Chapter 7
Iris West stood outside the door of what used to be the apartment of her friends Barry and Caitlin Allen, but with possession being nine tenths of the law she guessed it was now just Caitlin's apartment, also given that Caitlin hadn't responded to any of her or Barry's calls or texts, she also assumed that she had gone back to calling herself Caitlin Snow. Still Iris stood there ready to do whatever it took to get inside and talk with the women who she hoped still counted her as one of her friends. Not just for Barry's sake, but for Caitlin's as well. She had cut off all contact with her husband and all of her friends, and even if she did decide after giving Barry's side of the story a fair hearing, that the marriage was over, cutting off all contact with her friends and co-workers at this troubled time in her life couldn't be healthy. So she was prepared to do what she had done over a year before with Barry, not let Caitlin push her out, she was going to push back and refuse to leave until Caitlin saw that she wasn't in this alone. Thankfully growing up with a detective for a father and being a reporter had taught her a thing or two about how to get her foot in the door and get someone talking who at first didn't want to talk to you. Still this would not be pretty, Iris knew that much, so she took a deep breath, schooled her face, and then knocked loudly on the door, so that even if Caitlin was asleep at the early hour of five in the evening she could not miss the sound of the knock.
"If you are here to talk about Barry, go away." Iris heard Caitlin's voice call out from the other side of the door and she knew Caitlin must have seen her through the peephole. The voice was clearly trying to sound strong but Iris detected an undertone of sadness and hurt in it. She knew that type of voice, because it was the same one that she had used after Eddie died when she got sick of people asking her if she was okay and she was trying to drive them away and out of her life because she felt like she had to deal with the pain on her own. Iris decided that being tactful would be her best approach if she wanted to get inside the apartment and have a face to face talk with her friend.
"I am not here for that, I swear." Iris said as she crossed her fingers behind her back. "It's just I haven't heard from you in weeks, and I wanted to be sure you were okay."
"Well I am fine, so you can go now." Caitlin's voice said without a hint of emotion in it.
"So then would you mind if I came in, just for a few minutes, we don't have to talk about your problems, but I do know what you are going through, we both do, we both know what it is like to lose the man that you love, and we both know cutting all of your friends out of your life isn't the answer." Iris said forcefully, but with a note of understanding in her voice, she figured she had nothing to lose by pretending to be on Caitlin's side of this whole mess, because really she was on her side, just not in a way Caitlin would see as being on her side at that moment.
Iris' little speech seemed to do the trick because a moment latter she heard the sound of the door being unlocked and it opened to reveal her friend standing behind it, and she looked even worse then Iris had expected. For one thing Caitlin was pale, even by her own standards, it was clear that she had not been leaving the apartment or getting out to see much of the sun lately. Then then there were the dark and puffy circles under her eyes, it was clear she hadn't been sleeping any better then Barry had for the past few weeks. Finally there was the way she was dressed, it was a look Iris had never seen on the young doctor before, her hair was a mess as if she didn't care what she did with it and she was only wearing a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. She was clearly depressed and not seeking help of any kind. Iris' heart broke for her friend and she was now more determined then ever not to leave until she had at least set Caitlin on the path of fixing things with Barry, she clearly was missing him, even if she didn't want to admit it at the moment.
"Come in." Caitlin said with a resigned sigh and turned and made her way to the sofa and what Iris saw as she followed her friend shocked her even more than what her friend looked like or the look of complete defeat that seemed to be her default expression at the moment.
As Iris made her way into the main living area she saw that only the furniture was still in place, everything else, every book, every picture, every movie, seemed to be packed up into cardboard boxes that were taped shut and scattered around the apartment. Clearly Caitlin was planning on moving and wasn't going to tell any of her friends or Barry. Iris saw that things were even worse then she had feared and could tell she had gotten there just in the nick of time. With things this far gone she wasn't sure what her best approach would be, so she decided to sit down on the couch beside Caitlin and come at the problem sideways.
"So it looks like you are moving." Iris stated and there was no judgment in her tone.
"That's right, this place is too big for just me." Caitlin stated coldly, without looking over at Iris.
"Do you mind if I ask where to?" Iris asked, again she kept her tone neutral, the same as she would if she was interviewing someone for the paper.
"Dr. McGee was kind enough to give me a job in her lab in Coast City, I start the first week of next month." Caitlin stated with the same lack of warmth or even caring that had been present in her earlier remarks. This gave Iris a way in, but it could also get her kicked out, still she had to go in for the kill some time, so she decided to take a chance.
"So, it really is over between you and Barry?" She asked and she was careful to sound like she was more interested in it as a piece of gossip than if she cared one way or the other.
"If you knew what he did you would understand why I am leaving." Caitlin stated, and it was clear she wasn't buying Iris' lack of interest act.
"I know what he did." Iris stated and again she tried her best to leave her emotions out of her voice.
"I guess you caught him in a lie." Caitlin said with a bitter laugh, and it was clear that Caitlin's hurt was quickly turning to hatred, and Iris knew she had to nip this in the bud or she had no chance of winning her friend over in to at least hearing Barry's side of the story.
"No, he told me what he did, he told us all." She stated firmly. "We didn't have to call him out on anything, and he also told us why he did it, and why he couldn't fix it."
"So, he told you that he erased the man I loved from time just so he could spend a few months with his family, something he told the Reverse Flash he didn't even want, just over a year ago." Caitlin spat out and this time there was a hint of anger in her voice, she clearly didn't like hearing Barry defended in any way and Iris knew she would have to cut to the chase if she didn't want to get thrown out of the apartment.
"No, he told us the whole story. Something I am guessing he didn't get a chance to do with you, his wife." Iris said and there was now a hint of accusation in her voice. This finally got a reaction from Caitlin, she looked at Iris and there was a fire in her eyes and she looked like she was about to yell at the reporter but Iris didn't give the doctor a chance. "He told us how Zoom picked the night he was going to propose to you to murder you instead of his dad." Iris stated and she looked Caitlin in the eyes in such a way that Caitlin could see she was not lying, this seemed to take the wind out of her sails so Iris quickly continued with even more force in her voice. "He told us how it broke him to the point where he murdered Zoom when he didn't have to kill him at all, and he couldn't live with that. He also told us that in Flashpoint he knew the two of you wouldn't be together, but that didn't matter to him as long as he knew you were alive and safe, and it was only the fact that Wally got killed in Flashpoint that caused him to try and reset everything, but it seems time doesn't work simply like that, and some things changed. He also told me that he felt that maybe losing you in this way was his punishment for messing with time in the first place in order to save your life, but he didn't care if you were with him or not, because at least you are alive enough to hate him here."
Those last forceful words seemed to knock all of the fight out of Caitlin and suddenly weeks of built up tears seemed to start coming out of her eyes all at once. "I didn't know." Was all she could just barely whisper as she Iris pulled her into a hug.
"I know, that is why I thought it was important for someone to come over here and tell you." Iris said in a comforting tone. "If you still can't stand being with Barry, I support you in that, it took me a while to get used to this and I am not married to him, but I thought you deserved to know all the facts before you made a choice that will effect the rest of your life."
Caitlin pulled away and began to sniff as she looked at Iris and for the first time that evening with something other then anger, she looked like she was unsure of what to do and ready to at least listen to some advice from her friend. "None of that changes the fact that he is not the man I married and he should have told me that first night when he came back."
"Yes, he should have." Iris nodded her head in agreement. "Still you better then anyone should know how bad Barry is when it comes to delivering bad news that he knows is going to cause someone he loves pain, always waiting for the right moment that never comes and then watching as things get more out of control and make it harder to break the news."
"I guess you are right about that." Caitlin said with a sad smile as she reached up and wiped a tear from her left eye, then she added gravely. "But does he love ME, I mean the Caitlin Snow from his time line had to be at least a little bit different than me."
"Yeah, that is true." Iris agreed thoughtfully and then added. "Did you believe he loved you before he told you what he had done?"
"Yes, I was completely taken in, but he could have been putting on an act so he didn't get caught changing time." Caitlin argued, clearly she was conflicted. Iris could tell that she wanted to believe the best about Barry now, but clearly her fears were holding her back.
"You were not taken in, trust me Barry is not that good a liar." Iris insisted.
"No, I guess you are right." Caitlin said with a sigh and with each new piece of information she was becoming more and more conflicted about what to do, just a little while ago she had it all planned out, but now she wasn't sure who this "Barry" was and she found herself wanting to believe he was still the man she married.
"I mean he even tried to get my Dad and I talking with the old he will give you information for a story trick, I mean he knows that I know my dad can't talk about active cases and I was always just teasing him in the past, but he still seemed shocked when that blew up in his face." Iris explained and this brought a smile and a small half laugh out of Caitlin for the first time since Iris had entered the apartment.
"Yeah, and that first morning he was trying to play it cool but when he woke up with me beside him in bed he rolled out so hard and so fast that he knocked everything off the bedside table." Caitlin added, joining in and it was a relief to be able to smile after so many weeks of not doing it. She then added on a more serious note. "I guess that should have been my first tip off that something was wrong."
"See that is my point exactly." Iris said forcefully deciding to press the advantage. "If he was just some guy from another time line trying to take advantage of you, he wouldn't have done that. I have been watching him for weeks, and I am telling you he is still the same Barry, it's just that he is the Barry from six months ago, not the one we knew a few weeks ago, it's just an earlier version of him, but he is still the same guy with the same heart and he misses you."
"Okay, even if that is true, how are we supposed to get back on the same page, I mean I am in one phase of my life and he is in a completely different one, a lot of important things happened that he now had no part in?" Caitlin asked and she was looking sad and conflicted again.
"Look I am not saying you have to take him back, but I do think you should at least call him and talk to him, if it is over he deserves to know before you move to another city." Iris said and the note of understanding from earlier had returned to her voice.
"Yeah, I guess you are right." Caitlin conceded. "It's just so hard, I mean what if it doesn't work out, or hearing his voice again causes me to lose control, I don't think I could take it if I screwed things up this time."
"Well the only way you will know for sure is if you take a chance." Iris pressed.
"I am not sure it is one I can take." Caitlin admitted at last being completely honest, and admitting that it was fear as much as rage that was holding her back.
"Okay, I have a question for you." Iris said looking Caitlin in the eyes and Caitlin nodded for the reporter to continue, so she did. "If something had happened to Barry and he lost his memory of the last six months, would you just give up on him without trying to work things out with him?"
"You do know that is a medical condition that is so rare and undocumented that most doctors don't believe it exists, right?" Caitlin stated, finding herself in pure scientist mode for a second.
"With all the strange stuff we have seen and what we are talking about now, that is where you draw the line?" Iris asked and there was just a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
"I guess you are right." Caitlin conceded, but then she added. "No, I wouldn't give up on him, but this is a little more complicated then that."
"I know." Iris agreed. "But I think if you don't at least give him a chance to explain himself now that you have both had time to calm down and think about things, you will regret it for the rest of your life." Iris said firmly but then added more kindly. "I didn't just come here to speak for Barry because he wouldn't push his way back into your life, I came here because you are my friend and I think you are about to make a mistake that will cause you pain for the rest of your life, I came here tonight because I am just as worried about you as I am about Barry, I mean he is taking stupid risks now as The Flash because he doesn't seem to care if he comes back, but when I couldn't get a hold of you I got just as worried that you may have done something drastic to yourself."
"Okay, well then thank you." Caitlin said and there was a note of understanding and a lot of worry in her voice and she got a thoughtful look on her face. "I will call him tomorrow, I think, I just need tonight to think about what I am going to say and how I will handle it, can you understand that?" Caitlin asked her friend.
"Sure." Iris said and then she reached over and hugged her friend before standing up. "I think I will leave you to get on with that thinking, will you be okay?"
"Yeah, at least better then I was before you came by, thanks for pushing your way in." Caitlin replied looking up at her friend. Then Caitlin added much to her own surprise with a concerned tone in her voice. "Tell Barry to start being careful, whatever else happens I don't think I could handle it if he got himself killed."
"Will do, and I am happy to push my way into your life any time." Iris said with a smile and then she turned and left Caitlin alone with her thoughts.
Caitlin was feeling more conflicted then ever, but she also knew Iris was right, still she knew the phone call she had to make would not be easy, even if he was still the same Barry, just from six months before, that still didn't make him the man she married, except it did, kind of. God, she hated time travel.
It was then that Caitlin remembered that she had not showered yet that day and she decided that she needed one, she hoped it would also help clear her head. So it was with her conflicting emotions that she stepped under the hot water of the shower, that was when she noticed an insane amount of seam filling the shower, and then as she looked up in horror she saw all the water going up to the shower head freeze into solid ice, this was her worst attack yet!
As she quickly stepped out of the shower she was reminded that Barry wasn't the only one keeping secrets, and she had kept this from her Barry for far too long because she was afraid of his reaction, suddenly she was filled with understanding for what Barry must be going through and she knew she had done some of the same things to him. This thought however didn't not last longer than her looking in the mirror and seeing herself.
What she saw filled her with horror and she now knew she couldn't get back with Barry, not until she fixed this because she was becoming a super villain and one touch from her could kill him. What she saw in the mirror was the pale skin, blue lips, and a lock of long white hair, she wasn't Caitlin Allen, or even Caitlin Snow any more, She was becoming Killer Frost! As she reached for a pair of scissors and cut the lock of pure white hair from her head all she could think about was that she had to fix this or leave, and she knew there was only one person on earth who could help her, and that was the last person on earth she wanted to see, but if she wanted to make things right with Barry, or at least give them a chance, she had no choice. Tomorrow she would have to go and see her mother.
Well I hope this chapter was worth the wait. Sorry it took so long but I ran out of one of my meds and couldn't sleep at night and couldn't focus, so it took over two days to write. Sorry about that I will try not to let it happen again.
I am also sorry the plot didn't move forward much and it was just one scene, but it will be moving full steam ahead in the next chapter.
Any way let me know what you think.
As always thanks, for reading, following and reviewing.
You guys are the best.
P.S I know I am switching the order of events around a but from what happened on the show, but that is because I think it flows better this way, with a block of chapters devoted to Barry's POV, then a block from Caitlin's, then combining their POVs for when they see each other again and start to work things out, oh and don't worry that is coming soon, I know a lot of you want this fixed fast, but I want the fix to feel earned and not like a cheat, but after one more chapter from Caitlin's POV they will be coming together and make real forward progress, thanks for hanging in there and for putting up with my many spelling and grammar mistakes before I do all my edits to the chapters. Thanks a bunch for waiting so long but don't worry in a couple of days Barry and Caitlin will start to come together, they will need to be together to take on the new threat coming there way, so thanks for sticking with my little story.
