Arrow to the Heart {4}

Chapter 18

Lydia's at the loft working on her computer at the table when there's a knock on her door. Lydia gets up and walks to the door and she opens it to see Laurel. Lydia smiles and says, "District Attorney Laurel Lance, what do I owe the please?" Laurel smiles and walks into the loft and says, "I'm still just an A.D.A. I'm turning down the promotion." Lydia's confused and says, "Wait, what? Is it because it's being offered by Ruve Darhk?" Laurel says, "No, because taking the job means giving up the Black Canary." Lydia grabs Laurel's hands and says, "Becoming district attorney's something that you've worked the better part of 3 years for." Laurel says, "I might have wanted to be DA, but that was a lifetime ago." Lydia says, "Sara's lifetime? You channeled your grief and became the Black Canary, but Sara's not dead anymore. Maybe you owe it to yourself to purse the path you were on." Laurel says, "You're serious?" Lydia says, "This city has enough heroes with masks on. With Ruve Darhk as mayor, it needs a hero without a mask. It needs Laurel Lance." Later, Lydia rushes into the hospital with tears in her eyes because she got a call from Oliver that Laurel got shot with an arrow by Darhk. Lydia walks over to Oliver and Oliver sees Lydia's tears and she says, "Laurel-- is she--" Oliver cuts Lydia off and says, "Laurel's in surgery. Um... I don't know. I've tried to call your dad, too, so... What happened with Darhk?" Thea says, "He's in the wind along with 50 or so inmates." Diggle says, "And Andy. You warned me, and I didn't listen. I'll never be able to forgive myself." Lydia turns around to see Laurel on a medical bed and the doctors are wheeling her into the room. Dr. Shwartz says, "Just out of recovery. She's going to be fine. She's a strong woman, your friend." Lydia says, "The strongest." The doctor says, "She's been asking for you." Everyone goes inside the room and Lydia walks up beside Laurel's bed and grabs hold of her hand. Laurel smiles at Lydia and weakly says, "Hi." Thea says, "Hey yourself." Laurel says, "Did Darhk--" Lydia cuts Laurel off and says, "Don't worry about him. Just worry about getting better, okay?" Laurel says, "It's not exactly how I wanted my last night to go." Diggle says, "What are you talking about?" Laurel says, "It's a long story. I was going to give up being the Black Canary, but I realized I didn't know how I could because going out there and fighting alongside you guys, it's what makes me feel alive inside... And I love you guys so much." Lydia smiles with tears in her eyes and says, "We love you." Thea says, "We love you." Diggle and Oliver say, "We love you." Laurel weakly says, "Do you guys mind if I speak with my sister alone?" Diggle nods and says, "Of course." Everyone leaves the room. Lydia sniffs and says, "It's crazy, because just a couple months ago, I was the one lying in bed feeling like I was going to die and now it's you." Laurel squeezes Lydia's hand and she softly says, "Can you promise me something?" Lydia says, "Anything?" Laurel says, "Can you promise me, that if I do die, that you won't ever give up on yourself. I know, I have protected you for so long and I just want you to be strong even if I'm not there for you." Tears are rolling down both of the sisters' cheeks and Lydia sniffs, "I promise. Laurel, you're going to be fine, okay. You're going to be fine." Laurel weakly smiles and says, "You have been one of the best things that I have happened to this family. Lyds, knowing you has changed this family's life for the better and I'm so glad that we were the family that got to adopted you. I love you, always and forever." Then Laurel starts seizing and doctors start rushing into the room, along with the team. Thea says, "What happened?" Lydia says, "I--I don't know. She was fine." Then Laurel flatlines and the doctors try to revive Laurel, but they can't, and Dr. Shwartz says, "Time of death 11:59." Lydia feels her legs give out and Oliver catches Lydia and she lets out a painful sob. Lydia pushes herself away from Oliver and she rushes out the room with her tears blurring her vision she bumps into someone, and she hears a familiar voice says, "Sweetheart, what's wrong?" Lydia looks up at her dad and her dad knows the answer and he almost loses his balance, but Lydia catches him and brings him in for a hug both of them sobbing over Laurel's death. Her dad pulls away and says, "I don't understand." Her dad gets up along with Lydia and he walks over to Laurel's room, and he walks in with Lydia behind him looking at Laurel dead. Dr. Shwartz looks at Quentin and she says, "Excuse me. Are you a relativ--" Lydia cuts Dr. Shwartz off and says, "Doctor, he's, our father." Dr. Shwartz says, "I'm, um, terribly sorry for your loss. These are her belongings." Lydia grabs the bag and says, "Thanks." Dr. Shwartz walks away. Her dad cries, "Laurel. Baby." Lydia softly says, "Dad, we need to get out of here." Her dad sighs and walks away with tears streaming down his face.