Disclaimer: I do not own Arrow.
The credit for what ultimately happens to Laurel in this chapter goes to Phillipe363.
Arrow Lair
night
"Aw!" Roy whined as his arrows failed to hit the target.
"Don't get to upset, I didn't hit my mark my first time either." Oliver told him and Roy looked at him surprised.
"Really?" Roy asked and Oliver chuckled.
"My first attempt was nothing short of embarrassing. You'll get the hang of it kid." Oliver promised him.
Lian Yu, five years ago
day
"Slade!" Oliver called out as he and Sara walked into the fuselage looking for their friend, "I thought maybe he'd come back here."
"The Mirakuru, it changed him in more ways than one. He's...different." Sara finished as Oliver caught sight of the corpse from the cave.
"Well, the sensor grid is still active, so we'll know if Ivo and his men come back to the island." Oliver said as he walked over and picked up the device.
"So what do we do now?" Sara asked lost.
"I don't know Sara," Oliver admitted as he stood up, "I'm open to suggestions."
"Maybe we should try and find Slade, come up with a plan?" Sara suggested and Oliver sighed.
"It's as good a plan as we've got right now." Oliver said as they started to move forward.
Arrow Lair, next day
afternoon
"So how's his training coming?" Sara asked Oliver as Team Arrow watched Roy on the security cameras.
"His fingers keep shaking, makes it hard for him to aim." Oliver noted.
"Has Roy mentioned anything about the man in the skull mask to either of you?" Felicity asked.
"Nothing we didn't already know." Oliver said as they heard the door to the lair open.
Everyone turned around to see Laurel walk down the stairs into the lair. Oliver and Sara were immediately concerned by the look Laurel had on her face.
"Laurel, what is it?" Sara asked as her sister reached them.
"You know how I've been keeping an eye on Sebastian Blood? Well I've finally got something," Laurel said as she pulled out a file and handed it to Sara, "a few weeks ago Roy and Thea approached me, asked me to look into the death of Max Stanton."
"You think Blood's involved?" Oliver asked as he and Sara noted that Max had been injected with Mirakuru.
"Blood or a man who works for him, Cyrus Gold," Oliver, Sara, and Diggle saw the picture of Blood and the man that was indeed Cyrus Gold, "Blood and Gold knew each other from the orphanage that Blood grew up in. Blood would do anything to keep his past hidden, even murdering his own mother."
"Why would Blood do that?" Diggle inquired.
"To cover up the fact that he killed his father," Laurel said bluntly and the four of them stared at her in shock, "I tried going to the DA, no one will believe me. Sebastian Blood is dangerous and I don't know who else to turn to."
"Felicity, I need you to hack into Blood's call records, now." Oliver said sharply.
"So you believe me?" Laurel said hopefully as Felicity began typing.
"I wouldn't go that far, but there's definitely something off about Blood." Oliver agreed as he began looking through the file.
"And we can't afford not to take this seriously if you're right." Laurel agreed.
"Uh,it looks like you might be right Laurel,"Felicity called out and they turned to her, "The Alderman and Gold have stayed buddies since the orphanage."
"Wait, he's dedicated his life, risked his life for the Glades and in his spare time he's a murderer who's building an army of human weapons? It doesn't make sense." Diggle pointed out.
"You're a bodyguard who fights crime at night with his billionaire boss and his wife. Not everyone shows their true faces in public." Felicity shot back.
"We need to figure out if Blood really killed his father," Sara interrupted as she handed the file to Felicity, "Then we figure out if there's a chance that Blood has the Mirakuru formula."
Queen Consolidated
night
"Do you want good news or bad new Ollie?" Sara asked her husband as Oliver walked into the room to see Team Arrow already there.
"What do you have?" Oliver asked as he walked over to them.
"Good news, we found the file on the murder of Sebastian's father." Felicity chimed in.
"Anything to suggest that Sebastian was the one who killed him?" Oliver inquired.
"Meet bad news." Felicity said regretfully.
"It was sealed twenty seven years ago." Diggle explained.
"And since it was, there's no digital copy to hack." Sara noted.
"So why don't we take it the old fashioned way." Oliver said as he turned away.
"Except you'd need a key card to get in. And even if you did, you wouldn't know where to start looking for the file." Felicity pointed out.
"An assistant DA would." Sara said as she pulled out her phone.
Lian Yu, five years ago
night
"You know what I really miss about home? My bed." Sara said as she leaned against Oliver as they sat before a fire.
"I don't even know what a bed feels like anymore." Oliver admitted.
"And we probably never will again." Sara said grimly.
"Yes, we will. I promise." Oliver said as he leaned down and kissed her hair.
Starling City
later
The Arrow, Canary, and Laurel walked onto the roof, The Arrow notching an arrow. The Arrow fired at the access hatch, the arrow exploding upon contact and blowing open the hatch.
"Felicity, go." The Arrow ordered.
After getting the okay, the trio entered through the hatch and walked down the hall to the records room. Laurel put in her card and they entered the room, the three pausing briefly upon seeing all the files.
"this could take a while." Laurel noted.
"We only have six minutes." The Arrow told her.
"Then lets get to work." The Canary ordered and they got to searching.
"Oliver, it looks like we have the one cop with a brain here. If you're near a camera, I recommend hiding." Felicity said over the comms.
The Arrow jumped away from the camera behind him but he knew that he had been seen.
"Starling's finest will be there in five minutes, you need to get out of their now." Felicity warned them.
"We're not leaving without the file," The Canary walked over and saw her sister looking through cardboard boxes, "Laurel."
"I can't find it!" Laurel shouted as she went back up to the shelf.
"You need to hurry!" Felicity shouted over the comms.
"Wait," Laurel pulled out a file, "Case number SC43878, this is it!"
"Good, then lets go!" The Canary grabbed her sister's arm and began leading her away.
At that moment, the police burst in and called out for them. The two vigilantes exchanged a glance and The Canary nodded. The Canary and Laurel walked away as The Arrow notched an arrow and turned towards the next isle. Jumping around to face, the police, The Arrow fired and a flash went off, blinding them temporarily. The Arrow then turned and ran, the police chasing him and firing at him. As he neared them, The Canary slammed down one of her sonic devices and it went off. all the glass and camera lenses shattered as the police held their ears in pain. The canary grabbed her sister and the trio jumped out the window, The Arrow shooting off a line just before. Grabbing his partner and using his bow bow as a parachute, The Arrow landed them all gently on the ground.
"How do you guys do this stuff all the time?" Laurel asked as she was released.
"Training, lots and lots of training." The Canary told her.
Laughing in disbelief, Laurel opened the file to see it was completely empty.
Arrow Lair
later
"so someone altered the security tapes in the records room to cover up tampering with evidence." Sara said as Felicity showed them the modified tape.
"As an Alderman, Blood would have access to the files." Laurel pointed out.
"So would anyone on the city's payroll." Diggle argued.
"Blood is running for mayor. One hint that he killed his father and his political career is dead." Oliver backed Laurel up.
"I know you think that there's something off about him but I don't see it going this far." Diggle argued.
"One thing we learned on the island: You can't trust anyone Diggle," Oliver said coldly before looking over at the others, "Felicity, keep digging into Blood's past. laurel, Blood probably got the alert about the file, so he'll know you're onto him. Sara, take her home and keep watch over her."
"And where are you going?" Sara asked as Oliver turned and began walking away.
"To have a chat with the good alderman." Oliver called back.
Laurel's apartment
later
"Okay, thanks Ollie," Sara hung up the phone before turning around to face Laurel, "Blood didn't give anything away. If you're right and he is the man in the Skull mask, he's very good at hiding it. Almost as good as me and Ollie."
"What's this about Skull masks. And you mentioned something about Mirakuru earlier. What is that?" Laurel demanded.
Sara sighed and opened her mouth to speak but was cut off. A loud, powerful knocked echoed from the front door. Her training kicking in, Sara mentioned for her sister to stay there and cautiously walked over to the door. Looking through the hole in the door, Sara relaxed before opening the door to reveal Chief Barnes.
"Can I help You Chief?" Sara asked politely as she noted two officers behind him.
Barnes ignored her and walked right passed her with the two officers. Laurel looked confused as they walked over to her, Barnes pulling out some handcuffs.
"Dinah Laurel Lance, you are under arrest for aiding and abetting the vigilantes known as The Arrow and Canary," Barnes placed the cuffs on the stunned Laurel's hands, "Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law."
Sara and Laurel exchanged stunned looks as Laurel was led out of her home in handcuffs.
Starling City Police Department
later
"Barnes won't let me see her, says it's a conflict of interest." Quentin said sarcastically as he met Oliver and Sara in the hall.
"Did the cameras catch Laurel in the records room with us?" Sara inquired but Quentin shook his head.
"No. Someone sent Barnes a a photo showing her meeting with you two with a file in her hand. It's probably from last year." Quentin explained.
"Then why release it now? Quentin, can you get us that photo, or a copy of it?" Oliver inquired and Sara and Quentin both looked at him.
"You think it's a setup?" Sara asked.
"I think it's a little suspicious that this photo shows up right around the time Laurel points the finger at Blood." Oliver pointed out and the other two nodded.
"I'll see what I can do." Quentin promised.
Arrow Lair, next day
afternoon
"I think you're right Oliver, there's something up with this picture," Felicity said as ran a program on the picture Quentin had emailed them, "Laurel's image is pixcelated at a different frequency than the rest of the picture."
"And what does that mean?" Diggle asked as Oliver and Sara exchanged glances.
"It means that Laurel's picture was Photoshopped into the rest of the picture to make it look like she was helping us. Laurel was set up." Oliver growled.
"Hey!" Team Arrow whirled around to see Quentin rushing in, "Laurel was just abducted from Iron heights!"
"She was what?" Sara growled.
"Someone broke into her cell and kidnapped her this morning. And on the wall, painted in red, it said 'tell the Starling Vigilantes Starling Cannery.'" Quentin explained hurriedly.
"Then there's not a moment to waste, let's go!" Oliver barked as he and Sara moved for their suits.
Starling City
later in the afternoon
Brother Blood had Laurel on a choke hold when an arrow flew out and landed on the ground next to them.
"Get away from her!" The Canary snarled.
"Or we will put. You. Down." The Arrow said in a cold voice.
"You wanted us here, we're here. Let. Here. Go." The Canary snarled.
"No," Brother blood threw Laurel to the ground before he pulled out a pistol, "I think she should witness this."
The Arrow fired at him and flying weapon knocked the pistol out of Blood's hand. Then The Arrow dropped down to the floor as The Canary took out her baton and both Vigilantes rushed at Blood. Even double teaming him, Blood seemed to be holding his own. They led him back towards the boiler room as the fight progressed, using fists, kicks, and batons as the fight continued. The three combatants entered the boiler room as they fought, Blood managing to tackle The Arrow to the ground. When The Canary moved to intercept, He kicked the baton out of her hands. Jumping up, he grabbed it and struck her across the face with it. As she fell, shots rang out as Blood's body jerked. Laurel came from around the corner, a gun in her hand as Blood went down.
"Take off his mask," Laurel said and the vigilantes looked over at her, "I need to see."
The Arrow nodded and knelt down and removed the skull mask. They were all stunned to see it was not Sebastian Blood, but one of the officers that had arrived with Barnes to arrest Laurel. He smiled up at them sardonically before he took his last breath.
Starling City Police Department
night
"What do you mean you're not releasing her? Bailey set her up, you know he did!" Quentin snarled at Barnes.
"Is it not true that she added and abetted the vigilantes multiple times last year?" Barnes asked and Quentin was silent, "no is above the law Lance, no one. I will put her in protective custody, but she is going back to Iron Heights."
"You're making a mistake Barnes. I just hope my little girl is still alive when you realize it." Quentin sneered before walking off.
Arrow Lair
same time
"Bad day?" Roy asked as Oliver furiously punched a sandbag.
"Yeah," Oliver said as he stepped back and unwrapped his hands, "You ready for more training?"
"I don't think my aim is improving." Roy said dryly.
"Good thing we're not train with bows today," Oliver said as he pulled out four escirma sticks, "Here."
"What am I supposed to do with these?" Roy asked as he caught the two Oliver tossed him.
"Watch and learn." Oliver said before he moved.
Yes, Laurel's in prison but she's not gonna stay that way for the rest of the story. It's a short term stop for her but it's necessary for where I want her character to end up in this story.
So, what do you guys think? Please leave any thoughts or comments in a review, feedback is greatly appreciated.