Gideon ran onto the roof, Alex and Hannah Matthews with her, horrified to see Rip being dragged over the edge by the man they were after.

"Rip!" she screamed running to the spot he had been seeing only water beneath them, "Rip."

Turning back to where Kara was being helped up by Alex she felt hope leave her when Kara tried to fly but couldn't.

"I'm sorry," Kara breathed, "I can't."

Gideon could hear Hannah calling for help over the radio feeling completely useless. The last time Rip had fallen from a building she had been there, flying the Waverider to catch him. Now she was unable to do anything.

J'onn suddenly flew past her diving into the water below them. The wait was agonising, the final two members of the group they'd been working with arrived waiting with them. Gideon let out the breath she didn't realise she was holding when J'onn broke through the surface carrying the two men.

"Matthews, get Kara back to the DEO," Alex ordered, passing her weakened sister over to the other woman.

J'onn dropped their suspect onto the roof next to the other agents before gently placing Rip on the ground beside Alex. He was motionless, pale turning blue and blood was flowing freely from a bullet wound in his gut.

"He's not breathing," Alex stated starting CPR.

Kneeling at her Captain's side, Gideon gripped his cold hand while Alex tried to get him breathing again silently begging him to hold on, to come back to her and not give in. Finally Rip began to cough, spitting water out and gasping for air.

"We need to get him back to the DEO," Alex said, "He's already lost a lot of blood."

J'onn nodded, gently lifting Rip again, "We'll meet you there."

Gideon turned to Alex who wrapped Gideon in her arms hugging her tightly.

"This is Rip," Alex reminded her soothingly, "He is tough and pig-headed. He'll be fine."

After a few minutes Alex released Gideon, pulled her to her feet and silently started them off the roof heading back to the DEO.

Kara lay on the bed beneath the artificial sunlight allowing it to remove the lingering after-effects of the Kryptonite. Turning to one side she could see where Rip was being treated, mostly obscured by the doctors and nurses as they worked to save him after he was shot.

Shot protecting her.

"Hey," Hannah Matthews arrived at her side, "How do you feel?"

Kara nodded as she sat up, "I'm fine. How's Rip?"

Hannah shook her head, "We're still waiting. He lost a lot of blood and the dip in the ocean didn't help."

"Where's Gideon?" Kara asked worried about her friend.

"Alex has her locked down in the break room," Hannah said, "She's…worried."

Grimacing Kara slid off the bed, grateful as the other woman caught her arm when she wobbled helping her regain her balance before she headed downstairs to check on her friend. Entering the small room Kara saw Gideon sitting on one of the small couches, her arms wrapped around her legs knees pulled up to her chest, pale with worry written all over her face. Alex had an arm around the other woman rocking her gently as they waited for word.

"Kara," Alex sighed relieved to see her, "How do you feel?"

"I'm fine," she assured, taking a seat on Gideon's other side, "Two encounters with Kryptonite in as many days though is not good."

Gideon took her hand, "I'm glad you're okay."

"Rip is going to be fine," Kara said, "You know him better than any of us that he is strong and extremely stubborn."

Alex nodded, "Remember when he first found him? He was only conscious because he is so obstinate," she gently stroked Gideon's hair, "He won't leave you."

They sat together Kara and Alex simply holding Gideon while she sat silently worrying. The door opened and J'onn walked in.

"Rip is out of surgery. The Doctor says it went well and should heal fine," he told them, "Now all we can do is wait for him to wake up."

x

Gideon stepped into the infirmary room where Rip lay. He was still unconscious after the surgery, pale and unmoving. Taking the seat at his bedside, Gideon reached out and took his hand. She had seen him injured so many times and almost always been able to heal him. Now, all she could so was sit at his side and wait.

"He looks so much younger like this," Gideon noted softly, "When he doesn't have the weight of the world on his shoulders, when he isn't trying to pretend he doesn't care about all he's lost. I miss seeing him like this. Free from all the pain but I wish it wasn't because he was injured."

Alex rested her arm around Gideon's shoulder, "What was he like? Before."

Gideon smiled slightly, "Rip loved being a Time Master, he loved flying around time keeping it safe. He is still protective of those he cares for but he laughed so much more. Especially around Miranda and Jonas."

Taking a seat at Rip's other side, Alex took his hand, "Rip's talked about Jonas a little but never told me anything about Miranda."

Gideon looked over at her friend, "Miranda was…" she laughed softly, "She was even more of an adrenalin junkie than Rip was. Brilliant, intuitive, she could think outside the box but gave up the Time Masters because they wouldn't let her be in love. Miranda was beautiful in every way and she loved him so much."

Alex tilted her head thoughtfully at the feeling in her friend's voice, "And you loved her too."

"Yes," Gideon whispered sadly, "I sometimes wonder what she would think seeing me in this form."

Alex chuckled softly, "Probably be fascinated."

"I should be able to do more," Gideon sighed suddenly gently stroking Rip's hair, "When I was an AI I could work the medical equipment to care for him but I chose to become human again. I should have fixed the medical equipment from the Phoenix first or helped ensure the one Rip pulled together when he first came worked better."

"Stop," Alex said sternly, "You can't predict the future, Gideon even when you were an AI. Rip is a big boy and he makes his own decisions. You said it yourself, Rip looks after the people he cares about."

Gideon sighed, "I know and he loves Kara even though he didn't want to. After what happened with the Legends he was so afraid to let anyone else into his heart. But you, Kara, James, Winn and J'onn are people he cares about despite himself." She suddenly let out a quiet sob, "I was fighting with him for being over-protective of me and typically he's the one who ended up injured."

Alex moved to Gideon's side and hugged her again, "It's okay. He's going to be okay."

Gideon was asleep curled up on the bed in the room next to Rip's, she hadn't even noticed when J'onn had moved her from the seat beside her Captain she was so exhausted.

Alex stepped into the room where Winn was sitting beside Rip reading 'The Martian' to him, according to Gideon it was one of the books in his 'to read' list. They'd been taking turns sitting with Rip over the past few days, reading or talking to him, waiting for him to wake up usually with Gideon there just holding onto Rip's hand.

"Hey," Alex rested her hand on Winn's shoulder, "I'll take over. You're needed downstairs."

Winn nodded, handing her the book, "We're just at the start of the page."

Alex squeezed his shoulder before taking the seat Winn vacated and starting to read. Almost an hour later a soft moan came from the bed and Alex dropped the book turning to check the patient.

"Rip?" Alex called softly, checking the readouts on the screens beside the bed, "Rip, can you hear me?"

"Alex," he sighed, his voice rough from lack of use over the past few days, "Where…Where…"

Alex gently hushed him, "You were shot and then fell off a building into the ocean. You've been unconscious for a couple of days."

"Gideon?" he asked softly.

Alex squeezed his hand, "She's fine. Asleep in the room next door because she has barely left this room."

Rip let out another soft sigh, "Kara?"

"You saved her," Alex replied.

"Good," Rip murmured, only barely conscious at this point making Alex smile.

Resting her hand on his forehead Alex told him, "I've called the doctor so try to stay awake for that okay?"

"Sure," he sighed.

x

Gideon hugged her Captain tightly, not seeing him wince slightly in pain only knowing he didn't let go of her as she held onto him. Waking up to find he was awake had been such a relief after the past few days of waiting.

"I'm fine, Gideon," Rip soothed, fingers sliding through her hair, "The doctors have checked me and I am going to be fine."

She buried her face against his neck, "I thought I had lost you."

"Never," Rip murmured.

Pulling back Gideon wiped her eyes staring at him with a frown, "That was a stupid thing you did, Rip."

"He had a gun to Kara's head," Rip reminded her, "She was weakened by the Kryptonite, I couldn't let anything happen to her."

Gideon stroked his cheek, "I know. You care about her and the others."

Rip dropped his eyes slightly, "Yes."

"Why is that so hard for you to admit, Captain?" Gideon shook her head, "It is a good thing. To be involved in this world, to have made connections once again."

"Gideon…"

"You know Kara and Alex think of you as a brother," Gideon cut him off, "Winn, J'onn and James are also your friend. All have been here waiting for you to waken, reading to you when I couldn't."

With a soft sigh Rip shifted slightly on the bed, "Come here."

Climbing onto the bed beside him Gideon hugged him tightly again, Rip closing his eyes as he held onto her.

"Okay," Alex's voice made Rip look up from the book he was reading, "I have just talked with Dr Collins and your tests results show you are able to be released."

Dropping the book Rip's head fell back against the pillows in relief. He was going out of his mind with boredom at being stuck here.

"Excellent," he sighed, frowning when Alex stopped him trying to get out of the bed.

"Gideon is bringing some clothes for you," she told him, "There's no point in moving until she gets here."

Rip sighed, "Fine. Since I'm still stuck here, what happened with the man who attacked Kara?"

"It turns out he was the last of a group who were working to try and kill Supergirl," Alex grimaced, "Somehow they were convinced that they could use Gideon to do so. He got frustrated that it wasn't working so killed all the others then used the Kryptonite to lure Kara out."

Rip stared at her, "It's over? Gideon is safe?"

Alex nodded, "Yeah. You can stop trying to lock her in a tower."

"I was only trying to…"

"I know you're trying to protect her," Alex laughed, shaking her head in bemusement, "When are you going to admit you're in love with her."

Rip stiffened slightly, "Why would you…

"Because I see the two of you," Alex cut him off, "I see the way you look at her, the contented expression on your face you get when she is in your arms, the way you do everything to make her smile."

Rip stared at his friend, "Gideon is my best friend, she has been there for me, seen me at the lowest points of my life and I can't bear to think of my life without her."

"So?"

"She deserves so much better than me, Alex. She deserves someone who is worthy of her and that's not me," Rip told her relieved that before Alex could say anything else Gideon arrived carrying a bag.

"I have brought you something to wear, Captain," Gideon smiled at him, "Get dressed and I will take you home."

Giving her a smile Rip motioned her and Alex to leave so he could have some privacy. Slowly dressing he let out a long sigh of relief to know that Gideon was not in danger anymore. They no longer needed to worry about that. Pulling back the curtain he smiled when Gideon instantly moved to his side sliding her arm around his waist.

"Let's go home, Captain," she gave him a smile.

Sighing softly happy to have her at his side, "That sounds like a great idea."

Sitting in her office she smiled to herself. Thanks to that idiot killing all the others then trying to kill Supergirl she had lost all her allies, but it also meant that the DEO were no longer on alert.

The woman she wanted would no longer be watched constantly.

Once she made a new plan then it would be easier to get her prize and she would finally rid the Earth of that alien scum in a skirt.