Chapter 3: Lunch

It had seemed like Felicity could almost feel the waves of brooding and angst rolling off of her fiancé when Oliver had returned to the loft the night before. She had tried to give him space to feel his feelings, and this morning, she should have been less surprised than she was when she awakened to find the bed empty and Oliver already started on his day.

As Felicity filled her mug with coffee, the loft door opened and a sweaty Oliver wearing shorts and running shoes walked in rubbing his head with a workout towel.

"Hey," Felicity greeted, her voice light and cheerful. "Coffee?" She offered.

"Water," Oliver replied reaching to grab a water bottle from the refrigerator door.

"Have a good run?"

"Umhm."

"Do you feel any better?" Oliver shot Felicity a questioning glance. Felicity shrugged. "It just seems like you've been pretty weighed down recently. I was just hoping your run gave you some … relief." Oliver gave her a small, wry smile.

"How was your time with Thea?" The smile left Oliver's face.

"It was fine." Oliver confirmed, keeping his expression even.

"Was it?" Felicity asked cocking her head to the side. "Because you seemed pretty upset last night. Like, more upset than one would expect from someone who just finished having sibling bonding time."

"Thea and I are fine, Felicity." Oliver intoned in a sing song voice. "We watched a movie and grabbed a pizza. I'll see her once I get into the campaign office."

Felicity threw up her hands showing she was giving it up. "I hear you. Glad it went 'fine'." Oliver nodded, grateful that Felicity was letting it go and reached to grab a bottled fruit smoothie from the fridge. "Did you want to grab lunch today? I should have some time after I get a project status update from Curtis," Felicity offered.

Oliver took a quick swig from the smoothie bottle. "Sorry, Felicity, I would have loved to. But I'm grabbing lunch with Walter today."

"Oh!" Felicity said in surprise. "I didn't realize you and Walter grabbed lunch!"

"Well," Oliver hedged, "We haven't been traditionally close, but he's family. It just seemed like a good time to reconnect. I could use all the friends I can get with the campaign. Walter still has a positive reputation in the business circles of Star City."

"Is Thea going?" Felicity asked curiously. "She might be a good buffer. She and Walter are still pretty close, I think."

Oliver's phone pinged and he slid open his screen to check his newest text. "Dammit," Oliver muttered, fire immediately back in his gaze like it had been the night before.

"What's wrong?" Felicity wondered, concerned.

Oliver gritted his teeth. "It's Alex. He said Thea called off today. To him. She didn't even have the decency to reach out to me to let me know she's not coming in."

"Do you want to try to tell me one more time that everything is fine between you and Thea?"

"Felicity," Oliver bit out in warning between clenched teeth.

"Fine! I'll drop it!" Felicity said again shaking her head. "Queens," she muttered under her breath when Olive had mounted the stairs to their bedroom.

"Are you sure you are going to be okay today?" Laurel asked, dressed in a suit and packed for work, but feeling loathe to leave the apartment. "I hate to leave you here by yourself, Thea."

Thea, dressed in plaid, flannel pants and sweatshirt, completed her walk down the hall and gingerly sat down at a chair at the kitchen table a few feet from where Laurel stood. Thea seemed as if she was too weary to stay standing to answer Laurel. "I am fine mom." Thea said a little sarcastically. Laurel shot Thea an unamused look back. Thea let out a little sigh. "Honestly, Laurel, I'm fine. I'm just super beat." Thea shook her head like she was at a loss. "It was like last night, thinking and talking about everything just took a lot out of me. I just need to lay low today."

There was a new paleness to Thea's skin, a tightness of her expression, and a sense of fragility about Thea like she was very much on the edge of another breakdown of grief that made Laurel hesitate to walk through the door. Laurel studied Thea carefully before saying firmly, "Promise me you will call me if you need anything. Nothing is so important at work that I can't leave it to be here for you."

A little of the hollow, raw look fled Thea's eyes as she gave Laurel a small smile. "Thank you, Laurel. Really." Thea leaned forward in her chair towards Laurel. "I don't know how to begin to tell you how much you just being here for me means to me."

"Always," Laurel said firmly. "You're family, Thea. I'd do anything for you."

After a mostly uneventful morning at the prosecutor's office reviewing cases, Laurel seemed surprised when she looked up from her desk to see a somber Oliver Queen walking purposefully towards her. "Hey!" She said in surprise.

"Hey," Oliver said, stopping short of Laurel's desk. Oliver, who could move through the world with the grace inherent to being birthed into high society knew he looked anything but at ease as he stood before his oldest living friend and sister's roommate. Oliver jumped in without any preamble. "I'm on my way to lunch with Walter at Othello's next door and I thought I'd just stop in for a minute."

Laurel looked surprised but pleased. Oliver couldn't help but feel annoyed that everyone seemed to think his having lunch with Walter was that hard to believe. "Oh, wow, I didn't know you and Walter kept in touch! That's really nice. Walter is a wonderful man," Laurel said sincerely.

Oliver just nodded quickly, not feeling the need to correct her supposition about his current connection with Walter when he was itching to get to his real purpose in stopping by. "Yeah, it's great, he's a fantastic man," Oliver said agreeably. He allowed a brief moment before trying to say as casually as possible as though it had just crossed his mind to ask, "Hey, how's Thea?"

Something like understanding flashed in Laurel's eyes for a moment before it vanished like it had never been there. Laurel gave her head a confused shake, "What do you mean? You just saw her last night."

Oliver rolled his eyes a little, clearly understanding the game Laurel was playing. "Our time together didn't go particularly great." As if there was any way Laurel hadn't noticed. "And then this morning she calls off from the campaign. To Alex, by the way, not to me." Oliver groused.

Laurel appeared torn between loyalty to Thea and sympathy with Oliver's obvious concern for his sister. Finally, Laurel said, "She's okay, Oliver." Laurel continued. "She just needed the day off. Didn't you call or text her to check in when she called off?"

Oliver shifted his stance uncomfortably. "She made it pretty clear both last night and by texting Alex to call off this morning, that she doesn't want me talking to her." He said in a self-deprecating tone.

"Oh, Oliver," Laurel murmured sympathetically. "I'm sure that isn't it at all. I don't think it's that she doesn't want to talk to you at all, just maybe not about everything."

Oliver caught Laurel's slip immediately even as Laurel seemed to realize that she had said too much. "Laurel," Oliver said slowly, accusation in his tone as his eyes narrowed. "What do you know?"

"Oliver," Laurel pleaded to be let off the hook.

"Laurel," Oliver took a step closer so that his voice could fall to a near whisper. "What. do. you. know?"

Laurel just shook her head, refusing to answer. Oliver knew Laurel had been through this routine too many times with him and was aware that as soon as she opened her mouth, Oliver would be able to twist a confession out of her. And clearly Laurel felt this was not her story to tell.

Oliver could sense when his attempt at intimidation failed. Oliver felt defeat wash over him leaving in it's wake the new, deep sadness. Laurel's expression showed that, while she had stood firm, she was feeling some regret at keeping Oliver in the dark. "Look," Oliver said softly. "If you know… I just… I need her safe. And ever since I got back from that other place, I've had this horrible feeling that I've failed her, that I am still failing her and I don't know what to do! If you know then … tell me, what do I do?"

Laurel's eyes softened at Oliver's pleas. "Oliver, you are her big brother," Laurel said firmly. "Thea adores you more than anything in this world and you are all the family each other has left. Just because she is pushing you away, you don't have to go. Just … keep showing up, reminding her you care about her." Oliver looked like he was clinging to every word. Laurel continued, "Don't try to force her to talk to you about anything. She's a Queen." Laurel cocked her head to give Oliver a pointed look. "Queens are notorious for loving their secrets and getting very prickly when pushed." Oliver gave her an unamused look.

"Look, Laurel…" Oliver began hesitantly. "If Thea was willing to talk to you, I just need you to know that … I am grateful for how you have always looked out for Thea. You've always been there for my family and treated them like your own. I can't thank you enough for that."

Laurel quirked a little smile. "I love your family, always have. Thea makes it easy." Laurel's face fell a little. "I do wish that I had been there when she needed it." Oliver's features tightened in response. "But," Laurel continued, "we're here now."

"Oliver!" Walter Steele called out enthusiastically, standing from the crisp white table-cloth clad table and extending his hand to Oliver. "It was a pleasant surprise to receive your invitation." Oliver grasped Walter's hand, "Thank you for agreeing to lunch," Oliver said formally. "It really has been too long." Both men drew up their chairs to the table and settled in.

"I have been observing your campaign with interest," Walter noted, a warm smile on his face. "I see so much of both of your parents in how you have tackled the issues threatening our city with remarkable poise and compassion."

Oliver nodded, "Well, then you have likely heard some of Thea's writing. You know she has been managing my campaign?"

"So she has said," Walter affirmed. "I am so pleased to see she has found a passion for this work. Not that I feel politics is the only arena she would do well in – she's such a bright young woman - I am just grateful to see that she has found a spark."

Oliver could not help but be reminded that Walter's pride in Thea was the way a father's support should appear. Since discovering that Malcolm Merlyn was Thea's biological father, Malcom had so managed to weasel his way with lies and fear into Thea's life that it was easy for both Oliver and Thea to be tricked into thinking that paternal love was selfish and manipulating.

"I will admit," Walter said in a gentler tone, "I was worried for Thea following your mother's death. Thea has dealt with plenty of tragedy in her life and found a way to push through, but that loss and the way it happened … I feared it would be one grief too many."

Oliver closed his eyes against the flash of memory of his mother and sister, hands tied behind their backs, knees in the mud, sobbing while Slade Wilson held a gun to their heads. His mother standing up, offering to die if her children would live. "Thea, I love you. Close your eyes baby." The flash of the blade as it vanished into her chest. Thea's horrified screams.

Oliver shook himself and managed a measured tone. "Thea has been a tremendous asset. The entire campaign only exists because she took my idea to run for mayor and ran with it."

A proud smile widened across Walter's face. He then said seriously, "I would be honored to support your campaign, Oliver. Tell me how I can help."

Oliver and Walter chatted about campaign details as they ordered and started in on their meal. After things were mostly settled, the conversation turned to Oliver's engagement to Felicity, an event for which Walter expressed his approval. As the table was cleared, Oliver knew the time had come for the answers he had actually come for.

Oliver took a sip of water. "Walter," Oliver began, attempting to keep his tone light, trying not to rouse Walter's suspicions. "Some time ago, you mentioned a teacher of Thea's who was causing her some trouble. I am sure you told me his name, but for the life of me, I just can't remember it."

Oliver should have known that Walter Steele, a man able to stand toe to toe with Moira Queen and match business acumen with Robert Queen would be able to easily see through Oliver's ploy. Walter's eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly. "I'm not sure that I did." Walter thought for a minute before sitting back in his seat. "As a matter of fact, I believe that the purpose of that story was to establish my motivations for interacting with your family following the Queen's Gambit."

"You may be right, you may not have mentioned a name," Oliver again tried to disarm Walter by keeping his tone casual. "If you remember it, I'd love to know. I was just hoping to follow up, see where he ended up. You know, in case Thea ever wonders."

Walter seemed to ponder for a moment in silence. To Oliver, the silence felt oppressive, and he felt some guilt for going behind Thea's back.

Finally Walter said, his voice even but eyes serious, "Oliver, it seems that there is more to the campaign that we have to discuss. Would you have time now to come back to my office?"

Oliver felt his heartbeat stutter and then said, matching Walter's tone, "Of course. I will call my team and let them know to expect me later." Within minutes, Oliver had called to give his excuse to Alex, paid the bill, and was seated with Walter in his towncar being chauffeured to Walter's offices.

Thea had managed to hit ignore on two calls from Malcolm and one each from Laurel and Felicity. She did text Felicity and Laurel back to let them know she was okay, but didn't feel the need to respond in any way to Malcolm. She was somewhat grateful if not a little hurt that she had not fielded any calls or texts from Ollie.

Thea, curled up under a blanket on the couch flipping disinterestedly through lists of streaming TV shows and movies, was startled by a sharp knock at the door. Thea's heart pounded for a moment before she soothed herself – anyone who should be there had a key. She went back to scrolling, then started an episode of Murder She Wrote. As the actors on the screen began to make dramatic statements in the teaser, Thea felt a prickle in the back of her neck that she wasn't alone. She slowly gripped the knife tucked between the couch cushions next to her. Thea launched herself off the couch, throwing the knife precisely at the figure standing in her kitchen.

Malcolm caught the blade with a pleased grin. "Shit, Malcolm!" Thea gritted out. "I could have killed you."

"Doubtful," Malcolm responded chipperly. "But it is good to see you have remained sharp, even with the bloodlust in your system."

Thea rolled her eyes. "I have been fine: the bloodlust hasn't been a problem, thanks for asking." Thea walked back and resumed her seat on the couch. "Why are you here?"

"Concern for you," Malcolm said making his way around the couch and standing next to the coffee table. "I heard rumblings that you called off work today and that Oliver and your friends have been expressing worry for you. I assumed you were in the grips of bloodlust. But you don't seem ill," Malcolm leaned forward abruptly, taking ahold of Thea's chin so she couldn't move her head and peering into her eyes. "And Damien Darhk's magic seems to be keeping your bloodlust at bay."

Thea wrenched her head away from Malcom's grip. "Great. You've checked on me," Thea said shortly. "Any news about finding Darhk? It's going to be hard to make a cure if we can't find the guy."

Malcolm took a seat on the coffee table. "Nothing so far. Darhk is completely off the grid."

"Even for the League?" Thea questioned suspiciously. Surely Malcolm as the head of the League of Assassins had better resources than Team Arrow.

"Even for the League," Malcolm said firmly. "Do you really think I wouldn't use all means at my disposal to help my daughter?"

Thea held his gaze for a minute, trying to read whether Malcolm was being honest. Deciding he was being as truthful as he was able, Thea gave a nod. "Well, you've checked on me," Thea said with forced brightness, her tone indicating it was time for Malcolm to leave. "I suppose I'll be seeing you when you have an update on Darhk."

"Anything else you want to discuss with me?" Malcolm asked. "I am not used to seeing such distance between you and your brother. Or to see you calling off work."

"Everything is fine," Thea said firmly, staring Malcolm directly in the eye, hoping he would take the hint. "There is nothing for you to concern yourself about."

Malcolm nodded, bowing out graciously, but Thea could tell the seed was already planted in his mind. "Well, if you need me, you know how to reach me."

Thea tensed up until she heard the door click behind Malcolm. Listening to his steps die down in the hall, Thea quickly strode to the door and locked it. Tension bled out of her and Thea leaned her head against the door, fighting for her bearings. Then she walked slowly back to the couch.

Oliver glanced around Walter's well-appointed office which overlooked the city from an eagle-eyed view from the 60th floor. Oliver was interested to see a photo of Walter and Robert Queen on his desk next to a photo of Walter with Thea, Moira, and Oliver the night of the Christmas party when Oliver returned from Lian Yu.

Walter strode over to a cabinet behind his desk and pulled out an ornate liquor bottle and two scotch glasses. Carefully pouring a double shot into each, Walter approached Oliver, handing him a glass and indicating a set of chairs set off to one side of the office. Oliver took his seat and a quick sip of what turned out to be bourbon before glancing again at Walter. Walter was seated at the front of his chair, holding his bourbon contemplatively in both hands. After a moment of silence, Walter began.

"I suppose I should have expected that someday someone would come to me with questions," Walter mused softly. He paused as though considering his situation. "What is it that you want to know?"

"Everything," Oliver stated emphatically, his earlier calm demeanor all but gone.

Walter had yet to look up from his drink. "Clearly something has happened that has brought your sister's past to your attention. I don't suppose you have thought to address your questions to her?"

"I have," Oliver gritted out. Oliver chose to skirt the line of the truth. "I came to the conclusion that she doesn't know what became of him. And I would really like to know what became of him."

Walter nodded slowly, inspecting the amber liquid in his glass. "If your sister chose to confide in you, you likely know more than I do, thankfully so, if I am being honest. I did not know your sister more than in passing at the time and was still hurt deeply to discover what she had endured. Thinking back on it now, now that I know her and she feels like my own child, it is nearly unbearable." Walter cleared his throat, as though pushing the emotion out of it. Walter finally glanced up and looked at Oliver. "Is there any particular reason why you are seeking these answers in her stead?"

Oliver felt uncomfortable implying knowledge he did not have, but was too desperate for answers to stop. "Thea isn't expressing interest in the conclusion of that chapter of her life at this time. I am. When we discovered that you were the one to protect her, the question I keep returning to is what 'handling it' entailed, and if I need to get involved now to ensure justice is done."

Walter sighed. "Well, Oliver, if anyone other than your sister deserves answers, I suppose it would be you."

"You told me a staff member from our household contacted you?" Oliver prompted Walter to begin.

Walter finally settled himself back in his chair, taking a long breath in. "Yes. Well, no, it was actually two members of your household staff."

"Who?"

"I am happy to tell you what I know, but I do not intend to bring others into your inquest at this time. If your sister comes to me directly, that will be a different matter."

Oliver gave a nod to show he understood.

"They approached me here, in the office. They came to me as a friend of your father's and the family. I was shocked when they told me they were seeking my help to protect Thea from a teacher who they believed was unduly and inappropriately attached to her. I initially directed them back to your mother, but they indicated that they already had tried to bring it to her attention. They stated your mother was incapable of appreciating the gravity of their concerns."

"What were those concerns?"

"They were clear that they believed Thea had already begun a sexual relationship with this teacher, made all the more distressing when they reminded me that Thea was only thirteen."

"What evidence did they have to support that concern?"

"They initially became concerned when nearly every day of the week, Thea was excusing your chauffeur from picking her up after school, saying she would get a ride home with friends. At first they believed that Thea had found support for your and your father's loss in friends, but they soon realized that Thea's friends no longer came to the house or greeted her at drop-off, and had even been seen other places during times that Thea was purportedly with them." Oliver nodded to show he was following.

"That is when, after comparing notes, the staff members planned that they would send the chauffeur to school for pick-up on a day Thea had cancelled to see who she was getting a ride with. You can imagine their shock at discovering Thea getting into a car with an adult man rather than a member of her peer group. More surprised still to see him lean over from the driver's seat and kiss her." Oliver felt his breath stutter.

"As if that were not damning enough, they had begun noticing signs of someone leaving the manor at night: the screen in the hallway window eschew, the manor's alarm system showing it was disengaged for several hours in the dead of night. A staff member stayed one night to watch and discovered that in the early hours, around 1 am, that a car pulled up to the servant's entrance and a man approached the side of the manor near the hall window. Within minutes, Thea slipped out through the window and they left together in the car, only to return hours later."

Oliver felt like he couldn't catch his breath. Even knowing what he had known, being confronted with the evidence made it real. His stomach felt sour and his heart pounded in his chest. He was right. His sister was assaulted. His sister was hurt. His sister was abused, likely for many months.

"Oliver?" Walter's comforting voice broke through Oliver's thoughts. "Do you wish me to continue? I understand if you would like to leave off for now."

Oliver took a deep breath. These were the answers he wanted, weren't they? If he was going to get what he needed to know, he would have to bear up. "Yes, please continue."

Walter nodded and continued. "Their evidence was damning, but I could not understand why they came to me rather than the authorities after Moira did not act."

"That's something I don't understand!" Oliver stated emphatically, standing up in agitation. His tone became pressured as he pronounced, "My mother was nothing if not protective! She lied and she manipulated, but it was always out of some misplaced protective instinct. If evidence that her daughter was being abused came to her attention, I cannot believe for a second that she would have failed to respond!"

Walter's eyes held pity in them. "Oliver, I know you were not here for five years and can be excused for not knowing the way things were while you were gone, but… your mother absolutely fell apart when you and your father were lost." Oliver met Walter's soft eyes and just shook his head in disbelief. "She was lost to depression and substance use, alcohol and sedatives, holed up in her bedroom for months and months. I don't know that she had the ability to grasp what she was being told." Oliver gripped the bridge of his nose between his fingers, fighting the headache that began to sprout envisioning this impotent version of his mother. "There is a reason why when your mom came back to herself, she let Thea get away with murder. She was filled with guilt from her neglect, and that was without knowing about the abuse Thea suffered. Thea made it clear to Moira that she had taken care of herself as she saw fit while Moira was incapacitated and would continue to forge her own way without Moira's say so."

Oliver closed his eyes with despair. Of course he had been aware of the tension between his mother and Thea when he returned from Lian Yu. He certainly hadn't thought to explore it further at the time. Their relationship fluctuated between Thea pushing their mother away with venomous comments to being intensely protective of Moira. Oliver had just assumed that it was a typical teenage mother-daughter relationship. It was now abundantly clear that their relationship was anything but ordinary.

Walter fought for Oliver to understand, saying with great feeling, "Don't doubt your mother's love for your sister." Oliver opened his eyes to meet Walter's warm gaze. "It was not for lack of love, but, at the time, Moira was unable to help Thea." Oliver searched Walter's gaze and could not discern anything besides sincerity and compassion for Moira. Oliver gave a reluctant nod and slowly resumed his seat.

With Oliver again at his level, Walter continued. "Your staff made it clear that they would not take their concerns to the authorities. They believed, I think rightly, that even with laws protecting the identities of minors in media reports of criminal matters, that Thea's identity would become known. They believed she would be hounded by tabloids exposing something very painful about a particularly vulnerable child." Oliver hated that he understood just how true those concerns were and felt a deep grief for Thea of Earth 42, abused and hounded unto death.

"They were asking that I use my position and money to protect Thea in the same way they believed your father would have. So, that day, I accompanied your driver to pick up Thea. As we arrived, Thea was settling into his car while he held the car door for her, before he stooped over to … grope her." Walter closed his eyes to try to expel the distasteful image from his mind's eye. "When he stepped away, I left my car and called to her. Thea quickly climbed out and came to me when I called. I made my excuse that I meant to see her mother with business concerns and happened to be going her way. I accompanied her home, trying to keep up inane chatter about schoolwork. Once she was safely tucked away, I spoke briefly with your mother and determined that I would have to provide help and protection for Thea without your mother's input or knowledge. I then made my way to the home of Thea's headmaster. I offered a handsome donation to the school. Then I explained that the teacher needed to be immediately encouraged to go. It did not take much convincing."

"I hired a private investigator to tail this man to ensure he did not make contact with Thea or any other young people. Once this man landed at his final destination, with the investigator's help, we contacted the local police to make them aware that this man had child pornography in his possession. He was quickly arrested. As some of his photography included identifiable parts of himself committing clear crimes against minors, he was quickly found guilty and has been locked up since."

Walter shifted in his seat, his self-assurance giving way to an uncertain tension. His words were slow and heavy. "I ensured that I had a frank conversation with the department to lock up particular images they had uncovered." Walter paused and waited until Oliver's eyes met his, making his meaning clear. "If Thea ever wishes to pursue something, they will be made available at her request. They will also be available for her to destroy should she choose." Oliver felt sick, but understood. Walter looked back to his drink and added softly, "It wasn't a decision I felt I could make on her behalf."

As silence settled over the office, Oliver's jaw tightened and rage filled his body, clogging his throat. "A name," Oliver demanded.

"That, Oliver," Walter said, catching Oliver's eye with a look of absolute weariness, "is something I will only share at your sister's direct behest. Until that time, I will maintain that small bit of privacy and all the dignity I am able."

Oliver could feel the burning throughout his body and felt his grip tighten uncomfortably on his glass. Oliver was prepared to force Walter's hand, make him give him the name of this man who didn't deserve to live out his life in a jail cell. But then Oliver saw again how defeated and exhausted Walter appeared. Walter sat with bowed head, looking the oldest Oliver could ever remember having seen him. It hit Oliver how great a burden Walter carried maintaining this secret. And how great was Walter's care for his sister.

The silence stretched long, but Walter made no move to get up or force Oliver out. Finally, Oliver cleared his throat, closed from inactivity and emotion. Oliver stood and planted himself firmly in front of Walter's chair. "Walter," Oliver said softly. Walter opened his eyes and lifted his head to see his former stepson standing close. Oliver held out a steady hand. Walter peered at Oliver for a moment. "Thank you," Oliver said slowly, firmly, attempting to put all of his meaning into those two words. Thank you for saving her. Thank you for protecting her. Thank you for ensuring she was able to live her life privately and with dignity.

Walter seemed to understand and gripped Oliver's hand in a firm shake.