Fast Enough
"The rare opportunity to go back in time and right a wrong and save your mother's life... quite the paradox Harrison has presented you with, Mr. Allen" Stein says tilting his head at the possibility.
"The chance to be with someone you love? Seems pretty cut and dry to me" Caitlin says moving to stand next to her brother.
"At first blush, Dr. Snow, it would appear so, but this gift has unparalleled risk. Barry, the night your mother died, the night you saved yourself from being killed, that event altered the timeline you were already on and changed the course of history" Stein explained.
"So what you're saying is we're living in a parallel universe?" Cisco asks.
"Just like when I time traveled before....."
"But he... he only changed one day that time. Exactly. Now imagine 15 years of compounded experiences. One different decision, no matter how big or small, impacts everything that follows. Moments upon moments, choices upon choices. No relationships, nothing would be as it is today, and you'd never know the difference because you'd never remember any of it" Stein says, he was little more excited about this then he should be but time travel was also so fascinating to him.
"So if I go back and save my mom, my dad doesn't go to prison. I never live with Joe and Iris" Barry began.
"You might never meet me. Or Ronnie" Caitlin says.
Barry looks to Cisco knowing that in that timeline he would finally we able to have his parents and be with the man he loved.
"Truth is, there's no real way of knowing what your life will be" Stein shrugs.
"There's no choice here, Barry. You have to do this. You gotta change the past" Joe says quickly leaving the room.
"Joe?" Barry says following him out of the room.
"98.6. Normal" Caitlin says smiling at Ronnie.
"I don't even know what that word means anymore" he says.
Caitlin sighed but smiled. "Me neither. I know Barry really appreciates you coming back to help him stop Wells".
"That's not the only reason I'm back, Cait. I'm here now. For good" Ronnie says smiling when he saw Cisco walk into the lab.
"Did I here that right?" Cisco says standing in front of Ronnie.
"But I thought..." Caitlin says.
"I thought too... I thought too much about what might happen if the government tracked us down. If we couldn't control our powers and we hurt someone. But I realized that although sometimes I'm more than one man, I'm not whole unless I'm with the people I love" he explained leaning up to give Cisco a kiss.
Caitlin gave Ronnie shoulder a small squeeze. "Glad to have you back Ronnie" she says giving him a hug.
"I'll let you two catch up" she says winking at Cisco before walking out of the room.
"I missed you so much" Ronnie spread his legs and pulls Cisco in his arms. "Texting doesn't compare to the real thing".
Cisco wrapped his arms around Ronnie's neck and pull him into a kiss. "No it doesn't....you want to get out of here and go back to my place?" Cisco smirked.
Ronnie smiled and raised a brow.
Joe walked into work ready to get the day started and get his mind of the whole Barry thing and the possibly of Barry changing the future. His future….his life. It was a lot to seriously take in. Soon as he walked into the office, he immediately saw Eddie sitting at his desk.
“Ughhhhhh, hey partner” he says putting down his brief case and placing his jacket on the back of his chair.” Shouldn’t you be at home resting”?
“Too much time to think at home and besides better enjoy my job before Barry changes everything and I end up giving birth to Satan’s spawn” he says not bothering to look at Joe.
Joe laughed at that last part. “How do you feel about all this?”
“Which part the fact that my now EX boyfriend and once best friend is in love with another man and strung me along or learning that I’m Michael Myers father?” Eddie asked still not looking at him.
Joe came over and leaned on Eddie’s desk. “All of it?”
Eddie finally stopped and sat back and sighed. “Overwhelmed, heartbroken”.
“Eddie I don’t know what to say in this situation, and it’s awkward because you’re my partner and he is my son but it won’t get better by bottling up your feelings” Joe explained.
“I know” Eddie says putting his head down. “It’s just, I really loved Barry and to find out that for months he has been lying to me. It hurts….it hurts a lot”.
“It will for a while, and trust isn’t something that will be rebuilt overnight. It will take time, but putting yourself into your work won’t help either. You need rest, you were kidnapped. I know you don’t want to be alone but work isn’t the place you need to be right now” Joe assured.
Eddie blinked back the tears that were threatening to spill. “Your right” he sighed.
“Maybe I should head to star labs and talk to Barry” he says.
“If that will help ease the burden I say go for it” Joe says walking to his desk and taking a seat.
Eddie stands up and grabs his jacket. “Thanks Joe”.
“Anytime Partner”.
Cisco smiled up at Ronnie, who had one arm wrapped around him and the other behind his head. “Cisco Ramon what the hell was that?" he said trying to catch his breath.
Cisco laughed. "What was what?”
"I wasn't expecting us to make love so soon but 3 times….." he said leaning down to kiss his forehead.
Cisco shrugged. "So much could change in the next few days, if Barry changed the future who knows if we would even be together. I just wanted to change to be with the person I love in every way".
Ronnie blushed. "I love you Cisco".
"I love you more Ronnie Raymond" Cisco smiled.
"Impossible" he says rolling over and laying on top of Cisco leaning in to steal a kiss. Cisco places his hands on Ronnie face and Sighs.
“I need to tell you something” he starts.
“Shoot I’m all ears” Ronnie says.
“When Caitlin, Barry and I found out about Wells…..” Ronnie instantly cut Cisco off.
“And there goes my boner’ he says dropping his head on Cisco’s shoulder. Cisco grabbed his head and forced him to look him in the face.
“Wait, Listen this is important” he says. “We found this hidden room he had, and in it he had a lot of future tech. One of which Barry created, apparently in the future”.
“Oooook” he says nervously.
“Its name was Gideon and it recognized Barry but it also recognized me” Cisco gulps. “It recognized me as Cisco Allen”.
Ronnie just stared at Cisco before moving off of him. “Cisco Allen, as in Barry Allen as in the future your married?”
Cisco quickly sat up and leaned on his arm. “No, not in this future. In the one wells changed, or Eobard changed”.
“So what does this mean? I’m wasting my time. That one day I’m going to lose you because you are Barry are destined to one day end up together?”
Cisco placed his hand on Ronnie face. “Hey, I chose my own destiny. And I chose you Ronnie Raymond. I love you and this is what I want”.
“Are you sure? I know how you felt about Barry before” Ronnie sighed.
Cisco leaned down and kissed Ronnie. “Trust me I’m sure”.
“I love you so much Cisco. I don’t think you realize how much I do” Ronnie says to him.
Cisco blushed. “Well we have a little time before we head back to the lab, why don’t you show me”.
Ronnie smirked and pulled Cisco in for a kiss, this man was going to be the death of him.
"Thought I might find you here" Cisco says walking towards Barry.
Barry smiled and step down from where he was standing. "I needed to get out of the lab. I thought this would be a good place to think".
"Oh, it is. Trust me. I've done a lot of thinking up here. I've even rented it out to a few people. One guy is months behind though" they both laughed.
They both stared at the city taking in its beauty before Cisco said. "So are you gonna do it?"
"It's just so...huge. It's the biggest decision of my life, and if I'm wrong, I can't undo it" Barry says.
"Why would you want to? I mean, you'd get to see your mom again, your dad, have a great career" Cisco shrugged before saying. "Even get married".
Barry instantly looked at Cisco who was smirking at him. "We never really talked about that whole Cisco Allen thing".
Barry chuckled. "Cisco Allen huh, never saw myself having a first name as a last name. Must be a 2024 thing".
Barry smiled instantly turned to a frown. "We don't know that that's going to happen".
"I wonder how we even meant each other in that life" he says. "Or how we got to that point of...." Cisco stopped and looked at Barry.
"Being in love" Barry finished.
"Cisco nodded. “Can I tell you something Barry".
Barry nodded. "4 months ago, that would have been the best news I ever heard. Knowing that there was a possibly that I could be with the man whom I had been crushing over for months".
Barry's eyes grew wide. "You had a crush on me?" he asked.
"A huge crush, and apparently only oblivious to you because everyone knew.....except you. THANK GOD!" Cisco laughed.
Barry didn't he was shocked but he needed to know if maybe those feelings where still there. "And now".
Cisco looked to Barry and his small slowly faded. "And now I happy where I am.........with Ronnie. I am in love with him. And you Barry...you have Eddie. Who knows if we even end up together in this new universe"?
"I believe we choose our own destiny. If we are meant to be together, something will bring us together. But we both have are happy with the people we love why change that because a newspaper says so".
Barry smiles and looks at the city blinking back the tears that were forming. He didn't want Cisco to see how much he words had affected him. How much he hurt to know that the man he loved had moved on. He had yet to tell him about Eddie and he didn't know when he even would.
"What do you think I should do? I need someone to tell me" Barry says defeated.
"I think... that for once in your life, Barry Allen, you should stop thinking about other people. I think you should do what's in your heart. Do what you need to do for yourself" he says smiling at him.
Eddie walked into stars labs trying to figure out what exactly he was going to say. He wanted to be there to support Barry and whatever decision he made. But when he finally gathered the courage the hurt and pain always overclouded any feelings of happiness he was having.
Joe was right it was going to take time, but talking to Barry and trying to find some positivity in all of this is what he needed right now.
“Eddie?” Barry said stopping in the hallway.
Then it happened all those feelings of hurt taking over, Eddie pushed them down just to get out. “Hi, Bar” he smiled.
Barry smiled. “What are you doing here?”
“I uhhhhh, needed to see you. I needed to talk” Eddie says. “How are you?”
Barry chuckles nervously. “Me….you…uhhhh how are you?”
“Honestly I don’t know, I want so badly for things to go back to how they were to how we use to be before…” Eddie looked at Barry.
Barry frowned. “Before we got together”.
Eddie sighed. “It hurts Barry, it really does but I know that one day we are going to get back there. Back to being friends….best friends” he says. “I’m trying to forgive you Barry, I promise one day I will get there”.
Barry smiles, blinking back a few tears. “I’m actually really happy to hear that Eddie”.
Eddie smiles and crosses his arms. “Depending on what you chose to do” Eddie clears up.
Barry sighs and leans against the wall. “Yea, I don’t know what I want to do”.
Eddie shrugs. “Do what makes Barry Allen happy for once”.
Barry nodded and lowered his head. “Thanks Eddie” he says moving in for a hug.
“Love you” he whispers in Eddie’s ear.
“Love you too Barry” he says letting his tears fall.
"Okay. There are gonna be three yous back there... the you from the future who saved younger you from the Reverse-Flash and now you you. Remember, wait until future you gets younger you out of there, and then you can go and save your mom" Cisco smiles.
"Piece of cake" Barry says.
Cisco places his hands on either side of Barry's arms. "May the Speed Force be with you" he says. That’s not good enough for Barry, he knows that in this future he will be with Cisco. But he needed to hug this Cisco on last time. Cisco accepts the embrace and gives Barry's back a rub before pulling back. He steps back and takes Ronnie hand. Barry looks and their locked hands and nods at Ronnie who smiles and nods back.
"Good-bye, Dad" Barry says hugging Joe.
"Good-bye, Son" Joe says.
"Iris..." he says hugging her.
She smiles with tears in her eyes. "You better come find me" she laughs smacking him on the arm.
"Trust me I will look for you" he says.
Barry looks at Eddie. "Eddie....."
"You don't have to say anything. I already know" he says giving Barry a hug, kissing the side of his head as he did so. "I hope whatever life you get, it's enough for you. That it makes you happy".
Barry nods and wipes the tears from his eyes. He steps back. "Remember, Mr. Allen, assuming you achieve the proper velocity and open the wormhole, you will only have 1 minute and 52 seconds to save your mother and return. Or else...”
"I know".
"Well... you hold both our futures in your hands now, Mr. Allen. And I know you can do it" Eobard says through the Com system.
"Now... Run... Barry. Run".
"It's beautiful. Rip Hunter would be impressed. He built the first one of these. Interesting man" Wells says taking in the beauty of the time machine Cisco built. Before anyone had a chance to say anything else. A hat came from the portal that Barry had opened.
"Now what the hell is that?" Joe asked.
"That's my cue to leave. Thank you, Cisco" Eobard says.
Cisco couldn't find it to look him in the eye, he just wanted this man gone. "Don't ever come back".
Eobard smirked and got into the time machine, strapping himself in. "30 seconds" They heard Stein say over the com.
"Home" he whispered, he could almost see it.
All of a sudden Barry came charging through the portal straight at Wells smashing the time machine. Causing Cisco and Joe to go flying across the room at the impact, Cisco slamming hard into the wall.
Wells gathered himself and looked at Barry. "You didn't save her. Why?" he shouts, anger in his voice. "Why? You could have had the life you wanted. You could have had everything you ever wanted!"
"I already do" Barry glares.
"Not for long" Wells says putting on his mask and charging at Barry, the fight between the two only last about a minute as Wells got the upper hand. His hand around Barry throat.
"You will pay for what you've done" Wells say letting Barry go, speeding over to Cisco. Who was still passed out. He places his hand on his neck and looks to Barry.
"You think you have everything!" he yells.
"No" Barry says trying to compose himself to get to Cisco.
"Let's see you live this life, when I take the person you love the most away from you" he raises his hand and it starts vibrating. Before he can do anything any a loud gunshot goes off and Wells jumps backing away from Cisco.
Barry doesn't look to see what the noise was he just quickly makes his way over to Cisco, and places his hand on the face. The other hand giving him a small shake.
"Hmmmmmmm......." Cisco moans slowly coming too.
"Hey you’re ok" he whispers.
"EDDIE!" he hears.
Barry looks around and see's Eddie holding a gun to his chest, and see's blood forming on his shirt. "EDDIE!" he yells running to him, catching him in his arms.
"Eddie, why would you do that?" Barry cries holding him in his arms.
"I just wanted to be the hero, I wanted something positive to come out of all this" he stutters.
"Eddie....no don’t leave me" Barry sobs.
Eddie smiles at Barry. "I forgive you Barry" he says before his body goes limp, Barry brings him closer and rocks.
"Eddie please wake up" he says.
Ronnie runs over to Cisco and helps him up. "Hey you ok?" he asks. Cisco nods.
"What’s happening" joe says looking at Eobard.
"Eddie's his ancestor. If Eddie dies, he'll never be born, and... He's being erased from existence “Cisco explains.
"I've controlled your life for so long, Barry. How will you get along without me?" Eobard says to Barry before completely disappearing for good.
Next thing they know the portable opened up again, this time forming a large wormhole, that was making its self-bigger by the second, pulling in anything that was in its path.
"We have to go" Ronnie says to Cisco taking his hand, leaving the room.
"Barry we have to go" Joe says.
"I'm not leaving him" he says still holding Eddie.
"Barry you have to" Joe yells pulling Barry away from him and out of the room.
Once they were outside they noticed the wormhole had spread, it was almost the size of half the city. "So that's what we didn't want to happen" Cisco says.
"What's it doing?" Caitlin asks.
"Feeding. A singularity won't stop, not even after the earth is gone I'm afraid the accretion disc has already assembled “Stein says
"What?"
"The diffuse material that's in orbital motion around the singularity".
"What does that mean?" Iris asks.
"We have to disrupt the motion. Basically it's just like the tornado, only upside down. And bigger. And scarier" Barry explains.
"Barry, that event has an energy level of at least 6.7 Tera Electron Volts. It cannot be stopped" Stein tries to reason with Barry, seeing his eye's that he is about to do something to try and stop it.
"I have to try" he says, he looks to his family. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath before putting on his mask. He looks to the wormhole, and takes off running towards it.
He was going to save his family, and his city, at any cost.