Disclaimer: I do not own Arrow.

Arrow Lair

Late night/early morning

Oliver was on the medical table, alarms going off as he convulsed. Barry rushed over, barking orders at Diggle and Sara as he took a look at Oliver, trying to determine what was wrong. Diggle started chest compressions as Barry took an empty syringe and took some of Oliver's blood. Barry pulled out the syringe and examined the blood for a moment.

"Got it, he's suffering from intravenous coagulation." Barry determined.

"What?" Diggle asked cluelessly.

"His blood it unnaturally clotting, it's like maple syrup." Barry explained.

"You can save him right?" Felicity asked.

Instead of answering, Barry turned around and walked over to a corner, picking a box up.

"Lucky you have a rat problem." Barry said as he walked over to them, carrying a box of rat poison.

"That will kill him!" Diggle argued as Barry poured some into a beaker.

"He dies if I don't!" Barry shot back.

"Sara." Diggle said as he and Felicity looked at her.

"If Barry wants to do it, we let him." Sara said firmly as Barry came back over with a new syringe.

"Just the right amount of this stuff will thin him out and get his blood working again." Barry said as he injected the contents of the syringe into Oliver's bloodstream.

Dazed, Oliver turned his head slightly as he heard someone call his name. He stared in pure shock at the site of his father standing at the edge of the lair.

"Don't fight anymore son, come with me." Robert said as he held a hand out to Oliver and instinctively, Oliver reached for it before he passed out.

Later, Barry was checking Oliver over when Oliver woke up. Out of instinct, Oliver reached up and grabbed Barry around the neck and started choking the life out of him. Sara's head shot up at the sound and she rushed over, prying Oliver's hand off Barry and the scientist stumbled back, gasping for breath.

"Hey, it's okay. It's okay." Sara told Oliver softly and he seemed to remember where he was.

"Barry I-I'm so sorry," Oliver said before he realized where they were, "wait, what are you doing here?"

"You injected with a strong-acting Blood coagulant." Felicity explained.

"You would've stroked out, but fortunately you had a very affective blood thinner handy: Warfarin, better known as rat poison." Barry said as he rubbed his throat.

"You brought him here." Oliver said with a blank tone.

"I had to Ollie. You were dying and this was the only way to save you without exposing us." Sara told him and Oliver nodded, though he didn't look particularly pleased.

"So uh, a lot of things about you two suddenly make a lot more sense." Barry said and the tension broke as Diggle and Felicity laughed and Sara and Oliver got slight smiles on their faces.

Sara's phone went off and she dug it out. Frowning, she began to read the message.

"It's Roy, he wants to talk." Sara said before walking off.

"The man from the bunker, he has what he needs to mass produce the serum, we have to stop him." Oliver said before walking off.

Oliver and Sara's loft

Morning

Oliver was at home, changing shirts, when he felt someone behind him. He turned around and was stunned to see his father standing in his room. It was impossible; he and Sara had both seen Robert take his own life six years ago. And yet here his father stood, perfectly healthy…or so he appeared.

"Dad." Oliver breathed shakily.

Oliver jerkily walked over and almost hesitantly reached out for his father. His hand made contact with Robert's solid shoulder and Robert's arms wrapped around his son. Oliver returned the hug in shock and disbelief.

"You can't be here." Oliver murmured against Robert's shoulder.

"I had to see you son," Robert said as he stepped back, "to warn you."

"Warn me about what?" Oliver asked as they both stepped back.

"You can't stop what's about to come Oliver. Put down your bow, take your family and run. It's what I should have done long ago." Robert pleaded.

"I use that bow to honor you dad." Oliver argued.

"If you don't run, you will lose everything and everyone that means something to you." Robert told him.

"Ollie?" Oliver whirled around to see Sara standing there looking concerned, "who are you talking to?"

Oliver whirled around to see his father got. He kept looking around to see his father but there was no sign of him. Sara kept looking at him, expecting an answer.

"He-he was just here. It was my father Sara. I know it's impossible but I swear to you he was just here." Oliver said completely baffled.

"Ollie, you were just poisoned. Maybe you should take some rest." Sara said gently.

"No, I can't. If the Mirakuru is still around, I have to be there to stop it." Oliver said firmly.

Lian Yu, five years ago

Night

Ivo picked up the needle next to the seemingly dead Slade just as the captain came back in with the box. Ivo stood up and walked over to it, looking at it like it was his salvation.

"Mirakuru," Ivo said before looking over at Oliver, Sara, and Shado, "take them."

The trio was led outside the sub and back onto the mainland at gunpoint. Sara looked over her shoulder at Ivo.

"You got what you wanted; you don't have to do this. You don't have to kill us." Sara told him in a surprisingly steady voice.

"You're right; I don't…which is why I won't make that choice. But he might." Ivo said as he looked over at the standing Oliver.

"What?" Oliver asked stunned and confused as Ivo forced Sara to kneel with Shado a few feet from her in a similar position.

"Time to choose Oliver. Who lives and who dies," Ivo said as he pulled out a pistol and pointed it at Sara's headed before switching to Shado's, "because in thirty seconds, I will shoot them both."

Arrow Lair

Afternoon

"Barry," Barry looked up from admiring Oliver's bow as Oliver and Sara walked back in, "that rat poison you gave me, are there any side-effects?"

"Hallucinations and excessive sweating." Barry explained.

"You're hallucinating?" Diggle asked and Oliver nodded.

"I saw my father." Oliver said simply.

"Let me draw your blood, see what's up," Barry said as he began to do just that, "can I ask you something? Why no mask? I mean, I know you had to do your vigilante-ing but the grease paint is a poor identity concealment."

"Find me a mask that aligns perfectly to my face and doesn't affect my aim while I'm on the run." Oliver said dryly.

"You should look into compressible micro fabric." Barry advised.

"Found Cyrus Gold." Felicity announced as Barry removed the needle.

"Who's Cyrus gold?" Sara demanded as she and Oliver walked over.

"The human weapon that left your husband nearly dead last night. Barry managed to pull his print off Oliver's neck." Diggle explained.

"I've been running facial recognition software all over town. He's at the corner of Delgado and twenty-fifth right now but we're just about to lose him." Felicity explained.

"What else is there?" Oliver demanded.

"A parking lot, a market, and a motel." Felicity said after a quick search.

"Let's go." Oliver ordered to Sara as he turned to leave.

"Ollie," she called out and he paused, "maybe I should do this one alone. It's just recon."

"…Fine," Oliver said after debating for a moment, "but I'm backing you up."

Cyrus Gold's apartment

Late afternoon/early night

The door was kicked in and The Canary walked in, looking around. There nothing suspicious about it except she found a book with a poem about life and death. Sensing someone behind her, The Canary whirled around and took out her baton as Gold shot at her. She dodged but winced as a bullet got her in the leg. Undeterred, The Canary swung her baton at him and it struck him across the face. Still, it seemed to have no affect and he struck her across the face, sending her across the room. Spotting a window, The Canary made a split second decision and jumped through the window. Using her acrobatic skills, she easily climbed down the fire escape as Oliver pulled up in the car. She quickly opened the back seat and jumped in, slamming the door behind her as Oliver sped off.

"We can't take him on our own Ollie." Sara said, wincing slightly as she fingered the wound in her leg.

"Well then we need back up." Oliver said grimly.

Starling City

Night

"What is it Oliver, you sounded urgent?" Quentin asked as they met on the rooftop.

"Cyrus Gold," Oliver said as he handed Quentin the file, "he robbed my company last week. He's even more dangerous than Malcolm Merlyn."

"Your friend Allen made him sound like kind of monster." Quentin said as he looked at the file.

"He is." Oliver confirmed.

"What is it, steroids?" Quentin asked sarcastically.

"Worse, it's," Oliver paused as he saw Slade Wilson standing on an air vent, "…it's…"

"You okay?" Quentin asked as he looked at where Oliver was looking and finding nothing.

"Yeah," Oliver snapped himself out of it, "he's been enhanced by a secret serum from world war two. I know it sounds crazy but I've seen it."

"Okay, then why come to me?" Quentin inquired.

"Because I've been compromised." Oliver admitted and Quentin looked even more confused.

"What does that mean?" Quentin asked.

"It means I'm a liability and Sara's not sure she can beat him on her own. Take as many men as you can and do not hesitant to kill him Quentin. Because he won't either." Oliver told him grimly as he looked up at Slade before turning and walking off.

Lian Yu, five years ago

Night

"You don't have to do this! You got what you came for, just take it and go!" Oliver pleaded.

"Ten seconds." Ivo said coldly.

"You freaking psychopath!" Oliver roared.

"History will make that judgement," Ivo said as he pointed the gun at Sara, "five seconds."

Oliver did not say anything. Ivo shrugged like it was no big deal.

"Time's up." Ivo said as he prepared to shoot Sara.

"No!" Oliver shouted.

He simply reacted, Sara would tell him later. Oliver rushed forward and put himself in the path of the gun. Ivo stared at him coolly.

"I guess you made your choice." Ivo said as he turned the gun on Shado.

"No!" Oliver shouted as Ivo shout Shado in the head.

Arrow Lair

Later

Oliver was alone in the liar. He had sent Felicity and Barry away and Sara and Diggle were backing up the police with Gold. Oliver threw a tennis ball and then fired an arrow after it. But the arrow was caught by, to hiss great shock, Slade Wilson.

"What's the matter kid, you look like you've seen a ghost." Slade told him.

Starling City

Same time

The Canary and Diggle stood a safe distance away from the police, far enough not to be seen but close enough to get their quickly when the fight began. The police entered the room and The Canary and Diggle slowly began to follow them. Hearing the sounds of gunshots, the pair quickly raced in and, by the time they got there, there was only Quentin and Hilton remaining. The four stood in silence, waiting even as The Canary raised her baton. The four moved out and it was quiet for a moment. Then a box of crates was knocked over and fell on top of Quentin. The other free raced towards the sound and The Canary and Diggle saw Quentin being pinned to a crate by Gold. Hilton and Diggle opened fire on Gold but he did not react save for letting Quentin drop to the ground.

The Canary rushed, him throwing a knife at him on the way. The knife got Gold in the elbow and The Canary struck him across the face. But Gold simply shrugged it off and grabbed her around the throat, throwing her through the crate. After going through the crate, she bounced painfully across the room until she hit a wall, which rendered her unconscious. Diggle opened fire on Gold but Gold simply punched him, sending the military man flying. Gold vanished into the shadows for a moment only to reappear next to Hilton. He snatched the gun from Hilton and put it under Hilton's chin before firing.

Arrow Lair

Same time

"Nice place, bit more comfortable than the fuselage on the island." Slade said as he looked around the lair.

"You're not real." Oliver said not believing this was happening.

"Neither are you," Slade said as he stared at the display case holding Oliver's uniform, "you told everyone when you started this crusade it was about making up for your father's sins. That was a lie."

Slade snapped the arrow in half, throwing it to the ground before turning around, glaring at Oliver.

"This charade is to atone for your sins." Slade sneered.

"You're dead." Oliver said plainly.

"You are not a hero. Or a friend or a brother. You are nothing," Slade mocked as Oliver turned away from Slade, "do not turn your back on me! Not again."

"You're gone." Oliver said stubbornly.

"Wherever I am, it's time for you to join me." Slade snarled as he rushed Oliver.

Oliver was pushed against the computers before he turned around and began exchanging punches with Slade. Slade twisted his arm and sent Oliver forward. Oliver stumbled before regaining his balance.

"They say a coward dies a thousand deaths," Slade said as Oliver turned around, "but even that wouldn't be enough for you."

"I tried to save you! And her." Oliver told him.

"But you couldn't. Just like you couldn't save this city." Slade said and Oliver angrily rushed him.

Slade easily blocked all of Oliver's strikes and grabbed the bow from Oliver, before striking him with it. Slade then punched Oliver in the face, sending him over the table and knocking all the monitors off. Slade knocked the table over before walking over to Oliver. Slade grabbed Oliver by his hair and lifted him up before leaning close to his ear.

"The island didn't make you strong kid, it revealed you to be weak." Slade said before slamming Oliver through the display case.

Oliver went down, covered in glass, and when he looked up, Slade was gone. After a few moments of sitting in stunned silence, Oliver stood up and began to clean up. He wasn't there long when Sara and Diggle arrived back. Oliver was immediately concerned, as a large bruise covered Diggle's face and Diggle was supporting Sara as they came down the stairs.

"It didn't go well." Diggle said as Oliver rushed over.

"Are you alright?" Oliver demanded of Sara.

"I think my ribs are a little bruised but I'll live." Sara assured him.

"And the police?" Oliver asked.

"They're all dead except for Quentin, who's in the ICU." Diggle explained as Felicity and Barry came back in.

"What happened, did someone break in?" Felicity asked and Diggle and Sara noticed the mess for the first time.

"No." Oliver said simply.

A beep went off at the computers and Barry rushed over.

"Hey, your blood analysis is back." Barry told Oliver.

"Then you know what's in my system." Oliver said as he walked over to Barry while Diggle set Sara down in a chair.

"that's the thing, your blood is clean." Barry said as everyone looked over at the pair.

"Then why am I hallucinating?!" Oliver demanded.

"I don't know but your problem is not pharmacological, it's psychological. It's in your head." Barry told him.

Starling General Hospital

Later

"Laurel, how is he?" Oliver asked as he met his sister in law outside Quentin's room.

"He'll be fine, but he's a little banged up. And I just told him Hilton's dead," Laurel sighed as she looked over at Oliver, "what exactly is going on Ollie? What are we dealing with?"

"A monster." Oliver told her simply before entering the room.

Quentin groaned in pain and looked up as Oliver closed the door behind him.

"How are you?" Oliver asked carefully.

"I'm alive, which is more than I can say for most of my unit." Quentin said gruffly.

"I'm sorry about your partner." Oliver said softly.

"I took him in there." Quentin reminded him.

"Because of me." Oliver muttered but Quentin shook his head.

"Not every death in the city is on you Oliver. I got this off Gold," Quentin said as he set a key on the on the desk beside him, "maybe you can do something with this. I didn't' believe you at first but the way this guy fought, it's like he's not human."

"He's human." Oliver said as he picked up the key.

"Well then you can kill him," Quentin said as he looked up at Oliver, "for Hilton…and me."

Arrow Lair

Later

Oliver was sharpening his arrows as he talked with Diggle about his ghostly encounter with Slade when Felicity calls out. The two walk over to the computers where she, Barry, and Sara, who had bandages wrapped around her abdomen, were waiting.

"I scanned the key Sara's dad gave you, we traced its serial number back to the manufacturer." Felicity explained.

"This particular key fits a locked gate somewhere on Crescent Circe somewhere in The Glades." Barry finished.

"Where are you going? You're in no condition to be going out there." Felicity said as Oliver went to get ready.

"I'm on better shape than Sara and the police can't stop him. I have to end this." Oliver said determined.

"Don't bother Felicity," Sara said as Felicity opened her mouth to argue, "he won't be talked out of it. And he's right, he's the only one left with a chance to stop Gold."

"Thank you Sara." Oliver said as he grabbed his bow.

"If you die, I'll kill you." Sara said with a tone that barely portrayed her worry.

"Then I won't die." Oliver as he walked over to her, kissed her lightly on the lips and walked off.

The Glades

Later

Roy screamed as Brother Blood injected him with something when there was an explosion. A piece of the roof, large enough for The Arrow to sump down anyway, blew up as the archer emerged in the room, sliding down a line . The Arrow notched an arrow and fired, putting an arrow in the leg of one of the lackeys. Notching another arrow the archer took aim at Brother Blood.

"Brother Cyrus told me he killed you." Blood said in a disguised voice.

"Guess he's not as strong as you hoped. Where'd you get the Mirakuru? Who gave you the formula?" The Arrow demanded.

"It was a gift, a gift I will use to save this city." Blood insisted.

Gold rushed at Oliver, who turned and fired. The arrow didn't even seem to slow him down and Gold rushed at The Arrow, who used the line he had ridden in on, swinging around it. The Arrow tried to use the line to deliver a swing kick to Gold but Gold grabbed his leg and threw him through a wall. Gold ripped out the arrow and stalked towards The Arrow, picking him up and throwing Him across the room. The Arrow landed near Roy and Blood. Roy's moans of pain, which had been constant since the fight began, suddenly stopped. The Arrow looked up as Blood checked Roy's pulse.

"Another failure." Blood dismissed and The Arrow's head fell back.

"Get up Oliver." A familiar voice seemed to echo throughout the room.

Oliver whipped his head up and saw Tommy Merlyn standing above him. Oliver pulled himself into a sitting position as Tommy knelt down in front of him.

"Tommy." Oliver breathed.

"You're not gonna die down here." Tommy told.

"Tommy, I'm sorry. I let you die." Oliver apologized.

"You didn't let me die Ollie, you fought to save me. Because that's what you do, what you have always done: you fight to survive. I know I called you a murderer but you are not. To the people of this city, you are a symbol: a symbol of justice, a symbol of truth, a symbol of hope. You beat the island, you beat my father. So fight Oliver. Get up and fight." Tommy ordered.

"Kill him." Blood ordered as Tommy vanished.

Gold rushed him but The Arrow jumped up punched Gold, which seemed to slow him down. Gold tried to strike back but The Arrow jumped out of the way before taking out another arrow and firing. It hit the centrifuge and the arrow exploded, Gold screaming as chemicals hit his face. The concrete came down on them all, killing the lackey and Gold and causing Blood to flee. The Arrow was unconcerned with him as he rushed to Roy. Cutting him loose, Oliver started chest compressions.

"Come on Roy. I am not leaving anyone else here to die! You're strong kid, come on! Come on fight!" Oliver shouted at him.

Roy suddenly groaned, showing that he was still alive. Oliver sighed in relief as he lowered Roy back to the ground.

Lian Yu, five years ago

Night

Oliver and Sara stared at Shado's body, grief and shock on their minds. Suddenly, it was chaos in the clearing and the couple looked up to see Slade tearing Ivo's men apart like they were practice dummies. Ivo escaped in the chaos and one of the soldiers approached Slade, who punched him clear through his chest. The man dropped dead and it was at that point Slade caught sight of Shado. Slade walked over to her and fell to his knees next to her. He took her in his arms and looked over at his friends.

"Why?" Slade asked brokenly.

"I…" Oliver wasn't even able to look Slade in the eye.

"Ivo just shot her, he didn't say why." Sara said, not able to look Slade in the eye either.

"Whoever did this is going to suffer." Slade vowed as he stood with the fallen Shado in his arms.

Arrow Lair

Later

Roy groaned as he came to. Sitting up, he rubbed his face and began to look around as he took it all in. he stopped ass he saw the people in front of him. Thea's brother's body guard, some blonde girl he had never seen before, and Thea's sister in law. But it was Thea's brother, dressed in The Arrow's uniform with the hood down, that had his full attention.

"Welcome back Roy." Oliver said as Roy threw his legs over the side of the medical table he was on.

"You're The Arrow. And you're," Roy looked over at Sara who nodded, "suddenly a lot of things make sense."

"You are actually not the first person to say that to us today." Oliver said with a slight smile.

"What happened?" Roy asked as it was a little fuzzy.

"The short version, you were injected with something called the Mirakuru." Sara told him.

"It's a super soldier serum from world war two. But the cons far outweigh the pros." Oliver warned him.

"How do I get it out of me?" Roy asked worriedly.

"We don't know yet, but we'll find a way." Oliver promised

"So…what am I doing here exactly? I mean, you didn't bring me here just to tell me that." Roy asked cautiously.

"I was gonna wait until after New Year's to tell you this but your training under me is complete. The rest of your training is under him." Sara said as she gestured to Oliver.

"I'm a harsher teacher than my wife but if you really want this, you'll stick with it." Oliver told him.

"When do you start?" Roy asked eagerly.

So, what do you guys think? Please leave any thoughts or comments in a review, feedback is greatly appreciated.