New Beginnings

They had been in the new safe house for two days. Garcia found it better than the hellhole of a bunker that they had just left for so many reasons. It was, at least partially, above ground, which was a huge improvement. Lucy was so much happier being able to see sunlight and step outside for some fresh air. When he thought about how much courage it had to have taken her to remain in that bunker for months on end given how claustrophobic she was he was amazed by her strength of will. He had only witnessed Lucy experiencing one panic attack but that was an experience that he never wanted to have again. After that he had tried to be extra careful about not boxing her in or overwhelming her with his size. He would never forgive himself if he was the cause of an attack.

Then there was theirroom. Their room. With a bed, not some sad excuse of a cot that was fifty years old and made for midgets. Sleeping in an actual bed again was delightful; sleeping in a bed with Lucy, despite the fact that they were doing little more than sleeping at the moment, was heaven. Waking up to find her beautiful face on the pillow beside him was a dream he never thought to see fulfilled. Feeling her next to him, hearing her heartbeat, helped calm his ever present nightmares. The tone of the dreams had changed over the last few months. Now, it was more often than not Lucy he saw, not Lorena and Iris. It was getting better but, since Chinatown, everytime he closed his eyes he saw Emma with her hand around Lucy's throat and he was too late. Every last time he was too fucking late. At least last night he didn't think he'd woken her when he jolted awake, heart threatening to beat out of his chest, fear coursing through his veins. Just seeing her next to him wasn't enough, he'd had to pull her practically on top of himself and hold her there for the rest of the night. Even then he still hadn't been able to fall back to sleep. Just laid there with her in his arms and tried to comfort himself with the rhythm of her heart beating against his. God he loved her. He couldn't survive losing her. He would have nothing left to go on for, nothing to hold the darkness in check. It would kill him. You know what you have to do.

Damn voice. He really didn't want to do this but knew that there was no choice. It was something that he'd been thinking about ever since they got back from Chinatown. The arrival of future Lucy and Wyatt with their shiny new Lifeboat had only solidified that decision. With a sigh he sat up and rubbed a hand over his face. Lucy had gotten up about an hour ago to help Agent Christopher set up her office but had told him to try to get some more sleep. Perhaps he wasn't as good at hiding the nightmares as he thought. Fuck. Just get it over with. Resigned to his fate, he stood and grabbed clean clothes and his shower kit. If he was going to have this conversation his was damn well going to shower first.

XXXXXXXXXX

He found future Wyatt in the kitchen helping himself to a large cup of coffee. The soldier looked like hell. Apparently he wasn't the only one not sleeping. Garcia stood and watched Wyatt for a few minutes and wondered where his present day counterpart was. Thankfully not here. Present day Wyatt would not make this conversation any better and Garcia would prefer that no-one else knew that this conversation ever took place. Reminding himself that it wouldn't get any easier the longer he put it off, he squared his shoulders and stepped into the kitchen.

"Got a minute."

The bearded one just looked at him and shrugged his shoulders. WIth that minimal amount of encouragement, Garcia moved to the coffee pot and poured himself a large cup, wished it were vodka, considered adding some alcohol and then decided against it. He was a grown man and could handle an uncomfortable conversation without alcohol. Probably.

"I need to ask you for a favor."

Well that got Wyatt's attention. With an expression that was equal parts curiosity, reluctance, and amusement, the soldier sat down.

"You know I can't tell you anything right?" The beard did very little to hide future Wyatt's smirk and Garcia regretted not adding booze to his coffee while he had the chance. Still, he'd be damned if he let this scruffy future rambo make him go back for alcohol.

"Yeah. I know." Garcia's voice was short and clipped. Don't be an asshole he reminded himself. "Look, I don't want to know. Really I don't. I'm just enjoying the present that I have with her. That's not the favor."

Wyatt lost the amused expression at the reminder that Lucy was with Garcia despite the declaration of love made by his younger self. Garcia couldn't quite regret the small bit of satisfaction he felt on seeing Wyatt reminded of who Lucy was with. It was petty, but he couldn't really bring himself to regret that venial sin when he had committed so many mortal ones.

"So then what is it?" Wyatt's voice remained civil, barely.

"You never saw Emma beating the hell out of Lucy, I did. She was choking Lucy when I got there and Lucy was weakening. If I arrived a few moments later it would have been too late. You remember how out of it Lucy was when we got back. You see how bruised she still is. I don't ever want Lucy in that situation again."

Wyatt appeared shaken by Garcia's description of Emma's assault on Lucy. "Neither do I. I've always kept Lucy safe. I don't want her hurt any more than you do."

Garcia took a deep breath at this. There were so many things that he could say right now. So many things that he wanted to say, starting with the fact that Lucy would never have been in that situation if Wyatt hadn't brought Jessica to the bunker. Not the way to get what you want. Keep calm.

"I know. Just like we both know that Emma will never stop targeting Lucy. I'm asking you to work with her on self defense and weapons training. We didn't get very far with that before Chinatown and it's not something I can do right now," Garcia frustratedly gestured towards the arm that was in a sling. "Agent Christopher's too busy, and there's no way in hell I'm letting your mini me anywhere near her. I'd wait until I'm healed but I want her to be better prepared when we go back to save Rufus." Garcia paused and looked directly at Wyatt. "I know you don't like me and I'm aware that I'm not good enough for her. Neither of us are, but we both want the same thing here, which is to keep Lucy safe."

Wyatt looked at Garcia with something bordering on respect. He couldn't imagine what it had cost the other man to ask him for a favor. He had a fairly good idea of what was running through Garcia's head since he and future Lucy arrived. It was the same thing that always ran through his head anytime he watched Lucy and Garcia together. And he couldn't blame the man. Truth be told, Wyatt didn't want his younger self anywhere near Lucy, either of them. God he had been a mess back then. Still occasionally was but he was better, Lucy and the rest of the team had helped him find his way.

"I can do that. Do you want to talk to her first."

"I will. I appreciate it." Garcia hesitated for a moment but decided to risk it. There was one more favor that he had to ask of this man. "Wyatt, I don't want to know why I didn't come back with you, but I can't ever imagine a time when I wouldn't be by her side or let her face danger without me. I can see you care for her. Please, just keep her safe if there is a day where I am not there to do it."

Garcia and Wyatt regarded each other in silence. The look on the soldier's face was one of compassion and understanding and oddly regret. Garcia could tell that Wyatt had done some maturing as well. They would probably never be friends, God knew he couldn't imagine having this conversation with present day Wyatt ever, but perhaps he and future Wyatt could be allies in this one thing.

Wyatt looked as if he wanted to say something but stopped himself. Finally the soldier nodded and said solemnly "You have my word. I will always protect her. Do you want to get Lucy now and we can get started"

"Yeah, I'll go find her. Thank you." He got up and headed off in the direction of Agent Christopher's office.

Future Lucy wandered in and saw Wyatt at the table and Garcia leaving the room. Apprehension was evident in her voice as she asked Wyatt "Everything okay here?"

Wyatt's eyes were warm and steady as he regarded Lucy. "We're good. I'm going to start teaching younger you some self defense moves and how to shoot. He wants to make sure you're as safe as can be when we go back for Rufus. He really loves you."

"Yeah, he does." A soft smile graced her face as she continued to stare at Garcia's retreating form. Regret and longing moved over her face, feelings that she was unable to hide from this man that knew her so well.

"Lucy, you've got to tell him. You agreed." Wyatt's look was both sympathetic and exasperated. He understood her reluctance but he honestly felt that this would be for the best.

"I know, I do. But are we sure it's going to help? I don't want to cause problems for them. He loves her and she doesn't know it yet but she's in love with him. I just am not sure how to or when the best time would be."

"We discussed it and he needs to know. You'll save her and hopefully yourself some fallout. You don't have to do it today but do it before we leave." Wyatt tried to be encouraging. To offer his support so that she would have a conversation that he knew would be difficult for her. Since Chinatown, when he had confessed his love, he had vowed to put Lucy and her happiness first. Tough though it would be, he felt that this was the best way to ensure that happiness. "You know what happened in our timeline. I really think this will help."

Lucy sighed. "I will. God help me but I will."