The small body lay on the ground before him, bloody and broken. Rip screamed in horror seeing his son dead before him once more. Dropping to his knees Rip gathered his son to him desperate for this not to be true, devastated beyond all reason that his little boy had been torn from him again.

"Captain," a familiar voice called to him but he ignored her lost in his grief, "Captain, you need to listen to me."

Rip pulled Jonas closer to him sobbing at the emptiness filling him.

"Captain," the voice came once more, "Captain."

Rip weakly pushed away the woman standing above him, "Leave me alone, Gideon."

"Look at me," she told him sharply, "Look where you are, Captain."

Pulling his son's body closer Rip shook his head feeling a hand gently touch his cheek.

"Captain Hunter, look at me."

Sighing he looked up, "Gideon, please just leave..." he stalled in his thought at the realisation that the woman was standing before him, "Gideon?"

"Look where you are, Captain," Gideon told him.

Finding his arms suddenly empty Rip stood and looked around his study on the Waverider.

Confused he turned back to the woman who was watching him, "What's happening, Gideon? Where's Jonas?"

"Jonas is in school," Gideon soothed.

Tears filled Rip's eyes, "But I saw..."

Gideon rested her hand on his cheek, "Trust me. Jonas is safe."

Relief filled him and Rip fell into her embrace holding on to his best friend.

x

Rip dropped onto the couch letting out a long sigh, he studied the human form of his dearest friend while she stood waiting for him to be ready to talk.

"How can you be here?" he finally asked, "What am I doing here?"

Gideon smiled at him, "Are you ready to listen?"

"Yes," he growled, "What's happening, Gideon?"

Taking a seat at his side she reached out sliding her hand into his, "What do you remember?"

Rip shook his head snapping at her, "Stop answering my questions with questions."

"Please just answer me, Captain," Gideon frowned at him.

He grimaced thinking back, "I was with Joe. There have been several attacks by a meta-human and I was helping him track possible suspects," he paused, "We found him and then...then..."

"It's alright," Gideon soothed when he reached the moment he saw his son dead, "You were attacked and you saw the thing you fear the most."

Rip frowned, "But all victims of the attacks ended up in comas," he winced in realisation, "Oh."

Gideon nodded.

"So I'm dying."

"I have managed to slow the build-up of chemicals within your brain," Gideon told him, "It will allow Dr Snow time to find a cure."

"And you brought me here," he breathed.

Gideon smiled resting her hand on his cheek once more, "Your safe place."

x

Rip wandered around the bridge of his ship, it looked exactly the way it did when he had left.

"You miss being here," Gideon noted from her seat in the Captain's chair.

Rip nodded, "This was my home for a long time. I have a lot of wonderful memories here."

"Like the time you nearly set the bridge on fire trying to have a candlelit picnic with Miranda during the last few days of her pregnancy," Gideon teased.

He rolled his eyes at her, "You would bring that up. I said I was sorry."

"And I accepted your apology once you finally repaired all the damage," Gideon replied with an amused smile.

He folded his arms across his chest, "So, what now?"

"We have to trust in Dr Snow to find the cure," Gideon told him.

Dropping into the seat beside her he sighed, "There was a time the only one I could trust was you."

"This is better for you, Captain," Gideon reminded him, "I like that you smile more, that you have people you class as your friends."

He sighed looking at her before confessing, "I like it too."

Standing again he began to wander, returning to the parlour opening the drawer in the desk retrieving a photograph of Miranda and Jonas. He felt Gideon rest her head against his arm.

"She would be so proud of you," Gideon told him, "The way you have opened yourself up to this new family. I know Miranda would have loved them all."

Rip automatically wrapped his arm around her as they stood together looking at the photograph. He placed it down on the desk and shook his head.

"I wish I'd hugged Jonas when I dropped him off this morning," Rip whispered sadly, "But he was in such a rush to see his friends all I got was a quick goodbye. At the time I thought it was good that he no longer felt the need to cling to me. I should have hugged him."

Gideon rubbed his back comfortingly, "You shall see him again."

"I hope so."

Rip was surprised when she pulled away suddenly and disappeared onto the bridge.

"Gideon?"

"Join me, Captain," she called back, "There is something you should see."

Confused he found her standing in front of the main screen manipulating controls. Glancing back to see if he was with her Gideon smiled at him.

"Here," she pressed the button.

The screen lit up showing the small playroom in Star Labs, Rip moved to her side smiling unbidden when he saw Jonas run in and jump into his beanbag.

"I never knew I could love anyone so much," Rip whispered, "But from the moment I held him in my arms..."

Gideon squeezed his hand, "I remember."

They stood in silence together watching the little boy on the screen before them.

Rip lay back on the couch in the parlour, "If this is all in my mind," he sighed, "Why am I so tired?"

Gideon lifted his head and rested it in her lap, "Because the toxins are beginning to build."

"So soon?" he breathed, moaning softly when she began to slide her fingers through his hair.

"Time is moving differently in the real world," she explained, "It has been many hours since you were attacked."

Rip mused on this, "So it's the middle of the night?"

"Yes, Captain," she breathed

"Where's Jonas?" he asked softly, shifting into her gentle ministrations.

Gideon continued to stroke his hair, "He is sleeping. Mr Ramon has watched over him all night."

"Good," Rip sighed, looking up at her tiredly, "Cisco will take care of him?"

They sat in silence for a while, Gideon continuing to caress his hair comfortingly.

x

"Gideon?"

"Yes, Captain."

He sighed softly, "Please use my name. You did the last time when Sara and Jax were in here."

"Of course, Rip," Gideon breathed.

A smile touched his lips, "If I'm going to die at least I'm with you. You have always been there when I needed you. Thank you for staying with me when I had to leave the Waverider. I couldn't have done any of this without you."

"It is my purpose," Gideon reminded him, "But it is also my pleasure. I lost you for so many months that I could not lose you again."

Rip sat up suddenly staring at her for several moments before he began to pace rubbing a hand over his face.

"I should have left a long time ago," he said, "I should have chosen my family over the Time Masters."

Gideon stood in his path, "And they would have taken them away from you much sooner. You would not have had all the time you did with Miranda."

Rip leaned against the desk, "We talked about it once not long before Jonas was born and I told her...I said..."

"You believed in the Time Masters and their goals," Gideon finished for him, knowing the response well.

"It was the only lie I ever told her," Rip whispered guilt filling his voice, shaking his head he stared at the floor looking up when Gideon rested her hand on his arm, "It was because I couldn't leave you. I couldn't imagine my life without you in it and if I left the Time Masters I would lose you. I couldn't do that," he pushed his hand through his hair, "I should have told her the truth."

Gideon wrapped her arms around him hugging him tightly, "Oh Rip, Miranda always knew."

He jerked back and stared at her, "What?"

"She was an extremely intelligent woman," Gideon reminded him, "Who understood the connection a Time Master makes with their AI. From the moment she came onboard the Waverider she was aware of the bond between us."

He stepped back leaning against the desk again still looking guilty.

"You know, as well as I do," Gideon continued, "That if Miranda decided that she would not share you with me then she would have made it very clear."

Rip shook his head, "I loved her, Gideon but I don't know what I would have done if she made me choose."

"I know," Gideon wrapped her arms around his waist resting against his chest feeling his arms wrap around her, "And that is why it is a relief she loved us both."

"Rip," Gideon called, "You need to hold on a little longer."

He was once again laying on the couch his head resting in Gideon's lap as he clung to consciousness.

"Tired," he breathed.

"I know," she soothed, her fingers threading through his hair once more; "But Dr Snow is close to a cure. She has been working non-stop so you must hold on until she is finished."

Rip sighed softly, "I'm trying, Gideon."

"Think of Jonas," she whispered, "Think of seeing your son again. Of watching him grow up into the wonderful man he will be."

Taking a deep breath Rip smiled at the thought of his son, "Miranda would be proud of how I'm raising him, wouldn't she?"

"Very proud," she assured, "As am I.

He caught her hand, "I'm glad you're with me, Gideon. I don't want to be alone."

"You're never alone," Gideon reminded him.

"You know I..."

"I do."

x

Rip sighed at Gideon's ministrations wanting to sink into the darkness, wanting to give in but knew he couldn't. He couldn't leave Jonas and he couldn't leave Gideon.

Suddenly a strange sensation filled his body like pins and needles through every limb.

"Rip?" Gideon called to him as he pulled away from her.

"Did Caitlin find the cure?" he asked.

Gideon smiled, "She administered it a few moments ago. I can see that you are already feeling the effects."

Rip nodded, "I no longer feel like I need to sleep for a week."

"It shall take a little longer but soon you shall be able to waken once more," Gideon told him.

He looked at her sadly, "As much as I want that it means I won't be able to see you like this."

Gideon shook her head, "But I am always with you."

"And I am eternally grateful," he breathed reaching out to touch her cheek.

Moving closer Rip brushed his lips to hers. Pulling her close as Gideon's arms wrapped around him Rip deepened the kiss holding onto her.

"Rip?" Caitlin's voice came.

Forcing his eyes open Rip saw her standing above him concern etched on her face he breathed, "Jonas?"

Caitlin smiled, "He's at school."

"How long was I unconscious?" he asked managing to sit up.

"Three days," she told him, "I want to check you then I'll get you something to eat."

Rip nodded, "How long until Jonas needs to be picked up?"

"Three hours," Caitlin told him, "If you do everything I say then I will allow Cisco to drive you so you can be there for him getting out."

Catching her hand he smiled up at her, "Thank you."

"He's been worried about you," Caitlin told him, "I think he'll feel much better if you pick him up this afternoon."

"Thanks you, Dr Snow."

x

Jonas walked slowly out the school door looking up expecting Cisco to be standing there, his eyes widened in surprise and he ran throwing himself into the arms of his father.

"Daddy!" he cried as Rip caught him.

The sudden weight of the boy unbalanced Rip slightly but Lisa and Cisco each caught an arm steadying him. He'd only just been given a clean bill of health with orders to rest tonight about ten minutes before they had to leave to collect Jonas.

"Are you okay now?" Jonas asked pulling back to look his father in the eye.

Rip nodded, "Caitlin has said I am. So we can stay at home tonight."

Jonas hugged him again before sliding down and taking Rip's hand. They walked back to the car and Rip slid into the backseat happily allowing Cisco to drive. Jonas gripped his hand throughout the entire journey talking about everything he'd done while Rip was unconscious. Reaching the house Rip dropped onto the couch, smiling as Jonas curled up beside him, allowing Lisa and Cisco to phone in food for them.

x

Rip kissed his son goodnight before leaving him to sleep, smiling as he could hear Lisa and Cisco downstairs trying to decide what movie to watch. Rip listened to them for a few moments before he headed into his bedroom keeping his promise to Caitlin to get plenty of rest over the next few days. He knew it wouldn't be hard to keep that promise, he felt a bit like a washed out rag.

Going through his evening routine Rip slid into bed and rested against the pillows.

"Gideon?"

"I'm here, Captain," she replied.

Sighing happily he closed his eyes to sleep, "You always are."