With as much dignity as he could muster, Tommy croaked "So Diggle you are not taking me out for the date then?" He honestly didn't know he had muscles exist in places they shouldn't exist. Every inch of his body hurt. He limped into the car and was immensely proud of himself for doing it all by his big boy self. The trainer was a demon is disguise. She was so little and yet so strong. He literally got his ass kicked by a 5 feet 4 inch terror and she wanted to see him at 5 in the morning tomorrow. Hearing Diggle's sniggering, his head shot up. "It's okay man. CJ will understand when you don't show up tomorrow."
Tommy sometimes wondered how on earth Oliver managed to get this guy's trust but then he remembered most of Diggle's defensive attitude towards him came from his instinct to protect Felicity. Tommy knows he doesn't have a good track record when it comes to women but he has changed damn it and remembered all Diggle knows about the changed Tommy Merlyn was the guy who chased Laurel and lost her to Oliver and was willing to risk his life to save her. He wondered not for the first time in the last few days if Laurel would just stop existing in his life.
His relationship with Felicity is still very new and he often marveled at her strength. She never once questioned him about his feelings and accepted it and never voiced a single remark about Laurel. He knows if the position were reversed Tommy would have gotten several earfuls about how awful and evil Felicity is but all things aside he is committed to keep Felicity safe and if that means getting beaten by terror dressed as his trainer then he will do that. It will all be worth it if his Felicity is safe.
With renewed determination in his voice, "pick me at 4:30 in the morning Diggle but if it is a trouble for you then I will drive myself." Diggle was a man who was trained to expect various scenarios and be ready for it but somehow it irritates him that he could not get a grip about Tommy Merlyn. Hell he had Oliver figured within 2 days of their partnership. He didn't figure Felicity out until she locked Oliver in the lair to stop him from making a boy an orphan and yet somehow just when he thinks he understood Tommy Merlyn, the man goes and does something completely different and throw him off the game.
He is well aware all his mistrust of Tommy is coming from his protectiveness of Felicity but hell she was the only one who was there when he had to break it off with Carly. Felicity soothed his guilt away and gave him something to do, "we could rebuild the lair John." When he didn't think Oliver will ever come back, she did and boy was he grateful for all the work she made him do even when his arms and shoulder didn't appreciate it, "Don't be silly John, those arms of yours can life the entire QC without breaking a sweat."
The dinners they both had at either his place or hers made him appreciate her more. Andy would have loved her. Felicity was his family and other than her mother with whom she is not on great terms, she didn't have anyone either. With that thought, he pulled the car to the side of the road on his way to the Queen mansion. He could see Tommy eyeing his warily, "I am going to say this once Merlyn and only once and after that you will never hear about this subject from me again."
Glaring at him made Tommy shut his mouth and swallow whatever quip he was going to say. "Felicity may not be my sister by birth but she is my sister, right now she is my only family." Still keeping his eyes on Tommy, "I know she is all sunshine but there are days when she goes quiet. There are things in her life that you don't know and no Merlyn I am not going to tell you. If she wants to talk about it to you, she will and I know she wants to so just give her some time." rubbing his hands across his face, "after the glades fell and you got injured, Oliver couldn't face his failure and he ran man. I know something happened between you and him and Laurel and I honestly don't care but I think the possibility of losing you is what made him run." Waiting for his words to sink in, "Felicity doesn't have many friends in the city man and anyone she knew at QC transferred out and it was just the both of us."
"I have seen the girl pick herself up from nightmares of the earthquake machine and foundry crumbling around her" the look on Tommy's face made him rethink his statement. Tommy screamed "Felicity was in the foundry when it happened? What the hell was wrong with Oliver to leave her there in the center of the Glades and for that matter what was wrong with you? She could have died. The foundry could have collapsed and she couldn't have gotten out." He was having a hard time breathing. He could have lost Felicity without even properly meeting her. His vision was darkening and somewhere from the depth he was hearing her voice.
"Tommy breathe for me please, in and out." He will do it for her even if he doesn't know how to properly do it. Coming back to his senses, he was aware time has passed but not how long. He could see Diggle holding his mobile to his ears and Felicity was talking to him through it. He took the phone from Diggle with shaking hands, "Hi Felicity." There was absolutely no sound from the other end and he thought maybe the call got disconnected but then he heard the slight sniffle "I am sorry honey, please don't cry. I am okay now. I will come to you right now, please don't cry honey."
Seconds passed and he heard her say "Don't be silly Tommy, you are near the mansion. I will come and see you." To lighten the mood, "Bring ice cream Felicity you know the type that makes you think…." The phone got grabbed by Diggle before he even could finish "We will see you in the mansion Felicity." He turned to Tommy and looked at him dead serious "look man you and I are going to establish boundaries, okay. No dirty talking to her in front of me, Jeez. I am never having a daughter."
Tommy was grateful that Diggle never mentioned his panic attack. Out of nowhere "Brace yourself Tommy" was the only warning Diggle gave him as he sped through the driveway of the Queen mansion. Just as the car stopped, Diggle ran out of the car into the house, Tommy though limping was not far behind. The living room was a mess. There were glasses everywhere and broken vases and if Moira ever got out of the death penalty, she is going to kill each and everyone in the room and in the midst of all the rubble predictably stood Oliver and now the newest addition to the chaos Sara.
Tommy can't believe the things he was hearing. Sara was part of the League of Assassins. She is on the run for her life from them. Didn't his father used to be a part of the league. Wasn't it their vision to erase Glades or was it just his lunatic psychopath father's? Sara was rattled and this means the trouble was serious and just then he heard Felicity's heels even before he saw her. Maybe CJ was right, he is becoming increasingly aware of his surroundings. "I brought ice cream for everyone" and she trailed after seeing the mess.
"What happened, was there a bomb? Did anyone get hurt? Was Thea here? Where is Thea?" her questions snapped everyone out of the reverie and it was Sara who answered her "The league was here to take me back but I fought them off. Oliver told me no one will be home so I came here with him." Oliver blanched at what Felicity might think of that and very quickly "She just needed a place to rest. The clock tower she was staying was compromised." Whatever Felicity felt, she didn't show in on her face. "You are hurt, Sara" with alarm in her voice she took a step forward but Sara just shrugged. "I have had worse, Felicity."
"Where is Thea? Was she here too when they came for Sara?" Oliver stepped slightly forward "She is with Roy. She said she will not be here tonight. Sara doesn't want her family to know she is alive, so I invited her here" and wasn't it typical of them to have such luck, the devil herself, was driving to the front door. "Felicity, are you there? Is this mini your car?" Not expecting any answer, she just got out of the car. In a split of a second, Felicity looked at Diggle and Tommy and at Oliver and Sara, "John take Sara to my place. She can rest there tonight. We will deal with Thea. Go fast." Before Felicity could interpret the look Sara gave her, Sara took off with Diggle at her heel.
Thea stopped at the entrance and saw the mess that was lying on the floor. Eyes widened, she looked from Oliver to Felicity to Tommy. Tommy had a bruised eye and was favoring his left side, Felicity was looking extremely nervous, and her brother was still as the statue that lay broken down in pieces on the floor. Before she could voice her question, Felicity stepped before her. "I am so sorry Thea. This is all my fault. I was making fun of Tommy not knowing how to play WWE video game and somehow Oliver and Tommy got into a faux wrestling match, or it was faux until they forgot they are both 10 year old boys and started to wrestle for real."
Felicity didn't even have to fake the guilt she was feeling. She hate lying to anyone and this is Thea who right now is looking at the mess and Tommy and Oliver wide eyed. "Oh my god! You did it. You guys have actually did it. I can't believe it. It took both of you what 16, 17 years but you guys did it." She was beaming at Oliver and Tommy. It took only a moment and Tommy smiled sheepishly "Ah Thea, it truly wasn't like that." With a wink at Tommy, "Sure Tommy, if you say so", Thea turned to Felicity "Don't fall for their innocent act Felicity. They have been trying to break that stupid statue for as long as I can remember. I think once Ollie even tried dropping it from the stairs but mom caught him in the last second."
"Well Speedy we finally did it" Thea just ignored Tommy and stood in front of Oliver who was still standing so still but there was a slight smile in his face "did you have to beat Tommy Oliver. Couldn't you just, Oh I don't know just throw the statue down." Tommy's heart filled with love moved close to Felicity and pulled her to him. Immediately, her arms went around him and kissing her forehead "Oliver didn't cause me the bruise Thea, a 5 feet 4 inches or terror did and no it is not Felicity either. I have started self defense class tonight. With all the things going on in the city, I just want to be prepared Thea."
Tommy was always a brother to Thea. She may have been mad at him when he hooked with Laurel when her brother was presumed dead. Looking at him now with his arms around Felicity holding her so close and kissing her forehead ever so often, she felt nothing but love and an urge to pinch his cheeks. Sly as a snake, she moved to stand before Tommy and slid her hand to embrace Felicity with 1 arm, batting her eye lashes. Even Felicity who never had a sibling in her life knows Thea was up to something and she didn't disappoint. Reaching up and pinching Tommy's cheek "I love you Tommy." In a true Queen fashion, before leaving called out "Tomorrow I am going with you Tommy to your self-defense class. Don't leave without me."
Far away in a completely strange apartment, Sara sat silently. The apartment was very homely with lots of colors and there was a wall full of what she assumed was DVDs and books, lots of books. There was a gaming console and what caught her eyes was the Robin Hood Poster on the wall. "Felicity thought it was the funniest thing to every keep in her place considering whose team we are in." Diggle voiced her thoughts. On mention of Oliver, Sara knows Oliver way too well. She knew Ollie too well too. She was never blind to his faults like her sister. Whatever this Felicity is to Oliver, she is very important to Oliver and his team. She opened her home to Sara knowing she was an assassin. She made a vow silently to do everything to keep Felicity safe. Whatever the league brings for her, Sara for the first time felt a slight hope that may be just maybe she will be okay and find peace.