Chapter 10:

Flare Up

Sage didn't know what to do first: give into her self-inflicted punishment and scream in pain, throw up all over S.T.A.R. Labs's floor from having experienced Barry's speed firsthand, or question him about how he knew right away that she was the one beneath the hood. Barry made the choice for her, though it wasn't one that she would have gone for.

"Have you completely lost your mind?" he asked as he set her down on the Lab's gurney. Papers flew off of the desk as Barry blew past them. Felicity's hair blew up from the back and landed back down on her shoulders and she had to tighten her grip on the tablet in her hand to keep it from flying out of her hands. Cisco and Caitlin jumped up from their seats and approached the two.

"Not completely," Sage gasped, holding her hands up in the air. With a grimace she added, "Though I don't think I ever fully had it in the first place."

"You're really making jokes right now?" Barry demanded, crossing his arms. "Sage! You…you're being frozen alive!"

"It's not that bad," Sage replied. His eyebrows jumped up and he stared pointedly at her fingers. "Really. It's happened before and was worse then. I just need a heating pad." She blinked rapidly when Caitlin grasped one of her eyelids and pulled it upwards so she could shine a light into her eye. "I just…overexerted myself a little bit, that's all."

Barry pulled down his hood and ran his hands through his matted hair. "That's all," he repeated and he shook his head. "You say that so calmly, like being frozen alive is a normal thing."

"And running faster than a jet is normal?" she shot back. Cisco held a heating pad out to her and she grabbed onto it. Her eyes rolled in her head and she let out a slow breath as if she had just breathed in the scent of fresh baked cookies.

"What were you even doing out there?" He continued, ignoring her comment. "And what are you wearing?" She had opened her mouth to reply but he didn't give her a chance. "What, do you think you're the Arrow or something? You can't just go charging into something you aren't equipped to handle. You could have been hurt. You are hurt!"

"I'm just trying to help," Sage replied, clutching the heating pad tighter. "You weren't around. Am I supposed to just sit back and let people run around the city doing whatever they want?"

Barry sucked in a breath, pressing his palms against his forehead. They watched as he let his breath out only to take another, long slow breath. Only when his breathing returned to normal did he speak, his voice now quieter than before. "I told you to stay here. Wells told you to stay here. He's not saying it to punish you, Sage. He's not trying to keep you out of the 'fun' that you think this is. You don't have a handle over your abilities. You being out there is dangerous not only to yourself but to those around you and—"

"Okay, I get it," Sage interrupted him, her words harsh. "I goofed. I was only trying…I wanted to help Cisco. I thought if – if I went out and stopped someone or something using his tech then Wells wouldn't be so mad at him anymore. He created this suit and it's good. He knows what he's doing! I wanted to help him and I wanted to show you that I can be out there too. I can help. I want to help. You – you said you wanted to find more Metahumans and I'm one of them, right? I can help find and get some more. I can do it. I know I can. I just want a chance."

She held his gaze for a brief moment and then her eyes turned downcast. She kicked her legs back and forth on the gurney and her shoulders tensed and hunched up. Pushing a sigh through his nose, Barry approached her and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Hey," he said quietly, earning her attention. "I'm so glad you're okay. Don't think that I'm not. But I'm asking you to please listen to Wells when he says you're not ready. Okay?"

"Okay," she repeated, her voice barely a whisper. He offered up a smile and she gave a weak one in return, leaning into his chest when he wrapped his arms around her shoulders in a hug. As he leaned back he gave her upper arms a squeeze.

"Whoa!" Felicity uttered, breaking the silence in the room. Everyone's head whipped around to her to see a look of pure surprise on her features as she stared at Barry.

"Oh, uhm, yeah." Barry's cheeks flushed and he shuffled his feet. He dropped his hands and rubbed the back of his neck. "Sorry, about that, I just—"

"No, not that," Felicity interrupted him. "Though you do give a good reason not to upset the quiet ones— it's that!"

She jabbed her finger in the air to point at him. Sage followed her finger and her eyes dropped down to Barry's side and then she gasped. "You're hurt!"

Those two words caused mass commotion. Harrison seemed to get a jumpstart, wheeling his chair over to Barry in a matter of seconds to look at the side of his suit. He barked out orders to Caitlin to assess the situation amidst Cisco's cries of despair over his suit being damaged. As for Barry, the two words seemed to break the stronghold frustration had on him and the pain came screaming back. He rushed off to take off his suit and came back into the room, lifting the side of his shirt to see the extent of his injury. As Caitlin rushed to check on him, dragging a screen on wheels behind her, Cisco approached Sage.

"I'm sorry," she apologized once he reached her side. She hopped down from the gurney. "I really thought it would work."

"Don't worry about that. I'll, uh, I'll think of something. He can't stay mad at me forever." Cisco's eyes briefly jumped over to Harrison and he shook his head. "But that's not…how aren't you freezing the heating pad right now?"

A noise sounded in the back of her throat as she tried to come up with a fast excuse. The last thing she wanted was for them to worry about her when she was relatively fine. Barry was the one who needed attention more than she did. She had her fill from Barry alone, she didn't need anymore. But still, she knew this was something that they would probably want to know not just too know how to handle her but to get an idea of how the particle accelerator affected them. On the other hand she's been able to manage it on her own for nine months, what's a little more time?

"It just…takes a bit of time for my powers to start up again after that," she replied, jerking her head to motion to the now melting ice bits on the floor. "Like getting feeling back into your fingers after being in the snow." Forcing a small laugh she added, "I guess the fingerless gloves were a bad idea."

He seemed to buy the answer and turned his attention over to Barry. She was thankful he didn't press the issue. She still didn't fully understand the extent of her powers and coming to terms with the fact that her own powers worked against her, and could kill her, wasn't exactly a conversation she was dying to have.

# # #

"So…you're one of them too? A Metahuman?" Felicity asked, propping her cheek up on her palm. She let out a soft wow under her breath at the thought. In Starling all they had to worry about was someone with a gun or some drug running around to harm people but over in Central City…they had powers. Things that she only read about in fantasy books and comic books and dreamt about when she allowed her imagination to get that far.

Reality and technology was her world. She could crack any code placed in front of her in a second, she could hack her way past the toughest of firewalls, hell she could even plant untraceable viruses on people if she wanted to. But this, this blew her mind and tickled her fancy in ways she didn't think was possible anymore. And she thought she saw everything in Starling.

"Yeah," Sage replied, twisting and turning in the swivel chair she had banished herself to once Barry had brought her back to S.T.A.R. Labs. She was out of the way and she was quiet and she sat back as Cisco, Caitlin, and Harrison went about their business to try and find a way to track the missing cold gun. Barry had isolated himself after Cisco revealed that he was the one who had built the gun in the first place and she knew not enough time had gone by for her to check on him.

"How did it happen?"

Sage quickly typed out something on her phone and then set it down. "I was coming back from dancing with some friends. The thing exploded, I was knocked unconscious and then woke up in the hospital. Was there for two weeks due to them monitoring my hypothermia and then after that…I had to learn to deal with this." She lifted her gloved covered hands and flexed her fingers to emphasize her point.

"And so…you can't touch anything because you freeze it instantly. And if you overexert yourself, you being to freeze." Felicity tapped her chin and hummed. She leaned forward, looked at Sage over the rim of her glasses and questions shot out of her mouth in rapid-fire. "What happens when it's your time of month? How do you use the bathroom? How do you shower? Does the ice damage your body, like Barry's frostbite? What happens when you sweat? Are your saliva glands affected as well? Do you run warm or cold?"

"Whoa, overload," Sage muttered, briefly glancing at her phone screen when it lit up. She had texted Joe to let him know that she and Barry were still at S.T.A.R. labs and that she'd fill him in on the goings on later. He was another one on the list of those who were upset at her for trying to take on Snart, unsurprisingly.

"Sorry, it's just…I know they're equipped to handle Barry and his powers but are they equipped to handle the fallout of the explosion?" Felicity asked.

"It's been nine months. They have a pretty good poker face so far if they aren't handling things well," Sage replied. "Until today, that is." But it was a fair question and one that made her bite her lower lip. Barry was the focus of Cisco's, Caitlin's, and Harrison's concerns but was that because of his certain altered biological makeup due to the explosion or was it simply because he had been in the coma for so long therefore being the worst victim aside from those who have perished? Was guilt controlling their focus and effectively pushing him in the spotlight?

Felicity's response made her train of thought stop in its tracks. "Something they created had been used against them; the cracks in their armor are justified."

"What would the Arrow do?" Sage asked.

Felicity sat up straighter in her seat. She licked her lips, pressed them together, and then said, "Barry and the Arrow are different people with different experiences driving them. The Arrow would do whatever he felt it took to ensure that the opponent is stopped, even with his weakness presented to him. Barry, on the other hand…he's a sweet boy with a big heart. He's hurt right now and that may get in the way but…I know he'll figure out the right way for him to get through this. A person's weakness is as much of an Achilles heel as they'll let it be."

Sage nodded and slowly leaned back in her seat. "Has anyone ever told you you're a genius?" she asked.

Felicity's eyes dropped down to the table and she tucked her hair behind her ear. "Once or twice," she replied. "Between you and me, I don't get tired of hearing it."

"Doesn't come up often?"

"Not as much as I'd like." Felicity clicked her tongue and added, "Let's just say, me and fetching coffee doesn't mix."

"But drinking it?" Sage asked, lifting her eyebrows.

"Can't live without it." She chuckled. "In fact I was hoping that Barry and I would win trivia night at Jitters. We would have gotten seventy-five dollars worth of cappuccinos."

"You guys…were at trivia night? At Jitters?" Sage asked, her eyebrows furrowing. "Today?"

Felicity nodded. "With Iris and Eddie." Sage's eyebrows now jumped up but Felicity didn't notice the gesture. "He wasn't the best, he tried hard though. I can see why Iris likes him, with that face…" Her words trailed off into a sigh. A moment later she blinked and cleared her throat. "Okay, I'm just…going to find Barry. See how he's doing."

Sage crossed her arms and blew out a breath once Felicity had walked out of the room. She closed her eyes, pressing her eyelids together as if focusing on squeezing them shut would squeeze out the unsettling annoyance that rushed around inside her. She didn't know what was worse: the fact that she was annoyed about them attending Trivia Night at Jitters without her or that she was annoyed at herself for being annoyed. Barry had asked her if she wanted to go, it wasn't as if he knew Trivia Night would be happening. But still, he could have insisted.

Her nose wrinkled. Was it his idea or Iris's? The question hadn't even finished moving through her mind before the answer came to her. Of course it was her cousin's. Barry wouldn't care about the prize. But because Iris suggested it he was at her heels as always. They were best friends, there was nothing wrong with that, but sometimes she wondered if there was room for her.

She jumped out of her seat and started searching through the drawers for Cisco's candy stash. A rush of sugar was just what she needed to swallow her emotions, if only she could find it. She was craving a Twizzler.

"Have you found what you're searching for, Ms. Moreaux?" Harrison asked. Sage's scream of surprise downed out the end of his question. One of his eyebrows lifted at her haste as she closed the drawers she had been going through. "I believe the treat you are looking for is the third drawer from the top, on the left side." He powered his chair to the desk and opened the drawer he had mentioned, removing the package of Twizzlers from it.

"Thanks," she said, taking the package from him. After a little bit of struggle she popped open the bag and pulled one out. She handed the package back to him and he removed a cherry rope himself. "I-I really am sorry. For everything. I just—"

"Ms. Moreaux, I would like your help with something," he interrupted her. "If you could follow me, please."

"Cisco and Caitlin can't help you?" Sage asked and then she took a bite of her candy.

"Oh no, this is something for your expertise." He turned around and headed out of the room. He had a force to his words that made it clear that she was to follow him and do as he asked. She popped the rest of the cherry candy into her mouth, following close behind him.

He lead her out of the room, down a few halls, and then finally brought her to a room that was empty save for a few couches, a table, and a few chairs surrounding the table. On the table was a box holding a puzzle with a picture of the Grand Canyon.

"I would like your help with this," Harrison announced, wheeling up to the table. "I've been attempting this puzzle for a while now and I have not gotten close to completing it. I feel you are the right person to contribute in getting this done."

"You…want me to help you with a puzzle?" Sage asked.

"Yes, that's what I need your help with," Harrison replied. He lifted the lid of the puzzle and set it aside. He poured out the pieces and glanced up at her as she hovered in the door way. "Please, sit. You can't assemble it from there."

Her eyelashes fluttered from her rapid blinking but she did as she was asked. She sat down in the chair opposite him and began sorting the puzzle pieces into two piles: ones with edges and ones without edges. It was a bit difficult picking up the pieces with her gloves but she managed to get a routine in.

"Tell me about yourself, Ms. Moreaux," Harrison spoke up, briefly taking his blue eyes off the small amount of borderline he managed to piece together.

Sage's face pulled into an expression of utmost confusion. She was surprised she didn't pull anything with how hard her muscles were working to hold the expression. First he was angry with Cisco for having made the cold gun and now he wanted her to work on a puzzle with him and to tell him about herself? Either she was living in a dream world or he had been replaced by a pod person.

"Okay, well, um…I'm a senior at CCU where I major in mythology minor in dance. I've been dancing since I was four." She paused to press a stubborn puzzle piece into its slot. "My mom and dad weren't too happy that I pursued it rather than something 'practical'." She made finger quotes around the word. "But that's why I'm going to school here and not at home."

"And where is home?"

"Canada. Montreal to be exact."

"So you speak French, then?"

"Mais oui. My dad said he'd deport me if I didn't learn it." She chuckled at the memory. "I think it was supposed to be a joke but he scared me. It's probably why I like hockey too."

She blew out a breath and wrinkled her nose, looking down at the puzzle in front of them again. There were so many pieces. So many brown pieces. They all blended together into one big blob, save for the sliver at blue sky at the top. It kept her eyes from hurting but it didn't stop her from thinking that Dr. Wells was certifiably crazy if he wanted to take the time to sit and work on a puzzle of all things while Snart was out there doing whatever it was he wanted with the cold gun.

"What brings you to Central City?" Harrison asked. He pressed his finger on a piece and it slid in with little effort. "Montreal has its own charm, doesn't it?"

"It does, but my favorite cousin is here. My favorite uncle is here. Barry's here. CCU has a good dance program. Not to mention they don't have Big Belly Burger back home and I like being able to get a burger at two in the morning if I want to." And, more importantly, my parents aren't here.

"Ah, yes, the seductive pull of Big Belly Burger is a hard one to deny," Harrison said. His shoulders shook with the small laugh that followed his comment. "You've known Barry long?"

"Since I was born," Sage said, a tender smile gracing her lips. "My mom brought me to Central City over the years for visits—my mom is Iris's mom's sister—and I met Barry through Iris."

"And you all are close?"

Her head bobbed from side to side in a noncommittal answer. "Yeah, I'd say so. Barry and Iris are much closer than I am to him but…we've had some good times together." She spun a puzzle piece around in her hand and stared at the constructed image in front of them. She clicked her tongue a few times and tried to brush off the honest sting of her summation of her relationships with Barry and Iris. It was like a slow-healing sunburn; right on the surface and in everyone's face but it didn't hurt until you touched it. And she had just prodded a sore spot. It didn't help that she wasn't on his good side at the moment.

Her focus returned to the puzzle at hand. They worked in silence, the only other sound coming from the random slams of her fist on a piece to get it to fit into its hole. Soon they had the puzzle completed except for one hole. Sage had the puzzle piece that was to fit. She laid it atop of the lining and tried to push it in. it slid across the smooth surface. Her eyebrows furrowed. She pressed harder, her finger bent at the knuckle due to the strain but it still wouldn't go in. Curling her fingers into a fist, she bashed it atop of the puzzle piece but still it sat on top of the picture, mocking her.

Sage pursed her lips and then set the puzzle piece down, leaning back in her seat to regard the older man. "Dr. Wells, I have to ask, why are we putting together a puzzle? Not that I don't find them fun, it's just that I'm more of a mini golf girl myself." Her frustrations boiled over before she could stop herself. It was one thing getting frustrated at a game but a puzzle? The last piece shouldn't be so stubborn.

Harrison took his time to adjust his glasses on his nose and fold his hands together. His lips pressed together into a straight line and he looked at her across the table for a few moments. Then this lips parted and he spoke. "There was a little bit of tension in the room. I felt this was the best way to handle it: remove one piece of the puzzle, as it were." He quietly laughed at his own joke. "You…put not only yourself but Barry in danger today. I know you have apologized for it but I don't think you fully understand what your actions could have caused."

He leaned forward in his seat, his eyes and tone now taking on a manner, "Barry is important to S.T.A.R. Labs. What happened to him could be a key in unlocking the secrets to aiding the longevity of human life, curing diseases, reversing vertebrae damage, creating skin grafts for burn victims to name a few advances. And that can't happen if Barry is taking you out of a situation that you shouldn't have been in in the first place. You're too much of a wild card; one that I can't have being played against Barry now that he knows what can slow him down."

"I would never do anything to hurt Barry," she uttered after a few stuttering attempts.

"Then you'll understand when I ask for you to focus on controlling your abilities rather than going out and playing hero," he continued. She flinched at the bite in his words. He leaned back, pushed a breath out of his nose, and removed his glasses. He set them on the tabletop and made a tent with his fingers. "You have a certain zest for adventure and excitement, which is not a bad thing. But you need to learn how to reel it in and tap into it when the time is right. You need to be patient. Which is why I asked you to complete this puzzle with me."

Sage blinked. "I don't get it."

"See, the thing about puzzles…each piece fits to create the big picture. But sometimes people only see where the pieces go, they don't think about the overall image at the end. Every piece has its place. Every piece has its duty to help create one cohesive unit. If you try to force a piece in…" he nodded to the uncompleted puzzle, "the picture will come out distorted. Staying patient and looking at the big picture"—he reached into his pocket and removed an identical puzzle piece to the one that was sitting on the board. He brushed the other one aside and pressed his piece into the puzzle amidst Sage's bewilderment. The piece fit perfectly—"the final piece will find its way in right where it belongs when it's ready." He lifted a finger and added with a distinct air of finality, "But not a second sooner."

# # #

The glossy photo of Leonard Snart stared up at the ceiling. His piercing eyes bore through the black and white image of him holding onto a board with his information on it. Eddie stared long and hard at the picture. Snart had been a sort of myth over in Keystone. Like Bigfoot, only more notorious. He was the Moby Dick of criminals, always within reach but somehow slipped out of their grasp. Snart was the top prize; whoever could get him would go down in history.

And Eddie wanted that to be him.

He was making his mark at the CCPD and this would surely set him over the top. He got some muggers here and some thieves there but those were nothing like the infamous Leonard Snart. Getting him would be like outsmarting him. He heard stories of how well planned the thief was and being able to throw a wrench in his plans—actually being the wrench—would cement his place within the CCPD. He had the skills and the background for people to take him seriously but now he needed the win to get Joe to finally accept him as his partner.

Eddie stretched his arms above his head and leaned back in his chair. His eyes moved around the room and rested on the display of their fallen officer and Joe's old partner. He twisted his mouth to the side and rubbed a hand along his mouth. His stubble brushed against his palm, tickling his skin. He was no Chyre but that didn't mean Joe had to hold him to the same standards. He was hired for a reason and he was determined to show Joe why that was and that he was good enough to date his daughter.

Leaning forward in his seat once more, he began to peruse Snart's file. He thought some sort of pattern would come out of it but Snart was smarter than he gave him credit for. He didn't hit any place twice and he left enough time between his thefts that it was hard for one to guess his next target. The only thing they had to go off of was Snart's persistence. What were Joe's words? "Once he goes after something he doesn't stop until he gets it".

He should be at the museum, it made more sense to wait there for Snart but Joe insisted that he go back to the precinct and gather as much information as he can. But Eddie knew it was just to keep him out of the way. Waiting for something that may not even happen wasn't his idea of how to spend a night. He much would rather go back to Trivia Night; at least he could spend time with Iris.

"Eddie, Snart spotting at the museum," Joe announced as he burst into Eddie's office. "Let's go. We can cut him off before he escapes."

"Yes!" Eddie couldn't contain the smile on his face. Finally he didn't have to sit around bored! He could capture Snart and impress Joe in the process. He'd have to accept him and Iris being together after that. He checked to make sure his gun was loaded and then put the safety on before sliding it into his holster. Double checking that he had his badge on him, he followed Joe out of the precinct and down to the waiting van.

"I don't think so," Joe muttered, edging Eddie aside to get to the driver's side of the van.

Eddie stopped in his tracks, staring at Joe. "Really?" he asked, throwing his arms out.

"Eddie, just get in," Joe ordered. He climbed into the driver's seat and yanked on the seatbelt. He had the car engine roaring and had taken off the parking brake. As soon as Eddie closed the door Joe took off, barely giving him enough time to put on his seatbelt and get comfortable. He had to hold onto the roof handle to keep from being tossed around with how fast Joe was driving. The spinning blue and red lights atop of the van filtered in through the window and slid across Eddie's face in succession.

His fingers tapped against the handle as they rode in silence. His heart thumped in his chest as it always did before a confrontation with a suspect. It was when fight or flight took a hold. It separated the strong from the weak and, for him, it gave him an adrenaline rush that he didn't feel when riding a roller coaster or sky diving. Those two couldn't even compare. Add in the fact that he was saving lives in the process, it was the best job in the world and he wouldn't trade it for anything. It tested him day in and day out and made him only come out stronger in the end, made him into a person he could be proud of. And hopefully a person his father could be proud of too.

The crackling radio pulled Eddie out of his thoughts and broke his trance-like stare on the road. His eyes swiveled over to the radio just as Joe's did. He shifted his breathing to his nose, just in case his mouth-breathing was a little too loud. He didn't want to miss the report that came in. "All available units, suspect spotted at Central City train station."

"10-4. In pursuit," Joe said into the speaker. He put it back and jerked the wheel to the right. Eddie's grip tightened on the handle but his head slammed into the glass. "Sorry," Joe grunted, his eyes on the road.

"Something tells me that you're not," Eddie groaned, rubbing the side of his head. But the pain was pushed to the backburner as he focused on the police protocols that he was soon going to follow if he wanted to take Snart down.

Before he knew it they had arrived at the train station. People milled about the entrance, taxis lined up in queues, and muffled announcements from the train's PA system enveloped the building. Joe pulled up behind a taxi and cut off the engine. Eddie had to take a few deep breaths to get his mind and focus in the right place. Then he pushed open the door and said with child-like glee, "We got Snart."

But before Eddie could progress into the building Joe held him back with his hand and said, "Wait here for back up."

"Wait for back up? No way."

"That's an order."

A protest died on his tongue as Eddie stared after his partner. Gaped, really. His mouth hung so low a fly could have moved in and out without him noticing. He kicked at the ground and ran a hand through his hair. This was his job, how could he be grounded like that? He knew his stuff. He knew how to handle a gun. He wouldn't have risen to the rank of a detective as quickly as he did if he were bad at his job. He wouldn't have his pristine track record if he were bad at his job.

"Fuck that," Eddie muttered beneath his breath. Tightening his grip on his gun, he ran inside the train station after his partner. People darted out of his way and ran off at the sight of the weapon in his hand. He moved quickly, his eyes darting up and down the platforms in search for their suspect. Joe had briefed him on Snart and his weapon—which he still felt came out of a science fiction book—but he wasn't afraid to stand face to face with a cold gun if it meant no one went home in a body bag.

He ducked behind nearby pillars, peeking around every now and then to see where Snart was. The furry hood of his jacket bobbed in and out of sight. "Go, go. Keep going. Get somewhere safe," he whispered to those near him, taking one hand off his gun to wave them away. Not that the innocent bystanders needed to be told twice to leave. They took one look at his gun and ran off.

His heart jumped into his throat at the sight of Snart's back. He was so close… Flicking the safety off with his thumb, Eddie moved swiftly. His finger curled against the trigger but kept the pressure off. The last thing he wanted to do was blow off his foot in his haste and—

Shit! In one fluid movement, Eddie lifted his gun, aimed, and took a shot at Snart. Chunks from the column by his head flew out in all directions from the bullet shooting through it. He ducked out of the way as Eddie ran up. If the situation weren't so dire he'd smirk at Joe and click his heels at the bewildered expression on Joe's face alone.

"I'm your partner, not your assistant," Eddie stated. He didn't wait to see Joe's reaction as she chased after Snart. The two followed the thief onto a train platform and could only stare as he stepped onto a train with ease. Eddie slowly lowered his gun and watched as the train picked up speed and flew down the tracks into the distance. His shoulders slumped and his heart fell. He almost had it. His ticket to gaining Joe's respect, gone. Just like that. Huffing a breath, he shifted his gun to safety and put it back into his holster. "What now?" Eddie asked.

"He got what he wanted. He's gone," Joe stated. "We'll just have to wait for him to show his face again and nab him next time."

"We?" Eddie repeated, turning to face Joe. "You mean you'd actually let me out of the car next time?" Joe didn't reply. "I'm part of the precinct, Joe. I was placed as your partner. That doesn't mean you can keep me from doing my job. I know I'm not Chyre but—"

"This has nothing to do with Chyre," Joe interrupted him.

"It doesn't?" Eddie scoffed. "I've heard stories about him. About his work and his successes. I know it's hard to lose a partner. But you can't compare me to him or…or whatever it is you're doing. I want to do my job and you're getting in the way of it. If this is about me and Iris—"

"No, Eddie, this is about you," Joe interrupted once more.

Eddie's argument stalled in the back of his throat. He exhaled, his shoulders slumping and blinked rapidly. "I…I don't follow."

"I know about you, Eddie. What, did you think I didn't do my research on my new partner? Get a background check?" Joe placed his gun in his holster and crossed his arms. He widened his stance a little and stared his partner down. "Yes, I admit, part of me wanted to keep you out of the way so nothing could happen to you. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself or look Iris in the eye if you—my second partner—got hurt or worse. But I know about your reputation back in Keystone. I know how you operated. This isn't Keystone, Eddie. You can't just go running around thinking you know everything and that you will come out on top. You will be outsmarted, you will be taken down, and you will be put in danger. Not just you, but everyone around you. If you want to be a big shot go right ahead, but you can't do it at the expense of others."

"I know that! I wouldn't be in this line of work if I didn't," Eddie huffed. "I'm not the same as I was before. You won't give me a chance to show you that. If we're going to work together and protect this city you have to give me that much."

A train whistle blew. The chug-chug-chug of a slow moving train hummed in the background of the crowded platform. Joe licked his lips, studying his young partner. Finally he scratched at his head and muttered, "We need to call into the department. Let them know what's going on."

"Fine," Eddie sighed. Joe held his gaze for a few seconds and then turned on his heel. Eddie followed him. There was no sense in pressing the issue; Joe was as stubborn as a mule. But that didn't matter, Eddie still felt like he won. He stood his ground and stuck up for himself.

His past-self would be proud.

# # #

Leonard tossed the diamond up into the air and caught it with ease only to send it back up into the air. His eyes, however, were trained on his companion as he looked over his new gun. A manic sort of smile was embedded into his face as he tested it out, nearly setting some curtains ablaze. The curtains that Leonard had taken time to pick out for the ambiance of the place but he kept quiet. There were far more important things for him to worry about.

Such as his next prize. The Khandaq diamond was a good treasure but not good enough. He had to go bigger. Reach a higher goal. Once he plateaued, well, what was the point of it all? The rush would die and then, well, there would be no sense in him continuing to go around and steal things. The ease of it made everything more appealing but then he got in the way. The Streak.

The diamond smacked into Leonard's palm and he squeezed it. If he didn't have the world's hardest mineral in his hands it probably would have shattered in his fury-filled grip. Those kids…did they honestly think that their light up machine was going to stop him? He knew their faces. He knew they worked with The Streak or whatever asinine name he was running with (no pun intended). The number one rule in the criminal rule book could now be used against him.

Oh, how they made things easy for him.

"Careful, Mick…that's not a toy," Leonard commented watching as Mick ran around, holding his gun up in random directions as if facing invisible enemies. "You don't want to take your eye out."

"What's the plan? I can't wait to see their faces…" Mick stared lovingly at the gun in his hand, petting it almost as if it were a lover. "I wonder how hot skin has to be before it melts off."

Leonard rolled his eyes. "Can't ask yourself that question? You being an expert on burns," he drawled, an eyebrow lifting at the question. He didn't wait for Mick to reply as he stalked over to a computer sitting in the room. "Simmer down. We have…a little insurance we need to take care of first. The Streak is out there, but there is someone else running around too. Someone else who has…abilities."

His eyes narrowed as he thought back to the theatre, thought back to that vigilante of sorts that stepped up to him; went toe-to-toe with him. Had ice abilities of their own that didn't come from a cold gun. And, more importantly, had a connection to The Streak.

"Before we do anything else, we need to do one thing." He placed his hands on the table around the computer and leaned forward. The glow from the computer screen lit up his face but he didn't dare blink as he looked Mick in the eye. "Find them. And bring them here. They'll come in handy…one way or another."

a/n - That finale, guys. That. Finale. Oh my gosh! That's how you end a season! The Arrow writers need to take note. I was so sad to see that Eddie died, he's one of my favorite characters. But Tom Cavanaugh and Grant Gustin stole the episode, hands down. They were the best part. I enjoyed having Ronnie back but I kinda wish he did a little more. But gaahhh! I can't wait until October to see what they do with the next season! How many timelines are we going to deal with? Is Tom still playing Eobard or would he be portraying the real Wells? And how does the blackhole/timeline issue affect Arrow and their timeline?

So many questions, so little time.

Anyway! This chapter marks the beginning of deviations I mentioned in the first chapter. Leonard and Mick will play a bigger part, I can't wait for you guys to see what I have in store. What did you think of this chapter? The aftermath and Wells's analogy? We got to learn a little more about Sage and her background. How about Joe and Eddie at the train station? I wish we saw more from their side, I always thought that there was more to Joe making Eddie stay behind that they never touched on but should have so I tried to do my best with it here.

Also, thanks to those who fav'd and alerted this story and thanks to all those that review! I appreciate that you all stick around and wait patiently for me to update. It means a lot to know that you all are still enjoying this story.

Review Replies

guest27 - Thank you so much for your kind words! They help me strive to continually improve my writing and my storytelling abilities. As for why Sage can't control her powers, that answer will come soon! Stick around to find out!

babyj - Simply put, I didn't want to have her have the same abilities as all the other Ice powered people from the comics. Having her be able to turn to Ice in the same vein as Iceman or Colossus with his powers, I felt, would be too easy. There had to be a setback somewhere with her abilities, why not having her own abilities turn against her? Much like how some people's own personalities or talents can be a blessing and a curse at the same time. The reason behind her body adapting slowly will be revealed in a future chapter, not too far into the future, mind you, but the answer will come. I can't just give everything away! :) Thanks for taking the time to review!