Book 4: I've Changed

We Need You

"Hey Cisco," she replied, returning his hug.

"Caitlin..." Barry sighed, as he slowly approached her, wincing in pain. "How- how are you here? You died..."

"Well, I guess Star City isn't the only place where the dead come back," Caitlin smiled through her tears.

The whole group joined in one big hug in the middle of the Cortex.

"I- we can't believe you're here..." Iris said as they all pulled away. "How?"

"I'm pretty sure any explanation would be classified by ARGUS, so maybe you best ask Layla," Caitlin replied.

"Dang, a lot has happened, huh," Cisco remarked.

"You have no idea," Caitlin replied.

The reunion had none of their smiles stopping. Cisco went to phone Layla to see if she could spill anything about whatever Caitlin was talking about (she couldn't), Iris went to pick of a feast of Big Belly Burger to celebrate, and Caitlin went to properly tend to Barry's wounds.

"I still can't believe you're here, Cait," Barry said as Caitlin prepared a stich needle. "These past eight months have been hell for all of us."

"I can tell," she replied, examining the cuts and bruises over Barry.

"Now it can go back to how it w-."

"It's not going to go back to how it was before, Barry. It will probably never," Caitlin cut him off.

"What do you mean?" he asked as she began stitching a wound.

"I've changed Barry," she started, "I've done things that...."

"I doubt you did anything that would make us stop caring about you," Barry said.

"I was gone for eight months with  unexplained powers, under the influence of the need for survival. A person can make a lot of bad decisions when they're scared and lost," Caitlin replied. She tied off the stitch and turned around to place the needle down. Her hand fell to her dog tag for a moment, she fondled with it in her hand for a second before turning back around.

"You're Central City's beacon of hope Barry," she continued, "I don't want to end up stainting that image with my past."

"But the Flash is more than just the Flash. Team Flash is what protects the city, Team Flash is Central City's beacon of hope. With out all the members, we're nothing. I don't care if you've changed and you don't have to tell us about the things that happened to you in the past eight months until you're ready. We need you apart of the team, Caitlin. I mean look at us we've been a mess."

Caitlin nodded, "I'm not going anywhere."

Barry and Caitlin shared a smile and she began patching him up. Maybe things weren't ever going to be the same for her, but she was happy to be back home.

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I know, I know. Short chapter. And sadly, FOR NOW, the last of this series of Killerfrost origins.  I'm trying to work on different stories and trying to get those out. I did anticipate this story to be shorter, but my writing brain kind of didn't stop when it came to this story. But for now, I am going to end it here, on a happy-ish ending. Maybe one day in the future I will extend this story. But for right now I am going to focus on my other stories, and upcoming projects I have in mind. (Maybe some originals... who knows...hmm)

I hope you enjoyed this series and thank you for reading, so much!!!

I'd love to hear any comments, criticism, suggestions for a potential sequel series, or any of your ideas of what events might follow Caitlin's return.