SNOWBARRY: Sometimes Runs, Sometimes Can't

Chapter 16 - You Deserve To Lose Her

Felicity didn't wait for him to answer. She just gave him one last warning look and disappeared, leaving Barry standing there with his guilt buzzing in his ears.

"Alright," Oliver said, as he emerged at last. "You've got some damage control to do. But first, Starling City needs a favour."

Barry raised an eyebrow. "What's going on?"

"A smuggling operation. Advanced weapons tech," Oliver said, pulling up schematics. "Not your usual bank robbers. Someone's moving prototype plasma rifles through the Glades, and the buyer isn't from around here."

Barry's speed made him the obvious choice for intercept work; he was on it, running through the city, dismantling crates, and snatching weapons before they hit the streets.
It felt good, almost cleansing, to be in motion, to do something that didn't involve emotions he wasn't ready to untangle. 

Barry had also brought in a witness who provided them with a lead on the next handover at the docks.

By the end of the night, Team Arrow had some of the weapons secured and the middlemen taken down. But as Felicity went over the tech, she frowned.

"This design... It's not Queen Consolidated tech. It's not even A.R.G.U.S. This is way more advanced, and it's using power cells I've only ever seen in... wait." Her eyes widened. "S.T.A.R. Labs."

Barry's head snapped up. "That's impossible."

"Tell that to the guys who were about to put it on the black market," Oliver said grimly.

***

The night at the docks was colder than it had any right to be. Fog curled off the water, swallowing the moonlight and muffling every sound except the low thrum of ship engines in the distance. Everyone was on site. Barry had wanted Caitlin to stay back at the cave, but she'd made her case; she's coming. He didn't push further.

The mission with Team Arrow had been straightforward on paper: intercept the arms shipment, secure the meta-tech before it disappeared into the black market. 

But their plans rarely held course.

They moved in, quiet as the mist, Oliver taking point with Digg flanking. Barry kept scanning the shadows, ears tuned to every footstep, every shift of air. Caitlin stayed back by the container stacks, med kit slung over her shoulder, eyes flicking between the team and the shadows beyond.

And then it happened. Figures emerged from between the shipping crates, armed and fast. Too fast. An ambush.

Barry was already moving, disarming two men before they could blink.

"Caitlin!"

The shout tore out of him as he saw one of the smugglers break from cover, swinging the butt of his rifle toward her. She dodged the first swing by a breath, but the second struck hard across her ribs, sending her stumbling back with a gasp. Barry was already moving, scooping her up before she hit the ground.

What the hell was he thinking, bringing her here?

He carried her to the highest point of the docks, breath coming fast, heart faster. Gently, he laid her down, hands already searching for the wound. There had been blood, he was sure of it. He'd seen the impact. Felt the way her body jerked in his arms. But as he tugged her coat aside..

Nothing.

Not even a bruise.

He blinked.

For a moment, he thought maybe he'd imagined it, but the look in Caitlin's eyes told him he hadn't. She glanced down at her side, where the pain had flared sharply and then just... stopped. Her expression flickered, a heartbeat of confusion, then caution.