A/N: I'm prob gonna be updating a lot less because I honestly don't know where I'm going with this story and I think that reflects in this chapter. Once I figure out what to do, we'll go from there.
Laurel's eyes widened and she turned to look at Oliver. "Are you really going to let me join you guys?" She asked, excitement evident In her voice.
Oliver glanced at Felicity to double check and saw that she was smiling at Laurel. Oliver nodded and said, "Of course." He beckoned for Laurel to follow him into the foundry. "Come on in, Felicity will show you where everything is and how we do stuff around here," he said as he spotted Roy and Diggle at the other end of the room and started walking towards them.
Laurel approached Felicity and handed her the documents. "Felicity, right?" Laurel said, and Felicity nodded. "These are the files on Jacob Ruther. Oliver told me how these might help you guys catch him."
"Yeah, thanks," Felicity said as she put them on the table. "We can go over them after I give you a grand tour." Felicity walked over to the medical area and started explaining everything to Laurel, throwing in a few random comments or stories from time to time.
"Roy," Oliver said as he approached the two men, "When did you get back?"
"Around two," he said dismissively. "You weren't here."
Oliver saw Diggle and Roy exchange a glance an he immediately knew what was going on. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I know I didn't really discuss with you guys about how Laurel was going to join our team, but this isn't permanent," he said trying to gauge what they were thinking from their expressions. "I just want to give her a chance and see if she's going to benefit us or not," Oliver continued.
Diggle sighed and nodded. "I get it, man. You're not used to being part of a team and you've mostly had to make decisions on your own. But next time you want to make a huge change, at least mention it to us," Diggle said giving Oliver a meaningful look. "I'm just glad that you discussed it with Felicity," he added. Oliver nodded and Diggle went to get changed, giving Laurel a quick greeting as he passed.
Oliver turned and raised an eyebrow at Roy, asking what he had to say about the situation.
"What Dig said," Roy grunted out as he started punching one of the training dummies.
"Your feet need to be planted farther apart, and don't lean in so much when you throw punch," Oliver advised as he turned around and walked away from the mats. Roy rolled his eyes, but fixed his form nonetheless.
"And those are the training mats," Felicity said, pointing in the general direction of where Roy was beating up a dummy. "That's Roy," she said, noticing that Oliver was walking towards her. "Have you met him before?" She asked Laurel.
"Well yes," she said smiling slightly, "The first time I met him was when he stole Thea's purse, but I didn't know he was helping out the Arrow."
Felicity laughed and then turned her attention to Oliver who was by her side at this point. "You wanna go over those files now?" She asked, turning to her desk were she put them down.
"Sure," he said following Felicity. "Get over here, Roy," Oliver said, gesturing for him to come over, "We gotta get you caught up on what's going on."
Roy reluctantly walked over, and both he and Diggle joined the group that surrounded Felicity. Just as Felicity was about to open up the file, Laurel took it from her hands. It was rough enough to be considered impolite, but it wasn't rough enough for anyone to call her out on it.
"Since this file's from the DA's office, I'll be able to interpret it and get the most out of it," Laurel reasoned as she flipped it open.
"Yeah... Yeah of course," Felicity said with a smile, quickly recovering from the shock of having the file snatched from her hand. "That's why we needed your help in the first place."
Diggle quirked an eyebrow at Oliver, but saw that he was oblivious to the little scene that just went on. Instead Oliver was looking at Roy who looked as if he just saw a ghost.
Felicity turned and saw both Diggle and Oliver looking at Roy. "Hey Roy, are you okay?" She asked. She noticed that Roy was staring at her computer screen where she had pulled up some general information on Ruther.
"Is that the robber you guys have been talking about?" Roy asked, pointing to the picture of Ruther on her computer screen.
"Yeah," Felicity said, "I honestly don't think he looks that intimidating, but you look pretty freaked out... So is there something you know about him that we don't?"
"That's why I wasn't here yesterday," Roy said quietly.
"What do you mean?" Oliver asked.
"Yesterday, Sin and I were going around the Glades looking for any small stuff going down that we could stop. I remember him. He was getting beat up by another guy over some owed money or something. I saved a freaking robber!" Roy finished with a sarcastic bark of a laugh.
"Good job," Laurel said sarcastically, looking up from the files. "Do you remember anything about the man who was attacking Ruther?" Laurel asked Roy, "It might help us figure out what's going on here." Oliver nodded his agreement, and Laurel smiled.
Roy scratched the back of his neck and scrunched up his face as he reed to recall the details. "Male, dark brown hair, balding at the top a little. He was shorter than me, maybe 5'7". Pretty average build, but he was kinda weak. Seemed like a man that just sat around in an office all day. There wasn't really anything distinguishable about him. If I saw him again I would recognize him, but I don't really have photographic memory," Roy said shrugging his shoulders.
Diggle nodded. "Okay, maybe that info will come in handy later, but let's check out that folder first," he said nodding towards the folder still in Laurel's hands, "Whaddya got for us, Laurel?"
Oliver noticed Laurel sitting up even straighter as she sat poised against the edge of one of the tables. His glance slid over to Felicity who was slouched in her desk chair, head propped up by her hand, looking completely comfortable and at home in the foundry. His lip quirked up.
"Well," Laurel said in answer to Diggle's question, "there was actually a lot of damning evidence that Ruther committed these crimes, and there was barely a chance that he wouldn't go to jail, let alone be set free completely. I don't know why, but the jury decided he was innocent and just like that he's out in the streets again."
"Is there anything in there that will help us figure out why he suddenly needs the money now?" Oliver asked.
Laurel shrugged and flipped through the papers. "Not really," she said apologetically.
"Felicity, could you run some searches on any employers or coworkers he had?" Oliver said as he went to change. He needed to get some training in.
"On it," Felicity said as her fingers flew over the keys.
After a few minutes, Felicity sighed frustratedly and rolled her chair back slightly. "Nothing substantial," she said to Diggle and Laurel, who were still beside her. Both Oliver and Roy were training a few meters away. "Worked in construction for a few years, but nothing really happened. Before his trials he was jobless, so maybe he just wants the money to start a better life or something." Felicity said, tilting her head up to look at Diggle.
Diggle gave a tired laugh. "I think there's another reason behind the money," he said as he looked down at his watch. "It's almost 9 o'clock guys, anyone up for a late dinner?"
"I wouldn't mind Big Belly," Felicity said, scrunching up her face as her stomach rumbled.
Oliver came up beside Diggle. "I'll go with you to pick some up," he said to Dig.
"Don't get me anything," Roy said from the training mats. "I was thinking of leaving in a little bit, if that's okay with you guys because it's getting kind of late and I have to..."
"It's fine Roy," Oliver said cutting him off giving him a reassuring nod. Oliver didn't need a reason. The kid was training his butt off and deserved a night to himself. "We'll see you tomorrow," Oliver said as he and Diggle walked out of the lair.
Roy left a few minute afterwards, which left the two ladies in silence.
"Why do you think the jury just randomly decided he was innocent?" Felicity asked suddenly when the silence got a little overwhelming.
"I honestly don't know," Laurel said with a huff of a breath. "If I didn't know better I would've thought that the jury was somehow biased and someone messed with the court system, but I don't know how that would've been pulled off."
"What if they were somehow forced to say he wasn't guilty?" Felicity brainstormed out loud.
Laurel's eyes widened. "Maybe that's why Ruther needs the money!" She said standing up pacing around. "If he somehow bribed the jury into saying he was not guilty, he would need money to pay them!"
"We just need to figure out who was in the jury for his cases," Felicity said quickly swiveling her chair to face her computers. Her fingers flew over the keys with a newfound determination.
Laurel looked in the folder from the DA's office and listed some names for Felicity to look up. "We work pretty well together," Laurel remarked once they got through all the names.
Felicity smiled at her and nodded in agreement. "That we do," she said.
"Do you spend a lot of time with Oliver?" Laurel asked suddenly.
Felicity looked up, surprised and a bit flustered. "I guess," she said pursing her lips. "I mean we both work at QC and we spend a lot of time in the foundry."
"I used to know Oliver so well," Laurel said with a distant, almost dreamy look in her eyes. "I'm so glad I know every part of him again. Now we can honestly share our feelings and become closer."
Felicity smiled and nodded, trying not to grimace. Another Lance joining Team Arrow and falling for Oliver. It was all getting pretty old, but she had no right to judge because she might just be falling for Oliver, too.
"Oliver!" Laurel said excitedly when the two men walked into the foundry. "We found something that might help us catch the robber."
Laurel's shouts shook Felicity out of her thoughts and she blushed when Oliver's arm brushed against her when he put the bag of burgers next to her. "Food!" She said grabbing for the bag. Oliver quirked and eyebrow at her. "Oh, the info's on the computer," she said nodding her head towards one if the screens while taking a big bite out of her burger.
Laurel quietly explained their theory as Oliver read the information that Felicity had gathered.
Oliver walked over to the case containing his suit. "I think I'm going to go visit one of those people," Oliver said looking at the list of jury members.
"Hey, man," Diggle said at the same time Felicity said, "Oliver..."
"I don't think that's the best idea," Felicity continued. "This is just a theory, and we don't really have much to back it up. How about we wait until tomorrow after we know a little bit more."
"You're right," Oliver said, "It's getting late, we should all head home. Let me walk you to your car, Felicity."
Felicity nodded and started to pack up her things, feeling Laurel's eyes on her the whole time.
"Goodnight, Diggle," she said giving him a wave.
He gave a nod and a smile in return. "Goodnight," he said.
"'Night, Laurel," Felicity said turning to Laurel. "Are you gonna come by tomorrow night?"
"Of course!" She said, sounding a little offended. "Goodnight."
Her eyes followed Oliver and Felicity as he walked with her and opened the door.
Diggle noticed her watching and shook his head. He'd never been a huge fan of dramatic love triangles.
"You got everything?" Oliver asked as they stood by Felicity's car.
"Yup," she said patting her messenger bag. "I'm bringing home the file on Ruther's case so I can do a little more research."
Oliver nodded. "Thanks for putting so much time into catching this guy," he said with a grateful smile.
"Makes me feel good," she said with a nod, "I'm helping a hero save his city, one criminal at a time."
Oliver's smile grew. Felicity's belief in him sometimes made him believe in himself more, and he was forever grateful.
"You better get some sleep tonight, though," Felicity said, suddenly becoming serious. "Don't think I haven't noticed the bags under your eyes getting darker, Oliver."
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I'm trying, Felicity," he said with a shrug, "It's just been pretty difficult with all of the changes that have happened."
She gave him a sad smile, and out of the blue, reached up and gave him a hug. "Goodnight, Oliver."
He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed lightly, returning the hug. "Goodnight, Felicity," he said and they unwrapped their arms. "Drive safe," he added when she got into her car.
"Will do," she said with a smile and a mock salute. Oliver smiled and waved as she drove away.
Oliver walked back into the foundry.
"Come on, Laurel," he said gesturing for Laurel to follow him. "Let me give you a ride home."
She quickly followed him out the door, not even bothering to say goodnight to Diggle.
"You're really helping us out, Laurel," Oliver said once they were settled in his car. "Thank you for agreeing to join us."
Laurel nodded. "I just think it's great that you're letting me into your life again." She said placing a hand on his arm. "I can now get to know you as the man you are now."
Oliver nodded, but in his head a mini war raged. He really did care for Laurel and he knew she cared for him, too, but he wasn't sure if he was compatible with her as the man he was now. Oliver shook his head to try to clear it. He had enough to think about, he didn't need to add to it.
When Oliver returned to the foundry Diggle had already left, but he found a note that Dig and written for him. Oliver read it over twice and let out a big sigh, scrubbing his hands down his face.
You know how Felicity feels. Is throwing in another Lance really going to help things? Sleep well.
-Dig
A/N 2.0: I know I totally copied the whole 'jury was bribed/threatened' from Moira's court case, but I honestly just wanted this robber thing to be a short storyline and it's already taken up 3 chapters and I want to end it! Forgive me if it's getting boring.