Story begins some time after "The Day Reagan Was Shot", but before "The General".
***
In the bunker, time stops. Days meld together, one after another. Weeks go by with nothing changing. The walls are green, the lights are yellow, and the team endures long spans of utter boredom. Only when the alarm sounds do the Time Team get geared up for action, following after the Mothership, wherever and whenever it goes.
Rufus has rigged a Hulu TV system, but both TV's are pretty old, and the picture is always fuzzy. The one in his and Jiya's room is color, but the one in the main room is only black and white. Rufus, Jiya and Connor spend most of their time working on the Lifeboat. Wyatt and Jessica disappear into his room right after breakfast and don't come out until dinnertime. When he's not out scouting the bunker, Flynn is usually in his room, sitting in his comfy chair, reading anything Denise has brought down to them. Most of the time, Lucy is sitting on his bed reading, trying to stay out of everyone else's way.
Flynn hears the bunkers main doors open and as usual, goes to check it out. Denise comes into the bunker carrying a huge box. She has a large duffle bag over her shoulder. She sees Flynn and indicates a second box on the floor. "Grab that for me, will you?" The smell wafting from the boxes gives it away instantly. He motions to Lucy to come join them and goes to grab the second box. By the time they reach the kitchen, the whole group has come to meet them.
Like a pack a ravenous wolves the Time Team descends on the boxes of food. Each item is shouted out by the person opening it - Pumpkin pie. Apple pie. Cranberries. Sweet Potatoes. Green bean salad. Mashed potatoes. Turkey. Gravy. Ham. Biscuits.
A loud piercing whistle makes everyone cringe, but all eyes are on Agent Christopher. "Manners people!" She glares at them ready to shout anyone down. "Wyatt Jessica - Clear the table. Rufus Jiya - Grab the tablecloth from the box and set it up when the table's clear. Flynn - Go get the glasses and silverware. Mason - Pour the wine. Lucy - Start opening the paper plates and set the table."
No one moves. Rufus is the first to ask. "Is it Thanksgiving?"
Denise doesn't have to deal with the constant seclusion, she gets to go home to her wife and kids, watch the news, go outside, but she understands the difficulties. She cares about her 'bunker children' and can sympathize with everything they endure to stop Rittenhouse. "Yeah. Yesterday was Thanksgiving."
"OK people. The longer we stand here, the cooler the food gets. Go on now." Conner has taken over. Everyone goes to do their assigned tasks. In no time at all the table is set. Conner is handing out glasses of wine. Denise is opening the food and placing them on the kitchen counter. Flynn helps her finish while the finishing touches on the table are being made.
Everyone stands back and just looks at the festive table. It's not much, a plastic cornucopia table cloth and matching paper plates and napkins, mismatched chairs and glasses, and two votive candles Jiya ran and got from her room. But it's something different, and that makes it special.
The table is too small to hold all the food, so everyone forms a line and loads up their plate before sitting down. Denise and Connor take the heads of the table; Rufus, Jiya, and Wyatt on one side, Jessica, Flynn, then Lucy on the other side. Everyone is eating and chatting happily before talk turns to each of their Thanksgiving memories. Lucy remembers the big formal family dinners. Rufus had the simple family get togethers in the small apartment in western Chicago. Mason talks about his first Thanksgiving at a friend's house in America.
Denise is watching everyone. It's so rare to find them smiling lately. "So how about we start a new bunker tradition." Everyone looks to her, giving her the space to speak. "These last few months have been pretty hard on all of you. How about we all say something we're thankful for."
They all look at each other, before Connor eventually clears his throat. "Well, I'll start. I'm thankful for this absolutely delicious wine. Pickings were getting pretty slim in here lately." Denise gives him one of her 'behave' looks. He clears his throat and tries again. "What I'm thankful for... I'm thankful that we're all still alive, and able to sit together and have this wonderful meal." He doesn't say it, but everyone knows he holds himself responsible for every death related to his time machine. From the twenty-two workers who died when his company exploded, to all the deaths throughout time by both Rittenhouse and his teammates. All of it because he just had to make a time machine without thinking of the consequences. Lucy leans over and grabs his hand and gives it a squeeze of support. He raises his glass, and everyone joins him in a toast.
Rufus is sitting clock-wise to him and goes next. "I'm thankful I got to get to know all of you. From meeting Connor when I was still in high school, to the first day Jiya came to work at Mason Industries. Getting thrown together with Wyatt and Lucy in those early terrifying days. Slowly getting to know and trust Denise. And finally getting to meet Jessica, after hearing Wyatt talk about her all the time. You've become my best friends, and without all of this, I never would have meet most of you. So, I'm thankful for that." Lucy puts her hand on Flynn, letting him know he's not totally left out. Everyone drinks a toast again.
Jiya looks around nervously. Not one to like being put on the spot like this. "I guess I'm also thankful for getting to know all of you. But I'm really thankful I got to work for Mason Industries. Connor never thought there was something I couldn't do, even when I didn't think I could do it. And it also was how I met Rufus. The most wonderful man in the world, even if he is a Star Wars fan." She crinkles up her nose and laughs at him. Rufus kisses her and the team raises their glasses.
Wyatt looks at all of them around the table, except at Lucy. His eyes settle on Jessica. "I'm thankful I got a second chance with my wife. I was lost for years, but now thanks to all this..." He indicates the Lifeboat sitting quietly in the next room. "I can make up for all the times I disappointed her."
Jessica leans over the table and kisses him. Flynn squeezes Lucy's hand under the table, reciprocating the support from earlier. "It's been a bizarre few weeks, that's for sure. But I do love the man you've become." More kissing and they all raise their glasses and toasts them happy couple. Wyatt and Jessica take their seats again.
Denise looks between Jiya and Lucy. I'm thankful for my family. I can't imagine what my life would be like if I married the man my mother arranged for me. I'm so thankful my friends were there to show me all the possibilities that I couldn't see. Thank you all for that." Connor is going around the table refilling the wine glasses before they all drink to Denise.
All eyes fall on Flynn. A snarky response is on the tip of his tongue. He looks around the table. Lucy gives him a nod and a smile of encouragement. He takes a deep breath and licks his lips. "I'm thankful I'm not alone anymore. Not forgotten in solitary confinement. And not fighting Rittenhouse alone, literally trying to save the world with no one at my back. I'm thankful for dat." His face remains completely neutral, but his accent thickens as he gets to the end.
They all stare at him. They've known him mostly as the enemy, the psychopath murdering across time. Thinking what the Time Team has accomplished so far, but then trying to imagine it was just one person. Alone. No one says anything, the team is either staring at their laps, or at Garcia Flynn. Rufus coughs. "That was... ummmm. I think we all appreciate your snarky responses a bit more now." He gives the older man a trademarked head nod. Flynn returns it. Glasses are raised once more.
Lucy palms are starting to sweat. It's her turn. She's lost so much. She's endured so much. She can't even think of anything to be thankful for. She's lost everything. Flynn nudges her thigh under the table. He catches her eye and knows something is wrong. He's about to start talking to try and cover for her. She just blurts it out. "I'm thankful... I'm thankful for." God, why is this so hard? "I'm thankful I'm here fighting besides all of you. What we go through is horrible. But I'd rather be here with you, tired and bruised, than living normal lives not ever knowing we could just disappear from time at any moment. I'd rather be fighting for what I care about, than living happily in a world that could just poof one day. I guess that's what I'm thankful for."
The rest of the meal is spent laughing and eating. When the last of the pies are gone and everyone is stuffed Denise clears her throat. "I know how difficult this has been for all of you. So, Michelle and I have been doing some shopping. Consider them 'Thanksgiving Presents' if you will." She opens the large duffel she brought with her and digs out two small boxes wrapped in gold and silver wrapping paper. She hands on to Rufus and the other to Jiya. They both look at each other, unsure of what to do. Then Jiya smirks, and they tear into the gifts like children on Christmas morning.
