2 Chapter 2 - Lab

It is hard to remember things when you have not the slightest clue as to what you are looking for.

Nathan tried and failed, and all that he saw was a kaleidoscope of dust swimming past his eyes into the realms unknown. And as he sat staring at the window and the world beyond all he thought was What had he lost?

No matter how hard he tried he couldn't understand as to why he was where he was when Caitlin found him. Was he robbed? Then why take his clothes? And then there was the situation of his memory loss, it just didn't seem to add up. Nathan frowned.

He had thought a lot these few days he had spent in Caitlin's appartment. And the news that the particle accelerator had caused the death of not too few people. It was entirely possible that he had been hit by the wave of that dark matter and consequently lost his consciousness alongside his memories.

Shaking his head to rid himself of these thoughts, he picked the now empty coffe mug and made his way to the kitchen. While passing by the living room he couldn't help stealing a glance at the disheartened blonde woman staring blankly into the space.

It made him wonder how Caitlin kept herself calm and composed, and despite all that happened her professionalism never waned. At the same time, Nathan couldn't help feeling worried, as holding back your feelings like that never proved a good idea.

Back from the kitchen he moved to the living room and sat opposite her.

"Oh, hey," Caitlin seemed to have escaped the dream world as she focused on the youngster in front of her. "Do you need anything?"

"No, I just wanted to talk." Nathan shook his hands and settled back on the cushions.

"What do you want to talk about?"

He seemed hesitant as he peeked left and right before he took a deep breath and said, "Listen, I know that we don't technically know each other. But over the past couple days, I can tell that you are a wonderful person Caitlin.

"It's just that, seeing you like this makes me feel gloomy too and honestly I don't want that, for you."

"Oh, I am sorry if i–

"No, please don't apologise, if anything I should be the one thanking you for everything." Nathan stopped and after a moment of consideration, he continued, "I know that you lost your fiance and you feel guilty over the things that happened. But it's not your fault, Caitlin. All I want to say is that, you don't have to hold back. If you want to cry, cry and if you want to talk to someone, I will do my best to listen. So for yourself, and for your fiance please stop hurting yourself."

Caitlin stilled, her head hung down while Nathan waited with a bated breath.

"Ronnie."

"What?"

The blonde doctor lifted her head up and said, "His name was Ronnie Raymond. And thanks for your concern but I am ok."

Nathan could only nod at that, although he wasn't sure about her being okay. But what could he do? Living with a complete stranger in an unfamiliar house has been awkward enough and although thought of moving to somewhere had crossed his mind many a time, but the young man hadn't after some considerations.

Since the meeting with Harrison Wells was supposed to be tomorrow, he might as well stay for that duration here and then move out and start looking for his family or friends, or whomever he had any connection with. Maybe they had already started to look for him too. Whatever the case Nathan was ready to do anything to help himself remember.

...

That night as the stars shone a dim light in the inky black cosmos, Nathan stared at the sky through the window, watching them blink and shine like tiny bulbs in a dark room.

What he didn't know was his eyes glowing a shade of sliver grey as streaks of energy was sucked inside him. He then went into the deep sleep.

...

First thing in the morning Nathan donned a fresh pair of shirt and pants along with a jacket to ward off the cold. Caitlin seemed to be of same mind as she hugged her warm coat around her shoulders and the two left in her car to the S.T.A.R Labs.

It took only a short time for them arrive and seeing the freshly set fence around the tall building straight out Sic-Fi damaged, really hammered in the fact; the destruction caused by the explosive had not been small.

As the car was parked and Nathan looked at the debris still littering the ground, he couldn't help but wonder the reason of this mess. Even then however, Nathan was still surprised, which surprised him.

"Let's go." Caitlin motioned and he followed along as the two made their way inside. The long curving tunnel seemed to give it creepy but fantasy like look but the rooms littered with trash and crushed machines were constant reminder of the destruction that had greeted this place few days ago.

Once past the Cortex, and one floor later, Nathan finally found himself in the headquarters.

"Welcome to the S.T.A.R Labs, Mr. Williams." A smiling Harrison Wells came from left side on his wheelchair.

"Hello Doctor, nice to meet you again." Nathan shook the man's hands and took a look around.

As expected most of the place was clean, devoid of any tech or anything related. Still Nathan found traces of once existing computers, monitors and other things that he wasn't quite sure what to make of.

Just then a guy with shoulder length curly black hair wearing a loose pair of pants and tshirt came from the same direction as Dr. Wells had with a tablet in his hand.

"Ah, Cisco, this Mr. Nathaniel Williams, the one I told you about and Mr. Williams, this is Cisco Ramon, our lead Engineer."

"Oh, hello, nice to meet you." Nathan extended his hands and the guy shook it.

Cisco took a look at Caitlin and then looked back at Nathan, "Dr. Wells mentioned that you don't remember anything."

"That's right."

"It's a good thing that I can help with that."

Dr. Wells swiveled his chair in their direction and said, "Before you take Nathan with you, may I call you Nathan?"

"Oh, yes please."

"Then Nathan, we would like a sample of your blood to take a look and see if we can find anything."

Nathan looked at the man with glasses and nodded his head, "Please go ahead, I would like to help as much as possible."

"Dr. Snow."

At his call Caitlin seemed to come out of nowhere holding a syringe. She sat Nathan on a stool and had him pull his sleeve. Once done, Cisco took him back to the Cortex where a couple of high-tech computers lay around.

Looking around himself, Nathan tried to start an idle talk. "So you know Caitlin -?"

"Yes, we work together, of course we know eachother."

"Then you know Ronnie too?"

Cisco stopped, lifted his head and started at the young man with narrowed eyes. "How do you know Ronnie?"

"Oh that, Caitlin mentioned his name. Look I heard what happened and I am sorry for that."

Cisco turned back but his shoulders seemed a bit heavier. Nathan sighed, feeling like he had ruined his good impression.

"You know, you people are doing a great job; helping people."

"We have to take the responsibility for our actions and if your situation was caused by the particle accelerator, then we need to fix it."

"Many wouldn't."

"Sorry what?"

Cisco turned to look at the guy who shrugged in response and said, "All I'm saying is that most would shrink from their responsibilities, and that you people are really great for helping a stranger."

"You don't have to compliment us, this wouldn't have happened in the first place if it weren't for us. All we are doing is trying to earn a chance at redemption." There seemed something more in his words but Nathan couldn't understand it fully so he let it drop.

"I need to take your picture and a scan of your fingerprints, I will to hack into CCPD database and see if I can find anything," Cisco didn't stop his fingers from hammering on the keyboard even as he continued, "Don't worry, we will help you."

Nathan nodded on the side and followed the man's instructions to the letter and after being done, the two made their way back up.

"So, how would you know when you do find anything?" Nathan asked as they moved inside the lift, his tone a bit expectant.

"This," Cisco pointed at the tab in his hands and said, "I will get a update if anything comes up."

"Right! Seems like I asked something dumb." Nathan let out a weary laugh as the two stepped out.

Back at the Lab they only found Dr. Wells staring into a monitor, where a helical structure of DNA alongside a lot of details was moving in an animated form.

"Ah, Mr. Williams, you are back." He turned around as he saw the two enter and motioned for them to find a seat. Nathan could Caitlin through the glass on the other side with a tube of blue and green liquid, probably doing some tests, he wasn't quite sure.

"So, did you find anything?" He asked calmly.

Dr. Wells took a look back at Caitlin and then said, "As you can see Nathan the S.T.A.R Labs is currently in a state of disarray and it is hard to do these tests in the first place. But thankfully Dr. Snow is a brilliant one, and I promise you that you will have an answer in few hours."

"Yeah, no problem." Nathan nodded his head and stood up, and then hesitating he asked, "Um, Dr. Wells can I ask you something?"

"What is it, Mr. Williams?"

"I see that you are currently tiding this place, putting things back together, so I was wondering if you would let me help in exchange for letting me stay here for a while?"

Wells seemed to hesitate and looked around himself, before he said, "But why would you do that? If all you are asking for is a place to stay, I can make arrangements in a hotel, you don't need to concern yourself with us."

Just when Nathan was about to reply, a voice came from the side, "He can stay with me–"

He looked at Cisco who looked between the two of them, "–if you don't mind sleeping on the couch."

"Yeah, totally fine man, thanks a lot."

Harrison Wells seemed lost between the two, but Cisco soon followed with another comment, "And we could use an extra set of hands."

And just like that, Nathan finally found something to keep himself busy and Harrison Wells only thought of where this unexpected variable had come from. Was it due to himself?

The next few hours Nathan spent in Cisco's care as they setup the lab as it once used to be. Surprisingly connecting monitors and computers came easy to Nathan even as he lacked the slightest clue as to how.

It was only five hours later when Cisco and he were coming back from having lunch that they heard Caitlin's voice calling them to the lab.

"You two are here." Caitlin motioned with her head toward the Doctor who sat on his wheelchair looking at a tablet.

After a few minutes Dr. Wells finally lifted his head and looked at Nathan and said, "The results of your tests are out and it is as I feared them to be."

"What do you mean?" Asked Nathan with a frown marring his facial features.

"It seems Mr. Williams that you were in fact affected by the particle accelerator and according to the results, your cells, your DNA is currently in the state of absorbing all the energy around itself. However I don't know what this continuous state of Siphoning the energy around yourself would result into. I think it is for the best that you stay with us for the time being."

Although Nathan wasn't sure what the consequences could be, but since there were people willing to help and understood his situation the best, he had no need to deny the Doctor's invitation.

Authors Note: A bit rushed yes, but I just can't wait to start the canon. Some things to discuss however would be, Caitlin's state of mind, Cisco's attitude and Harrison Wells' conundrum. 

As I see it, Caitlin has always been the type to hold it in, be her anger, sorrow or emotions and is imo the influencing factor behind Killer Frost. Just because Nathan talked to her, wouldn't straighten her state of mind, it would take time.

Cisco on the other hand is currently riddled with the guilt of Ronnie's death. You must understand that the incident has happened only a few days prior and the whole experience remains fresh in their mind. It will take some time but he will come around.

As for why Dr. Wells is concerned with Nathan is because he hasn't heard of him in the future and Nathan being a Mata-human doesn't help with that. In that sense, he considers Nathan as a byproduct of his tempering with the original timeline. So while he is suspicious, he isn't going full on killer mode, yet.

Now I don't know if you like this fiction or not, but if you do, a simple hit or kudos would be much appreciated. Next chapter will finally introduce Barry Allen, aka The Flash.