142

I walked into the pipeline, "You took our daughter back to the future?"

"I didn't have any other choice." Barry's voice was low, as he faced me.

"Are you suddenly married to yourself now?" The attitude in me was sparking, "In a marriage, Barry- there's two parts to everything. Two people- two opinions- one understanding. If you weren't going go by that, maybe you should've thought about it before you got hitched."

Barry sighs, "I really- had no other choice."

"Did you just not comprehend what I just said?" I question, gesturing with my hands, "It's we, Barry. Not I. She's our daughter, not just yours."

Barry runs a hand through his hair, "I know that."

"But you left her there anyway?" I ask, "Without consulting with me first?"

"I can't trust her, Zee!" Barry blurts out in defeat, "That puts all of us in danger!"

"And you think that gives you any right to make decisions on my behalf too?" I cross my arms, "Did you not even think once to ask me what I think?"

Barry raises his voice in frustration, tears in his eyes, "I didn't think I had to!"

I slightly flinch, but I don't move from where I stood.

My voice fell quiet, "Barry- I don't always agree with what you think. I know what we just found out hits you the hardest- but- I just- I wanted you to consult with me first. Talk to me about it instead of going on and making your own decisions based on your emotions."

"I'm right this time!" Barry raises his voice once more, then turns away from me.

"Barry-" I sigh, "I- I'm not going to hold any past mistakes against you- but- this time- this is a shared matter- she's our daughter, Barry. You just went ahead and-"

"You think I wanted to do this?" Barry faces me once more, "That- this was easy?"

"I didn't say that." I meet his eyes.

Barry exclaims, "Seeing Nora looking at me, asking for forgiveness knowing it might be the last time I ever see her?"

"What about the last time that I get to see her, Barry?" This made me angry, a scoff leaving my lips, "I didn't even get a chance to say good-bye."

"Damn it, Zee, she lied to us for months!" Barry shouted right in my face, as I unintentionally flinched once more, this time taking a step back.

"Barry-" I tried to keep my voice calm, as it was shaky, "There was no bad intention. She explained why-"

"That she was working with Thawne?" Barry screamed in my face once more, the anger getting the best of him.

I stepped up, grabbing his face, the tears escaping my eyes, my voice breaking, "I know- I know how much this hurts you- I completely understand, okay-"

Barry pulls away from my touch, "Maybe if he killed your mother in front of you, you'd feel differently."

My hands drop, a quiet sob leaving my lips, "I wouldn't be happy if the roles were reversed and she was working with James out of all people- I just- I would've talked to you before taking action-"

Barry shook his head, crossing his arms, looking away, tears slipping his eyes.

"She just wanted to meet you, Barry." I stared at him, "The father that she never knew and there was one person who could teach her how to do that. Is it really so hard to understand why she would go to him?"

"Doesn't matter if I understand it, Zee." Barry's voice broke, "Thawne is manipulating her."

"He's on death row, Barry." I ran a hand through my hair, "How is he manipulating her? And you know what- even if he was- where is Nora's fault in this? She would be the victim in this case."

Barry shook his head, looking up at me, "You know, if this were anybody else, you'd back me."

I scoff, looking away.

"But- because it's Nora, because it's our daughter, the person who finally stopped hating you, you refuse to see how dangerous this is." Barry decided to call me out for something that I didn't even feel to back my argument, "I mean, you talk about making decisions based on emotion. Look in the mirror."

I looked at him, tears slipping my eyes. I sob, turning, walking away from Barry Allen.

-

"Hey, where is Cecile and Cisco?" Barry walks into the cortex, as I stood next to Ralph, my arms crossed.

"Cecile's relieving the nanny." Joe told him.

"And Cisco went to talk to Breacher about how to track Cicada II." Caitlin answered.

"Okay-" Barry sighed, as I felt his stare on me, but I didn't dare look up.

Ralph was already sensing something wrong, "What's going on, guys?"

Barry ran a hand through his hair, "We're not really seeing eye to eye right now."

Joe looks between us, "Because?"

"Because he took Nora home-" I looked at Joe and Ralph, "-for good."

"Nora's gone?" Joe's eyes are wide.

Caitlin goes quiet, "Just like that?"

"Well, only thing to do, really, because Nora can't be trusted." Sherloque spoke up, looking between us.

"Okay-" I turn, staring to make my way over to him, Ralph grabbing my arm and stopping me, "Eobard is the one that can't be trusted, Nora is a completely different story-"

"Unless you wanna know what the fiery pits of hell feels like-" Ralph stops me, glances towards me, then at Sherloque, "I'd stop."

"I can deduce from your faces that you're upset, but you understand the truth need to be exposed." Sherloque looks between us all.

"Yes, we understand that." Ralph stares at him, "What you don't understand is that this is a family. You didn't include anyone in this."

"Oh, look." Sherloque clears his throat, "Baby Giraffe-"

"Sherloque, you've done enough." Barry stops him and sits in my chair, "All right?"

"Oh, I have not done enough." Sherloque scoffs, "We still have another Cicada to catch."

Joe stops him, "Man, he says you've done enough."

"Well, perhaps I have." Sherloque looks down.

"Sherloque-" I sigh, "We all just need some time- this has nothing to do with you. Thank you- for telling us."

Sherloque simply nods, leaving the room, as I knew that it didn't change his mood.

I huff, putting my hand on my forehead.

I drop my hand, looking at Joe, "Could I stay with you tonight? If not- I'll just- figure something out."

Joe glances at Barry, then nods slow, "Sure thing, Hun."

I smile at him, but barely.

Joe's phone rings, "I got to take this."

"Look since Cisco didn't take me with him, I'm gonna round up the Cicada II files." Ralph told us when Joe steps aside, "Cecile and I are going to go over them tomorrow, see if anything makes my nose wiggle."