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The With Sleep and Home
Caitlin opened her door at some time in the early morning of the 17th December with only two thoughts in her head; God she was tired, and thank any and all of the powers that be that Barry was okay.
Seeing him hurt was never easy, but having spent a lovely evening with him, only then for them to get called in and see him go up against a tough foe and nearly not make it back was horrible. Literally within moments her emotions had trampled all over each other as her locations had changed. She had been feeling happy and relaxed on the hill, then panicked and horrified watching from Star Labs.
Caitlin didn't bother hanging anything up, she just dumped what she could as she walked in and went straight to her bedroom where she knew her bed was waiting for her.
Hopefully the criminals and ner-do-wells and attacking metas would all give Central City a break for a few hours. And that included the Flash and his team who really needed time for recuperation.
She'd seen Barry settled at home, with strict instructions for Joe on how he was to be looked after and to call her if anything was needed. Joe had listened attentively to the first and had smiled at the second; she had a feeling he wouldn't call her unless there was an emergency as she knew he thought she needed rest too. But Barry's health would always come first.
She had already been overruled by him and Cisco anyways, as she had come home to her own place rather than crash in the spare room. She knew logically that Barry was out of the woods and would be fine; his healing had kicked in and his body was almost back to peak physical condition. It just unsettled her. Seeing Barry as anything other than fighting fit just didn't feel right, and for her to be so far away when he might need her…
Caitlin shook her head at herself. She knew how to deal with that feeling. She'd felt it for a long time. All she had ever wanted was to take care of Barry but, other than medically, it was always someone else's job. Even now it was not her place, and just because they'd been growing closer…
This time she sighed at herself. She was too tired for this kind of thinking.
Caitlin stripped herself out of her clothes and bundled herself up in pyjamas. She climbed into bed and was about to turn her light off when her phone rang.
"Urgh," she groaned. "Please do not be a meta. Do not be a meta." She chanted as she reached for it.
But the name on the screen was the one meta she would never mind being called by.
"What is it? What's wrong?" She demanded as she answered, anxiety for Barry racing through her.
He had the gall to chuckle. "I'm fine. I'm tucked up in bed, just about to go to sleep. Again."
"Sleep is a restorative process and your body needs to-"
"I know Cait."
She sighed. "Then why are you calling?"
"Because I needed to check on you."
"Oh." Caitlin answered stupidly, her heart beating at twice its usual rate.
"Also I needed to give you your gift."
"Barry Allen, so help me, if you even think of running over here-"
His laughter would have been a lovely thing to hear if she was so worried at what he would possibly do.
"Relax Dr Snow. I'm in bed and I'm not going anywhere."
"Okay, um… that's good."
"But I didn't want you going a day longer without a gift," Barry said, the earnestness in his voice causing her breath to catch. "Though this is a little off the books. It's not at all what I had planned but I thought you might like it, or rather the meaning behind it, though you can like it too, not saying that you can't just-"
"Barry," Caitlin interrupted. "Breathe."
"Ok," he took a deep breath. "Well here goes…"
Barry took another breath and then began to sing softly.
"I'll be home for Christmas
You can plan on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents on the tree
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the lovelight gleams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams
I'll be home for Christmas
You can plan on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents on the tree
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the lovelight gleams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams"
Caitlin felt goose bumps tingle all over her body as the low sound of Barry's voice added an intimacy to his words. And the words themselves… She knew it was already a song, but the way he was singing it, some words caressed more than others, made it feel like he was singing it just for her.
And she couldn't help but read far too much into it.
"I just wanted you to know that Cait," Barry said, a breathlessness to his voice that she didn't think was all down to the singing.
"Thank you Barry," Caitlin managed to murmur with a thick voice, too much emotion swelling up inside her.
Silence reigned between them but it wasn't uncomfortable. They both seemed to realise that whatever they wanted to say next would mean something more and neither wanted to take that step whilst on the phone. After a few minute Caitlin could hear Barry yawning and the doctor part of her took over.
"You need to be resting. I'll see you later?"
"Yeah I know, I'll rest. I'll get in to Star Labs when I can." he paused, and then said in a soft tone. "Goodnight Cait, sleep tight."
"Sleep well Barry."
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