Disclaimer: I own nothing. All belongs to Timeless and ABC.

Baby Steps

Lucy-

Lucy waited, telling herself not to hold her breath, for Flynn to respond to her request that he tell her something about himself. She didn't want to know some secret or was deviously trying to wrangle his plans from him, she just wanted to know him a little better. Learn something about the man, not the wanted terrorist rampaging through time.

"Is there anything particular you would like to know?" Flynn asked, his question not quite as guarded as she would've usually expected from him.

"No, not really." Lucy replied. "Well, now that I think about it...tell me a happy memory, something with your mom."

Flynn frowned. "Why her?"

Lucy averted her eyes. "Wyatt told me what you told your mom after you saved your half brother; how you could remember there was always an underlining of sadness to her from the loss of her first husband and then him. Gabriel was his name, yes?"

"I...yes, that's his name." Flynn said softly. It was clear he was uncomfortable that not only had Wyatt heard what he'd said to his mom, but that Lucy also knew. Lucy was glad she knew though. It was just one more thing that spoke of Flynn's humanity, showed he was a normal man, wanting to make life better for someone he clearly loved very much. It proved he wasn't a completely evil man.

Flynn didn't say anything for several moments. When the silence started to become oppressive, Lucy decided she didn't need to know anything about his mom if it was going to cause this uncomfortableness between them. She wasn't ready to break the truce and connection between them yet.

"It's all right. You don't have to." Lucy paused, looking down. She didn't want Flynn to see the tears gathering in her eyes. So stupid, Lucy! she berated herself. It should have been obvious this was a subject he wouldn't want to talk to her about. She wanted to run away, hating that she'd broken their connection anyway with her stupidity.

"Lucy," Flynn said, his voice quiet.

Lucy couldn't look at him though. She was humiliated and didn't want him to see the tears she refused, from sheer determination, to let go of. She also didn't want him to see that she was hurt that he didn't want to share anything with her. It was obvious she'd misjudged whatever it was between them, that maybe to Flynn last night had been just sex and nothing more. Oh, god, she thought, I'm so stupid to think it had been something it wasn't. Lucy was suddenly fervently wishing that Carl would pound on the door, or that the floor would open up and she could fall through it before Flynn could see how humiliated and hurt she was. How ridiculous he'll think I am!

It startled Lucy when Flynn cupped her cheek. "Please look at me, Lucy." He said, his voice pleading, a tone she thought she'd never hear from Flynn's lips. Lucy tried to steel herself so Flynn wouldn't be able to see her emotions, and looked up. His expression was pained, his eyes begging her for understanding.

"Lucy, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings." She couldn't help the slight blush from staining her cheeks, embarrassed Flynn knew what she was feeling, although she shouldn't be surprised. "It's not that I don't want to tell you anything...it just took me by surprise. I'm not used to talking about myself in this way, I haven't for a long time."

No, he wouldn't be, Lucy thought. She supposed that the man Flynn was before his family's death wouldn't have had much trouble talking about himself, at least with someone he knew and who wasn't just an acquaintance. She wanted to believe that after last night that they were more than acquaintances. Perhaps not exactly friends, but she no longer thought of him as her absolute enemy. So that left them somewhere in the middle, and she was okay with that, even if her teammates and Agent Christopher wouldn't understand. She knew it was a strange situation, but alas, it was where they found themselves.

Hoping to bridge the awkward gap between them Lucy gave Flynn a tentative smile. "I honestly didn't mean to put you on the spot or anything. It's just..." she trailed off, not knowing how to continue.

"It's just what?" Flynn prompted, tone neutral.

Lucy looked him in the eyes. "I'm not going to lie, Flynn. That first time we met, you scared the hell out of me." Flynn flinched, but said nothing. "It wasn't just because you ended up holding a knife to my throat," Flynn's face reflected the sorrow he felt for causing the terror he knew she'd felt during that first mission, especially in those moments. "But not just because of that. It was everything. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I mean, how could I?" Her question was rhetorical of course, but her tone still conveyed the bewildered woman she'd been since Homeland Security had knocked on her door all those months ago. Flynn smiled at that, knowing exactly how she felt on that front. He didn't say a word, however, letting Lucy continue.

"I'll admit that I believed Agent Christopher when she said that you needed to be stopped at all costs. After that first trip and...and Amy, I was all on board. I had to preserve history. But that's also not entirely why I was so frightened of you. When you said that we would be 'quite the team one day' and that it was my journal you were following, and well, that was absolutely terrifying to me. Why would I, a historian for crying out loud, want to help you destroy life as we know it?" Lucy took a breath. It worried her that Flynn didn't say anything. She knew he was sorry for his terrible deeds, but he also wasn't going to apologize either. He was fighting to get his family back, just like she was fighting for Amy, they both just had different ways of going about it.

It was Lucy's turn to beg Flynn to look at her. When he finally raised his eyes to hers, she cupped his cheek this time. "Flynn, I know that you are not a monster." His eyes widened at her statement. "While I can admit I initially agreed with Agent Christopher and Wyatt to stop you by any means necessary, I can also admit when I'm wrong. And I...we are all wrong about you. I understand that now." Her eyes and voice conveyed so much compassion and sympathy that she was sure Flynn's eyes were a bit watery, but after he blinked his eyes were clear. She thought that she had maybe been mistaken.

"So, by asking about your mom, I was asking about the man you were before Rittenhouse destroyed your life, the good man I know is still inside of you, the man underneath all that rage and sorrow." Lucy didn't say anything else. If Flynn didn't realize she truly meant everything she'd just said, and wouldn't open up to her, she would let it go. She didn't want to push him, it wasn't worth it. Flynn was silent far longer than she'd expected him to be. His brow was furrowed and she could tell he was struggling inside with his decision. She understood it would make him feel vulnerable, and he didn't want anyone to see that he had his own weaknesses, just like everyone else. Only, in what he was doing, he couldn't really afford to be open with other people.

Lucy sighed, telling herself to accept the situation as it was and to enjoy the quiet before Flynn's henchman came to get them, whenever that would be. She wasn't looking forward to his rudeness again. She then wondered if maybe Flynn would go back to his flippant, dismissive attitude towards her. She hoped not, but wouldn't hold her breath. Even if he might not truly mean it, he wouldn't want to show a soft spot for her. Well, I'd better brace myself for the insults I'm sure will be hurled upon me today. Lucy wished she could just go back to sleep, back to dreams of her dad and Amy again.

Flynn cleared his throat, as if nervously about to begin a speech. Lucy looked up at him in surprise. Her breath bated, she thought to herself, Is he really going to open up to me? Hope bubbled in her chest, but she schooled her expression though, not wanting to seem overeager and cause him to clam up again. Baby steps, Lucy. He'll talk when/if he wants to. So she waited and waited...

Flynn finally opened his mouth to speak.

...

Sorry to leave it on such a cliffhanger like that but I promise there will be more soon! :P