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Haylee had accompanied Barry to Star Labs after he attended a homicide crime scene where someone had been fried. Haylee had to fight the urge to deny any involvement remembering that only Jesse and Cisco knew about her abilities. "Facial recognition software... it's designed for archeologists, and it should help us ID your crispy corpse," Cisco explained to Barry while Haylee stood beside Dr Wells, the man in the wheelchair was beyond glad she knew the truth.

"The question is, how did he get fried in the first place? Is there a metahuman out there that can control electricity?" Barry asked them, Haylee and Cisco shared a glance before Cisco focused on the screen in front of him. "It'd take a serious electrostatic discharge to cause that level of tissue damage," Haylee spoke up before Harrison could, the scientist nodded at her with an impressed look though he knew why the girl had taken a liking for electricity.

"Guys, according to the software, there's an 82% chance your victim looked like this," Cisco told him as he leaned back in his seat allowing Barry to move closer to the screen. "82%?" Barry asked with a raised brow. "Hey, it was zero when you walked in here, pal," Cisco reminded him making Haylee laugh. "Can you cross-reference that with the DMV database, maybe get a name?" Haylee asked Cisco who nodded.

"This software can do just about anything now that Felicity programmed it," Cisco said causing Barry to look at Haylee awaiting the question but she didn't even look at him. "Wait! Felicity programmed it?" Haylee moved over to the other side of Cisco. "Her programming is amazing, I worked with her at Queen Consolidated assisting the Arrow with a few things," Haylee openly stated, Cisco smiled and let her have open access to the keys.

"Casey Donahue. No wife, no kids. He used to work at the Petersburg electrical substation," Haylee read out to everyone before leaning back in her seat. "That can't be a coincidence," Caitlin expressed as she looked closer to the ID. "That's weird," Cisco spoke gaining Haylee's attention. "Someone just used his ID to enter the substation, the Petersburg grid is experiencing a power drain right now," Caitlin told them.

"Barry, be... careful," Harrison advised but he was already in his suit and out the door. "Is he always like that?" Haylee asked them. "Yes, he is," Caitlin replied with a sigh. "I'll be changing that, he's too impulsive and that's supposed to be my job in this relationship... uh, friendship," Haylee corrected with a slight chuckle before they focused on Barry in case he needed any assistance.

"I'm pretty sure this is a restricted area," Barry's voice came through the comms making Haylee shake her head. Is this what Oliver felt working with me?... Haylee thought to herself. "Easy there, zappy," Barry continued while Haylee pulled her knees to her chest, now would be a great time for Glitch to get involved. "Whoa, what was that?" Cisco gasped while Haylee watched the screen tracking Barry's body through the suit.

"Barry, what's happening?" Haylee asked, her heart was racing. A scream ripped through the comms making Haylee's heart race, her eyes began to glow their vibrant blue as she glitched off of the seat and to the other side of the three scientists. Caitlin's eyes widened while Harrison watched her in awe then he noticed the bracelet on her wrist, the older scientists smiled softly at the sight of it. "Haylee?" Cisco asked knowing that she was reacting to Barry's pain.

"Get out of there!" Caitlin shouted to Barry while currents of electricity zapped over Haylee's body, the lights within the room began to brighten. "Run, Barry," Harrison said through the comms. "Haylee, let it happen," Harrison advised and within a few seconds, Haylee had glitched into the building electrical source and found herself travelling through the power lines until she reached the Petersburg substation.

She landed perfectly in front of the metahuman, her eyes glowing as she shot her hands out sending bolts of electricity into him. The metahuman went flying back at the impact of her power allowing Haylee the chance to run over to Barry, the speedster looked up at her with wide eyes having witnessed the whole thing. "I'll explain later," Haylee whispered with a look of guilt as she knelt down to him. "It's okay, Hayles. I'm not mad," Barry assured her breathlessly.

Haylee went to help him up, but Barry pulled her in for a kiss which made her gasp allowing him to deepen the kiss. They pulled away, Barry resting his forehead on hers with a smile that slowly morphed into a frown. "My speed... it's gone," Barry told her but Haylee shrugged. "You'll be okay, Barr. We'll help you," Haylee assured him, swiftly pecking his lips before helping him up and leading him out of the substation.

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"He runs slow even for a normal person," Cisco openly stated. "Yeah, running was his skill but he was never really that fast," Haylee added before looking down due to Caitlin's slight glare at the two. "You can't just lose your powers, okay?" Caitlin announced incredulously. "Your DNA was transformed by the Particle Accelerator blast. There's no way to untransform DNA," Caitlin continued as she looked up at Barry.

"Yeah, tell that to the Uber driver who charged me 65 bucks to bring us here," Barry answered them as he sat down. "I told her we had just come from a children's party and he dressed as the cities hero for the kid," Haylee explained as she sat with Dr Wells, the scientist was working with her to create little balls of energy rather than the use of large bolts of lightning that could kill someone.

"So we were wrong," Harrison expressed as Haylee successfully created a ball of energy. "This metahuman doesn't electrocute people; he siphons electricity thereby removing your power," Harrison explains to them. "Then why did my electricity harm him?" Haylee asked Harrison with furrowed brows. "I believe your electric current was on another level of concentration that this metahuman couldn't siphon," Harrison answered her.

"All right, do we think this is temporary or--" Barry trailed off as he looked to Dr Wells who shared the worried expression. "We have to run tests," Dr Wells tells him while Haylee looks to Cisco and Caitlin with a saddened expression. "Yeah, I've got to warn Joe," Barry said as he stood up, looking to Haylee who grabbed her coat and pulled it on. "Barry, we will find a way to restore your speed. I promise you that," Harrison affirmed.

"I'll be back later, Dr Wells," Haylee smiled at the scientist, he returned the gesture before Haylee hugged Caitlin and Cisco before following after Barry. "Barr!" Haylee called as she glitched over to him making his eyes widen. "I've got my car," Haylee informed him as she held out her keys. Barry smiled at her before throwing his arm around her shoulders, "So, what else can you do?" Haylee smiled at Barry before explaining everything about her powers, answering any questions he had on their way to the CCPD.

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"So you know..." Joe said to Haylee under her glare, it was a fake glare and Barry knew that, Haylee just wanted to mess with Joe. "I'm not mad," Haylee shrugged with a teasing grin making Joe sigh. "Because of this," Haylee let her eyes glow vibrant within Barry's lab. "So... You knowing the truth was a better choice," Joe expressed with a sigh of defeat. "It's alright, you were just protecting me, Dad. Uh..." Haylee lowered her gaze at the term that left her mouth.

Barry smiled as Joe's smile widened, his eyes were glassy. "Of course, baby. I will always protect my children," Joe assured as he hugged the girl. After the sweet moment between Joe and Haylee, Barry told Joe about the metahuman and the fact he was "powerless". Joe picked up Barry's mug and dropped it in front of him, the speedster didn't catch it causing it to shatter on the ground. "You didn't catch it," Joe said while Barry looked at him with wide eyes, Haylee laughing in the background.

"I loved that mug," Barry replied to him as Haylee walked over to the seated genius, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and rested her head on top of his. "It's okay, I'll get you a new mug," Haylee assured him as he melted into her embrace. "And what part of "a metahuman stole my speed" didn't you understand?" Barry asked Joe who was too busy focusing on the closeness between Haylee and Barry.

"Barry, there's no part of anything you can do that I ever understand," Joe answered him making Haylee furrow her brows. "What does Dr Wells say?" Joe asked Barry as he leaned against the table. "He's working on it," Barry informed him with a slight shrug. "Barry, you have to get your speed back," Joe stated. "People in this city need protecting, and if you don't get your speed back, how the hell are we gonna keep them safe?" Joe asked him.

"We'll as a backup if we don't find a solution, which is a low percentage considering the number of people working on this, you can train me and I can take over until we find a way," Haylee expressed with a wide smile. "That's a good point," Barry answered, he felt uneasy with her playing hero but he couldn't see himself getting in the way of her protecting the city. "Joe, the meta who stole my speed, he burned up the body we saw in the alley," Barry informed Joe.

"You need to tell the police not to confront him, he's dangerous," Haylee warned Joe. "Who's dangerous?" Iris asked as she walked into the lab sending a smile towards all three occupants. "No one, just some thief," Joe told Iris who was raising a brow at Haylee, the girl still hugging Barry from behind, which wasn't uncommon but Iris could tell something was different about the action. "Well, criminals better watch out," Iris said with a smile at Haylee.

"Cops in Central City are the best there are, and if you can't protect this city, dad, I know The Flash will, right Haylee?" Iris openly stated with a wide smile. "What if he can't? What if he's gone?" Barry asks Iris before Haylee could speak up. "Gone?" Iris asked with furrowed brows, she turned her gaze to Haylee knowing the girl had a clear love for the city hero. "Yeah, or maybe he's just done, or maybe it's like whatever he could do before, he can't do anymore," Barry rambled making Iris more confused than before.

"Huh?" Iris looked between them with a confused expression. "Barr, shut up..." Haylee whispered into Barry's ear before standing up straight, not noticing the way a shiver soared down his spine from her warm breath. "He just means, The Flash and I were supposed to meet last night, as you know but he didn't show up, he did leave a message saying he was having some personal issues that needed his attention. So Barry is just concerned he may be too distracted," Haylee explained.

Barry and Joe shared an impressed look with Haylee's excuse and Iris bought it instantly. "Oh, I understand. I hope everything works out, 'cause I do admire The Flash but I know how much he means to you, Haylee," Iris expressed causing Haylee to blush lightly. "Yeah, uh... Barry, we've got somewhere to be," Haylee patted his shoulder before kissing Joe's cheek. "I'll see you later, iris," Haylee hugged Iris before she and Barry made their way out of the lab.

"I definitely needed your skills sooner," Barry expressed to Haylee as he lightly bumped her shoulder making her laugh. "Trust me, I know that. Felicity's terrible excuse on Trivia night was kind of hilarious to me," Haylee told him, the two laughed before Haylee turned to see a man in cuffs that made her gasp. "Isn't that William Tockman a.k.a The Clock King?" Haylee whispered to Barry reminding him about her obsession with true crime.

"That's a quality timepiece, young man," William said to Barry while smiling sweetly at Haylee who mentally cursed at herself for almost fangirling over a criminal. "Oh, uh, thanks," Barry stuttered out before grabbing Haylee's hand and pulling her towards him. "They took mine, all of them," William stated with a broken expression. "I guess you shouldn't have done whatever it is you did," Barry replied to him before pulling Haylee away. The duo out of the CCPD and left to go to Star Labs in hopes to restore Barry's speed.

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Author Note
I'm loving this little clingy/flirty side of their relationship considering they aren't officially together, it's kind of that classic teenage flirty stage. I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

(I'm pretty happy with the flow of updates coming from this story; I just wanted to let you know that this is book one, therefore it will only contain season one. Also, when Barry and Haylee are finally together, I will be writing original content to build more on their relationship rather than sticking to the canon script. Also, I will be writing original scenes between Haylee and Caitlin, Cisco, Eddie, Joe... etc. So if you have any ideas, let me know!)

-Rose <3
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