Disclaimer: These characters aren't mine.

A/N: This story is AU. See Chapter 1 for more details. The facts about Barry are based on the TPB "The Life Story of the Flash."


"He is who he says he is," Iris announced, putting her purse and a file folder on the kitchen table, careful to avoid Wally's stacks of papers. It had been a long day, ending with a long "discussion" with her editor on how she needed to land an in-depth interview with the Flash. Arguing that the Flash set the agenda and chose with whom he interviewed did no good. Arguing no one had managed to interview the Flash longer than one minute had been pointless. Her editor wanted to increase circulation numbers and he saw an in-depth interview with the Flash, the quiet star of Central City, as the key means of achieving the increase. Since the Flash had already graced Iris with one interview, it was her responsibility to land said interview. Worse, the implications had been clear. Land the interview or else. What the else exactly meant she was unsure. She doubted she would be fired, but she could easily be reassigned.

Then to make an already day worse, she had received the background report she had requested on Barry Allen. The sight of the report had lifted her spirits. She had hoped the report would answer her questions and allow her doubts to finally be quieted. Instead, she was left feeling just as muddled after reading the report as she had felt before. While the report had verified everything Barry had told her – which should have reassured her, it did nothing to explain the facts that still didn't seem right.

"Who is?" Wally asked, looking up from his laptop.

"Barry." She rummaged in the refrigerator and selected a diet soda.

A frown quickly formed on Wally's face. His shoulders slumped. "Please tell me you didn't have him investigated."

Iris shrugged.

"Iris, you can't do that."

"Why not? I'm an investigative reporter. I investigate." She took a sip of the soda. It didn't have the level of caffeine she craved, but it would do for now.

"Yeah, news," Wally pointed out, "not some guy you're dating."

"Sue me." Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Wally sigh. His disappointment in her actions was clear. Truth be told, she wasn't too thrilled with her actions either. Just because she had the means and ability, didn't mean she needed to follow through. Yet, her conscience continued to plague her. There was something about Barry Allen that was driving her crazy. Well, maybe two things. She couldn't deny she found him attractive, found him interesting. For the first time in her life, she had found someone who could actually keep up with her, someone with whom she could relate. Those feelings had left her wanting more. She was impatiently waiting to sleep with him. She knew her womanly charms and wiles were affecting him, but so far Barry always stopped. Each time the stopping occurred a bit later than the previous time, so it truly was only a matter of when they actually slept together. It seemed ironic that while she had all these doubts about him, she was anxious to sleep with him. She knew sex wouldn't answer any of her questions. Maybe a part of her wanted to believe that it would put her questions to rest.

Who was she kidding? She knew herself. Sex may be the ultimate "I trust you," but she knew even after sleeping with him, her doubts would remain. No matter how much she tried to ignore it, a small voice insisted that there was more to Barry Allen than he had told her. It didn't help that she still hadn't figured out why found him familiar. It didn't help that she questioned his friendship with Hal Jordan. Time passing wasn't making that unease go away. Her life – or rather her relationship with Barry – was one big contradiction. She trusted him enough to want to sleep with him, but not enough to set her doubts aside.

"Okay, so I crossed a line," she admitted. Wally quirked an eyebrow. "Okay, maybe a really big line"

"With flashing red lights and police tape saying 'do not cross,'" Wally noted dryly.

Iris pretended she hadn't heard him. "But there's something there. I swear there is. Asking Barry is pointless. I've tried."

Wally paused. "So, what did you find out?"

"Everything he told me is true."

"Now there's a surprise."

She ignored the sarcasm. "He was born in Fallville, Iowa. His parents are deceased. No brothers or sisters. He graduated from Sun City University. He's been working for the Central City Police Department since he graduated. Never been married. No criminal history which isn't surprising since he works for the police department." She paused. "I did learn that several companies aggressively recruited him during his senior year in college. He turned down offers from Wayne Enterprises and LexCorp to work at the police department."

The last comment got Wally's attention. He let out a low whistle. "I knew he was smart, but to actually be recruited by them…" Wally shook his head. "Okay, so obviously he's not interested in money because he'd be making a lot more working somewhere else. And that should be a good thing, right?" She nodded in agreement. Barry would most likely have a six figure income if he used his science degree in private industry, thousands more than he made as a public servant. The fact he wasn't interested in only seeing how much money he could make, but instead focused on helping society, left a strong impression. Iris realized if Wally decided he still wanted to be a high school science teacher once he completed his graduate degree, her nephew would be following the same path.

"So, why can't you just let this be? You like him. He likes you. Let that be the end of the story."

"I don't know."

"Iris, if you keep pushing, and if he finds out, you may lose him. How would you like it if he investigated you? I can see how happy you are with him. Don't blow this."

Everything Wally said was true. She needed to drop this or she would eventually ruin her relationship with Barry. If Barry had investigated her, she would dump him without a second thought. It would be a sign that he didn't trust her. That was the problem. She did trust him. The only person in her life she trusted more was Wally. So why couldn't she let this go? Why couldn't it be enough?

With a sigh, she realized she might as well admit everything. "I also had Hal investigated."

"Iris…"

"I know, I know, but…well, in for a penny, in for a pound, right?"

Wally shook his head. "So, what did you learn?"

"Nothing new. Born and still lives in Coast City. Parents are deceased. He was the middle child of three boys. His older brother is also deceased. His younger brother lives in Coast City, too. Captain in the Air Force. Never been married. No criminal history, even though the report noted a few disciplinary actions from the Air Force."

"Well, since he wasn't discharged, it's not a bit deal, right?"

"I know." She absently turned the soda can in her hands. "I still don't understand how those two met…or even how they're friends. They are as different as night from day. There's no logical explanation for how their paths would have ever crossed."

"You're nitpicking."

"I know. I guess was I hoping for the report to shed a little light on them, but I'm still as clueless as I was before."

"Maybe you just need to admit that you finally met someone who might be the one."

"Wally, I've only known Barry for a few weeks."

"So? I've seen you two together. You're a good match. When you first told me you were going out with him, I never figured it would last. I mean, a scientist? Nothing personal, but I never pictured you dating someone like him. His geek factor should have sent you running the other way. Guess hanging around with me and grandpa upped your geek tolerance." Iris smiled warmly at his comment. "But you didn't run, and he's passed every test you've thrown at him, even the ones he doesn't know about. He's a good guy. I doubt you're going to find any better."

In her heart, she knew Wally was right. Almost four weeks. At times it seemed as if she had known Barry for years. There were already times they could complete each other's sentences. There was no doubt that they were in tune with each other. The relationship was moving so fast. Even with having known each other for less than a month, their conversations had started to speculate on what the future could be, a future in which they were together. "Maybe this just scares me," she admitted. "It's happening so fast and…" She shrugged. Words failed her, definitely a bad sign for someone whose career revolved around words.

Wally stood up, rested his hands on her shoulders, and kissed the top of her head. "You'll figure it out. But I have to admit, he would be a cool uncle."

"Really?"

"Well, he'd be much better than some of those other guys you dated. This guy cares about you, not himself. That in itself is huge. Apart from your obsession over how you think you've met him before, which you haven't been able to prove, his biggest weakness is his habit of running late. The fact you haven't kicked him to the door for his lateness seems to be a sign that you really like this guy."

Barry's tardiness, which seemed to have no rhyme or reason, irritated her less and less. She had learned to plan accordingly. Besides, it made sense in its own way. It was easy for Barry to lose himself in a project. He loved what he did. Time simply got away from him. "You're right. I'm probably worrying over nothing."


The door to the conference room swished shut. The tension in the room dropped. Hal took a deep breath. He hadn't realized he'd been holding it. He glanced at Barry. Barry looked shell-shocked. Bruce had that effect, even though Hal suspected Barry's angst was only partly due to Bruce's attitude. The rest was probably due to the news itself.

They had been summoned to the Watchtower by Bruce. Receiving a summons from Batman was never a good thing. That had been the first warning sign of imminent danger. When they had arrived, Bruce had been in full Batman mode. His paranoia and need for control had seemed to be at even higher than normal levels. That had been the second warning sign. If only he and Barry had known what to be worried about they could have prepared. But nothing out of the ordinary had happened or was happening in either of their lives. The fact they had been summoned together meant that whatever it was, it was in some way connected to both of them.

Then Bruce had shared the information. Bruce, in his infinite paranoia, was constantly watching for any signs that secret identities might be broken. Lives were on the line if an identity fell and every known precaution that could be taken was taken. Algorithms monitored the information highways on a continual basis. An anomaly had been noted. Further investigation had revealed a potential problem. Background checks had been completed for both Barry Allen and Hal Jordan. Taken individually, it would not have been a cause for concern. However, both checks had been initiated by the same firm at the same time. Further investigation had revealed that the information had been delivered to a newspaper reporter, specifically a reporter named Iris West.

True to form, Bruce hadn't stopped there. Bruce had investigated Iris to try to understand why this unknown woman was focusing on the lives of two heroes. He had looked for any sort of connection between her and Barry and Hal. Not surprisingly, connections had been made. The proverbial shit had hit the proverbial fan. Bruce had demanded to know why this woman was conducting background checks on both of them. He had been decidedly unsatisfied with their response. Neither of them had a good answer. How many women conducted background checks of the men they were dating? Or their boyfriend's friends? With his frustration about Barry and Hal's lack of information obvious, Bruce had stormed out of the conference room, no doubt to do more investigating of his own.

"What am I going to do?" Barry asked softly.

Hal shook his head, his finger at his lips. While he didn't want to think he was as paranoid as Bruce, there was always the chance that Bruce would listen to whatever conversation he and Barry were about to have just in case they might reveal a tidbit of information. He wasn't about to give Bruce the satisfaction. Five minutes later, they had teleported to Barry's home. When Barry made as if he were about to speak, Hal quickly put his finger to his lips again. "Ring. Scan for tracking devices and listening devices." Barry rolled his eyes.

"Negative."

"Now we can talk," Hal said, willing away the costume.

Barry also changed to civilian clothes, the Flash costume disappearing into his ring. "You're as paranoid as Bruce."

"Just being cautious."

"Which is exactly what Bruce would say," Barry pointed out. Barry ran his hand through his hair. "What am I going to do?"

"Nothing."

"But Bruce-"

"Is a paranoid freak," finished Hal. "Let him dig. There's nothing to find. Neither of us has done anything wrong. All her looking will not reveal any sort of connections between Barry Allen and the Flash or Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern. Our identities are safe. The bigger question is why is she conducting these background checks on us? Any ideas?"

"No." Barry ran his hand through his hair again. "Wally's said that Iris hates having unanswered questions. Something must have grabbed her attention."

"Then why not ask you?"

Barry sighed. "She probably did and didn't like whatever answer I gave her."

Hal raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that a little extreme? She's starting to sound like Bruce."

"She's not that bad. She's just inquisitive."

That response seemed to reflect the woman Hal had met. "Well, if she didn't like an answer, why not ask you for more of an explanation?"

"She probably did."

Hal sighed. This conversation felt as if it were about to go round in circles. He pinched the bridge of his nose and prayed for patience. "Okay, of the various topics you two have discussed recently, what's seemed to have had her greatest attention?"

After a few seconds, Barry met his gaze. "Our friendship."

"What?" Maybe his initial impression of Iris had been off. He had thought she was a great woman. Attractive, smart. Not someone he would automatically picture with Barry, but seeing them together, watching them interact, they were definitely a well-matched pair. As much as the term "made for each other" gave him chills, even he had to admit that Barry and Iris did seem to fit the phrase perfectly. Yet this action seemed a bit extreme. Why would she be obsessing about his and Barry's friendship?

"She finds it odd that we're friends. She's noted we don't seem to have much in common. We didn't grow up together or go to school together. Our lives should never have intersected. And I have to agree with her. Without knowing about the Flash and Green Lantern parts of our lives, it doesn't make much sense."

Okay, Iris had a point. It did look odd, but so what? Hal suspected there were a lot of friendships that on the surface made no logical sense. What did it matter? Why did it matter? Why should she care? Something was missing. "But what's the big deal? Who cares?"

"I don't know."

"Barry, she conducted background checks. Isn't that a little over the top?"

"She's a reporter."

"And that justifies it?"

"No, but what do you want me to do? It's not like I can come out and ask her why she had us investigated. That would only make her wonder how I knew which would cause another long list of questions that can't be answered." Barry stared at the Flash ring on his finger. "It would all make sense if I could tell her."

When it came to secret identities, Hal had guessed either Barry or Clark would crack first. They were both too good for their own good. In his view, and probably also in Bruce's, Barry and Clark were honest to a fault. Neither one could embellish or stretch the truth without acting like they were embellishing or stretching the truth. No lie detector test would ever be needed for the two of them. Between them, they seemed to cover ever tell there was when it came to lying. The fact they had managed to go as long as they had was a miracle by itself. So far, the risks had outweighed any benefits and both Barry and Clark had managed to toe the line. Now it appeared as if Barry would be the first to crack. "You can't."

"I know." Barry sighed. "I know the risks. I know it's more than just my identity at stake. I know that your identity is also at stake, but I just…I hate the constant lies. I know we need to, but… Is this why none of us are married? Why serious relationships with someone not part of our club are unheard of? Did signing on as a hero mean we have to live our lives alone? If that's true, I wish I had read the fine print first."

Hal wished he knew what he could say or do. The secret identity and its attendant lies had increasingly bothered Barry over the past weeks. It seemed wrong that Barry could be so happy and yet so depressed at the same time. It seemed even more wrong that the reason for both moods was the same person – Iris West.