Facing the Music. With need2speed, chloeas, and mirrorsmirk.

[dl_greenarrow]

The trip from Kansas to Missouri had taken a little over an hour, and thanks to the very high tech GPS tracking system in Chloe's laptop, it had only taken forty minutes to drive from the airport through St. Louis evening traffic to the motel where Michael and Mia were staying

Comments

[chloeas]

Chloe had wanted to bring Emil along, unfortunately, he still worked at Metropolis General and was in the middle of a surgery when she tried to contact him, so they left without a doctor.

She had left the laptop and things in the car and was empty-handed as they waited for Mia to open the door, any and all hurt feelings she had had when she first found out about where Mia really was had been replaced by worry and anxiety.

Once they were back and they could be sure that Michael and Mia were both okay, she would think about it again.

[need2speed]

Mia stirred from where she'd been curled up beside Michael at the sound of the knock. Cautiously, she peeked through the security lens in the door before opening it with a half-guilty, half-relieved expression.

"Hey," she said. "That was fast."

[mirrorsmirk]

Michael stirred a little when Mia left his side, the absence of warmth causing him to shift, but he didn't awaken beyond that.

[dl_greenarrow]

Oliver met Mia's eyes for a brief moment before he looked past her to the unconscious form on the bed. "How's he doing?" His voice was quiet.

[dl_greenarrow]

Oliver smirked a little involuntarily at his remark about the apartment. Good luck with that one, he thought, glancing first at Chloe, then at Mia.

[chloeas]

"You're coming back to the Watchtower," Chloe told him firmly, not leaving room for discussion as she looked from Michael to Oliver and raised one eyebrow at the expression on his face.

[need2speed]

"You're not letting me take the rap all by myself," Mia teased, reaching down to take Michael's hand. "We're all headed to Watchtower whether you like it or not."

[mirrorsmirk]

Michael's hand tightened around hers, but he still rolled his eyes. "You guys are just...too cautious. I'm fine." And to prove his point, he attempted to sit up.

[dl_greenarrow]

Oliver gave Michael a pointed look. "You really want to goad her right now under the circumstances?" he asked sharply. "You should probably plead the fifth for the time being and focus on getting to the car."

[chloeas]

Chloe ignored Michael's comment and took a deep breath, picking up one of the bags Mia had already closed and turned to the younger girl, "I'll go unlock the car."

[need2speed]

"Okay," Mia agreed quickly, having jumped at little despite herself at Oliver's sharp tone. She slung the other bag over her shoulder and picked up her bow and quiver before scurrying out after Chloe with one nervous look back at Oliver and Michael.

[mirrorsmirk]

Michael fixed Oliver with a glare at his sharp tone, then proceeded to push the other man away with a small wince that he tried to hide. "I don't need your help."

With great effort, he managed to get the world to stay in one place and started walking forward, straightening as much as he could to keep Oliver away from him.

[dl_greenarrow]

Oliver drew in a breath and slid into the driver's seat, rubbing a hand over his face as he climbed in behind the wheel. He glanced at Chloe sideways as she slid into the passenger seat a moment later, then started the car before reaching out and lacing their fingers together.

[chloeas]

She glanced at him and took a deep breath too, squeezing his hand then leaning back her seat, it was going to be a long trip back.

[need2speed]

Mia curled in her own seat in the back, making herself small and quiet and unassuming. A small target.

[mirrorsmirk]

Michael stayed silent the whole ride to the airport. Partly because he was bitter at Oliver and partly because it was taking all his energy to remain conscious. If they were going to get yelled at for the stunt they pulled, he'd rather get it over with now than wait until they were back home. An awkward trip was something he didn't really want to deal with.

[dl_greenarrow]

Oliver watched as the younger two members of their little group headed toward his jet. He glanced at Chloe, sighing softly and raking a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry," he murmured.

[chloeas]

Frowning slightly Chloe turned to look at him and shook her head, reaching over and rubbing a hand over her arm before giving it a soft squeeze, "you have nothing to apologize for, Ollie."

[need2speed]

"I invited myself on this trip," Mia replied, speaking lowly as they walked up the ramp leading into Queen Industries private jet. "And I'm the one that lied about it. So if I'm getting kicked out, it's my own fault."

[mirrorsmirk]

"But I let you come. You're not going to get kicked out," Michael all but collapsed on the nearest couch inside the jet, sweat trickling down the side of his face from the effort to stay awake. "If anything, Ollie's going to tell me to stay away, you don't need my hunting crap to complicate your lives more."