I do not own any characters, plots, or anything else pertaining to "The Flash". It's been a while since I've written any Snowbarry fanfiction, but the last two episodes have really stirred up some ideas for a story that I'd like to explore. These two have been on a roll lately and the writers are finally giving them some long overdue screen time. So, this story will take place directly after 6x15 and be AU from there. As always, thanks for reading and reviewing.

Better Together

Chapter 1

Always

Caitlin sits at her desk in the lab, trying to figure out how to help Barry. She had already given him a watch to tell him how much of the residual speed force power he was using, but it hadn't curved him from harnessing it as she had initially hoped. Caitlin takes a deep breath, as she continues to tirelessly examine the medical scans she had taken after the Speed Force had been destroyed, along with some of the scientific data she has collected. Even though she knows there may possibly never be a different conclusion to the problem, she has to try. She had told Barry earlier that they would always be okay, that she would stand beside him no matter what the future brings, and she meant it. She would never abandon him, never.

Caitlin can't help but think about the shift in their relationship lately. Instead of being on the sidelines of Team Flash, she's been the glue to hold it together. Barry has trusted her to make calls for the team and has treated her more like a partner, then just the doctor or another scientist in the group. He values her opinion now more than he ever has before and she's noticed a small pull inside her. Feelings that have long been buried, that are starting to come to the surface very slowly. Caitlin knows she'll never be able to acknowledge them because of Iris, but that doesn't mean she doesn't still feel it. There was a time when she had hoped that her and Barry would get together. Ever since the day he had woken up from his coma and they had tested him after the particle accelerator blast, she has felt something for him. He had been the only man, other than Ronnie, that had truly seen her.

Barry had looked past the façade that she had created for herself after Ronnie's death, and had seen right through it. He had told her that she didn't smile much and wanted to know why. He had cared since the beginning, even if he hadn't shown it often. Caitlin would never admit it, but she's missed those days when she was the one Barry confided in, and when he could really see her. She's often wondered if during that time, before Iris, if he felt something for her. There were things that he had said to her that have never really left her. Things that have made her wonder if he would have ever wanted to be with her, if Iris hadn't come along?

Caitlin sighs to herself, knowing that she'll never get any more work done, if she doesn't push those thoughts away. So, she puts her mind back onto her work, and after another hour passes, she decides to call it a night. She looks at the time on the clock and sees that it's well past midnight. Caitlin gathers her things and locks up Star Labs for the night. She quickly makes her way to the parking lot and over to her car. Caitlin gets her keys out of her purse and automatically unlocks the door. She gets into the driver's seat and closes the door behind her. As she fastens her seatbelt and begins to put her key into the ignition, she feels someone grab her from behind, and chloroform her. When Caitlin starts to slip into darkness, she hears two familiar voices from behind her, and her heart sinks before she falls victim to unconsciousness.

As Caitlin comes to, she opens her eyes to see an unfamiliar office. Her vision is a bit blurry at first, but as her eyes start to clear, she notices two figures standing at a mirror. The first she recognizes as Iris and the second standing next to her is Kamilla. Confusion suddenly washes over her, as she remembers that they were the two voices she had heard in her car earlier. She's not sure why they'd have her tied up, but she knows she needs to get to the bottom of this quickly. "Iris, Kamilla, what's going on?" Caitlin watches as Iris turns to her and walks over.

She gives her a small smile. "Hello Caitlin, I'm glad you're finally awake." Caitlin feels her confusion deepening. "Why am I tide up?" Iris turns to Kamilla. "Do you want to tell her or should I?" Her eyes shift to Kamilla and she gives Iris a smile back, that makes her shiver. "You tell her, since it all started with you." Iris gives her a nod before turning her attention back to her. "Where do I begin? Well, if you haven't guessed by now, I'm not your Iris. She's stuck on the other side of that mirror desperately trying to find a way out." Caitlin watches Iris's doppelganger pace back and forth, before continuing. "I've already recruited Kamilla to my side, now I need someone to help me get more intel from the inside. Someone Barry still trusts." She continues pacing for a few more moments before her voice fills the silence. "I've watched you over the past month and I've noticed that he trusts you more than anyone else on Team Flash" Caitlin feels completely paralyzed at her words. How had Iris's doppelganger managed to dupe all of them? "Unfortunately, Barry is starting to become suspicious of me and my motives. So, I need you to be my eyes and ears, while Kamilla helps me collect the rest of the pieces we need to help our boss." A beat passes, as Iris stops to lock eyes with her. She assumes she's expecting an answer, but Caitlin won't give her one. She won't work for her or be apart of any scheme against Barry.

The room is quiet for a few more moments, before Iris's doppelganger gives her a sadistic smirk. "If you don't help me, we'll kill Iris, destroy Team Flash, and then eliminate Barry Allen, or should I say The Flash, for good. The choice is yours." Caitlin feels anger rise inside of her. "I won't betray Barry; I won't be the cause of my friends' deaths." Iris's doppelganger turns away from her and looks over at Kamilla. She takes a few steps towards her and hits her with her blue laser gun. Caitlin watches Kamilla disappear and her heart clenches. She then stares at Iris's doppelganger in complete shock, as she turns to look back at her. "I've transported Kamilla to the other side of the mirror. Now, poor little Iris has two people against her. If you don't help me, Team Flash will end up there too, and trust me when I say, we'll make sure none of them ever escape." Her breath catches and she's not sure how to respond. "I wonder what Barry would say if you told him that you passed on a way to get Iris back. I bet he wouldn't forgive you." Caitlin feels her blood run cold, but she knows she's right. He definitely would never forgive her and that's unimaginable. So, when she looks over at her, she knows what she has to choose. It's her only choice. "What do you want me to do?" As Iris's doppelganger gives her another unsettling smile, she knows that if she doesn't play along, she'll not only lose Team Flash, but she'll lose Barry. And he's something she can never lose; she could never live without.