Chapter 4

"Aziz, set a perimeter," Oliver ordered.

Aziz barked orders in Arabic. The assassins disappeared. Ray shook his head. He was impressed.

"Are my security dead?" he asked.

"Out cold and tied up. A sedative was used on them," answered Oliver. "I'll make sure they are treated well."

"Oh," was Ray's response.

"What do you intend to do about Roy?" asked Diggle.

"I'm breaking him out of prison and taking him back to Nanda Parbat with me," answered Oliver.

Thea's eyes darkened and she stepped towards Oliver. Aziz placed his hand on his sword, but Oliver stilled him with a simple hand motion.

"Ray, do you mind if I take a walk through your home with my sister, so we can talk?" asked Oliver.

"Sure. Do you need me to give you directions?" Ray asked.

"I was born in this home," was Oliver's answer.

"I have to remember that this was your home," said Ray.

Thea stormed out of the room and Oliver followed. They headed up the stairs to the little used third floor where there was servant quarters, a library, an office, and storage rooms.

"Thea," Oliver barked stopping his sister movement. She turned and stared at him. "If I don't get Roy out of prison he'll die because his cellmates won't stop until he's dead. I can't allow that."

Suddenly, his tough and hard-edged sister softened and became the little girl he remembered. She started crying. Oliver strode over to her and took her into his arms. He held her until she stopped crying.

"Can I come with you?" she asked.

"No," he said. "I can't have you at Nanda Parbat. You belong here. I don't want you there."

"Oliver, I can handle myself. I've even gone on patrols with Laurel and Dig. Your green, Roy is red, so I chose blue as my color," she told him. "My code name is Speedy."

"Speedy? Really? Lance will know it's you. Call yourself Artemis and change your color to forest green. You are my sister," smiled Oliver.

"You approve?" she asked.

"No. But I know you won't listen to me," he chuckled.

He let go of her. She stepped back and looked up at him.

"You understand why I've come for Roy?" he asked.

She nodded yes then said, "I want you both back here, Ollie. Both of you."

"I know. I don't know how long it will take, but I intend on coming home, Speedy. I belong here," he stated.

"Oliver!" Felicity called for him.

A smile crept across his face. Thea saw his brother's face light up and couldn't help but smile.

"Take a left and come down the hallway," Oliver called out.

Thea's smile turned to a smirk then she said, "I better leave you two alone."

She turned and headed up the hallway as Felicity came down it. They passed each other and exchanged smiles. Felicity looked as of she was going to crawl out of her skin.

"I never knew there was a third floor, but, of course, there is. This place is huge. I was always intimidated when I came here," she rambled.

"Fe-li-ci-ty," Oliver quieted her.

She stopped talking and stood there in front of him. Just the sight of her made his heart start beating faster. Her eyes darkened as her eyes became half lidded.

"Oliver, I've missed you," she said.

"I've missed you, too, Felicity," he replied softly.

"Then what are you waiting for?" she asked him in a throaty voice.

He moved quickly grabbing her by her hips and pulling her into his body. His mouth captured hers. Her hands went up and went behind his neck, as he moved her against the wood paneling wall.

She ripped her mouth away from his and asked in an out of breath voice, "Is there a bedroom on this floor?"

"There used to be," he answered.

"Let's hope Ray kept some things the same," she said.

Oliver picked her up in his arms and strode down the hallway towards a servant quarters. Even if there wasn't a bed they could have some privacy.

Arrow

Everyone was waiting for Oliver and Felicity. Over forty minutes had passed since Thea returned. Ray was working on the computers gathering schematics of the prison, as well as guard rotation and more. Diggle, Thea, Laurel, and Nyssa were in conversation, while Aziz stood silently, a bodyguard waiting for the body to return. They could Felicity rambling in the hall. All eyes turned to the door.

Felicity and Oliver returned standing side by side. It didn't take get observational skills to see that her dress was rumpled and her ponytail askew. Thea giggled drawing Felicity's attention. She pointed to a spot on her own neck. Felicity knew what she meant. Her right hand went up to her throat. She leaned in and whispered.

"You gave me a hickey, didn't you?" she said.

Oliver smirked then leaned in and whispered in her ear, "You belong to me."

His hot breath sent a chill down her spine and she blushed. She did belong to him.

"I have the information you need," said Ray then he held up a thumb drive. "Ground plans for the prison, guard rotation, guard numbers, response time when the escape alarm goes off, and how to disable the security."

"I can disable the security," said Felicity.

"The prison is a league matter. We will handle it," stated Oliver.

Felicity glared at him and Oliver responded with a soft smile. He looked over at Ray.

"You have been a great assistance to us. A favor deserves a favor. Is there anything I can help you with?" Oliver asked.

"Holland Dyson," Diggle spoke up. "He's a metahuman. He can turn his skin into rock, metal, or rubber."

"Do you still have my arrows?" he asked.

"All your stuff is in police custody, though I have some specialty arrows Diggle has made for Thea," said Felicity.

"I'll need two explosive arrows, one diamond tipped one, and one that releases a freezing agent on contact," Oliver stated.

"We can do that, if I get some help," said Diggle.

"Then I can assist you with Holland Dyson," Oliver offered.

Ray smiled but it was a smile that didn't go all the way to his eyes. Diggle moved over to Oliver and offered him his right hand to shake. He knew an attempt at a hug would draw Aziz's attention. They shook hands.

"Okay, let's trick out those arrows," said Felicity.

Oliver turned to Aziz and started to give him orders, "I need my gear. Also, bring Barir in when you return. I am placing you and Barir in charge of breaking Roy Harper out of prison. There will be no deaths. Understood?"

"Yes, master," said Aziz.

"I will handle Holland Dyson with these people," stated Oliver.

"You need a bodyguard. Ra's Al Ghul demands it," said Aziz.

"I will take Haydar with me," stated Oliver.

Aziz nodded then left the room.

"It must be overwhelming to have men who would kill for you with just a word or a nod," said Ray.

"The testament of their loyalty is not that they would kill for me but that they would die for me," Oliver corrected him.

"You are learning well from my father," said Nyssa.

Oliver looked at her and smirked then said, "I am at your service, daughter of the Demon."

Nyssa responded with a snare.

"Should I get my suit ready?" asked Ray.

"I can't see why not," answered Oliver.

Ray stood up from the computers and clapped his hands.

"Okay, team, lets get ready," he stated.

Arrow

Thea stayed in the van along with Diggle. It was a request made by Al Sahim. Oliver, Haydar, and Laurel took to the street outside of the warehouse where Dyson was keeping shop. Ray's job was to make an entrance through the roof. Oliver thought he'd use Ray as a distraction allowing him to go after Dyson.

"This is the Atom. I'll be breaching the roof in forty seconds," came the voice of Ray through their earpiece.

Oliver nocked and explosive arrow and waited for the sound of Ray's entrance. Exactly forty seconds later, Ray blew a hole in the roof and entered the warehouse. Dressed in his league gear, Oliver crashed through a window and landed on his feet. He fired his arrow connecting with Dyson, just as he turned his skin into rock. The arrow cracked his rocky arm. Dyson screamed in pain the scanned the area for escape. He started to run, so Oliver hit him with another explosive arrow. Dyson screamed in pain again, so he turned into metal

Ray, Laurel, and Haydar took on Dyson's men. Oliver knew that with Haydar's assistant they would be able to subdue them quickly. He had to act even quicker against Dyson. Oliver's next arrow was diamond tipped and it went straight through Dyson left arm. His metal skin made no difference, so Dyson turned his to rubber. Oliver nocked his last specialty arrow and fired. When it came in contact with Dyson's skin, which now had he consistency of rubber, the freezing agent released and froze the rubber. Dyson was as stiff as a statue and as frozen as a broken heart.

Turning he saw that Haydar, Laurel, and Ray had taken out Dyson's gang. Ray came over to him and looked at Dyson. He used his armor to scan the frozen man.

"Believe it or not, he's still alive," said Ray.

"Better call the police and have them pick up this group," suggested Oliver.

"I call them from the communications in my helmet," said Ray.

Oliver walked away leaving Ray staring at the frozen Dyson. Here he was wearing a suit that was a weapon and he was feeling jealous of a man who used a bow and arrow. He wasn't going to give up on Felicity, though. Oliver, or Al Sahim, was headed back to Nanda Parbat. Who knew when he'd be seen again?

Arrow

When they returned to the mansion, Oliver's assassins had Roy. Thea rushed into Roy's arms. Oliver noticed the grimace of pain. His protégé had been through a lot. Now he was going to Nanda Parbat. The pain he felt in prison would pale in what was to come. Oliver still had training come to him, also, so his pain wasn't over either.

"Barir," Oliver ordered, "take the men and go. Return to our duties. I shall be leaving with my protégé and Aziz in a day or two."

Barir bowed and left. Oliver walked over to Roy, who broke off his hug with Thea. He grabbed him by his shoulders.

"I told you once that I'd never desert you," he said.

"I'm coming with you?" asked Roy.

"Yes, you're coming with me to Nanda Parbat," he said.

Roy smiled.

Arrow

Quentin Lance couldn't wait to leave Central City. The plane landed in Starling city and Lance took a taxi to his apartment. After dropping his luggage on the floor and turning on the light he turned on the TV for company.

"Breaking News. Roy Harper, better known as the vigilante the Arrow, has escaped from prison," the newsreader announced. "Also tonight, the gang leader and metahuman Holland Dyson was caught tonight."

Before he could hear anything else, Lance turned off the TV. He shook his head and snarled at the TV. Without a doubt in his mind Oliver Queen had something to do about this. He'd told him that Roy Harper was being attacked daily in prison and wouldn't survive much longer and suddenly Roy Harper was sprung. On top of that the bastard Dyson was caught out of nowhere. Yeah, Oliver Queen had to be involved somehow. Maybe in the morning he'd find the son of bitch and arrest him for grabbing a police officer by the throat.

Arrow

Oliver woke the next morning in his old room in his old bed with Felicity in his arms. He had dreamed about waking up with her in his arms for months and here she was. Her head rested on his chest and her leg was intertwined with his legs. It was a glorious feeling.

As gently as he could he slipped from under Felicity and out of the bed. Not wanting to wake her, he went into the bathroom and showered. When he was done, he pulled a towel around his waist and went back into the bedroom. He found a smiling Felicity sitting up in bed with the sheet pulled up to her chest covering her.

"Hey," he greeted her.

"Now I know how Elizabeth Swann must feel. She only gets to be with the man she loves once a year," Felicity said.

Oliver looked at her confused and asked, "Who?"

"Elizabeth Swann. Pirates of the Caribbean. In the third movie she marries Will Turner, who now is the captain of Dutchman and has to ferry the dead to the other side, but he is allowed one day a year on land to be with his love, Elizabeth Swann," she explained.

"Um... we'll have to watch it some day," he smiled.

"When will our next time together be, Oliver?" she asked. "If you told me a year from now, I'll be happy. If you told me five years from now, I'll be happy, just as long as there is another time," Felicity told him.

Oliver walked over to her and kissed her on the forehead.

"There be another time. I promise," he said.

A big smile cracked her face, as Oliver gently caressed her cheek. She leaned her head into his head. Oliver just stood there staring at her for a moment.

"We should go downstairs. Hopefully, someone made some breakfast," said Oliver.

"Ray likes to cook breakfast," Felicity blurted out not thinking that it was information he didn't want to know. She looked up at him and saw his features darken. "Oliver, you know we aren't sleeping together with him anymore. I only want to be with you."

"Felicity, I'm jealous of him. He's here and he's free. I wish I could be with you everyday," he said.

"Ditto," she grinned.

"Get dressed," he said. "Aziz must be contemplating breaking into this room to make sure you haven't murderer me. He is my bodyguard."

"How could I murder you?" asked Felicity.

"There was a couple of moments last night that I did see a light and was tempted to walk into it," he smiled.

Felicity blushed.

Arrow

Captain Lance along with six uniformed officers waited for someone to answer the door. He pressed the buzzer again. Finally, Ray answered the door.

"Captain Lance, how can I help you?" Ray asked.

"Mr. Palmer, I'm here to see if you might be harboring Roy Harper," Lance said. "I have a warrant."

"Come in, Captain," said Ray.

He stepped aside and Lance entered with his officers. He looked at the large staircase to see Oliver, dressed in black, with his hands behind his back walking down the steps. Lance snarled.

"Oliver Queen, I knew you'd be somewhere around here to be found," growled Lance. "Whenever this city feels pain, you are there."

"Captain Lance," Oliver spoke, "Roy is not here. If you have a warrant, please serve it."

Felicity came down the stairs dressed in yoga pants and a black shirt that she stole from Oliver.

"Oh, one of your co-conspirators Miss Smoak. Maybe I should run you both downtown for questioning," threatened Lance.

Aziz came out of the living room. He had most of his assassin gear off, but he was still a very deadly human being. Oliver didn't want to see any of the officers either maimed or killed. He walked the rest of the way down the stairs and right up to Lance invading his personal space. In a low voice he spoke to Lance and Lance only.

"Captain, if you were to touch or harass Miss Smoak, I would have no choice but to end your life, and, believe me, I would regret that. I've already accepted that I can't save you from your bitterness and stupidity, but I will not let you injure in any manner the woman I love," he stated.

"As if you could stop me from taking her in right now," said Lance then he smiled as if he was in charge.

Oliver smiled like a predatory ready to strike then he said in barely a whisper, "I could kill you and your men without a weapon or breaking a sweat. I am Al Sahim, Heir to the Demon, Captain. He is far deadly than Oliver Queen."

"Tell me, Al Sahim, where is Roy Harper?" Lance asked.

Oliver stepped back and said, "I don't know, but I assume he is on his way to somewhere safe."

"Safe? I...," Lance felt the bile from his hate coming up on him. He noticed that Laurel and Nyssa now appeared on the staircase and were looking down on him. In his daughter's eyes he saw sadness and some disdain. It was the same look she used to have when he was a drunk. This made him step back.

"Can I see this warrant you talked about?" asked Ray.

Lance handed him the warrant. Ray looked it over.

"You and your officers should feel free to search my house. Don't destroy anything, though, or I'll be suing the city for a great deal of money," Ray warned him.

"Search the place, but don't break anything," ordered Lance.

He and his men entered the mansion. Ray walked over to Oliver.

"Where is Roy?" he asked in a low voice.

"I had him and Thea go with the league members last night. They are somewhere safe," answered Oliver.

"I see," nodded Ray, who then looked at the women on the stairs. "Who wants breakfast? I'm in the mood to cook scrambled eggs."

Arrow

Felicity came with to the private airport. Diggle drove them in Palmer's BMW. Aziz sat beside Diggle, while Oliver and Felicity were given privacy in the back. She tried to fight back tears, but the thought he was off again and once again she didn't know for how long broke her heart.

Oliver turned her face towards him with his right hand then he caressed her chin with the calloused pad of his thumb. He knew she wanted him to stay. Hell, he wanted to stay.

"You know I'll return," he said.

"I just don't know when," she said.

"Once I'm done with my training I'll be given a certain amount of freedom until Ra's Al Ghul is dead then I'll should be able to find a way to free myself from the mantle of Ra's Al Ghul," he told her.

"I want to be with you," Felicity said.

"Felicity, I can't let you come to Nanda Parbat. It's too dangerous and I don't think you'd like training as an assassin," he smiled.

"Fine," she pouted. "You could at least kiss me."

Oliver smiled, cupped her cheek in his hand, and then captured her mouth with his own.

Diggle pulled into the private airport where a Gulfstream G550 was waiting for Oliver, Roy, and Aziz. Getting out of the car, Diggle whistled when he saw it. Oliver and Felicity got out of the car.

"I see that you are traveling well," said Diggle.

A motorcycle could be heard. Everyone looked at the coming bike. It was Roy with Thea as his passenger. She was holding on to him tightly. Roy pulled up beside the BMW. They got off the bike.

He took the helmet off and said, "I'm here, boss."

"Roy," grinned Oliver. He looked at everyone. If there was one thing he hated it was goodbyes. "We should be going."

Roy gave Thea a welfare kiss then shook Dig's hand and offered Felicity a smile. He headed towards the plane along with Aziz. Oliver shook Diggle's hand then leaned in and whispered to him, "Take care of sister and Felicity for me."

"I will," he answered.

Oliver looked at Thea. She tried to smile but the tears were coming. She gave him a hug then walked over to Diggle and cried in his arms. The last one to say goodbye to was Felicity. Oliver took her in his arms and kissed. It was a kiss of desperation that he wished could last forever. When he stepped away from her, he kissed her forehead then he headed for the plane. It was time to return to Ra's.