There was a yell as soon as Mick hit the wall, but all he could hear was ringing.

Stupid, he had been too close when she blew the door. Rookie mistake. Stupid Victor, putting him off his game. He shouldn't think about the other job when he had one to do himself.

They'd been doing this long enough to know the safe distance. They'd gone through the plan a dozen times. He had no idea how long he'd been lying there, but when he awoke it was to a strong sense of dejavu.

Prying open his eyes slowly, a blurry shape stood over him. The blob came into focus, it was red and as the features came into focus, he found that the Flash was looking quizzically at him.

Of course Flash was still around. Pulling his good guy bullshit with his team, talking down hardworking criminals.

His world felt like he was in an earthquake. He was being shaken.

"Dad"

Something was clutched tightly around his chest making it hard to breathe. He sat up.

"Dad"

This time more frantic.

Effie. She was calling for him, he smiled on the inside.

"I'm sorry" she cried "It was my fault"

"Effie" He growled, as he patted her all over, checking for any injury. She pulled away.

"I'm fine. I hit the door too early."

The Flash finally moved from his statue like position.

"She was calling for you. Calling you Dad."

"And?"

"She's a meta isn't she."

"What's it to you?"

"I'm just concerned."

"Be concerned someplace else."

Mick rose from the floor. He gathered the girl in his arms and squeezed her tightly.

"I would say I told you so, Effie, but you know that already. We have some work to do"

"I wasn't concentrating. The flames were so pretty."

"That's my girl" he growled

"Plan B?"

"Plan B"

She flared her hands and bent forwards, her arms pushing the flames towards the overhead powerlines, they sparked and exploded, waving about in mid air, close to the propane tanks that had not been hit by her first explosion.

"Better save everyone Flash."

Effie produced a flame curtain, he could see Flash looking confused as it closed. It was a superior feeling.

They turned tail and ran towards the road. Wrenching open the doors of a waiting car, they clambered into the back seat and slammed the door.

"Seat belts" snapped the Pike from his position in the driving seat. He revved the engine and drove off, eventually getting to the city and entering traffic.

"Can't you speed up?" muttered Effie in an agitated tone.

They joined a line of traffic at a set of traffic lights. Pike turned from his position to glare at her.

"I have two criminals on my back seat and a load of unexploded smoke bombs in the trunk. I'm not getting pulled over."

He concentrated on the lights again, pulling off when the light turned green.

They pulled up with a screeching halt outside the hanger. Pike turned off the engine without saying a word and climbed out of the drivers side. He marched towards the building, leaving his passengers puzzled.

"He doesn't like us much" muttered Effie, stating the obvious.

Mick moved to get out of the car when he felt a tug on his sleeve. He paused, only to find Effie grabbing him around the waist and hugging him like a boa constrictor

I'm sorry" she murmured as he tried to move to get more comfortable "Don't die on me. Ok?" She looked up had him expectantly, waiting for an answer.

"Sure kid, I'll try not to die on you." He laughed at her frown

The door opened and Pike stuck his head through the gap.

"I'm not waiting out here all day."

He stomped away, leaving the door open.

Following Pike back to the hanger, they made themselves comfortable. Effie put on her headphones and curled up in his hoodie. Mick made himself a sandwich and plonked himself down next to her, ripping his sandwich down the middle and presenting him with half.

It was getting brighter through the window. Morning was coming.

Pike kept checking his watch, striding up and down the hanger, glancing at the door

"Quit pacing, your'e making me nervous" Mick yelled from his position. "They're only 20 minutes over." He rally wanted to knock him out cold, so the repetitive motions would stop.

The door smashed against the door frame with force. In the door came Sully and Wayland and in between them buckled at the knees was Victor.