I mentioned many many months ago that I was considering a companion piece or two for Torrent...specifically the other timelines. Yes, I know I am in the throes of two multi-chapter fics, but I wanted to surprise you all with this one because dang it, one day it just popped in my head and would not go away. It won't be terribly long, I'm just getting them to San Francisco so you can see "how they hit it off" and then one day, someday...I'll do Lucy's timeline where they come back from 1962 and she and Wyatt are engaged (because of what happened in this timeline) - if you haven't read Torrent, I'm sure that's confusing, but just go with it...this fic can stand on its own as an AU.
That said, I hope you enjoy it.
Sighing heavily at the sea of red tail lights ahead of him, Wyatt Logan slowed his Jeep to a halt, cursing his damn luck that he had decided not to take I-5 out of Los Angeles and instead, opted to take the scenic route along US Highway 101. Well, he hadn't really decided as much as his buddies had told him that if he was going to be heading all the way up to San Francisco, he might as well make the most of the drive.
On a typical day, Wyatt would have ignored their advice, choosing speed over scenic ocean views…but this wasn't a typical day. Today, he needed and wanted to relax...and that was going to be hard to do if he was forced to suffer through bumper to bumper traffic all damn day. "C'mon!" he moaned to no one but himself as he laid a heavy hand on the horn, protesting yet another vehicle inching into his lane.
Dammit. This was why he never went anywhere…well, not for fun anyway.
As it was, Wyatt Logan was rarely ever in a position to take a vacation…or rather, he rarely ever allowed himself the opportunity for one. As a Delta Force soldier, he was expected to be the best of the best and so most of his free time he spent training; shooting, running, hand to hand combat, martial arts…whatever he could do to improve his already stellar record. Missions were also frequent and usually long…and here lately, he had been volunteering for them almost as soon as they cropped up.
He was alone, after all…so, why wouldn't he?
Of course, he hadn't always been alone. Wyatt's grandfather had practically raised him after his no-account, world-class sonofabitch of a father had nearly beaten him within an inch of his life. Unlike his dad, Wyatt's Grandpa Sherwin was a man of integrity and virtue; everything he had ever learned about being a good, upstanding citizen came from their many talks together. Grandpa Sherwin hadn't just been his own personal hero, he had also been a hero in the World War II as a member of the famous 101st Airbourne division. Hearing his stories of bravery and sacrifice growing up, Wyatt wanted nothing more than to be just like him….to make him proud. Therefore, there was no question when he turned eighteen about what he was going to do with his life; he would join the Army, just like his grandpa did at his age. It was a proud moment, for both of them…but for Wyatt, it wasn't enough. He needed to prove to himself that he was every bit the soldier his grandfather was…and that confirmation finally came when he was selected for Delta Force…though it had come at a price.
Apart from his Grandpa Sherwin, Wyatt had found solace and comfort in the arms of his high school sweetheart, Jessica. Young, in love, and ready to escape the small West Texas life together, they got married fresh out of basic training. Looking back, they were too young to appreciate or understand the challenges that came with marriage…and with the added stress and separation that came from military life, especially with the rigors that went into his Delta Force training…well, it turned out to be too much. Fights were frequent, Jessica had wandered during his deployment to Kandahar and while Wyatt absolutely blamed her at the time of their messy divorce, after resuming the mantle of bachelorhood for a few months, he couldn't help but see that his long absences, his commitment to training, his focus on living up to the ideal he believed his grandfather wanted him to be, had driven a wedge between them. He was too proud to admit it then, hell, he was too proud to admit it now…but he still wanted to make things right.
Yes, he and Jessica had divorced…but after some reflection and a very dangerous mission in Syria for nearly a year, Wyatt had come home, ready to try again. Booking a trip to San Francisco, he had hoped to surprise her. Even if it didn't lead to a reconciliation of their marriage, he hoped, at least, it would help them bury the hatchet and at least part ways on good terms.
He should've known better.
Flowers in hand, he nervously approached her doorstep, only to have his knock answered by a half-naked, tanned, douchebag with frosted tips and an obvious love for Axe body spray. If that weren't humiliating enough, Jessica appeared moments later, clad in only a t-shirt, looking somewhere between livid and embarrassed that Wyatt had intruded on their apparent afternoon off.
He didn't stay long after that…he didn't even say a word…what, really, was there left to say? Jessica had obviously moved on and while he couldn't begrudge her the chance to do so, the fact that he had been replaced by some asshole who looked like an extra from Point Break was enough to make him want to drop kick the 20-something dreadlocked surfer currently smiling and waving to him as he slowly maneuvered his Volkswagon bus into the miniscule space between Wyatt's Jeep and the Miata that had done the same, just moments before.
Why the hell had he taken the Pacific Coast Highway?
Cursing under his breath, he forcefully flipped on his right blinker. If every asshole in the right lane was going to come piling into the left one, maybe he would have better luck there.
And after a while, he did.
As car after car moved from the right to the left lane, Wyatt found himself inching forward, little by little until he finally saw the source of all his frustration; a silver Porsche 911, stalled in the middle of the damn road, its hazards blinking rhythmically while the driver sat within, occasionally extending her hand out of the window to wave cars around her.
Wyatt rolled his eyes, silently cursing whatever jackass decided to give this woman a license, let alone a damn car.
Growing up as he did in West Texas, he wasn't used to the rich and famous types Southern California seemed to mass produce. The girls he knew in high school, even the cheerleaders, knew how to check their oil, and change a tire. These California girls? He doubted they even knew how to pump their own gas. As he watched car afree car swerve around her, he was tempted to do the same, but somewhere in the backend of his mind he remembered his Grandpa Sherwin and thought about what he would do in that situation. The driver may have been an irresponsible, helpless, *%$ , but that didn't mean he had to be. All he needed to do was get her car out of the damn road, offer to call a tow truck, smile and his good deed would be done for the day. Five minutes...maybe ten and he and everyone else stuck on this highway could be on their way.
Well, everyone except her…but he really didn't give a damn about that. He just wanted to get to San Francisco.
Sighing heavily, Wyatt parked his Jeep on the shoulder and got out, fully expecting some Kim Kardashian type to be sitting at the wheel obliviously applying her make-up or chatting on her cell phone. What he didn't expect was a woman, about his age, slouched down low in the seat with her hands covering her face.
Furrowing his brow in confusion, Wyatt cleared his throat, "Are…are you alright, ma'am?" He asked tentatively.
"I've called Triple A." she answered, her voice muffled by her hands, "It's just going to take them a while to get someone out here…I'm sorry."
"What's wrong with your car?" he asked, hoping to God she wouldn't say she ran out of gas, yet half-expecting her to.
"How am I supposed to know?" she moaned as she finally removed her hands from her face and peered up at him, blinking against the bright California sun. "It just shut down…here in the middle of this stupid highway…ugh…I knew I should have just flown to San Diego."
Wyatt raised his eyebrows in amusement, "Well, I hate to tell you this ma'am, but if you're going to San Diego, you're pointed the wrong direction. San Diego is that way." he added as he nodded his head towards the south.
"I realize that." she said with a roll of her eyes, "I'm coming back from San Diego." Grabbing her phone and looking at her GPS, she groaned, "Ugh...I'm never going to get back in time…my mother is going to kill me."
"You're going to have a lot more people lined up to do that if you don't get your car out of this lane." Wyatt said matter of factly, "You've got traffic blocked up for a couple of miles."
"Well, what am I supposed to do?" she spat out in exasperation. "It's not like I can go anywhere! I'm stuck here."
Rubbing his hand across his face in exasperation, Wyatt shook his head, "Put your car in neutral, ma'am."
"I'm sorry? What?" she asked.
"Your car." Wyatt said more clearly, "Put it in neutral…ma'am…that's what the "N" stands for."
"I know what neutral is," she spat back, clearly annoyed, "I just didn't hear you. And by the way, we're pretty much the same age so you can stop calling me ma'am."
Wyatt wanted to tell her off, but he couldn't help but smirk at how easily riled she was over something he considered to be polite manners, "Well, what would you like me to call you?" he asked with a half-hearted shrug.
"Lucy is fine." she said with as grunt she changed gears. "Okay…now…Hey!" she called out loudly when looked up to find that Wyatt was no longer next to her window. "Wh…what am I supposed to do?" she asked, but no sooner had the question been asked then her car lurched forward, taking her completely by surprise. Yelping in fright, Lucy frantically stomped her foot on the brake...which sent Wyatt reeling.
"What the hell are you doing?" his frustrated voice called from behind her car, "I'm trying to move you out of the damn road. Steer!"
"Oh." Lucy breathed out in realization as she lifted her foot from the brake and began turning the wheel roughly. Wyatt shook his head, muttering under his breath as he resumed pushing her car to the safety of the shoulder. As the sound of appreciative honks and shouts from motorists now zooming along their merry way echoed through the air, Wyatt felt the urge to join them as soon as possible. This was supposed to be his vacation, dammit, and he had no intention of wasting any more time on this…on her…especially after she had snapped at him for calling her "ma'am."
Ungrateful, that's what she was. Ungrateful.
After getting Lucy safely situated on the side of the road, Wyatt was ready to dust off his hands and be done with her, but no sooner had he taken his hands off the trunk of her Porsche, then Lucy stepped out of the car with a look of pure apology on her face. It was the first-time Wyatt had gotten a proper look at her since stopping on the side of the road. She was small and thin, but very pretty with chocolate brown hair and dark eyes that, to his surprise, were now brimming with tears.
"Oh, my goodness, thank you." she exclaimed as she rushed forward to meet him, "I'm so so sorry I snapped at you earlier…this…this has just not been my day."
"That makes two of us." Wyatt couldn't help but mutter as he rolled his eyes and huffed out a breath. Lucy, however, didn't hear him because her phone had chimed at that exact moment and now she was currently wrapped up in reading the long message that had flashed onto her screen.
"Ugh" she breathed out as she typed back in frustration, "How am I supposed to know what's wrong, mom? I'm not a mechanic." Throwing her phone back in her purse, Lucy smiled at Wyatt sheepishly, "Look, I really am sorry about earlier…I just…no one was stopping…I was getting honked at and flipped off left and right…it just...it just made an already bad situation, worse. I didn't mean to take it out on you…I mean, you stopped when no one else did."
Wyatt sighed. Of course she was having a bad day. Her car had left her stranded in the middle of a damn highway, alone...and with no one to help her. No one, that is, until he came along. He had no idea how long she sat there, embarrassed, waiting for help...but he imagined that by the time he showed up, she had just about had enough. Hell, his own frustrations with himself over Jessica had put him in a piss ass mood, so really, how could he judge her? Feeling a little guilty about being kind of an ass, Wyatt decided he would do his best to make it up to her, "Pop your hood." he requested with a nod towards her car, "Let's see what the problem is."
"Oh…are…are you a mechanic?" Lucy asked hopefully.
"No." Wyatt said with a smirk and shake of his head, "but I know a thing or two about cars."
Lifting her hood once the lever was released, Wyatt rolled up his sleeves and began examining the engine. After having her attempt to start it a few times, Wyatt slammed the hood down and shrugged, "Looks like you need a new alternator…and your belt could use replacing too."
Hearing this, Lucy groaned, "Is…is that bad?" she asked nervously. "I mean, will it take long to fix?"
Wyatt shrugged, "Well, it shouldn't take too long, just as long as wherever the hell they take you has the right parts. I could jump start it for you now and get you a little further down the road, but the way your belt is looking, I wouldn't risk it. If it breaks, you could burn up your whole engine."
"I'm guessing that would be really bad…"
"Yeah." Wyatt agreed with a chuckle and a nod of his head, "it would be bad." He pulled out a handkerchief from his back pocket and wiped his hands, "Were you having any issues before this happened? Trouble starting it, lights going out…anything like that?"
"I don't…I don't know." she admitted with a frustrated shrug, "technically this isn't even my car…I'm just borrowing it."
Wyatt raised his eyebrows, "Someone let you borrow their Porsche to drive to San Diego?" He scoffed, "You must have some very nice friends." Lucy, however, said nothing, but instead, buried her face in her hands and moaned. Unsure of what to say or do anymore now that she was safely out of the middle of the road, Wyatt waved awkwardly, "Alright, well…Lucy...good luck with your car and getting to wherever it is you're going…"
Dropping her hands from her face, Lucy gaped at him in horror, "You're leaving?"
"Well, yeah…" Wyatt said with a shrug, "You said you called Triple A, right? So, they'll make sure you get taken care of."
"Right...okay." Lucy said with a nod, looking even more anxious than before. Wyatt gave her another wave and headed to his Jeep when Lucy called to him, suddenly remembering, "Oh…wait! Please!" She called as Wyatt turned to face her, "I need to thank you…I mean, for stopping and helping…you really didn't have to…" she began as she fumbled with her purse.
Wyatt scoffed, "Well you were kind of already stopping traffic, so…"
"I know," she admitted in a rueful voice, "but I…this has never happened to me before…I didn't know what to do…I still don't." She looked agitated and nervous as she pulled out her wallet and mumbled in embarrassment, "I don't think I have any cash…would…would you take a check?"
Wyatt let out an incredulous laugh, "A check? For what?"
"For…for helping me move my car…and you know" she added with a shrug, "… inconveniencing you."
"For…" Wyatt scoffed, very nearly offended by her offer, "you don't have to pay me for giving you a hand, okay? Just…keep your money." He nodded towards the car, "you're gonna need it to fix that alternator, those things aren't exactly cheap…especially for a Porsche."
"Oh…right...sorry." Lucy muttered as she returned her wallet to her purse with shaky hands. "Th…thanks again!" she cried over the din of traffic but Wyatt had already made his way back to his Jeep, and merely returned her expression of gratitude with a half-hearted wave.
As Wyatt got back in his car, however, he glanced back up at Lucy. She was pacing anxiously, nervously checking her watch and looking absolutely terrified…and he couldn't help but feel a tug of sympathy for her. The sun was already beginning to sink lower in the sky, after all, and he couldn't help but wonder how long it would take for the damn tow truck to arrive. Though he still had a good six hours of drive time ahead of him, he thought of leaving her on the side of the highway, waiting for assistance…assistance that might not come until well after nightfall…and he immediately felt guilty. Anything could happen to her and while she sure as hell wasn't his problem, he couldn't shake the nagging voice in his head telling him that driving off and leaving her on the side of the road was a bad idea.
Sighing heavily, Wyatt clambered back out of his Jeep and slowly meandered his way back to Lucy, who looked halfway between stunned and relieved at seeing him again, "I…uh…don't feel right…leaving you here by yourself." Wyatt explained, "Do you know anyone close by who can…I don't know…pick you up?" He noted the giant rock on her finger, "Maybe your fiancé?"
"My…how?" she looked at him with a curious expression before noticing he was looking at her ring, "oh…that." Lucy shook her head despondently, "No…I live hours away from here…this was my first time driving to Southern California on my own." She scoffed, "Typical, right? You take a big risk and it blows right up in your face."
Wyatt hadn't the slightest clue what she meant by that, though from what he had seen he imagined Lucy was, by nature, a bit on the cautious side. Sure, he was seeing her right now at a bit of a disadvantage, stressed and anxious as she was, but to describe driving a car, going on a road trip, as a "big risk" made him wonder what she thought about "dangerous" sports like flag football and golf.
She had mentioned she thought about flying to San Diego and Wyatt couldn't help but wonder why she hadn't, given her obvious discomfort of driving. Surely there were people around her who would have been looking out for her in this...to give her advice, or even offer to go along. Her fiancé, at the very least should have been concerned enough about her to see that she had some kind of support, some kind of help besides a cell phone.
At least, Wyatt thought, that's what he would do.
He had no business sticking his nose into places it did not belong, but in this case, he couldn't help it. He was curious. "Does he know you're traveling on your own?" Wyatt asked as he raised his eyebrows skyward.
"Who?" Lucy asked absent-mindedly, "Oh…him?" she said with a dismissive wave of her left hand, "Yes…of course he knows…this is his car, actually."
"Wait a minute..." Wyatt asked incredulously, "your fiancé sent you to Southern California on your own, in a car with a crap alternator?"
"I'm sure he didn't know there was any problem with the car." Lucy said defensively, though Wyatt suspected that maybe she was a little upset that he didn't. "I would've just driven my own…except that…" she trailed off looking somewhat embarrassed.
"Except, what?" Wyatt asked, not so much out of curiosity…he was just happy to not stand there in awkward silence waiting for the damn tow truck.
"It's stupid." Lucy admitted as she pressed her hands to her face, "I was just going to fly…" she explained, "but…well, I had always wanted to do…this." she said as she waved to her hand wildly in front of her.
"What?" Wyatt asked, teasing her, "Break down in the middle of the road?"
Lucy cast him a sardonic glare, "No…drive the Pacific Coast Highway." With a musing smile, she explained, "I've lived in California all my life and have never done it, but Noah said if I was going to drive the PCH I had to do it in style." she said with a roll of her eyes. "I'm sure he meant well but…" Lucy sighed, "this just isn't me. I mean, I drive a Honda Civic…and it's not even brand new."
Wyatt couldn't help but smile at her admission. Any other woman he had ever known, including Jess, would've been thrilled at the idea of driving a Porsche down the Pacific Coast Highway...hell, Jess would've been thrilled just to sit in one...but Lucy...Lucy would rather have her Civic.
He had never met anyone like her.
True, he had only known her for a few short minutes and while he had made some very wrong assumptions about her character initially, he found, after talking to her, that she wasn't at all like the haughty, ungrateful woman he had believed her to be when he first met her. Was she high-strung? Absolutely. Irritating? She had definitely gotten under his skin. But she was also humble and kind and while Wyatt didn't know her fiancé from a hole in the ground, he couldn't help but wonder if her fiancé knew or even cared that Lucy wasn't phased by these things he had lavished on her...the Porsche, the rock the size of Rhode Island...
Maybe, Wyatt thought, that was one of the reasons why he wanted to marry her...she wasn't interested in his obvious wealth.
"Well," Wyatt said with a chuckle, "there's nothing wrong with traveling in style. Your fiancé sounds like my buddies…I normally take I-5, but they told me I had to do this," he said with a nod to the highway, "at least once."
Lucy smiled broadly, "Oh yeah? And how do you like it?"
"I don't know, ma'am." Wyatt answered with a teasing grin, "I haven't seen much of it, yet."
"Oh right." Lucy said despondently, "Sorry about that."
"Not your fault." Wyatt said with a shrug. "These things happen. I'm just glad I could help you out."
They stood next to each other in silence as the sun sank ever lower on the horizon, dipping into a seemingly endless ocean whose inky blackness stood in stark contrast to the orange and pink streaked sky. "Isn't it funny?" Lucy piped up after a while, "We're both driving this for… really the first time and…here we are. It's kinda like fate, isn't it?"
"I don't believe in fate." Wyatt said simply as he shrugged, "i believe in choices. We make some good decisions, we make some bad decisions...and in the end, we hope it all works out." Lucy nodded at him thoughtfully as he continued with a smirk, "I needed a vacation, so I made a few plans, listened to some bad advice, and got to help a damsel in distress instead."
She gaped at him apologetically before sheepishly muttering, "I'm really sorry I ruined your vacation. Who wants to spend their day off, stuck on the side of the road with someone they don't even know?" She shook her head and pulled out her phone, "You should just go…I'll call them again, they can't be much farther now."
"No it's fine, Lucy…I was only kidding." he assured her "It's really not a big deal." Wyatt said with a shrug, "it's just me taking a few days away…I don't have to get there at any particular time."
Lucy smiled gratefully, "Th…thank you. Really…I….I haven't driven this far on my own…for a while." she admitted with a gulp, "Part of this was me doing something I always wanted to do and the other…well, it was sort of me facing my fears." She nodded, and Wyatt noticed with sudden concern that she was now suddenly blinking back tears, "When the car just stopped…I…" she trailed off as her emotions got the better of her.
Turning his attention fully to her, Wyatt tentatively reached out an arm, "Hey," he asked quietly, "are you…are you okay?"
"Yeah." Lucy breathed out in a watery chuckle, "I'm sorry…I'm being ridiculous" she wiped away a few stray tears as she added in a trembling voice, "Really, thank you for stopping…I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't come along."
Stunned by the change in her composure, Wyatt gaped at her wondering what the hell had traumatized her so much. Feeling like it wasn't really his place to pry, he merely nodded as he responded quietly, "Sure thing, ma'am."
She let out a watery laugh as she sought to compose herself, "There's that ma'am again."
"Sorry," Wyatt admitted with a shrug, "force of habit."
"You must not be from around here." she observed wryly.
"Texas." Wyatt admitted with a nod. "But I…uh…I'm at Camp Pendleton now."
"Oh, you're military…I should've guessed." At his questioning glance, she explained, "the haircut, the manners…the ma'ams." she smiled, "I don't like to stereotype but…" she shrugged, "you sort of fit the bill…."
Wyatt smiled, "I didn't realize I was that obvious."
"Oh it's not that…" Lucy tried to explain, "I didn't mean to offend you or anything…I just…"
"Not at all." Wyatt said with a slight shake of his head. "I…uh…joined the Army right after high school." Lucy nodded at him pleasantly and seemed to be waiting for more. Not much of a talker, Wyatt wasn't sure what else to say, but Lucy was already steps ahead of him.
"What made you decide on the Army?" she asked, but at Wyatt's taken aback look, she suddenly felt self-conscious, "I…I mean, why not the Air Force, the Navy…not that your only choice was joining the military…I…I was just curious as to why you chose the Army…in particular." she added with a flush.
"Well, it's not the food, I can tell you that." Wyatt joked, trying to set her mind at ease. Lucy smiled as he continued thoughtfully, "My grandpa was a war hero in the Army during World War II...great man…and I just always wanted to be like him….ya know? Make him proud."
"It's always nice to have a role model." Lucy mused. "Which unit was he with?
"101st Airborne." Wyatt said proudly, he was just about to explain who they were and what they did, when Lucy chimed back in.
"Wow…those were some brave men, they fought in so many battles on the Western front. Normandy, Battle of the Bulge, Operation Market Garden…" she frowned thoughtfully as she asked, "they're known as the "tip of the spear," isn't that right?"
What the hell?
Wyatt gaped at her...he couldn't help but be surprised. In his experience, it was rare for anyone outside the military to know which military division fought in which battles during...well, any war, really...but Lucy would have been the last person on Earth that he ever would have pegged to know anything about any of that. Clearly impressed, Wyatt shook his head in disbelief, "I think you're the first civilian I've ever met that could list their operations off like that."
Lucy gave a sheepish shrug, "Well, I'm a professor…history and anthropology...so I am a fountain of useless…or useful information…depending on your point of view."
"A professor?" Wyatt asked incredulously, looking at her with an impressed frown.
"You sound surprised." Lucy observed with a wry smile.
"I am." Wyatt admitted, "but not because I don't think….I mean, when I think of a professor, I think of old men with patches on their sleeves…or I don't know…a librarian spinster type…not…not…" Wyatt colored slightly as Lucy quirked her eyebrow at him, "I just…
The sound of a car horn startled them out of their conversation, both of them looking to the left to find the long awaited tow truck, easing onto the shoulder. Lucy turned to Wyatt with a smile, "Looks like you were saved by the bell." she teased before holding out her hand, "Thanks again for stopping and…ya know" she added with a sheepish shrug, "keeping me company. I hope I didn't put too much of a dent in your vacation plans."
Wyatt took her outstretched hand and gave it one firm shake, "Not at all,..ma'am." He said with a sheepish grin, "Happy to help." She nodded at him with a pleasant smile and as she made her way over to the tow truck driver, Wyatt couldn't help but inwardly berate himself for almost swerving past her like everybody else. She was nothing at all like he assumed she would be when he first laid eyes on her and that ridiculously expensive car. She seemed genuinely kind…and smart… and humble…and well, Wyatt was almost a little disappointed that their conversation had been cut short.
Not that he was interested in her…she had a fiancé, after all…and he…well, he wasn't interested in getting mixed up in another relationship for a good long while. But still…she had been nice to talk to and while he was glad to be getting back to his well-deserved vacation, he had to admit that this detour, while at first, something he resented, had turned out to be…kind of a highlight.
He was just about to get back in his Jeep when he realized that Lucy would be at the mercy of the tow truck driver in terms of getting her safely situated at the shop or hotel or wherever it was she was headed…and while he, again, knew it wasn't his damn problem he couldn't help but feel somewhat responsible for her. He had helped her this much, after all…and he found he couldn't leave without knowing she had a way to get back home safely. Pursing his lips, he shut his Jeep door and jogged over to where Lucy was now arguing with the tow truck driver.
"No." he heard her say as he approached, "I can't wait that long…I have to have this fixed tonight."
"Shop's closed." The tow truck driver said simply, "You're going to have to wait until tomorrow…and even then…I don't know that we'll have an alternator for this beauty in stock. Could be a few days."
"I don't have a few days…I'm supposed to be back home tonight…I have a…I have to be home tomorrow. You don't understand…I can't cancel again." Lucy ran a worried hand through her hair as she asked, "How much to just tow this to San Francisco?"
The tow truck driver laughed, "$3 per mile… but if you think I can get this to San Francisco tonight…" Lucy breathed out in exasperation as Wyatt snapped to attention.
"Wait," he interrupted, "you're…you're going to San Francisco?" At Lucy's nod, Wyatt shrugged, "Well,…that's where I'm going. I mean…if you need a ride…I guess I could take you."
Lucy stared back at him, "Oh no…you've already done so much…" she said dismissively, "I can't ask you…"
"You aren't asking me." Wyatt said simply, "I'm offering." Lucy looked back at him doubtfully and Wyatt sighed, "Look, I get it…I wouldn't jump in a car with someone I just met either…and if you were my….well, let's just say I would never encourage this…but if you need to be in San Francisco by tomorrow night, I can get you there," he smirked, "and you don't have to pay me $3 a mile either."
"Well, what about the car?" Lucy asked.
"Your insurance should cover some of the cost to tow it, isn't that right?" Wyatt asked the driver who nodded in agreement, "Then give him your insurance information and tell him where you want this towed…anything else…I'm sure your fiancé will take care of."
Lucy bit her lip nervously, "You're sure you don't mind? I mean, I've already ruined your drive…I'd hate for you to miss out on anything else because of me."
"I wouldn't have offered if I minded. Here," he offered gently, "why don't you finish up with him, give him all the information he needs and I'll get your stuff and load it in my Jeep?" Lucy looked up at him in surprise and he chuckled, "I'm guessing you have a suitcase or something, right?"
"Ye…yes." Lucy stammered as she handed him the keys, "I just…thank you…really, I just can't even begin to tell you how much I appreciate this."
"No problem, ma'am." Wyatt said with a smirk as he popped open her trunk and tossed her back the keys.
She only had one small suitcase and a garment bag, hardly anything that required heavy lifting, but Wyatt felt more compelled than usual to play the part of a gentleman. It wasn't just that Lucy was from a completely different social circle than he was, it was the entire situation. He could only imagine how nervous she must be, agreeing to go on a long drive, at night, with him…a complete stranger…and so, he wanted to do everything he could to set her mind at ease that he was someone she could trust.
After stowing her things next to his suitcase in the back of his Jeep, Wyatt clambered into the driver's seat and started his engine, waiting patiently for her to finish with the tow truck driver. He noticed with a smile that even though she was talking with the driver, she was clandestinely texting on her phone while casting uneasy glances towards his Jeep and he couldn't help but think that whoever she was texting (probably her fiancé, he thought) had made her think better of the whole arrangement. He wouldn't have blamed her in the slightest…and so as she finally approached his Jeep with hesitancy, Wyatt half imagined that she was going to ask him to drop her off at the next town so she could get a rental car.
But she didn't.
Instead, she opened his car door a plopped down in the passenger seat with a sigh, "Okay, I'm all set…you're sure you want to do this?" she asked as she attempted to pull the seatbelt across her shoulder.
"Why not?" Wyatt shrugged, "It's not like I'm going out of my way to get you home. Here," Wyatt offered as he tugged on the belt, "let me help you with that, it's kind of finicky."
"I guess that's true." Lucy shrugged before she took the buckle from Wyatt, "But even so, you don't know me. I mean, I could be a serial killer for all you know." She leaned towards him playfully and added, "I'm not one, by the way."
Wyatt barked out a laugh as he flipped on his blinker. He could hardly help it, thinking of this slight, anxious woman trying to sneak up on him, a fully trained Delta Force operative, from behind, in an attempt to do him in. Thank you for the assurance, ma'am." he said with a nod as he began to ease the Jeep off of the shoulder, "It's nice to know I don't have anything to worry about on that front." He chuckled lightly as he checked his blind spot and added, "And for the record, I'm not a serial killer either, so you can tell your fiancé you're in safe hands."
"I already did." Lucy said quietly as she secured her seatbelt with a light click, and Wyatt couldn't help but pause and turn to face her in surprise, "I know it's silly," she admitted sheepishly, "I mean, I don't even know your name…but… I trust you."
Wyatt gaped at her as a rush of gratitude swelled in his chest. He had no idea why this woman's opinion should matter so much to him, but…for some strange reason, it did. Wyatt stammered out his thanks and turned his attention back to the road, feeling suddenly awkward. As they merged back onto the highway, he cleared his throat and muttered, "It's Wyatt, by the way…Wyatt Logan."
"Well, it's very nice to meet you, Wyatt Logan," Lucy said with a smile, before teasing, "finally."
Wyatt glanced over at her and smiled. When he had set out that morning he had had high hopes of spending a much-needed weekend of alone time with Jessica…a time for them to at least be the friends they once were. After the nightmare of seeing her with her new boyfriend, he didn't think he would be able to enjoy one second of his trip to San Francisco. As it stood right now, however, he was feeling pretty good thanks to the near stranger sitting right next to him. His Grandpa Sherwin always taught him that the best thing to do for a bad day is to help someone else out with theirs…and well, he had…and as usual, Grandpa Sherwin was right. Unable to keep himself from grinning as he looked back towards the road, Wyatt replied with a nod, "Likewise…ma'am."