Wyatt cursed himself for what was probably the millionth time in the two hours since leaving Stanford for allowing that smarmy jackass to get under his skin. If he were hoping to convince Lucy to choose him over Noah, he had just given her plenty of reason not to. Why the hell hadn't he just walked away and let that asshole have his small victory?
How the hell was he going to ever be able to face Lucy again? He knew he would have to, eventually. He knew he would have to find some way to explain to her what had happened, but how in the hell was he going to do that? What would he say? How the hell could he tell Lucy that they were married and expecting a baby when she's engaged to somebody else? How horrified would she be to learn that she had died? Should he even tell her that? Should he tell her any of it? How would she believe that he loved her when, according to her timeline, he had just stolen the LifeBoat to save Jessica?
All of these questions and more, he lobbed at an increasingly annoyed Rufus who, after making good on his promise to buy him a Snickers, drove them back to Mason so Wyatt could pick up his phone and keys, change his clothes, get a shower, and figure out what the hell he was going to do with his life because as Rufus firmly declared, "I am not your damn therapist!" Wyatt rolled his eyes at his friend, but Rufus countered him with a harsh truth, "Look man, I know seeing Lucy with her fake fiancé must be hard…especially considering how you two were…but that's no reason to act like a jackass. After everything you just went through to get her back? You damn well better tell her how you feel and soon before she ends up married to Dr. Whatshisface."
Wyatt nodded tersely as he pushed himself into the locker room. He knew Rufus was right, but it didn't make his task any easier. Other him had not had to go through all of this. He had come back from Vegas to find that Lucy was his fiancé and Noah…well, while not quite out of the picture, he had at least gotten the hint that Lucy was not quite as into him as he was into her. How this Lucy felt about Noah? It was really anyone's guess. Wyatt had asked her once if she was in love with the guy and she had said, "no," but yet, she was still engaged to him. Not only that, he knew for a fact that she was going on dates with the jackass…tonight was proof of that extremely problematic circumstance. He groaned as he remembered how Lucy didn't even shy away as Noah's lips grazed her cheek.
Maybe her feelings towards him had changed? He had just nursed her through her illness, after all. Wasn't there some kind of thing…Florence Nightingale effect or something that made patients fall in love with their caretakers? Or was that the other way around? The caretakers fall in love with their patients? Oh hell, he didn't know…what he did know was that Lucy was still essentially off-limits because of that damn ring on her finger and what kind of asshole would she consider him if he made a pass at her when she's in a committed relationship with another man? Another man she clearly didn't mind being kissed by.
And then there was the added issue of how she felt about him. He didn't care so much how she felt about Noah, as much as he wondered where they stood in terms of their relationship. He thought back on their time together…how comfortable she was around him, how she knew him so well, how seamlessly they worked together. He thought back to Chicago when she had saved him from that cellar…she had run straight into his arms…relieved to find him alive. But then again, thought Wyatt with a huff, she had hugged Rufus too. He thought back to the Alamo when she had grabbed his face and told him that she needed him, he thought back to Bonnie and Clyde and remembered the look in her eyes when he pulled away from that kiss. There was definitely something there…or maybe there wasn't…maybe it was just wishful thinking on his part…but she had looked at him and she had talked about being open to possibilities…
But…she had also played off the kiss just as he had…but for him, it had meantsomething no matter how much he tried to deny it. What if it meant something to her too? If it did, Wyatt thought glumly, it really didn't change the way she acted around him. She was still Lucy, there was never any awkwardness between them…well, there was awkwardness, but it had all come from him…with that damn "baby doll" line he threw her way to throw her off the scent. She might have been initially surprised by the kiss, but the unaffected manner in which she accepted his apology and the silly way she threw back that "schweetheart"? Wyatt rubbed his face with his hand as he leaned against the lockers. The Lucy and Wyatt of the other timeline had been living together, playing an engaged couple, and were essentially free to explore the possibilities that came with that kiss. This timeline was different. He had denied feeling anything at all…and Lucy? Why would she feel anything? She was engaged…and Wyatt had just laid out every reason in the world why she shouldn't give him a second thought. Jessica was his one and only, he had said. His lightning bolt, he explained. We were just playing a role, he assured. His stomach dropped as he thought of what his damn guilt had cost him. If by some miracle, Lucy had had any burgeoning feelings towards him, he had essentially snuffed them out by telling her, in no uncertain terms, that he wasn't interested. Throw in the attempt to save Jessica by stealing the LifeBoat and the fist fight with her fiancé and he was essentially screwed. Why the hell would Lucy see him as anything but the reckless, hotheaded, off-limits widower he had proven himself to be?
His shower should have been refreshing considering the walk through the Nevada desert, the time spent in a smoke-filled casino…and of course, the fist fight…but it wasn't. Instead of washing away the dirt and grime that seemed to penetrate his skin all the way down to his bones, the reviving spray seemed to heighten his awareness that he was the biggest jackass on the planet. Every atom, every molecule in his body seemed to scream with the pain of regret as he thought about all of the wasted time, all of the stupid noble remarks he had made about "one and only's" and "lightning bolts". He had lied to himself and he had lied to Lucy. He had fallen for her a long time ago, but never allowed himself that chance to believe that he could be happy again. Now that he knew he could, he was faced with the cold hard fact that in this timeline, he was probably too damn late.
He was just tying his shoes when Rufus came flying through the locker room, the distant sound of an alarm echoing in the hall. "Wyatt? Are you still in here?" he called urgently.
Wyatt groaned, "Do not tell me that is Flynn." as Rufus rounded the row of lockers to find Wyatt sitting with his head in his hands.
"Okay…" said Rufus uncertainly, "what do you want me to tell you?" Wyatt peered up at him through his hands, "I mean, I'd like to tell you it's not Flynn, but that would be a damn lie."
Wyatt grimaced, "We just got back…you'd think he'd take a night off, I mean, the man was just dead not 24 hours ago."
"Yeah…different timeline, I don't think that counts." Rufus sighed.
"When is it?" Wyatt muttered.
"I didn't get a great look at the screen, it's 17 something…back to the 18th century…yay!" Rufus exclaimed in mock excitement. "Maybe this time I won't leave with a souvenir."
Wyatt rolled his eyes and opened his locker, his gaze landing on the wedding rings he had placed carefully on the top shelf. Lucy. Noah had said she had the rest of the week off, which meant she wouldn't be going on this mission. Sure, it was a hopeless case, he had lost his shot - but the idea that he could come back from this jump only to find that she was gone again filled him with absolute dread. "I can't do this jump." He breathed out.
"What? Why not?"
"Lucy's got the rest of the week off. There is no way in hell I'm doing this without her…to risk losing her again?" Wyatt shook his head resolutely, "No way in hell."
Rufus gaped at him, "Do you mean to tell me you're gonna send me back to the 18th century with Bam Bam? Do you remember what happened to me the last time I went to the 18th century with Bam Bam?"
Wyatt gave him a withering stare, "Look, I'll talk to Bam Bam, alright? Right after I talk to Agent Christopher…just give me a minute, okay?"
"Yeah, well good luck getting Agent Christopher to take your side. What are you going to do when she tells you you've got to go anyway?"
Wyatt shrugged, "I'll tell her I have the flu."
Throwing his shoes back on, he emerged from the locker room minutes later, determined to follow through with the promise he had made the other Lucy before that last fateful mission, that no matter what, they would travel together or not at all. He just had to find Agent Christopher...
Wandering the halls of Mason Industries, searching the conference rooms, proved to be in vain. Obviously, she hadn't arrived yet. While he didn't find Agent Christopher, he did find Bam Bam. As Wyatt approached the launch bay, he could see him standing with his back towards him in obvious conversation with someone. Wyatt shook his head and smirked to himself as he got nearer, hearing Bam Bam repeat the same old pickup lines he had used countless times before during their time together in Delta Force. As he approached, he slapped Bam Bam on the back with a chuckle and exclaimed loudly, "Don't let his lousy pickup lines fool you, this guy knows how to treat a lady." He stopped dead in his tracks, however, when he saw the lady Bam Bam was talking to.
Lucy.
Wyatt stood there gaping at the two of them, before he swallowed hard in an attempt to keep himself from revisiting the Snickers bar from earlier as Bam Bam greeted him, "Wyatt…ooo what happened to you? You must have had a rough night like Lucy, here." Wyatt cast his eyes downward as he felt the heat of shame spread up his neck and into his face. He sensed rather than saw Lucy fidgeting nervously next to Bam Bam who, in typical fashion, remained completely oblivious to the sudden increase in tension around him. He slapped Wyatt on the back and plowed on, "Looks like you could use a drink too…I was just asking Lucy if she might like to join me for one."
In the past three weeks, Wyatt had wanted to kick Bam Bam's ass more times than he could count…but tonight, he was really regretting that he hadn't taken the opportunity. No way, after what had just happened with Noah, could Wyatt even give the appearance of jealousy and anger. Lucy already thought he was a reckless hothead and his little outburst at Stanford had only given credence to that assumption. Instead, he looked at Lucy with a kind of earnest desperation as he began stuttering nervously in a voice that sounded too high to be his own, "What…what are you doing here? I thought you were off for the rest of the week?"
Lucy was blushing furiously, but met Wyatt's gaze with a fierce determination, "I decided that after tonight I needed to blow off a little steam. Besides," she argued as she pointed to his face, "you clearly aren't doing so hot on these missions without me."
Bam Bam chuckled lightly at her joke, which annoyed the hell out of Wyatt, but he merely lifted his mouth in a soft smile and muttered, "Nothing is the same without you, Lucy."
Clearly affected by that statement, Lucy's mouth dropped open slightly in stunned surprise, her eyes meeting Wyatt's for just a moment before Bam Bam broke the tension with a punch to Wyatt's arm, "She's got a point, man. You look like absolute hell. What happened?"
Wyatt shifted uncomfortably as he shot a very pained and awkward glance towards Lucy who was now mindlessly flipping through a stack of empty manila folders. He sighed heavily, "You know me…I was just being a complete and total jackass."
Lucy cast a quick sideways glance at Wyatt to find that he was directing that statement to her rather than to Bam Bam. The hint of a smile graced her lips, as she nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Wyatt took a step towards her and was just about to address her before Bam Bam interjected, "Well, I don't know if you can take the word of a jack ass, Lucy…but Wyatt's right…I do know how to treat a lady. My offer still stands. Drinks…when you get back?"
Wyatt stood there helplessly as Lucy pursed her lips together, not daring to look at either of them. She managed a quick glace up at Bam Bam before nodding her head and answering in a quavering voice, "Sure…okay. That sounds great."
Those words rang out like a death sentence for Wyatt. He stood there staring at Lucy in a state of utter devastation as she and Bam Bam exchanged numbers and discussed an appropriate venue for their…*gulp* date.
Grinning broadly, Bam Bam tucked his phone back into his pocket and announced, "Well, since you all won't be needing me around here, I'm going to head out." he clapped Wyatt on the shoulder, "Thanks for the endorsement, man…I owe you one!" He winked at Lucy, "Always a pleasure. Just text me when you get back, okay?." She nodded with a strained smile on her face, as Bam Bam turned to head out towards the exit, shouting out a greeting as he did so, "Hey Rufus, looking good, buddy!" The pilot, already dressed in 18th century clothes stood rooted to the spot, staring at Wyatt and Lucy with his mouth hanging open.
Unable to stand the heat of Wyatt's gaze, Lucy shot him another awkward glance, mumbled some excuse and headed off to the next workstation where she immediately began checking online resources for historical data about the jump.
"What the hell just happened?" Rufus gasped at Wyatt. "Please tell me you did not just set Lucy and Bam Bam up on a date."
Wyatt threw his head back in frustration, "Rufus…"
The pilot shook his head slowly in disbelief, "You know, I know I told you I wasn't your therapist…but damn, man...what the hell were you thinking?"
"I didn't mean to set him up with Lucy," Wyatt hissed as he gestured wildly at Rufus, "how the hell was I to know he was talking to her? She wasn't even supposed to be here. Hell, she's supposed to be engaged...not going on dates."
"Well, I hate to break it to ya, but it doesn't look like that's stopping her." Wyatt rolled his eyes as Rufus gasped, "Oh my God….it's like what he said….in that other timeline, that he and Lucy could.."
"Don't you dare say it, Rufus." Wyatt growled at him. He shifted on his feet restlessly, staring at the back of Lucy's neck with a quiet desperation. How the hell did this happen? "I gotta try to fix this." Wyatt muttered as he made his way towards her.
But that effort was put on hold when Agent Christopher marched into the room, barking out orders and demanding to know where Flynn had jumped this time. Lucy flinched and immediately answered her query in a huffy voice, "June 9, 1772, Providence, Rhode Island." Wyatt noticed that she shot an annoyed glance over at Mr. Chartris who had cleared his throat in an attempt to take over the briefing, but Lucy plowed on, "It's the Gaspee Affair."
"Affair?" Rufus asked with raised eyebrows, "As in somebody is in love with somebody else even though technically they're with another person…like that kind of affair?"
Wyatt murmured something about Rufus' complete lack of subtlety, but it was totally lost on Lucy who was shaking her head and correcting Rufus' assumption, "No…I mean affair as in event. The Gaspee Affair was a significant naval episode leading to the American Revolution. The Gaspee and its commander Lt. Dudingston, were notorious for their harassment of colonial naval vessels...under the Townshend Acts of…"
"Actually, its more in line with the Declaratory Act of 1766. Parliament stated that they held sovereignty over the colonies and were therefore had the right to collect taxes and seize goods as they saw fit." Mr. Chartris interrupted haughtily, obviously put out that Lucy had beat him to the punch. "So, yes, on June 9, 1772, Captain Lindsay of the packet ship Hannah, purposely led the British customs ship HMS Gaspee into shallow waters where it ran aground. Captain Lindsay then arrived in Providence and informed John Brown of the circumstances and he and Abraham Whipple organized a raiding party…meeting at Sabin's Tavern, I believe."
"Yes." Lucy cut in curtly, "I was just getting to that." Wyatt did his best to hide his smirk, though seeing Lucy back in action and visibly affronted by the man that Agent Christopher had chosen to replace her in both timelines was pretty damn entertaining. Wyatt had already considered Chartris to be the anti-Lucy in every sense of the word, and it appeared Lucy felt the same way. She tossed her hair back with a huff and continued while casting a reproving glare at Mr. Chartris as if daring him to interrupt her again. "the men, basically all members of the Sons of Liberty, went out on long boats in the middle of the night, captured Lt. Dudingston and then burned the Gaspee to the waterline. It's considered one of the main events leading to the American Revolution, right up there along with the Boston Tea Party and the Boston Massacre."
At the mention of that particular historical event, Rufus grimaced slightly and instinctively put his hand on his once injured leg as he asked, "So, what's Flynn's deal here? Save the ship? Kill the raiders? Bottom line, should I be worried about getting shot?"
Lucy frowned, "I don't think so…not any more than any of our other missions anyway. The Gaspee was taken by surprise. Lt. Dudingston was shot but that was more to get him to order the surrender before there was any more bloodshed than to actually kill him." Lucy quirked her eyebrow at Rufus as he blew out a shaky exhale of relief. "Why are you so jumpy all of a sudden?"
"Oh nothing," Rufus said as he waved his hand absently mindedly at her, "I just…um…heard musket balls are a bitch." he shot Wyatt a meaningful glance as he sat down in a chair still gripping his leg.
Slightly confused, Lucy shrugged and continued, "As for Flynn, the whole aftermath of the burning of the Gaspee is basically a lead-in for the Declaration of Independence. The British were furious that one of their customs ships had been burned…a ship that technically was operating within the bounds of the law. So, the British set up a kangaroo court, demanded that those involved be sent and tried in England…and it angered a lot of the colonists who, by this time, had exercised a great deal of autonomy from England.
"So, without this, there's no Declaration of Independence?" asked Agent Christopher
Lucy frowned, "Who's to say? This certainly emboldened the colonists to take action against what they believed was an injustice. The Sons of Liberty were at war long before the first shot was fired at Lexington, so this…this was like a major victory pre-war for them."
"Yeah, not like the Boston Massacre where Captain Preston got off on self-defense, right?" Rufus chuckled.
Lucy looked over at Rufus in surprise, "Actually, yeah…how did you know that?"
Wyatt shot a "what the hell" look at Rufus whose mouth fell open in dismay when he realized that this Lucy was not the same Lucy. "Oh…um…I just….ya know…I heard things…when I was at MIT…because ya know…it's near Boston."
Wyatt rolled his eyes and shook his head at Rufus who was by far the worst liar he had ever met. Lucy, however, didn't seem to think anything was strange about Rufus' answer and nodded her head, "You know the Boston Massacre wasn't even really a massacre..."
"That is entirely a matter of perspective," Rufus muttered, "for some people it was."
Agent Christopher nodded her head and clapped her hands together, "Alright, well this sounds like something we don't want Flynn to change, so let's make sure that he doesn't. She surveyed the team, "Lucy, I thought you had the rest of the week off?"
"I did." She threw her head back defiantly, "but I'm fine. I would much rather do this mission then stay behind again. I really would prefer to go if that's alright with you."
Agent Christopher shrugged, "I have no argument against it." She made a chance glance at Wyatt and said with a voice laden with meaning, "Just make sure you take care of yourself out there."
Wyatt followed Lucy towards the locker rooms with a desperate hope at an attempt to steal a small moment before they launched to apologize for earlier that evening, but once again, he underestimated Lucy's swiftness. Before he could catch up with her down the hall, she bolted into the locker room; as Wyatt could not remember a time when she seemed to be in that big of a hurry to change into a corset, he could only imagine she was purposefully trying to avoid him.
She had been back in his life for only a few short hours and in that time, he had somehow managed royally screw up his second chance with her. It was bad enough that he had humiliated her in front of her mother and colleagues, but the fact that he had inadvertently pushed her towards Bam Bam? Bam Bam?! Why couldn't he have just kept his damn mouth shut?
Now that she seemed to be honing up on her evasion skills, he had no idea when he would get the chance to explain. Explain what…he still didn't know. The more he began to think about telling Lucy that in another timeline they were husband and wife, the more he began to feel sick with dread at the thought of her reaction to that news. Add in a baby and the fact that she had died and Wyatt was feeling more convinced than ever that she would run away from him in terror. If he thought she was ducking away from him now, she would probably go completely MIA at those revelations. Wyatt sighed as he tugged on his coat, grateful that for the next few hours, at least, they would be forced to be together.
When Wyatt clambered into the LifeBoat, Rufus was already seated in the Pilot's chair. "Hey man, did you talk to Lucy yet?"
Wyatt huffed as he sat down, "No. I think she's avoiding me."
"Well, can't say that I blame her." Rufus shrugged. "I mean, you show up unannounced to her mother's party looking like some crazed lunatic, then you beat the shit out of her fiancé, and then you set her up on a date with Bam Bam…if you were trying to let her know how you feel about her, you're doing a bang-up job so far."
Wyatt laid his head back on his chair and clenched his eyes shut. Yup. He had screwed up…royally…and that wasn't even counting the fact that Lucy thought Wyatt was fresh off an illegal trip to save his dead wife. Well, technically he was…and he had saved her…but he couldn't tell her that.
An oomph and a whoosh of fabric announced the arrival of Lucy. Wyatt darted up in his chair ready to assist her into the LifeBoat but she had already managed to finagle herself, layers and all, through the open hatch. She was just straightening up her dress preparing to sit, when Wyatt stuttered out, "You…you look pretty…uh…the dress, I mean, it's nice." He inwardly rolled his eyes at himself for such an inane comment and shot Rufus a glare at the thumbs up he mockingly sent his direction.
"Oh…um…thanks." Lucy said shortly as she looked at Wyatt in marked confusion. She sat down and began adjusting her harness, stealing wary glances at him, which Wyatt supposed she was doing because he was sitting as if poised to help her, but couldn't decide whether helping her would be welcome or not. He finally determined that instead of physically helping her with her seatbelt, he would coach her…and again, he wanted to kick his own ass for being so ridiculous….and yet, he couldn't seem to stop himself from going, "Yup…that one goes with that one…and that one goes there."
"Thank you, Wyatt." Lucy finally responded with a curt nod. "I think I figured out." Once again, Rufus shot a thumbs up towards Wyatt as he shook his head at him in frustration and disbelief. Wyatt sat back with a slight groan feeling that this mission couldn't get over soon enough…but then he remembered that Lucy would be going on a date with Bam Bam when they got back and decided that maybe staying in the 18th century for an unforeseeable amount of time wouldn't be such a bad thing.
They sat there in awkward silence while Rufus flipped switches and pressed buttons, each sound seeming to heighten the tension within the tiny compartment. As Wyatt sat there looking at Lucy, his desperation got the best of him and before he could think better of it, he blurted out, "Are you really going on a date with Bam Bam?"
Rufus slowly turned his head to stare at Wyatt in stunned incredulity, as Lucy shifted uncomfortably in her seat, "It's not a date…it's just a drink, there's a difference." she said as she flushed slightly.
The fact that she referred to drinks with Bam Bam as "not a date" made the knot in Wyatt's stomach loosen slightly but he was still not happy with the prospect of her having drinks with the same man who, in another timeline, had shamelessly thrown himself at her the last time they went out to a bar. While that night ended much more favorably for Wyatt than it did for Dave Baumgardner, he somehow thought that this time would be different. Bam Bam was charming, after all, add in a few French phrases, some alcohol, and a dimly lit corner booth and Wyatt lamented the possibilities that could come from such a setting. His displeasure must have shown on his face, because Lucy quirked her eyebrow at him and asked, "Is there any reason why I shouldn't go out for a drink with Bam Bam? Aren't you two good friends?"
Hell yes. He could give plenty of reasons for her not to go out for drinks with Bam Bam. I love you. You were my wife. You were supposed to be the mother of my child. All of those statements, however, got lost somewhere in the confines of his throat as he sat there gaping at her. Rufus raised his eyebrows at Wyatt who looked like a deer caught in headlines as he stammered out the next best excuse he could muster up in the whirlwind that was currently blowing through his brain, "Well…um…you're engaged."
Lucy flushed even more than she had earlier and absolutely refused to meet Wyatt's eyes when she huffed out, "Not anymore."
"I'm sorry." Wyatt said automatically…though he wasn't sorry at all. Lucy's eyes flashed to his as she gave him a reproving stare. "Was it…was it because…of…ya know…because –"
"I really don't want to talk about that right now, if it's all the same to you." Lucy said curtly.
"And I support you 100% in that decision, Lucy." Rufus announced from his chair, while shooting Wyatt a warning glare. "We are on a mission, after all…we're not here to talk about engagements, dates…or affairs…except of course, the affair we're headed to." He looked at Wyatt, "I'm talking about the boat…not anything else."
Wyatt tilted his head towards Rufus with a rueful stare as the Lifeboat sprang to life and deposited them in 1772.
Wyatt had entertained hopes that he would act the role of the gentleman and assist Lucy out of the time machine. He was surprised and disappointed, however, when she quickly unharnessed herself and hopped out of the LifeBoat before he even had a chance to get his bearings. Yup, she was definitely perfecting those evasive maneuvers. He slid down to the ground beside her as she was straightening her skirts and taking in the scenery of the coastal colonial city.
They stood in awkward silence, waiting for Rufus to join them. Lucy was standing apart from him, far too interested in lacy edge of her sleeve to even acknowledge his presence in the near vicinity of her, leaving Wyatt convinced that she didn't want to talk. Wyatt's mind, meanwhile, was abuzz with everything he wished he could say but couldn't. Lucy was upset, he knew, and he had no idea how he could approach her about anything that had passed in the last few hours without upsetting her even more. He had just managed to muster up the courage to ask her about her recent illness when Rufus sidled over to the two of them and rubbed his hands together, "Okay…now what?"
Lucy sighed, "Well, Captain Lindsay heads straight from the harbor to Sabin's Tavern on Main Street. There he meets with some members of the Sons of Liberty…most notably Abraham Whipple and John Brown. To keep everything shrouded in secrecy, they meet in a private room in the back…making plans, melting lead into bullets." Lucy explained as they walked along, "then at 10PM about 64 men camouflage themselves and slip into long boats waiting for them across the street at Fenner's wharf."
Rufus looked out into the bay, "That's a hell of a long way to row…how long does it take them?"
"Hours." Lucy whispered as they entered the town, "the Gaspee burns at 2 in the morning."
Wyatt cleared his throat, "Do you think Flynn is going to be at that tavern?" he kept his eyes trained forward, looking for any sign of the man who had murdered Lucy once before…he would be damned if he was going to let that sonofabitch have a chance to do it again.
"It really just depends." Lucy breathed out, "he could be at the tavern to start trouble before they even get out there…or he could bypass the tavern altogether and go straight to the Gaspee to warn Dudingston…though, I'm not sure what kind of damage he could do that way. There's only 27 crew man on the Gaspee.
"Yeah…but if Flynn tells them they're coming, he could blast them all to hell with the cannons before they even have a chance to get onboard." Wyatt said tersely. Lucy bit her lip as she paused in the street, her brow furrowed in thought, "It would be over before it even begins."
"Well," said Lucy as she looked at the tavern before them, "let's go see what we can figure out in there…if Flynn doesn't show up here, then we can…I don't know, let them know they might be headed into a trap."
Wyatt nodded at her…marveling inwardly at how well they worked together. She might very well hate the sight of him right now, but when it came to the team, the mission, she was as professional as ever. Whatever was happening in their personal lives, Lucy seemed to effortlessly push it to the back burner and focus on the objective. She really was quite amazing. Every mission he had gone on without her he had missed her knowledge and expertise; he felt like he was flying blind. With her beside him, he could see the mission unfold, understand the objectives and zero in on Flynn's angle in a way that…made him realize that how great a team they really were. "We'll get a room." he offered, "since the wharf is right here, that gives us a good vantage point without exposing ourselves to Flynn…that is, if he's hanging around here."
It was late afternoon when they entered the tavern, just an hour or so before Captain Lindsay was due to arrive with news of the Gaspee's vulnerable state. Wyatt and Lucy were greeted by the innkeeper, James Sabin, himself while Rufus was shown to the servant quarters in the back. He muttered something that sounded suspiciously like "I hate this century" before he disappeared beyond a side door.
The prospect of "playing a role" which would allow him to get closer to Lucy…and be alone with Lucy was something of a happy bonus on this mission, particularly since what was waiting for them when they got back to the present was something so unpleasant…well, it was unpleasant for Wyatt, anyway. He wasn't sure how Lucy felt about her "non-date" with Bam Bam, but she had agreed to go and so that had to mean something. Right?
Wyatt greeted the Mr. Sabin with a smile as he wrapped his arm around Lucy's waist and pulled her closer immediately delighting in the familiar feel of her against him. "Good afternoon, my wife and I are looking for accommodations for the night."
He said it with an ease and casualness that absolutely took Lucy by surprise. True, they had posed as a couple on other missions…but usually that was because others had assumed they were together. Never before had Wyatt openly referred to her as his wife, he merely went along with the assumption. She understood why, of course. Jessica was his lightning bolt, his one and only, so to even pretend that he was in a relationship with someone else, had to be painful. Lucy remembered with a pang how terrible she felt that Wyatt had to relive the night he proposed to Jessica and pretend that had been with her. She had forgotten to take off her engagement ring and Bonnie and Clyde had assumed…too much…far too much. She felt like such an intruder on one of the most special moments of their relationship and when he had kissed her, she felt…well, she felt guilty for feeling anything at all. After the mission, Wyatt made it clear that they were just playing a role. He had only kissed her so that they could avoid certain death. There was nothing behind it. No need to get all excited. No use talking about possibilities. They were just dodging a literal bullet. What a blow to the ego that was…particularly since that kiss…that stupid kiss had replayed in her mind about a thousand times since that day.
For him to now be holding her close and referring to her as his wife, with no hint of embarrassment or unease made her heart flutter, despite the fact that she was mentally screaming at herself not to be swept up and away by another "role." Wyatt had just stolen the LifeBoat to save Jessica, after all…and, she noted, as she looked down at his left hand, he was wearing his wedding ring. She eased herself away from him as soon as Mr. Sabin had his back turned and followed him up the narrow staircase.
The room they were given was well-proportioned and the one and only window faced the wharf, which Lucy found thought was immensely fortunate. She could watch for any sign of Garcia Flynn from the safety of their room, and since they were staying in the tavern where the raiders would meet, Wyatt could join the men downstairs for a drink and discover whether any of them had seen a "tall man with a funny accent."
Lucy was all ready to discuss the finer points of the mission, but as soon as they were left alone, Wyatt turned abruptly and immediately began to apologize, "Lucy…I'm so sorry –" he began.
Lucy's heart caught in her throat as she tried to maintain her composure, "No…it's fine…it's just a role, right?"
Confusion and then pain flashed across Wyatt's expression when he realized that Lucy thought he was apologizing for referring to her as his wife. He hung his head and cast his eyes to the floor, "No…" he said quietly, "I meant for earlier…"
"Oh…" Lucy breathed out and then added with a sardonic smirk, "You mean for literally destroying everything I've been working on for my mother while confined to a hospital bed?"
Wyatt clenched his eyes shut, "Yeah…and for ya know…mauling you like some crazy asshole in front of Noah…and everyone."
Lucy frowned as she shook her head at him, "He shouldn't…he shouldn't have said those things to you."
Wyatt scoffed, "I can't say I wouldn't have done the same if I saw someone with their hands all over yo…I mean, my fiancé." He really couldn't because the reason he had challenged Noah in the first place was because had his hands all over Lucy…who until recently had been his wife. Seeing him kiss Lucy, stand next to Lucy…declare Lucy as his…it had been too much for Wyatt to bear in that moment. He had just risked everything to get her back only to have that asshole remind him that in this timeline he was nothing more to her than a friend, a co-worker…easily dismissed and disregarded.
Lucy rolled her eyes slightly as she crossed her arms over her chest, "I told you, he's not my fiancé anymore."
"I'm sorry about that too." Wyatt lied.
Lucy let out a derisive laugh, "No, you're not." She eyed him knowingly, "You never liked Noah."
Wyatt had to purse his lips together to avoid smiling at the familiar conversation. "You're right," he admitted answering in the same vein in which he responded to the other Lucy's similar accusation, "I thought the guy was a creep from the get go…you didn't even know his last name."
She frowned as she cast her eyes downward, "You were right…you know, I should have ended it right away…as soon as I found out about him."
"C'mon Lucy, don't…"
"Don't what? Admit that I was too afraid of losing someone who cared about me…loved me…enough to want to marry me? That, after I lost my sister I was just so desperate that I couldn't let go of someone who…God…despite me not even remembering the details of our engagement, still wanted to…" Wyatt was looking at her earnestly with tears in his eyes and Lucy swallowed hard, "I'm sorry…I shouldn't be saying any of this." She gestured to him with her hand, "You just tried to get back Jessica…I didn't mean to –"
"No, Lucy." Wyatt reached out and grabbed her hand, "It's okay…I…um…" he took a deep breath to steady his quavering voice, "I never should have gone after Jessica." He couldn't bring himself to look at her as he admitted, "I almost lost everything trying to bring her back."
Lucy gave him a wry smile not understanding his full meaning, "I still don't know how you managed to not get kicked off the team. I don't even know how you managed to escape prison." she chuckled as she drew her hand away from him and sat down on the bed. "Agent Christopher must have a soft spot for you."
"Yeah…" Wyatt muttered, disappointed that she had pulled away and shifted the conversation. He wished that he could tell her everything, but he had no idea how to even begin that conversation. A pain throbbed in his temple as he walked over to the window and looked at the bay spread out in front of them. The coastal town of colonial Providence was beautiful against the backdrop of a setting sun. In another timeline, Wyatt mused, he and Lucy would be thoroughly enjoying their time alone together, without Rufus reminding them that they were on the clock. He looked over at this Lucy with a pang of sadness…she had no idea how much she meant to him, she had no idea that he had risked everything to save her and not Jessica. She was right here with him, and yet he felt like she was out of his reach…first, because she was with Noah and now, Bam Bam.
"Wyatt? What happened to you?" Lucy's voice called him out of his reverie.
Wyatt turned from the window to see Lucy studying him with a serious expression on her face. He shook his head lightly, "What do you mean?"
Lucy scoffed as she stood up and crossed over to him, "Look at yourself, Wyatt. You showed up at my mother's party looking absolutely wild. There's dark circles under your eyes…it looks like you haven't slept in weeks, your face bruised and…"
Wyatt's stomach growled loudly.
Lucy arched her eyebrow, "When was the last time you ate something?"
"I'm fine." Wyatt muttered awkwardly. Lucy gave him a doubtful stare as his stomach growled again, "I had a Snickers bar before we left, okay?"
"That does not count, Wyatt." She studied him closely; he was pale except for the dark circles under his eyes, he looked tired, he was shaking slightly…and he was most definitely a bit thinner. "When was the last time you had a meal?"
Wyatt thought…he had managed to eat one piece of pizza that Rufus had brought over, but beyond that…the last full meal he had was the morning that Lucy had died…several days ago. The memory of that day brought tears to his eyes, but Wyatt blinked them away and shrugged, "I don't know…it's been a while."
"Wyatt," Lucy shook her head at him with a look of pity, "you need to eat." He continued to scan the grounds outside the window and Lucy's heart broke at the sight of him looking so worn down and broken. This latest disappointment on his quest to save Jessica had certainly taken a toll on him. "Look," she sighed, "we've got an hour before Captain Lindsay arrives. Why don't we go down to the tavern and have dinner or something? Then we can be right in the midst of everything when he comes in without looking suspicious."
Wyatt turned towards her slowly and smirked, "Are you asking me on a date, ma'am?"
Lucy colored, "Well...I mean…you told them we were married…that's what married people should do…right?" she gulped, "Have dinner together?"
Wyatt shrugged, "Of course."
"Alright then, let's go have dinner…" she lifted one side of her mouth in a small smile, "…sweetheart." Lucy said as she pulled open the door to their room.
Wyatt smirked to himself and muttered softly, "Right behind you, baby doll."
