Chapter 5

Why Hating

The News Is

A Legitimate Thing

Disclaimer: I own nothing but what you see here in this story.

If Joe, Iris, and Eddie finding out that Harrison Wells is the Reverse Flash was a shocker, then finding out that everybody in the whole city now knows about Barry being the Flash was certainly even more of a shocker then the first revelation! "Cisco, you can NOT be serious." Joe told him seriously.

Cisco only sighed at that. "I'm afraid so Joe, after Barry had his confrontation with the Reverse Flash, he sped out of there and then Caitlin and I saw the news about it when we got back into the Cortex."

"Oh no..." Iris muttered a bit worriedly as who knows who might want to come after him or those he cares about now that his identity is revealed. Not to mention his job with the CCPD could be gone now.

Joe and Eddie were having similar thoughts as well and they both knew a talk with Singh needed to happen soon since he was still there captain despite his hospitalization. But ultimately, the decision and any actions that was likely going to happen in regards to Barry would come from those higher up then Singh. Joe knew this could mean the end of his career if not time in jail for essentially aiding a vigilante. Not to mention the fact he's aware of how any of the metas Barry went up against were put in specially made cells at STAR Labs that some would likely find inhumane. Eddie being as close as he was could face trouble in his own career as well despite his not knowing of the Flash's identity.

Time for another bomb to drop... Cisco thought to himself, unaware of what the other three were thinking of at the moment. Things he himself would get to thinking about later when it was brought up.

"There's another thing too..." He started but trailed off as all three looked up at him in alarm over what he was about to say.

But before anymore could be said, a loud buzzing came from Cisco's pocket and he quickly went for his phone to see who would be texting him right now. The sight of Felicity texting him and informing him that she saw the broadcast from over in Starling City, making his eyes go wide as he realized that if she saw it, then so did everyone else in the city. And it all started to make him wonder just how widespread this was now. Another part of her text mentioned that they might want to remind Barry to be more careful next time since one never knows who could be watching. Something he had to agree with on there and fired off a thank you text for letting him know.

He looked up and saw the looks of concern in the expressions of the three with him and swallowed a little. "Well... Um... This isn't the thing I was going to say but apparently everyone in Starling City knows about Barry's being the Flash too."

Iris looked at him in a mix of growing worry and confusion. "How do you even know that?" Just no way that Felicity or Oliver could even know about Barry being the Flash, could they?

Cisco looked at her and hesitated before answering. "That text I got was from one of the Arrow's people letting me know."

"Oh." Was all Iris could think of to say while wondering how in the world her Bear even knew the Arrow.

"Barry knows and works with a killer that shoots arrows!?" Eddie asked incredulously, making Joe snort from his hospital bed as he too hadn't exactly had a high opinion of the bow wielding vigilante until they crossed paths and how he'd been able to help Barry get back into his right mind.

Both Iris and Eddie turned to look at him over that and wondering what the snort was for. "Hey, I felt the same way til he actually came around. Heck he's half the reason anyway for helping Barry get back into his right mind after what Bivolo did to him." Joe inforned them, making the two curious over that as well.

"What... What did this Bivolo do to him!?" Iris asked in alarm.

The answer came from Cisco thankfully enough. "Bivolo or Rainbow Raider as we like to call him, has the power to make people really angry through his eyes when they glow red. Which is why those people at that bank went all nuts and started attacking one another, leading to him being able to happily walk off with a bunch of cash. And when Barry went after him, Bivolo did his whammy and eventually Barry started going off on people instead of it happening instantly thanks to his powers."

Well no wonder he went after me that night thanks to me and my plan involving the task force...

Iris slapped Eddie on the arm, making him wince and rub his arm. "Ow... I'm not even gonna ask why." He muttered.

"Good."

Joe had to hide a smile over that. "And what does the Arrow have to do with this?" Iris asked, wanting to know, especially since she wondered how in the world her best friend and maybe more once she got passed how she felt over his secret could know such a man like that.

"Well, sometime last year Barry and the Arrow met, I'm not sure of a lot of the details but Barry helped save his life and even came up with a mask for him to use instead of grease paint. Which is so much better than grease paint to be honest. And if that dude ever lets me, I'm so gonna use a few ideas for his mask that could probably be really helpful." Cisco said with an eager smile on his face and really hoped he could convince Oliver to let him do it since he had already upgraded his suit.

The good Detective West had to laugh a little over that one, making his daughter and partner turn to him once again over it. "What? Cisco's a genius." The truthfulness in those words made Cisco pretty happy to be acknowledged in such a way.

"Anyway, before I go anymore off track, the Arrow and two members of his team came out to Central for some help. One thing led to another and then the dude helped hold Barry while your dad and Dr. Wells arrived to shine a spectrum of lights at him to get him back to normal." No way was he going to mention the little debate he had with Diggle over who would actually win. The fact neither Oliver or Barry would even tell anyone who won the second fight bugged him to no end as he was dying to know!

He let Iris and Eddie have a few minutes to digest what they'd learned before saying anything else. Especially that previous thing he was about to reveal. And made him wonder yet again if Eddie somehow knew about this since the two apparently had the same last name! Joe however was curious about what else Cisco had to tell them and hoped it wouldn't be more news he wouldn't like. But a gut feeling told him he wasn't going to get that particular hope. And finally, after several minutes of contemplative silence, the young engineer spoke up. "So Eddie, you uhh... Know any Eobards in the family?"

He got a look of confusion over that. "No, none that I'm aware of. Why?" Eddie was pretty curious now over this, not to mention a bit suspicious too. Heck as it is, he would have definitely remembered any family members with that name!

Guess maybe he might actually be from the future then. Cisco thought to himself with a sigh.

"Because... Harrison Wells' real name is Eobard... Eobard Thawne. And is apparently from the future and has been stuck in this time for the last 15 years." That bit of information stunned Eddie and made the other two look on at him in shock and surprise as well.

"How is, how is that possible!?" Iris asked, having a hard time believing what she'd just heard. And she wasn't the only one either.

Cisco looked at her as he answered. "Its possible that his speed let him do it. But what speed that would take to do is something even I don't know." Well, at least yet anyway.

"So what you are saying is... I have a relative from the future who came back into the past, murdered Barry's mom, then for whatever reason couldn't go back to his time, and went around as Harrison Wells?" Eddie asked as a way to fully clarify things while trying to wrap his head around the absurdity of the situation.

"Yep, pretty much." Cisco told him somewhat cheerfully.

"I really hate news." The blonde detective grumbled to himself and Joe had to agree with that statement. Something Iris wasn't too far behind on either.

Eddie then just agitatedly sighed, ran a hand down his face and walked off into the hallway to try and get his head wrapped around it. Joe was about to ask a question that was now pretty much burning a hole in his mind but surprisingly enough, it was Iris who asked it. "Is there anything else you need to tell us Cisco? Cause honestly? I'm not sure how much more I can take right now." She told him wearily, something Joe had to agree with.

Before the engineer could speak however, a sudden whoosh appeared in the room. Making Iris step back a little as the figure was in a hood, but Cisco remained where he was since he knew it couldn't be Wells as he was locked up. Eddie also ran back into the room and got in front of Iris in case the newcomer tried anything. The figure then lowered his hood, revealing it to be Barry himself. "Hey guys." His greeting left the three in shocked silence since they weren't even sure when they would see him next.

"Dude! We've been worried about you man! Where've you been!?"

Barry winced at the worried tone from Cisco. "Sorry about that, I just... I just needed to get away for a bit and eventually wound up in Starling City for a little while." Barry informed them tiredly, making Cisco face palm himself since he didn't even think to ask Felicity if he was there when he sent her a response.

Can't always think of everything. Which was a thought Cisco hated to even think about.

Iris ran at Barry and hugged him, happy as can be that he finally showed up. Then pulling away and confusing everyone, she slapped the crap out of him! The slap caused Barry to stumble a bit in shock over what she'd done. Something she had never done to him before in the past, the action melted away the confusion for everyone else and went to shocked looks. "Ow! Iris! What the heck was that for!?" He asked as he seriously wanted to know while rubbing the sore spot on his face, cause damn did that hurt!

But she didn't say anything and instead, walked out of her father's hospital room before she did it again. Leaving three men alone in silence as none could quite think of anything to say.

Author's Notes: I probably could have kept going, but I decided it was best to stop here. I kinda figure the slap wouldn't exactly be out of line for Iris to do considering he did keep such a huge secret from her. Look forward to your thoughts! And man is the wait for season 2 so not gonna be fun!