Welcome, new readers, I hope you enjoy your stay. How are you people holding up without Flash Tuesday? I know I'm suffering and can't wait for the next season. I'm finally free from school, which means I can work more on this story since there's still a lot to do. Thanks for the reviews, I really appreciate them.
Again, I do not own anything but my OC. x
Normal Tuesday with a free day from the hospital. I was at my apartment with a bowl of popcorns while watching a movie. It was nice to have a day off from work and just enjoy it for myself, and it was nice. The movie was almost at its end when my phone ringed, it was a message from Cisco filling me on what was happening with Barry, but with Caitlin there, I didn't felt the need to stop by until he got to the point where he told me what they were facing.
It didn't took me long to change and drive to the Labs, but apparently, it was not a good timing as Joe arrived there just behind me. "Joe, hey." I tried to sound normal, for he didn't know what Barry had been doing.
"Funny, I came here to look for one and turns out I find two." By his face, it was obvious he was not happy about it. Joe began to walk to the entrance, me following close.
"I don't know what you're talking about. I'm here to visit Harrison."
"And by coincidence your brother is not at the CCPD, right." I bit the inside of my left cheek as we both got in the elevator.
"Maybe he is with Iris at the coffee shop, you know he can't stay away from there."
"Danielle, we both know he is in here."
"What gave away?" I asked as the elevator stopped and we were free to walk through the corridor that took us to the Cortex.
"A STAR Labs sweatshirt on his lab." We finally arrived to the room, where the four were gathered as Cisco was talking about changing something on Barry's diet. "For Mexican, I recommend Tito's. On Brucker Avenue? Best burrito in the city." Their attention was now on us, Barry looking at me with a doubt face to which I shrugged.
"Detective West." Wells greeted him. "What brings you to STAR Labs?"
"When I couldn't find you at your lab, I started doing a little research. Turns out there's been reports of a red streak around the city, stopping muggers, rescuing people from burning buildings."
"You didn't tell him we were working together?" Harrison questioned both Barry and I. Both of us shaking our heads.
"Joe, I can explain."
"You already have a job in law enforcement, Barry. I suggest you get back to it."
"Mhm." Cait said as Joe turned to her. "Don't look at me, I'm in your side."
"Detective." Wells called. "We all want what's best for Barry."
"If you wanted what was best for Barry, you'd try to talk him out of this lunacy instead of encouraging him going out there risking his life."
"You saw a man control the weather. What are the police gonna do against someone like that?" Barry asked. "Since the accelerator explosion we suspect there may be more like him."
"And you're gonna do what?" Joe asked with his arms crossed. "Catch them? Are you insane? You think because you can run real fast that you're invisible? You're not! You're just a kid. My kid."
"I'm not your kid, Joe. And you're not my father." I could see Joe's eyes filling with pain when Barry said that. "My father's sitting in Iron Heights. Wrongfully convicted. You were wrong about him, and you're wrong about this. Now I may not be able to help him, but if I can save someone from a burning building or stop armed thieves, I'm gonna do it. And you can't stop me. So don't try."
"You think you're so smart. All of you. But you don't know what you don't know. And I hope you're clever enough to figure it out before somebody gets killed." After all that happened, I felt really bad for Joe. Barry's words were very hard.
"I hope you feel pleased with yourself." I told Barry before following Joe. "Joe, wait." I said before he could exit the place.
"I'm not in the mood, Danielle."
"Wait. I'm sorry, about everything. You're right, I am pushing my brother to something that will get him killed. But he is right as well. How is the police going to stop someone who can control the weather? And like they said, he is not the only meta-human out there, what if there is someone worse? Barry may not be able to stop them but he can surely help the police."
There was no response from him, but his eyes told me he was better now. "Take care of him and guide him to be better. Don't let Wells get much into his head."
"Don't worry, Joe. I will." We hugged and then he finally left.
I walked back inside to greet both Caitlin and Cisco before going to Harrison's office, where I thought he was having a conversation with Barry, but turns out, he was already gone. "Where's Barry?"
"Gone. Said he had some samples to analyze." Harrison motioned me to sit on his lap and so I did, wrapping my arm around his shoulders. "Do you think Detective West will now forbid you to date me?"
"What? No. And even if he tried to, I wouldn't listen. He's just upset because he wants to keep Barry down to earth. Though, my brother can be very hard, as you could see today." He nodded while fixing his glasses. "But don't worry, I talked to Joe and he seems better now."
"We want what's best for Barry, I understand his concern." I smiled a little and leaned down to kiss him. "How was your day going?"
"Rather fine, I was planning on staying home for the rest of the day but apparently this meta-human had another plan." He chuckled softly, my phone ringing again. "It's from Barry. Shooting at Stagg Labs and—"I stopped and turned to Harrison. "He found anther meta-human."
"Come on." I got up from his lap as we made our way to the Cortex where Barry was already there and Caitlin healing his cuts.
"You got blood on my suit." Cisco said with a lantern on his forehead.
"I think some of it belongs to him. Another not so friendly meta human."
I got closer to Barry, looking at his bruises. "Just like the ones you used to have while we were kids." I told him.
"And you would try to hide than before mom could see that." I laughed a little remembering those times and how mom's makeup would cover little of his bruises.
We both turned our attention to the monitor Harrison sent something. It was a photo of a man. "Danton Black." He said. "He's a bio-geneticist specialized in therapeutic cloning. Growing new organs to replace failing ones."
"Apparently Stagg stole his research and then fired him." Cait said.
"I saw Black create duplicates from his own body." Barry said.
"That's pretty ironic. The guy specialized in cloning and now he can make zeroes of himself." Cisco said.
"If he was experimenting on himself when he was exposed to the dark matter wave released by the particle accelerator explosion…"
"Meet Captain Clone." Cisco said interrupting Harrison. We all looked at him as the name was very bad. "Don't worry. I'll come up with something cooler."
Barry looked at the screen then started to walk. "Where are you going?" I asked.
"Joe was right. I'm in way over my head. Yeah, I'm fast, but I am no warrior." He said. "Man, I could barely fight one meta-human, let alone six." He turned to walk again.
"Barry." Harrison called for him. "I understand. Today was a setback. But any grand enterprise has then. And we can never learn to do without crashing a few times."
"This wasn't a grand enterprise, Dr. Wells. This was a mistake." Barry moved to walk away again and I looked at Wells, who shook his head at me.
…
"Captain six!"
"That's lamer than Captain Clone, Cisco."
"The Clone Man." He said while gesturing his hands, I just made a disapproval face. "I can't think of something better."
"What about Multiplex?" I suggested and Cisco's face lighten up.
"That one doesn't sounds that bad." He said.
"I actually like it." Cait said while entering the room with three cups of coffee. "Danielle, can I ask you a question?"
"Sure."
"Barry told us that you believe your dad is guilty of the murder of your mother and I, well, we, were wondering if we could hear your version." By the tone of her voice, I could notice she was not sure if it was right to ask me the question. "Sorry, I should've never asked that."
"No, no, it's fine." I said while placing the coffee on the table. "But there is no much to tell. I was 15, Barry woke me up in the middle of the night and we walked downstairs. That's when my mom screamed, I hid on the living room and tried to stop Barry when he walked to where the screams were heard. Panic got in control of my body. I passed out and when I woke up, my dad was being taken away by a police officer." There was a pause, no one said anything. "Now, can I ask you a question?"
"Anything."
"Why can't I remember the way Barry says it happened?" I looked from my cup to her.
"Well, maybe your mind was trying to protect you from seeing the horrible accident." Cait said.
"It's something common that our brains do." Cisco added.
"I know how the human brain works, I just can't understand why mine blocked at that moment."
"But don't worry, Dan. If anything, we are here for you." Cisco said and I smiled.
Caitlin got up from her seat and minutes later, she came back with something covered in a blanket. "I think I figured out a way Barry can stop Dalton." She said while taking the blanket and revealing it was him. "Don't worry, it's a replica."
"Well done, Dr. Snow." Harrison said while entering the room. "Let's get Mr. Allen here."
Caitlin nodded and grabbed the phone, calling Barry. "I know, but you need to get to STAR Labs right now." Cisco and I were still looking at Dalton's replica. Few seconds later, we felt a wind and Barry was in front of us. "Barry, it's okay." Cait told him.
"It is not okay. Black is here, and he's just…standing there." He said confused. "That's not him, is it?"
"It's one of his replicates." Wells said.
"How did you get it?"
"I grew him." Cait said and Barry looked at her. She explained all the process she had to do to be able to create it as Harrison then told him the theory they had of isolating the real Black to be able to shut the other clones.
Suddenly, the replicate moved, making Caitlin scream and me jump next to Barry as gunshots were heard, the replica falling to the floor. "Any more of that?" Joe asked.
"Nope." Cait said.
"Why did it start moving?" Barry asked.
"The prime." Harrison concluded. "My guess is the prime is on the move. This one heard the summons to battle."
"And I know where he was summoned to." Joe said while putting his gun away. "Stagg Industries."
Barry shook his head to him. "You should call it in."
"Police can't fight this. What Black's become, like Mardon…beyond me. Maybe way beyond that, too. The only person it's not beyond is you. You gotta do this. I get it. So for once in your life, do what I tell you to do. Go stop him." I could see Barry smile while turning to me, I nodded my head and he turned to get the suit.
We all sat down in the usual monitors to keep up with Barry. This time, it was mostly Harrison telling him to find the prime and Joe reminding him he could do it. It wasn't a short or easy fight, but Barry was doing great and his vitals were not dropping. "I'm fine. I'm fine. It's done." He said once it was all done.
…
We were gathered at the Cortex watching the news about the report of Black. It was a sad death and Barry blamed himself about to saving him. "Well, at least Multiplex won't be able to hurt anyone else." Cisco said while looking at me and smiling. "Danielle came up with the cool name."
"Yeah, I may be the one in the suit doing all the running, but when I'm out there helping people, making a difference, you're all out there with me." Barry said while looking around. "Finally realized something, we were all struck by that lightning."
I leaned down to kiss Harrison on the cheek. "See you tomorrow." After that, I walked over to Barry and we exited the place together. "Dinner's on me. What do you want?"
"At this point, all of the Belly burgers menu." I laughed as we got into my car and we drove to the nearest one.
"How do you feel?"
"Never been better. I feel bad for Black."
"There's nothing you could've done, Bar. We heard his story, shame what happened to his wife."
"It is." There was a sudden silence until he spoke again. "You never buy me food unless you want something."
"What are talking about? I just miss spending time with my brother." I looked at him and he had that face of 'I know you want something'. "Okay, fine. I want to talk about something. Also, I do miss you!"
"I know, I miss you, too. But what is it about?"
"Let's order and we go to my apartment, okay? I don't feel like talking about this in public."
"As you wish, sis." His tone gave away he wasn't so sure about the whole thing.
We ordered our meal and then drove back to my place, where we sat down in the couch. "I've been thinking a lot about the night mom died." He said no word, but looked over at me. "I've been trying to remember the way you say things happened but, I just can't. I study the human brain and how it works but I feel like I don't know how mine worked that day."
"Danielle—"
"What if you're right? All these years I've been trying to avoid the truth and blamed dad for something he is innocent? What kind of daughter does that make me, Barry?" I could feel tears forming in my eyes and my voice cracking a little. Barry wrapped an arm around my shoulders, bringing me closer to him.
"You shouldn't be too hard on yourself, Danielle. If you think dad hates you, he doesn't. He doesn't blame you, he loves you."
"But I can't see him, Bar. Not after all this time I've spent hating him. And I'm sorry, but I still don't believe in the man on a yellow suit."
"What if I find the man in the yellow suit?" He asked, making me look up at him. "Joe accepted on helping me, and together, we will bring justice to dad. If that happens, promise me you'll visit dad?"
"I promise." I said while nodding.