Frostbite

Chapter 10

…

I'd worked through lunch again, politely declining Cisco's invitation to go to Belly burger, he'd want to talk and I just needed to not think about it. My powers seemed to be going haywire as well, the stress making them harder to control. I had to take the cuffs off to charge when I slept and for the last week I'd wake to a room full of ice.

I stifled a yawn as I kept working, it was around 5.30 now and everyone was getting ready to go home. I'd been working on this new serum that could possibly increase Barry's speed all day and despite how exhausted I was I needed the distraction.

"Another late-night Caitlin?" Cisco asked as he passed my desk

"You know me, I love my work" I say not even looking up from the computer

I hear him sigh before saying his goodbyes, leaving me on my own. Or at least I thought I was until I heard Barry cough from his station, immediately attracting my attention. I look up, Barry is standing there awkwardly.

"I thought you were gone" I say, looking back to my computer.

"I wanted to talk to you"

I inhale sharply "There's nothing to talk about, you should go. I'm sure Iris is waiting"

"Caitlin..."

"What? What do you want from me Barry? You think that we can just go back to being friends? Well it doesn't work like that!" I shout, standing up

We're interrupted by his phone ringing, he pulls it out of his pocket and glances at it before tensing up. I know just by looking at him that it's Iris.

"Well you better answer it. Don't want to keep her waiting" I snap, grabbing my things and pushing past him.

….

"I'm worried about you" Cisco says as we sit down for coffee.

"I'm fine"

"Those shadows under your eyes beg to differ" he says pointing to my eyes

"I'm just…. I'm having trouble sleeping at the moment" I confess, running a hand through my hair

"Are you sure you don't want me to beat him up? Because he's my friend and I love him and all but I totally would"

I laugh "As amusing as that would be to watch I just, I want to try and deal with this with a little dignity"

"Okay but just say the word and I'll do it" he says mockingly waving his fists around.

After we finish our coffee we head off for work, Barry and Wells are busy running around when we enter.

"What's going on?" Cisco asks as we put our things down.

"Hostage situation in the city. He's demanding to see the flash." Wells says as he looks at the monitors. "He has a metahuman with him, she seems to have fire powers. I think we might need Caitlin for this one" he says looking at me.

I nod and go to get dressed, I notice Iris is here when I enter the room along with Wally in his kid-flash outfit. I look away when she kisses Barry goodbye and stand awkwardly next to Wally.

I notice that Barry looks at me once he pulls away and avoid eye contact as he swiftly picks me up, flashing us to the building where the situation was. There's a group of people on the floor, the meta standing by, fire coming from her hands in a threatening way.

"Okay, I'm here so you don't need to hurt anyone. Just let these people go and we can talk" Barry says as he puts me down, approaching the gunman.

He laughs, waving his gun around "You think that I'm just going to let them go? No flash, I want you to pay. And since I can't kill you I'm going to kill all these people and it'll be your fault"

"Pay for what? What did I do?" Barry asks

"That other one, the one in the black suit. My wife died because of him, because of you. This is all your fault, you have to pay" he yelled

"You don't have to do this" I called out, stepping out despite Barry trying to stop me "I know what you're going through, it's how I felt when my husband died. You're just so full of rage and you want to take it out on someone, anyone if it will stop the pain for a second. But we can help you, you don't have to do this"

"Cait stop" Barry says reaching out and trying to stop me when I got too close.

That catches the gunman's attention "Oh this is just perfect, you love her don't you Flash? Well it doesn't seem fair that you get to keep your love and I don't. Tell you what, You can have your hostages, I just want her" he says redirecting the gun towards my head

"Caitlin!" Barry yells, rushing forwards until he hears the man cock the gun.

"Flash, do what he says. Get the hostages out. It's okay" I say as he turns me around, making me lock eyes with Barry.

"Caitlin no" Barry tries to argue but I shake my head.

"Just get them out of here, I'll be okay"

Barry shakes his head, turning to Wally "Get the hostages out"

"Are you sure?" Wally asks warily

We both nod and he gives me a supportive smile before ushering the hostages outside. Once we're alone Barry turns back to us.

"You have it all wrong you know? He doesn't love me" I say as I feel the cool metal of the gun being pushed against the back of my head.

Barry frowns and the man laughs, a chill running down my spine at the sound "Oh I'm not so sure my dear, so what do you say Flash? An eye for an eye?"

"Please just let her go, you can do what you want to me just let her go" Barry pleads

The man laughs again "I'm sorry Flash, no can do. Besides, I was never going to let you live anyway"

And then an explosion goes off, the roof caving in and sending us all into darkness.