Undone

Chapter 12. Chances

Pete woke up with a raging headache. He looked around. He was in one of the chairs in Artie's office, alone. Trailer sat at his feet, panting and thumping his tail.

"You're up." Pete turned his head. Myka was standing in the doorway, holding a mug. "Coffee?"

"Thanks." She sat in the chair across him and handed him the mug. "What did I miss?"

"Let's see. That hippy we bumped into was Artie's partner before MacPherson and she tried to start World War III for him. Sykes and MacPherson are at Leena's awaiting trial from the regents. Mrs. Frederic is OK. Claudia's still trying to figure out how to save Steve with some artifact, a metronome?" She pulled a piece of paper from her pocket and handed it to Pete. "You also missed this." Pete unfolded the paper. It was a letter written in cursive.

To Agents Pete and Myka,

I am sorry for giving you such a fright earlier. You can understand my confusion as to what was happening. My last memory was death, and I awakened to see two agents dressed strangely and running around the Warehouse. I was never able to prove my innocence for a crime that I in no way committed. Mine is a case that I am sure you will make yourself familiar with later.

On my way to find the pair of you, I ran into a woman named Helena. To my great surprise, she revealed that she was the famous H.G. Wells. I quite enjoyed War of the Worlds when I read it in 1924. She let me know that my confusion was perfectly normal. And then, she convinced me to leave my beloved Warehouse. She said that she could help me join the world as it was today; show me the changes that had been made. So we are on our way out the door. I feel misplaced, and I need to be with someone who understands that pain. I'll make sure she doesn't try to destroy the world. Again.

Yours Truly,

Ms. Clarice Olivia Donovan

Pete looked up from the letter. "Claudia...?"

"She doesn't know," answered Myka. "We can tell her after she figures stuff out with Steve."

"OK. Now, can we talk?" Pete asked. Myka looked down at her hands.

"Pete, when I lost Sam, I felt like I lost everything. You don't know how that feels. I don't ever want to feel that way about you. And look at the Warehouse record! I mean, look at Jack and Rebbecca! The odds are so stacked against us. Both of us are probably going to die. Multiple times."

"Yeah, but Mykes, if we do die, multiple times, wouldn't you like to die happy instead of wondering in your last seconds if you should have taken a chance on something?" Myka looked up and straight into Pete's eyes. "That's how I feel." Myka rose from her seat and stood in front of Pete. She held out her hand. He took it and stood.

"I love you too, Pete," she whispered, kissing him. After a minute they broke apart, walking through the doorway, still holding hands.

"So Artie's old partner tried to start a nuclear war for him?"

"Yup."

"You know, he was quite the lady's man back in the day."

"How do you know they weren't just friends?"

"Nuclear war with Russia, Myka."

"They still could have been just friends." Pete laughed. "What?" He raised their hands. "Point taken, but men and woman can just be friends."

"Give me an example then."

"Steve and Claudia."

"Steve doesn't even like girls!"

"Hmmm... Artie and your mom."

"Ugh you just had to bring up my mom, didn't you?" Pete rolled his eyes as Myka laughed.