18

Danger Looms Closer

Frankie was sent away from Central City. As much as she'd preferred to stay, she knew it was the best thing for her. She had to find a place where her powers wouldn't put her in any danger, where she'd never get to the point of pain and suffering that'd make Magenta come out and attack once more. Caitlin kept her word and made sure Frankie was placed with a foster family that'd be amazing to her. A foster family they'd found through other means not typically used—using their technology to find a family that wouldn't mind having a meta as their new foster kid—and bid their goodbyes.

Frankie had hesitated before leaving, it took a lot to understand how she was causing so much pain and suffering to others when she wasn't aware of it. Hard to wrap her head around knowing she had an alter-ego of sorts that controlled her as much as she controlled it. All because she wanted to gain a sense of power in her life after feeling nothing but incredible pain at the hands of John James.

The same man who Iris and Cadence visited in the hospital. The same man who made numerous comments under his breath of how "Frankie was always a weirdo, scuttling around, peeking around corners like a cockroach" and "That freak is getting what she deserves, always been a pain in my ass." It was bad enough that Cadence had to bite her tongue while waiting for him to finish, silently threatening to set his hospital room on fire. Iris, on the other hand, didn't have to keep quiet. Her journalistic integrity was one that would allow her to ask the hard questions when needed.

The moment came when John continued his tirade against his foster daughter by murmuring, "That damn metahuman freak nearly killed me. That's what I get for taking her in, God help me if I see her again." At the same time, Iris and Cadence stiffened. Not just because they were part of Team Flash and had been able to befriend other metas over the years. But because of the cool, callous way he said the words. Proving he truly meant it.

Iris straightened herself, sucking a short breath through her nose. It was one thing to hear horror stories from her father and Barry over the years. Stories that were tame enough for her to be told, but still those that would make a civilian's stomach twist and turn with disgust. She placed her hands on her hips. "What does that mean?"

John rolled his gaze to Iris, lazily looking her up and down. He dismissed her with a short shake of his head. "It means she'll be the one who ends up in the hospital," he murmured, then swallowed thickly, muttering, "Damn hospitals don't know how to keep people healthy around here. Where's that nurse when you need them?"

Instead, Iris brought the man's attention back to her, slapping her hand down onto John's broken leg, making him yelp in pain, jerking along on the bed. "Tough love, right?" She demanded, tightening her grasp along him as she did so. "Have to make sure she knows when to stay in line, be seen and not heard?"

"That sounds like something you've been taught before."

Iris bared her teeth and moved her grasp to John's shoulder. Cadence said her name in a low protest, but still allowed Iris to continue. She dug her long nails into the skin, making him continued to squirm in discomfort, not wanting to show he much she was hurting him. "My father loved me enough to know that harsh discipline isn't the way you show love. I can only hope that, where you're going, you learn that sooner rather than later."

"I hope you don't mind the hospital walls," Cadence added. "And being waited on hand and foot." She walked to the bed and slapped her palm against the metal railing. The ring that sat around her pinkie clanged with the hit. "Because you're going to be begging for them by the time the CCPD gets through with you. I hope you have a good lawyer because, at this rate, you're never going to see the light of day again."

John James was arrested for the abuse he subjected Frankie and his wife to, only charged once his wife stepped in to admit everything that was happening. And yet, with that victory in mind, there was still no sign of Savitar, Alchemy, or The Assassination Bureau since that day, leaving Team Flash on edge. Even with increased patrols over the city and their training, Team Flash was still on edge.

When he wasn't training, Barry was in the Cortex, staring at screens that overlooked Central City, waiting for something, anything to show up. He pressed his mouth into his cupped hands and rested his elbows on the counter top. Nothing. Nothing. More nothing.

"Come on," Barry murmured, eyes shifting back and forth, almost daring anything to show up. Even so far as a criminal so that he could run out and get rid of the nerves that made his muscles constrict and threaten to spring into action. "Come on."

"Dude, I don't think you're going to will anything into happening," Cisco said from Barry's other side. Barry jumped, not having noticed Cisco come up beside him. "I mean, it'd be totally awesome if you could, but I think even that's impossible."

"Yeah, you're just going to drive yourself crazy the longer you try to think about it," Caitlin added. She gently shook her head, ringlets bouncing around her face. "You're just going to drive yourself crazy."

"You mean he's not yet?"

Barry ignored Cadence's teasing comment, though had to try hard to resist the urge to roll his eyes. He was even further brought away from his thought when he felt a sharp pain against his thigh. "Ow!" He yelped and backed away when he saw Brady standing by his side, holding his bow staff, of which he'd just finished training with.

"Sorry, Barry," Brady quickly apologized. "I didn't realize I was standing so close." He peered up at the older man, squeezing an eye shut. "Are you thinking about Savitar again?"

"It's all I ever think about," Barry said honestly.

He brushed his hands over his face and leaned back in his seat, as far as the back would let him bend. What else was there to think about? They knew about the Philosopher's Stone. Knew about Alchemy being his pet, his own avatar to what Savitar wanted. Knew he was a God of speed. And what? What could they do with all that information. His mind continued to run at the speed of light, coming up with every scenario possible in figuring out what Savitar needed Alchemy for if Savitar was simply trying to get to him to…do what?

Other than kill me, Barry thought with a wry smile.

HR's voice broke through the gloom of Team Flash. "Look at all of those sourpusses!" Barry cracked an eye open and watched in dismay as HR walked into the Cortex carrying a large box in his arms. "It's like looking at an oil painting. You know, of those farm people. I mean, we never had them on our Earth, but I saw it in one of your nifty sculpture edifices."

Brady's nose wrinkled in confusion and he turned an exasperated glance towards Cadence, who shrugged in response before twirling her finger by her head. Brady smiled then turned his gaze to Barry, who had simply brought his hands back down to cover his face. The last thing he needed was for more of HR's antics and it didn't look like either of his problems were going to go away anytime soon.

"You mean a museum," Caitlin said.

Cisco's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, is that what he meant?" Caitlin turned a smug smile his way and Cisco stretched his lips back into a wide smile in response. Then he sat up and tapped his fingertips on the counter surrounding his computer. "Wait, does this still have to do with that stupid STAR Labs Museum you were talking about?"

"Yes!" HR whipped his drumsticks out his back pocket and pointed them directly at Cisco and adopted a voice that a game show host would have. "You've won the grand prize. He's won the grand prize! Tell him what he's won!" His voice echoed around the Cortex, arms spread as wide as the smile on his face. There was a long moment of silence before HR's smile wilted to a frown. "My God, you people really need to figure out how to get some cheer around here. It's almost the holidays you know."

"Don't remind me," Cadence said, pressing her hands to her hips. "Not only do I have to worry about Thanksgiving now that my mom's here, but I've got this one's birthday to think about,"—she jerked her thumb over towards Brady. Cisco followed her gaze and frowned, pushing his candy cabinet rawer shut, only giving Brady seconds to get his fingers back out of the way before it was closed on it. "And Christmas. The last thing I want to deal with is the opening of a museum."

"Well, that's too bad Candace—"

"—Cadence—"

"—Because I was thinking of putting you in charge of choreography."

"Choreog—" Barry dropped his hands from his face and sat up straight. He exchanged horrified glances with Cisco and Caitlin as they whipped their heads towards him at the same time. Their expression both shot massive amounts of 'do something' at him. While Barry could only raise his eyebrows back, 'What am I supposed to do?' "What do we need choreography for?"

HR shook his head like a disappointed parent, folding his arms. "Honestly, it's like you all haven't been to an opening of a museum before, BA. We need the choreography for the dancers that will be greeting the guests at the opening. I've got it all figured out." He reached back towards the box he put down and opened it with a flourish. "By the way, I need you all to figure out what font looks better on these flyers. They're going to be passed around soon."

A groan escaped Barry's lips and he scrubbed his face with his fingertips. His head was starting to hurt. It wasn't that he didn't like HR, he tolerated him enough, but now. Right now? Caitlin seemed to have had the same thought for she cleared her throat and carefully sidled up to HR's side.

Placing her hand on his shoulder she said, "HR, this is a great idea."

"I know, isn't it?" HR's smile was unflappable.

"But maybe we can worry about it later," She said. "There's already so much we're dealing with on our plates and maybe's now's not the best time for the museum opening." She tightened her grasp and shook his shoulder. "Not that we're not happy for you and what you've managed to accomplish. But let's just put this away for later."

HR nodded through everything Caitlin said, then pointed at her. "Uh-huh, uh-huh. Okay. I think I see what the problem is." Caitlin blinked in surprise. "You're worried about not having a date for the party. But that's okay, Caitlin. That's okay, because…" he placed his hand on his chest while Caitlin's eyes widened even further. "I will graciously step in as your guest of honor. I'd love to. Thank you for asking."

"She didn't ask you," Cisco practically barked. He stood up, pressing his palms flat against the counter top, leaving Brad the chance to phase his hand through the drawer and dig around for a chocolate bar. "Okay? Because she already has a date." He jabbed himself in the chest. "Me. Okay, now just take those flyers and you can shove them—"

"Cisco!" Cadence interrupted firmly, though there was an amused twinkle in her eye that couldn't be stifled. "I think he gets the point. You don't have to threaten him." She waited for Cisco to make the shape of a 'V' with his fingers, point at himself, then point at HR before sitting back down. "No need to get green-eyed-monster on anyone."

"Yeah, I mean, I didn't know you and Caitlin had some sort of," HR wiggled his fingers back and forth between the scientists, who gaped at each other. "Romantic entanglement going on. Had I known, I would've never tried to but in like that."

"What?" Caitlin's eyes widened in surprise.

Cisco laughed nervously. "What? No. Me and Caitlin. Pshht." He batted the air with his hand. "Like that'd ever happen. Haha. No, no, definitely not." He continued to chuckle, scratched right behind his ear, a smile froze on his face. A smile which seemed to freeze even further when Caitlin pursed her lips in offense, as if silently asking him what was wrong if they were to start dating. That was a whole can of worms he wasn't ready to open. "Someone, please stop me," he murmured.

"Oh no, I'm having a lot of fun with this conversation," Cadence said, folding her arms with a smirk. HR mimicked her movement, all with an earnest smile and nod. "What were you saying, Cisco?"

Barry got up from his chair and went to Cadence, placing his hand on her shoulder. "Please stop trying to give Cisco a heart attack, I need him." He gave the fire metahuman a peck on the cheek and said, "Right now I need answers and there's only one person I know to go to who can give it."

"Well, I'm not sure there's anything I can do to help you, BA," HR said modestly, giving a low bow.

Barry and Cadence ignored him. "Do you need some backup?" Cadence asked, gazing at her boyfriend curiously, wondering what thought was going through his head.

"Not unless you can teleport to other Earths," he replied.

Cadence thought for a moment then shook her head. None of them had tested it before, and they had no idea of the consequences if she really could do it. As far as they knew, the top half of her body could get to one Earth and the other would be at another.

HR continued speaking as if everyone were still paying attention to him, not noticing they'd all tuned him out to do their own thing. "But if you really want to chat we can just pop up to the room that we use for my office and—"

Barry got to his feet and before anyone could stop him. He raced to Cisco and slapped him on the back. Hard enough to make Cisco jump in surprise at the sudden movement, but not so much to bruise him. Cisco's jump forced him to open a portal and Barry raced through, allowing it to take him all the way to Earth-3.

The moment he arrived, he looked over to find The Trickster being led away by cops, hands shackled behind his back, laughing as he went. Trickster's eyes landed on him and widened, glancing back towards the scarlet speedster standing behind him.

"There's something wrong with my eyes," Trickster said. His purple painted lips spread into a maniacal grin. A wheezing laugh escaped his lips, the officers dragging him towards the waiting squad car. "I'm seeing double."

Jay Garrick folded his arms over his bulging pectorals and tipped his hat towards Trickster as he was taken away. Barry grinned when he spotted his friend. Everything about his suit screamed 'old fashioned' but even from the distance he stood, Barry saw the speedster continue to hold a command of things around him. "I'd love to see you try," Jay replied. He repositioned his helmet when the police car peeled away from the curb with the sirens screaming. Jay then flicked a laser-like focus onto Barry. "It's good to see you, kid," he remarked, not seeming surprised to see him.

Barry lifted his hand in a short wave before replacing it to the pocket of his jeans. "Likewise," He agreed. Then he licked his lips and looked around. Earth-3, in comparison to Earth-1 and 2 looked retro. While Earth-1 was the reality he was used to, and Earth-2 holding a golden glow over nearly everything, the third Earth had neon colors everywhere. The automobiles, though Barry being able to hear the GPS blaring instructions of the one that pulled up at the nearby light, seemed to come straight from the fifties.

"Talk about a blast to the past," Barry murmured, lifting a hand to run through his hair.

Jay laughed. "Traveling to different Earths as much as you do must through you off," he said. He removed his helmet and held it against his chest. He looked like he was about to stand for the National Anthem. "But something tells me you didn't come all the way to my Earth to deal with the Trickster."

"There's something I need to talk to you about," Barry said, not bothering to pretend it wasn't true. He took a deep breath to steady himself. Waited for Jay's response as he said. "A speedster. Named Savitar."

Jay's head tilted back, eyes shifting towards the sky. Barry knew in that exact movement Jay knew exactly who Barry was referring to. Jay pressed his lips together then took in a deep breath. He held up a finger and in a whirl of color, changed his clothes, then grabbed Barry's arm, dragging him somewhere at the speed of light and sound. When they came to a stop, Barry twisted around to face the restaurant they stopped in front of.

Motor Car Diner.

Barry read the sign above the door then slowly nodded. Of course. It was the place his father loved to bring him and the same place his father's doppelganger had brought him and Brady when he wanted Barry's explanation about Flashpoint. Must be something that every version of Henry Allen enjoys, Barry thought, a flash of pain shooting through him. He followed Jay into the diner. How long had it been since he'd thought of his father? Thought of him without feeling the horrific amount of pain and fear that'd stuck with him since watching him become murdered. At the thought, Barry stopped by the hostess stand.

They were in the Motor Car Diner when Zoom had grabbed his father and raced him off.

Lightning crackled. Henry was yanked out of his seat. Zoom's arm wrapped around his neck. Barry stared at him. Everything moved in slow motion. Zoom and Barry stared at each other before moving at the exact same second. Barry leapt to his feet, stretching his hands out towards Zoom as Zoom turned on his heel and streaked from the diner. Barry raced after him and a few seconds later, Cadence was on her feet and teleported after them, grabbing Roy along the way.

Barry pumped his arms and legs sprinting after Zoom. Faster, faster. He had to catch him. Had to save his father. Had to get him back safely. He couldn't go through his again. Not again. Not again. Had to save. Had to protect. Had to—

Zoom streaked around a street corner and raced into a house all the while Barry running after him. They stopped in the living room. Barry stood over the threshold, running into an invisible brick wall. No. Please no. Not his home. Not his childhood home. Not again. He took a deep breath and forced himself to go inside. He could handle it. He went through the same thing in the Speed Force, but that had been like a dream, now…

Who could handle real life when a cosmic dream was more than enough?

Still, Barry forced himself to cross the threshold and walk towards the living room. Zoom was standing behind Henry, arm wrapped around his neck and cowl pulled down. Barry glared into Zoom's—Hunter's—face, waiting for him to say something. A cold, black darkness crept through Barry's body, weighing him down. His subconscious knew what was going to happen long before the rest of him did.

"It's poetic, returning to your childhood home," Zoom rasped to Barry. The merry light in his eyes made Barry curl his fingers into fists. He was so preoccupied with Zoom, he didn't notice Cadence and Roy appear behind him, Roy with his bow drawn and pointing an arrow directly at Zoom.

No. Barry lifted a hand and stretched it towards Zoom. He stepped forward, foot pressing into a squeaky floorboard. It was the only other sound in the otherwise silent room. Even Henry stood still, watching his son. Barry's eyes shot to his father's. Don't worry, I'll save you. "Don't do this," Barry whispered. "I'm begging you. I'm begging you." He thumped a hand against his chest. "Take me. Take me instead." He licked his lips, swallowed hard. Throat as dry as a furnace. "Kill me. Kill me!"

"No!" Henry shouted.

"Barry," Cadence said from behind him. She exchanged a glance with Roy, he continued to hold the bow directly at Zoom, fingers slowly starting to tremble from the immense strain of pulling the bowstring tight.

"Look at me," Henry said to Barry. Barry shifted his gaze to his father. Shook his head. There had to be something else. Anything else. But Zoom was as fast as him, faster…Words were the only weapon now. "Look at me, son." Henry sucked in a deep breath through his nose, spoke through gritted teeth. "Don't take your eyes off me."

"Barry," Cadence repeated. This time with more force. The tension in the room immediately rose.

"You still won't believe me that you and I are the same," Zoom growled. "That there isn't anything that separates us from each other. That you think you're better than me."

"Come on." Had he said it out loud? Had he whispered it? Yelled it? Each word sounded like a bomb dropping. Shattering everything in sight. But the walls stood tall around them, waiting for the final nail removal that'd take them down. "Come on, Zoom."

Zoom continued as if he hadn't heard Barry say anything at all. "So I'm going to have to make you believe me."

"No," Barry whimpered. His lower jaw started to tremble. Eyes stung. There had to be something. Anything that could be done. Anything other than what was about to happen. His heart rammed against his throat. He knew what was about to happen. His blood went cold. Every part of him turned to ice.

"Whatever happens," Henry said firmly. "You've made me the happiest father."

"Dad," Barry gasped. His jaw shook fiercely. Body equally turned hot. He felt itchy, wanting to tear off his skin, wanted to tear off Zoom's head just as badly.

"This time." Zoom showed all of his teeth as he grinned. A Cheshire grin that couldn't be contained. "You're going to watch your parent die, just like I did."

"No. NO!" Barry shouted.

"This is what's going to make you just. Like. Me."

Father and son's eyes met.

"Your mother and I love—"

One last time.

"Zoom!"

And just like that, Zoom rammed his hand through Henry's heart. Blood splattered along the walls, across Barry's Cadence's, and Roy's faces, dripped to the floor, stuck to Zoom's finger tips along with tiny shreds of Henry's heart.

"NO!" The pain of Barry's scream ripped through his throat.

Barry pushed the thought away, trying to focus on anything but the memories that came flying back. He let out a long breath and hollowly gave his order to the waiter that came by, tapping the back of his fork on the counter. Jay eyed him for a long moment before reaching out and firmly pressing his hand against Barry's. Barry quickly pulled his hand back and lifted his eyebrows in a silent apology.

The waiter then brought them their food ten minutes later. "So, Savitar," Jay said as soon as the waiter walked away. He calmly cut into his stack of pancakes before drowning it in a puddle of syrup, making sure every layer was hit. "You've grown powerful enough to challenge him."

"Who is he?" Barry mixed his eggs and sausages together before starting in on it. He looked at the plates that covered the table and chuckled to himself. It was only a matter of time until they were empty, and even more plates covered the table top. "Other than a speedster, I mean."

"Don't know," Jay said flatly. Barry's shoulders slumped in frustration. How come they could never get answers right when they needed them? "Never seen him. But you're the only one fast enough who has." Jay blew through half of his plate in a few seconds. Barry followed him seconds later, moving his plate aside to grab another one. "Every story I've heard about Savitar is the same. Savitar was the first man ever granted speed. And over time, he became the god of motion. The fastest of us all. Before Savitar graces an earth with his presence, he sends a predecessor to prepare for his arrival."

A predecessor? Can only be one person, Barry thought. How many times had he seen Alchemy sticking around those that had just gotten or were about to get their powers? And with their last encounter, he'd admitted as such, "Alchemy," Barry mumbled through a full mouth. Jay nodded. "So he uses Alchemy to warn people. To prepare us. What's he preparing for?"

"I'm sure it's obvious by now, Barry. Every speedster seems to have the same goal as of late."

"To be fast?"

"To kill you."

Barry made a show of sarcastically snapping his fingers. "Darn, and I was thinking they just wanted to get faster and go away. I guess I'm 3 for 3 in pissing people off with my speed." He bobbed his head back and forth. "More, if you count what happened with Flashpoint."

"Well, Barry, I can't say you're wrong. With Flashpoint, you've proven the speed and abilities you have. You threaten his power and all he wants is for that threat to be eliminated." Jay moved onto his fourth plate with Barry a split second behind. "It's common conjecture through the Speed Force. Rumors…if Savitar has come for you, he'll be back to finish the job."

Barry shrugged, hoping the false bravado he fronted wasn't see-through. "Then I'll be ready." He had no choice. If Savitar was going to be around for a while, he had to be there to make sure everyone was safe. This time on a grander scale if only he could see Savitar. The amount of people that'd fall pray to his traps…

"You mean we'll be ready," Jay corrected him. Barry paused, nearly dropping his fork and knife to his plate in surprise. "Savitar…if he's exactly as people say he is…then you'll need as much help as you can get."

"But I've looked through all the books and papers I could think of. Mythology, spirits, demi-gods, and no mention of Savitar. Not once."

Jay tried to hide the smug smile that came to his face but failed. "In my experience, the answers tend to come in time." He pushed his massive stack of plates aside and dabbed at his lips with a napkin. He smiled towards the couple that sat at the table next to them, staring at their mountain of dishes and cutlery. "And that seems to be something I've told you recently if memory serves correctly."

"Actually, you broke a mug and then told me I couldn't put things back together the way it was before," Barry corrected him.

"Same principle."

A frustrated grunt escaped Barry's lips. He sank back in his seat. "I can't wait for Savitar or alchemy to attack. Someone could get hurt."

"You can't worry about what may or may not lie ahead," Jay deflected. "Besides, this is a time that you should be with the ones you care about." He leaned forward and looked Barry in the eye. "There's no way for you to know that Savitar is watching your every move. But if you continue to question it, not only will you drive yourself crazy, but then you'll play right into his plans. To break you. Barry, you don't know where he is right now and that's okay. Get your head out of the books and get back with your loved ones when you've got the chance. There's more to being The Flash than Barry-Allen-being-the-flash."

Barry twisted his mouth to the side and slowly started to smile. What could he say? When Jay was right, he was right. "What about you?" Barry asked. He folded his arms and returned Jay's look. "What about your loved ones?"

"My loved ones…" Jay chuckled, tearing up his napkin into small pieces. "Well, let's just say they do their best to understand what I do. Sometimes I disappointed them, sometimes I make them proud. All I know is I have their unconditional love and support."

Barry nodded. Memories of his parents flashed through his mind once more, making him push it away as quickly as he raced to Earth-3.

He was getting good at that.

"But if you really want to chat we can just pop up to the room that we use for my office and—" Quick as a wink, Barry disappeared through a breach. HR pursed his lips and looked in the direction Barry had just disappeared in. "Rude, he could have at least thought of a better way to say 'no'."

"How could he?" Cisco asked. "You never shut up." He exchanged a smile with Brady, who did his best to duck his head and hide his laughter. Cisco replaced the last of the papers that flew off his desk in Barry's wake and settled back in his chair. Seconds later, they were knocked back to the ground when Jesse screeched to a stop in the middle of the Cortex.

She leaned over, trying to keep her balance then stood up straight, using both hands to brush her hair back from her face. Cisco let out a loud yelp sound then dropped his forehead back to his desk with a low thud. Caitlin and Brady both jumped at the sound and exchanged glances before laughing.

"Whoops." Jesse covered her mouth with her hand. "Sorry, Cisco."

"Ah, fair Jesse!" HR cried regally. "And what do we the pleasure of your presence?"

Jesse twisted her mouth to the side. "Is that supposed to be a dig at me?"

"No, it's just HR being weird as usual," Brady said. He blew his fringe from his face then looked up at Caitlin, snapping his bow staff back into the Shadow Shot. He shoved it into the pocket of his jeans and asked, "Aunt Caitlin, how long do you think Cisco will be like this?"

Caitlin studied the back of her friend's head as she rubbed his back in soothing circles. "I don't know. Probably another hour. Why?"

"It's probably the only time you'd get some of your pizza pockets without him sniffing around."

"Ooh. Good idea. Let's go get some."

Cadence smiled and ruffed Brady's hair as he passed. Then she regarded Jesse with a raised eyebrow and folded arms. Jesse's smile immediately faded and she turned on her heel, starting to high-tail it out of the Cortex at a fast walk with Cadence right behind her. "Uh-oh, I know that look."

"Do you?" Cadence walked along with her. There was no point in a burst of speed, Cadence would've gotten to her room first, her teleporting projecting her faster than the speedster's run. "What look?"

"The, 'you're-in-trouble', look," Jesse explained. She clasped her hands behind her back. "I've gotten that look from my dad enough to recognize it. You do almost an exact same look, but yours is far less scary."

"That's because I don't work with fear, I work with tough love," Cadence said. "It's worked for me so far. I never have to ask Brady to do something more than twice." Jesse laughed as the two arrived at Jesse's room. "So where've you been? We haven't seen you around much lately and you missed training today."

"I know," Jesse said. She came to a stop, blushed, and started to rub her arm. "I was…I was with—"

"—Wally," Cadence finished for her. Jesse's blush darkened. "Figures. I mean, who doesn't want to spend all their time with the person they think is more awesome than the Super Bowl and the Country Music Awards all rolled into one?" She smiled. "How do you think I manage to spend so much time with Barry?"

"Barry likes the Country Music Awards?" Jesse asked.

"No, that's me. He's more of a Lady Gaga fan."

"Okay, that makes a lot more sense." Jesse laughed, walking across the floor of her bedroom. The bedroom she used to share with her father. She stretched her arms in front of her, lowering herself to her bed. "I hope I didn't miss too much. I know training is important and everything. I'm sorry I missed it. But…I still want to be a kid, you know? And, it's not like I don't have the same things drilled into my head over and over. Be a hero when you need to be a hero. Be responsible, smart…"

Cadence shook her head. "Hate to break it to ya, but we went over much more than dodging at high speeds today. There's a lot more to speedster training than that. I know it gets annoying, but repetition is key. Barry mentors you on the speed, I mentor you on the fighting, the physical aspect."

Jesse looked up at her alternate-sister with raised eyebrows. "What? Are you saying you're going to kick my ass?"

"I've been thinking about it," Cadence teased back.

Jesse hoped she was teasing, she wasn't quite sure despite the friendly smile on the fire metahuman's face. Jesse had watched Barry and Cadence in the field form STAR Labs and seen many times how she'd smile when taking down a meta with flames burning it the background. It could be scary sometimes. If it weren't for the normally cheery, cheerleader disposition Cadence habitually had, Jesse would've thought she had some sort of Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde thing going on.

A sigh escaped Jesse's lips. "I'm sorry," she repeated. "It won't happen again. With Savitar around, I know it's getting serious. I'll get serious." She nodded once, then looked away. Embarrassed once more. "It's just so weird…I've liked guys before. But not like this. It's like, every time Wally and I hold hands we…I can feel this…this tingling between us."

Cadence smiled. "Like sparks." She knew exactly what that was like. Long before realizing her own feelings for Barry, she felt nothing short of sparks when she was around him. Nothing felt better than finding that person in life that made you feel your best self. Simultaneously, nothing was worse than the fear of them being taken away.

"Yeah, but…on a bigger scale. You know?" Jesse twisted her mouth to the side. She heaved a sigh so heavy it appeared she was about to collapse in on herself. "I wish things could be different."

"Different how?"

"I can't stay here forever. I know that, you know that. I'm just getting training done before I go back to my Earth. To my dad. He's handling everything over there on his own and…" Jesse tilted her head, staring at the photograph of herself and Harry that sat on her bedside table. A makeshift table made of Caitlin's leftover medical cart. "Maybe I'm having too much fun."

"And he wouldn't really approve?" Understatement of the year. Harry was very forceful and played by the rules as often as he could. He wasn't anyone who managed to smile so much, unless he was making fun of Cisco in some way. Otherwise his very forceful and abrasive attitude managed to be great the best of times and a pain in the ass at the worst.

Jesse snorted. "No. Definitely not. He'd say I need to get my work done and worry about boys later. That someone with my powers should think about using it for good not trying to attract the opposite sex."

Cadence snorted. "My dad would've said…" she thought for a moment, trying to picture his voice. It took a lot longer than usual to pinpoint it, the nearly always jolly lift to his voice she couldn't picture. Then it came back. Ah, there it is. "'You're young, have fun'." Cadence paused. It was like she could practically hear his wheezing laugh.

Jesse's nose wrinkled in confusion and disbelief. "Your Harrison Wells would've said that?"

"No, not Harrison, my dad." A chuckle escaped Cadence's lips. "He wouldn't have said it at first because he worried about my having powers. He didn't want people to treat me badly or want to experiment on me or something. But he probably would've said it now. He died a year ago."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Jesse said.

Cadence waved her hand. "Don't worry about it, I'm not…" her voice trailed off. An alarm went off in the back of her head. A year. A year? Did she say it'd been a year? Has it really, already been a year? How could it have been a year already? Cadence frowned, eyebrows furrowing together. Memories shot through her mind. The last moment she had with her father. Thanksgiving the year before.

Thanksgiving at the West house. Thanksgiving with all her friends. Her family together for the first time. Harrison, Tess, Kent, and Maya all together for the first time in years. Cadence squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself to remember. Was he smiling? Why couldn't she remember if he was smiling? He had to be smiling, right? He was visiting his family, working to make things better.

He had to be smiling.

Pain started to erupt through Cadence's chest, making I hard to breathe.

"Cade?" Jesse asked.

Why couldn't she remember?

"Cadence, are you okay?"

Cadence brought her hands up to her cheeks, moved to push her bangs back from her forehead. She was sweating. When did she start sweating? Why was everything so hot? She needed answers. Cadence took a step back. "I need to go home," She murmured. "Tell the others where I went." Before Jesse could respond, Cadence teleported back to the apartment.

"Hi, honey," Maya greeted as Cadence arrived. She set her glass of wine aside, lowering the volume of the TV as she did so. Cadence had the sudden thought that her mother was supposed to be in a hotel or at Jitters or something and wondered how she managed to get into the apartment without a key but didn't dwell on it. "I was just talking to that cute little alien you have around." Normally, Cadence would've cringed and rolled her eyes at her mother's statement. She'd been particularly fascinated with Deity once it was revealed she wasn't from their planet. Asking as many questions about Krypton and what it was like to be an alien with Cadence apologizing every time (though Deity didn't seem to mind the intrusive questions). "Did you know she had no ideas of soap operas? She's missing out. I just ran her through the history of the Young and the Restless and she got upset. I told her it was just a show and that none of these people are real—"

"—Mom," Cadence started. Her chest hurt. No. Her heart hurt. And it continued to grow with each passing second. She could feel hysteria start to take her over.

"Well, I have no idea if they have TV where she's from or knows anything about acting. But I don't understand her being upset about it. Though I guess one of the kids trying to kill their mothers for their money isn't very cheerful—"

"—Mom, why are you here?" Cadence blurted.

Maya looked at her funny, twisting fully on the couch to face her daughter. She lifted a perfectly sculpted and plucked eyebrow. "I already told you, Cadey-Cat." She looked at her daughter closely. "is everything okay? Is there some meta stuff going on?" She got up from her seat and started towards Cadence. The fire metahuman shook her head and took a step back. No. She couldn't deal with her mom going into 'mom-mode'. Not now. "You know, you look tired, sweetie. And very thin. Have you been sleeping well? Eating? Let me whip up something for you."

"Are you here to see us?"

"Honey, I said—"

"Are you here to see us?" Cadence's voice rang through the apartment. "Or because daddy's dead?"

Cadence's words made Maya falter. Her smile stayed frozen on her face for a few seconds before the corners of her lips turned down. Maya sighed heavily, bringing her fingers up to play with the pearl necklace hanging around her throat. "Things have been pretty lonely for me," Maya finally admitted. "Since your father died. And…I thought it'd be…" she took a deep breath. "it's hard for me in Metropolis right now. I can't stay there. Not right now."

Cadence squeezed her eyes shut. Some daughter she was. As selfish and self-centered as ever. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"I didn't want to bother you."

Argh. Cadence's hands clenched into fists. "You wouldn't have bothered me, mom."

"Wouldn't I?" Maya feebly gestured around the apartment. "You have your whole life here. You've got your friends, Brady, Barry. I didn't really have anyone. You'd think there was some shortage of feelings once people got money in their hands." Cadence couldn't help but smile. "And, there was no one there that would understand."

"Understand what, mom?"

"Understand what it's like to lose your best friend. You face that every day, if there was anyone who could handle it, it'd be you."

Cadence's jaw dropped. Then she closed it. The pain in her chest continued to increase in pressure as the seconds passed. She was going to break and soon. Her mother was hurting, and she hadn't even realized it. Hadn't realized how long she'd been hurting for the past year. And it was all about to erupt in a fiery blaze that she couldn't quite handle at the moment. Instead of responding to her mother, Cadence turned on her heel and went to her room. She stopped by the closed door to the guest room when she heard quiet sniffling from inside.

Swallowing hard, Cadence glanced at her mother over her shoulder, watched as Maya picked up her glass and drain the rest of the pale liquid inside. Sighing, Cadence straightened herself and knocked on the door to Deity's room. Receiving no response, she knocked again and opened the door. "Debby?" She called, then cleared her throat after hearing how whispered it was. Cadence stepped into the darkened room and noticed the curled up lump on the bed first and the packed bag by the floor second.

"Debby?" Cadence asked, walking closer to the form on the bed. Deity continued to keep her back to Cadence, her shoulders shaking as she cried. "Debby?" Still, Deity didn't answer. Cadence gently sat down next to her and waited. Waited for Deity to compose herself a little.

The teen girl continued to sniffle, but soon found her voice to say, "I try to forget about it. I try to push it out of my head, but I can't. It's always there." She started to tap her temple, wincing with each tap. "Right here." Cadence was silent. "I did something bad," Deity said. "Something really bad. But I had no choice. I had to do it. To get back home, to get to mom, to…I had to do it."

"Had to do what?" Cadence asked the question slowly. Her heart continued to hammer, as if warning her of a silent, invisible threat looming closer and closer.

"Had to kill."

Cadence took in a sharp breath and let it out. Not to say she didn't expect it, they were the ones who were tasked with protecting their cities and it was bound to happen. But it was also a hard decision to be faced with when the time came. How many times had she and Barry argued about it now? He felt that killing was the worst decision to make, that they could be imprisoned and rehabilitated while Cadence felt, if the time was right, killing was a safer option

What about when you had no choice but to do it to stay alive? Would you allow yourself to be killed instead or continue to fight no matter the consequence?

Even faced with the Reverse-Flash and Zoom, Barry couldn't bring himself to do it while Cadence found the less she thought of it, allowed her feelings to get in the way, the better. Still, the horror and fear of doing for the first time, anytime, wasn't anything that went away. Deity had to have seen some true horrors if it broke her like that.

Deity turned and pushed herself to her knees, sitting on her heels. She wiped at her nose, keeping her head down. "It's called War World. They…they take people prisoner and force them to fight each other, to kill each other, for their own entertainment." Her lips trembled as she tried to keep from falling into full-blown hysteria. "For their own sick entertainment. They…they torture their prisoners, hardly give them food, force them to fight to live…"

Cadence thought for a moment. Then it clicked. It all made sense. Right from the very beginning. "You saw a dominator while you were there."

"I fought…I killed one." Deity reached up and brushed away her tears. Her voice trembled, jaw rapidly vibrated as she sucked in a deep breath. Cadence could tell she was edging closer and closer to her breaking point. "I killed them…I…I didn't even show mercy…it consumed me and I…" and she fell over, crying hysterically.

Cadence reached out and gently smoothed Deity's hair back from her face with even strokes. Just as her mother used to do when she was unable to be comforted. Despite her own thoughts on the matter, Cadence was starting to understand why Barry never wanted to kill even if it was someone who had caused a great amount of pain.

Pain.

There was only so long you could push down the constant pain. That pitting, wrenching, excruciating feeling in the chest cavity down to the pit of the stomach and back again. Burning everything in its path like acid until there was no choice for it to come out. A festering sore unable to heal. A barrier against anything good and happy. Walls closing in around to block out the pain from leaking out, cracking through the surface. An explosion.

Eyes shifting, Cadence moved Deity away from her and stood up. She went to the window and looked out before turning back around to face the now confused alien hybrid who watched her every move. Cadence's eyes narrowed as she looked out over Central City. Tears started to burn her eyes and she sniffed quietly and cleared her throat.

Sharply, Cadence turned around and said flatly, "You have to leave."

"What?" In turn, Deity's eyebrows furrowed together. She continued to sniffle, barely coming down from the exhaustive emotions that coursed through her. That kept her curled up like a child waiting to be comforted by their mother. But Deity wouldn't be comforted until she returned to her Earth. Not in the way she needed to be. "What? What do you mean?"

"Leave," Cadence repeated. "You have to leave." She had to stay strong, it was for the best.

"If this is about the broken window—"

"—if this were about the broken window then Brady would've been kicked out ages ago," Cadence said. Her eyes narrowed for a moment and she pressed a finger to her chin. "Though I'm sure there's some sort of law against that." She shrugged. "Or at least I'd wait until he was sixteen, that seems to be a great age."

Deity slowly stood up, brushing tears from her cheeks with her fingertips. She shook her head, face contorting in intense confusion. "If I did anything wrong—"

"The only thing you did wrong was tell me what you just did," Cadence interrupted again. Deity frowned, partially from being continuously interrupted, partially from intense confusion as to how quickly she changed her demeanor. "Because it was selfish. You're selfish."

"I'm not—"

"You ran away from home because you couldn't handle what you did. You decided that Kara didn't deserve to know because you were ashamed. You decided to come here and keep Kara in the dark because you were scared. And while you were here you decided not to participate in anything here. You decided to veg out and watch as much mindless TV and movies as you could to keep your mind off everything that you did rather than think about how you're making Kara feel. How do you think she is feeling? How she felt when she came home to find you were gone? Scared. Helpless. Worried to all hell. And confused. Confused because you can't talk to her."

"You don't get it," Deity whispered as he head lowered.

"I do get it, Debby!" Cadence said with a raised voice suddenly, prompting Deity's head to shoot up to meet her gaze. "I get it more than possibly anyone else you'll ever meet. But she's your mother and deserves to know!"

"I know that!"

"So what makes me more trustworthy than her?" Cadence's question hit her with silence. "What makes Barry better? Or Caitlin? Or Cisco? What makes you think she wouldn't understand?"

"It's not about understanding!" Deity cried out, catching Cadence off guard, particularly since she'd been on a roll and very few people interrupted her when she was in the middle of a lecture. "Don't you get it? I can't tell her because then what's she going to see? A murderer. She won't see me, she'll see the monster I've become, the girl that killed people just to stay alive. That's not what Supergirl would do…that's not what Kara Danvers would do. You took a risk with your friends, with Barry. I can't do that with Kara. If I lose her…" The sniffles returned. "I don't know what I have left." Deity dropped back down onto the bed, sitting with her head lowered once more as she whimpered. At least until Cadence let out a dry snort of laughter. Deity looked up to see Cadence's gaze lowered, her bangs shielding her eyes from view.

"Wow… Do you really think so little of your own mother?" Deity frowned as Cadence lifted her head, brushing aside her fringe as her eyes connected with Deity's. The tough love was gone now, replaced by something else, something kinder but still firm. "You think Kara, my friend, who put her entire life on hold for you, who raced over here, not just for you, but to help a whole other world she didn't even owe a thing. Do you really think that woman, isn't going to understand? Isn't going to forgive and listen to you? She's your mother, Debby."

Cadence opened her clenched hand, revealing the Tachyon device and pressed her thumb into it. A portal opened beside them, casting the room in an eerie blue glow. "You need to tell her. Now."

"But-"

"Uh-uh," Cadence quickly said with a shake of the head. "This isn't up for debate. You've gotten to play this little game your way long enough. It's time to go home." She nodded towards the portal, this time taking on a kinder voice, "I'm going to miss you. We're all going to miss you. But it's time for you to go."

The two shared a sad smile before Deity took two quick steps forward, wrapping her arms around Cadence. "Thank you," she whispered. And that was all that was needed to be said. The bag was already at the foot of her bed, packed as if she'd already known this was coming. Cadence handed her the tachyon device and Deity gave her one last smile before jumping through, the breach sealing shut behind her.

For a moment Cadence just stood, staring at where the breech had been with that sad goodbye smile everyone had after seeing a friend off. At least that was one thing she'd manage to get cleared up. Hearing the door behind her she turned to see Brady popping his head through, then frowning when he saw his mother on her own. "Where's, Debby?"

"She's gone home, Bud," Cadence said as she smiled to him. "And what are you doing here?"

"I phased here as soon as Jesse said where you were," Brady explained, walking to her. "She said you looked upset." His frown deepened as he quickly changed the subject again. "She could have said goodbye."

"Well, now she has a reason to come back," Cadence said optimistically as the corner of Brady's lips turned up, seeing his mother's logic. It didn't last long. Neither did her own optimism. "What is it, bud?"

"Why do all of my friends leave?" Brady asked. He folded his arms, looking at his feet. "Conner, then Deity…and Papaw, too."

Cadence put her arm around Brady's shoulders. "Hate to break it to you, but it's going to happen more the older you get. Not everyone sticks around. What matters is the memories you made with them and that you're still happy. I can't say it stops hurting, though."

"Well, I know that," Brady said. "That's why Mamaw's here, right?"

With a smile, Cadence kissed the side of her son's head, laughing when he ducked out of the way almost immediately. "You're smarter than I give you credit for."

"I could've told you that." He backed away and looked his mom in the eye. "Are you okay, mom?"

Tears finally came to Cadence's eyes but this time she made no move to hold them off. "No," she admitted. "But I will be. Here's the thing, though, I think mom's going to need the help more than I do at the moment, alright?" Brady nodded.

Cadence gave him another kiss on the head, this time Brady held still to have it done. The pain was going to be there for a long time. She couldn't release it yet. Not when her mother was hurting so much. She needed her mother to be happy first before she was happy. And she longed to be happy.

It was what her father would've wanted, but to do that first, she needed to get rid of the assassination bureau for good.

And she'd do it.

Julian.

Julian's head whipped to the side as he heard his name called. His movement was so violent that he knocked his beakers and other testing tools off his desk and to the ground. Rather than moving to pick them up, to clean the shattered glass, Julian waited to determine where the voice came from. Had he imagined it? Was it all in his head? It was a whisper as dry as death. Of course he imagined it. It was nothing more than fatigue catching up to him as he tried to keep up with the work he missed.

You're psyching yourself out, Julian, he reprimanded with himself. Then, with a sigh, Julian sized up the mess he had to clean. Then he heard it again. The same whisper that made him twitch violently. As if something was controlling him. His arms flew into motion, pushing him away from the desk, making him stand up. Julian's heart pounded against his ribcage.

Julian!

"Stay away," Julian murmured. Finally, he managed to speak, his voice only coming out in gasps moments before. "Stay away from me." He scrambled back to the corner of the room, the corner that allowed him to see the entire lab. To see who was trying to sneak up on him. His heart pumped even harder when he found there was no one there. But the voice continued.

Don't you get it. You can't get away. There's nowhere I won't find you. Become my servant once more. Become Alchemy.

It was in his head. All in his head. Julian closed his eyes, willed himself to calm down. But the voice came faster and faster, louder and louder. It had to stopstopstop. Nownownow. He needed peace.

There was a bright flash of blue light, a ripple of wind that rushed through the lab. Jumping, Julian whipped around and stared, mouth agape at Savitar. The silvery-blue mechanical suit rocked with each step the speedster took forward, the floor shaking simultaneously.

"W-what do you want from me?" Julian whimpered, looking at the speedster with a mixture of fear and awe.

"Only together can we bring about my return," Savitar growled.

"Why should I help you?"

Savitar turned his head to the side. Then he stepped back and slowly brought himself down in a crouch. The moment its knee pressed on the ground, the back of the suit opened. Nuts and bolts clanged as the back of the suit shifted and shook, opening a hole wide enough for a tall, lanky man to climb out. Julian's eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed in disgust as the man turned to face him and swooped his fringe from his face.

"Allen," Julian spat. "I knew there was something not quite right about you."

Savitar—the spitting image of Barry Allen—smirked, running his fingers over the scarred side of his face. "You don't know the half of it."

A/N: Well, the first arc of the story (questions) is finally done. And now the next chapter starts the next arc (answers). We're moving closer to the midseason finale and everything that happens with that, as well as more with the Assassination Bureau. Some interesting emotions going on in this chapter.

Please remember to review; any feedback helps me become a better writer and motivates me to write more. I respond to every review, even anonymous ones.

Cheers,

-Riley

Review Replies

Ethan: Yep, Brady's a pretty old soul at this point. He's seen too much to be able to still hold that childlike innocence he had at the beginning. Not completely anyway.

yummers: Barry's got his strengths in mentoring and Cadence has hers. It just makes them work as a team when their skills are both needed. Lol.

PowerHero432: A teeny bit more of a hint with Maya and Deity in this one. Can't wait to see Deity's POV of what Maya is like, lol. And yes, Burnout is back. Now that this first arc is over and the second one is starting more of Earth-2 does come in.

Guest: Glad you enjoyed it.

Spinquin142: Yes, Wally's powers are coming more into play. It took longer than I anticipated, but I had taken a lot of what was originally his to Jesse so it took some time for me to figure out how to get things worked out.

Babyj: I'm glad the pacing is working out well.