Hey Got a suggestion to add recaps when the gaps are longer between updates. Thought it was a good idea, and it was fun to write. It's kind of a recap with a bit of comedy. So read if you want or just skip it and proceed to the next chapter.
Previously on Sanctuary, Secrets, Sacrifice...
*Alex (Campaign Strategist) showed up and brought our newlywed Twiver back to reality! He finally met the baby, and found out about the wedding, which he was less enthused about because he wanted to exploit the crap out of it, which led to a plan.
"You want us to hide our marriage?"
Oliver shut that down real quick and told his strategist it was not happening, and because Oliver can get that scary look in his eye, Alex nodded, told Oliver of an upcoming campaign event at the Star City Bay that he had to attend, before scurrying out of there.
Fast forward to the Bay, and everything is going great until a drone comes in and starts shooting up the place. Since Twinkie refused to leave the baby just yet, she got to witness the happenings from the news and instantly knew who was behind it.
"This was you, you son of a bitch."
Oliver is angry, and the team goes in to research mode finally deciding to put an end to Damian Darhk before he can strike again.
Meanwhile over at ARGUS, Jacob decided he was going to need Amanda Waller's help, but she wasn't going to make it easy.
"Are you done, Waller?! Is the pissing contest done? You're in charge, I know that. Right now we both have a common enemy that we can't put down without each others help."
Waller had to rub it in, but in the end Jacob ended up back in his office, with all the resources he needed. Not before telling the woman their initial plan needs to be finding Lois Lane and Roy Harper, because well they're missing!
Back home, Katie freaks out when she sees Oliver giving a speech on the news where he calls out Darhk, showing his picture and everything. He comes home and they have a #basementconvo where she yells at him and he's confused because he thought his fearless, says what's on her mind, wife would actually stand behind him on this. But she doesn't, she's scared of her family getting hurt, and because of that she tells him that she or the kids will not be attending the Christm...I mean Holiday Party.
Meanwhile up above their heads, cousin Ari's up to no good. She's posted something on the interweb that's bound to stir up trouble. But then she regretted it after Katie surprised her with a visit to the prison to visit her mother. Momma Heather seems to have a totally new outlook on life, and the path that lead her to prison. She gives young Ari some words of wisdom, tells her to give her cousin a chance, but Ari's not sure she'll even be able to.
"Baby, what's wrong?"
"I did something bad."
Ari keeps her lips sealed in hopes this doesn't get back to her guardian. The pair return to an empty house and a ransom letter from...Speedy. The young Ms. Queen has taken Robyn to the Christm...I'm sorry again, Holiday party, and says if Katie wants her back, she'll have to get over her fears and come celebrate.
Without any other options, Twinkie and Ari head to the party, gaining a lot of eyes instantly.
"Why is everyone looking at us?"
"They're looking at me. The last time anyone saw me, I was pregnant, and now they know I'm not."
After tossing a few threats to her sister in law, Katie went in search of her husband daughter. What she didn't expect was to walk in just as Laurel was leaning in to kiss Oliver...her Liver...her husband!
Laurel, probably fearing for her life scurries out of the office without word. Oliver instantly goes in to survival mode and tries to reassure Katie that nothing happened, but she doesn't want to hear it, and instead turns and follows the woman who ran out of there.
Words are exchanged, and threats are made...
"If you want to hurt me, then you should hit me and I mean just hit me hard. Because if you pull anything like that again, try to use my husband to hurt me, I promise you-"
Well a partial threat, but everyone involved got the gist of it. Laurel ran away, and Oliver and Katie returned to the party hoping to salvage the rest of their night, but because life only gives lemons some of the time, tonight Damian Darhk would crash the party.
More words are exchanged, threats are made...gun fire, before Oliver is sent through a window, and Felicity, Thea, John and Katie are taken by Darhk. (Note:This party and it's events will come back to bite them in the ass in later chapters)
Oliver goes nuts, and so does Bruce who shows up late to the party to find out his girlfriend has gone missing. Both only have one solution, and that's find Darhk's men and beat their faces in until someone talks.
Meanwhile, Darhk put Twinkie in a cage...a CAGE! But because this isn't her first cage, or the first time she'd been captured by a psycho, our Twinkie handled it as only she could.
"How do you want to die? You know we've had so many conversations and I can't believe I never asked such an important question."
Yeah, those words came from Twinkie toward our blonde haired friend Mr. Darhk. From the short scene we get the feeling taking her is another attempt to figure out what this connection is between the two.
As it seems, the HIVE are loyal and no ones talking, leaving Oliver without a next step. And so Malcolm Merlyn appears with an answer. A cell phone that has Darhk's number. Oliver sets up a meeting with Darhk to attempt to exchange himself for his friends.
Fast forward to Darhk hideout, Damian allows Oliver to speak to his wife, "one final time" Oliver and Katie finally see each other.
Words are exchanged and threats are made.
"If you're doing what I think you're doing, I'm so going to kick your ass."
And so because Damian Darhk is well... Damian Darhk, this exchange doesn't happen. Instead he attacks Oliver, and tries to drag Katie into a gas chamber where the rest of her friends are. (Note: We never see the moments that lead to Twinkie actually being placed in the chamber. She blacked out. #Issaclue)
Once in the chamber, Katie starts to come back to the moment, realizing that she's in a glass box with something blowing in the air that's burning her lungs. And because this moment can't get any worse, her ghost...hallucination (Always remember we don't know if it's one or the other when she sees him) of an uncle appears. He taunts as usual, and we see a little bit of mystical Twinkie come out. With a palm to the glass and the utterance of a word...
"Shatter."
The glass cube just totally breaks, and they're all free...confused as hell, but free. The Batman, Canary and the, wait...Green Arrow arrive to save the day. But how-
"Is that my father?" Thea suddenly asked
Oh, they pulled a switcharoo. Ok, so Malcolm pretending to be the Green Arrow helps save the day. The others search for a way out, but Malcolm goes rogue and decided to go after Darhk himself. Because Oliver is well...Oliver, he goes to help while the other search for a way to GET OUT. #sorryforthestupidjokes.
The team stumble upon some of Darhk's crazy minions, and they have to fight. Well all but Katie. John goes all protective big brother and tells her to keep going because in reality it's only been a couple of weeks since she had a baby. So she grumbles, and wants to argue, but a brawl is happening so #priorities. She turns and runs finding a door, and collapses to the ground. There's one more visit from her uncle ghost/hallucination, before she passes out.
Oliver finds/saves her (YAY!). There's an explosions and he takes her to the hospital, because she seriously just had a baby a couple of weeks ago.
Her doctor turns out to be BUM BUM BUM...Dr. Ethan Mills, who no one likes at the moment. ( found out he was lying, working for Jacob, former ARGUS employee) #doublelife.
Words are exchanged and threats are...implied by non verbal Oliver Queen glares.
But she's free to go. They go home in time to find their friends inside decorating their tree that was probably going to never be decorated. Ari hugs Katie, first actually physical contact between the two.
Oliver and Laurel finally have a conversation about the almost kiss. #Kissgate
Words are exchanged and well, see for yourself.
"Laurel you have been one of my dearest friends for a long time, and we've been through a lot together, but I think if you ever put me in a position like that again, a position that could possibly increase the chances of me losing any of this, then that would mark the end our friendship."
Oliver's not playing games with his family. Not at all.
Upstairs, Felicity and Katie have girl talk where Felicity reveals that she suspects Bruce is going to propose. She has second thoughts because, well...she kind of scared. Katie gives some encouraging words along the lines of "Girl you know you love him, just do it." Felicity agrees, and then beep, beep, beep. Felicity gets a notification that links to a video of that moment from earlier, you know the...
"You want us to hide our marriage?"
Yeah, that one. It's on the interwebs, and it's getting views like crazy because who wouldn't want a peek into the lives of Liver & Twinkie. *looks out to readers*
Ok, so the video gets taken down by technological magician Felicity Smoak, and Ari has to have...the talk.
Not the weird awkward talk, but the "you can't record personal moments in this house" talk. There's more bonding and tears and revelations and typical threats are made.
"Ari, that video was dangerous and it was stupid, and you're not stupid and I need you to realize that, so you're grounded for a week. No phone, no laptop, and no television unless told otherwise by me or Katie."
Alright daddy Oliver, putting his foot down.
But now with the video out, damage control needs to happen, but Alex (campaign strategist) is thinking ahead so the next night Oliver gets to light RI's grand Christmas Tree. He gives a speech, reveals he liked and put a ring on it.
"I would like to take this moment to introduce to you my wife."
Shows pictures of baby Robyn. She's in the building, just not on stage, because, well...people crazy on the streets of Star City.
After the lighting, Katie goes to visit a new character...Michael Carroll the new interim CEO of RI. (In my head, I see Chris Pine, so imagine him when he comes up in later chaps).
Words are exchanged...threats are made.
"You should've brought the hubby, I would love to meet him."
"That's never happening."
So, Katie heads down to find the hubby. Insert another appearance by uncle ghost/hallucination. (He's popping up a lot lately.) They talk, he's vague about why he even there. He says he's there to help her. With what you ask, well...
"Prevent the total decimation of your soul."
So, yeah he's gonna try to do that.
She finally finds the hubby. They talk (he's worried about her, you know since she went all #MsyticalTwinkie the other day.) She says evades the deep inner workings of how she's truly feeling, and a distraction comes in the form of Bruce and Felicity on an elevator making out. #Brucity
Why you ask? Well they're engaged! Bruce too liked it, and decided to put a ring on it. Everyone's happy, except for Oliver whose worried about how this will affect the dynamic of the team if Felicity decides to move to Gotham with Bruce.
Bruce Wayne, being well freaking Bruce Wayne tells Oliver (and I'm paraphrasing here) to "mind ya business", that their engagement has nothing to do with him or team arrow. Oliver drops it...for now and the couple all share a limo home.
Everyone's all smooching with their spouse/future spouse when Darhk's like "Nuh Uh, no happiness happening around here!" He sends men to shoot up the limo. The driver gets shot, and Bruce decided to jump and take the wheel. Once they were in the clear, they realize something terrible has happened.
Felicity Smoak has been shot!
And now Proceed to the next chapter, Broken Chains to continue on this wild ride.