Glad those of you who are reading seem to be enjoying it so far. Here's chapter two.

Star Labs

Morning

Barry had just walked into the cortex after arriving at Star Labs this morning. The only other people there were Caitlin and Cisco, both of whom looked freaked out as he walked in.

"Everything okay guys?" Barry asked and they exchanged an uneasy look.

"It's better he sees for himself," Caitlin told Cisco.

Cisco nodded and began typing. Barry was confused as one of the monitors began playing a news report. However, his attention was drawn to the police sketch of what looked eerily of the ones of The Hood that the SCCP had drawn early into Oliver's first year back.

"Breaking news out of Star City this morning. As neither the DA's office or the police department has yet to comment on growing speculation that the vigilante known as the Green Arrow has returned after believing to have died five months ago in an explosion in The Glades district of Star City. We now take you live to city hall, where Star City Police Captain Frank Pike is giving a statement."

Star City, city hall

Same time

"I wish I could answer your questions, but unfortunately, all I can tell you is what the SCCP knows at this time," Pike said to the crowd of reporters that quieted as he began. "Which, at this moment, is only that someone claiming to be the Green Arrow attacked six people last night. While we are still pursuing leads on this individual's identity, we can say with absolute certainty that it is not the same Green Arrow from last year. The physical description from the witness statements is vastly different. This is someone new."

Laurel and Thea's apartment

Same time

Laurel turned off the TV as she turned to Thea and William, who had been watching it as much as she was.

"Do you think my dad is back?" William asked hopefully as the two women exchanged a glance.

"No honey, we don't," Laurel started gently.

"You heard Captain Pike, the descriptions don't match," Thea pointed out.

"And even if they did, I still wouldn't believe that it was him. If it was, he would have let us know he was alive by now," Laurel knelt down in front of William. "I miss him to, but he's gone. We have to accept that."

Russia

Same time

Oliver stared up at ceiling, a blank look on his face as Anatoly walked in.

"How are you feeling Oliver?" Anatoly asked.

"I'm alive," Oliver said blankly, wondering, if that were true, why he felt so hollow.

"I am sure you have lots of questions," Anatoly said, pulling out a chair and sitting next to Oliver.

"Just one really," Oliver said as he looked over at Anatoly. "Thea, Laurel, William, do they know I'm alive?"

"No. I was…unsure of the status of Hive when I smuggled you out of Star City. I thought it best to keep up pretense that you died in explosion in order to protect you while you recovered," Anatoly explained.

"But you didn't call them when I woke up," Oliver noted and Anatoly was silent. "Why?"

"I need your help Oliver," Anatoly admitted and Oliver chuckled ruefully.

"Hate to break it to you brother, but I'm in no condition to help anyone. Can't even make it to the bathroom by myself," Oliver said bitterly.

"Ah, but the Green Arrow never stays down for long. You will be back on your feet in no time," Anatoly said optimistically.

"I'm not too sure about that," Oliver said doubtfully.

It was true; he had been beaten down plenty of times before. But something felt different this time, for a reason he couldn't understand. He felt like, when the city exploded around him and Darhk, something had been lost. A crucial piece of him that he was now missing. And the part that scared him was that he was unsure if he would ever get that part of him back.

Star City

Afternoon

"Six DOAs," Detective Billy Malone told Pike as he led him onto the crime scene. "The dealer and his girlfriend, two Los Halcones, and one of our own."

"Who's lucky number six?" Pike asked before he saw the victim and sighed, "Keating."

"C.O.D. doesn't match the other vics, who were all shot at close range," Billy said as they knelt down next to the body. "But Keating-"

"Blunt force trauma," Pike noted as he picked a gold coin off the body. "And these, some sort of calling card?"

"M.O. matches a skel called Tobias Church. According to his jacket, he and his crew tore up Hub City and Blud Haven," Billy explained.

"And now he's here," Pike sighed as he stood up.

"The question is what was Keating doing here?" Billy asked.

"Nothing good, he didn't call in," Pike said grimly.

"You think he's one of our bent cops?" Billy asked as he followed Pike.

"Doesn't matter, he's dead now," Pike sighed.

What neither of them was aware of was that the Green Arrow was above them, listening to every word they were saying.

Star City Police Department

Later in the afternoon

Billy was at his desk when a postal worker walked up to him.

"Billy Malone?"

"Yeah, who wants to know?" Billy asked as he looked.

"Sign here please," the worker said as he handed Billy a clipboard.

Wearily, Billy signed it before being handed an envelope. The postal worker walked off as Billy opened it, finding a phone inside. Almost immediately, the phone rang and Billy answered it.

"Who is this?"

"The Green Arrow," a disguised voice said on the other end said.

"And let's pretend for a moment I believe you, what do you want?" Billy asked.

"Everything you know about Tobias Church."

"And I'm supposed to tell you…why?" Billy demanded and there as a chuckle on the other end.

"I like you Detective. We're on the same side, we both want Church taken down before he can do to Star City what he did to Blud Haven and Hub City. So I need to know what you know," Green Arrow said and Billy sighed.

"I'm probably gonna regret this. Okay, what we know isn't much more than you seem to. He's known as Charon because he leaves gold coins on his victims. Warrants are out for his arrest on twenty murder charges, and those are just the ones we can connect him to. That's all we know at this point," Billy told him

"Thank you Detective. If you need to reach me, call me. The number's programed in," Green Arrow told him.

"Why me? Why come to me for help?" Billy demanded.

"Because you're one of the few honest cops in this city. And I know you'll do whatever it takes to take down someone like Tobias Church, even work with an unknown variable like me. I know you don't trust me right now. I hope that I'll be able to earn your trust Detective," Green Arrow said before the line went dead.

Russia

Same time

Oliver gingerly got to his feet, assisted by the cane Anatoly had given him. It wasn't much, but it was a start.

"See, you will not need cane soon," Anatoly tried to be optimistic and Oliver chuckled.

"Since when are you an optimist?" Oliver inquired.

"You are awake, it is good time to be optimistic," Anatoly said and paused. "Would you like me to call your friends?"

"No," Oliver said immediately and Anatoly was surprised. "You know, Slade once told me that I should avoid attachment."

"Sounds like he needed to, how you, get laid," Anatoly said and Oliver laughed.

"That actually explains a lot. But it doesn't mean he was wrong," Oliver said as he frowned. "Everyone I let into my life has been worse off than before I entered their life. Laurel, Thea, William, even John and Felicity. Not counting how many people have died since I returned home. All because of a fool's crusade. For four years, I sacrificed everything, gave my blood, sweat, my body, everything to Star City. I did it willingly, because I believed that I could save Star City."

"Now you think otherwise?" Anatoly asked and Oliver shook his head.

"No. My mistake was in thinking that I could do so and be Oliver Queen. I had it right from the start. You were right; I couldn't divide myself in two. I had to make a choice. So no, I don't want to call them. I'm choosing to let them believe I am dead because in a way, I am. I know my truth now," Oliver said and Anatoly frowned.

"What truth is that?" Anatoly inquired.

Nothing could have prepared him for Oliver's response.

"That I would rather die as the Green Arrow than live as Oliver Queen."

Sorry that things probably seem to be moving pretty slowly right now, but thy will pick up a little speed next chapter. This was just a great stopping point.