After the Pilgrim was dealt with, the team returned Rip's mother and little Rip...Michael to their abode. They stayed for a while, chatting and brainstorming ideas about what to do now. Having had enough of the conversation, Len went to look for Mick. Once again, he found young Mick instead.
"Why didn't you tell me?" the teen asked, glaring at Len.
"Tell you what?" Len was truly confused. He had no idea what Mick was talking about.
"That he was me?!" Suddenly, it clicked. So, older Mick spilled the beans to younger Mick.
"He wasn't supposed to tell you either." Len said. Young Mick bristled. He pushed himself off the wall he was leaning against and approached Len.
"Why the hell didn't you tell me?!" he growled. Len rolled his eyes.
"Geez, you're acting just like him."
"Am not!" Len laughed at that and patted Mick on the shoulder.
"Anyway. I didn't tell you because of some paradox, or something like that. What'd he say to you?" Mick deflated, seeming to accept that as an excuse.
"Just to be better. Better than him." Len smiled at the kid.
"You be sure to do that. Not that he's not great, but he has made some bad choices. We all have. Just strive to do your best."
"Quite the pep talk."
"I try." Len said, smirking.
"Will I see you again?" Mick's younger self asked. Len sobered.
"Probably not. We've got one more thing to do then it's home for all of you." Mick looked at the floor.
"I want to stay here. I don't have a home to go back to." Len sighed.
"You can't. You have a life to live. Leo to look after." Mick looked up. He had almost forgotten about his version of the man in front of him. Squaring his shoulders, he nodded.
"Right."
~x~x~x~
After they said goodbye to their loved ones and administered the amnesia pills, the team gathered on the bridge. Everyone discussed the situation and what they did or did not do.
"Yak, yak, yak, I thought we were on a clock here." Len interrupted their talking about their younger selves.
"Indeed, we are. Time, the history from which your younger selves were removed, is beginning to set, as is evidenced by the change in Clarissa's memory." Rip said, looking at Stein
"Okay, so, how long do we have until these changes stick?" Jax asked, seeming rightfully concerned.
"No one knows." Mick answered.
"Which is why we need to move swiftly to locate Vandal Savage if any of your lives are to be restored to normal." Rip continued. Everyone was spooked by this news. Before, they had known that being erased from everyone's minds was a possibility, but now, it seemed like an eventuality.
"So, how long will it take to determine a new location for Savage?" Kendra asked Rip.
"Longer than we have. Fortunately, there is one time and place where we know Savage to be."
"You said he conquered the world in twenty-one sixty-six." Mick stated, already knowing where this conversation was going.
"You also said it was too dangerous to strike at Savage while he was at the height of his power." Stein reminded.
"That it is. But, with your younger selves removed from history, we have quite literally run out of time."
~x~x~x~
Mick went looking for Len a while after the conversation concerning Savage had concluded. He found him in his room laying on the bed, staring at the ceiling. One arm was under his head and the other was draped over his stomach. He didn't look over when the door slid open. Instead, he just began talking.
"What'cha need?" he asked, knowing it was Mick that entered. Mick grunted in response and moved to sit in the chair at the desk. First, he turned it around to face Len.
"I don't want you leaving the ship this trip." At this, Len looked over.
"Why?"
"Well, obviously..." he trailed off, looking at Len's stomach. Len glared.
"Just because you knocked me up doesn't mean that I'm an invalid." Mick glared back.
"Me? Don't blame me! You're the one that started drinking mystery drinks."
"It takes two to tango, Mick." They continued to glare at each other until Len huffed and rolled his eyes. "Anyway, I'm not just going to sit by while everyone risks their lives to finish this mission." Mick growled. Len could tell that he was getting angry. He figured a change in subject would be for the best to circumvent that anger. "I talked to younger you. He told me what you said to him."
"He did, did he?"
"Yup. He said you told him to be better than you." Mick looked away from Len. "I want you to know..." Len paused. "You're enough. Bad choices and all. Like I told your younger self, we all make bad choices sometimes. It doesn't make us bad people." Mick looked back up and into Len's eyes. He was shocked at the man's words. Len was a man of few words when it didn't include sarcasm. While Mick was still dumbfounded, Len reached a hand up and hooked it behind Mick's neck, pulling the man into a soft, sincere kiss.