Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Author's Note: This is the chapter for episode six. It just wraps up a few tiny things that I felt could have used a bit more resolution, namely Artie and Claudia's partnership and Myka's reflection on the reality of her job. Enjoy!

Here to Stay

"The spine is on the shelf and we are good to go," Claudia said as she came back into the Warehouse office. She took a look around as she suddenly realized she and Artie were the only ones in it. "Where's Myka and the zombie?"

"Zombie?" Artie asked, looking up from his computer with a confused expression.

"Pete," Claudia clarified. "He is one of the walking dead now."

Artie groaned and pushed his glasses up onto his forehead so he could rub his eyes.

"Will you two never stop?" he asked grumpily.

"Doubtful," Claudia confirmed with a smile.

Myka appeared through the windows coming around the landing. A moment later the office door opened and closed as she came in.

"Did Rebecca already leave?" she asked.

"You just missed her," Artie said. Myka nodded. She seemed a little out of sorts. Artie gave her a concerned look. "Everything okay?"

"Hm?" Myka asked, coming out of whatever place her mind had been in. "Oh, yeah. Where's Pete?"

"He said something about having a date with a mirror," Artie said. The statement had obviously confused him. Myka and Claudia, however, exchanged a knowing look.

"Ping pong," they both said in unison.

"What?" Artie asked. "What does a mirror have to do with ping pong?"

"Maybe you should ask Pete that," Myka said with a mischievous glint in her eye.

"But why... What could..." Artie turned back to his monitor as he tried to puzzle it out.

"I am heading back to the B&B," Myka said, turning to Claudia. "You want to come?"

"Sure," Claudia said amiably. The two of them headed for the door together.

"Oh, Claudia?" Artie called just as the door swung open.

"Yeah?" Claudia asked. She turned back to see him watching her.

"You, um..." He fumbled for words, obviously unsure of how to say what he wanted to. "You know, that... that hologram projector was... I never would have... well, and the bolt of lightning you... that was really... I just, um... Well, what I mean to say is that..."

"Artie?" Claudia interrupted. She was completely lost. Artie trailed off with a sigh. Then he took a breath and started over.

"Good work," he said simply. It was clear from his face that he meant it. A slow smile spread across Claudia's face as she realized what he had just said.

"You weren't half bad yourself, geezer," she said,

"Thanks," Artie said drily. He started to turn back to his desk, but then turned back. "And by the way, I do love the initiative."

"You heard that?" Claudia said sheepishly. Artie nodded.

"Contrary to popular belief, old and deaf are not always synonymous," he said. Claudia grinned even more. Artie's eyes narrowed in a mock glare. "Now get off my lawn."

"Aye aye, Captain Grumpy Pants," Claudia said, giving him a snappy salute. She turned and followed Myka out the door. Artie shook his head as he returned to his work. He had a feeling that girl would be the death of him someday.

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The drive back to the B&B was a quiet one. The only sound was the breeze rushing past the open windows. Claudia hadn't really spent much time with Myka during her short time at the Warehouse, so she wasn't really sure what to say. For her part, Myka seemed lost in her own world.

"Are you okay?" Claudia finally asked. Myka gave her a questioning look, so she decided to clarify. "I mean, Pete died today."

"Yeah, he did," Myka said quietly.

"Must've been pretty scary," Claudia said. It was obviously bothering Myka, but they had only known each other for a few weeks. Claudia wasn't really sure how far she was allowed to go.

"It was," Myka agreed.

The older agent seemed to make a sudden decision then. She pulled the car over into a patch of grass beside the empty road and turned it off. Claudia suddenly began to worry she had pushed too hard. Then Myka turned to look at her and there was something in her eyes that Claudia couldn't read.

"Are you sure you want this job?" Myka asked seriously.

"Why?" Claudia asked, confused. "Did I do something?"

"No," Myka said with a quick shake of her head. "It's just... This job is dangerous, Claudia. People get hurt or even killed. People you care about. Are you sure you want this?"

"Are you?" Claudia asked.

"It's different for me," Myka said, turning to look out the windshield. "I'm a Secret Service agent. I was trained for this."

"Myka?" Claudia said drily. "Nobody is trained for this."

A smile tugged at the corner of Myka's mouth.

"Maybe not," she agreed. "But you're nineteen, Claudia. You're still a kid."

"You think I can't handle it?" Claudia asked.

"No, I know you can," Myka assured her. "You're smart and you're talented. But this job is hard and it's emotional. It doesn't just affect your life, it is your life. I just don't want to see you get hurt."

"I know how dangerous this stuff can be," Claudia told her. "My brother was trapped in an inter-dimensional space for twelve years because of an artifact. But the Warehouse helped me get him back. That's what you guys do. You save the world every day. And I want to be a part of that."

Myka could feel a smile forming at the passion in Claudia's voice. She had never heard her speak so strongly about something. Neither had she ever heard her say so much at once.

"This job is important, Myka," Claudia continued. "Because of us that spine is a pile of parts on a shelf and it can never hurt anyone again. We did that. And for the first time in my life I feel like I'm actually doing something that matters. There's dangerous stuff out there and somebody has to keep it from hurting people. So it's hard. Life is hard. But someone has to do it. And besides, not everything in the Warehouse is bad. Artie has me on eternal inventory duty- which does get a little old sometimes, but anyway- there is some wicked cool stuff in there. Stuff that goes beyond amazing. It's like..."

"Endless wonder," Myka finished.

"Yeah," Claudia said. There was a twinkle in her eyes. "I know this job is hard. Believe me, I do. But it's also amazing. And honestly? I can't see myself anywhere else."

Myka studied her a moment, trying to see if she truly meant it. Then she nodded.

"Good," she said. There was a smile on her face as if that was the answer she had been hoping to hear.

"Besides," Claudia said with her usual good humor. "If I tried to leave now, Mrs. Frederic would probably have me mind-wiped or something."

Myka laughed.

"Probably," she agreed.

The conversation was interrupted at that moment by another car stopping beside them. The passenger window rolled down and they found themselves looking at Pete.

"Hey, you guys okay?" he asked in concern. Myka nodded.

"Yeah," she said, glancing over at Claudia. "We were just having some girl talk."

Pete made a face.

"Well, if you're done with your 'girl talk'," he said, removing his hands from the steering wheel to make air quotes, "Leena just called to say dinner's almost ready."

"We're done," Claudia assured him.

"Good," Pete said. A devilish gleam entered his eye. "I'll race you back."

"Oh, you are so on," Claudia said as Myka turned the key in the ignition.

"Last one back is a dead man," Pete said with a grin. "Oh wait."

With a final parting smirk, he pushed the gas pedal to the floor. His car shot off down the dirt road. The breeze carried his victorious cry back to their ears.

"Pete, you are such a cheater!" Myka yelled as she turned the steering wheel to get her car back on the road.

"Come on, come on!" Claudia urged. "We're gonna get beat by a dead guy!"

"Oh, no, we're not," Myka said dangerously as her tires finally found the dirt road.

She hit the gas and they took off down the road after Pete.

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