Chapter 9 – Brothers and Sisters

AN – BTW, I've commented to some that this is a mammoth story to write; however, I also understand it's a mammoth one to read so I do appreciate everyone that has continued with this! I also understand it's complicated and messy and you have questions and concerns - I do guarantee a happy ending but not until the actual ending! :)

AN2 – Mic, thank you for your continued support as well as the beta work is mammoth too!

DISCLAIMER – Nope, not mine!


After a quick change of clothes the Team did walk out the front door with plenty of witnesses to their departure. They made quick time to the lair and Felicity was the first one through the door.

"Roy? Where are you?" Felicity called out as she looked around.

"Hello, Ms. Smoak, I don't believe we have been officially introduced. I'm Slade Wilson."


Before Felicity could even reply both Oliver and Diggle stood in front of her. She did continue to stare at the sight of Roy standing next to Slade in utter shock. She didn't even notice the masked soldiers standing with them as her brain couldn't wrap around the fact that Roy was there with Slade, in her home, in their home!

"Slade." Oliver bit out the greeting without even acknowledging Roy.

"Hey kid. Nice place you've got here. It's not the Plaza but it's good." Slade smirked as he taunted the younger man.

Oliver remained still except to reach back and take Felicity's hand for a quick squeeze. Diggle had his hand on his gun but didn't remove it from the holster just yet.

"Mr. Diggle, nice to meet you as well. Now that we all know each other, let's catch up. So Oliver, how's the family? How's business?" Slade laughed as he stood up.

The Team remained silent and still for several moments until Oliver spoke in a surprisingly calm voice.

"What do you want? Why don't you just come after me and leave the others alone. This is just between us, Slade." Oliver spoke through gritted teeth as he kept his attention focused on Slade even as he remained aware of the masked men and Roy. The younger man stood close to Slade but didn't appear to be under duress - instead he seemed relaxed and confident. Oliver was more concerned with Felicity being in such close proximity to Slade though so Roy was an afterthought for now.

"Ah, but they are involved - they are all involved because of you. You brought them into this and you made them a target. Should we ask Mr. Harper's opinion on the subject? I have to warn you though that having spoken with him at length about this I have concluded that your sister's ex-boyfriend doesn't like you very much Oliver." Again Slade chuckled even as he slapped Roy lightly on the shoulder.

"You are the one who took Thea, Slade - not me. Roy can think what he wants though." Oliver tried to rein in his anger and guilt as he knew Slade would use his emotions against him, against Felicity and Diggle.

"You are running out of people who believe your lies kid, running out of people who believe you are a hero. No more Roy. No more Thea. I don't see a Lance sister here either. How much longer before Mr. Diggle and Ms. Smoak abandon you as well? Only then will you know how it feels to be truly alone." Now Slade's own anger was obvious. He paused for a moment as if listening to someone else speak before he continued.

"I promised you would know true despair before I killed you and you will. I've taken your family, your business, and even your young protégé here but I'm not finished yet. I'll destroy anyone who follows you." Slade glanced at Diggle before he returned his eyes to Oliver's. "I'll corrupt those you love." Again Slade paused as his gaze shifted to rest on Felicity.

Felicity met Slade's eyes and despite her own fear she still held his gaze even as she stepped closer to Oliver.

Slade grinned at the blond as he told Oliver, "Only then will I put an arrow through your eye kid." At Felicity's gasp Slade laughed.

"I thought we were going to kill him now." It was Roy who muttered his discontent with waiting.

"Not yet Mr. Harper - he still has hope. Only after he loses everything will I put an end to his misery." Slade sounded very much like a benevolent king speaking to his loyal subjects.

"I'm done waiting!" Roy growled as he launched himself at Oliver. Diggle turned and spun Felicity out of the way as Oliver rushed forward to meet Roy. The pair fell to the ground, grappling for dominance as both landed several painful blows. Roy clearly had more strength but Oliver had more knowledge and experience. In just a few moments though Roy stood and brought up Oliver with a hand closed around his throat. Only when he lifted him off the ground did Slade laugh and comment.

"Mr. Harper still hasn't learned control but I'm not as worried about that as you need to be kid."

Felicity couldn't take it and when Diggle returned his focus to Slade and drew his gun she ran toward Oliver and Roy screaming. "Nooo! Roy put him down! Stop it! You're killing him!"

Roy did drop Oliver and as he turned to face Felicity his free hand connected with her stomach and sent her flying through the air. She crashed into a nearby table and fell to the ground – no longer moving.

Oliver pushed Roy out of the way and moved toward Felicity as Diggle moved to her side, gun still drawn. Oliver was stopped as Slade's two masked thugs grabbed him and held him immobile as Slade approached.

"Listen well kid. I'm almost done playing, almost – you will be glad to die when I do finally decide to end it." Slade snarled the warning before he nodded at the men who then threw Oliver across the lair and into a wall.

"I wouldn't pull the trigger Mr. Diggle. You have two people down and a bomb that will go off in exactly three minutes. You and I both know you can't take us all down and still save your friends." Slade didn't even look at Diggle as he walked away. Roy followed as did the two masked men.

"Felicity!" Diggle called urgently to her even as he tried not to move her. When Felicity remained unresponsive Diggle moved across the room to shake Oliver's still unmoving body.

"Oliver! We need to get out now!" Diggle's voice was loud and urgent. He couldn't, he wouldn't lose both of his Team members.

Waking up to Diggle's sharp shake on his shoulders Oliver lunged at the other man before he processed his surroundings and pulled back. "Felicity!" Oliver called out as he scrambled to his feet.

"We need to get her and go." Diggle advised as he followed Oliver back across the room. "There's a bomb somewhere Oliver – we can't stay here!"

Oliver caressed Felicity's face and gently spoke her name. Diggle knelt on her other side to check her breathing and pulse.

"She's alive – let's get her to the hospital."

Before Diggle even finished speaking Oliver had Felicity in his arms and was moving toward the door. Diggle stopped to grab a few supplies and essentials but then quickly followed. They had barely made it out when the bomb exploded. Both men crouched down but the explosion seemed to be directed internally and was small enough not to collapse the building. Neither man looked back as they continued to rush toward the car.

Oliver slid into the back seat and continued to cradle Felicity in his arms. He rocked her slightly as he softly begged her to wake-up and be okay. Oliver was sure his heart stopped beating when Felicity's eye lids fluttered and he found himself staring into her beautiful eyes once again.

"Oliver?" Felicity barely recognized her own voice through the haze of pain. She tried to focus on the man holding her but when she did she gasped in fear. Oliver looked scared and she had never seen such a look of absolute terror on his face. Felicity felt his fear as her own and she prayed that he and Diggle were okay. She asked even though she wasn't sure she wanted the answer. "Oliver?"

"Yeah, I'm here – you're okay, everything is okay." Oliver pulled her in close nearly overwhelmed with relief but he stopped when she moaned in pain.

"How is she?" Diggle had been dazed with concern for Felicity and it had taken him a moment to accept she was awake. It took another few moments for him to return to crisis mode as his training demanded. "What are her injuries? Hospital ETA 2 minutes."

"Felicity, what hurts?" Oliver loosened his grip and tried to be objective as he looked at her but he couldn't help but stare at the blood along her temple and the pain reflected in her eyes before she closed them again without answering.

"Oliver! Focus – what's her condition?" Diggle spoke sharply hoping to spur Oliver to action but he was also motivated by fear as Felicity hadn't spoken since she had uttered Oliver's name.

"Still breathing, pulse is good." Oliver laid a hand over her heart and just paused for a moment. He would do anything, make any deal, whatever was necessary for the woman in his arms to live. Oliver felt like his own life hung in the balance and he felt all of the despair Slade had promised would be his.

"Oliver?" Diggle could see Oliver's expression in the rear view mirror and felt fear clench his heart at his friend's look of utter devastation. Surely, we haven't…she can't be…

"Still breathing, pulse is good." Oliver repeated his words and tried to push his fears aside as his emotions wouldn't help save Felicity. He brushed one hand down her side as far as he could reach while his eyes also checked for visible signs of injury. When Felicity winced as he brushed her ribs he paused and pressed lightly again to confirm an injury.

"Ribs bruised or broken." Oliver ground out that observation even as he again saw Roy's fist connect with Felicity and knew that memory would always be with him. Anger briefly replaced his fear but he again pushed his emotions aside and continued to check her.

"Head injury – still bleeding slightly." Oliver tried not to focus on the fact that he literally had Felicity's blood on his hands now.

"We're here – let's get her inside." Diggle turned off the car and jumped out quickly so he could take Felicity but Oliver had already gotten out with the blond still cradled in his arms. Diggle flew forward to open the doors and bark orders at the emergency room staff.

Felicity was quickly whisked away and despite both of them loudly expressly their displeasure they were not allowed to follow her back. Both men paced back and forth, growling under their breaths as they waited. Neither wanted to discuss Slade or what needed to be done. Neither cared that Roy had switched sides or that they had lost another battle. Nothing else mattered but the woman who was the heart and soul of Team Arrow, the woman they couldn't afford to lose, the woman they had sworn to protect.

As a doctor entered the lobby both Oliver and Diggle moved toward him unaware or at least uncaring of how threatening they appeared.

"Mr. Queen? Mr. Diggle? I'm Dr. Rathborne and I'm treating Ms. Smoak." Before the doctor got any further Diggle spoke.

"We are her family – tell us what's going on!" Diggle was prepared to threaten the doctor if he refused to update them as neither he nor Oliver were blood relatives of Felicity.

"Of course – you are both listed as her emergency contacts and Ms. Smoak's medical papers on file here grant me the authority to provide all her information to you." The doctor was happy he could give that answer as both men appeared ready to beat and torture him for information.

Diggle and Oliver exchanged a quick glance as they hadn't known Felicity had medical records on file but they quickly returned their attention to the doctor as he started to speak.

"Ms. Smoak has a couple cracked ribs, a concussion, and sprained wrist but she will be okay. We need to keep her here overnight for observation but you should be able to take her home tomorrow." Dr. Rathborne was also relieved to have happy news to deliver as he was fighting his instincts to run or at least step back as both men continued to press toward him.

"You can follow me to her room now." He had barely spoken those words when both Diggle and Oliver stepped even closer which forced him to stumble back. The doctor quickly turned and started toward Felicity's room, happy to get away from the men.

"We've given her pain meds so she's a little out of it. She should sleep through the night so I would advise you to visit briefly and then go home…" The doctor stopped speaking as both men had pushed past him into the room and were entirely focused on the blond in the bed. Breathing a sigh of relief, Dr. Rathborne quickly left and returned to his other patients.

Oliver stopped and just stared amazed at how small, how fragile Felicity seemed with the bandage on her head, another on her wrist, and covered by hospital linens. He knew just how strong and capable she was but that didn't mean he was ever going to let her go into the field again. As he realized she hadn't been hurt in the field but in the lair and by one of their own, Oliver growled and clenched his fists.

"Oliver?" Felicity heard Oliver's growl and forced her eyes open. She had been awake and responsive for the doctor and nurses but the pain meds were already both dulling the pain and clouding her mind. "What are you doing here?"

"Where else would we be?" Oliver asked as he tucked the anger away and focused on his partner. He took the hand she waved in his general direction and knelt down so he was closer to her level. "How are you feeling?"

"Pretty good – I think they gave me John's kind of aspirin." Felicity giggled and then closed her eyes and groaned. "Okay, maybe I need another aspirin. Where is John? I'll ask him."

"Right here Felicity." Diggle spoke softly and took Felicity's other hand in his. "I don't think you need another aspirin though." Diggle was man enough to admit that he was nearly giddy with relief that the blond was relatively well.

Felicity grinned goofily at them both before she muttered, "Gonna rest my eyes a bit, just a bit though…we still have to catch Slade, I'll be ready in just a few minutes."

Both men exchanged a look of relief and amusement. Diggle dropped Felicity's hand to move a chair close by her bed. He then took a moment to check-out the room, test the window, and then he stepped into the hall to note the emergency exits and general layout. After he finished his inspection he took the seat by Felicity and prepared to simply wait, still overwhelmingly grateful that his friend was well.

Meanwhile, Oliver remained in a crouched position still holding Felicity's hand. He moved his other hand to caress her face but froze when he noticed the dried blood on his hands, her blood. Oliver jumped up quickly and moved to wash his hands even as he wished it would be that easy to wipe away the memory for him, for her, for them all.

"Felicity!" It was Thea's voice and Oliver and Diggle were both surprised even as they both moved toward her.

"Speedy?" The old nickname slipped out and Oliver winced before he continued. "Thea, what are you doing here?"

"The police called me about the explosion at the club and then the hospital called as apparently Felicity listed me as an emergency contact." Thea had been surprised but it had warmed her heart, thawed it really for the other woman to think so well of her.

Oliver simply stared as he couldn't believe Felicity would do that…that must have been some talk, more questions I need to ask Felicity. As he glanced at Diggle Oliver realized his friend wasn't quite as surprised as he was by that development. When Thea spoke though Oliver buried the questions and focused on the current situation.

"How is she?" Thea asked as she moved slowly toward Felicity. At that moment, Felicity's eyes opened and she smiled at Thea.

"Hey, it's my sister! Have you met my new sister Oliver?" Felicity spoke in a happy if slightly slurred voice and she appeared to have difficulty switching her gaze from Thea to Oliver.

Thea flushed but smiled at Felicity anyway. "Yeah, I've met Ollie, Felicity, seeing as how he is my brother and everything." Thea quickly met Oliver's eyes and smiled at him as well.

Oliver was surprised that Thea smiled at him and he began to think that maybe Felicity was right and Thea would come back to him after all. Felicity's loud voice brought his attention quickly back to her though.

"Nooooooo! No, no, no, he isn't! That would make him my brother and that would be wrong! Ugh, we couldn't kiss then, not that we have kissed or anything but I've thought about it and sisters shouldn't think that way about their brothers." Felicity had brought her attention to Oliver and he stepped close and again took the hand she waved haphazardly in the air.

"I am not your brother Felicity." Oliver growled that vehement denial despite being concerned at what both Diggle and Thea thought of Felicity's rambling. He knew what he thought about it…but now really wasn't the time for that.

"Good! I think you'd be a good brother but not to me! John's my brother! Aren't you John?" Felicity looked around the room but couldn't seem to find Diggle so she again looked at Oliver and continued before anyone thought of a way to stop her.

"See that's why I didn't want you to get John when I was in the hot tub. It would have been wrong for my brother to see me naked. I guess it was wrong for you to see me naked too but…hey, where did you go Oliver?" Felicity asked the last question after she closed her eyes.

"I'm right here Felicity – I'm not going anywhere." Oliver growled low in his throat and avoided both Thea's and Diggle's eyes. He had heard both smother their laughter but chose to ignore them. He knew he had to find a way to shut Felicity up for both of their sakes.

Felicity opened her eyes and spoke in a happy voice. "Hey Ollie, no, you're not Ollie, you're Oliver, my Oliver...how are you making the room move like that? That's a neat trick! Oh hey Thea! I'm glad to see you! Did you know—"

Oliver did the only thing he could think of and that was to press his lips to Felicity's. He meant only to shut her up but couldn't help softening the kiss and opening his mouth slightly as Felicity responded.

It was a loud cough that brought him back to the present though and with a final brush of his lips against Felicity's Oliver stepped away.

"You kissed me…that was our first kiss!" Felicity spoke in a wondrous tone with a bright smile on her face and Oliver couldn't resist brushing his lips against her again.

"That was our second kiss." Oliver spoke softly and smiled back at Felicity. He only moved away when someone coughed again.

"Oliver, you might want to try and get her to calm down and sleep." Diggle advised from across the room. He didn't want to step forward because if Felicity was able to focus on him she would probably start rambling about something new.

"I don't think that requires a good night kiss though. Felicity really is riding those good drugs and it's not right to take advantage of her." It was Thea who added those stern instructions and both men looked at her in surprise as she tried to protect Felicity.

"Heyyyy, Oliver wouldn't take advantage of me Thea – take that back right now. Apologize to your brother! You two need to talk anyway. Why don't you go outside? It's a pretty day, you can walk together and make-up. Then we can talk about Roy…hmmm, Roy…" Felicity's words were even more slurred now and her eyes appeared fuzzy and unfocused.

Diggle stepped forward then as he was afraid Felicity would remember what had happened and share too much in front of the younger Queen. "Hey, Felicity, why don't we watch some TV? I bet there's something on that you'll like."

As he passed Oliver he paused and spoke quietly, "You need to get Thea out – I'll watch over Felicity."

Oliver gave a nod but continued to stare at Felicity as Diggle turned on the TV and Felicity started giggling. "We'll be just outside, John." After another long look at Felicity Oliver turned and guided his still silent sister out the door.

"You wanna tell me what's going on Ollie? I thought you were with Sara! Felicity doesn't deserve to be the other woman – oh no!" Thea ended on a gasp as she remembered all that Felicity had revealed.

"What Thea?" Oliver demanded. He was feeling edgy even being just steps away from Felicity when he felt she needed him.

"You need to break up with Sara—" Thea was the one making demands now but Oliver interrupted.

"We already broke-up not that it is any of your business Speedy." Oliver paused when he realized that they had quickly fallen into old sibling patterns of bickering. He took a deep breath and tried again. "Look, I'll take care of Felicity and we'll talk about how you guys became sisters later but we need to talk now. You and me, Thea."

"Yeah, okay. I am still mad at you Ollie but I finally remembered, well, actually Felicity reminded me that I love you…and that you love me." Thea had started strong but ended with a hesitant tone.

"I do love you Speedy. I am sorry I lied to you but I haven't known long. In fact, it was Felicity that told me. I need you to believe that I am sorry and that I love you." Oliver took his sister's hand and held her gaze hoping she would see the truth and accept it.

There was just a short pause before Thea threw herself into her brother's arms. The siblings hugged for several moments before Thea pulled back to ask.

"As Mr. Wilson lied about how long you had known does that mean he also lied when he said you were the Arrow?"


AN3 – I've found I really do like the cliffhanger thing! Next chapter should be up tomorrow so have a little faith, okay?! :)