Part 18

Caitlin walked into the house after Henry dropped her off. Luckily tomorrow Barry was taking her to get a car. She smiled when she saw Barry in the kitchen finishing making dinner.

"I wish you had cooked for me more before. I mean I may not have doubted your loyalties then."

"Well I wasn't much of a cook back then. But I got my mom to help me get better. I had a plan to track you down and win you back."

"Well you do know women love men that cook for them."

"I have heard that. Cait are you ok?"

"Well I would be better if Richard hadn't tracked me down. But all things considered I am."

"Crystal and I talked a little. She knows it was wrong to kick Iris. But she didn't like see you hurt."

"I wish I had seen what Richard was really like before I started to live with him."

"Cait, did you love him?"

"No. You can't love someone when your heart belongs to someone else. Barry, I am still in love with you. I always have."

"I know we need to go slow but Cisco has volunteered to babysit so we can go on a date."

"While he has met our daughter I have never left him alone with her. He would just fill her with junk food and have her watch Star Wars or something."

"So you never let Crystal have junk food?"

"Well not all the time."

"Of course not. Dinner is just about ready why don't you go get Crystal to clean up?"

"Sure. Barry, by the way I would love to go on a date with you."

"Is next Friday good for you?"

"Perfect."

Caitlin went to get Crystal and then the three of them sat down to dinner.

Richard sat in his motel room in Keystone. He was not going to let that bitch get away with ruining his life. She and her little brat were going to pay for what they did. His phone rang. He checked the caller ID and growled. It was his boss. Probably pissed off that he took off.

"Hi Capt. What is going on?" asked Richard

"Carson where the hell are you? I didn't give you permission to take time off!"

"Sir, I didn't think you would notice I was gone. I mean it's not like I am doing anything but sitting at a damn desk anyway."

"You are under investigation by IAB (internal affairs bureau.) Leave that woman and her kid alone. Get your ass back here or you will lose your badge."

"That will happen regardless."

"Carson, look you need to just get back here and face the consequences of your actions."

"Captain, I will come back when I am good and ready. That bitch is going to pay for ruining everything."

"Carson, you ruined your owe career. You used your rank to get those domestic abuse reports go away. That is not acceptable. Get back here in two days or I will ask the district attorney for a warrant for your arrest on domestic abuse and assault charges."

"Not happening until I teach that bitch a lesson on betraying me!"

"Then you leave me with no choice. You are now suspended indefinitely."

"Like I care."

Richard hung up and threw his phone down. He sat there for a few minutes longer before picking it up and heading out. He headed for a club owed by Bertinelli.

Caitlin watched from Crystal's door as Barry tucked her into bed. She was hit with a sense of regret that she had denied him the chance to be a father for six years. She always knew he would be a good father.

"Mommy, come help daddy." Said Crystal

"I'm coming honey."

Caitlin walked into the room. She leaned down and kissed her daughter.

"I love you sweetie." Said Caitlin

"Love you mommy. Sorry I kicked the mean lady."

"You are forgiven. But I want you to remember you don't kick people like that. If someone you don't know tries to make you go with them then it is ok to kick them ok?" said Caitlin

"What if they are hurting you?"

"If there is a grown up that can help get them. If not remember what I told you to do when Richard started to hurt me?"

"Call 911. Tell them that someone is hurting my mommy."

"Yes. Do you know our address?"

"6529 Red Wood Lane."

"Very good. Goodnight honey. Sweet dreams."

"Night mommy. Night daddy."

"Goodnight honey." Said Barry

Barry kissed Crystal and made sure Mr. Ruffles was safely in his daughter's arms then both he and Caitlin left the room. They headed downstairs and into the family room to watch tv.

"Cait?"

"What is it Barry?"

"You do know I am not going to let him hurt you again."

"Barry, you can't be with me all the time. I am not going to be a prisoner. When I started working at the clinic in Hub City, I worked five days a week up to ten hours a day. But when I left Richard it was down to two days and only five hours a day. Richard wanted me to be home all the time. Only leaving to go to the store for groceries. I had to make what he wanted to eat. Crystal won't eat fish. He wanted it once a week."

"You rarely will eat fish."

"I had to eat what he did. He tried to force me to make Crystal eat it. I didn't. That normally led to him hitting me when I told him I won't force her. I mean I do make her eat her vegetables. Which she doesn't always like."

"That is most kids."

"True."

"Did he know you are deathly allergic to peanuts?"

"Yes. He understood that so we never had anything with peanuts in the house. I don't know if Crystal is allergic or not. I haven't had her tested."

"Maybe we should get her tested. It would be for her own good."

"I know."

"Cait, you know I would never treat you like he did."

"I know. Barry, you are the kindest guy I know."

Barry reach over and gently pulled Caitlin into his arms. She felt herself relax into him. It had been a very long time since she had felt safe like this. It wasn't long before Caitlin fell to sleep. Barry carefully lifted her up and carried her up to her bed. He tucked her in and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Goodnight Cait. I love you."

Barry then headed down to his room to go to bed.