Star City, Night
A group of police officers led by Quentin stood outside an empty building preparing to storm the building, arriving at the entrance Quentin turned around to address his men. "Hugo Mannheim. Warrants out for racketeering, extortion, murder- the goombah trifecta. But he never travels alone, so watch your back, watch your partner's back. Let's go." He said and he and fellow brothers cocked their weapons and entered the building.
On a nearby rooftop, Oliver and Laurel dressed in their masks and suits watched Quentin and his men rushed into the building. "You really think Slade will come after my dad?" Laurel asked him.
"He's gonna come after everyone I'm close to Laurel and that includes your family to," Oliver replied, then both he and Laurel turned their heads to the building once they heard gunfire and then rushed inside to cover the cops.
"This is the SCPD! Put your weapons on the ground!" Quentin shouted in the air and eventually, he and the others saw the criminals and the opened fire on them. "Move, move, move!" One of the cops said and they began to scatter.
As an officer got shot down, Oliver fired an arrow at his shooter into his shoulder before he could kill him. Moving around Oliver shot another thug, pinning this one to the wall by his hand. Laurel meanwhile, stopped three thugs in her tracks. Gripping her tonfa by the handle, Laurel slammed it with her entire forearm to one thug's head and then backhanded her weapon into another's knocking them both out. The third she push kicked him in the chest causing him to fall to the ground which she then quickly kicked him in his face with her foot. The criminals then started to flee and Quentin chased after them.
"Freeze!" Quentin yelled but one turned and fired a round, causing Quentin to drop to the floor. Seeing her father injured Laurel rushed over to him removing his shirt, Laurel saw that the bullet hit his kevlar vest. "I'm fine. Go. Go!" He shouted at her and Laurel resumed his chase, particularly she wanted the man who shot at her dad.
Oliver followed one of the criminals outside, notching an arrow back, he fired it and it released cables that wrapped around the man's legs which caused him to fall. Drawing back an arrow, Oliver approached the man but recognized him immediately. "Frank Bertinelli?" Oliver said.
"My daughter send you to kill me?" Frank asked the Green Arrow.
However, before Oliver could respond he heard the sound of glass shattering from Laurel's sonic device. Back inside the building, all the men in the building were brought their knees in pain from her sonic device. Pulling out her tranq gun, Laurel shot fired her tranq darts at three of them. Knocking the last one out of with the handle of her gun and then came to the last thug the one that shot her dad. Holstering her gun, Laurel grabbed him by the collar and kneed him several times in the chest. She then grabbed his right hand and took one of his fingers. "Be grateful I didn't throw you out a window." She said and the pulled his trigger finger back so much it snapped, he wouldn't be using a gun for a while. Eventually, the police sirens came and both the vigilantes had to leave the scene.
Later on, Quentin approached his daughter and the Green Arrow. "Hey." He addressed them.
"Dad, are you all right? Are you hurt?" Laurel asked worriedly.
"Yeah, I'm fine, sweetheart. Just pissed that the second my leg's back to normal, I get shot." He said annoyed.
"Detective," Oliver said his back turned against the two of them. "We have another problem."
"Yeah, I know. With Frank Bertinelli in custody, it's just a matter of time before his daughter rolls back in town." Quentin said painfully aware of their situation as he then left the two.
"No offense Ollie, but I always imagined I'd have to beat off one of your crazy exes someday." Laurel joked and Oliver gave her an annoyed expression. "I just never thought it would be so literal."
Arrowcave Bunker
As the team began looking at pictures of Helena on the computer screen before Felicity spoke up. "I've been keeping tabs on Helena over the past year. Last known sighting was a month ago in Palermo."
"She's been busy," Oliver commented.
"If by busy you mean 'torturing and killing any Mafioso's that might know where her father is." Felicity replied as she brought up images on the screen of Helena's victims."
"Bertinelli's arrest just hit the wire, how long do you think it takes her to head home?" Dig asked.
"Not long," Oliver said solemnly. "Until then whatever plans you have for the next few days cancel them."
"It's a good thing I gave up any and all plans once I started working for you," Felicity cheekily replied and left for her work station.
"Oliver, sidebar," Laurel asked him.
"Sure," Oliver said and the two went to a little more private. "What's up?"
"I don't think I'll be able to help you take down your psycho ex-girlfriend." She stated.
"What! Why? He said.
"I've got hearing with the State Bar Association, depending on how it goes will determine whether or not I'll keep my license." She explained. "If you want I can try to work something out-"
"No, Laurel." He said cutting her off. "This is too important. Laurel, I've seen how much you've missed being a lawyer and for you to be one again; you can't give that up." He said and she smiled. "Let me know how it goes okay?"
"I will." She replied and left him after delivering a kiss.
Star City State Bar, Daytime
Laurel sat down in front of the bar association committee, she felt like a girl being sent to the principal's office; something that happened to Sara more than her she amusingly thought. Eventually, one of the board members spoke up. "Miss Lance. I think that adjourns our review of your actions in the last few months. Before we make our final decision, is there anything that you wish to say as a final statement?" The Chairwoman asked.
"Yes, Ma'am," Laurel answered and got to her feet from the desk. "Like many people in Star City, I was affected by the Undertaking caused by Malcolm Merlyn. I lost someone ... someone I loved. And, the grief and pain that came with it changed me ... and when it did, it affected my ability as a lawyer. I became a lawyer to help people but when Quake happened I couldn't help anyone least of all Tommy, I started thinking about what good is being a lawyer if I can't at least help the people I love. And it's that thinking that affected my ability to be a lawyer, I've behaved in a manner that is without a doubt made my conduct as an officer of the court disdainful. I will understand and respect whatever decision this committee decides to do in regards to my future as an attorney. But if I am allowed to continue as one, this situation will not happen again. Because I've realized in this last month or so that I love being a lawyer, I miss it, and I ... I don't want to lose it regardless of my current feelings to the limitations of the law to get justice." She addressed the members of the bar and then sat back down.
"Thank you, Miss Lance. We will reconvene in about an hour or so and let you know when we've made our final decision." The Chairwoman stated as she and the others left the room, leaving Laurel to herself.
An hour or so later, Laurel walked out of the building down the large steps; a huge feeling of relief passed over her, the committee had allowed her to keep her license. She was glad that she could still be a lawyer, but know the current problem was finding a new job. "Laurel!" A familiar voice said to her causing her to turn around, it was her former boss from the DA's office, Adam Donner.
"Adam?" She said surprised to see him here as he jogged slightly to get close to her.
"I just heard, congratulations." He said with a smile.
"Thank you. I didn't know you were checking up on me." She said.
"Professional curiosity." He stated. "Listen, Laurel, I'm sorry about how I had to let you go."
"No, Adam. I understand." She countered, while she and the Team still had their suspicions about Sebastian Blood for all intents and purposes she was wrong about him. "You were just doing your job, which had to involve firing me."
"Well, how would you like your old job back?" He asked.
"You want me back?" She asked surprised.
"I'm looking for someone to try this case that just came in, and honestly, yours was the first name that came to mind. An SCPD raid last night brought in Frank Bertinelli. He came back to Star City to collect on some old debts. Now, the DA's office is clear to prosecute him; for you to prosecute him." He explained in detail.
"I appreciate the offer, Adam, but why me?" She asked.
"Well, there are Rico counts that your time at CNRI that make you ideally suited for." He lied. "Laurel, it's a case. If you want it, it's yours. But only if you're ready." He asked and Laurel didn't even have to contemplate whether or not she wanted to do it or not.
Verdant, Night
The Night club was busy tonight, lots of partying and music going on. Roy and Thea were there talking to each other. "What's the special occasion?" Thea asked and Roy pulled out a jewelry box.
"I got paid," Roy answered and gave Thea the box. "So, you know, if you don't think it's nice enough, you only have yourself to blame for not giving me that raise." He joked.
"Oh! Roy, I love it. Thank you." She happily exclaimed as she saw a beautiful bracelet and two began kissing deeply.
"Mm-hmm." Roy hummed as he was enjoying her lips immensely but he opened his eyes he saw Team Arrow at the bar minus Laurel. "Hey, give me, give me a second, I forgot to put an order in."
"Ok." She said and he left her.
"Hey, what's going on?" Roy asked them.
"I got a line on Michael Staton, Helena's fiancé," Felicity answered.
"Felicity, he's been dead for five years." Dig pointed out.
"Which makes the fact that he rented a car last night very impressive." Felicity pointed out.
"That's Helena," Oliver said stating the obvious.
"The car's got GPS, I hacked into it. Yeah. She's heading straight for Star City." Felicity mentioned.
"You ready to get back in the field?" Oliver asked Roy.
"I thought you'd never ask," Roy said confidently.
Streets of Star City
A black car drove down Star City's streets at high speed but then came to an abrupt stop when it saw the Green Arrow right in front of it, pulling his arrow back with his compound bow. "It's over, Helena!" Oliver yelled. The car then tried to pull out but John was blocking his path, wearing a balaclava, and pointed a gun at the driver. Roy in his signature red hoodie walked up to the car but the driver then rolled down the window and pulled out a firearm at Roy's face.
"Gun!" Dig shouted and Roy quickly covered it with his hand as it then fired. The bullet still in his hand, he pulled it back trembling. Going into an enraged trance, he reached into the car and threw the driver out; he was thrown into a fence that was broken and the driver landed on the ground. Oliver got a look at the driver, it was a caucasian man and thus obviously not Helena.
"Aah! Don't hurt me!" The driver said crawling away from Roy who was menacingly approaching him.
"Stand Down!" Oliver yelled at Roy but he ignored him. "Stand ... down." He repeated slowly but Roy was ignoring him and then grabbed the driver intending to do harm to him. "Speedy! Enough!" He shouted and Roy began to come out of it. "He's just Helena's decoy." Still shaken, Roy backed off and Oliver confronted the driver. "Where is she?"
"I don't know! Some chick just told me to take this thing for a joyride. I swear! Please don't kill me, I'm getting married next month." The driver pleaded.
"Just drive," Oliver ordered.
Arrowcave Bunker, Morning
"According to the SCPD, the guy that gave Helena a ride into town is a 22-year-old Poly Sci major at SCU, and a member of Gamma Tau, which totally explains the whole "I didn't know I was aiding and abetting a known felon thing," Felicity said showing Oliver the files on her computer. "Anyone with boobs can get a frat boy to do anything." She commented.
"I was a frat boy," Oliver said flatly.
"I rest my case," Felicity replied cheekily.
"At least she didn't kill him. That's something." Oliver pointed out.
"It's not like Helena to show restraint." Dig mentioned.
"Keep tabs on the police. Let me know if they get any leads on her." Oliver ordered. "I'll do some canvassing." He then proceeded to walk over to Roy. "Hey ... you ok?"
"Yeah," Roy said and unwrapping the bandages from his hand, the wound had already started to heal as it started to close up. "By this time tomorrow, it'll be like nothing happened. That's one upside to Mirakuru."
"The only one." Oliver exhaled heavily as he then sat across from Roy.
"Look, I know what you're going to say. I had it under control last night." Roy argued.
"Yeah, so under control that I almost put another arrow in you." Oliver countered.
"I was going to back off, but you never gave me a chance." Roy snapped back at him.
"The only thing that snapped you out of it was when I brought up Thea," Oliver told the hothead.
Roy then briefly scoffed at a certain realization. "That's why you called me Speedy. I, I thought you were trying to give me a nickname. But for the record, don't call me Speedy." Roy asked in an annoyed manner.
"Noted," Oliver said flatly. "Roy, you're dangerous. I thought I was helping you control it."
"You are. I mean, I can't look at a bowl of water without slapping it." Roy protested to him.
Oliver simply sighed. "The first time that you're out in the field in weeks, and you're ready to kill somebody?" He told him.
"Come on," Roy said disappointed.
"I'm sorry, I should have asked you to do this months ago." Oliver brought up shaking his head.
"Asked me to do what?" Roy wondered worriedly.
Oliver breathed out deeply before saying. "Stay away from Thea."
"No, I, I can't!" Roy argued.
"She's not safe when she's around you. I'm not sure anybody is when you lose yourself to this rage. You love her. And that's why you're going to do what I'm asking." Oliver ordered him to do as gently as he possibly could.
"Uh-oh!" Felicity said catching Oliver's attention.
"Helena?" Oliver asked.
"Laurel." Felicity corrected and then brought up the news report on her computer. "ADA Adam Donner announced the return of Laurel Lance to the DA's office after a brief sabbatical. She will lead the prosecution of Mr. Bertinelli. Jury selection starts today." The reporter stated, leaving Oliver and the team startled with surprise.
DA's office
Laurel was going through the files Adam had collected for her at the DA's office, suddenly her phone rang and since her dad had already called that left her boyfriend, she was right. "I'm guessing this about me not telling you I'm the lead on Frank Bertinelli's case?" She said answering her phone.
"Definitely," Oliver replied in an irritated manner. "I'm guessing your meeting at the state bar went well?" He asked.
"It did. And, I'm sorry I didn't give you the heads up on this sooner. Donner approached me right after meeting was finished and it happened so fast I ... I just didn't have time to fill you on it." She said slightly disappointed in herself.
"Laurel it's fine, really." He reassured her. "I just wish I had known, 'cause I would have told you how happy I am for you."
"Thank you, and your right Ollie. Being back here I've realized how much I've loved and missed being a lawyer." She explained.
"I'll see you soon. Love you." He told her.
"Love you too." She replied and hung up her phone to get back to work.
Arrowcave Bunker
"Non-Lethal arrows," Dig commented as he was noticing Oliver working on his arrow and they're almost harmless arrowheads. "It's not like you to fight with kid gloves. How's Roy."
"Like Helena, he's not to please with me as a mentor," Oliver answered.
"What about Laurel, how's she doing with the trial," Dig asked.
"Eager. Maybe too eager." Oliver realized. "I think I'll go to the courthouse, just in case."
"You know Oliver, Laurel can take care of herself. She's not helpless." Dig said out loud as Oliver left.
"Never said she was!" Oliver replied with equal volume.
Star City Courthouse
Laurel walked into the courtroom lobby and saw that Oliver was there. "If I didn't know any better I'd say you were being overprotective." She commented.
"No, I just wanted to watch the trial. I heard the prosecutor was something special." Oliver said turning on his charm, causing Laurel to smile. She and Oliver took notice of the two guards bringing Helena's father in, which they both found unusual as defendants were brought in the back of the courthouse.
"That's odd. Why are they bringing him in through the front entrance?" She mentioned and then clattering sound and they looked to see that it was a smoke grenade.
"Everybody get down!" Oliver shouted and took both Laurel and himself to the floor.
As the smoke released from the bomb, covering most of the room, and just then two cross bolts then put down the two guards escorting Frank. As he started to get up, he saw his daughter dressed as the Huntress walk into the room. "Hi, dad. Sorry, I'm late, but you're a hard man to track down." Helena said sarcastically pointing her crossbow at him. "But it's fitting that you came back to here. Where it all began. Where you killed Michael."
"You know, I almost feel sorry for you," Frank stated in a smug manner.
"Helena," Oliver said getting to feet and she immediately pulled out a second crossbow pointed it at him. "Stop this."
"Oliver, you know I can't." She told him.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" Frank said agitatedly bringing his daughter's attention back to her. "I said, what are you waiting for?!"
Suspicious, Helena moved to her father, and using her crossbow to open his shirt, saw that he was wearing a wire; Frank then started chuckling as the SWAT team came in guns armed at Helena. "Helena Bertinelli put down your weapons and place your hands above your head." The SWAT Captain Stein ordered.
"So this was a big trap ... with you as the bait." Helena realized. "What did they offer you?"
"Ah, they didn't have to offer me anything," Frank responded but Helena just smiled, like this was nothing for her.
"Give up, Miss Bertinelli, the building's surrounded." Captain Stein said.
"What was it you always taught me, Daddy? Be prepared for anything." She said to her father and then immediately, half of the crowd pulled out guns and opened fire of the police, which they returned fire.
"Fall back, fall back!" One of the cops said.
"Take hostages, and fall back," Helena ordered her men.
Oliver and Laurel both tried to escape heading inside the courthouse but Laurel got separated from him; Oliver did, however, managed to grab Frank. Moving as quickly as possible, Laurel found cover elsewhere. Meanwhile, Oliver managed to get outside but was met with guns by cops. "Hey, hold your fire, hold your fire! They have hostages!" Oliver defended himself as he placed his hands up in the air.
"Hold fire. Say it again, hold fire. They've taken hostages. They've taken hostages." Captain Stein said repeated, the other copes grabbed Bertinelli and Oliver saw Quentin come up to him.
"Where's Laurel? Is she with you?" Quentin asked worriedly.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Lance, we got separated. She's still inside." Oliver told him apologetically.
Star City Courthouse, Night
As the sun came down, police and tv cameras gathered around the building bringing the spotlight to this city's current crisis. "We are live outside the Star City courthouse, where Helena Bertinelli and an unknown number of assailants seized control of the entire building." The news reporter said and then responded to the earpiece. "And I'm now being told, they are holding a number of hostages inside."
"I want snipers with thermals on top of every building for a two-block radius." Captain Stein ordered his men as they were convening in the police van.
"This was not how it was supposed to go down, Captain! "You promised me there wouldn't be any casualties!" Adam Donner shouted at him.
"This was your idea, huh?" Quentin said overhearing him and became furious as he walked over to him. "You son of a bitch!" He said and slugged Donner, with the rest cops trying to keep Quentin off of Donner from killing him. "Hey, my daughter's in there! What were you guys thinking, putting all those innocent lives at risk?" He addressed the SWAT team.
"Listen! I was following orders." Stein stated trying to defend himself.
"Orders?!" Quentin said realized that this was the DA office's idea.
The telephone then began to ring and Captain Stein answered it. "Ms. Bertinelli. No one has to die today." He told her.
"My father does. And unless you hand him over to me, I'm going to start killing hostages." Helena stated and then hung up the phone.
"See this, Mr. Donner, is what happens when you let freaks with masks run wild. Get them the hell out of here." Stein ordered and the offices dragged Quentin and Donner away.
Walking away Quentin pulled out his phone and called the Green Arrow, suddenly Oliver's phone rang and saw that Quentin was calling his alter ego; Quentin then looked at Oliver suspiciously. "It's my mom." Oliver lied and walked away from him. "Detective." He answered the phone masking his voice.
"Helena Bertinelli just took ten hostages. Laurel's one of them." Quentin filled him in.
"Yeah, I'm aware of the situation," Oliver stated and his cell phone vibrated it was Felicity.
"Oliver, where are you? Are you ok?" Felicity asked.
"I'm with Lance as Oliver, and he just called the Green Arrow," Oliver explained.
"Oh. Oh!" Felicity exclaimed as the lightbulb went off in her head. "It's getting really hard to keep track of who knows whose secret identity." She told Dig.
"Felicity, Laurel is still inside the courthouse," Oliver told her.
"What do you need, Oliver?" Felicity asked.
"My work clothes." He asked.
"I'm on it," Dig said on the move.
Verdant
Roy was busting dishes as everyone around was partying to the music, eventually, a guy knocked into Roy causing to drop the dishes. "Dude, watch it," Roy said.
"Screw you!" The guy said, pissing Roy off. He then grabbed him and started squeezing with his enhanced strength. As the jerk started groaning in pain, Roy eventually came to once he saw Thea. Letting go of him, Roy cut through the crowd to get her as just now he realized that Oliver was right.
"Thea, we need to break up." He told Roy abruptly.
"What?! No." Thea said stunned by what she was hearing.
"What do you mean, no? Thea, I'm breaking up with you." He said reluctantly
"No, you're not." She countered.
"You can't make me date you." He told her.
"Roy, yesterday you gave me a bracelet worth every dime that you had, and now what, you want to end things? Look, you're clearly going through something right now, and I'm not going to let you go through it alone. I'm always going to be here for you." She said touching him reassuringly.
"Sorry, Thea." One of her employees said interrupting the two. "The guy from the private party said we stocked the wrong vodka, and he's freaking me out."
Thea sighed in annoyance. "Look, we'll talk about this later, ok?" She said leaving him to wonder how he was going to break up to her.
Star City Courthouse
Laurel moved through the darkened hallway trying to avoid detection but was suddenly ambushed from behind. Her attacker struck her once in the back of the head, hard. But the second he did, Laurel returned the favor with a back elbow to his face. Gripping him by his shoulders, she then repeatedly kneed him several times in his gut and once in his crouch. Grabbing his rifle from him, Laurel then struck him in the face with the butt of his shotgun; knocking him out. Laurel searched his person and found an extendable baton on his person, grabbing it and rifle. Going through the building, Laurel came across another door and got inside, getting behind a desk she sat and waited as two of Helena's thugs walked by.
Sighing in relief. Laurel pulled out her cell phone she swiped earlier and the quickly called Felicity. "Felicity." She said over the phone.
"Laurel. Oh my god, are you okay?" Felicity asked worriedly.
"Not really. Listen get me in touch with Ollie." Laurel asked.
"Laurel are you okay?" Oliver asked now dressed as the Green Arrow, as he was now sharing Felicity's phone call with her.
"Physically I'm good. But right now I'm just realizing how stupid I am." She told him in a rather depressed manner.
"Laurel," Oliver replied sympathetically.
"The only reason I'm here is because I'm decoration, expendable decoration. This whole trial was a shame wasn't it?" She asked.
"I'm sorry, Laurel, this was apparently Donnor's plan to capture Helena." He informed her.
"And now we have a hostage situation." Felicity cut into the conversation.
"Which means we need to save them." Laurel pointed out. "Any ideas?"
"First you need to get out of there!" Oliver ordered.
"No, wait. I can't." Laurel said.
"Laurel you can't stay there!" He reminded her.
"Oliver, Helena, she will kill all those people. I can't just leave them here to die." She said. "Ollie what would you do if you were me?" She asked and then hug up.
"Laurel!" Oliver yelled, but deep down he knew she had him there.
Later on
Helena got up close with one of the hostages and noticed an engagement ring on her finger. "I was almost married once," Helena told her as the woman as she began crying. "It's been an hour, and I'm a woman of my word. Just ask my father." She said addressing her men and then aimed her crossbow at the hostage.
"No, please." The woman begged for her life.
"Helena! Helena, can you hear me?" Laurel said through the speaker system. "This is Laurel Lance, do you remember me?"
"Of course. Nice to hear from you again, Laurel?" Helena said with a smirk. "Why don't you come out? I'd love to catch up."
"Oh, sounds fun," Laurel replied sarcastically in the security room. "Just let the hostages go and we'll hit the nearest restaurant."
"Sorry can't do that." Helena refused. She then looked at her men and spoke to them in a lower voice. "You two with me, I don't think she'll give us that much trouble." She ordered and left the rest of the hostages with her remaining crew.
The three eventually found the security station where Laurel had to use the speaker system, Helena gave the nod for one of her men to go ahead. His gun held ready to fire, he opened the door and saw no one. Cautiously moving forward, Laurel who was hiding behind the door then pushed it back hard, the door hitting the goon in the front and a section of the entrance. As Laurel then hit flat on his head with the baton she had swiped earlier, Helena and her other accomplice reacted to by drawing their weapons but they couldn't get the shot without hitting him. Once Laurel was finished with the thug at the door, she dropped her baton and took the shotgun from earlier and fired it at the lackey, Laurel felt he must have some kind of protection like the others so he should live. Cocking her shotgun again to fire, Laurel aimed at Helena but she simply shot the gun with cross-bolt deflecting it enough for Helena to rush Laurel.
Pushing Laurel against the wall, Helena holding the shotgun against her body then moved it up and struck Laurel in the face with it. Losing her grip of the weapon, Helena deprived her of it and throw it aside. Shoving her back, Laurel then kicked Helena in the chest causing her to stumble back. Moving forward, Laurel began punching at Helena. While she was defending herself, Laurel still landed some solid punches to her. Focusing on her gut, Helena then managed to grab Laurel's hand and maneuvered behind her; twisting her arm behind her back.
"I'm starting to see Oliver has a type." Helena snarked noting her ex-lover's penchant for ass-kicking women. Helena then tripped Laurel with her foot and pinned her to the ground. Elbowing her in the face, Laurel tried escaping but Helena wrapped her arm around her neck then pulled her up and shoved her against Laurel the nearby office cubicle. Seeing her disorientated, Helena then threw Laurel threw the cubicle's glass, shattering it and knocking Laurel out.
Helena then noticed Laurel's phone had fallen on the ground during their fight and it was ringing, and Helena had a good guess who was one the other line. "Laurel! Laurel!" Oliver yelled as Helena answered the phone.
"Sorry, Oliver, this is the other ex-girlfriend," Helena said sarcastically.
"Helena, listen to me. This has to end." Oliver pleaded desperately assuming Laurel was still alive.
"I agree. And it ends with my father in a box." Helena told him.
"The police are never going to hand over your father!" He yelled.
"No, they won't. That's why you're going to do it. Simple trade, my father for Laurel." Helena demanded as looked over her unconscious hostage.
Verdant
"Hey, guys? We need more vodka." Thea said from outside the storage room door and once she opened it, she saw Roy and some blonde girl kissing each other heavily. Roy and the girl both stopped once they saw Thea. "Ok ... I'll get it myself." She said completely stunned and heartbroken.
Outside of the Courthouse
"Where are you taking me?" Frank demanded as the officers took away.
"Safehouse." One of them replied.
"Listen, the front's mobbed with reporters. Let's take Bertinelli out the back." Quentin said coming in and escorted them to location. "Bring the van around." He yelled as a masked Dig did just that.
"Ow!." One of the officers said as two tranq darts incapacitated the two cops.
"Whoa! What the hell?" Frank exclaimed as Quentin shoved him in the van.
"Don't worry about it. Just get in the van!" Quentin replied and slammed the door. "SWAT's getting ready to breach the courthouse." He told the vigilante.
"Then we make the trade now," Oliver said.
"Listen, I'm not going to lose any sleep over Frank. But are you really going to serve him up to his daughter?" Quentin asked.
"No. No one dies tonight." Oliver told him adamantly.
Star City Courthouse
"Uh. Uhh." Laurel began to wake up on the floor, she was now stuck with the hostages. Getting she noticed a dark-haired woman crying. "Hey, hey it's gonna be okay."
"Quiet. No more talking." Helena said furiously.
"We talk that night," Laurel recalled trying to get Helena to empathize with her and her captives. "At dinner, you, me, Oliver, and Tommy. I know about your fiance."
"So does that make us girlfriends?" Helena replied sarcastically.
"Helena, I know what it's like to lose someone," Laurel said.
"Ahh, did Tommy dump you?" Helena asked with a smirk.
"No. He died." Laurel answered and gradually, Helena's smirk began to fade. "Helena I know what it's like to lose a man you love. I know all the anger that comes with it, the darkness. But it's not too late. Helena, you can stop. You don't have to let the darkness win." She pleaded.
"Your wrong Laurel. Once you let the darkness inside, it never comes out." Helena stated grimly and suddenly the telephone began to ring.
"Helena. I have your father." Oliver told her and she smiled and hummed.
"I want four men teams, diamond formations," Stein ordered his men as they began to lock and load. "Move fast, shoot sharp. One more thing, vigilantes are not the law. If they're wearing a mask, they get a bullet. Let's move out." He ordered loudly.
As SWAT moved in the building the hostages were then safe and secured and exiting the building, and they then came across Helena herself in another room. "Hands up, Bertinelli! Do it now!" SWAT yelled.
Turning around, the cops saw that it was not Helena, but one of the hostages in her Huntress outfit. "Please." The woman said terrified and crying. "She, she told me, she told me to wear it or she'd kill me!" She explained.
"Where the hell is she?" Stein asked."
Wearing a police uniform, Helena escorted Laurel through the crowd; with a gun pressing Laurel in the back. "So much as twitch Laurel, and I can't say someone in this crowd won't get killed in the crossfire." She told her captive.
"So you're just going to hand me over to my daughter? I thought you were the good guys!" Frank protested as Quentin was driving the van to the meeting spot.
"Shut up!" Quentin yelled at him.
"You know. You have only yourself to blame for this." Oliver told Frank.
"Figures you side with her," Frank replied with a shrug.
"I don't! I don't agree with anything she's done but her hating you, I don't blame her one bit for that." Oliver stated. "Do even regret what you've turned Helena into, if not then you should." He finished leaving the gangster to contemplate the vigilante's words.
Gail Street and Simone
Oliver, Dig, and Quentin stood around with Frank in a nearby old machine shop, the three were waiting for Helena and Laurel. "Well, this is irony for you, dad," Helena said out loud as she stepped out of the shadows, still holding Laurel at gunpoint. "Didn't you have Jimmy D'Agostino's body buried under the building next door?"
"I'm sorry, my girl." Frank expressed to her.
"Now you're about to die, I'm sure you are." She smirked.
"No. I'm sorry for that little girl I used to take to ballet class. Go on ski trips with. The one I used to help with her math homework. Oh, she hated math." He laughed at the memory of it. "Sorry that I caused her so much hurt. 'Cause she brought me so much joy." He finished and as hard as she tried a part of her felt something right now. But her fury quickly returned and she shoved Laurel aside on the ground and taking out her crossbow, aimed it at her father.
"Helena! Don't kill him. You can never come back from that." Oliver pleaded in vain.
"It's too late. I'm already gone. Bye, Dad." She said.
Before Helena could the trigger, however, Captain Stein having tracked them down and opened fire on them. "Damn vigilantes! He shouted and everyone scattered from the scene to avoid his gunfire. He jumped out of from his cover, and fire again. "You went above the law!" Oliver fired an arrow, but Stein avoided it and went to pursue him.
Looking for her father, Helena then saw Laurel in front of her and the attorney started walking towards her. "Last time we did this, I threw you through a window." Helena boastingly reminded her.
"Thing is Helena, I try never to lose to someone twice," Laurel replied walking towards her and delivered a flying knee strike which Helena blocked even though it pushed her back. Delivering a series of quick front kicks, Helena blocked some of them with her shins but then managed to grab the last one by her ankle but Laurel then kicked Helena in the face with her other leg; which sent them both to ground. As Helena started to get up, she noticed Laurel was staying low and spun around to kick her.
Notching an arrow back, Oliver slowly moved around looking for the renegade cop. He then caught sight of the SWAT Captain, who then moved to shoot but Quentin and snuck up behind him and knocked him out cold. The two nodded at each other, as Oliver then left to go deal with Helena.
As the fight between Helena and Laurel continued, Laurel began to gain the upper hand; as she had realized from their previous bout that Helena was a grappler, better in the art than Laurel herself she had to admit. But she knew exactly how to deal with grapplers. Making sure to stay on her feet, Laurel endured the blow of Helena's knee strike and then landed a kidney punch, right in Helena's kidney. Quickly circling her, Laurel kicked Helena between her thigh and calf causing her to drop to her knee. Wrapping her arm around Helena's neck, Laurel then delivered several elbow strikes to Helena's head. Letting go, Helena fell to the ground disorientated.
"For what it's worth Helena ... I think you're right... about the darkness," Laurel said with heavy breaths.
"Laurel!" Oliver shouted.
"I'm good!" Laurel replied loudly, she then leaned down and grabbed the Huntress and dragged her to where Oliver was. However, Laurel loosened her grip, and Helena broke free once they both saw, Frank Bertinelli, on the ground, dead. Rushing over to his corpse, Helena kneeled down distraught.
"No." Helena gasped. "It was supposed to be me." She murmured as the sound of police sirens went off in the background.
"All right, Bertinelli, that's enough," Quentin said cuffing her from behind and gave a look to the Green Arrow. "Go." He insisted and the archer left the scene. "You okay baby?" He turned to ask Laurel.
"I'm fine, daddy," She replied as the cops appeared.
SCPD Interrogation Room
Oliver walked into the interrogation room where he saw Helena, her hair tied back, wearing a prison jumpsuit, and bound in chains. Oliver gave the signal and the guard left the room for the moment, as Oliver took a seat.
"How did you get in here? Helena asked curiously.
"My family makes a generous donation to the policemen's retirement fund." Oliver started to explain. "And every once in awhile, I get to call in a favor."
"Hmm. Maybe you could ask them to send me to a prison somewhere tropical." She replied sarcastically but then let out a deep sigh. "You know, I thought I'd feel different now that he's dead, but I don't. And you always told me that... killing him wouldn't change anything. You were right." She finally admitted.
"But I was wrong, too." He countered.
"About what?" She asked confused.
"I thought I could help you. Stop you from being a killer, but ... I was just starting. And I was a killer, too." He acknowledged.
"And what are you now?" She asked.
"I'm trying to be better." He admitted. "And, ... while we're at it, you were also right about Laurel. I was still in love with when was with you, I tried to move on from her with but, um, obviously I couldn't. I'm sorry about that Helena."
Chuckling a little, Helena gave a small smirk. "Well ... at least I was right about that. Tell your girlfriend I want a rematch with her someday." She quipped.
"I'll pass it along." He agreed with a slight chuckle, he then noticed her doing the same. "What's so funny?"
"It's so stupid, but... I keep thinking, now that he's dead, my father and Michael are together, and... I'm still here. Alone." She realized sadly, shedding a tear.
"You're not alone." He reassured her touching her handcuffed hand, which brought her a slight smile to her face. Eventually, two officers came back into the room and escorted her out of the room; leaving Oliver to himself.
DA's Office
District Attorney, Kate Spencer, was in her office cleaning up the mess from today's office just then Laurel walked into her office catching her attention. "Look, on behalf of the entire DA's office, I have to apologize. Adam Donner's employment here has been terminated. Obviously we had no idea what he was plotting." Kate explained to Laurel, trying to make sure she didn't sue them.
"I would hope not," Laurel replied still in a mood after today's event.
"Unfortunately, Adam was not authorized to offer you your job back. I'm sorry, but nothing has changed." Kate stated.
"Yes, it has," Laurel said firmly.
"Excuse me?" Kate responded.
"You are going to rehire me, Kate. Unless you feel like explaining to the press that your own assistant district attorney was the brilliant mastermind behind tonight's hostage crisis." Laurel threatened her former and soon to be boss.
"Welcome back," Kate said agreeing to Laurel's terms, she then spoke up again just as Laurel was about to leave her office. "I have to say, I am impressed. I would have thought blackmail was a little dark for you.
Turning around to answer her. "Someone recently told me, once you let the darkness inside, it never comes out. This past year I've been struggling with my mine, I've tried to get rid of it but now, now I know I have to accept it. And I'm learning when and how to use it, like right now." She finished explaining, leaving her boss slightly worried.
Verdant
"Hey," Oliver said walking in seeing Thea sitting down in the storage room.
"Hey," Thea said with a weepingly.
"What are you still doing up here?" He asked.
"Thinking. Crying." She answered snifflingly. Roy and I are..."
"What happened?" He asked although he already knew the answer.
"I caught him with some slut." She answered eyed a certain direction. "Right over there, actually."
"I'm sorry." He said sadly.
"He was doing it to push me away, which clearly worked. I just... I don't know why. Why is it so hard for everyone just to tell the truth? I mean, Roy can't even tell me the truth of why he wants to end things with me. Mom, she... She keeps all of these secrets. I mean, doesn't it... Doesn't it feel like she's still keeping something from us?" She tearfully explained, causing Oliver's heart to break just a little.
"I don't know, Thea." He lied sadly.
"You're the only one that doesn't lie to me, Ollie." She told him feeding his guilt. "You're the only one I know who doesn't keep secrets from me. Just, I got to go."
"Let me drive you." He insisted and Thea
"No, I just want to be alone right now." She said as they hugged goodbye and she passed by Laurel who entered the room.
"Hey." Laurel greeted him.
"Hey." He replied and they briefly kissed. "You did really well tonight."
"More than you know. I got my job back at the DA's office, this time for real and I wanted you to be the first to know." She said happily.
"That's great, congratulations." He smiled.
"Thank you. Hey, what was up with Thea by the way; she looked really upset." She asked.
"She'll be okay, eventually." He replied.
"Ollie, come on, spill." She said in her insisting tone because Thea was basically her sister too.
"Roy broke up with Thea." He said flatly.
"What? Why?" She asked stunned.
"Because I told him too in order to protect her." He answered reluctantly.
"Let me get this straight, you ordered your sister's boyfriend to break up with her ... and you think it's to protect her?" She asked surprised and little judgemental that he did that.
"Laurel, the Mirakuru makes Roy dangerous and he isn't controlling it. I can't have him hurt Thea by mistake." He explained.
"I get that, Oliver, I do." She replied.
"But?"
"But, you just convinced your sister's boyfriend to break her heart, to hurt her, pretty badly from what I saw, and you think it's the right thing to do?" She said slowly and reluctantly. "I know you want to protect her, but, Ollie this ... this just feels like the kind of thing your mother would do. Doesn't it." She proclaimed making him wonder if he just crossed a line in some way.
While in the Arrowcave bunker, Roy watched Thea sob as she left the club. Diggle patted him on the shoulder to comfort him but did nothing to help Roy; as he was furious at Oliver and at himself; he thought as he began crushing what was in his hand.
As Thea was walking down the street, a limousine drove up to her and a familiar face greeted her. "It's a dangerous city. You shouldn't be out in the streets alone." Slade spoke.
"Mr. Wilson?" Thea said seeing their brief house guest.
"Please. Call me Slade." He said in a friendly manner.
Author's Notes: It was a bit of a goof for Donner to just get Laurel's sanction by the state bar like that, so I had her actually face the state bar this time. For the record, I don't think Laurel would have been disbarred for her actions in season two, given her reputation as a stand-up lawyer and the fact that she was suffering from emotional problems. I think the Bar would also take into consideration that since she was going to AA meetings and thus getting help for herself, it would factor into their decision to let her keep her license.
Given how close Laurel is to Thea, I think she would admit to Oliver that he crossed a line that I felt he did in this episode. Don't get me wrong I understand why he did it exactly but still, that's what it feels like.
PS, you'll Helena again soon.