Part 24
Caitlin looked up from her work station where she was running an analysis on a sample of organic matter that was found on some dig site by a group that STAR had a contract with. She was resisting the urge to yell at David. He was the least organized lab tech she had ever seen. How he could work at that mess he called a work station was beyond her understanding.
"Your eye is doing that twitching thing it does when you see something that puts your OCD to the test." Said Alex
"I am not OCD Alex." Said Caitlin
"Yeah honey, you are. But that just makes you who you are."
"How can he work in that mess!"
"I warned him that he needed to improve his organizational skills to stay on your good side."
"Just tell him to have that mess cleaned up by the time I get back from lunch."
"He is improving. Last week he had both his station and mine covered. I had to use yours. I did remember to put everything back the way you like it."
"The stapler was off by an eighth of an inch."
Alex just shook her head and smiled at her friend. Caitlin smiled back loving to tease Alex.
"Come join Cisco and me for lunch and I might let you in on what could become the hottest gossip between here and Star City." Said Caitlin
"I'll be right there. Let me just remind David that he needs to get his stuff together." Said Alex
"Ok see you in the cafeteria."
Caitlin walked out and Alex turned to David.
"Get this mess cleaned up. Trust me you do not want Dr. Snow to go Killer Frost on you. The last tech ran away crying and hasn't been heard from since." Said Alex smiling.
David swallowed hard and started to clean up his work station.
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Barry sat at a back table in Jitters and called Caitlin. He smiled when she answered right away.
"Hey handsome."
"Hello my darling. How is the first day back going?"
"Good. Though I might have to go Killer Frost on my lab tech. He needs some work at his organization skills."
Barry chuckled. As much as he loved Caitlin, she could drive nearly anyone crazy with her need for perfect order.
"Sweetie, I am sure he is not that bad."
"Alex told me he covered both his and her work stations last week. She was forced to use mine."
"She put everything back right?"
"Yes. Though I did tease her that the stapler was off by like an eighth of an inch."
"You are crazy. But I love you."
"Love you too."
"So Cait, how about we go on a date Friday?"
"That sounds great. Uh Cisco and Alex are here. Gotta go. Call you later handsome."
"Have a good rest of the day sweetie. Love you."
"Love you too."
Caitlin hung up her phone and looked at her two friends. They were smiling at her like cats that caught the cannery.
"What?" asked Caitlin
"So who were you talking to?" asked Cisco
"None of your business Francisco."
"Cisco, there is only one guy on earth that our dear friend Caitlin would tell she loves him and call handsome. So Dr. Snow when did you and Mr. Allen become a couple?" said Alex
"I have no idea what you are talking about Danvers." Said Caitlin
"Stop with the crap Caitlin. It doesn't take a genius to know that you and Barry have a thing for each other." Said Cisco
Caitlin looked at her friends and knew they weren't going to let it go. She sighed.
"Over the weekend Barry and I decided to give a relationship a shot. We kissed for the first time yesterday at his parents house for brunch. Turns out it was in front of his parents and my mother." Said Caitlin
"So what made you finally admit your feelings for each other?" asked Alex
"For me it's the way he has been taking care of me. The way he supports me. The fact that he never asked for anything in return from me. I have no idea why Barry decided now to admit that he is in love with me."
"So Cisco who won the pool?" asked Alex
"You were taking bets on when Barry and I would get together? Cisco, don't forget that I do know how to preform a lobotomy." Said Caitlin
"Ok yes there has been a pool going. Even Oliver got in on it!" said Cisco
"How much is in this pool and who won?" demanded Caitlin
"Uh almost a thousand dollars." Said Cisco
"Who won?"
"Laurel." Admitted Cisco
"I'm going to have to have a talk with my cousin's girlfriend." Said Caitlin
"Kara will be disappointed that she lost. She was hoping to use the money to buy a new laptop." Said Alex
"I'll get Ollie to buy her one. Queen Consolidated's tech division is coming out with a new one soon. I will have him get her one that hasn't hit the market yet." Said Caitlin
"She will love that. What about Iris?" asked Alex
"Iris can get her own. As can your cousin Clark Kent and his girlfriend Lois Lane." Said Caitlin
"Well I guess you could just say it's a birthday gift." Said Alex
"That is the plan."
"Caitlin, you seem happier." Said Cisco
"I am Cisco. Just give me some more time and I will be more than willing to take a hug from you."
"You know that I love you like a sister right?"
"Of course. You are my brother in my heart anyway."
Cisco smiled at Caitlin. Alex smiled too. It seemed her friend was starting to get back to something that resembled her old self.
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Barry just sat at the table smiling. He didn't even notice Iris sit down across from him.
"Barry!" yelled Iris
"Oh hey Iris."
"So what has put you in such a good mood?"
"I don't know what you are talking about."
"Bartholomew Henry Allen don't lie to me."
"I still don't know what you are talking about."
"Ever since Caitlin was attacked you have been walking around like someone killed your dog. But today, you seem happy."
"Ok you got me. Uh Cait and I are together now. We are going on a date on Friday."
"That's great! Oh damn! Laurel won the pool."
"Really? You guys have been placing bets on weather Cait and I get together?"
"It's been more of when. Then if. We all knew it would happen. It was just a matter of timing. Barry, we all know how much you and Caitlin love each other. We all want you to be happy."
"Thanks Iris."
"Just make sure you make this date special for Caitlin."
"I have some ideas. Maybe I can run them by you."
"Sure."