Year - 1993

Amazing how a chance encounter can turn your life on its head. For me it all happened the other day when a man literally fell from the sky, only to land right in front of me. Little did I know, helping this man would lead me to make one of the biggest decisions I would ever be asked to make.

Here's what happen…

I had just gotten off work and was only a couple block from home. I was about to turn on to the street I lived on when I heard this shouting and looked up from my path in time to see a man falling. He landed a few feet in front of me and at first, I figured him dead. After all, he looked beat to hell and he had just fallen 30 plus feet to the unforgiving ground, only to land flat on his back. I started to pull out my phone to call for some help when a strained gurgle of life, followed by an attempt to roll over, signaled he was still alive. "No cops." He grumbled.

Amazed he was actually alive, I just stood there, phone in hand, as he slowly and carefully tried to stand. "Umm, sir, I'm not sure if you should move, you just fell off a building. Not to mention, you look like you just lost a bar fight. You really should stay still and let me call-,"

"I said," he groaned, cutting me off from saying anymore. "No. Cops."

"Sir," I started to protest, seeing as it was obvious he was in a lot of pain, "sir, you clearly need help. Is there someone I can call? A-a friend or family member, anyone?"

He let out a pained chuckle and spit out some blood. "From this time, no."

Now, I remember thinking something along the lines of "this guy is nuts, and I should run," but my overwhelming need to help kept me planted. "Fine, but if you're not gonna let me call the cops, then- then at least let me help you." I rushed over to his side and assisted him to his feet from the knelt position he had worked himself in to. He tried to object, but I ignored him and wrapped my arms around him to pulled him to his feet. "Come on, I live nearby and you'll be safe."

With his arm draped over my shoulders and mine wrapped around his waist, I helped him walk the few blocks back to my apartment. All the while, I was careful not to hold on to him too tightly for fear of making his injuries worse. Never the less, despite my precautions, he grunts and groans from pain the whole way.

When we reached my building, it was a tedious job helping him up the two flights of stairs to my apartment. Then when we did reach it, I had to juggle holding him up right while fishing my keys out of my jacket. Once the door was open however, I walked him in and gently eased him down on to my couch. "Hang on a second." I had said rushing to shut the door before heading to the bathroom for my first aid kit. "I don't have much in the way of training, but I can at least make sure nothing gets infected."

"I need to call my group." He grunted as I started cleaning him up. "They can fix me."

"Your group? What are you talking about?"

"In my pocket." He twisted in an attempt to find something but because of the pain, couldn't reach it. I put down the bandages and helped him retrieve whatever it was he needed hidden in his pocket.

I ended up pulling out some little black object, no bigger than those pink erasers we used in school, with a flashing blue light. "Is this it? Is this what you need?" He nodded. "What-what do I do?"

"The button. Press the button."

"How do I know it won't blow up or something?" I asked as I looked over the clearly futuristic device.

"Just press it!" he urged.

"Alright, alright." I agreed, taking a deep breath before pushing it like he asked.

It took a second, but soon a small tone sounded, followed by a woman's voice. "Snart? Snart, is that you? Are you okay? Where are you? Snart? Snart, can you hear me?"

I just looked at the guy bleeding all over my couch and he nodded once for me to answer for him. "Uhh yea-yeah he's here, but he's hurt." I say holding the object close to my mouth.

"Who is this?" The voice demanded.

"My name is Delilah. I- I found your friend and brought him to my place. Now he's extremely hurt, maybe some broken ribs, I don't know I haven't had a chance to look."

"What happen? Snart, are you there?"

"I'm here." He groaned form the pain of the forced reply.

"He fell off a building and refused to let me call the cops or an ambulance."

"Snart, when and where are you?" the ladies voice asked.

"1993, Star City."

"We'll be there soon. Leave your beacon on till we get there." She said followed by another tone like the first.

Confused, I could only sit there wondering what had happened. I had planned on asking, but the guy who would have the answers was standing up to leave. "Thanks for your help, but I gotta run." He said before falling down.

"Run? You can hardly walk." I said helping him up and back to the couch again. "If you keep moving you'll only cause more damage. So just stay put till your friends get here. Okay?" I order as I turned to grab the bandages. As I started to clean his cuts again, I felt I could ask him at least some basic questions.

"Can I ask you something Snart?" He looked at me as to ask 'How do you know my name?' I figured, that thanks to his pain, he had forgotten the lady had said his name multiple times. "That is your name, right? Snart?"

"It would seem so." He whispers eyeing me.

"Well, Snart, mind telling me what caused you to fall off a building?" I asked cleaning up some of the wounds around his chin.

"Guess I slipped." He sassed.

"Uh-huh, and these cuts on your face?" I sassed back. "How did they happen then?"

"Must have landed on it."

"You landed on your back." I pointed out to contradict his statement. "Wanna to try again?"

"Why does it matter?"

"Guess it doesn't," I whispered, putting a butterfly stich on a practically nasty cut above his eye. It was clear he wasn't going to say much, whether from the pain or sheer stubbornness. So, I ceased asking any questions about his past or what lead to him being here battered and bruised.

"Are you hungry?" That earned me my first eye to the eye look. "I can make you something if you like."

"Got any alcohol?"

I could only chuckle. Typical man gets hurt and wants a drink still. "Sorry, fresh out."

"Figures."

"Plus, I don't think it would be good to mix that with the pain medicine I'm about to give you." I stood up and left him to find some medicine and get him some water. "Here. It's not gonna do much but it should help take the edge off."

The guy looked down at my hands at the pill and glass of water. "Thanks." He mumbled sitting up just enough to take the items.

"No problem," I said as I slipped across the room to sit in front of him. The man took the pills and drank most of the water in one huge gulp before sitting the glass on the table. "So, Snart… how long till your friends get here?"

He glanced up at me again only to look away like all the other times. "Most likely already here. Just trying to find me."

"And how long should that take?"

"Don't quite know. Depends if they run in to any trouble along the way." He shifted to lie down and get more comfortable.

"Here, let me get you a pillow." I grabbed a small throw pillow and placed it under his head for him. "There that should help."

"Thanks." He replied in the same monotone he's kept this whole time.

"Well, you're safe here, so feel free to sleep if you like." The man doesn't say anything but does give me the same look as he had many times since finding him. It's not a sweet and playful type of look, but more of an annoyed and weary type. Like he was sizing me up for a fight. Not like I could do much against his larger stature. I was only 5 '4 and 120 pounds soaking wet.

Then there was his gun. He kept it concealed under his parka, but I had caught a few glimpse here and there as we made our way home. It wasn't like anything I had ever seen and even though I was curious, I made it a point not to look at it too much. That added to the box, and everything he or that lady had said, made me feel confident that he wasn't from around here. In more than one way, but I felt it best not to ask to much about that.

After a few minutes of silence, I noticed his labored breaths gave way to slower more even ones. A quick glance at his face showed that the pills, or maybe the pain, had gotten to him and he had passed out. With him asleep, I felt free to finely take a real look at him.

Keeping my distance, I noted how, underneath the cuts and bruises, he was actually ruggedly handsome. Short dark hair speckled with some gray and very defined widows peek. Sharp eyes that even appeared mean as he slept. Full lips that made me wonder how soft they would be.

Now that last thought only came to me because it had been a while since I had dated anyone. I told myself. "You don't need to get involved with some guy that, quite literally, fell from the sky," and that, "The sooner his friends get here the better."

It was then, there was a knock at the door. Only expecting his friends, I figured it was them and jumped up to let them in. That's when it hit me that I had no idea who they might be. I didn't know what they looked like nor if they were friendly or not.

This guy seemed nice enough, saying thank you and everything, but he had insisted on me not calling the cops. Could they be criminals? If so they would most likely kill me before leaving. "But you've been nice to this guy, so maybe they will thank you and let you live," I remember thinking before another knock broke my train of thought and I stupidly unlocked the door without thinking.

Before I could turn the knob, the door was kicked in and hits me in the face. Thankfully, the noise it made was loud enough to wake the man I found. I heard him cuss at the pain of sitting up so suddenly followed by a gun cocking. Looking up, I saw a long haired man in a trench coat standing with his back to me and a gun pointed at the Snart. "He isn't a friend." I thought as I look over at Snart who was just as shocked as me.

"Savage!" Snart hissed holding his side. "How did you find me?"

"Oh, you didn't think I would figure out how your groups little communicator works yet?" he waves a similar version of Snart's object in the air. "After all the times we've fought over the years, it was easy." the long haired man smiled. "Then was nothing to find the right frequency, wait for a signal, then hone in on your location. I just had the advantage of already being nearby." Snart took a quick glance at me that the other man seemed to notice, because he too turned to look at me. "I wouldn't worry too much about your new friend. She and the others will soon meet the same fate as you." He said turning back to Snart, finger on the trigger.

Snart tried to pull out his gun as well but moving hurt him to much so he was helpless. I knew that if I didn't do something that we would both be killed. So, with little thought, I kicked the long haired guy in the back of the knee. His leg gave way under him and he fell to the floor, dropping his gun. I quickly jumped up and rushed over to Snart. "Come on, get up, we gotta run."

"My gun… Get my gun." He groans.

"No time for that, let's just go."

"No!" He growled, glaring at me with icy blues, "I said get me my gun." I hesitated, but nodded nervously before I pushed back his parka and grabbed it for him. "Give it here and get behind me." I put it in his hand and slipped behind him like he had told me. He reached around to wrap his arm around me and I held him to keep him close and stable.

The other man had been scrambling to find his gun in the dark and soon they both had weapons pointed at each other again. "Leave Savage! Leave now and we'll save killing you for another day." I couldn't help think this guy was insane. Here he was hanging on to life by a thread and threatening, who I could only guess, the guy who had done this to him.

The long haired guy must have thought the same thing because he started to laugh. "You can't be serious. I mean, look at you. You can't even stand up without this mortal to help you."

"Mortal? Okay, it's official. I'm way out of my league." I had thought while my face was buried in to Snart's back.

"The others will be here any second Savage," Snart warned.

"I'm counting on it." The guy laughed and I remember thinking "This is it. I'm gonna die.", but Snart pulled the trigger and shot him with what I later found out was subzero like ice. The guy fell back, but so did Snart, but I was able to stop him from falling straight to the floor. "Snart! Are you okay?" I asked as I eased him to the floor. It was clear he was too weak to put up much of a fight. Thankfully he didn't have to.

It wasn't a second later when, what I could only describe at the time as an army, showed up to help.

As I tried to pull Snart up to stand, the windows of my apartment were shattered, sending glass flying around us. I looked up to see this man in a metal suit flying come in. Following him was a kid in flames and two people with enormous beautiful wings coming from their backs. One of which was carrying another man in a tan trench coat. They all stood in front of us, essentially building a wall to shield Snart and me from Savage. "Snart, you okay?" One of them asked.

"Just banged up." He answered.

"Carter, Ray. You two get them out of here and to the ship. Mick and Sara are there waiting."

"Yes, Captain." The Robot man and one of the winged warriors said.

The one with wings held out his hand for me to take and I could only look to Snart for reassurance. He shook his head and said, "These are my friends," I nodded back and took his hand. He told me to hang on just before flying out the window with me clutching him tightly. I forced myself to open my eyes to check for Snart and thankfully the robot man had him and was following behind us. Then, naïvely I looked down and saw the city I lived in miles below us. I quickly buried my face in the bird man's neck and tightened my grip.

They flew us back to this empty lot where two people, who I guessed was Mick and Sara, were waiting next to a huge ship. Robot man and bird guy handed us to them and then flew back off in the direction we came. Back in the direction of my apartment. "What the hell is going on!" I finely asked feeling safe enough with my feet on the ground. "Who the hell are you people and who was that guy that tried to kill us?"

"Who's your friend?" the man assisting Snart asked, "Seems kinda fiery."

"She's the one who found me," Snart answered as the man helped him on a ship.

"Come on, let's get you looked at too." A familiar voice said. I turned to see the woman and that's when it clicked.

"You're the one I talked too. The lady in the box."

"Yeah I'm Sara, now let's get you inside and looked at." She said, wrapping her arm over my shoulder to lead me on to this ship. We headed down a few halls till we got to this room that had what I recognized as hospital beds only more futuristic. "Lay down here and let Gideon check you out."

"Gideon? Who is Gideon?" I asked as I laid back.

That's when this voice spoke. "Hello, I am Gideon. I am an interactive artificial consciousness programmed to operate the Waverider and aid Rip Hunter. Now, please try to relax as I do a scan for injuries." I did as I was told and watched the same light that scanned over me, scan over Snart. I felt it was safe seeing as he was allowing it to happen to him as well.

A second later I hear that the extent of my injuries was a busted lip and a cut on my eyebrow, similar to the one of Snart's that I had cleaned. I was allowed to get up after some it was cleaned and covered with a bandage. If only he was as lucky.

Gideon said she gave him a mild sedative and was starting the progressive healing process or something like that. He had a broken rib, a few fractured ones, along with some internal bleeding and a punctured lung, but that within a few hours, he would be fine. I found it hard to believe but the others didn't seem worried.

So, with Snart taken care of, I felt I could finely ask all the questions that had been itching at me since Snart fell from that roof. "Your name is Sara, right?" She nodded as we both sat there watching over Snart. "Can… Can I ask you something?"

"Well, I guess the Captain would be better suited to answer your questions then me, but I can try."

"What is going on? I mean… who are you, and who is he, and who was that man,"

"Okay, slow down." She laughed. "I know it's a lot at first, it was for us too, but you have to slow down." I apologized. "It's fine," She smiled "but to answer your questions, I'm Sara Lance and he's Leonard Snart. That big guy you just saw is Mick Rory and the others, well, you'll meet later I guess."

I nodded, "and you all are from the future?"

She quickly turned to look at me a bit surprised. "And how did you come to that?"

I shrugged, "It wasn't really one thing. There were a few things that when you think about it, it only makes sense that you all would be from the future."

"Well, you're not wrong. Rip, um the Captain, he's from the year 2166. He traveled back to 2016 to recruit all of us in helping stop Vandal Savage."

"Savage? That's what Snart called the guy with the long black hair."

"Yeah, he's… well to put it in the simplest terms, he's immortal. See it all started over 4000 years ago…"

As I sat there and listened to Sara explain all this to me I couldn't help but think I was dreaming. Immortal bad guys, Egyptian hawk people, nuclear people, assassins, time travelers. It was just too much. There was just no way it was true, but the more she explained, the more I found myself believing it. It was a better explanation then I could have ever come with at least.

After what seemed like hours, the others returned a little worse for wear and I had been essentially caught up on everything that was going on. Sara asked me to watch over Snart while she went to talk to the others. So I did.

I stood next to him and amazingly, most of the cuts he had on is face were gone. Same for the bruises. I don't know why, but I felt the overwhelming need to touch him. To see if he was real you know. So I quickly looked back to make sure no one was coming, then gently placed my hand on his chest to fell for a heartbeat. When I felt the strong rhythmic beat of life, it hit me. This, all of this. The things Sara had told me, all the people and their powers, the ship, it was all real. I let my hand linger on him as the weight of it all came crashing down.

"You know," Snart said without warning, causing me to jump and retract my hand in fear. "I'm sure molesting a sleeping patient is against the law." He was staring up at me with that same stare of his but with the added hint of a smirk.

I took a second to calm myself so he wouldn't hear the tremble in my voice. "Good thing I'm not a doctor, and you're not my patient."

"True," He grinned while adverting his eyes to his body. "but you did save my life I suppose. If not for you, I would have died in that alleyway."

"That I won't argue." I smiled back as he looks back up at me. "And I wasn't molesting you by the way. I was checking your heart.

"Sure you were." He whispered with a small scoff, "So then, Doc, what's the diagnosis?"

"Well, Gideon said you had both broken and fractured ribs along with a punctured lung with some internal bleeding."

"And how long ago was that?" he picks his head up enough to look himself over.

"Umm, about an hour ago I guess." Looking around for a clock. "Said it would take a few till you were back to normal thought."

"So then I got a couple hours to go." He sighs.

"Yeah, I guess." I shrugged really not sure if it was true or not.

"And the others." He relaxed some and closed his eyes. "Did they make it back?"

"Yeah, Sara was just here and left to talk to them. Asked me to watch over you for her."

"I see." He sighed "Well then..." he stopped and peeked at me when he realized he didn't know my name.

"Oh, Its Delilah. Delilah Philips."

"Well Delilah, you can go tell the others I'm fine. Just need some sleep." He said flipping to lay on his side. "Tell them I'll explain what happen after that okay."

I nodded even though he couldn't see me. "Okay, Snart. I- I hope you feel better." I watched him a second longer before heading out of the room and in the direction I saw Sara go earlier.

Following the voices, I easily found the others. Upon entering the room, they all grew quiet and faced me. "How's Snart?" Mick asked in a gruff voice.

"He woke up for a minute and said he'd explain everything once he was done healing."

"Good. That's good." The tan trench coat man said with a worried look. "Well… I guess we have some explaining to do."

"Oh, don't worry, Sara filled me in on the whole thing." I had said with a soft smile. "Hawk people from the past. Super smart guy with a suit that makes him small. Other super smart guy that joins with a young guy to make a walking bomb. Assassin. Fire bug. Time traveler and leader." I said pointing at each of them. "Not saying I understand it, but I know."

"Well, that's not exactly what we need to explain." He said. "You see… In the mists of fighting Savage, your apartment building was… destroyed."

I stood there as the words hit me like a ton of bricks. "You mean… all my things, my clothes, my books, my pictures, all of it is… gone."

"Yes." He said simply. "Now, if you have some family, we would be glad to drop you off there so you're not stranded."

I started shaking my head. "There- There isn't anyone. I'm an orphan. Have been since I was 5. I was kicked from the group home when I turned eighteen. Been on my own since."

"Oh… Well, then I'm sorry." He said turning back to his work.

"Wait, your sorry? You say that like you're going to leave me here with nothing after you destroyed my home!"

"Well, with all due respect, it's your own fault. You shouldn't have gotten involved."

"Whoa there, Rip!" Sara scolded. "Now if it wasn't for her, Snart would still be missing or worse, dead."

"Yeah, man she's right. We can't just leave her here with nothing." Jefferson added.

"Well, what do you suggest we do?" Rip argued. "You know we can't go back and meddle in time where we already were without creating a paradox. So there is nothing I can do about her apartment."

"Then let her say with us?" Stine suggested.

"What!?"

"Hey that's a good idea," Ray said turning to face the table he was leaning against. "Gideon, do a search for a… I'm sorry, what was your name."

"Delilah Philips."

"Hold on you can't be serious?" Rip said trying to stop them but they didn't listen.

"Do a search for a Delilah Philips and see if removing her from this time has any effect on the time line."

"As the Captain, do I not get a say in this?" Rip asked exhausted at his group's failure to listen to him.

"Negative. One Delilah Philips, born June 18th, 1970, will die on as a result of the S.T.A.R. Lab explosion on December 21st, 2013 at the age of 43 with no children. Her removal will have no ill effect on the time line."

"Well, there you go," Jefferson said. "Guess she can stay with us."

"That is if Ms. Philips wants too." Stine said again turning every one focus on me.

"I-I… I have to think about it." I admitted. They all agreed to say they understood but asked me to decide soon saying the longer they stayed in this time, the more trouble it could cause.

So that's what happened… I was now sitting here in a room they gave me debating if I should stay here and try to rebuild my life or go with them across time. On the one hand, it would be an adventure of a life time to see all the historical and futuristic aspects of life that I wouldn't get to see otherwise. Also, they all seemed nice enough and could possibly provide me with an unlikely family that until then, I had been missing.

On the other, I had worked so hard for the life I had. Working two sometimes three jobs to save up for an apartment. Then not to mention all my friends. What would they think if I just disappeared? Well, I guess they would think I died in the carnage that was my left apartment. So was there really anything worth going back to, especially if I know the possible date of my death? Well, I guess I could just move and prevent it or at least be out of town on that day, but would that really change anything. "UGH, why is this so hard?"

"Having trouble?" I hear the sultry monotone voice ask.

I look up to see him leaning against the door watching me while shuffling a deck of cards in hand. "I'm glad to see your up and feeling better, but I gotta ask." He arched his brow to show he was willing to at least hear my question. "Do you ever change the tone you speak in or is it the same flat tone all the time?"

"The same." He answered unsurprisingly in the same tone.

"Fair enough," I chuckle, "but to answer your question yeah. I can't decide what to do. I worked too hard to get where I am to just jump ship and leave, but I mean come on." I smile and look around at where we were. "It's a freaking time ship! Who wouldn't want to travel through time and see all there is to see."

"Well, it's not all fun and games." He points out. "We're not doing it for the hell of it, thought I will admit to my share of mischief, there is a mission in mind. So I guess the real question is, are you up for that?"

"I-I hadn't thought about that," I admit slumping in defeat. "I have no skills in fighting or weapons… I would just be dead weight honestly."

"True." He shrugged.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence." I scoff.

"Just being honest," Snart said as he came to sit on the bed opposite of me. "but if it makes you feel any better, we could train you." He said with a hint of a smile without looking up from the deck in his hands.

For some reason, I felt like I was about to be eaten alive, and not necessarily in a good way. "Are you saying you'd help me learn to fight, Snart?" I asked giving him a taste of his own glare.

He shrugged and tilled his head with uncertainty, before glancing back up at me. "If you'd like."

Oh shit! You're lethal. "How bout we just play some cards," I say trying to change the subject before I dug to deep and got stuck.

"Sure." He said as he started to deal me a hand.

"I wanna see how good your poker face is." I smile as I get situated to play. Snart just scoffed and passed out the cards.

As we play, I keep going over the pros and cons of staying here or going back home. The more I thought about it the more I felt myself leaning to just saying with them. I hadn't known them a full day yet, but I already felt closer to them then I had with any of my friends from back home. Maybe that was just because of the saving a life and being saved bit, but still, they made me feel welcomed in a way.

But still, Snart was right. I had no skills to bring to the table. Unless they count folding clothes or counting change, which I'm sure they don't. So what was I going to do here? What would be my place? Sure, he said they could teach me, but who knows how long that would take or if the others would even be willing. In the end, I was no closer to making a decision then when I was first offered to stay.

"Straight Flush." I hear Snart say as he lays down his cards. I had been so lost in thought I had barely been playing.

"Guess you win." I frowned not really upset at the loss but more so at my inability to decide my fate.

"Guess so." He purrs stacking the cards back up. "Might I offer a suggestion?" Desperate for an answer I nod. "Why not just flip a coin?" he offers up.

"What?" I smile.

"They say, if you can't make a choice between two things, then flip a coin." He stands up from the bed and starts heading toward the door. "Give each choice a side and in that moment before the coin hits the floor, you'll know what you should do because it's the outcome you hope for." He stops at the door and turns back around to face me. "So which is it? Heads you stay with us; tails you go home to what's left of it." He flicks a coin at me and in that moment, while I reached up to catch the flying coin, I had my answer. "Please be Heads," I found myself thinking as I clasped my hands around the flying coin. When I lifted my hand to see the answer to my fate, my heart rejoiced.

Heads.

I quickly look up with a smile only to find the door way where Snart was just standing was now empty. He had flipped the coin for me and disappeared. Even still, I was glad. I flipped the coin one last time for the hell of it and rushed out to tell the others.

I found them all on the main deck discussing their next stop on the time line to stop savage. In the corner, still shuffling the deck of cards, sat Snart. He gave me his normal glance, showing no hint of the time we just shared, but I didn't care. I had made up my mind and was ready to tell the others. "Excuse me," I say to gain their attention. "I've decided to join you all."

Rip looked around at every one then nodded. "Alright then. Welcome aboard." The rest of the group grins at me and I smile back.

Stine was the only one to come up to ask me why it was I decided to stay and I just told him the truth. "Honestly I couldn't decide, so I just flipped a coin." I give Snart a side glance and saw him looking back, listening to us talk. "Think I heard once that if can't make a choice between two things to flip a coin. Before the coin hit the floor you'll know what you want because it's the outcome you hope for."

"Ahh, revealed preferences through Flipism. Fascinating."

I smile back at him but in my mind's eye, I'm seeing Snart. "Yeah, fascinating."

"Well strap in every one," Rip says moving to the seat at the front of the ship. "Our next stop is 1945."

I follow every one's lead and sit in a seat and lock myself in. "Amazing how a chance meeting can lead to traveling back to 1945," I say to myself.

"My dear, if there is anything I have learned being on this ship, it's that nothing happens by chance." Rip says. "If time wants it to happen it will." Before I could process what he said, I was sucked back in to my seat and traveling through time.