(no subject)

[captaincaveman]

Early in the morning, Barry was already at work at CCPD, Claire would be greeted with a knock at her door. Wells, in his classic black attire and black baseball cap to hide his face was standing at her door. He wasn't wearing his glasses and had the collar of his jacket popped to help conceal his face. In one hand he was holding a Jitters carton with two to-go cups of coffee.

Assuming she opened the door, the very first thing he did was raise his free hand in a show of surrender and say, "It's me, Harrison--or Harry, not... you know..."

Comments

[captaincaveman]

"Barry's tough." Caitlin said reassuringly with a small, tight smile. "He's taken some pretty bad tumbles. He'll be okay." She reached out and touched Claire's hand, giving it a squeeze.

"Allen doesn't know the meaning of taking it easy." Harry grumbled. "And I get the feeling you don't either. It's my fault he's still fighting this venom. I thought I'd accounted for his metabolism, but I didn't do a good enough job. You're both hurt because of me, and I'm stuck in this damn--"

"Harry!" Caitlin cut him off and the hand over Claire's got very chilly, but the hidden Meta cuffs kept her power in check. The outburst from Cait seemed to silence even the chatter in the Cortex. "Claire can help me synthesise the antidote."

Cisco leaned in and knocked on the door frame, looking at Claire worriedly. "Everything okay in here?"

[infinite1ups]

"Even vefore my regen manifested, I never got sick. I was always the kid with perfect attendance. Then, ironically enough, I started missing a whole bunch of school." It had been ten years, she could find humor in those earliest traumatic days. "So now I'm actually getting kinda hyped up to finally have a sick day. Trust me, I'll make Barry relax." Their honeymoon phase could have a little unofficial honeymoon, the way she saw it.

The sudden chill on Claire's hand was startling, but she was easily able to play if off as though it was due to Cait suddenly raising her voice. She quickly smiled, waving her free hand in dismissal. "Everything's fine! I can help Caitlin with the antidote. I was gonna show my dad around, but I can guarantee he'd rather make sure I get clear of this toxin than go sightseeing."

She shot Caitlin a little smile. Her secret woild remain safe.

[captaincaveman]

"Make sure you're both relaxing." Harry said firmly, barely bothered by Caitlin's outburst. Or, if he was, he didn't show it.

Cait lifted her hand from Claire's after a moment. She'd wanted to jerk it back as soon as she felt how hot Claire's felt under hers, but knew that would bring attention to everything. "You're extra irritable." She stated and got up. She located his meds and brought a small cup with painkillers over to him.

He took his meds with his soda and thanked her quietly, apologising just as quietly to her and Claire, then went back to his food. It wasn't just pain, it was suffocating guilt, on top of it, but the meds couldn't help that.

Cisco gave them all a warm smile and an 'ok' sign with his hand then went back to the Cortex. Caitlin sat back down and smiled at Claire. "How long is he staying?"

[infinite1ups]

"I can relax just fine! In fact, I can relax even easier with Barry." Claire didn't see it as Harry's fault at all. She had been reckless in that fight, letting herself take a hit even after Snart had warned her about the chameleon's claws. Somehow she didn't think Harry would accept that if she tried to convince him, though.

"Like a week, I think? He didn't really give me an answer when I asked." It almost made her think he was up to something. "But he did say he'll text me when he gets his rental and he's on his way from the airport. I'm so excited for him to meet y'all." Her cheeks flushed faintly. "I... haven't really had a life worth showing off to him in quite a while."

[captaincaveman]

"Is he in on the whole...?" Caitlin gestured around them as if that should explain what she was trying to say. "Superpowers thing?"

Harry still felt responsible for every Meta that attacked thinking he was Thawne, even if he had no control over that at all. His particle accelerator didn't explode like Thawne's, but there had been an unexpected wave of dark matter that he directed underground when he powered his on, and that had still changed people. So he felt like Thawne's sins were also his own because he never paid for them on his Earth. So, even if she was reckless, if Thawne hadn't created the chameleon, it wouldn't be there to hurt her.

[infinite1ups]

"Dad doesn't have powers, but he taught me almost everything I know about it. He's worked with people like me for a long time. Meta-humans are new to him, though. He sounded pretty eager to learn and help however he can, even if he was pretending to be enjoying his retirement."

Even if she hadn't met Harry, Claire still had a connection to Thawne. Any Meta with a grudge could've found her, regardless. Arguably, it might have been worse if she had carried on their partnership. It couldn't really be said whether or not Thawne would feel guilty about it. Sure, he had said he'd protect her, but now she was convinced he had been manipulating her.

That was what hurt the most about the whole thing. He had seemed so honest, so genuinely fond of her. What if he had been, now she was ghosting him and betraying him on top of that? He would be pushed even further into madness, and it'd be her fault. There was no one she could talk to about it. She was committed to her relationship with Barry, her new friends, and her promise to stay away from Thawne. She didn't want to do or say anything that might call her that into question.

But that didn't mean it wasn't eating at her. She pushed those thoughts away for now.

"Oh! Caitlin - my dad has a geneticist friend. I could talk to him about maybe seeing if Mohinder is interested in a chat? Dr. Suresh is legit, he works a lot with evolved humans."

Tell me not to make a Cait journal.

[captaincaveman]

"It still blows my mind that there have been people with powers before Metas." Caitlin sounded awed. "Some people just can't stay in retirement." She doubted she'd be able to.

They would constantly assure her that Thawne only cared about himself, but only Thawne would know for sure whether he'd truly cared for Claire or whether she was another means to an end. Perhaps both. Barry would never accept that Thawne could care for anyone though. Cisco could believe it, but Cisco also knew what it was like to be one of the few Thawne cared about but at the same time, he'd kill them anyway. The only thing they knew for sure, that this path would cause upset and they were prepared to fight for Claire.

"I'd love to chat with him!" She lit up at the idea.

I am the wrong person to ask that. XD /gestures at gaggle of journals lying in wait

[infinite1ups]

"I'm surprised y'all were in the dark after my televised swan-dive," Claire said casually, but with a small sense of relief. "But I guess it tracks, I don't get recognized as much anymore." She looked to Harry with a grin, "And maybe the Earth-2 version of Claire Bennet made better life choices, if she exists at all." Because she just knew the words 'televised swan-dive' were going to get a look from him.

Knowing that everyone would fight for her, with her, was perhaps the hardest part. The most difficult and bitter pill to swallow. That they were all so ready to stand up for her and put themselves at risk for her. It had been her own foolish, naive heart that had gotten her all wrapped up with Thawne in the first place. At least she came to her senses and proved that she could, in fact, make better choices, she supposed.

Approaching Barry Allen was arguably the best decision of all. Though it was likely would've met him eventually anyway if she'd kept in touch with Harry after saving him.

"I'll let Dad know when he gets here." Claire hummed thoughtfully in between bites of pickle. "He's been acting a little cagey, almost makes me think he's got something up his sleeve. With him, it could be anything from a housewarming gift for my new apartment, to some kind of life-changing announcement. Honestly, I kind of hope he finds something to do. The sad divorced dad life is really not his style."

Welp. She won't have icons until I can get on my PC.

[captaincaveman]

That absolutely got a look from Harry. Stern and concerned father. While Cait covered her mouth in a small gasp. "Swan-dive off of what?" Harry asked firmly. THIS is why he does not think the two of you will be fine, Claire!

Cait could feel Harry's rising blood pressure even without an art line in his arm. "I'm sure it was an accident." She assured meekly and looked at Claire hopefully. But Harry knew better.

When she described Noah's lifestyle, Harry sipped his drink and glared, almost like he took personal offence to what she said. "Maybe he has other things he's focused on. His daughter doesn't have to constantly worry about his happiness. That's his prerogative, not hers." Someone's projecting. The look on Cait's face said just that.

:)

[infinite1ups]

"...a Ferris wheel." She at least looked the part, ducking her head sheepishly. "Never again, though. I'm avoiding the public eye as much as possible." That much Harry could count on. If she really wanted the attention, she would've made a spectacle out of catching the chameleon, not helping to take it down and then disappearing.

"Actually, I think he was holding himself back 'cause he was worried about me. Way more than I was about him, and I worried about him a lot," Claire said softly. She knew exactly what Harry was doing, and she wasn't going to match his gruffness. "He liked having the time to be available whenever I'd roll through Arlington, or when I'd ask him to join me on one of my adventures." It was making up for all those times he wasn't there when she was little. All the 'business trips' when he was really out bagging and tagging evolved humans.

"But I also think he was kinda... waiting for something to happen. Waiting for someone to need him." If Harry felt called out again, it was not her intention.

[captaincaveman]

"To clarify, you will never again swan-dive off a ferris wheel or you just won't do it again in the public eye? Because those are two different promises, young lady." Claire, how do you activate Grumpy Dad mode so easily? You left Fun Dad in the Cortex.

Harry's gaze was so stern that Caitlin had to keep her mouth covered to hide her smile. Claire and her dad sounded like Jesse and Harry. "We don't know anyone like that, do we Harry?" Cait said fondly. "So you think he might be planning something when he visits here?"

[infinite1ups]

There was a slightly longer pause as Claire seriously considered the question. "Both. No more Ferris wheel jumps, with or without cameras." That still left her open to jumping off, or out of, everything else. Sometimes jumping out of a moving truck or off a ten-story building was a better alternative than whatever was trying to get her.

Joe hadn't gotten to see the self-destructive gremlin side of her yet, just the sweet and supportive girlfriend side. It was only a matter of time, though.

"I'm not sure," she answered Cait honestly. "I asked what all he wanted to do and it was like he was trying not to commit to anything, like might have plans he doesn't want to talk about yet. But, it could be that he's afraid he's imposing, even though I told him about a million times how excited I am for him to meet everyone."

After a sip of her drink, she shrugged. "The original plan was for me to show him around Central City after he gets checked in and drops his bags off, then Barry was going to meet us at Jitters. But now that we're gonna be taking it easy, Dad can just come to my place. He's staying close by, anyway." She paused, then remembered, "We can still come in to run labs, too."

She wondered if she could convince Barry to let her drive them...

[captaincaveman]

Harry would take what he could get from her for now. It wasn't like he could equip the watch with airbags or a parachute. ...maybe some kind of anti-grav tech to slow descents in case of an emergency, but that would deplete the power source in one go. Still, an idea for the future.

"Whatever it is, we'll all be glad to make him feel welcome. If he needs a tour guide, we can mostly all take turns. Those of us allowed to leave our respective rooms." Cait assured her warmly.

It may or may not shock her to know Barry didn't actually have a license. Or a car. When he could run faster than one, he never saw the need.

There was a rush of wind that nearly knock Caitlin out of her chair, then a small brunette was on the bed, hugging Harry tightly. From the Cortex, Cisco and Barry could both be heard simultaneously saying, "Hi, Jesse!"

"I thought you were going to be more careful!" Jesse was in tears. "Do you know what it's like to get a message like that from Cisco?!" Harry made room for Jesse and she tucked her knees up against her beside him, looking even smaller, holding onto him tightly.

"Jesse, this is Claire Bennet, Allen's... new friend who is a girl. Bennet, this is my daughter, Jesse." Harry awkwardly introduced from over the top of Jesse's head. He was instantly less grumpy having her near by.

[infinite1ups]

That absolutely wouldn't surprise her at all, she probably drive either if she had super-speed. Sure would have made her escape from college a whole lot different. She didn't mind at all; Barry could be adorable in the passenger seat while she drove, it seemed like a good deal to her.

Yep. The way Jesse was with Harry reminded Claire a whole lot of herself. It made her miss Noah all the more. Her dad was getting the biggest hug when he arrived, that much she knew for certain.

"Nice to finally meet you, Jesse. I've heard a lot about you," she said cheerfully, then huffed a laugh. "I think the word you're lookin' for is girlfriend, Harry." Because she was never going to get tired of how sweet it sounded in her ears. Barry's girlfriend.

But at the same time, it was just as sweet to see the change in Harry as soon as Jesse was there. She also couldn't help but find it a little funny to hear Jesse lecturing her dad about being careful after being on the receiving end of that very lecture mere moments before. "Funny, he keeps telling me the same thing. I don't think he's good at following his own advice."

[captaincaveman]

"Yeah. That." Harry agreed awkwardly.

Jesse blotted her tears away with her sleeve and smiled. "I've heard a lot about you too. You saved my dad when he got in that accident. And Cisco said you saved him this time too." She sniffled and Harry offered her his fries. She accepted them but didn't seem like the peace offering was getting him out of trouble.

"He's terrible at taking his own advice. Rules for thee but not for me." Jesse said and Harry scoffed. "Thank you for keeping him safe. I don't know what I'd do if I lost him."

Harry tucked one of her curls behind her ear and kissed the top of her head.

[infinite1ups]

"Yeah, he quite literally fell into my life," Claire said with a chuckle. "I'm glad I was in the right place at the right time. When he talks about you it reminds me of my dad." The fondness in her voice was obvious, but there was a heaviness too. She didn't know what she'd do without Noah.

"Thanks for letting us borrow him. He takes pretty good care of us, too." If Harry tried to protest that, she was ready to shoot him down.

[captaincaveman]

"I'm glad you were too. If I wasn't hugging him right now, I'd give you a hug." Claire could be sure Jesse would hug her before the day was over. She just needed to reassure herself that her dad was going to be okay.

"I've done nothing but cause you trouble." Harry objected crossly. Jesse would swat him, but wasn't sure where was safe to do so just yet, so she didn't.

[infinite1ups]

If there was anyone who'd understand that, it was Claire. She'd be glad for a hug just as soon as Jesse was ready.

"Please, you know trouble would find me without you," she gently chided. "And now you have me promising to do crazy things like being careful and taking it easy. My own dad could barely get me to do that." Noah and Claire had butted heads over it for years.

She gestured with one of her fries like it was her turn to lecture. "If I can do it, so can you."

[captaincaveman]

"True, but you don't need my trouble added to your laundry list of problems hunting you down, too." Harry argued.

"Dad, I think she can handle it." Jesse insisted. "You've got that same spark about you like Barry does. You want to help people. You're earnest. And when dad talked about you last time, he smiled. Just like when he talks about Barry. So I know you're a good person." Jesse wanted her dad to be happy. She wanted him to move on past her mother's death and start living for himself. And that starts by making friends who he enjoys being around.

While all of this was going on, Caitlin took it upon herself to go get a blood sample from Barry and leave the three alone. This didn't feel like her business. But she could also see how badly Mr. Affectionate wanted to be in here with Claire, so she'd kill to birds with one stone and get blood for Labs while telling him to chill for a bit because Jesse and Claire were setting Harry straight.

Cait put a butterfly bandaid over Barry's head wound to keep it closed while it healed.

[infinite1ups]

Harry, sir, your daughter has never done anything wrong a day in her life and Claire is going to protect her just as fiercely as she does you.

She really couldn't help the big, dopey smile that was threatening to take up her whole face as Jesse compared her to Barry, and also hearing that Harry smiled when he talked about her. "Thanks," she replied, a little shy. "Nice to know Mr. Grumpy does smile." Her teasing was from the same place of love as Cisco's, she was just gentler about it because that was her way.

As Caitlin got up to tend to Barry, Claire's glance followed to briefly watch through the glass. The adoration in her eyes was obvious when she looked at Barry, but there was also a clear sense of peace about her. It was really sinking in that she had finally found somewhere to belong.

She turned back to Jesse and Harry curiously, "I never did ask - what's the process of traveling between Earths like? The whole parallel worlds thing is still kinda blowing my mind."

[captaincaveman]

Insert Arlo Meme.

Harry made a little grunt sound in the back of his throat, wanting to object, but not having the words for it. Jesse just beamed and held onto her father tighter. He seemed sufficiently cowed now and she'd call that a win.

"My little Jesse Quick." Harry said affectionately. "Always so passionate." He was so happy right now, he didn't even put on a farce at being called Mr. Grumpy. Look at him, Claire, he truly was smiling.

Jesse nodded at Claire's gratitude and giggled a bit at her dad's nickname. The question mad the two look between each other, as if asking who wanted to answer. Jesse, like Harry, was a genius. He gestured for her to take that one.

"So, a while back, a singularity opened up on this Earth, producing massive amounts of energy. This was a world-ending event," Thank you Thawne. "When it was closed, the energy tore holes--breaches through space and time to our Earth all over this city. This event poked holes in the Multiverse that shouldn't be there, putting this Earth at the centre, making it the access point. Those tiny wormholes were incredibly unstable, but we were able to stabilise them with tech, but they're impossible to cross without a Speedster or a device we dubbed the Speed Canon. Think of these breaches like doors. Between these doors there's a constantly twisting and turning hallway. If you're not fast enough, you'll fall out of another doorway before you reach the one you're headed for." Jesse got up in a zip of speed and suddenly there was a glass white board on wheels in the med lab. She had a white marker in hand. She drew one small dot labelled Earth-1 and another on the other side of the board Earth-2 then drew a snuggly line between them to connect them she drew an offshoot line part of the way from one of the squiggle humps to a new circle labelled Earth-3. "There are limitless Earths in the Multiverse. So if you aren't careful you could end up anywhere." She drew multiple offshoot lines with multiple circles. "A Speedster can outrun the twisting turbulence of the corridor and get you to your destination." She drew a straight line through the squiggle from E-1 to E-2. "Images and time bleed through the energy, so as you're passing through you'll see glimpses of the other Earth timelines. It's trippy. You have to ignore them or you'll lose the path." She capped the marker and set it on the tray.

Harry decided to add a bit more context, "Ramon's breaches from one Earth to another are far less unstable. As long as he holds them open, they take you exactly where you want to go. We closed all the breaches opened by the singularity to stop Zoom from getting here before Allen defeated him, but I built a device that can open a breach from our side when we need to come over, like Ramon's power." Harry explained. "It can be programmed to go to any Earth, so long as I get the calculations right."

Jesse sat down beside her dad again, but this time was less of a clingy mass and just went about finishing his fries. "If you ever want to visit, I could always take you to our Earth. It's a trip travelling between Earths!" She offered.

[infinite1ups]

That's literally Claire with all her new friends right now.

It was downright heartwarming to see Harry smiling like that. Things had been pretty stressful since she'd shown up in Central City - though she was more noticing the coincidence in timing, rather than blaming herself. A visit from Jesse seemed to be just what he needed.

She found it interesting that so many Meta-humans had speedster abilities. Then again, she knew of at least two evolved humans with super-speed, albeit theirs seemed slower than the Meta abilities she'd seen so far, Jesse's included. Maybe it was just how the distribution of powers worked from an evolutionary standpoint. After all, she knew of other duplicate powers. Super-strength, invisibility, and pyrokinesis, in particular. She had seen the Company file about Meredith's brother Flint, the uncle she had never met. They could both control flame, though Flint's had been blue while her mother's appeared normal.

There had even been another evolved human like her. Noah had told her in no uncertain terms that he was not a man she would have wanted to meet. Which, naturally, had only made her more curious, until he let her read the file on Adam Monroe, and she kind of understood. The man had been a menace. A villain on the level of Sylar, and perhaps even Eobard Thawne. There were certainly parallels to be found in Monroe's obsession with Hiro Nakamura, and his rage at the Company Founders.

Some abilities just seemed to be more common than others. Claire wondered if there was any kind of pattern that could be detected, both in evolved and Meta-humans. She did have a theory, but it was something she'd need to do more research about. Those thoughts were filed away for later.

It also occurred to her then, listening to this explanation that bordered on a class lecture, that the apple hadn't fallen very far from the tree at all. The drawing helped, though, so Claire was grateful that Jesse had gone to the extra effort.

From what Peter had described, having temporarily borrowed super-speed from Edgar, and from what she'd seen, it wouldn't be enough to traverse these breaches. Maybe with Ando's super-charged lightning, but definitely not alone. A race between Barry and Peter might be close for a little while, she thought. Clear of the chameleon's venom and once he got going? The Flash would leave her uncle in the dust. Seeing Barry show off in the Speed Lab had her convinced of that.

"Cisco mentioned being able to breach to other Earths when he was showing me his power," Claire remembered excitedly. "He told me a little bit about Earth-2." Because of the Vibe that she wasn't supposed to mention. "I must have asked him a million questions about everything, but I think he liked it," she added with a giggle. "But, y'know, probably better to ask the folks who are actually from there. It makes a whole lot more sense to me now, so thanks, guys. Might be cool to see Earth-2 one of these days, hopefully things calm down soon. It's been a little crazy since I moved here."

[captaincaveman]

Thawne turns himself into a Meta by recreating Barry's accident on himself and used the Block to build his own Negative Speed Force. Zoom was being given electro-shock "therapy" when he was hit with the dark matter, giving an insane serial killer super-speed. Jay Garrick was from Earth-3, and got it the same way Barry did. For the most part, there was just one Speedster per Earth, naturally. Jesse being an exception. Jesse was in a coma after she and Wally got hit with a dark matter wave when Harry got Barry his speed back. She was completely unresponsive until Barry came out of the Speed Force and touched her. There were other Speedsters, like Trajectory, who only had speed due to Velocity 9, and without it, weren't even Metas. But like Zoom, the drug was killing them. They just didn't have the healing factor to help keep them alive. But it turned out that Earth-2 never had a Flash so Jesse was just balancing things out once Zoom was dead. The Speed Force tried to keep a balance when it could. At least when it came to natural Speed Force users.

"Our Earth is similar in many way, and very different in others." Harry explained fondly. "We don't have nearly as much crime and we're technologically more advanced, but our style is different. I think Cisco compared the cars to retro '40s in looks. But they're environmentally cleaner than the vehicles here. Our sun has a far more yellow cast to it than the sun here, too. Or, rather, to my eyes, your sun has a far more cyan cast to it than ours. That took some getting used to when I first arrived here. But I spend so much time here, when I go home, my eyes have to adjust to the yellow cast again." Harry offered her another warm smile. "We're scientists, Bennet. Ramon included. We live to 'geek out' about our fields." He said.

"Oh, trust me, sometimes dad won't shut up." Jesse confirmed. "If you get him and Cisco going, you'll want headphones. They can argue science like an old married couple."

"We do not." Harry sounded so offended. But Jesse just looked amused. At least they always made up.

"Things will calm down, Claire." Jesse promised. "And when they do, just have Dad or Cisco give me a call and we can have a little fun party on the town on my Earth."

[infinite1ups]

She remembered Cisco describing the buildings as more futuristic, but she couldn't really explain that without getting into the Vibe and that would risk revealing Caitlin's secret. The added description still helped her get more of a mental image going, what to expect when she finally did get to visit. It was a little hard to imagine a more yellow sun when she thought the sun she was used to already seemed pretty yellow, though.

Hearing Harry utter the phrase 'geek out' was going to live rent free in her mind for a while. Claire smiled even wider at that, and at the prospect of things calming down enough to have not just a vacation, but a trip to a whole different Earth.

"I guess the geeking out goes both ways when I get going about evolved human stuff," she said thoughtfully. "My dad and Dr. Suresh know even more about it than I do. Wait 'til you meet them and get them going." Everything she'd learned had more or less come from them, or Mohinder's father and the book he'd written. But unfortunately she'd never gotten the chance to meet the elder Dr. Suresh before he passed. Yet another one of Sylar's victims, not for a power, but for the list of evolved humans that Chandra Suresh had developed using the Human Genome Project.

"Hopefully, the next couple of days aren't anything crazy while Barry and I get the rest of this chameleon venom out of our systems. I know we'll get sorted out, but having something affect my regeneration is always gonna make me nervous." She was nervous for Barry too, though she was much calmer than she had been before. It wasn't clear whether or not Harry really believed in her intention to make them both take the time off, but she meant every word.

"And you better be taking it easy too, Harry. I can help Caitlin in the lab while you heal up. Pretty sure I can just do whatever she tells me."

[captaincaveman]

"I look forward to meeting them both." Harry said. "Assuming Snow will let me out of this bed at some point." The second part was grumbled with petulance.

"Bio-chem was one of my five majors in college. I'm pretty sure I can help, too. I took over for Caitie when Zoom kidnapped her." Jesse said helpfully.

"And if Allen is still suffering from its effects, they're going to need a Flash on this Earth until he can run again." Harry suggested. This was in no way a ploy to keep his daughter around. Nope.

"I'm on Earth-1 Team Flash for a few. Got it. I should've brought an overnight bag." Jesse said and Harry seemed to melt into the bed a bit.

At the accusatory tone in Claire's voice, Harry bristled again. His rebellious nature wanting to argue. "I'm--!" Jesse shot him a stern look. "taking it easy." He finally settled on, deflating a bit. Being ganged up on by two daughters was infuriating! "Eat your damn pickles and stop harassing me." He said pointedly to Claire, but there was no real bite to his tone. There was even a very subtle upturn to his lips.