A/N: Thank you, Timeless Badger and Danielle, for your reviews. I'm glad that you can breathe a sigh of relief that it was just a vision! =) Here's the next chapter. And as always, thank you so much for your dedication to this story! Enjoy!
In the main living area, Denise's dark eyes drifted about the bunker. The decision weighed heavily on her mind. She knew what she had to do - it was in the best interest of those around her. She worried about the ramifications of doing something without the approval of her superiors but the others had a point. Someone was working for Rittenhouse, and maybe even Bloodstone, within Homeland Security. It was probably better to ask for forgiveness over permission in this situation.
She licked her lips, turning to face Connor Mason, Jiya, and Wyatt. "Do we still have the location for this secret Bloodstone place?"
"You're really going to do it?" Mason questioned, raising an eyebrow at her. "What about Homeland-"
She shook her head. "You're right," she sighed with a shrug, "I've been doing this by the book for so long," she admitted. "Maybe I'm the reason for this attack and possibly the next one. I will support the decision to move and ask for permission after the fact."
"When do we leave?" Wyatt questioned, crossing his arms over his chest. "What should we be packing?"
Agent Christopher held a hand out to make him wait. "We should have this conversation with everyone present." She eyed him carefully before emphasizing, "Everyone..."
Wyatt motioned down the hall with one hand. "Then let's do that." He marched down the hall to gather the others. He poked his head into his room, spotting Lucy. "Hey," he told her. "We've got a meeting."
Lucy's brows knitted together but nodded. She followed him out into the hall. She glanced over to see Mason and Christopher entering Jiya's room. She followed them.
Wyatt pushed the infirmary door open. "Hey-" his voice halted mid-sentence. His eyes darted about the bloody scene within. "What the hell happened?"
Flynn turned his gaze from a nervous looking Tenley to a suspicious Wyatt. "I took care of it."
"Oh, you did, did you?" Wyatt challenged him. "Want to explain why it looks like a warzone in here?" He motioned with his chin toward Tenley's bound wrist. "What's wrong with your wrist?"
Flynn stood up before Tenley had a chance to respond. He stepped in the path of Wyatt's view. "I told you," he said, voice laced with a warning. "I took care of it."
Wyatt studied Flynn for a moment, sizing him up. He scoffed, shaking his head. "Right. Whatever." He scratched the back of his head before saying, "Agent Christopher wants a meeting. It's going to be in Rufus's room."
Flynn waited until Wyatt left before he turned around to look at Tenley. He could see the subtle fear behind her eyes as she gazed at him. She shook her head, motioning toward the place Wyatt stood moments before. "He's going to kill me."
Flynn shook his head. "He won't."
She shot him a look - the same that said she didn't believe him. He reached out to help her out of the chair. The two walked across the hall and into Rufus's room where the others had gathered.
The moment the two entered Rufus's and Jiya's room, all eyes landed on them. Tenley started to slink behind Flynn but he kept his firm yet gentle grip on her, keeping her next to him. He didn't want her to feel like she had to hide behind him when they were around the others. She was just a part of this team than any of them - maybe more so.
Agent Christopher turned her attention to everyone gathered. "We have a decision to make." She placed her hands on her hips. "I need an honest answer," she told them, "because it is unfair of me to make the call when everyone's lives are at stake." Her dark eyes darted about the others. "So...what's it going to be?"
Flynn scanned the room before clearing his throat to speak. "I'd rather we find somewhere else to hole up in," he admitted. "If Jiya's vision holds true," he glanced over at her, "and she hasn't been wrong yet...then I think we need to consider the options before us."
Jiya gave Flynn a small thankful smile. She hadn't expected him to be supportive and believing in her. She nodded as she turned her gaze back to Agent Christopher. "I agree with Flynn."
"Seriously?" Wyatt scoffed.
Rufus shot Wyatt a look. "I agree with Flynn, too...I don't want to tempt fate any more than we do already. I want to get out before her vision happens and we all die."
"We wouldn't all die-" Wyatt started.
Rufus glared at the soldier. "We. All. Die." He scoffed, shaking his head. "If it were Lucy here," he motioned to Jiya in bed, "instead of Jiya, would you be more agreeable?"
"I think we can plan an ambush-" Wyatt started.
Rufus interrupted him, "And what happens when they come again? Or again after that? Are you planning to lie in wait all the time to prevent them from murdering all of us in our sleep?"
Wyatt opened his mouth to speak but Denise raised her hands to stop them. "This isn't a debate," she said. "Right now, we need to discuss our options. I have three willing to leave. Wyatt clearly wants to stay."
Mason's eyes lingered on the exhausted frame of Jiya. He lifted his eyes to Rufus, seeing the fear for the woman he loved on his face as he silently begged Mason to do the right thing. Mason already knew his answer. Without breaking eye contact with Rufus, he said, "Leave."
Denise nodded slowly, unsurprised by Mason's answer. Her eyes drifted past Wyatt to Lucy. Lucy shifted in her place, her dark eyes struggling to avoid Wyatt's heated gaze. She licked her lips before a small sigh escaped her. "Leave…"
"What?" Wyatt gasped. "You can't be serious-"
"It makes sense, Wyatt," Lucy tried to say.
"Did you forget what Bloodstone did?" Wyatt asked. He motioned over to Tenley as he continued, "Did you forget they were looking for you and confused you with her?" Lucy opened her mouth to reply but he kept going, "Did you forget they tried to kill her thinking she was you?" He turned to the others, ignoring the confused look on Tenley's face as he shouted, "Am I seriously the only one who remembers how many times Bloodstone has tried to kill us?"
Mason was the first to speak. "But they haven't in quite some time…"
"So, that makes it all better?" Wyatt questioned, arms falling to his sides in frustration.
Rufus's head cocked with a thought. "Actually, Mason's got a point." When all eyes turned to look at Rufus, he stated, "Think about it for a moment… when we first heard about Bloodstone, Emma said they were contacts of theirs...then we discovered they separated from Rittenhouse, fighting for control over the other. One of the Bloodstone agents mentioned it was Carol's organization, right?" He paused long enough to take in everyone's confused looks. He sighed, shaking his head, trying to gather his conflicting thoughts. "Future Jiya mentioned we were working with Bloodstone and Quinn mentioned he stole the documents Carol was working on-"
Mason finally caught up with Rufus's train of thought. "You're suggesting that the head of Bloodstone has changed hands over the course of our meeting them…" he scoffed as he shook his head slightly. "My God, it does make sense."
Wyatt glanced between the two. "Would someone please share with the rest of us in simpler terms?"
Mason stepped forward, taking the lead. "Our future is decided by our actions in the present, correct? What Rufus is trying to say is our decisions have not only helped Bloodstone come into play but it would appear, they have also changed who has been in control."
A silence fell over the room. Wyatt crossed his arms over his chest. "You're saying we're never going to know who is behind Bloodstone?"
"I didn't say that-"
Wyatt cut him off. "If our actions are always changing the person-"
"I didn't say-"
"You realize we're never going to figure it out then-"
It was Mason's turn to finally interrupt Wyatt. "I never said we'd never figure out who is behind it. I simply said it is possible that the leadership has changed because of our actions."
Wyatt ran a hand through his hair. "I miss the simple days of chasing Flynn through time - no Rittenhouse, no Bloodstone - just a simple mission-"
Flynn licked his lips, shaking his head. He wanted to get the conversation back on track. The last thing he needed was Wyatt to reminisce about his time labeled as a 'terrorist'. "What's the verdict then?"
Denise looked at everyone. With a heavy sigh, she shook her head. "It would appear that only two are in favor of staying."
"So," Rufus began, drawing the word out. "We're leaving?"
She nodded aimlessly. "I guess so. I'll give you a couple of hours to pack up what you need." She turned to Rufus. "Do you still have the location?"
Rufus nodded, approaching Agent Christopher. She looked over to Wyatt and Flynn. "Get geared up," she told them. "Rufus will pilot us to the site and we will clear it out."
Wyatt's eyes brightened with the order, clearly happy to hear it. He brushed by the others, not looking at any of them.
Flynn turned to gaze at Tenley briefly. He could see the panic behind her eyes. He smiled at her reassuringly. "It'll be okay."
"What if it's a trap?" she asked.
He shook his head. "Something tells me that Rowan wouldn't set up a trap for us."
"How do you know?" she questioned.
Flynn grasped her shoulders gently, squeezing them slightly to comfort her. "Because he loves you too much to do something like that." He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, lips brushing her skin as he whispered, "I'll be back before you know it." He released his hold on her and marched out of Jiya's room to gear up for the mission ahead. Rufus followed him out after kissing Jiya goodbye.
Agent Christopher looked at those remaining. "Pack up whatever you can. When things are cleared out and secured, we'll start moving our things to this new place."
Tenley and Lucy followed Denise out into the main living area where the others had begun climbing into the Lifeboat. Lucy's eyes drifted over to the rigid frame of Wyatt in combat gear. She knew he was mad at her for suggesting they leave the bunker but she knew it was the right choice.
Tenley watched as Flynn turned to gaze at her. He offered another small reassuring smile before he climbed into the Lifeboat behind Wyatt.
Agent Christopher was the last into the Lifeboat. The hatch closed and the machine disappeared.
Lucy glanced over at Tenley. She saw the girl's expression and closed the gap between them. She wrapped her arms around Tenley's shoulders. "It'll be okay," she said. "Let's get to packing."
Tenley side-glanced over to Lucy, forcing herself to smile at the woman. She nodded and the two headed down the hall to begin packing for the move upcoming.
Somewhere Unknown
Present Time
The Lifeboat landed on a small padded floor, muffling the familiar clank it usually gave when landing. The hatch opened slowly. Wyatt leaned out of the opening, gun aimed before him as he scanned the immediate surroundings.
"Clear," he muttered quietly. He slowly dropped to the padded floor before the Lifeboat. He motioned for the others to follow.
Flynn rolled his eyes at Wyatt as he jumped out. He turned and helped Agent Christopher out. Once both were out, they lifted their weapons out before them, scanning the area.
The padded room was large enough to hold both time machines, plus room for more. The entire room, floor to ceiling was padded with a tough material made to last and muffle any sounds of the machines coming and going. There were two large mirrors off to each side of the doorway.
There was a door leading out of the landing room. Wyatt and Flynn approached the door, standing on either side. Wyatt mouthed to Flynn as he counted down. When he reached zero, he opened the door and Flynn lifted his gun before him, eyes darting around the new area. It was empty.
Wyatt slipped out of the open door first, gun aimed before him. Flynn followed as Agent Christopher brought up the rear. The large hallway was wide enough to fit five people across shoulder to shoulder. The walls and floor were smooth concrete. Lining the walls were tall black metal lockers, fully stocked with tactical gear, weapons, and ammunition of all kinds. This hallway had three doors - one they just came from and one straight before them. The third door led to a smaller room filled with all of the command controls and computers, dedicated to the machines. Glancing out of the window, they realized it was two-way mirrors inside the landing room.
Repeating their actions from before, Wyatt opened the door and Flynn darted into the doorway, scanning the area with his gun held out before him. His eyes widened as he took in the next room. He shook his head, letting Wyatt know it was void of enemies.
The group slowly entered the new room. It was a large room with warm beige painted walls and lush light brown carpet. They spotted a full kitchen, complete with appliances and gas range for cooking, and a large harvest table with matching wooden chairs surrounding it.
Across the room from the kitchen, they spotted an entertainment room, with three matching grey couches, a large TV, two bookshelves - one filled with movies and music, the other with books, both organized alphabetically. Sitting directly in the center between the three couches was a coffee table with magazines neatly stacked on the top and the remotes to the TV and entertainment devices lined up beside it. Rufus even spotted a few video game consoles lined up underneath the TV. He felt like he was in heaven.
Tucked around the corner of the entertainment area, they spotted a cozy reading nook, complete with a few lounging chairs, a sofa, and fully stocked bookshelves. Sitting near the different chairs and the sofa were end tables. In the center, on a blue rug was a coffee table with fresh wildflowers.
Wyatt glanced over to the others, confusion written on his face. He turned his gaze back to the room, scanning the layout, and spotting another hallway. He meandered that way carefully, Flynn and the others close behind.
The hallway was decorated the same as the main room, not as wide as the first hallway they had come in from. They stopped at the first room, glancing around the doorframe to peek inside.
This room was lined with mirrors, more of the same padding from the landing room on the floor. Workout equipment and weights were set up neatly. A stack of freshly laundered white towels was set on a counter with bottled waters for the taking.
They moved further in, stopping at the next doorway. Inside, they spotted a full hospital, complete with medical equipment that would make Tenley incredibly happy to see. From their cursory glance in, they noticed everything seemed fully stocked and at the ready for a moment's notice.
With each room they checked, they noticed the pattern of everything having been set up in anticipation of their arrival. Each bedroom had a king-sized bed, fully made. A bookshelf with space for their personal belongings, a large dresser for their clothes, and a private en-suite attached, complete with a soaker tub and dual sinks.
Flynn had noticed there were enough bedrooms in this place to hold an army if it came down to it. He also realized Tenley would finally have her own room - not just the infirmary to sleep in.
Despite the beauty of the place, the fully stocked kitchen, and amenities, Flynn couldn't help but wonder what Bloodstone had to gain from all of this. There simply had to be a catch. He just didn't know what it was.
The group returned to the main room once they finished working their way through the facility. Wyatt asked, "Did anyone see a door in or out of this place?"
Agent Christopher shook her head. "I didn't." The others shook their heads. "It certainly is secure."
"And fully stocked with literally everything we'd ever want," Rufus mentioned. "It makes living here seem better than life outside the bunker."
Flynn shifted in his place. "Actually, that's what has me concerned."
Wyatt nodded in agreement. "I agree. This is too much."
"What happened to 'they want to help us'?" Rufus asked. He scoffed. "There's one way in and out of this place. It has everything we need to be comfortable…" he motioned toward the general area where the infirmary was, "Tenley could finally see if something's wrong with Jiya-"
Agent Christopher studied the men carefully. She asked, "What do we do? If we stay at the bunker, you know what that could mean. If we come here, what does that mean in the end?"
Wyatt licked his lips. "I think we should try to set up the ambush. Maybe take Rittenhouse out of the picture while we can-"
"You can't just take out a whole organization on one night," Rufus scoffed. He pointed to Flynn. "He tried that approach, remember?"
"What if we used this place temporarily?" Wyatt suggested. "Just until Rittenhouse moves on-"
"Moves on?" Rufus repeated. "When do they move on from anything?"
Denise raised her hands again. "Let's get back to the bunker and update the others."
"And what happens if we leave and someone comes here to wait for us to return?" Wyatt asked. "They knew when we'd be here," he motioned around them, "hence why, despite them saying they won't be here in 15 years, it's fully stocked."
She looked at the man. "What do you suggest?"
"I stay behind," Wyatt offered. "I stay here, make sure everything is safe for when you return."
"And if someone does come while we're gone?" she asked.
He shrugged, clearly unimpressed. "I'll deal with them." The three stared at him, a mixture of shock and uncertainty washing over their expressions. Wyatt pressed his lips into a thin line as he glared back at them. "I'm a soldier, it's what I do."
Agent Christopher sighed, letting her shoulders fall slightly. "Okay," she finally agreed. "We shouldn't be gone long...looks like packing will be simple enough."
Rufus whispered, "Don't get blood on the carpet, okay?" Wyatt rolled his eyes as he watched the three walk away toward the Lifeboat.
