Tommy groaned as he landed hard on the training mat. It was now three months into the mission and the community center was nearly finished, all that was left was furnishings for the rooms and utilities. Oliver and Tommy were now in what had become a ritual for them, after hours lessons on self defense. Olive had decided that if his friend was going to be a part of this life then he was going to know how to defend himself.

Time after time Oliver pinned Tommy to the mat until, finally, Tommy tapped out.

"Stick a fork in me man".

"How do you feel"?

"Like a rubber band stretched outta wack".

Oliver chuckled as he pulled Tommy to his feet.

"Clean up, a certain secretary is waiting out front".

Felicity was waiting in the office when Tommy walked in. She was looking around nervously, which in all fairness was normal for her, but that nervousness didn't normally translate to the smile she would give upon seeing him.

"Hey", he said, hugging her close, "is everything okay"?

"Yes...no...I mean...how are you"?

"Okay Liss, what's going on".

"Nothing, nothing's going on, why would you ask if anything is going on when clearly, and quite obviously nothing's going on", she gushed, unnecessarily pushing her glasses up her nose.

"Your rambling Liss".

"I know, it's just that...I have to quit my job".

"Why? I thought you loved working with Nyssa".

"I do, and she's a wonderful boss it's just, you know, aren't ya'll going to need some secretarial", she accentuated the word with air quotes, "help once this place gets up and running"?

"We've already got some feelers out for secretaries and were going to start interviewing soon".

"Do you need help with that? I mean who better to interview a secretary than an experienced secretary that you trust"?

"Look, if you want to come work here that's fine, I would love that".

"So I've got the job"?

"Sure".

"Really"?

"Yeah. so long as you apply first".

The pair walked off, arm in arm; Tommy laughed as Felicity harumphed at that last comment.


Robert Queen was sitting in his office, staring out onto the city nightscape through the large, plate glass window. He smiled as he remembered bringing Oliver to work with him when he was younger. He remembered how often his heart would stop whenever Oliver would run through the office playing superhero, his homemade cape billowing behind him, and he would skid to a stop in front of the very window he now looked out of. He wished with all his heart that he had never let Malcolm Merlyn talk him into this crazy scheme, friendship be damned. He had witnessed his friend's descent into madness, had watched him drive away his own son. Robert Queen feared that Malcolm Merlyn was beyond saving.

"What are you thinking about Robert"? The voice was low and dark, Malcolm's staple tone since Rebecca had died.

"Just wondering how the city will fare once the plan is fulfilled".

"The city will be fine Robert", Malcolm said coming to stand beside the Queen patriarch, "but I am worried about Oliver and this crazy plan of his".

"Why? Oliver is a grown man, and he has become a better man than you or I ever could be".

"It's not that, I worry about the effect it's having on you. I worry that you won't be able to do what you need to".

Malcolm was now uncomfortably close.

"Remember why your doing this Robert".

As Malcolm walked out of the room Robert reached into his inner vest pocket and pulled out a picture of Thea. He knew now what he had to do. He needed to stop Malcolm Merlyn. Even if it killed him.


Moira Queen couldn't help but feel that there was something off about Elisabeth Carter. Was her son happy? yes, so of course she was happy for him. But there was something severely rigid about the woman. When Oliver had first introduced her to Elisabeth nearly four months ago she was thrilled that her son was opening up to someone. But upon taking her clothes shopping she realized just how mechanical the therapist was. But that all seemed to just melt away omce she was back with Oliver. Moira didn't know what it was, but something about the couple spoke more of years together than months. Something inside was telling her that Oliver Jonas Queen was hiding something from her.


Dinah Drake, for some reason Thea Queen couldn't think of had boxed in Thea's car with her own.

"What are you doing D"? She asked, setting her box of memorabilia onto the ground.

"I'm not losing my best friend to that second rate SCPD".

"Grow up. I'm not leaving you. Eith our investigation into S.T.A.R. Labs finished I need to go home to be with my brother, that's it".

Dinah petulantly kicked the ground, her mouth falling into a pout.

"You'll visit right"?

Thea pulled her friend in, kissed her cheek and said, "of course, I've got to get you in shape for next year's volleyball tournament".

"Super sexy ladies, wait a moment while I get my camera". Thea and Dinah both groaned as the voice of Ralph Dibney broke into the conversation.

"In case you forgot, ass-wipe, you don't work here anymore", Dinah shot back, her death glare doing nothing more than making the smirk on Dibney's face turn into a cocky grin.

"I've missed you too, lover".

Thea held back a laugh and a smirk as Dinah's right jab put Dibney on the 'crete.

"Next time I'll do more than put you on your ass, douchebag".

Ralph rubbed his jaw.

"Glad to see you too, Dinah".

"What do you want, Dibney"?

"I'm here because of a contract".

"Why don't you just just falsify the evidence? It's what you do best", Dinah snapped, walking away. Thea turned and saw Ralph actually looking guilty.

After Dinah drove off and Dibney walked inside the office Thea drive off for Star City, wondering if there was more to Ralph Dibney than forgery and his perpetual playboy attitude.