Every occupant of the B&B, except two, sits patiently in the living room waiting for Myka to pull the ground from beneath their feet. Each pair of eyes boring holes into her almost makes her lose her resolve. Her parents sit on the couch their hands clasped together to brace themselves for the inevitable. Claudia sits at the edge of her seat, prepared to flee should her tears betray her. And Artie just sits with his shoulders slumped and his eyes mournful, as if he has already accepted the fate of his most promising agent as one that was ultimately unavoidable. Steve watches Myka intently. He notices the twitch in her gait pacing back and forth never meeting anybody's eye as she lists her reasons, the uncertainty in her voice even as she assures them that this is the most humane option. It is a lie. He can read between her words. He can see her sheer terror. He says nothing. Abigail remains in the shadows, prepared to provide counsel should anyone ask, but respecting their space. No one says anything for a while after Myka is done. There are no words.
Myka does her best not to think about the fight she had with Helena earlier in not so many words. The older woman pled for more time. She begged for Myka to reconsider. She reminded her there was still one cycle left, still a chance. But Myka had had enough of pretending that there was any hope. There is none. The necklace shoved into her pocket her only option left. Even as she tried to remind Helena of her promise she did not expect her to leave the room slamming the door shut behind her. As she paces with six pairs of eyes trailed on her she realizes she should have seen it coming.
When she stops and positions herself in a spot where she can look at everyone she expects them to shoot furious arguments. It is only when she looks and notices that she is not the only one with red, swollen eyes and craters dug beneath them that go so perfectly with their empty, desolate look. It is then that she pauses to consider that this infliction may be destroying more than just her.
"I will of course wait for Pete to come back," she attempts a feeble attempt at a smile. "If he ever picks up his phone" She adds the last part under her breath.
She gains a few nods but it seems she has stolen all their words.
"Mom, Dad? Are you okay with this?"
She sees a certain kind of anger behind her mother's eyes that she never has before.
"Alright?" Mrs. Bearing makes no effort to lower her voice. "Alright?! How can you even ask me that? You are making your choices unilaterally, unconcerned by how they affect us and now you pause to ask us if we are alright? Did you even think about us? Did you pause to think how we would feel? Did you?"
Myka staggers as she takes a step back. Partly because she has been on her feet for far too long, but mostly because of how hard the words hit her.
"No," her voice is small, a whisper. It is the most honest thing she has said to them in a while.
"No?" It is her father who asks, stretching the single syllable into an infinitely long sound punctuated by his eyebrows coming together in utter confusion.
The rest of the Warehouse team sits uncomfortably, considering whether and if yes, how to leave the scene unfolding before them without making it any more awkward.
"No," Myka shrugs doing everything in her power to not break down into a puddle of her own tears. "I didn't."
When both her parents continue to look at her more confused than enraged or disappointed ,she goes on.
"I didn't think about anything, nothing but this incessant pain. This feeling of- I am not me. Myka Bearing, Secret Service Agent at Warehouse 13, is dead. She disappeared bit by bit, little by little until all that is left is this. I am not me. I feel nothing like me. I am cancer girl. Girl who is dying. Girl who needs to be cared for around the clock. I am a lot of things right now, none of them are me. So if I can get her back for a few days, if I can be normal plain old Myka Bearing for seven days and a bit, if I can just not feel so broken only for a little while, I'll take it. I will take it with both arms open and wide smile because I just want to feel like me. Please let me feel like me. Let me have her back."
Everyone sits stunned. Myka wipes away the tears running down her cheeks. She does not notice the raven haired woman shrouded in the shadows, listening in from the other end of the hall. Helena feels a pang of guilt envelop her heart. All this while she has been trying to save Myka, never once did she pause to see Myka had lost herself. She cannot face her now, so she remains in her place, undetected.
"Myka," It is just one word from the youngest agent at the Warehouse and it expresses what everyone else is feeling.
Myka turns away and walks out the back door.
Helena wastes no time in entering the room taking up the empty floor.
"You heard?" Claudia asks.
Helena nods.
"Remember the favor I had asked of all of you?"
Everyone nods.
"We are throwing a wedding in the backyard the second Myka's best man returns and her sister arrives."
The prospect of a wedding in the midst of all this pain lightens up everyone's faces and even lends some smiles.
"Mrs. Bearing, Mr. Bearing I trust you can lend a hand with the preparations?"
When they both nod vigorously Helena cannot help but smile.
"I will take Myka away to look for Pete, and hopefully everything will be set upon our return."
When Helena goes to follow Myka into the back everyone else bursts into action. Artie dials the phone and confirms the cake delivery time; glad he placed a pending order just a few days back. Claudia leaves to go pick up the dresses and suits for the brides and the attendees already picturing Myka in the simple yet elegant gown she has on hold at the wedding shop in town. Abigail leads everyone else to where the decorations are stashed.
Helena comes up from behind and places a hand on Myka's shoulder.
"Is that how you really feel, love?"
Myka turns around and buries her head into Helena's shoulder not bothering to mask the tears running down her cheeks.
Helena brings her arms around the younger woman and holds her tightly.
"Ssh… I've got you, darling" Helena rubs circles on her back. "It's okay. We will use the artifact and you will live out the rest of our time together to its utmost and then I will let you go. It's okay, Myka. I love you"
"I don't want to die, Helena. But I don't want to feel this way, either. I just want it to stop." Her voice is muffled through all the tears.
"I know, love, I know. I am with you, whatever you decide you need to do, I am with you."
When she senses the brunette quite down she pulls a little back and wipes her cheeks with her thumbs.
"Would you like to go and find Pete?"
"Where are we even going to look?"
"I believe we can rustle up an artifact or two that can aid us"
"Okay"
Myka glances into the house through the window and watches everyone run back and forth with boxes in their hand. The edges of her mouth curve up into a smile.
"Oh and honey," Myka holds Helena's hand, "I know what they're doing."
When Helena raises her eyebrows incredulously Myka laughs.
"For people who are in the business of keeping secrets, they are horrible at it"
"Claudia?" Helena asks.
"Artie"
Next chapter is the big wedding everyone has been looking forward to and maybe that other thing that they haven't been looking forward to all that much.
Where is Pete at anyway? Thoughts and ideas are always welcome.