Gideon woke early.
Seeing she had about an hour before the alarm she turned and cuddled closer to Rip who, still asleep, pulled her close murmuring her name with a sigh.
This was it, this was the day the Waverider would return and that meant in just under one year he would sacrifice himself.
Just under one year she would lose him forever and she wouldn't even get to have him for the full year. She knew this day was coming, had known from the moment she saw him for the first time in this form but she still wasn't prepared for it.
She toyed with her ring while playing with the small Waverider pendant around his neck. Gideon wondered if he was wearing it when he went against Mallus, or if she would find it afterwards.
"Something bothering you?" Rip's sleep-filled voice came.
Gideon sighed, "Today you'll see the Legends again. I would just like to see them but they can't know I'm here."
Pressing his lips to her temple, still half-asleep he sighed, "I have to turn you off. I'm not looking forward to that."
"If it makes you feel better," Gideon smiled, "I forgive you."
Resting her hand on his cheek she kissed him softly, sighing happily as Rip deepened the kiss pulling her closer. They had time before the alarm went off.
x
Rip took several deep breaths before he stepped into the Waverider, reminding himself that Gideon was back at the Bureau and promised him she understood why he was doing this but it still felt wrong.
"Welcome back, Captain Hunter," her voice came the moment he stepped into his ship.
"It is good to be back," Rip said softly.
He walked to the bridge to fly his ship back to the base where he was going to do something that went against every fibre of his being. But it was something he had to do.
"Gideon," he said as he piloted, "I need you to do something for me."
"Of course, Captain," she replied instantly, making him feel even worse.
Sighing he landed her where she would stay for the next six months, where he would leave his beautiful ship to be used for training so it could then be taken away from him again.
His only consolation was that he still had Gideon, even if he had to upset her in this form.
"Gideon, because of what we did to stop the Legion of Doom," he said, "I fear that we may have released a Time Demon but unfortunately the people I now work with aren't able to understand the threat."
"You just disbanded the Legends, Captain," Gideon reminded him, "They would have been able to help."
"I know," he sighed, "But there are people with the Bureau who want them to be arrested for their part in breaking time. I disbanded the team to protect them."
Gideon was silent for several moments before asking, "Do they know this?"
"I can't let them know," Rip sighed again, "I hate this, Gideon. I hate that I have to go around it this way but it's my only choice."
"What is your plan, Captain?" she asked softly.
Rip gently caressed the console where her hologram floated looking at him, "I need you to go with them. To protect them no matter what. Even if it means taking their side against me."
"Captain…"
"Gideon," he stopped her, "Stopping this Time Demon is the priority. I won't order you. But I am asking that you do."
Sadness filled her voice, "I do not want to leave you, Captain."
"I know," Rip whispered, "But it is necessary."
There was several minutes of silence before she confirmed, "I shall do as you ask, Captain."
"One more thing," Rip said, "And I am so sorry about this, Gideon. I don't like it even a little but I'm going to have to shut you down and allow the Bureau to use the ship for training only."
"Captain…"
"When the Legends come to take you they need to believe that you would leave me," he whispered, "They need to believe you're following them."
Gideon was silent again for several minutes before she let out an annoyed sigh, "I do not like this, Captain. However, I shall do as you ask with one condition."
"Which is?"
"That when it is all over," Gideon said softly, "I can return to you."
Rip hesitated for a moment. Something about her question was odd because Gideon, the human version, hadn't said anything about that and a small suspicion settled within him.
"Of course," he lied.
"Captain," Gideon said, "Is there something you're not tell me?"
Rip grimaced confessing, "There's a lot I'm not telling you, Gideon and it's because I can't. I need you to trust me."
"I've always trusted you, Captain," Gideon replied, "And I shall watch over them for you until the day we are together again."
x
The human version of Gideon was sitting in his office when he returned from the Waverider. Without a word she stood and hugged him tightly.
"I love you," she whispered to him.
Rip sighed holding her, "There's a lot you're not telling me, isn't there?"
Moving back to look in his eyes Gideon nodded, "So much, Captain. I don't want to hide things from you but we both know I can't give you knowledge of the future."
He took her face in his hands, "Something is coming isn't it? Something bad."
Gideon sighed, dropping her eyes, "I'm sorry. You know I can't tell you anything, Rip because I could inadvertently change the timeline and that could make things worse."
She unbuttoned the top button on his shirt taking a hold of the small pendant that symbolised the vows they'd made.
"You're my Partner," she breathed softly, "And if I could tell you everything then I would, Rip. You know that."
Without a word he kissed her again, backing her against the desk needing to feel her after how he'd treated the other version of her.
"Rip," she whispered, pushing his away gently, "As much as I would love to continue this. Your office is not the place."
He chuckled softly, "Spoilsport."
Gideon smiled, "I will see you later and we can continue this after dinner."
"Truly?" he teased.
Gideon gave him another quick kiss, "Truly."
"Am I amusing you?" Gideon demanded as Rip shook his head, "Then why are you laughing at me?"
"I'm not," Rip promised, leaning back in his chair looking up at her sitting on his desk wielding the fork from her lunch, "It's just…"
"You found the fact your agents are treating one of my ships with such disrespect amusing?" Gideon challenged.
Rip shook his head, "I promise I don't. I'm just recalling your lecture to me when I let the Legends onboard. How they were disrespecting your ship."
"And they were," Gideon reminded him, "Constantly. Making a mess and defiling my beautiful ship with their inability to go to their rooms for their…"
"Intimate moments," Rip finished for her with a grin.
Gideon frowned at him making him chuckle again.
"Are you wanting to sleep at home tonight?" she asked archly.
Rip smiled, "I could always sleep on our ship," he caught her hand noting, "You could come too."
Before she could reply a knock came on the door, bouncing off his seat Rip opened the door to find his assistant standing there.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, Director Hunter," he said, "But Miss Amaya Jiwe is here to see you. She's waiting in the conference room."
Surprised Rip nodded, "Thank you, Max. Give us a minute and then I'll see her."
Gideon slipped off his desk, "I will see you tonight."
Rip caught her hand before she could leave and kissed her quickly, "Unless you want to meet me on the Waverider."
Rolling her eyes she waved him away, standing for a moment to watch as Rip greeted Amaya. Gideon frowned, getting an urge to walk across the room and slap the woman there. It surprised her that she suddenly had such a violent streak, but Gideon knew that because Amaya would break time for her own ends, even knowing what it would do, Rip would die.
Taking a deep breath Gideon forced herself to return to her own office, she couldn't interfere.
She had to preserve the timeline.
Even though it meant she would lose him.
x
Time was creeping forward and Gideon couldn't do anything to stop it. In a few weeks the Legends would steal her beautiful ship and start on the path that ended with her beloved Captain sacrificing himself to protect them. Their home would only be that for a short time now, soon it would only be a room filled with memories.
"What's wrong?" Rip's voice came in her ear as she felt his arms slide around her.
"I am just tired," Gideon lied softly, her head dropping onto his shoulder.
He chuckled, "Terrifying agents is exhausting."
She smiled slightly, "They deserved it for almost destroying one of my ships."
Rip pressed a kiss to her temple hugging her closer.
"What did Amaya want?" Gideon asked softly.
"To return to Zambesi and her own time," Rip replied, his fingers stroking along her arms, "I knew she would go back eventually. I just couldn't force her to."
Gideon nodded silently.
"I do feel bad for Nate," Rip noted, "I've lost someone I loved before and, even though she technically hasn't died, it will be like that for him."
Gideon kissed him, "You are a good man."
"You're probably the only one who really thinks that," Rip noted.
"I am the only one who truly knows you," she replied, "And I promise you, my Captain, you are."
Cleo calling her name interrupted Gideon going over a list of maintenance requirements for the Time Bureau fleet.
"Is something wrong?" Gideon asked her friend.
Cleo stared at her, "I thought you would know what happened."
Rolling her eyes Gideon sighed, "Just tell me. I am extremely busy."
"The 'Legends' were in building," Cleo told her, "And one actually attacked Director Hunter."
"What?" Gideon demanded, she had never known that, "Which one?"
Cleo shook her head, "One of the guys. Claimed the Director had persuaded his girlfriend to leave."
"Nathaniel," Gideon grimaced, wishing she had known this at the time as he would have had many more cold showers than she gave him.
"There's more," Cleo said, "They stole the Waverider."
Gideon's gut clenched, she knew it was today but she had tried not to think about it.
Because she would be recognised by Sara and Jax, Gideon had to stay away unable to support Rip during this day when he let them take their ship away. When he let them take her away without any of them caring what the separation did to her.
"Director Hunter and Agent Sharpe went after them," Cleo continued, "They just got back and she is not happy. Hunter let them keep the ship."
Shutting down her computer Gideon stood, "I should check on him."
"I'll see you tomorrow," Cleo called after her as she started out.
Starting through the corridors Gideon stopped at the nearest empty office. Entering it she kept the lights off, locking the door and sliding down the wall to the ground unable to stop the sobs wracking her body.
This was it.
The countdown to the day she lost him forever had begun.
