Summary: After agreeing to plead guilty to being the Green Arrow, Oliver finds himself in a supermax, a maximum security federal prison, serving a life sentence. As he struggles to become accustomed to life in prison, his family, friends, and teammates struggle to life without him, as well as continually attempting to find a way to get him pardoned.
Disclaimer: WB/DC own these characters. I'm only borrowing them for a while. I own the original ideas found in this. Some of the dialogue and events are from Arrow episodes 6 x 22, "The Ties that Bind", written by Ben Sokolowski and Oscar Balderrama and 6 x 23 "Life Sentence" by Wendy Mericle and Marc Guggenheim.
AN: Thank you for returning to another one of my stories. I have been working on this over the hiatus and wanted to have it mostly done before I posted. If you have read some of my stories recently re: season six, you may find the first several chapters slightly familiar. However, I did change it up and revised it for this new story.
So, I hope you find it entertaining and fun. Fun may not be the right word, but you know what I mean. It will begin with a chapter delving into Oliver's thoughts as he speaks to Amanda re: the FBI deal. (his first mistake). Like I said, I rewrote/revised my one-shot "An Agreement That Binds'. However, that is only the first part of this first chapter. There are some exciting things that follow which are quite rewarding.
This is episode 6 x 22 AU only the ending when Oliver is talking to Watson and then AU 6 x 23 after they gather at the hospital. Hope you enjoy the changes.
After their latest plan to capture Diaz failed, Oliver found himself sitting next to Felicity on a work table, just the two of them. She, as usual, was waiting for him to gather his thoughts before voicing her own. Oliver knew she was just as disappointed as he was for having to allow the information to burn, to not have succeeded in getting it. For not ending it tonight.
Suddenly an idea occurred to him. One that he had kept in the back of his mind, as a possible, in-case-the-world-exploded type of last case scenario. It was something he didn't want to do, didn't want to consider. But the alternative? The alternative was even more distasteful. Risking the lives of the two most important people in his life. He was determined to keep Felicity and William safe at all costs, even if it meant his own life. And he would see that through, no matter what.
"I can think of one option," Oliver told his wife.
If only she knew what he was thinking, Felicity wouldn't let him out of her sight. Oliver knew she'd use her loud voice to express her anger about him going forward on this without consulting her. However, he wasn't going to let her risk her life again trying to get Diaz with another plan of action. He wasn't looking forward to talking –no, begging – with the person he had in mind, but there really wasn't any other choice.
Without a hint as to what he was thinking, only that he had to work it out first for himself, Oliver attempted to keep his spirits up around his family as they went to bed. Surprisingly Felicity didn't attempt to get it out of him. The next morning, he got up early, before his wife, and simply made his way to the local FBI office in Star City within the Federal building and asked to speak to Samanda Watson. In no time at all he was shown into her office. She sat behind her desk, resting her elbow on her desk with her chin on her closed fist. Saying not a word, she merely looked at him, waiting for him to begin.
The very last thing he had wanted was to approach Samanda and practically beg for her help. However, if he approached a different agency, or a different FBI official, valuable time might be lost. Time allowing Diaz to further get his hooks into his city. To hurt more people. To possibly threaten his family, friends and team. He simply couldn't afford that to happen.
So, Oliver found himself standing in front of a woman who looked at him like she could barely remain in her seat without jumping up in jubilation. He centered himself and began.
"So far Ricardo Diaz has been unstoppable. He has aligned himself with the most powerful criminal organization in the country. He controls Star City's government, its infrastructure, and its police force." It killed something inside him, but he needed to add, "I can't stop him on my own."
A slow smile crossed Samanda's face, making his skin crawl as he waited for an answer. He repeated to himself he was doing this for his city. "When you say you can't stop him, are you speaking as the former mayor or as someone else?"
He looked down and shook his head silently to himself as she rose and walked casually around her desk. Oliver knew it wasn't going to be easy to ask for her help, but this woman wasn't making it any easier. He looked up, meeting her gaze unwaveringly.
"You want my help?" Samantha asked. "I'm gonna need two things from you." She leans against her desk. "The first is I'm gonna need you to say the words."
Oliver barely nodded his head as he looked squarely at Samanda and said quietly but steadily, "I am the Green Arrow."
She mimicked the volume of his answer without showing any satisfaction with his answer. "And the truth shall set you free."
He waited for a moment, reluctantly allowing her a moment to revel in her triumph. Oliver was afraid to ask, but obviously Samanda wasn't going to say. "What's the second thing?"
"You sign, irrevocably, a paper stating you confess to being the Green Arrow, to all his crimes. You give up your right for a trial. You agree to the sentencing of a maximum-security prison for a life sentence."
"What?" Oliver had been expecting terms along these lines, but she had gone beyond reason in the severity of the punishment. He sat down in a chair next to him, directly opposite Watson.
"Do you expect to have this all be taken care of by a slap on the wrist? No, Mr. Queen. You acted time and again on your own accord, sometimes acting as judge, jury and executioner. Do you know what we'd have in this country if we allowed that? Anarchy, Mr. Queen, anarchy."
"I…" Oliver cleared his throat. "I expect to serve time for my crimes, despite my reasons for doing them. However, a life sentence? In maximum security? Isn't this a little severe?"
"Not at all, Mr. Queen. You've murdered how many people over the past six years? By my count, at least twenty people. Often, in most states, murder of just one person receives a life sentence. And the maximum security? Really, Oliver, you expect us to trust you not to attempt to escape? No, it has to be a maximum-security prison."
Oliver pondered all she had said. He knew the city needed the FBI's assistance. He and the team couldn't capture Diaz without their help.
But the terms? Prison for life? There goes his dream of a family, seeing William grow up, more children with Felicity. Not to mention maximum security. Most of the criminals he had assisted in putting away were serving their sentences in maximum security prisons. Such places didn't believe in making special cases for police enforcement for added protection. As if he'd be considered as such, even though he was, despite being self-appointed.
But what choice did he have? He had nothing to bargain with, and he had everything to lose. Even if he never again lived with his family, they'd be safe, be alive, at least, living in a safe city again.
"Oh, and Mr. Queen, I'll need you to confess publicly to being the Green Arrow."
"What? Now you're going beyond reasonable. What about my family, my friends? My team? They'll all be called out. They wouldn't be safe. Anywhere."
"You should've thought of that before beginning your campaign."
"Why would you need this? I'll be serving justice, you have my confession, why do you need me to announce it publicly?"
"One, your indictment will be public record. If we don't announce it, some eager TV station or tabloid will make it known anyway. Two, to ensure you don't put on the hood ever again, on the slim chance you get released."
Oliver looked down at his hands in his lap, considering all he was about to agree to. All that he was about to do.
"I'm surprised your wife, or your team, isn't here with you."
Oliver cleared his throat. "I haven't discussed this with them. They don't know I'm doing this."
"You've always been a lone gunman, huh?" Samanda gave out a dry chuckle. "Or is it you were afraid they'd talk you out of it?"
Oliver looked up at Samanda with sad eyes, unable to hide his feelings for once. "I know I don't have any other choice." There was one more thing he had to address. "I also need complete immunity for Felicity and my entire team. John Diggle, Rene Ramirez, Dinah Drake and Curtis Holt."
Samanda shook her head slowly as if she couldn't believe how self-sacrificing he could be. "I'll be back. I'll have the papers written up so you can sign them. Including full immunity for your entire team. Then we'll discuss our plans for tomorrow's capture of Diaz."
Oliver nodded, watching as she left the room. He lowered his head and rested it on his hands.
~~OQ~~FS~~OQ~~FS~~OQ~~
After the morning raid on the police station, the attempt to get Diaz with Quentin's help, and the final battle resulting in the Black Siren barreling Diaz off the pier, they found themselves at the hospital waiting to hear the results of Quentin's surgery. They were all gathered in the waiting room, trying to control anger and nerves. Taking turns in getting up to pace the hallways, they waited hours to hear something.
Oliver sat on one of the couches, keeping his eyes mostly down-cast, looking at his hands in his lap or at his feet. He knew he needed to talk to his wife, to his team. Not knowing exactly when Samanda would show up, it should be done now. But he was so worried about Quentin. Too many things reminded him of Laurel. The hospital. Even Quentin being in the same room she'd been in. How the doctors said Quentin was going to be all right, just like Laurel. But Laurel died. Lance's operation was taking longer than they'd said. Oliver didn't know what to think. He couldn't think, he was simply so worried. If he tried to tell his team about Samanda's agreement…he didn't think he could get it out.
Oliver got up and walked over to the doorway of the waiting room, looking at blankly at the medical personnel passing by. Looking back at Felicity, still sitting in her chair, Oliver observed her on her phone. Oliver couldn't even guess what she was checking on. With the sixth sense she had, Felicity chose that moment to look up at him. Oliver knew the very moment she resolved to do something difficult. She turned off her phone, walked over to him and hugged his arm.
"Come walk with me," she said, looking up with a question in her pretty blue eyes. Even though she hadn't worded it a question, he didn't have the heart to refuse her.
They walked to the end of the ICU to the double doors. There was a smaller, empty room with several chairs in it. Felicity pulled him into the room and shut the door. She waited until he sat down in one of the chairs before sitting herself.
"Oliver, please tell me what's happening. Like I said, you were doing the whole Oliver apology tour," and she continued in her Loud Voice, "And I want to know why. What is going on?"
Taking her hand, Oliver closed his eyes, attempting to gather strength. He opened them with Felicity waiting for his answer. She cocked her head to the side, reminiscent of their first meeting, and he cleared his throat.
"There was no other way."
Felicity's face showed her confusion with his vague answer. "What was?" she asked softly.
"Early this morning I went to the Federal building to talk to Samanda Watson." He stopped at her gasp. "I…I made a deal she accepted."
"Deal? What type of deal, Oliver?"
Looking directly into her eyes, Oliver said, "For the FBI's help to catch Diaz. For the FBI to stay in Star City until Diaz is caught."
Oliver watched as a shiver went through Felicity. She swallowed hard. "I wondered what had changed her mind to help us. What did it cost you?"
"Felicity, I didn't know what else to do. Diaz almost killed us, all of us, everyone I cared about. He would've succeeded if Anatoly hadn't warned us. If you hadn't told me to answer the phone, we'd all be dead. Dead, Felicity!"
"What did you do, you self-sacrificing idiot? What did you do without discussing with me first?"
With his left hand he tugged at his chin. Felicity pulled at the hand she was holding. "To hand myself over. But only on the condition everyone else has immunity."
Felicity sat there in silence. He looked back at her, and her eyes were staring at the wall behind him, slowly filling with tears. Her eyes closed and she slowly shook her head. Rising, she walked numbly to the door, opened it, and left the room.
Oliver put his head in his hands. It seemed like the only option he had at the time. To keep William and Felicity safe. What would his life mean if it resulted with them getting killed? But how will Felicity ever forgive him?
In a whoosh of air, someone entered the room and slammed the door. A flurry of blonde hair preceded a slap on his face. "How dare you." Her voice was low and steady, cold in its delivery. "How dare you, Oliver. You promised me, Oliver, you promised me to never, EVER, make another important decision without discussing it with me first. Not only did you not do that, but this must be the dumbest, most bone-headed decision you've ever, ever made. This beats even teaming up with Malcolm to fight Ra's."
"I'm sorry, Felicity -"
"You weren't even going to tell me. You went around apologizing to anyone and everyone, but you didn't bother to talk to me. Your very own wife."
"I couldn't. We had to get through today, we had to catch Diaz."
"But we didn't catch Diaz, did we? Is your imprisonment a punishment for not delivering Diaz?"
"No. Like I said, the FBI is going to stay until he's behind bars."
"What about you?" The coldness remained in her tone.
"I'm to surrender to the FBI, pleading guilty to all charges, and be sentenced."
"I suppose you didn't bother to have a lawyer there." The coldness was still in her eyes.
Oliver slowly shook his head. "I…I didn't even think about checking with Jean."
Felicity's breath came out as a huff. "I suppose because she would've talked you out of it, like I would've."
"There's nothing else we could do," he said, looking at her, pleading in his eyes for her to only understand.
"How do you know that, Oliver?" Felicity asked. "You didn't ask me, didn't ask us. Dig has all that military experience, and he has the resources of ARGUS behind him. And you don't think there was any other way?"
"ARGUS is federal, this was considered a civic situation, like Lyla said."
Felicity covered her face with her hands. Oliver watched her and knew she was attempting to control her temper. He desperately wanted to take her in his arms but was afraid he wasn't worthy of doing that any more.
"You and William could've been killed as we attempted to come up with a new plan to stop Diaz. I couldn't stand the thought of that happening."
"How are we to stand you being in prison for the rest of your damn life, Oliver? I don't even know if we can write, or even visit you. You know you're going to be sent to the most secure prison. We wouldn't stand a chance of getting you out." Suddenly her face took on a hopeful look, a light shining in her eyes. "Unless we leave now? We can escape. I had made up identities for the three of us when you were under trial. So, we could -"
He hated to take the hopeful look from her face. "No, Felicity, we can't. It would only leave the rest of the team to be brought up on charges. The same charges I'm running away from."
Oliver allowed her to think over what he said for a few minutes. Then he said, "We better get back. There might be news about Quentin, or Samanda may -"
"She's not going to come here and drag you out like some run-of-the-mill criminal, is she? Is she? She can't give us a night to come to grips about this? To spend one last night as a family?"
Oliver pressed his lips together tightly and slowly shook his head. Felicity looked up at the wall again, trying to keep the tears at bay. Then breathing out slowly, she turned to look at him. "You better give me a kiss that…."
His lips crushed hers in a searing kiss, one meant to say all he couldn't say. All he'd ever want to say, in the days, months, years ahead. When they were almost out of breath, he broke the embrace and gathered her into his arms. Breathing her in, trying to commit her smell to memory one last time, he held her until he felt her begin to cry.
He broke apart, saying, "We need to go." Then a resolute look came upon his face, and Oliver pulled off his wedding ring. "I would keep this with me if I could. But they'd only take it away from me in the prison. So please keep it safe for me?" Oliver told her as he pressed it into her palm.
Felicity broke into a fresh burst of sobs. "Why? Why did this have to happen, Oliver? We don't deserve this, you don't deserve this."
"I know, Sweetheart, I know. If there were any other way, I'd have gone that route. But please take my ring and keep it safe. Until you can give it back to me and I can wear it again."
She nodded, putting the ring into her inner pocket of her slacks. Oliver said, "We better go now."
They locked eyes and reached for the other's hand. Walking out of the room, they held the gaze until they reached the others, walking hand in hand back to the lounge. They had barely sat down when Samanda and two men dressed in suits entered the swinging doors and walked towards them down the hall. As though one, the rest of the team stopped what they were doing and looked up. Dig, Dinah and Rene stood up and watched their approach as though expecting a fight.
Samanda looked towards Oliver sitting forward, resting his elbows on his upper legs, staring straight ahead. "Mr. Queen." When Oliver looked up at her, with a dead look in his eyes, she said, "It's time."
Dinah looked first at Oliver and Felicity, then at the rest of them. "Time? Time for what? What's she talking about?"
Oliver slowly rose from his chair without looking at anyone. Standing, he said to the room, "I'm sorry I haven't ex- explained this to everyone. There hasn't been any time."
"There wasn't time to explain what, Oliver?" Dig asked, taking a step towards Oliver, standing in between Watson and Oliver.
Rene glared at Samanda and asked, "You're arresting us? I thought you said we had immunity!"
"You do," Samanda told him. Nodding her head sideways at Oliver she continued, "Thanks to him."
As realization hits the others, an FBI agent handcuffed Oliver's hands behind his back. They began to ask questions out loud all at once.
Oliver called for attention. "It was the only way to keep everyone safe and out of jail."
"No, man, it was not the only way," Diggle told him taking a few steps toward him but was stopped by the other FBI agent. "There are a million other ways."
Dinah protested to Samanda, "The judge threw out his case. You can't do this."
Samanda nodded her head, to emphasize her point. "I can. It's federal."
"Federal," Dinah repeated, taking a step back while covering her face with her hands. "I can't believe this."
Samanda continued, "The bureau's going to stay in Star City until Diaz is brought in, but only if Oliver agrees to turn himself in."
No one had noticed Sara walking up to the group, with Laurel staying back. "What the hell's going on here?"
Felicity explained, "Sara, Oliver made a deal with the FBI to protect the rest of us from prosecution. And for assistance in getting our city back."
"At what cost, Oliver?" Diggle asked, taking a step towards Oliver and Felicity. "Your freedom?"
"Yes, it was the cost demanded of me."
Diggle took a step towards Samanda but Dinah grabbed his arm. "What's the meaning of this? The government can't help its citizens without a sacrifice from someone who's only done what he could to serve his city, his country, the world?"
"You may see him as a hero, but he didn't do it without breaking laws and acting like a power onto himself. It's simply not done in this country and must be punished, no matter who you are and what you've done."
No one noticed Dr. Schwartz approaching the group until she was practically on top of them. Oliver was the first to notice and asked her, "Doctor, do you have news?"
As everyone turned to look at her, Dr. Schwartz approached the group. She cleared her throat before beginning. "Mayor Lance seized during the procedure. The surgeons worked to revive him. They did everything they could, but his brain was deprived of oxygen for 7 minutes." Her eyes showed a glitter of tears. "He's gone. I'm very sorry."
As the group began to react and sobs could be heard, Samanda turned to Oliver. "Unfortunately, this doesn't change our arrangement."
Oliver solemnly nodded his head. Looking at everyone, but last at Felicity hugging Sara, he said, "Take care of one another." As he passed Sara, he stopped and said, "Sara, I'm so very sorry about your father."
Felicity and Sara watched as Oliver was led down the hallway. Rene took a step as if he was going to chase after them, but Diggle grabbed his arm and held him in place. Curtis took a crying Dinah into his arms. "It's not fair, Curtis. We were so bad to him, and now he's going to jail to protect us," Dinah said through her tears.
Sara and Felicity looked at one another. "I'm so sorry, Sara, for your dad. He…he was like a father to me."
Sniffling, Sara said, "I know." Giving her a small smile, Sara said, "And he almost was."
An idea suddenly occurred to Felicity. "Sara! You could change things! You and your team, it's what you do, right? You can go back in time and stop Oliver –"
Sara sadly shook her head. "No, Felicity, we couldn't. We aren't supposed to do that."
"Why, Sara, why?" Felicity grabbed Sara's arm. "You must! It's the only way."
"No." Sara let out a heavy sigh. "If I could, wouldn't I have gone back in time to save Laurel? Save my own father? See, Felicity, we cannot do it. We can't play with time like that without huge consequences."
Felicity broke down. "It's not fair, Sara. Why did your father have to die? Why does Oliver have to go to jail now we've finally gotten together? It's not fair."
Sara simply took Felicity in her arms and hugged her tightly, tracing circles on Felicity's back in a vain attempt to comfort her.
Dinah and Curtis walked over to them. "I'm sorry for your dad, Sara. He was a good man and a good cop," Dinah said.
Diggle walked over to Felicity, who sniffled in her attempt to stop crying. "We should get you and William to the Federal Building. Hopefully you can say goodbye to Oliver one more time there."
Felicity nodded. Part of her brain was telling her she was in shock and going through the motions. It was all she could do not to fall on the ground, crying like there was no stopping her. Luckily, she pushed away that instinct and allowed Diggle to place an arm around her, leading her out of the hospital.
Meanwhile Laurel approached Sara and tentatively reached out for her arm. "I think you – um, us –should go see your father."
Sara nodded at her and took the hand Laurel offered and allowed her to lead the way.
AN: So, what'd you think? Please let me know by comment even what part you liked the best. I especially like Felicity being told. Anyway, let me know what your favorite part was. Hopefully I will get the next chapter up soon as well. (And one of these days I will have a story finished before I start posting, sigh).