Running Back To You » Barry Allen

11.

***

"Fascinating, a meta-human that can manipulate poison gas," is the first thing I hear when I walk into S.T.A.R Labs and I immediately know Barry has arrived. 

I hear Cisco's excited voice follow that. "Is it just poisonous gas, or can he control all aerated substances?"

I quietly walk into the room and see Caitlin, my Father and Cisco all rushing around whilst Barry and Joe stand looking confused whilst unaware of my presence. 

"And how is he able to formulate the connection? Is it physiological or psychological?" Caitlin rambles, walking over to my Dad who is sat in front of a computer.

"This individual can create a mental nexus using gaseous substances," he explains and my brain suddenly clicks.

"You mean connect with gases on a molecular level?" I ask, making everyone in the room aware of my arrival. 

My Dad glances up from the screen that he's looking at, acknowledging me. "Yes."

"That is ridiculously cool," Cisco gushes.

Barry looks over at Detective West who is still looking at confused as ever. "They get really excited about this stuff," he explains.

"Oh don't act like you don't, Barry," I say, feigning a look of hurt.

Barry looks surprised for a second before smirking. "Did... You just call me... Barry?" It's his turn to act shocked, placing a hand on his chest.

I raise my eyebrows in amusement. "Don't get too cocky, Allen."

Joe shakes his head, smiling. "The only thing I'm excited about is putting criminals behind bars... Except Iron Heights isn't exactly equipped to handle meta-humans," he mutters, annoyance clear in his voice.

"Then I guess it's fortunate the ones you've encountered so far are no longer with us," my Dad shoots back and I inwardly sigh. Those two are even worse at hiding their distaste for each other than Barry and I.

"Well, unless we're planning on executing every super criminal we stop, you geniuses are gonna have to come up with someplace else to hold them."

I look over at Joe who is frowning slightly. "A meta-human prison," Cisco interrupts my thoughts.

"Sweet," I mutter, looking at Cisco who's nodding his head in agreement. 

"Until we figure a way to remove their powers," my Dad adds.

It's silent for a moment before Cisco speaks again. "There is one place here that might hold them..."

Caitlin's head snaps around to look at Cisco. "You can't be serious!" Cisco stays quiet. "I mean, we haven't been down there since the... It's cordoned off."

"Cisco is right," my Dad's voice shocks me as I thought he would be the last person to agree with this. "It could be modified to act as a makeshift prison."

Barry looks confused. "What could?"

"The particle accelerator," my voice shocks even me as I wasn't expecting to say anything.

Everyone is silent as they all decide whether or not this is a good idea. I glance over at Caitlin who looks pained thinking about the night of the accident. I must have the same look on my face judging by the way Barry is looking at both Caitlin and I.

"Caitlin? Evelina?" my Father's voice snaps Caitlin and I back to reality, we both look over at him. "I'm going down to the accelerator ring," he says. 

We both look at each other, neither of us saying a word but both of us knowing exactly what the other is thinking. Luckily, Barry jumps in at the right time. "Actually Dr. Wells, I could use Evelina's help identifying the poison gas..." He looks over at me and i can feel relief flooding through my body. "If that's okay with you?" 

I nod and swallow, "lets go."

As we're leaving I hear Cisco coming up with an excuse about needing Caitlin's help modifying Barry's suit to keep out any poison gas if this does turn out to be a meta-human.

***

As we walk into the Central City Police Department, I can't help feeling like I should try to at least be a little bit nicer to Barry during this short time we will be spending together, considering he did get me out of a situation that I definitely wasn't ready to face just yet. 

"Welcome to the CCPD," Barry announces, walking into what I assume is the main office, me trailing behind admiring everything. 

"So this is your day job?" I ask, and Barry grins.

"Mmmhmm, it's actually-"

As he's answering me, a man is dragged in between us by two police officers on both his sides. "I'm gonna rip out your hearts and eat 'em for lunch," he murmurs and I frown, looking at Barry to gage his reaction.

"Delightful," I sarcastically remark. 

"Lab rat, I need prints off this gun, pronto," a tall and important looking woman walks past, slamming a piece of paper into Barry's chest.

"Allen! Where the hell is the fiber analysis on the Orloff case?" Another important looking person walks up to Barry, clearly in a hurry.

Barry looks panicked for a second. "Upstairs," he says, gesturing to where I assume is his lab. "It's all- It's all finished, I-I can just run up and bring it down," he begins to head off when the man starts following him. 

"With you, that could be three days from now. I'll go with you." I decide it's best for me to follow the two men otherwise I'll be left alone standing in the middle of a building where I know absolutely no one. The man notices me waling beside him and gives me a strange look. "Who are you?"

"Evelina Wells. Barry's personal... Therapist." I look away, cursing at myself for coming up with such a stupid excuse. I look way too young to be a therapist but the guy clearly doesn't care enough to ask anymore questions as we head upstairs to Barry's lab. 

Once we get to his lab, Barry's already standing there with the report in his hand. He hands it to the man. "The fiber analysis for the Orloff case, like you asked for, sir." I raise and eyebrow at Barry whilst this man looks around, taking the report from him.

"Clean up your lab. It's a mess," and with that, he leaves but not before giving me one last glance with which I return an icy glare. 

Barry rolls his eyes as he leaves and walks further into the room with me following.

He turns around and looks at me, seriousness written all over his face.

A.N: HELLO IT'S ME! I'VE FINALLY UPDATED! CRAZY I KNOW! SORRY IF IT'S NOT VERY GOOD. I'M TRYING. HOW CRAZY IS THE FLASH RN THOUGH? I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GOING TO BE INCORPORATING JESSIE INTO THE FIC IF I CONTINUE IT TO SEASON 2 WHICH I REALLY DO WANT TO BUT WE WILL SEE! THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE!

 - A xx