Tim navigated the Corvette onto the gated lot and into the private garage labeled with the number '2'. As he turned off the car, Lucy's nervousness came out in the form of words as it tended to do, "2 is my favorite number. It's lucky. That's a good sign, I think."
Tim threw her a sharp glare, "Rein it in, Lucy. You look like a scared rabbit."
"Oh, thanks. That's super helpful," her attitude showing.
"Lucy, can you handle this? I need to know right now."
Tim's words were as stern as ever, but his eyes were softer than usual and Lucy was drawn in. She didn't want to let him down. Taking two lucky deep breaths, Lucy lifted her chin and turned to look him in the eyes.
"Yes. I promise. I won't let you down."
Tim smiled, "I know."
Such simple yet meaningful words coming from him. She smiled back gently and they exited the car. After grabbing their bags, they made their way to the only door in the spacious garage, one that led to a long hallway. As they were instructed during the briefing, they made their way toward the only visible elevator.
Stepping into the metal box, Lucy moved toward the back corner and was briefly surprised to find Tim less than a step behind her. He leaned casually on the wall next to her, but his entire left side was pressed gently up against her right side.
She almost cried.
He knew the little things that still terrified her, despite how hard she tried to hide them. He had so nonchalantly given her what she so desperately needed and didn't have when Caleb shoved her in the barrel. He gave her human connection. Connection with a human she trusted with her life.
She gently leaned into him, if only to let him know she noticed his effort and appreciated it. Tim didn't turn his eyes away from the elevator door, but a gentle smile spread across his face. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.
Riding up to the fourth floor, Tim and Lucy stepped off of the elevator and glanced at the only two doors in the hallway. Moving toward the one with a bold '402' printed on the gleaming wood, Tim inserted their key and turned until they heard the distinct clicking of the lock.
Gently, he pushed the door inward and darted his eyes around what he could see of their new place. Stepping silently across the hardwood floor, a trait Lucy was sure he picked up in the military, Tim began clearing rooms. Trusting her TO completely, Lucy admittedly paid less attention to potential threats and much more attention to the absolute luxury surrounding her.
The bright, open space was adorned with modern furnishings and expensive looking artwork. In the main room, a chic sofa was flanked by glass tables and a giant chandelier hung gracefully overhead. To her right, a chef's kitchen with the latest appliances looked like it was plucked right out of a magazine. To her left was a hallway that Tim had just directed his sweep down.
Following behind, she let out a sigh of relief when two bedrooms came into view. One was a bit larger than the other with an en-suite bathroom. Another full bathroom was the third door in the hallway.
The tension left Tim's shoulders as he deemed the dwelling safe. Turning toward Lucy, he immediately noticed her star - struck expression.
"You can't take anything home, boot."
Snapping out of her awe of the condo and a bit embarrassed to be caught gawking, she attempted to play it cool, "Like I would ever want anything in here anyway. A complete waste of money if you ask me."
"I didn't."
Tim moved toward the smaller room and tossed his bag on the bed. Pivoting, he strode toward the kitchen calling over his shoulder, "I'm ordering pizza."
Lucy turned to place her bag in the larger room, secretly giddy he let her have it. The bed looked like a throne and the floor to ceiling windows made it feel like she was one with the sunset that was glowing on the horizon. The picturesque windows were not limited to her room by any means and as she made her way back into the main living area, her eyes followed the flawless expanse of glass as it wrapped clear around to the kitchen.
There only being two doors on the fourth floor made sense now. They were living in a luxury suite that took up an entire half of a floor of this building. Man, would her 20 neighbors on her floor in her actual apartment sure be jealous if they could see her now!
Tim was nervous. He ordered the pizza and then set about unpacking his bag in his bedroom. Glancing out the door, he appreciated the separate rooms, but wished they were farther apart. Like at either end of the condo would have been good.
He silently cursed Grey for putting him in this position. Of course he wasn't going to let Lucy do this alone and of course he was going to be the one watching her back. And it really wasn't that big of an op. Sort of pointless, really.
But Grey didn't know.
He didn't know that the nightmares he had battled during Isabel's destruction had returned. And Grey didn't know that they had only returned after he breathed life back into Lucy.
It hadn't been that long since that terrifying day and as much as he was positive Lucy was still dealing with the fallout, he really didn't want her to know that he was too. And more. So much more.
He closed his eyes and hung his head. He couldn't just not sleep. And sleeping aids made it worse. Those just trapped him in the dreams without a chance of escape.
She was going to find out eventually. Maybe he would luck out and she would be a deep sleeper. Unlikely, given how much life seemed to hate him. This was going to be the biggest disaster ever.