I'll Be There For You

Relationships: Tommy Merlyn and Oliver Queen, Malcolm and Tommy Merlyn, Oliver and Malcolm, Laurel and Oliver.

16 year old Oliver Queen and Laurel Lance glanced at each other worried. The third person of their unbreakable friendship had been missing for several days. And both of them had the worst of thoughts running in their heads. For everybody knew that Malcolm Merlyn was one of the most vicious, ruthless people in the city. And nobody knew that better than his own son.

Their hearts broke for their best friend when he walked into class with a huge bruise on his face. He slouched in his seat next to Oliver, ignoring the concerned gaze of his friends. He just wanted to be left alone, to drown in his misery. If his own father couldn't love him, who else would?

If Oliver knew the kinds of thoughts running through Tommy's mind, he would have smacked them down immediately. But Oliver could only watch helplessly as Tommy isolated himself from the world. He could only watch as new bruises appeared on his friend's body every day, but he couldn't do that because Tommy refused help.

Laurel's father stated that an investigation couldn't be conducted unless they had a witness. Malcolm Merlyn was quite devious. He would never treat Tommy badly when either Oliver or Laurel were around. And even the bruises weren't enough evidence, as Tommy could give any number of excuses for them.

"Tommy, talk to me, please," Oliver whispered when the teacher's back was turned. Tommy remained stubborn and kept his head focused on his work. "Why aren't you talking to me? You know my family would support you on any action you take."

Tommy looked at Oliver with a blank expression. "Oliver, I'm fine. There's nothing to worry about."

Oliver waited at the coffee shop, waiting for Laurel to arrive impatiently. He gave a small, tensed smile when Laurel sat down in front of him, her eyes scanning the room.

"What have you planned?" Oliver asked.

"Look, Ollie. Tommy refuses to say anything against his father, and my father says that's because he's scared. We have got to get some evidence against Malcolm. Something video or audio, otherwise Tommy will never file a complaint."

"I'll talk to Malcolm," Oliver growled, thinking of the words he would say.

Laurel put her hand on Oliver's. "Please for God's sake, be careful. We don't know what resources he has, Ollie, but I'm sure he won't hesitate to get rid of you if you pose trouble."

Oliver knocked on the front door of the Merlyn mansion. He was shaking on the insides at the thought of confronting such a monster, but he would do anything to rescue his best friend from this nightmare. Malcolm opened the door, an astonishingly handsome and fit man in his early 40s. He gave a smile, but his eyes showed he was surprised to see him here.

"Oliver. Tommy's at the library."

Of course he is, Oliver thought bitterly, anything to get away from you.

"Actually, Malcolm, I'm here to talk to you," Oliver said and was pleased to see him taken aback. Malcolm stepped aside so Oliver could walk inside. They stood face to face as Oliver took a moment before speaking.

"I'm here to talk about the way you treat Tommy," Oliver started. Malcolm raised his eyebrows and smirked, as if daring him to continue. "For the last two years, I have seen Tommy change from a happy, bubbly boy to someone who's afraid to speak to the outside world. And he is afraid because you're emotionally and physically abusive."

Malcolm stepped closer to Oliver, all hints of amusement gone, his eyes cold as steel. "You should get out of here before you do something you might regret."

"He's afraid to speak about what you do to anyone, even me," Oliver yelled. "Please, Malcolm. I'm begging you. If you can't take care of your son, let him come and live with me."

"Lower your voice, Oliver. And what I do with my son is my business. You have no right to get between us. Yes, I might discipline him sometimes, but that is for his own benefit. Now, get out. And if you mention this conversation with anyone, you and your family will regret it."

Oliver walked away from Malcolm, even though he wanted to punch him right in his smug face.

"Oliver, wait," Malcolm turned around. He walked forward and opened his jacket. Inside was a recording device, one you could buy from any store. Malcolm glared at Oliver now. "Do you really think I'm that stupid? That I would spill all my secrets and then let you walk away? No one will believe you, Oliver. They'll think it's just rumors because Tommy will never speak against me. Now go."

Oliver sat on the window seat in his room, looking at the rain pouring down on the ground below. It suited his mood perfectly. He had gone there to confront Malcolm and instead had run out of there with his tail between his legs. He just wished he could do something for Tommy. The poor boy had already been through enough.

Thea rushed into his room, tears in her eyes. "Ollie, it's Tommy. And it's not good."

Oliver rushed downstairs and saw his mother and father standing outside the living room. They stopped their discussion and looked at Oliver sympathetically.

"It has gone too far," Robert stated. "No child should be treated like this."

Oliver walked into the living room and what he saw there broke him. Tommy was curled into a fetal position, his arms around his face to keep himself safe. Oliver's blood boiled as he noticed the blood on his best friend's shirt. A tear escaped his eye as he realized this was his fault.

"I'm sorry, Tommy," he said kneeling down in front of him. "This is my fault for confronting your father."

"N-no," he said weakly, holding his ribs as he sat up. "You just stood up for me, Oliver. You treated me like a brother by going up against my father. And this beating I just got made me realize that I need to be stronger. I need to make him pay for what he has done."

Oliver placed his hand on Tommy's shoulder. "Definitely. Malcolm deserves the lowest of the low."

"He wanted me to stop being friends with you, but I refused. That just made him go harder on me." Tommy wiped a tear. "The reason I was holding back from was two-fold. One, I didn't want you to get hurt. Two, I thought if I lost Malcolm, however horrible he is, I would have no one. Because nobody can love somebody so damaged."

"How can you even think that? I will always be there for you, Tommy. Even when nobody else is there, I

l always be by your side. Now come on, we're taking you to the hospital and I'm calling Detective Lance."

"Ollie!" Laurel embraced Oliver, as both of them tried to convince themselves that Tommy would be okay. Detective Lance was there, and gave a small smile when the two broke apart.

"I don't understand how any man can do that to his own child," Lance looked disgusted.

"Well, Malcolm isn't you, Dad. Poor Tommy," Laurel said, upset at her friend's condition.

Robert and Moira arrived, the former shaking hands with Lance. "Detective, Tommy has no other family. We want to take him in."

"I'll have to talk to my boss, Mrs. Queen, but I'll get it all sorted out. You will probably have to legally adopt him because Merlyn is going to jail."

After the nurse told them that Tommy was awake, Oliver and Laurel entered the hospital room going to different sides of the bed.

"Thank you for all … ".

"Don't say another word," Laurel admonished. "If one of us is facing a rough time, we're all facing a rough time."

Oliver and Tommy smiled at each other.

"I love you, bro."

"I love you too, Oliver."