Rip stepped onto the bridge of the Waverider knowing that this was probably the last time he would ever be here. Jonas was being watched by Caitlin at the moment, she had brought him a colouring book and crayons which were received by Jonas with a huge hug.
"Gideon," he called.
"I am here, Captain," she replied.
He let out a sigh because this was going to be the hardest part of leaving, "I just wanted you to know how much I...how..." he trailed off not sure how to express what she had meant to him over the years.
"Captain Hunter," Gideon spoke up, "I know that you have chosen to leave the Waverider."
"And I need you to keep looking after the Legends," he told her.
"No."
"Gideon..."
"You are my Captain," Gideon reminded him, "I helped the Legends while you were missing as I knew that was what you wanted but you are my Captain."
Rip sighed, this wasn't how this was supposed to go.
"I have made contact with the Gideon program within the Time Vault in Star Labs," Gideon continued, "She has agreed to take over the Waverider and I shall transfer to Star Labs."
"Gideon, the Waverider is your home," he whispered. Silence answered him, "Gideon, please talk to me."
"It is my duty to ensure my Captain is safe," she reminded him, "To protect him above all others and I have made my decision to stay with you."
Rip knew he should tell her that she should stay with the Legends. He could order her to and she would obey him but he couldn't because Gideon had always been there for him. She was his best friend and the thought of leaving her for good hurt so badly.
"Are you sure, Gideon?" he asked softly, "It will be a completely different existence to the one you know."
"I am aware of that, Captain Hunter," Gideon replied, her voice just as soft, "But I cannot leave you."
"I will have to discuss this with the Star Labs team," Rip told her, "This is their home and it is ultimately their decision."
There was a pause before she replied, "I can agree to that."
Rip took a deep breath, "Thank you, Gideon."
"It is my pleasure, Captain Hunter."
x
"You want to what?"
Rip winced at Barry's look of astonishment that was shared with Caitlin and Cisco. This already wasn't going well. Jonas looked up from his spot in the other room for a moment before he went back to drawing when Rip smiled comfortingly at him.
"Gideon has requested to stay here with me," he explained, "She can transfer to the Time Vault here in Star Labs and the Gideon program here will take over the Waverider."
The other three continued to stare at him.
"I did mean to ask why you don't use her," Rip said to keep the conversation going, "You have access to an advanced Artificial Intelligence who could run this entire complex and stop all the people who manage to enter this building who shouldn't."
"You mean the AI the Reverse Flash brought with him," Cisco noted, "The evil guy who tried to..."
"I'm intimately acquainted with Eobard Thawne and his machinations," Rip cut him off colder than he intended, wincing at his own tone, "My apologies, Cisco."
Cisco waved him away and Barry took over, "Since the technology is a bit beyond what we have I'm sure you can understand why we wouldn't trust it."
"Her," Rip corrected automatically, "Well I can check the program and ensure there are no surprises, which if she is taking over the Waverider I wouldn't be comfortable until I did anyway."
"Then your Gideon would take over here?" Cisco mused, "Who we know isn't evil, I'm all for that."
Rip turned to Caitlin and Barry, "And you?"
"This might be a bit of an intrusive question," Caitlin said softly, "But is there a reason why you need the specific Gideon program from the Waverider here?"
Rip hesitated before replying, "To you Gideon is just a program but she has cared for me for over thirteen years and she is more than just an AI. She knows me and I know her. She is, in a way, my family."
The three of them looked at one another before they nodded.
"Then if you can fix it," Barry told him, "We've no problem."
x
"How is this going to work?" Cisco asked as he stood with Rip in the Time Vault, Caitlin was watching Jonas at the moment while Barry had headed into work.
"I will do a full analysis of your Gideon programme to ensure that there are no hidden codes or surprises that could hurt the Legends," Rip explained with a shrug.
"I'm still not sure why your Gideon is transferring here while the one we had is going onto the Waverider," Cisco told him.
"Gideon is very loyal to me," Rip replied.
"Captain Hunter," the Gideon program from the Time Vault greeted him, "It is a pleasure to meet you."
Rip smiled slightly, this Gideon had a different voice which made it easier to distinguish them.
"Okay, Gideon," Rip said, "I am going to shut down your systems so I can do a full analysis. I promise that you will be brought back online and we should be able to do the transfer by the end of the week."
"I understand, Captain," Gideon replied.
Rip nodded and opened up the main control panel, he quickly checked a few things before looking back up again.
"Here we go, Gideon," Rip told her, "I promise I shall wake you."
"Thank you, Cap..."
Cisco looked at him, "Well?"
"She's offline," Rip replied, "So I'm starting a full systems check. This could take some time."
"What was the talk to her about waking up?" Cisco asked.
Rip shrugged, "Gideon, my Gideon, once told me it felt like dying when she was shut down so anytime I've had to do it, which wasn't an emergency, I've reminded her she will wake up."
"Cool," Cisco mused.
Rip chuckled before he turned to the younger man, "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Where is everyone else?" Rip asked, "Because I know there are more to your team but since I've been here I've only seen the three of you."
Cisco chuckled, "Well Harry is back on Earth-2 with Jessie but he'll be back soon. He misses me."
Rip laughed rolling his eyes slightly, "And the West family?"
"Iris, Wally and Joe are visiting Great-Aunt Ida," Cisco told him, "It's her eightieth birthday. They'll be back in a few days and you'll meet them then."
"Is Barry running up to join them each night?" Rip asked.
Cisco snorted in amusement, "No. Ida and Barry don't like each other."
"You're kidding?" Rip asked in astonishment, "She doesn't like Barry? I thought everyone liked Barry."
"She made some comments about his dad being in prison," Cisco explained, "So, they avoid each other."
Rip knew it was coming.
In all honesty he was surprised it had taken so long but when it did happen he had no idea what to do.
Somehow Barry and Cisco had managed to find a set of books which had been the favourite of Jonas since he had first heard them. Even though he was more than capable of reading them himself Miranda would still tell him the stories, which she had memorised, each day at some point.
Rip picked one of the books smiling at the way Jonas' eyes lit up when he saw them. He started to read stopping when Jonas shouted.
"No."
"Jonas?"
"That's not right," Jonas cried, "You're doing it wrong."
Rip frowned confused, "Doing what wrong?"
"The voices," Jonas told him indignantly, "Mummy does the voices, I want Mummy."
Rip grimaced, "I know, Jonas."
"I want Mummy," he screamed pushing the papers and crayons off the small table, "I want Mummy."
Trying to calm his son Rip reached out, "Jonas."
"No," the boy screamed pushing him away, "I don't want you, I want Mummy."
"I know," Rip tried to soothe him, "I know..."
Jonas threw the book, "Go away. You're never here."
"I know I've not always been here for you," Rip said softly, "I am now."
"The bad man wouldn't have hurt Mummy if you were there," Jonas accused, "It's your fault Mummy's gone."
x
Cisco winced when he entered the room to hear Jonas blaming Rip for his mother's death, seeing the man look like someone had punched him in the gut. They'd just been walking past when they heard the child yelling. Jonas suddenly ran over to Caitlin who looked stunned at the way the little boy attached himself to her.
Cisco motioned Caitlin to take the boy with her and he'd look after the father.
Caitlin gently drew the child out of the room and Cisco moved to where Rip was sitting anguish covering his face.
"Come on," Cisco tugged the other man to his feet, "Let's get out of here for some fresh air."
Rip moved without resistance and allowed Cisco to lead him out of Star Labs.
"I don't know what to do," Rip whispered after they'd walked several blocks in silence, "He hates me."
"He's six," Cisco reminded Rip, "His mom has just died and his entire world has just been turned upside down. Give him and yourself a break."
Rip sighed, "I knew this would be hard but he's right. I was never there for them. I was the part-time Dad. I came back for a few weeks at a time and was there to do the fun stuff while Miranda dealt with the real stuff, the tantrums, the bad dreams. I don't know how to do this."
"Who does?" Cisco asked.
"Miranda did."
Cisco grimaced at the despair that filled Rip's voice before clapping the other man's arm, "Let's get some coffee."
x
Cisco checked his phone when they reached Jitters. Caitlin had text him letting him know that Jonas had calmed down and was sitting drawing again. He glanced over to where Rip was getting coffee still looking completely ashen.
"Mr Ramon," a familiar voice made him turn.
"Hey, Professor Stein," Cisco greeted him before turning to the woman at his side, "Clarissa, it's great to see you."
Stein smiled at him, "And you."
"Martin," Rip appeared suddenly holding a tray with four cups.
"Cap...Mr Hunter," Martin greeted him before he turned to his wife, "Clarissa, this is Rip Hunter. Rip, this is my wife Clarissa."
Clarissa gave one of the warm smiles that Cisco had learned long ago meant that you were now one of her family and you better get used to it.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Rip smiled, offering his hand to her.
Clarissa took his hand in hers, "And you. Is your son here?"
Cisco winced but Rip's expression didn't change from the pleasant smile.
"He's being watched by Caitlin for the moment," Rip replied.
"Well, I hope you will both join us for dinner on Sunday," Clarissa told him, "Since Martin is home then I was planning on doing something special."
Cisco grinned, "Does that mean you're making your fabulous chocolate ice cream cake?"
Clarissa laughed, "Of course, Cisco."
At the confused look Stein gave Cisco chuckled, "Since you've been away Clarissa has had us over for dinner once a month, assuming nothing else is happening."
"Thank you for the invitation," Rip spoke up, "We will try to be there."
A beep made Rip hand Cisco the tray before checking the small device he had in his pocket, "The system check is complete. I should get back and start the second level analysis on Gideon."
Stein frowned, "What are you doing with Gideon?"
"So cool," Cisco spoke up, "The Gideon in the vault is switching places with the one in the Waverider."
"What?" Stein demanded in a harsh whisper so not to be overheard, "You're taking Gideon and replacing her with the one Eobard Thawne left behind? Who knows what surprises he left within her? This is technology that no one at Star Labs is qualified to work with."
"Which is why I am doing a full systems check," Rip replied coldly, "Because I am qualified to work with the technology."
Without another word he grabbed the tray before he marched out and Cisco winced stopping Stein from going after him.
"Let him be," he said, "Jonas had a bit of a meltdown earlier. It's not been a good morning for Rip."
Rip sat against the wall in the Time Vault. Jonas hadn't looked at him when he placed the hot chocolate he'd got for him on the table. Caitlin assured him Jonas was fine so he'd come back here to do some work.
Except he couldn't focus.
"Is there anything I can do, Captain?" Gideon, his Gideon asked through the communicator.
Rip let out a long sigh, "What am I doing, Gideon?"
"You're taking care of your son," she reminded him.
"He hates me."
"No, he doesn't," she replied.
Pulling his knees to his chest Rip dropped his head onto them, "I'm terrified, Gideon. How do I raise him?"
"You be the wonderful man I have always known," Gideon reminded him before adding, "And I am always here, Captain when you need to talk."
He smiled slightly, "Yes, you are Gideon and I am more grateful than you can ever know for that."