Frostbite

Chapter 16

…

Today had not been a good day.

I woke up feeling terrible, my head throbbed, my throat ached and my body ached all over. Rather than tell Barry and have him fuss over me I ignored it, taking a few painkillers at breakfast. By lunchtime my headache was back and in full force, a steady throb starting from my temples and working through my skull.

Then Iris had come to get Wally for lunch and we'd ended up getting into a full-blown argument, turning my headache from a 7 to about a 9. I couldn't stop thinking about what she had said as I rubbed my temples, the words echoing through my mind.

"Sooner or later Caitlin, you're going to slip up and hurt someone. And not even Barry will be able to help you"

I groaned, leaning my head on the table and briefly shutting my eyes for a minute. I can hear footsteps come over to my desk and peek my eyes open a little to see a concerned Barry crouching down.

"You okay?"

I manage a smile, wincing as I sit up "Yeah just have a massive headache"

"You think it's from your powers?" he asks, obviously worried.

I resist the urge to shake my head "I haven't used them in a while, maybe I'm just coming down with something"

"Still, I want Harry to check you out. Make sure everything's okay"

I groan but let him drag me off to find Wells, he frowns when we enter "What's going on?"

"Caitlin's sick, can you check her out, see if it's related to her powers?"

Wells nods before leading me over to the bed, he takes some blood before checking me over "Your temperature is quite low" he says as he pulls out a thermometer.

"So, it's her powers then?" Barry questioned

"Not necessarily, Caitlin's body is changing all the time which means she could react differently to getting sick. Getting colder instead of developing a fever" he presses around my throat and I wince when he touches an especially tender part.

He frowns again, grabbing a flashlight "Say ahh" he says, shining the torch down my throat for a few seconds "I think you have might have the flu, any body aches? Sore throat?" I nod and he sighs "I'm going to run some tests on your blood just to make sure but I'm pretty sure you're just reacting differently to having a virus. Take some flu medicine and go and get some rest"

"I'll make sure she does. Thanks Harry" Barry says as he pulls me out of the lab. I notice as we leave that Cisco doesn't make eye contact but don't pay much attention to it, he's probably just busy.

When we get home, he orders me to go change into some pyjamas while he looks for the flu medicine. I'm lying in bed, starting to doze off when he comes in, medicine in one hand and soup in the other.

"Thank-you Bar" I say as I sit up my bed as take the medicine he gives me. I take small sips of soup as we sit in bed, talking.

"Are we going to talk about what happened today?" He asks as I eat.

I sigh, setting the bowl on the bedside table "There's nothing to talk about Barry, she just said what everyone's been thinking"

"You know that's not true Caitlin, talk to me. One of the benefits of having a boyfriend is that you can talk to them when something's bothering you"

"That doesn't sound like much fun for the boyfriend"

"It's not about fun, it's about being there for one another. Let me be there for you" he says, grasping my hand.

I hesitate, my brain is telling me to pull away, to protect him but I can't deny the look on his face "I'm scared… I'm scared that I'm going to lose control and hurt someone. I don't want to end up like Killer Frost"

"That's not going to happen" he argues but I shake my head

"You can't promise me that, you don't know what's going to happen tomorrow, or next week"

"True, but I know you. You're strong, the strongest person that I know. And despite everything that has gone wrong in your life you still try to believe in the good, I believe in you Cait. You're… we're not going to let this beat us okay?"

"I need you to promise me something" I say, preparing myself for what I was about to ask of him.

"Anything"

"If I start to slip, if it's obvious that I've lost control. I need you to stop her, even if it means that I die. Promise me that you'll stop her"

He pulls away, shaking his head "No"

"Please Barry" I beg, my eyes filling with tears "I couldn't bear it if I hurt someone, if I hurt you. I wouldn't be able to live with myself. Please, please just promise me this"

"No. Cait I'm not promising you that, I won't"

"Barry I-"

"No, okay? You're not going to lose control Cait, after everything that's happened I'm not going to lose you because of some stupid powers. I won't" he gently grabs my face, caressing my cheek with his thumb "I love you Caitlin"

Our lips meet for a brief kiss before I pull away, remembering that I'm sick and probably contagious. He frowns when I do, a puzzled look on his face "What's wrong?"

"I'm sick Barry, I don't want to get you ill too" I say, moving slightly further away on the bed

He scoffs, moving back over with a bemused look on his face "Cait I have super healing, I haven't gotten sick in years. Right now, I just want to kiss my girlfriend"

I give in, allowing a few more small pecks before a yawn escapes my mouth. He tucks me into bed, pressing a kiss to my forehead before whispering goodnight. I drift off soon after.

…

Two days later Barry wakes up with a pounding headache and a cough. I give him a sympathetic smile as I go off to get the flu medicine.

…