Author's Note: So, this is Chapter 6. Honestly, I'm surprised. I posted chapter 1, just to see how writing fanfics felt like, not expecting to carry on. But, here I stand, posting the sixth chapter of the longest story I've ever written. So, what I'm saying is, thank you. Because, I wouldn't have been able to do this w/out you guys?. Also, just a warning, in this chapter, I mention suicide. I don't get graphic or gory of anything like that, and I don't intend to. It's just mentioned. The new posting schedule for this fic will be every Tuesday/Wednesday and every Saturday/Sunday. Also, I honestly hate a lot of what the CW writers wrote in seasons 5-7(which is when this fic is based), so if anyone has literally any ideas, of things that you've always wanted to happen, just leave a review. And, of course same goes with ships. I will say that AgentCanary will happen, as well as perhaps SnowBarry. With that said, I am open to suggestion, or to having my mind changed. If I do pick one of your ideas, I will mention it, and credit you. Honestly, this goes for any of the fics that I plan on writing as well. So, if I don't end up using your idea in this fic, it will most likely happen in one in the future. Anyway, I hope you enjoy Chapter 6.
It had been a dreary four days for Team Arrow.
Laurel had been in and out of consciousness, and when she was awake, she was in pain.
Honestly, they were all a mess. They were so worried, that they just stayed in the bunker, afraid that Laurel would be taken.
They had woken her a few times, to see if they could get her to adjust and let go of her fear, but it was seemingly hopeless. Every time, she either panicked and spun out of control or, she was too tired to do anything.
Oliver had sent Team Flash home after a couple days; he felt guilty to be pulling them from protecting their city.
Felicity and Caitlin had been rallying Laurels' vitals and blood tests back and forth, and Caitlin had confirmed that Laurel was out of the woods, and was getting stronger.
However, she was still delirious and numb, but no one could blame her, after what she'd just went through.
Team Arrow had just taken a pause, and, so it seemed, did crime.
John, Felicity and Oliver just stayed put, with Felicity occasionally going out to get food. Since Rory and Renee had never known Laurel, they were coming and going from the bunker, being wary of her health, but also carrying on life as normal.
John trained, cleaned up around the bunker and made sure that Laurel was comfortable; some of the few things that he was doing to distract himself from the real reason that Laurel was like this: him.
Well, not him directly. His blind trust in his clearly suspicious brother, had led to the team being trapped, Laurel being 'fatally' stabbed, and so much pain for everyone that he held close.
Oliver, he had barely moved from Laurels' side.
He couldn't bare the thought of leaving her again, after they had just got her back. So, he just sat, next to her cot, monitoring her and making sure she got the best care possible.
As Oliver was enveloped in his own little world, Felicity coming up behind him actually startled him, something that hadn't happened for quite some time. But then, he thought, neither has a supposed resurrection.
"Hey, Oliver," She said, her hand lightly resting on his shoulder," So, I was talking to Caitlin, and she said that she had a degree in phycology." Oliver could see where this was going," And she'd be willing to do therapy with Laurel once she gets a little better," Felicity said, quietly, while staring at Laurel the entire time.
Oliver heard this and pondered.
When he had come back from the island, he hadn't needed therapy, and he'd turned out just fine.
Did I really, though? He thought.
But then again, Oliver had actually managed to make some relationships. Sure, most of them had been broken, mostly by death, but they were relationships nonetheless.
Whereas, Laurel had been trapped in a cell for nine months, with no contact to the outside world.
She had been told that everyone that she ever loved was dead, and that she would never escape.
And, she was so isolated, she had actually believed it.
At least Oliver had always had the hope and reassurance that his family was alive.
So, he decided, after lots of thinking, that Caitlin's therapy would be the best thing for her.
"Felicity, that sounds like a great idea," Oliver said, after quite some time.
"Good. Though, Caitlin said that for the first few times, she wants to come to Laurel. You know, to make the situation easier, by Laurel being in a familiar place. You never know how she could react to new, or newer people and a new setting." Felicity said, hoping that Oliver would oblige.
Oliver was completely for the idea. He knew from experience that the transition back to normal life was very difficult, best to make things as easy as possible.
"Actually, that's what I was going to ask," Oliver agreed, "That way, we can make things gradual for Laurel, and make sure that she doesn't get overwhelmed."
Felicity began another flurry of typing, ending in her saying," Okay. Caitlin said that she and Barry will come over here, tonight. She also says to make sure that Laurel is awake and responsive. So, we should probably get on that," She ended, looking at Oliver questioningly, as if asking for permission to proceed.
"Yes, of course," Oliver agreed, wanting to get Laurel help asap," Just let me talk to John first," He said, glancing over in Digg's direction, only to see him clearly beating himself up over something.
He then, reluctantly, got up from his sitting position, feeling that his legs were very stiff, and walked over to Digg.
"So," Oliver said, while simultaneously stretching his legs," I thought, that, as the CEO of blaming yourself for something, I would give some advice to someone who is clearly doing just that."
Oliver looked at John, clearly wanting him to explain himself.
"Oliver, I just can't shake the feeling that Laurel, all of this, it's my fault." John paused, and Oliver refrained from interrupting, even though every bone in his body was telling him to.
"I was the one who trusted Andy, even when you warned me that he wasn't who he said he was. All of that, it all led to Laurel being stabbed and then her dying- or supposedly dying. I thought that I had dealt with all that guilt and anger, when we thought that she was dead. But now, now that we found out that she never died, even if she probably wanted to, I just don't know, man," Digg confessed, only further concreting Oliver's' guess.
"Digg, I know for a fact, that you did everything you possibly could to avenge Laurels' supposed death." As Oliver paused, an image of John's dead brother went flying into his head. No doubt that's what John was thinking about, too.
"And I also know, that when she gets better," Oliver paused at John's look," Yes, when she gets better, and we tell her everything, she'll say the exact same thing. That there was nothing that you- that any of us, for that matter, could've done to prevent this. So, John- "Oliver was cut off by Felicity's high heels clacking towards them.
"Hey, guys. I don't want to interrupt anything, but I figured that you would want to hear about this," Felicity said, grief edging her voice.
"Anyway," She continued, staring at Oliver," You know how you told me to call Quentin, to tell him that Laurel was alive?" She asked.
"Yes, then you told me that he had somehow escaped from rehab, and was missing," Oliver confirmed, reminding himself of yet another worry.
He then looked at Felicity questioningly, wondering why her tone sounded so firm, almost as if she didn't want to let anyone in.
"Right, So, I looked into it more, and a couple of days ago I called a nurse who works there. She-she told me that she would call me if they found him. Well, well they did," she paused, a look of regret, and was that grief edging her voice?
"Felicity, what's wrong?" Oliver asked, trying not to panic.
"It's, he-he killed himself, Oliver."