Breakdown of protocol

[hadotherplans]

Myka was good at her job. She was known for having it together under pressure, being the one to take charge. Emotion was secondary to protocol. Sometimes, when it was necessary, she mentally repeated it, like a mantra. Emotion is secondary to protocol. It was all that had kept her together for the last twelve hours or so since the explosion.

Comments

[igetvibes]

Pete was, in fact, unable to sleep. And a consequence of Pete being unable to sleep was donuts or cookies going missing. Usually both. So he was in the dining area, eating, when he heard a noise and glanced up. He knew for a fact Claudia was in bed, but he should probably go check all the same. So he got up and headed for the porch door, and stopped when he saw who was there.

"Hey. You okay?"

[hadotherplans]

Myka looked over. Her face was tear-streaked, and she only shook her head.

[igetvibes]

Pete nodded and walked over to her, opening his arms to offer her a hug. "Hey. It's okay. I know, I'm worried too. But ...Artie's tough, you know?"

[hadotherplans]

Myka sniffed and hugged him, tighter than she realized. "You saw...what I saw, Pete..." Her voice was shaky.

[igetvibes]

"I know what I saw." He hugged her back, tightly. "But you and I both know there's artifacts that can help someone survive that kind of thing."

[hadotherplans]

"But to not call or somehow get a hold of us? After all these hours? And without...anything...besides what he had on him?" She looked back at Pete.

[igetvibes]

"He could have had the phoenix on him," Pete replied quietly. "And I don't know -- why he wouldn't tell us, but I don't think he's dead. Just trust me."

[hadotherplans]

"If he had the Phoenix...one of us would've had to die. There was no one else around, aside from MacPherson...and if he was dead, Artie wouldn't be chasing after him..." She frowned. "Wait--you don't think--or--is it one of your vibes?"

[igetvibes]

"I don't know," he replied quietly. "But I think he's alive, is all I'm saying."

[hadotherplans]

Myka wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "I want--to believe that...I just..." She flashed back to the files of all the dead Warehouse agents who'd come before them, to her own dead partner...

[igetvibes]

"It's gonna be okay." He gave her another little hug. "Just trust me, yeah?"

[hadotherplans]

Myka's jaw wavered a bit, but she nodded, holding onto him when he hugged her.

[igetvibes]

"Thanks." And for a little bit, he'll just keep giving her a hug.