The Storm After

Chapter 20: My Name is Linda Danvers-Queen!

(1 Hour Before - Central City - West-Allen Home - 12/10/2033)

Unbeknownst to many others whose fates would call upon them later, Nora was at home with her family. Her father still hadn't come home in a few days ever since he answered the Justice League's emergency summons. Nora and her brother, Don Henry West-Allen, had busied themselves getting the dinner table ready. They gathered around the table and their mother momentarily joined in as well. Everything seemed normal, until someone entered their home. It was their father, Barry Allen.

"Dad! You're back!" Nora shouts happily, seeing her father's unannounced arrival was most certainly unexpected.

Nora gets up from her chair and runs towards him, opening her arms for a hug. Barry welcomes her hug and returns the gesture. The two of them embracing with smiles on their faces. The smile lasted on Barry's face for only so long before his face went back to a more serious look. Nora looks up at his face and takes notice of it.

"What's wrong, Dad?" Nora asks, expressing her concern.

Barry did not give her an answer but instead looks towards Iris. She too, looked back at him. Barry then turns his gazes to his other two children moments after before letting out a sigh. Nora could sense there was something holding her father's chest down heavily.

"I'm glad to see all of you are doing well. I really am..." Barry opens up, letting his concern for his family be known. "I wish I could stay here and be with you, I would like nothing more than to do that. But... I can't."

Nora sees her father's distraught face as he spoke. His tone made it evident that something was going on.

"Dad, you're scaring me. What's up?" Nora asks softly, her question filled with a hint of hope but dreading the answer. Barry turns to look at Nora and places both of his hands on her shoulders.

"Nora... things are going to change. They'll be many things said after tonight. About me, about my friends. I want you to know, there is more truth than what you will just see tonight. Especially in what we're setting up. It will take time." Barry speaks to Nora directly, there was something vague in his words that she couldn't piece. She didn't know what to make of it.

"What do you mean, are you leaving? I don't get it, Dad. Just tell me what it is." Nora says to him, her confusion emitted a little frustration.

"You know what? Perhaps I can. But first, I need you to do something for me." Barry asks.

"What is it?" Nora asks back, unsure of what he was going for.

"I need you to find a woman. Her name is Laurel Lance. If my... hunch is right, she should be in Star City's Cemetery." Barry answers her.

"Who is she?" Nora asks.

"She's uh, an old friend. Bring her to Helix, that place will be under attack and they'll need her help." Barry responds and taking his hands off her. He then ushers her a smile. "Can you do that?"

Nora was uncertain why her father had asked her to do something like this. But if it was going to lead him to explain things then she figured she might as well do it.

"Okay, I'll be right back then." Nora said, accepting his proposal. She then rushes out of the house, her lightning streaks flailing behind.

Just like that, she was gone. Barry turns to look at Iris and Don who had been watching him. They too were concerned about him.

"You're not gonna wait for her to come back are you?" Iris asks Barry, drawing out Barry's true intention. Barry lets out a small sigh at his wife's understanding of when he was lying. She knew him too well.