covert affairs chapter 2
chapter 2 of my myka/hg fic. this one is...not as good as the previous, but it's cute and sweet and necessary for moving the cogs for what's to come. so much for making icons tonight. but i think this is acceptable;). i double spaced paragraphs to make it easier to read.
Myka flitted about her room anxiously. When she'd returned from the warehouse a note lie on her pillow: 'See you in town.' Myka read the note one last time before tucking it between the pages of a book, along with the other from HG. Part of her was upset that HG would risk coming to the bed and breakfast again. It would be too easy to catch even her here. And if they did, back to the bronze sector and Myka would never see her again. There was a part of her that was upset that Wells had been in her room and she had missed her. But the emotion that was spilling over was a charged excitement with a hint of nerves. She checked her hair and straightened her shirt for the last time.
She came humming into the living room. "I'm going into town for a little while, did you guys need anything?"
Claudia jumped up from the table. "Ooh, yeah. Can you pick up some stuff from the hardware store?"
"Sure."
"Cool. Here's a list."
Myka took the paper and looked it over before folding it up. "Pete? You need something?"
Pete looked up from his comic book. "Nope."
"Okay. I'll be back later." She sauntered out of the room.
Claudia watched her leave. She turned to Pete. "Someone's in a good mood."
"Maybe she found a secret stash of Twizzlers."
Myka parked in front of the hardware store. Better to pick up Claudia's items before she was distracted. Thankfully for Myka, they had hired someone more tech savvy than Todd. The new guy was able to find everything and even suggest a few extra pieces. Myka paid for it all and headed for the door, wondering where she was supposed to meet HG. She stepped outside; leaning against the side of her car was HG, sporting her characteristic devious smile. Myka smirked. "You're just full of surprises."
HG's smile broadened. "You have no idea."
Myka put the bag from the hardware store in the car. "Come on."
"Where are we going?"
"There's a coffee shop a couple blocks over." They started walking.
"I'd quite fancy a cup of tea."
Myka smirked again. "They have that too. Though I doubt it lives up to what you're used to."
"I'm becoming quickly accustomed to this world. It has its charms." They shared a glance. Myka blushed. Several people walked past without a word or even eye contact. The last walked between the two women. "Though, people were a bit nicer in my day."
"They're not all this bad. Everyone here thinks we work for the IRS."
"I assume your country's feelings toward taxation haven't changed much."
"Not really." Myka laughed. They walked past a couple storefronts in silence. "It's really not safe for you to come to the bed and breakfast. You shouldn't have left me that note."
"I wanted to see you. How would you propose we communicate?"
Myka smiled, she found HG's anachronistic nature endearing. "You need a cell phone. Or email."
"More progress." Wells sighed.
"Not all progress is overrated."
"I suppose not."
They reached the coffee shop. "Here it is." Myka opened the door for HG. They ordered and sat at a table in the back.
Myka watched HG as she took a sip. She tasted it, swallowed, and bit her lip. "Not bad for progress."
Myka laughed. HG smiled at her. "It's my understanding that this is what constitutes as a date these days."
"Yes."
"So is that what this is?"
Myka took a sip of coffee. "I'll let you know." Wells nodded her head. "Hey, how did you do research on me if you didn't use a computer?"
"The old-fashioned way." HG leaned toward Myka as if sharing a secret. "I don't know if you're aware, but I can be quite persuasive when the occasion calls."
"Really? I hadn't noticed." Myka joked. She sipped her coffee. "Your wiles might not work on it, but you should learn how to use one."
"Forgive me for wanting to hold onto the old days just a little."
Myka smiled. "No matter what Artie says, they're not that bad."
"Would you teach me?"
"Okay. You should see what Claudia can do with one."
"I'd imagine she'd be quite impressive."
"She hacked the warehouse." Myka said flatly.
"She is precocious, isn't she?"
To prove that Univille wasn't just some podunk farm town cut off from the world at large, a shiny computer sat on a desk in the coffee shop. "Come on." Myka got up and moved to the computer. She pulled the chair out for HG. Wells sat down and Myka leaned over her shoulder. HG glanced sideways at her and smiled. "You use this to move the arrow on the screen." HG put her hand on the mouse. "Move it to this and click the button to open it." HG did as instructed. "Now you can type in the bar at the top." Myka reached around HG to type. Wells smirked. Myka put her hand on HG's to click the button. HG looked at her, ignoring the computer screen. "Click here and you can look up whatever you want, just type it in the box there." After a second, Myka looked over. "What?"
"Nothing." HG said softly. She felt Myka's hand warm as she smiled at her. HG leaned in for a kiss.
Myka pulled her hand away and looked down just before HG connected. She shot a glance at the barista behind the counter who was pretending not to watch. "Not here HG." She whispered.
Wells licked her lips. "Sorry."
"People talk."
"You don't have to explain."
Myka pulled a chair over from a nearby table and settled next to Wells. She touched HG's knee under the table. Myka smiled tentatively.
"What should I look up first?" HG asked.
"You've got a hundred years of history to catch up on. Two world wars, a few close calls, natural disasters, a country dividing, then reuniting, power shift, women voting."
"A century never felt so long.
Myka looked at HG. "What did you think about while you were bronzed?"
"Not afraid to be direct are you?"
"Well, I just..."
"It's okay. I find it rather refreshing." HG sighed. "At first you think about the things left behind, the things you'll miss."
"Your daughter."
HG smiled, but there was pain in her eyes. "My Christina. I thought a great deal about her. About the life she could have had." Her smile faded. "The mistakes i made. transgressions have a way of eating at you. i wondered about the world. what advancements might be made. what became of my companions and," she paused. "Fellow agents."
"You know, if you try, you could probably find some answers. There's a lot of information on the internet. And I could look in the warehouse records."
"Would you?" HG brightened.
"I can't promise anything. I mean, we didn't even have a record of you being bronzed. But I'll look."
HG smiled. She grabbed Myka's hand on her knee. "Thank you."
"I've seen how hard it is to lose a daughter. And to lose people you care for. I'll do what I can."
HG squeezed Myka's hand gently. She took a deep breath. "Time turns grief and even remorse into ire and machinations of vengeance. But eventually even that becomes as ash. Then the day came when I realized that everyone I was angry with, everyone I'd ever cared for was gone. I was truly alone."
Myka shot a glance at the barista; he had his back turned. "You're not alone anymore." She kissed her.
"I should say not." HG smiled.
"I know what it's like to feel alone. I've spent a lot of my life by myself. It wasn't easy. I can't even imagine what you went through."
"One might be inclined to say things are looking up for the both of us."
A mechanized buzzing emanated from Myka's pocket. "Damn." She pulled out the Farnsworth.
"What's that?"
Myka held up a finger before answering.
"Myka. We've got an artifact. I need you back at the warehouse."
"Okay, Artie. I'll be there soon." Myka closed the case. "Philo Farnsworth designed them in the 1920s. It's a phone with video. They're unhackable and have unlimited range."
"Doesn't that come in handy for an agent."
"I have to go."
Myka and HG walked back to Myka's car. "I wouldn't suggest being around for this mission."
"I'll stay away then."
"Just maybe give some time before you show up again." Wells nodded. Myka smiled. She pressed against HG and kissed her. She stepped back. "It's not a proper date without a goodbye kiss."
HG grinned. "I'll bear that in mind."
Myka turned around and saw Dr. Hernandez trying to duck into a doorway. HG was already gone. "Kelly?"
Caught, she replied. "Myka. Hi. How's it going?"
"Good. You?" Her voice was high with anxiety.
"Can't complain. How's little Petey?"
"Much better since you saw him. His cough's gone."
"Good. It's always better when my patients don't need me."
Silence fell upon them. They stared awkwardly at each other. "Don't tell Pete."
"I didn't see anything."
"Good. Don't tell Pete what you didn't see."
"Not a word."
"Okay." Myka took a step toward her car, but turned back. "Thank you. For not saying anything."
Kelly smiled. "It's okay. It's not my place."
Myka took her time returning to the warehouse, making the drive with a smile on her face.
Myka flitted about her room anxiously. When she'd returned from the warehouse a note lie on her pillow: 'See you in town.' Myka read the note one last time before tucking it between the pages of a book, along with the other from HG. Part of her was upset that HG would risk coming to the bed and breakfast again. It would be too easy to catch even her here. And if they did, back to the bronze sector and Myka would never see her again. There was a part of her that was upset that Wells had been in her room and she had missed her. But the emotion that was spilling over was a charged excitement with a hint of nerves. She checked her hair and straightened her shirt for the last time.
She came humming into the living room. "I'm going into town for a little while, did you guys need anything?"
Claudia jumped up from the table. "Ooh, yeah. Can you pick up some stuff from the hardware store?"
"Sure."
"Cool. Here's a list."
Myka took the paper and looked it over before folding it up. "Pete? You need something?"
Pete looked up from his comic book. "Nope."
"Okay. I'll be back later." She sauntered out of the room.
Claudia watched her leave. She turned to Pete. "Someone's in a good mood."
"Maybe she found a secret stash of Twizzlers."
Myka parked in front of the hardware store. Better to pick up Claudia's items before she was distracted. Thankfully for Myka, they had hired someone more tech savvy than Todd. The new guy was able to find everything and even suggest a few extra pieces. Myka paid for it all and headed for the door, wondering where she was supposed to meet HG. She stepped outside; leaning against the side of her car was HG, sporting her characteristic devious smile. Myka smirked. "You're just full of surprises."
HG's smile broadened. "You have no idea."
Myka put the bag from the hardware store in the car. "Come on."
"Where are we going?"
"There's a coffee shop a couple blocks over." They started walking.
"I'd quite fancy a cup of tea."
Myka smirked again. "They have that too. Though I doubt it lives up to what you're used to."
"I'm becoming quickly accustomed to this world. It has its charms." They shared a glance. Myka blushed. Several people walked past without a word or even eye contact. The last walked between the two women. "Though, people were a bit nicer in my day."
"They're not all this bad. Everyone here thinks we work for the IRS."
"I assume your country's feelings toward taxation haven't changed much."
"Not really." Myka laughed. They walked past a couple storefronts in silence. "It's really not safe for you to come to the bed and breakfast. You shouldn't have left me that note."
"I wanted to see you. How would you propose we communicate?"
Myka smiled, she found HG's anachronistic nature endearing. "You need a cell phone. Or email."
"More progress." Wells sighed.
"Not all progress is overrated."
"I suppose not."
They reached the coffee shop. "Here it is." Myka opened the door for HG. They ordered and sat at a table in the back.
Myka watched HG as she took a sip. She tasted it, swallowed, and bit her lip. "Not bad for progress."
Myka laughed. HG smiled at her. "It's my understanding that this is what constitutes as a date these days."
"Yes."
"So is that what this is?"
Myka took a sip of coffee. "I'll let you know." Wells nodded her head. "Hey, how did you do research on me if you didn't use a computer?"
"The old-fashioned way." HG leaned toward Myka as if sharing a secret. "I don't know if you're aware, but I can be quite persuasive when the occasion calls."
"Really? I hadn't noticed." Myka joked. She sipped her coffee. "Your wiles might not work on it, but you should learn how to use one."
"Forgive me for wanting to hold onto the old days just a little."
Myka smiled. "No matter what Artie says, they're not that bad."
"Would you teach me?"
"Okay. You should see what Claudia can do with one."
"I'd imagine she'd be quite impressive."
"She hacked the warehouse." Myka said flatly.
"She is precocious, isn't she?"
To prove that Univille wasn't just some podunk farm town cut off from the world at large, a shiny computer sat on a desk in the coffee shop. "Come on." Myka got up and moved to the computer. She pulled the chair out for HG. Wells sat down and Myka leaned over her shoulder. HG glanced sideways at her and smiled. "You use this to move the arrow on the screen." HG put her hand on the mouse. "Move it to this and click the button to open it." HG did as instructed. "Now you can type in the bar at the top." Myka reached around HG to type. Wells smirked. Myka put her hand on HG's to click the button. HG looked at her, ignoring the computer screen. "Click here and you can look up whatever you want, just type it in the box there." After a second, Myka looked over. "What?"
"Nothing." HG said softly. She felt Myka's hand warm as she smiled at her. HG leaned in for a kiss.
Myka pulled her hand away and looked down just before HG connected. She shot a glance at the barista behind the counter who was pretending not to watch. "Not here HG." She whispered.
Wells licked her lips. "Sorry."
"People talk."
"You don't have to explain."
Myka pulled a chair over from a nearby table and settled next to Wells. She touched HG's knee under the table. Myka smiled tentatively.
"What should I look up first?" HG asked.
"You've got a hundred years of history to catch up on. Two world wars, a few close calls, natural disasters, a country dividing, then reuniting, power shift, women voting."
"A century never felt so long.
Myka looked at HG. "What did you think about while you were bronzed?"
"Not afraid to be direct are you?"
"Well, I just..."
"It's okay. I find it rather refreshing." HG sighed. "At first you think about the things left behind, the things you'll miss."
"Your daughter."
HG smiled, but there was pain in her eyes. "My Christina. I thought a great deal about her. About the life she could have had." Her smile faded. "The mistakes i made. transgressions have a way of eating at you. i wondered about the world. what advancements might be made. what became of my companions and," she paused. "Fellow agents."
"You know, if you try, you could probably find some answers. There's a lot of information on the internet. And I could look in the warehouse records."
"Would you?" HG brightened.
"I can't promise anything. I mean, we didn't even have a record of you being bronzed. But I'll look."
HG smiled. She grabbed Myka's hand on her knee. "Thank you."
"I've seen how hard it is to lose a daughter. And to lose people you care for. I'll do what I can."
HG squeezed Myka's hand gently. She took a deep breath. "Time turns grief and even remorse into ire and machinations of vengeance. But eventually even that becomes as ash. Then the day came when I realized that everyone I was angry with, everyone I'd ever cared for was gone. I was truly alone."
Myka shot a glance at the barista; he had his back turned. "You're not alone anymore." She kissed her.
"I should say not." HG smiled.
"I know what it's like to feel alone. I've spent a lot of my life by myself. It wasn't easy. I can't even imagine what you went through."
"One might be inclined to say things are looking up for the both of us."
A mechanized buzzing emanated from Myka's pocket. "Damn." She pulled out the Farnsworth.
"What's that?"
Myka held up a finger before answering.
"Myka. We've got an artifact. I need you back at the warehouse."
"Okay, Artie. I'll be there soon." Myka closed the case. "Philo Farnsworth designed them in the 1920s. It's a phone with video. They're unhackable and have unlimited range."
"Doesn't that come in handy for an agent."
"I have to go."
Myka and HG walked back to Myka's car. "I wouldn't suggest being around for this mission."
"I'll stay away then."
"Just maybe give some time before you show up again." Wells nodded. Myka smiled. She pressed against HG and kissed her. She stepped back. "It's not a proper date without a goodbye kiss."
HG grinned. "I'll bear that in mind."
Myka turned around and saw Dr. Hernandez trying to duck into a doorway. HG was already gone. "Kelly?"
Caught, she replied. "Myka. Hi. How's it going?"
"Good. You?" Her voice was high with anxiety.
"Can't complain. How's little Petey?"
"Much better since you saw him. His cough's gone."
"Good. It's always better when my patients don't need me."
Silence fell upon them. They stared awkwardly at each other. "Don't tell Pete."
"I didn't see anything."
"Good. Don't tell Pete what you didn't see."
"Not a word."
"Okay." Myka took a step toward her car, but turned back. "Thank you. For not saying anything."
Kelly smiled. "It's okay. It's not my place."
Myka took her time returning to the warehouse, making the drive with a smile on her face.