This was a particularly rough week of artifact hunting with Pete. I was tired, bruised, achy and desperately in need of a shower, or perhaps a bath if I could sneak away from my fellow housemates for long enough. I want to be home and relaxing after this horrible week. Just forget about all of the problems I have been encountering on the road lately. Before leaving the Warehouse, I send Helena a quick text:

at WH & heading home. Could really use a bath. Miss you. TVTB.

After a brief stop in the kitchen to pick up a bag of ice – an item we always make sure to keep on hand due to everyone's inclination to injury – I head upstairs to our room where I fully expect to find some very quiet space. It is still early in the afternoon with no one aside from a very exhausted Pete around, so no one would be bothering me anytime soon. I furiously smile when I see the Post-it on the bedroom door in Helena's elegant script: Rejoins-moi au bain.

Turning the doorknob, I open the bedroom door to find the windows slightly open, the curtains rustling and the sound of Italian opera. As a birthday present, Claudia had heavily modded a phonograph to connect with a variety of gadgets so we can enjoy a more "old-fashioned approach" to music listening as well as play old records. I walk over to the phonograph to take a look at the connected iPod. A swipe of the screen reveals the music, making me smile. The bathroom door is ajar and there is a low humming coming from the person inside.

Peering between the bathroom door, I see Helena stretched out in the bathtub; eyes covered with a damp washcloth, hands gripping the sides of the tub, humming along what sounded like the opera music playing. I quietly approach the edge of the bathtub and sit down on the bathmat facing opposite her. I pick up Helena's left hand, tenderly kiss it and place it back in its position on the tub's rim.

"Hey."

Helena removes the washcloth and opens her eyes to see her tired and grubby wife sitting before her. "Welcome home. I missed you." She looks at me, silently assessing how dirty and ragged I appear. "Look at the state of you."

I glance myself over for a moment and pause, "Yeah, it's been a very long couple of days. I'm worn out." Usually, whenever I come home from an overnight excursion, I am bubbly and happy to be back. Something is different this time and Helena astutely picks up on it.

"Myka," she says after a very deep breath, "did everything go alright?" I nod my head no. "Still want to join me in here?" I quickly nod yes and then stand up, looking down at Helena lounging in the tub.

Without saying anything, I slowly reach for my boots and pull them off along with my socks. "Yes, just hide your eyes for a sec," I say as I unzip my jeans and push them down. "I don't want you to see…"

It is too late. Helena has already seen the massive bruise on my right thigh, the scrapes along my left calf and the handful of stitches along the left side of my neck. She had noticed me carrying in the bag of ice, but had not realized its purpose. "Myka!" Helena darts herself forward in the tub.

"It's okay, really, Helena. I'm very…sore. I'll be okay." I note as I slip off my t-shirt.

I sink myself into the hot water, opposite my concerned spouse. Helena looks at me directly across from her, looking very distant and weary. I curl myself up with arms around my legs and face towards the wall, not making any contact with her. I made a valiant effort to be in good spirits and smile, but I can't get myself to do it. Waiting a few minutes before she speaks, Helena attempts to get me to open up. "You want to talk about it?" I nod in agreement.

"I'm just very worn out and tired. So happy to be home with you." I quietly say.

Helena reaches both arms out to grab me and to pull me closer, but I don't budge. I feel lost and tired. "Myka, come here." she says and wags a fingers in her direction. "Now rest against me, let me hold you."

I move my way towards Helena, situating myself between her legs and try to find a comfortable position. I cannot stop my eyes from welling with tears and I start to sob in her arms. Helena runs her hand through her hair, continuing to hum along to the opera music and console me in her arms. The other hand holds me around the waist with Helena's fingers gently resting on my thigh, away from the bruises. I finally relax in her arms. "Sorry for the tears, I didn't mean to get all sad and upset. Today just hasn't turned out as expected."

"It's alright. You don't have to be strong all the time." I keep my eyes shut, taking deep breaths that try to match Helena's breathing pattern. I am slowly calming down thanks to Helena's relaxing demeanor with my back resting against Helena's breasts and the back of my head leaning against her shoulder. I really don't want to go into the details of this particular assignment and I can see that Helena picks up on this. Changing topic, she inquires, "What does 'TVTB' signify? It was in the text you sent."

"Ti voglio tanto bene." I whisper leaning backwards towards her ear, still with my eyes shut. "It's Italian. It means, well, the meaning is bit hard to describe. It is an expression of care, love, friendship, more than that, wants, needs. It means I love you very much, or I want you, or...it's sort of complex."

I pause for a moment, taking in the feel of the woman I am pressed against in the tub and the smell of her soap. For a few minutes, we silently sit together in the bath, listening to music and enjoying each other's company. I perk up for a moment when one of the tracks changes and pause. I lean my head back, moving a strand of Helena's hair from her ear and press my mouth to her, whispering, "In te ravviso il sogno ch'io vorrei sempre sognar. I have always wanted to say that to you."

The lips against Helena's ear cause her to purr at my sweet words, prompting a reaction to hold me tighter to her body. Helena continues to hum along to the music as she holds me. "This is very nice: you very much naked in the bath with me, looking very handsome with your hair pulled up, covered in warm, soapy water, romantic music..."

"Just try to ignore fact there are stitches in my neck."

I love her so much.