T W E N T Y - T W O:

electric out

They all watched Farooq sucked the electricity out of the power box. There was a blackout caused by it. Then they felt the building shake. Barry immediately grabbed onto Bibiana's shoulder, who was still stuck in a wheelchair.

"He's inside," Barry said. Dr. Wells entered the room and Barry went somewhere else to call the C.C.P.D.

"Nice wheels, Bibiana," Dr. Wells told the girl.

"Thank you, sir," Bibiana replied. She was wondering if he was serious or joking. Joking didn't seem to be Wells style.

"Joe and Iris are in trouble," Barry said. "I need my powers back now."

"I have a theory," Dr. Wells explained. "It's untested. I'm willing to roll the dice... Okay. You've lost your speed. Yes." Bibiana paid attention to the theory in case it would be able to help her. She already felt weak as it was. "But nothing has changed inside you on a subatomic level. In other words, your cells are still primed."

"They just need a jump-start," Cisco repeated, getting the idea of it.

"Okay, how do we jump-start me?" Barry asked.

"Or me?" Bibiana added.

"We need to replicate the initial jolt to your system," Dr. Wells informed them.

"But that would mean a peak current of at least 20,000 kiloamps," Cisco stated. "And Bibiana doesn't have her powers to produce that."

"Are you insane?" Caitlin asked. "That's more electricity than they give to people in the electric chair. Bibiana can handle it, but Barry?"

"Caitlin, with Farooq in the building, we're looking at a death sentence," Dr. Wells pointed out.

"The spare generator's offline," Cisco informed them. Bibiana bit her lip. "And if we reboot it, we could give a charge that big."

"We need something that can transmit the load from the generator to Barry and Bibiana without shorting out," Dr. Wells added.

"The treadmill," Cisco replied. "My baby could take the charge."

"What if Barry can't?" Caitlin asked. She already knew Bibiana could handle the shock.

"Well, that's up to Mr. Allen and Ms. Solace," Dr. Wells said. Bibiana was up for it if it meant saving them all.

"I'm in," Bibiana replied.

"Where are you going?" Caitlin asked Barry when he left the room.

"I'm going to talk to him," Barry said.

"Nope. Nope," Dr. Wells responded.

"Okay," Barry replied. "You didn't see him at the substation. He needed to feed. I got super speed out of the particle accelerator blast. Bibiana got the good electricity. But his best friends died. He woke up with a disease."

"I wouldn't exactly say good," Bibiana muttered.

"Earlier today, you worked a crime scene where this meta-human electrocuted an innocent man," Dr. Wells pointed out. "He's a murderer. And you are powerless to defend yourself against him."

"He may just need help like I did, how Bibiana did. I don't need my powers to offer him that," Barry shot back. "I have to try."

Bibiana felt someone pushing her wheelchair after Barry. She looked at her and saw Caitlin.

"Where am I going?" Bibiana asked.

"We're going to make sure Barry doesn't die," Caitlin replied. They hid behind a wall when Barry walked up to Farooq.

"Hey, whoa. Whoa, easy," Barry said. "I'm not going to hurt you."

"You can't hurt me," Farooq responded. "Where is Harrison Wells?"

"Look, I know what happened to you," Barry said. "The night of the accelerator explosion, it changed you. It changed me and a friend too."

They heard the electricity power down. It was satisfying.

"You were the one in the red suit," Farooq stated. "Your friend, she was the one in the purple suit. I fed on the two of you. I have to keep feeding."

"Right," Barry replied. "I know this has to be terrifying. That's why I wanna help you. Okay?"

"The night of the explosion when the lightning hit me, it stopped my heart," spoke Farooq. "Jake and Darya."

"They were your friends," said Barry.

"I woke up and they were beside me, dead," Farooq explained. "They tried to give me CPR. They were touching me and... I electrocuted them."

Bibiana stared at Caitlin and Cisco who was on the opposite side. It made Bibiana realize that she never knew the whole story of her own story.

"This is not your fault," Barry stated.

"I know," Farooq said. The sound of dangerous electricity came back. "Wells did this to me."

"Farooq, you need to listen to me," Barry replied. He was shot backward with electricity. Bibiana rolled over to him while Cisco closed the doors.

"Not sure how long that'll hold," Cisco informed them.

"Done being noble, Mr. Allen?" Dr. Wells asked. "Caitlin, get him and Bibiana to the treadmill. Cisco, bring the generator online. Make sure Barry and Bibiana get the charge."

Caitlin helped Barry up first before she started to roll Bibiana's wheelchair. Barry leaned onto Caitlin for support as they made their way to the treadmill. Caitlin sat Barry down while Bibiana tried to get off the wheelchair. She couldn't do it because her muscles were still weak.

"I'm not healing fast anymore," Barry pointed out. Caitlin shook her head as she ran to go and do something.

"My muscles are still weak," Bibiana added. "At least I'm not having any of the other symptoms."

"That's unfortunate," Barry said. Bibiana looked at him, wondering if it was directed at her. It occurred to Barry what he had said. "Not what you said, Bibiana. The healing part."

"Don't worry," Caitlin replied. "When Dr. Wells has a theory, he's usually right."

"What if something happens to Joe and Iris first?" Barry asked.

They froze when they heard a noise and electricity. Barry picked Bibiana up and helped her lean under the window. Caitlin ran to the other side, folded the wheelchair, slid it over to them before she joined. Bibiana slowed her breaths as she saw the blue light of electricity.

When Farooq headed for the door, Bibiana pointed to the other lab door. Caitlin and Barry both helped Bibiana crawl over there. They quickly shut the door quietly once they were inside.

"Did you know the human body generates electricity?" Farooq asked. "The average person gives off 342 watts. And I can smell it coming from you."

As Farooq grew closer, Bibiana held onto Barry's hand. Then the electricity came on thanks to Cisco. Once Farooq sounded like he was way, they left the room.

"Turn on the treadmill," Barry told Caitlin. He winched in pain as he helps onto his arm. Bibiana was holding onto him as they got on it.

"You're still hurt," Caitlin pointed out, concerned for her friend.

"We don't have time," Barry replied.

"Can we hurry before I pass out again?" Bibiana asked. She felt the irregular heartbeats coming back. Her grip tightened on the railing.

"Caitlin," Barry said.

"I can't," Caitlin responded.

"We don't have a choice," Barry pointed out.

"If I turn this on, it could kill you," Caitlin told Barry.

"If you don't, we could all die," Barry said.

"I already lost someone I cared about in this building," Caitlin stated, referring to Ronnie. "I can't do it again."

Barry let out a sigh before he let go of the railing. Bibiana simply frowned at the mention of Ronnie. She missed her friend and their jokes that they shared. They were like siblings.

"Listen," Barry said. "Someone once told me that I was struck by lightning for a reason. That it chose me. I'm not sure I believe it. Right now, it doesn't matter what I believe."

Barry grabbed onto the railing. Bibiana felt her legs starting to shake.

"What do you believe?" Caitlin turned on the treadmill.

Bibiana felt the electricity enter her body like a puzzle piece that fit in. She felt her strength return in her body. The only reason she let go was that she felt too much electricity and Barry was shocked off the treadmill.

The girl turned around and ran towards him. Caitlin was running by her side.

"My God," Caitlin said. "You okay? Did you feel anything?"

Barry held up a hand and it was going at a fast speed. Bibiana smiled as she also held up a hand. Purple electricity danced around her fingers.

"Electric Strom is back. Thanks, Caitlin," Bibiana said. As much as she sometimes didn't like her powers, she needed them. They now made her feel whole.

"It didn't work," Barry stated. Bibiana frowned because she really thought he had them back. Then they heard a thump causing the girl to snap her head at the sound.

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jmc