Chapter 34
Brave and Stupid
"Bravery and Stupidity are the same thing, the outcome determines your label."
-Hayden Sixx
Katie sat cross-legged on the floor, her eyes closed as she tried to focus.
"You know, John tried to explain this to me once," Lyla said, standing nearby to keep watch. "I didn't completely understand it."
"I still don't completely understand it," Katie admitted with a small sigh, trying to maintain her concentration.
After a few moments of quiet, the monitors on the wall began to glitch, static overtaking the screens.
"In Russia, we travel in nicer cars," came Anatoly's familiar voice, breaking the silence.
"This girl ain't pretty," Diaz's voice followed.
Lyla turned from the screen to Felicity, who was balancing her attention between the monitors and the computer in front of her while keeping tabs on the team.
"But she's bulletproof."
"Wait, is this happening now?" Lyla asked, gesturing toward the screen before glancing at Katie, still seated on the floor.
Katie's focus was locked on Ricardo Diaz, sitting in the back of a truck with Anatoly and a few of his men. The truck slowed down, the sound of conversation muffled through the static.
"What's that?" Diaz asked.
"Construction?" Anatoly guessed.
The truck stopped as a construction worker motioned for the driver to wait while a forklift moved debris out of the way. Moments later, the truck jerked violently, followed by the sound of gunfire.
"Get this under control now!" Diaz barked, and his men leapt into action, guns raised as they rushed out of the truck.
Anatoly remained seated until Diaz shot him a sharp look. "You forget your gun?"
Anatoly sighed, grabbed his weapon, and followed the others.
Katie shifted, her focus narrowing in on Diaz, who stayed behind, visibly unsettled. She walked closer to the spot across from him. He couldn't see or hear her, but her presence loomed.
"You're a coward," she said softly, staring at him. "Hiding here while your men fight for you."
Diaz, suddenly turns his head, and looks in Katie's direction, and she knows he doesn't see her, but she wonders if he feels her eyes on him. A smile tugs at her lips as she inches toward him. Diaz nearly jumps out of his skin when he sees what appears to be the ghost figure of Katie sitting there looking at him.
"Boo," she whispered, her voice a taunting echo.
Diaz flinched, his face pale as he bolted to his feet and ran out of the truck. Katie laughed, standing to follow, but a wave of dizziness struck her. She pushed through it, shaking off the weakness as she pursued him.
She found him again in a dim alley, standing over Curtis and driving a knife into his side.
"No!" Katie screamed, lifting a hand and sending Diaz flying backward with a forceful blast.
Diaz recovered quickly, grabbing a necklace from the ground before running off into the shadows. Katie moved to chase him, but her body betrayed her, shutting down. Everything jerked forward violently as her consciousness returned.
"Katie!" Lyla's voice cut through the haze, her hands gripping Katie's shoulders. Katie's eyes snapped open to see Lyla's worried face, her expression grim as she noticed the blood dripping from Katie's nose.
"Are you back?" Lyla asked, her voice tight.
Katie didn't respond, nausea hitting her hard as she bolted to her feet and ran to the bathroom.
Lyla moved to follow but paused when her phone beeped with an alert. She glanced at the message before returning to Felicity.
"Quadrant reinforcements with SCPD are en route, more on the way," Lyla reported. "We need to pull out now."
When the team arrived back, Oliver was the first through the door, his eyes scanning the room before landing on Felicity and Lyla. With a nod from Lyla, he set down his bow and headed for the bathroom.
Reaching for the door, he paused as it swung open, Katie stepping out.
"What happened to giving me a heads-up before you do something I might not like?" he asked, his voice tinged with frustration. "Are you alright?"
"What do you mean?" Katie replied feigning confusion.
Oliver sighed and grabbed her arm, pulling her back into the bathroom and shutting the door behind them.
"Diaz flew several feet in the air after attacking Curtis," Oliver said, his tone firm. "I'm assuming that was you. Are you okay?"
Katie hesitated, then decided on honesty. "It's just a headache. I'm fine. And I'm sorry I didn't tell you. How's Curtis?"
"Dinah took him to ARGUS medical. She should be back soon," Oliver said with a sigh. "Katie, you can't keep doing this."
"Oliver—"
"No, just listen to me." he stepped forward, placing his hands on her shoulders. "I have to stop Diaz. And it has to happen tonight. And I know you want that too, but I get the feeling our methods for taking him down will clash, and that can not happen."
"You want me to leave?" she asked, her voice quiet.
Oliver shook his head. "No, I just need you to trust me. Work with us. Don't try to handle this on your own because when you do…" He paused, his voice softening. "I can't focus on stopping Diaz if I'm worried about you and whatever plan you've cooked up getting you killed."
Katie dropped her eyes from his, her thoughts swirling as she considered his words. After a moment, she looked back at him, her expression calm but resolute.
"I don't have a plan," she said quietly. "You and probably everyone out there think I've got some half-cocked idea I'm just waiting to pull off, but I don't. Tonight was just about trying to learn more about Diaz. That's it."
She placed a hand gently on his cheek, her voice softening. "Focus on Diaz. Focus on stopping him. I'm not going anywhere without you knowing, so stop worrying and trust me."
Oliver's gaze lingered on hers, searching for any hint of doubt. Slowly, he slid his hands around her waist, pulling her closer. Then, without hesitation, he pressed his lips to hers in a kiss that felt as necessary as breathing.
It wasn't just about the moment—it was about trying to find truth in her words, in her promise. He thought he believed her, even if only halfway. History had taught him that when Katie got the lead she'd been waiting for, she rarely hesitated to chase it down.
But for now, he chose to trust her. For now, her words would have to be enough.
As the rest of the team filed in, John came in frustrated. Lyla walked over to him and placed her hand on his arm.
"We had him." he said.
"And you'll get him again," Lyla replied.
John's shoulder's dropped as he glanced around to the rest of the team. He didn't see Oliver or Katie. He turned back to Lyla.
"Is she okay?" he asked.
Lyla nodded hesitantly. "I think so," she said, though her tone carried a hint of uncertainty. "You know, when we first learned about these powers, I tried to see if ARGUS had anything on Grace or her family. There's nothing. Not a single mention."
"You think Jacob buried it?" John asked, his brow furrowing.
"I think Jacob ensured there was absolutely no trace of his wife being connected to the homo magi in any ARGUS records. And after what I saw today, I think I understand why." Lyla took a step closer, lowering her voice. "John, she used a picture and was able to see and hear everything Diaz was doing. If she ever fell into the wrong hands—" Lyla shook her head, her expression grim. "I'm starting to wonder if we need to consider some kind of risk-level precautions in case that ever happens."
John studied her carefully. "And what would that even look like?"
"I don't know," Lyla admitted with a sigh. "As the director, I feel like it's my responsibility to plan for every possibility. But as her friend, I'm terrified of what could happen if I decide to flag any of this in an ARGUS file."
John placed a hand on her shoulder, his voice steady. "You should talk to Martin. I'm sure this has come up before in some way. He might have the answers—or at least a direction to start in."
Lyla exhaled slowly, nodding as the weight of her thoughts settled over her. "You're right. I'll reach out to him."
Felicity glanced up as Richard guided Damian inside, his grip firm but not harsh. She stood from her seat, crossing the room to meet them.
"Really?" Her eyes landed on the boy, her tone sharp but controlled.
"I wasn't going to stay behind when I knew I could help. And, surprise, surprise—I did." Damian folded his arms, his defiance clear in his tone.
Felicity stared at him, her expression unreadable. He braced himself for the lecture he was certain would follow, but instead, she exhaled a tired sigh and shook her head.
"Fine." Her voice was quieter than he expected, and she turned away without another word.
Damian blinked, caught off guard. That wasn't the reaction he'd prepared for.
"Nice going, little demon." Richard's voice was laced with sarcasm as he walked past. "You just made the one person who never gives up on anyone, give up on you."
Damian stood frozen, the weight of Richard's words sinking in. His gaze shifted to Felicity's retreating figure, and his shoulders slumped as guilt began to creep in.
Ari stormed into the room, yanking her mask off and making a beeline for Rene, her frustration written all over her face.
"What the hell was that out there?" she demanded, her voice sharp.
Rene looked up, clearly confused. "What are you talking about, pipsqueak?"
"I'm talking about you, Curtis, and Dinah boxing me out!" Ari snapped. "I held my own out there, but every time I did, one of you stepped in to push me out. What's the deal?"
Rene folded his arms, trying to keep his cool. "We were backing you up. That's what a team does."
"No, that wasn't backup," Ari shot back. "That was the three of you trying to keep me out of the fight, and I want to know why. Did Oliver or Katie say something?"
"No," Rene replied, shaking his head before turning away. "Look, how about we focus on stopping Diaz for now, and we'll talk about this later." He didn't wait for her response and walked off, leaving Ari standing there, furious.
She let out an annoyed huff, turning her gaze toward the doorway as Oliver and Katie entered the room. Dinah descended the stairs moments later, her expression serious.
"How's Curtis?" Rene asked, shifting his attention to Dinah.
"He's resting with Nick," she said, exhaling heavily. "One inch either way, and he would've bled out. He got lucky."
"It wasn't just luck," Oliver interjected, drawing their attention.
"What do you mean?" John asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Diaz could've killed Curtis," Oliver explained, "but instead, he went for some sort of necklace."
"That must be one damn important piece of jewelry," Rene muttered.
"More like a piece of tech," Felicity said, bringing up an image on the screen.
Everyone turned their attention to the display as a video began playing. It captured the moment Diaz was thrown off Curtis, only to grab the necklace and make his escape.
"When was this video taken?" Dinah asked, glancing at Felicity. When Felicity didn't respond immediately, Dinah raised an eyebrow. "Am I missing something?"
"It's not a video," Katie said, drawing their attention. "It's a live feed, courtesy of those nifty powers I have."
The group stared at her in silence for a moment.
"You can ask your questions later," Katie added with a dismissive wave before turning to Felicity. "Did you get anything?"
"Yeah, look." Felicity gestured to her computer as the group gathered around her. "It's a GRV-567, solid-state drive, military-grade, dynamic encryption. Whatever's on it, Diaz has gone to a lot of trouble to keep it secure and close."
"This looks like something we should have our hands on," Dinah said firmly.
"Wait." Oliver's voice cut through, and everyone turned to him. "How do we know there's anything on it? It could be a dead end."
"You're the one who said Diaz went after it instead of Curtis," Felicity countered. "That alone tells us it's important."
Oliver crossed his arms, considering. "Your digital sniffer—can it read the drive?"
"If you get me close enough, yeah, for sure," Felicity replied.
"I think she means if you get me close enough," Ari interjected, arms crossed. The group turned to her as she continued. "With mama bear over there currently carrying the next Wayne heir and Curtis recovering, I'm next in line for in-field tech." She glanced pointedly at Rene and Dinah.
"But Diaz is heading to SCPD," Rene said. "You think he's just going to let us stroll in there?"
"They'll let me," Lyla said, her tone resolute.
"What do you mean?" John asked, narrowing his eyes. "Diaz knows ARGUS is working against him."
"The police still have to keep up appearances," Lyla explained. "It wouldn't look good if they turned away the head of a federal agency." She placed a reassuring hand on John's arm. "And if things go south, I've got you to back me up."
"This feels like a big gamble for an unknown payoff," Oliver said with a skeptical shake of his head.
"It probably is," John admitted, "but it might be our only shot."
"So we're all onboard?" Dinah asked, looking around at the group.
All eyes landed on Oliver, who hesitated briefly before nodding. "Yeah."
The group turned to Katie, who leaned back slightly, arms crossed. She raised an eyebrow. "Oh, I don't care about a necklace or what's on it. Never been big on jewelry. I'm hanging back with mama bear for this one."
They watched as she walked off, muttering something about finding a quiet place to sit until her headache subsided.
"Don't take this the wrong way, but should we be worried?" Dinah asked, her voice cautious.
The others turned to her, curiosity piqued.
"About Katie," Dinah continued. "With everything that's happened tonight, I kind of expected a very different version of her in this fight against Diaz. Sitting out two missions wasn't on my list. Does she know something we don't?"
All eyes shifted to Oliver, who seemed to be the only one who might have an answer.
"She probably does," he admitted, his tone neutral but thoughtful. "Right now, from what I can tell, she's handling this in a way none of us expected. Whether that's a good or bad thing... I don't know." He sighed, recalling Katie's earlier words. "For now, we focus on Diaz and stopping him. I'll keep an eye on Katie."
Satisfied with that, the group dispersed, leaving Felicity and Ari to work on the digital sniffer.
Ari's eyes were glued to the screen as Felicity worked beside her. After a moment, Felicity glanced over.
"Are you okay?" she asked gently.
Ari blinked, pulling her attention away from the code. "Yeah, why?"
"I saw you talking to Rene earlier," Felicity said. "It didn't look like a happy conversation."
Ari sighed, turning back to the computer. "They're starting to treat me like a kid."
"What do you mean?"
"Since Katie gave the okay for me to come back to the team, it's like they think I need a bodyguard out there." She shook her head. "I appreciate backup, but I don't appreciate being treated like I'm not a fully competent member of the team."
"They just don't want anything to happen to you," Felicity said.
"Something could happen to me. Something could happen to any of us," Ari shot back. "Look at what happened to Curtis. But when we put on the masks, we accept the risks. They don't pull this kind of thing with each other, so why me?"
"You really don't get it," Felicity said, her tone softer now.
Ari turned to her, confusion etched across her face. "What don't I get?"
"Something can't happen to you," Felicity said firmly. "Realistically we know that it can and at some point we know it will. But when they're out there and you're with them, they tell themselves that nothing can happen to you. Not like Curtis. You're not like everyone else on this team."
"How am I not?"
"Answer me this," Felicity said, meeting Ari's gaze. "If you were the one who got stabbed tonight instead of Curtis, what kind of reaction do you think you'd get from the rest of the team?"
Ari hesitated, then turned her face away, unable to answer.
"Yes, you're young, and we see you as someone we have to protect at all costs," Felicity said. "But you're also Firelight. You've created a persona and a creed with that name, and you probably don't even realize it."
Felicity placed a hand on Ari's shoulder. "We protect you so fiercely because you're the future of all this. We know it, and we understand how important it is."
With that, Felicity turned back to the computer.
"You know Damian's the future too," Ari said after a beat.
Felicity glanced back at her.
"He's annoyingly good at this," Ari added with a small smile.
"I know." Felicity sighed. "He was born into something so ingrained in him that even someone as determined as me can't pull him away from it. I just wanted him to stay in the light for a bit longer before diving into the darkness. But I'm starting to realize he might be more stubborn than I am."
"I don't think so," Ari said, nudging her arm. "You're pretty stubborn. And I don't think he's had anyone work as hard as you to give him something he's never really known."
While waiting for Felicity and Ari to set up the tech sniffer, Oliver sat beside Katie, her head resting on his shoulder.
"Twinkie, we need to talk about the powers," he whispered, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "We've been over this—if they're hurting you, maybe you shouldn't use them."
"It's just a headache," she replied, her eyes still closed.
"It's not just a headache. It's nosebleeds, nausea, and you fainting," Oliver countered. "Zatanna said pushing the limits of your powers could be dangerous. You have to be careful."
"Do you trust me?" she asked, lifting her head to meet his gaze.
"This isn't about trust," he said.
"It kind of is," she replied, sliding her hand over his hood. "Oliver, you put on this hood and fight bad guys, and I have to trust you'll do everything to come back to me. This is dangerous too, but you still do it."
Oliver held her gaze, the weight of her words sinking in. He let out a sigh and ran a hand down her arm.
"I get it," he said quietly. "But it's different. I've trained for this for years. I know my limits. You're still figuring yours out."
"And I'll never know them if I don't try," Katie replied, her tone soft but firm. "I'm not reckless, Oliver. I know when to pull back. You have to trust that I can make those calls."
"It's not you I don't trust—it's the unknown. The risks." He shook his head. "You're too important to me to lose."
Katie smiled softly, her fingers brushing his cheek. "You're important to me too, and that's why I'm not reckless. I promise, I'll be careful. But I need you to believe in me the way I believe in you."
He exhaled heavily, leaning into her touch. "I do believe in you. I just worry."
"I know," she said with a small laugh. "You wouldn't be you if you didn't.
Oliver managed a faint smile. "Just promise me you'll tell me if it gets to be too much."
"Promise," Katie said, and he leaned in to press a kiss to her forehead.
"Hey," Ari called out, drawing their attention. "We've got it. We're good to go." She headed off to inform the others.
Katie started to pull away from Oliver. "Looks like you've got to go."
His arm tightened around her, keeping her close. "The team's starting to think you sitting out these missions means you know something the rest of us don't," he said, studying her face. "You don't…do you?"
Katie sighed, letting her gaze drop before meeting his eyes again. "No, I don't know anything you don't," she said quietly. "What I do know is what I feel—and what I feel is that it's not the right time for me to be out there." She paused, her voice softening. "For a lot of reasons."
"Killing Diaz," Oliver said, turning his head slightly away.
"Yeah," she admitted, her tone tinged with heaviness. "But there's also the other thing." She hesitated, then met his eyes. "The fact that you and I haven't gone into the field together without one—or both—of us getting distracted because of the other. You don't fight me on this because you know it's true."
Oliver held her gaze, his expression a mix of understanding and frustration. Then, leaning forward, he pressed a tender kiss to her lips. "I love you," he whispered, his voice full of certainty.
Katie's lips curved into a small smile as she whispered back, "And I like you—a lot." She chuckled softly, her eyes on his, and he kissed her again. "I love you, Liver." he smiled before finally pulling away to get ready.
Ari stood next to Felicity as she repeated the plan for the police station one last time.
"I got it," Ari said, cutting her off gently before heading to grab her mask.
"Hey, Pipsqueak," Rene called out, and Ari paused to look back at him and Dinah. "Be careful out there. Don't do anything stupid."
"Don't worry, Rene. We save all the stupid for you," she quipped with a grin, picking up her mask and heading over to Oliver and John. "Have you two stretched? Old bones and all—you don't want to pull something." She smirked, spotting Lyla nearby and motioning with her head. "I'll be in the van."
"She is something else," John said with a laugh, glancing at Oliver. "I don't know how you put up with it."
"I think I've just gotten used to her—and Twinkie's— sense of humor," Oliver replied, grabbing his bow and quiver.
At the precinct, Oliver and John positioned themselves on the roof of a building across the street, ready to act if anything went wrong.
Inside the van, Ari sat beside Lyla as they parked outside the station.
"All I have to do is place this somewhere central?" Lyla asked, gesturing to the sniffer device Ari held.
"Exactly. If Diaz's drive is in that building, the sniffer will pick it up," Ari confirmed, glancing at her tablet before turning back to Lyla. "I can monitor the transfer from here, but I'll need it back for a complete pull."
"How much time will you need for the transfer?" Lyla asked.
"A couple of minutes, max," Ari replied confidently.
Lyla nodded. "Copy that." She tapped her earpiece. "Everyone in position?"
"In position," Oliver confirmed over the comlink.
"First sign of trouble, signal us," John added.
"Copy," Lyla replied. She glanced at Ari, noticing the younger woman smiling to herself. "Everything okay?"
"You know, I don't think I've ever told you this, but I think you're pretty cool," Ari said with a grin. "The whole kickass director of a shady government agency thing? It works for you."
Lyla chuckled, shaking her head. "I'll take that as a compliment—and tell you I think you're pretty cool, too. Now focus."
Ari nodded, turning back to her tablet. Lyla smiled to herself before stepping out of the van.
As she waited, Ari kept her eyes fixed on the tablet, her focus concentrated on nothing else. The sudden vibration of her cell phone pulled her from the moment. She quickly grabbed it, knowing Oliver would never let her live it down if he found her on her phone in the field. Glancing down, she saw a message from Jamie, but she didn't get a chance to open it before Lyla's voice cut through the silence.
"You're on, Ari."
"Alright, locked on," Ari replied, eyes still on the tablet. "Give it a few minutes."
She watched the screen, brow furrowing as the information started downloading. "Felicity, are you seeing this?"
"I am, my little protege," Felicity's voice came through the comlink from the bunker. "Guys, the encryption array—it's Corto Maltese in origin."
"What does that mean?" Oliver asked, his voice filled with curiosity.
"I don't know for sure, but if I were betting, I'd say financial records," Felicity replied.
Ari glanced at the data that was still flowing in. "What if these are all of Diaz's books—everyone on his payroll?"
John's voice came through next. "We could liberate the city. Take down his whole operation."
As the cloning process finished, Ari lifted her eyes and spoke quickly. "Lyla, we're done. Grab the sniffer."
She waited for confirmation but froze at Lyla's next words.
"They're on to us," Lyla said.
"Forget the device, just get out of there!" John's voice barked through the comlink.
"Director Michaels!" They heard Diaz's voice, smooth but filled with malice. "I heard you're interested in me."
"Honey, you better get in here," Lyla muttered before the unmistakable sound of gunshots rang out.
Ari's eyes widened, her heart racing. Without hesitation, she threw open the door, jumping out of the van. She sprinted toward the police station, already erupting in chaos from gunfire and arrows. Oliver and John were already inside, backing up Lyla.
Ari quickly glanced down at the tablet, scanning the signal to pinpoint where Lyla had planted the sniffer. She stayed low, weaving through the chaos as gunshots echoed around her. Spotting the device, she sprinted over and snatched it up.
"Hey!" a voice shouted, and Ari turned to see a man charging toward her. Without missing a beat, she kicked a chair into his legs, sending him stumbling. Seizing a stapler from a nearby desk, she hurled it at his head.
"You should've ducked, asshat," Ari muttered, her eyes already darting around as she turned—only to come face to face with another officer.
She kicked out a leg without hesitation, catching him off guard and sending him backward; she snatched his radio and tossed it across the room-the distraction long enough to send him crashing to the floor with an elbow to the chest.
She spun around, eyes scanning for a clear path. Chaos surrounded her inside the station, the sound of shouting and gunfire filling the air. Ari's pulse raced as she spotted an opening—a narrow corridor clear of cops. She sprinted for it, focusing on the exit.
But just as she reached the doorway, she froze.
She saw him through smoke and flashing lights: Diaz, his gun pointed squarely at her. He had her in his sights, and she had no time to react.
There was not even time to prepare herself for the impact, but suddenly out of nowhere, the sharp sound of a bowstring sliced the air, and an arrow whizzed past, catching Diaz's gun with an explositon and sending it flying from his grasp.
Ari barely had time to process what had just happened when she felt a strong hand grip her arm.
"Come on!" Oliver's voice was urgent as he yanked her away from the doorway, his grip firm as he pulled her into the safe cover of a nearby hallway. He didn't look back, keeping his focus ahead. "We're getting out of here."
They moved as fast as possible, keeping low and weaving between gunfire as Oliver directed her toward the exit. Her chest heaved with the surge of adrenaline in her veins, but she didn't stop, couldn't stop, until finally they were out of the building, the chaos of the police station fading behind them.
It took a bit of time, but they all got out of there. When they returned to the bunker, they were surprised to see Katie standing there as if waiting for them. Ari seemed to be nervous at the look on her face.
"Where is the device?" Katie asked the girl who just reached into her pocket and held it out. Katie took it and handed it to John. "Can you give this to Felicity?" the man just nodded before Katie turned back to Ari. "Come with me." she didn't wait for the girl to agree before she stalked off.
Ari glanced back to Oliver who just sighed and nudged his head for her to go. Her shoulders just slumped before they both walked off to find Katie.
Ari and Oliver followed Katie down the narrow corridor, the tension thick in the air. Katie's steps were quick, her demeanor cold as she led Ari to a quiet corner of the bunker. As they stopped, Katie turned to face Ari, with Oliver just behind her.
"So I guess you saw what happened back there?" Ari asked, trying to break the silence, but Katie didn't respond. Ari continued, "Look, I know it was reckless, but I had to get that device. That was the key to bringing Diaz down. I couldn't just sit there and do nothing."
"And what would've happened if I wasn't there?" Oliver interjected, his voice stern. Ari shot him a quizzical look. "Ari, when you're out there, you have to be aware of everything happening around you. Tonight, you weren't."
"You're joking, right?" Ari asked, glancing between Oliver and Katie. "I literally grabbed the one thing that can bring that bastard down, and you two are yelling at me because—"
"Because you froze!" Katie cut in, her voice firm. Ari's eyes snapped to her. "Gun pointed at your head, and you froze. That can never happen. You do not freeze out there. You never wait for someone else to pull the trigger. Do you understand me?"
Ari swallowed hard but met Katie's gaze. "Yes," she replied quietly.
"Good," Katie said, her tone softening just a fraction. "Now I'm going to ask Lyla to get you transport to the ARGUS safe house with Will and Robyn."
Ari's eyes widened in shock. "You can't do that."
"Yes, I can," Katie responded, her voice steady.
"No, you can't," Ari shot back, her voice rising. "At least I'm doing something. While you sit here with more power than anyone in this bunker, doing nothing, I'm out there trying to stop the man who took our home. You can't punish me for that." Ari huffed, her frustration clear, but she softened her tone. "I made a mistake," she said. "I'll learn from it. Just… don't make me leave."
Katie looked at her for a moment, then lifted her eyes to Oliver, who stood with his arms crossed, his expression unreadable.
"This conversation isn't over," Oliver said. "Go help Felicity analyze the device."
Ari nodded and took a step, but Katie spoke again.
"Ari," Katie said, and Ari turned back to her. "What you did tonight was brave, but it was stupid. I'm the only person in this family who gets to do brave, stupid things. Do you understand?"
"Yes," Ari replied, nodding. She turned to leave, but Oliver stepped in front of her, blocking her path. She stopped and looked up at him, confusion written on her face.
"You have no idea what it was like, seeing that gun pointed at you," Oliver said, shaking his head. "Ari, I know you're still learning how to do this, and I wish—I wish I could've been a better teacher. But this—this is not easy for me or Katie. We both know how good you are, but it only takes one split second for everything to change, and it's that moment that gives us nightmares. So yes, this is your parents making a fuss over you, because that split-second moment almost happened tonight. Our instincts, the people who love and care about you, are to get you as far away from this as possible. But we're going to give you another shot. In the field, you stay close to me, or Katie, or someone on this team, but never alone."
Ari let out a deep sigh. "I got it," she said quietly. "And really, I'm sorry." She glanced over at Katie. "And I didn't mean what I said about you sitting around doing nothing."
"Well, technically, I have been sitting and doing nothing," Katie replied, her voice dry.
Ari shook her head with a smirk. "Yeah, no one really believes that." She met Katie's gaze, her voice softer. "Nyssa once told me that a warrior should resist the urge to act impulsively; let the situation unfold and reveal its weaknesses." She paused, giving Katie a look of understanding. "You're waiting for him to do what people like him always do. I just hope I'm there when you finally show him he's not as bulletproof as he thinks."
Ari smiled and turned to leave, heading off to find the others.
Once she was gone, Oliver turned to Katie with a slight shake of his head.
"He pointed a gun at her... at my—my daughter." Oliver shook his head again, the memory of the moment hitting him hard, a weight settling in his chest.
Katie reached out, placing a hand gently on his arm. "I know," she said softly. "I know how hard it is to see her in those situations."
Oliver clenched his jaw, the tension in his body never quite easing. "I'm supposed to protect her, Katie. I'm supposed to keep her safe, and I almost..."
"You didn't fail her," Katie interrupted, her voice firm. "You got to her. You kept her safe, just like you always do. But you can't protect her from everything. None of us can. But she's tough, Oliver. And you're right there with her, every step of the way. That's what counts."
Oliver let out a long breath, the weight on his shoulders a little lighter. "I know. I just wish she didn't have to face it so soon."
"She'll learn," Katie said. "And so will we."
The next few hours passed in tense anticipation as Felicity and Ari worked to decrypt Diaz's files.
Katie sat alone by a window, her gaze lost in the distance, when she heard approaching footsteps. She turned and sighed.
"Still here, Richie?" she asked as the man sat beside her. "With the Joker finally caught, I figured Gotham would be keeping you busy."
"Yeah, I'll head back once Bruce gets here," he replied with a small smile. "So, what's the plan?"
"What plan?" Katie asked, arching a brow.
"The rumor mill says you've got some big, secret takedown plan for Diaz. At some point, you're going to slip away like a thief in the night."
Katie shook her head, amused despite herself. "There's no plan, Richie. No slipping away. Spread that to your little rumor mill."
Richard nudged her shoulder with a grin. "Oh, Sugar Bear, that man ordered his people to shoot up your house—with your husband and kids inside. You've got something cooking, whether you admit it or not. Just remember, if you're in the mood to make bad decisions, grab me. I'll help you make 'em." He nudged her shoulder, then stood. "Just sayin'."
With that, he walked off.
On the upper level of the bunker, Oliver packed his quiver in silence, his brow furrowed as he moved. John approached, breaking the quiet.
"Felicity and Ari say the decryption's at 40%," John informed him.
"They're working as fast as they can," Oliver replied without looking up.
John studied his friend. "Maybe we need a backup plan in case this doesn't go the way we expect."
Oliver sighed, setting an arrow down. "I'm open to suggestions."
"Let's start with what's on your mind," John said, stepping closer. "I know tonight's been rough."
"Tough doesn't even begin to cover it," Oliver muttered. "Today was supposed to be good. After the Light of Hope opening, we were just going to have a nice, normal family dinner. Then Diaz's people show up, guns blazing. My two-year-old daughter, terrified and crying in my arms, and all I could think about was keeping them safe. Our home—violated." He turned away, shaking his head. "And even though that fight's over, all I can think about is what happens next."
"But you and Katie kept them safe," John reminded him gently.
"I don't want them here," Oliver admitted, his voice low. "I love them so much, but this danger—this uncertainty Diaz has thrown us into—I can't trust it."
"Oliver, being scared for your family is normal," John said. "Back in the precinct, when Lyla was in danger, I didn't care about anything except getting to her. That's what happens when you care about someone."
"It's also a distraction," Oliver countered. "Tonight, Ari went into that police station, completely unaware of her surroundings. You told me I'd spread myself too thin, and I listened. I made changes. But tonight, Ari split my focus, and it almost got us both killed."
"But it didn't," John pointed out firmly. "Yeah, she slipped. It happens. But you know Ari—when she makes a mistake, she works twice as hard to make sure it doesn't happen again. And we'll help her."
Oliver sighed, nodding slightly as John added, "When I said your focus was split, I didn't mean you should throw away everyone and everything that gives you strength."
It happened again. Katie suddenly stiffened, a chill running down her spine. Something felt wrong. She stood, glancing around the bunker. The sinking feeling in her gut refused to ease. She found Ari, Damian, and Felicity near the computers.
"Are you okay?" Felicity asked, noticing Katie's tense expression.
"We need to leave. Now," Katie said urgently.
Before Felicity could respond, alarms blared through the bunker. Ari turned to the computer, quickly pulling up security footage.
"It's Diaz," she said, her voice tight. "And he's brought an army."
Smoke began to pour from the vents.
"Tricelic gas," Felicity announced. Damian immediately took her hand protectively.
"His men breached the northeast entry," Dinah said, stepping in with Lyla and ARGUS agents.
"Are there any other exits?" Oliver asked.
"South corridor," Felicity replied. "There's a hidden stairwell to street level."
"If things go sideways, Curtis rigged the place to blow," Rene said, holding up a detonator.
"Let's hope it doesn't come to that," Oliver said. "We need to move—"
"Not yet!" Ari interrupted.
Everyone turned to her.
"The decryption's not done. I can't leave."
"You're going." Katie suddenly said and the teen turned to her about to argue. "I will stay."
She turned and looked around to the gas, and focused, whispering a single word, "Stop," Katie froze the spreading gas.
"I don't know how long I can hold that, but it should give you all enough time to get out of here." She turned back to Ari and Felicity. "I'll wait for the decryption to finish."
"I thought you didn't care about the information in those files?" Ari asked.
"I don't, but I care about you, and I trust you. If you think it's important, I'll see it through," Katie said firmly before turning away. "You all need to go, now."
"We'll catch up," Oliver said, his voice steady. Katie turned to meet his gaze. He glanced over to Ari, then placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "Stick with the team," he added softly.
Ari nodded, stepping over to Katie and pulling her into a hug. "I love you."
"I love you, too. Now go," Katie replied, her hand brushing Ari's cheek before Ari hurried to join John.
"Just in case," Rene said, handing the remote to Oliver before following the others.
As the group left, Oliver turned back to Katie, who was staring intently at the computer screen. She glanced at him, her expression unwavering.
"You should've gone with them," she said quietly. His brow furrowed as he stepped closer. "You should've gone with Ari."
"Ari is safe with the team, and there's no way I'd leave you behind in a building filling with dangerous gas," he said firmly. "There's no version of this where I leave you behind."
"That's sweet," she said with a faint smile. "You're also an idiot."
Oliver shook his head, scanning the room. "I love you too, Twinkie. How much longer?" When she didn't answer, he turned and froze. Katie was standing still, her eyes closed, blood trickling from her nose.
"Twinkie?" he said urgently, rushing to her side. He saw the gas seeping into the room again. "Katie!" He pulled her into his arms.
"Just a little longer," she said, her voice weak as she opened her eyes. She turned to the computer. "We need a few more minutes."
"We might not have a few more minutes," Oliver replied, his voice tight with worry.
Katie turned back to the gas, focusing. "Stop," she commanded, and the gas halted once again. She glanced at Oliver. "Just go, Oliver."
"No chance."
"I can hold this off. Maybe Ari's right. Maybe this will bring him down. Look, once it's done, I'll email the files and make a run for it."
Oliver didn't move.
"Those kids need you," she added.
"No, they need us," he said, meeting her gaze with certainty. "We'll find another way."
Katie held his gaze for a moment before nodding. "Okay." She took his hand.
Oliver didn't hesitate. He pulled her toward the stairwell as they both coughed, the gas seeping back in. Katie conserved her energy, no longer holding it off. Oliver kept an arm around her, steadying her as her pace slowed.
"We're almost there, Twinkie. Keep going," he urged, his grip firm.
Katie's lungs burned as they climbed. She suddenly stopped, wracked with coughing. Oliver turned and, without a word, scooped her into his arms, determined to get her out.
"I was just coming to kill you," a voice called.
Oliver stopped, looking up to see Diaz standing on the landing, wearing a gas mask.
"Looks like you met me halfway," Diaz taunted.
"Oh, this son of a bitch," Katie muttered as Oliver set her down.
Katie watched as Oliver, struggling to breathe, squared off against Diaz. Her heart sank as Diaz kicked Oliver, sending him tumbling down the steps to land beside her.
"I'm keeping my promise," Katie said through coughs, placing a hand on Oliver's chest. "I'm about to do something you won't like."
Oliver's confusion turned to shock as he suddenly found himself outside, standing behind the team.
"Oliver?" John said, rushing to steady him.
"Where's Katie?" Ari demanded, running over. Oliver didn't respond, his eyes locked on the building.
Reaching for the remote detonator, Oliver realized it was gone. Renewed determination surged through him as he broke free of John's grasp and sprinted toward the building.
He had barely taken a few steps when the building exploded.
The explosion reverberated through the air, sending a wave of heat and debris outward. Oliver stumbled back, shielding his face as the force of it knocked the team to the ground. Smoke and flames consumed the remains of the building.
His ears rang, drowning out the shouts around him. For a moment, the world stood still.
Katie's face flashed in his mind—her determined eyes, her smile, her voice telling him to go. He'd promised her they would get out together. He should've dragged her with him. He should've—
"Oliver..." Ari's voice was faint, trembling with disbelief.
He turned his head slowly, his body numb. Ari was staring at the blaze, her expression crumbling as realization set in.
"No," she whispered, shaking her head. Her knees buckled, and John barely caught her before she collapsed. "No, she's not... she's coming out. She promised—she promised she'd come out!"
Back at ARGUS, the team regrouped. Oliver led Ari to a separate room, watching as she paced back and forth, her movements restless and agitated. He swallowed his own emotions, setting them aside for now. Ari needed him.
"Ari—"
"She's not dead," Ari cut him off, stopping abruptly. Her eyes burned with a fiery determination as she turned to him. "She got you out, didn't she? If she wanted to, she would've gotten herself out too." She stepped closer, her voice steadying. "Resist the urge to act impulsively; allow the situation to unfold and reveal its weaknesses. She's doing exactly that, Dad. This is her plan."
Oliver's eyes on her, wondering if she notice how easily the word dad just came out of her mouth. But then he thought of what she was saying and wondering if it could be true. He opened his mouth to respond, but a knock at the door drew their attention.
John stepped in, his expression a mix of seriousness and cautious hope. "Hey, Lyla just got the report from the forensics team. Diaz and Katie weren't in the building."
Oliver stared at him for a long moment, processing the words. Relief didn't come—it couldn't, not yet. He turned back to Ari, his hand running over his face as he let out a heavy sigh before taking a step away.
"She's done it before," John continued, stepping further into the room. "Gotten herself caught. Worked an inside angle. Maybe this is the backup plan we didn't know we needed."
Oliver didn't respond immediately. His eyes remained fixed on the wall, but his thoughts raced. He knew John might be right—Katie had a way of pulling off the impossible. Still, the weight of the uncertainty crushed down on him.
"Oliver?" Ari's voice broke through his silence. He turned to meet her gaze, seeing the determination in her eyes.
"She can do this," she said, her voice soft but resolute.
A faint smile tugged at Oliver's lips. "I know she can." He turned to John, his tone firmer now. "And I trust her. I trust her ability to survive, to adapt, to get out of any situation she's in." His gaze dropped to his hand, where his thumb brushed over his wedding ring.
"But I'm not wired to sit here and do nothing while my wife is out there, risking her life." His voice cracked slightly, but he straightened, looking back to Ari. "We're going to find her. And when we do, I'm going to remind her exactly how much I hate it when she pulls this kind of stunt."
"Where do we start?" Ari asked, and Oliver turned to her.
"I have an idea." he said.
Anatoly stood frozen, his eyes fixed on the rusted steel door guarding the woman he knew they all should fear. His nerves were on edge as he stepped forward, his hand sliding the vision slot open to peer inside. The woman still lay unconscious on the concrete floor, her form motionless.
"Has Sleeping Beauty woken up yet?" Diaz's voice cut through the silence, making Anatoly flinch slightly.
Just moments earlier, Anatoly had watched in quiet horror as Diaz killed another member of the Quadrant. The first was Cassamento—slashed with a knife to the throat. The second man, a nameless face to Anatoly, had met a similar fate, executed in front of a room full of people. Diaz demanded loyalty, then sent the second member away. Anatoly had seen enough to realize just how dangerous Diaz truly was, and how carefully he needed to tread.
"No, she's still out," Anatoly replied, stepping aside as Diaz approached the slot, his smirk spreading when he saw the woman's still form.
"Let me know when she wakes up," Diaz said dismissively, turning to walk away.
"Why didn't you just kill her?" Anatoly asked, his voice laced with a mix of curiosity and caution.
Diaz stopped and turned to him slowly, an almost imperceptible shift in his demeanor.
"She was lying there, unconscious," Anatoly continued. "You could've killed her and been done with it. It would've hurt Oliver—his defenses weakened."
Diaz's gaze hardened, his lips curling into a sadistic smile. "Well, she once claimed I wasn't playing the right game." He paused, his voice lowering. "I thought it was only fitting to keep her around long enough to watch her husband and friends lose the game I'm destined to win."
Anatoly nodded silently, his unease growing. Diaz's mind worked in dangerous ways.
"Let me know when she wakes up," Diaz repeated before turning on his heel and walking away.
Anatoly lingered, his eyes once again drawn to the dark room. He let out a long sigh, looking at the unmoving figure of the woman on the floor. Slowly, he slid the vision slot shut, the metal screeching softly in the silence before he turned to leave.
Katie was still, her body relaxed to exactness, yet razor-sharp alert was her mind. Hours, literally, she had been awake, but Katie did not stir. Every noise, every groan of the building, every breath-she measured. The restraints that tied at her wrists could be felt, yet she knew better than to react too soon.
She heard the footsteps outside the door were heavy, deliberate. She could almost hear the weight of Diaz's presence, the others as they moved around the room. She didn't make a sound, gave no indication of life. Her breathing was shallow, controlled. If they thought she was still out cold, they'd underestimate her.
Katie waited—patient, silent—letting them think she was still unconscious, weak and without hope. She'd let them think they had the better end of things for now, but when the time came, she would strike without hesitation.
Author's Note
Phew!
Review Replies
Adela: Thank You!!!
luisalamaral2003: I'm actually not quite sure yet. I haven't shifted too much focus on the next story until i get this one wrapped up.
Ah, these last few chapters are bittersweet sweet. As always, many thanks and much appreciation!
At the precinct, Oliver scanned the scene as FBI agents rounded up Diaz's crooked cops. His eyes locked on one officer being carted out, and he grabbed him by the arm.
"Katherine Queen! Where is she?" he demanded.
"That bitch is dead," the officer sneered before being dragged away.
Oliver's jaw clenched. He glanced around until he spotted Ari moving down a hallway, out of sight.
"Firelight!" he called, quickly following her.
They ended up in holding, passing rows of cells as Oliver's eyes darted to each one, searching for any sign of his wife. At the end of the corridor, they came upon a heavy door with a vision slot.
Ari reached for the handle, but Oliver stopped her, pulling her back behind him. "Stay behind me."