Terra Nova - Things Lost in the Fire ch14 [Skye/Lucas]
Title: Things Lost in the Fire
Fandom: Terra Nova
Ship: Skye/Lucas
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: bad language, sexual situations, AU
Chapter: 14/?
Summary: AU story. Skye meets a strange man at Snakehead Falls and ends up falling in love. But can happiness built on anonymity last, when the world around them is on fire?
Author's Note: Because this is exactly what this story needed 5k worth of non-shippy content *sarcasm*. I fail at writing shippy fic.
Things Lost in the Fire
14. Oil and Water
He'd run out of excuses to comfort himself with. Skye had been gone for days, and she wasn't coming back. The tracker had failed, Curran was laying low and avoiding contact, and there had been no sightings of the Sixers in a few days now. So when he sat by Deborah Tate's bedside and watched her restless sleep, he knew he didn't have anything to say to her once she finally woke up.
Elizabeth had taken Deborah into intensive care, horrified with the shape of her new patient. But she had kept telling Taylor that the medicine seemed genuine, that it was an untapped fountain of potential once fully analyzed and examined. Hope remained. Taylor didn't know how he could've processed the bittersweet defeat if Lucas had schemed, if he'd lured Skye back to him with empty promises. It meant his son wasn't the kind of man Taylor had tried to convince himself he was.
Alicia appeared by his side, dark eyes sharp and perceptive for details. She gave the Tate woman's condition a quick evaluation, deeming her recovery still far away.
"Sir?" she spoke softly, keeping in mind that Taylor was still somewhat shaken by the recent events. After five years of pushing his troubled family history aside, it had suddenly caught up with him quite unexpectedly.
Taylor stirred in his chair, awoken from deep thought. He turned to his second pleased to see her. He'd been just sitting here for an hour already, hoping Deborah would show signs of improvement. But in reality he hoped she would hear him if he talked, if he told her how sorry he was that he'd failed both her and her daughter.
"Wash," he acknowledged her presence, but his usual enthusiasm was lacking. He was burning on a spare flame, half as bright as usual. She found this discouraging.
"Couldn't track them?" he then inquired, already knowing the answer.
Wash straightened her pose, brought her hands behind her back. She glanced at her feet evasively, gathering herself quickly as the disappointment rose. "I think he cut the tracker out right away," she answered, confirming his suspicions.
"That boy's always been sharp," he mumbled with disappointment, unwilling to compliment Lucas too loudly.
It was Washington's turn to crack a smile, drift down the memory lane. Lucas had always had a good eye for detail. It was probably why the scientific world had been his calling.
"You're surprised?" she observed. There was warmth in her voice when she spoke next, "You raised him."
Which inclined he should've known all too well Lucas would've been able to pick up the hints. Father and son were good at concealing their innermost thoughts to almost everyone else except each other. In that sense they had always been very similar.
Taylor shrugged off the comment, bothered by it. "I didn't raise him to kill people, Wash," he then said.
Of course it always came back to that. The knowledge that no matter what his intentions and efforts had been, Lucas had strayed from the path and headed towards anarchy.
"I know, Nathaniel," Washington replied, moving closer to offer solace. Of course she knew how pained he was, how this turmoil was inside him all the time. Taylor didn't talk about himself much, but on these rare occasions he slipped a few words, showed some skin beneath his armor.
Taylor got up from the chair, finding it difficult to talk in front of the ailed Deborah. In case she was conscious, in case she heard… he just thought it was best to move the conversation elsewhere. And so Washington moved to his side as he started walking through the infirmary and towards the cool outside air.
It had rained a lot today; the air was moist and full of scents. It reminded him how different it was in the future. There was an unusual chill. The temperature had fallen with the rain and mist had risen from the depths of the ground, swirling at their feet, creating an illusion of timelessness, of dread.
Once outside Taylor filled his lungs with a long breath, enjoying the cool feel of the air. Everything was alive here; small miracles of nature surrounded them. In the future everything had burned, and smoke had engulfed him wherever he went. Was it any wonder Lucas had thought Terra Nova so alien at first, reluctant to go outside, to experience it? He hadn't known any better…
"If he harms her…" he mused, enveloped in dark thoughts and fears.
Washington interrupted those thoughts though. "I don't think he will," she affirmed readily, having already given it some thought.
She'd replayed that scene in her head many times, searching for clues, for something to use against their enemies. What she'd seen though was a boy acting like a man, trying his best to keep himself together once Skye had stepped into view. Normally Lucas would've erupted in his father's presence already, but he'd tried a bit too much. After years of being a spectator in their game, Washington had picked up a thing or two about their behavior.
"I mean, he did go through an awful lot of trouble to get her back. Doesn't sound like the Lucas I know," she explained, having piqued Taylor's interest with her observation.
Taylor took a moment to consider her words, absorb them. "He was acting up strange. I've never seen him like that," he eventually admitted, agreeing with her somewhat.
"Pretty girl comes along, gives him attention, some companionship. He's been alone for five years, hiding in the jungle. Is that so unbelievable?" she continued with her analysis, remembering the sulking boy and his research. She remembered the countless times Taylor had tried to lure him out of his lab, get him to socialize. She especially remembered that one ill-fated fishing trip and the week's silence that had followed.
Now she knew Skye was extremely good with people, she had a way of getting them to open up and enjoy themselves, which in retrospective was alarming considering what she'd used this skill for. If anything, Skye Tate was easily likable, sincere. Washington had to wonder what would've happened if Lucas had met someone like her a little earlier in his life. Would've the isolation and the misanthropic views softened in the presence of someone who loved life so fiercely?
But admitting Lucas' intensity had waned a bit was as far as Taylor was willing to go. His trust wasn't easily regained, especially when his own son had plotted his murder and replacement. He snorted at Washington, disbelieving her notions, "You're such a romantic."
Washington didn't think too much about him teasing her, she was used to his facts-only approach. "Better than your cynicism," she frowned, defending her conclusion with a hint of humor.
They stared at the horizon together, sharing a moment of silence that stretched on. The silence in the wake of Skye's capture and leaving was ominous. Taylor could feel something coming, a change. He wasn't sure if it was good or bad, but he could feel it all the same. He was just hoping he could get the eleventh pilgrimage out of the way before the tides of fate started crashing. Innocent people didn't need to get involved in the civil war between him and his son.
"There's always Curran you know," Washington eventually sighed, uncomfortable with Taylor's plan of using this man as a spy. She wasn't an avid believer in second chances, not when they were given to people like Curran, who'd had everything in life and still managed to screw it all on their own. She didn't think even solitude, starvation or harsh nature would hone him into a good person.
Taylor could sense the underlying disapproval in the way her voice was just a bit off, contorted. Then again Washington hadn't exactly been supportive of his decision to plant the tracker on Skye either. Of course once Lucas had shown himself, she'd come around and admitted it had been a good plan.
"If he has any wits on him, he'll lay low for now," Taylor responded, hoping Curran would prove useful. He didn't give second chances lightly, but in the darkest hour of desperation when he'd been unable to catch the spy no matter what, he'd resorted to less than ideal means. Now Curran was the only ace left in his sleeve.
"I'm not sure he's that smart," Washington tilted her head and moved her fringe off her eyes, focusing on the pleasant dark around them. It made shapes harder to process, dangers difficult to detect, yet she felt safe here, standing with Taylor.
"I have him motivated," Taylor said with an ounce of pride, feeling trusting and complacent. He worried less and less about things that were out of his control, as he chose to focus on what he could still change.
He extended his hand, waiting for a few seconds until gentle rain started descending from the sky and over his hand. The first drops of rain were cold, but his body soon adjusted. He used the moist to wipe his face from the sweat and dirt. Washington withdrew from the rain's reach, uncertainty taking root in her.
Mira's gaze followed Skye Tate across their camp site once she caught glimpse of the girl, who seemed to bring trouble in her wake. For the past few days Skye had actually made an admirable effort to fit in with the Sixers, offering help whenever she could, talking to people out of her own initiative. Mira had heard good things all around, but also curious whispers of Skye's position here.
Officially Skye was helping their medic, Hicks, but Hicks kept shoving her in the middle of situations where help was needed more. Mira suspected it was a coordinated effort to keep Skye from being isolated, to push her in the middle of things. It was working though; Skye had a way of relinquishing doubts that people had of her. And Hicks could have her privacy while helping out another stray find her place in their midst.
Then again everyone knew Skye was sleeping in Lucas' hut, while the exact nature of their relationship was vague. There were questions, whispers of curiosity. Mira tried her best to avoid answering. Still Lucas was something the others needed, a symbol of them reaching their goals, and his choices were interesting. It also didn't help that Skye was quite friendly with another former Terra Novan, Curran. Lucas hadn't said anything yet - Mira feared he hadn't quite grasped the threat here - and it left the rumor control in Mira's hands for the time being.
She recognized the advantage in hiding Skye and Lucas' forbidden romance for now - after all they had visitors coming soon. Also it helped keep Skye in the position to watch Curran closely, which she assumed was Lucas' intention as well. Otherwise he would've thrown Curran off a rope bridge already just for giving his girl a wrong look.
Mira kept a close eye on the recent developments though, an anxious heart beating in her chest. It was her job to keep Lucas focused, motivated. Mainly it had meant she accepted Lucas' leadership without qualms and aimed to keep him on a good mood. Now it meant making sure his head was in the game, his mind on the calculations for this last short sprint ahead. There was also something else, something she didn't wish to categorize or even acknowledge. Mira settled to conclude looking out for Lucas was her job, something she was paid to do.
Yet every morning that Lucas slinked to her hut, knocked a little too energetically on the wooden pole by the entrance and walked in like he owned the place, making that same tired joke about her accommodations being too Spartan, she could sense he was happier. He acted less like a swaggering, self-important scientist and more like a leader. He would inquire after everything that happened at camp with a worried brow. She would snap at him, and he would snap back, but he would leave with a smirk. Mira realized she liked seeing him like that as opposed to the troubled angry man she'd known in the jungle.
And then she realized Skye Tate was standing right next to her, leaning against the rail of the platform with narrowed eyes. The transformation was very convincing; you couldn't tell at first glance that Skye had been initially an outsider. Everything about her screamed 'Sixer': her clothes, her wild hair, the weapons she carried and the necklace she wore. For a moment there Mira felt confident in the girl's ability to pull through and become a part of their community. Then Skye opened her mouth, and that moment passed.
"It's funny how I keep seeing Carter every time I look over my shoulder," she frowned, throwing a discreet glance at Mira. Her curly hair blocked her profile from view, giving only room for the impression that her body language spoke: casualness, tenacity.
Mira knew better.
"It's a small camp," she responded with amusement, finding Skye's attempts to confront her childish and ineffective.
"I think we all know he doesn't take a step without your permission," Skye clarified her position, using that sharp tone of voice that usually got her in trouble. She needed to show Mira she was serious though, that she didn't appreciate the tail for any reason.
Mira didn't let Skye's words prickle her; they just bounced right back at their sender, crumbling powerless before their intended target. "I'm sure he has better things to do than follow you around," Mira assured, leaving no room for doubt that everything was indeed happening because of her order or that Mira wasn't enjoying the effect her mind games had on Skye.
Skye remained quiet for a moment, crossing her hands over the rail, looking down on the people below. Lucas wasn't around during the days, and she was struck with a bunch of people, who made their best effort to look at her like she wasn't supposed to be here. It didn't help matters that she and pretty much everyone else knew Carter was on her tail. Curran was actually the only one that didn't seem to mind. Then again he was happy that someone was spending some time with him.
"So how am I faring?" she inquired. "Do I fail your test?"
Mira gave it some consideration. "You're doing better than I thought you would," she answered honestly, seeing no reason to lie. Skye wasn't going anywhere as long as she remained on Lucas' good side. Treating her civil was a requirement for things to run smoothly, even if Mira didn't especially dislike the girl either. She just sensed a world of hurt and pain on Skye's heels and wanted to keep her people safe, even Lucas.
"And you're being nicer than I expected," Skye countered, turning to Mira now, leaning against the rail with one elbow. She looked a bit sour, suspicious definitely.
"Earlier you were an enemy, and I treated you as such," Mira explained, keeping her eyes fixated on the ground. She wasn't feeling the need for a staring match.
Hope lit in Skye: a genuine spark of interest as she sensed Mira was frank in this.
"Does that mean I'm an ally now?" she asked anxious about the answer. Skye had never thought she'd be so keen on gaining Mira's approval, as she'd spent years hating the woman. But Mira was more complex than that, she clearly shared ability with Skye in the sense that she too knew what to say to get the desired reaction from someone.
Mira's eyebrows knit together almost immediately, intensity claiming her again. "Trust is earned," she said harshly. Things didn't just change after a few good days. Skye's position would only be tested once the chaos would spin out of control. Until that time Mira couldn't afford to keep Skye's leash too long.
Mira's answer made Skye stir a bit. She didn't like what she heard, because she'd hoped for a different answer. Things were getting easier with Lucas slowly, so she'd really wanted things to get easier between her and the rest of the Sixers two, especially Mira, who was in the position to make her life hell or heaven.
Yet she chose to let the issue slide for now, her curiosity piqued by different reasons altogether. While Mira remained stoic and tense in her presence, she'd noticed Mira loosened up a bit in Lucas' company despite their bickering. There was a strange bond there she didn't quite understand.
"Which brings me to how did Lucas earn your trust?" Skye confronted Mira. She suspected Mira wouldn't answer, that it wasn't in the cards, but had to try anyway. There was still so much about him she didn't understand.
Mira contemplated her words carefully before answering solemnly, "He saved my life."
Skye's expression betrayed her complete surprise. It was the last thing she'd expected to hear. Lucas hadn't told her about Mira when they'd first met or considered her a friend. The answer made sense though; Mira was the kind of person who took her debt seriously. If Lucas had really gone out of his way to help her, she understood perfectly why Mira would be looking out for him.
Mira shot her a warning look at this point, cautioning her against asking more about this. Skye took her silent advice and let it go, yielding her gaze. There was one last question she had though.
"And Carter?" Skye followed her earlier question. "I can't but help notice he does everything you ask without question," she then continued, elaborating a bit.
Mira was visibly disturbed: she shifted and her expression changed to something mordant. She had tolerated Skye's inquiries about Lucas and her, but saw no reason to talk about something like this. Also she was offended at Skye's tone, her unspoken indication.
"…teenagers," Mira snorted with scorn. For a moment Mira had actually forgotten how young Skye was, barely coming to age. "Scoot off, Skye," she continued, her voice dripping annoyance. She was shooting daggers at the younger woman already, muscles tensing, and threat sneaking into her demeanor.
And Skye saw it as a perfect chance to slip away. She smiled at Mira as she passed her by though, noticing how the bitchy exterior was falling off, how she was seeing the real person behind it. In all Mira had a lot more bark than bite than she led on.
"Catch you later," she even dared to whisper as she walked by.
Mira stood there for a moment, caught in disbelief that the little girl had managed to rattle her again and over nothing. She searched for Carter in the scenery, eventually spotting him leaning against one of the rovers, talking casually with another Sixer.
Carter was the only person she relied on, the person she went to when things didn't pan out. He always listened, gruffed a word or two at her, helping her clear her thoughts just by being there. She hadn't had a lot of people she could've relied on in her life in the past. It was still strange that she'd found such a person under such peculiar circumstances.
But Skye couldn't quite shake the honest answer she'd gotten from Mira hours later. She sat by Lucas' desk, carving at the wooden surface with the knife he'd given her the other day. She didn't even know what she was doing, other than venting her frustration to inanimate objects. Her grip on the handle was tough, unforgiving, and she moved her hand slowly up and down, creating a rift on the otherwise smooth surface. It helped her deal, this simple task.
Lucas' days were long, spent hiding from her, working on his project blindly. And she could tell something was on his mind, bothering him. He didn't voice it, and she didn't need him to. She knew the signs from his father as they both shared that troubled look, tried to shake off suspicion with equally ineffective performances. The status quo remained where she kept things from him and he kept things from her, and the only common ground was this hut, him melting into her kissing and her ignoring the problems.
She heard steps behind her, yet made no move to see who it was coming. She continued with her own project instead, gripping the knife ever harder as Lucas finally appeared into view. He scanned the hut carefully, entered with cautious steps. His face gained a kinder dimension once he realized it was just her, and he came to her, putting his satchel on the ground and laying his hands of her tense shoulders. He was about to greet her when he caught on the task she was focused on - namely demolishing his desk - and furrows gathered at his forehead.
Lucas moved his hand over hers, stopping the dull back and forth motion she had been engaged in. "Do you want to talk about it?" he asked curiously, smiling at her obvious vexation.
Skye froze for a bit, uncertain with what she wanted to divulge at this point. She knew they needed to take things slowly or she'd risk another heated argument, but there were just so many issues there. It was hard to navigate with Lucas, when her compass kept pointing at all the peaks of ice sticking of the water, whereas she had no idea how big the icebergs were in reality. Like how she knew Taylor's side about Somalia and couldn't confront Lucas about, because she didn't want to hurt him or rip open those wounds. Or scream her opinion at his face about this whole operation to bring his father down.
Her grip on the knife relinquished and it fell from her hand to the table with a small clash. Her hand fell from Lucas' reach seconds later, resting on the wooden surface amid the wooden chips she'd carved.
"I had a talk with Mira," she explained nonchalantly, although irritation was all over her again. In the few hours she'd reconsidered Mira's position she'd found herself holding in another shrill of emotions that wanted to escape her lips. "She's very protective of you," she observed with disdain, sighing afterwards.
Lucas had to admit this wasn't what he'd expected. Mira should've been the least of their worries. Hell! The woman had been gritting her teeth for the past few days because she knew Lucas needed Skye. Lucas placed his hand on the desk, leaning in a bit, lips hovering mere inches away from her ear. Suddenly she was very aware of his body warmth, his magnetic presence.
"Are you jealous, Bucket?" he asked with a smirk, seeking to derail her dark thoughts a bit.
And it worked; she actually cracked a smile, making a face at his ridiculous claim. "I think she's genuinely worried about you," Skye corrected almost conceitedly. She's had a lot of time to think about this, to come to a revelation.
Lucas wasn't as sure; his playfulness vanished with that response and got replaced with an almost formal reaction. "It is her job, Skye," he told her, hoping they could leave this subject alone. It made him uncomfortable.
Skye turned a bit on her chair, moving her legs to the left edge so that she was facing Lucas' profile. He pulled away quickly upon taking notice of her aggressively satisfied expression. She felt she was onto something, wouldn't let the conclusion slide now that she had grasped it. "I don't think her job description dictates she should make an effort to be friendly," she noted with sarcasm.
Lucas placed his hands on his hips, standing straight in the small space. He paused for a noticeable moment before proceeding with an explanation, "That's just misplaced gratitude."
Skye moved her hands over the back rest of the chair, leaning against it while she gazed at his eyes. "Because you saved her life?" she asked innocently, dropping the information like it was no big deal at all that she knew it.
"You're good," Lucas complimented her with a smirk. "You got that out of her in just a few days when she's told this story to just two people in the past three years?" He felt admiration for her for a moment, but there was mockery in his voice too. It wasn't a topic he was particularly fond of after all.
Skye looked up at him, eyes pleading. Curiosity won out of all the other emotions and it was clear when she asked him, "Please tell me about it."
He had to make a double take on that, confusion was all over him. "Are you serious?"
And she nodded enthusiastically, reaching for his hand. Lucas caught her intention right away and leaned in to blow out the light in the lantern as she stood up. He straightened himself, feeling how she tugged at his arm, and began walking him to the bed. She peeled him out of unnecessary clothes and threw away the excess decorations and accessories from her as well. Then she laid them down on the bed, him at the bottom, as she placed her head against his chest, listening to his heart beat.
Lucas didn't know what to make of this very bizarre bedtime story, but he didn't think it would hurt either, so he wrapped his arm around her, and closed his free hand around her hand that rested on his chest, pressing a kiss on her temple. And he started to tell her.
"They were coming to meet me, stock up my supplies. There was Mira, the first leader of the Sixers and three other men. I can't remember their names anymore, none of them are with us anymore."
Skye could envision them skulking in the jungle, watching their step, holding their guns. Mira didn't look as fierce; she was warm and inviting like she'd been when she'd first arrived to Terra Nova. It is why her betrayal had come as such a shock.
"But they were mercenaries from tomorrow, not used to the wildlife, the dangers that lurk here. Their leader got mauled by a raptor first, died almost instantly. Mira was injured and left for dead by her companions. All three ran."
Skye could imagine the attack; she'd survived something similar once, trapped in a rover with a Sixer and her friends. She knew the dinosaurs were vicious, organized predators. The only thing that surprised her was the fact that Mira had obviously survived.
"She was bleeding to death on the ground when I found her. The raptors chased the men, knowing they had a buffet to return to, and live prey is always much more fun to catch. She was the most miserable thing I'd ever seen: dirty, bloody, sobbing, going into shock because of the pain."
And Skye knew what that looked like. She'd held many hands at the infirmary, tried to keep them present even as the shock was sending their brain mixed signals. Yet imagining Mira so vulnerable, so weak seemed hard. It didn't fit at all.
"I was going to leave her as well, even as she rambled on and on about her little-" Lucas had to swallow the words bastard child and pause for a moment to express himself more suitably. Skye used the pause to snuggle closer to him, press her face into his side, immersed in his story.
"-Sienna, her daughter back in the future," he eventually finished, wondering if Skye had known about that. Not many people did.
"She refused to die though. She held onto life with the last ounce of her strength, taking notice of me, knowing who I was and what I needed. I was piqued by her stubbornness, that fighting spirit none of the others had had."
In her head, Lucas was squatting over wounded Mira, scanning her calculatingly. He was young, dangerous, and angry. He knew the jungle though, was at peace with it already.
"I made a decision to save her, because I figured I'd rather have someone who owed me as an ally than the men who abandoned her without second thought. So I dragged her for a painful walk, prompting her to keep pressure on her wounds, to stay alive. She didn't complain once, not even when I needed to cauterize the wounds myself."
Lucas lifted Mira's hand over his shoulders, took support from her waist and forced them to move. Mira groaned (and Skye took a little too much pleasure in imagining that), keeping herself together barely. And when Lucas finally had them safe, he patched her up with bloodied hands and a sinister gaze, listening in on Mira's delirious rambles about her child.
"It turns out I was right about her. The incident awoke her fighting spirit, gave her reason to rise beyond her humble starting point. She convinced me to abandon her near Terra Nova, leave her to be found. I still don't know how she spun the tale to my father. I assume was something brilliant, because she remained hidden for months after everything."
This time Skye could remember it. It had been big news in Terra Nova - some of the new pilgrims being lost in the woods, one of them found half eaten by raptors. The search parties had been running rampant for days until Mira was discovered, barely alive. Everyone had thought her to be a victim: someone lured OTG for a little excitement. Even Taylor hadn't suspected anything until some months later, when signs of the Sixer infiltration had started to show.
"It is my understanding she took charge quite easily. I'm also certain all three of her opposition met with untimely ends in shady circumstances. Mira's never been good at holding a grudge, you see," Lucas smiled, thinking fondly of the past, the curious way he'd eyed Mira the next time they'd met, and how she had assured him those men wouldn't be a problem anymore.
He realized after a short silence that Skye had already dozed off. He settled to hold her in the dark and pull the blanket over them for warmth and safety.
TBC
Fandom: Terra Nova
Ship: Skye/Lucas
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: bad language, sexual situations, AU
Chapter: 14/?
Summary: AU story. Skye meets a strange man at Snakehead Falls and ends up falling in love. But can happiness built on anonymity last, when the world around them is on fire?
Author's Note: Because this is exactly what this story needed 5k worth of non-shippy content *sarcasm*. I fail at writing shippy fic.
Things Lost in the Fire
14. Oil and Water
He'd run out of excuses to comfort himself with. Skye had been gone for days, and she wasn't coming back. The tracker had failed, Curran was laying low and avoiding contact, and there had been no sightings of the Sixers in a few days now. So when he sat by Deborah Tate's bedside and watched her restless sleep, he knew he didn't have anything to say to her once she finally woke up.
Elizabeth had taken Deborah into intensive care, horrified with the shape of her new patient. But she had kept telling Taylor that the medicine seemed genuine, that it was an untapped fountain of potential once fully analyzed and examined. Hope remained. Taylor didn't know how he could've processed the bittersweet defeat if Lucas had schemed, if he'd lured Skye back to him with empty promises. It meant his son wasn't the kind of man Taylor had tried to convince himself he was.
Alicia appeared by his side, dark eyes sharp and perceptive for details. She gave the Tate woman's condition a quick evaluation, deeming her recovery still far away.
"Sir?" she spoke softly, keeping in mind that Taylor was still somewhat shaken by the recent events. After five years of pushing his troubled family history aside, it had suddenly caught up with him quite unexpectedly.
Taylor stirred in his chair, awoken from deep thought. He turned to his second pleased to see her. He'd been just sitting here for an hour already, hoping Deborah would show signs of improvement. But in reality he hoped she would hear him if he talked, if he told her how sorry he was that he'd failed both her and her daughter.
"Wash," he acknowledged her presence, but his usual enthusiasm was lacking. He was burning on a spare flame, half as bright as usual. She found this discouraging.
"Couldn't track them?" he then inquired, already knowing the answer.
Wash straightened her pose, brought her hands behind her back. She glanced at her feet evasively, gathering herself quickly as the disappointment rose. "I think he cut the tracker out right away," she answered, confirming his suspicions.
"That boy's always been sharp," he mumbled with disappointment, unwilling to compliment Lucas too loudly.
It was Washington's turn to crack a smile, drift down the memory lane. Lucas had always had a good eye for detail. It was probably why the scientific world had been his calling.
"You're surprised?" she observed. There was warmth in her voice when she spoke next, "You raised him."
Which inclined he should've known all too well Lucas would've been able to pick up the hints. Father and son were good at concealing their innermost thoughts to almost everyone else except each other. In that sense they had always been very similar.
Taylor shrugged off the comment, bothered by it. "I didn't raise him to kill people, Wash," he then said.
Of course it always came back to that. The knowledge that no matter what his intentions and efforts had been, Lucas had strayed from the path and headed towards anarchy.
"I know, Nathaniel," Washington replied, moving closer to offer solace. Of course she knew how pained he was, how this turmoil was inside him all the time. Taylor didn't talk about himself much, but on these rare occasions he slipped a few words, showed some skin beneath his armor.
Taylor got up from the chair, finding it difficult to talk in front of the ailed Deborah. In case she was conscious, in case she heard… he just thought it was best to move the conversation elsewhere. And so Washington moved to his side as he started walking through the infirmary and towards the cool outside air.
It had rained a lot today; the air was moist and full of scents. It reminded him how different it was in the future. There was an unusual chill. The temperature had fallen with the rain and mist had risen from the depths of the ground, swirling at their feet, creating an illusion of timelessness, of dread.
Once outside Taylor filled his lungs with a long breath, enjoying the cool feel of the air. Everything was alive here; small miracles of nature surrounded them. In the future everything had burned, and smoke had engulfed him wherever he went. Was it any wonder Lucas had thought Terra Nova so alien at first, reluctant to go outside, to experience it? He hadn't known any better…
"If he harms her…" he mused, enveloped in dark thoughts and fears.
Washington interrupted those thoughts though. "I don't think he will," she affirmed readily, having already given it some thought.
She'd replayed that scene in her head many times, searching for clues, for something to use against their enemies. What she'd seen though was a boy acting like a man, trying his best to keep himself together once Skye had stepped into view. Normally Lucas would've erupted in his father's presence already, but he'd tried a bit too much. After years of being a spectator in their game, Washington had picked up a thing or two about their behavior.
"I mean, he did go through an awful lot of trouble to get her back. Doesn't sound like the Lucas I know," she explained, having piqued Taylor's interest with her observation.
Taylor took a moment to consider her words, absorb them. "He was acting up strange. I've never seen him like that," he eventually admitted, agreeing with her somewhat.
"Pretty girl comes along, gives him attention, some companionship. He's been alone for five years, hiding in the jungle. Is that so unbelievable?" she continued with her analysis, remembering the sulking boy and his research. She remembered the countless times Taylor had tried to lure him out of his lab, get him to socialize. She especially remembered that one ill-fated fishing trip and the week's silence that had followed.
Now she knew Skye was extremely good with people, she had a way of getting them to open up and enjoy themselves, which in retrospective was alarming considering what she'd used this skill for. If anything, Skye Tate was easily likable, sincere. Washington had to wonder what would've happened if Lucas had met someone like her a little earlier in his life. Would've the isolation and the misanthropic views softened in the presence of someone who loved life so fiercely?
But admitting Lucas' intensity had waned a bit was as far as Taylor was willing to go. His trust wasn't easily regained, especially when his own son had plotted his murder and replacement. He snorted at Washington, disbelieving her notions, "You're such a romantic."
Washington didn't think too much about him teasing her, she was used to his facts-only approach. "Better than your cynicism," she frowned, defending her conclusion with a hint of humor.
They stared at the horizon together, sharing a moment of silence that stretched on. The silence in the wake of Skye's capture and leaving was ominous. Taylor could feel something coming, a change. He wasn't sure if it was good or bad, but he could feel it all the same. He was just hoping he could get the eleventh pilgrimage out of the way before the tides of fate started crashing. Innocent people didn't need to get involved in the civil war between him and his son.
"There's always Curran you know," Washington eventually sighed, uncomfortable with Taylor's plan of using this man as a spy. She wasn't an avid believer in second chances, not when they were given to people like Curran, who'd had everything in life and still managed to screw it all on their own. She didn't think even solitude, starvation or harsh nature would hone him into a good person.
Taylor could sense the underlying disapproval in the way her voice was just a bit off, contorted. Then again Washington hadn't exactly been supportive of his decision to plant the tracker on Skye either. Of course once Lucas had shown himself, she'd come around and admitted it had been a good plan.
"If he has any wits on him, he'll lay low for now," Taylor responded, hoping Curran would prove useful. He didn't give second chances lightly, but in the darkest hour of desperation when he'd been unable to catch the spy no matter what, he'd resorted to less than ideal means. Now Curran was the only ace left in his sleeve.
"I'm not sure he's that smart," Washington tilted her head and moved her fringe off her eyes, focusing on the pleasant dark around them. It made shapes harder to process, dangers difficult to detect, yet she felt safe here, standing with Taylor.
"I have him motivated," Taylor said with an ounce of pride, feeling trusting and complacent. He worried less and less about things that were out of his control, as he chose to focus on what he could still change.
He extended his hand, waiting for a few seconds until gentle rain started descending from the sky and over his hand. The first drops of rain were cold, but his body soon adjusted. He used the moist to wipe his face from the sweat and dirt. Washington withdrew from the rain's reach, uncertainty taking root in her.
Mira's gaze followed Skye Tate across their camp site once she caught glimpse of the girl, who seemed to bring trouble in her wake. For the past few days Skye had actually made an admirable effort to fit in with the Sixers, offering help whenever she could, talking to people out of her own initiative. Mira had heard good things all around, but also curious whispers of Skye's position here.
Officially Skye was helping their medic, Hicks, but Hicks kept shoving her in the middle of situations where help was needed more. Mira suspected it was a coordinated effort to keep Skye from being isolated, to push her in the middle of things. It was working though; Skye had a way of relinquishing doubts that people had of her. And Hicks could have her privacy while helping out another stray find her place in their midst.
Then again everyone knew Skye was sleeping in Lucas' hut, while the exact nature of their relationship was vague. There were questions, whispers of curiosity. Mira tried her best to avoid answering. Still Lucas was something the others needed, a symbol of them reaching their goals, and his choices were interesting. It also didn't help that Skye was quite friendly with another former Terra Novan, Curran. Lucas hadn't said anything yet - Mira feared he hadn't quite grasped the threat here - and it left the rumor control in Mira's hands for the time being.
She recognized the advantage in hiding Skye and Lucas' forbidden romance for now - after all they had visitors coming soon. Also it helped keep Skye in the position to watch Curran closely, which she assumed was Lucas' intention as well. Otherwise he would've thrown Curran off a rope bridge already just for giving his girl a wrong look.
Mira kept a close eye on the recent developments though, an anxious heart beating in her chest. It was her job to keep Lucas focused, motivated. Mainly it had meant she accepted Lucas' leadership without qualms and aimed to keep him on a good mood. Now it meant making sure his head was in the game, his mind on the calculations for this last short sprint ahead. There was also something else, something she didn't wish to categorize or even acknowledge. Mira settled to conclude looking out for Lucas was her job, something she was paid to do.
Yet every morning that Lucas slinked to her hut, knocked a little too energetically on the wooden pole by the entrance and walked in like he owned the place, making that same tired joke about her accommodations being too Spartan, she could sense he was happier. He acted less like a swaggering, self-important scientist and more like a leader. He would inquire after everything that happened at camp with a worried brow. She would snap at him, and he would snap back, but he would leave with a smirk. Mira realized she liked seeing him like that as opposed to the troubled angry man she'd known in the jungle.
And then she realized Skye Tate was standing right next to her, leaning against the rail of the platform with narrowed eyes. The transformation was very convincing; you couldn't tell at first glance that Skye had been initially an outsider. Everything about her screamed 'Sixer': her clothes, her wild hair, the weapons she carried and the necklace she wore. For a moment there Mira felt confident in the girl's ability to pull through and become a part of their community. Then Skye opened her mouth, and that moment passed.
"It's funny how I keep seeing Carter every time I look over my shoulder," she frowned, throwing a discreet glance at Mira. Her curly hair blocked her profile from view, giving only room for the impression that her body language spoke: casualness, tenacity.
Mira knew better.
"It's a small camp," she responded with amusement, finding Skye's attempts to confront her childish and ineffective.
"I think we all know he doesn't take a step without your permission," Skye clarified her position, using that sharp tone of voice that usually got her in trouble. She needed to show Mira she was serious though, that she didn't appreciate the tail for any reason.
Mira didn't let Skye's words prickle her; they just bounced right back at their sender, crumbling powerless before their intended target. "I'm sure he has better things to do than follow you around," Mira assured, leaving no room for doubt that everything was indeed happening because of her order or that Mira wasn't enjoying the effect her mind games had on Skye.
Skye remained quiet for a moment, crossing her hands over the rail, looking down on the people below. Lucas wasn't around during the days, and she was struck with a bunch of people, who made their best effort to look at her like she wasn't supposed to be here. It didn't help matters that she and pretty much everyone else knew Carter was on her tail. Curran was actually the only one that didn't seem to mind. Then again he was happy that someone was spending some time with him.
"So how am I faring?" she inquired. "Do I fail your test?"
Mira gave it some consideration. "You're doing better than I thought you would," she answered honestly, seeing no reason to lie. Skye wasn't going anywhere as long as she remained on Lucas' good side. Treating her civil was a requirement for things to run smoothly, even if Mira didn't especially dislike the girl either. She just sensed a world of hurt and pain on Skye's heels and wanted to keep her people safe, even Lucas.
"And you're being nicer than I expected," Skye countered, turning to Mira now, leaning against the rail with one elbow. She looked a bit sour, suspicious definitely.
"Earlier you were an enemy, and I treated you as such," Mira explained, keeping her eyes fixated on the ground. She wasn't feeling the need for a staring match.
Hope lit in Skye: a genuine spark of interest as she sensed Mira was frank in this.
"Does that mean I'm an ally now?" she asked anxious about the answer. Skye had never thought she'd be so keen on gaining Mira's approval, as she'd spent years hating the woman. But Mira was more complex than that, she clearly shared ability with Skye in the sense that she too knew what to say to get the desired reaction from someone.
Mira's eyebrows knit together almost immediately, intensity claiming her again. "Trust is earned," she said harshly. Things didn't just change after a few good days. Skye's position would only be tested once the chaos would spin out of control. Until that time Mira couldn't afford to keep Skye's leash too long.
Mira's answer made Skye stir a bit. She didn't like what she heard, because she'd hoped for a different answer. Things were getting easier with Lucas slowly, so she'd really wanted things to get easier between her and the rest of the Sixers two, especially Mira, who was in the position to make her life hell or heaven.
Yet she chose to let the issue slide for now, her curiosity piqued by different reasons altogether. While Mira remained stoic and tense in her presence, she'd noticed Mira loosened up a bit in Lucas' company despite their bickering. There was a strange bond there she didn't quite understand.
"Which brings me to how did Lucas earn your trust?" Skye confronted Mira. She suspected Mira wouldn't answer, that it wasn't in the cards, but had to try anyway. There was still so much about him she didn't understand.
Mira contemplated her words carefully before answering solemnly, "He saved my life."
Skye's expression betrayed her complete surprise. It was the last thing she'd expected to hear. Lucas hadn't told her about Mira when they'd first met or considered her a friend. The answer made sense though; Mira was the kind of person who took her debt seriously. If Lucas had really gone out of his way to help her, she understood perfectly why Mira would be looking out for him.
Mira shot her a warning look at this point, cautioning her against asking more about this. Skye took her silent advice and let it go, yielding her gaze. There was one last question she had though.
"And Carter?" Skye followed her earlier question. "I can't but help notice he does everything you ask without question," she then continued, elaborating a bit.
Mira was visibly disturbed: she shifted and her expression changed to something mordant. She had tolerated Skye's inquiries about Lucas and her, but saw no reason to talk about something like this. Also she was offended at Skye's tone, her unspoken indication.
"…teenagers," Mira snorted with scorn. For a moment Mira had actually forgotten how young Skye was, barely coming to age. "Scoot off, Skye," she continued, her voice dripping annoyance. She was shooting daggers at the younger woman already, muscles tensing, and threat sneaking into her demeanor.
And Skye saw it as a perfect chance to slip away. She smiled at Mira as she passed her by though, noticing how the bitchy exterior was falling off, how she was seeing the real person behind it. In all Mira had a lot more bark than bite than she led on.
"Catch you later," she even dared to whisper as she walked by.
Mira stood there for a moment, caught in disbelief that the little girl had managed to rattle her again and over nothing. She searched for Carter in the scenery, eventually spotting him leaning against one of the rovers, talking casually with another Sixer.
Carter was the only person she relied on, the person she went to when things didn't pan out. He always listened, gruffed a word or two at her, helping her clear her thoughts just by being there. She hadn't had a lot of people she could've relied on in her life in the past. It was still strange that she'd found such a person under such peculiar circumstances.
But Skye couldn't quite shake the honest answer she'd gotten from Mira hours later. She sat by Lucas' desk, carving at the wooden surface with the knife he'd given her the other day. She didn't even know what she was doing, other than venting her frustration to inanimate objects. Her grip on the handle was tough, unforgiving, and she moved her hand slowly up and down, creating a rift on the otherwise smooth surface. It helped her deal, this simple task.
Lucas' days were long, spent hiding from her, working on his project blindly. And she could tell something was on his mind, bothering him. He didn't voice it, and she didn't need him to. She knew the signs from his father as they both shared that troubled look, tried to shake off suspicion with equally ineffective performances. The status quo remained where she kept things from him and he kept things from her, and the only common ground was this hut, him melting into her kissing and her ignoring the problems.
She heard steps behind her, yet made no move to see who it was coming. She continued with her own project instead, gripping the knife ever harder as Lucas finally appeared into view. He scanned the hut carefully, entered with cautious steps. His face gained a kinder dimension once he realized it was just her, and he came to her, putting his satchel on the ground and laying his hands of her tense shoulders. He was about to greet her when he caught on the task she was focused on - namely demolishing his desk - and furrows gathered at his forehead.
Lucas moved his hand over hers, stopping the dull back and forth motion she had been engaged in. "Do you want to talk about it?" he asked curiously, smiling at her obvious vexation.
Skye froze for a bit, uncertain with what she wanted to divulge at this point. She knew they needed to take things slowly or she'd risk another heated argument, but there were just so many issues there. It was hard to navigate with Lucas, when her compass kept pointing at all the peaks of ice sticking of the water, whereas she had no idea how big the icebergs were in reality. Like how she knew Taylor's side about Somalia and couldn't confront Lucas about, because she didn't want to hurt him or rip open those wounds. Or scream her opinion at his face about this whole operation to bring his father down.
Her grip on the knife relinquished and it fell from her hand to the table with a small clash. Her hand fell from Lucas' reach seconds later, resting on the wooden surface amid the wooden chips she'd carved.
"I had a talk with Mira," she explained nonchalantly, although irritation was all over her again. In the few hours she'd reconsidered Mira's position she'd found herself holding in another shrill of emotions that wanted to escape her lips. "She's very protective of you," she observed with disdain, sighing afterwards.
Lucas had to admit this wasn't what he'd expected. Mira should've been the least of their worries. Hell! The woman had been gritting her teeth for the past few days because she knew Lucas needed Skye. Lucas placed his hand on the desk, leaning in a bit, lips hovering mere inches away from her ear. Suddenly she was very aware of his body warmth, his magnetic presence.
"Are you jealous, Bucket?" he asked with a smirk, seeking to derail her dark thoughts a bit.
And it worked; she actually cracked a smile, making a face at his ridiculous claim. "I think she's genuinely worried about you," Skye corrected almost conceitedly. She's had a lot of time to think about this, to come to a revelation.
Lucas wasn't as sure; his playfulness vanished with that response and got replaced with an almost formal reaction. "It is her job, Skye," he told her, hoping they could leave this subject alone. It made him uncomfortable.
Skye turned a bit on her chair, moving her legs to the left edge so that she was facing Lucas' profile. He pulled away quickly upon taking notice of her aggressively satisfied expression. She felt she was onto something, wouldn't let the conclusion slide now that she had grasped it. "I don't think her job description dictates she should make an effort to be friendly," she noted with sarcasm.
Lucas placed his hands on his hips, standing straight in the small space. He paused for a noticeable moment before proceeding with an explanation, "That's just misplaced gratitude."
Skye moved her hands over the back rest of the chair, leaning against it while she gazed at his eyes. "Because you saved her life?" she asked innocently, dropping the information like it was no big deal at all that she knew it.
"You're good," Lucas complimented her with a smirk. "You got that out of her in just a few days when she's told this story to just two people in the past three years?" He felt admiration for her for a moment, but there was mockery in his voice too. It wasn't a topic he was particularly fond of after all.
Skye looked up at him, eyes pleading. Curiosity won out of all the other emotions and it was clear when she asked him, "Please tell me about it."
He had to make a double take on that, confusion was all over him. "Are you serious?"
And she nodded enthusiastically, reaching for his hand. Lucas caught her intention right away and leaned in to blow out the light in the lantern as she stood up. He straightened himself, feeling how she tugged at his arm, and began walking him to the bed. She peeled him out of unnecessary clothes and threw away the excess decorations and accessories from her as well. Then she laid them down on the bed, him at the bottom, as she placed her head against his chest, listening to his heart beat.
Lucas didn't know what to make of this very bizarre bedtime story, but he didn't think it would hurt either, so he wrapped his arm around her, and closed his free hand around her hand that rested on his chest, pressing a kiss on her temple. And he started to tell her.
"They were coming to meet me, stock up my supplies. There was Mira, the first leader of the Sixers and three other men. I can't remember their names anymore, none of them are with us anymore."
Skye could envision them skulking in the jungle, watching their step, holding their guns. Mira didn't look as fierce; she was warm and inviting like she'd been when she'd first arrived to Terra Nova. It is why her betrayal had come as such a shock.
"But they were mercenaries from tomorrow, not used to the wildlife, the dangers that lurk here. Their leader got mauled by a raptor first, died almost instantly. Mira was injured and left for dead by her companions. All three ran."
Skye could imagine the attack; she'd survived something similar once, trapped in a rover with a Sixer and her friends. She knew the dinosaurs were vicious, organized predators. The only thing that surprised her was the fact that Mira had obviously survived.
"She was bleeding to death on the ground when I found her. The raptors chased the men, knowing they had a buffet to return to, and live prey is always much more fun to catch. She was the most miserable thing I'd ever seen: dirty, bloody, sobbing, going into shock because of the pain."
And Skye knew what that looked like. She'd held many hands at the infirmary, tried to keep them present even as the shock was sending their brain mixed signals. Yet imagining Mira so vulnerable, so weak seemed hard. It didn't fit at all.
"I was going to leave her as well, even as she rambled on and on about her little-" Lucas had to swallow the words bastard child and pause for a moment to express himself more suitably. Skye used the pause to snuggle closer to him, press her face into his side, immersed in his story.
"-Sienna, her daughter back in the future," he eventually finished, wondering if Skye had known about that. Not many people did.
"She refused to die though. She held onto life with the last ounce of her strength, taking notice of me, knowing who I was and what I needed. I was piqued by her stubbornness, that fighting spirit none of the others had had."
In her head, Lucas was squatting over wounded Mira, scanning her calculatingly. He was young, dangerous, and angry. He knew the jungle though, was at peace with it already.
"I made a decision to save her, because I figured I'd rather have someone who owed me as an ally than the men who abandoned her without second thought. So I dragged her for a painful walk, prompting her to keep pressure on her wounds, to stay alive. She didn't complain once, not even when I needed to cauterize the wounds myself."
Lucas lifted Mira's hand over his shoulders, took support from her waist and forced them to move. Mira groaned (and Skye took a little too much pleasure in imagining that), keeping herself together barely. And when Lucas finally had them safe, he patched her up with bloodied hands and a sinister gaze, listening in on Mira's delirious rambles about her child.
"It turns out I was right about her. The incident awoke her fighting spirit, gave her reason to rise beyond her humble starting point. She convinced me to abandon her near Terra Nova, leave her to be found. I still don't know how she spun the tale to my father. I assume was something brilliant, because she remained hidden for months after everything."
This time Skye could remember it. It had been big news in Terra Nova - some of the new pilgrims being lost in the woods, one of them found half eaten by raptors. The search parties had been running rampant for days until Mira was discovered, barely alive. Everyone had thought her to be a victim: someone lured OTG for a little excitement. Even Taylor hadn't suspected anything until some months later, when signs of the Sixer infiltration had started to show.
"It is my understanding she took charge quite easily. I'm also certain all three of her opposition met with untimely ends in shady circumstances. Mira's never been good at holding a grudge, you see," Lucas smiled, thinking fondly of the past, the curious way he'd eyed Mira the next time they'd met, and how she had assured him those men wouldn't be a problem anymore.
He realized after a short silence that Skye had already dozed off. He settled to hold her in the dark and pull the blanket over them for warmth and safety.
TBC