A/N: Hey guys! It's been a little while since I've posted a Flash story that isn't my crossover with S.H.I.E.L.D... (which you should totally check out if you watch both shows).
I saw that episode 19 is going to bring back Icicle, and wanted to put my own theory/one possible storyline out there before we get the promo on Tuesday night. I hope that the end of episode 18 leads into 19 in some way.
This is part one of probably just two, but maybe three. I'm almost done with it (I think), so I should post the rest in a few days. Let me know how you like it!
Caitlin's phone vibrated, and a glance at the caller ID instantly soured her mood.
What does she want? Frost asked.
Caitlin bit the inside of her lip. It was a bit late, but she guessed it could be the customary 'happy birthday' message that let her mother claim to be a part of her life. She watched as the call ended and her phone screen darkened. Her shoulders relaxed.
You really let yourself get worked up, don't you? Frost asked with some amusement.
She lied to me, Caitlin told her. She told me my dad was dead. She lied to my face, for years, and when I gave her a chance to tell the truth a few months ago, she lied again.
Her agitation was rising, and she stopped trying to read the article on her monitor as she started the same sentence for the fifth time. She ruins everything, Caitlin thought. She'd been so excited to be able to read this newest piece on genetic mutations, and though she had the moment of free time necessary, her mental state wouldn't allow her to focus on it.
Her phone started vibrating again. It was her mother, calling a second time. Caitlin narrowed her eyes at it as it vibrated twice and then stopped.
She must really want to talk to you, Caity.
Caitlin steeled herself and called back. It went straight to voicemail. "She's just messing with me," she said, placing the phone down heavily. She grabbed her purse and jacket and walked out, suddenly in need of some fresh air.
0-0
It was the next morning, as she walked to her car to drive to S.T.A.R. Labs, that she saw him again. She laid one hand on the door and started to open it, belatedly realizing how cold it was as she saw Icicle sitting in her passenger seat.
"Caitlin."
Caitlin stopped at the voice, then whirled into action, raising her hands up and starting to let Frost take control. Frost faced Icicle with frozen mist trailing from her hands, eyeing him warily. The man looked at her and smiled.
"My daughter, I've missed you." He held his hands up in a placating gesture. "No tricks. No threats. I just want to talk to you."
"Why?" she asked in a hard voice. She could feel Caitlin's pain, seeing their father so close but knowing the Thomas Snow from their memories was buried beneath ice.
"Because we're family." He leaned closer, as if to move out of the car, and Frost made more vapor trail from one hand, raising it threateningly. Icicle stopped and chuckled. "You are ruthless, aren't you? I know our last meeting didn't go as well as I'd hoped."
"You tried to destroy Thomas."
"And you attacked me. Not the best moment for either of us."
He seemed so flippant. It was aggravating. Frost started to reach for her phone to press the panic button. She knew Flash was still struggling with Nora's betrayal, but hopefully he could run in and bring Icicle to the pipeline. She really didn't want to fight him.
"Please don't call the Flash," Icicle said.
Frost stopped reaching for her phone, weighing her options. She had maybe a few more seconds to attack if she wanted any modicum of surprise. After that he would be expecting it.
Let me talk to him, Caitlin said.
What if he starts to attack?
If it looks like he's going to, you take over. I want to try something.
Frost internally sighed, but went against her better judgment to allow Caitlin to face Icicle. The man watched with calculating eyes as her appearance changed.
"What do you want?" Caitlin asked.
"Let's go somewhere more private."
Yeah right, Frost said.
Caitlin studied him, searching for a trace of Thomas beneath the cruel blue eyes. "Fine."
Caity, what do you think you're doing?
I have to try to help him.
We can't trust him!
No, Caitlin agreed. Frost seemed startled and quieted. I know we can't trust him. But we have a responsibility to either help him or stop him, so he can't hurt anyone else. Which means we have to stay with him.
She knew Frost was itching to take control and just get away, but she felt she was right about this. If they tried to fight, Icicle would just take off again. And he definitely had some sort of plan he was working on. They had to try to gain the upper hand.
Caitlin got into her car, putting the key into the ignition and starting it up. "Where are we going?"
The drive was mostly quiet. On the outside, anyway. Icicle didn't say much, but Frost was having a full discussion with Caitlin, which mostly consisted of comments like I can't believe you're doing this and the second he even steps toward you I'm icing his ass. Caitlin didn't try to argue that it wasn't stupid and risky. But Barry did things that could be called stupid and risky all the time, because he thought the chance that he could make a difference was worth it. To Caitlin, that was part of what a hero did. Frost did seem to understand that, but her protective instincts outweighed her hero complex in this instance. Caitlin was partially glad – it meant that, together, they were approaching this the right way. She taking the risk, Frost being cautious.
At least make your phone easier to reach, Frost said as Caitlin parked the car.
Caitlin took the key out and slipped it into her purse, using the motion to rotate her phone. All she had to do was touch the screen and the 911 message would be sent to S.T.A.R. Labs.
They were still in Central City, but Caitlin had never been to this part. It was rundown and not as busy as the area around Jitters was. She could see why he'd given her instructions to come here.
"Come inside, Caity."
Caitlin stiffened. "Don't call me that."
Icicle half-smiled as he opened the door for her. Caitlin tried to be extra vigilant, half-focused on Icicle as he followed her and started leading her in, half trying to memorize details of the room. It was pretty empty, aside from a table meant for a dining room in the center. The table was covered with papers and folders, and two laptops were open on it.
"You need help with something," she guessed, stopping at the edge of the table.
He walked over to one of the laptops and turned it so she could see it. "That's one reason I wanted you to come here, Caitlin. Well, that's why I wanted you to come. I want Khione for something else."
Caitlin felt Frost react to the name. And not in a negative way. If anything, it was like she wanted to reach out, and then drew in on herself. It was almost like being called Khione saddened her, and Caitlin understood a few seconds later. She wanted to have a relationship with Thomas as much as Caitlin did, but knew they couldn't trust Icicle.
"Why should I help you do anything?" Caitlin asked.
"Why did you come?" he countered.
She pursed her lips and went to look at his computer. A lot of the papers on the table were maps. One of Central City, one of the state… they kept covering larger geographical areas. The computer screen held structural formulas. "What are you doing?"
She didn't realize she'd spoken aloud until he answered. "Trying to make it colder throughout the year. I know it can't be winter the whole year, because plants and food and blah blah blah…"
That's his grand plan? Frost asked. He wants more cold?
No, there's something else. This compound seems familiar…
She backed up abruptly, snapping her gaze to him. "You're still trying to get rid of Thomas."
Some of the formulas on the screen did relate to meteorology, but he'd snuck in the gene therapy she'd been working on months ago, which he hadn't gotten to see finished.
Icicle studied her for a few seconds and then held his hands up in a 'what can I say' gesture. "I wasn't lying about wanting more winter, Caitlin." He stared at her with contempt, his expression darkening rapidly. "I just want less Snow."
Frost took over in a second, sending a wave of ice at the table to destroy the computers and notes. She reached for her phone and pressed at the screen, but didn't look to see if it worked; she threw the purse aside and strode over to him, slightly wary because he hadn't done anything to attack.
"Khione," he said in a softer voice – sounding much more like Thomas than Icicle – "you really do have quite the temper." Frost stilled, hesitating. He reached a hand up to brush at her hair, and she forced her doubts down, knocking his hand away.
Frost -.
Not now, Frost told Caitlin.
She drew her fist back, knowing he would just block it but hoping to land a hit with her other hand while he did.
"I wouldn't do that, daughter!" Icicle cried, deflecting her blow as expected. Her secondary attack, an ice beam, also missed as he shoved her hand out of the way, and he frowned at her. "Wouldn't want your mother getting caught in the crossfire!"
Frost hesitated again. Icicle again remained still. She didn't think he wanted to hurt her. Did that mean he really…?
He's trying to distract us, Caitlin said.
What if he's not?
Frost jumped back and looked around as quickly as she could, fixing her eyes back on Icicle every second. "She's not here," she said.
"Are you sure?"
Icicle pulled a remote out of his pocket and pressed one of the two buttons on it. An image appeared on the far wall, showing Carla Tannhauser in a small room. Frost's eyes honed in on the handcuffs around Carla's wrist, binding her to a table leg. Frost couldn't tell where she was, but she was definitely being held somewhere. It was a live feed.
That's why she called, Caitlin said, with growing horror. He must have taken her yesterday!
He doesn't want to seriously fight us, Frost said. He thinks we'll just go along with him. Which means he might not expect this.
Frost looked at Icicle and thrust her hands back, preparing a wave of cold energy that would knock him flat. Icicle moved a fraction of a second before her, pushing one hand toward the ceiling. Frost's attack had just started forming by the time she realized the ceiling was coming down, and she didn't have time to stop it.
Debris rained down on her, cutting off her attack and felling her in an instant. Frost's awareness cut out, forcing Caitlin to the front of their mind, though in their current state, it didn't much matter who was in control. The pain was distant as she hit the floor – she was too close to unconsciousness to really feel it. She did feel Icicle's hand close around hers, pulling her free from the debris. She hazily saw him lean over her, his hand still clutching hers.
"It's time to get the family back together."
