CH.8: Two to take on Zoom

Jay stood in the lab as Cisco held out a device to him. "Ok…what do I do with this?" He examined it closely pondering how this was going to help him defeat Zoom.

"The device is meant to be taken to each hole or portal to Earth 2 and shot into it making it so for a bit of time Zoom will be unable to come back. Now this isn't accounting for other Meta-humans breaking through but Zoom should be kept put till we are ready for him…in theory."

Of course, Jay figured to himself, this is all in theory so Barry and I will be dealing with a speed demon who will chow us in one go. Still he did his best to not shoot down the plan as it was all they had. Caitlin had agreed to Barry's terms and was resting up at her apartment so she would be out of this, which he was pretty glad of seeing how Zoom wouldn't know where to look if it came down to using someone against them. Cisco was a smart kid and he had Wells helping him out so without this plan they'd have to deal with playing the waiting game…a game Zoom thrived on till drawing himself out stronger and wiser.

"One of you will be keeping Zoom busy while the other goes to each hole to ensure Zoom is kept put on Earth 2. Keep in mind if the device is destroyed before the other Flash can accomplish his task Zoom will destroy you both…no pressure." Harry notes.

Jay really enjoyed having this told to him by a man who labeled him a coward and pretty much was responsible for all the meta-humans on their Earth. Still he was right…even with two speedsters like himself and Barry out on the field they were still no match against Zoom even with his speed cut down.

"I will keep Zoom busy while Jay goes to each target to ensure Zoom is put in his place. I imagine with my speed it should help-."

"No Barry…this on me," he looks around the room and can see the concern and bows his head with a soft smile. "I appreciate all you have done for me…but…Zoom is from my Earth and he hurt Caitlin, it is my job with what speed I have left to keep him busy-."

"Jay…if you use what speed you have left there is no telling what will happen to your body," Barry points out, though Jay figured already the consequences of tapping into a source of power that would work against him more then for him.

"Barry…this is your Earth and you are the fastest one alive here. It falls upon you to keep these people safe…I am still just a guest here. Give Barry the device…it is time I face Zoom one more time." Jay watches as Cisco hands Barry the device and he goes to put on his costume…one more time.

"What about Caitlin?" Cisco asks and Jay stops in his steps as he bows his head.

"If all goes well Caitlin doesn't need to know…if something does happen tell her I died a hero. I think…no…I know that is how I would want to be remembered." Jay faced his mortality each day…and no matter how fast one could run they could never outrun their time clock. Heading out he looks at his helmet…the one he had put on so many times braving the dangers of dodging bullets and racing into burning buildings using his hands to blow out flames.

"You really are going through with this aren't you?" Jay doesn't need to turn to know who is standing there. Harrison Wells or Harry as Caitlin called him probably came here to tell him more about his chances.

"Someone has to…and I'd rather it be me facing Zoom than Barry or anyone else. I was a coward for so long after my encounters with Zoom…he was a speed demon, a freak of nature that bore me chills and even in my sleep I can hear his voice. When Zoom…did what he did to Caitlin I was helpless to stop it…no matter what I told my body it was not putting up a fight…because it couldn't. So…say what you are going to say cause I have a date with destiny…a rather ugly date."

Jay waited…he waited for what seemed forever as he got dressed but eventually as he turns around he sees Harrison Wells staring right at him. "You chose to not make a deal with Zoom for the location of my daughter…my daughter Jay! Do you think I would not know? He has her somewhere…and while I should say I understand your decision…until you are a father…you will never know the pain and anguish of everyday she is missing. I will find her Jay…though next time I will be involved."

Jay watches as Harrison leaves unsure what he meant by that last part. He did feel some guilt over his actions and not having told him…but that would be left for another time. Zipping up he heads out to join Barry.

It was evening by the time everything was set. Barry was standing next to him as the two speedsters were preparing for the fight to banish Zoom…at least temporarily. "I take it you haven't told Patty yet about your line of work?"

"Uh no…I haven't quite got around to that yet. I want to keep Patty safe…and if I tell her my secret it could change things between us. The life of the hero is difficult…but the life of someone who is in that hero's circle is hard. You are lucky people see your face…makes things easy I imagine huh?"

Jay laughs a little at that as he stands there rubbing his hands. "Well it does take the mystery out of it all, but yes, people do have an easier time associating with you when you are seen. However…my enemies have been known to target me easier because they can find me…and some of the ones who can use computers…makes buying a coffee quite difficult. The thing is…Patty deserves to know and better from you than someone else."

Barry heaves a sigh but he can tell that he is heavily considering telling her. Just then a dark blur appears before them and he looks to find Zoom standing there. "Two against one…seems a little unfair given my state…but I am game-."

"Your fight is with me Zoom…the other Flash has some prior engagement he needs to tend to…don't you?" He shoots Barry a look and soon he is gone.

"The last time we met you couldn't stand up to defend the woman you love…what makes you think you can beat me now?" Zoom's deep booming voice would usually send him running the other way but his time here had strengthened him.

"It is just you and I Zoom…catch me if you can…again." He summoned what speed he could and as he ran he could hear Zoom's cackle before he is running right alongside him. There is a slight shock running through his system but he chooses to ignore it hoping that Barry succeeds before his body gives out on him…again.

"You will not win…and the moment you kill me the girl dies. Are you so heartless to take that away from him…after he gave you this?" He swipes at him but Jay dodges it as he hurtles to the left knowing to listen in on Barry's directions.

"That is good Jay…I've arrived at the first target…now moving to the second. There are quite a lot of targets so bear with me…"

"Tellme Zoom…of all the people on our Earth…why target Jessie?" Jay holds his chest and then Zoom strikes him sending him flying into a glass window and he rolls about on the ground due to the momentum at which he was running.

Hearing the crunch of glass he looks up to see Zoom standing there. "It all began with Wells…it was his creation that made us what we are. His genius mind and his knowledge of the Meta-humans will help me achieve what I desire…not that I will tell you what that is."

Jay tries to pick himself up but Zoom aims a kick under him sending him rolling along the ground holding his stomach. Blood dribbled down his chin but he refused to give up. "So that is it…you hold a man's daughter hostage so you have him do what you want…is that it?"

"The girl will prove useful…however…due to all these stops along the way her use might end soon." Zoom goes to attack him again but Jay hurtles himself into his body and sends the startled villain through the unbroken window and the two crash into the street pounding into one another as they roll about. Jay manages to land a few licks but that isn't enough to slow him down.

Zoom's face is so close to his…a menacing twisted mask that almost seemed a permanent fixture on him.

"Jay…I am coming your way…it took me a bit but I managed to hit all targets. Just hang in there…"

"Your speed won't save you now…you will die here…alone!" Jay screamed as he felt Zoom reach into his chest and he could feel him nearing his heart.

"Look…you are becoming a broken record here…no one calls out the other's fate but them alone, and frankly, not going to die here…sorry to disappoint!" He headbutted Zoom in close vicinity sending him reeling back and as he felt his hand pull from his heart he clutched at his chest breathing hard.

The two of them were sluggish at best, his feet barely keeping himself up and Zoom was holding his head. In the distance he could barely make Barry as he was heading his way. It was clear that that he wanted him to go that way so he needed to summon what speed he could…even his insides felt awful.

"Zoom…lets end this…follow the leader." Jay races past him and as he hears Zoom roar after him he pumps his arms noting the portal to his home up ahead. However Zoom noticed Barry and as he began to form a circle just a little behind him it didn't take long to realize what move he was doing.

"What is Zoom doing?" Barry calls out to him. Jay looks at Barry and takes a breath.

"Flash…in the time that Zoom has to attack he will be vulnerable…use that time to get him in that hole…do it no matter what happens." Jay can see Barry's confusion and as Zoom hurls the lightning at Barry he uses the last of his speed…and it is his last as he throws himself in front of the lightning and falls before Barry and hits the ground.

It was hard to know what happened after that…he was losing consciousness and the taste of his blood filled his mouth. Lying his head down he felt his body heat up. Looks like Zoom finally got him…at least he died a hero…

A few months passed and Caitlin was sitting by Jay's side. Barry had rushed him here and after Harry looked him over managed to, to the best of his ability put him into a comma to preserve what life there was. Jay was flat lining and Caitlin broke down crying…she had hoped she would never have to suffer through this again. Ronnie had been taken from her…but Jay…she had hoped in her heart that he would not suffer the same fate.

"Caitlin…um…Barry and I were going to get a drink. You coming or…not, I mean if not that is cool and all just throwing it out there." Cisco stood at the door and she smiled softly his way.

"Thanks Cisco…but…I think I will stay here if that is alright. Thanks for the invite…you two go have fun." Caitlin watches him go and she holds Jay's hand doing her best to remain strong. Zoom had thrown lightning into Jay…the very same trick that Jay had taught Barry. Zoom seemed to always be one step ahead…but suffice to say they wouldn't be seeing Zoom again for a long time.

Jay had suffered quite a bit of internal damage and after he used the last of his speed to save Barry…he was almost lost for good. He was stable for now but it was hard to say what to do at this point. Harry told her that there was little more he could do for him…and that perhaps it was time to let him go. Caitlin had slapped him when he said that and refused to let him go…no…she was going to hold out that he would return to her.

"Jay if you can hear this…I am right here. What you did back there…it was risky even for you and I do wish you had consulted me before doing something so rash. Barry has been here to check on you…says you didn't need to do that…but…he is glad you stepped in when you did. He says he is going to talk to Patty…whether he is just saying that or not I am not sure. Everyone here misses you…even Harry who wants you awake soon as possible…and I'm not leaving your side till you wake so you can show him just how much a fighter you are."

She heaves a sigh looking up at the clock. It was late and she had barely slept in her own apartment since finding out about Jay. A single tear ran down her cheek and her body began to shake as she looked down at him sleeping so soundly. Her heart was breaking…her mind was thinking up all ways of saving him but each one came up at only one conclusion. It would be hard moving on from Jay…it honestly was and yet if she continued to hang out here waiting for some kind of miracle…it would be Ronnie all over again.

"Jay…you mean the world to me…and hard as it is to say I need to move on. So you wake up…you hold me in those strong arms of yours and tell me that I need to stay here…to stay with you. Dammit Jay wake up!" She grips his arms screaming at his face. No sign can be seen and she lays her head on his chest.

When she lifts his head and sees nothing she sniffs a bit realizing that was it…if he didn't wake up now why hold out hope? Saying goodbye was never easy…in the world they lived in someone was bound to show up whether from Earth 2 or possibly someone from this Earth who happened to survive through some Meta-human trait or safety that was tripped. Moving a hand through her hair she slowly stands up and looks down on him…one more time.

"Goodbye Jay…sleep tight…I love you." She goes to reach to turn off life support when a hand shoots up reaching for hers.

"It would be a shame to cut out on me too soon…wouldn't you agree?" Caitlin held her chest looking down and seeing Jay staring right back at her.

"Jay!" She throws herself at him and as he grunts she pulls back a bit. "How long were you awake?"

Jay wears that smile of his and as he runs his hand along her cheek she melts into it. "Long enough to know how close I was to dying in my sleep…don't worry I hardly blame you after what I put you through. I could have sworn Zoom killed me…and yet here I lie…with you."

Caitlin leans down kissing his forehead and breathes him in once more. "When Barry called me and let me know what happened…I hurried over fast as I could. Harry and I did all in our power to save you…and having you hooked up seemed the only option after doing what we could. You scared me you know?"

Jay nods his head and reaches up to pull her close to him. "I scared myself…but…I am still here and I'm never leaving your side again." Jay goes to kiss her lips and she sinks into him as she lies on top of him. Relief flooded her body and she held onto him tight…never letting go. Zoom maybe out of the picture for now…and he may return soon…but for now Central City could breathe a sigh of peace…and it was well deserved.

Authors note: I hope you all enjoyed this tale of love and strength. Jay managed to overcome his cowardice and Caitlin opened her heart to love again. I love these two, I really do. And while this chapter could have ended many ways I chose the happier ending. Now like the Flash I will rush off. Take care everyone.