AN: So this is my first story. It's been running through my head as of late and instead of writing my senior thesis, I've decided that this is a better use of my time. Let me know what you think or if it's worth continuing. Thanks!

Everything is wrong. Everything. Mkya thought as she continued to stare out of the window of the helicopter that Mrs. Frederic had arranged to pick all of them up from the mill. Everyone – Claudia, Steve, even Pete –were still stunned into silence. Artie's body was on a gurney next to them, dagger still in place.

Artie was evil. Claudia stabbed Artie. Artie killed Leena. Artie has killed us all. Or at least he will have once this sweating disease progresses. What the hell are we going to do?

"What's that Mykes?" Pete asked in a somewhat hollow voice. His blank face spoke to how much this was affecting him. For once it seemed like his humor wouldn't make an appearance to try and alleviate the situation. That thought somehow made the situation seem even more grave than before.

Damn, I said that out loud. "I said "what the hell are we going to do?", Pete." Claudia and Steve look up at her and she makes eye contact with each of them. "What are we going to do?" she says again, this time in a softer voice, almost muttering to herself.

Pete took a deep breath, probably trying to steady himself, or give him extra time to think or just for the sake of being able to breathe for a second after the past few days of madness and said," We'll think of something guys. We have to. We work for the Warehouse and we've come back from so much. We'll figure it out…we have to", he trailed off.

"What if we can't? What if we can't fix this?! I, I..I STABBED Artie. And there's a deadly plague about to kill half the frakking people on this planet! How are we going to fix this!?" Claudia was near hysterics now and breathing rapidly, alternating between gesturing wildly and running her hands through her short locks.

"Claudia, calm down. Just breathe. Claudia. CLAUDIA!", Steve shouted at her, grabbing her by her shoulders and looking her square in the eyes. "It'll be all right. It'll be all right. We can do this. You had to stop him Claudia, you had to. Shhh, it'll be okay, just breathe." By this point Steve was holding a sobbing Claudia in his arms, with one hand rubbing her back gently, just trying to calm her down.

C'mon Myka. You can't be shell shocked right now. You have to keep it together. For Claudia, for the world….ugh not a helpful thought. "They're right Claudia. We'll get to the airport, get back to the Warehouse and talk to Mrs. Frederic. She'll have some idea of what to do and there has to be something in our attic of endless wonder that can help us...there's got to be", she added quietly enough that she was the only one who heard it. It seemed to help though as Claudia looked up from Steve's now wet t-shirt and simply nodded at her while sniffling and wiping her tears away.

There's got to be…

The helicopter pilot had dropped them off on an approved landing pad at the airport and told them that he would be taking care of Artie's body, since they very well couldn't take it on the plane with them without some very creative lying. A quick call on the Farnsworth to Mrs. Frederic had confirmed that Artie would be "arriving at the Warehouse by…unconventional methods" and to leave it at that. Claudia was upset by this but assurances from the rest of the group were enough to get her onto the commercial flight that would take them to New York and then onto South Dakota.

"How are we getting back to the Warehouse, Mrs. F?" asked Myka. "We don't have a car sitting in the lot...though I guess we could just rent –"

"You'll be picked up by another Warehouse affiliated agent, Agent Bering." Mrs. Frederic interrupted. "They'll take you back to the Warehouse for a briefing and we can discuss possible plans for what has happened. Quickly now, or you'll be late for your flight." With that Mrs. Frederic cut the connection.

"LAST CALL FOR FLIGHT 485, LAST CALL FOR FLIGHT 485" sounded over the intercom.

"She is so scary when she does that. Like how does she know? How?" Pete just looked around to all of them with exasperation but no one bothered to even begin to answer him. It seemed the Pete was starting to feel better, probably because there was a plan, as he started to use Claudia and Steve as sounding boards for his increasingly crazy ideas. "Like she's all knowing and can practically read minds and…."

This is going to be a long flight. Myka just put her Farnsworth away and jogged up ahead to catch up with the rest of her team as they handed over their tickets at the terminal. A long flight indeed.

The flight was hell on everybody. One layover and 14 hours later they found themselves exhausted in the airport. No one had been able to sleep on the flight, all too busy mulling over the last few days and seeing if they could come up with any ideas to fix things.

None so far. I hope the Regents have something up their sleeves. Myka and the rest had fortunately not checked any luggage and received a slight reprieve by not having to wait by the carousel for their bags.

It's the little things I guess. Myka thought to herself while looking around. They were all dead on their feet and she really just wanted to find whoever was picking them up so she could get some sleep, eventually, tonight.

"Do you see anyone holding a Warehouse sight?" Steve asked. After being met with incredulous stares he quickly replied, "Jeeze, sorry. I'm exhausted okay. I'm sure whoever is driving us back will know what we look like and will come get us."

"You're right it's probably a Regent or one of Mrs. F's lackeys or something. I hope they're not expecting to control the rad…." Pete rambled on. But Myka had stopped listening. She had seen dark hair moving through the crowd toward them. Unmistakable inky black hair framing a face she hadn't seen in person in a long time.

Too long of a time. "Helena…" Myka whispered.

The woman that had disappeared from their lives all those months ago. Disappeared from my life all those months ago. Was standing right in front of them.

"Hello Darling", She said to Myka first, maintaining eye contact for several seconds too long. Is she actually here?, Myka thought. She stared right back at Helena, a thousand questions on the tip of her tongue, staying there, being chased back by her own surprise at seeing this woman again.

"And hello to the rest of you. I am sorry that our reunion had to be under such…unfortunate and tragic circumstances." Helena gave everyone a rueful smile. "Come along then. The car is idling outside and despite how eager to assist the Secret Service the young officer was, I doubt they appreciate the car remaining there for too long."

The group trudged towards the exit but not before giving a chorus of welcome to H.G. and an emotional Claudia wrapping her in a hug. "I'm so glad you're back. We'll definitely figure this out now."

Helena just smiled at this and gestured for them to go to the car. She hung back slightly and fell into step with Myka. "You are particularly silent Myka. Is there anything the matter? Besides the obvious that is?"

I missed you. I missed you so much and now you're here and everything is going wrong and where have you been, why did you have to leave, why didn't you say goodbye – "No, nothing is wrong. Let's get out there before they fall asleep on the side of the car" Myka responded.

"Very well, darling." Helena paused. "It is truly lovely to see you again Myka. I..I missed our talks and your presence" She looked at Myka as they continue to walk and looked as if she wanted to say more but held her tongue and looked away almost…bashfully?

Interesting. Bashful isn't something you see on Helena Wells very often. Focus Myka, she said she missed you…

"I missed you too Helena. Very much. We have a lot to talk about...I have so many questions" Myka answered truthfully.

"Indeed, I am sure you do. I will do my best to answer them all in turn. But for now let us get back to the Warehouse." Helena said as she climbed into the driver's seat. Myka had been left the passenger's seat, with the others piling into the back of the large SUV Helena had brought. Usually all of them would fight for shotgun but Myka was appreciative that they let her have the seat. They were all already beginning to doze in the back seats, exhaustion finally having caught up with them.

"Let's go" Back into the fire. At least Helena is here to brave it with us. Here to brave it with me….get it together Myka. School girl crushes are not going to help us save the world. But Myka knew it was more than that. Much more. Helena glanced over as she was buckling her seat belt and gave her one of her full smiles. One of the ones that lit up her eyes and was sincere, not the fake smile she presented to other people.

I am in so much trouble…