Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter. I'm sorry it took so long.

This'll be a shorter one. Let's get to it.

Chapter 8- Road to Recovery

Steve is quiet as he slowly thumps his fist on the control console in the Cortex, thinking. It's the morning after the fight with the Living Laser. The team hasn't gone home all night, as they've been trying to figure out how to solve this situation with the Living Laser. Cisco's been trying to run calculations to figure out the extent of the Living Laser's power and how exactly they work.

Steve, however, has been wondering how they're going to deal with this new metahuman's powers. It's clear that the Living Laser outmatches the current team, but Steve knows they have to bring him in if they stand a chance of bringing down HYDRA.

Then, something occurs to Steve. "Hey. The Laser's powers are at least partially based on speed, even if he's not a speedster. I think it's safe to say we might need a speedster on our side to bring him in," he says.

"But who are we going to call?" Cisco asks aloud.

"Well, Pietro and Wally may be busy, but we still have a speedster friend on Earth-3 who may be able to help us," Steve says.

It only takes Cisco a second to realize what Steve is talking about, and he grins. "Forgot about him. I'll be back in second," Cisco says, and opens a breach behind him before disappearing into it.

Everyone looks at the spot where Cisco vanished. Seconds later, the breach reopens, and Cisco hops through it, dragging Jay Garrick with him.

"Cisco, I've told you you can't just drag me to your planet whenever you feel like it," Jay says in irritation.

"Sorry to bring you here like this, Mr. Garrick, but we need your help," Steve says, standing up and walking over to meet Jay.

Jay turns to face Steve. "Should've expected such," he says with a sigh, before shaking hands with Steve, asking, "What are you dealing with?"

"A new metahuman who we call the Living Laser. He's working with HYDRA, the terrorist organization we've been fighting for a long time. We need to bring him into custody, but we can't on our own. His powers are based on light. We need a speedster to be able to counter him," Steve says.

Jay is quiet for a moment, hand on his chin, before he nods. "Alright, tell me more," he says.

(Steve and Caitlin's apartment)

In the living room of her and Steve's apartment, Caitlin is wide awake. She has hardly slept all night, kept up by the discussion she had had with Laura.

Laura had helped to open Caitlin's eyes to many things she had never really considered before. Hearing how Laura had handled Clint being either a SHIELD agent or an Avenger had helped to ease Caitlin's worry. Laura had helped Caitlin to learn that she was both in the right and the wrong in her opinions and worries.

Caitlin has been looking over photos of herself and Steve taken throughout the history of their relationship, reliving the memories of their relationships. Now, as she looks at a picture of her and Steve at a small party they had with the team a few months back for their gender reveal, she feels tears running down her face as she looks at the pure joy on her and Steve's faces in the picture. Although she knows she is right to fear for the safety of their child, she now is beginning to feel somewhat guilty for not understanding this from Steve's point of view.

Caitlin finally looks up from pictures she's spread out before her and looks out of the window at the brightening sky. She quickly resolves to speak to Steve and try to resolve this.

(STAR Labs)

Steve is carefully looking over a set of readings that Cisco had managed to gather on the Living Laser's power, as his suit had sensors on it that had gathered information on the Living Laser's powers. Steve has learned a fair bit more about various fields of science since joining Team Flash, and is trying to figure out the extent to which the Living Laser can cut through certain materials. He's a bit worried that the Laser's power may even be enough to cut through his shield given exactly how the laser's power works.

Right then, a breach opens a few feet away. Steve looks at it, and is surprised when Caitlin comes walking through a second later.

"Cait! Are you okay?" he asks, thinking something may be wrong with the baby.

"Yes, we're fine," Caitlin says to reassure him she and the baby are okay. Then, she says, "I just came because I needed to talk to you."

"Okay," Steve says slowly, concerned.

Caitlin moves over to the chair, asking, "Do you mind if I sit?" Steve immediately moves the chair so she can sit easier, and helps her sit down comfortably.

"What's wrong?" Steve asks, leaning against the console in front of Caitlin.

Caitlin is quiet for a moment before she says, "So, I talked to Laura last night. I felt, after our argument, that I needed her advice. I felt she would have experience dealing with the kind of feelings I was having, and I felt I needed all the help I could get."

"Okay," Steve responds, waiting for Caitlin to really get to the point.

Caitlin is quiet for another moment, then says, "Look, I know I've been kind of surly lately. I've been so worried about our baby being safe and having a good life. Laura helped me see it's not so straightforward as I thought. I know you're not just trying to be stubborn or ignore me. I know my emotions are little more out of control with me being pregnant, but that's no excuse for how I've acted the last few days."

Steve sighs a bit. "I'm not sure you need to apologize as much as you think you do. I still believe what i've said, but I haven't been as understanding either. I think both of us can say we have some work to do on our relationship and how we communicate," he says.

Caitlin nods in understanding. Right then, Cisco comes running into the room. "Steve-!" he starts, but stops when he sees Steve and Caitlin and the expressions on their face.

"Am I interrupting?" Cisco asks.

"A little bit. But what is it?" Steve asks.

"We located the Living Laser. But we need to move quickly if we're gonna catch him before he disappears," Cisco says urgently.

Steve turns to Caitlin. She nods at him and says, "Go. We can talk more after you've brought this guy in. Go, be a hero." She ends with a slight smile.

Steve smiles a bit too, then plants a kiss on Caitlin's forehead before he runs out of the room, heading to go change into his uniform and grab his shield.

Cisco looks at Caitlin. "You gonna be okay?" he asks, a little concerned for his friend.

"I think so, yeah," Caitlin responds. She knows things aren't back to normal, but is glad she and Steve are working this out.

And, I'll end the chapter there. I know, short, but the next one may be a bit longer.

I hope you liked this one. Next one will hopefully be up within the next few weeks. Until it's up, please leave a review, and stay tuned!