The Flash: Learning to Live Again

A/N: I have recently started watching The Flash and cannot believe how much I love the show. Hopefully you enjoy the story!

Chapter 1: Consequences

Henry Allen. A great man who is now gone. This man who meant everything to Barry was killed right in front of him. Then his friends who he thought he could trust, prevented him from being able to fight. The anger in the betrayal that he felt was a lot to handle in the events following Zoom. This caused the light that had been in Barry for so long to be dampened. So much so that it was he had to step away from the team going back to before as he did in his mourning of those lost in fighting Thawne. The fact was that every single person in some way that the people are a part of in some way except for Wally.

The need to step away from all his friends and family showed a need to be away from the people who he was rejected by. Running through the city was a peaceful time for Barry was the life that he had always wanted. Being free from the problems of the world and the goodness of doing simple acts by himself in ways the fire department and the police with simple situations such as fire rescues and simple robberies. This was his life, on his own with no worries in the world. Life as Barry Allen was more tedious as the life after the events of Zoom were more difficult. The reality of having to see and interact with Joe or Iris again was tough for Barry as is required with once again with the life of being a CSI. Regardless of how simple or complex the scene he was called to, the reality was he had to be around them in some respect.

This particular morning was a rough one for Barry as he had to stop two different robberies and an apartment fire which caused him to miss breakfast prior to his day started. Thus, the patience of having to deal with the other former "friends" that he had to deal with. Especially when they tried to approach Barry as if nothing happened as was the case with Joe West this morning.

"Morning Barr! How you doing?"

"Detective West. We have four different victims here and the foot patterns while taking in account the blood patterns suggest the group was had four members spread across the room. They clearly knew where the security cameras were as they have all been destroyed and the owner said the old archives going back three months were taken."

"Barry, I know the past month has been tough on you. But you are family and we want to try and make amends. We just wanted to keep you safe."

"Joe, the fact is that I want nothing to do with any of you. The reality is that I am hurt that you all betrayed me so please leave that excuse of family out. If you guys actually cared about me then you would have trusted me, but you didn't." After retaliating at Joe's words Barry collected the last of the

Having said that the look of shock on Joe's face as the revelation of the way Barry was hurting. The betrayal having stung Barry so deep that those closest to him that all involved were rejected by Barry and the ways in which the life of those people had a lot of work to do to get back into his good graces and to be friends with him once again. Being pulled from his thoughts with a phone call he looked to see Iris calling him.

"Hey Dad. How was the talk with Barry?"

"Hey Iris. I did not get very far at all."

"You have to give him time. He is hurting and we all in our own way have to accept that we hurt him. I am getting everyone together at the house. We can come up with a plan on how to repair our friendship with him."

Barry after leaving the crime scene was frustrated with his interactions with Joe West was out of character for him and if he was being honest with himself his life in Central City was bringing him down. Even though he found the success of life as a person in this city, but clearly needed some time away from the city. So, Barry made up his mind he was going to go to Starling City to help get his mind right. His mind was in a darker place than he thought and needed time to set his mind right with people he trusted. Ultimately for now Barry focused on finishing these tests to find out whether or not this would be a more dangerous meta-human or not.

At the West household everyone had formed their emergency meeting as to how to repair the damage done to their friend. Each person looking inward to themselves and the problems that they had caused except for Wally who was just as mad as Barry was with the rest of the people in the room. Cisco, Caitlin, Joe, Wally, and Iris each sitting down and conversing as they ate their meal in relative peace to keep the tension down as they prepared for a difficult conversation. The food being the last thing on their minds, but rather their friend who was noticeably absent from the room as they looked inward realizing what a mistake locking him up had been. As dinner was wrapped up and the table cleaned up, everyone returned to the table and Joe of all the people started the conversation that was required for the process of healing the damaged relationship with Barry in their own ways, but needing to find some way to fix it.

"I know what all of you are thinking. We all are missing Barry in our own ways, but the reality is the fact that we all made the wrong decision in the locking up of him in his cell. I wish that we could go back in time to try and fix the ways in which we never locked him up, but we can't, we have to live with our choice that we all made."

Each person solemnly looked at themselves with the exception of Wally who in his angry state actually go up to leave only to have his hand grabbed by Iris.

"What do you want Iris?"

"We need to come up with a plan to reconnect with Barry and need your help. We hurt Barry. You didn't, we need you help in this."

"Your right Iris, I didn't hurt Barry. All of you did, I will not help you try to repair what you broke. You all in your own way need to make amends to him in your own ways. I will talk to him to make sure he gives you a chance to apologize to him, but how you fix it is up to each one of you."

Then pulling his hand from Iris, he grabbed his jacket and left the house leaving the rest in the silence of hearing the truth of his words. The reality of the fact of their "meeting" being more of them hiding from the fact that the sins of their decision have now bled over to Wally a more carefree type of personality taking on Barry's same anger at them. Before Caitlin broke the silence to the rest if the group.

"Look, Wally is right. We messed up and I can't even begin to realize how sorry I am, but the fact that we isolated Barry is true. I agreed to lock him up, and it is true that I will have to live with that, but I will not wallow in self pity anymore. We all need to do this individually in our own unique ways that we see fit in repairing our friendship with Barry again. I miss Barry, and I hope I can be friends with him again, but there can't be any "big plan" we need to realize the consequences for our actions."

Then with the meeting wrapping up at the realization of the real work that needed to be done everyone went their separate ways. Understanding the task that was laid out before each of them, resolved to the fact that they had a job to do in order to help Barry in any way they can. The sun setting on the day with revelations revealed and the mission of unity starts with the rising of the sun tomorrow.

As Barry himself prepared to go to bed he received a phone call and seeing that it was Wally appreciated that it wasn't anyone else. Then picked up the phone and listened for the sound of his friend's voice once again.

"Hey Wally! What can I help you with?"

"Barry its good to hear from you, I know it has been a while."

"What can I do for you Wally?"

"I was hoping I could talk to you about reuniting with the team. I know that you have been hurt, but the rest of us need you."

"Wally, I want to thank you for calling me, but the fact that they all betrayed. I am going to go to Starling City. I think some time with my friend Oliver will do me some good. When I get my head back on straight, I will come back, and everyone can say what they want. The fact is that I need some time to get away from Central City and understand what the heck I want. Besides, I will be safe in the hands of the Queen family, if I need anything they will be able to help me."

"Alright Barry, you just take care of yourself. I cannot wait until you return, it will be good whenever you get back. Take your time with your friends, we will have your back. We only want what is best for you. Take care Barry."

Then hanging up the phone Barry packed his bags and with one last look at the door before leaving closed the door. The consequences of the actions of everyone involved turning from Barry had affected them more than they thought. As Barry stepped away from Central City, plane ticket in hand on his way to Starling happy to see his friends that he knows he can trust, but unaware of the larger threat being planned by both himself and Oliver's worst enemies; Eobard Thawne and Malcolm Merlin.