Shield

Three

"I'll stay." Izzie said as she walked into the full room. "I wanna find out more about my powers."
    "Oh I've already got some ideas," Cisco said with a mischievous smile that gave Izzie that reminded her of  someone she used to know. If it was good or bad she'd find out later.
    "Welcome..." The Flash stepped up removing his mask revealing the face of a man she recognized. One she's recognized from the DeVoe case. "I'm Barry Allen," He put out his hand and she shook his hand.
    "I'm taking it you're not telling the authorities about me. Even though Mr. West is a cop. And so are you, I guess technically." Izzie put her hands in the pockets of the sweat pants they gave her.

"For now," Barry said. Izzie nodded her head. She knew she could make a quick escape before they could turn her into the system. But Barry could find her if he looked long enough. "You can't just stay here for a year you know.. What about school? Your file-"
    "My file doesn't know my whole life. My parents gave me a better education then the public school system ever did. I stopped paying attention in school as soon as I entered and started to educate myself. I know what my file said. I had straight A's with a disinterest in advancing to other classes. We were PEE with Meta-humans everywhere including myself. I had other things to worry about." Izzie hated the explanation part. Showing just how little anyone had cared for her after her parents died.
     "PEE?" Iris asked.
     "Post Excelorator Explosion."
     "They're right." Izzie looked up at Joe. "You need an education. Your parents wouldn't want you just sitting around."
     "I'm sorry but you don't know anything about what my parents would have wanted. We were...complicated." Izzie promised with her return she wouldn't back down. She'd stand up for herself. "Trust me my education is just fine. I tested for my GED right before I left and you'll find that I did pass. I also didn't get a fake identity for nothing. I have a job now. I work at jitters full time. If I have to go back to the system I have no problem running again. I disappeared once, I can do it again." Izzie felt herself getting worked up. Every bad memory, every feeling of a bruise or broken body part all began to leave the box she packaged them very deep into her self. It took a lot more energy to shove it back where they belonged than she expected. She ran for a reason. "I slept on my first floor when I was thirteen, I think whatever you give me I'll be just fine." Izzie walked away to the quarters Caitlyn showed her earlier. She held in the tears. She held her knees close to her chest.

~•~

Barry looked around at the team. He noticed the look on Joe's face. Barry knew that Joe was hurt a little being a parent himself and seeing a girl who needed a family in that much pain. Before he found her in the streets he glanced over her file but didn't realize it was that bad. He felt for her being an orphan himself. Barry knew he was lucky to have Joe. He knew very well he could have been like her.

"That girl has been through a lot." He stepped forward. "Why are we so interested in her?"Joe asked his arms crossed over his chest.

Barry finally let out a breath trying to hold himself back from what he's kept since the moment he noticed her. The moment he reconized her. There wasn't anymore time left to hide it. He had to tell the truth.

"Anytime I run in time, I see glimpses of time. Past, Present, and Future. I've seen her in it for a split second before...a couple of times." Everyone had their own reaction. "Every part of me is telling me that she needs us." Barry put his hands on his hips looking at the rest of the team.

"She needs more than just us Barry." Cisco pulled files up on the computer. Lots of hospitals record, news reports. It showed the deaths of her parents, her brother, and a boy named Ryan C. Taylor. "Ryan was her boyfriend and he died in her arms. Barry, Izzie needs a therapist. Not Meta humans who fight crime." While Izzie talked to Joe he took the chance too look her up given her strange behaviour.