Episode 3x18 ended up better than I expected! Takes place right where that episode ends so spoilers. Review, please; thanks!

Disclaimer: I don't own the Flash or any of its characters.

Twenty-Four Hours

Time. That's what had always been Barry's true nemesis. Since the lightning struck him that night, it was all about time. Dr. Wells—the evil one—taught him to get faster. Eventually, he was fast enough to defeat Reverse Flash. Next, he had to get faster than Zoom. Now, with Savatar, the clock ticked backwards. How long until May 23rd? Could he be ready in time? For the so-called Fastest Man Alive, he sure did struggle with time.

"Going to the future?" Iris echoed his idea, her forehead wrinkled. Joe sat beside her, arm still around his daughter, and looked at Barry with wide eyes. Barry opened his mouth to speak but was stopped at the sound of his phone going off. Pulling it out of his jean pocket, it flashed red. An emergency alert from Cisco, who was still at S.T.A.R. Labs. Barry felt his body go cold.

Thus begun a hard twenty-four hours for the speedster.

Joe and Iris felt the rush of wind and, when they looked again, Barry was gone and hadn't even remembered to shut the door on his way out. Joe, with his sixth sense he developed from being a father, got up and snatched his keys from the coffee table and followed.

Hour 1

Barry flashed into S.T.A.R. Labs and gaped at the sight before him. The place was a mess. HR was back and had his face buried in his hands, Julian was brushing away shards of glass off him and even more shards were scattered around the floor, and Caitlin was gone. Her bed lay empty and there was a slight chill in the air. Cisco was already at the computers. When he looked up from the monitors, Barry saw the tears running down his face. Barry was quick enough to figure out what happened but he feared if he said it out loud-it would become true.

"What took you so long?" Cisco questioned, his voice bitter and broken. Barry clenched his fists tight when he caught sight of the familiar necklace in Cisco's left hand. He could picture her in his mind: piercing white eyes and platinum hair. Cold scowl on her face. 'Alchemy can't help you. We can. I promise,' He promised her to protect her and to save her from the presence in her head. Now, she was gone. She slipped through his fingers.

"Where's Caitlin? What happened?" Barry demanded.

"Someone ripped off her necklace!" Cisco looked past Barry and glared at a shaken Julian.

"I did what I had to. She was dying!" Julian argued, his accent thick.

"Caitlin's Killer Frost?" the name burned on Barry's tongue. A fresh set of tears fell from Cisco's eyes. Barry ran off, grabbing his suit on his way, right after ordering a sharp, "Find her!"

Cisco hung the necklace over one of the computer monitors before continuing, his fingers flying across the keyboard. Had to check for any significant temperature drops. Barry ran through the streets of Central City, looking for any sign of their friend. They all hoped she hadn't managed to get very far. HR paced back and forth, hands racking through his short hair, mumbling, "This can't be good. This can't be good."

Julian took a seat beside Cisco. That had been Caitlin's spot before. Cisco had the undeniable urge to punch Julian in the face to get his anger out. But that would just waste time. They used the same technique as last time Caitlin was missing. It was a painfully long wait until they got a hit. Cisco practically jumped out of his char and exclaimed, "Barry! Significant temperature change on 7th street!"

"On it!" He heard the speedster's response. Cisco wiped the tears from his face but more kept falling. In his head, he begged for her not to be lost, 'I can't lose her too.'

Cisco sat on his couch and stared at the floor below. Every time he blinked, he could see his brother's face. Dante was such a happy smile. He had a smile that his mother claimed would brighten up the world. Cisco couldn't deny that Dante had that charm about him. When they were teens, Dante was one to make all the girls swoon. The thought of youthful, lively Dante brought tears to Cisco's eyes. Lost in these thoughts, he was startled when a plate of food was placed in front of him. He blinked away the tears and looked up to the warm brown eyes of Caitlin Snow.

"I'm not hungry," Cisco mumbled. Caitlin's smile fell. She placed the plate of fresh food on the coffee table and kneeled in front of Cisco. She reached for his hand and he allowed it, but kept it limp.

"You need to eat," Caitlin warned him. Cisco didn't respond. He hadn't had an appetite for days. When he first got the phone call about Dante's accident, he felt as if he was going to vomit. That feeling remained all throughout the hospital trip and the goodbyes said. His brother was dead. Gone forever. Cisco had held his crying mother in his arms, knowing he could not comfort her. He didn't know what to say. Unlike, Dante. "Want to watch a movie?" Caitlin asked, breaking Cisco out of his thoughts.

He shook his head. Caitlin squeezed his hand.

"Ok, now I know it's really bad," Caitlin sighed. Still, Cisco did not pay attention. He wasn't even looking at her. "Cisco," She called his name so he met her eyes again, "You can't think about the pain all day. It isn't going to help. You will make yourself sick. Please, watch a movie with me. One I haven't seen but you have."

Cisco faked a smile and then reached for the remote on the couch. Caitlin sat beside Cisco and leaned into him. The warmth of her body made him feel less alone.

The two watched the movie. Caitlin made sure to ask lots of questions to keep Cisco talking. She even managed to convince him to take a couple bites of the food she made him. When the movie ended, Cisco called it a night. He wanted to ask her to stay the night so, in case he had nightmares, he wouldn't wake up alone. Cisco couldn't find the words to ask but he didn't have to. Caitlin, without getting permission, began to make a bed on Cisco's couch. Cisco only smiled and wished her goodnight.

Tap. Tap. Tap. HR's drumstick tapped on the table. Each one threatening to snap Cisco's patience.

"Could you maybe stop?!" Cisco roared and then, with a huff, he continued back to his work. HR frowned and put his drumstick away. Cisco looked back at the snowflake necklace of Caitlin's. He felt his heart physically ache in pain at the sight.

"What is going on here?" Joe asked as he walked in the room. He looked at the dismay of the place and then to Cisco, who was trying his best to ignore all outside distractions. Julian kept his head low. Out of options, Joe turned to HR with a wave of his hands, asking for answers. HR pressed his fist to his forehead and let out an exhausted sigh.

"Apparently, Caitlin had a seizure and her heart…stopped. When we took off her necklace, there was an ice blast and BOOSH! …Killer Frost escaped," HR explained, twirling his drumstick with twitching fingers. Joe felt a twang of guilt in his chest and looked to the computers, but their imagery and words meant nothing to the simple detective.

"I-I can't find her, guys. She's not here anymore. Any new hits?" Barry's voice came through. Cisco couldn't hold back the sob from escaping. His throat was too tight to answer Barry's question. Joe put a hand on his shoulder and gave a reassuring squeeze.

"We're gonna find her," Joe said, in that same dad-voice he spoke in when talking to Barry. It didn't take away the pain but it eased the tension in Cisco's chest enough for him to take a deep breath.

Shall be continued in another chapter, if you'd like. I'm just way into this show and I get so excited when I see the new episodes! We won't be seeing the next episode for two weeks, this time! So, to pass the time I thought I may continue writing since the last one went over, fairly, well enough. And I love writing about my fave character, Dr. Caitlin Snow!