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Chapter Text

By now, Barry Allen was fairly confident that nothing could surprise him anymore. He'd been through so many impossible things, done so many impossible things in just the last few months - he'd run faster than the speed of sound, fought multiple metas and supervillains and won - he couldn't fathom what was left that wouldn't feel like just another Tuesday at this point.

The familiar crackle of Speed Force lightning zipped behind him and Barry turned, startled and prepared for an attack, expecting the Man in Yellow. Instead, there was another crackle behind him as whatever it was left and his attention was immediately drawn to a baby carrier, securely placed away from the glass beakers and chemicals in his lab. He approached slowly, cautiously, his brow furrowing. The blanket overtop shifted and Barry flinched before shaking his head at his stupid reaction. It was a baby carrier, not a bomb...at least he was pretty sure.

The blanket moved again, this time distinctly as though something very small had hit it from the inside, and it drew Barry's attention to a piece of folded paper pinned to the top. 'Barry' was scrawled across the front in his own handwriting. Thinking about how bizarre this already was, Barry carefully removed and unfolded it.

I'm sorry I can't explain more.
This is Eo, he's 8 months old.
You and Iris need to keep him safe.
Thanks,
Barry

Barry's hands were trembling as he tugged the blanket off, filled with apprehension.

Inside the carrier, chewing on a teething toy shaped like a storm cloud, was a tiny, pale infant with wide blue eyes and the softest wisps of strawberry blond hair, dressed in a light blue onesie. Barry thought he looked like the most stereotypical baby he'd ever seen, like a Gerber baby with his chubby cheeks and long eyelashes. He reached into the carrier and gingerly picked up the little boy who immediately dropped the toy and reached back in the carrier with a distressed sound. His chubby fingers groped at nothing while his little lip wobbled.

"Oh no, don't cry, please don't- oh," Barry said letting out a relieved breath as he reached into the carrier and picked up a small teddy-bear dressed in a Flash costume. "Is this what you want?" He handed the stuffed toy over and the baby cooed and gurgled happily, nuzzling into its fur.

Barry's mind was racing. Who was this baby? Where had he come from? Where were his parents? Why had he brought him…here? In the past? From the future? God, he really needed to get better at explaining things to himself. He had a feeling Dr. Wells was going to kill future him for this.

On top of all the questions, Barry definitely wasn't ready to be a parent - he and Linda had barely started dating and he was only 24, he hardly felt like an adult himself. But the baby was here, now, and he needed someone to take care of him, to protect him from...something. Apparently that someone was him.

Well, not just him. 'You and Iris' the note had said, also. He definitely couldn't put this on Iris, she and Eddie had only just moved in together. He chewed his lip, looking down at the baby again before making up his mind, cradling the infant more securely to his chest, and speeding out of the lab.

The baby chewed on the bear's ear, wide blue eyes tracking everything he could see as Barry arrived in the cortex. Cisco, who had been making his way across the room, paused and pulled the lollipop from between his lips, using it to point at the infant, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"Um, what's that?" He asked. Eo squeaked helpfully in response, tiny feet kicking at the air.

Barry shifted his grip to hold the baby more securely. "Guys, I think we have a problem."

Dr. Wells' keen blue eyes flickered between Barry, Eo, and the bear plush for a moment, seeming to need that moment to process what he was seeing. Barry couldn't really blame him, he hadn't been expecting to have an infant in S.T.A.R. Labs either. After a beat, he wheeled forward and offered his arms to take the baby. Barry handed him off gratefully.

"Indeed. Who is this, Mr. Allen? Where did he come from?" He asked as the baby settled against his shoulder, babbling in his ear and waving his pudgy fist in the air, the bear swinging and nearly knocking off Dr. Wells' glasses. Dr. Wells removed them and set them out of the baby's reach.

Barry shrugged helplessly. "I'm not sure. I guess I - future me, I mean? - brought him back to me - past me. I-I guess he's not safe wherever - whenever - he's from and I thought that I could take him here?"

"Did you just say future you? As in you time traveled?" Cisco asked, looking torn between surprise and excitement at the prospect. "Bro, that's sick!"

Eo babbled loudly as though agreeing. Barry gave another helpless shrug and Caitlin finally set down her work to cross the room and examine the infant.

"He certainly doesn't look related to you, Barry, he shares none of your characteristics - of course, he could be adopted," she added as the baby reached for her.

"Yeah, I dunno. I left myself a note but all it said was he's in danger, he's 8 months old, and his initials." And that he and Iris should take care of him, but he wasn't about to bring that up.

Caitlin hummed. "He looks as though he's hit the growth milestones you'd expect for 8 months. I'd need to give him a proper exam to know for sure."

"He's kinda creepy," Cisco commented. "Like that creepy Twilight robo baby, Chuckesmee. Uncanny Valley, demon baby creepy."

"Cisco." Caitlin chided, giving him an exasperated look.

"What? You can't tell me he's not creepy, look at him!" Cisco insisted, gesturing towards him.

"What are his initials?" Dr. Wells asked curiously.

"E-O," Barry answered, watching as Caitlin took the baby and bounced him lightly. Eo cooed, pulling at a button on her blouse.

"Well, I suppose we should keep an eye on 'Eo' for the time being and hope your future self returns for him sooner rather than later." Dr. Wells said finally, replacing his glasses.

"I'm going to give him an exam, make sure he's healthy. Barry, why don't you go get some baby supplies; bottles, formula, baby food, bibs, diapers, onesies, teething rings, pacifiers," Caitlin listed off, adjusting Eo to her other arm and carrying him to the med bay.

Barry was back with the requested supplies before Caitlin had even set Eo down. The tiny boy immediately pulled her stethoscope into his mouth as soon as it she brought it close, wide blue eyes watching her inquisitively.

"Cisco, can you come distract him while I examine him?" Caitlin asked as she tried to pull the stethoscope away gently so she could press it to his chest and he grabbed a tiny fistful of her hair instead.

Cisco made his way into the room and Barry made to follow but Dr. Wells stopped him. "Barry, a word?"

Barry turned, surprised by the seriousness in Dr. Wells' tone. "Yeah, sure," he replied, following the older man to a the hall.

Dr. Wells folded his hands together, his expression grave. "Barry, I understand your impulse to take responsibility for this child, but this isn't just a matter of caring for a baby. We have no idea what his presence here could change, what potentially has already changed."

Barry nodded, running his fingers over his mouth anxiously. "I know. But I can't exactly take him back, I mean, I don't even know when he's from even if I could. I didn't even know time traveling was a possibility until like 20 minutes ago. And if future me thought it was important enough to bring him here, then I have to believe there's a good reason for it."

"I understand your concern and I'm sure that your future self had good intentions but our main priority should be returning him to his time." Dr. Wells sighed heavily and removed his glasses. "I must not be present in that future because otherwise I most certainly would have told you that this was a terrible, stupid, dangerous idea. The ramifications of the action of bringing him here alone are entirely unpredictable, much less keeping him here for an extended period of time. We need to focus our energies on getting him back home and minimizing the damage, you especially need to focus on that. Until we can return him, I think it best if he stays with me so you don't risk becoming attached."

"Dr. Wells-" Barry started but Dr. Wells lifted a hand to silence him.

"He'll be in good hands, Barry, you don't need to worry. I have experience in the area - I had a daughter, Jesse, and while her mother certainly did more than her fair share of the work, I'm more than capable of caring for an infant." Dr. Wells assured him.

The past tense 'had' made Barry's heart clench and before he could stop himself he asked, "what happened to her?"

Dr. Wells' expression softened. "Jesse passed away when she was still a young child. The car accident that took my wife took her as well, much too soon. She was three."

"I'm so sorry, Dr. Wells. I had no idea."

Dr. Wells waved off Barry's condolences. "I'm not telling you this to garner sympathy, Barry, just to reassure you that he'll be well cared for."

Barry shifted foot to foot, feeling conflicted. On the one hand, he knew Dr. Wells was right. This was probably the safest option for the baby. But on the other, he couldn't shake the feeling of responsibility, that this child had been left with him for a reason.

"I...Dr. Wells, I know you'd probably - definitely - be the better option but I feel like there's a reason I brought him to myself. I promise I'll come to you with any questions I have but I think I should be the one to take care of him, at least for now. I mean who knows what he's even in danger from, whatever it is could hurt you and him both," Barry said finally.

Dr. Wells regarded Barry for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, he let out a resigned sigh and nodded. "Very well, Barry, if you insist."

Barry nodded and returned to the cortex after a moment, feeling strangely guilty. Cisco and Caitlin had Eo on the floor between them, lying on his stomach on a S.T.A.R. Labs sweatshirt to prevent him from making contact with the cold, hard metal flooring. Caitlin pursed her lips as the infant shuffled his feet and waved his tiny arms, seemingly unable to get them underneath himself.

"How is he?" Barry asked, coming to sit between them, next to Eo. Eo rolled onto his side and watched Barry, tugging the sleeve of the sweatshirt up and into his mouth.

"Healthy, for the most part, but he seems...pretty delayed developmentally," Caitlin said with a heavy sigh. "It's hard to tell for certain; infants can't exactly say what they're capable of, but usually if you put them on their stomachs and they're able to crawl then they will do so or at least start to. At this point he should be trying to stand but he won't even army crawl."

Barry's heart sank at Caitlin's words. He looked down at Eo, who was happily chewing on the sleeve of the sweatshirt, oblivious to the conversation happening around him. The weight of responsibility settled heavier on Barry's shoulders.

"Do you think there's something wrong with him?" He asked, fearing the answer.

Caitlin shrugged. "I'm not a pediatrician. I know what milestones he's supposed to have hit at this stage and he seems to be missing a few but I couldn't tell you if they're significant enough to warrant concern."

Barry's mind raced as he processed Caitlin's words. He felt a surge of protectiveness towards Eo, mixed with a deep sense of worry. What if something was seriously wrong with him? What if Barry wasn't equipped to handle it?

"I could run some blood work on him," Caitlin offered after a moment. "I think he's otherwise fairly healthy. He's a good length and weight, his vision is fine, he tracks pretty much everything, and responds to auditory stimulus."

Barry nodded, feeling a mix of relief and dread at the prospect of finding out more about Eo's condition. "Yeah, let's do it. I want to make sure he's okay."

Chapter Text

"So let me get this straight," Joe said, leaning forward on the sofa and resting his elbows on his knees as he processed what Barry had told him. The soft glow of the lamp cast a warm light across the room, highlighting the worry etched on Joe's face, and the worn leather of the sofa creaked slightly as Joe shifted his weight. "Somebody - you think you, from the future - dropped off a baby in your lab with no warning and now you think that you need to be the one to take care of him. Tell me again why you can't do the responsible thing and drop him off at a hospital?"

Barry sighed and ran a hand through his hair, exhaustion seeping into his bones. Had he eaten enough? Probably not, he'd been so preoccupied...Joe spoke again before Barry could respond.

"Barr, look. You're barely out of college, you're still figuring your own life out. You're not equipped to take care of a child, especially one with...whatever issues you said this baby has. You haven't even had him for one day and you look dead on your feet, how are you gonna take care of him long-term?" Joe asked and Barry shrugged helplessly.

"Joe, I can't just leave him. I don't know why I brought him here but I know there has to be a reason."

"How do you even know it was you who left him?" Joe countered.

"I left a note-" Barry started but Joe interrupted.

"You know as well as I do that notes can be forged." Joe insisted, his frown deepening.

"Who would forge my handwriting to hand me a baby?" Barry asked incredulously.

"I dunno, Barr, who the hell would give you a baby in the first place? You're not ready to be a dad."

Barry leaned back in his chair tiredly, scrubbing his face. "So, what, I should just let him go into the system?"

"I'm not saying that-" Joe started but the sound of the front door handle twisting interrupted him and they both turned to look as Iris walked through. "Hey baby girl, it's kinda late. Everything okay?" Joe asked after a moment as Barry tried to pretend they'd been talking about anything else.

"I know, I'm sorry, everything's fine, I think I missed packing up a couple of my notebooks and one of them has like all of my notes from Sociology 102," she said, setting her bag and coat down by the door. "What are you two up to?"

Joe shrugged nonchalantly and Barry leaned on the arm of the chair he was sitting in, trying unsuccessfully to look as calm. "Nothing." They each said and Iris pursed her lips, raising an eyebrow in suspicion before heading upstairs to retrieve the notebooks.

Barry let out a heavy sigh and Joe turned to him again, studying him closely. "You sure about this, Barr? This is a hell of a responsibility to take on - and I'm not just talking about the parenting part. I know you're gonna do your damned best and love that kid, I'm not worried about that, but if he has other parents out there you might have to give him up after all this trouble is done."

The thought made Barry's insides twist uncomfortably but he shoved the feeling aside. "I know."

Joe sighed. "Alright, if you're set on this, I'll trust your judgment. Guess we better get things set up, then - in your room, I did enough time dealing with a baby at 2 in the morning."

"Who's dealing with a baby at 2 in the morning?" Iris echoed, entering the hall, notebooks in hand.

Barry's heart ached with the weight of everything he was keeping from her as he scrambled for a good excuse, feeling a bit like all he'd told her lately were lies. "Uh...a friend."

Iris pursed her lips. "Who?" She asked, suspicion evident in her tone.

Barry cleared his throat, his mouth suddenly feeling something like a desert. "Oh, um...a friend from college, you don't know them. They had a...family emergency. I'm just...you know, stepping in."

Iris frowned, clearly not buying it. "Since when do you have friends with babies?"

"Missed a lot in nine months," Barry said, trying to keep his tone light. "It's no big deal, really. Just helping out."

Joe interjected, clapping Barry on the shoulder. "Barry's just doing what he always does, helping people. Right, Barr?"

Barry nodded, grateful for Joe's support, even if it was a bit thin. "Yeah."

Iris studied them both for a long moment, clearly still unconvinced but choosing to let it go as she gathered her bag and coat. "Alright. Well, if you need any help while you're...babysitting, let me know."

Barry smiled, though it felt strained. "Thanks, Iris. I'll keep that in mind."

—

"Well, the blood tests look good," Caitlin said, crossing the room with a stack of papers to show Barry, who was standing and rocking the now sleeping infant idly in the doorway. The med bay was quiet, the soft hum of machines and the scent of antiseptic in the air. Barry peered over her shoulder as she flipped through them. "He isn't deficient in anything, he's even already had some of his immunizations. He's perfectly healthy, at least physically."

Barry breathed a sigh of relief and glanced down at the baby who had smushed his face into Barry's shoulder, his tiny fists gripping his T-shirt tightly. He stroked the soft wisps of hair gently almost on instinct and Eo let out a tiny sigh before burrowing further into his shirt.

"Good. Did you test...I mean...can we see if he's mine?" Barry asked hesitantly.

He wasn't sure he wanted to know and he was pretty sure that Dr. Wells wouldn't like that he'd even asked - something about Barry not becoming attached or learning too much that could alter the timeline. But Barry needed to know at least that much, he couldn't stand not knowing, especially if it turned out Eo was his.

Caitlin nodded, setting the papers aside and crossing to the computer. "I did test and...while he is not a match for you, he did match someone else."

Caitlin pressed a button and Eddie Thawne's photo appeared on the screen. Barry felt his heart drop.

"So...Eddie's his father?" Barry asked and Caitlin shrugged.

"He's definitely related to Eddie but the results aren't clear on how close. Eo does look a lot like him, though." She commented and Barry looked down at the sleeping baby again.

He really did, if Barry was honest, he could easily imagine Eddie looking similar when he was the same age. Barry felt a surge of emotions run through him that he wasn't sure he could identify. It was a good thing, maybe, that Eo wasn't actually Barry's child...right? And, it made sense - Eddie and Iris were already on the fast track to starting their life together. Though his head spun and he felt faintly nauseous as he wondered what could have happened to Eddie and Iris if Barry was now Eo's guardian?

"Barry?" Caitlin's soft voice cut through his thoughts before they could spiral further. "You okay?"

Barry blinked and adjusted the baby in his arms. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine. Just a lot to process, you know?" He said, forcing a smile.

Caitlin smiled in sympathy and crossed the room again to lay a hand on his arm comfortingly. "I know. This is a lot to take in, but you're not alone. We'll figure this out together."

As Barry set up a nursery in Joe's house and finally settled Eo in for the night, he couldn't help but feel a sudden, overwhelming sense of uncertainty for the future. Granted, everything had been a bit uncertain as of late, but as he sat on the edge of his bed and stared at the crib where Eo slept soundly, Barry felt a pit in his stomach. He knew Joe was right - this was a monumental responsibility, one he wasn't entirely sure he was ready for.

Barry leaned back, rubbing his eyes and trying to clear his thoughts. The house was quiet, save for the soft hum of the city outside and the occasional creak of the old wooden floors. Joe's house had always been a place of comfort for Barry, a sanctuary where he felt loved. Now, it was also Eo's sanctuary, a place where another little boy could find safety, maybe a family.

Barry sat there a moment longer, letting the quiet seep into his bones, before changing into pajamas and climbing into bed, exhaustion pulling him under before his head had even hit the pillow.

Chapter Text

This was, perhaps, the worst case scenario that in all his years and for all his knowledge, Harrison could never have predicted. For a man who was fairly used to knowing every variable ahead of time, it was jarring, unnerving. He felt inordinately shaken and could barely seem to hold his composure while Cisco, Caitlin, and Barry discussed what to do with the infant whose presence had sent him into a spiral of internal panic.

As soon as the discussion reached a point where the others were preoccupied, Harrison excused himself. He wheeled himself as calmly as he could down the hallways of S.T.A.R. Labs, his mind racing. His controlled exterior was beginning to crack and he couldn't afford that. Not now.

The entrance to the Time Vault slid open and Eobard entered, the doors sealing him in the private, secure space where he could drop the mask of Dr. Harrison Wells. He took a deep breath before standing, tossing his glasses haphazardly into the wheelchair seat, and crossing the room in two strides.

"Gideon," he called out, his voice tight.

"Good day, Dr. Wells." Gideon responded, her soothing, mechanical voice filling the room.

"Show me the future." Eobard said urgently, not interested in pleasantries.

"Certainly, Doctor."

Gideon's holographic face disappeared, a newspaper taking her place. Instead of the familiar headline 'Flash Missing: Vanishes in Crisis', the new headline was some dull article Eobard couldn't have cared less about if it wasn't for the fact that it wasn't meant to be there. He took a shaky breath, trying to quell his panic, and scrubbed his face with both hands.

"Run a complete search. Show any references to The Flash." Eobard said slowly, his chest suddenly very tight.

Fortunately, several smaller articles about The Flash dotted the space in front of him and Eobard regained the ability to breathe, bracing himself on the dais in front of him as he examined them closely. The future was...mostly in tact, it seemed. For now.

"Bring up my log, Gideon." Eobard said finally, taking a step back from the pedestal and crossing his arms, trying to regain some semblance of composure.

"Certainly." Gideon said and the list of entries appeared instantaneously. "Go ahead, Doctor."

"New entry: it has now been…" Eobard paused, looking at his watch. "372 days since lightning struck. Subject has brought an infant to the past from the distant future without considering how that could impact said future. This is, admittedly, unsurprising given his impulsivity but, nevertheless, concerning. At present, Subject remains The Flash and I have yet to experience any potential negative side effects as a result, but it has only been three hours since the infant's arrival. I expect more challenges to arise the longer he remains here."

Eobard paused, running a hand through his hair. This damned baby - his younger self - threatened to unravel everything he had meticulously planned, everything he had worked for for the last 15 years. He exhaled a shaky breath, but the tension didn't leave his body. He couldn't afford to be complacent. The presence of this infant was a ticking time bomb and he had to neutralize it before it exploded.

"Gideon," Eobard said again, interrupting his log. "Show all references to Eobard Thawne."

"Zero references to Eobard Thawne." Gideon said, and Eobard felt the panic begin to seep in again.

"Show any references to The Reverse Flash." Eobard demanded.

"Zero references." Gideon repeated.

"Look again."

"Zero references." Gideon said once more.

"Look again." Eobard growled, his frustration and fear boiling over.

"I've searched 3,452 times, Dr. Wells. There's nothing."

Eobard took a deep breath to ground himself. He couldn't afford to lose control now, not when everything was so precarious, but the knowledge that he could disappear at any moment was a very known, very real threat that left him mentally spiraling. He couldn't afford to panic. He had to maintain control. The baby was a threat, yes, but he could handle it. There was no other choice.

"Log entry continued," Eobard said, turning back to the holographic interface. "In order to return the timeline to its intended state, I will maintain close observation of Subject's interactions with the infant, assess and evaluate potential threats to the timeline, and take all necessary actions to mitigate the inevitable changes. Subject must not be allowed to be alone with the infant for any length of time."

Eobard turned away, returning to the wheelchair and making his way out of the room. He couldn't let this infant destroy everything he'd worked for. He had come too far, sacrificed too much. He would find a way to fix this. He had to.

Chapter Text

Eo didn't cry. It was one of the first things Barry noticed in the less than 24 hours he'd had the baby. He'd fuss, make sad whimpering sounds, and wriggle around trying to get whatever it was he wanted, but he never wailed. Not when he was hungry, not when he needed a change, not even when he managed to sit up only to fall over again and bump his head on the crib.

It was odd and Barry couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness whenever Eo whimpered. He knew babies cried, it was their way of communicating - their only way for a decent amount of time - and the fact that Eo didn't just seemed...wrong. Worrying. Still, despite how quiet he was, it was those sad sounds that woke him at 5 in the morning. Barry groggily rubbed his eyes, sitting up and stretching. Eo was lying in his crib, staring at him with those big blue eyes as his little lip wobbled, the teddy bear he'd arrived with firmly in his tiny fingers.

"Morning, buddy," Barry said with a yawn, lifting Eo and the bear out of the crib. "Let's get you some breakfast."

Eo squeaked in response and nuzzled his face into Barry's shoulder before looking up at him again, watching him closely, the bear trapped between his little body and Barry’s chest.

Barry made his way down the stairs, careful not to make too much noise and wake Joe. The kitchen was still dark, the early morning light barely peeking above the horizon, casting pale blue beams through the kitchen window. The house was quiet, the only sounds being the soft hum of the refrigerator and Eo's occasional baby babble. He set Eo down in a high chair he had picked up the previous day and started preparing a bottle.

"You're an early riser, aren't you?" Barry murmured, glancing at the baby who was now gumming on his tiny fists.

Eo's wide blue eyes followed Barry's every movement, a look of pure curiosity and innocence on his face. His tiny nose scrunched up in concentration as he watched Barry, his little fingers gripping the edge of the high chair as he tugged experimentally on the tray. There was something undeniably endearing about the little guy.

As the bottle warmed, Barry leaned against the counter, lost in thought. He had no clue what he was going to do for the rest of the day. He couldn't very well go to work toting a baby, but he couldn't put watching him while working on Cisco, Caitlin, Dr. Wells, or Joe either and the thought of leaving him with anyone else made his stomach twist with anxiety.

The bottle warmer beeped and Barry clumsily tested the temperature with a few drops of the formula on the back of his hand. Satisfied, he carried the bottle to the high chair and carefully picked up Eo. The baby latched onto the bottle eagerly, his tiny hands grasping at Barry's fingers and eyelids already drooping.

"There you go, buddy," Barry muttered softly, watching Eo drink. It was such a normal, everyday moment, and yet it felt so surreal. The soft sounds Eo made as he drank were oddly comforting, his tiny foot kicking the air lazily, and Barry found himself relaxing, if only slightly.

By the time the sun had fully risen, Barry had already called in to work, changed two diapers, prepared a breakfast for himself, read 17 parenting books, watched more Cocomelon than he could stomach, and thought he'd gotten something of a handle on this parenting thing (even if Joe had laughed when he'd said so). By noon, however, Barry was completely frazzled. Eo's teddy bear had been misplaced for what felt like the hundredth time and while he still didn't cry, the sad high-pitched sounds of distress he made seemed infinitely worse.

"I know, I know, I'm sorry, I'll find it-" Barry rambled, trying to soothe the infant as he sped around the house, searching under everything and wondering how he kept putting the thing down without noticing.

Eo's sad whimpers grew louder and Barry's heart sank with each passing second. He couldn't understand how a tiny toy could cause so much distress, but he was determined to find it. He rifled through the couch cushions, checked under the dining table, and even searched through his laundry pile and in the washing machine and dryer. No luck.

Desperation creeping in, Barry took a deep breath and forced himself to pause - or rather, paused the world around him as he mentally retraced his steps. Flash Time had never been more useful.

After a few moments of silence and stillness, Barry remembered the last time he’d been holding it and found the bear tucked in the corner of the bathroom where he must have set it down during a hurried diaper change. He let out a relieved sigh and returned to the living room, where Eo was lying on a baby blanket on the floor, making those heart-wrenching little sounds.

"Here it is, buddy," Barry said, holding up the bear. Eo's eyes lit up and he reached out his tiny hands, immediately clutching the bear by the nose and dragging it in front of himself so he could smush his face into it. Barry couldn't help but smile at the sight. "You really love that bear, huh?" Eo responded with a pleased gurgle, the distress ebbing away as he nuzzled into the plush toy.

Barry's phone buzzed, and he glanced at it to see a text from Iris. 'How's babysitting going?'

Barry quickly typed back. 'Okay. He's a sweet kid."

A moment later, another text from Iris: 'Want to grab lunch? I can help out if you need a break.'

Barry hesitated before replying. 'Sure. Meet at Jitters?'

'See you there.' Was her prompt response.

"Alright, little guy, let's get going," Barry said, unboxing the baby stroller he'd picked up the night previous and loading Eo into it in seconds. He triple checked the diaper bag before leaving the house and speeding to the café, internally wincing as they arrived and he had to stamp out the smoldering rear right wheel, the acrid smell of burning plastic drifting up and making him wrinkle his nose. He made a mental note to talk to Cisco about making a speed-proof stroller as he wheeled Eo inside.

Jitters was busy as it usually was around lunch time but Iris flagged them over with a grin, having managed to snag a corner table. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee managed to cover the melted plastic stench as Barry navigated the stroller through the crowded café, a wave of relief washing over him at the sight of his best friend, her warm smile a balm to his frazzled nerves.

"Hey," Barry greeted, a tired smile tugging at his lips as he carefully unbuckled Eo and lifted him out of the stroller. "Sorry I'm late. Eo had a bit of a crisis over his teddy bear."

"You're not late, don't worry, I was already here. Come here, sweetie." Iris crooned, offering her arms. Barry handed Eo off gratefully, sinking into his chair. "He seems to be doing okay now." She added as Eo wiggled and twisted in her arms until he could see his teddy bear and Barry both.

"Yeah, he's a pretty calm baby." Barry replied.

As they settled at the table, Eo now comfortably seated in Iris's lap, Barry couldn't help but feel a pang of longing as he watched Iris with Eo. There was something so natural about the way she interacted with the baby, and for a moment, he allowed himself to imagine a future where they were a family. But he brushed the thought aside as quickly as it had come. Iris was with Eddie. Eo wasn't even supposed to be here.

"How long are you planning on taking care of him?" Iris asked, her eyes meeting Barry's as Eo chewed on her pointer finger.

Barry sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm not sure. It's...kind of a complicated situation. It was really last minute and I don't know when they'll be able to take him back, so..." Barry hedged.

A look of understanding crossed Iris's features suddenly though Barry couldn't imagine what she could have possibly figured out from anything he'd just said.

"Well, if it's going to be for a while or...indefinitely...have you told Linda?"

Barry's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Linda. He hadn't even considered how his new, temporary (he hoped) responsibility might affect his budding relationship. He leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair.

"Uh, no, I haven't told her yet," Barry admitted, feeling a wave of guilt wash over him.

Iris nodded, her expression sympathetic. "I get it, Barr. It's a lot to handle all of a sudden. But you should talk to her soon, let her know what's going on. She'll understand."

Barry sighed, glancing at Eo and handing him the teddy bear to chew on instead. "Yeah, you're right. I'll talk to her."

The bell above the door chimed and Barry glanced over to see Eddie. He spotted Barry and Iris and waved, making his way over with a smile on his face. "Hey! Iris mentioned you were babysitting, who's this little guy?"

Barry was really getting tired of lying. "This is Eo, he's a friend's kid." He said, hoping there would be no follow-up questions.

Eddie leaned over to get a better look at Eo, who regarded him with wide, curious eyes. "Eo? That's...an interesting name," Eddie said, raising an eyebrow. "Short for something?"

"Uh- probably?" Barry said, scrambling for an explanation for a problem he hadn't even considered. "I mean, that would make sense, but I don't- I'm not sure, actually-" Barry rambled.

Eddie nodded, seeming satisfied with the answer anyway, and turned his attention to Iris. "Hey, babe. Sorry to interrupt-" he started but Iris shook her head.

"No, it's fine. We were just talking about Barry's babysitting adventure." She said with a smile, gently bouncing Eo on her knee. "You should join us."

Eddie looked pleased at the invitation and pulled up a chair, taking a seat next to Iris and giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. Eo stared up at him with a look that seemed much too intense for his tiny face. Barry couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy at the sight of Iris and Eddie together with Eo, looking like a picture-perfect family, though he pushed it aside. He turned his focus instead onto Eo, specifically, ignoring the ache in his chest. The baby was still staring at Eddie, almost as if he recognized him, which only added to Barry's discomfort.

"So, Barr, how's it been so far? Babysitting, I mean." Eddie asked, his tone light and friendly.

Barry forced a smile, trying to keep his thoughts from spiraling. "He's a good kid, it hasn't been too bad. Just figuring it all out as I go."

Eddie nodded, glancing back down with a small laugh as Eo tugged on his jacket sleeve in an attempt to pull himself into Eddie's lap instead. "Hey there buddy. Is it okay if I...?" Eddie started to ask and Barry blinked in surprise.

"Oh, yeah, sure." Barry said and Eddie plucked Eo into his arms, letting the infant mouth at his shoulder instead, the baby satisfied now that he'd gotten what he wanted. Iris watched them with a soft smile, clearly enjoying the sight of Eddie with the baby. Barry couldn't help but feel a mixture of emotions; relief that Eo seemed content for now, the ever-present anxiety about the whole situation, and a faint, gnawing jealousy.

"Any idea how long your friend will be gone?" Eddie asked, patting Eo's back gently as the baby started to drift off to sleep. Eo shook his head repeatedly and blinked his eyes slowly as though that could prevent the drowsiness that had come over him.

Barry shrugged, trying to keep his expression neutral. "Not sure. Could be a while, though."

Iris nudged Eddie lightly and gave him a look that Barry wished he understood but, at least, Eddie seemed to as he immediately changed the subject. Barry let out a silent breath of relief as the conversation shifted away from his complicated situation. Eddie and Iris continued chatting, discussing work and their plans for the weekend, while Eo's breathing became soft and steady as he fell asleep in Eddie's arms.

The rest of the lunch was spent in a relatively peaceful lull, despite the whirlwind of emotions storming inside Barry. The café buzzed around them with the chatter of other patrons and the clinking of cups and cutlery and Barry let his mind wander.

"Barry, you okay?" Iris's voice cut through his reverie. He blinked, realizing he'd been staring at Eo and Eddie a bit too long.

"Yeah, sorry. Just...thinking, I guess," Barry said, forcing a smile.

Iris gave him a sympathetic look and patted his forearm. "Well, if you need any help, please ask us, okay?" Barry nodded.

Eddie glanced at his watch. "I should get back to the precinct. Joe will start wondering where I am," he said, gently handing Eo back to Barry before giving Iris a quick kiss on the lips. "Good luck babysitting, Barr. You got this." He said with a grin.

Barry watched Eddie walk out the door before turning back to Iris who was looking at him intently.

"Are you sure you're okay?" She asked softly.

Barry forced another smile, adjusting the baby in his arms before moving to place Eo in the stroller again so he wouldn't have to see Iris's concerned expression. "Yeah, I'm fine. Why?"

Iris chewed her lower lip, thinking over her words carefully. "I just...want to make sure you know you can talk to me. About anything."

Barry's heart clenched at Iris's words. The familiar urge to confide in her about everything, to tell her the truth about Eo, about being the Flash, was overwhelming - but he couldn't. Not yet. Hopefully someday but...not now.

Barry stood and Iris pulled him into a hug which he gladly returned.

"Call me if you need any help, okay?" Iris said as she pulled away, squeezing his shoulder gently.

Barry nodded, finally managing a genuine smile. "I will. Thanks, Iris."

He double checked that Eo was securely in the stroller along with his bear before heading out. The sun was high in the sky now, casting a warm glow over Central City as Barry wheeled the stroller out of Jitters. Only a few steps away, however, Barry's phone buzzed in his pocket. He tugged it out and glanced at the screen to see Cisco's name before pressing the answer button.

"Hey, what's up?" Barry asked though he'd barely gotten the words out before Cisco began explaining.

"Serious robbery at the Central City Bank downtown, they need the Flash, man."

Chapter Text

Left. Left. Right.

Barry sped through the darkening streets of Central City after the Royal Flush Gang, dodging traffic like it was second nature, his heart pounding just as fast as his feet. In a blur, he built a barrier in front of Queen, causing her to swerve. Dr. Wells' voice crackled through the comms, calm but direct.

"King is headed for the entrance to the interstate." He instructed and Barry zipped down the street to head him off.

"What entrance?" Barry joked as he blocked that street off too, driving a truck directly in the way of King's motorcycle.

"Attaboy," Dr. Wells praised though anything he might have said after was cut off by a sudden, very loud contact noise from one of the mics that almost had Barry tripping and getting the world's worst road rash.

"Eo, no-" Caitlin's faint voice rattled through the comms as well followed closely by Cisco's.

"He's like 10 pounds, how is he this strong?"

Barry sighed and rolled his eyes, speeding around Queen, King, and Ace as they met at the intersection.

"Got the keys!" Barry called triumphantly, leaving the gang stranded as the police surrounded them.

Barry arrived in the Cortex seconds later to see Cisco holding a wriggling Eo, the infant's tiny hands firmly grasping the neck of the microphone on the desk.

"Everything okay here?" Barry asked, tugging his cowl off as he stepped into the room and grinning at the sight of Cisco trying to wrestle the microphone away from Eo. Eo, for his part, was hanging on with all the strength he had in his tiny body, ignoring Caitlin's attempts at distracting him with teething toys.

"Yeah, we're fine. Just trying to keep the little guy from blowing out your eardrums." Cisco grumbled, prying a few of Eo's fingers off the neck. Eo waved his arm wildly, smacking Cisco in the face before grabbing the microphone again with an indignant squeak.

Dr. Wells wheeled around the desk, picking up the Flash teddy bear from where it had landed in between computer monitors and offering it to the baby. Eo nearly launched himself out of Cisco's arms into Dr. Wells' lap, grabbing the teddy bear with both hands and a happy gurgle.

"Efficiently done, Mr. Allen, even in spite of the added distraction," Dr. Wells said, adjusting his glasses with a small smile as Eo settled against his chest.

"Yeah, dude, that was sick!" Cisco said, rounding the table and raising a hand for a high five. "Up top!"

Barry obliged, returning the high five with a grin. "Thanks. How's he been?"

Dr. Wells gave Eo a gentle pat on the back, the baby cuddling closer with his bear and gumming on his fist. "Well-behaved, aside from his newfound fascination with microphones."

"Can we test him for meta powers? Kid's got superstrength, I swear." Cisco joked, making a funny face at Eo, who responded with a happy squeal.

"I already tested and he has no metahuman markers," Caitlin said with an amused look, crossing her arms and smiling at Eo who made another happy noise and hid his face in Dr. Wells' shirt. "He's just a very determined baby."

"We need a picture," Cisco said suddenly, pulling out his cell phone.

Barry raised an eyebrow. "Pretty sure rule number one of having a secret identity is not taking pictures of yourself in your super suit without a mask on."

"Oh, come on, please!" Cisco asked, shooting Barry his best puppy-dog eyes. "This is just for us, to document all this craziness."

Barry glanced at Caitlin and Dr. Wells, silently requesting their thoughts on the idea as well. Dr. Wells gave him an amused look, adjusting Eo to sit more comfortably in his arms.

"Who knows? Maybe people in the future will want to know how all this happened," Dr. Wells said with a small shrug.

Barry relented with a smile. "Alright, well, if you want the future to have the whole story then we all need to be in it."

Cisco fist-pumped and went to stand beside Dr. Wells while Caitlin chewed her lower lip.

"First, let me put on some makeup?" She asked and Cisco and Barry rolled their eyes.

"The future does not care about your makeup." Cisco said, motioning her over. Barry shook his head in agreement.

Caitlin joined in on Dr. Wells' other side and Barry set up the photo, zipping around to join in just as the camera flashed before returning to catch the phone before it could fall even a millimeter.

"Does that count as a selfie?" Cisco quipped as he moved to look at the photo.

"Absolutely," Barry said with a laugh.

The photo was perfect except for Eo's slightly blurred face and arms as he'd wriggled around trying to see Barry. The irony wasn't lost on Barry that, for once, he wasn't the one too fast for the camera.

"Sick. Came out good!" Cisco said with a laugh of his own.

Barry put the phone away and sped off to change his clothes before returning and taking Eo from Dr. Wells.

"I should probably get him to bed. Thanks for talking me through things out there." He said earnestly and Dr. Wells smiled.

"My pleasure."

Iris was in the living room when Barry returned to Joe's house with Eo in tow. Barry shot her an amused look.

"You do realize the whole point of moving out is not being at home anymore, right?" Barry teased and Iris rolled her eyes.

"Ha, ha. I forgot a few things, how was your first day out with Eo?" She greeted. Joe walked through the dining room doorway with a steaming pot before Barry could respond.

"Hey, Barr. Spaghetti a la me, you sure you don't wanna stay for dinner?" Joe asked, directing the question at Iris.

Iris shook her head as she finished packing up the things she'd forgotten. "Thanks but Eddie is painting all day and I swore that I would help. Though I'm really just going to do that thing where I get a little paint on my hair and on my nose."

They laughed and Joe set down the pot, wiping his hands on a towel. "Oh, hey. Someone from Central City Picture News called you the other day, I left the number on the fridge."

"What? Why didn't you tell me?" Iris demanded, rushing to the kitchen.

"Chill! Just did." Joe called after her. "This little guy's probably still too young for some spaghetti but I figure we can set him up in the high chair, let him try some sauce-" Joe started, setting up the high chair at the table. He was interrupted by a high pitched shriek. "Was that a good scream or a bad scream?" He checked, glancing towards the kitchen.

"Good! So good!" Iris crowed, running back into the dining room. "I just got offered a job as a reporter at Central City Picture News! The editor's a fan of my blog!"

"That's amazing!" Barry said, tugging Iris into a hug. Eo whined as he was momentarily squished between the two. "Sorry, buddy." Barry said with an apologetic laugh.

Eo squeaked indignantly again, clutching his Flash teddy bear tightly as he settled against Barry's chest. His tiny hands gripped the bear's red costume as if it were the most important thing in the world.

"I'm so proud of you baby girl, I knew you could do it." Joe said, pulling Iris into a hug as well. Iris beamed.

"I need to go tell Eddie!" She said, planting kisses on Joe, Barry, and Eo's cheeks before she bolted out the door, excitement radiating off her in waves.

Barry watched her leave, a small smile tugging at his lips.

Chapter Text

The photograph was wrong. It was infuriating, really, that such a small, previously insignificant detail - an image that only Eobard himself and a handful of people cared about in the future - was now glaring evidence of his failure to fix what the Flash had changed. He had orchestrated every moment of Barry Allen's life, carefully tugging on the threads that would ensure his own victory and return to his rightful time. But now, all of that was unraveling faster than even he could track.

Eobard stood from his wheelchair the moment the large front doors of his modern mansion shut, striding forward purposefully to pick up the entertainment system remote and pour himself a glass of brandy from the backlit cabinet near the fireplace. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, swirling the alcohol in its glass as he tried to let some of the stress dissipate.

The opera's crescendo was cut short as his phone rang. Eobard glanced at the screen: blocked number. His eyes narrowed as a low hum of suspicion settled in his gut. This was no ordinary call.

"Harrison Wells," Eobard answered, his voice level, calm. But his heart beat a fraction faster. Who could be calling him at this hour?

There was a moment of silence on the other end, just long enough to stir the anxiety lurking beneath his calculated exterior. Then the speaker crackled and a voice spoke - tinny, familiar, and colored with accusation. "We both know what you did."

"Who is this?" Eobard demanded, though he was certain he knew. He scanned the glass walls, half expecting to see someone standing outside, watching him.

The silence dragged on for a fraction longer than was comfortable before the voice returned, this time not through the phone but through the speakers throughout every room of the house, reverberating loudly. "It's time to pay the Piper."

Eobard had milliseconds before the high-pitched screech blasted through the speakers. The sound put out the fire burning in the fireplace as though it had been doused in water and shattered the glass walls and ceiling around him, sending shards raining down like lethal confetti. In an instant, Eobard was moving, red lightning streaking through his home as the glass cascaded from above, the brandy glass shattering on the floor where he'd been standing moments earlier. He skidded to a stop in the entry, where the glass stopped save for a few small windows.

Eobard lifted the phone to his ear again, somewhat surprised to find it still connected. He took a calming breath as he lowered himself into the wheelchair.

"Hartley, you're upset. I understand that. You believe you were wronged-"

"I was wronged!" Hartley spat. "I warned you about the accelerator and you fired me for it. Now people are dead because of you."

Harrison gripped the phone tighter, forcing himself to keep his voice steady. This was an unexpected move on Hartley's part, a pawn attempting to leap across the board and become a queen. He could almost admire the audacity. Almost.

"Hartley," he said, injecting just the right amount of weary patience into his voice, the tone a mentor might take with a particularly obstinate student.

"Don't start with me," Hartley said and Harrison could just picture the familiar petulant expression Hartley was making on the other end; mouth pressed thin, gaze averted, arms crossed in something of a pout. A face he'd made many times when feeling put out with him.

Harrison took a slow, measured breath, rolling his neck to release the tension that had coiled there. "I fired you because you became a liability. You were...difficult."

"Difficult?" Hartley echoed, his tone sharp. "Is that what you tell everyone? That I was 'difficult'?"

Harrison sighed. "What do you want, Hartley?"

"Faber est suae quisque ruina," Hartley said simply before the line abruptly went dead.

Chapter Text

The pediatrician's office was bright and cheerful, colorful characters with vague resemblances to copyrighted ones decorated the walls and soft, kid-friendly toys littered the ground. Even the check-in desk seemed friendly, painted in bright pastel colors with wooden bead mazes embedded into the walls at toddler-height. Barry was anxious anyway.

With babies and toddlers running around it seemed to be more and more painfully obvious how...different Eo was. Sure, there were a few quieter kids but they all still seemed interested in playing with the toys if they weren't crying or sleeping. A little girl with brown ringlets toddled over to show Eo a block and he shied away, squeezing his teddy tighter with both tiny hands.

"Mr. Allen?" The receptionist called, her friendly tone bringing Barry back from his thoughts. He adjusted Eo in his arms and stood, walking through the doors into a hallway painted with cheery animals and floating balloons. The pediatrician, Dr. Rivera, greeted him with a warm smile that made Barry feel a little better.

"And who do we have here?" She asked, her voice as soft as her expression as she knelt to meet Eo's eyes. Eo chewed on the bear's ear, his big blue eyes fixed on Dr. Rivera with an intense stare.

"This is Eo," he said. "He's been staying with me for a bit, just...wanted to make sure he's doing okay."

Dr. Rivera nodded understandingly and gestured for Barry to sit on the examination table with Eo in his lap. As she began her examination, her tone remained soothing, explaining each step slowly and calmly as though Eo could understand her.

"So, Eo," she said with a kind smile, unwrapping her stethoscope from her neck. "Let's see how you're doing, hmm?"

Eo remained silent, his small lips pressed into a line and his chubby hands gripping his bear even tighter as Dr. Rivera continued. He wriggled away from the stethoscope and thermometer and kicked his foot to get the pulse oximeter off the second she put it on. Still, she moved through the examination with practiced ease, checking his eyes, reflexes, and motor functions, pausing occasionally to make notes.

"He's a quiet one, isn't he?" Dr. Rivera remarked, glancing at Barry as she typed in the notes. "No real fussing, even when I checked his ears - his hearing seems fine, by the way."

Barry nodded, his heart sinking. "Yeah, he...doesn't cry, actually...not really."

Dr. Rivera raised her brows in slight surprise. "Interesting." She stepped back, looking thoughtful before speaking again. "I do see you mentioned a few concerns here - developmental delays, like not sitting up or attempting to crawl. Was he in a stressful environment?"

Barry hesitated, his throat tight. He didn't know for sure but he couldn't imagine that the circumstances leading to Eo's arrival could have been anything but. "Yeah, I think so."

Dr. Rivera nodded, a small frown creasing her brow. "In cases like this, sometimes babies respond to stress by shutting down emotions and they avoid crying because they've learned it won't get them the comfort they need."

Hearing it confirmed hit Barry harder than he'd expected. He glanced down at Eo, who was clutching his bear even closer, his wide blue eyes not missing a single movement.

"So...what do I do then?" Barry asked.

Dr. Rivera smiled gently. "Well, the first step is to establish a sense of security for him. It sounds like you're already doing that but it'll take patience and consistency. The goal is to help him feel safe enough to express himself naturally and a big part of that starts with physical milestones. Right now, I'd like to focus on helping Eo consistently sit up on his own. It's foundational, not just physically but also in building confidence, and it will allow him to explore new foods and gain the core strength he needs to start crawling."

Dr. Rivera finished the examination, typing up a few notes on a tablet as she looked back at Barry. "Let's schedule some regular check-ins and I can give you a few exercises to help him start sitting up. Try to do them with him every day, just a few minutes at a time. The more stability he feels with you, the more likely he'll start to take small risks like letting go of that bear for a little while."

Barry thanked her, feeling a renewed sense of purpose as he left the office. He adjusted Eo in his arms, looking down at his tiny face. "We've got this, little guy," he murmured, planting a gentle kiss on Eo's forehead. Eo squeaked and nuzzled into his shoulder in response. Eo's past may have been filled with neglect but his future - at least as long as Barry had him - would be different. He would make sure of it.

Back at Joe's house, Barry set Eo on the living room floor with a few soft toys, staying close by as he lay a blanket down. He gently placed Eo in a sitting position, his hands loosely settled on both his sides to keep him steady. Eo stared up into his face, grabbing Barry's thumb and tugging at his hand as he swayed. Barry's phone buzzed in his pocket and Eo jumped, tipping over in surprise with a tiny 'oof!'

Linda: 'Hey! Just checking if we're still on for tonight?'

Barry glanced down at Eo again who had rolled onto his back and was busy trying to pull his socks off.

Barry: 'Yeah, we are, but I think we need to talk.'

Linda's response came almost immediately.

Linda: 'That's not ominous at all. Everything okay?'

Barry hesitated before typing back.

Barry: 'Yeah just maybe we do the date sooner? Lunch okay?'

Linda: 'Sure. Meet you at the deli by CC Picture News.'

—

Barry took a steadying breath as he wheeled Eo's stroller into the small deli. He spotted Linda near the counter, her expression lighting up when she saw him, though her gaze quickly drifted to the stroller with a look of surprise.

"Hey!" She greeted, leaning in to kiss his cheek before glancing down at Eo, who was clutching his teddy bear with both hands. "So...I guess this is what you wanted to talk about?"

"Uh, yeah," Barry confirmed with a sheepish grin. "This is Eo, he's...staying with me for a while."

Linda picked up her sandwich from the person behind the counter and gestured for them to move out of the way if Barry wasn't going to order immediately. "So, you're fostering him or something?"

Barry let out a sigh, rubbing the back of his neck as he searched for the right words. "Something like that." He tried to smile, though it felt strained.

Linda's expression softened and she reached over to take his hand. "That's…really great of you, Barry," she said, squeezing his hand. "It is. But I don't think I'm ready for this...this kind of commitment. I'm sorry but...if this is going to be long term, maybe we should take a break."

Barry nodded in understanding, a flicker of relief crossing his features. He'd hoped Linda would understand and in a way, she did. Her decision made sense, really. They were at the beginning of their relationship and Eo's sudden arrival brought responsibilities neither of them could have foreseen. He smiled a little, not entirely surprised but somehow grateful that Linda had made the choice for them both.

"I get it. Thanks," he said, his voice soft. She gave him a gentle smile, squeezing his hand one last time before turning to go. Barry watched her leave, a mix of emotions swirling in his chest - sadness but also a strange sense of calm. This was the right decision for all of them.

Chapter Text

"Hartley Rathaway," Dr. Wells began, pulling up Hartley's employee file on the nearest computer in the Cortex, "possesses one of the finest scientific minds I've ever encountered."

Barry furrowed his brow as he looked over Hartley's photo. He certainly didn't look friendly but not particularly threatening either. Not that that mattered much, some of the fiercest metas he'd fought so far had been pretty low-key appearance-wise. Eo mirrored his expression, tiny nose scrunched up, wide blue eyes locked onto the screen, and near-invisible eyebrows knitted together as though Hartley had personally offended him. He gave a small huff and tucked his face into Barry's shoulder, fingers curling tightly around the fabric of Barry's jacket.

"Any ties to Rathaway Industries?" Joe asked, turning his attention to Dr. Wells who nodded.

"His grandfather founded the company, his father expanded it, and Hartley here was set to inherit the throne."

Barry frowned at that and turned as well. Eo squeaked, the only sound he'd made in half an hour, and wriggled to keep looking over Barry's shoulder at the screen. He wasn't fussing, exactly, but Barry knew him well enough by now to recognize that he wasn't going to be content for much longer. Eo's pudgy fingers tightened around the bear he'd been clutching for most of the afternoon, the toy's fabric damp where he'd been gnawing relentlessly.

"What happened?" Barry asked as he dodged Eo's lazily swinging bear, the baby waving his arm at the screen, reaching for it.

"He came out to his parents," Caitlin replied with a sad half-shrug. "Old money, old values."

"They were estranged when we met, but, brilliant," Dr. Wells added. "I couldn't have built the particle accelerator without him."

Eo let out a sound somewhere between a hiccough and a sigh as if to interject his own opinion on the matter, then promptly stuffed the shoulder of Barry's jacket into his mouth, gnawing on it like a teething ring.

"You guys have never even mentioned his name," Barry said, bouncing Eo absently, wondering if he'd missed something.

"That's because Hartley had a...challenging personality," Caitlin said politely.

"What she means is he was mostly a jerk. But, every once in a while, he could be a dіck," Cisco joked.

Joe snorted a laugh and Dr. Wells let out a chuckle at that before responding. "Let's just say that Hartley, like many outliers, had trouble relating to his peers."

"Yes but he was always your favorite," Caitlin interjected.

"The chosen one," Cisco added, making a face. "He referred to himself like that."

Barry shifted Eo to his other hip, distractedly rubbing circles on the baby's back.

"So if you two were so close, why would he target you?" Barry asked, batting Eo's grasping fingers lightly away from his hair. Eo, undeterred, grabbed at Barry's nose instead. "Alright, that's - ow, okay, let go please." He carefully pried Eo's fingers away as the baby's tiny, surprisingly sharp nails dug into his nostrils. Eo made an indignant noise and latched onto Barry's sleeve instead, rubbing his face against the fabric as though trying to comfort himself.

Dr. Wells shifted slightly, looking somewhat uncomfortable. "Hartley left S.T.A.R. Labs about a year ago after we had a...a disagreement."

"About what?" Joe asked.

Dr. Wells looked very much like he'd rather not reply, so Barry cut in. "Look, don't worry. We'll stop him. I won't let him hurt you, any of you."

Joe shot him a look but didn't press Dr. Wells further as Eo's bear smacked him in the back of the head when the baby squirmed in Barry's arms again.

Eo made a small, pleased gurgle at the impact and promptly went back to chewing on Barry's jacket.

"Let's get back to my lab, alright?" Barry added, shifting his hold on Eo again and redirecting his attention to Dr. Wells. "Would you mind-"

Dr. Wells smiled, offering his arms to take the baby. "Go. He'll be just fine here, you have my word."

Barry handed Eo off gratefully and then he was gone, a red streak vanishing from the Cortex, Joe following at a more reasonable pace. Dr. Wells adjusted his grip instinctively, his expression unreadable as he watched Eo nestle against his chest.

Cisco glared at Hartley's picture and muttered, "I could've gone my whole life without seeing that jerk again." Eo squeaked in something that could have been agreement. Cisco grinned at the infant. "Right? Thank you."

Chapter Text

"Good day, Dr. Wells."

Gideon's smooth, mechanical voice greeted Eobard as usual as the man strode toward the dais, the infant cradled in one arm. Eo patted the front of his shoulder, tiny hand tapping consistently like a metronome.

"We'll see about that, won't we? Gideon, show me the future," Eobard instructed, catching Eo's hand as it strayed towards his face. "No, not the glasses, you little gremlin."

Eo, predictably ignoring him, let out a pleased coo and made another grab. With a sigh, Eobard deftly removed the glasses, tossing them aside into the seat of the wheelchair as Gideon projected the holographic newspaper. It, unfortunately, still did not read 'Flash Missing: Vanishes in Crisis' as he'd hoped, however, the article had changed again.

'Rathaway Son Missing'

Dr. Hartley Rathaway, estranged son of tech billionaire, Osgood Rathaway, remains missing after an incident at...

The article might have piqued his interest, once, but otherwise, it would have meant nothing. Should have meant nothing. But Barry Allen had upended everything with his foolish sentimentality, with the infant now squirming against his shoulder and squeaking softly into the collar of his shirt.

Eobard shifted his grip as Eo pressed his face more firmly into his shoulder, nosing at the fabric with the insistence of a barnacle. The hand that wasn't tapping remained clenched around the bedraggled Flash bear - ears chewed, the little lightning bolt insignia stained from drool and something that looked like mashed banana.

"Gideon," Eobard said sharply, eyes locked on the article even as his mind shifted gears. "Run a full temporal residue scan on the infant. I want precise coordinates: exact time and place of removal from the timeline."

"Scanning," Gideon replied.

The blue diagnostic sweep passed over Eo. The infant blinked at it, curious, and batted at the light with a soft grunt of disappointment when it passed through his hand. Then, perhaps in protest, he lifted the bear to his face and began gnawing on its forehead with quiet intensity.

"Scan complete," Gideon said. "The infant was removed from the timeline on October 12th, 2151, at 3:02:46 AM Central Standard Time. Location: Level 4 of the Thawne residence, Central City, Missouri, Earth-1."

"By Barry Allen."

Of course Barry had done this, it had never been a question in his mind, he practically bled reckless altruism.

"Yes, Dr. Wells."

Eobard’s gaze darkened, tension tightening his jaw as he continued. "Gideon, check again for any recent alterations referencing the Reverse Flash or Eobard Thawne."

A series of articles flooded the screen as Gideon scanned through them.

"There are now 127 references to the Reverse Flash, Doctor."

"But no references to Eobard Thawne," he noted.

Eobard's brow furrowed, fingers tightening involuntarily around the infant's small form as he absorbed the implications. For him to have withheld his true identity, to maintain secrecy for centuries - an odd choice. And thoroughly unlike him. How much could he have possibly changed already? He scowled down at the infant who stared back unflinchingly with his wide blue eyes.

"Who are you becoming?" He muttered, more to himself than the child. 

Eo blinked before blowing a raspberry suddenly, spittle flecking Eobard's cheek. He wiped it away with a grimace and might have opened his mouth to scold the uncouth infant but was interrupted when Cisco's voice crackled to life over the intercom. 

"Dr. Wells, we need you in the Cortex, like, right now. Hartley's attacking Rathaway Industries."

Chapter Text

Rathaway Industries shook violently, shattered glass raining down onto the pavement. Hartley aimed another blast at Rathaway Industries with his sonic gloves, opening a gaping hole in the glass walls. He'd heard the sirens approaching from the moment they'd left the station and turned at their crescendo to blast the windows and engine out, stopping one of the police cruisers in the middle of the street. Two others pulled up from the opposite direction.

"Get down on the ground!"

Hartley rolled his eyes at the officer yelling through the megaphone and shattered the window of the car door he'd hidden behind. A moment later, he was on the ground anyway, having been shoved backwards suddenly by the Flash himself.

"It's over, Rathaway."

Hartley grinned.

"You know my name. I know some names too," he drawled, tilting his head as he glared up at the speedster. "Cisco Ramon. Caitlin Snow. Harrison Wells. I can hear the radio waves emanating from your suit," he continued as he pushed himself to his feet. "About 1900 megahertz. Is that them on the other end, listening? Are they gonna hear you die?"

The Flash shook his head, looking as though Hartley was a mild annoyance. "No. They're gonna hear you get your ass kicked."

Hartley scoffed before blasting the speedster with both gauntlets, sending him flying backwards, crashing through the tall glass sign bearing the Rathaway Industries logo. Moments later, the Flash had zipped past him and was throwing seemingly anything he could reach - a police baton from an officer's belt, the baton from a different officer's belt, a rock next to the cruiser - at Hartley with frustratingly good accuracy. Hartley grimaced, shielding his head, only to feel his gauntlets ripped off a second later.

The Flash gripped Hartley's collar tightly, a cocky grin tugging at his lips. "Looks like you're not as smart as everyone says."

"Smart enough to have figured out who Harrison Wells really is," Hartley commented, relishing the way the confidence slipped off of the Flash's face. "You see, I know his secret."

—

The ride in the elevator to the Cortex was exceptionally awkward. Hartley surveyed the speedster next to him, giving him a slow, assessing look up and down through his glasses before scoffing.

"So you're his new chosen one," he commented, lifting his cuffed hands to examine his nails. "Nice suit. Did Harrison design it for you?"

"Cisco, actually."

Hartley hummed and faced the doors just as they opened.

"Being scooped up by a guy clad in head-to-toe leather is a long-time fantasy of mine, so thanks."

The Flash pushed him through and Hartley smirked in amusement, straightening with a relaxed sort of confidence that contrasted with the cuffs around his wrists as Cisco and Caitlin joined them near the elevator.

"Well, well, well, the gang's all here. You've lasted a lot longer than I would've thought, Cisco," Hartley commented though his expression dropped into a look of surprise as he glanced past them.

Eo stared back from his playpen in the medical bay with equally intense blue eyes.

Hartley let out a disbelieving laugh. "Did the explosion make all of you morons? Why the hell do you have an infant in S.T.A.R. Labs? That would have been stupid before it was a Class 4 hazardous location, now it's completely asinine."

"He's-" Caitlin began, shifting protectively towards the playpen.

"Ix-nay on the...uh, expanation-ay," Cisco interrupted through clenched teeth.

"And my respect dies a quiet death once more," Hartley said with a melodramatic sigh. "Honestly, Pig Latin?"

"Not trying to impress you, dude. Come on," Cisco said, rolling his eyes as he steered Hartley towards the hall with a shove that was maybe a bit rougher than necessary.

Hartley glanced once more over his shoulder. The baby didn't look away as he chewed on his empty bottle.

The hallway down to the Pipeline was cold. Not physically - the climate controls were perfectly calibrated, as always - but there was a certain sterile feeling in the air, a mechanical chill that clung to the walls like a film. Hartley walked with the languid confidence of someone who'd already prepared his monologue for trial, his bound hands no real impediment to his theatrical strut, his smirk crooked and practiced.

Behind him, Caitlin and Cisco kept a steady pace.

"I assume this is the part where you lock me in your dungeon lair," Hartley drawled. "A bit too La Belle et la Bête for my tastes."

"You blew up a building," Cisco said and Hartley rolled his eyes.

"I shattered the windows of two, actually, I'd hardly consider that blowing anything up."

Hartley continued when they remained stubbornly silent.

"You know this used to be a respectable place of progress. Now you've managed to turn it into a prison as well as a mausoleum. Fitting, really, Wells always was good at killing things. Potential, mostly."

They reached the empty cell - standard glass walls, reinforced steel. No furniture, no comfort. It was stark, humming faintly with the pulse of meta-dampening tech. Cisco opened the door.

"Inside," he said.

"What? No 'please'?" Hartley drawled, though he stepped inside regardless and turned around to face them. Caitlin removed the cuffs and Hartley stepped back, crossing his arms and examining the pair curiously as the doors shut. "So, the baby. Yours? The Flash's maybe? Or perhaps some new, unethical experiment of Harrison's?"

"He's none of your business, Hartley," Caitlin said curtly. Hartley's grin was wolfish.

"Noted."

Cisco glanced over at him with a frown from beside the panel controls.

"The scanner is detecting foreign metallic objects in your ears. Take 'em out." Cisco instructed, gesturing towards Hartley.

Hartley raised both eyebrows. "I can't. I suffered head trauma when S.T.A.R. Labs exploded, my ears were severely damaged. Without these I'm in pain you can't imagine." He said, pointing at his left ear for emphasis.

Cisco and Caitlin exchanged a look. Hartley took another step back, finally surveying the 'cell' he'd been locked in properly, and let out a short laugh when he realized what it really was.

"Very clever repurposing the anti-proton cavities into confinement cells," he commented. "Wells' idea, I'm sure."

Cisco looked momentarily smug. "Actually, it was mine." Caitlin nodded at Cisco with a smile of support.

"Cisquito," Hartley crooned in a mockingly sweet voice. "Sigue suplicando la aprobación de tu maestro."

"Si eres tan inteligente porque te encuentras en una aula," Cisco spat back.

"Hartley, don't make this more difficult than it has to be," Caitlin said and Hartley shot her a mock look of surprise.

"J'ai oublié. Tu n'aimes pas les émotions. Elles sont salissantes."

"Enough, Hartley." Wells interrupted, wheeling up from behind Cisco and Caitlin. He nodded to both of them. "Give us a minute."

"See you soon, Cisco!" Hartley called as Cisco and Caitlin made their way out of the Pipeline.

"Doubt it!" Cisco called back.

Upstairs, Barry was leaned back in a desk chair, listening to the conversation through the monitors as Eo snuggled in his arms, fast asleep.

"What do you think, buddy? is Cisco gonna punch Hartley before or after lunch?" Barry asked quietly.

Eo blew a raspberry in his sleep and Barry laughed.

"Yeah, me too."

Eo rolled slightly to get more comfortable and kicked out suddenly, accidentally muting the feed. Barry grimaced but didn’t move to fix it right away for fear of waking the baby. It didn't matter anyway, he thought, it wasn't like he could understand the languages they were speaking. Barry turned his attention to the baby, smiling faintly, and brushed a thumb across the sparse strawberry-blond fuzz on Eo's head.

"Must be nice," he murmured, watching the soft rise and fall of Eo's breath. "No idea how weird everything is right now. Just sleeping through it all."

Eo let out a soft, sleepy sigh and Barry resumed watching the monitor. Hartley was looking directly at the camera now. Uh oh.

Barry scrambled to turn the audio back on in hopes of catching most of whatever Hartley had been saying.

"...I only hope that he leaves you in better shape than he left me. If you're lucky, you'll only be dead. Because every day I have to live with the agonizing, piercing screaming in my ears." Hartley's voice rattled through the speakers and Barry grimaced, hoping whatever he'd said before wasn't too important.

"Oops..." Barry muttered, settling back in the chair again as Eo let out a grumpy noise and shoved his face into Barry's neck.

Chapter Text

"How are you so good at this?" Iris complained, waving her spatula at Eddie accusatorily.

The recipe was meant to be easy enough - portobello mushrooms stuffed with mozzarella, arugula, cherry tomatoes, and garlic, toasted for a few minutes in a pan to perfection. But, while Eddie's side of the kitchen was pristine, mushrooms sizzling on the stove in front of him, Iris's was a mess of garlic skins, mangled tomatoes, and arugula with more stems than leaves.

Eddie grinned back at her, sleeves rolled to his elbows, looking more than comfortable in the kitchen. "Years of bachelor living, babe. You learn quick or you live on takeout, ramen, and cereal."

"Ramen has more dignity than this," she muttered darkly, glaring at the mess as though it had personally offended her.

Eddie put a lid on the pan and set his spatula aside before turning to pull Iris into his arms. "Oh, don't pout just because the food is winning."

"I'm not pouting," Iris grumbled into his shoulder, though she made no attempt to pull away.

"You are," Eddie said, giving her a quick peck on the lips as he brushed a strand of her hair back behind her ear. "And it's adorable. But I don't think it's just the arugula that's bothering you."

Iris sighed, pulling away, and returned to her sad pile of ingredients. "It's just...Barry and I used to tell each other everything but lately he's dodging questions or...just lying. He told Linda he was fostering Eo - fostering, Eddie. That's a lot more than just babysitting, isn't it?" She tossed a mangled piece of arugula and squashed tomato into the trash with a frustrated huff. "And then I thought, maybe it feels personal, maybe he's being weird because it's a similar situation to what happened with his dad and his mom but I looked into it and there's nothing. Nothing in the obituaries, no reports like that in the news."

"It's a big city," Eddie pointed out. "That kind of thing might not have been reported on, especially with all the craziness going on lately. Did you talk to Joe about this? Maybe Barry asked him to pull some strings."

Iris furrowed her brow. "That's the thing - Dad's been weird about it, too. He won't talk about it either, just avoids answering or tells me to ask Barry." She tossed her spatula into the sink and removed her apron, moving to sit at the table instead and wiping her brow with a weary sigh. "I don't know, Eddie, I just...maybe Barry and I aren't as close as I thought we were anymore."

Eddie removed the lid and plated the mushrooms before turning off the stove and joining Iris at the table, sliding one of the plates in front of her. She gave him a sad, grateful smile.

"If there's anything I've learned these past few months it's that you and Barry are a package deal. If he's hiding anything, it's not because you two aren't close."

"Then what is it?" Iris asked, stabbing her mushroom perhaps a bit too forcefully with her fork.

Eddie shrugged with a sigh. "I dunno, babe. It's Barry, who knows what's going on inside his head?"

Iris nodded, adjusting her chair so she could eat properly with a hum. "So, what about you?" She asked, eager for a change of subject. "Tell me about Officer Rulebook."

Eddie pulled a face. "Harrow."

"Ben, wasn't it?"

"Bennet, and he will correct you if you use Ben. I swear I've never met a man more married to his name." He pointed his fork at her and narrowed his eyes dramatically. "Though it would be Detective Harrow to you, Miss." 

Iris laughed. "Oh God, does he really talk like that?"

Eddie nodded with a laugh of his own. "He's impossible to work with. Like, I get it - rules matter but there's no room for nuance with him. I had to work with him on a domestic; it needed a gentler touch but you'd think I suggested kicking the family's dog."

"Oh, you poor thing," Iris joked, reaching over to squeeze Eddie's hand lightly.

Eddie smiled at her, softer now. "It's just been...a week. Well, three days since Harrow started working, anyway."

"Maybe he'll loosen up soon." Iris offered and Eddie shrugged.

"Maybe. Maybe not. Who knows, whatever the hell happened in Midvale might've scared him into being a stickler for the rules but might be he's just always been this way."

"Maybe you should talk to him about it."

Eddie looked almost affronted. "We don't do that." 

"And that's why you're going to have high blood pressure before you reach forty." Iris teased and Eddie sighed.

"Look, if we were friends, maybe, but I just met the guy, babe."

"I'm just saying, maybe if you have to work with him again you could ask him to just...ease up a little."

"He'll probably try to write me up for talking about something other than the case." Eddie joked and Iris laughed, conceding for now as she focused on her lunch.

They ate in silence, enjoying each other's company for several minutes before Iris spoke again, softly.

"Thanks."

"For what?"

"For not lying to me."

Eddie smiled. He didn't say he'd had his own share of secrets lately - about the way Iris looked at Barry sometimes and didn't seem to notice. About the way he looked at Barry sometimes. It was all a mess he didn't know how to name yet. But sitting here with her, sharing food and stories and frustration, was good. It felt solid.

He stood to clear his plate from the table and gave Iris a slow kiss as he picked up hers too. "Anytime, babe."

Chapter Text

"Hey! No power tools until you're old enough to say 'power tools'!"

Cisco caught Eo's hand just before it reached the still-hot soldering iron and shifted him to his other hip. The baby let out a high-pitched squeak of protest, tiny brows furrowing.

"Technically, I think a soldering iron is classified as a hand tool," Caitlin said, drifting across the lab toward them. She offered a small wave to Eo, who promptly buried his face in Cisco's shirt. "What are you working on?"

Cisco gestured to Hartley's gauntlets. "Barry was right. Hartley was using sonic resonance. The intensity regulator's measuring decibels."

Caitlin held out her hands and Cisco passed the baby off without missing a beat. Eo whimpered softly as he changed hands, the bear slipping from under his arm and tumbling to the floor unnoticed. Cisco picked up a screwdriver to continue tinkering with the gloves and furrowed his brow. Caitlin caught the look, bouncing Eo lightly.

"What?"

"This is weird," Cisco muttered under his breath. "He had it on the lowest setting."

"What do you mean?"

"He could've completely destroyed his father's building if he wanted to in one blast," Cisco said, scowling at the gauntlets as though they'd personally offended him.

Caitlin shifted her hold, patting Eo's bottom gently. "So, why not just do it and leave? I mean, why stick around and run the risk of getting caught?"

Cisco paled, face falling with dread. "Unless he wanted to be caught."

Without another word, Cisco ran out of the Cortex, screwdriver clattering to the floor. Caitlin set Eo in his playpen and rushed to the main consoles, pressing the intercom button, just as the vibration from a small explosion shook the floor beneath her feet. "Dr. Wells! There's been a Pipeline breach!"

Cisco's sneakers squeaked as he slid around the corners, hoping to make it to the Pipeline before Hartley actually managed an escape. Another corner. And another. He grabbed the doorway to the Pipeline to catch himself and rushed up the ramp. Before he could reach it, the door was blasted open, sending Cisco flying off of his feet and slamming into the ground, knocking him out.

Hartley emerged, letting out an amused sound as he strode past the unconscious Cisco, his breathing even, expression calm - far too calm for someone who had just broken out of an illegal underground holding cell. His coat billowed slightly behind him as he walked through the halls quickly, purposefully, ignoring the sirens and emergency lights.

Once he'd arrived in the Cortex, he crept up behind Caitlin. She turned to face him anyway, startled, and he backhanded her, sending her falling to the floor, knocking her head against the console table. He returned his focus to the task at hand once he was certain she was out and all but ran to the table Cisco had been inspecting his gloves on.

A cursory once-over ensured they hadn't been tampered with too badly so Hartley popped the hidden USB drive out of the compartment in one of the gauntlets and made his way back to the main consoles to plug it in. With a few clicks, he had the information he needed downloading. The fans picked up as the computers worked, sending a spike of pain through his ears and into his brain. He grimaced, closing his eyes for a moment as the sound overwhelmed him.

Then, another sound caught his attention.

Hartley opened his eyes and glanced at the progress bar creeping slowly up on the screen before turning his attention to the medbay. The baby stared back, letting out another sad whimper, pressing his tiny face against the white mesh of the playpen, trying to reach the small bear plush dressed as the Flash that lay less than a foot away.

Hartley sighed as the infant squeaked and whimpered louder, crossing the room and picking up the tiny plush toy.

"Is this what you're after?" He wrinkled his nose as he examined the tiny lightning logo on the bear's chest. "God, he's so obsessed that he made a costume for a toy? Pathetic, Harrison." He dropped the toy into the playpen.

A second later Hartley found himself knocked off his feet, a yellow blur trailed by red lightning zipped through the medbay. By the time Hartley landed, the wind knocked out of him, the blur was gone.

So was the baby.

Chapter Text

There were two thoughts in Barry Allen's mind when he heard Hartley had escaped:

Oh God, is everyone okay? and If he touches Eo, I'm gonna kill him.

Barry zipped into the Cortex, mind racing a mile a minute as Caitlin pushed herself upright from the floor. He was at her side in an instant, voice tight with worry.

"Hey! Are you okay?" He asked, forcing himself to speak slowly enough to be understood.

"Yeah," Caitlin groaned, clutching her head. "But Cisco and Dr. Wells-"

Barry didn't wait for her to finish. He turned, about to speed through the halls when Caitlin's sharp inhale halted him. She was slowly approaching the medbay, braced on the console table, voice clipped and rising with anxiety.

"Hartley. Where is Eo?"

Hartley was in the process of standing, brushing off his coat. "Eo- who? The baby?"

Barry's gaze flickered from Caitlin to Hartley and finally to the empty playpen. He saw red.

In a flash, Hartley was pinned to the far wall, Barry's civilian clothes rustling with the static discharge, eyes flashing with lightning.

"Where is he? What did you do?" Barry demanded.

Hartley, who was getting fed-up with having the wind knocked out of him, glared down his nose at the speedster as he caught his breath.

"I suppose this means he's yours?" Hartley drawled and Barry pushed him harder into the wall.

Barry slammed him into the wall again, this time with more force. "Where the hell did you put him, Hartley? If you've hurt him I swear I'll-"

"Barry, wait!" Caitlin yelled but Barry wasn't listening, couldn't hear her over the rush of his pulse.

"You actually think I'd hurt a baby?" Hartley asked, eyes narrowing. "I'm not a monster."

"Hartley," came a quieter voice - controlled, commanding. Dr. Wells was in the doorway, gripping his wheelchair armrests so tightly his knuckles went white. Barry hadn't even heard him arrive. "Tell us where he is."

"I didn't touch the fucking baby!" Hartley snapped, shoving Barry off of him with a surprising amount of strength. His coat settled crooked on his shoulders as he straightened his posture.

"Why don't I believe you?" Barry said, taking a step toward him again. His entire body sang with the need to mash Hartley into the wall and shake him until answers fell out.

"Because you're a moron," Hartley replied, fixing Barry with an annoyed glare.

"Where. Is. He?"

"I. Don't. Know." Hartley mimicked, irritated. "One minute I'm standing, the next thing I know I'm on my ass. All I saw was a blur and some lightning, I assumed that was you."

Barry blinked, cold fear trickling down his spine. "I wasn't- no, I just got here. A blur? Are you sure?"

Hartley hummed, straightening his jacket. "I'm deaf, not blind. I know what I saw."

Barry scrubbed his hand over his mouth anxiously, taking a step back. If it was a speedster then that could only mean...he didn't want to even think it.

"Are you absolutely sure, Hartley?" Dr. Wells asked, wheeling closer. His expression was as neutral as he could make it but there was a flicker of something behind his eyes.

"As sure as I was about my calculations." Hartley replied, shooting a scathing look at Dr. Wells. "Unlike some people, I don't keep important things quiet."

"What is he talking about?" Barry asked, turning to face Caitlin and Dr. Wells. Caitlin shrugged, turning her attention to the doctor as well.

"We can discuss that later," Dr. Wells said. "If you're right, Hartley, it means a child is now in the hands of a very dangerous man. We don't have time for your theatrics."

Hartley rolled his eyes. "Convenient, isn't it?" He commented dryly.

"Caitlin, why don't you and Barry escort Hartley down to a new holding cell. I assume he's out of explosives," Dr. Wells said before turning to Hartley again. "Where's Cisco?"

"Still unconscious in the hall, I assume," Hartley drawled, inspecting his nails in a way Barry found maddeningly nonchalant.

Barry's fingers curled into tight fists at his sides, his jaw set. The lightning buzzing beneath his skin itched to lash out again, to demand answers from Hartley, but he forced himself to take a step back instead before turning around and zipping down to the Pipeline.

Barry returned in a fraction of a second, laying Cisco on a medical cot as Caitlin rushed to make sure Cisco was okay. 

"I'm not going back into that four-by-four violation of the Geneva Convention just because you don't want to talk right now, Harrison," Hartley sneered, crossing his arms, his gaze flickering momentarily to where he'd left his gauntlets. Dr. Wells followed his gaze.

"Whatever you're trying to achieve, whatever revenge you want to exact can wait until Eo is safe," Dr. Wells said, a slight edge to his normal calm.

Hartley scoffed. "I'm sure this selfless charade seems very noble to your merry band of misfits here."

"A baby could be dead, Hartley!" Barry raged and the room fell silent. Even Hartley looked momentarily abashed. "The Man in Yellow nearly beat Dr. Wells to death and we were all nearby ready to help him. Eo won't have that chance. We have to find him before he..."

Barry's words strangled in his throat. If he opened his mouth again, he'd scream. 

Harrison rolled forward, eyes intent on Hartley. "I think what Barry is trying to say is that we have bigger priorities than you at the moment. You want to avoid the Pipeline, fine. Help us find Eo."

Hartley raised a skeptical brow. "You want me to help you?"

"Unless you prefer the Pipeline." Harrison offered.

Hartley met Dr. Wells' gaze. "Fine. You want my help? After, you're telling everyone everything you've been holding back. I want to hear your mea culpa. No more obfuscation."

Cisco groaned from the cot in the medbay. "Ugh, why is Hartley's voice in my head?"

"Worse," Barry said and couldn't help a caustic, almost hysterical laugh. This was all so petty. Who did Hartley think he was, making demands at a time like this? "It's not in your head. It's in your ears. He's free."

"What the hell?" Cisco pushed himself up to sit, despite Caitlin's protests.

"I'd say that covers it but it doesn't even come close. The Reverse Flash...he...he took Eo." Saying it put a sour taste in Barry's mouth not unlike the feeling before vomiting.

Barry swallowed hard. Eo's tiny face flashed through his mind, wide blue eyes staring at him with so much trust, little hands clutching his bear like it was the most important thing in the universe. His chest ached.

Dr. Wells caught his eye. "We will find him," he said with almost enough certainty to make Barry believe it.

Chapter Text

The last place Barry wanted to be right now was work. There was enough horror to dwell on without-

"Harrow! West! Thawne! I need you three on the burning under the bridge in Lawrence Hills, where's Allen?" Captain Singh barked as he exited his office into the bullpen.

That.

Barry zipped down the stairs to meet the group in the doorway, pages fluttering on a nearby desk.

"Hey, heard my name," Barry said, leaning against the rail and trying to act like he wouldn't rather be anywhere else. He could be out looking for Eo, he could be helping Cisco figure out a way to find the Reverse Flash, he could be-

"Allen, you're with Harrow, that scene needs investigated yesterday."

Barry forced a smile and waved at Officer Harrow who looked like he'd swallowed a lemon. Harrow was already halfway out the precinct doors, his jaw set, posture straight-backed and inflexible like he'd ironed his bones into place.

Eddie mouthed good luck, Barr with a sympathetic wince as he fell into step beside Joe. Barry thought about protesting - he could make it there in the blink of an eye, faster than Harrow could even turn the key in the ignition - but unfortunately, Singh knew exactly two things about him: he didn't own a car and he had a historically awful relationship with punctuality.

So out to Harrow's cruiser he trudged.

The ride started off excruciatingly quiet. Harrow, apparently, wasn't the type to make small talk or turn on the radio. Barry tried anyway, desperate for something to fill the overthinking-and-panic-inducing silence before it swallowed him whole.

"So, uh...I'm Barry," he said, glancing over at Harrow whose gaze never left the road, his hands perfectly at 10 and 2. "You're Bennet, right?" Harrow nodded curtly and Barry took that as an encouraging sign. "Cool, cool...your friends call you Ben? Or Benny, maybe...?"

"Bennet. But you can refer to me as Officer Harrow."

Barry blinked, wondering how Harrow could possibly hate him already. "Right. Okay. Officer Harrow. Got it."

Harrow didn't respond and the silence returned with a vengeance. Barry tried not to fidget but his foot bounced anyway. He'd fought supervillains, why was this somehow worse?

After another block of heavy silence, Barry tried again.

"So, uh...you transferred from Midvale, right? I think I heard Singh mention that."

This time Harrow did glance at him - just a flicker of his eyes to the side - and then back to the road. "Correct."

"I've never been. Is it nice?"

"No."

The conversation died there.

By the time they pulled up to the bridge leading into Lawrence Hills, Barry felt like he'd aged a year. The cruiser rolled to a stop just beyond the barricade. Police tape fluttered in the breeze and the scorched underbelly of the bridge stood out like an oil stain against the concrete. No traffic above; the street had been closed off.

Barry exited almost before Harrow had put the car in park, grabbing his forensic kit and slipping under the yellow tape. Eddie waved him over.

"Hey, Barr. Just spoke with the witnesses. Get this: they both swear they saw a man burst into flames."

Barry furrowed his brow. "Self-immolation or spontaneous combustion? But the report said nobody was hurt."

Eddie nodded. "They said he burst into flames and then flew away."

Oh. Another meta case then. Dammit, Barry didn't want to have to split his focus between finding Eo and...whatever the hell this burning man was doing.

Barry nodded, adjusting the strap on his bag as he approached the scorched pavement. He knelt down, carefully snapping on a pair of blue latex gloves and examining the blackened asphalt. The damage wasn't widespread - just a contained area about four feet across, charred deeply and oddly uniform.

"There's no sign of an accelerant," Barry muttered to himself, his fingers brushing through soot that felt finer than it should.

Harrow stood a few feet away, arms folded, eyes sharp and unblinking. He cleared his throat pointedly. "You've determined that just by touching the pavement?"

Barry rolled his eyes before looking up at the rigid officer. "Usually when you have gasoline or kerosene, there are distinct splash patterns and residues. None of that's here. This was more contained."

Barry turned back to the ash, pulling out his sample collection kit and placing a small scoop into a glass jar before sealing it and replacing it in his bag. He should probably take it to S.T.A.R. Labs since they were dealing with a meta...but he could process the sample fine in his own lab, he was sure, and he didn't want to risk distracting everyone else. Eo was the priority.

Chapter Text

"Run that back," Dr. Wells said, jabbing a finger at the screen. "Right there. Try to freeze it right about-"

Cisco obligingly reversed the feed, jabbing his finger down on the keyboard a moment too late to capture the figure cloaked in red lightning.

"-now," Dr. Wells finished with a sigh.

"Sorry," Cisco murmured, winding the footage back once more. "This guy is almost too fast to catch, even with state of the art cameras. We'll be lucky to get a few usable frames from this but I'm still not sure how much good it will do. I mean, the guy's wearing a cowl." 

Dr. Wells rubbed one temple, trying to ease the starburst of pain that had settled behind one eye since Hartley's reappearance. "I have every faith in your abilities, Cisco. Try again."

Cisco bit back a grimace and obliged. He missed twice more before finally pressing the keys at the exact second. The scarlet lightning still backlit the Reverse Flash's head, casting most of his profile into shadow. The cowl and suit hid what the shadows couldn't.

Except for the pale, upturned face of the infant in his arms.

"Great, so now we can see he went all Goblin King on Eo, which we already knew, only I'm betting it's not David Bowie under that mask."

"No," Dr. Wells agreed, "likely not. Save that image, it may still reveal something to us that we've missed."

Cisco nodded, saving the still and enhancing the contrast, revealing the blurred figure of Hartley falling in the background. Cisco snorted. "Graceful."

"If you're both done validating my truthfulness," Hartley drawled, entering the Cortex to the great displeasure of both Cisco and Dr. Wells. "Maybe we can actually start working so I can leave this hell-hole."

Dr. Wells closed his eyes for a moment, sighing through his nose. "I assure you, Hartley, this work is just as important."

"I'm sure," Hartley replied, leaning against the wall with arms crossed loosely in front of his chest, blue eyes glittering sharply behind his glasses. "All this time wasted chasing a blurry frame. I thought the baby was the priority. But, no, by all means, let's squint at shadows."

"If you have something more productive to offer," Wells said, turning slightly, "by all means."

"Gladly once you give me my gauntlets back. This 'Man in Yellow' is faster than your Flash - by quite a bit if Ramon's calculations are reliable. You need someone who can level the field. Once I isolate his frequency, I can disrupt his molecular rhythm long enough for your empty-headed golden boy to retrieve his baby."

Cisco shot him an incredulous look. "This isn't Chalmun's Cantina, Hartley, we're not giving you the chance to shoot first."

Hartley sighed as though being involved in this conversation physically pained him. "Still as juvenile as I remember, Cisco. I see you haven't evolved at all since we saw each other last. Disappointing but..." Hartley shot a pointed look at Cisco's shirt which read 'T-Rex also hates push-ups'. "I can't say I'm surprised."

"I know you're more than capable of finding his frequency without your gauntlets," Dr. Wells said, interrupting the argument before it could escalate.

Hartley scowled at Dr. Wells. "Obviously. The gauntlets would expedite the process. But sure, let's take the scenic route - I'm certain the Reverse Flash won't mind."

"Perhaps Cisco could help speed up the process to make up the difference." Dr. Wells offered Hartley a smile that didn't reach his eyes. Hartley averted his gaze.

"I'll get to the answer faster without distractions," he said.

"I'll try not to distract you with my charm and good looks then," Cisco drawled.

"Play nicely, boys," Dr. Wells said with a half-smile before wheeling backward. "I'll take the time to look over what Cisco managed to capture from the security feed."

"Can't guarantee I won't strangle him as a favor to others," Cisco muttered.

Dr. Wells could feel the heat of Hartley's gaze on his back as he wheeled away. It tingled just on the edge of pain, sharp and hot like a bite from something small. Irritating. Persistent.

Distractions. Always distractions.

He had the intense urge to run, letting the tension sing through his body as streaks of lightning, instead of the doubt making his stomach churn. Only resolve kept him in the chair and that resolve served him well when Caitlin rounded the corner, eyes wide and glassy with tears. She didn't throw her arms around him - though she clearly wanted to. Her hands wrung together instead.

"Dr. Wells, I-I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. I stepped away for a second and I-" Her voice broke, a tear escaping down her cheek. "I shouldn't have. There's no excuse. This is-"

"Something that no one could have predicted," Dr. Wells said, reaching out to squeeze blood back into her icy fingertips. "I would have been just as helpless as you if I'd been watching Eo. The Reverse Flash is a speedster, Caitlin. He was always going to be faster."

Caitlin nodded, wiping the tear off of her cheek hurriedly.

"I think Cisco could use your help with Hartley," Dr. Wells added gently, nodding back toward the Cortex. "Why don't you go offer your expertise?"

Caitlin agreed, looking grateful for something to do, and Dr. Wells waited until the click of her heels disappeared into the room before he continued on. He didn't waste any more time.

Harrison wheeled into the Time Vault and paused just long enough to scrub his face with both hands before standing.

"Good evening, Dr. Wells."

"Could be better, Gideon." Eobard commented as he approached the dais. "Bring up the image Cisco saved."

"Certainly, Doctor," Gideon replied. A moment later, her holographic face was replaced by the still.

"Isolate the Reverse Flash and enhance to life-size."

Hartley, the Cortex, and Eo all disappeared from view, giving Eobard a clear view of the Reverse Flash. He stepped forward, brow furrowed.

Eobard had studied his own body from every angle, every iteration, every time remnant he'd left behind from the first time he'd worn the suit in his early 20s til now as Harrison Wells. He knew precisely how his muscles shifted when he ran, knew the exact way his form moved with the yellow suit, the way Eobard Thawne wore his speed.

This man...wasn't wearing it right.

"Who are you?" Eobard whispered.

Because, if he was certain of nothing else, he knew this man, this Reverse Flash, was not him.

Chapter Text

"Hey, slugger."

The sound of his father's voice, warm and easy even through phone static and Plexiglass, should have made Barry smile. It usually did. He managed to force one a second too late, fixing the cheery look onto his face on reflex. Henry wasn't fooled. He never was.

"What's wrong?"

Barry had no idea how to answer that. He'd wanted his dad to meet Eo, had been working on the paperwork even though he still didn't know how to explain how he had a baby, but now that Eo was missing - no, not missing. Kidnapped. He scrubbed a hand over his face.

The urge to cry or scream overwhelmed him not for the first time since Eo had been taken. The smile wobbled and took a dive offstage.

"I, um..." Barry's voice caught. He cleared his throat, rubbed his fingers over his mouth, and tried again. "I had a baby."

The words fell out too fast, like he'd skipped a step, and Henry's brow furrowed immediately with confusion and concern.

"You...what?"

"It's not- I mean, I didn't- I didn't have a baby but I..." Barry trailed off with a helpless shrug.

Henry blinked slowly, processing. "Help me out here, kiddo. How? When? And, uh...who's the lucky girl?"

Barry opened his mouth, then closed it. The truth - the real truth - was layered in paradoxes, folded through time loops and futures that might not exist anymore. But none of that was on the table here. Not with his dad. Not when his dad still thought the fastest thing about Barry was how quickly he could talk his way out of eating brussel sprouts.

"I'm not the biological dad," Barry said eventually, voice low. "He's not mine, technically - I'm not even really sure who his parents are. But I've been taking care of him, since he got here."

Henry's brow knit further, mouth pressing into a line. "Got here?"

"He was...dropped off. Left with me. It's complicated," Barry said. "I wasn't expecting it. But I've been trying. I've really been trying and now-" The words felt like they were choking him and he looked away, tears in his eyes.

"What happened, Barr?" Henry asked softly.

"He's gone," Barry whispered.

Henry's mouth parted but no words came. Barry shook his head and pushed through it.

"He was taken. Kidnapped. A couple days ago. I don't know who did it yet or why and I don't know how to get him back or where he is or if he's okay and I-" Barry's voice shook and he couldn't seem to say anything more.

There it was. The whole ugly, shaking truth - or at least what he could say - spilled into the sterile visitor's room, bouncing off cement walls and Plexiglass and the phone Barry had been gripping too tightly.

Henry's expression softened immediately. "Oh, Barr..."

"It's my fault," Barry said, his tone brittle enough to snap, the tears finally breaking free and slipping down his face. "I should have been there. If I'd been faster-"

"Barry, listen to me." Henry interrupted before Barry could continue his spiral. "Whatever happened, I'm sure it wasn't your fault. You can't predict these...these kinds of tragedies. And you can't blame yourself for them."

Barry shook his head, wiping his face though the tears kept coming.

"If I know anything about you, Barr, it's that you will do everything in your power to help the people you love. If anyone can find him, it's you."

Barry leaned his head against the glass. It felt blessedly cool against his forehead. He felt like his heart might beat its way through his ribs. His chest was unbearably tight.

"It was the man I saw...that night. The Man in Yellow. It's him, he's- he has my boy."

Barry blinked, tears hazing his vision for a precious second. Not just gone but at that man's mercy. What if he was already too late?

Henry gave him a level look. For the first time in years, it was a struggle to meet his eyes.

"And that's why I know you'll get him back," Henry said gently. "You've never given up on me. Not once, even when that was easier. Safer. If you can do that for me, I know you can do it for your kid. I believe that, Barry."

That undid something in him.

"I don't know how to...to move, to breathe. I'm just- Dad, I'm so scared for him. And I don't know..." Barry wiped his face with his hand again as he trailed off.

He could still feel the shape of Eo's head in the crook of his neck, still hear that soft little squeak he made when someone handed him his bear. He couldn't stop seeing him. Couldn't stop hearing the quiet that had replaced him.

"You're a parent now. We're always terrified," Henry said. "But I have faith in you. You'll find him. And when you do, you tell him his grandpa can't wait to meet him."

Barry finally met Henry's eyes and he nodded, taking a shaky breath.

"I will."

And this time, the smile came easier.

Chapter Text

Dr. Christina McGee had already dealt with more than she'd anticipated in the year since Harrison's particle accelerator fiasco. Several of her promising protégés had been injured in the explosion or simply quit, moving on to less dangerous cities, and she'd had to scramble to hire new scientists - then, as though that wasn't bad enough, Harrison had the audacity to use her tachyonic prototype as a lure for some madman and had then lost it to said madman.

The same madman who was in her office now, holding an infant incorrectly and demanding a second tachyon device.

"I've already told you, you've stolen my only prototype, I don't have another-" Dr. McGee paused, pulling a face. "Oh, honestly, hand me that baby."

The Man in Yellow's face was blurred but she could still make out that narrowed his eyes behind his mask. "He's fine."

"He is not fine." She snapped, striding across the room with the sort of firm, confident gait only earned by years of dealing with scientists, politicians, and idiots. "His neck has no support and he's clearly exhausted. When was the last time he was changed or fed?" She didn't wait for an answer - just plucked the infant from his arms. "God, you're lucky he's still breathing."

The Reverse Flash let her - for now.

Eo made no sound but his tiny lip trembled and his grip on the bear plush in his arms tightened. Dr. McGee read the tension in his tiny body immediately: stress and fear were etched into every line. Likely he hadn't slept in hours. Neglected. As she turned him gently, adjusting him into a more secure hold, she got her first proper look at his face.

He was beautiful in a way that was a little...off. A little too symmetrical, too perfect, like someone had tried to make a baby from memory and gotten the basics right but missed something vital, something human. His eyes, wide and sharp, locked on her like he was waiting to decide if she was safe.

Dr. McGee frowned, smoothing a strawberry blond curl from the baby's forehead. "Where on Earth did you get him?"

The Reverse Flash didn't answer. Instead, he moved, looking like a glitch in reality as he appeared mere inches from her.

"Build a new tachyon device. I know you still have the schematics."

"I also have a master's in ethics, two doctorates, and tenure. You think I'm going to build you a device so you can drag this baby to God knows where? You're completely out of your mind."

He lifted a hand and for a moment, Dr. McGee was certain he was about to strike her. Then, the hand began vibrating and he lowered it slowly, mere millimeters away from her chest.

"Build it. Or I'll kill you and your staff."

Dr. McGee leaned back slightly, glancing toward the door - she'd never make it in time. So she bounced the baby lightly on her hip, letting him nuzzle with his drool-damp bear into her shoulder. Her voice was calm. Flat. Lethal. "You want a working prototype? You leave my team out of it. They go home. Now."

The man watched her with unreadable intensity as she held the baby to her chest. The baby was small and worryingly still in her arms, his body hot and slightly damp with the beginning signs of a fever. Or stress. Or both. He hadn't cried yet but he was whimpering softly into her ear.

"Fine." The man finally agreed and Christina exhaled for the first time in what felt like several minutes. "Send them home. But if you fail, I will find them and kill them all."

She nodded, moving to her computer immediately to begin evacuation protocols.

Christina had never considered herself particularly maternal - she'd chosen science and her career over relationships or a family, after all. Yet, holding this tiny, fragile being, she felt a sharp and unfamiliar surge of protectiveness. As she keyed in the necessary commands, her free hand rested softly on the infant's back, soothing him with gentle, circular motions.

"Let me at least feed and change him," she said, tone even, barely masking the steel beneath it. "He's already ill. If he gets sicker, you're only going to slow yourself down. Besides, whatever your plans for him, you'll need diapers and formula regardless."

The Reverse Flash's blurred form flickered with irritation. "Your attempts to stall are transparent, Doctor."

"I'm not stalling," she snapped, adjusting Eo gently in her arms. "Look at him. He's clearly ill and distressed, both of which will hinder your progress in whatever you've got planned."

Eo shifted in her arms, fingers gripping the Flash bear tightly. His fever was rising; she could feel the uncomfortable heat radiating from his tiny body. Tina brushed a soft curl from his damp forehead, acutely aware of the Reverse Flash's gaze locked on her every move.

"Fine," he growled finally. "Tell me what he needs."

She listed necessities sharply, clinical and direct. The moment she'd finished, the Reverse Flash vanished, leaving behind only a rush of wind and a crackle of red lightning. Tina stood motionless, listening to the lab settle into silence once more, broken only by Eo's soft, uneasy breaths.

With a sigh, she lowered herself into her desk chair, cradling the infant protectively against her chest. "He doesn't know anything about babies, does he?" She muttered, mostly to herself.

Eo watched her quietly, his intense blue eyes tracking her with unnerving stillness.

"It's okay, little one," she murmured gently. "I know you don't trust me yet but I promise I'm here to help."

She stroked Eo's flushed cheek, hoping to soothe the tension visibly etched into his tiny body. Slowly, gradually, he relaxed against her chest, his small form growing heavier with exhaustion. She shifted his position gently, supporting his neck better as she glanced at the clock, counting down the seconds of their fragile peace.

It took less than a minute for the Reverse Flash to return, appearing abruptly with a collection of infant supplies in hand.

"Here," he said curtly, dropping the items on the countertop. "Now, do your job."

She shot him a cold glare but didn't respond, moving briskly to the supplies instead. Tina sorted quickly through the haphazard selection, finding a clean diaper, wipes, fresh clothes, medication, and pre-mixed formula. She sighed in relief - at least he'd gotten that part right.

"Good enough," she muttered, ignoring the Reverse Flash entirely as she carried Eo to a sterile table, gently laying him down to begin her work.

The infant whimpered softly at first, his small body stiffening with anxiety as Tina swiftly changed his diaper and cleaned him up, movements deft and gentle.

"You've been through so much, haven't you?" She murmured softly, her voice pitched to reassure. "But I promise, you're safe with me. I'm not going to hurt you."

She dressed him efficiently in the fresh clothing - a soft yellow onesie, slightly oversized - and carefully measured the correct dose of infant medication to ease his fever before putting it in the bottle with the formula.

Eo accepted the bottle hesitantly at first, wary eyes never leaving Tina's face. Eventually, hunger overcame caution and he began drinking in earnest, the trembling tension in his small limbs gradually subsiding as warmth and nourishment filled him, tiny eyelids drooping.

Once Tina was certain he'd fully drifted off, she laid Eo gently in a makeshift cradle - the sofa in her office padded with towels and blankets from the staff room. His tiny fingers stayed stubbornly curled around the bear's leg, a small anchor in a world that had likely given him few comforts.

Finally turning, she faced the Reverse Flash directly, her tone ice-cold and professional once more. "He's resting now. I suggest you leave him undisturbed if you want the tachyon device done quickly and correctly."

His blurred figure stood unmoving, radiating irritation, but he gave her a terse nod. "Then get to work," he ordered sharply. "Remember, the clock is ticking, Doctor."

Chapter Text

Eo had been gone for 3 days. The Sesame Street theme song wouldn't stop playing in Barry's head. Instead of being the mild annoyance it usually was, it made Barry's heart ache and his stomach twist with anxiety. He gripped the underside of the desk for dear life, the nervous tension singing down his arms as he waited for any answer. When that didn't ease his nerves, he resumed pacing behind the desk where Cisco, Caitlin, and Dr. Wells were working.

"Anything?" Barry asked, unable to keep silent any longer.

"Still nothing," Cisco replied, not even looking up. "Same as five minutes ago. And five minutes before that. And the six times before that."

Barry winced. "I know, I'm sorry, I just-"

"We will find him, Barry," Dr. Wells assured him.

Barry nodded, rubbing his hands together anxiously.

"Maybe I'll just go see what Hartley's working on," he said, zipping out of the Cortex in a flash of lightning before anyone could suggest otherwise.

"Hey. Anything?" He repeated.

Hartley didn't look up. "I'm not going to reach a result faster with you hovering, Flash."

Barry approached the workbench, furrowing his brow. "Well, maybe I can help you."

"Doubtful," Hartley said curtly, pushing Barry back with an elbow to the stomach.

"What is this anyway?"

The pieces Barry could see didn't look like much of anything. Wires. Microprocessors. Ceramic housing components.

Hartley sighed in exasperation, leaning back to glare at Barry, crossing his arms and legs and tilting his head.

"If you must know, I'm modifying Cisco's power-dampening cuffs to use against the Reverse Flash."

Barry furrowed his brow. "Why? I mean, they already work on speedsters, they worked on me just fine."

Hartley rolled his eyes and returned to his work. "If you're not going to be useful then go elsewhere."

When he returned to the Cortex, Cisco and Dr. Wells were exactly as they had been but Caitlin was on her phone.

"Everything okay?" Barry asked.

"Yeah," Caitlin said without looking up. "Just a friend, Eliza. She wanted to grab a coffee since she's off work, said there was a total system outage at Mercury Labs this morning."

Cisco suddenly straightened.

"Oh frak me," Cisco said, rushing to the nearest computer and tucking his hair behind his ears so he could work.

Barry rounded the desk to join him at a barely normal speed. "What? What is it?"

"I can't believe I forgot- I put a tracker in Beary!"

Barry blinked, gesturing to himself. "You...put a tracker in me?"

Cisco looked up with a frown. "What? No, not you Barry, Beary! Eo's bear. You know, the one that goes missing like twice a day and brings chaos every time?" He resumed typing. "I put a tracker in the left foot so we could find it easier and...Yahtzee!"

A map loaded, slowly zooming in on the familiar grid of Central City. A red blinking dot popped up, pulsing gently like a heartbeat. Eo. Barry's heart leapt.

"Where is that? Is that-"

"Mercury Labs." Caitlin finished for Barry, glancing down at her cell phone.

"Barry, we need a plan, don't just-" Dr. Wells began but Barry had already grabbed his suit and run out the door.

Chapter Text

Barry arrived in Mercury Labs trailed closely by a sonic boom. Papers scattered to the four corners of the room as he skidded to a stop, placing a hand against his comms.

"Guys, where do I go?" He asked, glancing left to right at the seemingly hundreds of rooms just on the first floor alone.

"Just give me a second," Cisco's voice rattled over the speaker. "There's a frak-ton of interference-"

"You need to isolate the frequency," Hartley's voice drawled in his ear.

"'You need to isolate the frequency'," Cisco mimicked sounding annoyed. "What does it look like I'm doing, dude?"

"Guys!" Barry said, exasperated.

"Barry, listen to me," Dr. Wells interrupted before Cisco and Hartley could continue their bickering. "The signal is coming from four floors down. To your left."

Barry barely waited for Dr. Wells to finish. In an instant, he was racing down the stairwell, lightning licking at the walls as he blurred past level after level.

"That stairwell doesn't lead to the basement," Hartley said just as Barry reached the last door...which led him out of the building. Barry let out a frustrated sound before returning to the building.

"How did you know that? Plan on destroying Mercury Labs too?" Cisco sounded as annoyed as Barry felt.

"I worked there, you idiot," Hartley countered.

"Past tense? Guess Dr. McGee didn't want to put up with your shit, either," Cisco shot back. Barry almost turned his comms off.

"Behave, both of you," Wells snapped again, sharper this time. "Barry, use the North stairwell. Then straight through corridor B. The lab's at the end."

Barry burst through the doors, heart hammering as he took in the sight before him in milliseconds. Dr. Tina McGee stood frozen, eyes wide with shock and horror as the Man in Yellow's vibrating hand lowered towards her chest.

Barry didn't hesitate. In less than a blink, he tackled the Reverse Flash, throwing him across the room with a surge of desperate fury. Tina gasped, stumbling back and clutching the counter behind her as Barry stepped protectively in front of her, lightning crackling across his body like armor.

The Reverse Flash picked himself up with a low, distorted chuckle. "You're early, Flash."

Barry grit his teeth. "Give him back."

"That's not how this works." The Man in Yellow blurred forward, and Barry matched his speed instantly, the two speedsters clashing violently, a storm of red and gold lightning erupting across the room.

Joe and Eddie burst into the lab moments later, guns drawn, eyes wide at the chaotic scene before them. Eddie quickly holstered his weapon and sprinted to Tina's side, gently pulling her toward the exit. "We need to get you out of here," he said urgently. "Where's the baby?"

Tina's gaze snapped toward a small office across the lab. "In there. He's sleeping."

Joe nodded sharply, guiding Tina toward the exit before following Eddie, the sounds of battle raging behind them. Barry landed a swift blow to the Reverse Flash's chest, only for the villain to counter with brutal precision. Barry flew backwards, slamming into Joe, the two of them toppling a line of metal shelves like dominoes, shattering the equipment stored on them.

Barry gasped, rolling to his side. His ribs protested sharply as he struggled upright, eyes already darting around to relocate the Man in Yellow before turning his attention to Joe. "You okay?"

"I'm good," Joe groaned, pushing himself up with a grimace. "Where the hell did he go?"

Barry's heart sank as he caught his breath, scanning the room again. There was no sign of the Reverse Flash, nor the tachyon device. "He's gone."

Eddie stepped carefully into the room, eyes wide as he scanned the wreckage. The sleepy infant fussed in his arms, making quiet, grumpy sounds. Barry crossed the room in a few quick strides, momentarily forgetting he was the Flash and not Barry Allen, concerned sort-of-parent. Eddie gave him a curious look but said nothing and Joe joined them to take Eo before Barry could reach for him.

"There we go. Poppa's got you." Joe soothed as Eo nuzzled into his jacket collar.

They made it back to S.T.A.R. Labs with little ceremony, the silence feeling fragile as Joe and Barry entered the Cortex with Eo - Eddie had opted to stay behind to help Dr. McGee. Hartley stood beside Caitlin, arms folded, watching the monitors as though their return disinterested him. Dr. Wells turned his chair to face them and Cisco had barely opened his mouth when a sudden wail pierced the air. Barry jumped, all eyes now on the infant screaming in his arms - with the exception of Hartley who had clamped his hands over his ears and squeezed his eyes shut the moment the sound had left the baby's mouth.

Eo screamed again, full-bodied and raw. His face flushed red, mouth open wide, arms trembling with the effort of sound. It wasn't the quiet fussing they were used to. It was terrified, painful, angry cries, pouring out of him like floodwater through broken levees.

Cisco's eyes widened. "Is he...?"

Caitlin moved quickly toward them, hand already outstretched. "That's good," she said over the sound. "Let me see him."

Barry didn't hand him over. He couldn't.

"He's never cried before," he said softly, as if that explained the way his chest felt like it had been split open.

"I know," Caitlin said gently. "But this is what we wanted. He's not frozen anymore. He's reacting."

"To what?" Barry asked, hoarse.

"To everything," she said. "Shock. Fear. Maybe even relief. He finally feels secure."

Barry rocked Eo slowly, murmuring soothing words into the strawberry-blond curls damp with sweat. Eo only cried harder, clinging to the fabric of the suit with shaking fists.

Cisco stood, beelining for the hall. "I'll get a bottle."

The screaming continued but Barry didn't flinch this time. He just held on tighter.

"I've got you," he whispered, over and over. "I've got you, I've got you, I've got you."

And eventually, slowly, the screams turned to hiccups.

And the hiccups to silence once again.

Chapter Text

Barry didn't stop fussing over Eo until he finally nodded off, one pudgy hand loosely clutching the front of the suit. Caitlin hovered nearby, still on guard for any signs of injury or trauma, occasionally reaching out to run her fingers over the crown of Eo's head, assuring herself he was whole.

Cisco and Dr. Wells, on the other hand, were facing a sullen Hartley, who was leaning against the center console desk with his arms and legs crossed, staring them down.

"You made a deal, Harrison," Hartley said. "Now keep it. Either you tell them or I do."

No one else spoke. Barry looked up from nuzzling Eo's soft hair but didn't say anything.

Dr. Wells exhaled slowly and removed his glasses, wheeling forward a few feet, never quite looking in Hartley's direction. Hartley grit his teeth, the muscle in his jaw tensing in frustration.

"I have not been honest with you. With any of you," he began, massaging the spot between his brows. "The accelerator...Hartley warned me that there was indeed a chance that the accelerator could explode."

A moment of stunned confusion gave way to understanding. Barry's lips parted as though he might speak but no sound came out. Dr. Wells held up a hand, forestalling any protest. 

"His data did not show a hundred percent certainty, just that there was a risk, but it was a real risk. And yet I made the decision that the reward...that...everything we could learn and everything we could achieve, that all of that...simply outweighed that risk. I'm sorry." 

The silence turned heavy and slow. The way grief is slow. The way betrayal makes you still before it truly sinks in.

Caitlin was the first to respond. Her voice was cool. Not raised. Not furious. Just clear.

"The next time you choose to put our lives and the lives of the people that we love at risk, I'll expect a heads-up."

Barry didn't try to call after Caitlin when she stormed away. He watched her retreating back with worried eyes and cuddled Eo closer, the even tempo of his breath soothing the sting of betrayal somewhat. Eo was safe and that was what mattered. He met Cisco's eyes for a loaded moment and nodded toward the exit. Cisco half-jogged to come level with Caitlin which, unfortunately, left Barry standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Hartley.

"As satisfying as you hoped, Hartley?" Dr. Wells asked with a resigned sigh. 

Hartley hummed, his lips twitching up into a bitter smile. "Not remotely."

"After the explosion, when everyone else left you, Caitlin and Cisco stood by you." Barry adjusted his grip on Eo, snuggling him into the hollow of his throat. Even the soft snore he got in reply couldn't summon a smile. "Hartley might be an ass but he's an ass with a point. You owe them more than an apology."

"As though anything he does now could fix what he did," Hartley commented, rolling his eyes.

Barry aimed an unfriendly look in his direction. "Your vendetta here is over. The truth is out now. If you decide to play vigilante, I will stop you."

Hartley glared at the speedster over his glasses. "One truth is out now," he corrected. "If you want to settle for that, fine. I'm sure Harrison appreciates your naïveté."

"Hartley-" Dr. Wells started but Barry cut him off.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"That you're more of a moron than I thought if you think he's being honest with you about anything."

"Hartley, that's enough," Dr. Wells warned.

Hartley turned his attention to Dr. Wells with a scowl.

"Fine. I suppose even half-assed as it was, you did hold up your end of the deal. Give me my gauntlets back and I'll be on my way."

"So you can wreck another building?" Barry asked incredulously. "I don't think so."

"I'm sure my parents would be thrilled to know the Flash is personally invested in the minor property damage I inflicted on Rathaway Industries," Hartley drawled, glaring at Barry over his glasses.

"Someone could have gotten hurt-" Barry argued. Hartley interrupted.

"I was only using a fraction of my power. If I wanted to level the building, I could have. I'm not interested in ending lives." He paused and then amended, "Well, Harrison can drop dead for all I care but he's a special case."

"If you're really that set on showing up Dr. Wells, here's your chance. Prove him wrong. Prove you can use your intellect for more than smashing buildings. Help people. Help us."

"I don't have anything to prove," Hartley sneered. "And I'm not interested in being under Wells' thumb again, thank you."

"You helped him find Eo."

"I helped you find a baby in exchange for Harrison telling the truth for once. Not everyone wants to be a self-sacrificing hero, Allen. Some of us have a sense of self-preservation."

Barry shrugged. "Fine. Leave then but you're going without the gloves. I don't trust you with a weapon that powerful."

"My god, you're a complete fucking idiot, aren't you?" Hartley glanced sideways at Wells, curling his lip. "This is who you replaced me with?" 

"I didn't replace anyone, Hartley," Dr. Wells said patiently.

"Didn't you?" Hartley scoffed, giving Dr. Wells a look that Barry couldn't quite read. "Amore et melle et felle es fecundissimus."

"Non ita est," Dr. Wells said, spreading his arms as though in surrender. "You were always my guy."

"Fuck you." Hartley snarled.

Wells' lips twitched for a fraction, as though considering a smile. Barry watched in bemusement as a flush crept up Hartley's neck.

"Hartley, you have two options. You can leave without your gauntlets, as Barry said, and you'll never hear from me again if that's what you want. On the other hand, you can stay here, work with Barry under supervision, prove you aren't a threat, and potentially earn those gauntlets back." Dr. Wells replaced his glasses, leaning on the arm of his wheelchair as though he wasn't speaking to someone who actively wanted him dead. "The choice is yours."

"Under his supervision?" Hartley echoed, looking particularly offended. 

"You said you didn't want to work for me, so I'm taking a step back..." His lips twisted into a rueful smile. "So to speak. You don't think I've paid for what I've done and you're right. But Barry is right, too. Prove me wrong. Prove that the Flash isn't the only good thing to come out of my biggest failing."

Barry could practically see the gears turning in Hartley's head as he chewed the inside of his cheek, glaring at Dr. Wells as though he could murder him through that alone.

"Fine. For now. Hoc consilium paenitebit."

"Welcome aboard," Barry said, offering Hartley a hand to shake.

Hartley gave the hand a last, withering look before scoffing and sweeping out of the room. Barry sighed and used it to cup the back of Eo's head instead, relishing the feeling of the peach fuzz hair tickling his palm as Eo nuzzled further into his shoulder. 

"Well...at least he's helping."

Dr. Wells nodded. "He is. But don't trust him too quickly. I know I haven't proven myself to be particularly trustworthy, and I hope to earn that trust back eventually, but Hartley has never done anything without his own agenda attached. Be wary."

"I'll keep that in mind."