You are the Vigilante

Chapter 8 - Girl power

Chapter 8 - Girl power 

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"I'll be happy for you, Felicity, but I really won't need to hear about it." Thea spoke with genuine warmth and gently hugged Felicity. Since their heated discussion when Thea first found out about Team Arrow, Thea had realized just how true her original accusation was - Felicity did love the Arrow. Thea appreciated just how much Felicity protected her brother but ever more importantly, Thea also knew she made him happy.  

"Now open the door please since no one has seen fit to share the super-secret clubhouse password with me." Thea pouted easily to ease Felicity's tension. 

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Realizing they were at the cave's entrance Felicity quickly entered the code and admonished Thea with a quick demand. "Behave yourself Thea!"  

As Thea's expression changed to one of exaggerated innocence, Felicity couldn't help but chuckle a bit at the girl's antics herself. She had warmed considerably to Thea and had learned to accept her sarcasm and teasing as such even if she felt uncomfortable when Thea teased her about Oliver. 

Diggle was reviewing some file info and looked up at the girls' entrance. Noticing Felicity's still pink cheeks and Thea's teasing grin, he couldn't resist speaking up. "Hey, Thea. What's so funny?" 

"Just chatting with Ollie's work wife, John!" Thea replied in amusement as she gave Roy a hug and quick kiss. 

"Work wife?" Diggle repeated before laughing with Thea. 

"Okay, can we get to work and, oh I don't know, maybe catch some bad guys?" Felicity wasn't quite as amused and desperately didn't want the two to gang up as she couldn't imagine what Thea could do with all the blackmail worthy material John had on her. Not to mention, Oliver didn't look like he appreciated his sister's humor either as he had frowned and moved closer to the group. 

Thea was still smiling as she took a seat next to Felicity and spoke again. "Reporting for duty on Team Arrow, ma'am. What's my assignment?" 

Issuing a long suffering sigh, Felicity plopped several files down loudly in front of Thea. "Funny girl - I may forget that you helped me figure this out." Felicity turned to her computers to open a couple files so all screens filled with information. "Okay, look - these are our currently missing kids. These are the other four sets the FBI feel are connected." 

All four looked but there were no light bulb moments of understanding. They did exchange a few looks among themselves and understood that Felicity was alone in her thought process. 

"Felicity, I don't see how this helps us." Oliver growled. 

"I'd like to buy a vowel please." Thea added. 

"What? Okay, let's try this again. We followed the FBI program and it focused on the teens as either a hostile gang or cult like thing. We've been trying to connect all the pieces of the puzzle but we started with that incorrect assumption." The others remained lost as Felicity rearranged the pictures of the kids and then turned again to continue her explanation.  

"Jack Cooper - captain of the team type of guy right? Why would you take him...unless you needed a captain of the team!" 

Diggle now joined Felicity's thought process. "So you think instead of one group of kids in each city, we have at least two groups?" 

"Yes, look how things match up, with just a little tweaking of the FBI program-" Felicity's excitement was obvious but Thea still interrupted her.