Year – 1888

Part 1

It turned out my feeling of exhaustion wasn't all in my head. By the time I made it to my room, I was barely able to keep my eyes open and ended up passing out as soon as I reached my bed. Although thinking about it now, it made sense that I fell asleep as fast as I had, seeing as I had been up nearly 24 hours.

When I woke, I found that in the few hours I had slept, the others had chosen our new destination. Which came as quite the surprise because when I left them, they were still arguing about what had gone wrong with the last mission. So as I walked out of my room, I was expecting them to still be in debates over what time they should go to next. Yet, in reality, they had settled their dispute, made up their mind, time jumped, and already headed out leaving me in the dark about what they were doing. "Gideon?"

"Yes, Ms. Philips?"

"Where are we?" I asked standing alone on the bridge while looking for the others.

"We are in London in the year 1888, ma'am."

I scoff, and turn to head out of the room. "Sleep a couple of hours and get sent back almost 60 years." I started to wondered the ship looking for who might have been left behind but so far, couldn't find any one. "Gideon?" I call out peeking in to the galley. "Is there any one on the ship besides me?"

"Yes ma'am, Ms. Lance is in the cargo bay."

"Thanks Gideon." I say, turning around to head back in the right direction.

When I make it to the cargo bay, I find Sara in the middle of training with a staff. I watched in secret for a while as she spins and flips the staff around her body and in the air. She's so elegant and graceful with her movement, I almost forget she's a trained killer. It looked like she was practicing a dance more than battle training.

By the time she was done, I felt I should make my self-known. Lest not seem like a creep. "That was really amazing!" I say softly so not to startle her.

"Thanks," She replies unfazed by my presents and taking a sip of water. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah I did." I nod nervously, "So where are the others?"

"Getting everything set up for us."

"What does that mean."

Sara wipes her face clean of sweat and turns to face me. "We decided to go about this mission a bit differently. Instead of jumping in head first, we're gonna lay a sort of trap"

"Okay," I nod, "following you so far."

"But to do that we have to set up roots. Make it seem like we belong here in this time so we're not as easily found out as we have been in past attempts. So, Rip has everyone assigned a role they must play. Him, Carter, and Snart are all joining the local police force to act as cops. Stine will be playing a doctor of course, and Jefferson his assistant. Ray is going to pose as a bar owner, Kendra his wife. And Mick," she stops to laugh a little. "Well Mick gets to be who he is, and play a local criminal. He'll be our guy on the inside so to speak. Let us know if he hears anything to tip us off to Savage's plans."

"Wait why isn't Kendra going to be with Carter? Aren't they like soul mates or something?"

"Yeah, but if Rip is right and Savage is here, then he doesn't need to see them together." She says. "If their together, then he'll know their 'true selves' had been reviled to them, and in turn they will know who he is. At least this way it would just seem like they were another reincarnated form of themselves."

"Okay that makes sense I guess, but what about the us? What are our roles?"

Sara chuckles. "That's where it gets nasty and why I'm here with you and not out there." She admits. "See, we are to play as prostitutes."

"What?" I asked completely floored. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Exactly as I said. We are going to be play as prostitutes that work out of the bar Ray will own."

Unconvinced, I cross my arms and take a stand. "And might I ask why we are posing as hookers?"

"Well, Rip seems to think that Savage is somehow involved with Jack the Ripper murders that happened here. He wants us to pose as bait for Jack in hopes that we will catch him and then he can lead us to Savage."

I stare at her utterly mortified. "He wants to use us as bait for one of the most horrific murderers known to this time?!"

"Yeah pretty much." She says with a small shrug.

"Is he crazy! Forget the fact that I have no training besides what little Snart showed me. He's asking us to go out there in the filthy streets of 1880's London and sleep with random men?"

"Well, no, you wouldn't actually have to sleep with any one," she points out "We figured between all the men we have, it wouldn't look suspicious if they visited us over and over and occasionally in disguise."

"This is insane!" I groan and run my hand through my hair. I stand there thinking about it for a moment before throwing myself over a container nearby, "I-I don't know if I can do it…" I admit looking up at her with worrisome tears in my eyes.

"You wouldn't be alone out there if it makes you feel any better." Sara says placing her hand on mine, "I will be right beside you, and the others have all agreed to keep an eye out for anyone who looks like they would cause trouble. You would be perfectly safe." She gently strokes my hand too sooth me.

"You promise?" I ask voice full of doubt.

"I give you my word, nothing bad will happen to you." She smiles. With a deep breath, I slowly nod and agree to join in on the mission. "Okay I'll tell the others." She gives my hand a pat and slips around me to leave the cargo bay but stops short to add, "Hey, if it helps, think of it as your finely able to help out on a mission instead of sitting alone on a ship. A sort of baptism by fire."

"That's true." I force a smile.

"Well, when you're ready, meet me in the fabrication room so we can get you fitted for some time appropriate clothes." She makes a small face of disgust which made me feel a little better.

"Yeah, I'll be right there." She nods and disappears from the room.

Slowly I come to grips with what I've been asked to do and it helps wash away the initial shock of the whole thing. Sara seemed confident in the mission but I still couldn't shake the nervousness I felt. Yet, I knew I couldn't go back on my word now if I ever wanted to truly be a part of this team. So I take a couple of deep breaths and shake away my jitters before heading out of the room to the fabrication room where Sara was.

When I entered the room, Sara was in the midst of getting dressed in her new clothes. "Ah just in time," she smiles truly relived to see me. "would you mind tightening this damn thing?" She turns around to show me the back of the corset she was holding against her chest. "I'd do it myself but I can't reach it."

"Uh sure no problem." I mumble stepping over to give her a hand.

As she holds the dress to her chest, I systematically tighten the cords to help keep it falling off her. I do this mindlessly not really thinking about anything except what my hands are doing. It isn't until I've reached the middle of the woven pattern that something I've been meaning to ask comes to mind again. "Can I ask you something, Sara?"

"Sure." She says a bit breathless. My guess is from the tightening grip this dress has on her.

"Yesterday you said none of you knew why Snart was in 1993, and I was wondering what happen before he fell from the sky in front of me."

"You and me both." She sighs. "We were in the middle of fighting Savage and his goons when I looked over and saw him running after someone. I called out or him but he either didn't hear me or just flat out ignored me. I thought about running after him but was stopped when another guy started swinging at me." She stops for a moment before taking a deep breath and finishing her story. "We ended up having to flee back to the ship and time jumping to escape Savage. We never got to go look for Snart."

Hearing that left a sour taste in my mouth. How could they just leave a team mate behind like that. "So-so you just left him…"

"There was nothing we could do." Sara says looking over her shoulder at me. "Best case scenario, he was stuck there in 2058 and just had to lay low till we came back for him."

"And the worst case?"

"He was dead or Savage had taken him hostage."

I shake my head and finish tightening her dress for her, tying it off in a bow. "So what did you all do?"

"Thanks," Sara says turning to look at the work. "Gideon, would you please make Delilah an outfit now?"

"Certainly, Ms. Lance." Gideon says before a new dress is being created.

"But to answer your question, we had Gideon do a checked to see if any news reported a crazed parka wearing thief with a gun to freeze people was spotted, but there wasn't. So we time jumped to a few days after the fight and waited to see if he would come looking for us."

"And that's when you got the call from me?" I asked thinking that would be the end of it, but Sara shook her head.

"No, we waited for days, maybe even a week before we got your call." She states. "By then we had given up. We had planned out our next jump and had left to the temporal zone when we picked up Snart's signal."

"Ms. Philips' dress is ready." Gideon says.

I stand up to take my dress and hold it against myself to check the size. I notice it's not exactly the nicest looking dress. Like it's been put through the ringer to give it that old and used look, but it still looks like it would fit. "Gideon has your measurements so it will fit, don't worry." Sara says.

I nod and set the dress down to start undressing. "So when you picked up Snart's signal, what did you think?"

"We couldn't believe it to be honest." Sara scoffs, "Here we thought he was lost in 2058 but he had somehow been sent back to 1993. Explains why he didn't come looking for us and why we couldn't find anything in the news, but raised the question of how he got there in the first place. We expected him to tell us the answer to that, but he's been tight lipped about the whole thing. Hasn't even told Mick who's supposed to be like a brother to him."

I step in to my dress and start pulling it on. Unhooking my bra and tossing it aside once it's up enough to cover my chest. "Would you mind?" I ask presenting my back to her.

Sara steps over and starts to tighten the laces on my dress like I did for her. "But you know, when Ray handed him over to Mick, and I saw how beaten he was. I had a feeling that while a week may have passed for us, only a few hours had passed for him." She confesses softly, "What ever happened to him, it happened fast, and really messed him up. It's clear he's not the same as he was."

Neither one of us said anything more about Snart. Sara finished tightening my dress for me and then helped me fix my hair to the time. She then gave me this small capsule she said would let me speak and understand the language. After I took it, we left the ship and headed out in to the streets of London circa 1888.

"What about the ship?" I ask as look around in amazement.

"Gideon will keep it cloaked and out of reach." Sara says leading me down the road.

"And where are the others?"

"Waiting at Ray's Bar, come on, it's this way." Sara proceeds to lead me down the alleys till we reach a corner bar. We step in to find the others sitting around the bar in period appropriate clothes as well.

"Glad to see you decided to join us, Mr. Philips." Stine says.

I can't help but giggle at him and his top hat and cane. "All you're missing is the monocle."

"I'm sorry?" He asks.

"She's saying you look like the Monopoly guy." Jefferson says chuckling along with me.

As Stine connects the reference to his appearance, Rip calls Sara and I over to him. "Alright, I've mapped out the locations of the known victims of Jack's. As of right now, he's yet to start his killing but is due to start in a couple of days. Until then, I want you two to wait in the same location his first victim was taken from."

"Wait, didn't Jack's killing spree last for a few months. Are you saying we could be stuck here more that long?"

"If need be yes." Rip says bluntly.

I shake my head and exhale deeply. "Just wondering."

"Right, now, Mary Ann Nichols was last seen on the corner of Osborn Street and Whitechapel Road in 2 days' time. That means you two have to stake out that location and see if anyone or anything looks abnormal."

"Sorry," I interrupt again, "but if we know where his victims are going to be, couldn't we just go there and catch him in the act?"

Rip sighs, visibly irritated at my questions. "If we did, then it might detour him from committing his crime, thus changing time. We have to let the actions of the past play out as they would have without our interference. We are looking for Savage and if I'm right and he is involved then, and only then, do we intervene. Understand?"

I nod annoyed at his short tone. "Good, now since the murders take place at night, your services are not needed till sundown. One of us will come to check on you ever so often once you are out there, but keep your eyes open for anything suspicious. Every one understand their part?"

The group all nods or says something in the affirmative. "Good, see you all in a few hours." Rip says leaving the bar.

"I too must be going," Stine says while gathering his things, "Got to start unpacking in my new office." He smiles and places his top hat on his head. "Come along Jefferson." Jefferson scoffs and rolls his eyes, but gets up to follow Stine none the less.

Mick stands up to leave as well, "And where are you going?" Sara asks.

"Gonna see what the town has to offer." He growls throwing his arms out.

"Just don't go out there and get yourself arrested on the first day!" Ray says from behind the bar.

Mick gives a hearty chuckle, "Whatever you say, haircut," and heads out.

"Sara, Delilah," Kendra says, "there are some rooms up stairs that you ladies can stay in during the day. Carter is up there in one sleeping now."

"Thanks." I stay as I look up the stair case. "but I'm not really tired right now, so is it alright if I walk around and see the sights before we get started?" They look around nervously at one another debating silently if it was a good idea or not. "Please? What harm could come from walking around and sight-seeing?"

"Well, you shouldn't really walk the streets alone." Ray says. "If you don't mind, waiting I'll be glad,"

"I'll take her." Snart barks standing up from his lone table from across the room. I glance over my shoulder and smile tenderly. Secretly, I was hoping he would offer to take me so I could tell him what Sara told me. It might not hold any answers for what happen, but could help jog his memory.

"I'm not sure that's a good idea." Kendra says apprehensively.

"Got nothing better to do any way." Snart replies steeping up next to me. "Besides, wouldn't look right for the married man to be escorting another lady around town now would it, Ray?"

Ray opens his mouth to object but knows he can't. "He's right. Wouldn't want rumors to start so soon after arriving. Just make sure nothing happens to her." Rays voice full of authority.

Snart scoffs and offers me the crook of his arm. "Ma'am?"

I loop my arm around his and smile. "Thank you, sir." Snart throws one last glare at Ray then turns to lead me out of the bar.

Once we are outside and out of ear shoot of the others I let out a laugh. "I gotta say, not sure how I feel about you being proper and polite."

"Yeah, well don't get used to it." Snart say quickly dropping his good boy façade.

"I won't, but anyway, I found out something you might like."

"I'm listening." He says glancing down at me.

"See, Sara told me what happen a few minutes before I found you in 1993." I whisper so passersby don't hear, "Apparently, you were all fighting Savage and you took off after someone and disappeared. They ended up needing to run back to the ship and had to leave you in the year 2058 for a couple days till they came back and waited a week for you to come find them."

"But I never did."

"Right, so they figured you were dead and were time jumping to their next place when they picked up your signal." I finish. "Sara also said that from the looks of you when they got you back to the ship, it didn't seem like the same about of time had passed for you. That it had only been an hour or so for you. Really narrows down the time frame then."

"That it does."

"So what do you think? Does that help you remember anything?" I ask.

He shakes his head, "No, nothing new."

"Oh, well, I'm sorry." I breathe.

"For what?"

I shrug, "I don't know, I just want to help you figure out what happen. Thought maybe this would help."

"It does."

"But you didn't remember anything." I point out.

"Wait a minute," Snart stops walking and pulls his arm from mine. "Now, I didn't ask you to help figure out what happened to me, remember? You offered. But if you're gonna get hung up and upset over little things, then just forget it. You'll only cause more trouble for me."

"I'm sorry." I fiddle with my dress and look away ashamed. "I won't do it again."

"Good." Snart sighs and holds out his arm for me to take again. Gingerly, I wrap my arm around his again and we continue our walk in silence.

Over the next few hours, Snart and I walked all around Whitechapel. There really wasn't much to see, but I am able to familiarize myself to with the area which should help in the mission later on. I was marveling over a particular building I had only seen in pictures, when Snart pointed out that the sun was starting to set. Meaning it was time to head back. He said he was one of the night guards tonight alongside Carter and needed to change in to his uniform. I took one last look at the building and nodded in agreement. Bringing our trip around town to an end.

We walked the few blocks back to Ray and Kendra's bar and I pulled Snart's arm to make him stop. "Before we head back in with the others, there is something I wanna say." I whisper. "For what it's worth, I don't think you're a bad guy."

"Uh-huh." he hums leaning against the brick wall.

"I mean, I've heard what the others have said about you, and they all seem weary around you, but I don't believe everything they say. I don't doubt you're a thief, hell you told me that yourself, but I just think there is more to you then you like to let on."

He stares down at me unmoved by my words. "And, if I'm being honest," I quickly look away, embarrassed from what I'm about to say next, "you don't look half bad in that Frock Coat." Snart looks down at his clothes, but I don't give him any time to reply. "Anyway, thank you for escorting me today." I rise up, giving him a soft kiss on the cheek, before rushing around him to head inside.

"Hold it." Terrified, and forcefully stopped. I look back to find his hand is wrapped firmly around my wrist. He then quickly loosening his grip and lets his hand slip down to mine. "Thank you." He whispers back to me from his lower position on the steps. "You didn't have to, but thank you for finding out what happen before you found me." He looks up from our hands with a softer than normal expression. "It really did help."

I try to say something, but my voice is stopped by the lump in my throat. Make matters worse, I'm sure my face is redder then a tomato. Thankfully we're hidden by the shadow of the bar so I don't think he's noticed. "Don't mention it." I'm barely able to squeak out as I pull my hand from his. "Well, I better go find Sara and I guess you need to get ready for work, right?"

"Yeah." He says back to normal.

"Alright. Then I'll- then I'll see you later." I curtsy to him and he opens the door ushering me to go in first. I bow slightly again and rush in before I do anything I'll regret.

When I step inside, I find the bar full of people here for the grand opening. Kendra is zig-zagging around the tables delivering drinks while Ray is tending to those at the bar. Sara is sitting at the end of the bar waiting for me. "There you are." She groans, relived to see me. "Was starting to think something happened." She adds; thought I feel it was directed to Snart more than me.

Snart slides around me and her and says over her shoulder, "She's fine, right?" they both glance at me and I nod back. "See." He boasts with a grin.

"Well, forgive me if I don't trust a thief!" She hisses.

"Assassin!" He taunts in her ear before he leaves.

Sara groans and turns back to me. "I hate that guy."

"So, I've noticed." I mumble.

"You sure you're alright? You look a little red."

"Just hard to breathe in this dress," I lie, "but I'll be fine."

"Alright then. I guess it's time we head out." I agree and she turns to let Ray and Kendra know we are leaving. I take one last look at Start who has made his way through the crowed and up the stairs to the rooms above. As he vanishes into his room, he takes one last glace at me too. Reminding me of what had just unfolded outside.

Sara soon comes back and asks if I'm ready to head out. "Ye-yeah I'm ready." I stutter as I turn around to head back out.

Outside the bar, I'm sure my face is glowing red again but it's now to dark for Sara to ever notice. "I believe it's this way." She says coming out of the bar behind me.

"Actually it's this way," I say pointing in the correct direction, "I made sure Snart took me there first so I would know how to get there later."

"Then, lead the way." She chuckles as she follows me through the dark.

We don't talk as we walk and other then the sounds of carriages, horses, and our footsteps on the brick road, it's quite. That is till she asks. "Are you nervous?"

"A little bit." I admit. "Just scared something might happen to one of us."

"Yeah, that never really goes away," She whispers, "You just learn to not let it bother you as much." I don't say anything and I guess she picked up that my mind was elsewhere. "or are you more worried about someone in particular?"

"What? Like who?" I ask glancing over at her in the growing moon light.

"I don't know, maybe, Snart?" She shrugs and grins playfully, "You two do seem to be getting close awfully fast."

"Pssh! You're crazy." I laugh, "he was just being polite earlier."

"Polite isn't in Snart's dictionary." She scoffs. "That man always has a scam in mind. He'd smile while he swindling you for all your worth."

"You know, Jefferson said something similar when I asked if he trusted Snart." I point out, "Said he didn't trust him with his things, but felt he could trust him with his life."

Sara nods, "I could the kid saying something like that."

"So are you saying you don't trust Snart?"

"Truthfully, I don't trust anyone when it comes to matters of life and death. When it boils down to it, everyone is only out for themselves." She said boldly, "But I guess, I trust him not to shoot me while I sleep if that's what you're asking."

"Not exactly, but I guess that's as good as I'll get from you." I laugh, before I look up at the street sign. "This is it. The corner of Osborn and Whitechapel. This is where Mary Ann will be last seen."

"Good, now we just have to act natural." She says fixing her chest and ruffling her hair to appear more the part.

"I'm not sure I can do that." I laugh.

"Sure you can look," She shakes her hands through my hair to create a messy look. Then she tugs gently at the shoulder straps of my dress to expose my shoulders and chest more. "There. Now you look like you've been around the block a time or two."

I frown at her statement then look down at my flaunted chest. "You sure that little bit will do it?" I ask unconvinced.

"Yeah, in the dark men won't care." She jokes, "Besides you only need to look the part, you don't actually go with them men unless it's one of the ones we know."

"Okay and what am I supposed to do if your gone with one of them and I'm out here alone? What's stopping one of the men we don't know from coming up to me then?

"We're gonna try to make sure that doesn't happen. Whoever comes first knows to take you and I should be picked up a few minutes later, if not I'll wait here for you. If for any reason you are left without me then just head back to Ray and Kendra's. It's a short walk and you should be fine."

"Key word should."

"Well, the others are staying close enough that if you scream for one of them, they would come running and I'm sure Snart taught you enough to defend yourself, so yeah. You should be fine."

"If you say so." I sigh "So, I guess all that's left is looking for anyone lurking around, right?"

"You got it." She sighs leaning up against the wall. "Get ready for a long night."

For the next few hours we stood outside in the middle of the night, taking notes of any one we saw hanging around for too long. Most seemed like normal men but you never can tell just from a passing glance as they walked down the street. The few that did peek our interest would soon meet up with one of the other woman and even once another man.

Eventually, Mick stumbled by to check on us and began hitting on Sara a little too much for it to be an act. I tried not to listen to much but it was hard not to pick up what his deep voice would say. "Come on blondie, you know there's been some sparks between us." He would whisper as best he could.

Sara only groaned and pushed him away, never really breaking character. "Mister, I think you've had a bit too much to drink tonight. I could get drunk off your breath alone." She says pushing him off her again, "Why don't you go on down the street and see if that new bar that opened up has a room for you to stay in." That was said more like and order then suggestion.

"Whatever lady." He slurred, backing away from us. "Just know my doors always open for you."

"I'll keep that in mind." Sara fakes a smile and waves goodbye. Mick stumbles around the corner till he vanishes on the next street. "Ugh, pig."

"He always like that?" I chuckle.

"Not always so direct, but yeah." She says brushing some of her hair behind her ear.

"Mind me asking why you haven't - you know?" She turns quickly and starts to stare daggers in to me. "I don't mean with him, but maybe Ray, or-or Rip, or hell even you and Snart seem to have that unspoken bond at times. With the way you bicker – like a married couple – Just wondering why not is all…"

Sara stares at me a moment longer then falls back against the wall. "They just… aren't my type."

"And what is your type?" I asked a little to cheerfully I know, but I was excited to have some girl talk for once.

"Tall, blonde, smart, maybe a bit on the dim witted side, but not overly. Just enough to keep me amused." She chuckles, "But mostly I'd like her not to be afraid of me and of what I am."

"Her… You mean- you mean your gay?" I ask calmly.

"Yeah, I'm a lesbian," she sighs, "and seeing as the only other girl on this journey through time has been a 4000-year-old hawk goddess, who reincarnates with her soul mate, I haven't really had any options."

"I see…" I whisper somberly, "Well, what did you mean by 'not being afraid of you or what you are'?"

Sara stares off in the night for a second before she starts to laugh. "How would you feel if I told you I died once?" She turns to look me in the eye, "And not that I died and was quickly brought back. No, I died and was dead for over a year before being brought back. How would you feel about that? Would you be scared? Maybe even want to run?"

I shake my head. "No… I'd be curious to how it happened, but I wouldn't be scared. I mean, you're not all zombie like and falling apart so there isn't anything to be scared of."

"Yeah, well what if I add that since coming back to life, I have a bloodlust that I sometimes can't control. This-this blinding urge to kill and it causes me to become uncontrollable and violent. Even to the point I attack those I'm closes to."

"Sara, I might not know you all that well yet, but I can tell that that's not who you are."

"Oh yeah and how is that?" she asks bitterly.

"For starters, when I called you guys for Snart, you seemed truly worried about him, even though you say you don't like him. Then when you saw I was hurt you made sure I was checked out by Gideon even though you had no idea who I was. Not to mention when I was freaking out about the mission, you helped calm be down and talked me through every step of this asinine plan." I answer erratically, "Now I know, compared to you all I seem like a normal, untrained, and clueless girl, but I like to think of myself as having a good judge of character. It's why I helped Snart that night, and why I feel safe being here with you on the streets of London, dressed like a prostitute, days before Jack the Ripper starts killing prostitutes. Point is, I'm not afraid of you or whatever you think you are because to me, your just Sara Lance. Kick ass, time traveling, female assassin."

Sara smiles down at her feet before looking back up at me. "You're not too bad Delilah." All of her bitterness seems to have left and she tucks a strand of my loose hair back in place. "If only you liked girls." She tipped her head for me to look behind me.