Look another update. I'm not sure I can keep to once a week, but I'm going to give it a shot. Thank you for all the comments!
And thank you Nocturnalrites for the beta. You really had your work cut out for you.
Thank you Spartan303 for looking the chapter over and for the idea for the explanation of Mirakuru. I don't know if you remember your comment way back in the beginning, but you mentioned how the Mirakuru might work. It made sense to me. Thank you for the idea!
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"I know, Oliver," his mom told him, holding his eyes for emphasis. The words rushed over him, leaving him cold. Surely she didn't mean what he thought she meant. He'd just finished telling her about the risk to her and Thea that Slade represented. They were alone, sitting in the back gazebo near his mother's rose garden.
He'd been lucky enough to catch her by herself. Outside the house didn't hurt either since it was unlikely they would be overheard by servants that way. Even Thea wasn't home. After the issues with Sara, he was glad to see his luck was holding for the moment. Thea would be back soon, Dig and Roy had taken her to her follow up doctor's visit, but maybe by the time she got back he'd have a better idea what and how much to tell his little sister.
Moira had pointed out that Thea was still shaken from her run-in with Slade the night before. His mom said it in a tone that made it clear she was not pleased. She hadn't even let him get far in his explanation of Slade before she'd opened her mouth and dropped her bombshell.
Oliver wanted his mother's help with how much and what to tell his sister. The irony of wanting her help in deciding what to tell Thea was not lost on him. They'd fought so much about Moira not telling Thea that she was a product of their mother's affair with Malcolm Merlyn. He hated that lie almost as much as he hated feeling the need to keep it from Thea. Oliver expected Moira to call him on how hypocritical he was being to ask her help in keeping still more information from Thea. He'd never expected her to call him out on being Arrow.
"Oliver, I know what you do with your evenings since you've returned from the island," she repeated. Her words couldn't be mistaken. She knew about his actions as Arrow. Oliver stilled. He didn't know what to say. Was she going to turn him in? They'd been fighting quite a lot since he'd found out she'd been keeping Thea in the dark about who her real father was. He'd almost cut his mother off and walked away from her for good.
"I'm proud of you, Oliver."
Those words were like someone released a pressure in his chest he hadn't been aware of. All of his air rushed out. Oliver felt like a weight had been lifted. No matter how much they fought, she was still the person he'd always looked to as the center of their family. His touchstone for when he'd crossed too many lines in his wild playboy youth or when he'd done something he couldn't fix on his own. In the midst of all the problems they had as a family, he found himself still relieved to have her support. She didn't hate him. She didn't think he was tainted and broken because of his choices.
"So why don't you tell me the real story of why Mr.. Wilson hates you and is a danger to this family." Her prompting pulled him out of his own head.
Oliver found himself trying to swallow past the lump in his throat. His mother never stopped surprising him. In a sea of revelations, each more terrible than the last, her acceptance was a balm that healed him just a little.
Oliver launched into an edited version of his meeting with Slade on the island. He wasn't about to let his mother know just how bad things had been for him. It wouldn't do anyone any good to rehash his torture or how he'd been nearly killed so many times. "He saved me on that island," he told his mother. "Without him I'd be dead, but he feels I betrayed him." He gave her only the details that she needed to understand the threat Slade was to the family. He wondered again how different things could have been if he'd been straight with Slade about Shado's death.
"So this Steve Rogers, Captain America is helping you?" His mother's voice was pitched a bit higher than he could remember hearing it. She always tried to maintain a dignified front, but this was stretching her abilities. Oliver decided to push those abilities.
"We've become friends. I trust him. I like him." Oliver realized that both those statements were true.
"I'm glad you've made a new friend, Oliver," his mother patted his hand in an absent way like she had when he was 10. Then Moira froze for a moment like her brain was resetting. She shifted in her seat, another thing she didn't do, fidgeting was unseamly. Oliver didn't let anything show on his face as he watched his mother. "Now I'm sure you have more to tell me about Mr. Wilson and what you and your new friends are doing to make sure that Thea's experiences from last night are not repeated."
Oliver couldn't help the bit of amusement he felt at his mother's reaction to hearing that he'd developed a friendship with Captain America and through him with a few of the Avengers. At least he hoped he still had that friendship now that Steve knew he had possessed a cure and chosen instead to try to kill Slade. The disappointment he'd seen in the Avenger's eyes hadn't been something he'd liked.
"There's more," Oliver told her, pushing down the thought of Steve's disapproval of him. He would deal with that later. Right now he needed to be focused on his mother and making her understand the danger she and Thea and all of Queen Consolidated was in. The hardest part of the story to tell his mother was how he'd allowed Isabel to get her foot in the door of QC. Oliver almost felt like he could see his dad standing off in the doorway to the house. He'd be hanging his head in shame that Oliver had brought the company to this point and danger to the family's door.
"I think it would be best if you and Thea went and visited Avenger Tower in New York," he finished. His argument was logical, but he had little hope that his mother would take him up on it. "It wouldn't be for long…"
"Absolutely not, Oliver." Well, that had gone about as well as he'd expected it to. "A Queen does not run. I will not leave my home, my mayoral campaign or you. We may have our differences at the moment, but you are my son and I will not leave you to fight all of this alone. That Rochev woman has caused this family enough pain, she will not take away my children's legacy."
Moira stood up as Thea walked through the gate. Oliver turned to watch his mother greet his sister. The youngest Queen looked better than he expected after her almost kidnapping.
"I'm okay," Thea told them from inside her mother's hug. "The doctor cleared me. Do you want to tell me what's going on out here? Are you two fighting again?" She couldn't have missed her mother's tone or obvious upset, even if she hadn't been close enough to hear the works. "Maybe while we're at it, you could also tell me why Mr. Wilson tried to kidnap me." She flopped on the outdoor chaise next to Oliver. He caught the look Moira sent to her daughter for the very unladylike flopping. Thea ignored the silent reprimand. "Oh and let's not forget Felicity's boyfriend. I'd really like to know how the man who played ball with Roy and the kids at the VA's Easter party was able to rip the door off the car?" She didn't ask about the bullets so she must not have realized that Steve had taken three bullets to protect her.
Before Oliver could speak, Moira launched into a very edited version of the truth. "Mr. Wilson blames your brother for his life being in ruin," she continued. "He is trying to destroy Oliver's life in return and take away those he loves."
"And that's why he was trying to kidnap me? He wanted to hurt me to get to you?" She turned to look at him. Her eyes were curious but not condemning. How could she not blame him, he wondered.
"Yes," Oliver answered, meeting his sister's eyes. He hated that he'd brought all of this down on top of his family. "I'd like you to go to New York for a little while. You love to shop…"
"I'm not going anywhere. I'm not leaving my club, my family, Roy," Thea interrupted. He wasn't surprised that her answer was no even as he squelched the impulse to correct her 'my club' statement. She had that stubborn tilt to her mouth. There was going to be no swaying her. "That's what you two were arguing about when I came in." Thea guessed. "You wanted us both to leave town?"
"I didn't really think you'd go, but we do need to make some changes to your security." Oliver was not going to let her budge on this issue. "This is not open for discussion," he informed her before she could get the words she was trying to form could leave her mouth.
"I agree with Oliver, dear," Moira jumped in. "Mr. Wilson has tried to take you away once. He's brazenly entered our home and taunted your brother with his threats. We need to work together to keep this family out of any more harm." Thea looked from her mother to Oliver and back again. Oliver knew she hadn't been blind to the tension between the only two family members she had left.
"And you didn't think that you should've mentioned to us right away that Mr. Wilson was dangerous?" Thea accused. "I wouldn't have gotten into the car with him if I'd known that he was trying to hurt you, us."
She was right. He should have told them right away. He probably wouldn't be telling them now if it hadn't been for Steve insisting. It was the right thing to do, but he hadn't wanted to see that until it had been pointed out by Slade's kidnap attempt.
"You're right, I should have." Oliver admitted. "Thea, I'm sorry. I handled this all wrong. I thought I could convince Slade to leave us alone or at least that his arguments are with me, not my family." He reached for his sister's hand. "I'm not going to make that mistake again." He assured her and his mother. "From now on you will both have protection."
"But you said he had some freaky drug in his system that makes him super crazy and strong. We need to go to the police, Oliver. You can't protect us from that."
"With a little help I think he can," Dig said as he turned the corner followed by Steve and a man that Oliver didn't recognize. He wondered where Natasha Romanov was.
"Mr. Diggle," Moira stood as Oliver turned to the people coming across the lawn. Before he could get anything out or his mother could finish what he'd been about to say, Thea was out of her seat and running over to throw herself in a very startled Steve Rogers' arms. Oliver hid a bit of a smirk at the other man's discomfort. He caught Dig's eye and was amused to see the other man had noticed as well.
"Thank you," Thea said. "It all happened so fast. All I can remember is Mr. Wilson pulling out a gun as his car was hit from the back and stopped moving. Then you were there pulling open the door, which no one has told me how you did that, but then you were pulling me out of the car and shielding me with your body. I can't thank you enough."
"Nor I, Captain Rogers," Moira stood next to her daughter, offering her hand to Steve. "We can never repay you for saving my daughter's life."
"I'm glad I could help," Steve politely disentangled himself from Thea and reached to take Moira's outstretched hand.
"Yeah, about that," Thea had taken a step back but was still between Oliver and Steve. Oliver couldn't see her face. "How is it possible that you were able to pull the door off the car. I'm assuming you were the one that stopped it in the first place. Do you have that stuff in your system that Mr. Wilson does?"
"I don't have Mirakuru in my system," Steve assured her.
"He's Captain America, Thea," Moira calmly pointed out, showing no signs of her earlier reaction. That was his mother, Oliver thought; coolness under pressure. Thea's eyes went wide right before her smile did. "Oliver's EA is dating Captain America? I didn't see that coming, but go, Felicity," she decided. The blush that stole over Steve's features didn't seem to faze her. Oliver had to school his features not to show his amusement. He'd felt a little intimidated after the ship and seeing how the Avengers worked together and how in command of them Steve was, but he was starting to learn that Steve wasn't in command so much as Captain America was. Steve was an awkward, good hearted man whom Oliver wanted to protect. The feeling surprised him as it hit. He was starting to see why the team was so protective of a man who for all outward appearances didn't need protection from anyone.
"I'm glad you weren't hurt, Miss Queen," Steve interrupted, changing the subject. "Now if we could all sit down, we need to talk about security and how to keep this family safe."
"As long as that conversation isn't in the house; it's bugged." Natasha spoke up as she came up from around the side of the Gazebo. Steve nodded like her checking the house was just fine. They hadn't agreed to anything yet and Oliver didn't like her presumption. Just because she was used to ignoring personal space and privacy with Rogers, didn't mean that it was something Oliver was going to allow. There was something about the Romanov woman and the way she was when around him that set Oliver's teeth on edge.
"And you are…" Moira asked a note of censor in her voice. Oliver liked that his mother wasn't' intimidated by anyone. There were times that they clashed, but he was well aware just how formidable his mother could be.
"Natasha Romanov," she answered. "I believe I'm your new personal assistant."
"My mother doesn't need a new personal assistant, but I'm guessing you really mean bodyguard." Thea didn't sound happy. Hopefully she wouldn't fight all the arrangements they'd made. Moira sent Thea a look. She glanced over at Oliver and shut her mouth on whatever she was about to say.
"If Oliver and Captain Rogers think I need a new personal assistant, then I see no harm in having Miss Romanov accompany me." His mother agreed. "What I'm more interested in is how our home was bugged. I don't understand how anyone could have gotten access to plant listening devices. We were with Mr. Wilson the entire time he was here and no one else has been in our home. Are you saying that Mr. Wilson has been spying on us?" Moira questioned.
"Can you trace back the source?" Steve asked Natasha.
"The technology is something an SAS officer would be comfortable with, but it's also untraceable," she answered.
"Did you destroy them?" Moira asked. "I don't want that man having any more power to hurt my family."
Natasha didn't respond. She looked to Steve. "Cap," she asked.
"Let's leave them in place for now," he decided. "I know it may not be comfortable, Mrs. Queen, but we can use them against Wilson, hopefully end this thing quick."
Moira nodded. Oliver was a little surprised by her acceptance, but Steve's idea wasn't a bad one. Oliver was already thinking of ways that they could get Wilson to tip them off to where he was and what his plan was. Maybe they could lure him into a trap.
"The bugs are not all over the house. There are none in the upstairs areas. They are centered in the larger living room and the hall leading to the art gallery as well as the gallery itself." Natasha stated. That seemed to settle the two Queen women somewhat.
Natasha Romanov was good, Oliver thought, glancing over at her. He happened to catch her eye but she just raised an elegantly shaped eyebrow at him before turning her attention back to Steve. Oliver thought about how long it had been since he'd come from the house. It hadn't been long. Romanov couldn't have had that much time to look around the house. Without any of the three people who'd been in the house when Slade was there, Natasha had identified the path he'd taken when in the house and the rooms he'd visited. The fact that she'd been all over their house still didn't sit well, but he reminded himself that Steve considered her part of his team and he trusted Steve.
Steve watched the interaction between Nat and the Queen family. As she spoke with Thea and Moira, Steve could watch them become less wary of her. Nat was good with people when she chose to be. He wondered again at the tension he felt between her and Oliver. Dismissing it for now, Steve waited until the conversation quieted a bit before interrupting.
"Natasha will travel with you, Mrs. Queen," he told her. "We need you to not leave the house without her or one of us." At her nod, Steve moved on. "Miss Queen," Steve began.
"Thea," she corrected him. She'd asked him to call her Thea when she thanked him for saving her.
"Thea," he corrected himself. "Mr. Diggle will be sticking close to you when you leave the house." Steve remembered Rebecca, Buck's sister. Rebellious looks hadn't changed much in 70 years, but he could tell she was trying to be good so he didn't question her. He didn't figure that Dig would have too much trouble keeping the younger Queen out of trouble even if she did try to ditch him. John Diggle was salt of the earth and smart. He was someone Steve felt he could trust. That said a lot these days.
"You've said these men are extremely strong and violent," Moira started. "If that's the case, then what happens if they attack us in our home? As efficient as Miss Romanov and Mr. Diggle are, what will two people do against a group of people as strong as you are, Captain?"
"I think that might be where I come in," Bruce spoke up as he moved further into the center of where everyone stood. Steve moved to the side to let Bruce stand beside him. "And these men aren't like Steve," Bruce clarified. "There were many different serums circulating in WWII. The formula used on Steve was the only truly successful one from a scientific viewpoint, but it wasn't the only one tried." Bruce pulled his glasses off and cleaned them. Steve considered it his 'tell'. Whenever the man was nervous the glasses got a good polish.
Bruce pushed his glasses back onto his face and continued. "Having read all the reports that Tony and Natasha could find in S.H.E.I.L.D's leaked database on Mirakuru and comparing it with the effects Steve described to me, Mirakuru has none of the properties of the Project Rebirth serum or even what we know the Red Skull was working on. It is closer to a super steroid. Mirakuru enhances muscle function which increases strength and endurance. It also accelerates healing of damaged tissues but it does little else beneficial. Like most extreme cases of anabolic steroid abuse, though, those injected with Mirakuru are subject to uncontrollable aggression and extreme psychosis but at a much faster rate of onset."
"And you are who exactly?" Oliver questioned. "And how do you know so much about the Mirakuru? You said you found it in the leaked database?"
"Dr.. Bruce Banner," Steve introduced. "He is probably the foremost authority alive on the serum used on me and the variations of it that are out there. I'm hoping Dr. Banner can find a cure for Mirakuru. That's really all that we need from you for this mission, Doc." Steve told him, before turning back to the others. "Tony had his computers scanning the leaked database for anything that sounded like your guys." Bruce looked relieved at Steve's assurances. Steve was glad. He didn't see any reason that they would need the Hulk to come out. He wanted Banners brain, not the other guy's muscles this time.
Slade was smart, strategic from what Steve could see. He didn't really think that there would be an outright attack on the Queens in their home. It made much more sense for him to make his move outside of the house. Both Mrs. Queen and Thea were very public, very active people. By leaving Bruce in Queen Manor it was less likely that he'd run into any trouble. If all went even reasonably well, Bruce would do his research, help them figure out a cure and that would be the extent of his involvement. His only exposure to stress should be Roy and Bruce had proven he could put up with people like Tony poking at him so helping Roy control his anger shouldn't cause pose any problem for Bruce.
"And you found that information, but didn't see the need to tell me?" Steve sighed as his attention was pulled back to Oliver. The man was on edge. He didn't blame him. He'd had a lot thrown on him all at once. From the stories Oliver told, and those he didn't, it didn't sound like life hadn't stopped pounding on him once it started.
"You're hearing this at the same time I am, Oliver." Steve soothed. "I asked for research. I trust my people to give me the information that I need as the mission requires. Dr. Banner is doing that now. He will brief us on his progress after we're done here." Oliver nodded. The man had enough trust issues to make him a honorary member of the Avengers just on that alone, Steve thought. Lack of trust must be a prerequisite to superhero abilities.
Steve turned back to the two Queen women. "I'd like Dr. Banner to stay at the house and help keep an eye on things here, Mrs. Queen. He is working on a way to counteract the substance in Slade's system as well as in others that have been exposed, but should anything go wrong and the rest of us be tied up, he will be the last line of defense here at your home." Steve paused. "We are hoping that Dr. Banner's skills as a scientist are the only thing needed but he is capable of stopping Slade's people if the unexpected happens."
"I won't have experiments that could endanger my family run in this house," Moira was quick to jump in.
"Of course not, ma'am," Bruce answered just as quickly. "I have everything I need on my computer. If I need any blood drawn or anything beyond what I can do on the computer, Tony has set me up with access to a lab here in Starling."
"Do you think that Slade will try to get to us here at the house?" Thea had been silent for most of the discussion until now. She looked around at the faces around her.
"I don't," Steve was quick to answer. It makes much more sense to try to catch you both outside of the house, if that's his next play."
"He went through a lot of trouble to carefully place bugs in your home." Natasha pointed out. "I don't think he'd do that just to storm the house. More likely he is keeping tabs on your movements."
Moira looked at them in turn before meeting her son's eyes. Steve watched a silent conversation go on between them before Mrs. Queen turned away and started toward the stairs that lead back across the patio to the main house.
"Well, then follow me and we will get everyone settled. Thea," she called, pulling the youngest Queen after her with just her name. Oliver smiled at his sister as she made a face and hurried after her mother. Bruce nodded at Steve, and then followed after Thea and Natasha. That left only Oliver and Diggle standing with Steve.
"Do you really think this will be enough? I know the Black Widow's reputation, but how can she hope to fight men that you couldn't even knock completely out." Diggle's voice matched his words in skepticism.
"I was gut-shot and losing blood fast, if you're talking about outside the club." Steve answered. "Slade is strong, really strong and he's got good training, but I spar with Natasha. She will hold her own if Slade shows up. Bruce is backup only; we're hoping he won't have to let the other guy out."
"Wait," Oliver face showed his alarm as pieces of the puzzle fell into place. "That's the Hulk? That guy?"
"No, that's Bruce Banner," Steve corrected. "But Bruce does turn into the Hulk when provoked. I don't believe Slade will give him a reason to change here in your mother's home, but if we're wrong and Slade comes here, would you rather your family be safe or do you want me to find him another place to stay?"
"Look on the bright side," Dig recovered his voice first. "Homeowner's insurance probably hasn't come up with a clause against Hulk damage yet."
"There is that," Steve agreed, smiling as he patted Oliver on the back.