Au

Chapter 8

S. T. A. R. Labs was a perstine establishment. Nothing but the latest technology and state of the art equipment. Barry and Cisco walked in with their passes hanging around their necks and flustered expressions. They were fifteen minutes late, cold from the rain and already dreading the lecture they would get from Dr Snow.

She wasn't a bad woman she just ran a tight ship and everything had to be precisely as planned or else her brain short-circuited and anyone responsible for the anomily would feel her rath. They power walked down the corridor, both running short of breath. After a quick turn to the left they stopped dead in their tracks for down the hall waited a stern looking Dr Snow with her arms folded and  an expression that communicated how far from amused she actually was.
Their strides slowed in pace but were still urgent as they closed the short distance to the inevitable.

"You're late," she said shortly and Barry offered her a goofy smile.

"We're really sorry. I'm really sorry, it was all my fault, I...."

"Enough Allen," she silenced him. "To your luck the meeting has been moved. Ms West, one of our newer shareholders, seems to be ill and the shareholders, thought that given the circumstances it would be best to post pone the meeting." She explained.

"Wait for are you saying we didn't actually have to be here?" Cisco pitched in with an annoyed expression that he soon retracted once he saw the dangerous look  on Dr Snows face.

"Get to work before I use you as human test subjects," she snapped and turned on her heal to walk away. Barry felt a sudden burst of anger boil up within him but he knew better than to lash out so (as he always did) he breathed it back down and put a smile on his face as made his way to his work station.

The night seemed never ending and he couldn't bring himself to focus on his work because *she* continuously invaded his thoughts. He wasn't the only one who was having uncontrollable thoughts. After waking up alone Iris couldn't find sleep. She rolled around in her bed for hours to no avail and eventually decided that she needed to have some fun. Then she walked into her closet and realised that the usual feeling she had, the excitement over a night out, the need to look breath taking and sexy, the adrenaline rush at the prospect of living dangerously and flirting with random strangers, it wasn't there. That feeling was but a distant memory. She walked over to her mirror and looked at her reflection.

"What is wrong with you?" She asked herself.

"Why are you acting like a helpless and emotional bimbo with no back bone? Because you met some dreamy eyed stranger who's kiss is about as orgasmic as any other man's touch?" she challenged.

"Well I'm not gonna lay there and see you destroy the shell you've built over some love sick puppy of a boy who probably couldn't tame you if he tried! You are Iris Anne West and you will forget about this imbecile if it kills you!" She commanded herself and before she lost her gumption, Iris stormed out of her room to meet with Linda.

"Linda!" she called and her conserned assistant came running.

"Oui madam?" she asked.

"Get Leo on the phone now! I need a party planned for this weekend for 200 people. While you're at it tell the driver to get me some meds, I'd hate to catch a cold. Let Leo know that I need the invitations done by tomorrow, not personalised this is party is only semi private. Dress code is all black." She listed and poor Linda typed frantically in order to keep up.

"Uh ma'am, pardon my asking but, would it not be too soon? Your grandfather was just buried in the early hours of this morning, no?" Linda pointed out and for a moment a quiver of guilt fluttered through her chest but as soon as it came it was gone and her steel exterior returned with a vengeance.

"I have no grandfather Linda. Elvis West lied to me and so from now on I am simply a person who bares his name and nothing more," she said coldly.

"Now see to it that the party is arranged. I'll be waiting by the pool when the medication arrives," she instructs.

Meanwhile, back at the lab, Barry was trying to analyse a suspicious looking substance when Patty walked in.

"Hey Bear." She greeted cheerfully and Barry looked up at her and smiled.

"Hey Pat, what's up?" he asked.

"Oh, you know, clouds and air and the ozone layer. The usual." she fumbled over her words, unable to retain eye contact with him. She was always so shy around him and he found it cute. It's one of the reasons why he considered her one of his greatest friends.

"I meant with you Patty." he clarified and she gave him a goofy chuckle.

"Right. Sorry. I'm...uh....good. I'm good. How, how are you?" she stuttered.

"I'm great Patty," he lied with a smile then right after asked,
"How can I help you?"

"Help me? Oh right! Sorry, uh Caitlin needs someone to deliver these documents to the West estate. Some sort of mix up with the mail and they got sent here." She answered while handing him a large, yellow envelope. He took it and read the address, it was atleast a twenty minute drive away.

"Great. I'll get right to it. Oh and tell Dr Snow that I'm taking the van." He said and Patty looked at him with a dumbfounded expression.

"You, you, you, never take the van." Her stutter worsened, a clear indication that she was either confused or nervous.

"Yeah I know but I got trapped in the rain today and I might be getting sick so walking this distance in this chilly weather wouldn't be a good idea. I'll bring her back tomorrow OK?"

"But, but, but..." he offered her a kiss on the cheek before she could finish that sentiment and set off. Barry was changing. He might not see it but those around him were slowly starting to take notice. They just didn't know why as yet.