Infection: Part One

How hard could this be? She had seen plenty of people being stitched up, she could do this. After all, she was practically a genius.

Jesse Wells was sitting on the bathroom toilet. The room was vaguely familiar to one at STAR labs on her earth. Around her laid dozens of soiled bandages and other first aid utensils. She had discarded her shirt as she entered the small bathroom. Blood dripped from her side and she hissed in pain.

Hours ago, her dad had rescued her from Zoom's clutches and now she was on a whole new Earth with people she didn't even know. Her dad had wanted Dr. Snow to examine her right away, but Jesse refused; telling her dad she was fine and that the doctor needed to be left alone.

In reality, Jesse was far from fine; traumatized, bruised, and bloody from the months Zoom had held her captive. Her current state was caused before her dad had come into the lair. Barry had been knocked unconscious by Zoom, leaving Jesse at the evil monster's mercy.

He had phased through the cell with ease and she felt her heart beat quicken. It wasn't the first time he'd hurt her, but it was the first time he had drawn blood. No one noticed that the young woman was injured and in an odd way she was thankful for that. Jesse didn't want her dad to see what had happened to her.

She shook her head of the awful memory and focused on the task at hand. With a deep, shaking breath Jesse threaded the needle. As she was lifting it to her side, ready to attempt the stitches a knock sounded at the door.

"Jesse?" Came a female voice.

She bit her lip in frustration, "Yes?"

"It's Caitlin, uh Dr. Snow. Your dad wanted me to run some tests. I also have some fresh clothes out here for you." Caitlin called through the closed door.

"Honestly, I'm fine! You really don't have to run any tests." Jesse said calmly, hoping that she could forgo the checkup and not have to show anyone what exactly happened the months she was held captive.

A sigh came from the other side, "I think it'd be best if we did. Just to be safe."

Jesse wanted to scream, "I can decide for myself. I would much rather just go to sleep."

"Alright, I'll tell Dr. Wells. I do still have these clothes though." The young female doctor stated.

"Right!" Jesse unlocked the door and opened it a crack, "Thank you." She took the clothes and shut the door quickly, making sure to lock it back. She waited until she heard the click of heals further and further away.

Sitting the clothes on the sink she decided that she would be better off watching herself in the mirror while she stitched. Once again she grasped the needle in her fingers and brought it to her skin. As soon as it had passed through once she let out a mangled cry of pain. Jesse couldn't take the risk of having anyone over hear her, so she bit down on a wash cloth.

She continued to pass the needle through her skin until the wound was stitched closed. She let the cloth drop from her mouth and closed her eyes. Taking plenty of deep breaths, Jesse gathered up some of the unsoiled bandages and placed them on the slightly less bloody wound. Her hand holding them in place, she bent over to grab the medical tape. Jesse was extra careful not to pull on the stitches she had made.

Slowly and with gentle care she taped the bandages to her ribcage. The wound had run right along the side of her body, almost six inches in length. Jesse wrapped the tape around her small frame many times until she was sure that it would stay in place.

Jesse let out a long breath as she dropped the rest of her torn clothing to the floor. Caitlin had provided her with a pair of skinny jeans, a STAR labs tee, and a light zip up hoodie. She was grateful to the doctor as she slipped into the clothes.

The blood-filled bandages, still scattered around the floor, needed to be thrown away before anyone found them. Searching underneath the sink, she found a garbage bag. Jesse set to work cleaning up the small bathroom and tossing her trash into the bag. She cleaned and sterilized the needle, placing it back into the first aid kit she had found in the cupboard. Making sure everything was exactly as she had found it, Jesse tossed the last of her ruined things into the garbage bag. She tied it tightly and unlocked the door.

Jesse hadn't expected to be met by angry blue eyes, eyes that she knew all to well. They startled her, causing the garbage bag to drop from her hand. "Dad." She managed to squeak out, suddenly becoming nervous as to why he was so angry.

"What do you think you're doing?" Harrison spoke, anger radiating from each word.

"I changed my clothes and now I'm going to discard of the ones I had on."

He pulled his glasses off of his nose, rubbing his eyes with his other hand, "No, why did you tell Snow that you didn't need to be examined?"

Jesse sighed, "Because I don't. I'm fine. I'm perfectly intact and breathing. There's no reason to fuss."

"No reason to fuss? Jesse, you were held by Zoom for months! There is no telling what he did to you!" Her dad exclaimed.

"He didn't do anything to me. He never touched me." The lie was out before she had time to stop it.

Harrison gave his daughter a questioning look, "He didn't touch you once? He never hurt you?"

She shoved her shaking hands into the back pockets of her jeans. Jesse could feel the pull of the stitches as she did so. "No, he knew if he hurt me that he could never get what he wanted. Other than being a little hungry and tired, I'm fine, Dad." He nodded, not exactly reassured by what his daughter told him. "So, where can I take care of this at?" Jesse picked up the garbage bag and waited for her dad to respond.

"Right, I can take care of that for you if you want to go get some rest." He stated, reaching for the black bag.

"No!" Jesse pulled away too quickly and it caused Harrison to reexamine his only child, "I mean, it's fine. I can do it. Just tell me where."

With a brow quirked, Harrison said, "You can leave it in the hallway, the maintenance will take care of it for you."

She nodded her head and walked away from her dad. With each step she took the pain from her side became more and more excruciating. Finally reaching the hallway outside of the sleeping rooms, Jesse dropped the bag. She wanted nothing more than to go to sleep now.

The bed was warm to her shivering body as she dropped into it. Curling up underneath the sheets, she shut her eyes. That's when she saw him, his dark suit and blue lightening right in front of her. Her breath hitched in her throat as her eyes shot open.

"He isn't here. Zoom can't get to you." She reminded herself. Jesse tried to keep her eyes open, but it was no use. Exhaustion set in and before she knew she was falling into a deep sleep.