Chapter 15

After spending hours with Thea, Roy, and Sin, assuring them that she is actually okay, Laurel goes out as the Black Canary for a couple of hours before once more climbing in her window. As she looks towards her bed Laurel sees that both Thea and Sin are asleep in the bed and Roy is asleep on the floor, having brought the couch cushions into the room to lay on. Looking between the three Laurel smiles, feeling touched, before having a quick shower and heading to bed herself.

The next Afternoon Laurel, who is still catching up on her work, is beyond shocked when she sees Oliver on the news having been arrested, by her father, under suspicion of being the Hood. As she watches the news Laurel is trying to comprehend what it means, how to handle that considering what she saw the night before, Laurel is so distracted that she doesn't even hear footsteps.

"Laurel," A voice says, causing Laurel to jump as she was so distracted, and she turns to see Tommy.

"Hey, I was just watching the news," Laurel explains. "Have you seen him?" Laurel asks, as she assumes he has, as other than Thea Tommy is his only family.

"Yeah, I was just there, with Walter and Oliver's driver Diggle," Tommy explains. "That's why I'm here," Tommy says, pausing before taking a deep breath. "He wants you to defend him," Tommy explains.

"I really don't think that's a good idea," Laurel admits, as considering everything Laurel really doesn't think it is a good idea, she knows she has more than one conflict.

"I'd agree," Tommy says, feeling that even without knowing everything about Laurel. "But Oliver is saying that if you don't defend him then he wants no one," Tommy explains, clearly worried about his friend, his brother. "Look, you and me, we know Ollie better than anyone, and we know that this isn't him," Tommy says, not realising how wrong he is. "But your dad can't see that," Tommy reveals. "He needs help Laurel, and you're the only one he'll take it from," Tommy explains.

"I've got to pick up Thea from school before she sees this," Laurel says, picking up her bag and walking past Tommy, clearly not wanting to talk about what Tommy just said.

"Just think about it," Tommy says to Laurel, as she walks past him.

After leaving CNRI, still having Tommy's words replaying in her head, Laurel heads straight to Thea's school and she arrives just as school lets out. After waiting a few minutes Laurel sees Thea and Sin walking out of the school together.

"Laurel?" Thea asks surprised, when she sees Laurel walking towards her and Sin. "What's wrong? You never pick me up from school," Thea says, her mind going to the worse possibilities.

"Something's happened, Speedy," Laurel tells her, as the three of them start to walk together.

"Is everyone okay? Is someone hurt?" Thea asks worried.

"Ollie's been arrested under suspicion of being the Hood," Laurel explains.

"What?" Sin asks shocked, while Thea isn't shocked about Oliver being the Hood, what she is shocked about is that he has been caught.

"Is he okay? Can I see him?" Thea asks, as right now that is her biggest concern, she wants to make sure that her brother is okay.

"Not right now," Laurel explains. "He's still being held in custody, and he'll be arraigned in the morning," Laurel explains, knowing that Thea will understand that as she has spent enough time around CNRI.

"What evidence do they have?" Thea asks, wanting to know how he managed to get caught. "Who's defending him?" Thea asks, wanting to know as much as possible and feeling grateful, despite the circumstances, that she has spent so much time over the past few years around Lawyers.

"I'm not sure of the evidence," Laurel admits. "And as for who's defending him, he wants me to, but I'm not sure that's a good idea," Laurel admits.

"No! Laurel! You have to," Thea tells her, knowing that Laurel is Oliver's best shot. "Please Laurel, please," Thea begs.

"Thea, my dad arrested him, and with our history I don't think it would be a good idea," Laurel admits, knowing that is one of many reasons why she thinks it's a bad idea.

"Laurel, you're an incredible lawyer, can compartmentalize better than pretty much anyone, and you're the only person I would trust with my brothers fate," Thea admits, pleading in her voice, as she wants her brother to have the best, and Laurel is the best.

"Thea…" Laurel starts to say, and Thea knows that tone of voice.

"You know, whatever," Thea says annoyed, something she doesn't often feel towards Laurel. "Sin and I are meeting Roy at Big Belly Burger, I'll see you later," Thea says, before walking away, it being more than clear that she is angry at Laurel.

"I'll watch out for her," Sin promises, knowing Thea well enough to know that she would be going through a lot and just needs support.

"I know," Laurel says, knowing that it something both Sin and Roy will do, and Sin jogs to catch up with Thea, and as she watches them go Laurel feels a rush of guilt as she really hates that she hurt Thea, as that's something she never wants to do.

After Thea disappears from view Laurel turns around and starts to walk in the opposite direction, guilt rising with every step she takes away from Thea, but before she even realises what she is doing Laurel pulls her phone and making a call.

"Hello," Burce answers, after a couple of rings.

"It's Dinah, can you talk?" Laurel asks, as she isn't thinking straight enough to think about what Bruce would be doing right now.

"Yeah," Bruce confirms, as when he saw the news he cancelled his meeting, something that fit with his public persona, as he figured that Laurel would be calling him first and he wanted to talk to her the moment she did. "I'm assuming this is about Ollie," Bruce assumes, as he has seen the news.

"And Thea, but mainly Ollie," Laurel admits. "Bruce, he wants me to defend him," Laurel reveals.

"And considering everything you don't know if you can," Bruce admits, not overly surprised that that is what Oliver wants, but feeling concerned about the effect it is going to have on Laurel.

"I really don't," Laurel admits. "I feel like everything's been turned upside down, and that I can't see anything clearly," Laurel admits. "Thea and Tommy, both want me to defend him, and Thea was so hurt when I said I didn't know if I could, but I don't know what to do," Laurel admits. "What do I do Bruce?" Laurel asks, wanting someone to tell her what to do, which is the complete opposite of what she would usually want when she is fiercely independent.

"I can't tell you what to do about this, Dinah," Bruce tells her, noticing that Laurel isn't talking about whether Oliver is actually the Hood, something which he is reasonably sure he is.

"I figured," Laurel admits, though she still needed to ask. "I wish you could though," Laurel admits.

"I can't," Bruce confirms. "Dinah, what I can tell you is that you know what you want to do. You know what you need to do. You just need to do what you do to clear your head, and trust yourself," Bruce tells Laurel, feeling that, considering everything, it is the best advice he can give her.

"Do you think he is the Hood?" Laurel asks Bruce, wanting to know what he thinks about that, and Bruce knows that he has to be careful what he says as if Laurel won't see the truth for herself, he can't just tell her.

"I think it would make sense," Bruce admits, after a moment of debating what to say.

"Yeah, it would," Laurel admits, not sure what to think about that. "But what I can't reconcile is my Ollie with what I saw in the Hood's eyes," Laurel admits, Bruce noticing the specific words Laurel used even if she didn't. "I just don't know what to think," Laurel admits, feeling more rattled than she has in a while.

"Considering everything that's completely understandable," Bruce tells her, and Laurel sighs, running her hand through her hair.

"I think you're right, I need to clear my head," Laurel admits. "I'll talk to you later, Bruce," Laurel says before hanging up, not explaining what she is going to do and because of that Bruce plans to call her in a couple of hours to check on her and he knows that if he can't call then he will get Barbra too, either way he will make sure one of them check up on her.

After hanging up with Bruce Laurel can still feel her head spinning and because of that she knows that Bruce is right, that she needs to clear her head, and because of that she knows exactly what she needs to do, even if it isn't the safest thing right now, and so, she makes her way to her apartment where she once again suits up.

Not long after Laurel told her about Oliver Thea is sitting in a both at Big Belly Burger with Roy and Sin. Even though all three of them have very good instincts they don't realise that John Diggle is sitting in the darkened corner, watching them, making sure they are okay.

"I just can't believe it," Thea says, sounding both shocked and upset, though she is shocked that Oliver has been found out not that he is the Hood. "I just got him back. I can't lose him again," Thea admits, tears coming to her eyes.

"We know," Roy and Sin say together, both knowing Thea well enough to know that.

"I just can't believe that Laurel won't defend him," Thea says shocked, as this is the first time Laurel hasn't done something she asked. "All she does is protect people, help them, so why won't she help him?" Thea asks, not being able to understand that, as while she believes that Oliver is actually the Hood, she still thinks he needs Laurel's help.

"Your brother and Laurel have a really complicated past, that let's admit is becoming a very complicated present, it can't surprise you that she has reservations," Sin tells Thea, as she saw that in Laurel's eyes when she was telling Thea what was going on, and she saw how Oliver talked about Laurel when he joined them for Hot Chocolate.

"Yeah, I mean, this is Laurel we're talking about, she might just need some time to think about everything, time to figure out everything she is feeling," Roy admits.

"I hope so," Thea admits. "I just can't lose him again, I just can't," Thea admits, her voice breaking, and as they see how upset Thea is getting Sin puts her arm around Thea while Roy reaches over and squeezes her hand in comfort.

Hours after she called Bruce, having spent most of those hours in a mask and wig, Laurel, who is feeling more focused and clear headed than she was, is just arriving home. After leaving her weapon, mask, and wing in her room Laurel heads out into the living room where she is glad to find Thea; unknown to her Roy and Sin have both just left.

"Hey," Laurel greats, not sure what to expect from Thea considering everything.

"Hey," Thea greats, without looking up from her homework, it being clear to Laurel that she still isn't happy.

"Speedy, I'm gonna defend Ollie," Laurel reveals.

"Really?" Thea asks surprised, as she looks up from her homework to look at Laurel.

"Really," Laurel confirms, as even with her conflicting feelings towards Oliver, and everything she is trying to comprehend she knows she will never forgive herself if she didn't defend him.

"Thank you, thank you," Thea says, sounding thrilled and she proceeds to run over to Laurel who she throws her arms around and as she does Laurel lets out a wince of pain that she failed to keep in. "What happened?" Thea asks worried, as the two of them break apart.

"My arm got in the way of a knife," Laurel admits. "Thought, considering it was four against one I think I got off pretty good," Laurel explains. "I haven't had a chance to check how bad it is," Laurel admits, as she carefully undoes her jacket and removes it to reveal a cut on her upper right arm that looks pretty deep.

"I'll get the first aid kit," Thea says, heading to where they keep it, and once she has it, Laurel sits down on the couch while Thea starts to stich up her arm for her. "So, what excuse are you going with this time?" The asks curious, after a few moments.

"Um, broken fence when I was walking in The Glades," Laurel suggests.

"That works, you haven't used that one in a while," Thea admits, and over the next few minutes Thea stiches Laurel up, and as Laurel has been stitched up so many times Laurel doesn't really react to that.

"Yeah," Laurel admits.

"So, how did you end up facing four people?" Thea asks curious.

"Drug dealers, they were making a big sale," Laurel explains. "I left them and the drugs as presents for the police," Laurel explains.

"Good," Thea says, focusing on what she has to do rather than how much she hates that Laurel is hurt… again.

The following morning Laurel takes Thea, who didn't want to come to court in case she gave away that she knows Oliver actually is the Hood, to school before heading to the courthouse walking into the courtroom where Oliver's matter is being heard just in time to hear prosecutions talking about bail, and how it should be denied.

"So, then I guess it's a good thing that the people's case is so circumstantial," Laurel comments as she walks into the courtroom, making her way up to the bar table. "Dinah Laurel Lance your honour. I'd like to file my appearance on behalf of the defendant," Laurel says as she walks through the gallery, before arriving at the bar table where she puts her files down. "Mr Queen's wealth should not deprive him of the right to be released on bail while under the presumption of innocence," Laurel explains.

"He is a flight risk," The DA argues.

"Then minimize the risk," Laurel argues. "The Defendant is wiling to submit to home confinement and electronic monitoring through the wearing of a UKG45 administrated ankle device," Laurel argues, having prepared for the possibility of this as she knew there was a very strong chance that the DA would be objecting to bail.

"No, he wouldn't," Oliver said, as that would make things complicated, but no one listens.

"Sold," The judge says.

"Your honour," The DA objects, clearly not happy about the decision that has been made.

"Bail is set at fifteen million, five million bond," The judge orders. "The Defendant is to see probation for the fitting of a GPS device," The Judge orders.

"I knew you couldn't resist saving my ass," Oliver says, as Laurel sits down next to him.

"You're going to make me regret this, aren't you?" Laurel asks.

"No, it's gonna be great," Oliver answers with a grin.

"Luckily for you, from what I have seen the case is weak," Laurel tells Oliver. "That's our best hope, poking holes in the logic," Laurel tells Oliver, who is surprised by that, as he was expecting Laurel to dismiss the possibility of him being the Hood outright.

"You cannot believe that I am this Hood guy…" Oliver says surprised as he thought he was doing a very, very good job at hiding who he is from Laurel.

"I think you don't know what I think anymore," Laurel says, and even though it will lead to an uncomfortable conversation for her Laurel purposely moves in a way that makes the bandage in her arm visible.

"What happened to your arm?" Oliver asks concerned, not realising that he is playing directly into Laurel's hands.

"I was walking home yesterday, took a short cut and cut my arm on a fence," Laurel explains, wanting to do her best to distract Oliver from what they were just talking about, at least while they are in a place that is so open, as she knows they cannot have that conversation when there is a possibility that someone will overhear. "I really need to be more careful." Laurel lies.

"Yeah, you seem to be hurt a lot lately," Oliver realises. "Are you okay?" Oliver asks concerned, as he isn't sure he believes Laurel's lie.

"I'm fine," Laurel assures him with a smile. "And as interesting as this is, I need to get back to CNRI, I have other people to help," Laurel tells Oliver.

"Thank you, Laurel, for helping me," Oliver says, clearly touched by what Laurel is doing for him.

"Thank Thea," Laurel says, wanting to make that clear. "We'll talk about your case later," Laurel says before getting up and walking out of the court cause, Oliver watching her go and as he does, he realises that Laurel didn't give him a straight answer about whether she believes that he is The Hood.

A little while after she walked away from Oliver Laurel is at CNRI and as she knows it's lunchtime at Thea's school she isn't at all surprised when she sees Thea walk into the office and hurry over to her.

"What happened? How is he?" Thea asks curious, clearly concerned about her big brother.

"He's home on bail, and he's okay," Laurel assures Thea, having been alerted that Oliver placed his bond and been fitted with the ankle monitor.

"Really?" Thea asks, feeling glad, but also surprised as she thought it would take more considering she believes he actually is the Hood.

"Really," Laurel confirms. "So, how about we go and get some lunch before getting you back to school," Laurel suggests.

"Sounds good to me," Thea responds, and the two of them, Laurel having grabbed her bag first, head out of the office.

After Laurel left the courthouse Oliver got the monitoring bracelet out on and once he did that he headed home, informing Tommy of a party he is going to be throwing to help with his cover, as he goes. While Tommy doesn't seem overly fond of the party idea, something which shows Oliver how much he is growing, Oliver knows it is necessary to help him keep his cover and because of that he is able to get Tommy on board with the idea.

A little while after Tommy, who has gone to arrange the things that Oliver can't organize due not being able to leave the house, has left him Oliver is up in his room when he hears a knock on the door.

"Come in," Oliver says, and moments later the door opens and Diggle walks in. "Thank you for coming," Oliver says, when he sees him.

"I guess it was just a matter of time before the police caught up with you," Diggle comments, as he walks over to where Oliver is sitting at his desk.

"Except they didn't," Oliver comments.

"Oliver, they got you on video," Diggle points out, not understanding how Oliver can think he hasn't been caught.

"I knew the security camera was there, just like I knew the police would review the footage and arrest me," Oliver reveals. "It's all apart of the plan," Oliver reveals.

"So, you wanted to get arrested?" Diggle asks surprised.

"Well, I returned to Star City and a few days later the vigilante appears," Oliver reminds Diggle. "Sooner or later, somebody was going to make the connection," Oliver explains.

"So, what part of serving yourself up to the cops will help you avoid going to prison for the rest of your life?" Diggle asks curious, not being able to see the full picture.

"There's more to it," Oliver explains.

"Well, there better be, for your sake, because I saw your sister at Big Belly Burger last night and she was freaking out," Diggle reveals. "And now you're going to put her through a trial, maybe even worse? Don't you care?" Diggle asks.

"Of course I care!" Oliver exclaims. "But the mission comes first," Oliver reveals. "While we're on the topic you said you saw Thea last night at Big Belly Burger, do you see Laurel there much?" Oliver asks, as even with everything that is going on with him he is still focused on Laurel, still determined to figure out what is going on with her.

"Yeah, at least a few times a week," Diggle reveals.

"Who's she usually with?" Oliver asks curious, wanting to know who is important in Laurel's life so he can make sense of something.

"Usually your sister, and those other kids she practically took in, Roy and Sin," Diggle explains, wondering why he is asking.

"Anyone else?" Oliver asks, needing to know.

"Yeah, the owner of the Gym Thea took you in, Ted, and once and twice your Friend Tommy, and strangely enough when he was in town Bruce Wayne," Diggle explains, knowing that sometimes it was just Bruce but other times there were a few other people with Bruce, but he has no idea who they are, but he has no idea who they were. "Why do you ask?" Diggle asks curious.

"I think someone is hurting Laurel, and I need to find out who," Oliver explains.

"What makes you think that?" Diggle asks curious, and also a little concerned not just for Laurel but concerned because of how Oliver is going to react if someone is actually hurting Laurel.

"Ever since I got back, she's had injuries and she gives bad excuses about what caused them," Oliver explains.

"Laurel's a boxer, maybe that's why," Diggles suggests, though he really doesn't like what Oliver is implying and if he is right Oliver won't be the only one doing something about it.

"The injuries I've seen aren't caused by boxing, something else is going on," Oliver says with a frown. "I'm going to fid out what and make whoever is responsible pay," Oliver says, it being clear that he completely means what he is saying.

"Don't do anything until you know for sure," Diggle warns. "Is that why you asked me here?" Diggle asks curious, though he doubts it.

"No, like I said the mission comes first," Oliver reveals, showing Diggle information on his computer screen. "Leo Mueller, German arms dealer, suspected in the theft of a hundred m249 squad automatic weapons," Oliver explains.

"Okay," Diggles says, not overly sure where Oliver is going with what he is saying.

"Last night he arrived in Star City to sell the guns," Oliver explains.

"Oliver, don't you imagine there is enough trouble you're in this week without adding more by going after this guy?" Diggle asks, wanting him to see sense.

"I imagine what would happen if a street gang got their heads on military-grade hardware," Oliver admits. "I imagine our city streets turned into a war zone," Oliver reveals, honestly this is exactly the kind of thing he would tell the Women in Black about if he could contact her in a way other than waiting on a rooftop in the Glades for her.

"But your under house arrest, Oliver, which means you can't just go after this guy," Diggle reminds him.

"Look, for now, I would just like you to shadow Mueller," Oliver says. "I would like you to track his moments," Oliver explains. "I want to know where the buy is happening," Oliver explains.

"And how am I supposed to track him?" Diggle asks curious, as he is pretty sure that is a pretty big thing he is missing.

"Well, you know us billionaire vigilantes, we do love our toys,' Oliver comments before explaining to Diggle what he needs him to do.

About ten minutes later Diggle leaves and once he does Oliver starts to add to his notes the information he has about Laurel, so that he can try and figure out what is going on. As, no matter what is going on with her he will never stand for Laurel being hurt. he will figure out what is going on and he will make whoever it is that is hurting her, as he is sure that someone is, pay.