Work Text
“Alright munchkin, are you ready?” Harry asked his daughter who was sitting in the backseat after he turned the car’s engine off at the parking lot of Central city’s planetarium.“Yes.” the girl answered nodding enthusiastically and he left the vehicle so he can open the door for her.They walked past a huge Sundial that was standing next to the entrance, and Harry asked Jesse if she remembers what that is. Ever since she was old enough to be interested in anything about books, the two of them would pick one from their shelf and he would read it to her, while she was commenting on the photos.Recently she spotted a photo of a sundial and asked Harry what that was, so he explained it to her, and now he wondered if she forgot about it.“A clock?” the girl tried after staring at it for a few moments and Harry couldn’t help but to smirk proudly.“My Jess, always so quick.” He praised her, which earned him one content grin from her.>The moment they entered the building, he could see that the crowd is forming, and it was safe to say that he wasn’t happy about it.Ever since his wife died in a car accident two and a half years ago, Harry’s life was completely about Jesse. In fact, he was sure that she is the only thing that kept him going after such a devastating loss. But he had two options: to give up or to do his best to make his daughter’s life as happy and fulfilled as he could.He chose the second option. It was hard in the beginning, but he found out that even though time can’t heal all the wounds, it can make it easier.Running the successful research laboratories and being a single dad was exhausting, but he wouldn’t change it for anything. And with Jesse being almost 5 years old and interested in pretty much everything, he didn’t want to miss a thing.Harry told her the story about her mother naming STAR labs like that because she used to say that in the vast, night sky, he is the only star she sees, and ever since she became obsessed with the night sky.That’s why today they found themselves in a planetarium. But still, he was feeling anxious. Everything they did together until now was in their home and backyard, and this was the first time they actually went to a public place like this, not counting ice cream shops and grocery stores of course.What made him even more nervous was the fact that it was more crowded than he anticipated, since there was apparently some special show at the Mars exhibit.Jesse actually wanted to go there too. She was 5 years old, all she heard was a ‘special show about Mars’ and she wanted to see it, and Harry knew it will be easier to just take her there and get out when she gets bored than to try to explain to her that they shouldn’t go.To his surprise, she was very quiet and concentrated while it lasted, which he couldn’t say for some other kids or even adults there.The next thing that happened, on their way out a couple of people, stopped him, just to say hi or how great is to see him there, one even mentioned his last donation to the planetarium, and before he blinked he was shaking multiple hands while thinking how to get out of there.A few people were pushing past them in their attempts to leave the room, and that was when he realized that he wasn’t holding Jesse’s hand anymore. Dread washed over him when he looked down and saw that she wasn’t standing next to him anymore.He didn’t hear anyone anymore, all that was on his mind at the moment was his daughter, as he desperately spun around and scanned the room to see if he can find her. But she was nowhere to be seen and Harry turned back to the man who was talking about his generous donation.“Call the security, now.” He said through his teeth, his expression and voice completely different than a few seconds ago.“Doctor Wells, why do you need the security for..” the man tried to joke, not realizing the seriousness of the situation.“My daughter was just here and now she is gone, lock the place and call them NOW!” Harry yelled and left the man who immediately reached for his phone to do as he was told. Caitlin was just on her way to her last presentation for the day. She loved working at the planetarium, and even though her paycheck wasn’t that huge, at least she loved astronomy and didn’t have to worry about paying her bills until she gets her Ph.D.She emerged from the restroom that was currently closed for visitors because of the works that were happening in that area. She was grateful there wasn’t dust and dirt anymore, as the works were almost done, missing just the final touches.She was pretty excited about this innovation because it will bring holograms and 3D models of the planets which will probably attract more people, especially kids.Speaking of kids, she saw one of them standing in front of the isle where the hologram of Saturn will be, staring at the picture of the said planet. It was a girl, probably not older than 5 years, and Caitlin wondered how did she end up here in the first place.“Hi.” she started gently as she approached the girl who looked at her“Hi.” She answered politely and turned her gaze back to the picture in front of her“You know, Saturn is my favorite planet.” Caitlin spoke again and the girl now turned fully to her and smiled shyly“Mine too. It’s so pretty.”“It really is, with those awesome rings.” Caitlin now crouched in front of her when she giggled a bit“I’m Caitlin, what’s your name?”“Jesse.”“Nice to meet you, Jesse.” Caitlin smiled at her and then gently put a strand of hair behind the girl’s ear “Tell me, honey, what are you doing here alone?”“I was with my daddy, and then I lost him.” Jesse said, and her pretty, green eyes got teary and Caitlin rushed to comfort her“Hey, hey, it’s okay, I’m gonna help you find him, what do you say?” she succeed since Jesse nodded and broke out a small smile before she grasped her hand. This is not happening. None of this is real. Harry was trying to convince himself as he paced back and forth after searching almost every available corner of the damn building and still not finding Jesse.He was now pacing in the lobby, while the man from the earlier and the head of security were with him, the latter currently had pressed finger to his ear as he listened to his colleague through an earpiece.“Anything?” Harry asked when the man finished conversation and he just shook his head“Nothing. There’s only a part that’s closed because of the renovation that they have left to check, but I’m sure that everything will be alright.” The man tried to comfort him, but Harry didn’t hear anything after ‘Nothing.”He shouldn’t have let this in the hands of the security guards in the first place, he thought to himself, the fear in him rising with every second that was passing, and then he thought of something else – what If someone actually took her?It was not an unusual thing to happen. Whether he liked it or not, children are disappearing and being kidnapped every day around the world. How he can be sure that this isn’t what happened to Jesse? And then he felt something else. Panic, and something, something unfamiliar. Some dark, evil instinct inside him, about what he would do to the person who’d taken her. Unspeakable things that even he was scared of himself at that moment.But he knew one thing, he would do anything to get her back.He was already making a beeline towards the elevator to go back and search the building for himself once again when the silver door actually opened and what he saw behind them mentally turned him for 180 degrees.All the dark thoughts, all the negativity, anger, fear he felt just 30 seconds ago were gone when he saw Jesse and heard her voice again. She was always bringing light in his life, even in the darkest moments and lowest points he reached. And it happened once again, and Harry was grateful. He already hated the person he was ready to become when he thought of something bad happening to her.She let go of the hand of the woman who was in the elevator with her and ran towards Harry and straight into his arms.“Jess! Jesse, how, where..” he was able to just let out a string of words, the feeling of having her back being overwhelming for Harry.“Daddy, I’m so sorry I got lost, I promise I will never do it again,” Jesse said in his neck and he slowly put her down and crouched in front of her“No honey, it’s not your fault, it was me who should’ve been more careful. But the most important thing is that you are okay.” He assured her and then curiosity took over so he asked her where she was since no one from the security guards could find her.But Jesse had a little different answer for him “Caitlin found me.” and just when Harry was about to ask who Caitlin is, he realized. The woman from the elevator.He really is the worst. This woman found his daughter, and brought her back to him and he didn’t even thank her. Hell, he didn’t even acknowledge her presence, he almost cursed himself, and with the intention to correct his mistake, he took Jesse and stood up.Taking that as a cue, Caitlin walked towards them, and Harry took a moment to actually look at her this time, and boy was she beautiful.“Saturn is her favorite planet too dad,” Jesse informed him, and if Harry had any idea what he wanted to say before, seeing the young woman smiling at them made him forget it.“And that’s where I found her – in front of the isle where Saturn’s 3D model will be.” Caitlin answered his earlier question and then offered him her hand “I’m Caitlin Snow, it’s pleasure to meet you doctor Wells, although I wish it happened under better circumstances.”Caitlin immediately recognized him. Even the ones who weren’t interested in science and lived in Central city knew who Harrison Wells was, not to mention an actual nerd like her. She always admired him, even thought about maybe working for him when she finally gets her Ph.D. And she heard rumors of him being cold, intimidating, arrogant even.But right now, she was watching him with his daughter, and couldn’t believe any of those things. She had to admit that one thing was true though, he is as handsome as people, mostly women are claiming. Even more than his picture in the newspaper presents.Shaking himself from his thoughts, Harry switched the arm that he was holding Jesse with so he can shake Caitlin’s hand “You found her, which means that you basically saved my life, so please call me Harry. And tell me if there’s anything I can do to repay you.”“I didn’t do anything someone else wouldn’t do. Let’s just say I was in the right place at the right time.” Caitlin smiled at him again and then at Jesse “I also had a nice chat with Jesse, about how much she loves stars and is excited about the upcoming show.”“That really is nice, but I think that we’ll have to postpone that, a lot of things happened in the last 30 minutes,” Harry explained, and Caitlin barely managed to hide the disappointment from her face. For some reason, she didn’t want them to leave yet.“No daddy please, I really wanna see it!” Jesse pleaded suddenly, and by the look Caitlin saw on Harry’s face, he was weak at that. In fact, it seemed that he is weak to everything about Jesse, and it made her smile internally.“Munchkin, are you sure?” he tried weakly to convince her, but Jesse already made up her mind“Yes. And Caitlin is presenting it, so it will be awesome!” “She’s right, I am making awesome shows.” Caitlin half-joked which brought Harry’s attention back to her “and it’s my last one for today, so I can give you two a special tour around here when it ends.” something made her say it, but she didn’t regret it since Harry agreed.“I can’t say no to that, can I now?” he put Jesse down and took her hand this time, before the two of them followed Caitlin. Harry had two things on his mind while they were leaving the hall – Caitlin really is awesome, and the way he couldn’t believe how awfully this day started and how great it’s going right now.Suddenly, the three of them were walking together, Jesse excitedly explaining to Caitlin what she liked the most during the show while she patiently listened to her, and answered her every question. He was quiet, just listening to them and enjoying it.He had to admit that he was a bit surprised by the way his daughter relaxed so fast with Caitlin. She was very young, but she already knew to judge if she likes a person or not. He even called her his ‘human radar’ for people’s character. The list of people she liked from the very first moment was short, and the ones she was as comfortable with as she was with Caitlin even shorter, so that was telling him a lot about miss Snow.They were going through the gallery that leads through the solar system, and Caitlin made a little game with Jesse to guess the names of the planets. She concluded that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree when the girl guessed every single one.They reached the end of the gallery, and Caitlin lead them to the next exhibit when Jesse spotted a woman painting a girl’s face in the corner, and a few more kids waiting in line.“Can I do that too?” she asked Harry with glee and he first looked at Caitlin“Face paint is natural and harmless, and Ellie is very talented, you should let her.” and so he did“So miss Snow, Caitlin” Harry corrected himself when she gave him a look “have you always wanted to work here?” he tried to avoid an uncomfortable silence between the two of them while Jesse was explaining to the young woman which planet she wants her to paint where, and he asked the first thing that came to his mind.“Actually, no.” She chuckled a bit and Harry raised his eyebrow in confusion“I’m a doctor. Physician to be precise. But that wasn’t what I really wanted either.”“Now I’m really confused.” Harry laughed, equally confused and stunned by the fact that she knows astronomy so well and is an actual doctor. And all that at what, 27, how old was she anyway?“I always loved science, so I finally decided to pursue that a few years ago. I’m working here while I’m trying to get my Ph.D. in microbiology.”“Wow.” Harry gestured with his hand above his head as a sign that he was impressed “Wow. So, you are a doctor, soon will have a Ph.D. in microbiology, and a real astronomy nerd? How old are you, when did you have time for all of that?”“I’m 29, and you are the one to talk, don’t you have 6 PhDs?” She laughed now29, Harry thought and an unusual thought appeared in his mind. It’s been too long since he even thought about something like that, but his brain was already doing the math. 13 years.“It’s 7, and I’m borderline crazy, so I don’t count.” He joked at his own expense when Jesse joined them all excited because of her current look."Come on guide, what's next?" "Hmm, there's only a gift shop left." Caitlin informed him and Jesse's excitement didn't vanish. They were outside of the building and Harry was gathering his thoughts about Caitlin. She was nice and funny, extremely smart and sharp, insanely beautiful and actually wonderful with Jesse. The last one was actually what gave him a push to ask her the question that was echoing in his head."Listen, since you told me that you are working on your microbiology Ph.D.," she looked at him from her crouching position next to Jesse who was showing her the star chart that she chose "I wanna tell you that STAR's door will be open for you anytime. I don't want Tina to take you." "Is that all you wanted to tell me?" she laughed while standing up and he ran a hand through his hair nervously"No. I wanted to ask you if you would like to have a drink with me sometime?" he said and immediately felt embarrassed by his bluntness. he didn't remember this being so hard, but then again, it's been more than a decade since he invited someone on a date. She didn't say anything for a few seconds and it felt like an eternity for him. What was he thinking, she is 13 years younger than him, and he has a child and she is absolutely gorgeous, there's no way she will accept it...but then her voice stopped his malicious thoughts."A drink?""Or a coffee. Lunch? Dinner." he wondered when he became a clumsy teenager, but she was still smiling and that made him feel a bit better about the whole thing "Would you like to have dinner with me? With us?" he wanted to put things as they are from the very beginning, he will always be a package deal with Jesse, and he will let her decide if she wants any of that in her life."What do you say, Caitlin?" Jesse suddenly asked, and Harry broke into a smile with a small chuckle this time, because his daughter somehow became his wingman.Caitlin bit her lip while pretending to think but seeing both Harry and Jesse's nervous faces made her drop the act so she took a small notepad from her bag and wrote something on it."Dinner sounds wonderful," she said as she looked at Jesse first and then handed Harry the paper with her phone number locking her eyes with him "you can call me anytime." Tbc...