Gideon sighed happily as she woke up in her warm, comfortable bed. She could feel Rip beside her, still sleeping, his chest pressed against her back with his hand resting on her bump.

Trailing her fingers across his hand, Gideon listened to the child inside her singing, it was something she had heard more and more over the past few days. As much as she was looking forward to the child being born so they could start their future, she knew she was going to miss this.

Part of her wished that the child would remain hers, that in a few weeks they would have a baby to raise but she was only a surrogate. Protecting the baby until it was time for him to be born when he would go back to his people.

They'd worked late the night before, Alex finally sent everyone to get some sleep. Sara, Ava and Agent Lowell were provided a room within the DEO. Winn had invited Cisco to use the spare room in his apartment but, considering Gideon had overheard them talking about a video game that didn't exist on Cisco's Earth, she did not think they would have slept much.

A soft murmur in her ear let her know Rip was waking, and she cuddled closer as his arm tightened around her.

"What time is it?" Rip asked sleepily.

Gideon smiled as his fingers entwined with hers across her stomach, "We have about ten minutes before the alarm."

"Good," he sighed before noting, "Though we could just turn it off and spend all day here."

Turning so they were face to face, Gideon assured him, "They will leave once they've captured this man. If I help, it will be sooner."

"The question is whether or not they try to arrest me again before they go," Rip reminded her.

"You know Alex and J'Onn would never let that happen," she reminded him.

Rip shrugged.

"Perhaps if you try to be the man we all love around them and not deliberately antagonising," Gideon suggested, "Then they will understand that you belong here."

Rip grimaced before conceding, "I'll try."

"Thank you, my Captain," Gideon murmured.

He pulled her close again, pressing soft kisses to her neck as Gideon slid her fingers through his hair.

"Rip," she said softly, "Do you ever wish we could keep the baby?"

Feeling him freeze at her question she winced, knowing that it wasn't fair to ask him. Especially as he currently couldn't lie to her.

"I'm sorry," she whispered as Rip moved back to look at her, "I shouldn't have..."

"I do," he cut her off, "I do sometimes think about that. I love you, Gideon but I want to spend time getting to know us together before we add a child. Miranda was pregnant with Jonas so soon after we married that we never got that time. I don't want to lose that with you."

Gideon stared at him for a moment before she kissed him, pulling him close and letting him know she agreed.

x

Sara took a drink of coffee as she sat in the commissary of the DEO for breakfast, Ava was talking with Lowell about something Sara didn't care about, so she was able to sit and study the people.

Alex appeared at the table, a mug in her hand, "Mind if I join you?"

"Course not," Sara replied, motioning her to a seat.

Sitting Alex took a long drink, "Once Gideon and Winn get in then we'll hopefully be able to track down your fugitive."

"How long will that be?" Sara asked.

Alex smiled, "Not long. Normally I come in with her and Rip, but I was early today to catch up on some work."

Sara nodded but before she could reply Alex was called over by one of her agents to look at something. The brunette rolled her eyes and excused herself. Sara continued to drink her coffee spotting Rip and Gideon enter the commissary together, frowning at the way his arm was wrapped possessively around Gideon's waist as they talked.

"You look like you don't approve," Alex noted as she sat down again.

Sara turned to the other woman, "I find it…interesting that Gideon became human and is now sleeping with Rip. But Gideon always did what he said as his ship's AI, so it looks like nothing changed."

Alex tilted her head thoughtfully, "You really do need Rip to be a bad guy, don't you?"

"Excuse me?" Sara demanded in surprise.

"You're convinced that Gideon is being forced to be with Rip," Alex laughed bemused, "Take a good look at them when they're together, Sara you might be surprised."

Sara frowned, "Really?"

"Gideon knows exactly what she's doing," Alex stated, "And she gets what she wants."

x

Rip walked with Gideon to the control room, carrying her tea and the chocolate cookie they'd picked up in the commissary. He placed them on one side of her station as Gideon lowered herself into her chair, quickly accessing the system. She was not using her abilities in front of their visitors, not wanting them to know what she could do although she couldn't explain why not.

"Have you got everything you need?" he asked.

Gideon smiled up at him, "Yes."

Rip nodded, "I'm going to talk to J'Onn about the room for next week. To make sure it's got everything we need."

"We?"

He chuckled, "Do you think I'm going to let you stay here alone?" She looked up at him with an amused smile making him roll his eyes at her. Seeing the others arriving Rip leaned over and gave her a quick kiss, "I'll see you for lunch."

Rip walked to J'Onn's office giving Alex a nod as he passed her, ignoring their visitors.

J'Onn looked up when Rip tapped on the door, motioning him in.

"How is Gideon today?" the head of the DEO asked.

Rip dropped into the chair across from him, "Good. Hopefully she stays that way and doesn't get upset or riled by our…guests."

J'Onn chuckled slightly, "I'm sure they've learned their lesson after yesterday. What about you?"

Rip shrugged, "I'm fine."

"What have you done to protect yourself?" J'Onn asked, with a knowing look.

Rip held up his wrist showing the re-modified courier he'd put together the day before, "It'll disrupt a breach if anyone tries to make me go through one. I trust Cisco wouldn't do that, but I have a feeling Lowell would."

"What about Director Sharpe and Miss Lance?" J'Onn asked.

Rip shrugged, "I don't know. And that's what worries me."

"You're a member of the DEO, Rip," J'Onn reminded him, "You're one of my people and they will find there are consequences if they try anything."

Feeling his throat tighten slightly, Rip nodded. He knew he had been accepted by the people of this world, he knew they were his friends but being told this bluntly dumbfounded him.

"Dr Elgin told me that from next week she wants Gideon to remain within the DEO," J'Onn changed the subject, "I'm setting up one of the VIP rooms for you to use. It's close enough to the infirmary but should give you enough privacy."

"Thank you," Rip said.

"And don't worry too much about our guests," J'Onn told him.

Rip sighed, "I'm trying my best."

Alex sat going through paperwork while she kept an eye on everything. Gideon and Winn were deep in discussion with Lowell listening in while she could hear Ava and Sara talking. Not sure what they were discussing, she had heard Rip being mentioned several times and she began to worry that they would try to take him back with them.

Alex knew, even if Rip didn't, how many of the DEO would block any attempt they made to remove him. Despite himself, Rip was well liked by both the agents and technical staff while Gideon was adored by absolutely everyone.

"Ale…Agent Danvers," Hannah appeared suddenly, "Do you know where Rip is?"

"He's with J'Onn," Alex replied, "Something wrong?"

She rolled her eyes, "Just need him for the mission debriefing."

"I'll send him your way when he's finished," Alex promised the other woman who gave a smart nod before heading away.

Sara suddenly asked, "So if Rip's involved in another mission, I'm assuming he's not coming with us?"

Alex saw Gideon stiffen at the question but thankfully didn't stop working leaving Alex to answer.

"Why do you ask?"

"Because I want to know I can trust everyone who comes on the mission to collect Simpkins," Sara replied.

Alex frowned but she recognised what the other woman was doing. Pushing to get more information than anyone was giving her, it was what Alex would do. Gideon glanced back at Alex and nodded permission before looking back at her screen.

"Rip isn't an agent," Alex stated.

Ava and Sara swapped a thoughtful look before Ava asked, "So what does he do here because the Rip we know would be."

"He's not the Rip you knew," Alex replied, "The man who came through the portal is not the same man you knew. He doesn't want to be in those situations anymore and we respect his decision."

"So, what does he do here?" Sara asked again.

Alex gave a slight shrug. "Tech support."

"You're telling me for the last year, Rip Hunter has just been technical support?" Sara demanded incredulously.

"No," Alex replied, "He only joined us a few months ago."

Ava frowned, "Then what has he been doing since he got here?"

"Healing," Gideon's sharp voice came from behind them, "Alex, we believe we know where Mr Simpkins may be."

Alex nodded, "Okay, get the team together."

x

Alex stared at Gideon in horror, "Rip will kill me if I let you come on this mission."

"I will stay in the truck," Gideon told Alex, "But I want to be there. Once we have the fugitive then they can leave. I need to ensure they do."

Alex frowned, "I'll make sure."

"Alex," Gideon took her friend's hand, "Please. I need to do this for him. Rip will not relax until they're gone and, as much as he trusts you, it will be better coming from me."

Letting out a long sigh Alex nodded, "Alright but you will be in the truck and no matter what happens you stay there. Promise me?"

"I promise," Gideon told her sincerely.

Alex nodded before adding, "And when Rip goes ballistic about this, I am throwing you under the bus."

"I can handle him," Gideon reminded her friend.

Shaking her head Alex went to talk to the team about their objective. Gideon knew how much Rip would be against her leaving the DEO, but it was something she had to do.

Winn frowned when he appeared at her side, "Are you sure about this?"

Taking his arm to walk to the truck Gideon nodded, "I will be fine."

He grimaced but helped her into the mobile control centre where Agent Davies and Agent French were waiting for her. The two men towered above Gideon and she knew Alex had chosen them to stay in the truck with her specifically.

"Are you comfortable?" French asked once she was settled in her seat, despite his size and intimidating demeanour he was a very kind man.

"I am," she smiled at him.

He nodded taking his own seat and indicating to Davies they could leave.

x

Alex moved slowly through the warehouse, "Gideon," she called, "Do you have anything yet?"

"There is nothing showing on the scanners," the other woman reported, "I also cannot connect with any of the computers. It is either a closed system or not on."

Grimacing Alex glanced at the people with her. Sara, Ava and Agent Lowell were to one side while Cisco was with the back-up team just outside.

"I don't like this," Sara said softly, "It doesn't feel right."

"I agree," Ava spoke up.

Alex grimaced again, "Gideon?"

"There's nothing," she reported back, "Wait."

"Gideon?"

Lights suddenly flooded the room just as Gideon shouted at them all to get out. Throwing her arm up to protect her eyes, confused when the light disappeared and Alex realised she was on the ground. Confused Alex pushed herself to sit up, looking around she found every member of the team were doing the same thing.

"Gideon?" she called worriedly, frowning when no answer came. Alex pushed herself to stand and ran out to the mobile control centre. Yanking the door open she stalled to see Davies and French on the floor looking disorientated.

But Gideon was nowhere to be found.