Chapter 10
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It has been three days since Christmas an in the three times Laurel has been spending a lot of time with her mother while covering for Thea and Sara when they have to go and be Speedy and The Canary and Donna has headed home.
It is the early hours of Monday morning and Laurel, Oliver, Thea, Sara, Felicity and Diggle are at the Arrow Cave, saying goodbye to Thea, Oliver and Sara who are leaving for Nanda Parbat.
"You don't have to do this; you don't have to make a deal with Malcolm for me." Laurel says to Thea, wanting to try and get her not to go down the dark path as she failed to get Oliver and Sara not to, but she still has a chance with Thea.
"Yes, I do." Thea says, "You did whatever it took to save Sara, Oliver did the same for me, and I'm going to do whatever it takes to save you. I don't care what it takes." Thea informs Laurel, it being clear that she is concerned.
"Just look after yourself, and remember that making a deal with Malcolm always comes with consequences, bad ones." Laurel reminds Thea, not wanting her to make a deal she'll regret to save her.
"I know. It will be okay." Thea says before hugging, Laurel, "I love you."
"Love you too." Laurel responds and once they break apart Laurel heads over to Sara while Thea heads to Diggle.
"Have I mentioned how much I really don't lie the fact that you're going to Nanda Parbat?" Felicity asks Oliver curious.
"I don't like it either, but if Malcolm might know a way to save Laurel and I have to try anything to save her." Oliver tells Felicity.
"I know, just come back as you this time." Felicity requests.
"I will." Oliver responds and he and Felicity kiss.
"Tell Nyssa that I'm sorry." Laurel asks her sister, "And that I'm so thankful for everything she did for me."
"I will." Sara promises and the two Lance sisters embrace.
"I'll see you in a few days." Oliver tells Diggle who he walked over to after kissing Felicity.
"Yeah, see you soon." Diggle responds, "And don't worry, I'll handle things here."
"I know you will." Oliver responds and he and Diggle embrace, "Let's go, we've got a plane to catch." Oliver comments once he and Diggle break apart.
"Let's do this." Sara says and she, Oliver and Thea leave the Arrow Cave, leaving Laurel, Felicity and Diggle in the lair.
Because she is still off work at the DA's office until January fourth Laurel is able to sleep in, something which she is very thankful for considering everything that has happened. But, she doesn't get too sleep in much as she gets woken by her phone ringing.
As soon as she hears her phone Laurel starts to search for it before she finally finds it, "Hello." Laurel says answering it.
"Hi, Laurel. It's Barry, sorry, did I wake you?" Barry asks concerned.
"Yeah, but it's fine." Laurel assures him, "What's going on?" she asks curious as she sits up.
"Um, Caitlin has something she wants to talk to you about. Do you mind if we come by?" Barry asks curious.
"Not at all. Here's my address…" Laurel says before giving it to Barry, "I'll be home all day."
"Great. We'll see you soon." Barry responds.
"See you soon." Laurel responds, having no doubt that Caitlin and Barry will get here very quickly.
After hanging up with Barry Laurel gets up and gets dressed and ready for the day before heading into her kitchen where she makes herself a cup of tea, "Oh, Damn it." Laurel says annoyed as she notices in the refection of something, that her nose is bleeding, and obviously has been for a while as she has blood on her face and so she heads to the bathroom and cleans off her face before putting a cloth to her nose that is still bleeding. Once the cloth is against her nose Laurel heads back to the kitchen and finishes making her tea. Just when she finishes making her tea Laurel hears a knock on the door and she heads to it and answers it letting Barry, who has clearly run from Central City holding Caitlin who has a large case, in.
"Hi. Come in." Laurel tells them.
"Laurel, what happened?" Barry asks concerned seeing the bloody cloth.
"Nose bleed. It happens when you have a large tumour in your nose." Laurel explains.
"Do you mind if I have a look?" Caitlin asks curious.
"Not at all." Laurel responds and she moves to where there is more light so Caitlin can have a look as Barry follows behind, closing the door behind him.
"Okay. Just hold your head forward, it should stop in a couple of minutes." Caitlin tells Laurel after having a look.
"Okay. Sit down, both of you." Laurel says and the Barry sits down on the chair while Laurel and Caitlin sit down on the couch, Laurel holding her head forward as she does.
"Has it been bleeding long?" Caitlin asks.
"I'm not sure. I woke up and had blood on my face and it was bleeding so I really don't know how long." Laurel admits.
"In that case you should drink a lot of water and orange juice." Caitlin tells Laurel.
"Water I can do, but I don't have orange juice." Laurel answers.
"I'll go get you some." Barry says before running out, before Laurel can tell him not to worry. A few seconds later Barry runs back into the apartment and hands Laurel a bottle of water and a bottle of orange juice.
"Thanks Barry." Laurel says, gratefully, "I think it's stopped." Laurel admits as she removes the cloth from underneath her nose.
"Good, that's good." Caitlin says as Barry sits back down.
"So, what did you want to talk to me about?" Laurel asks curious once she has drunk a large mouthful of the orange juice.
"I've been looking into all the experimental treatments for your cancer since Barry told me and everything I've found seems to have really positive results, but only when the cancer is in its early stages." Caitlin explains.
"So, you're saying that there is nothing you can do." Laurel realises.
"No, it's not." Caitlin says, "I think I can use the bases of the treatment and combine them with some of the more unusual things we have seen in recent times to create a serum that might be able to heal or cure you, but I'm going to need a couple things from you." Caitlin explains.
"Like what?" Laurel asks curious, not allowing herself to hope that Caitlin might find a cure.
"Well a blood sample and I'm going to need a sample of one of your tumours." Caitlin informs Laurel.
"Okay. How are you going to get that?" Laurel asks curious, suspecting that it's not going to be pleasant for her.
"Well I have the equipment and knowledge to get the sample myself right now, and I have the drugs so that you won't feel any pain." Caitlin explains.
"No, no drugs." Laurel says to Caitlin and Barry's surprise.
"Laurel…" Barry starts to say.
"I'm a recovering alcoholic and drug addict." Laurel reveals, "I'll let you take a sample of the tumour, but I won't take drugs." Laurel informs Caitlin.
"It's going to hurt." Caitlin informs Laurel.
"That's okay."
"Okay. I would like to take the blood sample first, then do the biopsy." Caitlin informs Laurel, honestly she is impressed with Laurel's choice not to have the drugs and she admires her strength.
"Okay." Laurel responds.
"So, I couldn't get through to Oliver, has something happened?" Barry asks as Caitlin starts to get ready to take Laurel's blood.
"Oliver's gone to Nanda Parbat with Sara and Thea. They're going to ask Malcolm for help, ask if he knows anyway to heal me." Laurel explains as since has to stop herself from reacting as Caitlin stabs the needle into her.
"Is that a good idea? Don't deals with Malcolm only end badly." Barry asks concerned.
"It's not a good idea, but they want to save me. Said that they'll do whatever it takes." Laurel explains.
"Which you're not happy about." Caitlin realises.
"I'm worried. I don't want any of them, or anyone, to go down a dark path to save me." Laurel explains.
"They love you, there is nothing they won't do." Barry tells Laurel.
"I know." Laurel responds and the three of them drift into silence.
"So, I'm going to have to get a few things ready but then I can do the biopsy." Caitlin says as she puts the vial of Laurel's blood into a container and into her case.
"Okay. What do you need?" Laurel asks curious.
"Well, somewhere where you could lie down would be best." Caitlin says.
"My rooms through there." Laurel says pointing to her room.
"Sounds good to me." Caitlin says and she gets up and heads to Laurel's room.
"I have something for you." Laurel says to Barry in a quiet voice once Caitlin is out of hearing range, as she stands up.
"Okay." Barry says confused as he follows Laurel to her office.
"Oliver told me about William." Laurel says to Barry, her voice barley above a whisper.
"He did?" Barry asks shocked.
"Yeah." Laurel responds, "I told him that if it comes to it I would help him legally if it came to that, but if I'm not here then he's going to need someone good, someone I would trust to help him." Laurel explains, her voice very, very, quiet.
"Okay. What does this have to do with me?" Barry asks confused.
"You're the only one who knows." Laurel explains as she opens her desk draw and pulls out sealed envelope with 'Oliver' written on the front,
"So, you know by Felicity doesn't?" Barry asks and Laurel nods, "That's going to end badly."
"I know." Laurel confirms, "But, because you're the only one who knows you're the only one who can hold onto this." She says handing Barry the envelope.
"What is it?" Barry asks as he looks the envelop up and down.
"The names and contact details of lawyers I trust." Laurel explains, "If after I'm gone, Oliver needs a lawyer because of William give him that for me." Laurel tells Barry, making sure that her voice is only loud enough for him to hear.
"You don't think we're going to be able to find a way to save you." Barry realises, looking sad.
"I think that there is a couple of things I have to arrange in case you can't and this is one of them." Laurel explains.
"I'll keep this just in case, but we will find a way Laurel, we're all working on it." Barry tells her, trying to look reassuring.
"I know you are." Laurel responds with a half-smile.
"Laurel." Caitlin says, walking into the office, "I'm ready to do the procedure now if you're ready." Caitlin informs her.
"Yeah, I'm ready." Laurel says as Barry folds the envelope and puts it into his pocket, and Laurel follows Caitlin to her room, and Barry follows her.
"Like I said, this is going to be really painful without drugs." Caitlin informs Laurel as they walk.
"I know. I can handle it." Laurel assures her, "So, how are you going to do this?" Laurel ask curious.
"Well, Barry is going to hold an imaging device that Cisco created so that I can see inside your nose and face, while I use a device and go up through your nostril to the tumour and extract a piece of the tumour. It won't be pleasant for you, and I'm going to have to be careful because of the position of the tumour. It's in a sensitive area which means if I'm off then I could cause some damage." Caitlin informs Laurel.
"Guess, you better be careful then." Laurel comments as she lies down as considering she is dying she isn't afraid of much anymore.
"I will be." Caitlin assures as she puts on a pair of gloves, "Just stay as still as you can be." Caitlin tells Laurel.
"I will." Laurel responds as she closes her eyes as she suspects that it might be best that she doesn't watch this.
"Okay. I'm starting." Caitlin's voice says about a minute later and right after she says that Laurel feels a lot of pressure followed by a lot of pain that she has a hard time not reacting too.
"Just hold on, Laurel. Caitlin will be done soon." Barry says in a comforting tone of voice as it takes all of Laurel's strength not to cry out in pain and move in an attempt to get away from the object that Caitlin has up her nose.
"Okay. I got it, I'm done." Caitlin says after Laurel feels a sharp pain, and she slowly removes the extractor from Laurel's nostril and puts the sample of the tumour she collected into a container, "Are you okay?" Caitlin asks Laurel concerned as she closes the lid on the sample.
"Yeah." Laurel says, wincing as she sits up and Caitlin puts the sample into her case and closes it.
"Slowly would be best." Barry tells Laurel.
"And you should take things easy today, drink pliantly of water and rest." Caitlin says, "And you're going to have a bit of bleeding." She says as she hands Laurel a cloth.
"Will do." Laurel responds as she puts the cloth against her nose.
"I'll get started on the serum right away, but it might take a few weeks, maybe more." Caitlin explains, hoping that she can create something that works before it's too late, "I'll keep you updated."
"Thank you." Laurel responds.
"Not a problem." Caitlin responds.
"Do you two have some time for a cup of tea before you head back to Central City?" Laurel asks curious.
"Yes." Barry says.
"That will be nice." Caitlin says and the three of them head into the kitchen, Caitlin and Barry watching Laurel concerned as they do.
Hours after they left Star City Oliver, Thea, and Sara arrive in Nanda Parbat and are lead in once members of the league realises who they are.
"This place gives me the creeps." Thea comments, as they are lead through the building, "Did you really live her for years?" she asks Sara in a whisper.
"Yeah, but I still find it creepy." Sara admits as the only reason why she even started to see it as a home was Nyssa.
"Stay alert, both of you." Oliver tells Thea and Sara, causing both of them to roll their eyes as neither of them need to be reminded about that.
"Well, this is a surprise." Malcolm comments as Thea, Oliver and Sara walk in to see them, "Ta-er al-Safar, you are looking better than the last time I saw you." Malcolm comments upon seeing Sara.
"I got my soul back, which is more than I can say for you." Sara responds and Malcolm just smirks at that.
"So I see." Malcolm comments, "Thea, I'm glad to see you." He tells his daughter, "But what could the three of you possibly be doing here?" Malcolm asks, a little intrigued about what they could want.
"We need your help." Oliver says, it being very hard for him to say those words.
"I've already given Thea a way to help with the bloodlust, a way that she's not interested in. There is nothing more I can do." Malcolm tells the trio, assuming that that is why they are here.
"Of course I'm not interested in regularly killing people." Thea says angrily, "But that's not why we're here."
"It's Laurel." Sara informs Malcolm, "She has cancer, she's dying."
"And we need to know if you know of any way that could save her." Oliver tells Malcolm, it being clear that he hates that he is asking Malcolm for help.
"Why would I do that? Laurel has made several attempts on my life." Malcolm comments, not letting it show that a part of him has a soft spot for Laurel, just like he does for everyone else in Team Arrow, though Laurel is the member that, after Thea and Oliver, he has the softest spot for, partly because he recognizes the anger she has in her and what it has led her to do.
"Because Laurel's cancer was caused by what she breathed in when CNRI collapsed because of the earth quake you caused." Oliver informs Malcolm, "it's your fault she's dying." He says angrily, "And so you're going to help save her." Oliver says there being an 'or else' to the end of the sentence that everyone in the room picks up on.
"And because I'm asking you for help." Thea says stepping forward, "I haven't asked you for much but I am asking you for this. If you know a way to save Laurel please tell us, please help us." Thea asks her tone pleading.
"Why is this so important to you?" Malcolm asks his daughter, truly curious because he wants to know.
"Because even when I had no one I had Laurel." Thea says, "When everyone else was gone, every time you were gone I had Laurel." Thea says looking at Oliver, "She was there for me when no one was. She gave me a chance when no one else would, and no matter what she has never once given up on me, or stopped being there for me when I needed her, so you better believe that I'm not going to give up on her." Thea says, looking upset as she takes a step towards Malcolm, "She's my family, my sister, so I am asking you, Dad. Please, if you know a way that can save her please tell me because I can't lose her." Thea begs, looking upset.
"I may have something." Malcolm reveals, "There are some old legends I could look into, some old rituals that might help." He says.
"Thank you." Thea says gratefully.
"It might take a little while, and you're welcome to look with me, but is there anything else I can do?" Malcolm asks curious.
"I want to see, Nyssa." Sara informs Malcolm.
"Of course." Malcolm says, honestly he was expecting that, "I'll have people take you to see her." Malcolm says, signalling to member of the lead.
"Be careful." Oliver says to Sara in a quiet voice as she passes him.
"Always." Sara responds before following the members of the league.
"Show us what you've got." Oliver tells Malcolm who nods.
"Follow me." Malcolm responds and he, Thea and Oliver head in a different direction to the one that Sara headed in.
Back in Star City Laurel spent most of the day reading or just relaxing until her parents showed up to spend time with her and cook dinner. They are half way through dinner when Laurel's phone starts to ring.
"Excuse me, it's work." Laurel says when she notices Diggle's name on the caller ID and she gets up and heads to her room where she can talk to Diggle in private, "Hello." Laurel says once she is in her room with the door closed behind her.
"Hey, we've got a problem." Diggle informs her.
"What is it?" Laurel asks concerned.
"Ghosts moving, there are more than I can handle alone." Diggle explains, "I hate myself for asking this, but do you think you're up for helping me, for providing me with backup?" he asks curious, it being clear that he hates that he is asking Laurel for help when she only came out of hospital a few days earlier.
"Of course. I'll be right there." Laurel responds before hanging up and heading out of her room, "Sorry about this but I have to head into work." Laurel tells her parents.
"But you've just come out of hospital, and you're on holidays." Dinah says to her daughter.
"I know, but all of the other ADA's have gone out of town for the holiday's, I'm the only one here." Laurel explains, "I'll be back as soon as I can." Laurel says before grabbing her jacket and leaving. Honestly Laurel isn't at all surprised when she only makes it a few steps outside her apartment when her door opens and her father walks out.
"That wasn't the DA's office was it? It was your other job." Lance says to her daughter.
"Yeah. Something's happening and John needs backup." Laurel explains.
"Laurel…." Lance starts to say but Laurel cuts her off.
"I know what you're about to say, but I'm fine, really." Laurel says, "I need to do this, I'm not going to let him go out there alone." Laurel explains, it being clear how important it is to her. "Just keep Mom from asking too many questions." Laurel requests.
"I'll do my best." Lance responds, "Just be careful."
"I always am." Laurel responds and she heads down the corridor while Lance heads back to Laurel's apartment, wondering whether he is making the right choice by not following his daughter.
As Sara is lead to where Nyssa is being heled she can feel herself becoming more and more nervous as she worries about how Nyssa is going to react to seeing her again.
"She's inside." One of the members of the league inform Sara as they arrive at a chamber and after giving the assassin a nod Sara heads inside.
"Who is it? Show your face, don't hide in the shadows like a coward." Nyssa says as Sara steps into the chamber, but pauses in the shadows as she isn't sure what to say.
"it's me, Nyssa." Sara says as she steps forward as she steps into the light.
"Sara." Nyssa says, looking shocked and amazed, "You're…"
"Me again, mostly." Sara says, "When Laurel first brought me back, I didn't have a soul, but she got it back. She got me back." Sara explains as she walks towards the cage that Nyssa is being heled in.
"I have missed you every day." Nyssa tells Sara, reaching to her.
"I've missed you too." Sara responds a tear of joy coming to her eye as she takes Nyssa's single hand that has made it through the cage, "Thank you. Thank you for what you did for my sister, for what you taught her."
"I was doing what you would have done. I owed that to you." Nyssa explains, "What are you doing here? Malcolm will not let you go freely." She says, it being clear that she is worried.
"I'm here with Oliver and Thea." Sara explains, "Laurel has cancer, she's dying, and we're here to get Malcolm to find a way to save her."
"I'm sorry, Ta-er al-Safar, I'm so sorry." Nyssa says, squeezing Sara's hand as she knows how painful this must be for her beloved, "I destroyed the pit." Nyssa says, looking horrified, "That could have saved her. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
"It's okay, Laurel explained your reasons and she told me to tell you that she is sorry, and that she is thankful for everything you taught her." Sara reveals, "And I'm too, you're in this cage because of me and I'm sorry" Sara tells her, "I'll find a way to get you out of here."
"I am right where I need to be. One day Malcolm will make a mistake and I will be here when he does." Nyssa reveals, "I will stop him once and for and then we'll be together again."
"I like the sound of that." Sara says with a grin, "But until then how about you fil me in on everything I've missed." Sara suggests as she sits down on the floor right next Nyssa's cage and Nyssa does just that.