Part 18
Friday night Caitlin walked into the Press Box bar with Barry. She could see their friends already gathered in a corner. They headed to join them. Oliver stood up when they reached the table and wrapped Caitlin in a warm hug. He felt her stiffen in his arms.
"Caitlin, listen to me. You don't have to worry about anything. No one here will hurt you. We all love you ok?" he whispered in her ear.
"Thanks Oliver. But I rather not be touched right now. I know you won't hurt me. But it makes me really uncomfortable." Said Caitlin
"Sure."
"Cait, I'll go get us some drinks ok?" said Barry
"Yeah. Get me my usual." Said Caitlin
"Right."
Barry walked off and Caitlin took a seat with her friends.
"Caitlin, this is my boyfriend Roy Harper." Said Thea
"It's nice to meet you Caitlin. Thea said you are cousins." Said Roy
"Uh yeah. Our mom's are first cousins. So that makes us distance cousins." Said Caitlin
"Cool." Said Roy
"So how are you doing?" asked Laurel
"Not great. But getting better. Needless to say I am going to a support group." Said Caitlin
"That's good." Said Sara
"Sara, I was wondering after my arm and ribs heal do you think you could teach me some self defense moves?"
"Of course." Said Sara
Barry returned to the table and handed Caitlin her vodka and soda with a twist of lime. She took a sip.
"Thanks Bare."
"Yeah no problem. Just take it easy ok?"
"Something we should know about?" asked Kara
"No!" said Caitlin shooting a death glare at Barry
"There has to be a story." Said Cisco
"Come on Cait. It's funny." Said Barry
"Fine." Mumbled Caitlin
"Ok It was during college and just after Cait turned 21. We went to this little bar just off campus. Cait had, just had a really bad week. She got a bit drunk. She pulled me on stage to sing karaoke. She picked Summer Nights from Grease." Said Barry
"That had to have been so cute." Said Kara
"Well it was fun." Said Barry
"Until I puked on your shoes." Mumbled Caitlin
"I never was upset about that Cait." Said Barry
"I know."
"I would love to hear you two sing." Said Cisco
"Not going to happen. I promised myself that would never get that drunk again." Said Caitlin
"Kara, can sing really well." Said Alex
"I'm not that good." Said Kara
"Come on Kara, you won the talent show back in eighth grade." Said Alex
"Alex can sing too." Said Kara
"I think we need to have a little taste. Barry and Caitlin do a duet. Kara and Alex sing." Said Sara
"No way. I am not getting on that stage." Said Caitlin
"Eddie we should do a duet." Said Iris
"Sure babe. What do you want to sing?" asked Eddie
"Well West side story is my favorite musical. So I was thinking Somewhere." Said Iris
"Sounds great to me babe." Said Eddie
"Roy, you want to do something?" asked Thea
"Sure I'm down with whatever you pick." Said Roy
"You might live to regret that." Said Oliver
Laurel slapped her boyfriend.
"Just for that you and I are going to get up there and I am picking the song." Said Laurel
Caitlin couldn't help but smile at the look on Oliver's face. It was a cross between pained and not amused. Thea and Roy were the first ones up to sing. They chose to sing "Ain't no mountain high enough." Alex went next and sang "The Greatest Love of All." Then Kara got up next and sang "Somewhere over the rainbow."
"Barry, I am not getting up there." Said Caitlin
"Come on it will be fun Cait." Said Barry
"I sound like nails on a chalkboard."
"It's not that bad."
"Relax Caitlin. Ollie and I are up next." Said Laurel
"Laurel, I really don't want to do this." Said Oliver
"Tough luck Ollie."
Laurel grab Oliver and dragged him up on stage. Oliver shot Laurel a look.
"Really?" asked Oliver
Laurel just smiled as the first notes of Sonny and Cher's "I Got You Babe" began to play.
"Oliver doesn't have a bad voice." Said Caitlin
"Ollie, doesn't like anyone to know that he can actually sing." Said Thea
When they finished singing Oliver and Laurel returned to the table.
"Come on Cait. Please." Asked Barry giving her the puppy eyes he knew that she couldn't say no to.
"Fine." Grumbled Caitlin
Barry took Caitlin's hand and led her to the stage. Of course Barry had picked "their song."
"Summer loving, had me a blast." Sang Barry
"Summer loving, happened so fast." Sang Caitlin
"Met a girl crazy for me." Sang Barry smiling at Caitlin
"Met a boy cute as can be."
"Summer days drifting away to oh, summer nights." Both sang
Their friends were cheering when they returned to the table at the end of the song. Caitlin blushed, but looking at the group gathered at the table made her feel good. She knew that she was lucky to have this group in her life.
***%%%***%%%******%%%%****%%%%*****%%%%******%%***
It was nearly one in the morning when Barry and Caitlin returned to her apartment.
"Tonight was fun." Said Caitlin
"Yeah. Cait, are you feeling better?"
"Yeah I am Bare. Thank you for taking care of me. I know I haven't made it easy."
"Cait, you are my best friend. Part of the job description is to take care of your friend when they need it. No thanks needed."
Caitlin took a deep breath and leaned into him and placed a kiss on his cheek. She then headed to her room to get ready for bed. Barry watched her go. Her behavior confused him. She was still uncomfortable being touched. But then she goes and places a kiss on his cheek. He went into the bathroom changed into a pair of sweats and a t-shirt before laying on the couch. He pulled his blanket over himself as he tried to get comfortable. He made a note to himself to make sure Caitlin bought a new couch. It really wasn't very comfortable to sleep on. He knew that she made more than enough for a new couch. He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
****%%%***%%%****%%%%******%%%%****%%%%***%%******
Caitlin laid in bed staring at the ceiling. She had a lot of fun tonight. But the fact was she was scared of the upcoming trial. She was scared to have to face Hunter. But she knew with Barry by her side she would be able to do it. Because she knew that his love would give her the strength she needed.