A/N So I had this chapter almost written... and then I watched the premiere on wednesday. My story and their story were so in tune that I decided to re-edit what I have to make another Redux Chapter.
so SPOILER ALERT for bits of the premiere.
Second note, this will be the second last chapter. I think I need to recharge the batteries on this universe so I'll be wrapping things up and hopefully coming back with a third story at some point in the not so near but not so distant future.
Disclaimer: Everything belongs to CW & DC.
Oliver got off his motorcycle and waited at the bar in Verdant. Diggle walked in a few minutes later.
"Forget how to get in?" The bodyguard asked.
"I thought maybe she might have changed the code."
"Nope. She wanted you to be able to get in when you needed to. If we weren't ready then so be it." They walked to the door and Oliver punched in the familiar numbers on the keypad.
Oliver descended with no hesitation. He flipped the light switch and stopped in awe.
New tables, new lab equipment, new computers and better lighting. The whole area had been given a complete overhaul.
"Did Felicity do all of this?" He asked.
"She drew up the plans. We just followed instructions. We got most of it done while you were away."
"We?" Oliver asked confused. " who else knows about this?"
"That would be me." The two men turned around to see Tommy roll in from the corner that lead to the supply room and freight elevator. "I was in charge of salvage and shopping. There are bonuses to your father and best friend both having secret lairs. You can combine resources." Oliver was tentative.
"So you're ok with this?"
" I'd much rather have you out there than those guys." Tommy admitted. "When you first told me the truth, all I could see was the body count. I couldn't understand how my best friend could kill.
"Because I had no choice." Oliver said quietly. " kill or be killed."
" I get that now. I don't like it, but I get it."
"None of us like it."
"Maybe there's another way?" Diggle added. Oliver walked over to the cabinet where The Hood stood presented on a mannequin.
"Not while they have Felicity." He opened the glass door and started to gather his uniform.
"In that case, you need one more thing." Diggle pulled a long metal case out from beside the computer bay. He walked to Oliver and placed it on the closest table. "She's going to be really mad that she didn't get to give it to you herself, but I'm sure she'll forgive us."
"I don't know man. You've never seen her full wrath. She still hasn't forgiven me for spoiling the end of Breaking Bad" Tommy joked. Oliver opened the case, a beautiful new bow inside of it. He picked it up, it was perfectly weighted.
"Custom made." Diggle added. Oliver put it back in the case and spun around to face his teammates.
"So, how do we find her?" Tommy made his way over to the computers and started typing. He felt two pairs of eyes look at him in surprise. "What?"
"Since when do you hack?" Oliver asked.
"Since I needed to re-evaluate my hobbies. I mean I've got nothing on our girl Smoak, but I've picked up a few things." He hit a few more keys before leaning back triumphant. "Such as how to get into Detective Lance's computer."
The next time Felicity heard the door to her makeshift cell open, three young men entered. Two of them approached, untying her from the pipe and each taking an arm. The third kept a very large gun pointed at her as they made their way upstairs.
"Huh, a church, didn't see that one coming. I mean, I'm Jewish but isn't the whole idea of 'thou shalt not kill' pretty universal?" Felicity said nervously. She was sat on a chair while two more men joined them.
" Tell that to your boyfriend and his mother." One of the new additions sneered.
"The Queens didn't cause the earthquake. Malcolm Merlyn did." Felicity countered.
"But they helped."
"Malcolm killed Robert Queen. Everyone thought Oliver was dead too. That left Moira and her young teenage daughter" The man remained unmoved. "She was afraid of him."
" Just like my wife." He said pulling a gun out of his back pocket. He cocked it and pointed it at Felicity. "She was afraid when our house collapsed on top of her. There are two sides to this war. You made the mistake of choosing the wrong one." Felicity closed her eyes, a tear rolling down her cheek. She thought about her Mom, Robyn, and Oliver. She felt the sudden rush of air and heard the sound of metal piercing metal. She opened her eyes, looking first at her shocked, now unarmed, attacker. The entire team turned and faced the upper balcony.
" Get away from her!" A heavily modified voice shouted. She saw a flash of green and felt relief mixed with a rush of confidence and power. She kicked the guard to her left in the knees sending him to the floor in agony. She tried to get the one on her right but her almost executioner grabbed her before she had a chance, pulling her towards the back of the church and picking up a gun from his fallen comrade along the way.
Oliver took out the other three remaining kidnappers using his bow more for hitting his attackers than putting arrows in them. When they were all unconscious, he looked around. He spotted Felicity struggling against being dragged through the upper hallways. He made his way up a narrow stairwell and approached the man bow drawn.
" Let her go." He said evenly. The attacker pushed his gun up into Felicity's ribs causing her to whimper in discomfort.
"You're going to save her? There was no justice for people like the Queens until you showed up how to get it." The kidnapper said in reverence. "You showed us." Oliver flicked his glance to Felicity. She sent him a look of pure trust and confidence. Oliver released the arrow. It hit him in the shoulder forcing him to release her . He fell over the balcony and Oliver rushed to grab him. The dangeling man pointed his gun at Oliver. Felicity stood back, frozen unsure what to do. Oliver told her to get out of the church. For once she didn't argue.
Detective Lance was following the latest lead in Felicity's disappearance. A support group for victims of the earthquake had four members go missing about two days before her capture. As he was driving into the Glades to investigate, a 911 call came in. Someone heard gunfire coming out of the local church. It was the same church that the missing support group members had all attended. Quentin hit the lights and sped to the given address.
When he got there he took the back way while the two beat cops took the front. He heard footsteps approaching and pulled his gun.
"Starling Police! Don't move!"
"Woah! No! Don't shoot! Unarmed victim here!" A familiar female voice caused him to stop.
"Ms Smoak?" He asked.
"Detective Lance! Thank God! Um, our friend left you something back here." He lowered his weapon and rushed over, radioing the other cops on the scene that he had found her. He found the five men tied to the chain link fence. The Arrow sticking out of one man's shoulder the only way to confirm the Hood's involvement.
About fifteen minutes later Felicity was in the back of an ambulance, a blanket around her shoulders giving Lance her statement.
"So did he happen to tell you where the hell he's been?" Quentin asked. She shook her head.
"We didn't really have time to play catch up. But I'm pretty sure we don't have to worry about him leaving again anytime soon." They both turned as they heard Oliver, now clean faced and back in his jeans and sweater, call her name. He rushed towards her with Diggle close behind.
" Felicity, Are you alright? Is she alright? Did you get them?" He said addressing first his girlfriend then the detective before either had a chance to respond.
"She's fine Oliver." Quentin answered. " And yes, we got them. More accurately the Vigilante did." Oliver finally did what he had been dying to ever since he found out Felicity was missing. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her like there was no tomorrow. As much as he was happy that the young couple was reunited, Lance decided he didn't need to see that. He walked over to Diggle and loudly explained.
"When they come up for air let them know they can go home. We'll be in touch if we need anything else." Diggle shook the detective's hand as an embarrassed Felicity glanced over Oliver's chuckling shoulder and waved at her other friend.
Back in the car, Oliver held Felicity close to him as Diggle drove them to Queen Manor. Everyone was there waiting for news and to see for themselves that she was ok.
"By the way" Oliver said " Thank you for the new bow."
"Do you really like it?" She asked her eyes glittering with excitement. He nodded. " So you're going to start using it again?"
" Yes, but we're going to try to do it a different way."