Disclaimer: WB/DC own these characters. I'm only borrowing them for a while. I own the original ideas found in this.
AN: Thanks again for returning. Reviews were pretty quiet the last chapter. Not sure why. Hopefully this chapter receives a better response. I always appreciate all comments, reviews, favs and follows and Kudos!
Previously:
"Let me guess. He moved up the meeting time," Sara said with her lips turned into a scowl.
"Yes." Oliver looking at his watch, let out a sigh. "We can leave Felicity at the counseling center. She should be safe there and she needs the time anyway. Their sessions run until 5."
"Well, we better get going. Let me leave a message with the nurse to give to Roy if we're not back before he wakes up," Dig offered.
"And I'll text Felicity letting her know we're on a mission but will pick her up at 5," Sara said.
Meanwhile, at the counseling center, Felicity was experiencing a productive morning. She was relieved to be back attending group and individual counseling sessions. It had been a rough couple of days, but discussing her reactions to Thea's kidnapping in the safe place of the therapy group helped her greatly. Luckily, today, the group consisted of only women she'd gotten to know from over the previous weeks, so she felt more comfortable in sharing the experience with them. It soothed her soul when most of the women vocalized their support for her and validated her feelings of fear, hopelessness and rage. She learned her reaction, the anxiety attack, was perfectly understandable, realistic, and to be expected, given the circumstances. However, with further therapy, such reactions as anxiety attacks will most likely eventually decrease for her, Felicity was happy to find out. She had also learned several new coping techniques to try if another anxiety attack should occur.
Coming out of the center at lunch, she turned on her phone. Felicity had checked it for messages from the team at break, but there were none. There were also no messages left for her at the reception desk. She tried not to worry about it, because they'd specifically told her they would only text her if something was wrong. Because of her being in therapy groups all day, they wanted her to focus on herself and her own health, for once.
Feeling the need to get some fresh air, Felicity crossed the street on the way to the little coffeehouse she had fallen in love with since she had started attending the center's sessions. She failed to notice the limo approaching her from behind her until it pulled up beside her and stopped. The back door opened and the man from her nightmares was suddenly leaning out and aiming a gun right at her.
Felicity shook her head and blinked several times, trying to erase the image she was desperately hoping was an illusion or hallucination. However, Slade didn't leave any room for doubt as to the reality of his presence. She couldn't help the passing thoughts going through her mind reprimanding her for going outside alone.
"Ms. Smoak, please get into the limo. Now." Indicating the seat beside him with the gun, he gave her a smile she knew was hiding all sorts of evil thoughts as he moved a short distance closer to the other side of the seat to offer her more room.
Unconsciously, she turned her head, looking down the street for any witnesses who could possibly help her, when an angry Australian growl came from within the limo. "Now!"
Felicity jumped, and leaped into the car without thought to her skirt, which bunched up beneath her. Once she was inside the limo, the chauffeur, having gotten out of the car, closed the door. Suddenly the car door locked as she attempted to straighten out her skirt so she was sitting properly. Her eyes met Slade's as he watched her squirm in the seat, trying to discretely pull the skirt into its proper place. The thought crossed her mind quickly how thankful she was for deciding to wear one of her looser, more relaxed skirts that morning. The last thing she would want was to give the man beside her a peep show.
"If you're finished squirming, please put your hands behind your back and turn your back towards me."
Felicity sighed and did what he requested. She felt handcuffs be placed around her wrists, and felt them tighten. She bit her lip to prevent a cry of discomfort when her tender skin got pinched as the cuffs tightened.
"Please sit back and relax, Ms. Smoak. We do have a little ride ahead of us." Taking out a black cloth bag out of his pocket, he said, "And, I'm going to place this over your head. It's necessary to protect you from knowing where we're going."
"I don't know why. You're going to kill me anyway, aren't you?" Realizing she had said her thought out loud, she gasped. "Oh, sorry. Just in case you hadn't thought of it, I hope I didn't put it into your mind. About killing me, I mean. I suppose you were thinking of that already. Since you already tried once this week. Or last week." She swallowed. "Three, two, one, I'm going to stop talking now."
"That would be my preference," the sentence entered her ear, startling her. Instead of Oliver's beloved voice over their comms, the sentence was said in the Australian accent of a deadly enemy.
Swallowing the sob which rose with the memory of the night in the casino when they were trying to find Walter, Felicity sank back into the cushioned seat instead. This was no time to think of the past, but she wondered if Slade knew the significance of his statement. She reminded herself she needed to present the villain a brave front, not one of scared, helpless female. She closed her eyes tightly to prevent herself from crying. I will get through this. Somehow.
"I'm rather surprised you haven't attempted to tear the car door off and escape," Slade's voice interrupted her thoughts, bringing her mind back to the emergency at hand. The need to outwit this master criminal and save Oliver.
Yeah, why haven't I tried that? Oh yeah, the guy has a gun which he might use to shoot my eye out. Not to mention the man is twice my size. Oh, wait a minute, I'm supposed to convince him I don't have the Mirakuru strength any more. "I…I no longer have the Mirakuru within me. Before we found out about your escape, I…I took the antidote."
"Really?"
Slade's doubt made Felicity want to slink into the seat cushions. Could she carry this off when she couldn't see his reactions? But, she reminded herself, she didn't know what Slade had in mind. Her secret could be their only ace in the hole.
Forcing her voice to be strong, Felicity replied, "Of course. Oliver wanted it out of me as quickly as possible. The thought of it terrified him. And, of course, if I still had it in me, why would I allow myself to be captured by you again?"
Slade let out a chuckle. "I guess. Yes, I can imagine the Kid wanting to get the Mirakuru out of your system as soon as possible."
Felicity again attempted to calm her anxious mind and slow her breathing. It appeared Slade bought the whole 'I took the antidote' story. At least with the bag over her face she didn't have to worry about her face betraying her lie.
Felicity pushed everything out of her mind to sit back and concentrate on the turns which the limo was taking, and any other signs of the environment they pass by. In case such information could prove useful in their escape later. Slim though the possibility, it kept her calm.
Before she knew it, the limo stopped. Her stomach in her throat, Felicity heard the limo door open, and felt Slade taking her arm to lead her to God knows where. They walked a short distance, and up a long flight of stairs. From the smells and sounds, Felicity deduced they were in the warehouse district of the Glades. Probably entering a warehouse from their freight entrance, hence the long staircase.
Her heels echoing as they walked along a linoleum floor, Felicity tried not to trip as Slade hurried her along. Her mind became confused with the twists and turns they made before she felt them enter a large room. She heard two separate gasps as she was eventually led to a wooden chair with a high back and was forced to sit down.
Felicity then felt rope being wound around her upper body, and gave out a small 'pft' when Slade tightened the bonds, unexpectantly bringing her tightly to the back of the chair in which she was sitting. Felicity then predictably felt rope binding her feet to the bar at the bottom of the chair. Suddenly her eyes were shot with bright light as the bag was removed without warning from her head.
"Now, I suppose I don't have to make the introductions among you women. I'll take my leave again, to prepare for the arrival of your son and brother, Mrs. and Ms. Queen. And whatever he is to you, Ms. Smoak." A cackle left the crude man's mouth as he left the room, clearly amused by his last remark.
"What?" After her eyes adjusted to the increase in light, Felicity realized Thea and Moira were sitting on either side of her. "But…but, I thought Oliver was trading himself for you and Roy, Thea?" Turning to the older woman, Felicity then asked Moira, "And how did he capture you? How long have you been here?"
Thea interrupted her mother. "What? That was Slade's plan? For Oliver to trade himself for me and Roy?" she looked at her mother. "I guess I was right. Roy must be at the hospital now, since apparently he brought Roy to Oliver." Returning her gaze to Felicity, Thea asked, "But why isn't Oliver here with us now?"
Felicity chewed her lower lip. "Unless it was a trick. To continue to play with Oliver. He only gave Oliver Roy…did you say hospital? Was Roy hurt?" Felicity's voice was a little moist as she asked the question.
Her tears surprised Thea. "Yes, that awful Slade beat him up most terribly. I've been worried about him. All I know, he was still breathing, but unconscious, when Slade took him out of here this morning."
"Yes, this morning was when Oliver was to meet Slade at an abandoned factory for you and Roy."
"If you work with the Arrow, why weren't you with them?" Thea asked.
"The Arrow?" Moira asked, surprised.
Thea let out a small gasp. She caught Felicity's widened eyes and gave a small shrug. "Oops." She continued, "Slade probably would end up telling Mom sooner or later anyway."
"I already knew Oliver is the Arrow," interrupted a quiet but calm and steady reply from her mother.
Thea and Felicity turned in surprise to Moira, who gave her own small shrug. "I've known since last year. Right before the Undertaking."
Felicity was speechless. It had occurred to her, throughout the months and knowing the intelligence of the older woman, to wonder if Oliver's mother had suspected or had figured out about the Arrow. With everything which had occurred along the way, it never seemed the right time to ask Oliver his thoughts about it. If they all survived this, Felicity couldn't imagine what Oliver's reaction will be to this new revelation.
Suddenly Felicity was interrupted from her thoughts by realizing the two women were waiting for her reply to Thea's question. "I…I've been attending counseling almost daily, or trying to, for what…because of what Slade did…" Felicity cleared her throat. "Oliver and the others insisted I go today, because I had an anxiety attack thinking of you being with Slade, Thea. They were to update me as things went along." Felicity's lips trembled. "I wonder why they didn't."
Thea hurriedly said, "I'm sure they didn't want to worry you until they knew how Roy was. And…and I'm sure he's fine." Swallowing hard, she said softly, "He better be." Squaring her shoulders, Thea met Felicity's eyes and said in a stronger voice, "I'm sure he's just fine."
Felicity nodded in silence, biting her lower lip. Allowing the silence in the room to continue, Felicity turned towards her bonds, trying to come up with an idea for the confrontation ahead.
~~FS~~OQ~~FS~~
Previously:
Oliver breathed a sigh of relief. Taking out his phone, he was about to text Felicity a message when it rang. When he saw the number blocked, his heart leaped into his throat. He nodded at Sara and Dig. Turning away from them, swallowing the fear, he answered.
"Hey, Kid, glad Junior will make it."
Unable to restrain all the anger from showing in his voice, Oliver asked, looking around, "How'd you know that?"
"I got my sources." Waiting a moment, Slade then continued. "Now that you have that taken care of, why don't we move our meeting to 3pm today. Instead of tomorrow."
One of the few good things about the day they've had, Oliver thought, was that everything they needed was in the van already. There wasn't enough time to go to the lair to get anything else they might need, unfortunately.
They decided to leave for the meeting place immediately. If they could get there to scout out the place without Slade being suspicious, they might gain an advantage. The plan this time was for Diggle and Sara to be situated close by, with antidote arrows and bullets handy. Oliver didn't want to leave anything to chance with Slade upping the danger, it seemed. Oliver sensed Slade was losing control of what was remaining of his sanity, making him even more dangerous and unpredictable, putting Thea into even more danger.
The place for this meeting was a two-story warehouse also in the Glades. Diggle pulled up the blueprints on his smart phone and reviewed them with the team. Sara was able to hack into the security cameras of the building to discover that, this time, Slade did have guards situated outside. It appeared that five guards made periodic sweeps of the outside grounds, while inside Sara located what appeared to be guards at every entrance and four who made rounds around the warehouse interior.
"How many Mirakuru soldiers do Slade and Isabel have?" Sara asked, her irritability and fear sneaking into her voice.
Oliver shook his head. "Yeah, we have to assume they're all affected. Thank goodness we made enough antidote arrows and bullets."
Studying the information, Diggle said, "I think our best bet, is Sara and I clearing the way for you to enter here," he pointed at a side door. "First, we all take care of the outside guards, so hopefully they don't set off an alarm. Then, Oliver, you enter and meet up with Slade while Sara and I take care of any other guards lurking around. Hopefully, if…"
"Don't you mean, 'when"?" Sara interjected.
Digg looked at Sara, "If or when stuff hits the fan, we are in place to provide assistance."
AN: Hmm. An exciting place to end the chapter, or not? I can't tell. Things are heating up. Poor Oliver; he's not aware Moira and Felicity have also been taken. Hmm. Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed it. Stay tuned for the exciting final battle between Slade and Team Arrow!