Twelve
Not Your Half

Bibiana walked into the cortex behind Barry and Stein. She caught up really quickly since they actually took the bus. Her, on the other hand, went into an empty alley and zapped herself away. Having the ability to zap yourself places really does saves you gas money.

"Caitlin, what's going on?" Barry asked. In the room was Henry Hewitt, the other match.

"Hi, I'm glad you're back. This is Dr. Henry Hewitt," Caitlin introduced them with excitement. "This is Barry Allen, Bibiana Solace, And Professor Martin Stein."

Bibiana witness Henry skipping Barry's handshake. She held in a laugh because it would be so unprofessional to make fun of her 'co-worker' at work. Instead, she nodded at Henry. Her eyes watched as Henry returned the nod and shook Stein's hand. Barry was still dumbfounded that he didn't get a handshake.

"How do you do?" Martin asked.

"The illustrious Martin Stein," Henry replied. "I've read all your papers back at Hudson, especially on transmutation. Fascinating. You're a legend."

"He's bragging about Hudson. It's not like I brag all the time about going to MIT," Bibiana whispered into Barry's ear. Barry laughed a little but played it off as a cough.

He leaned back and whispered in her ear. "Tell me the word and I'll bring your MIT sweatshirt."

"Please do," Bibiana whispered back. "He's being a suck up now."

"I think you're overestimating my contribution to the field," Martin replied to Henry. "I-I appreciate your enthusiasm."

"Isn't he great?" Caitlin asked excited. Bibiana looked at Caitlin with a little questioning on her face.

"He's got an ego the size of Texas, but, yeah, he's all right," Cisco commented. Barry handed Bibiana the sweatshirt she asked for. She hasn't even realized he left. Bibiana slipped it on to counter Henry's ego. With her ego.

"That's why I asked Barry to get my MIT sweatshirt," Bibiana replied. "An ego is going to be beat down by another ego."

"So, where's Jefferson Jackson?" Caitlin asked.

"We just need more time," Barry answered.

"We don't have more time," Cisco stated. "I couldn't find another power source for the cane and that thing's running out."

"I probably shouldn't have left my car at the shop for repairs," Bibiana concluded.

"Okay, then let's do the merge," Caitlin suggested. "Hewitt's in."

"What do you mean?" Barry asked. He quickly squeezed Bibiana's hand and gave her the look. The one that said that she should restrain herself from singing. "You told him the details of the Firestorm Matrix?"

Bibiana openly singing What Do You Mean by Justin Bieber would be a sign of improvement to her mental health. So Barry knew that she was going to sing when she barely opened her mouth. It was a sign of relief to him that Bibiana even thought of singing but the moment was not right.

Confusion was what Bibiana felt. How dare Barry give her the look. She wasn't going to sing, she was going to make a suggestion. And then she was going to make a statement about the Bieber.

"Absolutely, becoming Firestorm is a huge life change," Caitlin answered. "He needs to know what he's getting himself into."

"If I remember correctly, vector, variance, hypotenuse-," the friends turned around to look at Stein and Henry talking about science. Or Hudson. It was one of those and it had caused Bibiana to feel the need to tug on the sleeves of her sweatshirt.

"Proton, neutron, go H.U.!" Henry and Stein finished off.

"Aw, look at that, that's so cute," Cisco said with a smile. "We'll have two Professor Steins if this works."

"I can barely manage to love one Stein," Bibiana muttered.

"It's gonna work," Caitlin assured them. She sounded very confident. Bibiana trusts Caitlin with her life and if she says that it's gonna work. It's going to work.

"I'm in," Bibiana stated, putting her hand in the middle.

"What are you doing?" Cisco asked.

"One, two, three. Team," Bibiana answered. She put her hand back to her side and looked at him. "We never do a team cheer. Honestly, I'm going to join a new team if we don't do a team cheer."

•••

"When I put this splicer on your chest you're gonna feel a rush," Cisco explained to Henry. "That's a molecular primer being released into your body. Then you can make physical contact with Professor Stein, and... whoosh. Firestorm Matrix will take over."

"Easy enough," Henry replied. Easier said than done. A quote that Bibiana learned the hard way multiple times.

"Ready?" Caitlin asked. Bibiana was completely nervous about the process. Couldn't they just go back in time and save Ronnie? It could benefit her and Caitlin as well. One of them would be happily married and the other wouldn't lose her sanity or hallucination as bad.

"No time like the present. Thank you, my dear," Professor Stein responded.

Bibiana watched as the device was placed on Henry's chest before it activated. Henry and Stein made contact but they didn't fuse together. It caused Bibiana to frown.  Something was supposed to happen other than a quick flare. Maybe fireworks? Them turning into one?

"Try again," Stein suggested. They made contact again only for it not to work. "This is unexpected."

"Are we sure they're comparable?" Bibiana asked. She picked up the tablet next to her and started to look through the files.

"Something's supposed to happen, right? Why isn't it working?" Henry asked. Bibiana looked up and could tell he was aggravated. Frustrated even.

"I don't know," Caitlin answered.

"Uh, well, looks like you two aren't compatible after all," Cisco explained. Bibiana looked back down at her tablet to try and find a reason why they weren't compatible. Cisco got close to Henry and started to unhook the device they put on him. "I'm just gonna..."

"So all this was for nothing?" Henry asked.

"Believe me, no one is more disappointed than I am," Stein replied.

"Yeah, don't be so sure about that," Henry said. Was that attitude that Bibiana heard? Nuh uh, no one gives her team attitude except her. "Next time, try to get your act together before you get someone's hopes up."

Henry left, so Bibiana put her tablet on the table. Research was for later. Right now she wanted to rest and comfort Stein.

"Don't let him die. You already let me die. When will it be your turn?"

The voice was as cold as ice. Each and every one of those words said, it felt as if the presence of a hand was on her shoulder. Slowly, she looked at her right shoulder to see a badly burnt hand.

Ronnie. Black Plague.