A/N: Sorry but not sorry for keeping you on edge about Joe's condition. Update about that coming in that chapter. You sure know how to keep me motivated with your comments, updating couple of days in avance and hopefully, my next chapter will come within a week :) I'll do my best! Especially since I have a day off coming up this week.

The ride back to S.T.A.R. Labs was the longest one in Team Flash's lives. Caitlin didn't remember the Labs being so far away, every second was going in slow motion as she was trying to assess Barry's condition and injuries, which wasn't easy with all the blood covering him. With each newly found injury, she communicated her needs to Iris on her phone's speaker so everything would be ready the second they would be arriving.

When Cisco finally stopped the van in the garage, he got out of the driving seat and flew the door's opened within seconds, Iris running to them with a mobile stretcher, not making any effort to contain the horror gasp leaving her lips when she saw the state Barry was in. Despite receiving all the information for Caitlin, nothing could've prepared her for what she saw. She barely even noticed the two scientists gathering Barry's prone form and putting him on the gurney before rushing him away, pushing her to jog after them as they entered the lab. It wasn't until they were in the elevator and closing the door that Iris realized something was missing. Or more like someone.

''Guys, where's Jay?...Where's my dad?''

***FLASHFLASHFLASH***

Barry and Cisco left to go out on Saturday night. Now it was Wednesday afternoon, less than four days later and yet the memories of last week felt like they were from another timeline, another life. For what felt like the hundredth time today, Caitlin rubbed her tired eyes, understanding what was inside the serum was one thing, understanding how the combine elements can affect the speed force was another one and making something to counteract them was a whole other world. Especially in such a short amount of time.

Her thought process was interrupted by her phone ringtone, Iris name appearing. Maybe it was news about Joe, she picked up the phone right away.

''Hey Iris''

''Hey Caitlin, how's Barry?''

Alright, no small talk. There was no point avoiding the subject that was on both their mind.

''He's….not going to lie, he's not good. His infection is getting worse, his temperature went up by two degrees in the last hour.''

''Damn.'' Was all that Caitlin heard on the other side of the line before a short silence. ''Is there anything you can do?''

''I'm trying, Iris, I am.''

''I know you are, girl, I'm sorry. It's just, I can't lose them, I can't lose him, I can't lose any of them.''

Even at the other hand of the line, Caitlin could almost hear the tears in her voice.

''Iris, listen to me, Barry and your father are the two strongest people we know. They're strong. I know the situation looks pretty grim right now, but we can't lose hope.'' Before Iris could answer, the doctor continued with the question that's been burning her lips.

''How's Joe?''

Iris sighed, while it probably was half the reason she called, she wasn't exactly eager to discuss her father's condition.

''The doctors told me earlier the swelling in his brain is not showing any signs of shrinking or any sign he'll wake up any time soon.''

''If there's anything I can do….''

''Just make sure he has a son to go back to when he wakes up.''

Caitlin nodded before realizing she was still talking to the phone, breaking the silence she created and assuring Iris she would do it. Even if she wasn't as certain Barry will pull through as she wanted the people around her to believe.

As soon as Iris hanged off the phone, she walked back to her father's hospital room who was still in the exact position she left him. Sleeping on his back, almost looking peaceful, too peaceful. Gratefully, Jay was there to point the rescue team in the right direction. It was thanks to him that her father was found and taken out of the remains so quickly. For the most part, Joe got lucky, if you could consider it that way. A debris hit his back, but thankfully there was no spine damage and most of his injuries were mostly bruises and superficial wounds that would be almost healed in the next week or so.

On the bad part, he had two broken ribs, three bruised ones, a badly damaged right shoulder and a broken, displaced right arm. But the worse was his head injury. The doctors couldn't tell how long it would be before his return to the land of the living and if there would be any brain damages with all the swelling going on. The only thing they could do right now was wait and hope for the best.

Iris took back her place on the plastic chair next to the bed, weakly smiling at Jay, standing in the corner of the room.

''No matter what happen next, thanks for finding him so quick. I mean it.''

''Don't worry about that. If you wanna go be by Barry's side, I'll stay with your dad.''

''Thanks, Jay. But no, Caitlin will keep us updated. If…*When* my dad will wake up, I'll need to be there to keep him from running right to S.T.A.R.S. Labs.''

Iris fought the tears, she couldn't be thinking about an 'if', for neither Joe nor Barry. They had to be ok.

***FLASHFLASHFLASH***

Back at the labs, Caitlin finished engulfing another coffee. At the point, caffeine didn't have much of an effect on her anymore. She just couldn't let her body get the rest it deserved just yet, not 'til Barry was out of the danger zone.

Turning around, her heart jumped into her chest, her hand letting go of her empty cup that ended up smashing into pieces on the ground, when she ended face to face with the tall figure of Eob….no no, it was just Wells from Earth 2. Harry.

''Don't Do That!'' she stated while putting a hand on her racing heart. Only noticing now the closed test tube in his hand. ''What's that?''

''That, Dr. Snow, is how we can save your friend.''

''What do you mean? Where's Cisco?''

Even if Jay told them about that Wells from his Earth, she couldn't help but being nervous around that man. Her instinct telling her not to trust this Wells, unless it was just her still too fresh memories of what the other one did to her, to all of them. Caitlin glanced over the man's shoulder to see if Cisco was nowhere close. Fine, she decided to bite.

''Where did you find that?''

''I made it, Snow. I simply used a sample of the serum to find a way to counteract it.''

Caitlin just stared at him for a moment. She's been working all night and morning and came out empty. And now this dude just comes out with a solution? Just like that?

''Wait, what? How did you do that? How did you even get the sample?''

''What? You thought I gave you all the samples of the serum I brought back from there? Been studying mine all day. Wandel based her experiments on my own anti-speedster

research, I can recognize my work anywhere. Inject this into your speedster. If I'm correct, and I'm never wrong, this should counteract most of the serum.''

Caitlin hesitantly took the tube that was being offered to her, starring at it, lost in her thoughts. Part of the doctor wanting to accept the gift, desperate to try anything at this point, but could Harry be trusted? This could go in three different directions. First and best possibility; it works and Barry gets better in the time to say it. Second possibility; this guy only thinks this can work and it doesn't do anything at all. Third and worse possibility; this doctor Wells was trying to trick them into giving something harmful to Barry. But, to what end?

Caitlin was willing to take the chance, but it wasn't fair making the decision on her own, she wasn't the only one caring about Barry and she wasn't family, on paper at least. She watched Cisco walk in the cortex, suspiciously looking at them, wondering if he needed to join or interfere.

''Can you give us the room a moment?''

She signaled at Cisco to come in as Wells was leaving the medical lab. Cisco glaring at the man as they passed each other, not noticing Caitlin walking to the corner of the lab before facing her friend again.

''Harry made a mess of my lab, he's really getting on my nerves…'' Cisco was about to make another comment but paused himself when he got a glimpse of the conflicted look on his friend's face. ''What's going on, is it Barry?''

The scientist looked down with apprehension at the fallen hero, fearing something else changed in his condition. Barry didn't look too good, but he didn't look worse either. His attention turned back to Caitlin who had both her arms behind her back, pressed against the counter, or at least one hand was. The right arm came from behind and when the hand opened, Cisco noticed the tube in it.

''What's that?''

''Harry gave that to me. Said this could fight the serum and kick back Barry's healing ability.''

''Really?'' Cisco raised his eyebrow, surprisingly not showing much signs of joy or celebration. He might be the enthusiast one, but he wasn't ready for false hope.

''You think we should try it?'' She added

''I don't know, I'm not trusting him, Caitlin. Can't you just check it up with your medical stuff to testify it's gonna work?''

'' I could, but it might take hours, might take a day or even two, I can't tell how long Barry will hold on, his temperature is up again and his heartbeat is more irregular, it's not good. He's getting weaker, I can't even certify he'll even make it 'til morning.''

Taking in the news, Cisco rubbed forcefully his forehead.

''Alright, what are Jay and Iris saying about it?''

'Wells just gave me this, didn't have time to call them. I needed your opinion first.''

''I'm sorry Caitlin'' he started, walking away a couple of feet away from her, back turned, thinking hard about it before turning back again. ''But I don't trust him.''

''I know that, I can't blame you, not trusting him either, but if we don't do anything, we will lose Barry.'' She watched closely the engineer took a seat next to the bed, processing all the information, putting his head in his head for a second there.

''How sure are you of that?''

''Honestly? It's a gamble. 60/40 maybe if we're optimistic. Look Cisco, if Wells really wanted to kill Barry, all he needed to do was just walk away and let the building explode. Or not even go in there in the first place.''

''What if this guy just wants to use Barry like the other Wells.''

''To be fair, it was Eobard and not Wells…''

''Yeah, whatever…still, this guy appeared from another universe just to say hello? He must have a hidden motivation. What if he wants to use Barry against Zoom? He might just want to keep him alive to use him later. To trade him to Zoom for something, maybe.''

'' I don't disagree with you there. I think he's keeping secrets too, but keeping Barry alive is good enough for me. We, all of us, can deal with it later like we always do.''

Cisco finally got up from his sitting place, taking one last look at his lying friend.

''Guess you're right. Let me call Iris before to see what she thinks about it. She deserves a vote.''

He got that right. Caitlin wished Joe could be there to vote too, but without him they needed to make that choice between the three of them. While Cisco walked away to call Iris, the doctor moved back to her desk to monitor her patient's vitals before taking just a small sample of the serum Wells gave her. Caitlin was hoping she could at least have a first look at what was in it.

Letting the computer analyze the content, she turned her attention back to the fallen man behind her. The priority was to monitor the infected wound in his thigh. To do so, she started by pulling the blanket off to expose the lower body, only dressed in boxer. The bandage she putted last night on his thigh was all messed up by now, blood and pus' traces appearing on it. As soon as the doctor took it off a strong and nasty smell spread in the room. The wound looked uglier than it was before she first cleaned it, it wasn't good. It felt like nothing she's been doing was helping. One thing at the time, she reminded herself. Wrinkling her nose, Caitlin took new gloves as she cleaned the wound again, emptying it of the newly accumulated pus and changing the bandage. The young doctor took time adjusting the medication to fight the growing infection before looking at the boy's temperature: 101,8 Fahrenheit. Up again. Couple of hours ago, his temperature was the only vital that was anywhere close to normal, now it wouldn't stop rising.

Placing back the blanket, Caitlin walked out of the medical bay, spotting right away Cisco on the other side of the cortex, still talking on the phone.

''You're sure about this?'' asked again Cisco, once he got the whole situation explained to Joe's daughter. He got his eyes up to meet Caitlin's before putting the phone away from his ear, hitting a button. ''You're on speaker guys. Caitlin's with me.''

''You guys need to be careful with that man'' spoke up Jay's voice. ''He cannot be trusted''

''We hear you Jay, but what else can we do? How's Barry?''

''He's getting worse.'' Answered Caitlin, being careful not to look at her friend as she spoke.

''Look Cisco, Jay'' continued Iris. '' I'm sorry, but I'm with Caitlin on this one. Let's do it. No matter what he's planning, we'll figure it out once Barry is back on his feet.''

A/N: You know the drill! Leave a comment to let me know what you though.

We're coming close to the end of this great adventure (that was my first Flash and english fanfiction), but on the bright side, my new big story I've been working on for the past 2 months almost has the full plan written down. Should be coming soon.

Might also pick up my dead story ''When Fear Strikes'' if anyone here was hoping to see where it was heading.