Chapter 2: First Impressions

10+ chapters ahead on Patréon.com/Oldherd.

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The new Barry decided to tread carefully with the choices he made in this timeline. The consequences of his actions could be severe, as he had seen in Season 5 when Team Flash destroyed Cicada's dagger, inadvertently freeing Eobard Thawne from prison in 2049. This mistake not only erased Nora West-Allen from existence but also accelerated the timeline of the Crisis on Infinite Earths by trying to prevent her father's disappearance in the impending Crisis.

Nora West-Allen's good intentions had led her to make a fatal error. Despite learning about Eobard's horrific deeds, she continued to work with him, a decision that was always destined to end badly. Eobard Thawne, like many villains, had ulterior motives that were far from altruistic.

Barry's internal clock ticked to 7:39 AM, and memories of his first case as a CSI, the Judy Gimlin case, came flooding back. He mused, "Well, it's not every day you get to become your very own superhero."

Dressed in formal wear and feeling refreshed after a quick shower, Barry made his way downstairs. The smell of bacon and eggs greeted him from the kitchen, where Joe West was busy at the stove. Joe looked just like his TV counterpart, the father figure who had provided Barry with the guidance he needed after his mother's death and his father's imprisonment.

"Breakfast will be ready in a minute, Iris," Joe called out, not looking up. "And can you get Barry up before he oversleeps again?"

Barry smiled at the mix-up. "I'm sorry to break it to you, Joe, but I'm Barry, not Iris."

Joe turned in surprise. "Oh, sorry Barry. I didn't expect you to be up so early."

"Early? It's only 8:15. But compared to my usual late starts, I guess this counts as early," Barry quipped, grinning.

Joe chuckled. "Yeah, I guess it does."

Barry's excitement was palpable. "Today's my first day as Junior CSI. I wouldn't miss it for the world."

Joe plated the bacon and eggs and brought them over. "Good way to make a first impression, unlike your interview with Captain Singh."

Barry remembered arriving just in time for his interview with Captain Singh. "What? I didn't arrive late," he defended, taking a seat.

"You didn't arrive late, but you did show up at the last second," Joe teased, placing the plate in front of Barry.

"Don't worry," Barry assured him. "From now on, I promise to wake up on time."

"Good," Joe said with a smile. "I'm going to go wake up Iris. Make sure to leave some food for the rest of us."

"No promises," Barry teased back with a smirk.

By the time Iris emerged from her room, Barry had finished his breakfast.

"I thought Dad was joking when he said you were up," Iris remarked.

Barry stretched and smiled. "Well, you can see I'm wide awake."

Iris's mood dampened. "You're lucky you get to choose your career."

Barry remembered Iris's frustration with Joe forbidding her from becoming a cop. When she pursued it anyway, Joe had given her the cold shoulder for weeks.

"Iris, Joe only wants to protect you," Barry reasoned.

"Yeah, well, I'm a grown woman. I don't need his protection," Iris retorted bitterly.

Barry understood Joe's intentions but recognized the flaw in his approach. His attempts to protect his children often had the opposite effect.

"Iris, you don't have to be a policewoman to make a difference," Barry suggested. "There are many ways to impact the world."

"Like what?" Iris asked skeptically. "I hope you're not suggesting I become a forensic scientist like you. You know I'm not great at science."

Barry chuckled. "No, I was thinking you might consider becoming a reporter."

Iris raised an eyebrow. "A reporter?"

"Yes," Barry affirmed. "You could be one of the few who actually cares about the truth and not just the juicy details."

Iris pondered. "There are plenty of reporters who care more about the story than the truth."

"Exactly!" Barry agreed. "The world needs more reporters who seek the truth. You could help so many people."

"Being a reporter might actually be a little fun," Iris admitted.

"Thank you, Barry," Iris said, giving him an unexpected hug, which Barry accepted with a bit of awkwardness.

"No problem, Iris," Barry replied, patting her on the back. "That's what family is for."

As Iris released him from the embrace, Joe reminded her, "Just make sure to get both sides of the story. There's a difference between truthful writing and biased writing."

"That's good advice," Joe added. "You should take those words to heart, Iris."

Iris smiled. "Thanks to Barry, I now have an idea of what I want to do."

Joe gave Iris a quick hug and kiss before they left.

"Did you remember your CSI kit?" Joe asked, starting the car.

"Yes, it's in the backseat," Barry confirmed.

"Can you tell me about the case we're working on?" Barry asked, curious.

"Didn't you read the file?" Joe glanced at him before focusing on the road.

"Only a little. Can you refresh my memory?" Barry asked.

"It's the Judy Gimlin case. Homicide, with the prime suspect being her husband, Reagan Gimlin. Detective Ralph Dibny will have more details when we arrive," Joe explained.

As they drove in silence, Barry's mind was preoccupied with thoughts of his future powers and whether they would align more with the comic book version of the Flash or the TV show version. He hoped for the comic book version, where the Flash could move faster than light, unlike the TV show's portrayal.

Their car pulled up to a house marked with yellow police tape, surrounded by officers. The lawn was meticulously trimmed, indicating an eco-friendly approach to landscaping.

Barry's analytical CSI instincts kicked in even before he stepped inside.

"Hello, rookie. I'm Detective Ralph Dibny. I take it you're our new junior CSI?" Ralph greeted from behind the tape.

Seeing the Elongated Man in person, wearing his police uniform, was odd but familiar. It was a little disappointing to see no new differences in this universe.

"Nice to meet you," Barry said, extending his hand. "I'm Barry Allen."

"Detective Ralph Dibny," Ralph shook his hand. "We've got a long way to go before we're on a first-name basis, so for now, you're just a rookie, rookie."

"That's fine," Barry replied, seeing no point in arguing. "So, should I call you Sir or Detective Dibny?"

"Detective Dibny will be fine. 'Sir' makes me feel old," Ralph smirked.

"Detective Ralph," Joe spoke up, drawing Ralph's attention. "Could you explain what happened here?"

"Sure, just follow me," Ralph said, signaling them to come inside.