Caitlin sat on her couch, in front of her fireplace as she stared at the flames that licked the crate. She knew that Jay meant it seriously when he said he wanted his daughter. The fact that he even knew he had a daughter clued Caitlin into the fact that he had been watching her – them – for a while now. She chewed on her lip, torn between the desire to run with Maddy locked safely in her arms and stay and fight. She knew that if she ran, she'd spend every day looking over her shoulder, waiting for Jay to either be caught or for him to catch up them. It was too much to think about and she shied away from the thought as much as she could.

Her mind drifted to Barry, who was on the phone with Joe, and she knew that she couldn't bring herself to leave him. Not when they were both finally happy. So that meant she had to fight. She could do that. Especially if it meant protecting Barry and her daughter. She would do anything to make sure those two people were one hundred percent safe. She pulled Maddy further into her arms, holding on tight to her little girl who was asleep against her chest, soothing Vicks rubbed against her skin to help calm her.

Caitlin knew that Maddy was scared – that the brick being thrown through their window terrified her – and Caitlin didn't know how to fix it. She didn't know how to fix it. That killed her. Just then, Barry walked into the living room, staring down at Maddy in her arms with a look of concern etched into his features. "Joe said he'll set a couple of plainclothes on the street outside of the apartment. Is she all right?"

Caitlin looked down at her daughter sleeping in her arms, tiny face smoothed free of the worry that had once been there. She nodded her head, speaking in quiet tones the next minute. "I think so. I gave her some warm milk and Vicks to help soothe her to sleep. She should sleep for a couple of hours. I'm hoping by the time she wakes up she's forgotten what's happened. At least a little bit."

"Me too," Barry said quietly. Barry carded his fingers through Caitlin's auburn tresses, his other hand resting on Maddy's back, and Caitlin felt content to sit there for as long as she could. She was feeling peaceful, a rarity in her life these days, and she didn't want it to disappear anytime soon. She looked at Barry, smiling at him softly.

"I can't thank you enough for still being here," she murmured quietly.

"Where else would I be, pretty girl?" Barry asked with a soft smile of his own and Caitlin felt warm and safe. She scooted over on the couch so he could sit down by them and curled her and Maddy against his chest. His arms came up to wrap around their bodies and rest comfortably against them. Caitlin knew he would do anything to make sure Jay didn't get to Maddy – as would Caitlin. She just didn't know how far she would go when she felt like her daughter was being threatened. Nothing was too much for her daughter's wellbeing and Caitlin would do anything to make sure Maddy was safe. Even if it meant breaking the law.

Caitlin kissed Barry gently, then pressed her lips tenderly to the underside of his jaw. She was content to be sitting there with him. "When are the plainclothes detail going to get here?"

"Joe is picking them out as we speak and sending them over," he said quietly, eyes on Maddy. "He wants you guys as safe as Hartley, Cisco, and I do."

Caitlin smiled smally. "How are Hartley and Cisco?"

"They're good," Barry replied. "Worried about you guys though."

Sighing, Caitlin spoke quietly the next moment, eyes on Maddy as well. "I hate that any of you are worried. This was part of the reason I wasn't sure about coming back in the first place."

"You need your friends and family around you during the hard times, Cait," Barry said quietly. "Especially during the hard times."

"I know," she sighed. "I just hate that we all have to deal with this."

"We'll make sure Jay pays," Barry said firmly. "We'll get him in jail for everything he did to you; for everything he's trying to do to Maddy."

"He's not getting within one hundred feet of her," Caitlin snarled quietly, voice nothing more than a vehement hiss. He wouldn't touch her daughter and if he tried, she'd kill him.

"I don't want you doing anything stupid to try and stop him," Barry said suddenly, tone serious. "Leave this to Joe and his men to sort out."

Caitlin snorted. "I'm sorry Barry, but this is my daughter we're talking about. There's nothing short of moving heaven and hell for her if she is in danger. You have to know that."

Barry surprised her by smiling the next minute. "I know Cait. I don't blame you. I just thought I should try and give Joe some reason to use his gun. He's getting finger twitchy."

Caitlin laughed. "I don't know if I should be alarmed or not. I'm going to pretend like the fact that he is finger twitchy isn't a bad thing."

"Nah," Barry replied, pulling her close. "It'll help us in the long run if we need him to shoot Jay in the leg."

Caitlin snorted at the mental image. That was hilarious. She smiled as she leaned further into Barry's hold, feeling safe with her daughter sitting snug on her lap. She knew that Barry meant when he said he would keep Maddy safe. And Caitlin definitely knew that she meant it when she said she would do nothing short of moving heaven and hell for her daughter if it meant she was safe. Caitlin needed her to be safe.

Eyes on Maddy as Barry hummed quietly, Caitlin knew it was time to pay Jay a visit.

Author's note: This was not beta'd so ignore mistakes. Next few chapters are going to be intense while I bring this to an end. Thanks for being on board for as long as you guys have!