Chapter 2

"So what exactly happened?"

That was the first question that Dinah asked.

Oliver asked Dinah and Felicity to talk in a more private place. Now the we're in Dinah's office.

"Trust me you don't wanna know what I did when I was with my brothers in Russia." Oliver still called them brothers even after everything that happened.

Felicity turned to Oliver. "Oliver, just tell us what happened! Simple as that!"

Oliver walked to the desk and sat on it. "To tell you this I'll have to tell you secrets that no one knows, and I don't wanna remember it."

Dinah let out a breath. "Well you do need to explain the situation because if you don't, everyone is gonna want answers and that won't like if everyone is keeping a secret about the Green Arrow, and that might change the way they see you."

Oliver let out a breath. "Some secrets are better left as they are. My past is not their concern."

Felicity wasn't liking what was happening. "You know what secrets lead to. Just tell me and it'll be easier for you."

"That's the thing Felicity. Most of what I did during the five years in confidential, and I don't want everyone to know what I was doing at that time. You think that sharing and talking will help? No it won't. And there are only two things that can ease the pain; alcohol and drugs. But I don't do drugs and I'm not an alcoholic. But if I start sharing my experiences, I'll be remembering the pain and all the people I lost, and that might cause me to break. So no thank you."

Felicity was getting mad at Oliver. "We all lose people. But …"

She was caught off by Oliver slamming host fist on the table making it crack.

"You have no idea what I went through, and no idea how many people I lost. I had to watch and 8 year old boy die in his parents arms, while I was helpless. Or when I watched Shado die in front of my face. Or when I had to kill Tiana, my only friend because she got controlled by magic. I had to torture and kill people only because I was ordered to. I didn't know the target, I just did what Waller wanted me to do. I have snapped so many neck, shot so many arrows and bullets in my life, I was given a sniper rifle and I was told to shoot. I had no choice. And at the end of it all I still have Red Death in my system which makes my PTSD even worse. So don't you dare tell me that you lost many people. You haven't sacrificed anything in your life to help my crusade. Do you know how it feels to break someone's neck? Do you know how it feels to torture someone? It destroys all the light inside you. And that's exactly why I'm always in the darkness."

"Don't talk to me like that!" Felicity had tears in her eyes.

"You say that you're alone in the darkness. But you're not, I'm always there to help you. And I am the one that sacrifices all her time to hack for your crusade!"

Oliver was getting sick of this. "First of all you're never there for me and secondly I can do hacking myself. So if you don't want to hack anymore for my mission. Then you're free to leave any minute. You're not as important as you think you are! I lost my company because of you. And my sister left because of that. So don't you dare say that you always help me. You only doubt my strength and intellect and question my decisions. So everything you keep telling yourself is bunch of bullshit! I lost William because of you!"

Dinah finally had enough. "Ok. Calm down. I don't need a fight in my office."

Oliver turned away and opened the door. "If you want to know what happened then meet me at Argus base in an hour. I need to clear my head."

With that he left leaving a shocked Dinah and a crying Felicity.

He got on his bike and left.

An hour later Dinah, Felicity, Laurel, Lyla and Dig we're at Argus waiting for Oliver.

Finally Oliver showed up.

Finally Oliver showed up. He entered Lyla's office where the rest were waiting for.

Dig had a concerned look on his face. While Lyla was blankly looking at him knowing that whatever he was gonna tell them wasn't good. Felicity was angry, but her eyes were red from crying. While Dinah was trying to keep a blank face but it was hard considering what she found out just an hour ago. Laurel was confused not knowing why she had to be there.

Oliver closed the door and let out a breath, before starting the story. He wasn't happy to share it, but if it was the only way then he had to do it.

They all kept quiet so Oliver started speaking.

"It all started when I agreed to go to the bar with my brothers."

Felicity wanted to point out that they weren't his actual brothers but when she opened her mouth to speak Lyla put a hand on her shoulder.

"All I wanted was to relax a bit and have a drink. The bar belonged to the Bratva, so went there quite often. We drank a few bottles of vodka, and even I was feeling quite dizzy. Later we went to the private area to talk about Bratva business."

Oliver looked at the ground. He felt ashamed of what he did that night. And it brought bad and painful memories.

"One of the guys decided that it would be more fun to have some girls join us. One of the girls that came was Sasha. And before you ask they weren't doing it willingly. Most were slaves and Sasha was just caught a couple days earlier. Bratva used these women, some of them were underage, but no one cared. I said no, and simply continued drinking. But later when I was leaving I saw Sash being dragged away. She screamed for help. She could see me and she was screaming. But I was too drunk to help her. So instead I turned my back to her and left. I failed her when I could have saved her." He took a breath in.

Dig was holding Lyla closer. Dinah was leaning against the wall, Felicity was shocked and didn't know what to say. While Laurel was the person that shocked him the most.

She came closer and pulled him into a hug. He gladly returned the hug. He hasn't felt so warm in years. He has dreamed of hugging Laurel at least once more, and now it came true. It wasn't his Laurel but he didn't care.

She could see that Ollie was sad so she whispered him in the ear.

"It's ok Ollie. It's gonna be ok. I'm with you Ollie, always, and forever."

No one heard her so it was fine. He squeezed her tighter and she put her cheek on his chest. She could hear his heartbeat. She hasn't heard that sound in years, since her Ollie died. It wasn't him, but it was good enough for her.

They finally let go of each other and Laurel took a few steps back.

Oliver looked up at the rest. "I'm a heartless monster. That's why I try to keep everyone away from myself. It's not safe."

Felicity had enough so she ran out. Dig wanted to go after her and tell her that Oliver needed her, but then he remembered what happened each time Oliver needed her. She never supported him, and wasn't gonna do it now. So Laurel spoke up.

"Ollie, you're not heartless. I can hear your heartbeat. And it's the same as when you were leaving for the Gambit." Oliver tried to smile but he couldn't.

"Oliver I know who hard it's to share something from the past, so it's ok. Don't force yourself." Dig was shocked at what Oliver told them, but realized he would do the same in his place, so he tried to comfort his friend.

Oliver nodded to him in appreciation of the fact that he didn't judge him. Lyla put a hand on Oliver's shoulder before she left and John followed her.

Oliver turned to Dinah. "If you want to rethink about my position at the SCPD then you're welcome to do so."

Dinah wanted to kick him right out, but she understood that the circumstances of the event were awful so she shook her head and said.

"Oliver I would have kicked you out but, you were strong enough to share something like this. It makes you an honorable person. And the police need people like you." Oliver nodded and Dinah left.

"So…." Laurel didn't know what to say.

Oliver looked in her eyes. She kept telling that she wasn't like Laurel, but she was the exact copy except for the criminal past.

"Thank you…"

Laurel pretended she didn't know what he was talking about. "For what?"

"You know what for. If it wasn't for you I'd probably break down in front of everyone."

She nodded. "You know what Ollie. If you ever need to talk to someone. I'm always there."

Oliver nodded and Laurel quietly left. He was left there to think about everything with no one by his side. But he didn't feel alone, because Laurel would always be there for him.