Chapter 3- Sara

It's still so weird entering the Arrow team's new hangout. When I step off the elevator, I immediately glance right, seeing my sister's canary outfit. For a moment I forget she isn't here anymore and that magnifies my pain. I look straight ahead and see Oliver facing the monitors on the circular platform.

"Hey stranger, you miss me?" I plaster the best my girlfriend hasn't been to hell and I'm blaming myself smile I have. Oliver turns around and breaks out into a huge grin.

"Hey Sare-Bear." He heads over to me and wraps me in a brief hug. Makes me grin wider because Oliver Queen doesn't do hugs, much. He steps back and gives me a once over.

"You've seen better days, Lance." His smile disappears into a grim line.

"Back at you, Ollie. You look like someone broke your favorite bow." That earns me a small grin.

"Which time?" I just laugh, and we walk over to the suit display cases. We both take a moment to look at Laurel's old suit. I can feel Oliver's gaze flickering between me and the suit.

"I miss her everyday." He says with a sad smile.

"I always expect to see her when I walk in this place even though I know she's gone." I sigh and turn away from the dark reminder. He gives me some more time before speaking.

"Okay, we both know you aren't here to chat about your sister. What's going on?" He walks up to lay a hand on my shoulder, urging me to look him in the eye. But I can't do that. Instead, I look over his shoulder.

"Wanna train? I could use the distraction right now." Understanding that feeling, he nods and walks over to the training area. This part has equipment of all types, including the salmon run that always had Felicity drooling over Oliver. I chuckle and receive a questioning look from him. I just shake my head and head off to change.

When I get back, I see he has done the same. We meet up in the middle of the room with open mats around. As soon as my feet hit the first mat, Oliver throws two medium sized sticks at me. I easily catch them and get lower in my fighting stance. I let out a slow breath and hold onto my league training. This is what I need so desperately until I can get my head on straight.

Oliver mirrors my movements and gets ready to begin. We both stare for what seems like eternity, each waiting for the other to make the first move. His grip tightens on the left stick, and I take that as my moment to strike. He effectively blocks the first blow and the series of them after that. I lead the fight and push us around the room as if we were in a dance. He knows I need this, so at first he is content to let me. As I get into a rhythm, my movements become faster, fueled by my anger and fear. Oliver uses this moment to start fighting back, adding motions to block and dodge. The heated actions make me falter occasionally, earning me a smack from his weapons. I see his brow clench in frustration. He doesn't understand why I am so emotional to the point where my abilities are slipping. I steel my jaw and go in harder, adding my feet to swipe him off balance. He is caught off guard not expecting that move. His back slams into the ground. My emotions have shut down. I am Ta-er al-Sahfer, league of assassin member, not Sara Lance, scared and terrified girlfriend.

Oliver seems to note the change and flip up back on his feet. His posture changes from one of a skilled warrior to one of a quick determined fighter. He came back at me with sticks blazing. When he feigned high, I went to parry the blow. To my surprise, the attack never came. I glanced at him in time to see his kick heading toward my upper torso. I twisted sideways trying to avoid his attack. I didn't get out of the way faster enough and got slammed in the ribs. I rolled a few feet away but was back on my feet within seconds. I had lost one pole in the commotion, and it was out of reach. I sprinted back to Oliver, swinging my stick every which way with a new found strength. Every hit was blocked. In that moment, I made a decision I knew I would regret later.

I used the stick to strike down on Olivers arm. Using that moment as a distraction, I didn't finish the movement. Instead, I kicked my foot up to hit his right fore arm, knocking the stick out of his grasp. He surprise was quickly concealed. In desperation, he lunged at me with the stick. I used his momentum to propel him past me and wrap his head in a choke hold. I waited for the familiar tap. After a few seconds, it didn't come. I look down to see him grinning.

OH SHIT! He used that opportunity to wrap his arms behind me and pull me over his body, slamming me into the mats. I rolled over and got back up. Neither of us had our sticks anymore and changed to hand to hand combat. Sweat rolled down my back and down my forehead into my eyes. My body was straining to keep this pace up against an evenly match opponent. I wiped the sweat away from my face during his brief pause. Rookie mistake. His fist slammed into my face hard enough to effectively put me on my ass. Oliver's eyes got wide.

"Sara, I'm sorry. I thought you were still keeping-" I cut Oliver off as I swiped his unsuspecting feet, landing him on his ass next to me. I climb on top of him and pin him down.

"Okay Ollie, time to yield." I grinned. He glared up at me for a few seconds and then tapped my arm. I roll off of him so that he can sit up.

"Dirty match Lance." He sounded gruff. Sore loser. I couldn't contain my laugh. Damn this made me feel good just to shut my mind off.

"What's a girl got to do to get a drink around here?" I look at him with raised eyebrows. He grins and shakes his head. He walks back to the main area, and I follow him. Oliver pulls out two glasses and a container full of dark liquor, pouring some in each glass. Handing one to me he nods and says Cheers. I say it back and knock back the glass, feeling the alcohol slide down my throat while leaving a slight burn.

He pours us each another glass and before long the container is empty. Both of us aren't nearly drunk enough to physical be effected much. The night is still young. He asks if I want to test the tennis ball launcher. I'm down for it. Soon we are laughing and daring each other to try the craziest trick shots. We managed to find John Diggle's secret stash and are doing shots every time we miss. In the beginning, that isn't often. But as the night wears on, those misses become more frequent, at least for me. Oliver could still hit a target with poison in his veins, let alone a little alcohol. I'm so wasted at this point that I have gotten a fit of giggles. I'm sitting on a training block observing his shots when I hear a feminine voice.

"If I knew there was an open bar and show with a special guest, I might have dropped by sooner." I turned to see Felicity standing there watching her husband hit targets. I jump up on wobbly legs and barrel into her with a hug. She struggles to hold us both up right, so I lean back to take back some of the weight. Oliver sets his bow down and walks over to kiss his wife. They keep it pretty tame for mine and Ava's standards.

Ava. Damn it.

I start to feel like shit again, remembering why I came here, wondering how my girlfriend is coping. Felicity sees my face fall.

"I was contacted by Ray and the rest of the crew on the Waverider. Apparently you left in a rush, and they seem to be flipping out." I winced at her words.

"You told them I was here?"

"NO! No no no, otherwise you would see some really made teammates here right now. I simply told them I'd keep an eye out in case you popped up. They know you came to 2018 but not where and to see whom. They are more likely to figure out that Barry's daughter is here before they find you." Both Oliver and I look at each other in confusion.

"Barry's what?!" We say in unison. Felicity looks like prey caught in some headlights.

"Oh, crap-um yeah she is here but know one is supposed to know that because it can do wacky stuff to the timeline- you know how it is. Just, yeah not good." She fumbles over her words as she tries to explain. I hold up my hand.

"Yes I get it. As long as they are aware of the consequences, I don't have a problem with it." I pinch my brow with my fingers. I do not need another problem to worry about right now.

"Oliver are you ready for another round?" He looks at me questionably. After a few seconds, he shrugs and nods, moving back to the mats. Felicity takes my spot on the training block that I sat on earlier, getting comfortable to watch. We spar for a few hours. I take in more hits than I make. I know I'll be bruised up by the time I make it to the Jump Ship.

"Again." I pant.

"No more Sara, we are done. Go home and see Ava." He grabs a towel and starts to wipe off sweat.

"I'm not done yet Ollie." I go to surprise attack him. He instinctively turns and uses my momentum to slam me into the floor.

"ENOUGH!" He shouts in my face. "Go home. NOW. Stop using me to fulfill your desire to punish yourself. I indulged this game for far too long tonight. Now I am going home with my wife and you will turn your ass to your ship. Stop acting like you failed her. Suck up your own feelings and be there for her. Because she was there, not you." He starts to walk away.

"Don't you think I don't know that? That I am supposed to be there for her right now. She is mine. Mine to love. Mine to protect. My whole life. And I didn't even notice that she was missing for days, no not even. It was two weeks! TWO WEEKS OLLIE! WHAT WOULD YOU FEEL LIKE IF IT HAD BEEN YOUR GIRL? BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I'M DROWNING, GASPING FOR AIR!" My voice had reached maximum volume. I was done holding back. I started swinging at him, trying to find and weak point. He struggled with me, eventually clasping my hands together and holding me against him as I broke. It felt like an eternity until my sobs slowed down. I felt Felicity come over and rub my back. She stayed silent as Oliver spoke.

"I know it feels like the end of the world right now, but you have to go back and stand firm. You can be her rock, her support from here. You have to hold her hand and walk through these new found challenges with her. She can't do that alone, not when she could get through it faster with you by her side. So pull it together and don't fail her now." I look up to meet his gaze, and I'm met with deep understanding as it flicks over to his wife and back. I flash him a small smile and nod. I will do my best to be a rock for Ava. She will get through this even if I have to go to hell and back again. I hug and thank them both and head for the jump ship.

"Gideon, send me home. I have someone I need to help dream again."

"Yes, Captain. Setting course for the Waverider. I believe someone is awake and waiting for you."