In A Blink ? Barry Allen/The Flash

23.

The pain and concern traveled through Barry's body in waves, picturing Iris' face when she heard Joe was taken, seeing Singh's crumpled body, the tears falling down Natalie's face when they said goodbye, the wave..

It was all too much, and having Dr. Wells tell him everything had to happen the same way tore him apart. He sat down on the treadmill, burying his face in his hands and clenching his eyes shut as he tried to keep from crying. Knowing everything that was going to happen, what Dr. Wells said must happen, was too much to handle.

"Everything you did before, every word you uttered, every step you took, you're going to do again. And you're not going to tell anyone this happened," Dr. Wells ordered as he wheeled closer to Barry. After you few moments and a nodding of the head from Barry, Dr. Wells left him alone in the room, leaving for another part of the building.

Reluctantly taking Dr. Wells words to mind, Barry headed to the police station as he had done the day before. His hands shaking a bit as he headed through the lobby, he froze when he saw Eddie, Joe, and Singh talking in the Captain's office. A wave of dread spread through him when he saw Singh but also one of fear. He had to do everything the same way and his talk with Dr. Wells put him behind on time. He was supposed to be in that office with them.

"Barry? Barry, are you okay?"

Barry tore his gaze from the office and met Natalie's eyes as she got up from the chair and walked over to him. "Yeah, yeah I'm fine," Barry muttered and nodded his head a bit too much.

Natalie squinted her eyes and stared at him a bit before turning her head back to the office, standing along side Barry as they waited for Joe and Eddie to walk out. He closed his eyes, picturing the lightening fling Singh's body backwards and into the desk, remembering the doctor informing them he may never walk again, the pain on Singh's fiancé's face. He shuttered at the memories and opened his eyes just as Joe and Eddie exited the office.

Joe walked up to the two of them as Eddie parted. "Hey, how did you figure everything out like that at the morgue?" Joe asked in a hushed voice.

Barry avoided his and Natalie's eyes and stared ahead, "Lucky guesses I guess.."

"Look I'm telling you, I'm gonna get Mardon. Even if it kills me, "Joe warned as he looked at all of the people around him, the concerns of their safety reflecting in his eye.

Barry shuttered, his eyes closing as the memory of what Mark Mardon was capable of passed through his mind, "Joe um, I gotta run an errand. I'll see you later, alright?" He gave Joe a smile and quickly kissed Natalie goodbye on the cheek before jogging to the elevator.

Joe and Natalie stood in the same spot, eyes trailing after Barry's wake. "You notice he's acting strange too, right?" Joe asked as he final turned towards Natalie.

"Yeah but I figure it's because he's just worried about you, Joe," Natalie said with a sigh. "I'll see you later. There's some stuff upstairs I still have to finish." Joe nodded as she left him and headed up the stairs to Barry's lab.

Barry ran through the streets, determination flooding his veins. He remembered Mardon's hideout Eddie had mentioned he and Joe were searching when he had previously lived this day and headed there. Stopping in the doorway and taking heavy breaths, Mardon leapt up from the bed as the gust of wind blew everything around the cramped room.

Mark laughed in disbelief, "I didn't think there was anyone else like me." Barry smirked to himself, knowing all of the lives he was going to save and sped forward, grabbing Mardon before he could do anything and racing him over to S.T.A.R. Labs, informing the team on the way to have a cage ready in the pipeline for an incoming guest.