Disclaimer: I don't own Timeless.

It's time.

Flynn can feel it ticking away.

They've got Rufus back and an improved lifeboat "now with cross-your-own-timeline capabilities!" It's got a nuclear battery now, (Christopher had finally listened to him and they had followed his example) enabling them to make an infinite amount of jumps without stopping to charge. The next time they follow Rittenhouse, it's time to set his personal plan in motion. Everything is ready.

Except he's not.

The woman sitting on the cot opposite his own has a spark back in her milk chocolate eyes that he hasn't seen since the day of his arrest, before her own capture. There's more color in her cheeks and a smile springs to her lips more readily than he's ever seen. Lucy's also got more fight in her now, more focus, more certainty. It's a stunning combination. Flynn knows he is at least a little bit responsible for it and that fills him with pride.

And love.

If only he could be enough for her.

Now that he's closer to the end of his time with her, his self-control is slipping. Lucy's sleeping in his room nightly now, on a cot across from his own. It's a unique brand of bittersweet torture to lie only a few feet away from her and get to watch her sleep, but not touch her. Would it be so wrong to pull her close and hold her? To kiss her, just once? To show her how much he cares, how special she is to him?

As if he's summoned her, Lucy saunters over and sits on the cot next to him.

"You haven't been listening to a word I've said, have you?" She smirks at him and he shrugs in apology as he thinks frantically back to the last thing he heard her say.

"I'm sorry, Lucy, I'm just not up to dissecting the messy state of politics at the moment. One era at a time is plenty for me."

She shakes her head. "I was talking about a staff meeting at Stanford that ended up in a fistfight between a medieval history professor and a religion professor."

"Oh," is all he can say. He squints in confusion as her words catch up to him. "Wait, what?"

"Never mind." Lucy chuckles lowly, biting her lip, and as he looks away, she scoots closer and slides her hand over his. The air shifts and he inhales sharply, because this suddenly feels quite different than their usual hangout. There's a purpose in the way Lucy is approaching him, touching him. He feels a weight on his shoulder. Against his better judgment, he turns to look at her and finds her face close, her chin leaning on his arm as she stares up into his face. Her eyes are dark and searching, and he feels as naked before her as he ever has. She knows, she has to know what she is doing to him.

"Lucy, please," he pleads and looks back at her, desperate, completely unable to look away. Her eyes burn him as she draws nearer and his heart stutters in his chest. Then the soft, warm lips he has dreamed about are pressed against his cheek, and he is done. The hand nearest her slips around her waist as the other lifts to brush the hair back from her cheek and cup her face. She pulls back enough to look into his eyes and he pauses to memorize how she looks. Her cheeks are pink and her eyes are full of heat-of desire for him—and as he strokes her cheek with his thumb, she closes them.

"Garcia," she whispers, and hearing his first name from her lips breaks what tiny resolve he has left. He leans in, letting himself relish the feel of her nose touching his, of her breath on his lips.

Which is all he gets. There's a knock at the door.

As Flynn cringes but starts to pull away, a frustrated whimper escapes her. It's enough to make him say to hell with it, to hell with whoever's at the door, and kiss her anyway, when Wyatt's voice interrupts.

"Lucy? I need to talk to you."

That's better—or worse—than the cold shower he would otherwise need to make him pull away.

"He'll leave," she whispers, the gravel in her voice making it even harder for him to let her go.

"No he won't," he breathes back as he lets his arms fall. "It's okay, you can go to him," he adds. It comes out sounding slightly bitter, but oh well. She won't understand the double meaning.

Lucy doesn't at all seem inclined to listen as she huffs and scowls at him with a stubborn set to her jaw and leans her forehead against his own. He gulps and closes his eyes.

"Lucy?" Wyatt calls again and she growls, finally standing up to go to the door. Pausing, she turns to look at him, biting her lip. Her gaze sweeps down him, setting him ablaze, before unabashedly meeting his eyes and making it crystal clear that she intends to pick up where they left off when she gets back. She goes.

Staring into space for how long he doesn't know, it takes him a while to come back to his senses.

"Shit. Shit. What do I do?"

As he falls back on the bed, he runs both hands over his face and allows himself to consider it.

Flynn has strongly suspected for a while now that if he started something, she would not only let him, she would participate—enthusiastically. Lingering looks, the unspoken heated conversations, the spoken heated conversations, the slightly less-than-innocent touches have all grown increasingly common and daring between them. It's as if a barrier had broken when he'd held her in Chinatown. That alone has made it difficult enough to keep his distance.

If she's kissing him, showing him that she wants him? He's toast.

Letting himself drift, he wonders. Would it be so bad? One kiss? Because he could—no, he couldn't stop. Not if she didn't want him to. One night? One night of falling into her, of pressing his love into her skin until it sinks in and covers her like a protective shield. One beautiful, perfect night of kissing her, touching her, telling her how precious she is, holding her, loving her fully and well, and then…

Leaving her.

A vision of how wrecked she'd looked when they'd gotten back from Salem and Jessica had been there hits him strongly then. It's enough to stop him in his tracks. He cannot be another man who loves her and leaves her.

That's setting aside the plain truth that he wouldn't be strong enough to do it anyway.

Keeping an ear out for steps in the hallway, Flynn quickly changes into his sweatpants and t-shirt and flicks off the overhead light, leaving only the small lamp on. He lies down under the covers on his left side, facing the wall, and tries to fall asleep by sheer force of will.

When she comes in a few minutes later, he feigns sleep, half-hoping she'll call his bluff. But she won't, because she's Lucy. If she realizes he's faking, she'll let him be.

The sound of her clothes dropping to the floor as she changes might kill him.

After cutting off the lamp, she flops noisily onto the bed. In any other situation, he'd probably laugh at her bouncing around on the cot trying to wake him. Now, that post-Salem vision is firmly planted in the front of his mind. He can't ignore it.

After a minute she finally stops and sighs. "Another night," she breathes to herself. Flynn bites his lip as hard as he can to keep from groaning at the pain and frustration of it. Lucy actually wants him, is, in fact, determined to have him. There's nothing he wants more than to give himself to her, except her happiness.

That "another night" is ominous. Several things have to go exactly right for him to be able to leave on the next mission. Rittenhouse had better jump tomorrow. If they don't, if he's still here with Lucy and she's coming onto him, he is absolutely, one hundred percent beyond screwed.

Fortunately and unfortunately, Emma obliges him for once. They are awakened by the claxon of the mothership alarm. Flynn only has time to hastily change and grab the package he's kept hidden under his mattress before they're assembled in the bay. They're headed back to 1853 California. He'd be stoked to play cowboy again if he didn't feel like he was headed to the gallows.

Now that they've got unlimited power, though Emma doesn't know that yet, doesn't know how they're doing it, the five of them regularly go on mission: Rufus, Jiya, Wyatt, Lucy and Flynn. That way, they've got two soldiers and two pilots, just in case. They don't finish that phrase, but they all know the rest: in case one of the pilots gets killed again, the rest of them won't get stuck.

It's almost scary how well it all goes according to his plan. Rufus, Lucy and Wyatt are going to track down a gang that Emma's most likely targeting. Rufus will jump back to grab Jiya and Flynn, who will then attempt to track down the rest of the Rittenhouse team.

When Jiya, Rufus and he step out of the lifeboat, they find that Wyatt has already left to get clothes for himself and Rufus. Lucy and Flynn are using their clothes from the Harriet Tubman trip, since they hadn't been wearing anything ridiculous like Wyatt, or had any damage, and Jiya had a plain dress she'd collected two trips ago in the 1830s. Out here, it should suffice. Rufus, understandably, didn't want to wear the slave clothes he'd worn then.

"Wyatt told us to head to the outskirts of town after you guys got here." Rufus tells them. Lucy hugs Jiya fiercely before Rufus takes her aside. She's been doing that with all of them whenever they part, ever since Rufus had died.

It leaves Flynn and Lucy alone. This is it. He is going to have to say goodbye without her even knowing it. He bites his tongue hard. The two of them stand awkwardly for a moment as Lucy wrings her hands.

"Um…do I uh…are we okay?" She stares at the ground as she stammers, and he steps closer. This is the last time he's going to spend with her; he isn't wasting it on awkwardness.

"Yeah, we're okay. Aren't we?" Flynn tries not to show his panic at the thought that they might not be. If she is upset with him, if he has another reason not to do it, he knows he will crumble.

She flicks her eyes to him before looking down and smiling shyly as she blushes. "We're okay. We're good," she nods. But then she purses her lips and looks at him with worry clear on her face.

"You don't look like you're sure about that, Lucy."

"It's not…that. This mission feels off. I have a feeling something is going to happen." Her hand falls to his arm as she moves to face him. "I don't like this one. Please be careful, okay?"

It's lucky that he's had a lot of practice not letting his feelings show on his face. It takes all of his effort not to wince. He hates lying to her and tries to avoid it, always has preferred to misdirect or state half-truths instead, not that it's much better. But he'll do it if he has to.

"I can take care of myself," Flynn answers and it suffices. She rolls her eyes at him. "You be safe. Stay close to Wyatt. He'll…take care of you. And Rufus, of course."

Lucy squints at him like she can't figure out what his game is, talking about Wyatt like that. Her suspicion is so reminiscent of their earliest interactions that he can't help but grin despite his breaking heart. She's come so far—they have come so far. And if he thinks instead about how he won't ever see that look again, he's going to cry.

Then she's hurling herself at him to hug him goodbye. It's balm and poison to his heart all at once, and thank goodness it's goodbye, because this itself is going to kill him. She's warm, soft and small as she clings to him with all her strength and he wraps her up tight. It's forever and no time at all, as he tries to memorize the feel of her against him: her coffee and spice smell that has taken over his room, her soft hair against his cheek, her arms around him fierce and tender, the way she feels like home.

Lucy steps away and his hands jerk to grab her back before he can stop them. She doesn't see. She's looking to Rufus, who nods that he's ready. This is it. It's too soon and too late and Flynn has never hated time more.

"Oh," she turns to add. "Don't forget. When we get back, we are going to finish our conversation from last night."

A combination shocked laugh and sob escapes him. Her eyes are sparkling at him as she's cocking an eyebrow and smirking, and God, how he aches for the life where she flirts with him at inappropriate times to catch him off his guard. He rubs a hand over his face as he blinks back the tears that want to come. Hopefully she'll take it for embarrassment.

Flynn's brain somehow works quickly enough to make sure that the last words he'll ever speak to her aren't a lie. "Lucy, I would like nothing better than to finish that conversation. Be safe."

"You too," she grins crookedly at him with a saucy wink, and he prays that this moment sears into his brain until his last breath. He weakly smiles back before she turns and walks away. His heart goes with her.

"So…are we going to pretend that this is a regular mission, or are you going to tell me what's going on?"

Flynn blinks the tears back yet again and looks over to Jiya. Well, he's going to have to tell her at some point. Apparently they've reached it. At least it's Jiya and not Rufus. She's more likely to agree to help.

"After we track down the Rittenhouse backup to figure out whoever's here, if I'm right about…something…I need you to do me a favor."

She is watching him warily. "What's the favor?"

He takes a deep breath in and out. "I need you to jump me back to 2012 and leave me there."

Jiya just stares at him for a long time. "Are you-? I mean, Rufus always used to say you were a psychopath, but you've been, well, normal isn't the word…are you actually crazy?"

Pinching his nose, he groans. "No! Listen! There's a way I can fix, well, not all of it, but I know a way that I can fix some of it. A way to take back the advantage from Rittenhouse."

"Well, alright, then, we'll go back and run it by Denise. We'll make a plan and plot it out, get everything lined up. You don't need to kill yourself to fix anything. That's what it will do, it will kill you. We've fixed crossing our lifelines, but you know what future Lucy and Wyatt said. It's not safe and it's not healthy at all, especially not long-term."

"I know that, but it's worth it. You'll be leaving me, sort of like a sleeper agent. The journal gave me a few leads I want to follow up on, leads that if I follow, I can chip away at Rittenhouse before they get hold of the time machine. I've been planning this for months, Jiya, it isn't impulsive. I know what I'm doing."

"Is this about your family? Because, I'm sorry, but if you bring them back now before Rittenhouse is gone, they'll just be in more danger. If you're dead, we might not be able to save them again."

"It's not…it's not about them. Though, if while I'm there I can figure out a way to save them without messing up my stealing the mothership…I'm going to do it, Jiya. That part I haven't fully figured out. Either way, I still need to go. Now."

He really doesn't want to tell Jiya the main reason he's going to 2012 specifically. Of all the team, she'll still probably help him if she knows, after her kidnapping and Rufus's murder. But she doesn't deserve to carry that burden, to hold any guilt over it.

"What about Lucy?" Flynn blanches as she pokes at that fresh wound. "Does she have any idea what you're planning?"

"No," he whispers.

"She wouldn't let you go if she knew."

"No, she wouldn't," he chokes out.

Jiya stares at him fiercely. "So why? Why would you do that to her?"

"I'm doing it FOR LUCY!" He bellows and pulls back when she cringes, running his hand through his hair. "According to the journal, after this…if I stay, Lucy gets hurt." The pilot doesn't break her glare. "Look, when you were stuck in the 1800s, you demanded that we not come after you. To protect Rufus, you made that unilateral decision. No, he didn't listen, but that's not the point. You decided that his safety was more important than the pain that would put the both of you through. Even if that meant you lived and died in the past alone and he never got to see you again. I'm just doing the same thing."

That cracks Jiya's façade, and he can't meet her eyes as they fill with sympathy. "You love her."

Flynn just blinks in response. It was obvious even before this, no point in denying it.

"Does she know?"

"I don't know." She widens her eyes in exasperation. "I'm leaving her a letter to explain."

"A—a letter?!"

"I…look, Jiya. Like you said, she won't let me go if I tell her, but I can't leave her without an explanation. There's more to it, but it's personal, and it's for her. She'll know then and hopefully she'll understand."

She stares at his face impassively. "We need to go," he adds, and he can see the second she breaks.

"Okay, okay. We'll go. I will help you do it, on the condition that you make absolutely sure whatever you do doesn't mess up the timeline for any of the team in the past."

"Done."

Technically he isn't lying. He's fixing it for them.

They find one of Emma's backup guys and Flynn persuades him to reveal who had come. He verifies—no Jessica. Jiya throws him a sharp look at that, but doesn't question it. It also sounds like their team had taken off with the gang, so there's no way for them to rendezvous anyway. It's time. Jiya makes the jump.

Flynn lingers in his seat. Once she leaves him, his opportunity to change his mind, to go home to Lucy, is gone forever.

He pulls out the letter and pictures from his inner jacket pocket, leaving the memory stick in there, and swallows hard as he looks at the picture of the two of them. They had been on the bunker couch, laughing and smiling at each other when Connor had taken it without their knowledge. It was the only one they had, and he had made a copy for each of them. After unbuckling, he takes a long look at the picture, at her beautiful smile. Focusing his mind on that smile, he tucks her copy into the envelope and seals it.

Jiya looks down at the envelope and back up at him. "Are you absolutely sure?"

Biting his lip, he nods and finally manages to choke out "Yeah."

Suddenly, Jiya's arms are around him and he's hugging her in return.

"Am I not the creepy uncle anymore?"

She pulls back and smirks. "More like the sarcastic older brother. Much older."

Flynn wants to hug her again he's so thankful for that levity. It gives him the ability to calm and hand her the envelope. Opening his mouth, but realizing he has nothing left to say, he closes it.

"We'll take care of her," she promises, and he looks at her with a grateful nod and then he climbs out of the lifeboat. With clanking and whooshing, she's gone. He's alone.

Two months later, it's done.

The guilt comes of course, as usual, but it's not actually as heavy as he'd thought. Jessica was Rittenhouse. That was clear in the way she had fought the guy. But without the help from the two Rittenhouse agents lying in wait, who Flynn had taken out, it had happened. He does feel terrible for this Wyatt, knowing the exact pain he is going through at the moment. But he also knows future Wyatt will no longer have to worry about running into his wife and having to choose her or the team, won't have to worry that any obstacle they run across is a result of his own poor decision-making.

Wyatt won't have to feel conflicted anymore about loving Lucy, about being with her. Not that he really gives a damn how Wyatt feels, but it will be easier for Lucy once it's easier for Wyatt.

It's taken all of Flynn's strength not to go to her now. Part of him wants to just tell her to take off, to avoid all of it, but she would never listen. Not to mention that he hadn't truly been the one to drag her into this. Her parents will make her part of this even if he doesn't, and on the wrong side. Flynn has to stay away and let it all happen as it had before.

The burn in his chest from missing her is his only constant companion.

It's a strange thing, knowing she's off being a teacher, naïve and happy (he's assuming, because of course, this isn't really his Lucy). It's even more bizarre knowing that HE is in Maryland, happily ensconced in a suburban commuter dad life that is so far removed from his life now. Lorena and Iris are alive. He's still trying to figure that out. For just the three of them, it would be best to tell them to run. But that would leave Rittenhouse out there, free and clear to wreak havoc on the past, to murder other families, other beloved children. Connor, Rufus, Jiya, Lucy, they're all going to be in it no matter what. At one time, he might have been able to brush that off (though maybe not—Lucy has always mattered), but not now.

Flynn gets half a crazy idea, one he HATES, but it's the only thing he can think of that has even a chance of working. He puts out feelers with some of his most trusted contacts, impersonating his current self but using his own separate burner phone, and waits to hear back. Going to Maryland now isn't a wise idea. The health effects are most likely worse the closer one gets to one's previous self, so he doesn't dare risk it until it's necessary.

The extremely long wait in between the main events is the worst part. He's living under a new alias that he'd created in 2018. He'd been able to create a trail and access the last bit of the money he'd won placing bets in the past. (The DHS had missed an account. Flynn had figured what Agent Christopher didn't know wouldn't hurt him.) It gives him far too much time to second-guess himself. Flynn's been over all of this a million times. He KNOWS this is the only way to even attempt to keep all three of his girls safe and happy. So what if he's lonely and heartbroken, worried about his family and craving Lucy like a drug? It's no more than he deserves after all he's done, and it's worth much more to give them everything they deserve.

He starts planning side missions, ones that shouldn't screw with the timeline too much. Nothing huge, nothing that will affect the major turning points at all, but they'll bring down Rittenhouse's numbers and assets some. A piece of stolen information here, an operative taken out there. It's not time travel and it's nothing monumental, but at least it makes him feel like he's still of some use to the team. Plus, it gives him something to do other than mope, worry, and wish he was back in that godforsaken bunker. With Lucy.