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Three bodies lay under the streetlights as David and Julian Albert pulled up. They had gotten the call barely twenty minutes earlier. Three dead women on East Street. One shot multiple times across the torso. The other two with single bullets straight to the head. That was all the lead detective had given them so far.
Everything else still needed to be pulled from the scene.
The coroner straightened up from beside the bodies and walked over to them.
“Time of death approximately two hours ago,” he said, peeling off one bloody glove. “Cause of death is from bullet but we won’t know more until I get them on the table.”
Julian turned to David.
“Two hours ago…”
“Ten pm,” David finished.
Julian nodded. “Most places around here closing around that time. Yet nobody heard gunshots or saw anything until thirty minutes ago.”
David frowned. Something about this didn’t sit right.
“Who found the bodies?” he asked.
Julian pointed toward the youngest victim. “Her mother. She got worried when Annie didn’t come home from her shift. Kept calling but no answer so she came looking at the restaurant where Annie worked.” Julian breathed out. “Only to find all three of them dead right here on the pavement.”
“She’s the only one who saw the bodies?” David asked.
“Seems so.”
“Where is she now?”
“She’s at the precinct. Waiting to be questioned.”
David gave a short nod but his mind was working. If they were shot around ten, someone would've found them within minutes.
They stepped closer to get a better look at one of the bodies when one heavy drop of rain fell directly into the pool of blood with a wet slap. Julian looked up. The sky had turned vicious.
The rain came down in less than a minute, hammering the street like the sky itself was trying to bury the night’s sins.
The CSI team went into panic, trying to save as much evidence as possible. Everyone was frantic. You could hear them shouting in the background, mostly Julian's voice giving orders.
We've got three minutes!" Julian shouted. "Three minutes to process the scene! After that we lose everything to the gutters!"
"Kristen! Cone everything you bag!" he yelled
"James, get this body into a bag. Now!"
"Take everything you see around the victims! Anything unusual, bag it!"
"Body bag!" James Foster shouted to a nearby officer. "I wanna cover this woman!"
All of them moved fast. They swabbed, photographed and preserved what they could on the bodies before shoving the corpses into black bags.
"I need another gurney!" Patty shouted over to some officers, but her voice were overpowered by the rain.
"Let's go, let's go-move her up!" it was James's voice again. He was urging the few officers to lift one of the body into the bag.
"We're losing everything!" Patty shouted to Albert. She sounds frustrated, almost defeated. The defense attorney would give them hell. Say, if they managed to catch the murderer at all.
Joe West stood watching from the side, not daring to interfere while CSIs were fighting the nature clock. He looked at the crying, screaming sky with distraught eyes. Soon thunder would follow. This wasn’t his case. He had just been hanging out with Fred when he got called in for the triple homicide on East Street. His chest grew more anxious with every second that passed. Not because of how they were going to process the case with possibly contaminated evidence and no chance to return to the scene. No. Not at all. He was thinking about something else. More precisely, someone.
"Seems like our killer got lucky," Fred spoke beside him. He looked equally defeated, given their current situation. Understandable.
Joe glanced at Singh. The young captain looked slightly on edge. Unusual for someone so cold and collected. Again. Understandable. The scene was being compromised by something none of them could control. There was a big chance whoever did this gonna get away.
But then he saw the young captain pull Albert to his side and instruct him with something Joe couldn’t pick up then hurriedly left the perimeter, his shadow disappearing into the heavy downpour.
Joe wondered what could be more important to David right now than the chaos they were in.
Barry was curled up on the couch with his favourite book resting on his lap and a bowl of his favourite snack within easy reach. Today was his off day and he was grateful he had chosen today. The gentle rainfall outside paired perfectly with the soft blanket wrapped around him, creating the kind of comfort he rarely allowed himself to enjoy. His eyes grew heavy. He set the book aside and lay down fully, letting the gentle rhythm of the rain lull him toward sleep.
But the moment he closed his eyes, everything changed.
The rain suddenly intensified into a heavy downpour. Then the storm arrived without warning. A sharp crack of thunder split the air and forced his eyes open again. Barry sat up straight, heart already picking up pace.
The storm grew worse quickly. The thunder became louder and more frequent, rolling through the sky with no mercy. Barry’s shoulders tightened with every new rumble. He tried the breathing exercise they had practiced in his psychiatrist’s office. Breathe in. Hold. Breathe out. It wouldn’t chase away fear, but at least it might keep his body from slipping into full panic mode.
Until a blinding white flash tore across the sky, lighting up the entire room like daylight for a split second. The thunder that followed was deafening. It cracked violently overhead, shaking the walls and the floor beneath him. At that exact moment, every light in the house died. The whole neighbourhood went dark.
Barry froze.
His two greatest fears had collided at once. He was alone in complete darkness, the same endless darkness that had consumed him for months after his accident and the lightning that always felt like it was coming back to finish what it started.
He drew his knees up to his chest, curling into the smallest shape possible. A single tear dropped onto his knee. Then another. Soon they were falling freely.
He hated this. Hated how powerless he became, how the fear stripped away every layer of strength he had built.
Soft sobs began to escape his throat. He wished he was anywhere else right now. Even out in the rain at a crime scene, digging through mud for evidence would be better than this. He wished the storm would end. He wished he wasn’t alone.
Most of all, Barry wished he was here.
Minutes stretched, but the weather remained unrelenting.
He was so deep in his thoughts that he barely registered the sound of the front door opening. Nor did he hear the footsteps getting closer.
Not until he felt a hand touch his.
Barry's eyes widened. He looked up and saw a dark figure right in front of him. He couldn't make out the face, only that it was a man. Panic surged through him. He yanked his hand away from the stranger and scrambled to his feet, desperate to run upstairs.
But before he could escape, the man stopped him and held him tightly.
Barry screamed.
David pushed open the front door, rain dripping heavily from his jacket onto the floor. The house was pitch black except for the occasional flashes of lightning.
"Barry?" he called out.
David moved quickly through the dark living room. Another flash of lightning revealed Barry curled tightly on the couch, knees to his chest, shoulders shaking with sobs.
David's heart clenched.
He crossed the room in a few long strides and dropped to his knees right in front of him.
He reached out slowly to touch Barry's trembling hand.
Barry jerked away, a small frightened sound escaping him. He bolted across the living room trying to run away from him. David had to chase after him and caught him just before he could make it to the stairs.
“Barry. Baby, it’s me.” David tried calming down the man who struggling wildly against him. “It’s me. I’m here. It’s alright.”
Barry quit struggling upon hearing that voice.
The voice… he knew that voice. His body still trembled as recognition slowly broke through the panic.
David didn’t loosen his grip. He pulled Barry closer, one hand firm on his waist, the other cradling the back of his head. “Breathe with me,” he murmured. “Just breathe. I’ve got you.”
Barry’s forehead dropped against David’s wet shoulder. The familiar scent David’s cologne finally snapped him back. Another sob broke free, but this one carried relief instead of fear.
“It’s okay. I’m here now,” David murmured against his hair, still holding him securely. He kept reassuring Barry until the blond slowly began to calm down. “You’ve got me. I’m here for you.”
David pressed a firm kiss to the top of Barry’s head. They stayed like that for a long moment before David lifted him effortlessly and carried his boyfriend toward the bedroom.
David laid Barry down gently on the bed, then climbed in beside him. He pulled the younger man into his arms and held him close. He didn’t speak much at first. Just occasional kisses pressed to Barry’s temple and gentle, reassuring words until the sobs finally stopped and Barry’s breathing evened out.
Barry’s voice eventually broke the silence. “I must look so pathetic right now.”
David lifted Barry’s chin, forcing those teary blue eyes to meet his. “Shh.” He leaned in and kissed Barry’s puffy lips softly then pulled back just enough to speak. “Don’t say that.” He brought Barry’s hand to his lips and kissed the back of it.
“You’re not pathetic. Nobody should expect you to not be afraid of one thing that almost killed you. What happened to you wasn’t your fault. This doesn’t make you weak. And when you feel like it does…you can always lean on me.”
Barry apologized for dragging him in the middle of the storm but David kissed him again, deeper this time, effectively silencing him.
"Nothing is going to stop me from being here when you need me," David said firmly against his lips. "Nothing."
He eventually got them both up and guided Barry through the dark space to the bathroom. Even without lights, Barry felt safe with David's strong body pressed against him. They showered together in the darkness, warm water cascading over them while David kept holding him, grounding him with every touch.
Later, once they were back in bed and settled under the covers, Barry asked quietly, "How did you know?"
David frowned slightly, then let out a low chuckle. “What do you think I am, baby?” He gave Barry a quick peck on the lips. “I’m a detective too. The best one here.” His fingers stroked slowly through the golden curls resting on his bare chest.
He remembered the heli ride back in Coast City. That night was filled with lightning shooting across the distant sky. Barry had looked like someone was holding a gun to his head. His shaking hands were visible no matter how hard he tried to hide them. That had never happened before.
Barry looked down, biting his lower lip. “You’re the only one who knows about this, right?”
David tilted Barry’s chin up again, his thumb gently caressing the soft cheek. “Yes. Don’t worry, baby. Anyone else won't even get the chance to figure it out.” He smirked. “And they’re not allowed to. Only me.”
That pulled a small smile from Barry.
They stayed tangled together for a long while. Eventually Barry let out a tiny yawn, his eyes growing heavy. David noticed and murmured, “Go to sleep.”
Barry obeyed, drifting off in David’s arms totally forgotten about the thunder and rain still raging outside. David continued stroking the soft golden curls until sleep finally claimed him too.
Joe pushed the car as fast as the storm would allow. He could’ve hit home sooner but Fred had ridden with him and he had to drop him off at the precinct first. He just prayed he would make it in time before Barry's episode got worse.
He barely close the front door neither did he give a damn about the watter dripping from his coat wetting the carpet. He headed straight to Barry's room.
But when he reached the doorway, Joe stopped short.
He found his son was sleeping soundly in his boss's arms. Barry's face was peaceful. He hadn't seen that expression on Barry for years.
And he hadn't known of anything that can pulled the infamous cold and intimidating young captain from his job. Until now.
Hundred questions flooded his mind but underneath it all he feels relief that Barry has someone to hold him through the night. Someone that would drop anything to be there for him.
'Thank you' , he thought, looking at David. 'Thank you for being here when l couldn't.'
A tired smile crept onto his face without realizing it.
He quietly stepped back, closing the door gently behind him and left the two of them to their slumber.