Cisco, Joe and Caitlin looked at the unconscious man and child Mick Rory had brought with him.
"So, this is the guy who persuaded you and Snart to become heroes?" Cisco mused thoughtfully checking the information on the screens before him.
Mick snorted, "No, he persuaded us to help him kill someone."
Joe choked slightly on the coffee he was drinking while Caitlin kept her eyes on her patients.
"Okay," Cisco replied before changing the subject quickly, "I have spoken with Tina McGee at Mercury labs, we've worked with her every so often, and she is happy to give Rip a job. There's even a really good day-care for Jonas."
Mick shrugged.
"I also managed to find an apartment for them," Cisco continued, "It's in a pretty good part of town and everything was moved in today ready for them. All we need to add is the personal items I made and you brought with you."
"Thank you for all of this, Mr Ramon, Detective West, Dr Snow," Gideon spoke up, "I know Captain Hunter appreciates your help, even if he shall never be able to tell you."
"It's not a problem, Gideon," Cisco replied for them.
"I have some additional information that is for your eyes only," Gideon told him.
Cisco glanced at Mick who was standing over the little boy protectively, while Caitlin checked over the health of their two guests.
"I'll be back in a few minutes," Cisco told them, he headed to his own lab, "Okay, Gideon. What do you have for me?"
Silence answered him for a few seconds before several files appeared on the screen in front of him, "I am downloading information to you which contains possible triggers for Captain Hunter's memories. I ask that you read them but keep all the information to yourself."
Cisco nodded, "I promise, Gideon."
"I…" Gideon started pausing for a second before continuing, "I also wish to thank you for your help. My primary purpose is Captain Hunter's protection and as this is all I can do to protect him now then I am very grateful for your help."
"It's not a problem, Gideon," Cisco assured her, "And I assure you that I will do everything I can to keep them both safe."
x
The breach shimmered when it opened in the living room of the comfortable two-bedroom apartment Cisco had found for Rip. Mick looked round approvingly of the place, nodding that it looked like quite a nice place and good for a kid.
"The main bedroom," Cisco motioned, "Put him on the bed."
Mick nodded, Rip's limp body hanging over his shoulder as the larger man carried him into the main bedroom. Cisco turned to Joe who carried the unconscious little boy.
"I didn't set up anything other than the bed in the main bedroom," Cisco explained, "Made it more realistic that they got here late at night."
Joe nodded and followed Mick into the bedroom, Cisco placed the box he was carrying on top of the others sitting there waiting to be unpacked before he stepped back through to Star Labs and picked up the cases with their clothes. Adding the cases to everything waiting to be unpacked Cisco pulled out the wallet with all the ID Rip would need that he'd had made. He also had to remember to send Lyla a bottle of wine for all her help.
"That's them," Mick stated when he and Joe reappeared.
Cisco nodded, "Breach is still open, I've got one last thing to organise."
"I need a beer," Mick noted as he disappeared through back to Star Labs.
Joe rolled his eyes before nodding, "I might join him after this."
Cisco chuckled and headed to the main bedroom where the former time traveller and his son both slept. He placed the wallet and passports on the bedside table before gently removing the small inhibitors that was keeping them unconscious as well as completing the updates on their memories.
"Good luck, Mr Hunter," Cisco said softly, "Hope I don't have to see you."
Switching off the light Cisco opened another breach and returned to Star Labs.
"That was Rip," Jax stated amazement in his eyes and voice while Cisco dragged him out of the ship.
Cisco held up his hands, "I can explain…well I can't really."
"That was Rip," Jax said again, "Who is supposed to be dead. Do the others still think he's dead, how is he alive and here and have no idea who I am?"
"Stop," Cisco snapped, "Jax, yes that is Rip Hunter. Yes, he is alive. Yes, the others think he's still dead and I cannot tell you anything else."
Frowning Jax shook his head, "You need to tell me something, Cisco."
Cisco grimaced, "Alright. All you need to know is Rip has no memory of who he used to be and I…we are protecting him."
"Protecting him?" Jax demanded stunned, "From what?"
"I can't tell you," Cisco replied, "Look," he stopped Jax from saying anything else, "I have told you more than I should have. And we have taken a big chance bringing him onto the ship to fix Gideon to save the others. Once he has her up and running you need to take over, so I can get him out of here. And you cannot tell anyone else about this. Especially not the Legends."
Annoyance covered the other man's face, "I don't like this, Cisco."
"You don't have to, Jax. If you want to save your friends, you just have to do it," Cisco replied sharply before he turned away and walked back into the ship.
x
Rip heard Cisco and the other man talking as they left him alone again. He honestly hadn't intended to come back here this morning, he'd spent most of the night sitting staring at the blank TV screen trying to work out what he should do.
Then Jonas got up.
Rip didn't even notice his little boy until Jonas climbed onto Rip's lap to give him a hug because Jonas thought he needed one. The fear of losing his son hit him again, that ice-cold terror deep in the pit of his stomach that made him hold onto Jonas tightly and Rip knew he couldn't let anyone feel that pain.
Not if he could help prevent it.
So here he was.
Taking a deep breath Rip looked over the circuitry and systems he'd already had worked on. Pulling out his tools Rip connected his tablet to the system and booted it up hoping that he could finish repairs as fast as possible.
Because once he had then he was leaving this city and getting Jonas as far away as possible from these people and this insanity.
x
"Can I ask how things are going?" Cisco asked softly from behind Rip.
Turning to the younger man Rip frowned, "Slowly."
"Thank you for coming back," Cisco said sincerely, "I know that this must seem pretty insane to you, mind you insane is kind of our watchword around here these days."
Rip took a deep breath, "I am here for one reason only. That is to get this up and running so you can find Detective West's son. Then I will be out of here."
Cisco nodded, "I understand. Can I get you anything? Coffee? Tea?"
Rip stared at him for a moment seeing the other man shift uncomfortably under his gaze before he nodded, "Coffee would be good. I didn't get much sleep last night."
"Welcome to my world," Cisco noted, "Since the particle accelerator exploded I get about one full nights sleep every three or four days. If it's a good week."
Rip chuckled slightly at that, "I'll take that coffee and get back to work."
When Cisco left Rip refocussed on what he was here to do. Despite everything else Rip felt a strange peace settle on him as he worked on the systems.
It was so comfortable sitting on the floor working on the controls of whatever the hell this place actually was. Pulling out his phone Rip started playing one of his playlists which relaxed him even more.
He barely noticed Cisco dropping off a large cup of coffee along with some pastries, or the tea and sandwiches that came later although he did drink and eat them all.
Rip jumped when his phone buzzed reminding him to call Jonas over lunch, he didn't like not having lunch with his son but it was currently necessary. Jonas had pouted quite a bit at the change of routine, he liked his routine a lot but understood that Rip would only be doing this for a short time.
Finishing his conversation with his son, Rip stood up and stretched his back. He tilted his head slightly to loosen his neck and suddenly spotted wires hidden at the back that were completely burnt out.
"That's it," Rip breathed, "That's the problem. I need replacement parts."
x
"How is he doing?" Joe asked when Cisco walked in to the lab.
Cisco nodded, "I think he's doing okay. I barely got an acknowledgement, but he seems to know what he's doing now."
Joe nodded as well.
"Hey," Cisco said softly, "We're going to find Wally. Rip is fixing Gideon, and once he has her up and running she will be able to guide Jax through the rest of the repairs."
"Good."
Cisco clapped his arm comfortingly, "After this I'm going to offer to remove his memories again. And ask Gideon how to do the same to Jax."
"I can't fix it," Rip's voice came suddenly making them both turn to find him walking into the cortex.
"What?" Joe asked.
The former time traveller held up his hands to calm the other man explaining further, "Not without replacing certain parts of the system. I can't fix what's there, they're completely fried and there is nothing I can salvage."
Cisco grimaced in thought, they couldn't let Rip see any more of the ship than they already had. What he knew was too much already and if he remembered much more then they wouldn't be able to remove his memories again.
"Give me a list of everything you need and I'll see what I can do," Cisco assured him.
Rip nodded, handing him a sheet of paper he had ready, "I'll get back to what I can fix."
Cisco took the paper, watching Rip leave before he turned back to Joe, "I will get this to Jax and have him scavenge what Rip needs from the rest of the ship. If I'm right then once Gideon is up and running she can fabricate whatever we use."
"Are you not sleeping again?" Katrina demanded when she caught up with Rip as he was heading to work the next morning after dropping Jonas off at her apartment, Ali was taking him to day-care.
Rip shrugged, "It's different this time."
"Michael…"
"Katrina, the project I'm working on is quite…" he sighed, "It's complex. I'll be fine once I've finished it."
She stared at him thoughtfully for several moments before nodding, "If you're sure."
Rip nodded before lying, "Everything is fine. I promise."
"Okay," Katrina patted his arm, "Don't worry about Jonas, we'll look after him and he will go to bed at a reasonable time, despite Ali's teasing."
Despite himself Rip chuckled, "I know. In some ways you two are stricter than I am."
Katrina smiled, "I'll see you later."
Rip sighed in relief as she started off on a jog the opposite way to where his car was parked. He wanted to tell the girls about everything, about the message from the man who was supposedly him but he knew he couldn't. It made no sense to him so knew there was no way he could explain it to them.
Reaching Star Labs Rip headed up the ramp to start working. Finding a box sitting waiting for him with the components he needed to finish the repairs, Rip hoped this meant this would be his last day here.
x
"How's it coming?" Cisco's voice made Rip look up from beneath the console.
"Almost there," Rip told him, "I have a few more connections to make and it will be fixed…I hope."
Surprise covered the younger man's face, "Really?"
Rip nodded, "Assuming I'm right then yes."
"Good," Cisco nodded, "Alright I'll hang around while you finish and, as soon as we know this is fixed, you're done."
"Give me ten more minutes," Rip told him before disappearing back beneath the console.
He worked in silence, fixing connections and testing them finally satisfied that everything was back together.
"Alright," Rip slid back out and stood rolling his shoulders to loosen them, "Here goes."
Tapping the start up sequence in Rip smiled as the console began to power up. Slowly at first but then everything lit up and he let out a sigh of relief.
"That's great," Cisco stated quickly, "You need to go now. I'll meet you in the lab."
Understanding the younger man needed him to leave to ensure he didn't see anything else Rip started down the ramp but stopped suddenly at the voice coming from behind him.
"Mr Ramon," a woman said, "It is good to see you."
Turning back Rip stared at the large blue hologrammatic head floating above the console he had been fixing. His feet started moving without thought as he moved closer to her, a need to talk to her filling him.
"Gideon."