A/N: Thanks to tarebear23 (x4), Nura de Mithlond (x2), Sky That I Fell Through, SeetheRed, scoobydum (x2), teriyakiskater, lalunatikat (x3), LOCISVU (x12!), Jougagne, rk, wiffyscoob, anon, gingervitis25, Fragavan, and anonymous for making this story a success. LOCISVU, tarebear23 and lalunatikat win the awards for most ardent reviewers…your prize is a fic of your choosing written by me: any fandom, any pairing, any prompt. PM me to take me up on the offer, or leave your suggestion in a review.

Chapter 13: Sink Her

After a long and arduous artifact-hunting expedition to the wilds of San Francisco, the girls arrived back at Leena's only slightly worse for wear. Plopping their overnight bags on the entryway's hardwood floor, they were greeted with the sights and smells of Halloween. There were the typical decorations: synthetic cobwebs, carved pumpkins (guessing the Cleveland Brown-themed jack-o-lantern was Pete's doing), and plenty of baked goods for the B&B occupants to enjoy.

"Home, sweet home!" Claudia exclaimed as she took a handful of Leena's special candy corn brittle, stuffing it in her mouth. Myka and H.G. looked on in amazed disgust. Soon two of their colleagues joined them: Pete and Leena welcomed them back.

"So, Myks, have you decided if you want in to the y'know what?" Pete thought if he lowered his voice a little and waggled his eyebrows a lot, he'd come off as discreet. H.G. looked over to Myka and squeezed her elbow knowingly, then turned to Pete to shake her head derisively. Artie picked that moment to walk in with two huge bowls of candy.

"Woah, bossman, where did that come from? Springing for the good chocolate candy?" Claudia went over to inspect the sweets. "The full-sized bars? Did you win the lottery or something?"

"Well, actually something like that. I stumbled upon this little cigar box marked 'betting pool' and knowing that none of my AGENTS would ever even CONSIDER illegal gambling schemes, I used the wad of cash I found as a donation for trick-or-treat candy." It was hard to tell if Artie was angry or pleased as punch. He turned directly to Pete and added, "The children of Univille thank you." The other five Warehouse workers shared sheepish looks, some more than others glad that this betting pool nonsense had come to a decisive end.

"Now that that is out of the way," Pete clapped his hands before continuing, "we need to get into costume before the kiddies start arriving."

"Dare I ask what we will be dressed in?" Helena queried tentatively.

"I'm just going to tell you it has to do with the ocean," Pete relayed cryptically.

"Oh God, no. Not again." Myka's face flushed redder than they'd ever seen before and H.G. couldn't help but let loose a laugh.

Pete turned to Claudia and asked if he'd said something wrong as the two led the way up the stairs to the bedrooms to get ready. Claudia informed him that it was best not to ask.

…

"Why do I always have to be the back? When I was seven, Tyler Tisdale forced me to be the back of the horse too," Pete whined.

"Well, I can definitely see why…" Helena offered. "A question, Pete. Why do these gowns look so familiar?" H.G. finished cinching the bustle on her period piece and waited for his response.

"Uh, you see…so last minute. Had to borrow. Maybe raided your closet." Pete thought that if he didn't answer in full sentences he'd stand a better chance of not getting slapped.

"At least you're just the back. I'm the front AND the first mate. I have to make boat noises and continuously yell 'Iceberg, right ahead!'" Claudia matched Pete's whine huff for huff.

Stopping all conversation was Myka's entrance into the upstairs hallway. The crushed red velvet dress with ever-so-detailed gold lace accents fit her like a glove. She'd pinned her hair up but a few curls escaped to fall enticingly about her elongated neck. Helena couldn't take her eyes off of her and didn't know if her inability to breath stemmed from the tightness of her corset or the way Myka's eyes shimmered as she walked closer.

"Absolutely stunning. That dress never looked nearly as good on me. It is yours," Helena gushed. Myka smiled with gratitude.

"Yeah, now this is my kind of costume. Let's get this show on the road." Myka looked over to Pete who was rolling his tongue back into his mouth. "Or boat in the water, as it were." The downstairs doorbell rang and the two-part ocean liner along with its three lady passengers made their way to greet their first Halloween guests…

Claudia answered the door, declared her line about the iceberg in a lovely baritone, and smiled down at the child accompanied by her mother.

"You have to sink her." The little bumble bee, no older than seven or eight, left the Warehouse agents nonplussed with her declaration.

"Pardon me, young lady?" Helena was the first to regain her composure. And it seemed as if the little girl was speaking directly to her.

"You have to sink her." It seemed as if the trick-or-treater was staring straight at Myka, pointing as she spoke. Both Myka and H.G. couldn't help the blood rising to their respective cheeks at the tiny voice making such a statement. "It is the Titanic, isn't it, Mommy?" Finally the little girl took her eyes from Myka and H.G. to look up at her parent.

"Oh, yes, Titanic. Sinking. Very good, little one." Myka sounded the slightest bit breathless. The rest of the trick-or-treaters weren't nearly as exciting…

Finally the knocks at the doors stopped and the B&B residents were able to retire to their respective bedrooms. Well, almost everyone retired to their own bedrooms. Feigning a necessity to help Myka with those "pesky back buttons", Helena followed the younger woman into her room.

"Well, that was fun. I'm so exhausted I could sleep for a week!" Myka tried to keep talking, keep her mind on anything but the fingers burning a hot line down her spine.

Changing the subject entirely, Helena asked, "What do you think that young girl meant?"

"Which young girl? There were like a thousand young girls." Myka knew exactly what young girl H.G. was referring to.

"Sink her?" Helena's hands moved to Myka's shoulders, sliding the delicate fabric from now-trembling upper arms.

"Oh, that young girl." Myka turned around to face Helena, reveling in the emergence of gooseflesh at ever spot the older woman touched her. She smiled, no longer worried but filled with delightful anticipation.

"Even though the pot of money will not be awarded, I still believe I am coming up the winner in Pete's little betting pool." Helena let Myka's costume fall to the ground, all but forgotten in the wake of passionate kisses.

-The End-

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

A/N: 13 chapters, 13 days (more or less...) Thank you for coming along on this silly journey with me (two years in the making!) and special thanks to thkgoutloud for turning me onto the lore of Christopher Newport. If you enjoyed, let me know and feel free to read (and review) my other W13 stories. If you haven't already figured it out, I'm a review whore. Like the biggest one you'll ever know. Haha.