Greetings everyone! This one popped up because I felt that they didn't address all the issues raised with Patty shooting Harry! This is not a shipfic and I doubt it will be close to cannon. That said, please let me know what you think! There's about 5 chapters and I will post as I edit. Big thanks to my beta DoctorHarrisonWells and all his/her hard work. I really appreciate it. Comments always welcomed! As always, not my properties and I make no monies from this! - CT
Chapter 1
The lab was silent. Joe glanced over at the medical bed, watching the occupant sleep. Barry had called Caitlin and asked her to help fight Vandal Savage. At least, that was the name Joe thought he'd heard. While Wells was out of the woods, Caitlin said he still needed somebody there to help him. She'd actually specified that he needed to stay in the bed for at least another 48 hours. She'd told Wells that Joe was just going to be there to help. When Joe had arrived, the injured man was already asleep. Caitlin had quietly gone over a few things with the detective and left. That had been nearly two hours ago, and Joe found himself enjoying the peaceful quiet.
"Jesse!" Wells bolted upright as he screamed the name. The movement must have hurt because he was immediately swearing and grimacing.
"Easy." Joe went quickly to the bed, pulling a chair over. Seeing Wells trembling in pain, he reached out and gently helped the injured man fall back into the pillows. "Take it easy. Caitlin said you need to rest and stay in bed."
"West?" Wells squinted at him, apparently still disoriented from the dream, sleep, or both.
"The senior West, yeah," Joe agreed, wondering what Wells would call Iris since he seemed to call everyone, except Barry, by their last name. "Caitlin asked me to come over and help you out while she joins team Arrow."
"Yes, I remember now," Wells agreed. "When did you get here?"
"About two hours ago," Joe answered, glancing at his watch. "You'd been sleeping pretty peacefully up until now."
"Where's everyone else?" Wells looked around, his actions seeming restless and agitated.
"They're still helping team Arrow protect Kendra," Joe answered.
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Yeah, rest and heal." Joe watched as Wells closed his eyes only to snap them open again, the nightmare plaguing his attempt at sleep. "Did you have a nightmare about Jesse?" Joe asked the question tentatively, curious about what could upset Wells. Joe barely knew the injured man. While he was still angry with Wells for nearly getting Barry killed, Joe couldn't imagine the desperation Wells must be feeling. If Zoom took Iris, or Barry, Joe wasn't sure what he would do.
"Why do you care?" Wells shot back. "Sorry," he added, seeing the look on Joe's face. "Yes, I had a nightmare about Jesse." He sagged deeper into the bed, exhaustion taking over.
"I can't imagine what you're going through," Joe admitted. "Last year, a man called Tockman took several of us in the precinct hostage, including Iris. The panic I felt then," he paused, emotion building up and overflowing. "I'd imagine that's similar to what you've been feeling." He watched Wells, seeing something flash across the man's face.
"The last words I said to her before he took her were rather harsh," Wells finally admitted, looking away from Joe as if he was attempting to gaze into the past. "He or someone he sent attacked her school. They didn't know who was taken at first, but I figured it out." He took a deep breath and flinched in pain.
"How?" Joe was shocked at the openness the other man was speaking with.
"I tried to call her as soon as the news about the attack was announced." As he spoke, Joe realized that Wells was tensing up. "The news crew pushed in on a phone in the wreckage… My caller ID was on the screen with a picture Jesse had taken of me at home." He shook his head, flicked his eyes towards Joe, and then looked away once more. "I remember the day she took that photo. It was the same day I gave her the phone. To see the screen shattered and my own face smiling back at me scared the hell out of me." Joe watched silently as the other man swallowed a lump of painful emotions. "My heart was, and still is, in my throat."
"I'm sorry," Joe said softly, reaching out and coming into contact with tense muscles. Pressing his lips firmly together, Wells pulled away.
"It's my fault. I made Zoom. I'm responsible for all the meta-humans." Wells houghed bitterly and clenched his right hand.
"You probably aren't wrong, but what people do with the powers you gave them," Joe shrugged, "Well, that isn't your responsibility." Joe paused, uncertain what else to say. "I will always love Iris and Barry, but I will also always worry about them. I'll admit, it's weird hearing you express the same emotions for someone."
"Yes, well." Wells flicked his gaze to Joe and the detective realized the injured man had been holding back tears. "I will admit that my counterpart on this world confuses even me at times."
"Well, don't forget that he wasn't you. At least, not our Wells. Not really. We found the body of the real Wells. This other man had apparently killed him and buried him on the side of the road."
"How did you know to go looking?" It was obvious from the tone of Wells's voice that he was relieved to have the subject change.
"A hunch," Joe answered with a shrug. "Something about him was just off. I started investigating him with the help of Cisco. Ramon, as you call him. Him and my partner Eddie."
"One of the people he killed," Wells said. "I'm bad with names, but I do remember."
"Did you really call Cisco 'Crisco' the other day?" A smile tugged at the injured man's lips.
"That, I may have done on purpose," he admitted. "Just be happy I didn't call you 'East' or any other cardinal direction."
"Seriously?" Joe arched an eyebrow at him, disbelief painted on his face.
"I'm crap with names," Wells answered.
"And this thing between you and Jay?"
"Oh, that's been pretty long standing," Harrison admitted. "We have a mutual disrespect for each other."
"Yeah? What kind of things did you call him?" Joe had to admit that he was starting to at least feel less hostile towards the man.
"Kay, Larrick, Derrick, Laptrick, Gay Jarrick. There were others," Harrison smirked. "I took great pleasure in getting his name wrong." There was a long pause of silence as they shared a smile.
"Why did it take you so long to admit that you were responsible for the meta-humans?" The others had told Joe everything that had happened.
"That's not something I'm ready to talk about," Wells informed him. The look he gave Joe told the detective that the subject was closed for the time. Throwing the sheet and blanket back, Wells swung his legs over the right side of the bed.
"What are you doing?" Joe stood, realizing that Wells seemed intent on getting out of the bed.
"Going to the bathroom." Wells frowned at the S.T.A.R. labs sweat pants he was wearing. "Where are my jeans and who put these on me?"
"Your jeans are over here with your wallet, keys, and phone on top," Joe supplied, pointing at a nearby table. He moved around the bed so that he stood next to Wells as the injured man got to his feet. "Not sure who put you in the sweats. I'm guessing you were in them when I got here, which would mean Patty or Caitlin, or both."
"Never mind. I do not want to know," he said, heavily stressing the 'not'. Wells kept a hand on the bed as he started walking towards the bathroom. "Snow probably cut my shirt off. Not like I brought that much clothing through with me." Joe could tell the other man was trying to hide his pain and discomfort.
"Well, if either of the ladies looks at you funny, you know who got you out of your pants and into the sweats," Joe chuckled. He would have laughed outright, but he was worried. Wells had grown paler as he walked and it looked like he was having issues with his balance. "You know, Caitlin said you should stay in bed."
"Snow is just being overly cautious. I'm fine. A little sore, but fine." Harrison stood a little straighter and squared his shoulders. Letting go of the bed, he took several confident strides toward the door. The last step to the doorway he slowed and sagged against it. "Joe," he began, looking up at the detective. "I was wrong." Blue eyes rolled up and Harrison slumped to the floor, Joe rushing forward to catch him.
"Damnit man," Joe grumbled, glowering at the unconscious man. "How the hell do I get you back into bed?" He wasn't certain he could easily lift the other man. With Wells injured, he thought it would be best if he had somebody help move the fool. He had very few options. Cisco, Barry, and Caitlin were all working with team Arrow. Joe could think of only one person he could call for help. Checking to make sure Wells was okay, he pulled out his phone and hit dial.