Nightingale | Barry Allen x OC

"Zoom wants Doctor Light to send him your new emblem," Caitlin repeated, her voice skeptical as she held a mug of coffee.

"Yes, we need it as bait," Barry nodded, his eyes focused. "If we can get Doctor Light to take my emblem and throw it through the breach, Zoom will come to collect my body, and we can trap him."

Cisco crossed his arms, frowning. "You know it took a lot of work to make that emblem, right?"

Caitlin raised an eyebrow, her skepticism clear. "This is the woman who was willing to kill Linda to escape Zoom, but now she's willing to help us catch him?"

"She knows it's the only way," Barry exhaled, frustration threading through his words.

"Before I left Earth-2, I worked on a serum to dampen Zoom's speed," Harry said, stepping forward. "All we need now is for Ramon to develop a weapon to deliver it."

Caitlin scoffed. "Oh, great. That could be this year's cold gun. Maybe some criminal can get their hands on it, and then we'll have Sergeant Slow."

"I would never let that happen," Cisco shot back, shaking his head. "Sergeant Slow is a terrible name."

"Are we forgetting how much more powerful Zoom is than Barry?" Caitlin pushed, her concern mounting. "I mean, if Barry can catch bullets, what's to say Zoom can't catch whatever you shoot at him?"

"Hit him when he least expects it," Emma interjected, cutting through the tension.

"The element of surprise," Harry said, pointing at Emma. "All we need to do is rig a projectile to fire as Zoom crosses into the breach. He won't be able to stop what he can't see coming."

Caitlin exhaled loudly. "Joe, voice of reason here?"

"We need a plan," Joe said with a casual shrug. "That's as good as any—as long as it works."

"Don't underestimate me, Detective," Harry replied, then turned, walking back to his workstation.

Barry's phone vibrated, cutting through the moment. "Oh, Patty needs us back at the station," Barry said, holding up his phone. "I'll meet you there."

Joe motioned for the group to follow him out into the hallway.

"Are you just forgetting everything Jay told us and supporting Wells now?" Caitlin asked, her voice sharp as she, Cisco, and Emma followed Joe.

"Oh, no, I don't trust Wells at all," Joe replied quickly. "I just want to see what he's up to. I figure if we give him enough rope, he'll hang himself."

"Yeah, I'm with you," Cisco added, crossing his arms. "I think he's hiding something."

"Well, maybe it's not as bad as we think?" Emma said quietly, looking down for a moment. "Maybe Zoom did something to him—"

Joe cut her off, voice firm. "Look, my hunch after years of interrogating suspects is that something's not right with this guy." He turned to Cisco. "Barry told me about this thing you can do?"

Emma smiled, her excitement barely contained. "Vibing—"

"Oh, God, just relax," Cisco said, putting a hand on Emma's arm to calm her down.

Joe raised an eyebrow. "Can you do it with Wells?"

Cisco nodded. "I can try."

***

Emma walked into the West household with Barry, both of them shedding their jackets. She tossed hers casually onto the couch.

"What smells so good?" Emma asked, glancing around the room.