to godric777: thank you!
disclaimer: i don't own arrow
"Hey." Artemis started at the sound of her brother's voice, looking over at him. He frowned at her, concerned by her unusual dazed demeanor. "You okay?"
"Fine," Artemis said after a long moment, turning back to look out the window. "Just tired." Tommy scoffed at his younger sister.
"Real convincing, Mouse. Let me know when you want to tell the truth."
Artemis glanced at her lap, biting her lip. She'd been staring moodily out the window on the drive from her apartment to the Queen's mansion, where she and Tommy were meeting the family prior to heading to the court to have Oliver's death-in-absentia voided, and her brother seemed to have picked up on her mood.
Artemis had promised to come, despite Oliver's warning to stay away from him weighing heavily on her mind. She hadn't wanted to alert Tommy that something was wrong - she hadn't told yet told her brother about her conversation with Oliver when he'd dropped her off from his party. Artemis knew it would only upset Tommy, and she herself didn't want to think about it anymore than she had to. She resolved to act as normal as possible around Oliver and forgot that the conversation had ever happened.
Which proved to be much easier when she wasn't actually faced with the reality of seeing him.
"I ran into Nicky last night," she said finally, lying easily. Tommy groaned. Nicholas Spade was her ex-boyfriend. The two of them had dated on and off since they were teenagers, and Tommy hated Nick with a passion.
Honestly, Artemis did too, some of the time. He could be a real jerk, and he'd been the cause of her heartbreak more than once. But she had to admit that she felt inexplicably drawn to him - they'd grown up together, running in the same social circles, and he'd been her best friend for many years before he became her boyfriend.
He had changed as they'd grown up, becoming more power-driven and temperamental than he was when they were kids. Artemis knew the real reason she couldn't completely get over him was because she was still in love with the man she'd once known, not the man he'd become, and she wasn't yet ready to accept the fact that he'd changed for good.
Was it unhealthy? Absolutely. But she couldn't help it.
"Artemis," Tommy said with a sigh. "Stay away from him."
Artemis grimaced, Tommy's words reminding her of Oliver's warning.
"Yeah," she muttered in response, glaring out the window as their driver pulled around the circular driveway and towards the front of the mansion. She was glad Tommy didn't press the subject, and she climbed out of the car, bracing herself in anticipation of seeing Oliver again.
She followed her brother through the heavy oak doors into the entry hall of the mansion. She could hear Walter's voice coming from the living room, and the two Merlyns walked in as he finished speaking.
"It's fine, Walter," Oliver responded to his stepfather's explanation of what he should be expecting. He was facing away from Tommy and Artemis, and Artemis forced the frown on her face to relax as they stepped into view of the rest of the family. "I've been in a courtroom before."
"Four times by my estimate," Tommy piped up, as he walked towards Oliver, grinning. "You know, there was the DUI, the assault on that paparazzi douchebag, stealing that taxi which was just awesome, by the way," Tommy nudged Oliver as he came to a halt beside his best friend. Artemis hung back. "And who could forget, peeing on a cop?" Tommy finished. Moira's eyes went wide and she shook her head.
"I wish everyone would," she responded. Oliver turned towards Tommy, clapping him on the shoulder. He caught site of Artemis too, and his expression flickered for a half second. Artemis met his gaze calmly, refusing to tip anyone off that something was wrong.
"I'd hang," Oliver murmured to Tommy, glancing at Artemis uneasily again. "But we're headed to court."
"I know," Tommy responded. "That's why we're here." He grinned at Oliver again. "My best friend getting legally resurrected? Wouldn't miss it for the world." Oliver glanced at Artemis, raising his eyebrows in a silent question. She shrugged, giving him a casual half-grin that she didn't feel. Oliver's mouth pressed into a line, and he glanced over at his sister.
"What about you?" Thea shrugged.
"Uh, I think the first four times of you in court were enough for me," she replied coldly as she walked out of the room. Artemis watched her go, wondering what had happened. Thea was moody on her best days, so she wasn't particularly surprised that despite her brother's miraculous return, she had already found a reason to be upset with him. She'd check in with the younger girl later.
"Fair enough," Oliver said with a sigh as Thea left the living room and headed up the stairs.
"Mrs. Queen?" Oliver's bodyguard, John Diggle stepped into the room. He nodded politely at everyone. "Car's ready."
Tommy and Artemis took the same car they'd driven in with, while the Queens took their own car. When they arrived at the courtroom, reporters were swarming Oliver as he stepped out of the car.
"Holy shit," Artemis muttered, staring at the crowd as she slid out of the car. Tommy put his arm around her protectively as they moved towards the courthouse. The reporters weren't very interested in Tommy and Artemis - besides the one idiot asking if she was there to support Oliver as his girlfriend - but moving through the crowd of them and their microphones and cameras wasn't exactly an easy feat.
By the time they reached the courthouse doors, Artemis was out of breath.
The two Merlyns slipped into the bench right behind Oliver's table. The courtroom was as crowded as it had always been whenever Oliver was present, full of more reporters, business partners and friends of the Queen family showing their support, and interested members of the public.
The judge called on Oliver to give his statement, and he stepped in front of the judge. Artemis watched him closely. His arms hung by his sides, his hands curled loosely into fists. As he began to speak, a hush fell over the room, everyone hanging onto his every word.
"There was a storm," Oliver began. There was a beat of silence as Oliver took a deep breath, and he continued, "The boat went down. I was the only survivor. My father didn't make it." Artemis heard a slight sniffle next to her, and she turned towards Moira. The woman had tears in her eyes. Artemis leaned over Tommy, squeezing Moira's hand. The elder woman gave her a teary-eyed smile.
"I almost died," Oliver continued quietly. "I thought I had...I spent so many days on that life raft before I saw the island. When I reached it I knew that I was going to have to live for both of us." Oliver's voice was shaking slightly as he continued. "And in those five years it was that one thought...that kept me going."
At the table, Oliver's lawyer stood up.
"Your Honor," she said. "We move to vitiate the death-in-absentia filed after Oliver's disappearance at sea aboard the Queen's Gambit five years ago." Oliver was looking down at the ground now, but he turned slightly to look at his friends and mother when his lawyer came to stand next to him. Artemis caught his eye, and then quickly dropped her gaze. Oliver's eyes lingered on the girl for a second before he turned back around.
"Unfortunately," the lawyer continued, her voice going from businesslike to somber. "We will not be requesting that the declaration of death filed for the petitioner's father, Robert Queen, be rescinded." Artemis looked back up. Oliver's shoulders were tight underneath his suit, and he lowered his head as the lawyer continued quietly, "The Queen family is only entitled to one miracle, I'm afraid."
Moira led the way out of the courtroom, down the twisting stairs towards the exit. She glanced over her shoulder at Oliver as she spoke.
"Now on to the office," she said. "Everyone is waiting to meet you there - "
"Uh, Mom." Oliver reached out to touch his mother's arm, and she came to a halt, turning all the way around to face her son. Her face creased in concern as she took in his face. He looked a little weary. "That was a...a little heavier than I expected it to be," he continued. "Can we do that tomorrow? Please?" Moira nodded her head, glancing at Walter and then back at her son.
"Of course," she said gently, looking at her son sympathetically. Oliver smiled slightly, nodding his head.
"Thank you," he murmured. His mother nodded again, leaving to descend the stairs with Walter. Oliver let out a deep breath, and Artemis folded her arms. She wondered if Oliver was going to try and join her and Tommy for lunch now - she hoped he wouldn't, she wasn't sure she could handle a meal with him yet. Tommy was frowning at his friend in confusion.
"Last week you couldn't wait to get to the company," he pointed out, his eyebrows furrowed in almost suspicion.
"Tommy, I just spent five years away from civilization, I wasn't exactly thinking straight," Oliver replied wryly. As the trio rounded the corner, they ran straight into Laurel Lance.
"Oh," Oliver said, staring at Laurel in surprise. "Hi..." He shifted uncomfortably as he looked at his ex-girlfriend. He'd apologized to her the other night, but things weren't exactly good between them yet.
Artemis looked at the group of people with Laurel. The lawyer was flanked by Joanna de la Vega and Emily Nocenti. Artemis recognized the three of them, as she had been asked by Laurel to provide expert testimony as a trauma surgeon in court the next day. Emily was pursuing a civil lawsuit against a businessman named Martin Somers for the death of her father.
Artemis had known the case was getting started today, so she wasn't surprised to see them there. She was, however, surprised to see the man standing with them.
"Artemis?" The man standing behind Laurel moved forwards, and Artemis's eyes widened.
"Nicky," she responded, her heart pounding. "What are you doing here?"
"Just giving moral support," he said with a charming smile. He placed a hand on the back of the woman next to Laurel. "I've been helping fund CNRI and I have a personal interest in this case. I heard you were providing testimony tomorrow but..." he trailed off, but Artemis could practically hear the words, but I didn't expect to see you today.
Artemis nodded slowly as she tried to think. Not only was she shocked to see her ex, but unless she was very careful about their interaction, Tommy would know that she hadn't been brooding over seeing him last night and would demand an explanation for her mood and why she'd lied. Which was not a conversation that she particularly wanted to have, especially now.
Fortunately, the presence of Laurel was enough to throw both Oliver and Tommy off, and she took their momentary surprise to her advantage.
"Yeah, that's me. Hey, can we talk?" she asked, walking past Laurel and grabbing Nicholas's arm. He nodded, surprised, turning around to walk with her in the opposite direction he'd been going.
"Mouse!" Tommy shouted, tearing his gaze away from Laurel as he realized what was happening. He sounded annoyed.
"Bye!" Artemis called back, waving Tommy off over her shoulder. She glanced back as she and Nicholas walked towards the courthouse doors. The irritation on Tommy's face was no surprise to her, but the expression on Oliver's face was.
He looked...Artemis couldn't put her finger on it, but definitely not happy. Which annoyed her. He didn't have any right to express any negative opinion about who she chose to spend time with, in her opinion.
"Um, what was that?" Nicholas asked with a chuckle as she came to a stop right in front of the courtroom doors. Artemis released his arm, stealing a glance at the group they'd left behind. Oliver was shaking the hand of the young blonde woman next to Laurel. Artemis turned back to her ex-boyfriend and laughed nervously.
"Sorry," she said, looking away from him. "I wasn't in the mood to listen to a conversation between Oliver, Tommy, and Laurel." Nicholas's eyes widened as he realized what she meant, and he let out a short laugh.
"Yeah, I can imagine that will be awkward." Nicholas knew, through Artemis, that Tommy and Laurel had an ongoing fling over the past several years, and he also knew that Tommy was particularly hung up on Laurel. Which was complicated enough when he thought he was in love with the ex-girlfriend of his dead best friend, and was now extra-complicated that he was in love with the ex-girlfriend of his not-dead best friend, who had been cheating on said ex-girlfriend right before his presumed death.
So, yeah, a bit messy.
"Well," Nicholas said with his usual charming smile. "I'm glad I could be your getaway car." He hesitated, and then added, "It's, uh, really good to see you." Artemis froze, staring at Nicholas with a small frown. He ducked his head, looking nervous. "I've really missed you, Artemis," he said quietly. "I'm really sorry for how things ended between us. I was a jerk, and I really regret what happened."
Artemis thought back to their most recent break-up last year. She'd been studying for her last finals of med school while applying to residency and was stressed to no end. After a blow-up fight, where he'd complained she never spent time with him and she'd accused him of never supporting her, they'd broken up. When Artemis returned to his apartment later that evening, intending to apologize and promise that they'd do something special once she was done with finals, she'd walked in on him in bed with another girl.
Suffice it to say her anger came back quickly, and there was no apology given.
She'd been heartbroken, really. It was the only break-up since the first time they'd broken up that had really hurt her. At that point they'd been dating seriously for over two years, and she'd thought it was going to last that time. They'd talked about next steps, about moving in together, even skirting around the subject of getting married.
"I missed you, too," she said finally. He grinned again, the dimple that drove her crazy appearing in his cheek when he smiled. Artemis's heartbeat picked up. She was playing a dangerous game with Nicholas, but at least she knew the rules.
"Maybe...do you want to grab a drink tonight?" Nicholas asked hesitantly. Artemis tilted her head to side, considering.
"Well..."
"Artemis!" Oliver's voice broke interrupting her. Artemis scowled, turning around to look at her friend. He was standing behind Artemis, staring at Nicholas intently. Artemis and Nicholas had started dating for the first time when they were sixteen, and had broken up for the first time later that year. Oliver definitely knew about her sordid past with Nicholas, since she'd called Tommy sobbing the night they'd broken up. He'd been at a club with Oliver, and had bailed on the night out to go get Artemis.
"Oliver Queen!" Nicholas crowed, reaching out to shake Oliver's hand. "Good to see you again, man." Oliver glanced down at Nicholas's outstretched hand, and for a moment Artemis thought he was going to refuse to shake it. To her relief, Oliver shook Nicholas's hand briefly, though he didn't return the other man's smile.
"We're ready to leave," Oliver said, looking at Artemis. She glared at him.
"I didn't realize you were coming with us," she replied, an edge to her voice. "Besides, I'm in the middle of a conversation."
"Your brother's looking for you," Oliver said pointedly, shooting a look at Nicholas. It was no secret to anyone that Tommy disliked Nicholas and disapproved of him spending time with his younger sister.
Still, Artemis was shocked at Oliver's audacity. First he basically confirmed that he reciprocated her feelings for him by telling her she was one poor judgement call away from accepting an invitation to her likely death, and now he was playing the role of the overprotective brother?
No, thanks. She had one of those already.
"Is he?" she said in mock-surprise, making a big show of looking around. Tommy was talking to Laurel alone now. "Look at that, there he is. I'm sure he'll find me in a minute." Oliver's jaw tightened. He wanted to get Artemis away from Nicholas as soon as possible, but Tommy had been trying to calm Laurel down and told him to go on ahead.
"He'll be here soon," Oliver said firmly. "We should meet him at the car."
"Just give me a minute, Ollie," she snapped, turning back towards Nicholas. "I have an overnight shift tonight," she told him. "Dinner instead of drinks?" Nicholas nodded.
"I'll call you, okay?" he promised. "Don't need to give your brother any more reasons to hate me by hanging around." He leaned over, putting his hands on her waist so he could kiss her on the cheek. His lips lingered a moment too long to be friendly, but Artemis found herself not caring.
As he pulled back from Artemis, Nicholas shot Oliver a slightly smug look. He recognized jealousy - especially over Artemis - when he saw it. He'd been in that position himself several times. As Nicholas straightened up, he looked Artemis in the eyes. "See you soon?" Artemis nodded, her lips turning up in a coy smile. Nicholas gave Oliver a mock-salute. "Queen. A pleasure, as always."
As Nicholas walked away, she rounded on Oliver. She could practically feel the irritation radiating off of him, and he wasn't the only one annoyed.
"What was that?" she asked, putting her hands on her hips. "You have no right to - "
"You need to stay away from him," Oliver said, cutting her off. Artemis's mouth fell open. She hadn't thought Oliver would be that bold.
"Wow," she said slowly, turning away from him and walking down the steps of the courthouse. Luckily, the reporters had disappeared. She shook her head in disbelief. "So tell me, who don't I have to stay away from? Oh, and I almost forgot - what gives you the right to decide that anyway?" Oliver grabbed Artemis by the shoulder, pulling her towards him. Artemis blinked, shocked by the expression on Oliver's face.
He didn't look jealous, or protective. He didn't even look mad. He just looked dead-serious.
"Artemis," he said slowly, looking her straight in the eye. "Listen to me. Nicholas Spade is dangerous. I don't want you near him."
Artemis stared at Oliver incredulously for a minute, her heart beating fast. For a moment, she almost agreed. Oliver looked so serious that the warning, as out of left field is was, scared her. Then the moment passed, and she remembered this was Oliver Queen. Artemis scoffed, pulling her arm out of his hold.
"Thanks for the advice," she said dryly. "But I think I know Nicholas a little better than you do. In fact," she leaned in towards Oliver, her eyes glinting with anger, "I think I know Nicholas better than I know you. So excuse me for calling you on your bullshit."
She knew she was being cruel to Oliver with what she'd said, but dammit she was mad. Who did he think he was to drop a bombshell on her, ignore her for three days, and then lecture her on dating? Unbelievable.
Oliver opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, Tommy walked over. He looked at Oliver and Artemis, frowning. To his relief, Spade was nowhere in sight. But the expression on Artemis's face made him guess that she wasn't exactly happy about his sending Oliver to intercept her from leaving with her ex.
Not that he thought she would be, but he didn't care.
"What's going on?" Tommy asked.
Artemis scoffed. "Ask your best friend." She folded her arms over her chest and stared forwards resolutely, childishly refusing to look at either of them. Tommy sighed, glancing at Oliver. He smiled tightly.
"Looks like your sister and Spade are getting back together."
"You have got to be kidding me," Tommy muttered, turning to glare at Artemis. She glared back at him, her eyes flashing mutinously.
"News flash," she snapped. "It's none of your business who I decide to date." She flashed an angry glance at Oliver. "And it's especially not his. You guys can take the car. I'll walk." Her apartment wasn't too far from the courthouse, and the walk back would clear her head.
"I thought we were getting lunch," Tommy said as Artemis pushed the courthouse doors open. She snorted derisively.
"Shockingly, I'm not in the mood to spend time with you two right now."
Artemis stepped out of the courthouse, blinking in the sunlight. There was a press conference underway at the base of the staircase. A man in an expensive suit was standing facing a dozen reporters.
"I don't know what I've done to earn this witch-hunt from Miss Lance and her bosses at the CNRI," he was saying. "But I can tell you this, I am an honest businessman and I will fight this slander to my last dime and breath. That's all I have to say. Thank you." The reporters protested as he began to walk away, his security guards ushering him towards his car. Artemis now recognized the man as Martin Somers, the man she'd be testifying against tomorrow.
Artemis shook her head, heading down the stairs. Oliver and Tommy were behind her, and she split away from them as the reporters caught sight of Oliver and began to swarm him again. She ignored her brother's call of her name, walking down the block and away from the courthouse.
Oliver watched her go, his brow furrowed in concern. He knew how stubborn Artemis was. Once she set her mind to something, there was no stopping her. It was part of her charm, and the key to her success as a doctor. But it could also be her greatest flaw, and Oliver was scared she was going to get hurt because of it.
And he wasn't just worried about Nicholas Spade's playboy tendencies that had come back to bite Artemis when she was teenager. His concern ran far deeper than that.
He knew Nicholas Spade wasn't just a jerk, like Tommy thought. He was dangerous. His father, now deceased, was on the List that Oliver's father had given him, and Oliver's surveillance upon coming back to Starling confirmed that Nicholas had taken up his father's corrupt business. His family had been smuggling illegal drugs and weapons into the Glades for the past six years, and much of their wealth came from their crimes.
He also knew that Somers and Spade were underground business partners, both connected with the Chinese Triad. Which meant that Spade's philanthropic "personal interest" in the case against Martin Somers was certainly a way to keep the truth from coming out. And if Artemis was testifying against Martin Somers tomorrow, he doubted Spade's sudden re-interest in her was romantic. It might mean Artemis was in danger.
But of course, Oliver should have no way of knowing that, and couldn't tell Artemis the real reason he wanted her to stay away from Spade. He'd just had to hope that she'd trust him, but clearly she didn't.
And honestly, Oliver couldn't blame her. But that didn't mean he couldn't stop it.
"I hope your drink of choice hasn't changed," Nicholas called from the kitchen. He came back holding her favorite cocktail. "Gin and tonic, extra lime?"
"Thank you," Artemis said with a grin, accepting the drink. They'd gone out to dinner that night, and when he'd invited her back to his apartment for drinks, she'd agreed. She'd been supposed to go in for an overnight shift at the hospital, but one of her co-workers had needed a cover for her own overnight shift next week and had asked to switch.
Artemis took a sip of the drink as Nicholas settled beside her.
"So," she said. "You've been funding CNRI?" Nicholas nodded, and she smiled. "That's a great cause." Nicholas gave a half shrug, smiling modestly.
"I try to help where I can," he replied. "If you don't mind me asking, how did you get involved with this case?"
"Laurel is a friend," Artemis explained, adding with a chuckle, "And I'm a cheap date. You won't believe what some people charge for expert testimony, but I don't need the money. Even though I'm not a medical examiner, I know what a knife wound looks like." She shook her head, gazing off into the distance as she thought of Emily Nocenti with a stab of pity. "I just hope I can help. I hope it works out." Nicholas nodded, watching her with an unreadable expression on his face.
"I'm sure it will," Nicholas replied, placing his hand on top of hers. "And, not to change the subject," he lifted her hand to her lips, kissing it gently. "But in case I haven't said it already, you look beautiful." Artemis couldn't stop the smile that spread across her face. It truly seemed that Nicholas had grown up in the year apart. He'd always been charming, but tonight he had been the perfect gentleman.
"Thank you," she said, her cheeks turning slightly red.
The two of them sat on the couch, listening to jazz music and catching up. Artemis was laughing as Nicholas regaled her with stories of what he'd been up to over the past year. Since they'd broken up, he said, he'd done a lot of traveling and soul-searching. He told her he had realized he never really processed his feelings about his father's death, and it wasn't until he gave himself time to do so that he realized how emotionally volatile he'd been before.
"I hope this isn't being too presumptuous," Nicholas said softly. "But I was hoping you'd want to give this - us - a second chance. You make me want to be a better person - the kind of person you deserve." Artemis smiled slowly, studying her old friend.
"I think I'd like that," she replied. Nicholas smiled back at her.
"Another drink?" he asked, standing. She nodded, passing him her glass. As she shifted, Artemis felt her phone buzzed against her thigh. She glanced down at it, seeing the caller ID - it was Tommy.
Artemis sighed. "Give me a second, I have to take this," she said, holding up her phone. Nicholas nodded, walking towards the kitchen as she disappeared down the hallway and into the master bedroom. She sat down on Nicholas's bed, answering the call.
"What?" she said in lieu of a greeting, still irritated with her brother.
"Mouse," he said with a sigh. "Can we talk about this?"
"About what?" she snapped, clenching a hand in a fist.
"About Nicky," Tommy replied scathingly, his voice mocking as he used the nickname Artemis almost always called Nicholas by. She scowled. "Do you really think this is a good idea?" Tommy asked. "I remember how heartbroken you were last time, even if you don't. Oliver - "
"I remember it plenty well," she replied coldly, rolling her eyes. Her jaw tightened at the sound of Oliver's name. "And I don't need to justify my decisions to you or anyone else. Especially Oliver. Tell him to stay in his lane."
"Mouse - "
"Good night, Tommy." Artemis hung up on her brother, letting out an aggravated sigh. She stood up, slipping her phone back into her pocket and starting towards the door. She needed another drink.
A loud crash and the sound of glass shattering echoed through the apartment. Artemis froze, her hand wrapping around her phone as she stared out the open bedroom door at the empty hallway.
"Hey, what are you - " Nicholas's yell was cut off into a short shout of pain, and Artemis yelped instinctively, clapping a hand over her mouth. She crept into the hallway and peered around the corner so she could see into the kitchen.
Nicholas was on the ground, an arrow sticking out from his bicep. Looming over him was a man dressed in green leather, his face obscured by a hood.
"Nicholas Spade," the man said, his voice unnaturally low and gravelly. "You have failed this city." He knocked another arrow to his bow, pointing it at Nicholas's chest. Artemis's heart pounded, and she reacted without thinking.
"No!" she screamed, bursting into the kitchen. The intruder reacted instinctively, snapping his bow up and pointing an arrow at Artemis's chest. She raised her hands nervously. She'd taken up archery in high school - her dad had enjoyed the sport, and it had been in an effort to get his attention - and she knew the compound bow the man was using would allow for greater accuracy and power in his shots. Enough to kill, at this distance, certainly.
"Artemis," Nicholas groaned from the ground. "Run!" Before she could react the archer was lowering his arrow. He took a step towards her, and she stepped backwards, her heart pounding.
"You shouldn't be here," the man said. His was looking downwards, and between the angle and the hood it was impossible to get a good look at his face. Artemis shook her head in confusion, not understanding what he meant. But then, she couldn't understand anything about this situation.
"I - I don't - "
"Consider this a warning," the man continued, swinging back around to look at Nicholas. Through the broken window, Artemis could hear police sirens approaching. She wondered absently who had called the police. "You have until 10pm tomorrow night to shut down your operations in the Glades." Artemis blinked in shock. What was he talking about? The Hood turned around, reaching into his quiver to pull out another arrow. This one he shot through the broken window, creating a zipline to a nearby rooftop.
Artemis ran to Nicholas's side, her medical training kicking in.
"It missed your brachial artery," she said breathlessly, grabbing a kitchen towel and carefully pressing it against the wound. She knelt on the ground next to him, grimacing as little pieces of glass dug through her pants and into her legs. "You'll get the arrowhead removed, get stitched up and be fine." She smiled at Nicholas, but when she raised her eyes from his arm to his face, a chill ran down her spine. There was a furious expression on his face. "Nicky?" she said quietly.
He looked at her, and the expression vanished as he forced a smile. "Thank you," he murmured distantly, turning to look away.
The paramedics and police arrived shortly. She watched absently as the EMTs loaded Nicholas onto a stretcher and wheeled him out of the apartment, turning the Hood's words over in her mind.
You have until 10pm tomorrow night to shut down your operations in the Glades.
What operations could he be referring to?
"Dr. Merlyn," a familiar voice said. Artemis looked up at Detective Lance, sighing. She straightened up, nodding at him tiredly.
"Yes?"
"I'd just like to ask you a few questions," he said. She nodded again, motioning for him to continue. "Did you get a good look at the intruder? Do you know who it was?" Artemis let out a derisive sniff.
"The arrow in Nicholas's shoulder wasn't enough of a clue?" she muttered sarcastically. Detective Lance frowned at her. "It was the vigilante guy," she said. "He was, you know, wearing a hood. Full green leather, bow and arrow."
"So you didn't see his face?" Artemis gave Detective Lance an incredulous look, and he nodded. "Okay, point taken. Did he say anything?" Artemis nodded.
"Yeah - a couple things," she said. Artemis frowned, trying to remember. "He had a deep voice, sounded distorted, or something. He told Nicholas that he'd failed this city." Artemis sank down in one of the kitchen chairs, suddenly exhausted. "When he saw me, he said I wasn't supposed to be here." She glanced at Lance questioningly. "Do you know what he meant?" Detective Lance frowned, considering.
"He must have done surveillance on the apartment," Lance said, looking around. "I take it you're not here often?" Artemis shook her head.
"No, I hadn't seen Nicholas in almost a year before today," she said with a frown. "Even tonight, I wasn't planning on coming back here. I was supposed to be at the hospital, but a co-worker asked to switch shifts." She glanced up at Lance, who looked interested by that detail. Honestly, she was too. If that was what the Hood meant by you shouldn't be here, then how had he known?
"Anything else?" Lance asked her. "Any idea why he targeted Spade?" Artemis pressed her lips together and then nodded slowly.
"He told him that he had until tomorrow to shut down his operations in the Glades," Artemis said quietly. She looked at Detective Lance. "Do you know what that means?" Lance had gone completely still, but when she asked the question he turned to look at her slowly.
"Yeah," he muttered. "I do." Artemis opened her mouth to ask another question, but Lance was already turning away. She watched as he spoke quickly to his partner and a few cops, and then beckoned a man in uniform after him as he returned to Artemis.
"What's going on?" Artemis asked Detective Lance when he got close enough. Lance looked at her seriously. His expression made Artemis's heart thump nervously, and his next words did nothing to soothe her nerves.
"Dr. Merlyn, this is Officer Price. He's going to be assigned to keep an eye on you for the next few days." Artemis blinked in shock.
"What?" She asked, her eyes wide. Her voice shook as she continued, "Am I in danger?"
"I hope not," Detective Lance replied. "But tonight you heard information that might put you at risk. The vigilante alluded that Spade is involved with the arms and drug smuggling ring in the Glades, and that ring was working with Somers. Considering that you're also testifying in the trial tomorrow, I think it's best you submit to protective custody for now."
Artemis nodded numbly, her mind whirling.
Nothing that happened today made sense - Oliver's behavior, Nicholas's actions, the Hood's appearance.
Nothing made sense.
Nicholas Spade ducked out of his car, adjusting the sling over his good shoulder with a grimace. Artemis had been right, there wouldn't be any permanent damage from the arrow-wielding maniac's attack on him, but it still hurt like a bitch. He walked along the Starling City's docks, ducking into Martin Somers office.
His father and Martin Somers had been doing business for as long as Nicholas could remember. The Spade family were more discreet than Somers was - and smarter, Nicholas thought derisively - but their partnership was valuable, and Nicholas wasn't thrilled about the prospect of Somers landing himself in jail. He'd tapped into the CNRI in order to keep tabs on the civil suit, but he hadn't anticipated going head-to-head with the vigilante.
Artemis's testimony and the information she had heard about were just the latest hurdles in Nicholas's plan to keep things running quietly and smoothly.
He wished it was anyone but Artemis. He had had desire to hurt the woman he'd grown up with, who he'd loved, but his cool pragmatism knew there was no other option.
Call him heartless. But to him, it was just business.
"Mr. Spade," a feminine voice purred from the shadows. Nicholas smiled.
"Ms. Wei," he responded, as the Chinese woman stepped into the light. Nicholas was far fonder of Chien Na Wei than he was of Martin Somers. Somers was a means to an end, a pawn he needed to keep alive in order to keep his operations. Chien was a partner, almost a friend, and Nicholas admired her.
"How much does she know?" the white-haired woman asked as the two of them continued walking towards Somers's office.
"Enough to be a problem," Nicholas replied with a sigh. They came to a halt in front of Martin Somers desk. He nodded at the two of them.
"Thank you for coming," he said. Nicholas simply dipped his head in acknowledgement, but Chien smiled.
"Anything for a friend." Somers scoffed.
"We're not friends," he replied. "You smuggle drugs, he distributes them, I let you use my port." Nicholas smiled coolly and Chien dipped her head, folding her hands in front of her as she came to a stop in front of Somers's desk. Nicholas hung back, watching the interaction. He was there at Chien's request, not Somers's, and he was more interested in what she had to say than what Somers did.
"For which you are paid a lot of money," Chien said to Somers, arching her eyebrows. His eyes narrowed.
"I don't get paid enough to have arrows shot at me," he replied. His eyes flicked to Nicholas, looking at his bandaged arm in the sling. "Looks like Spade got paid a visit too, huh?" Nicholas narrowed his eyes, but didn't answer. Somers shook his head, looking back at Chien. "You need to take this guy seriously. He's a bigger threat to your operations than Nocenti ever was."
"Except now it's Nocenti's daughter who's the problem," Chien replied. "And unlike your friend with the hood, we know where to find her."
"Don't be an idiot," Somers said. "You take out Emily Nocenti and Laurel Lance will never let this go. She won't stop until she burns both of you, me, and the entire Triad to the ground. And Lance is too big of a target - her father paid me a visit today. We go near his daughter, and it's him we'll have to worry about." Chien didn't bat an eye. She glanced at Nicholas instead.
"I hope you're over your little girlfriend," she said to him. Nicholas raised his head, meeting her gaze steadily. Somers blinked, putting the pieces together.
"You want to kill Merlyn?" he asked in shock. "What does she have to do with any of this? Is her testimony going to matter that much?"
"It will when Miss Lance has her link Nocenti's death to our operations in the Glades under oath," Nicholas replied. "Which she can and will do after Robin Hood tipped her off." Somers leaned back in his chair, unconvinced. "One problem," Nicholas continued. "Artemis isn't exactly a low-profile target, either." Chien smiled, unbothered.
"Don't worry about the logistics, boys," she said. "I happen to know some of Artemis's blood relations have enough of a sordid past that her death will be linked back to them." Nicholas raised his eyebrows at Chien, waiting for her to say more. She simply smiled. "In a due time. I take it we're in agreement?" Somers nodded slowly, and Chien turned to Nicholas. He looked at her steadily for a moment, steeling himself, and then nodded as well.
"Make it happen."
Even under normal circumstances, a knock on her apartment door would have surprised Artemis. Tommy had a key to her place and never bothered knocking on the rare occasions he'd come over unannounced, like when he'd come by to tell her Oliver was found alive. Her friends hardly ever stopped by her apartment unannounced either, and her neighbors usually kept to themselves. Now, with the whole being placed under protective custody thing, she was on edge.
Taking a deep breath, Artemis stood up from her couch and walked over to the window. She checked to see if the cop car was still outside, and it was, which calmed her a little. Surely no one suspicious would have gotten past both the police and the building security.
Artemis walked over to the door, looking through the peephole. When she saw who it was, she sighed audibly in both annoyance and relief, and yanked the door open.
"You know, it's really hard to stay away from you if you won't leave me alone," she said. Oliver looked down at the ground, looking slightly chagrined. Artemis raised her eyebrows. "What do you want, Ollie?"
Oliver almost backed down and left, but Thea's words rang in his head. You got to let someone in.
"I - My sister took - she pointed out to me that I have been distant since I got back, and that...it would probably be a good idea if I let someone in. I was just going to...take you up on your offer from the other night, if it still stands." Artemis stared at Oliver for a long moment and then sighed, stepping backwards and waving Oliver inside.
"Why not," she said, turning to head towards the kitchen. If they were going to do this, she needed a drink. Oliver probably wouldn't mind one either. "I could use the company." Oliver closed the door behind him, following Artemis to the kitchen. She poured two glasses of wine, passing one of them to him and taking a sip of her own. She examined him carefully. "If we're going to talk, can we start with the elephant in the room?" Oliver looked at his wine glass, smiling tightly.
"Ollie..." Artemis sighed. She put her wine glass down on the counter and walked over to him. She took hold of his free hand in hers. "You had no way of knowing what was going to happen on the Gambit. Sara's death isn't your fault. And if I had gone with you, that wouldn't be on you either." Oliver looked at her, his expression guarded. "I just want to know why you told me," she said quietly.
"I was trying to protect you," Oliver replied. Artemis raised an eyebrow and he continued, "I just...I don't want you getting hurt because of me. Tommy would never forgive me. I'd never forgive myself." Artemis snorted, shaking her head and walking out of the kitchen and towards the living room. She flopped down on the couch, peering at Oliver over her wine glass as he followed her.
"You're not doing a great job," she told him. She waved a hand at the space next to her. "Take a seat, I don't bite." Oliver sank down next to her. "You telling me that," Artemis said, "I'm glad you did. But you left afterwards, ignored me for days, and then started lecturing me about Nicky?" She shook her head. "Not cool, Ollie."
"I'm a jerk," he admitted plainly. Artemis looked up, surprised. Oliver didn't usually admit to his shortcomings, but now he looked at her steadily. "Before the island I was a jerk and now I'm just a...a damaged jerk." Artemis looked at him for a long moment. He looked lost, almost defeated. It wasn't a look she was used to seeing on Oliver.
"Okay," she said finally. He looked at her, and she smiled gently at him. "I think that's the first time you've been honest." Oliver smiled slightly, and Artemis added, "Also, if it makes you feel better, you were right about Nicholas." Oliver looked up at her, his brow furrowing, and Artemis sighed. "I was at his apartment yesterday night. The Hood paid him a visit while I was there. It sounds like he's been involved with the illegal distribution of weapons and drugs in the Glades." Artemis shook her head in disgust. "Lance thinks that they can make a connection between him and Somers," she continued. "Bring both of them down."
Oliver studied Artemis carefully. Her head was bent over her lap, so she didn't notice his staring.
"The Hood?" he repeated, pretending to sound shocked, like he hadn't known, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Artemis reassured him. "I don't think he wanted to hurt me, but Lance put a police detail on me anyways. It was weird though...he said I wasn't supposed to be there." Artemis looked over at Oliver, a tiny furrow appearing between her eyebrows the way it always did when she was trying to figure something out. Oliver shook his head. Observant as always.
"Well, it looks like the Hood didn't approve of your relationship with Spade either," Oliver cracked. Artemis shoved his shoulder.
"Too soon, Ollie, too soon. Anyways," Artemis leapt to her feet. "Come on, you were on an island for five years. What's one thing you really missed, one thing you've been wanting to do since you got back? Something we can do right now." Oliver opened his mouth and she held up a hand. "Think carefully before you answer, Queen, because if you say sex I will hurt you."
Oliver laughed, his eyes crinkling up when he smiled. It felt good to see him happy.
"Ice cream," Oliver responded, smiling at her. Artemis grinned back, heading towards the kitchen.
"You're in luck," she called over her shoulder. "Because that happens to be the one thing I will always reliably have in my apartment." She opened the freezer, leaning back to wink at Oliver. "Besides wine, that is." She grabbed a carton of mint chocolate chip ice cream, a couple bowls, and two spoons.
The two sat in a companionable silence, eating their dessert. Artemis didn't press Oliver about why he came over. She knew if she gave it enough time, he would tell her.
"This...is as good as I remembered," Oliver said finally, laughing slightly. Artemis smiled at him, taking another bite of her own ice cream. Oliver placed the carton down. He was quiet for a moment before he spoke again, looking over at the woman next to him, "My mother wants me to join the company."
"Oh?" Artemis put her spoon back her bowl, sitting up to look at Oliver more carefully. She made sure to keep her voice casual, afraid of Oliver closing off again. "And? What do you want?"
"After five years...I have plans," he said, looking up at her. "I have things I have to do. But I can't do that if I'm..." he shook his head. "I don't know, attending board meetings and stockholder briefings." Artemis laughed.
"Well, you're an adult. You can say no." She stabbed her ice cream with her spoon, swirling her last bite into a soupy mess, smiling, "It's worked out pretty well for Tommy."
"Oh, I tried," Oliver said, shaking his head with a sigh. "Didn't take."
"So...show her, then," Artemis suggested, looking back up. "Show her what you want to do, show her the person you want her to see you as." She set her ice cream bowl down on the coffee table. "Trust me, I -" Oliver held up his hand, cutting her off.
"Did you hear that?" Artemis blinked slowly. She hadn't heard anything. She looked around the apartment slowly, wondering if she'd left a window open or something. She shrugged, looking back at Oliver. When she did so, the expression on his face chilled her, shocking her into silence. "There's someone on the fire escape," he said, his voice dead serious as he picked up a butter knife laying from the coffee table. Artemis's eyes went wide, and he reached his hand out to her. "Come on!"
"What?" she gasped out, taking Oliver's hand and letting him pull her along. He led her out of the living room and towards the master bedroom, but before they could get there, Artemis's apartment door splintered open. "Oh my god!" she gasped, her eyes going wide at the sight of muscular Asian man bursting through her broken door, wielding a gun.
"Come on!" Oliver shouted again, pulling her around him so that his body was between her and the man. "Keep your head down!" She obeyed him, barely able to process what was happening as he guided her back the other way. Artemis lifted her head briefly, seeing a shadow approaching the window just before another man burst through it, sending a spray of glass across the floor. Artemis shrieked, and Oliver's hand tightened around her wrist.
Oliver changed directions again, but as he turned around, the two of them came face to face with a striking Asian woman with pure white hair. Oliver tensed.
Another spray of gunshots made Artemis jump, and as she whipped her head towards the noise. She saw the first intruder fall to the ground, blood spreading across his chest. She flinched hard, and Oliver pushed her behind him again, bracketing her behind his back with his arms. He backed up until Artemis's back was pressed against the wall, so she was sandwiched between him the wall. Artemis could feel the cool metal of the butter knife he'd grabbed against her skin.
From behind Oliver, Artemis made out who had come to their rescue. John Diggle, Oliver's personal bodyguard his mother had hired after he and Tommy had been kidnapped.
He fired two more shots, and Artemis winced, pressing her face in between Oliver's shoulders so she wouldn't have to see the dead body in her apartment. Still, she heard the thump as the man who'd come in through the window fell to the ground.
The white haired woman whirled around, knocking the gun out of Diggle's hand. Artemis could hear the sounds of a struggle, but with her face still pressed against Oliver's back, she couldn't see what was going on.
Suddenly Oliver rushed forward, and Artemis gasped, terrified. "Ollie!"
She watched as he ran forwards, towards where Diggle and the woman were now struggling on the ground. The woman flipped Diggle over, pinning him to the ground with her legs across his chest. Artemis saw the glint of a knife as she raised it in the air. Artemis's stomach dropped, but she couldn't look away. She was positive Diggle was about to die trying to save them.
Oliver moved suddenly, and Artemis saw the butter knife fly through the air, flipping towards the woman.
There was a grunt from the woman, and Artemis watched as both knives clattered towards the ground. Oliver had hit her hand, making her drop the knife.
The white haired woman shot to her feet, disappearing out the broken front door and down the hallway.
Artemis felt dizzy. She sank to the ground slowly, a hand clasped over her mouth. Each breath she took set a sharp stabbing pain through her chest, like she couldn't get enough air into her lungs. Oliver was next to her again, and he pulled her close to his chest, hugging her tightly. Artemis could just make out Diggle yelling to Oliver, asking if he was hurt, but the ringing in her ears was getting louder.
Artemis closed her eyes, forcing herself to focus on her breathing. She could feel Oliver's hands running down her back gently, and she focused on the feeling, trying to ground herself. When she opened her eyes again, Oliver's face swam before her.
"Hey, hey," he said gently, concern evident in his eyes. He tipped her chin up so she was looking at him in the eye. "You okay?"
"I - I think so," Artemis managed, taking another deep breath. She realized she was shaking so hard her teeth were chattering. Shock, she thought absentmindedly to herself. "Oh my god," she whispered, her eyes filling with tears. She didn't want to turn her head. She knew there were two dead bodies in her apartment, and she didn't want to see them.
"C'mon," Oliver said gently. "Let's get to the couch. Can you walk?"
"I think so," she said again. Oliver helped her to her feet, and Artemis kept her gaze steadily forwards as she walked mechanically to the couch.
She sank down on the cushions, and Oliver sat down next to her. He picked up the fluffy throw blanket lying on the couch beside her and wrapped it around her shoulders before sitting down next to her. He put his arm around her, pulling her close to him again. Artemis swallowed hard, trying to think.
"Tommy," she said at last, turning towards Oliver. "I want to call Tommy." She pressed her lips together, her eyes filling with tears as she looked around her absently. "I - I don't know where my phone is," she said plaintively.
"Sh, it's okay," Oliver said, stroking her hair gently. "I have mine, I'll call him right now." A rapid knock at the door made her jump, and Oliver soothed her again. "It's okay, it's just the police."
"SCPD!" A woman's voice shouted, confirming this. "We're coming in!" Oliver stood up, and Artemis turned around slowly. SWAT agents and SCPD cops were coming into the apartment, their guns drawn but not lifted. She saw some of them split up, walking towards where the intruders had fallen when Diggle shot them. Two cops came over - Lance and his partner.
"Are you two alright?" Lance asked gruffly, his gaze focused on Artemis. She nodded, drawing the blanket more closely around her.
"I don't understand," she whispered, looking around her apartment. It was flooded with CSI taking pictures and swabbing evidence. She saw a body bag being rolled out of her door, and looked away resolutely, swallowing hard as her stomach rolled. She'd seen dead bodies before, dead of gunshot wounds, even. This felt so different.
"Those cops you put on me..." she saw the look on Lance's face, and her hand flew to her mouth. "Oh my god. What happened?"
"I went out to ask for a light." Diggle's voice came from the entrance to the living room as he walked back in. "They were both dead in the squad car." Artemis closed her eyes, feeling sick. This was all her fault.
"Do you think Nicholas did this?" she asked quietly, opening her eyes again. Lance stared at her, looking sympathetic. Artemis felt sick to her stomach, and her eyes filled with tears again, "I thought he loved me," she muttered to herself.
She didn't even mean romantically anymore. Whenever she'd been angry at Nicholas, and certainly not in love with him at the moment, whatever the reason was - for standing her up, for being a jerk, for rebounding so quick after their break up that it felt like he was cheating on her, for actually cheating on her, for colluding with Somers and smuggling drugs and weapons into the Glades...she had never wished harm to him. She would have never tried or wanted to hurt him.
He'd been her friend, since they were twelve. By sixteen, he was a jerk, but what sixteen year old boy wasn't? By twenty-five, he was a criminal, apparently. But with all their history, she'd never imagined in a million years that he'd want to hurt her.
The shock and sadness began to twist, turning into anger, and she lowered her head into her hands.
"Artemis!" Tommy's voice shouted from the front of her apartment. Oliver had stepped away when Lance showed up; he must have made good on his promise to call her brother. Artemis shot to her feet again just as her brother reached the living room. She ran towards him, and he pulled her into a tight hug. She could feel him shaking.
"Oh my god," Tommy said, running his hand down her messy hair. His eyes flew around the apartment, taking in the broken glass, the bullet holes in the walls, the blood spatter on the carpet. He shook his head in disbelief. "I was driving home, I saw the cop cars outside your building just as Oliver called me." He pulled back from her, cupping her face in his hands as he looked her up and down. "Are you okay? What happened?"
As he spoke to his sister, Tommy's eyes drifted to his best friend. He had no idea why Oliver was there, truthfully, but at the moment he didn't care. He met his friend's eyes.
"Ollie, are you okay?" he asked in a rush.
"I'm fine," Oliver replied levelly. He nodded at Artemis, silently giving Tommy the okay to go back to his sister. Tommy shook his head once, in disbelief. Thank you, he mouthed at Oliver.
After answering questions the police had for what felt like decades, they gave her the okay to leave her apartment, telling her they'd be in touch soon if they had more questions or found any information. Artemis packed a bag of her stuff and went home with Tommy, planning to stay in his guest room for at least the next few days.
Really, she wasn't sure she ever wanted to back to her apartment.
"I'll make you some tea, okay?" Tommy put her bag down on the ground next to the couch as she sat down, curling up in a ball and pulling the fluffy throw blanket around her. It was similar to the one at her own apartment; she'd bought it for Tommy purely for her own use whenever she came over.
"Put a shot of whiskey in it," Artemis muttered, only half-joking. Tommy smiled at her sadly.
"Shout if you need me," he said, disappearing out of the living room and towards the kitchen. Artemis sighed, grabbing the remote from the coffee table. She pointed it at the TV, clicking the on button. The channel was broadcasting a football game, and she flipped between them until she found the news.
Sure enough, her apartment building was on screen, a helicopter shot of it showing the cop cars swarming the establishment. She felt bad for her neighbors.
"...armed intruders entered the luxury apartment building in downtown Starling City at approximately 11:30 pm tonight," the news anchor was saying. A picture of Artemis appeared on the screen, to the right of the newscaster. It was her ID photo at Starling General, dressed in her scrubs and white coat. "Sources say the apartment attacked was being rented by Dr. Artemis Merlyn, daughter of local businessman Malcom Merlyn, but it was yet to be confirmed." The TV clicked off, and Artemis glanced up to see her brother holding the remote.
"I don't think you should be watching that," he said, passing her a steaming mug of tea. Artemis could tell by smelling it he hadn't actually put any whiskey in it, but when she took a sip, the hot liquid calmed her nerves just fine.
"Thanks," she murmured. He sat down next to her, and she leaned against his shoulder.
"I thought I was going to die tonight," she whispered suddenly. Tommy looked at her, his eyes wide. He opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, Artemis rushed on, "I - I'm sorry I was mad at you," she said, their argument on the phone seeming years ago. "I know you were trying to protect me, and as annoying as it is sometimes - " Tommy cracked a smile, and she gave a watery chuckle. "I don't want us to fight," she said. "Just...just in case."
"As much as I hate the sound of that talk..." Tommy put his arm around his sister and kissed the top of her head. "I can get behind not fighting. Truce, okay?"
"Deal." Artemis set her tea down on the coffee table, biting her lip. Tommy looked at his sister, a wry grin crossing his face as he recognized the look on hers.
"Spit it out, Mouse."
"I - I want to call Dad," she said in a rush. The grin dropped off Tommy's face, his expression melting into a look of cold anger. Artemis knew why. Their father was never good at showing up for things, at showing up for them. But after what she'd been through...all she wanted was to hear her dad telling her everything would be okay, that she was safe with him. All she wanted was her dad to be there.
"Okay," Tommy said finally with a sigh. "It's your choice."
Artemis knew what he meant. He didn't want to argue with her, not right after they'd agreed not to fight. But she knew Tommy thought she was being foolish - she herself thought she was being foolish. But still, she needed to try.
Artemis picked up her phone, pressing on the contact name for her dad. She held the phone to her ear, biting her lip again as it rang. She counted the rings slowly. She knew how many it took to get to her dad's voicemail by heart - years of him not answering her calls ensured that. As she got to the final ring, she let out a slow breath, hanging up without leaving a message and dropping her phone on the table.
Tommy watched her sadly.
"I'm sorry," he murmured, as she curled up into herself. She shook her head, unable to find the words as she leaned towards her brother.
"It's okay," she replied, so automatically she almost meant it. "I have you." That part, at least, was true.
Tommy had always been the one to protect her. Always.
A loud knock at Tommy's door made Artemis sit up in surprise, her heart hammering. Both she and Tommy had fallen asleep in the living room last night, and Artemis had slept fitfully, every small sound making her jump. She knew that the number of police watching her had been increased, but that almost scared her more - she didn't want any one else to die for her.
Artemis blinked blearily at the door. Tommy sat up from where he'd been sitting in an armchair, his feet on an ottoman. He cursed under his breath, rubbing his eyes as he stood up and stumbled towards the door.
"Check who it is," Artemis said, anxious. Tommy nodded, but before he could even reach the door, a familiar voice rang out.
"Tommy? Have you heard from your sister?"
It was their father.
Tommy's eyes narrowed, and Artemis sat up straight, her eyes going wide as Tommy yanked the door open. Malcolm was standing in the door, his eyes wide. He looked over Tommy's shoulder, his eyes falling on his daughter as his shoulders sagged in relief.
"Artemis," he sighed. "You're okay."
"Yes," Artemis replied stonily. Malcolm glanced at his older child, clearing his throat awkwardly. Tommy glanced over his shoulder at his sister, and she nodded once in response to his unasked question. She wanted to speak to their father.
Tommy let Malcolm in, disappearing down the hallway towards his bedroom. Artemis could hear water running in the en suite bathroom as he got ready, and Artemis stood up to face her father. Malcolm rushed over to her.
"Sweetheart," he said, pulling her into his arms. Unlike when Tommy had hugged her, Artemis didn't let herself melt into her father's arms. She stood stiffly, her jaw tight, until her dad pulled away. He cleared his throat. "I saw the news," he said, a way of explanation. "I wanted to make sure - "
"I suppose you didn't get my call then," Artemis said coolly. She turned away from her father, beginning to dig through her bag to pull out her toiletries and a change of clothes so she wouldn't have to look at him.
"Well..." Malcolm's voice trailed off, and the building anger in Artemis's chest exploded.
"Where were you last night?" Artemis shouted, whipping towards to glare at her father as years of resentment towards him poured out, "I needed you and you weren't there!" Malcolm looked at his daughter helplessly, unable to defend himself. He hadn't answered her call. Hadn't known she'd been in danger until this morning, when a reporter somehow got ahold of his assistant and left a message asking for a quote about the attack on his daughter.
"I'm sorry," Malcolm murmured. He stepped forward, trying to pull her into a hug again. She flinched away hard, sitting down on the couch as she dissolved into sobs again, angry and frustrated at her father for not coming sooner, relieved that he was finally there, and confused by all of her emotions towards him.
"Look at me." Malcolm knelt in front of the couch so he was looking up at his daughter. Hi cradled his daughter's face in his hands, and she looked at him with tear-filled eyes. "Listen to me. They will never hurt you again, okay, baby? I promise. I won't let this happen again."
Artemis began to sob again, angry at Malcolm's promise, at the way he said it - with such conviction that she felt he thought he could make it happen. Malcolm pulled her towards his chest, and Artemis looked over his shoulder as he hugged her. Tommy was watching from the hallway, his face stony. When their eyes met, she knew they were thinking the same thing.
That their dad couldn't control that. He couldn't keep his promise.
But then, he never did.
Later that day, Artemis insisted on going to the opening of the new Queen Consolidated's Applied Sciences Center, named in Robert Queen's honor. Tommy had tried to convince her to stay home and rest, but she'd refused. She didn't want to be at home alone, even though the Hood had apprehended Somers last night at the docks, getting a full confession about his operations with the Triad and Nicholas and his involvement in the death of Victor Nocenti on tape.
Nicholas was in the wind, though. The police had raided his apartment, but all signs showed he was long gone. The last sighting of him was CCTV footage, climbing into a helicopter.
Following her brother through the small crowd of people gathered, Artemis looked around, trying to spot Oliver. She wanted to talk to him, thank him for protecting her the other night. She wanted to make sure he was okay.
As her eyes skimmed the crowd, she found a familiar face. But not some one she'd expected to see.
"Laurel's here!" Artemis said in surprise, heading towards the older woman. Tommy followed her, like she'd expected. Seeing the two Merlyns approach, Laurel rushed up to Artemis.
"Mouse!" Laurel hugged the other girl tightly in greeting. She pulled back, scanning Artemis's face anxiously. "My dad told me everything - I'm so glad you're okay." Artemis smiled shakily at the lawyer.
"Thanks," she replied. "I'm glad everything...worked out." Artemis glanced at Tommy over her shoulder, and then back at Laurel. "Wait, why are you here?" She winced, realizing that probably wasn't the most tactful thing to say. "I mean..." Laurel laughed, unbothered.
"By invitation," she replied with a wry smile. "Oliver asked me last night." Artemis's eyebrows rose, her heart leaping to her throat unexpectedly. Next to her, Tommy stepped forward.
"Last night?" Tommy repeated, laughing in a slightly exaggerated manner. Laurel grinned sardonically, raising her eyebrows at the look on Tommy's face.
"Is that surprise or jealousy I'm hearing?"
Wondering the same thing about myself, Artemis thought drily. Tommy didn't answer, but he leaned in closer to Laurel, lowering his voice. Artemis pretended not to listen, even though she knew damn well what they were talking about.
"Look, I just don't want him to find out anything, okay?" Tommy pressed. "Oliver's been through a lot." Laurel sighed.
"Tommy. We've all been through a lot." Luckily, Artemis was saved from trying to stew over whether Laurel's presence there meant a flickering of romance between her and Oliver again by Walter's voice beginning to address the crowd.
"Good afternoon," he began, walking up to the small stage. Everyone turned to face him as he began speaking, and Artemis stole another glance around the crowd. Oliver was still nowhere to be seen. "And thank you all for coming. Welcome to the future site of the Robert Queen Memorial Applied Sciences Center." Artemis clapped along with everyone else, refocusing her gaze on Walter.
"Now, this is a building that will stand as a monument to a man whose company and vision are his greatest legacies." Before Walter could continue his speech, Oliver's voice called out from somewhere in the back of the crowd. Artemis turned around, her eyes going wide as Oliver stumbled through the people.
"Whoa, whoa." Artemis recognized the stupid grin stretched across his face. Everyone who'd even seen a tabloid did.
Oliver was drunk.
"What about me?" Oliver asked his stepfather, weaving through the people gathered around the stage. "Right? I'm a legacy! Hey! Thanks for warming them up, Walt." Oliver hoisted himself on stage, next to his mother and sister. Moira tried to grab him but Oliver shook her off easily. Artemis tore her gaze away from Oliver to look at Thea, who looked horrified.
"Alright..." Oliver sighed as he tapped Walter on the shoulder, stage whispering. "I got it." He took the gold painted shovel Walter had been holding, fumbling it and catching it before the ground. "Whoa! I'm kidding, I'm kidding." Artemis closed her eyes. She couldn't believe what she was seeing, that this was the same man who'd stood between her and a man with a gun yesterday.
Then, suddenly, she remembered their conversation.
"Show her, then. Show her the person you want her to see you as."
Was this what Oliver wanted?
"Some of you may not know me," Oliver began to address the crowd directly, a grin still wide across his face. "My name is Oliver Queen. Uh, watch some television, read a newspaper. I'm kinda famous right now." He laughed, delighted. Artemis looked around, all too aware of the reporters frantically taking notes and pictures, holding tape recorders closer to the stage to catch every word of the debacle.
"Mostly, though, I'm famous because I'm Robert Queen's son," he continued. "But, uh, Walter who's my new dad! Huh?" He laughed again. Even from a distance, Artemis could see the tick in Walter's jaw, the look of cold disappointment on Moira's face. "As Walter was saying, I'm not much of a legacy, per se. And, uh - " Walter leaned over, trying to pull Oliver away from the mic gently, but Oliver waved him off. "No, sit, sit!" Walter sighed in resignation, taking a seat next to Moira.
"See, I was supposed to come here today, and take my rightful place at the company," Oliver continued, looking out at the crowd. His expression was suddenly somber, almost serious. "Prodigal son returns home and becomes the heir apparent. But I'm not my father. I'm not the man he was. I'm not half the man he was. So please.." Oliver walked to the side of the stage, dropping the shovel into the stand unceremoniously. "Stop asking me to be."
Oliver jumped off of the stage, stumbling again and grabbing the shoulder of a camera man to steady himself. He started walking away, and whispers swept through the crowd as he left.
Laurel and Tommy exchanged a glance, but Artemis whipped around, following Oliver as fast as she could. She rounded a corner, breaking into a run to catch up with him.
"Oliver!" He turned around, and she jogged up to him. He stared at her, his face expressionless as she gaped at him. "What the hell was that?"
"I don't want to talk about it," he replied, starting to turn away. Artemis grabbed his arm, pulling him back to face her. She glared at him as hard as she could.
"Like hell you don't," she snapped. "Isn't that why you showed up at my door last night?"
"That was a mistake," Oliver replied, looking away. Artemis raised an eyebrow.
"Maybe. But a mistake that saved me life." Oliver froze, turning towards Artemis slowly. She met his gaze steadily, refusing to flinch or look away. Artemis stepped closer to him, reaching up to put her hands on his face. She gently guided his head up until he was looking her in the eye, their noses almost touching.
"Ollie," she said quietly. "I know what you're doing and this isn't the way to do it. I know you need to heal from those past five years. And I want you to know that you can take your time." She dropped her hand from his cheek, taking his hand and giving it a squeeze. "But whenever you're ready, I'm here." Oliver stared at her for a moment longer, and then nodded once.
"Okay," he replied quietly. Artemis exhaled quietly, but before she could say anything more, Oliver was pulling away. He walked away from her again, and this time she let him, watching him go.
Oliver wove as he walked away, stumbling every few steps. He acted the part of being drunk to the T, but something seemed off about him.
As Artemis turned to walk back to where Walter was trying to salvage the situation, she realized what it was.
What was bothering her was that she'd been close enough to Oliver to smell his cologne. And despite his stumbling and boisterous behavior on the stage, she hadn't smelled even the faintest scent of alcohol on his breath.
this chapter was much longer then i expected :D
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