Just One More

by angellwings

Lucy no longer had her mother's endless supply of books to borrow from when she needed to do research. She could also no longer just run off to the University library alone. Which normally wasn't a problem except for this particular moment when she desperately needed to research a particular individual whose information couldn't just be googled. The information she needed could be found at the university, but it was late and she knew no one, namely Wyatt, would let her go alone. The Library would be open, she knew, it was exam time and the Library was always open late during exams.

She walked out of the changing area in her street clothes and glared at her phone. She'd attempted to google Belle Boyd for the fifth time since the Lifeboat had landed and she returned the same results. One link to a book about women in the Civil War and very little else.

She huffed and marched up to Agent Christopher with pursed lips. "I need to visit the University Library."

"Okay, I'll set up an escort for the morn–"

"No," Lucy said as she interrupted Denise with a sigh. "I need to go now. I need to know what Emma–what we–changed."

"And it can't wait, Professor?"

For the first time she realized she'd interrupted Agent Christopher as she was talking with Wyatt. She'd been so focused on Belle Boyd that she hadn't even seen him there. But there he was, smirking at her in that way that infuriated her.

"No, it cannot wait. We need to get ahead of Emma. I need to know what changed. She could jump again at any moment and I am no closer to knowing what she's up to."

Denise sighed. "I have minimal staff here right now, Lucy. I couldn't possibly free up the agents until the morning."

"Don't worry about it," Wyatt told her. "I'll take her."

"Are you sure?" Denise asked him.

He nodded. "Absolutely," he answered before he turned his smirk on Lucy again. "Watching her back is what I do and, you know, I'm pretty good at it."

Lucy rolled her eyes playfully and then grinned at him. "Works for me."

"Okay," Agent Christopher agreed. "Be careful, call for back up if you need it."

And then they were off, Wyatt drove and they rode in silence. It had been a while since they'd been alone and the tension was palpable. It floated between them as he parked and then as they walked through campus to the library. They'd never really discussed their 'possibilities'. Everything since the Mothership was stolen had moved so fast.

"What are we looking for?" Wyatt asked as they entered the library.

"Anything on Belle Boyd," she answered. "Just follow me."

She led him down to the basement and while heading down the stairs several people recognized her. They asked about her mother and Wyatt watched helplessly as she fumbled through a vague answer with a forced smile. He hated watching the pain flash across her eyes before she pasted on that false smile. He wanted to interrupt and drag her away but, knowing Lucy, she'd only get irritated with him.

The basement held artifacts, books, and journals regarding various figures in American history. According to Lucy, her mother had been instrumental in building the collection. This archive also had access to information from The National Archives in DC. In other words, it was heaven for Lucy Preston.

He followed as she buzzed around the stacks and display cases. Eventually her arms were full of aging books and albums of newspaper clippings so he reached out and took them from her. She gave him a surprised glance but smiled softly. She added a book to the pile in his arms and then her eyes widened before she ran off to another section. He hustled to keep up.

"Sorry," she told him. "Just one more."

He smirked at her. He knew there wasn't 'just one more.' She placed the book on the top and then darted off again with him close behind.

She gave him a sheepish glance. "Okay, one more."

He chuckled. "Sure."

"No, wait, I know there was another…" Her sentence trailed off as she walked to another section. "One more, I swear."

"Lucy, it's fine," Wyatt said with a grin. "Get as many as you want. I'll carry them all."

She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and bit her bottom lip with a thoughtful look. "Really?"

He nodded. "Really. I can take it."

"If you say so," Lucy said with a smirk. "Because honestly I can think of several more books that would be helpful. If you think you can manage."

He quirked a brow at her. "That sounds like you doubt me."

She shrugged and chuckled. "It's a lot of books."

"Fine," he said with a playful glare. "Bring it on. Challenge accepted."

Lucy laughed and shook her head. "You really don't know what you're getting yourself into, sweetheart."

"I like a little danger, babydoll."

Their eyes met and they exchanged lingering smiles for a long moment before Lucy finally looked away with a bashful blush. "Fine," she told him. "But don't say I didn't warn you."