Gasping, Sophie woke up. The room was unfamiliar and she was wired to several mysterious machines. Half way between a hospital and a lab, the room was littered with high-tech computers and screens. Where am I? What happened? thought Sophie. There was the storm, then the lightning and Barry. "Barry!" she shouted, half out of fright and half out of some actual hope he could hear her.

"You're awake!" exclaimed a young man walking into the lab. He had shoulder-length hair, was wearing a hoodie and had a tablet in one hand and a stick of liquorice in the other. "I'm Cisco Ramon. Welcome to S.T.A.R. labs."

"Sophie Allen. You mean the S.T.A.R. labs? My brother loves you guys, he's a geek like that. He was struck by the lightning too. Do you know where he is? Is he ok?" demanded Sophie.

"One sec," he spoke into his tablet, "Caitlin, the girl is awake." He turned back to Sophie. "Sorry. Yes, the S.T.A.R. labs, but sadly we lost that reputation when we nuked the city."

"You did WHAT?"

"You remember a storm?" Sophie nodded. "Yeah, we caused that when the Accelerator blew up. Slight mishap caused total destruction."

A young woman briskly walked in and began tapping buttons on her tablet. When she leaned over Sophie to check some piece of machinery, you young girl caught sight of the date on her tablet. "September 2014?! How long was I out?"

"9 months," Caitlin replied without looking up from the machine. The two scientists quickly stood back when an older man in a wheelchair entered.

"Dr Wells," said Caitlin. "Her blood pressure and everything seems normal."

He nodded, then looked at Sophie. "My name is Harrison Wells. How are you feeling?" he asked gently.

"Pretty good, but kinda distressed to learn I've been out for 9 months," replied Sophie.

"We'll fill you in on what you missed. But first, can I do anything for you? Caitlin and Cisco will make sure you're healthy then we can discharge you," said Dr Wells.

Only one thing had been on Sophie's mind for that entire conversation. "I want to see my brother."

"Of course." Dr Wells led her through a mass of corridors past a crater of charred ground. She gasped but said nothing. Eventually they reached a room almost identical to her own, and in the centre was a bed with her brother on it. She automatically ran to his side, Dr Wells hanging back to give them some privacy, and she took his hand with tears streaming down her face.

"Barry, I'm here. Please wake up, I need you," she whispered. He didn't stir. Eventually, she stepped away. "What now?" she asked Dr Wells. "I don't want to leave Barry."

He pulled a phone out of somewhere and offered it to her. "You can call Det. West," he said.

Sophie took the phone and dialled her foster dad's number from memory.

"Hello?"

"It's me, Joe. I'm awake," said Sophie, fighting tears just from hearing his voice.

"Sophie?! Oh my word! Are you ok?"

"A little shaken, but all good. Barry's not awake yet, but I want to stay with him."

"You do know he might not…never mind. I'll call Iris."

"Can you send her here?" asked Sophie. Joe agreed and hung up. Sophie stood still for a second then burst into floods of tears. "I never asked for this, I want everything to be like it was," she sobbed. To her great surprise, Dr Wells took her in his arms.

"I know it's undesirable, but this will all get better," he whispered. "This must be difficult for a girl of…"

"14," whispered Sophie.

"14 years of age."

He pulled away and handed her a tissue. Something somewhere beeped, and Dr Wells spoke into his tablet, telling Cisco to let Iris in.

As soon as she saw Sophie, Iris squashed her in a huge hug. "I'm so happy you're alright. Everything is so bleak without you and Barry."

"I know. I think he'll wake up soon," said Sophie, fingers crossed. What Dr Wells had said kept running through her mind – this will all get better – she certainly hoped it would.

"Miss West," said Dr Wells, turning his chair to face her, "happy as I am to see you and Miss Allen's reunion, we still have a lot of test to do on her to make sure she is in full health."

"Of course," smiled Iris. "I'd better get back to work anyway. I'm so happy you're awake." They hugged again and Iris left.

Caitlin came in, carrying her tablet and a cup of coffee. "I just need to do an MRI on Sophie, then we – " she walked into a table, sending her tablet and coffee flying in opposite directions. In a flash of purple lightning, Sophie neatly caught them both and handed them back to Caitlin. "Oh my days," breathed the scientist.

"This is an interesting development," muttered Dr Wells.

AN - huge thanks to everybody who faved, followed and commented. Next chapter should be up soon :)