Chapter Three: Could This Day Get Any Worse?

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I had to say, I was utterly shocked when Cisco pulled up at the sketchiest bar I had ever seen in my life.

"Caitlin is here?" I asked. "Dr. Caitlin Snow, the most neat and classy person I know is here?"

"You don't have to tell me. I was just as shocked as you were." We got out of the car and headed in. The smell of cheap beer and vomit hit me like a brick wall the second I walked in the door. I followed Cisco up to the bar.

"Look at all those selections. You got any recommendations?" He asked the bearded guy beside him. 

"Yeah, drink somewhere else."

"Amen to that." I mumbled.

"What can I get you?" The bartender asked. I recognized her voice almost instantly.

"Let's go with something sweet, but deceptively strong."

"With lots of ice." I added. She turned around smiling at us.

"Two Shirley Temples coming right up."

"What is a nice girl with two doctorates and a PHD doing in a rat's nest like this one?" Cisco questioned.

"Rat's nest? Rat's nest is generous." I told him. 

"Working. How'd you find me?"

"I'm great with computers and I have my own satellite, you do the math."

"You vibed me."

"He vibed you." We said together.

"I vibed you, yes." He confirmed. She went to the other side of the bar and we grabbed our drinks, following her down. "You're looking a lot less Frost then the last time I saw you."

"You said you weren't her, but you weren't Caitlin either. So what are you now?" I asked.

"It's just me, Laura. I'm just Caitlin."

"How'd you do it?" Cisco asked.

"What do you want?"

"Well, a stiffer drink, for starters. If you're back to normal, I have to know, why didn't you come back to us?" She just looked at him."Ok, I get it, that's fine. I'm not gonna make you answer that."
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a sketchy dude with one clear white eye leaning ominously against the wall, eyeing Cisco and I. "But we really could've used you."

"Barry's still stuck in the Speed Force? As apparent from Laura's physical appearance. You look terrible."

"I don't know why people keep saying that. I feel like a dang beauty queen." I said dryly.

"We're gonna get him out, but we need your help." Creepy dude came over, leaning on the bar beside me.

"Everything ok?" He asked.

"Everything's fine pal. Do you mind? We're talking to the lady." Cisco told him. "I'm sure there's someone else in here that you can find to commiserate with over poor life choices."

"Or you know...maybe someone that can hook you up with a decent eyepatch there, cyclopes." I added. He scowled at me and I shot him a sarcastic smile and a wink. He stood up and left. "Sorry. I get sarcastic when I'm tired."

"Look, I figured out how to save Barry, but we can't do it without you. Did you see that Samurai that showed up today?"

"Yes." She confirmed.

"He's threatening to blow up the city, and we need Barry to stop him. So help us out, please? Caitlin?"

"My shift's over in an hour." I smiled.

"Yes. So, you two crazy kids have this under control? I can go home and die now?"

"Yeah, go get some sleep. You look like Lord Voldemort." I gasped at Cisco.

"How dare you?!" He laughed and I turned around, leaving the building and taking off into the sky.

~~~

The next morning, we all met up at the air strip, save Iris, ready to bring the fastest man alive home.

"Hey, someone's looking better." Joe said, handing me a cup of coffee as I landed.

"I'm feeling better, thanks. Sorry, to everyone involved about my meltdown last night."

"Hey, we understand. You've been doing the job of two people...for two different jobs." Wally stated. I smiled. "So what are we doing out here, Cisco?"

"It seemed an appropriate venue, we've had good luck here before."

"Why do we need good luck?" Joe questioned.

"Because we're bringing Barry back." I answered.

"Guys, Iris said-"

"I know what Iris said, Joe. And I also know Barry said everyone would look to me after he was gone. So look to me. The Five of us...we can do this."

"What do you mean the five of us?"

"Hi Joe." Caitlin greeted, walking up behind them.

"It's ok. She's Caitlin again. Our Caitlin." Cisco assured them.

"She's here to help us. The Doctor is in." I threw in. Caitlin smiled at me.

"So, what do you say?"

"You better be right." Joe told him.

"I am." I took my jacket off, revealing my super suit and standing next to Cisco.

"So, how are we gonna bring Barry back without blowing a hole in the uh...world?" Wally asked.

"Yeah, I've been kind of curious myself. What's this big plan, Cisco?" I threw in.

"Ha! In the spirit of bringing back old friends, may I present the Speed Force bazooka. I made a few slight modifications-"

"As Captain Solo would say?" I asked. He turned to me.

"Have I mentioned that I love you?"

"Maybe once or twice." I replied, winking at him.

"Caitlin and I spent all last night working out some kinks, fine-tuning the Quark Sphere."

"What?"

"The Quark Sphere, filled with Barry's exact genetic marker and programmed to track his specific DNA, using the electrical current of the speed force." Caitlin explained.

"Once we track Barry and we pull him out, the Quark Sphere will trick the Speed Force into thinking he's still there."

"Hey Wally, or Laura, whoever, can you put that on the center pylon?" Caitlin asked. Wally and I looked at each other.

"You're already dressed, you got this." He told me. I smiled, grabbing the sphere and quickly flying out to the pylon, positioning the sphere and flying back.

"Ready?"

"Let's bring our boy home." Cisco said.

"Quark Matter scanning electrical current." A ball of light flew into the air. "Triangulating Quark Matter on his location. I've got a lock on something."

"IT'S HIM!" Cisco shouted over the wind. Wally and Joe both grabbed one of my arms to keep me from flying away.

"NOW CISCO!" He fired the bazooka and the portal closed. Nothing happened. Honestly, it almost felt worse than him being gone in the first place. I turned back, tugging at my hair when I came face-to-face with Iris.

"Could this day get any worse?" I muttered.

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