CHAPTER 5
DAY 1 After the Queen's Gambit
Oliver and Felicity
Pacific Ocean
Felicity opened her eyes and saw the rain had stopped and the ocean was calm. She looked down and saw Oliver was still passed out. She was not sure how long they had been out. However, judging from the sunburn on Oliver's face, the sunburn and blisters on her pale arms it could have been almost an entire day. She could feel the burning sting of the heat on her face.
Felicity knew she had to do something fast. She could already feel herself getting nauseated. She knew sun poisoning was setting in and she was worried. She quickly unbuttoned her shirt and used it to cover her and Oliver's face.
"Oliver, wake up." She started to shake Oliver.
"W-what, what is it?" Oliver lifted straight up and looked around. "We're alive? How?" Oliver suddenly stopped and noticed that Felicity was not wearing her shirt, but it was on top of her head. "Felicity? Why is your shirt on top of your head and how did we survive the storm last night?"
Felicity reached down and started to untie the rope from around her waist. Oliver looked down and saw he was also tied to the boat. "Last night, I was able to secure both of us to the boat to keep us from falling out. You, also need to take your shirt off and cover your head. We are severely sunburned. We cannot do anything about most of our body, but we need to protect our head."
"Well, I know one way I can cover your body to protect you from the sun", said Oliver.
"Oliver, we are in trouble. We have no food, no drinking water and no way of contacting anyone for help." Felicity said.
Oliver started to untie himself and looked around the ocean. As he sat there, Oliver started to stare. "There!" Oliver called out pointing out toward the sea. Felicity looked and saw a couple of containers and crates floating in the water about 500 yards from them. "There might be something over there that can help us."
Oliver and Felicity started to use their hands to paddle closer to the floating crates. After a few moments, the two had stopped to take out the first container they had reached and pulled it out of the water. "Oliver, do you think that... Whoa!" Before Felicity could finish what she was saying, she felt something hit the bottom of the boat that made it jump. "What was that?"
"I do not think you want to know the answer.", Oliver replied.
Felicity turned her head around from Oliver and looked toward the floating crates. "Oh, why?" Oliver and Felicity looked and saw a lot of splashing and movement close to where they needed to go. As they watched, they kept seeing more shark fins rushing toward the center where they needed to be. "Sharks, why sharks?"
"They must smell or sense the bodies in the water..." Oliver suddenly leaned back and felt sick to his stomach. "...where my dad might be now."
"Oliver, we do not know that. Your father, Mr. Queen might have been on the deck when the deck blew up. Now there is a good chance he could have made it off before it exploded." Felicity said while holding Oliver's hand.
Oliver shook his head no, "Felicity, I love you and I thank you for what you are trying to do." Oliver took a deep breath. "But, we both heard the gunshots right before the ship exploded and sunk."
Again the boat shook. Felicity quickly grabbed the side as she felt herself almost being thrown off the boat. "Oliver, I think we need to back away from this area."
"We can't. We need to see if there is anything in those crates we can use. If not, we are going to die." Oliver looked over to the side, "Besides, I do not think we are going to be paddling by hand." Felicity looked over to the side and saw they were surrounded by sharks.
Lance's Resident.
Laurel was in her room lying on her bed, studying her book trying to prepare herself for an exam for next week. She kept looking at her phone waiting for Sarah to give her call. She was hoping she would call her as soon as she landed. She closed her book and rolled on her back and rubbed her eyes. "Oh, man. I need a break from this." She raised herself up and walked down the stairs and saw her mother at the table reading a paper.
"Sweetie, I thought you were studying in your room?" Dinah said.
"I was. I just wish Sarah would call us." Laurel walked around the table and sat across from her mother.
"Oh, you worry too much. You are always looking out for your sister." Dinah said.
"She is my little sister. I love her, just like you and dad." Laurel replied.
"Well, we knew Sarah would always be the first one to move out and go out to see the world. However, you, my dear, we knew you would be the smart one and go places." Dinah said.
"Well mom, I still have a way to go before graduating from college."
"Well, you are smart and you only have 3 years left." Dinah stood up and went to the counter to get her some water from the sink. "After all, you two girls are my canaries and I know one day you both will learn to fly and leave."
Laurel stood up and walked behind her mom to hug her. "You will never get rid of us."
Starling City Police Department.
"Detective Lance, I need to see you in my office."
Lance looked up and saw Commissioner Nudocerdo waving him to follow as he walked past him. Lance rose from his desk and followed the commissioner to his office. "Shut the door." Nudocerdo sat behind his desk and started to sign something that was laying on his desk. "Have a seat." Quentin sat down waiting for Nudocerdo to finish up. "Just give me a moment."
Quentin sat there and started to wonder what he was doing in the commissioner's office.
"Sir," Quentin leaned forward, "is there something you need?"
"Yes Detective, there is something." At that moment, there was a knock on the door. "Come in." The door opened and Quentin saw a young female walk in wearing a police uniform. "Detective Lance, this is Officer Mckenna Hall. She will soon be taking her Detective exam in 4 months. I would like for her to shadow you and Hilton during this time."
"Commissioner, I..." Quentin started to speak.
"I knew you would not have a problem. You both you may go now."
"But Commissioner..." Again Quentin tried to speak.
"You both may go. Now!" Nudocerdo said again.
"Yes, sir!" Quentin said.
"Yessir." Mckenna said.
Quentin and Mckenna both walked out of the office. "Well, Officer Mckenna. Welcome to Starling City Police Department, Glades Station."
"Thank you, sir. I know I will do my best, sir." Mckenna said.
DAY 2
Lance's Resident
Laurel heard her mother screaming from downstairs. She quickly jumped out of her chair and ran downstairs. "MOM!" Laurel screamed. When she reached the bottom, she saw her mother in the living room with a broken glass in front of her. "Mom, are you hurt?" Laurel walked in the room saw her mother staring at the TV.
"I repeat, tragic has struck twice for Starling City. Flight 287 has been reported that the plane had crashed in the Pacific Ocean. As Coast Guards approached its known last coordinates there were no signs of survivors. Also in the news, Billionaire Robert Queen with his son Oliver Queen and the crew of the Gambit is feared to be lost at sea. We have a camera crew heading toward the airport and to the Queen's home to get a statement. Please stay tuned as we cover these tragic events."
Laurel reached over and grabbed hold of her mom and both of the women held each other. Dinah buries her head into Laurel's arm and to let out a scream. All Laurel could do at that moment was only to hold her mother close to her and started to cry herself. "Oh God, no. Not Sarah. Please no." Laurel said to herself over and over.
"Mom, we have to call dad." Dinah let go of Laurel and shook her head. She wanted to speak, but she could not. "It's okay mom. I will call him." Laurel walked her mom to the couch and eases her down. She walked over to the phone and felt her hands shaking as she dials the number.
Quentin looked at his phone and saw it was his home calling him. "Give me a moment McKenna, I need to take this."
"No problem at all. I needed to go and get some coffee anyway."
Quentin laughed, "I do not think our life insurance policy covers bad coffee."
Mckenna looked at the Detective and started to laugh.
Quentin opened his cell phone, "Hello?"
"Dad?"
Quentin could tell that Laurel has been crying and was upset. "Honey, what is the matter?"
Laurel took a few breaths to control her crying for long enough to speak with her father. "You need to come home now. Please."
"What is going on? Is it your mother?" Quentin asked.
"Please dad, come home, we both need you hear now."
"Okay baby, I am on my way now." Quentin hung the phone up and started toward the elevator. He looked and saw Mckenna coming down the hallway. "McKenna, I have a family emergency at home. I will call you later." Quentin quickly jumped in the elevator before it shut.
Thirty minutes later, Quentin came running into the house. As Laurel and Dinah saw him enter, they ran to him and grabbed hold of him. "Oh my sweet baby, no, no, no. I heard it on the radio." Quentin held tight to the ladies as they all three held on to each other letting out their tears.
DAY 3
Laurel just sat on the couch with her knees up with her side of her face resting on knees. She could hear her mother had fallen asleep in her room. Her father had gone back to work. He said he had to keep himself busy until they heard news of any survivors. As Laurel sat there, she heard someone was at the door knocking. She slowly stood up and started toward the door. Whoever this was, this was not the right time. As she opens the door, she could not believe who was the door.
"Hi Laurel," it was Moira Queen. Laurel saw Moira had been crying herself. "I am so sorry." Moira reached up and hugged Laurel.
"Oh Mrs. Queen, I am so sorry. Please come in." Moira walked in the door and followed Laurel to the living room. "Have a seat please."
"I know my son had not treated you well, but he did still care for you. But, when I found out that your sister Sarah was on the plane. I had to come by and see you."
"Thank you, but how are you doing?" Laurel asked.
"Holding on", Moira replied.
"Mrs. Queen..." Laurel started to say.
"Moira, please, just Moira." Moira said.
"Moira, I am so sorry. I just cannot believe this is happening." Laurel said.
Moira saw Laurel was about to start to cry. She stood up and sat next to Laurel and held her. "Laurel, we got to be strong. I am holding on to hope and you have to do the same thing. You...me...Thea and your mom and dad, we got to believe and hold on to hope. Also, no matter what happens, we will have each other to support."
Laurel looked up at Moira, "I know, I know. Thank you."
Day 5
Laurel stood there in front of her door on her cell phone. "Where are you, Tommy?" Laurel had just returned from Tommy's apartment and had run into Malcolm Merlyn. "Look. I just saw your dad at your apartment. I know you're tied up with some woman you met two nights ago. But you need to call me. It's about Oliver and Sarah. So, please call me."
Laurel walked in the house and saw her father sitting at the kitchen table. On the table, she saw an open bottle of vodka with a glass in his hand. Quentin looked up and saw Laurel standing there in the doorway. "Oh honey, come on in. Don't mind me."
Laurel walked in and sat in front of her father. "Dad, what are you doing?"
Quentin pours a drink and swallows it all at once. "What I always do after work."
"Yes, but that was a new bottle yesterday. And you have always only done one or two shots only. It is already half empty." Laurel said.
Quentin looked at Laurel, "It is okay sweetie. I just needed something to help me." Quentin again took another drink and refilled his glass back up. "Besides, it has been a long day and I just need to relax."
Laurel sat there looking at her father, watching him completely finishing the bottle.
DAY 6
Laurel sat there on the couch listening to her parents upstairs yelling at each other. She wanted to leave, but there was nowhere she could go. She looked down at her phone again, knowing that no one had called. She was hoping that there was a call and she had just not seen or heard it.
Dinah looked at Quentin. "YOU know what I am talking about Quentin.", She yelled.
Quentin walked over to her, "No, I don't"
"Right there, that look you are giving me.", Dinah said. Quentin just stood there not knowing how to respond. "For the past 3 days, you have been drinking an entire bottle, getting drunk. You had been ignoring me, looking at me with disgust. You blame me for our daughter's death."
Quentin stepped back from Dinah, "What do you mean?"
"Quentin. The way you been acting toward me for the past few days. You have not been home till 3 or 4 in the morning. Every time I tried to talk to you, you are either too drunk or you say you're too busy. You have not held me after that day when we got the news. And that look, that you give me... That look, there, is what hurts the most." Dinah sat on the edge of the bed and looked up at Quentin, "And you're right. It is my fault." As Dinah sat on the edge of their bed, she looked down at a photo she had in her hand. "If I had not convinced you to let our baby girl go, she would be alive. I know it is my fault. But I need my husband. I need you to be there for me..." Dinah looked up at Quentin, "...and not looking at me like you are doing now. Can you do that?"
Quentin stood there looking at Dinah, "I love you and we need you. I..." Quentin looked away from Dinah.
Dinah rose from her bed. "That's what I thought." Dinah walked out of the room and headed downstairs. A few moments later, Quentin heard the front door shutting then heard Dinah driving off.
CIA Langley, Virginia
Mr. Larson walked in his office and saw a young black woman sitting at his desk. "Excuse me, who are you and what the hell are you doing sitting in my chair?"
The woman stood up and walked around to the front the desk. "Mr. Larson, please have a seat."
"I think you need to explain yourself now." Larson walked around and sat in his chair.
"That will come in time." Larson saw the woman sat in the chair in front of his desk. "However, we need to get something out of the way first."
At that moment, two officers walked in the room. "Take this woman out of here.", Larson said.
As the two men started to reach for the woman, she held her finger up suggesting holding for a moment. "Wait a minute." one of the guards said. He held his earpiece to his ear closer, to make sure he could hear better. In a moment, he motioned to the other guard for them to leave the room.
"What in the... Who are you?" Larson asked.
"My name is not important. However this is." The woman laid a folder on the desk.
Larson picked the folder up, "Her, but she is presumed dead. What is this about?"
"I want you to sign her over to us." The woman replied.
"You want me to transfer a dead CIA agent to you? Who the hell do you think you are?"
The woman leans toward Larson. "I am the woman who can make your life a miserable hell. And compared to what happened to Mr. Weston, it will be nothing compare to what will happen to you." The woman pointed at a blank line. "Now sign or getting burned will be the least of your problems."
"I don't know who you are or what branch you work for. This is madness; asking for a transfer of an agent that is missing or dead." Larson responded.
"Well then, if she is dead. Then you will have nothing to worry about." The woman lean backed up and crossed her arms waiting for Larson to sign.
Larson sat there and then looked at the door and remembered the two guards walking out. Larson looked backed toward the woman. "I do not know who the hell you are..." Larson started to sign the paper. "...but, I am going to find out who you are."
The woman reached down and picked the paper and folder up. "If you ever do find out, not even Management will be able to save you." Larson quickly leaned back in his chair, looking at her in terror. He watched as the woman walked out his office shutting the door behind her.
Pacific Ocean
Oliver laid there looking at the water, tempting to reach down and drink.
"Oliver. No. It will not do any good." Felicity could feel her throat drying up and her stomach hurting from hunger. "We just got to hold on until it is safe to check out those containers and boxes."
Oliver lifted himself up and looked at Felicity. "I know, but more and more of those crates and containers are sinking. If we do not do something fast, we might loose our chance to check any of them. Was there anything in the container we pulled out of the water?"
Felicity opened the container back up and looked inside. "Only thing in here is some tubes, small pieces of something. Nothing, nothing that can help us."
Oliver looked toward the floating wreckage. "I wonder if they are all gone.", Oliver asked. Felicity reached down and grabbed the container and threw it in the water toward the wreckage. "What are you doing?" Oliver yelled out. Oliver stood there looking as the container floated in the water. After a few minutes, Oliver noticed there was no movement. "I think they had left. It has been some time since we saw anything move over there. Surely they would have come and checked out the splash from the container." Oliver said.
"Maybe, or they know it is nothing at all. But we have to take a chance. I am not sure how much longer we both can last. Unless we start eating each other." Felicity looked at Oliver, "Should we risk it?"
Oliver leaned over to the side of the boat and stuck his hand in the water and started to paddle toward the wreckage. "We have no choice, but let's go slow and easy." Felicity nodded her head agreeing with Oliver. Oliver and Felicity slowly moved their hands on the side of the boat, moving them closer toward the wreckage. Twenty minutes had passed, Oliver stopped and raised his hand up to block the sun from his eyes. "There..." Oliver pointed at a container that was more than halfway in the water. "I recognize that one. We need it." Oliver leaned back down and the two started to paddle toward the container.
As they got closer, Felicity looked and saw the container was sinking under the water. "OLIVER!" Felicity yelled out. Oliver looked and saw the container had sunk under the water. Without thinking, Oliver quickly dove into the water and swam underneath the ocean. Felicity leaned to the side trying to see if she could see him. "OLIVER!" She yelled. Come on Oliver, she thought to herself. At that moment, Felicity felt the boat being hit on the bottom again. Felicity fell backward. She quickly rose up and looked toward the direction Oliver had dived in. There she saw them. Two sharks were racing toward the area where Oliver dove in. "OLIVER!" Felicity started to scream his name again and again.
