Part 30

Caitlin sat at her desk working on some paperwork when her phone buzzed. She answered knowing it was security letting her know that David and his sister were on the way in. She told them to meet her in the med lab. Caitlin grabbed her tablet and headed to the med lab. She walked into the med lab and double checked that MRI was ready. David pushed a wheelchair into the room with a young woman with sandy blond hair wearing a pair of dark sunglasses. She was dressed in a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. On her feet were a pair of thick socks.

"Hi Jacquie, I'm Dr. Caitlin Snow." Said Caitlin

"Nice to meet you Dr. Snow. David said that you think that you can help me." Said Jacquie

"It is possible. Unfortunately you will have to take off your sunglasses during the scan. But I do have a sleep mask you can wear."

Jacquie just nodded. As much as she hated these tests she wanted the near constant pain in her head to stop. It took about twenty minutes to do the prep work and get Jacquie on to the MRI bed. Once everything was set Caitlin and David went into the control room where Alex was waiting to start the scans. It took nearly an hour to get all the scans that Caitlin wanted. She gave Jacquie three breaks where David could go back in and talk to her helping to keep her relaxed.

"It will take me a few days to go over the scans. But I will let you know if there is anything I can do for you." Said Caitlin

"Thank you for doing this. David told me that you were hurt by the same person that did this to me." Said Jacquie

"Yeah he did. Jacquie, I may have faired better physically. But emotionally I am still healing. I am lucky that I have a really great group of friends that didn't let me fall to far into the darkness. From what I can tell you have a very caring brother." Said Caitlin

"David, may not have become my brother until he was seven, but I don't know what I would do without him."

"Blood isn't what makes a family. Family are the people we choose to let in and know the real us. The ones that will stay by your side no matter what. That will fight for you. Jacquie, your parents may have a piece of paper that a judge signed saying David is your brother, but even if they didn't if you in your heart feel he is your brother then he is. I have several friends that I feel in my heart are my brothers and sisters. I love them and I know that they love me."

"Thanks for everything Dr. Snow." Said David

Caitlin nodded as David headed out with his sister. Alex who had been cleaning up looked at her friend.

"Even after what happened you haven't changed at all." Said Alex

"I have changed Alex. It is just for the better. Hunter did break me. But I am not broken beyond repair. My friends, no my family is helping to put me back together. That includes you and Kara. Both of you have become my sisters in my heart."

Alex wrapped Caitlin in a hug. Never imaging that Caitlin would think of her as family.

"Alex, I have always been guarded. Never letting anyone but a select few into my heart. You and Kara kind of slipped in before I noticed. By now that you are there I am not letting you go."

"So does this mean I am in the wedding?"

"What wedding?"

"Yours and Barry's of course."

"Barry and I just started dating."

"I heard about your "wedding" to Barry when you were eleven."

"I am going to kill Iris!"

Alex laughed. It felt good to see Caitlin turn red at the mention of the play wedding all those years ago.

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Later that night Caitlin sat across from Barry at a steakhouse. She had to admit that Barry was probably the best boyfriend she had ever had, not that there were many. Ronnie had been nice but he really needed to expand his taste in food. She could only eat pizza so many times. Another only liked going to Big Belly Burger. Barry on the other hand always took her somewhere they could sit and talk during the meal. Usually casual dressy. Not the fanciest places in the city. But places that didn't cater to families with little kids.

"So Cait have you decided what you would like?" asked Barry

"The ribeye looks good maybe with a baked potato and the garden salad."

"I was leaning towards the New York strip steak, baked potato and green beans."

"Yeah but that is just too big for me."

"I know. Just get what you want."

"This is nice Bare. I mean you are just the sweetest guy I know."

"Cait, I love you. I would never do anything to hurt you on purpose anyway."

"I know. I just wish that I realized how I felt about you before now."

"I think you always knew how you felt. You have just been scared to admit it. When I heard what happened I wanted to go and kill the guy. I didn't because you needed me."

"I will always need you in my life. While most of my friends crawled into my heart through crakes, crakes you made in the ice wall I put around myself by the way. You cut a big hole and stole it."

Barry reached across the table and took Caitlin's hand in his and kissed it.

"Then maybe you should file a police report. Stealing a heart is a big deal crime."

"I don't think so. Too much paperwork for a crime that really hasn't hurt me. Besides if you had asked I would have given it to you a long time ago."

"Well if you want mine it's yours for the taking."

"I guess I am not as good as I thought I was. I could have sworn I had stolen your heart by now."

Barry smiled at his beautiful girlfriend. He couldn't wait until the day he could ask her to marry him. But he knew right now was too soon. He knew that his mom still had a video some where of their pretend wedding as kids. He just knew that Caitlin was going to be the most beautiful bride in history.