So sorry for the delay! Real life has beat me up. Have a chapter! I hope you enjoy it! :)

I have a bit more spare time today so I may as well start on the next chapter before real life catches up. Hopefully there won't be as big a break this time.
Thanks for all the comments and support, you guys are so WONDERFUL! Shout out to guests kalem, KyannaLashae and Guest! :)

I have to say it's kind of amazing to me that people are asking when the next chapter is. I didn't realize people would want it so badly, but that is a really good thing and makes me very happy to have people enjoy the story so much. Thank you! :)

Chapter 16

It was late when Barry finally left Iris's apartment. She walked with him to the door and out into the hallway a few steps as they said goodbye.

"How are you going to get to work tomorrow without your car?" Barry was looking at her with concern. Iris returned his look with a surprised glance.

"I hadn't thought about that yet. Too many other things going on."

"Well, if you need me to, I could always come pick you up in the morning."

Iris stared at him and then shook her head slowly. "You mean literally, don't you?"

Barry shrugged. "It wouldn't take me very long to get you there."

Iris laughed. "True. But I think I'll call Linda and see if she'll give me a ride."

Barry ran a hand over the back of his neck. "Oh you guys are friends now? That's slightly…uncomfortable."

Iris rolled her eyes and punched his arm lightly. "What, I can't have other friends? We don't just sit around and talk about you, you know."

"Glad about that." Barry mumbled, mostly to the floor.

Iris took pity on him, giggling. "Thanks anyway, Bear. I appreciate the offer. You can…pick me up…some other time. Night." She turned and headed back inside her apartment, throwing a coy smile over her shoulder as she went.

He stood there several minutes after the door closed, a small but disbelieving smile on his own face. Memories of their dating days in the other timeline whispered in.

If he didn't know better, he'd say Iris West had just flirted with him.

He turned and took a few steps down the hallway. He stopped, looked back, then smiled as he shook it off and headed home.

Iris was in the door and had just shut it by the time she fully realized what she had done. She leaned against the door and rested her head on it, thinking hard.

It had felt so natural, like something she would say to the Flash. Except it wasn't the Flash, it was Barry. But Barry was the Flash. Iris had never overtly flirted with Barry before, even before the coma. He was her best friend, and she hadn't wanted to chance making things awkward. She still didn't. But now that she was acknowledging them, her feelings were letting her know how strong they really were. She couldn't deny that he seemed so much more to her now. He had since his depression, since she'd realized what it might mean to really lose him again. And it wasn't because he was the Flash. It was because the confidence he'd gained from being the Flash made it seem like she actually could flirt with him. Like he could handle it. He certainly had as the Flash. A door had opened that she wouldn't have imagined a few months ago.

Her breath hitched in her chest. She was still terrified. She was over-thinking everything. Should she just go with the flow and hope for the best, or come to a screeching halt and preserve what she already had?

She felt just like she had before the coma.

Except that now instead of just wondering if they could have something more, she wanted it. She wanted it a lot.

She rolled her head back and forth on the door slowly, feeling like either way she was going to get burned.

The house was dark as Barry came in the front door. He wondered if Joe had already gone to bed. He took his jacket off and tossed it over the back of the couch. As he stepped down into the living room he realized someone was occupying the chair next to the couch. The lamp next to it came on. Joe was sitting there, and he looked like he'd been there for a very long while.

They just looked at each other for a moment before Barry came over to sit on the couch close to Joe's chair. Joe was now just staring at his knees. He looked like he needed to say something. Barry waited.

"She's really okay?"

"She's fine, Joe. Really. I am so sorry about everything. But he didn't come after her to hurt her. He wanted something else. I'm still figuring that out. But it didn't matter that she knew who the Flash is. I swear."

Joe nodded slowly. "And it didn't matter the first time that she didn't know. He still threatened her life because I was investigating. She's always been in the crosshairs. I thought if I kept her on the outside it would help. But it didn't. And now she's angry with me."

"She'll forgive you. She just needs time and some space. She still loves you."

"I can't lose my daughter, Barry." Joe's face was haunted. Barry could tell he meant both physically and emotionally.

Barry moved closer. "You're not going to lose her. We'll figure this out. I'm not letting the Reverse Flash take anyone else. You can still fix things with her, but it can't be the way it always has. It needs to evolve."

"Do you think I smother her?" Joe looked in Barry's face, clearly wanting an honest answer.

Barry hesitated. That was a loaded question. He picked his way carefully through the minefield. "I think you love her and you're scared of losing her. But I also think she's stronger than you think. You didn't see her in the other timeline, Joe. She was tough as nails and handled every crazy thing that came her way. So I think…that she needs a chance to prove herself. And you need to let her." Barry was pretty sure he could feel a tripwire. He waited with one eye half closed, as if anticipating an explosion. It never came.

Joe was gazing at his knees again. "She's still five years old in my eyes."

Barry smiled slightly. "I know. But you raised her to be able to handle herself. Now she needs the chance to do it. For her sake, and for yours. You used to worry about me the same way, but it's gotten better once you saw my speed and what it could do. I think you won't be as scared once you see her superpowers."

Joe gave him a slightly frowning questioning look. Barry provided the answer.

"Guts and love, Joe. Her superpowers are guts and love."

S.T.A.R. Labs was bustling with activity when Barry arrived the next morning. Caitlin was busy at one of the computers. Cisco was fiddling on a tablet, and Dr. Wells was at a different monitor viewing a wealth of information.

"Anything?" Barry looked at each of them in turn. All three shook their heads.

"Nothing." Cisco put his tablet aside. "Not one lead. We have no idea where he comes from or where he goes. This must be how the rest of Central City feels about you."

Barry gave the ceiling a frustrated look. "I wish I knew what he wanted."

"Well next time you see him, just ask." Caitlin put in. Barry shook his head with a slight smile.

Harrison wheeled closer. "Iris is okay then?" Barry nodded. "Good. Are things any better between you two?" Barry nodded again with a wider smile. "Well. At least something good came out of last night." He gave a satisfied nod and wheeled away.

Barry's smile faded somewhat as he considered those words.

Later that day Cisco was muttering to himself as he finished up work for the day. Caitlin had already left for home. He picked up the tablet he'd been working on all day and went over the results again.

"But this was before that…and that seems to be older than this…and these are the same. Barry, did you do what I think you did?"

"What's that Cisco?"

Cisco jumped. "Sorry, Dr. Wells, I didn't hear you come in."

Harrison smiled. "Well, I have greased the squeaky wheel lately. But something tells me that you were too focused to hear anything. What are you looking at, want some help?"

Cisco shook his head. "Just some test results on some samples I ran. They come from the same source, but it's so weird because some seem older than others. And that couldn't have happened."

Harrison's eyebrows drew together. "Why not? What are the samples?"

"Just some blood and other stuff. But the blood, there are four different areas of it on the suit. Two different types. And two different occurrences. Based on the denaturation of certain blood markers, two are more than a week older than the other two. Although excessive heat could change that result, but if it would do it for one it should do it for all unless they happened at different times which brings me back to square one…"

"The suit? You mean Barry's suit?"

Cisco froze mid-mumble. He hadn't meant to give that away. His voice was slower and cautious when he finally spoke. "Yeah…but I'm sure there's an explanation for it."

Harrison gazed at Cisco, accurately deducting that Cisco already had a possible theory in mind. He always appreciated Cisco's intelligence. "What do you think the explanation is?"

Cisco shrugged, trying to blow it off. "I don't know. But they came in like after a night, not a week. I mean going by the evidence Barry would've had to time travel to end up with his suit like that, blood a week difference in age-"

"Did he time travel?"

Harrison's voice was sharp and intense. Cisco jumped and looked at him in surprise. Harrison was staring at him, his blue eyes unblinking.

"N-no. I was just saying…I'm sure there's a different explanation. Maybe I missed the first blood when I cleaned it or something. Easy to do, it's all red on red…." Cisco's voice faded away as he got more and more unnerved. Harrison was just staring at him. There was a tense silence.

Harrison blinked, and it was like a veil dropped over his eyes. He smiled, leaning back in his wheelchair. "I'm sure you're right, Cisco. Why don't you check the blood samples and see if they match anyone Barry has fought lately? That ought to simplify things."

Cisco swallowed. "Yeah, exactly what I was thinking too. Thanks Dr. Wells."

Harrison smiled. "Keep me posted. Good night."

"Night." Cisco watched to make sure Dr. Wells had exited the room before turning back to his tablet.

"That's why I already did that." He muttered to the electronic.

But he'd promised to keep it a secret, and he wanted to talk to Barry first. Besides, Dr. Wells looked like he wouldn't be happy at all if it turned out that Barry really had time traveled.

And unfortunately, that's what it was starting to look like.

Cisco had checked the samples for matches as one of his first tests. The results had left him just as confused.

They were a week or so apart, but the samples were the same two samples of blood. They both matched previous samples, but they were the ones from Barry's house that he'd taken with Joe.

One was Barry's blood. Adult Barry, just like last time.

The other was the Reverse Flash's.

"Barry, it's time to give me some answers dude." Cisco grabbed his things and headed out.

Iris was in a good mood when she got home that night. Riding with Linda had turned out to be a lot of fun. They had laughed and talked most of the way to and from work. Linda did an amazing Mason impression.

She was staring into her fridge, trying to decide what would make a good dinner when there was a knock on the door.

She peeked through the peephole, and her good mood slipped somewhat. Joe was standing on the other side. She chewed her lip as she opened the door, ready for another argument.

But her father didn't look like he wanted to fight. He stood outside in the hallway, even after she coolly greeted him.

"Hello Dad."

"May I come in?" He waited for her answer.

This was a stark contrast to the night before, when he'd stormed inside as if it were his place. Iris took note of that, and she warmed up slightly.

"Sure." She moved back so he could enter and shut the door. He stood awkwardly until she gestured to the couch and invited him to sit. He shot her a grateful look as he did.

"Thank you."

Iris nodded and sat down on the other side of the couch. She was ready to go toe to toe with him again if needed, but she wanted to see what he had to say first.

Joe cleared his throat. "I apologize for barging in here last night. I was worried about you, but that's no excuse."

Iris nodded again. "Thank you. Is that all?"

"No…no." Joe stared across the room. Iris waited some more. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I was trying to keep you safe."

"Do you actually realize how much you did hurt me?" She waited for him to meet her eyes. When he did, he could only do it for a moment before he looked at the floor again. "You are my dad, and we have always been close. Barry and I have always been close. You are the people I thought would never lie to me. Never. But you did."

Joe's eyes were glistening. "I know. I'm sorry. I just don't think I can handle it if anything were to happen to you."

"Dad, Barry told me what happened when he time traveled." Joe looked up in surprise.

"He told me what happened to you in that timeline. I've been a cop's daughter all my life. Plenty of nights I sat up and worried that you would get hurt or killed on the job. I understand how you feel. But in that timeline, you weren't even working that day. You were running errands. And I still lost you. I don't remember any of that, so I don't know how it really feels, but I can imagine it. And as awful as it must be, the one thing I would need in that situation is to know that I used every moment of our lives together to be close and enjoy our relationship. I can't do that if you shut me out. I'm not safe anyway. If you keeping things from me made me safe for another 20 years, but I couldn't spend them being close to you, I'd still feel like I got a terrible deal. And I would hope you feel the same."

Joe wasn't looking at her, so she moved closer. "The world has gone crazy since the particle accelerator. None of us are safe anymore. Don't lie to me and keep me in the dark. We are stronger together."

Joe's face was wet. He turned on the couch and hugged his daughter tightly. She returned it.

"I'm so sorry baby. Your dad is an idiot."

"As long as he's an idiot who tells me the truth. And isn't so overprotective." He nodded, and they both chuckled slightly.

"Deal."

"And gives me his vinyl collection as an apology."

"Okay, don't push it."

This time there was true laughter between them.

Barry was accosted the moment he opened the front door. Cisco shoved a tablet under his nose so close he couldn't even read it.

"You time traveled, didn't you? You went back to the night your mom was murdered. Why would you do that without telling us?"

Barry grabbed Cisco by the jacket and ushered him quickly inside, looking both ways for possible witnesses before shutting the door. "Keep your voice down."

"No but you did, didn't you? What the hell, man! I thought we were friends!"

Barry put up both hands. "We are. We so are. Just listen, okay?" Cisco followed Barry into the living room but refused to sit. Barry paced a moment before he started.

"Okay, yes I went back to the night my mother was murdered, and yes I changed it."

Those words made Cisco give him a look. His next words came out as if he was addressing an imbecile. Barry could tell he was still very upset. "If it worked, where is she? Why is your dad in prison?"

Barry stopped pacing and looked him in the face. "Because. I had to undo it."

Cisco's jaw dropped and his brow furrowed. "Oh man. Why?"

Barry looked away a moment. He was getting really tired of telling this story right now. "Will you sit now? Please?"

Cisco sat.

The good thing about telling Cisco was that he immediately started putting his mind to it. It helped Barry to keep emotions at bay and distracted him from things he didn't want to think about.

"So those cold grenades worked? Yes! I should make some more of those bad boys…"

"What was it like to time travel? Was it anything like Back to the Future? Except you were going way faster than 88 miles an hour…I bet it was so freakin' cool!"

"Tina McGee's particle accelerator blew up too? I wonder what went wrong with theirs…"

"I'm going to need a breakdown of all the damage you did to my suit."

"Okay, can I just say how weird it is that the Reverse Flash was giving you advice? I thought he was your nemesis, but it seems like he has plans and he needs you to make them happen."

Barry had stopped pacing long ago. His head came up at Cisco's last comment.

"I agree. I've been thinking about that a lot lately, especially since the thing with Iris. If he wanted to take me out or hurt me through people I care about he'd be trying to do that. But he's not. I just can't figure out what he wants."

Cisco was thinking so hard Barry could almost hear the whirring sound. "He was talking to Iris about an effect, right? He's either hoping you're slower than you have been (which you kind of are) or he wants you to be really fast so he can feel good about beating you. Sounds like this guy has an ego."

A moment of silence followed. Cisco broke it. "Hey man, sorry about your parents. That really sucks."

Barry smiled. "Thanks. I'm dealing with it. I kept the memories of the other timeline, so that's something. I get all the years I should have grown up with them to remember."

"Okay, that is just wild." Cisco looked like he couldn't quite imagine it. "Oh, heads up, Dr. Wells might not be happy about this. He was asking questions about the samples and your suit and he seemed really weird when I mentioned time travel."

"Huh." Barry was frowning in concentration, but Cisco derailed the train of thought he was on.

"Barry, have you been noticing the similarities?"

"What similarities?" Barry was completely lost.

"Between timelines. I mean, there are the obvious ones, like the particle accelerators. But when I asked about the fire damage on the suit you told me about that house fire, right?"

"Right."

"What got you burned were chemicals. And then back here, the warehouse fire was a…wait for it…chemical factory. And the car accidents, obviously Reverse Flash at work both times, but what are the odds he'd come up with the same idea in two different timelines, just to get your attention? Isn't that a little odd?"

Barry shrugged. "It's just coincidence. It's the Reverse Flash."

"See I would agree, but some things aren't even related at all. Little details… How many cars involved in each accident?"

Barry stared at him. "Five. In both."

"See?" Cisco was standing up in his excitement, his hands gesturing wildly. "This is awesome! It's like one timeline is layering over another one! Like they have similarities no matter what! That's amazing! I wonder what else will pop up?"

Barry gave him an uneasy look. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, that maybe some things are just meant to happen, you know? No matter the timeline. And little details, little things pop up here and there, like fish in a pond."

Barry rubbed his forehead. "Fish in a pond."

"Fish in a pond, man! Like the timeline is the pond. Even if the pond changes, the fish are the same. They might pop up in different places or the same ones, they might show up or stay buried at the bottom, but they are always the same fish!"

Barry stared at him. "You lost me."

Cisco shook his head. "You'd think being the time traveler you'd see it more."

Barry threw up his hands, a small laugh escaping. "Maybe I'm just too close to see it. Well, was the story worth waiting for?"

Cisco couldn't hold back a smile. "It was a pretty rad story, I'll give you that." He held up his hand for a high five, and Barry finished it.

"Hey, maybe we don't mention this to everyone else? I'm sure Dr. Wells will ream me a new one for it."

Cisco rolled his eyes. "Yeah, okay."

"Thanks for everything Cisco."

Cisco kept quiet about time travel with the rest of the team, which Barry appreciated. Harrison didn't ask questions about the sample or the discussion with Cisco the night before, so Cisco just let it lie.

Barry continued to run, and he was a bit faster, but he still wasn't quite where he had been. Harrison's frustration was palpable. Barry found himself preoccupied with the Reverse Flash and what he wanted. His conversation with Cisco had also made him slightly nervous. There were a lot of things in one timeline he really didn't want to see repeated in the other. The Reverse Flash's words about sacrifice rang back in his ears.

It was a few days later when he met Iris at Jitters to catch up with each other. Iris was waiting for her car to be fixed. Barry was running regular patrols. They discussed Joe and the fact that Iris and he were on much better ground lately, which Barry was glad to see. He told Iris that Cisco had put together the clues and figured out he'd time traveled, but that Harrison and Caitlin still didn't know.

Their discussion veered off there. Iris told Barry that Mason was looking into Harrison Wells and didn't think he was all he said he was. Barry just shook his head. Someone was always out to get Dr. Wells since the accelerator explosion.

A few times as he looked up from his coffee he thought he caught Iris looking at him. That wasn't unusual in itself, but her expression was far different than it typically was when she looked at him. She looked away and changed her expression so quickly that he thought maybe he was just imagining things. Barry shook it off, but he wondered if that was what he looked like when he stared at her without her knowing. He'd been doing it for years. He'd even caught himself doing it a few times since his return, even though he was determined to let that dream go. Still, it was unsettling to have Iris acting different. There was some kind of yearning quality to those looks that he couldn't identify.

They were finishing up when Iris suddenly seemed a bit nervous. "Hey, can I ask you a favor?"

Barry looked up. "Sure, what do you need?"

Iris was toying with her mother's wedding band, realized what she was doing, and put her hand down.

"Remember when Eddie and I tried to get reservations at that really swanky restaurant across town?"

"Yeah."

"Well, it's been so long I didn't even remember we were still on the waiting list, but we were. I got a call the other day and they have a table set aside for us tomorrow evening. And I know I should just let it go, but I would really love a nice dinner out. But I can't go with Eddie…" Her voice drifted away.

"Okay…" Barry was still looking at her, obviously not seeing where she was going with this.

Iris sighed. "Honestly Barry." She gathered her courage and sat up to lean across the table. "Will you go with me? Just to have dinner at a nice place?"

Barry face went blank with surprise. "Oh! Yeah, sure. I mean…we'll just be having dinner…together…as friends."

"Yes, as best friends." Iris smiled, but her nervousness was still evident.

Barry looked at her closely. "So it's not a date…right?"

"Right! It's just best friends eating dinner. So like we ordered pizza…but with a higher dress code."

She looked so adorably flustered that he couldn't help but laugh slightly. He leaned back in his chair. "I'd be happy to, Iris."

She smiled with genuine pleasure at his agreement. "Great. Thanks, Barry. Pick me up at 8pm tomorrow and don't be late again." And with that, she grabbed her purse and coat and headed out the door.

Barry's smile faded. He stared after her. Her voice sounded so familiar saying those words. Memories whispered in again, so strong that part of him felt like he should be standing on the porch at Joe's, melting into a puddle.