A/N: Woooooowwwwww, what an amazing response to the last chapters, you guys really are the best. Come all in Canada so I can hug each of you! Thanks!

Like I announced yesterday, I finally wrote 2 different endings for that story. I'm posting one here and the second ending is going to be released in a 'one-shot story' that I'll surely called ''The Darkest Hour - Alternate ending'' or something like that. Make sure you follow me if you wanna be alerted when it will come up. It will probably be before the end of the week.

''Captain?'' Barry froze, looking like a deer caught in the headlights. ''Can expl…''

Turning his head to look at his friends, he silently mouthed 'Suit' to them; Singh just couldn't find out his secret identity.

'Please tell me someone hid it.'

''Don't bother, I know. '' Answered Singh, as if he was reading his employee's mind. ''I know about your little night job.''

The panic rising in Barry's face could've been funny if it wasn't for the risk of seeing him try to flee at Superspeed in his condition. His heartbeat and blood pressure were rising alarmingly fast on the monitors.

''If you could stop stressing my patient, that'd be great.'' Said Caitlin, accusingly looking at the Captain for taking pauses at the worst moments.

''As the police captain, I can't say I approve of some of your outside-the-law actions you've taken in the past couple of years and the repercussions your night activities are having on your job. '' Seriously stated Captain Singh, as Barry just stood there frozen in shock. ''But-'' Continued the Captain. ''-as a Central City citizen, I want to say; Thank You, Flash for what you're doing '' He finished his last sentence with a wide smile, his serious expression disappeared in an instant.

''So…you won't sell me out?'' Nervously asked Barry, needing to clarify the situation.

''Your secret is safe with me.'' David stretched his arm and offered his hand, one that Barry gratefully shook with the little strength he had left.

''Now, you rest. Consider that an order from your boss and a requirement if you don't want me to give all of your case files to Julian.'' Despite the severe tone of voice, everyone in the room knew the soft spot the Captain had for his employee.

To be honest, sleep and rest was the only think Barry wanted since waking up. His headache wasn't getting any better and his stomach was still on the edge of rebelling again, but his pride was too strong to admit it out loud. Under these conditions, it didn't took much convincing, Barry was more than happy to take on the offer and sink back into his pillow, helped by his friends.

***FLASHFLASHFLASH***

The next time Barry woke up, in the middle of the night, his medical room wasn't nearly as crowded. In fact, the only other person in the room was Oliver Queen, watching over his friend with the sharp look of an eagle. Strangely, Barry had absolutely no memory of the man arriving at the lab, or in Central City for that matter, when did he arrived?

''Hey.'' Said the young CSI, doing his best to smile.

''Welcome back, Barry.'' Greeted the vigilante.

''What are you doing here?''

While Barry's throat was still very much sore, it sure felt amazing to have regained the ability to form full sentences without having spikes trying to pierce your windpipe anymore. Thinking about it, Barry also realized that his whole body was a lot better and the pain in his limbs wasn't so bad anymore.

''Saving you, again. What else?''

Of course, now everything was making sense. Who else would've been able to catch the poisoner? He should've known Oliver was behind it, it was so obvious now that Barry's mind wasn't completely foggy anymore and that his brain wasn't trying to explode inside his skull. There was still one thing that wasn't making sense; how could Oliver come to town, stop the bad guy and bring a blood sample for Caitlin to make a cure in barely a couple of hours?

''I don't…get it. How long have you been here?''

Thankfully, Oliver did not need much more to connect the dots and understand what Barry was trying to say, to the speedster's joy who wasn't feeling like explaining everything in his still exhausted state.

''Barry, you've been unconscious for a whole day. It's going to be morning, Thursday morning, in a couple of hours. What you remember at the bank was on Tuesday.''

''A ….full day?'' That surely explained why everyone had been so worried. ''How? How close was-''

''At one point, your team thought for sure you weren't going to make it, Barry. You weren't even breathing on your own for most of the night. You were barely alive at all.'' Brutal truth, of course. It was Oliver for you.

''Oh.'' Whispered the speedster, not knowing what else he was supposed to say.

''You need to stop doing that, Barry.' I can't keep on dropping everything and leave my team to come help you.'' Despite the seriousness of the words and the way they were said, Barry knew the Green Arrow well enough to know when he was hiding his emotions. Now was one of these moments. Even when it was only the two of them, Oliver just couldn't help himself but hide how he cared about his friend.

''I'll do my best.'' Answered Barry, half-joking while really hoping it wasn't going to happen again. Why were these things always happening to him?

Alright, maybe because he was always looking for trouble. Or was it trouble always running after him? Probably a bit of both.

''I'm sorry I had you rushing all the way here…'' Sincerely apologized Barry. ''But, I'm glad you are.''

''Don't worry about it. I'll always be there for you. '' Warmly assured Star City's Vigilante.

Both men just looked at each other in deep understanding, without needing to say one more word. Their world, their job, will always as dangerous as it get, but they knew they'll always be able to count on each other in rough time.

***FLASHFLASHFLASH***

It still took another full day before Barry was even allowed to leave the lab and get back home and two other days to be fully recovered from his ordeal. While he certainly didn't miss sharing his workspace with Julian, it was driving him crazy to be forced to wait at home and recuperate. As much as he loved everyone, he had to admit that they really were all starting to play a tad too much with his patience as they were all treating him like he was about to break at any second. Every moment alone where he wasn't being asked if he was ok or feeling sick was refreshing. There was no denying the bliss Barry was experimenting as he was lazily watching some Netflix on the sofa, on his own, after being able to convinced both Iris and Joe to go work. Even Wally finally agreed to go back to school and stop babysitting him around.

The moment was short-lived as a knocking sound made itself heard on the door. Really? Grumbling and shutting the TV off, the speedster reluctantly got out of the couch and walked to the door. Money was on Caitlin, or maybe Cisco. Or both? Peeking in the door's window, he got his confirmation; Cisco.

''Joe called you?'' He asked the second he opened the door, without wasting time on a hello. ''Or was it Iris?'' He still took a few steps back to let his friend enter.

''It's all me. '' Truthfully said Cisco, walking inside, looking pitiful. Pitiful enough to make Barry let go of his emotional walls.

''You ok? '' He asked, softening his tone.

''I wanted to apology. ''

''For….what? '' Answered Barry, frowning in confusion, leading his friend into the living room. Whatever was coming, it sounded serious.

''What I said, last week, about my brother. Pushing you. The things I said to you…I'm sorry.'' Said Cisco, looking down as he sat down.

Oh that's right, to be honest, with everything happening in the last couple of days, Barry didn't had much time to think about this. Now it was coming back; why he stayed away from the lab for days or why he went to this robbery without his suit and his com system. Everything was making sense. Well, almost everything.

''I don't get it.'' He said, sitting down next to his friend. ''As much as I can't stand us fighting, I should be the one apologizing. I did, in fact, apologized many times, but I know that there's nothing I can say to fix my mistakes. Nothing I can do to bring Dante back. ''

''Look, Barry, how long have we known each other? 2 years?''

2 years? Only 2 years? It seemed such a short amount of time while it felt like they've known each other forever.

''Yeah, more or less.''

''In that time, I've come to know what kind of person you are, what you really stand for. You never do anything with bad intention, you just make mistakes, like all of us. I'm sorry I was so mad at you.''

Barry just stayed still, in shock,

''Don't takes this the wrong way, but why? Why are you telling me all of this now? '' He finally asked.

''Because of what just happened. You almost died, man. You have no idea how close it came and all I could think of was that the last thing I did to you; scream and shove you. You almost died, thinking I hate you.'' Tearfully said Cisco. ''You went inside that bank all alone because of me, didn't you? ''

Oh Cisco, what was Barry supposed to say? His friend wasn't wrong on that one.

''Look man, I didn't mean to hurt you, I thought it would be the best for you not having me around for some time.'' Admitted Barry.

Barry acknowledging that the engineer's theory was spot on had the effect of a punch in the guts as Cisco breathed out and a silent tear of guilt started cascading down his cheek.

''Hey, look at me. '' Added the speedster. ''What do you say we give this another shot? I could come back to work at the lab and we could put everything behind us, slowly.''

Vibe looked straight in his friend's eyes, pondering how much of it was sincere, until he brusquely changed his attitude and wiped his wet eyes.. ''Yeah, I'd like that.''

''Come here.'' Said the speedster, leaning forward for a hug. Seem like all of that pain he went through hadn't been for nothing.

''You're the best friend I've ever had. I can't lose you.'' Said Cisco, tightly responding to the embrace.

''You won't, I promise.''

Both men just stayed in that position for the longest time before letting go. Everything was going to be ok.

The next day, Barry was ready to get back to work. It sure felt good being back at the precinct, not to mention liberating not having to hide who he was anymore, at least not to his boss.

For everyone else, it looked like everything was the same and back to normal. Singh kept his facade in the presence of his other employees by pushing his younger CSI around and ordering him to quicken the pace of his reports. But, despite the appearances, Barry knew better, he knew that everything wasn't the same anymore. And it was for the best. Barry didn't missed the little smiles or the worried and understanding looks he received from his boss after a particularly tough night in the streets. Nor did he missed this…this way the Captain was looking at him sometimes. Was it pride?

Things were still looking grim in the chase of Dr. Alchemy and Savitar, and not a day was passing by without the growing fear that one day Caitlin could permanently turn into Killer Frost…But, on the bright side, Barry knew for sure he wasn't alone in this. He had his team, he had his family, he gained Cisco's trust back, he had Singh…No matter how gruesome the future was looking right now, the CSI knew that he will make it through as long as he was so well surrounded.

THE END

A/N: Leave one last comment to let me know if you like that ''official'' ending.

Another story completed, sad I know. I'll see if I go back to Wounds of the Spirit next or continue on the 3x23 AU ending (What is and what should never be) first. Take care everyone.

For more regular updates and fun facts about my stories, you can check my twitter account Flash_Katie237