The Impossible

40

Barry's POV

"Barry, what's going on?" I heard Cisco's voice say in my ear. It pulled me back into reality.

"Uh, Aspen was shot. She's unconscious but she's still breathing and has a heartbeat." I explained the best way I could without breaking down. 

"Bring her here!" Caitlin ordered.

I picked her up began running, grabbing Evan on the way. I was so worried, I couldn't let her die. I couldn't handle her death, I know that now just by looking at her. Maybe Evan was right, she shouldn't be in this lifestyle. She needs to be safe, but this is far from that. 

I threw him in the pipeline, quite literally, and ran into the Cortex. I stopped running full speed when I got to the door. I just began walking quickly. When everyone saw me, they began to panic and follow me.

"She won't wake up," I said as I walked into the infirmary. I placed her on the bed and she fell so gracefully. Caitlin immediately ran to her and moved her coat out of the way. I began to pace, wondering if she would be okay.

"Cisco, give me the tweezers." Cisco quickly handed her the tool and she made the hole in Aspen's shirt bigger. I ran my fingers through my hair as I watched anxiously. Caitlin pulled out the bullet and placed it in a container.

"She's going to be okay, right, Cait?" I asked, standing next to Aspen.

"It was pretty deep in there, Barry, I need to stitch her," Caitlin informed. There was no clear answer which worried me even more. I began pacing and I walked out of the infirmary. I wanted to be in there with her, but I was crowding Caitlin.

"Barry," Oliver called after me. I forgot he was still here. I turned around to face him. "She's going to be okay. She's a survivor." I shook my head.

"Don't say that to me, Oliver. Not while we have to wait to see if she'll make it. She was so close to death and I thought I protected her, but obviously, I didn't." I shook my head again, trying to remind myself to have hope.

"You did by bringing her here. Now we just have to trust Caitlin." Suddenly, there was a beeping sound. We both ran into the infirmary and saw Aspen was shaking rapidly. My heart wanted to burst from my chest at the sight of her. 

"Caitlin, what's going on?" Joe asked. Caitlin injected something in her arm and her shaking stopped.

"It's worse than I thought." She said in a panicked voice. She continued to operate on her without any other explanation. I looked over at Joe and shook my head. This couldn't be happening. I can't lose her.

"Bare--" Joe began. I walked out again, trying to stay calm. If she were awake, she would be telling me that everything is okay, that I just needed to stay calm. I can't without her. I can't stand the way that I can't help her. "Barry, look I know this is hard, but--"

"She's dying, Joe!" I shouted out of impulse. I didn't mean to, but it's the truth. "She's dying and I can't help her."

"She's not. Caitlin is going to fix her."

"But what if she can't. This is all my fault. I should've listened to her about all of it. I should've been there when he grabbed her, or-- or sooner. I--I don't know, Joe. I can't imagine a world with her gone." I was talking so fast I was afraid that my heart was going to explode.

"Look, she jumped off a building just on a hunch that you were The Flash. And I wouldn't be surprised if she had survived that without your help. She's going to fight for her life, I promise." He tried to assure me. "Why don't you get changed while Caitlin fixes her. I'll go get us some coffee."