Story Drafts

Barry Allen

"Oliver's alive." Is all she says and my heart stops.

"I'm sorry, what?" I ask. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"

"What? What do you mean?"

"What the fuck is wrong with you that you call me and tell me that our brother is alive?" I shout.

"I'm not lying, Bells." She cries. "He was just found on a deserted island! He'll be home in a few days!"

"Thea, there's no way for me to believe you. We buried empty caskets because their bodies were lost at sea. They're gone."

"If you don't believe me, will you at least come home so you're here when he gets home? Just for a few days." My little sister begs.

"I'll come home so that I can laugh in your face before I slap you." I reply.

"But you'll come home?"

"Yeah. Let me talk to my boss, and I'll be home in a few days." I sigh before hanging up the phone.

I close my laptop and exit my office, making sure I lock it behind me. I begin the long walk to the main area of STAR Labs, where I know all the employees are along with Cisco, Caitlin, Ronnie, and my boss, Harrison Wells. As soon as I walk in, Cisco screeches and runs up to me.

"Did you finish it, Bells?" He asks.

"That's a secret." I laugh, holding a finger up to my lips. "Where's Wells?"

"Up in his area."

I thank Cisco before going where he said our boss would be, and sure enough, Dr. Wells is standing by a computer with his usual thinking face on. He looks up when he hears me enter the room, and gives me a friendly smile.

"How are you, Dr. Queen?" He kindly asks.

"I wish I could say I was good, Dr. Wells." I laugh. "I'd instantly be better if everyone stopped referring to me as 'Dr.'."

"Get used to it. It's your title. Anyhow, what brings you out of your office?"

"I wanted to ask if I could have the next week or so off from work. Some family issues came up and I need to go back to Starling City."

"Of course, Rosabella. Take as much time as you need."

"Thank you. I'll be leaving in a day or so, but I'll try to continue working while I'm away."

"While that's much appreciated, you don't have to. Just be there for your family."

"Thank you." I grin before leaving and going back to my office.

I spend the next few hours in my office working, when there's a knock on my door.

"Come in." I call, not looking up from my laptop.

"When are you going home?" I hear Caitlin ask and I glance up at her.

"When my shift is over?" I answer, but it sounds more like a question.

"Bells, it ended about 4 hours ago. It's almost 10 p.m." Caitlin softly says, her voice coated with worry.

"Shit." I laugh, checking my clock.

"Bells, go home. You're overworking yourself again."

"I'm fine, Caitlin." I wave her off. "I'll pack up in a few minutes. You can go. I'm sure you're keeping Ronnie waiting."

"I'm not leaving until you do." The stubborn woman walks forward and closes my laptop.

"Okay, fine. Jesus." I laugh, moving to my feet and packing all my things up.

"Bella?" Caitlin asks and I hum to let her know I'm listening. "You'd tell me or Cisco if something was wrong, right?"

"Yeah. Why?" I ask, confused as to why she's asking.

"It's just-" She hesitates. "Nevermind. Forget I said anything."

"Cait. Tell me."

"It's just- It's just that you've been working yourself a lot harder lately. You're one of the first ones here and one of the last ones out, and you almost never take breaks, even for lunch. Cisco is especially worried that you're wearing long sleeves all the time. At first I didn't think anything of it. I thought he was just being paranoid and worrying about his best friend relapsing, but now I'm starting to worry too."

"Cait." I laugh. "I'm fine. Really. I've just been trying to make this blueprint perfect. I don't want anything messing up with the Particle Accelerator. And I've been wearing long sleeves because I'm cold. It's not exactly summer anymore."

"Okay." She exhales, relieved. "I'm sorry for saying anything. I was just worried that you were hurting yourself again."

"I'm alright. I swear. Now let's go. Your fiance is waiting." We link arms and exit the building after meeting up with Ronnie, Caitlin's fiance.