Author's Note: Thanks to LEMcMurray for allowing me to borrow the character of Kate Foster from her 'The Captain's Niece' story for this.

If you've haven't read it the basic facts are Kate was a thief and con artist who was taken in by Bridger after her step-father tried to kill her. She is now the only civilian engineer on the Seaquest but her other skills are used by Nathan at times. This is set at the end of The Captain's Niece so only Bridger and Ford know her real background.

"Why are you making me do this, Nathan?"

Nathan Bridger, Captain of the SeaQuest sighed as they walked through the corridors of the boat towards the moon pool, "Because I need one more person to help with the training exercise and O'Neill asked for you, Kate."

"I thought the whole point of me being here was to hide who I am and what I do," Kate Foster, engineer and annoyance extraordinaire on certain days, replied.

Nathan frowned correcting, "What you used to do."

"Yeah, yeah," she waved him away, "Surely having me involved in this isn't a good idea."

"Kate," he let out an annoyed sigh, "I am asking you to assist in the training of our security team as an engineer. Not your other skills. Will you, for once, not start an argument with me?"

She chuckled and patted his arm, "Where would the fun be in that, Nathan?"

Shaking his head Nathan watched her wander over to join O'Neill and Ortiz who instantly brought her into whatever they were discussing. He smiled as he watched the former thief talk with her two friends. After everything recently with a trip to another planet, it was nice to see that everything was back to normal. Or as normal as it got around here.

He should have known better.

x

Tim O'Neill smiled when Kate appeared at his side and joined in their conversation easily. They waited while Captain Bridger spoke quickly with Commander Ford before starting the training exercise.

Bridger stepped forward but the moment he opened his mouth to start a bright light filled the room and a man appeared from nowhere, slamming onto the grating beside the moon pool. Instantly the security teams turned, weapons aimed at their visitor.

The man looked up and swore in an English accent, "Bollocks."

Slowly the man stood and looked around warily. He was slim wearing dark denims, jacket with a white shirt below it and a long brown coat. He had a sharp face with a Romanesque nose, his green eyes darted around the room taking everything in before they settled on Bridger.

"I'm guessing you're in charge," the man said softly to their Captain.

Bridger stepped forward, "I'm Nathan Bridger, Captain of the SeaQuest. And you are?"

"Rip Hunter," the man introduced himself, "Captain of nothing anymore."

"How did you get onto my boat?" Bridger demanded.

Hunter grimaced rubbing a hand through his hair, "That is a bit of a long, complicated story."

"Captain," Brody spoke up suddenly, suspiciously watching their visitor, "I suggest we put him in the brig until we know more."

Hunter turned a cold gaze on Brody who Tim could see shifted ever so slightly back away from the man.

"Captain," Brody started again only for Bridger to hold his hand up to stop him.

"Considering your entrance, Mr Hunter," Bridger said, "I want you to be examined by our doctor before you tell me your story."

Hunter shrugged, "It's your boat."

Ford took over and motioned Hunter to follow him, their visitor shrugged and followed the Commander out the room with several guards walking behind him.

"I'm afraid our training exercise is now cancelled," Bridger said, "Everyone back to your stations."

There were several sighs of annoyance as everyone left the moon pool. Many bets had been made over who would win and Tim could hear Tony assuring everyone all bets would be held onto until it was rescheduled.

x

Rip walked through the corridors of the boat he was now on wondering when this was where he was and taking in everything around him. There appeared to be water in tubes along the bulkhead and Rip stared in surprise when a dolphin swam past. The technology looked akin to where he'd lived while creating the Time Bureau but he didn't recognise the uniforms or the logo that he saw.

"Doctor," the man who had introduced himself as Ford said making Rip turn to where a woman stood. She had brown hair and an air of professionalism as she stood in the infirmary of the boat.

"You would be our mystery visitor," she said, "I'm Doctor Smith."

"Rip Hunter," he replied cordially, frowning at the nudge on the edge of his consciousness and stating coldly, "And I don't like people trying to read my mind."

Surprise covered her face that he'd felt her gentle scan, "My apologies," Dr Smith said, "It was a basic scan to check your intentions here on the boat. Nothing intrusive but standard protocol for someone such as yourself who appears from nowhere."

Rip frowned at her, "Anything where I did not consent to you touching my consciousness is intrusive no matter the reason. I have an extreme dislike of people messing with my mind."

"I understand," Smith said softly, "Please take a seat on the bed. I just want to do a few standard tests on your health."

Knowing he had no choice, considering the guards standing outside the room, Rip slid onto the bed. While the doctor checked his health, Rip wondered if Gideon would find him here or if he was now truly alone.

"Why am I here?" Kate asked as she took a seat at the conference table.

Nathan smiled handing her a glass of water, "I want your other talents while I speak to our guest."

"No problem," she replied, "Although people will be suspicious."

He chuckled, "Kate, everyone knows how good a poker player you are. Which is one of the reasons I've got you here for the conversation."

"To see if he's bluffing," Kate smiled slightly, she took a quick drink leaning back in her seat waiting. Finally the door opened and Ford guided their guest in.

The man took the seat across from Nathan when offered, poised and cool as he waited. Nathan frowned realising whoever this man was, he wasn't going to be easily intimidated.

"Mr Hunter," Nathan greeted him, "Can I get you a drink?"

Hunter let out a wry chuckle, "You wouldn't happen to have some scotch?"

"No alcohol on board," Nathan replied, seeing Kate smirk slightly making him wonder if she did have a secret stash. He wouldn't put it past her.

"That's a pity," Hunter shrugged, "Water then."

Placing a glass of water in front of the man, Nathan took his own seat, "Alright, how did you get onto my boat?"

Hunter took a long drink of the water before he started to speak. Nathan listened in amazement as the Englishman told them his story about time travel, time demons and universe hopping. Nathan glanced over to Kate who was leaning forward listening with an intrigued look on her face. When he finished speaking Hunter took another drink of water and waited.

"That's," Nathan started, not quite sure what to say before finally managing, "An interesting tale."

Hunter shrugged, "Possibly what should go on my gravestone."

Glancing at his resident con artist for an opinion he was surprised when she nodded.

"Commander Ford is going to escort you to a room," Nathan told their guest, "It will have a guard so if you need anything just ask."

Hunter stood and but his relief that he wasn't being treated like a criminal was clear, "Thank you, Captain."

Nathan waited until Ford left with their guest before turning to Kate, "Well?"

"If he was lying then he is one of the best liars I have ever come across," she noted, "There were none of the tell-tale signs that what he was saying wasn't the truth. But, that doesn't mean he's not just a complete lunatic."

Nathan chuckled, "Do you think he is because I don't."

"Considering everything we've encountered in the past I wouldn't discount his story," Kate reminded him, "Especially considering his entrance."

Sighing in thought Nathan leaned back in his chair, "Alright. We have a mission so once we've completed that we'll drop him off at the closest UEO base and it can be their problem."

x

Rip entered the small room which only had a bed and a small desk in it. Turning to the commander, Rip nodded before he closed the door and dropped onto the bed.

He counted to twenty before asking, "Gideon?"

Silence answered him and he sighed sadly, it looked like he had lost her after all. There was also no sign of the shard from the core. Rip knew that touching it had been the catalyst for him moving universes, or he assumed it was a different universe but considering the TARDIS capabilities it might not be.

"What were you thinking?" the annoyed voice made him smile. Looking up he found Gideon sitting on the desk, glaring at him.

"I thought I'd lost you again," he sighed.

Gideon frowned at him, "You almost did. It has taken some time for me to find you this time."

"I'm really sorry," he told her contritely, "I just…"

"Could not stop yourself from doing yet another stupid and reckless thing," Gideon finished for him sharply.

Rip grimaced, "I just wanted to get home and I thought it would do that for me."

"Captain, I want you home with me also," she sighed softly, "But you have to be patient and not leap before you look. Honestly you are worse than a child sometimes."

He winced, "I am sorry, Gideon."

"I know, Rip," she gave him a fond smile, "So, where are we?"

Feeling better that she appeared to have forgiven him, Rip smiled, "We are currently in a huge submarine somewhere beneath an ocean. No one has told me which one though."

Gideon mused on this.

"Can you link with the technology?" Rip asked.

Rolling her eyes, Gideon gave him another look of disappointment, "I am only here through a telepathic link, Captain. I have no way to access anything."

Rip grimaced, "I didn't think about that."

"That was very obvious," Gideon retorted.

Letting out an annoyed sigh Rip began to pace, "Gideon, I am sorry. I hate that I am not on the Waverider with you. I have hated being apart from you but can you please stop making me feel bad."

She moved to stand in front of him and rested her hand just at his cheek, "I am just worried, Rip that one day you will be lost to me forever."

"Hey," he breathed, "I will get home to you, Gideon. I believe that."

"How?"

"Because you're here," Rip whispered softly, "Because I am so far from the Waverider, but you are here. My best friend, my safety, the only home I have left. I am going to make it back to you. We just have to believe in that. Okay?"

Gideon nodded, "Okay."

Smiling Rip returned to sit on the bed.

"But this time listen to me before you do something reckless," Gideon stated.

Sighing annoyed Rip dropped his head onto the pillow, she always got the last word.