Captain Singh rarely went upstairs, to the laboratory of the CSI department, or, like everyone in the precinct called it, Barry's lab.
Barry Allen was this kid who had spent most of his life in that precinct. The quiet and polite but lovely and happy little boy who came after school to do his homework was like the little brother of all the precinct. But, happy, he had so many reasons not to be.
Barry was barely thirty but he already had passed through more than his batch of tragedies. It all began when he was eleven as he saw his mother be violently murdered and his father be convicted and incarcerated. And while everybody believed in his father's guilt, Barry was the only one who knew he was innocent. He spent the next fifteen years trying to exculpate his father, never losing faith in his father while everyone else kept repeating he was delusional. He finally succeeded in clearing up the name of his father. But only a year after his release, his father died too in some strange circumstances. And there was the murder of Clifford DeVoe for which Barry was designed guilty. Such a sad like father, like son. There was also a schooling marked by harassment and the misfortune of being struck by lightning which put him in coma for nine months. It wasn't really a good score at the moment. A lot of people would have probably already gone wrong or, worse, give up !
But Barry stayed on the straight path, hung on to life, became this talented, passionate and dedicated CSI and this brillant, brave, honest and lovely young man. Barry could be proud of the man he became. Of course, he didn't become who he was on his own. Detective Joe West, who took Barry in after his mother's death, Henry and Nora Allen before him, with their incredible education and their love, helped Barry develop all his capacities. But his sense of honor, his strong character and his good heart came first from Barry.
This golden boy had only one downside: his sickly tardiness. Singh held it against him just because he was his captain so he had to. Singh truly believed in his employee. Despite him being late countless times and his sometimes very incredible excuses, Barry Allen was the best crime scene investigator of the Central City Police Department. Maybe he was, with Joe West, the best factor of all the law enforcement : meticulousness, kindness, work always finished on time, never a cold case. His desire to make the city safer was the only thing as strong as his will to help the victims, the innocents.
David would never admit it to anyone, even under duress. But he esteemed this kid. A lot. And he felt honored to have seen him grow and blossom as a man. If only Don Southworth could retire ! But this old, arrogant, despicable leech who had absolutely no passion and no talent for his work hung on to his position of CSI's director because he had perfectly understood who would succeed him.
Singh reached Barry's lab. The door was opened. By all the very few times talking with his CSI required to see him in his lab, Singh had once had the misfortune to come when the door was closed. He never did it again. But today Singh could talk with his employee safely. Plus, Barry already had a visitor. And this visitor was Joe West. It could only be Joe West. Foster father and son ? Father-in-law and son-in-law ? Friends ? Joe called Barry son and Barry called Joe Joe. It was hard to put a word on the relationship between the detective and the forensic. Unique was probably the best way to describe the link between these two men. They shared a connection so strong and a respect so deep !
- Bar, you have to explain something to me, Joe said while Singh walked in the laboratory.
But his oncoming went unnoticed by the men. Singh stayed on the doorstep.
- It has been raining all day. You have a stack of files as high as the tower of Mercury Labs. You have to testify tomorrow at the first hour for a case with the same judge who convicted your father and the same D.A. who convicted you for DeVoe. You got your ass kicked once again. By the way, we can still see the smudges on your face. I'm pretty sure you just hung up with a furious Caitlin who harangued you to leave S.T.A.R. Labs before you completely healed. And just because I see you striving against this poor centrifuge, I assume it's still out of service.
Barry raised his head from his defective machine. Then, Singh could see the swollen face of the young man. What the hell did he do ?
- I've been trying to fix it for two days ! Barry groaned before he went back to his reparation.
His centrifuge didn't work for two days ? But these last two days, the forensic transmitted to Singh some test results which can only be obtained by using a centrifuge. So how could he obtain them without a centrifuge ?
- However, you are radiating happiness ! Joe exclaimed. I know optimism is one of your superpowers, but here, you have to share your secret.
Barry put down the tool he was using and sighed. It wasn't an angry sigh or a tired sigh or a desperate sigh. It was a happy sigh.
- Iris is pregnant.
- Oh… Joe reacted.
Singh couldn't see Joe's face. But he could perfectly imagine the big smile of the detective and his watery eyes. Of course, the captain didn't feel the same happiness as his two best men. Though, he was still happy for Barry. And he was touched by what he was seeing.
- Oh Bar… Come here, Joe said once he found his voice back, opening his arms to Barry.
The two men shared a big hug.
- I'm so glad for you, son. For both of you.
- Thanks Joe.
Singh was on his way to leave, thinking he should give these two more privacy.
But the conversation turned in an unexpected way which raised the curiosity of the captain, formerly a detective too. So Singh stayed.
- Iris, my baby girl… Joe said. She must be in heaven.
- She will be, Barry corrected, sitting again on his stool, behind his centrifuge.
- What do you mean "she will be" ?
- Iris doesn't know. Not yet. And, besides, if you could not tell her for the moment…
- Barry ?
Then, the young man looked just like a kid who made a mistake and had to tell his parents : grin, blushed cheekbones, head down but eyes up to Joe.
- Last night, while I was trying a new function of my suit with Cisco, I may had accidentally ended up…
Barry downed his head a little bit more, ready to take the harangue he expected.
- … into the future.
The future ? How was it possible?
If until there, Joe had reacted the same as Singh did, he didn't this time. And Singh couldn't say what was the most surprising : what Barry said or what Joe answered.
- Again ? Joe choked.
And Singh spoke faster than he thought.
- How the hell, Allen, could you say you went into the f… You went into the future ?!
Joe and Barry jumped and faced their superior.
- David ?
- Captain ?
With their horrified faces, Singh understood he just heard a conversation he shouldn't have. Barry's lips moved but no words escaped from it, showing his intense but unsuccessful thinking to find a good explanation for his captain. All the ones he found should be as extravagant and improbable as his excuses for his beings late.
- Otherwise I tell him everything, Barry said talking to Joe.
- Are you sure ?
It was just a matter of time for him to discover it. And the captain is more than trustworthy.
- Do what you want. It's your secret Barry…
While the other two were discussing his case like he wasn't here, Singh began to put all the pieces together. Going into the future was impossible. But run faster than the speed of sound should be too. But there was The Flash and all these strange events since the particle accelerator exploded. And Barry had also been hit by the following thunderstorm. So maybe he had been affected too !
- You are a metahuman Allen.
It wasn't a question but Barry nodded.
- Who can time travel.
- Among others.
- Because it's not your only power ?! Singh choked.
Barry nodded again.
And then it struck Singh.
- Allen ! Your face ?!
The face of the young man was immaculate. Few minutes ago, wasn't it completely bruised ?
- You can also regenerate ? Singh asked.
- Technically, everyone can. I just heal faster than others. I can also phase through objects, become invisible, stop the time, walk on water, walk on walls, produce electricity, travel between dimensions…
Singh's eyes widened more and more while Barry enumerated all his abilities. The captain mumbled some incomprehensible sounds. There was a lot of information.
- How is it possible ? he gasped when he was able to formulate intelligible questions.
- Just a matter of physics, explained the forensic. A matter of speed.
- You are The Flash?!
Too much. This time, it was too much. Singh suddenly needed to sit. But there was no chair, no corner of table, anything which can be used to sit available in his close environment.
But the second after, he was sitting on a stool, the one Barry was using just before.
- You are The Flash… Singh repeated, astonished.
Barry Allen was The Flash. The Flash was Barry Allen. Singh was so far from imagining that the one who hid behind the mask of the Central City protector was Barry Allen. It wasn't because Singh thought it was absurd. Or maybe a little bit. Because the kid could sometimes be really clumsy and awkward. It was mostly because Singh didn't expect to be so close to The Flash all these years !
He had so much to tell him. He had already talked to The Flash or honored the hero. He never had the occasion to thank the man. And now he had this chance, he was at a loss for words.
The captain remembered all those good deeds The Flash had made, all these times The Flash saved the city and the world, all these times The Flash saved him and he remembered this time The Flash saved Rob. And Singh considered all the risks, all the sacrifices that were required to be a superhero. Everything he did, The Flash did it by risking his life. But he could also put the life of his family and his friends in danger. Then, Singh understood. Henry Allen's death had a connection with vigilante activities of his son. And it was just the tip of the iceberg. Singh knew it. He couldn't imagine all the pain Barry Allen had already endured and he didn't want to imagine all the one he would have to endure just because he had been struck by lightning. Singh's admiration for his employee grew a little bit more. It grew up again by considering the kid would never give up this so perilous and so consuming life. Saving people, helping people, that was in his genes. That was vital, for The Flash as for Barry.
Regaining composure, Singh stood up and offered a hand to the young man.
- Thank you, Barry.
Barry couldn't hide his astonishment while he accepted the hand shake. Singh had never called him by his first name before.
- So, the future ?
- I know. It sounds crazy, Barry admitted.
Like everything that has happened in Central City for a few years. But, tell me. I want to know. When did you go ?
- March 14th.
- In a couple of days ?
- On your birthday ? Joe asked.
Barry nodded.
- It's her present for you, isn't it ?
- Yes Joe.
- That's why you want me to not tell Iris, don't you ?
- You know her ability to find good ideas !
Joe laughed and turned to Singh.
- Barry gives Iris a replica of her mother's wedding ring, she gives him a microscope. Barry gives her a home. Iris gives him a wallet.
The disproportion effectively was a little bit ridiculous.
- If you know what it is, it's not a surprise anymore, Singh pointed out.
- But it's still a gift. And the most fabulous of all.
David and Joe shared a softened look. They didn't have any doubt. Barry Allen as a dad would be the cutest thing ever.
- I'm so excited. I will meet my daughter again and I will take her in my arms again.
- Again ? Why again ? Singh asked.
- I have already met my daughter. You too by the way, Captain.
- Me ?
- You remember Nora ? My former assistant?
Singh remembered her perfectly. He also perfectly remembered his first meeting with the young woman. It had been quite atypical. He had the same feeling during Barry's interview.
- She is…
Singh couldn't finish his sentence. Barry did it for him.
- My daughter, yes.
- But… how… Time travel !
Barry slowly nodded.
- As father, as daughter, Singh smiled. So Nora is XS, I presume?
- Herself.
And Singh started to ask plenty of questions. He wanted to understand how Barry's power worked, to know how he had defeated his enemies. The super-hero wasn't upset by this complet examination. Actually, he willingly participated in it. Barry explained, briefly for once, what were phasing, flashtime, time travel, multidimensional travel too. Singh learnt that Reverse Flash came from the future, Zoom came from another Earth and Savitar was actually an evil version of Barry. With all the compassion and the modesty Singh knew him for, the hero understated his part to put forward the one of his team, Joe, Iris, Wally West, Caitlin Snow, Cisco Ramon, Cecile Horton, Ralph Dibny too.
It was a lot to assimilate but Singh couldn't stop himself from asking more and more questions.
The only thing which got Singh to stop was an alarm. It came from Barry's phone.
- Fire at Central City Conference Center, Barry said to Joe.
Red lightnings appeared around the young man, ready to rush. But he stopped himself and turned to Singh, a grin on his face. Leaving his work in the middle of his day work right in front of his superior was probably not the best idea.
- You can go, Singh gave his permission. Run Barry. Run.
Barry thanked him with a respectful nod.
Then, he flashed his way out, letting behind him a swarm of flying papers and a choked Captain Singh.
You will be used to it one day, David, Joe laughed before leaving the room.
Singh stayed here a few seconds, looking through the window at the red streak which was splitting the city's streets.
Then, he also left Barry's lab, The Flash's lab.
