Happy birthday to the Guest who commented on the last chapter! I hope this isn't too late of a birthday present.
Also, welcome to all new readers! I hope you enjoy this story. Please consider leaving your thoughts in a review.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own The Flash
"It's no use" the villain says coolly behind the glass, "you can't even send me to prison without revealing The Flash's identity."
Iris had gone back to the med bay to be with Barry and Caitlin because she couldn't stand being around Barry's kidnapper for very long. Meanwhile, Cisco and Wally had gone to the cortex to do some research. This left Joe alone with the Mind Melter.
Joe grinds his teeth together in anger and frustration, "You're going to have to talk sometime. And if you won't willingly, don't doubt what I'll do to help my son."
Mind Melter only offers a mocking smirk in response.
"You may want to rethink the position you're in, Mind Melter," Cisco declares as he strides into the pipeline, folder in his hand and Wally following close behind.
"Or should I say," Cisco continues, "Erik Taylor."
The villain's eyes snap toward the young engineer, the smirk sliding off his face. "How do you know my name?" He practically growls.
Cisco opens the folder, although he never breaks eye contact with the man in the cell. "Before the particle accelerator explosion, you were a psychiatrist. No wife, no kids, and no contact with the rest of your family. That's how you were able to easily disappear after you got your powers."
Wally's voice comes from over Cisco's shoulder, "A psychiatrist? Oh, how the good ones go bad."
The vibing hero raises a finger, "Actually, not only was Erik here stealing money from the practice he worked for, but he also misdiagnosed enough patients to be fired and sued by those patients. This was two weeks before the particle accelerator explosion and then you mysteriously disappeared before you could be investigated further."
Taylor pounds his fists on the glass. "How did you find out about that?" he booms.
"Don't underestimate my skills, baby." Cisco taunts. "Not only can you go to jail for those crimes, but also for the string of armed robberies and kidnappings that you committed as your meta identity."
"You'll be in Iron Heights for a long time. And we don't even have to share Barry's identity." Joe throws in.
Taylor takes a few steps back, deep in thought. Then he looks to Joe. "You're a detective. You can give me a deal. I'll tell you whatever you need to know, and you make some of those crimes go away."
After a long moment, Joe reluctantly nods. "I'll see what I can do."
This earns appalled looks from the two young men beside Detective West.
"Alright then," Joe continues, "Let's start with a simple question for you: why did you take my son?"
"I wanted his power. I knew that if I could control the Flash, all of Central City would be in the palm of my hand." Taylor explains.
Wally speaks up, "How exactly did you think you could control him?"
"All of you- his team- were the only thing standing in the way. So, if I could get him to despise his team, he would be completely vulnerable, and I could gain control."
Cisco questions, "But that makes no sense. Your powers can only allow you to show someone memories."
Taylor hesitates before answering, "By hurting and draining someone both physically and psychologically, get them to doubt everything they know, you can mold them into whatever you want. Essentially, I brainwashed him."
Joe feels sick to his stomach. What kind of person could do this to another human being? Especially to Barry? Not being able to hear anything more come from this man's mouth, he turns and leaves.
"Dad?" Wally calls, concerned. The young man runs after his father. "Are you okay?"
"I… I don't know, son."
After a moment of walking in silence, Wally asks, "You weren't really going to make a deal with him, were you?"
"Never in my lifetime. I want that man to rot in Iron Heights for the rest of his miserable life. I only told him that to get him to talk." Joe responds, hatred peppering his voice.
"Based on what you're telling me, there isn't going to be an instant cure." Caitlin explains to the team (minus one speedster) in the cortex.
The doctor continues, "Barry's change in personality, his aggression, all of it is psychological damage due to intense trauma. Some medication may be able to help, but most of the healing Barry is going to have to do on his own and in his own time."
"How will he get past all this if he doesn't even trust us?" Wally interjects, a dejected look on his face.
Cisco straightens, an idea coming to him, "Mind Melter has the ability to bring forth specific memories, right? Well, what if we have him show Barry some good memories of us so that he'll let us help him?"
Caitlin purses her lips. "That might work, but having Barry face the person who did this to him may cause a bad reaction. I mean, he was practically hyperventilating when he heard Erik Taylor's voice."
"So, either way, this is going to get worse before it gets better, is what you're saying?" Joe asks.
The doctor gives a hesitant nod.
Iris suddenly speaks, "No. I don't want that monster anywhere near Barry ever again." She quickly exits the cortex and walks toward the med bay.
"Wait, Iris." Her father calls as he follows her.
"I'll do a little more research then make a clear recovery plan for Barry," Caitlin comments as she shuffles some papers.
All of a sudden, quick footsteps can be heard coming down the hall toward the cortex. Joe's voice reaches the rest of the team before he does, "Barry's gone!"
Six Days Ago
He tightly grips the porcelain sink in the dimly lit gas station bathroom. Slowly, he lifts his gaze to the hollow eyes of his reflection.
"They hurt me." he mumbles to the empty room, "They all hurt me. What do I do?"
He searches his pale, thin face as if it holds answers.
"Make them answer for what they did to me. Make them pay." He whispers.
With the lightning-fast velocity that only a speedster can achieve, Barry Allen races from the small gas station and toward the Central City Police Department.