Malcolm
Thea had been in the hospital for a week.
She has done physical therapy everyday.
All Thea was doing was complaining about it.
"And here I thought Miss. Tough Girl got no complaints."
"I got plenty of complaints. I just don't voice them as much anymore."
"Because Malcolm told her only snobby bitches complain that much."
Thea snickered.
"I complained a lot when I was on the Island at first too."
"Who's Shado?"
"What?"
"Slade mentioned a Shado."
"There was a man- Anthony Ivo. He gave me a choice. Shado, who I was dating at the time or Sara."
"Sara?"
"Yeah."
"Like Sara Sara?"
"Yeah."
"She made it to Lian Yu too?"
"Where the hell have you been?" Laurel questioned.
"So, he told me to choose one of them. Or he'd shoot both of them."
"And you chose Sara?"
"Ultimately, yeah."
"And I'm guessing Slade was in love with Shado?"
"Yeah."
"Wow."
"You already saw all those scars. Half of them were from Slade."
"Wow."
"Yeah."
He looked down.
"We buried Shado next to Yao Fei. Her father."
"Wow. Sentimental."
"Yeah."
Oliver shook his head.
"I tried to warn you, Thea. I did. I told you to stay away from Slade for a reason."
"Mm."
"But that wouldn't have mattered anyway. The entire Queen family has been blasted across the net multiple times."
She sighed.
"He only knew about Laurel. He didn't know anything about us. Until he got to Star City."
Sara ran in.
"Hey. Are you okay?"
"Yeah. I'm fine."
"So sorry it took me a week to convince Rip to let me leave."
"I'm just glad to see you."
"Glad to see you too."
"Lance's daughters are staying out of the field. That includes you too."
"You're not the boss of me."
"Laurel, some help here."
"Darhk already tried to kill Thea and me. He's gonna try to kill you too. That's why he pulled both of us out of the field."
"You get a month to defeat Darhk. And then I don't care if you have or not."
"Fine."
Curtis
I was just checking the implant.
Malcolm
The female Doctor walked in.
"I am gonna release you tomorrow."
"Okay."
"But I want you to stay with a family member for now."
"Um... I'm living with Laurel. So..."
"Okay."
She handed a piece of paper to Laurel.
"That's for you."
"What is it?"
"She refuses to clean her own tracheotomy tube. So..."
"Fun."
"And keep her out of the shower for another week."
"Really? Two weeks without a shower? Are you kidding me?"
"No."
Thea scowled.
"And only soft foods for about a month."
"Okay."
The female Doctor walked out.
"I'm not cleaning that."
"I will stop by and do it everyday."
Oliver snatched the paper from her.
"I love you but not enough to mess with that."
"Mm."
"I'll even cook your soft foods for you."
Thea shook her head.
"Stupid rules. Stupid soft foods options. I can't eat what I want."
"Not right now."
She sighed.
Laurel
I had went back to our apartment.
I was going through Thea's clothes.
I was trying to find something comfy and easy for her to slide on.
I heard footsteps.
I spun around.
It was Nyssa.
"God! Give somebody a heart attack. Sneaking up like that."
"Sorry."
I sighed.
"How is Thea?"
"Getting released tomorrow morning."
Nyssa was going through the clothes with me.
"I am sincerely sorry she got hurt."
"I know."
"If there's anything I can do, I want to do it."
"You can replace Thea and me out in the field temporarily."
"Yeah. Of course."
"Thank you."
"Of course. Not a problem."
I picked out a long-sleeved hoodie and leggings.
We walked out of the apartment after I grabbed her a clean pair of panties and bra.
Malcolm
Laurel walked in with Nyssa.
I scowled at her.
"Nyssa will be filling in mine and Thea's absence in the field."
"Goody." Diggle commented.
"Well, what? You two are gonna take down HIVE all by yourselves?"
"Never mind."
"And aren't you supposed to take Diggle with you as your bodyguard?"
Nyssa pulled Laurel back.
"He's not even worth it."
Sara and Thea were talking.
She laughed at something she said.
Thea had fell asleep.
Oliver, Laurel, Sara, Lance, and Felicity were sleeping.
Darhk
I was wondering where Malcolm was.
"Track down Merlyn." I ordered Andy.
He ran out of the building.
Malcolm
Oliver had woke up after an hour.
He ran a hand through his hair.
Andy appeared.
Oliver ran at him.
Andy grunted as he plummeted him into the floor.
"Ollie?"
Thea was half-asleep.
Her eyes weren't even open.
"My little Sister?!"
Oliver was punching him across the face.
Diggle was awake.
He wasn't moving to stop him.
Laurel had woke up too.
She groaned.
"It is too early for fighting."
"Darhk will come after your Sister again. He's expecting me back."
Oliver grunted, getting off Andy.
"I will end you. Make no mistake of that."
He stared up at him.
"And you can count on that. Because I swear on my mother's grave, I'll end you, you punk."
Oliver laughed.
"You think you've killed a lot of people?"
Andy stared.
"Triple that amount."
He ran off.
"Yeah! You better run away, little boy!" He yelled.
Oliver slammed the door closed.
I laughed.
"That was a bit excessive, Ollie."
"He shot a bullet in Thea's chest. That was not excessive."
She sighed.
"Since you're benching me for an indefinite amount of time, I'm taking the DA position."
"You should. That way you can keep the team out of trouble."
Laurel laughed.
Darhk
Andy returned.
His face was a mess.
Murmur whistled.
"Let's just say- Oliver doesn't appreciate that I shot at his little Sister."
"Wow. Okay."
"That was a bit excessive, Ollie."
"He shot a bullet in Thea's chest. That was not excessive."
Laurel sighed.
"Since you're benching me for an indefinite amount of time, I'm taking the DA position."
"You should. That way you can keep the team out of trouble."
She laughed.
Malcolm
"We all got a role to play in making this team work. If we don't work together, this all goes away."
"Yeah."
"We'll find something for Thea to do. That does not require doing anything excessive."
Laurel laughed.
"I can give Thea my implant."
"Curtis is making another one, Felicity. It's no guarantee that it will actually work."
"I know."
Next Morning
Thea was wide awake.
The female Doctor walked in.
"How are you feeling?"
"Ready to go home."
"Well, you have spent eight days here."
Oliver laughed.
"Just take it easy on the extracurricular activities at night, huh?"
"Yeah."
She put the release papers down in front of her.
Thea signed "Thea Queen" in cursive on the dotted lines.
Laurel helped her stand up.
"I can help you get dressed."
"Thanks."
They headed into the Bathroom.
Laurel
I pulled Thea's hospital gown over her head.
She looked down at the incision in her gut.
"Battle scars. Shows I'm stronger than anything Darhk can do."
I pulled Thea's pink hoodie over her head.
She was holding onto me.
I slid Thea's black leggings up her legs.
She slid her feet into her black ballet flats.
Malcolm
Thea and Laurel walked out of the Bathroom.
She was in a pink hoodie, black leggings, and black ballet flats.
"Let's go."
"We going to Ollie's apartment. We're staying there until you feel better."
Thea was using the wall.
Oliver lifted her up into his arms.
"How am I ever gonna walk by myself if you keep carrying me around?"
He smiled.
Curtis
I had finished the implant.
I put it in a clear box.
I wrapped it.
Malcolm
Laurel was driving Thea to the apartment.
Oliver, Felicity, Sara, and Lance had left before them.
She opened the door.
Thea laughed as she saw the balloons.
Felicity had the TV on.
"Despite a bomb threat, tonight's second Mayoral debate then went on as scheduled with Mr. Queen being declared by most pundits the clear winner."
"Ha! Of course he's the clear winner. He's my brother."
"Well, I think you're a little biased."
"Did Alex call with the new poll numbers?"
"Well, Bethany Snow's right. He doesn't have to. Experts are saying that you already won." Thea answered.
"Experts aren't the voters."
"Okay. Well, you at least have one voter in your camp."
He looked down at her in the wheelchair.
"Meeee!"
"Only one that matters."
Oliver kissed Thea on the forehead.
A server was going around with a tray of Champagne.
Dig
"Thank you."
I took a flute of Champagne off the passing tray.
Oliver
"John, could I introduce you to Laura Hoffman?"
Dig walked over.
"Laura."
"Ooh. Don't mind if I do."
Laura took a flute of Champagne off the passing tray.
"John, hi." She greeted.
She took a sip of the Champagne.
"Laura was our neighbor in Ivy Town. She drove all day to get here." Felicity commented, walking over.
"Ooh. You're walking again. It's so good to see you up again."
They hugged.
"Oh, please. The drive was nothing. I've been waiting 9 months for this moment to finally arrive." Laura expressed.
"Oh, hey. Have you started your injured register yet?" She questioned Thea.
She glowered.
"Because I may very well have the perfect gift idea for you."
"Oh, let me guess. Slow cooker." Felicity guessed.
I looked over at her.
"How did you- How did you know that?" Laura questioned.
"I'm telepathic."
Malcolm
"Excuse me. Sorry to interrupt but I need you both. Photographer is here." Donna told Thea and Oliver.
"The family pictures are today."
"Yup."
"Did you invite him?" She questioned him when she saw Lance.
"Who? Me? Uh... Ppfff."
He walked over.
"Sorry. Could I- Could I talk to you for- For a minute?" Lance inquired.
"Yes."
"It's not really a good-"
"Absolutely." Thea told him.
"Thea."
"What?" She questioned.
"The photographer's right over there. We will make it there just fine by ourselves."
Thea rolled herself away.
"Captain Lance."
"Nice to see you."
Oliver and Lance shook hands.
He followed after her.
Oliver
"You're older? She's younger?"
"Yes."
"Alex really wants pics of you and your Sister for your campaign. Play the family angle."
Malcolm
Thea had her arm wrapped around Oliver's shoulders.
He had his arm around her shoulders.
The photographer snapped pictures.
"Can you do kind of back to back?"
They stood back to back.
"Serious faces for the first few."
They had serious faces.
The photographer snapped pictures.
"Now smiles."
They smiled.
The photographer snapped pictures.
Oliver was holding Thea in his arms.
The photographer snapped pictures.
"Is it possible to go blind from too many flashes?" She questioned.
"Take a little bit of a break. Just for a moment." He told him.
"I literally can't see a thing right now."
"I think the cure for that is Champagne."
Oliver grabbed two flutes of Champagne off a passing tray.
"Ahh. Dr. Queen, I do believe you are right."
He handed Thea one of the flutes.
She took a sip.
Oliver
"Curtis, Paul, so glad you guys could make it." Thea greeted.
"Quick! Grab a glass filled with Champagne." She told them.
"Careful. He might drink the entire bottle." Curtis warned.
Paul took one of the flutes of Champagne.
"I like my bubbly. What can I say?"
He grabbed the other flute of Champagne.
Curtis went to take a sip.
"Ah ah ah."
He paused.
"Mixing a downer with all the Coffee you've had in the last 72 hours, your head might explode."
"Yeah. I have been pulling a lot of crazy hours. After my surprise was blown on my gift, I wanted to finish it as soon as possible."
Curtis handed a black box with a red ribbon on it to Thea.
She handed me back her flute of Champagne.
Thea opened it.
"Thanks. We forgot to register for, uh... Microchips."
She pulled it out of the box.
"Actually, it's neither a micro nor a chip. It's an implantable bio-stimulant."
"And why would I need an implantable... Bio-stimulant?" Thea inquired.
"For walking."
She stared up at him.
"Excuse me?" I questioned.
"Curtis..." I started.
"In a perfect world, it will work in time for you to fight in your next big fight. I mean, but it's pretty cutting edge. So, I can't promise anything."
"You're telling me that this little piece of technology is gonna help me walk again?"
"After it's implanted in your spine. Yes."
"He's been trying to crack it for awhile but he needed a power source. Something that would last a lifetime."
"Palmer Technologies' Power Cell."
"Exactly. Once I solved that, I knew this might actually work."
"Oh, my God. I don't know what to say."
"I do. Curtis, you're terrific."
We shook hands.
"Thank you."
"Well, don't thank me yet. It still has to work."
"It will work. I know it will. You, come with me. We're about to make my father very happy."