"Any ideas on why Gabby wanted us to meet her here?" Caitlin asked as she, Barry, Iris and Cisco met up at a bar in Central City called the Shark's Nest, named in honor of Central City's pro football team, the Central City Sharks.
"No clue. But I've learned that with Gabby, sometimes it's better to not ask questions. Besides, this is the first time I've gone out for fun since I got back to Central City." Iris said, since she was determined not to let her handicap stop her from living her life.
"Besides, we could also use some time to rest and just have some fun, ever since Dr. Wells' funeral, it's been all work, no play." Barry said.
"And you're not just saying that because you can now drink all of us under the table?" Cisco asked, since they'd discovered that Barry's hyper metabolism that gave him speed healing meant that he couldn't get drunk on normal alcohol.
"That's just a benefit." Barry said with a grin as Gabby came out to join them.
"Hey, I'm glad you guys could make it. Welcome to the Oasis Bar." Gabby said, giving Caitlin a flirty smile that she seemed to go out of her way to ignore, causing Barry to roll his eyes.
"Come on, let's head in." Barry said, though he was hoping that this would finally be the day that Gabby finally sucked it up and asked Caitlin out. Then all they'd need to do is find Cisco a girlfriend, but right now, his priority was getting his sister a girlfriend, since he was getting tired of watching her and Gabby dance around this.
"Wow, this place is amazing." Cisco said as they entered the bar to find that there were chairs, wooden tables and blue booths that looked like they could double as couches and a big screen tv with a sports game over the bar.
"Yeah, how did you find this place?" Iris asked as she wheeled herself in.
"My brother owns this place." Gabby said, shocking them.
"Wait, am I finally going to get to meet the famous TJ Gomez?" Iris asked, since Gabby had told her all about her big brother, the man who'd been her inspiration to join the military, since Thomas Gomez Jr, or just TJ Gomez, had been a marine too, just like every other member of their family. He'd inspired her to follow in the family legacy as a marine.
"Yeah, I can't wait for you to meet him." Gabby said eagerly.
"You rang?" a man whose skin was similar to Gabby's with dark black hair said as he joined them.
"TJ." Gabby said as she hugged her big brother.
"Hey Gabs, glad you could make it and you must be Iris. Gabby's told me so much about you." TJ said.
"Likewise. She spoke very highly of you. I'd get up to shake your hand, but." Iris said.
"Yeah, Gabby told me about the ambush. I still can't believe Eiling would do that, since I worked with the man a few times while I was enlisted myself and while he was a hardass, he was never a traitor." TJ said.
"One of the reasons I'm pursuing journalism is so that I can investigate him and blow the whistle on him." Iris said.
"I think one of my regulars can help with that. He's a private investigator." TJ said.
"Really, I'd love that." Iris said.
"Yeah, tell him I sent you and he'll give you a discount. Here's his card." TJ said as he handed Iris a business card.
"Ralph Dibny." Iris said as Barry's head perked up at that name.
"Wait, Ralph Dibny?" Barry asked in shock.
"I'm sorry, who are you?" TJ asked.
"Right, sorry, TJ, this is Iris's boyfriend Barry Allen, his stepsister Caitlin Snow and their friend Cisco Ramon." Gabby said and TJ had the same smirk on his face that Barry had had on his earlier, since he knew how his sister felt about Caitlin.
"Nice to meet you, but yes Ralph Dibny." TJ said.
"Babe, what's the problem?" Iris asked.
"I knew Ralph when I first started at CCPD. He used to be a cop before I exposed him as a dirty cop, since he planted evidence at multiple crime scenes, framed innocent people and committed perjury to get convictions. After I exposed him, he was fired and was lucky to avoid prison." Barry said angrily.
"Yes, I heard all about that during one of his first nights here, but he's really turned his life around. I understand you're hesitant to trust him, but everyone deserves a second chance." TJ said.
"Babe, if he can help me expose Eiling." Iris said and Barry nodded.
"I can give Ralph the benefit of the doubt as long as he doesn't hold your relationship with me against you." Barry said.
"That sounds fair, now, I believe we came here to party." Cisco said and the others nodded and grinned.
"And tonight is karaoke night and considering the fact that my sister was on her high school show choir team for three years in a row, she is definitely performing." TJ said.
"Wait, you can sing?" Caitlin asked Gabby.
"Yes and now I'm going to kill my brother for bringing that up." Gabby said, glaring at her brother.
"So then I guess you want to have to pay for your drinks, since I was gonna have them be on the house since my sister and her friends drink for free here, but if I'm dead, that policy dies with me." TJ said.
"Then she forgives you, since she's not the only one with a great voice." Iris said, referring to her boyfriend.
"Yeah, there's no way I'm passing up a chance to sing." Barry said as Gabby began playing with the purple and gold winged cross necklace her mom had given her when she'd returned to the states, since whenever she was around Iris, it suddenly became uncomfortable.
"Great, then follow me and let the drinking begin." TJ said as he led them over to a table that he'd reserved for them.
"Let's get this party started." Barry said as he ordered a round of beers of their whole group.