Timeless.

Home.

Sam seemed to ignore his mother and grab Lucy's hand, pulling her towards the door. She gave Wyatt a look as if to say, meet me there, and let the child pull her along, through the busy streets and up to the marsh. Lucy could see the glint of silver just ahead, making her sigh happily at the sight, just beside the Lifeboat a chocolate brown spaniel was yapping at it like it was a danger to her.

"That's it! I believe there might be an alien inside!" Sam exclaimed excitedly as they got closer, Lucy had a little smile across her face as he said alien. Harriet eventually noticed her owner and quit barking and bounded towards him overjoyed by his presence.

"Not an alien," Lucy breathed out a breath, "Sam? Do you think you could keep this between me, you and Harriet?"

The child stared at Lucy as though he was trying to decide whether it was a good idea, he looked at the machine and sighed, "People will only think I'm crazy anyway, deal! Wait, as long as you make sure your friend doesn't become my new step-dad, my mum seems to like him."

"Don't worry, you don't have to worry about Wyatt, he's with me." She grinned, shaking hands with the boy to seal the deal. "So secrets safe?"

"Secrets safe." Sam confirmed, starting back towards the shop, Harriet at his side, tail wagging happily leaving Lucy to the Lifeboat.
Lucy stepped forwards cautiously, terrified of what she might find, who knows if Rufus is alive, or even if he's actually in there. Who knows how long the Lifeboat has been there?
She pressed her hand on the hatch door, there was a click and the hatch slid open, opening sideways as it always had. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw the lolling head of her teammate, she wasn't a doctor but she could tell he was breathing and seemingly fine. She had to take a minute to take it in, then she clambered into the Lifeboat, spinning Rufus to face, unbuckling his belt and attempting to lift him so his arm was over her shoulder.

"Rufus. Rufus? Can you hear me?" Lucy called to him, wanting to wake him up, it would make walking him out a lot easier. But Rufus didn't respond, not even when she slapped him to try and wake him. She grunted as she leant all his weight against her, she hadn't expected him to weigh so much. "Remind me to tell you to lay off all the chocodiles."
When she turned she almost dropped Rufus, startling when she saw Wyatt stood outside the Lifeboat, probably processing that they weren't stuck here anymore. "Little help?"

Wyatt snapped out of his shock and moved forward, reaching up and taking hold of one of Rufus's arms and a leg and hauling him over his shoulders, seeming to have no problem with how heavy he was. Lucy got down from the Lifeboat, accidentally landing to rough and her boots had gotten stuck in the marsh.
She let out an frustrated sigh, throwing her hands in the air. Wyatt let out a chuckle, watching Lucy in amusement but he leant Rufus closer to her so she could reach up and pull off his shoes and replace her boots, she had to admit, walking through the town with a unconscious man, with no shoes on your back wasn't going to look well. The shoes were way too big for her tiny feet but she had no choice, she walked alongside Wyatt glancing back at the Lifeboat, hoping no one else will see it.

"Do you think Rufus is going to be ok?" Lucy asked, concerned for her friend, Wyatt looked down at her a grin across his genuine smile.

"I think Rufus will wake up and we'll finally be going home, no more corsets for you and no more people asking me out, then offering me a job." Wyatt answered, grinning down at her. Lucy's smile faded.

"Lillian asked you out? Di—did you kiss her?" Lucy asked, feeling like an elephant was crushing her chest, she felt a pang of hurt at the thought of him with someone else. Wyatt shook his head.

"Never. I have no interest in her." Wyatt assured her a sincere look plastered on his face. Lucy smiled happily, feeling a slight flutter in her heart.

***

Mrs Weston apparently had a job as a doctor sometime in her life because as soon as Wyatt asked her if she could help Rufus, she flicked into doctor mode, like a whole different person. She made Wyatt lay Rufus on her table in the back and checked his vitals the old fashioned way. She didn't even question what happened, or where Rufus had came from, she eventually decided on giving him food and drink, having to help him take it of course, but soon enough he started to come too with a groan.
The moment Rufus managed to sit up Lucy had jumped at him, giving him the biggest hug she possibly could to should him she was glad he was alive. He was slightly taken aback but gradually hugged her back, still trying to figure out where he was but he was happy to see her.

"Welcome back," Wyatt laughed, pulling Rufus in a hug with a grin. "We thought you were a goner."

"I'm a survivor I guess." Rufus mumbled, his voice hoarse and scratchy, Mrs Weston handed him a glass of water and was greeted by three bear hugs, thankful she was there to help. That's why it broke Lucy's heart, because she knew she had to say goodbye.

"Mrs Weston..." Lucy started, avoiding the womans gaze.

"I know, you have to leave." Mrs Weston smiled, Lucy was surprised the remembered. "I'll miss you two, you too Rufus, even though you vanished for two weeks."

"I'll miss you too." Lucy said, her bottom lip trembled and she gave Mrs Weston one last long hug. "Thank you for everything you've done for us."

"It's been a pleasure, now I do believe you and Wyatt want to return home, best leave now before the storm brews over," Mrs Weston advised, wiping a tear from her cheek and hugged Wyatt. "I do hope our paths cross again."

"Me too, thank you Mrs W." Wyatt smiled, giving her hand a squeeze before heading out.

"Take care, Mrs Weston." Lucy smiled one last time, quickly leaving to catch up with the boys, she'd missed standing between the two, now it felt normal. The time team is back together again.