Sighing, Caitlin slid out of bed, every muscle sore from the night before, and pulled on something to cover herself.
We went a little too far… she admitted silently as she padded toward the kitchen.
And then she froze.
Barry was there.
In her kitchen.
At the stove, quietly making breakfast as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Her breath caught.
She had thought he’d left—but here he was.
Without looking back, Barry spoke up, his voice calm, almost casual: “Looks like you’re awake.
Sit down—I made breakfast.”
Caitlin couldn’t bring herself to answer.
She just moved to the table, sat down, and watched him.She watched his back, his shoulders, his hands working with quiet focus.
He was wearing the same clothes from last night… but all she could picture was his body pressed against hers, heat and strength and tenderness mixed together.
Her pulse quickened.
She quietly sat on the table as if she was the guest
Barry had laid out a proper spread on Caitlin’s dining table.
There were scrambled eggs, crispy bacon strips, golden hash browns, buttered toast stacked high, and a small pile of fluffy pancakes drizzled with maple syrup.
To the side, he’d poured two glasses of orange juice and set out a steaming pot of coffee.
“You made all of this?” Caitlin asked, surprised.
She probably wouldn’t eat this much food in an entire day.
“Sorry, overdid it a bit,” Barry said lightly, a small smile tugging at his lips.
“I thought you’d need something after… last night.”
Caitlin’s cheeks warmed, and she kicked him under the table, which only made Barry smile.
He liked teasing her, cracking that cold facade she put up.
She picked up her fork and took a bite.
The moment the food hit her tongue, her eyes lit up—it was good.
Better than she expected.
She focused on her plate, letting the delicious flavors distract her from the awkwardness lingering in the air.
They ate mostly in silence.
Caitlin enjoyed the food but didn’t eat much; most of it ended up in Barry’s stomach.
Eventually, the two of them sat back, sipping their coffees.
The silence stretched until Barry decided to break it.
“Cait,” he began gently, his tone soft but steady.
“I know you’re feeling awkward, and I know you’re still not over the past.
But I want you to know… what happened last night?
I don’t regret it.
Not for a second.
I enjoyed every moment.” His eyes locked onto hers, earnest and reassuring.
“I know you’re hesitant, and that’s okay.
I’m willing to wait.
I won’t force you into anything… so don’t take last night as a weight on your shoulders.
Remember what I told you?
I just want you to be happy.
So… be yourself, okay?”
“Thank you so much, Barry.
I don’t know what to say.
You’ve helped me so much, and I feel ashamed that I can’t move on but I—” Caitlin started, only to be silenced by Barry gently pressing a finger to her lips.
“Shhh,” he said softly, a tender smile playing on his face.
“Don’t be ashamed.
Caitlin, I like you.
For me, seeing you happy is what matters most.
Okay?”
Her heart skipped as she nodded, her face blooming into a smile.
He wasn’t perfect, but then again, neither was she.
And maybe that was the point.
For the first time in a long time, Caitlin decided to give herself another chance.
Another chance to feel, she knew Barry had other girlfriends, and part of her worried about getting hurt again.
But the warmth and care he showed her were real, and above all, his sincerity gave her comfort.
For now, that was enough.
Barry’s phone buzzed, message from Joe
“Sorry duty calls” Barry said showing her the message, he stood up and kissed her
“Be safe” Caitlin kissed back and smiled as he sped off.
8th and Pass
Barry was looking around the office that was blown up while the detectives were taking statements.
“Barr,” Joe called.
“Anything?”
“Not yet.
I haven’t found any sign of an oxidizing agent.
It’s like the floor just blew itself up,” Barry said, standing up.
“Things don’t just blow up,” Joe said, looking around before Eddie walked over.
“The security guard said our bomber was a woman with red hair,” Eddie said, causing the two to look at him.
“Must’ve cut the security cameras’ feed.
There’s no footage, but there might be something else.”
Eddie led Barry and Joe to a file room where they saw that the doorknob had been blown off.
“Some kind of small charge blasted the doorknob off.”
“Any idea what’s missing?” Joe asked.
“My guess is one of these files,” Eddie said, looking around the room full of filing cabinets.
“It’s gonna take days to figure out which one.”
Barry sighed, looking around, as Joe turned to Eddie.
“Let’s let Barry do his thing.”
Before long, he found what he was looking for, closed the file and the cabinet, and left.
Two Hours Later – CCPD
Joe and Eddie walked into the department and paused when they saw two soldiers posted at Captain Singh’s door.
Looking to the nearest cop, Eddie asked, “What’s going on?”
“I have no idea.
But they came in here like they own the place.
Been talking to Singh for the last half hour,” the cop said.
“This can’t be good,” Joe said before he saw Singh walking out, followed by a man.
“General Eiling, this is Detective West,” Singh introduced as the general walked over to Joe with his hand out.
“Detective,” Eiling said as he shook Joe’s hand.
“What’s this all about?” Joe asked.
“The army’s taking over the bombing investigation,” Singh said, causing Joe to raise an eyebrow.
“I’ll need everything you have.
Physical evidence, photographs, witness interviews, and all your personal notes,” Eiling ordered.
“I’ve been on the job nearly twenty years and never heard of the army investigating anything civilian,” Joe said suspiciously.
“Well, it’s not civilian.
She’s one of ours,” Eiling replied.
Joe nodded as he watched Eiling.
“We’ll send over everything we’ve got,” he said.
“Very kind of you.
I think we’ll take it now, though,” Eiling replied.
Singh looked at Joe and shook his head before he said, “Give them what they want, Joe.”
“You heard him, Joe,” Eiling said smugly, getting Joe’s attention.
“Give me what I want.”
Joe nodded after a moment.
Moments Later
Barry got off the elevator carrying the evidence he collected at the bombing site, when he saw Joe and two soldiers.
“Hey, what’s going on?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.
“General Eiling is relieving us from the bombing case,” Joe said, giving Barry a look.
“Give these men everything that’s relevant.”
“General Eiling?” Barry knew that name.
“Dr.
Allen.
Long time no see.
I never imagined you would be working… here of all places,” General Eiling came forward and greeted him.
“Good to see you too, General,” Barry greeted.
A few years ago, he was approached by Eiling regarding a nuclear project.
Barry refused; he knew what the project was about and Eiling’s true goal.
“Dr.
Allen, my offer still stands.
Together we could change the world,” General Eiling said with extreme confidence.
“Now, if you will, please.”
Barry looked at Eiling for a moment, the tension rising, but he nodded.
“Sure thing.
Yeah,” he said, giving the box to a soldier.
As they were walking away, Barry snatched the folder he found so quickly that the soldier didn’t notice.
Eiling took his leave, his soldiers leaving with him.
Joe whispered, “You know him?”
Barry nodded.
“Something like that.”
Joe and Barry watched as the men walked away.
Barry held the folder.
“You and a few civilians from S.T.A.R.
Labs might want to check into that.”
“Already ahead of you,” Barry said, walking off.
Joe watched as Barry walked off before the cop from earlier called out to him.
“Can I talk to you for a minute, Joe?”
Joe looked up to the man with a raised eyebrow.
“It’s about Iris.”
Joe immediately walked up the stairs.
One Hour Later – S.T.A.R.
Labs
Barry was in the Cortex filling Caitlin and Cisco in on what was going on.
“A VA file number is all the info you have on the bomber?” Cisco asked.
“C.C.P.D.’s been ordered off the case before I could even begin to investigate,” Barry said.
“Well, who has the power to do that?” Caitlin asked.
“General Wade Eiling,” Barry said.
“Eiling?” Harrison said, rolling into the Cortex.
Barry looked at the man and asked, “You know him?”
“Yeah, I know him.
About ten years ago, General Wade Eiling contracted S.T.A.R.
Labs to develop enhanced gene therapies for soldiers,” Harrison said, causing Barry to raise an eyebrow.
“I was interested in the potential medical benefits for civilians.
General Eiling really wanted to develop mind-reading capabilities for interrogation purposes.
I stopped the study when I saw his techniques up close, but our split was less than amicable.”
So he made Grodd, Barry thought.
“Yes, similarly he wanted me for a nuclear energy project, but I refused,” Barry explained.
“Nuclear energy project?” Cisco asked, intrigued.
“Regarding miniaturization of nuclear reaction, so that portable and near-infinite energy could be used,” Barry explained, to which the team nodded.
Everything but the folder.” He handed Cisco the folder.
“Well, lucky for us, the VA finally joined the new millennium and digitized their records,” Cisco said, turning to his computer and bringing up what they needed.
“A lot of redacted info.
But our girl’s name is Bette Sans Souci, an EOD specialist for the army.”
“EOD?” Caitlin asked.
“Bombs,” Cisco said.
“Is there an address?” Barry asked.
“Hold on… here we go.
One person in case of emergency.
Cameron Scott.
Inglewood,” Cisco said, getting a nod from Barry before he sped off.
Inglewood
Bette Sans Souci walked down the fire escape of an apartment, taking extra care not to touch anything.
Walking down the alleyway, she jumped in surprise when Barry appeared in front of her.
“Bette Sans Souci?”
Bette jumped and ran the other way, causing Barry to sigh.
A guy using super speed appears in front of you, and you choose to run away?
he asked himself before he sped in front of her.
“I need you to come with me.”
“Don’t touch me,” Bette said suddenly.
Barry was about to grab her, but suddenly his instinct warned him.
He jumped back instantly.
“Why?” Barry asked.
He knew things were not simple.
Bette did not say anything.
She touched the wall beside her, which turned purple.
“Get away from her as fast as you can,” Bette said urgently, causing Barry to look at her with a raised eyebrow.
“Hurry.”
Bette ran away, but Barry did not chase her.
He saw, in slow motion, the wall—which had nothing combustible on it—starting to explode, debris flying toward him.
Barry avoided all of it easily.
Ah now I remember she is the bomber Barry thought, looking at the debris
“Barry, are you okay?” Cisco asked over the comms, observing sudden measurements from the suit.
“I’m fine.
It seems we have another meta,” Barry’s voice sounded.
The dust cleared, the fire blew out, and Violet-Gold lightning flashed around him as if protecting him.
And then he disappeared amongst the dust
S.T.A.R.
Labs
Barry was in the Cortex with Caitlin and Cisco.
“Fun fact about Bette Sans Souci—she’s a meta-human with the ability to cause spontaneous combustion upon tactile contact,” Barry said.
“Interesting ability, I must say,” Wells remarked, rolling into the Cortex.
“What else do we know about her?” Barry asked.
Cisco was looking through her records.
“Nothing much, except that she was stationed in Afghanistan, came back to Central City almost a year ago… and… she’s beautiful.” Cisco pulled out her photo, and just looking at it made his heart flutter.
Caitlin rolled her eyes.
“I don’t think she meant to hurt me,” Barry said, studying the photo.
“But her being a meta-human explains Eiling’s interest in her.”
“And that’s why he stole the case from us,” Joe said, walking in.
“He didn’t want anyone to know what she could do.”
“Detective,” Wells greeted with a nod.
“Doctor,” Joe returned before looking at the computer with Bette’s photo.
“So, human bomb.
It must be Tuesday in Central City.”
“Yes.
And General Eiling’s not one to give up a potential asset without a fight,” Wells said.
“Which is why we have to find her before he does,” Barry said.
“Barry?” Joe asked.
“Yes?” Barry raised a brow.
“Can I see you for a second?” Joe said before walking out.
Barry followed him.
“When were you planning on telling me that Iris was writing about The Flash?” Joe asked.
Barry gave a small shrug.
“Would you believe me if I said I forgot?”
“Barry,” Joe’s voice tightened, anger and worry in his voice.
“Talk to her.
Make her stop writing this blog.”
“Joe, I can’t make her stop.
Think about it—she grew up with me, the kid who was always chasing mysteries and the impossible.
If I suddenly act like I’m not interested in the biggest mystery in Central City, what would you think?” Barry’s rhetorical question made Joe pause.
“You’re hiding something,” Joe finished for him with a sigh as he began to pace.
“Joe, she promised me she’d keep it anonymous,” Barry said evenly.
“But you know how she is—once Iris makes up her mind, it’s nearly impossible to get her to back off.
If you talk to her, just… don’t be too hard.”
Joe rubbed his forehead, shaking his head.
“Stubborn’s an understatement.
She gets that from her old man.”
Barry allowed himself a small smile.
“You said it, not me.”
Joe shot him a look, but the corner of his mouth twitched, just enough to break the tension.
“Guys we got something” Caitlin called us back to cortex