A Little Favor

Part 2

Disclaimer: The disclaimer that disclaims things is somewhere around here but it wants you to know I still don't own anything. This chapter is dedicated to OracleGoddessOfDelphi who requested to see a second part to 'A Little Favor.'

Summary: Oliver's in the free and clear thanks to Waller's intervention, but he's not entirely out of the frying pan just yet.

If one could see the expressions on the faces of Oliver's family and friends, astonishment and a huge heaping of shock would be what one saw after Oliver happily informed everyone he was basically cleared of all charges. Now you might think this would have been a cause for celebration and hugs galore, but they were simply too astonished and shocked by the announcement from him to do anything! The sight of Laurel and her own shocked face at the mansion only had added to the mix rather then help anything. Even Diggle himself was stunned. "Um… I'm not, I'm not sure if I heard you correctly Oliver." Started Moira.

"Yeah, I don't think ANY of us heard you correctly." Added in Thea with a frown.

Oliver couldn't help but be amused by the reactions even if he was still annoyed after having been around Waller despite the short amount of time he had been. "I said I've been cleared of all charges, which means this little nightmare Detective Lance started is over. You can even ask Laurel if you want."

Everyone aside from Oliver turned to Laurel expectantly, who wasn't exactly happy with being put on the spot like that by her ex. "Yes… That is correct. While the polygraph was beginning, a woman by the name of Amanda Waller appeared and intervened. Much to my dad's unhappiness. That's… That's not all though, she works for ARGUS and apparently so does Ollie." If Ollie could put her on the spot, she could just do it right back! She still wanted to know why an organization like that would even hire someone like him!

Her smirk gained her a glare from the archer as everyone once again had their attention on him. "Thanks Laurel." He said sarcastically.

"Anytime." The Laywer responded back happily with that smirk still present.

Diggle was frowning at that as he knew Lyla worked for those people and to learn that Oliver was apparently too raised a whole Hell of a lot of questions for the former army man. Like why they would be letting him operate as independently as he has been so far as it really wasn't like them to do that. That boy has a lot to answer me about.

Moira was very alarmed by that information as her son had no business being in their employ! Not to mention if Malcolm ever found out he would send his Enforcer after her son and quite possibly after her and Thea too. And that's not something she ever wanted to happen. She wasn't sure how she could keep that information from reaching him without looking suspicious herself in the process. Thea, seeing the reactions after what Laurel had told them wondered what the big deal was about these ARGUS people. The girl also wondered if whether or not her big brother slept with this Waller woman and if that's why she saved his ass cause she wanted seconds. "Uhh Ollie?" Thea began and gaining her brother's attention.

"Yeah Speedy?"

"You didn't sleep with this girl did you? Cause I can't really think of why anyone would risk their neck for you like that. Especially if this ARGUS thing is a big deal."

The sight of him gaping like a fish after her question and turning very green honestly amused the Hell out of her. Laurel and Tommy were both amused by the reaction too and the Lawyer knew she was going to have to do something nice for the girl real soon! Oh that's just perfect! Either he did sleep with that woman or the thought of it just makes him sick!

The Queen matriarch realized she was going to have to do a bit of educating for her daughter when it came to ARGUS it seemed.

"I have… I have NEVER slept with Amanda Waller. Nor have I EVER even thought about it. I'd rather get tortured with electrocution again then sleep with her." He'd sooner shove an arrow into her throat before touching her in an intimate way as well. Not that he would tell them that.

That little remark about torture with elecrocution quickly made any thoughts of laughter evaporate from Tommy's mind as he and everyone else paled at the thought of Ollie being tortured with electrocution again. Tommy didn't even want to think about the first time. Moira wanted to know who the Hell did such a thing to her son as her wrath would not be a pleasant thing. "But… I didn't see any burns on you that time I saw you with an un-buttoned shirt..." Thea muttered horrified. Bad enough she had seen those scars as it was, but knowing that was just as bad. Everyone else wondered just when she saw that and why she never said anything to any of them.

Oliver winced at hearing the horror in his sister's voice. "Thea… That's, that's because its on the lower part of my back." He hated admitting that as it only brought up bad memories.

Instead of a response, she rushed to him and hugged him tightly with tears in her eyes. Things were silent silent for several minutes as everyone there tried to come to terms over what they'd just learned until a clearing of the throat behind the two siblings startled everyone. Turning around slightly, Oliver saw to his own bit of horror and growing anger that it had come from Amanda Waller. "Did I come at a bad time?" She enquired, not really caring one way or another if she had.

"How the HELL did you get in here!?" Demanded Oliver angrily and almost sounding like his Hood persona.

Laurel honestly wasn't expecting to see this woman again and hoped she never would have too either after this time. Giving a little smirk at him, Waller told him that she had merely let herself in once she learned the door was unlocked. Something Moira did not like at all whatsoever. Though her son's language was not appreciated either. "Oliver!" She reprimanded sternly as it was rude to greet a guest in such a manner. Even if they were un-welcome.

"My language is the least thing to worry about right now mom."

Waller had heard worse from him and others anyway so she wasn't even bothered in the least by it. "Yes, your son has a point Mrs. Queen. Though I appreciate your concern anyway."

God this lady sounds full of herself! No wonder Ollie doesn't want to sleep with her! Thought Thea as she finally began to calm down.

In a perfect world, his rudeness would have gotten the She Beast out of his home by now. But sadly for him, he wasn't in a perfect world. "Now, as I'm sure you all know by now. Mr. Queen is employed with ARGUS and has been so for several years now. This arrangement will not be coming to an end anytime soon either so any thoughts of trying to get him out of it can end here and now." That statement was definitely not something anyone liked.

"And why is that exactly Miss…?" Demanded Moira as she was not about to take some paper pusher's words at face value, no matter how much her son seemed to dislike the woman.

Smirking at the woman before answering her and annoying Moira in the process. "Waller, Amanda Waller. And the reason I say its exactly that is because I am the head of ARGUS." She informed the stunned bunch aside from a certain archer.

"I pretty much got dragged into her service after my second year on Lian Yu when she had her men pull me off a sinking freighter while I was unconscious. If it wasn't for that, I wouldn't have had anything to do with her." Like she would have given him a choice in the matter. But if that's what he wanted to believe, who was she to say otherwise?

"While Ollie isn't the Hood, he is working with him as the man's handler. Why I have no idea when he's never been all that great with responsibility..." Muttered Laurel on that last part and causing Thea to pull away from her brother in shock.

Waller didn't even mind that little bit of information being given out since that was all the girl knew and Queen wasn't foolish to say more. "You're working with that nut job!?" Exclaimed Thea with some disgust in her tone.

Walter figured that Detective Lance was a very unhappy man right now since all this clearly meant that young Oliver and the Hood were both essentially untouchable due to their ARGUS connection. It would serve to not only place at least Oliver under the Detective's watchful eye but the entirety of the SCPD even if they were warned not to do so. Of course it was a given that a majority of them would abide by ARGUS mandates aside from Detective Lance that is. But the British man really wondered if there was two separate people? Or was it all merely a smokescreen for young Oliver to hide the truth behind?

The answer to that would not be known at this time, but perhaps in the future it would be revealed when the timing is more right. Which would probably make for a vastly more unpleasant conversation then the one that was going on here. He didn't envy the young man one bit in that but wished him well in all that he did. And perhaps if he ran into issues, he could even gain young Oliver and his hooded associate's help in the matter. Whatever those may be.

Facing his sister while intending to give Laurel a few reasons on why it was best to keep one's mouth shut and trying to ignore the looks of horror on not only his mother's face but Tommy's as well. The archer didn't even need to look Diggle's way to know the man was bursting to ask all sorts of questions. "He's not… He's not really a nut job. He just does what he has too because he believes in what he's doing. Which made him perfect for Waller to assign here."

"He believes in what he's doing?" Thea asked incredulously, shocked that her own brother seemed to be siding with the guy! "Ollie! That's grade A nut job material right there and it makes you just about close to it by extension!"

Tommy had to admit that Thea had a damn good point there and was starting to wonder about that time in Hong Kong and the thinking he was doing was not something he really liked. If he knew about Laurel's earlier line of thinking he'd be probably out the door and to the nearest bar to get blind stinking drunk. The party boy and would be serious boyfriend to one Laurel Lance wasn't even sure he could look his best buddy in the eye right now and he hated it like Hell.

Looking to placate his sister and assure her that wasn't the case at all. Oliver told her that the Hood was just simply looking to help give back to those who need it more then the rich jerks out there who just didn't give a damn. She countered that at one point he would have been considered as one of those rich jerks who didn't give a damn. Something Laurel, Moira, and Tommy all agreed about as there was very few things he cared about.

"Yeah, but that was old me. And old me died a very painful death on Lian Yu thanks to torture, death, and betrayal. Admittedly I've handled some things poorly since I got back and I am sorry about that. But in the end, I am a new Oliver Queen. One who gives a damn about those less fortunate." The man finished strongly and Moira actually felt proud of her son but also fearful for him as this could all end quite badly.

Stepping up to the woman her son clearly had no love for with a hopeful expression on her face. "Are you sure there is nothing that can be done to remove my son from this… This madness?" The thought of the Hood being sent after Malcolm and his Enforcer was enticing, but she couldn't risk a potential failure and then both of them somehow finding out that she was responsible.

"That is correct Mrs. Queen, so trying is pointless. And any attempts to change that will not be taken well." Waller warned her, much to the displeasure of Oliver.

Giving a nod to show she understood even if she didn't like it as Moira clearly got the threat that was implied in the other woman's statement. The mother intended to have a word later with her son to get the full measure about his employer. As clearly his animosity towards the woman was more than just her enforcing him to work for her.

Oliver, having enough of Waller's precense in his home, went towards the woman with the intent to get her the Hell out. "How about I show you out? Hmm?" He got a glare for it from the woman but he didn't particularly care.

More like an ass kicking out the door! Thea thought happily.

Despite his disrespect towards her, Waller figured it would present her an opportunity to have a moment of alone time with him. "Of course Mr. Queen." She said cordially but with a hint of coldness to her tone that made the others shiver aside from Diggle as he had been through war. That and it wasn't aimed at him anyway!

Extending her arm for him to loop through due to her desire to screw with him even more, he followed through on his end all the while wishing he could drive an arrow right into her cold blackened heart. Once they got out to her car, Oliver quickly got away from her while everyone watched from the doorway of the mansion. Curious to see what might happen. "Lovely home you have." She began conversationally as if merely discussing the weather.

"It would be a shame to see it in ruins if you were to discuss things that has no business being discussed."

Oliver frowned at her with annoyance growing quickly in him. He DIDN'T need her to remind him of what she was capable of damnit! "I don't need you giving me a reminder about the consequences. I'm not some moron." The archer responded heatedly.

Regarding him for a moment and feeling slightly disappointed he didn't take the obvious bait, she gave a slight but satisfied nod that she had him well in hand. Very well then Mr. Queen. So long as we understand one another. Oh and as for that favor? Don't think I won't be collecting on that soon and I think it will be one you'll want to do anyway as it relates to your father's List." Okay, so maybe she was stretching it a bit that he would be pretty willing. But she didn't care as telling lies was all part of the business they did.

The former castaway had to admit he was damned curious about the favor's connection with the List his father gave to him before he died. Hopefully, once he completed it this would mean he was free from her clutches for a good long while. Even though he himself had gotten into this mess in the first place cause he'd wanted to hedge his bets. Next time, if there is a next time. Stick with plan A.

Getting into the backseat of the vehicle she arrived in with a muttered 'Good day Mr. Queen.' that he barely caught. Oliver happily watched her leave his home and was strongly tempted to give her the finger but kept from doing so. Turning back around, he began to walk back to the open front doors where everyone else was watching and waiting. Sighing to himself while trying to mentally ready himself for what would be a volley of questions and potential distancing for a short while to figure out how to deal with his answers.

Shoulda stuck with plan A.

Author's Notes: I hope folks will have enjoyed (especially you Delphi!) this follow up for chapter 35's A Little Favor. I worked on this one pretty much most of the night as it wanted to take its sweet time. And with that, good night folks!