Star City:
The next morning, Laurel walked out of her room when she saw Barry cleaning up without his speed. She leant the wall and folded her arms, watching the Speedster tidy up until he turned around.
"When I said you could live with me, you have to help out, I didn't mean you were literally going to help out." Laurel smiled and Barry chuckled. "Thanks for last night. My Dad and I have had some distance between us but it feels like we're getting close again." Laurel thanked and Barry nodded.
"I should be thanking you," Barry replied which surprised Laurel. "For the first time in some time, I didn't think about what happened then or what I failed to do. I was Barry Allen, a normal person enjoying a meal with a friend and her Dad." Barry smiled as Laurel walked over and hugged him.
"What are you doing today?" Laurel asked when they saw the newspaper, it was about the explosion at Palmer Tech. "What are you thinking?" She asked as Barry picked up the newspaper.
"I might check the crime scene…" Barry paused then he looked at Laurel. "Sorry about that. Once a CSI, always a CSI, I guess." He explained as Laurel placed a hand on his shoulder.
"John and Lyla are looking into it, you think you can find something?" Laurel asked and Barry looked at her then smiled.
"If you asked me that a year ago, I would say no. But now, where the impossible is possible, I'm going to say I could." Barry answered then he sped into his room, he came out seconds later with his backpack. "Wanna come along?" Barry asked and Laurel nodded, she ran into her room to change while Barry took out his phone and dialed a number.
"Barry, it's been a while." John spoke and Barry nodded. "What do I owe the pleasure?" John asked as Barry stood by the door.
"Dig, can we meet up at the bunker?" Barry asked as Laurel walked out, wearing black trousers, black heels and a white t-shirt with a grey jacket in her hands. "Since I'm here, I thought about helping out, like what happened to Ray." Barry explained as he looked at Laurel.
"Okay then. And Barry, thanks." John thanked and Barry smiled. "Laurel knows the location, she'll tell you." The call ended as Barry looked at Laurel, she smiled but Barry was confused.
"You know where the new hideout is?" Barry asked and Laurel nodded, she reached inside her jacket pocket and took out the Canary Cry. "You mean you're the…?" Barry paused and Laurel nodded.
"The Black Canary." Laurel finished as she stepped forward. "I knew you were The Flash, thanks to Oliver and the fact there was a photo of you in the suit with Caitlin, Cisco and Wells back at STAR Labs." Laurel explained and Barry nodded. "Sorry for not telling you." Laurel apologised but Barry shook his head.
"It's alright. I kinda had a feeling it was you," Barry admitted as he put his phone inside his jacket. "Sara was the Canary, the only one who could take the mantle was you." Barry complimented and Laurel smiled. "How about we talk about our other lives later, but help solve Ray's case first?" Barry suggested and Laurel nodded, just as Barry picked her up.
"Run, Barry. Run." Laurel told him and Barry smiled then he sped out, moving faster than he had before.
Arrowcave:
John and Lyla were in the lair talking about the explosion at Palmer Tech when a blur sped in, it was Barry. He stopped by the suit stands then placed Laurel down, she smoothed down her jacket then they walked over to John and Lyla.
"Barry, it's good to see you." John smiled and Barry nodded, John held out his hand and as Barry grabbed it, John pulled him into a hug. "How are you doing?" He asked as the pair stepped back.
"I'm okay, I think." Barry admitted and John nodded. "I've got something to think about but for now, how about we find out what happened?" Barry asked and John nodded.
"Six months ago, there was an explosion at Palmer Tech from the top floor." John started as they walked over to the computers, where Lyla was pulling up photos. "The source of the explosion came from the same place where Ray worked on his suit. We don't know if the source of the explosion was the suit or a bomb." He explained and Barry nodded, he took off his backpack and placed it by the table.
"What if he survived and was taken?" Barry asked as he started walking around the room. "Ray Palmer is the smartest man I know who isn't a fake. If something like this happened, he would've had a backup plan." Barry suggested and the team nodded. "And if he was captured, he would've tried to send a message to someone. And who is the one person he would ask for help?" Barry asked as he looked at the group.
"Felicity!" John answered and Barry nodded. "We need to find out if he sent anything to her." John told them as Barry sped over to the other computer, he used his speed to work while the others watched.
"Look who I found." The group looked up to see Thea with Oliver and Felicity. "They just got here and when they asked where the team was, I brought them here." She smiled as Oliver walked over to Barry and they hugged.
"It's good to see you, Barry." Oliver smiled and Barry nodded. "I see you working on something, is it helping with what's happened?" He asked and Barry nodded a bit.
"Over the years I was trying to solve my Mom's murder, I learnt if I focus on a case, it heals the part of me that hurts." Barry explained as the team looked at him. Oliver smiled then patted Barry on the shoulder.
"What are you working on, Barr?" Felicity asked as she walked over, her heel kicked Barry's backpack over and causing his suit to fall out. "I'm sorry, Barry." Felicity apologised but Barry smiled.
"It's alright, Felicity. My fault for putting it there." Barry admitted as Felicity put his suit back inside the backpack. "Now you're here, I need your help." Barry told them which got their attention. "Felicity, could you open your emails for me?" Barry asked with a smile, confusing Oliver and Felicity.
Central City:
At the CCPD, Joe was at his desk working as he was thinking about Barry. He looked up at the photo of him, Barry and Iris when he noticed his partner looking at him with concern: Detective Patty Spivot.
"Is there something I can help you with, Detective Spivot?" Joe asked as he sat back in his chair and folded his arms.
"Nothing, Sir. Just concerned about you." Patty admitted which got Joe's curiosity. "Since I got partnered with you, I've noticed you always looked at that photo. Is everything okay?" She asked, causing Joe to get up and grab his coat.
"Personal stuff. And since we don't know each other that well, you don't get to know." Joe answered then he walked off and walked upstairs, leaving Patty alone to think.
In the forensic lab, Joe stood in the doorway and looked around. He was thinking about all the chats and laughs he and Barry shared here, he walked over to the desk and placed his hand on the chair.
"Need some time alone, Detective?" Joe turned around to see Captain Quentin Lance in the doorway, his hands in his pockets.
"Captain Lance, what brings you to Central City?" Joe asked as he was interested. "Does this have to do with Barry?" He asked and Quentin nodded as he walked towards him.
"He's fine, currently living with Laurel." Quentin answered which surprised Joe. "We spoke and while he was smiling a lot, I could tell he was hurting. We both know that look too well, don't we?" Quentin asked and Joe nodded. "If it helps, I just heard that he's helping the others with a case." He added which caused Joe to look at him.
"Barry's working a case? At your department?" Joe asked but Quentin shook his head as he leant against a pillar.
"While you had that giant death thing in the sky, we had an explosion in Star City." Quentin started which made Joe's eyes widen. "It came from Palmer Tech and we found out that Ray Palmer was there but there wasn't any sign of a body. Your boy thinks he could've been taken, I'm guessing that happens a lot to him?" Quentin asked and Joe nodded.
"To Barry, a few times. Mostly because it's thanks to him and his science gifts, we can get the bad guy." Joe complimented and Quentin nodded. "Captain, could I ask you to do something for me?" Joe asked as he stood up.
"Keep an eye on him?" Quention guessed and Joe nodded. "I could but something tells me, he'll be with Laurel and others. Especially since Oliver and Felicity got back." Quentin told him and Joe smiled. "I'll see you around, Detective." Quentin smiled as the pair shook hands, Quentin then left as Joe stayed in the lab.
Meanwhile:
In the Arrowcave, Barry and Felicity were working as they had found something: a voice message from Ray but it was scrambled. While Felicity was unscrambling it, Barry was looking at photos of the scene to understand what happened.
"Barry, how fast are you on a computer?" Felicity asked, getting Barry's attention. "I got a programme that can unscramble Ray's message but I was wondering if you could help with it?" Felicity asked and Barry smiled.
"You go and get something to eat, I'll work on this." Barry suggested which surprised Felicity. "You and Oliver took a long time to get here, you need to eat. And who knows, I might have something by the time you get back." Barry added then gave Felicity a hopeful smile.
"Thanks Barry. I'll go and meet up with the others, call me the moment you have something." Felicity ordered and Barry saluted. "You are something else, Barry Allen." Felicity complimented as she grabbed her jacket and handbag then left, leaving Barry alone to work with the programme.
"You are something else, aren't you?" Barry looked up to see Laurel walking in. "Big Belly Burger, thought you could do with food." Laurel smiled as she placed the two takeaway bags on the table. "I ordered food for myself too, unless you don't want company." Laurel teased and Barry smirked as he started Felicity's programme.
"Thanks, Laurel. For the food and the company." Barry thanked and Laurel smiled. "I have to admit, this has been nice. Working with a different team and still doing what I love: solving cases." Barry smiled as he unwrapped the wrapper around the burger.
"How have you been feeling recently, Barry?" Laurel asked as she sat forward, just as Barry started eating. "About what happened? About you feeling guilty?" She asked as Barry put the burger down, he took out a handkerchief and wiped his face.
"The guilt's still there, but not as much." Barry admitted as he looked at Laurel. "I think I made myself believe that I was better off alone so no one would get hurt. But now I'm thinking, the only one I was hurting by doing that was myself." Barry confessed and Laurel smiled then the computer started beeping.
"What is that?" Laurel asked as they ran over to the computer. "Part of Ray's message in unscramble? Can we get any more of it cleared?" She asked then Barry started to type as fast as he could, Laurel then noticed his eyes were sparking with electricity.
"I got it all cleared, time to find him now." Barry then ran over to another computer and started to run a trace, Laurel was amazed at what Barry was doing to find their friend.
Decided to leave this chapter on a cliffhanger, sorry. Will the team find Ray? Will Barry ever be whole again?