[The minute the doctor says Barry isn't physically injured, Hal stops listening. That was all he wanted to hear. He doesn't care about anything else and he doesn't really have the patience to stand here and let her play medical mystery with Barry]
[The doctor frowns disapprovingly at Hal.] I'd really rather keep him for observation overnight. We have no idea what happened to Flash during the time he was gone, what that blast that disappeared him might have done to him.
[Barry winces, clearly not enthused about that idea.] I'd really rather sleep in my own bed tonight...
I'm not sure if that's a good idea. I'd like to get you started on IV nutrients and fluids, and monitor your vibrational frequency.
[Hearing that the doctor wants to keep Barry overnight is pretty much what snaps the last thread of Hal's patience]
We're not staying. You know what IV drips do for speedsters? Fuck all. He needs actual food and rest. So, frankly, you can fuck right off with your overnight observation. [Is any of this the doctor's fault? No. Hal doesn't care]
I'm taking him home. He's not gonna stay here so you can poke at him all night.
[The doctor looks like she's going to argue, her brow creasing in irritation.] You need to let me do my job- [Jay steps in, though, calm as ever, reaching out to put a hand on her shoulder.]
He's got a point, you won't be able to get nutrients into him fast enough. I promise, you'll get a call if anything changes about his status.
...Fine. Be back tomorrow afternoon for another check.
[Barry always hates it when Hal argues with the Watchtower staff, but today he just looks relieved, sending his friend a small, grateful smile.]
[Hal is down to argue. He's pretty much always down to argue. And an argument with him is one that this doctor will not win because he doesn't back down. He's fine with it when Jay steps in to stop the argument before it starts, though. Anything to get out of here quicker]
No promises. [If anything major happens, obviously he'll bring Barry back. But for now he just really thinks Barry will be better off at home. He turns his attention immediately back to Barry, as if the doctor has ceased to exist to him. Rude, definitely, but Hal cannot find it in him to care currently]
Let's get out of here. Get you some food and then we can go home. Sound good?
[The doctor looks severely displeased at his response, but Wally takes her aside to speak to her in a low voice, likely telling her she won't win an argument with Green Lantern right now, and to just drop it.
Barry just seems relieved, though, nodding, and sliding carefully down off the exam table. He's still a little wobbly, and looking more exhausted by the moment, but he's fine leaning on Hal.]
Yeah. That sounds good. You have no idea.
[Jay squeezes Barry's shoulder comfortingly, briefly.] Wally and I can take care of things here. You can take Barry by our place, Joan'll feed him up.
[Hal is, again, more than happy to be there to support Barry. He'll take charge of getting them out of the Watchtower and down to Keystone. He's sure Barry doesn't want to use one of the teleporters right now. Those are vaguely unpleasant even when you feel 100%. And even if he could physically manage to run, Hal doesn't even want to hear that as a suggestion. It's easy enough for him to get them safely down to Jay and Joan's place. Hopefully, Barry will feel better after he eats something]
[Barry nods, and lets Hal take the lead in getting them home. It's true that he really would rather avoid the teleporter, and even if he wanted to run, he's far too worn out, so the green construct bubble that ferries them down to Jay and Joan's place in Keystone is a comfort. He's mostly quiet on the trip, staring at the world going by through the green light filter, and leaning against Hal's solid form.
When they get to Jay and Joan's, she answers the door even before Hal can knock, moving to hug them both tight.]
Oh, Barry. Honey, I'm so glad you're safe. Come in, come on, Jay called me, I've got food warming up for you both.
[Hal is fine with the quiet. He's not feeling much like talking himself, honestly. At least not until it's finally just the two of them. Being around other people is a necessary evil right now, no matter how much he doesn't want it to be that way. The way Joan immediately answers the door is unsurprising. Hal is sure Jay filled her in on everything that happened in the time it took them to get down from the Watchtower]
Thanks, Joan. Go ahead and give him both portions, though. He needs it, I don't. [He steers Barry into the living room, getting him settled on the couch before pressing a kiss to the side of his head]
You sit here and relax until Joan brings you food. I gotta call Alan and Kyle real quick and then I'll be back. [They'd probably appreciate knowing that Barry is back]
[Joan automatically tsks at that.] Don't be ridiculous, I've got plenty for Barry and enough for you too. I know you haven't been eating well since- well. [Since Barry disappeared, but she doesn't want to say it.
It makes Barry cast a worried glance at his best friend, but he settles on the couch without argument, leaning back tiredly against the cushions.] Yeah, okay. Then come back and eat with me? [Even if he doesn't, Barry wants him to sit with him, close enough to touch. Hal is just a grounding force for him right now, and he doesn't want to seem too needy, but he can't really help it, after feeling so lost and disconnected from everything.]
Don't you tell me what to do. [Joan tells him good-naturedly, patting Hal's back as she passes to head into the kitchen. Guess who's getting a plate regardless? And she's always going to worry about him, and about Barry, and about everyone else.
Barry gives Hal a tired smile as he just sort of melts into the cushions for the moment.] Yeah, okay. I'll be right here.
[He's trying not to seem too needy, wanting to let Hal do whatever he needs to do. In the meantime, he'll just stay there and try to rest some, while Joan warms up food in the kitchen. It's not that long before she's got plates ready for Hal and Barry - one of which is significantly more piled up with comfort food than the other.]
[Honestly, Hal loves Joan. He still doesn't really know what to do with people caring about him but he deeply appreciates her and Jay both. He has zero appetite right now but he still appreciates the thought. He also doesn't mind Barry being needy. It's closer to twelve minutes by the time he returns, sitting down on the couch next to Barry as close as he can get and pressing a kiss to his temple]
Sorry that took so long. John was at Kyle's house when I called so I ended up having to talk to both of them. You doing okay?
[Twelve minutes is hardly any time at all, really. It's nothing, to most people. To Barry, right now, whose sense of time is incredibly messed up from all those weeks spent trapped in the speed force, it feels like ages.
But he's also not the type of person who will complain, or admit that sitting still on Joan's couch while she heats up food and Hal makes his calls, is a bit of torture.
When Hal returns, and Joan sets two plates of food in front of them both, Barry smiles at them both, a little relieved, tired.]
Yeah, I'm okay. Is everything okay with them? [He reaches for his plate, and while he doesn't eat as fast as he normally might, he's definitely starving.]
[Now that he doesn't have every single ounce of his energy solely focused on finding Barry, Hal is honestly exhausted. He hasn't slept or eaten properly in three weeks and it's starting to catch up to him. He's not showing it, because he's way more interested in how Barry's feeling. He settles on the couch next to Barry, content to sit there and relax while he eats]
Yeah, they're fine. John's been going back and forth between Earth and Oa, so he just happened to be there when I called.
[The other three Earth Lanterns have taken on a lot the last three weeks. Guy stayed on Oa to take care of things there while Kyle stayed on Earth to handle things here. John went back and forth between the two to help out both of them. Both Kyle and John had also helped look for Barry whenever possible. Hal's sure it's been a lot for them but none of them have complained. Hal leans over to kiss Barry's cheek]
When you feel up to it, we can head home. Probably after Wally gets here and attaches to you for a while too.
[Barry nods, too tired to formulate much of a response in between bites. It's good to hear that they're okay, but everything still feels... distant, somehow. Almost unreal. There is a little part of him that wonders if he's going to wake up in the speed force again, that this is all a dream.
When he mentions Wally, Barry winces. It's not that he doesn't love his nephew, or want to see him, but- everything just sounds so exhausting right now.] Can we maybe... just go?
[Joan watches them both fondly, sighing. She reaches over to put a fork directly in Hal's hand.] I'll let him know that Barry is too tired for any more company tonight. Both of you eat, and then you can head home and get him into bed.
[Hal wants that too, honestly. He wants to just go home and have it just be the two of them for a little while. But he wasn't going to bring that up. He knows Barry's family is important to him. Being given permission to do just that is incredibly relieving, though]
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Great. So, in that case, can we go?
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[Barry winces, clearly not enthused about that idea.] I'd really rather sleep in my own bed tonight...
I'm not sure if that's a good idea. I'd like to get you started on IV nutrients and fluids, and monitor your vibrational frequency.
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We're not staying. You know what IV drips do for speedsters? Fuck all. He needs actual food and rest. So, frankly, you can fuck right off with your overnight observation. [Is any of this the doctor's fault? No. Hal doesn't care]
I'm taking him home. He's not gonna stay here so you can poke at him all night.
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He's got a point, you won't be able to get nutrients into him fast enough. I promise, you'll get a call if anything changes about his status.
...Fine. Be back tomorrow afternoon for another check.
[Barry always hates it when Hal argues with the Watchtower staff, but today he just looks relieved, sending his friend a small, grateful smile.]
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No promises. [If anything major happens, obviously he'll bring Barry back. But for now he just really thinks Barry will be better off at home. He turns his attention immediately back to Barry, as if the doctor has ceased to exist to him. Rude, definitely, but Hal cannot find it in him to care currently]
Let's get out of here. Get you some food and then we can go home. Sound good?
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Barry just seems relieved, though, nodding, and sliding carefully down off the exam table. He's still a little wobbly, and looking more exhausted by the moment, but he's fine leaning on Hal.]
Yeah. That sounds good. You have no idea.
[Jay squeezes Barry's shoulder comfortingly, briefly.] Wally and I can take care of things here. You can take Barry by our place, Joan'll feed him up.
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[Hal is, again, more than happy to be there to support Barry. He'll take charge of getting them out of the Watchtower and down to Keystone. He's sure Barry doesn't want to use one of the teleporters right now. Those are vaguely unpleasant even when you feel 100%. And even if he could physically manage to run, Hal doesn't even want to hear that as a suggestion. It's easy enough for him to get them safely down to Jay and Joan's place. Hopefully, Barry will feel better after he eats something]
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When they get to Jay and Joan's, she answers the door even before Hal can knock, moving to hug them both tight.]
Oh, Barry. Honey, I'm so glad you're safe. Come in, come on, Jay called me, I've got food warming up for you both.
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Thanks, Joan. Go ahead and give him both portions, though. He needs it, I don't. [He steers Barry into the living room, getting him settled on the couch before pressing a kiss to the side of his head]
You sit here and relax until Joan brings you food. I gotta call Alan and Kyle real quick and then I'll be back. [They'd probably appreciate knowing that Barry is back]
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It makes Barry cast a worried glance at his best friend, but he settles on the couch without argument, leaning back tiredly against the cushions.] Yeah, okay. Then come back and eat with me? [Even if he doesn't, Barry wants him to sit with him, close enough to touch. Hal is just a grounding force for him right now, and he doesn't want to seem too needy, but he can't really help it, after feeling so lost and disconnected from everything.]
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I'm doing fine. Don't worry about me.
[That's a lie. But he doesn't want Joan to worry, even though he knows she probably still will. He leans down to give Barry a proper kiss]
I will. Give me ten minutes and I'll be right back here with you. Promise.
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Barry gives Hal a tired smile as he just sort of melts into the cushions for the moment.] Yeah, okay. I'll be right here.
[He's trying not to seem too needy, wanting to let Hal do whatever he needs to do. In the meantime, he'll just stay there and try to rest some, while Joan warms up food in the kitchen. It's not that long before she's got plates ready for Hal and Barry - one of which is significantly more piled up with comfort food than the other.]
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[Honestly, Hal loves Joan. He still doesn't really know what to do with people caring about him but he deeply appreciates her and Jay both. He has zero appetite right now but he still appreciates the thought. He also doesn't mind Barry being needy. It's closer to twelve minutes by the time he returns, sitting down on the couch next to Barry as close as he can get and pressing a kiss to his temple]
Sorry that took so long. John was at Kyle's house when I called so I ended up having to talk to both of them. You doing okay?
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But he's also not the type of person who will complain, or admit that sitting still on Joan's couch while she heats up food and Hal makes his calls, is a bit of torture.
When Hal returns, and Joan sets two plates of food in front of them both, Barry smiles at them both, a little relieved, tired.]
Yeah, I'm okay. Is everything okay with them? [He reaches for his plate, and while he doesn't eat as fast as he normally might, he's definitely starving.]
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Yeah, they're fine. John's been going back and forth between Earth and Oa, so he just happened to be there when I called.
[The other three Earth Lanterns have taken on a lot the last three weeks. Guy stayed on Oa to take care of things there while Kyle stayed on Earth to handle things here. John went back and forth between the two to help out both of them. Both Kyle and John had also helped look for Barry whenever possible. Hal's sure it's been a lot for them but none of them have complained. Hal leans over to kiss Barry's cheek]
When you feel up to it, we can head home. Probably after Wally gets here and attaches to you for a while too.
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When he mentions Wally, Barry winces. It's not that he doesn't love his nephew, or want to see him, but- everything just sounds so exhausting right now.] Can we maybe... just go?
[Joan watches them both fondly, sighing. She reaches over to put a fork directly in Hal's hand.] I'll let him know that Barry is too tired for any more company tonight. Both of you eat, and then you can head home and get him into bed.
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[Hal wants that too, honestly. He wants to just go home and have it just be the two of them for a little while. But he wasn't going to bring that up. He knows Barry's family is important to him. Being given permission to do just that is incredibly relieving, though]
Okay, we'll go home after this. Thanks, Joan.
[He’ll eat a little, just to humor Joan]