Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Author's Note: The season two finale showed the team racing to stop HG from using the Minoan Trident to send the world into another Ice Age. The ordeal shakes Myka's confidence and she decides to leave the Warehouse. This chapter takes place an hour or so after her departure. It's kinda short, but I have a chapter written for the season two Christmas episode and it's a pretty good size. Plus it's one of my favorites thus far. So there's that to look forward to. :) Enjoy!

Meet Me in the Aftermath

It had been a rough day for everyone. HG's betrayal had been sobering, and the fact that they saved the world was dampened by the knowledge that she was now paying for her actions. Myka's sudden departure was just the straw that finally broke the camel's back. They were all too numb with shock to be hurt by the fact that she didn't even say good-bye herself.

Once the shock wore off a little, Leena, Pete, and Claudia decided to head back to the B&B. (Artie had opted to stay at the Warehouse, probably to try and drown himself in work.) As soon as they got back, Pete headed up the stairs and locked himself in his room. Claudia disappeared without a word.

Leena stood in the entry way for a moment, trying to decide if she should go after one of them or just let them be. In the end she settled for making herself a cup of tea. She needed to think. She knew Myka was upset about what had happened, but it had never even occurred to her that the other agent would consider leaving.

She was about halfway through her cup of tea when movement outside caught her eye. Leena looked up from the dining room table to see Claudia sitting down in one of the chairs on the porch. As she watched, Claudia leaned forward and put her head in her hands. She was clearly upset. Leena hesitated a moment before setting down her cup and standing to her feet. Myka had been right. She was their mother of sorts. And mothers fixed things.

Claudia pulled her head out of her hands as soon as the door creaked open. Leena quietly stepped out onto the porch and sat down in the chair beside her.

"So," Claudia said, looking down at the wooden planks beneath her feet. "Who knew it was possible to save the world and still have the suckiest day ever?"

A smile tugged at Leena's mouth. Even upset, Claudia was still sarcastic.

"Are you okay?" she asked seriously.

"Not really," Claudia said. She looked over at Leena. "I think I'm cursed."

"And why is that?" Leena asked with a hint of humor.

"Because," Claudia said, looking back down at her shoes. She picked idly at a bracelet on her wrist. "People always leave me."

"What do you mean?" Leena asked gently.

"My parents," Claudia said matter-of-factly, counting them off on her fingers. "Claire. Joshua. Well, I got him back. But now he's off somewhere doing something important so he's basically gone again." She waved her hand in the air to prove her point. "Then there's Todd, HG, and now Myka. I'm officially cursed."

"You are not cursed," Leena told her.

"Can you tell that from my aura?" Claudia asked. There was a teasing tone in her voice.

"Maybe," Leena said. Claudia grinned a little before looking away. For a moment there was silence except for a bird pecking his way across the grass.

"She didn't even say good-bye," Claudia said quietly. All traces of her facade had vanished, leaving behind a girl who was deeply hurt.

"She'll be back," Leena told her. She wasn't sure how she knew, but as soon as she said it she knew that it was true.

"How can you know that?" Claudia asked, looking up.

"Because this is her home," Leena said. "She belongs here. Right now she's upset because she feels like she betrayed her family. She just needs some time to learn to forgive herself. Once she does, she'll come back."

Claudia studied Leena for a moment, weighing her words. Finally she seemed to actually accept them. Then a small grin appeared on her face and she shook her head.

"You, my friend, suffer from a severe case of chronic optimism," she said.

"And you are too young to be cynical," Leena retorted.

"Please," Claudia scoffed. "There is no such thing."

Silence fell again as they both stared out across the grass, each looking at something only they could see.

"What do you think they'll do with HG?" Claudia asked finally.

"I don't know," Leena admitted.

"I mean, I know she tried to destroy the world and all," Claudia said, "but I guess I was still hoping maybe we could get her back after we fixed everything. Kinda stupid, huh?"

"No," Leena assured her. "Not at all."

"She was only here for a few weeks," Claudia explained, "but she was kinda starting to feel like family. I felt like... like she really understood me, you know? Like she got it. Like she was one of us. And then she went and tried to destroy the world." Claudia looked over at Leena with misty eyes. "How could she do that to us?"

"I don't know," Leena admitted. Claudia reached up and swiped angrily at her eyes.

"I just..." Claudia straightened as if to make an emphatic point, but then she seemed to deflate. When she spoke again, her voice sounded strained. "I feel like I spend my whole life saying good-bye."

"Not everyone will leave you," Leena told her gently.

"Right," Claudia said sarcastically. "Sorry if I don't believe you, but my track record says otherwise."

"I'm not going anywhere," Leena promised. "Neither are Pete and Artie."

"Yeah, well, Myka said she wasn't going anywhere either," Claudia choked. "And look how well that turned out."

"Claudia," Leena said softly. Claudia bowed her head, placing her hands on top of it as she tried to hide her losing battle with that tears that had been threatening for the last hour. Leena reached over and began to run her hand up and down the younger girl's back.

Please, she prayed, let Myka come back soon.

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!