My Arrow Reboot

Chapter 13

"Hi, Barry. This is John Diggle, Felicity Smoak. Friends of mine" Oliver said.

"Hi" Barry said, shaking Diggle's hand. "Hi" he said again, shaking Felicity's hand, this time a small, flirtatious smile forming on his face.

"Hi" Felicity said, her voice sounding as though she had just awoken from a sleep that had lasted her entire life.

"Mh-hmm,  so uh, Barry. Any ideas about who did this?" Oliver asked.

"Whoever it was, according to the witness, was masked and may have had superhuman strength" Barry said.

"Like superman kinda strength?" Diggle asked.

"Not quite, no" Barry said.

"What did the mask look like?" Oliver asked.

"A skull mask" Barry described.

"Okay" Oliver leaned over to Felicity. "Why don't you take inventory?"

"You got it, boss" Felicity mumbled.

"You have any enemies, Mr. Queen?" Barry asked.

"Uh no, not really" Oliver answered. "So, superhuman strength? You believe that?"

"I believe that anything is possible" Barry said.

"Will the defendant please rise while the verdict is given?" Judge Mandelbaum asked, the following morning in court.

Moira nervously stood and the representative from the jury spoke. "We the jury, find the defendant, Moira Queen, guilty on multiple counts of conspiracy to commit murder and voluntary manslaughter".

Moira appeared not to react at all. Cecile placed her hand on Moira's shoulder. Oliver and Thea both rushed over to be near their mother.

"Mom, we'll-" Moira cut Oliver off.

"Oliver, please. Don't. It's okay".

"But I-" Oliver protested. Moira pulled both of her children into a hug.

"I love you both so much. You are my whole life". Guards came over to place Moira in handcuffs.

"Sentencing will take place November, 31st, 2013 at 10am" Judge Mandelbaum announced. "Court is adjourned".

Caitlin took notice of Oliver's facial expression right away when he arrived at Star Labs. "Are you okay?" she asked him.

"I'm fine, but I need to see Laurel right now" Oliver said.

"Yeah, alright, she..." Before Caitlin could finish her sentence, Oliver had already taken off towards Laurel's living area and found her sitting on her bed. She looked exhausted. Laurel stood up when she saw him only to be wrapped up in her boyfriend's arms.

"You okay?" She asked. He didn't answer, he just stood there holding her tight.

Finally after what seemed like an hour, Oliver finally said: "The jury found my mother guilty".

"Oh my- oh my god, Ollie, I-" Laurel's sentence was interrupted by Oliver's lips crashing into hers.

"I just want to be with you" Oliver said.

"I'm right here, Ollie" Laurel cooed, hugging him and rubbing neck.

In her arms, Oliver felt both safe and vulnerable. He allowed himself to shed a few tears knowing she wouldn't see him any differently.

"Maybe I can come home tonight" Laurel suggested. "If you... if you need me?"

"I always need you. But I'll be okay... its okay" Oliver said. A long moment of silence passed between them. "Are you... are you gonna be okay?"

Laurel nodded her head slowly, but she was not able to stop a few hot tears from falling down her face.

"Why are you crying?" Oliver asked

"I'm sorry-- I" Laurel covered her mouth with her hand.

"You don't have to apologize. I guess I forgot how much you have been through lately" Oliver asked.

"I thought I would be stronger... after everything. But this training, I- I can't."

Oliver tucked some of Laurel's hair behind one of her ears. "You are strong, stronger than anyone I have ever met before. You know somebody once told me the strongest metal is forged in the hottest fire" Oliver kissed Laurel's forehead. "You're powerful, Laurel. When this is over, you are going to be a force to be reckon with".

"Thank you" Laurel said.

That night after Oliver had spent some time at home with his family, he met up with Diggle and Felicity at a local bar near Queen Consolidated. He wasn't talking much, just listening to his friend's conversation. "You okay, Oliver?" Dig asked.

"Yeah, Imma-" Oliver decided not to bother lying. "No".

"You know we aren't going to relent in this fight for your mother, right?" Diggle said.

"Yeah. I know. It's about Laurel" Oliver said.

"You guys didn't break up, right?" Felicity asked.

"No, but I'm worried about her. She's been different" Oliver said.

"Of course she has" Felicity said. "She's changing, quite literally".

"I know" OIiver said. "Of course I know that. She's in pain. The training has been hard on her... mentally and emotionally... brought to the surface some serious trauma..."

"Oliver" Felicity said. "You and Laurel are very similar, you both internalize your emotions. Whatever emotions Laurel is experiencing is brand new for her. Give her time to come to terms with it".

"Your right" Oliver said.

"I know how much you care about her and I understand your urge to help her, I do" Felicity said.

"Thank you" Oliver said. "But you are right. Maybe I have all that all that I can right now"