This lost scene comes from a false memory of sorts. I was 99% sure I remembered the scene in which Sara leaves Quentin and Green Arrow in the clock tower to rejoin the League of Assasins (Season 2 Episode 5) with a different bit of dialogue between the two men. And said mis-remembered dialogue got this scene brewing in my mind, though it took me years to actually write it down. Regardless of the actual scene's dialogue being different, I still think this scene could have worked, as well as sent the show on a much different path.
Enjoy!
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Sara Lance was gone once again.
Just as quickly as she's returned to the two men's lives, she'd been forced to leave them for thier own sake. Oliver Queen, the Arrow, was used to this. But after everything Detectice Lance had been through, Oliver wasn't so sure the man could handle it.
"Will you keep her secret?"
Quentin didn't even turn around to face the vigilante. His eyes were locked on the spot his daughter, his baby girl, had just stood in. He'd lost her again. At least this time, he knew she was still alive.
"Of course."
The conviction in his voice honestly surprised Oliver. Given how rough a state the detective had been when he'd first returned to the city, he half expected this to push the man over the edge. Perhaps Lance was stronger than he'd given him credit for.
And smarter.
"I've kept yours this long Queen."
Oliver stopped in his tracks. His breath was caught in his chest. Had Lance not said his name, he would have assumed he meant the secret of his activities- his vigilantism, and the man's occasional aid.
But he said his name.
He knew.
"How?"
Detective Quentin Lance turned to face the man in the hood. The man he had long suspected was Queen in disguise. Even long after everyone else had dismissed such theories.
"Give me some credit. Been a cop a long time. Doesn't take a genius to put two and two together. You come back, guy in a hood starts beating up bad guys... Yea, I know, gave you the lie detector and everything, but those things ain't that conclusive on a good day."
For a second, Oliver considered his options. He and Lance weren't on good terms period. Never had been. Hell, the man had arrested him once already for suspecting he was the Hood.
But he also just said he'd been keeping his secret. Which meant he wasn't looking to lock him up. At least just yet.
"Then why?"
The older man shrugged. "Simple. The Oliver Queen I used to know... The one who broke my little girl's heart, the one who almost got my other little girl killed... The asshole you still try to pretend you are when you're not dressed like Robin Hood. He would never have done half of what you've done. That punk didn't care about anyone but himself. But you? Without you a chunk of this city would be in ruins. Lot more people would be dead. And a whole lot of bad guys would still be giving us grief."
Quentin looked back at the spot Sara had stood. Thought about how different she was now. What those five years away had done to her and Oliver. He loved Sara with all his heart, but she'd been flighty enough to go off with her sister's boyfriend. That girl was gone. Just like the party boy she'd hooked up with.
In their place were fighters. Killers yea, but heroes too. And even he had to respect that.
"I may not agree with how you do it, but you're doing some good... So yea, I'll keep your secret Queen. And I'll keep hers. Just as long as you promise me one thing."
Oliver- who'd removed his hood so the other man could actually look at him as he was for a change, nodded. "Name it."
"Keep Laurel out of it... She's been through enough. With you, with Sara... With Merlyn's kid... All of this? It'd be too much for her."
The fact that even Quentin found it hard to say Tommy's name was all Oliver needed to hear. And honestly, he would have agreed regardless. Laurel had enough to deal with these days. Best to keep her in the dark.
"You have my word Detective."
Then he was gone. The night had taken more than its fair share of strange turns, and Oliver doubted it was done yet.
