Chapter 1
Cisco's call for her still reverberated around the room, and as he stood...he saw no sign of Zoom...or her. No...no..this couldn't be happening. Zoom just took the one person he believes is significant or special to him. A monster with someone as pure as snow. Caitlin Snow. He tried to run after her, mind forgetting the simple fact that Barry Allen, he was no longer The Flash.
"Allen? Did you hear me?" Harry placed his hand on the man's shoulder. Barry was still in shock, eyes filled with anger, eyes filled with sadness, mouth agape, trying to piece together everything that happened. Even when Iris wrapped her arms around him, he didn't move. He couldn't. He was stuck. He had no Caitlin. He had no speed. And he had no idea how he could possibly get her back without it. Every lead they had on Zoom just vanished into thin air. And there was nothing they could do.
"Snow would want us to get back to work"
"How do you know what Caitlin would want?" Barry said venomously, breaking his silence, "You've only been here for a few weeks and you've managed to get us in a worse position than we already were."
"Barry, you can't blame this on Harry. You chose to give Zoom your speed." Iris intercepted the argument, attempting to provide some semblance to the conversation.
"Yes. To save YOUR brother. And in that decision, I lost my speed and he still has a member of the team." Barry expressed still with anger, but there was a hint of sadness in his voice with broke through when he finished with,, "We lost." The team collectively sighed around Barry and Iris, recognising that he needed some time to be alone, separated herself from his body, her features softening in recognition as she and Cisco departed, Cisco with a solemn look on his face. The same happy-go-lucky young man Barry first met nearly two years ago. How much the team had changed, evolved, become stronger, especially in their bond. Two years ago, Caitlin Snow was cold-hearted, broken and unwilling to feel anything except resentment. Just ten minutes ago, she put herself in harms way just to keep him safe from Zoom's wrath.
"Allen. Look. I know you've lost two important pieces of what make you who you are tonight. But we will find a way to get both of them back, just as we did Jessie." Harry spoke in a pained way, it was almost as if he was having trouble working out a scenario that would allow both to come to fruition.
"You still haven't really gotten her back yet." Barry replied, a smile finding its way onto his face. Harry's response was a sigh and a stiff nod as he headed to the door, following Iris and Cisco out.
"You know, Caitlin wouldn't want you to blame yourself" Joe said calmly, moving towards Barry with soft footsteps on the floor.
"I know" Barry said, his words sharp as a spear, not wanting to seem angry at Joe, but more at the situation which surrounded him.
"She put herself in that situation. She chose to protect you over herself." Joe reasoned, moving closer with every step. "He wouldn't hurt her. I saw the way he looked at her. In some weird ass way, he loves her"
Barry nods slowly sitting down on the treadmill and looks up into his foster father's eyes. Eyes which have calmed him since he was a child. Yet they couldn't calm him now. Only hers could. Joe recognises quickly after Barry hasn't replied that he doesn't want to talk about it, and thus decides to step out of the room, leaving Barry alone. Her words kept running through his mind, 'please let him go'. Her tear stricken voice, her complete and utter begging, 'if anything we ever shared was true, please just let him go'. He couldn't take hearing that anymore. But his mind kept replaying it. He couldn't see her face, yet he could feel her sadness. It owned him. And he wept.