She'd bottled up everything so well.
How could a once tardy C.S.I manage to break down all those walls? Or should she say, The Flash? Layer after layer, Barry Allen just stripped her of her defences – and he didn't even know it.
Caitlin Snow was leaning against the doorway looking down at Barry Allen's limp body. He'd come back from another fight and this one had him in with broken bones. Her heart had been racing. The meta-human was able to control his mind. They had never faced anything like this before – and he was the one that made Barry smash his own bones.
. . .
"Barry?" Caitlin's voice was shrill and echoed into the earpiece. Cisco and Dr Wells looked at each other uncertainly. They hadn't heard anything for the past minute. A whole minute of her heart throbbing, fear clutching it in an unbreakable grasp.
"Hello," Barry's voice echoed through the com. It was like Caitlin remembered to breathe again. Cisco and Dr Wells unclenched their shoulders the smallest fraction. But something was wrong; Barry didn't sound like Barry.
"Barry?" Caitlin asked again. "Are-are you all right?"
"I'm sorry," said Barry.
They all shared a confused glance before Cisco said into the speaker, "What are you sorry for?"
"I'm sorry that I wasn't clear that this isn't Barry." Caitlin's heart jumped back into her throat. The voice… it was Barry's but it wasn't…could this meta-human control Barry's mind? Caitlin's mind was scattering, trying to place down facts without letting the panic encompass her.
"Who are you?" Caitlin's voice came out stronger than she thought it could.
Instead of answering, they replied, "Your friend's mind is very hard to control…Like trying to grasp a squirming fish with your bare hands. He's very fast, I'll give him that. He's hard to control…right now he's thinking up ways to get out of this…ways to kick me out. It's quite comical, actually."
Barry's voice was so cold and emotionless that it just sounded so incredibly wrong. A strong hatred built up within Caitlin; this meta-human was hurting her friend, he was playing with him and there was nothing she could do to stop him. Not on this side of the earpiece.
"What do you want?" Her voice started to shake with her hatred.
"I want to send you a message. How about through your star quarter-back, eh? How about I make him jump off a building? Or perhaps throw him off a bridge?"
Caitlin was speechless. She had never felt so helpless. She was looking into the black speaker, but she wasn't seeing anything; it was all just hazed over with shock. Barry, dead? It just didn't seem possible. After all this nothingness after Ronnie's death, she had finally opened up to Barry. And now she was about to lose him as well.
"Stop! Wait," Dr Wells spoke into the com. "Please, just, stop. Tell us what to do, and we'll do it. I promise, just as long as you don't hurt Barry."
Barry's icy laughter echoed through Caitlin's earpiece. A shiver ran up her spine.
"You'll do what I ask? That's rich. I know the moment I give up his mind he will race back to all of you and you'll all try to find some way to get rid of me. Just like with all the others."
"You don't have to do this!" Caitlin's voice shook. "Please, please, don't, please!" Before she knew it, a single tear carved a path down her cheek.
Barry's laughter rang through her ears again. "Oh, isn't that sweet? His little girlfriend is begging for his life. Little Barry here is scared out of his mind – not for what will happened to himself, but what will happen to all of you if he doesn't stop me. Quite the hero complex wouldn't you say, Caitlin Snow?"
Caitlin couldn't bring herself to speak. They had to be able to read minds. There was no other way they could know about them.
"No, no, no," Barry continued. "Killing him wouldn't be a proper message."
Throughout their whole exchange, Caitlin had barely registered Cisco's crazy typing beside her. She glanced over. Cisco was tracking Barry's suit to find his location. Maybe they could get to him in time to bring him out of the telepath's range. There was always a limit to their abilities; there just had to be. A wave of hope washed over Caitlin.
She opened her mouth to speak but was stopped but a loud crack and Barry's anguished scream.
"Barry!" Caitlin yelled into the speaker. A sudden image flashed across her mind of her standing outside the particle accelerator, one year ago, screaming the exact same message; only the name was different.
"There goes his wrist," the voice breathed. Caitlin could hear Barry's laboured breathing through the earpiece. Her own breathing was rattling in and out of her chest haphazardly.
"Hurry Cisco," Dr Wells quietly urged.
Another crack. And another. And another. All accompanied by a scream. Caitlin pulled the earpiece out. She pushed herself shakily away from the computer. Pacing. Five steps. Turn. Five steps back. Caitlin couldn't see anything. Only Barry's tortured screams echoed through her mind. Her hand ran shakily through her hair. It was a while until she noticed that tears were running freely down her cheeks. Cisco was typing furiously, his arms trembling. Dr Wells was resting his knuckles against his mouth, his gaze pensive and strained. Caitlin didn't know what to do. Never had she ever felt this helpless; she was always able to do at least something before with Barry's early fights. But never had she been left stranded, left to do nothing. She couldn't help him. Couldn't help the man who had opened her up, who made her smile, who made her live. She had been a shell when he found her, living on autopilot. He made her laugh and made her feel so undeniably happy; and to now have that all taken away… It was like losing Ronnie all over again. And she couldn't face that. Not again. Never again. Especially not with Barry. Not this time.
"I got him!" Cisco yelled. Caitlin ran over to the computer screens, nearly tripping over her short heels.
"Where is he?" she exhaled, not quite relief washing over her but something that wasn't hopelessness.
"Corner of Whickims street. It's about a 10 minute drive."
"Looks, like you've found him," Barry's shaking breath comes through the earpiece. Caitlin begrudgingly puts it back in, not wanting to hear any more of his pain. "I'll leave him now. I think you got my message: don't look for me ever again."
Then Caitlin heard a loud gasp, not unlike when Barry woke from his coma. Then cries of pain.
"Barry? Barry, what's happened?"
"Bones…broken," Barry gasped through the pain.
Caitlin's voice cracked as she said, "Don't worry Barry. Cisco and I are on our way. Just hold on!"
"Hurry…please."
. . .
Now she peered down at his mangled body. Tears blurred her vision and she didn't know when everything had changed for her. One day she had been mourning her fiancée's death, the next she was falling in love with one of her closest friends. That was the only thing it could be: love. She had felt it once before and knew how to recognise it. There was no denying it for when she fell for Ronnie, and now for this bright, caring, heroic, selfless man lying before her.
Barry stirred in his unconscious state, with wires tangled all around him. Caitlin hesitantly walked over and placed her hand beside his head, on the pillow. He's already begun the process of healing; his bones are knitting themselves back into place. He'll be up again in a couple of hours. Still, she has placed him under narcotics to ease his pain. His usual spiky hair is matted to his forehead and a layer of sweat covers his body.
Caitlin can't help but stare at Barry. Her revelation hit when Cisco was driving back to S.T.A.R Labs and she was hurriedly trying to keep Barry alive. Barry had been close to unconsciousness but had reached out for her and murmured her name. She had taken his hand, the one not attached to his broken wrist, and held on tight. Then it had struck; she loved this man and had for some time.
Barry now stirred again and caused a few machines to bleep in annoyance. Caitlin rested her hand on his collarbone and he cracked open an eye. Caitlin's breath caught at the sight of those familiar green eyes. He managed a smile, but it turned out to be more of a grimace.
"Has Cisco got a name for him yet?" Barry murmurs.
Caitlin can't help but give a choked laugh. "You've got a broken arm, broken wrist, a broken collarbone and a broken leg and the first thing you ask is if the person has a supervillain name?"
Barry's mouth tilted slightly to the side, showcasing his characteristic grin. "You're right. How's your day been?"
Caitlin gives a bark of laughter but was surprised to be cut off by sob. She quickly looks away and covers her mouth.
"Hey, hey, hey," Barry whispers. He starts to get up but Caitlin places her hand firmly on his unbroken collarbone again, pushing him down lightly.
Before he can say anything, Caitlin whispered, "Don't you ever do that to me again, Barry Allen."
His green eyes search her face for a couple of seconds and then, "Never, Caitlin Snow."
She knows it's foolish; there's no way he can possibly keep that promise. It's part of his nature to help people in trouble, even at the risk of his own life. He reminds her so much of Ronnie that it breaks her heart. But this isn't Ronnie. This is Barry and she's fallen in love with this selfless, self-destructive nitwit. She smiles and leans down and gently presses her lips to his. For a second, there is no response and she starts to pull away but Barry quickly reaches up and presses his lips to hers. She doesn't push anything, knowing he's still healing, but gently moves her lips against his. She could get used to this.
Eventually, she pulls away. She quickly turns her back on Barry and walks out the door, but can't help but smile.
Everything has changed, and she knows it's for the better.
A/N: hey everyone! This is my second fanfic for my new otp: Snowbarry! I absolutely love them together and I wanted to share the love. This doesn't mean I don't like Westallen – they are cute too – but my heart beats for Snowbarry, just like Olicity! I do not own the Flash, I only own this fanfiction. Cover image credit to unlikely-alliance on tumblr.
Please like/review!