To Flash and Beyond (The Flash)

Chapter 2

Well, things couldn't get any worse too. Joe West was a really messed up man in this timeline. At first Barry was very excited to pick up his phone. He wanted to see what would happen to Joe and his relation in such a timeline, a timeline in which, probably, their paths never crossed. Joe West adopted Barry Allen when his mother died and his father went to prison for her supposed "homicide". Joe lived only with his daughter and Barry brightened up their dull and boring lives. They shared an unusual bond of friendship. They shared a relation similar to father and son.

All the excitement to pick up the phone died as soon as Barry pressed the green button.

" I have dialled you for the ninety-eighth time in a row Allen! You and Tony will have it from me now! We have a homicide five blocks from the Central Street. Ten minutes! Otherwise...otherwise Captain Singh will sack you two," Joe said at the other end of the phone.

Joe had never talked to Barry that way. Anyways, he didn't know how Joe had spoken to him in this alternate timeline at all. He didn't even know about the repercussions which may follow. Whatever it may be, this was the better timeline, so far, yes it was.

"Ten minutes. You got it Joe," Barry said.

" Don't call me that. We aren't partners and we aren't friends!" Joe West shouted and hung up.

Tony looked at him with worry. " I've got the car. Come down."

Barry would have gladly come down but he had a few things to "test" first.

"I'll go walking, don't worry!" Barry said, giving Tony a reassuring smile.

"Whatever!"

*

The wind whistled past his ears and the cool winds embraced his face. Somehow, Barry still had his speed, and memories from the alternate timeline. He whizzed past the cars and felt great. He could see how everything was really slow in his comparison. In a total of fifteen seconds Barry reached his destination. He approached Joe.

"What do we have here Joe?" Barry asked. He tried to act all serious in his job.

" Don't call me by my name. I am not your friend and I'm not your partner." Joe snorted.

"So what do I call you?" Barry asked. He was really annoyed now. Joe was never ever so rude to him. Barry didn't like it at all.

"Whaddya say?" Joe asked, fumes of anger erupting from within.

"So what do I call you, Boss? Sir? Mr.West?" Barry retorted.

Joe approached Barry and held him by his collar. "You stay in your limits son, as it is... I am just DYING to finish you forever...for what you did to my daughter."

Barry looked down in shame for what he didn't do, in the alternate timeline at least. But the harsh truth was that he had to take responsibility for the mistakes he technically didn't commit. His gut instinct instructed him otherwise.

" Look Joe, I didn't do that, trust me. By the look on your face I can tell that we aren't great pals but you gotta understand... I am sorry for whatever things I have done but...but-"

"I don't trust you one bit Allen!" Joe exclaimed.

" You aren't anything like the Joe I know!"

Tony's car drove in at that very instant. Tony emerged from his car and started solving the quarrel between the two. " Boys boys boys! Easy! We ain't want no bloodshed! Eh Allen? And what 'bout you Mr.West? We already have a murder and we ain't want no more. So let's stick to this and debate everything else later. Comprendo?"

Joe snorted. Barry crossed the "Do not cross" police line and saw the corpse. He examined the body carefully. It was a male of about forty years old and looked like a businessman. Barry had seen hundreds of dead bodies and examined each in detail, being a forensic scientist. He was glad to know that he was a forensic scientist in this timeline as well. He expected to follow in his father's footsteps to become a doctor.

But something was different about this body. There was a deep large hole in the middle of it's chest. It was as large as a fist. Only a speedster could kill someone in this way.

The Reverse Flash!

Barry recounted trapping The Reverse Flash in a laser protected prison where S.T.A.R Labs was supposed to exist. What if he escaped? Barry thought But the prospects are really meagre.

His thoughts were interrupted by Tony.

"I gotta go to CC Jitters Allen. Wouldya mind comin' along?" Tony asked.

Barry gave him a questioning look.

"Gosh! I gotta meet my new date! She was due an hour ago but you were busy gettin' your smelly butt kicked in your house." Tony explained.

Barry smiled. "Of course."

He was dying to meet one woman in this timeline, her supposed best friend turned enemy. If anything was similar between the two timelines, then he knew just where to meet the woman he loved... Iris West.