"I come bearing pizza," Winn announced when Gideon opened the door to him, "How's the invalid."
"Perfectly fine," Rip called from the sofa.
Gideon turned and threw Rip a stern look, "He is resting. Come in, the others are due to join us soon."
Taking the pizzas off Winn she motioned him to join Rip before disappearing into the kitchen.
"How you doing?" Winn asked taking a seat.
Rip rolled his eyes, "I'm fine."
"Do not lie," Gideon called from the other room.
With an annoyed sigh Rip shook his head frustration filling his voice, "She became human and can still hear everything," he turned back to Winn and conceded, "I am still sore but I have had a lot worse."
"That's not something to boast about," Winn told him with a chuckle.
Rip grimaced slightly but before he could say anything else the doorbell rang again. Rip started to stand but Gideon appeared, throwing a look daring him to even try to answer the door.
"Wow, she's strict," Winn drew back a bit at the look.
"You have no idea," Rip muttered sitting back down as Alex, Kara and James appeared.
Kara instantly moved to Rip and gave him a big hug. Winn bit his lip when he saw the grimace of pain cross Rip's face but he did not break the hug until Gideon asked Kara to be careful.
"She's treating me like I'm made of glass," Rip muttered annoyed when Kara let him go.
Alex laughed, "Yeah, it's called karma."
x
Gideon fixed drinks for everyone, happy to have their friends there, although she had been reluctant at first not sure if Rip was strong enough for it. He had only been released from the infirmary the day before but the others assured her that they would not overexcite him.
"You're being a little overprotective of Rip," Alex noted coming in to the kitchen to help.
Gideon shook her head, "He could have died."
"But he didn't," Alex reminded her, "He's fine. Do you remember how much you hated the way he was smothering you?"
"I am merely ensuring he takes the time to heal," Gideon defended herself, "Rip is very bad at doing so. He always tries to do too much too fast."
Wrapping an arm around her friend Alex smiled, "We're all looking after him. Rip will not have a chance to do anything to over-exert himself. Try to relax a little and enjoy yourself tonight, okay?"
Gideon nodded, "I will try."
Alex squeezed her hand again before lifting some of the drinks while Gideon took the others. Returning to the living room Gideon took her seat at Rip's side as Winn and James finally decided on a movie to watch.
When the movie began, Rip slid his arm around Gideon's shoulders drawing her close. Resting her head against his shoulder Gideon smiled happy to be with their friends knowing that things would settle down now that she was no longer being threatened.
"There are some electrical readings," Winn stated as they studied the small craft that had been brought in, "But nothing major. I can't access the onboard computer. Gideon, if you can try that for me. It's made from a metal similar to Kara's ship but there is a different resonance when tested."
"Any biological traces?" Alex asked thoughtfully.
Winn shook his head, "None of the ones we currently know but it could be something we haven't come across before."
"Let's get to work," Alex nodded, "Gideon, try to access the onboard computer and download everything you can find."
Winn turned to her, a hopeful look on his face, "You know since Gideon is doing that I could go and see how Rip is doing with his power source?"
Alex chuckled, "The portal power source? The one he's trying to build so we can move from one place to another simply by walking a few steps? That Power Source?"
Winn glared at her, "Come on, Alex. Do you need me or not?"
Chuckling Alex waved him away, "Go."
"Make sure Rip eats something," Gideon told him.
Nodding Winn gave a quick wave before disappearing to go see Rip's project.
Alex laughed, "It's been a month since he was injured. He's healed and fine."
"And I know him," Gideon retorted, "If he is working on something like this, something he enjoys Rip has a tendency to forget to eat. It is one of the reasons I did not say anything when he used to hoard food."
Alex chuckled, "There's a story in that."
Gideon shook her head, "But not mine to tell. I should get to work."
x
Alex had been called away to check some reports of alien activity leaving Gideon to continue working. The computer onboard the small ship was unusual and Gideon smiled slightly. It had been a long time since she'd come across anything that she didn't recognise, accessing the system she began the download.
A gentle hum came from the ship and Gideon frowned confused.
She walked slowly towards the ship, intrigued by the sound. She could feel the heat coming from the metal despite the fact the engines were dead.
Slowly reaching out Gideon pressed her hand to the metal, she could hear something calling to her. A voice calling, as the heat built around her, her entire body felt like it was on fire each breath burning in her lungs.
"Gideon?" Alex said pulling her out of her reverie, "Are you finished?"
Shaking herself Gideon turned to her friend, "I just began…" she trailed off seeing the screen flashing 'Download Complete'.
"Are you okay?" Alex asked worriedly.
Gideon shook her head, "I'm just a little tired."
"Well it's getting late," Alex noted, "You should go home and have an early night."
Giving her friend a smile, Gideon nodded, "That sounds like a good idea. Tell Rip I'll see him there. He will be lost in his work and I don't want to worry him."
Alex squeezed her arm, "I'll see you tomorrow."
Heading out Gideon decided that although she was tired a walk in the fresh air would help her feel better. By the time she reached the apartment building Gideon felt exhausted. She was hot in a way she'd never felt before and reaching her apartment Gideon headed to her room.
Stripping Gideon stepped into the shower standing under the cold water, relieved for a brief moment that the heat cooled. Stepping out from under the spray, she seemed to barely need to use the towel to dry herself before she pulled on the clean t-shirt she found hanging on the drying rack. Reaching the couch Gideon decided to lie down for a few moments, just until she felt a little better.
x
"Gideon?" Rip called entering their apartment, "Sorry I'm late. Winn and I were working on the power source but I've brought dinner."
He hung up his keys taking their dinner to the kitchen, a little confused that Gideon hadn't answered him.
"Gideon?" he called again.
"Captain," her voice came from the couch, breathy and tired, "You're finally home."
Rip frowned finding her lying on the couch curled around a cushion wearing only a t-shirt, his t-shirt, with slightly flushed cheeks.
"Are you okay?" Rip asked concerned, reaching out to check her forehead, "You're burning up. Why didn't you call me if you were unwell?"
"Is this what that feels like?" Gideon sighed, leaning into his cool hand.
Rip frowned, "Okay, I'm going to call Alex and we'll get you to the doctors at the DEO."
"Don't," she caught his hand when he tried to move away.
Even more concerned Rip stroked her hair, "Gideon, if you're not feeling well I have to take you to a doctor. You've never been sick before, I just want to make sure you're okay."
"Want stay here," she murmured.
Rip smiled at how his normally articulate friend was talking, "How about you go to your bed and I'll ask Alex to come up to check you first. If she says you need a doctor, then we take you to the doctor. Okay?"
She made a noise of agreement holding out her arms to him. Rip rolled his eyes but lifted Gideon into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck, her head dropping onto his shoulder soft sighs coming from her.
Rip was getting worried at how warm Gideon was. He could feel her skin burning through the thin cotton of the t-shirt she was wearing.
Reaching her room Rip rested Gideon on her bed, she let out a sigh at the cool pillows and sheets.
"I'm going to get Alex," Rip told her, frowning when she caught his hand pulling him to sit on the bed, "Gideon, you're not well. I have to..."
He was cut off when Gideon kissed him. Stunned it took him several seconds to pull back from her.
"Gideon," Rip whispered, dropping his eyes, "That's not a good idea."
He felt her fingers slide across his cheek, "Why? You kissed me once before."
"Different circumstances," Rip murmured, "Gideon, please let me go get Alex."
"Captain," she whispered, softly touching his chin so he would look up at him, her fingers sliding around to the back of his neck.
Rip was beginning to get even more worried at the heat radiating from her and knew he needed to get Alex to check her but her touches were distracting him.
"I have to go..." Rip started, cut off when Gideon kissed him again.
Her lips burned his, Rip felt heat fill him and he leaned into the kiss. Pushing Gideon back onto the bed feeling her arms slide around his neck he...
x
Rip moaned, forcing his eyes open against the shooting pain cutting through his head. Despite the fact he'd just woken up Rip felt exhausted, even having his eyes open was taking all his energy. He heard Gideon's sigh from beside him, realising that she was cuddled against his back with her arm resting across his waist. Briefly he wondered how bad his nightmare had been as it had been several weeks since he'd had one so bad he needed her to talk him down.
Checking the time Rip knew he had to move or he would be late for work. Dragging himself out of bed he staggered into the bathroom. Standing in the shower he felt like time was skipping; he did not remember when he went to bed and couldn't even remember getting undressed for his shower.
Rip couldn't recall a time when he'd felt this exhausted as he staggered into his room to get dressed; it was like every piece of energy had been drained from him.
He managed to pull on a clean pair of jeans and t-shirt, frowning when the memory of Gideon being unwell the night before forced its way into his foggy brain. He was about to go check on her when a piercing scream came from Gideon's room. Scrambling out of his room he ran.
"Gideon?" he cried worriedly dropping down beside her.
She whimpered in pain curled into a ball, "Hurts," was all she managed to say.
Panic filled him and he grabbed the phone, "Something's wrong with Gideon," he told Alex the moment she answered, "I need help."
"Rip?" Alex's voice came from the other room barely seconds later.
"In here," he yelled.
Alex ran in and instantly opened the window, before saying into her phone, "Kara, Gideon's window is open," she turned to Gideon, dropping down beside the bed, "What happened?"
"I don't know," he whispered trying to comfort Gideon, "She's burning up."
"Okay," Kara's voice made them turn, "Let me take her."
Rip reluctantly moved away and stood, staggering suddenly as the adrenalin wore off. Alex caught him.
"You're burning up too," Alex said, "Kara..."
Kara who was lifting the bundled up Gideon into her arms nodded, "Give me a minute."
Alex helped Rip sit on the bed, "She'll be fine."
"She screamed," Rip murmured, "She's in pain."
A shadow covered them and they both looked up to see the man coming through the window, a red S on his chest.
"Kara said you needed some help."
Rip stared at the man, "I know you."
"You might," the man shrugged as he wrapped an arm around Rip's waist pulling him to his feet.
"Of course," Rip's brain finally released the information, "Clark Kent," he said not seeing the surprised looks from the two other occupants of the room, "Be careful of Doomsday."
That was the last thing he remembered as the world around him spun and became black.