Within Seconds: Flashpoint Edition

Barry Allen Gets Fired!

In the hallway outside of Julian's room, Barry saw Detective Patterson walking just ahead of him. He called his name, jogging to catch up with him. 

"Barry Allen," he greeted, slowing. "Don't you ever work? Where's your kid?"

"She's with our family right now. I just want to make sure Julian's okay," said Barry quickly, as they arrived outside of his room. 

"Well, I'm about to take his statement," said Detective Patterson. 

"Right, right, but would it be okay if I talked to him before you went in? I just, uh, we're pretty close."

Patterson checked his watch. "Yeah. Make it quick."

"Always. Thank you," breathed Barry. He slipped through the door Patterson had already cracked open, then closed it behind him. 

"Wow," said Julian. He was standing, though hunched over, clearly still a bit weak. "A hospital visit. Didn't think you'd miss me that much." 

"What'd the Doctors say?" asked Barry politely. 

"Concussion and frostbite. I'll be dandy in a few days."

"Good news. I'm glad you're gonna be all right."

Julian was tired of the formalities. Turning to face Barry, he sighed, "As much as I appreciate your outburst of emotion, I think we both know the real reason you're here. Your friend, Caitlin Snow, she's a meta, and not one of the friendly ones."

"She's sick, Julian," he defended softly. 

"She is a bloody menace!" yelled Julian, holding his bandaged arm in the air to show Barry. 

"Julian... Man, I know you think getting powers is this binary game, that you're either good or evil, but life isn't like that for Meta's. Caitlin-- she's a good person. I'm begging you: don't turn her in. I will do anything you want, but please don't do this to her," he pleaded. 

Julian let a short silence fall between them as he pondered it. He said, blandly, "I got hit pretty hard, and I don't have the foggiest idea of who even kidnapped me at all," when he had decided. 

Barry breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, man," he said, and shook Julian's hand in pure gratitude. "Thank you," he said again. He started to leave.

"There is one thing you can do for me, mate," said Julian slowly. 

"Anything," said Barry eagerly. 

"Quit."

Barry froze. "What?"

"Tender your resignation from the Central City Police Department. I can overlook the unexplained absences, the constant overlooks for the rules and regulations. You have a baby, sure, whatever. But your moral compass is broken, my friend. I pointblank refuse to work with someone whose sense of right and wrong is as flippant as the weather; someone who thinks is friendship is more important than justice. You're unfit to be a CSI. Barry Allen has no place in law enforcement," Julian told him; the gist of an argument he had been waiting to exert since he started working with the man. "Now, do we have an agreement or would you like the Detective to meet that girl?"

Barry couldn't protest it. He, in trying to save his friend, had left himself vulnerable to an attack that he was helpless from. He had pledged an offer to Julian. He was unable to refuse it, and he wouldn't, because Caitlin needed his help. 

So, he sucked in a fast breath, bit his lip, then opened the door for Detective Patterson. "He's all yours," he said, trying his best to leave the distaste out of his voice.