PART ONE: RUN
CHAPTER SIX: GRAVEYARD SHIFT
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TEAM ARROW, STARLING , USA
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Charlie lounged in the basement, feet kicked up on the desk in front of Felicity's computers and Oliver couldn't help but think of the wrath Felicity would have bestowed if she knew. She had came prepared this time, he noted. She held a steaming bright yellow mug in her hands, a Hermione Granger figurine bobbed in agreement from beside the computer and not one but three boxes of pop tarts were stacked on the steel table along with a coffee maker. Here was hoping it wouldn't be needed as a makeshift operating bed anytime soon.
He eyed her from across the basement as she gazed contemplatively over the edge of her mug back at him. Charlie in all her glory, her hair was shorter now, but still just as red and her shirts just as flannel. The knot in his stomach told him that this might not have been the greatest idea. The more he looked over her thin frame and the way her nimble fingers flew over the keyboard, the more he saw Felicity in her. He wouldn't have dreamed of sending Felicity into that graveyard, not after what he had seen there.
"So tell me again why you won't just call Sam and Dean?" She wondered, and he thought he saw a flicker of amusement as she hid her face in her coffee. Oliver huffed, getting aggravated now that he was explaining it for the third time. His ego wouldn't take much more bruising before he was sure to do something incredible stupid in an attempt to mend it.
"Dean left with Felicity, searching for Sam, who was searching for Cas, who was hunting down something or other which had probably hunted down someone else - that's how it works isn't it?" he asked, throwing his hands up in frustration - he would not admit to anyone that he was afraid of their judgement.
"So you don't want to call them because they won't come or because you're afraid it's something embarrassingly easy?" she asked, taking a large sip from her mug. If he wanted judgement he would have just called the Winchesters. Oliver glared, Charlie smiled and then they both faltered. The radio burst to life, and with hardly a glance at his watch Oliver knew what the call would be. A new meaning to the term 'graveyard shift', he thought morbidly as his frustration ebbed away into the adrenaline of preparation.
Charlie's eyes were wide but Oliver was already moving, hood, arrows, bow ready to go by the time she shrugged on her own dark jacket and grabbed her bag. He had somehow expected she would need more than a satchel with a worn looking patch collection, but he supposed if the Winchesters were as good as they said than she would know what she was doing. After all, she had learned from them hadn't she?
He handed her an earpiece and she took it with an excited grin on her face. "This is so cool, I mean it's like I'm your trusty sidekick!" she exclaimed, elbowing him playfully while jamming the bit into her ear. The thought made Oliver press his lips into a tight line at the grim thought of it. The deadly Arrow and his trusty nerd sidekick who's total lack of any uniform right down to her 'you always remember your first doctor' shirt that left him confused - a great duo.
"Let's get this over with," he muttered before leading the way out of the basement and out the fire exit. Charlie scrambled down with about as much grace as a dog in boots and Oliver nearly sent her back. He would have, had she not insisted that she needed to see this thing with her own eyes. That and the fact he couldn't let another Starling City citizen die - he had enough blood on his hands.
Charlie drove his car after a small argument in the parking lot. She pointed out how easy it would be for someone to trace his plate, particularly any one of the many officers that was bound to be at the cemetery. They would take more interest in him if the Arrow showed up in Oliver Queen's car, he grimly agreed. He then tried to convince her to get on the motorcycle, but she refused on the basis that she didn't want to be interrogated on his identity should she be caught as an accomplice.
"The Arrow and Charlie Bradbury cannot be seen together. I've got enough baggage as it is, and if I'm being honest I wouldn't do good under pressure," she admitted, the thought clearly terrifying her. At least she told the truth, but he wondered what 'baggage' someone like Charlie could have and made a mental note to ask.
Instead, the Arrow left on his motorcycle and Charlie acted a mere passerby, parking a block back and walking to the graveyard. He hoped he had made the right choice in calling her there. The last thing he needed was to be trying to save another life, what with- no, he pushed the thought back. He wouldn't allow himself to dwell on Felicity's lingering time left, not now, not when someone else had a life in his hands. The Winchesters would definitely hate him if anything were to happen to Charlie and if he was honest, he still wasn't entirely convinced San Fransisco had been a werewolf.
He stood under the dark shadow of a large tree as he watched her saunter around the corner towards the crowd off waiting officers. He hated to admit it but she had been right, the officers had flocked to the grave yard - all vying for the chance to put down whatever thing had killed their partner. Charlie was smart, he reminded himself as he thought back on the Meta-wolf they had only been able to conquer with her help. Still, he found himself holding his breath as he watched a figure approach her.
He watched her falter to a stop and engage the person- not an officer he determined, shifting a few paces closer to get a better look. Oliver waited for Charlie to engage her earpiece but he was left in silence as the conversation grew on with the stranger. Not a stranger, a friend? He didn't dare risk getting that close to the cops to find out. He posture changed, and she took a staggering step back. Oliver's heart dropped, his immediately thought that the person must have done something - hurt her.
She reached for the fence and didn't put up a fight when the figure came closer again. And then there was a blinding light from deep within the cemetery and Charlie took off sprinting. The figure didn't follow, but turned towards Oliver as if it had known he had been there the whole time.
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A/N - It's been a hot minute but it's better late than never - right? This chapter just didn't want to come, I rewrote it about three times before finally deciding just to post it. As usual, let me know what you think! I'm super excited for the next few chapters - this whole story really so you should have another update before the end of the week!
Also, shameless plug - I started a Bucky Barnes/ Avengers fic and would love some feedback! ;)
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