Hello everyone, I'm back with another chapter. I think I'm going to proceed with OTF as multi one-shot stories and the stories won't be going in any kind of order. I would like to thank everyone for the support and for the great advice that some of you gave to me.
ShanouNash: Thank you for the advice on where I should go with this story. I appreciate the tips on my writing. It's funny because I find myself struggling the most with past and present tenses. Thank you so much for the kind words.
Samantha: Thank you for reminding me about the legalities and copyrighting for the story.
Crying mink and TheLifeStruggleIsREAL: Thank you for the praise.
This chapter will be focused on the after effects of the Crisis on Earth X Crossover episodes (4x08). More specifically on the reaction OTF will have on Professor's Stein's death. I wished they would have focused more on their reactions just because Professor Stein had an impact on each of their personal development.
All characters, story plot lines, and some dialogue belongs to the writers, producers of The Flash and The CW. I do not own the rights to any of them just the idea is my own.
Note: Italicized words are flashbacks.
Feel free to write a review on your thoughts.
Chapter 2: He's Still a Part of Us.
Barry knew he should be happy. The gang fought together and averted the crisis. Earth 1 will live to see another day and he just got married. As ill timing as it was, it should have been a moment of happiness. However, now that the battle was won, vows had been exchanged and his friends had returned to their homes. There's nothing left to distract his inner thoughts. The grief he felt over the loss of a dear friend began to consume him.
"They say it's going to change the world." Barry exclaimed excitingly
"I hope so." Stein said as he smiled gently.
Barry smiled at the memory of their first meeting. It was almost fate that brought Professor Stein and him together on that train ride before his life got changed. He had learned so much from the professor. Stein taught him the reality of time travelling. The break down of the potential for a multiverse. He was a mentor to Team Flash. He provided so much knowledge and all he ever wanted in return was to be with his family. A lone tear escaped his eye and rolled down his cheek. Man, he wishes he had some of that Cisco/Caitlin alcohol right about now. His apartment now felt confining more than welcoming and he knew he had to take a breather. Barry shrugged on a coat and stepped out into the night.
In a small apartment, Cisco had Wrath of Khan playing in hopes that it would provide him some comfort. Now normally this movie would capture his full attention regardless of the amount of times he had watched it. However, Cisco found it difficult to be one with the Enterprise when his thoughts were filled with Professor Stein. Cisco was saddened by the fact that the world had lost a great mind, an even greater hero and not to mention creator of one of the coolest metahuman nickname ever. A hero that most people didn't even know of due to the schematics of how F.I.R.E.S.T.O.R.M operated. Professor Stein was gone, really gone. Not like oh I'm dead, let me resurrect myself as a zombie or use some holy hot tub water. Cisco will never have another chance to see the excitement the Professor would have when he spoke about different scientific topics.
"It's okay to be afraid you know." Stein stated.
A flood of emotions came as Cisco remembered their conversation about his powers. The Professor was the first person he trusted to share his powers with. Cisco realized that he never properly gave the professor a thank you for not only trying to reassure him but also for keeping his promise by remaining silent about Cisco's powers. Cisco could only whimper at the loss opportunity and ventured out his apartment with one goal in mind.
Caitlin hovered in front of her fireplace cocooning herself in a blanket in hopes of warming herself up, her efforts proving to be futile. Tonight, Caitlin's world felt a lot colder than usual considering her powers. The object held within her right hand felt colder than everything else. Her wedding ring. It has been so long since Caitlin had taken it out but tonight it felt appropriate to do so. It is her last connection to Ronnie now that Professor Stein had passed. Even thinking that was absurd to Caitlin. Professor Stein was by no means at a young age but his thirst for adventure and knowledge was convincing. The thought of not having Dr. Stein around had never crossed her mind and to have him taken away so quickly hurt so badly. Since Ronnie's absence in her life, Professor Stein had continued to make sure that she was okay.
"We will all be there for you." Stein proclaimed reassuringly.
Considering her fears of Frost, he reassured her that she had friends and family that will protect her. Unknowingly, Professor Stein became a father figure for her. Someone who she could open up to freely about Ronnie because of their shared love for the man. Caitlin found her grasp on her ring getting tighter and her control over her emotions slipping. She couldn't help but feel angry at another moment of unfairness in her life. She has yet again lost another person that she loves. The lit fire began to shimmer down as Caitlin felt the temperature of her apartment slowly decreasing. Frost itching to come out as her anger rose. Caitlin willed Frost away, placed her ring away, and quickly headed for the door. Her apartment is now the last place she wants to be.
For once, Barry decided to walk instead of his usual run. Running had always been calming for him but today he wanted to take it slow. He had no plans and just let his feet wander as he continued to think of his previous memories of the professor. It shouldn't be too big of a surprise that his thoughts brought him to Central City cemetery towards the professor's grave. What was a surprise to him though was the sight of a shadow of another person standing in front of the professor's grave.
"Caitlin?" Barry asked as he approached the grave.
"Barry? What are you doing here?" questioned Caitlin.
"I should be asking you that question." Barry countered as he smirked slightly at Caitlin.
"Well it's not my wedding night is it? Speaking of which, kind of missed the memo on that last wedding" Caitlin responded matching toe to toe with Barry's response.
Barry's face dropped. "Cait…I'm sorry….It was a last minute decision and with everything that happened at the battle and…. Professor Stein…" Barry babbled until he noticed a bigger smirk on Caitlin's face.
"Barry, I'm just kidding. I'm happy to hear that you and Iris got the wedding sorted. You deserve it for all the good stuff you do."
Barry couldn't help but smile at that. A memory of simpler times popped up at the echoing of those same words. "Thank you….so…are you okay?"
Caitlin tensed at that question. "Honestly, I think I'm in a state of shock. It doesn't feel like it's real. I know in this line of work; the probability of casualties is to be expected. I just never thought Professor Stein would be one of those casualties." Caitlin said as she sat down in front of Stein's grave.
"Yeah same here, I always thought he would be around raving about some new discovery or telling us about his stories on the Waverider. I wonder if he got to meet Nikola Tesla like he said he wanted to? There will be so many future adventures that he won't be apart of and knowing that breaks my heart." Barry said as he kneeled down beside Caitlin.
"So, let's go on those future adventures in the name of Professor Stein." A voice said from behind Barry and Caitlin.
Out from the shadows, Cisco appeared carrying three large boxes of pizza and a pack of beer.
"Cisco? What are you doing here?" questioned Barry.
"Same as you guys, I want to be with Professor Stein tonight. I figured you guys would also come here and I thought it would be appropriate to share a pizza and a toast to Professor Stein. I think he would approve since he loved pizza as well." Cisco proclaimed as he set the pizzas down and sat down next to Barry and Caitlin. "Okay, I got one Hawaiian for the professor, one Supreme for Barry, and a Pepperoni for Caitlin and myself."
"Cisco…. I don't think..." Caitlin began before Cisco interrupted her.
"No Caitlin, let's stop over thinking. Professor Stein wouldn't have wanted this for us. He wouldn't have wanted us to grieve over what could have been. We can't change that."
Caitlin mumbled a soft okay and nodded slowly.
"Well stop hoarding the beers Cisco and let's make a toast to Professor Stein." Barry said as he motioned his hand for a bottle. Cisco opened three bottles and handed Caitlin and Barry one. "To Professor Stein." Barry proclaimed as he raised his bottle.
"To Professor Stein." Caitlin and Cisco echoed.
"Should we each make a toast?" asked Caitlin as she took a sip from her bottle.
"Okay, I'll go first." Barry announced. "I would like to thank the professor for never giving up on the impossible. The man who always wished to look for more knowledge and gave us the belief that we can all fight for our dreams. I want to thank him for inspiring us and making us overall better scientists.
"I want to thank the professor for always being encouraging and presenting himself as a mentor for Team Flash. I want to thank him for being a wonderful hero to this city and to time itself. I want to thank him for helping me to not be afraid of my powers and to take initiative on all the wonderful things that could arise from my powers." Cisco added.
"I wish to take this time to thank the professor for taking care of Ronnie when I couldn't stay with him and for being the father figure that I desperately needed. Thank you for reassuring to me that I will always be Caitlin and my friends and family will always support me." Caitlin toasted as Barry and Cisco placed an arm around her.
The three of them remained silent giving a moment of silence in honour of the Professor before it was broken by a sniffle. Both Barry and Cisco glanced at Caitlin noticing that Caitlin had started to cry.
"Cait." Barry's voice cracked as he wrapped his arms around her feeling his own tears falling. Barry glanced at Cisco who was also crying. For a moment they let their masks fall and gave themselves a moment to properly grieve the loss of a member of Team Flash.
"Cisco, did we help kill Professor Stein?" Caitlin's voice trembled as her grip on Barry's sweater tightened. After all, both Cisco and herself helped create the formula to separate Jax and Professor Stein.
"We saved Jax's life. Professor Stein wanted Jax to live more than anything else even at the cost of his life. Even if it meant that he wouldn't be with his family again. I think the Professor would thank us for what we did." Cisco voiced although a part of him accused him of killing the Professor. Cisco pushed his doubts away. "I'm sure of it." He smiled trying to assure Caitlin.
Caitlin smiled weakly back at him. "Yeah, he would."
"He would probably say something like: Young lady, these tears of yours are irrational and completely unnecessary." Cisco voiced mimicing Professor's Stein's voice with a large grin on his face.
Caitlin giggled. "That sounds like the professor."
Barry, Caitlin and Cisco continued to joke around with what the Professor would say if he was here. The three of them hardly noticed the sun rising as they continued to share memories of the Professor over their pizza and beer.
That's a wrap on this chapter. I hope you all like it.
-V