"So, why did you ask us to come out to Central City?" Oliver asked as he, John, Thea and Laurel all entered STAR labs.
"We need your help protecting the city. I mean, yes we realize that you guys have Darhk to deal with back home, but this city is literally defenseless against the meta attacks." Cisco said.
"What are you talking about? You guys have the Flash?" Thea asked as Barry entered the lab.
"Not anymore. I don't have my powers anymore." Barry said, getting Oliver's attention.
"Wait, what happened?" Oliver asked.
"Zoom happened. He kidnapped Joe's son Wally and threatened to kill him unless I gave him my speed, which I did, but at the same time, it left this city vulnerable." Barry explained.
"Okay, I see your problem and while we would love to help you guys, we also can't leave our city defenseless against Darhk." Oliver said.
"I wouldn't mind staying here for a little a while. Get away from all that magic in Star City. Plus I can stay with my mom." Laurel offered.
"Yeah, I wouldn't mind staying either, since after that whole bloodlust thing, I could use a break from all the magic to." Thea agreed.
"Fair enough. Besides, I guess since Darhk's in prison, things won't be beyond what John and I can handle." Oliver said, looking at Dig, who nodded.
"Great, because honestly, you 2 are the only members of Team Arrow I have not made suits for yet, so I would really the opportunity." Cisco said.
"Appreciated, but, my suit has sentimental value, so I think I'll keep it." Thea said.
"I, on the other hand, wouldn't mind some upgrades, since my suit is really just something I through together last year, doesn't exactly offer a ton of protection." Laurel said and Cisco grinned.
"I will get to work on that as soon as we figure out how to get Barry's speed back." Cisco said as Harry entered.
"I thought you were dead." Oliver said, turning towards Harry, thinking he was the Reverse Flash.
"That's not Thawne. It's Harrison Wells from Earth 2, remember?" Cisco asked and then Oliver remembered.
"Sorry about that." Oliver apologized.
"Hey, you took it better than Joe did, he tried to shoot me." Harry shrugged.
"I'd better call work and tell them I'm taking a temporary leave of absence while I'm here, since I can just stay with my mom and Thea, I'm sure she'll be fine with you staying there to." Laurel said.
"Thanks Laurel." Thea said.
"Guess we'd better head back to Star City, since we are on our own right now." Oliver said.
"How are things going with Felicity?" Barry asked, just to have Oliver leave.
"Did I say something?" Barry asked, looking at John.
"No, it's fine man. You know how Felicity broke up with Oliver after she found out about William?" John asked and Barry nodded.
"Well she also quit the team, again, might I add, leaving us with no tech support." Laurel said.
"Another reason why we agreed to stay is because of tech support." Thea said, looking at Cisco.
"No problem." Cisco nodded.
"Good. Now, let's get to work." Laurel said after hugging John goodbye watching him leave.
Dinah was more than happy to accommodate Laurel and Thea.
The next morning, Thea was still asleep, but Laurel, ever the early riser, woke up to find her mother looking over test papers in the kitchen.
"I'd forgotten what it was like to walk in on you doing that." Laurel said to her mother with a smile and Dinah chuckled.
"Yes, I suppose that's true. Just as true as the fact that Oliver Queen is once again a single man." Dinah said, raising an eyebrow at her daughter, who rolled her eyes.
"Seriously mom. I did not think you were one to play matchmaker." Laurel said with a smile as she got herself some coffee.
"I'm serious Laurel. While your father might not have approved, I honestly thought that you and Oliver made a cute couple." Dinah said.
"Then why'd you let Sara sabotage us?" Laurel asked with a pointed look.
"Okay, I think we can both agree that we've made choices we regret." Dinah said and Laurel conceded to that point.
"So why did you bring up Oliver?" Laurel asked.
"Because I was wondering if maybe you were considering giving it another shot with him. After all, you were certainly happier when you were with him and you're both different people now." Dinah said.
"Look, I won't deny that it's crossed my mind, but I can't be with Oliver. Not without dishonoring Tommy." Laurel said and Dinah just smiled at her daughter sadly.
"Laurel, it sounds to me that you do Tommy an even greater dishonor by denying yourself happiness. After all, didn't you tell me that he said that he wanted you to be happy and being with Oliver certainly seemed to do that." Dinah said.
"Even if I wanted to consider that, it's too soon for me to try and get him back. I mean, his fiance literally just broke up with him a few weeks ago. It's too soon for me to make a move." Laurel said and Dinah nodded at that.
"I'm guessing that's another reason why you came out here. To keep yourself from making a move while giving him time to heal?" Dinah asked with a knowing smile and Laurel didn't even try to deny it.
"I need to get going." Laurel said instead as she walked out of the room, leaving Dinah to just shake her head in her daughter's wake.
"Wait, you want to do what?" Laurel asked after Barry and Wells had told her and Thea the plan.
"I left this city undefended by giving my powers, I need them back and the only way to do that is recreate the accident that gave me powers in the first place." Barry said.
"So you want to create another particle accelerator explosion. Like the first one didn't create enough problems for this city?" Thea asked.
"Harry thinks he can contain it." Cisco said.
"I don't think, I know. By combining both my science and Thawne's science, I can contain the blast to STAR labs." Harry said.
"This isn't up for debate. Even with you guys here, with Zoom and his metas, the city is vulnerable without the Flash." Barry said and Laurel had to give him that.
"You sure you want to do this?" Thea asked.
"I have to. It's the only way I'll ever stop Zoom." Barry said and they nodded.
"Okay then. How long will it take to get everything set up?" Laurel asked.
"A few days max." Harry said.
"We can handle the city until then." Thea said and Laurel nodded.