Remember Me | HIATUS

03

With the news that The Flash disappearing, the crime rates were going through the roof. All of those criminals were scared before because they knew they'd be caught within seconds, and now with this rumour going around that he's dead, they were free to get away with their crimes much easier. As much help as Wally was, he wasn't Barry.

The team didn't want to push Barry to help right away in case he wasn't ready, which he wasn't. He wanted to help, but it was a lot of information to take in. He had so much on his mind and instead of handling the problems head on, he chose to pretend it didn't exist.

"Barry, you can't just lay on the couch all day." Iris' voice was heard from the living room as she walked into the West house. Joe had offered that he stay there until he felt comfortable to go home with Caitlin. As much as that had made Caitlin upset, she knew it was for the best. She didn't want to pressure him to staying at a home he didn't recognize with someone who was a stranger to him. Instead, she thought it was a good idea to have Barry stay with Joe and Wally. At least that way he's in a home he recognizes and with Joe.

"That's where you're wrong." Barry groaned, shielding his eyes from the light that Iris turned on. She opened the curtains and the sunlight streamed in, pointing directly at Barry. He let out another annoyed groan and rolled over so his face was in the couch.

"When was the last time you showered?" Iris asked, pinching her nose. She was trying to be dramatic.

Barry mentally rolled his eyes and rolled over to see Iris and was surprised when he saw her.

"Caitlin... Hi." Barry immediately sat up and tried to fix his hair. She stood at the end of the couch with a small smile on her face. He frowned thinking about how hard this must be for her. He wasn't making it much easier by refusing to do anything and pretending like none of this was happening. It had been a week since he woke up and he's barely talked to anyone. He knows he should talk to someone, but he chose not to.

"I, uh, brought some of your clothing in case you were planning on leaving the couch anytime soon." She tried to make a joke and Barry laughed, getting up from the couch and taking the suitcase she was holding. His hand lightly brushed hers as he took the suitcase from her and he felt a shock once they made contact. They both looked at one another for a moment, staring into each other's eyes.

Barry wasn't sure if that was a side effect of being struck by lightening and he gives shocks to people when he touches them, or if that was the effect Caitlin had on him.

"Thank you," Instinctively, Barry leaned in and placed a kiss on Caitlin's cheek. Caitlin froze and a smile fell onto her lips. He leaned away with wide eyes and looked between the two women. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to –"

"It's alright. I should get back to work. I'll see you around?" She asked, hope evident in her voice. As much as she wanted to be strong and show that this wasn't affecting her, it was next to impossible. She missed Barry, more than ever. She missed waking up to him pulling her back to bed every morning because she always was up at the crack of dawn while Barry chose to sleep in. She missed his morning voice and hearing him say good morning beautiful to her every morning. She missed the way his fingers would trace the skin on her back to help her fall asleep. She just missed everything about him and it was killing her.

Barry nodded his head, sticking his hands into his track pants pockets. He watched as she left the West house and he walked away from Iris, smacking his head. "I'm so dumb! Why did I do that?!" He threw his hands in the air, frustrated.

"Maybe your subconscious is trying to tell you that you love her?" Iris suggested, trying her hardest to get Barry to remember for Caitlin's sake. Caitlin was so heartbroken she couldn't even stay at her own home anymore. To her, her home was wherever Barry was and since Barry wasn't there, she couldn't stand to be there alone. It brought back too many memories and made her even more upset. Iris offered that she could crash at her place until Barry remembers, or until he stays at her place with her. Caitlin was extremely grateful for that offer.

"Can I ask you something?" Barry turned around, his face soft. He waited for Iris to respond and she nodded her head, awaiting his question.

"Did you know I was going to propose to Caitlin?" He asked. Iris looked at the ground and nodded her head. "Yeah, I did," a smile fell onto her lips. Barry sat down on the couch and Iris followed after him, taking a seat beside him. "Before you had even gotten the ring from your dad you sat down with me and told me "I'm going to marry that girl one day you just wait and see". I was so happy that you two found each other. You were so happy and in love." Iris grinned, playing with her finger nails.

"And what about us?" Barry asked. He didn't want to look at Iris because he didn't want to see her reaction to the question.

"Well," Iris began, "You had feelings for me, but those feelings weren't reciprocated. I was with someone else. Eventually, you admitted to yourself that you had feelings for Caitlin and the rest is history."

Barry nodded his head. So him and Iris never happen. "I love you, Barry," Iris admitted, putting her hand on his knee. Barry looked up at her, smiling slightly. His smile was gone as soon as it came, though. "But as a brother. Wow, this feels like deja-vu." She laughed to herself and clapped her hands together, bouncing up from the couch.

"If you want the whole story about you and Caitlin, you should talk to her. She can tell you everything." Iris smiled as she began to walk towards the door. Barry felt sad that she was leaving. He had chosen to be stuck in this house, so seeing Iris made him feel less upset about everything.

"And when you're ready to be the Flash, the team will be waiting for you." She opened the door and was about to exit before she peeked her head from the door and raised her eyebrows at him. "Also, please shower. You really do smell." And with that, Iris left, closing the door behind her.

If Barry was going to try and remember everything from his past, maybe it was best that he try to get back into that lifestyle. He could be the Flash again and maybe try to rekindle things with Caitlin. He wasn't sure what he was going to do. One thing he did know for sure was Iris was right; he did smell.