Caitlin watched as the other members in the club danced, sweaty bodies pressed tightly together until they were almost fused into one being. She sighed in boredom as she took another sip of her whisky. She didn't want to be out tonight in the first place, but Cisco was adamant that she got out and have fun. Fun. What a fucking horrible thought. She didn't want to have fun. Not when the breakup was still so fresh. Sighing again, her mind strayed to Julian.

They had been high school sweethearts, even going as far as staying together in college. He was everything to her. Until he wasn't. She still remembered the night she came home to find underwear that were clearly not hers' on the floor of their apartment. Shocked, she didn't know what to do until she heard the noises coming from the room she shared with the man she had foolishly thought she'd spend the rest of her life with. The rest was a blur. Finding Julian in bed with her best friend, nee, ex-best friend, had caused her to feel her heart splinter into a million pieces. She hadn't known just how easy it was for a heart to break until that moment.

Pulling herself out her thoughts, she attempted to drown herself in her misery once more as she took another sip of her whisky, finishing the glass. Frowning down into the empty crystal, she nodded her head at the bartender, who refilled it with a frown.

"That's your fourth in less than an hour," he commented, and Caitlin rolled her eyes.

"What are you, my dad?" Caitlin snapped. "Just shut up and pour."

The bartender acquiesced but not after looking at her thoughtfully.

"I'm Barry," he said a moment later as she slurped her drink.

"Funny, you'll notice I didn't ask," she commented dryly. To her surprise, he didn't seem put off by her attitude; on the contrary, he chuckled.

"Rough night?" Barry asked wisely, and she sighed.

"The roughest," she muttered, taking another sip.

"I know I shouldn't be the one giving advice since I'm a bartender, but drowning whatever pain you're avoiding in whisky doesn't seem like the healthiest of coping mechanisms…?" Barry trailed off, and Caitlin knew he wanted her name.

"Caitlin," she said, massaging her temples. "And, I know. But I'm human. Allow me to make mistakes, too."

Barry nodded. Then, he slid a glass of water in front of her, soft quirk of his lips and turned his attention on the other customers.

XXX

By the time final call sounded, the bar had gotten considerably less noisy. Caitlin was grateful. She was starting to feel the effects of having one drink too many and knew she should slow down if she wanted to make it home in one piece. Cisco, god love him, had already snuck off with some guy he met. Caitlin didn't begrudge him that; Cisco had been nothing less than her rock during the aftermath of her breakup. He deserved happiness, too.

"Let me call you a cab, Caitlin," Barry's voice pulled her from her thoughts, and she found herself looking at him. She shook her head.

"No thank you," she said.

"Well, you're not driving," he said bluntly. Caitlin actually chuckled as she shook her head again.

"No, I'm not," she agreed. "I'm walking. The fresh air will do me some good."

Barry stared at her incredulously. "It's damn near two in the morning, you're drunk off your feet, and you want to walk home? Alone?"

When he said it out loud, it sounded rather stupid.

"Uh," she began sheepishly. "Yes?"

Barry rolled his eyes.

"I'll walk you," he said decisively. "Give me twenty to shut down everything. Drink that water, too."

Caitlin stared down at the water in surprise, having forgot he gave it to her. She nodded and took another sip. As she waited for him to count his tills, Caitlin found herself watching him. He was good looking in the way that she had come to associate wiry men to be. He wasn't stocky, but he had some definition to his arms, and she found herself wondering what was underneath his black shirt. Blushing slightly, she shook her head to rid the thoughts.

Eventually, Barry looked up. "Ready?"

"Yes," she said, and stood up, steadying herself on wobbly feet. Barry walked around the bar top and met her.

"Where we headed?" Barry asked.

"Apartments on the east," she said, and he looked at her in surprise.

"You live on the eastside?" Barry wondered, and she nodded. "By yourself?" She nodded again. "Is that safe?"

"This dad vibe you have going for you is not going to do you any favors for your dating life," she warned him before nodding. "And, yes. It's safe. I've lived there for the past three years and nothing has happened."

Barry nodded but didn't say anything to that and shoved his hands into his pockets. Caitlin followed suit, and soon they were walking down the quiet streets of Central City. Eventually, they got to her apartment complex.

"This is me," she said. "Thanks for walking me home."

Barry looked up at the building before looking at her. "You're welcome."

They stood outside for a moment, and Caitlin was unsure of what to do. She didn't want to invite him up, but he had gone out of his way to walk her home. It was him who spoke up a moment later.

"You had it wrong, you know. What you said earlier," he commented, and Caitlin looked at him curiously. "I'm not active in the dating life at all, dad vibes or not."

Caitlin studied him, feeling a little bad for him.

"Me neither," she admitted.

"Just not interested or something?" Barry wondered, and she smiled an ironic smile.

"Or something," she whispered. "Goodnight, Barry."

"Night, Caitlin," he said. She turned and disappeared into her complex, feeling his eyes on her back all the way to the elevator.

XXX

It wasn't until two weeks later that Caitlin heard from Barry again. She had gone out for her morning jog that she had every morning, letting the hour she allotted to herself calm her down. After her shower, she made her way to Jitters and stood in line for her caffeine fix. It wasn't until a vaguely familiar voice spoke up behind her did she turn around.

"Here I thought all you knew how to drink was whisky," Barry said, and she chuckled.

"Only on the nights I party," she replied, turning her body towards him so he could hear her better.

"Oh yeah? Do you party hard?" Barry teased, and she found herself smiling at his tone.

"To be honest, partying really isn't my scene," she admitted as she scooted forward in line. "My best friend had dragged me out my apartment that night, saying it was high time I stopped wallowing."

"Best friends and their good, but often misplaced intentions," Barry laughed, and Caitlin mirrored it.

"Yeah, Cisco is great, but sometimes he just puts his foot in it," she commented.

"Where was he that night to walk you home?" Barry asked, and she rolled her eyes.

"He, and I quote, "met a really cute guy, Cait, and I swear, if you don't let me go home with him, I'm not letting you decide our next binge series on Netflix,'" she quoted, and Barry laughed.

"Sounds reasonable enough," he replied.

"Clearly," she deadpanned. She got her coffee then, and he was next. Looking around for a table, she spotted one in the back and looked at Barry curiously. "Want to join me? You did make sure I got home safely that night, dad."

"Just doing what any dad would do," he said cheerfully as he nodded and followed her to the table. Sitting down, she took a sip of her black coffee, letting the hot liquid warm her.

"I'd marry you, if I could," she whispered to her coffee, looking up when Barry snorted a laugh. "What?"

"That's depressingly honest," he admitted, and she shrugged.

"Why? Coffee doesn't disappoint. Coffee doesn't betray you. Coffee is good," she said, and he quirked an eyebrow at her.

"More to that particular statement?" Barry asked, and she shook her head.

"No, sorry," she dismissed, and he nodded, dropping it. They didn't talk much after that, but Caitlin wasn't uncomfortable with the silence she found herself in. By the time they got ready to go their separate ways, Caitlin found herself wondering if she'd cross paths with him again. She didn't have to wonder for long.

XXX

Caitlin found herself back the bar she had met Barry at. One quick, cursory glance around, told her the bartender wasn't there. Trying to ignore the small amount of disappointment she surprisingly felt, she ordered a Diet Coke, deciding to remain sober if Cisco grew bored and wanted to go home early. She was about three-fourths of her way finished with her drink when a guy sat down next to her and smiled at her. She returned it before going back to her drink.

"I'm Jay," he introduced himself. Caitlin studied him, noticing the almost predatory-like look in his eyes and opted out of giving her name. She just nodded politely and turned back to her drink once more. "It's usually polite to give one's name back, darling."

Caitlin bristled at the name. "Sorry, but I don't think my boyfriend would appreciate you trying to chat me up." She didn't know why she was lying, but something told her Jay didn't have the best of intentions and she really didn't want to have to fend a drunk guy off her.

"I won't tell if you won't," Jay whispered, placing his hand on her thigh and sliding it up. Caitlin shoved it off her.

"Don't touch me," she snapped.

Jay just smirked and pressed himself closer, opening his mouth to speak once more. Only, he was interrupted.

"Mind not getting into my girlfriend's space, asshole?" Barry asked, and Caitlin looked up at him, registering the look of reassurance he gave her. She nodded her head slightly, and sat back, watching the scene unfold. Jay pulled back and looked at Barry.

"She yours'?" Jay asked lazily.

"She doesn't belong to anyone, dick," Barry snapped. "But yeah, she's my girlfriend. And, unless you want me to rearrange your face into something a little less unfortunate looking, you'd back the hell off."

Jay glared at him before downing his shot and standing up. "Whatever." He shoved past Barry and Barry stared at his retreating back until he was gone. Then he sat down.

"You okay?" Barry asked, and she nodded.

"Yeah," she replied. "He was about to find out what it feels like when a two-inch heel connects with his balls."

Barry chuckled. "I don't doubt it."

Caitlin took another sip of her drink as she regarded Barry curiously. "You come to your own job on your night off?"

Barry rubbed a sheepish hand down his neck. "Not normally, but I was sort of hoping to run into someone."

"Who?" Caitlin asked curiously.

"You," he admitted, and there was a soft blush kissing his cheeks that she decided to not call him out on. She just looked at him, wondering when she had slowly started to want to know more about him. Taking a sip of her drink, she thought over her words carefully.

"I'm not saying I'm ready to date," she warned. "But, if you're willing to wait around while I get ready, I think we might have a shot at something."

"I'd wait forever, if I had to," he said, and she smiled, feeling the fissures start mending back together slowly.

Author's note: So, it's been a hell of a long time since I wrote anything Snowbarry related. I don't know if you guys even are interested in it anymore but uh, yeah. Here you go? -Hides;