Saving Her

E I G H T E E N

Bethany's hand made contact with Barry's face with a loud slap. He brought his own hand up to his cheek looking at Beth with surprise. "I deserved that." A silence followed and Barry was afraid to speak, but felt he had to say something. "Bethany I'm sorry I-"

"How could you...How could you do this to me? You should've told me awhile ago that you and him were the same person. I...I can't even look at you right now. I trusted you. It's one thing if him, you, had been a total stranger under that mask. The fact that he is you. You of all people. You were with me almost everyday at one point or another. We were close, and you couldn't tell me...I kissed you, and you let me! Just get out Barry I need time." Beth held back tears not even knowing why she was crying.

She felt humiliated for one. Talking about Barry to Barry unknowingly. That made her chest burn. "Bethany please-"

"I said get out!" Beth yelled glaring at Barry hard as a tear slipped out of her eye. More following suit. She forced herself to look at the ground waiting for Barry's retreating foot steps. After a few moments Bethany couldn't hold it in any longer and an ugly sob escaped her lips. Barry listened with a heavy heart finally running away. He really screwed up this time.

Beth curled in on herself. Was she over reacting? If so, she didn't care. After calming herself down she pulled out her phone dialing Eddie's number.

When he didn't answer she left a message. "Hey Eddie I just wanted to let you know I plan on going away for a couple days. I didn't want you to freak out had I left without saying anything. I'll be back by Tuesday I promise. I love you. Stay safe out there feel free to call.' Her voice gave away she had been crying, but knew Eddie would understand. He would talk to her, and find out everything later.

She hung up sniffling getting ahold of herself. She typed in her bosses number next. "Hello?"

"Hey Meghan it's Beth do you mind if I take a few days off? A friend of mine was hurt in Starling City, and I would like to go visit him."

"Oh yeah that's fine. I'm sorry to hear that. Why don't you take the week off? I can have someone cover for you."

"Thanks a bunch Meghan I'll be sure to let you know how things go."

"I hope he's okay. Have a safe trip Beth."

Meghan hung up first leaving Beth to get ready. She knew her friend was expecting her so she decided not to text her again.

Instead she packed clothes for the weekend before texting Iris. 'Can we talk? I want to apologize in person. Can you meet me at the train station? Please keep it on the down low. Barry doesn't know I'm leaving yet.'

Beth scuffed at the last sentence. She had told him unknowingly this morning when the Flash came to visit. By the time she triple checked she had everything her phone dinged letting her know Iris got back to her.

'Leaving now.'

Bethany slipped out of her apartment hailing a taxi. When she pulled up she quickly bought a last minute ticket to Starling sitting on a bench to wait for Iris.

Beth had started to nod off when someone touched her shoulder. She sat up in alarm about to pull her dagger out when she realized Iris stood in front of her.

"Why are you leaving?" She had her arms crossed, and was giving Beth a look that made her want to shrink inside herself.

"I just need to take a weekend to work some stuff out. Listen Iris I was a bitch this morning. I shouldn't have treated you that way." Beth stood up pulling her friend into her embrace. "You deserve better than that. I know you're just trying to help me, but with my past I'm terrified of it catching up to me. The man who took me is a psycho, and he will stop at nothing to get me back. To him you are assets he can use against me. Pawns. He knows I would die for the people I care about, and I care about you Iris. I care about Eddie and I care about Barry. I never wanted to hurt anyone." Beth heard sniffling and she pulled away to see Iris tearing up. "Hey Iris it's okay. It'll be okay."

"No no Bethany. I am sorry for making you feel so...trapped. I know you said you didn't want to talk about this, but I just want to say I think you are so incredibly brave and courageous. Why? Because you fight. Fight for the life you want to live, and that's something that inspires me to keep doing what I do. Get the word out about Flash. You are my inspiration Bethany."

Bethany was absolutely speechless. When her train was called she didn't move. She stood in place staring at Iris in shock. "Really?"

"Yes really." Iris laughed wiping her tears away. "Now go take your weekend. I'll keep our boys in line while your gone." Iris smiled playfully pulling Beth to her train.

"We can talk more when you get back okay?"

"Of course Iris. Stay safe. If not for me then for Eddie, Barry, and Joe." Bethany waved as the doors closed Iris waving back a huge smile on her face.

Beth found her seat taking a nap. Not long after that the doors opened up once again and she was in Starling City.

She sighed looking around at the dreary city. Hailing a cab she found her way to where she needed to be dragging her suitcase behind her with a smile on her face.

She opened up the door leaving her suitcase at the top of the stairs running down. Her friend stood in the center of the room.

"What are you doing here?"

"I need some help Ollie. The doctor is catching up fast, and I'm not ready yet." Bethany shook her head.

"Well I for one am glad to see you. Ignore him he's like that all the time. He's glad your here."

"Felicity my favorite crime fighter. Next to you of course Arrow." Bethany winked in his direction pulling Felicity into a hug. "It's been awhile."

"Glad your back."

"I'm glad too."

******

Happy New Year!!!

StayGolden<3

~B