The thing about archenemies was that they were supposed to be just that -- an enemy. They were supposed to hate the hero; supposed to do everything they could to make the hero's life hell. They weren't supposed to care about what happens to the hero, or go to them for help or help them. Archenemies were simple.

However, none of this was the case with Leonard Snart. Barry's alignmentship with Snart was complicated at best. It was very hard to explain what they had to people who didn't understand. Mostly everyone thought that he was being too trusting of Snart and truthfully, he agreed with them but he couldn't help it. As many times as Snart had saved his life and helped him, Barry trusted him enough to call him a friend.

They had made a deal a long time ago that Snart could do his thing and Barry would try to catch him and "fail" as long as he didn't take any lives. Snart had kept up his end of the bargain and so did Barry.

Now, here Barry was staring face to face with Snart who had found his way inside the cortex of STAR Labs as graceful and quietly as usual. It was strange because at the time he came in, the alarm hadn't gone off. But this was Snart they were talking about.

"Snart what are you doing here?" Barry asked. There was no hostility in his voice, just pure curiosity.

Snart, who wasn't wearing his usual blue winter parka or his goggles and gloves, looked at him. Barry found it strange that he didn't have his Cold Gun with him and that he was wearing a maroon sweater and dark jeans. When Snart answered, his voice didn't carry the usual drawl he had.

"I need your help Scarlett."

Barry glanced over at Cisco and Caitlin, both who were staring at Snart. Cisco just shrugged at his look and Caitlin didn't pry her eyes from Snart. Turning back to look at Snart, Barry frowned.

"With what?"

"My father. Lewis Snart."

* * *

"Lewis Snart?" Cisco sounded surprised as well as nervous. "You mean the father that forced you into the life of crime and hurt Lisa?"

Barry shot Cisco a look as Snart gave a nod. Frowning even more, Barry began to wonder just what Snart needed help with that involved his father. "Why do you need my help with your father?"

Snart sighed and held his shoulders low. "He escaped prison and I have reason to believe that he's coming after me and Lisa. I sent Lisa with Mick out of the city while I deal with Lewis."

"Okay but why do you need my help?"

"Lewis is not someone I can take on my own, even with my newly developed status as Captain Cold. I need your help because I can't take him on my own, at least not without killing him."

"You need Barry to help keep you in line." Caitlin pointed out speaking for the first time since Snart showed up.

Snart looked at her, nodding. "Yes. We made a deal and I want to honor it."

Barry studied the man in front of him silently. He was a friend to Barry, granted that he was a criminal but Snart had always been there for The Flash or even Barry himself when he asked for help. There was a time when Barry had been kidnapped by a serial killer under his civilian guise and not the Flash. He couldn't use his powers without exposing himself and so he had waited and hoped that someone found him soon. A day later Snart had shown up with Mick and Oliver, Joe and Singh not very far behind, and rescued him. Barry remembered when he had been working through some of the trauma he'd gone through during his time captive, how Snart had been there, comforting and consoling him.

Barry knew he had to do this. Not just to keep Snart in line but because he was a friend in need. Someone who risked his entire reputation to help him through the times he needed it. Someone who risked his street cred to help the Flash. This was the time for him to be a friend, not just the Flash.

"What's the plan?"

* * *

"Are we sure that this is a good idea?" Cisco, who hadn't been completely okay with plan in the first place, was just voicing his concern. "I mean letting Barry go in this as himself and not the Flash?"

Barry sighed dramatically as he walked with Snart toward the entrance of the abandoned warehouse. He saw Snart give him an exasperated roll of the eyes and bit back a laugh. "I'm not going in as Barry Allen. My cover is Sebastian Smythe, remember?"

"Is that really supposed to make me feel better?" Cisco said flatly. "Cause if it was, you failed. I mean dude, what if something goes wrong in there? You can't exactly use your speed without exposing your identity."

Barry glanced to his right, his eyes scanning the roof for the familiar dark forest green hood. Finding what he was looking for he smiled and spoke into his comm, more confident than he was a moment ago. "I'll be fine. Snart's here and Ollie's here watching our backs. Everything will be fine man. You worry too much."

"I have good reason to. You get hurt on every single mission you go on . . .  but I'll lay off a bit. Just - be careful."

"I will."

When Barry and Snart entered the warehouse to face Len's dad, they didn't expect Lewis Snart to cross so far over the line that there was no coming back from it.

* * *

As Barry and Len crossed the cracked concrete flooring of the warehouse, they were surprised by Lewis leaning over a table in the middle of the building, like he was lookimg at something. Glancing at one another, they continued forward until Lewis Snart's voice echoed through the warehouse.

"It's nice to finally see you son. Been a long time, huh?" The man who was known as the worst Snart in the family turned and smiled. It wasn't one filled with the warmth of seeing a loved one again after so long; it was one with a sadistic meaning underlying with sociopathic tendencies. Barry cringed from it, albeit trying not to make it noticable.

"Lewis." Was all Len said. When he stopped a few feet away from the man who was his father but never his dad, Barry stopped right beside him.

"That's all I get? No 'hey dad i missed you'?" Lewis was starting to sound like he was getting upset. The smile had disappeared too.

Len's face remained blank but something in his eyes hardened and he said, "You may have been our father but you were never our dad. And we didn't miss you. We hoped that you would stay locked up for the rest of you damn life."

Barry rested a hand on his shoulder, hoping to reassure him that everything was okay. Some of the tension that had entered his muscles left at the touch and Barry knew that Len was grateful. The quick glance told him as such. However, that was all it took for Lewis's attention to be diverted to him.

"Who is your friend?" Lewis questioned. When Len didn't answer, the man swelled up and took a step forward. "I asked you a damn question! Answer me!"

Len flinched and Barry squeezed his shoulder, moving forward to shield him as much as possible. He was going to answer the question for him. "The name's Sebastian Smythe. You would do well to remember it, old man."

Lewis stepped forward again, anger flashing across his face momentarily before disappearing. "And why is that?"

Barry took a step toward Lewis, a mask of complete coldness falling like a cascade over his face as his eyes hardened. "Because if you ever talk to Len like that again, I'll kill you in the worst way possible."

"Barry take it easy. We don't want him attacking you." Oliver said.

Barry ignored him and watched Lewis Snart's movements carefully. The man was moving across the floor toward him like a snake stalking its prey. He stood his ground though and stood tall, ready to fight in a heart beat. When Lewis finally stopped, he was so close that Barry could smell what the man had for breakfast and the man's breath moved a strand of his hair. Barry was taller than Lewis by an inch but the man was more intimidating up close than he thought.

"Was that a threat?" Lewis spoke quietly.

"What do you think jarhead -- did it sound like one?" Barry kept up the act even though deep down this was how he felt. This is what he wanted to do. However, it was just an act to everyone else. "Do you need me to spell it out for you? If you ever talk to or hurt Len or Lisa again, I will hunt you down, pour gasoline down your gullet, light a match, shove it down your throat, and watch you burn from the inside out."

"Daaaammn." Cisco's voice was pitchy and Barry fought the urge to cringe.

Lewis glared at him for a long while before swinging a fist into his gut. Grunting in pain, Barry used his arms to cradle his stomach as he doubled over. Lewis grabbed a fistful of his hair and yanked his head back, smirking at him sadistically.

"I know who you are Barry Allen. I've seen your face on the news, plus I  knew your dad and you when you were younger."

Barry's eyes widened and he was caught in the face by Lewis's knee,m the contact sending his head snapping back. Blood trickled from his nose and he vaguely heard Joe and the others say his cover was blown. He heard Len yelling at Lewis to leave him alone even as the man knelt beside him. Barry stared at the man, fear washing over him as Lewis started talking.

"How?" Barry saw Len was being held by some lackey of Lewis's. Turning his attention back to Lewis, he glared at him and wanted the man to tell him how and why.

"That's something you have to work for." Lewis smirked. "If you want the answers, you have to kill Leonard."

Barry stared at him as if he were insane. He would never kill someone for answers, much less Len. He shook his head and said, "Fuck you."

Lewis shook his head and reached for his belt. Barry realized what was going to happen in a matter of seconds and shoved him back, climbing to his feet. He knew that Lewis would recover fast but he had to be faster. Barry grabbed for the gun before he could aim at Len and as they wrestled for the gun, it went off.

Barry froze and stopped fighting for the gun. He stared at Lewis in shock and pain and fear. He'd just been shot, not for the first time but it was close range and it hurt like hell.

And then Lewis fired two more shots.

Barry's body jerked with the impact of each one before he stumbled back, his hands flying to his stomach to try and staunch the bleeding. Falling back, he couldn't catch himself as he hit the floor. The pain was too much and he was losing a lot of blood. He stared up at Lewis, his breathing laboured and eyed glazed over.

"Barry?"

"Barry!" Len shouted, finally breaking free from Lewis's lackey even as Oliver and Joe came running into the warehouse. Running to the young speedsters side, so immersed in making sure he stayed alive, Len completely forgot about his armed father who had just shot his friend.

"Don't move!" Joe yelled. "Put your hands on your head and get on your knees! NOW!"

Barry was struggling to keep his eyes open and he was losing his grip on pain. Len pulled the Cold Gun from the lackey on the ground and pressed it to Barry's wounds. "Sorry Scarlett."

Len fired the gun.