Hope you enjoy it.

Central City:

It had been six long months since The Flash and Firestorm stopped the Singularity but while everyone was okay, one person was not feeling okay. Barry Allen had pushed everyone away as he wanted to protect them. He was now working in STAR Labs alone, spending more time as The Flash and less as a CSI.

Barry was sat by one of the computers looking at his suit, thinking about everyone he had helped with his speed until his mind moved on to Eddie and Ronnie. Barry got up and walked over to his suit, he placed his hand over the emblem.

"Doing this alone is for the best, for their safety." Barry told himself, he turned the emblem then removed it. "Time for a change." Barry suggested as he left the Cortex, and headed towards the workshop. He walked in and got everything sorted in order to make a new emblem. Barry was about to start working on the new emblem when he heard his phone ringing, he took it out of his pocket and looked at the ID. Barry shook his head and put his phone down and started working on the emblem, just as the voice message started playing.

"Hey Barry, it's me. We've been worried about you, Dad said that you spoke to Captain Singh that wanted time off. No one's seen or heard from you, except for you running around helping the city…" Iris' message ended when Barry turned his phone off, he didn't want to hear anymore.

"Sorry guys. I can't risk losing anyone else." Barry whispered then he got back to work, he wanted to do something that made him forget his friends.

CCPD:

Joe was at his desk working then he stopped and looked at the photo on his desk: it was him, Iris and Barry at the West Home after Barry got his powers. Joe was thinking about Barry when David Singh walked over, Joe was busy looking at the picture that he didn't hear his Captain walk over.

"Joe," David spoke as he placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. Joe turned around and looked at the Captain then stood up. "Have you seen Barry lately?" He asked with concern but Joe shook his head.

"Barry's going through some stuff; his Dad's still in prison and he still hasn't found anything to get him out and he lost two friends during the whole Black Hole crisis." Joe explained and David nodded. "Has he spoken to you about if he's coming back?" Joe asked. David looked around then he walked Joe over to the window.

"I went up to his lab and found this," David reached inside his jacket and pulled out an envelope. "He's resigned, Joe." David spoke which shocked Joe, he covered his mouth as he leant against the window. "You didn't know?" David asked and Joe shook his head.

"He moved out some time ago, told me he was living with a friend so he could sort things out." Joe explained and David nodded. "Iris hasn't heard from him either, this will hurt her too." Joe remembered as David placed a hand on his friend's shoulder.

"Take the day off, Joe." David suggested which surprised Joe. "Talk to Barry, we can handle things here. Being Captain doesn't mean I have to sit behind a desk and do nothing." David told him and Joe nodded. He grabbed his coat and gun then left as David watched, concerned about both Barry and Joe.

West Home:

Iris was on the couch on her laptop, she decided to take a day off to help out around the house and spend time with her Dad. She had just put down her laptop when she heard the door open, she looked behind to see Joe walk in and hang up his coat.

"Dad, why are you back early?" Iris asked as Joe sighed. He looked over to his daughter then sat next to her, placing his hand on top of her's to comfort her.

"Iris," Joe started and Iris could tell the news wasn't good. "It's Barry, he's getting worse. He… he's resigned." Joe told her which shocked Iris. "Singh went to check on Barry when he saw an envelope on the desk. I checked the lab before I came here, all his stuff is gone." He added as Iris covered her mouth.

"How do we help him?" Iris asked but Joe shook his head. "If we can't help him, who can?" Iris asked when their phones binged. "Flash Day is about to start, do you think he'll be there?" Iris asked as she was hoping to see Barry.

"Guess we'll find out." Joe hoped as they got up and grabbed their coats then left, hoping to see Barry again.

City:

Crowds of people had gathered to celebrate Flash Day, the CCPD were there with Captain Singh leading them. David was looking at everyone when he saw Joe and Iris walking over to him, he smiled then walked over to them.

"Joe, Iris. It's good to see you here." David smiled and Joe nodded. "Any word from Barry?" He asked but the pair didn't answer.

"I called him earlier but he didn't answer. I left a message for him, he hasn't replied yet." Iris told them and David nodded. Iris looked around then she saw Caitlin and Cisco talking by a food cart. "Dad, I'm going to talk to Caitlin and Cisco, see if they know." Iris told him and Joe nodded. Iris walked over to the pair, who were looking at the stage when they saw Iris.

"Iris, hey." Cisco spoke and Caitlin waved. "Have you heard from Barry, we haven't." Cisco asked and Iris shook her head.

"We went to STAR Labs earlier and it looks like he's been living there." Caitlin whispered which surprised Iris. "We want to help him but we can't get through to him, wish we knew someone who could." Caitlin spoke and the pair nodded. They looked towards the stage as the Mayor walked towards the microphone.

"Good day, Central City!" The Mayor spoke as the crowd stopped clapping and listened. "A year ago, our city changed in ways we never thought was possible. Our city became ground zero for some pretty weird stuff, a new breed of criminals. Men and women who defied laws, physics and reason but we also got something else too. Something that became our city's hope for the future, we got The Flash." The Mayor smiled as he held his right hand up, pointing at the giant banner behind him. Everyone started cheering and clapping, Joe smiled as he started to clap then slowly looked around. "Our wounds run deep and while we are afraid of what threats tomorrow might bring, The Flash both protects us and brings hope to people who have lost it. And for that reason, I'm honored to present the Key to the man that saved Central City; The Flash!" The Mayor exclaimed which caused the crowd to cheer and clap more, just as a yellow and red streak ran up to stage.

"He showed!" Caitlin exclaimed and they smiled then they noticed something. "He's changed the emblem, look!" Caitlin told Iris and Cisco, they then looked again to see that Caitlin was right; the red background on the lightning bolt was now white.

"Sorry I'm late, Mister Mayor." The Flash spoke as he vibrated his voice. He stepped forward as the Mayor held out his hand. The Flash nodded as he shook the Mayor's hand, just as many photographers started to take pictures.

"The doors to Central City will forever be open to you, Flash." The Mayor smiled and The Flash nodded. The Mayor then handed the Key to Central City to The Flash, they shook hands again. "Would you like to say a few words?" The Mayor asked but before The Flash could say anything, he looked away and down the street.

"I would but crime doesn't rest." The Flash explained and The Mayor nodded, everyone then watched as their hero ran off and into the city.

"It seems there's no rest for our hero. Showing that he cares for our city and its people." The Mayor spoke and the crowd nodded as they respected their hero. Meanwhile, Iris, Cisco and Caitlin looked at each other as they were thinking the same thing.

"Something tells me he wasn't being truthful about why he had to leave." Iris told them and the pair nodded. "Let's hope that Barry will let us help him. Before he changes too much." Iris hoped as they looked at the banner on the stage, thinking about their friend.

Meanwhile:

In Ivy Town, Oliver was out jogging and smiling; it had been peaceful since he left Starling City and stopped being a vigilante. He ran towards his house when he saw Felicity outside, looking at her phone.

"Hey beautiful." Oliver called with a smile, he lowered his hood as he walked towards her. Felicity looked up at him and Oliver could tell there was something wrong. "Felicity, is everything okay?" Oliver asked as they walked inside their home.

"Cisco called me," Felicity started as she sat on the couch while Oliver closed the front door. "You remember when you told me that you went to Central City to help Barry with Wells?" Felicity asked and Oliver nodded as he sat next to her. "After that, they found that Harrison Wells was actually someone from the future who wanted to kill Barry, he offered Barry a chance to go back in time and save his Mom but he didn't do it. He came back and the pair fought until Joe's cop partner shot himself, causing the Reverse Flash to be wiped from existence. Then a black hole appeared over Central City and Barry tried to close it, but their burning man friend was able to but one half of them died." Felicity explained as Oliver tried to understand.

"If I'm correct, Joe's partner was called Eddie Thawne," Oliver started and Felicity nodded. "And the burning man was two people, Barry told me before we fought Wells. A Meta-human formed by Caitlin Snow's fiance, Ronnie Raymond and a Professor, Martin Stein." Oliver told her as Felicity looked at him.

"There's more, Oliver," Felicity paused then Oliver looked at her. "Barry's pushed everyone away. He won't talk to anyone and now, he's left the CCPD." Felicity told him which made Oliver stand up and brushed his hand through his hair.

"When we spoke at Jitters after stopping Bivolo and after stopping Wells, I told Barry that if he had a problem, he could always talk to me." Oliver admitted as he looked at Felicity, he placed his hands on his hips then looked at the floor. "So much has happened to him and now he's doing what I used to do." Oliver realised as he looked at Felicity.

"Which was what? Having two personalities for both selves? Injuring criminals?" Felicity asked then she realised what Oliver was talking about. "He's shutting out the people he cares about more so they don't get hurt." Felicity realised and Oliver nodded.

"Felicity, we need to go." Oliver suggested as he headed towards the bedroom. "Barry is our friend and he's helped us, time to be there for him." Oliver told her when Felicity stood in front of him.

"It's a good thing that I already packed a few bags to go to Central City to see Barry." Felicity told him and Oliver smiled at her. "See? I know how you think." Felicity smiled and Oliver leant forward.

"What would I do without you?" Oliver asked then he gently kissed Felicity. The pair then headed out to the car when Oliver took out his phone and handed it to Felicity. "See if John, Thea, Laurel or Quentin are near Central City to talk to Barry. We could get lucky and he might listen to them until we get there." Oliver suggested and Felicity nodded as they got in the car.

This is the first chapter to a new fanfic for a pairing I thought was very interesting. And before anyone asks, there will be nothing from Season 2 of The Flash: no Zoom, no Harry Wells, no Multiverse.