Laurel sat quietly tucked away in the training area of S.T.A.R. Labs, hugging her knees. Barry walked in and took a seat perpendicular to his friend. "Laurel, you know that you cannot be held responsible for Barbara's condition," Barry said and to his suprise, Laurel gave him an annoyed look.
"Yes Barry, I can and should be held responsible for Barbara's condition. When I shot her, The Joker was already gone. He wasn't communicating with me through an earpiece. I shot Barbara Gordon" Laurel said just underneath a shouting volume and tears began to roll down her cheeks. Barry immediately moved closer to Laurel and wrapped his arms firmly around her folded form.
"Caitlin has proof that your body was rejecting your brain's directives at the time you pulled the trigger. You were scared, Laurel. The man that kidnapped and forcibly re-created you in his image abandoned you, leaving you to beaten on by your former comrades. Laurel, in your altered state anybody, would have pulled that trigger. That doesn't make you evil. In your mind, you were doing everything you could do to stop yourself from shooting the gun" Barry told Laurel.
Laurel closed her eyes tilted her head until her forehead touched her knees. Barry was right, though Laurel didn't think of it that way. She just wished she was with Oliver. She regretted the day she told Oliver that they shouldn't be together because of Tommy. She loved Tommy Merlyn and she would always love him but even Tommy could see who Laurel's soulmate was.
Batman, Green Arrow, and Speedy were suiting up. The Joker was not going to win this battle. "Alright," Alfred said "Bruce, I want you to be very careful out there and look out for the archers"
Bruce smiled at Oliver. "I hate to tell you, Alfred, but it is more likely that Oliver and Thea will be looking out for me" Bruce grimaced as the words left his mouth.
"Let move out" Oliver called to his field team of three.
Alfred provided the team with what he thought were the coordinates to the spot where The Joker would carry out his next scheme. For sure, now that Napier had seen what The Flash was capable of, he would be reading up on him to find a way to control and weaponize him. The three of them stood just out of the view of the street lamp's light. Sure enough, they saw The Joker with hostages in the public library. Batman turned to face his teammates and took a deep breath. "Green Arrow, I'm going to let you call the shots on this one because I clearly haven't proved I can always keep a clear head when it comes to The Joker".
Oliver smiled and responded to Batman with a half-nod. "Okay Batman, throw one of those edged weapons in your belt through the libraries window. We want to draw The Joker out to the street to contain the collateral damage of the fight. Speedy, Batman and I will engage The Joker in combat while you focus on getting Gotham's citizens to safety".
"Copy" Speedy and Batman cooed in unison. Batman pulled a Batarang from his belt and tossed it, aiming for the Joker. It crashed through the glass and hit The Joker on his neck. They saw The Joker spark and his machine gun began firing at the hostages with intensity.
"Shit!" Batman yelled. "That's not The Joker"
"What?!" Thea screamed.
"No time to discuss it, Speedy!" Oliver growled. "Let's get in there and start saving people". Batman blew out the wall with the Bat Bomb he thrust from his belt. The three vigilantes beelined through the line of fire to try and salvage the lives of the hostages. Several were badly wounded. The Joker figure was an automatic weapon, so Thea figured she could stop the shooting with a router arrow. She lined up a clear shot and took it. The android made fizzling and popping sounds before it shut down completely.
Paramedics, emergency responders, and reporters were gathering at the scene so Batman, Green Arrow, and Speedy decided to make their escape. Once back at Wayne Manor, the three vigilantes and Alfred watched the news report and survivor interviews. Oliver's phone buzzed and the call was from Felicity. He had been dodging her calls since he left Star City, so he picked this one up. "Hello, Felicity" Oliver answered.
"Hi, Oliver! Wow, you picked up!" Felicity said in response.
"Felicity, I am sorry I have been so distant" he began but she cut him off.
"I know you're in Gotham" Felicity revealed. "God Oliver, I wish you had just been honest with me".
Oliver was silent so Felicity continued. "Oliver, lying to me about William is one thing and I forgave you for that, but not telling me about Laurel— it makes me feel like you're not committed to our marriage".
Oliver closed his eyes and breathed out, annoyed. "Felicity, I am c-" She cut him off again.
"This is why I didn't tell about Laurel because I didn't want you to have second thoughts about marrying or being married to me" Felicity confessed.
"Excuse you-" Oliver said with a hardening tone "How long have you known Laurel was alive?"
Felicity fell silent and then said, "I've known for the whole two years".
"So you have let me suffer the pain and guilt of losing her in the way I did. You have let the man I use to be but cannot be without her, drain out of my system. Dinah Laurel Lance was always the very best in me and the strongest one of all of us, Felicity. I am tired of always making exceptions for you. This is unforgivable" Oliver screamed at her.
"Ollie I-" Felicity began but was cut off.
"DON'T!" Oliver shouted in hysterics "There are only two people in this world who get to call me Ollie, and you know very well that you are not one of them"
"Okay, I'm sorry Oliver. I'll give some time to calm down. But think of what we have... don't throw it away like I almost did because William, all because of an ex" Felicity muttered.
"No, Felicity. I have been too lenient with you. You signed your divorce papers when you hid the truth from me. When I lied to you about William, I was thinking of you. I told you that I didn't want to be a part of his life if you couldn't be a part of his life. But what you did- keeping Laurel and me apart so you could cash in, you did it thinking of you, and only you" Oliver barked.
"Oliver, I just wanted it to be you and I-" Oliver cut her off
.
"But even you knew- like everybody else in my life- that it was always gonna be Laurel and I. I've been such a fucking idiot! Felicity, go to S.T.A.R. Labs and give Laurel your wedding ring and tell her will be back with her soon".
"Oliver, is that really what you want? Because I love you, and I want to prove that I love you, so I'll do it if that is what you really want!" Felicity cried.
"That is what I've always wanted. It is what has kept me alive for the past 11 years" Oliver confirmed.
"Barbara, we need to talk," Laurel said. "I know that everyone here is probably telling you that what happened to you wasn't my fault. But you shouldn't blame The Joker. You should blame me..."
Barbara looked at Laurel with burning, sleepy eyes "No, Laurel I know how sadistic The Joker can be- but Laurel, I do blame you. Ever since you showed in Gotham, you have cost The Bat Family- and me- everything".
Laurel sat down next to Barbara and Barbara scooched as far away from Laurel as she could get. "I know- I didn't mean to. And I am not asking for forgiveness or even association. After we ALL stop The Joker..."
"Laurel, I would really, really love that. But even if I thought I could trust you, I am useless to the team, and Laurel, after what Napier did to you... I don't think you're in your prime battle condition" Barbara replied
"Don't paint me as The Joker's victim" Laurel said.
Just then Felicity Smoak walked into the room with Barry. "Felicity... Felicity! Oh my god!" Laurel jumped up and wrapped her arms around Felicity and Felicity placed her hands on Laurel's back.
"Laurel, oh my, I'm so sorry" Felicity cried into Laurel's neck. Laurel placed her hand on the back of Felicity's head.
"Shh don't apologize" Laurel comforted. Felicity pulled away.
"Here" she slipped off her wedding ring "This is from Oliver"
"What do you mean?" asked Laurel.
"Laurel, Oliver wants YOU, to be married to YOU. He has always wanted that"
"I-" Laurel began.
"Oliver told me what you said to him two years ago. I know you want to be with him. So please, take this ring and be with him" said Felicity.