I am Wally west

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Just like that, the tension dissipated. Barry arrived moments after the battle, swiftly carrying Gypsy back to S.T.A.R. Labs. Caitlin worked urgently to stabilize her, addressing multiple broken ribs, internal bleeding, and other severe injuries.

With Gypsy's condition requiring extended care, it was clear she would be staying at S.T.A.R. Labs for some time. Late into the night, the team, weary from the ordeal, dispersed to their respective homes.

The next morning, everyone gathered at S.T.A.R. Labs once again. The early tension from the previous day had faded into the background. HR, ever the optimist, suggested throwing a party—an idea that even Joe supported.

But Iris couldn't share in their lighthearted mood. The weight of her secret—the looming shadow of her possible death—pressed heavily on her. She couldn't bring herself to dampen Joe's spirits by revealing another crisis so soon after they had just averted one.

The thought of erasing the smile from his face was too much to bear. Her eyes grew misty, and before anyone could notice, she quietly excused herself and left the Cortex.

Wally quickly followed after Iris, his concerned expression drawing Joe's attention. Glancing around the room, Joe furrowed his brow. "Does anyone here know what's going on?" he asked, his gaze landing sharply on Barry.

Barry shook his head, though unease crept into his features. He could sense something was off, but he chose to stay silent. Joe considered pressing further but decided against it. If it was serious, he trusted they would eventually come clean. For now, he let it go, though worry lingered in his mind.

"Iris, hey!" Wally called out, his voice gentle but urgent as he approached her by the elevator.

She stopped but didn't turn around, her shoulders trembling. "Wally, I can't do this. I can't tell him," she sobbed, breaking down as tears streamed down her face. Before she could say more, she fell into his embrace, clinging to him for support.

Wally sighed softly, holding her tightly. "You don't have to tell him now," he said, his voice soothing. "Just tell him when you're ready, when it feels right."

His words seemed to ease her pain, and her sobs gradually subsided. Gently, he helped her wipe away her tears. "Come on," he said, guiding her away from the elevator. He led her to the S.T.A.R. Labs lounge, ensuring she had a quiet space to collect herself. There, she stayed for a while, regaining her composure.

Meanwhile, Wally resolved that it was finally time to shift his focus outward. He couldn't afford to concentrate solely on himself any longer; neglecting those around him could ultimately lead to his downfall. With his resolve solidified, he made his way back to the Cortex, where he found Cisco animatedly recounting his fight with Gypsy.

"She's in the lounge," Wally replied curtly, making Joe realize his usual hiding spot had been uncovered. A hint of worry crossed Joe's face, but he chose not to press further, trusting Wally for now.

Cisco, clearly annoyed that his epic storytelling had been interrupted, immediately dove back into his tale with exaggerated enthusiasm. "As I was saying," he continued, his voice filled with drama, "Gypsy nailed me with this insane blast—boom!—and I was practically knocking on death's door. I mean, if it weren't for Wally's serum, I'd be toast. Actual toast. Crispy, burnt, end-of-the-line toast."

Despite the theatrical delivery, Cisco's eyes flashed with genuine gratitude as he glanced at Wally. For a moment, the room felt lighter, the appreciation clearly felt.

However, the others were visibly perplexed. "What serum?" Caitlin asked, her curiosity piqued, especially given her medical background.

Wally didn't reply immediately. Instead, he sped off and returned in an instant, holding a small case containing six glowing vials of green liquid. The eerie glow captivated the team's attention, pulling their gazes toward it.

Caitlin, unable to resist her scientific instincts, was the first to swoop in. She carefully took one of the vials, holding it up to the light. "What is this?" she asked, her tone a mix of intrigue and astonishment as she examined the serum.

"That," Wally began, holding up the vial, "is a high-speed cellular regeneration serum I developed. It accelerates the body's natural healing process, repairing tissues and organs almost instantly—even fatal injuries."

Caitlin was about to bombard Wally with questions, but Barry cut in, his tone skeptical. "And you made this yourself?"

Wally immediately recognized the familiar look on Barry's face—doubt, tinged with concern. "Yeah, I did," he replied, dismissing Barry's skepticism.

While the others continued to examine the serum, Wally's attention shifted to Julian, who had been unusually quiet. His silence stood out, and Wally couldn't help but think, I guess he's the kind to hold a grudge. He recalled how Barry had turned Julian down not long ago.

"I hope you don't mind if I have a little peek at this," Caitlin asked, already slipping into the med bay before Wally could even respond.

"Sure, why not," he muttered to her absent figure, his focus shifting as others began to leave.

"I've got to get back to CCPD. If anything happens, I'm a call away," Joe said, offering a quick nod before heading out.

Julian, still stewing over Barry's earlier words, also made to leave. But Barry, sensing the tension, quickly intercepted him, meeting him at the elevator.

This left HR, Wally, and Cisco in the Cortex. As expected, HR immediately made a beeline for his daily coffee.

Cisco was about to slip away as well when Wally called out, "Hey, Cisco."

"Yeah, what's up?" Cisco asked, a hint of frustration slipping into his tone. He had planned to dive deeper into the energy shielding tech he had improvised during his fight with Gypsy.

The more he thought about it, the more potential he saw—mountains of applications waiting to be explored. However, standing in front of someone who had directly contributed to his victory, he quickly dispelled his irritation.

"The modification you made to your suit—the energy shielding one?" Wally asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Yeah, what about it?" Cisco replied, crossing his arms.

Wally hesitated for a moment before continuing. "I've been working on something similar. And I'm close to completing it. If the data might be useful to you, here it is."

He held out a small data drive, offering it to Cisco, who raised an eyebrow in surprise. "You've been working on energy shielding too?" Cisco asked, taking the drive. His curiosity now fully engaged, any trace of annoyance vanished. "Alright, let's see what you've got."

Though Cisco had his initial doubts, they were quickly suppressed as he recalled the mind-blowing innovations Wally had managed to create in the past. His skepticism faded further as he inserted the drive, the mountain of information swiftly uploading onto the monitor.

Ignoring the smug smirk on Wally's face, Cisco leaned in, scanning through the surface data with practiced efficiency. Within minutes, his expression shifted from curiosity to astonishment, though he tried to mask it. His stillness gave away his thoughts as he stared at the data as though peering into an abyss.

"Is this what you mean by 'close to completing it'?" Cisco finally exclaimed, his voice tinged with disbelief and a hint of irritation. "This isn't 'close.' This is basically everything you need to create an energy shielding system! And not just any system—this is next-level stuff!"

He turned to Wally, his brows furrowed in frustration. "You're seriously downplaying this? Are you kidding me right now?" Cisco's incredulity was evident, though it was mixed with admiration for Wally's achievement.

"It's no biggie. The information should be useful, right?" Wally asked casually, earning a resigned sigh from Cisco.

"Of course," Cisco muttered.

Just as Wally and Cisco prepared to dive into the intricacies of energy shielding, Caitlin entered the Cortex, her expression focused. "Wally, I need your supervision on something," she requested. With Gypsy involved, Cisco naturally tagged along out of curiosity.

As they walked to the med bay, Caitlin's curiosity couldn't be contained. "Wally, just what did you put in that serum?" she asked, her gaze sharp and unyielding.

From the minor scans and experiments she had conducted, Caitlin had discovered the serum's remarkable capabilities. Theoretically, its healing effects surpassed even Barry's speed healing, though it was only temporary. Her initial focus had been on identifying potential side effects, but to her surprise, she found none. The absence of complications only deepened her curiosity.

If this serum could do what she thought it could, it could revolutionize medicine. Cancer could be systematically treated. Mortality rates from infections, diseases, and severe injuries could plummet. As long as the victim wasn't instantly dead, she was convinced this serum could pull them back from death's door.

Her focus wasn't born from skepticism or suspicion—it stemmed from concern. Caitlin worried that the serum's ingredients might be rare or difficult to produce, limiting its accessibility and making it too expensive for widespread use.

"Sorry, but I can't disclose that," Wally responded sharply. Caitlin's expression fell, though she tried to mask her disappointment.

"But it's not that difficult to make," Wally added after a pause.

His words seemed to flip a switch. Caitlin's mood instantly brightened, her excitement returning so quickly that it left Wally puzzled. He couldn't help but wonder what exactly had sparked such a dramatic shift in her demeanor.

"Are you planning on using the serum on Gypsy?"

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