Getting close to the end now guys. Hope you're still hanging in there. A lot of HG and some Christina for the next two chapters.
Thanks to anyone who reviewed, particularly EvilRegalQueen97 who inundated my inbox! Seriously people, a few words of support do wonders for a writer's motivation!
Chapter Thirteen
"Lattimer, catch the damned thing!" Helena yelled for the third time.
The stocky agent was rooted to the spot the moment HG and a small girl materialised in front of him. The inventor's pleas to 'move his arse' went unnoticed until he became aware of agent Jinks' curses and erratic movements. He watched Steve dodge and weave while a mouse-sized object scuttled around his feet. Finally understanding the orders being shouted at him, Pete joined in the chase and within a minute, had the wriggling artefact held tightly between two bear-like hands.
HG held the eight-year-old securely in her arms as Steve held open a neutralisation bag and gripped tight to the opening, smothering the emitting sparks the moment Pete threw the beetle-shaped artefact inside. She avoided their stares and began walking in the direction of the hotel. Steve moved swiftly after her, leaving Pete to stare blankly after them.
"Whoa, whoa!" He exclaimed. "HG, where the hell is Myka?!"
"In there," HG pointed to the bag, still striding swiftly away from the scene of her worst nightmare, clutching her prize like she was never going to let go. "I suggest we move quickly Mr. Lattimer; I don't know how much time Myka has left."
Pete fell into step with no more questions, though he kept a sharp eye on the woman leading the way.
At HG's request, Claudia created updated credentials for one Christina Wells to aid the young girl's admittance into the USA. Normally it would not have been a challenge for the young techie, but with Artie on her back, questioning everything, it took her twice, if not three times as long. Her only saving grace was Mrs. Fredrick, who arrived in time to go over Artie's head and agree to the task, staying to prevent the meltdown that threatened to follow.
They were all full of questions, including their new arrival.
Christina sat in the window seat, happily looking out over tiny towns and fields now that she was over the shock of take-off. "Mummy?" She said, turning away from the incredible view to look at the elder Wells.
Helena had seen fit to purchase a change in outfit for her daughter and was still marvelling at the difference the modern fashion had on her child. She had not taken her eyes off her daughter yet. It had been so long since she'd had the pleasure of watching the young girl that she simply couldn't pull herself away. Then there was the insecurity that lay beneath, warning her not to believe what she was seeing, that she would close her eyes one minute and open them to find Christina gone. She needed to be vigilant. She knew that she had to return to the Warehouse, if only so that she could do everything in her power to help save Myka. But the moment anyone tried to take her child away, she would show them just how dangerous she could be. "Yes my love?"
"Why are we going to the Americas?" Christina wondered now that the rush of getting to the plane was over and she had the adult's full attention.
Helena ran her fingers over soft ebony hair. "Well, we need to take the object Mr. Lattimer caught back to a very special place, where we will make every effort to discover a way to free the poor souls trapped inside."
The girl wriggled in her seat, trying and failing to pull her knees under her. "Damn and blast," she muttered to herself before remembering that her mother was right there. "Oops."
"Oops?" Helena questioned as she tried to keep a straight face. "That is all you have to say?"
Christina schooled what she hoped was the right amount of contrition into her features. "I am ever so sorry, Mummy."
"Thank you love. There is a time and a place for profanity but it is not here."
The younger Wells gave up her efforts to get more comfy and thought back to her question. "Is Agent Bering trapped in there too?"
HG was momentarily startled. "You remember Agent Bering?" Her daughter nodded and Helena immediately wondered how the pair had gotten along. "Did you like her?"
"Oh yes," Christina began enthusiastically. "She's funny and she has very pretty hair. She is very fond of you Mummy and she thinks we are both very bright."
"Well she is absolutely correct," HG agreed with no hint of false modesty. "She is very bright too after all."
"Do you like her, Mummy? Will she come and stay with us in London do you think?" Christina paused for a second. "Once we have rescued her I mean."
Helena had to think for a moment, wondering how she was going to explain their living situation. "I like Myka very much darling; she is a wonderful person and has been a smashing friend. I would certainly be delighted for her to come and stay with us." She smiled at the open excitement in her daughter's eyes. "We do not have a house in London anymore though love."
Christina's excitement turned to confusion. "Why ever not, Mummy? Are we homeless? Shall we have to go to the workhouse?"
HG reached across the seat and pulled the concerned and inquisitive girl into her arms. "Not at all my love. I am renting a house for us in the States. We can buy a house though when we decide where we want to live."
Thinking back on life in their London home, Christina frowned. "Shall I have another tutor?" The girl asked in a subdued manner.
"Would you like one?" HG wondered aloud, her mind beginning to contemplate the educational prospects for her daughter. "You could go to school," she suggested, suddenly realising that this modern world held many more open doors for a growing girl. The thought both excited and terrified her.
"Would I have to work with all the boys? I don't want to go away to school, Mummy. I do not mind a tutor, but may I help you choose? Professor Dyson was... pungent," she declared with distaste.
"Pungent?" HG questioned with amusement.
"He smelled of pipe tobacco and herbal sweets," she pulled a face to demonstrate the strength of her disgust. A sudden thought occurred to her and she span around to see her mother. "You could teach me Mummy. If we don't live in London you will not be working at the Warehouse, will you? You are not going away again, are you?"
Helena felt the shock from the girl's words hit her and then revisited the guilt she'd been plagued with in the aftermath of the girl's death. "Christina, what do you know of the Warehouse?" Her tone was both enquiring and accusatory.
The young Victorian appeared sheepish. "Sometimes I get thirsty at night," she offered as her entire explanation.
Helena's expression became stern as she easily put the pieces together; she recalled the daily challenge of settling the girl down to sleep and the compulsory glass of water by her bed. "I leave you with a night-time drink," she reminded the young girl.
"Felix drinks it... or he knocks it over," Christina tried to explain desperately.
This news brought a fond smile to her lips. "Darling, Felix is inanimate. He is stuffed with down, meaning that he has no internal organs and therefore does not need to imbibe liquids." She took pity on the girl, as she always had when faced with a pout and downturned eyes. "You wanted to know what I was doing each time I went away?" Christina nodded. "Well, my dear girl, it seems that I have underestimated the extent of your curiosity. I should not be surprised really; you are my daughter after all."
"You are not cross, Mummy?" Christina leaned her head on her mother's shoulder.
Helena shook her head. "No love, I am not cross. I know it must have been taxing to stay in bed when you sensed that adventure was afoot. I promise you though darling, I will be at home with you a lot more now; there will be no more need for night-time wanderings," she added with a semi-serious expression.
From the moment they stepped out of the baggage claim area, Steve and Pete carrying Myka's things between them, HG felt her protective maternal instincts kick in and lifted Christina into her arms.
Blocking the exit from the airport were Adwin Kosan and Mrs. Fredrick, backed by an entourage of security personal.
"Agent Wells," Mr. Kosan greeted the inventor, stepping ahead of Mrs. Fredrick in a subtle demonstration of his power. "It appears that your latest mission has been rather more fruitful than anticipated."
"And you are here to, what... tell me that I am not permitted to keep my... spoils?" HG asked, the hostility she felt clear in her tone.
"Not at all," he answered calmly. "I couldn't be more pleased for you. But we do have a duty to make sure that his development will not cause harm. Though, we would like to request your assistance first in releasing Agent Bering from her prison." He gestured to the sliding doors where the agents could now see two Government Issue cars waiting to whisk them off to the Warehouse.
Helena swallowed her fear-fuelled anger and walked with purpose towards the lead vehicle. In her mind, she was planning their escape if the head regent decided not to be quite so friendly, but for the time being she would go along with his wishes. She wanted Myka back as much as any of them and after a few hours of on and off contemplation she was beginning to understand how the artefact worked.
She wasn't surprised, after strapping Christina securely into her seatbelt, when she was joined by both regent and caretaker who sat facing her and her daughter. "So is this when you interrogate me to reveal whether or not I planned this entire excursion?"
"Mr. Kosan and the majority of the regents are of the opinion that, other than the coincidental involvement of your greatest invention, that the events of the past week and a half are none of your doing." Mrs. Fredrick said with her usual no-nonsense yet somehow kind manner. "Despite past events, you are not under suspicion."
"We do however have to investigate the causes and effects of your current situation, no matter how joyous the results appear to be. I assume that you intend to make her your 'one'?" He didn't have to wait long for the temporary agent's cautious nod. Adwin Kosan turned to the younger Wells, ignoring the obvious tensing of HG's posture. "Miss. Wells," he held a hand out and waited patiently for the young Victorian to receive permission from her mother to respond in kind. He looked deep into the girl's eyes, the ring on his finger allowing him to detect anything other than a genuine sentient and living human presence. It only took the barest of moments, after which he shook her hand cordially. "I am Adwin Kosan, head regent of Warehouse 13. It is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance."
"Likewise, Mr. Kosan," Christina responded with a slow tilting of her head that she'd noticed many times when her mother met someone new.
HG beamed with pride, momentarily forgetting the tenseness of their situation. Any reservations she may have held, after Myka's warnings and her own disbelieving thoughts, vanished in that moment and she felt a tear escape her hold and make a path down her cheek.
This was her child.
Christina's body had perished many years ago, but her soul, the beautiful person that shone through those dark expressive eyes, was the same one she'd known since the moment she gave birth to her. How she'd been given a new body was a mystery for now, but there was no doubt in Helena's mind that she had her little girl back.
She turned back to her watchers, a new air of hope and determination in her eyes. "What do you need from me to convince you that she poses no threat?"
"Your co-operation mostly, Agent Wells." Kosan informed her with his usual reserve. "We will of course respect certain boundaries and treat her as we would any innocent. We require your presence near the Warehouse for as long as it is needed, therefore we would be appreciative if you would take up your former residence at Leena's. I have already asked for a child's bed to be added to your room."
Helena nodded behind a frown. "Has Agent Jinks not taken up residence in my old room?" She asked, confused.
Mrs. Fredrick's eyes lit up with a knowing glint. "Agent Bering requested that we not disturb your room unless absolutely necessary. I believe she has been hoping for your return for some time now."
"I told you that Myka likes you, Mummy," Christina couldn't help whispering smugly, making her mother blush.
She pictured Myka for a minute, even likely hating her for her betrayal in Egypt, still needing to defend her. What had she ever done to deserve a woman like Myka? A woman who would forgive her so readily after a betrayal of both their professional duties and their romantic affiliation? Who would still put her and her daughter before the woman's own needs?
She briefly recalled the nights spent watching Myka sleep. The few hours spent making love had awakened parts of Helena that she hadn't known existed. The times she'd bitten her own lip or ripped a hole in the sheets in an effort to stay quiet while Myka's hands and lips tortured her skin, those were the only times HG had felt human in over a hundred years.
Every moment spent away from that distracting embrace was a moment of agony; eventually leading her to their fated encounter at Yellowstone. But even there Myka had been looking out for her.
It was time for her to take care of Myka, HG thought as she ran her fingers through her daughter's hair and kissed the young girl's head. "Well my love, the minute Agent Bering is back with us, I will be sure to invite her round for tea."