AN: I know it's taken an excruciatingly long time to get here, but when you're introducing a whole new character to an existing team, you can't just shoe-horn them in there. I mean, you can, but the results suck. In my defense, those first three chapters were short-ish.
I don't own Timeless.
Lucy was sitting at the kitchen table, a mug of tea at her fingertips as she paged through a new history text. She'd devoted an enormous amount of time to studying 1880's San Francisco in preparation for they day they could return for Rufus. The last two days she'd been on edge, hoping against hope their new resident would agree to help – even if only for this mission. Flynn hadn't been entirely wrong, Lucy was feeling a little – a lot – more alone with Rufus gone and Jiya lost in her work. But even if Roxanne didn't ultimately stay, Lucy hoped she could get Jiya back. That once Rufus returned – alive – Jiya would drop the mania that had been driving her for nearly a year.
When Wyatt walked in, still in pajama bottoms and a gray Army T-shirt, Lucy gave him a momentary smile in greeting before returning to her book.
"That the new Tom Clancy?" Wyatt asked as he poured himself a mug of coffee. Lucy breathed a laugh.
"We need to work on your literary repertoire."
"We?" Wyatt said as he sat down across from her, that same joking-but-actually-hopeful tone he'd been using since the night he'd told her he loved her. One honest, forthright declaration had been followed by these same prodding, suggestive comments. If he was expecting her to take the lead, to validate these half-hearted efforts, he was sorely mistaken.
"I'm sure Flynn could recommend something a little more – diverse." If she was being honest with herself, Lucy had come to enjoy needling him with his own jealousy. It was Wyatt's biggest flaw and as for Flynn, well, he was happy to oblige. Wyatt wisely declined to respond, taking a sip of his coffee with roll of his eyes. Maybe he was growing up after all.
"It's been a couple days, now," Wyatt said, changing the subject as he leaned back in his chair, "What do you think the holdup is?" Lucy didn't need him to elaborate, it was the one topic on everyone's mind.
"It's a big decision," Lucy shrugged, leaning back once she realized she wouldn't be continuing with her research just now and meeting his assessing look. In spite of herself, those unreal blue eyes still set her stomach fluttering, but she didn't flinch, didn't let her gaze waver. She was damn proud of herself for that.
"I know," he responded, "It's just – I still have questions."
"About her record?"
"Well, yeah, I mean, I trust Agent Christopher, but I also know the service. I know how much bullshit soldiers get way with and if there's anything on her record there had to be a dozen other things she never got written up for."
"Maybe that's true for most soldiers, but I suspect the standards are a little stricter for women."
"Everyone has the same rules," Wyatt dismissed.
"And you think those rules have always been applied equally?" Lucy asked, and as Wyatt opened his mouth to argue, she cut him off, "Listen I don't want to get into a debate about sexist military practices. We don't know the circumstances, maybe… maybe it wasn't even something she did. Maybe it was something she was involved in that was classified or maybe it was something that happened to her. Honestly, I just have a feeling about her. I… I trust her."
"Like you trust Flynn?" He just couldn't resist, could he?
"Once it was appropriate, yes," she said, confident that her evolving attitude toward their former enemy had been born out by his behavior, "And like I trusted you before I really knew you. Like I trusted Rufus and Agent Christopher." Lucy had her flaws, she knew, but no one could shame her for her judgments in character. She'd begun to forgive herself for not seeing what her mom was – no one could have suspected that magnitude of subversion, especially not from a loving, dedicated (if demanding) parent. Trusting Carol Preston wasn't Lucy's fault.
"I hope you're right," Wyatt, wisely, backed down. "Do you think she can help?" Lucy's heart gave a little lurch at that. Sometimes she forgot how much she missed Rufus.
"I hope so," she said softly.
Just then, Frankie came careening into the room, full speed, followed closely by Roxanne. The child spotted Lucy immediately and ran up to her. The pair of them had become fast friends, and Lucy scooped the girl up onto her lap without even thinking. Roxanne, also in pajamas with a long, spring green cardigan wrapped around her, smiled at the sight. Lucy saw immediately the woman hadn't looked so at ease since she arrived.
"Good morning," Lucy greeted, "There's hot water still in the kettle."
"Oh, thank you," Roxanne said with genuine enthusiasm.
"Mommy says we get to stay here," Frankie informed, squirming on Lucy's lap to look up at her with those giant sea-blue eyes. Lucy's heart skipped a beat, and she noticed Wyatt's eyebrows shoot up as he turned in his chair to face the woman at the counter. Roxanne flushed a little and shook her head as she flipped through the availability of tea bags.
"I uh, was hoping to at least get my tea ready, but…" she said, tearing open a bag and looking sheepishly at Lucy's hopeful face and Wyatt's look of… guarded interest. "I want to help. At least on this mission if not…" She shrugged, then, and poured her water. Lucy's eyes started to well up, and she eased Frankie to the floor before rushing over to the counter and giving the very startled Roxanne a giant hug.
"Thank you," Lucy whispered, and despite her feelings on being hugged by new people, that embrace was so genuine and heartfelt Roxanne gave in and hugged her back. "I was trying so hard not to be weird about it." Roxanne laughed.
"I could tell," she replied, and Lucy finally loosened her grip. They noticed, then, that Wyatt had stood up and joined them. He held out a hand and offered his most encouraging smile.
"Welcome to the team."
"Well, I guess we may as well dive right in," Roxanne said. Agent Christopher had arrived around noon and gathered everyone in the lounge area. Blessedly, she'd had the foresight to bring another agent who was currently babysitting Frankie. No one really wanted her hearing about time travel and gunfire and fatal injuries.
"Mind you, in the Army I never led a mission, I was usually just along for the ride. So, this, being in charge, this is new to me."
"You'll do just fine," Wyatt nodded, and Lucy, sitting next to him on the couch, gave him an appreciative glance. Apparently, now that the decision was made, he'd set himself to support the mission no matter his doubts.
"Thanks," she replied earnestly, "Now, the first thing is – and this will likely be the hardest part – I need to know exactly how your friend died. Not this second, just know that I'm going to need as much detail as possible from the people who were nearest to him when he…"
"That would be me," Jiya said firmly, "And Wyatt."
"OK, it's going to take time to prepare, but both of you need to spend the next couple days thinking about everything that happened. Write it down if you have to. I know he was shot but the closest you can come to where exactly the bullet entered, how long he stayed conscious – every little detail helps." Roxanne looked at them with searching eyes, and they both nodded.
"OK, second, if this wound was so fatal you couldn't get him out of there in time to reach the lifeboat and get him home, then stabilizing and transporting him are our biggest challenges. Time is our enemy," she paused, realizing what she'd said with a sideways smile while the gathered team members shared a wry chuckle. The thrum of new optimism gave them renewed flexibility to laugh about their predicament for the first time in ages.
"We have to plan everything to the letter," Roxanne concluded. "Supplies, landing site, route of travel, everything. I'll need to train each of you on several components of triage care, but we have – and I can't stress this enough – we have to have a surgical team and a clean, stocked operating room ready."
"We will," Agent Christopher assured, and the others all looked at each other. Where in the bunker were they going to created a sterile operating suite?
"Perfect," Roxanne said, relieved, "The name of the game is stabilize and move. We can't save him – I can't save him. In fact, we still might lose him en route, but if we can keep oxygen flowing and his heart pumping until we reach the surgical team – if we can prevent brain death – he might have a chance." The team was silent a moment, but the room was vibrating with suppressed hope. Lucy reached out and grabbed Wyatt's hand.
"We have an advantage I never had on the battlefield," Roxanne said finally, looking at each of them in turn. "In Afghanistan, every wound was a surprise, every situation was different and unexpected. There are things we can control, here, but I can't emphasize enough how risky this is. No matter how much information you give me, I wasn't there. I can't prepare for every contingency." She gave them a moment to soak that in.
"I won't lie to you about that, but I promise I will do everything I can to get your friend home. And in spite of the odds, I need–" her voice broke a moment." I need all of you to believe – in yourselves, in each other – that we will save him. It sounds corny and hokey, but I need you to trust me."
"It doesn't sound corny at all," Lucy said.
"Right," Roxanne smiled. Clearly this was a group who knew about foolish, stubborn optimism. "Uh, how long before the… the time machine…"
"It's ready," Jiya interrupted.
"Jiya…" Connor admonished.
"I said it's ready." The young woman was firm, staring her mentor and former boss down like it was a personal challenge.
"We have to run simulations. The diagnostics…"
"Look, first aid training and mission planning are going to take a couple weeks, at least," Roxanne interjected. "It's great, wonderful news that the machine will be ready, but we couldn't leave today even if we wanted to. There is time to double-check, to run simulations, maybe even a test flight." Her reminder forestalled further argument, but Jiya still looked irritated – offended, even – at Connor's hesitation.
"Speaking of the lifeboat," Flynn began, chiming in for the first time. He'd looked relieved when he'd learned she was accepting the mission, and that alone had given Roxanne more confidence. "You said transportation is critical and it's– it's a rough ride."
"How so?"
"Nausea, disorientation," Wyatt chimed in, "It's a quick trip, so it shouldn't add much to our transportation time, but it feels like getting your bell rung after a rollercoaster ride."
"Charming, I really look forward to it," Roxanne said dryly.
"It's also a little cramped," Flynn added, "I'm guessing we'll need to have him on a backbaord."
"I think a Stokes basket would be better, if the ride's so rough, but yes," Roxanne said. At their quizzical looks, she continued, "It's a litter – a backboard with rails and padding to keep the patient secure while they're being moved. How many people does the machine allow?"
"Four," Flynn said, "but Wyatt and I can stay behind when we get him on board, and you can pick us up later."
"I think," Agent Christopher said, "The best thing we can do is send you on a trip. You can judge for yourself how severe the turbulence is, and you can gauge the best way to secure the litter."
"W-where?" Roxanne asked, unable to keep that little hesitation from her voice, but swallowing her immediate anxiety as best she could and putting on a brave face.
"Well, I suppose that's up to you. We don't want to send you on a Rittenhouse mission, but you need to know what you're in for. We need a low-risk trip so you can get your… time legs. Connor, Jiya, are you confident the ship's regular functions are good to go?" Christopher asked. Connor glanced at Jiya, not wanting to rile her up again.
"Yes, a non-duplicative trip will be just fine," Connor assured.
"Good. Roxanne, take the night to think of something and we'll plan a mission for tomorrow morning."
"Will do," she responded with entirely more confidence than she felt. Agent Christopher dismissed them all, and Roxanne left to retrieve Frankie. She'd just made it to the corridor when she felt a hand on the curve of her shoulder and her heart skipped a beat.
"Hey," Flynn said as she turned to face him. He was speaking low, trying to make sure the others wouldn't overhear. "It's going to be fine."
"No, I know," she said with more confidence than she felt, and his look told her he saw all her bullshit.
"Listen, I've traveled in both machines. The Lifeboat's a little rough, but Jiya is brilliant and she's an excellent pilot," he continued despite her attempted bluff, "Don't tell her I said that, by the way." Roxanne had to laugh at that.
"You're secret's safe with me, tough guy." She said it so dismissively it struck him, instantly, how differently she thought of him. Then again, he'd never shot at her. He wanted to correct her, to tell her what a vicious animal he truly was, but he couldn't.
"It should be an easy trip," he said, instead. "And I'll be going with you, just in case. No Rittenhouse, no chasing, no shooting. You'll have…" he smiled as he realized what he was about to say, "all the time in the world. Just pick something good. Something you really want to see."
"Sounds irresponsible," she said casually, but he grinned, green eyes alight.
"Sounds like you should try that more often."
"Hey, Lucy," Roxanne walked into the kitchen the next morning, glad the resident historian was already there.
"Good morning," Lucy greeted brightly, "Tea?"
"Yes, please," she replied, meeting the other woman at the counter, "Listen, I had a question I hoped you could help me with."
"Of course!" Lucy said, opening another tea packet and pulling a mug from the cupboard. "Have you decided where you want to go?" Roxanne chewed her lip a moment, feeling like she was 10 years old again.
"Is there any way we could try to meet… Amelia Earhart?" she asked, bashful for the cliche of it as much as the frivolousness. Lucy stopped what she was doing and turned to her with a small, thoughtful smile. She'd opened her mouth to speak, to reassure the clearly hesitant woman this was not a silly request, when comprehension lit her face and she grinned wider.
"I know just the when."
My Silver Lining – First Aid Kit
I've woken up in a hotel room
My worries as big as the moon
Having no idea who or what or where I am
Something good comes with the bad
A song's never just sad
There's hope, there's a silver lining
Show me my silver lining