Earth 4 Part II

Hero Snart x Criminal Lance

xXx

"She's stable for now, but she should really be in a hospital." Caitlin announced a few hours later as she emerged from the medical suite to find the team gathered in the hallway.

"She seemed pretty adamant about no hospitals." Cisco replied.

"I know, but there's only so much I can do here. At the very least I'll need more equipment."

"I'll make some calls, see what I can dig up." Wells said turning and walking away. Cisco followed after him heading for the sub levels to search through the equipment they stored there. Caitlin slowly approached Leonard who was sitting on the floor, his back against the wall.

"You can go in and sit with her if you like." she told him softly and slowly he raised his head to look up at her. Slowly he nodded and Caitlin accept that as an answer and walked away. Barry was sitting on the floor across from Leonard, his eyes focused solely on the older man. Leonard met his stare right back.

"We have to turn her in don't we?" Leonard asked softly, his voice straining against the emotions he fought to keep in line. Barry shrugged.

"Not necessarily. We still don't know who she is, if she healed up and managed to escape before we could tell anyone she was here it would be out of our hands wouldn't it?" Barry suggested.

"What do you mean, we don't know who she is?" Leonard asked.

"Caitlin left her mask on, she said it didn't feel right to reveal her identity in this situation. Plus she knows how you feel, and what Cisco and I were suggesting, I think she was hoping you could convince her to join us before she had to run her DNA."

Leonard nodded his understanding before forcing himself up off the ground. Barry followed suit, nodding at him before he left Leonard to stare at the closed recovery room door. He took a deep breath before pushing through, coming to a stop just inside the doorway. His eyes tracked the dimly lit room resting on the prone figure lying in the hospital bed on the far side of the room. She looked pale, her skin contrasting sharply against the solid black domino mask. Her blonde hair looked darker now, less bleached and more natural. She was wearing a pair of scrubs now, and it was strange to see her sans leather.

Leonard approached the bed, looking down at the young woman. She looked so small without all the extra layers of leather and weapons, so fragile without her armor. He knew how irrational it was for him to feel so protective of her, he barely knew her outside of the instances where they were pitted against each other. They were technically enemies and yet he couldn't bring himself to look at her as such.

Leonard sighed, pulling up a chair and taking a seat beside her bed. He hesitated for only a moment before taking her hand and gently smoothing his thumb over her knuckles. "I know you're a fighter, a survivor, I can tell. Please don't give up now." he whispered.

xXx

Leonard wasn't sure what time it was when he awoke, to the feeling of someone squeezing his hand. His eyes slowly opened and he realized he'd fallen asleep in the chair beside The Canary's bed. His eyes moved to their joined hands and saw her knuckles shift as her hand squeezed his. He leaned forward, noticing her eyes were still closed and reached up with his other hand gently running his fingers along her cheek. Her watched as her nose scrunched up and her eyes screwed shut before slowly opening to looking up at him sleepily.

"Welcome back." he greeted her softly unable to keep the soft smile off his face. She simply stared up at him expressionless.

"Where am I?' she asked, her voice hoarse and cracking with disuse.

"Starlabs. Dr. Snow was able to patch you up. She thinks you're going to be alright."

"Thinks?"

Leonard hesitated. "She knows you would be better off at a hospital. But you made it very clear you didn't want to go so she did all she could here."

She nodded slowly, turning her head to look up at the ceiling as her free hand came up to her face to feel around for her mask. She looked surprised to see it was still there.

"It didn't really seem right to unmask you, given the circumstances." he explained and she turned to look at him again, the blank look was replaced with surprise. She quickly recovered looking away and struggling to sit up. Leonard was there, stopping her with a gentle hand. "You shouldn't move around too much. Dr. Snow managed to stabilize you but just in case you have to take it easy for awhile." he told her and sigh as she let him push her back down.

They were silent for awhile until she looked over at him again. "Is that cop friend of yours here?" she asked. Leonard nodded. "I have information for him." she continued and Leonard hesitated for a moment before standing and making his way to the far wall. Set into the wall was an intercom and he spoke into it, getting an immediate response.

"She's awake." Leonard spoke into the unit. "She says she needs to speak to Detective West."

"I'll be right down." was Joe's immediate reply. Leonard returned to her bedside and within a few minutes Joe pushed through the door, Caitlin close behind. "What did you want to talk to me about?" Joe asked as Caitlin moved around the bed, checking the equipment and The Canary's health. Leonard and Caitlin helped her sit up when she started struggling again. Joe stepped closer, coming to stand beside Leonard.

"I'm sure you've noticed a jump in crime in the last few months." she said and joe nodded. "Robberies and Gang related violence."

"How do you know that?" he asked confused.

"That team I was working with a few months ago were there to keep an eye on me. I'm sure you've realized I prefer to work alone." Joe nodded. "I was contracted by Alberto Falcone, son of Carmine Falcone."

"Head of Gotham's most powerful crime family." Joe finished.

"Alberto is trying to make a name for himself and he thinks the only way to do that is to go out and make his own way in a new city. He contracted me to steal a few things from that warehouse, which was owned by one of Central Cities most prominent gangs."

"He's trying to start a war? And then when the dust settles he'll be the new reigning power." Joe concluded and she nodded.

"He's set up in an abandoned warehouse six miles outside of the city. Assuming he hasn't ditched it yet, you'll find all the evidence you need to put him and his associates away for a very long time."

"I'll get my guys on it." Joe told her.

"Just be careful." she told him. "Alberto's cocky, but he's not stupid. He may let his guard down, but only because he has a back up plan somewhere." Joe nodded his understanding before thanking her and turning to leave.

Caitlin then spoke up, informing her that she was still stable and that she would need to rest for quite awhile if she was still adamant about not going to an actual hospital. When Canary confirmed that was the case Caitlin accept her answer and left as well, leaving Leonard alone with her again.

"So," he began taking a seat next to her bed. "Did you give Joe that information out of revenge for Alberto sending his guys after you?"

She shrugged. "Look, I know what I am. I'm not always proud of it but it's all I really know how to be anymore."

"Have you ever tried to be anything else?" Leonard asked carefully.

"Well, there was this one time I gave up vital information to a Central City detective." she replied and Leonard smiled.

"I'd say that's a pretty good start."