Chapter 19

Barry felt himself stir, his body aching. He groaned softly, hand coming up to rub his eyes. He rolled onto his stomach, pressing his feverish skin to the cold ground. He lay there for a few minutes, eyes closed as he enjoyed not moving his exhausted body, taking in the cold from the ground.

Someone nudged him with their boot. "Wake up, kid." Barry stifled a groan, swatting the boot away. "Let me sleep, Snart," he complained.

Suddenly, hot fire burned his ankle and Barry yelped, sitting up quickly. He glared at Mick who had his gun out. The man gave him a quizzical look. "What? Just trying to help."

"I called Joe," Oliver said, and Barry turned around to see all three criminal's tied up and gagged. Oliver walked over to him. "What's that on your ankle?"

Barry glanced at the device that wouldn't let him be apart from Axel or it would explode. "Something to keep me here. Find it's counterpart."

"That's what-" Oliver glanced at Snart. "Vibe said."

Barry sat up with a grimace, his head swarming. He didn't know whether the antidote worked, but he'd stopped shaking. His body still felt like hell though and everything in him hurt, especially the wound on his stomach and neck. "He knows everything," Barry told Oliver quietly, leaning back on the wall. He stretched his legs, joints popping. "How long was I out?"

"Three minutes," Oliver said with a shrug. "Your team called Joe and he's on his way with the police. You need to stay here till they do."

Barry processed this information, confused. He felt like he'd slept an hour or something. He glanced up at Oliver tiredly. "Can't we just say the Arrow rescued me?"

Oliver shook his head. "Yeah, but the Arrow doesn't abduct people."

Barry sighed, nodding. He glanced at Cyrus who's face was bruised. "You beat him up badly."

Oliver snorted, nodding at Snart who was pocketing his things. "He did. Who the hell is he by the way? Diggle said he's a criminal. I don't trust him."

"Yeah well-" Barry touched his neck tentatively, wincing. "I don't know myself. Who's Sara?"

"Laurel's sister," Oliver explained.

"Well then I guess you can trust them if they're with her," Barry said with a shrug. He was surprised Snart had actually come, considering he said he was going on an expedition. Barry wondered what that had to with Laurel's sister.

"Sara hangs with the wrong people, though they might have been recruited by Rip. I swear they've tried to kill me several times." Oliver turned back to him and frowned. "You okay? Still look pale. Did the antidote work? Feel different?"

Barry clutched his hot forehead. "I don't know, let's hope it did." With support from Oliver and the wall, Barry managed to stand up. He turned to Mick who was pick-pocketing the trio. He pulled out a gold chocolate from Axel's pocket. "What are you guys still doing here?"

"Mick insisted on staying," Snart said lazily, standing by the door as if he was on his way out. "I suggest we freeze them, but your friend disagrees." He tilted his head at Oliver. "The guy who killed thousands in another city."

Oliver rolled his eyes. "Killing isn't an option."

Barry opened his mouth, but Snart jammed his cold gun in his tight holster. "Keep the hero talk at bay. I knew you wouldn't give in anyway. Now Mick, let's leave before the cops come."

Mick grunted and looked up. "I still say we kill hood guy and send his dead body as a present to the Flash." His eyes lit up in excitement at the idea.

"I need to leave too, Barry," Oliver said, picking his bow up. Just then, Diggle walked inside. He nodded at Barry. "Good to see that you're well. The cops are close."

Oliver nodded. He cast one last dirty glance at Snart before running out into the darkness of the night. Diggle smiled at Barry before leaving too.

Barry ran a hand through his hair. "What? You guys going to stay here till police comes?" He tried to smirk, but his neck hurt so badly. It wasn't the same excruciating pain he'd experienced the last days, but more of a cramp-like one.

"Mick, he's right, the cops are coming," Snart drawled. Mick ruffled Cyrus's hair as he stole his knife and watch.

Barry looked down at the device on his ankle. The police would take hours to get it off and he was in no condition to fase through it. "Hey Snart. Remember you said, I owe you?"

Snart narrowed his eyes, nodding.

"Well, the Arrow was the one who saved me," Barry said, hoping the guy wouldn't leave without doing one last thing. He desperately wanted to take a shower and stuff his face with food, but the longer that thing was on his ankle, the more time would it take before he could do the things he desired the most at the moment.

"And your point is?" Mick asked, walking over to Snart, looking satisfied with the things he'd taken.

Barry held out his ankle. "I don't owe you yet."

Snart rolled his eyes. "Mick, get in the van. I'll be there in a minute." He glanced at the trio. "Throw them out where the cops can see em. And if they struggle-"

"I'll show them ma lady," Mick said with a grin, running a hand down his gun. He grabbed the ropes that tied Cyrus, James and Axel together.

"Hurry up because the cops are coming," Mick mocked, walking out the door, dragging the trio with him.

"Super speed not fixing that?" Snart questioned with a smug smirk, pulling his gun out. Barry rolled his eyes. "Not at the moment. And if you don't do this, I'll run you to my underground prison."

Snart raised an eyebrow at that. Bad move, Barry thought. Snart was probably the proudest person he knew. The guy walked over to him, powering his gun on. Once it did, he pulled the trigger, ice engulfed Barry's ankle and then down his foot. Barry gritted his teeth, pulling back. "Just the ankle, you idiot!"

Snart shrugged carelessly. He locked eyes with Barry. "Oops." Turning around, he walked to the door. "And now you definitely owe me." And with that, he left the building.

Angry, Barry looked for the nearest rock. Once he found it, he broke the ice off around his ankle, the metal cracking as well. Barry lifted his foot and brought it hard on the ground. He cursed under his breath, feeling the urge to kill Snart. Ice would prevent his super speedy recovery which had already delayed by the sickness. Barry groaned, burying his head in his hands. And to top it off, he began to hear sirens come closer. Once the police saw the ice on his foot, they would know Captain Cold was here. Barry smirked. Good, let them. But then he realized he'd be questioned and interrogated. He gritted his teeth, standing up and stomping on the ground to get rid of the ice. Snart, the bastard, never seemed to do anything without a plan it seemed.

Saying that the cops were shocked would be an understatement. Joe bursted inside, gun at the ready. One he saw there was no threat, he ran over to Barry, pulling him in a tight hug. Barry gritted his teeth, limbs still sore and stomach pounding with pain. "Ah easy, Joe."

"What the hell happened here?" Officer M asked, jabbing his thumb outside. "Did the Flash show up?"

Barry nodded. "Yeah, he and the Arrow freed me."

"You look horrible, let's get you up," James said and Barry shot him a pained smile. "Trust me, I don't feel better either."

He turned to Joe who was examining him head to toe. "God, Barry, I've never seen you so pale. What's the last thing you ate?"

Barry knitted his brows. "Biscuits, I think."

"Come on, let's get you home," Joe said and Barry stumbled as he tried to walk. Everything in him hurt and he stifled a groan, burying his face in Joe's shoulder. "I can carry you," Joe offered.

"Don't you dare," Barry mumbled and Joe chuckled. Barry threw an arm over his shoulder for support and James walked forward to help. "What happened here anyway? Did they take you because of Joe or the Flash?"

"Both," Barry said, voice strained as he walked out the building.

"Dude, you could have just given them what they wanted, the Flash can look after himself," one officer said worriedly as he looked at Barry. Barry noticed Cyrus and the others getting handcuffed and put in the car.

"Yeah well, I didn't have what they wanted," he said quietly, clenching his jaw as he sat down in one of the cars. His head was spinning now and he felt utterly exhausted. Ignoring all the questions, Barry rested his head on the window and closed his eyes, breathing evenly.

It didn't take long for him to catch up on sleep.

Late late late short, I know :/ School started and I've been caught up in it. Sorry!

Thank you everybody for following this book in it's tiny journey and for having so many positive words to say. Your comments make my day! (: