Caitlin left. I watched her walk away from the CCPD, on to her friends and old life.
Jay had never given me that opportunity. I had never wanted it. I loved him, and I loved being with him.
And suddenly, I was very, very alone.
I later learned that Star Labs had tried to take down Zoom. They tried to send him back to our Earth. But at the last minute, he took someone important to them.
Time passe and Jay brought me back to the lair, where we had a new guest named Joe.
He looked pitiful, strung up and exhausted. I didn't know what Zoom wanted with him. I only knew I couldn't help. I couldn't save an entire earth from Zoom's destruction. I couldn't even save one man.
"Jay," I said.
"No."
"You didn't e-"
"I'm too close, Katnip." He wore the most insane grin yet. Jay put his hands on my shoulder, face close to mine. "Be happy for me!"
"At what cost?"
"Nothing. It costs you nothing." He put two fingers on my cheek. Fingers that had killed were now so gentle. I closed my eyes.
And then a storm appeared.
In it was Barry Allen, the speedster Zoom had been tormenting. I longed to cry out to him that I was sorry. That I wanted to help. That my own weakness might cost him everything.
It might cost everyone everything.
When the storm vanished, I took Jay's arm. I felt the leather, the electricity, the heat of his skin beneath.
Like magnets, we collided and kissed. For him, a kiss of early victory. For me, one of fear. One seeking comfort. Hunting for the person inside Hunter Zolomon.
And then we were on Earth-2.
"Wait for me," he said, smiling widely.
"I'll always wait for you," I swore. I always had.
And he was gone.
I waited. I didn't know where I was; everything was sleek and technological. My guess was this earth's Star Labs, and a stray mug soon proved me right.
Something was happening in the distance, out the window. An orb of light, with a rod beneath it. It flashed red and vanished.
I waited.
I wrote this, finally able to convey my thoughts through more than tally marks.
I am waiting.