," Myka gushed.
"That is impressive; I mean there are so few real geniuses. Yet, I have married something even rarer," Helena said.
"You have? How so?" Myka asked, playing with Helena's long strands of hair, her foot rubbing Helena's.
"I am married…. to an angel," Helena said, raising her head to look lovingly into Myka's eyes.
Myka stopped all motion when she heard those words. "God, you say the sweetest things," Myka said, before pulling Helena into a passionate kiss. Myka didn't want to break the kiss – it felt so perfect being right there. It was only when they needed to breathe, that she did.
Several minutes later, as both women took in the sweetness of those sentiments, Myka said - "We return soon. This has been wonderful, being alone with you."
"We should do this more often," Helena said, because she found the entire trip perfect.
"I'm so happy you married me," Myka said, playing with Helena's hair as her fingers combed through the perfect locks.
"We were destined to be together, Myka. Even time conspired to make it happen," Helena said.
"Thank you for waiting for me," Myka said. She always thought of how difficult that suspended prison must have been for Helena, but without it, they would never have met.
"It all makes sense to me now," Helena confessed. "I'd do it all over again for one day with you."
"We will make the most of our days, Helena, I promise you that," Myka said, pulling her wife into her and holding her tightly.
I think what attracts us to these characters is in part - their complexities. I hope this chapter touches on some of them.
Thanks for reading along.