Part 10

Caitlin rubbed her eyes. It was after midnight and she had been working all day. Alex had gone to try and get some sleep over an hour ago. She looked up when a cup of coffee was placed in front of her. She turned to see J'onn standing behind her.

"You really should get some rest." Said J'onn

"Not until I finish this. I am close I know it."

"Caitlin, you do know I have telepathic abilities."

"Yes Kara filled me in on all of that."

"Your mind is in deep conflict. I am picking up on it only because it is so loud."

"J'onn, when you brought Kara to us after she was whammied by Music Minster. I had a lot of pent up anger. Barry had messed with the timeline. He had broken his promise to be there to help me. Yes Iris's life was in danger. But before he got together with her he was there for me. He helped me concur fears I had."

"Caitlin, I don't know your whole history. But from what little I have been told your life hasn't been easy."

"No it hasn't. But neither has Barry's or Kara's for that matter."

"Or mine. I lost my family. My daughters."

"I am sorry."

"Thank you. But I gained a new family here."

"You love Kara and Alex as if they were your own."

"Mind not mentioning that to them."

"Wouldn't want them to think that you have a soft spot for them."

"I can understand why Mr. Allen likes to have you around. I wish there was a Caitlin Snow like you on this Earth."

"Yeah they did kind of screw up when I went undercover."

"What do you mean?"

"Savitar, who was this evil speedster we were dealing with turned out to be a future version of Barry. It was a little more complicated then that but that is the short version. Once Barry figured it out because I couldn't tell him."

"Because being a future version of Barry he would gain new memories as the timeline changed." Said J'onn

"Yes, which would mean if he knew I was working against him he would have killed me. So Cisco decided that he should build this thing and zap current Barry's brain to try and prevent him from making new memories. In effect blocking off his short term memory. But ended up erasing his whole memory. Which erased Savitar's memory. Which would have been fine except Central City needs the Flash. Savitar not knowing who he was or I was attacked me. I froze his hand to get away. I had to return to Star labs in order to restore his memory. Joe, Barry's foster father who is also Iris's dad was the only one who knew what I was doing. So my friends thought that I had really betrayed them."

"To me it seems that you went above and beyond what you needed to."

"Maybe. But it wasn't the first time my life was on the line to protect the people I care about. You should know that while I don't know Kara well. I do consider her to be a friend and someone if I had to I would die to protect."

J'onn nodded and walked out leaving Caitlin alone in the lab.

Earth-1

Joe knocked on the door to Iris and Barry's apartment. It wasn't long before Iris opened the door.

"We need to talk." Said Joe

"Dad if this is about Barry or Caitlin I don't want to hear it."

"Well too bad. When Caitlin comes home you will not treat her with anything but respect. She put her life on the line to save yours. She knew the whole time about the switch you and HR pulled. She let you go knowing that she wouldn't be able to save HR. She admitted to me that you are not her favorite person. But because Barry loves you she put her life on the line to save yours. But unless things change from how they were this past year, I don't think she is going to be back to the team full time. She will help out if needed because that is the kind of person she is."

"What do you mean I am not her favorite person?"

"Iris, have you taken the time to really get to know her or Cisco?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"I just never thought about it. We don't really have anything in common."

"You don't count losing the man you were in love with and planned to marry as nothing? Yes I know that Caitlin isn't the most open person. But if you knew her background you might understand why. She has no idea how much I actually know about her or Cisco. Before we agreed to let Barry be transferred to Star labs when he was in the coma, I wanted to know everything I could about Caitlin. The doctor that would be in charge of his care. She is a genius. Iris, to have the number of degrees she has she should be five to ten years older than she is. She graduated from high school at fifteen."

"I didn't know that."

"I don't think Barry does either."

"Dad why are you telling me this?"

"Iris, I am trying to make a point. That despite the fact that this woman not knowing you very well or even considering you a friend that she is selfless. She put her life on the line to save yours. Could you say you would have done or would do the same for her? Cause from where I am sitting I don't think you would. Every time you called Barry he would come running. Snart and Rory kidnapped Caitlin to draw Barry out as the Flash. She told him not to do it. That she would die to protect him. While you criticize him for not doing enough to find Eddie. Iris, you are my daughter and I love you. But I have come to love Caitlin in the same way. If she comes back I will be there for her if she needs me to be."

Joe got up and walked out leaving Iris to think about what he had said.