Greetings and welcome to another story in my Meta-Tests world. I'm posting this now because it stands alone beautifully. If you've not read any of my others stories in this series you'll be fine. I will warn you, there are mentions of death and suicide. In another note, I still lack a Beta so I apologize for any atrocity committed against the English language. There is a little hint a possible Snow/Wells but it can be read as friendship. I do have a story that follows this one, but it will be independent of the Meta-Tests 'verse as I'm trying to keep relationships out of the 'verse. Please review and let me know what you think. As always, story is complete but will be posted over time. I will change status to "complete" when everything is posted. Not my properties and I make no monies from this...
Silently Harrison Wells guided his wheelchair into the cortex, intent on checking in on Dr. Caitlin Snow. They'd had a rough day, with Barry injuring both legs badly enough that Joe had taken the young speedster home to rest for a few days. Cisco had gone along intent on providing entertainment in the form of a DVD marathon. Caitlin had opted to stay in the lab. She'd been staying in the lab by herself a lot lately since Ronnie had died. The young man had sacrificed himself to save them all when a meta-human version of Caitlin had appeared out of the singularity and started wreaking havok. It had been a month, but Harrison knew that grief didn't understand the concept of time.
"Caitlin?" He called out her name as he looked around the empty silent cortex. It was his intent to take her out and try to get her out of her head. "Caitlin?" He spun his chair, stopping to gaze at the computer where she'd been working. Frowning at the screen, he rolled forwards so he could read what was pulled up more easily. After a moment he spun his chair again, pulling his phone out as he did.
"Cisco," answered Cisco Ramon.
"I need you, Barry, and Joe to get to Crystal Falls as fast as you can," Harrison said, guiding his wheelchair through the lab as fast as he could. Pausing, he grabbed something off one of the tables and then kept going.
"Dr. Wells, that's a thirty minute drive," Cisco grumbled.
"I know, but we need to get there, fast. I'll explain when I get there." Without waiting for a response, Harrison hung up the phone, dropping it into the side pocket of his wheelchair. Going as fast as the wheelchair could, Harrison headed for the garage.
Crystal Falls - 20 minutes later
Harrison got out of his car as fast as he could. He'd been planning on doing some exercise at the lab so he had his manual wheelchair. Knowing he could get over more terrain faster in it, he opted to get into it as he exited the van. Looking around, he pushed his wheels as fast as he could towards the stairs which led up to the bridge where tourists could go out and take pictures of the falls. Seeing the stairs, he paused to put on the waist strap on his chair and then kept going. When he got to the bottom of the stairs, he spun the chair, leaned back, grabbed as far up the stair rail as he could, and pulled.
At the first landing he paused, struggling to take in air, and scanning the path ahead. "Caitlin!" He yelled her name. She didn't hear him or chose to ignore him. Fighting panic, he started up the next flight of stairs, his arms screaming in pain from the exertion. He'd be paying for the workout in the morning, but if he succeeded, it would be worth it. At the top of the stairs he turned his chair and started across the bridge as fast as he could, calling her name once more, "Caitlin!" He undid the waist strap in between rapid pushes of his wheels.
In the middle of the bridge, Caitlin stood, staring out into the night, tears running down her face. She'd had a rough few months, first trying to cope with the realization that Dr. Wells was bad, then getting to marry Ronnie, then dealing with the changes wrought by the singularity. The singularity itself had been hard enough. They'd lost Eddie, only to regain Dr. Wells when Eddie changed history. Still, it had come at a cost, and the relationship between the group and Dr. Wells had been strained for a few weeks before they had figured everything out. Now, just when things had been starting to look up, she'd lost Ronnie, to none other than herself. The month without him had been too painful, and she didn't want to keep going. She heard the shout as she leaned forwards and let gravity take her.
"Caitlin! No!" Harrison screamed, getting to where she had stood on the bridge a moment too late. Instead of watching her fall, he dragged himself from his wheelchair, and over the railing to plummet after her.