"Hey, Rufus, what's up?" Wyatt answered, seeing his friend's name flash on his screen.
"Hey, I wanted to let you know, Lucy was hit by a truck in Huck's parking lot. She was just air lifted to Mercy Hospital. Jiya and I are on our way over there now."
Wyatt was already on his feet reaching for his truck keys, "I am on my way. What happened exactly?"
"We aren't sure, but it was a black pick up. They purposely ran her down."
"I'll be there in a few moments." Wyatt hanged up and headed for the door.
"Where are you going? You aren't suppose to be driving." Jessica stated.
"You want to drive me? I am heading to Mercy Hospital. Lucy's been hit by a truck."
"I am sorry to hear that, but honestly, what do you need to go down there for?" she scoffed.
"Because she is a close friend of mine and I care for her. I need to be there for her and my team. I swear Jessica, it's like I don't even know you anymore. You are so self-centered! What ever happened to that loving caring compassionate women I fell in love with?"
"What ever happened to the devoted man I married?" she asked, "My Wyatt would never leave to go chasing after some bimbo."
"How DARE YOU! You know nothing about Lucy. I don't have time for this. Maybe things were better like they were before." Wyatt slammed the door and hurried to his truck, spinning the tires as he tore out of their drive.
A part of him was filled with regret for leaving Jessica the way he had. It was like history was repeating all over again. That night four years ago he was jealous because Jessica was being friendly with an old boyfriend. They had a fight and Jessica got out of the car. He left her because of his temper. Another part of him was hurt and confused. The Jessica he knew four years ago was full of compassion. She supported him in his job and any missions he was sent on. She loved other people. She never would have called his co-workers names. She never would have asked him to leave his job.
A nagging thought at the back of his mind kept telling him something wasn't right. Why hadn't history changed? If she was kidnapped and escaped, why didn't she say something? A part of him worried that Rittenhouse was threatening her. Maybe she was kidnapped and released with strict instructions to act this way, for whatever reason. But it had been four years. If she was kidnapped, why did they hold her for four years?
Wyatt parked in the hospital parking lot and went as quickly as he could up to the surgery waiting room, where Rufus had directed him.
He scanned the room and instantly saw Rufus and Jiya sitting in a corner, accompanied by Flynn.
"What are you doing here?" Wyatt lunged at Flynn soon as he spotted him.
Flynn jumped to his feet, ready to defend himself.
"Hold on, he has been keeping a eye on Lucy." Rufus stepped between the two men.
"Well he did a job didn't he?" Wyatt spat, "Are you the reason Lucy was hit?"
"Yes." Flynn stated.
Wyatt threw a punch, connecting to Flynn's jaw and knocking him off his feet, "! I should kill you right now!" he dove for Flynn again.
"We all are guilty." Jiya said quickly, causing Wyatt to hesitant.
"What did you all do?" He glared.
"It's what we didn't do." Rufus said, "We left her run out to her car for her cell phone without someone going with her."
"How is Flynn connected to this?" Wyatt glared at all three of them.
"We were, um, having lunch." Jiya gave a half smile.
"With HIM! What is going on here?"
"THAT is a long story." Rufus muttered. "Very long."
"You better start telling it, NOW." Wyatt seethed.
"Oh boy," Rufus muttered.
"See," Flynn started, "Since I found out that there was a hit out on Lucy, and you were shot, I had been trying to keep a eye on her."
"And why would you want to do a thing like that?" Wyatt glared.
"Because she's my sister, and the only family I have left."
"Prove it!" Wyatt went for Flynn again who quickly dodged his punch.
"I got DNA evidence!" Flynn held up the papers, "And I promised Lucy a blood test already."
"I don't care what you have! You just telling us this now?"
"I didn't know until just recently!" Flynn stated, then proceeded to tell Wyatt everything from how he found out who his real father was to how he tracked Cahill to Rittenhouse and ultimately, Mason Industries.
"So we are suppose to just take your word for all this?"
"I wish you would." Flynn said "Unfortunately, I know you won't and all I can offer you is the DNA evidence I've got and agree to the blood test Lucy demanded."
"This is just great." Wyatt muttered, "Any word on Lucy?" he turned to Rufus.
"No, not yet. They air lifted her here due to her injuries. When we got here they said they had already taken her into surgery and we were to just wait here until further word."
"I should have made sure she was protected," Wyatt muttered, running his hand though his hair, "This is my fault."
Rufus laid a hand on his shoulder, "Take it easy, Man. None of this is your fault. We had someone watching her house, and Flynn was escorting her out..."
"FLYNN! What were you guys thinking? You trusted her with FLYNN!" Wyatt yelled.
"Speaking of which," Rufus stated, "Flynn, you should be making yourself disappear for now. I've contacted Agent Christopher. I am sure she will be on her way over here. She was contacting Lucy's mom."
Flynn nodded. "I'll be in touch to check on Lucy." with that, he quickly disappeared.
"How are you feeling?" Rufus asked, standing next to Wyatt, "You didn't drive here yourself did you?"
"I am fine." he muttered, walking away.
"Okay..." Rufus turned to Jiya, wrapping an arm around her, "We're going to get though this, right?"
"Right," she gave him a big hug, "Come one, why don't we go get some coffee? We'll bring Wyatt a cup back too."
Rufus nodded and left Jiya lead him down the hall.
0 0 0 0
The elevator door opened and a older lady with long blondish hair walked out followed by a man with short dark hair.
She hurried over to the nurses desk, "I am here for Lucy Preston. I am her mother, this is Noah, her fiance."
The nurse typed into the computer and gave a small smile, "I am sorry, she's still in surgery. I don't know anything else yet. I will have the doctor talk to you when they are finished."
"Thank you." she smiled.
Wyatt glared at Noah, recognizing him from years ago. He was certain Noah was Jessica's ex-boyfriend who he had gotten jealous of that night she was murdered...or whatever had happened to her. Wyatt bit his lower lip and frowned. It was more then coincidence that Noah was Jessica's ex-boyfriend and now Lucy's finance.
He approached Carolyn slowly. He wanted to jump on Noah, but he had to try to figure out what was going on.
"Excuse me, Ms. Preston?" he extended his hand, "I am Wyatt Logan. I am a friend and co-worker of Lucy."
"Do you know anything?" Carolyn asked desperately.
"I am sorry, I don't. I wasn't with her when it happened. All I know is she was hit by a truck in a parking lot."
"She's been working so much lately. And now this." Carolyn sank down in a chair and turned her head, trying to hide her tears.
Wyatt sat next to her, staring at Noah who was pacing the room rather nervously. Wyatt held Carolyn's hand, "I know Lucy well. She's strong and determined. She'll get though this."
Carolyn nodded and the two sat in silence for a moment.
"Ma'am, I am sorry, this may not be the time or place to bring it up, but I feel this is very important. Have you ever heard of the term Rittenhouse?" Wyatt asked.
Carolyn tensed, "Why you ask that?"
"Someone recently suggested that Lucy's biological father was a part of that organization. The work we do is classified, so I can't go into details, but it would be very helpful to know the truth regarding Lucy's father."
"I tried to protect her from it all these years." Carolyn took a shaky breath, "God I didn't know the evil that man was involved in until I was already involved with him."
"Tell me about it, please?" Wyatt said softly.
"I had just gotten my degree in history. There was this bright man, a little older then me, but oh, so charming. We courted," Carolyn smiled, "he treated me like a princess."
Wyatt remained silent and listened.
"He offered me a job to work with him privately. He only wanted me to give him specific information on certain people in history. I had no idea why and it seemed like a simple easy job," Carolyn shrugged slightly, a tear brimming on the corner of her eye.
"Then I over heard him one day talking about killing the president. He said that Rittenhouse would gain control of American, and hence, the American people, one way or the other. It scared me." She gripped Wyatt's hand with a shaking hand.
"Go on." Wyatt said softly, watching Noah continue to shift nervously off to the side. He knew Noah was listening, but didn't see any kind of emotion or surprise cross the man's face.
"I told him I didn't want to work for him anymore, that I wanted to teach history. He must have known something was going on. He talked me into going out for drinks. We ended up in his bedroom back at his house." Carolyn shuttered. "I don't think I told him anything important. That was what he was after, information on history. I don't think he ever expected me to become pregnant."
"Did you tell him?" Wyatt asked.
"No. Oh I am sure he knew, but I never told him. I didn't want my baby to be exposed to the evil that I had seen going on there. I raised my Lucy alone. It was only the last two months that she really started questioning me on who her father was, and we fought about it quit a bit. I was afraid to tell her, but in the end, I knew she was a grown woman and could take care of herself."
"Did you tell her about Rittenhouse?"
"Oh no." Carolyn gasped, "never. I only wrote her father's name down on a piece of paper. I left the rest up to her. She has never mentioned it to me again."
Carolyn looked at Wyatt with horror, "Oh my God, you don't think her father did this, do you?"
"I don't know." Wyatt answered truthfully.
"Oh come on, Carolyn, don't be ridiculous!" Noah scoffed, "This clearly was some sort of accident. No one is going to try to run down their own child, let alone do it at lunch time in Huck's parking lot!"
"Huck's?" Carolyn looked over at Noah, "I don't understand. Is that where Lucy got hit at?"
Wyatt frowned, "Didn't you know?"
"No, a lady from Lucy's work called me and told me Lucy had been hit by a vehicle and was here. I assumed it happened at work."
"Who called Noah?" Wyatt asked.
"He had just stopped by the house a few moments before that, to see Lucy. I told him and he followed me." Carolyn turned towards Noah, "Oh dear, remember, you have to call the insurance company about that deer."
"What deer?" Wyatt asked.
Carolyn laughed softly, "Poor Noah hit a deer on his way over to the house."
Wyatt stood slowly, then walked purposefully over to Noah, grabbing him by the front of his shirt and shoving him against the wall, "If you had anything to do with this, I swear to God I will make you wish you were dead every day of your life until I kill you."
"What is your problem, man?" Noah complained, "I hit a DEER"
"For your sake, you better hope that is ALL you hit." Wyatt glared, "This isn't the first time we have met, now is it?"
"I don't know what you're talking about! I've never seen you before!"
"Four years ago, you were flirting with my wife, Jessica."
"Man, you've got a problem if you're holding a grudge four years later. It wasn't me. I don't know any Jessica."
"You were her ex-boyfriend." Wyatt continued.
"Man, get a grip. I told you, I don't know a Jessica. I am engaged to Lucy, and I wouldn't do anything to hurt her." Noah squirmed, trying to free himself.
Wyatt threw him to the floor, "For your sake, I better not find out differently." he walked away, back towards Carolyn who was looking at him with shock.
"Noah loves Lucy, he wouldn't have done anything to hurt her."
"Is his truck here?" Wyatt whispered.
"Yes it's the black Chevy parked in J-1, right out the front doors." Carolyn said, then looked
thoughtfully at Wyatt. "Why are you being this way?"
"What way, ma'am?" Wyatt asked.
"You're being so protective of my Lucy. It's like, well, it's like she's your wife."
Wyatt smiled, "I am married, Ma'am, but I do care for Lucy very deeply. If things had turned out a bit different," he shrugged, "maybe she would have been wearing my ring instead of Noah's."
Carolyn smiled sweetly at Wyatt, "Noah loves Lucy, I know. But he has never been protective over her. He hasn't really shown he cared. Not like you do."
Wyatt smiled softly, a part of his heart breaking. Lucy deserved better then Noah, she deserved better then him. She deserved someone willing to die for her. She deserved to be somebody's reason for living, somebody's world.
"Family for Ms. Lucy Preston?" A doctor with white thinning hair called from behind double doors.
Wyatt, Carolyn, and Noah all stood up.
"Family only," he stated, looking at the chart, "I have the next of kin being a Carolyn Preston, the mother?"
"That's me." Carolyn hurried over to the doctor.
Noah started to follow, but Wyatt grabbed him roughly by the shoulders and pulled him back, "You
aren't family. Not yet anyway. You stay out here."
"I have every right!" Noah protested.
"You have no right, especially since Lucy left you." Wyatt grinned at the look Noah gave him, "Yeah, she told me all about how she left you and moved back in with her mother."
"We're on a break, that's all." Noah shrugged, "With Lucy, you never can tell. She's so two faced at times."
Wyatt's fist connected with Noah's jaw, knocking the man off his feet before Wyatt even realized what he was doing, "Don't you ever talk about Lucy like that." Wyatt seethed, "She's too good for you. If anyone is two faced it's you."
Noah was still sprawled on the floor, rubbing his jaw when Rufus and Jiya returned with a cup of coffee, a teddy bear and some flowers.
"Well there you are, I thought you two got lost." Wyatt's face softened, seeing his friends.
"What is going on here?" Rufus asked, looking from Wyatt to the man on the floor.
"That's Noah. Lucy's fiance. He needed an attitude adjustment." Wyatt shrugged.
"Any news on Lucy?" Rufus asked, handing Wyatt a cup of coffee.
"Carolyn just went back there to speak to the doctor." Wyatt sighed, sitting back in the chair, keeping a eye on Noah, who had picked himself up and was sitting in the farthest corner of the room, glaring at him.
"We got Lucy some flowers and a bear." Jiya grinned, "We did kinda get lost and I couldn't resist the gift shop."
Wyatt smiled, then looked serious at Rufus, "Listen, I need to go down and inspect Noah's truck. I need to make sure he doesn't leave before I get that chance."
Rufus frowned, "Why?"
"I have a feeling that Noah might be involved with trying to run down Lucy." Wyatt stated, "He has new damage on his truck, said he hit a deer this morning. Also, Carolyn confirmed that Lucy's father is part of Rittenhouse. Noah tried to brush it off."
Rufus nodded, "You got it. I'll make sure he doesn't leave."
"Thanks. Listen, I am hanging around until Carolyn tells us something about Lucy, then I'm gonna say something about going home to be with Jessica. That's when I'll go check out his truck."
"You know where it is?"
"Yeah, it's a black Chevy parked in J-1. Carolyn told me."
"It was a black truck, I am pretty sure a Chevy that hit Lucy." Rufus said in disbelief.
"I'll kill him." Wyatt muttered.
Carolyn appeared back to the waiting room with tears in her eyes.
Wyatt was the first one to her, wrapping an arm around her, "What did he say?" he asked, his heart feeling like it was about to stop.
"She's out of surgery. She needed stitches in her side, she has a broken arm, several bruises, and a bad gash on her head, but their biggest fear is the swelling on her brain. They believe it to be from head trauma. They will be moving her to ICU and we will take it one day at a time. They have to keep her head elevated, and will have her on some medicines. They will keep a eye on the swelling. That's all they can do right now. They said she's in coma." Carolyn turned to Wyatt and burst into tears.
Wyatt felt tears rolling down his own cheeks and he glared at Noah with a look that could kill..
"Can we see her?" Noah asked anxiously.
"Please, don't let him in there right now. Trust me." Wyatt whispered into Carolyn's ear.
"Not right now." Carolyn said, "They only want one person back there and I want to be the one sitting with my baby girl for a while. I am requesting no one else go back there for the time being." she looked to Wyatt for approval and he nodded.
"Listen, since there's nothing I can do here, I am going to head back home and spend some time with my wife." Wyatt said loud enough he knew Noah could hear, "Rufus, if you and Jiya could stay here for just a bit, keep me updated?"
"Yeah sure man." Rufus said.
"Thank you, if nothing changes, I'll see you all in the morning." Wyatt nodded and quickly left the waiting room.
"Yeah, I guess I'll get going too." Noah stated.
Rufus stood, "Don't you think you should stay and see how you're fiance is doing? Comfort her mother, be here for support? You don't have anything pressing at home right now, do you?"
Noah saw the look Carolyn gave him and the suspicion in Rufus and Jiya's eyes.
"I guess I could stay if, uh, if Carolyn is okay with it." Noah sat back down reluctantly.
His mind was racing, he needed to get his truck cleaned and to a repair shop quickly. He didn't think anyone could prove it was his truck that hit Lucy, but he couldn't take that chance. He knew Wyatt was suspicious of him. Thank God, so far, Wyatt hadn't asked to see his truck or really questioned him about it.
