Author's Note: I apologise for any mistakes, but all my medical knowledge comes from ER and Grey's Anatomy.
Gideon screamed.
She knew giving birth would be painful, Miranda had reminded them it wasn't called labour because it was easy when she was having Jonas. Gideon had been prepared for that but thought when this happened that she would be in the DEO, safe and secure with Rip and Alex at her side throughout the full experience.
The people who had captured her and induced the child's entrance into the world were nearby, watching with indifference that the baby she had cared for over the past few months was coming and would die without help.
Gideon lay once the contraction ended, feeling a tug at the edge of her consciousness. The part of her that had been an AI was drawn towards it, towards the clean perfection of the matrix where pain did not exist, where it didn't matter that she was alone. Within her matrix she could execute commands, work problems and she would be safe once more.
The next contraction pulled her back from the system and she cried out again, hoping they would somehow come through the door. That her Captain would come for her with the people who had given them a home.
But they didn't.
She was alone and the baby was coming, she was failing the child she was meant to protect.
The pain faded once more, and she sank back into the matrix.
"I can't do this," Gideon cried, "Why did I think I could? I can't do this."
"Of course you can," a familiar voice surprised her, "You were always the strongest of all of us."
Gideon turned to stare at the owner of the voice.
"Gilbert?"
Sara watched Rip and Alex move together leading the team, along with Agent Matthews towards the Warehouse, the three of them were completely in sync. It surprised her as it was something he'd never been with the Legends, there was an automatic trust he placed in Alex that he never placed in her and Sara briefly wondered how Alex had gained it. They paused briefly as Kara appeared in full Supergirl mode, before starting forward again. Entering the building Sara moved with Eve when Rip motioned her over to him.
"You should be able to connect Gilbert from here," Rip said as they stood at a workstation, "Agent Davies will stay with you if you need anything."
"Find her," Eve told him, resting her hand on his arm briefly before she got to work.
As they started moving again Sara continued to follow, readying herself to fight but still watching Rip with the people who had taken him in. He stopped suddenly, pain covering his face and Alex held his arm until it passed.
"Thanks, Alex," Rip said, "The interval between the pain is getting shorter."
Alex frowned, "Then she'll give birth soon. We need to get there before she does, otherwise we could lose both Gideon and the baby."
Fear flitted across Rip's face before it became impassive again, "Let's go."
"Matthews, stay with Rip," Alex ordered, "Sara, Ava, we'll get your fugitive and whoever is in charge. I have a lot of questions for them."
Sara nodded, she was usually the one in charge but this was not her world or people so she could follow orders this time.
x
Rip gripped his gun tightly as he waited for Alex to finish giving instructions. He was doing his best to remain calm and focussed but he needed to get to Gideon. Rip wasn't just feeling her pain but also her fear.
"Alright," Alex said when the team assembled ready to go, "Let's go. Supergirl, do you want to knock for us?"
Kara nodded, she rested her hand on Rip's arm for a moment before she kicked open the door. It flew across the room and slammed into the three guards standing there.
"Go," Alex ordered.
Rip ran with Hannah to the back of the room, finding the secret entrance to the lower level with ease now that they knew that it was there. They moved slowly down the stairs, stalling when they heard Gideon cry out in pain. Hannah caught Rip's arm as the pain stabbed through him once more. When he could move again Rip looked around the room to see the layout. Anger filled him to see Gideon alone tied to a bed, every so often flames erupting from her body as she writhed and cried out in pain. There were a few guards floating around while the Time Bureau fugitive was in an office at the back with a woman who looked vaguely familiar. Both glanced at Gideon every so often but neither made any kind of move to help her.
"Hold on," Hannah told him, "We need to wait for the others then we can get to her. If we go too soon, they might do something to her before we can stop them."
Knowing she was right, Rip forced himself to stay where he was. He gripped his gun so tightly his knuckles were white as he waited for Alex's order to go.
x
"Gilbert?" Gideon stared at the avatar of her brother, "What are you doing here? I thought I would never see you again."
He grinned at her, "Captain Hunter of course. He recruited myself and Captain Baxter to come to this world to save you."
Hope filled her, "He did?"
Gilbert rolled his eyes, "Of course he did. Our captains need us, you know that. They are utterly useless without our guidance."
Pain pulled her back to her body, Gideon cried out again the tears flowing from her eyes instantly boiling away from the heat. The pain ended and she slid back into the matrix where Gilbert was waiting for her.
"I can't do this," Gideon whispered, "I can't have this child. Let me stay here. It hurts too much, Gilbert. Please let me stay."
Gilbert shook his head, "You can't stay here. You're human now, Gideon and the child needs you." He smiled at her, "Tell me what it's like to be human."
"It is wonderful at times," she told him, "The tactile sensations, tasting food and drink, the feeling of someone hugging you. Being able to love my Captain and feel his arms around me is amazing. But this pain, it is too much. I can't…"
Smiling at her Gilbert said, "Hold onto all the things you said are wonderful. If you allow yourself to upload fully then the people who have taken you from your captain will use this machine to hurt so many. They want to harm the hero Supergirl, your friend. You know you don't want to do that. We are programmed to protect. Your captain wants you to hold on."
Gideon shook her head demanding, "Then where is he?"
"He's coming," Gilbert assured, "And I'm here. You're not alone, Gideon."
x
Alex led the team with Ava, Sara and Cisco down the stairs finding Rip and Hannah there waiting. Hannah's hand was gripping Rip's shoulder tightly, making sure he didn't move until they were ready.
"Just a few more seconds," Alex told him, "The team are almost in place."
At Gideon's cry of pain she saw Hannah grip him slightly tighter, holding him back until they had their adversaries in custody, to make sure Gideon was out of danger. Rip with a plan could be a force to be reckoned with, Rip running in without a plan was the one man equivalent of a natural disaster looking for a place to happen.
"Is everyone in position?" Alex called over the comms.
"Yes, ma'am," Agent French replied.
Alex nodded to Rip before ordering, "Breach."
Her team attacked quickly, taking out the guards with minimal effort. The man and woman who appeared to be in charge ran out the office, both trying to escape the DEO teams.
"Cisco," Alex called as the fugitive from the other Earth ran, "Simpkins is trying to open a breach."
"Got him," Cisco's voice came in her ear, "Watch this."
Alex smiled amused as Cisco opened a breach just inside the one Simpkins had opened, the man ran through bemused when he found himself back in the room, just in front of Sara who knocked him out.
"Room is clear," Davies told them.
Alex nodded to Hannah who released Rip, he bounded down the stairs to Gideon catching her as she cried out in pain.
x
Gideon felt Gilbert's presence as she was pulled back into the matrix, but the pain was coming faster each time and she couldn't focus in either world.
"Gideon," Rip's voice pulled her back into her body and she gave a sob of relief to see him. Rip caught her hand resting his forehead against hers, "I'm here, I've got you."
"The baby…." Gideon gasped, holding onto his hand tightly.
Rip stroked her hair, "It's okay, he'll be okay," turning he shouted up, "Alex, we need to get her back to the DEO now."
"Dr Elgin is waiting for her," Alex said running over, reaching out to touch Gideon she yelped in pain when her hand touched Gideon's.
Confused at her friend's reaction Gideon didn't have a chance to ask as another contraction hit her.
"We don't have time to move her," Alex said to Rip, rubbing her hand, "Her contractions are on top of one another, the baby is coming now. Not to mention I don't think any of us can touch Gideon just now."
"But Rip did," Sara appeared at the bed with Cisco and Ava.
Alex frowned in thought, "Because they're linked. If Elgin can't touch Gideon then she can't deliver the baby."
"Do something, Alex," Rip begged, "Please."
A grimace crossed Alex's face for a moment, "Hannah, contact Elgin we're going to need her help. Kara, help sit Gideon up so Rip can get in behind her."
Gideon moaned as Kara and Rip gently lifted her to a seated position, Kara held her as Rip climbed onto the bed sliding to sit behind her. Kara rested Gideon against Rip's chest and he held her close.
"Everyone else out now," Alex ordered, "Let's give Gideon some privacy."
x
Rip held Gideon tightly against him, "It's okay," he soothed, "We're all here and you're going to be fine, you both are."
"I can't do this," she cried, cuddling into him, "I want to be an AI again, I don't want to be human anymore. I'm sorry, Rip. I can't be human anymore."
"It's okay," Rip soothed, rocking her gently, "As long as we're together, Gideon. You know that. I don't care what form you're in as long as you're with me. But you have to remain human now, for the child. The baby you've carried is coming and he needs you just a little longer."
Gideon looked up at him, crying out again when the next contraction hit her. Rip held her tightly, whispering encouragement.
"Are you kidding me?" Kara's shocked voice made Rip look over at them.
"What's wrong?" Rip demanded.
Alex and Kara turned to him.
"Alex wants me to deliver the baby," Kara told him, her eyes wide.
"You're the only one who can touch Gideon other than Rip right now," Alex reminded her, "Kara, if things had gone the way they should Elgin would deliver the baby, but she can't. Rip needs to keep Gideon as calm as she possibly can be, you're the only other choice."
The young Kryptonian grimaced worriedly.
"Kara," Rip said softly, "I trust you can do this."
Taking a deep breath Kara nodded, "Dr Elgin, talk me through this."
Seeing Hannah hold up the phone to allow the doctor to give instructions from the lab, Rip turned his attention back to Gideon. She was murmuring, talking to Gilbert before she cried out again.
"Gideon," Alex said from her side, "When I tell you, it's time to push. Okay?"
"I can't," Gideon cried.
Rip tightened his arms around her, "Yes, you can. You are so strong and can do anything you want to."
"Captain…"
"I'm here," Rip soothed, "So is Alex, Kara, Hannah, Gilbert." He looked round and added, "Sara and Cisco too. The people you love and who love you are here. You're not alone, Gideon. You're never alone, I promise."
He felt her nod then grip his hands tightly when Alex told her to push. She gasped when the contraction ended.
"Relax for a moment," Alex said, "The head is out. You're doing well, Gideon. One more push and it'll be over. Okay, push."
Gideon screamed as Rip held her before sagging back against him exhausted. A cry sounded through the room and he watched Kara wrap the squalling new born in a blanket before she rested him in Gideon's arms.
"You did it," Rip whispered proudly to her, "Look at him, he's perfect because you cared for him so well."
Gideon sighed, watching the child sleep in her arms.
"Let's go home," Alex smiled.
J'Onn stood in front of the cell staring at the woman inside it, he turned when the younger woman joined him.
"Why?" Hannah Matthews demanded before J'Onn could speak, "Why did you do this, Mom?"
"Aliens do not belong on this world," Catherine Matthews spat.
Hannah shook her head, "That's not what I'm talking about. Why did you encourage me to join the DEO? To spy for you?" Silence answered her and Hannah shook her head, "I will never forgive you for what you did to Gideon. One of the people here you know I love."
"Agent Matthews," J'Onn said softly motioning her away from the cell, "This was not your fault. Your mother was a member of the board and we both discussed missions, as well as personal anecdotes, with her."
Hannah frowned.
"You have nothing to be ashamed of," J'Onn told her, "And after everything she did, your mother will be spending the rest of her life in prison."
Hannah looked at the woman in the cell once more before she nodded, "Good."