Aftermath

Caitlin couldn't face them. They were all there, just on the periphery, but she was ignoring them. Instead, she focused on her patient. At least the others weren't trying to engage her. Cisco had read her mood and commanded that they all leave her alone and give her space. Instead, they had talked about what happened, only HR daring to come near her. She didn't chase him away. Not when she found out he was the one who had sent the message to Hells. Apparently at Harry's recommendation.

When the story finally came out, Caitlin almost didn't believe it. HR had contacted Harry feeling guilty over Iris. Harry had in turn pointed HR in Hells direction. Listening to his doppelganger, HR had sent Hells a message with all the data he could supply. What exactly Hells had done remained a mystery. Since Caitlin was still trying to save the stranger, the team sent a message to Earth 2 for Harry, hoping he might have insight as he had recommended Hells.

"Why isn't he here yet?" Cisco demanded, prowling the room.

"He'll be here," HR calmly assured them.

"Yo, uh, anybody know anything about this?" Joe asked, entering the room with a horse following him.

"A horse?" Cisco blinked, but the animal remained, eyeing him for a moment before snorting. "How the hell did a horse get here?"

"That's the horse he rode in on," Tracy said, motioning at Hells. It felt odd to see her boyfriend times two. Still, the idea of doppelgangers wasn't that difficult to grasp, just weird to see.

"Caitlin," Julian said softly. Pressing her lips together, Caitlin draped the sheet back over her patient's hip and cocked her head. "When you're finished here, will you have a look at Iris?" He was walking on eggshells. While he'd been desperate to get her back, she didn't seem to be completely there.

"In a minute," Caitlin tersely agreed.

"Thanks," Julian whispered before turning and heading back to his patient.

Taking a breath, Caitlin lifted the sheet again. She wasn't checking the wound. Instead she brushed her hand gently across the undamaged iliac crest. Fascinated, she watched the image appear and then slowly fade away. She repeated the action, memorizing every detail.

"Will he be alright?" Cisco asked softly.

"I'm not sure," Caitlin replied honestly.

"He's tougher than he looks," a voice called from the doorway. Looking grim, Harry entered, casting a look around. "Smarter too." With a few long strides he was at Caitlin's side. "How long ago was he injured?"

"Three hours. Took your sweet time getting here," Cisco complained.

"Shut up, Ramon," Harry ordered. Ignoring everyone else, the older man pulled the covers back and ran a sensor over his doppelganger.

"What is that?" Caitlin asked.

"Nano-interface," Harry replied. "Hells gave it to me the last time," he trailed off. Taking a deep breath, he turned to the group. "He's fine. Well, he will be at least. His nanos were damaged by the cold. They've repaired and reset and should start repairs on Hells in a moment or two."

"Nanos?" Cisco arched an eyebrow.

"Yes, Ramon, nanos. They're teeny tiny robots that populate his bloodstream. The people from his Earth all have them," Harry snarked.

"Did you just say teeny tiny?" Joe asked with a smirk. It earned him a glare from Harry.

Happy for the distraction, Caitlin stayed by her patient. At the moment, he wasn't doing very well, but even as she stood watching him she saw a change. His heartbeat stabilized along with his breathing. Colour started to return to the man's face and a soft groan of pain slipped past his lips.

Hearing the groan, Harry turned to the bed. "See, they've started working. Give him a day to heal and then a couple more to fully recover." The horse nickered. "I'll take care of Haylee." Leaving his doppelganger's side, Harry went up to the horse. "I'm certain you're hungry. I brought you some energy bars." The animal snorted.

"Harry," Caitlin called, stopping Cisco from snarking at Harry. "His tattoo," she began but trailed off as Harry targeted her with a look. "The one on his hip." She said softly.

"Only visible when you touch it?" There was something in his tone that made Caitlin nervous as she nodded. "A right of passage. It's called the Lover's Ink."

"What, instead of exchanging rings they get tattoos?" Joe asked, the parent in him not liking that idea. It seemed so permanent.

"No when a man or woman reaches reproductive age they select an image to be tattooed onto a part of their body only their spouse will see. They take it very seriously," Harry added, a smirk tugging at his lips.

"Why are you smirking like that?" Cisco asked suspiciously.

"Because," Harry continued, glancing at Caitlin. "By touching the skin and viewing Hells' tattoo, Snow has effectively married him." At the way people's eyes went big, Harry laughed and turned away. "Better hope Haylee doesn't tell!" Laughing some more, he led the horse from the room, leaving everyone else to a stunned silence.