Forgiveness (Alternate Ending to Trying to Recover {Completed})

Chapter 11: Not Anymore

Note: So, I figured some people were going to have questions on how Barry used his speed earlier in the story, but it's gone now. 

So, earlier in the story, Barry was hallucinating. That's why he couldn't hear them very well.

I hope you have enjoyed this series!

...

The cell remained open, but Barry didn't leave, no matter how much he wanted to.

He would spend hours staring at the door, debating it before saying, no, he couldn't risk that pain again.

Sometimes, he even cried about it.

But he never left the cell.

...

"I'm starting to think that there's a reason," Caitlin greeted as she walked into STAR Labs.

Everyone nodded.

"The question is, what's that reason?"

...

Barry stared at the open cell door.

Again.

He felt the tears before he realized he was crying.

Again.

When he saw his 'friends', he immediately tried to wipe them away to little success.

"Hey, Barry," Len greeted.

Barry ignored them, and turned to face away from them.

"Barry... We need to know why. Why you won't leave a cell. We're getting desperate enough to force you out."

Barry continued to ignore them.

"Barry..." 

He ignored them.

Then Len walked up from behind him and started pulling him.

He immediately started to struggle, and managed to get away before passing the cell door.

Everyone noticed that he didn't use his speed.

They dismissed it.

Why would that be a big deal?

"Leave me alone!" Barry shouted. Len walked toward him to try again, and ignored the pure rage in Barry's eyes.

When he got close enough, Barry punched him.

"I. Told. You. To. Stay. Away. You. Didn't. Listen. Not. My. Fault," Barry breathed, then turned to ignore him again.

Len held his nose, which was bleeding.

Everyone looked at Barry in surprise.

Since when did Barry punch people?

...

When they left, Barry decided it was time.

He closed his eyes, tried in vain to stop the panic attack coming, and stuck his hand out the door.

It didn't hurt.

At all.

He opened his eyes.

He wasn't in pain.

He walked the rest of the way out.

It still didn't hurt!

He walked to the Cortex.

No one was there.

He looked around. He wished he had his speed.

He wondered how he could get it back.