(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

[infinite1ups]

Fortunately, Claire was pretty good at hyping up and pep-talking other people. You can take the girl out of the cheer uniform... but some of that S-P-I-R-I-T was still in her, especially when it came to supporting the people she loved.

"I'm fine with either option, though maybe it's best we don't risk you taking another spill," she said with a glance at Barry. "Thanks, Joe."

Caitlin caught her attention next, and she gave a nod. "Oh, yeah. That's totally fine. I put STAR Labs on the safe list with the security at my building, so they would've kept an eye on it." After hearing herself say that, she thought it might sound weird. "The Petrelli family took over management of my apartment building. My bio-dad's family."

Despite the urgency in her father's voice, Claire really was reluctant to leave. She'd been having a nice time, and she was eager to see the results from the newest bloodwork. "Sorry for the sudden departure, and hey. Just call or drop by if you need anything else from me. I'm sure once my dad sees me he'll calm down. Then again, with the new news I have, he might not." But the situation also felt a little silly, and she couldn't help but laugh. "Dang, it's almost like I'm getting caught out after curfew and I'm about to get grounded."

[feelthelightning]

"Don't worry, I'll always fire off a text before I come visit. And I'll be sure Cisco does the same before he or Harry drop in. And I do mean drop in. Harry's not allowed out of STAR Labs for a while unless he's escorted by someone who can get him out of danger either in a flash or a breach." Caitling said lightheartedly with a smile. "Cisco will breach into the hallway, not into your apartment, by the way. I thought I should clarify." She added quickly.

Joe got up and headed for the elevator. "I'll get the car started. You two lovebirds meet me down in the parking lot when you're ready. Barr, you gonna call Singh?"

"Uh, yeah!" Barry wrapped his arms around Claire and kissed her softly. "I probably can't do that in front of your dad, so I'm gonna get as many little kisses in as I can right now."

[infinite1ups]

"That all sounds good to me," Claire agreed. "Stinks for Harry, but I'll be here to visit him plenty, too." Besides, he likely wouldn't be too upset about his house arrest while Jesse was here on Earth-1, she figured.

"I can't say he'd get mad or anything, just that he probably won't be used to it." Her arms slipped around Barry in return, and she helped herself to another kiss. "And if you stay the night again, then you can kiss me all night." What better way to make them both take it easy than cuddle time?

[feelthelightning]

"Oh, believe me, I'm sticking by your side until I know you can heal without issue." Barry assured and stole another kiss. "I'll call my boss on the way to the apartment and get my leave set up."

Caitlin looked like she couldn't handle just how cute they were, with her arms held tightly in a hug across her chest, fists tucked under her chin, and bright smile on her face. "Go, you two."

[infinite1ups]

Caitlin's voice made Claire blush, because for a few seconds she had definitely forgotten about other people. She drew back and took Barry's hand, nodding in agreement.

"Yeah, we probably shouldn't keep Joe waiting. Or my dad, for that matter. I told him I'd be home soon." And considering she hadn't actually made the drive on the way there, she couldn't hadn't thought to give him an estimation on how long it would take.

She quickly said her goodbyes, to Caitlin, and waving through the window at Harry and Jesse in the med lab. Cisco seemingly hadn't reemerged from his fashion design, but he'd get filled in on what happened, no doubt.

"Next time, I'll drive," she told Barry as she let him lead the way out of the lab. But then, her bus was highly recognizable, and she was pretty sure she'd told Thawne about it. Even if she hadn't, once he realized she was in Central City, it wouldn't be difficult to spot her ride. Shit. She might have to look into getting something else to drive, something that blended in better. Ugh, maybe a boring SUV, like her dad.

Claire would deal with that later. For now, she had things to look forward to so she was going to let herself bask in that on the way back to her apartment.

[feelthelightning]

Joe drove them back and Barry made the call to Singh. Arranging a week off for an emergency appendectomy, which seemed to go over just fine. Joe held in a chuckle until Barry hung up. Commenting that he would run out of organs to remove at this point. To which barry lamented that he knew and clearly felt guilty over it.

At Claire's apartment, Joe hugged Barry and offered an opened armed gesture to Claire for a hug too. If she wanted one. "You kids take care. Let me know wa soon as Caitlin gives you both a clean bill of health and don't you dare do anything stupid while you're both still sick, got it?"

[infinite1ups]

Claire had figured two or three days, at most. But a week? It worried her, made her think maybe she'd been too optimistic about how long it might take for the toxin to clear from their systems. She didn't let it show too much, instead tried to focus on how nice it was that they could have the extra time together.

Of course when Joe offered a hug, she happily took one. There was no such thing as too many dad hugs, as far as she was concerned. She pulled back with a grin, playfully waving a hand in dismissal. "Not gonna happen. I've never gotten to take sick time, ever. I think I might ham it up like we're staying home from school. Chicken noodle soup, some bad daytime TV, the whole nine."

After they dealt with her dad, anyway. Once Joe had left, she took a deep breath and texted Noah to let him know they were home. Then she set her phone down and scrubbed a hand over her face, sighing. "I know it'll all be alright once we explain what happened, but I'm still nervous."

[feelthelightning]

It wasn't so much that he thought they'd need all that time, but he'd rather have it and go back early than need it and not have it. Barry took her hand and walk the rest of the way up to her apartment when Joe left.

"I'm here with you." He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "You should have heard Joe when he found out about my powers. I'd just woken up from a nine month coma, then he found out his foster son was putting himself in danger to stop super powered criminals that were brand new things to the city. He was furious. With me, with Wells for letting me, with Cait and Cisco for encouraging me. There was a lot of yelling."

[infinite1ups]

Her keys went up on the hook by the door after she let them in, then she kicked off her shoes. Barry's reassurance helped, as always.

"I don't think he'll be furious, just worried and a little disappointed that I wasn't more careful." So again, just like Harry. "But it'll be fine. There probably won't be any yelling."

She leaned up for a kiss. "So, I'm gonna explain the whole multiple Earths thing, and he already knows that Metas exist, but how much more do you want to tell him? It'll be okay if you wait to let him in on everything, he'll understand."

[feelthelightning]

Harry sure did have the disappointed dad look down to a science. Which has nothing at all to do with Tom having 4 kids. Pun intended.

Barry also left his shoes at the door, hoping her dad wasn't some keen observer who would notice something like the fact that his shoes looked brand new except had the wear and tear on the tread like they'd been worn for 5 years. The canvas material didn't even have creases in it yet. Just another curse of the Speedster lifestyle. This was why he had a special suit for The Flash. Not just to look Flashy.

"I mean, I don't wanna out Cisco, but I don't usually hide that I work with Metas. If... if it happens to look necessary to tell him about me being the Flash, you know that puts him in danger. But, him just being the Dad of my girlfriend puts him in danger." He admitted. "Is he better off knowing?" Barry was torn. Harry kept telling him the fewer people who knew, the safer he and the people in question were, but it seemed like they just had to be near him and nor know anything to be hurt. Like Patty.

[infinite1ups]

Noah Bennet was an observant man, but not to those extremes. At least not in a situation like this.

"Well," Claire began, "Dad's worked with and around evolved humans since before I was born. The more he knows, the more he can help. He taught me how to shoot, how to defend myself. He's always been the man with the plan."

There was an obvious fondness in the way she said that. She was proud of him, and she was proud to be his daughter.

"He already knows I'm in at least some danger, so he's going to want to know as much as possible, and what he can do about it. That's probably the biggest reason why he's coming. It's why he came early." She couldn't help laughing a little as she continued explaining, "When I stopped texting back, he thought I'd been attacked again. Which... I mean, he was right. He told me he didn't even fly - he had my uncle teleport to Arlington and collect him and bring him here. But I guess Peter went back to New York, so we don't have to worry about how his power might react with yours."

She took Barry's hand and kissed his knuckles. "Tell him what you feel comfortable with him knowing. We'll figure it out, we're a good team."

[feelthelightning]

Barry looped his other arm around her waist and tugged her close so they were flush together in a standing cuddle. "I want him to know I care about you. And I'll do anything to protect you." Which included forfeiting himself to Thawne for her. "I'll tell him."

He was glad Noah taught her to defend herself. Joe had done the same for Iris and he was pretty sure, without powers, Iris could kick his ass in a fight. So he didn't have to worry about his sister against normal aggressors.

[infinite1ups]

"Even if you only told him those first two things, that's exactly what he'd want to hear," she said with a grin, leaning her head against his chest. Though she would absolutely not want to hear anything about Barry forfeiting himself. There was no chance in hell that Claire would ever be okay with that.

It was nice that they had a moment to themselves before her dad got there. She was taking full advantage of the opportunity to sneak in a cuddle, content with the knowledge that there'd be more later. "He's going to love you, I guarantee it. Because I love you."

Almost as if on cue, there was a knock at the door.