Have another chapter before an episode tonight! :)
I swear, some of these ideas were generating before recent episodes.
But it was probably because some of them have been brewing in the background of the eps for a while, lol. Oh well.
As always, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy it!
Shout out to guest reviewers Priscilla (you are so sweet!), Guest (LOL! Your review had me laughing for days!), and KyannaLashae (Thank you so much! You make me feel so good!)
Thank you for all the reviews and support. You guys are the best! :) *HUGS*
It was late when Barry returned Iris to her apartment. The run back was just as delightful as the first. Iris wrapped her arms around his neck again, loving the feel of him as he held her close. The entire evening had just been the two of them, and she had loved every minute of it. So it felt perfectly right to end it with the two of them together, moving so fast that the world felt left behind. Even if it was just for a short time.
Barry came to a stop in the same place they had departed from. They smiled at each other as he slowly let her legs down and wrapped both arms around her waist. She stood on tiptoe to give him a lingering kiss and when they parted she noted his hair, ruffled by the wind, and his turned up jacket collar. He looked amazing. She ran a finger down his jaw line.
"Thanks for a wonderful second date, Barry."
His face was luminous, he was so happy. "I should be thanking you."
They walked around the corner to her building. Barry left her at the door to her apartment with one last kiss. He stepped back, still holding her hand. Again their fingers touched until the very last moment. He suddenly grinned in an impish way. "This totally counts as me picking you up, right?"
Iris laughed. "Oh yes. Feel free to pick me up anytime." She gave him a slow wink. "Anytime."
They laughed together for a moment before Barry turned to leave. "Good night, Iris."
"Night Barry." She slipped inside and closed the door.
Barry hadn't had nightmares about the other timeline in quite a while. Most of the time he didn't sleep deep enough to dream, but that night he couldn't seem to keep them away. Dreams that started with Iris and their dates together slowly unraveled into himself standing alone in front of a large pond. As he watched, fish darted and bobbed to the surface. Their color and white underbellies only showed for a moment before sinking into the depths. Barry studied them, uneasy as they continually moved.
Eventually one fish made it to the surface and jumped out of the water, making a huge arc before submerging under the surface again. It was only then that Barry realized that it wasn't a fish at all.
It was a person.
The red movement he had taken to be fins he now realized was his mother's hair. The figure bobbing next to her in the water was his father. But even after this realization Barry found that he couldn't make a move to help them. He was frozen to the grassy bank, unable to reach them. Voiceless, he watched helplessly as his parents slowly sank deeper and deeper into the murky bottom of the pond.
But one voice did emerge, echoing over the pond and Barry's frozen form. The Reverse Flash's growling timbre reverberated through him.
"You are destined to be a hero. And to be a hero, you must know how to sacrifice."
Another form broke the stillness of the water, but this one wasn't either of his parents. It was Iris. She struggled to break free of whatever was holding her below the water. The waves she created rolled to the shore, breaking and wetting Barry's feet. But he was still motionless and mute as she slowly lost her strength and sank beneath the water to join his parents.
Finally Barry found his voice, but it was only in the form of agonized screaming. The sound brought him straight up in bed, shocked awake by his own yelling. He sat breathing harshly for a moment, trying to differentiate between reality and dreaming.
"Bear, you okay?" Joe's head peeped around the half open door, concern in every syllable he spoke.
"Yeah. Yeah, sorry. I had a bad dream I guess." Barry ran a hand over his face, still trying to wake up all the way.
Joe looked at him with serious understanding. "Your parents?"
"Yes. But it was different this time, it wasn't about the other timeline." Joe waited for more information. "It was a pond and…just weird stuff going on." Barry didn't feel the need to go over the details. They were too disturbing.
Joe hesitated. "You going to be okay?"
Barry nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry I woke you."
Joe shook his head. "That's never a problem, Barry." He headed back to his own bed.
Barry lay back down and tried to slow down his breathing. He tried to figure out what had just happened. There was no lump in his throat or weight on his chest, so it didn't feel like his usual nightmares about his parents. It didn't seem to be about that. He closed his eyes, and the image of Iris struggling in the water again came back immediately. His eyes popped open automatically to avoid it.
He lay in the darkness, feeling his heart hammering in his chest, and he understood.
The next few days passed quickly. Barry worked his day job and ran patrols. Iris managed to get Mason on the phone but found that he had more suspicions than actual proof. He did promise to go over what he had with her when he returned, though. Joe tried to juggle investigating Wells with current police investigations. The team at S.T.A.R. labs went about business as usual.
Barry and Iris grew closer and closer, if that was possible. Evenings and the occasional lunch spent together curbed their craving for time together but didn't quench it entirely. They would have spent every second together if they could. They were officially a couple and loving it.
It was after one of their lunches together that Iris pointed out to Barry that even though things were wonderful, he seemed a little off and had for the last few days. He tried to deny it, but gave up when she pointed out the worried looks he thought she didn't see, and the stress that was at that very moment showing on his face. His shoulders slumped in defeat as he gave her a rueful smile.
"I should know better than to try to hide things from you, shouldn't I?"
She gave him an approving look. "Yes. You should. And yet you still try to." One eyebrow raised, she held his hand and waited with an expectant air.
Barry couldn't hold in a slight smile. "Sorry. It's just something that Cisco said to me once about both timelines being one pond, and all the fish inside it are the same…" He trailed off, realizing how stupid he sounded. Iris had a confused look on her face. "And…well I already lost my parents in both timelines, and I lost you in the other one, so…" He couldn't quite put it into words. It made the possibility too real.
Iris's face cleared. "Oh. Barry… You're worried about losing me?" The look on his face was answer enough. She hugged him tightly. He returned it with such fierce desperation that he lifted her off her feet for a moment. The look she gave him when he let her down was the exact same one she had given him as they had said goodbye before accelerator exploded. Right before he had changed everything and lost her.
"I'm not going anywhere, Barry." Her face was stubborn and determined, and ultimately it was that look that made him feel better. She smiled into his eyes. "We're stuck with each other."
"God, I hope so." Barry's voice was fervent and hushed, as if he were afraid to tempt fate. But he returned her smile, and the stress seemed to ease off his face for the moment.
She eased it further with a kiss, and then took his hand. Fingers intertwined, she led him back to CCPN. He left her at her desk after agreeing on plans for that evening and waved at Linda on his way out. Iris smiled after him, determined to permanently dispel any fears he might still have about losing her. She wasn't going anywhere without a fight. It had taken the universe practically doing back flips to get them together. They were both happier than they'd ever been.
She'd be damned if she was going to lose it now.
It was later in the evening and Barry was in the cortex at S.T.A.R. Labs. Caitlin was moving back and forth, a tablet in her hand. He'd just returned from an early patrol, and was about to leave for home. Iris would be there soon and Joe should be home by now. The three were going to have dinner together.
The conversation he and Iris had earlier replayed in his head. Iris had made him feel better, but he could still feel the tension eating at him. He still worried that things would take a turn for the worse, and he might lose her permanently this time. He looked up as Dr. Wells and Cisco came in.
"You headed out, Barry?" Harrison smiled his way.
"Yeah I need to go home I'm having dinner with Joe and Iris."
Caitlin put a hand on his shoulder. "See, what did I tell you? Whatever happens, it will be better." They shared a smile and she headed off down the hallway.
Barry fidgeted slightly. "Hey, I was wondering…are there any new developments in the Reverse Flash and his whereabouts?" Barry looked at both men, but the look he gave Cisco was loaded with double meaning.
Both men shook their heads, Cisco acknowledging the second meaning and giving Barry an apologetic look.
"Nothing, Barry. Sorry. We just can't get any leads to follow." Cisco moved to his station and picked up his tablet.
Barry ran his hands through his hair in frustration. The Reverse Flash was the biggest threat that worried him, especially now when things were so good with Iris. It was frustrating that he felt so helpless in the face of that threat.
Harrison was regarding him with genuine concern. "Don't worry about it Barry. Everything will work out."
Barry met his gaze and saw quiet but steely determination. He thought back to all the times that this man had helped him or saved his life. He couldn't be the Reverse Flash. They were barking up the wrong tree. Which meant they were at a complete dead end. And his enemy was a bigger threat than ever.
He gave Harrison a grateful smile and moved away to lean back on the console, lost in his thoughts. Harrison wheeled to a monitor and started working.
Barry tried not to let his fear and discouragement overwhelm him, but it was difficult in the face of their current lack of progress. Especially after that dream the other night. It was always like this. The Reverse Flash was always a step ahead of him. Barry was always following in his wake. Always slower. Always behind. Even when he'd thought he'd had an edge and could save his mother he hadn't been able to maintain it. And the Reverse Flash had known that too. He knew Iris affected Barry's speed. Every time he knew more than Barry. Memories of their fight at the football stadium drifted over him. "It is your destiny to lose to me, Flash. Just as it was your mother's destiny to die that night."
Maybe some things were just meant to be.
He stood there, his back to Dr. Wells, and felt his shoulders slump in defeat. He muttered his words out loud but they were meant for himself. "Maybe it is my destiny to lose to him."
Dr. Wells stared at his monitor. His reply came in a tone of deep understanding. And perhaps a bit of pity.
"We don't always get to choose the destiny we want, Barry. Sometimes it chooses us."
Barry froze. His breathing stopped, and then became fast and shallow as the words replayed over in his head. He couldn't banish the memory washing back over him. The Reverse Flash facing him in a large clearing deep in a forest. Telling him about timelines and destiny. And sacrifice. Fish in a pond…
Barry's eyes were wide as they came up and met Cisco's. Cisco stared back at him; unsure what was wrong, but very sure that something was. Barry gave him a look fraught with meaning. Cisco had no idea what it meant but followed his gut.
"I'm going to go see how Caitlin's doing. Be right back." Cisco picked up his tablet and started to head for the doorway.
He never made it. Two steps in he looked up to see Harrison Wells blocking the doorway. Normally this wouldn't be a problem, since Cisco could just skirt around his wheelchair.
But Harrison wasn't in his wheelchair. He was standing in the doorway. His glasses were lying discarded at the console next to the monitor he'd been working on. Cisco came to an abrupt halt, sensing that it would be a huge mistake to get any closer. Barry whirled around.
Harrison Wells stood with his hands clasped in front of him. Even though his pose was nonchalant, every line of his body spelled danger to the other two men. Harrison gave them a rueful smile before addressing Barry.
"Ah. So you did time travel. I thought so. Tricky thing about it, you never know exactly what detail is going to come back on you. I always loved that phrase. Because I believe it. My destiny chose me, Barry. Just as yours chose you."
Barry was about to explode with accusations and questions, but Cisco beat him by a millisecond.
"You fraud! You liar! We trusted you and believed in you!"
Harrison's gaze leveled on Cisco. His eyes narrowed. "And I believed in you. Because I needed you. But I don't anymore." He moved out of the doorway and into the room at super speed, trailing red lightning as he went.
But Barry had already started moving; sure he knew what was coming. He was right. Before Dr. Wells could reach Cisco he grabbed the other man and sped him to the small room off the main lab. He slammed the sliding glass door shut and stood in front of it. Cisco stood on the other side, still clutching his tablet to his chest.
Harrison had come to a stop halfway into the room. Now he stood several feet away and smiled at Barry. His head cocked as if he were listening.
"Always need to save everyone. But can you? Can you really?"
Barry realized the clicking sound that he was hearing was Caitlin's heels coming down the hallway. She had no idea what was happening and was walking directly into a war zone.
Barry and Wells moved at the same time, both a blur. Barry went directly for Caitlin as she entered the doorway, grabbing her and speeding her into the same room as Cisco. He slammed the door shut again and yelled, "Lock it!" Cisco hastily obeyed. Barry put his back to them, guarding the door and looking for an incoming yellow blur. He could hear Caitlin sputtering questions at Cisco but ignored them. He needed to keep focused.
Wells hadn't gone for Caitlin. He had used to opportunity to change into something that made Barry far less comfortable. He now stood in the doorway wearing his yellow suit. Barry was staring at the Reverse Flash, complete with red eyes and blurred face. He heard Cisco's surprised exclamation and Caitlin's muffled shriek from the glass behind him. The room went silent. Three people stared in horror. Barry had known it, but seeing it confirmed just made it worse.
Barry spread his arms wide in a protective gesture. He had no idea if he could even come close to beating the Reverse Flash in a fight. But if he had to he'd die trying to protect his friends.
The Reverse Flash looked far more menacing as he stood in the doorway. His head tilted to one side. His voice was that classic growl.
"Very brave, Barry. But you can't save everyone. And unfortunately for you, I know where your heart lies. After all, how can you be a hero if you don't learn to sacrifice?"
The color drained from Barry's face as the meaning sank in. The Reverse Flash disappeared in a heartbeat. Cisco yelled from behind the door.
"Barry! Go!"
But Barry had already left.
Caitlin put her hands up to her mouth, looking ill. Cisco fumbled with his phone in his pocket, praying he could get in touch with Iris or Joe before they got there.
But the trouble with speedsters was that he might not even be able to dial fast enough before they were there. What he wouldn't give for some super powers of his own.
Barry was only slightly behind his enemy as the chase began. Red and gold lightning flashed in the streets as they streaked towards Joe's house. Buildings, cars and the odd pedestrian were both obstacles and witnesses to the urgent race. The two men moved around them at a dizzying speed with only one goal in mind.
It only took Barry a few seconds to realize that the Reverse Flash wasn't playing with him this time. He didn't wait for Barry to get close and move away. Nor did he let Barry slowly gain on him as he had that time in the woods. The Reverse Flash was running full out, giving it everything he had. Barry did the same.
But try as he might, Barry still wasn't quite as fast. He watched the man ahead of him slowly draw away, and all he could think about was Iris. He could not lose her again.
For so long Barry's happiest memories had been of the other timeline with his fiancée, but lately they had been overwhelmed with the present. Their second date washed over him.
"I'll always fight for you."
'We are made for each other."
He closed his eyes and pictured her face, smiling up at him as he held her close. Her hand in his as he held her close on the blanket and whispered into her hair.
"And that is why you make me faster."
Barry opened his eyes and surged forward, overtaking the Reverse Flash in a blast of speed. He would have tackled him right there but the other man looked over his shoulder at the last second and darted away. Barry didn't waste time trying to tackle him again. He shot ahead and left the man in yellow behind as he went the fastest he ever had, headed straight for Joe and Iris.
He was almost there when he felt the familiar feeling that preceded time travel.
"No, no, no." He muttered under his breath. He was not leaving. Not right now. Not when she needed him. He focused on pushing the electricity out of every one of his cells, if that was even possible. He focused on Iris. Only Iris, not time travel. Iris was in danger, and he needed to get to her. Iris, his soul mate. Iris, the woman he loved. Iris... He sped up without even realizing it. When that moment of utter stillness hit he pushed through it and was relieved when he didn't feel any shock waves or end up in the space-time continuum. He was still here.
He could feel himself going faster as he pushed past time travel and toward her.
Toward Iris.
Iris had only just arrived at the house and was still greeting her father when her phone started to ring. She pulled it out and answered.
"Hi, Cisco, what's up?"
Cisco's voice was dead serious. "Iris, get out of the house-"
He hadn't even finished his sentence when a whirlwind came in the front door and moved her out the back door. Joe suddenly joined her on the back porch, and Barry's desperate face materialized out of nowhere.
"He's coming. You need to get out of here! Go!"
The words had no sooner left his mouth than the front door burst open again with the force of another speedster. Barry slammed the back door shut on Iris and Joe, turning to meet his nemesis. If he took the man head on, maybe he could buy them some time.
Joe pulled his gun from his holster; grateful that lately he'd been wearing it even when at home lately. He grabbed Iris by the arm as a crash resounded from inside the house and started to head for the back gate.
But it was like trying to move a brick wall. Iris had planted her feet and flatly refused to move. Joe was unable to shift her at all, which was impressive for a person of her size. She pulled her arm out of his grip and started to rummage in her purse, dropping her phone into it and pulling out a small bag.
"Baby, we need to go-"
Her face came up to meet his long enough for him to see her expression. It was deadly fierce. "No! I'm not leaving him!"
"Once I get you to safety I'll come back for Barry, I swear it-"
"Dad, it'll be over before you ever get back and you know it." Another crash inside the house punctuated her words.
Joe's helpless distress burst out. "I know! But we can't help Barry! We can't fight the Reverse Flash, and Barry is risking himself to get us to safety!"
"Tough." She opened the bag and showed it to her father. "I'm not leaving him."
Joe's next argument about them just being in the way and distracting Barry faded from his lips as he looked down at what she was holding. He hesitated for just a moment before he shifted his gun to both hands. "Okay. But we need to be careful."
She met his eyes, determined. "I'm small. I go in, you cover me."
Joe forced down his fear for both of his kids and nodded. "Okay."
Barry slammed the back door shut and returned to the dining room to see the Reverse Flash standing in the living room. He braced for immediate impact, but instead the man stood still, gracing him with a proud smile. His face stopped vibrating, and Barry could just identify Harrison Wells under the mask. It was bizarre to see the face of his mentor under the mask of his enemy.
"Atta boy. I knew you could do it. You're finally up to speed. Took you long enough." Harrison's voice emerged from the mask instead of the distorted one of the Reverse Flash.
Staring at him, Barry realized that the race to Iris and Joe had been a ploy to goad him to his top speed, faster than he had ever gone. He had fallen right into the trap. Whatever reason the Reverse Flash could possibly have for wanting him to go fast, he had just gotten his wish.
That was all the time he got before the Reverse Flash came right at him. Barry met him halfway. They collided and flew through the air. There was a splintering crash as they landed on the dining room table and rendered it into kindling.
The sound was enough to infuriate Barry as he realized he was once again inside his own home, doing battle with a murderer who didn't care about his family or the sanctity of such a place. He used his speed to land multiple punches before the other man kicked him away.
The force of his kick launched Barry into the air. He landed with another crash several feet away. He regained his footing almost immediately as Wells came at him again. He managed to get enough leverage to launch himself and tackle the man headfirst, landing them back in the wreckage of dining table and chairs. They rolled for a moment, each trying to gain the upper hand. Speed punches flew in every direction. Barry used his speed to get clear and rise to his feet, but the Reverse Flash was already tackling him backwards. The coffee table was the second furniture casualty as they landed directly on it, snapping it in two.
With Joe hovering directly behind her, gun at the ready, Iris slowly pushed open the back door and crawled inside. She made her way through the kitchen, sliding out of sight just in time as the two men gained their feet again. Joe slipped into a back corner but couldn't get out of the kitchen without drawing attention. He watched his daughter from his position, constantly checking to make sure the two combatants hadn't noticed them and ready to fire any second.
Iris slid to her belly and army crawled to get a bit closer. The two men crashed into the living room, decimating the coffee table. She hesitated, knowing that if she crawled closer she would easily be spotted if the fight came her way again. The last thing she needed to do was provide leverage against Barry.
Unfortunately Barry had been on the bottom as the two men went down. No sooner had he crashed through the coffee table than the Reverse Flash was on him, slamming his head into the floor multiple times. It left him dazed for a split second. The other man used that to his advantage, kneeling directly on Barry's chest with both knees. The full weight of the other man, the crushing pressure on his chest made it hard to breathe and left Barry helpless to escape. His legs thrashed but couldn't gain him any leverage. He could feel his head striking the couch behind him, which meant he couldn't attempt to slide upward and out of his current position. Any further thought of escaping was immediately derailed as he realized that the Reverse Flash had pulled a peculiar device from his suit and was fully intent on using it.
It was a glass tube with the biggest syringe on the end Barry had ever seen. The thing resembled a meat thermometer probe more than anything else. A complicated tech device attached to the other end completed it. Barry had no doubt the needle end was meant for him, and he wasn't surprised at all when Wells gripped the tube with both hands and attempted to plunge it into Barry's chest, directly over his heart. The only thing that stopped him was Barry grabbing his forearms mid-plunge.
Silence descended on the room, broken only by harsh breathing as Wells attempted to push the needle into Barry's chest, and Barry pushed back with all his might. Iris used the silence to slide into the dining room on her belly, still clutching two objects tightly. She hid behind the wood column and short wall that formed a divider between the dining and living rooms. The quiet was actually making her nervous. She peeked around the corner.
Barry was flat on his back, both hands pushing to keep the needle of what was obviously a very bad device from entering his chest. The Reverse Flash was kneeling directly on him. Iris could see the continual exertion on both sides as Wells used speed to push the syringe towards Barry's chest, hoping to break through his strength. Barry had no choice but to respond in kind, using speed to repel the attempts. But gravity and the upper position gave Wells a distinct advantage. Iris could see the needle slowly progressing toward its target, and she knew sooner or later it would reach it. Barry's strength could only hold out so long, especially since he was exerting extra effort to stop the needle's speed-driven advances. She thought about getting up and running in, but she couldn't guarantee she could sneak up on the Reverse Flash fast enough before he caught her. She debated, weighing options. Slowly but surely the needle moved inexorably toward Barry's heart. And all the while, Wells was talking in a calm soothing voice.
"I just want to go home, Barry. Is that so wrong? That's all anyone wants. We're not all that different, you and I. Except I can get the job done. I need your speed. So I'm going to take it. Sacrifice, Barry. That's what it takes. To be a hero, you need to learn to sacrifice."
Barry's face was red with exertion. "You're going to sacrifice my home to get to yours." He was gritting the words out. "That makes you a villain."
The Reverse Flash smiled. "That makes me the winner." He laid the weight of his upper body on Barry's weakening arms, knowing in time they wouldn't be able to hold him off any more.
Barry knew it too. His head moved back and forth as he tried to summon extra strength. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted something: Iris, flat on her belly peeking at the scene from behind the wooden column. A second thrash of his head afforded him a look at what she was gripping in two fists.
They were Cisco's cold grenades.
Barry gave his attention back to his enemy, and then pretended to thrash his head again so he wouldn't throw focus her way and endanger her. Their eyes met. The split second eye contact was almost an entire conversation. His eyes told her of his fear for her, to get out of there. Her look told him two things: She was scared as well but she wasn't going to leave. And she was torn about using the grenades with Barry in the line of fire, which was why she had been hesitating.
Again his head rolled back and forth as he threw her a look, hoping she understood him.
She did. She chewed her lip, shaking her head ever so slightly.
Barry gritted his teeth. The needle was inches away now, and he could feel his strength giving out.
"Just do it. Just do it!" It took almost all the air he had left in his lungs to say the words.
Wells was focused on the needle and how close it was. "Oh believe me, Barry. I will." He gave an extra push with his speed.
Iris met his eyes again, then pressed the button on each and forcefully rolled both grenades toward them.
Barry abruptly let his arms give out. His scream of pain as the needle stabbed his chest camouflaged the sound of the grenades rolling across the hardwood floor. The sudden shift forward left Wells unbalanced, falling forward with no opposing momentum. Before he could activate the device Barry used that opportunity grab him by both shoulders and roll toward the grenades. He tipped the other man off his chest and dropped him to the floor on his side, successfully pinning the two weapons between them. The device, slippery with blood, slipped out of his chest and rolled to rest next to the grenades.
Iris scrambled backwards into the kitchen, bumping into Joe and pushing him back too. The grenades detonated.
Cold swept the room, frost shooting up like a geyser from between the two men and hitting the ceiling. Ice crackled and crystallized. There were two grunts of pain. Barry felt the freezing blast so deep it felt like it went through him. Instantly he was in pain and found it hard to breathe.
The blast had barely settled before Joe and Iris raced into the room. The Reverse Flash wasn't moving. They stepped over him as if he were simply a speed bump, their focus only on Barry. Iris reached him first, rolling him over onto his back. He was conscious, but his breathing was labored and he was in obvious pain. Iris bit her lip and tried not to cry as she surveyed the crystallized area blossomed over his chest. The puncture wound from the syringe was in the center of the crystallized area, barely bleeding. She gently grabbed his hand.
"Barry…I'm so sorry."
"I told you to. It's okay." His voice was weak but audible. He tried to breathe past the icy sensation still creeping through his chest.
Joe spared a look for Wells as he located the iced-over device on the floor. He stepped on it with one foot, putting his entire weight on it and crushing the glass tube and tech device on the end. "Won't be needing this anymore."
Joe shifted his attention back to Barry. "We need to get you some help." He pulled out his phone, preparing to call Caitlin.
At that moment, the Reverse Flash rose to his feet. Seriously compromised by the grenades, he performed the motion with the speed of an average man. But the element of surprise allowed him to knock Joe down and head for the front door before the detective could fire a shot. Joe staggered to his feet, rubbing his head where he'd hit it on the fireplace and headed out the door in pursuit.
Iris had immediately covered Barry's body with her own at the first sign of a threat. Now, still close enough feel the frigid air rising off him, she looked into his face. He attempted to smile even though he was studiously avoiding moving the rest of his body because it hurt so much.
"My…hero." He groaned as his smile turned into a grimace. "S'not as bad as it looks." His face belied his words. "I heal fast, 'member?"
Iris blinked tears away. If the Reverse Flash could get up and run after the same treatment, Barry was going to be fine. He was made of tougher stuff than he looked. Barry had told her how two grenades stuck to his chest hadn't killed the Reverse Flash, which was one of the reasons she'd even allowed Barry to convince her to use hers on both men.
She gave him a wobbly smile, leaning forward to kiss him ever so lightly on the lips. He smiled slightly. "Iris. You were right…it was Wellsh…"
She giggled to her herself. "Wellsh? Barry-" She abruptly stopped talking as she looked at his face again and realized his eyelids were fluttering as his eyes rolled into the back of his head. His entire body seemed to go slack, his grip on her hand relaxing until his hand let go entirely.
"Barry? Barry!" The front door was still open, so she yelled as loud as she could, hoping the sound carried. "Dad! Help!"
Moments of silence followed. She was just about to get up to go for help when Joe came back through the front door leading Cisco and Caitlin. "Caitlin, help him he's going unresponsive!" Joe and Cisco quickly let her through before gathering around Barry.
Caitlin went into doctor mode immediately, kneeling at Barry's side. Iris picked his hand up and shook it slightly.
"What is this? What happened?" Caitlin was pointing at the puncture wound on Barry's chest.
"He got stabbed with that." Iris pointed at the crushed device.
"That's a long needle and it's barely bleeding. Did he get stabbed before or after the cold grenade?"
"I-I don't know, it all happened so fast..."
Joe intervened. "It was on the floor when I crushed it. It must have fallen out before the grenade."
"That's not good…" Caitlin lifted Barry's eyelids and started feeling his chest. "We need to get him warm. Now."
"Barry? Barry stay with me!"
Through the darkness Barry heard her last plea and made a valiant effort to stay, but the blackness rolled over him and her voice faded away…