Disclaimer: CW/DC own these characters. I'm only borrowing them for a while. I own the original ideas found in this.

AN: Yay! Here's a Happy New Year surprise, a new chapter. I tell you, again I apologize for not getting this out sooner. It's almost like pulling teeth sometimes. But it shouldn't be, but it's just I want the story to be the best it can be.

Please enjoy this chapter. I think you will. Not a lot of action, but a lot of questions answered.

Previously:

"Well, Sara, both Laurel and I have to work tomorrow, as well as the rest of the team. So, we will meet back here after 5pm tomorrow. All right?" Oliver asked.

"I guess so." Sara stood up. "I'm going to hit the streets tomorrow and see if I can catch a glimpse again of Slade."

Laurel watched in silence as her sister left. She wondered what other secrets she was hiding. Looking at her boyfriend, who was also watching Sara leave, she wondered how many of those secrets Oliver knew. She gathered her purse and coat and, taking Ollie's arm, they left the lair.

Laurel was undecided about whether it was lucky she and Oliver had driven separately to the lair this evening. Depending upon his mood, she wasn't certain if she wanted to invite him to stay the night. This way they didn't have to talk if both or either one of them decided they weren't in the mood to do so. She was surprised when Oliver offered to drive her home.

"If you don't mind, I don't feel like coming over tonight. My mind is all scrambled because of both Sara's and Slade's returns. But I want to keep you safe, so ride with me and I'll pick you up in the morning."

Suddenly Laurel wasn't in the mood to be in a cramped space with her boyfriend. She was fighting to keep her anger under control, and she wasn't sure how tight a grip she had on it.

"No, we're both tired, and I'll be alright. I understand and appreciate your concerns, but I know how to take care of myself. I'll text you when I get home."

"Make sure you lock all the doors and windows before you text me, all right?" Oliver bent to give her a light kiss on the lips. "I appreciate your understanding about both my needing to be alone and for you to be careful."

He walked her to her car and watched her drive away. She watched in her rear-view mirror as he walked towards his bike. The extent of his mental upheaval was apparent in the way he hadn't argued with her about driving herself home. Normally he wouldn't have taken a refusal. She told herself not to be offended, knowing her boyfriend cared about her tremendously. In this instance, his need to be alone outweighed his paranoia, and that made her worried.

The next day Laurel woke up just as conflicted about whether to confront Oliver about his relationship with her sister as she had been the night before. She debated with herself whether she should wait and see if the 'new' Oliver would come clean with whatever secrets he and Sara shared and what had happened on the island between them.

The summer had been wonderful, learning how to fight and going out with Oliver to maintain order in the city. However, between that and their double dates with Tommy and Felicity, there hadn't been much chance for her to ask Oliver about his five years away. She knew they had been traumatic for him, so she had bided her time, thinking he'd eventually tell her. Oliver had promised he would no longer keep secrets from her, but now she wondered if he meant only going forward. If it weren't necessary for a mission, will he continue to keep his experiences while gone from Starling City a secret, or will he be totally truthful?

Laurel was trying very hard not to distrust Oliver's motives with the discovery of Sara being alive. Why had he lied about Sara dying when the yacht sank? Why did he say he was alone on the island when Sara was with him at least part of the time? She understood his reluctance to discuss the traumatic events of his time away, but wasn't part of a relationship being there for your partner to discuss their concerns? And if he hadn't told her, or anyone else, about Sara, what else was he hiding?

On the other hand, she was willing to give Oliver some time to adjust, given both his and Sara's reactions regarding this man Slade. What made him so frightening? She assumed they would tell her at the same time as Dig, Tommy and Felicity. It scared her to death seeing how they had acted regarding this man's return.

Currently she was sitting alone in the Foundry, waiting for the others to arrive. She had no idea when everyone was going to show up. Oliver of course hadn't shared his plans for the day, since they hadn't talked since last night, and since Felicity and Tommy had taken the evening off, they weren't at the foundry the night before. Because of her nerves, Laurel decided to come over straight from work to have a moment to relax. She hoped her sister wouldn't be the first to arrive, because she felt her anger towards Sara continuing to simmer below the surface. Instead of tossing and turning last night like she had thought, giving her the opportunity to hash out her feelings, Laurel had fallen asleep immediately due to the emotional upheaval she had experienced.

Luckily Felicity was the first one to arrive, with Tommy following shortly after, with a huge smile on his face as he leaned in to share a kiss with Felicity. Laurel was happy for the two of them. She'd only gotten to know Felicity over the past two months, but she thought Felicity was good for Tommy. She had the same charm as Tommy, but she could also be serious with a good work ethic. Tommy needed someone to rein him in at times, and Laurel thought Felicity was up for the job.

"Hey you two! Glad to see you both," Laurel told them.

Tommy, having known Laurel for most of their lives, caught something in her tone. He fixed on Laurel a look which said, 'what's wrong.' He waited for her to speak, but when she didn't, he asked, "Okay, Laurel what's wrong? Spill it."

"I suppose it's because I showed up," Sara said as she walked around the corner.

"Sara? Sara!" Addressing Laurel, he asked, "Wow, anyone else you know coming back from the dead?" Tommy enveloped Sara in a huge hug. "Man, I can't believe it." Holding her at arms' length, he said, "Damn, girl, you look good!"

"Thank you," Sara said demurely with a smile. "How you doing?"

"Better now that both my best friend and my best friend's girl's sister have returned from the dead!" Walking to Felicity, he pulled her over to Sara. "Sara, I want you to meet someone. This is Felicity, the woman who's trying to make me into a better man."

Felicity interrupted him by sticking her hand out. "Felicity Smoak. I've been helping Oliver with internet assistance with his Arrow stuff." For a moment she looked stricken, gasping, then she shook herself. "Well, silly me, since you're down here, you already know Oliver's the Arrow."

"Oliver's the Arrow?" Sara asked, her eyes wide. She looked at Laurel. "Why didn't you tell me, Laurel?"

Felicity was speechless for another moment, then quickly shook herself once more as Sara laughed and Laurel admonished her sister. "Sara, that's not nice. Felicity doesn't know you yet to tease her like that."

Sara took Felicity's hand and shook it. "I'm sorry, Felicity. I have a wicked sense of humor, as these two could tell you." Taking a step back in order to view Felicity better, she said, "I'm Sara Lance, Laurel's sister, and the one…."

"The one I took on the Gambit and basically caused everyone heartbreak," Oliver said as he joined the group. He went over to Laurel and kissed her on top of her head. Laurel let out a small sigh of relief that Oliver seemed to be in a good mood.

Walking toward the stairs, Oliver reached into the storage space below them and pulled out several folding chairs. After setting them up, he indicated Tommy and Felicity to sit down.

Sensing a somber mood from Oliver, Felicity asked, "Is something else wrong, Oliver?"

"Funny you should ask, Felicity," Oliver answered in an attempt for a lightness he wasn't feeling at all. "Something else has happened that I have to tell you all about. Dig should be arriving any minute – "

"And I'm here," Dig said as he ran down the rest of the stairs. "Sorry." Looking at Oliver, he said, "I looked into that thing for you, Oliver."

Laurel wondered if the 'something' was connected to Slade, and whether the men would share more about it. She brought her attention back to Oliver, who was beginning to speak again.

"As I was saying, I have a few things to share. One, I wasn't completely honest with everyone when I said I'd been alone on the island all five years." Oliver cleared his throat as Sara placed her hand on his back. "You see, there was no quick and easy answer to give, so I decided not to bring up the subject at all. The truth is, the first year there were mercenaries on the island before I had gotten there."

"Mercenaries?" Laurel asked.

Oliver combed his hand through his short blondish hair. "I'm simply going to give you the highlights right now. I'll tell you guys more at some other time. However…I need to get through this, all right?" Oliver met her eyes with such a gut-retching pleading look, Laurel could hardly argue.

"After a woman named Shado, Slade and I defeated the mercenaries, it was quiet for about three months. Then a ship arrived, with a doctor keeping people prisoner while he performed medical experiments on them." Oliver took a sip of water from the bottle he had brought with him. "They were the ones who had picked up Sara when the yacht sank. Again, we," Oliver looked at Sara and she nodded, "will tell you more about that later, if Sara chooses."

"If Sara chooses? What kind of statement is that?" Laurel asked, not completely holding back her anger.

"Laurel, please," Sara pleaded. "This is difficult for both me and Oliver. Don't attach any of your anger or suspicion of me with the details."

Laurel gulped and nodded. She reminded herself there would be plenty of time to get to the bottom of everything. Or there better be.

"Anyway, it turned out the doctor was searching for a miracle drug which would make people super strong. He thought we knew where it was. When he finally captured us, he…." Laurel was shocked to see the slightest dampness in her boyfriend's eyes. "For some reason, he decided to make me choose between Shado and Sara."

"Choose for what?" Felicity asked, suspicion and worry evident in her voice.

"He held a gun to our heads and demanded Oliver to choose who would live and who he'd shoot." Sara's jaw was tight, and her face was paler than it had been.

Tommy shot out of his chair. "What kind of crap was that?" He looked between Oliver and Sara. "Why would he do that?"

Sara swallowed. "Well, I don't know. I think he was tormenting Oliver in yet one more way." She looked down at her feet. "I don't really think he meant it to be a choice." Fixing a pointed gaze on Oliver, she said, "He was going to shoot Shado one way or another."

Oliver cocked an eyebrow. "Because you were his 'helper'?"

Sara nodded. "I think he was more than partially in love with me."

"No shit!" Oliver began to pace. "Then why did he lead me to believe he was giving me a choice?"

"Because he was jealous of our past relationship. I hadn't told him much, but I had confided in him, once we knew you were on the island, you were the one who took me on the Gambit."

Laurel didn't know where to look. Her eyes fell on Tommy, who was watching her with a serious look on his face. "Are you alright, Laurel?"

Laurel shrugged. "I don't know. I really don't. There's a lot to process, a lot I haven't yet." She looked at Oliver. "Why are you telling all of this now?"

"Because it explains why Slade has returned for revenge and all of us are in danger."

AN: Well, what you think? Too much talk? They all are almost caught up with why they're in danger. Not much action except for the fireworks between the sisters and the shocking revelation of Oliver having to make that infamous choice.

As always, it helps encourage the Muse if it receives reviews. I also appreciate it. Happy New Year and hope to see you soon!