Thank you to those of you taking the time to read this. I will probably only update two or maybe three times a week. It will also be a bit of a slow burn.

Part 2

Five and a half years later

Caitlin Snow winced as the front door of the house slammed shut. Closing her eyes she counted to ten as he walked into the kitchen. She could tell that he had a bad day. Not that he ever seemed to have a good day lately. She had been with Richard Carson for a little over a year. She had been charmed by the Hub City Police detective when she met him. But he had changed in the past six months. He had changed about a month after her daughter and her had moved in with him. When she met him he had been kind and caring. That is not to say he wasn't like that still at times. But it was after she moved in that he hit her the first time. He had apologized of course and she let it go. But the abuse was becoming more often and worse last week he had broken her arm.

"Dinner will be ready in ten minutes." Said Caitlin softly

"Why isn't it ready now?" he growled

"I got off late. I am sorry."

"I don't know why you keep working at that clinic. You belong at home making sure dinner is on the table when I get home."

"Richard, I only go in two days a week."

"Where is your brat?"

"Crystal is in her room. She has already eaten. She won't eat fish."

"Next time she is to be at the table and eat what she is told."

"I will not force my daughter to eat something she doesn't like. You are the one that wanted fish knowing full well that Crystal won't eat it."

Richard grabbed her and slapped her hard.

"Listen good girl. You are to never talk to me like that again do I make myself clear?"

Caitlin nodded. Then turned back to finish making his dinner while he grabbed a beer. After dinner and the kitchen was cleaned up Caitlin went to make sure Crystal was tucked into bed and kissed her goodnight.

"Mommy?" asked Crystal

"Yes honey?"

"Why is Richard so mean to us? I thought he liked us."

"He has just been having a hard time at work. It is going to be ok."

"He hit you. Mommy, I don't like him. I want my real daddy."

Caitlin felt a tear fall down her face she wanted Barry too. But he hurt her. He kissed Iris who had made her life hell growing up.

"Honey, I told you. Your daddy lives far away. He has a different life. Get some sleep ok?"

"Night mommy love you."

"Love you sweet girl"

Caitlin made sure that Crystal had her stuffed dog tucked in her arms and left the room making sure the nightlight was on. She walked out to find him waiting for her. He grabbed her roughly and pulled her into their room. He threw her onto the bed and started to undress. Knowing it was better to just give him what he wanted she started to undress. Five minutes later he was on top of her. She use to enjoy having sex back when she was with Barry. He had been so gentle and loving with her. But with Richard she couldn't wait until it was over. He only cared about his needs. He was rough and it was painful. He rolled off her after twenty minutes. But Caitlin knew it wasn't over yet. Once he recovered he would be at it again. When he finally passed out over two hours later Caitlin slowly climbed out of bed and went into the bathroom to clean herself up. She winced as she noticed blood. It was not the first time he had been so rough that she bled. But she knew after tonight that she knew her body couldn't take it any more.

Barry walked into his parents house hugging his mom.

"Barry, you know it has been six years. Don't you think it's time for you to move on?" asked Nora

"Mom, I know it has been six years. But I still love Caitlin. She is the only one I ever thought about being with." Said Barry

"Honey, I don't think that Caitlin is ever going to come back. For all you know she is happily married."

"I have to believe that she will come back to me one day. I know she loved me."

"I loved Caitlin, Barry. But you have to remember that she was very insecure when it came to your relationship. After her father died the only person she could count on was her brother. Her mother had never really been there for her."

"I remember. I never understood why Iris was so curl to Caitlin. Caitlin was always so kind to everyone."

"I don't know honey. But you do need to think about moving on. I don't think that Caitlin is going to come back to you."

"I don't know if I can."

Nora hugged her son. But she knew when he told her he was dating Caitlin back in their senior year of high school he was not going to have an easy time in the relationship. It wasn't that she didn't like the girl. She had. But the fact was Caitlin was already emotionally damaged by both the death of her father and the fact that her mother was emotionally withdrawn. It hadn't helped that with as smart as Caitlin was she was a prime target for bullies. But until Iris set it up to make it look like Barry was cheating on her Caitlin had proven that she was a kind loving person. Barry didn't know it but Nora knew where Caitlin was and she was in a dangerous situation. But it was up to Caitlin to take the help to get out of it.

Caitlin laid in bed watching as Richard dressed.

"I won't be home for at least a week. I am going under cover. But I expect this house to be spotless when I do come back. If I find your brat has made a mess I will beat her ass until she learns to do as she is told."

"You are to never touch my daughter." Said Caitlin

Richard grabbed Caitlin and smacked her hard across the face.

"You will watch your mouth woman."

Caitlin didn't say anything just reached up and wiped blood off her lip. Richard left after strapping his gun on. Caitlin waited until his car pulled away before she took out the burn phone she got from one of the women she worked with at the clinic.

"Valarie it's Caitlin. I want out. I need help."

"Linda and I will be there in fifteen minutes. I will contact our Central City branch and let them know you care coming. Unfortunately most of your things will need to be stored until you settle down."

"That is fine."

"We will see you soon Caitlin."

Caitlin hung up and dressed then went to make sure Crystal was dressed and start packing.

"Mommy what is going on?" asked Crystal

"We are going away. Miss Valarie and Miss Linda are coming over to help us pack. Then we are going to take the train to Central City."

"Is that far?"

"Yes honey it is faraway. We will be on the train for a long time. But we will take some books to read and the portable DVD player and some movies. But we will have wear head phones so we don't disturb other people on the train."

"Ok. We will take Mr. Ruffles right?"

"Of course! We could never leave Mr. Ruffles."

Caitlin smiled sadly as her daughter hugged her stuffed dog. A dog that Barry had won for Caitlin at a carnival they had gone to the summer after they graduated high school. Valarie and Linda arrived and three hours later everything that Caitlin owned was either packed in two full sized suitcases, Crystal's child size suitcase one duffle bag and two backpacks. Everything else was in boxes loaded in Linda's van to be put in storage. Valarie then drove Caitlin and Crystal to the train station.

"I sent a picture of you and Crystal to the woman that is picking you up in Central City. Her name is Nora Allen. She is Married to a doctor name Henry Allen, they have a grown son named…"

"Barry. I know them. I lived in Central City a long time ago. I was dating Barry." Said Caitlin

"If you had told me before I could have sent you to Keystone or something."

"No Valarie, I need to go back and be with people I know I am safe with. Besides it is past time for me to have Barry meet his daughter. Just call my brother for me and tell him where to find me."

"I will. Take care and don't forget to let me know when you have your own place so I can send the rest of your things."

"I will. Thanks for everything."

"Anytime hon."

Caitlin hugged her friend and then boarded the train with Crystal for the long trip.