Alternate Lives
Summary: Whether by choice or by fate, Lucy and Wyatt always find each other, no matter the timeline.
Disclaimer: I don't own Timeless or any other original work (TV, film, book or other) referenced in these one shots.
Pairing: Wyatt/Lucy, some Jiya/Rufus
Rated: T
Warnings: These are technically two one-shot, both were inspired by the car scene at the beginning of Olympus Has Fallen, so there'll be some life-threatening danger. I couldn't decide which version I liked better. For a happy end, please suspend your disbelief and imagine the accident to be at a cliff of sorts, maybe with a river running parallel, rather than on a proper bridge over a lake or river.
Chapter 5: A State Affair
"We're ready for you, ma'am," Wyatt announced as he and Bam-Bam walked into the dressing room. They stopped short when they saw that Lucy Preston was most definitely not ready. She stood by the dressing table, her back to the mirror as she tried to catch hold of the zip of her dress. She'd managed to get it slightly less than midway up her back, but now couldn't reach it from over her shoulder to pull it the rest of the way up. Though her velvet-covered front was to them, thanks to the mirror the two agents could see the expanse of her exposed back, all creamy skin and a blush that began to spread across her shoulders now that she noticed them. Her head snapped around to face them, her cheeks at least two shades darker than her moderate cleavage. There was just a dusting of the tell-tale flush touching her skin at the edge of her midnight blue dress.
"Okay," she managed to say, definitely calmer and more composed than she felt. "I'll be with you in just a moment. Could you ask Denise to come in for a moment, please."
Bam-Bam clapped Wyatt on the back.
"Don't worry, ma'am. Wyatt's a gentleman." The gentleman glared at him. "You've got this, buddy."
Then he left whistling, while Wyatt's withering glare followed him out the door. Bam-Bam was not helping, no matter what he thought. Wyatt had spent the last three years tormented day and night by thoughts, and dreams, and hopes about Lucy Preston, and having to zip up her dress was not (and was) his idea of fun. Not, not, not, not. Not that she was faring any better, her blush having intensified, darkening to the same shade she always wore when he was in close proximity and they were alone together. Something that had only spurred him on to offer her one-on-one self defense training, because Wyatt Logan was nothing if not a masochist. After all, why else would the first woman who caught his interest since his divorce be the one woman who was completely out of reach. And the powers that be had to really hate him, because of course she was attracted to him too. He wasn't blind or dumb; he saw the barely hidden interest in her gaze. Saw and felt her appreciative gaze on his body under the form-fitting shirts he wore to training. It would all be easier if he were just the poor jackass who had the hots for his boss, but was only just enough on her radar that she might remember his name.
Their little dance went on to the general entertainment of his team, her own sister, and their friends, who had a bet going on as to when one of them would find him in her bed one fine morning. All this went on behind her back, thankfully, and well under the radar of any possible superior except those who'd joined the betting pool themselves. He was thinking of Jiya and Rufus of course, the latter often trying to give him unrequested advice and the former delighting in watching him stew. At least contact was less frequent during normal work days. Though not during the holiday season. As the professor didn't have much close family, the holiday season was always spent as a tight knit group with her, Amy (the little red-haired devil), Rufus, and Jiya. Secret Service's own personal Nightmare Before Christmas. Wyatt cleared his throat to address the growing awkwardness in the room, before it could get worse.
"He was joking, of course, ma'am. I'll get Agent Ch-"
"No, it's okay," Lucy hurried to interrupt. "He's right, and I trust you. And if it turns out I shouldn't have, I'll consider it your Christmas present."
She winked. She fucking winked at him. And she'd flirted with him. Outright. Wyatt swallowed hard, trying to put a damper on the heat rising to his own face. He was so screwed. Clearing his throat again, and mumbling something that may have been if you're sure, ma'am, he made his way over to where she now stood with her back to him. Trembling fingers reached out for the sides and the zipper of her dress. Wyatt stopped, gave himself a good shake, mentally told himself to get a fucking grip already, and tried again. This time, his hands were steady when they gently, professionally, held the two sides of her open dress together over her back and pulled up the zip along her smooth, creamy skin as it shivered at his touch. Nope, not going there.
Lucy was sure her blush had turned an even darker shade of burgundy red when she'd dared to challenge, then tease him so openly. Since when had she become so brazen? Ugh, she blamed Amy's bad influence. Every Christmas her sister would tease her even more mercilessly than usual about her attraction to the handsome soldier. Whether at Camp David or at a public party (okay, semi-public and invitation only, but there were still people there, damn it!) like the one they were supposed to be going to now, Amy sidled up to Lucy and whispered in her ear about how sharp Wyatt looked in his sleek, professional suit. How intriguing his brooding blue eyes were. Or how thrilling it was that, if necessary, he'd cover her with his delicious body to protect her. The night of that particular comment last year, Lucy had tossed and turned for hours, unable to sleep for the thoughts of him. When she finally did fall into some kind of half-slumber, she could feel it. The weight of his body on her, his hips cradled between her thighs as he traced hot open-mouthed kisses along the column of her throat.
Thinking back to this, Lucy felt a shiver run down the length of her spine where she could feel the press of his fingers through her dress, his heat seeping through the fabric along her entire back. He was so close. It wouldn't take much to pull him into her if she turned around. Lucy took a shaky breath before her imagination could run away with her, and lead her to ask that he undress her instead. She couldn't take this for another four years. She was beginning to hope she lost next year, although it would be considerably more difficult to contrive a reason, or even an occasion, to see him then.
"All done, ma'am," he announced and backed away respectfully, just before Lucy might have stopped breathing in his presence. It had only been a few seconds, but the moment had stretched into an eternity for her. She was still a little dazed, but she put on her best politician poker face when she turned around.
"Well, how do I look?"
The way his gaze raked over her like he wanted to eat her alive was doing things to her insides. She felt like a delectable little morsel offered to him on a silver platter. If he moved to do something about it, she knew she would be defenseless. But Wyatt was a gentleman. He merely took her in, every detail memorized in the steel trap of his mind. From the light make up on her face, the contrast of her deep red lipstick, and the simple diamond-drop earrings, over the straps of her gown to the V it formed just above her breasts, the way it clung to her shape at her torso and then fell slightly out into her full-length skirt with moderate applications of tiny, tiny rhinestones to make her dress shimmer like the night sky. He took a shuddering breath as he soaked up the beautiful sight like a sponge, before taking another deep breath to answer.
"You look perfect, Madam President."
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"You look smashing, Lucy," Amy greeted her when they came to the front hall. "Drop dead gorgeous, how's Logan still standing? In fact, how are both of you not horizontal right now? I hear he got a little hands on with you tonight."
"Amy, that's not-"
"Spare me, sis, and let's go. I want to ride with soldier boy tonight."
Lucy sighed.
"You'll have to ask him," she sighed defeatedly.
"Hey, First Gent, I'm riding with you tonight!" She shouted over, drawing everyone's attention, while Lucy spluttered.
"Oh my god, Amy, that was- you can't-" She looked around uncomfortably. There were several more Secret Service agents standing around, like Denise Christopher who rolled her eyes at Amy's antics, as well as her vice Jiya and her husband Rufus, so Lucy was about to have a mild panic attack at Amy's more than inappropriate, likely gossip-inducing comment. Then she noticed the reactions around the room. Or rather the lack of them. Amy's holler got no more than a snort of amusement from the people present. Okay, the Preston Sisters were known well enough that this could pass for one of Amy's insanities. That was good. It was safe. She only had one more reaction to worry about, she thought with a cringe.
"My car, my rules, Little Preston," Wyatt grunted in reply with an eye roll of his own. "Bam, I guess you're riding with the President tonight. Merry Christmas."
"Knew I was talking to him, though," Amy pointed out slyly.
"Amy, you can't- At least at the party, you can't pull something like this."
"Don't worry sis, I know how to behave in public. I'm potty trained and everything."
"I'm more worried about your potty mouth," Lucy replied tersely. For a moment, all she got was shocked (awed) silence, then both Preston Sisters burst into giggles.
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"The package is secure," Bam-Bam's announced calmly through the comms. Wyatt breathed a small sigh. With everyone tucked into the cars, it was time to go. He cast an uneasy glance outside where a small blizzard turned Camp David's winter wonderland into an ominous dark wood. He wished the president would cancel her attendance. The roads were icy and the visibility was low; if it were up to him they'd all cozy up around the various fireplaces and let it snow.
"Alright, let's get moving. Drive with caution," he ordered.
"Yes, mom," Bam-Bam replied teasingly.
From beside him, Mattie gave a chuckle, until Wyatt's glare shut him up and warned him to keep his eyes on the road at the same time. It was instinct to follow his sarge. He had followed him into the Secret Service assignment after the surprise of Preston's election after all. Far from being intimidated, though, Mattie gave him a mock salute as he pulled out in front of the presidential limousine. One more car behind them, and two more made up the rear to round up the security detail.
"So when are you going to ask my sister out on a date?"
Wyatt huffed in amusement. He'd forgotten the little hellion who'd invited herself along onto his ride. He should have known better than to turn his back to Little Preston even for a moment. He turned around to face her, and realized with a frown that she wasn't buckled in. The soldier nodded his head at it, but Amy Preston merely looked at him in challenge, still waiting for a response. He narrowed his eyes at her in a way that had gotten some of his most unruly comrades to follow orders, but the ginger menace seemed uniquely immune to his repertoire of unspoken commands. The only way to get her to do what he wanted now was to give her what she wanted: an answer.
"How about never. Now put your seatbelt on."
Amy scoffed, but didn't move to acquiesce.
"Everyone knows you want to. It's not a secret, no matter how much you and Lucy like to pretend it is."
"I didn't claim that I didn't want to, only that I wouldn't. Now strap in," he replied with growing frustration.
"Why not? She'd say yes."
"Mattie, stop the car," Wyatt ordered. Given his tone, Mattie complied immediately. Slowly, the whole convoy came to a halt as Wyatt stepped out into the snowstorm. He rounded the car to open the door at the passenger's seat, all the while ignoring the worried questions he received from the comm in his ear. At some point, even the president jumped in, probably grabbing Bam-Bam's earpiece and asking what was going on. He vaguely heard Mattie answer as he knelt in front of Amy Preston. He removed his earpiece, while he grabbed onto the seatbelt and strapped her in. He didn't look at what he was doing, though, because his steely blue eyes were fixated on Amy's challenging gaze.
"No, she wouldn't. For the same reason that I won't ask. I protect your sister, and you. I will strap you in, and open your doors, and check the cars for bombs and rooms and areas for gunmen, and - if need be - I'll kill or die to protect the both of you. It would be completely unprofessional of me to even look at your sister; in fact it is completely unprofessional of me. I won't risk my job, much less her chances at reelection… She's a good president, better than I expected at first. She cares about the people, not just the companies or the money - what do you think the boulevard press would do to Lucy if they found out that- if they even suspected that…"
He trailed off, eyes finally drifting to the belt.
"So this is just another way you to protect her, then?" Amy asked, curious.
Wyatt's head snapped up, his eyes wide, and Amy realized that he hadn't expected her to understand.
"Yes," he breathed in confirmation.
"So, you'll keep both of you miserable in order not to, what? Tarnish her reputation?"
"Amy, I'm not miserable, and I don't think Lu- the president is either."
"How would you know?"
Well, she had him there. It wasn't like they discussed their shitty situation and what it did to them regularly. Or at all. He saw her smile at diplomatic guests, and tycoons, and veterans, and the visitors to the White House she liked to surprise - especially the school groups - and he just assumed. She smiled at her security detail, too, of course, and at him, personally. He saw that her smile at him was often different, turning wistful if it settled longer on his face, but he'd always thought that was all it was. Wistfulness. Wishfulness. He'd never asked her about it, though. Not even when they'd been alone a handful of times, free of expectations or constraints. Free of watchful eyes who limited their ability to talk. And they had talked then, about childhoods and friends, hobbies, or their most cherished memories, but never about them. He should suspect that Amy knew far more about how Lucy felt than he ever would, and he swallowed at the bitter taste her implication left behind.
"She'll get over it if… She'll be fine."
"She could be better than fine, now," Amy countered.
"She could be crashed and burned tomorrow, Amy," he warned her, then made his way back to his own seat as the ride resumed. His suit was uncomfortably wet, and his thoughts darker than they should be so close to Christmas, but their conversation had left him more than a little unsettled. Mercifully, Amy remained quiet after their exchange, and Mattie pretended not to have heard every word. He concentrated on driving instead. Visibility was even worse than Wyatt had expected, which was what finally pulled him out of his spiraling thoughts. The night was basically just all black with a flurry of white flakes hitting the windshield, but he could hear the trees groaning in the harsh winds. If they weren't careful, they could end up under a falling trunk tonight.
As if his horrendous thoughts had called upon it, he heard a crash behind them. Breaking glass and tires screeching. Wyatt didn't even have to yell for Mattie to stop, then slowly turn around the car, even as Wyatt jumped out and ran ahead back down the road. He checked on the car right behind them. It had been a branch of wood that had crashed through the windshield. The driver was dead; he'd caught the full impact. The agent in the front passenger seat was unconscious, but still had a pulse. The airbag had deployed and saved him from the worst. The guys in the back groaned from the collision, but were already moving to get out. Wyatt didn't stick around to help, Mattie would be there for that. He moved further back the road to find the president's limousine hanging precariously over the abyss.
"Shit," he cursed as he ran toward it. He vaguely realized that there was only one more car, but he couldn't think about what that meant right then. He had to get to the president. He saw some of the guys from the final car, try to stabilize the limousine by applying their weight to the trunk. It could never work. Wyatt closed his eyes, trying to think of how to save everyone inside, but there may be only enough time to save one, and that was really his top priority. He ran forward to where an agent was trying to open the passenger's side door. Together, they managed to wrench it open. Wyatt peeked inside. Lucy sat closest to him, thank God. Aside from a few cuts and bruises she seemed fine. He cast a glance past her and to the front. All three agents were out cold.
He saw two deployed airbags, so hopefully they were alive. In the back, Bam-Bam looked like he had a broken nose, but Wyatt saw his chest rise and fall, so, for now, he was (relatively) okay too. Wyatt gulped as he realized that would probably change soon, and there was little he could do about it. He sighed deeply, but regret had no place in crisis. He needed to get the president out. If there was enough time, he could come back for Bam, Denise and Howard. God, he hoped there would be enough time. Since it was a-wasting, he set to work to undo Lucy's belt quickly, all the while he tried to talk to her. She wasn't unconscious like the rest of them - a miracle in and of itself - but she was dazed and her brilliant mind didn't quite work as well as usually.
"Ma'am, can you hear me? Ma'am, we need to get you out of here. I'm going to lift you out of the car now, ma'am, if you hear me… if you can, grab onto me, ma'am," he informed her, though he wasn't sure she registered to a word he said, until he heard her small tired voice admonish him.
"Don't call me ma'am."
He laughed out loud at her signature quip. If she could attempt their usual banter, he knew she would be fine.
"Glad you're with me, ma'am," Wyatt teased. One arm moved gently behind her back, the other came under her knees. "I'll pick you up now. Hold on tight."
"Wait."
Wyatt hesitated. Everything in him told him to get her out of this precarious situation, but he stopped nonetheless at her order. For a brief, horrible second he thought she was hurt, but then he saw her gaze fly over the car and the outside, taking it all in and drawing her own conclusions. He watched her swallow when she realized in what kind of mess she was.
"This car is tipped halfway over the edge right? So if we remove weight from the back, it will… it will…"
"We have to get you out of here."
"But they'll die," Lucy protested, a small general gesture toward the other passengers.
"I'll come back for them," Wyatt promised.
"Are you sure you could?"
"…No, but getting you out is my priority."
"There has to be something else we can do."
"We can't evacuate the front seat passengers because they're already hanging over the abyss, and I can't get to Bam before I get you out, because his door looks smashed. You're our only option, and you're also the most important one," Wyatt explained through gritted teeth.
"I'm not more important than three people!"
"You're the President of the United States!"
"A new president can be elected any time!"
"Lucy, damnit, I love to argue with you, but not-"
"Then stop arguing and find another way!" Lucy shouted right over him. It was a miracle that they hadn't woken anybody up in the next town. Or even the dead. Their arguments were legendary, especially at the beginning, and he relished them, but she was being impossible. His blood heated, worry and anger coiling tightly in his stomach. He could just pull her out, and he should. He really should. It didn't matter that she'd never forgive him. It didn't matter that his friends would die. It didn't matter that he'd want to put a bullet in his own head afterward. He had a duty to fulfill, and it meant getting her out of the goddamn car. Yet somehow, he was still frozen with his arms around her. Her face was so earnest, her eyes pleading as he watched the tears begin to fall. He knew she wouldn't be able to live with herself either if they died because of her, and that did matter.
As if pulled in by a magnet, Wyatt crashed their lips together in a desperate kiss. He tried to convey all that was raging inside him like a thunderstorm. Anger, worry, trust, admiration. He wanted to kiss her and shake her and yell at her and hold her close all at once, but he only had time to do one, and if it was his last chance to do it, he would take it. He felt her, surprised at his sudden boldness, answer his kiss with equal passion. Tasted her devotion, her selflessness, her fear and the hope that they would somehow save everyone after all. The kiss couldn't have lasted more than a few seconds, but it felt like an eternity for the two of them. Maybe because it had been so long in the making. Finally, as if hit by sudden inspiration, Wyatt pulled himself reluctantly away, and ducked his head out of the car with new orders.
"Get out the towing ropes," he yelled at his agents. "As if you were going to tow it to the nearest garage. Maybe we can pull it back on the street, or at least stabilize it long enough to save them. Get a move on!"
He didn't wait to see if his orders were obeyed. Instead, he turned back to Lucy, her eyes brighter than they'd been before. This time, she was the one who surged forward to plant a grateful kiss on his mouth. It made Wyatt grin like a loon.
"Did you just fraternize with your superior, Marshal?" Bam's half-groaning, half-teasing voice reached them through their haze.
"I guess I did," Wyatt chuckled, relieved to hear his friend's voice.
"Well, it's about time," Bam commented without bite.
"Amen," Denise added from the front. "Now why is the president still here. She shouldn't be here."
"Tell her that, Denise," Wyatt grunted. "She's the one who refused to leave you sorry lot."
"Pull her out regardless," Denise and Bam both told him.
"No," Lucy interjected clearly. "And I outrank all three of you."
"Yes, ma'am," Wyatt told her seriously.
"Oh God, they're flirting - do I have to watch this?" Bam asked, feigning pain.
"Ropes?" Denise asked.
"Wyatt's gonna have us towed back onto the street," Lucy answered confidently, a rebellious look at Wyatt included.
"Are you insane, Marshal? You know what this thing weighs? Get her out of here!" Bam wasn't sure whether to laugh at the ridiculous idea, screech at Wyatt's carelessness with their president's life, or be touched by both their concern for them.
"Oh, I will. As soon as those ropes are attached, you are on your own." Wyatt turned to Lucy. "I'll lift you out of here kicking and screaming if necessary."
Lucy opened her mouth to protest, but then conceded the point. If nothing else, at least Bam, Denise and Howard had a chance then. That was more than they'd have had if they'd gone through with Wyatt's original plan. As callous as it was to compromise on their chances of survival, Lucy couldn't exactly say she wasn't keen to get out of there. Every second she was stuck in his tin can was torture for her. The reason she held so tightly onto the seats wasn't just out of fear, but to stop herself from jumping out of the car in a panic. Teetering dangerously on the edge of a bridge over a wide, cold river threw her back, way back. She could feel the well-known panic claw at her throat, making Lucy want to scream or sob or something. Arguing with Wyatt had held it at bay a little, and kissing him had made her forget it altogether for a few blissful moments, but now that they were just waiting… It was back with a vengeance.
"I shouldn't be here," she muttered darkly.
"Waiting for the car to crash into the river and rocks below? None of us should be," Bam argued.
"No, I mean…" Lucy hesitated, her gaze flitting between him and Wyatt, who pulled her a little closer. Only now did she realize he'd never loosened his hold on her, ready to pull her out at any moment. The stooping position was awkward even to watch. His muscles had to be protesting by now. But his presence and warm gaze soothed her. "I was driving home during spring break one night. It was unplanned. We'd just had a gig with our band, and it went really well. I was driving home to tell my mother I was dropping out of college."
"I didn't know you were in a band. You've been holding out on us, ma'am," Wyatt commented, surprised.
"It was a short stint. I- The road was dark and it was icy, like tonight. It was practically deserted too, and… I lost control of the car on a turn and crashed into a lake. I was pulled out by a Good Samaritan who'd been traveling the same road. If he hadn't been there…"
"You'll be okay now," Wyatt murmured softly. A look passed over her head to Bam and Denise, both of them nodded at him. They were ready, and so was the car. One last regretful look at his friends, and he lifted her up to carry her away from the car. He could hear the car tip forward even at that slight weight difference, heard the ropes strain and the tires of the SUVs screeching. A little to the side, he spotted Amy and Mattie. Mattie's hand on her arm was probably the only thing that had kept her from running to the car, but now that she'd spotted her sister in his arms, nothing could stop her. She tore herself free and met them halfway, where Wyatt dropped them both into a squat. Uncomfortable as it was, he doubted Lucy could stand. She had moved to hold onto him, but he could feel her hot tears against his throat, desperate and shamed to have left the others behind. He shifted them to face the car, because he suspected she would force herself to watch no matter what. Amy reached them, cradling both of them in an embrace.
For a long moment, even with the continued roar of the blizzard and the engines, the world was frightfully quiet. All those who looked on as the scene unfolded, seemed to hold their collective breaths. Wyatt's heart thundered in his chest, blood rushed through his veins, and Lucy's ice cold hands dug into the nape of his neck. He hadn't let her go, he wouldn't. Nothing happened at first. Gravity and people seemed to be in a stalemate situation, until finally - thank God, finally - the limousine started to move backward. Still, no one moved or spoke until the front wheels were back on the road, then an unmatched cheer broke out amongst the onlookers. Suddenly Wyatt and Lucy weren't the only ones hugging, everyone was falling into each others arms. Amy had let go of them and jumped up and down in her heels, until she reached Mattie and decided to jump into his arms before she broke her neck.
Wyatt himself breathed out in relief, and Lucy managed a choked laugh of elation, then he felt her face pressed against his throat. He looked down, only to find her looking up at him again. Like before, he felt her shining eyes pull him in. This time she was ready for him. Her eyes closed and one hand wandered from his neck to his cheek. Her lips moved softly under his, giving and taking in turn with him. A few more whoops and whistles brought them out of their little bubble. Everyone was watching them, they noted. Even Bam-Bam, Denise and Howard, who looked only a little offended that their attention had been on each other and not their death-defying rescue. Lucy squeaked and hid her embarrassed face against his chest as if she could escape all the attention that way.
"I'm glad you're okay," she mumbled against his suit.
"Glad you noticed, Madam President," Denise muttered, her arms raised in feigned annoyance, but her eyes sparkled as she took them in. "I'll organize our ride back to Camp David, and we'll cancel your attendance at the party, ma'am. So, you two, as you were."
Lucy choked out a confirmation, even as she couldn't help but grin up at him.
"A night in sounds good right about now…Complaints, ma'am?" Wyatt chuckled, turning to Lucy.
"Only that we didn't do this before," Lucy spoke up, while she pulled his face down to her again.
"Now you have to ask her out on a date," Amy squealed at him. Apparently, she had to have the last word, and, just this once, he didn't mind.
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Version II: Coming Home For Christmas
"God, I hate these stupid parties," Wyatt complained as he pulled at his cuffs and collar. "Why does there always have to be another function? Just one quiet family Christmas, is that too much to ask for?"
"Uh huh," Lucy made a noise of agreement next to him, but continued to study the papers in front of her.
"And all those pretentious bastards - they're only hoping to get into your good graces by inviting us, you know. Doesn't one of them think letting you have a little peace with your husband might make you more receptive than champagne and entrecôte?"
"Yeah," Lucy hummed again, quietly shuffling through the papers as if she were trying to find something specific.
"We really should take some time away after tonight," Wyatt suggested. "Some extra days to get away as a family. Are you listening to me at all?"
"I hear you." Lucy's agreement was automatic.
Her voice was so distracted, Wyatt narrowed his eyes. He caught Denise's eye as she shifted slightly in her seat to look back at her charges. The agent couldn't suppress a grin at his offended face. It wasn't every day his wife only pretended to listen to him, feeding him one line agreements without actually hearing a word. Still, the soldier thought, maybe there was an opportunity in it too. He was sure he could have some fun with how distracted she was. One of his infamous one-sided smirks slowly grew on his face as a plan hatched in his mind.
"And you know maybe for New Year's I could shave my head," he suggested in a gentle voice belying the seriousness of his planned offense.
Not that Lucy seemed to see it that way.
"That sounds wonderful," she hummed.
Wyatt looked up at Denise with both amusement and exasperation even as Agent Hondo, their diver tonight, snorted at the exchange. He caught the man's eye in the rearview mirror, and gave a good-natured eye-roll. When Lucy was immersed in a topic, a bomb could go off next to her and she wouldn't even notice. She'd always been an avid, studious reader, what with her academic background, but ever since this gig started, she'd been fucking obsessive about it. If he hadn't insisted on family dinners being mandatory events - so long as there wasn't a world-ending crisis, in those cases she was excused - he wasn't sure she would eat a single decent meal all day, though he told himself that Denise was looking after her while she worked. He cast the agent a quick grateful look, then refocused himself on his wife. She was still nose-deep in whatever documents she'd been handed.
Wyatt used her distraction to sidle up to her while removing the small container from his pocket and then readying the contents for his surprise. He stealthily moved an arm over her shoulders, careful not to touch her yet so as not to startle or alert her. When he'd moved his other hand into position, and just as she opened her mouth to protest the obstruction of her view, he let the object drop, quickly draping it around her slender neck. Concentrating on his task, he couldn't see her face, but her pleased gasp told him that his surprise was an all-out success. She dropped the documents onto her knees (another victory for him) and raised a hand to the small golden locket now laying in the valley of her breasts. It was a beautifully designed piece from the forties, because he knew she loved that decade (WWII notwithstanding). He'd bought a chain sufficiently long that no one but them need see the locket as it rested directly over her heart. He watched her pick it up and open it to look at the two small pictures inside. Their family, smiling and happy. When Lucy looked up at him, Wyatt was sure he wore the same besotted look as in their picture. Her eyes shone, happy tears quickly blinked away before they could smudge her make up.
"Wyatt, this is… is… I have no words."
"That's a first," he joked, but gently stroked her cheek with his knuckles.
She slapped his chest with a huff.
"It's a beautiful locket and the pictures are perfect. I love it! Thank you so much." She gripped the locket tightly as she said this, pressing it over her her heart as if she were trying to force it under her skin to become a part of her. Then she gently set it back down against her skin, the locket disappearing beneath the folds of her dark blue velvet dress. A moment later she removed something from her purse. "I have something for you as well."
He looked at the small package curiously. He hadn't thought she'd had the time - or the presence of mind - with all that had been going on recently to get him something for Christmas. He'd certainly been the one to do the family Christmas shopping this year. Part of him wanted to rip the package open, impatient to learn its contents, but he reigned himself in to instead open it as carefully as her thoughtful gesture deserved. When he saw what was inside, Wyatt almost choked. It was his grandfather's watch, restored and on a new, but classic wrist band in an elegant dark grey color. He'd thought he'd lost it in the move.
"Where did you find this?"
"It had to turn up sometime," she replied with a little grin like a woman who had her secrets. It made Wyatt wonder if maybe she'd had it all along, but he didn't care enough to ask, quickly strapping it onto his wrist.
"This is the perfect present. You're perfect," he murmured.
"You're not so shabby yourself," Lucy told him with a tease. One of her hands slid over his shoulder and across his scalp, her nails sensually scraping over his skin. "But you're not shaving your head. I like running my hands through your hair too much."
"So you were listening?!" Wyatt had to bark out a laugh at her admonishment. Not that there had ever been a chance of him actually coming back from the barber's with a shaved head. He enjoyed the feeling of her fingers running through his hair when he was stressed, or tugging on it when they were releasing some stress too much himself to give that up. In fact, he rather enjoyed the ministrations of her hand right now, not caring how mussed his hair would look afterward. He leaned back into the touch, and then tilted his head sideways to look directly into her eyes. They shone with mischief, but also a deep intensity she usually reserved for when they were alone.
"You didn't think I was listening, did you?" Her murmur was low, almost inaudible. The soft puffs of her breath gusting over his face made him shiver involuntarily. She nudged his nose with hers, gently running it along the skin of his cheek. Wyatt took a deep breath.
"If you don't want me to smudge your lipstick, you should stop, Lucy," he warned darkly.
Her red, red mouth widened in a familiar grin, and he knew her answer would be the worst of her teases so far.
"Then I guess you'll just have to keep kissing my lips until they're ruby red again from your attentions," she challenged in a low voice, a spark of excitement in her eyes that passed straight to his groin. Wyatt barely suppressed a groan as he felt it take hold of his blood. He tried to calm himself mentally, because Lucy was never this bold, at least not in front of other people, and he was sure she'd really prefer if he didn't actually take her up on that invitation. She just wanted to tease him, drive him mad with that little spark of want that would now be lodged firmly in his mind for the rest of their long, laborious, and otherwise utterly mind-numbing evening and drive him ma-
TimelessTimelessTimelessTimelessTimelessTimeless
When Wyatt came to again, he needed a moment to collect himself and piece together what had happened. Lucy had teased him mercilessly on their ride to some boring ass function, and he'd just been making up his mind what to do about payback when a sudden jolt had thrown them apart. Wyatt felt disoriented, unbalanced, and he only vaguely heard voices arguing to his side. One male, one female. He could tell the woman was Lucy even without hearing clearly. He'd know the cadence and timbre of her voice anywhere. Plus it was the only thing that made sense as she sat right beside him, but the male voice was a mystery until his head cleared a little and he recognized his buddy Dave's worried tone.
Finally able to see without seeing stars, Wyatt took stock of their situation. Seeing only nothingness through the front window, he blinked and turned his head to the side. His door was pretty bent out of shape. He also realized with a start that he was stuck. The impact had apparently thrown back the driver's seat and now he couldn't move his left foot. It was stuck, and judging from the tingling sensation that grew ever more into a burning pain the more he slipped back toward consciousness, Wyatt figured his calf was broken. On the other side, he saw Dave standing in Lucy's door, one hand already on her arm while she gently but firmly pushed him away. He could stand there so at least that part of the car hadn't fallen off the road yet. With another sudden surge of clarity he realized how imperative it was to get them out of there, starting with his fierce, stubborn wife.
"I'm not leaving him, Bam-Bam," Lucy growled dangerously when Dave made another move to pull her out of the car.
"Yes, you will," Wyatt managed, his voice raspier than he would have liked.
"You're back with us, buddy," Dave noted. "Help me out, Lucy won't budge."
The woman in question turned around to him, a hand raised to his face. Her thumb gently brushed over his temple, and Wyatt let out a hiss. He figured she had skirted around something a little worse than a bump. He reached up to take her hand in his, though he loathed removing it from his cheek. Lucy's soulful brown eyes looked at him in concern, and rebellion. She was willing to fight him on it, too, he figured. She wanted to stay till they were both safe, but that may not be possible tonight, and if it wasn't, then he needed her out of this car and on steady ground yesterday. He wished Bam had just grabbed her and lifted her out against her protests, but he couldn't blame his friend for his hesitation. It must unnerve him too, the thought of turning his back on his friend. Add to that, that Lucy Preston and her glare could be fucking fierce and he really couldn't be angry at his Delta buddy.
"I'm not abandoning you, Wyatt," she told him firmly.
"You're not, but you're getting yourself to safety."
"That's the same thing," she protested.
"No, it isn't. You're getting yourself to safety for me. For my peace of mind. I'll follow as soon as possible."
Lucy let out a sob as she recognized the lie. His heart clenched for her. He'd tried. He'd tried to give her hope, but the truth was simply that he would not make it out of here. Wyatt chuckled without mirth. He'd survived land mines and hailstorms of bullets, he'd gotten out of Syria while his buddies died covering him, and after all of that, now he would die in a stupid freak car accident on Christmas Eve.
"Fuck this," he couldn't help but mutter.
"If I leave, you'll die," Lucy surmised.
"But you'll live. At least one of us," Wyatt admitted without remorse, bringing his hand up to gently touch her chin all the while still holding onto her other, smaller one. He wanted them both safe, but, barring that, he wanted her out of harm's way. "You have to live, Lucy."
"Not without you. How could I? You wouldn't leave either if it were me…"
Too many tears had gathered in her eyes to hold them back anymore. They fell heavily on their intertwined hands. He felt like crying himself, because he knew the one thing that would get her to leave. The one thing that, if their roles were reversed would make him leave, and then he would lose her either way. At least she would be safe, though. So he looked out the back window without a word, and he knew when she'd followed his gaze back onto the street because of her gasp. Shocked and horrified that she'd forgotten, he felt her quiver against his hand. He turned his gaze back to her and watched her for a moment as she continued to drink in the two tiny figures waiting for them on the side of the road, not yet knowing that only one of them would come back. Wyatt swallowed at the thought. He wished they weren't here to witness this. He wished he could spare them this.
"Amy, Jenna…" Lucy whispered ruefully.
"It would be the hardest choice I'd ever have to make, but I would leave you as you'll now leave me… to be with them. They need you," he whispered.
"They need you too."
"And I'll do everything I can to get out, but in case I… in case I don't make it, I want you with them. I want you safe with them. I love you," he confessed once more. Maybe for the last time. And then he couldn't stop himself anymore. He, too, began to cry, pressing their foreheads together and babbling out everything that weighed onto his heart. "I love all three of you. So much. I love you. I'll always love you. There was so much more I wanted to do with you and our girls. So much more I wanted to see, and I can't believe I… I love you, forever."
"I love you too, Wyatt. Me and the girls, we love you so much more than I can say," Lucy choked, unable to say more. She felt almost ungrateful that, after he'd poured so much of his heart out to her, she seemed to have so little to say. He'd already said it all, spoken for her heart as well as for his, and he knew it. She could see in his eyes that he knew. So instead of saying more, she simply pressed her lips to his in a quick, firm kiss.
"And that's why I'll always be with you even when I'm gone." He swallowed her responding sob in another desperate kiss. "Now go with Dave."
He looked up over Lucy's shoulder at his friend.
"Dave…" he began, but his friend already knew.
"I'll take care of your girls as if they were my own family."
Wyatt chuckled softly, able to draw a little bit of mirth out of his dire situation.
"Maybe not exactly as if they were yours, Bam."
The men exchanged rueful grins.
"Don't worry, pal, as if Lucy would ever even look at me."
"Damn right," Wyatt agreed, one last tease before he turned back to his wife. They were running out of time, so he took no more time for goodbyes, and instead pushed her gently toward his friend. "Go, and tell them about me."
"Every day," she promised. She continued to look at him while she let Dave help her out of the car. Just before she disappeared from his sight, she told him again. "I love you."
"I love you too, be happy," he called after her as his heart broke into a million pieces. He noticed that Dave didn't move from his spot beside the door, instead handing Lucy over to their buddy Mattie who guided her away. Wyatt was grateful. He needed Dave to do him another favor, preferably out of Lucy's earshot. "Ok, now get a knife or an axe and cut me out of here."
"What?!"
"Quickly, Bam."
"Wyatt, I'm not going to-"
"I don't care if I don't walk out of here, so long as I can be there for Lucy and our girls. The quickest way - hell, the only way is to amputate my foot. It's stuck, I can't get it out otherwise. There must be something we can use to…"
"Wyatt, you don't have t-"
"Damn it, Dave, I'm not abandoning them; now get me that stupid axe. I'll do it myself!"
"Wyatt!" Bam shouted at him to draw his attention. "Get a grip man; haven't you noticed that the car is moving backward?! No one is amputating your foot, buddy. The firefighters will be here soon, and you'll be with your Preston Girls - foot and all."
Wyatt blinked. With a start, he realized that the car was indeed inching ever so slowly back onto the curb. He saw a couple more agents open the front doors and carefully lift agents Christopher and Hondo out of their seats. He heard sirens; they didn't sound too far away. Firefighters and ambulances no doubt. Probably a veritable army of police officers. When he looked back out the window, he saw two of the Secret Service's SUVs backing slowly away, even into the forest, to pull the car back onto the pavement. His gaze shifted and he watched Lucy watch the scene unfolding, both their girls wrapped tightly in her arms. Their faces were all alight with smiles and tears, and he could see Jenna tap her feet impatiently till she could run to him. She was the more impulsive one of the twins and would likely already be climbing into the limo if Lucy didn't hold her back. Wyatt let out a relieved laugh, not even bothered by Dave's shit-eating, I've-got-something-I'll-tease-you-with-later grin. He was too relieved to have been given this Christmas miracle to have a chance to be with his family again.
In the end, it was a bit of a toss up in regards to who got to him first: the firefighters who rushed to free him from the car or his Preston Girls as they practically pushed passed Dave to climb back into the goddamn death trap. Though, with Jenna sitting on his good leg and Amy pressed into his side and Lucy kissing him with no care for her lipstick or the disgusted sounds of their daughters, he wouldn't have minded staying in the stupid car a little longer. Especially since the paramedics hauled him off to the ambulance to spirit him away to the hospital after a rudimentary check. That was not how he wanted to spend Christmas, and he told them as much, with a glance at where Lucy, Jenna and Amy were being entertained by a newly conscious Agent Christopher so they wouldn't worry about daddy.
"It is frankly a miracle, sir, that your ankle is only sprained, but you could still have a concussion and we need to do a couple of tests," the paramedic told him in no uncertain terms. Apparently, being married to the most powerful woman in the world didn't win him any brownie points when it came to what the guy considered Wyatt's reckless disregard for his own health.
"Listen, I'm an army man. I've had concussions before. I know what they feel like, and this isn't it."
The paramedic was nonplussed.
"Is he being a difficult patient?" At Lucy's voice, the guy surged up into a standing position. Lucy shook his hand and sat down next to Wyatt. "Do you have to make his life difficult, sweetheart? He's just trying to help you."
"Kidnapping me for an MRI or whatever tests he wants to do is not helpful. I've missed enough Christmases by being on tour, and no, Lucy, Christmas at the hospital is not the same thing, babydoll, and it's not happening."
"I'd like to know you're okay more than I need to celebrate Christmas at some party or at Camp David, and I'm sure the girls agree."
Wyatt opened his mouth to protest, but she silenced him with a quick kiss.
"Besides, I'm your wife and your Commander-in-Chief, in that order, and you'll do as you're told, soldier. The only thing left for you to say is…"
Wyatt gave a long-suffering sigh. He knew when she had him. Happy wife, happy life, and all that…
"Yes, ma'am."
The End
A/N: I'm really sorry how long this took. For weeks and weeks I haven't had a quiet moment to myself to write. In fact, this is the firs weekend I've been home since August. I hope updating will be a little more regular from now on.
As for the two one-shots... I couldn't decicde between the two, but maybe you can. Do you have a favorite?