When Cisco and Hartley arrived with the promised coffee and bagels, Caitlin was in a better mindset; therefore, better company. Hartley was the first one to bend down and hug her gently, with Cisco giving her his own hug. They then picked up the food and beverages they had placed down on the coffee table upon their arrival and began handing them out. Caitlin accepted her coffee gratefully and took a needed sip; black, just the way she liked it. Once everyone had what the needed and Hartley and Cisco took seats on the floor, they all looked at her. Cheeks tinting pink, Caitlin cleared her throat.

"Yes?" Caitlin asked softly and Hartley smiled gently at her.

"Just wanting to know what you want us to do, Cait," he murmured and she frowned.

"What do you mean 'do'?" Caitlin asked and Hartley laughed softly.

"You're no longer allowed to handle Garrick on your own anymore, last night should've proven that; so, what would you like us to do?" Hartley repeated and Caitlin shifted around, trying to find a position that didn't cause pain to radiate through her ribs. The Tylenol didn't seem to be helping as much as she wanted. Sighing, she took another sip of coffee to prolong the moment until she had to answer. Getting lost in her thoughts, she began to forget about everyone in the room with her. What did she want them to do? She didn't want them fighting her battles, that much was certain. She blinked as a gentle pressure on her knee brought her back to the present moment.

"Where'd you go?" Barry asked quietly and she shrugged a shoulder.

"Just thinking," she mumbled. She cleared her throat.

"I really don't know what I want you guys to do. I do know that I don't want you fighting my battles for me," she stated firmly and Oliver scowled.

"We're family, Cait, we protect our own," he said fiercely and that was the first time Caitlin ever felt like she was a part of family unit outside of Nicole. Leaving her touched, she swallowed around the lump that rose in her throat and nodded her head.

"Alright," she agreed softly. She drank some more coffee to buy her a bit more time while she thought. Her friends were anything if not patient and just let her take her time, Barry's hand on her knee a reminder that he was her constant. Eventually, she placed the coffee down on the table and looked up at them.

"First things first: I go to Coach West. I tell him everything and see what he wants me to do," she said and Barry nodded his head.

"I'll be going with you," he reminded her.

"As will I," Oliver reiterated his earlier statement and she smiled gratefully at the two guys. It seemed less daunting to report Jay with two guys who would back her up. She hissed a little as she tried to adjust her position and Barry immediately pressed his hand gently against her ribs and looked at her in concern.

"It's alright," she murmured. She caught Hartley and Cisco watching out of the corner of her eye and sighed; she didn't need everyone concerned about her.

"You alright, Cait?" Cisco asked quietly and she nodded her head.

"Mhm."

He didn't seem to buy it because he looked at Barry for a bit more clarification. Barry looked at Caitlin for a moment before sighing apologetically.

"Jay kicked her in the ribs," he muttered and Caitlin watched as Hartley's hand flexed.

"He what?" Hartley demanded angrily but Caitlin shook her head.

"It's alright, Hartley," she murmured and it was. The pain would go away eventually and with any luck, Jay would be off the football team and no longer harassing her.

Hartley pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled slowly.

"Let's get this jerk thrown out of school," he growled with Cisco nodding his head firmly. She glanced around at Felicity who was staring at her with steely determination.

"Let's do it, Cait," she added and Oliver backed her up with his own statement. Again, she was left floored at the fact that so many people were looking out for her. She, someone who was so shy it was crippling, and here they were, not wanting anything in return from her. It left her astounded. She smiled gratefully and dipped her head as her cheeks warmed.

"Thanks, guys," she murmured and Barry squeezed her hand encouragingly. She smiled at him and he returned it immediately.

The rest of the morning was spent discussing tactics on how to tell Coach West what happened, with the group pausing for lunch as Felicity and Oliver went to go pick up burgers for everyone. When it was just the three guys and Caitlin, Caitlin felt a bit more relaxed. While Felicity was a great friend and Oliver was proving himself to be one as well, she felt a bit more comfortable around the other guys. Maybe it was because they had been the first ones to befriend her, maybe it was because she related to them a bit more; whatever the reasoning, she was glad to have this brief time with them.

"Cait, I want someone walking with you at all times, alright?" Cisco asked softly and Caitlin frowned.

"Guys, I can't let Jay Garrick win and if I succumb to my fear, then he's already won," she reminded them but Cisco was shaking his head, with Hartley quickly mirroring his actions.

"It's not about if Garrick wins or not, Cait, it's about you being safe," Jay said with conviction and she sighed before glancing at Barry.

"I'm with them, baby," he said quietly and she sighed again. She knew that they had her best interest at heart and didn't want to see anything more happen to her. Thinking it over, she made a split-second decision.

"I'll think about it," she agreed. "But that's all I can agree to for now."

Caitlin watched as Cisco opened him mouth to protest but Hartley quickly elbowed him.

"Don't push it," he muttered and Caitlin rolled her eyes fondly.

Oliver and Felicity eventually returned with food, and they all ate, then spent the rest of the day talking about other things. When night came, they all decided they were staying again.

"You guys know that when Nicole returns tomorrow evening you'll all actually not be able to stay here, right?" Caitlin asked after her and Felicity came back down in their pajamas. Barry nodded his head, the other three guys quickly following his lead.

"We know. It's just that I don't really feel safe leaving you and Felicity here alone while Nicole is still gone, babe," Barry murmured as he pulled her onto his chest. The reasoning was simple enough so she let it go, instead choosing to focus on how safe she felt again that night.