Remember the cliffhanger from the previous chapter, well, it's time to know what's gonna happen.
Leave a review after reading, please.
Special thanks to Steve993, jessicabiggs16, NeoTyson, and three Guests for reviewing the previous chapter.
If anyone thinks I'm making Barry look dumb here (looking at you, Guest and Darkness032), feel free to tell me. Before you do, I just want you to know that I'm no expert writer. I just write. Plain and simple. So, please, forgive me if Barry looks "dumb" for not being suspicious of Crystal Frost.
Lisa sits down on the patient's chair, arms and legs crossed as she looks at her "doctor" with a grin on her face.
"Nice to see you again," said Lisa.
"You too," said Crystal, although she sounds more surprised than happy.
"Why the cold tone, Snow? Not really happy to see an old friend?" replied Lisa.
"Excuse me? Did you just call me Snow?" asked Crystal, looking confused.
"You can drop the charade. It's just the two of us," said Lisa.
"What charade?" asked Crystal, still confused.
"Are you seriously going trying to sell this act, Snow?" laughed Lisa. "You froze my wrist. I think we both know you're not this Crystal Frost character you're pretending to be. Also, why Crystal 'Frost'? If your face doesn't give you away, the name might."
"Ms. Snart, I am aware we know each other in the past. From what I remember, we're quite close. However, I don't remember you ever calling me Snow," said Crystal.
Lisa stands up and walks towards Crystal. She tilts her head left and right as she studied Crystal's face. She didn't know if she was just that good of an actor or she really doesn't believe that she is Caitlin Snow.
"You really think you're Crystal Frost?" asked Lisa.
"That is who I am," said Crystal. "Is this your problem, Ms. Snart? Delirium?"
"I came here to talk to an old friend, who I actually miss, to be honest," said Lisa.
"If I have to inform you, Lisa, I believe I am suffering some kind of amnesia. I remember that we're friends, but that's all I remember," said Crystal. "I don't remember any of the times we spent together."
Lisa sighs, exasperated. "Fine. Fine. You wanna keep playing this game, Snow, fine. Or would you prefer 'Dr. Frost'?"
"If you're not really here for treatment, I suggest you leave," said Crystal.
"Actually, now that you mention it, I am here for treatment," said Lisa sarcastically. "I'm suffering from severe depression over losing a friend. I need you to help me how to move on."
Crystal knows Lisa is just being sarcastic, but when Lisa sat down on the patient's chair again, she decided to play along. She sits down on her chair and started the session.
"So, this person you lost. Who is he? Or she?" asked Crystal.
"Her name is Caitlin Snow," said Lisa. "I know everyone thinks she is a murdering psychopath, but to me, she was more than that. She was a friend."
"From your perspective, what was she like?" asked Crystal.
"Just what every criminal wants out of a partner. Cold-blooded. Ha, literally. Relishes in the pain of others. Treats a fellow criminal like an equal," said Lisa.
Crystal was disturbed, but tried to keep a straight face.
"So, your relationship with her is more than just professional?" asked Crystal.
"Like I said. She was a friend," said Lisa.
As Crystal writes down some notes, she studies Lisa's face. Mentioning the name of "Caitlin" saddens her and it clearly wasn't fake.
Meanwhile, at a park somewhere, Tracy Brand is sitting down on a bench while looking at a statue of Galileo, thinking about the Flash and his need for her help. Her moment of silence was interrupted when H.R. shows up with two cups of coffee in his hands.
"Eppur si muove. 'And yet it moves'. Galileo's famous statement uttered after being forced to recant his theory that the Earth revolves around the sun. 'And yet it moves'," started H.R., looking at the statue of Galileo. "Mocha Flash for me..." He gives the other cup to Tracy. "... a Zoom for milady."
"Thank you," said Tracy, accepting the coffee.
"You're very welcome," said H.R.
"How did you know I was here?" asked Tracy.
"Um, I might have done a bit of holographic stalking. I stalked you holographically," confessed H.R., sounding embarrassed to say it.
"You mean, in the future, I'm still obsessed with a 500-year-old Italian polymath?" asked Tracy, knowing what he meant.
"Yes, it would appear so," said H.R. with a small laugh.
"I'm sorry I ran of," apologized Tracy. "I just needed to clear my head and think, and this is where I do it best."
"I can see that. That statue is nothing if not inspiring," said H.R., looking at the Galileo statue again. "Concrete beard, foreboding, smart."
"You know, Galileo's peers thought he was a crackpot too," mentioned Tracy.
"Is that right?" asked H.R., intrigued.
"I used to find that comforting," said Tracy. "But then your team showed me the future and showed me that my crazy ideas aren't so crazy after all. I just felt more intimidated than ever."
"I can see that," said H.R. "It's like you're sitting in the shadow of greatness. Your own greatness, right?"
"Exactly," replied Tracy. "It's like I failed so many times. That's all I know how to do. I don't know how to be that brilliant woman in the hologram."
H.R. looked at Tracy closely. He knew she was overwhelmed by the future she was shown, but didn't how much until now.
"But you wouldn't understand," said Tracy. "You're a born genius."
"Yeah, about that, um..." H.R. remembered about his being-a-genius act from the coffee shop. "... I'm not technically a genius. That was a cheap thing to do. I'm sorry I misled you about being a genius. But the point is, you are a genius. You are. I know. I can feel it. It's right there, just brimming below the surface."
"It is?" asked Tracy.
"Yes, absolutely. Yes, it is, Tracy," said H.R. confidently. "And you can defeat Savitar. All you need is just to believe in yourself. And for what it's worth, I already do."
As H.R. drank his coffee, Tracy thinks about what he says. He honestly believes in her, which seems to be helping her confidence.
Meanwhile, Cecile meets up with Joe at the captain's office in the KCPD.
"You said you wanted to talk?" asked Cecile.
"Yes," said Joe.
"Well, make it quick because I have three cases I have to get back to," said Cecile.
"It's not about work," said Joe.
Joe sits down on the couch. Cecile sits next to him.
"I know I haven't been there for you since Iris died," started Joe.
"Joe, I can understand why you need the space," said Cecile.
"But it wasn't right for me to just forget about... us," said Joe. "With everything that's been going for the past three years, being with you was a breath of fresh air. I never thought I would find someone special, until I met you."
Cecile started to smile.
"I've been spending too much time mourning for my baby girl that I never thought about what she wanted for me," said Joe. "And what she wants... is for me to be with you for the rest of my life."
"Where is all this coming from?" asked Cecile.
"Barry," answered Joe. "Part of the reason why I couldn't move forward was because he couldn't move forward. But thanks to... Crystal... he started opening himself up. He and I talked about us and he gave me some helpful advice."
"And what would that be?" asked Cecile.
"That I should make most of my life," said Joe. "I love you, Cecile. I love you with all my heart."
Cecile's smile grew wider. "I love you, too. With all my heart."
Joe finally started to smile. They both cupped each other's cheeks and pulled each other for a kiss. For the first time in a long time, Joe finally feels happy. Barry was right, he thought. Being with Cecile makes him happy and him being happy is what Iris would want for him. He knows Iris would be proud of him.
Later that evening, Barry went back to his house and decided to watch a movie. He chose "Marry Poppins". He was enjoying himself until, halfway through the movie, someone knocked on the door. He answers the door and sees Crystal.
"Hey," greeted Barry.
"Hey," greeted Crystal. "Heard from Cisco that you just traveled to the future."
"Did he tell you anything else?" asked Barry.
"That Tracy Brand is the one who's gonna build a trap to stop Savitar," said Crystal. "So, what was it like? The future?"
Barry hangs his head as he remembers what he saw.
"I'm going to assume it wasn't good," guessed Crystal. "I'm sorry I asked."
"No, no, that's okay," said Barry. "Yes, the future was bleak, but... now that I know..."
"You can change it," said Crystal, finishing Barry's sentence.
Barry smiles and nods. Crystal smiles back, until she notices Barry staring at her for a pretty long time.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" asked Crystal.
"I'm just... happy to see you," said Barry. "So, uh, how was work?"
"You wouldn't believe who I saw. It was Lisa Snart," said Crystal.
Barry was shocked to hear this. "Did she hurt you?"
"No, she didn't," said Crystal. "She thinks I'm Caitlin."
"Well, I can't really blame her," said Barry.
"She misses her," said Crystal.
"Really?" asked Barry, surprised.
"They may have been partners in crime, but she thought her as a real friend," said Crystal.
Barry smiled a little. It was nice to know that Lisa was capable to caring about people other than her brother and Cisco. He didn't expect her and Caitlin to be so close that Lisa would grieve for her as well.
"I'm really beginning to doubt moving here to Keystone," said Crystal.
"No, you shouldn't. I'm glad you're here," said Barry.
"Yeah, but every person I've met since moving here has a connection to the woman I look like, a woman responsible for so much death and anarchy," said Crystal, hanging her head and curving her lips into a frown.
Barry puts his finger on Crystal's chin and turns her head so she can look at him. "I know it's been hard for you these past few days, but I promise you, it's gonna get better. Just give it time. My friends and family will accept you as who you really are. I know it. I have."
Crystal smiles. To Barry's surprise, she leans closer and plants a kiss on his cheek.
"W-wh-w-wh-why?" stuttered Barry.
"Thank you," said Crystal.
"Uh, you're welcome," said Barry.
Before the awkward moment between the two can continue, Joe, Wally, and Jesse return home.
"Hey, Bar," greeted Joe.
"Hey," greeted Wally and Jesse at the same time.
"Hey, guys," greeted Barry.
"Um, hello," greeted Crystal.
Wally and Jesse were clearly bothered looking at Crystal, but they tried their best not to scowl.
"So, uh, Crystal, what are you doing here?" asked Jesse.
"I thought I'd visit a friend. I needed it," said Crystal.
"Tough day at work?" asked Wally.
"You have no idea," said Crystal. "Anyway, I should probably get going. If you need me, I'm just next door."
Crystal grabs her stuff and leaves the house. Wally and Jesse did the polite thing and said goodbye to her politely. They then sat down on the couch with Barry and Joe.
"Hey, Bar," called Joe. "I took your advice and I told Cecile that... I love her."
"Joe, that's great," said Barry. "What did she say?"
"That she loves me too," answered Joe.
Barry, Wally, and Jesse all smiled, happy that Joe finally fixed things with Cecile.
"Good for you," said Jesse.
"I couldn't haven't done with all of you," said Joe. "I mean, love's the only thing we have in this world. Without it, nothing really matters. Who knows what we'd become if we didn't have it?"
As Barry listened to Joe, something hit in. His mind shifted to Savitar. A bunch of voices echoed in his head as he started to realize something.
Savitar: "You took everything from me, Flash!"
Killer Frost: "Savitar told me everything you'd say. You two are more alike than you realize."
Golden Glider: "Savitar said you'd show up."
Killer Frost: "That's how Savitar knows every move you're going to make."
Green Arrow: "This was precise, as if Savitar was there."
Savitar: "You took everything from me!" "I will take back everything." "My power. My freedom. Everything!"
Future Barry: "He wanted me to slip deeper into the darkness."
Killer Frost: "He's always one step ahead of you." "This is all history to him."
Savitar: "I am the future, Flash!"
Joe, Wally, and Jesse notice Barry staring into space.
"Barry, what's wrong?" asked Joe.
"I just, uh, I need some air," said Barry.
Barry gets up and runs out the door.
Dressed in his Flash suit, Barry runs to the outskirts of the neighborhood, just as the sky started to thunder.
"I'm here!" he yelled. "I'm here!"
A bolt of white lightning showed up. Standing before the Scarlet Speedster is the God of Speed himself, Savitar. Barry takes off his cowl and looks at his enemy with anger in his eyes.
"I know who you are," said Barry.
"It's about time," said Savitar.
"Yeah, it is," said Barry. "Everything with you is about time, isn't it? The past. The present. The future. You know all about it, right? You know me. You know my friends. You know my family. You know how to use that knowledge against us. We always thought we couldn't stop you because you know what will happen, but that's not all. You were there. You lived it. You remember... when you were me."
Savitar gets down on all fours and starts opening his suit. The man inside comes out and shows who he really is. Barry had already known who he was, but to see it in person was something else. The man in front of him looked exactly like him, because he is him. The only difference is that the right side of his face is scarred.
"Like I told you from the beginning... I am the future Flash," said Savitar.
Barry glares at his future self. He can barely believe what he is seeing right in front of him, but after everything that's happened, it all made sense.
And there you have it. Savitar's identity. The question now is, "Is he still a time remnant like in the show or is he really future Barry?" You'll have to wait for the next chapter to find out.