Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Author's Note: This episode involved Man Ray's camera, which steals youth and almost caused Myka to die of old age. Near the end of the episode, Claudia gets left at the hospital with an aged Myka while Artie and Pete go after the bad guy. The first part of this chapter deals with what happened while the two of them were at the hospital. The second part deals with the episode's B-story, which was Claudia's botched date with Todd followed at the end of the episode by the beginning of what looks to be a far more successful one. The last half of this chapter picks up immediately after that second date. Todd himself will not feature because I just don't have a good voice for him. Sorry. But there is a bit of Artie in this chapter, so hopefully that makes up for it. Enjoy!

Aging Is Required

"Consider me an ex-fan of Man Ray," Claudia said drily.

"Manny's," Artie said suddenly.

"What?" Claudia asked.

"Perry didn't say Man Ray's camera," Artie explained slowly. "He said Manny's."

"So?" Claudia pressed, not quite seeing the importance.

"I know how to fix this," Artie said, suddenly getting to his feet.

"Care to share with the class?" Claudia asked.

"I'll explain later," Artie said. He grabbed up his bag and turned to Claudia. "You stay here with Myka."

"But I-" Claudia began, standing up. Artie immediately cut her off.

"Stay!" he ordered. Claudia sat back down. Artie glanced back at Myka before saying quietly, "Call me if anything changes."

He hurried out into the hall, calling after Pete. A moment later the hospital room was completely silent. Claudia looked over at Myka and forced a nervous smile.

"They'll figure something out," she said. She sounded like she was trying to convince herself. An awkward silence fell. Claudia started tapping her fingers against the table top in an effort to fill it. She never had been very good at sitting still.

"So what have you been up to?" Myka asked lightly.

"I met Todd for lunch yesterday," Claudia admitted without looking up.

"That's great," Myka said with a smile. "How'd it go?"

"It didn't," Claudia said bluntly. "Artie told me that I should be myself. Problem is, myself is pretty good at screwing things up."

"That's not true," Myka said gently.

"Yeah, it is," Claudia told her. "I'm a freak. I always have been. I'm probably gonna end up one of the those agents who's married to their job because there's no way I'm gonna find a guy willing to put up with this."

She gestured at herself before letting her hands drop. She looked utterly defeated. Once again Myka found herself reminded that for all her bravado, Claudia had grown up in a world that had constantly told her she was worthless. It seemed a part of her had finally started to believe it.

"Look at me, Claude," Myka urged. Claudia hesitated before slowly looking up. At least Myka's still looked like Myka. "You are not a freak. You are incredibly smart and amazingly talented. And you really care about people. And any guy who can't see that is an idiot who doesn't deserve you."

The tiniest hint of a smile pulled at the corner of Claudia's mouth.

"Right back at ya," she said. She shifted in the chair, pulling one knee up to her chest. "I know what you're doing, you know."

"And what's that?" Myka asked innocently.

"Trying to distract me."

"Is it working?"

"A little," Claudia admitted. "Shouldn't I be the one trying to distract you?"

"You are," Myka told her.

Silence fell again. Now that they had reminded themselves of the elephant in the room, neither of them quite knew what to say. Claudia glanced down at her watch after a moment. Then she sighed and began tapping her fingers on the table again.

"I hate this," she muttered angrily. "I hate not being able to do anything."

"I know," Myka said. "But it's gonna be okay. Pete and Artie are going to figure something out."

"You don't know that," Claudia blurted. Immediately she clamped her mouth shut. She hadn't meant to say it. It had just sort of slipped out.

Myka was silent for a long moment.

"You're right," she said finally. "I don't."

Claudia quickly looked away. She had seen dying people before. But it had never been someone she actually cared about. She knew working for the Warehouse was dangerous. She knew Pete and Myka had close calls. But she was never there for them. She always heard about them around the dinner table after they were over and done. And now Myka was dying right in front of her and there wasn't a thing she could do.

"Can you do something for me?" Myka asked quietly. "If I don't make it, can you tell my parents-"

"No," Claudia interrupted. "We are not having this conversation."

"We have to talk about it," Myka pressed.

"No, we don't," Claudia insisted with a shake of her head. "You said it yourself. Artie and Pete are going to figure this out."

"But if they don't-"

"They will," Claudia said firmly. "You are not going to die on me."

"Claudia-" Myka said. Claudia stood her feet, clearly ignoring her.

"I want a soda," she said quickly.

Claudia turned and hurried out of the room. She made it down the hall and around the corner before she had to stop and lean against a wall. Taking a deep breath, she rapidly blinked back the tears that had begun to fill her eyes. She was not going to cry. Not here.

After a moment, she managed to get herself back under control. She pushed herself away from the wall and continued down the hallway. There was a vending machine a few halls over. She remembered seeing it on the way in. Myka didn't really drink soda, so Claudia just bought one can of Coke. Then she headed back to the Myka's room.

"They were out of water," Claudia said as she entered, "for all the sense that makes, so I didn't get you any-"

Her voice trailed off as she looked up. Sitting on the hospital bed with her legs swung over the side was a completely normal Myka. For a moment Claudia could only stare.

"Hey," Myka said with a smile.

That one word was all it took. Claudia quickly set the Coke can down on the table before running over to the bed. She threw her arms around Myka's neck in a tight hug.

"Easy there," Myka laughed as she hugged Claudia back. "I'm okay."

Instead of loosening, Claudia's arms actually tightened around her. Myka smiled and let her hold on.

"I told you they'd figure it out," the younger girl said, finally forcing herself to pull away.

"You were right," Myka said. "Looks like I'm back to my old self."

"Maybe not the best choice of words," Claudia said, wrinkling her nose. Myka laughed.

"Maybe not," she agreed.

"So I was thinking," Claudia said as she leaned back on the bed and propped herself up on her elbows, "maybe it's time I take up a normal hobby. You know, something I could actually talk to people about."

"You could look into music," Myka pointed out. "You did buy that guitar."

"I was actually thinking photography," Claudia said, trying to keep her face neutral. "Maybe you could model for me?"

"No," Myka said firmly. "Absolutely not."

"What, you afraid the camera might steal your soul?" Claudia teased.

"Yes, actually, I am," Myka told her. She looked down at the hospital gown she was still wearing. "Now why don't you make yourself useful and go figure out where my clothes are?"

"Forget where you put them?" Claudia teased as she got to her feet. "Sounds like you may be going senile."

"Whatever happened to respecting your elders?" Myka asked.

"There's no shame in aging," Claudia told her. She turned in the doorway to look back at Myka. "You know what they say. The memory's the first thing to go."

"Get out of here, you little whippersnapper," Myka said in mock irritation. "Before I forget that I'm not allowed to use my defensive training on non-suspects."

Claudia's laughter echoed after her as she headed down the hall.

X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X

It was early evening when Claudia finally got back to the B&B. She stopped on the porch, taking a deep breath and letting it out. Then she unlocked the door.

She almost ran into Artie as she stepped inside.

"Claudia," he said in surprise. "You're back."

In answer, Claudia wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him.

"Thanks," she said warmly. Artie awkwardly hugged her back.

"You're welcome," he said, not entirely sure what for. Claudia pulled away with a big smile on her face.

"Where are you headed?" she asked.

"Nowhere," Artie said. "I just left some paperwork in my car."

"Hey Claude, is that you?" Pete's voice called.

"Yeah," Claudia called.

"That would be my cue," Artie said, stepping toward the front door.

Claudia stepped into the living room to see both Pete and Myka sitting at the dining room table. They were craning their necks so that they could see her. Claudia shook her head and walked over to the dining room. She could hear Leena doing something in the kitchen.

"How was lunch?" Myka asked curiously as she took a bite of a Twizzler.

"It was okay," Claudia said, careful to keep her voice neutral. "We had a good time."

"What'd you guys do for four whole hours?" Pete asked.

"We ate lunch," Claudia said. "And we talked."

"About what?" Myka asked.

"You know," Claudia said vaguely. "Stuff."

"So does this count as a date?" Myka pressed.

"Maybe," Claudia said. A smile was beginning to force its way through her nonchalant expression. Myka and Pete exchanged a knowing grin.

"Did you kiss?" Pete asked teasingly. Claudia didn't answer, but she did turn red.

"Oh my gosh, you did!" Myka exclaimed.

"And?" Pete pressed.

"And... I'm going upstairs now," Claudia said. She turned on her heel and ran for the stairs. Pete and Myka turned to look at each other for a brief second before they both dove out of their chairs and took off after her.

"Hey, wait up!" Myka yelled.

"Get back here!" Pete called.

The front door opened just as Claudia dashed up the stairs two at a time. Artie stood in the doorway and watched as Pete and Myka pounded up after her. There came the sound of a door slamming and then opening again, followed by a scuffle and some excited yelling, and then a loud thump like something heavy landing on a bed. Artie just sighed.

"Children," he muttered. Leena came into the living room, drying her hands on a dishtowel. She looked up the stairs and shook her head.

"How does the saying go?" she asked. "Aging is required..."

"...but maturing is optional," Artie finished drily. "You have no idea."

The sound of teasing laughter echoed down the stairs, immediately followed by Claudia loudly defending herself. Artie shook his head.

"I give up," he said. He headed off toward the dining table, briefcase in hand. Leena watched him go before looking back up the stairs with a fond smile on her face.

"Just another day at the Warehouse," she said.

She turned and headed after Artie.

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