Chapter Text
It was daylight when he spoke to her. The scene was being cleared and she had changed out of the suit and back into her own clothing.
“What you can do...it was the lightning bolt?”
“....more or less,” she murmured.
“I'm sorry, Carrie,” he said; they were words she had never really expected to hear. Not from him, or anyone. “I'm sorry I didn't believe you. That I called you crazy for chasing the impossible...”
He looked at her. “...but you really did see something that night, when your mom died...”
She nodded.
“Your dad...he is innocent...”
There was a relief, as weight slid off her lean body. That was all she had ever wanted to hear him say.... She looked up when he straightened, shifting to stand in front of her. His hand rested on her shoulder.
“Listen to me...you have to make me a promise. I don't want you telling Iris about this....about anything you can do. Any of it. I want her safe. One of you has to be safe. Promise me.”
...she hated to lie, to him...or to her....but.... “Alright.”
---
She hated Iron Heights. Hated it fiercely...but at least she had a moment to visit with her father....even though they had to talk over these phones, see each other through that glass...
“Hey, Princess.”
“You always call me that....” she murmured and he chuckled. “...I got into a fight today.”
“You got out of a coma, I don't think you should be picking fights,” Henry said in concern, peering at her through the glass. “...did you win?”
She smiled. “Yeah.”
There was a pause as he grinned at her before she continued. “...I know you didn't kill Mom. You know I know that, right?”
“You believing me is all I need, princess.”
“You won't be here much longer,” she promised. “Whoever...whatever...killed Mom...I think I have a way to find them, to stop them.”
“Carrie, we've talked about this. You've got to stop worrying, live your life – find a nice man and start a family---”
He stopped in concern when she gave a choked sob.
“I might not be....able to...have kids. The lightning strike....they are still doing tests but...”
“Princess....” He pressed a hand to the glass and she gave him a shaky smile as she pressed a hand to the glass opposing his.
“I'm not giving up. I...I actually feel alive. For so long I feel like I've been stuck in one place since Mom died...but now...I'm different now. I've made some new friends. And they're helping me find my way...to finally move forward... Remember when you wanted me to change my name? Take Mom's name so people wouldn't know you're my Dad? But I'm so proud to be your daughter.”
“I love you, baby girl.”
“Love you too, Dad.”
----
She hadn't lied to her father – she did feel alive at last. Like that lightning bolt made her heart start to really beat, made everything so sharp and clear.
Even with the possibility that she couldn't have children of her own...well the tests weren't finished yet and who knows. That would be something to worry about later.
Because she was the fastest person alive. And she had so much to do.
Like save this bike messenger who just got hit by a taxi from being dragged under like his bike.