Hey guys sorry for the very delayed update, but had no time to write... been on vacay and now I'm back at work... excuses aside I have finally finished chp 7. This one is based on the 7th ep of season 2. Hope you guys enjoy.
P.S thanks for all the reviews... they have really helped me in thinking about the story and the potential of where I could lead it. I have read every single one and have taken every single one into consideration.
Hope you enjoy and peace out :)
Disclaimer: I do not own the Flash nor its characters.
Caitlin's POV
It was still dark outside… the day barely breaking into the second hour past midnight when she woke up, her hair sticking to her forehead as the sweat rolled down her temples. Caitlin's breathing was ragged and shallow, she felt the sharp pain as she was unable to catch her breath when her chest rose and fell in rapid motions. Trembling, Caitlin couldn't seem to break out of the darkness that plagued her mind. It was if she was living in a horror film, with the images of Barry falling unconsciously to his knees in slow motion. Every detail was amplified. As much as she wanted to scream there was just no sound. Caitlin felt her chest tighten as she struggled to find air. Tossing away the sheets, Caitlin threw her legs over the side of the bed, closing her eyes trying to relax herself. As Barry murmured and stirred in his sleep, Caitlin peeked over her shoulder, curling herself back under the sheets and into his arms, reassuring herself of the present and dragging her mind out of her nightmare.
Caitlin wasn't sure what time she fell asleep or when she even woke back up. Time seemed to be blurring around her as she lay beside him, her arms placed firmly across him. With the fear that she was in a dreaming, Caitlin rested her head on his chest, letting her body absorb the rise and fall of it. She needed to believe that this was real. She felt the faint pressure of his fingers on her back and his warm breath in her hair. She tried not to think of any of it. He was going to be okay. This was real. He was okay. She told herself. Squeezing him tight, she tried to reassure herself.
Barry's POV
*A week later*
As Barry placed one foot in front of the other, he felt every ache of pain creep down his back towards his legs with every stride he forced himself to make.
"Alright I got you." Joe cooed as he carefully walked beside Barry.
"I can't do it right now." Barry huffed out as he collapsed back down into his wheelchair.
"Yes you can bar-" Joe encouraged.
"No. no. no." Barry protested shaking his head aggressively cutting him off.
"We were making so much progress." Joe sighed.
"Yep six whole steps someone give me a bozo button." Barry spat out sarcastically not looking anyone in the eye.
Barry noticed Joe pierce his lips shut, joining in the short silence.
As much as he loved his family, he hated how they could remain so positive, like a step forward was so amazing. A week has gone by and he only just started to walk. He still hadn't gotten back his speed. Zoom was out there and he was powerless to stop him. Zoom made sure of that. And worst of all… the entire city knew that too.
Barry's mind kept drifting back to his fight with Zoom. Barry could recall how powerless and crippled Zoom had made him. Even after a week, he couldn't look into the eyes of the people he loved knowing that every time he did, he could see the truth that they knew he couldn't do anything to protect them. And it killed him. How could he be protect the ones he loved… how could he deserve to be the city's hero, when Zoom had showed them just how weak he really was. He wasn't the fastest man alive… And sitting in the wheel chair Barry felt as though he wasn't much of anything anymore.
Blinking, Barry was pulled out of his thoughts when Caitlin's voice cut clear through the darkness.
"Hey give yourself some credit you just broke your back." She smiled warily.
Barry returned her smile, he need to reassure her that he was okay… even if he didn't feel it. He knew she still woke up every night paralysed by the same nightmare. But he knew she would never admit it and say she was fine.
"Yeah a normal person would have been paralysed the rest of his life." Iris agreed nodding her head.
"How long until I'm fully healed?" He whispered, looking back up at Caitlin.
Barry watched, as Caitlin took a beat before responding.
"Your initial MRI I took a week ago showed a complete dislocation of the T12 to L1 of the inner space of the penumbra junction. But this is the MRI I took this morning. It's remarkable but you're almost completely healed."
"I'm still having trouble breathing." He told her.
"That is totally normal with a spinal injury. It should clear up soon." She said, rounding the desk towards him.
As she closed the distance between them, Barry never took his eyes off her. He smiled broadly as she took his hand, giving them a gentle squeeze.
"We're going to get you back up in that suit Bar-. Real quick. Trust me Barry." Joe promised.
Barry wasn't really listening, his head turned towards his suit, Barry's mind drifted back to the thoughts that were still replaying in a constant loop in his mind. The only thing, keeping him grounded was the gentle grazes of Caitlin's fingers playing over his.
"What are we going to do about Zoom?" Barry muttered changing the subject.
"No sight of him since Cisco hit him with that tranq dart." Joe said.
"And I haven't vibed since then." Cisco added.
"Maybe Zoom's not coming back?" Iris shrugged.
Barry grew slightly irritated at her optimism, because he knew Zoom was still out there and there and he was going to come back.
"I highly doubt that. That's why I'm going to do something about that." Harry voiced, as he joined them, slinging a backpack across his shoulder.
"What do you mean go do something about it?" Caitlin asked concerned.
"I need access to your breach room and your speed canon." He stated flatly without further explanation.
"Why is that?" Barry probed bluntly.
"Because Barry it's time to go home." He said.
Caitlin's POV
"So you show up on our Earth, screw everything up and now you want to go home? Sounds very familiar." Joe shook his head smugly.
Caitlin couldn't believe what she was hearing. How could he just leave when they needed him the most? Frustrated Caitlin breathed out an exasperated sigh.
"Again. That wasn't me. I need to go take care of Zoom once and for all. Before anyone else gets killed." Harry retorted.
"How do you plan on doing that?" Barry questioned his voice sounding unconcerned.
And how was his not bothering Barry?
"I'll think of something. Ramon will you escort me to the speed canon?" Harry said as he turned to leave.
Caitlin couldn't hold back. Dropping Barry's hand, she made her way after Harry.
"No. No. You can't go through the breach." She said in protest.
"Yeah he can. Jay taught us how to send people." Cisco said in support of Harry's send off.
"That's not what I mean. Look if you could find a way to stop Zoom on your Earth you can figure it out here. We need you to stay here until we defeat Zoom Dr Wells." She argued strongly.
"What I need Dr Snow is to return home. I'm going to do that with or without your assistance." Harry replied with finality.
Caitlin stood silently seething as she watched Harry turn his back on them.
"What are you doing? If Harry wants to go… bye." Cisco voiced.
"Look, like it or not Cisco we need his help." Caitlin explained hoping that the rest of them could see reason.
"I'm not sure another plan from Wells is what we need." Joe added.
"Yeah the last bright idea he had nearly got Barry killed." Iris agreed.
"You don't think I know that!?" She said with a raised voice startling everyone by her sudden outburst.
Closing her eyes to bring her emotions back in check, she took a deep breath before continuing.
"I know. But Jay's gone and Dr Wells knows Zoom better than anyone. So until Barry is back on his feet again… we need to keep Wells around in case Zoom returns."
"Cait… if he doesn't want to be here, we're better off without him. Let him go."
"I can't do that. Not yet."
Turning her back Caitlin stormed out of the room.
Barry's POV
Barry watched as Caitlin walked out on them. After a moments pause, he knew he should follow her and make sure she was feeling okay.
"Hey Cait—" Barry called down the hallway as he wheeled after her.
Barry caught up to her after she stopped turning around to face him.
"I'm sorry. But I can't let him go." She said calmly taking a deep breath, her eyes drifting down towards his feet.
"If he do—" Barry began to say.
"I don't care Barry! You don't get it do you?!" Barry's eyes widened at Caitlin in confusion. He wasn't sure if he'd seen Caitlin so mad. And she was raging now. Standing in front of him, her hands rose and fell to her side as she raised her voice.
"Get what? Cait?" He asked, calling after her.
But she didn't say anything she just shook her head and left.
Get what?
Caitlin's POV
*Later that night*
As the night drew darker, Caitlin finally came across a low key bar where she discovered Harry sitting perched on a stool at the bar, hidden under the disguised shadow of his cap.
"You should stay away from the cheese curts. They're addicting." Caitlin laughed softly as she approached him.
"I'm going to take a wild stab that you're here without the consent of the rest of your fabulous team?" Harry replied sarcastically as he continued to doodle in his journal.
"It's been difficult having you here. For all of us." She began to explain, seating herself next to him.
"You don't have to worry about that anymore because I'm leaving." He said flatly.
"We can help you save your daughter. I know that's why you want to go home. I understand. And that's why I want you to stay. So we can save your daughter and you can help me keep the man I love from getting killed." She whispered her confession.
"Look… I made a big mistake coming here. My plan was to get the Flash's help. My plan was to use his help to stop Zoom and my plan failed. I don't have another plan. Except to go back home and face Zoom myself." He explained.
"So let's say you go back to your earth… and you fight Zoom. He will kill you! And now how does that help your daughter?" Caitlin pushed leaning forward as the desperation became apparent in her voice.
"Look the best way to save Jesse. To help me save Barry. Is to stay here and work with us as a team." She whispered easing up a bit.
"No. Nope please leave me alone while I discover which one of these breaches is going to get me home." He replied as if he weren't listening.
Caitlin closed her eyes defeated. He was their last hope. Her only hope left, to help her keep Barry alive.
"You know you're lucky Cisco and Professor Stein never figure out how to close all the breaches. Then you'd be stuck here." Her voice leaked with poison as she pushed herself out of her chair and began to leave.
"Wait. We close the breaches. All of them... leaving Zoom with only one way of getting to this Earth." Harry's voice piped up.
Caitlin spun around at Harry's words.
"The breach at S.T.A.R Labs." Caitlin added, her eyes widening up with renewed hope.
"Exactly. And then we set a trap." He smiled.
Caitlin returned the smile, feeling the muscles in her shoulder relax knowing that Harry was back. He was going to help them.
Barry's POV
Barry felt as the sweat rolled down the side of his face. Breathing hard, Barry pushed to place one foot in front of another, forcing himself to ignore the dull sharp pain probing his back.
"Faster Barry… there you go." Joe encouraged from the other room.
Hearing Joe's voice echoing through the room, Barry propelled his body forward feeling the electricity course through his body as he tried to gain more speed.
"Push yourself!" Joe yelled happily.
Just as Barry started to pick up momentum, flashes of Zoom looming over him, his demonic face smirking, laughing as he held Barry around his throat and stabbing him. Suddenly Barry's vision was engulfed by sudden darkness and he fell off the treadmill with a thud.
"BARRY! You okay?" Coming to, Barry heard Iris and Joe's voice as he pulled himself up off the floor.
"Yeah I'm not great right now. Nothing… nothing I'm good just forget about it alright."
"Barry… talk to us we can help you." Iris pleaded with him concerned.
"No you can't help me… not this time. I'm sorry. You just wouldn't understand." Barry breathed out as he held an arm over his ribs.
Without another word, Iris left.
As the door closed behind Iris, Barry stumbled to sit himself down on the treadmill, drawing his head into his hands.
"What's up Bar?" Joe asked in stern seriousness.
Barry pulled his head out of his hands to look up at his adoptive father. Taking a deep breath he spoke.
"Zoom destroyed me. He showed everyone in Central City… to Caitlin that I'm powerless to stop him. They gave me the key to the city Joe! I'm supposed to be their hero… her hero… I'm supposed to be the guy that can protect them from something as evil as that and I failed… In front of all of them." Barry cried.
Barry looked away from his father ashamed.
"When they think of the Flash all they think about now is someone not strong enough to protect them." Barry whispered under his breath.
Barry pulled himself off the treadmill, standing up straight he saw the anguish in his father's eyes as he became lost for words. As Joe reached out to place a reaffirming hand on his shoulder, Barry waved him off.
"Nah I'm good." He lied as he staggered out of the room, his head hanging low.
*A couple of hours later*
Sitting in his wheelchair Barry continued to stare at his suit, wondering when he'd ever get to wear it again, whether he even would and whether he deserved to wear it. These thoughts plagued his mind on a constant loop and he felt as if he couldn't breathe.
"Did Caitlin come through here?"
Barry turned around to see Cisco stampede into the room, his expression hard and confused.
"No." Barry shrugged, his brows creasing together in concern.
"She just hit me in the face and ran away!" Cisco complained loudly, soothing a hand to his cheek.
"YO GRODD!" Joe yelled as he came running back into the cortex.
"What?" Barry's eyes widened, his body edging forward in his chair.
"Grodd's back." Joe choked as he rested his hands on his knees trying to catch his breath.
"That must be why Caitlin was acting like that! She's been mind-controlled." Cisco added with the new found realization.
Barry was not pushing his wheelchair closer to the group as Cisco began scanning the buildings security cameras for any sign of Caitlin.
If Barry thought he couldn't breathe before, he sure as hell couldn't do it now. With his heart beating vigorously in his chest, Barry watched as they found Caitlin walking out of the building. At the sight of her unharmed, Barry felt his muscles relax slightly until a shadow emerged in the corner of the frame and then there was Grodd. Barry froze.
Cait…
In the next second, Barry tore himself out of his chair after her.
Racing as fast as he was able after her, Barry pushed the door open, his eyes blinking at the sudden blast of sunlight in his face. His fear for Caitlin numbed the pain shooting up his back. Frustrated, Barry threw the walking stick in front of him.
"Arrggghh!" He screamed.
Barry then collapsed to his knees at the sudden loss of support.
Barry's breathing was low and heavy as the anger at himself began to brew inside him.
When the hands of his father and Cisco where by his side, Barry allowed them to help him up.
"Come on. Let's get back inside and find her." Joe said patting him on his back.
Barry couldn't speak, he just nodded.
When they got back into the cortex, Barry was suddenly in a daze. It was as if he couldn't see straight. He couldn't even think a single thought. His mind was just on Caitlin. He couldn't believe she was gone, if he had his speed and wasn't confined to this chair and cane… he could help thinking that it was his fault. Out of everyone, he was supposed to be the one person she could count on. The one person she could count to protect her. And now he didn't even know how he was going to get her back.
While everyone around him where talking, Barry remained silent unable to speak. He just continued to look down towards he feet.
"I'm continuously amazed by the similarities of our worlds." Harry muttered.
"You got talking gorillas on Earth Two?" Joe said raising his eyebrows.
"Oh yeah"
"Remind me never to go there." Joe laughed.
"Ramon, why would this Grodd abduct Dr Snow?" Harry asked Cisco, as he watched over his shoulders at the monitor.
"I don't know… it doesn't make any sense. She was always so nice to him." Cisco replied, as he scoured video footage of the sewers.
"He mind-controlled two lab technicians to steal chemicals that enhance intelligence. He wants her for something." Harry pointed out.
"Well it looks like he left his bachelor pad in the sewers." Cisco grunted.
"Grodd is a big ass gorilla. He can't just waltz through downtown in the middle of the day without anybody noticing."
"Right and if there has been sightings we might be able to proximate his location." Harry agreed.
"I can call CCPD they can access the tip hotline send over files of Grodd's recent attacks." Joe suggested.
"Good."
"We got to get her back." Cisco said.
"We will." Harry stated firmly.
Suddenly, Joe's voice cut through his silence.
"Barry… Barry!" Joe called out to him.
"Yeah."
"You can't blame yourself for this. There is nothing you could have done."
"Why can't I. I was supposed to be the one person to protect her. I still don't have my speed how am I supposed to get her back? How am I supposed to save her from Grodd?" Barry argued shaking his head.
"You may not have your legs yet but you still got that big old brain of yours. Use it. I got to go." Joe said firmly, leaving Barry alone.
Looking at the city map, Cisco left up on the monitor, Barry stared long and hard at it.
Where are you?
Caitlin's POV
Caitlin's mind was heavy as she began to wake up. As her hand slide across the floor, she felt the course material under her fingers. Opening her eyes, her sight adjusts quickly to the darkness of a room she wasn't familiar with. Pulling herself up off the floor, Caitlin looked around the room, her eyes falling on familiar writing. In that instant, her heart began beating fast…
"Grodd?" she called out into the shadows.
"Caitlin." He growled.
"Grodd? You remember me?" she stammered, a little scared.
Suddenly there was rustle high above her, and then Grodd made himself present, swing down and dropping down in front of her with a loud thud.
Caitlin staggered back, as Grodd stood towering over her.
"Caitlin. Always. Kind." He voice.
Swallowing hard, Caitlin gathered her courage and began moving forward as she spoke.
"Why did you bring me here?"
"Need help." He explained, as they began circling the room.
"I don't understand." She replied, her brows creasing together in confusion.
"How did I become Grodd?"
"That's a long story Grodd. Umm…The dark matter from the accelerator explosion. That's how this happened." She began to explain calmly.
"Repeat?"
At her remark, Grodd growled loudly, making Caitlin curl back.
"REPEAT. GRODD!" He barked as he pointed towards a small tower of chemicals.
"NEED TO REPEAT. GRODD!"
"You want me to make more like you. I don't know how to do that." Caitlin replied shakily.
"LEARN!"
Barry's POV
Knowing that the only way he could get Caitlin back… is if he got his speed back. Standing on the treadmill, Barry took a deep breath, switching on the machine and began to run. As Barry pushed himself further, he could feel himself faster. Pushing past the pain he kept going, increasing his speed, until the air in his lungs ran out. Struggling to catch his breath, Barry reached out switching the machine off. Pacing himself to a stop, Barry leaned down, resting his hands on his knees as he drew in sharp breaths.
"Keep that chin down slugger."
Barry turned his head abruptly towards the voice.
"Dad?" Barry whispered surprised.
*Med Bay*
"I'd give you some physical therapy but you don't need it." His dad laughed as he took a step back to look at his son.
"I'm really glad you're here dad." Barry smiled as he shrugged a shoulder back into his jacket.
"Me too. You know I've tried to call but you can't get a cell up in Granite Peak National Park… so…"
"Granite Peak? What you went camping by yourself?" Barry snorted out a laugh interrupting his father.
"Yeah… yeah… I got a tent... went fishing every day. I have had my fill of largemouth bass for a while." He boasted rubbing his belly.
Barry smiled warmly back at his father. He did miss his father. God did he miss him.
His father must have noticed his silence.
"Sometimes you just have to slow down. To get back to where you want to be." His faced whispered.
"Dad..." Barry began to say, his face dropping to the ground.
"Hey guys… it looks like we found them." Cisco yelled out from the other room.
"Yeah?" Barry whispered under his breath.
His eyes widening at Cisco's voice, Barry tore out of the med bay fast, to stand himself right beside Cisco as he pulled up the location on the computer monitor.
"Grodd has to be in one of these three bell towers. The only reason why we couldn't find them on any cameras underneath the city before is because he upgrade from a bachelor pad to a penthouse like a baller." He explained as he pointed on three different pinpoints highlighted on the screen.
"Okay we know where she is… we still don't know how to get her." Barry grumbled.
"We got a plan for you." Cisco stated ambiguously.
"What's the plan?" Barry pressed.
"We use me."
Barry turned around. His heart beating fast and fear rising through his stomach to his chest, Barry's face pulled together as he shot straight towards the Reverse Flash, pinning him aggressively hard against the opposite wall by the throat with a thunderous thud.
"Woah that's Harry! That's the other Wells!" Cisco shouted.
It's like all the voices around him where drowned out by his hatred as he started intently at the mirror image of the man who had killed his mother and had destroyed his family.
"Barry…" Harry breathed.
"Let him go. Let him go." Cisco instructed trying to calm him down.
Barry blinked, his eyes darting towards Cisco and back to Harry. Letting go slowly, Barry backed away guilty.
"Sorry… I'm sorry." He apologized, closing his eyes briefly in order to get his emotions back in check.
"I thought he was dead." His father said bluntly his eyes never leaving the sight of Harry.
"He's dead. This is Harrison Wells from Earth two." Barry began explaining as he tried to catch his breathe.
"Earth Two?" His father asked disoriented by the idea.
"I'll explain later." Barry replied.
"If we can get him to convince Grodd he's Wells… that he's his father… maybe we can convince him to let Caitlin go." Cisco stated, still wedging himself between Barry and Harry.
Barry took a moment to really think about it. Without his speed back there was no other way he was going to get Caitlin back. As much as he hated this plan, he knew it was the only way to get her back safely into his arms. Stepping forward Barry looked straight into Harry's eyes.
"I'm not going to be able to help if anything goes wrong. So you better get her back or Zoom won't be the only speedster you need to worry about." Barry threatened.
"It's a risk I'm willing to take." Harry nodded.
*Moments Later*
"So this is what is like every time you go after one of these metahumans?"
"Ahh pretty much… only Cisco and Caitlin are the ones in here and I'm out there." Barry muttered distracted as he started intensely at the screen in front of him, his heart beat loud and fast as he waited anxiously for their plan to go ahead. This better work. He told himself.
"And there's no reason you shouldn't be." His father encouraged.
Barry turned around looking at his father.
"Iris showed me what happened. With Zoom. That was hard to watch. I can only imagine what that must have been like for you…" His father began to explain.
"He showed everyone in Central City that their hero wasn't good enough to stop him." Barry huffed out, his eyes drifting back to the floor ashamed.
"Well it certainly wouldn't look like… was he right?"
"Hmpf."
"Your bodies healed Barry and yet here you are… Feeling the shame of losing."
"I can't stop him. I know it. He knows it. And now everyone in this city knows it too. They don't believe in me anymore dad." Barry shrugged his head falling.
"At my trial for your mother's death a lot of our family and friends were in the court room. They heard awful things about what I had done to your mother… but it didn't matter that it wasn't true. Every day I could see it on their faces until that moment where I lost them… until everybody had stopped believing in me. Well that was my reality. You know I was going to serve a life's sentence for a crime I did not commit. But worse than that every time I looked at someone from that moment forward they had to believe I had killed the woman I loved. In. Front. Of. Our son. So yeah I do know what it's like to feel destroyed."
"How did you get pass that?" Barry whispered desperately.
"I embraced it. Accepting it was the only way I could move forward but I knew that if I could survive that and learn to believe in myself again I know I could survive anything. Do you know what lit that belief in me Barry?"
Barry shook his head, a tear falling down his cheek. Barry immediately brushed it away with the back of his hand.
"You. 11 year old you running around believing in me gave me that hope."
"And now I'm giving it back to you son. No more monsters can take that from us."
Pushing himself out of his chair, Barry reached out to his father and pulled him into a tight embrace.
Caitlin's POV
Every time Caitlin placed a foot in front of another the floorboards would creak. Caitlin began pacing up and down as she began explaining
"So one of the main differences from ape and human brains is the white matter connectivity in the brain cells. The chemicals that you were treated with as an infant were meant to overcome those differences and cause an explosive growth of both. Similar to what infants experience in their first few years of life. Maybe these chemicals can be used to duplicate that growth and then maybe we won't need a particle accelerator explosion." She laughed shakily as she looked at Grodd.
Suddenly a creak echoing from the other side of the room made Caitlin jolt. As her head snapped in the direction of the sound, Caitlin's heart stopped as she held her breath. Wells?
"Hey buddy. Easy buddy it's me. I'm back." Wells muttered, pushing his way into the room.
"Father you died." Grodd's voice echoed through the hallow tower.
"No no buddy I didn't die I just went a way for a while." Wells excused.
As Wells turned to face her, she caught Wells' eyes and she couldn't be sure but she was certain he winked at her. It took her a moment to register what that meant.
Harry?
Caitlin finally managed to catch her breath as her muscles relaxed. Caitlin's eyes moved away from away from Wells and drifted slowly up, cautiously watching Grodd as Harry shifted closer towards her, seamlessly wedging himself between Godd and herself.
"But now that I'm back… we don't need Caitlin anymore do we now buddy… so you can let her go. Come on buddy let me get her out of here… please." Harry whispered.
"Father never ask. FATHER TAKE!" Grodd shouted angrily.
Caitlin turned towards Harry. "RUN."
As Caitlin tried to make it for the door, her mind began to plague with thoughts and memories from Grodd. Paralysing her, Caitlin couldn't move.
"Who are you?!" Grodd shouted as he knocked Harry across the room.
Suddenly, the pain and memories stopped, as her mind was suddenly silent.
"Cisco thank god!" She breathed out as she caught Cisco by the arm.
"Harry's trapped Harry's trapped we can't leave him. What do we do?"
"You are not father!"
"I am father. And you hit father! Grodd! Look at me. LOOK AT ME! I would never leave you here alone. Grodd I made you a promise. I have bigger plans for you remember? One day this city will be yours I promised you. I intend to honour that promise."
"GO!" Harry shouted brushing past them and running out to safety.
Cisco was soon behind him, only stopping at grab Caitlin by the arm and pulling her with him.
"Come on." He pressed.
Caitlin pulled back a little, her eyes locked on Grodd. A part of her couldn't help but feel sorry for him. With Cisco nagging her to come along, Caitlin had no choice but to follow.
*Back at S.T.A.R Labs*
With Harry perched on the stretcher, Caitlin finished up bandaging his side.
"Thank you." He grumbled.
"Thank you for rescuing me!" She smiled as she tore off the gloves from her hands, tossing them to the bin aside.
"We're a team right?" He responded rhetorically.
Caitlin nodded, pushing herself up off the chair; Caitlin shuffled into Barry's arms. For a moment she leaned into his chest, closing her eyes she let the warmth of his body warm hers. Feeling his lips in her hair, Caitlin took a deep breath before shifting around in his arms so she was facing everyone else.
"Well I'm impressed. I think we all are." Barry smiled thanking Harry.
"Yo, well we need to do something about Grodd." Joe suggested.
"Like what?" Caitlin asked her voice piping up an octave.
"Like get rid of him for good." Joe mumbled in response.
"You want to kill him?" Caitlin gapped shocked.
"Considering the people he's killed… yeah." Joe shrugged defending himself slightly by the look on her face.
"This isn't Grodd's fault. He's only like this because Wells made him this way."
"Yes but Cait he kidnapped you and you could have died!" Barry stated facing her.
Caitlin turned to face him. Her face softening as she caught sight of his concerned expression.
"You didn't see what I saw. Grodd's getting smarter. He's lonely and sad. He wants more apes like him." She explained further, turning back to the others.
"What are you saying? He wants kids? Because I'm pretty sure one telepathic grape ape is more than enough for this city." Joe said sarcastically.
Caitlin was about to open her mouth and say something when Harry interrupted.
"I know somewhere we can send him."
"What are you talking about?" Barry asked his brows creasing together curious.
"When the singularity exploded, I discovered the breach in S.T.A.R Labs… I ran similar tests and the same thing. 51 additional breaches, the difference being the breaches in Central City are scattered all though out the city whereas the counterpart on my world … most definitely are not." Harry began to describe as he led everyone back into the cortex, where he stood behind the desk to bring up a city map highlighted with the breaches scattered around the city.
"And you know where they lead?" Cisco asked.
"Well I was in the process of figuring all that out when Dr Snow oh so gallantly convinced me to stay. But if I am correct this breach is going to get Grodd as close to home as he's ever going to get." Harry pointed to a specific point on the map.
"Okay even if you're right how exactly are we going to bait Grodd?" Joe questioned skeptical.
"My son will do it. Won't you Flash?" Henry volunteered stepping forward and smiling at his son.
Caitlin turned to Barry, he was smiling back at his father, but deep in his eyes she could see his doubt. Squeezing his hand, she tightened her fingers a fraction around his, giving him courage.
"You can do this. I believe in you." She whispered to him.
*A couple of hours later*
Against Barry's wishes, Caitlin stood just outside the abandoned belltower, gazing up to the broken clock.
"GRODD?" she shouted out into the night.
"Caitlin." A low grumble erupted from the tower before a loud shattering noise erupted, raining down a storm of glass.
Before the glass fell onto her she was swept up in the secure arms of the man she loved. As Barry dropped her off with the others, he quickly kissed her on the forehead before heading back to lure Grodd to where they were. Caitlin moved over to the side and out of view, watching anxiously for their plan to take effect.
Shortly after, Barry flashed before them, Grodd towering over him. Caitlin held her breath as she watched Barry go a few rounds with Grodd. Suddenly Caitlin leaned forward as Barry fell to the ground, Grodd pinning him down.
BARRY!
"Where is Caitlin? Where is Caitlin Flash?!" Grodd repeated angrily.
Unable to control herself, Caitlin stepped out of the safety of the shadows, exposing herself into the dim lighting in the middle of the deserted road.
"Right here!" She shouted firmly.
"NO NO NO!" She heard Barry grumble under his breath as he tried to squirm free.
Caitlin took one look at Barry, and she knew that this time she wasn't going to stand by and watch the man she love die before her. Maybe last time she couldn't have done anything, but she wasn't going to let that happen again. Standing firmly she looked Grodd straight in the eye.
"You need to let him go Grodd!" she demanded.
"Flash is my enemy and now you too!" he grunted.
"No he was trying to save me from you. We didn't understand what you wanted but now we do. I can give you what you want. I can give a home. You just have to trust me." She pleaded with him, her eyes continuously darting back and forth between Barry and Grodd.
Catching Barry's eye, he tried waving her away, but Caitlin just shook her head. She stood her ground as Grodd left Barry and began stalking his way towards her. Caitlin swallowed hard, breathing out a heavy sigh as she did, knowing that Barry was out of danger.
Just a Grodd strode his way into the centre circle of their little contraption, Harry from the sidelines shouted "NOW BARRY!"
Caitlin turned to face Barry. She could see his hesitation.
"Babe… hey you can do this! I believe in you."
And without any more doubt Barry sped forward, hurdling himself towards Grodd, pushing him into the open breach.
When it was all over and the breach was finally closed Caitlin let out a deep breath. Overwhelmed with so many emotions, Caitlin hadn't realized that her heart was racing and that tears were streaming down her face.
When Barry turned around, pulling down his mask, Caitlin came hurdling into his arms. Throwing her arms around him, Caitlin crashed her into his, burying her head into his neck. Crying, Barry tightened his hold around her, bringing her closer to him.
"I love you." She whispered.
Barry pulled back kissing her hard on the lips.
"Welcome back Flash!" Cisco cheered from the sidelines.
Barry pulled back, wiping away her tears Caitlin smiled softly before burying herself back into the crook of his neck.
Btw I won't be covering the cross over episode (so ep.8) as there is just too much other plot stuff going on in those episodes to really draw out a nice and genuine Snowbarry story. So the next chapter update will skip to being based around ep.9.