The next week was business as usual, Desmond was in the animus, Rebecca continued to monitor Desmond and Shaun was researching Desmond's latest discoveries. Every now and then Lucy would come by to see how Desmond was doing. Holliday had taken the role of supply runner as well as assisting the team with whatever they needed. Whether it was helping Rebecca maintain the power connection or checking on Desmond. Every day Holliday would take out his leeches and let them feed.
Desmond got out of another session. Rebecca was fumbling with the power cables to keep the electrinics running. "Honestly, I swear that these power lines are from the stone age." She muttered furiously.
"Bloody third world country," Shaun sighed in exasperation.
"You talking about Italy?" Rebecca asked.
Shaun shook his head, "Nope Europe in general."
The three Americans looked at the historian amused. Holliday crossed his arms and cocked a eyebrow, Rebecca quirked an eyebrow. "I didn't know England was a third world country." She mused.
Shaun looked offended. "England is not part of Europe actually we-we merely tolerate Europe, like a guy tolerates Herpes."
Holliday roared with laughter as Lucy shook her head, "Elitist much?" She asked.
Holliday shook his head. "On the contrary, Britain is indeed far ahead of it's european neighbors. They posessed the largest empire in history. Plus they're the only contry in Europe to never be fully conquered. William the Conqueror and the Romans only ever took the southern part. He turned to Desmond. "Say Dezzy, what's your least favorite country, Italy or France."
Desmond thought for a moment, "France." He decided.
Holliday chuckled and turned to the others, "Nobody ever says Italy."
"I can vouch for that," Rebecca agreed
Lucy cocked an eyebrow, "Why wouldn't they."
Holliday looked at her with a smile. "Italy gave us Pizza, Lasagna, Spagetti, Fettuccine Alfredo and Scarface." He made an impression of holding a gun, "Seh ello to mah lil fwien."
That got a chuckle from everyone. "So how much longer before Desmond finds what you're looking for?" He asked?
"One more session should cover it." Rebecca replied.
Holliday got up. "I don't know about you but I think we should celebrate once Desmond finishes."
Lucy shook her head. "We don't have that kind of time Holliday. We only have a short amount of time before the satalite launches."
"When is the launch?"
"December 21st."
Holliday laughed, "all the time in the world."
"That leaves us with only 74 days."
"You'd be surprised what I can do in 74 days."
"We're not like you Holliday."
Holliday smiled and waved her off. "Nonesense, you people work way to hard for your own good. Who knows when we will have another quiet opportunity." He looked at Rebecca, besides we got movies, food and wine might as well take advantage of it."
Rebecca gave Lucy a look. "It's not a bad idea to rest before we travel again.
Lucy turned to shaun hoping for an opinion. The british historian shrugged, "I could use a good sleep."
Lucy sighed heavily and nodded, Holliday patted her back, "You need to relax, being tense never got anything done faster, much less right." Holliday looked at Desmond and decided to give him another extended break from the animus."Would you mind terribly if I had another go in the hot seat?"
Rebecca looked at Lucy, who nodded. Holliday patted Desmond's shoulder. "Alright get some sleep angel eyes, you look deader than a golf course commentator."
Desmond nodded as Holliday entered the animus. He was about to go to his sleeping bag when he noticed Lucy was missing. Desmond looked around and decided to head up. 'She probably needed some freash air,' he thought. Before long he was in the villa courtyard. Lucy was standing at the edge, staring out into the night sky. Desmond stood at the entrance just looking at her, noting how the moonlight reflected on her golden hair forming a halo, 'She's so beautiful', he thought' and yet so very alone.
Desmond didn't want to say anything, but Lucy seemed out of it lately. Her usually sheerful demeanor had lessened. It was like she was trying to close herself off from everything, and averyone. "I guess it should be expected,' Desmond thought. 'Lucy worries about so much, the world, her friends, her fellow assassins, me.' Desmond couldn't imagine everything she had to go through during her time Abstergo. The risks she took to help the assassins, the horrors she witnessed. He knew that Clay's death hung heavy on her heart. 'How many other people did she have to watch go though the same traumitizing experience and be powerless to save them.' He wondered.
Desmond walked up to her, she didn't hear him coming. Desmond knew that he was not suppose to be outside but his concern for Lucy's well being made it worth the risk. Regardless of the danger, Lucy didn't deserve to be alone.
Desmons placed his hand on the small of her back. "Are you o.k. Lucy?"
Lucy whirled around, "what are you doing out here?" She exclaimed horrified. She puy a hand on his shoulder trying to shove him back. "You need to go back inside before cell surveilance sees you."
Desmond nodded, "I know, I know, I'm sorry, he bowed his head as his hand moved to her shoulder. "But you've been down as of lately and I was worried about you."
Lucy let out a sigh and relaxed and bowed her head. "Sometimes I feel so disconnected from everything out there. Nearly a decade of my life gone, searching for those Pieces of Eden."
Desmond sighed and squeezed her shoulder. "Don't think about that," he suggested. Think about what is to come. when we finally save the world, when we finally bring down the Templars."
Lucy shook her head. "I'm not sure it will ever end Desmond. I can't do this forever." Desmond saw a small tear roll down her beautiful face."
"Hey," He cupped her cheek forcing her to look at him. He wiped away the tear with his thumb as she gazed up at him. "I don't believe it, I refuse to believe it, the Lucy I know brought me here and taught me-" Desmond brought his hand to his chest and folded his ring finger and smiled. "-to have a little faith. She would never give up.
Lucy returned the smile as they broke apart. "I guess I trained you pretty well huh?" She lightly punched her shoulder and began to walk back."
Desmond shrugged, "You did alright." Desmond's smile saddened, he could see Holliday giving him a nudge. 'Go for it egghead,' he screams. Desmond shook his head. Holliday was right, he needed to make his feelings known while he had the chance to do so. "You've done more than just train me Lucy." Desmond colled out
Lucy froze and turned around. Desmond continued. "We cannot pretend to ignore what's happening to me." Lucy's eyes widened and her mouth opened to speak when Desmond looked at the ground. "Everyday it gets harder for me, every time I get out of the damn animus it takes me longer to remember everything. Who I am, where I am, what time period I am. My blackouts last longer and my visions becoming more real."
Lucy slowly walked over to him. "Do you ever regret it?' She asked. Desmond looked at her in wonder, his eyes looked so weary. "Leaving the farm." Lucy clarified.
Desmond thought for a moment before shaking his head, "No, even though my faher was right about everything. Perhaps I should of trained more. But I still don't regret running away."
"If you hadn't run away, The Templars would ever have caught you." Lucy pointed out.
Desmond nodded begrudgedly. "That's true, if I hadn't run away, we never would of found out about the coming armageddon, I probably would of had the same cynical attitude. I never would of met you. " Desmond locked eyes with Lucy, his golden eyes gazing at her big blue ones. "Of all the things that has happened to me, meeting you made it all worth it."
Lucy's eyes widened and her mouth dropped. She didn't know how to respond to that. Before she knew what she was doing, Lucy smiled and gave him a peck on the cheek. Every rational thought in her mind wanted to just walk away.
It took Desmond's mind a moment to realize what just happened. He was now fully turned around facing her they locked eyes for a moment before Lucy averted her eyes and bagen walking back. Desmond wouldn't and coudln't leave it just like that. Instinctively, he grabbed Lucy's arm and pulled her to him, their lips crashed together.
Lucy's eyes widened in shock, as Desmond wrapped one hand around her waist and his other hand cupped her cheek. She put her hands on his shoulders and tried to weakly push him away. Despite her mind screaming in fear, another part of her had other ideas. Her struggle ceased and Lucy wrapped her arms around Desmond's neck What was meant to be a simple kiss ended up awakening something in both of them. Their lips were now locked in a struggle, like a desprate need. In that moment nothing mattered to them, not the assassins or templars or war, not even the Pieces of Eden. All that mattered was that moment of heaven.
Finally they broke apart, both were finally coming to grips on what they had done. Desmond movee to retract his hand from her cheek. But Lucy grabbed it and held it there as her eyes swam with tears.
"I'm sorry, " Desmond tried to say. "I didn't meant to upset you, I just-"
Lucy shook her head. "No y-you didn't, I just with everything going on i just don't think we can-"
Desmond cut her off. "You say that you can't do this forever, Perhaps by working together we won't have to."
Lucy let out a heavy sigh and embraced him. Desmond responded in kind and the two just stood there locked in each others company.
