The Truth at Last

I don't own the Flash!

Barry and Caitlin left the bar not long after, Caitlin wasn't feeling well so Barry took her home. Bella left quickly as soon as they were gone, she settled her tab and hurried home, she was training with Martin tomorrow and wanted a good nights rest.

The next morning she taught Professor Stein to create a fiery tornado. He worked hard and finally figured out the critical wrist technique. When they were finished training she flew to STAR Labs to work on catching the Metahuman, Shawna Baez.

"Hello everybody!" She said happily.

Caitlin winced "So loud..."

"Still drunk?" Phoenix smiled and handed the doctor a small vile "Instant hangover cure. Works like a charm."

"I'm not even gonna question it." Caitlin sighed and lifted the tube to her lips and swallowed the liquid in a single gulp.

Phoenix noticed Dr. Wells and Barry glaring at Cisco.

She leaned over to Caitlin and whispered "I feel like I'm missing something important."

"Hartley's gone." Cisco told her.

"He escaped from the pipeline?" Barry asked "How is that even possible?"

Cisco shook his head slightly "I let him out." Then looked at Caitlin "Are you mad? I can't tell with those glasses on."

"I'd like to yell and wave my arms, but I'm afraid I'd throw up." Caitlin whisper-yelled.

"Just give it a minute." Phoenix patted her friend on the shoulder.

"Why? What were you thinking?" Barry asked angrily "You know how dangerous he is."

"Hartley said he knew what happened to Ronnie." Cisco defended.

"I told you to let it go." Caitlin sighed "I didn't want you looking into that for me."

"I wasn't doing it for you. I..." Cisco tried to explain "I sealed Ronnie in the accelerator before it blew. He told me to wait two minutes, and I waited, but he didn't come back. And I can't stop thinking, 10, 20 seconds and...Ronnie wouldn't be like he is right now. I've wanted to tell you so many times. I'm so sorry."

"So you carried that around this whole time?" Caitlin asked "Do you know what Ronnie would say if he was here?"

"He would say that you did the right thing." Phoenix finished and everyone looked at her "That it wasn't your fault. What happened that night wasn't anybody's fault. Come on. Don't we have a teleported to catch?"

"How do you know that?" Cisco asked "How do you know what Ronnie would say?"

"Because I've been training him and his partner to control their powers." Phoenix said coolly "I would have told you but they didn't want anyone knowing. I've had several conversations with Ronnie, telling him how you're all doing, what happened at work, and how much you all miss him. Ronnie's not himself right now. He shares a body with Professor Martin Stein. Stein is in control most of the time, that's why he seemed so different when you talked to him. Now are we going to catch this teleporter or not? We have plenty of time for questions later."

"She's right." Dr. Wells said "we do have a teleporter to catch. And fortunately, we do have a promising theory. Take a look at this..."

"My dad, he's been stabbed!" Barry cried as he got off the phone.

"Go!" Phoenix said "I've got to go anyways." And she flew out the window.

When she got home she changed quickly into a black shirt, black and white skirt, black heels and grabbed her purse.

She hurried to Iron Heights. When she got there Barry and Joe were already in the room. She stood in the doorway.

"Dad...what happened?" Barry asked.

"A rather stern reminder, I'd say, not to poke around in Marcus Stockheimer's business." Henry Allen groaned.

"Dad, I told you to stop." Barry said.

"Your dad called me with more intel. It helped us track down Clay and Shawna and arrest Stockheimer." Joe told Barry gently.

"I managed to screw up Marcus's big heist, too, so..." Henry sighed.

"You two kept working together, and you didn't tell me?" Barry looked at Joe.

"It isn't his fault." Henry assured Barry "I did it to help you."

"You getting stabbed and beaten is not helping me. Or Bella. She's back in town now and I don't think she should have to deal with this."

"Look," Henry stuttered "I-I-I-I don't get to feel useful very much in here. So if I can help you for a change, I'm gonna wanna be there for you. Just like you've been there for me for all these years."

"Yep." Barry took his father's hand.

"You said Marcus had a big heist coming up?" Joe asked. Henry nodded "You know anything else about it?"

"Dad," Barry commanded "tell me who did this to you.

"No, it doesn't matter, slugger." Henry insisted.

"But you said you want to help me. So help me." Barry said.

Henry stared at his son "One if Marcus's boys. Julius." Barry flashed to the door and saw Bella standing there, staring.

"Barry?" She asked shaking "You're the Flash?" Then she promptly used her acting skills and pretended to faint. Barry caught her and placed her in the chair he had just vacated. Then he flashed off to Julius's cell.

Bella opened her eyes slowly and leapt up from her seat "Holy! Barry! Flash! Oh my god!" She tipped over and Joe grabbed her arm to steady her.

"Easy Bella!" Henry tried to get up but grunted and fell back.

"I- I'm okay!" Bella was gasping and backing towards the door "I'm dreaming right? Well this is just- just something else! I'm going home and back to bed! I'll wake up in the morning and none of this will have really happened." She tripped over a bed and fell back, getting a nasty cut on her forehead "Ow!" She scrambled up and ran out the door.

Barry called STAR Labs just as Phoenix flew in. Hearing the news of the heist she flew out the trapdoor in the ceiling, that Cisco had conveniently installed, and hurried to the scene. When she got there Barry was in a tunnel, facing off against the car Shawna and Clay were in.

"Why the hell do you care what we do?" Shawna appeared in front of The Flash "Are you a cop or something?"

"Something." Barry replied and Shawna vanished only to reappear behind him and they began to fight. Shawna was fighting dirty, taking cheap shots every chance she got. Barry was losing. Badly.

Phoenix sent a fireball at the teleporting Metahuman and missed. She cursed. The car Clay Parker was driving revved its engine and surged forward. Nearly running over Barry as it pealed out of the tunnel. Shawna disappeared and reappeared back in the passenger side seat of the car.

"Barry, Phoenix, remember: she cannot teleport if she cannot see." Dr. Wells told them "Limit her field of vision."

Barry looked around and saw some tools on the ground, getting an idea he threw one to Phoenix and she caught it. Together they dashed around the tunnel and broke the lights and Barry broke the car's windshield, stopping it. Phoenix opened the door only to see that Clay Parker has escaped.

"He left me." Shawna said, her voice trembling.

"Is there any way she can get out of this?" Barry asked, watching Peek-a-Boo in her prison.

"No, it's one way glass, it's mirrored on the inside." Cisco confirmed "No one dangerous is ever gonna get out of this thing again."

Barry nodded and stepped forward "Shawna," he called "Clay left you. He's out there, and you're in here."

"You know what the crazy thing is?" Shawna asked "I still love him."

Barry turned toward Cisco and signaled for him to close the door.

As they were walking out Caitlin said "Crazy is right."

"Some people are worth being crazy for." Phoenix appeared around the corner "I need to talk to Barry when you have a minute." She said.

"Of course" Caitlin walked off.

Phoenix beckoned Barry to a separate room "Barry," She began "I know your sister found out who you are." At his confused look she sighed and said "Joe told me. Look, you want some advice?"

"Not really." Barry rubbed the back of his neck.

"Too bad you're getting some." Phoenix told him "Tell her the truth. She deserves to know and not telling her sooner is going to destroy your relationship. I speak from experience."

"What happened?" Barry asked.

"My older brother. He sees me only as something to be protected. An object to be cherished and displayed but never allowed to live. He blames himself for every bad hung that has ever happened to me. If he knew who I was, well, it would destroy us. I've lived this life for a long time. Even before I became Phoenix I fought criminals in Gotham with only my wit and my fists. I love what I do and no one will ever stop me from doing it. If he tries then, that's the end of that."

"I feel the same way about my sister." Barry realized "I've always blamed myself for what happens to her. I've always wanted to protect her. You're right. I should tell her the sooner the better." And he flashed away.

Bella smiled beneath her mask "Good for you, big brother."

Word count: 1573 words

Yay! Another chapter up! I really hope you enjoyed it. Please, pretty please comment. I want to hear what I can do better! Please comment, vote, and add to your reading lists!

Love,

The Author