Disclaimer: I do not own Daredevil or Arrow
Thank you to everyone who has favorited, followed or reviewed this fic so far.
Thank you to Phillipe363 for letting me use the title of his Daredevil/Arrow crossover for this chapter. The difference is that here, Murdock defends the younger Queen.
Chaos Sorcerer: If you want more lawyer Matt, read 'Murdock defends Queen' by Phillipe363. I used the title of that story here in this chapter with his permission. You will see a jab or two at the corruption. I think the same. He probably is done with the law. I used to watch Death Battle. Yeah, some of their outcomes don't make sense, like the ones you mentioned. I also strongly disagree with the outcomes of Cloud vs. Link and Batman vs. Captain America. Superman vs. Goku 2 would have made sense if he had gone Superman Prime again. My most favorite Death Battle is Sephiroth vs. Vergil. Awesome fight and very accurate result.
Chapter 7- Murdock defends Queen
A dealer ran through the docks in fear. He started climbing up a catwalk. He had one hand on it when his leather jacket was pierced by an arrow and he ended up hanging on it. The Hood stood there in front of him.
"Oh, come on man!" he shouted, "I'm just trying to make an honest living!"
"There's nothing honest about what you do!" retorted The Hood, "Who supplies you with Vertigo? Tell me now and you live."
"Please!" he begged, "They'll kill me."
"Whoever you fear?" said The Hood as he notched an arrow, "Fear me more."
"Okay, okay", the man gave in, "We call him The Count., that's all I know! I swear to God!"
He closed his eyes, waiting for death but nothing happened. When he opened them, The Hood was gone.
"Hey!" he yelled, "Get me down from here!"
"Found what you were looking for?" asked Dig as Oliver walked back in.
"Took down three Vertigo pushers tonight, Diggle", said Oliver as he walked to the computer, "Last one finally knew a name, The Count."
"The Count? That's worse than The Hood", Dig quipped before saying, "You're not going back out there."
"I'm not done for the night", said Oliver, "Whoever this Count is, he has a lot of blood on his hands, and it is long past time he started paying."
"Well, slow down. I think you're missing the point here", Dig said.
"What?" asked Oliver and when Dig gave him a look, he sighed, "Thea."
"Her hearing's in a few hours", said John, "You think she cares more about some drug lord getting his just desserts, or you being by her side when she needs you the most?"
Oliver realized he had a point and nodded.
At Queen Manor, Thea was trying to make herself presentable for the hearing.
"Hey, we should get going", he said to her before quipping, "Judges don't appreciate the value in being fashionably late."
"Got any other tips?" she asked after a chuckle.
"Let Mr. Murdock do the talking", said Oliver as he stood by her, "They'll give you a pad and paper but do not play tic-tac-toe. Judges don't appreciate that either."
Thea sighed and he gave her an encouraging smile saying, "Come on, Speedy."
"I know, I know", she said, "I keep on trying to get up and go, but I just don't. I wish dad were here."
"I'm here", said Oliver in a soothing tone.
Moira arrived and said, "We should leave now, Thea."
As Thea walked ahead of them towards the car, Moira asked Oliver with worry and concern in her voice, "Oliver! Are you sure about this Matthew Murdock?"
"Yes", he said, "Why? Because he's blind?"
"No", said Moira, "But because of the Frank Castle thing."
"I don't think the jury is going to say much about that", said Oliver, "It's not related to this case."
Outside the courthouse, all the reporters were swarming around the Queens, shouting questions to Thea.
"Ms Queen!"
"Just one comment!"
"Thea, are you going into rehab?"
"Miss Queen, are you being expelled from Balliol Prep?"
Thea was very nervous and felt harassed. Oliver grabbed her hand in support. He shielded her from the reporters till they reached the courthouse.
Later, the pre-trial began.
"Docket ending 1-10-5-6, People vs. Thea Dearden Queen", the balliff read out, "Possession of a controlled substance, driving under the influence of a controlled substance."
The balliff handed over the trial sheet to the judge who read it.
"Counselors, I understand you've reached a plea agreement", said Judge Brackett.
Next to Thea sat Matt Murdock. He rose up from his seat and said, "Yes, Your Honor, we have. Given that my client- young Thea Dearden Queen, is a juvenile here, the people have generously agreed to probation."
"Juvenile?" asked Brackett as he looked at the sheet, "It says right here she's 18."
"She is 18 now, Your Honor", Matt explained, "But at the time of arrest, she was still 2 days shy of her 18th birthday. Ms. Queen has no priors."
"Well, just because Ms. Queen's family sweeps her priors under the rug, doesn't mean they don't exist", Brackett said harshly.
He then said to Matt, "You get your client off", he then turned to the prosecutors and said, "And you help your boss avoid dealing with the drug that's sweeping across our city like the plague. Everyone wins, except us, the people of Starling City."
During this time, Laurel walked in and her and Oliver exchanged a nod.
Matt tried to argue, "With all due respect, Your Honor-"
"Ms. Queen, like it or not, you're now the poster child for this menace", Brackett cut him off and stated to Thea, "Maybe if people see that the Queen family can't get away with using Vertigo, they'll think twice before using it themselves. The plea arrangement is denied."
Just before he could bang his gavel, Matt said, "With all due respect, Your Honor, this courthouse is about imparting swift and impartial justice, not about making any examples out of people who made rash decisions due to their inability to understand what they're doing."
Even though Matt was blind, the judge felt like he was being subjected to an intense gaze from the man. Laurel looked at Matt proudly for that statement while Oliver and Moira too seemed to have respect for him in their eyes.
Brackett regained composure and glaring at Matt said, "Mr. Murdock, I have been a judge since you were a freshman at law school so believe it or not, I know more about justice than you can fathom."
He then banged his gavel and said, "The case will proceed to trial."
Matt clutched his stick in anger. This judge was trying to use the youngest Queen as a stepping stone for re-election. Probably so he could stay in office. Corrupt, like most of the system, even though this was a different kind of corruption.
Thea looked back at Oliver in fear while everyone whispered to each other.
"They can't do this", said Moira as she entered Queen Manor with Oliver, Thea and Matt, "That man cannot send my daughter to prison."
"He is obviously using her as for re-election", said Matt, "But no one will say a thing because of two reasons- he's a judge and this city hates its rich people."
"What are our options?" Oliver asked.
"An interlocutory appeal", Matt said, "But trial judges have discretion to reject plea arguments. I think you might want to prepare for the possibility that this isn't going to go our way."
Thea looked at him in shock while he said, "I'm sorry, Mrs. Queen, I'll get to work on the appeal."
Looking at Oliver, he said, "Mr. Queen, a word please."
Oliver followed him to a corner.
"What?" asked Oliver.
"I know you're looking for their dealer", said Matt, "I think catching him is the only thing that can save her."
"Well, so much for the man who defended Frank Castle", said Moira which Matt heard and looked at her.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Murdock", she apologized but he said, "It's fine, Mrs. Queen. I understand your reaction."
Oliver put a comforting arm on Thea's shoulder and Moira said, "Thea, we will handle this, I promise."
Thea scoffed and said sarcastically, "Like you promised Walter you'd always stay faithful to him? I feel better already."
"That's enough!" Moira shouted.
"Don't worry", said Thea in a disgusted tone, "Sounds like you won't have to be putting up with me much longer."
Before she could walk away, Matt said, "Ms. Queen, this is no joke. If this doesn't go the way we want, you will be in prison. Do you hear me?"
"Yes I do, Mr. Murdock", she said angrily, "From what I've heard, your clients escape prison."
"Thea!" Oliver said in an angry and annoyed tone.
"Ms. Queen, you are not Frank Castle", said Matt, "You do not strike fear into the hearts of criminals. Please, understand the seriousness of the situation."
"You took drugs, you drove, you could have killed someone, or yourself", Moira scolded her.
"I know", said Oliver in a firm tone, "Thea, I will support you, but you need to cooperate. Or you can bid farewell to all of this. And this attitude is the cause for downfall."
"All that judge wants is to make an example out of someone", said Moira, "But why her?"
"Because she is rich", said Matt, "I am going to work on the appeal."
He walked out while Oliver said, "I have to do something."
He then walked out while Thea went to her room. Moira sat alone.
Oliver walked into the Vice's squad room in SCPD.
"Hi", he said to a patrolman, "I'm looking for Detective Hall. I was told he works in Vice."
"Oliver?"
He then looked the attractive cop who had called out his name.
"McKenna Hall", he said in surprise.
"Hi", she said, looking equally surprised.
"Here I was expecting a middle aged guy in a bad suit", Oliver joked, "And I got McKenna Hall."
"I live to surprise", she said to him as the two hugged each other.
"Well, I remember. What was that club you got us kicked out of?" he asked, "The Club Deville?"
"Okay, in my defense, there was no sign that specifically said that you had to keep your clothes on", said McKenna with a laugh.
"So a cop?" said Oliver, "I guess you're not hitting the party circuit anymore."
"Well, I still go to the raves", said McKenna, "I just go undercover now. And I have to dress more appropriately to hide my badge and gun."
"Right", said Oliver.
"So what do you need with a vice cop, Oliver?" she asked him.
"Vertigo", he simply said as his smile vanished.
"Right", she said, "I saw your sister on TV. I'm sorry."
As they walked together, Oliver said, "The judge is trying to make an example of her. So I was thinking, if you could find the person responsible for selling the drugs, it might take some heat off Thea."
"Easier said than done", said Hall.
"Did some digging and came up with a name", said Oliver, "Um, The Count?"
McKenna looked at him for a moment and said, "Oliver, we've known about The Count for months."
"Oh", said Oliver in a disappointed tone.
McKenna picked a folder from her desk and gave it to Oliver saying, "I wish this was thicker, but we don't really have much on him. Love to say we're going to catch him before your sister's trial, but it's highly unlikely."
She looked at her watch and said, "Oh, I am late for my shift."
She gathered her things while Oliver politely asked, "If you get anything on this guy, just…. let me know?"
"I always loved how much you cared about your sister", McKenna said to him, "But leave the policing to the police, okay?"
"Okay", said Oliver. The two smiled at each other and he walked out of the squad room. He passed by Quentin Lance.
"What did Queen want?" he asked her.
"He's an old friend, sister's jammed up", she said as she looked at him, "Anything else, Sergeant?"
"No", he said as he sipped his coffee and she walked away.
The dealer who had been roughed up by The Hood the previous night sat alone in a darkened kitchen. Three men entered.
He gasped when the first one put a gun to his head. He was tall, with a pale face and wore a coat. He raised his hand in front of the dealer and looking at his jacket quipped, "You need a tailor."
"You know about the Hood guy", the dealer said in fear, "He cornered me, man."
"The Hood guy?" asked the man.
"I didn't say anything", the man promised.
"Oh, I know", said the man who was none other than The Count, "You can't divulge what you don't know."
The dealer smiled in relief but then The Count said, "But examples must be made."
He walked behind the dealer and pulling out a syringe, jammed it into the dealer's neck.
"Vertigo, in its purest form", he said to the dealer as he pulled out the needle while the man started shaking and gasping, "When injected directly into your bloodstream, it affects the thalamus region of your brain, which is where all of the information from the pain receptors is collected. No doubt you're in excruciating pain. But actually, you're not. You just think you are. I've seen it last for days, until the heart finally gives out."
The dealer screamed in agony while The Count waved the gun in front of him and said, "One bullet left."
He put the gun in the dealer's hand and said, "Now you can use that to shoot me and take your revenge", the dealer raised the gun on him while he continued, "Or you could shoot yourself."
He backed away while the dealer tried to aim at him. But the pain was too much and he jammed the gun under his chin. He then pulled the trigger, killing himself.
"The Hood', said The Count after a while, "Coming for me."
He took out a handkerchief, used it to pick up the gun and put it in his pocket.
"Interesting."
Laurel was reading an online article about Thea's upcoming trial when Matt arrived.
"Hi, Matt", she said.
"Hi, Laurel", he said to her.
"So, wanna talk about it?" she asked with a smile.
"Well", said Matt, "Just needed a break from all the papers and appeals."
"You look stressed", she said to him.
"Yes", said Matt, "I am. I'm trying my best to help Thea, but she is not making it easy. She doesn't cooperate with us even though it's for her own good."
"She is being a rebellious teenager", muttered Laurel, "But she is taking it to a whole new level which is just… it's bad."
"I know", said Matt, "Now I wonder what to do."
Someone knocked the door and Matt knew who he was.
He opened the door and Oliver walked in.
"Mr. Queen", he said to him.
"Mr. Murdock", Oliver said.
Matt asked, "So you're here to-"
"Yeah", said Oliver, "Talk to Laurel."
Matt stepped aside and Oliver walked in saying, "Hi."
"Hi", Laurel said back.
"I want you to thank you for coming to the court yesterday", Oliver said to her gratefully.
"Yeah, of course", she said, "But the judge isn't willing to move off his position."
"Because he's using her as a stepping stone for re-election", said Matt in a disgusted tone, "Instead of delivering justice."
"I need you to talk to your father", Oliver said directly to her, "He's inside the system, and maybe he cashes in a chip with Judge Brackett, gets him off throwing the book at Thea."
Laurel tried to say, "Oliver, I don't think-"
"Laurel", he said, "I'm working on something on my end but….. if it doesn't work out, it's my best chance to help my sister. Please."
Laurel sighed, "I'll see what I can do. But no promises."
"Thank you, both of you, for what you're doing for her", he said to them and walked out.
"I will come with you", said Matt.
"Why?" she asked him.
"Because I'm still the lawyer on the case", he said, "I should be there with you solely because of that."
Later that night- Matt, Laurel and Quentin were walking together near the SCPD.
"Absolutely not", said Quentin after hearing the request.
"Dad", said Laurel, "I know how you feel about Oliver-"
"Then why would you even ask me to do this?" he asked her.
"Because Thea", she pointed out, "She's only 18 years old."
"Which makes her an adult. She can take her medicine", he scoffed mercilessly, ignoring the plight of the young lady, "It's about time someone in the Queen family did."
Matt clutched his stick angrily at Quentin's insensitivity. How could someone with a kind and caring daughter like Laurel be so merciless towards a young girl's plight just because he had a deep hatred for her brother?
"Detective Lance!" he said firmly, getting his attention, "I can understand why you hate Mr. Queen, I totally can. But taking it out on his sister is just going too far."
"Who are you to tell me I'm going too far?" Quentin said angrily as the two men stood within inches of each other's face, "Just because you're a lawyer who used to date my daughter doesn't mean you can talk to me in any tone you want?"
"Just because you're a cop doesn't mean you can misuse your power anyway you want", Matt shot back to the shock of both Lances, "I know about the time you arrested Mr. Queen. The evidence was circumstantial at best, but you let your feelings get in the way of your job. If you can't separate your feelings for Mr. Queen from your job, then you are not qualified to be a cop."
"How dare you?" Quentin fumed with rage but Matt didn't back down. Deep down, Quentin knew Matt was right but he was too proud to admit.
"Thea is no different from Sara", Laurel rejoined the conversation before someone got hurt physically, "Both were young girls who acted out and engaged in reckless behavior."
"Laurel, don't go there", Quentin warned, "That's not how I remember Sara."
"That's because you remember her the way you wish she'd been, not the way she actually was", Laurel said bluntly as they stopped walking, "She's not the Saint you make her out to be. I know she was arrested for shoplifting and I know you made it go away."
"Well, maybe if I let her go to jail, Queen wouldn't put her on that damn boat!" Quentin growled.
"Dad, you make it sound like he kidnapped her!" Laurel exclaimed, "For so long, you and I have blamed Oliver for Sara's death. But Sara is to blame too."
As Quentin listened, Laurel said, "When I look at Thea, I see Sara's potential, and her flaws too. Yes, Thea made a mistake! But she's been through a lot."
"Laurel's right", said Matt, "She lost her father and brother. In prison, she will lose whatever semblance of normality she has left. It is not the place for a young, delicate lady like her. She needs someone to help her."
"Please, daddy", Laurel said.
"I'll make some calls", said Quentin grudgingly and walked away.
"I am sorry", said Matt to Laurel, "For talking to your father like that."
"It's okay, Matt", Laurel said with a sigh, "You did what I could not. Everything you said was right. My dad is a good man. But he lets his emotions get the better of him. I just hope he understands what you're trying to say."
Matt smiled at that and said, "So, you want to get some coffee?"
"Yeah", said Laurel to him, "I would love that."
The next day, Matt got a call from Oliver.
"What happened?" Matt asked him.
"Well", said Oliver, "I think now I need Daredevil too."
"I'm listening", said Matt.
"I have been in contact with an organization called the Bratva", Oliver said.
"Isn't that the name of a Russian mob?" Matt asked him, "What the hell were you doing with them? How do you know them?"
"How I know them is not important", said Oliver, "But they have arranged a meeting with The Count. My relationship with them is too valuable so I can't go there as the vigilante. I'll have to go there as myself. But Daredevil can come there and apprehend them."
"Using small-time criminals like that", said Matt, "Genius! I will be there whenever you want me to."
Later, in the Queen Manor- Matt, Oliver and Laurel sat across the table from Thea.
"My father was able to get Judge Brackett ot back off from the hardline stance", Laurel said to her.
"Your father hates me", said Thea.
"No", said Oliver and Laurel simultaneously.
"My father hates him", said Laurel as she gestured at Oliver.
"Look, nobody asked you to get involved", said Thea.
"I did", said Oliver and she looked at him in surprise.
"You should be grateful to both of them for this", Matt said to her, "The judge has agreed to a sentence of 500 hours of community service and two years of probation. Provisional on the appointment of someone to act in loco parentis."
"In loco what?" asked Thea.
"It means that the court will appoint an individual to assume responsibility for you", explained Laurel, "Me."
"I say, thanks, but no thanks", said Thea.
"Thea!" said Oliver angrily, "You don't actually have a choice."
"Oh, actually, I do", sad Thea, "See, I'm 18 now, and I can make my own decisions. And I choose to not be your ex-girlfriend's office monkey."
"A digit means nothing if you are going to throw your life away by choosing like this", said Matt bluntly, "Even children would know what's better for them out of these two."
"Well", said Laurel awkwardly, "If you change your mind, then."
She walked out while Matt and Oliver thanked her.
"You're in trouble, Thea", said Oliver angrily, "And rightly so. Doing drugs and driving? It is beyond stupid. That is a good deal Laurel got you! Why aren't you jumping at it."
"I already have a mother", Thea scoffed.
"So you're going to go to jail and it will ruin the rest of your life", Oliver sighed.
"No", said Thea with a humorless chuckle as she rose from the couch, "I want to ruin mom's life. She's a liar and a cheat. I mean, deal with it Ollie. You can pretend all you want that she's a Saint but I hate her. She betrayed dad."
She started to storm off.
Oliver asked incredulously, "So you're just- you're going to go to jail to spite her."
"This, what you're doing", said Matt, "This won't hurt your mother, Miss Queen. But it will hurt you far more than you can imagine. In ways that will hurt you and haunt you forever."
"How do you know that, Mr. Murdock?" she asked him angrily as she stopped, "You've never been to jail."
"No", said Matt, 'I've never been arrested. But I have gone to jail to visit people. It's not pretty. After hell, it's the next worst thing. And some of the criminals are powerful. They're rich. They use their power to control the entire prison- inmates, guards, everything. And they don't take kindly to someone who is not with them."
As Thea looked at him, he said, "You want to know how I know? Well, last year, I went to visit Wilson Fisk in prison to ask him about Frank Castle. I managed to piss him off. And you know what he did? He punched me, and he slammed my head on the table multiple times. And the guards, they did nothing! NOTHING! Absolutely nothing to stop him. And I was just a visitor. If your prison has people like that, what will you do? Fight them? Because you're not Frank Castle."
Thea now paled at what she'd heard. She wanted to spite her mother by going to prison but what Matt had said made it obvious that it would be infinitely worse for her than it would be for her mother.
Oliver appreciated what Matt had said. But he also could not stand her disrespect of Moira.
"Mr. Murdock", he said to Matt, "A moment please?"
The two went to a corner and Matt said, "I'm sorry, Oliver. But I had to say that."
"I know", said Oliver, "And you're right. You did what I could not. But there is something I need to say to her that should remain within family. Which is why I need you to go outside."
"All right", said Matt as he began walking out, "But you know, I'll probably hear it anyway. Don't worry, though. I won't tell anyone."
Oliver nodded as Matt walked out.
Turning to Thea, he said, "Thea, mom didn't cheat on dad. Dad cheated on her."
"What're you talking about?" she asked him.
"Dad wasn't the man he said he was", said Oliver to her, "On the Queen's Gambit right before he died, he admitted that he failed us. You. Me. And mom. That he wasn't the man he said he was and he just wished he had more time to right his wrongs."
"I don't believe you", she said in shaky voice, disbelief and heartbreak written all over her face.
"Yes, you do", Oliver countered.
"Leave me alone", Thea demanded and stormed out. Oliver sighed and turned around- to see Moira standing there.
"How dare you", she said to him angrily.
"She was old enough to know the truth", said Oliver simply.
They glared at each other but then Dig arrived. Moira sighed and walked away.
"Oliver", said Dig once Moira was gone, "The Russians called. The meet is set. It's tonight."
At night, an SUV pulled up near Oliver, Diggle, Alexi and his associate.
Several men came out as Oliver and Diggle held up their hands while The Count's men cleared them.
The Count then stepped out of the car and waving the folder said, "Thank you for this. But I'm not overly concerned about the SCPD. Now, I understand you gentlemen wish to participate in the feel good business."
"Yes", said Oliver.
"Why's that?" The Count asked.
"Well", said Oliver, "I'm opening a night club and I'd like my customers to have a little…..something extra."
"Well", said The Count, "As it happens, I'm looking to expand my brand."
The money bags were thrown down while The Count's men produced a small briefcase.
"A good wine's value is measured by its vintage. The number of years it took to ferment", he said as he opened the case to show small packets filled with Vertigo, "Vertigo is measured in lives. 56 people died to perfect this high."
He waved a packet on Oliver's face and threw it back saying, "Believe me when I say they did not die for nothing."
He closed the case and was about to hand it to Oliver when tires squealed and sirens blared.
"The cops! We've been set up!" yelled a man as several police vans arrived.
"Let's go!' someone yelled as The Count, his men, Alexi and his associate, Oliver and DIggle scrambled as Lance and several other officers were on the spot.
"SCPD! Put your weapons down!" Lance said as the cops pointed their guns at everyone. The Count's men and the Bratva engaged in a gunfight with the police.
Oliver saw The Count running off with a man and ran after him, ignoring Diggle's call of, "Oliver!"
He caught up to them and punched the man with him, knocking him out. He then ran after The Count but he spun around. He was about to jam a syringe into Oliver's chest when his hand was grabbed from behind and he was flipped to the ground. It was Daredevil. The syringe fell away.
Oliver gave him a nod of appreciation and said, "Get the other men!"
Daredevil nodded and ran to engage the other men. He threw a club at the back of one of them and caught it on return. He then quickly flip-kicked another man and he was out. He swept another man's feet from under him and knocked him out by hitting him with the club on the face.
Some of them were running when McKenna drove a car towards them. She drove with one hand and fired with the other, getting two of them. Daredevil hit one with a club and kicked the other away before hitting him with it too, knocking them both out.
The Count picked up the syringe and swung it at Oliver who dodged and grabbing The Count's hand, made him plunge it into himself.
"Enjoy the fruits of your labor", said Oliver as The Count himself started shaking and gasping.
"Oliver!" said DIggle as he ran up to him, "We got to go."
Oliver nodded and the two ran off, leaving behind The Count. Daredevil got the remaining thugs.
Next day, in Queen Manor, Oliver and Diggle walked in to see Moira talking to Detective Lance and Hall.
"What's wrong?" asked Oliver, "Is everything okay with Thea?"
"This isn't about your sister. This is about you", said Lance as he rose, "Last night, we got a call from a C.I., busted up a drug sale between a big time dealer and the Russian mob."
Oliver looked at McKenna and asked, "'We?'" I thought you worked Vice."
"Joint task force", said McKenna, "Vertigo got everyone holding hands."
"Like I said, last night, drug deal gone south", said Lance, "An eyewitness put you at the scene."
"Whoever he is, he is mistaken", said Oliver.
"Yeah?" said Lance as he moved closer.
"I saw you, Oliver", McKenna stated to his shock.
"Is this true?" asked Moira.
Oliver sighed and said, "I was looking into The Count. He's the guy who sold drugs to Thea. And I figured if I could find out what he looked like, then I could give your sketch artist something to work on. So I paid a low-life with a Russian accent an obscene amount of money to arrange a meeting."
"Well", said McKenna, "I believe you. And we got him. With help from that Daredevil from Hell's Kitchen."
"That's good to know", he said.
"All right", Moira said to Quentin, "Are you pressing charges against my son?"
Quentin glared at Oliver for a while and finally said, "No!"
As he walked out with McKenna, Oliver said sincerely, "Thank you very much. Thank you for what you did for Thea."
"My daughter asked me for a favor and I did it", he said, "End of story."
He walked out as McKenna said, "I hope you don't think I sold you out."
"No", said Oliver, "Just doing your job."
The two smiled at each other and she walked out.
Moira rose and demanded, "What on earth were you thinking?"
"I was trying to help", said Oliver with a scoff.
"By running around with the Russian mob and a murderous drug dealer?" she asked, "Are you out of your mind?"
"Well, The Count has been caught", said Oliver bluntly, "And the real reason you're upset is because I told Thea the truth about dad."
"She never needed to know that", said Moira.
"Yes, I did."
They turned to see Thea walk in, "I'm old enough to know the truth, mom."
"It wasn't about your age", said Moira with a sigh, "It was about preserving your memory of your father. He loved you. No matter his faults, he loved you."
"I said I wished that you had died instead of him, but you didn't say anything. Why?" she asked tearfully.
"One day, I hope you're lucky enough to have a daughter", said Moira, "And you'll know why."
Thea threw herself into her mother's arms and said while crying, "I'm so sorry for what I said."
"I know, I know", said Moira as she held her daughter while Oliver walked out.
A day later, after Thea had accepted the deal, Oliver and Matt escorted her to the CNRI.
"Juvenile delinquent reporting for duty", said Thea nervously as Laurel walked over with a smile.
"Since you lost your driver's license, I'll pick you up at five", said Oliver.
"Six", said Laurel, "We have a lot of work to do."
"Well then, let's say seven", said Oliver with a smile.
"Is it too late to choose jail?" Thea asked jokingly.
"Yes!" said the three in unison and then laughed.
Laurel handed Thea a stack of folders and said, "I need you to go through these files and pull out all documents dated March 2007, You think you can do that?"
"I think I can", said Thea as she walked towards an empty desk.
"Miss Queen", said Matt as she turned to look at him, "You've got a second chance. Don't blow it. And listen to what Laurel says."
Thea nodded and said to the three, "Look, I know I messed up. But I really appreciate this, Laurel. Thank you, all of you."
Laurel smiled and said, "We're going to make an upstanding citizen out of you yet, Speedy."
As Thea started working, Oliver said to both the lawyers, "Thank you, for what you did for her. And this will be good. Having you as a role model, Laurel, somebody better than me."
"Oh, you're not so bad", said Laurel to him and Matt said, "She's right. You're good. You risked a lot to help your sister. You care about her."
Oliver smiled as Laurel smiled and staring at Thea said, "Besides, it'll be nice having her around."
In the Iron Heights hospital wing, Lance looked at The Count with the doctor. He was strapped to a gurney.
"He's still critical", said the doctor, "I've never seen someone OD on this much Vertigo and live. There's no way of knowing what kind of damage has been done to his brain and nervous system. Or if its still reparable."
She walked away with The Count being wheeled away as Lance looked on.
Oliver and Matt sat in a bar and drank some beer.
"Thank you", said Oliver to Matt, "For everything you did for my sister."
"No problem", said Matt, "But Laurel helped too."
"I know", said Oliver, "The thing is, after all you've done for her, I need no more reason to trust you."
"Which means?" asked Matt.
"We can work together", said Oliver.
Matt and Oliver shook hands.
"Hi", said Oliver to Felicity as she walked to him in his house.
"Hi", Felicity responded, "Thanks for meeting me. I was nervous to come to your house."
She gave a nervous chuckle and said, "Okay….. the thing is, I've been debating whether to share this with you for weeks. Can I trust you?"
As he gave her a confused look, she said, "I'm not an idiot. You've dropped some fairly ridiculous lies on me, and yet I still feel like I can trust you. Why is that?"
"I have one of those faces", he quipped.
When she looked at him, he smiled and said, "Sorry, yes. You can trust me."
"Then I have something to show you", she said as she took a notebook out of her handbag. She handed it to him as he looked at it.
He opened it and saw a familiar list of names.
"Have you seen this before?" she asked.
"No", he said. And he wasn't lying. He had seen The List. But not this one.
"Where did you get it?" he asked.
"From your stepfather", she said and he looked surprised.
"From Walter", he said, "Uh…. Where did he get it?"
"He said he found it in your house", Felicity said, "That it belongs to your mother. Walter thought she was hiding something. Something more, and he wanted me to look into it, but then he vanished."
After taking a deep breath, she said, "I think this list might have cost Walter his life."
Oliver stared, feeling angry.
This time too, Matt's presence ensures that The Count is captured early. I am not much of a lawyer so I don't know how courts work but I hope you liked Matt's jab at corruption and his calling out of Lance and Thea.
Lance once again let his emotions get the better of him while Thea was just being stupid.
Once again, thank you to Phillipe363 for letting me use the title of his Daredevil/Arrow crossover.
Please review. I always appreciate your feedback.