Chapter 35
The Cost of Trust
"You can't expect every idea of yours to stick or even come to fruition, you have to make sacrifices for the greater good of the team. "
-Black Thought
Life presents us with an endless amount of choices. The great task in life is to determine which choice is right and which is wrong.
Oliver Queen found himself making choices, unsure if they were right or wrong. His current decision came in the form of asking FBI agent Samanda Watson for help in taking down Diaz and retrieving his wife, along with getting the team immunity. The request didn't come without strings, and also a big sacrifice he knew he was going to regret when this was all done with.
It had been days since Diaz made any moves, and also days without a signal from his wife. He was still being driven by prayers and hope that she made it out of that building before the explosion. That this was all part of some spur of the moment plan to get close to Diaz. He wasn't sure, but he knew he couldn't wait to find out.
Their current plan was to hit the two known bases of operations of Diaz. They now had the numbers on their side to really make this a fair fight. Oliver had just put on his gear and was about to grab his bow and quiver when he spotted Ari sitting in front of a computer. Curious, he walked over, and a smile came to his lips when he saw the faces of Will and Robyn.
"Oh, hi," Oliver said, suddenly feeling the tugging at his heart. It had also been days since he'd been with his children, and seeing them now only reminded him of that. He glanced over to Ari. "How are you making this call?"
"I'm a magician." She replied before turning back to the monitor. "I couldn't go another day without seeing Wilbur and Stinker. So how is life in the sticks?"
"It's boring sometimes." Will replied but lightly chuckled. "But Larry is keeping us entertained. He disappeared twice, giving some of the agents a run for their money."
"Will—" Oliver's dad tone came through.
"I'm keeping an eye on him." William said. "What about you? Are you close to catching Diaz?"
"Yeah, this is almost over." Oliver replied with a reassuring smile.
"Where's Katie?" Will asked, and both Oliver and Ari's expressions changed a bit. "Is she ok?"
Oliver sighed, before opening his mouth to give an honest answer, "We—"
"She's fine." Ari interrupted him. "She's being the bad ass Guardian we know and love as we speak." She gives the boy a nod. "We should be heading out, I'll give you a call when I can, ok?"
"Alright, bye." Will looked down to Robyn. "Say bye, Nugget."
"No, bye" Robyn whined, and it broke Oliver's heart even more.
"It's ok sweetie." He said softly. "We will see each other very soon. I love you."
"Love you dada." Robyn said waving goodbye.
Ari reached forward, typing a few keys to end the call. They sat there for a moment, before Oliver leaned down and pressed a kiss to the top of Ari's head.
"You know, no one would fault you for sitting this one out." Oliver said and Ari looked over to him with a furrowed brow. "This is a lot, and if it's too much—"
"It's not to much." Ari replied standing to her feet. "I can handle this." She gave him a playful nudge to his arm. "What about you? Can you handle this?"
"I have no other choice." Oliver replied honestly. "We have to stop Diaz, and I have to find Katie. I can't go too much longer without knowing where your mom is."
He made to walk away, but stopped when he realized his words. He stopped and looked back over to Ari. He and Katie tried to be careful with the 'mom' and 'dad' labels with Ari. They wanted her to determine what she called them and they didn't want to push.
"I'm sorry, I—"
"It's fine. That's who she is." Ari said with a slight smile. "Just like you are who you are." She slipped her hand into her pocket and pulled out her phone. "I doubt you've been checking your emails lately."
She swiped a bit on the phone before holding it out to Oliver. With a furrowed brow, he took the phone. It was an email from child and family services to Ari regarding the application for her adoption. It was approved. He and Katie were officially her adoptive parents.
Oliver lifted his eyes to Ari with a warm smile. "So with the nicknames bullet magnet and BM, I'll try to fit dad in there. If it's not too weird."
Oliver didn't say anything before pulling the girl into a hug.
"Not weird at all." he whispered, placing a kiss to her cheek.
It was soon time to go. Ari, did another check of her gear, and weapons, before turning and almost running into Dinah, Rene, and Curtis.
"What the hell?" she muttered taking a step back. "What's wrong?"
"Rene told us about your conversation the other day." Dinah said. "And we owe you an apology."
Curtis nods, and they turned to Rene who just folds his arms over his chest. Dinah nudges his arm.
"What? I'm not sorry." he said turning to Ari. "Look, pipsqueak," Rene said, his tone softening slightly. "I know you think we're treating you like a kid, but that's not it. You're part of this team, and we look out for each other. Maybe we went a little overboard, but it's only because we care."
Ari studied them for a moment before nodding. "I get it. And I appreciate you guys having my back. But I need you to trust that I can handle myself out there too."
"We do trust you," Curtis assured her. "But we're a team. We all watch out for each other, no matter how capable we are individually."
"It just seems as if you're watching out for me a little more than you do each other." Ari replied looking between them, "And I understand why. I'm the baby of the group. And you all feel as if you have got to take care of me, and really I love you all for it. But I'm never going to really get this, if you don't let me try." She smiled. "So, have my back, and I will have yours, and let's all fight this fight together. Especially since I'm a better fighter than the three of you combined." She chuckled before brushing past them.
"No one will ever call that girl humble." Dinah chuckled before going to finish getting ready to head out.
Felicity sat behind her computer, when she looked over to see Damain, still in his regular clothes. He walked around watching the team with a disappointed look on his face. She saw Richard close by, slipping on his mask.
"Hey," she said and Richard turned to her. She gestured for him to come over. "What's going on with Damian?" Richard looked over to the boy in confusion. "I would've assumed he would've been geared up and snuck out of here already."
"Maybe he's finally listening to you." Richard let out a snort before turning to the woman. "And if he is, you've done the impossible, blondie." He let out a chuckle before heading off.
Felicity turned back to Damian before standing to her feet and walking over to him. He looked over to her, his hands stuffed in his pockets of his hoodie.
"Are you ok?" she asked.
"Why wouldn't I be?" he muttered, turning away to look at the team as they began heading out.
"Why aren't you in your Robin gear?" Felicity asked, and Damian turned to her.
"Because you said I couldn't." he muttered with a slight roll of his eyes.
"Yeah, I did, and yet you've gone behind my back and done it multiple times." She replied and he sighed before turning back to her. "What?"
"I don't want you to give up on me." He said and Felicity looked over to him in confusion. "I don't want you to stop trying to make me a…normal kid."
Felicity lightly chuckled, "Damian, as long as there is a breath in my body, I will never give up on you." She placed a hand on his cheek. "I love you and I only want the best for you and for you to be happy. And I want you safe. And when you put on that suit, I get scared. Scared that you're going to get hurt, or even worse." She sighed. "That doesn't mean I don't know how good you are. I've been working with heroes for a while now, and I know what makes a good one. And I see them in you." Damian smiled up to her. "I just—I want you to be more than Robin. More than what you can do with your fists."
Felicity leaned against the table, observing Damian's face. Behind the training and arrogance was a boy-a boy who just wanted to prove himself.
She took a deep breath. "You know, when I said I wanted you to try being a normal kid, I didn't mean I wanted to change who you are. I just… I wanted to show you that there's more out there for you. That you're allowed to be more."
Damian's frown deepened, furrowing his brow. "What's more than being Robin? I have been trained since birth for this. It is what I am, it's what I am meant to do."
Felicity crouched slightly to meet his gaze head-on. "It's a part of who you are, Damian, not all of it. You're already an amazing fighter, a strategist, and a hero. But what about the rest of you? What about Damian Wayne, the boy who draws in the corners of his notebooks when he thinks no one is looking?"
He blinked, his cheeks faintly red. "You've seen those?"
"Of course I have. They're good, too. You've got talent. And it's not just that. What about your curiosity? Your sharp mind? Your love of animals?" She leaned in and gently touched his chest with her fingers. "There's so much more in here than just Robin. And I think you owe it to yourself to find out what else you're capable of."
Damian looked down at the floor, clearly deep in thought. His voice was quieter when he finally spoke. "So… you're saying you'll stop trying to make me quit being Robin?"
Felicity exhaled softly. "Here's the deal, kiddo, I'm not going to stop worrying about you-sorry, that comes with the stepmom territory. And I'm still going to nag you to be safe and to take care of yourself. But I'll stop trying to pull you away from being Robin. On one condition."
His eyes narrowed; a hint of a challenge sparked in them. "What condition?
"You have to be open to trying things outside of this life. Whether that's art, science, helping Alfred in the kitchen—whatever catches your interest. It doesn't have to be normal, just different. Something that gives you another way to look at the world and makes you more than just Robin. Deal?"
Damian hesitated; his gaze looked over to the team that was suiting up, then back to Felicity. "So, I don't have to give it up?"
"No," Felicity said, firm and warm. "But you have to give you a chance, too. Deal?"
He thought about it for a moment longer, then nodded. "Deal.
She held out her hand, and Damian shook it with a small smile.
Felicity stood, ruffling his hair lightly before he could pull away. "Go get suited up, then. Your team's going to leave without you."
A grin had spread across Damian's face as he turned to grab his gear, but he stopped to look back at her. "Thanks…for not giving up on me."
Felicity smiled softly; her voice didn't even quiver. "Never.
As Damian disappeared down the hall, Felicity crossed her arms and watched the team prepare. Her heart felt heavy with worry, but a flicker of hope nestled within. She couldn't change the path Damian had chosen, but maybe she could help him find a brighter one.
"You're letting him do this?" Richard asked, approaching after overhearing. "You know he's a little psycho, unpredictable, overconfident, and doesn't listen."
Felicity turned to him. "And you told all of this to Bruce?"
"I did. He didn't listen. But you're the smart one, so I'm hoping you've got enough sense to know that kid doesn't belong out there."
Looping her arm through Richard's, Felicity rested her head on his shoulder. "He's going to be fine. And you're going to watch his back, just like always."
Richard glanced at her skeptically, but she continued. "He's your brother. He annoys you because of how good he is, but you love him. He still has a lot to learn, and as his big brother, you're going to keep an eye on him and teach him—whether he thinks he needs it or not."
"Don't hold your breath, blondie." He kissed the top of her head. "Hopefully, that one—" he pointed to her belly, "gets more of your genes than Bruce's."
"Get out of here." She playfully shoved him toward the team. "And don't talk about my husband's genes!"
Richard just laughed as he joined the others.
The mission was a bust. The team split between the police station and Diaz's underground base, but neither found any trace of him or Katie.
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 laughing.
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."
He gripped the doorknob, his breath steadying as he prepared himself for whatever was inside. Slowly, he cracked the door open.
The room was dark.
"Is she in there?" Ari tried to step around him, but Oliver kept a protective arm in front of her.
"Ari, just wait."
He opened the door further, letting the hallway light spill into the room. It illuminated bare walls and an empty space.
Oliver let out a heavy sigh, unsure whether to feel relief or dread. There was no sign of Katie. Perhaps John had found something at the other location.
"It's empty," he said, turning back to Ari.
But she pushed past him, pulling a flashlight from her hood. She swept the light across the room, ignoring Oliver's calls to leave.
"Will you just—" Ari froze, her light catching a glint of something on the floor. She crossed the room and bent to pick it up.
Walking back to Oliver, she held up a bracelet.
"She was here," Ari said softly.
Oliver's throat tightened as he took the bracelet from her hand. He stared at the charms, each one a symbol of their life together. It was the anniversary gift he'd given her—a gift now smeared with dirt.
"What does this mean?" Ari asked looking up to Oliver to fuel her hope that Katie was alright.
Oliver didn't say anything, as he looked over the bracelet and noticed one small detail.
"The clasp is intact." Oliver said looking closely. "It wasn't broken or pulled off her wrist." Oliver looked over to Ari.
"She took it off." Ari said and Oliver shrugged as he dropped his eyes back to the bracelet. "She left it for you to find to know what she was here."
Katie sat in the center of a damp, dimly lit room, her wrists and ankles bound tightly to a steel chair. A blindfold covered her eyes, and a gag pressed harshly against her mouth, muffling any sound. The air smelled of rust and mildew and something else, the faint hum of an overhead light and distant dripping water the only sounds breaking the silence. She stayed perfectly still, her breathing slow, with a calm that contrasted with the tension around her.
Though bound, Katie's mind was focused, attentive to every detail: the weight of the chair, the tightness of the ropes, and the footsteps faintly echoing outside the door.
"You puzzle me," Diaz's deep voice broke the silence, his heavy footsteps echoing moments before his words reached her. "You tell me I'm not playing the right game, and yet here you are—not playing at all."
Katie remained motionless, her calm demeanor unshaken. She had realized long ago that men like him thrived on hearing their own voices.
"Your husband is really starting tick me off," Diaz continued, his voice now closer. She felt the unwelcome weight of his hand on her shoulder and instinctively recoiled, but she didn't speak. He leaned in, his breath warm against her ear. "He thinks he's closing in on me, probably thinks he's making me nervous." He chuckled darkly. "One might think making me nervous would be the last thing he'd want—especially when I have his wife."
Circling her, Diaz laughed again. "Maybe he thinks you burned up in that fire. Maybe I'm dealing with a grieving husband who's lost his mind." His tone turned icy as he added, "Whatever the case, I'll make sure you see him one last time before I kill you both."
With that, his heavy footsteps retreated, and the door slammed shut, leaving Katie alone once more.
Watson instructed her team to set up base in the police station. Oliver waited for Watson and the others to arrive to discuss next steps.
He spent the time waiting, looking down to the charm bracelet in his hand. He was in a hall away from the chatter and noise of computers and agents. As he looked at the bracelet, his thoughts were solely on his wife. He closed his eyes and let out a deep breath.
After a moment, he suddenly realized he didn't hear any sound at all. He opened his eyes and stood to his feet and walked back over to the center of the police station and it was empty. When he spun around, he gasps, because there was his wife standing there looking back over to him.
"Twinkie—" he took a step forward but stopped when he noticed her moving back. He took another step, and she moved back again. "What the hell is this? Where are you?"
"I don't know." She replied looking over to him. "And honestly, I don't really know how I'm doing this right now."
"Are you ok?" Oliver asked, letting his eyes move over her, looking for any signs of injury.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm somewhere tied up in a room, I can't see anything. But I smell metal, and the air is damp and there's this weird mildew smell. There are echoes when people walk, so it's big, but that's all I know at this point."
Oliver nods, not taking his eyes off her. "Can you get away?" he asked, and she doesn't say anything. "Twinkie, I need you here, with me. I will find him, and I will stop him, but I need you with me when I do it. If you can get away, I need you to do it."
"And I need to end this, carefully." She said as she looked over to him. "Oliver, this—" she gestured between them. "This isn't a distress call. This isn't me coming to you for help. This is me, letting you know that I'm alive and I'm still fighting this war, just from the inside."
"What are you talking about?" he demanded, the desperation in his tone clear. "You're tied up somewhere, in danger, and you're telling me not to save you?"
"No, I'm telling you to trust me." She replied. "Focus on Diaz and stopping him."
"You don't get it, do you?" His voice cracked, frustration and desperation seeping through. "Stopping Diaz doesn't mean a damn thing if I lose you in the process."
"You won't lose me. He thinks I'm a weak, and that I'm helpless, but you and I both know that I am not either of those things." A smile tugged at her lips. "I am your wife, and I am the Guardian, and I am going to do whatever I can to help bring this man down." She took a step forward, testing the connection.
His grip on the bracelet in his hand tightened, the metal biting into his skin. He stared at her, his mind racing with every possible objection, every fear.
"And if something goes wrong?" he asked, his voice low.
"It won't." she replied with unshakable confidence. "Because you will find me before anything can go wrong."
"Katie, please,"
Her form wavered, the connection growing weaker, and she smiled faintly. "Trust me, Oliver. I've got this."
"Katie—"
"Stay focused," she said, her voice growing distant. "I'll see you soon."
And then she was gone. The noise of the station returned in a rush, agents moving around him, voices blending into a dull roar. Oliver stood frozen; the bracelet clutched tightly in his hand.
His heart was pounding, but a new determination burned inside of him. He didn't like the risk she was taking, but he trusted her.
Oliver couldn't shake the conversation from his mind. A part of him even questioned if it had happened or if he'd imagined the entire thing. He paced the room, the bracelet clenched tightly in his hand.
Curtis, Dinah, and Ari stood off to the side, watching him.
"He seems more on edge than usual," Curtis whispered.
"His wife has been gone for days, I'm surprised he hasn't gone off the rails." Dinah replied, before turning to Ari who remained silent. "I'm sure she's fine." Ari turned to her and nodded.
"I know she is," Ari said firmly. "She's being brave—and stupid. Apparently, that's her thing. But he's still worried about her."
Oliver stopped pacing when Agent Watson arrived with John and Rene.
"Diaz clearly has a third base of operations we don't know about," Oliver said, addressing Watson directly.
"Yo, Hoss," Rene said, still wearing his mask but eyeing Oliver's bare face. "What's with the no mask?"
"Mr. Queen and I have come to an understanding." Agent Watson said looking over to Rene. "Even if we didn't, your identity is hardly a well-kept secret, Mr. Ramirez."
Rene hesitated before pulling off his mask. "So, you're done trying to throw us all in jail?"
"Everyone has immunity from prosecution, Rene." Oliver said and the team turned to him. "The FBI recognizes that Diaz is the clear and present danger."
"Better late than never, I suppose." Rene muttered.
"How did Diaz know we were moving on him tonight?" Watson asked, cutting through the chatter.
Oliver turned to her. "The SCPD's been rounded up, but Diaz still controls dozens of city officials. He has a list of them all, which he keeps on his person."
"Once we take him down, we won't need a list," Watson said confidently.
John chimed in. "We need to interrogate the people we've brought in. Someone's bound to give us Diaz's location."
Oliver shook his head. "They won't talk. They're more afraid of him than they are of us." He paused, his voice lowering. "From what I've gathered so far, he's in a large facility—maybe a warehouse or factory."
The team exchanged questioning glances.
"I got a message from the inside," Oliver explained.
"That's not enough," Watson said. "Without corroboration—Diaz or his list—these people walk in forty-eight hours."
Without another word, Oliver turned and left the room.
"Where's he going?" Watson asked.
Curtis shrugged. "Probably to talk to his guy on the inside."
In the hallway, Oliver dialed Anatoly's number.
"Zdrahstvuyte," Anatoly greeted.
"Anatoly," Oliver said abruptly.
"Kapiushon! Big night for you. You turn FBI from foe to friend, huh? Same way you did with me?"
"Where is my wife?" Oliver asked, ignoring the pleasantries.
Anatoly sighed. "Close to Diaz I'm afraid. He has been moving since he heard FBI was coming. I don't know if it brings you comfort, but he hasn't hurt her."
"He will—when it suits him," Oliver said grimly, his grip tightening on the bracelet. "When he settles, I want to know where."
"I'll try, but he's not in a trusting mood these days," Anatoly replied before hearing the sound of the car door behind him open and close. He switched to Russian. "I love you."
Oliver frowned. "What?"
"I'll talk later, sister. Ok, Poka," Anatoly said before ending the call.
Oliver stared at his phone before slipping it back into his pocket. He glanced at the charm bracelet in his hand, sighed, and tucked it into the pocket of his hood over his heart.
Felicity gathered her things, preparing to meet the team at the police station. She froze when the shipping container's metal door screeched open, followed by footsteps. She grabbed a pair of scissors, her eyes darting to the stairs. She only let out a sigh of relief when the person who came down the steps was her husband.
"Bruce," she said, setting the scissors down and walking toward him.
"Expecting a fight?" he asked, glancing at the scissors before pulling her into a hug.
"It was the closest weapon I could grab in case you were a murderer," she replied, her tone softening as he kissed her.
"Remind me to show you the hidden weapons in this place. They're far deadlier than scissors." He glanced around. "Where's everyone?"
"Oliver reached out to Agent Watson for assistance in finding Diaz." Felicity said and Bruce turned to her with a quirked brow. "He worked out some kind of deal that got the team immunity."
"Wonder how he pulled that off." Bruce said and Felicity shrugged. "Are Damian and Richie there?"
"He and Richie are here somewhere, probably at each other's throats," Felicity said, then shot him a pointed look. "How did you survive months of them?"
"I drank heavily," Bruce joked, earning a laugh from Felicity.
"That's not an option for me," she said, resting a hand on her baby bump.
Bruce placed his hand over hers. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm throwing up a lot less now and have finally gotten to the weird food combination stage of Wayne Baby-gate." Felicity said and Bruce smiled. "I may also be getting on the letting Damian be Robin train." Bruce quirked a brow. "But only if he's willing to explore more for his life beside vigilantism."
"What made you change your mind?"
"Mostly his stubbornness. But that only proved to me just how much of this was a part of him. And I figured, I could keep fighting him on it, or we could come to a compromise." Felicity said and Bruce just smiled. "Doesn't mean I like him being out there."
Bruce nodded. "He has a lot of people watching his back."
Damian and Richard walked in just then, one eating an apple and the other a banana.
"What's with hero lairs and the worst snacks?" Richard griped, glaring at Bruce. "Oh, right—this is your place. Makes sense it's stocked with 'sensible old-people food.'"
Bruce sighed. "I need a drink."
Felicity just laughed before giving him a gentle pat on the chest. "I was about to head over to the station with the rest of them. Were we gaining a Batman for this mission?"
"You are." Bruce said. "Just not the Batman that works with the FBI." He glanced around. "I'll stay in the shadows and step in when needed. I'll let you give Oliver the heads up." Felicity nods. "But I will drive you over." He glanced over to Damian and Richard. "You two, hit the streets, you find something, you tell me, but you do not engage."
"There's that bossy attitude no one missed. "Richard said before turning off to gear up. He glanced over to Damian. "You better listen to me, or I'm tying you to a tree."
"I'd like to see you try buffoon." Damian said following behind the man.
Felicity and Bruce just shook their heads before turning to leave.
Katie had long slipped out of the ropes that tied her to the chair, the moment she overheard some of Diaz's men mention the man was stepping out. She turned to the chair rigged with an illusion of her bound form before she headed off to figure out where she was.
She stealthily slipped into the halls, trying to remain unseen. Diaz may not be here, but he had guards here, and she had to assume they were there for a reason. The more she walked, she was certain she was in some kind of abandoned building. Star City had too many of those, so she needed to find something more.
Her search came to a stop when she saw the familiar face trapped in some kind of fenced off room. The woman turned to her with wide eyes.
"Charlie?" Katie said as the woman stood from the floor and walked closer. Katie assumed it was the doppelganger since Laurel was probably somewhere recovering from childbirth. Katie noticed the bruise on her eye and the collar around her neck. "You and Diaz aren't playing nice anymore, huh?"
"Tried to kill him. Didn't go so well." The woman said as she neared the door of the gate. "How did you find me?"
"I didn't." Katie said looking around. "I'm a hostage too." She turned back to the woman. "But I'm apparently better at it."
"Whatever, can you get us out of here?" she asked.
"Probably, but I'm not ready to leave just yet," Katie replied, glancing around once more. The distant murmur of voices reached her ears, and she turned back to the doppelganger. "He hasn't killed either of us yet. I'm being used to break Oliver, and you…" Katie sighed. "He's using you to pull Quentin's strings."
Taking a step back, she focused on the padlock. After a moment, it clicked open. She pulled the gate wide and turned to the woman. "Get the hell out of dodge." Katie spun on her heel, ready to run off.
"Wait, the collar," the woman called out, stopping Katie mid-step. "I can't get it off. Diaz has a remote. Could you…?"
Katie exhaled sharply, her frustration evident, and turned back. She took a deep breath, concentrating hard. This time, her focus locked on the collar around the woman's neck. Warm blood trickled from her nose as the mechanism unlocked. She stumbled back, exhaling a shaky breath.
Charlotte reached up, pulling the collar free. Her eyes flicked to Katie, a trace of concernin her expression.
"You know I would see the General's nose bleed like that." She said and Katie looked over to her. "It would usually happen when she was pushing herself too hard."
Katie wiped the blood from under her nose, glancing at her warily. "I doubt she'd let you witness something like that."
"Well, we weren't always enemies," Charlotte replied, her voice quieter now. "I hope you know what you're doing."
With that, she turned and ran down the hall.
Katie stood still for a moment, placing a hand over her chest as her racing heart thudded beneath her palm. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she turned and pressed forward, her focus shifting to figuring out where she was.
Oliver stood off to the side, as he watched Ari working with Felicity who'd arrived not too long ago. She'd passed along the message that Bruce was in the city, and would be helping, but wouldn't be tangled up working with the FBI.
Oliver reached into his pocket, and pulled out the bracelet, hoping it would happen again. Somehow, someway, Katie would appear to soothe his nervousness and fears. But she didn't. He didn't know what it meant. He didn't know where she was, or the situation she could be in.
He knows this is how she feels most of the time when he's away being the Green Arrow. But he also knows that through her fears, she does trust him to come back to her, and right now Oliver was trying to find that same hope.
He glanced over to see John, and walked over as the man was ending his phone call.
"Yeah. I love you, sweetie." John said with a smile, before he glanced up to see Oliver. "Ok. Bye-bye." He ended the call and slipped his phone into his pocket.
"Lyla?" Oliver asked and John nods as they walk into the nearby office
"Yeah, She, J.J., William and Robyn are at the NORAD bunker, but she would much rather be here." John says. "She wants to help get Katie back."
"That seems to be the last thing Katie wants." Oliver sighed. "She….she used her powers to relay a message to me earlier. She wanted to tell me that she was alright. She was tied up in a room, but she was fine."
"She's the one who gave you to clues about where Diaz is right now?" John asked and Oliver nods.
Oliver nodded. "She did. I was hoping to hear from her again, but…nothing. Something might be wrong."
"Or," John said, meeting Oliver's gaze, "she could just be laying low. Look, man, I know telling you not to worry won't help, but if anyone can play Diaz at his own game, it's Katie."
Oliver nodded, placing a hand on John's arm. "You know we've got enough backup. A son needs his parents."
"And your kids don't?" John shot back, his voice firm. "I'm seeing this through, Oliver."
Oliver smiled faintly. "Figured you'd say that. So, I think you should dress the part." He lifted the lid of a briefcase on the table, revealing a Green Arrow suit. "I had a spare made. There's no rule saying there can't be more than one Green Arrow."
"Oliver, our disagreement was never about the uniform," John said.
"I know that," Oliver replied quietly. "And I want to apologize for the part I played in it."
John's eyes fell on the green hood inside the case. "I really thought I wanted this mantle, but it was never about the mantle. It's about what it stands for. You've given it meaning. When this city looks at the Green Arrow, they see hope. That hope would lose its strength if it came from more than one place."
"For everything, thank you," Oliver said, extending his hand.
John nodded, shaking it firmly.
Further down the hallway, Felicity and Ari watched the moment from afar. Felicity smiled before glancing at Ari, who wore a concerned expression.
"What's that look for?" Felicity asked.
Ari opened his mouth to respond, but a voice interrupted him.
"Hello!"
They turned in unison toward the sound.
"Uh, excuse me. Hello, everybody," the man said with an awkward chuckle. "My name is Anatoly Knyazev, and I'm here to turn myself in."
Charlie was pissed. The woman is thrown back in her cage, collar once again around her neck. Her escape had been thwarted again—by Diaz.
"Tell me!" Diaz barked; "How did you get out?"
Charlie glared at him, her eyes dark with defiance, but she said nothing.
Diaz chuckled darkly, shaking his head. "You know what? Hold that thought. I've got a call to make."
Quentin sighed, glancing at his watch. He'd received the call from Agent Watson earlier, arranging to meet him tonight. That's why he was now at City Hall, waiting in his office.
He pulled out his phone, a soft smile crossing his face as he swiped through dozens of pictures of his grandson, little Lance Quinn Mills.
A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts, and he looked up to see Agent Watson enter. She explained that the search for Diaz would require municipal authority for the FBI to make the arrest. Quentin was more than happy to oblige. Any effort to take down that bastard, he fully supported.
After signing the document, he handed it back to her. As she took it, her phone buzzed.
"Got a location on Diaz," she said, glancing back at Quentin with a determined expression. "This'll be over tonight."
Quentin's phone rang suddenly, and he looked down to see Charlie's name on the screen.
"Excuse me," he said to Watson before answering. "Hey, honey—"
"Hey, Daddy," came Diaz's voice from the other end, cutting him off. Quentin's face fell.
Diaz continued, his tone mocking. "So, it seems the relationship between me and your daughter—or niece, or whatever she is to you—has hit a rough patch. I don't think she's into me anymore."
"Listen to me—" Quentin began, standing abruptly and walking over to the window.
"No!" Diaz snapped. "You listen to me, or she dies!"
"What do you want?" Quentin demanded, his voice low and controlled.
"For the mayor to kick the FBI out of my city," Diaz replied coldly. "Do it tonight, or Charlie's dead."
"Go to hell," Quentin said firmly, refusing to play the man's game. He ended the call and turned back to Agent Watson.
"What was that?" she asked.
"Nothing," Quentin replied, shaking his head. "You said you're ready to move on Diaz tonight?"
Watson nodded. "I'm ready to come down on him with God's own righteous fury."
"Do it," Quentin said.
Diaz growled in frustration as he returned to Charlie's cage, his anger barely contained.
"I think if you were the real Laurel, he'd already be here," he sneered, looking at her through the bars.
"Go to hell," Charlie spat, not even bothering to look at him.
Diaz chuckled darkly, his tone mocking. "That's the same response as your dear old dad. I expected something better from you." He leaned against the bars, his voice dripping with venom. "You know what's funny? You ended up in this situation because of him. You moved against me for him. You could've skipped town, but no—you came after me."
Charlie turned to glare at him, her silence more cutting than any words.
"What's the matter?" he taunted. "Were you scared of what I'd do to your daddy if you were gone?"
She turned away, retreating to the corner of her cell.
"Huh? Come on, baby," Diaz continued, his voice rising. "Talk to me. Talk to me!"
When she didn't respond, he sneered and stalked away. He had other angles to play.
Diaz walked down the long hallway, unlocking the heavy door at the end. Inside, Katherine Queen sat tied to a chair, exactly as he'd left her.
"Still no big escape, huh?" he said mockingly as he approached. Her blindfold and gag remained in place, but her expression betrayed no fear. She didn't look worried.
"You don't fool me," Diaz said, circling her like a predator. "I know you could get out of here whenever you wanted. So what's the move?"
"Stop moving," Katie's voice came from behind him.
Diaz froze, his limbs refusing to obey his commands. His mind raced as Katie stepped into view, the illusion of her tied to the chair fading away.
"Well, this is awkward," Katie said, tilting her head as she studied him. He strained against her control, but his body wouldn't budge.
"I was hoping for a more dramatic 'aha' moment," she admitted, crossing her arms. "But I couldn't stomach another one of your bad guy monologues."
Diaz's jaw clenched as he struggled against her powers, his muscles rigid and his body locked in place. He strained, his nostrils flaring as he tried to move, but nothing happened. Katie stepped closer, her eyes focused, firm, and almost pitying.
"You can't move, can you?" she asked, her voice calm, almost conversational. "It's unsettling, isn't it? Not being in control."
He glared at her, his eyes blazing with fury, but he couldn't respond.
Katie sighed, tilting her head. "You've been so confident, so sure that no one could stop you. But here you are, stuck. Helpless." She leaned in slightly, her tone softening. "It's funny. You've spent your whole life making people feel this way—trapped, powerless, scared. How does it feel to be on the other side?"
Diaz's fingers twitched slightly, but his body refused to obey his commands. The defiance in his eyes flickered, replaced for a brief moment by something else—fear.
Katie noticed and smirked. "That's what I thought," she said quietly.
She stepped back, circling him slowly. "You've hurt so many people, Diaz. Broken so many lives just to build your empire. Did you ever stop to think about the consequences? No, of course you didn't. Men like you never do. You think you're invincible. Untouchable. But guess what? You're not."
She stopped in front of him again, her arms crossed as she studied him. "I could end you right now," she said matter-of-factly. "One word, one thought, and it's over." Her eyes flicked to the knife strapped to his belt, still within reach—but utterly useless. "But that would be too easy. And you don't deserve easy."
She heard a beep come from him and reached into the pocket of his jacket to grab his phone. A breach notification lit up the screen. With a quick press, a surveillance feed appeared, showing Rene, Agent Watson, and a woman she didn't recognize trapped in a web of laser tripwires.
"What is this?" she demanded, her eyes snapping up to meet his. She remembered he couldn't speak. "Speak!"
He didn't answer. Instead, he laughed—a low, mocking sound.
"That," Diaz said, stepping forward, "is what happens when your husband and his friends fall for the most obvious trap. If any of them so much as twitches, the whole room goes boom." He smirked. "So, what's it going to be? Torture the villain, or save your friends?"
Katie's gaze flicked back to the phone, her mind racing. Then she stalked toward him, her expression sharp as a blade.
"I'm going to enjoy killing you," she hissed. And before his eyes, she vanished, releasing him from the paralysis that had held him frozen in place.
Rene knew this was it—the moment every vigilante dreads but accepts when they choose this life. If this was how it ended, he had to do one last thing. He had to call his daughter.
"You're my everything, Peanut," he said, phone pressed tightly to his ear, his voice tight with emotion. "I need you to know that. Daddy's got to go. I love you. I'll see you soon." He lingered, forcing himself to stay calm. "Okay. Bye."
As he ended the call, the room plunged into darkness. The eerie silence made the laser tripwires feel even closer, like they were breathing down his neck. Rene stayed perfectly still, unsure if even the smallest movement would set everything off.
"Blondie?" Rene called softly through the commlink, his voice low but urgent. "Is that you?"
"Nope," a voice whispered from behind him.
Rene's breath caught. "Doc?" he asked, turning his head slightly but still too afraid to move. "Am I losing it?"
"That's possible," Katie murmured with a faint chuckle. "But right now, you need to run. Grab the others and don't look back."
"Doc?" Rene's voice rose in concern, but she gave him a firm nudge.
"Go, Rene. Now."
He hesitated for a moment before snapping into action. "Hey! We gotta go, now!" he shouted, sprinting forward. "Move, move!"
The door flew open, and Rene could see the others—Watson and the other agents —racing toward safety. The explosion roared just as Rene reached the exit. He instinctively stopped, turning back, and that's when he saw her.
Katie stood at the center of the inferno, her hands outstretched, holding the blast at bay. She glanced over her shoulder at Rene, her expression a mix of determination and exhaustion.
"I'm going to hit you! Get the hell out of here!" she yelled, pushing the flames away from the escaping group with every ounce of her strength.
Rene froze, watching as the fire obeyed her command, surging in the opposite direction. But then he saw her falter—her shoulders sagging, her movements slowing.
"Doc!" he shouted, starting to rush toward her.
Katie turned, holding up a hand to stop him. "I wasn't here," she said firmly, her voice trembling as she stumbled back.
Before he could reach her, she disappeared into thin air.
Rene couldn't make sense of what had happened in that room. It felt surreal—like it was something his mind had conjured up. All he knew was how close he had come to the end, and he couldn't shake the weight of it.
Back at the police station, he sat alone, lost in thought, trying to process everything. The faint hum of voices around him faded as he stared blankly at the floor. He looked up when Oliver approached.
"Thought I'd check in on you," Oliver said, his tone softer than usual.
"I'm fine, Hoss," Rene replied, turning away to avoid the man's eyes.
"Agent Watson told me about your call with Zoe," Oliver said.
Rene exhaled sharply. "I thought I was gonna die in that room," he admitted, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I just wanted to say goodbye."
"Tell her how proud you are of her?" Oliver asked.
Rene nodded, his voice quiet. "There aren't enough words to explain how much."
Oliver paused before saying, "I feel the same way about you, Rene."
Rene's head snapped up in surprise.
"When I first met you, I didn't think you were much more than a thug in a—in a ridiculous costume," Oliver admitted with a small laugh.
"You're no prize yourself, Hoss," Rene shot back, a hint of humor breaking through his somber mood.
Oliver smiled but quickly grew serious. "I judged you. For far too long, I judged you, and that was a mistake. I'm sorry. I think you're a good man, Rene. The type of man this city deserves."
Rene looked at him, the weight of the words sinking in. "I know it seems like I don't give a crap about what anyone thinks, but this means a lot."
"Good," Oliver said, extending his hand.
Rene hesitated but shook it, letting out a small sigh. "And since you've gone all sentimental on me, I guess I should probably tell you something. The Doc was in that building."
Oliver froze, his brow furrowing in confusion as he pulled his hand back.
"She's the one who cut the lights," Rene explained. "After that, she told me to grab everyone and get the hell out. But before I left, I looked back, and I saw her—" Rene shook his head, his eyes distant. "She was containing the blast. It was the coolest, craziest shit I've ever seen. But then she seemed..."
"What?" Oliver asked, leaning in slightly.
"I don't know. Like it took a lot out of her. The last thing she said to me was that she wasn't there, and then she just... disappeared." Rene looked up at Oliver. "I'm still not sure I didn't imagine the whole thing."
"And why didn't you say anything sooner?" Oliver asked, he was certain Rene hadn't imagined a thing.
"She told me not to," Rene replied.
Oliver let out a frustrated sigh and turned away, his hand instinctively reaching into his hood. He pulled out the charm bracelet and stared at it, his fingers closing around it as he shut his eyes.
The sudden vibration of his phone jolted him back to reality. He pulled it from his pocket, glancing at the screen. It was an unknown number. He hesitated before answering.
"I'm on the roof," came Katie's voice on the other end.
Oliver didn't hesitate. The second he heard Katie's voice, he was moving.
He shoved the phone into his pocket and took the stairs two at a time, his heartbeat hammering in his chest. When he reached the rooftop door, he pushed it open without hesitation, stepping into the cool night air.
There she was.
The moment Oliver saw her, it was as if the air rushed back into his lungs. He hadn't realized he'd been holding his breath since the night he last saw her—before the explosion. Now, with her standing in front of him, real and alive, he could finally breathe.
She turned to him, and he saw it—the same relief in her eyes, as if she, too, had been waiting for this moment to exhale.
That invisible force inside him pulled him toward her, undeniable and unrelenting. The second she was close enough, he wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight.
"I'm going to yell at you at some point in the future," Oliver muttered, his hold never loosening.
A faint, tired chuckle left her lips. "You wouldn't be you if you didn't."
But her voice was laced with exhaustion. That's when he pulled back slightly, his hands still on her, needing to look at her—really look at her. That's when he noticed how pale she was.
Before he could ask, she spoke. "I'm okay," she assured him, though her tone lacked conviction. "I just...I think I may have pushed it a little too far with the bomb."
Oliver cupped her cheek, and she closed her eyes, leaning into his touch.
"I had him," she whispered. "I was so close to ending this. Then I found out about the bomb, and I had to choose."
He didn't hesitate. He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her lips before pulling her back into his arms.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
Oliver shook his head. "Don't be sorry." His voice was firm but gentle. "I'm just glad you're here. That you're okay."
And he didn't want to let go. Not now. Not when everything around him was uncertain. The thought of losing her—of her not being okay—was something he couldn't bear.
They stood there, neither willing to pull away, holding onto each other like it was their lifeline.
Then the door to the rooftop creaked open.
"Katie?"
Ari's voice cut through the moment, filled with disbelief.
Katie and Oliver turned to see her standing there, wide-eyed, before she suddenly ran forward, throwing her arms around Katie.
"Don't do that again," Ari mumbled against her shoulder, her voice thick with emotion.
Katie pressed a kiss to the top of her head, and without hesitation, she and Oliver wrapped their arms around her too, holding onto each other.
Holding onto the moment.
Reality pressed in around them. Ricardo Diaz was still out there, and they had to stop him. That meant pulling away, no matter how much they didn't want to.
"I wish we could stay like this, but…" Katie said, stepping back, her gaze shifting between Oliver and Ari. "We really need to do something about Diaz."
"Right, that's why I came up here," Ari said, then turned to Oliver. "Watson and Quentin are at each other's throats about whether we should save Charlie or not."
Oliver sighed. "I should get down there." He took Katie's hand, ready to lead her with him, but stopped when she didn't move. He turned back, brow furrowing.
"Watson? As in FBI Agent Watson?" Katie asked, glancing between them. "We're working with the FBI now?" Her focus landed on Oliver. "You came up here wearing that, without a mask, so…"
Oliver exhaled, knowing this was going to hit hard. "In exchange for Watson and the FBI's help to take down Diaz, I confessed that I was the Green Arrow."
The words felt like a punch to Katie's gut. She didn't say anything at first, just pulled her hand from his and turned away, staring out at the city.
"We've worked out a deal," Oliver continued, hoping to reassure her. "Watson understands that Diaz is the bigger threat. The whole team has immunity."
But Katie still didn't turn back to him.
"Twinkie—"
She pivoted suddenly, cutting him off. "Ari, head back down. Oliver will deal with Watson and Quentin. Do not tell anyone I was up here."
Ari frowned. "Why not? The team will be happy to see you're okay."
Katie ignored the question and turned back to Oliver, her expression unreadable. "How much did you tell her? Does she know about me? About my powers?"
"No," Oliver said quickly, shaking his head. "But, Twinkie, it's fine, we—"
"I can't just appear on the roof of a police station without raising a bunch of questions," Katie interrupted. She looked back at Ari. "Just don't say anything, okay?"
Ari hesitated, clearly torn. "Okay… but where are you going to go? You don't look so hot. Maybe disappearing again isn't the best idea."
"I'll be fine, I promise." Katie mustered a reassuring smile.
Ari didn't seem convinced, but after a moment, she nodded and turned to leave.
As soon as the door shut behind her, Oliver tried again. "Katie—"
"I'm not okay with this." Her voice was firm as she faced him again. "When it's just us, just the team, I know taking down Diaz is the end of the story. With the FBI involved, I don't know what the end of the story looks like." She stepped closer, searching his face. "Is there something I don't know that I should?"
Oliver held her gaze, forcing himself to stay composed. The weight of his decision pressed against his chest, but he couldn't let her see it. Not yet.
"There's nothing I'm keeping from you," he said, his voice steady.
Katie studied him, her eyes searching his for something—doubt, hesitation, a crack in his resolve. She knew him too well, and for a brief moment, Oliver thought she might see through the lie.
But after a beat, she exhaled sharply and looked away. "This doesn't feel right, Oliver."
He clenched his jaw. It didn't feel right to him either.
"I get why you did it," she continued, crossing her arms. "We needed help, and now we have it. But when the FBI gets involved, things never go back to normal. We're not just dealing with Diaz anymore—we're on their radar now. And I don't know how this ends."
Oliver wanted to say something—anything—to ease the weight of her uncertainty, but what could he say? That he knew exactly how this ended for him? That he'd made a deal he couldn't walk away from?
So instead, he reached out, his fingers brushing against hers. "We'll figure it out."
She looked back at him, skepticism flickering in her eyes. "I don't like the idea of trusting them."
"I can't let you leave." Oliver said, staring into her eyes. "You need to rest, and I need to know where you are."
"Oliver, I can't—"
"I know." He replied. He had an idea.
Author's Note
Omg, just one more chapter left!
Review Replies
Adela: Thank You! I hope you're having one too!
As we get closer to the end of this story, I just want to say thank you!
Sneak Peek
The warehouse was nearly silent, save for the rhythmic drip of water leaking from a rusted pipe in the corner. A single overhead light flickered, casting long shadows across the room. Ricardo Diaz sat at the metal table, a glass of whiskey in front of him, his fingers drumming against the surface in slow, deliberate beats.
The sound of approaching footsteps broke the stillness.
Diaz didn't look up right away. He simply smirked, reaching for his glass. "Took you long enough."