Chapter 19: A Bolt From the Blue.

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"Is he waking up?" A distant voice asked.

Everything was so blurry, and my head felt heavy. My vision slowly cleared, revealing my sister, Iris, and a doctor standing at my bedside. The doctor looked like he was in his forties, clean-shaven, with a calm expression on his face.

"Where am I?" I croaked, my throat dry.

"You're in Central City Hospital. You were struck by lightning," the doctor explained.

I blinked, the memory hitting me in pieces. "Yeah... I remember."

It wasn't the lightning that put me here—it was pushing my limits, trying to save as many people as I could.

"You're incredibly lucky to be alive, let alone with just minor injuries," the doctor, whose badge read **Dr. Campbell**, remarked with a slight smile.

I groaned, feeling soreness all over. My speed healing should've kicked in by now, right?

"So, what's the damage, Doc?" I asked.

"Nothing major, just some fatigue and bruising. Overall, you're fine," Dr. Campbell informed me.

"How long have I been out?" I asked, expecting a few hours at most.

"You've been asleep for six months," a familiar voice teased from the doorway.

I turned to see Ralph standing there with Joe right behind him.

I snorted. "Nice try, Ralph."

"Dang it, you always ruin my fun!" Ralph pouted, leaning against the door.

"I can't help it. I'm just that good," I quipped, trying to lighten the mood, but Iris wasn't amused.

"Ralph, this isn't funny. Barry could've been killed!" Iris snapped, worry evident in her voice.

"Hey, I'm fine," I assured her, sitting up despite the aching in my shoulders. "Just a bit sore, but alive."

"You were struck by lightning, Barry! How are you even...?"

"Alive? Just lucky, I guess," I replied, giving a half-hearted smile.

Iris narrowed her eyes. She wasn't buying the casual explanation, but she let it slide for now.

"But seriously, how long was I out?" I asked again, already knowing it had only been a few hours.

"Exactly 1 hour, 58 minutes, and 8 seconds," said a voice that sent chills down my spine.

Eobard Thawne, in the guise of Dr. Harrison Wells, wheeled himself into the room. My heart raced as he approached, but I managed to keep my face neutral.

"Dr. Wells, what a pleasant surprise," I said, struggling to sound normal, though terror gripped me. Thawne—the Reverse-Flash—was right here, feet away.

Harrison smiled, wheeling closer. "Pleasant isn't the word I'd use."

"Oh? And why's that?" I asked, doing my best to play dumb.

Before Wells could answer, Joe cut in. "His Particle Accelerator is the reason you're in this hospital, Barry."

"Joe, it's not his fault. He didn't ask for the thing to explode," I said, defending him. Of course, I knew the truth—that the explosion was exactly what he had wanted. But I needed to play this carefully, get him to trust me.

Wells raised his hand. "Detective West is right, Mr. Allen. I'm the reason you're lying here now."

"It was an accident, Dr. Wells," I replied, trying to sound reassuring.

"Accident or not, people died. Nine people, to be exact," Joe countered, glaring at Wells.

"I'm afraid Detective West is correct," Wells added, his voice filled with solemn regret.

Trying to steer the conversation away from the heavy topic, I asked, "So, why are you here, Dr. Wells?"

Joe answered for him. "Dr. Wells was offering his help to save your life."

Relief washed over me. I woke up just in time—before Wells could whisk me away to STAR Labs, where things could've taken a much darker turn.

"Well, it looks like I won't be needing that now," I said, trying to lighten the mood. "Though it sounds like Wally might."

At the mention of Wally, Joe's face paled, and Iris looked like she was on the verge of tears.

"Wally had an... unfortunate accident," Wells said cryptically.

I felt a pit form in my stomach. "What happened to Wally?"

Joe's hands were shaking. "It happened so fast," he muttered, his voice trembling.

I softened. "Joe, it's okay. You don't have to tell me if you're not ready."

He shook his head. "No, you deserve to know. You're family too."

He took a deep breath, steadying himself. "We were walking to my car when a bolt of lightning came out of nowhere and struck Wally."

My heart sank. "At the same time the police found me in the crime lab?" I asked.

Wells nodded, tapping his fingers together. "Yes, it's quite the coincidence."

It wasn't a coincidence. I knew Wally's origin story from the comics, but this wasn't supposed to happen yet. Something had changed, and I had a sinking feeling it was because of me. Had I messed with the Speed Force too much?

"How bad are his injuries?" I asked, trying to stay calm.

Wells sighed. "It might be better if you see for yourself."

Ignoring Dr. Campbell's warnings to rest, I followed Wells down the hallway to Wally's room. As I walked, the exhaustion in my body weighed me down, but I pushed through it.

"Mr. Allen, you need to rest," Dr. Campbell protested behind me.

"There are people who need that bed more than I do," I shot back.

Wells gave a knowing smile. "We can handle your check-up at STAR Labs."

I didn't immediately agree, my thoughts still entirely on Wally. The road ahead was becoming more dangerous by the second, and I couldn't shake the feeling that the worst was yet to come.