The next morning, I woke up extremely cranky.

I could barely sleep after witnessing Operation: Exclude Artemis at STAR Labs, and spent much of the night pondering what the hell they were all up to, and why Dr. Wells had believed I was too inept to help. What the hell - even Barry had asked to let me stay, and Barry was the one they all seemed to be helping!

Why was Barry there?

Barry had told me that despite working at CCPD, he was only involved with CSI-related tasks. He seemed too cheery, gentle and careful to be delving into the gritty, dangerous and fast-paced work of a cop.

Caitlin and Cisco had been warning him to be careful, to watch out for the metahuman.

He must've run into Rajeet on his way home?

At 2 in the morning?

I didn't buy it.

Or - Barry did say he lived with his foster father, Joe, who was a detective. Maybe Barry was simply accustomed to tagging alongside Joe while Joe was on duty?

Was that it?

Why wasn't Joe the one turning to STAR Labs for help, then? Or the Chief of Police? Why Barry, of all people?

Nothing I postulated seem to make sense - something was missing, a key detail, something Dr. Wells didn't want me to know.

"She's just a scientist here, you understand? I do not want her as a part of this team!"

What could he have meant by that? Cisco, Caitlin and himself were scientists as well.

Weren't we already a team?

But something told me he was referring to their work last night. And Barry was involved. Whatever it was - I wouldn't be allowed to be a part of it.

Fine, I concluded. If Dr. Wells was going to be a prick about this, then I would too. I'd insist on it until I got my way in. I too would be revered just as much as my associates in his eyes. I too would be deemed just as necessary as they were. They can't have me build tech without letting me see how they used it.

Why bother causing trouble? The logical side of my conscience argued. You signed a contract before you began working. You get to keep your job, you still get an above average salary. Let them play their little games behind your back. You're not losing anything.

No, I conceded. This wasn't how it would work. You can't wake me up in the middle of the night only to ask me to go back home, that I'm not allowed to see what you're doing. I wouldn't be abused like that.

It's all or nothing, Wells...

I took a shower to calm my nerves, which was ineffective, so I decided to watch something on TV to distract my edgy mind.

Flipping the remote on for the first time, my television opened up to the Channel 52 News. A news reporter was speaking.

"how the Red Streak had saved dozens of lives from a metahuman robbery last night, and had paralyzed the telekinetic attacker by stealing a weapon from STAR Labs. Footage from last night showed our hero donned in red, shooting what appeared to be electric waves at our villain, dubbing his metahuman powers useless. Authorities, however, are still unsure if STAR Labs knew about the theft, and -"

What the -

The Red Streak had been the one using the Shocker?

But Cisco told me the police had it...

Questions raced through my mind, and I gruffed, angry with how last night played out. Dr. Wells had a lot of explaining to do...

I left my apartment ready for work, but decided to stop by Jitters in hopes that a fresh warm drink would be a last resort in soothing my anger. Barry was walking towards me and the restaurant as well, dressed in a black sports coat and jeans.

"Hey," he said, smiling kindly, holding the door open for me.

"Hi," I said harshly, pushing past him. Don't blow up at him, Van Kleiss. He did nothing wrong here. Don't let your anger out at him.

"I - Is everything okay?" Barry asked, looking concerned.

"I don't know, Allen. Do I look like everything's okay?" I snapped.

"Well, actually, you look great," Barry mused. I had arrived dressed in a new full-sleeved beige dress that fell to my knees, paired with simple black heels. His comment caught me off guard, and I blushed in face of my bad mood.

"Thanks. Sorry for the attitude."

"No problem. Nothing a little coffee can't fix, am I right?" Barry joked, brushing a hand on my shoulder as we walked to the counter. He must have assumed I was mad about my lack of sleep. I had actually called Barry when I got home from STAR Labs last night, but 3 am isn't exactly the time for inquisitive phone calls, especially not when you're in the middle of a metahuman attack. (Or so I had assumed.) I was actually grateful to have run into Barry now - maybe I could finally get some answers as to what happened last night.

We quickly ordered, then sat down at a table to eat. Iris joined us later on.

"Hey! Did you two watch the news this morning?" She asked enthusiastically.

"No?" Barry responded.

"I did," I answered, "The Red Streak used a weapon I built to take down a metahuman."

Barry and Iris both turned to me.

"Wait - you built that thing?" Iris exclaimed, "That thing stopped the metahuman from hurting people!"

"Really now? I wouldn't know. STAR Labs didn't let me catch any of the action," I stated sourly, before facing Barry, "Did you see him last night?"

"Who? The Streak? Or the other metahuman?" Barry asked innocently.

"Either one of them. You were there, weren't you?" I asked.

"Where?" Barry asked.

"Last night, where the metahuman attacked. What was his name, Arjeet?"

"Rajeet. I was, initially, but I was unexpectedly separated from the police at some point. And no, I didn't see the Streak."

"Who had the Shocker?" I questioned.

"What?" Barry responded.

"The Shocker? The big gun with the purple lightning bolts painted on the sides. The one I showed you yesterday," I reminded in a flat, unamused voice, "Who had it?"

Barry gave me a look of confusion.

"I - I don't know. I didn't see it."

I nodded my head at him, before turning back to finish my coffee, still annoyed with my lack of information. Iris had been watching our exchange in silence the entire time.

"What were you two discussing just now?" She asked. I then realized she must've been totally lost for the entire conversation - despite being Joe's daughter and Eddie's girlfriend, she wasn't shared much information about police cases.

"Details of the attack last night. Sorry we can't tell you more," Barry answered.

"Oh, don't worry, Iris. I'm on the same boat as you," I assured her, irritation dripping in my voice, "I know exactly what it feels like - to not have those closest to you share important information."

"Look, I'm sorry if you're upset," Barry interjected sympathetically, "But I'm not -"

KROOOSH!

Whatever Barry was about to say was interrupted by a booming explosion outside the restaurant. The three of us, as well as everyone else, turned to see what it was. It appeared someone had thrown a car across the street. Outside, people were panicking. Instinctively, I ran out of my seat and to the door, pushing it open and yelling for pedestrians and others to come inside the restaurant where it was safe. Barry and Iris caught up with me, and people poured into Jitters. Vibrations trembled through the ground as something moved towards us from the left. We turned and saw a strange-looking man, wearing a helmet and goggles and a silvery coat, laughing maniacally, standing amid the rubble as civilians ran past him to the safety of the shops and restaurants.

"Where is he?" the figure demanded, "Where is the one they call the Red Streak?"

Instinctively, I ran out of the restaurant towards him, but was pulled back by something. I turned and saw Barry giving me a scared look, with a tight grip on my arm.

"What are you doing?" he asked, trying to yank me back. I tried to jerk my hand out of his hold, but to no avail, as I was unable to counter Barry's firm strength.

"He wants the Streak, I'll get him the Streak," I commented easily, though I had no idea what that meant. I was still struggling to free myself from Barry, but by now, he got me back in Jitter's doorway, and effortlessly handed me off to Iris.

"Make sure she doesn't leave. She's just as reckless as you are," Barry asserted, and Iris nodded at him solemnly, though she loosened her hold on my arm.

KROOOSH!

The man in silver stomped a huge boot on the ground, creating huge tremors that knocked cars over to their sides, with huge rips in the road.

Barry turned around and pushed Iris and me back into Jitters, before looking around.

"Barry, what are you doing?" Iris asked, stepping forward to cling onto her stepbrother.

"I'm not sure. Stay here. Both of you," and with that, Barry ran down the sidewalk, in the same direction as the man sending off earthquakes.

"Barry, where are you going?!" I shouted, leaving Jitters and stepping out onto the sidewalk to watch him.

Barry's nowhere to be seen. Where on Earth did he go?

Across the street, a small boy is huddled up by the side of a car. Another quake passed by, causing me to stumble, and the car shook violently, nearly flipping over to its side where it would topple over the child. My heart stops at the sight of the innocent child - he can't be older than 3 years old - and has nobody to protect him. Without thinking, I ran onto the street, ignoring Iris' protests, staggering as the metahuman stomped more earthquakes, each soon after the last. The boy tried to crawl underneath the car, but I made my way over to him through the tremors, and pulled him out.

"Well, well well, what do we have here?" The metahuman asked delightedly as he noticed us, the sunlight glinting on his shiny outfit. The child is hiding his head in my neck, crying softly, and I wrapped my arms closer around him as I tried to devise a plan to safety. On the other side of the road, Iris has stepped out of the restaurant as well, and looked to me and the child with pure fear. She bent down and picked up a piece of rubble. Iris, no!

"Poor Mama. Poor, poor mama," the metahuman mused, creating more earthquakes as he moved closer to us. I picked the boy up and stepped away from the car - right in the middle of the street, directly in the metahuman's line of attack. Not exactly the best safety plan.

"I've always enjoyed eating dead families for breakfast!" The metahuman said with a crazy laugh. Fear hindered any rational decision I could otherwise make easily, and the adrenaline only made me want to pee myself. The child was wailing loudly on my shoulder now, and the best I can come up is backing away from our foe, until a rock threw itself at the man's head.

"Oh yeah?" Iris shouted, "Well, try vegan dieting! Artemis - run!"

I'm grateful for her idiocy, though I hope she stayed safe. I have no way to help her, though, so I turned and ran, only to snag my foot in a tear of concrete that must've cut itself out during one of the quakes, and fall forward - landing hard onto my closed arms, one hand instinctively backing the child's head.

My arms ache - badly - but I spied an open furniture store and got up onto my scraped knees, pushing the child out of my arms. I point to the furniture store, and the child registered my silent command, and ran as fast as his little legs could carry him into the store, dutifully closing the door behind him.

I wasn't one to run, however - not with this lunatic terrorizing the city. I turned and saw him walking towards Iris. No!

Iris had nowhere to go, and I let out an unearthly cry as I ran and rammed my shoulder right into the metahuman, causing him to yelp as he fell over.

"You okay?" I asked Iris, though now my shoulder ached terribly and my arms felt like jelly from my fall. My knees hurt too, but I forced myself to brace the pain.

Iris nodded, then widened her eyes as she screamed. Strong hands grasped my ankles with cold fingers, and my head painfully hit the concrete as my feet were pulled out from under me.

"She's either very brave," the metahuman lulled as he rose one booted foot towards me, "Or very, very stupid."

I closed my eyes and waited for the metahuman to stomp his foot and kill me with an earthquake, but instead felt a gust of wind rip over my body, followed by the sound of a painful thwack, my feet being dropped right after.

I dared myself to look and saw the Red Streak standing before me, the metahuman's body lying twenty feet or so away. The Streak turned towards me, and held out a vibrating hand to help me up.

"Took you long enough," I muttered, as I rose to my feet. The Streak didn't reply, and instead pushed me towards the sidewalk, nearly knocking me into Iris. Iris caught me, though, and we both looked at the Streak in amazement.

"Find safety," he ordered, his voice echoing within his throat, making it seem as if several people are speaking at once, "Now!"

Iris was startled by his command, and roped one arm around me as we ran down the sidewalk, looking for someplace we could hide. Near the end of the street, the metahuman rose again, this time, facing the Streak. The Streak braced himself to run into him.

"So nice of you to join us, Streaky!" The man declared with a laugh, brushing away dirt from his ugly metallic sleeves. The Streak dashed into him, and the two broke out into a fight, light tremors rushing through the ground below. Iris broke open a high window to a legal office, shattering it completely, and climbed inside.

"Artemis, come on!" She yelled, and I tried to force myself up onto the window ledge, but my arm was in no condition to support my weight, and I winced painfully.

"Iris - I can't!" I cried. Iris gave me a fearful look and held her arms out to me.

"No, you have to! Come on!" but before I could try again, a stronger earthquake wove through the ground below, knocking Iris off of the table she must have been standing on.

"Iris!" I shouted, but I had no way of making sure whether or not she was okay. There's no response, and the earthquakes are making it impossible to stand up properly. I turned around, and saw the Streak still engaged in combat with the metahuman, though the Streak is losing by a long shot, unable to get off of his knees as he was dealt immense punches by his opponent.

"Heheh! I do love a little shake-out before going to work!" The metahuman menaced, with his back to me completely. This has to end, I thought, as I spied a long metal beam fallen among the debris. An idea clicked in my brain, and I ran towards the beam, pulling it out of the mess. It's almost 5 feet long, and solid metal from head to toe. Before I can allow my arm to weaken again, or my conscience to get the better of me, I turned and ran towards the metahuman, and gripped the beam with both hands as I brought it crashing down on his head. The metahuman froze, and before I could even register whether or not my blow had knocked the metahuman out, the Streak rose from the ground, and picked him up by the shoulders, and ran off with him, a cloud of dust forming as he zoomed away.

Behind me, a small crowd cheered, and I thought I saw several phones being held up at me as people thronged out of the shops and restaurants and onto the destroyed street. The little boy I had saved earlier was in the arms of a woman who was crying tears of joy as she made eye contact with me.

Iris, I remembered, and ran back towards the brick building I last saw her in. The entrance is more or less destroyed, and I start panicking about how I could possibly find her, and more importantly save her, when she appeared around the corner of the building, gripping her forehead, having left the ally beside it. I shivered with joy at seeing her again, and ran to her, enveloping her in a surprise hug. Taken aback, she returned the hug before pulling away and holding me at arm's length.

"You, girl, are my new hero," she stated, smiling proudly. I grinned, but winced - Iris had her hand right on my shoulder, which I had rammed into the metahuman.

We stood there, awashed in gratefulness that the other was safe, when we both realized someone was missing.

"Where's Barry?" I asked, astonished at the fact that we both had forgotten about him. The last I had seen of him was him running away as he tried to keep Iris and me contained in the restaurant.

"Don't know," Iris responded, disturbed by his disappearance as well, "Let's go find him."

When we faced the street again, the entire block is crowded with people trying to find their friends and family amid the destroyed cars and ripped concrete. Police cars have arrived at the scene, and Eddie appeared out of the mob, running towards Iris. He pulled her into a loving hug and kissed her forehead.

"Thank God you're okay," he exclaimed, wiping her bangs away from her eyes, "What happened here?"

Before Iris could answer, Eddie faced me and widened his eyes at me in shock.

"Holy shit, Artemis. Are you okay?"

"What?" I asked, looking down at myself. My new dress is covered in dirt and pebbles, with an ugly rip at the knee, and I lost my shoes a long way back when I was trying to recover the child. Blood is streaked across my sleeves, though I am far more worried about the searing pain in the back of my head, which resulted from my head-on collision with the asphalt, and the unignorable jolt in my shoulder.

"This is nothing," I joked, "It's not as bad as it looks. We're looking for Barry."

"Barry?" Eddie asked, not looking away from my arms.

"Yeah. We lost him around the same time the wacko earthquaking metahuman showed up," Iris explained, "And Artemis tried to help an exposed child before the Streak arrived."

"Wait - the Streak is responsible for this mess?" Eddie asked in disbelief.

"The other metahuman was. I can give you a description of him later - I got a good close-up of him," I added, "The Streak took him down and ran off with him."

"Don't be so humble," Iris mused, "He helped you take him down."

"What?" Eddie asked, confused.

"Iris!" Detective Joe yelled as he joined us. Iris broke free from Eddie's embrace to clasp her arms around her father.

"Are you two safe?" Joe asked.

"I am. Artemis might need to go see a doctor." Iris said, as her father turned his attention to me, gaping at my condition.

"I'm not the one you need to be concerned about right now," I stated, "Barry went missing, and we can't find him."

"Don't worry about him. He's the one who called us over here. He's fine," Joe assured. Eddie, Iris and I gave him looks of confusion.

"Okay, well, we need to stake out what happened here. STAR Labs is just as surprised about this as we are. We've got to make sure everyone's safe," Eddie described.

STAR Labs, I scoffed. My favorite place in the world.

"Everyone's fine, Eddie," Iris responded, "And we owe that to Artemis. You really should have seen her. She's totally fearless."

I ignored her comment, and crossed my arms as I faced Eddie. Iris excused herself to go assess the damage back at Jitters, and Joe left to go help the civilians. A second officer joined Eddie and I, and Eddie explained to him how I became involved in the scene.

"What did you see? And how did you get so banged up?" the officer asked, pulling out a small notepad and pen.

"Well, it all started when a crazy quaking metahuman threatened to terrorize everyone if the Streak didn't show up..." I said with a smile. I told them about Barry telling Iris and me to stay indoors before he disappeared, about how I had seen a young toddler alone on the street, and my mishap of an attempt to rescue him before he'd be done away with. I also told him how Iris and I managed to distract the metahuman, before the metahuman pulled me off of my feet and threatened to kill me, and how the Streak arrived just in time. Iris and I had tried to find safety, but I couldn't follow after her because of my arm, and how I had made that split second decision to blow a crowbar atop the metahuman's head as he was distracted by the Streak, and how the Streak ran off with him seconds later.

"Wow. I normally don't say this to people, but that was very heroic of you, even if it was equally idiotic," the officer asserted, "The child owes you his life."

In the background, the said boy smiled and waved at me, as his mother made a phone call, gripping his other hand. I smiled back at him.

"Well, thank you both for your time," I responded, "You know where to find me if you've got any more questions. Do let me know if you find anything."

"Roger that," Eddie responded, and I turned away from them to go greet my new friend.

"Hey, little guy!" I swooned, as I got down on one scratched knee to be able to talk to the boy face to face. The boy blushed and hid behind his mother's leg. The mother ended her call and scooped her son up. I rose to greet her.

"Hi," I said, involuntarily holding a hand out to her, "Your son is very adorable. He got himself into quite the scramble earlier."

The mother smiled graciously at me, and her son buried his head in her shoulder, still smiling shyly. Instead of taking my hand, the woman wrapped her free arm around me in a makeshift hug.

"I can't thank you enough for what you did," she moaned, sniffling back tears, "I don't know how he got separated from me, but you saved his life. Thank you so, so much."

"It's really not a problem. There was no way I could've stayed behind and watched him get hurt," I assured, reaching up to tickle the boy under his chin, "What's your name, kiddo?"

The child giggled and pulled away from me.

"It's okay," the mother whispered, smiling at his reaction, "Tell her your name, Theo."

"Theodowe," the child murmured, blushing once again at me.

"Theodore? Very gorgeous name," I gushed, giving the mother a supportive smile, "You stay out of trouble, okay, Theodore? You had your mother and I very worried." I said, wagging a finger at the child. The boy chortled, and I nodded at the mother before walking away.

"Wait - what's your name?" The mother called out, several people turning around to watch, "At least give me something to tell him when he's older and remembers this!"

Before I could answer, a bolt of lightning passed through the crowd, with a crimson man at its head, running to the end of the street where he disappeared.

"It's the Scarlet Speedster!" someone cried out.

"The Crimson Comet!"

"The Streak! He's back!"

I turned and watched the horizon where he had vanished, waiting for him to reappear. Nothing. He had just bolted through the street, without due reason.

As I'm about turn away, a second gust of wind passed in the opposite direction of the street, indicating that we are in the speedster's presence once again. This time, though, I am gently pushed back towards the sidewalk. In my hands appeared a bunch of red roses encased in cellophane, a white silk ribbon tying them all together at their stems.

"What?" I asked, wondering where the flowers could have come from. Murmurs elicited through townspeople who noticed my confusion at my new ...gift.

It then strikes me that the Red Streak must have given me the roses.

Before I could say or do something to react, another squall of wind blasts through the street, followed by a bolt of yellow lightning, only this time, it hooks around and turns to run right into me.

I let out an inhumanly shriek, and closed my eyes as air ripped past me. I dared myself to open my eyes, and saw the city morph into one giant gray/blue blur, and grimaced, because the Streak was carrying me and had my shoulder pressed into his chest. Before I could look up at his masked face, I was dropped off on a grassy lawn, and just like that, the speedster ran off into the city and disappeared. I recognized the area immediately, seeing STAR Labs' auxiliary towers two blocks or so away in the distance.

I really gotta stop getting myself tangled up in these metahuman attacks, I thought, before I noticed a small notecard tucked into the ribbon of the roses. I pull it out, and turned it over to read what it said. A message was handwritten in neat, sharp letters.

Thanks for the help :)

The note is signed with an encircled bolt of lightning penned under the message.

The Red Streak had the courtesy to thank me with a bouquet of two dozen red roses.

Dr. Wells wasn't the only one who had explaining to do...

###

"The Red Streak gave me flowers," I announced, walking barefoot into the Cortex, holding the roses up before dropping them onto a table. Dr. Wells and Cisco are the only ones in the room, and both looked up at me, their gazes quickly turning horrified as they took in my appearance.

"What happened to you this morning?" Cisco gasped, and I know I must look horrible - walking into STAR Labs in a dirty, ruined dress, with bloody scratches everywhere, barefoot too, to top it all off. I shrugged apathetically.

"Sorry I'm late. The traffic this morning was horrible," I said sarcastically, "You both owe me answers."

"We owe you answers? Why don't you tell us why you look like you just survived World War Z?" Cisco countered, still giving me that look of concern. Dr. Wells watched me expressionlessly.

"I was at Jitters, and a metahuman attacked, so I took it upon myself to save those in need." I answered calmly, "Including the Streak himself."

"Well that's... interesting..." Cisco muttered, knitting his eyebrows together at me. A door opened to our right, and Caitlin exited the medical labs, removing her gloves. She froze when she saw me, and immediately gasped in horror.

"Oh my god - Artemis, what happened?" She asked in shock.

"A stupid metahu - wait - is that Barry?" I inquired, completely ignoring her question as I spotted a familiar figure seated at the gurney behind the lab windows. I brushed right past her and pushed open the door to the lab, leaving my associates outside. The door swung shut behind me.

"Barry!" I gasped, walking over to him. He turned and looked at me with a bruised face.

"Oh my god... Are you okay?" I asked, stepping in front of him. He gave a single, expressionless nod and immediately dropped eye contact. I slowly raised one of my hands and put it to the side of his face, carefully lifting his jaw up until he looked at me again. His bottom lip is busted, and there are bruises adorning his usually plain cheeks. A large purple welt has found home above one of his eyebrows, and there's a rosy bruise about his neck. Each wound is covered in a clear ointment that I know Caitlin must have applied.

"Did the metahuman do this to you?" I inquired in a quiet voice, though I already know the answer. Barry gave a quick shaky nod before looking away again.

"Can you talk?" I asked. Stupidity washed through me after he nodded and gave a weak smile.

Why hadn't I noticed him back on First Street? Where could he have gone that I managed to miss him? How did this happen?

A weakness broke out within me, and I felt terrible for letting this happen to him.

How could I have so caught up in playing the hero that I had failed to look after my own friend?

I cautiously wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him into an apologetic hug. Surprised, he returned the embrace. He held me close, with my head resting against his shoulder.

"I'm sorry," I finally broke out in a hoarse voice, as we pulled away from each other.

"What do you have to be sorry for?" He asked quietly, finally speaking up as he gave me a solemn look. I dropped my arms from around his shoulders, but he caught them in his hands.

"I shouldn't have let this happen to you," I said, trying my best to keep my voice even.

My fault. This was my fault. I was foolish enough to let Barry run off - right into the face of danger. I could've stopped him from getting hurt like this.

"Hey," Barry called in a kind voice, bowing his head to look me in the eye, "What on earth are you talking about?"

"You - you ran off, and I didn't stop you," I said, my voice cracking, "If I did, you could've been safe, and this might not have happened."

"No," Barry answered, lifting my chin up with a bent finger, "You're not responsible for anything. I'm okay. Promise. It's not as bad as it looks."

"See, but here's a little secret - I say the same exact thing whenever I'm bent up and bruised," I replied, attempting a smirk, "So I know you're lying now as well."

Barry dropped his hands from my face and sighed, though he had a content look on his face.

"Well, I may have been knocked out and out of sight, but I did hear what was going on," he explained, raising an eyebrow at me. He gently placed his hands on my forearms "And you've got quite a few tricks up your sleeves."

"Oh, don't worry," I joked nonchalantly, "I've got bruises up my sleeves too."

Barry looked puzzled for a second, before dropping his gaze to my hands, which were on his knees. He inhaled quickly at the sight of the mauve-colored blood stains embellishing my tan sleeves, and quickly got off the bed and walked towards the door, pulling me by the hand behind him.

"Dr. Snow?" He called out, opening the door into the Cortex, "You've got another patient today."

For an added effect, he held my arm up and pulled my sleeve down, revealing a nasty gash that must be 4 or 5 inches long. Through the window, I can see Cisco raise an eyebrow and turn two shades lighter, and Caitlin immediately dropped her things and quickly made her way back to the medical lab.

Dr. Wells was the only one who showed no reaction to my wound.

"Thank you, Barry," Caitlin greeted, before quickly pushing him out into the Cortex and closing the door behind him before he could react.

"H-hi, Caitlin."

"Hello, Artemis," Caitlin responded confidently, as she flipped a light switch that flooded the room in white light, and quickly dropped the blinds over the windows, concealing us from the men. She pulled out an extra set of clothing and white flipflops from a small cabinet before reaching for her medical supplies on an adjacent table.

"Now, you're in slightly worse condition than Barry was..." she crooned as she set out bottles of various tablets and liquids along with tools I am unfamiliar with, "Mind if I clean you up a bit?"

###

In roughly half an hour or so, Caitlin has washed every cut and scrape on my body, and lathered me up with different kinds of medicines, salves and ointments. She bandaged up my shoulder and the long cut on my arm, and rubbed a special liquid onto my sore bruises, and has applied something to a cut on the back of my head, where I had hit the pavement. According to her, I had been bleeding there without even knowing. Several bloodied medical wipes proved her to be telling the truth.

"Thank you so much, Caitlin," I stated as Caitlin put her things back. Caitlin had offered me a fresh set of her own extra clothes which she kept at the lab so I could change out of my ruined dress. I'm now dressed in my own STAR Labs t-shirt, and in a sweater and jeans that are both a little too big for me. I'm not one to complain, though.

"No problem, Artemis," she mused, as she washed her hands at the sink, "Anything else you'd like for me to handle?"

"Do you offer counseling services as well?" I joked.

She turned around and faced me in seriousness, "I don't see why not? What's bothering you?"

The fact that she was actually willing to listen to me kind of threw me off, but again, I was overridden with appreciation for my doctor friend.

"To be blatantly honest," I started, though I'm not sure how to continue. Was it even a good idea to talk with her about this? Caitlin was biting her lower lip nervously, and was watching me expectantly.

The woman just gave you a set of her own clothes, Artemis, and literally just washed out all of your stupid bruises that you weren't even willing to get treated.

You can definitely trust her.

"Please don't have me arrested or thrown into prison, or anything," I tried. Caitlin looked addled by my words, "But I think Dr. Wells is forcing you and Cisco to keep secrets from me."

Guilt and confusion suddenly lit through her eyes.

"Actually, your reaction just changed my mind. Now, I know Dr. Wells is forcing you and Cisco to keep secrets from me," I affirmed, "What's up with that? What's going on here that I'm not allowed to see? And what was that last night?!"

"Artemis," Caitlin began, rubbing her hands anxiously, "This lab is... a pretty complicated place... to put it lightly. Yes, Dr. Wells is keeping secrets from you, but really - it's for your own safety."

I guessed I was giving her a cross look, because she smiled before she continued.

"Hey - it's nothing personal. He was like that with me and Cisco too. Just... Just give him a few weeks to get used to having you here, and before you know it, you'll be involved with the same projects as the rest of us," she quipped hopefully.

"Why is Barry always here?" I questioned, "And why were you guys talking to him last night during the metahuman attack?"

"Well," Caitlin paused and contemplated for a second, before answering me, "The only way I can put it is that Barry looks up to Dr. Wells pretty much like a father. Dr. Wells saved his life after the particle accelerator blew up. And - you know - he is pretty good friends with me and Cisco. If I was Barry, it would only make sense to spend time here often."

That actually made a lot of sense. I felt foolish for thinking STAR Labs was a bad place. I was being nosy and irrational.

But Caitlin had completely ignored my second question.

"What was happening last night? When I showed up?"

"That was an emergency," Caitlin quickly replied, "The police had the gun you and Cisco made, and weren't sure of how to use it, so naturally, they kept in contact with us."

"But you were talking to Barry."

"What?"

"Last night," I repeated, "You weren't talking to a police officer. You were talking to Barry Allen. A crime scene investigator. Not a cop. And I don't know much about what it's like working with a police department, but I know that CSI's visit the crime scene after the crime, not when it's happening. That's a cop's job."

Caitlin gave me a blank look, unable to answer. I remembered something else - something Barry had told me earlier.

"Caitlin, Barry said he didn't even know where the Shocker was. And the news this morning said the Red Streak had it," I continued, "So mind telling me what was really going on? Or are you going to keep lying?"

I felt bad for taking advantage of Caitlin like this, but I knew I wouldn't get anywhere with Dr. Wells or even Cisco.

Barry? What was there to say about Barry? He was just their friend, a CSI guy, caught in the middle of the action. He had nothing to do with any of this.

"Caitlin, why were you talking to Barry instead of the Chief of Police, or a detective, or a lieutenant? Why Barry - of all people? That's all I'm asking."

She gulped, before responding in a shaky voice.

"Because, Artemis, Barry is important to this lab in ways I could not tell you," she explained, her voice soon turning dry, "And we all care for him deeply. If you have a problem with us trying to look after someone we care about, then no amount of medicine can help you."

With that, she speed-walked out of the lab, leaving me alone in the medical lab.

"Wait, Caitlin! That's not what I meant!" I cried, chasing after her. She was with Cisco at a computer now, and gave me a helpless, but stern, look.

"Then ask Dr. Wells. I don't know what else I could tell you."

I mumbled an apology to her, and swore to myself I wouldn't confront her like that again. Caitlin was a good person. It was Dr. Wells who was putting her up to this.

"Then where is he?" I inquired.

"He's in his office," Cisco responded, gesturing to a closed door in the Cortex. I thanked him, and stormed off in that direction, ignoring his protests.

"No, Artemis! You can't just barge in! They're discussing something important!"

I was about to throw the door open, but stopped when I heard the voices conversing inside.

"-wants to keep working here, then we have to tell her soon." Barry pleaded quietly, "She risked her life out there. We can't put her to that again."

"Barry, I won't hear of it. To tell her the truth would mean putting her in immense danger. You know how her parents died," Dr. Wells asked, though he doesn't sound particularly concerned, "What if she's next?"

"My mother was killed the same way, Dr. Wells, and I'm fine," Barry argued.

"Are you?" Dr. Wells questioned, "Are you really? Can you honestly look me in the eye and tell me Artemis can stay safe the same way you can?"

Silence.

What did Dr. Wells mean - the same way you can? You know how her parents died. What if she's next? Was someone going to kill me?! Was - was the Red Streak evil?!

"No. No, she can't," Barry finally responded, "But either way, she's in danger. And she has to know."

What? How was Barry "safer" than I was? What was I in danger of?

"Mr. Allen, you are not the one who gets to decide that."

"After seeing what she did today, I think I am."

"Barry -"

"No. I'm not going to let her endanger herself when she has no need to. I-"

"What is it that I'm in danger of?" I demanded, pushing the door open and stepping inside Dr. Wells' office.

"Ms. Van Kleiss! How rude!" Dr. Wells raged, pounding his hands on the table in frustration, as if it will get him out of his wheelchair, like he could strangle me with his bare hands.

The thought made me laugh silently.

In your dreams, grandpa.

Barry turned in his chair and faced me, giving me a confused look.

"How much did you hear?" he asked calmly, though he is surprised.

"Just enough," I answered coolly, enjoying how my vagueness irritated Dr. Wells, "So how is it you're safer than me? Could I get some or it? And who wants to kill me? Other than Dr. Wells - that is."

Barry rose from his chair. I held a hand up for him to stop, and closed the door behind me with my other hand.

"No - stay," I commanded, gesturing towards the chair. Barry turned and reluctantly sat down again.

"Actually, this is just perfect," Dr. Wells mused in a raspy voice, "I needed to talk to you as well."

"I get to be the one asking questions here, not you, old man," I criticized. Barry threw me a disturbed glance, as if he's unnerved by how I insulted my boss. I don't care.

"Why were you talking to him last night? And why didn't you want me there?" I demanded, looking right into Dr. Wells' eyes so he is unable to look away.

"Easy. He was entangled in the metahuman attack," Dr. Wells assured, leaning back in his wheelchair.

"So why didn't you just tell me that last night? Why'd you have to keep it a secret from me?"

"You would ask too many questions. Just as you are doing right now."

"I actually wouldn't. I understood that you were all in a stressful situation. I'd have tried to help. Barry wanted me to stay and help. There's something you're hiding from me."

"And what would that be?" Dr. Wells mused.

"Do not play games with me," I exclaimed, leaning forward, "You're hiding something from me here. Something you don't want for me to know. Yesterday, I had asked you to not keep secrets from me, and you obliged."

"I did no such thing."

His reply threw me off, as I knew it was true, and I glared at him.

"Ms. Van Kleiss, it's a matter of your own safety. If I'm keeping something from you, you have to trust it's for your own well-being."

"How is not knowing what I'm in danger of going to keep me safer?!"

"Ms. Van Kleiss, I -"

"Barry," I interrupted, confronting my friend, "You don't even work here, yet you know more than I do. You've been here a lot longer than I have. What is it that's going on here that supposedly could get me killed?"

Barry mulled over my question, and rose again before responding.

"I disagree with your logic, Dr. Wells. At this point, I see the truth not as something that would endanger her, but something that would actually protect her. This is between you and Wells now," He said, getting up to push his chair in, "Our opinions on the matter may differ, Dr. Wells, but facts are facts, and we all saw what happened out there. If something like today happens to her again, I promise you right now I will not hesitate to tell her what's really going on here."

And with that, Barry left the office, leaving me alone with Dr. Wells. What? Barry knew what was happening here?

Dr. Wells cleared his throat to get my attention and I turned back to face him.

"Now, if you're done making a fool of yourself, Ms. Van Kleiss..."

"What do you want?" I snarled, scowling at him.

"For you to learn some manners," he replied, smiling harshly through his glasses, "You are no longer a full-time employee of the lab. You won't need to come back in until next week. You can go home, and think about how you've been acting. If you come back before then, you do so on the pain of arrest and termination from your position as an engineer here."

"What?!" I shouted, getting up from my chair, "What on earth - you can't do that!"

"As your employer, I have full right to do so," He mused, adjusting his glasses as he enjoyed my shock, "Don't worry - it won't affect your salary. I figured keeping you away from the lab would be a bigger punishment than simply shaving a few bucks off of your snack money."

I stared at him in disbelief. Did he really think I was that shallow? He couldn't do this!

"And you should consider yourself lucky. Most employers would fire you on the spot for your lack of discipline. I'm willing to overlook that, and give you a warning instead." he said, his eyes gleaming madly.

I frowned at him, but I had no words to counter him.

"And Ms. Van Kleiss, I apologize for how things have been playing out lately," Dr. Wells added, "But suspicion is not your friend. You'll have to trust me on this. And please - don't ask questions whose answers you aren't prepared to hear. I'll see you next Tuesday."

How Harrison Wells managed to unravel me with a few stabs of words - I could never know, but I left his office, infuriated, and grabbed my flowers off of the table, turning away to leave.

"Woah - Artemis!" Barry called out, running in front of me to stop me, "What happened?"

"Harrison Wells is being a prick. He thinks I'm too immature and nosy to work here," I replied in a surly voice.

Barry seemed flustered by my respond.

"Well - did you try talking to him? Maybe he could -"

"You're all hiding something from me. That much is clear now," I stated, turning to address the three of them. After overhearing the conversation in Dr. Wells' office, I knew Barry was in on it too now.

"And I don't know how to feel about working someplace where secrets that could get me hurt are kept from me."

"Artemis, it's not that we don't want for you to know," Cisco assured in an apologetic voice, "It's for your own safety."

"For my safety?! Cisco, do you even know what happened to me this morning on my way to work?!" I responded, keeping my voice calm, "I gave up any self-concern to try and stop a metahuman. At this point, I would hope you understand that I value the safety of others more than my own. If you're working to stop metahumans behind my back, then you should know I'd be more than willing to help you. It's why I chose to work here!"

Cisco had been effectively silenced by my words, and his gaze fell to the table. I felt bad for being so condescending, but I needed to get a point across. I was to be taken seriously, and I was taking my work seriously. I wouldn't be undermined because of a petty concern for my well-being.

"Who gave you those?" Caitlin asked, eyeing the roses in my hand.

"I - I think the Streak did," I explained, pulling out the note from inside the folds of the ribbon to give to her.

"The Streak did?" She questioned, knitting her eyebrows as she read the inscription.

"Yup. At least someone appreciates me trying to help," I retorted. Caitlin looked up at me with a blank expression, and handed the note back to me.

"What, um, what are you going to do with them?" Cisco asked nervously.

"Beats me. I'll probably just stick them in a vase and use them for decoration?" I replied.

"You're not going to use them to try and run a DNA scan or anything like that?" Cisco inquired, still edgy.

"A DNA scan? What - to like, find out his identity?" I questioned. Cisco tensed.

"That never occurred to me, actually," I murmured, taking in the possibility of knowing who the man behind the mask is.

Cisco and Caitlin froze, and watched me take a wiff of the roses.

"I don't think I will, actually." I answered, after thinking about it for a while.

"Oh... Good," Cisco answered, before turning fretful again, "I mean, oh. Why?"

Why was he acting so strange?

"Because I don't know how effective a DNA scan would be, anyway. I think he was wearing gloves." I said, finally turning to Barry, who had been watching me with worry, arms crossed over his chest. I handed him the note, "You could try and see what it comes up with, but I'm not too interested in knowing who the Streak is, honestly."

"You're not?" Caitlin asked, "I mean - that's good thing. I've heard that the Streak is very dangerous. You wouldn't want to, um, get on his bad side."

"Really? Because yesterday, you told me he wasn't real," I remarked, "Now you're telling me he's a threat?"

Caitlin tensed again, and I can tell I've hit a chord. Something is off about her inconsistency, about the conversation Barry had with Dr. Wells.

"STAR Labs is keeping secrets from me about the Streak," I murmured, "Astounding."

It all made sense now. The Streak had been at the attack last night - the news report said he had been the one using the Shocker - and Dr. Wells had made me leave. And today, Barry was telling Dr. Wells to tell me the truth about STAR Labs.

STAR Labs was somehow involved with the Streak!

Caitlin and Cisco widened their eyes at me in shock, only proving that I made the right conclusion.

"But I honestly don't think he's dangerous. Not yet, anyway. He seems like he's trying to help... And I don't know much about him, but if keeping things that way will ensure he can do his job, then I wouldn't want to know who, or what, he is, anyway."

Caitlin and Cisco seemed to relax, and nodded at each other.

"However, I do know that you all are hiding something very important from me. But I'll figure it out," I threatened, before snatching the note out of Barry's hands, "Give me that back. It's mine."

Barry looked lost, as if he's got something he wanted to say, but couldn't figure out the right words.

"What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?" I muttered. Barry looked away from me, and faced Caitlin and Cisco.

"You guys are working with the Streak?! Unbelievable!" He exclaimed in astonishment.

"What - you didn't know either?!" I asked, taken aback by Barry's shocked reaction.

"No! I didn't!" He declared, shaking his head disapprovingly at our friends before muttering, "Absolutely heartbreaking. I can't believe you guys."

"But Barry, you don't have any proof," Caitlin brought up weakly, a small smile playing on her lips.

"Yeah, dude. You can't just make an accusation like that," Cisco added, smiling knowingly at his friend.

Why were they smiling? They had been lying to Barry, and they thought it was funny? Disgraceful!

"I won't hear of it," Barry said, turning to put his arm around me, "Come on, Artemis. Let's get out of here... Working with the Streak - that's insane."

"And untrue!" Cisco called out. I gave him a skeptical look.

"Whatever. You're right, bro," I agreed, "Let's get out of here."

"Wait a minute - bro?!" Cisco exclaimed. Barry and I turned around to see him looking at us in disbelief.

"Barry, you've been brotherzoned. Rest in peace, potential relationship."

Barry gave me a wounded look and pouted. I arched an eyebrow up at him.

"What? You can't blame me," I said casually, "I'm not going to try starting something with someone who's busy pining away for a certain Iris West."

Barry seemed shocked by my words, and his bruised cheeks bloomed with a hot pink blush.

"That was coooold, Artemis," Caitlin remarked, though she smiled. She looked entertained by the tension I just unnecessarily created between myself and Barry.

"I still ship it," Cisco asserted, taking a sip of a drink he pulled out of nowhere, clearly enjoying the shock on Barry's face.

I saluted the three of them, and left them in the Cortex as I walked out.

Yup. Today was definitely one of the strangest days of my life.