Running Out of Time {Barry Allen/The Flash}

'What do you want, Snart?" Cisco asks, tied to a table, right next to me.

"Guns. Heat and cold, to be precise." Snart replies.

"There's no way I am making weapons for you. Never again." Cisco snaps.

"Mick." Leonard says. I've never hated Snart. I'm pretty sure I'm the only one on the team who doesn't want to kill him, but right now I want to take a knife and stab it through his chest... Was that to vicious?

"I know I would do everything in my power to protect my family. The question is, will you?" Snart asks as Mick brings Cisco's brother out.

"Dante." Cisco says, as his brother is moved over to our table. "Dante, just keep cool, okay? - Let me do my thing."

"Oh, really? And what? You're gonna save us with your mechanical engineering skills?" His brother sasses. Wow, not necessary.

"Umm, Cisco it probably the smartest person at this table right now." I say.

"And who are you?" He asks.

"Central City's savior, and right now... I may just be yours." I say and Cisco cuts in.

"Right now, my skills are the only things keeping us alive, so if I were you, I would shut up."

"You shut up!" Dante, his brother yells back.

***

"You gonna let us go now?" Cisco asks, finished with making his gun.

"Why did you even take me?" I ask.

"Because... We know that you are special to Cisco. We also know that you know who The Flash is." Snart replies to me before looking back to Cisco.

"You know, I took the first gun you made me apart dozens of times. Learned how it ticked. What went where. Thought you could tamper with the firing pin without me noticing. Nice try, kid." Leo announces calmly.

***

"You answer one question for me, I'll let you, your brother and Katheryn walk. If you don't, well... We'll just see what happens."

"What's the question?" I ask in place for Cisco.

"The Flash. The Time Turner. Who is he? Who is she?" Snart questions. Cisco glances at myself before looking away.

"I swear they always wear a mask." Cisco says before they start hurting Cisco's brother.  Cisco's brother, Dante yells out in pain, and I jump forward in my seat. Anger consumes me as I struggle in my seat. Why does he care who the Time Turner, or The Flash is?

"This is first degree frost bite. Your brother could recover with proper treatment. If not, all his tendons, blood vessels, and nerves will freeze. His fingers will need to be amputated. No more concertos for the Ramon family holidays. Now tell me, who is The Flash? Who is the Time Turner.There's nothing on the satellite thermography." Leo Snart asks and Cisco gives up.

"I'm the Time Turner." I spit out.

***

"We'll get Katheryn and Cisco back." I hear as I walk into STAR Labs with Cisco.

"We're back." Cisco mumbles. I hear multiple questions like: "Are you okay," or "How did you escape?"

"We didn't." I say, looking away from them, ashamed.

"Snart just let you go? Why?" I hear and I spin around.

"He didn't! Okay? He tortured Cisco's brother!" I yell.

"And he said he was gonna kill him if I didn't if I didn't tell him." Cisco says.

"No, no... If we didn't tell him." I restate for Cisco.

"Tell him what?" I hear asked.

"Who The Flash and the Time Turner really are." I answer for Cisco, seeing the tears in his eyes.

"I, honestly, man, they they could've killed me. But they were gonna kill my brother. I couldn't let him do that." Cisco says.

"Yeah, they were going to kill his brother, and I wouldn't let that happen. I gave up my identity to save his brother, but I also gave up yours." I mumble, choking on my air. I close my eyes, feeling the tears falling.

"Hey." Barry says to Cisco, but then looks over to me. He notices my crying.

"I'm sorry, Barry." Cisco apologises.

"No."

"I'm so sorry." I cry out, running up to Barry.

"I put you in that position. I'm the one who's sorry." He says back to me as he instantly wraps his arms around me.

"Where are you going?" Barry asks, backing away from me to see Cisco walking away.

" I don't deserve to be here." Cisco replies. "I won't be the one to put you in jeopardy. Not again. Never."

***

"Barry, can we talk?" I ask Barry. It's just him and I who are standing in the room of STAR Labs.

"Sure." He replies, "What's up?" He smiles.

"It's about the other day... I'm just going to say it, Barry. It's been over five years since someone said they loved me." I mumble.

"Then I should have said it sooner." Barry says, and I slow time. I step forward, catching him off guard. Time resumes normally as I lean up and kiss him.

His pink lips pucker in a delayed reaction since he wasn't expecting it. I reach my hands up, and grab his shirt, pulling him closer. He reaches out for me, grabbing my waist. I smile into the kiss.

"Yeah, you should have." I say as we pull apart, "Go get 'em."

---

A/N: I know this happens before Barry starts looking into Wells as the Reverse-Flash but I like to mix things up a bit to help with the story plot. Anyways, hope you enjoyed! Also, 3oth chapter, and I also hit 3k! Thank you!

~April