(Your reviews make my heart happy. Keep it coming, I beg of you! -Doverstar)

Doctor Caitlin Snow was the most organized, prepared individual you could ever meet. Her apartment never ran out of toilet paper. Her papers were always in order. Her phone was always charged, her physician tools were always on the same table when she came in for work. She was prepared for Cisco's whine when she snuck a fry out of his lunch on her way past his desk. She was prepared when Jitters wasn't able to give her her first choice on the menu, backup drink already on the tip of her tongue. She was prepared when Wally needed help in his science courses. She was prepared with the perfect excuse, the best shut-down facial expressions, when H.R. had danced into the room, trying to get her to sing the next verse in whatever random Earth-1 song had taken his fancy. She was prepared when Ronnie needed to cool down after a long day of engineering. She was prepared to face the worst when a metahuman broke out of the pipeline.

She was not prepared for Barry Allen.

Ever, she was never prepared for Barry Allen. She hadn't been prepared when Dr. Wells rolled in an unconscious, complete stranger on her examination table, someone who had allegedly been struck by lightning. She hadn't been prepared when said stranger had exploded out of said coma, looking at her with his sharp green eyes and heaving for breath. She hadn't been prepared when he insisted she play Operation with him for mental exercise, and doubly unprepared when he lost on purpose and an actual laugh came bubbling out of her at his expression. She hadn't been prepared when he called her Cait, the first time anyone had called her Cait since Ronnie had died and the first and only person she would ever allow it from every day after. She hadn't been prepared when he offered to join her in the pipeline, hadn't been prepared when he'd taken on Captain Cold and Heat Wave to buy her time, when he'd sang at a karaoke bar with her, when he'd challenged Grodd to save her life, when he'd talked her out of Killer Frost's head by proving he knew exactly who she was, when he smiled at her and stood beside her and hugged her and showed her that yes, superheroes still existed. Even after Ronnie, even after Jay, there was happiness and hope and love and he was her hero, her own personal safe place. She got to have him around every day. Not prepared, not prepared, not prepared.

And she was especially unprepared for his reaction.

The color drained from Barry's face when she told him her plan. She hadn't seen him this pale since The Mist. His eyebrows drew together so tightly, eyes squinting so intensely, that she wondered how he could see properly that way. His mouth opened and formed words that wouldn't come out, he was shifting his weight very quickly from leg to leg as he stood in front of her. It was strange, as if he were trapped underground and someone had just taken his only light source, and he was trying not to panic at the thought of taking another step without it.

"Cait," he finally managed, and she felt the world's colors saturate at the nickname as usual, "no."

"Barry, it's the—"

She wasn't prepared to be interrupted, either, but Barry seemed to have been derailed by her news.

"You can't. You can't go with him, there's no way."

They were at his lab at the CCPD; he'd been doing some last-minute filing and Caitlin couldn't think of a better time to tell him. It was raining outside, and she spied a red mug of black coffee on the desk, steaming in the faint light. The papers Barry had been holding were now abandoned on his chair; he was staring down at her as if she were several feet away behind a baseball field net, hard to see.

Caitlin had expected her friend to be surprised, yes, but not this surprised, and not this upset. If anything, she had expected him to realize that this was the right thing to do—a heroic thing to do—and to help her in whatever ways he could. That was as Barry as you could get. But instead she was in a lab with a man who looked like she'd sucker punched the oxygen right out of him.

"It's the smartest route," she explained, leaning back a little, confused by the sudden fear just rippling off of him. "He needs someone to put him on the right track, Barry. Who better to do that than a doctor? Than one of us?" She hesitated, trying to think of the clearest way to communicate what she meant. "He may be—damaged—but you said it yourself. Underneath all that anger and all those mistakes, part of you is in there. I've seen it. And he needs someone who knows that part of him to guide him. Logically it's the safest thing for him. For Earth-66, for everyone."

But Barry was rubbing the heels of his hands into closed eyes before she'd finished, mouth open to reveal teeth that were clenched, but not too violently, not too dramatically. Caitlin was an expert in reading body language, especially Barry's. He was her main patient. And right now, he was very stressed out. It didn't compute. It didn't make sense. Why had he suddenly become frayed?

Barry looked up at her suddenly, palms pressed together and pointed at her. "But I don't—I don't get it, all right?" He stepped closer, the picture of concern. He spoke more slowly, as if trying to calm himself long enough to get his point across. "It's dangerous. It's not smart, it's not even..." He sighed, starting again. "I know that not all Earths have guys like Zoom, or Reverb, but you'd still be going in blind. You don't know what could actually be there—what if it's something like Grodd, and I'm not there to—and even if Earth-66 is missing all of those things, we can't risk sending you in with Savitar. Okay?" Another sigh, shorter, and the words got even slower. "You've seen what he can do, you can't—I mean, if he decides to go off the rails, you're not gonna have any of us there to help you stop him."

Caitlin brightened, she'd been coming to that last bit. "Well, I was thinking there would be a way I could have a connection back to—"

"Cait."

Interrupted again?

Barry pinched the bridge of his nose, a mirror of Savitar just an hour earlier in the pipeline. He looked...sad? He looked hurt and fragile, like the day she'd revealed her metahuman powers and he'd stared into her, and she knew he was wondering why he hadn't told him sooner. "What is it? Over there, on that Earth? What's there that you don't already have right here with you?"

And then she understood him.

Caitlin's countenance stuttered, and she burst out, "Barry, do you—you don't think I'm going to live there, do you?"

Barry's sad and hurt were being coated with a thin layer of confusion now. "What?"

She made a few still-befuddled noises before actual sentences took form. "I only meant I'd help him settle in. You couldn't possibly think I'd want to stay on another Earth? A completely different world? With the man who murdered H.R.?"

Barry's eyebrows shot to his hairline. His eyes seemed to overflow with warmth now, and his entire body relaxed. Finally he collapsed into, "Oh thank god."

"Barry!" Caitlin let out a relieved, nervous chortle at that, reaching out to put a hand on his shoulder as he doubled over, cupping both hands over his face. He was chuckling too. "Don't be ridiculous. This Earth is my home. I mean, at the most, I was only planning on staying for a couple of weeks. And I'm not even sure if weeks, plural, is such a good idea." His head came up to grin at her and she rolled her eyes. "Remember, this is Savitar we're discussing."

"I'm sorry." Barry's grin stayed, but he straightened and added seriously, "You can't go until we figure out how to contact you from here."

"I was trying to lead up to that," Caitlin insisted, reaching for his mug. The warm porcelain felt wonderful against her always-cold palms. "See, I think that if Cisco and I could design a communicator—something independent of the walls between universes—I could remain in contact with all of you, and we could all figure out a way to keep Savitar in check." She smiled triumphantly. It was always satisfying to work out an idea aloud, knowing it had the capacity to succeed. "I would just be there as a warm body."

Barry's hands were on his hips, he was nodding, looking at the ground as if picturing her plan. "That might work. And, to be honest..." His eyes met hers eagerly. "I can't think of anyone better to keep my evil doppelganger on the straight and narrow."

Caitlin was never good at accepting compliments, and Barry's made her own eyes bounce to the floor. "I suppose you would know."

"Cait."

"Mm?" She glanced up expectantly, all ears.

Barry nodded to her hands. "You do know that's mine."

Caitlin's gaze went to her reflection in his coffee. Oh, did this bother him? She blinked at him innocently from the top of her eyes. "It's cold and wet out."

He was trying not to smile. "I haven't even touched it!"

"I haven't had coffee since 3 AM this morning."

"But it's mine."

"I'm freezing," Caitlin complained, giving him her best pleading look. "Because of your increased muscle exercise since becoming the Flash, your body is constantly generating the exact amount of heat it needs to be comfortable, despite any temperature fluxes outside."

"Caitlin."

"And that includes fall thunderstorms!"

"Doctor Snow, I want my coffee."

She pointed at him sternly. "My metahuman properties produce the antithesis, therefore I need twice the amount of heat, twice the clothing, and twice the coffee." With that, Caitlin took a lengthy sip, watching the Flash without wavering. She licked her lips when she'd finished, setting the mug down.

Barry shook his head at her, unable to keep from grinning again. "Unbelievable."

Caitlin grinned back. She was never happier, safer, or more content in general than when she was with Barry Allen. From cocky stranger in and out of her workplace to her best friend—besides Cisco, of course. She couldn't have sipped from just anyone's coffee.

Barry went to stand beside her, leaning against the desk the way she was, the mug between them. He seemed to be thinking along the same lines, because he said, a little more seriously, "Just make sure you come back to us in one piece, okay?"

Caitlin nodded. No words necessary.

Barry wasn't finished, eyes tracing her smile. "I need you, Cait. I need you here. Okay? Promise me you're coming back home."

There are few things in this world that feel better than being told you are needed. That without you, someone's life would not be quite the way they wanted it to be. No one could hear such a thing and feel negative toward it, it was just something you longed for. Caitlin was no exception, and hearing it from Barry cemented it in her mind.

"I promise."

Barry gave her one of those bear hugs only he could give. Caitlin had discovered earlier in life that Henry Allen could hug almost the same way, but that Barry's were tighter. Barry Allen seemed reluctant to let go of the people close enough to hug, reluctant to let go of anyone he loved. He wouldn't be the same person without them—and they had seen that in the flesh, flesh currently residing in the basement of S.T.A.R. Labs with a frequency equalizer strapped to his wrist. That was why she had to go, just for a short, short time. She had to help Savitar, remind him that he did not have to be alone, that he could be what he'd been so long ago.

As they broke apart, Barry poked the silence by saying, "Okay but that is my coffee."

"Oh, this coffee?"

"For real right now?"

The rest of Team Flash was not quite as easy to convince. Maybe it was because none of them were Barry, so they didn't see that Caitlin was the perfect person to lead Savitar into his new life. Maybe it was because none of them were Caitlin, who had seen a glimmer of the person Savitar could still be and was determined to give him the chance to choose what was right. Or maybe it was just because Savitar was looking particularly smug and brooding as they gathered in the S.T.A.R. Labs basement two days later, preparing to send him off.

Caitlin had waited until just before they were ready to open the breach. When she announced that she would be going with the God of Speed, Joe was the first to respond, albeit after a stunned silence.

"You gotta be kidding me."

So Caitlin had launched into her explanation, the same one she'd given Barry, who was by her side through the entire lecture, carrying her two enormous duffel bags. The team had all let her say her piece, of course, but the moment she was finished, the protests and questions shot toward her like bullets.

"Where are you gonna stay?" Joe demanded, pointing from Caitlin to Savitar with a father's warning tone. "With him?"

Caitlin took a deep breath. "Barry and I looked into it yesterday, and...we found out that there's a S.T.A.R. Labs on Earth-66 too."

"So, what, you're just gonna crash with your doppelgänger for a couple weeks? Braid each other's hair, swap science theories?" Cisco scoffed. Though he had been told before the others, he seemed uncomfortable with the details himself. "'So where you from, other Caitlin?' 'Oh, Earth-1, they got great burgers, you'd love it!' I bet that's gonna be a real fun conversation to have."

"Actually, Cisco," Caitlin cleared her throat, eyes on her shoes. "Earth-66 Caitlin Snow is dead too."

"Convenient," Savitar interrupted, voice higher than usual. He didn't seem swayed by the information.

"It is," Caitlin agreed, trying to remain patient. "Everyone employed at S.T.A.R. Labs on that world has been dead for the last four years." She glanced at Cisco. "Ever since—"

"Their particle accelerator exploded," Cisco finished, closing his eyes for a moment. "Which means there's no Cisco Ramon either. Or Ronnie. Or Wells."

"Or an Iris West," Caitlin added, carefully studying their Iris.

When Joe opened his mouth, stepping forward, Barry stopped him from asking by recounting, "She was a cop. Just like Earth-2's Iris West. She was stationed as security the night the accelerator failed."

"So," Wally interjected, "you're saying this Earth is basically a dump?"

"For real," Cisco agreed. His right hand clung to his Vibe goggles, careful not to smudge the glass. He held up a finger on the other for each absent party as he rattled off: "No Barry, no Cisco, no Caitlin or Iris..."

"Is there a Wally?"

"Down, boy."

"So that's it?" Joe's hands rested on his belt. "We're just gonna let you hop into another Earth without any backup?"

Cisco cleared his throat very loudly. "You seriously think I'm gonna send homegirl to another universe without a multidimensional walkie talkie?"

Caitlin pursed her lips as the group's eyes turned on her. She fished into her lab coat pocket, pulling out and showing off Cisco's communication device. It looked like a regular walkie talkie—except, of course, for the lightning bolt signature.

"You should be able to reach me at any time, for any reason, with this." Caitlin smiled at her partner. "Cisco was done with it in an hour."

Cisco smiled back, but it looked a little forced.

Iris' arms were folded. She was looking at Savitar, who was point-blank staring at the far wall. "I guess what I'm wondering is—why Caitlin?"

Caitlin exchanged a glance with Barry. But before either of them could say anything, Savitar declared bluntly from the corner, "Because she offered."

They all glowered at him, clearly not finished with their interrogation. But he hiked up his own bag over one shoulder and approached the center of the room, indifferent to the many pairs of eyes following him with undisguised mistrust.

"I don't know about all of you, but I'm getting kinda hungry. And since we have to go through the breach before I get to eat, can we just speed this thing up a little? Team Flash?"

Cisco scowled at him. "Oh. Of course. Yeah, man, lemme just do that—oh, wait." He pulled his goggles over his head, letting them hang around his neck. "I just remembered there's a lifelong friend I could potentially never see again should something go wrong in our little world-hopping endeavor! I'll be a minute, do you mind?"

Cisco took his time approaching Caitlin, passing Savitar with deliberately raised eyebrows. When he reached her, his animosity evaporated, and he wrapped his arms around her so tightly she was afraid her ribcage might be bruised.

"If you don't come back, I get your lab, okay?" He said into her hair.

Caitlin laughed. "If I don't come back, I want you to find my body and bury me in that lab, Cisco."

"Yes ma'am."

Joe's hug lifted her off her feet. When he set her down, he lowered his voice, running through a list of defensive maneuvers and strategies should Savitar go rogue. "If anything—anything goes wrong over there, you call us. You got it?"

"Roger." Caitlin bit her lip. "Sorry. Do the police still stay that? Ten-four. Good to go." She even offered a ginger salute. Joe was chuckling before she had paused for breath.

Wally's smile was wide. His hug didn't quite lift her off the ground, but he squeezed the way his big brother did. "Don't stay away too long. Who's gonna nag me to do my exercises?"

Caitlin patted his shoulder, just once. "I'll get Cisco on it. Besides, your leg is almost fully healed. You've been patient."

The future Mrs. West-Allen smelled like chocolate and throw pillows. "We're gonna miss you. Don't forget about us, Caitlin." Iris only had two real requests. "Take lots of pictures. You never know, their city might be nicer than this one." She glanced over her shoulder at the man in black, his back to her. "And take care of him."

Caitlin nodded, following Iris' gaze. She got the feeling Iris could see a little more than just a broken copy, too. Take care of him. At last, a pulse of fear gave her a slight headache. Who would take care of her?

Of course, Barry couldn't let her go without one more tight embrace. His was longest out of everyone's, and in those three minutes he held her, Caitlin had her answer, and the worry drained out of her. How could she be afraid? She still had her own personal superhero.

"I'm right here, okay?" Barry murmured in her ear. He was practically crushing her lungs. "You're not in this alone. We're all here for you, one call away." He held up the walkie talkie to match hers, finally pulling out. His other hand squeezed left one. "Don't forget your promise, Doctor Snow."

"I'll be home before you know it, Mr. Allen."

As Barry moved to give Cisco room to open a breach, Caitlin saw Savitar watching her out of the corner of her eye. She held her head high, trying to remain composed. It wouldn't be forever. It was just a few weeks. Already she was missing them, missing the heat they provided, and they were still all in the same room with her.

A blinding blue light filled the basement, and a whirl of clouds and energy opened from thin air. Cisco's goggles were on, his brow beaded with sweat.

"Savitar," Barry called suddenly.

Savitar turned gingerly, as if moving too quickly hurt. "Flash."

Barry's expression was a new kind of knowing, something deep Caitlin had never seen on him before and couldn't identify. She got the feeling Savitar would understand exactly what it was, though. "Don't screw it up."

Inspirational speeches were something Barry seemed to have perfected over time, so don't screw it up was not what Caitlin had been expecting. But it fit. He was still always surprising her.

Savitar did not lash out with some sarcastic retort. He didn't make any condescending faces. Instead, he nodded, once, and entered the portal.

For a moment, Caitlin didn't know if she could do it. She almost convinced herself she couldn't, in those two steps toward the light. How could she leave them? Even for a few weeks? Even for a few hours? They were all she had.

A look over her shoulder calmed her. Barry was looking back, and he lifted a hand to her.

Caitlin raised her own right hand, waving back, trying to remain composed before the jump.

She stepped through, and everything went white.

(Short, I know, but it's late and this fanfic is me yanking myself out of a year of no writing. Backwards. Bear with me. And remember, reviews are what keep me writing! [That's not a demand or a threat, just a kinda pathetic request.] Okay, she's finally in Earth-66. Man, that took forever. Now the fluff and the pain and the fun can begin! Next chapter coming soon! -Doverstar)