Part 21

Caitlin was surprised at first but soon found herself returning it with all the passion she had ever felt for the man next to her. When they broke it was only for some much needed air. Caitlin moved away from Barry biting her lip.

"Cait, I am sorry. I shouldn't have just kissed you like that." Said Barry

"You did nothing wrong. Barry, I know that I am all over the place. But I do love you. While I think we need to go slow and get to know each other again. That doesn't mean that we can't kiss once in a while."

"Yeah?"

"But don't expect much more than that for a while."

"Cait, how many times do I have to tell you. I will wait forever for you. Anything you can give me right now is more than fine. I am just happy that you are back in my life."

"Leaving you was one of the biggest mistakes of my life. Keeping Crystal from you was the biggest."

"I have forgiven you for that. I want you to know that if I had been with Iris and you told me you didn't want Iris around Crystal, I would have respected that. I would honor those wishes of yours."

"Thank you. Barry just so you know I don't have ill will towards Joe West. I know he is nothing like his daughter. I just don't know where she got this mean streak from."

"Probably her mom. I don't know much about the former Mrs. Joe West. But I do know she abandoned her family when Iris was little. But from what I have heard she wasn't the nicest person after Iris was born."

"Barry, my mom was never there for me emotionally even before my dad died. But that didn't turned me into a mean bitch."

"No but you were emotionally guarded for a long time. It took me a lot of work to break through that wall of ice you had built around your heart. I get you were scared of being hurt."

"That is part of why I need therapy before we can begin again."

"I get that. I mean it take all the time you need."

"Thank you Barry. I should get to bed. I have an early shift tomorrow. I have to be at the hospital at seven in the morning."

"Ok good night Cait. I love you."

"Night Barry."

Caitlin headed upstairs to her room. Barry headed down to his room to take a cold shower and try not to think about the woman in the bedroom upstairs that owes his heart.

Eddie walked into his house to find his family watching a movie. He smiled at seeing Toy Story on the screen. He kissed Patty.

"Is everything ok?" asked Patty

"Caitlin and Crystal are in a lot of danger. Iris met with Carson at a bar in Keystone. Carson is going to hook Iris up with a hitman to kill Crystal. Carson wants Iris to kill Caitlin herself. But make it look like an accident. You know about Caitlin's peanut allergy."

"Yeah. Let me guess he wants Iris to put peanut oil or something like that in Caitlin's drink."

"Yeah. But here is the thing the best way to mask something like that would be in hard liquor bourbon, rum, or whiskey. But Caitlin won't drink stuff like that. She gets drunk way to easy on that stuff."

"She would notice something like in her coffee. She mostly drinks vanilla lattes."

"Patty, we will do everything we can to protect both Caitlin and Crystal. I got a buddy who is a cop with Keystone PD. He knows the cop undercover in Bertinelli organization in Keystone. So I am going to talk to my buddy tomorrow and have him keep an eye on things in Keystone."

"Good. I picked up the gifts for Crystal's birthday after work today."

"Cool what did you get her?"

"Well Caitlin said Crystal wasn't really into dolls so I found this beginner science kit. I figured since both her parents are really into science it was a good choice. That will be from you and me. From the kids she is getting the game Operation."

"Caitlin is going say something about that game not being anatomical correct or something."

"It is just a game and it's fun."

"I know babe. But Caitlin can take things a bit serious at times."

"I guess I have to take your word for it. You have known her a lot longer."

"Yeah Charlie, Caitlin and their mom moved here a few months after Charlie and Caitlin's dad died. He had been sick for a while from what I heard. He had ALS."

"Wow. I didn't know that. Caitlin hasn't talk about her childhood much when we are together."

"That is not a surprise. Caitlin is very guarded. She doesn't let people in very easily. Barry was the first person to really get her to open up other than her brother."

"I really want to be her friend."

"Just give her time babe. When she is ready she will let you in."

"I hope you are right."

Eddie kissed his wife loving how she was willing to be there for his best friend's sister. After the movie ended they put the kids to bed for the night.

Richard sat at a back table when his contract walked in the bar. The clean cut man walked over to him and sat down.

"What do you want Carson? And why the hell are you in Keystone? Bertinelli told you to stay in Hub City."

"That bitch I was with left me and is hiding out in Central City. No girl leaves me unless I say they can. But I can deal with her. What I need is for you to get rid of her brat. This is the number and name of the woman that will pay you for doing this."

"Carson, let me get this straight. You want me to kill a kid just because it's mom dumped you?"

"No this Iris wants the brat's daddy and to hurt my bitch. She thinks if this guy loses his kid that he will need to be comfort and she wants to be the one to give it."

"Won't that just bring the parents of the kid closer? I mean it has done it to others."

"That won't be an issue. I am getting Iris to give her something to put her in the hospital. From there I will take care of her for good."

The man hid his shock. He could not break his cover in front of Carson.

"So you want me to take care of the kid. But you will take out the mother yourself?"

"You got a problem with that?"

"Nope. But taking out a kid won't be cheap."

"You will get your money don't worry about it."

The man nodded and headed out of the bar. He pulled out his phone and made a call.

"Captain it's Ronnie Raymond. Carson wants to kill Caitlin Snow and her kid. He has Iris West helping him. Her dad is with CCPD."

"Raymond, do you know these people?"

"Yes sir. I went to high school with them. Iris West and her friends made life hell for Caitlin. Caitlin is the smartest person I ever met. I mean a true genius. She didn't have a lot of friends because she came off as cold. I got to know her a little because I was friends with her older brother. Caitlin is a good person. Just hasn't had it easy."

"Didn't Thawne transfer over to CCPD a while back?"

"Yes sir. I will call him in the morning. By the way I did get the conversation with Carson on tape."

"Good going. Go home to that girl of yours."

"You might not want to call Caroline a girl to her face. She may be short but her temper is as hot as her hair is red. Just like her older sister Erin. Who is married to Caitlin's brother Charlie."

"I will remember that. Call Thawne in the morning make sure CCPD has someone watching Ms. Snow."

"Will do."

Ronnie hung up and headed home. There was no way he was going to let anyone kill Caitlin or her daughter. He would be a bad friend if he didn't try and protect the sister of his friend.