"Once again, the CCPD appreciates all that your organization is doing for us and for other police departments across the country. Now, is there any other questions I can answer?" Captain David Singh queried the Dalton Academy for a Change in Police Department Services and Resources committee.
"I believe all we have left is narrowing down what are the most important things that are needed in your forensic labs. We would like to have equipment placed on a three tier importance chart." One of the three members replied.
Singh replied smoothly, "Of course. I will take you to our forensic scientist's lab and let him do that for you. I'm sure I'm not qualified to do that for him. If you will come this way." Singh lead the three men to the lead CSI's lab. "Allen, the committee from the Dalton Academy for a Change is here wanting some clarification."
"Yeah, I'll be there in just a sec, this test is almost complete." Barry replied from behind a rack of chemicals.
"I'll leave you in Allen's-" A small clattering and clanging came from where Barry was working, "...capable hands." Singh finished with hesitation. "I promise he won't hurt or maim you in any way and if he does….god help us all." With one last nod to the group, Singh left the lab and went back to his office.
"I'm sorry for holding you guys up, I didn't want to leave the test running by itself. It's pretty delicate and I'd have to run it again if I didn't see the results immediately after it was complete. It takes forever for this to even process and it's a bit of a pain to set up…" Barry trailed off as he recognized the three men staring at him. "Oh." He huffed, "Hi. It's nice to see you three again." He awkwardly said.
"It's good to see you too, Seb." The one standing in the middle of the group replied. "How've you been? Kinda lost contact with you a couple years ago."
Barry blushed, "Sorry, I didn't mean to drop off the face of the planet but starting this job, being in a coma, waking up from the coma...I've been kinda busy. I'm sorry Thad."
"A coma!?" Thad said in horror, "You were in a coma and didn't even think to tell us afterwards!?" Thad turned to the right, "He didn't even tell us Nick." Then to his left he said, "Jeff, this is an utter outrage!"
Nick agreed, "Jerk move not telling us important things like you being in a coma. Isn't it Jeff?"
"It is indeed, Nick. I think this deserves more explanation." Jeff demanded.
Barry sighed, "Alright. How about we all move this to my house and we can catch up. I'm sure my foster dad would love to meet you guys."
"Foster dad?" Nick questioned.
"I'll explain it with everything else, alright?"
The other three Warblers heaved a sigh, "I guess that's alright." Thad said dramatically.
"Gee," Barry laughed, "Thanks. Did you guys take a cab here? Drive?"
"We drove." Jeff responded, "I don't like planes or crazy cabbies or nasty buses or-"
"We get it, you're afraid of all transportation that's not your car." Thad snapped, "Now why did you want to know?" Thad nicely said to Barry.
Barry slightly stammered his reply, "I don't have a car and I usually catch a ride with Joe. So is it alright if I just catch a lift with you guys?"
"Sure! We would need directions to your place anyways." Jeff smiled, "This will be just like our trip to Arkansas during spring break."
The others shuddered at the thought, "Your driving was terrifying." Thad complained.
"At least no one died or fell asleep!" Jeff said cheerily, "Now I think it's about time to go to Sebby's place!"
"Okay, give me a minute or two, I need to put away some of these files so I don't lose them." Barry rushed around his workspace putting files in their home and making sure all his equipment and tests were shut down or put on power mode. About five minutes later Barry was done and happily told his friends so. "Ready!"
The four men trampled down the CCPD's stairs and with a cheery wave to Joe from Barry, left the precinct. The four piled into Jeff's car and with a quick starting direction from Barry, were on their way. "So this is where you've been hiding since college."
"Yeah. I grew up here, it's where my foster dad and sister are. And it's near my father." Barry quietly added on the last part. "But I'd rather wait to tell this in one sitting."
"Of course." Thad sympathized.
"So what's this committee thing about?" Barry asked.
"Well," Nick started, "We wanted to do something for police departments. The one in Westerville was experiencing some financial trouble back in our freshman year of high school, so the STU-CO at Dalton held some fundraisers. We raised enough money to help get a new machine for their CSI unit. It's something that STU-CO did every year up until well, you know."
"Yeah, I do know." Barry agreed.
Nick smiled and let Thad continue, "So since that happened, and we are all successful college graduates that have too much free time on our hands, we decided to start the Dalton Academy for a Change. It's mostly made up of Dalton alumni and we've split off into committees. The fund raising our group does goes to a communal fund."
"Unless a committee does separate fundraising." Jeff added in.
"Yes, unless separate fundraising is held." Thad conceded, "And we obviously chose to do police department fundraising. We choose a different police department every year based upon need. We try to fund as much for the whole department as possible, not just one part of it."
"Although it looks like the CSI unit has most of what it needs." Nick said.
Barry shrugged, "We have Queen Consolidated funding the CSI unit as well as STAR Labs. Mostly it's STAR Labs that puts in all the money."
"I understand STAR Labs funding you guys, but why QC?" Jeff asked.
Barry blushed, much to the other's delight, "My boyfriend works at QC and got us some funds."
"And who might this boyfriend be?" Thad prodded in childish glee.
The blush deepened, "Oliver Queen."
"No way!" Nick exclaimed.
"Take a left at the next stoplight and then a left at Elm Street and I live at number 233." Barry directed Jeff. "But believe it or not, I am dating Oliver. We met at a crime scene that I butted in on over in Starling."
The other three laughed, "Sounds like you." Nick snickered.
"Shut up." Barry grumbled as they pulled into the driveway.
"I wonder who owns that sweet motorcycle." Jeff commented to Nick as they approached the house.
"I seriously doubt that it's Seb's." Thad said, catching onto what Niff was saying "He's too much of a teddy bear for that."
"Maybe it's his boyfriend's." Nick teased right as they entered the house.