AN: After last episode, my shipper heart was unsatisfied when it realized that Caitlin doesn't really know what happened to Barry (not to mention all the subtext inferring Snowbarry). So I got to wondering what would've happened if Zoom went back to the police station and let Cait know that Barry died (or at least that what they all thought happened).
So, yeah. This was born. (Snowbarry ftw)
...
Lightning struck in the distance and there was the faint rumble of thunder that signified a storm. The auburn-haired prisoner pulled her knees closer to her chest with the one arm not handcuffed to the desk, wondering why Zoom had screamed and then bolted off. Did something happen? Was the team finally able to figure out a way to stop him? What about Barry's speed?
All these questions and more flashed - no pun intended - through her mind as she awaited the return of her captor or hopefully one of the members of Team Flash. For some reason, she felt a small sense of dread settle over her.
When Zoom came through the door, that sense of dread only grew even though he was in the same black suit and had the same blue lightning zapping around him. It felt different this time. Like he was done being nice.
He took off his mask to expose his face - his real face - and she could just see that he was hiding a smirk. Jay, or Zoom, or Hunter, or whatever his goddamned name was, crouched down like he had when he was trying to convert her to the dark side (Cisco would have loved that she thought about it that way).
For her part, she glared at him with as much ferocity as she could muster with her stomach churning and without letting the disgust show on her face.
"What do you want?" she asked, her gaze steely and voice hard. A sigh came from the man and he shook his head as if he were about to say something that he was sorry about though it was blatantly obvious that he wasn't actually sorry.
"Caitlin... I know this is going to be hard for you, but you need to know. It's about Barry," he started, the malicious glee mounting in his eyes.
She froze at that. Barry? What about Barry? Did something happened to him? The doctor spoke none of these questions aloud. Instead, she uttered a different question:
"What did you do to him?"
Zoom shook his head again - she was really getting tired of the condescending action.
"My dear, dear Cait." She shuddered at the use of her nickname. "I did nothing to your beloved Flash," he continued, adding as much contempt as possible. She remained silent, waiting for him to continue. Barry was fine. He was always fine. He had to be...
"Barry is dead," he finally said, no longer able to keep the twisted grin from his face as he took in her reaction.
It was like she was punched in the gut. Or like her whole world just... Stopped. Take your pick of any of the dramatic metaphors or similes describing complete and utter devastation. They'd all apply.
Little moments shot through her in the span of the 30 seconds it took for her heart to restart.
Her father's death.
"Daddy, no!"
Her mother's... Cold heart.
"You are such a disappointment, Caitlin. Why did I even have a child?"
The first time she lost Ronnie.
"I'll be back. I promise."
The second time she lost Ronnie.
"I know it'll be dangerous, but I have to try."
The revelation that Jay wasn't who he said he was.
"It's Jay. He's Zoom."
Every moment in her life where she was devastated. And now... Now this moment could be added to that list.
"Barry is dead."
She didn't even realize she was crying until a deep chuckle rumbled past Zoom's lips and she snapped herself from her thoughts to feel the tears rolling down her face. She just stared blankly at him, registering and yet not registering his words.
"Well, at least now you might actually consider my offer; Barry's no longer here to tempt you towards the heroes," Zoom said mostly to himself. He let out a content sigh and stood back up.
"I'll leave you to your... Mourning," he taunted, rolling his eyes. He replaced the mask and sped out of the building.
As soon as he was gone, it was like a dam opened up. Sobs wracked her body and she tugged on the wrist handcuffed to the desk, feeling like ripping her hair out. This wasn't fair. Barry had said... Barry was supposed to be the one who didn't leave her. Who would never leave her. Him and Cisco. The three of them were supposed to be a team. A family. And now? Now she didn't know what to do.
Obviously she still hoped that they'd find some way to save her. She wasn't so melodramatic that Barry's death meant she wished for her life to end. But she wasn't so self-centered as to think that she was the team's top priority. Was there a body to take care of? Were they holding an impromptu funeral? Was she going to miss it?
Caitlin sniffled, trying to rein in her tears. He wouldn't want her to cry. He'd want her to remain strong and try to work a way out of this situation.
Her dull hazel eyes, filled with sadness, fell to her feet as she let her mind wander through all the memories from when she was recruited to help care for the comatose man to when he woke up and brought sunshine back into her life to when they were singing karaoke at the bar. To this day, "Summer Lovin'" still makes her laugh and cringe at the same time.
Only a memory with Barry could garner such a strange reaction without fail. She was - is - so thankful that Barry had found his way into her life. Despite what she had told the woman, she didn't think that Iris pursuing Barry was a good idea.
Not because Barry didn't feel the same way, 'cause she had no real way of knowing that. But because she, herself, had developed feelings for him. Strong, deep feelings. Feelings that... That made her incredibly happy. Incredibly content.
And now? Now that was all gone. Three words had changed her entire world. Just when she had begun to build up hope for a better life; a better future, she was knocked down again.
Caitlin Snow, the woman held captive in not only the police station, but now in her own head, drew her knees closer once more. Trapped with her morbid, depressed thoughts, the personal physician with no person to assess sat idly as the last light of the day faded from the sky.
...
AN: Sorry that was so sad, guys. I had to get it out. Tho I am incredibly impressed with how quickly I cranked this out. I mean, I got this idea a few hours after watching the show and then just - bam - wrote it in just under an hour. Sure, it's not that long, but I'm still so proud. I've been stuck with a horrible case of writer's block. So yeah. Sorry, I won't keep you any longer.
Read and review and don't forget to stick around for a possible second chapter (one where they're reunited - and it feels so good)!