He hadn't flown on a regular plane for years and being at the airport with the general public was odd to him. He shook his head and looked into the mirror as he washed his hands in the men's room of the airport. He was brunette with longer hair and a full growth of beard. Thankfully it covered up his chin which is a dead give away of his identity. He laughed to himself thinking about those late nights and Chloe's lingering kisses on his chin. The contacts changed his eye color from chocolate to blue. The earring in his left ear, granted it was fake but was definitely not an Oliver Queen thing. His clothes were all baggy, grey cammo, and a black Mega death t-shirt and long leather duster, deflected attention from his face. He had never been Goth a day in his life, but as his friend in Cairo said the look worked. He never would have known it was him if he hadn't addressed him personally. His look was polished off with thick soled Doc Martins. He grabbed his bag as they called for boarding of his flight.

It was strange to him the hoops people had to go through to travel. This was his big test. If he could get through the airport without being recognized as Oliver Queen than he could certainly go into Metropolis undetected. He hated having to lie to them all. If they knew the kind of danger they were in they would surely forgive him wouldn't they? He couldn't think about that, his return flight from Egypt was about to board and he had already spotted three babies on this flight. He made sure he had his Ipod in one hand and boarding pass in the other as he greeted the attendant. She took his pass and directed him to down the jet way with out a glance. He thought regretfully about the lies he had started to tell only 3 weeks ago.

….. "So were you planning on telling me you were leaving or what?" Chloe yelled angrily as she burst into his bedroom.

"Sidekick its business," he spoke trying to pack his bag around the blonde powerhouse occupying the center of his bedroom.

"Well, I see."

"No, you don't" he spoke reaching for extra socks.

He tried to brush past her and she grabbed his arm. He had his game face on but wasn't immune to her touch.

"Then explain it to me, make me understand." She spoke staring into his eyes hoping for some glimmer of truth there.

"The company is opening a new division over seas. I have to be there to oversee the project." Believable.

"Annnndddd? This will require you to be out of town for …"

"I'm not sure how long. " he spoke giving in to his regret. He pulled her into his arms to try and memorize her scent and the feel of her against him. "If I could avoid this trip I would, but I can't." he kissed the top of her head. Chloe took his answers and had a game face of her own. She still wasn't buying his story.

"So where overseas?" she pressed and he gave her a gimlet stare. He let go over and stuffed the socks into his bag and zipped it up. He tossed the bag over his shoulder, kissed her cheek and walked out of the room.

"Oh..Boy you didn't just walk away from me."

"Chloe would you let it be?"

"Ok you know that that will never happen." She grabbed his arm and spun him to face her. "What arent' you telling me?"

"Do you always have to know FRIEKING everything? I thought we trusted each other. Obviously it's a one way street." He yelled entering the elevator. Chloe was blindsided. He NEVER yelled at her like that. Tears were falling as he faced her and pressed the button to close the elevator door…..

He settled into his seat on the plane, thankful that all the babies were in the back of the plane. He put the ear buds to his Ipod in his ears and waited for the plane to get into the air before he turned it on. His mind wandered back to the day this whole drama began.

….. "Sir you have that 10:30 brunch and this just arrived by messenger" his secretary spoke waiting for him to sign the papers she had left on his desk. He picked up the folder and scribbled his name on a document and handed it to the patiently waiting woman. She turned and left. He picked up the plain envelope and opened it as he sat down.

"Mr. Queen this is of the utmost importance. I can't talk about this with anyone and am on good authority that you are the person for the job. This request may sound strange coming from me. Meet me today at 0945" he looked at his watch, he had about 30 min. "take your car down town and go to Sage's. Another car will be waiting for you out front.

Don't disappoint me the lives of those you and I care about are in grave danger.

General Sam Lane"

Oliver about fell out of his chair when he read the name; he had to read it 5 times. He folded the note back up and put it in his pocket and left his office.

"Leaving already sir?" his receptionist asked.

"Yes something came up; reschedule the 10:30 brunch," he pressed a couple of buttons on his phone, "I'm forwarding all of my calls to you." He spoke trying to shake the bad feeling he had. "If anyone calls I'm in meetings and unavailable."

"Anyone sir?" she asked hinting at who calls him the most. He headed out the office door and she heard

"Yes, Anyone."

The plane began to climb to cruising altitude and the babies he could here screaming in the back. He shook his head. It seemed like forever until he could turn on his Ipod. It was finally an all clear for electronic devices and he hit the power and play button. It wasn't music he was listening, it was a linguistics lesson. He had to refine a language skill he hadn't used in a very long time. At the end of each lesson the voice of the General reminded him of his objective. He could feel a headache coming on. He could really use a drink but he needed to stay focused if this plan was going to work.

As lunch was being served his mind again slipped to the day that he met the General in an abandoned warehouse in a wild and zig zag ride that he was certain he wasn't sure where the heck he was.

…The big room was empty except for a table and two chairs. The General was sitting at the table waiting for him to arrive. He exited the car, the driver staying inside.

He made his way to the table and sat down. The General was haggard looking and showing his age.

"You have me here, what's so important."
"Does the phrase Project Ares or 33.1 mean anything to you son?" the gristly man asked.

"Is it supposed to?" he acted non chalant.

The General slammed his fist down on the table. Oliver to his credit didn't even blink.

"The US Military has a Unit that has been looking into acts of domestic terrorism. The complaint has been from one Alexander Luthor. He apparently has enough government connections to warrant such an action. He says his warehouses are being destroyed because of his genetics. Everyone dispised Lionel."

"And this has to do with me how?"

"Can it Green Arrow." He yelled and Oliver did flinch.

"Yeah I know what you do. I didn't become General for taking the word of billionaire brat who's getting his feelings hurt. There was more to his complaints. I've had recon done and know about your side job." Oliver was fidgeting on the inside but never showed it on the outside. "I've had four family complaints of soldiers who went MIA in combat. What the families were told and what actually were accounted by our records were miles apart."
"Not a surprise there Sir. It's been that way for years." He spoke.

"Damnit! Lois is in Danger and if my suspicions are correct so is Chloe and the rest of your friends."

"Look General, my side job could cost me and the people I trust Everything." He started with his boardroom voice which was pointed.

"I know. That's why I came to you. You have everything to lose. We lost a good soldier to last year due to Ares. I'm afraid there are more disappearing right under my nose. I know what Alexander is doing. I know those warehouses aren't used for what's being said they are."

"Alright. Truth time, what can I do?" he asked sitting up straight.

"Well that's a little complicated." The General looked at his watch. "I can't be gone long. Can you get away for a few weeks."

"You do realize that I have thousands of employees who depend on me right?" he was getting frustrated.

"I do and I'm sorry I'm being so vague. Look what I need is for you to go into deep cover, you have the most experience and idea of what's going on. This is rapidly becoming an international threat. We had two Egyptian soldiers disappear off a routine mission, just 72 hours ago."

"How are our loved ones in danger." He was trying to gather all the facts.

"There was intel discovered two days ago buried in an intercepted transmission. An assassin has been sent to Kill Chloe, Lois, Victor, Arthur, Bart and to capture Clark."

"WHAT!"

"Yeah, we captured him at the border this morning." The general added.

"we want you to take his place and hopefully infiltrate the operation. Get names and evidence, real evidence against who put out the hit and what their doing. Maybe even find those missing soldiers." The General stood and walked up to an approaching car.

"My team can help." He spoke.

"No. No one can know. You know those Lane girls, like bull dogs on pant legs. They won't let it be. They are the only family I have left that isn't military. Think about this. You have 12 hours to decide." He climbed into the car and it drove off……

Sleeping was easy getting her out of his head…impossible. He had hoped that they would be engaged and planning a wedding. He had to prevent her funeral. He understood why the General wanted secrecy. He just didn't have to like it. He promised that he wouldn't contact them—directly. He smirked at the thought. This cycle of awake was for more linguistics. He closed his eyes and tried to absorb the language that he had excelled at in school. He finished listening to his Ipod and put it away. He was so lost in thought that he had missed dinner. Two more hours left in his flight. Two more hours to think about her.

"Ollie?" Chloe called out to him as she entered the penthouse. The lights were dim soft music was playing and there were candles everywhere. She looked down on the floor and tulips were laid like arrows pointing to where she needed to go. She followed them into the living room. Oliver was sitting in the chaise reading a book, dressed in black pajama bottoms and nothing else. He smiled as she entered. He put down his book and stood to greet her. There was an elegantly set table with covered dishes. She smiled.

"Wow, what's the occasion?" she walked into his embrace.

"Today is the anniversary of our very first.." he kissed her warmly, "date."

"You remember?"

"Hey, I;m a very thoughtful boyfriend." he smiled as he kissed her. (A boyfriend who was feeling like a huge heel inside). He never lied to her, and now the greatest secret of all, one that he knew she could help him with, and by the General's command he couldn't share. He was going to leave for a "business trip" in the morning, to save her life. Every moment tonight had to count. They dined,laughed, danced, and had dessert. Then that next morning she called him to the carpet on his leaving and he hurt her…...

"Ladies and gentleman we are making our final approach to JFK International Airport. Please fasten your seatbelts and return your trays to the upright position."

Oliver complied and sighed heavily, he was in the states and now begins the mission to save Chloe and his friends in a back handed way. The start? Walking into the lions den, know the boss, know the enemy.

After he made it through customs he pulled shades out of his coat and put them on. He went to the Arrival gate. He got bumped into as he made his way outside. A phone rang from the very recently empty pocket. He hit the answer button. A muffled voice spoke in Russian,

"Go to left at the end of the block there is a cab that's unavailable. This is for you. The driver will bring you here. Destroy this phone." He hung up the phone and turned to head in the direction of the bank of cabs parked. He climbed into the only one that had its light off. The driver who was waiting started the car and pulled out into traffic. In the back Oliver took apart the phone to the smallest of pieces and shoved them in his pocket. He would flush them later at his hotel. The ride was long. He knew New York like the back of his hand and knew exactly where they were; the driver than ducked into an alley and parked. He stepped out of the car and opened the back door. Oliver was distracted by him as the other door opened and somebody grabbed him from behind and put a cloth over his mouth and nose and the world went black.