I took Diggle back to my lair. I had actually planned on telling him soon anyway. It would have probably been under more ideal circumstances, but beggars couldn't be choosers. I gave him some of the herbs and water. I then waited for him to come to. When he did, I was leaning over him with my hood off.
"Hello John." I said.
"Sara?" He asked. I nodded. "You're that vigilante."
I thought that was implied. At that point, he went to punch me. I was able to easily dodge. I probably would have been able to do so even if he wasn't disoriented
"Easy, Dig. You were poisoned." I told him.
"You bitch!" He shouted before he swung at me again. This time, I caught him in my hands and threw him back.
"I could have taken you anywhere." I pointed out. "I could have taken you home, but instead I chose to bring you here."
"I can't believe it. You lost your mind on that island, didn't you?" He asked.
"I found a few other things." I retorted.
"Like what archery classes?" He challenged.
"Clarity. Starling City is dying." I explained. He was not taking it as well as I would have hoped. "It is being controlled by a criminal elite who don't care who they hurt as long as they're still wealthy and powerful."
"So what are you going to do? Are you going to take them down by yourself?" He inquired.
"No, I was hoping you would help me." I retorted. I wondered if I was asking too much. He didn't seem to really like the idea. Maybe I could further sell him on the idea. "You're a special forces agent. As a fellow soldier, I was hoping that you would understand my quest for justice."
"A fellow soldier? Sara, you're not a soldier and a murderer." He responded. "You're a criminal and I don't want any part in this."
I would leave the offer still open. I probably shouldn't have expected him to come around right away.
I then headed home. If Thea was still up, I would have to talk to her as well. I seriously hoped that she would be more understanding. However as soon as I got there, I was met by someone that I wasn't expecting.
"Where were you?" Laurel asked me. I couldn't believe that she was there. She probably hadn't been in years.
"What are you doing here?" I responded as I turned to face her.
"I heard about the shooting and I wanted to make sure that you were okay after you didn't answer my calls." She explained.
"You called?" I questioned in surprise. I didn't even know that she had my number.
"Yeah dad wanted me to find you, so I knocked on the door and no one knew where you were. Do you know how worried he was about you to come out of that building and not knowing you were safe? Did you even care?"
Well that was not something that I intended.
"Sara, can you stop being self-centered long enough to realize that other people care about what happens to you?" She challenged. Chewed out twice in one night. I hoped Dad wouldn't do it too.
"You're right." I told her.
"I came to peace with your selfishness before the accident, but Dad and the Queens don't deserve this." She added. Now I was nervous about what Thea was going to say. "They deserve someone who doesn't only care about herself."
She started to walk away before I said something that would stop her.
"Laurel, thanks for checking on me." I remarked.
"I care about my family, Sara. Maybe you should try it sometime." She replied.
"Wow. That was brutal." Thea said. I supposed that it was time to talk about what happened earlier. "Are you okay?"
"Sure. If you want to chew me out too, could it wait until morning?" I requested.
"Okay, we can wait until morning." She agreed. Did that mean that she was going to chew me out, or that she just wanted to go to bed?"
I went to my room and changed into something new. I put on a burgundy babydoll with a lace bra on the top. I had been used to sleeping in my clothes when I was on the island, but I wanted to wear something sexy while sleeping against. I didn't care that I wasn't actually having sex with anyone at the moment. I was sexy for myself, not for other people.
I looked at a picture of Oliver from Mr. Queen's wallet. I wasn't sure why I kept considering that his credit cards wouldn't do me any good on the island. Maybe if I ever got off the island, I could them to get me home.
The man brought me a cage with a bird in a cage before saying something to me that I didn't understand.
"What do I do with this?" I challenged. He repeated the same thing. "Does that mean bird? I don't fucking speak Chinese. Just tell me what to do."
He then looked away from me.
"I'm sorry, Ollie. I'm so sorry." I apologized to the picture.
I then shot awake. I wondered if I was going to keep thinking about what happened to me on the island in chronological order for the next few months or something. I headed out to the living room where I found Thea sitting down watching TV and chips. What caught by surprise more was the fact that she wore a black tank top and panties.
"Couldn't sleep either?" She asked as I took a seat next to her.
"What are you watching?" I replied. I figured I should look at the TV because I was kind of turned on by her.
"Peter Declan." She answered. Peter Declan was a man convicted of the murder of his wife and sentenced to death. He hadn't had an alibi. She then turned off the TV. "So, I guess since neither of us can sleep, we should talk."
"I'm not entirely sure how to start this." I admitted. I hadn't planned on telling Thea, so I didn't have something prepared like I did with Diggle.
"Well how about we start with why? Why are you attacking all of these people?" She questioned. "Why do you care about what they're doing?"
"Your dad asked me to." I answered. "You see I didn't just swim to the island. When the boat went down, Ollie and I were separated. Your dad pulled me onto the life raft which he was on with the first mate. He didn't think the three of us could survive together, so he killed the man and then himself, but not before asking me to save the city. He left behind a list of names."
"Can I see it?" She asked.
"I can't show it to you right now." I answered. "I don't have it with me. Do you hate me?"
"Why would I hate you?" She responded.
"Because you said that I've been really judgmental and I've been keeping this big secret from you and above all, I've killed more than a few people." I explained. "It seems like everyone else hates me. My sister hates me. I've probably made Diggle hate me." I explained.
"Why would Diggle hate you?" She inquired.
"Because I told him tonight." I replied. "He didn't take it well. I just hope I can trust him not to turn me into the police. It's got my questioning if what I'm doing is right. I've basically driven everyone away except Tommy and that's only because he seems to have a high tolerance for people."
"Let me ask you one question. Did you stop the guy who was shooting at everyone?" She responded. I nodded. "Then you're doing the right thing. You're not going to have to worry about anything from me."
"You know I don't like you going out because I don't want you to make the same mistakes that I did. The last thing I want from you is to end up like Oliver and you to die with nothing to be remembered for except the trouble you caused." I stated.
"Maybe if I start can hanging around the right people, I can change." She remarked. "My condition for keeping this a secret is I get to help you."
I really didn't want to her to help me. I knew that there was no way that she could fight the people that I fight. There were also other issues.
"I have a lot of late nights." I declared. "It's not really ideal for someone who's in school."
"I hardly even go to school as is." She remarked. "In case you haven't noticed, I have a lot of late nights too. What you're doing is a safer use of my time than drinking."
She was right.
"You're not going into the field with me." I told her. "Once I figure out how you can help, I'll let you know."
I then went back to my room.
In the morning, I walked downstairs ready to go out. I hoped Diggle had a chance to clear his head. I headed into the living room and found Mrs. Queen with…some other guy.
"How did you sleep?" She asked while not looking up from her paper.
"I slept okay." I answered. "Who's this?"
"This is Mr. Diggle's replacement." She stated while still not looking up. It was kind of creepy.
"Replacement?" I repeated. I really had pushed away. Yet, I wasn't being arrested.
"Mr. Diggle handed in his resignation this morning." She explained as she finally put down her paper.
"Did he say why?" I questioned. I hoped he hadn't told her.
"He said that he didn't like the way you were spending your nights." She remarked. "Practically since you have a tendency to elude him."
"Hi." I greeted the new guy.
"Miss Lance. I'm Rob Scott." He stated. "I'll be your new protector."
"You've got a strong grip." I noted.
"That's from five years of SWAT plus seven in the Marines." He declared. Something about him made me not like him. I wasn't sure what it was.
"I feel safer already." I quipped as Mrs. Queen turned on the TV.
"Oh, thank God we don't have to hear about that terrible man anymore." She said as I noticed it was a report on Peter Declan again. It was at that time that I heard that Peter Declan's wife worked for Jason Brodeur.
"Jason Brodeur." I remarked.
"What was that?" She asked.
"The guy's dead wife worked for Jason Brodeur." I repeated. "But I guess that's not important. Hey, Rob, can you please go get the car so I can go to town?"
"No offense, Miss Lance, but I've been informed of your tendency to run away." He told me. "I think it would be better if I keep you in my sights at all times."
"Rob, if you don't drive me, I have no way to get to town." I pointed out.
Once he was gone, I headed around back and got my motorcycle. It was a gift from my mother. I waved to Rob as I drove by.
I headed to my lair. They said that Peter Declan married his wife in cold blood because he had no alibi. All of the evidence seemed to indicate his guilt. He was tried, convicted, and sentenced to death. There was just problem. Declan's wife worked for Jason Brodeur and he was on the list. My instinct told me that Brodeur was involved in Camille Declan's murder. An innocent man was facing execution. If there was any chance of him surviving, he would need a good attorney and I knew one.
I went to see her after dark. I broke into apartment because I knew I would be able to find her there. I used a voice changer because she would recognize me otherwise. My sister and my father were the last people that I wanted to find out about me. She turned to face with a gun pointed at me.
"Hello Laurel." I greeted her.
"Don't move." She warned me.
"I'm not here to hurt you." I informed her as I put my bow down.
"Stay back." She stated. "My father is a cop."
"I'm not who you think I am." I replied. This was harder than I thought. "I need your help. Peter Declan is about to be executed. I think he's innocent. His wife was going to blow the whistle on Jason Brodeur and Brodeur had her murdered."
"Why me over the hundreds of lawyers in this city?" She asked.
"Because I like what you stand for." I said as I pushed the gun down. "You can't be bought. And I know you want to help."
"How do you know I'm gonna help you?" She questioned.
"Because I know you'll do anything to save the life of an innocent man." I answered. With that I made my leave.
The next day, I had Rob take me to Big Belly Burger because I had a feeling that a certain someone would be there. I even took Thea with me.
"So why are here?" Thea asked. I supposed I hadn't told her about Carly.
"Him." I remarked as I pointed to Diggle as we walked over.
"Hello, Diggle's sister-in-law Carly." I greeted her. I was mainly telling Thea. "I'm Sara Lance and this is my friend, Thea."
"Hi," Thea added.
"I know who you are." Carly said.
"You really don't." Diggle replied.
"I do." Thea responded. I hoped Diggle would read the signs. Carly then walked away and the two of us took a seat at the table across from him. "So, I don't think we have ever talked before."
"She told you too." Diggle remarked. I didn't exactly have a choice.
"Yes, and I admire her for it." Thea said.
"I couldn't help but notice there were no police cars at my house in the morning." I replied. Okay, so it wasn't my house. "I knew you wouldn't rat me out. Have you considered my offer?"
"You're calling it an offer now?" He replied.
"It is an offer." I confirmed. "It's a chance to do the kind of good that made you want to join the military except you'd be doing it on the Homefront."
"Seems like you've already given the offer to someone else." He quipped.
"Just because Thea is here doesn't mean that I don't want your help." I remarked.
"You honestly think that I would work with two rich girls, one with a hero complex and the other with a drinking problem?" He challenged. I then reached into my pocket and pulled out the list. "What's that?"
"It was my father's." Thea remarked.
"I found it when I buried him." I added.
"I thought Mr. Queen died when the boat went down?" He asked.
"We made it to a life raft, but he killed himself. As much as I think it was to save me, I also think he wanted to atone for his sins." I explained.
"I'm not sure what he did, but my dad did some bad things." Thea says.
"I want to honor Oliver Queen's memory by righting the wrongs done by his family." I stated. "And I'm offering you the chance to right the wrongs done to yours."
"My dad said the police never caught your brother's shooter." I declared. I hoped it wasn't too sensitive of a subject.
"Hey, you leave Andy out of this." He warned me. It was a sensitive subject.
"The bullets were laced with curare. He's the sniper from last night that I stopped." I responded. I hadn't had time to check that he was dead because I was too busy tending to him.
"Are you trying to tell me that you killed Andy's killer?" He questioned.
"I stopped him at least." I said. "I want to give you the chance to help other people's families. Do you remember when the people of this city helped one another? That's not possible anymore because a group of people has taken control of the city. They want to raise themselves up by stepping on other people. If the courts and cops can't or won't do anything, someone else has to."
"That was a great speech." Thea commented.
"I hope you'll join us." I remarked as Rob walked over. "Thea and I need to use the little girls' room, Rob."
I grabbed Thea and the two of us went out the side door.
"Not bad." She commented. "So where are we going?"
"Right now, I have to meet my sister and you can't be there," I told her. "I can't let anyone know that I'm not alone."
"Why do you need to be alone with your sister and why would she care? Last I checked, she knows that you live with me." Thea pointed out.
"That would be true if I was going as Sara." I argued.
I then suited up and went to see her.
"I got your message. Is there a reason you won't show me your face?" She asked. She wouldn't like what she saw.
"So, you've met with Peter Declan." I stated.
"You're right. He's innocent. Declan said that his wife blew the whistle on Brodeur the day before she was murdered." She explained.
"Then whoever she told about Brodeur has to testify." I told her as I walked by her. I knew that if she got too close, she might try to take my hood off.
"Matt Istook already testified. He said that she didn't talk to him." She said.
"He's lying." I remarked.
"Well if he is, he's a very good liar because the jury and police believed him." She replied.
"I'm going to go talk to him." I declared.
"I didn't become a lawyer to break the law or hurt anyone." She replied. I wasn't asking her to do either.
"You don't have to, but sometimes, it's what is necessary." I told her.
"If what your doing is right, why are you hiding your face?" She questioned.
"It keeps the people that I care about safe." I pointed out.
"You sound lonely." She commented.
"It is sometimes, but I feel better by knowing that I'm making a difference." I told her. I then took my leave.
I went to find Mr. Istook and shot him with a tranquilizer dart. When he awoke, I was standing over her and his right hand was handcuffed to the train tracks.
"Matt Istook." I said.
"You're her. You're that vigilante." He remarked, I wasn't sure why he was stating the obvious. "You're the one who's been terrorizing the city."
"You lied and put Peter Declan on death row." I responded. "Now you can tell me the truth and as a reward, you'll miss your train."
"Okay. Brodeur paid me off to say I never spoke to Camille, but I had nothing to do with her death." He babbled frantically as he tried to unlock his hand. "Please don't kill. I'll do anything you can have the file that she gave me."
"Where is this file?" I demanded.
"It's in my desk at the office." He replied as the train got closer. I then broke the chain with an arrow and he jumped out of the way at the last second.
I sat and watched as the man was cooking something. I tried to reach for it, but he pushed me away. He then pointed at the bird in the cage and mimed breaking a neck. I couldn't believe that he wanted me to kill the bird. He said that word again before he took a bite of his food. I couldn't kill it.
After I had the file, I headed to Laurel's office. I threw it on her desk.
"What is this?" She asked.
"It's a file that Camille Declan gave to Matt Istook. It should save Peter Declan's life." I explained.
"I never would have gotten this file as an attorney." She admitted. "I thought you had to follow the law."
"What do you think now?" I questioned.
"I think there are too many people in this city who only care about themselves." She replied. "I think this city needs someone who cares about the lives of other people like you."
I then headed home. I smiled as I walked in.
"There's something wrong with your face. You're not brooding." Thea declared.
"I may have saved someone's life and I'm finally getting to see the Laurel I always knew, even if she can't see me." I explained.
"You I never thought Peter Declan could be innocent." She replied. "Does this mean that Michael Jackson was innocent or even OJ?"
"Michael Jackson was innocent." I remarked. There wasn't any really evidence against him. OJ was likely involved even if he didn't do the killing. "You know this partnership may just work out."
"Have you heard from Diggle yet?" She asked.
"It's been two hours and he doesn't have my number." I pointed out. At that point, Rob walked in. "Rob, you gotta keep up."
The following day, I went to lunch with my dad.
"I am so mad at your sister right now." He stated.
"That was random." I commented.
"I gave her the name of a guy involved in the Declan case and she gave it to that vigilante." He complained.
"Well maybe she was just trying to help." I offered. "I don't know much about this case, but maybe he's innocent. She lied straight to my face."
I had to admit that I felt guilty. I didn't want to ruin Laurel's relationship with our father. I did think that he was a good cop, but I didn't trust any of the other officers in the precinct.
"Don't be so hard on her, Daddy." I urged. "I'm sure she's not doing anything just to spite you."
That night, I met Laurel again and she told me that the judge didn't listen to her.
"We're not done yet." I replied. I would not allow this to happen. I was not going to fail. If I had to stop the execution myself, I would.
"I'm a lawyer. We're done." She stated.
"What will it take to free Peter Declan?" I asked.
"At that this point, it will probably take either a signed confession or a recording." She declared. I then started to leave. "Where are you going?"
"To get him to confess." I replied. I headed to his office and raised my bow to his face.
"Jason Brodeur, you're going to confess to arranging the murder of Camille Declan." I told him. Most people responded to the bow.
"So I can take his place in prison?" He questioned.
"So you I avoid the death penalty: from the courts and from me." I replied.
"If you kill me, you can't save Peter Declan." He pointed out. That was true. "You need me to exonerate him. Are you going to force me to sign a confession?"
"Maybe." I said before I shot an arrow through his hand. "I hope that wasn't your signing hand."
I then saw that he had a text message from some guy named Sakov saying it was going down in one hour.
"What's going down?" I asked him angrily.
"Let's just say Peter Declan's execution is being moved up." He replied. I punched him out. I couldn't take another minute of that smarmy bastard.
I then headed to Iron Heights. It would be difficult to get in, but not impossible. I found that there was a prison break of some kind. I used the distraction to get inside. I found Declan and also Laurel. When were people going to learn that I was not happy when they put my sister's life at risk. I had to fight off several prisoners. One got inside of the room and threw me to the ground. He then went after Laurel and I started to beat on him.
"He's down." She said. I nearly hit her as she tried to pull me off. I had gone too far, but I couldn't let anyone get away with hurting her. I knew at that moment that I needed to leave immediately. I ran out just before the guards came in.
I didn't want my sister to see me like that but it looked like I had gotten the job done. I had at least saved Laurel and Declan's lives and there was no way that they could do an execution with the current state of the prison. I also happened to overhear from my father that Brodeur's bodyguard confessed to the murder. Though, additionally I heard Laurel denounce me as in the vigilante. I definitely wished that she hadn't seen me like that.
I realized that I had no choice. I had to go against my morals and killed the bird. It was the first thing that I had ever killed. I couldn't help but cry as I snapped its neck. I wished that I had known then that it wouldn't be the last neck I would snap.
I went home and I saw Thea was smiling this time.
"I saw it on the news. You did it." She told me before noticing my face. "Why do you look so sad?"
"Laurel saw me nearly beat a guy to death." I stated. "I don't want to talk right now. I just want to go to bed."
I cooked and ate the bird. It wasn't even that good, but due to the fact that I hadn't eaten in days, it was the best thing in the world. The man came back and said that word again.
"Yes. Bird." I replied before bites.
"It doesn't mean bird." He declared. I couldn't believe he spoke English. "It means survive."
"You speak English?" I asked in disbelief.
"You want survive place, bird won't be last thing you kill." He explained.
In the morning, I found Diggle in the living room.
"You're back." I noted. "If you want your job back, the new guy just quit."
"I want the other job." He replied. "Just to be clear I'm not your sidekick, but you're right. Someone needs to fight for this city and you're doing this with or without me. But I think that with me, and Thea, less people will die. You need some human connections so you don't lose your own humanity."
"I don't want anyone to save me." I argued.
"You need someone, You've never been in a war. You need me and her to remind you of who you are." He replied as Thea walked into the room in her uniform.
"Sara Lance!" Hilton interrupted.
"What the hell is going on?" I asked as I went into the foyer. "Daddy?"
"Sara Lance, you are arrest on suspicion of obstruction of justice, aggravated assault, kidnapping, trespassing, vigilantism and murder."
"Daddy?" I asked, looking my father in the eye.
"Sorry, Baby." He replied as I was handcuffed and taken away.
You have to feel for Lance as his partner is arresting his daughter. It also looks like Thea took it pretty well. You can probably guess how Sara's going to get out of it. Please don't forget to review.