Early Morning, Cold Taxi

 

Waller gestured for Barry to take a seat, and both Singh and Barry did on the seats before Singh’s desk, where Waller took Singh’s seat behind the desk.

 

“Don’t be alarmed,” Waller reassured her.

 

Barry wasn’t reassured at all.

 

“I’ve known and kept tabs on you since you became associated with The Arrow and became the Red Hood,” Waller spoke carefully, though that caused Barry to freeze up. She also glanced at Singh, who looked taken aback and gave her an intent look that Barry avoided returning.

 

“Don’t call me that,” Barry muttered, but she was ignored.

 

Waller kept smiling. “This new development has caused myself and my organization great interest. You see, I have need of someone with your talents.”

 

And suddenly the name Amanda Waller clicked with Barry, and she remembered everything Oliver had told her about the woman and all the warnings he had for her to avoid Waller and keep away.

 

“I’m not joining your Suicide Squad or becoming one of your operatives,” Barry blurted out, causing Waller to chuckle ominously (well, it sounded ominous to her) while Singh looked at her in alarm.

 

“It’s ‘Task Force X,’” Waller corrected her. “And you will become one of my operatives. Because the moment you were found out, we retrieved your father from prison and he’s currently in a safe place.”

 

Barry saw red and flashed from her seat to snatch Waller by the woman’s front and slam her against the wall behind her, rattling Singh’s things.

 

“WHERE IS MY DAD?!” Barry practically roared, though she was thankful the blinds were closed.

 

“Allen, calm down!” though Singh’s eyes were wide at the display of power, adding to the fuel that came with the video he’d witnessed, but also at the uncharacteristic anger from Barry. Barry didn’t get angry like this, though he could understand with the threat involved.

 

“You wouldn’t want to do that, Miss Allen,” Waller said calmly.

 

A red dot appeared on Barry’s neck, and Barry and Singh turned to see where it was coming from. A man with a peculiar eyepiece slid out from his hiding place, scowling heavily.

 

“Are you faster than a bullet, Miss Allen? Fast enough to even catch it? In any case, even if you had taken me out, I assure you, ARGUS would still be in possession of your father. That part wouldn’t have changed.”

 

Still wearing a furious expression, Barry reluctantly let go and walked backwards to head back to her chair, eying the newcomer warily.

 

“Miss Allen, this is Floyd Lawton, also known as Deadshot,” Waller introduced the man with the eyepiece, returning to her own seat.

 

Barry eyed him even more warily. “I’ve heard of him,” she mumbled.

 

“Let’s get down to business, shall we?” Waller cut right down to it. “Since you probably know quite a bit, no doubt from your association with The Arrow, then let me tell you what I’m…requesting. I am aware that you have acquired powers, and of the man in the video –Clyde Mardon – had also. Lining up the timeline of events and what little the two of you would have in common, I am to presume the cause of that is because of the particle explosion nine months ago.”

 

Barry couldn’t withhold her wince, which was confirmation enough.

 

“I could also presume that there are probably more of your kind out there, and with the psychoanalysis done on you, I would guess that you have put yourself in charge of finding them and rounding them up due to your innate sense of justice and responsibility.”

 

By this time, Barry was starting to feel and look mulish. Stubbornly, she kept her mouth shut.

 

Waller began to smile again. “By all means, go right ahead. In fact, I can make your little operation as legal as it can get.”

 

That certainly wasn’t what Barry, or even Singh, had been expecting.

 

“I only ask of certain things, Miss Allen. I am informed of the goings on. That means who you capture, what powers they have, what had happened. Every once and awhile, my…team will be around the area, and I ask you to put them up, on certain occasions. Or assist them when it’s called for, or when I have need of your certain set of skills –” Waller held up a hand, when Barry move to interrupt. “No, I won’t have you assassinate someone. You’d be hopeless at it. I told you I’ve read the psychoanalysis on you, and there’s no way you would in your current state.”

 

“Or ever,” Barry muttered childishly, pursing her lips and glaring at the ground.

 

Waller continued to ignore her. “Further, I see we could find some use for some of the mutated humans –”

 

“Metahumans,” Barry interrupted. “That’s what we call them.”

 

“Yes, metahumans,” Waller didn’t bat an eyelash. “I can see a whole slew of things these metahumans could be capable of achieving.”

 

“I wouldn’t let you get your hands on them,” Barry glared, hands clenching on her thighs.

 

“May I remind you I have your father in custody?” Waller said coldly. “You may, of course, handpick and create your own group, if you’d like.”

 

“I would never create something and be in charge of a group like the Suicide Squad,” Barry spat out.

 

“Or you can hand them over to ARGUS and we’ll take care of them personally.”

 

Barry just barely refrained from screaming in frustration, deciding instead to mutter angrily under her breath.

 

“Okay, fine. I wouldn’t want you to get your grubby hands on them,” Barry agreed sourly, repeating her words.

 

Waller smiled again. “Very well. In exchange, we’ll take care of your father. He’ll have the best of care, better than he ever could have had in Iron Heights.”

 

Barry liked that part at least. Hopefully, it was true.

 

Waller stood up and walked around the desk, moving to stand in front of Barry. She looked at Singh first.

 

“Thank you, Captain Singh, for the use of your office. As well as the recovery of the tape before anyone else could see it, and the…attempted secreting it away, before confronting your subordinate. It bought us quite a bit of time.”

 

By ‘us,’ Barry was sure Waller meant herself and ARGUS. Though Barry did look grateful and guiltily over at Singh, who had actually tried looking out for her but had just gotten dragged into this with her.

 

“You’re welcome,” Singh sarcastically said with a glare, only just the third thing he’d said since calling out for Barry to get her into his office.

 

Waller turned to Barry next. “I look forward to our work together, Miss Allen. ‘Til next time.”

 

She was walking out and Barry was watching her, until she noticed that Deadshot was still there.

 

“Isn’t he going?” Singh snapped, having noticed as well.

 

“I might have forgotten to mention that Lawton will be stationed semi-permanently here,” Waller stopped by the door and turned to address them one last time. “Perhaps you need an assistant, Miss Allen?”

 

And then Waller let herself out, closing the door after her. Barry glared at the closed door, before irritably turning her glare to the floor.

 

“Ugh! Captain, do you have something sweet? Blueberry? Anything?” Barry cried out.

 

Singh snorted and went to his seat, claiming it back. He rummaged through his desk and took out a box.

 

“I got powdered donuts.”

 

“Works for me,” Barry declared and dove in, shoving two of them into her mouth.

 

Singh gave another snort and grabbed a handful, taking a bite out of one. He gestured at the box to Lawton.

 

“You better get some now, before she eats them all.”

 

Lawton just gave them a strange look, before shrugging it off and settling down on Singh’s old chair and snagging a donut.

 

“It’s Floyd. You got any liquor?”

 

And ten minutes later, Barry hit her forehead on the table. She reached around her empty glass and grabbed another donut.

 

“Are you serious? I can’t get drunk?!”

 

~*~*~

 

Barry was lounging in her lab, silently still bemoaning her misfortune. She wondered where her father was though. Was he really being taken cared of? Was he safe?

 

“Stop thinking,” Floyd snarked from his corner in her lab. “If you’re worried about your father, he’s fine. Saw him get taken. It was a good extraction. He had no clue, of course. But he wasn’t manhandled or pushed around.”

 

She felt a little more relief at that, though she still felt troubled. Sighing to herself, she looked around and then snatched a case file off of her desk.

 

“Your Captain said you’re not supposed to be working.”

 

“But I’m bored,” Barry grumbled.

 

“And still not allowed to work until tomorrow,” Malcolm entered her lab, though he glanced in surprise and confusion over the strange man also in there. “I heard you were still here.”

 

Barry sighed. “Yeah. Don’t know what else to do. Ugh, and I still have to search for an apartment! I’ll have to sleep in here anyway, so it’s probably a good thing I came and that my cot’s still here.”

 

“You can stay in the apartment,” Malcolm offered. “I don’t mind.”

 

“No, it’s alright –I don’t want to intrude,” Barry protested.

 

“You wouldn’t,” Malcolm shook his head. “In fact, we could…we could be roommates?”

 

Barry hadn’t thought of that and was genuinely shocked at the other, but it didn’t sound like a bad idea at all. Plus, he was like her semi-twin.

 

“Well, that sounds alright to me if you’re okay with it.”

 

Malcolm agreed, so the matter was settled.

 

Floyd sniffed mockingly. “Ohh, roomies. How nice.”

 

Malcolm glanced at him in consternation. “Who’s he?”

 

Barry inwardly winced. “He’s my, uh…assistant.”

 

It really didn’t make sense, the forensic assistant with an assistant.

 

“I guess you do a lot of work. I assume it would help and make things easier if you had someone around to help you personally,” Malcolm seemed to have bought it. “I guess I’ll see you later then? We could go home together.”

 

Barry smiled at him. “Sure. Later, Mal!”

 

Again, he had a pleased smile on his face, while he left.

 

“There’s a group of men attempting to hijack an armored truck. It’s carrying a priceless diamond,” Floyd said suddenly, and she looked at him in shock. He held up a phone. “Your boss sent me a message. Thought you’d want to do something other than lounge around and waste space in your lab.”

 

Barry straightened up. “Where is it?”

 

“One, I’m coming. Two, it’s –” as soon as he’d rattled off the address, Barry had rapidly changed into her uniform and then sped over to him, flashing over to the location straight after.

 

The scene wasn’t exactly what Barry had prepared for. Or rather who.

 

~*~*~

 

Harrison was agitatedly flipping through the news on the computer, just barely refraining from using his speed. Besides, even a little use of it would tire him out probably. He didn’t want to risk it anyhow.

 

But he couldn’t help his agitation. After all…where was Simon Stagg?

 

Aside from the circus Barry had to face (a no-show this time), at this point in time Simon Stagg was supposed to show his arrogant mug around Central City, about to accept the honor of being “Man of the Year.” However, despite the man supposed to be there by now, there had been no news of his arrival. Instead, all he got was –

 

There. Harrison had just stumbled upon a breaking news report, and to his consternation, Stagg’s arrival to Central City had been delayed. By a few weeks at the most.

 

The timeline he knew was definitely no longer reliable.

 

He was sure of it now. No circus, no Stagg. Hartley’s early appearance into Barry’s life. And who knew how many other changes had been wrought?

 

Harrison had tried, this time around, to not be “creepy” or “stalkerish,” as Barry had tended to tell him each time he’d revealed how closely he’d watched her in every lifetime he’d known her. To his dismay and embarrassment, each Barry tended to go from the stages of freaking out, to weirded out, and finally to joking and teasing him about it. In fact, he’d only relegated the cameras into her home (minus her bedroom) and her classrooms in her schools (and then eventually her work). He had been less invasive and hadn’t kept constant watch on her, like he usually had. He was coming to regret his decision.

 

If he had kept more cameras around her, kept more constant watch, then all this wouldn’t be happening and so much wouldn’t have escaped his notice. He’d been lax this time around.

 

He turned on the TV to listen on the news, when he froze and listened to it, watching with disbelieving eyes. An attempted hijacking of an armored car containing a priceless diamond had just happened a few minutes ago…

 

No. No, that’s not possible. That would happen at least a month later.

 

But there in front of him, the news wasn’t lying. He needed to get in contact with Barry as soon as possible.

 

~*~*~

 

Well, Deadshot was a very accurate name, as far as Barry had been concerned. Floyd was as good as his name and reputation implied him to be, taking down several of the hijackers with ease. Thankfully, he wasn’t shooting to kill. They actually did well together, with her disarming and taking down a few of the men, and the ones she’d just disarmed were quickly taken out by Floyd.

 

She headed to the last man out, taking his gun and then further tackling him to the ground to keep him from running. With a lot of miscalculations on her part, she ended up with him on the ground and in the cliché of comedies in which his face had unceremoniously smacked into and stayed against her chest. Her chest where her suit still hadn’t been changed and cleavage was yet another problem in this situation.

 

“I think I might like this arrest.”

 

Embarrassed and irritated, Barry sat up and her hand shot out and hit the guy, knocking him out. Huffing, she sat back completely and looked down at her captive. She gasped.

 

Barry knew this man.

 

“Hey, we got to go,” Floyd reached her side, snatching her arm and pulling her off of the unconscious man. “The cops are coming, and we better be out of here before we get caught.”

 

Dazed, she nodded and tried to clear her head, picking up Floyd rapidly and speeding out of the crime scene and heading to work. Back to her regular clothes and sitting in her chair, she made it look like she hadn’t done anything or gone anywhere, except to mill about in her lab.

 

“I fucking hate being picked up and carried around by you. It’s so degrading,” Floyd said out of nowhere.

 

She giggled. “Don’t complain. It’s speedy.”

 

He grumbled, but conceded to her point.

 

Singh was at her door then. “Hey, why don’t you head home or something? You really don’t need to be around, and it’s still best to keep another day on rest to make sure you’re alright and you don’t have any more side effects or something. Keep an eye on things that have changed for you, like the ‘not getting drunk on alcohol anymore’ thing and the like.”

 

At the reminder of that, Floyd snickered at her, but she brushed him off (she was still inwardly pouting about it though).

 

“Okay, fine. Just keep me on speed dial and tell me if something’s up,” Barry said, and headed towards a reluctant Floyd.

 

Together, she got them home to her apartment, deciding she could use the time to make some room for Malcolm and help clear things out so they could share the space.

 

“Do you have a place to stay?” Barry asked, wondering about that.

 

“Waller’s got me a place nearby,” Floyd told her nonchalantly. “I’ll be a quick reach if you need me.”

 

Barry nodded absentmindedly, already considering what to move or straight out throw out. Floyd was a surprising help, helping her to move things around (especially furniture, and then ending up doing dishes and cleaning the kitchen while Barry continued to move and put away stuff. Afterwards, letting Floyd watch TV, she decided she’d take a little nap and headed to her room, where she collapsed onto the bed face first.

 

She’d only just closed her eyes when she heard to her side “Hey, doll! You look tuckered out. Want me to tuck you in?”

 

Barry sat up quickly and stared at the strange woman wearing messy pigtails, one of Barry’s shirts, and just underwear, and making herself at home on Barry’s bed. Even though she had no makeup on, Barry was sure this was…

 

“H-Harley Quinn?!”

 

~*~*~

 

Cisco looked at the schematics he’d made, feeling something uncomfortable in his gut. This was…this was just a failsafe. A ‘just in case.’

 

But he remembered all those times he’d looked up her Facebook, all the little facts he’d researched and found out, and now that she was awake and finally being around her…Plus, the feeling he got, like he already knew her and knew who she was all about…

 

He really didn’t think this was all that necessary after all…

 

“Cisco? Where are you?”

 

Hearing Caitlin’s voice, he winced and began to quickly gather up his things. She came into the room, and he still had a lot of stuff out.

 

“What are you doing?” she asked in concern and just a small bit of suspicion.

 

Cisco gulped and dropped what he was holding back onto the table.

 

“I was just coming up with something,” he said miserably.

 

“Isn’t that a good thing?” Caitlin asked, raising an eyebrow. “Especially if it’s something that could help us, STAR Labs, and Dr. Wells? And now Barry too, since she’s with us and we’re planning on helping her.”

 

Cisco winced. “Yeah. About that…Help Barry? Not so much.”

 

Much more concerned and uneasy, Caitlin came closer and looked at the schematics, not sure what to make of it.

 

“It’s a gun that’s supposed to shoot out streams of cold energy, that would counter Barry’s speed powers. ‘Cause you know, speed versus cold doesn’t do so well and all.”

 

Caitlin stared at him, looking surprised and quickly becoming unhappy.

 

“I know, I know!” Cisco interrupted, looking upset. “It’s just a failsafe, and I didn’t even build it yet! Or I don’t think I will. I know Barry already. I don’t think –I know she’s not the type to turn murderous on us. She’s a good person. She just…really cares.”

 

“You can’t say that about a lot of people,” Caitlin said softly, giving him a soft smile.

 

Cisco nodded determinedly, and began putting the stuff away. Caitlin began to quietly help him.

 

~*~*~

 

Eddie was bugged by the entire situation with his brother. He’d been tempted to call his father (their uncle really, but he was the one who’d raised him and who Eddie thought of as father), but in the end he didn’t. That didn’t mean he wasn’t irritated.

 

His brother had come in with Barry by his side, and Eddie had seen them. He’d given a strange look to his brother, watching and noticing how close Malcolm had gotten to her with every step they’d taken into the station. His brother had seen him then and had given him a quick, smug look. Saying to hell with it, he’d approached them.

 

Eddie had been nonplused and slightly upset to know the two of them had stayed overnight together (and how Malcolm had gone to now own Barry’s old apartment). But then Barry had been called away and then it’d been just him and his brother.

 

“What’s wrong, Eddie?” Malcolm said mockingly. “A little upset that the girl you like is around me more?”

 

Eddie refrained from bristling, but this was just typical of his brother. His brother always picked on him, and he took whatever it was that Eddie showed even the slightest, remote interest in.

 

“Why are you doing this?” Eddie asked upset.

 

Malcolm snorted. “Maybe this isn’t about you. Either way, I do enjoy messing with you and making you miserable.”

 

Eddie glared at him. “Whatever your problem is, leave Barry out of it.”

 

Malcolm laughed. “You idiot. You have no idea. Whatever. I’m going to get to work.”

 

Eddie scowled and Malcolm was just going to leave him, when he paused and turned back to Eddie. He reached into his book bag and took out a book, tossing it at Eddie. Eddie’s eyes widened when he realized it was Barry’s CSI book he’d borrowed, after he’d caught it. He’d been looking for it for a while, thinking he’d misplaced it.

 

“You should watch your things more,” Malcolm chuckled darkly. “Wouldn’t know who could get their hands on them. And, you know, I read it –I even got to tell Barry and flatter her about it. Might’ve stolen your thunder a bit, huh?”

 

His younger brother left him behind and Eddie fumed silently. Shaking his head to clear it, he went to his desk and began to sort out the files on it. He found the files on Mardon, the finished write up, and decided on making a copy. He gathered the extra notes he’d made, particularly on the fact that Mardon had exhibited weather-control powers, which aside from the witness, he had witnessed them himself when he and Joe went to catch the guy at the barn.

 

Maybe he’d give it to Barry when he next saw her, and she might even write about it in her blog…

 

~*~*~

 

The moment she’d screamed, Floyd had darted into the room and had a gun out and ready to shoot. Seeing just Harley, he put his gun down by his side and rolled his eyes.

 

“I forgot you were here,” he eyed his fellow teammate.

 

Barry looked at him incredulously. “What do you mean you forgot? And why is she here?”

 

“You forget already?” though he conveniently said nothing about his own forgetfulness, “The Wall said you’ve got to put us up sometimes, if the group’s around. Harley and a few others are here then.”

 

“You call her ‘The Wall?’” Barry muttered, now completely feeling like the last few days must be some kind of dream. She darted away from Harley, who had started giggling and playing with Barry’s hair. “Okay, I think I’m going to go back to the precinct. Maybe do something around there…”

 

“Aw, really? And we were just getting to know each other,” Harley smiled widely at her.

 

“Yep, I’m just going to go,” Barry took rapid steps out of her room and towards her door. Floyd followed her. “Anyway, where do you live? You said you were in easy reach, though it might be best to tell me the address now, so I can keep it in mind.”

 

Floyd shrugged. “I can show you.”

 

Barry blinked and followed him out of the apartment, to where he went right next door and opened it. Barry tossed him a glare and threw her hands up, thoroughly disgusted with everything.

 

“If you live right next door, why do I have to put your loony teammates up in my place?” she grumbled as she walked away.

 

She didn’t wait for an answer, starting to super-speed her way out of the building and back to the police station. She wondered if she counted as an accomplice for harboring criminals in her home, but then again Singh knew…

 

Did that make him an accomplice too though?

 

She managed to sneak into her empty lab, where she dropped into her chair in deep thought. Well, she was stuck with an infamous sniper, a woman named ‘The Wall’ had backed her into a wall, her father was MIA, and she had superpowers. And she had just woken up after a nine month coma.

 

Her life must be some kind of dramedy for The Powers That Be. There was no other explanation for how screwed up and disbelieving her life had become, and in such a short amount of time.

 

Taking out her phone, she decided to go through the list of it to tell whoever she actually had on her contacts that she was still alive. Oliver and Felicity would have easily told the group over in Starling, and most of everyone here knew. She had been missing her dance classes too, so there was that though.

 

She let them know she was okay and awake, and remembered that she still had to contact her dance partner. Speaking of him, she hadn’t seen or heard from him at all. He tended to listen to her life more, and spoke about his own life somewhat vaguely, though he did talked to her a lot (especially about his old home life and his parents who’d disowned him). He knew where she lived and where she worked, even if she didn’t know about his work and home.

 

But then again, Hartley Rathaway had always been rather reticent about his life and had preferred discussing her own.

 

He wasn’t really social, was kind of abrasive too and tended to put people off, and didn’t have many –if any –friends. When they’d first met, he’d been skeptical of being paired up with her and having her be his teacher and mentor, when she was the younger one. At the time he’d started classes, she was nineteen and he had been twenty six. He was a beginner and she had been dancing since she was eleven, with ballet having started before that. But, well, she’d quickly corrected that notion, and he stopped complaining and worked hard. Soon enough, they began to bond and get along.

 

So it kind of confused and worried her that she hadn’t heard from him, and there not even being a single voicemail on her phone. She decided to call him, but when she received a message saying the phone was no longer in service, she began to feel even more worried. Barry would have to find a way to look for him, given that she didn’t know how else to get into contact with him.

 

And speaking of conflicted characters…

 

Barry bit her lip, but she didn’t want to just sit there and not see him. It had been years, but she still remembered him and how they met.

 

It was to her very surprise and upset that, after so long, she ran into Leonard Snart once more.

 

~*~*~

 

He was nineteen years old. He was being processed by the Iron Heights’ guards and though he’d been arrested and was in prison, he was very calm.

 

Barry remembered it very clearly, even though she was only eleven and visiting her father. She’d been angry at Joe and had wanted to see her father, who he wouldn’t let her see. So she’d run away and gone all the way to Keystone and Iron Heights Prison all by herself.

 

She hadn’t exactly been…in the prison legally herself though.

 

Barry had snuck in and had snuck around, not really having gone through the normal, regular processing for visitors. She had been trying to break her father out after all. Now here she was, sneaking around the precinct and going to see Len again.

 

She was following the guards, who were taking the young man further into the prison. She saw them put him into a cell, locking him in and then leaving him behind. She ducked behind a corner to hide from the guards, only peeking out when they were gone.

 

Geesh, she wasn’t even sure why she was ducking around corners still. She worked there after all. It shouldn’t be so surprising for her to be ‘walking around,’ even if it was her day off. It’s not like anyone didn’t know she had trouble listening to orders.

 

She snuck closer to the young man, who was quick to note the new movement and his sharp gaze zeroed in on her.

 

“Oh? So now they’re putting little girls in prison, huh? What did you do, little girl, to earn some time in Iron Heights?” he smirked.

 

“Nothing!” she declared, pouting a little.

 

Ugh, he’d been insufferable at times then. He probably hadn’t changed all that much, if at all. Barry still wasn’t sure why she was going to see him.

 

“What did you do to get in here?” she asked, trying to sound accusing but coming off more curious.

 

“I’m a robber, little girl. Like I could potentially steal that pretty lightning bolt necklace off your neck,” he eyed the piece of jewelry around Barry’s neck.

 

Barry scowled angrily, her hand shooting up to grab the necklace’s pendant. She, despite being angry, looked cute nonetheless.

 

“Then again, I can just steal you,” he laughed.

 

She made a little ‘eep!’ sound and covered her mouth with both hands, looking at him with wide eyes.

 

“What’s your name, little girl?” he asked, smirk becoming an amused grin.

 

“My name’s not ‘little girl!’” she huffed. “And you first!”

 

“My name’s Len,” he said wryly, continuing to be entertained by his unexpected visitor.

 

“Barry,” she said. “My name’s Barry.”

 

“Barry, huh? It fits. You look like a cute, little berry, Berrykins,” he teased, giving her a nickname while he was at it.

 

She gave him a deadpan look. “Perv.”

 

He twitched and sweatdropped.

 

Finding him wasn’t going to be easy. He had become a very well-known and dangerous criminal since then, and he was probably locked up somewhere pretty tight, until they could get him transferred to Iron Heights.

 

Barry hesitatingly went closer, but even when she was right at the bars, he didn’t do anything other than crouched down to her level.

 

“Why do you want to steal things?” she asked curiously.

 

He looked thoughtful for a moment. “It used to be so I can provide for my sister. She should be just a little older than you, Berrykins. Her name’s Lisa. As to why I steal now?...I like the thrill. I like the challenge I’m presented with. I like the adrenaline and the satisfaction after a job well done.”

 

“You could get that without being a thief and criminal,” she pointed out.

 

Len smirked at her again. “Find me a job that’ll get all the thrills and danger then.”

 

Having finally found him, Barry quietly observed him. The area was empty, so she could do so uninterrupted.

 

He was older. He looked older. He was also much more filled out, and his face looked more serious. Len was as calm as ever though. He had always had that kind of attitude, and he didn’t lose his temper often or give into his emotions much.

 

“Okay,” Barry said. “And then we can be friends outside the prison too.”

 

He barked out a laugh. “We’re friends then? Are you sure you want to be friends with a monster?”

 

She snorted and leaned closer to the bars, her thin arm easily reaching between them and her hand smacking his forehead. He blinked, and did so again when she grabbed his nose and pulled, making a fist and putting her thumb between her index and middle finger.

 

“You can’t be a monster without a nose!” she giggled, wiggling her thumb.

 

He chuckled, while she plopped down on the ground and sat comfortably.

 

“I’ll hide you under my bed and then I can be friends with the monster under my bed,” she said sincerely.

 

“Well, Berrykins, I guess I can agree with that.”

 

“Yay! Then we can be together forever and ever!”

 

She hadn’t stayed there very long after that. The guards had found her and taken her away from Len, though they were nice enough to let her see her father after she told them (after she bawled embarrassingly) that she’d only come there to see her father and wanted to break him out, because he was her dad, he was innocent, and Joe wouldn’t let her see him. She didn’t think she’d see or hear from Len again.

 

Except for Christmas, later that year, an anonymous gift box addressed to “Berrykins” had been dropped off to her home, and had contained an expensive Steiff limited edition “Antonia” Teddy Bear.

 

“You’re so stupid,” she couldn’t help blurting out, and Len’s eyes darted to her, narrowing coldly. “And you suck more for not buying me another Steiff teddy bear after I turned eighteen. I liked collecting those.”

 

She also adamantly refused to believe he’d stolen them. He had better not…

 

Len’s eyes widened as he easily recalled and remembered that and her. His eyes lit up in recognition.

 

“Is that you, little Berrykins?” he slowly smiled, his lips curling in amusement. He looked at her closely. “My, my. You’ve definitely grown up.”

 

Ugh. Definitely hadn’t changed.

 

“Perv,” she sounded just as deadpan as her look.

 

He laughed quietly, leaning back against the wall. “Now to what do I owe the honor of you visiting me?”

 

Barry frowned, watching him for a second. Then she tilted her head and gave him a happy smile.

 

“Want a job?”