Chapter Three
Barry's POV
I woke up groggily. I tried to sit up, but I felt dizzy and laid back down again. I felt… almost sick. I thought that was impossible, due to my accelerated healing, but I felt awful. I haven't felt this way since I had the flu when I was 11.
"Sleeping Beauty woke up," said an unfamiliar voice. I looked up to see the fire metahuman from earlier. Claire or something.
"Barry, how do you feel?" Caitlin asked.
"Pretty awful," I said.
"You sound awful," Cisco said. I sat up, this time successfully. Suddenly, I sneezed. Now, sneezing when you're a normal human is bad enough, but when you're a speedster, you shoot half across the room when you sneeze. Great. Fortunately, Caitlin caught me before I toppled over and guided me back to the cot.
"Don't tell me you sneezed on my suit," Cisco said.
"Sorry," I said.
"I'll get a kleenex box, something tells me you're gonna need it," Caitlin said. She left the cortex as the fire metahuman walked over. Her hair was no longer on fire, but it was still a bright red, and she had her right arm in a sling.
"We haven't been properly introduced, I'm Clarissa. I would shake your hand, but you look as sick as a dog. I don't wanna get sick," she said.
"I'm Barry. But you probably know me better as the Flash," I said.
"Clarissa is also known as Firefly," Cisco said.
"No, I'm not," Clarissa said.
"I think it's growing on you," Cisco insisted.
"Whatever," Clarissa said. I sneezed again.
"Please change before you get snot on my suit," Cisco sighed.
"Okay," I said. I ran out of the cortex and came back in seconds, wearing a Star Labs sweatshirt and sweatpants. I suddenly felt dizzy.
"I don't think I should be running anymore," I said, sitting down on the cot.
"That's gonna be a problem," Caitlin said, handing me the tissues.
"Thanks," I said, taking the box. Harrison walked in, not looking happy.
"Allen, it is your job to protect Central City, you can't just give up," he said.
"I can barely stand up without getting dizzy, how the hell am I supposed to protect Central City!?" I asked frustratingly.
"I can, " Clarissa blurted.
"What?" Harrison asked.
"I'm a metahuman, and I may not run at the speed of sound, but I'm all you've got, so what else can you do?" Clarissa insisted.
"Are you sure? This work is dangerous," I warned.
"Plus, your arm is broken, and it will take at least six weeks to heal," Caitlin protested.
"Well, what else can we do? Can't call the Arrow up, he's got Star City to worry about. Firestorm is… unreachable, and all the other metahumans we know aren't exactly our friends," Cisco pointed out.
"Cisco has a point, she is all we have," Harrison agreed.
"And I think I can help with your broken arm, when I was at Mercury Labs, I remember working with a skeleton-growth serum, but I left Mercury Labs before I could finish it," Cailin replied.
"You're gonna need a suit, Firefly. I have an early prototype of Barry's suit that I can work with. Also, you can't actually fly, right?" Cisco asked.
"Nope, I can't fly," Clarissa said.
"Well, soon you will," Cisco said.
"Wait, did you actually call it my suit?" I asked.
"It just kinda slipped out," Cisco insisted.
"I'll work on the serum, and you should go home Barry. Call Joe, I'm sure he'll get you a ride," Caitlin said, going into her lab. I dialed Joe's number.
"Hey Bear, you need something?" Joe asked.
"Yeah, can you pick me up?" I asked.
"Why don't you just… run home?" Joe asked worriedly.
"Yeah, I can still run, but I've got a very bad cold, and anytime I try to run, I nearly pass out," I replied.
"I'll pick you up," Joe replied.
"Thanks," I said, hanging up. In about half an hour, Joe showed up. By this time, Caitlin was a quarter of the way done with the skeleton-growth serum, and Cisco was messing with some type of giant electronic wings.
"Ready to go Barry?" Joe asked, walking into the cortex.
"Yeah," I said.
"You sound terrible," Joe commented. I broke into a coughing fit.
"Let's get you home Bear," Joe said, helping me up.
"Home sounds great," I said. I got in the car and Joe drove me home. We arrived home, and I went upstairs to my room. I collapsed in bed, asleep instantly.
A/N: Heyo! It's been a little while, sorry. Writer's block just doesn't leave me alone. Anyway, hope you enjoy! Please review/follow/favorite, it makes me smile! Byee!
~Hannah :)