Chapter 6 [Next Afternoon—Jitters]

Having spent way too much time in bed for her taste, Lisa nagged Cisco into taking her for a coffee. She felt cooped up at the lab. Then there was the small matter of the resident cops deciding whether to haul her off to the lock up. She felt tense and ill at ease. Now I know what a damn turkey feels like at Thanksgiving! Maybe I should just get a bus out of town or something!

"Okay. Here we go. Mochacino with extra foam and crème for you. Cappuccino with extra foam for me," he noted while setting the two cups on the table between them. He noticed how skittish she seemed. "You're thinking of running, aren't you?"

She arched a sarcastic eyebrow. "Wouldn't you? They're ready to throw the book at me. No offense, Cisco. Thawne, Spivot and West don't really like me very much." She sampled the drink and nodded in approval. "You do have good taste in these things I have to admit."

"Surprise, surprise, right?" he supposed shooting her an enthusiastic grin and sparkling of the eyes. "Name someone who doesn't adore chocolate. I figure you've got great taste too."

"And you know that already, do you?" she retorted saucily adding a gulp of her drink for emphasis.

"Hey you're here with me, right?" he quipped. "Seriously, Lisa. It's going to be okay. Joe's going to go to bat for you."

"You really think so?" she hoped.

"As long as you're serious about going straight, why not? There's the argument that your brother and Rory pulled you along for the ride. Let's hope you get community service and maybe probation?" he theorized. He rubbed her hands gently. "I just want you here with me, Chica."

"And there's the pet name," she cracked. "I'm going to have to come up with my name for you." She let her eyes twinkle into his. "I want that too. I just don't want to see you through prison bars."

"Have faith." He leaned over the table and gently pressed his lips across hers. "If it happens, I'll be there so often you'll think I was sentenced there."

"I wonder if the Flash would allow that?" she noted wryly. "And there's Lenny. I suspect he'd find you if I ended up in Iron Heights."

"Yeah." He grimaced imagining Cold encasing him in ice for allowing his sister to be incarcerated adding a fearful gulp of his hot drink almost as a talisman against the implied threat.

As Memoria reminded him, Cold did ask, What are your intentions toward my sister, Cisco?

"I'd put in a good word for you too, Caballero. Can't have certain things damaged, can we?" she supposed with a playful smirk. "Besides there is the fact you were ready to get your ass kicked on my behalf."

"I was trying to save you," he pointed out.

"Mmm…yeah trying being the operative word," she teased.

"Hey!" he protested.

"Relax. I know you're my hero. The Flash is great and all. But I know who's in charge of all of the cool stuff," she assured him affectionately before planting a kiss on his lips." If things were to work out, I still need to reward my hero, don't I?" She grinned at him.

"Yeah. Hope that you get off," he noted knowing how much he wanted that particular celebration.

She rolled her eyes at him. She didn't get how he made her feel so light and yet twisted her internal compass up in knots at the same time. She actually wanted to be good for the first time. She actually cared. What the Hell is he doing to me? Then she noted Joe and the other couples ordering at the counter.

"Looks like it's show time." He rubbed her hand again as the others approached. "Good thoughts, right?"

"Right." At least they're not uniforms and they're ordering coffee. That's got to be a good sign, right? Now it was her turn to gulp on her drink anxiously. Now she wished her bike was parked right outside.

"Hey, Guys," Barry greeted warmly. "Mind if we join you?"

Seeing Lisa's anxiety, Joe slid a chair over to where the couple was sitting. "Let's all sit first. Okay?" He waited for the others to sit. "Who wants to start?"

"Dad. Please," Iris chided.

Patty took a deep breath while setting a straw in her iced coffee and taking a deep sip through it. Then she started, "Lisa, I'll admit I'm not crazy about what I've heard about you. Still Barry believes in you. I've learned that he's an extremely good judge of character."

"That's my take too, I'll admit. Iris is with Barry on that," Eddie noted. "Still we just talked to Captain Singh and the court on your behalf."

"We got the Flash down there to speak for you too," Caitlin indicated.

"He really did? Seriously?" Lisa queried in disbelief. She recalled how she'd helped Cold to set up the double cross at the airport along with the kidnapping.

"Yeah he did," Barry continued. "Think you can go straight? Between his and our backing not to mention the absence of evidence, they're willing to give you a fresh start."

"A fresh start?" Lisa inquired incredulously.

"Let's consider it an extremely loose probation. All right?" Joe pointed out noncommittally. "Let's figure out where your skills are and find you a job accordingly. You're getting a hell of an opportunity, Lady. Don't mess it up."

Although she didn't exactly trust the group, she understood Joe's point. "Maybe Cisco might help me with the job hunt?"

"Now that is what I'm talking about!" Cisco concurred. He raised his cup and toasted, "To Lisa and her second chance."

"Yes!" Barry agreed as the others did the same.

"To that chance," Lisa concurred as they touched cups and drank on it. She wondered how she'd make out with a straight job. Worse how would her brother and Rory take that? It's either this or going to jail at some point. You aren't going to get a better deal. She saw Cisco grinning at her. He's willing to help you too. She managed a smile for them.

"I think we can all get behind that," Joe relented feeling relieved he didn't have to make a scene by hauling her tail out of there.

"Besides there is the dinner that Barry brought up," Patty suggested. "Mind being part of a quadruple date?"

"We're all going to Carmine's for dinner. Maybe you both want to join us?" Iris invited.

"The more the merrier, right?" Barry chimed in.

"It's up to Lisa, Guys. I'm…" Cisco started to reply.

"I've got enough to cover Cisco and me. Count us in," Lisa agreed. "And if you all want a hand out on the streets, I'd be willing to do that too."

"One step at a time," Caitlin declared while getting nods from the others. "Let's focus on getting things started. Okay?"

"Okay," Lisa agreed before shooting Cisco a smirk. She no longer felt alone. Perhaps she'd need to learn to trust these people. Still as Patty had said about Barry's trust toward Lisa, these folks were Cisco's friends. Cisco, Caitlin and the Flash had helped her in the past. They were good people. It was definitely worth a shot.

She braced herself for the first step on this "straight ride".