Chapter 4
In Search of Hope
"A leader is a dealer in hope."
-Napoleon Bonaparte
"Let me go, you son of bitch!"
Katie angrily tries to pull from the man's grasp as they walk further into the restaurant. Her eyes search around, noting all the empty tables except for one. There was a man sitting, his back to them before he finally stood and turned to her. He noticed the man's hand on her arm and he frowned.
"I don't believe I told you to touch her, Mr. Dane." the man said and the goon holding Katie's arm suddenly let her go. "She's pregnant, and you pulling her around like that could injure her and her child."
"You said to get her inside, so I got her inside."
"You're right, that is what I requested of you, but I assumed you would have identified the sensitive nature of my request when you actually laid eyes on the woman." the man turned to Katie with a smile. "Please accept my apologies for Mr. Dane here. He hears the orders but doesn't quite understand them sometimes."
"But sir-"
"You can leave us, Mr. Dane." the man said, the request not even needed to be repeated twice as the goon turned and disappeared from the restaurant.
Katie eyed the man standing in front of her, trying not to show the confusion and shock that she felt. She'd seen him before. In that weird hallucination when she was on the train. But he was standing right here in front of her.
"Oh, where are my manners?" he walked over to her, holding out a hand. "My name is Damian Darhk, and Dr. Robins I have to say I've been dying to meet you." Katie kept her hands to her sides and she simply silently stared at the man. "You don't have to be afraid, this is merely me catching up with the daughter of an older friend." he looked her over, studying her as if searching for something. "Are you hungry? I'm hungry. Come sit." the man turned and headed for the table, grabbing a chair and pulling it out for her before turning, only to see Katie had not moved from her spot. Darhk sighed, before turning fully to her. "So who was it? Your mother? Father?" he took a few steps toward her. "Maybe it was your bastard of an uncle. Which one of them regaled you of stories about me, because I'm almost certain they just aren't true." the woman still didn't utter a word, something that was starting to annoy the man. For some reason he wanted to hear her speak, and maybe figure out what this feeling is that was crawling inside of him all of a sudden. "You look famished, and this restaurant has the best Foie gras in Star City. It's divine, you must-" the man's sentence was cut short by the distinct sound of three gun shots from outside the restaurant. Katie didn't turn away from the man, even when she heard the sound of the gun shots, and the sound of door behind her opening. Footsteps neared, and soon a hand took her arm. That's when she finally turned, relieved at the sight of Martin. "Mr. Ellis, I'm sorry but this was a private invitation. Me and the good doctor were just catching up."
"I think you're all caught up now." Martin said before turning to Katie. "We're leaving." Katie gave the man a nod before turning back to Darhk who simply smiled to her. "This building is surrounded with enough bullets to make your name, your reality Mr. Darhk. You will never come near this woman again, if you do, well this is when I would come up with some serious metaphor that makes you cringe, but I'm going to be up front. You even breathe in the good doctor's direction, and you will be killed."
"You know these threats would hold a bit more weight if they weren't coming from the head that's usually in an ass. Jacob not man enough to rescue his own daughter. I hope he's alright. There's this terrible bug going around, and I hear it's making people practically feel like they're dying." a smile curled at his lips before looking back to Katie. "It was very nice meeting with you doctor. I hope to see you once again." with that the man turned and headed for a door in the back of the restaurant.
"Are you ok?" Martin asked looking down to Katie. She didn't say anything, and that worried him as he moved to stand in front of her. He searched her eyes for any sign of distress. "Did he do something to you? Did you eat or drink anything he gave you?" Still no words passed her lips and Martin wasn't sure what he should do. "Uh, lets get out of here." he took her arm and lead her out of the restaurant and to the back of a waiting SUV. He climbed into the back seat as well, nodding for the driver to go before taking out his cell phone and calling his boss. "Sir, I-" Jacob Robin's was extremely weak, but you would never know if from the tone and volume of his voice right now. "I do, she's with me now, but-" he looked over to the woman who just sat staring blankly. "I think something's wrong, I-" more yelling and expletives. "I don't know, I'm not sure if he did anything, but given the circumstances, I'm not risking her or her daughter. I'm taking her to the medical facility at HQ." he heard the man grumble about not wanting her there, but agreed that it was the best option to make sure she was alright. "I'm debating if I should call Mr. Queen."
"No!" Katie says finally speaking as she turns to Martin. "Don't call Oliver. If you call him he will try to fight a war he doesn't even know how fight." Martin simply nodded to the woman who turned to look out the window. "I don't need medical attention, take me back to Bruce's hideout."
"Are you sure, you seemed-"
"Something happened." the woman shook her head trying to understand the emotions that seemed to appear the moment she laid eyes on the man. "I felt weird seeing him. I don't know when I've never seen him before, but there's something about him." she looked back over to Martin. "A very bad energy that I never want near me or my family. Is that something my father can ensure?" Martin looked at her before turning slightly at the sound of Jacob's voice in his ear. He turned back to the woman with a nod.
"Nothing like this will ever happen again, he promises." Katie looked over to the man before shaking her head and turned back to look out the window.
When they pulled up to the ship yard, Katie was about to get out but she stopped and turned to Martin once again.
"I'm going to need a car." she said. She didn't want anything like this happening again. The man gave a firm nod before watching the woman slip out of the car.
Felicity was in her own world until she heard the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs.
"I got an ID on our Mr. Creepy!" Felicity announced, assuming it was John and Laurel who were getting in.
"The one with the weird fingerprint?" Katie asked, and Felicity stopped typing and turned to the woman with a quirked brow. "Hi."
"Hi, I thought you were heading home?" Katie just shook her head with a slight smile, attempting to hide her true feelings at the moment.
"Oh, I was, but it was totally boring there and I just thought I would come back here to help." Katie replied dropping her bag to the floor and dropping to a seat.
"You look like you're going to barf." Felicity said walking over to look at the woman closely. "Are you feeling sick?"
"Felicity, really I'm fine. The ID on Mr. Creepy, who is he?"
"His name is Lonnie Machin. Usually works with the mob, this time I'm thinking he's working with Damian Darhk." the mention of the name, made Katie turn away, her hand sliding along her belly in an effort to calm herself. "Are you sure you're ok?"
"I am Felicity. Where's Oliver?"
"I got a lead on Machin. He and Thea are checking it out." they heard footsteps and turned to see John and Laurel who walked over, both surprised to see Katie as well.
"You're back?" Laurel asked and Katie sighed but gave a nod.
"I am, and Felicity got a name on the bad guy." Katie says turning to the blonde, and hoping to pull all attention away from her. "Lonnie Machin. What else did you find on him?" Felicity was hesitant to change the subject, but she figured she would get it out of the woman later.
"Right." the woman said walking over to her computer. Katie tried to listen, tried to pay attention to what the woman was saying in hopes of figuring out a piece of their latest puzzle, but for some reason she kept seeing Damian Darhk's face. She knows next to nothing about the man, other than he's a bad guy and yet for some reason his face was lingering in her brain.
"We're going to talk about this." they turned at the loud voice of Oliver in time to see Thea stalking away from him, as if not wanting to talk to him at all. Katie sat off to the side, so when they walked in, neither noticed her immediately. "We're going to have the conversation about what just happened." Thea finally stopped and turned a dark glare to her brother.
"What just happened was that guy had information and I was trying to get it out of him."
"You broke his arm."
" He was stalling!"
"He was scared." Oliver said before grabbing the woman's arm. "Come here."
" What are you doing?!"
"I need to show you something. At the water plant, you took down a ghost. You could have done it with a very simple disarmament technique, like this-" Oliver threw a punch and Katie sighed because she knew this whole demonstration was not going to end well. Thea threw a punch back, but Oliver grabbed her arm, twisting it causing the woman to grunt in pain. "But Thea, that's not what you did. You went overboard with a series of techniques designed to do one thing—cripple!"
"Liver!" Katie called to him and he turned at the sound of her voice, relinquishing his hold on Thea. Katie's eyes went wide, as she pointed toward Thea. "Watch out!" the man quickly turned just as his sister growled before attacking him. They all watched in horror as Thea kicked and punched and even threw Oliver into a shelf . The woman was on top of him, when John and Laurel quickly came over to pull her off of him.
"That's enough!" John yelled putting some distance between the siblings. "Demonstration is over."
"Fine, sorry." Oliver said standing to his feet and looking over to his sister who was still breathing heavily and looking like she wanted to attack again. "I'm sorry, after Ra's hurt you-" he thought he was lucky that he never had to have this conversation, but he should have known he was wrong. He looked over to Katie who stood, hand on her belly looking over to Thea. "Malcolm and Twinkie warned me not to take you to Nanda Parbat. They said that when people go in the pit, they don't come out the same." Thea glanced over to Katie who dropped her head and sighed. "And I didn't tell you, because I didn't want to worry about you." Thea turned back to her brother. "You seemed normal, Thea, and I swear to God, I thought everything was going to be fine."
" And then you left!" Thea snapped angrily before glancing once again to Katie. "Both of you left! So you know what?" She turned back to Oliver, backing away from him. "It doesn't really qualify you to judge me, or anyone else!" with that the woman turned and stalked away.
"What's going on?" Laurel asked. She was the only one in the room who knew nothing about what happened to Thea in Nanda Parbat. "What happened to Thea in Nanda Parbat?"
"Oliver was scared." Katie spoke and they turned to her. "He thought he was going to lose the only family he had left in the world, so he did-" she looked over to the man, now going back to a time she really didn't want to remember. "He did what he had to do to save his sister."
"That was six months ago. Why is the pit only affecting her now?"
"It's probably been showing up over time, subtly." Oliver replied looking over to Katie who turned away in thought. "Twinkie?"
"No, I think you may be right. This was probably happening and we didn't see it." she shook her head because she felt guilty. She remembers years ago, telling Thea about leaving for Doctor's Without Borders after Oliver and Robert's funeral and the girl practically begged her stay. But she didn't she left and Thea fell into a dark path of drugs and partying. Now it seems like it was happening all over again.
"What do you want to do about it?" John asked, the question directed to Oliver who honestly didn't have an answer at the moment.
"I don't know yet." he sighed, before looking over to Katie. "I'm going to talk to Jessica in the morning, hopefully figure out how this guy got on her protective detail and maybe figure out where he's hiding." they gave the man a nod, before he walked over to Katie with a quirked brow. "I thought you went home?"
"I did, but then I came back." Katie replied as the man brought his hands to her waist, frowning immediately.
"Twinkie, you're shaking." he looked up meeting her eyes. "Are you alright?"
"Oliver, I'm fine. I guess the whole Queen versus Queen fight night caught me by surprise." Katie replied turning away from his eyes, hoping to hold on to this secret for a little while longer. She turned back to him to find him still staring down to her. "Uh, was there still stuff here that you needed to do. I could help, maybe I could look at this guy's wrap sheet or-"
"It's late." Oliver said and Katie sighed, but gave a nod. "We should go home."
The ride to the loft was silent, with Oliver glancing over to Katie ever so often unable to shake the feeling that something was off with her. When they walked into the loft, Katie headed inside and made her way to the stairs.
"Have you eaten?" Oliver called over to her and she stopped and turned back to him.
"I'm not hungry." she replied quickly, before once again trying to escape the questions she knows he has. "I think I'm just going to turn in." Oliver watched her with narrowed eyes. She was hiding something, and he knew it. He followed behind her up the stairs, walking into the bedroom. She glanced over to him and attempted a bee line to the bathroom, but he was quicker and was able to slip in front of the door before she could get away.
"If you have to go, then that 's all you had to say." Katie replied turning away from the man and walking over to take a seat on the bed, her back to him.
"What aren't you telling me?" Oliver asked and Katie lifted her eyes and sighed.
"Oliver, I'm tired and don't want to do this right now." she replied slipping off her shoes. "What ever you think is happening it's probably not." she glanced over to the man. "Are you going to the bathroom because I would like to pee." he stared at her for a moment, silently trying to discover if she were really hiding something or if he were being paranoid. He took a step away from the door and watched as she stood to her feet and walked back over. She placed a hand on the door knob, but stopped and turned to him. "Everything is fine, Liver. There's nothing for you to worry about." with that the woman turned and went into the bathroom, closing the door behind her. He wanted to believe her, but he just couldn't.
The next morning, Oliver stood in the kitchen just finishing up with breakfast. Once he'd finished, he walked out of the kitchen about to head upstairs, but stopped when he peered over to see Katie standing out on the balcony. He walked over, stepping out as well, bringing an arm around her.
"Breakfast is ready." he said placing a kiss to the nape of her neck.
"I'm not really hungry." she replied.
"You have to eat something Twinkie. You didn't have dinner last night, so that means you gotta eat breakfast." the man replied sliding a hand along the woman's belly. "Baby Twiver needs sustenance."
"Fine." Katie says pulling from the man's grasp and heading inside.
"Ok I just told you to do something and there wasn't some smart reply." Oliver said following behind her into the kitchen. "Twinkie, if something happened-"
"You should go check on Jessica." Katie says taking a seat at the counter and grabbing a piece of toast. "She has to be going out of her mind having to stay at the police station with no new information on this guy." she smiled over to the man who simply stared at her. "Oliver you're worrying for nothing." No, he wasn't, but she knew him all too well. He'd raise hell the moment he found out about Damian deciding to force a meeting with her. She turned back around to see the food her cooked. "Ooh, are these your famous slow cooker eggs?" she turned to the man with a smile.
She knew avoidance wouldn't get rid of his suspicions, but he didn't push as much. They did end up going to the police station, where Oliver went to check in with Mrs. Davenport while Katie went to see if Lance had better luck finding this guy.
The man was on the phone, his back to her as she stood in the doorway of his office. She simply stood there, not wanting to interrupt the call.
"Nah, just call me if something pans out." the man spun around, hanging up the phone and spotting Katie. "Hey, didn't expect a visit from you, everything alright?" he stood to his feet and walked around his desk to the woman.
"Everything's fine, Oliver came to check in with Jessica, and I tagged along." Katie replied. "Any leads?"
"Nothing definite." Lance sighed as he rubbed his eyes. He looked back up to the woman who turned away slightly. "Was there something else you wanted to talk about?" Katie turned to him before glancing over her shoulder to see Oliver wasn't anywhere around before she stepped inside the office, closing the door behind her. "That serious huh?" he pointed to the seat and Katie walked over to sit as the man walked back around to sit behind his desk. "Not sure I can take any more ground breaking news, but go ahead?"
"Has the name Damian Darhk come up in any of your investigations?" Katie asked and she noticed the man turn away slightly before clearing his throat. "You know him."
"He's bad news, Doc. Whatever you think he's in, you need to stay far away from it." Lance urged the woman who shook her head. "What's this about?"
"Nothing I would like to bring you further into." Katie says looking over to the man with a small smile before standing to her feet. "This was nothing. Just forget I asked about it."
"Hey, if you're in some kind of trouble with this guy-"
"That's the thing, I'm not." Katie replied with a shake of her head. "Forget I said anything." she turned to leave, opening the door but stopping and turning to the man. "Could you not mention this conversation to Oliver?"
"What conversation?" Lance replied and Katie gave a smile and a nod before finally leaving. She walked in search of Oliver, not really sure where he'd gone. She searched around a bit, her eyes suddenly stopping on a desk that still held so many memories. It was David Parker's desk, and she couldn't look at it without going back to that moment in her father's office and watching him put that gun in his mouth.
"Aw, Rob, you look so sad."
Katie whipped her head around the bustling station for the source of a voice she most certainly could not have heard. There were hands suddenly on her back, and she nearly jumped out of her skin, turning to see Oliver who looked at her in confusion.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
"Yeah, just-" she turned, still searching the precinct before shaking her head and turning back to the man. "Thought I heard something. How's Jessica?"
"Not good. Madison's not answering her phone." Oliver replied and Katie's eyes widen. "We need to talk to Lance." Oliver took the woman's hand and pulled her with him to speak with the Captain.
It was as they all feared. The cops that were supposed to be protecting Madison were found dead, and the young woman herself was no where in sight.
It was Jessica who decided she needed to do something, and that was plea for her daughter's life. So she called a press conference right there in the middle of the police station.
"To the man who took my daughter, please, I am begging you, please, let my baby go." the woman could barely speak through the tears. "She's all I have. She's-she's my whole world." the woman was too distraught to continue, and so she rushed off.
Katie dropped her head to Oliver's shoulder as he brought an arm around her. Her hand rested on her belly, and so did one of his, both not even able to imagine what they would do if their daughter was taken.
"I think I should go talk to her." Katie says turning to Oliver. "She needs someone to tell her that everything's gonna be ok." Oliver placed a hand to the woman's cheek, before placing a kiss to her lips. "I shouldn't be too long, we should be heading back so we can figure out where this guy is." Oliver gave the woman a nod before watching her walk off.
Katie went in the direction the woman had gone, not spotting her initially, but she saw the bathroom and figured she'd check there first. She walked inside, and heard the woman's sobs, and it broke her heart.
"Mrs. Davenport?" Katie spoke and she looked up as the woman stepped from one of the stalls, drying her eyes with tissue. "We don't really know each other that well, but I'm Katherine Robins, well Katie, I'm-"
"You're Oliver's girlfriend." Jessica stated with a slightly smile. "He told me about you and your-" she looked down to Katie's belly. "Your daughter." the words only seemed to make the woman start sobbing all over again. "I don't know what I'm going to do if I lose her."
"You're not going to lose her." Katie stated firmly and the woman looked back to her. "This guy, he wants one thing. And that's you not running for Mayor. Madison is a bargaining chip, he won't kill the only leverage he has."
"You don't know that."
"This guy, he's smart, but he's also unoriginal. Trust me, you're going to get your daughter back-" Katie walked over to a stall and grabbed some more tissue, before bringing it back to the woman. "And when you do, you're not gonna want to look like a puffy mess." that made Jessica laugh a bit as she dried her eyes. "I promise, you'll get your daughter back."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because I have faith in the people protecting this city. Both during the day and at night." Katie replied with a slight smile. "You need to have faith-" Katie turned away slightly. "This city could use some faith right now." she turned back to Jessica with a slight smile. "I think I have to do something."
Katie walked back to the squad room, the press still hanging around as she hoped. She headed up to the podium, and the moment she did the press turned to her and she could see the cameras coming back on. She cleared her throat, when Lance appeared at her side.
"What are you doing?" he whispered and Katie turned to him.
"This city is watching the woman they thought would lead this city, being harassed, and bullied by the people they're afraid of. They had hope and I don't think they should lose it." Katie replied before turning back to the cameras. "Hi, I'm Katherine Robins, and I am friends with Jessica Davenport and her daughter and I want to say what is happening to them is absolutely horrible, and I couldn't imagine what either of them are going through. I'm here because someone needs to let Star City know we have not given up, that this fight between us and the bad guys of this city is far from over. We will find Madison Davenport, and the man who took her will see the justice he deserves, just like every other criminal who decides to underestimate the power of our city and the people in it. Have faith in justice, because it's working whether you see it or not." Katie glanced over to Lance who gave a nod before she turned back to the press. "Thank you." questions were instantly being yelled to the woman who sifted through to crowd to Oliver who quickly brought an arm around her and ushered out of the station and to the car.
It wasn't until they were actually driving to the hideout, did Oliver turn to her.
"You felt motivational, all of a sudden?" Oliver asked and Katie turned to the man with a slight smile. "That was a good speech. I think it was needed."
"Well I am good at being optimistic."Katie replied turning back to look out the window.
When they arrived to the hideout, they found Felicity typing away at her computer. She didn't turn to them, which meant she was really focused on what she was doing.
"Any news?" Katie asked.
"Only the bad kind." Felicity replied, but Katie could hear something more in her voice.
"Hey, did you see my totally kick ass speech. We're going to find this guy." Katie replied pulling up a chair beside the woman.
"Yeah, and when we do, there will be another and another and another. It's like the most depressing game of Whack-a Mole ever."
"Felicity-"
"You know I thought I could handle this. Taking on the company and finding the bad guy of the week, but John is still mad at Oliver, Thea's gone pit crazy, I've spent the last two days putting people out of work." she shook her head before turning to Katie. "I just wanted a chance to start over and do things differently and it's just not happening."
"Well life sucks." Katie replied placing a hand on the woman's arm. "But you push through it because you're the kick ass Felicity Smoak. Whatever situation you're in you will figure out." Felicity gave the woman a smile.
"A whole heart to heart, without being told to stop being a little bitch." Felicity replied turning back to her computer. "I think motherhood really is making you soft around the edges."
"Well this mood anyway." Oliver muttered and both Katie and Felicity turned to him with wide eyes. "That was a joke."
"It wasn't a very funny joke Oliver. Maybe you should just stick to shooting arrows, and wearing your eye make up."
"How many times do I have to tell you, it's not eye-" the man's phone suddenly rang and he slipped it from his pocket. "It's Lance." he put the phone on speaker so they all could hear. "Captain?"
"Heavy Heavy Club, 4th and Pierce." Lance said and they all looked confused.
"What about it?" Oliver asked.
"it's where Lonnie Machin is holding Jessica Danforth's daughter." the man said and Oliver turned to Felicity who gave a nod before turning to her computer. "You said you're doing things differently now? Here's your chance to prove it."
The line ended and Oliver looked up to Felicity.
"Got it. And I will call Thea, John and Laurel." Felicity said glancing over to the man who gave a nod before heading over to suit up.
Katie once again found herself standing on the outside looking in as everyone arrived and changed into their suits. She felt that need to do more to help find Madison, but she truly was benched on this part of the fight. She didn't feel needed here, but a part of her was afraid to be by herself. Fear was not a state of being she even thought was possible for her to fall into, but standing there in front of Damian Darhk, frightened her in a way she didn't think was possible. All she could think about was how dangerous he was, and the fact that she couldn't really defend herself against him and protect her baby. She's actually starting to see why her father didn't want her in this city.
"Hey." a hand on her back, pulled Katie from her thoughts and she turned to the masked face of her boyfriend. "We're heading out. Were you going to stay here?"
"Yeah." Katie replied with a nod. "I mean I want to be here when you find Madison." she placed her hands on his chest. "I also want to be here to see you really make this guy hurt." Oliver placed a kiss to the woman's lips before following behind the others out of the lair. Katie walked over, grabbing Thea's arm before the woman could leave.
"I don't really want to talk right now." Thea said not turning to the woman. "I just want to go." Katie moved to stand in front of the woman, so she could see her eyes.
"The light inside of you Thea is stronger than the darkness from that pit. Remember that." Thea looked at her for a moment before giving her a nod. She didn't say anything before she moved around the woman to follow after the others.
Once they were gone, Katie looked over to Felicity who sat behind her computer keeping an eye on the thermal imaging of the club the team was headed. "How do you think Lance got the location where Madison is being kept?"
"Random tip, maybe." Felicity replied glancing over to the woman who turned away and walked over to take a seat. "You feeling alright?" Katie looked over to the woman with a quirk brow. "I know you're probably annoyed by that question every five minutes, but there's a little extra concern for pregnant Twinkie. And I don't know what it is, but there's something off about you that you're not saying." Katie turned away from the woman, hating how so many people could read her so easily.
"Why hasn't Bruce been around?" Katie asked turning back to the woman who simply stared at her before turning back to the computer. "Yesterday at the meeting he seemed sad, did something happen-"
"He's doing that thing where he's keeping something from me in an effort to protect me." Felicity replied. "I told him I couldn't be in a relationship with someone who can't be completely honest with me and he told me he cares more about my safety than me liking him." the woman sighed before turning back to Katie. "You think I was too hard on him?"
"Felicity, look, I know what that's like. Oliver gets it in his head that he needs to keep something from me so I won't be unhappy." the woman shook her head. "He never wants to hurt me, but-" she turned back to Felicity. "I'm not telling you what to choose, keeping something because it could put me in danger would be different. I mean at the moment, maybe not but in the long run when I'm staring down the barrel of someone's gun because I just needed to know something." Katie placed a hand on Felicity's shoulder. "You know there's a secret being kept and you also know the reason behind the secret. That's more than I got. But if you need to know, stand your ground and don't bend. I know better than anyone that secrets have a way of twisting up a relationship." Katie turned away, because she was now holding on to a secret she didn't want to hold, but she knew it was for Oliver's safety. But she also had to think of how Oliver's secrets from her caused her to come so close to not even wanting to be with him.
"They just arrived." Felicity said and Katie turned looking over to the monitor.
Katie was never one to be on the sidelines as all the action happened. It's one of the reasons she initially didn't want to wait here while Oliver and the others went out. She felt helpless just watching and not being able to do anything. A smile graced her lips when she heard that they had Madison, and she was safe. That smile fell the moment she heard what happened to Lonnie Manchin. Thea had set the man on fire, and that's the moment Katie knew that whatever that pit did to her, it would take something stronger to get it out.
There wasn't much said about it when the team arrived back to the hideout. Oliver quickly changed, before taking Katie's hand and rushing out to get to the police station to check on Jessica and Madison.
When they arrived, they witnessed Jessica engulfing her daughter in a tight hug. The couple eased over not wanting to ruin their reunion.
"Madison." Oliver spoke softly and the two pulled from the hug and turned to them. "You all right?"
"A few bumps and bruises and probably the worse case of insomnia." the woman said as her mother hugged her. "But I'm good now." Soon Lance walked over to them.
"I'm really sorry, but I got an army of reporters out there and they want to know if you want to make a statement."
"Yes, I'll be out in a few minutes." Jessica replied with a nod.
"You don't have to do that tonight." Oliver said figuring the press on top of this could be too much for one night.
"Yes, I do, Oliver. I have to tell them what I've decided." they all turned to her. "I have to tell them I'm withdrawing my candidacy. I'm not running for mayor." it was a statement that made them drop their heads because they knew this city could've used the hope the woman seemed to create. Jessica saw the looks, but this situation with her daughter only verified there was only so much she would risk, and that would not be the safety of her daughter. "Come on." they watched as the pair walked away.
"I'll be right back." Katie said to Oliver who looked a bit unsure, but he let go of her hand and watched as she followed after Jessica and Madison. "Jessica-" the two woman stopped and turned to Katie.
"Before you try to change my mind, please-"
"I'm not." Katie replied quickly with a shake of her head. "I respect your decision and I completely understand." she looked over to Madison with a smile. "Some things are just worth more to us."
"You know I saw your speech." Jessica said and Katie turned to her with a quirked brow. "You have a way with words and giving people hope." Katie tilted her head as she understood what the woman was asking. "Maybe you-"
"Oh, no." Katie shook her head. "I don't think I could fit another hat on my head right now." Katie placed a hand on her growing belly. "And she will be the biggest hat that I plan on giving all of my attention to." she smiled over to the pair. "Have a good night." Katie turned walking back over to Oliver, who brought his arms around her. "I think it's time we talk about Thea." Oliver sighs and she places a hand to his cheek.
"I was going to head to Laurel's place to talk to her. I'm sure she may not be taking this well."
"I doubt she is." Katie replied when her phone suddenly rang. She pulled back from the man slightly, to slip a hand into her bag and pull put her phone.
"Who is it?"
"Uh, Claire, my assistant." Katie replied before turning and bringing the phone to her ear. "Claire, what's going on, it's kind of late."
"I know, but there's been a development. You may want to get down here." Katie furrowed a brow in confusion before looking over to the clock.
"Ok, I guess I'm on my way." Katie replies before turning back to Oliver. "I guess I'm needed back at the company."
"Now? It's late."
"I know, but I shouldn't be there long." Katie looks over to the clock once again. "You can drop me off, and then you can go talk to your sister." she turned back to the man placing her hands on his chest. "Then maybe you and I can have some uninterrupted time together."
"I would like that very much." Oliver replied placing a kiss to the woman's lips.
As Katie rode the elevator up to her office, she stood with her eyes closed leaning back against the wall.
Katie gripped the cold steel of the glock in her hands, her eyes on the bottles that fell every time she pulled the trigger. The last bottle dropped, and she heard a low whistle from beside her and she chuckled as she turned to the man.
"You shoot better than some of the men I've served with." Flagg commented as he turned to the woman with a smile. "I think I'm impressed."
"Shut up." Katie muttered sitting the gun down and looking back to Wayne manor. "One month." she looked over to Rick. "We're not one step closer to getting me home."
"I promised you I would get you home, and I will." Rick said nudging the woman's arm as he looked back to the mansion as well.
"It's getting harder and harder to believe that with Bruce gone half the time and you watching me shoot a gun instead of teaching me this magic lying trick that's supposed to make people think I'm not a terrorist." Katie shook her head before stalking to the manor.
"I told you this wasn't going to happen overnight!" Rick called after her as he followed. "You have to give it time."
"Time!" Katie snapped angrily as she turned back to the man. "I have no time. It was all taken from me, and I don't even know why. I want to go home and it's time you make that happen." she shook her head before stalking into the manor, where she found Bruce talking with Alfred. All conversations stopped, and they turned to Katie and Rick.
"Hey." Bruce greeted.
"Don't hey me, what the hell is going on?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean I feel like me being here has more to do with me being out of sight and less to do with me actually getting back home." Katie replied looking over to Rick who stood pouring himself a glass of whatever alcohol was on the cart in the room. "Will someone please tell me why I'm really here?"
"Robins, I get you're frustrated and I know this whole thing has been an adjustment but-"
"I don't need to be comforted, and I don't need words of encouragement." Katie replied with a shake of her head. "I just need to go home, so whatever this is, it's time to get over it and put this plan in motion." with that the woman stalked out of the room.
The doors to the elevator slid open, and Katie opened her eyes surprised to see Martin standing there, not looking very happy.
"Martin, what are you doing here?" she looked around the man before turning back to him. She took a step to get off the elevator, but the man grabbed her arm and pulled her back inside the elevator. "Martin, what-"
"Ms. Robins!" it was Claire's voice, and Katie looked up to see the woman rushing over. She turned a confused look to the man beside Katie before turning back to the woman. "You have to see this, you-"
"That's not happening." Martin replied and both women turned to him. "Ms. Hastings, would you tell the rest of the board of directors that Ms. Robins wasn't feeling well and couldn't make the meeting."
"Ms. Robins, is everything alright?" Claire asked looking to the woman, and the hand the man had on her arm. "Should I call security?"
"No, I'll be there in a second." Katie replied and Claire simply gave a nod before leaving Katie and Martin. "Tell me what's going on?"
"You are about to walk into a meeting to give you good news about an investor who has invested enough money to prevent the need to let anyone go." Martin said.
"That does sound like good news. Why is that a problem?" Katie asked and Martin let out a sigh. "Who is it?" Katie glanced over her shoulder, a sudden chill creeping up her spine. " He's not supposed to be here." she turned back to Martin. "I thought my father said-"
"Damian Darhk is not someone who can be tracked. We lose him and then he pops up in the most inconvenient places. Look I'm here now. There is a car downstairs, it can take you home and-"
"He's with the board right now?" she asked and Martin turned to her and she just shook her head.
"You're not going in there."
"No, he's in there with my board of directors." Katie turned letting out a heavy breath as she turned down the hall. "Give me your gun."
"Katherine-"
"I asked you for something, I asked my father for something and apparently it's something neither of you can deliver on. I can't hide from this man, and the thing is I shouldn't have to. He does not get to think that I'm afraid of him, now give me your gun." Martin stood there, gritting his teeth, but he slipped a hand behind him, plucking his gun from his waist band and handing it to the woman.
For some reason the gun felt heavy in her hand. She doesn't remember it feeling so heavy. She wrapped her hand around it, familiarizing herself with the one thing in her life that always made sense. She slipped it into her purse before stepping off of the elevator. Martin kept in pace beside her as they made their way to the boardroom. Martin pulled open the door and Katie walked inside where she saw Damian Darhk and a couple of members from the board laughing and drinking champagne.
"And here she is!" Damian said and all their eyes went to Katie. "The woman of the hour. I believe there's something non-alcoholic here for you."
"And just what are we celebrating?" Katie asked and the man smiled even wider at the sound of her voice.
"Mr. Darhk has made a very generous investment." Joshua spoke. "He's given us a very good leg up in the market and-" he turned back to Katie. "Because of it, we have enough money to keep all of our employees, which I'm sure makes you very happy."
"It does." Katie replied pulling a smile out of her ass. She turned back to Damian. "That was very generous of you Mr. Darhk, but I would be a fool to believe this was out of the kindness of your heart."
"You're right." the man chuckled as he sat his glass down and took a few steps toward the woman. It was a move that made Martin stand a little straighter. "I've been a great admirer of this company and now I feel I have the opportunity to really be apart of it. Don't worry, I'm not asking for a corner office but I think I would like to hang around a bit, give some ideas. Nothing too drastic."
"We should discuss details." Katie said seriously, before looking behind the man to the board of directors. "It's late, you all should go home." Katie turned to Martin whose eyes never left the man in front of them. "You're going to step outside and not let anyone in here while we have our conversation."
"I'm not leaving you alone with him." Martin whispered back and Damian chuckled. The man turned, shaking a couple of hands as the members filed out of the room. Soon it was just Katie, Martin and Damian left in the room.
"Martin, leave the room." Katie once again ordered, but Martin didn't move a muscle. She turned to him, and he looked down to her. "Fine-" she turned to Damian who stood near the window, that seemed to overlook the entire city.
"You know I looked for her. I mean when I found out she'd left Nanda Parbat, I felt like I searched the ends of the earth to find her and this whole time she was here." the man shook his head before turning to Katie. "With Jacob-" the man threw his head back and chuckled. "Jacob Robins. The man who spun a lie into a billion dollar company." he looked back up to Katie and smiled. "You look like her. Especially the eyes, it's-" he felt it again. That tingling feeling that he's not supposed to have, that strange feeling that's not supposed to be inside of him. He turned away, back out the window. "I hope you don't mind me-"
"You talk a lot." Katie finally spoke and the man turned to her with a quirked brow. "No, like it's to the point that I think it's just you liking to hear your own voice." the woman took a bold step forward. "Two times you have initiated a meeting with me without my permission. Two times you have put me in compromising positions that I really don't appreciate."
"My, my Ms. Robins, I-"
"I'm talking right now, so you shut the hell up." Katie says before reaching into her purse and pulling out the gun. She pointed it at him, and he stared back without a single care in the world.
"Your hand's steady." he noted as he watched the way the woman held the gun. "Means you've held guns before."
"I've pull the trigger a couple of times as well." Katie replied not taking her eyes from the man in front of her. "Are you here because of my mother? She's dead and it's time for you to accept that and just move on."
"Do you feel it?" he asked her and she quirked a brow in confusion, but never loosening her grip on the gun. "It's like a buzzing underneath the skin." he took a another step toward her and Katie suddenly felt a tickle at the back of her throat. "Happens whenever I see you, and I don't have the faintest clue why."
"Mr. Darhk." Martin spoke, but Damian didn't pull his eyes from Katie. "If you could stop, right-" a smile came to Martin's lips when suddenly small red laser dots appeared all over the man's body. "Perfect." Darhk dropped his eyes, and the sight of the dots made him laugh.
"Oh Martin, I refuse to believe you would order a sniper hit in the presence of your boss' pregnant daughter." Damian looked up to the man who chuckled as well.
"Well I hope you believe that we employ snipers who know to only hit their target." Martin walked to stand beside Katie. "You have one option. Leave Star City, never come back, and never make any contact with the good doctor here."
"You know I think you should let Dr. Robins speak for her-" without warning Katie pulled the trigger and Damian lifted a hand, and the bullet just stopped. "I planned on waiting, but-" he looked up meet her eyes and it was strange. He'd looked into the eyes of many who'd seen his abilities. The initial reaction was often shock, instantly followed by fear. But now, the way Katie stared, it was pure curiosity. "You know that's a trick I learned from your mother." Katie lifted her eyes, meeting his.
"What did you just say?" Katie asked, and without hesitation Martin grabbed Katie's arm and began pulling her toward the door. "Martin, what-" Katie looked back to Damian who never moved from his spot. Katie heard Martin tell someone to fire, and the moment they were on the other side of the door, gun fire pierced the air. The woman pulled from his grasp the moment they stepped inside the elevator. She turned to the man and he already knew a conversation he did not want to have was about to transpire.
"Before you start-"
"What the fuck was that?!" Katie snapped with a slight shake of her head. Her thoughts replayed the scene over and over. The bullet just stopping mid air in front of him. It makes her think of those train tracks and a train that shouldn't have stopped, coming to a halt at one simple utterance. "Is he a metahuman?" she turned back to Martin who let out a sigh. "I still have a gun, it's still loaded, so you need to start talking."
"That's just it, I can't." Martin replied turning back to the woman. "You're not even supposed to be in the same room as that man. And now he's made things so much more difficult."
"What are you talking about?" Katie closed her eyes, suddenly feeling faint. "My mother, he mentioned my mother and-" she took a step back that didn't quite land and the woman slipped a bit. Fortunately Martin was close enough to grab her before she could fall. "I feel strange." she opened her eyes to see Martin staring in worry. "Why do I feel strange?"
"I-" the elevator doors opened and Martin brought and arm around the woman who seemed too out of it to protest. He helped her into the car, when a voice spoke through the comlink in his ear.
"What do you mean he's gone?!" Martin growled. He looked back to Katie who sat with her eyes closed, her breathing seeming a bit faster than normal. "Fine, whatever, send a clean up crew." He quickly climbed into the SUV beside her and yelled for the driver to go. He turned back to Katie and sighed. "He's gonna kill me."
When the news of coming to Gotham, and to Bruce's house was brought up, Katie really did think this was a step closer to getting home. Time changed all of that. It moved slowly, and Katie could feel it. The walls around her had the familiar feeling of the many cells she'd been trapped in before. One night, it became too much. Being locked away in this giant manor, not being able to interact with anyone besides Bruce, Rick and Alfred. She was going crazy, and she couldn't take it anymore. The fact that she was so close to Starling just made the temptation that much greater. So she decided to finally take control and depend on herself to get her home. It's why she tied a rope of sheets together and hung them outside of her window. Why she didn't hesitate to climb down. It was the dead of night, but the woman held no reservations about this plan. She hurried to the garage, her eyes scanning through the row of cars both classic and new. She needed something to keep her under the radar and so she chose one of the man's motor bikes.
For the first time in a long time, Katie finally started to feel like she was actually doing something to get herself back home and being so close, she knew it was only a matter of time. She pushed the bike, glancing back to the manor, making sure no one had noticed her absence yet. It wasn't until she reached the gate did the lights around the estate began illuminating so brightly.
"Shit." she muttered before turning to the gate and entering the key code. The old gate seemed to take it's sweet time to open as Katie slid onto the bike and started the motor. She heard distant voices soon, but it wasn't going to stop her. The moment the gates opened up enough, Katie sped out of there, not even tempted to look back.
Katie's eyes snapped open, and she sat up quickly surprised to find herself lying on the couch in the loft. She placed a hand on her belly, feeling the kicks of the baby, which even though was uncomfortable, was equally relieving. She looked up, her mind going back to that boardroom, seeing an impossibility and then being pulled away by Martin. She remembers feeling odd, something she doesn't feel at all right now. The woman stood to her feet, and headed out to the balcony in hopes some fresh air will clear the fuzziness of this day. There was a cool breeze that blew past her and she inhaled deeply. She heard the sound of the door opening, and she turned.
"Twinkie?!" Oliver called and the sound of his voice seemed to make her smile.
"I'm on the balcony!" she called back and soon the man appeared, bringing his arms around her instantly. "Hi."
"Hi." Oliver replied, his lips already inching toward hers. It was a kiss that for a few brief moments seemed to erase the craziness that had transpired on this night. When they pulled from the kiss, smiles neither one of them thought was possible after a day like this, seemed impossible to not have in this moment. "How did things go at work?" the smile on Katie's face fell and she turned in the man's arms to look back out to the illuminated buildings around them. "That good." he placed a kiss on her shoulder, bringing his arms around her from behind and letting his hand rest on her rounded stomach, smiling at the feeling of his daughter moving underneath his hands.
"Not quite." Katie replied letting herself fall back into the man's grasp. "But I don't want to talk about it tonight. I think tonight has found it's limit of crazy." she turned her head to see the man. "How did it go with Speedy?"
"She's seems ok, I guess. Laurel is taking her out of town for a while on some spa trip, I guess to take her mind off of everything."
"Sounds like a good idea, in theory." Katie said turning back to the city. "I just don't think it'll be enough."
"Neither do I, but we will figure out something when they get back." the man placed another kiss to Katie's shoulder and she let out a soft sigh. Just moments earlier she felt like her life was in disarray, and now it all just went away as she found herself safely in the man's arms.
"What now?" Katie asked. It was a question that never went away because at the end of every battle, seemed to be the beginnings of another.
"I've been thinking about what both Lance and Jessica Danforth said to me about this city needing something that the Green Arrow can't offer them." Oliver said and he looked down meeting the woman's eyes. "And at first I wasn't quite sure what that was, but then you gave a speech. A speech that needed to be said and I realized that's what Star City is missing."
"Legalized marijuana?" Katie asked and Oliver lightly laughed. "You laugh, but I have a feeling we wouldn't have as many issues in this city."
"No, I was going to say hope." Katie turned in the man's arms and she looked up to his eyes. "Inspiration. Someone who can do things in the light, who isn't afraid... Someone who can protect himself." Katie seemed to know what the man was going to say before the actual words even came out of his mouth. A smile pulled at his lips as he look down to Katie's eyes. "Twinkie, I'm-
"Wait." Katie says before pushing the man back and moving around him to go back inside the loft. She wasn't sure where she was going, so she stopped and turned back to the man who followed behind her in confusion. "I'm sorry, that was weird. Just say what you were going to say."
"Twinkie, what-"
"You were going to say that you're going to run for Mayor." Katie replied pulling a smile to her face. "That's—that's-" for some reason she couldn't even find the right words to say in this moment that didn't reveal her true feelings. "That's—uh,-" Oliver walked over, bringing his arms around her. "I'm sorry, just of all the things I thought I was going to hear tonight on that balcony, you saying you're going to run for Mayor was not on the list." she looked up meeting his eyes and sighed.
"Twinkie, I understand now could possibly be the worse timing ever with the baby coming soon, but the city really does need someone now to stand for them and be that hope they need." Oliver said, but shook his head after he spoke. "That made it sound like I was choosing the city over us, which I'm not. I just-" the man was silenced by Katie's lips on his and soon words just didn't matter.
"I get it." Katie said with smile, placing her hands on the man's chest. "It will just be an adjustment, but you're right. It's time this city had a hero who stands in the light."
"You, our daughter will always come first in my life." Oliver assured, assuming that's where her doubts were centered, but they weren't. He pulled her into hug and she let out a sigh.
Up to this point she thought there was still a chance they could still leave. That they would find a way to stop these Ghosts, and Darhk and maybe they could sail away back to their quiet home, in their even quieter neighborhood.
Up to this point she thought there was a chance she could be free of this city. After fighting for years to come back home, she's learning everyday that it's not the same place it used to be.
Now all hope was gone.
Now she would never be able to escape her new, twisted prison.
Author's Notes
And there you are. The inevitable meeting between Damian Darhk and Katie and it was pretty interesting. Wonder how Oliver will take the news of the meeting...if Katie ever works up the courage to tell him.
Review Replies
BlueBloodsSVUOrder: I'm glad you like them, I really like them too. You know I've had one idea for a name and I can't let it go. I won't reveal it now because I may change my mind when it comes up in the story, but I'm all ears for ideas. I know a couple of people have mentioned maybe naming her after Katie or Oliver's mother. I'm not sure though.
ImsebastianstanButter :I can't wait to see how a baby fits into this life as well. Their lives are complicated and now with the whole Mayor thing, it's going to add even more strain. Katie is slowly losing hope of that perfect happily ever she envisioned, and when the hope slips away it leaves an open door for darkness or should I say Darhkness.
Adela: I love writing the sibling bonding moments between Oliver and Thea. But that was totally different in this chapter when Oliver finally told her about the pit. Which has lead to this mysterious spa trip with she and Laurel we know it's what it seems.
Phoenix-Rising2: Some much is truly unraveling, and we will see that more after this meeting with Damian. He has to figure out what that feeling is, after all. Bruce and Katie have an adorable relationship, but I feel it won't last. Bruce takes on the role of the protector to new levels and secrets are apart of his arsenal. The truth is bound to come out, and the keepers of that truth are bound to suffer the wrath of an angry Twinkie and an angry Damian Darhk. The spelling errors are the bane of my existence. Because I totally miss them when I write, and some how miss a few when attempting to edit. I sent you a PM, so if you're interested in being my beta, I would really appreciate the help.
ssjmrxi: Thank you so much. I will try to keep you on your toes. Glad you're enjoying the story so far.
Taffdog19943: So the inevitable meeting...what did you think? Darhk just had to see her again, and this time creating a way to stick around. Our Twinkie is slipping down the rabbit hole that's filled with Darhkness...
As always, I can never end a chapter without letting you all know how grateful that you're sticking this out with me. Special thanks to those who found this story and thought it interesting enough to add it to your alerts. And hugs and virtual cookies to those who press that review button and give me a look inside their heads when it comes to this story. The comments are always welcome, even the critiques are openly welcomed (Don't flame me, bro!). So let me heat from you if you have thoughts or questions about the story.
And here is your sneak peek
Soon Oliver and Ethan were seated in front of the television watching something neither expected to see.
"If you're just now tuning in, we along with multiple new stations in the city have been informed by an unknown party about an impending video that they would like broadcast live. This is something we do not usually do, but the party has threatened the lives of numerous people if their demands are not met." the reporter turned slightly, listening to someone through her ear piece. "Oh my God." she turned back to the came. "The video is now streaming, and we will show it soon, but we have no idea what this is and advise you to please take your children out of the room." after a few moments the reporter gave a nod and the moment the screen changed, Oliver felt his heart stop beating.
"My name is Dr. Katherine Robins and I am a murderer."