There was a brief moment where Helena thought about turning around and leaving before the door opened, but that was the part of her that was trying to slam the walls shut around her heart, the part that refused to let anyone in to help her. But Helena waited, not letting herself run away because if she did, she would undoubtedly run right into Moriarty's all too eager hands. Such a scenario would be a catastrophe on more than one level, and Helena did not wish to be a victim nor did she want to get into a match of murderers. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she also knew that being out in Lawrence alone wasn't exactly the smartest idea, but where else could she go? She needed to get out of her flat for a while. She'd let Myka yell at her later, but for now, she needed to do things her way.
When Irene opened the door, Helena noted the frown and the state of dress she was in. Irene must have been in the middle of something, or at least that's what she'd concluded from the frown. Which then disappeared quickly and Irene held her hand out and pulled her inside. Gazing back at Irene, she tried to return the little smile, but only one corner of her mouth curved upwards instead of both. Her arms snaked around Irene, holding her as she returned the soft kiss.
"I do apologize if I have interrupted anything. Perhaps I should have sent word of my intentions of dropping by before arriving here." For most people, the choice of words would be neutral, but for Helena they spoke to the walls that were trying to build themselves up around her. But even as her words hinted at her trying to hide herself, the way she held Irene and the slightest twinge in her dark eyes gave away the emotions she was trying to keep at bay. And perhaps that was the true reason she'd left the complex in the first place, to run away from Emily and what her presence meant. Running away from these emotions she had not felt since Christina had been alive. Running away from the mess of tragedy that her life had been. Helena was so tired of the pain, so tired of tragedy following her everywhere. Yet she also knew she herself was responsible for most of the tragedy that had befallen her.
No one ran away better than Helena G. Wells, but when she ran away, people died because of her. When she ran away, tragedy would strike. And the rational part of her hoped Irene could see that and keep her from running away completely.