Chapter 20: Showdown

"He is most likely a man in his thirties or forties who has a job where he can exert power over others: maybe a prison guard, parole officer, doing work in an addiction treatment center," Laurel explained to the gathered Team Arrow. "Like we had from our previous profile, he likely engages with some type of martial arts or another combat sport, like MMA or boxing. He is hostile towards women. And the partner is likely someone close to him, either related like a sibling or relative, or a trusted friend or coworker."

Oliver nodded as Laurel finished providing the depiction of Shadow Stalker worked up by a profiler friend of Laurel's who worked with the DA's office. Laurel hated to admit that this particular case had sucked her back into Team Arrow – at least as far as investigating went. And thankfully, Josh was every bit as invested as she was, as he sat with the Team in the Bunker, nodding along.

Felicity jumped in, adding, "Using our original physical profile combined with Laurel's new profile, I narrowed a list of men fitting Shadow Stalker's description down to a few hundred names."

"That's better than we had before," Sin noted. "Your girl really came through," she said offering the chipper complement about the profiler to Laurel.

Thea stood looking over Felicity's shoulder, inspecting the screens in front of her. "Are any of those names connected to the Raven Street Bridge area?" Thea asked. She turned to Roy and explained, "That's Shadow Stalker's main hunting ground. Although he's been quiet lately - there haven't been any sightings since he slipped us at the bridge." She turned back to the rest of the team. "It would make sense that he has familiarity and comfort with the area."

"Um, I can check against their home addresses and employers' addresses," Felicity agreed.

As Felicity typed, Digg said, "We can start with a list as large as 25 prime targets. That's narrow enough to dig into."

"Did you know there was a dojo specializing in Judo on 52nd street?" Josh asked, looking at his phone.

Laurel peeked at the map Josh was peering at. "That's awfully close to the alley I found you fighting Shadow Stalker in," Laurel noted to Thea, who turned around and crossed her arms over her chest. Laurel asked, "You were the one who fought him: did it seem like he was using Judo techniques?"

Thea seemed to consider Laurel's words. "Maybe," she admitted. "There was a lot of power behind his strikes. He was definitely trained by someone."

Oliver said to Felicity, "Can you compare your list against people who are registered at that dojo?"

"You make it sound like getting access to such a list is easy," Felicity noted cheekily. "Fortunately – yup, I've got it." Felicity paused, studying the screen. Then she said, "It looks like we have one name: Jack Meyers." With a few more clicks, a driver's license appeared on the screen in front of Felicity and the larger screen behind her.

"Jack Meyers, thirty-eight years old," Roy read aloud. "Six foot four, two-hundred fifty pounds." Roy hmmed, and added, "Lives in Lake Park, not the Glades."

"According to the profile, he has to be familiar with the area – he doesn't necessarily have to live there," Laurel pointed out.

"And, he did live in the Glades, up until 2008. He graduated from Smith O'Neil High School." Felicity added.

Roy's eyes brightened with interest. "That's where I graduated from!"

"Yeah, like, fourteen years after him," Thea teased.

"I didn't mean that I knew him or anything," Roy defended, rolling his eyes.

"That's enough to prove he is aware of the area where the attacks have taken place," Oliver stated, shifting his weight from one foot to the other as he took in the ID photo.

"What else do we know about Jack?" Josh asked.

"Oof," Felicity said, wincing. "He works at Iron Heights. A prison guard."

"This has to be our guy, right?" Roy asked, clearly getting agitated as the pieces were coming together.

"I've got his socials," Laurel said, scrolling on her phone. "Looks like he's a single dad to a college-aged son. Tyler Meyers."

"Oo, this guy is fired up," Josh added, eyes wide as he took in a post. "He has some pretty wild things to say about women." Josh turned to Laurel and said, embarrassed, "I don't really want to read this out loud."

Laurel held out her hand, asking to see. Josh handed it over and Laurel's eyes widened at the profane names she read. "Oh, yikes." She skimmed back a few posts. "Oh," she said, suddenly feeling far less surprised. "It looks like Jack is particularly bitter about his ex, Tyler's mom. He says she was cheating on him and using drugs, and then walked out on him and Tyler."

"That's enough to piss someone off," Digg noted, from where he leaned against the Hub's railing. "Especially if he wasn't stable to begin with."

"Well, I'd leave his butt too," Sin groused.

"Are we sure she actually left?" Roy asked. As curious eyes turned to him, Roy clarified, "I mean, this guy is out there killing women. Could he have started closer to home?"

"You'll never believe this," Thea broke in, voice tense. "There's mentions of Tyler Meyers in a news article about a missing college student, Daniella Pitt. He was asking for the public's help – Daniella was his girlfriend."

"Oh, god." Felicity said, horrified. "You think Jack attacked and murdered his son's girlfriend?"

"Maybe with Tyler's help," Oliver said darkly. "Look at Tyler." Oliver pulled up the driver's license photo of Tyler. Tyler was 5'9" to Jack's 6'4" and skinny to Jack's broad build. "Could that be the kid you confronted on the bridge?" Oliver asked Digg.

Digg inspected the photo and description thoughtfully. "Yeah, that would fit," Digg agreed.

"That's sick!" Sin said. "A father and son, raping and killing women?"

"We need evidence," Oliver said. "Trying to tie these crimes to a man and his son is completely different than catching them in the middle of a hunt. We can't turn them over to the police with solely circumstantial evidence. We need something concrete."

"So, we find it," Thea said. "They clearly have gone to ground since they slipped us at Raven's Street, so we might not be able to catch them in the act." Thea seemed to study the ID photos of the two men. "But everything about these two screams that they're our perps. We just need to get in with them."

"In with them how?" Roy asked warily, clearly not liking where this was going.

"Look," Thea said sensibly turning to face Roy and the team. "We know Shadow Stalker hunts young women at night. But, if Daniella was any indication, they're open to other opportunities to find victims. If we scared them off from hunting at night, then let's find another way in. I'll find some way to get face to face with Tyler and catch his attention. If I get invited to their home, we investigate."

"That's a terrible idea," Oliver said incredulously. "Jack Meyers is disciplined in hand-to-hand combat. If we send you in and this goes sideways, he has at least a hundred pounds on you!"

Thea rebutted, "I've fought him before, and I held my own just fine! Besides, I'd have a lot more back-up this time." Thea looked past Oliver towards the rest of the team, as though she were garnering support. "We're not trying to fight him – we're just trying to dig up more evidence."

"Thea," Oliver said, frustrated. "I'm not saying you can't hold your own. I am saying that you are not at your strongest-"

"And every day we leave these two free in our city, more women are at risk!" Thea said heatedly. "And frankly, I am responsible for letting him get away last time."

"Thea, no one blames you for making the call you did," Felicity said carefully.

"And that's great, but I do. If someone else dies when I could have had him …" Thea trailed off, looking absorbed in her thoughts. She added, looking back at Oliver with a look of determination. "I'm ready," she said. "My last x-ray showed my lungs are nearly completely clear – I'm back at the top of my game."

Oliver remained unconvinced and suggested, "Look, if we have to send in someone, let's send in Laurel."

Laurel's eyes went wide. She was here to help the investigation – she wasn't exactly itching to be bait or to climb back in the Canary suit.

Thea looked thoughtful and asked Oliver, "If I can take Laurel in a fight, am I in?" Oliver screwed up his face, showing he thought the question was crazy. Thea added in challenge, "I mean, what I'm hearing is that you think Laurel is better prepared to defend herself if things go bad. So, if I beat Laurel, that means I'm ready."

Roy shrugged to Oliver, "I don't know, man, that's what I heard too."

Oliver groaned and pressed a fist into his forehead in agitation. Thea took that as assent and said cheerfully, "Come on, Laurel!" Thea lightly sprang down the Hub's steps, gliding over to the sparring mats.

Laurel caught Josh's eyes to see what he thought of this competition and the threat of Oliver wanting to send Laurel into the field. Josh just sent her a supportive grin. Unhelpful, Laurel thought. Laurel decided that Josh had been entirely too onboard with the craziness that was Team Arrow.

"Thea," Laurel warned once she stepped on the mat. "I don't want to fight you."

"We're not fighting," Thea said in an upbeat voice. "We're sparring, and it's been far too long." Thea begged, eyes large and beseeching. "Come on, Laurel – I need this!"

The pleading worked. Laurel could rarely resist Thea giving her best "please face". Laurel sighed and then readied herself. Thea grinned in response and bounced lightly on her feet, before imitating Laurel's ready position.

Minutes later, lying on her back on the ground with Thea standing over and panting with a pleased smile on her face, Laurel could well and truly admit defeat. Laurel was a powerful fighter, even rusty from months without practice – but Thea had been intensively trained by Malcolm Merlyn for months on Corto Maltese. Even if AIDs had taken Thea down a few notches (and Laurel was distressed to note that it had), her current state was still better than most people's best.

Thea turned towards the Hub and called out to her brother, "Satisfied?"

Sin responded, keeping her voice low in imitation of Russell Crowe, and raising two hands towards the ceiling of the Bunker, "Are you not entertained?"

"Thea," Oliver said, a warning note in his voice that he was unamused and his mind was unchanged.

Thea took a few steps towards the gathered team above her with her focus only on Oliver, crossing her arms across her chest. "Look, I made my point," Thea said. "I am more than strong enough to do what needs to be done." Laurel stood up and watched the siblings as they danced around their feelings.

Oliver replied with a persuasive note in his voice, trying to make it clear that he wasn't doubting her, "I never said you weren't, Thea, I just -"

Thea shook her head, rejecting what Oliver was saying. "It's on me that we didn't tag him at Raven Street. It's sheer luck he hasn't killed again while I have been recovering." Oliver tilted his head towards his sister, his eyes sparkling with sympathy.

While he may have been sympathetic, he was clearly not prepared to place Thea in danger. "There are other plans that don't involve putting you at risk," Oliver said firmly. "Thea, you are strong enough, okay? But … I am not. I am not ready to lose you. Not today, not for a long time. And this just feels wrong!" Laurel knew this was the entire point: it wasn't that Thea couldn't do it – Oliver just couldn't take the chance.

Thea looked thoughtful for a moment. Then she straightened her shoulders, directing, "I wasn't asking for permission to go undercover – I am telling you." Oliver's eyes narrowed in response. Thea continued, "This is my case. Team Arrow is a part of this investigation because you were invited. You are not my parent and you are not my team leader. And if I need to, I can separate my team from Team Arrow, and Team Arae can catch Shadow Stalker on our own."

Oliver asked incredulously, his brow wrinkled, "Are you threatening me with going in without backup if we don't do it your way?"

Thea shrugged. "Not threatening," Thea said evenly. "Just informing. So – are we doing this together?"

Oliver studied Thea like he was mulling over his options. Finally, he nodded.

"That sounded really good, guys," Thea said as Felicity and Laurel monitored the interaction through the camera on Thea's shirt button.

Sin agreed emphatically, "Your sound is tight! I think your band is the right fit for our client's event."

Oliver, Digg, and Roy were suited up and lying in backup in several points within and outside of the old industrial building where Tyler Meyer's band agreed to meet with Thea and Sin about a potential gig for Queen's Jubilee. Laurel had to admit, the band had been half-way decent. They sounded like a group that could be scouted by a high-end party business. Thea and Sin's cover should be able to hold up just fine.

"Well, The Phallacies don't play just any scene," a self-assured, fair-haired man in his early twenties replied, stepping in closer to Thea. Laurel rolled her eyes: the band name just read that it was composed of a bunch of adolescent-minded men. The man vanished from the camera's view and his voice grew louder, indicating he had made his way close to Thea's wire. He hissed, "We've gotta make sure we're the right-" the man dramatically paused and then his voice rumbled, "-fit."

Thea squeaked and there was a slapping sound. Laurel could swear she heard Roy growl through his comms.

"Trent, lay off, man." Another man stepped into frame. His brown hair was long enough that it ended in soft waves around his neck and his voice showed he meant business.

"Whatever, man," the blond man groused, stepping away with his hands up. "You don't have to be so uptight," he added back at Thea. "Live a little."

The brown-haired man watched as the other walked away, then stepped closer to Thea, apologizing. "Sorry about him. He's kind of a pig. But he's a good drummer."

She couldn't see Thea's face on camera, but Laurel could imagine Thea looking up at the man with gratitude. "No, I get it," Thea downplayed - something she was only doing to keep her cover. If Thea had been inappropriately grabbed any other time, Trent would be lucky to still have his hand. "You're Tyler, right? You have a great voice."

"I'm only lead because no one else wanted to," Tyler said in a self-deprecating tone. "You know, we do more than just covers," he said. "I've got some original stuff too – this event maybe isn't the place for it, but – you should come by during a set sometime and check it out."

"I'd like that," Thea said in a voice that showed she was interested but trying to act cool. Seeing the eagerness light up Tyler's face, Laurel thought, and not for the first time, that Thea could absolutely land any guy she wanted – she just happened to only want Roy.

Felicity stated, looking up at Laurel from her computer chair, "Looks like we've got our in!"

It was quickly clear that Tyler had taken the bait. Later in the week, Thea attended a small concert of the Phallacies at a local bar, where, to Roy's chagrin, Tyler had invited Thea on a date. Fortunately, Tyler had been an absolute gentleman; and when, in the course of their dinner together, Thea noted that she had some interest in learning guitar, Tyler brought up his dad, insisting that everything he knew was from his dad. Tyler's invitation to swing by his house sometime to meet Mr. Meyers so they could talk about guitar lessons made Laurel's toes curl as she thought about the other women who may have been drawn in with the same suggestion. But then again, this was exactly the kind of offer they had been looking for: Thea had her in.

Jack reached the door and opened it to see a slight brunette with short hair and large, hazel eyes. As soon as his eyes landed on her, he got the eerie feeling he knew her. What had Tyler done?

"Hi!" the girl said cheerfully. "I'm Thea. I'm here to meet up with Tyler. Are you Mr. Meyers?" Jack had to admit she was cute. Bright eyes, dainty figure, big smile – she reminded him of Daniella in the best possible way.

Jack fixed a warm smile to his face. "I am. Nice to meet you, Thea. Come on in."

Thea took a step in the door and craned her head around, looking up the hallway past Jack. Jack took the opportunity to look her slowly up and down, imagining her without clothes – oh yeah, she would do just fine. He could feel the sparks of desire flowing downward. "Is Tyler here?" she asked.

"He got hung up at band practice," Jack said. "He'll be back soon. So, you're the girl who caught my boy's eye, huh?" Jack grinned internally as he saw her face flush at the comment. "Sit down – I'd like to get to know you a little," he added disarmingly. He didn't get much of a chance to charm girls anymore. The thrill of keeping his prey calm as she settled into his trap filled him with a rush of sweet adrenaline.

Thea glanced around looking a little anxious, but agreeably took a seat on the couch Jack had indicated in the living room. Jack took a seat on a nearby armchair and leaned forward, focusing his attention on Thea. "Tyler told me you want to learn to play guitar?"

"Oh!" Thea said, surprised. She tucked her hair behind her ear nervously. "He told you that! Um, yes! Tyler's really amazing – he said that you taught him everything he knows!" The complement was cute – that kind of intentional cute that women were always using to hold men hostage. Jack managed to not roll his eyes.

"I did," Jack agreed. He grinned at her and asked, "And do you know what that means?" Thea shook her head no. "It means, I'm really, really good." He watched her with piercing eyes. Thea laughed pleasantly at his joke.

Something about the laughter moved her expression just enough. Suddenly, Jack knew where he knew her from. "Thea … you're Thea Queen!" he exclaimed.

Thea flushed again and nodded. "Guilty."

Jack's mind began racing – Thea Queen, in his house. Did he need to abort his pursuit? "My idiot son had no idea who you were," Jack said, forcing a jolly laugh. "He bagged a celebrity, huh?"

Thea said quickly, "Oh, no, it's not like that! No one remembers me anymore," she insisted.

Jack guffawed. "Ha, as if! If you did something crazy tomorrow, you'd still make the headlines. Not to mention, your brother is the fucking mayor!"

Suddenly the idea of calling off his hunt seemed crazy. He was pulled back to when Daniella had gone missing. For weeks there were searches, news articles, television reports, all discussing his handiwork. He had absorbed every bit of it. The thrill had been like no other.

Tracking, getting off, and killing a victim was fun – but reliving it over and over through the media had been something else entirely.

Jack began practically salivating at the idea, his pulse pounding: Thea Queen would be the news if she went missing. She would make headlines across the country. Her brother would hold a million press conferences, pleading and crying. And every time there was a new report, he would remember being with her, watching the life fade from her eyes. It would be a tragedy for the ages, and he would write it.

"Look," Jack said reasonably. "I've got a studio in the basement. Come on down with me and we'll find you a guitar to get started on."

Thea tensed up, seemingly concerned to go to the basement with a strange man. "Um, that's really kind," Thea said quickly, "But maybe I'll just come back sometime when Tyler is here."

Jack knew he had pushed too far too soon. He settled back in his chair and raised both hands up saying, "No, no, I gotcha. We'll just wait right here, okay? Look I've got a guitar up here, let me just show you a few things."

Thea looked around, like she was trying to peer into the rest of the house. She asked, "Where's Tyler's mom?"

Anger flared in Jack's mind. Bitch. How dare she bring that cunt up – hadn't he done the entire job of raising his boy by himself? His wife had been a psychotic wench and deserved everything she got.

But what Jack said was, "Ty's mom left when he was just a little thing. She had some drug problems. She's never even tried to get in touch with him. I raised Ty myself."

Thea nodded, eyes wide and sympathetic. "Oh, I'm so sorry. Well, you've done a great job – Tyler is a really great guy." Thea looked at her watch and said, "You know what, I am really sorry I've taken your time. I'm just going to go and catch up with Tyler later."

"Don't be silly!" Jack said, doing his best to soothe his guest. "Ty will be here any minute. Come on through to the kitchen – I can grab you a soda or something. Ty will be so sad to know you stopped in and I scared you away." If there was one thing that seemed to always work on women, it was playing on the feeling that they had even slightly inconvenienced or disappointed someone.

Thea hesitated. Jack stood up and walked into the kitchen. He counted in his head and then smirked when he heard tentative steps following him on the tile. He turned around to say something when the shadows covered Thea's eyes briefly. And in that moment, Jack knew where he really knew this girl from.

"You're that bitch in the mask."

Thea's expression changed instantly. All timidity was gone, and in its place was a steady smirk. "I'd call you 'that tool in black,' but being a tool would imply you do some things successfully," Thea said as she stood with feet spread slightly in a ready position.

Jack studied her, unsure of his next move. The lady vigilante was Thea Queen – and she had tracked him down through his son. Suddenly he remembered that she had had backup on the Raven's Street Bridge. "Where are your friends?" He asked, eyes narrowing.

"Didn't need 'em," Thea said, her eyes narrowing to match his. She shrugged as a grin spread across her lips, "I've seen kittens with more grit. And I like to work solo."

Jack felt his tension ease knowing she was alone. He knew he could take her, he had felt it the night in the alley, before Ty had tried to help. This slut might have some fighting skills, but he was stronger. And her sword and whip were nowhere in sight.

"My kid know about you?" Jack asked, unsure if Ty was setting him up – or if he had intentionally brought Jack a gift.

"Does your kid know you murdered his mom?" Thea returned pointedly. Jack roared and charged at Thea, swinging a fist directly at her skull as she ducked out of the way.

"Anything that cunt got was what she deserved," Jack said icily as he rounded on her. "She was a bitch who slept with another man and tried to take my son from me!" He threw a hook, which Thea blocked, but he could feel the way her bones quaked. A little harder and her arm would shatter.

Thea snorted, shoving him back and holding a ready stance. "If I wanted to hear an ass talk, I'd fart," she quipped.

Jack bore himself upward, allowing his size to speak for himself. He spat out, "You think you're pretty tough huh? Well, I can think of a lot of things I could do to fix that pretty mouth."

Thea nodded at Jack's pants, "Calling what you've got going on 'a dick' is like calling a hotdog 'a gourmet meal'. If I wanted to eat a strand of spaghetti, I'd go to Olive Garden." Thea spun and launched a kick towards Jack's head, which he blocked and shoved her leg down, causing Thea to hit the ground and roll.

Thea regained her feet below her as Jack ground out, "Daniella Pitt sure didn't seem to think I had a problem." He began to walk towards Thea, jabbing at her face with his right, which she parried, and following up with his left towards her ribs which she dodged. "Or Felicia Compton. Or Tara Marks." Jack took a step towards her. "And when I'm done with you, I don't think you'll have anything to complain about either." He was going to thoroughly enjoy debasing this psychotic harpie.

He feigned that he was striking with his fist, but instead swept Thea's legs. Thea fell to the tile floor with a loud crack, and he stepped hard on her stomach, pinning her in place. Thea gasped at the force and Jack reached down to grasp her by her throat, raising her off the ground and shoving her into the wall.

She looked like she was saying something, so Jack eased off on his grip just enough that she could draw in a breath. "What did you do to them?" Thea gasped out.

"I fucked them," Jack growled in her ear. "And then I killed them."

Suddenly Jack was flying back from where Thea's two legs had come up and shoved. Thea said, "I think we've got it, guys!"

Suddenly Jack found himself surrounded by a slight man in a bright red suit and a hulking man in all black, one aiming a bow, another pointing a gun. Out of the bedroom hallway, the Green Arrow strode in holding onto Tyler, garbed in his all-black hunting clothes.

Thea's eyes narrowed and she panted. "Jack Meyers, you've had your last hunt. Time to rot in a cell."

Jack roared and made to run at Thea. He was stopped in his tracks by a large body grabbing his and shoving him into the wall. The man in black held him firmly and began to cuff his arms behind his back. Jack spat, "I will ruin your life! Everyone is going to know that Thea Queen is that fucking bitch vigilante! You're going to spend your days with a target on your back!"

Thea looked towards the Green Arrow and shrugged. "You make it sound like anyone is going to believe the crazy, psychotic murderer who just confessed on tape."

"But you admitted …"

"I did no such thing. The only thing on that recording is a man losing his mind from paranoia and attacking his son's girlfriend. You know … the mayor's sister."

Jack roared.

Thea stepped out of the Meyers' house and into the sunlight with Roy at her side. "That's the last serial killer we're tracking," Roy said, "right?" He tilted his head at Thea. His eyes grew larger as he explained, "Because, as fun as watching you go head-to-head with a perverted murderer was, I'd really love to just, like … pick out new sheets, or, like, cook a roast."

"Is that what you think couples do?" Thea asked, amused by the description.

Roy looked like he was considering it. He then nodded, his voice oozing false sincerity, "Yeah, I'm pretty sure it is."

Thea snorted and leaned into Roy's side. "I would love to cook a roast with you." She pressed a kiss against his cheek. "Let's go home.

Future – October 12, 2017 – 10 months later

"Iris!" Barry exclaimed, sitting up straight at the thought. "Oh man, I've been back a whole day and I haven't even talked to Oliver, or Felicity…"

"Don't worry, Barry – we called them when we got you back," Iris soothed, rubbing his arm as they lounged in their loft, warm lamplight giving the room a rosy hue.

"I should go see them!" Barry stood up from the couch, prepared to run.

Iris reached up and grabbed Barry's arm. "Barry, you just got back. We've hardly had more than a minute together. Just stay with me tonight."

Barry shook his head, feeling better than ever after returning from the Speedforce. Barry explained, "Iris, I'm faster than ever. I'll just pop over and be right back." Barry prepared to take his first step when Iris's voice arrested him –

"Barry, NO."

Her tone was sharp and there was something desperate in it.

Barry looked at Iris with wide, confused eyes. "Not right now," she said slowly, seeing that she had his attention.

"But why?" Barry asked, confused.

Iris shook her head and closed her eyes. She said slowly, "Barry – it's Thea…."

Stay tuned for the sequel - "Time in a Bottle"

Summary: Thea's HIV progresses – but with an indomitable spirit, Roy by her side, and support from her brother and friends, Thea is going to make every day count. Sequel to "A Day at a Time".

Author's Note: Thank you for reading A Day at a Time. I know this was a tough read and a wild ride, but I am so grateful for the support from all of you as you continue to connect with Thea's survivorship and thrive-ership! New Chapters of "Time in a Bottle" will be posted weekly.