AN: Babysitting is boring when they go to sleep an hour after you start, and you still have about three hours left.
"Oh, good," Thea sighed in relief when Team Arrow reentered the Arrowcave to find Felicity plus two others there.
"What happened out there?" Malcolm asked with a frown. "Thought you would have had that one in the bag."
"How's Rene?" was what Felicity asked.
"Curtis and my dad took him to the hospital," Laurel answered.
"It's Dr. Schwartz," Dig added, and Felicity nodded, remembering she was the doctor who had tried to help their original Laurel.
"It's a collapsed lung," Dinah added. "It doesn't look so good."
"Oh, I'm sorry," Caitlin said sympathetically.
"Evelyn and the mercenaries escaped, but we pulled this off the van," Oliver held a device out to Felicity.
"GPS?" she asked, looking it over.
"Yeah," Oliver nodded. "Let's backtrace it, figure out where they came from."
"On it," Felicity hurried back to her computers.
"Quentin suggested maybe the attack on SCPD was targeting him and Dinah," Thea said. "Think that's still the case?"
"Why would Evelyn blow up the precinct after discovering they weren't there?" Kara pointed out.
"Maybe Quentin was wrong," Oliver shrugged. "Maybe our first instincts were right."
"That she's targeting the police for some reason?" Dig frowned.
"Then we need to figure out what that reason is," Kara sighed. "And find her."
"Oh, funny you should say that," Felicity frowned. "GPS's last location was a warehouse – surprise, surprise – outside Pennytown. If Evelyn's any smarter than she was when we last saw her, she will not go back there."
"Maybe she left something behind for us to go on," Dinah suggested.
"John?" Oliver turned.
"We're on it," Dig confirmed, he and Dinah going to get their gear.
"I'm still trying to figure out how Evelyn Sharpe, the least experienced of Chase's band of Revenge-Seeking Women, escaped Lian Yu," Malcolm scowled.
"Really?" Black Siren asked.
"It's accurate," Dark Archer said.
"Lyla should be getting back to us soon about that," Oliver nodded. "But I'm trying to figure that out, too."
Dinah ducked into the warehouse, gun in hand. "Clear!" she called.
"Clear!" Dig echoed behind her.
Dinah lowered her gun, raising a flashlight to look around. "It's all packed up," she said. "Doesn't look like they were planning on coming back here."
"Of course not," Dinah sighed. "Nothing is ever easy."
"Question is, where were they headed?" Dig frowned, entering behind her. "Stay sharp. In my experience, bad guys aren't very good at covering their tracks."
Dinah walked further in, shining her light around, before asking, "You all right?"
"Yeah, why?" Dig asked.
"You're not a great liar Dig. No offense," Thea said.
"No offense taken. Just, I can't figure out why I am lying," Dig said.
"Since the bridge, you seem distracted."
"Just worried about Rene, that's all," he brushed it off.
"Saw you take the shot at that merc," Dinah raised an eyebrow. "Never seen you miss."
"Nobody makes every shot," Dig shook his head, removing his helmet, then paused and pointed. "What the hell is that?"
"I've never seen you miss a shot like that," Oliver pointed out.
Dinah turned, aiming her light in the direction he pointed. It lit up a portable generator, and the piece of paper folded on top of it. She walked over and picked it up, unfolding it with Dig. "It's a map of City Hall," she recognized.
"With ingress and egress marks and line of sight," Dig added.
"Something doesn't feel right," Agent Danvers said uneasily.
"No criminal would normally be that idiotic unless they had another motive," Mick said.
"For an attack," Dinah realized.
"Why the hell would they want to attack City Hall?" Dig wondered.
"Same reason most bombers do?" Felicity said.
Dinah swallowed. "After the SCPD got bombed, they had to move the Academy graduation to a different venue. Oliver chose City Hall, but that decision was kept under wraps for security reasons!"
"How the hell did these guys find out?" Dig growled, grabbing his helmet and putting it on.
"I don't know, but we're running out of time to stop them!" Dinah shook her head, running out after him.
"This might be a late night, Raisa," Oliver warned, adjusting the sleeves of his suit jacket.
"I remember when your late nights were more like early mornings," she smirked, adjusting his tie slightly.
"Yeah," Oliver winced, remembering. He did not like his memories of those times.
"What's Raisa talking about?" Alura asked.
"Nothing," Oliver said.
"Thankfully, I've exchanged club openings for Police Academy graduations now," Oliver smirked back.
"All right," Kara said as she walked into the living room, and Oliver did a double take when he saw her in a one-shoulder black dress and sandals, then smiled when he noticed the sapphire and diamond bracelet she wore on one wrist, her earrings dangling crystals that reflected orange in the light. As always, she was wearing the arrowhead around her neck, and her hair was swept into a braided updo. "I got a response from Alex, she and J'onn will be there at the ceremony, and Winn has agreed to be at the lair. Malcolm's got your extrapolator and is going to get them now."
"You look really good in those colors," Is basically what both versions of Slade and Malcolm said. Paraphrased a little, cause it's easier for the author though. Dammit, now I have to fix the fourth wall. I be back soon.
Kara blushed as she heard them.
"Your brothers would be smirking so smugly right now," Oliver grinned.
"Oh, I did," Malcolm nodded.
"Think they would?" Kara pretended to examine what she was wearing. "Maybe take a picture and show them. It takes a lot to get ready like this."
"Well, Malcolm will definitely grin when he sees you," Oliver chuckled. "Speaking of, we need to get going."
"Good luck," Raisa wished, and both waved before heading for the door, Oliver holding his arm out, which Kara took.
"Whoa," Alex pretended to hold a hand over her eyes when the two descended down the steps into the Arrowcave. "Have you absorbed too much solar radiation? Because you are way too bright."
"Ha ha," Kara laughed sarcastically.
"Very funny, Alex," Kara sighed.
"Thank you for coming," Oliver told her sincerely. "You, J'onn, and Winn," he nodded to where the two men were with the rest of the group in the lair.
"Of course," J'onn nodded. "Especially since it's the police they're after."
"No problem," Winn agreed.
"Well, look at you," Malcolm did indeed grin smugly when he saw what Kara was wearing. "I feel like I need to be giving Oliver a warning of some kind."
"Where's dad?" Rose said.
"Not there yet. Be quiet," Alex said.
"Oh, please," Kara rolled her eyes, Oliver giving him a look.
"You look beautiful," Malcolm assured her.
"As if there was any doubt," Oliver smirked. "Now, as to why we're dressed like this and not in our suits?"
"Right," Felicity nodded. "Well, with Winn's help, I cracked the code, so to speak."
"You're welcome," Winn nodded, then winced when Oliver sighed. "Sorry. Anyway, these are the targeted areas," he pointed. "Which means we can almost be 100% positive that Evelyn Sharpe and friends will be attacking the Police Academy graduation tonight."
"The question is why," Dinah sighed. "Nine dead officers wasn't enough for them?"
"You're sure it was the officers they were after?" Alex asked.
"You said that you thought Sharpe might have been after you and Dinah," J'onn pointed out. "Two of your team is going to be there front and center with Rene still out of action."
"Yeah, and while Kara's obviously going to be there, Thea will be, too," Winn nodded. "That's, like, three birds in one stone."
"Shouldn't that be four?" Felicity frowned.
Kara coughed pointedly, making Felicity smack herself in the forehead in realization.
"You do remember who's bomb proof, right?" Winn pointed at Kara.
"Me!" Kara smiled.
"And me!" Moira said. Luckily she had gotten her mother's invulnerability.
"And me!" Alura siad. She had too.
"Well, if that's the case, they're in for an interesting surprise," Oliver folded his arms. "We need SCPD canine units at every entry point."
"Actually, we can kill the canines," Curtis announced as he walked up.
"What, no don't kill the dogs!" Kara said scared for the dogs.
"Yeah, don't kill the doggy's. He didn't kill the doggy's right?" Alura said to Oliver who shook his head.
"No, he's nice," Oliver said.
"Good. Don't joke about that again," Kara warned Curtis who nodded. He did not want to upset those two extremely strong aliens. Well, one was half alien but that's not important.
"What?" Oliver frowned in confusion.
"Um, by kill, I do not mean kill the actual dogs," Curtis winced.
"Good," Alura said.
"What are those?" Alex asked, pointing to the devices he held.
"These are the latest in high-tech sniffer devices," he answered.
"They're bomb detectors?" J'onn asked, impressed.
"They can spot as little as an ounce of explosive material within a 1,000-foot radius," Curtis confirmed.
"Nice," Cisco said.
"Yeah, the only catch is that we actually have to be there to operate them, which means Curtis and I need to be in the field," Felicity began.
"Which means I will be down here operating the comms," Winn smiled.
"He won't be alone," Malcolm added. "I'll stay here, and if you need backup, just give a call."
"Same here," Laurel nodded.
"And me," Dig surprised everyone by volunteering.
"Did you really just offer to run comms?" Felicity said surprised. Dig didn't say anything equally surprised.
"You sure?" Oliver asked.
"Yeah," he nodded. "My gun would get lost in all that ARGUS and SCPD firepower anyways. I'll stay."
"OK," Oliver nodded, holding his arm out again for Kara. "Let's get out of here."
"Curtis, you got anything?" Felicity asked as she walked down the hall.
"Negative," Curtis answered. "And shouldn't you be calling me Mr. Terrific? I am in the field."
Sara snorted and said, "Do you really want her to call you that in a room full of police?"
"Yeah, but you're not in your suit, so no suit, no codenames," Felicity denied. "Them's the rules."
"How about we try to focus instead?" Dinah hissed. "Spartan, Dark Archer, Siren, Schott, what do you see?"
"So far, so good," Winn answered.
"Yeah, maybe they decided to rethink their plan," Felicity suggested.
"That'd be a smart move," Curtis remarked. "Haven't seen this many cops in one place in my life."
"Me, either," Dinah agreed. "I'm a cop."
"That doesn't mean they're not gonna try something," J'onn warned. "So everyone, stay sharp."
"Thank you all for being here," Oliver started his speech with Quentin on his right, and as Kara and Thea watched from the side, J'onn and Alex shifted so they could see better. "In light of the recent attacks on the SCPD, tonight's ceremony is incredibly important, and while we need to mourn the loss of life, I feel the need to mention that this city is better off than it has been in quite some time. Crime is down. Our streets are peaceful. People are not only moving here, they are staying here. And do you want to know why? It's because you help them feel safe. You have chosen a profession, one of the most dangerous professions in the world. Whereas other people run from danger, you run towards it time and time and time again, and for that, we all owe you a huge debt of gratitude . . . so thank you. Thank you for protecting our families, for protecting us, and for protecting our beautiful city. Thank you."
"You make really good speeches dad," Alura smiled.
Oliver looked over at her and smiled, "thank you."
"Is that a smile?" Thea asked sarcastically.
"She's cute," Oliver defended.
"She is," Thea admitted nodding.
"Like a small Kara," Alex said.
As the graduates applauded, Oliver turned to shake hands with the police captain. "Well done, Mr. Mayor," Pike told him.
"Of course," Oliver smiled and nodded, then he, Quentin, Thea, and Kara left for his office.
"You keep this up, they're gonna ask you to run for governor," Quentin quipped.
"Nope. No," Oliver said immediately, making Thea laugh.
"Yeah?" Oliver snorted his opinion of that idea. "I'm just glad a bomb didn't go off during the speech. Anything from Evelyn and her crew?"
"No, not yet," Thea shook her head.
The door opened from the other side, and they turned as Felicity entered. "Hey," Oliver greeted. "Anything?"
"Nothing," Felicity shook her head. "Curtis and I have scanned every inch of this place. Something seems really off."
"Yeah. Something seems wrong," Sara said.
"Get in touch with the others, see if they saw anything on the cams," Oliver recommended.
Felicity nodded, turning around. "Guys, do you copy?"
"Still here, still nada," Winn confirmed.
"Maybe ARGUS scared them off?" Laurel suggested.
"Or targeting them in some other way?" Malcolm offered.
"Hey, are we even positive they're targets?" Winn spun around in his chair.
"I don't know why else they would want to be at City Hall," Laurel shook her head.
Dig's phone went off, and Malcolm raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"
"Lyla," Dig answered, pulling out his phone with a frown. "That ringtone means it's urgent." He looked at the message and blanched. "Lian Yu update."
"What?" Winn sat up straight.
"She knows how Evelyn got off?" Laurel asked eagerly.
"Not with the way Dig said that," Thea said.
Before Dig could answer, there were two clatters on the platform. "Look out!" Malcolm yelled, grabbing Laurel and flinging them over one of the consoles, Winn scrambling out of his chair.
"Aw, thank you," Black Siren said.
The two arrows on the platform exploded, sending the four in the lair reeling. A second later, Winn flinched when he heard an explosion take out the elevator. "John?" Felicity called. "John, do you copy? Guys, are you OK?"
"Oh, don't worry, Felicity," a smooth voice with a Middle Eastern accent said, and Winn heard an enraged cry from Laurel and a curse from Malcolm. He and Dig raised their heads, and Winn's eyes widened when he saw the woman leading them was not Evelyn Sharpe. It was a woman with dark hair in a black leather jacket with a belt of throwing knives around her waist, a bow in her hand. "John's fine."
"Are you kidding me!" Was the general fist of what everyone was saying.
"You bitch!" Laurel cried.
"Oh, I can guess who this is," Winn swallowed.
Talia al Ghul smirked smugly. "He and the rest are just going to be catching up with an old friend."
"Bitch," Thea said.
"What's that mean?" Alura asked like the little smol bean she was.
"Nothing. It's nothing you need to worry about," Oliver said.
"Okay. Can I sit by you?" Alura asked.
"Yeah," Kara nodded.
Alura smiled and ran over to them and sat in between Kara and Oliver.