Sorry it took so long for me to update, I started a new story and wanted time to work on it. This chapter actually has the most words in it, but it seems considerably shorter. I think you'll like the twist at the end. Enjoy! XD

Joe's car squealed to a stop when they reached their destination, and they bolted from the vehicle towards the alley.

"I found him!" Caitlin screamed from beside a dumpster. "Oh God he doesn't look good, Joe. We need to get him to STAR Labs immediately."

Joe slid one of his hands under Barry's legs, and the other under his back, and lifted him up.

"Open the door for me, Caitlin." Joe was in full panic mode, but he remained composed on the outside.

Barry moaned in pain, but continued to stay still.

"I need to call Cisco. We can't waste any time, once we get to STAR Labs I need everything ready for me."

"Hang in there, Barry."

Caitlin picked up her phone and dialed Cisco.

"Cisco I need you to get to STAR Labs and have my medical equipment prepped. Get a crash cart at the ready. You've seen me do it enough times to know the basic supplies that I need. I also need you to get 5 units of blood ready for me to transfuse-"

"Wait blood? Where am I going to get that?"

"How have you never noticed the bags of blood I keep in the refrigeration unit in the med bay?"

"How many is 5 units?"

"5 bags. Now move it."

Caitlin hung up the phone.

"Okay, Iris. They found Barry. We need to get to STAR Labs and prep the med bay for when he gets back, okay?" Cisco stated.

Iris nodded but didn't have the strength to talk from the amount of crying she was doing. Cisco pulled her arm up and helped her off the ground, and then headed for the van.

It was Joe's turn to pick up his phone, he handed it to Caitlin and told her specifically what to do and say. "Here. I need you to dial Captain Singh and have him go ahead and have a team start searching for Vincent and his minions. We need their faces on the news, and everyone looking out for them. Got it?"

"Yeah."

It took a good 20 minutes before they made it back to STAR Labs, and fortunately, Cisco was already there and had everything prepped and ready to go.

"Come on, come on. Stay with me Barry." Caitlin checked his pulse as everyone rushed into the cortex and headed to the med bay. It was weak, but it was there.

It took a good 10 minutes of cleanup and prep before Caitlin could retrieve the bullet, and stitch him up, which took another 30 minutes, but finally he was done. She wrapped a bandage around him, to keep his stitches in place, and finally, she was able to call everyone in to check up on him.

"Guys." Everyone stood up from their seats and listened intently to Caitlin. "He's stable, but I found this in his leg." Caitlin held out a syringe on a metal tray. "I tested the liquid that was inside it, and it's some sort of speed dampening serum, meaning he isn't going to be rapidly healing."

"How long until his speed kicks back in?" Joe asked, rubbing his temple.

"I'd say maybe 12 to 24 hours. It was a big dosage that they injected him with." Caitlin's gaze fixed on Iris, who was ready to ask another question.

"How long until he wakes up, and why isn't he waking up?" Iris was the most composed she'd been in a while, but her voice still trembled.

Caitlin's lower lip quivered, hinting that something was wrong. "Um. He.." She paused and tilted her head back trying to keep her tears in. "He lost a lot of blood, which deprived his brain of oxygen. This is known as.. cerebral hypoxia. Luckily, his oxygen supply wasn't completely cut off, but he has probably suffered from some temporary and possibly even permanent brain damage. I don't know for sure. I'm..I'm sorry." Caitlin started to cry, finally allowing herself the tears that she worked so hard to keep in.

Cisco held onto Caitlin tight, trying to comfort her as his own tears slid down his cheeks. Iris remained still, as did Joe. Both of them staring at the still Barry laying on the bed. Listening to the steady beeps assuring them that his heart was working.

"I'll be able to know the full extent of damage that has been done once he wakes up." Caitlin walked Back over to Barry, squeezing Cisco's hand tight.

Iris ran out of the room and Joe followed.

"Is he.." Cisco paused not wanting to go down that road, but he needed to know. "Is he in a..a..coma?"

To his horror, Caitlin slowly nodded her head, and then buried her face in his shoulder, jerking tears.