Barry watched as Caitlin struggled against Killer Frost. Struggled against the madness that her meta powers were inducing, the darkness that was threatening to swallow up her light. He had let her out of the pipeline cell, trusting that the woman he's known for the past two and a half years wouldn't hurt him. She had always believed in him and it was time for him to repay the debt, to stand by her when things got difficult. He felt his heart hammering just underneath the thick blade of ice his Caitlin was gripping in a shaking fist.

'My Caitlin?' Barry thought. 'When did I decide she was mine?'

"You can't do it Cait, because underneath all that cold, you're still you."

Barry prayed his words would break through the madness clouding her thinking. He was trying to be as soothing and as firm as possible, wanting to see brown eyes looking back at him instead of blue. He could also read the fear in those unnaturally icy blue eyes, drowning out the warm brown they usually were. He knew Caitlin was terrified of the power growing within her, feeding off the emotions she struggled to keep in check. She had always been one to keep a tight reign on who she was, a calm head to his impetuousness. He kept silent, eyes searching hers. Begging her to come back to him.

Suddenly Caitlin dropped the ice weapon, eyes thawing back to their normal espresso brown. Blinking back tears she whispered,

"Barry-?"

She launched herself at him, burying her face in his neck. His heart lurched as his arms wrapped around her tight. He could feel her shaking against him, crying and murmuring she was so sorry over and over. Slowly he felt her cold body beginning to warm back up.

"I've got you." He breathed, running his hand over her hair, thankful to see the white streaks melting back into her normal auburn color. "It'll be ok."

For long moments Barry soaked up the feeling of having Caitlin back in his arms and in his life. He was pouring as much comfort and warmth into his hug as possible, rocking them from side to side gently. Eventually he felt her pull back, smiling up at him shyly, cheeks damp from her tears. Fishing out his handkerchief he handed it to her as he led her out of the pipeline and back up to the cortex. Passing through a side lab he let her pick up a pair of power dampening cuffs, watching her snap them on quickly and then cover them with her sleeves. They were quiet, not needing to talk and rehash what had happened.

Like he had told her earlier, they had been through too much together to give up on each other now. Countless nights in the med lab, dozens of wounds patched up, more comforting touches that he could recall. They shared something intangible, light and unbreakable. It was a unique bond, and one he had never stopped to examine. But the events of the last few days were making him ponder things he never had before.

Caitlin was terrified of what she was about to face. In the cortex waited the only people in her life that mattered to her, and she couldn't bear the thought that she had disappointed them somehow. She was weak, unable to fight off the dark alter ego her powers brought out, and she was ashamed. She didn't deserve to stay and be a part of Team Flash. She just wanted to run away and shut the world out. To give into the cold.

"Caitlin." Barry put a hand on her arm to stop her, touch scaldingly warm and addicting. "Wait."

His green eyes were deep and concerned, face intense. He kept his hand on her arm, just one of the small comforts that had developed between them over the years. She wasn't sure when things had started between them, a small touch here, a glance there, a hug to comfort. It did her heart good to know that Barry still saw her as Caitlin, not Killer Frost. That he still had faith in her.

"I'll be okay Barry." Caitlin rested her other hand on his chest, right over his heart. It was acknowledgement of what almost happened but didn't. His normally fast heartbeat racing faster than normal, practically vibrating his chest. As his personal physician she knew she should be worried, but she simply chalked it up to the close call they just had.

'That's all it is, Caitlin.' She told herself. 'Nothing more.'

"I just need time."

"I know." Barry sighed, fingers flexing on her arm, sending another wave of warmth into her fuzzy head. "Just know you aren't alone. I - we, are all here for you. Don't think you have to shut us out when things get tough."

"I won't, I promise." Impulsively Caitlin hugged him again, quick and hard. Foolishly her heart leapt a bit when he stumbled over his words, making sure to include the entire team. His phrasing though let her know that he cared first and foremost. "Thank you for believing in me."

Pulling back before he had a chance to hug her back, Caitlin forced herself to keep walking. All she wanted to do was curl up with a warm cup of tea and a thick blanket and forget for a little bit that she had these powers inside her. Secretly, pushed so deep as to not break her heart, she wished that it was a pair of warm strong arms wrapped around her instead. Half formed dreams from years past struggled to bubble up to the surface. Relentlessly she pushed them down, burying them under the drive to figure out her powers.

'He's with Iris.' Caitlin reminded herself for the millionth time as she heard him follow her, sneakers squeaking slightly against the floor. 'They are destined. Star crossed. You are meant to be alone, just like always.'