Chapter 10
Shadow of the Truth
"Denial. It's the only thing that keeps most of us from losing our sanity."
-Heena Rathore P
Oliver was livid. The moment Adrian left, Oliver headed straight to the hideout.
The rest of the team stood off to the side as they watched Oliver's verbal thrashing on Rene. Apparently Rene and Evelyn went off on their own to find out more about Stardust. They found themselves in a factory where Rene ended up killing drug dealer Sampson.
Ari watched the entire thing slightly frowning. Oliver seemed upset that Rene had killed a guy the district attorney was hoping to use to get to the supplier. Not that Rene actually killed a man. This only brought back up those questions that scared the crap out of her. Was Rene really in a situation, that he had to kill someone to survive? Was she prepared to be in such a situation?
"Last week you said you needed to be able to trust me, fine!" Oliver glared at Rene. "Well I need to be able to trust you. If I can't then why am I wasting my time with you?" Oliver's phone vibrated in his pocket. He turned away pulling it from his pocket, cursing under his breath to see another reminder for the session he was currently late for. With a huff, Oliver stormed out.
The others turned to Rene, who was still clearly angry that Oliver couldn't see his intentions with what he did.
"Never in my entire life would I think that I would meet somebody more stubborn than him," Felicity shook her head before heading over to the computer.
Rene shook his head before looking up to see Ari staring at him and he just shook his head.
"You got something to say, pip squeak, because if not you should look somewhere else."
Ari shook her head. "You know when you walked in here, I never would've guessed that you killed someone."
"Like I said I had no other choice. Plus the asshole was a drug dealing piece of shit! How I see it he got what he deserved." Ari frowned slightly turning away.
"Aww, did that hurt your feelings?" Evelyn taunted and Ari turned a glare to her. "You don't honestly think this job can be done without casualties do you? At some point, it's your life or the bad guy." Evelyn walked over to her. "You either accept that, or run back into that big, safe house of yours." Ari just scoffed before turning and stalking for the door.
"Ari?" Felicity stood to her feet to see the teen hurry off.
"I'm fine." Ari waved off, never stopping her stride. Felicity glanced back to the others who just shook their heads before dispersing.
Oliver rushed off the elevator, stopping at the receptionist's desk.
"Hi, my name is Oliver Queen. I-"
"Dr. Adams is expecting you Mr. Queen. You can head on back." the woman replied and Oliver let out sigh of relief before walking around the office and down the hall to Nick's door. Oliver knocked first and Nick spoke from the other side for him to come in.
Oliver walked inside of the office, stopping and looking around. The only person in the office was Nick who sat behind his desk.
"She left, didn't she?" Oliver sighed pulling out his phone with a shake of his head. "I told her I would be here, and then I'm late and now she's probably upset."
"Hey Oliver-" Nick stood to his feet and walked around his desk. "Katie wasn't here." Oliver looked over to the man confused and the look on his face let Nick know what was happening. "She didn't tell you about this, did she?"
"About what? She said you wanted me to join her for one of her sessions to see how I felt everything was going. I assumed she would be here."
"Oliver, Katie scheduled this session for just you." Nick replied and Oliver looked over to the man with more confusion.
"Why would she-" Oliver shook his head before turning back to Nick. "Look I don't know what this is about, but I will talk to her and-" Oliver turned to leave.
"Oliver wait, " Nick said and Oliver let out a sigh before turning back to the man. "I get you don't want to be here, fine, but maybe you should first ask why she would think you should." Oliver turned away, his thoughts traveling to the conversation they'd had this morning. Oliver closed his eyes and slid a hand over his face. "Look there's still a few minutes left of this session if you just want to talk." Oliver looked back over to Nick for a moment. He wondered what Katie saw in him that would make her think that he needed therapy. "Seriously, we can just talk." Nick pointed to the couch, and Oliver looked over to it. He really wanted to run out of this office. There was so much more he needed to be doing right now, and sitting on a couch and talking about his feelings wasn't one of them. But then his mind travels to the moment he would tell Katie that he didn't even give it chance. He was the one who suggested she talk with Nick and it would look completely hypocritical of him to not take the advice he gave her.
"Fine," Oliver walked over and took a seat on the couch, while Nick walked over to sit in the chair across from him. The two men sat in silence for a few moments. "You know I assumed there would be more talking."
"That's usually how it goes." Nick chuckles. "So how about I ask the question again. Why do you think Katie scheduled this session for you?"
"I don't know." Oliver lied as he let out a huff before sitting back in his seat. "That's a lie." he turned back to Nick. "She doesn't understand."
"Understand what?"
Oliver dropped his face in his palms and let out another deep breath. There were just some things he kept locked away, glad to pretend they just didn't exist.
"She was gone." Oliver whispered, lifting his eyes back to Nick. "She was dead." Oliver frowned because the words would never seem real to him. "She was dead and I was here. I had to keep our daughter safe, and I had to keep Ari safe. Me."
"So I'm understanding this right, you weren't aware of your wife's involvement with the police and her faking her death?" Oliver frowned turning away at the veiled lie he'd fed the city. It was a shadow of the truth.
"No, I didn't." Oliver sighed looking back over to the doctor.
"So for weeks, you were just like the rest of the world thinking Katherine Queen was murdered?" Nick asked and he saw the tension in Oliver's jaw at the statement. "That had to be difficult. You were home, with your kids thinking your wife was dead, when all along it was a trick." Oliver let out a breath through his nose before standing to his feet. This is what he was afraid of. Talking about the past always brought back emotions he didn't want to feel any more.
"I can't do this." Oliver said and Nick stood as well. "I will talk to Katie and explain that I'm fine and that I don't need—" he shook his head. "Whatever this is. I'm fine. I have my wife back. My daughter has her mother, and Ari has her cousin. My family is fine." Oliver stalked for the door.
"And how much of that do you believe?" Nick asked. Oliver stopped and glanced back over to the man. "Oliver, I get it's tough. Your wife pretended to be dead, came back and then was in an accident that left her in a coma for months. That's more time you had to take care of your family alone."
"I wasn't alone. I had help. I had my sister."
"Yeah, but I'm sure you would've preferred Katie be there. That was the plan. You get married. You have kids and you build this life together. But then she broke the plan and left you alone."
"That's not—" Oliver shook his head. "It wasn't her fault. Damien Darhk hurt her and he took her away from me. But that doesn't matter because she's back."
"Yeah, she's back and she doesn't remember any of the pain or anger she left behind, but you do. You can't pretend as if it didn't happen." that was the second time he'd been accused of avoiding their past.
"I'm not pretending. I know it happened, but I'm choosing to no longer live in the past. Right now I have a wife who needs me, kids to take care of and a city to run. I don't have time to dwell on the past."
"I don't think you can dwell on a past you never faced and I don't think you can truly and happily live in the present when you're pretending that door to the past is closed when it really isn't." Oliver didn't say anything. The doctor's words were true and yet he couldn't find it in himself to admit it. "Just think about it." Oliver nods before finally leaving.
Katie stared up to the pale ceiling of the hospital before lifting her phone. There were still no calls or messages from Oliver. At this point his session with Nick should be over and that's if he even showed up. She's just a bit unsure of what his reaction would be to the whole set up. There was a knock at the door and Katie sat up to see Dr. James walk in with a smile.
"I told you there was no need for the doom and gloom. Your scans came back clean." Christian nudged his head for her to come over to the viewing light where he plucked on the x-ray of her brain. This was a scheduled check up of her brain to ensure her amnesia really wasn't due to some sort of cranial damage. She didn't tell anyone about the appointment because she was afraid their nervousness would spill out on her. Every appointment she'd been to with Oliver, he always looked terrified until they were told that everything was fine. "Your brain looks fine. So I have to agree with the original diagnosis. Your memory loss is more than likely psychological." Katie let out a sigh before turning and heading over to grab her bag. "Why do I feel like that's not the answer you were hoping for?"
"Because it isn't." she replies looking back to him. "If it was mass, or some sort of melanoma that could be removed that would be perfect." Christian looked over to her with a furrowed brow. "You know what I mean. If it was something tangible that could be fixed, but it's not tangible. It's emotions and blah, blah, blah."
"Yeah, well just stick with the blah, blah, blah and I'm sure you will remember more." Christian flicked off the viewing light and placed the scan back in the folder. "Plus you know these things take time."
"Yeah, I also know that it's possible I may never remember who I was." Katie says, and Christian turns back to her.
"Also true, but you don't have to be the person you were. You can be the person you are now. I mean you're not that bad." Katie chuckled.
"Code violet!" spoke a voice over the overhead speaker. "Code violet. All patients and staff are ordered to stay in their rooms." Christian's pager went off and he glanced down.
"Shit. My patient is coding." he says before turning to Katie. "I have to go, but that code means someone dangerous is here. I want you to stay in this room until they give the all clear." Katie simply nodded before watching the man rush out of the room.
The moment he was gone, Katie eased over to the door, cracking it open. Staying and hiding when someone dangerous was out there just didn't seem like an option, and so when she saw that the coast was clear she headed out into the hall. She looked around, everyone running around and closing themselves in rooms. She heard running and turned to see security guard hurrying toward her and so she moved out of the way. She overheard that there was a combative patient down by the morgue.
"Oliver is so gonna yell at me later." she mutters to herself before heading off to the stairwell and hurrying down. The morgue was only a couple of flights down, and she heard the commotion the moment she reached the basement door. She cautiously pulled open the door in time to see a guard tossed down the hall. Another guard quickly hurried over to help him to his feet.
"Get out of here!" a modulated voice ordered. A voice Katie recognized instantly. She pulled opened the door just as the guards ran back down the hall away from them. When she turned, she saw the Green Arrow staring down to a shirtless man at the other end of the hall.
"Derek Sampson, you have failed this city!" and with those words, he quickly grabbed an arrow, placing it against his bow and shooting the man in the chest that pinned him to the wall.
The man didn't even react to the arrow in his chest as he steps forward letting the arrow pull through his chest. Katie watches with a furrowed brow, because that arrow definitely should've hurt way more than this guy was letting on. It was like he didn't even feel it. Soon a fight erupted between the two men, and Katie watches as Oliver's hits don't even slow the man down, but his hits seem to be slowing Oliver down. The fight landed them against the fire alarm and soon the hallways filled with a thick white extinguishing vapors that don't seem to be slowing down the fight. It's when shirtless guy pins Oliver to the wall by the neck does Katie finally decides to intervene. Without a second thought, Katie runs down the hall, and in one swift move, she flips up, and hooking her leg around the shirtless guy's neck and slamming him to the floor. She slides away and stands to her feet, but he grabs her foot and pulls her back down to the floor with a thud. Katie flips over, trying to pull herself free, but he's strong. Katie grabs a blade that she has tucked away in the harness strapped underneath her shirt, but suddenly there's a spark above them. The distraction, causes the man to loosen her foot and once he does, she quickly pulls away and jumps to her feet and into Oliver's arms as they both hurry out of there.
They exit out a door to the back of the hospital where Oliver's bike is parked. Oliver slid on and turned to Katie.
"Get on!"
"We can't just let him go!" she said turning back to the hospital.
"We also can't fight him without knowing how to beat him. We will, just not now. Get on the bike!" Katie growled in annoyance before climbing onto the bike, and wrapping her arms around his middle before they sped off.
Katie got the cliff notes version of what that whole thing was about on the ride to the hideout. Apparently shirtless guy was some drug dealer they thought Rene had killed.
When they pulled up to the hide out, Oliver stepped off of the bike and turned to Katie who slid off.
"Are you hurt?" he asked, the man himself clearly in pain and yet his pain didn't matter right now.
"I'm fine, but you're clearly not." she shook her head. "Why wasn't the team with you?" Oliver groaned before stalking away from her. "Hey, don't walk away from me!" she followed behind him inside. "We talked about this. We keep talking about this. You going out there by yourself is dangerous," she looked up as they walked in to see the others who all turned to them. She shook her head before turning back to Oliver. "What would've happened if I wasn't there?" Oliver stopped and turned back to her.
"You know I've been doing this for a while without you, so I'm pretty sure I would've been fine." the moment the words came out of his mouth, he instantly regretted them. She turned away and he felt guilty. "That's not-" she turned to see that eyes were still on them and she suddenly just wanted to crawl into a hole and hide. She let out a deep sigh before turning back to Oliver.
"Ok," she said entirely way to calm. She reached into her bag and pulled out her cell phone. "I'm just going to go home then and you can just do what you want." she dialed the number for a cab as she stalked out of the hideout. Oliver stood there knowing he should go after her, knowing he should apologize and yet a part of him felt relieved to say words that had been scratching against his skin. He needed to get his emotions in check before he had another conversation with her and so he turned and walked over to Felicity.
"I need to find this guy before he hurts someone else." Oliver says and Felicity looks at him for a moment wanting to say so much about things she knows she has no place to say. She wants to slap him in the back of the head and tell him to go after his wife. But she relents, figuring she would take a step back and not try to steer her Twiver Ship with hope they would get back on course. And if they didn't well then, she was prepared to meddle the hell out of that relationship until her friends were happy again.
"I'm tapped into all satellites and C-C feeds." Felicity says turning back to the computer. "What happened?"
"Physiology changed." Oliver says with a shake of his head. "Enhanced strength, and I don't think he can feel pain."
"Felicity thinks it's from exposure to whatever chemicals were in the vat that Rene dumped him into." Evelyn said.
"Any way to reverse it?" Oliver asked turning back to Felicity.
"I could run some tests, but it would take time, and I'd rather keep my eye on the "find Sampson before he hurts anybody else" ball."
"Well, good thing I was a biochemistry major in college. I'll get on it." Curtis says glancing over to Ari who looked over Oliver with a furrowed brow. She turned to him with a questioning look.
"And I'll hack into the hospital's records, see what they found." Ari says before looking over to Oliver whose phone beeped.
"Text me as soon as you have anything. We can't let the cops get to him first." Oliver turned to leave, but Rene stood to block him.
"I want to help, too." Rene said.
"I think you've done enough."
"I'm sorry about before, but I get it now. I'll do whatever you need."
"What I need is to trust that when I do ask for your help, you're not immediately going to make the problem worse."
"He said he was sorry. Let us help." Rory added and Oliver turned to him and shook his head.
"Yeah. We could canvass the city." Evelyn added.
"After what happened the last time you went looking for Sampson? Pass." Oliver said.
"Because your run in with the guy was a huge success." Ari said and Oliver turned his dark glare to her. "You needed help the last time you fought him and you're gonna need help the next time too." Oliver didn't say anything before shaking his head just leaving. Ari let out a huff before running after him.
"That guy's a real piece of work." Rene said. "Here we are, willing to help and all he can do is spew his self-righteous crap." he shook his head. "But I guess now the verbal abuse isn't directed at just us. He seems like a bang up husband."
"Hey!" it was Felicity who decided to speak up. "You can be upset with Oliver because he won't let you help him, but you will not talk about his marriage."
"So can we safely assume that Mrs. Queen is aware her husband is the Green Arrow, and knows about all of this?" Evelyn said and they all turned to her. "I'm sorry, that was the first time she'd ever come here and we didn't even get an introduction."
Ari pushed through the backdoor to see Oliver heading for his bike.
"You're really making me chase you?" she asked and the man stopped and turned to her.
"I don't have anything else to say." Oliver replied. "Go back inside and help the others." he turned.
"Felicity didn't call her to the hospital. " Ari said and Oliver stopped and turned back to her. "Neither did I. We were both curious how Katie just suddenly popped up just in time to save your ass." Oliver looked back over to the girl in confusion. "Did you even ask why she was wearing a hospital bracelet?"
"She wasn't-" Oliver shook his head because he doesn't even remember seeing a hospital bracelet.
"You didn't even notice, did you?" Ari shook her head before pulling her phone from her pocket. "Forget it, I will call her, you just keep being a jerk." with that Ari turned and headed back inside and Oliver stood there feeling even more guilty.
Katie walked into the house with a sigh as she pulled off her jacket. She looked up with a smile to see Thea coming down the stairs.
"Sorry, I was gone longer than I anticipated."
"No worries, just left me more time to think about how I'm going to explain to Oliver how I'm tanking his entire mayoral career with my stupid decisions."
"How did it go with the reporter?"
"I thought it went well, but I got wind that she's going to be posting a story that Oliver didn't even know about me picking Quentin for Deputy mayor. She's going to make it seem as if he's not the one making decisions at City Hall." Thea shook her head. "I'm going to fix this and when I do I'm going to resign."
"Resign? Because some idiot with a mic and a camera doesn't think you made the right choice."
"That idiot gets to people in this city with that mic and camera, and that hurts Oliver and causes him to lose supporters. I made this problem, I have to find a way to clean it up." Thea let out a sigh before glancing toward the steps. "Robyn has been fed and bathe, and is now out like a light."
"You are a super-aunt."
"Well if it's one thing I'm glad to be good at, it's that little girl's aunt." Thea headed for the door. "I should head to city hall to give Oliver a heads up."
"Hey Speedy," Katie says, and Thea smiles before turning to the woman. "Trust yourself. No matter what other people think, no matter what your brother tells you, just trust yourself. If you stand behind this decision, then you don't let anyone knock you down. You're going to figure this out. Now, this reporter, should I have a word with her?"
"No, really, I got it. Thanks though."
"Ok, well let me know if I need to beat someone up for you, because I totally will, with no hesitation." Katie said and Thea laughed.
"That's good to know." Thea said, her eyes suddenly noticing the hospital band on her wrist and she pointed to it. "Were you at the hospital?" Katie looked down to the wrist band and sighed.
"Yeah, I had a check up." she looked back over to Thea. "Everything came back good. I'm totally healthy."
"Well that's great. Ok, I should go." Thea grabbed her jacket and was off.
Oliver was probably being a coward. At the moment, he should be at home, apologizing to his wife for saying something that wasn't true. And yet he'd gotten a message from his new DA Adrian Chase.
"I want to start with a search of his last known address, but Judge Pittson won't sign the search warrant on Sampson's prior residence." Oliver glanced over to the man, coming back to the conversation at hand.
Oliver stopped and turned to Chase. "Pittson. I helped Pittson get elected."
"Which is why I'm talking to you. Could you lean on her?" Oliver gave a nod at the request.
"Absolutely. All hands on deck."
"Thank you. Hey, you-you probably don't remember this, but we actually met 12 years ago. You tried to pick up my girlfriend." Chase said.
Oliver lightly chuckled as did the man, "I did a lot of things back then that I'm not especially proud of, but I'm sure she ended up with the better man."
"Hell, no. She went home with you." Chase said with a shake of his head. "It's ok. I don't hold grudges. Plus I have better chances now since you're off the market. How is the missus, these days? I've been reading about her work with the new clinic, and even a possibility of her heading back to RI."
Oliver chuckled dropping his head at the mention of Katie. It was yet another sign that he really shouldn't be here at the moment.
"She's fine. She's taking everything one day at a time."
"I guess it has to be tough on you too. I mean your wife waking up without any memory of your life together. I don't know if I'd be able to do it."
"Yeah well, it is tough, but I'd take a million tough days with her than any days without her." Oliver glanced down to his watch. "I actually should be getting home." they turned at footsteps to see Thea heading over.
"Right, well thanks again." Chase says turning back to Oliver. "Let me know when you've talked to Pittson. I appreciate it."
"Of course." Oliver gave the man as he left. Once he was gone, he turned to Thea whose expression answered his unasked question about how it went with the reporter. As he feared, things had only gotten worse. Thea showed him the current story the reporter had shot, telling the city how he knew nothing about Quentin being named his deputy mayor. Honestly he didn't, but it wasn't an image he wanted portrayed to the public.
"Ok, look, I am going to issue a statement taking full responsibility for this, ok?" Thea says turning off the video and looking back to her brother. "And then I am going to offer you my letter of resignation." That was the last thing Oliver wanted.
"Thea- No,"
"Ollie, look, you said it yourself. I made this mess. I'm going to go clean it up." She stood there for a moment before turning and stalking away.
Oliver let out a heavy sigh because this day and the crap thrown at him seemed never ending. He only knew of one thing that he just had to fix.
When Oliver pulled up to the house, he stepped out of his car to see a nervous teenage pizza delivery guy standing in front of Steve.
"Well I wasn't notified that you were coming." Steve said.
"Sir, we get the orders and I deliver them, I don't know what you want me to say." the young man replied. Steve looked up as Oliver walked up to the door and the young man turned with wide eyes.
"You're the Mayor." he said and Oliver chuckled as he reached into his pocket for his wallet.
"I am, but it's late and you're standing on my porch holding a pizza. Call me Oliver." Oliver pulled out a couple of bills he's sure is way more than what the pizza costs and handed it to the kid. "Keep the change."
"Thanks!" the teen said, handing the pizza to Oliver before hurrying back to his car.
Oliver turned back to Steve and sighed. "You know I don't think the pizza guy is that big of a threat."
"Just being cautious, sir. As you ordered." Steve said, his tone held a slight annoyance before he nudged his head. "I should get back to my post." he didn't wait for Oliver to say anything before he was stalking off. Oliver watched the man in confusion. It was an out of character interaction with Steve, but Oliver just chalked it off to the man just having an off day.
When Oliver stepped inside of the house, he noted how quite it was before hearing quiet laughter coming from the kitchen. Oliver walked into the kitchen to see Katie sitting alone at the table that was covered with pictures, wearing a pair of pajama shorts with an over-sized t-shirt. She turned to him, the smile on her face dropping.
"Uh, I caught the delivery guy. I saved him from an interrogation from Steve." Oliver said turning back to Katie who didn't say anything before she turned back to the pictures. Oliver let out a sigh, turning from her to the pictures. He walked over, glancing down to realize he'd never seen these pictures before. He picked one up, smiling at the sight of a short red headed little girl posing on a small pony. "Is this Ari?" he looked over the rest of the pictures to see more of the girl and in some he spotted pictures of Jeremy and Heather.
Oliver took a seat in the chair beside Katie, looking over the pictures, and seeing the little girl and it hits him. Ari had only been with them for a few months, but it didn't feel that way. It feels as if she's been there a lot longer. Apart of their family. The truth was that she'd had years of memories that didn't include being with them. He picked up another picture that showed the girl slightly older, wearing a red and black lady bug costume with a smile so wide he could see she was missing a few teeth. The pictures only reminded him of his doubts of bringing her on the team. He was afraid she'd lose the innocence he could see in all of these pictures. He looked over to Katie who smiled as she sifted through the pictures.
"Twinkie, we should talk."
"I don't want to talk." she replied not even looking over to him.
"Ok, then just listen." he watched as she continued focusing on the pictures. "What I said to you, it was the furthest thing from the truth. I appreciate all the help you give me." Katie let out a sigh before turning to him.
"That's just it Oliver, it was the truth. For months I wasn't there and you didn't have a team, so it was just you, having to do it all and you did." she shrugged. "So maybe if I didn't show up tonight to help you, you probably would've gotten out of the situation just fine on your own." Oliver didn't say anything for a moment, and then he dropped his eyes from hers. "Do you want to know why I tricked you into seeing Nick?" Oliver looked back up to her. "Because I was hoping something like today would happen. Not as aggressive, but a moment when you would tell me something real, something that you have been holding onto. Oliver, I just feel like you're holding onto a lot and because you're trying to protect me, you won't share it with me. I was hoping you'd share it with him." Oliver once again dropped his eyes.
"It wasn't true. You were gone and the team was gone, and I made it work, but I wasn't alright." he looked back over to Katie who reached over and placed her hand on his. "I spent everyday ignoring the anger and the sadness. My friends, my family, abandoning me, and then you-" he lifted his eyes and she could see the brush of emotion in his stare. Oliver doubted these words. Doubted letting them out into the air and into reality where he would have to finally face them. "You didn't wake up. You were lying there in that coma and you didn't fight to come back to us when we needed you."
"I'm sorry," Katie says and Oliver looks over to her with a shake of his head.
"Don't. I know it's irrational to be upset with you when it wasn't your fault. You didn't choose to be in a coma. You didn't choose to not be with us."
"Yeah, but semantics doesn't make it better." Katie let out a sigh. "The truth is Oliver, I can't give you back the months I was gone, no matter how much I desperately wish I could. What I can give you is today, and every day after. For months you did this on your own, and you made it work." she reached forward and placed a hand on his cheek. "But I'm back, and you have a new team...no matter how inexperienced they are. You no longer have to do this on your own." Oliver leaned forward, bringing his lips to hers. "So scale of one to ten, how much pain are you in right now?" Oliver groaned because the mere mention of his aches seemed to make them worse. Katie chuckled before standing to her feet. "Take off your jacket and your shirt." Oliver stood to his feet without argument and removed his jacket and shirt with a slight hiss as he did. "Yikes," Katie muttered as she looked over some of the dark bruises along his arms and chest.
"It looks worse than it feels." Oliver said and Katie glanced up to him with a shake of her head before gently sliding her hands along his arms and stomach. She dropped her hands and let out a deep breath.
"I'm going to get you a cold pack." she turned to walk off, but Oliver grabbed her arm.
"Hey, I'm fine." he tries to reassure her and she gives him a nod before she hurries over to grab a cold pack from the freezer.
"Here, press this against whatever hurts the most." she says and Oliver chuckles before taking the cold pack against this arm as he takes a seat. "I'll get you something for the pain." Oliver watches as she disappears out of the kitchen for a few moments before coming back. She filled up a glass with water, and brought it over to him with two pills. "This will hopefully help." Oliver swallowed the pills washed them down with water as Katie sat back down beside him. "You totally lucked out marrying a doctor." Oliver turned to her with a smile.
"You know you never told me why you were at the hospital today." Oliver said and Katie sighed, turning back to the pictures on the table. "Ari said you were wearing a hospital bracelet."
"I thought I hid it well." she said looking over to Oliver. "You missed it." he looked at her for a moment and she figured she'd just come clean. "I set up an appointment with Dr. James. I wanted him to run another panel of neuro scans. They all came back clean." she turned away back to the pictures.
"Why didn't you tell me? I would've been there."
"I know, I just-" she shook her head as she turned back to him. "You're always so nervous at these appointments and I never understand why. This appointment was just me weeding out that little hope that my memories could come back the quick and easy way with brain surgery. I guess I'm stuck with digging in my psyche to understand whatever this traumatic event in my life was."
"You know you don't have to do this alone." Oliver said and Katie smiled.
"Yeah, I know, but I think I realizing that while I'm seeking out this three headed beast that is my past, you seem to be running away from it. You can't help me fight my monster until you fight yours and I'm alright with that. I just have to stop putting so much pressure on myself and just let it happen when it happens." with that Katie stood to her feet and flipped open the pizza box and snagging a slice before taking a bite. "How much time did you have? You should head upstairs and take the rest of your clothes off." the moment the words came out of her mouth, she realized how what she said and what she meant could've been misinterpreted. She turned to Oliver who looked over to her with a quirked brow and a smile and she just chuckled. He stood to his feet and tossed the cold pack aside before walking over to her. "I meant to check you over. Make sure you're not internally bleeding or something." the smile on his face only told her that he was no longer listening. "You're like a walking bruise, how can you even think about...that right now."
"Well Mrs. Queen, it usually doesn't matter what state I'm in when it comes to one or both of us without clothes. My mind always goes there." his hands slipped around her waist and she sighed as she dropped her slice of pizza back in the box. "I will figure out my issues, and I will help you." Katie placed a hand on his cheek, as his lips leaned in to capture hers in a kiss. Soon his sore muscles, and pained limbs were but a faraway thought as he tightened his grasp around her, deepening the kiss. He should've expected the moment, she pulled away with a gasp. She tugged herself from his arms and walked around the counter to place some distance between them. Oliver let out a sigh before looking over to the woman. "I'm sorry. I know you pull away because want to take things slow, and I get carried-"
"Wait, what?" Katie said, and Oliver looked over to the woman who stared over to him in confusion. "You think I pull away because I want to take things slow?" it was Oliver's turn to look confused. Katie turned away slightly before turning back to Oliver. "That's not it." she let out a sigh. "That's definitely not it." she walked over and grabbed her pizza before turning back to Oliver who she knew wanted her to say more. "How about I check you out later, and now you just go up and take a hot shower." without another word, the woman turned about to walk out of the kitchen, but quick feet behind her caught up to her. Oliver wrapped an arm around her waist, hiking her up and planting her to sit on the counter in front of him. "You're really not going to let this go?"
"I'm really not." he replied, hands still around her waist. Katie turned away from his eyes and he could tell that she was thinking about something. "Tell me." she turned back to him and smiled before sliding her arms around his neck. "Why do you pull away?"
"Because if I don't pull away, then, I won't stop." she saw the look in his eyes and had to once again turn away.
"And why would that be a problem, Mrs. Queen?" his voice thick with lust and Katie bit her bottom lip to stop herself from totally slipping underneath his spell. She turned back to look at him for a moment, his eyes and intentions very clear.
"Well, Mr. Queen, If I don't stop then you wouldn't be able to keep me quiet. And I don't think I would want you to." she replied, her voice dropping an octave, causing a twitch in a part of his anatomy that would definitely love to hear more. "And with the kids, and City Hall calling for their Mayor at various times, with your sister who has moved out, but still swings by unexpectedly, and then there's the whole villain of the week who can only be stopped by you." her hand slid through the back of his hair as she stared into his eyes. "If I didn't stop, then I'd turn a blind eye to it all and steal you from the world and not give you back until I was finished with you." Oliver's hand slid down, grasping her hips and pulling her toward him, eliminating the space between their bodies.
"Once again I ask, why would that be a problem?" with the question, his lips descended on her neck and a moaned gasp escaped her lips. Katie's eyes drifted closed as Oliver's hands slid along her bare legs. His hands were drifting higher and she knew the point of no return was coming and she wasn't going to stop it. That didn't mean something else wouldn't stop it.
Oliver's phone rang, and the shrill sound cut through the kitchen successfully killing the mood. Katie pulled back breathlessly as she stared back to Oliver.
"You have to answer that?"
"No I don't." he replied before his lips fell back to the nape of her neck and she couldn't help but laugh at his refusal to acknowledge the reality of this moment. "The person on the other end of that phone doesn't know how long I've waited for this."
"There is some crazy, super strong bad guy out there whose probably-" her words were stolen by a moan the moment his hand somehow found it's way to a very particular part of her body that hadn't been touched in a while. Soon the ringing phone became white noise as the sounds of their moans, and gasps filled the kitchen. In one swift movement, Oliver lifted Katie from the counter, her legs wrapping around his waist as their lips never part. He only takes a a single step for the stairs before the sound of the doorbell decided to sufficiently kill the mood. That was followed by the wailing of their daughter from upstairs. Katie pulled back with a sigh as she looked down to Oliver. "And this is why I pull away." Katie tugged herself from Oliver's grasp, bringing her feet to the floor.
"We are going to have this moment." Oliver promised, placing a kiss to Katie's lips. The doorbell rang again and Oliver pulled back with a groan.
"Well until we do, why don't you see who's at the door, and I will go check on the baby." Katie sighed, before rushing upstairs.
Oliver shook his head before going over to pull on his shirt, fastening a few buttons as he goes to the door. He pulls it open to see Steve who is standing with a phone pressed to his ear.
"Oh, here he it." Steve said before holding the phone to Oliver. "It's Ms. Smoak. She called me after not getting an answer when she called you." Oliver looked down to the phone in annoyance before taking it and bringing it to his ear.
There was a break-in. Apparently the assailant was shot by the security guards and shrugged off the bullets like they were nothing. It was Sampson. After getting the details from Felicity, Oliver went upstairs where he found Katie lowering a sleeping Robyn back in her crib. Katie looked over her shoulder to Oliver who stood at the door and she could tell he wasn't very happy from the look on his face. She walked out into the hall with him, closing the nursery as she did.
"We have a lead on Sampson." Oliver said and Katie looked up to the man and sighed. "I was going to change and-"
"Take your team." Katie says and Oliver let out a sigh.
"Rene and Evelyn-"
"They made a mistake, fine. It's still you who has to teach them how to make better choices." Katie placed her hands on Oliver's chest. "You're not going against some weird guy who can't feel pain alone. I don't like seeing you bruised and in pain. So it's time you start trusting your team, or I go in there and wake up Robyn again to take her to auntie Felicity so mommy can go make sure daddy doesn't die." Oliver let out a sigh. "Just so you're aware, you'd have a very bad experience with the second option."
"Figured as much." Oliver replied, placing a kiss to the woman's lips.
Ari was supposed to be finishing up her algebra homework, and yet her eyes were glued to the mugshot of Derek Sampson. Footsteps tore her from her thoughts and she turned in annoyance to Evelyn.
"Are you doing homework?" the girl asked looking down to Ari's book and notepad with a shake of her head. "This is just ridiculous. You have no business here." Ari didn't say anything as she grabbed her things and stuffed them back into her backpack. "This isn't some after school activity. This is serious stuff."
"Right, I mean I could be going off on half ass crack missions to drug dens and creating super-zombies with you and Rene." Ari brushed passed Evelyn, bumping the girl's shoulder.
"I'm not really in the mood pip squeak." Rene said glaring over to the girl. "You got something to say to me, then say it to my face."
"Hey, why don't we just calm down." Curtis moved to stand at the center of the three of them, hoping to squash the confrontation before it starts.
"No, because we're all not understanding how miss high school musical is even qualified to be here." Evelyn replied still glaring over to Ari.
"Is that a dig at my age, because we're only a couple of months apart."
"No, that was a dig at little miss rich girl getting bored of being a spoiled brat and wanting to play superhero with her Guardian."
"Aw, someone sounds jealous." Ari says taking a step toward the girl and Evelyn shook her head as she took a step of her own. "Look I could talk to my cousin, maybe convince her to adopt you, will you stop being a bitch then?" Evelyn went for another step, but Curtis moved to block her way.
"Being here doesn't change who you are you know." Evelyn said. "You'll always be the daughter of psychotic, greedy, murdering parents. Being here doesn't change the fact that you're going to end up like one of them. Either in jail or dead."
"Hey!" it was Felicity's voice that cut through the room and everyone turned to her. "Everyone to their corners." Evelyn turned to Ari with a smirk before turning and going to the other side of the hideout.
Curtis turned to Ari who stood, her fists clenched at her sides and her chest heaving. "Hey," he placed a hand on her shoulder and she just pushed him away.
"I'm fine." she turned and stalked away. Felicity went to check on her, but Ari looked over and shook her head. "I said I'm fine." Felicity, looked over to Curtis who let out a sigh before she stalked over to Evelyn who was throwing jabs at the punching dummy. She stopped when Felicity walked over.
"Look what I said was probably out of line and-"
"Right now, I talk and you listen." Felicity says moving to stand in front of the girl. "I don't know what this is, why you have a problem with Ari but I really don't care. Whatever it is, you're going to get over it. "
"She doesn't belong here." Evelyn muttered with a shake of her head as she folded her arms over her chest.
"And why doesn't she?"
"She's some rich kid whose still in high school." Rene chimed in walking over to them. "She's had some silver spoon in her mouth her entire life. She has no idea what it takes to be here."
"And you do?" Felicity asked looking between them. "You know I thought the reason Oliver didn't take you out with him was because you didn't know what it takes to be here either." Felicity shook her head. "Being apart of a team does not mean striking out on your own because you want to prove you're right-" she turned to Evelyn. "And it doesn't mean tearing down the person who watches your back." Felicity let out a sigh. "Oliver chose Ari to be here, just like he chose each of you. None of you would be here if he didn't think you should. That includes her." Felicity turned back to Evelyn. "You should spend less time antagonizing her and more time getting to know her."
They all turned when Oliver walked in. Felicity looked back to Evelyn who simply gave the woman a nod.
Ari had spent so much time trying to convince Oliver to let her join his team, she never thought she'd spend so much time trying to get away from them. Not long after she arrived at the hideout did she discover the place she be using more often. The roof of the hideout practically overlooked the entire city. Ari found herself up here more often than none when she needed to get away.
She let out a sigh when she heard the roof's door open. "I said I'm fine."
"I think that's the phrase of the day," Ari turned to see Oliver who walked over to her. "Ari-"
"No, just-" she shook her head before turning back to the city. "Just leave it." Oliver looked over to her for a moment.
"Sampson-"
"He's building a whole army of zombie assholes." Ari says turning back to Oliver. "That vat was filled with Stardust so we figured he's trying to share the wealth."
"Well if Sampson's building his army, then I'm going to need mine." Oliver said and Ari turned back to him with a quirked brow. She was actually one of few on the team not hounding Oliver about being out there in the field. It was the fact that the more she saw, the more unprepared she felt.
"You're joking?" she shook her head. "You know your team is crap, right?" Oliver let out a chuckled sigh. No one would ever say that Arianna Locke didn't speak her mind.
"You know I've seen the work each one of you has been putting in and I guess I was hesitant to take the training wheels off, but you're all ready." Ari turned away and looked back out to the city. "You don't agree?"
"You should go." Ari says, not looking back to him. "Sampson is the priority right now." Oliver stood there in a moment he thought he'd actually be relieved about and yet he's not. "I'm not-" she shook her head. "They're right, I don't belong here." she looked back to Oliver. "You were right. I thought I understood what being here meant, and I didn't. At least I realized it before it was too late. I'm just going to go home." she moved around to the door.
"You know I've been trying to figure out how to have this conversation with you." Oliver says and Ari sighs, stopping and turning back to him. "After the shake down and you saw me as the Green Arrow and you saw a version of me I never planned on sharing with you."
"Look, I told you I got it. You have to go to a dark place to wear that mask." Ari replied.
"Yeah, I do, but that doesn't mean it's right and it doesn't mean its wrong." Oliver says walking over to the girl. "Ari, what made the old team work so well is the fact that we all brought something different to the team. Something I'm sure will happen with this one. Ari I want to teach you, but I don't want you to emulate me." he looked down to her eyes, to the innocence he would always be afraid she'd lose. "You can wear light behind that mask and make an even greater difference in this city. You're ready for this." Oliver looked at her for a few moments before taking a deep breath. "Now go suit up." Ari looked at him for a moment before shaking her head.
"You're such a dork." she sighed turning and heading back downstairs. Oliver looked up to the sky and sent a silent prayer, hoping he was doing the right thing.
When Ari returned back to the hideout everyone was gone except Felicity who watched as she headed over to her backpack and began pulling out clothes.
"What are you doing?" Felicity asked and Ari looked over to the blonde.
"Suiting up, apparently." Ari muttered grabbing her clothes. Oliver walked back in looking between the two.
"Yeah, but that's not your suit." Felicity replied before walking off. Ari looked over to Oliver who just shrugged before the blonde returned with a big white box. "This is a gift from Bruce." Oliver lowly groaned but walked over with Ari as Felicity sat the box on the table. There was a card that Ari picked up and flipped open.
"Give them hell kid. -BW"
Ari looked back down to the box before pulling it open, her eyes going wide at the sight of the suit inside. She picked it up, the material like nothing she'd ever felt before.
"It's made from the same material as the Bat-suit." Felicity said, watching as Oliver reached forward to feel it as well. "Kevlar biweave, reinforced joints, bullet proof, tear resistant, and a lot more stuff. He was way too into the features for this suit." Felicity chuckled. "What you need to know is that it will take a lot to hurt you in it." Ari turned the suit around, now able to see the symbol in the center. "And since he got the suit, he sort of decided he got hero naming rights." Ari looked over to Felicity before turning back to the symbol which was a yellow and orange flame. "Fire Light." Felicity held out a comlink to Ari. "You should get dressed." she looked over to Oliver who continued watching the girl. "Both of you." Oliver turned to Felicity and nodded.
"Tell the old man I said thanks." Ari said over to Felicity before gathering the suit and hurrying off to get changed.
"And tell the old man, we need to talk." Oliver said over to Felicity who quirked a brow. "It's time to face truth. It's the only way we can move forward, and how I will truly help my wife." Felicity smiled and gave the man a nod before he too went to get changed.
It was extremely late as the team stood on the roof of the building adjacent to the warehouse currently being filled with police officers and EMTs. Ari stood, her chest still heaving as the adrenaline still coursed through her veins. She thought she was gonna chicken out. And yet the moment Oliver told them to move in, she took a deep breath and she stopped thinking about fear. Sampson's goons weren't that tough, and she took down a couple with no problem at all. Curtis set up the explosives, and she was supposed to get out, and yet she ran over in time to see Oliver slicing cuts on Sampson's tendons immobilizing the man. She wanted to see what he did after. Sampson was down, no longer able to fight. It didn't stop the bastard from taunting Oliver about his men he thought were still standing. Oliver simply told the man that his team had taken care of it before walking away as the explosives began going off.
A hand touched Ari's shoulder bringing her back to the present and when she turned, she realized everyone was gone except Oliver.
"You alright?" he asked and she let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding.
"I think so." she replied before turning and the pair began walking toward the ladder. "You know, I kind of kicked ass back there." she looked over to Oliver who just chuckled. "You should maybe watch your job, BM, because I'm coming for it." they both heard Felicity's laughter as they climbed down.
The next day Oliver decided to pull off yet another band-aide. Trusting this new team meant bringing them completely in the fold. He stood slightly nervous as he rode the elevator down to the bunker, the team along with him.
When the doors finally opened, Felicity was there standing with a smile as they all filed off.
"Alright everyone, just breathe normally," Curtis says as everyone looks around. "I know it's a lot to take in."
"He fainted the first time he saw it. "Felicity said and Curtis turned a pointed finger to her.
"I had the flu!" he said before following after the others. "I had the flu, yall." Oliver walked in and watched as the team seemed to gravitate to the display of the old team's suits. He looked over to Felicity and let out a sigh before he heard the familiar small laugh of his daughter. With a furrowed brow he began looking around and so did the others who didn't expect to hear a baby in their hero bunker.
"Good girl, say it again," Katie walked over, her eyes going up now realizing the others were here. "Oh, hey, you're here." Oliver smiled as he walked over to them, Robyn's arms shooting out to him as she called his name, and the moment he was close, he didn't hesitate to pull her into his arms.
"Did she say apple again?" Oliver asked to Katie.
"I think that's what she said." Katie replied with a shrug before turning to the group of eyes on them. Oliver looked over to the team and turned.
"Everyone, I don't think you've all been formally introduced." Oliver said looking over to Katie with a smile. "This is my wife. Katherine Queen. You can call her Twi-"
"Katie," Katie says nudging the man who only laughed. "You can call me Katie." she glanced over her shoulder. "And that little bundle of cuteness is our daughter Robyn." she turned back to the team with a smile before she got a bit closer. "And I know who each and everyone of you are. Rene, Evelyn, Rory-" she turned. "Curtis, and light of my life slash bane of my existence." Ari rolled her eyes.
"She's also the Guardian." Ari said proudly as she looked over her shoulder to the Guardian's suit. The others looked back as well before turning in surprise back to Katie.
"Wait, so you're actually a vigilante too?" Evelyn asked and Katie turned to her and shrugged.
"That's up for debate." Katie replied not seeing the nods from Felicity and Oliver behind her. "I just wanted to congratulate you all on your successful mission and your efforts in taking down Derek Sampson." she looked between their faces with a smile. "You got one bad guy off the streets and you made this city that much safer." she stood there for a moment before letting out a sigh. "Now that I got that out of the way, I wanted to share a lesson of my own."
"What is she doing?" Oliver whispered over to Felicity and the blonde looked over to him in amusement.
"Oh, you're about to see."
"I want you to look to the person next to you." she watched as they confusingly turned to the person next to them. "Now I want you to look over there at Oliver." they all did as they're told and look over to Oliver who looks just as confused. "Now look back at me." their eyes turned back to her. "The person standing next to you, hell everyone in this room, it is now your responsibility to make sure you do everything in your power to make sure they come home when the mission is over." she saw the slight nervous looks. "Lot of pressure, right?" she took a step to the side. "Well I'm going to need anyone who can't handle that pressure to get back on that elevator and leave." she waited, silence filled the room, but no one moved. "Alright," she walked back to her place in front of them. "Not too long ago some of you were alone, fighting this fight without any help. That has changed. Everyone in this room now has your back. I have your back. That means I will use every resource I have to make sure you all are alright. I just ask that you all do your best the make sure your team comes home, and try your damnedest to make sure that man back there makes it home to me and my daughter." the woman smiled as she looked between the team. "I'm trusting him with you." she looked over to Ari. "I'm trusting Fire Light with you too." she turned back to the others. "You won't see this smile if you break that trust." a nervous silence filled the space between them and so Katie clapped her hands. "Alright, veiled threats over, I have to go." she walked over to shake all of their hands. "I look forward to working with you all." she stopped, the smile falling when she took Rory's hand.
"Are you alright?" Rory asks.
"Oh no." Felicity mutters and Oliver turns handing Robyn to her before hurrying over to Katie's side.
"Twinkie, what's wrong?" he asks, but she doesn't say anything as she continues staring at Rory. "Twinkie-" she just smiles before releasing his hand.
"Sorry, I have a meeting. It was nice meeting you." she glanced over to Oliver. "Felicity's watching Robyn." he doesn't say anything as he watches her go over to place a kiss to Robyn's cheek before grabbing her bag and heading over to the elevator. Oliver quickly runs over to catch her, stopping the doors before they could close.
"What just happened?" he asks and Katie looked over to him with a slight frown.
"I don't know. I just had this sudden feeling of sadness when I shook Rory's hand." she shook her head. "I felt the need to apologize for something, I just don't why." she turned back to Oliver, that look passing over his face that tells her he knows something. He doesn't say anything and she lets out a sigh before taking a step back. "I really have to go." Oliver just nods before letting go of the door and allowing it to close. He turns, looking over to the concerned look on Felicity's face and he can't help but share it.
Katie felt slightly nervous as she sat in Michael's office. She arrived about an hour or so earlier for her meeting with the board of directors, and Annabelle who didn't look too happy to see her again. Katie really didn't care. What she cared about was getting the New Beginning's Initiative back on track. So she presented the facts, showed them the figures. She wanted to convince them that this Greater Beginning's Initiative wasn't so great and was actually hurting the company, and would continue hurting the company. Annabelle had her own figures, presenting the profit growth that has come out of the change. Katie countered with that profit standing to be less and less as more businesses drop out of the program. She suggested reinstating the New Beginning's Initiative back to it's original stipulations as created by her and Ray. Now she was just waiting for them to make a decision. She looked around the office when she saw a familiar picture hanging up on the wall. She walked over chuckling at the old picture of her and Michael at that stupid costume party and their terrible Sonny and Cher costumes.
The door opened and in walked Michael, a glum look on his face and Katie's shoulders dropped.
"They shot me down?" Katie asked and Michael looked over to her before a wide smile took over his face.
"Actually it was a unanimous vote in favor of reinstating NBI." Michael said and Katie smiled widely as the man brought his arms around her in a hug. "You did it, Sweets!" the hug was lasting longer than necessary and Katie had to pull herself free and punched the man. "Sorry, I'm excited. But you did it."
"If they voted with me, what took so long?"
"Oh," Michael laughed. "Ms. Grey had a complete melt down before storming out of there. It's only a matter of time before we make the decision to bring someone else in." he turned to the woman with a smile and twitchy eyes brows and Katie just shook her head.
"I told you I can't." she replied grabbing her bag. "But I'm happy they're fixing this." she headed for the door.
"You're going to be named in the press release." Michael said and Katie stopped and turned to him. "It went out before I came in here. Another idea I pitched and everyone agreed. Bringing NBI back was your idea, and we want the city to know it. Expect a lot of people to fall in love with you all over again, Sweets." Katie sighed with a roll of her eyes before stepping out of the office.
Katie stepped on the elevator, looking down to her phone. She still had enough time to head over to city Hall to catch the tail end of Oliver's press conference. She didn't look up when the elevator doors opened and someone stepped in. After a few moments, she did feel eyes on her and so she looked up.
"Oh, Ms. Grey, hi, I didn't see you there."
"Well I don't find that too surprising." Annabelle said turning back to the doors. Katie looked at the woman forcing herself not to feed into it and so she just dropped her eyes back down to her phone. "You know it's my company, right?" Katie frowned looking back over to the woman. "I am the CEO."
"I am aware." Katie replies unsure what the point was.
"Good." Annabelle turns so she's standing in front of Katie, a move Katie believes is meant to be intimidating. Katie slipped her phone into her bag as she stood tall looking back to the woman. "I just want to make sure we're both very clear about what belongs to who."
"That's so strange coming from the woman who inappropriately touched my husband." Katie replies feeling that anger rise in her chest. This wasn't supposed to be happening. She promised herself that she would be the bigger person and let it go, and yet Annabelle seemed to have a death wish. "I'm not trying to take your company. I'm just making suggestions that the board seems to agree with." Katie shrugged. "I guess they like my ideas better than yours." she saw the blonde's jaw clench.
"You know I see you." Annabelle lets her eyes trail over the woman. "I see exactly who you are. And it's not this wholesome doctor, Mayor's wife routine the city seems to be feeding into. One day they'll see it and I'll be the one there to say I told you so."
"This person you think I am. Someone who's not sweet and wholesome...does she seem like someone you should corner on an elevator?" Katie took a step closer still eyeing the woman. "Because I have to tell you, I don't think she is. Actually I think she is the last person you should try to threaten and intimidate." The doors to the elevator opened. "Because she might surprise you, and push your skinny ass in the hole you're digging for her." with that, Katie moved around the woman off the elevator. "Always a pleasure Ms. Grey."
Katie rushed into the doors of City Hall, digging through her bag for her visitors pass. When she found it, she held it up for the guard who let her in. When she stepped off of the elevator, she heard Oliver's voice further down the hall. As she neared, she noticed someone standing outside of the door Oliver's voice was coming from. She moved around the man who looked up to her with a smile.
"Mr. Lance, waiting for your introduction?" Katie asked and the man let out a nervous sigh before giving a nod. "Don't worry, you're going to do fine." she turned listening slightly. "I should probably wait to go in there." she turned back to Quentin who was staring at her. "Something on your mind?"
"No, it's just-" he shook his head before turning back to her. "It still seems kind of surreal to see you around here. You were gone for so long and it didn't seem like you were going to come back." she looked at the man for a moment and smiled. "I'm glad you're back. You have no idea how much this place needs you."
"I'm not so sure it's me this place needs." she muttered and he looked over to her in confusion. "Sorry, no idea why I just said that out loud."
"Well I wouldn't sell yourself short there, doc." Quentin said and Katie chuckled. "You brought a light back to this city that only you have."
"The buck, as they say, stops with me, because when you are in charge, everything that your team does is on you, and I trust my team." Oliver's voice filters out of the room once again. "That team will include former police captain Quentin Lance..."
"That's my cue." Quentin says and Katie gives him a pat on the shoulder as he steps into the conference room. Katie slightly steps inside, but not too far.
"...who will be serving beside me as Deputy Mayor." Oliver continues shaking Quentin's hand. Katie smiles over to the pair when Oliver glances over and finally spots her. She just points down the hall toward his office, a silent message of where she will meet him once he's done. He gives her a nod before turning back to the press.
Katie steps back in the hall and heads toward Oliver's office unable to get Quentin's words out of her head.
"A light that only you have." she muttered to herself unsure why the words seemed to tug on something inside of her.
Katie was so distracted with her thoughts that she didn't notice the light panel above her flicker.
Or the one after that...or the one after that.
Author's Note:
Wowzers!What did you think?
Review Replies
BlueBloodsSVUOrder: Yes! And I think he had a breakthrough.
Adela: Thank you!
Jason Hunter: Yeah he was a bit hesitant about therapy, but it forced him to face a bit of his truth. So Katie's villain has actually been shown in the story just not revealed yet. Said villain has made a few moves that even Twiver hasn't realized yet. We will see just how close this villain is getting into their lives. And yes I have been thinking about that story line. I really want to try it, but I'm trying to see how to fit it within the story. It will probably be a bit of a cooky chapter, but I can't stop thinking about making it happen. Great idea about an interaction with Katie and her villain. I actually think that would be a great addition toward the end of the story during the final showdowns. And it is totally sad Arrow ended( didn't quite like the ending so I may change it up a bit) and yea supergirl too!
Guest: You know I think there is a certain red headed teen who wouldn't mind wiping the floor with Evelyn. Yes, this season we saw the alien Dominators. And Oliver did get a bit off his chest. He's been trying his hardest to believe that everything is better now that Katie is back, but he really hasn't dealt with any of the emotions that were created when she was possessed by the darkness or in the coma. The session was a bit short so he didn't face all of his demons, but he will.
Kara-X: very tough question to pick just one, but I will try.
Arrow: Season 2 ( really liked slade as a villain. Also like the surprise appearance of Sarah as the canary.) I like the final show down episodes so I'd say, episode 22 of season 2.
Flash: I liked the crossover in season 2 with Arrow and the whole Vandal Savage story line. Thought the intro to Hawkman and Hawkgirl pretty cool. I mostly liked the way they were able to get a second chance to beat vandal with Barry able to go back in time. Season 2.8
Supergirl: I liked when we finally saw Lex Luther( totally couldn't see Jon cryer as anyone other than Alan Harper) but he was a great lex. I love when these shows bring in more of the classic Dc characters. Loved seeing Superman as well. Season 4.16
Legends of tomorrow: I really liked their crossover with invasion. Loved the whole crossover event. I so can't wait to get to this part in my story. Season 2.7
sobreyra274: OMG Thank you! I think I was getting notifications from your votes on Wattpad! Thanks so much! I'm glad you're enjoying this story.
Thanks so much every for your support for this story. I seriously appreciate all of you who have added this story to you fav/follow alerts. Virtual hugs and cookies to those cool kids who leave me reviews! They're always great to read.
Sneak peek
She walked out of the living room, stopping at the stairs when she heard something behind her. Katie turned to the door, her eyes looking down to the white envelope that was slid underneath her door.
There was sudden dread that hit her as she stepped toward the envelope. Something about the situation seemed familiar and yet she couldn't place it. There was a voice inside of her head yelling at her not to pick up the envelope, and yet she reached down and picked it up before pulling open the door and glancing out. The neighborhood was dark and she didn't see anyone, not even one of the guards who once again didn't prevent someone from just appearing at their door. Katie stepped back inside the house, closing the door behind her before looking back down to the envelope.