Huge thanks to everyone who reviewed, I promise I haven't been ignoring you guys. Y'all reminded me that I even had a story out here and that it was apparently worth finishing. So thank you all so so much.

I started my first semester at college this year and I'm afraid all the writing just wore me out. Thankfully, winter break let me catch my breath so here it is, chapter three. Thanks for the patience and I hope you enjoy!

Chapter Three: A New Light

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After that tense initial greeting, things started to cool down in the Arrow Cave - sort of. The team still didn't trust Constantine, that much was clear. They avoided his company like the metaphorical plague, sending him wary and distrustful glances when they thought he couldn't see. Yet, if the demonologist noticed the slights and poorly concealed whispers, he didn't seem bothered. He stood alone in the corner, quietly smoking his cigarette and fingering the peacock feather he made Felicity get him.

As an outside observer, Oliver couldn't help but admire how the insults just slid off the man like water on a duck. For even on Lian Yu, the demonologist's ability to keep a cool head had surprised Oliver. It was a skill Oliver always knew he needed to work on; still, he hoped he could one day achieve it without the biting sarcasm that appeared to be Constantine's natural form of speech.

This current stalemate arose after Team Arrow - Oliver still grit his teeth at the name - decided to move Sara to a more comfortable spot off the floor. Shortly after the first meeting tapered off into silence, Laurel had softly asked for help moving her sister onto a forgotten couch, pushed against the back wall. While the piece had certainly seen better days, Oliver had to admit that it was surely more comfortable than the cold floor.

However, of course moving her had started a whole new bout of drama - Constantine offering to help move the deceptively heavy woman and Laurel practically growling at him to keep his distance. Oliver quickly intervened, pulling Constantine to the side to ask some dumb question or another regarding Sara's condition. To be honest, he couldn't even remember what he had said but it seemed to do the job, averting yet another disaster in the Arrow Cave as the demonologists spouted off about the dangers of dark magic and other obscure warnings. To be fair, Oliver knew he should have been paying attention. After all, he already gathered that Constantine wasn't one to regularly share his plans or knowledge with others, especially if he had already explained it once before.

Felicity would surely have something to say about the irony that I of all people picked up on that, Oliver thought goodnaturedly. Nevertheless, Oliver couldn't spare Constantine the necessary attention. Playing mediator was quickly becoming a full time job. I wonder if I could put this on my resume, Oliver mused with helpless amusement.

That exchange was what ultimately what led them to their current situation - Team Arrow glaring daggers in the demonologist's back while said man steadfastly ignored them.

What we need, Oliver pondered, is something to bring everyone together. Something that proves Constantine isn't a threat, that he can be trusted… but how?

Contemplating the thought, Oliver peered at Thea across the room. She had remained uncharacteristically silent through both exchanges, probably torn between siding with her teammates verses her brother. Absently, he wondered if he could rely on her to break the tension.

As if feeling his thoughtful gaze on her, Thea looked up and caught her brother's eyes. Oliver made a slight motion for her to come over to him, but she merely shook her head, holding her arms tightly across her chest.

While she trusted Ollie to the ends of the Earth and deep-down believed the strange trench-coated man wanted to help, she didn't want to pick sides. It wasn't easy to become part of the team - to be accepted and trusted after everything she had done. And the last thing she wanted to do was risk raising the team's ire by picking Oliver over them.

Helplessly, she sought to somehow communicate this with Oliver. I'm sorry, her eyes seemed to say, but I just can't.

Oliver merely nodded his understanding, though Thea wondered just how much her brother had truly grasped.

Mentally sighing to himself for the umpteenth time, Oliver racked his brain for more ideas - at least, until a small noise on the couch disturbed his thoughts.

All murmured conversation stopped and time seemingly froze in the lair. Sara was waking up.

Laurel, of course, was the first to revive from her stupor. Within seconds, she had crossed the room where she had been silently conversing with the team and crouched by her sister's side, gently stroking her hair.

"Sara?" she whispered unsteadily under her breath, hardly trusting to hope that her little sister was back again in one piece. "It's me Sara, it's Laurel. Can you come back to me?"

Sara's eyebrows furrowed at the voice and a slight sweat broke out across her brow. Restless, her body started to tremble and fidget, fighting Laurel's attempts at comfort.

"Shhh," Laurel crooned. "It's ok, you're safe now. You're free… I'm here now."

If the words had any effect on Sara, Oliver will never know. She continued to fight them, unconsciously sensing the bodies gathered around her and panicking due to their presence.

Meanwhile, the rest of Team Arrow had sidled up to the sisters - offering silent comfort but unwilling to intrude on the private moment. Constantine merely watched with unabashed interest from afar, understanding that his presence wouldn't be welcomed at the time.

Or anytime for that matter, the demonologists couldn't stop the dark thought from creeping across his mind. Sure, he got why they were wary - in fact, it was good that they distrusted magic and admittedly strange magicians.

All the same, Constantine reflected, there's a fine line between suspicion and paranoia. A little suspicion is healthy, it helps keep you alive, but paranoia will get you killed. Oliver understands that but the others clearly don't.

However, his thoughts were interrupted by the commotion across the room.

For with a sharp gasp, Sara suddenly lunged forward. Back ramrod straight and panting heavily, she struggled furiously against the hands trying to steady her.

"Let me go, let me go!"

"Sara please, it's ok!" Laurel cried out.

"No no no no no," the younger sister murmured, eyes darting around the room with blind terror.

"Sara, wake up, please!" Laurel choked out, fighting back tears as her sister continued to writhe on the couch.

"No! Get away from leave! Leave me alone!"

"Sara!"

Sara's piercing shriek suddenly filled the room, startling the occupants of the room. She clearly wasn't with the rest of the team, her mind locked in some form of madness only she could see.

Then a hand reached out and touched her shoulder. Sara immediately froze, jerking as though stung. Yet, the screams stopped and as Sara turned to the owner of the offending hand, her eyes alight with wonder.

"It's you," she whispered, eyebrows furrowed in intense consternation.

"I saw you. In my dreams, you came for me and pulled me from the darkness." Sara paused, struggling to form the words as wild emotions threatened to drown her.

"You saved me," she finally managed, leaning into the touch and collapsing with sobs.

Laurel and the rest of the team had no choice but to step back as Constantine rounded the other side of the couch, now firmly grasping both of Sara's shoulders.

"Listen to me," he finally addressed her. "You're safe now but your soul isn't firmly reattached yet. It takes time and if you continue to dwell on those memories, your soul will return to that evil place. Give yourself time to heal or it will all be for naught."

Sara's form started to tremble at the pronouncement, burying her face in her hands as the sobs continued to wreck her body.

"Hey now, none of that," Constantine murmured gently, something Oliver hadn't known the man was even capable of doing.

"The only power they hold over you is the power you decide to give them. Don't wander back there, even in thought or memory. Live here in the present with your friends and family. They can't touch you, here in the light."

"But what if I can't help it," Sara asked, finally looking up with a manic fervor in her eyes. "What if I dream and they come back, or if I slip up and they lock me away again. What if - "

" - You're stronger than you think." Constantine cut off forcefully. "And even if that happens, it doesn't matter. Because I'll be here the whole time and I'll come back for you. Again and again if I must."

"You promise?" Sara whispered, reminding Laurel of the little girl Sara used to be.

Constantine gently cupped Sara's face, "I promise you, you will be safe."

Sara's breath caught at the declaration and she collapsed into Constantine's arms, the exhaustion of the past few hours finally catching up with her. She soon fell into a deep healing sleep, entirely different from the unconsciousness that gripped her earlier.

Suddenly aware of the bodies and eyes all around him, Constantine rose to leave. Yet, as he started to walk away, his sleeve caught on something and pulled him back. Looking down, he saw Sara's hand clutching his jacket, refusing to allow him to leave even in her sleep.

With a soft sigh, he resigned himself to his fate and settled back on the hard floors, already running through spells that would prevent the inescapable pins and needles about to plague his legs.

As Team Arrow looked on, having watched all the proceedings, they began to see the man before them in a new light.

Gone was the dubious and sarcastic persona Constantine carried around him like his favorite trench coat. Instead, they caught a slight glimpse of the tender and passionate side that the demonologist had hidden away.

This, Oliver noted, was the man that the team might actually be able to put their trust in and follow. The one that Oliver saw on Lian Yu, who might actually lead them in the front against Damien Dark.

At least, until he pulled another cigarette from his pocket, lighting it without a care.

Beside him, Oliver felt more than saw Felicity tense, her hands clenched in fists. Yet, the feisty blonde said nothing, choosing to walk away from the silent figures on the couch.

And as the rest of the team dispersed, Oliver finally felt a shred of hope.

Well, here it is at long last. I was really surprised by the positive responses to this story, especially since I wrote it on a whim. So this one goes out to the reviewers - without you, this never would have been published.

As always, let me know what you think. Reviews keep this writer going.

Cheers everyone and Happy New Year!