There is no clear certainty

The world you've always known can be erased

It can be changed as quickly as you can utter a single breath

And it can alter everything you've believed in

In the Blink of an Eye

Chapter One

Earth One

Barry Allen sat in the medical bay of Star Labs. The speedster clutched his left arm at the elbow, his hand alive with pain. His brow was moist from the exchange with Cisco's fighting simulation. His t-shirt was clammy against his skin. Without the earlier rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins, he felt cold.

"You know," Dr. Caitlin Snow marched into the room, armed with an x-ray. "When I promised 'in sickness and in health,' I pictured us growing old and frail together. I imagined making you chicken soup. I didn't, however, imagine resetting your shoulder, not once, but twice this week." She pinned the x-ray to the highlighted screen, revealing the damage done to his hand. "And now this."

"I know," Barry uttered, looking regretfully to his wife. Her display of simmering anger was merely a mask of her concern.

"Seven fractures!" Turning on her heel, she directed her attention to Cisco and Harry.

"It's a good program," Cisco Ramon's eyes rose from his tablet. He was trying to pin-point what had gone wrong. "Harry and I have modified it to mimic Zoom's capabilities. As well as his fighting style, and the combat styles of all known metahumans associated with him on Earth Two. There's just a few kinks that need smoothing out." Tucking his brown hair behind his ears, he glanced back at the data, his brow furrowing in concentration.

"A few kinks?" Caitlin's voice rose a notch higher.

"That I'm going to go, straighten out right now." Cisco, having known her longer than the others, knew better to argue with an angry Caitlin. "I'll be in the workshop." With that, the young engineer wearing a shirt that read, 'Have you tried turning it off and on again?', exited hastily.

"We're fighting a war, Snow," Earth Two's offering of Dr. Harrison Wells stated. 'Harry' as Cisco had dubbed him, stood tall, strong, and battle-hardened. As brilliant as the late Dr. Wells of their world, the scientist from an alternate universe had come up against Zoom many-a-time before. "We have to be prepared."

"Prepared I understand. This?" Caitlin indicated to Barry's bruised, swollen hand. "Not so much."

"Better a broken hand, than him, or anyone of us, dead." Harry didn't bother to sugar-coat the dangers Zoom posed to the team.

Shooting an icy stare, she countered, "But it's not your hand that's broken."

Opening his mouth to retaliate, Harry thought better of it. He excused himself, before heading to assist Cisco.

"Cait," now alone, Barry used her pet name, and watched her soften. "They're just trying to help."

She was fiercely protective over him, over all of them. "I know," she conceded.

The fears, and stresses, were getting the better of them. While Harry trained for every possible scenario, Caitlin became ever-cautious and fiercely over-protective, and Barry tried to be the strongest, fastest, best version of himself. To be the hero, that his wife, and the whole group, readily placed faith in.

Moving to the medical supply trolley, Caitlin prepared a syringe. She returned to his bedside, taking his good arm gently in blue-gloved hands. She numbed the skin before she injected him with the painkiller. "This will work pretty much instantly."

Given his metahuman abilities, Barry could burn through food, medicines, and other substances, at an alarming rate. Caitlin, being the world class bio-engineer, and excellent physician she was, had worked her magic, fashioning a suitable drug for the speedster.

"Whoa, yeah, it's working…" Barry's vision began to blur before she'd pressed a Band-Aid to his arm. He lay back on the bed, resting his fuzzy head on the pillow. His whole body succumbed to numbness. "You could bottle that stuff, make a small fortune."

A smile graced her lips, and her earlier frustrations gave way to her love and concern for Barry. Her touch was soft, yet precise, as she cared from him. She worked quietly to set each of his broken fingers back into place.

"I know you're mad," Barry began lightly.

"Not mad. Worried," she admitted, her eyes fully focused on her task.

"But Harry's right," he continued. "We have to be prepared."

"I know." Looping her hair around her ear, Caitlin met his eyes. "It's just you're the one that gets hurt in these training sessions."

"And you're the one who patches me up." He smiled his boyish smile. Tried and tested, he knew how to make her give in, and smile back.

"And I always will. But that doesn't mean I have to be happy about it."

They fell silent and he watched her work. Her brown eyes were intent. He'd always admired her intense concentration. Her ability to remain calm and focused while acting as the team's doctor, or while she ran tests was remarkable. Despite the obstacles and perils Star Labs faced, she could shut it out, and do what needed to be done.

"Your hand's all set," Caitlin declared. "You'll need to rest for a few hours, but then you'll be good as new."

Barry's sight flicked to the aid attached to his hand. Each one of his fingers were supported in the futuristic-looking, medical apparatus. Testing, he wiggled his index finger. He could feel his enhanced healing already taking effect.

Sitting down next to him, Caitlin took a cotton bud, held in place by tweeters, and dabbled adeptly at the large wound on his cheek. She wore a look of concentrated worry.

Wincing at the sting, he attempted to lighten the mood between him and his girl. "Now's probably the wrong time to tell you that you look sexy playing doctor, isn't it?"

"Barry! This isn't funny," Caitlin threw him a firm look. She wanted to be professional and serious, but she couldn't. Not when he was looking at her like that. Not when he was trying his hardest to make her laugh. Barry's uninjured hand stilled her working one and she softened. "You could've been seriously hurt."

"I wasn't." His thumb grazed gently over her knuckles. "Cait, I'm fine. You said so yourself. A couple of hours and I'll be good as new."

"I know," she smiled. "I know that, but as your wife I'm allowed to worry."

Barry couldn't argue with her in the subject. He worried about her. He worried for her, and everyone he cared about. He considered the team, his family. Caitlin quietly continued to clean out his wounds. After the initial discomfort, he settled back. He noticed her idly chewing on her bottom lip, the way she always did when something was bothering her.

"Talk to me?" he piped up then.

"What?" Her teeth still and she licked her lips, knowing he'd made her.

"Come on, Cait. I know something's up." He curled his hand around her busy wrist, and she met his eyes. "You've been distracted today. A couple of days. You're biting your lower lip…." Even when she worked meticulously to convey the illusion that everything was okay, he noticed these things.

Caitlin sighed in soft defeat, "Just promise me, no more of Cisco's robots and Harry's simulations. I worry enough when you go out in the field. I don't want to have to worry about you here as well."

"Okay," Barry smiled, holding her gaze until she smiled in return. He uttered his reassurance, "no more training, I promise."

"Okay," she said with a nod. "You need to rest."

Barry took the doctor's orders and settled his back on to the pillow. He closed his eyes, giving into his body's exhaustion. He felt the vague notion that Caitlin was holding back. The thought struck him, his mind giving into his heavy head, and Caitlin's miracle painkiller.

Barry slept, vaguely aware of Caitlin sitting beside him. Thanks to his healing powers, he was beginning to feel better. The low rumble of thunder outside vibrated in his ears. He blinked his eyes in response to the flicker of blue lightening.

Waking up fully, he stared up at the white ceiling, and the harsh fluorescent lights. His head throbbing in protest, he turned sideways to look at his wife. "Hey," he rasped.

"Hey, yourself," Caitlin set her tablet down on a nearby surface, and moved to him. "How are you feeling?" She pressed a cool hand to his forehead.

"Better, much better. Aside from the headache."

"Probably a side effect of the painkiller. I can give you something for that."

"No need. My whole body no longer feels like it's been in battle. A headache I can handle."

"Glad to hear it," she said with a smile.

"All thanks to my personal physician." Rejuvenated, he stood up, encircling his arms around her waist. He drew her close and kissed her.

"Your self-healing may have been a factor too," she reminded him before kissing back. They hadn't had many opportunities to simply be a newly married couple, and Caitlin, normally a little reluctant to indulge in public displays of affection in the Labs, rose on her toes to deepen the kiss. "I miss this."

"Me too. When this is over," he began, "I want us to get away. Go someplace by the ocean."

"Sounds perfect," she whispered against his skin.

"Yeah?" he traced the hollow of her cheekbone before drawing her in for another kiss.

The sweet lull was penetrated by Cisco's home-made metahuman detectors. Sensors blaring, Barry and Caitlin reluctantly moved apart. The numerous gages flared and bleeped in frantic warning, beckoning them to the Cortex.

Hand in hand, they moved to the command center. The computer monitors displayed the imminent danger Central City faced. Zoom's army was comprised of many-a-metahuman he'd brought through the breach. His loyal legion was striking big time; approaching the CCPD, Picture News, and City Hall.

Amid the shrieking alarms, Cisco and Harry rushed into the Cortex. They'd all planned, and prepared for Zoom's attack, for longer than anyone cared to remember. No one spoke, a heavy sense of anxiety, and dread, hung over them.

Barry strode to his suit. For the sometimes-reluctant hero, it was almost a relief to be compelled to launch into offence.

Quickly and quietly, he suited up, alongside Cisco, who donned the newly-fashioned 'Vibe' suit and glasses. The mood between them was somber. Cisco, normally so excited to get out on the field, and test out his new toys and gadgets, wore a look of apprehension on his round, young face. He met Barry's eye, the two shared a muted look of understanding. They knew the dangers they faced, and they would stop at nothing to protect the ones they loved, and their beloved city.

Harry stood at the desk, loading his rifle with bullets. He tossed guns, ammo, and grenades in his black bag before zipping it up and slinging it over his shoulders. His face was determined and focused, as gearing up to fight his old enemy.

Though mere hours ago, Caitlin had been at odds with Harry, she brought him a police-issued Kevlar vest. Some of Zoom's allies carried weapons, and Harry didn't possess the advantage of self-healing. The bullet-proof vest was the best the doctor could offer him.

Joe and Iris West rushed in. The seasoned detective's face was alive with worry. Joe had seen a lot in his years. He'd come up against many-an-unrelenting criminal; rapists, murderers, psychopaths, he'd faced them, and put away the scum of the earth.

The emergence of metahumans, and parallel universes, had stretched Joe, forcing the man who appreciated the simple things in life, to acknowledge the possibilities of things beyond his control and understanding. Zoom was the worst of the worst; the demonic speedster defied everything Joe had once clung to.

"There are reports of metahumans attacking all over the city," Joe informed them. He fastened a Kevlar vest across his torso. "The police are out in full force."

"Guys! We got this!" Barry addressed the group. "We've prepared for this."

His gaze flickered to Caitlin. She hadn't spoken, her eyes fixed to the monitors. While posing as Jay Garrick, Zoom had connected with Caitlin more than the others. She'd truly believed he was a good person, a speedster struggling to find his way and make amends. She'd liked him, trusted him, and even when Barry had expressed his doubts she'd stood up for him. She'd learned the hard, bitter way as to what lengths Hunter Zoloman would go to, to get what he wanted. Out of everyone, Jay's betrayal had hurt her the most.

"Cait," Barry uttered, stirring her attention from the metahumans on the computer screens. "I need you."

She looked at him. She wore a look of apprehension. If afforded the luxury, she would have begged him not to go. She loved him. She didn't want him risking his life. She didn't want any of her friends out there. But she knew they had to do this. So, she bobbed her head in wordless acknowledgement.

"We've got company," she declared, moving to the helm. "I'm locking the doors." Her fingers flew over the keyboard, launching Cisco's new security program.

"We've got company, I'm locking the doors," she declared, moving to the helm to assume command. Her fingers flew over the keyboard, launching the added security Cisco had implemented.

The monitors clearly showed the band of advancing metahumans. The hand-picked, and deadliest, of Zoom's troops. He'd sent them to Star Labs. It appeared Zoom intended to bring the fight to Barry. Led by Earth Two's Black Siren, the late Laurel Lance's doppelganger, the strike group navigated their way swiftly across the parking lot, to the main entrance, attempting to breach their way inside.

"Let's go!" Harry, rifle primed, was ready to go. "Snow, West, it's been a pleasure," Harry, a man of few words, gave a genuine smile, before standing next to the doorway.

"No matter what happens," Joe uttered to his daughter, "keep the doors locked." He placed one of Harry's laser guns in front of Iris. Locking eyes with an uncertain Caitlin, he added, "she's one hell of a shot."

"Love you, dad," Iris hugged her father tightly before Joe went to stand with Harry at Cortex's exit.

Iris moved to hug Cisco, and then her oldest friend, in turn. She then took a seat in front of the monitors and placed on a headset.

Coming to stand in front of Barry and Cisco, Caitlin offered a small smile. Though she attempted to look calm and composed, concern paled across her pretty features. She'd already lost her first husband Ronnie Raymond, and it was her worst fear to lose anyone else she loved.

"If anything happens, if we don't…," Cisco began, pulling letter from his suit's pocket. "I wrote this to my parents. And the other to Dante. Make sure they get them."

"Cisco Ramon…," she struggled kept her voice level. "You're coming back."

"But if I don't, please…Caitlin…" he extended the letters and Caitlin look them.

"Okay." She stepped forward to hug her best friend. "Keep each other safe," she whispered in his ear.

"We're coming back," Cisco assured his best friend squeezing her shoulders as she was now the one to express doubt.

"I know," she attempted a smile as she pulled apart.

Her eyes glittered with tears as she approached Barry. "Be safe."

"Come here," he said gently. Caitlin moved to him, reaching up on her toes to kiss him. She didn't need words to tell him she loved him. She'd promised to stand beside him in battle as she'd always done and always would.

"I love you," he whispered into her hair before they broke apart.

"Keep each other safe," Caitlin uttered before taking a seat at the helm and he moved to stand with the others.

"Let's go!" His mask firmly in place, the Flash was primed and ready.

To be continued...