The Doctor is in?

[doc_allen]

This isn't where he'd fallen asleep the night before. There's a distinct lack of bars and the low drone of background prison noise.

There are also a hell of a lot of computers and Henry's just going to eye them as he looks around. "Hello?"

Comments

[thishouseisbitchin]

And here's one of the 90 Barry Allens of the place, slightly more lucid than he has been, but not by much. Enough that he manages to take time to make his own lunch (okay, pizza slices and popsicle bars) and bring it back with him through the cortex to the TV room. A lunch that he immediately drops when he sees Henry.

"Red stars at night. But you're not real."

[doc_allen]

An odd thing to say to your father, but it's still Barry and he has missed him so much. "I don't know about that, Slugger. I feel pretty real."

[thishouseisbitchin]

And Barry misses him. A lot. Though, Barry also misses people he hasn't met yet. "No. False Gods, supermen. It must be Jay. I'm usually mistaken, sorry. Sorry." What is the apology even for? He kneels down to pick up his food, making a face.

[doc_allen]

Henry frowns a bit as he moves to help Barry pick up the food he'd dropped in his surprise. A warm hand rests on his wrist. Steady and sure. "Barry it's me. You're not mistaken."

[thishouseisbitchin]

Barry freezes at the hand touching him. His own hand shakes, and it's taking every bit of will he has left not to go running to that TV room. "...I have been. Are you sure?"

Sure or not, he's apparently going to hug Henry tightly.

[doc_allen]

"I'm sure son. I'm sure." And his smile turns fond and warm as he wraps Barry up in a tight hug. "I'm right here Barry. I'm here."

[thishouseisbitchin]

"But the stars are screaming. Gleaming." He doesn't let go, desperately does not let go.

[doc_allen]

Henry holds his son, lets him cling as long as he needs to, even as the pizza grows cold and the popsicles melt. The distressed babbling is new and absolutely a concern but for the moment he's just going to try and soothe him, calm him down.

Maybe hum a snippet of an old lullaby.

[thishouseisbitchin]

Eventually, he'll notice that melted ice cream and make a face. "Oh no." Still. Keeping hold of his father.

[doc_allen]

"It's okay Barry. We'll clean it up, find you something else to eat, okay?" He tips his chin up to offer him a smile. "It'll be all right. I promise."

[thishouseisbitchin]

"We'll find something else. Okay." He nods, His dad is here. That's good, right? That has to be good. Right?

[doc_allen]

"Come on. Let's go find you some food son." A fond, if sad smile as the mess is cleaned up and he follows Barry back towards a kitchen. What the hell happened to his son? What the hell had he missed?

[thishouseisbitchin]

Has he got four years to go over it? Once they get in the kitchen, Barry immediately heads for the freezer and then the microwave. The exact same meal to be prepared, apparently.

[doc_allen]

He's got all the time in the world apparently.
Anything for his son.

Henry does his best to find something more suitable for Barry to eat, but if that's what he wants he isn't going to argue with him. With his metabolism it isn't like it's going to go straight to his gut, right?

Right now it's enough that he can stay close, that he can be with his son and reach out and touch him when he needs it.

[thishouseisbitchin]

When Barry's finished with his food, is Henry that surprised when Barry hugs him? On some level, he can't imagine that his father is that surprised. On another level, he has to imagine that whatever is happening to him is frightening everyone, his father included. But these re deep, deep levels he can barely access.

"Don't let him touch you," is what actually comes out.

[doc_allen]

No, no he's not surprised.
Deeply worried that his son is so lost, but just as happy to accept and return the hug. Later he can get the answers from Joe or someone else.

"Who Barry? Don't let who touch me?"

[thishouseisbitchin]

"Zoom." It's all he can say about it. All he will say about it.

[doc_allen]

That.. makes about as much sense as anything else he's said. But Henry nods all the same. Zoom sounds more like a sound than a person, but this is still Barry, still his brave son. "Okay Barry. I'll remember."