Cold to the Touch

Chapter Twenty

{Future}

(Iris's POV)

"I need to ask a favor." I said, walking into my dad's office. He looked up, shaking his head instantly.

"Barry was already in here this morning, he said that whatever you asked for, I wasn't allowed to give it to you." He said, shrugging helplessly.

"What?" I huffed out. "Where is he?"

"Up in his lab." He pointed to the door. "Don't take it out on me, baby girl. Take it out on him."

Damn right I was about to take it out on him. Not only for denying me the access to the case files I needed, but also for deterring Danny in the field she wanted to pursue. Just like my father had with mine.

Don't get me wrong, I loved journalism. I loved reporting. It was my passion now. Had I been given the chance, I know I would have made an amazing cop. Key words being 'had I been given the chance'. Dad never let me pursue my dream career. Danny would not suffer the same fate.

"Barry Allen." I called out, opening his lab door without knocking. He jumped, scattering papers across the floor. He glared at me.

"You know what I've said about knocking, Iris." He said, moving to pick up the fallen papers. "I'm trying to work here."

"So am I." I shrugged. "Why can't I access the files I need?"

"Because Danny asked you for them." He replied evenly.

"How could you possibly know that?" I asked, helping him pick up the last of his papers. He slipped them all back in his folder and tossed it on the desk.

"I followed her to the coffee shop. I remember what she asked for." Barry said, crossing his arms. He leaned back against his desk. "She can't look through that file."

"Why not?" I asked.

"First of all, it shows how we defeated Dwyer, second, he is dangerous. I don't want my daughters getting caught up in all of that." He said, shaking his head.

"Right." I nodded. "You were caught up in it though. Wouldn't you have wanted a heads up at the very least?"

"Of course I would have!" He said, throwing his arms up. "Not from my daughter, though! Danny doesn't need to be in this. Neither does Nora. They are supposed to come home in a few days. I don't want them staying because they want to help."

"Then go get them." I said. "Go get them and tell them they aren't allowed to save their own father from Cicada. Let them watch their mother suffer the loss of the man she loves. Let them watch everything go to shit."

"Iris-"

"No." I shook my head. "I was there too, Barry. So were they. They helped. You remember their help as much as I do. Without them, you die."