Irrational Fears

Takes place before lightning

***** INSTANCE 1 *****

Joe found Barry standing outside of his lab. Just standing there. Looking inside.

"Bar?" Joe asked, "You okay?"

Barry nodded wordlessly, but made no move to go into his lab.

Joe tilted his head, "You sure about that?"

Again, he nodded.

"So... any particular reason you're just standing there? I take it there's an invisible wall blocking your path."

He shook his head.

"Bar," Joe said, exasperated, "Why are you just standing there?"

He pointed into his lab and said, "Spider."

Joe's face went through a series of expressions. Confusion. Realization. Amusement. Irritation.

Joe let out a short bark of laughter. "Seriously Bar?"

Barry finally looked at him with wide eyes, "It's really big! Like, HUGE! And it was on my desk! And I found an egg sack on the underside of the chemical rack. And that was before I saw the spider! I'm not going in there until it's gone."

Joe stared at Barry with one eyebrow raised. "Barry." he said, "A spider isn't going to kill you. It probably won't even hurt you."

"You don't know that." Barry said, "It's probably waiting inside, ready to attack me the second I walk back in."

"I didn't even know you were scared of spiders," Joe said, shaking his head.

"I have been since sophomore year. After Tony Woodward put millions of tiny spiders in my backpack and a big spider in my hair."

"Damn." said Joe, "I had no idea Bar."

Barry just shook his head. "I won't go in there until I have proof that that spider is erased from existence and all it's babies have been exterminated."

Joe chuckled lightly, "You'll be okay Bar."

Barry shook his head again, "Feel free to go in and get my work for me. That is if you don't mind death by demon spider. I'll be working downstairs." He said with finality.

Joe watched as Barry marched down the stairs. He shook his head fondly and walked inside to grab Barry's work.

***** LINE BREAK *****

Still before lighting

***** INSTANCE 2 *****

Captain Singh had seen many thing in his life. One thing he had not seen though, was his CSI Barry Allen standing on top of the lab desk brandishing a pencil as if it were a sword. That is until today.

Singh was just dropping by the lab to check on Barry and give him another case file. When he turned into the room, Barry was looking around the room like a mad man waving his pencil fiercely.

For a moment, Singh was too stunned to do anything.

Then Barry nearly toppled off his desk and Singh snapped out of his shock.

"Allen! What the hell are you doing!" He asked, marching into the room.

"Careful Captain!" Barry yelled, causing Singh to freeze a moment.

"Why?"

"There's a spider in here." Barry said, pointing his pencil at the ground.

Singh was too shocked to do anything except stare. Then he laughed in disbelief. "I can't believe you. You're scared of a little spider?"

"Little isn't the word I'd use," Barry growled.

"Allen... I honestly have no words." Singh shook his head. "Come down. You have work to do."

"Nope."

Singh stilled. Allen was usually a very good listener. And he was normally respectful unless he was unintentionally embarrassing everybody. The fact that he had just told him 'nope' was astonishing.

Singh looked at the desk and saw that the spider Barry had seen was, in fact, rather large. Singh had to fight off a smile as he said, "I found you spider Allen." He gestured to the table.

Barry looked down. His eyes widened and he freaked out. He toppled of the desk in a flurry of papers and limbs, sending Singh into a fit of laughter.

Barry glared at his boss.

Singh shook his head with a smile. "I don't care where you get your work done," he said, "just get it done."

"Yes sir."

Singh left the lab, completely forgetting about the case file he meant to give his CSI. Who knew. Barry Allen had arachnophobia.

***** LINE BREAK *****

After lightning

***** INSTANCE 3 *****

Barry was sitting on the window next to Joe's desk. He was very glad that there was no evidence that needed to be processed, because that would mean going into his lab. And going into his lab would mean facing the massive army of tiny spiders that had overrun his lab.

And just because he had gotten super speed didn't make him okay with being in the same room as those... those monsters. Demons. Creatures from hell.

So he had quickly (as in super speed quickly) grabbed his work and came next to Joe. When a few officers asked, he just said that he needed a change of scenery. Only Joe and the Captain knew about his arachnophobia, and he intended to keep it that way.

-----

Joe walked back into the precinct from his lunch break, Eddie on his tail. During his lunch break, he managed to forget that Barry had retreated to the window. So he was surprised for a moment when he saw Barry sitting at his desk. But then he remembered. There were spiders in his lab again.

Eddie, not having seen Barry earlier, noticed him sitting at Joe's desk as well. He turned to Joe, "What's Barry doing down here?"

Joe smiled, "There were spiders in his lab." he said, heartlessly betraying Barry's secret (JK, he just forgot that Barry didn't want to tell anyone).

"Spider. Allen's afraid of spiders?" Eddie asked.

Joe chuckled, "No. He's not afraid of spiders. He's terrified of spiders."

Eddie smiled. The made it to Joe's desk and they greeted Barry. "Hey Bar," Joe said.

"Good to see you Barry," Eddie said. He studied him for a second as Barry greeted them back, "I never took you as a person to be scared of spiders."

Barry's eyes widened, but quickly turned and glared at Joe. "Joe..."

The offending officer smiled, "Yes Barry?"

Barry didn't say anything, he just waved his pointer finger threateningly. Joe only smiled in response.

Barry sighed, "Thank you Joe. That's just what I wanted. Another person to know I was scared of spiders so they could tease me about it."

Eddie smiled knowingly, "Don't worry about it Barry. Lots of people have ridiculous fears. Myself included." He was saying that to try and make Barry feel better, but what he didn't realize until too late was that he would have to share what that fear was.

"What is it?" Barry asked, curious as to what Detective Pretty Boy could be afraid of.

Eddie pursed his lips Then, grudgingly, he said, "I have pseudodysphagia. The fear of choking."

Barry had to bite his lip to keep from bursting out laughing. Joe didn't take the same restraint and started chuckling. Barry couldn't help but let a small laugh escape.

Eddie smiled, "Told you."

Barry nodded, "Yes you did."

*****

After lightning   A/N- Actually will take place in STAR labs, not the precinct

***** INSTANCE 4 *****

Barry, Cisco, and Caitlin were sitting in the cortex, having a nice time sprouting out random facts.

"Did you know," Cisco said, "that the unicorn is the national animal of Scotland."

"Did you know," Caitlin said, "that some people have an extra bone in their knee."

"Did you know," Barry said, "that koalas have fingerprints."

Cisco hummed in thought for his next fact, "Oh! Did you know that you swallow eight spiders a year while you sleep."

Caitlin scoffed, "That's not true."

"Is too." Cisco said.

"No. " Caitlin said.

"Yes!" Cisco looked at Barry for support. He paused, "Barry, you okay? You look a little pale."

"I'm great," Barry lied. Caitlin regarded him skeptically.

Caitlin shook her head, "Whatever. Did you know that you are always within 6 feet of a spider."

This time, Barry visibly paled. His friends noticed.

"You sure you're okay man?" Cisco asked.

Barry was too busy mentally panicking to respond.

"Barry?" Caitlin said slowly.

Suddenly, Barry sprang upright and ran on top of the desk. He did this at super speed, so what Caitlin and Cisco saw was Barry next to them and then Barry on top of the desk. Papers scattered everywhere and whaked Cisco in the face.

"What the hell man!" CIsco yelled.

"Barry!" Caitlin yelped. Barry was frantically looking around the cortex. Caitlin tilted her head, "Barry?"

"Yes Caitlin?" Barry asked, still searching the ground and walls.

"What are you doing?"

"Scouting out my territory." Barry answered.

Cisco tilted his head, "Why?"

"Because there's spiders in here."

Caitlin fought off a smile, where as Cisco just burst into laughter.

"Man! You've got super speed, and you're afraid of spiders?" Cisco laughed.

"Cisco, don't be mean." Caitlin scolded.

"But seriously," Cisco said, "Why are you afraid of spiders?"

"It's called and irrational fear, Cisco," Caitlin said, coming up to Barry's defense, "And need I remind you of your arachibutyrophobia."

"His what?" Barry asked.

"His fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of his mouth," Caitlin grinned.

Barry tried and failed to fight back a laugh.

"Really, Caitlin?" Cisco said, "I thought we were friends!"

This sent Caitlin into a fit of giggles. Cisco shook his head and walked off.

"Where'd Cisco go?" Barry asked, still not coming down from the desk.

Caitlin shrugged.

Cisco came running back with something behind his back.

"What've you got Cisco?" Caitlin asked.

"Just a little gift for you." he said. He pulled a blue balloon out from behind his back.

Caitlin froze, "You're a despicable person Cisco." she said, backing away from him.

Cisco waved the balloon back and forth, "What? Do you not like balloons?" he asked 'innocently'.

"Cisco..." she said. Cisco threw the balloon at her and she shrieked.

Barry and Cisco burst into laughter.

"It's not funny!" Caitlin yelled.

Barry recovered first, "You're right Cait. We shouldn't laugh at each others' fears. I'm sure you have a good reason for having globophobia."

Cisco muttered something about having a fear of balloons that the two other people selectively ignored.

"Thank you, Barry," Caitlin said. "Truce?"

"Truce." Barry agreed.

They both looked at Cisco expectantly.

"Fine. Truce."

*****

THE END

*****

A/N- I hope y'all enjoyed reading this one! I had fun writing it.

See y'all! :)