Chapter 13
The evening after the Auction Laurel would very much like to go and join Sin, Thea, and Roy at Ted's but due to the pile of work she has Laurel had to go straight home to make a dent in the pile she has as she knows that if she doesn't get it done she won't be able to go out as the Women in Black.
Thanks to the instincts she has gained over the past few months Laurel senses something is off the second she walks into her apartment, a suspicion that is confirmed when she can't turn on the light.
Remaining calm, thanks to all she has been through, Laurel takes a few seconds to think logically about how to handle the situation and the first thing she realises is that, even with her skills without a weapon, she cannot risk being unarmed long enough to get to her bedroom where her tactical tonfas are, so instead she, moving as quietly as possible, puts the files she is holding on the ground before she collects the gun that her father insisted she keep in the draw near the front door.
Once she has the gun Laurel takes off the safety and walks into the living room, and the second she does she sees the Hood is standing in the middle of the room; something which she is shocked about.
"Hello, Laurel," The Hood says and as he does Laurel's mind immediately goes to the possibility that he knows her double identity, but until he confirms that Laurel has no intention of giving him any further clues, which means she has to be careful how she handles this situation.
"Don't move," Laurel says, in a warning tone of voice, as she points her gun at him, and honestly Oliver is very surprised to realise that Laurel doesn't sound afraid, as it is another way Laurel has changed while he was gone.
"I'm not going to hurt you," Oliver says, even though Laurel doesn't sound afraid, taking a step forward, a step closer to Laurel, as he makes a point to show that he is lowering his bow, that he isn't going to attack her.
"Stay back," Laurel warns, planning on attacking if he gets any closer, as she truly doesn't know what he is going to do. "My father's a police officer, you are making a huge mistake," Laurel warns, it being the first threat that she can think of that may work; though she doesn't have a whole lot of faith.
"I'm not the person you think I am," Oliver says, knowing that as much as he would like too he cannot allow Laurel to see who he really is. "And I need your help," Oliver reveals, and Laurel realises that after working with him as the Women in Black it is worth hearing him out, and so she relaxes the hold on the gun a little and lowering it slightly; knowing she can raise it in a second, and use it if needed, something which Oliver realises, but he also realises that her actions indicate she is willing to listen. "Peter Declan is going to be executed in forty-eight hours, I think he's innocent," Oliver reveals, walking over to Laurel, but still doing his best to hide his face as he doesn't want Laurel to realise who he is. "Declan's wife was gonna blow the whistle on Jason Brodeur," Oliver explains. "Brodeur had her murdered," Oliver explains.
"There are a thousand lawyers in Star City," Laurel notes. "Why me?" Laurel asks, asking the question because it will give her some insight as to whether The Hood knows about her double identity.
"We're both trying to help," Oliver answers, not realising just how similar they are, just how true that statement is.
"What makes you sure I'm gonna help you?" Laurel asks curious, as it almost seems like the Hood knows her, which is something she is going to give more thought to later.
"Because I know you'd do anything to help save the life of an innocent man," Oliver says, reminding Laurel of the words he said her to her when she was the Women in Black, before dropping the file and disappearing, being able to do so as he has spent time memorising the layout of Laurel's apartment.
Moments after the Hood leaves the lights come back on and Laurel quickly pulls her cell phone and dials her number one speed dial.
"Hey Laurel, did you change your mind about joining us?" Thea asks curious.
"No," Laurel answers. "Have you been home today?" Laurel asks curious.
"Not since this morning," Thea answers, though she can't help but be concerned as she heard the worry in Laurel's voice. "Everything okay?" Thea asks.
"I got an unexpected visitor, I just wanted to make sure you were okay," Laurel explains, as she still isn't completely sure what to think of the Hood.
"I'm fine," Thea assures Laurel. "What visitor?" Thea asks curious.
"He carries a bow, wears a green hood," Laurel explains.
"Okay, wow," Thea says, surprised even though she is reasonably sure she knows who The Hood is. "What did he want?" Thea asks curious, being positive of the fact, because she is sure she knows who he is he, that The Hood would never hurt Laurel when she was herself and not the Women in Black.
"That's complicated, I'll explain when I see you," Laurel tells Thea, as she was calling to make sure Thea was okay, not get into the full explanation.
"Okay, do you want me to come home?" Thea asks, needing to know what Laurel needs her to do.
"No, stay with Ted for now, I'll call once I've checked to make sure everything is the way we left it," Laurel requests, knowing that she may have to put a call in to Bruce to see if he has information that isn't in the file the Hood gave, and as she does Laurel hears the sounds of the phone being handed over.
"D? What's going on?" Ted asks, and Laurel can hear the worry in his voice, something which isn't surprising when he has only heard Thea's side of the conversation.
"The Hood paid me a visit, when I was me," Laurel explains. "I want to make sure he's left nothing behind," Laurel explains. "Can you make sure that Thea, Roy, and Sin stay with you until I call?" Laurel requests, knowing that that is the best way to make sure they are safe.
"Sure," Ted answers, without hesitation. "But how about I drive them back to yours and we help you check; more eyes are better after all, especially when it comes to something like this," Ted suggests, and honestly, he wants to see for himself that his best friend is okay.
"Yeah, okay," Laurel says, after a moment of hesitation, as he first instinct is to try and handle everything herself; something which she has been fighting against since she took in Thea.
"Good, I'll bring dinner too," Ted reveals.
"Thanks," Laurel says before hanging up.
Once Laurel hangs up, she puts the safety back on the gun, and hides it back in the spot she keeps it. after doing that Laurel places another call on her phone.
"Hello," Bruce's voice says, answering after a couple of rings.
"Hey, it's me," Laurel says, even though she is sure that Bruce already realised that. "I'm on a bit of a clock on something, I need a favour," Laurel admits, feeling a little guilty that most of the calls she has made lately is asking him for help and because of that she knows she has to call just to see how he is doing at some point soon.
"Whatever you need, you got it, you know that Dinah," Bruce assures her, not minding at all that Laurel keeps calling him for help because he knows how hard it is for her to do.
"I need information, Peter Declan, his wife was murdered, I need to know everything about it, and if there is any connection to Jason Brodeur," Laurel explains, as she starts to look around the apartment, looking for any sing that tells her that the Hood has left something behind.
"Sounds like you already have an idea of what I'm going to find," Bruce realises.
"Let's just say I received a tip from an unlikely source," Laurel explains, and because he has his own suspicions about who the Hood is Bruce is pretty sure he knows who the tip came from. "Bruce, if he's right an innocent life is at stake," Laurel tells him, knowing that just like her, and Oliver even if she doesn't know so, Bruce will do whatever he can to save an innocent life.
"I'll get you everything I can by morning," Bruce responds, knowing he is going to do everything he can, which will involve asking for help from someone who knows both him and Laurel.
"Thanks Bruce, I appreciate it," Laurel says.
"You never have to thank me Dinah," Bruce assures her before hanging up.
After hanging up with Bruce Laurel starts to check throughout the entire apartment to make sure it's clear of anything unusual as she doesn't know what to expect now that she knows that the Hood has been in the apartment.
Almost an hour has passed since Laurel called Thea and after hanging up with Bruce Laurel has cleared both the living room and her bedroom of any changes, and is currently checking the office. As she searches the office Laurel hears the front door open, and as she does, she tenses.
"It's just us, D, don't attack," Ted's voice says and hearing that, feeling relieved, Laurel was to the door as Ted, Thea, Roy and Sin walk in.
"Are you really okay?" Thea asks as she walks over to Laurel as even though she has her suspicion about who the hood is doesn't mean she can't be concerned and once she is close enough, she hugs Laurel.
"Yeah, I'm okay, Speedy," Laurel assures Thea, as she returns the hug.
"We brought Pizza," Roy reveals, once Laurel and Thea break apart.
"Good," Laurel says, glad to hear that. "I'll grab plates and glasses," Laurel says, heading to the kitchen while the others head to the living room.
A few minutes later Laurel, Ted, Thea, Roy, and Sin are all sitting on the floor around the coffee table, all five of them starting to eat.
"So, The Hood goes to The Women in Black for help and now he's going to Laurel Lance for help?" Roy asks, feeling that it is important that they talk about what is obvious.
"Apparently," Laurel answers, still trying to make sense of it as it didn't seem like The Hood knew about her dual identity, so it seems like it is just a coincidence, but she can't be sure.
"Do you think he knows? About you?" Thea asks curious, as even though she suspects she knows who the Hood is, and because of that she knows that him knowing who Laurel is would make sense, she can't be sure that he does know.
"I thought so at first," Laurel admits. "But now I'm not sure," Laurel admits. "I'm leaning more towards that he doesn't," Laurel admits, knowing that that just makes it one hell of a coincidence.
"Are you going to work with him?" Ted asks concerned, not sure if that would be a good idea.
"I'm going to look into the information he gave me," Laurel says, knowing that whatever Bruce finds will help with that. "And if Declan really is innocent then I'm going to do everything I can to help him," Laurel explains, as that is something she has to do.
"Isn't that going to be confusing?" Sin asks, frowning slightly. "I mean Laurel Lance doesn't know as much about The Hood as The Women in Black does, what if you say the wrong thing?" Sin asks concerned. "You could lead the Hood to realise who you are," Sin says, and while Thea isn't completely sure that is a bad idea she also knows that it is not her choice to revel that information.
Hours later Ted, Thea, Roy, and Sin are all in the living room watching movies and eating snacks while Laurel is in her office working, even though she knows she would like to be with them she knows she doesn't have that luxury, as she has too many things she needs to do.
"Do you really think working with the Hood, as Laurel, is a good idea?" Ted's voice asks, and Laurel looks up to see him standing in the doorway.
"No," Laurel admits, as she knows it could go badly. "But if Declan is innocent then I have to help him," Laurel tells Ted. "And you know that," Laurel says, knowing that Ted will understand that.
"I do," Ted admits, as he walks over to Laurel. "But Sin's right, D. Things are going to get complicated. You're going to have to be careful about everything you do, everything you say, so he doesn't have any reason to even suspect that Laurel Lance and The Women in Black are the same person," Ted says as he sits down across from his best friend, not envying the position she is going to be in.
"I know," Laurel admits. "And I truthfully don't know if I am going to pull it off," Laurel admits as for the first time she is going to working with someone who knows, and has worked with, both her identities. "But I'll do what I always do, I'll close my eyes and jump and figure everything else out as I go," Laurel reveals, causing Ted to give an amused laugh, as he notices something.
"Has that pile gotten any smaller since you began?" Ted asks curious.
"Not by much," Laurel says, as she puts down her pen. "I've been focusing so much on being the Women in Black that I've let my CNRI work suffer," Laurel reveals, guilt in her voice. "People need me and I'm letting them down," Laurel says, feeling overwhelmed by everything, and that she isn't doing enough.
"Hey, listen to me, D, you're not letting anyone down," Ted assures her, moving so that he is in Laurel's direct line of sight. "But Laurel Lance and the Woman in Black are saving this city," Ted assures her. "So many people in the city have given up, but not you," Ted says. "You're dedicating every day and every night, to saving this city, to making it better, never worry that you're not good enough, D, because you are. You're incredible," Ted assures his best friend.
"Thanks Ted," Laurel says, feeling touched by his words.
"You don't have to thank me for telling me the truth," Ted assures her. "Now, you've been working for hours. How about you take a break," Ted suggests. "I'm pretty sure a good fight is about to break out and you don't want to miss that," Ted tells Laurel.
"No, I don't," Laurel says, with an amused look on her face. "Lead the way," Laurel says and both she and Ted head back into the living room to join Thea, Roy, and Sin, and just like Ted predicted within ten minutes a food fight breaks out between everyone, and ten minutes after that Laurel goes back to her work, feeling a lot more relaxed than she was.
After spending all day working to discover whether Declan is innocent, something which the information she received from Bruce helped her with, Laurel is sure that he is innocent, but she knows she only has a few hours to prove that, that she only has a few hours to save him.
It is getting quite late and Laurel has been the only one at CNRI for a little while, and because of that she is a little surprised when she hears footsteps.
"Laurel," A voice says, and Laurel looks up to see Thea, Roy, and Sin, the three of them standing several steps back, it having been Thea who spoke.
"Hey," Laurel greats. "What are you three doing here?" Laurel asks surprised, but glad, to see them.
"We're here to help," Thea tells Laurel. "You have a ton of work to do, plus all this Declan stuff. So, we're here to help, whatever you need," Thea tells Laure, who is touched by that.
"You don't have to do that," Laurel says, as she looks between the trio, feeling touched by the offer, but also knowing that she doesn't want to burden them.
"We want to," Roy says.
"We all want to," Sin adds, and Laurel looks between the trio who she loves so much.
"Okay," Laurel says, realising that they aren't going to be talked out of this. "I need help proofing documents, and research," Laurel says, knowing that while she focuses on the Declan matter those are the things she needs done most.
"Then we're your people," Sin says, as the three of them sit down across from Laurel.
"Thank you, so much," Laurel says, as she hands each of them some of the work that they can handle, and as she does she takes notice of the clock. "I've got to go meet the Hood, but I shouldn't be more than an hour," Laurel reveals. "Will you three be okay?" Laurel asks, needing to make sure of that before she goes anywhere.
"Of course," Roy answers, as both Thea and Sin nod.
"Remember, you're Laurel, not the Women in Black," Thea warns, as she knows that due to who she suspects the Hood is things could get very, very complicated. "You really do need a better name for that," Thea admits.
"I know," Laurel admits, standing up. "I'll be back soon," Laurel assures her kids, and as she does she gets an idea. "And if you all hate the name so much, why don't you come up with some other suggestions," Laurel suggests, feeling that it could be a very good thing for the Trio to do.
"Gladly," Sin responds, as she really thinks Laurel needs a much better name.
"I look forward to hearing your ideas," Laurel says, with an amused look on her face before leaving her kids, and as soon as she is out of the kids line of sight Thea turns to Roy and Sin.
"Okay, new Women in Black names," Thea says, knowing that the only reason they can have this particular conversation is because they are the only ones who are currently in the CNRI building.
"Justice," Roy suggests. "It is her boxing name after all," Ron points out, feeling that means it would make sense.
"Which means it's way too obvious, way too easy to connect to Laurel, therefore not a good idea," Thea points out, knowing that whatever name they come up with has to help them protect Laurel's identity, not give it away.
"Fine, how about Danger Diva," Roy suggests, going with the most ridiculous name he can think of.
"No," Thea and Sin say together, neither liking that suggestion.
"Okay, okay, maybe I should stop suggesting names," Roy says with an amused look on his face.
"Maybe this can help us figure something out," Thea says, as she pulls a piece of paper out of her bag. "It's a photocopy of the design I gave Ted for Laurel's new suit," Thea reveals as she shows Sin and Roy the design, feeling nervous about how they are going to react.
"Wow, nice," Sin says, clearly liking the design, which causes Thea to feel relief. "How about Yellow Raven?" Sin suggests. "It matches the yellow trin and stripes on the design," Sin notes.
"That's not bad," Roy says, looking impressed.
"Yeah, it's not," Thea says, thinking about it, and as she does she remembers a story that Laurel once told her. "But I think I might have a better one, a more fitting one," Thea reveals, and as both Sin and Roy give her an interested look Thea reveals her idea.
While Thea, Sin, and Roy are discussing new names for her Laurel is walking onto the CNRI roof where the Hood said he would meet her. Honestly, after the last six months, Laurel is perfectly comfortable on roofs, but as she isn't in her Women In Black costume she feels a little exposed.
"I got your message," Laurel says, when she spots the Hood standing across the roof from her. "Is there a reason we can't do this face to face?" Laurel asks, asking what she would ask if she didn't already know, or at least suspect, as it would be the same answer she would give if she was in the one in disguise, the answer.
"You've met with Peter Declan," Oliver says, avoiding Laurel's question, which she realises.
"He might be innocent," Laurel says, it being a lawyer habit of hers that keeps her from saying a certainty. "Declan said his wife blew the whistle on Brodeur the day she was murdered," Laurel explains.
"Then we need to get whoever she told about Brodeur to testify," Oliver comments, knowing that that would be the most important thing to do right now.
"He already has," Laurel says, sticking out a file for Oliver to take, which he quickly does. "Matt Istook, Camille's supervisor," Laurel explains. "Only, he said that she didn't say a word to him," Laurel explains.
"He could be lying," Oliver says.
"Well, if he is, then he's very convincing," Laurel reveals. "He had the jury and the police believing him," Laurel explains.
"He hasn't been questioned by me," Oliver comments, and Laurel realises exactly what that means.
"No, I didn't become a lawyer to cause people to get hurt," Laurel reveals, knowing that she is getting close to the line between Laurel Lance and the Women in Black, she just hopes the Hood doesn't notice.
"I do what is necessary, what people like Peter Declan need me to do," Oliver reveals, and honestly those words remind Laurel of herself, of the reasons why she does what she does.
"If you believe in what you're doing so much. If you're so sure that you're doing nothing wrong, then why are you hiding your face with a Hood?" Laurel asks, asking what she would ask if she hadn't already had this conversation with the Hood when she was the Women In Black as she knows that is a pretty fair thing to ask.
"To protect the ones I care about," Oliver reveals.
"That sounds lonely," Laurel says, knowing that as there are times when she feels lonely too.
"It can be," Oliver says, before firing an arrow. "But not today," Oliver says before disappearing, using the arrow he fired as a zipline to disappear from the rooftop in the most effective way possible.
"He opened up a little," Laurel mutters, as she watches him go, trying to deal with the implications of that.
A little while after Laurel talked to the Hood, she is walking back into the floor of CNRI where Thea, Roy, and Sin are still working.
"Hey, how'd it go?" Thea asks curious, having been the first to notice Laurel returning, and not being able to help but wonder if Laurel has realised what she already suspects.
"Pretty good," Laurel admits. "I don't think I gave away who I was, and I got a better idea of a couple of things," Laurel reveals.
"That's good, right?" Roy asks, as that is what it seems like.
"Yeah," Laurel confirms. "How were things here?" Laurel asks curious, as while she knows she wasn't gone long she can't help but feel curious about what they did while she was gone, and whether they were okay.
"Good," Sin reveals. "We came up with a name," Sin says with a grin, feeling excited to hear what Laurel thinks.
"Oh?" Laurel asks curious, as she looks between the trio.
"Yep," Ron confirms.
"How do you like The Black Canary?" Thea asks, feeling nervous, but excited, to hear what Laurel thinks.