Thanks to Aimofdestiny for the beta.
"Cold!" Claudia huffed, her breath steaming in the air. "It's cold as hell. Early spring South Dakota sucks." They were sitting in Steve's Prius again, because of course the lawyers weren't in their office anymore that late. Neither was anyone else in any of the other shops. So the two women had decided to observe the building with a classic stake out, waiting until somebody opened them back up in the morning.
Sarah snorted. "Isn't there a caretaker update for that?"
"You mean like integrated heating? That would be awesome, but sadly, I have to freeze my butt off." The caretaker pulled her jacket closed more tightly around her neck. "Cold cold cold." There was something in the redhead's voice that grabbed the writer's attention.
"Also, it's boring." She stated knowingly.
Preach it! Paul groaned, I have actually picked up my college homework from the car.
"Yeah, yes, right. It's also boring." Claudia shivered, rubbing her gloved hands together.
"So, do you want to talk?" The time traveller asked innocently.
"Talk? Yeah, maybe." The redhead looked interestedly at the building. "About what do you want to talk?" She asked, her voice sounding like she was avoiding something.
"Well." Sarah smiled and took some of the french fries they had picked up from a diner around the corner. "What do you want to talk about?" She now chewed intensely.
"Oh, nothing in particular." Claudia rubbed her nose and carefully didn't look at Sarah.
"Maybe... you want to talk about the future?" The writer shrugged. "I think I could talk about this. Maybe you want to ask me some questions about how you get along with the caretaking in the future?"
"Yes!" Claudia suddenly looked directly at the other woman. "Yes, I want that."
"So, no spoilers unless it's about whether you gonna manage to fight your insecurities?" The time traveller grinned a little mischievously.
"Well, you kinda said I will probably lose my memory after this. So... is it really a spoiler if you spoil me about something and I can't remember the thing at all afterwards?" The caretaker shrugged, looking a little helpless.
"You will." Sarah stated without going into the time travel discussion.
"I will what?" Claudia looked questioningly at her, clearly confused by the writer's words.
"You will be able to manage your insecurities, Claudia. You will become a good caretaker. You... you are a good caretaker. Look at you babysitting your friends' future daughter on an artifact hunt. Even though I'm not a Warehouse agent and I'm not very good at this part of the job." Sarah slightly shook Steve's head. "I mean, I'm a writer and I was sort of forced into this. I'm no agent or detective."
Nobody forced you into this, Sarah. Paul sounded somewhat indignant.
"The circumstances, Paul. The circumstances. Also, our Claudia seemed to like the thought of me talking with her younger and more insecure self. Maybe she wanted to give me some advice by showing me that she was a little like me herself back then." The time traveller shrugged. "Yeah, I figured that out. You have grown a lot in the future."
"Sounds like something Mrs. Frederic would do." The redhead squinted at her.
"Sounds like something a caretaker would do, Claudia. Sounds like something you would do." Taking another bite from her fries. Sarah lowered her gaze. "I don't know if this was your plan. But I know you're a wise woman. And you are a good teacher." Sarah didn't think it was necessary to mention that she had also seen Claudia already nine months ago with the help of her time travel artifact and that back then, things had been different. And Claudia had been different, too. For Sarah, it had been five years since that incident, but for Claudia it had only been nine months, and wow, she was different.
Claudia's expression changed into a proud one, a relieved one. "Are you...?" She swallowed. "Are you like your mom about hugging? Because she really doesn't like it when you fall into her arms with no warning."
Yes! Paul chuckled.
"Yes." Sarah replied, but shook her head and pointed at her forehead. Her eyes widened a little as he mouthed 'Paul' and then leaned over the middle console to wrap her arms around the caretaker's shoulders, pulling her into a gentle hug. She decided that this felt more awkward than particularly nice. Because Steve was still a lot taller than Sarah and Claudia, and she had the feeling that she engulfed the caretaker completely with his body.
"Oh-kay." The redhead groaned. "You will have to work on managing Steve's body because currently I can't breathe."
You hugged her? Sarah's brother sounded surprised. Sarah pulled back from the other woman.
"Yeah, I think I shouldn't do that again before being in full control over Jinksy's limbs. That's just..." She shook her head. "I'm sorry, Claud."
"No, problem. Who needs oxygen? Nobody!" Claudia quickly hit the car's roof with her hand. "Also: You call him 'Jinksy'? Yes! I'm so proud of you. I'm so frakking proud of you!"
Suddenly, the Farnsworth on the middle console next to the fries buzzed and Sarah picked it up without thinking.
"Artie!" She squealed, finding the old man's face on the screen. She had the feeling her heart was breaking and she was so happy to see him at the same time. Sarah couldn't do anything to prevent those tears forming in her eyes.
"Steve?" The agent replied, sounding a bit flustered about the younger agent's reaction.
Claudia reached over to rip the communication device out of the girl's hand. "Arthurio!" The caretaker exclaimed. "What a pleasure to see you!"
"Is the Warehouse on fire?" The agent asked warily. Sarah laughed through her tears.
"What?" Claudia asked, honestly surprised. "Of course not, Artie. Go enjoy your vacation. Is Dr. Calder alright?"
"Something's up!" Artie concluded. "Why are you and Steve in a car? Have you burned down the Warehouse and now you're on the run?"
The redhead pursed her lips and then suddenly looked at him, utterly serious. "No." She spoke. "No, the Warehouse is fine. This is only an artifact investigation, Arthur."
"Artifact investigation? Claudia, you're are caretaker and Steve has HG as a partner, why are you two-" Artie was interrupted by Claudia.
"Exactly, Artie, exactly." The caretaker took a deep, steadying breath. "I'm caretaker and I can assure you that everything is fine. Pete came in contact with an artifact in New York and is basically out of action. So HG and Myka are in New York, snagging whatever has affected him. Steve, who is sitting right next to me and is totally fine, and I, are on a snag ourselves. And everything is going well. We are fine."
"Claudia, I-"
"No, in this case, I'm Miss Donovan, caretaker of Warehouse 13 and you have to trust me. Even Mrs. Frederic trusts me here, grumps." Sarah looked at Claudia, whose expression she had seen more often in the future. I was clear that she was taking care and had everything under control, and that one should not doubt her. The time traveller smiled.
"You've sent Myka and HG to New York together?" The agent on the screen asked interestedly.
The redhead shrugged. "Perhaps." She stated, rolling her eyes.
"Good." Artie bowed his head. "Good. This was overdue."
"Excellent cue!" Claudia grinned brightly. "You know what is also extremely overdue? Your vacation with Vanessa!"
"Clau-"
"And you're going to enjoy it. There's nothing to worry about. Go to the pool or something!" Still grinning, Claudia closed the Farnsworth, deliberately ignoring the agent's protest. "Good bye, Artie."
The writer smiled sadly, looking at the communication device and then at Claudia. She looked up to the building they were observing. "He is alright." The caretaker said in a calm, reassuring tone of voice.
"And he will be for a long time." Sarah nodded while clenching her jaw.
"Good." Tightening her jacket around her chest, Claudia leaned back in her seat, pulling up her legs to rest them next to the steering wheel.
They didn't speak another word, both women snuggled slightly into their seats, looking at the street in front of the building, occassionally eating fries or drinking coffee. Paul was silent, too. The time traveller could hear him quietly breathing and occasionally turning pages of his text book. After a while, she started blinking more often; her eyelids fell down and she pulled them up again, trying to focus on their stake out. Paul's and Claudia's rhythmic breathing didn't help.
Eventually, Sarah fell asleep.
Myka stared into the dim light shining through the curtains of their hotel room. She listened to the car noises outside and to Helena's breathing right next to herself, the Victorian's hand gently brushing across her waist.
"It seems." HG seemed to smile, even though the American currently couldn't see her face. Helena had embraced her from behind, gently spooning against her. "No one of us is going to sleep tonight."
"This feels far too good to drift away into sleep." Myka replied, closing her eyes, enjoying the other woman's touch.
"Agreed." The writer leaned forwards, burying her nose in the younger woman's hair and pressing her body closer against her back. "But," Helena said, muffled. "You're also thinking about something. I can almost hear that. Your head keeps working and spinning thoughts and sometimes I'm surprised I don't hear the rattling of gearwheels when I lean closer."
"My mind is modern technology and doesn't have any gearwheels. Claudia thinks it's more like a computer." Myka grinned and winced a little when Helena's hand wandered further up to her rib cage.
"Ticklish." The Victorian noted and brushed her fingertips lower again. "Well, modern technology has always intrigued me."
The younger woman smiled at Helena's flirting attempt, taking the other woman's hand from her waist and kissing it. She looked at the curtains again, not quite interested in the dim light they gave to the room, while drinking in the Victorian's scent from her wrist.
"Helena, I had an accident with an artifact nine months ago." She whispered, holding her breath afterwards.
The writer pulled her nose out of Myka's hair. "I've seen the... a future" The American's voice broke.
Sensing the Victorian's internal struggle, the younger woman clutched HG's wrist carefully and turned around to focus her. Helena just stared at her, pursing her lips, but then she leaned closer to kiss Myka passionately.
"I know." She breathed, pulling slightly back. "I know, Myka."
The younger woman's eyes widened. "You do?" She asked, thunderstruck. Helena knew? But why didn't she say anything? Did she remember? Oh god, did Helena remember the time travel? She had been part of the it, hadn't she? Maybe she had a similar connection to the artifact as Myka had. The younger woman's urge to touch the watch and be with its owner, the weird experience she had had when Helena came back to the Warehouse. When Myka had noticed how their future was slowly disappearing, how Sarah was crying her name and trying to cling to her. It had been a painful experience and now Helena admitted that she had known all this time?
The American frowned. "What?"
"Claudia told me about it. Not much, just that you had an accident and that you've seen something. You mentioned somebody called Sarah when you were... in this utterly disturbing state of confusion, Myka. I was so worried about you back then. I heard you say some things... that... you kissed me back then..." Here, the older woman's voice faded away. She swallowed thickly, before she met Myka's gaze again, looking more confident, now. "I know you have a daughter called Sarah in this future. And that's all." Helena reached out a cool hand to cup Myka's cheek. The Victorian shivered slightly. Myka looked into her eyes, covering the other woman's hand with her own. So Helena didn't know, she was just... informed about the reason for the younger woman's strange behaviour back then.
Myka leaned closer, burying her face against HG's shoulder, inhaling the beautiful scent she had smelt before on her wrist. "I..." She began, muffled, not knowing how to finish that sentence, how to say anything more. Myka was afraid, so afraid of this future and of changing this future, too. She was afraid of frightening Helena away with only the thought of it, the thought of having children. Because Myka knew that the broken woman still wasn't ready for anything like this and probably would never be. But she had the need to talk about this, to share this knowledge, to finally break her own silence about it.
"You should have seen her, Helena. She... was... she was beautiful. I- it was..." Myka stuttered, feeling incredibly helpless right now. Helena pulled back from her, pulled back to look into her face, silencing her with the tip of her index finger. The younger woman could see her lover smile. It was a bittersweet smile, but still a smile from the Victorian.
"You said you trust me, Myka, right?" HG whispered, sounding worried.
"Yes, I do. Oh, Helena, I do trust you. I love you." Myka's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"And... you also said we should be honest with each other." Helena received a small nod from the American.
"So... please, don't be mad at me if I say... that I don't want to know." The older woman's eyes darted away for a brief moment, then meeting the other woman's again whose face had gone completely blank. "What?" Myka asked.
"Don't get me wrong." There was this insecurity in Helena's face again. Myka had seen it so often before. "Let me explain, trust me here, please. It's different than it sounded."
The younger woman's face softened, she brushed a lock of Helena's hair out of her face. "Okay." She simply said, waiting for the Victorian's explanation. Waiting for her to take a step.
"I know a lot about time travel... at least I thought I knew a lot about time travel. I thought that being able to look into the past with my time machine, memories, that they were the only possible form of time travel. And it seems that I was wrong. You proved me wrong, Myka." Helena looked into her eyes, smiling fondly. "There are several ways of travelling through time. Apparently, you saw a possible future. You saw something that could be. I'm glad to know that there is something like this. But I don't want you to tell me about it, I don't want to know what you've seen, because... Myka, I'm currently struggling with not living in the past any longer, I'm learning to live in the present and to accept that I cannot change the past or blame anybody for it. Not even myself. And that I have a future. Whatever that might be. There is another form of time travel, and that's... that's the form of it I'd prefer, the one I want to explore myself." She leaned forwards to kiss the younger woman, possessively, claiming her. Pulling back, Helena whispered. "That form of time travel is living."
Myka nodded, accepting what she had heard. "I think I understand."
"Everything I need to know about this form is that you want to be in it. That you will be with me in the future. And we don't need to see the future with a time travel artifact to be able to know it, do we? There is only that one question that you have to answer. You love me, Myka Bering. And I want... I want to have you in my future. So please, do you want to be part of it?" Their eyes locked again, Helena smiling shyly, Myka's eyes filling with tears for a second. But then, the younger agent smiled as well, kissing the writer.
"Yes." Myka whispered. "I want that. And I want to explore every part of our future together with you."
Maybe there wasn't anything ruined about the future. Having Helena in it was everything Myka needed.