Battle In

The Stadium

Part 3

Disclaimer: Been meaning to do this for awhile now.

Summary: After another encounter with the Reverse Flash following the Stadium fight at STAR Labs, Barry decides to leave for awhile.

"Barry, are you sure about this?" Asked Caitlin with a worried frown on her face.

One that was shared by not only Cisco and Dr. Wells, but Joe West as well. Iris was still unhappy with him for keeping the fact he's the Flash from her and was the reason for not being there. Though whether or not if she had been there would have had any impact on Barry's recent decision to leave Central City remained unknown. Barry looked at her and the other three and nodded with a solemn expression on his face. "I, I am. After what happened I can't be here right now."

Wells' face gave nothing away as Joe, Caitlin, and Cisco all looked visibly upset by his words. Making Barry look apologetic to the trio and verbally apologizing. "Bear, you don't have to leave the city. Its not being held against you for what happened with the Man in Yellow. That, you couldn't have known that would happen." Tried Joe as he placed his hands on Barry's shoulders and looked him in the eyes.

Barry looked down in shame. "Singh and others may not hold it against me, but I hold it against me. I killed him, Joe. I killed him! Accident or not I killed the Man in Yellow!"

Said killing happening when the two fought after the Police had lured the Man in Yellow to STAR Labs with Dr. McGee's Tachyon Device and when he showed up to help bring an end to his years long nightmare when he wasn't supposed too, the two fought. And it hadn't been the easiest thing either considering the Man in Yellow clearly had the advantage of years on his side. Even with Oliver assisting on the whole thing despite how distracted he was for whatever reason. But when it seemed like things were going to go down the crapper, the Burning Man showed up and got the drop on the Man in Yellow. And because of that, Barry had managed to find enough strength to get up and attack his long lived nightmare just as he was about to speed off with a kick to the head. The impact, plus the speed involved, broke the Man in Yellow's neck, along with tearing the muscles in it.

Said impact also sent him flying a good distance away until he rolled to a stop, dead as can be. When it was announced he was dead from the blow, Barry had fallen to his knees in horror and vomited. Sure, he had wanted to finally put away the Man in Yellow but not like that! Never like that! In private, Oliver had been feeling strongly guilty for not having been the one to deliver a fatal blow instead of Barry and promised to never fail him again in that area. Something Barry appreciated but told him he hoped that there was NEVER a situation like that again. The Man in Yellow's face wasn't one that anyone recognized either but regardless… It was enough to help get the ball rolling in getting Henry Allen freed despite his death.

But that was going to be something Barry wasn't going to be able to be there for as he couldn't bare to stay in the city anymore. Feeling that for the time being, being away was needed for him to deal with his actions. Even though others like Joe thought he could get the help he needed in Central instead of leaving but he wasn't willing to listen. Tears welled up in Joe's eyes as he hugged his adopted son, a hug that was soon joined in on by Caitlin and Cisco. Moments later would see Barry pull away with promises to keep in touch when able before coming up to Dr. Wells and brought out his hand. The wheelchair bound man took it and the two shook. "I'm sorry to see you go, Mr. Allen, and I hope you find what it is you feel you need to find on the open road."

"Thanks, Dr. Wells, I really appreciate that." And with that, Barry was gone from STAR Labs, leaving the foursome behind.

Three of them with tears in their eyes as Caitlin and Cisco hugged one another where their mutual friend was concerned. Damnit all, this was not supposed to happen! Cursed Wells in his head.

But he could be patient just a little longer. As after all, he'd waited a decade and some change so what was a little more waiting?

Author's Notes: And that is that. What Barry does to the Reverse Flash is kind of a callback to the alternate ending of my old fic 'When The Lightning Strikes'.