Author's Note: Okay, not quite sure where this came from.
This is the prologue and I have a few chapters done but it might take some time for me to finish.
Enjoy
He was comfortable and warm while he floated back to consciousness. His head felt like it was filled with cotton wool and he tried to work out where he was.
"Are you finally waking up?" a familiar female voice asked from beside him.
Forcing his eyes open he groaned seeing the woman watching him, "Please tell me I'm not injured."
"It wouldn't be a visit from you if you weren't," she chuckled warmly.
Rip groaned again and buried his face in the pillow, "How did I get here?"
She smiled at him, "The usual way. Gideon will be here soon to pick you up."
"With my team," he winced trying to sit up.
"Careful," she scolded moving to help him, "Your ribs are badly bruised. Again. Hold on," she looked at him confused, "You have a team now?"
Rip grimaced at the pain shooting along his side, "It's a long story."
"I'm sure it is," she smiled fondly at him, "Alright, there are clothes in the cupboard as always. I will make you breakfast and some for your team as well."
With a nod she left him alone. Rip sighed and dropped back onto the pillows, he wasn't looking forward to explaining this to the others.
x
Sara was out of the Waverider almost the instant it touched down with Snart and Mick right behind her. She would never admit it to him but she was beginning to care about Hunter, despite how he'd lied to get them on the mission.
His sudden disappearance had put them all into a bit of a panic especially when Gideon started the engines and announced she was taking them to his location. What was even more frustrating was that other than that she wouldn't give them any information.
"Welcome," a blonde woman with cornflower blue eyes greeted them at the door to the small cottage sitting haphazardly in the middle of the field.
"Where's Rip?" Sara demanded instantly a threat in her voice.
The woman smiled, "He's just getting dressed but he was injured when attacked so it may take some time. Come in and have something to eat."
She disappeared back inside and Sara turned to the two men with her who both looked as bemused as she felt.
"Sara?" Ray's voice came in her ear.
"We think we've found him," she replied, "Stay on the ship, we'll be back soon."
Cutting off communication she nodded to Snart and Mick before walking into the cottage. The smell of fresh bacon and coffee instantly hit her, Sara finding herself taking a deep breath.
"Are you hungry?" the woman asked, motioning to the table which had plates of food in the centre, "Help yourself."
Before Mick could dig in Sara rested her hand on his chest stopping him.
"It's perfectly fine," Rip's distinctive voice came from behind them. They turned and saw their Captain slowly making his way down the stairs, "She's safe."
The woman chuckled, "A wonderful description, Rip. Please eat so it doesn't go to waste."
At the assurance Sara released Mick who dropped into a seat and started to pile food onto a plate, Snart poured himself and Sara some coffee while they both watched Rip moving stiffly to join them.
"Are you okay?" Sara asked the moment he reached them.
Rip nodded, "A little bruised but I'll be fine. I've had worse."
"Much worse," the woman agreed.
"Thank you," Rip frowned at her.
Sara shook her head, "Who are you?"
"This is Summer," Rip introduced the woman who gave a slight curtsy.
Sara folded her arms across her chest watching Rip take his seat and Summer handed him a glass of orange juice.
"Old girlfriend?" she asked making Rip choke on his drink while Summer laughed.
"An acquaintance," Summer answered, "One who spends far too much time giving him a place to heal."
With another smile she disappeared leaving them alone.
x
"What the hell happened to you?" Sara demanded the moment she was sure Summer was out of hearing range, "One minute you were yelling at us to get back to the ship then you were tackled and disappeared."
Rip sighed, "When I was training I helped Summer once and she in return saves my life pretty much any time I'm in danger of being killed."
"How?" Snart asked confused.
"She's..." he hesitated before telling them, "She's one of Time's daughters."
The sound of cutlery hitting the plate made Sara and Snart turn to where Mick was now staring at Rip.
"You're kidding?" the former bounty hunter cried.
"What exactly does that mean?" Sara asked confused.
Rip took a drink of his juice, "Time does on occasion have a physical manifestation, you've probably heard of Father Time. It's extremely complicated and to be honest not one of the classes I paid much attention to. Time has four daughters, known collectively as the Seasons."
"As in Summer, Winter, Spring and Fall?" Sara asked.
"Autumn not Fall," Rip corrected, "From what I've heard she gets extremely irritated if called that."
Snart and Sara stared at him trying to get their heads around the concept.
"And the Time Masters biggest rule was to stay far away from all of them," Mick told them staring at Rip, "So before you started breaking the rules when did you break the rules?"
Rip shrugged, "As I said I helped her so she helps me."
"Again, we're a little bit behind the conversation," Smart drawled, "Why are the Time Morons so afraid of these..."
"Manifestations," Sara finished using Rip's word.
"Because they are dangerous," Mick stated darkly, "And don't like time travellers at all. Apparently with an exception."
Rip shrugged under the scrutiny of the others, "I owe her a lot. And she is a wonderful cook."
x
Summer listened to Rip talk with his three companions before she stepped out of her house directly into the Waverider.
"Gideon?" she called.
"Is Captain Hunter safe?" Gideon asked instantly.
Summer smiled at the concern, "He's fine. Bruised ribs but you can fix them for him.
"So could you," Gideon noted making Summer grimace.
"You know why," Summer replied, "I have met a few of his new friends. How is he doing with them here?"
"Slightly better," Gideon told her, "He is obsessed with stopping Vandal Savage in order to save Miranda and Jonas but they are able to bring him out of his quest on occasion."
Summer sighed, "I wish I could have done more for him when they died."
"You saved him when he first lost them," Gideon reminded her, "Helped him in a moment of grief where I couldn't and held him when he needed someone to."
Resting her hand against the wall Summer smiled, "Look after him, Gideon."
"I always do."
Returning to her home Summer packed some food for the team and carried it to where Rip sat with his team.
"I thought the others would want some," she smiled, "And you need to eat more, Rip. You look like you're missing meals again."
"More like drinking them," Sara muttered making Rip glare at her.
Snart snorted in amusement before placing his empty mug on the table, "I think it's time we go. Thanks for the hospitality."
Summer stared at him for a moment, "The words were nice but somehow I don't believe the sentiment."
"It's my laid back attitude," Snart drawled.
Sara rolled her eyes, "And on that we should go. Mick," she motioned to him, "Now."
Grabbing one more slice of bacon Mick stood and headed out with Snart, Sara turned to Rip.
"I'll be a minute," he told her.
Rip waited until the others had left before he turned to Summer, "Thank you again."
She rested her hands on his arms, "I know what you're trying to do and you know my father would not be happy."
"Summer..."
"Be careful, Rip," she told him, "Don't blind yourself with your need for vengeance."
She hugged him tightly smiling when he kissed her cheek.
"I don't want to see you here for a long time," Summer told him.
Rip gave a slight smile before he headed back to the Waverider. Summer stood watching the ship leave hoping the people travelling with him would keep him safe and help him come to terms with his loss.
