In A Blink ? Barry Allen/The Flash

28.

"I knew that guy was a creep," Natalie joked while shaking her head. Barry silently agreed, his face blank but eyes full of so much pain. "Barry, I know today's been.. shitty, but you can't have little outbursts at S.T.A.R. Labs like this morning. It's too dangerous since we don't know who Wells really is or what part he plays in your mom's murder," Natalie said as she set down her food and focused solely on Barry. "You might be upset, but you have to save your anger. Save it, pack it away, and when we find out who he really is, then you use that to power you. We have to patient, like Joe said."

Barry stared into her eyes and nodded before leaning in for a soft kiss. Pulling away, Barry rested his forehead on Natalie's, "Thank you for keeping my feet on the ground. And about your dad-"

"No, we focus on him later. First, we focus on this Trickster. Then, we figure out Wells. My dad, he's last."

He hesitantly nodded his head but promised himself that he would make Natalie's safety one of his top priorities. "I have to meet the team at S.T.A.R. Labs, want a lift if you want to go?" Barry asked as he stood up and pulled on his coat. Natalie smiled to herself, "No, I think I'll walk. I need the fresh air anyways after today." Barry smiled and pulled her up, "C'mon, I'll walk you outside."

The two walked down the sidewalk, hand in hand in the night until they came to a fairly isolated area. "I'll see you soon, okay?" Barry said as he leaned down and kissed Natalie on the forehead. Natalie nodded, "Remember to try and stay calm!" she called out as he started to walk backwards, nodding before he raced off and leaving Natalie in a gust of wind. Fixing her hair and adjusting her bomber jacket, she started walking again. As she kicked at the loose gravel on the sidewalk, Natalie couldn't stop comparing their day to a Hat Trick. Three hits against them: the Trickster, Wells, and her dad.

When she eventually got to S.T.A.R. Labs, she saw Caitlin, Cisco, and Dr. Wells crowded around the computers in a panicked state. "Cait, what's going on? Where's Barry?" Natalie asked as stood behind her cousin. Not lifting her eyes off of the computer in front of her, Caitlin answered her cousin's question, "The copycat, he posted a video saying he had a bomb planted somewhere in the city. Barry's trying to find it."

Dr. Wells shook his head and looked at Natalie, "Can you try getting through to him? He's not listening to me. All of this, it's a trick. There's some bigger plan here. The bomb isn't where-"

"I found it." Barry's voice rang through the intercom, interrupting Dr. Wells plea. The camera on the emblem of Barry's suit displayed the image of the bomb crate the copycat featured in the video. Before Natalie could reach past Dr. Wells to get to the intercom button, Barry flipped open the lid of the crate making everyone at S.T.A.R. Labs flinch. The feed showed nothing in the crate when Barry looked inside and on the inside of the lid a message saying we've been tricked. "Uh oh", Cisco said when he saw another alarm go off and a flashing red light on the city map.

"Uh oh? What uh oh?" Natalie asked as she switched her attention to Cisco. "There's an explosion at Iron Heights," Cisco announced. Natalie looked at Dr. Wells sadly for more reasons than one, "You were right. This was all a diversion. The prison, it was the real target."

Dr. Wells cocked his head as they all sighed in disappointment, "James Jesse. He tricked us all." While the team at S.T.A.R. Labs heard Barry inform Joe it was a trick, Cisco hacked into the security footage at Iron Heights. Cueing up the video on the big screen, they all saw the explosion and the copycat helping James Jesse escape his cell. Clicking through the different cameras, Cisco tried looking for any other relevant video.

"Wait Cisco, go back one camera," Natalie demanded as she leaned against the desk. On the video, she saw four figures emerging from the dust of the blast, two of those had guns to their backs. "They took hostages," Dr. Wells voiced as he watched the video. "Mine and Barry' dads," Natalie muttered as Caitlin grabbed her hand.