[Factory on Fire]
Multiple firemen are fighting a fire on multiple floors. One of the firemen is clearing the upperlevels of the floor making his way downward. The fire burns hotter behind him.
Man on Comms:Danny!
Danny: Yes, Keith?
Keith: Getting a little smokey out here, buddy.
Danny: Just clearing the upper level.
Danny spots another fireman approaching him.
Danny: Hey you, over here. I can use some help. I got a hot spot. Hey! What-
The fireman knocks Danny over and uses a flamethrower to burn him alive.
Danny: Ahhhh!
[CNRI]
Tommy and Johanna are talking, eating lunch.
Johanna: What's this? Johanna pulls out a piece of paper sticking out of Tommy's coat pocket.
Tommy: It's-it's nothing?
Johanna: It's nothing?..."Reasons I deserve a drawer"
Tommy: I don't know...maybe we are getting there.
Detective Lance walks into the office.
Tommy: Detective. What brings you by?
Lance: I need to talk to Johanna.
Johanna: Is everything ok, Mr. Lance?
Tommy: What's happening?
Lance: Her brother Danny. He was killed on duty last night.
Johanna: No. No, no!
Johanna drops the food she was holding as breaks down into tears. Tommy immediately takes her into his arms as she lets her heads fall into his shoulders.
Lance: I'm so sorry.
Tommy: I'm sorry. Jo.
[Lair]
Jared and Diggle are sparring in hand to hand combat. Jared and Diggle keep fighting until Diggle's speed drops from exhaustion, giving Jared room to take him down.
Jared: Not bad Dig, getting better with prolonged fights.
Diggle: Still don't come close to beating you.
Jared: (smirking) It's going to take you awhile before you can take Oliver or me down.
Diggle shakes his head, thinking about all the humiliation he would suffer if any of his military buddies found out he gets taken down by a kid on a daily basis.
Diggle: So when are Oliver and you going to start going out together at nights? I thought after Christmas, you two would.
Jared: I...I'm not ready…
Diggle: Ready to wear your father's suit. Laurel and Thea told me. Look Jared...
Jared: DROP IT!
Jared gave Diggle a look that shut down further conversation.
[CNRI]
Laurel walks into the CNRI office after getting a call from Tommy about Johanna's brother. Laurel and Thea were busy on a case and had not heard of his death.
Laurel: Jo, I, um...I'm so sorry.
Johanna had not turned her head to Laurel, she stayed focused on the work infront of her.
Laurel: Jo...
Johanna: I don't think what happened to Danny was an accident. I think he might have been murdered.
Laurel: Jo, do you remember when Sara and Ollie died? I did all this research to try to find an explanation for why the boat went down. I needed to believe that it wasn't just an accident.
Johanna: That is not what I am doing, Laurel. I once handled a case for a clerk in the Coroner's Office. He passed me a copy of the incident report. Said that Danny's turnout coat was doused in turpentine. But I checked, and the plant owner said that there wasn't any in the factory. A turnout supposed to withstand temperatures in excess of 500 degrees. But the coroner said that the fire did not exceed 250. How did my brother burn hotter than the fire that supposedly killed him?
Laurel thinks over what Johanna just told her and she knew her friend was onto something.
[SCPD Station]
Laurel talks to her father about information on Danny's death.
Lance: Laurel, a fireman died fighting a fire. I'm not sure I see the crime.
Laurel: I did some digging. Last week, another firefighter, Leo Barnes, was killed in action, in the same circumstances. Traces of turpentine, and ignition temperatures hotter than the actual fire. Do you think that you could talk to the fire marshal? You know, encourage him to pursue this?
Lance: Well, the fire department has its own investigative unit. They don't answer the police. I'll see what I can do.
[Lair]
Laurel walks into the lair as Jared and Diggle are working on the team computers. Information on Walter's disappearance spread on all the monitors.
Laurel: Any new information?
Diggle: No, whoever was behind it had a considerate amount of resources to make sure no traces were left. What are you doing here, I thought your friend's brother died.
Laurel: She thinks he was murdered.
Jared: Why does she think that?
Laurel: There are some inconsistencies with the fire and he's not the first fireman to die either. Can we look into it?
Diggle: Yeah. I have a friend who has a friend in the fire investigations department. I'll reach out.
Jared: If you get any leads, tip the police.
Laurel: The police?
Jared: They just need something to jump start them.
Diggle: Well, isn't the whole idea of being a vigilante, is that you do the police's job?
Jared: Unfortunately we don't have time. Between Walter's disappearance and the list we don't have the time to take care of this.
Diggle: Oliver can take care of list business and we haven't made any new discoveries on Walter, we can take time for this. You don't want to because you don't want to go out in that damn suit.
Jared: That isn't what this is about…
Laurel and Diggle give him concerned looks as Jared walks away.
[Verdant Consulting Agency]
Oliver is about to leave the office as it's getting late but spots Tommy still in his office. Oliver walks into Tommy's office to see him focused on his work.
Oliver: How's Johanna doing?
Tommy: She is hanging in there, thanks. I actually have something I wanted to bring up.
Oliver: What's up?
Tommy: I was thinking that we could throw a fundraiser for the fire department. Raise some money for the families.
Oliver: That's a great idea.
Tommy: We could do it here. We could keep the overhead low, make sure we maximize the proceeds to the firemen.
Oliver: Who are you? Where's my friend Tommy Merlin? The guy who once rented out a pro football stadium so that he could play strip kickball with models.
Tommy: That guy needed a swift kick in his lazy ass.
Oliver: You and I both.
Tommy and Oliver share a laugh as Oliver sits down next to Tommy to help him prepare the fundraiser.
[CNRI]
Johanna is still working on information on her brother's death as Laurel walks in to sit beside her.
Laurel: Jo... You really should take some time off and go be with your family.
Johanna: You know, I seem to recall when Sara died, you hit the books pretty hard.
Laurel: I am not exactly the best example for healthy grieving. Hey, listen...
Johanna: Yeah...
Laurel: I talked to my dad and he will try to get the fire department to look into it. But if that doesn't pan out, I have someone else working on it.
Johanna: What are you-Johanna notices the look on Laurel's face and realizes who she is talking about.
Johanna: That man's a vigilante, he breaks the law.
Laurel: I know what he's done but I've also seen the help he provides to this city.
Johanna: Laurel I don't want you in danger because of me.
Laurel: Look when Sara and Ollie died, if someone could have done something to give even just a little bit of closure, I wish that they would have done it. I have a way for you to get it and I'll be damned if I can't help you.
Johanna pulls Laurel in for a tight hug as she begins to cry on Laurel's shoulder.
[Queen Mansion]
Moira and Thea are sitting in their living room talking to a Queen Consolidated employee.
Moira: Surely there are contingencies for these types of situations. Bring someone over from our London office, perhaps.
Employee: It's not solely a matter of the day to day operations. We have accountants and the vice presidents to do that. It's about perception. Public confidence.
Moira: Ned, the company will be fine.
Employee: I don't mean to be indelicate, but this is the second time in five years that the CEO of Queen Consolidated has vanished under mysterious circumstances .
Moira: I don't need you to remind me of that.
Employee: The last thing I want to do is upset you.
Moira: Well, then you should consider this visit doubly disappointing.
Employee: Good day.
The employee leaves the mansion just as Oliver is walking in.
Oliver: Who was that?
Thea: Ned Foster. The C.O.O. of the company. He wants mom to take Walter's place.
Moira: He says that the company's stock price has been damaged by Walter's absence, and my stepping in would help settle the board. But I told him that I needed to be at home, for my family.
Oliver: Mom... Thea and I are fine. We can manage here without you.
Thea: This sounds like something everyone needs you to do.
Moira: Well, maybe I don't care what everyone needs.
Moira walks away with a saddened expression. Oliver and Thea share concerned looks with each other over their mother's behaviour. Diggle walks in just as Moira closes the door to her bedroom.
Diggle: Eyewitnesses place a '72 Ford pick up at the scene of Danny de La Vega's fire.
Oliver: Okay...
Diggle: Stagg Chemical lit up ten minutes ago. I hacked into Stagg's video security feeds. Parked right on the street running along the plant.
Thea: Same pick up.
Diggle: I got the Arrow gear in the car.
Oliver: Why did you bring it to me? Jared could have gone.
Diggle: We got into an argument and he left without his phone. Oliver, by the time I find him, at least one of those firemen are going to be dead.
Oliver gives him a nod and takes off toward the car.
Thea: He still doesn't want to wear the suit?
Diggle: No, he's using Walter's disappearance to give himself an out.
Thea: We'll try again later. After what happened with the other Archer, we can't have them out alone. We don't know when he might show up again.
[Stag Industries on fire]
Firemen on ground are battling the fire. On the top floor of the building a man stands in the center with a flamethrower. Arrow jumps through a window as the fire continues to burn. He gets into a fight with the man before he can burn through more of the building. Arrow is able to cut at one of the man's arms. The man drops his hand off the flamethrower, using his strong hand to bash Arrow towards the fire. Caught off guard Arrow stumbles out of the way of the fire giving the man time to run.
[Lair]
Oliver enters the lair, Diggle and Jared are sitting away from each other in complete silence.
Oliver: There is a scar on his left wrist from a severe burn and a tattoo of a firefly.
Diggle: You must have gotten pretty close to him.
Oliver: Almost had him but I got caught off guard. His pain tolerance was higher than I thought. He wouldn't have gotten away if...Oliver looks toward Jared. Jared ignores the end of Oliver's sentence and looks through the information they have on the case.
Jared: All the men in Engine Company 15 had firefly tattoos. Any one of them could be the killer. Doesn't help narrow it down.
Diggle: So what's the plan then?
Oliver: Laurel and I can talk to the Chief of the fire department for information.
Diggle: Sounds like you are going all the legwork Oliver.
Jared gives Diggle a stern look, trying to tell him to shut up. Diggle gives Oliver a look telling him to talk to Jared.
Oliver: Jared not wearing the suit, it's taking something from you.
Jared: That's enough.
Oliver: It's taking away all the effort Slade put in teaching you his skills. I've seen you practise with the swords, you're not at your best right now.
Jared: Thank you for the analysis.
Oliver: (sighs) You can avoid Thea, Diggle, Laurel, avoid me, avoid this conversation, as long as you want. But until you're ready to wear the suit, your sword skills will be subpar at best. You're ignoring everything Slade taught us about keeping emotions in check.
Jared's phone buzzes and immediately checks it to escape the conversation.
Jared: Text from Thea, she needs my help at home.
Oliver: Maybe while you're out , you can decide what to do with the suit. Because if you aren't going to wear it maybe we should have just left it to burn on Lian Yu.
[Starling City Fire Department]
Laurel and Oliver are talking with the fire department Chief.
Laurel: There are eight firemen in this picture. I did some research. You called yourselves the fireflies.
Chief: Yeah, well, that station house was shut down a few years back. All the guys went to different companies, so...
Laurel: Four of these men are now dead.
Chief: It's not all getting cats out of trees, Ms. Lance.
Laurel: But three of them died within the last six weeks, except for that man right there. Chief: Garfield Lynns. He died two years ago in the Nodell Tower tragedy.
Oliver: What was the Nodell Tower?
Chief: How do you not remember that?
Oliver: I was WiFi-free for a few years.
Chief: It was 22 stories of glass and steel. Except it turned out that the construction company who built it used substandard materials to save themselves a few bucks. It was nowhere near the structural code. Gas line blew.
Oliver: There was a fire.
Chief: Yeah. Melted right through the stanchions. Whole damn thing came down. Bad day. 34 civilians and six of my fellow firemen died. Do you need anything else, Ms. Lance, Mr. Queen? Other than reminding me of all the friends I've lost and buried?
[Queen Mansion]
Moira is looking over old photos as Thea and Jared walk into the room.
Moira: We have so many of these old photos. I really should have them scanned in.
Jared: Well, that's an incredibly ambitious plan.
Thea: Which will have to wait.
Moira: Why?
Thea: Because we're going to go out. To dinner or to a movie or shopping. Anything to get you out of the house.
Moira: Ohh. No, Thea, Jared. I'm just too tired.
Jared: Really, that's...
Thea: Pretty amazing, considering you've been in bed all day.
Moira: Please don't presume to think that you know what I'm going through.
Thea: I do know. I lost dad, too. I'm worried about Walter, too. But I don't get to worry about him, because I'm busy worrying about you.
Moira: I never asked you to do that.
Thea: Right. 'Cause you don't ask me to do anything anymore. You don't ask me to do my work or to be home at a decent hour. I mean, you basically stopped being my parent.
Moira: Well, how's this, don't talk to your mother like that.
Thea: Maybe you should start acting like my mother. So I don't have to act like yours.
Thea walks away...stomping away.
Jared: She was trying to be Walter for you.
Moira: I'm sorry…Moira gives him a confused look.
Jared: She told me about how after the Gambit went down, he was the one to come and force you out the house. She wanted to do something like that.
Moira: Hmm...
[Lair]
The Arrow teams surround the monitors summarizing the information they got from the Chief.
Jared: Okay so the first firefly to die, his name was Garfield Lynns.
Thea: Well, being dead kind of rules him out as a murder suspect, right?
Diggle: All the men in the unit had an alibi for Danny's murder.
Oliver: The guy that I fought had a firefly tattoo and his arm was severely burned.
Diggle: Okay...I don't see where you're going with this.
Laurel realizes what Oliver is thinking and answers Diggle.
Laurel: The Nodell Tower fire. Some of the bodies were so badly burned, they couldn't even be IDed off dental records.
Oliver: What if Garfield Lynns didn't die, but was just presumed dead?
Diggle: If so, then he will for sure turn up at the fundraiser.
Oliver: If he does, then I can't watch over everyone alone. Jared, look I'm sorry for coming at you…
Jared: No...you were right. From everything dad taught us, the most important thing is to always keep emotions in check. But when it came to him I couldn't…I just feel, if I put the suit on then I'm really accepting that he's gone.
Thea: Hey...Thea walks up to Jared and gives him a kiss on the cheek... Putting the suit on doesn't mean you are forgetting him or leaving him behind. Instead it means you can carry his legacy on, make sure it doesn't end with him, make sure people will always remember him.
Oliver walks up to Jared and puts an arm on his shoulder.
Oliver: Wearing that suit lets you bring Slade with us out there. So he gets to keep fighting and help us on our mission...like he always wanted to.
[Fire Department Fundraiser]
Many celebrities and high profilers are gathered for the fundraiser.
Johanna: Thank you so much for this. I… Johanna begins to tear up as Tommy brings her in for a hug.
Tommy: You know, ironically, if we get any more people in here, we're going to violate the fire code. Johanna gives out a small laugh at his comment.
Oliver: We're good on drawer-gate, right?
Tommy: All good.
Oliver and Laurel see the Chief talking with someone.
Laurel: Excuse us.
Oliver and Laurel approach the Chief and the man.
Oliver: Can we borrow the Chief for a second?
Man: Absolutely. The man walks away.
Oliver: Chief Raynes.
Chief: Hi. Mr. Queen,Ms. Lance, this is spectacular. The Starling City Firemen's Relief Association can't thank you enough.
Oliver: You guys are the real heroes. Like at the Nodell Tower fire, which I've been reading up on.
Chief: Oh, yeah?
Oliver: Garfield Lynns was the first man to die in your unit. Now, I read that they recovered his coat in the wreckage, but they never found his body?
Chief: You always interrogate your fundraiser's guests, Mr. Queen?
Oliver: Why? Do you feel like you're being interrogated?
Laurel: You could see it on your face at the fire station. There's more to the Nodell Tower fire than people know about, isn't there?
Chief: I've been doing this a long time and I've never seen a fire like that. It's like some monster out of a science fiction movie. I radioed for my men to get the hell out of there. But Lynns, he wouldn't go. Begged me to send the unit back in. But I wouldn't do it. I couldn't. God help me, I left him to burn. But I can't bring him back.
Oliver: You don't have to. He is back.
Chief: What the hell are you talking about?
Laurel: Garfield Lynns killed Danny.
Oliver: And the other men in your unit.
Chief: There's no way he could have survived that fire.
Oliver: You'd be surprised the power revenge can give you.
Chief: You're insane. Gar did not make it out of that building.
Garfield: Hello Starling Fire department!
Everyone turns around to look at the man on the second floor who just screamed out. He is holding a flamethrower and starts to burn the place. The crowd begins to panic and starts running toward the exit. Laurel drags Tommy and Johanna out as Oliver runs to get the Arrow gear. Arrow comes back quickly to help the trapped civilians get to safety. As the Arrow helps the civilians, Garfield confronts the Chief.
Garfield: You know how long it takes for your skin to melt? I do. From experience.
Chief: I told you to get out of there!
Garfield: And I told you that we could save the building. But you got scared. You lost your nerve. You...left me in there to die.
Chief: How did you get out?
Garfield: I was pulled from the wreckage. Listed as a John Doe in the burn unit, in a coma for months. When I woke up and saw what was left of who I was... I only had one thought. To leave you as alone as you left me. Now it's your turn.
Just as Garfield was about to burn the Chief, Deathstroke slides in as he uses his twin swords to cut down Garfield's flamethrower. Jumping to his feet, he quickly disarms Garfield of the flamethrower pieces in his hands so he can't use them as weapons. After a few seconds of fighting, Deathstroke knocks Garfield down and then turns to the Chief to get him out. After getting the Chief out, Arrow and Deathstroke reach Garfield at the same time.
Arrow: It's over.
Garfield: I'm not afraid to die.
Deathstroke: We know. You're afraid to live.
Arrow: Let us get you out of here. Lynns.
Garfield: Thanks. But I'm already burned.
Garfield then jumps into the raging fire behind him. Arrow and Deathstroke stunned at Garfield's choice hesitate for a few seconds before leaving.
[Queen Mansion]
Jared, Thea and Oliver are having breakfast as Moira enters the dining area.
Moira: Good morning.
Thea: Sharp suit, Mom!
Oliver: Not used to seeing you without your bedroom wrapped around you.
Moira: Well, I could hardly go to the office in my pajamas.
The three give her a confused look.
Moira: I'm taking Walter's position at the office.
Jared: What changed your mind?
Moira: Not what. Who?
Moira gives a warm smile to all of them.
Moira: My family. And I promise you, Walter will get back to us. I will keep looking for him and I will find him. And I'll see you for dinner.
Moira walks out with her briefcase.
Thea: Mm-hmm.
Jared: What?
Thea: Just feeling the whiplash. She went from shut-in to chairman pretty fast.
Oliver: Sounds like you got through to her.
Thea: Yeah, I guess...
Jared: You still think she is hiding something.
Thea: Yeah I do.
[CNRI]
Laurel is cleaning up the last of the papers from the Garfield case. Johanna and Tommy walk in just as Laurel finishes.
Laurel: Hey, how are you feeling?
Johanna: I'm okay...my mom, she's taking it harder. I'm going to be taking a few vacation days to take care of her.
Laurel: Whatever you have to do to take care of your family.
Johanna: Before I forget... My brother's badge. My mom was hoping maybe you could find a way to get it to, you know...him. As a thank you. I don't care what anyone has to say. He really is a guardian angel.
Laurel: I'll find a way to get it to him.
Tommy: Does Oliver know about you working with the vigilante.
Laurel: He knows and he's made sure to give me the be careful speech.
Laurel gives Tommy a look telling him to drop the subject. Laurel then gives Johanna a warm and lasting hug.
Laurel: I'm going to miss you.
Johanna: I'll be back soon
Laurel: Not soon enough.
[Lair]
Laurel walks down the stairs to the lair, Oliver is sparring with Thea and Diggle while Jared is working on the computers. As Laurel walks up to Jared, the rest of the team ends their sparring. Laurel hands the badge to Jared knowing it would mean a lot to him right now.
Jared: What's this?
Laurel: Danny's badge. Jo's mom wanted the vigilante to have it.
Jared smiles and takes it from her, appreciating the badge.
Jared: Thank you guys.
Jared looks to everyone with a big smile on his face.
Laurel: What for?
Jared: You know what for!
Diggle: So what's next? More training?
Jared: No. Ollie and I go hunting.
Jared and Oliver head to their respective suits to get ready for a night out. After quickly getting ready Arrow and Deathstroke leave the lair.