Caitlin Snow was dead. Or so, that's what everyone kept telling Barry Allen. They kept telling him Killer Frost had taken over six months ago and Caitlin wasn't coming back. Time to move on. But, he refused to believe that; refused to acknowledge their advice. Caitlin had never given up on him, he wasn't about to let her down. Not this time.
"Come on Flash, Frost's been spotted in the middle of the city. It's showtime," Harry said, and Barry broke out of his thoughts. He looked at Harry, then Cisco, who was suiting up as well. He nodded his head once.
"Alright," he said. "Follow my lead out there."
He stood up from where he had been resting on the floor and brushed off his suit. Pulling his hood up, he spotted Iris walking into the cortex, pointedly not looking at him.
"Vibe, don't forget, if Frost attacks, fight back," she said, and Barry felt his heart clench. He shook his head.
"No, we're not fighting her back. Caitlin is still in there," he said adamantly, and Iris sighed.
"Flash, Killer Frost has already cost you one relationship; do you really want to risk another?" Iris demanded, folding her arms across her chest. Barry didn't have to work hard to know she was referring to their broken relationship. He sighed.
"Iris, she's our friend and she need's help. We can't hurt her," he said quietly. Iris stared at him for a long moment, before looking at Cisco, who seemed resigned.
"Alright, your choice Flash," she muttered, before heading over to the monitors. She sat down behind them and Barry looked at Cisco expectantly. He nodded his head once and opened a breach, allowing them to run through it and transport themselves to the middle of the city. One look around told Barry all he needed to know: Frost was hell bent on destruction. Sighing, he eased his way towards her, stepping in her line of sight.
"Ah, Flash and co!" Killer Frost trilled in that icy voice of hers', unnerving Barry. He desperately longed to hear Caitlin's warm, gentle voice. The one she used whenever it was just the two of them and she was tending to his wounds after whatever idiotic decision out on the field caused him to get them. He missed her mother hen like scolding. He knew Frost didn't have an ounce of her characteristics in her, but he also knew Caitlin was still buried deep, trying to break free.
"Frost, stop this and let Caitlin come home," Barry called, and her eyes danced with amusement.
"But why would when I'm having so much fun?" Frost asked, throwing an icicle directly at his leg. He dodged it.
"Remember to play fair, Flash," Frost sang.
"I will when you will," he replied, dodging her next icicle thrown skillfully his way. He knew she was in her element, that she was just getting started. He also knew Caitlin was there, desperate to be freed. He thought through his next plan. Looking at Cisco once, making sure he wasn't in her direct line of sight, Barry sped around her, and ended up behind her, pulling Frost into his chest. He wrapped his arm around her neck and held her in place.
"What are you doing?" Frost hissed. "Let me go."
"No," he said simply, tightening his hold on her while she struggled. "Not until you let Caitlin go."
"Flash, what are you doing? She's dangerous!" Cisco shouted, but he shook his head, determined to not be deterred.
He placed his mouth next to her ear. "C'mon, Frost, let Caitlin go."
Frost laughed once. "She's not breaking free."
Barry knew she wasn't scared of him, that she could handle her own. So, he did the next best thing: he talked directly to Caitlin.
"Caitlin, it's Barry. If you can hear me, keep fighting. Fight like hell. We're going to get you free," he promised lowly, breath brushing over Killer Frost's face. She snarled and struggled in his vice grip, but Barry kept a tenacious hold on her, refusing to let her break free. He felt his arms growing numb from her coldness, but he was determined.
"C'mon Cait, come back to me," he whispered. He felt something wonderful start to happen: Killer Frost was starting to grow warmer.
"Stop it, Flash," she hissed, and for once, Barry heard the underlining fear in her tone and knew his plan was working, He held her tighter as she struggled to break free.
"Caitlin, I know you can hear me. I feel her getting warmer, which means you're close to breaking free. Come on," he said. She kept snarling, pulling against his arms, but he was adamant; Caitlin had to break free at some point.
"Stop..." Killer Frost said, voice growing weak. Out of nowhere, she collapsed, and it was all Barry could do to help lower her to the ground. He noticed Caitlin's brown hair and her deep, warm brown eyes staring at him tiredly.
"Barry?" Caitlin whispered, and he pushed her hair away from her face.
"Hi, sweetheart," he murmured, low enough only she could hear. She stared at him, then took in her surroundings.
"Get my bracelet back on me," she said lowly, understanding the gist of what had happened.
"With pleasure," Barry promised, helping her stand up. She was weak and shaky on her own legs, and he wrapped a secure arm around her waist, helping guide her to Cisco; he ran to meet them half way, pulling her other arm around his shoulder.
"We're getting you home," Cisco promised, and she nodded tiredly. Barry kept guiding her forward, keeping a firm hold on her should she decide to topple over.
Cisco opened a breach and they were darting through it, appearing back in Star Labs a moment later. Making sure Cisco had a secure grip on her, Barry flashed off, grabbing her bracelet from where he kept it in a spare bag. He flashed back into the cortex a moment later, wrapping it securely around her wrist. She blinked, looking at him and then her wrist.
"Thank you," she murmured, hands shaking. He watched as she tried to still them by tucking them tightly into her ribcage. She seemed so small, with the way she held herself. Shying away from everyone. Barry looked at Iris who was watching her in concern.
"Good to have you back, Cait," she murmured, and the other woman nodded her head once, small smile on her lips.
"Thanks," she murmured. "If you don't mind, I really just want to go home."
Barry looked at Harry who was walking towards her.
"You will, after I look you over Snow," he replied, and she nodded with a resigned sigh, and sat down on the bed in the bay. Barry watched him run all the tests she usually ran and felt his heart bleed. He should've been able to stop this from happening in the first place. He should've done more.
"A little weak and tired, but with some sleep and rest, you'll make a full recovery, Snow," Harry said twenty minutes later, and Barry watched as Caitlin smiled.
"Thanks," she murmured. "Now I'm going home."
"I'll walk you," Barry said, and she nodded once, tightening her sweater around her. No one stopped them, just Cisco squeezing Caitlin's shoulder as she walked passed him.
As they walked the quiet streets of Central City, Barry kept casting side glances at Caitlin. She seemed small, smaller than normal, almost as if she was trying to hide in herself. Her hands still shook, and he wondered what she was thinking. Taking a breath, he held her hand gently, rubbing soothing circles into the back of it. She looked at him, and he her, and she nodded, knowing he wasn't going to push her to talk. Not until she was ready.
"Thanks for fighting for me," she said a few moments later, breaking the quiet they were in. He squeezed her hand.
"Always."
They didn't say anything else but didn't need to. Something changed between them. Looking forward to figuring out what exactly, they kept moving onward.
Author's note: Prompt I got. Might do a second one but in Caitlin's perspective. Don't know yet. Enjoy and prompts accepted in the comments! Xxx
