I Can Fix That

“You’re right, but I’m still wondering if the extended curfew was a mistake. There’s several civilians dressed as villains we’ve faced before, and I’m worried some are lurking among the crowd. Can you run facial rec from the CCTV cams?”

“It’s actually nice to see things running smoothly.” Caitlin offered with a rare display of vulnerability. In the wake of every chaotic pulse that tore this city down, she felt pieces of her splinter between the waxing warmth of Barry and the team’s inherent positivity and the sticky, obsidian sea of negativity that Frost caked in her bones. Her actions, as of late, has benched Caitlin for indefinitely. She never thought getting away for a little would comfort her. “You know they say the Flash always lands on his feet. It’s all going to be okay,” she hummed. 

“Halloween brings out a different side of people but coupled with that cooped up despair can’t be good. Although, I am hoping that a little bit of freedom will provide some stress relief instead of more chaos.” Caitlin pushed her chair closer to the second monitor as she began to run the algorithm. “It may take some time to scan every frightening face but I’m keeping a close eye on it.”

Standing atop the mayoral float, The Flash smiled and waved at the crowd, grateful to see faces smiling back, amidst the hardships the city had faced in the last several months. “You think the town is safe for trick-or-treating this year, given all that’s happened?”

@ccfstarter​

“All’s quiet on the Western Front, Barry.” Caitlin’s feather light quip rattled between the static mixed with cheers that blossomed through his coms. Her fingers swept gingerly across the keys to switch between vantage points streaming from the CCPD POD. It was nice to see so many people show up to celebrate instead of commiserate. She couldn’t help but smile seeing her team being represented while she sat comfortably in the lab. “It’s the best we can hope for but it doesn’t hurt to be careful. Mayor Fey seems to be having the time of his life standing beside The Flash.” 

Iris West: Oh God what did they do now? 

@barryfrackinallen @viberamon @drcaitlinxsnow​

Cisco Ramon: I did absolutely nothing! How rude, Iris! :P  Cisco: What’s going on Cait? I’m on my way back from Jitters.

@barryfrackinallen @westirisx @drcaitlinxsnow​

Barry: I’m over in Keystone helping with a case, but I can be there in a Flash, everything okay? Barry: Wait, Iris, what do you mean, *they*?

@drcaitlinxsnow​ @westirisx​ @viberamon​

Dr. Caitlin Snow: Bicker and blame later.  Dr. Caitlin Snow: There’s a man sized spider in the pipeline.

Grace: Cait? You okay?

Frost: I'm hungover and hungry.

Ada: I implore you to reconsider your actions

Ada: Team Flash may be hindered but that doesn't mean you are unopposed

Ada: Please, return to the lab before things escalate any further

Frost: I know you're new and all but I am unfortunately associated with Team Flash.

Frost: I implore you to pull the stick out of your ass.

Frost: Who broke into the lab now? Cisco must be melting down in a pile of candy wrappers.

Ada: This is Doctor Ada Kish, can anyone hear me?

Ada: I am providing any assistance required to those on sight from Star Labs

Ada: I have a visual but I'll need more details

“Well that I can definitively rule out any outstanding danger. The toxin has run its course and you seem to have a good grasp on your cognitive awareness.” Caitlin offered with a soft nod of the head. “Although, I would like to caution some possible side effects that aren’t as easily shaken. You may experience some heightened anxiety and possible night terrors. I have noted some of that in some of the other patients I’ve seen since the event.” 

carrie blinked furiously against the lights, “honestly doc, i got out when the building was evacuated.” carrie assured her, “did you know smelling salts can actually damage your nose? or even cause shock? medicine is scary. it’s too up in the air. will this medicine do that? will it not? numbers are cooler.” carrie held up the hand puppet she usually carried around, in stressful situations, to keep her grounded, “vee agrees with me.”

Bruce blinked his eyes open at the voice, brows pulling together. “There’s no need for smelling salts, Doctor. I was just taking a nap, haven’t had a restful night of sleep in a while.” Still feeling off, he figured it was high time to get checked out.

“Did you and your team find anything? I swear that the fear toxin and what was it … vertigo? Is still sticking around, despite the antidote I was given that night. I was told you were one of the best in the city for these sorts of tests, so thank you for seeing me on such short notice.”

Watching the monitors that she had rigged him up to upon her discovery, Caitlin placed her pen light back into the pocket of her white coat as she studied his expression. He’s a lot less stoic when he’s asleep.His lack of a response to light pushed to the next phase of light rousing. Her hand stilled and she straightened up at the gravely sound of his voice. Her eyes falling back to the black screen of her tablet; as if she were absently looking over his chart. “Of course, Mr. Wayne, I apologize for disturbing you.” 

Dr. Caitlin Snow: SOS. Dr. Caitlin Snow: I need help in the lab ASAP.

The bubble of blood pressed through the incision across her pointer finger, as brilliant as any poppy field and genuinely minuscule in nature. Nevertheless, Ada felt the nausea creep from her abdomen to her temples. Her cheeks suddenly took on a pale look, as if she’d been coated with white-wash - even her lips were barely there. In retrospect, she was well aware that having such a visceral reaction was a bit excessive, and she despised attracting unwanted attention to herself. She felt foolish enough. Get a hold of yourself, it’s just a little blood. Nothing more than a physiological fluid that carries vital substances to the cells, such as nutrients and oxygen, and moves metabolic waste products away from those same cells… - Ada barely managed to squeak out a Doctor Snow in warning before stumbling backwards and crumpling like a marionette abruptly untethered.

Worry, concern, disbelief

The sound of Caitlin’s voice came as distant murmur, drawing her from the confused carousel of unlinked thoughts and notions. Lashes fluttering, she squinted beneath the stroble of light, quick to surmise the situation. Her cheeks darkening in a rosy blush, the embarrassment would be temporary but in that moment it felt rather immense. Others’ wounds, both slight and severe, were addressed with casual apathy. She was not a medical practitioner, but she had frequently aided Doctor Snow and found the complexity of the human body fascinating from a scientific standpoint. But there was something unsettling about seeing her own blood, like her innards suddenly became a black hole of despair. 

“That won’t be necessary, I’m fine” Ada pressed a hand to her forehead as her vision steadied. “I apologize for creating a scene I…I got a paper cut. You don’t have to worry” purposely avoiding the finger in question, she stood in search of her gloves. “I moved the ammonia inhalants to the clinic storage” she might have been a little too meticulous about the labs organization, a tidy lab was a happy lab after all. “C is for Cobalt Blue and chemical compounds” she added in a distracted tone.

Everything seemed to play out in slow motion. Ada’s fragile frame concaving inwards as she seemed to power down. Caitlin’s heels clacked against the floor as she just barely cushioned Ada’s head from connecting with the hard floor. She blow out a satisfied sigh at her own agility. The fluid motion of her pen light passed along her angelic features. A down turned frown blossoming on Caitlin’s lips at how deeply the young woman seemed to be slipped into oblivion.

Caitlin studied the faint lines of panic that only left traces along Ada’s sun kissed skin. The soft shallow inhale and exhale rolled through her lips like a slow moving metronome. No matter how light each breathe was, she felt confident that the young chemist would return to her senses. Despite that nugget of knowledge, it didn’t deter the worry that bubbled up in her own chest. Caitlin had gotten quite attached to the curious yet profoundly structured scientist. Ada brought such lightness with her; along with a mind that challenged the fundamentalism that Wells indoctrinated into this lab. Ada reminded Caitlin to continue to believe in the scientific method and all of its comfortable boundaries. STAR Labs didn’t exactly exude the proper etiquette of a traditional lab. Instead, it fringed on the fantastical hypothesis that would blow the wig off any of the enlightened thinkers dream. It was nice to worry about functions, cell structure, and chemical compounds instead of who will live or die in the heat of yet another world ending mission. 

“It’s okay,” she said gently as not to rouse anymore panic from the already frenzied Ada. Caitlin hovered gently with her hands ghosting over the woman’s forearm and waist. Rummaging through the pockets of her lab coat, she produced the silk handkerchief with a soft smile. “Slowly now,” Caitlin draped it over Ada’s hand before leading her toward her work station. “I appreciate you taking the time out of your day to reorganize lab in alphabetical order. D for dedicated and diligent.” She offered with a cheeky grin.

“I’d love a juice box.” He confirmed with a bright smile. “Think after that I should be good to go.” He boasted, trying to move off the table but seeing the room sway around him as he shifted. “…or maybe not.”

Caitlin turned on her heels to conceal the rousing blush that blossomed along her cheeks. He’s your patient. It’s rude to have such suggestive thoughts about someone you’re treating; even if he is dashingly handsome. “That we do not know but we have ruled out that he isn’t imbued with dark matter; thus, he’s not a meta.” Toeing around her work station, she produced one of the STAR Labs sweatshirts for both of their sakes; his virtue and her lustful eyes. “Which only makes this even more of a mystery because of your immortality.”