Chapter 5 – Future Possibilities
AN – Thank you all for your continued support of this rather massive story! I am so glad you are enjoying it and I'm particularly glad I was able to surprise a few of you with the Thea/ Felicity scene and Felicity's backstory! I hope to have a few more surprises as well if you stick with me! :)
Another warning for Sara fans & haters alike: I don't bash her and she will appear in later chapters as well. I have the original image of her in mind when she was first introduced to the Team so if you can channel that then you may enjoy this more! However, this remains first and foremost a Team Arrow/ Olicity fic so truly Sara is kinda a moot point to me! Still hope you guys enjoy anyway regardless of your feelings on Sara!
DISCLAIMER: As I'm posting nearly every day for this story surely we can all agree that I do not own Arrow, right?! :)
Oliver got off his bike and moved silently toward Sara as she stood near her own bike. He wasn't sure why she had chosen to meet here, the same spot where she had met Nyssa; however, he had been on edge since leaving Diggle and Felicity this morning and as the meeting with his mom hadn't helped he was barely clinging to his patience now.
"Why did you change the location?" At Sara's raised brow Oliver realized just how sharp his tone had been and gritted his teeth before he offered an apology. "I'm sorry - it's been a rough day but that's no excuse to take it out on you." He leaned forward and brushed his lips across hers in a quick kiss. Both then stepped back apart at the same time.
"Ollie - we need to talk." Sara had also had a bad day and she knew what she had to tell Oliver was going to make his worse as well. "Slade told Laurel - he just knocked on her door and told her that you are the Arrow."
"What? When did he do this?" Oliver hadn't expected this and he was shaken by the news that they had another issue to contend with when they were already struggling.
"Yesterday after he released Thea. Laurel just told me today. She said he didn't hurt her, didn't even touch her but we need to stop him now. You've got to stop him before he hurts one of our families." Sara ended on a pleading note despite the anger still heating her blood.
"Sara, I know. We are working on it but it's going to take some more time." Oliver could see the anger and even the fear under it and he simply wanted to reassure her.
"That's just it Ollie - you don't seem to know! We should have already hunted him down! We shouldn't have turned him over to the cops! If he was dead already none of this would be happening!" Sara tried to stop the angry rant as she knew the words hurt him and she wasn't trying to hurt him. She knew just how heavy the burdens Ollie carried and she cursed herself for adding to them. Why do we keep hurting each other?
"We just can't seem to make it work, can we?" Sara voiced the thought without meaning to and she saw how shocked he was.
"What do you mean? We are making it work - its rough right now but I don't want to just walk away because of that. We are together and we'll make this work." Oliver knew Sara deserved that response and he believed it was the right one even if his heart clenched painfully in his chest. An image of Felicity asleep in her bed invaded this mind and he closed his eyes to fight it off, to fight off the feel of her in his arms. This isn't about Felicity, it is about Sara and me, he reminded himself.
"No, Ollie we aren't working - we never really did." Sara was shocked at how easy that was to say and how true it was. "We are a good team but we aren't good partners." Sara saw the flicker of pain cross Ollie's face and had to look away.
Oliver was surprised that it wasn't the fact that Sara didn't believe they were good partners that hurt, but the fact that he had immediately pictured Felicity as his partner and he felt he was betraying both women with that thought. He almost apologized to Sara even though she couldn't possibly know his thoughts. "I'm sorry Sara." The words came out anyway even though Oliver knew she couldn't possibly understand them.
"Me too Ollie." Sara said on a sad laugh and Oliver realized she no doubt had other issues just as he did. "I thought once I came home everything would magically fall into place, just like I'd never left and some things did – you and me, bartending again, even fighting with Laurel." Sara gave him a sad smile before she continued. "We can't go back though. We aren't those people anymore, are we?" Sara knew they had never communicated this honestly with each other and while she was scared, it also felt good, felt right. It was as if she could finally let go of the past. Sara took a deep breath as she waited on Ollie's response.
"No, we aren't those same people but I think we are better people. We've done good things together Sara." Oliver really did believe that and he couldn't regret trying to make it work with Sara. She was his last chance to atone for the past, to heal. Oliver expected to feel pain at that loss, at that failure but he realized he felt relief instead. It was as if he could finally let go of the past.
Sara stepped closer and placed her hands on either side of his face. "You really are a hero, Ollie, and you have a great Team. You guys are saving the city. I'll still be around and I'll help whenever I can but I think I need to focus on my family, focus on my future." Sara waited until he nodded and gave a slight smile before she brushed her lips across his mouth. "I'll always love you." Sara couldn't resist kissing him again. If only we could have worked, Sara thought even though she knew the odds were stacked against them. Too much past, not enough future.
Oliver drew Sara in for a tight hug. "I really wanted us to work, I thought we were right together." Oliver murmured his regrets against her ear before he pressed a kiss to her temple. "I'm always here for you - just a call away."
The pair shared another tender look before they stepped away from one another. Without further thought, both let go of their feelings and focused on the job ahead, focused on creating a future for themselves and their loved ones.
"We need to deal with Slade or neither of us have a future." Sara reverted to the bluntness she had acquired after the Island but before her return as she voiced both of their thoughts.
"What about Laurel?" Oliver knew his Team was working on Slade but he was concerned about Laurel knowing his identity.
"I blew it off - laughed at her." Sara replied with a cocky grin. "I told her a crazy psychopath who had just kidnapped Thea before he forced his way into her home wasn't exactly a reliable source. I then reminded her that dad had already investigated and cleared you and he doesn't even like you." Sara shrugged now before she grinned at Oliver.
"So you don't think she'll cause problems?" Oliver ignored her teasing as he needed confirmation. He would accept Sara's judgment but he needed to hear her say it.
"No, she won't be a problem but we need to talk about Dad." Sara was very worried about her dad and found she needed Ollie's reassurance now. She would believe him if he said everything would be okay but she needed to hear him say it.
"We think Slade's got someone inside either the police or DA - Felicity is on it. We'll take care of your dad, Sara." Oliver spoke with confidence.
"Okay then. You'll update me when you have the details, when you have a name." Sara spoke sternly and it wasn't a request. She and Ollie didn't always agree on how to handle potential threats and she wasn't willing to give in on this one.
"I'll update you - we want you with us when we move Sara. Will you help?" Oliver felt the need to ask.
"Yeah, Ollie, I want to be in on it. I'll do my part to help." Sara quickly reassured him. She really did think they would always be a team but she knew now they would never work as partners. Sara sighed quietly to herself.
"Ok, Diggle and Felicity are at the lair. We are working on figuring out the big picture so we can defend and attack." Oliver spoke loudly at the end as he knew Sara would take offense at only being in a defensive position. They didn't always agree on how to handle potential threats but he did understand how she thought.
"So we're good then?" Sara couldn't help asking as she took Ollie's hand. She wasn't just asking about Slade but about them and she knew Ollie understood that.
"Yeah, Sara we are good." Oliver squeezed her hand and smiled.
"Tell Felicity and Diggle I said hey. Let them know I'll be back to help but I have to stick close to my family." Sara really did consider them friends even if she understood their first loyalty was to Ollie. She was actually happy he had an adopted family, had people who loved and protected him.
"I will - they've asked about you." Oliver knew Diggle and Felicity had accepted Sara because of him and he was grateful for that, but he was also grateful that they all worked together rather well.
"Any news on Roy?" Sara just thought to ask.
"Felicity is tracking him. He needs space so I doubt we'll be able to count on him against Slade." Oliver hadn't shared that thought with Diggle and Felicity yet because he knew Felicity remained hopeful for a happy ending with Roy.
"Then we'll defeat Slade without him." Sara easily accepted Ollie's statement and moved on just as easily.
"Yeah, we will - I'll call with an update after the Team meets tonight." Oliver paused as he processed his words and the obvious implication that Sara was no longer on the Team. Sara spoke before he could decide what to say.
"It's okay Ollie - it was always the three of you, probably always will be." Sara smiled as she realized she truly held no ill will toward any of them. It was surprisingly easy to focus on her family first and let the Team do their thing as well. The lair had never felt like home to her as she knew it did for Ollie, and while Diggle and Felicity were her friends they were not her family as they were for Ollie.
"I'll call." Oliver reiterated before he gave Sara's hand a final squeeze and walked back to his bike.
As he headed to the lair, Oliver replayed the conversation with Sara in his mind. He knew he should be more upset if not about losing Sara then at least about losing that connection to his past but he wasn't. He actually felt relieved and was even glad that Sara had been the one to make the decision.
Oliver knew part of the relief was because of Felicity. He had put his feelings aside for her safety and his own sanity but he had also stepped away from her friendship. He wanted that friendship back - he couldn't think beyond that right now, wouldn't let himself think beyond that right now. Right now, there was work to do. He again pushed down his feelings for Felicity as he slid off his bike and walked toward the lair.
He paused for a moment at the familiar lair door and couldn't help but smile. It had been less than two days since he had found himself here after Thea had walked away from him, after Roy had left, after Slade had won again. He had been lost but they had saved him (again). With Diggle and Felicity, he could have a future...once he took care of Slade once and for all.
Oliver pushed through the door and headed toward his friends, no longer on edge but still worried and tired.
"Hey." Oliver spoke quietly but it was enough for Felicity to turn his way and even for Diggle to stop training and walk over.
"Hey yourself – you don't look so good. Well, you look good, you know that but I just meant you don't look as good as normal. Your expression doesn't look good, your face looks good…you will both just stand there and let me keep making a fool of myself, won't you?" Felicity ended the ramble in a huff even as the men did smother their laughter.
"You do look better now though." Diggle couldn't resist pointing out which caused Oliver to stop smiling at Felicity and to glare at him instead. Felicity just looked away and remained silent.
"Did you guys do what you needed to do today?" Oliver decided he needed to change the subject and yet he wasn't quite ready to talk himself.
"We did!" Felicity jumped in quickly. "BTW, Charlie knows your secret identity and before you even say it, no, we didn't tell him. Apparently the fight scene with Isabel was enough for him to put two and two together." Felicity paused but continued quickly when Oliver opened his mouth. "No, we don't need to worry about it. Charlie is a friend and him knowing is infinitely better than Isabel knowing."
Diggle spoke up to agree, "She's right – he'll be an asset. Felicity is still going to do a search on him though."
"Okay then." Oliver just nodded his acceptance and took a few steps to take a seat next to Felicity. "Anything else?"
"Charlie will cover for us and I've already put the safeguards in place for us to keep access. There are a couple things we can't access though…" Felicity saw both men look at her in surprise and continued quickly. "Knowing all that you do I thought it best to protect us by requiring a direct connection instead of remote access. I also thought it might protect others if the safeguards were well known so I even had a few friends try to hack up and they couldn't. It really is the best way." Felicity ended with a shrug.
"Okay then." Oliver repeated as he smiled at her. "Anything else?"
"Nothing on the searches yet but there are a couple things I want to follow-up on—" Felicity began but Diggle interrupted.
"She still thinks she has a plan we won't like but she still won't give any details." Diggle smirked.
"Felicity—" Oliver growled.
"Do not use the angry Arrow voice on me Oliver – I'll tell you when I'm ready!" Felicity snapped her mouth shut as she realized the hidden meaning and glanced quickly at Diggle for help as she knew Oliver would be suspicious. I'm not ready to tell him about my past!
"What's wrong—" Oliver spoke softly now as he glanced between his partners with concern.
"Nothing – I've just been giving Felicity a hard time, that's all." Diggle spoke up quickly and even though none of them bought the excuse they did accept it. "So did you get everything done today?" Diggle continued in an attempt to redirect the conversation.
"Turns out my dad is the one who got Isabel out of Russia and arranged her adoption. Apparently he also paid for her education." Oliver paused as he remembered the rest of the conversation. "Something else happened though. Mom reminded me that she had always said Isabel couldn't be trusted but she wouldn't say why. She just said Isabel found her later and was angry about something, Isabel told her something about Dad but she wouldn't tell me what. Is that enough for you to work with?" Oliver directed the question toward Felicity who was already typing on her computer.
"Yep, I'll start checking Mr. Queen's Russian trips and associations. There should also be a money trail for the education so I'll search for that too." Felicity paused and looked back at Oliver. "Whether or not she lied to you, we need to check this out. This is helpful – thank you Oliver."
"You're welcome." Oliver stood and dropped a hand to Felicity's shoulder to squeeze it gently.
"You up for training?" Diggle asked when neither of them spoke but did continue to stare at one another.
"Yeah, let's do it." Oliver removed his hand moved quickly to change.
"You need another hour or so Felicity?" Diggle asked simply to bring her attention back from staring at the door Oliver had closed behind him.
"Yeah….hey John? Wasn't he also meeting with Sara? You think everything is okay there?" Felicity asked with genuine concern.
Diggle smiled as he realized she would always put Oliver's feelings above her own. If things aren't okay with Sara then that just might be because Oliver is putting Felicity first too, Diggle thought with another smile.
"He'll talk when he's ready Felicity." Diggle replied as he reminded Felicity gently that she too was withholding information.
"Okay, okay, got it – I'm back to work then. You boys play nice." Felicity ducked her head and returned her focus to her computers.
Diggle and Oliver trained for the next hour or so as Felicity continued to work on her programs. The QC monitoring programs hadn't netted any real results yet but her searches into Robert Queen's past had proven surprisingly fruitful. Felicity pulled up a few more reports and articles and quickly read through the translations. She then wrote a couple quick programs to modify her current QC searches with a few more specific targets. Felicity also adjusted her searches to try and connect Isabel and Slade.
Felicity heard a beep and turned to the tracking program to see that Roy was back in Starling City and that Thea was now at the club. Felicity tried to find more info on Roy but his tracker signal kept disappearing then reappearing. "What are you up to Roy? Why won't you come home?"
"Felicity?" It was Oliver's voice that startled Felicity especially as he was so close.
"Oliver! Perhaps scaring to death one of the few people left on your Team isn't the best idea!" Felicity scolded.
"Sorry - you were mumbling about Roy?" Oliver hadn't meant to scare her but couldn't help smiling as he recalled that Felicity had always complained about his 'ninja skills' and had even asked that he wear a bell while he was in the lair.
"Um, yeah. He's back in Starling City, at least I think he is. There's something weird about his signal." Felicity worked on her computer a bit but then realized Oliver was still hovering nearby. She turned back but when he remained quiet she spoke again.
"Did you need-" Felicity stopped herself when she realized he was staring at the dot marking Thea as just above them. "Give her a little more time Oliver. She just needs to remember the love but to do that the pain can't be choking her." Felicity spoke softly as she stood up and placed a hand on his arm.
"You got anything new Felicity?" Diggle asked as he approached quietly. He still wasn't sure what was going on between Oliver and Sara nor even Oliver and Felicity but he did know Slade had to remain their priority.
"Actually yes! Oliver, your mom's intel helped and I think I know why your father helped Isabel and why she's angry." Felicity sat back down at her computer and clicked open a few newspaper and journal articles. Both men leaned forward to read but Diggle moved back quickly.
"Those are in Russian Felicity - I know you don't speak Russian." Diggle frowned slightly at the blond.
"No, but I do have translation apps John." Felicity's tone perfectly mimicked a patient teacher addressing a particularly dull child. She couldn't resist grinning at him until Oliver moved back with a dark expression.
"So my dad was the one who helped the Volkoi Bratva take over by killing the entire Pavlovich clan." It wasn't really a question but Oliver still turned to Felicity.
"Yes, I think so - I can match the travel times and there's a few money trails but I can't exactly confirm it. Russia wasn't exactly technologically advanced then and there was still a lot of the old school Communist practices in place so a lot happened behind closed doors. A lot of things were simply lost too." Felicity responded even as she pulled up a few more things for Oliver to read.
Oliver didn't move forward but simply continued to look at Felicity. "You can't confirm but it is what you think happened?"
Felicity took a breath before she replied, "Yes."
"So what happened next?" Diggle asked.
"There was a lot of money made and a lot of deaths reported...and one young girl adopted by a family here in the U.S." Felicity clicked a few more things that brought more school records for one Isabel Alexander. "There was a trust in her name that was funded through a couple shell companies but it was easy to trace that back to QC. For whatever reason, your dad spared her and gave her a new life here. I would think she would be grateful...at least until she discovered his part in her family's death. I assume that's the anger and what she told Moira."
"What else do you have?" Oliver had paced while Felicity spoke but now returned to check the pictures on her monitor as she gave additional details.
"It looks like Isabel cleared out the trust fund and returned to Russia when she was around sixteen. She didn't return, well, she did clearly but she returned as Isabel Rochev. Rochev was her grandfather's name. I still haven't linked her to Slade yet but I'm using her past to search now. I'm also trying to find out what happened in Russia after she returned but I haven't been that lucky yet."
"It would certainly explain the sins of the father thing and why she is so eager to help Slade take everything that matters to you." Diggle spoke quietly after a quick look with Felicity as Oliver continued to stare at the screen.
"Dad had to have known more or else she wouldn't have been on the list." Oliver also spoke quietly but he did finally turn and looked at Diggle then Felicity. "We have to find out what happened. Please keep searching Felicity."
"Of course, there are a few results I need to go through at QC but I think...okay, here's my plan. We need to break into QC. I need access to our server directly to get full access to Isabel's secure drive. I can't do it from here. I also think we can channel Slade here and have another purpose, well, a couple other purposes really. The R&D labs are run by the computer system so I can plant a trojan carrying a virus and take the whole system down. They won't be able to mass produce the serum. Of course, the whole thing means bad publicity so Isabel will take a hit and will have a lot of explaining to do to the Board who just approved her position." Felicity ended on a grin but she grew more concerned as neither man reacted.
"You really are a genius." Oliver before he started laughing.
"More like an evil mastermind." Diggle too was chuckling.
"You guys really don't mind if we break-in to QC and wreck our own network? I will need to take down the whole system!" Felicity was surprised they were unconcerned. "True, it's not killing anyone but destroying a network is a big deal", Felicity grumbled to herself.
"It is a big deal but it's your idea and we support it." Diggle was still smiling when he responded.
Felicity realized she hadn't grumbled as quietly as she had thought but she still glared at Diggle. "It is a big deal."
"Yes, it is but it's a good plan. It gets us more intel and also stops the threat of an army for Slade." Oliver reined in his own amusement as Diggle had.
"Okay, then tomorrow night then - I need more time to tweak the programming. Plus I want to check security feeds tonight to see if they have made any changes in the labs. I know you probably want to go now but I'm not ready." Felicity wasn't willing to admit she was nervous even though she knew they knew she was.
"Tomorrow night is good. I'll update Sara tomorrow. Felicity, any news on who might be on Slade's payroll in the DA's office or police? Sara would like an update on her dad." Oliver moved the conversation forward as Felicity still appeared nervous.
"I can't find anyone yet but I started wondering if Slade was using a middle man...I've branched out the search a bit but nothing yet. How is Detective Lance holding up? How's the family?" Felicity had brought up a few programs but then turned back to Oliver to hear his response.
"He's still in jail so I would assume not so good but he is probably safer there. Let me know as soon as you have a name for the middleman." Oliver reminder her and Felicity nodded before she returned to her computer.
"Felicity, will you be ready to go in another hour or so?" It was Diggle who asked the question. It would be a much earlier night for them than usual but he thought they could all use the downtime.
"Yeah, I just need to rerun the codes and make a few more adjustments. I'll set the new reports to run on my tablet so we'll get those tonight. It certainly would be good to have time for the hot tub tonight!" Felicity responded with a smile as the guys returned to training.
AN2 – I hope you guys are still with me despite my portrayal of Sara. I truly don't expect everyone will agree and I'm good with that! I don't say that to be mean or unappreciative but one of the wonderful things about fanfic is that there are so many different writers, different plots, and different perspectives! For those with concerns, will it help if I tell you the next chapter contains the hot tub scene?! :)
