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The One With Timing

Barry ran on the treadmill, happily feeling the speed force run through him as he ran on the moving surface. It was the first time in a few days he'd been allowed - and okay, able - to use his powers to whatever limit he wanted. Right now he was going about Mach 3 and not feeling any exhaustion or oddities at all. It felt great.

It was at odd times like this that he wondered what he would do if he ever lost his speed. He supposed that used to be his biggest fear but now he knew he would get along without it, as long as he had the people around him.

Right now three of those people were watching from the lab next door, all monitoring him in different ways. Cisco was making sure his suit and the machines were performing at their maximum optimum level. Joe was watching him to make sure he was okay, he guessed either mentally or emotionally or some other way that Joe's gut could define. And Caitlin was there watching over his vitals with an eye a bird of prey would covet.

"OK Barry, just slow it down a little," Caitlin called out. "Your glucose levels are starting to drop."

"By like one per cent Caitlin," Cisco said.

"It's still a drop," she answered. "And as Barry could potentially still be recovering at a cellular level we need to just practice a bit of caution."

"I think Caitlin's right," Joe said.

Barry grinned at the disgruntled look on Cisco's face but did as he was asked. He was running again and that was all that mattered to him.

Besides it gave him more time to plan.

He wanted to surprise Caitlin again with her next gift but he didn't want to do it where Cisco could possibly see. He supposed he could take it to her apartment again but he wanted to see her open it and it felt a little presumptuous to take the gift and just invite himself in because of it. So he needed to think of all available options to him. It wasn't just about getting her a good gift anymore, it was also about how he gave the gift to her.

Also he was very lucky that Cisco had yet to figure anything out and whilst the other two gifts had been kind of group-orientated, or at least able to be seen that way, this gift was much more personal.

He heard the others start talking again but their voices drifted over him as he considered scenario after scenario. He was still 'sick' according to the CCPD so he didn't need to worry about that. But he needed to time it right. It was good he had his speed back as, as a last resort, he could always use Flashtime to give him and Cait some privacy. But was that too private? Too much? And she might not be so keen on him using that much energy.

"Barry? Barry!"

He turned to look at the sound of his name and only saw Caitlin sitting at the desk.

He slowed himself to normal walking speed. "Where are the others?"

"Joe just got a call about an old case going to jury," Caitlin replied looking at him quizzically. "It involved the use of the dampening cuffs so Cisco went with him to give any technical support needed. Weren't you listening?"

"Kind of," Barry said sheepishly. "But I was more just feeling the run…"

Caitlin smiled. "Good to be going fast again, hmm?"

Barry laughed. How she got him. "Yeah."

Caitlin's smile got bigger but she returned her attention to the screen in front of her.

Barry just watched her for a minute before he suddenly realised it was just him watching her. There was no-one else here. The two of them were alone.

"So did they say how long they'd be gone?" Barry asked as he walked into the lab room and stood next to Caitlin.

"I think you should go grab something to eat, just replenish your sugar levels a little," she said before adding. "Joe thought it might be at least an hour, but more likely a couple. Why?"

"No reason," Barry said as casually as he could. "You want a drink or anything?"

"No, I'm fine."

"'Kay."

Barry flashed out of the room, grabbed himself some food and a drink as well as a certain box and then returned to the lab. He slipped the box next to Caitlin and then made a big production of plopping down in the chair the other side of him.

Caitlin looked at him as her hair was blown back but he just grinned goofily at her. And she rolled her eyes but smiled back.

She carried on working and Barry sat watching her whilst eating his snack. He loved her concentrated she got and that her face could be so expressive; when there was a result she didn't like her nose scrunched up and when there was a positive her eyes would light up. It was all little things but they were so easy to see to him.

After a few minutes her hand reached out for a pen so she could make a note on her file pad but her fingers brushed something else.

Startled she turned to see the box resting on the table next to her. She quickly looked at him and he tried to do a 'who me?' look with an added shrug of his shoulders for effect but he could feel a smile pulling at the corners of his mouth so didn't think he managed to quite pull it off.

Caitlin looked between him and the box biting her lip.

"Open it," Barry said softly after she sat there for another minute in indecision.

"Alright," she answered, her voice breathy.

Her fingers traced over the edge of the box and then around the number 19. She had long graceful fingers Barry thought, and they were capable of so much. He could put his life down to the actions of those fingers. He noticed so many little things about Caitlin now, all which he felt so strongly about.

She opened up the box and pulled aside the protective tissue paper before letting out a little gasp.

Barry's heart thundered in his chest suddenly, anticipation and nerves racing along his skin. Did she like it?

Caitlin gently lifted the plaque out of the box and Barry watched her face, watched her eyes light and her lips curve in a smile at seeing what it was – an art deco drawing of two line faces, their smiles overlapping, with the quote 'So many of my smiles begin with you, Anon' written in gold writing underneath.

"Barry," she gushed.

"It's the truth," he said his voice thick.

She turned to look at him and proved his very point, the small smile on her face causing his to mirror it.

They sat there together just smiling softly at each other. There were words and actions hanging in the air between them but neither moved or said anything. They just shared the moment together.

Not yet, Barry thought to himself, it wasn't time yet.

But soon.

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