Chapter 15:
Over the next three weeks Katya got into an uncomfortable routine. In the mornings she would visit her mum, in the afternoon she was either spend time with Thea and Tommy or work in the lair. In the evenings she would be the eyes and ears of team arrow while searching for Joe. She was never alone. She would go from Jay, to Roy, to Diggle, to her father and back round again. She knew why it had to be this way but she couldn't help but feel suffocated. To make matters worse Joe Wilson, the man that wanted her dead had been oddly quite which meant they were not making progress.
"You ok?" Thea asked her one afternoon, after they got back from the hospital.
Katya knew she should lie, but one look at her aunt's face told her she already knew what the real answer would be anyway.
Katya shook her head.
She looked around not wanting to offend anyone. Diggle was in the kitchen making tea and Tommy had disappeared upstairs.
"I feel like I can't breathe." She told Thea honestly.
"I understand really I do." She continued.
"They just want to protect me but I need to feel normal for just one afternoon." Katya added.
Thea gave her a sad smile.
"If this was normal what would you be doing?" Thea asked her.
Katya closed her eyes. She thought back to her life before. When she wasn't in school she would either be working or shopping with her mum. She smiled at that thought. When Jay was on leave he would drag her outside make her enjoy the sunshine. She missed the days he would hang out with because he wanted to and not just because it was unsafe for her to be alone.
"Shopping with my mum or working in the little cafe just round the corner from my house." Katya told Thea.
Thea nodded, deep in thought.
"I have an idea." she said quickly standing up and going over to Diggle.
She spoke to Diggle who smiled and nodded.
"Let's go." Thea said walking back into the room.
Katya looked at her aunt confused but Thea said nothing. Katya sighed heavily before following her aunt and Diggle out of the house.
About ten minutes later they arrived at the club.
"What are we doing here?" Katya asked.
Thea turned to face her she threw her a t-shirt with the clubs logo on.
"It's not the cafe round the corner from your house or complete freedom but it's a job where you can wonder round the people pretending to be normal for a little while and they guys can keep an eye on you from downstairs." Thea told her.
A smile formed on her face, Thea was giving her an escape to an impossible situation.
"So if you want the job it's your." Thea added.
Katya jumped forward and hugged her Aunt. Thea gasped in surprise before hugging her back.
"Thank you so much." Katya said happily.
Thea laughed.
"You're welcome and when this is all over you and I can go shopping just the two of us, if you're up for it?" Thea asked.
Katya pulled away, smiling brighter than she had in days.
"I would love too." Katya told her honestly.
Oliver had never been a patient man not before the island and definitely not after. But now he felt like he was going to explode. There was no sign of Joe Wilson anywhere, every lead they had led to nothing. It was as if he ghost and what made it worse was somehow Oliver had expected Joe to make a move but just like his father Joe was patient. The only thing they knew about Joe Wilson was that he spent some time in the military and was highly skilled in weapons and fighting. It worried Oliver to know so little about an enemy.
Felicity still hadn't woken up and every time Oliver sat with her he was so unsure what to say. He wished she would open her pretty blue eyes, so he could tell her how much he missed her, how mad he was for keeping Katya from him. How grateful he was for her keeping Katya safe. He wished he could hear her yell and scream at him for doing something stupid like she often did. That was one of the things he had missed the most, whenever he came in after a particular hard night on the streets she would yell at him for being so reckless, not stopping until he wrapped his arms around her to let her feel for herself that he was back and that he was safe.
FLASHBACK
Oliver sighed heavily as he limped down the foundry steps, a pain shot threw his side every time he took a step with his left foot.
"How could you turn off your comm?" her voice yelled through the air demanding an explanation.
Oliver sighed deeply. When things had gotten bad, when he wonder if he was going to make it he turned off his comm not wanting Felicity to hear him die.
When he got to the last step she was waiting for him. Her hands crossed against her chest, her right foot taping against the floor readying herself for a never ending battle that neither of them would win.
Oliver smiled to himself she was so hot when she was angry. Felicity, noticing his smile glared at him.
"I'm sorry." Oliver muttered.
He knew she wanted a real reason but he couldn't give her that without explaining how it killed him to hear her tears.
Felicity huffed before shaking her head and walking away. They weren't done he knew better than that.
Oliver looked around and found Diggle waiting for him at the medical bay looking less than impressed himself.
Oliver limped over to him.
"I'm sorry Dig." Oliver stated.
Diggle shook his head as he helped him on to the medical table.
"I get why you did it." Diggle states looking over at Felicity who is now sitting at her desk tapping the keys on her keyboard a little harder than necessary.
"But she isn't the only one who cares about you." Diggle pointed out.
Oliver smiled at his friend.
"I'll keep that in mind for next time." Oliver replied as Diggle looked over his injuries.
"You better." Diggle muttered.
After Diggle finished cleaning him up, he looked over at Felicity who was still fuming.
"Good luck." Diggle whispered too him before taking his leave.
Oliver waited to feel her anger but no word past her lips. He could tell she was still angry but instead of talking she was giving him the silent treatment. Oliver could take anything from Felicity, her screaming at him, her yelling, and no matter how much he hated watching or hearing her cry he could handle her tears but what he couldn't handle was her completely ignoring him.
Oliver walked over to her.
"I'm sorry." he told her honestly.
Her fingers froze on the keys for a second telling him she heard him before she went back to ignoring him.
Oliver sighed frustrated before turning her chair round to face him.
She tried to hold on to her desk to stop the chair from moving but he was stronger than her and when he finally could see her face she glared at him.
"I am sorry Felicity." He told her again.
Felicity stood up quickly making him step back.
"You're not though." she yelled.
"Because you keep doing it." she added.
She looked deep in thought for a moment before looking down.
"Every time you think you're going to die you do it." she concluded and he heard her voice break and tears filled her pretty eyes.
She moved to walk away from him but Oliver took hold of her hand refusing to let her leave until everything was ok between them again.
"Felicity." he said.
She refused to look at him.
"You can't keep taking those risks." She said adamantly but they both knew he would.
She pulled on her arm for him to let go but he didn't.
"Felicity." he said again. He wasn't going to talk to the back of her head.
She turned but still refused to meet his eyes. She hit his chest hard and he winced in pain.
"You should have waited for back up." she yelled.
Her tiny fist pounding his chest over and over again.
He knew she had forgot he was hurt and later when this was all over she would feel guilty.
"Why can't you just wait for back up?" She yelled.
As tears slide down her pale cheeks Oliver realised how even though he had been trying to save her from pain he had just cause more. The not knowing had hurt her more than knowing ever did.
Oliver pulled her into his arms and she sobbed against him.
"I'm ok." he told her over and over again until her sobs eased.
"I am sorry." he told her when she pulled away.
"I promise I won't turn of my comms again." he promised.
"You better not." she said sending a playful glare his way.
Felicity hit his chest playfully as she spoke and he winced, this time she noticed.
"Oh god, I am so sorry." she said instantly.
She spent the rest of the evening looking after him and apologising over and over again for hitting him when he was wounded. Oliver did keep the comms on after that though not matter how much he wished she didn't have to hear his grunts of pain.
END OF FLASHBACK
"Your sister offered Katya a job upstairs." Diggle voice said bringing Oliver out of his thoughts.
Oliver looked over at Diggle.
"My sister did what?" he asked hoping he had heard wrong.
"She gave Katya a job as waitress upstairs." Diggle repeated.
Oliver's eyes narrowed he was going to kill Thea.
"She is not working up there." Oliver said adamantly thinking of all the men that to grope or hit on her. No way in hell was he going to let that happen.
Diggle shook his head.
"Come on daddy." Diggle said mockingly.
Oliver glared at him and Diggle held up his hands in surrender.
"Why would Thea even do that?" Oliver demanded.
Diggle sighed.
"It's been three weeks and still nothing on Joe." Diggle started before continuing,
"Think about it from Katya's point of view. She is surrounded by one of us all day everyday if not two. We are suffocating her."
"To keep her safe." Oliver argues.
Diggle nods his head in agreement.
"And she knows that but it's still irritating her." Diggle points out.
Oliver sighs he knows she has been bothered by having their consent presents but it's the only way to keep her safe.
"At least this way we can keep an eye on her from downstairs and she gets a breather from us." Diggle suggest.
Oliver doesn't like it but he knew he needed to give Katya a little bit of space.
"Fine but one of us has to be on the floor at all times." Oliver orders and Diggle smirks.
"Ok daddy." he mocks.
Oliver just shook his head.
Three days later Joe sat in his car looking at house. They were so intent on protecting Queens's kid and her mother that they forget there are other ways for him to get what he wants.
All his intel on Katya Queen tells him there is nothing she wouldn't do to protect the people that she loves even if it would mean handing herself over to him. He smirks at that thought. She was a smart girl, he knew if she wanted to she could ditch her tail easily especially now that she was working at her families club and she would ditch her tail, if given the right incentive.
Joe smirked.
He got out of his car and walked towards the door.
Roy Harper and John Diggle were at the hospital watching Felicity. Queen and Jay were keeping an eye on Katya.
Joe knocked on the door.
Thea Harper was working in the club that left little Tommy Harper all alone.
Joe smirked as the boy opened the door.
He was the image of his father's younger self.
Tommy nodded at him waiting for him to speak.
"I'm a friend of your cousins she sent me to pick you, told me to bring you to her." Joe knew it was a careless lie but he didn't care.
He would be leaving here with Tommy Harper one way or another.
Tommy frowned and Joe tried not to smirk. Tommy was suspicious.
"Cool let me just get my phone." Tommy said turning round to go back into the house.
It was a smart move Joe thought to himself as he followed Tommy. He kept his footsteps light not to startle the boy.
Tommy reached for the phone but before he could press a bottom Joe grabbed his arm.
"I wouldn't do that if I was you." Joe muttered.
"Hey." Tommy yelled trying to shove Joe away but Joe was stronger.
Tommy fault him with all his strength; kicking, punching and at one point he even hit Joe with the lamp on the table next to the phone.
It startled Joe and Tommy made a run for it. When Joe got himself back together he ran after Tommy tackling him to the ground Tommy's head hit the floor with a thud and Joe winced.
Joe stood up and looked at the boy who now was out cold. He hadn't wanted things to end this way but at least he wouldn't have to deal with the boys pleas for mercy. He always hated it when they did that.
Katya weaved in and out of the crowd with a bright smile on her face. She had been working at the club for three nights now and she loved it. Even with one of the guys hovering on the dance floor she still loved it. It was her own personal freedom without being in any real danger.
"Kat?" Thea called from the bar.
Katya made her way over to her.
Thea handed her a tray of drinks.
"This is for the VIP section." Thea told her.
Katya nodded she moved to get going when Thea called her name again.
"You doing ok?" Thea asked.
Katya smiled at her aunt.
"I love it." she told her honestly and Thea laughed shaking her head.
Katya left the bar and headed up to the VIP section, she handed out drinks and avoiding unwelcome hands. She walked back to the bar but Jay met her half way an annoyed look on his face. Katya sighed. He had been in a bad mood ever since he found out she was going to be working here.
"I don't like this." He told her seriously.
He had been saying things like that for days but every time she asked him why he would shrink away from answering.
"Why?" she demanded.
"I don't like this idiots having their hands all over you." Jay spat as he glared at man from VIP section who had tried to do just that earlier.
Katya sighed.
"It's not like that." She told him.
Jay looked at her then and rolled his eyes.
"Of course it is." he replied.
Katya shook her head.
"Why they hell do you care, I am not your sister or girlfriend so what does it matter to you?" she yelled.
Jay eyes met hers with a heated look. They stared at each other, daring the other person to talk, to change their relationship into something else. Katya phone vibrating in her pocket made her drop her eyes she looked down at the screen.
Tommy
Katya frowned apart from the first time they had met Tommy had been rather quite with her. She looked over at Jay and pointed to Thea's office. Jay nodded a blank expression back on his face.
Katya ran up to the office shutting the door behind her and took a deep breath.
She was playing with fire when it came to Jay. Jay was her best friend and she didn't think she could leave without having him in her life. But lately she had kept pushing to see if he wanted anything more. Did she? If they did, what if something went wrong?
Katya shook her head she couldn't handle those thoughts right now.
She answered her phone.
"Hey Tommy, what's up?" she asked.
"Hello Katya." A deep voice rumbled through the phone.
Katya heart rate speed up, that was defiantly not Tommy.
"Where is Tommy?" she demanded.
"He is safe for now, but only if you do what I ask." he told her and Katya felt panic raise in her.
"Joe Wilson." she breathed in fear.
He laughed.
"Guess you are as smart as people think." he commented.
Katya looked out the office door. Jay was standing at the bottom of the stairs that led to the office with his back to her. If only she could grab his attention.
"What do you want?" She demanded.
His laughed filled the line again.
"You already know the answer." he told her.
Katya swallowed.
"Me." she whispered.
"Good girl." He replied.
"Now for Tommy to live you need to come to me alone." He told her.
Katya shook her head.
"I can't." she replied instantly.
"Then I guess little Tommy dies." Joe spat.
"No." Katya shouted.
"I'll get to you." she promised.
"Good." Joe replied and she could hear the sick smile in his voice.
"But your will let Tommy go when I get to you, right?" Kayta asked.
"Of course." Jay replied but she didn't believe him.
"But you have two hours or little Tommy dies." he told her.
"Ok," she replied.
"I'll see you soon Katya." he said happily before the phone went dead.
Katya knees gave out and she sunk to the floor, breathing becoming difficult for her.
She took deep breaths over and over again. Tommy needed her to be strong. When Katya got her breathing under control she looked back outside at Jay. She knew if she told him he would never let her go alone none of them would and she knew without a shadow of doubt that Joe would kill Tommy, if she didn't do what he asked. She couldn't let that happen, but she need them to know somehow.
She looked around the room for a bit of paper. She scribbled a couple of words down before stuffing it in her pocket and picking up her tray. She walked down the stairs and Jay looked up at her. Oh god what if she never got to see him again?
When she got to the bottom of the stairs she flung herself in Jay's arms. Even surprised he still caught her.
"You ok?" He asked his arms still tightly round her waits.
Her head was screaming no but Katya nodded anyway as she slowly took the note from her pocket and put it into his. She pulled away and looked up at him.
"I need to get back to work." she pointed out.
Jay looked hesitant but he didn't say anything she walked away in the crowed looking around as she did. Although Jay couldn't see her everywhere she went she knew the club cameras could. Unless there was a fight. The club cameras were programmed to zoom into any fights that took place. Katya briefly thought about tricking the cameras into think there was a fight but she knew that her father would figure it out too quickly for her to get away. She walked to the bar and ordered a drink. She took it over to a men who had been all over the women standing next to him all night. The man was tall with broad shoulders. His lady friend was petite with long red hair.
Katya handed the drink to the woman.
"What's this?" she asked.
Katya shrugged and pointed to the only man at the bar, she thought stood a chance with this man.
"He said to tell you when you're done with this loser you should go join him." Katya replied.
"He said what?" the big man asked.
Katya repeated her statement but before she could get to the end of it the man was gone.
"Sorry." she whispered too herself, just as the tall man sucker punched the man at the bar.
Katya closed her eyes as a fight broke out between the two men.
"Please forgive me." she begged.
She opened her eyes and looked around all the camera's focus was on the fight. Kayta slide through the crowd easily and out the door.
Her whole body shook as she hailed a cab.
She sighed deeply as she got into the cab.
"Where too?" the driver asked.
Katya told him.
They got to the docks in what felt like no time. Katya paid the drive before getting out of the cab and walking into the lion's den.
Note: Hey my lovelies, I Just wanted to say thank you for all reviews I love reading them. Hope you enjoyed the chapter and I will update again soon. :)