A/N: I really wanted to get this up last night, but that episode! I was destroyed. "BARRY' *INTENSE CRYING* Thanks to all who have read, followed, faved, and or reviewed! It means a lot to know you enjoy the story, so thanks again.
Seconds turned into minutes, minutes turned into hours, and hours turned into days. It had been over a week since Iris used the Particle Accelerator hoping to become a speedster. The Flash team stood watch waiting for Iris to wake up. Central city was in complete turmoil as Meta-humans were allowed free reign.
"Barry lost almost a year of his life in a coma. How could this happen?" Joe asked.
"We all saw it. I have explained it," Wells said, exasperated.
"Well explain it again!" Joe said. An awkward silence crept by as Joe waited in despair for answers that wouldn't come. He turned to Iris hoping for a sign that she would wake up okay. "Did you see that?" he asked. "Iris honey, are you awake? Say something. There was no movement, and it infuriated him to know end. I thought I saw her move," he explained. He held his head up taking in the gallery of pitiful stares before retreating to a corner to collect his thoughts.
Joe stood up from his crouched position kicking the nearest chair. "Zoom has Barry, Caitlin, and Iris…He let his voice trail off. Why are we always losing? Zoom is always lite years ahead. Now he is the cause of both of my children's pain. I need you to wake up Iris." He ended his rant with a grunt of frustration.
"Wait did you see that?" Cisco asked.
Everyone was focused on Joe's outburst that no one was paying any attention to an awake Iris. She could hear the yelling, yet she was unable to respond. Her dad was worried sick over her and she just wanted to reassure him that all would be okay. She had done this for Barry, and despite Zoom's attempts to bully them, they would be victorious.
Unable to open her eyes, she wiggled her toes, and fingers. Slowly the frost that kept her rigid was beginning to thaw. She could feel the electricity course through her veins, and awaken her being. When he mentioned Barry the embers burned intensely releasing her from bondage. She sprang to life breathing in the heavy oxygen through her nostrils.
Cisco was jumping up and down screaming, "You totally missed it!" The team flanked Iris with questions and test, probing her until she was fed up. She stood to walk away from their smothering grasp and flew across the room.
"Wow," Cisco said eyes wide and mouth agape. He was seeing Iris in a new light making his thought process difficult.
They all wondered if it had worked and their question was answered. No one even seemed to care what Cisco was fawning over, or that he ran out of the room mumbling gibberish. They were consumed with assessing Iris well-being and abilities.
"Iris I need to talk to you," Joe said. The remaining members left the room giving them the pace that they requested.
"Are you out of your mind, Iris? Barry couldn't even take out Zoom? What makes you think you can?
Iris you have done many foolish things but none as dangerous as making yourself a target. Now, Zoom is going to come for you, and no one can stop him. Don't do this," he said.
"Zoom isn't coming for me, dad… because I am going after him no matter what any of you think. The sooner you realize that the better. I am not letting Zoom or anyone else harm the man that I love," Iris said.
Leaving a stunned Joe behind, she stormed out of the room in search of Dr. Wells. She didn't have to look far because he was in the control room.
"I need you to train me to control my speed asap. We have to get a move on it. The longer Barry is with Zoom the more torture he has to withstand. We need to get him back. I-I need…him back," Iris explained.
"Okay," was his response. She knew that he was angry about her decision to steal his plan, but he needed to get over it. He was too close to the Zoom front to really be effective. Iris as the flash would be totally unexpected thus giving them the element of surprise.
Thanks to late night chats with Barry, Iris knew a lot of the pitfalls speedsters hit. One night in particular she remembers them in the park late with no one around. He held her snuggly in his arms while demonstrating proper running posture. She felt immense pleasure in their closeness. Pulling her in closer and bending slightly forward he corrected her form. Her heart beat erratically when he whispered in her ear. "You have to feel it," he said as he took off with astonishing speed.
She knew she loved him then, but she told herself she needed more time; time to rebuild their friendship after so many attempts of becoming more. Now, she could admit it was just an excuse to not try because denying your feelings was better than expressing them and getting hurt. She didn't want to chance ruining what they had together, and now she may never get the opportunity to risk it all for love.
Distracted by her thoughts she veered off course. When she tried to stop she tumbled rolling into a ball of road kill. It was painful then in an instant it dissipated. Must be those expedient healing properties, she thought. Her hands quickly swiped over her clothes in an attempt to alleviate the dust.
"What happened there," Wells asked.
"I lost focus. I know I can't afford to make mistakes, so let's go again. Practice makes perfect," she said.
They practiced into the wee hours of the night. When they came back to S.T.A.R. Labs they found an exhausted Cisco sleeping in the chair.
"Cisco, wake up," Iris said clapping her hands creating a thunderous thud. He snapped to attention startled by the disruption.
"What's going on?" Cisco asked baffled. Coming to the conclusion that he wasn't in immediate danger he bounded into his happy mood. He grabbed Iris shoulders pushing her towards what looked to be a covered statue.
"Because Barry has obliterated so many suits I came up with a machine to create them in just under 2 hours," Cisco said grinning like the Cheshire cat.
"I know this, Cisco."
"Yeah Un huh, but what you don't know is, voila." He unmasked the statue revealing her very own Flash suit. "I call you Violet Flash," Cisco said.
"Really Cisco? Violet Flash? Not Lady Awesome, or Oh she fierce?" Iris said folding her arms. Cisco rolled his eyes turning his attention back to his creation. "I'm kidding! Love the suit," she said circling around it.
"It is awesome. The material is lightweight and custom fit to your dimensions. Yes, I scanned your dimensions while you slept, it was for science. Now, I made it in Violet because it makes your eyes pop and matches the name. Also here is your emblem and mask," Cisco said.
Her emblem was made with an Iris flower and thunder bolt symbol. She hugged Cisco thanking him for such an amazing present. Then she speeds dressed as she had witnessed Barry do numerous times. Instead of a hood she donned a mask that covered the top half of her face. "That will never get old. Let's take this baby out for a spin. She sped off sparking cyan blue lighting from her departure.
She continued running until she reached the top of Jitters roof. It was here she had met The Streak for the first time. She felt so connected to him and the rooftop. That night it became their spot and the place where she would vow not to stop until Barry was once again safe in her arms. "I'll do it Barry. I'll save you." With those words she was off in a flash.