Caitlin stayed at STAR Labs for the three days that Frost wanted her to. She was tired of laying down, though, so got up a bit, to the displeasure of her sister. She didn't know who shadowed her more, Cisco or Frost, and she was getting annoyed with the pair of them. Barry was diligently canvasing the city for any sign of the other two men who had helped abduct her, but she didn't have high hopes. Caitlin knew that if they wanted to disappear, they would. And there would be nothing she could do about it.
The day she got to go home showed Harry and Cisco driving her home. Barry was still out overturning buildings to look for the two men. She couldn't be mad at him; she wouldn't want to see one of her best friends in pain either. Frost was mad enough for both, regardless. "He's being a coward!"
Caitlin chuckled, wincing as the movement jostled her ribs. "Frost, Barry cannot be with me 24/7. He's got a life to live, too."
"Not while your life is in danger, sunshine," she replied flatly, voice void of any emotion.
Cisco followed it up with his own sentiments. "Frost, you ever think that maybe Barry is out looking for them?"
"Oh, I know he is," Frost snorted indelicately. "But that doesn't mean he gets a free pass on needing to make sure Caity gets home safely."
"I'd thought you'd want to assure us that Snow is safe with you," Harry replied, parking the STAR Labs van and getting out.
"Don't be an idiot," Frost said sharply. "Of course she's safe with me."
Caitlin allowed Harry to open the back door for her and climbed out of the van, using her good arm to hold onto his for support. He guided her up to her building and inside of it, with Frost and Cisco flanking behind her, and they walked to the elevator, with her concierge watching on in concern. Frost waggled her fingers at him as the elevator doors shut, and Caitlin leaned against Harry for support. He wrapped an arm around her waist and the doors dinged open. "Come on, Snow, I've got you."
Caitlin leaned heavily against Harry, Cisco going to unlock her door, and Frost followed them into the apartment. Frost took over, getting Caitlin into her bedroom, and changed into pajamas. Frost's breath hitched at the multiple cuts, bruises, and scars now adorning Caitlin's body, and Caitlin dipped her chin. She felt ashamed forever letting those people get to her. Frost nudged her chin back up, looking her squarely in the eyes. "None of that, Caity. It's not your fault."
She swallowed thickly, inhaling deeply as she nodded. "I know." But she didn't, not really.
XXX
Three days passed and then there was a knock on her door. Frost went to go answer it. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Please, I just want to see her," Barry's voice filtered through. Caitlin sighed.
"It's okay, Frost," she called.
She could practically imagine the ice coming out of Frost, but the next minute, she was bringing Barry into the living room. "Think you can handle staying here with Caitlin, pumpkin?"
"I got it," Barry said quietly, and Frost looked at Caitlin before heading out of the apartment. Caitlin didn't know where she was going, nor did she have time to wonder. Barry was speaking again. "How are you feeling?"
"Brilliant," Caitlin chuckled, then sighed. "Better. The painkillers Harry gave me are helping."
"That's good," Barry smiled slightly. Caitlin couldn't get her face muscles to work, so she didn't bother trying. Barry stared around the apartment, and Caitlin had the suspicion he wanted to say more, so she just waited quietly. "God, Caitlin, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
"Barry, it's not your fault," Caitlin reminded him gently. He just shrugged his shoulder, and she cast around for another topic. "How's Iris?"
He sighed. "She's fine."
Nothing more than that.
Caitlin blinked. Well okay. "Okay."
"Do you really want to talk about her right now?" Barry asked, and Caitlin sensed an underlining meaning hidden beneath his words, but she was too tired to try and figure them out.
"What do you want to talk about?" Caitlin asked instead, voice sounding tired even to her own ears.
"I can't find the other two men," Barry whispered, looking forlorn. "I think they fled the city."
"I'm not surprised if they have," Caitlin murmured. "You can't expect them to hang around, waiting to get caught."
"How did Frost not catch up to those guys?" Barry asked.
"Don't you dare blame my sister for that, Barry," Caitlin replied quietly. "Don't you dare."
Barry sighed and ran frustrated fingers through his brown locks. Caitlin was visited by the sudden desire to run her own fingers through it. Damn, the pain meds were making her nonsensical. "I really am glad you're alive."
Alive. Not okay. Because Caitlin wasn't okay, no matter how much she tried to pretend otherwise. "Thanks." She swallowed the painful lump in her throat and went to go sit back down when she grew tired from standing. Barry eased down in the chair across from her, looking at her intently, searching, and Caitlin wondered for what.
"I think Iris and I – we're on a bit of a break," Barry muttered.
"Vacation that bad?" Caitlin asked lightly.
"I told her I need to focus on catching these guys, and she accused me of not making her a priority."
Ouch. "Barry, she's your girlfriend."
"Ex," he commented absent-mindedly, playing with his ring finger. "It's for the best. The vacation was to try and get things back on track, things that are so trivial, when all that mattered was staying here, in Central City."
Caitlin didn't quite see things that way, but who was she to tell him how to live his life? She nodded, cupping her broken wrist. She was out of the sling for now, but her arm was still wrapped. It was a compromise between her and Frost. She sighed softly. "I'm afraid I'm not much company today."
"You're tired," Barry replied, standing automatically to his feet. "I should let you rest." Then he was walking out of her apartment, and Caitlin was left to wonder how things had gotten so messed up.