he got caught at the five and dime saving the day.

Ella stood in front if her mirror taking one last look at her uniform black scrubs plain and as simple as they came. At least she hoped they would be okay with hospital regulations. She walked over to her night stand to grab her wallet and walked out if the room moments later. Ella pulled her chocolate brown hair into a tight bun before leaving her apartment complex and stepping into the streets of Central City. As she walked down the road like she usually did she pondered about what she heard at the Cental City Hospital about a man about her age, getting struck by lighting. That must have been a scary experience not many people live after those so she was surprised to hear he was alive. Of course they didn't give much details especially to volunteers. As she walked into the building she could hear people whispering and talking it was probably about that man that's all anyone talked about. "Did you hear he's making progress, he might even wake up from that coma, I think they said his name was Barry Allen, he's too skinny he needs more meat on those bones" Ella heard as she went to get her "assignments" she stepped into her supervisors' office and waited patiently she sighed softly most of these people only gossiped and didn't seem to care for their patients.

---

Death is something Peter had became very familiar with and it always took a toll on him. His parents were the first people he had lost as a child and though at the time he didn't think much about it he grew up resenting his parents especially his father, until he found out the truth. Of course along the way he also lost his Uncle Ben because he refused to stop that robber that night; he often blamed himself for that and just wanted to move past it. Peter walked down the streets of New York just trying to clear his mind if everything, ever since he's become this superhero persona he hasn't had time to cope. Granted he took five months off from being Spider-Man to mourn for his gurlfriend's death. Yet another thing he could have avoided and the loss left a hole where is heart used to be. Every day he thought about her and how much he missed her, always blaming himself for her death. Peter couldn't stop saving people however, everyone depended in him and he couldn't let them down. He found himself in front of this coffee shop he's passed a dozen times but never went in. He shrugged and decided to give it a try all this thinking was tiring maybe if he got some coffee or something he'd feel better. Peter opened the door and heard the bells as he stepped inside it was a cozy little shop he looked around for a moment taking it all in. Peter let out a soft sigh escape his lips before walking to the counter.

[Sorry I took so long to reply! My boyfriend and I went on a date]

He couldn't move. How was it possible that he just couldn't move. There were people talking all around him like he wasn't in the room at all. He could hear the voices, though he didn't recognize a single one of them. The words, however, all sounded the same. Words about comas. Words about lightning. And the phrase "near death" over and over. The voices of the nurses, he assumed, began to become familiar, until he heard the voice of one that sounded like an angel. He wondered if it was death calling to him, but she spoke like all the other nurses did, only in a voice that soothed him like the rain.

He thought that maybe, just maybe, he could reach out and touch her, but every time he tried to move, he was reminded that his body was a prison.

---

Grace had planned for another typical day of work, which meant she had her hair up and was wearing no makeup. It was company policy not to accept tips anyway, so she didn't have anyone she was trying to impress.

A young man approached the counter, as many of them often did, and she smiled at him as he stepped up. He seemed terribly tired and a little lost, and Grace had never seen anyone who looked as broken as he did.

"Welcome to Just a Little Cup," she said sweetly, repeating the greeting she was forced to say by her boss. "What can I get for you?"

[It's fine! oh yeah? what did you guys do? if you don't mind me asking lol]

Ella had looked at her supervisor who explained on how to check in on everything, "Ella are you listening?" he asked her, she looked up and nodded, "yes, I know if there's any signs of him moving or attempt to speak I'll come and find you. Got it" she watched her leave and sighed softly as she took a seat. Ella smiled softly at the body in front of her it felt saying it like that, he wasn't dead he was just in a coma, "well, Mr. Allen looks like I'll be looking after you, I hope you don't mind, you're very handsome" she let out a soft giggle escape her lips. She stood up to check on his status and made sure to fix his bedding, "I guess they feel like I can't really do much since you know.. I'm just sitting here watching you.. not that I don't want to.. I just feel kind of useless really" she chuckled. Ella always found that maybe talking to patients in comas would help even if she didn't know them personally.

---

Peter rubbed his eyes and smiled softly at the worker who was in front of him, she was really pretty with her big eyes and her that was tied up. He wished he was in a better mood so he could crack a joke or two, but he wasn't feeling like himself today. Death anniversary and all he just wanted to sleep in all day. As he looked through the menu, "well I guess just a small cup of coffee would be fine and .." he looked at the pastries that were on sitting behind glass. "Well, what do you suggest?" he asked with a small grin spreading across his face. He didn't want to seem to depressed it was clear that he was tired and sorta out of it but Peter attempted to put on a small smile for people. Especially his aunt who constantly worried about his well being, she understood what he was going through and it was normal for him to grieve but he had to move on sooner or later.

[we just went to dinner and a movie ]

He couldn't see the girl, but he could feel her right next to him. Her voice would get louder when she ruffled his sheets and softer when she checked his vitals. It would get more high pitched when she laughed and softer when she was talking more seriously. Her voice was so different than the other nurses, and it felt more real than the rest. He tried again to move, focusing this time only on his fingers. He thought that maybe if he started small instead of trying to shoot out of the bed, he might actually get somewhere. Was that a twitch? He couldn't really be sure.

---

She smiled at him and pointed to the cheese danishes behind the glass. Not everyone liked them, but they were Grace's absolute favorite, so she couldn't not recommend them. "The danishes are delicious," she said sweetly. "They make them fresh every morning."

The man seemed so distracted, and Grace knew distracted. There were many business men who came in distracted by their phones and work, but he was different. There was something about him that just looked different than everyone else.

[sounds fun! :) what did you see?]

Ella sighed softly wondering if he could hear her at all she took a seat next to him and placed her hands on his, she wondered what he was like. No one really knew much about him, except that he worked for Central City as a forensic scientist. She only found out through some papers, "so you're cute and smart two more checks for you" she giggled softly. It was quite relaxing for a bit until she felt something moving underneath her hands and her eyes widen when she saw him twitch. She got up from her chair and called out to a nurse who walked in and started checking vitals but didn't really believe Ella, "it was probably nothing" Ella frowned as she walked back out. "No one takes me seriously around here, I know I'm just a volunteer but I know I'm not blind" she mumbled.

---

Peter looked at the cheese danishes and smiled, "I'll take your word for it then, just one please" he grabbed some money from his pocket and started counting out the bills. He was tired from all the crime fighting he's been doing. He couldn't stop even if he tried to, Peter supposed it was for the best. He handed the girl a couple of fives and smiled politely at her, "doesn't look too busy right now does it?" he asked with a slight chuckle. Peter yawned once more he was really exhausted, the shop didn't seem very big but he would probably sit around for a bit and try to get himself to wake up.

[ Mr. Peabody and Sherman it was adorable ]

Had it really worked? From the sound of excitement in the nurse's voice, he thought that maybe it had. Even if no one else saw it, it was a good start. If he could just move even a little, maybe they would know that he was still there, and he desperately needed for them to know that he was still there. He tried again and again to move his fingers, but it didn't seem like it was working since the nurse wasn't doing anything. He decided to try for his eyes instead. To see if maybe he could open them. He'd opened his eyes a thousand times before, and it frightened him to know how difficult it was now. What if he was stuck like this forever?

---

Grace was surprised that he'd taken her suggestion, since not many people did, but he seemed happy enough to try it, which was a shock considering how horrible he looked. "It's a slow day," she said simply, shrugging her shoulders. "Well, most days are slow days. We don't get much business anymore with all the Starbucks opening up." She handed him his change, coffee and pastry with another smile. She hoped he'd stay long enough for her to at least see him try the danish - she had to know whether or not he liked it.

[lol I was thinking about seeing that!]

Ella sat there with her legs crossed as she watched the man lay there almost lifeless but she knew he was still alive. She stood up and looked at him, "you know Barry, you're really cute and I don't know much about you except that you're some kind of scientist. I like smart guys like you, if you promise to wake up, I may let you take me out on a date" she said softly. Ella knew he couldn't possibly hear her, or he could she wasn't sure but she assumed that he couldn't. "I'm not sure how much longer I have to sit here and watch you it's almost creepy, because maybe you're just sleeping and I'm watching you, see doesn't that sound weird?" she sat back down and tapped her foot against the floor.

---

Peter nodded it made sense and with a Starbucks in every corner they weren't much competition, "well, lucky for you I detest Starbucks over priced everything and for what? shitty coffee? I don't think so. I indulge in some low key coffee places, less crowded but more comfortable" he looked around for a tip jar. He frowned when he didn't see one, "what you can't accept tips?" when she shook her head now he frowned again, "that's shitty," he walked over to a sofa and took a seat coffee and pasty in hand, his bag was in between his legs as he took a sip of coffee. "hmm.. better than Starbucks" he chuckled raising his cup in the air, he went to bite the pastry and nibbled on it, taking it all in. Peter really liked it, he smiled at the girl, "hey what's your name?" he asked then read her name badge, "never mind I just saw it, well Grace this is a really good danish, I'll have to tell people about this place"

[ It is definitely worth your time! ]

Did his little guardian angel always ramble like this or was she only doing it to break the silence? He couldn't be sure. The silence was awful, though, because over it he could hear the sounds of crying and death all throughout the hospital. Her voice was a welcomed break from all the disaster. He dreaded the thought of when she'd be replaced by the next nurse on duty, which only made him want to wake up more. He tried again to open his eyes, and this time he thought he saw a sliver of light, but it went away as quickly as he saw it.

---

Grace chuckled at him. Despite the fact that he looked like he had the world on his shoulders, he was as sweet as could be. "I hope you can invite friends to keep this place open," she said as she grabbed a wash cloth from the side to wipe off the counter. "Or else I'll be out of a job." She didn't truthfully believe that the place was going to close down, but when she thought about it, business had been much more slow than usual.

[will have to check it out then.]

Ella thought she could see him move again and shook her head maybe she was just wishful thinking, sometimes that created illusions. Ella grabbed a magazine from her bag, "enough rambling for me," she said quietly as she opened her magazine and flipped through the pages. Ella flipped through the pages of her magazine humming as she did so, sometimes when she was alone she would hum or sing to herself, she didn't let others hear her. She was much to shy for that but since Barry wasn't really awake she didn't mind or care. She looked at her watch after a few minutes, Ella was getting a little hungry. "I forgot to bring my snack oh dilemma, I guess I'll wait until my break which should be in one more hour" she had been told he had been in this coma for eight months. It was sad because someone that young obviously had so much to live for. She hoped that he hadn't given up. An hour had passed and Ella noticed her replacement was waiting outside, she stood up, "well, Barry I'm taking my fifteen I'll be right back" Ella said quietly and headed out the door.

---

Peter looked up when Grace spoke and grinned, "I don't have many friends but I'll bring whoever I can find and drag them in here" he joked, as a grin formed. He finished his danish and wiped his mouth with a napkin before looking up and smiling. "Ah, well, we wouldn't want to keep you out of a job now would we?" he said whilst grinning. Peter didn't really have much to say he was generally bad with girls the thing with Gwen just sorta happened, and it's been almost a year since she's passed. He had to at least try to be happy, Peter knew she would want him to move on. "So how long have you worked here?"

She was leaving. He could hear her footsteps as she walked away and the squeak as another nurse sat in the chair she had just been it. This nurse didn't talk like the other one did, and the terrible silence of his room was overthrown by the painful screaming of an injured man in the next room over. Every second that passed felt more and more like he was in a hell, and Barry knew that if he didn't leave soon he was going to lose his mind. He did everything in his power to move his tongue, his eyes, his fingers, anything, but the new nurse didn't seem to notice.

---

It was just this boy and Grace left in the coffee shop, so she didn't think anyone would mine if she talked to him. Her boss was really only around when they had an emergency, and the next girl wasn't scheduled to come on for another hour and a half. She stopped wiping down the counter and looked at him again. "Just over a year," she said simply, giving him a sweet smile. "What do you do for work?" Grace didn't know whether or not she should be prying, but she thought it might be okay since he had talked to her first, and she had an inhuman desire to just keep talking to him.

Ella spent her fifteen minutes eating a small sandwich she bought from the cafeteria and a pop. She thought a lot about the young man in that room it was sad really one shouldn't spent their youth in a state of coma, some of these nurses didn't seem to care for Barry's well being she's noticed they only did their job. As a volunteer she cared deeply about all the people Ella help she had to if she was doing this out of her good nature. After her break ended she headed back into the room her hand on her hip. "Well did you miss me?" She chuckled walking over to check his vitals and fluff his pillows. "He won't even respond why would you go through the trouble?" The nurse asked Ella, she turned to face her and frowned. "Because he's still alive and I know he can hear some if what I'm saying and because I actually like what I'm doing, since you know I'm not getting paid" she took a seat and looked at Barry. "Don't worry Barry, I care about your well being, even if I don't know you personally"

---

Peter nodded as he listened to Grace speak "so how do you like it?" he didn't usually ask so many questions but he felt like he should get to know this girl. "I'm a photographer for the Daily Buegle" he chuckled thinking about all the posed pictures he had to take over the years. Peter had taken time off from going to college because of his other daytime job that was constantly asking him to come in. He took a sip of his coffee before setting the cup down. Peter was rather awkward when it came to small talk or just talking to women in general. He rubbed the back of his neck, "so.. Do you ..What " he was rambling now. Peter cleared his throat "plans after work?" He finally spat out.

Though he couldn't show it, he was happy that the nice nurse was back. She made the whole situation seem a whole lot better. He tried to move again, hoping that if he did this time she would notice.

---

"It doesn't make nearly enough money," she laughed, shrugging her shoulders. "It's better than fast food, but not nearly as great as being a photographer. That's an incredible job." Grace couldn't imagine what it would be like to do something as amazing as being a photographer, especially with how boring and unremarkable her own job was."

Ella was in her seat as she sighed softly not really sure what to say or what to do, she just sat there watching, waiting. Her arms were crossed against her chest as she stared at Barry for a moment and she thought she had seen him move. "Are you trying to tell me something Mr. Allen?" her eyebrow raising as she looked at him. Ella stood and walked over to him touching his hand it was a little cold, she smiled softly and gave ti a light squeeze. "You're going to come back to the world soon enough,"

---

Peter let out a soft chuckle he guessed she didn't hear what he said or she brushed it off, either way he should have probably have to get going soon. "Photography is great and all but Jameson doesn't pay me as much as people think he does" he grabbed his bag after finishing his coffee. Peter tossed his cup in the trash can. "I like it though, some of my photos have made the front page so that's exciting I guess," he rubbed the back of his neck not really sure what else he could say. "Uh well, it was nice meeting you Grace, maybe I'll see you around. I gotta get home to my aunt before she starts calling wondering what's taking me so long" he chuckled. Peter placed the bag on his back and started heading toward the door, he looked back at Grace and smiled. "See ya"

He didn't know how it was possible, but he swore he could feel her touching his hand. He couldn't feel anything else throughout his entire body, not even his own heart beating, but he swore he could feel her hand. When she squeezed it, he tried to squeeze back, praying she could feel it.

---

"It was nice to meet you, too," Grace replied, watching as he walked over towards the door. She wasn't sure if he'd ever be back to the coffee shop or whether or not she'd see him. It was a big city and she didn't get out much, so the chance of them simply running into one another was slim. The odds were good that she'd probably never see him again or figure out why he seemed so down that day. "See ya."

Ella smiled and looked at him and was about to sit down as she pulled her hand away she felt her hand being squeezed. She jumped back a little, "oh dear, I should really tell them" she wanted him to come back of course even if hew as a stranger. No one deserved to be in that kind of misery. She buzzed in a nurse, once she was in there Ella started explaining everything, "I think he's coming back, he really is, he squeezed my hand well.. gently but he did" she told them. Once they informed the doctor he walked over to check on Barry's vitals while Ella stood to the side and heard them talk to one another.

---

Peter smiled, "I'm not sure if I introduced myself or not but my name's Peter, hope to see you around some time" were his last words before he walked out of the coffee shop and was on his way home. Bag on his back and hands in his pockets. He would definitely would have to come back to that shop soon. Peter started walking home still slightly gloomy but not quite as much as when his day first started, he felt better and even talking to that girl helped him distract away from mourning.

Were they finally starting to notice him? Barry thought that this could be his one change to actually get out of this hell, so he tried his best to move his eyes again, knowing that this time the official doctor was there and he might do something. A sliver of light came in, and he could just barely make out a white-coated doctor, but the light stung his eyes and he was forced to shut them again. This time, he tried harder, determined for someone to see him open them.

---

So Peter was his name. It was a very average name for someone so interesting, but there was no way Grace was going to forget that name. She didn't know why, but she wished desperately that he hadn't walked out. She knew it was stupid to think that he would stay, and she needed to get back to work anyway. She still had to mop the floor before Kailey came in to relieve her.

Ella watched as the doctor checked every thing, his heart pulse and other vitals and she stood there watching helplessly. Wishing she could help bring this guy back to life, she walked over to watch as the doctor's checked their charts. Ella smiled softly her hand reaching for his forehead, his forehead felt a little clammy and and kind of warm she watched his eyes for a moment. She thought he might be trying to open them so she looked harder. Ella's eyes widen when she noticed Barry's eyes fly open she let out a soft squeal and the doctor looked over to see what she was doing and he couldn't believe it either. After that she was being pulled to leave the room, "but... I wanted to.. I'm sorry!" she was out the door and the door had closed right in her face.Ella sighed softly as she waited and waited for someone to tell her about his progress, it wasn't fair she wanted to be in there.

---

Peter walked all the way home crawling in through his window as usually, his aunt hadn't noticed he was gone, how could she? Peter sneaked around everyday usually off being a superhero, saving lives and stopping bad guys, it's what he did. Peter dropped his bag on the floor and fell on his back on the small bed behind him, he let out a sigh before he heard his name being called. He didn't say much he just closed his eyes and tried to go to sleep. Cue the cute girl from the coffee shop, what was her name, oh right, Grace enter his mind, he didn't know why she was on his brain but, he couldn't get that smile out of hers out of his head, it was weird.

There was so much commotion going on around Barry that it was hard to focus. There were so many words that were blending into a mess that he couldn't understand. He was beginning to feel sick, like he needed to vomit, and he was desperate to get out of that bed. He could feel the beginnings of hands all over his body, possibly checking things and possibly moving him around. He heard the nurses shouting something about a dangerously high fever before he felt an overwhelming coldness all around him. It was that feeling that popped his eyes open, and he was staring into the eyes of the doctor, while a nurse beside him dumped a bucket of ice over his body.

"You're going to be okay, Barry," the doctor said to him, while he shined a flashlight between both his eyes, making his pupils dilate. He then turned to the nurse. "We need to get this fever down."

---

The rest of Grace's shift was a bore, and though she had no reason to expect it, every time that the door opened, her head shot towards it, hoping that it would be Peter back for another danish and a cup of coffee, or bringing all of his friends in to save the coffee shop. But every time, it was just another regular coming in for their $1.25 cup of coffee.

When Kailey finally showed up to take over Grace's shift, she wanted nothing more than to get out of there. Her head was beginning to get to her, and all she could think about was that Peter. She needed something to take her mind off of him. She quickly threw her apron onto the counter and shouted back at Kailey as she walked out the door. "Thanks, Kay!"

Ella stood there as she watched through the window what they were doing to Barry, some nurse threw some water on him and she just stood there helpless. Wondering what could be running through his mind, something along the lines of getting all those hands off him. She bit her lip as she watched all the doctors huddle around and then just close the curtains, she let out a frustrated sigh. Ella knew she was nothing to that man but she'd like to think she helped him in some way. "You can go home now" one of the nurses told her, "we've got this covered." Ella stood there for a moment, "I'd like to stay and wait if that's okay I just want to know how he's doing" she walked over and took a seat and waited.

---

Peter didn't mean to think about the coffee shop girl, Grace, it just sorta happened, he turned over to his side and let out a sigh. He wanted, he should have probably asked her to hang out or something but like always he just blew it. The chances of seeing her again were slim, unless he went back to the same coffee shop every day, he thought about maybe going to see her the next day. "PETER!" he fell off the bed when he heard his name again, he let out a groan. "Y-yeah?" he quickly got up and opened his bedroom door, "I need you to pick up some things for me" his Aunt May called out to him. Peter walked down the stairs following his aunt. "all right" he wasn't exactly in the mood to go grocery shopping but he'd do it. As she handed him the list Peter looked it over and stuffed the small piece of paper into his pocket. "I won't forget the eggs this time" he chuckled and made his way out the door again.