Who: Martin Stein and Caitlin Snow What: Catching up, and Caitlin learns some truths Where: Caitlin's place When: Last week sometime Warning: Recent Legends of Tomorrow spoilers; otherwise, low Status: Closed/Completed Gdoc
Martin had heard Caitlin was in town and he needed to see her. He had not had a chance to say goodbye to her, and to many others, and he wanted to see her, to talk to her, and to just enjoy his friend’s company for awhile. It had, in fact, been some time since he had a chance to visit with her much at all, and he now felt bad about it. Somehow, while he and the others were chasing time criminals and aberrations, time had flown by.
Now, he hoped that this odd afterlife, new life, he had been given, been granted, would give him a chance to talk with her more and to express his appreciation and his respect for her.
***
Caitlin wasn’t expecting anyone. She didn’t think Barry was either. That was mostly because he wasn’t home at the moment. Part of her wondered if there was some late package from the holidays arriving. That was always a nice surprise.
When she opened the door to find Martin standing there? Well, that was a much better gift. She’d heard he was in town, but getting to see him now? That made it all the better...and more real.
“Professor Stein!” she greeted, her smile growing wide. “It is true. You are here.”
She went to give him a hug, figuring he would be okay with that.
She didn’t know about his current circumstance, being from a little earlier in time.
***
“Hello, Doctor Snow. It is very good to see you.” he swept her into his arms for a very deep hug, and then let go slowly, smiling. “How are you? How’ve you been?”
He smiled as he looked at her and the lack of sadness and incredulity on her face told him easily that she did not know. So he would let that go, for now. He was simply glad to see her, and putting it off a little would not hurt, right?
***
"I'm doing okay, you know, for being stuck here. For a little while, I've kind of been trying to find my place here." She'd been trying so hard to keep the Killer Frost part of from ever taking over. It was one of her biggest fears. It did help to have friends here, though. Now she could add the professor to that list.
"Please, come in," she said, stepping aside to let him get past the door frame. "Barry isn't here right now….He’s at work. Teaching at the high school. Um, he kind of took me in when I got here. In town, I mean."
There might have been something different in her tone when she spoke about him. She'd always thought of him as one of her best friends, but she wondered if there was something more to that now.
"Would you like some coffee or tea? Or anything?" It seemed only polite to offer some refreshments, especially to someone she admired so much.
***
“I know that feeling. “ He clasped her shoulder gently. “I’m glad you are here. This place is an odd one.” He smiled.
He glanced at her as he heard her tone shift, and smiled. Good for them. “Do you… when are you from?” Such an awkward question.
“Tea would be nice, please. Any kind you have. I’ve developed a taste for it, on the Waverider.” Which was taking a chance, spoiling her for that. He hoped she would not mind, if she did not know.
***
“You have no idea,” Caitlin said, shaking her head in amusement. “At least we’re all a little used to weird, huh? And the last time I remember being from was spring of 2017. So not that far in the past.”
The mention of the Waverider brought out the curiosity in her eyes. “You’ll have to tell me about some of your adventures. I was jealous when Cisco told me about his trip on the Waverider. But you must have so many other great stories.”
She had no idea about any of them, about what sorts of things the Waverider crew got into. It was all so fascinating.
“Anyway, I’ll go put that tea on.”
She returned a few minutes later with a tray of tea and some store bought cookies. Baking really wasn’t her thing.
***
“A year ago. Not bad.” he took a long breath. Not bad at all. He could deal with this. He would tell her everything, for she deserved to know, and should know. Including what happened to him. And maybe they could work together.
When she returned, he smiled. “What have you been doing around town?”
***
“I got a job at the clinic as a physician,” Caitlin told him, taking a seat on the couch. “Can you believe it? Glad all that medical training didn’t go to too much waste.”
She was joking a bit, but it was all true also. Being a medical doctor at the clinic was not quite the same as working as a scientist for Team Flash.
“Oddly enough, it’s pretty fulfilling.” She didn’t have much use as bio-engineer here, but she could make use of her medical skills.
“Do you have an idea of what you might want to do here?”
***
“Yeah? That’s pretty smart thinking, Doctor Snow. Very smart.” The same as Team Flash or not, he was proud of her. He nodded.
“Yes? Good. We all should be so lucky to find something that fulfills us.”
“I’m still figuring it out, myself. I was somewhat preoccupied when I first arrived. What with the things happening back home.” He paused.
“There has been a lot of things happening in my life, back in our universe, and some of them, I should tell you of, just in case someone else lets it drop.”
***
“I really do hope you can find your way here. It’s really not a bad place,” Caitlin said, sipping her tea.
Curiously, she had to ask, “What’s been going on? Sounds serious.”
For some reason, she felt like it was something worrying.
***
He sat down and started telling her of his adventures with the Legends, in more detail. And then he slowed and he spoke of the war. The war against Earth X. And dying. He spoke softly.
“It happened in a good cause, and I would not take it back, but I thought you should know. I saw my funeral, and my wife moving on. Whatever force took me after I died, let me see her going forward and finding peace.”
He smiled sadly. “Now I have to figure out how to move forward as well.”
***
“Oh, Martin,” Caitlin said sadly once he had relayed his story to her. It was enough that she was referring to him by his first name. She was less formal, going on emotions now.
“I’m so sorry,” she continued, squeezing his hand in support.
She couldn’t help being just a little bit teary eyed, though no tears escaped just yet. She didn’t want him to feel uncomfortable. She tried to smile through it. “I really like this place because it lets people have a second chance. You get to have that.”
That meant a lot.
“I know it might be hard moving forward, but you have friends here who will help you.”
***
Martin smiled softly. “Thank you, Caitlin.” He nodded to her. “I appreciate it, and the support. I will likely need it.” he looked down at his hand, absent his wedding ring. “I managed to take off the ring, finally, on New year’s. I almost didn’t. I… honestly feel odd.” He smiled at her, and sighed, also.
“I want to honor my wife moving on, though. Even if it has not been long for me. I have to find a way myself to go forward. To respect her and this new life I have been given.”
***
Caitlin nodded, still feeling emotional. She was sure she'd feel that way for awhile.
"That makes sense," she said quietly. "It's okay...to move on."
She was saying it as a way to assure him that things were different here. He wouldn't be judged here, nor should he. This was something she was certain Mrs. Stein would agree with. Though knowing she would have to move on was another reminder to Caitlin that Martin was gone back home. That was heartbreaking.
"And I promise," she continued, "I really will be here for you. Maybe I can visit every week for tea."
She smiled, hoping that was something he would be amenable to.
***
Martin nodded, rubbing his face. “Thank you, Caitlin. You have always had a sharp mind, and a kind heart, both. It’s one of the things that made you both a fine colleague, and a good friend.” he smiled warmly at her, then sat back.
At her mention of tea visits, he nodded. “I would like that.” He reached out and gently squeezed one of her hands.
***
“Good. Then we will make this a regular occurrence.”
Caitlin always felt honored to be one of Martin’s colleagues, but the friendship she gained from it was even more rewarding.