Stepping out of the med bay Caitlin took a deep breath, thankful that HR was now stable.
"Hey, you okay?" asked Harry, eyebrows furrowed and a muscle twitching in his cheek. Unable to find her voice Caitlin just nodded. Harry didn't look like he bought her mute answer - he reached out and engulfed her in a strong hug. "It's not anybody's fault." His warm breath tickled her ear making Caitlin blush.
Looking over Harry's shoulder, she caught Killer Frost watching from the med bay. Their earlier conversation flooded her mind. Pulling away, Caitlin saw concern wash over Harry's face.
"Listen, Caitlin, there's something I want to ask you…"
She had never seen him so nervous before as he scratched the back of his head.
Before Harry could ask his question, Killer Frost came into the room looking royally pissed off, a thunderous frown furrowing her brows. "Do you guys want to go to Earth-19 and confront Randolph with me?"
"What?" Caitlin couldn't help but feel like this was a bad idea. Harry's expression said he agreed.
Folding her arms over her chest, Killer Frost stared at them determinedly. "I have to know what went wrong and the only person who can answer that is Randolph."
Caitlin looked to Harry for support, but in only a matter of seconds he'd managed to change his opinion. "Fine, but you need to calm down first."
Killer Frost nodded and walked back into the med bay to sit by HR's bedside.
"I thought there for a second you were going to head straight to Earth-19," said Caitlin, a trace of amusement in her voice.
Harry gave a small shrug and countered, "What? I'm not reckless."
Letting her mouth gape in disbelief Caitlin blinked owlishly and then shot back at him, "Yes, you are."
Harry narrowed his eyes at her and heaved a sigh like the weight of every version of Earth was on his shoulders. "It doesn't matter."
Before Caitlin could respond she felt a gust of wind that signalled Barry's arrival and he asked, "Hey guys, any change in HR?"
Looking at Barry Caitlin recognized the helplessness in his eyes; the same sense of futility that was haunting all of their team. Mustering what positivity she could, Caitlin forced a lighter tone. "Not at the moment, we're still trying to figure out what went wrong."
Sighing, Harry began rubbing his eyes. It was such a small movement, but it made Caitlin nervous because of how many times she had seen HR do it, but she knew that Harry wasn't him.
"Do either of you guys want to come to the hospital with me to visit Julian?"
Caitlin could tell Barry was trying to change the subject. Thinking it over, she realized that she didn't want to see her co-worker - not because she didn't like him as a friend, but she knew he wouldn't like the idea of Killer Frost being on this earth and she didn't want to deal with it right now. Caitlin shook her head and walked out of the cortex. Caitlin didn't know exactly where she was going, but she knew she had to get away from Harry. He'd been acting so strange since they had come back from Earth-19 and she couldn't figure out why. Time alone would let her settle her mind and heart.
Caitlin turned a corner and found herself in the speed lab. Not wanting to head back she just stood there, going over the events in her head, trying to determine what happened to make Harry act the way he was.
Someone cleared their throat. Caitlin turned around to see the person she had just been thinking about.
Harry gave her a long look that she couldn't read before taking a few steps forward. "Listen, Caitlin, would you like to grab some coffee with me?" Harry's voice was soft, his usual forthright growl subdued.
"Sure, just let me grab my coat." Caitlin's heart hammered as she thought that this would be the perfect opportunity to ask him what was going on.
HR's face was peaceful, lax in sleep and made Killer Frost fret. She knew that once he woke, his carefree expression would be gone and she didn't know how to fix it. Her mind started to wander back to the last conversation they'd shared.
Walking into the now sadly familiar warehouse she could see her husband staring at the picture of the man who had caused them so much pain. Stepping up next to him, she reached out her pale hand, running it through his hair. The touch brought his attention to her. HR's blue eyes were like a knife to her already broken heart. They were not the blazing blue she'd come to adore, they were leached of passion. "Are you coming home tonight?" This question had been one she had asked him a dozen times over the past month. She prayed that the answer would be different this time.
"Caitlin, I don't know." Pulling her hand away she couldn't help but feel the slap of rejection his words caused. Killer Frost knew he wasn't coming home that night and she couldn't help but notice that he didn't use the now beloved nickname that he'd given to her when they had consummated their love for each other. She had grown used to the name 'Caity cat' and now that he wasn't using it, it wounded her soul deep.
"Please HR, we need to figure something out because I don't think I can deal with being alone." Her voice trailed off, growing thin and weak. HR looked down, remaining silent which only made her feel worse. "What do you want me to do?" Killer Frost hollered. "Do you want me to find him and make him pay?"
That seemed to catch his attention because he looked at her, his eyes wide and HR began shaking his head. "No... No... That's not what I want you to do."
Needing answers, she pleaded. "Then what?"
HR stood from the stool he had been sitting on and said: "Nothing, there's nothing you can do, okay?" His voice rose with each word he spoke. "This is all on me and I don't want to talk about it right now." His chest heaved as he finished.
Licking her lips, Killer Frost was trying to keep it together - but she could feel her throat getting tight, making it hard to swallow. The water forming at the corner of her icy eyes made her vision blur. "Fine, when you're ready to come home and talk, I'll be there." Killer Frost took another deep breath and walked out of the warehouse hoping that HR would come back to her.
"Hey, do you need anything?" Cisco asked as he walked into the room, watching her closely.
"Yeah, I need my husband to remember." Killer Frost said looking sadly back at the man they were discussing.
Cisco pulled up a chair beside Killer Frost, sitting next to her. "Well, don't worry. We're not gonna stop until he does."
The words brought her some comfort and she appreciated everything these strangers had done for HR. Giving him a small but genuine smile, Killer Frost reached out and patted Cisco's back. "Thanks."
He gave her a small nod in return.
Setting further back in her chair, Killer Frost started to think of ways that perhaps HR's memories could return. Then a brilliant idea formed. "What if I went and got the photo album and then when HR wakes up, showed it to him?"
"And that could possibly jog his memory." Cisco finished for her.
This could work. Feeling, at last, a little bit of hope, Killer Frost jumped from her chair. She faced Cisco who shared her look of hope. "Can you watch him until I get back?"
Holding up his hands, Cisco said in a matter of fact tone, "You don't even have to ask."
Gleefully grinning, she rushed out of the med bay and towards the speed lab.
Sitting down with her coffee, Caitlin could feel her stomach filling with butterflies. But why? It wasn't like this was a date or anything. Across the small table, Caitlin found herself studying the way Harry ripped open the sugar packet, riveted with his long fingers, enthralled almost, as he dumped it into his coffee. Caitlin began to drift off in her own mind thinking about what those fingers could do.
"Caitlin!" Harry's voice brought her out of her inappropriate thoughts. Thankful that he couldn't read her mind, she willed her attention back to the present.
"What?"
"Are you okay?" Harry asked, his blue eyes searching hers. Thinking about his question Caitlin remembered that she wanted to ask him the same thing.
"Yeah, but what about you?" Her heart started beating faster as she waited for him to answer.
"Caitlin, there's something I've been meaning to tell you since we got back from Earth-19." The sound of his voice made her think that whatever it was - it was not good news.
Bracing herself for what he was going to tell her, Caitlin took a deep breath. "What is it?" She watched him carefully as Harry looked down at his coffee. Pulling his eyes from his beverage and back to her, she could tell he was nervous.
"I eavesdropped on your conversation with Killer Frost." Harry's voice was filled with regret but she couldn't tell if he regretted eavesdropping or that he couldn't share her feelings.
Embarrassment flooded her entire body as she abruptly stood and ran out of CC Jitters, Harry calling after her but she ran faster, not wanting to hear rejection.
Outside Caitlin felt the welcome cool night air hit her warm cheeks. Deciding that it would be best to go home and try to forget this night ever happened, she headed for her vehicle. At her car, Caitlin pulled out her keys, unlocking the door.
"Caitlin! Wait up." Harry reached out, grabbing her forearm, spinning her around to face him. "You didn't let me finish."
Before she could ask him anything, Harry cupped her face. His hands were warm and rough, even if a little unsteady. She wanted to melt into his touch. He stepped closer and kissed her - full on the mouth. His lips were warm, soft, and supple against her own. She swore she could hear ringing.
When Harry pulled away, her mind came back from the cloudy bliss and she realized that her phone had been ringing. Pulling it from her purse, Caitlin saw it was Cisco.
Hoping her voice wasn't too breathless, she answered, "Hello?"
"Caitlin! You and Harry need to come back to STAR Labs! HR is missing."
Please leave your reviews and thoughts. Thank you to DancesWithSeatbelts for helping me with this story.