six_word_stories | (no subject)

Where are you at? Might take me a while to hail a cab.

I'm at STAR Labs.
Outside.

[There's a picture and while the lighting isn't all that good, it's easy enough to see the curly white fur tucked inside of his leather jacket.] I think she was hit by a car.

Has Caitlin taken a look at her?

[Nevermind that Caitlin wasn't a vet or that Barry was hailing a cab to get to STAR Labs. He really needed to get a car some day.]

She's not here.
And Cisco will have a stroke if I break in again. [Never mind how ridiculously easy it is..]

[It isn't long before the cab rolls up and Bartholomew gets out, paying the cab and walking over to where Bart is crouched]

Where did you even find her?

About two blocks away, on the side of the road. She's just a pup. [The little ball of fur in his jacket whines and cuddles closer.] She was half frozen. I think she's finally warming up.

[His heart softens when he sees the little ball of fluff]

I shouldn't have sent that cab away. We could take her to the vet.

I'm afraid if I run she might get hurt.

[But if they get her inside, maybe they can at least clean her up and get her fed until Caitlin can come?]

We have machines that could at least give us a cursory x-ray?

[And Caitlin could yell at them later for it. He stands up again]

Let's just get her inside first.

Thanks.

[Barry lets them in and Bart carries the puppy into medical, gently extracting the small puppy from his jacket. She's dirty, wet and favoring one foot, but the moment she's free a little tail starts wagging and she attacks any fingers with a little pink tongue.] Stay with her for a second? I'm going to go to the store.

[They need puppy food. Blankets. A bed.]

[And he just melts when he sees her. Bartholomew immediately rolls up his sleeves and scoops her up]

You go to the store, I'm going to give her a bath. ...and check to make sure she's had all her shots.

[He's back in record time, arms laden with bags. Puppy food, even milk because he has no clue how old she is. A little collar and leash. A bed. Toys.

... Okay so maybe he went a little overboard.] how's the little patient?

[He'll come back to Bartholomew baby talking the little one in a tub with suds everywhere.]

What the heck did you get up to if your fur is this dingy? We're going to take care of you and make sure that you feel loved and looked after and cared for.

[He looks up to see....everything and the kitchen sink in Bart's arms]

I thought you were going to the store, not bringing the store back.

[The puppy is happily yapping in reply, doing her level best to escape and cover the lab in suds.

Bart grins as he sets the bags down.] okay okay, I might have gotten a little carried away. But I didn't know what she'd need.

[Of all times, now is the time he wishes he has super speed]

A little carried away? Hey! Hey, come back here!

[Cisco or Harry are going to kill them for seeing a puppy loose]

[It's rare to hear a laugh bubble up out of Bart, but one does as he zips over to scoop up a wriggling, yappy puppy who is now doing her level best to lick every inch of his face.] Hey you, no escaping yet. Finish your bath.

[See? They can work together getting her a bath, dried off and cuddled up in a blanket.] She's adorable.

[Look at this. Look at the suds that are everywhere. He gives the puppy a look and only softens it when she licks his nose. He works with Bart to make sure all the dirt and grime is off of her and lets him dry her off]

We need to see if she's had her shots and has been chipped.

[Barry. You're so cute when you get all unhappy about messes. So Bart hands over the puppy.] Here. You're getting that look about the soap and water everywhere. I'll clean up.

[It only takes about a minute to get the table wiped down and dried and the floors taken care of so that nobody slips on a wayward puddle in the morning.]

I do not have a--

[Even puppy gives a surprised whine when Hurricane Allen hits. Bartholomew still has that face when everything is cleaned up. He pets the dog and brings her around to see if he can locate a chip or something]

Sure you do. You get the same face when I throw my jacket over a chair rather than hang it up. [An easy smile as he dries his hands and waits for the verdict.

No chip.
And Bart.. he's almost relieved because he's already getting attached to the little ball of fur in his twin's arm.]

That means we can keep her, right?

[he makes noises like they should consider this carefully, talk to Barry to see if he’s allergic. Maybe she doesn’t have all her shots.]

Pending approval of everyone else.

[If they're not sneezing, Barr won't be, right?

Bart is still getting used to good things in his life and he takes the dozy puppy to curl up on his chest. He murmurs softly to her as he looks up at his double.] Thanks. For coming, for helping.

Everything.

Of course. Come on, might as well go set up her little bed if she’s going to rest up.

[They set up the little bed, complete with a warm blanket, but the pup is far too interested in either cuddling or exploring her new surroundings to stay still that long.] I can keep her here if you want to get back to the house. Flash should be home soon.

We can't leave her [~~you~~] here. She'll want some place warm, not a lab.

Edited 2017-12-06 17:48 (UTC)

[They're street kids. Kinda. They could manage just fine at the lab for a night, but the refusal still gets a smile out of Bart.] Are you sure?

If I wasn't sure, I wouldn't have asked, Bart.

[He can't help but smile back.]

Here. You hold her. I'll get us home. [And they're gone in a rush of wind. Bart gets them home and inside and zips back for the rest of the things he'd gotten for the pup.]

Wh--B--

[He tucks the puppy tight against him and even she's whining a little at how quickly they went from the lab to the house. When they arrive at the house, his glasses are a little askew and puppy gives a little whine]

...Yes, you'll need to get used to that. There's quite a few of those like him around here.

You like it, don't pretend you don't. [A grin as the puppy wiggles free to start exploring.]

She's gonna have a couple of speedsters at her back and call.

Just like you do.

Are you comparing me to a puppy?

.. [There's no right way he can answer that. Is there?]

Yeah I'm not touching that one.
What are we going to name her?

Bart!

[He facepalms]

Hey, we can't call her that. We have enough Barrys in the house as it is. [Yeah, yeah he knows. He just can't resist being a shit.]

We can't name her yet. We need to make sure that Barry's okay with it first.

I'm not giving her up. [Hey it's that trademark Allen stubbornness.]

She needs a home.

She does but we need to make sure that Barry is all right with us taking her in as well.

[Otherwise, the pup could either go to Caitlin or she could end up the lab puppy]

"I'm probably going to regret asking this, but what do you need?" Probably going to regret it usually meant that she'd already decided to help and just needed specifics so she knew who she'd be lying to about what.

"I may have gotten locked in a freezer? And it's too cold, I can't phase my way out."

Don't ask how, Cici. Just help before he's turned into a popsicle.

Can you hear her total lack of judgment? You'd better be able to because she's not-judging so hard right now.

"What freezer? I mean, I could just go around banging open whatever ones I run across, but that seems counterproductive."

Yeah, he can hear the not-judging. Mhm.

"It might be a freezer at the Italian place over on Seventh?" You know, the one run by the Santini family as a front?

"Yeah, I know the one, best chicken carbonara in town. Was this an accidental freezer-locking-into, or should I pack heat?"

It was as close to a trick question as she ever got, given as how she was usually carrying some kind of weapon, his answer would just determine the severity of her armaments.