Belief & Betrayal Chapter 20

[grumpybear1031]

+ Title: Belief & Betrayal
+ Authors: grumpybear1031   and shaych_03  
+ Fandom: Warehouse 13
+ Pairing: H.G./Myka
+ Notes: Ladies lovin’ ladies ahead… and angst, and action, and well, just read it – we promise you a happy ending. Takes place where 2X12 Reset leaves off, possible spoilers for both seasons. Some liberties taken with certain events, as we don't have actual dates for H.G.'s bronzing etc...  We are finally finished and doing a second round of edits...whooo hooo.
+ Rating: We'll play it safe and say R throughout NC-17 Chapters will be clearly marked.
+ Disclaimer: Warehouse 13 and it's characters belongs to Syfy. We're just borrowing them for a while and promise to give them back.
Thanks to taterc   for help with a quick beta.

Author's Note: Shay, I hope you can forgive me for dragging you into this mess. My obsession with H.G. Wells blinded me, and a need to correct the total mess that was “Reset” kind of made me crazy. I'm not much of a writer so your help in getting this from inside my head to down on paper is very much appreciated. I'd also like to say a big thanks todarandkerry   for being an amazing beta. Your suggestions and punctuation help are invaluable.

Author's Note: Jen, you may have dragged me into watching Warehouse 13 kicking and screaming, but I've had more fun working on this story with you than I have in a long time. Your ideas are great; you have a natural ability to kick start my muse and keep her chugging along happily. Should I even bother to mention how good you are at calling me on BS characterizations or reinterpreting the sometimes cornball melodrama that my muse creates? Anyway, I'm glad you got me into this. I would also like to add my thanks todarandkerry  , for her spot on beta skills. I hope we didn't kill you with all the missing commas.

PREVIOUS CHAPTERS
CHAPTER 1  CHAPTER 2  CHAPTER 3 & 4  CHAPTER 5  CHAPTER 6  CHAPTER 7  CHAPTER 8  CHAPTER 9  CHAPTER 10  CHAPTER 11  CHAPTER 12  CHAPTER 13  CHAPTER 14  CHAPTER 15 CHAPTER 16  CHAPTER 17  CHAPTER 18  CHAPTER 19


CHAPTER 20

"I still don't understand why you had to try on four different vests, Helen. They were all the same color and cut!" Myka and two bellhops were loaded down with packages. They'd had to wait close to an hour for a table at the restaurant and Helena had suggested they bide their time window shopping at a row of expensive boutiques nearby. Myka wondered how many packages they'd have if the wait had been longer.

"Each garment had details which made it desirable. I just sought to discover which was the one that completed the ensemble to perfection," replied Helena airily as she slid the room key into the door and waited for it to unlock. Truthfully, she'd just enjoyed the glazed look of naked lust that came over Myka's face each time she'd tried on a different outfit.

In the end, her choice had come down to which outfit made Myka's pulse race the fastest, and by the amount of perspiration dotting her brow, it had been the cream-and-cocoa linen combination. Of course, she'd purchased the others just to have some secondary choices, but the cream blouse and cocoa colored pants and waistcoat were what she'd chosen to wear out of the boutique.

"But you bought them all anyway. And now I have to carry them!" Myka didn't actually mind hauling around Helena's purchases; she just enjoyed teasing her lover.

As she pushed open the door to their room, Helena tossed her hair back over her shoulder and said, "Oh love, at least half those bags are yours, so please, do shut up."

In a burst of childishness, Myka stuck her tongue out at Helena as she bustled past her to set the garment bags on the nearby settee.

One of the bellhops snorted. "My wife does that to me all the time, ma'am. Just let her have her way - trust me, it'll end up in your favor later," he said with a wicked grin. The other bellhop frowned, but managed to dredge up a smile when Helena forked over a generous tip.

To the first bellhop, she said, "I shall certainly endeavor to see that your prediction comes true."

He doffed his cap at her and winked. Softly, he whispered, "My name's Andy, ma'am, and if there's anything you need, anything at all, just come find me and I'll be happy to help."

She smiled. "I'll remember that." With a slight wave, she closed the door and turned to face Myka, but the other woman was not in the sitting room. Turning the lock, she went in search of her lover.

Helena found her in the master bedroom, standing in front of the panoramic window that overlooked the lake. It was an oddly familiar sensation to approach Myka this way, with her in the dark, lit only by the ambient light of a city, but in this moment, it was utterly different than Cairo. Instead of the burdens of grief and guilt, Helena's heart was full of love.

"Do you think we have much longer before Pete and Artie find us?" said Myka as Helena snuggled up against her. She draped her arm over Helena's uninjured shoulder and let her cheek rest against the top of Helena's head.

Helena sighed. "I don't know. If they're good enough to be warehouse agents, then they're good enough to find us, no matter how many misdirections Claudia throws their way."

"I hate this. I hate having to think of my partner as my enemy. Pete wasn't always the guy I would have chosen to work with, but now, I can't imagine not having him at my back."

"I understand, but Myka, listen, if things do turn out badly - if they do find us before we can prove my innocence, you can't fight them. You can't risk yourself for me. I won't have it. If it's my destiny to be returned to the Bronze sector, you've got to let me go." Helena spoke calmly, but firmly, in a tone that brooked no argument.

Myka gasped softly and turned so that she could look Helena in the eyes. "You can't be serious? You can't honestly expect me to just stand there do nothing while they stick you back in that living hell?”

Reaching up, Helena cupped her hand to Myka's face and said, "Darling, you must. It's not so bad. You don't really notice the passing of time after a while." She smiled sadly. "You could come by sometimes, and tell me about the artifacts you collect; the new person in your life. Your children, your-" Myka's sob stilled her words, then her mouth covered Helena's in a trembling kiss.

"No," whispered Myka. "No, it won't be that way," she added, feverishly. Over and over, she kissed Helena, whispering her love, her faith, her determination to clear her name. "You're innocent. You're mine. I will not let them take you from me. Ever."

Unable to do anything but fall into the maelstrom of Myka's kisses, Helena silently prayed that Myka would not live to regret her choice.

**

"Are you tired?" Myka asked some time later. They were still standing in the bedroom, relaxed in each other's embrace, trading soft, wine-flavored kisses and content to listen to the far off thrum of traffic.

Helena started to reply, but then gasped in pain. Not now! With every bit of her considerable willpower, she tried to ignore the searing brand of agony that was knifing through her skull, but failed. An inarticulate sound was the only warning she could give when the next wave of pain rolled over her, forcing her to grab her head and drop to her knees.

“Helena!” Myka shouted, catching her lover before she could fully collapse. “What's wrong?”

Through chattering teeth, Helena murmured, “Head. Hurts.” Twitching and shaking, she fought to keep her dinner where it belonged even as her stomach churned like it was the drum to an out of control washing machine.

Gnawing on her lip, Myka tried to figure out what to do. On the one hand, Helena's pain might be a result of the accident, which meant that the best thing for her was to relax and get some sleep. But on the other hand, I remember Leena talking about how painful the headaches had been after the Pearl had been removed the first time. Oh, maybe I should call Mrs. Fredric. Even as she debated the question, Helena's breathing grew shallower, slower, and more controlled. Finally, she took one deep breath and pulled away from Myka. Grimly, Helena said, “Well, I see that all the reports about the aftereffects of the Pearl of Wisdom are correct.”

“I'm calling Mrs. Fredric. She fixed Leena; she can fix you too,” said Myka determinedly.

As she started to stand, Helena reached out and stopped her. “No, love. Not tonight; there's nothing to be done about it now.” She smiled tiredly. “I'll be fine. But, if it makes you feel better, I certainly won't say no to a little judicious coddling.”

Stubbornly, Myka shook her head. “No. This is serious, Helena.”

Capturing Myka's hand, Helena drew it to her lips and pressed a kiss to the knuckles. “I am fine; truly. I believe the worst has passed. All I want now is to be with you, is that so much to ask?”

Myka's heart melted into a tiny puddle of mush at the open, needful expression of love and desire on Helena's face. Under that gaze, Myka was forced to relent, she cupped Helena's face in her hands and kissed her softly. Pressing her forehead to Helena's, she said, “All right. We'll wait. In the meantime, how about we get you into a hot bath?”

"That sounds divine,” said Helena as she allowed Myka to help her stand. “Perhaps I should inspect the bar for proper libations?”

“Helena, I don't think you should be drinking.”

Grinning mischievously Helena said, “Nonsense. I distinctly recall reading that red wine is good for the constitution.”

“I'm just not sure it's safe –” Her protestations were cut off with a kiss.

“No; we agreed. It's just one night, darling. What harm could waiting bring?”

“I don't know, Helena. You really seemed like you were in a lot of pain,” Myka said, frowning in consternation.

Helena smiled winsomely. “But I'm quite all right now, love.” When Myka's expression didn't waver, Helena pouted and said, “Will it help if I said that I'll take some aspirin?”

It was hard to deny Helena's lovely brown eyes, and Myka felt herself melting. “Oh, well, I don't – I guess I have some ibuprofen you could have, but, if it gets any worse, you'll tell me straight away, right?”

Helena mock saluted and then leaned up to kiss her lover. “Instantly and immediately.”

“And we'll take it easy, and just relax, and be gentle, and -” Even as Myka continued to talk into the kiss, Helena's wandering fingers completely derailed her thought process. Somewhere between the bedroom and the bathroom, her clothes vanished and she was left standing next to the slowly filling tub, aching with the need to hold her lover.

When Helena found her way to the bathroom, she was pleased to discover Myka kneeling beside the nearly full tub. Smiling, she displayed two glasses and a bottle of sparkling grape juice. “A compromise, because I love you, and respect your opinion,” she said as she offered a glass to Myka.

Myka's smile was more than worth the sacrifice of the expensive looking bottle of wine she'd found chilling in the bar.

Helena poured each of them a measure of juice and, as they shared a silent toast, Helena popped a couple of ibuprofen, and then Myka took Helena's glass and the bottle and set them aside. “Now, let's get you out of these things and into this bath before the water grows cold.”

First came the dingy makeshift sling. Myka wrinkled her nose as she tossed it into the other room. "I think we'll have to get something else tomorrow; that thing's disgusting."

“Perhaps I should do away with it altogether. It seems more an inconvenience than an aid,” Helena said as she slowly worked out the kink in her elbow.

Next Myka opened Helena's waistcoat and then, with a bit of a mischievous grin, she started unbuttoning the linen blouse from the bottom, paused and slid her hand inside and traced her fingertips along the waistband of Helena's slacks. "I should," she whispered teasingly, "take my revenge now."

Swallowing heavily, Helena tipped her head up and, through half-closed eyes, said, "Anything you want."

Myka dipped her head down, keeping their mouths just a hair's breadth apart. "Anything?" she whispered.

Closing the distance between them, Helena seized Myka's lower lip between her teeth and sucked on it. "Anything," she replied in breathless confirmation.

Myka smiled, kissed her and then said, "Then don't ever ask me to stand by and let you go again. It would kill me."

Shaking her head, Helena chuckled softly and said, "You do not play fair, my love." But she did raise both her hands up to cup Myka's cheeks. Running her thumb over Myka's lips, she said, "I promise - I won't ask you to let me go. We'll stand and face whatever comes together."

"Thank you." Myka sealed her words with a kiss, and then turned off the water while Helena finished unbuttoning her blouse.

Once Helena was fully undressed, Myka helped her step into the tub and then slipped in behind her. Together, they settled into the hot, scented water and relaxed as bubbles swirled around them.

Reaching down, Myka retrieved their glasses and handed one to Helena. "To finding proof of your innocence," she declared softly, and they clinked their glasses together.

After enjoying a few sips, Myka took the glasses back, set them aside and located a small, soft sponge and a bottle of body wash.

"Just lie back and enjoy this, okay?" she whispered as she drizzled the light, summery scented liquid onto the sponge.

"You do realize, don't you sweetheart, that I am going to pamper you silly once my arm is healed?"

Chuckling shamelessly, Myka murmured, "I'm counting on it." Slowly, she drew the sponge over Helena's body, running it gently over everything she could reach.

Helena's eyes closed and she arched back into Myka. Softly, she whimpered whenever Myka would avoid those areas she most wanted touched. After several minutes of the delicate torture, she reached up with her good arm, wrapped her fingers in Myka's hair and pulled her down into a wanton, open-mouthed kiss.

"Myka," she gasped. "Stop playing with me."

Abandoning the sponge, Myka closed her hands over Helena's breasts, pinching and stroking her nipples, causing Helena to hiss and moan in pleasure.

A small amount of water sloshed out of the tub when Myka slid one hand down Helena's abdomen and more splashed out when Helena shifted slightly so that Myka could reach even lower. When it appeared that half the water in the tub was about to be displaced, Helena disengaged herself from Myka and murmured, "Here, let me help you with that." Repositioning herself so that she was straddling Myka's lap, she leaned forward, captured Myka's mouth in several light, teasing kisses and softly growled, "Don't let me stop you now."

Myka chuckled. "Did you want something?" She scratched her nails across Helena's stomach, causing the muscles to ripple and jerk. "Is that..." she drawled, "a hint?"

Softly, Helena whimpered as Myka continued to scatter soft, delicate caresses all over her back, thighs and belly.

Everything was on fire with the need to be touched; but it was delicious, this fire, this beautiful reminder that she was among the living. Suddenly, Helena threw back her head and laughed. "Oh darling, don't stop. You feel so good."

Whatever hesitancy that had kept Myka at bay vanished as she wrapped one arm around Helena and with the other thrust deep inside her lover.

More water splashed onto the floor, but neither woman cared as they wove together, joining and rejoining in the loving dance that was as old as time.

**

Dressed in one of the remaining robes, Helena was curled up on the bed, nursing the last of the juice while Myka was in the other room, ranting.

"For God's sake, Helena, I don't understand why you can't wait until tomorrow to see this on me. It's not like it's anything super fantastic."

"Call me impatient if you'd like, just be sure to get the one in the yellow bag," replied Helena as she smiled around the rim of her glass.

Out in the sitting room, Myka was hunting through various bags, boxes, and containers when she finally spotted a small, yellow bag. "I don't remember this one," she murmured softly as she lifted the sack and examined the contents. The tell-tale shimmer of expensive black silk was reflected along the insides of the plastic.

At first, Myka felt a bit outraged that Helena would go and do such an utterly underhanded, sneaky thing, but then, she began to realize that this was what lovers did for one another. Still - "But I don't have anything to wear underneath it!" she yelled.

"Yes, darling, I know," came the laughter-filled reply.

As Myka shook out the dress, she finally got it. There really wasn't much more to the garment than some straps, a few squares of cloth, and a skirt that would just barely brush the tops of her thighs. "Oh my God, Helena. I wouldn't wear this in public if my life depended on it."

Still, there was a certain titillating factor to putting on something just for Helena's pleasure. A smirk curved her lips. Though I suspect her pleasure isn't exactly all she had in mind...

A tiny ball of desire began to form in the pit of Myka's stomach. God, she was really going to do this, wasn't she? The answering surge of heat to all points south of her belt line drove her to mutter, "Well then, if I'm doing this, I'm doing this my way."

Helena began to wonder if maybe she hadn't pushed Myka a little too far, too fast. After all, there were certain boundaries that took time for lovers to cross. Just as she was about to tell Myka to forget it and come to bed, Myka appeared in the doorway.

The dress fit like a glove, but that wasn't what Helena noticed first. What struck her was how Myka had transformed. Gone was the woman who was at points goofy, sweet, and practical and in her place was a sexy, sultry siren-of-the-night who commanded Helena's undivided attention. This Myka had never known self-doubt. No, this woman was confidence personified, and she wore like it was a cloak of the finest cloth.

Myka slowly smiled as she watched Helena's eyes become unfocussed with desire. Deliberately, she reached out for the door frame and grasped it, pulling her shoulders back and pointedly thrusting her chest out to fully display the plunging neckline of the dress.

"Do you like it? Does it... suit your tastes?" she asked slowly. Letting one hand fall away from the door, she slid it down her thigh and then back up again, letting her fingers grab hold of the edge of the fabric and pulling upward to reveal the bare skin of her hip. "Does it need alteration?"

Mesmerized, Helena licked her lips and whispered, "No, it's perfect. You're perfect.”

"Thank you," Myka said as she shifted just slightly, letting her head rest against the door frame.

After a moment, she started to push away from the door frame and said, "Well, now that you've seen it, I think I'll go change."

"No," Helena said as she slipped from the bed. "No, you're going to stay right where you are."

Raising one eyebrow, Myka said, "I am?"

"Yes." Helena untied the belt to her robe and shrugged her shoulders slowly, allowing the garment to fall to the floor at her feet.

"And wh-what are you going to do?" Myka's control was slipping, and she tried to regain it by leaning back against the door frame and propping one foot up behind her.

That was her undoing, because then Helena knelt at her feet, wrapped her arms over Myka's thighs and pushed up the dress.

Glancing up once to be sure that Myka wasn't about to faint, bolt, or otherwise stop her, Helena smiled and said, "Everything, my peach, everything."

Myka's head slammed back into the wall as Helena's mouth came into contact with her and soon, she had both hands firmly wound in Helena's hair and one leg wrapped firmly around her lover's shoulder. Her last thoughts before sweet oblivion whisked her away had to do with absolutely loving Helena's taste in dresses.

At some point they had ended up on the bed. Myka felt boneless, like every part of her had been turned to gelatin, but in the most beautiful way possible. Beside her, Helena slumbered; after experiencing another painful headache, she'd barely had the strength to tunnel under the covers much less enjoy more than a few moments of cuddling before sleep had swept her off to dreamland. Myka didn't mind. It was sort of nice to have this starlit moment to look down and behold what changes only a short time had wrought.

It seemed like it had been forever since she'd sat staring at the sunset, cursing Helena's name, feeling like she'd just lost everything that meant anything to her. What she had gained in its place was so much more. Turning to curl herself around Helena, Myka pressed a kiss into her shoulder and sighed happily. This was where she belonged, and nothing was going to take that away from her.

TBC