Chapter Three

Mornings while living inside a former Army bunker had varying degrees of awkwardness for the current tenants. Some were early risers and the rest were nowhere near. Garcia Flynn had always been one to wake up early in the morning. It was a habit carried over from his days working at the NSA in the earliest hour of sunlight. He was always careful not to wake up his wife and child while he retrieved his breakfast before he left. He had never lost that habit when he could help it.

Flynn entered the kitchen area to fetch a cup of coffee. He hated the coffee here. He had better coffee while he was in prison. He remembered how good the gourmet coffee his wife always drank. He sat down at the table and forced down what he barely considered coffee. He cherished the silence.

The silence continued even when Wyatt Logan entered the area to make his own coffee.

"Morning," greeted Flynn.

No response.

Flynn wasn't surprised. Wyatt had acted strange ever since Flynn joined the team. It was to be expected. Having a shootout to the death with someone doesn't exactly invite friendship later. Yet, Wyatt held a special grudge against Flynn. He knew why. Wyatt could act happy that his former dead wife, Jessica, had returned in the current timeline. Flynn could tell that it was simply an act. He couldn't trust Jessica being back, but Flynn could sense that Wyatt may not either.

The silence officially ended with the arrival of Rufus and his tech girlfriend, Jiya, in the kitchen. They both came in laughing and hanging on one another like two school kids.

Rufus greeted Wyatt, "Hey."

"G'morning," responded Wyatt.

Rufus reached for the Pop Tarts, and Jiya sat at the table across from Flynn. Rufus asked Wyatt, "Hey, did you hear voices coming from Lucy's room last night?"

"Can't say that I did."

"Oh, of course. You and Jessica were too busy."

"Let's leave it at that, Rufus," said Wyatt.

Jiya suggested, "Maybe she and Agent Christopher were talking?"

Flynn interjected, "No. I heard them too. There was too much laughing for it to be Agent Christopher."

At that very moment, Agent Christopher herself entered the kitchen. "I heard my name. Insulting your liberator from prison, Flynn?"

"Wouldn't think of it, Agent."

Rufus popped his and Jiya's breakfast in the toaster. "Uh, Denise, did you hear laughter coming from Lucy's room last night?"

"Maybe. I would ask Lucy when she comes in." She reached into the refrigerator and pulled out a plastic container. She opened the lid.

Rufus said dryly, "Ah, I love the smell of curry in the morning. Almost masks the aroma of my cherry Pop Tarts."

Denise retorted, "Don't you insult my mother's Sooji Upma. At least it's more healthy than your fake American pastries."

"Hey, Pop Tarts are delicious."

Flynn said, "Next time we're in Paris in any time period, Rufus, I'll show you pastries that will put those to shame."

"Yeah, if we ever have time to eat. At least we have time to drink."

Wyatt sipped his coffee and said, "Yeah, that's the real reason we go back in time. Historical drinking."

Flynn mentioned, "When Lucy and I were at the World's Fair in Chicago 1893, we had one of the first Pabst Blue Ribbon beers."

Wyatt said sarcastically, "Oh, you mean the place where you kidnapped Lucy and Rufus and I were trapped in a serial killer's death hotel?"

"Fun times," said Rufus as he placed the Pop Tarts on a plate and sat with Jiya. He took one and Jiya the other.

They all heard the sound of shoes approaching.

"Incoming Lucy," muttered Rufus.

Running from the halls that led to the bedrooms, Lucy tried to stop at the doorway to the kitchen area. Instead, her momentum made her slide past it. Looking like a 1920's era silent film comedienne, she caught herself at the edge of the doorway and finally entered. "Guys! Is everyone here?"

"Everyone important," answered Rufus.

"Not everyone," uttered Wyatt. "Jessica's still asleep."

Jiya said, "And Connor's not here."

Lucy waved a hand. "Oh, he already knows."

"Knows what?" asked Wyatt.

Lucy began excitedly. "OK, guys. Something happened to the timeline when we came back from 1939 last night. Something that I still can't believe. It's so incredible."

"Lucy, spit it out." said Rufus. "What changed?"

Before Lucy could speak again, Amy Preston walked into the kitchen area as casually as if she had done so a thousand times. "I'm back. That's what changed. My god, Luce, you are so overdramatic. Hi, everyone. I'm Amy, Lucy's sister. Or, I guess to you I'm her long lost sister."

There was a few moments of silent shock from everyone before Rufus broke it. "Oh my god. So you're the infamous Amy. Of course, Lucy has told us nothing about you in the past year."

"Normally, I'd say typical, but I know you're lying. Rufus, right?"

He nodded, but Lucy cursed. "I'm sorry. This is Rufus Carlin, our pilot and hero."

Amy and Rufus shook hands as she said, "So you're their Timelord, huh?"

Rufus chuckled. "Depends on which regeneration."

"Oh, Tennant, of course," Amy shot back.

He turned to his girlfriend. "I'm going to like her."

Wyatt stood in front of Amy with a shocked expression. He traded looks from Lucy to Amy and back, clearly in disbelief. He finally said, "Ma'am."

Lucy scoffed. "Is that the only way you greet women you first meet?"

He smiled widely. "No, ma'am."

"Shut up. This is Wyatt Logan, our soldier, protector, and also a smart-ass hero."

Amy and Wyatt shook hands. "A pleasure to finally meet you," said Wyatt.

Lucy motioned to Jiya. "This is Jiya, our tech. She helps bringing us back in time."

"Ah, so you're the Timelord in the group," said Amy.

"More of a smart companion. David Tennant, by the way. Good choice."

"The only choice," replied Amy.

Lucy began to say, "And in the corner there..." She stopped as Flynn got up and left the room without a word. Lucy continued, "Well, that was Garcia Flynn."

"What's wrong with him?" Amy asked.

"Oh, where do we start?" said Wyatt.

Rufus explained, "He was once our enemy and now he's helping us."

Amy said, "Uh, huh. So he was turned from the Dark Side, like Vader?"

Rufus brightened. "Exactly!" He turned to Jiya again. "I'm really going to like her."

"Don't like her too much," said Jiya, dryly.

"Ah, sweetheart, notice I said 'like'. With you it's more like love."

"I know," said Jiya.

"Good save, Rufus," said Amy. "Hey, those Pop Tarts are calling me. Do you mind?" Rufus nodded and Amy proceeded to make one.

Wyatt sat back down and asked, "How did this happen?"

"We don't know, exactly," said Agent Christopher.

Lucy added, "At some point in 1939, something changed where my mom married Henry Wallace again. He's Amy's father and my stepfather."

"You don't think Rittenhouse is involved?" asked Wyatt.

"I wouldn't think so," answered Christopher.

"I thought of that last night, too," said Lucy. "Bringing back Amy would be the last thing Rittenhouse would want to do on purpose. I'm sure Emma will be pissed once she finds out."

Rufus mentioned, "That's one woman you don't want to see pissed. And that's even before she turned to the Dark Side."

Wyatt gasped and asked Amy, "You do know about Rittenhouse, right?"

"Oh, yes. I've been, uh, briefed I believe is the military term."

Rufus asked Lucy, "Is there anything in that journal about this that Flynn keeps talking about?"

Lucy stared at the spot where Flynn sat just minutes before. "I'm not sure."

Amy asked, "Luce, you want a Pop Tart?"

It took a moment to shake herself out of her daze before Lucy said, "No, I'm just going to have coffee." She went over to pour herself a cup. For the first time since the previous night, her mind wasn't on her sister. She wanted to know why Flynn left so abruptly. She needed to know for some reason. She listened to Amy, Rufus, and Jiya begin a Dr. Who conversation. Now would be the time to sneak away like Flynn did. It wasn't so easy with Lucy.

"Where you going?" Agent Christopher stopped to ask her. "Your sister's here."

"I know. They're all speaking nerd now. We talked non-stop all night. Besides, there's something I wanted to check on since we got back. Didn't get a chance last night."

"Oh, sure. Always the historian. I won't keep you. Just remember that Flynn's room is on the left."

"Wh..what?"

"The actual reason you were trying to sneak away."

"Well, I...uh...it's not what you think."

"Lucy, give me some credit. I was a Criminal Intelligence Analyst in the FBI. I know people."

"Right. Hate you for that."

"Well, it is sort of your own fault. You and Jiya convinced me to stay with it in 1981."

"True." She paused and said, "I just want to know why Flynn left so suddenly after I introduced my sister."

"Lucy, he feels like an outsider here. Give him a bone."

Lucy crinkled her brow. "When did you start warming up to Flynn?"

Denise sighed. "Don't think I forgot his actions from last year. It's just he gave me some great advice recently." She made a deliberate motion to glance at Lucy's sister. "About family."

Lucy realized suddenly. "And his is still gone. Meanwhile, Wyatt's wife is back and so is my sister."

"Go see how he is."

Lucy turned to leave but abruptly looked back at Denise and said, "This is still not what you think."

"I don't think it, Lucy. You and Flynn? It would never work." She allowed a pause as Lucy walked away and said, "No matter how much vodka you drink."

Lucy turned back around with her mouth gaping and cried, "Seriously?"

"Go," demanded Denise.

Lucy finally went to Flynn's door and knocked. He opened it and feigned looking around. "What, you're not parading your sister down this street?"

"Stop with the sarcasm. What's wrong?"

He opened the door wider and walked away as a silent invitation for her to enter. She did so and closed the door. She reiterated, "Why did you leave when I was introducing everyone to Amy?"

"You know I'm not welcome here, Lucy. I can accept that given my behavior last year. I mean, it wasn't long ago when Wyatt called me the Yoko of the group. I will never be a part of your team." He paused. "Or your family. So, when you started introducing your newly found sister, I left."

"All right. That's about a third of the true answer. What's the rest?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I know you. There's another reason you slipped away without a word."

Flynn started to grin. "You think you know me, Lucy? Granted, you do come closer than most here, including Agent Christopher."

"It has to do with your own family, doesn't it?"

He sighed. "Partially. Look, I'm happy that your sister is back. I'm happy that Wyatt's wife is back."

"But your family is still gone."

It was obvious to Lucy that Flynn was irritated with her assumption. Which only spoke to how close to the truth she really was. He blew out a breath and then said in a low voice, "Lucy, like I told you in 1947 on the way to record Robert Johnson, I still have hope that my family will return to me. All I have left is hope. Every time I step out of that machine, from the first trip in the Mothership to our latest one last night, I always imagine that I enter a timeline where my family did not die." He sat down on the edge of his cot.

She stood in front of him. "I know I was skeptical about getting Amy back before 1947. Many times after our first trip to the Hindenburg, I would also hold my breath each time I stepped out of that time machine when we returned from some time. I would hope that this would be the timeline where Amy existed. When that didn't happen several times, I stopped wishing. I even listened to Emma when she claimed she made sure Amy could never return. I believed her."

"That was your mistake for listening to that wench."

"Exactly. I know I shouldn't have. It wasn't until that night in '47 in the car when you told me to keep that hope that she would return. And now she's in the next room." She paused before saying, "Maybe next time it will be your family there to greet you."

"Perhaps. I still have that hope. But I'm also a realist."

"Can't help you there." She noticed him looking into her eyes and then quickly look down. "There's something else, isn't there?"

"No," he said. On her raised eyebrows he admitted, "Ok, yes, but I don't think you want to hear it now."

"You do know that phrase means I have to know now."

After a heavy sigh of realization that he couldn't reason with this woman, he went on to explain. "Lucy, I know you've heard me say this several times, but I have read your journal thoroughly."

She let out a exasperated cry. "Not the journal again."

"I said you wouldn't want to hear it."

After a moment of consideration, she said, "Tell me anyway."

"I've read all about your sister through your words. Your backgrounds. Your closeness. I read some of the things you did to support her and in some cases defend her."

"And?"

He hesitated before he said, "Nowhere in the journal do you say that Amy had returned."

"So the timeline changed. We've been through this before, Flynn."

"Not like this, Lucy. I'm going to indulge in what Rufus would refer to as a spoiler. There is nothing in that journal to this point that has not come to pass. Until now."

"How do you know? If I wrote this in the future then it was written from one specific timeline. That doesn't mean our timeline here can't change."

"I'm not concerned that our timeline here had changed. I'm worried that whenever we come back again that it will change again."

Lucy sighed in frustration. "Flynn, you're not making sense. And you're using that journal as a blueprint of what's supposed to happen."

Flynn raised his eyebrows. "It led me to take down Rittenhouse."

"And how is that working for you?"

"I could ask you the same. After all, you gave me the journal for that purpose."

"Or I gave it to you so you don't repeat the same mistakes that were already made when I wrote that journal."

He irritably stood up. "Lucy, we could go back and fourth on this all day. My only concern about Amy's new presence here is that it...doesn't feel right."

"It feels damn right to me. Would it feel more right if it were your family out there instead of Amy?"

"That's not fair."

"Not fair? Flynn, we deal with time travel, and it's never fair. It took away my sister for a year. And it's now given me the greatest happiness since the Hindenburg by giving her back. How can that not feel right?"

"Lucy, that's not what I meant."

"Then what, Flynn? You don't trust her like you don't trust anyone? You think Rittenhouse planned for her return? Maybe they brought back Jessica, too?"

"Lucy, stop. I'm not sure about Jessica's return. But I feel I know Amy through your words. I can't see the purpose of Rittenhouse returning Amy. From what you told me, Emma would be pretty angry about Amy being at your side again. I don't know how she can make the claim that she made sure Amy would be lost forever, but obviously, it failed."

Lucy was forced to grin, picturing Emma Whitmore finding out that Amy was alive. "Yeah, she would freak out."

Flynn went on. "And it's not that I don't trust Amy herself. I guess I don't trust time travel. Like I said, I'm afraid that when we get back from our next trip in time, Amy won't be here."

Lucy hesitated before asking him, "Why do you care, Garcia?"

For once, Flynn fumbled for words. "I...I'm only concerned about you and your sister."

"That's BS and you know it," she shot back. "Maybe I should rephrase. Why do you care about me? Is it because you read about me in that journal? Let me tell you something. That Lucy Preston who wrote that journal doesn't exist. I'm not sure she ever will. Yet, you place me on such a high pedestal because you think you know me. I can't compete with your Lucy Preston. You may admire her, but that's not me." He was about to say something but she cut him off quick. "And if you say 'not yet', I'm going to slap you."

Flynn gave a defeated expression and chuckled. "That's not what I was going to say. I was going to explain to you that you are that Lucy in the journal already. It seems about right. You are always in competition with yourself." She offered no words back in response. He continued. "I may have been brought here from prison as a Rittenhouse reference source. But I had another purpose in coming here."

"To be a killer again?"

Flynn grinned. "No. More than that. I am here, Lucy, so that I can be witness to when you finally discover who you truly are."

Lucy was speechless. Silence fell between them. It didn't last long.

The klaxon sounded throughout the complex.

Flynn said, "And that is our main purpose calling for us."

They both left Flynn's room and headed to the main area that held the Lifeboat. Agent Christopher, Rufus, and Wyatt all joined. Jiya was already busy at the computer. Amy stood around them, confused.

She asked Lucy, "What the hell is that?"

Lucy explained, "That's our alert that Rittenhouse used the other time machine." She turned to ask Jiya, "Where did they go?"

Jiya finished typing. She stated, "June 1, 1863, South Carolina.

Rufus retorted, "Back to the Civil War we go. Yee Ha!"

Chapter 4 will be soon!