UGA Arc 2 Chapter 6 part 2: The Beginning

[adrini]

UGA Arc 2 Chapter 6 Part 2:
The Beginning

Jade jumped from the pillars over the Outreach as she heard the attackers ransacking inside. While it was a good thing the lockdown also sealed the information inside, the building was worse for wear. Reaching the end of the rafter, she used the rubble to run to the ground. Her husband was there looking over the wreckage.

"The training rooms. Exactly where I would have hit as well," he said as she walked over. "Anything else?"

"They tried to take out the culture hall and got a solid half of it. Di will be crushed. She brought most of that with her when she came back." He shook his head at the news as she gave it. "Any other news?"

"With the comms still down? Can't be. How much longer do you think she'll be?" Roy asked as the two made their way back to the sidewalk, passing by the hog tied goons waiting for the police to pick them up. "We can't do this without comms."

"It should have been done by now. We need to check out the tower, see what's going on there." The two went inside for the last of the ground troops. There were only a few thugs grabbing some art from the walls and other valuables. The outreach was meant to be ruined more then destroyed. It was something.

They walked in and several vandals spotted them. Two charged them while the others tried to run off with ill-gotten gains. Jade needed little more than the toxin in her nails to drop the two charging them and Roy took out the runners with a few well-placed arrows in the legs. The buildings weren't hard to clear.

"Art thieves, and they know what to grab," Jade said as they tied up these last remaining packages for pickup. "Someone tipped them off. Insurance records?"

"I'd bet on it. Someone needs to work on this dirty cop issue." Roy finished the last one and the two left to see what was going on at the Tower.

>--)->

"I could use some back up!" Kate said as she ran and leaped over the concrete, dodging several bullets. "They aren't letting up!"

"You too, huh?" The CEO was caught behind the next pillar and nursing a slight wound from a grazing bullet. "Any luck?"

A frag grenade flew into the area and the two knew to get behind the stone wall, even with the bullets in the air.

"Who are these assholes!?" Kate yelled into the chaos. She had been spared but there had been too many close calls.

A flurry of arrows flew through the air and a large cloud of dust filled the courtyard, both of the fighters were pulled away by familiar faces. It was a welcome sight.

"I leave you alone for two hours-" Diggle said as he looked at the wound and began dressing it. "You are never going to grow up."

"Hey, at least this time it's not over a girl," Oliver said looking at the chaos by the front gate. "That's progress."

"You know, it kinda is," Roy said, joining them. He was once again loading his bow, even if he had no idea when he was going to use it. "Not that he hasn't gotten a girl in trouble but he did make an honest woman out of her first. Remember that one time in Central City, with the Senator's daughter-"

"Thank you, sweetie, that's enough," Jade cut him off. "The building is surrounded and I wouldn't count on having much of an office after this, but then neither do we so it'll be fun for everyone."

"Glad mine wasn't set up yet." Batwoman was looking at the building. "I might have a plan, I saw this a few times in Haven. Tower Talons."

"Right, I forgot about that. I'll take the first assault. Cover us." Batwoman motioned for the others to take positions and quickly took a center spot, and filled Roy in.

Green Arrow and Red Arrow fired smoke arrows again but this time Red Arrow and Cheshire pressed on while Batwoman and Green Arrow ran to the back. In the fog it was easier. The mercs got lost as Cheshire danced and weaved her way through the fog, taking the men out by toxin unseen. Red Arrow jumped up to the overhead and took out troops while taking out anyone who got too close to his teammate.

The building was a mess. Whole areas were in rubble and computers and decorations had been removed or destroyed. The looters had targeted the glass and supports, as well as anything that might be of value. They ran into the main hall, the shops and stalls now a mess, and ducked behind a service desk as bullets started raining down on them again. This was going to be a long night.

“Just how far do we need to go?” Jade semi-screamed as they hid behind the small bench to be heard over the noise. “What are we after?”

“Top floor. Merlyn would be trying to bring the company down, that’s where he need to go,” Roy said. “There are two ways. They are taking the other one. We’ll see who gets there first.”

“What’s ours?” Jade asked, thankful the desk was metal.

“Back stairs. All fifty flights of them.”

<-(--<

The back entrance that they were running for was one that Kate actually knew about. One of the secrets in their back pocket was that Di’s father-in-law had tunnels put between the buildings and to the house, as well as other locations around the city. She had forgotten the entrance location. It hadn’t seemed important, but Oliver remembered.

He ran to an old rusted door and used a key to unlock it. Hurrying she helped and they got the rusted hinges to work. Inside the hallway was pitch black and they both flinched as the door slammed shut behind them.

“Light?” he asked simply.

“Light.” The simple light stick that every member of the bat team had was often the most useful tool on the belt. The hall way appeared and she saw paths going four different directions. “Which path, Romeo?”

“The left,” he said and they hurried to the under tunnels of the building. The passages were left over from the cold war era and Kate could see small rooms every so many feet as they ran, you really could put a population down here. “Anything on your end?”

“No, afraid not.” On this not even she could be terse. Di and the kids were trapped in the house, which had to be a target, and they were fighting this without backup. “Once this is done we should do back.”

“Already the plan,” Oliver said. The two didn’t get along terribly well but they were adult enough to focus on what needed to be done, and they both had a devotion to the currently out of commission Haven fighter. It was enough to work with.

The trap door led to the basement of the building and was heavier. Once again the two had to work together. There was a loud crash as the door opened and they climbed onto the basement floor. In the dim light they could see the room was ruined.

“What the hell?” Kate looked around, it looked like someone had broken into the china shop. “I thought this was an office building.”

“Company history museum.” Oliver walked over to back of the room and started moving debris from a corner.

A copper elevator appeared from under the rubble, and Oliver opened it and waved her over. It was tiny.

“Yeah, no.” She leaned on the wall. “Ship sailed, remember?”

“I’m not-“ he sighed in frustration. “It’s a working relic, not a come on.”

“Fine, but this place is weird.”

>--)->

“Girls, how are things down there?” Adrien asked over the intercom as the house sealed up. It didn’t take long for someone to respond.

“Um, okay,” Cissie spoke over the line. Adrien could hear Tommy and Gage screaming. “Safe but really not happy. How are you guys?”

Adrien looked around the room. Babs was helping Di to her feet. Getting out of the chair requiring help. The two then hurried to the wire board to look at the technical situation.

“Fine. If you hear any odd noises it’s us trying to reach the team.” Adrien could hear the other teens trying to calm down the infants. “Hold down the fort, gifts in the morning.”

“We will,” Cissie said, her throat catching. Her father was out there with the rest of the family.

“Okay, there’s a chance that I can get through,” Barbara said, reaching to the tool box she had brought with her. “Just need to reroute a few connections. Hold these to the side and I can start the holes.”

Adrien didn’t notice. She was too busy with the internal cameras that showed a number of trucks parking just outside the gates, but Di dropped the tools she had been working with and slowly sunk to the floor. Her eyes wide Barbara was with her, trying to hold her up.

“Nononononononono…,” Di said and held her stomach, curling into as much of a ball as she could. “Not now, please not now.”

“Miss Rivers!” Turning she saw that Di was on her knees, and clearly working through a contraction. Barbra was holding her hand but this wasn’t her league. “Help!”

Adrien helped Di through the rest of it and then waited a moment for her to calm down, she knew the woman wanted her husband but that wasn’t going to happen.

“How long now?’ she asked, helping her into a chair.

“I don’t know. The hicks started this morning, I didn’t think anything of it,” she moaned again. This one was stronger, longer. Babs was starting to panic. They rode it out. “Where was I?”

“This morning, dear,” she said and the woman nodded.

“With the ball and the battle coming-“ Di calmed down. “I was sure it was nerves, so I took a nap, tried a shower.”

“To the back room, let’s see what we have,” Adrien said, helping the woman to her feet for the short walk. “It’s fate, Ollie jumped us the same way. Born on vacation.”

“You’re kidding,” Di said dryly. “Bastard didn’t tell me.”

“Welcome to the family. Good news, it tends to go quickly," Adrien said then turned to Barbara. “Once we have this settled get a signal out. We need contact.”

Adrien motioned to Barbra and they helped the young woman into the back room. They knew who was claiming the cot. She didn’t even make it to the bed before she screamed and the room shook a little.

“I actually forgot about that for a moment,” Barbara said as a few items shook onto the floor. “This will be fun.”

>--)->

The last of the thugs were on the floor, but the office had been totaled. Roy carefully walked around the room and pulled photographs out of piles of broken wood and glass, if nothing else he and Oliver would want those.

The sound of screeching metal filled the room and soon after a knock could be heard from the back room of the office. Knowing what that meant Roy couldn’t help but laugh. Ollie and Kate were trying to untangle themselves in the old copper machine, neither really liking the company. Kate got out first, scowling a little.

“Very well done, kinda,” she said and walked over to Jade who was picking through the remains of the pictures she had taken with her husband and son. Kate walked over to the nearby desk and started picking up any pics of Di she could while Oliver started on the rest.

“Information was still sealed, but the computers are toast.” Roy thought he had the last of the pictures, and began to look around the room. “They might have a few expense reports.”

“We release those anyway,” Oliver said, but nodded. Suddenly the four looked up, their ear pieces starting to work.

He-is-at-‘re safe.  Barbra’s voice tried to come through but it wasn’t working quite yet.

“Batgirl, come in Batgirl,” Oliver said urgently, he was desperate for news. The others soon joined in, trying to make contact.

I thin- hat did it. The voice was a little stronger. Connect- bad. Update?

“We’re at the tower. It’s trashed but the boxes are still sealed,” Oliver said, neither of them knowing how much got through.

kay that-ks. Po-ce coming to-ow. Move to –weap-shop. Still –ing for –lyn.

“It’s a connection,” Roy said and the feed died out.

“She’ll get it to work. It can’t be long now,” Kate said as Jade slipped the pictures into the wall safe, examples of the very people they were trying to keep safe. Walking over Oliver carried his own, taking a moment to look at them before slipping them in with the others, Jade noticed him looking longest of all at the recent picture of his very pregnant wife. He was trying to be brave but she was worried too.

“So we need to secure weapons now?” Jade asked and the four walked to the door. Barbara had gotten the elevator to work, so at least that was something.

“We need to make sure Jax is okay,” Roy said. Oliver was already in the elevator holding the door open. “He can’t really defend himself.”

<-(--<

“Ted, stay down!” Bowstring yelled as the man darted between crates yet again. He had to believe he was bullet proof. The three of them were under fire and trying to make it away from the docks so they could help the other groups or at least make it back to the house and make contact. Those shooting at them seemed to prefer them divided.

Te-m 2. Co-in –eam 2.

The voice in the ear was broken, but welcome. Even Ted looked relieved at the sound of it. Bowstring was about to speak when Bowstring beat him to it.

“Team 2, this is team 2. How is home base?"

The bullets continued but the three stayed firmly behind the boxes, waiting. It took a while but the voice came back. It was more shaken.

Um Barbra said, this time much more clear. I think that worked. Interesting. Not bad, but interesting. That’s a good word. We think a few people are in the house. There’s a little ransacking but it’s mostly looking for something. We’re all holed up in the back tunnels anyway, so it’s hard to tell. Just glad I got through, they blocked us for a while.

“How do we stand, Babs,” Bowstring said as he heard an odd sound at the docks

We’re alive. the woman said. The outreach has been partly destroyed. The tower isn’t much better. The house is being ransacked. You know the docks. But we’re alive and checking in. Plus the fighting at the tower and outreach is over, so there’s progress.

He noticed that she hurried off the com but she had to be talking to a few other people and it didn’t bother him. Bravebow tapped him on the shoulder and they saw a man waving at the three, though he had no idea who he was. Ted did.

“This bastard,” the man grumbled before nodding to him.

“We should go.”

The two men dodged from crate to crate but noticed that none of the bullets were hitting them, instead veering away. They understood that Ted who was not happy to see the new player even as he knew that they would never get out otherwise.

“Who is this?” Bravebow asked, looking at the suited elderly man, he looked out of place.

“He means we’re in a hell of a lot deeper then we know.” Ted grumbled. “Go.”

They ran into the portal, no other way to describe it, with Ted hot on their heels. Looking back Bravebow saw the mercenaries storm the pier and destroy what they could. There wouldn’t be much to rebuild.

<-(--<

We lost the docks. Babs said as she looked at the feed, she had finally gotten them going again. They weren’t important or anything, right?

The army was sacking, burning or destroying much of the area, though they did look like they were going to stop there. It was a fairly major concern.

“Life center of the city, but due to be updated anyway,” Renee said dryly as she looked around the station. The paid off cops were thrilled, which worried her. “News?”

Everyone is okay. Damage to outreach and tower but both have been locked down, docks doomed. House has people in it but we’re locked away, for better or worse.

“How is that not a good thing?” Renee asked as she walked to the soda machine, to get away from curious ears.

Robby’s coming, quickly by the sound of it. Adrien says it’s going fine, which is good I guess but I’d rather she’d be at the hospital. Renee cursed. Of all the times this was the worst.

“Negative. Merlyn has his cops at the hospital in case one of us come in. She stays were she is.” It was Babs’s turn to curse now. “But we’re on it. Check in with the others. I’ll start the clean up here. You’ll get the signal.”

What do I tell Oliver? Babs asked, as Renee heard a scream in the background. I mean, normally I would obviously-

“Nothing, you tell him nothing until they are both here and safe,” Renee said firmly. “He has a city to save, and Adrien knows what she’s doing. He needs to focus.”

Fine, but if he gets pissed you get your ass kicked out of the house, it was your idea.

Hurrying to the office she closed the door, Anderson stood as he saw her.

“Alright, what’s happening,” he asked, worried.

“They took the dock, hurt the other targets and are in the house. But we need to move, now.” Anderson took a moment to take in the news. “They seem compliant, what do you think?”

“I think I’m tired of this, lets go.” He walked out of the room, Renee retreating to the back rooms. Anderson took his place in the front area and closed the glass. It began.

They called the good cops, the ones they knew hadn’t been bought off, into the rooms. The officers were confused at first but as they began to show and saw the others they understood. There were only the dozen or so, but it didn’t escape the notice of those still inside. It didn’t bother them either.

“So you know!” The black haired officer said, lounging on the desk. “What of it? This is our town now. Your little heroes are running scared. It’s over.”

The others laughed and celebrated. They were thrilled. It meant a payday for them, no matter what the other costs.
Renee got the text, “do it” and activated the earpiece. The screaming was there again. Robby wasn’t playing around.
“Pull it,” She said simply. Babs didn’t say anything but she heard frantic typing and saw a thick yellow gas filling the center room. The corrupt officers started coughing and falling on to the floor or desk, gasping for breath. Merlyn had started the game, but they had moves of their own.

Done, all numbers tracked and returned, and the files sent to the federal corruption board. Babs reported. Are they baked?

Anderson was in the room wearing a gas mask and checking to make sure they officers were out, but still alive. He gave a thumbs up and began gathering the phones and other electronics that they would need to track and undo the damage.

“Golden and perfect,” she said in reference to the golden sheen that had settled on to their skin from the settling gas. Anderson dumped the items in the evidence receiving tray and nodded, beginning to tie up the men. Renee pulled the tray in and she and the others started to frantically attach the devices to the hub.

I’m getting them now, keep going. Babs said over the line. We can bury them.

Renee and the four others worked as quickly as they could, and when they were done stood and looked over the room beyond. The bulk of the Blue of Star City rested there, covered in chemical dust and hog tied. Anderson and his team were lining them up against the wall and processing them so they could be taken to the cells and separated.

“We still have those applications?” One younger officer asked, breaking the silence. “We’re going to need new troops.”

“Nothing better to do,” Renee said, smiling a little at the young woman. It was the exact attitude this place needed. She had noticed that Star City natives didn't really do depression, they just tended to say 'well, that happened' before moving on to the next thing. The others grinned, realizing that this would mean they were done with the people who had been causing so much grief for all of them. “Break ‘em out, we’ll need about fifty or so.”

>--)->

They hadn’t been able to go any faster. The four of them had raced through the tunnels to the military wing as quickly as they could. Even if they had found a crate or cart it would have been too late. They knew this, understood this, but it hadn’t softened the blow. Merlyn had to get at least one of them.

Jax had been dead for some hours. He was a solitary man, loving their work and honored to help, but due to his severe health issues never able to join. Roy and Oliver helped the stiffening form into its chair again as Kate went to the computer and looked at the final files. Jade was grabbing a blanket to cover the form and give it some dignity.

“He told them nothing,” Kate said, as she looked at the final moments of the man’s life. “More than that, look.” Jade walked over and shook her head.

“What did he do?” Roy asked and joined, Jade nodded at the screen. “Oh man, Jax, we’re not worth it.”

“He thought you were.” Kate said as Oliver joined them. He had been made to put passwords into the machine before being shot. Passwords like ‘you suck’, ‘go to hell’, 'die in a fire', and ‘greatergood’. “Look at the last one.”

“My part to play.” Oliver said, just loudly enough for the others to hear. “Can we get though?”

“Babs, you there?” Roy said as he turned the ear piece on again, they call heard theirs turn on as well.

All clear team one. Glad you checked in. she said, clearly stressed. How far are you from downtown?

“Babs, they got Jax,” Roy said and the line went quiet. She was catching her breath.

I’ll see he’s picked up. She said after a time and returned to focus. I’m sorry. But you need to get downtown.

“What’s going on?” Oliver said and stood up. There was still more to do.

Oh boy. she said and they heard the kids in the background. I had to move to the Quiver and take up baby-sitting with Cissie. The people in the house were after the tunnels, and they found a few of them. The rest of the girls are taking care of it. It looks like a few grunts but we sent three just to be safe.

“Are they near Di?” the archer asked immediately. She would be in no condition to fight.

Nowhere near. She and Adrien are at the top office while I’m here. But you need to get downtown.

“What’s going on, Babs?” Kate leaned on the desk, mere inches from the former inventors body, and sighed.

Merlyn’s taken the shopping area hostage, he wants a one on one with Green Arrow to free them. I don’t think he’s kidding.

<-(--<

Ravager nodded just ahead at the moving shadows, easy to miss. Flanking left and right Speedy one and two moved into position along the connecting tunnels. She wasn’t worried about her or her teammates, they had been training just for this. But she did hate that she didn’t know who she was attacking in such tight quarters.

The blade slid easily into the wall, inches from her face. These were assassins, the kind that Shado talked about. Mia and Thea had already retreated into the hallway where the light was better, and she joined them. The shadow seemed to move as they watched. Then there was a sickening sound of blade entering flesh.

“These passages have the hint of death, I thought it may be acceptable to add to it,” said a soft male voice behind the falling forms. “I can see they are removed.”

Rose was lost, but Thea looked relieved. It was sign enough.

“There are more in the halls.” Mia said quickly. “They can’t find the others.”

Jansen nodded and smiled a little. Motioning for them to follow him.

“Then they won’t. There’s never a bad time for a lesson. What do you three know about misdirection?”

<-(--<

Appearing in an alley, Kate, Jade and Roy heard screams and cries from the street nearby. They shared a look before running to see what was going on.

The open shopping plaza, one of the most popular areas in the city, was full of terrified people who had likely gone out to grab last minute gifts. Instead they were being caged into the well-lit walkways by armed police and security tanks.

“This is impossible,” Red Arrow said. He could feel his eyes going wide. Standing next to him Cheshire and Batwoman did the same.

“It aint gonna fix itself,” said a gruff voice from a few feet away. Ted was there, wrapping his hands and getting ready for a fight. “We could use a canary right about now.”

Roy was lost. Di was in the house and well away from all of this. His wife and her friend, however, grinned. Ted only nodded and handed him a pack of earplugs while putting in his own.

“I got used to having the real thing,” Jade said as Kate threw her a bar and ball, and the two ran to the front of the line. The corrupt police saw them and grinned until they moved into action, Kate leaping and Jade popping behind them they rolled the two balls.

A sonic, screeching, area-filling scream echoed in the entry way. The police, no longer able to stand, knelt down and held their ears. Kate and Jade pulled out the sticks and pointed to the tanks. The tanks sparked and in some cases dented, broken.

Roy was shocked, having no idea they had those tools. Ted was grinning widely, his hands now fully wrapped. He nodded and they rushed in.

The fighters that preceded them had pulled away the weapons, dropping them down a storm drain to remove them from the battle. The men in the tanks were largely trapped by the warping of the metal, and the people in the Star City blues noticed one thing more. Their calls back to the station were going unanswered.

Normally Ted had the manic grin, and maybe Kate. But as they ran to take out the increasingly panicked officers all four were really looking forward to this.

<-(--<

It didn’t take long for Oliver to know where he was as the portal closed behind him. The lilacs were nearby, Dinah’s favorite garden herb. The round half circle bench was broken, the words now shattered in the tiles under it. Unless you knew them you could no longer make out the words. He knew them, and they gave him strength. The sound of a stretching bowstring told him where Merlyn was.

“When did you call the army?” said a stern, frustrated voice behind him. “Who took my men?”

“I can honestly say that I have no idea.” He turned to see the black hooded man. “The coms have been out all night.”

“What about the tower? They’re gone too.” Merlyn wasn’t happy. “And the station?”

Oliver just shrugged. He knew Merlyn’s people were in the house but not in the tunnels. He knew the others were protecting the shopping area and the people of Star City. The kids, Babs, Di and Robby were safe. He knew that Jax was dead. He knew they would spend most of the new year rebuilding, and he hoped he would survive the night. But he also knew that he would do what he needed to do to end this. His first job was keeping his family safe.

“Next you’re going to tell me your house is haunted,” the man sneered. “That my people there are hearing ghosts.”

“Well, that may well be the case,” Oliver said quickly. That didn’t surprise him. “The house is haunted, more spirits than people even on the busy days.”

“You’re serious,” Merlyn asked, looking at him. He only nodded, it was the truth. Several generations of specters lived there. He had grown up seeing most of them. “Good to know.”

“So I’m not going to take you in and go home, am I?” Oliver asked, knowing the answer.

“I have you, archer,” Merlyn said, drawing his bow. “I can still win.”

He fired one arrow in to the ground and smoke filled the air. In the fog arrow he fled at him, and he danced around the flying projectiles. Whoever was coming into town and cleaning up Merlyn’s leftovers wouldn’t know to return here. They would think it was already clean.

The black archer rushed out of the mist and he barely met his attack. They fought for some time, bow clashing, dodging arrows. Merlyn getting in a few hits with daggers but nothing that changed the battle, or so he thought.

“Added something just for you, little archer.” Merlyn saw that his foe was starting to weaken. “Used a contact to get some of that poison you’ve been using.”

It was working. His hands were going numb. He could feel the blood in his arms to fire. It took seconds to feel his legs shake and he fell to a knee, not quite able to stand. Merlyn was gloating, but if this was it there was one thing he had to do.

“I know the comms aren’t working, but this will record,” he said into the activated com. “I’m poisoned. One of the league’s. But I’ll fight. If I don’t make it back, well, you know. Keep them safe.”

Merlyn finished his cackling and started attacking again, relishing his victory. Oliver was able to block the worst of it but that was all he could do. His ear piece activated again.

RA and Cheshire are on the way. Adrien’s voice rang clear over the com. She has her antidotes with her. Hold on, GA.

He felt hope come back a little. The comms were up. Feeling started to come back again and he was able to block the next swing fully.

“Adrien, report.” He was sick, tired, and wanted news of his wife.

Hear for yourself. His mentor said and a moment later a loud, high pitched cry filled his ear. Instantly, he knew who it was. Everyone is tired, but well. They just need you. Not much longer, you can do this Dad.

He rose. He had to. He had a son, a family. A future with people at his side. Battles with his wife by his side. He would see Robby walk and talk, learn and grow. With any luck he would have his mother’s wit, but he would be there to see.
Drawing from new, raw strength he pushed himself to his feet.

Merlyn swung again but it was blocked, and deflected. The man hit himself in the face from sheer force with his own bow. When he charged again Oliver was already in form and he found himself pushed into the cracked stone wall, pushing the air from his chest.

Merlyn tried to rally, pushing himself away from the wall only to find an arrow through his shoulder, pinning him to the wall. A second one on the other side secured him more firmly.

“What-how? You’re poisoned!” Merlyn screamed, straining in pain as he tried to pull away again.

“It’ll pass. Strictly speaking I have one rule, and you’ve more than broken it. But you’re also helpless at the moment so I’m going to give you a chance to live so long as you shut the hell up.” Merlyn saw the glint in his eye and stopped struggling. He meant it.

Even with the rush he was using the green archer was still feeling weak by the time he heard the motor cycles arrive. Rushing over Roy and Jade saw Merlyn pinned to the wall, out cold. Not far they saw Oliver leaning against the wall with his head down.

“Come on, old man. Don’t do this to us.” Roy rushed to find that his friend was awake, but pale. Jade’s breath caught and she checked the archer’s finger tips and veins to try to guess the poison that was used.

“Dragonbreath,” she said to herself and quickly opened a pouch. She pulled Oliver’s sleeve up and scratched a few lines of a fine green liquid into his blood. “Should be about half an hour, but we aren’t too late.”

“What news?” he said as Roy and Jade pulled him to his feet and made their way over to the bikes.

“Just cleanup now,” Roy filled him in. “But there’s going to be a lot of it. House is a wreck, but we pulled it off.”

“I know,” Oliver said as Roy climbed onto the bike and Jade help his friend securely hold on for the ride home. “She did it. I need to go home.”

“That’s the plan. There’s a federal commissioner raining hell right now on all the bastards behind this. I don’t want to get caught in the cross-hairs,” Jade said as she got on the second bike and they raced to avoid the confrontation.

<-(--<

The front doors had been torn open and damaged. The hall was destroyed. Tables knocked over, pictures torn from the walls, items broken.

Walking into the remains of home, Thea, Mia and Rose looked around in horror. Nearby Cissie was standing next to her parents looking at the wreckage. Diggle, Ted and Bravebow were wandering the rooms to take stock of what had been done. In the combo room Chief Anderson and his wife, Renee and Kate were already filling garbage bags and putting still working furniture back into place. Sounds could be heard from the kitchen where the four were fixing the cabinets, mending what could be saved and trying to start some kind of meal for the small army now on its way home.

“It’s actually okay,” Diggle was saying as the three came back into the room, Ted making a trip to the kitchen to grab bags. “Moira always hated that china set. She’s probably glad that it’s gone.”

“Isn’t that always the case?” Bravebow said, laughing. “My tribe got me the most terrible pen set after I took over. Never used it.”

“This place is destroyed.” Thea was leaning on Mia and crying. The blonde was still taking in the sight of the home that had taken her in in such a state.

“Just changed up a bit,” Ted said, actually settled. He liked chaos. He was carrying a box of bags and actually seemed at home. “You lot will buy all new shiny things and make it nice again. Just have to clear out the old.”

“I’m putting the trash by the gardens for now,” Kate said as she appeared. “This is going to take a while. They settled up stairs?”

“Yep!” Barbra was carry three full bags of trash from the security room and the room where the new Mom was being settled with the newest arrival. “Everyone settled in and happy. Don’t open the bags though, kinda gross.”

“But it’s over, and we’re safe.” Digs pulled Thea into a hug to calm the girl down. “Ted is right, we just need to rebuild. It’ll be fine.”

Adrien stood at the top of the stairs and looked at the crew below. Bags were being handed out. The brooms were in use and it was looking better already. All that was missing was the sound of the motorbike from just outside, and the people it meant.

Jade rushed into the house and quickly scanned the room, counting heads. Finding everyone there she ran to Kate and grabbed a hug of her own.

“How are they?” she asked as the young kids weren’t there.

“Out, they crashed after the excitement. I’ll show you,” Kate said and led her to the room Gage and Tommy were sleeping in.

“Adrien!” She smiled at the demanding tone. Roy was close behind, Oliver leaning on him as his strength came back. “Get this man to his wife and kid or he’ll drive me insane.”

Blood soaked and pale Oliver was in the remains of his old uniform. It would need to be replaced. On entering Thea pulled away from Digs and threw herself into her brother, crying again. Mia wasn’t far behind.

“I’m fine. How is she?” He asked and held both of the girls close. “No medical emergency? We can go now if we have to.”

“It was textbook. She’s fine,” Digs said, grabbing a hug of his own. “They’re sending a nurse when they can. Couldn’t save the house though.”

“It’s just things. We’ll get new ones.” Oliver dismissed the loss without thought. Thea had fought for her spot back. “Some things can’t be replaced.”

Thea nodded and latched on, burying her face in his neck.

After a few moments he pulled back and wiped away some of his blood from her face.

“I’ll be right back. Just keep cleaning here, okay?” he asked and she nodded, looking happier.

Climbing the stairs he stopped at the door, Adrien beaming at him and motioning for him to go on.

“He’s beautiful, and she did a great job getting him here,” the woman said. “But she’s been asking for you every five minutes. She didn’t like that message you left very much.”

“I didn’t like leaving it,” he said, grabbing the handle. “But I look forward to fighting about it.”

Opening the door he saw that the room was far emptier then it had been when he left. It had been ransacked just like the others. But the bed was there, with new blankets to replace the ones he assumed he wouldn’t see again.

Curled on her side away from him Di was talking and laughing softly to a being just out of sight. She was showered, safe, and happy. He could feel a great weight lift from him and knew he was smiling. He walked over to see that she was congratulating their new son on his first burp.

“Promising, very promising. But you’ll have to really work on it to beat your Dad and chances are you’ll never quite top your Uncle Digs,” she was telling the new, tiny being. “But stick with me kid, we’ll do what we can.”

“When it comes to post-brew belching I’d put you over Digs any day,” he said and she looked up, having missed him entirely.

“You! I’m bleeding my ass out after getting your son in the world and you have the nerve to-“ she said before he rushed over and claimed the kiss to fully convince himself she was real. She didn’t fight it.

“I’m sorry. I was scared. I didn’t think I would see you again,” He said after. “Thank you.”

“You are never getting rid of me,” she said, but she was too tired to be angry. “And it's fine, he’s perfect.”

Asking permission, which was happily granted, Oliver washed his hands before picking up the hour old bundle. Two clear blue eyes looked at him from an impossibly tiny form, trying to memorize his features. He could swear they already had a spark in them.

“His birth weight isn’t what I wanted it to be, but it’s in the recommended range. Nurse is coming with the tests and shots when one can be spared, there are people who need help more right now. We got lucky, after everything,” Di said, smiling at the sight of the two of them. Taking a picture in her own mind. “You approve?”

“Yes,” Oliver said, laughing in relief. “He’s amazing. Thank you.”

She pulled herself out of bed, still in maternity nightwear, and put Robby in the side crib while Oliver grabbed a quick shower. After they both looked at the sleeping infant as she treated and closed his wounds, there were more of them then she liked.

“How bad is it out there?” Di asked as she put gel and a wrap on an abrasion.

“Bad. We’ll be rebuilding for a while,” he smiled as Robby gave a mighty yawn and fell into a deeper sleep. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“We’re not having another one for a while,” she said seriously, before grinning softly at the yawn herself. “It’s really not fun, but he’s kinda cool. How close was it?”

“Close, too close.” His whole right arm alone was all cuts and stabs. It didn’t look good. Di nodded and soon started crying, quickly turning to sobs.

“Sorry, stupid hormones.” She tried to regain control.

“I know.” He pulled her close, and she clung for a moment. Or maybe he did, it was hard to tell.

It took time, but they finished dressing his wounds and after making sure that Robby was resting climbed into bed, both exhausted.

“Next time I go with you,” Oliver heard his wife say as he fell into sleep, his family safe.

“Please.”

<-(--<

Jim had been pulled moments after landing the in city to head a small army of federal officers. In what felt like being in Gotham again he arrived at several locations only to find that the local band of heroes had done the work for him as usual. Also like Gotham he found out why; like home this place had a police force that was almost as rotten.

It was three days after Christmas when he finally got off the job, and he felt like he had booked half the city. Driving up to Queen Manor he saw open metal gates that he also had seen before. Babs had a type. Inside would be dark surroundings, brooding people and twisted relationships. At least he would feel at home.

The door, when we got to it, was held together by duct tape – yellow and green striped duct tape. He knocked and a moment later heard heavy footsteps rushing.

“One minute,” said a happy voice, laughing. “We have to have a system till they come to fix this thing.”

Before long a tall, thin man in thick glasses pulled the door open with the help of a few others – a couple teens.

“Merry Christmas!” the teens said cheerfully, grabbing him by the arms and pulling him to a side room. He couldn’t help but grin a bit.

“James Gordan, right?” A strong looking black man in a terrible holiday sweater asked with a grin on his face. “Glad you made it, are you hungry?”

“I can eat,” Jim said, looking around. The house was just as large but, and he was almost shocked, nice. Large, open windows, warm colored wood and lots of pale welcoming green filled the place. It did look a little empty.

It was another world. He could hear a young kid bugging his mom to open a gift, the teens had run back into a side room and he could hear them trying to decide what package to open next. A good number of people were talking in the same place, most of them dealing with kids or laughing. He was not used to this.

He was led to the room where a host of people were gathered in various seats around a tree that had clearly been put back together - he could see more duct-tape. Under were an ungodly number of packages being handed out as plates of sweets and drinks were passed around. In all this he saw Babs, sitting next to a blond couple and excitedly making faces at a very young infant. Maybe this was the right place for her to go.

“You walking yet kiddo?” He asked and she looked up, beaming. Watching her hand the child back to the woman he suddenly remembered it was her school friend from years before. She jumped over piles of gifts and ran over to him.

“Not dancing, but yes.” She hadn’t smiled like this in ages. He was starting to like this place. She jumped him with a large hug and held him close. Something he returned, glad to see her well. “This is well, everyone. Comon’ I got you a few things.”

“I brought gifts in the car,” He said as a red haired man pulled over chairs for them. The same three rushed to open the door again to get them.

“More presents!” The now grown Di said, looking at the infant. He remembered those first days, and grinned at the sight of her husband gingerly take the form. “You’ll fit right in.”

“This one is from me.” Babs said, handing two over. “And the one under is from the Queens. Go on, open them.”