Title: Future Possibilities
author: Cindy Ryan
notes and summary: see part one

Wyatt let Rufus visit Lucy first and once the room was clear he sank down onto the sofa. He'd allowed the other man to go first because Wyatt needed the time to get his head together. In a short spanse Wyatt had nearly lost Lucy and had lost his daughter. He'd just been coming to terms with Elizabeth's existence and just as quickly she was gone. Wyatt was grateful Lucy was unconscious because for the life of him he didn't know how he was going to tell her their daughter was gone. Wyatt was hardly a stranger to grief but this was different than anything he'd experienced before. How do you grieve for something that hadn't happened yet? Might not happen? Hell he could screw things up with Lucy and any possibility of that family he'd glimpsed would be gone.

A nurse tapped on the door and opened it.

"You can visit Ms. Preston now if you wish."The black haired thirtyish woman stated.

"Thanks."Wyatt acknowledged and stood following the woman out of the waiting room.

"You gave me a hell of a scare."Wyatt stated to Lucy's still form a few minutes later as he stood at the right side of her bed. "Let's make a deal and don't do that to me again."

Awkwardly Wyatt reached forward and touched the top of Lucy's right hand with the fingers of his right hand. Wanting to her to know he was here and needing the physical contact. The reassurance that she was still with them. At the contact Wyatt withdrew and sank slowly down into a chair drawing it forward. After a moment he picked up the hand he'd just moved away from and took it in both of his. She still felt cold to him though that was probably more a memory residue than her actual temperature

"I need you to get better."Wyatt stated quietly after a few minutes. "I don't know how to deal with this on my own."

Even without Elizabeth's visit Wyatt had to admit that Lucy was becoming a huge part of his life. She brought him back from the edge at the Alamo. Wyatt wasn't sure anybody else would've been able to reach him at that moment. Jess maybe but they hadn't been connecting on any level before she disappeared. Most of that was his fault. A knock at the door drew Wyatt's attention and Rufus poked his head in looking apologetic.

"Sorry but Christopher wants to see us, ASAP."Rufus explained.

"I'm sure she does."Wyatt muttered sarcastically as he stood.

They left Lucy's room and headed down the hall in silence.

As soon as they stepped into Christopher's office Wyatt knew it was going to be bad. Sitting to the lead agent's right was Connor Mason looking the grimmest Wyatt had seen him.

"Have a seat."Christopher instructed.

Wyatt and Rufus exchanged a worried glance before sliding into the guest chairs.

"What your team has done so far in such uncharted territory is to be commended."Christopher continued. "However with such high stakes we have decided to send in another team."

"Who's going to get them there?"Rufus demanded.

"We have been training others in case circumstances such as this occurred."Christopher explained with a glance at Mason.
"Flynn knows you."Mason interjected. "This new group can get closer; finish him."

"Because we're down one you're benching us?"Wyatt asked leaning forward.

Rufus stood and moved behind his chair starting to pace a bit. He looked from Christopher to Mason and back again.

"There's a big difference between piloting that thing through time and doing it on a simulator. There's no way you could've come up with any kind of program that would've come close."Rufus stated as he stopped and leaned on the back of his chair. "I designed the thing and still..."

"That's enough."Mason snapped. "While you have saved history a few times the point remains that Flynn is still at large and a threat. Master Sergent you have had more than..."

"Yes, I've failed. Yes I've screwed up."Wyatt interrupted rising to his feet too."Which should make me the best person for the job. Nobody wants Flynn dead more than I do."

"The birth of this nation is at stake."Christopher said quietly. "This mission is too important and not up for debate. You're dismissed."

"This is a mistake."Wyatt said angrily as he stalked to the door, opened it and left.

Wyatt didn't know if Rufus had followed or not. He was so angry he could barely see straight. All he'd wanted was a chance at Flynn. He'd put Lucy in that hospital he had to pay for that. Not by some new team either; it should be Wyatt's bullet that put him down.

By the time Wyatt realized where he was he was already in the room. It was a dark and now empty conference room. There was no sign it'd been used in days or weeks but Wyatt could still see Elizabeth sitting there. He knew she'd existed and so did Lucy.

Pulling one of the chairs away from the table Wyatt sank down into it suddenly more tired than he'd ever been. He felt like he was letting Lucy down. She'd fought to keep him on the team after the Alamo mission. Now that team she'd fought so hard for was sidelined. Some how Wyatt knew he had to fix this. At the moment he was too tired emotionally and physically to think about anything.

Rufus had barely made it outside when he heard footsteps behind him. He didn't have to turn to know who it was. Rufus slowed to allow his mentor to catch up. By the time Connor reached him they were in the middle of the parking lot.

"What are you going to tell Rittenhouse if I'm not there to tape these missions?"Rufus demanded. "What about my family?"

"Keep your voice down."Mason hissed. "It is your cooperation as well as the recordings that is paramount to your family's safety."

"So as long as I stand aside and let this new team go the deal stands?"Rufus asked incredulously.

"Yes because they know you'll be back on missions sooner or later. Enjoy the few days off."Connor suggested grimly.
Rufus opened his mouth and shut it. He stood in the parking lot and watched Mason turn and walk back into the building. He'd spent too many years getting his brother into a safe and successful school. For now Rufus would cooperate; there was too much at stake not to. With a sigh Rufus continued to his car unlocked it and got in. After a few moments he started the engine and headed for home.