Oliver's campaign office
Morning
"He's late," Alex told Thea as he checked his watch. "Later than usual."
"I will call him and see what's taking him so long. I'm sure he has an explanation," Thea said as she pulled out her cell phone and began scrolling through her contacts.
"Well, it better be good," Alex said annoyed.
Oliver's apartment
Same time
"Hello?" Oliver said as he answered his phone.
"Where are you? We need you down here for the finances," Thea said annoyed.
"That was today? God Thea, I'm sorry, I totally spaced. I can't make it in for a few hours," Oliver told her apologetically.
"Why not, Alex looks like he's about ready to walk?" Thea whispered.
"An old friend is in town who needs my help. I'm sorry Speedy, but you're gonna have to figure out the finances without me or postpone it," Oliver said as he hung up. "Sorry, that was work."
"Which work?" Slade asked dryly from where he sat by the window, his feet propped up on another chair.
"The kind where the police don't chase you," Oliver said sarcastically and Slade chuckled.
"Don't apologize. I appreciate the meeting," Slade said gratefully.
"You helped me save my son, the least I can do is help you find Joe," Oliver told him.
"He doesn't go by that name anymore," Slade said and Oliver frowned.
"He changed his name?"
"His mother's idea, her maiden name. He goes by Kane now," Slade explained.
"What happened to him?" Oliver inquired.
"I tracked him to Calgary, but by then he'd gone, so I followed him Ibiza and then Mombasa," Slade explained.
"Mombasa?" Oliver repeated.
"The kid took after his father," Slade said as he got to his feet. "While we were stuck on Lian Yu, he went and joined the Australian intelligence service. A week ago in Kasnia, a mission went south. He was dealing in arms. Some locals caught him. Supposedly, he didn't get a fair trial, and now he's serving a life sentence like a rat in a cage."
"Ok Slade. What do you need?" Oliver asked.
"I need you to help me find my son," Slade said vaguely.
"And what does that mean? What do you need from me Slade? If you want my help, you need to be up front about what you want from me," Oliver said bluntly.
"I need your Argus connections. Strangely enough, what I need is diplomacy. Which means I need you, not the Green Arrow," Slade explained.
"What makes you think Lyla will agree to help?" Oliver inquired.
"Because you asked her to," Slade said simply as he began to walk out. "I need you to create a new identity for yourself, some politician. I've organized transport to Kasnia. Wheels up at 2200. I'll understand if you don't wanna join me. But if you do, I'll meet you out front at 2100. Okay kid?"
Oliver simply nodded and Slade returned the gesture before walking out.
Laurel and Thea's apartment
Night
Sara hung up the phone ending the call with her mother. She leaned back into the couch as Quentin set two coffee mugs on the table.
"So how'd that go?" Quentin asked.
"Easier than the last time mom found out I wasn't really dead," Sara joked weakly as Laurel sat down next to her.
"You okay honey?" Quentin asked in concern.
"Yeah, just something mom said about how I got lost walking home from school one day and how I promised that I'd always come back. But I can't remember," Sara admitted.
"You're probably better off not remembering all the messed up things our parents did to us anyway," Laurel teased and Sara laughed.
"Hey, you both turned out alright, and you're both home. I couldn't ask for anything more," Quentin told them.
"Yeah, remind me to thank Ollie again for that when he gets back," Laurel said, causing her sister and father to raise an eyebrow.
"Where's he going?" Quentin asked.
"He's going on a road trip with Slade Wilson," Laurel said without thought.
"He's what?! What happened while I was dead?" Sara asked stunned.
"And how is Oliver best buddies with Wilson after what happened?" Quentin mentioned.
"Didn't I tell you what happened with William?" Laurel asked surprised, sure she had.
"Well you certainly left out a few details," Quentin told her and Laurel winced.
"Obviously I did. Well, sit down, it's a complicated story," Laurel said and Quentin sat down on the other couch as he and Sara gave her their undivided attention. "It all starts a few months before Ollie became the Green Arrow. He was on his way home from the grocery store when he noticed a woman on the side of the road that seemed like she was having car trouble…"
Arrow lair
Same time
"Okay, thanks Lyla," Oliver said as he hung up his phone while he packed.
"So, Lyla tells me Oliver Queen is going to Kasnia with Slade Wilson?" Diggle asked as he walked over.
"Nope, Vincent Falcone, mayor of a small town in Australia, is," Oliver told him and Diggle nodded.
"What's going on Oliver?" Diggle asked and Oliver sighed.
"Slade's son is in prison there. Slade insists he has a diplomatic solution, but I'm worried if I don't go, he'll take a more…aggressive approach," Oliver explained and Diggle nodded.
"So, are you going because you want to or because you feel like you have to?" Diggle asked and Oliver sighed once more.
"John, I know Slade isn't your favorite person, but you didn't know him before the Mirakuru. I made him a promise that I would help him find his son. And I owe him John, I owe him at least this," Oliver said firmly.
"And how does William feel about this?" Diggle inquired.
"Oh, William is all for it. William thinks the world of Slade considering he saved him from China White. Slade is his hero," Oliver said disgruntled.
"Are you sure about this?" Diggle asked after a beat.
"No. But I owe him for saving William," Oliver said as threw his duffle back over his shoulder.
Laurel and Thea's apartment
Same time
"Wow, that's…wow," Quentin said after Laurel had finished telling Sara and him the whole story.
"Yeah. Sara, you okay?" Laurel asked as she saw the look on her sister's face.
"I don't trust Slade, I especially don't trust him with Ollie, alone," Sara said bluntly.
"Well, if their story is true, Wilson doesn't seem like a nutcase anymore," Quentin noted.
"He didn't seem like one at first when we were all on Lian Yu either. I just…I don't trust him. Not enough for this," Sara said.
"Well, Ollie said he was gonna meet Slade outside his apartment at nine so they could head out to their transportation, whatever that is," Laurel told her. "If you wanna try and stop him, there's your chance."
"Ollie won't be stopped. He doesn't see straight when it comes to Slade, never has," Sara said, a glint in her eyes that neither her sister nor her father liked.
Star City
Later
Slade stood outside a black SUV with the truck open, his duffle bag over his shoulder. Slade checked his bag and, seeing it was nine, sighed in disappointment. He turned around, putting is bag in the trunk when-
"How long is this flight?"
Slade turned around to see Oliver standing behind him.
"About twelve hours," Slade said, a grin crossing is face. "Thanks for coming kid."
"Let's go get your boy," Oliver said with a nod.
"Room for one more?"
Oliver and Slade turned and saw Sara stepping out of the shadows, a duffle bag thrown over her shoulder.
"Sara?" Olivier sked surprised while Slade showed no visible reaction to the girl he had heard was dead being there, alive and kicking.
"I don't trust you with him. Certainly not enough to let you go with him alone," Sara said as she shot Slade a glare that didn't seem to faze him.
"That's fair. If it will ease you consciousness, you are more than free to come along," Slade said and Sara glared.
"If you make one move I don't like, I won't hesitate to kill you," Sara snarled before getting in the backseat, not giving Slade her bag.
"Smart choice," Slade said before closing the truck after putting Oliver's bag in.
Olivier sighed before getting in the passenger seat as Slade got in the driver's. This was going to be one hell of a trip, Olivier thought dryly as Slade began driving off.
I know, not a very long chapter, but I felt it was a good way to start off the Slade Arc.
I didn't have Oliver decided to back out only to be talked back into it by Felicity because that had Guggie's writing all over it.