Diggle's Anger

Chapter 1

Disclaimer: This is a take on an idea of Ray_Writes' that he shared in the Lauriver Discord group that he kindly allowed me to do. Takes place right before Tommy breaks it off with Laurel in season 1's 'Home Invasion'. Hopefully we'll be seeing Ray's idea soon!

As emotion surged through Laurel as she watched Taylor and his grandparents leave, the sight of Ollie's bodyguard, Mr. Diggle, making his way past them surprised her. "M-Mr. Diggle?" She questioned with a waver to her voice.

Wondering if Ollie was about to show up as well. "Yeah." Answered the man in a gruff tone that surprised the woman.

Not realizing Tommy had come from their bedroom thanks to her focus on Mr. Diggle and wondering where he got that nasty cut from. "Oliver's not with me, I came here to speak with you both on my own. Mostly just you though, Ms. Lance."

"What about, exactly?" Questioned Tommy as he came up beside Laurel, his bags left by the bedroom door.

"When it comes to Ms. Lance, Oliver will always choose her and damn everything else, no matter the consequences." Began the man, not even bothering to need time to think about what he had to say considering he'd done so long before he'd gotten there.

His words considerably confusing the two in the process. "And you, Merlyn, if you hadn't insisted on going to his place for protection even with your issues with the man, Lawton would either be dead or in custody!"

"Listen, Mr. Diggle, I don't know what your problem is exactly and why it somehow involves Ollie, Tommy, and myself, but I don't appreciate you coming into MY home in the manner that you are. So either leave peacefully or I will call the Police." Threatened Laurel, not willing to put up with the man and his behavior a second longer.

Diggle stood his ground though as his anger deepened. "Like I said before, he'll choose you and damn everything else. Merlyn here has an idea of what I mean, don't you? After all, you know he's the Hood!"

Tommy frowned but said nothing as Laurel stared at him in shock. "Is… Is this true, Tommy?"

Again, he said nothing but nodded his head. "Yeah, he found out the night his dad got shot. And that's why he chose to bring you and that kid to the Queens."

"And what, that gives you a right to be pissed at us?" Questioned Tommy, finally breaking his short silence.

"Considering he was supposed to be helping me catch my brother's killer!? YES!" Yelled the Vet angrily.

"I'm sorry your brother's killer wasn't caught but that doesn't give you the right to come into my home and take your anger out on us. Neither of us could have known, Mr. Diggle. Nor do you have any right to expose Ollie in the way that you are doing right now thanks to your anger." Laurel told him, deciding that a freak out and a long serious talk with Tommy and then Oliver at another time could be done later.

Diggle huffed angrily as Tommy spoke up next. "Like Laurel said, I couldn't have known what you two were doing. A child's life was at stake and despite my issues with Oliver's… Double life, I went with what I thought was the best option."

"Maybe if you'd quit judging him and actually talk with him, YOU'D KNOW!"

Both flinched at the loudness of his voice and it was enough for Laurel to be really and finally done with it all. "Mr. Diggle, again, I'm sorry for what didn't happen but Ollie is a grown man who makes his own choices. I did not tell him to choose us over you and for you to feel otherwise is unfair to us. He chose a CHILD'S life over what is clearly a vendetta you have for your brother's killer, and I think Tommy and I can find it in both of us to be okay with that. Now, get out of my home." Laurel told him in a no nonsense tone of voice.

Naturally, Diggle wasn't too happy with that and Tommy got in the man's way. "You heard her. I'm sure Ollie's not gonna be too happy with you once he finds out what you've done."

The two entered into a stare off with one another until Laurel threatened to call the Police, which broke the two out of their stare off. "Whatever." Muttered the bigger man and walked out.

Leaving behind two relieved individuals and for Laurel to see a few packed bags by the bedroom door as she looked about her place in an effort to figure out what to do next. "Tommy? What's… What's with the bags?"

Tommy froze where he stood with one thought going through his mind. Crap…

Author's Notes: Had wanted this to be a one-shot but I don't think that's gonna happen.