"Gideon," Rip called, "Are you ready? We have to go soon."

"A few moments," she replied from the bathroom.

Rip sighed and fixed his tie. He really didn't want to go to this ridiculous party, but it was one of the obligations he was under as Director. He'd done a few in the past year and would normally stand alone with the one glass of scotch he'd allow himself to have, speaking to the people he had to as briefly as he could.

This was going to be different with Gideon at his side to help him get through the evening. Finally the door opened and he turned finding whatever he had been going to say slip away while he stared at her. Gideon gave him a shy smile as she stood in a long figure-hugging black dress, her long hair curled and pulled back from her face with subtle make-up he assumed Eve or Cleo taught her to do.

"Wow," Rip murmured, "You look stunning."

Moving to him Gideon placed her hand on his chest, "You look extremely handsome yourself, Captain."

He leaned in to kiss her frowning when she placed a finger on his lips, "What?"

"Eve told me not to let you ruin my make-up until after the party," Gideon told him.

Rolling his eyes Rip placed a kiss on her cheek, "I sometimes regret letting you two meet."

Gideon laughed, "I thought we were in a hurry."

Shaking himself Rip picked up her coat and helped her put it on, "Thank you for coming with me tonight. It will be incredibly boring but it's an obligation."

"Then you can make it up to me later," Gideon replied, sliding her arm through his as they started out the door.

x

The party was something that Rip had advised her that he was required to attend to ensure the Bureau was given the funding it needed but also to ensure the right people supported them. Gideon knew Rip hated doing this kind of thing.

He had never been good with people.

Rip had always been able fake his way through the interactions required to get through a mission but having to do that outside the confines of an assignment wasn't something Rip was very good at. Gideon knew it was a product of his upbringing, the way the Time Masters had wanted him, and their Captains, to be. His relationship with Miranda had been an anomaly their former masters had exploited to their own ends.

The moment they stepped into the ballroom Gideon felt Rip's hand tighten on hers.

"Breathe, Captain," she murmured softly, "I'm by your side."

At her reassurance he let out a long slow breath before he pressed a soft kiss to her temple. She slid her arm through his and they started inside properly.

Gideon spotted Director Bennett talking with several people and forced down her impulse to walk over and punch him for everything he would do.

"What's wrong?" Rip asked softly, feeling her stiffen slightly.

"Nothing," she replied.

Rip followed her look and sighed, "Not someone I like working with but it's necessary."

"Then I will be as nice a I can be," she noted.

"You don't have to be too nice," Rip chuckled, "If he could he would get rid of me from the Bureau."

Gideon frowned, "Considering who you are, and your experience, he is obviously very arrogant or very stupid."

"Bit of both," Rip murmured sighing, "Let's avoid him for now."

She nodded and allowed him to move her in a different direction through the room. Standing in a corner was another face Gideon recognised.

"Agent Sharpe has the right idea," Rip noted.

Gideon turned to him thoughtfully, "Which number Agent Sharpe is she?"

Rip looked at her stunned, "What?"

Giving an annoyed frown she reminded him, "Where am I from again, Captain?"

"I forgot," he winced before replying softly, "She is the twelfth. All the previous Ava's were perfect warriors, but not very good at working with others. They all got themselves killed. The Ava standing there was supposedly a defective model but she was the only one who could work within a team. She's the agent we need. Someone I can trust."

Gideon remained silent, knowing that the woman he was talking about with such fondness would betray him as well. She sometimes hated the knowledge she had.

"Director," Ava greeted him when they moved closer.

"Having fun?" Rip asked her amused.

She rolled her eyes, "Completely."

Gideon smiled slightly when Ava's eyes fell on her, Miss Lance had always said Gideon's human form was hot and it was clear Agent Sharpe thought so also.

"Agent Ava Sharpe, this is Gigi Carter," Rip introduced them.

Ava gave her a smile but Gideon caught the other woman taking note of Rip's arm resting around Gideon's waist.

"It's nice to meet you, Ms Carter," Ava said politely.

Gideon nodded but didn't say anything, staring at the woman until Ava shifted uncomfortably under the weight of her gaze.

"We should probably make another circuit of the room," Rip spoke up when neither woman said anything, "I'll see you tomorrow, Agent Sharpe."

Ava gave a nod before Rip moved Gideon away.

"What was that about?" he demanded.

Gideon gave him a blithe smile, "Just ensuring she knows where she stands with me. Nothing for you to worry about, Rip. I believe it is what is called a 'Girl Thing'."

Rip gave her a bemused look but didn't say anything else as he led her back into the party.


Gideon took a drink of her tea as she leaned back from her computer. She hadn't slept well the past few nights with Rip away. He'd decided to go on a mission with a few new agents. It was something he did every so often. She hadn't been happy about it but knew it was something he needed to do occasionally to stave off the boredom from his position.

He was due back soon and she intended to stay so they could go home together.

It was now over a year since Gideon had opened her eyes in the snow in front of Rip's apartment building. A year that brought her closer to the day she would lose him forever but a year filled with joy for the most part and she would never give that up for anything.

"Gigi," Cleo appeared, "What are you doing here?"

"Working on the ion engine upgrades," Gideon said confused.

Cleo frowned, "Oh my god, you don't know."

Fear filled her and she managed to keep her voice calm as she asked, "Know what?"

"Director Hunter was brought back from his mission," Cleo said, "He was unconscious and hurt. I thought Director Bennett would have had someone contact you."

Forcing herself to remain calm, Gideon shook her head, "I need to…"

"He's in the infirmary," Cleo told her, "Do you want me to come with you?"

Touched by her friend's concern, Gideon shook her head, "Thank you but no."

Cleo hugged her quickly before she started out towards the infirmary. Marching through the corridors anger burned within her that Bennett had deliberately not let her know that Rip was hurt. Considering who she was to Rip then the other man should have informed her. It was just another part of Bennett's game in his attempts to remove Rip from his position within the Bureau.

"Director," she snapped the moment she reached the door to the medical wing, seeing the man standing there.

"Ms Carter," he replied, "What are you doing here?"

"Why was I not informed that Rip has been injured?" she demanded, ignoring his question.

Bennett frowned, "Why would you be informed? You're not his wife. Sleeping with him does not mean there is any obligation to discuss anything with you. Director Hunter may bend the rules, I don't."

Anger flared within her, "You do not want to test me, Director Bennett especially when it comes to Rip. I want to see him. Now."

Before Bennett could reply the door opened and Dr Adams walked out.

"Doctor," Gideon spoke before Bennett could, "How is he?"

Adams was an older man who Gideon knew got along very well with Rip, so she wasn't concerned that he was overseeing Rip's care.

"He'll be fine," Adams assured her, "That man has a hard head to go with his stubbornness."

Gideon smiled, "Very true. Can I see him?"

Adams nodded, "Of course. He's awake and about to start annoying me to leave."

Throwing a dark look at Bennett, Gideon followed the doctor through the door.

x

Rip lay back in the bed waiting for Adams to come back and release him. Looking over when he heard footsteps he winced seeing Gideon walking over to him.

"Hi," he smiled hoping to avoid the lecture he knew would come.

She took a seat at his side, her hand instantly moving to his face, "What happened?"

"Agent Jamieson didn't see the soldier coming up behind him," Rip explained, "I got him out of the way but we overbalanced. I must have hit my head because the next thing I know I woke up here."

He smiled when she pressed a kiss to his forehead.

"Dr Adams has said I can take you home," she told him, "But you need to rest for a few days."

"Gideon…" he stalled at her frown.

She stroked his hair, "Rip, you need to take time. It's only a few days. Will you do that for me?"

Rip winced, it was a trick she'd learned quickly but one she only used thankfully in situations she was worried about him.

"Alright," he sighed, "I'll take the few days."

x

Rip woke and reached out to pull Gideon close surprised to find he was alone. His headache was gone and he was back at work tomorrow. Not that he hadn't enjoyed spending the time with Gideon but he knew there was a lot of work waiting for him at the Bureau.

Sliding out of bed he went into the living room frowning to find Gideon sitting on the couch, a cushion clasped to her tightly, an annoyed frown on her face.

"Hey," he breathed, letting her know he was there, "You're up late. Is something bothering you?"

Gideon looked up at him and sighed, "It is just something Bennett said to me."

"What did he say?" annoyance filled Rip.

"That he had no requirement to tell me anything regarding you," she stated angrily, "That he was not obliged to tell me you were hurt."

Rip frowned, "I'll make sure that doesn't happen again."

"It won't matter, Rip," she sighed, "He will point out there is no legal connection between us."

He winced wondering where she was going with this.

"I'm not your wife, Rip," she told him, stopping him before he could reply, "And I am not looking for that title. Miranda was your wife. She always will be."

Rip took a seat at her side, "I know."

"I'm your Partner," Gideon rested her head against him, "It is what I have always been."

Wrapping his arm around her Rip pulled her close, "They can't understand the connection between us. They don't know how our relationship works."

"They do not have the capability in this time to understand the complexity," Gideon sighed softly.

Rip tightened his hold on her whispering, "I love you."

Gideon turned and looked up at him in amazement. He hadn't been able to say the words to her no matter how much he had wanted to. It had been a step he hadn't been ready to take with her until that moment.

"Truly?" she asked softly.

Rip nodded, "Truly."

A smile touched her lips and she breathed, "I love you too."

Giving her a gentle kiss, Rip stood and pulled her to her feet, "Come on. Let's go get some sleep."