Salutations! I know, I know, "Troll, where the hell have you been. The new season has started and you've not updated! More! I need more!" Sorry. I've been busy. From here till the new year my life is very busy, between birthdays, holidays, and all that jazz. I'm trying to find time to write. I really am, but that means I'm writing and not editing! Hopefully you'll forgive me.I'm still flying sans-beta, so all mistakes are my own. As always, big thanks to my Rubber-Zombie-beta DoctorHarrisonWells. Also, a shout out to zannabanana, scoobyice8, Lady Sarlon, and all others who have taken the time to message me or leave me a review. They really do help keep me motivated. I'm trying not to start anything new until I make some progress with everything I currently have running. That said, I do have a new story I started that is AU from end of season 2 on and will contain NO spoilers for season 3 as it will be completely AU. Let me know if anyone is interested in me posting any of it. Still not my sandbox, I'm just playing in it! - Troll
Chapter 9: Because Science
Singh looked around the labs, watching Dr. Caitlin Snow and Cisco Ramon work at two computers. "Fingerprints for Dr. Wells should be on file," Caitlin said, looking up from the computer.
"I need to see you bring them up so I know they aren't altered," Singh informed her, leaning forwards so that he almost loomed over them.
"Of course. I understand. If you'd like, I can talk you through it," Caitlin offered, shifting over so that the computer was available. Nodding, Singh sat in the seat she'd motioned at and followed her instructions. "Now, we don't have Dr. Chamber's fingerprints yet, but Dr. Wells had his prints integrated into the system for security measures."
"That and it was how he activated the accelerator," Cisco mused. "Once you get them pulled up from the security system, you can either print a copy or e-mail yourself." The engineer glanced worriedly at Caitlin, who seemed oddly certain they were doing the right thing.
"I'll take a printed copy and a digital copy," Singh declared. He found the files and printed and e-mailed them to himself. "Thank you." Fingerprints in hand, the captain left the labs and headed back to the precinct.
"Caitlin, did we just do the right thing?" Cisco turned his attention to the female doctor and his eyes narrowed. "Why are you smiling like that?"
"We did exactly the right thing," Caitlin assured him. "I've already compared Harry's fingerprints to those of Dr. Wells. It was one of the first things I did as part of Harry's tests when he first arrived."
"They should be identical," Cisco said, frowning in confusion.
"If they were actual doppelgangers of each other, yes. However, the Wells we knew was really Eobard Thawne. While he was able to steal DNA from the real Dr. Wells, he couldn't steal fingerprints. See, fingerprints are influenced by DNA but are also affected by conditions within the womb, so that identical twins may have identical DNA but not prints. Their prints will be similar but not the same." As she spoke, Caitlin pulled up the files for both men, showing Cisco what she'd found. "So, while our Dr. Wells had several loops and whorls, Harry has double-loop whorls on nearly every fingertip. They look similar but are noticeably different."
"So it really does look like they're just twin brothers," Cisco mused, studying the two sets of prints intently. "That is just too cool. You'd think a technology that would allow you to steal someone's face would also allow you to steal fingerprints."
"It would require a fingerprint scan before the DNA transfer. We both saw the remains of this Earth's Dr. Wells. They were so damaged by the DNA transfer process that Thawne couldn't have taken them. From what Thawne told me about how he took the place of Dr. Wells, he didn't have had time to get a finger scan."
"So, the file we provided Captain Singh should prove that Johnny is just a brother and not Harrison Wells," Cisco determined. "All right." They attempted a high-five but stopped mid-air when they remembered how badly those could go. Looking a little flustered, they dropped their hands. "Let's get to the hospital."
"Right." Nodding her agreement, Caitlin got to her feet and was to the door almost faster than Cisco.
Hospital
At the hospital, Jesse was pacing the hallway while Barry and Joe sat in chairs lining the wall. Captain Singh had allowed them to come, but he'd made it clear that nobody was going to see Harry until the captain was convinced of Harry's identity. Singh had no idea why Joe and Barry would want to help Nora Allen's killer, but they clearly knew the man in question and hadn't turned him in to the police. This suggested that Joe and Barry were trying to protect Wells for some reason. The police captain wasn't going to let anyone in until proof of identity had been clarified. This left the group to wait, uncertain of their friend's condition.
"Do we know anything?" Caitlin asked, pausing next to the group. She and Cisco had arrived only moments ago, but were having problems waiting patiently.
"Nope and Cpt. Singh has him isolated until he is convinced Johnny is Johnny," Joe answered. "He isn't in the prison wing, but they have him restrained."
"Daddy doesn't hold still well," Jesse supplied, worrying furrowing her brow and making her nibble at a nail.
"He was unconscious when they brought him in," Joe informed them, uncertain if that made it better or worse. Shouting sounded and a nurse went running down the hall. It sounded like they were trying to calm a patient. The group stood and turned towards the commotion. Meanwhile, the elevator arrived, depositing Singh on the floor. The group didn't notice, the screaming and yelling keeping them turned away.
"What the hell is that noise?" Singh demanded, slowing to a stop next to Joe. A nurse raced from a room sprinting for the nurse's station. "Miss, I'm Cpt. David Singh from CCPD, do you require assistance?" He brandished his badge as he spoke.
"Anything you can tell us about the patient you have a guard on would be good," the nurse informed him, looking up from paging a doctor.
"That's Wells making all that noise?" Singh couldn't believe his ears. At that moment a name was shouted loudly enough to be understood.
"Jesse!" The shout echoed down the hallway.
"Daddy!" Jesse cried out at the sound of her name and bolted down the hallway. Singh, the nurse, and the rest of team Flash followed her. "Daddy, I'm here," Jesse called as she entered the darkened room. An orderly with a bloody nose was leaning against one wall while two others were trying to hold Harry down. For his part, Harry was thrashing on the bed trying to free his arms and legs. "Dad!" Jesse shouted and Harry whipped his head around towards her.
"Jesse?" He whispered her name and tried to see her through the darkness. "Jesse, is that you?" His blue eyes roved blindly around the room. "Are you okay, did they hurt you?"
"Daddy, I'm fine," Jesse answered, eyes going wide as she realized that while her father might be looking at her, he saw nothing.
"When did they get you?" As he questioned her, Harry started tugging at his restraints again, desperate to free himself and his baby girl. The Colonel had said she was going to get him to safety, but something must have gone wrong, because he was strapped down again.
"Dr. Wells," Singh began, glancing at the oddly silent group.
"My name is John Harold Chambers. I am a retired Navy Commander! How many times do I have to tell you that I am not Harrison Wells!" He yelled the name, loosing control of his emotions and pulling harder at the restraints. He had to get free so he could save Jesse.
"He thinks he's still being held captive," Caitlin realized. She pushed her way into the room frowning at the orderlies who were trying to tighten the straps holding Harry's wrists. "Dr. Chambers, calm down. You're safe now." Glancing at Joe, who nodded, Caitlin pushed an orderly out of the way and started to undo the strap holding Harry's right hand. Jesse raced around to undo the other side.
"Snow?" Harry cocked his head, trying to hear and identify all the sounds around him. He was still trapped in a world of complete blackness, but at least he was hearing familiar voices.
"Yes, Johnny. It's me," Caitlin assured him. "We're at the hospital. They've done their best to treat your injuries."
"The hospital?" Harry started to relax. "I'm sorry. I woke up and they were calling me Wells and I couldn't move my arms," Harry blathered. "I assumed I was still captive."
"It's okay," Caitlin soothed. "They should have known not to strap you down." She frowned at the livid bruises and abrasions on his wrist. The skin around his eyes was red and he had turned his head so that he was staring at his own lap, head cocked like he was listening. "Johnny, can you tell me who took you?" Her gaze flitted to the heart monitor which registered an increased rate.
"No. I didn't know them. I don't know what they wanted. The man kept trying to get me to admit I'm Harrison," he answered, speaking softly and breathing faster.
"Okay, that's just fine," Caitlin soothed, sensing his increasing agitation.
"I don't want to be here. Please, can we go now?" He was trying not to beg, but Harry was exhausted and in pain. The hum from the overhead lights was assaulting his ears and the bedding felt scratchy against his skin. His injuries from Eiling were acting as a constant reminder of the past 36 hours and what they had entailed.
"We need to confirm your identity first," Singh spoke up. Harry turned his head towards the man, frowning deeply as he tried to place a name to the voice.
"I'm sorry, who are you?" Harry was getting irritated. While the world around him was dark, he had a feeling that everyone was staring at him. He could also tell that the group in his room was larger than Jesse, Snow, and the stranger who had just spoken.
"Captain David Singh," he offered a hand, but the other man didn't move, clinging to Caitlin's hand instead. Harry wanted Jesse's, but she had stepped back after freeing him. "I have a CSI comparing your prints to those of Dr. Wells. We just want to cover all our bases."
Harry snorted in annoyance. "First I get kidnapped and tortured because of him; now I'm stuck here." He turned away from most of the group, his blind gaze unknowingly settling near Jesse.
"Maybe we can get you released into my custody," Joe suggested, looking to his Captain to see if it would be okay.
"West?" Harry shouldn't have been surprised to discover the detective was there.
"Yeah, Johnny, I'm here," Joe admitted, glancing at the others in the group. "We're all here. We were worried when you didn't come home. We found the tranquilizer dart."
"Yeah, and your phone," Cisco piped up.
"Ramon," Harry nodded at the doorway. Great, he was the center of attention. "Look, Captain Singh, Jesse and I are staying at S.T.A.R. labs for now. If there is anyway you would be willing to let me go home, I would appreciate it."
Frowning, Singh looked around the group. "Fine," he agreed with a sigh. "Let me make sure the hospital collected all the evidence from you they could. West, get his statement please."
"They cut off my trousers in the ambulance," Harry supplied. "I was just outside the lab when a dart hit me in my neck. I had enough time to jab the dart into Snow's tire and dial Jesse before someone came to collect me. I tried to fight whoever grabbed me but the drug was extremely powerful."
"Man, they cut my trousers," Joe grumbled as he wrote down what Harry said.
"Sorry about that, West," Harry said seriously. "Unfortunately, my captors cut off my dress coat and shirt. I have no idea what happened to my boots." At the thought of his poor missing boots, Harry looked both sad and upset.
"I'm sure we can find you something,"Caitlin supplied. "Barry, can you race back to the lab and grab some clothes for Johnny?"
Glancing at Singh, Barry nodded and jogged out of the room. "Alright, Joe," Singh began. "I will check with hospital staff and then head back to the precinct. If those fingerprints provided match your man here, we arrest him for murder. You understand?"
"Yes sir," Joe agreed. He watched his captain leave and then turned back to Harry. "Let's get you out of here." Throwing back the covers, Harry sat up with Caitlin's help. The three men who had been trying to hold Harry down left, shooting annoyed looks at the man. Barry returned with an armful of clothes minus a jacket, which had caught on fire on the way over. Eventually, they got Harry dressed, checked out, and back to the lab.
S.T.A.R. Labs - Cortex
Once in the lab, Caitlin took Harry to examine him while the rest of the group paced the main portion of the cortex. Now that her father was safe, Jesse had withdrawn, shying away from his touch and ignoring his attempts to speak with her. "He killed a man," she snapped when Cisco suggested she at least talk to her father. "Just because he was kidnapped doesn't change the fact that he murdered a man in cold blood."
Barry and Cisco looked to Joe, who shrugged, "She is right. We need to decide how we want to deal with him. Even though Turtle was a killer, Harry can't walk around acting as judge, jury, and executioner."
"He was trying to stop Zoom and save Jesse," Cisco supplied. After Barry had pointed out Cisco choosing Dante over Barry's identity, the engineer had started looking at Harry's actions a bit differently. "It is totally freaky that he was willing to kill someone, but Joe shot Mardon to save you Barry."
"Mardon was still a danger and not in custody," Joe countered. He was about to say more, but Caitlin stepped out. Glancing back towards the medical bed Harry was sitting on, she pressed her lips firmly together and shifted her gaze to the group. "Well?" Joe finally asked after several minutes of silence.
"It was Eiling," Caitlin began. "Apparently he knew Dr. Wells was a speedster and wanted to know how Harry was controlling his speed and healing. When Harry didn't heal, Eiling started torturing him, inflicting the maximum amount of pain while keeping him alive. He is covered in cuts, burns, and bruises from Eiling trying to force him to heal."
"And his eyes?" Barry asked, looking in at the man sitting with his back to them. "How bad are they?" They had all figured out at the hospital that he was, at least for the moment, blind.
"He said Eiling lost his temper and threw some kind of chemical in his face. The doctor helping Eiling flushed Harry's eyes with water, but it may not have been fast enough. Right now, he is completely blind. His pupils are not responding to stimuli at all. Without knowing what the chemical was, I can't say for sure if it will be permanent." Caitlin looked away, letting out a breath and taking another deep one. She was used to working on Barry. While he had suffered some serious injuries, the only permanent one she worried about was death. She hadn't had to face something permanently life altering like this since the accelerator explosion.
"You mean that it could be permanent?" Joe asked. Caitlin nodded, licking her lips and squaring her shoulders . "And he was tortured." Another nod, this time, Caitlin crossed her arms.
"There is also a concern for his emotional well being. Harry said something that suggests that he has been tortured before. Jesse, do you know anything about his military service?"
"Only that he was a Seal in the Navy," Jesse began.
"Wait, you mean that stuff was real? I thought ARGUS just put it in there as a joke," mused Cisco. "He was seriously a Seal."
Jesse stared at him, waiting for the engineer to get over his shock. "Yes. Dad joined right out of high school so he could get the educational benefits. When his abilities became clear; his aptitude for languages, science, and ability to adapt in a fight, he was sent for Seal training. He doesn't talk about it much and had retired by the time I was born."
"Retired?" Joe found that hard to believe.
"Special circumstances," Jesse answered with a shrug. "Something happened and he was one of two members of his unit to survive. Mom always said to let him leave the past with the dead so I have no idea what happened. Uncle T-Bone wouldn't talk about it either."
"T-Bone?" Cisco was on the verge of laughing. Probably because the idea of Eiling torturing Harry had made his stomach roll. He needed to lighten the mood or he was going to be sick
"The other survivor," Caitlin supplied. "Johnny mentioned him. Said Eiling's idea of torture was a walk in the park compared to what he and T-Bone went through. Guys, I know we need to do something about what happened with Turtle, but we need to be careful. Our actions could scar him psychologically."
"Do what you think is best," Harry said from the doorway, making them all jump. "I'm tougher than I look." He wasn't looking at them, instead he had his head turned to maximize what he was hearing. "Until you reach your decision, can I at least get some food and a drink?" Holding the door frame with one hand, he slid one foot down the ramp, slowly easing his way into the room. "If you aren't comfortable with me roaming free, put me in the pipeline and lock me out of the computer system." Near the bottom of the ramp, he let go of the frame and held his arms up, surrendering to Joe once more.
Before he could answer, Joe's phone rang. Glancing at the man waiting to be punished, Joe answered, "Yeah, Captain." There was a pause as Joe listened. "That's great news. I'll let Johnny know." He ended the call and slipped the phone back into his pocket.
"Well?" Cisco asked, everyone else nodding.
"The fingerprints from Thawne are not a match to me. My identity as John Chambers has been confirmed," Harry informed them before Joe could. "Sorry, West. I couldn't help but listen." A stunned silence permeated the room. Harry broke it, "Lead me to the pipeline, West?"
"Yeah," Joe agreed. Annoyingly, Harry was right. It made the most sense to lock the other man in the pipeline until the rest of the group could decide how to handle his punishment. Glancing at the team, Joe walked over to stand next to Harry, unsettled by the sightless blue eyes. "Here." Taking Harry's left hand, Joe put it around his right elbow and slowly set off for intake 52.
A few minutes later, Harry sat on the floor of his cell. He listened to the door close and tensed up as the unit moved, returning to its home position. When the motion stopped, he tucked his knees tightly to his chest, hugging them and rocking. Left alone in his now dark world, memories floated up, making Harry whimper. The past pain had been held at bay a long time. Losing Jesse because of his own actions had put a hole in his damn. The memory of the Colonel put another hole, and Jesse's silence back in the cortex had blasted the damn down. He was completely alone in the blackness and Harry sobbed, losing the battle against painful memories and thoughts.