In case you guys didn't know, I have a companion piece for this called Put Another Dime in the Jukebox, with short one shots and snippets of Barry and Cal in their lab (and elsewhere). While this particular one shot does start out in the lab, I've decided to keep my installments for Jukebox at least somewhat music-centered, just for a bit of a central theme. Here on Feeling Good I'll be posting non-musical moments between our sweet little Carry (Bia? We need a vote!).
I know my timelines jump around a bit, but I'm not very good at writing cohesive storylines, and just type up scenes as they come to me. This is pre-relationship.
This takes place immediately after the third installment of Put Another Dime in the Jukebox, when Barry blurts out that he thinks Cal is adorable and Joe decides a conversation needs to be had.
I don't own the Flash, anything produced by Studio Ghibli, or the Big Bang Theory (though that's just a tiny reference). Consider yourselves disclaimed.
'Soon' ended up being only a week later, when Cal was out sick and Joe was able to corner Barry alone in the lab. The young man had been avoiding this conversation with his foster-father and Joe wasn't going to let him put it off any longer.
Strolling into the lab and closing the door behind him loud enough for Barry to look up and meet his eye, Joe said only one word. "Spill."
Barry sighed, setting down the test tube on his desk and dropping his head into his hands. "Come on, Joe, this really isn't necessary." It was already an off day for him - he had gotten used to Cal's constant presence and voice in the lab, and he hadn't been able to bring himself to turn on any music himself, it just felt wrong. It made the place feel empty, Joe thought, it made Barry feel empty.
"Uh, my kid has a crush, which means he's finally moving on from a certain someone. This is definitely necessary."
"Joe, I...yeah, okay, I think I have a crush on Cal. If you remember, the last girl I liked didn't exactly work out all that well. Either of them, actually."
Joe looked at his foster-son where he sat slumped over. It had been a struggle to watch the boy's feelings for Iris grow, knowing Iris was oblivious and their opportunity to be together would likely pass them by. It appeared to have done just that now that she was in love with Eddie, and Joe would be damned if he let Barry mope his way through another opportunity.
"I get the feeling that Cal won't let Iris scare her away like Linda did." Barry glanced up at him warily and Joe raised an eyebrow. "I could see it, Barry, I know my daughter and she's the jealous type, even over her friends. Look, all I'm saying is to not just shelve the idea. That's all."
Barry sighed, running a hand over his face. "Yeah, alright. I'll think about it. I'm going over to her apartment after work to check on her, make sure she's got everything she needs."
"Good idea. You talk to her today? How is she feeling?"
"She said she's been puking since about 4 this morning, she thinks it's the same stomach bug her neighbor had last week. Her dad always got Chinese food when she was sick as a kid, I'll probably grab some on my way over."
Joe grinned. "I'm sure she'll love that. Go ahead, I'll cover you with Singh. There's only an hour left today anyway." Joe knew that was the right decision when Barry lit up, hastily putting away his work and scrambling out the door. "Tell her I said feel better!" he called after the retreating back.
"I will! Thanks Joe!"
Thirty minutes later Barry stood in front of Cal's apartment door. He had been here only a couple of times, but was still able to find it easily. He knocked three times, then waited as he heard shuffling from the other side of the door.
"Coming," she called weakly. A few moments later the door opened, and Barry nearly burst out laughing at the sight. Her hair was massive, she clearly hadn't bothered trying to tame the curls that morning, and her glasses were slightly crooked on her unusually pale face. She wore an enormous fuzzy purple bathrobe with white stars, left untied to reveal Doctor Who pajama pants and a "Mystic Warlords of Ka'a" tank top. He restrained himself, however, only grinning hugely and holding out the paper bag in his hands.
"Is that...is that Chinese food? You remembered I like Chinese food when I'm sick?" She looked up at him in awe, scarcely able to believe her eyes. "I think I just fell in love with you a little."
Barry flushed crimson, though she didn't see it as she was already turning towards her living room, waving him in. He shut the door as he entered, glad for the moment to gather himself, determined to act normally - his friend was sick and he wanted to help her feel better. "That robe makes you look like a wizard."
She grinned over her shoulder at him. "It makes me feel like a wizard. I just need a broom and a hat and I'm all set for Halloween. You got lots of food, are you staying? I'm just watching some Miyazaki movies, I was about to start Howl's Moving Castle."
"Yeah, sounds like fun. Just don't get me sick."
"C'mere, let me spit in your food real fast."
They made it through Howl's Moving Castle and were watching the opening credits to Kiki's Delivery Service when Cal suddenly shot up from the couch, running down the hall and barely making it to the toilet before she started retching. Barry followed closely behind, helping pull some of the unruly curls back. After several moments, he was startled to hear sniffling, and when he leaned forward he could see tears running down her cheeks.
"Cal? Cal, are you okay?"
"No!" she moaned dramatically. "Please just kill me, I'd rather be dead than keep doing this. There are knives in the kitchen, just make it quick."
Barry laughed even as the young woman slumped against him. "I think I like you alive. Come on, let's get you back to the couch, I'll get you some water." He helped her stand and guided her back to her living room. "Really, though, are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Barry, thank you," she smiled, and as she settled down into her nest he headed for her kitchen to get a glass of water. "I always cry when I vomit, it only lasts a minute. Thank you," she said again, taking the glass gratefully and taking a long sip. "That was a pretty gross display, you don't have to stick around with Sicky anymore if you don't want to."
"I don't mind," he grinned, settling into the other side of the couch, pushing 'play' on her remote. They settled back in to watch, and as Kiki was getting ready to leave home to find a new town, Barry felt a weight settle onto his thigh. Glancing down, he saw Cal had stretched across the couch and had pillowed her head against his leg.
"Is this okay?" she whispered tiredly. "I can move."
"No, it's fine," he answered quietly. After a brief hesitation, he brought one hand up and began gently smoothing out her hair. He felt her sigh in contentment, and in a few minutes she was sleeping soundly in his lap.
She was still sleeping when the movie ended, and even though it was still relatively early in the night, Barry lifted her gently into his arms and carried her to her bed. She woke up just enough to help him get her robe off of her, before collapsing into bed and immediately falling back asleep. Barry watched her with soft eyes for a minute before letting himself out, leaving a note that he'd taken her spare key and would return it tomorrow.
It took him only a few minutes to run home, and Joe was settled on their couch with a beer watching TV when he walked through the door.
"How is she?" the older man asked, glancing up at his foster-son.
"So-so," Barry said, heading for the stairs. "She got sick again while I was there, and she was sleeping when I left. It's a good thing tomorrow's Saturday, she'll have the weekend to get better."
"Are you going to go see her again tomorow?" Joe asked as he turned back to the television. His tone was nonchalant, and Barry couldn't see his face from this angle, but Barry could practically see his foster-father's shit eating grin.
"Yes, Joe, I am."
"Good." Joe raised his beer bottle into the air in salute, turning his attention back to the TV. When he heard the door to Barry's room close, though, he turned it off, still grinning to himself. "Looks like that boy gets to be happy after all."
PenForPerfection - thank you so much for your kind review! I can appreciate the role Iris plays as a character, and writing Feeling Good really did help me like her more. I loved her support of Barry and Patty's budding relationship in the newest episode, I thought it was an excellent improvement from her reaction to Linda. I'll probably write Patty in eventually, but Barry and Cal will stay together in my stories.
brulandia - Thank you for taking the time to read my work! Sorry it wasn't what you expected - I hope you continue to read and can appreciate it anyway!