Blah blah blah bad excuse for why it's been so horribly long since I've updated. My only excuse is that this chapter just wouldn't come together! I wanted to add more, but I wanted to get this up, so here you go. I've done my research into the Flash like I promised, and decided that, since this is sort of an origins story of sorts, only the most basic of his abilities will be included. Also, I'm changing some of what happens in Time Of Death, and the rest of this story, which at this point will probably be another two chapters, will take place during that episode. Okay. Yes. Here we go

Barry and Felicity found a fairly secluded spot in a nearby park, a large clearing surrounded by trees that kept anyone who might stumble upon them away, and spent the next few hours exploring what Barry could do. So far, it had been a very long, and mostly unsuccessful day of Barry trying to hone his new found abilities. He was getting better at hitting his aimed mark, but more often than not he got up close and personal with the foliage. One time he had even ended up going backwards, though he couldn't figure how he managed that one.

They had also discovered that he possessed some pretty awesome speed healing powers, which Barry found fairly useful considering how often he fell and made some part of his person bleed. The scientist in him marveled for a good twenty minutes after he first watched a shallow cut on his hand heal away to nothing in seconds, and he made Felicity keep a record of what was happening so he could study it later.

They were lounging in the grass, enjoying the last few rays of sun before it got dark and talking about what they found, when Barry's phone started ringing.

"Bartholomew Henry Allen! What the hell is wrong with you?" Iris yelled by way of greeting.

"Hey Iris. What's up?" Barry replied, wincing at the crack in his voice.

"You did not seriously just ask me that, did you? Nearly a week of radio silence from you, during which Central City has been in disaster, and you start with 'What's up?' I can't believe you!"

"I'm sorry. I would've called you, but I had to... Um... Get away."

"What the hell do you mean you 'had to get away?' Get away from what?"

Barry flinched as Iris continued to yell at him from the other end of the call.

"It's... Complicated. I just need you to trust me for a bit."

"That's not going to fly, Allen. After everything that's been going down with the city, you can't just disappear for days without telling anyone. Without telling me!"

"Iris, what do you want me to tell you?" Barry sighed. There was a pause and a returning sigh before Iris answered, quieter that she was a minute ago.

"I want you to tell me the truth. When I saw what happened to your place, I was afraid you were in trouble. Just... Just tell me your okay, and that I can stop worrying."

Barry smiled. "You don't have to worry. I'm okay. I'm in Starling with a friend. I needed to get away for a few days to figure things out".

"Figure what things out?" Iris asked.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Try me."

Barry seriously considered telling Iris everything. About the lightning and the super speed and everything else that's happened to him this week. Iris was the one person he could always trust to believe him, no matter how crazy he sounded.

But this? This was too crazy, even for him. There was no way he could burden her with this knowledge. He couldn't do that to her.

"I can't. Just believe me when I say everything is alright."

"Whenever you say 'Everything is alright,' everything is decidedly not alright. Whatever the hell you're up to, just promise me you won't do anything stupid"

"I promise. No stupid from me. Cross my heart and all that."

"You're a horrible liar, did you know? Be careful." With that, Iris ended the call.

Barry pocketed his phone and looked up at Felicity, who looked like she was tying very hard not to laugh.

"What?"

"Bartholomew," Felicity giggled.

"Shut up," Barry groaned.

"Seriously though. Is everything okay back in Central? Do you need to go back?"

Barry though for a moment. Did he need to go back? Yes, he did. That much was clear. He couldn't help but think that if the hydron colliders explosion did something to him, could there be other people like him? He needed to know.

But was he ready to? That he wasn't so sure about. Going back meant facing the truth, and the subsequent consequences of that truth. And what if there wasn't others? There were so many questions to be answered, and not enough facts to do so.

Barry sighed. "I don't know."

"Yes you do," Felicity replied quietly. "You're using Starling as an excuse. As a place to hide. It's about time you went back to your life. To your friends."

"What if I'm not ready?"

"Do you really think you'll ever be? Look at Oliver. I don't think he's even ready, and he's been at this for a lot longer. Putting it off isn't going to change anything."

Barry was quiet for a moment, before he sighed heavily and shook his head.

"Felicity, you are remarkable."

"I know. Come on, let's get back." Felicity stood up, straightened her dress, then held out her hand for Barry.

It was full dark by the time they got back to the foundry, and they found Oliver and Sara talking quietly, having over pictures laid out on the table.

"What's going on?" Felicity asked. She joined them at the table, seeing the pictures were of a body, and that there were also notes about some sort of device.

"This guy was involved in a robbery this morning. Some kind of device that apparently can open any door. Like a skeleton key."

Barry watched as Felicity, Oliver, and Sara talked over the situation. A thought struck him suddenly. A perfect idea to test his powers, and avoid leaving Starling for a little longer.

"Maybe I can help."

Chapter 4 done! I'm going to attempt to finish this before The Flash premieres, so that's October 7th. Admitedly, that's probably not going to happen, but I'm hoping is I give myself a deadline, I won't take another 4 months to get a chapter up.

As always, thanks for reading, and please review if the feeling strikes.

~Cadet Eyes