[Chapter 42]

"Sara, Jefferson and I will go to 1975, Rip and Carter will go to 2021, and Isabelle, Ray, and Mick will go to 1958," Stein said.

"Whatttt? I want to go with Sara," I whine.

"My god, it's uncanny," Rip said.

"What's uncanny?" I ask.

"That fact that you sound exactly like a whiny, angsty teenager," Rip said. I pout in response.

"You must go with Ray and Mick just to make sure everything goes according to plan," Stein replies.

"So I'm back up?" I ask incredulously.

"No, you're our insurance plan," Stein contradicts.

"So back up," I summarize in a groan.

"Should I be offended that Stein is more confident in 15-year old Isabelle than Mick and I to get the job done?" Ray asks.

"Well I'm a little more competent," I say and Ray shoots me a glare. "I'm kidding. Let's just go. I'm aching to give Savage the beat down he deserves.

***

"When can I kill him?" Mick asks.

"We have to wait for the meteor to go critical," Ray replies.

"When's that?" I ask, skipping around whilst Ray and Mick were literally power walking down the street.

"When he starts the ritual in all three time periods," Ray explains. "Would you stop skipping? God, teenagers."

I stop skipping when I see Savage doing some weird voodoo shit over the meteor and starts chanting.

"I think he's doing it," I gesture toward the ritual. "I think that's our cue."

An ear piercing screech came from behind us and we whipped around to come face to face with Savage's freaky bird experiments.

"Really? These guys again?" Ray asks as Mick and I race toward Savage.

Mick lands the first punch which interrupts Savage's chanting.

I come up behind him and sweep Savage's legs out from under him. He falls to the ground with a pained grunt and I smirk at how simple it was to take him down.

But Savage gets back up, only for Mick to punch him repeatedly in the face. Then it's my turn and I give him a good kill in the balls. Savage falls to the ground only for me to pull him up by his shirt. Blood was leaking down his nose and was in between his teeth. I sneer in his face.

"Pity to have come so close, yet fall so far," I spat. "I'll be seeing you in hell and you will come to fear that day."

I toss Savage to the ground and give Mick a nod. We both watch Savage's body go up in flames when we notice an ominous blue glowing coming from the meteor.

"Do something, RoboCop," Mick tells Ray.

"I'm on it. I've got a little trick I've been working on," Ray points his hand toward the meteor that is spewing unnatural energy from it and shoots a ray of red light at it.

I watch in amazement, (don't ever tell Ray that), as the meteor shrinks and explodes in a puff of smoke.

"Cute," I snort.

"Thanks, reminds me of you," Ray says and I punch him in the shoulder.

"I'm not that short!" I throw my hands up in the air in exasperation as we get into the jumpship and head to 2021.

"But you're still short," Ray teases me and I groan.

"Don't forget I'm ages older than you," I say in a growl.

"But still short!" Ray exits the jumpship before I could stab him. Mick and I follow to see Rip standing over Savage's dead body.

"Damn it! I wanted to be the one to kill him," Mick yells. "Again, I mean."

I roll my eyes but notice the same unnatural energy from 1958 bleeding from a wooden box. Sara turns the corner and notices it as well.

"Um, I don't think our problems are over yet," Sara says and every immediately turns their attention to the meteor.

"I'm on it!" Jax said and placed both his hands on the space rock.

"On what?" Mick asks and I give him an incredulous look.

Jax's brow furrowed in concentration and I heard a deep sizzling sound but nothing was happening to the meteor. "It's not working," Jax said in confusion.

"I got this," Ray said and walked up to the meteor. He shot the same red light at it but this time, the size didn't change.

At least it didn't get any bigger.

"I don't understand. I must be all out of power," Ray said.

"What happens if only one of these goes off?" Sara asks.

"Uh," Rip said. "Time will remain intact. The world? Not so much."

"Okay, guys, let's fly this thing out of here," Jax said.

"To where?" asks Kendra. "We would never get it far enough away."

"Maybe the Waverider can," I suggested.

"Rip, we need-" Ray started but cut off when a huge gust of unnatural wind hit us all, which could have only come from one thing. The Waverider in motion. We all looked up to see the time ship pick up the meteor and blast off away.

"Rip!" Sara cried out. "What are you doing?"

"I'm flying the Waverider into the sun, with the meteor on board," Rip's voice came on over the comms.

"And you on it!" Sara said.

"I guess this is goodbye," Rip said over the comms.

I furrowed my brow, in anger, confusion. Sadness. Several people lowered their heads in respect for Rip.

"It's been a pleasure, Captain," Ray said.

"Likewise, Dr. Palmer," Rip replied. He sounded rushed and breathless.

"But you brought all of us into this, man," Jax said and I felt relieved that I wasn't the only one who felt doubts about Rip was doing.

"Which is why I'm doing this alone, Mr. Jackson. I'll have no one else die for my choices," Rip said solemnly. "Ms. Light, I can practically feel your emotions right now. I am not sorry though, and I am not going to ask for forgiveness. I can only hope that you'll understand one day."

"This isn't going to bring Snart back," Sara said and I jolted with new pain. Not physical but emotional. I feel like my lungs are collapsing and I can't breathe. Like I'm being stabbed over and over again. It feels like torture.

And I hate it.

"I don't want to lose another friend," Mick says and doesn't meet the eyes of anyone on the team.

"I appreciate that, Mr. Rory," Rip said over the comms.

I embrace the pain anyways. I suffer through it because I've already been through this with my siblings and I became a monster. And I barely came back from it. My eyes burn from unshed tears, but I continue to hold them back, to hold myself together.

There is no motivator like revenge. But there is none that can compare to love. And so I'll force myself to keep breathing. I'll force myself to endure the pain. One day, it won't hurt so much anymore.

It'll never go away, I know that now. No amount of killing and fighting and ignoring will make it disappear. But it'll get easier.

"I must say, it's been an honor to serve as your cap--" Rip's voice cut off into static and a small, pathetic sound came out of me. Still I don't let the tears fall. Damn these hormones making me a freaking emotional mess.

But then I sense something. The Waveriders signature energy wavelengths. At first, I think it's my supernatural mind playing tricks on me but then I hear Sara gasp. I looked up and there it was. Rip and the beloved Waverider.

I hope Gideon gave him hell for trying to die.

The ramp opens and we all rush onto the now messy Waverider. "Rip?" Kendra calls out.

"Sorry if I gave you all a fright," Rip's familiar voice called out from around the corner.

I race over to him and throw my arms around him. Rip freezes in shock but after a moment, hugs me back.

"Bastard," I whispered, unable to speak any louder.

"The one and only," Rip replies, making me smile as we break out of the hug.

"What happened?" Sara asks, the only one unfazed by my show of affection toward Rip.

"Uh, I flew the meteor into the heart of the sun. Well, I more like angled the ship to eject the meteorite before impact and then, uh... time jumped away," Rip explains.

"You're a moron," Mick grumbled and Rip let out a little laugh.

"Now, who fancies a return trip to 2016?" Rip asks as he shoves the malfunctioning doors open and we enter the bridge, which was a whole ass mess.

"I can't believe it's over," Kendra said softly.

"Well, for some of you, yes," Rip said. "My journey, it seems, is only just beginning."

"How does that work? Savage is three times dead," Mick said.

"The Time Masters are no longer of growing concern, due to our destruction of the Oculus." Rip started.

"Good riddance," I lounge in one of the seats, slowly adjusting to this new reality. This new me.

"Someone needs to be responsible for the timeline," Rip continues.

"So you volunteer as tribute?" I say.

Rip smiles at me. "Who better than a former Time Master? And any of you who'd like to join me."

***

I headed with Mick to the club where he invited Leonard to meet us. Well him.

I was shocked when Mick asked me if I wanted to come and I still don't know if it was the right decision. But I need to see him. One last time. Even if he is not my Leonard.

"Go talk to him," I nudge Mick toward 2016 Leonard who was currently sitting at a separate table. Mick hesitantly walked away and I ordered a beer from the bar.

"How old are you?" asked the bartender.

I suppressed a groan, remembering my appearance. "Older than I look."

"I'll need to see some ID."

My violet eyes flashed at him and the bartenders eyes widened in realization. "Hmm," he grunted as he gave me a beer. "Element, sitting at my bar. I don't know whether to be honored or scared shitless."

"How about you disappear and tend to someone else?" I suggest with a short bite to my tone and take a swing from the bottle. I can just hear Jax chastising me.

I watch Leonard and Mick's conversation. I could hear every word exchanged but just hearing the sound of Leonard's voice sent chills down my spine. Twisted my heart.

"You're a hero to me," I heard Mick say. He was standing now. "You got that?"

"I got that," Leonard replied, his eyes crinkling slightly, telling me that he's confused but not wanting to show it.

"See you around," Mick said and came to where I was. "Let's go."

I looked at Leonard and inhaled a sharp breath when his icy blue eyes met mine. I memorized every angle of his face, the cocky tilt of his head, the shape of his lips. But most of all, the piercing and gorgeous color of those eyes.

My emotions hit me like a truck but I didn't let any of them show on my face as I held Leonard's gaze.

Goodbye, my love. I'll see you again one day. I promise.

"Let's go," I grab my leather jacket, pay for the beer, and leave the bar through the side door. The cold crisp air stung my eyes, making it hard to breathe and even hard to keep my tears in. I saw Rip and Ray come from around the corner of cars to meet up with us.

"You okay?" asked Ray. His concerned gaze was on Mick.

"Fine," Mick replied. He most certainly was not fine. I was barely holding it together. Ray's gaze fell on me and I decided to be honest for the time being.

I shook my head, not trusting myself to speak and avoided meeting Rip or Ray's gazes.

"So did you tell him?" Ray asked.

"That he killed himself to save our destinies?" Mick summarized in a monotone voice.

"If it's any consolation, I can always bring you back to this particular time and place," Rip offered. "Both of you, if that's what you want."

"I'm fine. Just let it be," Mick said and walked away.

Ray looked concerly after Mick but there's nothing we can do about it. Mick grieves in his own way.

"And you, Isabelle?" Rip asks.

I shake my head once more. "He's not... he's not my Leonard. It would only be cruel to both of us."

"Did you talk to him at all?" Ray asks.

"No. I don't think he'd be interested in talking to a fifteen year old who he probably assumed snuck into the bar," I took in a shaky breath. "I just need to see him one last time."

Ray opens up his arms in a silent offer. I shuffle toward him and let him pull me into his embrace. It was different from Leonard's, but nice nonetheless.

***

"A full complement," Rip chuckled. "To be honest, I had my doubts that all of you would be willing to throw in with me for a second go."

"Well, actually-" Carter starts.

"We're not coming with you," Kendra finishes.

"What?" I blurt out, unable to keep in my surprise.

"With Savage gone, we just want to start fresh, see what happens," Carter said. Kendra sends me an apologetic smile.

"I give it three months, tops," Mick bets, causing Kendra and Carter to blush.

"Look I just," Kendra starts, but stops. She looks all of us in the eye. "I want to say thank you. To all of you."

When Kendra turns her apologetic face to me, I just give her a smile and wink. "It was our pleasure."

"Ray, I-" Kandra starts but Ray cuts her off.

"No. This is- it's meant to be," Ray said. "I wish both of you nothing but the best." He pulls Kendra in for a hug and I turn to Carter.

"Take care of our girl," I say, turning my piercing violet stare at the bird man. But Carter just smiles.

"I will," he promises. I roll my eyes and give an exasperated sigh. "Take care of yourself too. I hope you... I hope you'll use this chance to do everything you haven't gotten to do or see in your past lives."

"We will," Kendra promised, and pulls me into a hug as well. "You'll find your peace as well," she whispers into my ear before she pulls away.

"Be safe," she looked at Sara, then at the rest of us.

"See you guys around," Carter said and they both took off into the air. I raise my hand above my head in farewell along with some of the team.

"Everytime they do that, I get hungry for chicken," Mick said as he took a bite at what I assume is chicken. Sara and I both give him weird looks but Mick seemed to not notice them.

"So, shall we?" Rip asked and we all nod and head for the Waverider behind our captain. All of a sudden, a huge boom sounds behind us and I snap my head around, searching the night sky for the source of the sound. I spot two lights glowing from the sky and a familiar energy signature hit me.

"Is that-?" Sara started.

"The Waverider," Rip finished, surprise and confusion etched across his face. And there was the ship, falling from the sky at a huge speed.

"Another Waverider?" Stein asked.

"Whatever it is, it's not slowing down!" Ray warned and we all raced to get out of the ships path.

"Get down!" shouts Jax and everyone lept to the ground, covering their heads. Well everyone except me. I'm not ruining my clothes.

The Waveride collided with the ground, kicking up a huge cloud of dirt and dust. I command the wind to provide a protective bubble around the team and I, protecting us from the cloud.

"What the hell is going on?" Jax swore.

"To be honest, Mr. Jackson, I have absolutely no idea," Rip replied.

We all keep a close watch on the Waverider when a single figure emerges from the wreckage and approaches us. I stay tense, ready for any threat.

When he got closer, I could make out that it was a man in a leather suit wearing a hood over his head. The team stood on defense, ready to attack if the man posed any threat. He did something else that took the team off guard.

"Is this 2016?" the man shouted. No one replied. "Is this May, 2016?" The man shouted again.

"Yeah," Jax replied tentatively. The man slowed.

"You're exactly where you said you'd be," the man replied and I glared at him with suspicion. "Do not get on that ship. If you do, you're all dead."

"Says who?" Mick growled.

"Says you, Mr. Rory," the man replied. "You sent me." The whole team looked between Mick and the man with confusion.

"I'm sorry, who exactly are you?" Rip asked. The man pulled off his hood to reveal his face. He had soft blue eyes and was unshaven. He looked like he had come a long way.

"My name is Rex Tyler. I'm a member of the Justice Society of America."