Mick carried the unconscious Sara into the brig and placed her on the floor next to Ray. He stepped out and the doors slid shut sealing the Legends along with Sharpe in where they had to remain until Rip was gone.
"Gideon," Mick called, "That's them all."
"I have activated the field to ensure they remain unconscious," Gideon replied, "Otherwise the gas would wear off in three hours."
Mick nodded asking as he left the brig, "Have you heard back from Ramon?"
"He has advised he is willing to help and is in the process of finding them accommodation as well as employment for Captain Hunter," Gideon advised, "Once we have completed the removal of Captain Hunter's memories then he will be waiting to take over."
"Good," Mick said, he reached the medical bay where Jonas was sleeping once more. Gideon had already fixed his memories, which hadn't been that complex due to his age and the memories Time Masters had already given him.
Rip glanced over when Mick returned, "Are the crew safe?"
"In the brig and unconscious," Mick replied with a nod.
"When you've dropped me off at Star Labs put them back where Gideon tells you. They will think they got to the lab and it exploded. They'll have no memory of me surviving my encounter with Mallus or anything we discovered within the lab."
"Are you sure about this?" Mick demanded.
"This is the only way to protect my son," Rip reminded him, "And to ensure that no one ever gets their hands on the Time Master technology. We both know the danger of letting that loose again. The damage it could do in the wrong hands. If I have to live my life in one time 2018 is as good as any."
Mick nodded, "Ramon is waiting for you but not in 2018."
"When then?" Rip asked confused.
"We decided to send you back to the year before," Gideon explained, "Mr Rory thought that it would be safer to place you in a time when another version of you was still in play so to speak."
Rip nodded in agreement, "I didn't think of that."
"That's why I was in charge of that bit," Mick reminded him with a smirk.
"I've recorded a message for myself in case my memories start to return. What we're doing is experimental so it's possible," Rip explained when Mick gave him a confused frown, "Give it along with the items I've pulled together for myself and Jonas to Mr Ramon."
They stood in silence for several minutes before Mick asked, "Are you ready?"
Taking a deep breath Rip looked around the medical bay for a moment his eyes settling on his little boy. Rip gently stroked his son's hair for a moment before he offered his hand to the man standing watching.
"Thank you for helping me, Mick," Rip said sincerely, "I will forget and never be able to repay you but thank you."
Mick took the offered hand clapping him on the shoulder, "Look after that kid and we're even."
Rip smiled slightly taking his place on the chair, he slid the cuff onto his wrist before he nodded to Mick.
Mick hit the button, "Goodbye, Captain Hunter."
x
Rip opened his eyes surprised to find he was on the bridge. He frowned confused, this wasn't right.
"Captain," the gentle voice came from behind him and Rip understood.
Turning he smiled to see Gideon in her human form standing waiting for him in the parlour. Without hesitation Rip closed the gap between them and wrapped her in his arms.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, "I know I promised to stay with you. I'm sorry I'm breaking that promise."
"No," Gideon told him, "Captain, do not dare be sorry for choosing to protect your son. Jonas is more important than anything."
"I know he is but that doesn't stop me wanting to stay with you," Rip breathed sadly.
Pulling back from him Gideon gently stroked his cheek, "I thought I'd lost you, I thought that you were gone for good. Having you back, Rip even for this short time and knowing that you are safe is all I need."
Rip dropped his head, "I want to stay with you, Gideon. You have no idea how much I missed you all the years I was creating the Bureau. And then asking you to go with the Legends, when I know they don't treat you properly…"
"It's alright," she soothed, "I know you were only doing what you thought was right, Rip. You knew the danger Mallus posed to the entirety of time, you did what you had to when no one would listen to you. I understand."
Rip let out a sigh resting his head against hers, "You have always been the best part of me, the one who kept me steady when I lost my way."
"Just as you have always been the best part of me, Rip," Gideon replied, "Treating me as more than an information source. Caring about what I thought and how I felt. Making me a part of your family with Miranda and Jonas."
Rip smiled sadly, "I am going to miss you."
"You will not remember me," Gideon said softly.
"Part of me will," Rip murmured back, "I know that a part of me will always be connected to you and will always miss you."
They stood in one another's arms holding on for a few final moments before Gideon whispered, "Are you ready, Captain?"
Taking a deep breath Rip nodded.
"Close your eyes," Gideon told him, "When you waken you will be with Jonas in your new life."
Hugging her one last time Rip gently brushed his lips to hers before he closed his eyes. He felt Gideon's hands pull him down to her and a gentle kiss on his forehead.
Opening his eyes Rip looked around his bedroom in his new apartment in Central City a little confused, turning he saw Jonas fast asleep beside him. It had been quite late when they'd made it to their new home so Rip had just put Jonas into his bed, he'd fix the boy's bed tomorrow. Making sure his son was covered Rip closed his eyes again and went back to sleep.
"It's fascinating," Rip noted to Katrina as they walked with Gideon through the park, "The technology is like nothing I've ever seen before but…"
"But?" she asked.
Rip grinned, "It's almost instinctual working with it. I seem to know exactly where everything is."
"So you're suddenly psychic," Katrina teased him.
Rip laughed, "It's more like deja-vu. To be honest if Dr McGee hadn't reminded me I needed to collect Jonas I would still be there."
Katrina raised an eyebrow worriedly.
"I didn't forget him," Rip defended himself, "I was just so comfortable working on whatever it is that I lost track of time."
She chuckled patting his shoulder, "So, what are you wanting from us that you didn't want to talk about in front of Jonas?"
Rip sighed, "What I'm working on just now is something I have to try to fix as soon as possible but it might take me some time to finish. I can't expect someone to bring him to meet me for lunch each day. I'm also going to have to work late until I finish the project."
"So?"
"So, I was hoping you and Ali could help me," he said with a hopeful look, "I know it's a lot to ask…I know that…well…"
Katrina stopped him before he rambled on anymore, "Of course we will. I've told you many times now, Michael that we're happy to help you with Jonas whenever you need us. We're family now, remember?"
He gave a quick smile wrapping an arm around Katrina giving her a quick one-armed hug before they began walking again.
"I don't know what I would do without you two," Rip told her sincerely.
Squeezing his arm Katrina smiled, "Flounder helplessly."
x
Frustration filled Rip when the power didn't come on. He had been so sure that he had made the connections correctly.
"Damn," he snapped, slamming his hand against the wall.
"I don't know what it did to you," a voice made him turn, "But I think it's sorry."
Rip sighed seeing the woman standing behind him, "Dr McGee, I didn't realise you were here."
"Just checking up on your progress," she told him motioning the cups in her hand, "And I brought you something to drink."
Rip smiled, "Then you are more than welcome."
McGee handed him the cup of tea, "So, I'm guessing things aren't going as well as we'd hoped."
"It's the power," Rip sighed, "No matter what I do there is never enough power to activate the systems. I need to check whatever is powering this. I know," he said before she could protest, "Because of the top-secret nature of the project we're meant to be only working on separate systems but if I am going to get any further on this I need more power."
McGee sighed, "Alright, I will speak with the people in charge and see what I can do for you."
"Thank you," he said, "And now I am going to return to putting circuits back together that won't work for me."
x
"No."
"Cisco."
"It's a completely horrible idea."
Tina held up her hands to placate him, "I understand that this adds an element of risk to what we're doing here but if he doesn't have the power Michael can't repair Gideon."
A grimace crossed Cisco's face, what they were doing was risky as it was but giving Rip access to more of the Waverider would be tempting fate.
"Without Gideon," Tina continued, "We can't find the missing people, your friends."
Cisco let out a long sigh, "Okay. I think if I remove the core from the Time Drive then things should still work and there's less chance of bringing his memories back or accidentally scattering him through time again."
She frowned at him, "There are days you should keep your thought processes internal, Cisco."
He shrugged, "Where's the fun in that?"
Tina rolled her eyes at him, "Let me know the moment you have it sorted."
"You know I'm now going to have to make an entrance to the engine room from where he is," Cisco complained as he headed away leaving Tina to return to where Hunter was working and let him know she'd received permission for him to work on the 'power source'.
x
Rip grimaced for a moment before picking up the screwdriver and opening the panel in front of him. This would help him finish his work in the other section if he could get what appeared to be an engine working. Unfortunately it was a total mess, if he didn't know better he would think there had been an explosion in here but that would be impossible.
The hours passed quickly as Rip worked and he let out a cry of relief at his success when the engine began to hum.
Now he had power Rip headed back to the systems he'd originally been brought in to fix. The moment he reached the console he was working on Rip began making the connections with a lot more confidence, now he knew he had power he was sure he could get this working. Finding a file hidden within the system Rip activated it assuming it was a test programme of some kind.
To his surprise the small screen to one side of him came to life and Rip stared in bemusement when his own face appeared on it.
"Hello, Michael," the man on the screen said softly, "If you're seeing this then your memories have begun to return to a degree either you've contacted the Star Labs team or they've had to bring you in for your own safety. I understand how strange and frightening this experience is but it was necessary."
Rip stared at the screen frozen with shock.
"I know you have a million questions," the other version of him continued, "I know you want me to tell you everything but I can't. What I can tell you is that the decision to change your memories, the decision you, well I made was for one reason only. To protect Jonas."