In A Flash

Research

After dropping Hartley off at Star Labs, Barry heads to work. I come with him, because I need to ask Joe something. I'll probably have to explain to my manager why I ditched Jitters during my shift...

Barry heads to the lab and I approach Joe. He was at his desk, quickly scribbling notes down onto a sheet of paper. I stand in front of him for a few seconds, not sure what to say.

Joe speaks as he continues to write. "You just going to stand there and stare at me or what?" He finally looks up from his desk.

"I was wondering about something and thought you might be able to help."

"What is it?"

"You know Dr. Wells, right?" I blurt the question.

Joe studies me for a moment before standing from his desk and pulling me aside. "What happened?"

"Nothing. It's just something about him--"

"Is suspicious," Joe finishes my thought and I nod. He glances around the room before speaking in a quiet tone, "I've been trying to figure out if he's had anything to do with Barry's mom's murder. I've found nothing."

"So you're saying you gave up? He's hiding something! I know it!" My voice raises ever so slightly.

"I'm not saying I gave up. I'm saying I'm starting to believe Barry."

"What's Barry been saying?"

"He's been telling me that Dr. Wells is a good man and he wouldn't do such a thing like kill his mother."

"So are you going to do more research or not?"

"No, but if anything comes up regarding him, let me know."

"Okay," I nod.

Before I walked off, Joe called out, "Don't do anything stupid, Megan."

I let out a small laugh. "Don't worry, I won't."

I walk out of the precinct and think of a plan. Yes, I'm going to do some research. Yes, Joe meant not to, but I'm not exactly the kind of person to listen to instructions. Everyone should know that by now...

When I get to the apartment, I search all of the places I could think of to find a newspaper. In particular, the newspaper that showed a picture of Barry's mother. After about an hour I found it buried at the bottom of a cardboard box under the bed.

I read through the newspaper with tears brimming my eyes. As I stare at the words memories flood into my mind of Barry's mom. Of all the fun times Barry and Iris and I hung out for play dates at Barry's house, his mom baking snacks for us. About how much I could tell she loved Barry, how much she showed it.

Tears splatter onto the old, faded paper and I realized I was crying. I quickly wipe my eyes with my sleeves. Why did she have to be killed? Why her? Both her and my mom were stabbed and neither of them deserved it.

"I love you, sea turtle," my mom's voice startles me from my daze. I look up from the paper, expecting to see her sitting next to me with a loving grin spread across her face. But of course, nothing was there. This only made me cry harder.
*****
I don't know how long I stayed there, but Barry came in a long while later. I stuff the newspaper back into the box and slide back under the bed.

"Why're you crying?" Barry examines my face with worried eyes and sits down in front of me. I must've looked really bad; my face must have been blotchy and my puffy eyes gave away the fact that I've been crying for awhile.

I take a deep breath. Should I even bring this up with him? "It's nothing," I finally mumble.

Barry watches me as I keep wiping my eyes as tears continue to make their way down my face. "It's not 'nothing' when you're crying."