Chapter 6

AN1: THANK YOU SO MUCH TO Mocking_point who has helped me more than I can put into words.


Six months have passed since Laurel First became 'The Woman in Black' Three since Thea, Laurel, Roy and Sin's informative trip to Gotham and ever since Laurel has been using the Tonfa's Bruce gave him and remembering the advice he gave her.

Between looking after Thea, and even Roy and Sin, her work at CNRI and going out most nights to protect people Laurel is extremely busy, so busy that if it wasn't for coffee Laurel is pretty sure she wouldn't be able to function.

It's early in the morning and Laurel, who overslept due to being out so late as 'The Woman in Black,', hurries into the kitchen where Thea is.

"I'm late, I'm late," Laurel says, in a hurried tone of voice, only being half dressed as she is so rushed.

"Don't you need to have sex recently to be worried about being late?' Thea asks and Laurel gives her an annoyed look. "Not in a joking mood, got it," Thea says, understanding her mistake. "What time did you get in?" Thea asks curious.

"About four am," Laurel answers.

"Here, coffee and breakfast to go," Thea says, handing Laurel a travel mug and some food. "I also put everything you need in your bag which is right there," Thea explains, pointing to Laurel's left where her bag is.

"Thea, you are incredible, thank you," Laurel says as she puts on her shoes and buttons her shirt.

"Not a problem," Thea comments. "Oh, Roy told me to tell you that he got that new part for your bike," Thea explains.

"Oh great," Laurel says, sounding glad as that is something she needs. "I'll pick it up after work, let's go," Laurel says as she picks up her bag, coffee, and feed. While the part Roy has gotten for her isn't something she needs to fix urgently it is something she would like to fix as soon as possible so she wants to get it as soon as she can.

"So, you know what I don't get?" Thea asks curious as they head to the front door.

"No, what?" Laurel asks curious.

"You spent like a year building your bike, you won't even let me drive it, and in the last six months you've damaged or broken that thing about once a week," Thea reminds Laurel.

"That's the criminals of the Glades fault," Laurel informs Thea, who laughs.

"Whoever's fault it is, I would have thought you would be more careful with the thing," Thea explains.

"I am," Laurel says in her defence. "Sometimes it can't be helped," Laurel explains. "And I'd be lost without my bike when I'm out," Laurel explains, as it helps her to get to and from places quickly and move easily between the different streets and alleys of the Glades.

"You know, even if I can't be out there with you I could help you from here," Thea suggests.

"No," Laurel says.

"Laurel, come on, I won't be in danger, and I would be helping you," Thea explains. "It's a win, win," Thea comments, as Laurel takes notice of the time.

"We'll talk about it later," Laurel tells Thea, realising that they don't have time for that conversation now.

"Does that mean you'll think about it?" Thea asks, hope in her voice.

"That means I'm late for work, and you're late for school, so we'll talk about this late," Laurel explains, knowing it give her time to really think about it. "Are you coming to CNRI or am I meeting you at Ted's?" Laurel asks curious.

"CNRI," Thea answers. "I was hoping to in a couple of hours of my school required community service hours," Thea explains. "Is that okay?" Thea asks surprised.

"Yeah, it's fine," Laurel assures her as they get to the front door just as the land line starts to ring. "Let's go, if it's important they'll call my head," Laurel says as she opens the door. "I swear one day soon I won't be late thanks to how I spend my nights," Laurel comments as she hurries them out of the apartment, closing the door on the ringing phone.

"That'll be the day," Thea says amused as they hurry downstairs.


A coupler of hours later Laurel, who had caught, hasn't been at CNRI for very long when someone Laurel knows very well walks in.

"Tommy? What are you doing here?" Laurel asks confused as she gets up and walks over to her.

"Did you miss a phone call this morning?" Tommy asks, knowing that she should have received one.

"Um, yeah, the phone was ringing as Thea and I left, but we were running late so I just let it ring," Laurel explains. "What's going on?" Laurel asks concerned.

"Not hear," Tommy says, as he knows it would not be fair to Laurel to tell her what he has to tell her in front of her co-workers, and he takes her hand and pulls her into one of the interview rooms.

"Tommy? What's going on?" Laurel asks concerned once the door is closed.

"Okay, so um, I never thought I would say this," Tommy admits. "And I really didn't expect that I would be the one to tell you this, but um…" Tommy says,

"Tommy!" Laurel exclaims, as she realises that Tommy is spirling. "What's going on?" Laurel asks, and hearing that Tommy takes a deep breath and prepares himself for what he must tell Laurel.

"It's Oliver," Tommy says and with those two words it almost feels like Laurel's world stops. "He's alive, he's been found," Tommy reveals, and out of all the things Laurel was expecting Tommy to say that wasn't even on the list.

"What?" Laurel asks, completely shocked, as she almost feels back into the table and so she pulls out a chair so that she can steady herself. "Is Sara…" Laurel starts to asks, not sure if she wants the answer, but before she Can finishes the question Tommy starts to answer as he knew exactly what Laurel was going to ask.

"He was alone," Tommy reveals. "On a remote island in the North China Sea," Tommy explains. "He's being taken to China," Tommy explains, and as he does he notices that Laurel seems almost frozen. "Laurel?" Tommy asks concerned.

"Thea," Laurel manages to say as she almost feels overwhelmed by everything she is feeling. "We have to tell her, now, before anyone else can," Laurel says, managing to think coherently enough to think of the person who means the most to her and what it means for her.

"Yeah, I guess we do," Tommy says as Laurel moves away from the chair she is using for support. "Hey, do you want to talk first?" Tommy asks. "This can't be easy for you," Tommy says as while he is beyond happy that his best friend is alive he knows that it is a whole other story for Laurel.

"No," Laurel says as she really doesn't want to talk.

"Laurel…."

"Tommy, right now all I can focus on is telling Thea, nothing else, let's go," Laurel says, pushing down everything she is feeling, as she knows that right now Thea is all that matters.

"Okay, I'll drive," Tommy says and the two of them head out of the room that Tommy dragged them into.


Twenty minutes later Laurel and Tommy are waiting in an empty room at Thea's school. As soon as they got to the school Laurel and Tommy explained to the principal what is going on and as soon as they do she agreed to pull Thea out of class and let her go home. As the pair wait for Thea Tommy is sitting down at the table while Laurel paces back and forth a she can't bring herself to stay still.

"Either someone spiked your coffee this morning or you haven't had enough," Tommy says to Laurel who pauses her pacing so that she can glare at Tommy. "Okay, you're really not in a joking mood," Tommy comments.

"You're the second person to say that to me today," Laurel says as she continues to pace.

"Why am I not surprised by that?" Tommy says with an amused look on his face, but before Laurel can respond the door opens and Thea walks in.

Walking into the room Thea sees Tommy sitting at the desk, and Laurel pacing, and right away she feels her stomach drop as she feels with dread.

"Who's dead?" Thea asks, fear in her voice, as it is perfectly clear that she is actually afraid that someone has died.

"No one, Speedy," Laurel assures her, leaving out that that's not strictly true as the only people who are dead are people Thea already believes are dead.

"Then why are you both here, an hour after you dropped me off at school?" Thea asks, as she looks between Laurel and Tommy, trying to figure out what is going on.

"It's Ollie," Laurel says, forcing the words out.

"Ollie?" Thea asks confused. "Ollie's been gone for five years," Thea says, having no idea why Laurel would be talking about Oliver.

"He's been found, alive," Laurel reveals. "That's why the phone was ringing this morning," Laurel explains. "When we didn't answer Tommy got the call," Laurel explains.

"Ollie's alive? He's okay?" Thea asks, sounding completely amazed.

"He's been found," Tommy explains. "He's been taken into a hospital in China, I don't know anymore than that," Tommy explains.

"When can I see him? I want to see him?" Thea asks, sounding desperate.

"I have a private jet standing by," Tommy explains. "We can go whenever you want," Tommy assures Thea.

"You'll come with me?" Thea asks Tommy, feeling grateful.

"Of course, I will," Tommy answers, as there is no way he wouldn't go with Thea. "That's If you going to China is okay with Laurel," Tommy says, realising that he should have talked to Laurel before mentioning it to Thea.

"It is," Laurel says, as there is no way she would not allow this as she knows what it would mean to Thea. "I can come if you'd like," Laurel says, looking right at Thea as even though she is pretty sure she would prefer to stich her own arm back on, she will go with Thea if she needs her.

"No, it's okay," Thea says. "Tommy and I will be fine," Thea says as even though she wants Laurel to come with her she knows that, considering everything, it wouldn't be fair to Laurel. "Can we swing by home before we go? I really don't want to go in my school uniform," Thea explains.

"Of course, we can," Tommy says. "We've told your school what's going on, so they know that you're going to be gone for a few days," Tommy explains.

"Let's go, Speedy," Laurel say sand the three of them head out of the room.


Half an hour later Laurel, Thea, and Tommy have gotten back to Thea and Laurel's apartment. While Tommy is sitting out in the living are Thea, who is getting changed, and Laurel, who is putting things of Thea's in a bag, are in Thea's bedroom.

"I just can't believe it," Thea comments. "After all these years, I always hoped, but never thought it was possible," Thea admits.

"Yeah," Laurel says as she continues to put some stuff in a bag for Thea.

"Damn I'm sorry, Laurel," Thea says, as she realises everything. "I'm sorry that Sara wasn't found too," Thea admits, her voice full of sympathy.

"You don't have to apologise, Thea," Laurel says as she closes Thea's draws. "Are you sure you don't want me to come with you and Tommy?" Laurel asks, even though she really doesn't want to know and won't fight Thea on it if she says she is sure.

"Yeah, I'm sure," Thea says. "I'll be okay, Laurel," Thea assures her.

"Okay, I think you're ready to go," Laurel says as she closes Thea's bag.

"Thanks," Thea says, before hugging her. "I love you," Thea says to Laurel.

"Love you too," Laurel responds as she hugs Thea tightly.

"We'll finish our conversation from this morning when I get home," Thea says as she and Laurel break apart, and as she does she sees the look on Laurel's face. "What? Did you think I forgot? Because I didn't," Thea tells Laurel.

"We'll talk about it, but I think I know what is going to be my answer," Laurel tells her.

"I wouldn't be so sure, you haven't heard my arguments," Thea explains. "Don't get hurt while I'm gone, please," Thea says, as she worries every single time Laurel goes out as 'The Women in Black,'.

"I'll do my best," Laurel says as she knows that's the best she can do.

"SPEEDY, COME ON! WE'VE GOT TO GET GOING!" Tommy yells from the living room.

"You better get going, private planes don't like to be kept waiting," Laurel tells Thea.

"Yeah, guess not," Thea says. "Will you tell Sin and Roy what's going on?" Thea asks.

"Of course," Laurel responds and once more Thea hugs her.

"See you when I get home," Thea says as they break apart, and as they do there is a small part of Laurel that can't help btu fear, no matter how selfish it is, that Oliver being alive means she is going to lose Thea.

After breaking apart Laurel and Thea head back into the living area, and as they do Tommy helps Thea with her bag.

"Merlyn," Laurel says, and Tommy looks over at her. "Take care of my girl," Laurel says, there being an undertone threat of 'or else,' in her voice.

"Don't worry, Lance, I will," Tommy promises before he and Thea leave, Thea waving at Laurel as she goes.

After Tommy and Thea leave Laurel just stands in her living area, and as she stands, staring at the door that Tommy and Thea went through, as she stars at the door Laurel's phone starts to ring and she answers without looking at the caller ID.

"Hello," Laurel answers.

"I just heard," Bruce's voices, a voice Laurel is very glad to hear, says. "How are you?" Bruce asks, clearly concerned about her, not asking if she is okay as he knows she wouldn't be.

"I don't know," Laurel admits. "I don't know what I'm feeling," Laurel admits.

"That's understandable," Bruce responds. "How's Thea?" Bruce asks curious.

"Ecstatic," Laurel admits. "She's going to China, Tommy's taking her," Laurel explains. "I know I should have gone, but…" Laurel starts to say.

"Dinah, you don't have to justify yourself to me," Bruce tells her. "You never have to justify yourself to me,"

"Am I selfish for being worried that I'm going to lose Thea?" Laurel asks, knowing that Bruce will be honest even if it's hard for her to hear.

"No," Bruce answers. "Dinah it's understandable, for three years you've been Thea's guardian, and it makes sense that you'd be worried that now her brother is back he's going to take your place," Bruce explains. "It's not selfish, Dinah, you're a lot of things but selfish isn't one of them," Bruce tells her.

"I thought about Sara, about how much I wish it was her that had been found," Laurel admits.

"I thought you would," Bruce admits.

"Bruce, I hate him, but I also remember how I used to feel," Laurel admits, needing to say it out loud. "it's like there is a piece of me that I locked away that's opening up again, and I don't want it to," Laurel admits

"Then don't let it," Bruce says. "I remember what you and Oliver were like together, but I also remember what he did to you, and how you reacted," Bruce says, know how difficult it was to see Laurel the way she was in those three months she spent in Gotham right after the Gambit went down. "You're not the same as you were five years ago Dinah, and I'm assuming he's not either," Bruce says, being pretty sure that it would be impossible for anyone to be the same. "How he affects you is your decision, decide what you want to happen, make it happen, and know that it's okay if you change your mind," Bruce tells Laurel as he has ex's that effect him more than he would like so he is giving the advice that he wishes someone had given him.

"Thanks Bruce," Laurel responds.

"While I'm giving you advice, I'm going to give you a but more," Bruce reveals. "You can't go out tonight," Bruce tells Laurel. "Dinah to do what we do you need focus, you're not focused right now, going out tonight would be a liability," Bruce tells Laurel.

"I know," Laurel admits.

"I've got to go, but if you need anything, I'm…" Bruce starts to say.

"I know," Laurel says, cutting Bruce off as she knows what she is going to say. "Thanks, Bruce," Laurel tells him.

"You never have to thank me, Dinah," Bruce says, before hanging up.

After hanging up with Bruce Laurel starts to walk aimlessly around the apart, having no idea what to do as she took the day off work as soon as Tommy told her what happened. Not wanting to back to CNRI and answer all her questions Laurel heads into her room, picks up her gym bag, and leaves not really wanting to be at the apartment knowing that Thea is on her way to China, and being able to only think of one place she wants to be right now.


Within an hour of leaving Laurel and Thea's apartment Tommy and Thea are on the private jet, on their way to China.

"It's a pretty long flight, so you might as well use the inflight entertainment," Tommy tells Thea, being able to tell that she is restless.

"Considering this is your plane, I'm afraid to check what the entertainment is," Thea says, with a teasing grin.

"Don't worry, Thea, you won't find anything about PG13," Tommy says, clearly amused.

"Now that's just boring," Thea says, and Tommy laughs. "Do you think he'll be different?" Thea asks curious, as she is afraid off that.

"I don't know, probably," Tommy comments, not sure how to answer Thea's question. "Ollie's been gone for a long time, Speedy, and we don't know what's happened to him," Tommy says. "He's likely going to be at least a little different from the Ollie we remember," Tommy explains. "You might want to prepare yourself," Tommy suggests, as he thinks it is a good idea.

"I will," Thea says as she turns to look out of the window. "He won't know about Mom," Thea realises, knowing that that is going to be a really difficult conversation.

"I can tell him if you'd like," Tommy offers, thinking that it might be too much for Thea.

"No, I can do it," Thea says, feeling like it is something that should be her responsibility. "So, can we break open the mini bar?" Thea asks curious.

"For Soda, sure," Tommy responds.

"Oh, come on! I know you have more," Thea responds.

"Yeah, and if I give you any then Laurel will kill me," Tommy comments. "So, soda, water, or juice only," Tommy says.

"Are you actually scared of Laurel?' Thea asks curious as she thought Tommy was joking when he said things like that, but now she isn't so sure.

"Of course I am," Tommy says, feeling that it should be obvious. "I've watched her boxing match," Tommy says, causing Thea to laugh as once she stops them two of them drift into silence, both wondering and worrying about what state Oliver will be in when they see him again while Thea is also texting Mary about what she is feeling.


After leaving her apartment it isn't long before Laurel arrived where she wanted to go, Ted's Gym, and for twenty minutes she has been beating the crap out of a bag.

"Okay, I'm really glad that I'm not that bag right now," Ted's voice says a she walks over to Laurel.

"I'm really not in the mood for company, Ted," Laurel comments, not stopping for a second as she continues to hit the bag.

"That charming attitude, the anger, may work on others, but not on me. I know you too well," Ted says as he holds the bag steady. "What's going on, D? Why aren't you at CNRI?" Ted asks curious.

"It's a long story," Laurel says as she hits the bag harder.

"Is Thea okay?" Ted asks concerned as he knows that that would be one reason for Laurel's current behaviour.

"Thea, Thea's fine," Laurel says before she once more increasing the strength, she is using to hit the bag so that she is hitting it even harder. "Thea in on a private jet to China with Tommy," Laurel explains.

"What? Why?" Ted asks, surprised and confused, knowing Tommy through Laurel and Thea.

"Her brother, Oliver," Laurel explains. "He's been found," Laurel explains.

"Oliver, wasn't he…" Ted starts to say, putting the pieces together.

"My boyfriend who was cheating on me with my sister when his boat went down and he went missing at sea, yeah," Laurel says as she hits the bag as hard as she can.

"Okay, for the sake of my bag, and your hands, I think that's enough," Ted says as he steps in front of Laurel.

"I really don't think so," Laurel comments.

"Look, I know that you started training to help with your anger, but D, there are times when you should take a break, not punch," Ted says, wanting to help his best friend because he can tell how much she is hurting.

"I don't know what else to do," Laurel admits. "I took the day off work, and I really can't go back to an empty apartment," Laurel explains.

"Did you ride your bike here?" Ted asks curious.

"Yeah," Laurel answers, confused about why Ted is asking.

"The come on, I have an idea," Ted says. "Meet me around the back," Ted says, before walking away, leaving Laurel to take off her gloves.


Almost ten minutes later Laurel in on her bike, dressed in her riding gear rather than her workout gear when Ted, also dressed in riding gear, pushes his own motorbike out of from the back room of the gym.

"I thought that was just for show," Laurel comments, with a teasing smirk, when she sees him.

"That's just what I want people think," Ted reveals. "You've been seeing a lot of this neighbourhood from rooftops these days, it's time you see a bit more of the streets, of course, that's if you think you can keep up," Ted comments, with a teasing grin, as he climbs onto his bike and turns it on.

"I think you're gonna have to worry about keeping up with me," Laurel says before speeding off, Ted not too far behind her, both of them knowing that ways to go where there won't be people or vehicles so that they won't put anyone in danger.


After hours of driving with Ted, which is exactly what she needed, Laurel has returned to her apartment. As she figured that she would be getting company at some point Laurel stopped on her way home and picked enough food to fed at least four people. As she sits in the living area, just opening the food, Laurel hears.

"LAUREL! THEA!" being yelled by Sin and Roy's voice, it being clear to Laurel that the two of them have just come into the house through the fire escape.

"I'm in here!" Laurel calls and seconds later Roy and Sin hurry into the living area, honestly Laurel has to admire their timing because she was just about to call them.

"What's going on?" Sin asks worried. "Thea was pulled out of class and never came back, you weren't at CNRI, and Ted wasn't a the gym," Sin says, worrying about what could have happened to cause that.

"Where's Thea? Is she okay?" Roy says worried, looking around and not seeing her.

"Thea's fine," Laurel assures them. "She's on a jet to China with Tommy," Laurel explains.

"What?"

"Why?" Sin and Roy ask, both of them sounding completely confused.

"Oliver's been found," Laurel explains as Sin and Roy sit down on the couch.

"Thea's brother?" Roy asks surprised, and Laurel nods. "Wow," He says, not sure how to react to that.

"Wasn't your sister with him? Is she…" Laurel starts to ask, but Laurel cuts her off, not needing sin to finish her question.

"No, he was alone, which likely was…" Laurel starts to say before trailing off as she doesn't want to actually say it.

"I'm sorry," Sin says sincerely.

"Yeah, me too," Laurel says quietly.

"Do you want us to go?" Roy asks curious, as due to his own issues he half expects Laurel to not want him and Sin round when Thea isn't home, not that she has ever given indication that that's how she would feel.

"Of course not," Laurel says. "I want you both to know that just because Thea's not hear doesn't mean you have to go. You're both always welcome here, that's why I leave the window open," Laurel explains, as she looks between the teenagers, wanting to make that clear because of everything they have both been through they have issues when it comes to believing they are wanted. "Stay, I have plenty of food," Laurel says as she really wants them to stay.

"Sure," Sin comments as she and Roy make themselves comfortable on the couch, both grabbing the food they want to eat.

"Plus, I don't like the idea of you two walking back through The Glades at night," Laurel comments.

"We don't have to worry; we've got the Women in Black watching over us," Roy comments with a grin.

"She's awesome, the name's not though," Sim comments as she thinks the Women in Black is awesome, but she isn't such a big fan of the name.

"So, you've said," Roy says as he has heard Sins thought's on the matter a lot. "I think it's okay. There are worse things people could be calling her, think of all the names of people in Gotham," Roy comments.

"What do you think Laurel?" Sin asks curious as there is a banging knock on the door.

"I think that the fact that she is wearing a mask probably means that she doesn't want recognition, so the name probably doesn't matter," Laurel explains as she gets up and heads to the door.

"I still says he needs a better name," Sin comments.

"Why don't you come up with one then," Laurel suggests, as while she doesn't necessary want a name, she can tell that it is something that matters to Sin so she would be okay if she came up with a name. Getting to the door Laurel opens it revealing her father who is clearly beyond drunk. "Dad," Laurel says.

"Did you hear? He's alive… that bastard is alive… and Sara's gone," Lance says, or more specifically, slurs, anger in her voice.

"Roy, sin, go into the other room," Laurel requests, as in the last few years she has learnt that her father is cruel when he is drunk and even though they have both seen worse she doesn't want to subject Sin and Roy to him when he is like that, and she can tell that they are both hesitant to do that. "Please," Laurel adds, and the two of them get up and head out of the room, both of them grabbing some food as they go. "What are you doing here, Dad?" Laurel asks, turning to face him, once Roy and Sin are out of the room.

"Commiserating the fact that an innocent girl like Sara dies while a scumbag like Queen gets a second chance," Lance says as he pushes his way into the apartment. "Speaking of Queen's, where's Thea?" Lance asks, clearly looking for someone to let his anger out on.

"She's with Tommy, on her way to bring him home," Laurel explains.

"Of course, and before to long her dear big brother will corrupt her and Thea will just like those spoil brats, she'll have no regards for others, she'll…" Lance starts to say and before Laurel cuts him off, feeling anger rise up inside of her.

"Enough!" Laurel exclaims angrily. "I don't care what you say about Oliver, but you will not talk about Thea like that! Not in our home," Laurel says, her voice full of fury, as she takes a step towards her father. "Thea is more than Oliver Queen's little sister, she is my family, my sister, practically daughter, and I will not stand by and let you talk about her like that," Laurel says, attempting to push down her anger, but the Fury is perfectly clear in her voice. "I'm going to drive you home, so you don't kill yourself or anyone else, wait here," Laurel says, before heading to Thea's room where she assumes Sin and Roy are, and just like she was expecting she finds them sitting on Thea's bed.

"Everything okay?" Roy asks when he sees Laurel, honestly, he was planning on heading back to the other room if he kept hearing raised voices.

"No, I've got to drive my father home," Laurel explains. "I'll be back soon, you might as well enjoy the food," Laurel tells the pair before she heads back out of the room. "Come on," Laurel tells her father as she puts his arm around her shoulder and helps him out of the apartment. Thanks to all the training she has done, and how much she works out, she doesn't struggle with her fathers' weight as much as she once would have.


About forty-five minutes later Laurel has managed to take her father home, and is walking back into the apartment where she finds Roy and Sin once more sitting on the couch.

"Hey, we saved you some food," Roy says as Laurel walks in. "It's in the microwave," Roy explains.

"Thanks," Laurel says as she walks over and sits down between Sin and Roy.

"How's your Dad?" Sin asks hesitantly.

"He's sleeping it off," Laurel explains.

"I thought Thea said he was doing better," Roy comments.

"He was," Laurel confirms. "But after hearing that Oliver is alive, and Sara's not, he slipped," Laurel explains.

"I'm sorry, Laurel, this must be so hard for you," Roy realises. "You lost your sister the same day Thea lost her brother and now she gets her brother back, btu you don't get your sister," Roy admits.

"It is hard," Laurel says, putting her arm around Roy, appreciating his care. "I'm happy for Thea, I know how much it means to her to have her brother back, but it does hurt," Laurel admits. "As happy as I am for Thea, I also hate Oliver for what he did," Laurel admits.

"But you're not going to let Thea see that because yo don't want her to feel bad," Sin says, knowing that because she knows Laurel.

"No, I'm not," Laurel responds as the three of them drift into silence while they watch TV. Laurel doing her best not to think about what the next few days will bring.


Even though it was an extremely long flight from the US to China, Thea and Tommy have gone straight from the airport to the hospital where they have been talking to Oliver's doctors for about ten minutes.

"He has scar tissue over about twenty percent of his body, burns and several healed, but untreated, fractures," The Doctor informs Thea and Tommy. "You need to prepare yourselves, the Oliver you said goodbye to isn't the same as the one who's come home," The Doctor explains.

"Does he know about Mom?" Thea asks curious.

"No, I thought it would be better if that news came from someone he knew," The Doctor explains.

"Can we see him now?" Tommy asks, as he really, really wants to see his best friend.

"Sure, he's just in there," The Doctor says, pointing to the hospital room where Oliver is.

"Are you ready for this?" Tommy asks curious, looking at Thea as he wants to make sure she is okay.

"Yeah, I've ben waiting for this for five years," Thea says as she pushes open the door and walks into Oliver's hospital room, Tommy following right behind her. "Ollie," Thea says, her voice full of shock as she isn't sure how he is going to react.

"Thea," Oliver says amazed and Thea hurries over and hugs him.

"I knew it! I knew you were alive!" Thea says as she hugs her brother tightly. "I've missed you so much," Thea says as she continues to Oliver.

"You were with me every day," Oliver assures Thea as they break apart. "Tommy Merlyn," Oliver says with a grin as he notices who else in the room.

"What did I say, Yachts suck," Tommy says as he walks over and hugs his best friend.

"Where's Mom?" Oliver ask as he and Tommy break apart as honesty he was expecting his mother to be the one to come and get him, and he was definitely not expecting Thea or Tommy.

"Mom died Ollie," Thea says in a gentle voice. "She was killed in a home invasion almost four years ago," Thea reveals, it being incredibly hard for her to do that.

"That's not possible," Oliver says as he was in Star City two years ago and he saw no sign of his mother being dead and he saw Thea more than once in, unknown to him, situations that weren't at all like they appeared.

"It is. I'm sorry Oliver," Tommy tells his friend, causing Oliver to get a look of complete pain on his face, as he attempts to hold in tears which is surprising for him as he thought that couldn't cry anymore.

"Mom," Oliver says, his voice full of pain as he never expected his mother to be gone when he got home, and as he does, he realises something. "You were thirteen, what happened to you?" Oliver asks worried, looking at Thea.

"Laurel," Thea says simply, and honestly Oliver is surprised to hear that. "She took me in, became my permanent guardian. I've been living with her ever since," Thea explains.

"Good, I'm glad," Oliver comments as he knows that Laurel cares about Thea and would be an amazing guardian to her.

"So, I'm betting that you want to get out of here. You want to come home?" Tommy asks curious.

"I'm beyond ready," Oliver admits.

"Well then, I better go see if I can bust you out of this place," Tommy says before leaving the room.

"I'm sorry that I wasn't there for you, Speedy, that I wasn't their to help you through all this," Oliver says, sincerity in his voice as he knows that if he knew about his mother, if Amanda Waller told him, then he would have come home sooner, when he had the chance.

"You're home now, that's all that matters," Thea says before hugging her brother once more, both Queen siblings being amazed that the other is back in their life.