Aftermath

Que Sera, Sera

Caitlin had never been one to delay the inevitable. During her residency, she'd had to deliver a plethora of bad news. As difficult as that was, she also understood that neither her nor the patient's family would benefit from dragging things out. Reality needed to be dealt with head-on; that was the only way to start the healing process.

Then she was on the other side of that conversation.

When she was told of Ronnie's death, time slowed. Caitlin tried so desperately to stop it – to reverse it, even – but it was a losing battle. Suddenly, she didn't want to face reality. She didn't want to consider the healing process because there was no healing from something like that. So, what was the point in trying? She had a better chance of reversing time.

Caitlin lived in that mindset for nine months. Up until Barry Allen entered the picture.

Barry was, well... Barry was a creature all his own. He wasn't exactly a sterling example of leaving the past in the past; after all, he'd been chasing the mystery of his mother's death for 14 years. And yet, that didn't keep him from accepting the moment. Somehow, it inspired him to keep moving forward, to try his hardest to make a better reality instead of rejecting it altogether. Caitlin learned from that.

Of course, nothing could go well for too long, so eventually she was faced with another nightmare: Killer Frost.

Then old habits returned, and she was delaying the inevitable once again. A part of her always knew that her metahuman side would prevail one day. She could fight as much as she wanted for as long as she wanted, but Killer Frost would win in the end. Caitlin could feel it – feel her icy powers simmering under the surface. Trying to contain them - the bracelets, the necklace, the cure – proved to be exhausting. She knew it was necessary; she knew that havoc would be wrought if Killer Frost won. But she was fighting so hard – ignoring the voice, cutting out the impeding streaks of blonde hair, calming the rage.

When Killer Frost finally did emerge, it was like a breath of fresh air. Suddenly, all this weight was off her shoulders. She didn't have to fight anymore. The inevitable had come, and she basked in the simplicity of it. This was her, now. This was the new reality. And Killer Frost had a much different way of dealing with things. She accepted what she couldn't control, couldn't change. Anything and everything that happened was like water off a duck's back. Que sera, sera.

So, if Frost found herself delaying her arrive to STAR Labs the morning after Savitar's cure was enacted, it was just fatigue. The cure was sapping her strength, that was all. Her morning shower was a little bit longer – so what? She took the time to make an elaborate breakfast – no big deal. Great consideration was put into her outfit for the day – nothing odd about that. Her walking pace was slow – what's the big deal? It was a nice day; she wanted to savor the walk.

The one thing she absolutely, positively wasn't doing was stalling. Stalling would suggest that there was a possible reality she didn't want to face. There wasn't. (Yes, she'll say it again for those in the back: she wasn't trying to avoid anything.) Avoiding things was Caitlin's way to cope. Frost didn't get worked up the same way. It was just another average day – the outcome of which would have no impact on her whatsoever.

Upon entering STAR Labs, Frost squared her shoulders, raised her chin, and straightened her back. Calm, cool, collected, and unaffected – that was the image she needed to portray. (Because that's how she was truly feeling. Obviously.) As she approached the Cortex, Frost heard a coagulation of voices.

Rounding the corner, she came face-to-face with a merry group gathered in the middle of the room – Barry, Iris, Cisco, Joe, Harry, Wally, Tracy... and Jay. They were laughing, talking, smiling. For the first time in a while, the energy in STAR Labs was hopeful and joyous. Team Flash had won. They well and truly had won; everything worked out in their favor.