Short on Time

Chapter 88

"It's not permanent, is it?" Was the first thing Iris asked Barry when he told us the news.

"I mean, he said it was indefinite," Barry said.

"They wouldn't have given you your ID back if it was for good," I told Barry.

"I mean, maybe this is for the best, Barry. I mean, you need to prove that DeVoe is still alive," Iris pointed out.

"And you can do that now as The Flash," Caitlin added.

"Yeah, maybe," Barry said with a noncommited shrug.

"How are we doing with him, by the way?" I asked.

"We know that we still have four bus metas left to find. And that DeVoe has absorbed the powers of Killgore, Hazard, Black Bison, Brainstorm, and Dwarfstar. Fallout is safe with Tracy. But the Weeper is M.I.A.," Caitlin explained.

"Then DeVoe must have him," Barry said.

"Well, that just leaves Ralph," Iris said.

"Ralph is safe with us," I said.

"But the other four metas aren't. DeVoe will absolutely kill them and take their powers," Barry said.

"But why does he need their powers?" I asked.

"I can't figure out his end game," Caitlin said.

"I don't know," Barry said. "I just know that these last four metas are the key. That's why we need to find them."

"And find them we will," Ralph said walking in.

"Where have you guys been?" I asked giving them a glare I learned from my mother.

"A little home away from home, otherwise known as the bus depot," Ralph said putting a box down. "But I showed Cisco here an old P.I. trick I learned from my mentor, Columbo. Lost and found box from meta bus 405."

"Question for the room, how did I get stuck doing the buddy system thing with Ralph?" Cisco asked.

"It's the best way to keep Ralph safe, Cisco," Iris said.

"Yeah, it's the best way to keep Ralph safe, Cisco," Ralph repeated and I smacked him. "Ow, what was that for?"

"I will put you on babysitting duty if you are not careful," I threatened.

"Well, clearly you've never had to stay over at an apartment that uses neon beer signs for lamps and the kitchen sink for a shower. Ralph, I love you. But you sleep on a futon," Cisco said.

"Futon's not that bad," Ralph objected.

"It is when it's damp," Cisco replied.

"Why is it damp?" Iris asked.

"I sweat a lot when I sleep," Ralph muttered.

"You nasty," Iris said wrinkling her nose.

"Oh, hey, my retainer. Been looking for this," Ralph said and then he put it in his mouth.

"That's just-" I said at a loss for words.

"Okay, you made your point. Not that the point needed to be made. I'll take the next shift," Barry said.

"You're a good man, Barry Allen," Cisco said.

"Really? Who uses CDs anymore?" Ralph asked as he pulled it out.

"A musician trying to catch their break," Iris said as she took it. "Izzy Bowen."

"Ugh, country," Ralph frowned when he heard the music. "Music's tone deaf stepchild."