Chapter 2
Staring at Agent Christopher in disbelief, Wyatt instantly turned at Lucy's strangled gasp, "No, Wyatt," but wasn't fast enough to catch her as she slid out of the chair into a frothy puddle of skirts. "Lucy!" he exclaimed in dismay as he quickly knelt down, and putting an arm around her, brought her to his chest. Lucy's panicked brown eyes were huge in her pale face, her chest heaving and slim hands fluttering wildly as she fought to catch her breath. Wyatt realized she was starting to hyperventilate.
"I'll call Medical," Agent Christopher said. "No time, she's going into shock, get me a blanket," Wyatt ordered and reaching in his pocket, he pulled out his penknife and turning Lucy towards his chest, he carefully sliced open the back of her dress and hastily cut her corset lacings. She immediately sucked in an enormous shuddering breath and burst into tears against Wyatt's neck.
He gently rubbed her back, murmuring, "Shhh, Lucy, you're all right, just breathe, nice and slow, it's okay," as Agent Christopher rushed back in the room with a blanket that she draped around Lucy before stepping back. "I'll give you two some privacy, and alert Medical that you will be coming in. Let me know if you have any more questions or need anything else from me," and at Wyatt's quick nod, closed the door quietly as she left.
Long moments passed as Wyatt cradled Lucy's trembling body against his, softly stroking her hair until her quivering sobs dwindled away to sporadic hiccups. He leaned back and said firmly, "Let's get you to the locker room, and after you get cleaned up and change into your own clothes, you are going straight to Medical to get checked out," and when she sputtered in protest, "No arguments, Lucy, you've had a big shock just now, and nearly hyperventilated to the point of passing out."
Wyatt slowly stood, and helped a shaky Lucy to her feet, careful to keep his eyes on just her nearly colorless face as she clutched the shredded remnants of her dress to her chest. As Lucy stood there swaying, she mustered a weak glare and asked in a defiant whisper, "Wyatt Logan, were you even listening to Agent Christopher? My dear "father" has informed us of a death threat against you, and all you can do is worry about me?"
Wyatt shook his head, and tugging her against him, whispered, "Lucy, I always worry about you, don't you know that by now?" and kissed her forehead. She sighed in defeat, and wrapping the blanket more securely around her slender shoulders, conceded, "Well, I'm fine now, but since I know how bull-headed you can be, let's just get this over with," and pretended to ignore the exasperated look on his face.
Putting his arm around her, they slowly walked along the strangely (but thankfully) deserted hallway to the locker rooms, where they found a clearly worried Rufus and Jiya were waiting for them. Stopping in front of the women's locker room door, Wyatt leaned close to Lucy and breathed, "Go ahead, get showered and changed, I'll be waiting right here for you, and Lucy, I promise we will talk when we get home." He was relieved when she didn't object, just offered him a tremulous smile and impulsively pressed a kiss to his cheek (this woman is so stubborn, but so sweet). Smiling reassuringly at the guys, Jiya put her arm around Lucy, and they disappeared inside.
Wyatt was suddenly weary, wanting nothing more than a cool shower, his own clothes, and a sandwich, preferably washed down with a couple cold beers. He motioned for Rufus to follow him, and after the other man took a seat on the bench outside the shower room, stripped off his costume, and started filling Rufus in on the situation while he hastily showered.
Wrapping a towel around his waist, he walked back into the changing area and found Rufus sitting cross-legged on the bench, deep in thought. Wyatt sighed in relief at the familiar feel of his own clothes, and sat down on the bench across from Rufus to put on his socks and boots. "Wyatt, how can you be so calm right now?" Rufus asked incredulously, "How are you not freaking out about a possible death threat?"
Wyatt looked over at him, and responded, "First of all, Rufus, it's not my first death threat," smirking as Rufus' dark eyes widened in surprise, but then Wyatt quickly sobered and continued, "and here's the thing we have to remember. You've encountered Benjamin Cahill before, and you personally know how ruthless he can be, and that he will say or do anything to get what he wants. And it's obvious to me that he needs something desperately from Lucy, and he's not above using me to manipulate her."
Wyatt pulled on his boots, and as he walked to the door, he vowed, "And I won't be used to hurt her that way." "Wyatt, hold up," Rufus responded as he got up to follow him, "Believe me, I know how much you care for Lucy, but don't you think she should have some say in this? Our shy little Lucy is a hell of a lot stronger than you might think she is." Wyatt stood still, contemplating his friend's words, and shaking his head, answered regretfully, "Rufus, I can't take that chance," and left the locker room.
Lucy tried to stop crying, she really did, but she was suddenly so exhausted. Between getting very little sleep the past two days, the oppressive heat in July 1848, her damn corset, and oh yeah, finding out that someone wanted to kill the man she loves, she felt like she could sleep for days. But that would have to wait, because apparently she needed to talk to her biological father and find out who was trying to kill Wyatt.
After shedding her now ruined costume, a sluggish Lucy struggled through a brief shower, and after she finished dressing in her own clothes, did feel marginally better. She sat quietly as a sympathetic, but comfortingly silent Jiya quickly fixed Lucy's damp hair in a messy braid for her, and managed to whisper her thanks as she hugged the younger woman tightly.
She opened the door to find Wyatt calmly waiting for her, just as he had promised. Lucy threw herself at him and buried her face in his neck, confessing, "I'm so scared, Wyatt." He pulled back, and cupping her face, asked, "Lucy, do you trust me?" She nodded through a glaze of unshed tears. "Well, then, let's get you checked out so we can go home, and I swear we will finish this conversation." Taking Lucy's hand, Wyatt bid Rufus and Jiya good night, and escorted her to the Medical wing.
The doctor on call determined that although Lucy was moderately dehydrated and suffering from exhaustion, she would be fine after a decent meal and plenty of liquids, and a good night's rest (easy for him to say). Lucy was already dreading falling asleep, worried she would see Wyatt being harmed or even worse in her dreams. The doctor had offered her a sedative, but Lucy refused. All she wanted (needed) was for Wyatt to take her home.
When they arrived at their apartment building, Wyatt asked her where she wanted to be. Taking a deep breath, Lucy looked up at him, and digging way down inside for a scrap of courage, blushingly confessed, "Wherever you are." Wyatt's blue eyes darkened at her admission, and he gave her a slow, dimpled grin, "Yes, Ma'am." She half-heartedly scolded, "Stop calling me Ma'am," and they both knew she didn't mean it.
Unlocking his door, Wyatt ushered her inside. Aside from a few things here and there, his apartment was as barren and sparsely furnished as hers, but the only difference that mattered to Lucy was that he was here, and it was all she needed, especially right now. They moved toward the kitchen where Lucy sat and watched as Wyatt made them sandwiches, and after Lucy snagged a couple beers from his fridge, they ended up on the sofa. She had been hungrier than she thought, and practically wolfed down her sandwich, much to Wyatt's obvious amusement. "What?" she demanded. "Nothing, I like to see a woman with an appetite," he teased.
"Don't be mean," she admonished, but her words lacked any real bite when she yawned mid sentence. Wyatt actually laughed. Lucy stuck out an impudent tongue at him, and her breath caught at the look in his eyes. "Is that an invitation?" he wondered out loud, leaning in closer (Good Lord he smells good). "That depends," she managed, "Are you interested?" and waited breathlessly for his answer.
Slowly putting his hands on her face, Wyatt sighed against her lips, "What do you think?" and Lucy's eyes fluttered shut at his hard, demanding kiss. She clutched his shoulders as he pressed her back against the arm of the sofa, ending up nearly half way under his muscular body, practically whimpering at the sensations he was coaxing from her. All too soon for her liking, Wyatt eased away from her, softly panting as he gently pressed his forehead against hers, and wrapped his arms around her as Lucy laid her head on his shoulder.
"I've been wanting to do that for a long time now," he confessed. "Me, too, since 1934," and was taken aback when Wyatt started to chuckle. "Is that funny to you?" Lucy asked rather petulantly as she pulled away slightly. "Actually, it's a little bit depressing," he replied, and at her confused expression, he elaborated, "Lucy, that fake kiss in front of Bonnie and Clyde just about knocked me on my ass. I was really caught off guard by my feelings, and I guess I wasn't sure how you felt about me, or hell, if you were even interested in anything between us beyond friendship."
Wyatt fell silent, and looking at Lucy's face, thought not for the first time that she would be terrible at poker. He had been able to read Lucy's thoughts and emotions almost from their first mission together, and watching her now, was elated at the glow in her dark eyes and the luminous smile gracing her lips. "Silly man," she whispered, and dusted a tender kiss on his mouth before putting her head back on his shoulder and a slim hand over his heart.
Wyatt held her close for several peaceful, contented moments, but the events of the past couple hours began to intrude all too soon. He was well aware that Lucy desperately needed to rest, but he also knew his stubborn little professor well enough by now to guess she would flat out refuse to until they discussed Benjamin Cahill's mysterious request.
Turning to face her, Wyatt began, "Lucy, before you say anything, I want you to understand that I'd rather you not go see Benjamin Cahill at all," and putting a finger on her lips to halt her immediate objection, "However, I know you well enough to realize that nothing I can say could keep you away from him, especially after he threw my name at you." He hissed as she sharply nipped his finger with a naughty smile. "Now, behave yourself, Lucy Preston," he ordered sternly. "I'm serious, Lucy. I think Benjamin Cahill wants or needs something from you very badly, although I have no idea what, and he's not above trying to use me to manipulate you, and I'm sorry, but I can't allow that to happen."
Lucy leaned back, and pulling her knees up under her chin, laid her cheek on them and gazed at Wyatt as she considered his words. She was quiet for so long that Wyatt started to wonder if she had fallen asleep with her eyes open. "Wyatt, I want to try and explain something to you." At his encouraging smile, she continued, "Like you, six months ago, I was completely unaware of the outrageous concept of time travel, and would have never believed it could be real, and yet, we have "jumped" through time so often during these past months, it's almost become like driving to the grocery store or the mall for the average person." Wyatt nodded in agreement.
"Personally, I have had to deal with one thing after another in the past six months since that first night, beginning with losing Amy after the initial mission, the realization that Henry Wallace was not my biological father, probably forfeiting my teaching position and tenure, gaining a completely unknown fiancé, and then the most devastating blow of all, my mother turning out to be Rittenhouse from the very beginning in this time line."
Lucy sighed deeply, willing him to understand. "The circle of people that I trust, that I can depend on, has shrunk alarmingly in six months to just four: Rufus, Jiya, Denise Christopher, and you, Wyatt Logan. The four of you have been there for me, supported and believed in me, cared for me, and I just cannot fathom going forward in this ridiculous, messed up, insane existence we all share without you. It's that simple. And if my biological father has even the smallest shred of information that will keep you safe and in my life, you need to believe that there's nothing you can say or do to keep me away from him because I just can't lose you." Having calmly said her piece, Lucy curled up against a stunned Wyatt, closed her eyes, and drifted off to sleep.
"I think I have just been schooled, and by a college professor, no less," Wyatt thought in bemusement. Well, damn, Rufus had tried to warn him that Lucy would react this way, and he could now admit to himself that his friend had been right on the money. He contemplated her words, and came to the realization that in his worry about Lucy, his innate fear of losing her, that maybe he had been a little bit heavy-handed. (Good thing she was the forgiving type.) Wyatt was remarkably comforted by Lucy's words because they confirmed that his deepening feelings for her were definitely reciprocated.
Carefully easing Lucy from his side and gently laying her head on his lap, Wyatt picked up his phone from the coffee table and sent a quick text to Agent Christopher. If Lucy was determined to take this meeting with Benjamin Cahill, he could do no less than support her decision, and come hell or high water, Wyatt would absolutely accompany her. Within a few minutes, his phone chimed with a response from the agent that she would make all the arrangements and send him the details as soon as possible. As he sat there, listening to Lucy softly breathing, Wyatt couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that serious change was coming soon to their lives, and not all of it good.
A/N: As always, I want to express my appreciation for the great responses to this story from everyone, especially the guest reviews. This is kind of a slow burner, but I think it will be worth it. Thanks :)
