Disclaimer: I do not own DC Comics or the CW TV shows Arrow, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl or any other characters or elements pertaining to the mentioned franchises.
Barry kept on running with Caitlin in his arms, trying to outrun the nuclear blast.
"Barry. Barry, what happened out there?" Wells called out.
"Are you guys OK?" Cisco called out.
Barry and Caitlin fell down, around them ashes.
"Are you OK?" Caitlin asked.
"I think so." Barry said before they saw the mushroom cloud in the distance.
"Oh, God. The nuclear explosion. There's no telling how much radiation we were exposed to." Caitlin said.
Cisco looked at the readings on Barry's suit. "Wait, wait. This can't be. The Geiger counter in the suit, it's reading less than one millirad."
"But that's normal." Barry said.
"There's no radiation." Wells realized as he, Patty and Cisco turned to each other.
"If they're fine, what happened with Ronnie and Professor?" Patty wondered.
"Let's go." Barry picked Caitlin up as they sped towards the ground zero of the explosion, where Ronnie was.
"Did it work? Did you separate them?" Cisco asked.
"I don't know." Barry said before they found Ronnie on the ground, unconscious with shredded clothes.
"Ronnie?" Caitlin knelt towards him as Ronnie came to. "Tell me your name."
"Ronnie Raymond." Ronnie said before he kissed her. "Cait. It's me."
A moment later, Stein appeared, with shredded clothes as well as they turned to him. "Uh, pardon me. Obviously, I need a change of clothes."
"Nice to see you in the flesh again, Professor Stein." Barry smiled as he turned to Ronnie, who was getting up on his feet. "We're coming home. All of us."
Later, S.T.A.R. Labs
Barry, Caitlin, Ronnie and Stein went out from the elevator as Cisco smiled.
"Ronnie Raymond."
"Cisco." They both high-fived before hugging each other as they laughed.
"I missed you so much, man." Cisco said before pulling away, feeling guilty. "I shouldn't have locked you in there."
"Hey. Don't." Ronnie assured him as Wells and Patty entered.
"Welcome back, Mr. Raymond." Wells said as Ronnie noticed him on wheelchair.
"Dr. Wells. Caitlin told me what happened to you." Ronnie said. "I'm so sorry."
"I'm responsible for putting myself in this chair. You are responsible for my still being alive. Thank you." Wells said.
"I'm Detective Patty Spivot, by the way." Patty offered her hand to Ronnie. "Caitlin told me and Barry a lot about you. It's… good to see that you're back."
"Nice to meet you too." Ronnie shook his hand with her before Caitlin turned to Wells.
"You said you'd bring him back and you did. Thank you." Caitlin held Ronnie's shoulder, smiling.
"You're welcome." Wells nodded.
"Uh, excuse me." Stein said as they turned to him. "Are we all planning to sing "Kumbaya" next?"
"Professor Stein, I presume." Wells said.
"Harrison Wells." Stein smiled. "Do you have somewhere I can freshen up and get a change of clothes?"
"Of course." Wells nodded as they accompanied Stein and Ronnie.
Later, Central City
Barry and Patty accompanied Stein to Clarissa's house.
"I can't believe it. Uh, wait." Stein said as they stopped at the front porch. "Uh, what should I say?"
"I don't think you're gonna have to say anything." Barry assured the elderly man.
The door opened as Clarissa went out, staring at Stein in surprise.
"Clarissa. I'm so sorry I put you through this." Stein said.
Clarissa hugged Stein tightly and kissed him before she turned to Barry and Patty. "Thank you."
"Mr… Barry." Stein hesitated.
"Yeah." Barry said.
"Barry, Detective, I… I know I can be difficult but thank you for bringing me home." Stein said.
Barry and Patty nodded. "We'll see you soon, professor."
Later, CCPD
Barry and Patty entered the lab as they saw Joe watching the news report about the explosion in the badlands.
"Hey." Barry called out.
"I left you three messages." Joe said.
"Yeah, I know. I'm sorry." Barry nodded.
"About the lack of communication or that hole out in the badlands?" Joe demanded.
"Everyone made it out, don't worry." Patty assured him.
"I wasn't calling about the explosion. I have to show you something." Joe said, leaving them both confused.
"What?" Barry asked as they followed Joe.
Central City
They returned to Barry's childhood house as he looked around, remembering.
"It's smaller than I remember." Barry said.
"Yeah, it's because you're bigger." Joe said as they entered. "Have you been in here? I mean, recently?"
"No." Barry shook his head. "I haven't been in this house since that night."
"Bar." Joe showed Barry the mirror on Cisco's device. "This mirror. Do you remember it?"
"Yeah." Barry nodded. "It belonged to my grandma. How is it still here?"
"Just be glad it is." Joe said as he took a breath. "Look, I don't fully know how Cisco did it, but—"
"Did what?" Patty asked.
"Joe, what are we doing here?" Barry asked before Joe turned on the device, showing Barry and Patty a holographic image of Nora on her knees, clearly frightened, surrounded by red and yellow blur.
"Mom." Barry whispered.
"You can definitely see two very fast people fighting around your mother." Joe said.
"Two speedsters." Patty realized as Joe nodded before pointing at the blood on the curtain.
"You see that?" Joe asked.
"The blood?" Barry asked.
"Cisco and I had the DNA tested. It's yours." Joe said.
Barry shook his head. "No, it's not. That's impossible. I wasn't even downstairs yet."
"No, Barry, not that you. This you." Joe pointed at Barry.
"Wait, that blood analysis of the adult Barry…" Patty remembered as Joe nodded.
"What?" Barry asked, confused.
"Cisco had the samples analyzed and the proteins in the blood were that of an adult, not a child." Joe said as the realization hit Barry.
"But that means…" Barry trailed off.
"The speedster trying to stop the man in yellow..." Joe said.
"…is you." Patty finished, turning to Barry.
Later, S.T.A.R. Labs
"Time travel." Wells mused as Barry, Cisco, Joe and Patty filled him in.
"If the last five months have proven anything, it's that anything can exist. But to actually travel through time?" Barry wondered.
"Well, the greatest minds in human history put their collective genius towards solving that puzzle." Wells said.
"So, is it possible?" Joe inquired.
"Yes, it's possible." Wells nodded. "But problematic. I mean... assuming you could create the conditions necessary to take that journey, well that journey would then be fraught with potential pitfalls. Novikov principle of self-consistency for example—"
"Wait, the what now?" Joe asked, puzzled.
"If you travel back in time to change something, then you end up being the causal factor of that event." Barry said.
"Like 'Terminator'." Cisco said.
"Ah." Joe nodded.
"Or is time plastic? Is it mutable, whereby any changes to the continuum could create an alternate timeline?" Wells mused.
"Back to the Future." Patty said.
"Oh." Joe nodded. "I saw that one too."
"'Doc Brown.' Tremendous picture." Wells said.
"Right. So, what's the answer?" Joe asked.
"I might be a clever guy, but if you're asking me to give you a working theory on how to travel through time, I'm afraid I just can't do that." Wells said.
"There is someone else you can talk to about this." Cisco realized.
Later, Stein residence
Barry rang the bell as Clarissa opened the door, smiling. "Barry."
"Mrs. Stein, I'm sorry to bother you here but is Professor Stein here right now?" Barry asked.
"Well, after a year apart, I'm not letting him out of my sight." Clarissa folded her arms. "S.T.A.R. Labs did quite a few tests on Martin, didn't they? And they said he was fine?"
"Yeah. Why? Something wrong?" Barry asked.
"He just seems a little different, is all." Clarissa said.
"Different how?" Barry asked.
"He's been asking for pizza. Martin despises pizza." Clarissa said before Stein appeared.
"Is that the delivery man? Oh, Mr. Allen." Stein noticed Barry. "I suppose it's too much to hope you moonlight as a pizza boy. I am famished."
"OK." Barry nodded before he sped off and returned back with a box of pizza, handing it to Clarissa.
"Bravo! Please, come in, Mr. Allen." Stein smiled as Clarissa let Barry in, while he opened the box. "What can I do for you?"
"I needed to talk to you about a paper that you wrote 25 years ago for the Oxford University Press." Barry said.
"I have written many papers for that publication. Could you be more specific about the subject matter?" Stein asked.
"Time travel." Barry said and Stein stopped as he took a bite from a slice of pizza.
Stein unveiled the table with formulas scribbled on it. "These are just a few of the random thoughts I've had on the subject."
"A few?" Barry repeated, raising his brows.
"See, I believe that space-time is a free-flowing highway that intersects the physical world. We live in the moments between the on and off ramps." Stein said as he and Barry paced down Stein's office. "Theoretically, to travel through time, one merely needs to find a way onto the highway."
"OK, so you're saying that this is actually possible, to travel into the future?" Barry asked.
"Undoubtedly." Stein said, more than enthusiastic.
"What about the past?" Barry asked.
"Yes." Stein nodded, banging his hand like a gavel. "My own personal choice would be the Chicago World's Fair, 1893. I think Nikola Tesla and I, we'd have some wonderful arguments. What about you? Would you be interested in taking a trip into history?"
"I think that I already have." Barry said as Stein seemed confused. "Professor, um... 15 years ago, my mom was murdered and we recently discovered some evidence that…" He took a breath. "I was there that night, and not just as a kid but as an adult."
Stein considered for a moment. "That must be a side effect of your incredible speed. In some future date, you actually move so fast that the resulting kinetic energy buildup smashes a hole in the space-time continuum." He tapped himself on the head, clearly enthusiastic about it as he laughed as he saw Barry lowering his head. "You seem disappointed by the prospect."
"I mean, if I do... somehow make it back there to that night, then… it means that I didn't save her." Barry said as Stein's face shattered. "My destiny is to fail."
CC Jitters
Caitlin and Ronnie were catching up until some soldiers fired in smoke grenades as people coughed and Ronnie ran out until he was surrounded by soldiers in an alley.
Stein residence
Stein suddenly breathed out, dropping his glass.
"Professor." Barry neared him.
"Martin. What's wrong?" Clarissa asked.
"I don't know. I feel terrified. My heart is racing. I think... I think Ronald is in trouble." Stein said.
"How could you know that?" Barry wondered.
"Jitters. He needs help. Go." Stein ordered and Barry sped off.
CC Jitters
"Ronald Raymond. The burning man himself." General Eiling said, nearing Ronnie. "Half of him, anyway."
"Who are you?" Ronnie demanded.
"General Wade Eiling, United States Army." He introduced himself.
"What do you want?" Ronnie demanded.
"Firestorm." Eiling said.
The Flash sped in, knocking out the soldiers before Eiling threw into the air some small device and as it exploded, several metallic fragments embedded themselves onto the Flash, who fell down, groaning in pain.
"It stings, does it?" Eiling laughed. "Had that one developed especially for you. Micro-fragments attracted to kinetic energy. Firestorm was tonight's main objective, but getting you, that's just gravy."
A van drove in as Ronnie punched Eiling, knocking him down before Caitlin opened the door. "Get in!"
Ronnie helped the Flash, who was still groaning, get up as they both entered the van as it drove away.
Later, S.T.A.R. Labs
Caitlin was removing the fragments from Barry as he was on the stretcher.
"You need to hurry. Barry's wounds are starting to heal with fragments under his skin." Wells said.
"It's just like that time I stepped on a sea urchin. Only much worse." Cisco said as Barry groaned, while Caitlin was pulling out the fragments.
"Just don't pee on me." Barry groaned.
"You know that's a myth, right?" Cisco said.
"I got here as soon as I got the call." Patty said upon entering. "What happened?"
"Army tried to kidnap Ronnie and almost grabbed Barry." Cisco said as it hit Patty.
"Eiling." Patty said and Cisco nodded.
Barry groaned as Caitlin pulled out another fragment, while she cursed herself. "I'm so stupid. Jason Rusch, that grad student who is helping Professor Stein with his Firestorm research, he said that the Army took all of Stein's material when he disappeared. I should have known it was General Eiling."
"Not your fault." Wells assured her. "He still thinks you hold the keys to the ultimate human weapon, both of you." He glanced at Barry and Ronnie.
"OK, let's just finish this. I gotta get to Stein's house, Eiling's gonna be after him too." Barry said.
"Stein's fine." Ronnie said as he turned his head.
"How do you know?" Cisco asked.
"He's right there." Ronnie said as they turned to see Stein at the entrance to the Cortex.
"I don't think Mr. Raymond and I are as distinctive as we had hoped." Stein said.
"I'm still inside Ronald." Stein explained as they were doing a brain scan on him and Ronnie.
"There has to be a better way to phrase that." Cisco said, clearly uncomfortable with the innuendo as Caitlin was observing the brainwaves on the screen.
"Beta, alpha, theta, delta. All your brainwaves are perfectly in sync." Caitlin said.
"That should be impossible." Patty shook her head.
"Impossible is just another Tuesday, remember?" Barry reminded.
"Yeah, but this is like some Twilight Zone level stuff and I say that, knowing full well that we have a guy locked up in our basement who can turn himself into poison gas." Cisco said.
"Wait, really?" Ronnie asked, disbelieving.
"Dude, that was like week three." Cisco shrugged as Barry and Patty nodded.
"Look, if this Eiling is as dangerous as you say, then I need to warn Clarissa." Stein said, taking off the headset scanning his brain as he got up.
"I promise, I can get Clarissa out of the city in time, but we need you to stay here." Barry assured him. "Professor, I need you to trust us."
Stein sighed, giving in. "Very well."
He left as Cisco followed him before Barry turned to Ronnie. "Hey. Are you OK?"
"Yeah." Ronnie nodded as he took off the headset. "Yeah, it's just not the S.T.A.R. Labs I knew."
"Ronnie, this isn't the world that you knew." Barry corrected.
"Tell me about it." Ronnie said.
Later, Wests' house
"All right, here we are. Uh… all right." Barry let Caitlin and Ronnie in. "All right. You guys can stay down in Iris' old room, it's kind of small, but…" He stopped upon seeing Joe. "Hey."
"We have guests?" Joe asked.
"Yeah, we do. I hope that's OK." Barry said.
"Mi casa." Joe assured.
"This is Ronnie." Caitlin introduced him as Joe and Ronnie shook hands.
"Nice to meet you." Joe said before it hit him as he turned to Caitlin. "Ronnie? The…?"
"Dead fiancé." Ronnie said dryly.
"Right." Joe nodded, processing. "Beer?" He offered Ronnie a bottle of beer.
"Thanks." Ronnie picked the bottle before Iris entered.
"Dad? Barry?" Iris asked as they turned to her, as she had in her hand a bag of groceries.
"Iris, hi." Caitlin greeted.
"Hi." Iris smiled.
"What are you doing here?" Joe asked, surprised.
"Uh, it's Tuesday. I was gonna make us dinner, remember?" Iris reminded.
"Yup." Barry said.
"Yeah." Joe nodded.
"Here, I'll help you. Got it." Barry picked Iris's bag of groceries.
"I knew you'd forget." Iris chuckled. "There's plenty for everyone. Caitlin, what brings you by?"
"There is a gas leak in my apartment, so Barry said that we could stay here." Caitlin lied.
"Oh, that's sweet of him. And, uh, who's this?" Iris turned to Ronnie, wondering if he seemed familiar.
"This is, uh..." Caitlin trailed off.
"Her cousin." Barry lied.
"Sam." Caitlin said.
"Visiting from Coast City." Joe supplied.
"You look really familiar, Sam." Iris noted.
"Yeah, I have one of those faces." Ronnie stammered. "So, what's for dinner?"
Later, CCPD
Barry stared at the photo of himself and his parents as Patty sat next to him. "Barry? If this is about showing you—"
"I deserved to know. It's fine, Patty." Barry assured.
"I know you've already had a lot on your plate but it felt wrong to keep it from you." Patty said, holding his hand.
"How did you know that the blood in the house belonged to me? You would have had to have tested it specifically." Barry said.
Patty sighed. "Cisco had it tested against everyone from S.T.A.R. Labs."
"You and Joe wanted to know if it belonged to Wells?" Barry asked.
Patty took a breath. "Barry, I know he's your mentor and your friend but frankly…"
"Patty, Dr. Wells had nothing to do with my mom's murder." Barry protested, in denial. "You believe that now?"
"I… I'm not sure." Patty admitted before Barry's phone went off.
"Yeah, Doctor Wells, what is… what?!"
Later, S.T.A.R. Labs
They returned to the Cortex after Wells had told them about Eiling taking Stein.
"He didn't hurt you?" Barry asked Wells.
"Barry, I told you, only my pride is hurt. Unfortunately, I'm not in the position to take on armed soldiers." Wells said.
"Where do you think Eiling took Professor Stein?" Caitlin wondered.
"I imagine some off-the-books military research facility." Wells said.
"We have to get him back." Barry said.
"Easy. Eiling has already demonstrated he has the weaponry to disable the Flash or worse." Wells reminded.
"Well, we can't let him turn Stein into a weapon." Caitlin protested.
"How do we find him?" Ronnie asked as everyone turned to him, an idea hitting them. "What?" He asked, confused upon seeing their stares.
Ronnie was on a table as Caitlin was scanning his brainwaves.
"No abnormal brain activity. All vitals steady." Caitlin said.
"You think Ronnie can sense somehow where Eiling has the professor?" Patty asked.
"Ronnie got dizzy when soldiers grabbed Stein and Stein developed Ronnie's obsession with pizza." Cisco pointed out.
"I don't feel anything right now." Ronnie shook his head,
"Just keep trying." Caitlin pleaded.
"Whatever this is, it doesn't have a switch." Ronnie said.
"It's possible it's just some kind of residual connection." Wells said. "You know, a temporary link to your time together."
"So, this is pointless, then in this case?" Patty asked.
"Wait. I feel something." Ronnie said as he trembled. "I'm cold."
Elsewhere
"It's freezing in here." Stein grumbled, cuffed to a gurney.
"My apologies. It should warm up pretty quick." Eiling turned down the temperature on the thermostat.
"I know what you want." Stein said. "But my research was never intended to be used as a weapon."
"I joined the military when I was 20 years old, professor." Eiling said. "My father had me convinced that our greatest threat was the Soviets, our greatest fear nuclear war. But then came terrorism. And Ebola. And now it's the age of Firestorm." Stein lifted his head, glaring as Eiling continued. "Soldiers enhanced by your project, professor. Soldiers who can generate energy blasts with their bare hands. Soldiers who can fly."
"I would gladly die before I see my life's work perverted in this way." Stein sneered.
"Good." Eiling smirked. "Because you will die, professor. How soon I let that happen though, is entirely up to you."
Two people in suits, a man and a woman, entered as Stein paled. "What's going on?"
The woman pulled out an electric baton.
"The last time I did this was to a gorilla." Eiling said as the woman shocked Stein, who screamed in pain.
S.T.A.R. Labs
Ronnie groaned, spasming before Cisco and Caitlin held him.
"You're OK, man. We got you." Cisco assured him.
"Wells, what's happening with Ronnie?" Patty demanded.
"Nothing's happening to him. It's happening to Stein, and Ronnie is feeling his pain." Wells realized. "I was wrong. Their connection is not temporary, it's only getting stronger."
Caitlin was on verge of tears as she saw her fiancé in pain. "Just try and hold on."
"Water. Water." Ronnie panted out. Cisco filled a glass with water as Ronnie drank from it before he smashed it and used the shard to cut himself in the arm.
"Ronnie, no!" Caitlin wailed.
"Wait, Cait, wait." Barry intervened.
"He's cutting himself!" Caitlin snapped.
"I know. Let him." Barry said.
Ronnie panted out as he cut "WHERE" into his arm.
Elsewhere
Stein panted out, feeling pain as he saw "WHERE" carved onto his arm. Realizing Ronnie was sending him a message, he looked around before tapping the cuffs onto the bed.
S.T.A.R. Labs
"Anything?" Caitlin asked.
"Nothing. Nothing, just... just cold, like a metal surface." Ronnie panted out. "Pressure on and on and off. Tap, tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap, tap, tap."
Patty snapped her fingers. "Wait, isn't that…"
"…Morse code." Wells nodded.
"I got this." Cisco picked a notepad and a pen, writing.
"Same thing again." Ronnie said. "Tap, tap. Tap. Tap, tap, tap."
"27." Cisco said.
"What does it mean?" Caitlin wondered.
"Army bases." Barry realized as Patty caught up onto his thoughts.
"Some of them have number designations, like Area 51." Patty said.
Cisco turned to the computer. "Facility 27 about 300 miles away. It was shut down in 1961."
"That's where they're keeping Stein." Barry realized.
"I'm sure that's where they're keeping the aliens too." Cisco said.
"I'm coming with you." Ronnie said, getting up.
"No, you're not, you can't." Caitlin protested.
"I'm connected to Stein. I have to go." Ronnie insisted.
"But did you ever stop to think why your connection to him is growing stronger by the minute? Maybe you're being drawn back together. Maybe your proximity will cause you to re-merge into one." Caitlin pointed out.
"And what happens to me if he gets killed?" Ronnie argued. "Cait, Barry was right. The world's different now. Look, I thought we could get away, start a new life. A normal life together but there is no normal life for us. You will always risk your life to try and help people. And I will always be the guy that runs into that pipeline for you."
Caitlin sobbed, nodding, realizing she was going to lose her fiancé again.
"The quantum splicer. It was used to separate you once. Maybe it could be of use to keep you, you." Cisco said, handing the quantum splicer to Ronnie.
"Thanks." Ronnie nodded. "OK, let's go."
"Wait." Caitlin kissed him fiercely before pulling away. "Come back. All three of you." She turned to Barry, who nodded.
"Let's go." Ronnie said as he went out with Barry.
Later, Facility 27
Barry sped Ronnie towards the army base as he looked around. "Oh. This place definitely doesn't look too shady." He said sarcastically.
"Stein's inside. I can feel our connection growing stronger like he's pulling me." Ronnie said.
"As I feared, the Firestorm matrix is building toward a proximity re-emergence. Like all matter, it yearns to be whole." Wells said as Caitlin looked worried. "If you two merge, we might not be able to separate you again."
"We isolated the Firestorm matrix in the subject's cellular structure." The scientist said as he and Eiling neared cuffed Stein.
"Excellent." Eiling said. "Professor Stein, I'm afraid you have made a terrible assumption: That I need you alive." He loaded the gun, aiming at Stein's head.
"Eiling has a gun to Stein's head. He's about to pull the trigger." Ronnie said. Barry quickly sped Stein out to safety before Eiling could shoot him.
"He's here." Eiling realized.
Barry sped Stein towards Ronnie as the latter gapped. "Whoa. I never thought I'd be happy to see you." Stein said dryly upon seeing Ronnie.
"Yeah, likewise." Ronnie nodded.
"Let's get out of here." Barry said before military vehicles drove in, with one of them firing a missile from a bazooka. Barry grabbed the missile but as it exploded, it covered Barry in some grey substance as it started to corrode his suit. Barry panicked as he turned to Stein and Ronnie. "Run!" He ordered to them both.
"OK, come on. Come on." Ronnie and Stein ran off.
S.T.A.R. Labs
"What the hell is that?" Patty demanded as the computer bleeped.
"Barry, I'm picking up some serious PH numbers on your suit." Cisco said.
Facility 27
"They hit me with some kind of chemical!" Barry called out.
"It's a weaponized phosphorus. Water or foam won't extinguish it." Cisco said.
"But you can't burn in a vacuum. So you need to create one." Wells realized. "Run, Barry. Run."
Barry sped around, trying to extinguish the phosphorus eating through his suit.
Ronnie and Stein kept on running from the soldiers opening fire at them as they took cover.
"We need to merge again." Ronnie said.
"Ronnie, no!" Caitlin protested.
"Cait, we're dead if we don't." Ronnie argued.
"Listen to me. The last time you two combined, you both fought it. This time, don't. Accept the change. Accept the balance. Accept each other." Wells advised.
"Once more unto the breach, dear friend." Stein said as Ronnie took a breath.
"Cait, whatever happens, just remember, I'll always love you." Ronnie said. He put on the quantum splicer as he and Stein merged, with Ronnie's hands going into flames.
"Can you hear me, Ronald?" Stein asked, inside Ronnie's mind.
"Professor?" Ronnie called out.
"It appears we've merged properly on this attempt. Wells was right about balance and accepting it. Behind you!" Stein said as Ronnie turned around and saw the soldiers in an AFV nearing him. Ronnie threw a torrent of fire as the AFV exploded and the soldiers jumped out. "Ronald, there's more of them."
Ronnie flew up as more soldiers started shooting at him before he landed down as the blast knocked the soldiers away. Ronnie got up, nearing Eiling. "Eiling, this ends now."
"Yes, it does. For both of you." Eiling said as he threw into the air some device that exploded in blue light, knocking Ronnie down as his flames were extinguished instantly. "An ion grenade, just bombarded your cellular structure with enough ions to destabilize your matrix. Mr. Raymond, Professor Stein, you were both fine Americans." He pulled out his gun, aiming at Ronnie. "Your country thanks you for your sacrifice."
Suddenly, Barry sped towards him, knocking him out, his suit half-burned because of the phosphorus. "Whoa. That was a lot of running." He panted out in exhaustion before helping Ronnie on his feet. Ronnie again started to burn, ready to finish Eiling off before Barry called out. "Ronnie." Ronnie turned around to face Barry. "Home?"
"Yeah." Ronnie nodded before flying up as Barry sped off.
Later, S.T.A.R. Labs
"I think it looks worse than it is." Barry said as Caitlin was treating his injuries.
"I'm probably never going to get used to this." Patty muttered before Ronnie entered.
"Ronnie or Stein?" Caitlin wondered.
"It's me, Caitlin." Ronnie assured.
"Ahem. Excuse me." Stein cleared his throat inside Ronnie's mind.
"It's both of us. Somehow." Ronnie corrected.
"She's quite lovely." Stein noted.
"Acceptance is a powerful thing." Wells noted.
"Is it powerful enough to reverse what happened to them?" Patty asked.
"I'm game if you are, Mr. Raymond." Stein said.
"We could try." Ronnie said. They all stepped back as Ronnie took a breath, burning again before he and Stein separated.
"Oh. I think we're getting the hang of this quite nicely." Stein said as he and Ronnie breathed out.
Caitlin neared Ronnie, hugging him as Ronnie looked at her and Stein, realizing he was going to lose her again. "It's OK." She assured him. "I understand. You have to go."
"How'd you know?" Ronnie asked.
"I'm connected to you too." Caitlin teased as Ronnie chuckled.
Later, Stein residence
"Where will you go?" Caitlin asked Ronnie.
"Pittsburgh, maybe. Professor Stein has a colleague he thinks can help us learn more about our abilities." Ronnie said.
"We can help you here too." Caitlin offered.
"Eiling's already breached S.T.A.R. Labs. We need to stay one step ahead of him. For all of us." Ronnie pointed out as Caitlin nodded in understanding. "I'm coming back." He promised.
"We'll have pizza." Caitlin teased as she and Ronnie kissed.
"Godspeed, Mr. Allen." Stein said, nearing Barry as they shook hands.
"You too." Barry said.
"As per our earlier conversation, I believe in second chances. You'll get yours. Give it time." Stein advised as he turned to Ronnie. "Ready, Ronald?"
"Please, stop calling me that." Ronnie grumbled.
"I'll see you soon." Clarissa said, holding Stein's arm.
They went out as Ronnie put on the quantum splicer before he and Stein merged and he started to burn again. "We love you." He flew up into the sky as they stared.
Later, CC Jitters
"I had Ronnie, then I lost him. Then I found him again, but he wasn't actually Ronnie. Then I got him back, but just for a day until I lost him again." Caitlin grumbled.
"You guys are, like, 10 seasons of Ross and Rachel but just, like, smushed into one year." Cisco noted.
"I am not heartbroken this time." Caitlin assured. "I love Ronnie. I always will. But there's not this devastating hole inside me. I have a life and it's a good one."
Central City
Barry let Joe and Patty into Barry's childhood home as he looked around. "Hey."
"Is there a reason you called us here?" Patty asked.
"I don't know how and I don't know when but one day soon, I'm gonna be in this house again 15 years ago and I'm gonna fail, unless this time I don't." Barry said, entering the living room where his mother was murdered.
"What are you saying?" Joe asked.
"Knowing that I'm supposed to lose gives me the advantage." Barry said, turning to the holographic images. "Those images are a lesson in what not to do."
Patty stared. "Wait, you're saying that—"
"When I face off against the man in yellow, I won't make the same mistake twice." Barry said.
"Change the past?" Patty asked, her and Joe raising brows.
"Guys… I'm gonna save my mom." Barry said.
Elsewhere
Eiling was in his office, pouring himself a drink before lights flickered, much to his surprise. Suddenly, a red bolt of lightning grabbed him as he disappeared before he ended up in sewers underneath Central City, with "GRODD" carved on the walls.
"What...? What the hell was that?" Eiling demanded as he faced the Reverse-Flash.
"It's good to see you again, general." The Reverse-Flash said.
"Who are you?" Eiling demanded.
"Who am I?" The Reverse-Flash put down his mask to reveal the face of Harrison Wells.
"Harrison." Eiling stared in disbelief. "You're one of them. Metahuman."
"Yes, I am." Wells nodded. "And I protect my own."
They heard a roar echoing as Eiling paled. "Who is that?"
"Now, that... is an old friend of ours." Wells said.
"General." A voice echoed as Eiling looked puzzled.
"That voice. It's in my head." Eiling said before seeing a giant gorilla nearing him as his face was getting paler. "Dear God…"
"Not God. Grodd."
The gorilla grabbed Eiling by his leg, dragging him away as Eiling screamed.
Well, I think the next chapter should get VERY interesting, considering Patty is involved here.
So, what do you guys think?
Please review and let me know if you have been enjoying this and want for me to continue.