[Hal's never taken it seriously. And apparently, he should have. He sighs, covering his face with one hand. Part of him is annoyed that he might be about to prove Barry's sappy ass point. Most of him, though, just really wants it to work]
Okay. Okay, fine. Sure. At this point, I'll try anything. I just... [Want Barry back. That's all]
[Jay frowns thoughtfully, looking from Wally to Hal. It's so difficult to say whether or not they should try this - he doesn't want to get either of their hopes up for nothing, if it turns out to have not worked, or if it turns out that Barry isn't trapped in the speedforce.
He reaches out to clasp a hand on Hal's shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze.]
It may or may not work, but we'll give it a shot. No stone unturned, right boys? [There isn't much they wouldn't do to bring Barry back from wherever he might be, even this crazy idea.]
Meet me at the Watchtower. At the cosmic treadmill. [And just like that, Wally is gone in a blur. Jay just exhales a quiet sigh.]
[Jay really does hate the catch-22 here. The only way they don't all lose is if this actually brings Barry back somehow. If it doesn't... He's going to have to pick up the pieces of the both of them.
But they're running out of things to even try, places to look.]
Yeah, I guess so. [He agrees, and they make their way to the nearest zeta point. Up at the Watchtower, Wally is already hooking up the cosmic treadmill, getting things ready to give this crazy last-ditch thing a shot.]
Just stand by for now. Jay and I are going to try and open a small pathway to the speedforce, hopefully enough to get through to him if he's in there. If he is... He should hear your voice, and maybe it'll give him the boost he needs to fight his way out himself.
[Wally doesn't sound totally sure about any of it, but it's not like they've ever tried to do something like this before.]
It's... If Barry's stuck in the speedforce... This has to work, right?
[Jay steps forward to give him a quick, tight hug.] It's something to try, at least. We're not giving up on him, son.
[Still feeling rather doubtful but...he wants it to work. He needs it to work]
It's a good plan, Wally. Barry would be proud of you for coming up with it. I'm proud of you for coming up with it. [It has to work. He doesn't think either he or Wally will be able to handle it if it doesn't work]
[Wally manages a smile, albeit a small and nervous one, at the praise. It always helps to hear Hal agree with him that something is a good idea - and he wants this to be a good idea. He wants it to work. They all need Barry back.] I- Save the praise for if it works, right?
[As Wally steps up onto the treadmill, Jay moves in to hug Hal too, tight.] We're going to do our damndest. [And hopefully... That'll be enough.
He joins Wally, and both turn to red blurs as they start to run, threads of lightning sparking and dying around them as they try to open up the speed force.]
[It has to work. There's no other choice. If it doesn't...Hal doesn't want to think about that. He needs Barry back. They all do. He's also not a terribly physically affectionate person but he's learned over the years that the speedsters all thrive on it and there's really no denying them. So he doesn't bother. Besides, maybe he appreciates it just the tiniest bit right now]
Just let me know what you need me to do and when you need me to do it.
[He knows very little about the speed force. Just what bits and pieces he's been told by Barry over the course of their friendship. He's pretty much letting Jay and Wally take the lead on this]
If this works, you'll know. Just- if you hear him, or see him, talk to him. If Uncle Barry is lost in the speedforce, he needs to hear you. [Wally says, voice sounding slightly distorted from the speed they move at while still remaining in one place.
Flecks of lightning keep flying off them as they move, the air taking on a weird sheen. It takes a few minutes, but...
Then there is a sound, distant and distorted. A sob, or a pant, or something, in a very familiar voice.
[At first, Hal doesn't hear anything. Just noise. He almost starts to worry that maybe Wally was wrong but he definitely hears that. It's distant and doesn't sound quite right but he'd recognize that voice anywhere]
Barry! [Wally was right] Barry, you need to come back now. Whatever you gotta do to get out of there, do it. Just...come back.
[Unfortunately it's not going to be that easy. The opened connection to the speed force is tenuous, and Barry's voice sounds distorted and almost staticky when he says, full of pain and desperation,]
...Hal? [Was what he heard real? Or is it a trick of his mind that so desperately wants to hear Hal's voice right then?]
[It's hard to hear but that almost sounded like a response. It almost sounded like his name. Hal can't tell for certain but he's going to take that as encouragement]
Barry, I know you can hear me! [At least, he hopes Barry can] Focus on that and come back. You've been gone for long enough. I don't know how the speed force works and I don't know how getting out of it works, but you're you so I know you can do it. Come back.
[If he replies, if he can hear more than every other word, there isn't much indication. The next sign of Barry's voice is minutes later, and still sounds staticky, garbled like a bad connection, or like he's trying hard to pull himself together inside the speedforce that tries to break him down, absorb him.]
...Hal-! [He's definitely saying his name, but it's hard to hear anything else.
[The minutes that pass without any indication that Barry is still there or can hear him feel like hours. The next thing he hears is definitely his name. Barry can hear him. Or at least some of what he's saying. Hal decides to attach to that little bit of encouragement. He needs it]
Yeah, Bar, I'm here! I was always gonna figure out where you were. I just wish it hadn't taken me so long. [He hates to think of what the last three weeks have been like for Barry. He sounds like he's been suffering] You can get out of there. You can do it, I know you can.
[Bar, I'm here, always gonna, so long, get out of there. He can't do it, though, he can't. It's too hard, like swimming in syrup at the slowest speed imaginable, like drowning, like losing himself to the speedforce.]
Can't, Hal- [The rest of the words come out garbled, unintelligible.] -I can't-
[And then, in the small torn-open look into the blinding lights of the speedforce, red-clad fingertips.]
You can! Because you know what? If you don't, I'm gonna have to figure out a way to get you out! And it'll probably be stupid and dangerous and not all that moral! So don't make me do that!
[He'd do anything for Barry, no matter how stupid. And he knows Barry knows that. For example, how stupid an idea would reaching out be? Hal decides he doesn't care if it's stupid, reaching out just enough so Barry can feel his hand and know that he's there. Assuming Barry can feel anything at all right now]
You can do it. Or I'll drag your ass out if I have to. Whatever works.
[He can feel it, when Hal's fingers brush his in the gap, and the physical touch after weeks of nothing in the speedforce is- he needs more contact. The touch sparks red lightning between them, but Barry is clearly reaching out desperately even as he vibrates all over, in and out of a solid state.]
Please-! [It feels like no matter how fast he runs in the speedforce, he can't quite make it, can't escape this nightmare. He sounds closer, though. Clearer.]
[Hal decides in that moment that he doesn't give a single fuck is grabbing onto Barry is a bad idea or not. He's doing it. He grabs onto Barry's hand, hoping that he doesn't end up vibrating straight through in his current unstable state. If dragging him out is what Hal has to do, he'll do it]
[Barry grasps desperately on to Hal's hand, even though lightning strikes wildly around them both, painful and relentless. But it's clear from Barry's trembling voice saying Hal's name that if he lets go, he doesn't think he'll make it out.
Hal is able to pull him through with a last, hard pull, and Barry falls to the floor, gasping, vibrating in and out of solidity.
Wally shouts in surprise, and Jay's eyes go wide. It takes them a minute to slow down and stop the treadmill, leaving no trace of the tear in the speedforce.]
[Hal has no intention of letting go, even if holding onto him actually kind of sucks. It's an immense relief when Barry is out, real and right in front of him, even if he isn't all that stable yet. Only then does he let go, trying to shake the feeling back into his arm]
Don't touch him yet, Wally.
[He’s sure Wally wants to hug the life out of Barry. Hal has a similar urge to grab onto him and never let go again. He's refraining only because he's sure Barry needs a minute to pull himself back together. Maybe he shouldn't have let go, since physical contact was what finally helped Barry get out]
[Wally stops in his tracks at the instruction, practically vibrating himself as he watches Hal and Barry. Barry, down on his hands and knees on the ground, trying to stabilize himself, looking pale and almost haunted.
It's been a long few weeks, except in Barry's mind, it could be any length of time; time always works weird for speedsters.
A few more little sparks are thrown off him as he shivers, and tries to stop flickering in and out of solidity.] H-Hal-
[He doesn't look great. Hal, once again, feels immensely guilty that it took them three weeks to figure out where Barry was. They should've figured it out sooner. They shouldn't have left him there so long to suffer. He kneels down on the ground in front of Barry, just to get on his level]
Hey. I'm not gonna touch you if you don't want me to. But...I'm right here. If you want. [He's gonna leave it up to Barry, whether he wants to get closer or not right now. He doesn't want to push]
[Hal kneeling down to his level actually gives him something to focus on, at least, rather than just the sound of his voice. Blue eyes lift and meet Hal's gaze for a moment, shoulders jerking a little, breath hitching like he might cry.
Maybe it's a bad idea. He's still unstable, trying to re-center himself back in the real world, so to speak. But he shuffles forward on his knees anyway, and puts his arms around Hal, and buries his face against his shoulder.
Touching someone solid, real, actually does seem to help him stay solid and stable too, because the vibrating gradually stops, though his breathing remains unsteady.]
[It might be a bad idea but Hal is so thankful when Barry comes to him. He'd been hoping for that but hadn't wanted to push. It's a huge weight off his shoulders, being able to wrap his arms around Barry and feel him real, here and alive]
Just relax. You're okay now. [He presses a kiss to the side of Barry's head] I'm not gonna let anything like that happen to you again.
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[Hal's never taken it seriously. And apparently, he should have. He sighs, covering his face with one hand. Part of him is annoyed that he might be about to prove Barry's sappy ass point. Most of him, though, just really wants it to work]
Okay. Okay, fine. Sure. At this point, I'll try anything. I just... [Want Barry back. That's all]
If you think it might work, we'll do it.
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He reaches out to clasp a hand on Hal's shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze.]
It may or may not work, but we'll give it a shot. No stone unturned, right boys? [There isn't much they wouldn't do to bring Barry back from wherever he might be, even this crazy idea.]
Meet me at the Watchtower. At the cosmic treadmill. [And just like that, Wally is gone in a blur. Jay just exhales a quiet sigh.]
It's worth a try.
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At this point? Anything is worth a try. [But if it doesn't work, it's gonna break Wally. And Hal, actually. So it better work]
So, to the Watchtower we go, I guess.
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But they're running out of things to even try, places to look.]
Yeah, I guess so. [He agrees, and they make their way to the nearest zeta point. Up at the Watchtower, Wally is already hooking up the cosmic treadmill, getting things ready to give this crazy last-ditch thing a shot.]
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So tell me exactly what you want me to do here, Wally. [Because he'll do it. No questions asked]
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[Wally doesn't sound totally sure about any of it, but it's not like they've ever tried to do something like this before.]
It's... If Barry's stuck in the speedforce... This has to work, right?
[Jay steps forward to give him a quick, tight hug.] It's something to try, at least. We're not giving up on him, son.
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[Still feeling rather doubtful but...he wants it to work. He needs it to work]
It's a good plan, Wally. Barry would be proud of you for coming up with it. I'm proud of you for coming up with it. [It has to work. He doesn't think either he or Wally will be able to handle it if it doesn't work]
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[As Wally steps up onto the treadmill, Jay moves in to hug Hal too, tight.] We're going to do our damndest. [And hopefully... That'll be enough.
He joins Wally, and both turn to red blurs as they start to run, threads of lightning sparking and dying around them as they try to open up the speed force.]
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Just let me know what you need me to do and when you need me to do it.
[He knows very little about the speed force. Just what bits and pieces he's been told by Barry over the course of their friendship. He's pretty much letting Jay and Wally take the lead on this]
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Flecks of lightning keep flying off them as they move, the air taking on a weird sheen. It takes a few minutes, but...
Then there is a sound, distant and distorted. A sob, or a pant, or something, in a very familiar voice.
Barry.]
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Barry! [Wally was right] Barry, you need to come back now. Whatever you gotta do to get out of there, do it. Just...come back.
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...Hal? [Was what he heard real? Or is it a trick of his mind that so desperately wants to hear Hal's voice right then?]
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Barry, I know you can hear me! [At least, he hopes Barry can] Focus on that and come back. You've been gone for long enough. I don't know how the speed force works and I don't know how getting out of it works, but you're you so I know you can do it. Come back.
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...Hal-! [He's definitely saying his name, but it's hard to hear anything else.
And then it stops again, silent.]
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Yeah, Bar, I'm here! I was always gonna figure out where you were. I just wish it hadn't taken me so long. [He hates to think of what the last three weeks have been like for Barry. He sounds like he's been suffering] You can get out of there. You can do it, I know you can.
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Can't, Hal- [The rest of the words come out garbled, unintelligible.] -I can't-
[And then, in the small torn-open look into the blinding lights of the speedforce, red-clad fingertips.]
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[He'd do anything for Barry, no matter how stupid. And he knows Barry knows that. For example, how stupid an idea would reaching out be? Hal decides he doesn't care if it's stupid, reaching out just enough so Barry can feel his hand and know that he's there. Assuming Barry can feel anything at all right now]
You can do it. Or I'll drag your ass out if I have to. Whatever works.
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Please-! [It feels like no matter how fast he runs in the speedforce, he can't quite make it, can't escape this nightmare. He sounds closer, though. Clearer.]
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Come on, Bar. You can do this. Just focus on me.
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Hal is able to pull him through with a last, hard pull, and Barry falls to the floor, gasping, vibrating in and out of solidity.
Wally shouts in surprise, and Jay's eyes go wide. It takes them a minute to slow down and stop the treadmill, leaving no trace of the tear in the speedforce.]
Uncle Barry!
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Don't touch him yet, Wally.
[He’s sure Wally wants to hug the life out of Barry. Hal has a similar urge to grab onto him and never let go again. He's refraining only because he's sure Barry needs a minute to pull himself back together. Maybe he shouldn't have let go, since physical contact was what finally helped Barry get out]
Barry?
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It's been a long few weeks, except in Barry's mind, it could be any length of time; time always works weird for speedsters.
A few more little sparks are thrown off him as he shivers, and tries to stop flickering in and out of solidity.] H-Hal-
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Hey. I'm not gonna touch you if you don't want me to. But...I'm right here. If you want. [He's gonna leave it up to Barry, whether he wants to get closer or not right now. He doesn't want to push]
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Maybe it's a bad idea. He's still unstable, trying to re-center himself back in the real world, so to speak. But he shuffles forward on his knees anyway, and puts his arms around Hal, and buries his face against his shoulder.
Touching someone solid, real, actually does seem to help him stay solid and stable too, because the vibrating gradually stops, though his breathing remains unsteady.]
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Just relax. You're okay now. [He presses a kiss to the side of Barry's head] I'm not gonna let anything like that happen to you again.
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