A/N I know I confused many of you about the 'connection' between Myka and Helena. They felt it in SD but not back in NY. When Myka stayed with Helena, she was dealing with her own conflicting feelings - and that interrupted the exchange. This is a new connection - and so it must be integrated for both of them. As their relationship changes and grows, so does the connection.

I'm sorry the last chapter reduced Helena for some of you. She's complex ...and she's dealing with something new - a real relationship. I hope this chapter expands her character more.

Connections

"You control it?" Myka asked – still adjusting to the intake of sensations.

"Not entirely. I am not exactly sure how it works, but I believe it is like a circuit," the scientist said. "It has to be open to receive it. I do think it's energy driven so when we were in the Warehouse, our emotions were running high, and therefore, we connected more easily. "

"But I wanted to last night. I wanted to understand what you were dealing with," Myka said.

"I think you were dealing with your own …conflicting feelings," Helena pointed out.

"Mrs. Frederic could tell…," Myka stuttered.

"Mrs. Frederic was more of a maternal One, Myka. Our connection is ….well, not maternal, so it will be different," Helena explained.

It was as if a drug was being flushed through an IV into her body. There was a cool rushing sensation that seemed to cloak her. It wasn't scary – in fact it felt exhilarating. "This is …amazing," Myka said suddenly aware of how close she felt to Helena.

"I'm glad you think so," Helena smiled at the prospect of sharing something with Myka. She moved in closer to see if Myka was doing okay. Her breathing was returning to normal and Helena touched her wrist to feel her pulse.

"Now let's go play nice," she said and they left her office in pursuit of the broken-hearted assistant.

"I believe this is the second time the poor girl thought I fired her," Helena confessed at the elevator. "I really must get better at explaining myself."

"You're going to have to make this up to her," Myka said.

"Make it up? I'm apologizing," Helena pointed out.

"Yes, but I think Eileen deserves more than an apology, especially after yesterday. She quoted HG Wells to me, Helena. She practically saved the day single-handedly…..again, I might point out," Myka said thinking back. Eileen had a pretty good track record.

"I will send her theater tickets," Helena said.

"Does she like the theater?" Myka asked.

"How the bloody …ahem…. I mean, I have no way of knowing. Perhaps dinner for her whole family?" Helena tried.

"Is that something …," Myka started to ask, but Helena interrupted her.

"Yes, I get it – I don't know what she likes. From now on, we will ask employees to fill out wish lists so that if I ever upset them, I will know whether they like flowers or a fruit basket or…," and she stopped when she caught the look on Myka's face and lowered her head. "You might find this hard to believe, but emotional arenas are not my forte. I will think of something."

Myka noticed the slightest hesitation on Helena's part when the elevator doors opened. And now she understood why. Any enclosure made Helena pause. She stood near Helena in the elevator.

"I'm texting Claudia, she might have a good idea," Myka said.

The elevator door opened and out stepped Helena with Myka behind her. Eileen stood up to face her employer. She was ready to take it like a woman – and would wait to collapse later. When Helena saw the girl's reddened eyes and nose and the mascara under her eyes, she stopped in her tracks….and felt terrible. Suddenly, Helena could feel this surge of guilt at her actions because she knew she had been too flippant with the sweet girl.

Helena started to walk quickly towards her and almost everyone there – including Claudia - feared for Eileen …except Eileen. In a moment of pure emotion – Helena grabbed her and embraced her. Eileen leaned into that hug and melted.

"Wow – didn't see the hug coming," Claudia whispered to Irene.

"She can surprise you," Irene replied.

"I am so sorry," Eileen started to say, but Helena released her and looked at her.

"My dear, you did nothing wrong. I was being quite petulant in my response to a ….…," and Helena thought better than to share the reason. "Situation. I do apologize," she concluded.

"Oh Ms. Wells, you have been through so much," Eileen said excusing her boss.

Helena looked over at Myka as if to say 'now what do I do?' Myka didn't want Eileen dismissing this so quickly or Helena might think it was okay. She jerked her head at Helena to persist. Helena took a deep breath. She liked it best when people got the message the first time.

"Ms. Sullivan," Helena said taking her hands as they sat down. "You are very kind and I do appreciate that you see the best in everyone, including me, but one must take responsibility for their actions and I regret that I was so dismissive of your feelings today."

"Thank you, Ms. Wells," Eileen said. "I'm not fired then?"

"No, of course not," Helena said and started to get up, but noticed the look on Myka's face. She sat back down.

"I would like to offer you a token of my sincerity," Helena said and then she and Eileen stared at one another.

Claudia saw the opportunity and took it. "Perhaps Eileen would like a trip to Disney World," she suggested. Now every turned to look at her. "What? Who doesn't want to go to Disney?"

"No, I don't want to do that, but thank you just the same," Eileen said. "I don't want anything. I just want my job."

"Well you have it, so it's settled," Helena said smiling – relieved that it was over. One look at Myka told her she was wrong and down she went again.

"Ms. Sullivan, it would appear that I …must…..would like to …offer you something along with my heartfelt apology, and I would appreciate it greatly if you would help me acquire exactly what would please you," Helena said, smiling but getting exasperated. This is why she rarely apologized for anything.

"Maybe Eileen would like her own BMW 3 Series," Claudia said because no one was coming up with any good idea. "Disney on Ice?"

Eileen smiled. "I just want my job back and I have it so I don't need anything else. Really."

"If you could have anything that you wanted," Irene finally asked, "... and Ms. Wells could give it to you, what would it be?"

Eileen lowered her eyes and thought about it. She didn't want anything material because she felt it was unnecessary. She knew that they were insisting because they wanted Helena to take ownership of her actions.

"Well, I would enjoy going on a tea tasting tour in Chelsea," Eileen said.

"Bravo, wonderful. I shall procure the tickets immediately," Helena said relieved it was done.

"With you….," Eileen added and it took Helena a minute to notice that she was talking to her.

"With me?" Helena asked surprised that the girl would want to do anything with her after this episode.

"Yes, if it wouldn't be too much trouble," Eileen added.

Then Myka saw one of the reasons she was growing increasingly fonder of her friend. There was a side to Helena that was kind and gentle and downright charming. While some of the people there feared that Helena would reject the offer, Myka saw the gleam in Helena's eyes.

Helena smiled. "It would be my pleasure," she said and meant it.

If she had given Eileen a large sum of money, it would not have excited her more. Eileen was thrilled at the prospect of sharing something with the woman she admired so. Helena stood up and looked at Irene.

"Not bad, Helena. Not bad at all," Irene said.

"I would have gone for season tickets, but that's just me," Claudia said.

Helena's own reward was the look on Myka's face. She was pleased with Helena and the Brit liked it. The connection had a vacillating nature to it that Helena was not yet aware of.

"You're a wonderful CEO, did you know that?" Myka said in a soft voice to Helena.

"I have help," Helena smiled as she walked to the elevator with Eileen who was telling her in excruciating detail how the tour would go.

"We start at La Maison du Chocolat for the English & French Tea Traditions Tour. After a brief introduction to La Maison du Chocolat, we'll have a chance to sample their melange tea blend. Next, we head to Takashimaya – where you can shop for tea pots, various loose teas, and even some of tea-infused confections. Then we visit James Robinson where we view a variety of antique silver tea pots, creamers, sugar bowls, and other accessories. Around 3 p.m. we head down to the Meatpacking District to have afternoon tea at Arium. They have a full afternoon tea, including three types of scones, five different tea sandwiches and five small sweets alongside our tea of choice," the excited woman said without taking a breath.

As the elevator door closed, Helena looked out at Myka and mouthed – 'you are coming with us'.

Myka asked Irene to come into her office now that all was right with the world and Wells Corp could return to business as usual.

"Irene, I wanted to ask you about you experience with being Helena's One," Myka said offering Irene some coffee as they sat down.

"It does not come with an instruction booklet, I can tell you that," Irene said.

"Yes, I gathered that. I felt it so strongly when we were in South Dakota with Helena. Then very little ...until I went to speak to Helena before. Then suddenly, I felt it jolt me," Myka said.

"Does Helena have any insights?" Irene asked.

"She thinks your connection with her was more …maternal," Myka said and Irene laughed.

"Yes, I guess I can see that," the older woman agreed. "Myka, Helena asked me to fulfill that role out of desperation. She thought she was dying and I think didn't want to leave without someone knowing who she was. I had no idea what she was asking of me other than what one friend might ask another in an emotional situation – I offered her support and swore my confidence to whatever she wanted to tell me," Irene shared and put the cup down.

Myka noticed that a serious look came across her face – no trace of her smile left.

"Myka, I do think that your connection with Helena will be different because your relationship is different, but there is more," Irene said and Myka leaned forward to listen.

"There were times when I didn't feel connect to Helena other than as a friend. We could go for days like that, and considering some of the trouble she got herself into, I was happy not to have a front row seat to it. Other times, it felt as if Helena's life was on a full screen projector in my head. I felt things – heavy things – that I couldn't explain. I would check on Helena and she seemed to be fine, yet the heaviness continued. I don't know if I was tapping into Helena's unconscious, and thought maybe once it found an opening it came to me. Myka, it wasn't always pleasant. In fact, some nights I couldn't sleep," Irene confessed.

Myka sat back and thought about what was being said. "Do you think Helena knows?"

"No, not consciously. It's not like psychic text messaging as best I can tell. I think …..," and Irene paused as she chose her next words. "I think it happens when Helena needs someone to help her carry whatever it is she is dealing with. As you know, Helena does not often swim in the deep end of the emotional pool," she said and Myka smiled at the analogy. "But when she is forced to, that is when the connection seems the strongest," Irene said.

"Are you sorry you're not connected?" Myka asked.

"I am relieved she is with you," Irene said, patting Myka on the knee and standing up.

Irene never over stayed her welcome. She had given Myka what she asked for and what she could handle ….. for now.

I hope that helps but if not, please let me know. I do appreciate it.