Sam," Helena looked up from her com, "HQ just called we need to get back." Her eyes widened, "what in the bloody hell?"

"HG it's not what it looks like."

She quickly pulled her side arm. Sam's companion drew his.

"It looks at lot like you're meeting with Ebb Isner."

"She's seen us Marino," Isner hissed. "You know how this has to end."

"With you in a cell Isner." HG tightened her grip on the weapon.

"Let's talk about this HG. Please put the gun down."

"What's there to talk about?"

Sam began to move slowly toward his partner. "Ebb and I grew up together. He can help you like he's helped me. I know you want to move out of Major Crimes someday into Command."

"Are you serious?" she felt her stomach drop. "And what do you have to give one of the biggest crime lords on the planet in return?"

"A blind eye, every now and then. Be late on an alert. Misplaced evidence. Not much at all."

"All these years," HG was stunned. "All these years as your partner. Does Myka know?"

"Never," Sam's face grew hard. "You can't tell her."

"The Officer can't tell anyone," Isner's harsh voice cut into the conversation.

Helena slowly opened her eyes, leaving the bad memories behind as best she could. She felt the weight of the rapid healer on her shoulder. Zeta Omicron was lucky enough to get this bit of modern technology from the home world just a couple of weeks ago. She hadn't looked forward to the next several weeks of her arm in a sling without it.

Turning her head slowly, she noticed the cup of water sitting next to the bed. Surgery always left her parched. She reached toward the liquid.

"Let me get that," HG looked towards the door where Myka stood, partially obscured by darkness. The other woman moved forward and grabbed the cup, moving the straw towards HG's lips.

"Thanks," she rasped. "How long was I out for?"

"A few hours. Valda says you should be good as new by morning."

"Thanks goodness. And how is Officer Lattimer?"

"Pete's fine," Myka set the cup down and pulled a chair closer. "He's out of the infirmary already."

"So you know." She swallowed. "Excellent catch with Paige. Your ability to put the details together remains exceptional."

"Thank you," Myka blushed a little.

"It's," Helena paused again, "it's very good to see you again Myka."

"Almost as wonderful as it is to see you."

It was Helena's turn to blush.

"And how have you been? Dee tells me you've earned quite the reputation here on the station."

"That woman," Myka chuckled at Helena's tone. "Do not believe a word that comes from her mouth."

"And you," Helena's eyes met Myka's "how have you been? Have you met anyone new?"

"No," it was now or never, Myka thought, "not since…"

"Mykes!" Claudia burst into the room, breaking the moment. "Officer Olivaw just sent a transmission from Paige's rock." The tech pulled out her pad oblivious to what she had walked in on.

"Officer Wells, meet Claudia Donovan."

"You're Todd's friend!" Claudia grinned. "He told me all about you."

"It seems my name precedes me where ever I go," HG groused. Myka bit back a laugh.

"Okay here we go," Claudia pulled another chair over after getting her pad set up. "Check this out."

"Wells," Dee's face filled the screen, "looks like you worked your magic again. We've got three crates of artifacts, similar to ones in past auctions. We'll have to get that historian, what's her name McShane?"

"Cho." McShane's voice came from off screen.

"To take a look at them to make sure. Wolcott," she turned the screen to show the Officer reading a stack of papers, "found a partial manifest, and get this," the screen returned to Dee, "coordinates to what shows as an empty region of space, just outside of The Retrograde. I've sent Todd the data so he can get tracking."

Myka and HG exchanged an excited glance.

"We've got something at the end of Lattimer's dead end tunnel too," Dee smiled. "But I'll save that for when we get back. Rest up HG."

The screen went blank.

"The game's afoot," HG murmured grinning.

"You assured me that this would end on Zeta Omicron!"

"I know sir, and I apologize. It seems that Officer Bering's research coupled with Well's hunches is a potent combination."

"That is unacceptable. Remember what is at stake here. Do not let them get past the next check point," the dark figured leaned closer to the screen. "Or there will be nothing left for you on Capital Planet. Do I make myself clear Vincent?"

"Yes James, very."

"So what crawled up Crowley's ass? You'd think he'd be overjoyed given the case just broke wide open," McShane plopped down into his usual chair at the Washed Out.

"I'm sure he's thrilled that a bunch of misfits on the oldest station in the chain figured it out," Todd agreed.

"Well Petey boy here," Dee patted the Officer on the back, "was there also. So we can't take full credit."

"Um thanks," Pete, having nearly spilled his drink when Dee smacked him set it down slowly.

"When does the old girl get out of jail?" McShane asked.

"Got out this morning," Dee replied.

"Really," Todd glanced between Dee and McShane, "so are we?"

"Not yet," Dee smirked. "Let us see how tonight plays out."

Flustered by being left out, Pete broke into the conversation.

"Okay, what are you guys talking about?"

"Well," Dee leaned forward, "you see…"

"Delinda Olivaw you are NOT going to open a betting pool involving my personal life!"

"Good to see you too Officer Wells," Dee glanced over her shoulder. "Wolcott, your timing remains impeccable as always." Rolling her eyes in the direction of the Officer standing next to Helena.

"You're just annoyed you've been caught," HG huffed, pulling over a chair and sitting down next to her partner. "Officer Lattimer, how are you feeling?"

"Just about healed," he grinned. "Cast comes off in a few days. And your shoulder?"

"Almost there."

"Where is Officer Bering?" McShane asked, motioning the server for another round.

"She and Miss Donovan are meeting with Charlie and Crowley," Wolcott answered.

"Sounds pleasant," Dee sipped her drink.

"Claude found some interesting code in that data transponder you guys found," Todd explained. "She showed Officer Bering and they went to Crowley."

"Anything interesting Captain?" Dee looked at Todd.

"I didn't get a good look at that code," Todd paused. "But from I saw it looked like they used a high level encryption."

"Hmm," Dee leaned back in thought. "Will you guys be able to crack the encryption?"

"Maybe," Todd nodded. "It will take a while though."

"And that's if Crowley doesn't pull the data stream and work it himself," Pete added. "His background is in cyber crimes you know."

"Awesome," Todd sighed.

"He'll pull the code," McShane shook his head. "We'll never get our people to look it over then."

"Why all the glum faces?" Claudia's perky voice broke the silence. "Whose terminal crashed?"

"How did it go with Crowley?" Pete stood and pulled over another chair.

"As expected," she plopped down into the seat. "He was pissed I found that transmission hidden in the other data and didn't come to him sooner." She grinned, "and that the 'rejects that are assigned to Zeta Omicron were the ones to make the big break'."

"Told you," Wolcott frowned.

"But," Claudia paused for effect, "Officer Bering brought her A game, taking down each one of Crowley's complaints, including tidbits from all of your service records. I mean, what Officer McShane and Olivaw did during the Hampton case on Seti Prime…"

"Thanks," McShane cut her off.

"So what about the data?" Todd asked.

"Crowley took the main data node," she shrugged. "I expected he would."

"Damn," Todd cursed.

"Good thing I made a back up," the tech grinned.

Pete and Claudia high fived.

"And where is Officer Bering?" Helena asked. "Still with Crowley?"

"She said to tell you all thanks for the invite but she's going to take it easy tonight."

HG waited what seemed an appropriate amount of time before saying her goodbyes. She knew Dee well enough that the betting pool on her love life would most likely be opened after she left.

Perhaps she should have Todd place a secret bet for her. She could always use the extra credits.

Smirking, she headed towards the guest quarters to check on Officer Bering. Other than the discussion in her hospital room the prior day, they had barely spoken.

She felt sure Myka was about to tell her something of a more personal nature before Claudia burst into the room.

Hopefully her friend would be willing to continue that line of conversation this evening.