Only Because I Need You Too

Chapter 32: Practice Makes Better

The normal buzz of the speed lab had dulled to pained whimper. The team had clustered on top of the dais, the speedster's in their suits. Ethan could feel a strange sense of anticipation crackling in the air. Dawn stood on the lower platform with a hip cocked and a bundle of teams clutched in one hand. The way she wore her hair back into a pony tail uncovered more of her features. More of Caitlin. The doctor was sitting on the edge of the dias, her head placed into her hands and shoulders slumped inwards. Iris and Cisco had taken a seat next to her, but their posture was much perkier. Cisco was constantly running his hands up and down his trouser legs. Iris was fidgeting with the small charm on her silvery necklace, gently placing it to her lips.

"Alright, who wants to go first?" Dawn's tone was brighter than expected. If Ethan hadn't known any better he might have thought she was looking forwards to fighting them. A gentle twinkle was the cherry atop her eyes and she was flashing a lopsided smirk that would put her father to shame.

"That's it? No introductory statement? No teaching? Not even hello?" Cisco's voice squeaked as he cocked his head to one side and rocked backwards. Caitlin smacked him across the arm with a whack. Letting out a yelp, her grumbled and clutched his wounded limb close to his body. Dawn simply sent him a smile.

"I think it should be Barry. I mean, he is the original speedster." Ethan shrugged, trying hard to prevent the wicked grin he conceal from showing on his cheeks.

"You're just as much the first speedster as I was." Barry narrowed his eyes at the time remnant. Yet he still made his way slowly down to Dawn. Hesitation lingered in every step.

"Okay, all I want you to do is try and attack me." Dawn explained. Barry lurched forwards, but Dawn raised a hand, halting him in his tracks. "But in order to simulate what it is like to fight a heat zombie, I'll have to put these on." She dangled the items in her hands. "Zombies don't have speed." She clamped a power dampening cuffs around her wrist. "They can't see." She placed a blindfold over her eyes. "They can't hear." She put earplugs into her ears and placed noise cancelling headphones over the top of them. "All they can do is sense heat. That's all they crave." With that she rolled her shoulders and spread her feet into a wide stance. "Attack me at your own time."

Barry turned to the team with a wide grin and made a harsh pfft noise through pursed lips. Iris turned to her daughter, whispering gently under her voice, "he is going to get his ass handed to him. Isn't he?"

Nora sent her mother and amused smirk. "Mmmhhhmmm," She drawled, dragging out every letter. Barry left into the speed force, sending a rush of wind pushing past them. Ethan's chest tightened. Surely Dawn did not have a chance against Barry. Not only was she handicapped, but she couldn't even use her speed. Almost in the same moment Barry entered the speed force, he was thrust out and sent flying onto his back by Dawn's feet. For not having her speed, she sure had moved quickly.

"You're predictable Barry. You give off too much heat." She snapped, righting herself.

"She was trained by Oliver for years." Nora informed them, not removing her eyes from her father.

"That explains the bow," Iris snorted.

Cisco slowly rose to his feet. He pointed to his eyes, then Dawn and tilted his head in confusion. Creeping closer, her helped Barry to his feet. Ethan nearly snorted. Cisco slowly waved a hand in front of Dawn's face, his finger's splayed out. Ethan placed a hand on Caitlin's head, to which she thankfully leaned into. "Cisco, you are about to become the third man I've sterilised."

The scientist yanked his hand back into his chest. "Why so many?" Ethan pondered, a tickling of anger flickered in his chest.

"Why so many?" Cisco stared at him with wide eyes. "Why has she sterilised men?" His voice was an octave higher than normal as he shuffled away from the female speedster, not turning his back once. Dawn remained unfazed and unmoved. The only indication that she wasn't a statue was the occasional twitch of a muscle in her arm. The girl looked very different out of costume. Less intimidating for one. More human for another.

"That's just part of being a doctor." Caitlin waved her friend off with one hand. "I've done it plenty of times." Ethan felt a shiver run down his spine. He was all to aware of how many times she had done it. Every time she would come home and threaten him with the same fate if he annoyed her. Not that it mattered. Seeing her so frustrated and flustered was worth the risk.

Cisco's mouth hung open wide. Perching himself between Iris and Caitlin, he shuffled closer the the journalist. His posture was stiff and his back straight. Barry stretched his arms above his head with a wince and joined his teammates on the raised platform. "You talk too much." Dawn observed, her arms crossed over her chest. Cisco opened his mouth to question her but she beat him to the punch. "I can feel the heat from your breath changing." Caitlin and Ethan shared a look. That would no doubt be a hand trick for Killer Frost to learn. "Nora, why don't you come and show your father up?" Dawn suggested. A wide smile split her face.

"With pleasure," The speedster rose to her feet and cracked her knuckles. Sending her father a taunting smile, she too entered the speed force. Barry rolled his eyes and let out a huff of heat. In a crack of lightening, Dawn was holding Nora's fist an inch from her face. Twirling round on her heels, Dawn flung Nora behind her nearly knocking the speedster off her feet. "Zombies don't have feelings or moral compasses. They fight dirty. Down to tooth and nail." She instructed them. "I always likened it to standing between a sociopath addicted to heroine and their next hit."

Pulling off her blindfold, taking off her headphones and earplugs, she turned to them with a grim expression. "The way I see it now, you don't have a chance against the heat zombies. We're going back to basics." Ethan pursed his lips and stared at his daughter intently. She was nothing like he had pictured, but by no means a disappointment.

Nora stalked up to her friend, rubbing her wrist. "That hurt." She whined, pouting slightly.

"You know what hurts?" Dawn goaded her, "being impaled." Ethan shuddered. Nora was right. It would take him a while to get used to the morbid humour of his daughter.