Author's Notes

Hi! First off I want to give a shout out to fandm-writer! Thank you so much for all your help and support!

So, this is an AU of season 3. Since it is an AU, the circumstances and events change, and the characters will too. It will focus on a relatively small cast of characters. There will be ships, and depending on who you are you may or may not like it. This will, eventually, be a Snowbarry story.

Disclaimer: This story will have characters from the Arrow-verse plus a few from the comics. There will also be mild cursing and some violence because, well, superheroes get beat up.

I'll try to update at least once a month, but sometimes life and university might happen. Feel free to comment, I'll try to respond to as many as I can. Please no shipping wars. You will be ignored or blocked. Anyway, I hope you guys like it!


Bonds

Chapter 1

For as long as Caitlin Snow could remember she wanted to be a scientist. To use the wonders of the scientific world to help people, that's why she became a doctor in the first place. It was in her DNA, she used to joke. Apparently, that joke had some truth to it. Especially considering her sister had followed a similar career path. They were both MDs. Of course, there were differences between them. Her sister had PhDs in Thermodynamics and Genetics, with a Masters in Biochemistry. While Caitlin had PhDs in Bio-Engineering and Chemistry. While completing her final year of school, Caitlin had been approached by Dr. Wells - well, Eobard Thawne, a.k.a. Reverse Flash, posing as Harrison Wells anyway - about joining the S.T.A.R. Labs Particle Accelerator project. Caitlin had jumped at the opportunity.

Meanwhile, her sister had opted to go back to school for a Masters in Biochemistry. After completing that Masters, Katherine Snow was personally approached by Bruce Wayne, CEO of Wayne Enterprises, about heading his new Cold Fusion experiment. Katherine had been over the moon. Naturally, the first thing she did was call Caitlin, informing her of this incredible turn of events and that she was moving to Gotham.

That was why Caitlin was currently on a private jet headed to Gotham City, staring out the window at the passing landscape. Her 'baby' sister was in a coma. Well, not quite a baby, they were only a year apart after all, but Caitlin nonetheless referred to her as her 'baby' sister.

"-or Snow? Doctor Snow?"

That snapped Caitlin out of her little trip down memory lane. She looked at the source of the sound that shook her out of her thoughts. The man sitting across from her was 5'10", dressed a black suit. He had light hazel eyes and dark brown hair. "Forgive me, Mr. Drake. I was miles away," apologized Caitlin.

"I understand, Doctor Snow. I was just saying that we'll be landing in 10 minutes."

"Okay, thank you. Is there any update on Katie's situation?" Caitlin asked, her voice hollow.

"No change so far."

"Okay."

"...Doctor Snow, forgive me if I overstep, but, how are you so calm?" he asked with a slightly shaky voice. At that moment Caitlin noticed how tried the young man looked. He couldn't have been more than 20 yet, he looked like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. His hazel eyes had dark circles beneath them, he looked pale and just plain tired.

Caitlin was silent for a few moments before finally saying, "I'm not calm, Mr. Drake. I'm trying to focus on the fact that she's surviving. She's breathing and stable. I'm clinging to that."

The young man sighed and dragged a hand across his face. "...Please, call me Tim. It...It just doesn't feel right to have someone that looks so much like Kath call me 'Mr. Drake'."

Caitlin just looked at Tim for a while, her brain sluggishly processing what he had said. She could see where he was coming from, in a sense. They did look similar. They had the same nose, lips, eye shape, jaw, and chin. Caitlin had their father's warm brown eyes, while Katie had their mother's ice blue ones. Katie had their father's higher cheekbones and darker brown hair. The fact that he had called Katie an abbreviated version of her name showed that he was close friends with her. Her sister absolutely hated people she didn't consider close being overly familiar with her.

"Ah, so your Timothy Drake. I've heard about you. How long have you two known each other?" she asked after a few more moments of silence.

"Almost 4 years."

"Do you work at Wayne Enterprises too?"

"Yes, but we met through my brother."

Caitlin was about to respond when a stewardess walked into the cabin and said, "Mr. Drake, we will be landing in 2 minutes. Mr. Wayne has sent a car to take you both directly to the manor. He also said to tell you that Dr. Snow's, the younger's, condition hasn't changed."

"Thank you, Emily," responded Tim. Once Emily exited the cabin Tim turned back to Caitlin and said, "Well, almost there."

"Yes," Caitlin said as she stood up and grabbed her bag from the seat next to her.

She was about to head behind her seat to get her luggage, but Tim said, "May I help you with that Doctor Snow?"

Caitlin was about to say no when she saw the look on his face. He was almost begging for something to do that would even slightly distract him. She gave a small sign and responded, "Yes, that would be very helpful. Thank you, Tim."

He shot her a grateful look and quickly took the luggage.


The car ride from the airfield to Wayne Manor felt like an eternity to Caitlin. Her sister was only twenty miles away, but at the moment it could've been two hundred. Apparently, Tim shared her anxiousness. His right foot was bouncing and had been since they got into the limo. Tim leaned over and tapped the dark glass separating the driver's side from the passenger's area. Almost immediately the dark glass slid down, and a man with a chauffeurs cap asked in a British accent, "Yes Master Timothy?"

"How much longer Alfred, and has anyone called?" responded Tim, speaking so quickly that Caitlin barely caught what he said.

"We are five minutes away from the manor, Master Timothy. As for Doctor Snow's condition, I have heard no update as of yet," responded Alfred calmly.

"Thank you, Alfred," sighed Tim.

Tim turned back to Caitlin who was currently staring blankly at the floor of the limo. Tim noted that as yet another similarity between the sisters. He didn't know Kath as well as his older brothers, but he still knew her quite well. Anytime Kath was uncomfortable or worried about something she wouldn't show it. Her face would be blank and her voice completely neutral. People who didn't know her called her cold-hearted, but it was the complete opposite. Especially in situations like this, Kath cared too much. So she didn't focus on showing her concern, she focused on finding a solution. That's what her elder sister was currently doing as well, she was focusing on Kath's situation, probably racking her brain to find a way to help her younger sister. Tim felt guilty, they had withheld all the facts from Kath's sister. All they had told her was there had been an accident in the lab, Kath had been hurt in said accident, and she was currently in a coma. Two lies and a truth. Not the best way to start off getting to know someone, but Bruce had insisted. He had said that they need to determine of Caitlin Snow was a trustworthy character.

-Flashback-

Wayne Manor - Basement

6 Hours Ago

The entire Wayne 'family' was assembled in the spacious basement of Wayne Manor. The Wayne family consisted, mainly, of seven people.

Alfred Pennyworth, the 'grandfather' figure of the family and butler.

Bruce Wayne, the adoptive, and in one case biological, father of the bunch. Batman.

Richard 'Dick' Grayson, the eldest son and the dork. Nightwing.

Barbara Gordon, the daughter and know-it-all that everyone loves. Oracle.

Jason Todd, the second eldest son and the hot-head. Red Hood.

Timothy 'Tim' Drake, the third son and the genius. Red Robin.

Damian Wayne, the fourth son and the brat. Robin.

Although called a basement, it didn't have the usual clutter of one. The room was a large open floor plan room that was divided into sections based on the carpets. There were four sections to the room. The pantry that was always filled with snacks. The gym area that had everything from weights to gymnastics equipment. The med-bay which had state-of-the-art equipment, and normally didn't have any long term occupants, however at the moment that proved untrue. The final section is the main section, a large area that was scattered with computers, desks, and chairs. Against the back wall of this section was a quantum computer that was linked to multiple screens but, its main monitor was a giant 87" plasma screen tv mounted on the wall. And that was the section where the family was now assembled.

"We are not going to tell her exactly how this happened. We need to figure out if she can be trusted." Bruce Wayne's voice echoed around the large room.

"But we are going to tell her right? Once she gets here? She's her sister. Not to mention a brilliant doctor and scientist. She might be able to figure out what's wrong and help! And you want to keep this a secret from her?!" shouted Dick. That sentiment was echoed by the majority of the others assembled in the cave.

"No. I will tell her if, and only if, I feel she's trustworthy," repeated Bruce.

Everyone started shouting in outrage. Only three people remained silent: Bruce Wayne, Alfred Pennyworth, and Jason Todd. The reaction of two out of these three people was expected. Bruce had said the very thing that caused the outrage, so his nonexistent response was a given. Alfred was Bruce's oldest friend and practically a father to him, so Alfred was almost always silent in situations like this, especially if it meant going against Bruce in such a public way.

But Jason's reaction, or lack thereof? Jason Todd was the second eldest son and generally considered a hothead. His reaction was the scariest. Especially considering the events that lead to Katherine's current state. Yet he calmly walked past Bruce and up to the computer behind the billionaire. He typed in a few things then, a video of the events that transpired just 4 hours ago began to play on the screen. Everyone stopped shouting, fixated on the screen that was playing the surveillance video depicting those horrific events that lead to Katherine Snow current state. Almost as one, the small group turned to look at Katherine's unconscious form in the med-bay of the room. Bruce turned back to Jason only to meet a fist to the face, Bruce went sprawling to the ground. Nobody moved to help the billionaire up, not even Alfred.

"Fuck. You." spat Jason. "You don't want to tell the one person who has a chance to save her? Why? Because she not trustworthy? That bullshit. It's your fucking ego. You couldn't figure out why Kath's in a coma so, of course, no one can. If the great Bruce-No-If the great Batman can't figure it out then what chance do these other plebeians stand? Right?! RIGHT?!" Jason bellowed, "Well news flash Brucie, YOU ARE NOT THE SMARTEST PERSON ON THE PLANET!" Jason took a deep breath, then another, and another. After about ten deep breaths he said, in a slightly calmer voice, "You have one hour. If you don't tell her sister the truth, and I mean ALL of it, within one hour of her getting to the manor, I'll let her know. And you can't stop me."

"I will too," said Dick. Jason nodded to his brother, and the two left a dumbfounded bat-family to pick up their resident billionaire off the floor.

-End Flashback-

Tim still couldn't believe that had actually happened. Jason and Dick rarely agreed on what to eat for lunch, let alone something this big. And Dick openly giving Bruce the proverbial middle finger? That was something you didn't see often.

The tinted glass that separated the limo once again lowered and Alfred said, "Master Timothy, we are entering the front gates."

"Thank you, Alfred," responded Tim. He looked towards the elder Snow sister who was still staring at the ground. He noted that her lips were pulled in a tight line, her eyes were glassy, and her posture rigid. She had her left leg crossed over her right, and her hands were clasped so tightly in her lap that her knuckles were white.

Tim shook his head to clear his thoughts. "Doctor Snow? We're here."

Caitlin's gaze snapped from the floor to Tim. She glanced out the window then turned back to Tim and said, "Yes, I suppose we are. Thank you, Tim."

So quietly, that Tim almost couldn't hear, she murmured, "I'm coming, Katie."