The Promised Phone Call

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It has been a long day. He's been on and off the phone for most of it, and he thinks he's probably heard every variation of "You just missed her, Ollie" and "She's not here right now" that exist. Not to mention her machine. Twice

Comments

At The Restaurant

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Things were lucky for once. Ollie got here at quarter to eight, and has been sitting at the table fidgeting ever since. Finally, he sees Dinah walk in, and waves her over to the table.

He begins to get up and greet her "properly", but holds himself down.

Re: At The Restaurant

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She's dressed as conservatively as she ever gets. She might as well be attending a casual business meal. "Hey." Her smile is friendly, but not too friendly, and she seats herself. "Had a look at the menu yet? The portabello chili's not bad."

Re: At The Restaurant

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I was eyeing it, actually. Connor's been after me to try new recipes.

Actually, Connor's been after me to cook something besides chili, but I'm taking small steps.

Re: At The Restaurant

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"How is Connor?" She opens the menu and begins studying it, not looking at him. "I talked to Roy not too long ago--I'd gotten a few things for Lian."

Re: At The Restaurant

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If he didn't mention anything, it was probably before we left. I can't imagine the boy not taking the chance to tear a strip off me to anyone right now.

Connor's been doing okay, as far as I can tell. We haven't talked a lot lately. I started planning for this operation right after he and Roy got in from that road trip they were on. His right wrist is broken, but it should be okay.

Before I explain all about that, there's some things I need to say.

Re: At The Restaurant

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She doesn't look up at first, but then she closes the menu and sets it back on the table. "I'm listening."

Re: At The Restaurant

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First off, I miss you. I've been missing you since I left your apartment that night. I put my foot in my mouth. And...but nevermind that, for now.

Catalina Reyes and I never had anything going. Not for lack of trying on her part. But I wasn't interested in screwing up whatever we had left, and then once you made it clear...

He's looking down at his place setting.

I wasn't interested in replacing you. She offered. I was tempted, I'm not going to say I wasn't. But I didn't want it to get all messed up.

I'm not expecting you to...I just want you to know where I stand. And I want you to know it before you hear the story of how I screwed up, so you don't come to the wrong conclusion.

Re: At The Restaurant

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She picks up her glass and sips some water. "Okay. I'm still listening. Definitely not arguing with you about you putting your foot in your mouth."

Re: At The Restaurant

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Turns out that Catalina wasn't from Spain, like she claimed. She's the daughter of the former President of a little banana republic named Costa Linda. A real idealist, did a lot for his people. President Reyes got himself thrown in a gulag by the current head of the government, a tin-plated generalissimo named Fuentes. Fuentes handed the place over to the druglords, and taxed the people half to death.

She told me all this when we got attacked by...what I assumed at the time were Fuentes' men. I checked her story, it added up. So I told her who I was, and offered to get her father out, so he could help the guerillas, be a symbol for his people.

Re: At The Restaurant

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Dinah's mouth twists in a wry grin. "Yeah, that's the kinda mission that has your name all over it."

Re: At The Restaurant

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He palms his face.

And I'm sure you can see where this is going.

Fuentes was in the prison we expected him to be in. But not the cell. That cell had Deathstroke the Terminator in it.

Seems that Catalina had a deal going with him. He gets Fuentes and Daddy both out of the way so she can take over, and she gives him and his little Injustice Society or whatever safe haven. We were the bonus: he gets Team Arrow out of the way, and embarrasses the hell out of us at home.

Re: At The Restaurant

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Her jaw drops. "That bitch," she mutters. "No wonder you all got hurt."

Re: At The Restaurant

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In spite of himself, Ollie smiles. It's the first time he's had a reaction other than "Ollie, you idiot!" to that twist.

Yeah. I got off easy -- Wilson nailed me with a rubber bullet early, a kidney shot. By the time I recovered, the kids were hip-deep in it with Deathstroke, and 'Lina had taken off. So I took off after her.

It could have been a lot worse than it was. I found her with explosives. I'm pretty sure her plan was to bring the place down around us. I stopped that noise, and I got President Reyes out.

Catalina got away from me, though. And Deathstroke ended up triggering the explosives himself, though I think that was more by was of covering his own escape. We all got away clean...We didn't get all the prisoners out, though.

Re: At The Restaurant

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She closes her eyes. "Damn. That's always hard." Then she opens them again, frowning. "Wait--rubber bullet? He wasn't shooting to kill? Why not?"

Re: At The Restaurant

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I don't know. He seemed pretty clear that he was there to mess with us, not kill us. 'Lina wanted our heads on platters, but Deathstroke was playing games.

Maybe he's leery of pushing too hard after...Light.

Re: At The Restaurant

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"Maybe." Her turn to look at her place setting. "I handled that badly. Getting caught, I mean. Well, and not managing to break out on my own and having to get rescued."