After the last story (Experiments) just wanted to do something 'light'. It's short, it's light, lots of dialogue, less plot but hoping you enjoy it anyway.

Chapter 1 Driving Them Crazy

Of all the things Helena had become acclimated to in her time at the Warehouse, driving still presented the biggest issue for her. She declared that she already knew how to drive, and that the skill was like riding a bike; one never forgets. It was that self-confidence that refused to allow HG to admit a little brushing up might have helped.

"Not sure if you got the memo, HG, but cars have changed a bit over the years," Pete said in his worst British accent. He was trying to be funny, but Helena found his comment and his imitation insulting.

"Pete darling, we agreed. You're never to attempt sounding British and I hold all my questions about football until the inning is played."

"Quarter, not inning. I'm just saying that for someone who supposedly has a grip on how machines work, you might want to take it slower on the road, that's all," Pete said and the only reason he did was because it was making Myka nervous.

"I'm sorry, did you say supposedly, Agent Lattimer," HG asked, narrowing her eyes on him.

"No, no I said….. copiously. Yes, copiously have a grip …an abundant grip on how…. I gotta go," Pete stammered. He hurried into the hallway to escape any harm. "Sorry, Mykes, I gave it my best shot," he apologized to his partner.

"Thanks, Pete. It's her third speeding ticket, and I know they're going to make her go to one of those mandatory driving classes," Myka said.

"Good, then let them deal with her," Pete said.

"Pete, remember the last time she took a class offered to the general public?" Myka said jogging his memory.

"Oh yeah, the cooking class with Leena. They asked her to leave and promised Leena her money back if she would never return because HG insisted on giving everyone a lesson in ….what was it?" Pete asked.

"Trophology – the science of food combining," Myka said shaking her head.

"Oh yeah …she told them toxic wastes bleed into the blood stream if they combine meat and potatoes cause the meat petrifies…,"

"Putrefies," Myka corrected him.

"Whatever. It made people sick to hear it and the teacher threw her out," Pete laughed all over again.

"So can you imagine her in a class about driving?" Myka said thinking of all the possible outcomes, none of them good.

"OK well maybe Artie can pull a few strings….?" Pete said thinking maybe even Artie would understand the issue with allowing HG to go public.

"I didn't want to tell him but I guess I'll have to," Myka said.

"Have to what, darling?" Helena said walking into the hallway and startling her friends.

"Have to….tell…..Artie….," Myka stammered and Pete froze. If Myka couldn't get the words out things were bad.

"Have to….tell…..Artie….," Pete repeated hoping the next word would come to Myka's mind.

"Tell Artie what?" Artie said as he closed the front door.

"Ah…. tell you….," Pete said because he was closest. "That Myka has something to tell you…." He panicked and all eyes turned to Myka.

"What is going on? Tell me what?" Artie asked in no mood for their usual antics.

"Tell you that HG got her third speeding ticket and will have to take that mandatory class unless you do something like call the President and get her a pardon," Claudia summed it all up. She drew the stares of her fellow agents. "What? That's it, isn't it?" she asked defensively.

"You were going to tell Artie?" HG asked Myka who turned to Pete and asked; "Do you ever shut up?" Pete in turn looked at Artie but pulled back in fright.

"Well, I'm not taking the bloody class anyway," HG announced.

"Three tickets? Really Agent Wells?" Artie said.

"It was ridiculous really, I was only going thirty in a twenty five," HG said and Artie looked over at Pete who held up five fingers. He remembered because he was in the car when she took the turn and passed the cop car right by. He begged the cop to take him home in the police car but he refused.

"So I don't think that one should count," HG said.

"I don't think they let you drop one like your grades, HG," Artie said. "What do I have to do with this?" Artie asked almost afraid of the answer.

"Well I thought maybe you could ask someone if we could teach HG the content of the course ….instead of having her traipse all the way into the motor vehicle department," Myka suggested gently.

"Darling, I never traipse," HG said as if that were the point.

"Rememberthecookingclass," Pete said while coughing in hopes of disguising his thought. Artie caught it.

"Ooohhhh, yes. The class that they offer to the general public, got it. I'll call the governor and see if we can make an exception for Agent Wells because why should the ordinary rules apply to her? I'll just tell the DMV, sorry but Agent Wells does not play nice with people so if it's all the same to you, we'll just home school her in the simple art of not killing someone on the road," Artie ranted as he went into the dining room.

"I think you shoulda waited until he had something to eat, Mykes." Pete said. Myka went to punch him but he was too quick and moved. Living with all those women was finally paying off.

"I don't see what the fuss is all about really, Myka," HG said, and Myka smiled because Helena never did.

Claudia was upstairs doing what she does best – digging deep for details in places where most people would fear to tread. It took her only a few minutes of searching to come up with something she thought would really interest Myka. When the agents dispersed to their rooms, she called Myka in.

"I think we have a little problem, Myka," Claudia said in a hushed whisper. "Read this," she said shoving Myka down in front of her laptop.

"London, 1892 – the Premier of Oscar Wilde's 'Lady Windermere's Fan' - was the headline of the London paper.

"You want me to read the review of Oscar Wilde's play?" Myka asked confused.

"Shush Myka! Read what's below the review," Claudia said looking around to make sure they were alone. Myka scrolled down the page.

Accident Outside the St. James Theatre Almost Postpones Wilde's Opening - A driver was apprehended outside the St. James Theatre last night right before the opening of Oscar Wilde's play. The motorist, a Miss Helena Wells of London, was rushing to the play and drove the wrong way on the main thoroughfare outside the theatre.

"Oh brother," Myka moaned.

"Keep reading," Claudia said.

Several pedestrians suffered minor injuries when the driver of the Peugeot model car careened through the crowd. Witnesses said that Miss Wells was driving erratically and at a top speed of 18 kilometers.

"She was going ..what? Eleven miles per hour?" Myka asked out loud doing the conversion in her head.

When asked what happened, Miss Wells responded that she was late to the theatre. Her brother Charles said the car belonged to family friend visiting from France. The car suffered some damage which Mr. Wells said his sister would be paying. When asked how long his sister had been driving, Mr. Wells said that this had been her maiden voyage and her last.

Myka dropped her head into her hands. "So HG was never a good driver and she's got a much longer never than any of us," Claudia whispered.

There was a light knock on the door and Claudia pushed past Myka to close the windows and the laptop.
"Just a minute," she yelled and then took a deep breath and opened the door. Helena looked at Claudia and then at Myka. "Everything ok in here?" the Brit asked suspiciously.

"In here? Pffft. Sure of course. Why wouldn't it be okay, right Myka? Everything is ok with me. Everything ok with you, Myka?" Claudia rambled. Nothing confirmed HG's suspicion more than verbal gaffs. She eyed Claudia up and down once and that was all it took for the young woman to jump ship.

"It would seem your fellow agent has left you alone to answer my questions," HG teased Myka. She came up behind her and enveloped her in her harms and put her mouth to her ear. "And we have ways of making you talk, Agent Bering. Resistance will be futile."

"Have you been watching Star Trek with Pete again?" Myka laughed.

"Yes, I have and they have the most interesting character who is part human and part machine called 79," HG said. Myka smiled and thought one thing at a time.

"You know how I like making you talk, Agent Bering," HG said reminding Myka how easily she gave in to her.

"I thought you said last night I was talking too much," Myka said trying to get out of the chair but HG was not letting her go.

"Hmmm you're right. Let's change that to – you know how much I love making you scream," the unfazed Brit said in her ear.

HG was quite confident that she would know later that night what Myka was up to. HG knew it. Myka knew it.

And by the stroke of midnight, anyone awake in the house would know it.

If you've made it this far, thank you for sticking it out. :-)