Bad news - short chapter
More bad news - I post better in the daylight - so if this sucks I'll redo it.
AH - make up with your pal. Makes me sad. Sucks when friends aren't friends anymore.
In Myka's Hands
In spite of the fact that Helena had just walked a great distance within the Warehouse walls on her own volition, when Myka offered her arm to her, she took it. She did that for two reasons; one, she liked leaning onto Myka, allowing her hand to touch her arm and shoulders touch. And two – Myka didn't look like she'd take no for an answer. Helena found that incredibly sexy.
Whether Claudia's program worked or Andy Nelson released the locks, they'd never know. The door opened and out the group of friends went. Myka helped Helena into the front seat and buckled her in. The others piled in the back two rows and off they went to the airport.
Suddenly all communication was back online and Artie's frantic texts came in. In the classic game of electronic hot potato, they asked each other:
"Did you call Artie?" Pete asked.
"I thought you were going to?" Claudia answered.
"I tried, but my phone wasn't working," Eileen volunteered.
"Well, they're working now," Steve said as beep after beep was heard.
"I'll call him," Irene said and got the frazzled man on the phone.
"She was looking at real estate, Arthur," Irene said quietly.
"In South Dakota? And you all left in the middle of the night? And took her jet? To South Dakota?" Artie yelled into the phone.
"We'll explain everything when we get back," the older woman said trying to calm him down.
Helena was silent as Myka took her by the hand on board and helped her get into her seat. She grabbed a blanket and put it over Helena and sat on the edge of the armrest.
"How are you feeling?" she asked as her hand swept across Helena's forehead to check her temperature.
"You know the more accurate way to check for an increase in body heat is to place your lips there," Helena said. Myka looked down and smiled. She leaned over and placed her lips in the same spot her hand had been.
"You seem to be normal temperature," Myka said.
"Keep doing that and it won't be," Helena said.
"I don't think I have ever been more scared in my life, Helena," Myka said as the others got settled behind them.
"Nor I, Myka. I truly thought I would never see you…," Helena tried to say, but tears welled up in her eyes and her voice cracked.
"It's okay now, Helena. I won't let them get near you," Myka said, taking her seat next to Helena for takeoff.
Helena closed her eyes, nodded her head and grabbed onto to the strongest person she had ever known. "I don't think I have ever been rescued before in my life," Helena said to Myka who smiled to think that's how Helena thought of this. "Well, except perhaps by Oscar Wilde at a boring dinner party," Helena mused.
This was going to be interesting to say the least.
Mrs. Frederic slept on the way back - the soundest she had since connecting with Helena. Myka too rested her eyes and never felt as good as she did since connecting with her. Helena reflected back to what happened. She knew better than any of them that the Regents and the Warehouse never did anything without reason. Had they planted Jack, who reported back that Helena was spending a great deal of time with her new Chief Counsel? Did they plant the pen in a store, hoping Myka would see it, purchase it, and then present it to Helena? Thereby, gaining confirmation that Helena indeed had every intention of asking Myka to be her One? Then they came in the middle of the night and kidnapped her? Even for the Regents, that seemed extreme, Helena thought.
They took Helena because they wanted to see who would come for her, and not just to rescue her. They bronzed her – to see who would save her.
"I think the evidence proves now, that Helena's selection is worthy," Adwin Kosan said to the group.
"Perhaps," the middle aged woman said.
"Regent Lattimer seems to be hesitant about all this and yet, her own son was on the other side of that door, unaware of her presence," one of the snarkier Regents said.
"What I do, I do out of protection for my son," Jane Lattimer barked back. How dare he think that decision did not pull at her heart every day! "It's not always an honor to be someone's One and you all know that," she said before she took her seat again.
"We do know that, but this time, the Warehouse has confirmed Agents Wells' selection and so, we must abide," Mr. Kosan said.
"It was kind of amazing that they all came," another said thinking out loud.
"Yes, a most impressive group," another added.
"We could use…," another started but Adwin raised his hand. They had handled enough for one day.
When the plane landed, Mrs. Frederic said that she would go to work to make sure the place hadn't fallen down – without Eileen. It was after hours and everyone else was going home. Helena thanked them each for coming to her rescue.
"I think I should stay tonight," Myka said to Helena and the Brit realized Myka was concerned about what had happened to her. Who was she to argue?
"I should be alright," Helena said trying to sound nonchalant.
"No, I don't know if there are any residual effects, Helena," Myka said and it was easy for Helena to see Myka was still in charge. "How is your head?" she asked, touching Helena's head and that's when Helena decided she had a slight headache.
"Hurts a little," Helena said and it was enough to make Myka go into overdrive.
"Pete, will you take us to the townhouse, I will stay with her tonight," Myka said as if any of the others were even thinking of it.
"OK, good," Pete said.
He dropped them off on the upper west side and went home to crash. He didn't want to mention to anyone, but he had been having trouble with his vibes – even after Helena was rescued. There was something about that place that seemed to gnaw at him.
Mrs. Frederic put Eileen in a cab, after the young woman called her mother to say she was sorry to be so late, but she was tied up in a meeting all day.
"She'll want me to quit for sure after that fib," Eileen confessed to Irene.
"My dear, Helena Wells will never let you leave. You might as well let your mother know that now," Irene laughed, but meant it.
Steve and Claudia got Chinese food and went home together. "Not bad for a rookie," Claudia said to her friend.
Leena had seen to straightening up the place after doors were pushed open and several people traipsed through the rooms. Myka called ahead and she her if she could have some food prepared and she left for them. Leena didn't ask too many questions, and that's what made her such a good residence director.
There were two things clear to Helena when they got home. They were alone – and Myka was in charge. Helena could not have been happier.
"How do we even know what this stuff does to you?" Myka asked – now taking a closer look at Helena as she removed her Yves St. Laurent jacket. She studied Helena's skin and as she touched her, goose bumps rose to their glory. Helena tried to stay still, but Myka's careful examination was making her squirm. "Does that hurt?" Myka asked in horror. "It's just…," Helena tried to say, but Myka mistook her reaction for pain.
"Into the tub with you," Myka said and she was practically dragging Helena up the stairs.
"Do you think it... did something?" Helena asked because she really liked where this was going.
"Do we even know what they use to do that? I mean what chemicals? Who the hell knows," Myka said taking Helena into her bedroom. "Where is your bathroom?" she asked and Helena pointed. Helena decided the less she said the better.
Myka went into the massive room. "It's not like they give you a manual, right? Oh by the way, we bronzed your friend and here's what to do when you get her home," Myka ranted. Do you think you should shower?" Myka asked, but Helena was afraid she would leave.
"I'd rather soak," was all she said and Myka had the water running.
"Yes, soaking is good. Get rid of whatever …..," Myka continued.
Helena did her best impersonation of feeling weak that she could - without saying a word - and Myka was at her side. "Let's get you out of those clothes," Myka said and Helena thought it must be Christmas. Helena stood there as Myka kept talking and unbuttoned her blouse. Helena didn't want to breathe for fear of distracting Myka who was already wonderfully distracted. "I don't know why I didn't ask them...," Myka went on as she slipped Helena's blouse off, then turned her to face her and slowly undid the zipper in her pants, as if she Helena was incapable.
Truth be told, Helena was incapable of doing much of anything at the moment - except bit her lower lip to prevent the moans from escaping.
"I think we might want to put these clothes in a bag. Who knows what's on them," Myka said and she took Helena's designer clothes that cost more than her month's rent and rolled them into a ball. Helena raised an eyebrow at the treatment of the couture, but decided it was a small price to pay for what was about to happen.
Helena stood there in her Agent Provocateur black lingerie with a look of 'oh gee what next?' on her face. It was the most innocence she could muster up.
"I should have asked them more questions," Myka said annoyed at herself. She walked Helena to the tub and felt the water. "It's good," she said. Then she turned and looked at Helena.
"Do you ….I will ….uhm..," Myka said realizing the next clothing to come off would leave Helena naked. Helena bit her cheek this time to keep from smiling at her adorable Myka looked.
"I could do the rest if you just want to wait over there," Helena suggested as if she just thought of it. "I just don't feel steady enough for you to leave," she added, just in case.
"No, of course. Sure, I'll be right over here," Myka said and went the distance of half her apartment and was still in the bathroom. She stood there admiring the wallpaper of small pink roses until she heard Helena submerge herself in the water.
"How is that?" Myka asked from the other side of the room.
"It feels good, Myka thank you," Helena said truthfully.
Myka moved in as Helena sat there grabbing her knees, her back facing Myka.
"Oh Helena," Myka said when she saw the marks on Helena's back. The chemical freezing did indeed leave marks across the Brit's back. "Does it hurt?"
"Not too much. Maybe you could put water on it?" Helena suggested and Myka knelt at the tub and cupped her hands and let the warm water dribble down Helena's back. The sensation made Helena's heart beat harder in her chest. She laid her head down on her knees and closed her eyes. Myka picked up a soft sponge and soaked it with water and let it run down Helena's neck, and watched as her skin erupted in bumps.
"I could just kill them," Myka said. Helena reached around and put her wet hand on Myka's.
"It's okay Myka, you're here now, and everything is okay," she said kissing her hand.
Myka leaned over and placed her lips on the mark on Helena's back and let them brush her skin.
"Oh my God," Helena whispered, melting into the water. Each small kissed chipped away at the memory of what happened that day.
Helena was counting on Myka to erase it completely.