"Don't you ever scare me like that again!" cried Parker when she ripped open the door to her apartment. "I mean, us. Don't scare us again. As in, Cisco, Caitlin, and I, collectively."

Barry Allen raised his hands in surrender. He slipped past her and collapsed on her couch. His heels touched his bottom, leaving her the necessary room to join him.

Parker rested her elbow on his propped knee. Her eyes remained stationed on the files scattered across the coffee table. She chose one, then began scribbling her report.

Aimlessly, Barry's finger circled the cap of his water. Nothing caught his eye in her apartment except for her. He didn't fight the urge to watch her. 

It seemed she performed aimless actions when concentrating, too. The thumb of her right hand gently pressed on the knuckles of each finger, slowly. She went through it four times before her thumb rested on the knuckle of her middle finger.

Barry fought to keep his eyes open. Watching her perform little mindless actions entertained him. Hell, he would be content watching her grocery shop. He simply found her intriguing. 

"You're quiet tonight," noticed Parker. "Falling asleep on me already?"

"I saw Iris there," admitted Barry. 

"Well, I sincerely hope you blurred your face."

"Yeah, she didn't see me."

"Good," praised Parker. "You know why she was there?"

"Some blog she runs."

"Please do not say it's about..."

"Oh, yeah," laughed Barry, "it's about me."

With a loud groan, Parker threw her head back. Her fingers pinched the bridge of her nose. "She's going to get herself hurt doing that shit," she warned. 

Barry nodded knowingly, though his worry for Iris wasn't in his main thoughts. His fingertips danced along her elbow. He forced her arm to extend to his chest, then laced their hands together. 

"Barry," mumbled Parker. 

"One night," he whispered. 

Minutes later, Parker complied to his wish. On her couch, they curled up together, Parker's papers discarded, and Barry's only thoughts about the way she felt in his arms. 

××××

Disruption of Barry's slumber came from the ray of sunlight shining through the curtains. He tried to stretch out his limps first, before he realized he couldn't, not due to the sleeping woman in his arms. 

"Parker," mumbled Barry. 

"No."

"Yeah, I know I don't want to get up either," he sighed, "but I have to get my phone, check that the CCPD doesn't need us.

Parker allowed one leg to fall from the couch. Slowly, her body followed. Sitting against the couch, she grabbed his phone and opened it, with his permission. 

"Oh, shit," said Parker. "Joe needs us at the bombing site from last night. He sent that twenty minutes ago."

"Go, go, get ready!" said Barry hurriedly. 

Parker raced into the bathroom. 

Barry used his speed to swirl around the apartment, buttoning his coat, tying his shoes. He ruffled his hair until it was in decent shape. He found the time to make a few pieces of toast to share for breakfast on the run. 

Hiking boots over her ankles, Parker hopped to the door. She graciously took the toast Barry handed her and wrapped it in a napkin, sliding it into her purse. 

Abruptly, Barry swept her into his arms.

"What are you doing? We're taking a cab," said Parker.

"We're already ten minutes late. We can't waste anymore time, unless you're trying to get us beaten up by Chief for being tardy again," stressed Barry. 

Whether or not she wanted to, it hadn't mattered. Barry had made his mind up on how they were arriving to the crime scene. He gripped her tightly, then, with a last prayer, he took off through the streets of Central City. 

Parker raised her head from his chest when she felt them come to a stop. She bent over, coughing to catch her breath again.

"You okay?" he asked. 

"Wind intake is a bit much," admitted Parker.

Barry nodded. Beside her, he crouched, tugging her upper lip towards the sky. 

Parker swatted at his hands. "What the hell?"

"I'm checking for bugs. Do I have any?" Barry showed his pearly whites.

Parker assured him he was clear, then the two sprinted into the cop infested building, shoving their way up the stairs and to the floor of the crime scene. 

Detective Thawne and Joe turned when Barry called their names. The two spotted their sketch artist and forensic assistant, coincidentally together. The assumption worsened from there when further inspecting occurred. 

The first five buttons on Barry's plaid shirt were unbuttoned. He hadn't bothered to tuck his shirt in, or zipper his pants. His usual vertically placed hair was messy and out of place. 

Parker took notice to the numerous glances exchanged between the Detectives. Although amused, it was clear both men were also slightly uncomfortable. Parker looked between herself and Barry to understand why. Then, she understood. 

"No!" she gasped, rushing to flatten down her hair. 

"Crazy kids," muttered Joe. 

"We weren't crazy, we were just late," assured Barry.

Joe pursed his lips. "Right."

"Witness over there needs you," Eddie told Parker. 

Parker practically sprinted to the witness. She took a seat across from the security guard, then drew out the sketch book from her purse. The witness' words guided her hand. 

Close to twenty minutes later, Joe tapped her shoulder. "We're heading back to the CCPD. You and Barry are welcome to stay a little longer than the rest of us, you know, as long as you're safe."

"Oh, my God, Joe, please," begged Parker. 

"Okay, okay. No more jokes," promised Joe. 

After the witness left, the crime scene was empty, excluding Barry in the other room. 

The floor was empty after the witness left.

Parker could hear Barry rummaging through the files in one of the rooms. He took five more minutes to find the folder he wanted. Into the pile of evidence it went, then he grabbed the box, and met with Parker to leave. 

While trudging down the flights of stairs, Barry nudged her. "Hey, Park? How would you feel about moving your things into my Lab?"

"Why?" she asked simply.

"Uh... Well, I just thought it might be a nice spot to concentrate, if need be. I know how hectic downstairs can be. Forget it, you know, it was stupid--"

"Okay," she interrupted, chuckling. "It was generous of you, really, I just didn't know why you asked. I'll move in on one condition: don't make me regret it."

"Easy enough."

××××

"Barry, you're dumb," insisted Parker, when they finally made it into the CCPD. Licking her ice cream cone, she muttered, "Godzilla would beat Predator's ass into the ground. Godzilla could beat basically anyone you pit him against."

"I fully disagree!" he protested. 

"I will fight you, honestly."

 "I would beat your ass into the ground," he laughed. "No, wait, I'd have Predator beat you for me."

Parker punched his arm. "That's cold."

Barry shared a laugh with her. He allowed her to step out from the elevator first. He bumped into her when she stopped in the doorway. Her fingers quickly folded the sketch into her back pocket. 

He understood the falter when he gained a full view of the CCPD. Men and women in army uniforms covered every inch of the department.

"Hey, guys," greet Joe tensely. "General Eiling is relieving us from the bombing investigation. Give these men everything that is relevant."

"Sure thing, yeah," said Barry. He handed his basket of files to the soldier standing next to Joe. 

The soldier squinted at Parker. "You got anything, ma'am?"

"No."

"You sure?"

Parker brought her hands on her hips. She dared him to search her, knowing it was unlikely for him to take the chance. He was a new recruit, younger than her. Any sign of authority would scare him still. 

"Sorry, ma'am," blushed the man. He left. In his timid exit, he hadn't noticed Barry grab a file within the box. 

Parker graciously curtsied. "Told you I instill terror in the hearts of men."

"You and a few civilians from S.T.A.R. Labs might want to check into that," offered Joe. 

"I think we might," confirmed Barry. 

Parker held out her arm. Barry slipped his arm into hers. Together, they left the building. Barry was relatively surprised when she hailed a cab. 

"There's no way in hell I'm letting you whisk me through the streets of Central City again," she said. "I like breathing, thanks."

"I'll have to do it again, eventually," said Barry. 

"Until that day comes, I would love to keep breathe."

"Noted."