Disclaimer: The following is a nonprofit Fan based story; The FLASH and all related characters are owned by DC comics, the CW and anyone I may have missed.
I apologize for another long wait. I'm beginning to sound like a broken record and I am sorry about that. Any promise I make here on out will probably sound hollow so Let's move on to chapter 32, I'm going to skip the formalities this time.
The Flash: Survival of the Fastest
Chapter 32: Remembrance
May 31 2044
S.T.A.R. Labs
Caitlin finished recording her message to Barry with a heavy sigh. While she'd been here a week, she dearly missed Barry and all of her friends. Charlie, Jen and Johnny were all exceptionally nice to her, they also treated her and her baby well, going out of their way to make sure mother and child were happy and healthy. She glanced down at her swollen belly and smiled, gently she rubbed it.
Her time in 2044 had be interesting to say the least. It was still hard for her to believe that the baby growing inside of her womb was already at approximately seven months, two weeks ago she was only really two and a half months along, which meant her initial due date had shifted drastically. Unless she found a way back home and timed it correctly the baby would no longer be coming in August like she initially mapped out. As far as she knew this was the first Meta-Human who would be the offspring of two active Meta-Humans there was really no telling how this was going to work out. Was he going to have the same power-set as her and Barry, or something else entirely?
Every night Caitlin took it upon herself to try an learn a little more about this time by reading aloud for herself and her baby most of the information she read came off as seemingly bedtime stories for her child, yet they were phenomenal.
Last Night
" 'Last night The Flash Family stopped an uprising from the Beast Men of Earht-274'" Caitlin read the article aloud.
" 'What started as a hopeless endeavor as hundreds of anthropomorphic beasts invaded our home quickly turned into our favor with the timely arrival of The Flash Family and their newest member.'" This article had been written by Iris West-Allen on October 2040, while Iris' last name bugged her, she had to know what this was all about.
"Hear that baby?" She asked her swollen stomach. "No matter what happens, no matter the monsters that attack your daddy will be there to save everyone. The mail photo of the article was actually not a picture of the Scarlet Speedster, but rather it was Charlie, though he wasn't wearing the suit she saw him wearing nowadays. In fact, he wasn't wearing any suit. The Picture showed Charlie, fairly bloodied at that point with glowing blue eyes and lightning arcing around him as he fought fist-to-cuffs with a twelve-foot-tall bipedal anthropomorphic lion. The Lion's white fur and mane were speckled with red blood, and his claws looked as if he had gotten the better of Charlie once or twice.
" 'It was eventually discovered that this unwarranted act of aggression was brought about by none other than Gorilla Grodd in another bid to try and take over our city.'" Caitlin sighed. "It's a shame I could never reach Grodd... Before the particle accelerator went off I was always rather fond of him, I just had this feeling that Grodd was special." She continued to read the article aloud scanning the pictures that were with it. Turns out in the future News 'Papers' definitely changed and updated with the times.
" 'Eventually The Flash Defeated Grodd while the newest member of his team, beat Regulus. Following their defeat and freedom from Grodd's influence the Beast men of Earth 274 returned to their home.'" She smiled as she finished the article. She was glad that Iris was making gains as a reporter in the future, but other than the occasional article there was almost no information on her or any of her friends following 2042. Clearly something happened.
Charlie said, while they cannot allow her to return to 2018 yet, she can make a message for Barry and co. Charlie even offered to be the one to deliver it to The Flash. Now that she was finished it was time for Charlie to hold up his end of the deal. Charlie was difficult to pin down personality wise on one hand he seemed like he was hoping her friends were coming to get her, and on another he seemed adamant about not letting her leave.
Caitlin stood up and walked in the direction of the Cortex. Charlie was seemingly always at S.T.A.R. Labs, when he wasn't, he was out fighting which ever Meta-Human had decided to be causing trouble that day. So many more people had powers in 2044, and many of them were absolutely bonkers, just three days ago Charlie stopped a trio of bank robbers, all three had powers; One of them could turn any portion of his body into wheels, another could rust any metallic object he touched (like the bank vault door), Charlie took the third robber out first so Caitlin did not know what that person's powers even were, but she definitely had them.
"Where's Charlie?" Caitlin asked as she entered the Cortex.
"Oh, uh…I don't think he's here at the moment." Johnny said.
"Then where can I find him."
Johnny sighed. "Well you can find him at the cemetery."
"The Cemetery?"
"Aye."
"This is a rather important day for Charlie and he'd rather be left alone." Jen spoke up. "He'll be back tomorrow Dr. Snow."
Caitlin frowned, she could not deny that she was annoyed that Charlie would be out for the remainder of the day. "OK, Thanks." Caitlin replied to Jennifer and the talking head with a smile.
Despite being told Charlie would want to be left alone Caitlin could not help it but to head to the cemetery. It certainly was dangerous for her to be out of STAR Labs but she needed Charlie to deliver this message.
She hailed a cab and soon found herself on the way to Central City's Memorial Cemetery. Over the course of the long quite drive she thought about the trio that was taking care of her.
Johnny was an interesting version of Wells to say the least. Aside from him obviously being a talking head he was well-mannered, kind and had a wicked sharp tongue to match his intelligence. He was also quite the storyteller, better than HR in Caitlin's opinion. Oh how Johnny loved recounting tales of his life and the lives of those around him.
Turns out he is from Earth-6, and was the resident Speedster under the name Johnny Quick, very similar to Jesse Quick. He protected his city and used his intelligence to better his world, until Godspeed showed up. Caitlin asked how he became a talking head and Johnny indulged her. Turns out Godspeed defeated and captured Johnny, using his speed he vibrated Wells and fused his body within a wall inside Godspeed's Secret Time Vault. According to Johnny he was imprisoned for a century, which was seen as an embellishment by Caitlin, until Charlie found him. Apparently, it was Charlie who removed Johnny's head from his body, and as Johnny explained he isn't really alive anymore. He had used all the energy he could muster to extend the amount of time he had left so in actuality every day Johnny trickles closer and closer to death. He had already made his peace with dying, so long as he helps Charlie put an end to Godspeed's reign of terror.
Jennifer was a lot more reserved than she had initially thought. She mostly kept to herself and in all honesty, she reminded Caitlin of herself back when the Particle Accelerator Exploded. While Johnny had the gift of gab and Charlie had friendly chats with her Jen basically berated them at every turn. The little information Caitlin did learn about her only told her that Jen's last name is Jordan and she's from Coast city, which is where her parents and Brother currently reside. Aside from that Caitlin learned that Jen is not a Meta-Human, and she initially joined the Air Force alongside her brother fresh out of high school before going back to school to learn how to be a doctor.
Charlie was most definitely the biggest mystery of the trio. For the most part he heavily reminded her of Barry, but unlike the scarlet speedster Charlie was more a man of action, he for the most part he tended to just do things. Other than that some times he was chipper and quite amicable while other times he was quiet and reserved. Though whenever some tiny snippet from his past came up he would change the subject sort of like how Ben… rather August redirected the conversation whenever something personal came up. On more than one occasion Caitlin caught a glimpse of him talking to himself, which led to Caitlin believing that Charlie quite possibly suffered from Dissociative Identity Disorder. This was none of her business however and they were all going above and beyond. Despite everything there was something about Charlie that made Caitlin like him. She didn't know what he wanted but it was undeniable that She felt this need on her part to help him.
Central City Memorial Cemetery
She found Charlie in a secluded section of the cemetery, away from the rows of stone. He was standing in front of a single solitary grave. Caitlin couldn't quite make out the stone but she could see Charlie holding an ancient looking vase. It was orange and black in color with distinctively Greek designs all over it.
"- here's to us Dad." Charlie said holding up the amphora. "I am getting so much better at finding this wine, this time I got it from Laconia. Honestly I have my doubts if this is any good." He brought it to his lips and took two large gulps before shuddering. "Ugh...I think that went bad... either that or I still hate the taste but I know this wine reminded you of home." Charlie turned over the amphora and poured the wine onto the stone. "Oh, Aunt Diana said she'd be stopping by when she gets the chance, she still checks up on me when she's not too busy leading her people."
Charlie then proceeded to sit on the ground and stare silently at the stone which offered a better view of the name on the stone.
JASON PRINCE McGRATH
510 B.C.- October 17 2038
After living in the dark he walked into the light and found his Freedom
That's where it clicked for Caitlin. The name plus what she heard Charlie said. This was the grave sight of his dad. She could not pull her eyes away from the stone instead analyzing every inch of it there were many characters all over it, none of which were English.
Understandably, Caitlin decided it would be best to leave but that's when Charlie spoke again. "You can stay if you want Caitlin." Charlie turned and offered her a smile before gesturing for her to join him, which she complied. "Normal I'd spend today alone, or with my mom but I have to say its nice having another person to talk with."
"You're welcome." Caitlin offered. Many questions flashed through Caitlin's mind regarding Charlie dad, but she knew they were not truly her business. If Charlie wanted to tell her he would. "I uh, why does it say your father was born in 510 BC? That has to be a mistake."
"It's…err… complicated…" Charlie sighed. "Tell me Dr. Snow how much do you know about mythology?"
Caitlin thought for a moment vaguely remembering her father reading her a book about Greek Mythology when she was a little girl. Her dad seemed to have a thing for Winter goddesses, given how his wife became Killer Frost it really should not surprise her. "I only know a little, my dad would read them to me as bed time stories before he got sick."
"Well, what if I were to tell you those 'stories' were true, to a degree."
"I would say you are pulling my leg."
"And I would counter by saying 'there is truth in myths and legends'" Charlie gave her a smile
"So what? Gods are real and your father was one?"
"No…" Charlie replied "My dad was human. But his story is one for the ages."
"Sounds like you really looked up to your dad."
"For the longest time I wanted to be just like him, but he always told me to be better than him. He really was my hero."
"What happened to him? If you don't mind me asking…"
"Well, you're already here at his grave so I might as well tell you… My dad… he was murdered by someone I believe you've met, Savitar."
Caitlin flinched slightly. Savitar killed Charlie's father. "What happened?" She asked hesitantly.
"It's… it's a long story. I don't think we have the time for me to tell you." Charlie glanced away for a moment fixing his gaze back on the stone. "Weren't you working on a message for me to send to your friends?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah…" Caitlin suddenly remembered why she came to see Charlie in the first place. "I finished recording my message for Barry like you suggested." She said holding up the flash drive.
"Excellent." Charlie flashed her a smile. "Guess that means it is time for Charlie M's Hourly Deliveries to take over."
"You know, I noticed you smile a lot." Caitlin observed.
"Well, that's just how I've always been." Charlie's smile grew wider making Caitlin think back to one of her earliest conversations with Barry. Him and his dorky smile as he asked why she didn't smile that much back then. "Can't give any more reason than that."
Caitlin chuckled a bit. "You know if this superhero gig doesn't work out for you, you can always open a courier service."
"I do have experience in that field. Worked as a bike courier in college." Charlie laughed a little as well.
Caitlin smiled. She and Charlie got along surprisingly well despite the circumstance. At first, she was very apprehensive of him (especially because of his lightning color) because she promised herself, she would never for the tricks pulled by Zoom, the Reverse-Flash, Future-Barry and to an extent, Ben ever again. But with Charlie, she instinctively knew she could trust him, a part of her felt like they had most definitely met before.
"Thank You."
"You are most welcome." Charlie offered a smile as he took the flash drive. "I'll get this to your friends in 2018."
"Hey, uh Charlie…" She called out to him just before he left.
"Yeah?"
"I think your dad would be proud of you." Caitlin knew what it was like to grow up without a father, given that her father passed away from ALS when she was young.
Charlie smiled. "Thank You Caitlin. I'm glad you were here with me."
"Can we talk when you get back?" She asked
Charlie sighed. "I guess I owe you an explanation or two. Yeah, we can talk when I get back, until then, I'll be back in a flash." With than Charlie was gone leaving a brief trail of black lightning and a smiling Caitlin.
While she was smiling to herself Caitlin felt the urge to make her way over the Henry and Nora's graves. It just felt right to visit them while she was here. It only took her a few minutes to get to their site, but what she saw there completely caught her off guard. Next to Nora and Henry's grave stones were two others with freshly laid flowers resting on the cold stone.
BARTHOLOMEW HENRY ALLEN
March 14 1989 – May 9 2041
Beloved Son, Father, Husband, Friend
He lived life in the fast lane but he knew when to slow down
CATLIN SNOW ALLEN
February 28 1989 – August 23 2038
Beloved Daughter, Wife, Friend
She was Lost but Now She is Finally Home
August 30 2038
Central City Cemetery
Savitar stood at a fare distance as he watched his wife's funeral. So many conflicted emotions were coursing through his mind, predominantly a deep sadness consumed him. Seven days ago the God of Speed lost everything. His daughter was abducted and his wife was murdered, both were perpetrated by the same man, Godspeed. A man who bore a face that could have been definitely be his and Caitlin's son.
"What are you doing here?" Savitar found himself face to face with his younger self.
For Barry, the revelation that Savitar was actually an older version of him barely surprised him, after all, it would not have been the first time an older version of him came to manipulate their lives.
"I am mourning my wife's death Flash." Savitar's words were laced with venom.
"She wasn't your wife." Barry growled at his older alternate self. "She didn't belong to you."
"She was mine Flash." Savitar's temper flared briefly. "She would not have wanted this. Not from you." Barry clenched his fist in rage.
"You're the one who killed her."
"No, I wasn't!" Savitar fired back. "I'm here to mourn just as you are Flash."
"What happened to you to make you this way?" Barry asked. Last time he was face to face with Savitar he was just an older version of Barry from 2024. He helped them fight
"My wife was murdered Flash." The God of Speed growled. "And if you are smart you and your pathetic little team will stay out of my way as I hunt down the bastard who killed my wife." The God of Speed refused to reveal to Barry that he and Caitlin had a daughter. If Barry learned of her, he would do everything in his power to keep Samantha from Savitar.
It was strange talking to his younger self again. The last time Savitar talked with his younger self he was dying, or at least he thought he was dying. When he passed on, he found himself in the Speed Force, where time flows completely differently. In terms of real-world time Savitar was in the speed force for only four years, but a single day within the Speed Force can feel like a lifetime, so from Savitar's perspective he'd been in the Speed Force for eternity. Through everything Savitar, remembered how he warned Barry not to travel through time but he did it anyway. He watched every terrible mistake Barry would make never learning the proper lessons. It was infuriating to watch. Seeing Barry play into the Thinker's plans or standing around allowing Cicada to escape.
"Whatever it is you're planning we will stop you." Barry said
"Last time you had Caitlin's help to prevent my return in 2017. She's not here to save the day this time." Savitar simply replied before running off in a flash of white lightning
Star City
Present Day
Oliver and Laurel pushed past the crowd of reporters just outside town hall. Reporters were asking a dozen and a half questions related to the appearance of the two new vigilantes; Black Arrow and Sonic Boom. Many people were understandably upset others were curious since the duo was so similar to the Green Arrow and the Black Canary.
It took a couple of minutes but Oliver and Laurel managed to get secluded in the mayor's office.
"This is getting out of hand." Oliver sighed.
Laurel proceeded to take a seat on Oliver's desk. "As much as we don't trust those two, they are taking quite the load off of our backs. Allowing us time to actually be the Mayor and DA."
Oliver grunted in slight agreement.
Hey, Oliver. Laurel. The sound of Sonic Boom's voice filled their ears. It was quite nice that Bobby could project his voice with such pinpoint accuracy that he could talk to anyone on the other side of the city with no one being the wiser. You guys might want to come to the bunker. We have guests.
"Ok." Oliver replied to the air knowing Bobby could still hear them.
Twenty minutes later Both Oliver and Laurel walked out of the elevator into the bunker. Not only was Team Arrow gathered in the bunker along with Bobby and Robin but Wally and Rory were there as well.
"Wally? What are you doing here?" Oliver asked
"Hey Oliver. Look, we uh, we need your help." Wally responded.
"You know, you guys have asked for our help a lot over the past year. It's almost like you all forgot how to be heroes." Laurel smirked to herself.
Wally chuckled. "Yeah, well, it doesn't help that we're trying to combat a time traveling psychopathic speedster, again."
"I'm guessing The Twins sent you?" Robin asked to which Wally shrugged.
"Sort of."
"We're in." That was all Robin and Bobby needed to sign up. They had known the Tornado Twins for a long while so if they needed help, they were willing to give it.
"We came to this year with those two knuckleheads it's time we head back home and kick Speed Demon's ass." Bobby said cracking his knuckles.
"We owe him a couple of licks and hits for what he did to everyone." Robin gripped her bow.
Oliver noticed the rage inside Robin and Bobby. It was heavily reminiscent of the darkness from his time on the Island, Hong Kong and Russia.
"But we can't just leave Star City." Oliver said. "This is our city and we can't Fail it. I'm the freaking Mayor and Laurel is the DA for crying out loud."
"That's the thing about time travel." Mick spoke up while eating a sandwich. "We can leave and bring you guys back here and only a few moments will have passed."
"I'm sorry but, where did you get that sandwich?" Felicity asked
"Brought it." the former criminal said as he took another bite.
"Even if you were to bring us back to just after we left, we would still be leaving Star City unprotected for too long.
"That's where you're wrong Hoss." Rene spoke up. "Curtis, Dinah and I can hold down the fort while you guys go save your friend."
"Then it's settled." Mick said. "Scar, Curls and Glasses stay while the rest of you come with us." Dinah, Curtis and Rene exchanged looks after receiving strange nicknames from Mick.
"Fine. We'll go with you guys." Oliver replied "But this is getting a little too frequent. We might need to take a break from team-ups a while."
Earth-38
D.E.O.
The DEO's latest case had been a doozy for Alex. They had caught the perpetrator but it had been a long one. Currently Alex was sitting in the interrogation room with him.
This Alien was responsible for the murder of four people. When the DEO finally caught up with him, he had the fourth victim as his hostage. Kara tried to be sympathetic with him and talk him out of it, but he gave them all one look before snapping his hostage's neck. Immediately afterward he turned himself in willingly.
"There really is no reason for these Agent Danvers." He said gesturing to the cuffs on his wrists. "I promise you, you will find no resistance from me."
"I'm sorry but it's DEO Protocol for dangerous Lifeforms."
He sighed. "I understand, I suppose this means my atonement will take longer as I need to prove myself trustworthy." Upon further investigation it turned out that the four people this alien murdered had burned his home down while his wife and infant son were still inside. "In our religion the souls of those who die violently are unable to move on until justice has been achieved."
"There could have been justice if you brought this to the DEO's attention we could have helped."
"You know, my wife and I immigrated here because our world was dying." He said. "We are, what you would call, a cold-blooded race. Our bodies are very similar to your reptiles."
"I am sorry to hear that." Alex replied. There was a knock on the Interrogation room door. Alex turned to see her adopted sister sticking her head in. "Can't you see I am busy?"
"I know but, I need you to come with me."
The sisters made their way to the balcony overlooking "What's so important that you interrupted my interrogation?"
Kara shrugged. "Brainy got a message from Cisco. They need our help on Earth-1 again."
"It feels like you are constantly popping over to Earth-1," Alex said, "and it never seems to go too well."
"Yeah, but this time Caitlin has been taken." Kara proceeded to fill Alex in on the situation.
"So, what? We hop over to an alternate earth, rescue Caitlin and then just come back here?"
"Alex, I know this would be a new experience for you but according to Cisco they need all of the help they can get with this."
"Why not ask J'onn? Or Mon El?"
"I did, Mon El is on board, so are Brainy and Irma but J'onn does not think it's a good idea for all of our heavy hitters to leave the world unprotected."
"I take it, this means you asked Clark for his help?"
Kara nodded. "He can't make it. He and Lois have planes since it is their anniversary. I can't take that from him."
"Where is Cisco now?"
"With Brainy and Mon-El on the Legion's ship."
"I don't like it but I know you already made up your mind Kara." Supergirl nodded.
"I'm going to help them."
"It's what you do Kara." Alex smiled at her sister.
With that Kara left her sister and made her way over to the the group gathered on the Legion's Ship.
"Let me guess Alex is staying here?" J'onn asked.
"Someone needs to run the DEO while we're gone."
"Well, I think everyone who's going is here." Mon-El said looking at Kara, J'onn, Brainy and Irma. "Kara, you have the dimensional extrapolater?"
"Right here." Kara said holding up the small device.
"Good, Let's Go." J'onn commanded.
Kara hit the button and the Breach expanded and the five heroes from Earth-38 entered.
Earth-1
S.T.A.R. Labs Pipeline
While The rest of Team Flash and the Legends gathered the reinforcements necessary to rescue Caitlin Barry found himself once again in front of Godspeed's cell.
"Well, well, well." Godspeed applauded with each word. "The Flash has decided to grace me with his presence for the second time today. Tell me, did you ask your kids about what I said earlier?"
"I did." Barry replied. "They said they could not tell me the details. They only told me when, August 23 2038."
"August 23rd is a very important day for us Flash. For you, for Caitlin and for me, it's a date that binds all three of us together."
"Why? Why do you hate us so much? What did we do to make you hate us?"
"That's the bloody point Flash isn't it! You didn't do anything!" The two speedsters stared at each other not breaking their eye contact as August's mind flashed back to a familiar situation…
September 3rd 2027
Earth-1
"You did this to me!" Godspeed remembered yelling at his captors. "I didn't want this!"
"You'll thank us" His captors would always say. "Thanks to our experiments you are unaffected by all things, physical or otherwise. You are a god, you are unshackled from your mortal limits. Death has no hold on you."
"By all things you mean EVERYTHING!" He roared back. "I feel nothing! I can't feel pain yes, but neither can I feel the temperature of this room! I can't smell anything! When I run, I don't feel the wind or the surge of energy through me!"
"In time you will appreciate what we are doing. We forced your powers to evolve. As a result, you're healing is nigh instantaneous. Removing your sensations is an inconsequential byproduct of the procedure." The scientist explained. "With this success we can replicate the procedure to create others."
"Others? What others?" Godspeed then noticed the dozen or so human sized tubes, each one contained a copy of him. All of the copies were suspended in some strange vat of chemicals while only a few of them had cybernetic augmentations such as mechanical arms, legs, tubes and wires crisscrossing throughout their bodies, truly this was a horrific sight for August. "What… what is this?"
"Failures, though I must admit it is quite a nifty ability you have." The scientist said "The ability to create duplicates of yourself by traveling back in time, it did not take us long to learn how to trigger it, but now we can manufacture an army for the highest bidder at the drop of a hat. Imagine, an entire legion of cybernetic soldiers capable of moving at the speed of light and incapable of feeling any pain."
"What's the point for all of this? There's no way this can be about money! Whatever it is you're planning The Flash will stop it. He'll stop all of you! I know The Flash will come for me. He'll save me!" The Scientist laughed. August gritted his teeth. He had heard the scientists of Black Hole talking about the Flash as if he were some kind of elusive white whale. And while they had studied the Speed Force for years, they had never been able to replicate The Flash until they found August.
"The Flash doesn't even know you exist. You've been with us all your life." It was true, as far back as Godspeed could remember he'd always been here. He'd been here for seven years, and he could not remember anything from before, nothing from his childhood, nothing of the life he had before all of this. "The Flash, despite being the Fastest Man alive is a reactor, he is not proactive. The Speed Force is wasted on him, and with your help it will be ours."
Present Day
"You never came…" August huffed in anger. "It took a while but eventually I learned you cannot count on anyone but yourself."
"I'm sorry…" Barry said. Part of him felt so bad for August, he was just a person who Barry didn't save, just another name on the list of people he couldn't save, like his mother, father, Dante and every murder scene he came across. "I'm sorry I was not there to save you in the future."
"Don't even pretend to care about me Flash" August asked.
"I'm not pretending. Part of me still does care about you. I still care about Benjamin Joseph Allen, the man you were before this. I still care about my son."
"This might come as a shock to you Flash but you're not my father, and Caitlin isn't my mother. At least not the current version of you."
In a world where he's experienced multiple realities and alternate timelines hearing August say he's Barry and Caitlin's son from another point in existence didn't quite affect him as much as he thought.
"Barry, everyone is back" The voice of Iris came over the intercom catching Barry and August's attention.
"Well, what are you waiting for Flash? Go rescue your fiancé." There was something off about the way August spoke, it was like he did not care that he was locked in a cell.
"Come with us." Barry said suddenly.
Out of everything Barry could have said to August that caught him off guard. "What?"
"Even though you're not really mine and Caitlin's son, We both got to know you, even if you don't remember any of it, but we were a family." Part of Barry wanted to be furious with Godspeed for everything he had done to them. "So help us save Caitlin, and I promise we'll help you." Barry walked over to the consul and opened Godspeed's cell.
"You're letting me out? You're either really desperate or really stupid Flash."
"I'm taking a risk in trusting you. Look, you're right, I don't know what you've been through, I probably never will. But I already told everyone upstairs that we need all the help we can get,and you are on that list."
"What's stopping me from killing you right here and now?" August asked wickedly.
"If you wanted to kill us you would have done it already." Barry said confidently. "You've had numerous chances to kill us, you are certainly capable of doing that yet you never took the opportunity. You even went out of your way to fully integrate yourself with us, becoming a welcome addition to the team. We've seen it before, but you're the first to practically abandon your past to reshape who you are."
August smirked before roughly Grabbing the collar of Barry's shirt and pinning him to the wall. His left arm was drawn back with his fingers extended, he wasn't vibrating it for some reason.
"You're not going to kill me August." Barry Challenged. "Underneath everything, I believe you're still Benjamin Joseph Allen."
May 31 2044
S.T.A.R. Labs
"Why didn't any of you tell me Barry and I are dead?" Caitlin asked the trio as she flashed into the Cortex of S.T.A.R. Labs.
Charlie, Jen and Johnny exchanged looks. "I believe we made it fairly obvious." Charlie whispered to Jen.
"And I cannot believe you allowed her to see the graves!" Jen fired back
Caitlin pouted. "I am being serious! Why didn't you tell me?"
"Honestly that is not something you have to concern yourself with Caitlin." Charlie said. "but out of curiosity, didn't you see the dates?" She nodded. "Good, then you know you have nothing to worry about."
"I don't understand. How can I have nothing to worry about when I know my baby is going to lose its parents?"
Charlie approached Caitlin and gently placed his hand on her shoulder. "Caitlin," He spoke softly. "I promise you, your baby is not going to grow up without his parents. I will do everything in my power to ensure that. He's going to grow up in a wonderful home with two loving parents."
Caitlin felt a few tears trickling down her cheeks. "Ok… Ok…" she whispered. Her hormones must have been going wild since her emotions were in Flux. Never the less she managed to compose herself.
"Good…" Charlie still spoke softly "Now, I need you to promise me you'll forget about those two graves, you need to remember they are not you and Barry, understand?"
Caitlin was silent, there was no way she could just forget seeing her own grave. It was far more real than seeing the News Article addressing Barry's disappearance. "I can't just forget them."
"You have to..." Jen said "This is knowledge from the Future, she shouldn't know it."
"I concur with Jennifer." Johnny spoke. "The more Dr. Snow knows about her future the riskier it is for us to send her to the past."
"Uh, I'm right here." Caitlin waved a hand trying to draw their attention.
"Guys," Charlie turned from Jen and Johnny to Caitlin. "Look, Caitlin, I know you want... no, need to go home to your friends and loved ones, but we cannot let you go. It is far too dangerous for you and your baby. You're both far too important."
"I can handle myself." Caitlin said gritting her teeth.
"I know you can but, I'm worried for you. I guess you could say we're like family."
"Charlie projects onto his friends and Family." Jen piped up. "Once he decides you're going to be his friend there is no convincing him otherwise. Needless to say, your sort of stuck with us. He's an idiot but he's our idiot."
"Well, I guess that's my cue" Charlie flashed out of the room and was suddenly back carrying a large hiking backpack onto his back.
"Where are you going?" Caitlin inquired.
"I still have to deliver your message Dr. Snow. How else are your friends going to get here if they don't know when to go? Also, I need to visit my friends." Charlie replied simply. "I can't just not see them."
"But… you're Central City's Hero. You can't just leave it unprotected."
"I'm sure the city will still be standing when I get back. It's not like I have any rouges that want to level the city to the ground. Seriously I know a few other Meta-Humans who could raze the whole city in a matter of seconds and not a single one of them wants to." Charlie turned to Jen. "You can handle things while I'm gone right?"
"There's nothing I cannot handle." Jen then turned to Caitlin. "Have fun visiting Natalie."
"What!?" Both Charlie and Caitlin said at the same time.
"I'm not going to see Natalie." the young man argued while blushing.
"Who's Natalie."
"She's Charlie's girlfriend." Johnny said.
"Shut it head." Charlie growled. "She's a girl and a friend but she's not my girlfriend."
"What are you twelve?" Jen asked smirking at Charlie's childish behavior
"No..." Charlie responded sheepishly.
"Uh, none of you answered my question." Caitlin reiterated.
"Oh, Natalie is just some redheaded thief who Neither the Flash nor any member of his team could catch."
"A thief?" Caitlin asked in a tone she usually reserved for whenever she caught Barry in a lie or some form of omission. Or more specifically whenever he did something stupid.
"She's not a thief!" Charlie argued. "OK she is a Thief, but she only steals from other thieves and crooks! Doesn't matter she's a good person."
"You're only saying that because you have the hots for her." Jen teased.
"I don't!"
"You had her cornered a dozen or so times and you've let her go each and every time."
"Ah young Love, tis a beautiful thing." Johnny said as Caitlin stood next to him while they watched Charlie and Jen argue.
Caitlin couldn't help but Smile, the look on Charlie's face was very reminiscent of Barry's. It made her miss her fiance all the more.
August 30 2038
After visiting Caitlin's grave Savitar found himself in his old lair tinkering with his armor. Rage was all he was feeling and right now he had one singular goal, find the identity of the man who murdered Caitlin and do kill him before he ever has the chance to hurt Caitlin and steal his daughter.
He already had a lead on the man who is responsible. Even though he had seen his face fora split moment Savitar remembered every detail of his face, he had seen him before, on Caitlin's computer.
There had been a few moments where he caught a glimpse of her computer and saw her looking images of the same young man, he had also heard her muttering under her breath about his identity. Savitar never assumed the worst of his wife, she was looking for the identity of this young man, but all her search provided her was a face and a name.
Charlie McGrath
The images of Charlie McGrath he had glimpsed showed an eighteen-year-old man. The man who attacked his family looked to be in his twenties maybe early thirties. Meaning the Charlie McGrath Caitlin was looking into was a younger version of the man who murdered her.
This is the end of the chapter
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