To say Caitlin was a nervous wreck would be an understatement. She was simply washed over with concern about Jay finding out about Maddy. She didn't care so much about herself; he'd already hurt her once, he wasn't able to do it again, but she did worry that Maddy's – god, how she hated to think of Jay as her daughter's biological father – father would come into her life. She didn't want that day to ever come but Caitlin had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach more often than not these days that it was on the horizon. She knew that if/when Jay found out about Maddy, it'd be game over for Caitlin to protect her. He'd do whatever he could in his power to try and get to her.

She was certain of this.

A soft sigh fell past parted lips as she watched Maddy sleep. Caitlin didn't get much sleep these days. She was too concerned about her daughter to be able to rest comfortably. She may have gotten a few hours each night somewhere in the early morning hours but it wasn't enough for her to not survive on coffee. She knew that she needed to take better care of herself; that she wasn't any help to her daughter if she was tired, but dammit, she was worried.

Just then, there was a soft knock on her door and she looked towards it, wondering who would be visiting this late. Then she remembered Barry had told her that he might come by after his shift at the precinct and she stood to her feet, heading to her front door the next minute. After checking through the peephole, she opened her door with a tired smile. "Hey, Barry."

"Caitlin, you look exhausted," Barry frowned in worry, tutting when he looked at what were undoubtedly bags underneath her eyes. "Hell, when's the last time you slept?"

"I think I got a solid night before Jay's letter arrived," Caitlin admitted sheepishly, shrugging a shoulder as she spoke to Barry in quiet tones, careful to not wake up her daughter. She knew that wasn't the answer her – was Barry her boyfriend now? She liked to think he was. She knew that wasn't the answer her boyfriend would want to hear but she had never lied to him before – she wouldn't start now. Sure, she kept things from him but they hadn't been in each other's lives when Maddy was born so she didn't consider that lying. Much

"Come on," he encouraged her gently, ushering her into the apartment and guiding her to her bedroom. "You get some sleep. I'll watch Maddy for the night."

"Oh, Barry," she began, attempting to shake her head but he stilled her with a gentle touch of his hand to her cheek.

"Cait, you need sleep," he murmured. "Staying up every night due to fear isn't healthy for you. Come on, just lay down for a little while and try to sleep." He cupped her cheek, pressing a tender kiss to her lips and she melted into his hold. How was it that she didn't feel this way with anyone but Barry? How was it that no one was capable of making her feel so loved other than Barry? She didn't have the answers to her questions but she knew he was right. Caitlin couldn't run on fumes and coffee. It would be too much and eventually catch up with her.

"All right," she intoned quietly. "I'll lay down for a little while. Do you mind looking after Maddy?"

"What if I bring her into your room and then I stay on the couch tonight?" Barry asked and Caitlin bit her lip.

"I think that would be okay," she agreed after a moment. "Yeah, we can do that."

"Okay, great," Barry said quietly. "Go get changed into something comfortable and I'll be right there with Maddy."

Caitlin nodded her head, making her way into her bedroom and going to change in her bathroom as Barry got her daughter. They met in her room, him holding Maddy in his arms and then Caitlin was crawling in bed, Barry placing Maddy down after her and she was falling into her pillows, eyes lulling shut before Barry had even pulled the covers up over her.

XXX

The next morning dawned bright on a more rested Caitlin. Blinking her eyes open, she looked around the room, taking in the fact that Maddy wasn't in the bed with her anymore. Heart racing for a minute, she calmed down when she heard her daughter's giggles coming from the living room and she got out of bed, sliding into her favorite college sweatshirt as she did so. Padding into the living room in her plaid pajama pants, Caitlin saw Barry and Maddy reading together, a few of Maddy's toys placed around the room. "Hey."

Barry looked up with a soft smile, eyes a liquid amber for her. "Morning Caitlin."

"Mommy!" Maddy squealed, running to her mother, and throwing her arms around her legs. "I got to sleep with you last night!"

"You sure did, button," Caitlin replied, catching Maddy around the waist and lifting her up onto her hip. "Do we need to get your tummy filled?"

"Barry gave me some milk and toast when I woke up," she replied, and Caitlin smiled at him.

"Thanks," she said gratefully, and he nodded.

"Any time," he said. "You deserve to sleep too."

"I know," she smiled at him slightly, making a silent vow to herself to work on her fear enough that it didn't prohibit her from sleeping. Just as she got ready to open her mouth and say something else, her front window smashed in and Maddy started screaming. Picking her up, she yanked Maddy down the hall to her bedroom, and sat her on her bed. "Honey, are you all right? Are you hurt?"

"No, mommy. That was loud though," Maddy said in a quiet and trembling voice. "What was that?"

Barry arrived a few moments later, holding up a brick and note as the answer to her question.

Caitlin took the note from him, heart stuttering to a stop as she read it.

I want my daughter.

-J