Eddie isn't exactly sure what's happening.
What he does know is that the rain from earlier has almost stopped and that The Flash and The Reverse Flash have been fighting it out for what seems like an eternity and all around them there are shimmering streaks of red and gold with sparks shooting off them. It would almost be beautiful if he didn't know what it all meant. But he does. And the beauty of it dims and instead becomes something that is stark and brutal. Every now and again the streaks disappear and two figures, one red and one gold, tumble to the ground, locked in a struggle that is deadly as they battle, striking blows against each other,
There is only one way that this can end.
Every instinct in Eddie wants to help but he knows there is nothing he can do, nothing that any of them can do. The feeling of helplessness sits uneasily on him but for now all he can do is watch as good and evil fight against each other.
Suddenly the two figures appear, solid and real, standing on the edge of a tall building. They seem to stare intently at each other in some kind of silent communication and then the moment is gone as the man in yellow grabs the other and pushes him off the roof with a violent shove.
Eddie's stomach literally drops, his face falling in stunned shock as everything around him goes silent.
But it's not the end.
Or at least it's not the end of The Flash.
Because the moment his foot steps off the ledge, hovering in mid-air, his hand snakes out grabbing the man in yellow by his forearm, gripping it tightly. The deep red figure seems to freeze in time for a moment and then the two men are falling... falling... falling...
… and the red and gold shimmers and sparkles, dissolving into one single entity, turning into a bright white light that flashes out like an angelic firework moments before a figure hits the ground with the thud.
It's The Flash.
Alive and standing on two feet, a faint crackling sound of energy vibrating off him as tiny sparks of red and gold and white flicker out from his body. Of the man in yellow there is no sign and whatever has happened to him Eddie doesn't really care because The Flash is standing here, here and alive. That's all that matters.
The man in red sways on his feet where he stands, his suit torn and bloody before a sound like a clap of thunder echoes out and he buckles to the ground.
It's all Eddie needs and even before the red clad figure hits the ground Eddie is running towards him, wanting to help the man who has helped so many. Reaching him he stares down at him for a second. There are rips and tears in the red suit, revealing pale skin underneath and the facial hood that covers his face is mostly intact except for a small tear under one of his eyes and the figure is so utterly still that Eddie wonders if he is even alive. But what stuns him the most is that he knows this man, or at least he thought he did.
"Barry?"
The name slips from his lips like a sigh but it's the sight of the blood that gears him into action, pulling him out of his surprise with a jolt as he realises that the sound of thunder wasn't thunder at all but the sound of a bullet being fired.
He shrugs out of his jacket and drops to his knees, ignoring the puddle of water as it seeps through his trousers as he kneels on the ground. He quickly runs his hands over the body, noticing the fine bleeding cuts that are underneath each tear in the suit. It's the bullet wound though that is most concerning. Eddie places both his hands on top of it, the deep red of blood running through his fingers as he presses down hard in an effort to slow the bleeding.
"Barry! Barry. Stay me with me Barry. Don't you dare go giving up on me. Okay?"
The words are filled with emotion and Eddie is doing everything he can to stay calm, calling on all his police training to keep focus on what needs to be done and pushing the fear and panic back. It's a skill that every cop has and one at this very moment that Eddie is glad for. He needs to focus if he's to keep Barry alive.
He glances down at the ground and sees blood seeping out from underneath Barry. A through-and-through. This is good. Very good. Or least it would be if there wasn't so much blood.
A small spluttering cough coming from Barry is enough for Eddie to pull his attention away from the blood on the ground and focus back on him. He moves one hand, while keeping the other still firmly in place above the wound, and places it on Barry's shoulder, squeezing it gently as he holds him down.
"Bar, you need to stay still. Please."
Barry seems to hear Eddie's plea and turns his head slightly in his direction, hazel eyes locking on to clear blue. "Eddie?" The moment the name leaves his lips his head slumps back to the ground as he falls into unconsciousness.
Just as Eddie turns to call out for help Joe and Caitlin arrive, breathless from running.
Caitlin takes position next to Eddie and begins doing what she does best – healing people. Knowing that Barry is in capable hands Eddie moves aside and folds his jacket, placing it gently under Barry's head, being careful not to move him too much. He glances over to Joe who is kneeling on Barry's other side, both of their faces mirrors of each other, concern and worry etched on them.
The sound of a vehicle arriving, its brakes squealing as it comes to a stand still, is the sound of hope. After that everything else is a blur.
There is Caitlin giving orders to them all as they carefully pick Barry up and place him on the gurney. Caitlin knows what's she doing, as does Cisco as he helps her as she hooks Barry up to tubes and fluids. As for Joe and himself, they both feel so helpless as they go through the motions, following her instructions to the letter yet with no idea what they are really doing. Somehow through all of this Captain Singh has arrived and is ushering the other police into keeping people far back, giving those that are tending to the Flash a chance to do their job.
Eddie is grateful for this. Grateful that no one is trying to get a glimpse of who the Flash really is. Grateful for being given space so that he and the others can concentrate on saving Barry's life.
Eventually in what seems like forever but is really only a couple of minutes they speed away in the Star Lab van, a police escort with them as Cisco drives like a maniac, breaking just about every traffic law there is. At the lab there is more activity, a whirlwind of movement as Caitlin works on Barry, doing everything she can to save him. Cisco is there too, monitoring vitals on the the monitors, rushing over to help her as she needs it.
Joe stands back, slumping into the nearest chair as the weight of what is happening catches up with him, cradling his head in his hands. This is his son. Or as near as. And Eddie can't begin to imagine what this must be like for him.
"Joe. He'll be alright."
Joe looks up, the tears he is holding back glistening in his eyes. He nods at Eddie. "Yes. He will be," he says. The words sound hollow and the stricken look on Joe's face shows that as much as he wants to believe this he is worried that this is finally it. That The Flash... that Barry has finally fought a battle that he can't come back from.
As for Eddie... he's filled with so many emotions he's not sure if he's feeling anything at all.
He's awed and amazed that Barry is the Flash. That the guy he has been working with all this time has been putting his life on the line, time and time again. He can't quite wrap his head around it and yet all the little clues that he should have seen but didn't start to come together and in a weird kind of way it all makes perfect sense.
Barry is The Flash.
And yet as much as he is amazed and awed by this there are other things that are far more important. Because despite being some kind of superhero Barry is still Barry. He's human and fragile and vulnerable and right now he is hurt.
Badly hurt.
Seeing Barry injured is like an open wound on Eddie's heart. It hurts. It hurts far more than he thought possible. And it makes him realise that he cares for Barry. Cares for Barry in ways that have nothing to do with just friendship. But he can't go right there now. He can't focus on what this might mean. Because everyone around him is hurting also and all he can do is stand by and watch as his friend fights for his life.