Chapter 7

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

I AM SO SORRY THERE HAS BEEN NO UPDATE. My mum went back into hospital so I didn't have time, hopefully updates can be more regular now.


After spending two days in China, as the doctors wouldn't let Oliver fly right away, and a very long flight back, Oliver, Thea and Tommy have finally arrived back in Star City, it being late on a Tuesday afternoon when they get back.

"Welcome home, Oliver, I can honestly say that Star City hasn't been the same without you," Tommy tells Oliver with a grin. "Where do you want to go first?" Tommy asks curious as the three of them walk over to the car where all their bags, and Oliver's chest we put into.

"Do we still own the mansion?" Oliver asks, looking between Thea and Tommy as he isn't sure what to expect. "I just want to go home," Oliver admits.

"Yeah, we do," Thea answers. "Can you drop me home on the way?" Thea asks Tommy curious.

"Sure," Tommy says as they all get in the car and as they do Oliver realises that where he considers to be his home Thea doesn't, not anymore. Though, if he were honest, he would admit that he considers Laurel to be his home, and so does Thea.

"I would come with you, but I haven't been inside the mansion since the day I moved out," Thea explains to her brother as while she visits Oliver's and Robert's graves she hasn't been inside the house.

"It's okay," Oliver says, honestly he isn't sure how he feels as while he planned for everything what he didn't plan is for things to be like this when he got home.


Twenty-five minutes later Tommy, Thea and Oliver pull up out front of Laurel and Thea's apartment.

"Thanks Tommy," Thea says, reaching forward and giving his shoulder a squeeze.

"Do you know whether Laurel's home?" Oliver asks, not completely sure what he will do if she is.

"If she's not I know where to find her, and she'll be home soon anyway," Thea explains. "Plus, I'm seventeen now Ollie, I can spend a couple of hours home alone," Thea assures her brother as she gets out of the car.

"Speedy," Oliver says, also getting out of the car, as Thea heads to the trunk.

"Yeah?" Thea asks, turning to look at him.

"Can we do something tomorrow?" Oliver asks. "I'd like to spend some time with you, catching up," Oliver explains.

"I finish school at three thirty, we can do something after," Thea suggests.

"That would be great," Oliver says. "I'll see you tomorrow, Speedy," Oliver says before hugging her.

"See you then," Thea says as they break apart and once, they do Thea grabs her bag and heads inside.

After he watches Thea walk inside the building Oliver closes the trunk and heads back to the front of the car, returning to the passenger seat.

"Living with Laurel, Laurel becoming her guardian has been good for Thea, she's really helping her," Tommy comments as Oliver gets back into the car.

"That's good," Oliver comments, meaning that, and not being able to help but wonder what was really going on when he visited two years ago. "Who took over the company?" Oliver asks curious.

"Walter Steele, he was a friend of your dads," Tommy comments.

"Yeah, I remember," Oliver says as Tommy starts to drive.

"Okay. What else did you miss? Superbowl winners… Giants, Steelers, Saints, Packers, Giants again," Tommy explains. "A Black president, that's new. Oh, and 'Lost' they were all dead… I think," Tommy says amused. "Oh, and there's some blonde masked chick in leather beating the crap out of Criminals in the Glades," Tommy explains.

"Really?" Oliver asks, honestly surprised by that and not being able to help but wonder whether it will make his mission harder.

"Yeah, it's pretty hot," Tommy admits. "She showed up six months ago and no one has any idea who she is," Tommy reveals. "All anyone knows is that she's taking a tough stance of crim and has kicked the asses of a lot of people," Tommy says with a grin. "All I can say is that I would love to meet her," Tommy says with a grin.

"I think she sounds a little dangerous for your tastes," Oliver comments, though honestly, he would love to meet her too, but for very different reasons than his friend.

"That's exactly why I want to meet her," Tommy says, causing Oliver to actually manage a laugh at that, and the two of them drift into silence as they continue to drive towards the Queen mansion.


Not long after she left Oliver Thea lets herself into the apartment and as soon as she walks in Thea is very glad to be home.

"Laurel, you home?" Thea calls as she puts her keys in the bowel next to the door.

"In here," Laurel calls back from the direction of the office, and the second Thea walks through the threshold Laurel is hugging her. "I've missed you," Laurel says as she hugs her.

"I've missed you too," Thea says as she holds onto Laurel tightly. "So much," Thea says, before the two of them break apart and as they do Thea notices what Laurel was looking at. "Adam Hunt, right that's this week, can I help?" Thea asks curious.

"No, I've told you, I don't want you anywhere near this case," Laurel tells Thea, as she wants to protect her. "It's too dangerous," Laurel says as Thea walks over to the couch.

"Well, if you need your favourite Intern's help, just let me know," Thea informs Laurel.

"I will," Laurel says as they sit down. "Do you want to talk about it? How it was like seeing him?" Laurel asks curious as while she would prefer not to talk about Oliver, she knows that Thea might need to.

"It was… strange," Thea admits. "But good," she adds. "I've been dreaming about it for so long, but for it to actually happen, it was surreal," Thea reveals. "He seemed like the old Ollie, but not, you know?" Laurel asks.

"No, I don't," Laurel admits, as she can't help but think about what Bruce said to her.

"I had to tell him about mom," Thea reveals. "I think that was the hardest thing I've ever had to do, which says a lot," Thea admits.

"I'm sorry, Thea, I'm so sorry," Laurel says, as she puts her arm around Thea's shoulders and as she does Thea snuggles into Laure's side while the two of them drift into silence, a silence that they sit in for a few minutes.

"So, I can I help you out from here while you're out?" Thea asks, finally breaking the silence, as she knew that as soon as she got home, she would re-broach the subject with Laurel.

"I don't know if that's a good idea," Laurel admits.

"I won't be in any danger," Thea tells Laurel. "I'll just monitor the police radios, and the security system that you've used your dad's access to use," Thea says. "You've said more than once that you wish you had someone to monitor those things while you're out. Let me help, from where it's safe," Thea requests. "Please Laurel, I really want to help, and we can stay in contact via communication devices," Thea says and as she does Laurel realises just how much Thea wants to do this.

"Okay, but I have two conditions," Laurel reveals.

"What are they?" Thea asks interested.

"One, you do not leave this apartment when you help me, not unless danger comes here," Laurel explains to Thea.

"That sounds fair," Thea admits.

"And two, you don't help past one am," Laurel tells Thea. "Once it hits one I will turn off the coms so that you can get some sleep," Laurel tells Thea in a stern voice.

"One thirty," Thea counters.

"One, or no deal," Laurel says, it being clear that she is not going to give up on this.

"Fine, one it is," Thea says, though she doesn't look happy about it.

"Good," Laurel says and the two of them once more drift into silence as Thea once more snuggles into Laurel's side.


A couple of hours later Laurel, not for the first time since Thea went to China as she only took that first night off, is looking around the city from rooftops when she notices something. So, moving as quickly as possible, Laurel jumps down a fire escape and then once she gets to a story above the ground Laurel Jumps down and lands next to where a man is trying to force himself on a girl. The second she lands Laurel pulls the man off the girl and throws him to the ground.

"Run," Laurel says, her voice being lower than normal thanks to the voice changer she has put on her jacket, and just as she the woman runs the man gets back on his feet.

"So, you're the woman we've all been hearing about. You don't frighten me," The man comments.

"I should," Laurel says as she quickly pulls out one of her batons and hits the man in the stomach, causing him to double over and as he does Laurel grabs his head and slams it against her knee, knocking him out.

Once she knocks the man out Laurel hears police sires so, knowing that she can't get caught, she scales up the side of the building and once more disappears onto a rooftop.

"That was quick. Do they always go that quickly?" Thea's voice asks through the coms.

"Sometimes," Laurel answers. "Is anything coming up on the scanner?" Laurel asks curious.

"Doesn't…. wait, yeah, a mugging in process, about two blocks south," Thea reveals.

"Thanks, I've got it," Laurel says before she starts to run.

"Be careful, he has a gun," Thea says, worry in her voice.

"Will do," Laurel responds, as she runs as fast as she can. Thanks to the fact that she has gotten to know rooftops pretty well in the last few months Laurel manages to get to the mugging via the quickest way possible. From above she sees one person unconscious while another, someone who just looks to be scared kid, is handing over valuables. Even though she is pretty high up Laurel just jumps down and as soon as she lands she runs straight for the man who is pointing a gun at the boy who cannot be older than twelve.

"You,"

"Me," Laurel says as she quickly uses her baton to knock the gun out of the man's hand. As she knocks out gun away the man kicks up and lands a decent kick in her stomach, and even though she stumbles back Laurel doesn't let that stop her as she pulls her second baton as she approaches. Once she is close enough Laurel uses one baton to block the blow the man is trying to land on her while she knocks his knees out with the other, once he is on the ground Laurel throws one of her batons into the air so that she can knock him out with a punch before she catches her baton and holsters both of them. Once the man is unconscious Laurel hurries over to the unconscious person and the kid.

"Are you okay?' Laurel asks, as she checks the man.

"Yeah, but I don't know if my dad is," the kid admits. Looking at the man closely Laurel realises that he must have been hit with the but of the gun. "He's alive," Laurel tells the kid after checking for a pulse.

"Really?"

"Really," Laurel confirms as she once more hears the familiar sounds of a police car getting closer. "I've got to go, police are coming and they'll after your dad," Laurel tells the frightened child.

"Thank you," the kid tells Laurel.

"There's no need," Laurel says before giving the kid a reassuring smile, and after giving the smallest comfort she can, Laurel runs down the alley, knowing that she isn't fair from Ted's where she stashed her bike, though she purposely takes the long way to make sure she wasn't followed.

"You still there?" Laurel asks Thea once she is sitting on her bike.

"Yeah, I don't see anything else," Thea admits. "Are you coming home now?" Thea asks curious.

"No, I'm going to patrol for my bike for a couple of hours," Laurel explains. "I'll see you soon though," Laurel informs Thea, as she isn't quite ready to stop.

"Oka, don't die out there," Thea says, it being clear that she is trying to make it seem like it's just an offhanded comment, but she is really asking Laurel not to die on her.

"I'll do my best," Laurel says, before she speeds off on her bike.


The next morning, which for Laurel is only a couple of hours after she went to bed, Laurel is in her room getting ready for work. As she knows that her activities the night before made the news, as the kid talked to the press, Laurel isn't at all surprised when her phone rings and she sees who is on the caller ID.

"Hey Bruce," Laurel responds.

"So, I see that not only did you decide to ignore my advice but you went harder than usual," Bruce comments.

"I did listen, I didn't go out that first night," Laurel tells Bruce. "My city needs me, I couldn't just stay home because my life is a mess, If we did that neither of us would ever go out," Laurel points out.

"Good point," Bruce admits. "Just be careful Dinah," Bruce requests. "All it takes is a one second lapse in concentration for things to turn deadly,' Bruce responds.

"I know," Laurel responds. "I should go make sure Thea is awake, thanks for calling Bruce," Laurel says before hanging up.

After hanging up with Bruce laurel puts on her shoes, with a little bit of difficulty, and heads into the kitchen.

"So, how many people did you take down after I went to bed?" Thea asks curious as Laurel walks in and as she does, she notices that Laurel is limping slightly. "What happened?" Thea asks concerned.

"I was grazed by a drug dealers bullet," Laurel explains as Thea looks worried. "Don't worry, it's not that bad, and to answer your first question the drug dealer was the only person I took down after you went to bed," Laurel says, though she knows that that wasn't from lack of trying as she couldn't find anyone.

"I hope you made him hurt," Thea comments, as Drugs is something she gets particularly angry about.

"I did," Laurel assures her.

"Can I see?" Thea asks, referring to Laurel's wound.

"No," Laurel says, as she doesn't want to traumatise Thea by showing her that pretty deep, bullet, graze to her right calf. "I'm going to be late tonight, the hunt case has me busy," Laurel says as she pours coffee into her travel mug.

"That's okay, I, um, actually have plans, with Ollie," Thea explains. "He's going to meet me after school," Thea says.

"Oh, okay," Laurel says, realising that she should have seen that coming. "It's a school night so make sure you're home by ten," Laurel requests.

"I will," Laurel says.

"You ready to go?" Laurel asks.

"Yeah," Thea says, and they both grab their stuff and head out of the apartment.


A few hours later Oliver and Tommy are in one of Oliver's sports cars driving around The Glades near Oliver's father's old factory.

"Your funeral blew," Tommy informs Oliver.

"Did you get lucky?" Oliver asks curious.

"Fish in a barrel. They were so sad…"

"No,"

"And Huggy, and I am counting on another target rich environment for your welcome home bash," Tommy comments.

"At my what?" Oliver asks as he didn't really think about the possibility of a party.

"You came back from the dead. That calls for a party. You tell me where and when. I'll take care of everything," Tommy comments. "And this city's gone to crap," Tommy comments as he sees the people on the streets. "Your Dad sold his factory just in time, and why'd you want to drive through this neighbourhood anyway?" Tommy asks curious.

"No reason," Oliver lies.

"So, what'd you miss the most, stakes at the palm, drinks at the station, meaningless sex?" Tommy asks curious.

"Laurel,"

"Everyone is happy you're alive. You want to see the one person who's not?" Tommy asks and once he does Oliver nods causing Tommy to sigh.


A little while later, at CNRI Laurel is walking with her friend, and co-worker, Johanna, talking about their current case, and as they walk Laurel is still limping due to her wound; though she is doing her best to make it less noticeable.

"You know, it's fun being your friend. I get to say, 'I told you so,' a lot," Jo tells Laurel as they walk tards Laurel's desk.

"No, Adam Hunt is not smarter than we are,' Laurel says, not wanting to believe that.

"No. he's just richer and willing to commit multiple felonies," Jo comments.

"Which is exactly why I do what I do," Laurel this to herself as one piece of advice from Bruce that she has taken to heart is developing a code for herself. "We'll find justice without doing what he does," Laurel informs Jo.

"Now you're sounding like your Dad," Jo informs Laurel as they reach Laurel's work area where they find someone standing by the board that they are using to make sense of the details of the case.

"Hello Laurel," Oliver says as he turns around, only having eyes for Laurel.

"Oliver," Laurel says, having no idea how to react to seeing him even though she has been trying to prepare herself.

"Can we talk?" Oliver asks.

"Yeah, let's walk," Laurel says, wanting to get this over with as soon as possible, and even with the limp and the pain in her leg, she would prefer this conversation happen away from her co-workers.


A couple of minutes later Laurel and Oliver are walking, or in Laurel's case limping, through the streets near CNRI. As they walk Oliver noticing everything about Laurel, including the fact that she is clearly hurt.

"Are you hurt? What happened?" Oliver asks, breaking the silence that they have been walking in after about a minute as that is about as long as he could go without finding out why Laurel is limping.

"I cut my leg last night, it's fine," Laurel says, not even considering telling Oliver the truth.

"I wanted to thank you for looking after Thea, for taking her in," Oliver informs Laurel.

"You don't have to," Laurel tells him. "That night, she was terrified, she wouldn't let go of me and from the second I saw her holding your mother I knew that I was going to do whatever I had to do to look after her, protect her, to give her a home," Laurel explains to Oliver. "Thea's my family too, Oliver," Laurel reminds him.

"She's lucky to have you," Oliver comments, it being painful for him to hear about his little sister being in so much pain, and because of that he decides to change the subject. "Adam Hunt's a heavy hitter. You sure you want to get in the ring with him?" Oliver asks, and honestly Laurel has to hold in a snort at the irony of that comment, considering the people she has gotten in the ring with, literally in the sense of the boxing matches she's been apart of at Ted's and fugitively in the sense of the people she's taken to court or dealt with as the Woman in Black.

"Seriously? Five years and you want to talk about Adam Hunt?" Laurel asks, betting the answer is no but saying it because she wants to move the conversation forward.

"No, not really," Oliver admits.

"Why are you here, Ollie? Because I'm betting it's not just about Thea," Laurel comments.

"It's not," Oliver admits. "I'm here to apologize. It was my fault, I wanted to ask you not to blame her," Oliver says, it being perfectly clear who he is talking about.

"For what? Falling under your spell? How could I possibly blame her for doing the same thing that I did?" Laurel asks, anger back in her voice.

"I never meant to…" Oliver starts to say, and because she doesn't want to hear an excuse Laurel cuts him off.

"She was my sister! I couldn't be angry because she was dead. I couldn't grieve because I was so angry," Laurel explains, knowing thanks to Bruce's psychoanalysis of her, that that was her first step on the path to becoming the Women in Black. "That's what happens when your sister dies why screwing your boyfriend," Laurel says angrily. "We buried an empty coffin because her body was at the bottom of the ocean where you left her. It should have been you," Laurel says, letting her anger take over for a second, so she doesn't even think about what she is saying, and the second she does say the words Laurel deeply regrets them.

"I know that it's a little late to say this, but I'm sorry," Oliver says, actually meaning that, and being able to tell because of the look on her face that Laurel regrets her words.

"Yeah, I'm sorry too," Laurel says, before walking away before she says something else she regrets, walking over to Tommy who is standing at the door, waiting. "How did you think that was gonna go, Tommy?" Laurel asks.

"About like that, except considering your training I was expecting a punch," Tommy admits, as Laurel heads back inside.


Hours later, Laurel, who has been watching the clock since three thirty, is sitting at her desk trying to figure out the Adam Hunt case, trying to make sense of all the evidence so that she can figure out the best way to handle it.

"I know that look," A voice says, and Laurel turns to see Thea sitting on the corner of her desk, due to how much she was concentrating Laurel didn't even realise. "You're wondering how someone could be so cruel and wondering how many cups of coffee it's going to take you to figure out how to stop him,"

"Speedy," Laurel says surprised. "What are you doing here? I thought you were spending the afternoon with Ollie," Laurel comments.

"I thought I was too," Thea comments. "He didn't show," Thea explains, sounding disappointed.

"I'm sorry, Thea, I'm so sorry," Laurel says, as while she is used to Oliver disappointing her she isn't used to him disappointing Thea, as she thought that was something he'd do.

"Yeah, so am I," Thea admits, looking down at the ground. "Whatever, it doesn't matter," Thea says, though it is clear to Laurel that it really does matter to her.

"What can I do?" Laurel asks. "Do you want to get a milkshake?" Laurel asks, trying to think of something to help Thea.

"Nah, I know you're busy," Thea says.

"I'm never too busy for you," Laurel assures her, causing Thea to smile as she knows exactly how true that is, as Laurel has proven that many times.

"Thanks, but I think I might go to Ted's," Thea admits. "I think hitting the bag for a while could do me some good," Thea admits.

"Okay," Laurel says. "Well, when you see Sin and Roy tell me that we're having a movie night tonight," Laurel says.

"We are?" Thea asks surprised, as she doesn't think they have ever had a movie night during a school night.

"Yeah, we are," Laurel reveals. "I'll be home in a couple hours; with food," Laurel explains.

"Okay, I'll see you there," Thea says, before hugging Laurel. "I love you,"

"Love you too," Laurel responds and she and Thea break apart. Once they break apart Thea walks out of CNRI, Laurel watching her go.

"Damn it Ollie," Laurel says angrily as she watches Thea go. Honestly, she isn't mad at Oliver for herself she is made at Oliver because of the pain he has caused Thea.


About an hour or so later, at the Queen Mansion, Olive rand Tommy are showing Lance and his partner out of the house, and as they open they open the door they find Walter Steel and a tall muscular black man standing their.

"Oliver, It's good to see you," Walter says. "I'm glad you're okay,"

"Yeah, it's Walter, right?" Oliver asks. "You were friends with my Dad," Oliver says.

"Yes, I was, he was a great man," Walter explains.

"And I'm sorry, I don't remember you," Oliver says to the other person.

"We've never met Mr Queen," The man says.

"Oliver, this is John Diggle. He'll be accompanying you from now on," Walter reveals, and Oliver makes a note to look into who this person is.

"I don't need a babysitter," Oliver says annoyed.

"I understand if you feel that way, but the Queen Consolidated board feels differently," Walter explains. "You have only been back a day and you've already been kidnapped. You are the future of the company, so the board feel like it is necessary," Walter reveals. "And I know that id she was here it is what your mother would want," Walter explains.

"So, what do I call you?" Oliver asks, looking at Diggle and realising he doesn't have a choice about this, but that won't stop him from protesting as much as possible.

"Diggle's good, Dig if you want," Diggle says.

"Your ex-military?" Oliver asks, trying to find out more before he does his own searches.

"Yes, Sir. The 105th Airborne out of Kandahar, Retired," Diggle introduces. "Been in the private sector a little more than four years now. I don't want their to be any confusion, Mr Queen my ability to keep you from harm will outweigh your comfort. Do we have an agreement?" Diggle asks Oliver.

"Guess so," Oliver says, knowing that he doesn't have a choice about accepting Diggle as his bodyguard, but what he can control is how easy he makes the job.

"Good," Walter says. "Whatever you're ready to come to the company let me know," Walter informs Oliver.

"Of course, it's good to see you," Oliver says, and once he does Walter shakes his hand before leaving.

"Dude, you've got a permanent babysitter," Tommy says with an amused look on his face.

"What's the time?" Oliver asks as he realises something.

"Seven thirty, Sir," Diggle answers.

"I was meant to meet Thea at three thirty," Oliver says, a look of shock on his face as he can't believe the kidnapping made him let down the only family he has left.

"I'd say you missed that meeting," Tommy comments, being pretty sure that Oliver should be worried about how Laurel is going to react to him letting down Thea.

"Would she be back at Laurel's by now?" Oliver asks Tommy knowing that, as much as he doesn't like it, Tommy knows more about his sisters' routine now than he does.

"On a school night, probably, but if she's not I know the one place she will be," Tommy comments.

"Okay, good, I need to see her," Oliver says.

"Of course, Mr Queen, I'll drive," Diggle says as Oliver heads over to the car, Oliver not even planning n making this difficult for Diggle as he needs to get to Thee, he needs to apologise for not being their when he said he would be, and as Diggle starts to drive Oliver finds himself hoping that Thea will forgive him.