Post by adrini on May 5, 2013 14:04:59 GMT -5
With special thanks to Watcher for the cross over integration.
“-twenty-three suits of various styles in there Ollie, you do not need another one for a twenty minute ceremony.” Thea heard Dinah say as she walked up to the door to see what her brother and soon to be sister were up to before she brought up her idea for the following weekend.
Following the bombshell news of their engagement a week ago the two had quickly decided that the more they let the process drag on the more it would turn into a massive event involving half of Star City that they had no interest in. The same had happened to her and Oliver’s parents in part due to their well meaning grandparents. There were wispers of other reasons for the speed, but everyone in the family knew the story and wasn’t all that surprised. Neither Ollie or Dinah were known for their patience anyway.
Dinah had found a simple green dress from her previous shopping trip and it seemed that her brother was going to use a suit he already owned. The whole nine person affair was being catered by the same Italian house they called for pick up regularly, Dinah had been a huge fan of the place while she lived in Star City before and was thrilled to have it back. The rest of the house would never pass up a chance to order from there and jumped on the chance. Only Thea needed a new dress, and that was mostly due to her recent growth spurt. She had ordered it online that morning and it was expected within three business days. The only thing holding them back was that the minister was busy for the next month and a half, and the delay was driving them nuts even with the soonest possible date.
Thea slowly looked around the corner to see the dress and chosen suit already being moved to their own area of the closet. Ollie was sitting on the bed with a list in workout sweats and a tee.
“We can’t get the license any sooner then two weeks prior but getting it won’t take more then a few minutes, I’ll make the appointment when I’m on the phone at work anyway. That just leaves contacting your New York friends.” He still wore a look of delighted disbelief, it was cute.
Thea knocked on the door and smiled as her brother patted the space next to him on the bed. Sitting next to him she looked over the list, they had the basic stuff covered and weren’t bothering with the rest. It was like they just wanted to get married.
“It’s likely Uncle Ted only, I think the others are busy. I’ll make phone calls tonight so we can get the final head count either way. Hey Thea, anything you think we need on there?” This was the first day they had to really get the planning done, as explanations and congratulations had eaten Sunday and the work week was harder and longer then ever with the corruption investigation heating up and the feds getting more involved. Still the news was good, there had been several breaks and a number of arrests.
Thea looked it over one more time and grinned, one key thing was missing. “Cake! It’s not a wedding without cake.”
Ollie laughed and put the item on the list. “What you mean is it’s a crime to pass up cake when you have the chance to get it. Any kind you want in particular?” He looked at his sister knowing her response.
There was only one real option. “White chocolate raspberry.”
Ollie nodded, noting to order it ASAP, while Dinah smiled.
“We’ll go with that, it just sounds tasty.” She said.
Dinah had sat on Ollie’s other side and was looking at the list herself. “I think we have everything. I just need to grab Mom’s wedding jewelry from storage and I’m solid. Did you order the rings?”
The emerald engagement ring she already had but Oliver was in charge of ordering the simple white gold bands for the ceremony.
“Visited the jewelers yesterday after work. They’ll be ready for pick up next week.”
Thea smiled and pulled out the flyer in her back pocket. “Since the wedding is practically planned I <i> propose</i> a break. This coming Saturday at Shirwood park they are holding the annual Star City Renn Faire. Where <i>someone</i> will have to defend his title of undefeated champion to two new archers if he wants to keep it.” She laughed at her brother’s shocked expression.
Dinah laughed and put the list on the side table. “Sounds like we have to go, my Sweet.”
Oliver’s face had broken into an open laugh. “Traitors in my own house. Defend my title I shall.”
>--)->
[/b][/color]Diggle hung up the phone with a grimace and clenched his fists. The Master from the midnight meeting had gotten Adrien some new intelligence, not a bad thing but the nature of the information was infuriating. As much as he knew he had done the right thing all those years ago he still hated that was it catching up with them now.
Roy was bringing dishes from his room downstairs when Diggle waved him over and told him to get ready for a midnight meeting at Jax's office. He hurried off to tell Thea.
Diggle walked up stairs and felt his tensions ease as he approached the lovebird's door. The whole house had been fighting one shadow or another for the past year, it was nice to have genuine happiness once again. It helped everyone's mood.
He pushed the door open slightly to find Ollie and Dinah huddled around the computer screen talking to a young woman with pale skin and all the looks of a fifties’ pinup model. Albeit, in her current condition, she seemed strained and flushed and yet, somehow, that beauty still managed to shine off the screen.
“Can’t say I know how to get in contact with him,” the woman was saying as she pushed a stray strand of red hair from across her eyes. “I’m not even in Jersey, let alone Blüdhaven, myself.”
“Wait… you’re not in ‘Haven?” exclaimed a surprised Dinah. “That’s unusual. You love that hellhole, Candy.”
Something crossed the woman’s face that Diggle couldn’t quite explain from him his vantage point. “Di… you really have been off the grid. Do you pay attention to the news at all? It’s positively chaos there and understandably not so good for me.”
Oliver and Dinah exchanged a shared glance looking for answers in the other. Diggle sighed. There was such a thing as being too oblivious and lovebirds tended to embody that trait. But he figured Oliver at least would have known given all his family’s investments. And yet, Diggle had to amend, the media had their focuses on other things at the moment besides the fact Blüdhaven and Gotham were burning.
“I’m sorry to hear that. I have a contact in the area. I’ll see what I can do to help.” Oliver finally noticed Diggle by the door and gave a small nudge of the head for him to finish entering. That was fine; the meeting could wait until they finished their personal matters. “I assume that means you can’t make it, we completely understand.”
“In my state?” the woman chuckled but there was no mirth behind it. “Really not looking forward to hearing ‘You’re positively glowing’ every ten seconds and being asked ‘may I touch’ or worse, not being asked.” She met Dinah’s gaze from across the country. “I’ll see what I can do… Both in making it out there and in telling Uncle Ted.”
Dinah smiled softly at the screen. Diggle could see regret on her face. “Please, don’t strain yourself on account of us. Just take care of yourself. Be healthy.” She said, Diggle could see a second unspoken message. I’m sorry I wasn’t there.
“You too and congrats,” the woman once again spoke with false happiness and a unspoken message of her own. No, you weren’t.
“Con—“ the video ended before Dinah could finish.
There was silence in the room as all three continued to stare at the screen. A bit of the joy and merriment seemed to have went away along with the beauty. Worry lines crossed Dinah’s face, and there was guilt in her eyes. Oliver frowned, his brow furrowed in thought.
Part of Diggle’s job was to know when to keep quiet. Another part of it was to know what was going on so he could react accordingly. It took some thinking on his behalf before he could figure out the best course of action in this case; the meeting, ask what it was about, or stay quiet. He elected to do the second.
“What was that all about?”
“One of Dinah’s friends,” answered Oliver, “Katherine Kane.”
“Wasn’t she the one who broke your arm a few years back?” Diggle asked with a quirk of an eyebrow.
“Fractured my wrist,” Oliver amended before turning a wry smile on his bride-to-be. “It was back during my wild days. I swear nothing happened.”
“I’m quite aware nothing could possibly have happened, you’re not her type.” Just that look from Oliver managed to cheer her up slightly. “But to answer your question, Dig… I can’t get a hold of my Uncle Ted. Tried his gym, his cell, even his emergency contact but all were disconnected. I thought Kate might know what happened since she lives, well lived, in the area.”
“Ah.”
Diggle thought about that for a few moments. Given how much she spoke about her Uncle and what happened to her father, the wedding plans were not off to a good start. He’d have to give a call in to his own contacts to see what was up. He was about to say as much when his phone rang. Holding up a finger to silently apologize and frowning at the unusual name showed across the screen, he took a step out of the room to answer.
When he returned, it was just as quickly. He was confused. He didn’t like that feeling. The person on the other end knew too much. More than should have been possible. Diggle held the phone out towards Dinah. “It’s for you.”
Just as confused, she took it. Without hesitation.
Oliver got close to Diggle and hissed, “What’s going on?”
“Seems Kane is quick… at least I hope this her doing. Otherwise we might have a larger problem on our hands.”
“Ollie,” Dinah silently pleaded with him after a moment, covering the speaker. “I can get Uncle Ted but I need a favor, no questions. Well-” she cocked her head to the side. “Within some reason. Nothing I can’t handle if it needs to be negoated.”
The heir to the Queen fortune only needed her to look at him that way before Diggle knew the decision had already been made. “Absolutely.”
“He will… yes… thank you.” Dinah returned to the call. She shortly ended the call and immediately began dialing in a new number.
“Hi, do you have Jay Elliot present?” She said carefully a few moments later.
There was a strained silence as the trio waited for an answer. Both Diggle and his boss had no clue what was going on or why. Even when measured against the other unusual things the family had been facing, this was setting a new bar. What was somewhat disconcerting was how easily Dinah seemed to switch to some other gear and take it as business as usual.
“Uncle Ted!” Dinah practically cried in a few seconds. “I’ve been trying to get in touch with you… Yeah, I noticed. ..Everything okay?”
Diggle didn’t need to hear the reply to know that it was a lie but for now, Dinah accepted it.
“That’s good then… Anyways I needed to get a hold of you because I’m getting married.”
Both men heard the yell of ‘what’ and the following ‘to who.”
“Oliver Queen… Yes, that Oliver Queen,” despite the worry across her face, Dinah still possessed enough finesse, and visible determination, to lay it on thick enough to get to the bottom of things. “I want you to give me away, it can’t be anyone else.”
There was a long silence. Longer than Dinah cared to admit. Longer then Oliver could wait and Diggle had to stop him from going to her. He saw what she was trying to do. It would be impossible for ‘Uncle Ted’ to hide what was going on when she had him here in person.
“You will? It’s in… Okay do you need… See you soon. I love you…” seems like this ‘Uncle Ted’ didn’t need her to finish any statement or even sentiment judging by her reaction when she put down the phone. “… Uncle Ted,” she said to herself.
Oliver was holding her even before she had nearly dropped the phone. She leaned into him and for the moment, Diggle considered saying to hell with the meeting and to let them have this. But he couldn’t, no matter how much he wanted to. They’d have to get used to these sorts of things sooner rather than later.
“He didn’t call me Little Bird,” Dinah mumbled into Oliver’s chest. “He tried but he couldn’t. He always calls me that. Always.”
>--)->
[/b][/color]Adrien looked at the subdued crowd that entered the meeting room in the back of Jax’s office. While Jax was busy greeting them with coffee she pulled out the files and recordings that would full the evenings meeting.
There was one folder she was unsure about, however.
She looked up as the young Ms. Lance accepted a mug of coffee from Oliver. He seemed even more protective of her then normal, it saddened her. They had both been through enough.
Oliver had been beyond recognition when she recovered him, half mercenary. It took over a year for the young man to regain a form they knew. The torture of his absence lead to the daily reminder of how lost he still was. Some part of him still was, until the young miss Lance showed up. She walked over to the table and leaned over Dinah’s chair.
“Could I have a word quickly.” She said softly.
Dinah looked up from adding the suger to her coffee with a somewhat resigned expression. Ollie looked between the women and stood up, protective as ever.
“We’ll be right there.” He said and moved for his fiancee’ to stand as well.
Dinah smiled and looked at , Adrien knew better then to expect a private conversation. They followed Adrien into the small conferance room in the far back and took the offered chairs.
“I think you know what this is about.” She said putting the file on the table after closing the door.
Dinah nodded calmly. “I knew I couldn’t run forever. Thank you for talking about this privately, though.” Oliver looked at her for permission, which she gave with a nod, and he grabbed the folder.
Oliver opened the folder and lay it between them and the two looked at the clippings and pictures. She scanned his face, reading what he knew. He was filling in holes as he read, Oliver had found someone to confide in.
"I'm making sure we're on the same page, just to manage risk." She said and they nodded. "You met at the outreach program, prior to that you went off the grid for three months. In Bludhaven you worked for Kate Cain as a personal assistant. What?"
"You know exactly her type, don't you?" Oliver asked his mate, laughing. Dinah smirked.
"Private joke." Adrien chuckled. "While there you part of the Birds, as Black Canary. Seems Oliver found you after all. I do want to offer my condolences for your mother, again." Oliver looked confused.
"She was at my Mother's service. Covered the cost of the viewing for us, here in town." Di nodded sadly.
"You didn't tell me?" Oliver looked at his advisor.
"You want to attend every funeral the company is tied to?" Adrien looked at him over her glasses. "I thought not. That missing time makes me nervous, care to fill me in?"
Dinah bit her lip and looked at the floor, Oliver grabbed her hand and looked at Adrien, shaking his head. "Later, not yet." He said softly.
"Fair enough. When you're ready. We need to get back to the mission." Aerie stood up and gave the woman a light hug when she stood up as well. "We'll keep you safe here, whatever happened."
Di nodded as Oliver pulled her back into the main room.
"Now then, Fort Franklin. Central Alabama, paramilitary compound, fully developed. Additional intel incoming, you'll have it on arrival. Goal is to neutralize the threat and contain the inhabitants. Starting questions?" Adrien said as she walked in sat down, Thea and Roy looking at the couple as they sat down as well.
"Ya, I have one." Roy leaned forward. "Why are we doing this, exactly?"
"The second point. Charles Gaynor, camp leader." Adrien stood up and clicked to the next slide. "He's planned attacks on the main Queen building, the outreach, the export docks in the haven and our R and D lab downtown. These include, by the way, hits on each of us here."
"Wait, what did we do?" Thea looked at her brother, Oliver shrugged. The room had gone quiet.
"To them we did nothing, they are being paid by a local source, which I am very close to uncovering now." The Vice President replied. "Gaynor has bought off the local officials, which means we have to take of this one ourselves. Once the compound is secure we send the evidence to our federal contact who will find the local leaders in the same base they swore they knew nothing about."
"A lock down. I know how to do that." Dinah nodded. "I'll need access to the lab, though."
"You already have it." Her fiancé pointed to the card on her lanyard. "I'll make an appointment for tomorrow."