"That was weird," Wally's voice came from the corridor making Cisco look up from his computer, "Acting like I didn't know who he is."

"I know," Joe replied, as the two men walked into the room, "But we agreed to help him disappear and, as his friend, you need to help us keep that promise."

Cisco looked up, "What happened?"

"We ran into Hunter at the hospital," Joe explained, "Jonas was in an accident."

"What?" Cisco cried worriedly, "Is he okay?"

Joe nodded, "Broken arm and a bump on the head but other than that he's fine."

Relief filled the younger man, Cisco felt a responsibility towards the man and child they were hiding to make sure they had a good life. Even more so after sending Gideon to be with them.

"That's good," he mused, "I'll check in on them just to make sure."

Wally frowned at him, "How can you do that?"

Slightly embarrassed Cisco shrugged, "I have a few drones I follow them with every so often. It's kind of my favourite reality show."

Joe laughed, clapping Cisco's shoulder, "Make sure they don't catch you."

"Please," Cisco told him, "I've been doing this for over a year now. Besides I need to let Mick Rory know what's going on every so often. He'll kill me if I got caught by them."


Gideon walked quietly into the small hospital room in the children's ward that Jonas had been placed in the day before. The little boy was still fast asleep, Boo Bear tucked beneath his broken arm. Gideon smiled to see that Michael was also sleeping, although in the chair beside the bed despite the fact there was one in the room for him to use.

Placing the bag that she'd brought for them on the spare bed, she moved to the man whose head was resting on the bed with one hand resting on his son's leg.

"Michael," she called softly, gently shaking his arm to wake him, "It's okay," she soothed when he jerked awake.

"Gideon?" he murmured wincing at the pain in his neck, "What time is it?"

"Just after eight," Gideon told him, "I brought clean clothes for you and Jonas."

He blinked sleepily, "I thought Katrina…"

"She was called into work," Gideon smiled at him, "I offered to come. I wanted to make sure you were both alright."

Michael sighed, "He wouldn't sleep, even with the painkillers. It's strange, he seemed afraid to be here but he's not been in hospital since the day he was born."

"Except when you were ill," Gideon pointed out, she shrugged at his confused look, "Ali told me what happened."

Michael grimaced embarrassed, "Not my best moment," he yawned, "Sorry. I didn't get much sleep last night."

Gideon squeezed his arm, "If you want I'll sit with Jonas while you have a shower and change your clothes."

He gave her a warm smile catching her hand when he passed her, "Thank you."

"It is never a problem," Gideon assured him, "Now go. He will probably wake up soon and it will be best if you're here."

x

Rip found the small shower room that was set aside for parents and had a quick shower before pulling on the clean clothes Gideon had brought for him. The doctor had assured him Jonas was fine and the overnight stay was just a precaution but Rip would feel much better once he had Jonas at home.

Returning to his son's hospital room he paused in the doorway finding Gideon sitting beside Jonas, gently stroking the little boy's hair who was, thankfully, still asleep. He was so relieved that she had come this morning, she was so composed and steady which helped keep him calm. Moving to the other side of the bed Rip looked down at his son.

"You know he's going to be fine," Gideon said, taking his hand in hers, "Jonas is a strong little boy, he takes after his father in that respect."

Rip smiled at her but was distracted when Jonas began to waken.

"Hey, little man," Rip said at the boy sleepily looking up at him, "How do you feel?"

"My arm hurts, Daddy," Jonas moaned, "Can we go home now?"

Resting his hand on his son's head Rip soothed, "As soon as the doctor tells us you can."

Jonas nodded turning slightly he saw the woman sitting there, "Hi, Gideon."

"Hello, Jonas," she gave him a warm smile, "I have to go to work now. I will call later to check on you."

The little boy reached out to give her a hug and Gideon kissed him. Letting him go Gideon turned to Rip and hugged him as well.

"Thank you," he breathed.

Gideon reminded him, "If you need me then just call."

Rip leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her cheek, "I will."

x

Jonas sat on Rip's lap while they read a book waiting for the doctor to arrive to, hopefully, discharge Jonas. There had been nurses round a few times checking him, every single one of them were fantastic and talked directly to the little boy. Unfortunately none were able to let him leave and Jonas was getting upset as time went on.

He had several messages from Ali, Katrina as well as the rest of the group wanting to know what was happening. He'd sent Gideon a quick message and asked her to let everyone else know that they were still waiting for the doctor to release Jonas.

"Hello there," a woman walked into the room checking her chart, "Jonas. I'm Dr Freidman."

Jonas looked up at the doctor, "Can I go home now?"

Dr Friedman gave him a smile, "Well, I am going to do a few tests and, if everything is good, then your dad can take you home."

Rip rested Jonas on the bed so the doctor could do her checks standing to one side so he was out of the way but where Jonas could see him. He smiled to himself as Jonas asked questions of the doctor, seeing the surprise in the woman's eyes at what the little boy was asking.

"I'm going to talk to your dad for a minute," Dr Friedman smiled at Jonas when she'd finished before she turned to Rip, "Jonas is going to be fine. The nurse will set up a time for him to come back to get the cast removed."

"Thank you," Rip smiled at her.

Friedman grinned at him, "That is one smart little boy you've got there."

"I know," Rip replied proudly.


"Are you sure about this?" Michael asked for about the fifth time making Gideon laugh.

She took his hand, "Jonas and I will be perfectly fine."

"I promise it will only be an hour, two at the most," he told her, "The meeting shouldn't last too long."

Gideon laughed at him, "Just go. This is important for Jonas' education."

"Thank you," Michael told her again.

Rolling her eyes, Gideon gently pushed him towards the door, "Go."

He nodded turning to his son, "Jonas, be good for Gideon."

"I will, Daddy," the little boy promised giving him a hug.

Giving his son a quick kiss on the top of his head, Michael grabbed his jacket heading out the door.

Gideon saw the door close and suddenly felt worry fill her that she had agreed to look after a five-year-old child. As much as she adored Jonas, she had never been alone with him for more than a few minutes.

"Can we play a game?" Jonas asked from her side.

Gideon smiled, "That sounds like fun. What do you want to play?"

He scampered away into his room before returning carrying a small box, "This."

Taking the box he handed her, Gideon nodded, "A matching game. That will be lots of fun."

They sat at the coffee table and Gideon spread out all the cards face down letting Jonas go first. Despite her concerns she had lots of fun with Jonas, he gave a little dance every time he found a matching pair while he cheered for each one Gideon found.

After three games Gideon told him, "It's time for you to get into your pyjamas. I promised your dad you would be ready for bed by the time he came home."

Jonas nodded, "Okay, Gideon."

"We can watch a movie until he gets home," Gideon promised.

Watching Jonas run into his room to change Gideon smiled fondly after the little boy, she loved spending time with him, loved getting hugs from him and would do anything for that little boy. Just as she loved spending time with his father. Jonas reappeared not long after and climbed onto the couch beside Gideon in pyjamas with racing cars over the trousers and the words 'Race you to Dreamland' on the top.

"Can we watch Toy Story?" Jonas asked.

Gideon nodded, "Of course. I have never seen it."

"It's the best move ever," Jonas told her excitedly.

Laughing Gideon fixed the movie and took her seat once more, smiling as Jonas cuddled close to her.

x

Rip sat listening to the teacher explain the curriculum for the rest of the school year. He felt completely out of place as the only single-father in the room. All the other single-parents were mothers, and all of the other men in the room were with their wives. He forced himself to not squirm, he was here for his son so he would pay attention no matter how boring this was.

Finally the meeting ended and Rip headed to the refreshments table to grab a drink before he escaped.

"Dr Hunter," a woman said coming to his side.

"Good evening, Mrs Weaver," he greeted the school principal.

The older woman smiled at him, "I'm glad you came tonight. I know it isn't always easy being a single-parent."

He gave a slight shrug, "It's for Jonas."

"How is he?" Weaver asked, "After his accident."

Rip smiled slightly, "He's fine. I think I was in a worse way by the time I got to the hospital."

"Well he proudly shows off his cast whenever anyone asks about it," Weaver chuckled, "But I wanted to ask you what the number at the top of his arm means. He just calls it his Mummy's numbers."

Rip chuckled, "I met his mother in a theoretical astrophysics class. She was running late and the only spare seat was at my side. I was paired with her to work with and it's the answer to the first equation we worked on together."

Weaver gave him a smile, "That's good you're keeping her alive for him. I understand it can't be easy for you."

Shrugging Rip replied, "It wouldn't be fair if I didn't."

"I take some of the students for a lesson each week," Weaver told him, "Just so I have some time with them and Jonas always asks such unusual questions. I take it he gets this from you."

"I've always had an odd way at looking at the world," Rip replied with a shrug, "Jonas sees it the same. Which is why I'm so glad I was able to get him a place here. I went to a school which didn't meet my needs academically until I was eleven. I spent a lot of time in trouble."

Weaver laughed, "From what I've seen I can't really imagine you as a troublemaking child."

"My adopted mother impressed on me the virtue of patience and staying calm," Rip replied with a fond smile, "I try to do that for my son."

"It's been a pleasure to talk to you, Dr Hunter," Weaver stated, "I hope you remain as involved with us as you have been for the past few months."

x

Rip opened the door to the apartment and smiled finding Jonas fast asleep cuddled up to Gideon who was sleeping as well while Toy Story played on in the background. Closing the door Rip gently lifted his sleeping son into his arms, smiling that he only murmured but didn't wake up.

He rested Jonas in his bed, covering him, placing Boo Bear in beside him and pressing a kiss on his son's hair before he returned to the living room. Looking down at Gideon he smiled at how serene she looked sleeping on his couch.

Gently Rip brushed her hair back, "Gideon," he called, "Gideon, wake up."

She moaned softly and her storm grey eyes opened, "Michael?"

"Hi," he smiled.

"I'm so sorry," she blushed, "I didn't mean to fall asleep. Where's Jonas?"

Rip rested his hand on her arm, "I put him to bed. He was asleep as well when I got home."

Gideon let out a soft sigh of relief.

"You appear to have survived your time with him anyway," Rip noted with a smile.

Gideon smiled back, "He is a wonderful boy. We played a game and he put on his pyjamas as soon as I asked. Then we watched a film."

"Thank you for looking after him," Rip told her sincerely, stepping back to allow her to stand, "I appreciate it so much."

Gideon slid her jacket on and caught his hand, "I am honoured you trust me with him."

"Of course I trust you," he whispered softly. He knew from the first day they'd met just outside the Day Care room that he could.

Gideon gave him another smile as she picked up her bag, "I will see you tomorrow, Michael."

She leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek before leaving the apartment. Rip stood staring at the door still feeling the gentle warmth of her lips on his skin and wondering how they would feel on his own.