Right Place, Wrong Time – Chapter 3

Within seconds of the landing, the life boat door opened and Wyatt was yelling for a medic.

Two paramedics carefully helped Wyatt get Lucy out of the mothership and onto a stretcher.

As they began rolling Lucy away Agent Christopher began questioning Wyatt. He either didn't notice her stern expression and sharp commands or he flat out ignored them as he pushed past her, intent on following Lucy.

When the agent realized that Wyatt wasn't going to provide any insight into their trip her steely gaze turned sharply to Rufus.

He had been walking down the ramp toward the lifeboat command center, his eyes trained on Jiya. She was standing and packing her things while failing in her attempt to smile at him like a love-struck teenager. He owed her a pizza but he was hoping that she would take a rain check until after they had news on Lucy's condition. He stumbled to a stop when he encountered Agent Christopher blocking his path.

"What exactly happened on your trip? How did Preston get injured?" She asked.

Rufus gave her a slightly annoyed look and then sighed. He decided bargaining was the best approach to take with his quasi-boss. "Wouldn't it be easier for me to answer all of your questions at the hospital? That way I can be there to find out how Lucy is and I'll be less distracted."

She took in his worried expression and nodded before adding, "Fine. But I want detailed answers and a written report tomorrow."

Rufus agreed and watched her walk ahead of him to the hanger entrance. Walking over to Jiya's work station he put his arms around her and gave her a hug.

"That bad huh?" she asked before pulling back and taking in his saddened expression.

'You don't know the half of it,' he thought before asking her to accompany him to the hospital.

Jiya linked her arm with his and leaned into him as they walked out of the building.

At the hospital, Wyatt took a seat in the waiting room. There had been a lot of blood when they moved Lucy from the lifeboat to the stretcher. He hoped things weren't as bad as he imagined.

After 20 minutes Rufus, Jiya, and Agent Christopher walked into the waiting room and sat in the chairs closest to him.

Agent Christopher and Rufus were discussing their latest trip but Wyatt didn't contribute.

He sat in silence, face stony, as he thought through the last trip and what he might have done to keep Lucy safe. He kept trying to move his mind onto other topics like cleaning guns, or cars he had stolen through time. It wasn't working. Even the random mental reminder that his gun needed to be cleaned brought his thoughts back around to Lucy. Inevitably his mind would stall on memories he tended to avoid, like how he would fasten Lucy's harness sometimes, or how her face would contort in shock when something happened that shouldn't have.

She would be the worst poker player ever. Every time she felt a serious emotion it displayed perfectly in her beautiful features, and especially in her eyes. Her dark brown eyes always told him everything. Even before he had found out about her secret discussions with Flynn or the journal, he had known that something was up with her. Her eyes always seemed frantic when she was lying, and she would be glancing anywhere on his face avoiding any direct eye contact. During their meetings to discuss operation "Goodbye Noah" her eyes were worried and slightly sad when she discussed how to put the plan into motion. When the topic shifted to anything else, especially if she was teasing him, her eyes sparkled and danced like chocolatey diamonds.

He cringed inwardly and scratched the back of his neck. His train of thought had turned into dangerous territory. Many times, especially over the last few weeks he had found himself thinking about Lucy in a different light, but now he was waxing poetically about her. He could chalk it up to being apprehensive about Lucy's condition. If the worst happened and she died, he would be sick with grief. It would be just like Jessica but this time he would always wonder if there could have been something.

Jessica was also something he didn't want to think about. He had always secretly thought that everyone had a soulmate, one designated person that would complete you. When he and Lucy had been in bed together in the 1930's, she had said that there was more than one person for everyone. People had told him that before, but when Lucy whispered it, her face so close to his, he had started to believe it.

"Family of Lucy Preston?" A man in stained blue scrubs asked to the waiting room.

The words jarred Wyatt from his thoughts.

"I'm her husband." Wyatt stated as he stood. Jiya, Rufus, and Agent Christopher all stood as well. He didn't need to look back to know they were looking at him incredulously.

"How is she doing?"

The doctor smiled reassuringly. "I'm Dr. Singer. It looks as though Lucy will pull through, although she'd lost a good deal of blood from external and internal injuries. The metal in her side could have cut into her organs if it had gone even a quarter of an inch deeper. It's quite the miracle. Over the next few weeks she will need to rest as much as possible to ensure a full recovery."

"Thank you." Wyatt said while shaking the doctors

"I expect you will assist in keeping her from doing any heavy lifting or exercise for the time being?" he asked Wyatt.

"Yes sir. Can I see her now?"

"You can, but she probably won't wake up until tomorrow morning. Surgery can definitely strain the body and the mind. The nurse will direct you to her room." He said before stepping away and walking back down the corridor.

The four of them walked to the nurse's station and were directed to Lucy's room.

They passed through her doorway as quietly as possible.

Lucy looked small and pale in the big hospital bed, but she was asleep and alive. They were all relieved but no one said anything. Finally, Agent Christopher cleared her throat, and motioned outside when they all looked up at her.

"I am going to have an agent posted outside Lucy's room for the time being." She said once the door closed behind them. "Flynn might try and take her if he finds out that she is vulnerable."

The agent rubbed her eyes. "It's been a long three hours and now that I have been assured that she is alright I am going to head home."

After taking just a few steps away she stopped and turned, "I need a written report from both of you tomorrow."

Wyatt and Rufus groaned slightly but nodded in agreement before she turned and continued down the hallway to the elevators.

Wyatt looked towards Rufus and Jiya. "You two should take off too. I'm going to stay a bit longer just to make sure she doesn't wake up alone."

The couple smiled at Wyatt like they knew a secret, but he kept his face blank and didn't play into their suspicions.

"I'll come back tomorrow morning before I head in to write that report." Rufus said before patting Wyatt's shoulder.

"If she wakes up tonight let her know we'll both be dropping by." Jiya said while stifling a yawn.

They exchanged goodbyes, and Wyatt headed back into the patient room.

He sat down in the chair closest to Lucy's bed. She looked infinitely better now that she was clean. At some point, he was definitely going to tease her about having leaves in her hair and grime all over her face, like some messy version of sleeping beauty.

He wanted to tell her that his feelings were changing and to figure out what it meant before his logical side made him change his mind.

He slid his had in hers. When he kissed her in Arkansas he felt something, but they both had denied it later. He hoped that she was just confused like he had been at the time. It would be awful if he showed his hand and she wasn't interested.

He went back and forth on the subject of Lucy for what seemed to him like hours. He almost hoped she would open her eyes and give him something else to keep his mind occupied.

Awhile later a nurse saved him from his inner dialogue. She was checking Lucy's vitals and asking if she had woken up. He was about to answer when the patient in question stirred.

Her head tilted toward the nurse.

"Good evening. I'm nurse Evans. Are you in any pain my dear?"

Lucy slowly moved her head from side to side once in response.

"If you do start to feel pain click this button." She said as she pushed the switch and another cord into Lucy's hand. "This other button will call a nurse if you need assistance."

The nurse smiled and patted Lucy's hand, "You rest up and I'll come back to check on you in a few hours."

Once the nurse was gone Lucy turned toward Wyatt. He smiled at her cute expression. It was half confusion and half crankiness at being roused from sleep. Her eyes squinted and then opened wider.

"Welcome back Ma'am." He said softy. He smiled when she took offense even in her disoriented state.

She huffed and was about to reply when a yawn caught her by surprise. Her eyelids drifted downward and her breathing deepened with sleep.

"Sleep Lucy. I'll be here when you wake." He said in a whisper.

Wyatt leaned back in his chair and let sleep overtake him at last.