Chapter 7:

Earth-1

As Oliver arrived on the roof of one of the tallest high-rises in the city, offering a breathtaking view of the lit-up night skyline expanding across the horizon, he found Barry sitting on the edge of the roof and approached without trying to conceal himself, knowing Barry would know he was there regardless.

"Oliver. What brings you here?" Barry asked from where he was seated on the edge of the roof with his feet dangling over the 1200 ft drop.

Oliver sat next to Barry and turned to him, "Talk to me. Anyone can see you're going through a lot."

Barry gave out a half-grunt, half-chuckle sound at Oliver's oversimplification of the disaster his life had struck. "Look at me Oliver, I'm not Barry, I'm not The Flash, I have nothing left to be. The team, my work as The Flash, being a CSI, that was who I was, and I have none of it anymore. Sure, I could probably get my CSI job back, but it just wouldn't be the same. I used to always focus on the light at the end of the tunnel and it seems like the end of the tunnel just caved in." Barry spoke solemnly.

"I know you lost what defined you, but you can rebuild yourself, become something new. I'm not telling you to forget, just don't let it stop you, if you keep moving forwards the rest will sort itself out."
"That's the thing Oliver. I feel like I had my shot, it was going great, but I fumbled and now my chance is over. I don't want to try again, it's hard enough to get up in the morning and the only thing I'm left holding onto is beyond my reach."
"What do you mean, 'beyond your reach'? What's the only thing left?"
Barry huffed in response, "You wouldn't believe me, sometimes I don't think it's true either."
"Try me, I've seen enough shit, I'll judge for myself."
"Well, before my father was killed by Zoom and everything started to fall apart, we had just constructed a tachyon device that we could use to largely increase my speed back then. We took it for a test run and I felt euphoric, I was so fast I finally had hope to defeat Zoom, I'd lost myself in the feeling of running so fast that by the time I noticed the portal forming in front of me, it was too late. And so, the next thing I know I'm on a different Earth, catching a young women who was falling out a window." Barry went on to explain what had transpired on Earth-38.

"So, you're telling me that you travelled to another universe and on that Earth, you befriended a super powerful alien superhero called Supergirl? What, and then you teamed up to take down some bad guys before skipping on back home like you went out for some groceries?" Oliver asked, somewhat bewildered.

"Pretty much." Barry responded, within a fit of laughter. It was good to see Barry laugh, as he hadn't in so long, although none of the happiness reached his eyes and it all sounded so hollow and empty.

"That's not all. I think I may be falling in love with Supergirl, she was so nice and bright, she made me feel more free than I ever have before. The thought of her was one of the only things that has gotten me through the past few months. When I'm stuck here, I just feel like everything I wanted is locked away from me and anything I can make here will just be a vain attempt at grasping something I'll never have."
"What's the big barrier between the two of you, if it's a tachyon device you need to get to her then I'm sure with your super-genius-brain you can remake it. If you know what you want, don't wait around and let it all pass you by."
"You don't get it Oliver. She's the perfect hero, the perfect person and maybe I had a chance in what felt like my last life, but now? Look at me, I'm broken, I'm not a hero, I destroyed my city. Why would she even want me? She could be with whoever she wants, I doubt she's ever going to be available, and definitely not for me."
"You need to stop underestimating yourself Barry. You're still the same person you were before, you've just got a few more cuts and scrapes, those wounds will close one day, I know that because you are the strongest person I will ever know. Now tell me, where do you want to be when all's said and done? Here, still trying to make the life you could have in vain, or with this girl who you're obviously in love with?"
"I-I… Oliver, I don't know what to do. I can't just leave this world and move to another, expecting her to love me the way I am right now."
"Yes you can, you can do whatever you want when you put your mind to it Barry Allen because that's who you are. You're going to go to this other Earth and you're going to be your best self, and if this girl knows anything, she'll know you're the best person she'll ever find."
"Are you sure? I don't want to abandon you."
"You won't be abandoning us; you'll be moving next door and I'm sure you'll find time to make a house call once in a while."
"…" Barry was pondering what he should do, not sure if he was capable of just leaving this world behind, "Ok then, I'll do it. But Oliver, if you ever need me, I'll make sure you can call, and I'll come straight away. I owe you everything I have; I would never have beaten Zoom without you."
"I don't know about that but promise me one thing, try and leave all of this behind you, leave the suit that defines who you have become and create a new you. The best version of yourself."
"I'll try Oliver, thank you. You will always be the brother I never had." Standing from where they were sitting the two embraced in a tight hug, expressing the emotions that they couldn't put into words.

"I'll build a communication device, then I'm off to build a new life." Barry spoke, the smallest hint of his once unquenchable optimism sparking in his eyes, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

The next split second all Oliver was left with was a gust of wind, despite this he had hope, hope for Barry that he would have the happily ever after he deserved. Oliver made a mental note for himself to one day meet the superhero that had captured Barry's heart so fully and so fast.

Barry raced into the Arrowcave and immediately got to work creating sketches and researching different properties of the multiverse and what would be required to send a message through it almost simultaneously.

At the beginning of that night Barry had practically given up, he wouldn't have killed himself as he couldn't leave others to suffer, that isn't who he is, but he had lost all hope of happiness. He believed Kara was far beyond his reach and only wished that she could be happy herself with whoever may bring her that and that maybe he would be able to meet her again one day.

After the conversation with Oliver, Barry had developed the hope and courage within him to try and be with Kara himself. If this worked for him, he would be forever grateful to Oliver for helping him muster what he could in order to make the leap in order to be with Kara and leave all his misery behind.

By the time morning came the next day Barry had already made weeks' worth of progress on the science behind the device and formulated a solid concept for what was actually required. He was developing a sim card that would be able to project a signal through the multiverse through certain energy and vibration patterns. He only had to finish the complex algorithms to fine tune the patterns and complete the copying machine that could transfer the application of a normal sim card onto the multiverse sims that he was going to leave here and take with him.

He hadn't yet perfected using a small scale signal projector to send the message so in order for it to work it would have to be plugged into the multiversal antenna type device he constructed which is more like a cube of metal that could fit in your hand, filled with necessary technology to apply and calculate the required patterns in real time. Whilst this would mean that they wouldn't be able to use their phones on the go easily, the cube could be attached to a computer with a sim in it and use that as a multiverse messaging hub to keep in contact if necessary. The cube could also store any messages that were sent over to one of the connected sims and then flash blue to alert anyone nearby to attach a device to read or hear the message.

Eager to take the leap across dimensions before any of his previous objections came back to stop him, Barry continued to work throughout the day on completing the algorithm. When Thea and Diggle had stopped by, they had made small conversation but soon left, unaware of what had happened the last night and clueless as to what he was doing now. On the other hand when Felicity came in she was both more inquisitive as to what he had done the last night, she had known he had finished his work in Central and is closer to him and therefore more concerned for his welfare, having seen through his façade almost as easily as Oliver by now. She was also able to see the level of complexity within the algorithm he was writing and was amazed at how advanced it was, the tech component of what he was creating had mostly made sense to her although all the science that it was achieving was beyond Felicity's understanding, although this wasn't surprising given the field of research only existed theoretically before the past few years and even that was only between his team and him. Felicity had sat with him for a while as he simultaneously typed on the computer, continuing to adjust the algorithm so that it was functional, and teaching her what he could in such a limited time, about the multiverse, the science behind the energy and vibrations within it and what he was designing.

Felicity had become curious after figuring out that Barry was generating a communication system that could transcend the multiverse and had berated him with questions on the necessity for such a thing. As a result, Barry was led to divulging all of what he had spoken to Oliver about last night, much to his surprise Felicity didn't doubt any of it for a second despite the absurdity of it. Instead she was almost overwhelmingly happy for the chance that he had and possibly also her chance to meet a blonde superhero alien that also wore glasses.

After Felicity had left Barry had further focused himself on what he was doing, stopping only for a short time to eat the huge amount of big belly burger, Oliver had brought with him, in record time. By the time he was finally finished it was almost midnight and the Arrowcave was empty, deciding he had to thank Thea, Felicity, Diggle and most importantly Oliver, before he left, Barry decided to stay the night, he was also in great need of sleep as he found when he instantly fell into a peaceful dreamless sleep when he laid on the cot that they had in the cave.

Despite his sleep being clear of the nightmares that often plagued him nowadays, Barry woke a decent while before dawn regardless and decided there were a few things he should do before leaving. After getting the few clothes that he had at the cave together, along with his wallet and the devices for multiverse communication that he needed to take with him, Barry shoved the now full back pack down on the cot and went on with his morning plans. First he improved the firewalls on the computers beyond the almost impenetrable state they were in due to Felicity, then he created a hidden back door within the servers where he moved every bit of multiverse and speedforce research and information he had, he knew Felicity could find and access it, but beyond her it should be completely secure. After that, still having a couple hours before sunrise and then a few more until Oliver and Felicity showed up, Barry decided to bid farewell to a few other people.

First, he raced across the country and seas, then through another continent before arriving within the Hindu Kush mountain ranges. Quickly following the path, he now knew by memory, Barry arrived at the doors to the League of Assassins within 10 minutes of leaving Star City. Pushing the heavy doors, that usually require two strong people to push them open with al their strength, open, Barry walked through the halls, approaching the pit/throne room where Nyssa would likely be training. Once Barry arrived silently, he observed Nyssa and the Alzilal training together in what looked like an extremely graceful free-for-all. Making himself known, Barry walked into the room with heavy footsteps that echoed off the polished marble floors.

"Nyssa, brothers, sisters." Barry said in a polite voice as he tilted slightly into a bow.

"There is no need for that" Nyssa said as they all stopped what they were doing and formed together behind her, "I saw what happened in Central, I am sorry for what happened to your city but I must say, you made us proud." Nyssa said this whilst gesturing to the Alzilal, herself included.

"I couldn't have done it without your help and training" Barry responded, addressing everyone in the room, "I come baring news of what the future holds for me." Nyssa simply answered with a go-on like gesture.

"As you know from my explanation of Zoom during my training, he came from an alternate universe, a different Earth that we named Earth-2, us being Earth-1. What I didn't tell you was that during my training I also accidentally travelled to another Earth, due to its location in the multiverse it was named Earth-38. Whilst I was there, I met some people who I became close to in the short time I spent there. I have little left of my life on this Earth and therefore I am going to move and live on Earth-38. I wanted to come here before I left for three reasons. Firstly, to thank you all once again for helping me do what I had to, to protect Earth and avenge those I cared for. Secondly, I wanted to say goodbye and tell you where I was going, and lastly, I wanted you all to know that if any of you, or the League as a whole, may ever need my help, I am only one call away." Barry said this whilst handing another one of the multiverse communication devices that he built over to Nyssa whilst explaining what it was and how to use it.

After he finished, he was met with an embrace from each of the Alzilal along with bids of farewell and good fortune. Finally, only Nyssa was left, the two embraced each other in a tight hug as Nyssa wished him good luck and told him that she would be there for him on either Earth whenever he needed. Despite not having put it into such words, Barry and Nyssa had formed a sibling-like relationship after their initial mentor-mentee/torturer-victim relationship, Nyssa herself, being the formidable leader of the League, had very few friends she could trust and cared for and Barry was one of them. As they broke apart Barry gave Nyssa a firm nod, not trusting his voice due to his emotional turmoil at the moment, having grown similarly close to the woman that took him from what was once an optimistic hero to a terrifying warrior. After one last glance over those present Barry turned and sped of back towards Star City.

On the way back to the Arrowcave for his final farewells, Barry made a stopover in Central at the CCPD. Running into the department that was filled with an exhausted night crew, Barry was hit with memories from happier times, fighting crime with Joe and ditching work to save the city as the Flash. Running up into the crime lab Barry could see that all the things he previously had here were cleared out and someone had made it their own with their stuff littered across the lab. Barry took one last glace at the lab before throwing on his hood and subtly making his way downstairs and into Captain Singh's office, unnoticeable to the officers within the station. As Barry stood in the empty office, he reflected upon his time at the CCPD, he had been so young when he started, trying to get his father released and do some good in the world whilst he was at it. Whilst the captain had been tough on Barry a lot, not that he never deserved it having often been late to work or crime scenes, he had always done so, so that Barry could be better, he had seen potential in him to do something before anyone else did and they mostly only saw him as Central City's famous hero. Joe had been telling him to let go of his fantasy of getting his father released, Iris always thought he was a clumsy nerd, his father had believed in him but didn't want him becoming a CSI to get him out, Singh on the other hand never had any of these, he just support the clumsy genius that had been hired as a CSI straight out of university. For all of that Barry thought that he deserved a proper explanation.

That brought him to where he was now, sitting at his old captains' desk with the shades drawn and light off to stop people from noticing. The room was only faintly lit from the street light outside and Barry required his League training to see clearly in the darkness. Barry picked up one of the pens and opened Singh's notepad that was on his desk.

Dear Captain Singh,

This is Barry Allen, sorry for breaking into your station and office but I thought you deserved an explanation. What you do with it is up to you.

As you know I was struck by lightning when the particle accelerator exploded at STAR Labs, I was sent into a coma and didn't wake for over 9 months. What you may not have known was that the lightning changed me, it gave me powers, at first I was scared and didn't know what was going on but when I figured it out, with the help of some friends from STAR Labs that treated me whilst I was in a coma, I knew what I was going to do.

You saw the potential for me to do good when I was just a new CSI, before almost anyone else did and it was your inspiration to do good regardless of who I was amongst some other things that motivated me to become the Flash. I know we had some differing perspectives at times over what I did as the Flash but all I wanted to do was protect those who couldn't protect themselves.

I don't know what you think of me now, especially after all that just happened but here is the full explanation. Zoom, or Hunter Zolomon, his real name, is a speedster like me and he wanted to take over the world and be the most powerful person he possibly could. He knew I would always try to stop him, so he started by trying to defeat me, a lot happened in our fighting and I lost my father to him as well as my powers themselves at one stage. Zoom then decided that the best way to win was to destroy me internally before killing me. That led to him killing my team, my family, yes, he killed Joe and Iris, Caitlin Snow and Cisco Ramone. Everything I loved was gone and then he told me he would be back later to finish me, I couldn't give up, not on those who died and definitely not on those who were still alive. I trained the best I could and when the time came we fought, I did all I could to protect everyone whilst we fought and am happy that I was able to succeed in doing so but after everything, I wasn't the Flash anymore, not in almost everyone's eyes, including my own.

I repaired the city in hopes that some people will be able to remember the Flash as a hero and protector, so that I can inspire the good in people even after I am gone but my time is up here. I am leaving, going far away to start fresh and hopefully make a new life for myself, be happy again. If you or the city ever need me, you can ask Oliver Queen but if that never happens then this is goodbye.

Thank you for making me the best I could have been.

Kind Regards,

Barry Allen (The Flash)

Finishing the note, Barry placed the note pad down, open in the middle of the desk and silently ran through the wall of his office and back to Star City and the Arrowcave for his last goodbyes before his current life ended and new life began.

As Barry returned to the cave the sun was just beginning to peak over the horizon, bathing Star City's streets in an orange glow. After entering the Arrowcave, Barry went over the things he had packed and threw in some nutrition bars that were in the Arrowcave for an emergency. Walking out into the main section of the cave, Barry walked over and stood in front of the manikin that held the suit he made, that suit would always represent what he had become in order to stop Zolomon and wouldn't allow him to move on. He was glad that he was able to leave the past few months behind physically through the suit.

As he was standing looking at the suit and reflecting upon all it represented, Barry noticed a presence approaching him but was able to immediately identify it as Oliver.

"Hey, you ready?" He asked as he walked up beside him.

"I think I am, I guess I'll just have to find out."

"That's the spirit. I have something for you, a going away present." Oliver said holding out a rectangular black box that was previously held behind his back. Barry took it and moved around to the bench behind him, placing the box on the bench he lifted the lid and put it to the side of the box.

Looking into the box Barry found what looked like his normal Flash suit but it was slightly altered, the suit looked like it was more armoured and tough than the previous one, it looked as though it was more of a combat suit than before. Barry picked it up and felt the material, the feel of it backed up his analysis, it felt strong yet retained enough flexibility to avoid hindering his running. The suit looked to be made perfectly leading him to wonder where Oliver got it, he wasn't exactly renowned for his suit making abilities.

As if reading his mind, Oliver answered his question, "When I went to get you some things whilst you were out after the fight, I stopped by STAR Labs. It turns out Cisco had been making it and it was already complete and hidden in his lab. I figured that someday you would probably want to become the Flash again and would need a suit, I'm glad I could give you this, you can remember your team and who you were, but it is also a new design. You can both remember who you were and recreate who you now will be."
"Thanks Oliver." Barry said, bringing him into a brotherly embrace. Barry figured he would be better off jumping universe in his suit in case someone saw him on the other side, so he raced off and got changed before returning.

"Cisco really outdid himself on this one. It's perfect, doesn't hinder my movement and feels strong enough to shield me from a few hard hits." Barry told Oliver once he returned.

"Well that's good but don't be taking too many hits. At least not when I'm not there to watch." Oliver said with a grin spreading across his face. Barry chuckled in response and nodded his head along with a promise that he would almost definitely break knowing his luck and line of work.

As they calmed down the elevator doors opened revealing Felicity, Diggle and Thea who had come early knowing he was going to be leaving for another Earth that morning.

As they emerged from the elevator, they noticed Barry wearing his new suit, none of them had been aware of him having the suit so were quite surprised. After how he had been since everything that went down none of them had expected him to ever look so similar to how he did before but as per usual Barry never failed to surprise them.

"Damn Barry, that suit looks awesome, although I gotta say the other one is more intimidating." Digg said after taking it in.

"You look hotter in this one." Thea supplied causing Oliver to once again give her a scathing look only for her to half-giggle, half-chuckle which was accompanied by Digg and Felicity's suppressed laughter.

"I guess there is no point in delaying this, Barry you've done amazingly here and I'm sure this new Earth will love you and so will this superheroine. I'd love to meet her by the way, she must be so awesome." Felicity was getting lost on a tangent before being alerted to the fact by Oliver's coughing, "Oh, umm yeah, don't be a stranger Bar, so goodbye for now." Felicity finished with a blush and then pulled him into a tight embrace before moving back.

Digg stepped up next, "I'm not gonna lie, I didn't like you at first, my life was already weird enough before you. But then you showed me that no matter how weird it gets there's always both good ad bad, and I must say you're one of the best Barry. Good luck and I'll see you next time Oliver screws something up, so soon." Diggle said with a chuckle, Oliver's indignant "hey" brought the rest of them into a fit of laughter before they sobered up. Digg then gave Barry a firm handshake and clapped him on the shoulder before moving back.

Thea then came up, "It's a shame you got a girl waiting for you on some other Earth, you seem to get hotter each time I see you." She said jokingly, whilst it annoyed Oliver to no end every new they were more like close friends or siblings than anything like that, "I want to make sure this girl has what it takes, you deserve the best Bar, so you bring her around some time, hey? Anyway, good luck and don't trip over on the way." They laughed and shared a hug before she moved back with a bright smile on her face.

Despite it being sad for everyone that Barry was parting ways no one was truly sad as they knew they would see him again and that this was what was best for him, his chance to be happy. Oliver came up last, the two having already shared most of their goodbyes, they simply embraced in a brotherly hug before pulling back. "Call anytime if you need us and find your happiness." Oliver practically commanded.

Barry smiled in response, "Of course, I'll see you all soon enough. The same goes for all of you if you ever need me, don't get yourselves killed." Barry then gave each of them a last smile before grabbing his bag and leaving the cave before any of the others could even feel the wind from his speed hit them.

Barry ran out to the fields between Central and Star City where he had previously tested his speed and started to run, feeling the vibrations of his universe flowing though him he altered them and as a result a breach formed in front of him. Without hesitation, Barry raced into the breach his mind focused on Earth-38, and more specifically, upon Kara, the woman he was falling in love with ever since meeting in that desert after he caught her.

As he sped into the breach, he found himself surrounded by the usual tunnel of blue energy and light that surged around him, he pushed forward, towards Earth-38 ignoring what was going on around him. Soon he felt himself emerge from the passage that seemed to be both silent and deafening at the same time. As he came out the other side, he looked around himself only to find that he wasn't on Earth-38 as intended, instead he found himself in the eye of a raging, violent storm.

David Singh had been having a difficult time the past few months, not only had crime taken a rise across the city with the absence of the Flash, but his CSI, Barry Allen and not long later one of his detectives, Joe West had gone missing. This brought along huge issues when facing metahumans as they were often the two to solve those cases. Many didn't notice but he knew that it was often Barry's skill as a CSI that solves even the most unsolvable cases they faced; he had never seen someone so skilled although unfortunately that skill came along with frustrating tardiness.

Without the CSI or one of his top detectives the CCPD had been struggling, even once they got a new CSI in, he wasn't as skilled as Barry even with his 8 years of experience in Keystone's police department and they had been facing many cases that no one could properly crack with the limited leads. Despite all this, they had begun to recover from having all of this dropped out on them recently and were on track to at least get things running smoothly again, even if Central wouldn't be as safe as before when they had the Flash.

Not long after the beginning of the CCPD's recovery the city was struck by a huge catastrophe, the Flash had returned in a massive battle between him and another person like him. Their practical war had torn apart large portions of the city and had caused panic on a huge scale. Despite the damage Singh hadn't overlooked the fact that almost no one was harmed and no one died, he knew the Flash had done this on purpose and regardless of whether he returned or not, when the media came to him asking for him to out the Flash as a public enemy he had stood by the hero he once had opposed.

Not long later Oliver Queen, the previous, and thought to be missing, mayor of Star City made a huge announcement that brought about huge change in the perspective of the media and almost everyone across America. People had been hesitant at first, him included, to believe the word of the once playboy billionaire, but they had come to believe him and what he had to say rather quickly. Then came the worry of how to repair all the damage only for it to have been responded by some mystery person that went unseen who repaired all the damage that had been done city wide in week.

Singh had agreed with many of the assumptions that it was the Flash doing this but was unaware of ow he was doing so undetected, though he didn't really care too much on the how of it. He was optimistic for the return of Central's hero, both for the safety of people and to relieve some of the stress from the CCPD that came with his absence but after that fight and everything that followed, he knew he was being optimistic.

He wouldn't have been able to get through this without the support of his husband, Rob, who had helped him deal with all the mounting stress. Heading into the station that morning he greeted each of the policemen that he passed on the way towards his office, once he entered, he noticed, after putting his bag down on one of the chairs, that his notepad had been moved. The notepad contained some information about the CCPD he wouldn't want to get out so he was appropriately concerned as he rushed over to check if he could figure out what they had wanted. Picking up the notepad he found a note had been left for him and as he started reading, he was shocked at what it contained. Sitting down he finished reading the note before putting the notepad down on the chair and leaning back in his chair.

He had thought that Barry could have been the Flash once or twice but almost immediately dismissed it, now that he knew it seemed so obvious. He didn't really know what to think after all he had read, Joe was dead, so was the rest of Barry's friends and family. He wished he had of known and could have helped but he knew that he wouldn't have been able to do much, if anything. Singh decided not to tell anyone about this except for Rob, he couldn't endanger anyone Barry had been in contact with. Instead he'd make sure to create a secret case in which Joe would have died along with the others that he mentioned, this would make sure their deaths would be recognised, it would also explain why Barry had gone missing and wouldn't return. Lastly it would allow for him to create the recognition for the two that they deserved.

Another one bites the dust, hope you enjoyed this chapter,

I know you're all probably looking forward to Barry getting to Earth-38 and i had planned to do it this chapter but i got caught up in a few things as you can tell. I decided to include the Singh bit at the end to wrap up the whole Zoom arc and all that happened from an outside perspective and because i like his character, what did you guys think of it?

Thank you to those who reviewed, I love hearing your opinions and it helps motivate me to write more.

Thanks for reading and I'll see you next time :)