Threading the Timelines

Chapter Two

May 13, 2018

"Alright team, it's all hands on deck. We can and will fix this. We will not lose anyone. Jiya, I hate to ask this of you, but we need you on Rufus' work." Agent Christopher softened her voice. "Can you handle this? We'll work around anything you need."

She squared her shoulders. "No, I'm good. If anyone can decipher Rufus-speak, it's me. Give me space."

Jiya crossed to the computers and Agent Christopher pointed at Mason. The older man straightened. "You. Back up Jiya. I don't care if she needs coffee, you get it. You are her right hand. Don't screw this up." He nodded. The sometimes genius, sometimes fool had come so far in the last few months. One might say he'd become dependable.

Turning to her right, she faced Wyatt, "I'm sorry, but you need to start thinking of Jessica as a Rittenhouse agent. Her presence alters the landscape. Bringing Rufus home is the priority. We're not risking him for anyone. Other than that, I want you and Flynn loaded for bear." She paused, giving him time to tap out if necessary. "You good?"

"Five by five, ma'am." He was having one hell of a week, but he was their soldier. There'd be time to fall apart later.

"I want everyone resting within two hours. Jiya, that includes you." Jiya completely ignored her, not surprising considering the situation.

"After everyone's slept, we'll regroup. In the morning, Lucy, you and Wyatt get with Flynn and make a game plan."

Lucy stared at the empty space left behind by the departure of the upgraded Lifeboat. "Yes. Of course."

Wyatt sat at the table, eyes downcast, Flynn behind him leaning against the edge of the sink. Both men studied their historian without actually looking at her.

Denise worried, of course she did. This mission could destroy everything she'd so carefully built. More than that, it could destroy her people. Family, more like, but they were all her people. Even, heaven help her, Flynn, earning his place without anyone actually noticing. Glancing over all of them, they appeared beaten. Dark circles lined their eyes, their shoulders hunched over. Sleep alone wouldn't help that.

"Hey, guys, listen up. All of you, eyes on me." They turned as one. Like zombies. Too far gone to care. This would never do. "I get it. We thought we'd seen the worst of it. You've fought Nazis and faced angry mobs. You've been shot and stabbed and almost killed too many times to count. You given so much and history demands more. Losing Rufus--" she sucked in grief-filled air. "That's not something we can tolerate. Not now, not yesterday, not tomorrow. Rufus is coming home. And you are the only team I'd ever trust with this mission."

She took one last look around. "Seriously, all of you, try to get some sleep." She nodded to each of them and headed towards the quarters she kept for the rare times she stayed in the bunker. As she walked away, she watched as they all fell back into their own sadness. Tonight was no time to leave the team. Things would hopefully look better in the morning, but for now, it was wait and see. Jiya would finish Rufus' work and figure out how to make those nanochips work. Wyatt and Lucy would come up with the plan, and Flynn would fill in the gaps when it all fell apart. She trusted them. They'd bring him home.

~*~*~*~

"Lucy..." Wyatt stood behind her, hovering. "Are you okay?"

The question seemed ridiculous. Throwing up her hands, she began to pace. "I have absolutely no idea how to answer that question. Are we talking about losing Rufus? My mother? Jessica being Rittenhouse? You and me? Future you and me looking all Mad Max? Which specific event in the last two days would you like to talk about? Because the only answer I can give is, I'm exhausted and I just need my friend Wyatt back."