Disclaimer: Based loosely off the episode "Labyrinth" from Smallville.

Important: This takes place at the end of season 2, right after Zoom's defeat and before Flashpoint.

Relapse

The first thing Barry became aware of as he emerged into consciousness was the nauseating, harsh smell offending his senses. It was a blend of antiseptic, linen, and just a slight hint of stale urine. It smelled like…a hospital.

Barry's eyes snapped open.

This was definitely not the medical bay at STAR Labs. He sat up in bed with a groan and blearily looked around the small room. It looked like a hospital room of some sort, minus all the equipment. Really, all there was in the room was a twin bed and a small dresser, and everything seemed to be white and very clean.

"What the hell?" Barry muttered when he looked down and saw that he was wearing a set of what looked like white scrubs.

Where the hell was he?!

On the verge of panic, Barry quickly stood up and walked over to the large, metal door of the room. When he tried the handle, he quickly realized the door was locked. Barry's heart immediately started to race. Then he remembered he could just phase right through it.

He took a few steps back and then charged at the door. He realized instantly that something wasn't right. He was moving way too slow, and it didn't feel like he was vibrating. He had only a second of confusion as he realized this before he made impact, slamming hard into the door.

He couldn't phase!

Barry held up his hand and tried to vibrate it. It shook lamely at a normal speed. He didn't know how, but his powers were gone. Barry started to hyperventilate. He was in a strange place he didn't know, and he didn't have his speed.

His attention was drawn away from his panic when suddenly, a soft murmuring sound reached his ears. Someone was talking just outside the door. It was then that Barry realized there was a small window on the door, at eye level. It was tiny, about the size of an envelope, but he could see through it.

Looking through the small opening, Barry could see down a hallway of some sort. This room seemed to be on the end of it, so he could see down the entire hall, which seemed to bend and continue off somewhere to his right. There were other doors lining the hallway, all of them having the same opening in them as this one.

He couldn't see the people who were talking, but he could hear them. They must have been standing off to the side of his door, where the hallway bent and continued. Barry strained his ears to hear what the masculine voice was saying.

"…seems to have had a significant regression in his recovery. Judging by what he said in group therapy yesterday, Mr. Allen has had a complete and total relapse."

"It's such a shame," he heard a woman reply, "He was doing so well. I thought he was getting better."

The voices faded then as the people walked away from the door.

Relapse? What did that mean? What was he doing here? Was he sick? Why couldn't he remember anything? Why did he no longer have his powers?

What the hell was going on here?!

"Hey!" Barry shouted through the opening, "Can anyone hear me?! What's going on?! Where am I?!"

There was no reply.

"Somebody please tell me what's going on!" Barry demanded angrily, "Why am I here?! What did you people do to me?!"

They must have done something to remove his powers. Whoever these people were, they seemed to have somehow abducted him and removed his speed from him. He didn't know why they were keeping him here, but the reason for it couldn't be anything good.

Suddenly, someone appeared in the window in front of him, no doubt having heard his shouts.

"Hello, Mr. Allen."

"Harry?" Barry said, confused.

"I usually prefer Dr. Wells," he said calmly, "But you can call me Harry if that makes you more comfortable, Barry."

"Harry, what the hell is going on here?!" Barry asked in confusion, "Where am I?"

"Please, try to calm down, Mr. Allen," Harry said in a calming voice, "Everything's fine. You're at the Renfrew Rehabilitation Center."

"Renfrew Rehabilitation Center?" Barry asked in confusion, "What the hell is that?"

Harry sighed.

"It's a small branch of the larger Arkham facilities," he replied.

"Arkham?" Barry asked, his throat dry, "As in Arkham Asylum?!"

Harry nodded.

"What the hell is going on, Harry?!" Barry demanded.

He needed answers now. Why on earth was Harry acting so calm? Was he in on it? Had he betrayed Barry again? After everything?!

Harry gave Barry a sad look.

"You're going through a relapse, Mr. Allen," he told him gently, "You're suffering from memory loss. I'm not surprised your time with us here has escaped your memory."

"What do you mean?" Barry asked in confusion, his heart racing, "What do you mean, 'my time here?'"

Harry sighed.

"Mr. Allen, you've been with us at Renfrew for over two years now."

Barry's heart skipped a beat.

"Two years?!" he shouted, "What do you mean I've been here for two years?!"

"Barry, why don't you take some of those deep breaths we talked about?" Harry suggested in a calming voice, "You're getting yourself worked up."

"Of course, I'm fucking worked up!" Barry yelled, "What you're telling me isn't making any sense! Why am I in an asylum?! I'm not insane!"

Harry sighed heavily.

"Mr. Allen, we've talked about this," he said with a hint of impatience, "Denying your condition isn't going to help you recover. The first step is acceptance."

"What do you mean 'my condition?'" Barry demanded, "What condition?"

Harry sighed again.

"Your schizophrenia, Barry."