A Time For Great Things - Chapter 13
Chapter Summary: There might be nothing like dying to make you think about all the wrong choices... but there was also nothing like a welcome home party to give you time to get cold feet about doing the things you didn’t do before.
60,000 Feet Above The Pacific, June 21, 1945
There might be nothing like dying to make you think about all the wrong choices, Leonard reflected. But there was also nothing like a welcome home party to give you time to get cold feet about doing the things you didn’t do before.
The irony of having cold feet wasn’t lost on him, either.
Gideon had taken them to the last place and time the Waverider had visited, parking the ship in the same airspace where they’d repaired the damage from a dogfight with World War II fighters.
So that vision had been true. Leonard wondered how long it would take him to sort true from false.
The ship and crew were more depleted than damaged after intercepting Jurgen’s Ridge. The setting sun gave them just enough power to restore full life support for tonight. Tomorrow, they’d fix the ship again, while the Waverider’s solar array got a full recharge.
But in the meantime, the team got its own recharge with a celebratory meal. (“You haven’t had anything to eat in over two months,” Raymond had pointed out. “Even if it feels like it was only a couple of hours.”)
Gideon actually threw out her health-conscious protocols for the night, replicating anything anyone asked for.
She even made Leonard some pickled eggs just like the ones at Saints and Sinners.
They’d brought it all up to the bridge, where there was more space than in the cramped galley, where they could watch the nearly full moon rising, and where Rip had easy access to another excellent bottle of scotch. And Stein didn’t complain when Jax got a glass along with all the rest.
Stories flowed along with the liquor, starting with the defeat of Savage and the appearance of Leonard’s own future self on a Central City rooftop. And he didn’t miss how Sara interrupted Jax in the retelling of that appearance, steering the story toward the departure of Carter and Kendra.
Some of the tales were humorous. He smirked at the mental image of a gigantic Atom carrying Sara and Rip in his hands, and at the idea of Raymond getting drafted into a chorus. (And based on what Mick said, he was glad Raymond didn’t give them a sample of the song.)
Some of them were startling. So Rip had rescued his wife once, just not the version he still so desperately wanted to save. (One of the images from the Ridge flashed into his mind then: some battlefield? He’d have to take some time to pick that vision apart later.)
And some of the stories were obviously more painful than they wanted him to know. Sara admitted to fighting against memories of being shipwrecked, but Raymond refused to talk about the Morro Castle altogether, an uncharacteristic dark cloud passing over the man’s face.
Back on the Ridge, Leonard had been stunned by a vision of how they’d mourned him after the Vanishing Point. But hearing how they’d all risked themselves, mentally and physically, to get him back… that stunned him even more.
Even Stein, who’d once been so derisive toward Leonard and Mick, had nearly been swept away by floodwaters during their stop in Cape Town. He could have died, widowing Clarissa… and Jax, too, for that matter.
The implications of that were staggering. No one, no one, had ever done so much or risked so much for him.
Well, maybe the Flash and his team, though he’d always thought they’d only helped Lisa because Cisco was sweet on her. Surely Barry Allen hadn’t risked a bullet just because he thought Leonard Snart had good in him.
Knowing just some of what his friends had done to save him gave him a feeling he couldn’t remember ever having before. He didn’t know what to call it, and he sure as hell didn’t know what to do with it, beyond thanking them.
Surprisingly, that seemed to be more than enough for them. Well, that and a barely tolerated hug from Raymond.
But there was no talk of him owing anything to anyone. No expectations of quid pro quo.
That was beyond his experience, and it also gave him a feeling he couldn’t quite name.
Nor was he sure what to do with his feelings for Sara, although he was pretty certain he knew what to call them. Sure, she’d kissed him at the Oculus when she thought he was going to die. But now, after that long, tearful reunion embrace, she was keeping just a little distance from him.
Oh, no more than had been their habit before. But after seeing what could be, even that distance felt like… a million miles away.
Maybe she was just giving him his space, remembering that he’d never been one for close contact before?
Or maybe she didn’t want to encourage him. That kiss might have merely been a goodbye, and not a response to “me and you.”
The images he’d seen of her on the Ridge were just possibilities, after all. They weren’t promises. And as much as he wanted to make them come true, he knew all too well that it would be too easy to make them never come true.
He was running out of time to figure it out. One by one, their teammates said their goodnights and wandered off to their rooms. Mick and Sara were the last to linger, and soon enough, Mick knocked back his last drink and stood up.
“Happy drinking’s definitely better than sad drinking,” he declared with a wink at Sara. “We need to do this more.”
Then he fixed Leonard with a glare. “But Boss, if you ever, ever knock me out again…”
One side of Leonard’s mouth quirked up. “I got it, Mick.” He huffed in surprise when Mick pulled him out of his seat and into a bear hug, and chuckled a little when Mick released him. “All this touchy-feely stuff isn’t like you, partner.”
Mick gave him a half smile. “Well, buddy, people change.”
Leonard nodded, hearing the echo of his own words so long ago. “Got that, too. Mick… thanks.” He didn’t say for what; the list was decades long.
Mick returned the nod, then raised an eyebrow and jerked his head over toward Sara. She was now sitting in front of the forward window, gazing out at the night sky. Mick gave him a significant look before heading down the passageway to his quarters.
Leonard turned back to Sara. She was looking at the moon, fingering a silver locket around her neck. For just a moment, images from the Ridge overlaid his vision: the little girl she’d once been, and the woman she might one day become.
But first, he needed to talk to the woman she was right now. He blinked, and the images were gone. He took a deep breath to steady his nerves, then sat next to her, not touching, but within easy reach.
He decided to start with something safe. “That’s new,” he said, motioning toward the locket as she shifted to look at him.
“Jewelry by Gideon,” she said. “She gave us each a timer for placing those pieces of chronium. This one is mine.” She opened it to reveal a digital clock inside.
He leaned forward to examine it more closely, and noticed an additional frame between the locket’s two sides. He flipped it down over the clock to see a photo of himself inside. He flicked his eyes up to Sara’s and was surprised to see her blushing, just a little.
“Gideon,” she said with a slight shrug.
Her blush got a bit deeper when his fingers moved from the locket to the silver ring on her right hand. “Um, Mick gave me this after… you know,” she said. “If you want it back…” She pulled her hands back to start taking the ring off.
He shook his head and leaned back, giving her a little breathing room. “Keep it,” he said. “Looks better on you than it ever did on me. And after what we’ve been through… I’ll never need a reminder about things going sideways ever again.”
He looked out the window at the moon. “You were right, you know. About dying. It is lonely. I mean, I know I wasn’t really dead. But still… I may as well have been a million miles away from everyone I cared about. Lisa, Mick…” he paused and looked back into her eyes, “and you.”
She took in a deep breath at that. He leaned forward again, so her eyes were just a little above his. “Sara, before the Oculus, I told you I’d been wondering what the future might hold for me and you. While I was on the Ridge, I saw…”
She put her hand up to stop him. “Don’t tell me, Len. You know you can’t.” Then she laid that hand against his cheek. “Let’s just… let it happen?”
He reached out to mirror her action. “Me and you?” he asked her softly.
When she smiled and nodded, he closed the million miles between them to kiss her.
He meant to let her have control of the kiss, but the touch of their lips woke something in him and he needed… more. He snaked his free arm around her waist, pulling her closer, sliding his other hand from her cheek into her hair.
Sara whimpered into the kiss just a little, and surged toward him so she could straddle his lap, looping one arm under his and up his back, and running her other hand from his cheek to the back of his head.
It was everything he’d ever dared to imagine: Sara’s body pressed up against his, her hand caressing his back, her mouth opening sweetly to him when he flicked his tongue against her lips.
In fact, it was more than he’d dared to imagine, and it occurred to him for a moment that this could all just be another illusion. The thought made him hold her just a little tighter, cradling the back of her head in his hand, humming as the contact reassured him that yes, this was Sara, right where he’d wanted her for so long and yes, this was real.
His lips traveled from her mouth to her jawline and over to her ear, where he drew a groan from her with just a whisper of her name. Then he kissed his way down her neck, pausing at the pulse point there and finding more reassurance in its steady throb. He sighed and rested his head against her shoulder for a moment, just holding her and breathing her in while she traced gentle patterns on the nape of his neck.
“Gotta say,” he murmured, “I liked our second kiss a lot better than our first. Nobody’s about to die.”
He felt her shake a little with laughter, and raised his head to look at her. “What? I was serious.”
“Sorry. Time travel,” she said with a smile. “That was our second kiss for you, but not for me.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Is that why you interrupted Jax’s story about Future Me saving the day? There was kissing involved? Or will be?”
She nodded and leaned her forehead against his. “I didn’t want to put any pressure on you.”
There was more to it than that. He could tell from the slight stiffness in her spine, and he remembered the vision of a rooftop kiss that he’d thought was just a fantasy.
Apparently it wasn’t.
But he wasn’t going to put any pressure on her, either. They could talk about it later. “It’s okay, Sara. Gives me something to look forward to.” He gently ran his hand up and down her back as he angled his head to capture her lips once more.
She sighed when they parted. “Len, do you remember what you told me about the things you didn’t do?” Her question was soft.
He gave her a single, slow nod.
“After the Oculus, they kept me up at night too.”
He cupped her cheek to kiss her again, then said, “I can think of better things to keep us up tonight.”
She nodded and leaned forward for another kiss. He wrapped his arms around her and stood up, lifting her easily, keeping his mouth on hers. She giggled a little against his lips and locked her legs around his waist as he began to walk toward her room.
No more worrying about the things they hadn’t done, or the things that could be. He had right now, and at this moment, with Sara in his arms? Right now was enough.
--
Gideon had apparently reverted back to being the health police, judging by the baskets of fruit and bran muffins she served up for breakfast the next morning. He and Sara wandered in late, to be greeted with a wink and a nod from Mick, a knowing smile from Stein, and a little uncomfortable fidgeting by Jax. But there were also looks of concern from Rip, and from Ray, who shoved a cup of coffee at Len, saying, “I know you didn’t sleep much last night.”
Silence fell for just a moment, then Ray turned red as Mick let out a bark of laughter. “Well, at least I know I don’t have to pull your head outta your ass, Boss!”
“I do not want to know!” Jax declared as he slid off one of the stools, letting Len take his place. “C’mon, Mick. You were gonna help me with the engines.”
Mick followed the young mechanic out, still chuckling. Ray stood there, gaping a little, then said, “I just meant that I heard…”
“Careful, Ray,” Sara warned as she took the seat next to Len and grabbed a muffin. “Your foot’s already in your mouth!”
“I wasn’t talking about that!” Ray huffed out. “Although… I heard...” He looked a little sheepish now. “My room is right next to yours, Sara…”
“Payback for you and Kendra,” Sara countered.
“…and I really need to talk to Gideon about the soundproofing…”
“Raymond.”
Just one icy word from Len stopped the babble, and the sheepish expression was gone. But the look of concern was back. “What I heard sounded like you having a nightmare, Snart,” the scientist finally managed to finish.
Len grunted and took a sip of the coffee, letting Sara answer. “It was. He saw me dying.” She ran a soothing hand over his shoulder.
“Just a leftover from the Ridge,” Len said. “I’ll be fine.” He caught Rip eyeing him, and repeated, in an irritated voice, “I’ll be fine. I’ve dealt with nightmares all my life.”
Rip looked ready to debate the matter, but Sara interrupted. “Len wasn’t the only one to have nightmares last night, Rip,” she said. When his gaze shifted to her, she tilted her head a little to one side. “Laurel,” she said simply.
Len reached up to cover Sara’s hand, which had tightened on his shoulder. “We’ll help each other through it,” he said, meeting Rip’s eyes, giving him a look to say the subject is closed.
Rip lifted his chin in a clear retort. For now.
There was silence for a moment. Then Stein cleared his throat, changing the subject.
“Captain Hunter’s told me more about what he saw on the Ridge,” he said. “An actual window on history. Astonishing.”
Len snorted. “If you’re into that sort of thing. I’m not. I just wanted to know about my sister, Mick and Sara. But in some ways…” he squeezed Sara’s hand a little, “I understand why they say to be careful what you wish for.”
Ray glanced at their joined hands and smiled just a little. “Considering the visions on the Ridge drove Time Master Jurgen insane, I guess nightmares are a small price to pay.”
“I have a theory about that,” Rip said. “Mr. Snart and I both refused the larger visions offered by the Ridge. But the accounts of Jurgen’s post-Ridge ravings indicate that he tried to see everything.”
“The big picture, like a typical Time Master,” Sara said.
“Indeed,” Rip agreed. “And it drove him mad. In contrast, Mr. Snart and I focused on the small picture.”
“And so we kept our marbles,” Len said with a nod.
“ ‘There is a time for some things, and a time for all things; a time for great things and a time for small things,’ ” Stein mused. “Don Quixote.”
“Keep your eye on the ball,” Ray offered in return. When Stein looked at him, he shrugged. “You have Cervantes, I have Coach Wilson from Little League.”
“Far be it from me to question the wisdom of a Little League coach,” Stein chuckled, rising from his seat. “I’m going to see if Jefferson and Mr. Rory need any assistance.”
“And I need to suit up to check the outer hull. See what the irresistible force did to our ship,” Raymond said, putting his mug into the kitchen sink. “Later, guys.” He followed Stein out.
Rip finished his tea and put the cup into the sink. “It will take all day for our power to be fully restored. Mr. Snart, try to get some rest today, and let me know if you have any more of those nightmares. We’ll head to 2016 Central City tomorrow. I’m sure you want to see your sister.”
“Yeah,” Len nodded. “Not sure what I’m going to tell her, though.”
“Why, the truth, Mr. Snart. Her big brother is a hero,” Rip said with a smile. “But I think you’ll find she already knew that.”
Rip winked at them and headed out of the galley. Len finished his coffee and looked at the kitchen sink in dismay. “They left us with KP duty!”
Sara chuckled. “Did you forget the rule? Last in for breakfast does the dishes. And technically, you came in behind me.”
“There should be a ‘back from the dead’ exemption,” he complained.
“But you were never really dead, remember?” Sara finished her muffin and slid off her seat. “It’s just coffee cups, Len. I’ll wash, you dry, okay?”
The homey chore would have been quick work, but they kept interrupting each other with kisses and tender touches. It made him think about a day when, perhaps, they might do something like this in a place of their own. Perhaps with two small children beside them.
But… that was still something that could be. For this moment, he would enjoy right now, knowing that every “right now” would eventually lead them to “what the future might hold.”
60,000 Feet Above The Pacific, June 21, 1945
There might be nothing like dying to make you think about all the wrong choices, Leonard reflected. But there was also nothing like a welcome home party to give you time to get cold feet about doing the things you didn’t do before.
The irony of having cold feet wasn’t lost on him, either.
Gideon had taken them to the last place and time the Waverider had visited, parking the ship in the same airspace where they’d repaired the damage from a dogfight with World War II fighters.
So that vision had been true. Leonard wondered how long it would take him to sort true from false.
The ship and crew were more depleted than damaged after intercepting Jurgen’s Ridge. The setting sun gave them just enough power to restore full life support for tonight. Tomorrow, they’d fix the ship again, while the Waverider’s solar array got a full recharge.
But in the meantime, the team got its own recharge with a celebratory meal. (“You haven’t had anything to eat in over two months,” Raymond had pointed out. “Even if it feels like it was only a couple of hours.”)
Gideon actually threw out her health-conscious protocols for the night, replicating anything anyone asked for.
She even made Leonard some pickled eggs just like the ones at Saints and Sinners.
They’d brought it all up to the bridge, where there was more space than in the cramped galley, where they could watch the nearly full moon rising, and where Rip had easy access to another excellent bottle of scotch. And Stein didn’t complain when Jax got a glass along with all the rest.
Stories flowed along with the liquor, starting with the defeat of Savage and the appearance of Leonard’s own future self on a Central City rooftop. And he didn’t miss how Sara interrupted Jax in the retelling of that appearance, steering the story toward the departure of Carter and Kendra.
Some of the tales were humorous. He smirked at the mental image of a gigantic Atom carrying Sara and Rip in his hands, and at the idea of Raymond getting drafted into a chorus. (And based on what Mick said, he was glad Raymond didn’t give them a sample of the song.)
Some of them were startling. So Rip had rescued his wife once, just not the version he still so desperately wanted to save. (One of the images from the Ridge flashed into his mind then: some battlefield? He’d have to take some time to pick that vision apart later.)
And some of the stories were obviously more painful than they wanted him to know. Sara admitted to fighting against memories of being shipwrecked, but Raymond refused to talk about the Morro Castle altogether, an uncharacteristic dark cloud passing over the man’s face.
Back on the Ridge, Leonard had been stunned by a vision of how they’d mourned him after the Vanishing Point. But hearing how they’d all risked themselves, mentally and physically, to get him back… that stunned him even more.
Even Stein, who’d once been so derisive toward Leonard and Mick, had nearly been swept away by floodwaters during their stop in Cape Town. He could have died, widowing Clarissa… and Jax, too, for that matter.
The implications of that were staggering. No one, no one, had ever done so much or risked so much for him.
Well, maybe the Flash and his team, though he’d always thought they’d only helped Lisa because Cisco was sweet on her. Surely Barry Allen hadn’t risked a bullet just because he thought Leonard Snart had good in him.
Knowing just some of what his friends had done to save him gave him a feeling he couldn’t remember ever having before. He didn’t know what to call it, and he sure as hell didn’t know what to do with it, beyond thanking them.
Surprisingly, that seemed to be more than enough for them. Well, that and a barely tolerated hug from Raymond.
But there was no talk of him owing anything to anyone. No expectations of quid pro quo.
That was beyond his experience, and it also gave him a feeling he couldn’t quite name.
Nor was he sure what to do with his feelings for Sara, although he was pretty certain he knew what to call them. Sure, she’d kissed him at the Oculus when she thought he was going to die. But now, after that long, tearful reunion embrace, she was keeping just a little distance from him.
Oh, no more than had been their habit before. But after seeing what could be, even that distance felt like… a million miles away.
Maybe she was just giving him his space, remembering that he’d never been one for close contact before?
Or maybe she didn’t want to encourage him. That kiss might have merely been a goodbye, and not a response to “me and you.”
The images he’d seen of her on the Ridge were just possibilities, after all. They weren’t promises. And as much as he wanted to make them come true, he knew all too well that it would be too easy to make them never come true.
He was running out of time to figure it out. One by one, their teammates said their goodnights and wandered off to their rooms. Mick and Sara were the last to linger, and soon enough, Mick knocked back his last drink and stood up.
“Happy drinking’s definitely better than sad drinking,” he declared with a wink at Sara. “We need to do this more.”
Then he fixed Leonard with a glare. “But Boss, if you ever, ever knock me out again…”
One side of Leonard’s mouth quirked up. “I got it, Mick.” He huffed in surprise when Mick pulled him out of his seat and into a bear hug, and chuckled a little when Mick released him. “All this touchy-feely stuff isn’t like you, partner.”
Mick gave him a half smile. “Well, buddy, people change.”
Leonard nodded, hearing the echo of his own words so long ago. “Got that, too. Mick… thanks.” He didn’t say for what; the list was decades long.
Mick returned the nod, then raised an eyebrow and jerked his head over toward Sara. She was now sitting in front of the forward window, gazing out at the night sky. Mick gave him a significant look before heading down the passageway to his quarters.
Leonard turned back to Sara. She was looking at the moon, fingering a silver locket around her neck. For just a moment, images from the Ridge overlaid his vision: the little girl she’d once been, and the woman she might one day become.
But first, he needed to talk to the woman she was right now. He blinked, and the images were gone. He took a deep breath to steady his nerves, then sat next to her, not touching, but within easy reach.
He decided to start with something safe. “That’s new,” he said, motioning toward the locket as she shifted to look at him.
“Jewelry by Gideon,” she said. “She gave us each a timer for placing those pieces of chronium. This one is mine.” She opened it to reveal a digital clock inside.
He leaned forward to examine it more closely, and noticed an additional frame between the locket’s two sides. He flipped it down over the clock to see a photo of himself inside. He flicked his eyes up to Sara’s and was surprised to see her blushing, just a little.
“Gideon,” she said with a slight shrug.
Her blush got a bit deeper when his fingers moved from the locket to the silver ring on her right hand. “Um, Mick gave me this after… you know,” she said. “If you want it back…” She pulled her hands back to start taking the ring off.
He shook his head and leaned back, giving her a little breathing room. “Keep it,” he said. “Looks better on you than it ever did on me. And after what we’ve been through… I’ll never need a reminder about things going sideways ever again.”
He looked out the window at the moon. “You were right, you know. About dying. It is lonely. I mean, I know I wasn’t really dead. But still… I may as well have been a million miles away from everyone I cared about. Lisa, Mick…” he paused and looked back into her eyes, “and you.”
She took in a deep breath at that. He leaned forward again, so her eyes were just a little above his. “Sara, before the Oculus, I told you I’d been wondering what the future might hold for me and you. While I was on the Ridge, I saw…”
She put her hand up to stop him. “Don’t tell me, Len. You know you can’t.” Then she laid that hand against his cheek. “Let’s just… let it happen?”
He reached out to mirror her action. “Me and you?” he asked her softly.
When she smiled and nodded, he closed the million miles between them to kiss her.
He meant to let her have control of the kiss, but the touch of their lips woke something in him and he needed… more. He snaked his free arm around her waist, pulling her closer, sliding his other hand from her cheek into her hair.
Sara whimpered into the kiss just a little, and surged toward him so she could straddle his lap, looping one arm under his and up his back, and running her other hand from his cheek to the back of his head.
It was everything he’d ever dared to imagine: Sara’s body pressed up against his, her hand caressing his back, her mouth opening sweetly to him when he flicked his tongue against her lips.
In fact, it was more than he’d dared to imagine, and it occurred to him for a moment that this could all just be another illusion. The thought made him hold her just a little tighter, cradling the back of her head in his hand, humming as the contact reassured him that yes, this was Sara, right where he’d wanted her for so long and yes, this was real.
His lips traveled from her mouth to her jawline and over to her ear, where he drew a groan from her with just a whisper of her name. Then he kissed his way down her neck, pausing at the pulse point there and finding more reassurance in its steady throb. He sighed and rested his head against her shoulder for a moment, just holding her and breathing her in while she traced gentle patterns on the nape of his neck.
“Gotta say,” he murmured, “I liked our second kiss a lot better than our first. Nobody’s about to die.”
He felt her shake a little with laughter, and raised his head to look at her. “What? I was serious.”
“Sorry. Time travel,” she said with a smile. “That was our second kiss for you, but not for me.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Is that why you interrupted Jax’s story about Future Me saving the day? There was kissing involved? Or will be?”
She nodded and leaned her forehead against his. “I didn’t want to put any pressure on you.”
There was more to it than that. He could tell from the slight stiffness in her spine, and he remembered the vision of a rooftop kiss that he’d thought was just a fantasy.
Apparently it wasn’t.
But he wasn’t going to put any pressure on her, either. They could talk about it later. “It’s okay, Sara. Gives me something to look forward to.” He gently ran his hand up and down her back as he angled his head to capture her lips once more.
She sighed when they parted. “Len, do you remember what you told me about the things you didn’t do?” Her question was soft.
He gave her a single, slow nod.
“After the Oculus, they kept me up at night too.”
He cupped her cheek to kiss her again, then said, “I can think of better things to keep us up tonight.”
She nodded and leaned forward for another kiss. He wrapped his arms around her and stood up, lifting her easily, keeping his mouth on hers. She giggled a little against his lips and locked her legs around his waist as he began to walk toward her room.
No more worrying about the things they hadn’t done, or the things that could be. He had right now, and at this moment, with Sara in his arms? Right now was enough.
--
Gideon had apparently reverted back to being the health police, judging by the baskets of fruit and bran muffins she served up for breakfast the next morning. He and Sara wandered in late, to be greeted with a wink and a nod from Mick, a knowing smile from Stein, and a little uncomfortable fidgeting by Jax. But there were also looks of concern from Rip, and from Ray, who shoved a cup of coffee at Len, saying, “I know you didn’t sleep much last night.”
Silence fell for just a moment, then Ray turned red as Mick let out a bark of laughter. “Well, at least I know I don’t have to pull your head outta your ass, Boss!”
“I do not want to know!” Jax declared as he slid off one of the stools, letting Len take his place. “C’mon, Mick. You were gonna help me with the engines.”
Mick followed the young mechanic out, still chuckling. Ray stood there, gaping a little, then said, “I just meant that I heard…”
“Careful, Ray,” Sara warned as she took the seat next to Len and grabbed a muffin. “Your foot’s already in your mouth!”
“I wasn’t talking about that!” Ray huffed out. “Although… I heard...” He looked a little sheepish now. “My room is right next to yours, Sara…”
“Payback for you and Kendra,” Sara countered.
“…and I really need to talk to Gideon about the soundproofing…”
“Raymond.”
Just one icy word from Len stopped the babble, and the sheepish expression was gone. But the look of concern was back. “What I heard sounded like you having a nightmare, Snart,” the scientist finally managed to finish.
Len grunted and took a sip of the coffee, letting Sara answer. “It was. He saw me dying.” She ran a soothing hand over his shoulder.
“Just a leftover from the Ridge,” Len said. “I’ll be fine.” He caught Rip eyeing him, and repeated, in an irritated voice, “I’ll be fine. I’ve dealt with nightmares all my life.”
Rip looked ready to debate the matter, but Sara interrupted. “Len wasn’t the only one to have nightmares last night, Rip,” she said. When his gaze shifted to her, she tilted her head a little to one side. “Laurel,” she said simply.
Len reached up to cover Sara’s hand, which had tightened on his shoulder. “We’ll help each other through it,” he said, meeting Rip’s eyes, giving him a look to say the subject is closed.
Rip lifted his chin in a clear retort. For now.
There was silence for a moment. Then Stein cleared his throat, changing the subject.
“Captain Hunter’s told me more about what he saw on the Ridge,” he said. “An actual window on history. Astonishing.”
Len snorted. “If you’re into that sort of thing. I’m not. I just wanted to know about my sister, Mick and Sara. But in some ways…” he squeezed Sara’s hand a little, “I understand why they say to be careful what you wish for.”
Ray glanced at their joined hands and smiled just a little. “Considering the visions on the Ridge drove Time Master Jurgen insane, I guess nightmares are a small price to pay.”
“I have a theory about that,” Rip said. “Mr. Snart and I both refused the larger visions offered by the Ridge. But the accounts of Jurgen’s post-Ridge ravings indicate that he tried to see everything.”
“The big picture, like a typical Time Master,” Sara said.
“Indeed,” Rip agreed. “And it drove him mad. In contrast, Mr. Snart and I focused on the small picture.”
“And so we kept our marbles,” Len said with a nod.
“ ‘There is a time for some things, and a time for all things; a time for great things and a time for small things,’ ” Stein mused. “Don Quixote.”
“Keep your eye on the ball,” Ray offered in return. When Stein looked at him, he shrugged. “You have Cervantes, I have Coach Wilson from Little League.”
“Far be it from me to question the wisdom of a Little League coach,” Stein chuckled, rising from his seat. “I’m going to see if Jefferson and Mr. Rory need any assistance.”
“And I need to suit up to check the outer hull. See what the irresistible force did to our ship,” Raymond said, putting his mug into the kitchen sink. “Later, guys.” He followed Stein out.
Rip finished his tea and put the cup into the sink. “It will take all day for our power to be fully restored. Mr. Snart, try to get some rest today, and let me know if you have any more of those nightmares. We’ll head to 2016 Central City tomorrow. I’m sure you want to see your sister.”
“Yeah,” Len nodded. “Not sure what I’m going to tell her, though.”
“Why, the truth, Mr. Snart. Her big brother is a hero,” Rip said with a smile. “But I think you’ll find she already knew that.”
Rip winked at them and headed out of the galley. Len finished his coffee and looked at the kitchen sink in dismay. “They left us with KP duty!”
Sara chuckled. “Did you forget the rule? Last in for breakfast does the dishes. And technically, you came in behind me.”
“There should be a ‘back from the dead’ exemption,” he complained.
“But you were never really dead, remember?” Sara finished her muffin and slid off her seat. “It’s just coffee cups, Len. I’ll wash, you dry, okay?”
The homey chore would have been quick work, but they kept interrupting each other with kisses and tender touches. It made him think about a day when, perhaps, they might do something like this in a place of their own. Perhaps with two small children beside them.
But… that was still something that could be. For this moment, he would enjoy right now, knowing that every “right now” would eventually lead them to “what the future might hold.”