Oliver explains to the team what Lacroix told him. Later, he and Slade train together, like old times.


"So Lacroix did all of this just because you destroyed the map to this totem?" asked Roy, as he sat in the conference room with everybody. Team Arrow, Winn, James, J'onn, Clark and Alex.

"Yeah" replied Oliver somberly, standing up as opposed to everybody else sitting.

"Did he tell you anything else about the totem?" asked J'onn.

"No, but what I do know is that he still wants it, and that he'll stop at nothing to get it" replied Oliver, "He also said that this is far from over. Winn, you need to tap into that bug I placed in his office."

"Will do, ASAP" replied Winn.

"We need to find out what his next move is going to be" said Oliver.

"We also need to find out what exactly this totem is, and why Lacroix wants it so bad" added Nyssa.

"Kara says that Lacroix told her a lot of things. Maybe once she feels better, she might be able to tell us something that can help" said Alex.

"About Kara, we need to talk about her" said Oliver, changing the topic.

"What is it?" asked Alex, drawing a sigh from Oliver before he began speaking.

"What Kara has been through is… it's something that not a lot of people have experienced" began Oliver, "She's healing physically, but that's not what I'm worried about. We can all agree that psychologically, this has been hell for her. Being in a facility like the DEO is reminding her too much of where she was kept, which is why I think it's best that as soon as she is well enough, we move her back to her apartment."

"No" replied Alex immediately, "No, we can't. It's not safe for her."

"Look, Lacroix is a millionaire. He doesn't know her secret identity right now, but he's still one of the most powerful men in the world. If he finds out, it'll be too easy for him to get to her again if she's in her apartment. With the kryptonite molecules still in her system, she's going to be vulnerable for a while" added James.

"You're both right, but I agree with Oliver on this one" said J'onn, surprising Alex and Winn, "I can't read Kryptonian minds, but I can still read her passive psychic energy. It is… all over the place. I can truly say that I am… shocked. For the first time in many years. It will be best for her if she removes herself from this environment."

"If we do it, how do we keep her safe?" asked Alex. Oliver turned to look at Slade, who began to speak up.

"When I started out as an ASIS agent, I worked on a few witness protection operations. We employed a very specific system which made sure the witness was always kept in our sights. Now I haven't had time to thoroughly study the schematics of Kara's apartment and the surrounding buildings but this is what we'd do. One person on an adjacent rooftop with a view of Kara's apartment and the surrounding area. One person on the ground, and one in Kara's apartment, with her at all times. This way, we'll have eyes on her 24/7, and we'll be able to secure the area around her."

"What do you think?" asked Oliver.

"I think it'll work" said Clark, while Winn and James nodded too. Oliver looked towards Alex, who still seemed hesitant about the plan.

"She's your sister, Alex. Your call" said Oliver. She pondered for a couple of more seconds, staring into space before looking back at Oliver with a new look of trust on her face.

"Let's do it."


Oliver and Slade stood opposite each other in the training room of the DEO, the sounds of their bamboo sticks clashing against each other's echoing in the room. After a flurry of exchanges which lasted nearly a minute, Oliver finally managed to find an opening on Slade, using it to land a strike on Slade's face, who stumbled back and raised his hand to his cheek. He wiped his cheek to see if there was any blood, but there wasn't.

"Well, that's never happened before" said Slade, as he smiled at Oliver, "I see you've improved quite a bit since the last time we trained."

"You don't say" replied Oliver cheerfully as he handed a water bottle to Slade. After they each took massive gulps of water, Slade spoke up again.

"I enjoyed the training. It reminds me of our early time on the island" said Slade.

"Simpler times."

"Our biggest problem was Fyers. It was just the three of us, you, me… Shado." Oliver noticed the hint of regret and sadness in his voice when he said her name.

"Do you still think about her?" asked Oliver.

"Sometimes… Her death still haunts me to this day. For years, I blamed you for what happened, but it was partly my fault too. I feel like her death is a sin that I'm still atoning for. Along with everything that happened after."

"It was the Mirakuru, Slade, not you."

"I was a monster before the Mirakuru, kid. It amplified what was within me."

"If that were true, I wouldn't be here. You're a good man Slade. Take it from someone who's the master of blaming himself, it doesn't do you any good." Slade crackled a smile, and began chuckling, confusing Oliver.

"What has this world come to?" he said, "Oliver Queen is kicking my arse in training and giving me advice? Something must be wrong" he finished, as he and Oliver laughed together once again.

"Times are changing, Slade. Times are changing" said Oliver, as he patted Slade on the shoulder before making his way to the exit of the training room.


After a shower and a change of clothes, Oliver ran up the stairs of the main floor of the DEO, heading for the med-bay to check up on Kara. Winn had activated the bug, and they were now keeping a 24 hour channel open on it so they could hear everything that Lacroix was doing and saying. So far, it was just the usual jargon you'd hear from a CEO of a company, but sooner or later, he had to give them something. With Lacroix on his mind, Oliver wasn't focused as he indifferently walked into the med-bay. He froze in his steps when he saw Alex and another blonde, older middle-aged woman by Kara's bedside, talking to her. The three of them all turned to look at him as he entered.

"Sorry, did I walk in on something?" asked Oliver shyly.

"No, no, it's okay" said Kara. Oliver was pleased to see her now being able to speak up, along with her face looking much better as her injuries were healing too, "Oliver, this is my adoptive mother, Eliza. Eliza, this is Oliver, my friend from Earth-1."

"Mrs Danvers, pleasure to meet you" said Oliver, as he extended a hand while she stood up and walked towards him.

"Thank you for bringing her home, Oliver. I don't know how I'll ever be able to thank you for saving her life" said Eliza endearingly.

"Oh, there's no need for that. I was just doing what any friend would do."

"Oliver is the Green Arrow" said Alex.

"Oh, really. I tried archery when I was a child, but I was horrible at it" joked Eliza, as she sat back down on her chair.

"Well, it does take years to master" replied Oliver.

"Any update on Lacroix?" asked Alex.

"No, nothing yet" replied Oliver.

"Lacroix?" asked Eliza. Oliver, surprised that they hadn't informed Eliza who was behind what happened to Kara, turned to look back at Alex.

"Uhh, he's the man behind this. He's working with Cadmus" replied Alex, figuring that it would be easier to explain the full details to Eliza at a later stage. Oliver, feeling that he needed to give the three of them some more family time, took a step back before speaking up.

"So, I will let you guys know if anything comes up, or if anything changes. It was nice meeting you Mrs Danvers" said Oliver.

"Likewise" she replied, before Oliver smiled back at her and exited the room.


A/N: Next chapter, Kara is transported from the DEO back to her apartment...