There was only one time that Barry accidentally ran something through the wash with a load of laundry. He'd been in college, and the jump drive that was ruined had held the only copy of his final research paper. After that, no article of clothing went into the washing machine without every pocket thoroughly checked. It was a good thing too, because Hal left absolutely everything in his pockets. Barry had found Hal's keys, chewing gum, pictures, pens, batteries, the Green Lantern ring, bullets, and even Oliver's mask once. Wally wasn't even this bad.

Barry pulled a pair of Hals jeans out of the hamper and reached into the front pockets absently. He was trying to remember the words to a country song he'd heard on the radio when his fingers brushed against some kind of wrapper. Barry sighed, shooting Hal a sideways glance from down the hall, "Hal, I swear to God, you are so lucky I found this candy before it went in. I am not prying half-melted Jolly Ranchers out of my socks again."

"Isn't this why I was banned from laundry duty?" Hal called from where he was vegetating in their bedroom. He was recovering from a Red Lantern ambush that had left both him and Guy Gardner with a bevy of injuries. They'd come out on top, but Hal had been 'advised bed rest' for the remainder of the week. "And why are you so sure it's mine? Wally eats way more candy than I do."

"Wally can't fit in these pants," Barry snorted and pulled the wrapped out to look at.

It wasn't candy.

Barry went very still and just stared at the raised circle outline numbly. That was definitely a condom…in Hal's pocket…but they didn't use condoms with each other – not anymore, not since they'd both been tested.

His mind instantly started working at hyperspeed to figure out a reason for why it would be there. Maybe it was an old one? No, it was before the expiration date on the wrapper. Was he just holding it for someone? Jeez, of course not; it was a condom, not drugs. Had he just found it? Was it his? Barry couldn't stop himself before the thoughts careened down an even worse tangent. Shit, was it for someone else – someone not him? Was Hal cheating on him? No, that was idiotic; Hal wasn't a cheater. But why did he have a condom then? Dammit…would he…? No. Hal wouldn't do that to him. Having a condom in his pocket didn't mean he was cheating.

Barry violently ran a hand through his hair and took a deep breath to calm down his racing heart. He refused to panic and instead sped to their bedroom and held up the condom, "And this sure as hell isn't his."

Hal eyed him curiously for a moment and squinted a little to better see what he was holding.

Then his face drained of all color, and he shot upright, "Whoa, now! That's not mine."

"I'd love some help finding out whose it is then," Barry's jaw was tight, but he was trying not to get angry and fly off the handle. He was a rational adult and a scientist, and he always got all the facts before handing down judgment – no matter how anxious he might be.

Barry had really hoped Hal would have a better answer than that.

"Where'd you find it?" Hal swung his legs over the side of the bed despite the cast encasing his left foot.

"Your pants," Barry's voice sounded a little flat even to his ears. "When I was doing the laundry."

"Let me see them."

Barry had dashed to the laundry room, retrieved the jeans, and pushed them into Hal's hands before he'd finished speaking. Hal jumped a little in surprise, but he frowned down at the pants once he recovered.

"Barry," he snorted with sudden laughter. Barry didn't have any idea what was so hilarious about this. "These are not my pants."

Hal held the pants up by the waistline and pulled the fabric taut to demonstrate. For a moment, Barry didn't get what Hal was trying to show him. Then, he really noticed how big they were – huge, really. The jeans were at least three or four sizes too big for Hal.

"Wait…these aren't yours either… Whose pants are these?" Hal seemed to realize the same thing as he read the tag on the inside. They both went quiet as they tried to figure it out. Barry backtracked through his whole day, then yesterday, and then the previous days in the week. The answer popped into his head like a cartoon light bulb turning on.

"They're Clark's!" Barry snapped his fingers triumphantly. "Remember?! He came by last Tuesday, and Wally spilled grape juice on his pants, so I offered to try and clean them."

Hal frowned for a moment like he was trying to recall the day, but then he looked back at the condom in Barry's hand and gasped, "Oh my God, that means that's Clark's!"

Barry looked down at the dark blue wrapper in surprise and dropped it like it was a spider.

Hal was howling with laughter and clutching his stomach as he gasped for air, "That's so weird! Oh, holy crap, no! He's supposed to be such a boy scout! Barry, this is the best day of my entire life! I have to go call Oliver…"

Barry didn't really approve of Hal's laughter at their friend's personal life, but he couldn't bring himself to speak. He was too stunned into silence by relief and feeling foolish for getting so upset.

"Hey…" Hal had noticed his mental shutdown and stopped laughing. He pulled Barry down until he was sitting on the bed and started brushing Barry's hair back soothingly. "You really thought I was sleeping around on you."

"No," Barry felt his face heat up in shame for even thinking it. "I dunno…"

"I'd never do that to you," Hal leaned his forehead against Barry's and locked their eyes with a rare, sweet smile. He wasn't even mad.

"I know. I'm sorry. I-"

"It's alright, Bear. We can't always help our initial reactions. If I thought I'd found a condom in your pocket, I'd probably bust down the CCPD's doors looking for you."