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04. Detective Pretty Boy Saves The Day

"So Barry, how was your trip? Did you find proof of the impossible in Starling City, or did you just make my dad mad for no reason?" Iris asked Barry while laughing. We were heading to S.T.A.R Labs to watch the particle accelerator switch on. Barry was in the middle while I hooked arms with his left and Iris did the same on his right.

"Actually, while I was away. I had the chance to think about... you know... relationships," Barry replied nervously. I was looking straight ahead but from my peripheral vision, I swear it looked like he was looking at me.

He cleared his throat before continuing, "And well, I'm not in one, Dani's not in one and neither are you, and you're my best friend Iris–"

"You're mine too," Iris interrupted him. A big friendly smile evident on her face. She clearly didn't see where he was going with this. A small smile slowly crept its way onto my face.

"I'm still here you know," I feigned a hurt expression. I pouted my bottom lip for effect.

"You're our best friend too Dani," Barry assured, his smile turned into a laugh. I shot a wink and looked forward.

"And Barry, if we weren't your best friends, why else would we be here?" Iris asked, again clearly not evaluating the situation hard enough.

"That's not what I meant," he mumbled under his breath, "What I meant–"

"I know what you're going to say, Barry," Iris once again cut him short.

"You do?" I asked, raising my left eyebrow.

"I'm not sure you do," Barry added. Now I'm intrigued since I wasn't really paying attention.

"Even though we pretty much grew up in the same house together, and we're kinda like brother and sister, because we're not brother and sister, it can get really weird and awkward to talk to me about girls but I just want you to know, that it shouldn't be awkward," Iris paused, looking at me to help her finish.

I finished, "There is nothing that we want more than for you to meet the right person that totally loves and adores you for the amazing guy that you are."

"Took the words right out of my mouth," he shot a pretty convincing fake smile.

"Aw..." Iris and I said in unison.

"Aren't you glad that we know you so well?" Iris rhetorically asked.

"My name is Harrison Wells."

I said, "Shh, it's starting."

Barry fake scoffed, "You didn't even know what was going on today."

"That doesn't mean I can't be excited for you. You have dreamed of watching this and that doesn't mean I can't be happy for you," I whispered back meeting his green orbs.

"Thank you," he mumbled back. I simply nodded at him and faced the stage.

"Tonight, the future begins. The work my team and I do here will change our understanding of physics. It will bring advancements at price, advancement in medicine and trust me, that future will be here faster than you think," Harrison Wells continued. Some guy had bumped into us and took if running.

"Ow! Hey, my laptop! It's got my dissertation!" Iris cried. Before I could even move, Barry sprinted in the robber's direction.

"Barry! Wait!" I shouted but they were gone.

"C'mon, let's go get him," I grabbed Iris's arm and ran in the same direction they had gone in. When we turned the corner, we saw Barry lying on the floor, rubbing his arm.

"Barry! Are you okay?" I crouched down to his level.

"Freeze! Police! Or do you want to find out the hard way you're not faster than a bullet?"

✦✦✦✦

"Who is that guy? And what is he so proud of? So what he caught a mugger," Iris scoffed. After the incident, tonight, Iris and I brought Barry back to the police station. We gave him an ice pack and were discussing the events that recently occurred.

"He's a transfer from Keystone," Barry answered, "Started a few weeks ago."

"What's his name?" I asked, turning my face towards his direction.

He replied, "Eddie Thwane."

"Oh, that's Detective Pretty Boy," Iris said in realization. Barry and I shot her identical confused expressions.

"That's what my dad calls him, says he actually keeps score when it comes to arresting," Iris explained. I did a quick scan around the room until I left my gaze fall on an average height man with blonde hair and charming blue eyes. He was pretty good looking.

"He is quite pretty though," I trailed off, still checking him out.

"Mmm... agreed," Iris hummed in delight. I felt eyes on me so I looked back at my friends to see Barry staring at me with a glare.

"What?" I asked. Barry rolled his eyes in response.

"Don't roll your eyes. They'll fall out of your head," I smirked. "Okay, Daniella needs to get going," I pointed both my index fingers towards me as I spoke in the third person. I stood up from my chair and walked over to Iris, giving her a hug then turned to give Barry one as well.

"Hope you feel better," I whispered into Barry's ear. I released and walked into one of the elevators. I gave Iris a smile before the elevator doors shut close. I walked out of the building and into the streets. I noticed that the streets were empty and the air was cold.

I shoved my hands into my blazer pockets and walked briskly in the direction of my house. I was the always the one to get paranoid in situations like these, so every minute or so I would look behind my shoulder, just to make sure that no one was following me.

I carried on walking until I finally reached my house. I went up the steps, unlocked the door and entered, closing and locking the door behind me. The smell of my favourite perfume filled my nose as I stepped into my house. My house wasn't as big as my house back in Starling but it was big enough for me. It had 3 bedrooms, 2 and a half bathrooms, a study, a big living area, a gourmet kitchen and beautiful swimming pool. Pretty big if you ask me. I whipped out my phone and checked the time.

8:43 pm

I sighed and walked upstairs into my room. As soon as I laid eyes on my bed, I involuntarily ran and belly flopped on it. My head hit the pillow softly and my eyes drooped shut.

Buzz... Buzz... Buzz

My eyes shot opened a few hours later. Blinking rapidly to adjust to the light, my damn phone woke me up from my sleep. I reached for it on my bedside table and answered the call, without checking the Caller ID.

"Hello?"

"Dani! Come down to the hospital right now!" Iris shouted in a panicked voice.

"What! What's wrong?"

"It's Barry, he got struck by lightning."

My heart stopped as I heard the words escape her mouth.

"I'll be right there!" I assured. I ended the call and quickly changed into a more comfortable outfit. I wore a white Adidas sweatshirt with three black stripes that ran from my shoulder to my wrist, a pair of black sweatpants and sneakers. I threw my hair into a bun, grabbed my phone and car keys and ran to my car. Putting the cars into the ignition, I started the engine and drove to the hospital.

As soon as I got to the hospital, I jumped out of the car and ran to the reception. With every step I took, I felt the amount of worry double. The lady at the front desk gave me a professional smile.

"Hi, could you please tell me the room number of Barry All–"

"Dani!" Iris called from the other side of the room. Practically sprinting to her, I pulled her into a massive hug. Tears, that I didn't even know were developed, fell from my eyes, streaming down my cheeks.

"Is he okay?" my voice hoarse from recently sleeping and now crying. My arms tightened around her body as she did the same.

"I don't know. I really don't know."

She pulled away from the hug but still kept my hands in hers. She led me to this room, fear and worry filled inside me. Right outside his room, Joe sat on a chair with his face in his hands. I left Iris's side and peeked through the window.

Inside laid Barry Allen, unconscious, connected to wires with about three doctors surrounding him. Joe placed a hand on my shoulder, he spoke in a whisper, "We have to move Daniella."

Not really wanting to argue, I nodded and followed Joe and Iris to the nearest chair. I guess the fact that there's a possibility that I wouldn't see my best friend again broke me inside. I shoved my face into the palm of hands as I sobbed.

"Shh, it's okay," Iris's voice comforted me while her hand rubbed my back. I silently thanked her.

"Any family here for Barry Allen?" A male voice called after an hour of waiting. I shot out of my chair along with Joe and Iris and ran over to the doctor. Maybe he had some good news. I hope he has some good news.

"Yes, we are," Joe confirmed.

"How is he Doc?" I asked, my eyes itchy and sore from crying.

The doctor looked at me sympathetically.

Uh-oh.

Not a good sign.

"I'm sorry to say this but Mr. Allen has fallen into a comatose."

My breath hitched and the world turns black as I ket my body tumble.

✦✦✦✦

"Daniella...Daniella...Dani, please wake up!" A voice said while shaking my shoulders up and down. The person soon stops the action for a while and a few minutes later, I felt a stinging sensation on my cheek. My eyes shot opened and my hand automatically goes for my cheek.

What the actual hell?

I searched my room to look for who was about to get a beating.

Iris West.

"What the hell was that for?"

She said worriedly, "I'm sorry, you weren't waking up and I panicked."

"It's fine," I sighed, understanding the current situation.

Rubbing my cheek with my left hand, I asked, "How long have I been out for?"

"About a day at least."

A day!

I got up from my bed and realized I was in the clothes that I wore to the hospital.

"How's Barry?"

"Still in the coma, but they moved him to STAR Labs now," Iris answered with a soft smile.

"I'm not even going to ask and with that, I'm going to take a shower."

"Okay," she said while flipping through a magazine. I walked over to my closet and grabbed some clothes for the day, walking to my bathroom. After the well-needed shower, I changed into the clothes that I picked.

"You look hot!"

"Thank you. Thank you," I smiled and curtsied. I went to the mirror and did my makeup. My outfit was a pair of black pants with my white pleated shirt and a blazer that matched my pants. I wore my suede black hat and white stiletto boots with spikes. My makeup was simple, red lipstick with mascara. I scanned the room for my phone and it on the dresser.

13 new messages

Well, I'm popular.

Oliver Queen- 6 new messages

Thea Queen- 4 new messages

Felicity Smoak- 2 new messages

Joe West- 1 new message

From: Oliver Queen
6 new messages

Hey Skippy, How're things? Hope you doing well.

RECEIVED 2:34 PM

Skippy, hello?

RECEIVED 2:35 PM

Daniella!

RECEIVED 2:35 PM

Daniella Queen! What's going on?

You're not having sex with Barry right now, right?RECEIVED 2:37 PM

If you are, I will come there and snap his neck.

RECEIVED 2:38 PM

Nevermind, call me as soon as you get this message. It's URGENT!"

RECEIVED 2:39 PM

From: Thea Queen
4 new messages

Hey, Ollie is stressing, you okay?

RECEIVED 2:34 PM

I miss you:(

RECEIVED 2:37 PM

Please call Ollie, it's urgent.

Not allowed to say it on the phoneRECEIVED 2:38 PM

Call/text me when you can x

RECEIVED 2:39 PM

From: Felicity Smoak
2 new messages

Hey Dan-ster, I send my condolences

RECEIVED 3:04 PM

Text when you can, Oliver is in full panic mode. So basically he is asking about you a lot with a straight face. You know almost emotionless Oliver.

RECEIVED 3:05 PM

From: Joe West
1 new message

Morning Daniella. Hope you feeling well.

Just checking in. Iris wasn't picking up.RECEIVED 3:14 PM

I smiled at most of the messages. I couldn't reply to them now. I was in the right mindset to reply. I hope my brother and sister are okay though. What did Oliver want though?

Eh

I'll call later.

"Let's go visit Barry before I have to go to work," Iris suggested.

"Okey-dokey!" I smiled, tipping my hat.

I grabbed my keys and we headed out to my baby.

My Range Rover.

We jumped into the car and I turned on the engine. As we drove to STAR Labs, we conversed a little with the radio playing the latest hits.

"Iris, this is usually how a horror movie starts," I joked, gesturing to the abandoned-looking building that was once the famous STAR Labs.

"After the particle accelerator explosion, STAR Labs went out of business. Only two people stayed with Doctor Wells," Iris clarified. I nodded and turned off the engine after I found a parking space.

Iris warned before she got out, "I'm gonna go to the bathroom, don't break anything."

I scoffed, rolling my eyes, "You speak to me as if I'm a child."

I got out of the car and locked it. Finding my way through the entrance, I stared and walked around the main lab, entranced. I looked around some more until my eyes fell upon an unconscious Barry Allen. I swiftly walked over to him and sat on a chair that was beside him and stared at him for a while.

"Um...who are you and what are you doing here?" A voice asked from behind me. I sat up from the chair and slowly turned around. A male with long black hair, dark brown eyes, and fairly tanned skin checked me out before looking into my eyes with a smirk.

"Um, who are you?" I asked with the same tone.

He shot back, "I asked you first."

"And I asked you second," I retorted without missing a beat.

"What does that have to do with anything?" he asked again, his left eyebrow was raised.

"It means that–"

"Hey Dani, I see you met Cisco," Iris interrupted, coming from the entrance to the lab.

"So, your name is Dani," Cisco confirmed.

"Daniella actually, Daniella Queen," I sighed in defeat. "And your name is Cisco," I justified.

"Yeah, Cisco Ramon. Very nice to meet you," he said smugly. He stuck out his hand for a handshake which I so gladly took and shook back.

"Wait, your last name is Queen. Like Oliver Queen? Like the famous multi-millionaire, wait billionaire family from Starling City," Cisco asked in awe.

"Yeah, I'm Oliver Queen's younger sister," I responded in my monotone and rehearsed voice. Something I had to use a lot when my family had guests or important people over.

"Dude! That's awesome!" he replied, astonished. "So, what are you doing here?"

"We're here to see our friend Barry. Is that fine?" I battered my eyelashes for effect.

"Y-yeah, that's t-totally fine," he stuttered. I nodded and turned back to Barry. Poor Barry. Why him? The cute forensic scientist who I've happened to have had a crush on for a while now just had to get struck by lightning. Is this the universe's sick way of telling me not to advance on my crush? Because if it is, that's messed up.

I grabbed his hand and felt a small electric shock run through my body from the tip of my fingernails.

"Ow!" I cried out, letting go of his hand. "He shocked me!"

"That shouldn't be possible, he's out cold," Cisco said with confusion as he walked over to Barry. He checked the monitors.

Iris, whom I almost forgot was here, asked hopefully, "Wait. If he shocked Dani, does that mean he's slowly regaining consciousness?"

"Possibly, but I'm not sure. Let me call Dr. Snow," he went to the large table in the middle of the lab and started to furiously tap away on the electronic pad that was inserted into the table. A few moments later, a brunette woman walked into the room with a stern look plastered on her face. Her presence screamed a mixture of 'anger' and 'sadness'. I know that look anywhere. I practically invented that look when my father passed away.

"Hello, I'm Doctor Caitlin Snow. I will help Cisco attend to Mr. Allen," she spoke with a tight smile. I shot her a ridiculously big smile, seeing an opportunity to make two new friends today.

"I'm Daniella Queen, nice to meet you!"

She merely nodded me off and went to speak with Cisco to find out what the problem was. As they spoke in hushed voices, I walked over to an oddly quiet Iris.

"You okay? You've barely said a word since we've gotten here."

Iris seemed to snap out of whatever trance she was stuck in, "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. I just don't feel like talking...I need to go to work. I'll see you later?"

"I'll drop you off if you want," I offered her a ride.

"No! I mean...it's fine. I just need to clear out my head. I could use the walk," she declined.

"Okay then...See you later Alligator?"

She shot a real smile, "In a while Crocodile."

I turned around and smirked at Cisco and Caitlin, "So what do you guys do for fun around here?"

✦✦✦✦

"You did not!"

"Yeah, I did. My hands were bright orange for 3 weeks," Cisco explained a story about when he was six and tried to prank his older brother. I've been at STAR Labs for about three hours. I've gotten closer to Cisco and grown a little on Caitlin.

"Well, I'm hungry. Caitlin, mind coming with me to the kitchen. I don't really know where it is?" I asked nonchalantly.

Cisco tried to give me directions, "Well it's down the hall–"

"Okay, let's go, Caitlin!" I shot a quick glare at Cisco while Caitlin reluctantly agreed.

"So what's your story? Who is the woman named Caitlin Snow?" I joked while crossing my arms over my chest as we walked to the kitchen.

"Well let's see, I worked at STAR labs, met my fiancé here than on the day of the explosion, my fiancé died to be a hero and my boss is in a wheelchair," she blurted everything out with an impassive expression. She must have been holding this in for a while. I stopped the both of us from eating any further and pulled her into a hug. She seemed like she really needed one.

"I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have asked."

Shit

I'm a bad person.

"I just miss him," she whispered into my shoulder. I rubbed her back in a comforting way. After a while, I let go of her but still searched her eyes.

"Thank you, Daniella," she whispered gratefully.

"Please call me Dani! Daniella is such a mouthful," I smiled, attempting to get her to smile. "Try saying that twenty times fast. DaniellaDaniellaDaniellaDaniellaDaniel–"
I was cut off by the sound of Caitlin's laughter. We went back to the lab, completely forgetting about the food from the kitchen.

Buzz buzz Buzz buzz Buzz buz–

"Hello?" I answered after digging through my pockets for my phone.

Oliver replied, "Dani? Where have you been? I've been trying to reach you for forever!"

"I'm sorry it's been pretty crazy here."

"Now listen to Daniella, I have something important to tell you–"

"Oliver, spit it out. You know I hate it when you take long to–"

"Daniella. Mom was murdered."

"Yes and Santa is real, what is the real thing you wanted to tell me. That isn't exactly funny," I spat at him.

"Daniella, I'm being serious," I nearly dropped my phone from the shock and sadness that hit me.

"And you didn't bother telling me ea–" I cut myself off.

Please call Ollie, it's urgent. Not allowed to say it on the phone

"Nevermind, I'm coming to Starling as we speak," I ended the phone call and made sure I wasn't leaving anything behind.

"I'm sorry guys, I have to go to Starling. I'll explain later, Bye," I rushed, not even waiting for a reply.

I got in the car but didn't start the engine. Slowly but surely, tears started to develop in my eyes and ran down my cheeks.

I can't believe it.

She's gone.

✦✦✦✦

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Ore Adesanmi x