Summary: Okay, this plot bunny came my way and absolutely begged for my attention. So here it is. This story takes place at the end of episode 3x18, with the ending scene of Roy coming to Oliver's rescue NOT happening. What if Oliver was indeed taken to prison? What does Ra's do with Oliver supposedly unavailable to him?
AN: Even though this is an AU of episode 3x19 "Broken Arrow", I have taken some events that happened and changed the characters involved. I don't owe these ideas; instead the writers of the episode, Ben Sokolowski, Brian Ford Sullivan, and Jake Coburn, do. (You'll know which details I mean when you read them)
Oliver still could barely take in how radically his life had changed, all in a few days. Who would've thought he'd find himself arrested, his life in tatters, facing life in prison.
The words Ra's al Ghul, Head of the Demon, leader of the largest, darkest group of assassins in the world echoed in his mind. "You have two choices. You either ascend to the position of Ra's al Ghul or you will spend your life in a cage."
Guess he made his choice. Life in a cage.
They reached the police station and Lance led Oliver into the building, surrounded by onlookers. Oliver was led through the process of being booked, fingerprinted, and forms filled out. He thought back to that other time three years ago, when his mission had barely begun. How fool-hardy he was back then, thinking he could be successful at such an endeavor. All he wanted was to make his father proud, to make his father's sacrifice mean something. Now, all around him was failure. One gigantic, smoking failure.
Lance hadn't said one more word to him after their exchange in the pen wagon. However, as Oliver was led away to the cells, Lance gave him one last glare. Oliver sighed, wishing things were different. He remembered the day, in September, when the world felt new, he and Laurel standing in the sunshine watching Lance make the announcement releasing the Arrow from being hunted. How different things were now.
Later, sitting in his cell, all he could do was think. And wonder.
The next two days were difficult. The need for keeping an eye out for possible dangers was taking a toll on him. It was worse than he could've imagined, and he had imagined the worse. He had already lived the worse. There had been three attempts on his life, and that was before supper his first evening in jail.
His third day in jail began like the other two had. Walking through the cache of catcalls and insults, he walked past the general population. He was being brought to see his first visitor. He had denied everyone else, but he was strongly "encouraged" to take this particular visitor. Oliver didn't have any more resolve to refuse, so he agreed to see this visitor. Whoever it may be.
Oliver turned the corner, entered the visitor's space and stopped in his tracks. Who was sitting there waiting for him but Ra's himself with a small smile on his lips. It was strange seeing him in casual clothes, a gray sweater and blue jeans. Similar to what Oliver often wore. Oliver's lips turned into a small grimace as he made the connection. With every nerve in his body yelling to flee, he forced himself to calmly walk over to the chair on his side of the window, sit down, and pick up the phone. Ra's slowly picked up the phone on his side of the window, never breaking their glance.
"What do you want?" Oliver choked out.
"Can't a friend visit you in jail? I thought you were probably due for a friendly face."
"I still haven't seen one."
Ra's eyes twinkled. "Touché. However, I'm not wanting to kill you, unlike most of the people with whom you are currently sharing a living space."
Oliver gave Ra's a sideways nod acknowledging the truth of his statement. "So what do you really want, Ra's?"
"Just want to check with you again, to see whether you have changed your mind about my…offer."
"As much as I wish otherwise, you were correct in your…assessment of my life. I have chosen instead…to live my life in a cage. At least I still know who I am."
Ra's slowly shook his head. "You still do not understand, Oliver. It is your destiny to become Ra's al Ghul. No matter how hard you try to run away from it, it will catch up with you. Eventually." A steel glint entered his eyes. "I guarantee it."
A chill went down Oliver's spine with that comment. He closed his eyes momentarily, gathered his strength, opened them and said, "I stand by my decision."
Ra's stood up, pushed his chair into the table, and fixed a sad look upon Oliver. "If you insist. This may be the last time we see each other. You know the life expectancy of law enforcement officers in prison aren't very long, and you fall into that category. As well you know."
Oliver watched as Ra's took his leave, and a prison guard entered to escort Oliver back to his cell. Deep in thought, Oliver wasn't aware of being led a different way to his cell. Suddenly, Oliver felt something sharp go into his lower abdomen. Putting his hand to the area, he felt his blood gushing out. Gasping, he tried to turn to face his assailant, but instead crumbled to the ground. He barely registered he was in an empty, isolated part of the prison and wandered how that had happened. Darkness descended, and Oliver lost himself in the regret of a life being over.
Instead of the pearly gates of Heaven, awareness slowly returned. First, he felt the familiar discomfort in his abdomen resulting from a knife wound, then he became aware of lying in a bed, pillow under his head. He struggled to open his eyes, but the lids seemed to be too heavy. Until he heard a familiar voice whose cultured tones floated over him.
"Welcome back to Nanda Parbat, Mr. Queen."
Oliver's eyes shot open. "What have you done?"
"I decided to help expedite your decision to become the next Ra's al Ghul. One of my soldiers skillfully knifed you in a spot which is known to be especially vascular, releasing more than enough blood, but not life threatening. Of course, you were slipped a drug which lowered your vital signs to be barely distinguishable. You appeared to be dead."
"So you stole my body, leaving everyone I care about to believe I'm dead, and brought me here? You fail to see what's wrong with this scenario?"
"You are young, Mr. Queen, and you aren't as knowledgeable of the world as you would like to think. You don't appreciate yet the great gift I am able to give to you. But you will, someday." Ra's paused, then continued. "You will also realize things aren't always so black and white. Sometimes the ends do justify the means."
"Never."
"Oh, Oliver, that is not the proper attitude to take." He rose from the chair he was sitting in. "I shall leave you to rest now. Even though your wound wasn't life threatening, it was still rather serious and took a toll on your body. As did the length of your sedation to get you out of the prison and over here."
With a nod, Ra's took his leave, followed by the two guards who had been standing on either side of the door during his visit. As he left, the guards stood at attention, then followed him out. Without surprise, Oliver heard a key turn in the lock.
Oliver looked around the room, not surprised by the luxurious furnishings of gold draperies, red plush carpet, and several well-done paintings on the walls. He saw several windows, which unsurprisingly had bars on them. Oliver sighed and shook his head in disgust. How do I get out of this mess? Ra's makes Amanda look like a kindergartner playing Candy Land.
He finally had time to note his one wrist was handcuffed to the bed. Amateur. He actually thinks this would keep me here. He examined the cuffs. They weren't your usual handcuffs. Instead, it was though the cuff was welded onto his wrist. A sturdy thicker chain ran from it to under the bed. Well, maybe more than just an amateur effort.
Oliver leaned into the pillows and gave a sigh. This wasn't good, wasn't good at all. With everyone thinking he's dead, having no idea where he is, never having heard of Nanda Parbat, Oliver wondered if it was a lost cause. A sudden weariness overcame him, prompting him to give up for the moment with trying to figure out what to do and get some needed rest.
AN: So I was thinking about episode 3x19, and suddenly thought if Oliver went to prison instead. Then I thought to "borrow" the plan of Roy's, to fake Oliver's death instead, and to have Ra's be behind it. I hope you enjoyed it. Please let me know, if you will, what you think. It is ever so much appreciated!
