That night, I was fast asleep when my phone went off around 2 am or so. I groggily answered, and my drowsiness was soon scared off by the immediate sound of Dr. Wells yelling on the other end of the line.

"Get to STAR Labs right now! There's been a metahuman attack on 15th!

"Is it Rajeet?" a voice that sounded like Cisco's asked calmly. It then struck me that I was in a group call.

"Yes! Hurry, we don't have much time before he gets away!" Dr. Wells demanded.

"We're on our way, sir," Caitlin assured, before dropping her line.

"I am too," said Cisco, before I heard two more clicks.

"Wait, could someone wait for me and give me a ride?" I asked, totally confused. I had no quick way of getting to the lab. Caitlin and Cisco both owned cars, while I got around via taxis or buses, or on foot.

"Hello? Dr. Wells?"

Nobody answered. Everyone had dropped their lines, and I was the last one left in the call. I tried calling them again, to no avail.

Panicking as to what could be going on, I hurried out of bed, slipped on a pair of shoes and my jacket, grabbed my phone and keys, and ran out the door in my pajamas.

Of course, at 2:27 am, public transportation does not exist, and I gathered myself and forced myself to sprint to the lab as fast as I possibly could, forcing myself to use whatever energy I had. The run took me about twenty or so minutes, but I barged into the Cortex, finding Cisco, Dr. Wells, and Caitlin Snow all working at computers at the main desk in the Cortex, each of them looking extremely worried, shouting orders at nobody in particular.

"No! No! No! Look to your left, and be careful! He's hiding!" Cisco yelled, reaching over and typing madly on one of the other computers.

"Aim properly before you take him down! You can't harm a civilian with that thing!" Caitlin added, just as stressed as Cisco was, "The damage is irreversible!"

"Guys, I'm so sorry I'm late! I don't own a car and none of you answered my calls," I said, panting from my run, surprising all three of them. All three of them removed their focus from the computer screens, and looked up at me, Cisco and Caitlin with what looks like shock, Dr. Wells with anger. Cisco immediately typed something else in, and the screens on the walls of the Cortex shut down.

"Ms. Van Kleiss, what are you doing here?" Dr. Wells asked, clearly unhappy with me.

"I got your call," I answered, still hyperventilating, "To come to the Lab as soon as possible."

I then realize what a mess I must look like. Unbrushed hair, old pajamas, running sneakers - I didn't even remember to bring my lab coat, although something tells me the three of them aren't conducting lab work. Caitlin, who was giving me a horrified look, glances away as Cisco brought her attention to one of the monitors. She picked up an earpiece, and began giving commands.

"I - you've got to keep him distracted. You're toast if he sees you."

"What happened? Is something wrong back at the Lab?" a familiar voice asked out of nowhere.

"No, nothing's wrong here. We just ...have a surprise visitor."

"Who? Is it Artemis?" the voice responded, edged with panic. I realized it's coming from the speakers, though I can't recognize it.

"Yes." Cisco replied flatly, still typing uncontrollably at the computers, "But she can't stay."

"No! I actually could use her help right now!" the voice protested, "Let her stay!"

"No!" Dr. Wells grumbled, reaching over and turning off the speakers, "Ms. Van Kleiss, you need to go home. Now."

"What - was that Barry?" I asked, finally placing the owner of that voice, "Is he in trouble? Is everything okay?"

Dr. Wells grew more aggravated by my questions.

"It's none of your concern. Why are you here, anyway?" He asked, blatantly annoyed by my presence.

"I already told you - I got your stupid call, and nobody told me what was happening, so I assumed the worst!" I snapped, getting just as angry, "What's happening to Barry? Is he caught up with Rajeet?" I asked, moving over to see what's going on on the computers.

"No!" Cisco argued, stepping forward to stop me before I could see what was happening on the monitors. Barry's voice could be heard yelling through the earpieces.

"I can help! Where's the Shocker? Do the police have it?" I argued.

"Artemis, you can't be here right now!" Cisco urged kindly, though I can tell my presence is making him worry.

"Why not? I work here!" I shouted, "Is Barry in trouble?"

"Barry's - Barry's with the police, and yes, they're trying to catch Rajeet," Caitlin explained gently, clearly afraid of letting me see what's going on.

"Cisco, get her out of here now!" Dr. Wells demanded, stressed out by both the situation on the computers and by my presence. Caitlin gave Barry more orders about where to act.

"Why is Barry even at the scene? He works CSI!"

"Artemis, you -"

"Why'd you shut down the screens?" I questioned, remembering how Cisco turned off all of the monitors when I entered, "What are you doing that I'm not allowed to see? What are you all hiding?"

"Cisco, I swear to God if you don't her out of here..." Dr. Wells growled threateningly. I threw him a cross look. Dr. Wells said he had high hopes for me, and that he wanted me to work for him. What were they doing right now that I wasn't allowed to be a part of?

"Artemis, I'm sorry we woke you up," Cisco apologized, pulling out a set of car keys from the pockets of his jeans and pressing them into my hands, "You weren't supposed to see this. Please go, and I promise we'll have answers for you in the morning."

"I don't care about being woken up," I declared, "I want to know what's going on!"

"This isn't the time for that!" Dr. Wells shouted. Beside him, Caitlin looked flustered as she typed something on one of the screens.

"Cisco - I really could use your help right now," she requested, giving Cisco a pleading look. Cisco turned back to face me, and gave me an apologetic look. At this moment, I am confused and extremely angry. Why wouldn't they let me help them?

"Artemis, go," Cisco asserted, squeezing my hand warmly, before turning me away, "We'll tell you everything in the morning. But right now, we really can't have you here."

Tears involuntarily fringed my eyes, and I turned around and stormed off, giving Dr. Wells an unforgivingly menacing glare before I left.

"Why was she even added to the notification circle?" He roared. Cisco and Caitlin answered with weak apologies.

"She's just a scientist here, you understand? I do not want her as a part of this team!" was the last thing I heard Dr. Wells yell before I exited the Lab, the doors being locked from the inside to prevent me from entering again.