"Dammit, dammit, dammit!" Joe hollered, slamming a fist down on his desk. His blood boiled with rage at the report pulled up on his screen. If Joe wasn't so civilized, he would've chucked the computer, and all other contents on his desk, across the room.

Eddie winced when he heard the loud crack of fist against wood, and the curses Joe was shouting. Considering the current situation the precinct was in, that meant nothing good. Besides, when did it mean anything good on a normal day, anyways? Eddie quickly stood from his desk, and made his way over to check in on Joe, bracing himself for the news that was only going to worsen his, already stressful, day.

"Joe?" Eddie spoke, stepping cautiously towards the older man. He made note of how stiff his jaw was, hands clenching and unclenching. Joe's gaze was fixed on the bright computer screen, a murderous stare that made Eddie's throat want to close up. "What happened?"

"The CSI just sent me the report on the analysis of the blood sample we found by Miller and Creek." Joe growled.

At that moment, Eddie completely understood what had Joe so upset, and his gut churned with unease at the reaction it elicited from the detective. That was their only lead, and based on the way Joe was crushing his coffee cup, sending the hot contents spilling onto his hand, he knew nothing good came from it. Still, Eddie needed to know for sure.

"And?"

Joe looked up at Eddie with a menacing glare, one that said isn't it painfully obvious?

"And it came back as inconclusive." Any composure Joe had been sporting went completely down the drain the moment he'd spoken those words, making the situation ten times more real. He swiped a forceful arm across his desk, sending all papers, and any other items, including his favorite mug, and a photo of Barry and Iris, flying onto the ground.

Eddie made a painful face as the mug shattered, and papers scattered around his area. "Okay, inconclusive is better than the blood turning out to be an animal, or someone else's, right? It means the CSI just needs to test it again, and see if he can get a match. There's still a chance it could be his, don't lose all hope yet, Joe." Eddie tried his best at finding a positive side to this terrible mess that had been created over the past week. "We'll find him."

Joe's expression went from hard, and furious, to weak, and shaky. He swiped a hand down his face, and took in a deep breath. "I don't know what I'm going to tell Iris, Eddie. I have yet to tell her, hoping we could find him before then, but now that it's been over a week…I can't bear to think of the expression that is going to be on her face when I give her the news."

Eddie nodded understandingly, and walked around the mess that Joe created on the floor, to give him a reassuring pat on the back. "I can tell her if you want." He offered.

To Eddie's surprise, Joe shook his head, and stood up. "It needs to be me, Eddie. Thanks for the offer, though." Joe walked out to the main foyer of the precinct, and stared at the elevator, it had been the last place he'd seen Barry.

"You know she didn't mean it, Bear. Just give her some space."

"No, Joe, that's just it, she did."

"Barry, where are you going?"

"I can't be here right now."

"Home?"

"No. Iris is there. I think I'm just going to go for a run, clear my head."

"Okay, stay safe."

"Yeah."

Joe crossed his arms over his chest, still staring at the elevator, he mumbled under his breath, "Where are you, Barry?"

EIGHT DAYS PRIOR

Iris was furious. Beyond furious. It had been over a week since her last talk with Barry, since he kicked her out of his lab, and Iris was fed up. She knew he was avoiding her. When Iris called him, her phone would ring twice before it went to voicemail. She would try to visit the precinct, and when she caught Barry's eye, he would break the eye-contact, and scurry up to his lab. He'd been coming home late, later than usual, and going to work early. Iris never got a chance to talk to him. She was angry. She knew Barry was hiding something, bearing the weight of a secret, and it offended Iris that he hadn't told her.

So when Iris stepped out of the elevator of the precinct, she had the full intention of prying it out of him.

Joe's eye caught his daughter's and he waved her over. Iris didn't want to talk to her dad at the moment, she wanted to bust into Barry's lab and talk to him, still she walked over to Joe, and gave him a smile.

"Hey, baby, what brings you here?" Joe asked, standing from his chair to give her a hug.

"I want to talk to Barry. He's up in his lab, right?"

"He said he was busy right now, and didn't want to be bothe-"

"I don't give a damn! He can fit five minutes into his day to talk to his best friend, he's done it for three years!"

Joe sighed, "You can try, though his door might be locked."

"Not for long." Iris growled, and marched up the stairs.

"Barry?" Iris knocked on his lab door, and then slowly opened it, peeping her head in. At first, she didn't notice him, but when Iris heard his locker shut, she stepped in, and saw Barry, pulling a shirt over his head. What Iris didn't expect to see, was the deep purple bruise that feathered up his rib cage. Acting on instinct, Iris slammed the lab door shut, and bolted over to Barry, who just now noticed her, any anger she might have been feeling, immediately turned into alarm.

"Iris, hey." He said awkwardly, forcing a smile.

"Barry! What the hell happened to you!?" By the time she managed to speak, Barry had already gotten the shirt on, and was heading back over to his desk. Iris stopped him, grabbing Barry's wrist, and spinning him around.

"Wha-what...do you mean?"

"Don't play dumb with me, Allen. I saw it." Iris pointed at Barry's side.

"Oh that? That's nothing, I'm fine." Barry waved a dismissive hand, breaking into a cold sweat.

"Let me see it, and I'll determine whether it's nothing."

"Iris-"

"Bartholomew." Iris dragged out his name in a painfully long way, and Barry sighed.

"Really, I'm fine."

"Then you shouldn't have a problem with me looking." Without warning, Iris grabbed the hem of his shirt, and rolled it up halfway, gasping when she saw the bruise up close. Iris reached out, and gently ran her fingers along it, feeling how swollen it was. Shades of deep purples, yellows, and browns speckled his side. Tears pricked at her eyes, and she looked up to meet Barry's, taking note of the blush that had creeped to his cheeks.

Iris also noticed just how tired Barry looked. His hair wasn't styled like it normally was, sweeped up in that adorable way he managed, instead it was sloppily gelled back, strands of it falling in front of his eyes, which had light bags under them. Yet, somehow, it added a, dare she say it, hotness to him that Iris had never seen before.

"Oh my God." She breathed, "What happened to you!?"

Barry gave her a nervous smile, and tensed when Iris pulled his shirt over his head to get a better look at it.

"It's nothing, really."

"Barry, this isn't nothing!" Iris squealed, dropping his sweater by their feet and touching the bruise again. When Iris looked back up to meet Barry's eyes, anger bubbled up inside her. "Who did this to you, Bear?"

Barry grabbed her wrist suddenly, startling Iris, and pulled her hand away from his abdomen, continuing to hold her when he looked straight into her eyes. "Iris, I'm okay. It was just some stupid kid."

"What!?"

"I was walking home, he jumped me, wanting my money, and when I refused, he landed some kicks on me before I managed to fight back."

"Do you even realize what he did to you!?"

"Hey, if you think this is bad, you should see the other guy." Barry laughed, but Iris found no amusement in this situation. Her Barry, fighting his way out of a mugging?

"Did you call the police?"

"I am the police."

Iris slapped Barry's shoulder. "You know what I mean!"

Barry shrugged, "He was just some punk, I handled it."

"You handled it? Barry last time I checked you could hardly throw a punch!"

"I've learned some things."

Iris was astounded at how nonchalant Barry was being. "You're acting like you get hurt this bad on a regular basis, Barry! This isn't something to just shrug off!"

"Maybe it does happen to me on a regular basis." Barry smirked, walking back over to his desk, still shirtless.

"This isn't funny, Barry! You could have broken something! What if you broke a rib and it punctures a lung? Or you could be bleeding internally! Did you even see a doctor?"

"Iris!" Barry spun around, and grabbed her shoulders, bringing his face close to hers. He thought the proximity would help it get through to her that he was okay, but now all he was doing was causing the both of them to blush. He was still shirtless, and he had his chest pressed to hers. What would that even look like to someone who randomly walked in? Barry shook his thoughts away, and met Iris' eyes. "I'm fine. No broken ribs, no internal bleeding, just a nasty bruise that looks worse than it is, alright?"

Iris started to cry, and Barry cupped her cheeks with his hands. "It's okay, Iris." He placed a kiss on her forehead, and walked over to put his shirt back on, wincing when he had to bend over.

"Barry, why didn't you tell me what happened? Why haven't you been talking to me? I know something is going on with you, you've been distant. I just want to know why."

"Iris, I haven't been dista-"

"Yes you have!" She snapped, anger replacing sadness. "This is a perfect example! You get mugged and you don't think that's something you should tell your best friend, Barry!?"

Barry sighed, running a hand through his hair. He didn't have the strength to deal with her outbursts right now. It's the very reason he hadn't been talking to her very much, that and because it always took a Flash-related turn, and he didn't want to have to kick her out again.

"First of all, I wasn't mugged, it was an attempted muggi-"

"Oh don't give me that bullshit, Barry! You ended up with that!"

Barry was about to argue, when his phone rang. Iris took in an aggravated breath, and Barry pulled it out.

"Now really isn't the best time, man." Barry sighed, trying to contain his snippiness.

"Sorry, I know you're busy, but there's a riot going on down by where the STAR Labs extension warehouse is being constructed, maybe The Flash could go down there and try and clear things up." Cisco's voice sounded small, like he was worried about upsetting Barry.

He and Caitlin had been very aware of the stress Barry was under recently from the Demova case, and Iris, so they tried not to disturb him too much by cancelling test days for him.

"Yeah, alright, bye."

Barry looked up from his phone with a sheepish look on his face.

"Barry." Iris warned, knowing what he was about to say.

"Iris I-"

"Don't say it. You can wait five minutes!"

"-have to go." Barry finished, and turned to head for the door, only to be stopped once more when Iris stepped in front of him, and placed a hand on his chest.

"Can't we talk!?"

Barry rubbed his neck anxiously, staring at the door, and then her. "I need to do this, Iris. It's urgent."

"It always is, isn't it?" Iris growled, crossing her arms.

"Iris, it isn't like that!"

"Yes it is! At least tell me what you're doing!"

Barry shook his head and headed for the lab door again, ignoring Iris. He felt extremely guilty, but it was either the riot or Iris' feelings, and it pained him to say it, but the riot was more important at the moment.

"Barry!"

"Iris, we can talk when I get back. I'm sorry." With that, Barry headed down the stairs, shooting Iris an apologetic look.

Iris was shocked, standing frozen at the top step. She didn't understand what had Barry acting so strange, why he couldn't tell her. It was a simple question where are you going? Why couldn't he tell her a damn thing!? Did he know the pain he was causing her? Was Barry deliberately trying to make Iris feel this way? She felt like her whole world had shattered as she watched him step into that elevator. Iris wasn't having it. She was done with all of his nonsense.

Joe saw everything. He watched sadly from his desk. Even from afar, he could tell what was playing out. The tears that brimmed Iris' eyes, the hesitant looks Barry kept sending her as he walked off. Joe got up from his chair, and walked over to his daughter.

"You alright, babe?"

"No, I'm not okay!" She snapped, voice hitching in her throat. "Dad, what is going on with him, why isn't he telling me anything? It's liking he's shutting me out, and I have no idea why."

Joe let out a breath of air, and placed an understanding hand on her shoulder.

"He's just going through some...stuff...right now. Give him some time."

Iris snapped her head up and glared at Joe. "Time!? That's all I've been giving him! He's been like this for almost a year now, everyday distancing himself from me a little more, and the space is suffocating! I need my Barry Allen back in my life." Iris' eyes dawned with a look of realization. "Ever since that damn coma." She whispered, the memory of pre-coma Barry hitting her like a ton of bricks. "He used to always smile, used to light up like a Christmas tree when he saw me, share every little feeling with me, ramble nerdy things to me, call me late at night to have talks about random things that were on our mind."

"He's just struggling to come to grips with things, Iris. He missed nine months of his life."

"Then why doesn't he talk to me about it? Why does he insist on keeping it to himself? Did you know he was mugged, or rather someone tried to mug him. Barry said he managed to fight him off, our Barry fighting off a mugger! I only found out about it because I caught him while he was putting a shirt on, and saw the nasty bruise he had as a souvenir from that little punk. He didn't report it or anything, just shrugged it off like it was a normal thing!" Iris turned to look at Joe, and was surprised when she saw a small smile on his face. "What is so damn funny!? You and Barry act like he couldn't have died if things got out of hand!"

Joe shrugged, "Barry is tougher than he lets on."

"And what is that supposed to mean? That under that skinny body he's Hulk?"

Joe didn't have time to answer, before the elevator dinged, and Barry walked out. Iris didn't think it was possible, but somehow, in the five or so minutes he was gone, Barry managed to come back looking even more worn out.

"Do you know where he went?" Iris asked Joe, looking up at him hoping to get an answer.

Joe knew what it most likely was, and his idea was confirmed when the news caught his ear.

"And just now, The Flash has done it again. Or resident speedster just calmed down a riot happening at the construction site of the new STAR Labs warehouse. If you're listening to this, Flash, we just want to give you a huge thanks, you make our city a safer place. Moving on to-"

Barry smiled up at the television, and mouthed a you're welcome before turning around, and ramming right into Iris.

"Woah! Sorry."

"Now are you going to tell me where the hell you went?"

"Iris you make it sound like I've gone to do drugs or something. Relax."

"For all I know you could've! I hardly know you anymore, Barry!"

"Iris-"

"No, you're going to listen to me. I understand that missing nine months of your life is difficult, and I get that, but that is what I'm here for. Do you even realize that up until today I hadn't heard your voice in over a week?"

Barry felt his eyes starting to sting with tears, and he pinched the bridge of his nose in an attempt to keep them in.

"You're supposed to be my best friend, Barry!"

At that, Barry felt his blood boil. "I am your best friend!"

"Really?" Iris scoffed, "Because right now it doesn't feel like it."

"Iris, I'm sorry t-"

"Sorry about what? Sorry that you're keeping something from me? Sorry that you won't talk to me anymore? Sorry that I can't even consider us to be close anymore? Which one? All of the above sounds about right." Iris growled. She didn't want to create such a big scene in front of the entire precinct, but she would take getting to talk to Barry in front of a bunch of people, to not talking at all. "So go right ahead, Barry, explain to me what's been going on, I'm listening, and it better be a good reason or I'll walk straight into that elevator."

Barry felt his mouth go dry. There was no way he could come up with a believable lie that quickly, he sent Joe a panicked glance, only to receive one from the older man.

"Iris, I...I don't know what to tell you. I didn't think it meant so much to you that I spend every second of my day with you." Barry didn't know when he suddenly started making snippy comments at Iris, after all, she was right.

"I'm not asking for every second with you, dammit, and you know that, I'm just asking for you to talk to me again, to act like you did before that godforsaken coma changed you!"

"It didn't change me, Iris. I'm still Barry." Barry felt his chest tighten at her words.

"Yeah, well you aren't my Barry." Iris' eyes grew wide the moment she spoke those words, and she felt like her world collapsed in on her, when she watched the tears that had formed in Barry's eyes, spill over.

Barry felt like he'd been hit with a ton of bricks, all aiming for his heart, and his lungs. His throat constricted, his breathing suddenly became labored. And then he watched Iris turn on her heel, and leave. Just like that, she was gone.

Barry stood there, staring at the elevator, begging she would come back, and they could hug it out, but she didn't. He jumped when he felt a firm hand on his shoulder, and turned around to see Joe, his eyes also watery.

"You heard?"

"Yeah."

Barry nodded, a solemn look on his face.

Joe knew what he was thinking, and was quick to address Iris' words.

"You know she didn't mean it, Bear. Just give her some space."

"No, Joe, that's just it, she did." Barry swiped a tear from his cheek, and turned to leave.

"Barry, where are you going?"

"I can't be here right now."

"Home?"

"No. Iris is there. I think I'm just going to go for a run, clear my head."

"Okay, stay safe."

"Yeah."

If Iris knew that was the last time she'd see Barry, her words would have probably ended differently. If Joe knew that Barry wasn't going to come back, he would have chased him down, made sure he never left the precinct.

UH OH...