Always Running

Key to Forgetting

Cisco gladly accepts the lunch offer and heads to Jitters with Caitlin.

"So, are you back for the ceremony or..." Cisco asks hesitantly.

"Just the ceremony." She assures him.

He noticeably slumps when she answers, grunting in acknowledgement. They eat in silence for a few minutes.

"Why?" He says softly, sounding hurt.

"Why what?" She asks.

"Why are you staying away?" He asks, sounding like he's accusing her of something. "I got that you weren't running away from Barry, but that doesn't mean that you weren't running away."

Caitlin looks at him, thinking, but doesn't say anything.

"You were running away from him." Cisco states, leaning in toward her.

"I know." She admits quietly, looking down.

"Every day you stay away, you're still letting him affect you."

She looks up at him when he says this. Her eyes are sad.

"I'm just saying, if you want to come back, if you're even questioning it, then choosing not to is still letting him control your life." He explains, not wanting to hurt her.

"I'm sorry." She whispers.

"Don't be. I know you're doing what you need to do." He assures her. "I know you need to forget for a while...everything that he was to you. But forgetting isn't moving forward. It's not living."

"You've become wise in your years." Caitlin says, joking lightly.

"You and Barry's bickering has aged me." He jokes, glaring at her.

"I'm sorry." She says sincerely. He laughs. "I mean it Cisco. We've both been too busy wrapped in our own worlds to be there for you and I'm sorry. You shouldn't have to shoulder our crap on top of your own."

He looks up at her, his eyes sad now. "I just miss you. Both of you."

"I'm here, Cisco. Any time you need me." She says, reaching across and grabbing his hand.

He lets out a deep breath. He gives her a weak smile, not wanting to explain to her that that wasn't what he meant. They finish their lunch, talking about the preparations the town has been taking for the ceremony.

"I noticed a lot of the town is cleaned up. You didn't tell me your idea worked." She scolds.

"It didn't." Cisco sulks. "But uh, it's crazy. Different stores and shops and homes are just...magically fixed. Overnight." He says, raising an eyebrow at her.

"Hmm." She says smiling at him. "That's fast."

"Very." Cisco agrees. They both laugh.

They gather up their trash and throw it away, walking out of Jitters. They walk downtown to where people are gathering for the ceremony, where they meet up with Joe, Stein, and Clarissa. Caitlin walks up to Stein and hugs him, followed by Clarissa. Both are excited to see her and ask about her time in Blue Valley. She's checked in with Stein about once a week, but it's mostly been checking on his health. She's not sure how Ronnie's death affected him, both mentally and physically.

They all stand to the side, leaning against Joe's police car, waiting for the ceremony to begin.

********************************

Back in his lab, Barry is looking out his window watching people walk downtown, all dressed or accessorized in red and yellow. He takes a deep breath. Cisco's last comment has been weighing on him. He has been selfish these last few months and he knew that. Guess it just took his friend pointing it out for him to realize that other people knew that too. He didn't want to go because he felt like he was lying to the town by accepting, but did that matter? Was he really letting the town down by not showing up?

Barry turns when he hears a knock on the wall behind him. He sees an unfamiliar man standing in the entrance to his lab.

"Can I help you?" Barry says, turning and taking a step toward the man.

"Barry Allen?" The man asks. Barry just nods. "Oh, thank heavens. You're a hard man to reach, Mr. Allen. Well I did mistake the CC in CCPD for Coast City, but other than that, you've still been very difficult to reach." The man rambles.

Barry just gives the man a confused look. The man walks toward him, taking an envelope out of his briefcase.

"My name is Greg Turk." He reaches out to shake Barry's hand. "I'm Harrison Wells' attorney."

A/N:

Hey guys! So there are going to be a few chapters of setting the stage for the main plot of this book and where the characters are now, but they are important for connecting the first book and will come into play later. I'm posting all of the set up chapters at once so you can get those out of the way without waiting for another one.

Hopefully they aren't too boring. I'm frustrated writing them cuz I wanna rush to the big stuff, but I feel like I'd be skipping too much if I did that. Anyways, enjoy!

Peace and Love! - Ali