A/N: This chapter features the introduction of an original character named Colton Six. He was created by Riter's Fury for her story "The Darkest Part." She has graciously allowed me to use the character in my story as well. Please go check out her story; it's very well written and entertaining.

Chapter Two "Many Unhappy Returns"

It could have been the old house creaking and groaning, but Slade was sure he heard something else as he climbed the stairs. Thea had already gone to bed, and everyone else was asleep. Or so he thought.

He tried to tell himself it was the storm. He'd been hearing rain and thunder for the last hour. But it was too close to be thunder. There was something in the house. Something in Oliver's room. It wasn't as if the kid had no enemies, and now the whole world knew where he was.

All Slade's concerns seemed justified when he saw Oliver's door standing open. He ran into the room just in time to see Oliver wake up and pin his mother to the floor as Walter stared, frozen in shock. Slade didn't think twice before rushing at Oliver and pulling him off his mother.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Oliver muttered, his fingers digging a little too hard into Slade's arm.

"Oliver, it's all right," his mother said, reaching out to him. "You're home."

Oliver didn't let go of Slade's arm. Coming home wasn't the solution to all their problems; it was the beginning of them. Slade had to wonder if this was what it would be like for him. If he ever found his family, would he have the same difficulty adjusting? He'd done it before, though. Coming back from a mission was always a challenge. But this hadn't been just any mission.

For the moment, Slade just had to worry about Oliver. He'd deal with his own problems when the time came.

"Someone close that window," he said as the rain still pelted into the room. It couldn't have helped Oliver's sense of reality.

Walter went to the window, and as soon as it was closed, Oliver seemed to snap back to reality.

"You okay, kid?" Slade asked.

Oliver let go of him and stood shakily. "Fine," he said.

"Oliver—" Moira touched his arm and he flinched. She drew her hand back, a hurt look in her eyes. "What were you doing on the floor?"

Oliver shook his head as if trying to chase away whatever nightmares were plaguing him now. "I couldn't sleep," he said. "It was just a dream; I'm fine. Everyone go back to bed."

Moira didn't look like she wanted to go anywhere, and Slade didn't blame her. Walter finally led her to the door, and Slade started to follow them out.

"Wait," Oliver said.

Slade turned, a little surprised.

"I need you to do something tomorrow," he said.

So it was about the new mission. "What is it?" Slade asked.

"There's an old factory my father owned. I want you to check it out and see if it will work for..."

Slade nodded. "Right. Guess you've got a busy day."

"Once we get set up we can take on my father's list and find your family."

"All the coming and going might be suspicious."

"I'll take care of it. I'm going to see about finding a place for you in the city. That way, no one will notice."

"I may not be here that long," Slade reminded Oliver.

"I know. Just to be on the safe side."

Slade wasn't about to argue. "And what am I telling your family about my little excursion?"

Oliver smirked. "I'm sure you'll think of something."

###

Moira was only too happy to loan Slade a car and direct him to all the best sights in the city. Oliver had already given him a map with his destination circled in red pen, but Slade feigned ignorance and thanked Moira for her hospitality.

Getting out on his own was something of a relief. Oliver's family was nice enough, but as someone unaccustomed to nice people and circumstances, he found the constant imitation of civilized behavior exhausting.

The abandoned factory was in a part of town where one would expect to find an abandoned factory. Slade had to wonder what excuse Oliver planned on using for coming here. He parked behind the building and climbed the fence. The outer walls were covered in years of graffiti and dirt. All the doors were locked, but that wasn't really a problem. Inside, the factory was empty except for dust and some pamphlets on the floor. It was just depressing enough to make a perfect hideout for Oliver's new identity. Not for the first time, Slade began to rethink his support for this plan. Oliver probably needed therapy more than he needed this. But it wasn't as if he could tell anyone what he'd been doing the last five years. Neither of them could.

Slade found his way down to the basement of the factory and brought in a few of the boxes from the car. He would leave it to Oliver to set up the computers and archery equipment. As he left the factory, Slade thought he might take Moira's advice and see some of the city. He needed to be able to account for his time anyway, and he couldn't do much more on his search for his family until he had some more advanced technology than a household desktop with a Wi-Fi connection.

###

There was a police car outside the Queen mansion when Slade returned from his outing. His first thought was to question what the kid had done now. As he went inside, he heard strained voices. He stood in the doorway, looking into the living room where a couple of detectives were talking to Oliver and his family.

"Did you even try to save my daughter?" one of the men asked aggressively, looking up at Oliver from a wheelchair. Even though he was disadvantaged, Slade got the feeling this man could still be dangerous.

The other detective calmed his friend, and they left quickly after that.

Oliver seemed anxious to be gone as well, but he spent a few more minutes talking with his mother and Walter, during which time Slade picked up the basics of what happened. Or what Oliver was telling people. A man in a green hood saved him from a team of professional kidnappers. Clever.

Tommy made some comment about a party right before Oliver excused himself.

"Is that what really happened?" Slade asked with a hint of a smile when they were alone in the hallway.

"Not here," Oliver replied in a low voice, gesturing toward the stairs.

"What's this about a party?"

"Tommy's throwing a welcome home party tomorrow night. It's not exactly how I want to spend my time, but I figure it's best to humor him. He said to invite you, but you don't have to come."

"Might be entertaining. And there's always a chance your hooded friend might need backup."

They reached Oliver's room and once the door was closed, Oliver dropped the "dumb kid" mask he seemed to keep up even when he didn't need to.

"There is," he agreed. "Did you find everything okay?"

"The basement should be suited to your purpose," Slade said. "But you still didn't answer my question."

"Some guys grabbed me and wanted to know if my father was still alive and if he told me anything."

"And?"

"And I killed them. Tommy was unconscious the whole time, so I thought it was as good a time as any to introduce the green hood."

"The detective didn't seem to like your story. Sara's father?"

Oliver nodded. "I don't know why they sent him. Seems like a conflict of interest."

Slade knew Oliver wasn't as calm about the encounter as he was pretending to be, but he let it go. "What about her sister?" he asked instead. "Did you see her like you planned?"

"Yes. It was... about as I expected."

"Can you blame her?"

"No. I just had to get it over with."

"Good. Now we can focus on the reason we're here."

Oliver's fingers twitched. "Our friend in the hood has an appointment with Adam Hunt tonight. He stole forty million dollars, and he's going to give it back."

###

The convention center walls vibrated from all the heavy bass, and flashing blue lights distorted the chaotic scene. Slade didn't know what he was thinking when he agreed to come to this party. There was no way he'd be able to hear or see a threat with all the movement and noise. Next to him, Thea stood with a smile on her face as they watched Oliver's dramatic entrance. A high pitched chorus of cheers greeted him. Slade took note of the fact that most of the guests were female. Tommy seemed to be enjoying himself as he presided over the spectacle.

"Oh, look! There's Laurel." Thea pulled on Slade's arm, leading him in the direction of a young woman he'd seen in Oliver's photograph many times. She looked out of place in her business suit.

"I wasn't sure you'd be here," Thea said, giving Laurel a hug.

"Neither was I," Laurel replied with a tight smile.

"Well, I'm glad you are." Thea gestured to Slade. "Have you met Mr. Wilson?"

"I already feel old," Slade said, shaking Laurel's hand. "You can call me Slade."

"Pleasure to meet you," Laurel said. "Tommy mentioned you were staying with the Queens?"

"I've gotta go meet some people," Thea interjected. "Don't have too much fun without me."

She disappeared, leaving Slade alone with Oliver's ex-girlfriend. "Yes," he said in answer to her question. "For a few days at least."

"The way Tommy tells it, you're something of a hero."

"I wouldn't say that, and I get the feeling you wouldn't either since it was Oliver's life I saved."

Laurel stiffened at the unexpected honesty. "My opinion isn't what counts," she said. "His family has him back. Tommy is thrilled. And saving anyone's life is pretty heroic. It's not like you knew about..."

"Sara? I'm sorry about what happened to her. Oliver told me a few days after I met him."

Laurel nodded, though she seemed unsure of what to say to that. "Can I ask you something then? And it's going to sound really terrible."

"You can ask."

"Why did you save him?"

Slade paused for a moment, considering his response. He hadn't exactly had this conversation with Oliver himself. But the truth was simple. "What kind of man would I be if I didn't?" he said.

Laurel blinked hard as if to keep her emotions in check. "You're right. I said some pretty awful things to him yesterday. I should apologize, but I don't really want to."

Slade shook his head. "I'm not saying you should forgive him. I wouldn't. But what good does it do to let him make you miserable?"

"Anybody ever tell you you're a wise man?"

"Only in irony."

"Well, I'm glad to have met you. Oliver's lucky to have such a good friend."

"Remind him of that, would you?" Slade smirked.

Laurel smiled back. "Sure."

As she walked away, Slade turned to scan the room again. He noticed Thea surrounded by some other girls close to her age. They were all talking and laughing at the same time, but Thea's smile didn't reach her eyes. He wondered at that, but his attention was suddenly drawn away by a familiar man who should not have been there.

###

Laurel's presence surprised Oliver and her apology for yesterday even more so. He hadn't anticipated a conversation this civil between the two of them ever happening again. It almost worried him. Until an unwanted guest interrupted their conversation.

"You made it!" Laurel said, giving the man a quick kiss.

"I wouldn't miss this," he replied with a grin.

"Ollie, this is Colton Six." Laurel gestured from the intruder to Oliver, one arm still wrapped around the other man.

"Nice to meet you, Ollie," Six said with a wink Laurel didn't see as he shook Oliver's hand. "So glad to hear you're back from the dead."

Oliver tried to force a smile. Laurel couldn't have known that her date was a dangerous ARGUS agent. And this wasn't the time or place to tell her. "Thanks," he said stiffly. "You two known each other long?"

"We've been dating a couple years," Laurel said. To her credit, she wasn't trying to rub it in, but it still felt wrong.

"How did you meet?"

"It was the funniest thing," Six said. "We were in the same restaurant and our meals got switched. Naturally, I refused to switch back until she agreed to eat dinner with me."

"I think you switched them on purpose," Laurel said, punching his arm.

"Who could blame me?"

Oliver wanted to throw up.

##=======

Slade contemplated various strategies for getting Colton Six out of the building without raising suspicion. Oliver had to be across the street in another minute or two, and he didn't seem to know the true identity of his ex's new boyfriend. It was just as well he didn't. No need to concern him with more ARGUS mess.

As he reached Oliver's side, he could feel the tension rolling off his friend. Whatever he may have said about getting over Laurel, he still had feelings for her.

Laurel introduced everyone, and Slade thought it was strange that Six was going by his real name. As real as "Six" was, anyway.

"Tommy said something about the volleyball guy," Six said with a cheesy grin.

"The what?" Laurel said.

"Wilson? Castaway?"

"I hate that movie," Slade muttered.

"You're here!" Thea's excited voice broke into the conversation as she rushed over and hugged Six. "I thought you didn't get back until tomorrow?"

"When I heard about all the fatted calves, I just had to be here," Six replied.

Slade was going to kill him. Going after Oliver's ex was one thing, but endearing himself to his little sister was taking things too far. And apparently, he was friends with Tommy as well. Slade narrowed his eyes at Six, wondering who else he had duped.

"I need to find the ladies room," Laurel said. "Thea, you want to come with me?"

The two of them broke off from the group and headed off down the hall.

"Why are girls always going to the bathroom together?" Six pondered, mostly to himself.

"I actually have to go talk to someone," Oliver said, seeming anxious to leave, probably for many reasons.

Slade nodded and sensed his chance to get Six alone, away from the party and anyone important.

"Before you drag me outside, why don't we walk like civilized people?" Six asked, raising his hands in a gesture of truce.

"We are not civilized people," Slade replied, but he went along anyway.

As soon as they were out on the sidewalk out of sight, Slade pushed Six against the side of the building. "What are you doing here?" he demanded.

"You want the short version?"

"Please."

"Fine. I'm supporting my... you know..."

"Girlfriend?" Slade almost laughed.

Six shrugged, which was a little difficult with Slade's arm pushing against his chest. "I'm not big on labels."

"I remember. I also remember you being Amanda Waller's errand boy. Tell me why you're here, or I'll ask less nicely."

Six sighed dramatically. "Really, with the threats already? You just forgot about all the good times we've shared?"

"I haven't forgot all the lies you've told me. You've got three seconds to tell me something I believe."

"How often do you use that line?"

Slade shoved harder, slamming Six against the concrete.

"Okay, okay. I'm freelancing now. Waller got a little megalomaniacal, if you know what I mean. And I am... you know... with Laurel."

"You expect me to believe showing up at Oliver's party was a coincidence?"

"No. Honestly, I don't expect you to believe much of what I say."

"Then what am I supposed to think when you tell me you've got no idea where Adeline and Joe are?"

"So that's what this is about?"

"That's what this has always been about. I know she trusted you. You are the only one she would have told."

Six pushed Slade away with relative ease. "She didn't. I'm as clueless as you are. And don't worry about your friend. I won't get in his way if he doesn't get in mine."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Six straightened his suit jacket. "I'd love to stand here chatting all night, but I'm missing the party, and Tommy said there'd be a buffet."

He turned and walked back inside just as glass shattered from a high window across the street.