Begin Notes:
I am so sorry this took me so long to get posted. I have a new job in which I need to learn several computer programming technologies. It is really taking up most of my writing time. This chapter is over 17,000 words. 32 pages of Microsoft Word. Hopefully, the long chapter makes up for the delay in posting since the amount of writing is about 2 chapters to most authors on this site. Also, I do not know anything about the legality or the process of adopting a child, so please excuse any mistakes I make on that.
Warning: Major Arrow Season 3 Flashback spoilers. I am sorry for this, but it needed to be written. If you haven't watched Arrow season 3, you might want to stop reading this chapter when Oliver, Tommy, and Jason goes to Tommy's room and starts drinking alcohol. Oliver talks about the third year events of his time away where everyone thought he was dead.
December 20, 2012
It was 4am the next day when Oliver had finally gotten back to sleep after having another nightmare at 1am. In that nightmare he wasn't screaming, so he only woke up Jason. It was storming outside and he had a nightmare about the Queen's Gambit going down. Normally, he would just stay up and not bother to go back to sleep because he normally couldn't go back to sleep. Jason coaxed him to come back to bed and try to go to sleep. He eventually went back to sleep.
"No stop hitting me. It hurts," Shaun screamed.
Oliver woke up instantly and got out of bed and went to the side of Shaun's bed. "Shaun? Wake up. You are having a nightmare." Oliver said without touching him.
"No, don't. It hurts." Shaun screamed again.
Moira and Walter rushed into the room and Thea came in right after.
"Shaun, honey. Wake up."
"It is all my fault mom. Shaun was beaten black and blue all over his body and then raped by Chang and the 9 other staff members because I would not act like I liked having sex with men. Because I wouldn't willingly offer my body to the clients that wanted me. He has this nightmare every now and then." Oliver said.
"No! Get off me! It hurts too much. No!" Shaun screamed and woke up on his own.
"It's okay. I'm here no one is going to hurt you." Oliver said.
Shaun came back to himself and launched himself into Oliver's arms. "O-Oliver? I-I w-was b-back t-there." Shaun clung to Oliver. Oliver picked him up and carried him over to the couch in his room. Shaun started to sob. Oliver had tears welling in his eyes.
Moira sat next to Oliver on the couch. "Walter and Thea, why don't you go back to bed. I think we have this." Moira said. Walter and Thea left to go back to their rooms. Thea cared for Shaun like she would a little brother. She couldn't take the pain Shaun was having. She was still a little drunk from getting in at 2am and she needed to go back to bed.
Raisa was out in the hallway, having woken up with the rest of them. As Thea passed her she told Raisa that Shaun had a nightmare. Raisa rush off to the kitchen to get some warm milk.
Moira addressed Shaun, "Sweetie, no one is going to hurt you. You are safe here. I promise." Moira moved to rub Shaun's back. Oliver and Thea always calmed down with back rubs when they were little. When she touched Shaun's back, Shaun visibly flinched, but did not move away. She continued to rub his back with gentle hands just as she did when Oliver and Thea were his age. Shaun's sobs became sniffles and hiccups.
Raisa came in with a cup of warm milk. She handed it to Moira to give to him. "Here Shaun. Drink this. It is some warm milk."
Shaun took the cup and started to sip on it. He looked at Moira and said. "It is good. Thank you."
"Your welcome." Moira raised her hand to wipe Shaun's tear tracks away on his cheeks and Shaun flinched again. She lowered her hand, not wanting to startle him. She was sad. I can't even touch him to comfort him without him flinching thinking I am going to hit him. I don't know how to care for him. Moira thought to herself as tears filled her eyes. She wants to be a good mother, but she doesn't know how with Shaun.
Oliver seemed to notice, "Mom, he is just skittish because of the nightmare. It is not you. Like me, it wasn't just men who hurt us. Women hurt us too. He will get used to you."
"I am sorry." Shaun said to Moira.
"Nothing to apologize for. Look, Shaun. I want to be your new mother, but only if you want me to be. Walter and I were talking about adopting a boy before we knew about you. You are so prefect for us. So perfect for this family. I know it will take time for you to get used to having parents who love you. We will be patient with you."
"You love me?"
"Yes, I love you as if you were my own child born in this family and I know Walter does too. I know that Thea loves you like a sister and I know that Oliver and Jason love you like a brother. You are very much loved in this family."
Shaun moved and buried himself into Moira's embrace.
"It is true. I love you Shaun. We all love you. I will always protect you." Oliver said.
"Me too." Jason said from the other side of the couch.
They sat with Shaun for a while on the couch, just being there for him. Shaun still in Moira's arms. He seemed to find comfort with what Moira said because he fell back to sleep. Moira picked him up and placed him back in his bed. She pulled the covers back up and kissed his forehead.
"Mom, when you get him a therapist. I want to go with him at least the first couple of times." Oliver said.
"Before we can legally do that we need to at least start the process of guardianship. We are going to adopt him, but we think guardianship may come first. We are meeting with our lawyers and Child Services today. Detective Lance gave me a name of someone that the department recommends to human trafficking and child prostitution victims. Some of them consult with suspected child prostitution and child sexual abuse cases."
"That sounds good. I want someone who has experience with dealing with children being treated as sexual slaves and prostitution. The only reason, Shaun sat at the table and not at my feet was because Chang may him sit at the table. His last owner treated him literally like a dog. Fed him on the floor out of his hand while other guests ate at the table. That was his life for three years."
"Yes, I will make sure of it. Thank you for telling me that. It sounds like we may need someone who has experience helping with those types of issues. Are you feeling better, Oliver?"
"My stomach doesn't hurt that much now. I think I am fine. If it starts hurting again, I'll go to see Dr. Lamb to get it checked out..."
"Okay. Get some sleep."
"Come on I'll help you get back to sleep." Jason put his arm around Oliver and led him to the bed.
"I don't think I can sleep."
"I know you think that, but remember I can always get you to sleep by comforting you?"
"Oliver, I wish I could help you sleep but it looks like Jason knows what to do. You need to get proper sleep so the infection doesn't come back. You two get back in bed." Moira says.
"Yeah, okay." Oliver says.
Oliver got in the bed on his side facing the door. Jason got behind him and spooned him protectively. Jason draped his arm over Oliver's torso and Oliver draped his arm over Jason's arm.
Moira kissed the top of Oliver and Jason's head, "Good night my boys." Moira said, fully accepting Jason and Shaun as her boys just like Oliver is her boy. Moira marveled at how easy it was for her to accept Jason and Shaun as her own. Perhaps it is meant to be, she thought. She will be also discussing with the lawyers at setting up a trust fund for Shaun and Jason that is the same amount as Oliver and Thea's. She felt good about that. Just because Jason and Shaun are not blood does not mean they are not my children. Moira thought as she smiled at her thoughts. She thought she would have trouble accepting them when Oliver first talked about them, but for some reason she totally melted when she saw them. They needed a mother and she wanted to be their mother. She just hoped that they wanted her as a mother as much as she did.
Oliver, Shaun, and Jason woke at 6am. They were tired, but it was no different than the past 7 months. Oliver always woke on the island at the crack of dawn.
"We should try and go back to sleep, but I don't know if I can. I think I only had 4 hours of sleep." Oliver said
"I had 6 or 7 hours, I think," Jason said.
"Let's get our showers and get dressed and then go downstairs for the Queen breakfast."
"The shower looks rich like..." Shaun said timidly.
"Come on, let me show you something. But first, do you see any cameras in this room?" Oliver asked them.
"No?" Jason asks.
"There are not. You know how soldiers and spies can spot cameras everywhere?" Oliver asked.
"Yeah." Jason said.
"Well, I'm like them in a way. I was trained to spot cameras, listening devices and other surveillance devices. This is to stay between us. Shaun you can not tell anyone I told you that."
"I swear I won't tell anyone, but it makes sense. You took the pain better than anyone. Just like the soldiers in the games we played." Shaun said.
"There are no cameras or listening devices in this entire house. I already checked." Oliver said. He actually did check. He did not trust Amanda Waller. It would be just like her to have cameras and listening devices to track him. I am so paranoid, but being paranoid helps sometimes, Oliver thought. "So there is no one watching either of you. Trust me."
"I trust you. I want to kiss you for that, but I know we are just friends." Jason said. Jason was a bit sad. Oliver would make the perfect boyfriend. He did not love Oliver nor did he have feelings for him, but he is so used to having sex with men, it is hard not to have it.
"Jason, I am sorry. I think I am still straight. I liked what we did when we were not forced to fuck, but ... I don't know... I... I mean I like sleeping with you and what you do to me when we were there. It felt so good, but... I don't know..." Oliver was babbling. What the fuck I never babble? Oliver thought. "I just can't have anyone right now. Man or woman, but I think I am still straight."
"I am going to get a shower." Shaun said
"You can use anything in there. Call if you need anything." Oliver said. Shaun walked into the bathroom to take a shower in Oliver's shower. Shaun was smart for his age. He knew when there was a private conversation.
"I am sorry. You know I think you are so... good looking... I don't know what is wrong with me. I have always had someone to have sex with, you know?" Jason said.
"You are horny?" Oliver asked.
"Yeah, I think so. I want someone to fuck me. I have been a prostitute for the last 13 years. Either I was born gay or I got too used to being with men because I could use a man right now."
"Look... umm... Tommy's girlfriend is a prostitute. Maybe she knows someone that can... um... help you out or something. Better yet that kid Jamie is a prostitute." Oliver suggested.
"We were forced to be prostitutes and you want me to get a prostitute who might be forced into it?
"Okay... that was a stupid idea, but it was the only one I had. Maybe we should sleep separately. Us sleeping together, even though we are not doing anything, can't help."
"I don't know. I think I need to find a boyfriend."
"Yeah, maybe, but I don't want to have anything to do with a girl and definitely not a guy. I think having sex with a guy would only make me remember everything, not that I don't remember every minute of the day anyway, but still." Oliver said sadly.
"Yeah, I know what you mean. I am sorry."
"It is not your fault. You at least made me feel good. You let me know that being with a guy can feel good, but I have absolutely no desire to be with anyone, man or female, right now. In the four and a half years I was away before I was kidnapped and sold, I was only with one woman for 3 months before she was killed. I am fine on my own for quite a while."
"It sounds lonely."
"Yeah, but I think we both have had more than our fair share of sex. I want to rest from it a while.
It was almost noon. Shaun, Thea, and Moira had already left to go shopping. Tommy would be arriving soon in an older car than what he usually drives. He likes his Mercedes McLaren, but only 2 people can fit in it, so he is bringing one of his older cars that he has. It is just as awesome a sports car as the one he has now except it is 3 years older. He is thinking he should look into getting a 4-seat sports car like he had when it was him, Oliver, Laurel, and his girl of the week partying on most nights. But then again he thinks it will probably be Oliver who gets the 4-seat car so he can drive his bothers and sister when they don't want a chauffeur driving them.
That morning Moira, Walter and Shaun had a meeting with Child Services, Detective Lance, and the FBI representative on the case. Of course the Queen's lawyers were present. Child Services has been working with the Starling City Police in conjunction with the FBI in trying to locate and arrest Shaun's mother for selling her own son. There has been some difficulty in locating her since she did not appear to live where she used to live. The FBI had also been working with the Chinese government since Shaun is still technically a citizen of that country. It would usually be a lot red tape, except that the Chinese government is embarrassed that they allowed the Human Trafficking auction to go on as it has these past few years. The people who organized the slave auction paid the local officials to look the other way putting the Chinese Government in the spotlight for allowing a sex slavery auction to operate in the capital for years. Many government agencies of the victim's original country of origin were outraged. It has become and international incident that the Chinese government wants to go away. They are allowing victims of minors to be adopted immediately and adult victims to live wherever they want. They have allowed Shaun to be adopted since technically Shaun's mother gave him up.
In the course of the FBI's investigation, they discovered that Shaun's mother, step-father and siblings were killed in an accident. Shaun never new who his biological father was. The FBI had the paperwork from the Chinese government declaring Shaun's freedom to be adopted. Shaun's US citizen paperwork along with adoption paperwork was being drawn up that morning by the Queen's lawyers. After talking privately with Shaun, Child Services decided Shaun was in the best care with the Queen family and they closed their case. They were emotionally moved by how much Shaun seemed to already think of the Queen's as his family and he seemed happy despite the horrors the child endured. They felt good about leaving Shaun in the care of the Queen family.
Oliver was drinking his second cup of coffee while watching local news. Jason was playing a video game on his new laptop in their bedroom. Oliver spent the last 5 years mostly without coffee so he was greatly enjoying it now. In Hong Kong it was ginseng tea that helped him with energy, but no coffee. Well, he supposes he could have gotten some there if he thought about it, but with just trying to staying alive, he really wasn't thinking about coffee. In Russia, some drank coffee, but staying alive in the Bratva with Anatoly was the priority. He really didn't think much about it until the smell filled the air during breakfast this morning and then he realized how much he missed it. He puts milk in it to take away some of the bitterness, but no sugar.
Since the island he doesn't really have a sugar tooth anymore. He does wonder if he should indulge in sweets moderately sometimes since his is still slightly underweight. He plans to not worry about it because he is sure he will gain the weight eating his favorite foods that he has not had in 5 years starting next week. He does however; plan to eat somewhat healthy in order to maintain a healthy weight. He can't wait until he can get back to working out.
"Hey, Buddy, ready to go?" Tommy walked into the living room.
"Yep, let me get Jason." Oliver said getting up and drinking the last of his coffee. "I can't believe how much I missed coffee."
"Mr. Oliver, I'll go get him." Raisa said as she came into the room overhearing them.
"Thanks Raisa."
"Well, I plan to get you caught up on all the things you missed
"The doctor said I was 20 lbs underweight when I was brought in. I gained 5 lbs because they had me on a liquid diet for the first few days after surgery, but they said it had nutrients to help me get my weight up a bit. I need to gain 15 pounds to get in a healthy weight range. So yeah that would be good, but I don't want to get into bad eating habits that will make me gain too much weight. I figure I will eat what I want for the next month and then weigh myself. I think Jason is probably a little worse off. With the little food we ate, he still sometimes did not eat all of it. We will have to watch him. I thought maybe he might have had an eating disorder, but maybe it was the stress of the situation we were in."
"It probably is, but I will help you watch him."
"Yeah, thanks... I am trying to adjust to things, but I can't help, but worrying about him and Shaun. When they came, I felt like I had to protect them. I already had a high tolerance to pain from the island, so I know I could take more, so I did. I took every punishment I could. You weren't here last night, but Shaun had the nightmare that he usually has. He was beaten black and blue over his entire body and then raped by 10 people who were Chang and the inside staff right in front of Jason and I. It was because I refused to act like a whore. One of the clients wanted me to come onto him and act like a street whore. Act like I wanted it. I refused so they did that to him. I never refused after that. That was 6 months ago. That is why it was so easy for me to come on to you. It was all I have done for the last 6 months. I did everything I had to protect them."
"I am sorry, Oliver, but that is not you anymore. Starting today you all have a new life. You are not a whore."
"Yes, I am."
"Look, Oliver. You have only been out of that hell a week. Of course you still feel that way, but none of us see you or Jason or Shaun that way."
"Tommy, you see me as damaged. I think mom even thinks I am too damaged to work at Queen Consolidated. You know she would have jumped on that if I weren't." Oliver said depressingly. This has been happening a lot lately. Feeling of depression and worthlessness. Maybe I do need that medicine or a therapist. NO! Oliver yells inside his head. I did not need that on the island to survive and I don't need it now. I am free for the first time in 5 years. I will be fine without it. Oliver thought.
Tommy walked up to his friend who was gritting his teeth from probably berating himself for something. None of them realized that Jason was standing outside to give them this moment. He placed his hand on Oliver's shoulder, "Now that you are free you will start to see yourself differently. I think you need a purpose in your life. Maybe helping people will help you get a sense of accomplishment. Help you feel good about yourself."
"Who are you? Where's my friend Tommy Merlyn? The guy who once rented out a pro football stadium so that he could play strip kickball with models."
"That guy needed a swift kick in his stupid ass." Tommy and Oliver both started to laugh.
"You actually did that? Wow. That sounded like fun except I would want male models. The football players would have probably been awesome." Jason said as he felt it was a good time to enter. He also felt it was a good time to let Tommy know where he stands sexually. According to Oliver, when they got back it would be Tommy who pushed them towards having sex with a woman since that was Tommy and Oliver's life before.
"We are both insanely rich. Just like you and Shaun are, now." Oliver said.
"I am still trying to wrap my head around that." Jason said.
"So, you like guys. Not that it matters at all to me. You should like whoever you want." Tommy said to Jason.
"I like girls well enough, but I think I desire men more. Now that I am free to choose for the first time in my life, I am still trying to figure it out, but I think I am more attracted to men. It is hard for me to know, because I was forced to be with mostly men since I was little."
"Well, now that you are not forced into it, you could try dating both sexes and then seeing which you like best." Tommy said.
"That is what we figured. Right now, I rather have a guy. I haven't had sex in a week. I'm not used to going this long without it. I feel... I don't know..." Jason said.
"Well, I think that is just your young hormones. Although, I feel the same sometimes. Technically Christy and I are not back together, but I believe someday we will be. I haven't been with anyone else since the day I met her. It has been hard." Tommy said.
"Tommy, you know that is shocking. We both cheated on our girlfriends before. You must really love her." Oliver said.
"I do love her and I know she loves me. She has told me. Which is why I know she is being forced there even if she says she isn't. That night she left, she called me and broke things off with me. I am sure she did it because she isn't planning on ever getting out of there." Tommy said.
"We will figure something out." Oliver said.
Why did the conversation have to go there? I was planning on cheering Oliver up and that failed. I have to remedy this. Tommy thought.
"Why don't we get going? I am starving." Tommy said.
The three of them headed out and then Tommy got it in his head to tease Oliver. "You know what I am craving? Pizza or Cheeseburgers?" Tommy said with a smirk.
Oliver knew Tommy's game, so he played along. "Tommy, oh my god! You just had to mention those. I can't even eat that until next week." Oliver chastised while laughing a little.
Tommy smiled his signature Merlyn smile and said, "Sure you can. You can always order your favorite pizza and put a couple of slices in a blender and drink it." Tommy said while laughing.
Oliver gave him glare that sent shivers down Tommy's spine. When did he look that deadly? Tommy thought and then Oliver started chuckling as well. Tommy relaxed when he saw that Oliver found it funny too.
Jason said, "Yeah, it might taste good. Better than what you had on the island." Jason started laughing at that.
"Well you might be right on that one, but I would make you and Tommy drink it first." Oliver joked and they all laughed.
The three of them ended up at the restaurant that they had planned at dinner the night before. It was a 5-star restaurant that boasted about heir soups, salads, loaded baked potatoes, steaks, and seafood. The restaurant was new and was only open for breakfast and lunch for the time being. There were a lot of corporate meetings and business professionals that ate there since they were close to Queen Consolidated and Merlyn Global. Tommy had called in a reservation to their after hour reservation line after dinner the previous night.
They walked in and they were warmly greeted by the hostess. "What pleasant surprise, Tommy Merlyn. Oh Oliver Queen I did not know you would be joining us, welcome home by the way! Let me show you to your table. We have a private room reserved for you." Tommy slipped a 50 dollar bill into the hostess' hand who was the same person in charge of the reservations. He new the protocol, so he obliged. Jason felt ignored, but it did not bother him. He is used to it.
"I am sorry for that. I hope you did not feel weirded out?" Oliver asked Jason.
"Everyone recognizes you both. I am the new one here." Jason says.
All three of them took their seats and the waitress came in right away. "Hello, I'm Jenny. What can I get for your drinks?"
"I'll have a water." Oliver said.
"I'll have a coke." Tommy said.
"I'll have a diet coke." Jason said. They both stared and Jason on his choice of beverage, but didn't yet say anything.
"Okay, I'll have it right out."
"Thank you." Oliver said as she left.
They are all looking at the menus trying to decide what to eat. Tommy has already decided to get whatever Oliver gets to support his friend on his soft food diet.
"That steak looks good on the menu." Oliver says sighing.
"Next week we will come back here, Oliver." Tommy said.
"I know." Oliver says. "Jason, what are getting?"
"Probably a grilled chicken salad with light ranch dressing." Jason said.
The waitress came back just as Oliver was about to respond to that, "Are you ready to order?"
"Oliver, why don't you order first?" Tommy said.
"Okay, I'll the bowl of seafood soup and a baked potato with only cheese on it. That will be it."
"I'll have the same thing as him." Tommy said.
Jason realized what Tommy was doing and so he said, "I'll have the same thing too."
The waitress had a weird face, but said, "Okay, no problem. I will have it right out." She then left again.
"You two did not have to order the something as I did."
"We wanted to support you." Tommy and Jason both said at the same time.
Oliver looked at them and actually laughed. "Thanks, you are both my brothers. I hope this is not too weird for you both. I mean, you are both my best friends and I appreciate it." Oliver said.
"Not weird at all."
"Jason, I know you said that your dad had you on a very strict calorie-restricted diet, but why were wanting to order a healthy salad? We are both still technically underweight and need to eat normal food until we get into a healthy weight range. You need the calories for the time being. After that, you can maintain a healthy weight, but I am not sure it is wise to worry about your weight if you body is in a unhealthy weight range. You enjoyed the cheeseburger and fries you had at the hospital, didn't you?"
"I loved it, but it did not stay down. My stomach is not used to that much grease. You know burgers and fried food. It made me sick." Jason said.
"Oh, I didn't know." Oliver said sadly. "So I noticed you never really ate that much since I have known you and they hardly fed us that much for the 2 meals a day we ate. Was it your dad?"
"I'll have to introduce foods with more fat in them slowly. You will have to do that too. We were both on a low calorie diet. As far as why? Yes, it was dad. It is a sad story... I don't want to ruin things for today."
"Jason, you can tell us if you want. I know this is a period of healing for you both, but talking about thing promotes healing. Like Oliver, I am also there for you. Please, tell us, but only if you want to." Tommy said as he laid a reassuring hand on Jason's forearm.
"I am really scared to eat anything outside what my dad fed me my whole life. I know my dad does not control my diet or my life anymore, but I still get anxiety that makes me sick to my stomach. If I eat too much or eat something fattening, I feel like I am going to have a panic attack and I feel nauseous."
"I am so sorry, Jason." Oliver said.
"My dad is still out there. You don't know this Tommy, but Oliver does. Chang gave my dad $50,000 to buy me. We were both there when he basically said he would pay someone to get some kids, probably 5 or 6 years-olds and prostitute them. I know he could find me and take me back if he wants to. Oliver, now that you are free, my dad probably thinks I am too. He probably thinks I am with you. That is why my picture can't be seen in the paper with you. If he gets me back and I am fat, he will beat me."
"He will not get to you. I won't let that happen. You have my word." Oliver said.
"Like you could really stop him. He was in the military before my mom died. He is really strong. He can hurt you, just like he hurt me."
"The Queens can protect you." Tommy said.
"Maybe, at least I trust you and Moira is so much like my mom. She really cares about me. But I need to explain..." Jason took a deep breath.
Jason did not want to depress them further, but that was already done, so he continued, "Once a week, my dad would let me have a break from clients. Actually, all the children involved in the pedophile ring did. We all got together on Tuesday night and socialized. There were 10 of us. We did this starting when I was 10. The others ages ranged from 5 to 16 years old. We were all kept home from school; otherwise the school would get suspicious when a client or our parent had rough sex and put a bruise on us. Actually, 4 of them had been kidnapped at an early age like 2 or 4, so they never went to school. Anyway, this was the only interaction us kids had except when a client want two of us. Anyway, the woman that headed up the social gathering insisted on serving us all pizza because many us were kept on a diet. My dad was there for the first few times just watching me and the other boys and girls. If I had more than two small slices he would beat me when I got home and I would not eat for 2 day to make up for it. He was afraid if I got fat I would not be worth as much money. It was like that for years. He would always use food as a reason to beat me. Sometimes, I snuck food because he would barley feed me. Now days, I start to get nervous and my stomach hurts and I can't eat anymore. I need to change that, but I don't know how."
"You change that one bite at a time. When you eat, take one more bite each time. But if you are full you should not eat more." Oliver said.
"Therapy might help. I think you have an eating disorder. A therapist can help you work through that." Tommy said.
"Maybe. We should all go to therapy, me, Shaun and you. Right, Oliver?" Jason asked.
"Umm... Oh look our food is here." Oliver said as the food was sat down at their table. Oliver knows he should go to therapy, but for right now. No!, he thought. Just no! There is no way I am spilling my guts to a stranger.
Oliver takes a bite of the soup, "This is good. I remember catching fish on the island, but there was no seasoning. It took a while for me to get used to food without seasoning." Oliver said.
"God, I could not have done it. I don't know how you survived that." Tommy said.
"Honestly, I am not so sure myself. I could have died so many times. There was a ship off the coast and it was firing at my friends and I was knocked out by it because it hit so close. I woke up in a cell on the ship that fired it. My friends came to rescued me. I already told you about that. There was another time I stepped on a land mine."
"You got to be kidding me?" Jason said.
"No. The island was covered with them. They were left over from World War II from the Japanese. Anyway, I stepped on it and I started freaking out. My friend and I heard mercenaries coming and my friend left me there. I thought he wasn't coming back. Anyway, I was already dressed like the mercenaries, so I put on my balaclava because they all wore one. They did not know I was not one of them. There were three of them, I told them I could not move and showed them the landmine under my foot. My friend came out of the brushes and killed all three of them in less than a minute with his swords. He rolled one of the bodies onto the mine at the same time he pushed me off of it."
"Damn. I would definitely not survive that place. How come you were wearing one of their uniforms?" Tommy asked.
Oliver was expecting the question. "I had stolen the clothes off one of them that accidently got killed when he was attacking me. He fell back on a rock when we tumbled down the hill together and broke his neck or back."
"So you had to fight them?
"Yeah. Lucked out a lot." Oliver was definitely wanting to change the subject now. "Tommy?" Tommy look at Oliver, "I was thinking about your girl's situation."
"What situation?" Jason asked curiously.
"My girlfriend and her friend Jamie we think are forced into being prostitutes for this club."
"Jamie from Adam Hunt's club?" Jason asked.
"Yeah, you know him?" Tommy asked.
"Chang was a client of mine since I was 12. When I was 15 he started bringing another kid from that club of Adam Hunts. He would pay the club owner extra to torture Jamie with electricity and then make Jamie and I have sex with each other by taking turns. Then he would have sex with both of us over a 6 hours time period."
"So you were forced?" Tommy asked.
"I guess forced is the wrong word. Well, technically I was raped because I was 15 and I really didn't want to do it. So I guess it was rape, but I have been doing it since I was 5. Sex was rape, but I refused to see it that way until I got older. I accepted my life as a whore when I was 10. Honestly I have always been confused about the 'rape' issue, because sometimes they made me feel good. Most likely I am just screwed up in the head. As I got older, l learned that it was most likely rape all the time, but there was nothing I could do about it. When I was little, I tried going to the police and it did not do any good. We moved to Starling City and I was beaten everyday for weeks as punishment, for telling my teacher what he was doing to me, while my dad tried to tap into the local pedophile ring to make connections for selling me. I decided not to go through that ever again. I still have nightmare about that time. Anyway, we were both there to do a job: to have sex. We didn't blame each other. Jamie looked a lot better than most of my clients or maybe I just liked him. I would like to see him again. We became friends and enjoyed being with each other. It was a job and for some reason it did not seem forced when we were together. It was really good. I think in a different situation we might have been boyfriends because we really connected with each other when we had to perform together. We both enjoyed having sex with each other. Do you think I can see him, just to see if he is okay?"
"Jason, I am sorry that happened to you, but of course you can see him." Tommy said. Oliver already knew all of that, but Tommy didn't.
Jason did not know what to say. He is tired of responding to comments like that, but he spoke anyway. "It is what it is. I can't change the past. It is over now. Although my dad is still out there."
"Actually, I think it would be a good idea if you meet Jamie. Tommy you said that Christy and Jamie both said they are there willingly, but you and my parents think otherwise?" Oliver asked.
"Yes, like I said they were happy with your parents and then your maid was killed. Lance talked to Christy an Jamie privately at the club as part of the investigation and they both say that they are there on their own free will." Tommy explained.
"Then Adam Hunt has threatened them to the point that they are even too scared to tell the police the truth. We have to get one of them to admit it some how, so the police can arrest Adam. I think we get close to them and become friends. They are probably being forced, but there is no way to know for sure unless they tell us. It has been their life for so long maybe they wanted to go back to it. I know that is not something you want to hear Tommy."
"It is not, but I know you could be right, but I need to know one way or the other." Tommy said.
"Okay Tommy. You said that Christy now has another girl staying with them in their apartment who Christy thinks is also not there willingly?"
"Yeah."
"Do you think your friend can reserve an entire night for Christy, Jamie, and that other girl for next weekend? They can meet us at a 5-star restaurant. By then I should be good to go with normal food. Thank you for dealing with my temporary dietary restrictions, but I rather they not have to deal with it." Oliver asked.
"I am sure I can. I will also get reservations for 6 at Table Salt. It is a new restaurant that is opening up that weekend."
"Perfect."
"So we are dating prostitutes now? Isn't that wrong since we used to be one? I mean isn't it like encouraging what happened to us?" Jason asked.
"It would be if we planned on having sex with them. I am not going to do anything with the other girl. Honestly, I don't really want to do anything anyway. The goal is to gain their trust and friendships so they will open up. It is not for sex at least not for me. Oh Tommy, reserve a 3 bedroom presidential suite for us at the finest hotel. I am just going to let the girl have the bed and I will sleep on the couch."
"Jamie and I will probably share a bed, but we won't have sex unless he wants it. Honestly, I thought he kinda liked me too, so maybe we will see how that works out." Jason said.
"I'll make the arrangements." Tommy said.
The waitress brought the check and Tommy paid for everything.
"Tommy, do you think we can visit Laurel, today? I need to talk to her." Oliver asked.
"Yeah, sure. I don't see why not. Hey, I am going to call my friend so he can make those reservations. Be right back." Tommy said
"Thanks Tommy." Oliver thought a moment and then said, "Jason, I don't know how, but we also need to see if we can rescue those kids in the pedophile ring. Perhaps if you can talk to Detective Lance and tell him everything you know, they might be able to find them."
"Lance knows about him and they are trying to find him. I have not pursued it otherwise with Lance because if my dad gets wind of it he will have me killed."
"If you start with telling just the names of the others in it and maybe their parents, then the police can do the rest. I will protect you. You just have to trust me on that."
"Okay, can we go tomorrow? The sooner I can do this the better."
"We can go right after my court date tomorrow. They are bringing me back from the dead. Legally speaking of course. You should stay home, because there will be tons of cameras."
"But I want to be there for you."
"It is okay. Stay home. I will be fine. There will be cameras swarming around me. Besides if the cameras catch site of you with me, they might not leave you alone. They will wonder who you are."
"I am going to work with the police. My dad will probably go to jail. After everything is finalized, I am going to change my last name to Queen. I can do that, right?"
"I am sure you can and if not my parents will try and make it happen."
As they made their way out of the restaurant, Oliver almost bumped into a woman going into the restaurant. He looked up and was shocked, "Laurel?" Oliver asked.
"Oh, Oliver. Sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going." Laurel said.
"Laurel, can I talk to you a second?" Oliver asked.
"Sure." Laurel said.
"We'll wait by the car." Tommy said even-though the car was only a few feet away. They were lucky to get a front door spot.
"Laurel, I am really sorry that I took your sister on that boat. I was a stupid jerk and I know I never deserved you. I am worthless piece of shit for what I did to you and Sara; I know that now. God, I am just so sorry. If I could have taken her place I would have. I'm... I'm...so very... sorry." Oliver said and a tear dropped from his eye.
"Oh, Oliver I do hate what you did, but I have been thinking and you didn't drag Sara on that boat. It was her choice too. You are not worthless. You've been hurt more that you deserved."
Laurel reached up to wipe away his tears and Oliver flinched and backed away from her on instinct. A flash of China Wei touching his face appeared at that moment, but then quickly faded. "I am sorry. I am still getting used to... touches... I guess." Oliver looked down embarrassed. He started to nervously scratch his right arm without realizing it. "Chang Wei's daughter came by each month. She was a martial artist, so she would beat me and then torture me in the worst ways. Since I had been tortured on the island several times; she, like many others that had me, wanted to know how high my pain tolerance was."
"She raped you?" Laurel asks.
"Yeah, she and sometimes her friends. I had to do whatever they wanted or they would torture Jason or the kids. I haven't told hardly anyone about what that awful woman did to me. I feel dirty and worthless, all the time. Oh, God, why am I telling you all this?"
"We have been friends for a long time. You can always talk to me. You know I would never hurt you."
"Yes, but you should hurt me. I would deserve it after what I did to you and Sara."
"Is that why you told my dad to tell me what you went through the past nine months? For him to show me your medical records? You wanted me to know you suffered because of what you did to Sara and me?"
Oliver nodded looking down at the ground.
"Oh, Oliver." Laurel's heart broke for him. She hated him for so long, until she found out the horror of his captivity. Now all she feels is compassion for a friend she has known for years. "You did not deserve any of that, no matter what you did. No one deserves what you went through no matter who they are or what they have done."
"Laurel, I am a horrible person. The things I did to survive..."
"Oliver, what is wrong with your arm? You keep scratching it."
"Oh... um... its nothing. Really."
"Let me see."
"No, I am fine. Laurel... please don't."
"Oliver. I can tell you are not fine."
"Let me see." She touched his arm and pulls up his sleeve. Laurel gasps when she sees the scratch marks. They are bleeding badly. Oliver was wearing a dark burgundy sweater that probably already soaked in the traces of blood.
"Oliver, when did this start?"
"About 7 months ago. Chang moved me from Shanghai to Hong Kong. I could finally get a shower by myself. I was just trying to get clean with my wash cloth. I kept scrubbing never really feeling clean. Before I knew it, the scrubbing turned into scratching. I had a high tolerance to pain because of the torture on the island, so I didn't really know I was doing it until I saw the blood. I was scratching my body in different places. There were always cameras filming us. Even in the shower. They controlled ever aspect of my life. The scratching started to be the only thing I could control. Now, sometimes I can't even control that." Oliver took a deep breath. "I will be fine. I am handling it."
"Oh, Oliver. If you ever need to talk. I'm here for you."
"Thanks." Oliver said somberly.
"Let me go in and get some napkins, so I can try and stop the bleeding." Laurel left to go inside the restaurant.
Tommy and Jason came up to him. "Hey man, it will take some time but things will get better." Tommy said.
"I didn't want her to know about it. Now, everyone knows I am pathetic, weak and damaged. But for some reason, I couldn't help myself from telling her. I don't know why." Oliver said.
"No, you are not Oliver. You have been through the worst hell there is. Most people would have lost their mind, but you have come through it. I think you should take you anxiety medicine. It will help with the nervousness that led to you scratching. Also, growing up the three of us would always try and help each other with whatever problems were going on. I think you talking about it to her was because she always helped you, even if you don't realize it now." Tommy said.
Oliver did not say anything to that. He wants to try and deal with things himself.
Just as Laurel was walking back out of the restaurant, a black van pulls up and three men with masks get out. Oliver does not know what is going on. He thinks maybe they are going to rob the restaurant, so he quickly goes to grab Laurel so he can get her to safety, but before he can get to her, a tranquilizer dart pierces his neck. He looks over and Tommy and Jason both also have a dart in their neck.
Laurel screams and goes to Oliver as he is going down.
"Step a way from him unless you want to die." One of the mask men says as he holds the automatic weapon up to Laurel's face.
Laurel backs away and put her hands up in surrender. The other two are dragging Jason in the van. All three of them are unconscious now. They get Jason, Tommy and Oliver in the van.
The van sped off and Laurel scoffs when she noticed there was no license plate. She immediately gets her phone out and calls her dad, "Dad?"
"What's up, baby girl."
"Oliver, Tommy, and some kid were just kidnapped right in front of me?"
"Where are you?" Laurel told him where she was. "Okay, I am on my way. I just dispatched some officers. They should be there any moment.
"You said there was a kid with them?"
"Yeah, a male about 17 or 18?" Laurel said.
"That must me Jason. He is 18. Two of the kids that were with Oliver these last 7 months are staying with the Queen family now. He is one of them."
After, a few minutes the police arrived and then her dad. She told them everything she knew. Detective Lance called Moira. Of course Thea and Walter were hysterical and Moira played her part by being hysterical as well. Moira called Malcolm and told him their plan had started.
After 45 minutes, the van pulled into a warehouse in the Glades. The three kidnappers dragged all three of them out of the van and set them each in one of the three chairs they had set up. They zip cuffed their hands behind the chair.
"So why does the guy that hired us want Tommy Merlyn beaten up? I mean isn't this about Oliver Queen?"
"Look it is none of our business. He just wanted Tommy beaten bloody but no broken bones including his nose. Now wake them up. Let's get this over with so we can get the rest of the money."
"Okay." He said waving the smelling salts underneath their noses to wake them up. The tranquilizer was one that only knocked a person out for an hour. So all three of them started to wake up with the smelling salt.
"What the hell is this?" Tommy screams. "Do you have any idea who I am?"
"Tommy, just calm down." Oliver tries to clue Tommy in that maybe he should be quiet. Jason got the hint and remained quiet.
"Calm down? Are you crazy, Oliver? These fucking bastards kidnapped us." Tommy yells.
The leader walks up and slugs Tommy across the mouth busting his lip. "You have a bit of a mouth on you, Tommy Merlyn." Tommy spits out the blood from his mouth, but doesn't say anything more. Then the man punches him across the cheek. The guy's ring cuts a small gash across Tommy's cheek. He then punches Tommy hard in the ribs. Tommy coughs and tries to get his air back from being knocked out of him.
"Get away from him! You bastard." Oliver screams.
The leader laughs and slugs Tommy across the face giving him a soon-to-be black eye.
"Stop hitting him! What do you want?" Oliver says as he is trying to get the zip-cuffs undone. There is a trick to getting them off, but he hasn't done that since his Hong Kong training with ARGUS.
"Mr. Queen! Did your father survive that accident? Did he make it to the island? I ask the questions. You give me the answers."
"Why do you want to know about my father?" Oliver asks. He knows better than to answer their questions. The moment he does, they will all be dead. He just has to keep them busy until he gets the zip-cuffs off.
The man pulls out a taser and shoves it into Tommy's chest. "Argh... Fuck..." Tommy screams from the electricity cursing through his body.
"Stop... please... don't do this." Oliver begs. He looked over at Tommy who is in obvious pain and tears well in his eyes.
"Answer the question!" the goon said.
The man was impatient. He slugged Tommy in the face again and then shoved the taser in his chest again. Tommy screamed, but he didn't say anything. Tommy was gasping for breath. Oliver saw a tear slip down Tommy's cheek as he was trying to catch his breath. Jason was crying as well.
"Stop! Just Stop!" Oliver yelled and the man came over to Oliver. Tommy and Jason both looked over at Oliver. "He made it to the life raft, but there was not enough food and water for us both and the captain. He shot the captain and then he shot himself in the head in front of me." Oliver said reluctantly. He almost got the cuffs off. Just a little bit longer and he will have it. He didn't mind saying it; he needed to keep them talking anyway. It would not matter; they won't be walking away from this anyway. Not after what they did to Tommy.
"Did he say anything before he shot himself?"
Oliver wasn't about to answer that question with the truth. Oliver just got the cuffs off, but he held them in his hands. "Yes, he did." Oliver looked over at Tommy and Jason with sadness in his eyes. He didn't want them to see this, but he has no choice. He couldn't let them get hurt again.
"What did he tell you, Mr. Queen?"
Oliver lowered his head and let out a breath. This is survival. He looked up at the man with his killer expression and said, "He told me I'm gonna kill you."
Tommy looks surprised at that. Jason doesn't look surprised because he knew Oliver had killed before.
"You are crazy. You are zip-cuffed to that chair."
"Not anymore." Oliver shows his hands. Tommy and Jason both gasped in surprised.
The goons all stepped back in disbelief and that is when Oliver makes his move. He used his chair and flipped it up and used it as a weapon to put distance between him and them. Oliver breaks off the leg of the chair he is holding and stabs it into the one of the guy's chest near his heart. The guy with the automatic weapon aimed it at Oliver as Oliver grabbed the second guy and used him as a shield when the man sprayed the bullets. That was two guys dead. The third guy with the gun started to run, but before he could get out of everyone's view, Oliver caught him and did a jump roundhouse kick and knocked the gun out of his hands. Oliver had the man bent over by the guy's neck.
"You don't have to do this." The guy screamed knowing Oliver was going to kill him.
Tommy and Jason couldn't believe their eyes as to what has happened so far.
"Yes I do." Oliver said as he snapped the guy's neck and then dropped the body.
He rushed over to Tommy with the knife he got off of one of the three bodies. "Are you okay? I tried to break the zip cuffs sooner. I am sorry you were beaten and tortured because of me." Oliver said while cutting Tommy's ties.
Tommy was still in shock about seeing Oliver kill three men right in front of him. He was speechless.
"Jason, you okay?" Oliver asked as he cut his zip cuff ties.
"Yeah, I guess. Are you okay, Oliver?" Jason asked.
"I suppose except the kidnapping was exactly like when I was kidnapped 9 months ago. I took out four of them, but the fifth guy shot me with a tranquilizer. I woke up with my wrists chained to a bed and paralyzed from the waist down. I will probably have a nightmare about it tonight. Tommy, you okay?"
"I don't know. My ribs hurt." Tommy said.
"Okay, don't move." He turned to Jason and said. "Jason, can you go out and find an address or cross street so we can call an ambulance?"
"Yeah" Jason got up and ran outside.
"Tommy, I am so sorry this happened. I am going to lift your shirt to check your ribs." Oliver said. Tommy nodded. Oliver lifted Tommy's shirt and saw the bruising that was already forming. He felt around the area, but did not feel any ribs cracked or out of place. "Tommy, was it like someone stabbing you with a knife when he punched you in the ribs?"
"Not that bad, but it hurt pretty bad. How did you know?"
"Okay, I don't think they are broken. I have had bruised and then broken ribs before. Broken ribs feel more like a knife stabbing you. At least that is what it felt for me. They are probably just bruised, but they will x-ray them at the hospital anyway." Oliver said.
Jason came running back into the warehouse. "It is building 250 on 5th St. Definitely the Glades."
"You killed those guys." Tommy said.
"I had to; they were going to kill us. It was kill or be killed on the island. I know those types of people we would have died. Besides, I couldn't let them torture you any more."
"Well, if you are sure they were going to kill us." Tommy halfheartedly agreed.
Oliver continued to look Tommy over. "The taser did not make any marks. You could have some facial fractures or something. I saw him hit you hard enough to break a cheek bone or something."
"Yeah okay. So what will the story be? You killed those guys. We can't exactly say you did it. I mean it might be self-defense, but that one guy that begged for you not to kill him? I don't think that was self-defense since you obviously could have just... knocked him out." Tommy said sadly.
"Tommy, if I had let him live... he would have told whoever who hired him and they would try again. They would have killed us eventually."
"Are you sure they would have? Won't they still try again anyway?" Tommy asked.
Oliver was getting a little annoyed, but he did not let it show. Not everyone is used to death like he is so he calmly answered Tommy. "Why would they leave us alive? They would have wanted to clean up the mess." Oliver said.
"Maybe so." Tommy said, although he was still not convinced.
"Okay, I'll call 911. Look the story is a man in a green hood swooped down and single-handily took out 3 armed kidnappers. He asked if we were alright and undid our restraints. Then he left."
"Like anyone is going to believe that." Tommy scoffed.
Tommy and Jason did not want Oliver to get in trouble for killing those men, so him and Jason agreed to the story. Oliver thought it was self-defense, but Tommy and Jason weren't sure if it was especially the last one who begged for Oliver to spare his life. They knew that with Oliver's martial art skills that he could have easily knocked them out and not killed them. They both let it go since they were sure Oliver had a different perspective on what was self-defense if he was being hunted down by mercenaries for almost 2 years on the island or maybe he was a little mixed up mentally.
"Well let's go with that idea anyway." Oliver said. Oliver got out the new phone he was given and dialed 911, he heard on the line "911, what is your emergency?"
"Um... I am Oliver Queen. Tommy Merlyn and our friend Jason are with me. We were all kidnapped. Laurel Lance, Detective Lance's daughter, saw us get kidnapped, so Detective Lance is probably trying to find us. Anyway, someone swooped in and killed the kidnappers, but Tommy got beaten up pretty bad. He should get checked out. I think his ribs are bruised, but they should be x-rayed to make sure they are not broken. Also he was hit pretty hard in the head several times."
"Okay, do you know where you are at?" The dispatcher asked.
"In a warehouse. The address is 250 on 5th St. in the Glades." Oliver said.
"Okay, an ambulance is on the way. I am also sending the police and letting them know to get Detective Lance."
"Thanks." Oliver hung up. "Tommy, do you have Laurel's number by any chance?" Oliver and Jason were both still gathered around Tommy who was still sitting in the chair obviously still in pain. Tommy and Oliver lived a privileged life. He and Oliver were both the popular kids in school because of their wealth so they never got picked on or beaten up like some kids. This was the first time Tommy was beaten. Everything hurt, but after he witnessed what Oliver did and the hurt he has been through, it gave Tommy strength to deal with the pain.
"Aww... Fuck I hurt like hell." Tommy tried to straighten up, but his ribs protested against him. Tommy reached in his pocket and dug his phone out wincing when he had to move and it hurt his ribs. He unlocked his phone and brought up Laurel's number. "Oliver, here." Tommy said while handling the phone to Oliver.
"I know all too well, Tommy. I have been beaten so many times. Probably a couple hundred times. I should be used to it, but I don't think anyone gets used to it." Oliver says.
Oliver pressed send and then heard an exasperated Laurel coming through the phone, "Tommy where are you?" as the phone picked up and put it on speaker so her dad could hear.
"Laurel, it is me, Oliver. Tommy got beat up. We called 911. I think he will be fine, though. We are in a Warehouse, 250 on 5th St. in the Glades"
"Oh, thank god. Dad and I are on our way." Laurel said as she and her father got in his car and sped off. "What happened? What did the kidnappers want?"
"They were asking me questions and they just kept beating Tommy and they used a taser on him a couple of times. Then someone swooped in from the ceiling and took the kidnappers out, untied us, and then left." Oliver said.
After a few minutes, Laurel and Detective Lance arrived. They had already been in the Glades looking for the van that Laurel saw. Detective figured the Glades is where the kidnappers would have taken them.
Laurel got out and ran to Tommy's side, "Tommy! Oh god Tommy."
"I'll be fine." Tommy said.
The ambulance and the police showed up at that moment. Oliver and Jason backed up bit and let the paramedics look Tommy over.
"Are you two hurt?" Detective Lance asked Oliver and Jason.
"No they did not touch us. They only hurt Tommy. We were all knocked out with some kind a tranquilizer though." Oliver said even though his stomach was hurting. He hopes he did not hurt himself from what he did last night and then just now taking out the kidnappers. "But my stomach is hurting. After the tranquilizer hit me, they could have hurt my stomach." He figures it would be a good cover story. He needed to get checked out just in case.
"Yeah. I read you medical file. This kidnapping could have hurt you, if they were rough with you while you were out." Detective Lance said.
They brought a stretcher and helped Tommy get on it. Tommy groaned in pain holding his ribs. Tommy had blood on his face from the split lip and cut on his cheek. One of his eyes was starting to swell. "Tommy, we will meet you at the hospital." Oliver said.
"Okay." Tommy said as the paramedics were taking him toward the ambulance just outside.
Just then another ambulance showed up. "Oliver, you should ride in the ambulance. If you are in pain from the kidnapping, then they might have hurt you. Jason you can ride with him." Detective Lance said.
"Yeah, okay. I would rather be safe than sorry." Oliver said. He never cared that much about his health, but secretly throwing Dimity down the stairs started the pain and then punching Chang and torturing him made it all the more worse. It was better this morning, but the pain has come back now. He is not a fool. Internal injuries like his colon is nothing he knows about, so he won't try and fix it on his own like he would a bullet or stab wound.
They loaded Oliver into the ambulance and Jason rode with him.
Tommy and Oliver refused to talk to Detective Lance until they were home from the hospital. Truth is they wanted to be questioned together. Tommy and Jason wanted Oliver to take the lead on the questioning for what happened. Tommy was staying with the Queens for that evening. Oliver had a CAT Scan at the hospital and he is fine. Dr. Lamb said the pain was his muscles being pulled and stressed around the incision area. Dr. Lamb has ordered house rest for Oliver to continue to recover. Tommy luckily had no broken bones. He just had bruised ribs, split lip, black eye and a cut on his cheek that will heal without scaring. Both sides of his face were bruised, but he would live. The doctor gave him some pain killers to help with the pain.
Everyone was gathered in the living room. Oliver, Tommy, and Jason were sitting on one couch while Detective Lance, his daughter and Thea were sitting across from them. Moira and Walter were sitting in a different chair. Shaun was being taken care of by one of the nannies the Moira had hired for Shaun.
Malcolm Merlyn suddenly walked in, playing the role of a shocked and careering father perfectly. Malcolm cared for Tommy in his own way. Loved him even, but it was all skewed by the evil and sickness that was in Malcolm's heart. "Tommy." Malcolm said as he rushed into the Queen mansion. "I just arrived from the airport. I heard you were hurt. Are you okay?" Malcolm Merlyn rushed to his son and stood behind him.
"I am fine dad. I am a little roughed up, but I will live." Tommy said.
"That's my strong boy." Malcolm said as he laid a hand on Tommy's shoulder and Tommy flinched. Tommy doesn't know why he flinched except that he has been afraid of his father from time to time in his life and figured it was related to it. Malcolm smiled his award winning smile and stepped back, saying "Detective, do we know who kidnapped them?"
"Scrubbed identities, untraceable weapons. These were pros." Detective Hilton said as he was standing next to Raisa.
Detective Lance spoke next, "Tommy, despite our past. I am glad you are going to be okay."
"Thank you." Tommy said.
"It could have been worst." Oliver spoke up.
"No kidding. The man had an automatic weapon. Do you know why they kidnapped you all?" Detective Lance asked.
"He wanted to know if my dad had said anything to me before he died." Oliver said.
"Did he?" Lance said.
"I think that is beside the point."
"Hardly. If they want information about Robert Queen it is best to get ahead of it." Lance said.
"The only thing my dad said was to 'Survive and make it home' before he shot himself in the head in front of me because there was not enough food and water for us both. He sacrificed himself so that I could live." Oliver said. He wasn't about to tell them how he father said for him right his wrongs.
"Oh, my god Oliver." Moira gasped.
"Mom, I'm fine."
"Geeze. I am sorry Oliver." Lance said while everyone remained shocked and stunned. "Did any of you see anything that might help?" Lance asked.
"I saw a man swoop in from the ceiling with a green hood and outfit. He killed all of the kidnappers. Untied me and then gave me a knife to untie Tommy and Jason." Oliver said.
"Is that what you two saw as well?" Lance asked.
"Yes." Tommy and Jason both quickly agreed.
"He kept beating me and torturing me with a taser. The man in the green hood saved me. I think they would have killed us if it wasn't for that man." Tommy said to drill the story home.
"Why would he do that?" Lance asked
"I don't know. Find him and you can ask." Oliver said.
Lance nodded his head. "Well, I guess that is all of the questions I have right now. Let me know if you think of anything else."
"Thank you, Detective."
The detectives left.
Laurel got up and said, "I guess I will go too. I am sure you both need to rest. Tommy, I will see you later?"
"Yeah, maybe we can all go out for dinner next week." Tommy said. Tommy and Laurel dated in the past and he knew she still cared about him, but he loved Christy. He wanted to make it clear to her that a date is not want he wants, if that is what she was thinking.
"Oliver, feel free to call me sometimes. If you... umm... want to... talk sometime."
"Thanks Laurel. I appreciate it." Oliver said feeling grateful that she has forgiven him. Laurel left.
"Tommy, I don't think you should stay in the apartment until we know for sure these monsters won't come after you again." Malcolm said knowing they wouldn't unless he wanted them too.
Moira knew that Malcolm could have Oliver and Tommy kidnapped again if he wanted to. "Which is why he should probably stay here for a while. He is safer here." Moira said.
Malcolm gave Moira a knowing smirk and said, "I agree. I will have to fly back out tomorrow to finish the negotiations of a company I am trying to by and won't be home for a few days."
"Dad, I can make my own decisions. Thanks, Mrs. Queen. I would like to stay here." Tommy said. "In fact I think I would like to rest now before dinner tonight."
"Yeah, me too." Oliver said.
Tommy got up from the couch lightly using Oliver's shoulder for level.
"I'll have Raisa come and get you when dinner is ready, which will be in an hour probably. Shaun is playing games in the game room, so he shouldn't bother you. I did not tell him what happened. I did not want to worry him." Moira said as they were getting up.
"Thanks, mom. There was no need to worry him." Oliver said. "Hey, can we eat in our rooms tonight? Tommy shouldn't be moving around with bruised ribs and I... well... I'm just worn out."
"I am worn out too." Jason said.
"Of course. You three go rest." Moira said. "Oliver, are you going to be okay? I know that must have been traumatic for you."
"I'll be fine... I think." Oliver said. He was still a little shaken up. Something like that would not have bothered him on the island. Now it did. He needed to become strong again like he used to be. Jason wrapped an arm around Oliver while Oliver was helping Tommy. The three of them felt a weird connection with each other from what happened. Jason just wanted to take care of them both.
As they reach the foot of the stairs, Thea came running out. "I am glad you are okay Ollie, Tommy, and Jason. I was so scared that Chang took you back and grabbed them too. He is still out there isn't he?" Thea said tears in her eyes. Giving her brother a hug and then hugging Tommy and Jason.
"Me too, Speedy. You just need to trust me. You don't have to worry about Chang anymore. He won't get to me. Okay?" Oliver lovingly brushed his sister's tears away and kissed the top of her head like he did when she was a child. She smiled. As least some things never change.
"How do you know?" Moira asked as she walked in hearing what Oliver told his sister.
"He is a marked man by the Russian mob. He won't dare come after me, if he wants to live. However long that may be until Anatoly catches up with him. I am not worried. He will get what's coming to him. We just have to be patient." Oliver said in a way that made a chill go down their spine.
"Anatoly is the head of the Russian mob? I knew there was something off about that man." Thea said.
"Anatoly was there for me on the island. We became good friends. At the time, I didn't know what he did for a living. We became like brothers. When Chang took me it was like he took one of Anatoly's family members. They will find Chang and he will pay for what he did to me. Trust me." Oliver wanted to tell them that they already had him, but couldn't.
"Just promise me you are not getting mixed up in the Russian mob." Moira said.
"I promise I am not." Oliver said which is a half truth since he is not working for them anymore like he did the 5th year he was away.
"Okay, I will trust you." Moira said and Oliver hugged his mom and sister.
He left them and headed upstairs with Tommy and Jason. Moira and Thea also left and went to check on Shaun. Thea loves her new little brother and wanted to see if he wanted to play some games.
"I need a drink or two." Tommy said as they were walking up the stairs.
"Yeah me too, but you can't drink alcohol with the pain killer the doctor gave you." Oliver said.
"I know. I haven't taken it yet. I was waiting until after the questioning with the detective. The pain is not that bad really. I would rather get drunk instead. Besides the alcohol will be enough to numb the pain. My nerves are shot from the kidnapping. I need something to help me relax." Tommy said.
"Okay. Why don't you grab your normal room while I grab some scotch and tequila? Jason, can you help him? I will meet you two there." Oliver said.
"Oliver, can I have some too? I know I am not supposed to..." Jason asked.
"I am sure I can manage that." Oliver left and went to the cellar to grab a nice bottle of scotch and tequila. The cellar is where the Queen family kept an expensive display of fine wines and spirits that the family and the family parties indulge in. Oliver did not grab the most expensive they had but he grabbed one of the best bottles of each that the Queen family had.
Moira saw Oliver coming out with the bottles and approached him, "You and Tommy are going to be drinking in front of Jason?"
"Actually he wants some too. Mom he will be 19 soon and he has been drinking since he was little. I think it is a little late to tell him he can't drink. Look Tommy and I could use a drink. I don't think it would hurt anything if Jason has some."
"Yes, but I am trying to be a good mother and responsible parent. I don't know if I did a good job with you and Thea since you both went down the partying path, but I am trying to be better for Shaun."
"Mom, Jason is an adult. He lives here, but you can't really put rules on him like he is your child."
"I know, it is just when it comes to alcohol he is still underage. I want you and Jason to make a good example for Shaun. I don't want Shaun growing up partying like you and Thea. I can't stop Thea from partying now. I have obviously failed in raising you two in that respect."
"Mom, you did not fail us. In the environment that Jason, me, and Shaun were in... alcohol was around at times. Some clients made us, even the children, drink alcohol or take pills. I welcomed the alcohol. It helped make me numb. Shaun is not stranger to it. I am telling you this because as he gets older he may drink or do drugs. I hope he doesn't, but he told me a few times that he liked it when they made him. Said it helped him forget or not remember the client at all. Right now, mom, the three of us... we want to forget what happened today. I know it is wrong, but I need a drink too, mom."
"I see. I had no idea. I won't be mad if you do it, but I can't approve of this behavior. I do, however, understand. When the Gambit went down, I drank all the time. The loss of you and your father was more then I could handle. Until Walter and I started dating and he pulled me out of my depression. Oliver, just be careful. I can see that Jason, Shaun and especially Thea look up to you." Moira said.
"I will." Moira hugged her son and left.
Oliver went and got three glasses out of the kitchen and went upstairs. He opened the room that Tommy always stayed in when he came over and saw Jason standing near the bathroom.
"Tommy wanted to get a shower. I am just standing here in case he needs me."
"Thanks", Oliver knocked on the bathroom door and yelled over the shower. "You need anything Tommy?"
"No. I think I am good. I will be out in a few minutes."
"I think you still have a pair of you sleep pants and a t-shirt here. I will go get them and hang them on the door knob."
"Thanks." Tommy yelled back.
Oliver found the clothes for Tommy and did as he said. Oliver went to his room and grabbed the Russian Vodka that was in his crate. He was finally home. It was fitting to have a toast. He came back and Tommy was dressed and getting into the bed to lie down.
"I brought this back with me from the island. I just want to do one toast from it and then I'll put it back. It was a gift from a friend and he told me I would know when I want to use it." Oliver poured equal amounts of 1 shot in the three glasses. He handed Tommy and Jason a glass as he sat down on the large king size bed. "To freedom and Prochnost." They all toasted and enjoyed the burn as it went down.
"I am kinda partial to flavored vodka, but this is good." Jason said.
"You like fruity drinks?" Tommy asked.
"Hey, just because I am gay doesn't have anything to do with it." Jason says as he busts out laughing trying to make a joke.
"I was not even thinking that, but it is funny that you made the correlation yourself. Honestly, I like fruity mixed drinks too and I am man enough to admit it." Tommy says and all three of them bust out laughing.
"I am more of a scotch person like my dad." Oliver said. Having to tell what happened to his dad twice today, brought back memories.
"I am sorry, about your dad. I couldn't imagine what that must have been like."
"I buried him when I got to the island. There are some things that I want to tell you both, but I don't know... I..." Oliver had trouble finding the words. He wants to trust that Tommy and Jason would keep his secrets. The island, Hong Kong and even Russia, but it is hard for him to trust anyone. "There things that I want to tell you both, but I don't know. I think you might hate me. I don't know. One of my friends on the island became a brother to me. Like you both are. He betrayed me and tortured me worst than anyone had on the island. Since the island, it is so hard for me to trust... anything." Oliver says as he shakes his head.
Tommy's and Jason's heart broke from hearing Oliver's turmoil. "Oliver, man. You know I love you like a true brother. When I thought you died, it took me years of drinking and girls, to try and get over it. There was a hole in my heart. I don't think I really ever got over it. Then I heard you were alive. We all thought you were coming home. I felt like I got back a piece of myself again. Now that you are back, I feel whole again for the first time in five years. I don't think blood necessarily makes you brothers. I think true brothers can be blood or they came be made. I don't think that friend was truly your brother. If he was he would not have done that to you. I think you were trying to find a family in a horrible situation. I am your true brother and I think Jason is too, from the connection that I have seen you both have. I will never betray you. Your secrets are safe with me and I will not to judge you. You survived. Whatever, you had to do to survive? It does not matter. You made it back to us and that is all that matters." Tommy said with tears in his eyes.
"You will still hate me."
"I could never hate you." Tommy said.
"Neither could I." Jason agreed.
"Perhaps after a few more drinks, I will explain. Dinner should be here in 30 minutes. Why don't we see if there is something fun to watch on the TV? Jason, do you like sports?" Oliver asked.
"I like football."
"Great!" Oliver turned on the sports network. It seems it was basketball season, so there was no football. "Looks like it is basketball. Guess, I will have to wait another year for football."
"You did not miss much, this past year. Your favorite teams didn't do well." Tommy chuckled.
"And yours did?" Oliver asked.
"Yep" Tommy said smirking.
After they finished their dinner they brought out the tequila and scotch. They all took a number of shots. Oliver decided to tell them some of what happened to him. Someone once told him secrets have weight and he felt weighed down. Besides knowing Tommy, he won't remember much the next morning.
"I am ready to tell you all a few things." Oliver said.
"Okay?" Tommy said.
"When I first got to the island, I was starved. It had probably been 2 or 3 days on a life raft. The moment I finished burying my father, this man in a green hood shot me with an arrow through my left shoulder. He took me back to his cave. He fixed me up. I couldn't understand why he shot me, but he said it was to protect me. The next day he caught a bird for me to eat. He said I had to kill it. I couldn't do it. I told him I never killed anything before, but I did it because I was starving. I felt immense guilt for it. He told that if I wanted to survive the island the bird would not be the last thing I killed. At the time I did not realize he meant people. It's funny because now, I didn't feel one bit of remorse for killing those men today. Maybe I should have or maybe I am a monster."
"You are not a monster." Tommy said.
"That is debatable. On the island is was kill or be killed. It was literal war. My friend who was a special forces type soldier trained me. Another friend taught me how to shoot a bow and arrow and other martial arts. I can take ten or so soldiers without breaking a sweat. I can kill someone with one hand or even with my hand tied behind my back."
"Wow. That is impressive. So you have killed many people?" Tommy asks apprehensively.
"On the island it was only to escape capture or to rescue those who were captured. It was justified."
Oliver took a deep breath. He had to tell them about Hong Kong. Had to try and make Tommy understand that it is not his fault that he is a killer. "There is something else I want to tell you, so you understand why I didn't even hesitate to kill those men today. You both have to swear to me you will not tell anyone about this. I will get in a lot of trouble. It is actually classified by the government."
"Oliver, you don't have to tell us, but I swear your secrets are safe with me." Tommy said.
"You know I won't say anything either." Jason said.
All three of them were definitely tipsy. Oliver took another drink and began. "You need to know, who I am. I wasn't always on the island."
"What?" Tommy seemed shocked. "Were you in Hong Kong? I got an alert that you checked your email in Hong Kong. I went there and got kidnapped and they said you were dead."
"Yeah, I know."
"Oh, God. I need another drink." Tommy took another swig of the tequila. Oliver refrained to have anymore alcohol until he finished his story.
"On the island, there was an explosion on a freighter that my friends and I was trying to capture to get off of the island. I was knocked out and woke up in Hong Kong."
"Oh, my god. Why didn't you call us?" Tommy asked.
"I tried, but the people that had me wanted me to stay dead. They were holding me captive. I tried escaping probably 20 times. Each time they would beat the crap out of me and torture me. One time, I got a call out to mom, but it went to the answer machine here at the house. The people that had me were powerful enough to erase the message on the machine before anyone could listen to it."
"Geeze. Who were these people and what did they want with you?" Tommy said.
"I can't tell you who they were. One of the times, I escaped I managed to find an internet cafe and tried to send the email, but while I was typing it they found me and shot the computer to pieces in broad daylight. My handler was an expert martial artist and knocked me out with one kick. They took me back. I told them I would never stop trying to get home. They said I work for them now. I told them that I would never work for them. They showed me pictures of Thea coming out of school. They were watching her and told me that she had a drug problem. Said it would be easy for her to score some bad drugs. Said druggies die all the time. So I did everything they wanted to keep my sister safe."
"Fuck!" Tommy cursed. "What did they have you do? Kill for them?"
"I had no choice. When you came to town? They ordered your death since you were looking for me. I had to convince you to leave town. They ordered me to kill you. I refused and found a way to convince you to leave."
"You were the one who kidnapped me?" Tommy asked shocked.
"I told you. You would hate me. It was either that or you would be dead now. I am truly sorry I had to do that. I do not think I will ever forgive my self for that."
"Oliver." Tommy laid a hand on Oliver's arm. Oliver flinched thinking Tommy would hit him for what he did. "Oliver it is not your fault they kidnapped you. I am the one who came to Hong Kong, not knowing what I could be getting myself into. What you did saved my life. I get that."
It was Oliver who looked shocked. "You don't hate me?" Oliver was astonished of the love and understanding from his best friend.
"You were helping me survive. You had no choice to make."
"They made me kill for them. Made me kill people that I did not even know if they were innocent or not. i was an assassin. They forced me to torture people to get information. It was some of the Triad that I had to torture so they were not innocent, but still I couldn't eat for a week. I just kept throwing up from it. The people we went after basically terrorist and organized crime, but it still doesn't change the fact that they turned me into a monster. I ended up after a year working for them accidentally saving the life of the woman who had me kidnapped me in the first place. For rescuing her, she released me from working for them. I couldn't go home yet. There was this man who was responsible for killing hundreds of innocent people including a young boy who I stayed with him and his family that year. I tried my best to protect him, but in the end he was killed."
"What did you do Oliver?" Tommy saw the look of sorrow on Oliver's face.
"I tortured the man that killed him for hours. He was barley alive when the boy's parents came to stop me. Said what I did was wrong. They killed the guy and put him out of his misery. I could have gone home, but I couldn't. I felt like a monster. I was ashamed at what I did. I did not want to put that darkness on you or my family. I should have come home, but I couldn't bring myself to face you all." Oliver said and a tear slipped down his face.
"Oliver, you are not a monster. If you were you would not have remorse from what you did and since you could not face us it showed you had remorse. You were in a horrible situation. Forced to do things no one should have to do." Tommy said.
"Eventually, I found my way to Russia and to Anatoly. I join the Bratva and worked for them." He pull the shirt over so they could see his Bratva tattoo.
"I was wondering what that tattoo represented." Tommy said.
"Anatoly awarded me one of the highest positions in the Bratva for saving his life on the island. I am a Captain. Technically, I could run the Starling City Bratva, but I don't want to be apart of the Bratva's activities anymore and Anatoly has honored my request."
"Well, at least that is something." Tommy said brightening up a bit.
"When I got to Russia, I didn't want to kill anyone, but it still happened. Tortured others for them. I embraced the darkness for a while. I never killed anyone innocent. They were all horrible people, not that it mattered much I suppose. After that I found myself back on the island and the rest you know. I am a part of the Bratva, but I swear I do not work for them anymore. Anatoly knows I don't want to be apart of that life anymore. That is part of what we talked about last night before dinner. He actually encouraged me to full-fill my promise to my father instead, which I will tell you in a little bit. Tommy, I swear. I want to make up for all of my wrongs I have done. I want to be good person now. I just don't know if I can ever make up for it."
"Look, Oliver no matter your past, you are a good man. I see the way you are with Shaun and Jason. So you were lost for a while. It happens to people sometimes. You went through a lot. I am sure you will find a way to help people. Perhaps starting with helping me with Christy and Jamie."
"I will be right back." Oliver has decided to share the rest of his secret with them. He did not expect Tommy to stay loving and encouraging toward him. He went to his room and got the crate and took it back to Tommy's room. He set it in the bed and locked the door. He unlocked the crate and started to take things out. He held up the green hood.
"That is where you got the idea for the green hooded guy. Awesome!" Tommy says as he sits up against the headboard.
"Yep. It was Yao Fei's. He saved me from the people that had first tortured me. They were looking for him and he went into the enemy's camp to rescue me. Later on he betrayed me. I did not know it until later that he had no choice in that. They held his daughter Shado captive. We eventually escaped, but not before they killed Yao Fei in front of us. Shado wore the hood after that. She helped me become an expert marksman with the bow and arrow. She taught me Chinese and I fell in love with her. She was eventually killed though. If I ever wear this hood again it will be to honor them and their sacrifice. My bow and her father's bow are both in here as well. Along with my arrows." He pulled them out and laid them down on the bed.
"May I hold the bow?" Jason asked.
"Yeah, but be careful pulling the string back. It takes a lot of strength. I had to build up my muscles to even use it." Oliver said.
Jason held it and marveled at it. He then gave it to Tommy as Tommy held out his hand for it.
"This is awesome. Maybe we can go hunting sometime and you can show us?" Tommy asked excitedly.
Oliver chuckled. "You know Tommy; you are way too cool about this and everything I said."
"Oliver, I know you. Probably better than you know yourself. Your experiences and the choices you made, good or bad, changed you. How could they not? But I believe that you want to be a good man because I know deep down you are already are a good man. You have just been so lost that you are having trouble seeing what I already see in you. You will find a way to make up for things you have done. Your skills can be used for so much good. The city is falling apart. It could use a hero." Tommy said.
"Thanks, Tommy, but I am no hero. Putting on this hood and fighting crime won't do that because sometimes putting on this hood means kill or be killed. I would try and not kill, but if the person I am fighting is skilled I might not have a choice. I might have to torture someone to get information to take down a drug kingpin. I would become a monster again. Besides, I was successful today. I didn't have a panic attack, but what if I did? I would have died or possibly we all would be dead. I did not think about that at the time, but after it was over I was starting to have a panic attack. I need to get stronger. Need to get strong like I was before Chang got a hold of me."
"Maybe, but I think you held it together until we were safe because your brain knew it had to. Just like on the island or with whatever you did in Hong Kong to stop terrorist. You were in the zone. The man I saw kill those guys, was in complete control."
"You might be right, but I don't know. I am not supposed to do anything for six weeks anyway. But there is one more thing I need to show you." Oliver pulled out his dad's book. "This is another secret that you all have to keep. Okay?"
"Of course, Oliver." They both agreed.
"Before my dad died, he told me something else. He said he wasn't the man I thought he was. That he did terrible things. He thought he would have more time to right his wrongs. He made me promise to right his wrongs before he killed himself."
"That has to do with the kidnapping today."
"I think so. I think my dad was working with some very bad people and they wanted to know if he told me anything about them," Oliver said sadly.
"Well, that definitely explains today. It still doesn't explain why they beat the shit out of me."
"They were using you to make me talk. But as soon as I told them what they wanted to know, we would all be dead. It is always the way an interrogation works. Get the information and leave not witnesses."
"So that is how you knew they would kill us, because you had done that in Hong Kong?" Jason asked.
"Yes, but I was forced to. Didn't want to be on that side of things, but none of it was worth Thea's life."
"I would have done the same thing. Thea needed to be protected. That is why I don't blame you. With the Russia stuff, you were just in a very bad place in your life. I can't really blame you there either." Tommy said.
"Thanks Tommy, but mom and Thea can never know about Hong Kong. The people that did that to me are a very powerful government organization. Mom would want to do something about it if she knew and they would come after my family because I told someone. My family and I are safe from them, but if it gets out we won't be. I probably should not have said anything, but I wanted you both to understand what brought me to the place in killing those men today."
"We will not say anything. I swear. By not saying anything we are protecting Thea." Tommy says.
"Right. The unfortunate truth is that being apart of that... well... I helped stopped some very bad people that no other government entity could stop. Even the CIA has their limitations in stopping terrorists. Sometimes when criminals deal in extremes only extremes will stop them. I hated what I was doing, but I don't regret the experience because the world is a better place now than it was before. Those people that had me, dealt in the extremes. I don't agree with their methods, but it did bring results. We went after people that had biological weapons and stuff like that. I even found out later that the mercenaries on the island worked for them, but I could not make a fuss about it for Thea's sake. They were after a high ranking member of the Hong Kong Triad. I and my team were tasked to try and stop her from selling a biological weapon that could kill millions. She was auctioning it off to the highest bidder. Unfortunately we failed in the end. The weapon was deployed and thousands in Hong Kong died including the kid that I talked earlier about. Oddly enough, it turned out to be Chang's daughter."
"You mean that lady that raped and tortured us?" Jason asked.
"Same one. I don't think she recognized me or maybe she did and did not say anything. Tommy, she and her friends are the reason I don't really feel like being with a woman right now."
"I am sorry Oliver, but you know not all women are like that?" Tommy said.
"I know. Laurel touched my face today and I saw a flash of that woman touching me. I flinched and backed up. Started scratching again. I had to explain it to Laurel. I didn't want to, but I did not want her to think it was her fault."
"The flashes are the PTSD. You will eventually recover from this Oliver. It will just take time. I will be there with you every step of the way. Same for you, Jason and Shaun if I can. I will be there for you both." Tommy said.
"You have no idea the relief it is for me to hear that. I needed to share this with someone, but I was afraid I would loose your friendship." Oliver said.
"You will never loose me Ollie." Tommy said as he lightly hugged Oliver.
Jason also came to hug Oliver. "You are our brother. Nothing you say or do will tear that apart." Jason says.
"Thanks guys. I feel such a weight lifted off of me. You have no idea." Oliver wiped away the stray tear of happiness. He held up his father's book. "This was on my father when he died. It has lists of names. Adam Hunt is one of them. There are others in here. So far the ones I looked up on the internet are not good people. I think this is what my father meant by righting his wrongs. I think he worked with these people some how and maybe I don't know... I am supposed to destroy them. Maybe their businesses or something."
"Well, what I know is that Adam Hunt has that club that that Christy and Jamie work at. Also, he is under investigation for swindling people out of their life savings. Laurel was talking about it once. He stole about 30 million from people's life savings. Can I see it?" Tommy asked.
"I might me able to get the people's money back, but I need to determine if he really is keeping Christy, Jamie, and Megan against their will, first. I think we should stick to our plan about getting to know them and see what the situation is. Like I said I won't be able to do anything for six weeks. What I did last night and taking out those men today pulled on my muscles. The doctor said I am fine, but I could have hurt myself. Believe it or not, taking out a bullet or stitching myself up I can do, but I have no idea about internal injuries."
"We should definitely take our time so they can be rescued successfully."
"We? Tommy, rescuing them, if they are needing to be rescued which we are still not sure if they are there against their will, will be dangerous. I would be forced to kill Adam Hunt and whoever might take over the business. If anyone starts the business back up after I kill Adam, Christy and them will get pulled back into that life. That business will have to be decimated which will mean a lot of blood on my hands. You okay, with that Tommy?"
"If it means the love of my life won't get raped anymore, then I am very okay with it. I would even help you if I could." Tommy says with conviction.
"Me too. Jamie and I care about each other. If they are being forced like we were then we have to help them and anyone else. They deserve freedom just like we got, right?" Jason asked.
"Okay we will do this together, but neither one of you are getting anywhere near the danger. Agreed?"
"Agreed." They both said. Tommy finally had hope that he was going to get his girl back. Oliver put everything back in his trunk and put it under the bed.
"Let's toast to freedom and happy endings." Tommy said.
They all toasts and got pretty much wasted. After a couple of hours, Oliver went down to get snacks for all them. He had some applesauce, but made some popcorn for them. They drank some more and then they fell asleep on Tommy's bed with Oliver in the middle. Jason snuggled up to Oliver as usual and he laid his head on Oliver's chest. Oliver instinctively wrapped an arm around Jason's waist protectively.
Later that night Moira poked her head in to check on her boys and Thea. Shaun was sound asleep in his bed. She saw that Oliver and Jason were not there. She went to Tommy's room and saw them all passed out. She grabbed a blanket from the closet and covered them up since they all passed out on top of the bedspread. She smiled at them until she saw the alcohol bottles almost empty. At least their punishment will be a major hangover tomorrow, she thought to herself. She left and went to bed.
Oliver, Tommy, and Jason had a plan to rescue Christy, Jamie, and Felicity. Oliver had more confidence in himself now after he rescued everyone today at the warehouse. He actually felt like maybe he can help Christy and her friends. He just need to get a bit stronger.
End Notes:
Hope you liked it. Laurel and Oliver will remain friends, but nothing romantic will happen between them. Felicity is Oliver's girl or at least she will be as this story progresses. They will meet each other in the next chapter. I have it planned for their meeting and time together to take up the majority of the chapter. I wanted to do it in this chapter, but it was too much to fit in.