Part 13

After dinner Patty took Crystal into the living room to play while Joe, Eddie and Barry told Caitlin and the Allens what was going on.

"Caitlin there is no easy way to say this. So I am going to just say it. Your ex is in Central City looking for you." Said Eddie

Barry watched as the look of fear came across Caitlin's face. He reached over and took her hand.

"Cait we aren't going to let him hurt you any more. I won't let him near Crystal." Said Barry

"Caitlin, you got CCPD on your side in this." Said Joe

"Joe, there is no way to prove it but I think Richard has taken bribes from the mob. Most likely Frank Bertinelli. I know he at one point was undercover in Bertinelli's organization. I never said anything because I have no proof of it." Said Caitlin

"It's ok Caitlin. We can look into it. But you are safe with us." Said Eddie

"I trust you Eddie. I trust everyone in this house."

"There is one other thing you should know. I saw Iris talking to Carson. He came into Jitters asking about you. None of the employees would admit you had been there recently." Said Eddie

"That doesn't actually surprise me. I mean the only one I know is Courtney who went to school with us. We weren't friends but I don't remember her being in Iris's group of friends."

"She wasn't. Courtney was on the track team with me. Well until she tore her ACL. She lost her scholarship and had to settle for going to Central City Community College part time. I think she is almost done with her degree in early childhood education." Said Barry

Caitlin nodded. She remembered Courtney Banks from high school. She was not like most of the jocks. Sort of reminded her of Eddie. She didn't hang with the geek squad but not hanging with the popular kids either.

"What I don't understand is why your daughter hates Caitlin so much." Said Nora

"I didn't either. Until recently. Caitlin, Iris is still holding a grudge over you turning her friend Cassie in for cheating in sixth grade and getting a ski trip cancelled. Not that I was going to let Iris go anyway. She was close to failing half her classes." Said Joe

"That was a long time ago. I remember what happened. Cassie Quinn had a crib sheet with the answers to a math test. I don't know where she got it. But I think that whole group of girls had one. I can't believe that she is so childish to hold on to that." Said Caitlin

"Yeah well I don't know what is wrong with her." Said Joe

"Joe, you know if Iris gets involved and Caitlin or Crystal get hurt are you going to be able to do what needs to be done?" asked Henry

"I love my daughter. But if she commits a crime she has to pay the price." Said Joe

"Joe, I want you to know that I don't blame you for Iris's choices. You are not to blame for her acting like a brat that hasn't gotten her way." Said Caitlin

"Caitlin, thank you. I am sorry for everything she has done to you."

"You don't owe me an apology. The only one that does won't give me one." Said Caitlin

"Iris still is trying to get with me. The funny thing is she never wanted anything to do with me as anything but a friend until she heard from someone I was planning to ask you to marry me Cait." Said Barry

"I would have said yes. But we are not anywhere near there now. We have both changed." Said Caitlin

"Well Patty and I should get home. The kids are probably driving Patty's sister crazy by now." Said Eddie

"We should get Crystal home too. It is almost her bedtime and she needs a bath." Said Caitlin

Barry wrapped his arm around Caitlin as they walked into the living room. They then headed out to Barry's car with Crystal to head home. As Barry drove he noticed that Caitlin was being very quiet. He knew she was scared. He only knew what little Caitlin had told him about her relationship with this guy.

"Cait, after Crystal is in bed we should talk." Said Barry

"I know. I was just hoping that I had left him behind. But I should have known he was going to do whatever it takes to find me."

"We aren't going to let him hurt you or Crystal."

"Barry, you do know that someone can't be with me all the time. Richard is smart. He will make his move when he knows he can get to me."

Barry nodded but wasn't so sure. He parked the car in the driveway and they headed in the house to get Crystal ready for bed.

Richard sat in a dark corner of a bar drinking a beer. The bar was actually a front for one of the many illegal operations run by the family of Frank Bertinelli. Richard knew that Bertinelli had places like this throughout the country not just in Gotham and Star City. He watched as a drug deal went down across the bar not that he cared. He was paid to look the other way when it came to what Bertinelli was involved with. Much more then he made as a cop. Not that he cared what happened in this city. All he cared about was getting that bitch and making sure she learned that he owned her until he said other wise.

After tucking Crystal in bed Barry and Caitlin went down to the living room. Caitlin sat on the couch while Barry went to get them something to drink. He came back with two cups of tea. Caitlin took a sip and raised an eyebrow at Barry.

"I figured after the news you got today that a hot totty would be appropriate." Said Barry

"Thanks Bare."

"So I think it is time you told me the whole story about you and Richard."

Caitlin nodded. She knew that he was right.

"I met Richard almost two years ago shortly after I moved to Hub City. Crystal and I were at a park these teenage boys on skateboards knocked us down. Richard came over to help us. He seemed like such a gentleman at the time. After a couple of months I agreed to go out with him. We dated for nearly a year before I agreed to move into his house with him. That was when he changed. He never hurt Crystal. But one night about a month after I moved in he came home and I didn't have dinner ready. He was mad. He slapped me across the face. He apologized the next morning. But a few weeks later he hit me again because Crystal had left a few toys out. After four months he stopped apologizing. I know I should have left after the first time he hit me. I don't know why I didn't. Maybe on some level I thought it was my punishment for not believing in you. Believing that you would cheat on me. When he broke my arm I knew I had to leave. I knew he was going undercover a week after he broke my arm. I waited until he was gone and called my friend from the clinic I was working at who is part of the abused women underground railroad. She and another friend came over and packed up all of my stuff and Crystal's putting most of it in storage and put me on the train with only the bags Crystal and I could carry."

"Did you love him?"

"You can't love someone when someone else already owns your heart. I liked him and thought I could be happy with him. Well until he decided I would make good punching bag."

"Cait, I promise that I won't let him hurt you again."

"Barry, I want you to stay away from Richard. He will kill you if you get in his way."

"I love you. I will do anything I have to, to keep you safe."

"Barry, I will not have you get killed to keep me safe. Crystal needs her dad."

"She needs her mom too."

"I know. Barry, I can't do this any more tonight. I am going to bed."

Barry watched as Caitlin headed up to bed. He sighed cleaned up their cups and went downstairs to his room.