Chapter 15: The Ugly Truth

*******Same Day and Time*******

Felicity decided to quit arguing with Oliver and find out if their suspicions about Thea were correct. She checked the surveillance at the airport, but there was nothing in the commercial flights. She tapped the keys and froze when the next video played. Feeling sick, she reached over and grabbed Steve's hand. Steve looked down and watched the video, understanding filled him.

"Oliver," she called out. "I found something."

Everyone gathered around the video as it played. It showed Malcolm Merlyn getting off the airplane the night Sara was killed. However, what had Oliver stunned was the picture of Thea getting off the same plane right after him.

"So she was in town," Diggle said.

"And with her father, who we now know for sure isn't dead," Roy added.

They all were silent as they realized the implications. Oliver spoke first. "That does not mean she killed Sara!" he exclaimed, refusing to contemplate anything else.

"Now you're just being stubborn!" Diggle said. "Your DNA and hers would be similar. She was in town with her father, who we had no idea she was in contact with."

"Not to mention she's been lying to you about where she's been the past few months," Felicity pointed out.

Oliver gave her a betrayed look. "It doesn't make her a killer either," he said flatly before turning away from Felicity. He couldn't look at her anymore.

A knock on the door interrupted them. Steve got up. "Well, that should be Clint with your sister," he announced.

Oliver gave him a surprised look. "What? She's in town? She's here?" he asked.

"Clint called me, and I told him to bring her here," Steve said as he opened the door.

Oliver braced himself for Thea. Her hair was shorter, but she looked the same. When she didn't hesitate to run into his arms, he knew that no matter what, he'd keep her safe. She was the only family he had. He hugged her tightly then he pulled back to look at her. His hand stroked her hair. "I'm so glad you came," he said quietly.

"Of course! I'm so sorry about Sara! Do you know what happened?" she asked.

Everyone looked at her. "We have some theories," Diggle said dryly.

Oliver glared at him. Then he noticed Clint behind her. He couldn't fail to notice Natasha's warm welcome of the fellow archer. Oliver clenched his fist in annoyance.

"Glad you could join the party," Natasha said, smiling at her partner.

"When did you get here?" Clint asked her.

"Today. I'm at loose ends, and I heard things here were getting complicated," she said. "And since I love complicated…"

"You had to come," Clint said grinning.

Thea eyed the beautiful redhead with interest. Somehow, she knew that this was the woman Clint meant when he said she moved like one of his close friends.

"Guys, this is Clint," Natasha introduced.

Thea didn't like that the woman she didn't know was introducing her friends and brother. Clint picked up on her disgruntled look and bit back a smile. Sometimes, Thea seemed much older, but then times like this reminded him of just how young she really was. "Nat, this is Thea Queen. Thea, this is Natasha," Clint introduced.

"Nice to meet you," Thea said without much warmth. She looked around the room. "So why are you all here?"

"This is my place," Felicity said. Then she blushed and glanced at Steve. "I mean ours. Steve and I live here. Together."

Her awkward stumbling made Thea smile. "You're the one who sent Clint after me," she observed.

Felicity looked guilty and flashed Oliver a look.

"She was checking on you for me," Oliver said.

Roy was caught off guard by the appearance of the woman he loved. She'd barely glanced at him, and it stung. "It's a good thing since all you do is lie," Roy accused, earning an angry glare from Oliver.

"You're going to rebuke me for lying? Seriously?" she asked, arching an eyebrow, incredulous. "So how is the Arrow these days, Roy? Killing any more cops with him?"

Roy frowned in confusion. "What?" he asked.

Thea gave a bitter laugh, assuming he was putting on a show. "You must've told a pretty big one to get out of going to jail. So if I fibbed about where I was, you can be rest assured I wasn't out killing people," she said with derision.

Several eyes looked at her in disbelief. Clint realized that there were things going on that he didn't know about. He whispered to Natasha. "Fill me in?" he probed.

"Soon," she said.

"No, you were just hanging out with your mass murdering father," Roy said sarcastically.

The room was so silent at his accusation that no one moved. Thea paled and gave Oliver a pleading look.

"Why, Thea?" Oliver asked.

"He saved me from one of Slade's soldiers," Thea said defensively. "So I left with him. It doesn't mean anything."

Oliver didn't like them all looking accusingly at his sister. His defensiveness rose with his instinct to protect her. "Thea, why don't you and I go grab some dinner and catch up?" he suggested.

"I'd like that," she said in relief. Then she looked at Clint. "Will you be okay?"

"He's with friends. He'll be fine," Steve said. Then he stepped forward and held out his hand. "I'm Steve Rogers."

Thea finally noticed that she was in the presence of a real honest to God superhero. It made her feel very small and very guilty. She'd been lying and working with a known murderer. Did it matter that he was her father?

"Hi," she said, giving him a shy smile. She glanced at Roy, who wasn't looking at her with hostility but understanding. They'd discussed this very legend more than once. It was surreal.

Oliver reached for his sister. "I'll talk to you guys later," he said to the room before dragging Thea away from his friends and their accusations.

As soon as Thea and Oliver left, Natasha turned to Clint. "You have to see this," she said. Then she nodded to Felicity, who played the video.

Clint looked grim. Then he told them about his own mystery with Thea.

"So you think she's being honest?" Diggle asked.

"I do," Clint said. "She was genuinely confused. She thought she'd seen me the day before. Thea lost two days."

They were all silent as they contemplated that revelation. Finally, Roy broke the silence. "So what did she mean by me being a cop killer?"

"Yeah, well, about that…" Felicity began, giving Diggle a pleading look.

Diggle sighed, looking longing at the closed door. Leave it to Oliver to get out of the hard stuff. Laurel had kept Roy out of jail, but they'd failed to explain why he was in danger of going there. No one wanted to hurt him that way, but now they had no choice.

******Big Belly Burger******

Oliver hadn't given much thought to where he was going to take Thea. He simply took her to a place he felt comfortable. When Thea looked around with a smile, Oliver realized that he'd never brought her there before. He looked uncomfortable and apologized. "I'm sorry, Thea. I should've picked a nicer place for your first dinner back. I just wasn't thinking," he admitted sheepishly.

"That's fine, Ollie," Thea said. "I like this place. It's got personality. I was waiting tables at a small café where I was staying in Corto Maltese."

"Malcolm not giving you enough allowance?" he asked with more than a touch of disdain.

Thea glared at him. "You have no right to cast stones, Oliver!" she scolded.

"I don't?" he asked. "I don't believe I'm the one wanted for mass murder!" He ignored the voice that called him a hypocrite. Thea didn't know that part of his life, and Oliver had no intention of sharing it.

Thea wanted to argue. However, she now had her own misgivings, so she didn't. Instead, she looked away. "I'm sorry, Ollie. I just felt lost and alone," she admitted. The she looked up at him. "I was also curious. I knew him as Tommy's dad. Suddenly, he was my dad. I just wanted to get to know him."

"And have you?" Oliver asked.

She shrugged, not ready to share her concerns. She didn't want to know how foolish she'd been. The I told you so's were just waiting to be said. "He's very different from Dad," she said.

"That's because our father loved us. He was capable of the emotion," Oliver said sourly. "Malcolm Merlyn is not, Thea. I hope you realize that. If you expect more, you'll just end up betting hurt." He wanted to say more. He wanted to shake her and rail at her. However, she looked lost and hurt, and guilt filled him.

"That's not fair, Ollie," she said unhappily.

"I'm not sure what else you expected. You went off with him, and you lied to me for months," he said. When she opened her mouth to point out his own lies, he cut her off. "Yeah, I know Mom and I lied to you first, but it wasn't to hurt you. It was to protect you. To keep you from him. Mom died so you could live. How do you think she would feel about you doing this? She despised him! He ruined her life!"

Thea's eyes filled with tears. "That was a low blow, Oliver! Mom is the one who cheated on Dad with him, so he couldn't have always been so bad. He was Tommy's dad, and Tommy was good," Thea pointed out. Her brother echoing some of her own misgivings really upset her. She wanted to run out and never look back. However, she was afraid that if she did, she'd never stop.

"Tommy was good despite his father not because," Oliver said firmly. "Malcolm felt contempt for Tommy. Thought he was weak because he was good and full of compassion. Tommy was like his mother. Fortunately, he was nothing like his father!"

Since Thea had heard Malcolm say Tommy was weak more than once, she didn't protest. Instead, she shut down. When her food arrived, she ate. When Oliver asked her a question, she gave a one-word response. Frustrated, Oliver finally grew silent, too.

After they ate, Oliver realized that he had no bed to offer his own sister. He was staying in the basement of her former club. How did he explain that?

"Did you and Clint reserve a hotel?" he asked, hoping she'd say yes. When she nodded, he felt relieved. Then a thought occurred to him. "Separate rooms, right?"

For the first time since she joined him for dinner, she smiled at him. "Yes, Ollie! Clint is not my lover!" she assured him. Then she couldn't resist adding, "Yet." When her brother opened his mouth to protest, she giggled. The sound was such a nice change that Oliver grinned.

"Roy's still carrying a torch for you, you know. He loves you," he decided to share.

Her smile faded, and he regretted his remark. "Does he?" she asked doubtfully. "You don't lie to people you love. Not about the important things, Oliver. I know you and Mom thought you were doing the right thing, but you weren't. Roy hiding his involvement with the Arrow and whatever else he got involved in really hurt. I shared everything with him, and all he did was lie. He got involved in something that made him a killer. I could've dealt with that if I thought he was just a victim, but he wasn't. He made a choice."

"We all make choices, Thea," Oliver said. "You made one when you decided to make Malcolm a part of your life."

She nodded. "And I have to live with the consequences of that," she acknowledged.

Oliver was silent a moment as he wrestled with something. He wanted to tell her what his friends suspected. However, he couldn't. The betrayed look on her face when he did would hurt them both too much. Finally, he asked, "So have you been anywhere else the past week besides Corto Maltese?"

Thea wanted to unburden herself and tell her big brother about her lost time. Surely, though, she hadn't left the country when Clint said she wasn't at work. Why would her father take her somewhere else?

"Just work," she said as she handed the server her credit card.

"I got this, Thea!" Oliver said, frowning.

"Oh, did you have a job these days?" Thea asked, arching her eyebrow.

Oliver brightened, glad to have good news. "Actually, I do! I'm back at QC, but now I call it SQ Industry," he said proudly.

Thea grinned. "I heard a rumor," she said happily. "So how did it happen?"

Oliver filled her in on how Felicity's cousin saved the day and their new partnership.

"Looks like you really missed out, brother," Thea said with a smirk. "Felicity would've made a great sister. Now she's got, like, the hottest man on the planet! I don't think you'll win her from him!"

"She's my best friend," Oliver said simply. "She deserved much better than me, and now she has exactly what she deserves. I'm happy for her."

"You deserve to be happy, too," Thea said.

"So do you. You should give Roy a chance," Oliver said, unable to stop himself. Roy had turned into a monk since his sister left town. He was too young to be so focused on only the mission. Oliver worried about him.

"Ollie," she scolded, shaking her head at him. "How about I tell you about what Clint's been teaching me?"

Oliver looked alarmed as he considered that the deadly archerman might've taught her the skills that killed Sara. "Archery?" he asked, trying to prepare himself for her response.

She shook her head. "Nah. I'm not really interested in that. I like using a sword," she said with a grin.

Oliver grinned as his sister told her about the self-defense lessons she was getting. Since it seemed harmless, he relaxed. It was nice to finally find a neutral topic.

******The Next Day******

Oliver spent a day at SQ while Quentin planned the funeral for the next day. Knowing it was time to bury the woman who'd been such a part of his life made him short tempered all day. Finally, Felicity appeared in his office with that look.

"Enough, Oliver! Go home. Go find something to beat up!" she ordered. "If I have to hear about one more mean thing you've said today to your poor, abused assistant, I won't be responsible for my actions."

Oliver gave her a sour look. "I'm not allowed to have a bad day?" he asked in annoyance.

Felicity gave him a look of compassion and stepped forward to put her hand on his. She gave it a squeeze. "Of course, you are. However, you can't take it out on our employees," she said softly. "We're going to get through this. You're going to be okay."

Oliver gave her a pained look. Then he admitted the fear that had been growing. "What if she did hurt Sara?" he asked, feeling sick by speaking the words out loud. "What will I do?"

"We'll face that together," she told him. "Remember, Oliver, you're not alone. Not now and not ever again." She pulled him in for a tight hug.

Oliver returned her hug, grateful for her presence. He was even more grateful that he didn't have to worry so much about her safety.

*****The Foundry*****

Oliver was alone in the foundry, hitting his dummy hard when a voice interrupted him.

"Looks like you could use some company," Natasha said, smiling at him.

Oliver wasn't in the mood to be civil and had no reply. He turned and went for his water bottle.

Natasha watched him a moment before speaking. "Did anyone tell you about your sister's lost two days?" she asked. Steve didn't believe Felicity would say anything until after the funeral tomorrow. However, she didn't want the man to be blindsided.

Oliver frowned. "What?" he asked.

"Clint says your sister lost two days. They had plans to work-out, and he showed up at her house the normal time. It was mostly shut up except for a rude housekeeper that informed him she'd left town," Natasha shared. "She was gone for two days. When she appeared back at her work, Clint said she had no memory of being gone."

Oliver's fist clenched in rage. "It's Merlyn. He did something to her!" he exclaimed.

Natasha nodded. "As long as the man lives, he'll continue to poison and manipulate your sister," she said. "He must be put down."

Oliver would like that more than anything, yet he hesitated. He didn't want to be the one to kill his sister's father. Was he that much of a monster?

Natasha read his mind. "It doesn't have to be you, Oliver. I'd gladly do it," she offered.

They were interrupted. "Where is Sara?"

Both looked up. Oliver winced to see Nyssa, heir to the Demon. However, he stepped up to her, needing answers. "Why was Sara in town? What was she doing here? Why didn't we know she was here?" Oliver asked, demanding answers to the questions they all had.

Nyssa ignored them. "Where is Sara Lance?" she said coldly.

Oliver faltered and looked pained. "She's dead," he said flatly.

Natasha watched the exchanged with interest. She knew who the woman was, but the woman had never met her. She remained a silent observer.

"My father will demand retribution," Nyssa said, ignoring the pain his words brought. She would avenge her lover. "Who killed her?"

"We're still looking into it," he said.

"I heard you mention Merlyn. Does he yet live?" she asked, stepping closer to Oliver. He was hiding something.

Oliver knew it was pointless to lie, so he nodded. "Somehow, he does," Oliver said.

Nyssa pursed her lips. "My father will be most unhappy to know that his enemy yet lives. Malcolm Merlyn betrayed the League and must die for his betrayal," Nyssa said.

"I hate the man, too," Oliver said. "But it's more complicated than that."

"Why? The death of your enemy should be a cause of celebration. If he killed Sara, his fate is sealed," Nyssa said.

"He's my sister's father," Oliver shared with a grimace of distaste. The irony was not lost on him.

Nyssa's eyes widened slightly at the revelation. Then she looked grim. "It matters not. He must die. If you decide to defend your sister's father, you, too, will die," she said flatly.

Natasha didn't take kindly to anyone threatening someone she considered a friend. In a short time, Oliver Queen had become that—at the very least. "I don't think so," Natasha said, making her presence clear for the time since the woman had arrived. "Oliver is not without friends. And his friends are not people you want to make your enemy."

Oliver appreciated Natasha's quick defense, but he didn't want her to garner the League's wrath. "Malcolm Merlyn isn't even in town. Sara died a few days ago."

Nyssa looked at him coldly. "For your sister's sake, I hope that is the truth," she said. She gave Natasha a look that dared her attack. "My business with Oliver is none of yours."

Natasha just grinned. "I've warned you already. You may have trained monkey assassins at your beck and call, but I'm friends with the Hulk. You attack Oliver or anyone he cares about I will make it my mission to destroy you, your father, and everyone that is loyal to him. Now that SHIELD has been dismantled, I'm in need of a new project."

Nyssa's eyes widened slightly as she realized exactly who the woman was. Instead of replying, she left.

"Why did you do that?" Oliver said as soon as they were alone. "I don't need another woman to worry about!"

Natasha's eyes went dark a moment as she stepped closer. "I have been taking care of myself for a very long time. Save your worry for someone who needs it. If your sister killed Sara, you will have a war on your hands," she said.

Oliver grimaced then looked determined. "No one will hurt my sister. No one," he vowed.

Natasha nodded, glad he was so loyal to his family. She'd lost hers so long ago that she barely remembered their faces. "If anyone tries, Clint and I will stand with you," she announced.

"You speak for Clint?" he asked, trying to ignore the spurt of jealousy that reared its head.

She shrugged. "We are two sides of the same coin. I know him as well as I know myself. Clint is my family like Felicity is yours. He has grown attached to your sister and has earned his loyalty," Natasha said. "But even if she hadn't, you are Felicity's family. We protect our own."

Oliver was silent a moment, but a question was ripped from him. "Is he your lover?" he asked, hating himself for the weakness the question showed.

Natasha gave him a coy smile and stepped closer. Then she reached up to pull his head down to hers. Oliver's arms went around her as she kissed him thoroughly. He hadn't had nearly enough of her when she pulled back, giving him a slight smirk.

"No," she said simply. Then she turned and sauntered toward the stairs.

Oliver clenched his fists to keep from pulling her back. The woman was too intoxicating and would distract him. Right now, he needed to focus only on his sister. He would keep Thea safe or die fighting for her.

******Chapter End******

I hope you liked reading this as much as I liked writing it.