Caitlin's POV

For the second time in about a month, I found myself wandering around Central City. Even though I'd left to distract myself from Barry, he was the only thing I could think about. I loved him, that much was for sure, but is he going to keep breaking my heart every time he sees Iris? 

It wasn't long before I was in Central City Plaza. Parts of the ground  and the fountain were roped off with caution tape. I smiled slightly when I remembered the fight. It was the beginning of something new, and it was also our first encounter with Electra, but I felt that that was the first time I really noticed how well we all worked as a team. 

I passed the Plaza and found myself downtown. As I walked, I looked into windows I passed at all the cute items for sale. A feeling of peace spread over me as I walked. Thoughts of Barry, Iris, and Brainwave fled my mind. Everything was fine until I heard a scream.

Without thinking, I ran toward the sound. It came from a block from where I was when I heard it. The street had been destroyed. Upturned cars were on fire. Glass littered the ground. Dust filled the air from one of the sidewalks that had been destroyed. 

Standing in the middle of it all was a girl. She had blond hair and a small pale face. She wore the things all kids wore; pants and a t-shirt. However, what really drew my attention to her was her eyes. They were bright blue and filled with an expression I recognized: fear. Her hands were clasped to her chest.

Her eyes widened when she saw me and she stepped backward. "I didn't mean to," she whispered. Her eyes filled with tears. "It was an accident."

"It's okay," I said gently. "I believe you."

Her eyes cleared a little, but she still looked scared. "I can help you," I pressed on. "I can help you find a way to control your powers, or get rid of them if you want."

"How?" she asked eagerly. To her, it would be too good to be true. 

"My name is Caitlin Snow. I'm a doctor and biochemist. I work with genes human and meta. And guess what?"

"What?" she asked, more relaxed and a little hopeful. Sirens whined from far away, but I ignored them.

"I know the Flash."

The girl's eyes widened. Then they narrowed. "You do not," she said, sounding suspicious again.

"I really do," I assured her. "What's your name?"

"Emma," she said softly. 

"Alright, Emma. I'm gonna call the Flash and he's gonna come help. Stay here."

I turned away from her and pulled my phone out of my pocket, quickly finding Barry's contact. He picked up on the second ring. "What's wrong Cait? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I said before quickly explaining about Emma. "My old dampening bracelets are on the counter in my lab and in the first drawer is a syringe with knockout serum in it. Bring them both to me, please."

"Okay," Barry said hesitantly. Seconds later, he was standing right beside me holding my bracelets in one hand and the syringe in the other. He'd also changed into his suit. 

"Thank you," I whispered. He gave me a small smile before turning to Emma. The girl's eyes had gone wide and an awed expression crossed her face.

"Hi Emma," Barry said, taking slow and tentative steps toward her. "You know who I am?"

Emma, too shocked to speak, only nodded. Barry continued toward her, keeping his voice quiet and gentle. "I want to help," he said slowly, "but you need to do everything I say."

He continued to talk to her, and as he did, Emma's scared expression faded away. I watched calmly as he placed the bracelets on her wrists and injected the serum into her arm. I watched Emma's eyes droop close and Barry scooped her up before she hit the ground. "Great job," I called to him. 

"Thanks,"  he said, looking down at the small form in his arms. "I'll take her to S.T.A.R. Labs then come back for you." I nodded in agreement and Barry sped away. It wasn't long until he came back. He picked me up and ran back to S.T.A.R. Labs.

We slid to a stop in the med bay. Emma was lying on one of the beds. I took a series of x-rays and CAT scans of her, just to make sure she was completely healthy. Something about her x-rays bothered me, so I examined them more closely at my desk. It took my ten minutes to find out what was wrong. 

"Barry?" I said, my voice unusually high. 

Barry looked up from his perch on a stool next to Emma's bed. "What's wrong?" he asked me upon seeing my expression. 

Instead of answering, I approached Emma's bed and held her small hand. "It's okay now." I whispered quietly, too quietly for Barry to hear. 

"Caitlin?" I turned around to see Barry's bewildered look. I forced myself to calm down and think rationally about the problem.

"I noticed something about Emma's x-rays," I informed him while leaving the med bay. Barry followed me into the Cortex just as I was settling down at one of the computers. "I looked closer and discovered some unusual breaks that are rare and usually only apparent in victims of abuse."

I finished pulling up Emma's hospital records and immediately noticed something was wrong. "About a year ago, Emma was checked into the hospital and diagnosed with a broken wrist which was the result her falling off her bike. Three months later, Emma's admitted to the hospital once more because that same wrist was broken for the same reason." I glanced up at Barry, but he looked at me in confusion.

"Emma's a victim of child abuse?" I could tell from the way Barry said it that he didn't want it to be true. 

"Unfortunately yes," I replied. My calm facade was slipping away while feelings of revulsion and anger swept through me.

Barry sat heavily in Cisco's chair and I continued to look through Emma's past. We fell into silence and my thoughts unwillingly turned to Iris and Barry kissing in the parking lot. I know that seems selfish, but I couldn't get the image out of my head. At least while talking about Emma I had something to distract me from the pain. 

"Is something bothering you?" I jumped slightly, having forgotten that Barry was here.

"Why would you think that?" I asked him, avoiding eye contact.

"You're doing that biting your lower lip thing you do when something's bothering you."

I cursed silently and immediately stopped biting my lip. I could feel Barry's gaze on me, but luckily Emma started stirring, saving me from answering.

Barry led the way into the med bay where Emma was starting to sit up. "How do you feel?" I asked her gently. "The anesthetic can cause a killer headache."

"I'm okay," Emma muttered, rubbing her forehead with her hand. Her imploring gaze swept around the room, finally landing on Barry. She turned back to me, asking me a question without speaking. 

"This is Barry," I told her. "He helps the Flash sometimes." Barry gave a slightly wave. Emma nodded her understanding and waved back.

"Where are we?" 

"S.T.A.R. Labs," I replied. "Our base of operations." Barry elbowed me slightly but I ignored him. "Emma." I said, getting serious. "We know."

Emma's face fell. She refused to meet my gaze, instead becoming interested in her hands. "It's okay to be afraid Emma," I spoke quietly, gently. "We understand."

But when Emma looked up, she didn't look fearful, she looked angry. "I'm not scared of them," she told me fiercely. "I won't be scared of them. That's why I was on that street," Emma explained, "because I was running away."

"Where were you gonna go?"

"I heard about some people, bad people, who offer money and protection in exchange for our power. I figured I could make a living off of working for powerful people."

We all fell silent, no one saying a word. Finally, Barry spoke; "Tell us everything, Emma. Everything."

A/N: These chapter might be short, but I promise they will get longer.