Barry's wound had finally clotted, and the bleeding stopped. He was in and out of barely being conscious, but it was enough to keep Caitlin's hopes up. She continued her tight grip on his hand, and smiled when he would squeeze her hand back.
"You've always been strong, Barry, and I admire that. All you need to do is keep that strength up for a little longer and we'll be out of this."
Even though she had been sitting with him for a little over 45 minutes, it only just became clear to Barry that it was Caitlin sitting beside him, and not Iris.
"Cait?" Just that one word sent him into a coughing frenzy from the blood that pooled in his mouth.
"Shh. Don't talk. Glad to see you can though." A sigh of relief came from the group of people circled around Barry.
"Where's...Iris?" Barry's voice was coarse, like he had a really bad sore throat.
"They traded me for her so I could treat your wound to the best of my abilities. She's with Joe." Caitlin gave Barry a warm smile, and continued to hold his hand, which had gotten some color back in it.
"And?" He croaked.
"I only had a med kit available, but it got the bleeding to stop."
Barry smiled.
"You..still need a blood transfusion. I don't know how much longer you'll be able to last.." It was hard for caitlin to talk like that, but she needed him to know. "It helps that you're…" Caitlin quieted down to a whisper."...a speedster with regenerative capabilities, and that's keeping you above water right now, but.." Barry squeezed her hand, and locked eyes with her.
"I know." He said with a comforting tone.
Caitlin was relieved that he stopped her. She didn't want the tears she was holding back to start spilling. She needed to stay strong for him.
"We have your money, Vincent!" Stephen boomed through the megaphone. Vincent picked up his walkie and responded.
"Good. It's in a dufflebag at the front door?"
"Yes. Now let our officers out, and let us get Barry to a hospital." Stephen's patience was thinning.
"We're almost there, detective, but I still want one more thing from you."
Stephen let out a sigh, and Joe cursed under his breath.
"And what might that be?"
"I want all of your officers, to assure me that I can leave safely, if not, I will aim for Barry's head. Do we have an agreement, Stephen?"
"Give us a moment." Stephen turned off his walkie, and faced Joe and Singh. "So?"
"Here's what's going to happen." Singh piped up. "We are going to do what they ask, get everyone to safety, and then we'll have a unit track them down and arrest them. Got it? Joe you with me?"
"Sounds like a plan. Joe agreed and then quieted down so Stephen could continue negotiating.
"We'll do it."
"Great. We'll see to it that Barry is unharmed but for safety purposes.." Vincent's walkie turned off as the doors to the precinct opened.
"Oh. My. God." Cisco gasped in horror.