I sat at the police station in my soot-stained clothes and wouldn't look at anyone. They were still cleaning up from the attack just a few hours earlier, and it was nearly midnight.

I kept my arms crossed over my chest and just tried not to cry in front of everyone any more than I had. Firefighters had recovered Jessica's body from the fire, and the station was buzzing about the mysterious Phantom who teleported all the people into the street and saved the fire station.

I sniffed and pushed my glasses up higher on my nose and looked down in distaste at my burned slipper socks, areas of the fuzz burned. My uniform was disheveled, and my badge, gun, and keys were gone. My eyes watered a little again despite my fighting against them and I took sip from the water bottle I was given.

Other officers bustled around the station, sending me occasional pitying glances. I ignored them.

Then Joe arrived. "Maddie!" He exclaimed as he rushed over to me and pulled me into a quick hug. "Are you alright?"

I laughed nervously and said, "It's alright. I'm just glad that Phantom saved my neighbors from the fire."

He gave me a look and I shakily got to my feet as Barry appeared and without a word, pulled me into a hug.

"Don't scare me like that again." Barry mumbled in my ear and I sighed exasperatedly, but hugged him back just as tightly.

"How was I supposed to know my roommate was an evil fire-creating meta?" I whispered.

He released me and smirked. "Oh, gee. I don't know." He pokes my forehead and I crossed my arms and mumbled incoherently about stupid people.

"Do you have some place to stay?" Joe asked.

I shrugged, pulling away from Barry and wiped at my eyes. "I don't know."

"What about your dad?" Iris suggested and I stiffened and said firmly,

"No. He doesn't want to see me. And I don't feel like explaining that dynamic right now, either."

"Dad, we have a spare room. How about she come and stay with us for a while until she can get back on her feet and find a new apartment?" Iris asks as she moved over and looped her arm through mine. Barry moved to the side to take my hand and I appreciated the physical support at the moment after the night I've had.

Joe looked at me and said, "What do you say, Maddie? You're more than welcome to take it until you get your bearings."

I hesitated. "Are you sure? I don't want to trouble you. I'm sure Cait-"

Joe waved a hand dismissively. "Maddie, you've been best friends with my daughter and Barry their whole lives. I think you've been to my house more often than your own. You're like a third kid of mine."

I laughed. "That's true. And a shower does sound really nice."

Iris threw an arm around my shoulders and said, "C'mon. Let's get you showered, and I have some clothes you can borrow and we can sit and eat ice cream like we did when we were teenagers."

I laughed. "Yes. And talk about all those cute guys." I smirked at her and she blushed.

We got into their car and drove to the West family's house and Iris led me inside and upstairs to her room where she began to take out some clothes. She took out two pairs of jeans, and tossed a towel at my face.

"You, my friend, smell. I love you, but please shower before you touch my clothes." She grinned at me and I laughed.

I did just fight a meta.

I stepped into the bathroom and quickly showered, washing the grime and soot out of my hair and face and stared at my hands. They shook slightly and I gulped. I finished then dried off, wrapped the towel around me, then my hands began to shake again and I only had enough time to gasp before I disappeared and reappeared again in Iris' room.

"Woah, girl. I didn't even hear you come in." Iris said and I sat on her bed, shoving my hands under my thighs and gave her a forced smile.

She held out a t-shirt with some band's name on it and tossed it at me and asked,

"Need new undies?"

I blushed. "Yes..."

Once she got me settled with new clothes, we headed down the stairs to find Joe and Barry sitting on the couch. I sat down next to him and he smirked at me.

"You guys hungry, we've all had a hectic night. Shall we order take out?" Joe asks and Barry nods enthusiastically.

"Yes, please." He said and Joe winked at me.

I tucked my knees up to my chest and looked at my shaking hands again. I leaned into Barry and his arm came up around my shoulders as he pulled me into his side.

What was happening to me?

******

Over the next few days, I worked like I usually did and used my paycheck to begin to slowly replace my clothes and saved for a new, smaller apartment. No roommates next time.

I called an emergency meeting with Barry, Caitlin, and Cisco and we all gathered around the couches at CC Jitters. I explained to them what had been happening to me, then about what happened during the fire, then what I did.

"When I saved all those people- first at the station and then my apartment complex with that soot all over my face to protect my identity- I felt alive. There's no other way to put it. And I want to do it again."

Cisco grinned and rubbed his hands together. "Ooooo looks like somebody liked the suit I made her." I grinned.

"Yes. And the name from Barry is also fantastic." Caitlin says and Barry beamed.

"I have a name change for the Streak." I say. They looked at me. "I hate that name. It's not even good. Iris can definitely do better than that." I say with a chuckle and they all nodded. "The name change should be The Flash." I say and they all nodded.

"The Flash... I like it." Cisco says and punches Barry on the arm. "Look what we have here! Phantom Flash!"

"Just don't let my dad see the suit." I say seriously.

"What is going on between you and Harrison? You two won't even talk and you never come to the Lab anymore." Caitlin asks carefully and they all looked at me. "You've been avoiding that topic every time someone's asked."

"We got in a fight, and I don't exactly trust him right now." I say vaguely, and rub at the back of my neck.

"Well, why wouldn't you? He's your dad." Barry says, eyebrows furrowed.

"My adoptive father. And your birth dad is nice, and your adopted dad is nice. I never knew my biological father and I've been adopted twice. Harrison and I have a more... complicated relationship." I sighed. "Since we moved to Central City, he's been acting weird. I don't know how else to put it, really. I just... I can't tell you until I'm sure, alright? One hundred percent."

Cisco shrugs. "Fair enough."

I looked over at Barry and the look on his face told me I wouldn't be able to avoid telling him even if I tried.

******

I went to visit Eddie at the hospital the next day and he smiled slightly when I entered the room.

"Hey, you." I said as I stepped into the room.

"Hey, Maddie." He says and winces slightly as he goes to sit up.

I gently moved my hand to stop him and sat on the side of his bed. "Don't sit up, ok? You got shot through the shoulder."

"You got experience with gunshot wounds?"

I nodded. "Yeah. I do. My first year as a detective, I got shot in the arm. I have a scar on my bicep still."

"Ah. We'll have matching bullet scars then, huh?" He asks with a little smirk. I nodded, going quiet. His smile faded. "Hey... you ok?"

"Can you keep a secret, Eddie? Like... an actual secret that you really can't say anything about? Like at all?"

He hesitated, then nodded slowly. "I... of course, Maddie. What is it?"

I hesitated, then moved my hand over his arm where the bandages were and closed my eyes. My hand went warm, and I healed him. I opened my eyes and he looked at me in shock.

I dropped my hand and he sat up. "Did you just...?"

"Heal you? Yes. I did. It's how I healed so fast from my injuries after the explosion. The only reason I'm alive, I'm sure."

"You can just... heal?" He asks and looks at me.

I nodded. "Yeah. I think it's in part to my proximity to the explosion and the wave." I then told him about what had happened and how some other metahuman calling herself Phantom saved everyone at the precinct and got him to the hospital and what happened to Jessica and the apartment.

He frowned. "Oh gosh... Maddie, I'm so sorry that all happened. Are you... are you doing ok?"

I nodded. "Y-Yeah. It's just been a weird twenty-four hours."

"Yeah. Makes sense." He paused. "Singh told me about the task force he wants us to lead. Now that, well, now that I know that you got powers of some sort and can heal, how are you feeling about all of this?"

I hesitated. "I... don't know, really. I mean, it is strange- I didn't expect the station to be attacked and then come home to all of that. I feel like we need to approach this carefully because not every metahuman seems to have a motive for violence, you know? Like... that guy Iris is obsessed with. Or Phantom last night."

He nodded. "Yeah, I guess so, but there's also the idea that we're the police. Any action we can take may be taken as aggression."

"It doesn't have to be. I mean, I've seen you with witnesses. They're always so comfortable talking to you about things." I say. "We could make a difference."

He nodded. "Yeah. That's very true."

I stared at him for a few moments, then asked, "Can I get your advice on something?"

He raised an eyebrow. "From me? Sure."

I nodded, then turned to face him and said, "So... I have this really big crush on this guy, and I just wanna know- from a guy's point of view- how I can tell if he feels the same way... Why are you grinning at me like that?"

He began to laugh. "Wait- let me guess- you're talking about Barry, aren't you?"

I felt my face warm to my ears and I smacked his shoulder. "What?! How did you know?"

"Maddie, I'm pretty sure the entire force knows." He said and laughs again.

I stood up and slapped my palm against my forehead. "Really? It's that obvious?"

"Yes, it is."

A voice said behind me and I spun around to see Iris in the doorway, grinning at us.

"How long were you standing there...?" I asked. I looked at Eddie and he was pretending to be very interested in his nails.

"I was here the whole time." Iris says and steps in and closes the door. She looked at me curiously. "You really came here and healed him? That was risky, Maddie."

I shrugged. "Believe me, Iris, if your boyfriend had healing powers he'd do the same thing for me."

Iris raised an eyebrow at him and he grinned and said, "Yup. I would. Maddie's my bestie now. She's asking me for boy advice and everything."

Iris laughs and kisses him. "It's because you're adorable, you know."

"Sure I am." He says.

Iris turns to face me and said, "You need to tell Barry how you feel. Don't think you're getting out of this now."

I clenched my jaw, feeling my cheeks redden as Eddie hugged Iris into his side. I scowled and said, "Alright. Fine. But what should I do? Just walk into his room and be like, 'Hey, Barry, I've had a crush on you since seventh grade and it's really embarrassing but I just wanted to know if you feel the same'?"

Iris and Eddie smirked at each other, then Iris said, "Sure! If you want to come across as desperate."

"Maddie just be as you always are around him. You always relax whenever he is near you. I met you while Barry was asleep and you were always jumpy." Eddie says. "Take two days ago before the attack. You two were whispering about something, and it was like the two of you were the only people in the room. You're both infatuated with one another. Just go for it."

I nodded slowly. "Y-Yeah. I guess you're right."

"Well, what's holding you back?" Iris asks.

I blinked. "Nothing. Absolutely nothing."

"Then why are you still standing here?" Eddie asks with a laugh. "Go get him!"

I rolled my eyes and grabbed my coat and raced out the door, unable to stop the smile from spreading across my face.