"Alright then, where do we start?" John said right before hearing the elevator chime.
"With me, right, Ms. Smoak… or should I say Mrs. Queen? Did I interrupt something?" Slade Wilson said chuckling softly as he walked from the elevator through the mess Felicity had made. "I owe the Kid. I am here to help."
"You are working with Slade? Don't you remember he tried to kill all of us?" John said shocked.
"Yep!" Felicity said emphasizing the P. "Let's leave the past in the past. We need him for some of this."
"Felicity! You and I both agreed that bringing Slade Wilson into anything is a HORRIBLE idea!" John exclaimed.
"I know right?" Felicity said exaggerating her shrugging her shoulders. "But if I have to dance with the devil to save Oliver, so be it!" She said with a tight smile. "Sorry, Slade." Without missing a beat, she picked up a box off the floor and handed it to Slade. "I think I got your size right. The Mirakuru wasn't the only thing making you big was it! Shit, did I say that out loud?" Felicity rambled.
"Ms. Smoak, ehh, Queen, your charm never fails." Slade laughed. He took the box from her and opened it. Inside was a uniform for the Supermax prison Oliver was in, a set of flawless credentials, id, credit cards, resume and a print out of his assumed identity. He chuckled when he saw the reason he lost his eye. "Fighting with a group of prisoners and shanked in the eye. How appropriate. When do I go in?"
"You go right now. The cameras are already hacked, so I have been watching him. The prison is going to keep putting him in dangerous situations. Your only job is to make sure Oliver survives until I get him out. I don't care how you do that, just do it." Felicity said bravely. She didn't like this new side of her, but at this point she was desperate.
Slade nodded his head, chuckling slightly about the possible reactions when the Kid sees him in the prison. Wait until he gets to tell him that his precious wife had called in the big guns to save him. He couldn't help but smile when thinking about that reaction. Felicity Smoak, no Felicity Queen was a force to be reckoned with. Slade changed quickly, took the keys to his new car from Felicity and took his leave quickly.
"Felicity!" John started, but she held up her hand to stop him.
"I know John, but I have to trust him right now. Roy and Thea are gone, Black Siren is masquerading as our Laurel, Quinten is dead, Sara is on a time ship, what other choices do we have? I am not letting him rot in jail! Diaz is still on the loose and I won't let William be in danger a minute longer than I need to." Felicity said quickly. She turned back to her computer, sending the message she had started before Slade had walked in.
"What about calling in Rene, Curtis and Dinah…" John started to say.
"Like hell will I call them in to help me." Felicity cut off vehemently. "Rene caused this mess because he is a weak little rat. Curtis is so jealous that his marriage broke up while I finally got my happiness after five years of hell and the years of abuse Oliver took he is willing to let the city die to save face. Dinah can keep chasing Black Siren until they both scream each others faces off. Oliver and William are all I care about now."
John held his hand up, letting her see he wasn't going to fight her on this. Thank God she wasn't still mad at him for quitting or she would be down her alone. He watched her for a moment, wondering when she had devised this crazy scheme.
She had done everything she could do to help Oliver with a pardon, but now, she had Samanda to deal woman was going to feel the full wrath of Ghost Fox Goddess. She started with her security clearance. It would be annoying, but not deadly. Then she moved on to cancelling her credit cards and then suspending her license. This was just the beginning. She had uploaded a virus to her cell and laptop to ensure that everything she did was recorded for Felicity to listen and see. As soon as Felicity had anything on her, she would act quickly. Felicity was going to make her pay.
Suddenly they hear the door above them crash back and three sets of feet stomping down the stairs. John immediately moved to protect Felicity as she pulled up the safety measures she had updated. Suddenly Thea came into view, tear stained face and bow across her back. "I was gone for a few weeks and HE does this?" She cried out, reaching for Felicity. Roy stayed right on her heels, hugging John quickly as Felicity held Thea.
"Thea, it's so good to see you. Sweetie, don't worry. I have a plan to get Oliver back." Felicity whispered, concerned for the girl. She couldn't bear to see her hurting. Thea was a survivor, a warrior, but where her brother was concerned, it was easy to see how young she was. Felicity kept reassuring Thea as she moved to hug Roy tightly too. "Good to see you Scarecrow! Glad to have you both home."
"What about me, Sister Wife, are you happy to see me too?" Nyssa A Ghul queried smiling slightly. She didn't like many people in this world, trusted even fewer, but this tiny blond dynamo had earned her trust and respect.
"Ex sister wife, Nyssa, EX.. and I have the dagger to prove it." Felicity mumbled smartly, still not 100% sure that the assassin wasn't there to just annoy her. "Thank you for coming with them." She added
Nyssa, smiled at John and assessed the destruction of the bunker. "Looks like you two have been busy here. And of course my ex husband has been throwing you all to the wolves."
"Nyssa, are you here to help or criticize my decorating?" Felicity interrupted.
"At your service, Mrs. Queen." Nyssa bowed smiling softly. While Oliver had proven his honorable nature, Felicity was the one she trusted completely. This woman in front of her was a woman on a mission and Nyssa couldn't wait to watch the aftermath. Something had always told her there was steel running through the tiny computer tech.
"I need some recon done. I am 90% sure that Diaz is in this warehouse, but I need to know for sure." Felicity pointed to the map on the screen. "I also want someone to follow the fake Laurel, I am also sure she is up to no good. I don't care that she looks like our Laurel, that bitch is villain. I would bet my favorite tablet that she is still in bed with Diaz." Felicity said with a look of utter contempt on her face.
"Roy, you and Thea go to the warehouse, I will follow this poor clone of our Laurel." Nyssa said firmly. She didn't trust this fake Laurel and was worried she would use her looks to convince Thea to let her go. "Don't worry Felicity, I will not let her out of my sight."
"Felicity, what is the plan here? I will go to the warehouse, but what are we going to do about Oliver?" Thea asked concerned.
"Thea, I am working on a way to get Oliver out of jail. I can't tell you how, but I will get him out of there. Right now, he is safe. But I need your help finding Diaz. He is a threat to Oliver, William, and everyone else we care about." Felicity said firmly. She wasn't telling Thea what she was doing because she needed her to be safe.
"Got it Felicity. We are headed out as soon as we suit up." Roy said, understanding what she was trying to do. "We will get eyes on Diaz then figure out what to do next."
"Where do you need me?" John asked.
"Go home, John. Check on JJ, Lyla and William. I will call you when I have some more information." Felicity said softly. She couldn't be with William right now, she had to be here monitoring Oliver's cell until Slade was in place. She had Slade on the night shift since it was more dangerous and had found a sympathetic (due to a lot of cash) guard during the day willing to watch out for Oliver too.
"Felicity, I am not leaving you here alone." John said firmly. "We can't sit here and wait and watch the cameras 24/7…."
"Damn you John! You walked away from Oliver, me, this team, this FAMILY we bled for, worked for and nearly died for. Don't tell me what I can and can not do!" Felicity raged again. "You were pissed at Oliver over a fucking green leather suit! Being Spartan or Green Arrow didn't change that you are a VITAL member of the team, Oliver's brother, MY Brother, but nope, you walked the hell away just like the rest of B team. So don't try and stand there and give me orders. I don't take orders from ANYONE now."
"Felicity… Oliver and I worked that out. I was still under the effects of the drugs I took to control the tremors. I wasn't thinking straight. Oliver was distracted and not paying attention. He admitted that! He forgave me and the rest of the team. Why can't you?" He said softly. He was surprised she was so angry with him. She was usually so good at seeing both sides of every situation.
"Of course you and Oliver made up. He gave you the suit, right? His final parting gift before giving up his life for you, Rene, Curtis and Dinah, right? That's so nice of the lot of you to forgive him for being the fucking leader of this group. Risking his life to save you all, this city, your families, huh? Its so damn nice that Rene can "support" him now. I am sure that it wouldn't change nothing if Oliver hadn't fallen on the sword for the group, right Hoss?" She shouted, finally letting go of her rage and pain. John hadn't noticed Rene coming into the room until she screamed at him.
"Look Blondie.. " Curtis said, hands up, pleading look on his face.
"Don't you dare, EVER call me Blondie again, you little Rat." Felicity growled, advancing towards him quickly, her heels clicking like a drum across the floor. She had never said a word against him when all the drama went down but now she was ready to tell him exactly how she felt. She allowed the hurt and rage she was feeling to bubble up and be released for the first time in months.
"Oliver may have said he forgives you, but I never will. We made you a part of something better, when you were just a common street thug before us. Yet, you turned on Oliver, your team, your family! Oliver has a child too, you little RAT, a son you watched go through hell. Jesus, Rene, you were there when his Mother died! But that didn't stop you from throwing him under the bus without a word of warning, did it? I don't want to listen to anything you have to say. Oliver put his life on the line for your sorry ass for the last time. Get out of my sight now!" The tiny blonde shook with rage and hurt over what their team had done to her family.
John and Rene were both shocked at the growl in her voice, she sounded like Oliver just then.
"Felicity, listen, I want to help... " Rene started again.
"Oh, like you "helped" save Oliver, "helped" save the city from Diaz, "helped" your team by listening to the LEADER. Go back to your new team, tell them things are different now, none of you are welcome here. Get out of my way and remember I will not forgive and forget like my husband did." Felicity shouted, turning her back on Rene and sitting down at her computer. "Your codes are all deleted, your tech that had anything to do with my creations are deactivated as well. Let's hope Curtis is the savior you all think he is, because I am done helping you all."
"Felicity," John started to plead their case. "I know you are upset with them…"
She held her hand up to stop him. "John, I am not upset, I am finished. Rene SHOT me, while shooting at Thea and Quentin. Dinah put her feelings over the city, resulting in deaths and Diaz getting away AGAIN, Curtis hacked your arm, which could have resulted in our deaths, I am done. William could have lost the only people who care about him, but they didn't care. I am willing to forgive you for all the years you have supported Oliver, but don't try and convince me to care about them."
Rene stared hard at her, but she refused to waiver. When she said she was done, she meant it. If she had to deal with the devil, at least she understood the consequences. She would never trust the three of them again. It is a sad day in the Arrow Cave that she trusted Slade freaking Wilson more than the "good guys." Rene walked away, head down, annoyed. He had expected Felicity to be happy he was there, offering to help. He would have to tell the rest of his team, she was acting crazy and refusing their help and protection. It's not like it was his fault she was so emotional.
"Lis, I know you are angry with them and me too, of course. But now isn't the time to lash out." John said softly.
"I am fine now that the traitor is gone. I don't want to see or hear from him again. And I certainly don't want to be told to forgive and forget. Singing songs around a campfire isn't how this is going to end, Digg. You can either accept my decision or you can go too. I love you and I know you are trying to help, but I won't work with someone I can't trust." Felicity said meeting his gaze firmly. "If they found out what I am doing with the President and Rene ratted me out, I would never forgive myself. This is the only way we get justice for Oliver. And I don't care how I do it now or who I have to go through to do it."
John nodded sadly and left to check on the family, stating he would be back in an hour.