In A Blink ➳ Barry Allen/The Flash

17.

chapter seventeen ; aftershock

_________________

The outside wave of the blast caught up to Barry, causing him to tumble. He got up as soon as they fell checking on Caitlin to make sure she was okay and informed the team back at the Cortex they were fine.

Caitlin stood up, staring at the source of the blast, where Ronnie was, "The nuclear explosion. There's no telling how much radiation we were exposed to."

Cisco checked the readings of Barry' suit, "This can't be. The suit.. it's reading the radiation level as normal." Dr. Wells turned his attention to the screen in front of Cisco.

"There's no radiation."

"Let's go," Barry said looking at Caitlin and picked her up, racing the two of them back towards the center. Carefully walking down the sides of the newly formed crater, Caitlin called out for Ronnie while Barry called for Stein.

Through the smoke, a body was seen, moving slightly on the ground. Tentatively, Caitlin approached, a somber expression on her face, "Ronnie?"

Kneeling down beside him, Ronnie began to cough. His clothes were torn to shreds and his face was blackened by soot. He looked around him until his eyes settled on Caitlin before him and reached out to touch her face, "Cait."

Caitlin looked at him with utter concern, "Tell me your name."

"Ronnie Raymond," he said simply before the two shared a kiss. Barry watched the intimate moment before another voice cut through the barren land.

"Uh, pardon me, but obviously I need a change of clothes," an elderly man said, his clothes torn as well, dirtied, and glasses scratched.

Barry laughed in disbelief, "Nice to see you in the flesh again Professor Stein. We're coming home. All of us."

Barry reached each person individually to S.T.A.R. Labs, briefly stopping by Professor Stein's house and Caitlin's to get each man their own clothes. When he returned, he saw Cisco, Caitlin, and Ronnie reuniting while Professor Stein stood in the back.

"Excuse me, but do you have a place where I can freshen up?" Stein asked as he held up the clothes Barry gave him. Dr. Wells led the way as the rest went into the Cortex.

Barry's and Caitlin's phone each went off, one after the other as they were walking. Barry checked his and announced it was Nat. "She was asking if we heard about the explosion?"

Ronnie turned towards Caitlin, "Natalie's in town?"

Caitlin entwined their hands together and a brief frown fell upon her face, "Yeah. She moved here a while ago. I don't know how I'm going to explain..you. We haven't told her yet about all of this." Caitlin shook her thoughts out of her head and the smile returned to her face, "Let's go check on your vitals."

After Dr. Wells and Caitlin examined Stein and Ronnie, the two made it clear that they did not want to spend anymore time together and Barry was designated to take Professor Stein home. As the two walked up to Stein's house, Martin hesitated before he announced he was home. He turned to Barry, choosing his words carefully, "How..I don't know what I should say."

Barry gave him a smile, "I don't think you need to say anything."

Hearing the two speak, Stein's wife opened the door, pulling in a long breath when she saw her husband in the flesh. Martin tried to stumble out an apology but Clarissa pulled him into a kiss, the two thanking Barry as he turned to leave for bringing him home. As Barry was just about to start running, his phone rang and a picture of Natalie popped up on the screen.