_______________

14. Late Arrivals

"Is it blue?"

"No."

"Red?"

"You've said that."

"Yellow?"

"Yes!"

"Really?"

"No," Joe and I were playing "I Spy" but the colour version. I've been trying to guess the colour he has been thinking about for the past 15 minutes but I still haven't gotten it.

"Can I try?" Eddie smirked.

"Sure," Joe agreed.

"Magenta," Eddie revealed before stepping out of the elevator and into the Police Department.

"Correct."

"What!" I exclaimed, completely outraged. "I said Pink!"

Joe laughed and followed Eddie inside. I stood in the elevator with my jaw dropped for a good 10 seconds before I closed it and walked out. I found Joe speaking to Captain Singh.

"Cap, is it fine if Dani stays with me here for the day?" Joe asked.

"Yeah, sure. Delia can stay," Captain Singh shook off, looking down at the file Joe had given him.

"My name is Daniella. Well, the nickname is Dani but–"

"Whatever," he rudely cut me off. My eyes narrowed at him.

"I totally understand, Captain Song."

This caught his attention as he slammed the file shut and finally met my gaze. "It's Singh."

"Whatever," I mocked, flipping my hair and walking to Joe's desk. I grabbed a chair and sat next to his chair.

Joe laughed as he sat down. "I think Singh has finally met his sarcastic match."

I laughed dryly but didn't reply.

I wonder what would happen if I come tomorrow?

✦✦✦✦

So the whole day, I had to sit through paperwork with Joe, irritate Barry a little then go back and try help with paperwork before we could even start the new case. Joe went upstairs to Barry's Lab so I finished my pile, grabbed the doughnut –the stereotype does seem like it's true–and I ran upstairs.

"...He's dangerous," Barry sighed.

"Who's dangerous?" I asked, taking a bite of the delicious snack in my hand.

"No one, just some thief," Barry explained.

"What thief?" A new voice chimed in. I turned around and was greeted by the famous Iris West smile.

"Hey, girl."

"Hey Dani," we greeted each other, Iris placed her bag on one of Barry's table. Barry sat at a desk while Joe sat on his desk.

"Well, criminals better watch out. Cops in Central City are the best there are, and if you can't protect this city, dad, I know The Flash will," Iris admired.

"What if he can't? What if he's gone?"

"Gone?" Iris questioned.

"Yeah, or maybe he's just done, or maybe it's like whatever he could do before, he can't do anymore," Barry's voice sounded completely frustrated.

"Barry, Are you okay?" I asked, my head tilting to the side.

"Yeah, I'm just–"

"Barry, didn't you have to go to... that place?" Joe said, unconvincingly.

"Yeah, going," he got up and left.

"Aw, Barry loved that mug," Iris pointed at the shattered pieces of what was a red mug.

Joe, Iris and I trailing behind him. When we got downstairs we went to our separate ways.

"Joe," Captain called.

"Hello, Iris," He greeted before scowling at me which I happily returned with a smile. Iris and I walked away so the two men can talk.

"So how's your day been?" Iris asked.

"It's been alright. Nothing too exciting. And by exciting I mean the cool stuff. So car chases, shootouts, and all that jazz–" Before I could continue, all at once, the lights started to flicker. Iris turned around confused.

"What's going on?"

Unfortunately, I didn't get to answer because the sound of gunshots erupted. An officer was shot dead in front of us. Iris jumped back in shock, her hands covering her mouth.

"Guns on the floor!" A man who I assumed was a prisoner shouted with a gun in his hand with his hands in handcuffs.

"It should take you less than three seconds to discard any thought of rebellion and comply. I take it I don't need to count out loud," Slowly but surely, policemen slowly crouched down and placed their guns on the floor. Frankly, a cop thing he could shoot the prisoner but the prisoner was too quick and shot him. This caused people to scream.

His head turned to Joe, Iris and I. Joe had stood in front of us, trying to shield us.

"Striking resemblance," he said, looking between Joe and Iris.

His eyes snapped to me. "I guess you are a family friend."

Well, I guess this is the highlight of my day.

20 minutes later– Me, Joe, Iris and about 10 other hostages were on the floor, handcuffed.

"I am presently in control of eight of Central City's finest, three underpaid assistants, and two very brave civilian girls," The man who introduced himself as William Tockman, spoke into the walkie-talkies

"You've got demands; I want to hear them. But first let the civilians go," Captain tried to negotiate from the other end.

"Would you prefer I sent them out alive or dead?"

"Please be more specific. One helicopter, one vegetarian takeout meal, one laptop with eight gigabytes of RAM will be delivered on this roof at exactly 53 minutes and 27 seconds from now, or I shoot a hostage," Tockman said.

"There is a citywide blackout. I'm gonna need more time," Captain pleaded.

"Captain, you may delay, but time will not," Tockman warned.

"Benjamin Franklin," Joe stated. He sat next to me on the floors while Iris sat across from me.

"Very good, detective," Tockman complimented. He and the Captain continued exchanging words while I calmly sat and tried to break out my handcuffs.

Yes, I know, How can you do that?

Well, I'm a special kid who grew up with a special childhood and did special things. Breaking out of handcuffs was one of those special things.

Finding the weak spot was always the hardest part. My fingers searched around the cuffs.

"Dani, are you okay? You've been staring into space since we were put into cuffs.

I broke my focus. "Yes!" I found it the weak point.

"Is there a problem young lady?"

Shit.

"No, Just remembered that I... couldn't decide whether... I should get a hamster or Guinea pig?" I blurted out randomly.

His eyes narrowed but he didn't bother to question further.

"What's really wrong?" Joe whispered.

"I can break out of my handcuffs."

"What?" Joe whispered loudly.

"I'll explain..." With one more click, I can get out."And I'm out."

I felt someone press the back of my head with something.

"What you got there little girl?"

Tockman moved around me and pointed the gun at my forehead. I remained calm and stared into his gaze. Iris was freaking out from across me.

"You are very brave."

"Well, someone has to keep the hope in moments like this." I spat out sarcastically.

He stayed silent, removing the gun and commenting,"You got guts, young lady."

"End this now, and I'll talk to the D.A." The captain said on the talkie.

"It was your district attorney that denied me furlough so I could visit my dying sister one last time, say goodbye to her in person. That's time I'll never get back!" he shouted. Eddie came out nowhere and snuck up behind him. "So however long I have in this life, I promise not one second more will be spent in a prison cell."

Tockman turned around and shot Eddie in the chest.

"Got him." Eddie collapsed to the floor, clutching his lower abdomen.

"Eddie!" Iris screamed and scurried over to him.

"An officer was just shot 9.2 seconds ago. I'd pick up the pace in meeting my demands, Captain."

"Can't you help him? He's bleeding!" Iris screamed, tears streaming down her face.

"You have to let us get him some help." I tried to reason. He could die. My hands are free but I don't have any weapons to attack with. He simply ignored us.

"You'll stay where you are. And while you're killing time, he's bleeding out." Iris tried again.

He laughed, "As if you could kill time without wounding eternity."

"Henry David Thoreau," I answered.

"Ooh, good. A little battlefield trick."

"Eddie, are you okay?" I whispered. His eyes snapped at me and smiled. I sighed in relief when I saw him slowly nod his head.

"If he lives long enough to receive medical treatment, they'll know the exact time the tourniquet was applied." Tockman pressed a bandage on Eddie's wound. "What? No 'thank you' ?"

"They call you the clock king, right?" Iris said.

"A somewhat florid appellation, but I've grown to see the humor in it."

"You're going back to prison," Iris replied.

"Really?" he laughed. "And... And how do you reckon?"

"Because The Flash is coming," she answered in awe. Really Iris? Don't you think if he were coming he would have been here already?

Tockman laughed at her. Before he could push further on the new topic of conversation, the sound of helicopters blaring sounded from outside.

"Early, I like it," Tockman walked around the circle of hostages and stopped in front of Iris and I.

"You ever have seen the city at night by helicopter?"

My eyes widened, "No and I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want to know."

"Why? It's quite spectacular," he walked behind Iris and forced her to stand up. "And today's your lucky day."

When he forced me to stand up, I had no choice but to lock my handcuffs again. If he found me with them unlocked he might have killed me on the spot.

The helicopter got closer and closer.

"Let's move." Tockman pushed us towards the stairway that led to Barry's lab and roof. His gun pointed at our backs.

"Tockman, no. No, don't do this, not them. No, take me, please," Joe begged and pleaded.

"Something tells me you will not be a docile passenger. They will," he pushed us closer and close the stairway.

"Dad!" Iris screamed.

"Wait, wait! Let her say goodbye. This is her boyfriend," his eyes on his daughters before moving to mine. "And her friend lying here dying, and I think you and me both know that he probably won't make it."

Joe sighed before he continued. "It's wrong that you didn't get to say goodbye to your sister. Give them what you deserved,"

"You have 20 seconds," Tockman unlocked our handcuffs. We both ran over to Eddie.

"Eddie. Eddie!" his eyes were closed. Sweat dripped from his head to the floor. After shouting his name again, his eyes snapped open.

"Sorry, babe," he smiled weakly at Iris.

"No, please. You have to hang on for me. For us okay?" Iris started to cry.

"We're gonna be right back okay? Until then you better have your eyes opened," I hissed at him. I'm very serious, If he doesn't have his eyes opened by the time we get back, Lord knows what I will do. I am not having another person I care about leave my life again.

"Dani, come closer," he whispered. I did as I was told as he whispered something in my ear. I nodded and obeyed his orders.

"Let's go! Time and tide wait for no man!" Tockman said in sing-song tone.

I turned to Joe and smiled. "It's gonna be okay Joe. Trust me."

Tockman roughly grabbed mine and Iris' arm. We got up as he trailed behind us, at gunpoint, and followed us towards to stairs.

"No!" Joe shouted with complete fear and anger.

We entered the hallway that leads to the roof. I guess this would be the perfect time for the plan.

All in one swift motion, I pushed Iris so that she was behind me, grabbed the gun Eddie had in his ankle holster and pointed it at Tockman.

"Drop the gun," we both said in unison. Tockman's tone was playful while mine was the complete opposite, hard and deadly.

"You won't shoot. You've never killed anyone in your life. This is probably your first time holding a gun isn't it?" he teased, his gun still stayed in position.

"Try me," When he saw I wasn't giving up, his face dropped. My thumb pulled down the hammer.

The next few moments felt like it all happened in slow motion. I moved the gun so that it was pointing at his shoulder and pulled the trigger. The bullet pierced through the shoulder which he held the gun. He dropped the gun before he could shoot. Tockman dropped the floor, unconscious.

"Iris! Dani!" Joe's voice boomed from downstairs.

"Are you okay?" I turned to Iris.

She was shocked about what she just witness but nodded. "Remind me to never mess with you again."

We laughed, her laughed faded away when she realised something. "Where did you get the gun?"

I smiled and told her what happened.

*

"We're gonna be right back okay? Until then you better have your eyes opened," I hissed at Eddie.

"Dani, come closer," he whispered. I did as I was told as he whispered something in my ear. "Ankle Holster." I nodded and obeyed his orders. I grabbed the gun Eddie kept in his shoe and placed it behind my back.

"Let's go! Time and tide wait for no man!"

*

"Oh that makes sense," I grabbed the keys to the handcuffs and the walkie-talkie. We both walked downstairs.

I started unlocking everyone's handcuffs. They all cheered and congratulated me.

"Captain Singh, Suspect down. It's safe to come up now. I also suggest you call an ambulance," I smirked, talking to the walkie-talkie.

"What happened?" Joe asked as Iris unlocked his handcuffs.

"It was amazing. Dani totally saved the day!" Iris praised. I smiled and handed Joe the keys I had and the walkie-talkie.

"It was nothing, all I did was shoot him in the shoulder."

The police that had been waiting outside all stormed in at once.

"Oh, my God, are you okay?" Joe spoke frantically. He wrapped his arms around me, embracing us into a hug.

"We're okay," I sighed, happily.

"Daniella. Can I speak to you for a second," Captain asked.

"Yeah sure," I replied, confused.

"Have you ever considered being a detective?"

We all stood around Eddie's hospital bed and by we I mean Joe, Iris and I. Iris sat next to him, clutching his hand. Joe and I stood at the foot of his bed. Barry has been nowhere to be seen since the whole incident last night.

"Hey Allen," Eddie giggled.

Well, speak of the devil.

"Hey Eddie," Barry spoke glumly. He handed Eddie some flowers.

"Flowers. I love flowers. That's nice," Eddie giggled like a little girl.

"Where were you all night?" Iris asked.

"Home, trying to eat all the ice cream before it melted," Barry joked, trying to lighten the mood.

"I love ice cream," Once again Eddie giggled.

"He is on pain meds, lots of them, but he's gonna be okay," Joe explained Eddie's behavior.

"It's been some night," I sighed, Joe and Iris agreed.

"I am gonna get some coffee. I'll be back," Iris said.

"I'm coming with you. I could really use some," I followed her out the room. We headed down the hall, past a vending machine. My hair flew in front of my face.

"Oh, now you show up," I said pretty angrily. Our fast friend had just arrived.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you today. It couldn't be helped."

"It's okay. A girl's got to be her own hero every now and again." I joked, taking a step forward.

"I promise I'll never be late again."

"Funny, Our best friend is always saying that and yet he is always late," I laughed, taking another step forward. My arms are crossed.

"You're worth being on time for," he smiled before zooming away. My cheeks flushed as I turned around, Iris had a ridiculously huge smile on her face.

"He was totally flirting."

"Shut up," I couldn't help but smile. We walked back to Eddie's room. Didn't we come out here for something?

"You two all right?" Joe asked, curiously.

"Yeah, why'd you ask?"

"You both forgot your coffee," Joe observed.

"Oh yeah..."

"Can we just talk about how I kicked ass earlier?"

✦✦✦✦

Hiiiiiiii

Sorry for the late chapter, I didn't expect so many votes so quickly so I kinda procrastinated.

I'm sorry if you thought this chapter was boring.

Next chapter is gonna have special guest *wink* he likes the colour green *wink*

Next chapter at 57 votes.

Again another unusual number

Bye!

Ore Adesanmi x