needmybarryallen

[needmybarryallen]

Joe stands up, wrapping his arms around Cisco and pulling him in tight. “Hey. You’ve been through so much, and keeping this bottled up has only hurt you over the years. But whatever’s going on, Cisco, you can always talk to me about it.”

“And the answer, even though you find yourself doubting it, is ‘Nothing.’ Sometimes, babies die, and it happens suddenly. But grieving parents will latch on to any explanation, no matter how far-fetched. They’ll blame the other children, blame the crib manufacturer, blame their pets, anything to keep them from blaming themselves.” Joe looks to Cisco. “You did the right thing by telling them.”

[needmybarryallen]

“Nope.” Joe shakes his head. He has to admit, this is one of the lamer jokes in his book. But he has to finish the punchline now. ‘You get an Ace in the Hole.”

"Ok, Wally..." Joe holds up an old book, that's at least twenty years old. "Iris and Barry had to go through this, now so do you." Turning to a random page, he starts reading. "There was a guy with four sons. Alan, Ben, Craig and Devin. When he died, everyone wondered what would happen to his collection of Harley Davidsons. And there, on the last page were these instructions..." A pause for dramatic effect. "All Hogs go to Devin."

Wally sat there for a moment, trying not to crack a smile. His Dad, still getting used to thinking and saying that. Clearly his sister and his foster brother had put up with Joe’s humor all of their lives as well as forging their own somehow.

Trying to put up a serious face wasn’t working so wally just shook his head and gave in to the laughter that he had been trying to keep bottled up.

“Seriously? That’s  just…Oh man that’s just so bad” Wally let loose with a bold loud laugh.

[needmybarryallen]

“And the answer, even though you find yourself doubting it, is ‘Nothing.’ Sometimes, babies die, and it happens suddenly. But grieving parents will latch on to any explanation, no matter how far-fetched. They’ll blame the other children, blame the crib manufacturer, blame their pets, anything to keep them from blaming themselves.” Joe looks to Cisco. “You did the right thing by telling them.”

“Have you tried to get in touch with Armando? It has to be easier now with the internet than ever before.” Joe offers, pretty certain that Cisco has tried that.If it’s occurred to Joe as a solution, it probably occurred to Cisco long before this discussion came about.

Cisco did start this off with a question about doing something to lose a parent’s love. “What happened to Rosa, Cisco?”

[needmybarryallen]

“Well, Jai would fit in fine with his uncle Barry and Cisco. They’re both huge nerds, and it’s part of what makes them so much fun to be around.” Joe notices a poster advertising the new “Flash” and “Green Arrow” shaped sprinkles the ice cream parlor serves and he makes a note to order Irey’s ice cream with them.

“Wally’s my dad. Barry’s my uncle.” She stated quickly, bouncing a bit on her heels in excitement. “I love ice cream! Mint chocolate chip is one of my favorites! Are we gonna get ice cream!?”

[needmybarryallen]

“You did a good thing, but right now, you need to be treated.” Joe sighs. “Just let the nurse do her job and stay in the hospital overnight for observation.” He knows the young man is probably not going to stay that long, which is why there’s an additional guard posted on the hospital room.

@needmybarryallen started following you

“Do we really need to do this?” Sam said to the officer. He jerked his arm back, glaring at the nurse as she tried to stick the IV in. He’d told them before he didn’t want to be treated for malnutrition, but just his luck he was still quite clearly underage. “The guy was trying to rob the place so I knocked him out. He didn’t break any bones or anything, can I please go?”

[needmybarryallen]

“Come on then!” He smiles, walking towards the ice cream parlor with his granddaughter. “Do you have any brothers or sisters, Irey?” He asks, holding the door for her.

She giggles, relieved that he accepted it so quickly. “Pop-pop! I’m Irey! Well, my real name’s Iris but everyone calls me Irey so we don’t get confused. You can give me a different nickname if you want!” 

[needmybarryallen]

“Well, Irey, the first question is, are you Barry or Wally’s kid? Second question, do you like mint chocolate chip ice cream?” Joe asks, running a gentle hand through her hair.

@needmybarryallen liked your post “Starter Call: “CW” Verse”

“Grandpa!” She wasn’t supposed to be blurting stuff out like that, and she wasn’t supposed to be using her powers until she found Barry, but when Irey saw Joe all inhibitions leapt out the window and the young speedster found herself speeding over to give him a hug. 

[needmybarryallen]

Young girl, calling him grandpa. Check. Superspeed. Check. There’s only one thing that this means. “Hey. didn’t your mom and dad ever tell you? Don’t call me grandpa. Call me Pop-pop!” He welcomes the hug, not caring about timelines and any other things that might ruin this moment. “So, does my granddaughter have a name, or should I just give you a nickname?”

@needmybarryallen liked your post “Starter Call: “CW” Verse”

“Grandpa!” She wasn’t supposed to be blurting stuff out like that, and she wasn’t supposed to be using her powers until she found Barry, but when Irey saw Joe all inhibitions leapt out the window and the young speedster found herself speeding over to give him a hug. 

[needmybarryallen]

“Anywhere from two weeks to two months. It depends on how good a job you do with small tasks.” Joe points to a few names on the bulletin board. “Those two are good people. That one’s looking for someone to help him build an aboveground pool, and she’s looking for someone to take care of her dogs when she goes out for Bingo three nights a week.” He then points to the table where the volunteers are packing up food. “You have no reason to be put in the system. If you just want to lay low, and live off the kindness of strangers, that’s none of my business.”

“Believe it or not, there are people in this city who are willing to give other people a place to stay, in exchange for doing chores, or caring for their pets. There’s a bulletin board in here…” He holds open the door to the Salvation Army for Emory. “And you can find temporary housing. I’m sure of it.”

[needmybarryallen]

“Believe it or not, there are people in this city who are willing to give other people a place to stay, in exchange for doing chores, or caring for their pets. There’s a bulletin board in here...” He holds open the door to the Salvation Army for Emory. “And you can find temporary housing. I’m sure of it.”

“Well, that makes this easier. No prior record means you can start afresh.” Joe gestures to the church. “Come with me, and I’ll make sure you get the food you need for the next few weeks. Maybe I can even help you find a place to stay.”

[needmybarryallen]

“Well, that makes this easier. No prior record means you can start afresh.” Joe gestures to the church. “Come with me, and I’ll make sure you get the food you need for the next few weeks. Maybe I can even help you find a place to stay.”

“I’m actually paid to make sure people stay out of prison. Sometimes, it takes a lecture, sometimes an act of kindness. But a lot of people out here would much rather be happy than behind bars. Let me show you something.” Joe reaches into his messenger bag and takes out a large manila folder. “You see this? This is all the paperwork I’d have to file if I arrested you. Not just statements of what you were doing, but checking with other cities if you’ve committed crimes there, by your fingerprint record. You’d be in a holding cell for several hours while I wrote this up. It’s better for both of us if I gave you a second chance.”

[needmybarryallen]

“Have you tried to get in touch with Armando? It has to be easier now with the internet than ever before.” Joe offers, pretty certain that Cisco has tried that.If it’s occurred to Joe as a solution, it probably occurred to Cisco long before this discussion came about.

Cisco did start this off with a question about doing something to lose a parent’s love. “What happened to Rosa, Cisco?”

Joe leans back, wrapping up the burger for later. His dad impulses are kicking in and he wants to help. But first he needs to hear the whole story. “Tell me what happened, Cisco.”

[needmybarryallen]

“Ok, this one’s a bit shorter. What do you call it when the Red Baron flies into the Grand Canyon?” This is one that both Barry and Iris beat him to the punchline on, so he’s hoping it takes Wally it bit longer to figure out.

"Ok, Wally..." Joe holds up an old book, that's at least twenty years old. "Iris and Barry had to go through this, now so do you." Turning to a random page, he starts reading. "There was a guy with four sons. Alan, Ben, Craig and Devin. When he died, everyone wondered what would happen to his collection of Harley Davidsons. And there, on the last page were these instructions..." A pause for dramatic effect. "All Hogs go to Devin."

Wally sat there for a moment, trying not to crack a smile. His Dad, still getting used to thinking and saying that. Clearly his sister and his foster brother had put up with Joe’s humor all of their lives as well as forging their own somehow.

Trying to put up a serious face wasn’t working so wally just shook his head and gave in to the laughter that he had been trying to keep bottled up.

“Seriously? That’s  just…Oh man that’s just so bad” Wally let loose with a bold loud laugh.

[needmybarryallen]

“I’m actually paid to make sure people stay out of prison. Sometimes, it takes a lecture, sometimes an act of kindness. But a lot of people out here would much rather be happy than behind bars. Let me show you something.” Joe reaches into his messenger bag and takes out a large manila folder. “You see this? This is all the paperwork I’d have to file if I arrested you. Not just statements of what you were doing, but checking with other cities if you’ve committed crimes there, by your fingerprint record. You’d be in a holding cell for several hours while I wrote this up. It’s better for both of us if I gave you a second chance.”

“Let’s be honest. Would you rather spend thirty days waiting for trial for stealing thirty bucks worth of food, or would you rather have fifty bucks worth of food given to you and still be free?” Joe gives a fatherly smile. It’s always better to be a friend to those in need than the long arm of the law. “I don’t want to arrest you, and you don’t want to be arrested.” He gestures down the road, past the churches. “The Salvation Army is right down this way. Their food bank is open every Monday and Saturday, so you can go in to get food twice a week if you need it.”

[needmybarryallen]

“Let’s be honest. Would you rather spend thirty days waiting for trial for stealing thirty bucks worth of food, or would you rather have fifty bucks worth of food given to you and still be free?” Joe gives a fatherly smile. It’s always better to be a friend to those in need than the long arm of the law. “I don’t want to arrest you, and you don’t want to be arrested.” He gestures down the road, past the churches. “The Salvation Army is right down this way. Their food bank is open every Monday and Saturday, so you can go in to get food twice a week if you need it.”

Joe takes two big steps to the other side of the vendor’s table. “You know, if you’re hard up for food, the Salvation Army has a food bank that’s open today.”

He leans down, offering a hand to the young man. “If you leave these things behind, I can even you take there.”

[needmybarryallen]

Joe takes two big steps to the other side of the vendor’s table. “You know, if you’re hard up for food, the Salvation Army has a food bank that’s open today.”

He leans down, offering a hand to the young man. “If you leave these things behind, I can even you take there.”

needmybarryallen @needmybarryallen started following you

“Oh, buzz off!” If only finders, keepers worked in the real world. Emory ducked down under a vendor,  trying to keep the stolen groceries close to his chest. 

Not his day, really not his day.

[needmybarryallen]

Joe just tightens his embrace. “You don’t have to take it alone. You’ve got me, Iris,Wally, Cisco and Caitlyn. You have Oliver, Diggle and Felicity. If you ever feel like the weight is too much to bear, just reach out to one of us and we’ll help you carry it.”

❝ I don’t want to never see you again. ❞

“Listen to me, Barry.” He holds the young man in a tight embrace. “No matter what the universe throws at you, no matter what may happen, you will always be my son. And I will not leave you alone in this world.” His hand runs through Barry’s hair to comfort him.