Chapter 1
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Everything belongs to their rightful owners.
AN1: So, I have no idea where this idea came from. All I know is that I love Laurel and there aren't enough stories that focus on her.
It has been four months since Thea Queen, John Diggle and Laurel Lance started working together to protect Star City, and in that time Thea has moved in with Laurel and all three of them have become quite close, something which isn't surprising considering how much time they spend together.
"Come on, Dig. You should stay." Thea tells Diggle as they walk down the hallway towards Laurel and Thea's apartment, "Dinner, movie marathon, it will be great." She says, "Come on, please." Thea begs.
"Okay, I'll stay." Diggle says as they arrive at the door to the apartment.
"Yay." Thea says happily as she unlocks the door.
"I just really hope that Laurel's not cooking." Dig comments as they walk into the apartment as he has had experience with Laurel's cooking in the past few weeks and he really doesn't want to experience that again.
"I'm pretty sure that we're going to order pizza." Thea says with an amused look on her face, "LAUREL!" She calls as they walk in, while she drops her keys in the bowl, but she receives no response, "Her stuff's here." They say as she starts to look around while Diggle closes the door, "Laurel? I got Diggle to agree for a movie." Thea asks as she knocks on Laurel's bedroom door and pushes it open and she is shocked by the sight that greats her, Laurel is lying on the floor, passed out, "DIGGLE." Thea yells as she rushes over to Laurel and a few seconds later Diggle runs in, his gun drawn.
"What happened?" Diggle asks as he rushes over, holstering his gun.
"No idea." Thea says, seeing no sign of a wound, "Laurel, Laurel wake up." Thea says as she shakes Laurel, trying to get her to wake, "She's breathing and has a strong pulse." She tells Diggle, it being clear that she is worried about what is going on.
"We've got to get help. The hospitals nearby, we'll take her." Diggle says before he carefully picks Laurel up, being glad that she is in normal clothes rather than her Black Canary outfit, "Call Lance." He tells Thea as she gets up and follows him.
"Can't. He's left for a cops retreat today, will be gone for five nights. No phone signal." Thea explain as they hurry out of the apartment. Thea only just remembering to grab her keys as they go.
A few minutes later John is driving to the hospital while Thea is sitting in the back with Laurel's, who is still unconscious, head on her lap.
"Any change?" Diggle asks as he drives, looking at Thea in the rear view mirror.
"No." Thea answers, "How far are we?" she asks.
"A few minutes." Diggle answers.
"Just hold on, Laurel. Please." Thea says in a whisper as after everyone else she has lost and after Oliver leaving she can't lose Laurel too.
Hours later Thea and Diggle are waiting in the hospital waiting room, waiting for news about Laurel.
"It's been hours; we should have heard something by now." Thea tells Diggle, it is a testament to how much she cares about Laurel that she has forgotten Malcom's training and is showing how worried she is.
"I'm sure we'll hear something soon." Diggle responds, trying to calm Thea.
"We better." Thea responds and she continues to pace the room.
"Family for Laurel Lance." A doctor says about twenty minutes later and Thea and Diggle hurry over.
"How is she? Is she okay?" Thea ask worried.
"Are you Thea Queen and John Diggle?" The Doctor, an older man, with dark hair and a shirt and tie on says.
"Yes." They both answer.
"Let's sit down." The Doctor suggests leading Thea and Diggle over to some chairs.
"What's happened? Is Laurel alright?" Diggle asks as in his experience being lead over to a seat by a doctor doesn't usually mean anything good.
"My names Doctor James Wilson and Laurel asked me to talk to you and explain what we have learnt before I take you back to see her." Doctor Wilson informs Thea and Diggle.
"Don't sugar coat it Doctor, it's bad, isn't it?" Thea asks, worried as the more the doctor says the more worried she becomes about Laurel.
"Yes, it is."
Ten minutes after Thea and Diggle sat down with Doctor Wilson they're shown back to where Laurel is and as soon as they are allowed in the room Thea runs over and throws her arms around Laurel hugging her tightly.
"I'm okay, Thea." Laurel says as she returns the hug, closing her eyes as she embraces the person who she sees as a little sister.
"No, you're not." Thea says as she desperately tries not to cry.
"Thea's right Laurel, okay is the furthest thing from what you are." Diggle informs Laurel from where he is standing next to her bed, "Where is your Dad? I'll drive to where he is and bring him here."
"No." Laurel says as Thea finally let's go off her.
"Laurel…" Diggle starts to say as Laurel moves a little so that Thea can sit right next to her.
"I can't tell him, not yet. Losing Sara twice almost killed him. I can't tell him this." Laurel tells her friends, "It would kill him." She says, believing that completely.
"Laurel, you're not going to need support to go through this." John says as he sits down on the edge of Laurel's bed, "You can't do this alone."
"I'm not. I have you and Thea, don't I?" Laurel asks, looking between the two, hoping that she isn't wrong.
"Of course." Thea says, without hesitation.
"Definitely, but Laurel you're going to need your family, your Dad." Diggle tells her, "And he'd want to know."
"I know, John, and I'll tell him, but not right now." Laurel says, as she hasn't even comprehended what everything means so until she does she can't think about telling her dad, "And I know it's not fair, but I have to ask that you don't say anything either, not yet." She requests, looking between Diggle and Thea, "Please."
"Okay." Thea says and Diggle gives a reluctantly nod.
"So, what happens next?" Thea asks Laurel, wanting to change the subject from the lie they are going to keep.
"Dr Wilson has arranged for a surgery tomorrow. They remove them, or try to at least, and see where to go from there. What treatment will be the most suitable." Laurel explains.
"I'll be here the whole time." Thea promises, "And if you give me a list I can bring you your stuff from home."
"Thank you, Thea." Laurel responds as she rests her head on Thea's shoulder.
"I'll stay too." Diggle promises.
"Thank you, John." Laurel says as she reaches out and takes his hand.
"You don't have to thank me." John tells her and the three of them drift into silence.
A couple of hours later, after a lot of difficulty, Laurel managed to convince Thea and Diggle to go home to get a couple of hours of rest. Even though she should be sleeping Thea is putting some of Laurel's stuff into a bag to take back to the hospital when she goes back. As she packs Laurel's stuff Thea's eyes are drawn to a framed photo by Laurel's bed that Thea can't help but have a look at. The photo was taken about a month before Sara and Oliver left on the Queens Gambit, and the photo is off Her, Laurel, Oliver, Tommy, and Sara, all five of them smiling happily as Laurel and Oliver took her on a picnic and Sara and Tommy decided to tag along because they had nothing better to do. It was the last time all five of them were together.
"I miss you guys, so much." Thea says, looking at the picture as she thinks about Tommy and Sara mainly, but even Oliver too, "I wish you were here." She says.
While Thea is packing up some of her stuff Laurel is lying in her hospital bed wide awake, thinking about what this is going to mean for her and her life and honestly she isn't sure what to think, or what to feel though she knows that she is more tempted to drink again than she has been in months so it's probably good thing that she is in a hospital connected to an IV.
The following morning, which is only a few hours later Thea has arrived back at the hospital.
"How are you feeling?" Thea asks as she places the bag on the chair near Laurel's bed and she walks over to Laurel.
"Fine. It's strange, I don't feel like anything is wrong." Laurel admits, knowing that, considering what she knows is wrong, it's odd that she feels so fine.
"Do you know when your surgery is?" Thea asks curious as she sits down on the edge of Laurel's bed.
"Twelve, Doctor Wilson will be here at eleven thirty to do prep." Laurel explains, "The surgery will take a few hours and then I've got to a couple of hours in post op so that's going to be a while. So, you might as well go home for a while." She tells her.
"No way. I'm staying." Thea assures her, "So, um, I know you don't want your Dad to know, but what about Ollie? Do you want me to call him?" she asks curious.
"No." Laurel says, "He and Felicity are away living a normal life. I don't want to ruin that for them. Don't call Ollie."
"Okay." Thea says reluctantly.
"Okay. So, anything new on the ghosts?" Laurel asks curious.
"Nope."
It has been a couple of hours since Thea arrived in Laurel's hospital room and after about half an hour Diggle arrived and joined the conversation and ever since the three of them have been sitting and talking together.
"I'm sorry, but we've got to talk Laurel to surgery now." Doctor James says as he walks in at eleven thirty am.
"Okay. We'll see you when you get out." Thea says, bending down to give Laurel a hug, "I love you."
"Love you too." Laurel responds and she and Thea break apart, "John." Laurel says with a nod and a look.
"Laurel, see you in a few hours." Diggle says giving Laurel a smile before leaving with Thea.
For hours and hours Thea and Diggle sit in the waiting room, waiting for news about Laurel. Thea even refused to leave to eat so Diggle went and got them food and something to drink. At eight pm both Thea and Diggle are allowed back into Laurel's room.
"Hey." Thea says as she walks in and over to Laurel.
"Hey." Laurel responds, sounding tired and weak, though she is trying to give Thea a smile.
"Has the doctor been in to see you?" Diggle asks as Thea once more sits down next to Laurel.
"Not yet." Laurel answers.
"Well I'm sure it won't be too much longer." Diggle says, with what he hopes is a comforting smile.
"Yeah. Please say that you're monitoring for signs of the ghosts." Laurel says to Thea and Diggle.
"Of course." Diggle answers
"You really shouldn't be worrying about the Ghosts right now." Thea informs Laurel, feeling that Laurel has more important things to worry about than the Ghosts.
"Honestly, I could use the distraction." Laurel admits, "So, the ghosts?" she asks, hoping that this time they answer.
"Quiet tonight. Lyla is monitoring things, just in case." Diggle explains.
"Good." Laurel says.
"I had to tell her what was going on, but she promised not to say anything." Diggle informs Laurel.
"It's okay. I expected you too." Laurel admits and the three of them drift into silence.
For a few minutes Laurel, Thea and Diggle are quiet until the door opens and Doctor Wilson walks in.
"Laurel I have your results. I would like to talk to you about them in private." He informs Laurel.
"Thea and John can say." Laurel tells the doctor before either of them can leave as Thea is practically her sister and Diggle is basically her only friend so she wants them to know and she figures that it will be easier for the doctor to explain everything to them together.
"Okay, that's your choice." Doctor Wilson says walking over, "Now, as you know we had hoped to both remove the entirely of the tumour from your nasal cavity and sinuses and the ones that were in your lungs. There were three smaller tumours in your lungs and we were able to remove them in their entirety, but I am sorry to say that we weren't able to remove the entirety of the large tumour in your nasal cavity and sinuses. It was larger and spread further than we were anticipating. We removed as much as we safely could." Doctor Wilson informs Laurel, Thea and Diggle.
"So, what does that mean? What do we do next?" Thea asks as she reaches out and takes Laurel, who looks shocked, hand.
"Well the best treatment option would be a round of chemotherapy and radiation in hopes of destroying any cells that were left behind in your lungs and shrinking the tumour in your nose so that we can slow the progression." Doctor Wilson says.
"How long?" Laurel asks, it being the first thing she can think to ask, "How long have I got?" she asks.
"Well, considering the size of the tumour, the amount of them, and how much it has spread, without treatment you would have about a year." Doctor Wilson informs Laurel.
"And with treatment?" Laurel ask as she tightens the hold that she has on Thea's face, looking right at Doctor Wilson, not wanting to look at Diggle or Thea as she doesn't want to fall apart which she know he will if she looks at them, "I want the truth, Doctor. The honest, hard truth."
"That's hard to say without more results, but honestly we caught this late. The cancer Is advanced and even with treatment it is my medical opinion that you would have two years, maybe two and a half at the most." Doctor Wilson explains and Thea gasps so Laurel lets go of her hand to put her arm around her, holding her close.
"And my quality of life? Both with treatment and without?" Laurel asks, causing Diggle to close his eyes as he realises why Laurel is asking this.
"Without treatment there is a chance that you you'd just experience very minor symptoms, such as headaches, noise bleeds and possibly shortness of breath and some chest pain, honestly you would feel basically fine, until you're not." Doctor Wilson tells Laurel, "With treatment you will experience all the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation which can include, pain, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, mouth and throat sores, constipation, blood disorders, Tingling, Burning, Weakness or numbness in the hands, feet, or both, Weak, sore, tired, or achy muscles, Loss of balance, Shaking or trembling, appetite loss or hair loss." The Doctor informs Laurel, "It won't be pleasant, but it will give you a chance of extending your life." Doctor Wilson informs Laurel.
"Doesn't sound much like a life to me." Laurel mutters.
"Laurel." Diggle says, realising what she is thinking.
"So, best case scenario I've got either a year of being myself or two of hell, of not being able to do what I do." Laurel says, realising that if she does treatment then she can't be the Black Canary anymore.
"Simply yes." Doctor Wilson admits, and Thea turns away from Laurel to look at Doctor Wilson, "But Laurel you're young. Yes, the cancer is advanced and yes, your outlook isn't good, but it gives you a chance." He says.
"A chance at what?" Laurel asks, "I'll be alive, but will I have a life?"
"I can't answer that." Doctor Wilson says, "And you shouldn't make this decision now. Take some time to think about it." Doctor Wilson says, "Okay?" he asks.
"Okay." Laurel responds.
"I'll leave you alone." Doctor Wilson says before Laurel, Thea and Diggle.
As soon as Doctor Wilson leaves Thea once more throws her arms around Laurel and hugs her tightly.
"It will be okay, Thea." Laurel says as she returns the hug.
"No, it won't." Thea says through her tears.
"Laurel, please don't say that you're thinking what I think you're thinking." Diggle tells Laurel as he sits down on her bed once more.
"You heard him John. My choices are a year of relatively normal life or two of barley living. I know my choice." Laurel informs Diggle.
"Laurel." Thea says, looking up at her, tears rolling down her face, "I need you."
"I know, which is why I'm not going to do the treatment." Laurel informs Thea and Diggle, "I am going to use my last year spending as much time with you as possible and I'm going to fight for my city until I can't anymore. That's my choice." Laurel says and as Diggle and Thea look at her they realise that she has the same determination she had as when she decided to become the Black Canary and so they aren't going to be able to talk her out of it, but they will both try.
AN2: The next chapter will skip to 4x09