Running Out of Time {Barry Allen/The Flash}

Chapter 27

"Why are you so happy?" Wells asks as we drive back to STAR Labs (in the special van that allows him to drive with certain features) after turning in the weapons trade man into the authorities. I'm surprised he even let us take on a non-metahuman mission like that. It's different than doing one with Oliver. I shake off my thoughts, but not my smile.

"No reason. Actually, that's a lie." I say. "I saved Barry Allen." I smile.

"What?" He asks, the car suddenly stopping and I just picture him slamming on the break if he had working legs.

"Yeah, on that mission, he would have died... But he didn't! Because of me." I smile. His face doesn't change from the blank expression.

"You changed the timeline?" He asks, continuing to drive the van.

"Yeah, I mean... It was easy. Is that bad that I changed the timeline?" I ask.

"No, no. As long as you weren't too far past that change... And you did it to save Barry." He says.

***

I walk into my house, throwing my bag onto the floor. I drag my body over to the couch, flopping down on it. I grab the TV remote, and turn on Netflix. I Let my eyes close as I slowly start to fall asleep. Then, my phone starts to ring. I jump up, going into a defensive pose. I calm my nerves as I pick up the phone.

"Hello?" I ask with a coarse voice.

"Oh, sorry. Were you sleeping?" The voice asks. I pull the phone away from my ear and look at the caller ID. It's Barry.

"Umm, no." I lie. "What's up?" I ask.

"I have something to tell you." He says over the phone.

"You can't tell me over the phone?" I ask with a smirk on my face. "Where are you?"

"My lab." He answers.

"I've never been there." I say before hanging up.

***

I slowly walk into the police station.

"Hello!" I greet Joe, "How are you?" I ask.

"Good. You?" He asks. "Are you going up to Barry's lab?" He asks.

"I am." I respond, and he says he is doing the same. He follows me up, keeping conversation.

***

I walk into Barry's lab, to see him standing by a chalk board. I look around at the things in his lab. Lots of papers. I walk over to the window that overlooks the ground below.

"Hey..." I smile, walking up to him to give him a hug. He freezes and I remember that I'm not in the timeline where we kissed. I slowly back away from the tense body across from me. Joe raises his eyebrows before speaking.

"So... You two?"

"No, I forgot..." I say trailing off as Barry spits out excuses too. "We're not..."

"Okay, okay. You don't need to explain." Joe says. I shake off my thoughts before l speak again.

"Why am I here?"

"We have something to tell you." Barry says.

"You already said that." I bluntly reply. Then Barry turns over the chalk board to reveal a board. It has pictures and newspaper articles pinned on it. I look at who they are about. Wells and the Reverse-flash. "Have you been- have you been fighting the Reverse-Flash without me?" I ask, slumping down on a stool.

"Yeah, but that's not-"

"Barry, I'm apart of the team too. We talked about this..." I mumble. That's not fair. I never get to do any of the big missions like that. I never even knew Barry was fighting the Reverse- Flash. How was I so stupid?

"I know. Just- just hear me out." Barry says almost in a suggestive tone. I look at his cute face and I cave in.

"Fine." I groan.

"Okay, let's start off with this..."

***

"So what you're saying is that you think Wells is the Reverse-Flash?" I ask, not believing what I am being told. Wells has always been there, and I have never doubted him. Not once, and now Barry and Joe are trying to convince me that Wells is the Reverse-Flash. No, I don't believe it.

"Yeah..." Barry says as Joe walks out.

"I don't believe it." I say.

"Neither did Cisco." Barry says and my lips turn to a frown.

"Cisco knows?!" I yell. "Why the hell am I the only one who doesn't know?!" I yell, stepping towards Barry. He backs away, almost afraid.

"We haven't told Caitlin." Barry says. "It isn't that big of a deal."

"Really? You're trying to tell me that Wells is the Reverse-Flash, but right now he's sitting at STAR Labs figuring out a way to take him down?! Barry, that doesn't make any sense!"

"Katie..." He says, warning me. "Your eyes..."

"It's Katheryn!" I yell. Now, instead of slowing time, I hold my hand out. Barry uses his superspeed to run up to me. Now, I only control him, slowing him down, and not the time around me. I feel the power and energy being sucked from my body. I start feeling weak, almost tired. I slowly start to collapse to the ground. Once I am finally on the ground, I stop. Barry runs up to me at full speed. "Barry." I whisper. "I can't." I cry out.

"Can't what?" He asks, picking me up.

"I can't do this anymore. I can't be a hero, Barry." I say. He grabs my shoulders.

"Why not? You're one of the best I know." He says. "Besides, we need you."

"No you don't. Neither does Caitlin or Cisco. Nobody needs me." I say, stepping away. I turn around, about to walk to the door.

"I need you." He says grabbing my arm. "I need you, Katheryn." He quickly grabs my face. His soft, warms hands against my burning cheeks. Barry leans in and brushes his lips across mine. One of Barry's hands moves to my lower back. He splays his fingers across my lower back and pulls me in closer, pressing my body against his. My arms reach up to wrap around his neck. Barry slowly pulls away, his lips parted. "I just figured that- uhh- because I already kissed you..." He says, blushing.

"What if I was lying about you kissing me?" I joke, licking my lips.

"Good thing I broke the ice then- right?" He smiles before I kiss him again.