A/N: In this fic I've decided to name Harry's late wife Beatrice "Triss" Morgan.

Harry looked up from his movie as Jesse came through the door. "Hi, sweetie." His eyes darted to the clock on the wall, but he refrained from making a comment on the lateness of the hour.

"Hi," said Jesse as she stepped out of her shoes and took off her jacket. She glanced around at the living room. "Did you have a good night?"

Harry thought the question and her tone of voice were a little odd. "We're making progress on finding people for your team," reaching the control he muted the film, "but that's not what you're asking about."

Jesse walked over to the couch, obviously something was on her mind and she was trying to find some tactful way to bring it up. Sitting on the arm of the couch she finally said, "I saw you and Irina out together tonight."

Harry wasn't sure where she was going with this. "We walked together from STAR Labs for a few blocks."

Jesse tilted her head to one side. "That's it?"

Harry was nonplussed. "What's it?"

"Was that all you did, walk together?" Jesse's tone was prodding.

Harry was starting to get an inkling of what Jesse was driving at. "No, don't even think about it. It's not like that."

"What's not like that?" Jesse tilted her head to the other side.

Harry shook his head. "I know what you're thinking but it's not- I'm not- We're not- No."

"So you're saying that you don't like her?" Jesse leaned forward a little, her voice challenging.

"Yes," Harry said firmly. "I mean, no," he shook his head, "I like her like a person, but not like that." It was almost alarming how much he'd warmed up to Irina in the short time they'd known each other, but he definitely wasn't going to mention that to Jesse.

"Like how?" Jesse pushed.

"Like, you know," Harry shifted in his seat, this was incredibly uncomfortable for him, "romantically."

"Why not?" Jesse stopped prodding and just got to the point. "She's amazing and I think you could be really happy together."

"No, no, absolutely not." Harry shook his head.

"She makes you laugh, Dad, I've never seen a woman make you laugh since Mom-"

"She doesn't make me laugh, I don't like her at all." Harry cut her off. He couldn't bear to hear Jesse compare Irina to his late wife.

Jesse frowned. "That's not true, Dad, and you know it. I've seen you two together, you just click."

"No, we don't." Harry was adamant even though the lie was obvious to both of them.

"Dad, you should give it a try with Irina, Mom would have wanted-"

"No, no," Harry cut her off, shaking his head, "this conversation is over. There's nothing between Irina and me and that's final."

Jesse scowled like she always did when he shut down a conversation he wasn't interested in having. "You're making a mistake. Irina could be great for you and you're making a mistake if you ignore it."

Harry turned back to his movie and turned the volume back on. "It's late, you should go to bed." His daughter was far too old to send to bed, but he wanted out of this conversation now and it was the only thing he could think of.

Jesse rolled her eyes. Harry didn't see it but he could feel it. Standing up from the arm of the couch she headed in the direction of her room. Pausing in the at the base of the stairway she turned and said, "Mom would hate to see you this way." Then she turned and disappeared upstairs.

Harry tried not to let her words sting. He knew she was just mad at him and trying to win, trying to get the last word. He didn't want to think what his wife, Triss, would have thought about any of this. Squinting, he tried to focus on the screen, tried to push back the emotions that were attempting to claw their way up his throat.

Taking off his glasses and rubbing his eyes he tried to block out everything that wasn't the movie. Irina didn't make him feel anything at all, she was just a member of the team, a temporary hire. He ignored the small, fluttering sensation in his stomach when he thought about her. She was nothing to him.

Irina lay on her bed staring at the ceiling. She'd been trying to read a book she'd brought with her from Earth-19, but she just couldn't focus on the page. Normally she didn't go to worlds where breechers were outlawed, but she'd been asked to consult on a multiversal case there a few years ago, so she'd accepted. She thought fondly of the Wells of that world, he'd really been something special, even if he was a bit dim at times.

This Wells though, Harry, he was more than special. She could just tell. He was her soulmate, he was The One. She sighed, imagining how thrilling it would be when they finally kissed. It was all she could do not to rush things between them. She wanted so badly to be held in his arms, to spend the night in his bed, to tell him 'I love you.' She tried to picture their future life together. Their wedding, working side-by-side, guiding Jesse through her early adulthood. She thought about her and Harry growing old together and falling more in love with every passing year. It's what she'd been looking for her entire life and here she was, so close to having it.

And Jesse, she'd been a bit of a surprise, but in the best way possible. The young woman was brilliant and kind and she could see why Harry was so proud of her. Irina hoped that things would go well and Jesse would accept her as part of the family. She already adored the girl, not because she was Harry's daughter, but because she was a bright young woman with a big heart.

A news update flashed over her radio which had been playing some low-key jazz mixes only a moment before. The newscaster announced that, "Central City's new girl Flash arrived earlier today on the scene of a fire and helped to evacuate the burning building. When asked if she was indeed the city's new Flash, she responded by saying 'I'm no Flash, I'm just Quick.'" Irina reached over and shut off the newscast. She enjoyed reading with relaxing music in the backgroudn, she couldn't concentrate with all this yammering.

She had lifted up her book once more and had just found her spot on the page when she put it down again. Jesse did have a big heart. She wanted to help people and make the city safer. She was looking for a team for an undisclosed project only she and her father knew about. Harry wasn't happy about any of this because he didn't want his little Jesse Quick getting herself into trouble. Irina thought back to the first time she'd been near STAR Labs and had felt that unnatural gust of wind. Or the other time when she'd first met Harry on the steps of the museum and out of nowhere Jesse had appeared, in a flash.

Irina sat up. It all made sense now. Harry's particle accelerator experiment had created metahumans all over Central City, including his daughter. Now that some of those metas were causing trouble, Jesse felt the call of responsibility to do something about it and use her powers for the good of others. But, as talented as she was, even the speedster Jesse Quick needed help. She needed a team of intelligent, trustworthy people who could support her in her mission to save Central City. Jesse Quick was this earth's Flash and she was recruiting a team to help her.

Irina sighed and laid back down. There was no one to share this brilliant discovery with, the only people she knew here already knew and would probably not be very happy that she'd found out their little secret. She was surprised it took her so long to piece it all together. The biggest clue was Harry's insistence on recruiting this team that he had no interest in actually forming. For Harry, nobody was ever going to be good enough to help his daughter.

She wondered if she should play along with this farce, or let the cat out of the bag. The team might have an easier time of finding the right people to recruit if the work wasn't cloaked in so much secrecy. Up to this point Irina had been looking for people with exceptional scientific qualifications, but she really needed to be looking for people with a unique blend of smarts and creativity.

Lifting her book again she began tracking down the page to find her place. She had a new challenge now, find the best men and women to support Central City's new superhero.

The next day Irina claimed an unused room and she started the arduous, but ever important detective process of combing through the files she'd pulled the night before. That left Harry, Jesse and Moira to their own devices. Jesse was still cross with her father from their argument the night before, and she could tell the feeling was mutual.

"So," said Moira, glancing from Jesse to Harry, "when do I get the information about the research team assignment?"

Harry caught Jesse's eye, she could tell he still wasn't happy about having Moira on the team, but Jesse didn't care. Once Moira knew she pretty much had to stay on the team anyway. "It's not actually a research team."

Harry crossed his arms over his chest, but didn't interrupt.

Moira looked confused. "What do you mean, what kind of assignment is it?"

Jesse continued, hoping that Moira wouldn't be mad at her for keeping this a secret for so long. "I'm Jesse Quick, the new Flash."

Moira stared at Jesse, open mouthed, for a long moment. "No way."

Jesse nodded, a smile starting to break across her face. She loved being The Flash despite her dad's dour mood about the whole thing. "Yeah, and if I'm going to save the people of Central City, I need some help."

Moira put a hand to her chest. "Me? You want me to help you?"

Jesse nodded. "We all do." She glanced at her dad, who was still quiet but currently frowning. She looked back at Moira. "You know so much about biology, and your contributions to the Metahuman Project have been invaluable. I couldn't ask for a better team member, so, if you're still interested, please come help me save Central City."

Moira gave Harry a cautious look before looking back at Jesse. "Yes," she said, smiling. "I can't wait to help you."

Jesse threw her arms around Moira and gave her a big hug. "This is wonderful. We'll be the best crime-fighting force on the planet."

Moira pulled back from the hug. "Where do we work out of?"

Jesse grabbed Moira's hand. "I'll show you."

...

Jesse showed Moira into a special part of STAR Labs her dad had set aside just for her Flash work. It was on the ground floor with a special entrance only accessible to members of her team. Her dad had added Moira's information that morning and now the three of them could come and go from the specially designated area.

"Welcome to the Team Quick headquarters." Jesse walked through the room, arms outstretched.

Moira's eyes roved over all the technology. "This is amazing."

Harry stood at the edge of the room near the door, arms still crossed over his chest. "Why don't you bring your things here, this will be where you work from now on."

Moira threw Jesse a wide-eyed look then scurried off to gather her things from her old workspace. Harry watched her go through the door, making sure she had vanished down the hall before he turned back to Jesse.

"Why didn't you tell me she's your friend?" Harry didn't look happy.

For an instant, Jesse thought about lying and trying to pretend Moira wasn't her friend at all, but she figured the jig was up. "Because, if you had known you never would have put her on the team."

"That's right," said Harry, "because putting your friends on the team puts you at risk."

Jesse crossed her own arms across her chest. "And why's that?"

"They're your friends, Jesse, when it comes to you they're not going to think clearly, to see things as they really are."

Jesse almost couldn't believe the gall her dad had to have to say that. "You're the only one who seems to have that problem, Dad. All of my friends know how to treat me properly."

"No they don't," Harry objected. "And since when are you friends with Moira? Why didn't I know that you're friends with Moira?"

"Because I kept it a secret." Jesse thought that much, at least, would have been obvious.

"Why would you have secret friends?" Her dad seemed more exasperated than she might have expected. Jesse supposed there might be some simmering resentment from their argument the previous night.

Jesse fixed her dad with a piercing look. "Do you really have to ask that?"

"I don't like this, Jesse-" Harry's next words were drowned out by the blare of STAR Labs' metahuman intruder alarm.

The screens lining the wall flashed and security camera images of the intruder appeared.

Harry turned to Jesse. "It's in the building."

A man in a slim-cut, green suit stood in the STAR Labs atrium, a bow and violin held in his hands. His smooth, straight, shoulder-length hair was in stark contrast to the ugly snarl on his lips. "Bring me Harrison Wells!" he roared.

Henry pushed his headphones to rest around his neck. He hadn't even noticed the newcomer's arrival, but it seemed like he meant trouble. "Sir," said Henry as he reached for the security button, "I'm going to have to ask you to leave now." His finger just brushed the plastic button when the green-suited man raised his violin.

"I won't take no for an answer." The man drew his bow over the violin strings and one long melodious note resonated through the building.

Henry paused, the security button forgotten, he didn't want to call them anyway. "Sir," Henry tried again.

"No." The man in green snarled again. "Tell Harrison Wells that the Fiddler wants to see him. Tell him I have a bow to pick."

Henry wasn't about to interrupt Dr. Wells, that was simply out of the question. "I'm sorry, sir, but Dr. Wells sees visitors by appointment only. I-" Henry was cut off by another long violin note.

"Now!"

Henry found himself standing, it was like his resolve to get rid of this man just disappeared. "Of course," he heard himself saying. He needed to get Dr. Wells right away. He stepped out from behind his desk and was about to head towards Dr. Wells' office when the familiar voice of his boss cut in.

"I'm here, who are you and what do you want?" Dr. Wells stood at the far side of the atrium, Jesse at his side.

"My name is Isaac Bowin," said the man, gesturing at Dr. Wells with his bow. "I'm here to punish you for what you've done."

Dr. Wells crossed his arms over his chest. "And what is it that you think I've done?" His tone was flat and unimpressed.

"You," spat the man, "by the unethical and unwitting use of your particle accelerator have unleashed metahumanity upon the earth. Willing or not, now thousands, possibly millions, are your science experiments and you have done nothing to take responsibility for your misdeeds." The Fiddler was shaking with rage. "I used to be a world famous concert violinist."

Dr. Wells' eyes glanced the man up and down, most certainly noting the violin. "What happened?"

"Your meta mishap has taken away my ability to play." The Fiddler raised his bow and leaned his cheek into the violin. "Instead of hearing the greatest works from the classical geniuses, my audiences are transformed into mindless drones." Drawing the bow over the violin a long note once again filled the atrium.

Henry felt once more a sense of being overcome. Like he was in a dream and someone was telling him what to do. He waited for instruction.

The Fiddler pointed his bow at Dr. Wells again. "It's time to face the music Dr. Wells. You're going to pay for this!"

Out of the corner of his eye Henry saw Jesse shift into a blur. A discordant note screeched from the violin and Jesse stumbled, falling to her knees a few feet away. That was when it clicked for Henry, Central City's new speedster was Jesse. At the same time as Jesse fell, Dr. Wells bent double, he seemed to be in pain.

"Does your creation surprise you?" the Fiddler mocked. "This is all your doing after all."

"STAR Labs has a program to help metahumans affected by the-" Dr. Wells started to grind out against the onslaught of notes.

"Save it." Apparently the Fiddler was in no mood to listen.

"You've got to listen to my dad," said Jesse, "he can help you if you just give him a chance." She was still kneeling on the floor, her hands covering her ears trying to find some relief.

The Fiddler's focus seemed to be entirely on the Wellses, he continued to produce notes that Henry vaguely recognized as Mozart's tenth, and most famous, violin concerto. However, played like this it sounded wrong, possibly even evil. As the notes progressed Dr. Wells and Jesse seemed to be more and more affected by the music.

"Hurts, doesn't it?" The Fiddler grinned as he continued the concerto. "Every being has a unique resonance. Using my instrument I can tap into that and take control of you. Your body and even your mind are now mine to command. I am no longer a world class violinist, I am the Fiddler."

Adrenaline flooded through Henry's body. The concerto seemed to be having a particular affect on the Wellses—Dr. Wells in particular. As the piece progressed, however, Henry's own command of his mind and body began to resurface.

Dr. Wells collapsed to the floor, overcome by the Fiddler's playing. "Dad!" Jesse cried out, struggling to regain her feet.

Tearing his headphones from his neck, Henry threw them at Jesse. "Put these on."

Momentarily distracted by the interruption, the Fiddler fumbled over the notes in the concerto. Jesse, quicker than the eye could follow, scooped up the headphones and jammed them on her head. The Fiddler recovered and the notes started to pour out of his violin again, but this time Jesse didn't flinch.

"It's over Fiddler!" Jesse shouted above the racket, and in a blur she zoomed across the atrium. The Fiddler gave out a cry and there was a sharp snapping sound. The bow fell to the ground in pieces. The Fiddler stood there, hands tied behind his back, a look of shock on his face. Jesse stood behind him with the newly unstringed violin tucked under her arm as she finished securing his wrists with the violin strings.

"Be careful with that instrument, it's a Stradivarius," wailed the Fiddler.

Henry ran to his desk and pulled out the emergency metahuman dampeners that were kept there. Coming over to the Fiddler he fastened them around the man's wrists.

Jesse raced over to where her dad was groaning on the floor, dropping to her knees she put a hand to his face. "Talk to me, are you okay?"

Dr. Wells sat up slowly. "You know, Jesse, I've never really been a fan of classical music."

Jesse looked confused for a moment, then pulled the headphones off her head. "Sorry, Dad, didn't quite catch that."

Dr. Wells took the headphones and looked them over. "Where did you get these?"

Jesse glanced over at Henry. "Mr. Hewitt gave them to me."

"And they blocked out all of that noise?" Dr. Wells was inspecting the ear cups closely.

"Yeah," said Jesse, "I couldn't hear a thing."

Henry left the Fiddler as security finally showed up to take the man away. "It's my own design," Henry offered, noting that Dr. Wells seemed quite interested in his invention. "I use them when I'm studying so I can focus. I need complete quiet and nothing on the market is powerful enough, so I made my own."

Dr. Wells glanced up at Henry. "These, these are good."

"Which makes Henry the perfect addition to our team." Irina Adler stood on the staircase leading to the second floor. Moira stood just behind her holding a box a desk stuff in her hands, a shocked look on her face.

"What?" said Dr. Wells, getting to his feet, "no, Henry's just-"

"The man we're looking for," Irina cut him off. Producing a manila folder from under her arm she opened it. "Henry Hewitt has shown extreme loyalty to STAR Labs ever since he was in high school. He's interned here in a variety of positions always willing to do whatever needs done. He's been a lab assistant, maintenance technician, archivist and this semester, receptionist. He knows everything about this place and how it operates. Once he gets his degree he'll be one of the most qualified individuals working here."

Rising from the floor, Dr. Wells crossed his arms over his chest. "He doesn't even have a degree."

"I'm on track to graduate next summer," Henry chipped in. He wasn't sure what he might be needed for, but if he could climb even one rung of the STAR Labs ladder it would make all the time spent cleaning beakers and pushing papers worth it.

Dr. Wells gave him a look that said he wasn't impressed with someone who was only on track to graduate.

"Not only is he intelligent, but he created those very headphones that made it possible for Jesse to save your life. It's clear he has the tenacity and creativity to be part of team Quick." Irina looked to Jesse. "What do you say?"

Jesse grinned. "Yes." Turning to Henry she offered him a hand. "Welcome aboard."

"Um," Henry glanced at Jesse's proffered hand, "what exactly am I joining here?"

Dr. Wells sighed and finally uncrossed his arms. "Let's go to the conference room."

In the room Irina had taken over as an office while she worked this case, Irina poured her and Harry a small drink to celebrate Jesse's quick victory over the Fiddler. Placing the bottle on the desk she handed Harry one of the glasses and said, "I think Henry will be a great addition to Jesse's team."

"Normally, I would have doubts, but maybe you're right. Henry's interned here for quite a few years, I suppose he's reliable." Harry clicked his glass with hers and took a drink. "After today, I guess that I can trust that he will look out for Jesse."

Irina sipped her own drink, glad they were on the same page at last. "That leaves only one or two more people to find for Jesse's team."

"Then what?" Harry finished the contents of the cup and set it down on the desk.

"What do you mean?" Irina finished her own glass and set it aside, she hoped Harry was going to say he wanted her to stay for more than professional reasons.

"I mean, what will you do next, where will you go?" Harry drew closer to her, which only seemed appropriate in the dimly lit room.

"Harry, I didn't know that you cared." The idea that he did care sent a flurry of butterflies through her stomach. Maybe this was the opportunity she'd been waiting for.

Harry scratched his ear looking uncomfortable. "I'm just wondering what a multiversal detective does between cases." He was trying and failing to sound off-handed.

"Normally, I leave. I go on to another Earth out there and try my fortunes elsewhere, unless I have a reason to stick around." Irina stepped forward to be closer to him. A small shiver of anticipation ran through her.

"And what reasons might those be, you know, for example?" Harry took a half step closer erasing all the distance between them. "What would make the greatest detective in the multiverse stay put?"

"Maybe if there was someone who wanted me to stay for a particular reason." Irina reached out and grasped the edges of his jacket, looking into his eyes. "Do you know of any particular reasons?"

"I can think of a couple."

An electric thrill raced through her as Harry's hand grasp her waist. This was the moment she'd been dreaming of since arriving here. Pulling off his glasses, Irina placed them on the edge of the desk. Then, leaning in, Irina pressed her lips to his.

Finally. It felt so right. Her fingers wound into his hair, her other hand running down his chest. One of his hands gripped her waist, pulling her closer. The fabric of her shirt riding up left bare skin under his palm. Pulling him backward the pair of them found the small couch on the far wall of the room and stumbled onto it. Their kisses deepened and grew hotter, Harry's hand crept under the edge of her shirt and over her back. Irina's fingers traced down his abdomen and settled in the waistband of his jeans. Their hearts were racing in unison, the moment was one of pure magic.

"No." Harry pulled away. Standing up, he stumbled a little as he stepped back. He ran a hand over his mouth, shaking his head. "No, no, no. I can't do this."

Irina's heart was still racing from the amazing electricity they had shared. "Wh- what do you mean?"

"No," Harry said again, shaking his head more vigorously, not quite meeting her eye. He ran his hand through his hair looking about wildly for something but not quite seeming to find it. "No," he said one last time before turning and leaving the room.

Irina sat on the couch, blood still racing, more than a little confused.

Harry ignored the racing of his own heart as he strode quickly out of STAR Labs. Only when he'd gotten out on the street did he realize that he'd left his glasses back in the room with Irina. Well, he wasn't going back for them now. He ignored the tingle of his hand where it had brushed against her skin. He tried to forget the thoughts that had raced through his brain as he'd guided his hand up Irina's back. He ignored the part of his brain that was telling him even now that he was an idiot, that he should go back to her, apologize, and pick up where he'd left off. Somehow, right at this very moment, it was something he wanted more than anything.

He continued to run his hand through his hair as he walked down the street towards his home. He was trying to put as much distance between himself and Irina as possible. Super speed would have come in handy right about now.

One thing he couldn't ignore, though, was Triss. The memories of his late wife washed over him in a confused muddle of emotions. How could he do this to her? He'd promised to love her forever, and he'd meant it, how could he go and do something like this? A sensation of dirtiness overcame him. He'd betrayed Triss.

His feet took the route to his house automatically and before he knew it he was there. The light in the window told him Jesse was already home. Part of him felt relieved to know where his daughter was, but the bigger part of him wished she was out right now. He didn't want to talk to her while he was feeling so emotional.

Climbing the stairs he took a seat on the front step. Running his hand down his face, Harry tried to get himself right. He'd never expected to feel this way again, he didn't want to feel this way again. How could he make this go away?

Eventually, his heart stopped beating so fast. The racing, tingling sensation he'd experienced in the office faded. His head felt much clearer. Harry traced his fingers over his lips as if he could undo the kiss and wipe it away. He could get through this.

The light in the house finally switched off, Harry guessed that it must be well after midnight. He didn't have any idea how long he'd been sitting on the porch, but knowing that Jesse was going to bed gave him a sense of relief. Looking out at the dark, silent street Harry wished that Triss was here. Pushing away the deep ache that filled his chest whenever he thought of her, Harry finally rose from the step and turned toward the door.