You Are the Reason

I Won't Give Up

Oliver walked into his home later that night, he wasn't surprised by John's answer, but also knew it wasn't over. He started walking up the stairs, rubbing his hand over his eyes.

"Where were you?" Laurel asked.

"What?" Oliver was confused for a moment before he saw her. "What are you doing here?" He asked, sighing.

"I heard about the shooting, and I wanted to make sure you were okay."

"You did?" Oliver asked.

"Yah." Laurel said. "I knocked on the door and found a family terrified for you. They had no idea where you were."

"Oh." Oliver groaned, leaning his head against the stair pillar.

"Oliver, are you so self-centered that you don't think that people who care about you are gonna wonder where you are after you all got shot at?" Laurel asked, outraged.

"You're right." She told him. "I made peace with your selfishness a long time ago, but Moira, Thea, and Walter, they don't deserve that. They deserve better, someone who doesn't care only about himself."

"Laurel... thank you for coming." Oliver thanked her.

"I care about the lives of other people, Oliver. Maybe you should try it sometime." She said walking to the door. "And if you get a chance. Call Tommy. The guy has been looking for you for two hours now."

"What?" Oliver asked.

"Yah he has been running up and down the city, looking everywhere he can think of."

"I will do that right now." He pulled out his phone.

Laurel nodded and walked out of the house.

"Oh, man." He groaned.

"That was harsh." Thea told him. "You okay?" Thea asked.

"Sure." Oliver said. "Second time tonight that a friend of mine has taken me to the woodshed. Kinda tires you out."

"Yeah."

"Good night."

"Night." Thea told him.

When he got to his room he pulled his phone out. Dialing Tommy's number, he placed his phone to his ear, fully ready to get yelled at again.

"You son of a bitch." Tommy's voice came through. "Where the hell are you?"

"I just got home." Oliver told him.

He heard Tommy inhale deeply.

"But you're fine?"

"Yeah, and I would have gotten in contact with you a lot sooner if I had realized that you were looking for me."

"Well don't do it again, okay?"

"Okay." Oliver promised. "Where are you?"

"Well I was about to drive to your house, but now I don't see a need to now." Tommy grumbled and Oliver chuckled.

"Night Tommy."

"Good night Oliver."

—

Thea in turn, had gone to her room and opened the window. She sat on her bed, her knees pressed against her chest. Finally she heard footsteps against the side of the wall. Thea found herself smiling as she saw him.

She ran to him and pulled him into her embrace, and he chuckled.

"You miss me Speedy?" Tommy teased.