Part 25

After Crystal opened her gifts all of which she loved. Barry took Crystal out front to the driveway and sidewalk to start teaching her to ride her new bike. Henry and Eddie went to work putting together the swing set that Henry and Nora had gotten for Crystal. Nora, Erin and Patty were keeping an eye on the rest of the kids. Cisco had decided to help Barry. The three Snows went into the house for a long over due talk. Charlie sat on the living room couch next to Caitlin. Carla began to pace knowing that this was not going to go well.

"Caitlin how much do you remember about your father's illness?" asked Carla

"I remember that he tried to hide how bad he really was from us."

"Yes. He was also trying to find a cure for ALS before it killed him. He found there is a gene that causes it. He tested both you and your brother for it. He found out you had it."

"If that is true then I should be starting to show symptoms anytime now."

"Yes you should be but you aren't. Before we lost your father he was experimenting with cryogenics as a way to permanently freeze the ALS. He tried it on himself. It seemed to work at first. But then he started to change. Show signs of a dual personality. A cold personality. He also seem to make ice out of thin air. What I didn't find out until you had an accident while riding your bike was he had used the treatment on you Caitlin. It was the first and only time you showed any sign of anything your father could do." Said Carla

"So let me get this straight. Dad used me as a lab rat without your knowledge mom?" asked Caitlin

"Yes."

"If dad did something that gave me these powers like you claim why don't I have them now?"

"I took you to a hypnotherapist to block that memory. You were traumatizing by the incident. Your hair had become snow white, your skin became pale void of color and eyes had this unnatural glow. Caitlin, I was wrong to push you away. I felt guilty that I didn't protect you from what your father did. I don't know if you can ever forgive me."

"It might take time. But we do need to get along for Crystal's sake. Charlie how much of this did you know?" asked Caitlin looking at her brother.

"Only that mom hid what dad did to you from you. I found some of his papers. Not that I fully understood everything I read. But I knew he did something and that mom knew what he was working on." Said Charlie

"Caitlin those powers are still inside of you. I don't know if they will stay buried forever or if you go through some kind of trauma they could be released." Said Carla

"Ok. Um is there anything else you need to tell either of us mother?" asked Caitlin

Carla sighed knowing that she was going to have to tell her kids the truth about their father.

"Charlie, Caity there is something you both should know. Your father is not actually dead. He has imprisoned himself in a decommissioned Tannhouser site in the arctic. He did it to protect the three of us. He was losing the battle with the ice demon that was taking over his body." Said Carla

"What?!" yelled both Charlie and Caitlin

Cisco turned to look at Barry when they heard both Charlie and Caitlin yell.

"Do you think that everything is going ok in there?" asked Cisco

"Hard to tell. Cait and her mom don't have the best relationship. But I don't think that she will hurt her mom, and Charlie, he is not the kind of guy that will hurt a woman."

"Yeah I know. I never understood what Caitlin saw in Dick."

"I only saw him when he came looking for Cait a week or so ago at CCPD. She was hidden away in Captain Singh's office. He came in to the station demanding to see her."

"Do you think that Caitlin is in danger?"

"Yeah I do. Eddie saw Carson meeting with Iris. Telling her that he is going to put her in touch with a hit man to kill Crystal."

"Why didn't he arrest them?"

"Because one it was in Keystone. Two the hit man called Eddie. It's Ronnie Raymond. He is undercover in the Bertinelli crime family. Iris so far has only committed misdemeanor assault on Cait. She hasn't pressed charges. Carson needs to be locked away but in order to do that we have to catch him in the act."

"That is a load of crap."

"Watch the language." Growled Barry

"Sorry. Caitlin has gotten on me about that before."

"That is one of the reasons you won't be a loud to babysit."

"So you and Caitlin going on a date soon?"

"Not before we are sure she is safe. Cisco see that blue sedan parked a couple houses down?"

"Yeah. Noticed it when I got here. Couple of guys sitting in it."

"That is Cait's protection detail. Until Carson is no longer a threat to either Cait or Crystal they will be following her around. She is not happy about it."

"Do you really blame her? Caitlin has always been independent. Having a couple of cops follow her around kind of rains that in."

"Yeah I know. It is one of the things that made me fall in love with her."

"So were you mad at Caitlin for keeping your daughter from you for so long?"

"I was hurt. But I do understand why she would do that. I mean let's say I really had cheated on her with Iris. Iris and her group of followers made life hell for Caitlin in school. I understand that she wouldn't want Iris near Crystal."

"Not that you would have ever cheated on Caitlin to begin with."

"Yeah well Iris set it up so Caitlin would see her kiss me. I had my back to the door so I didn't see her walk in. I pushed Iris away and by the time I turned around Caitlin was running out the door of Jitters. By the time I got home Cait was gone. She had packed her stuff and left a note saying we were done. It wasn't until a couple years ago she had learned what really happened. But she had started her new life. I am just glad that she finally came back to Central City."

"But you two are going to get back together right?"

"It is a slow go right now. Cait as you know has a lot of issues with trust and can be very insecure. So right now she just wants to get herself together first."

"I get that. But you two are living in the same house."

"She sleeps in the master bedroom and I sleep in the basement. We couldn't be any farther apart in the house."

"Give it time. Once winter comes around you know that she is going to want to cuddle to stay warm."

Barry just nodded and watched his little girl on her new bike.

Carla knew that this was not going to go well. Caitlin she expected to be beyond angry with her. She also knew that Charlie would be upset with her.

"Your father is alive but possessed by an ice monster. The monster goes by Icicle. He wants to turn all of us into monsters like him." Said Carla

"Is that even possible?" asked Charlie

"He already tried with your sister. But he didn't finish. That is why I was able to find a way to suppress the powers he gave her. But I don't know if it was permanent."

"Mom, look I know that you love me. But I can't deal with this right now. There is too much going on in my life. I am just now trying to get everything back on track. I think it's time you say goodbye to the kids and go. But I do want you to send me everything dad was working on. I might be able to find a way to cure him." Said Caitlin

"Of course. You are right I do love you. I will make sure you get everything. Just promise me that you will stay away from that Harrison Wells at Star Labs. There is something about him that makes me think he is dangerous. Your father talked with him to come up with this treatment."

"I promise that I won't trust him."

"Good. If you find anything call me. I promise I won't dodge them any more. I will even inform my assistant that if you call me at the office that unless I am in an important meeting that your call is top priority."

"Ok mom. Love you."

"Love you both."

Carla hugged her children and then head outside to say goodbye to Erin and her grandchildren as well as the Allens and Barry.

"Barry promise you will not let this mad man hurt my daughter or granddaughter." Said Carla

"Dr. Tannhouser, I will protect them with my life. I love them both more then I can express."

"Good."

Carla hugged Crystal and then headed for her car so she could go get the information Caitlin needed.