The Great Escapes

[run_barry]

Since Yamato offered to come to Central City and help with the epidemic crisis, things have been crazy, but handling them has been a whole lot easier now that Barry isn't operating alone.

He even got some rest in, on Yamato's orders, and they've got a bit of down time as far as emergencies in the city go so they're using it to work on other problems.

While Yamato recalibrates the S.T.A.R. Labs satellite to track the new meta they suspect is behind a whole bunch of the crime, and a death-trap or two set for Barry, Barry is getting his science nerd-amateur virologist on, trying to find a cure to the bug that has so much of the City down; including his team.

Sitting at a desk in the Cortex, Barry works away with a microscope taking notes on a tablet. Beside him are several boxes of chicken nuggets which he's working through, with a few empty ones already in the waste bin nearby.

In the middle of the space on the floor GP the porg is munching on shrimp treats while bopping around an inflatable S.T.A.R. Labs beach ball.

Comments

[makes_the_toys]

"Fun he says," Cisco says, shaking his head. "Also, the wallet? A totally likely excuse."

Giving Yamato an 'I'm watching you' gesture, Cisco heads out to go get the scanner warming up.

"Barry, have you eaten?" Caitlin asks, much more gently than anything else said so far.

[run_barry]

"No, I know," Barry replies to Yamato, the words coming out not really helping the guilty feelings much. "Couldn't be helped. But hey, you handled that guy."

That last part said still comes with pride. Barry knew Yamato was a fighter, but now he's really impressed.

Running a hand down the back of his head, Barry nods, then shakes his head, then nods again before finally saying to Caitlin, "Not yet. I will. I loaded up before we headed out so... "

To quote Yamato, 'he's fine.'

[angry_friendship_wolf]

Yamato sticks his tongue out at Cisco in response, watching him go. He does catch that note of pride in Barry's voice, though, and ducks his head a little, throwing Barry a smile.

"I'll be back up to a hundred percent in a week, that's no time at all," he says. "Besides, we caught CC. I'd say it was worth it."

The injury to his pride from CC and those two henchmen escaping was way worse than an actual physical injury.

"Here, we still have meal bars," he says, scooting over to where he left his backpack. A meal bar gets tossed at Barry's head, followed by a bottle of digi-juice. "You must've spent a lot of energy back there."

[run_barry]

Barry bobbles the meal bar, but does better at catching the bottle.

"Yeah. And all the prisoners," Barry acknowledges, brightening on that.

Caitlin looks between the two of them.

"Who's CC? And prisoners? What on Earth went on today?"

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"Oh, er. Meta with tech controlling powers, or some kind of super-hacking skill," he says. "He's been causing trouble all day."

Beat.

"Actually, Barry, you should probably fill Caitlin -- and Cisco, when he's back here -- on everything that's happened."

Or put another way: It's a long story and Yamato doesn't want to say that many words in one go.

[run_barry]

"Yeah, it's a really long story," Barry says, nodding. "I'll definitely catch you guys up on all of it."

Caitlin eyes them both, trying to rate whether this is a dodge or not, and finally decides to let it pass for now.

"Alright well, we'll go over it later then. Yamato? Let's go get you checked out and fixed up."

[angry_friendship_wolf]

Yamato has a moment of uncertainty at being eyed like that, half wondering if he should be telling Caitlin what happened, instead of foisting it off onto Barry.

"-- All the details'll probably have to wait, but I can give you the cliffnotes, if you want," he says. "And, er -- yeah, getting checked out. Lead the way."

[run_barry]

"Right this way, then," Caitlin says, gesturing towards the hallway; intending to lead Yamato, but also keep him in sight along the way.

She won't be having any runaway patients today.

"Good luck, man. I'll hang around until you get back," Barry promises.

And then he'll be off to make his rounds again to Joe's place and CCPD, and then maybe finally another nap.