Frostbite

Chapter 2

….

I woke to two things, the sound of my phone blaring and the feeling of snow falling on my face. I groaned and opened my eyes to snow falling down from the ice-covered roof. I sucked in a deep breath and focused on taking back all of the ice and snow, sucking it back inside me. When I opened my eyes again my room was back to normal and I sighed.

I quickly grabbed my phone, noting that it was 5 in the morning and shouldn't even be up for another half an hour "Hello?"

"Caitlin? Good you're up. We have a slight situation down here and- "

"I'm on my way" I said cutting Cisco off and hanging up. I quickly get dressed and rush down to star labs.

Barry, Cisco, Wells, Jesse, Iris and Wally are already there "What's going on?" I ask as I walk in.

"Meta-human is in the city. He has hostages and says he won't let them go unless he talks to the flash" Barry started to explain.

"He seems to have a metal skin that he can go in and out of which makes him almost impenetrable. He also seems to harness some fire abilities. I have something that might be able to help disable his powers for a little while but we'd need to get the hostages out of there before he changed back and I'm pretty sure a few are injured from the fireball he threw into that bank." Cisco babbled on "I think I'll call him Blacksmith, get it? Because he deals with metal and fire?"

"Cisco not the time. Now Caitlin I hate to involve you in these types of things more than you already are but Cisco is right a few are injured and it would be better if we had you with us. Jesse and Wally will be coming as well and you will be safe I promise" Barry says turning to me.

"T-that's fine, just let me grab my kit" I say going over and grabbing my medical bag while they get changed into their suits and discuss their plan. They're all ready to go when I come back and Barry hands me an earpiece so we can all communicate.

"What? No cameras?" I say jokingly as I slip it into my ear.

"Not this time. He's dragged them off to an abandoned warehouse. You ready to go?" he asks extending an arm.

I blush as he picks me up, my heartbeat starting to race from the close proximity and soon we're off. Before I know it we're there and he's helping me back to my feet.

"You two, go that way. Try and make sure no one sees you. Caitlin, you come with me" he says pointing off to the right to Wally and Jesse. They quickly leave and it's just the two of us "Just stay behind me okay?" he says and I nod, holding my bag close.

We go to where the hostages are being held, it's one of the higher floors and as I walk in with Barry I notice Jesse up on one of the higher levels but can't see Wally. Blacksmith as Cisco likes to call him is standing in front of a group of terrified hostages, zip-tied on the floor. I can see a few are injured from here.

"Ah Flash, I see you've brought a friend. That was not part of the agreement, no matter how pretty she may be" he said leering at me in a way that made me want to turn away from him.

"She's a doctor, your hostages are injured. Just let them go with her, this is between you and I" Barry tries to reason.

"I'm not one to negotiate Flash, it's a shame. To waste such a beautiful face" he said, fire appearing out of his hands.

"No! No stop she's only here because I asked!" Barry yells as I stand there, distracted by the fireball growing in his palms.

"Well then her death will be on your conscience, not mine"

Barry yells at me to run but I'm too busy focusing on the fireball growing in Blacksmiths hands. I suddenly make up a plan, I make it look like I'm terrified, knocking into Barry and sending us to the ground while unclenching my fists and using my powers to knock out his.

As I look up from the floor I can see Blacksmith looking at his hands in confusion and fury "Flash! NOW!" I yell and Barry is up from the floor in a second, throwing the device onto Blacksmith and neutralising his powers.

I quickly rush to the hostages while he deals with Blacksmith, kneeling next to the nearest one and having a look at the burn on the poor man's arm. The man was unconscious so after looking around I cool my body temperature down and place my hand over his burn, cooling it down before applying the necessary treatment.

After I finish helping all the hostages we have to go before the police arrive. Jesse flashes me back to star labs with Wally while Barry talks to the cops. I go to unpack, feeling slightly drained from using my powers so much tonight and go to sit for a few seconds.

"Yeah, it takes a while to get used to them" Jesse's voice says, filling the room and startling me "I almost passed out the first few times"

"W-what? What are you talking about?" I stammer, trying to figure out a way from this conversation

"Your powers. I saw you using them, don't worry I won't say anything" she says coming over to where I was sitting "How long have you known?"

"A few months, they're getting more prominent now" I say with a sigh, picking up a strand of my dyed hair "I have to dye my hair every other day, new white streaks just keep coming through"

"Why haven't you told anyone? I mean, of all the people we would understand" she asks sitting beside me

"That's just it. You don't get it. In the other universe, where I have these powers, I become a killer. A villain. I can't become that, I won't" I say shaking my head

"So shutting everybody out is supposed to stop that?"

"You wouldn't understand"

"No" she pauses "I don't. But it is your decision when and if you tell them even if I think you should. But if you ever need to talk or someone to go to for help, I'm here" she says taking my hand.

"Thanks, Jesse. The offer goes both ways" I say as she slips off the medical bed.

"And I'm guessing you haven't told anyone about your feelings for Barry either?"

I blush bright red and look down, refusing to make eye contact which pretty much confirms her statement "Don't worry, your secret is safe with me"

She pauses just as she leaves "Caitlin"

"Yeah?"

"It's going to be okay" she says with a small smile before she departs.

And for a second, just a second. I believe her.