NOTES AT END!

Felicity turned towards Oliver, concern written on her face. Oliver smiled at her reassuringly before going to the bottom of the stairs and stopping. One hand on the railing, Oliver froze in place when Digg called his name.

"Want back up?"

With a small shake of his head the archer continued to the club above him. When he got there he silently came up behind the Russian. Anatoly, still unaware of Oliver behind him, kept taking in the decorations of what his once apprentice built. Oliver cleared his throat, making the smaller man jump in his skin and whirl around.

"Oliver! Don't frighten me like that. You know what that does to me." Anatoly held a hand over his chest, calming down slightly. Oliver just gave him a tight smile. "I assume you wish to know why I have come. Well, I actually need you assistance. Someone has stolen from me. My men are incapable of retrieving it. I was hoping you would be willing to lend a hand?"

Oliver narrowed his eyes. "I don't work for you anymore Anatoly. Besides, what makes you think I could find it if the Bratva couldn't?" Oliver knew that Anatoly knew how his skills had grown, he just wanted to see how much. Anatoly sighed and walked calmly to the bar, sitting down he began to explain.

"The item that was stolen was brought here, to your city. My men do not know it as well, and I believed I owed you the curtesy of letting you find it without having my men make a mess. You see, the item I require was stolen by an old acquaintance of yours. I believe you knew him as Mark Noss." Anatoly watched Oliver for reactions the entire time he explained. Oliver had gone behind the bar and was preparing the vodka for consumption for the both of them. Shot glasses naturally. The billionaire hadn't showed any outward reaction, and yet internally his blood went cold. Anatoly knew who had "stolen" from him. Not good. Now he had to keep Mark and Brian hidden until he could either prove their innocence or find Vivian. All without alerting Anatoly and the Bratva. Great. How the hell am I supposed to do that? Setting one of the glasses in front of his former mentor, Oliver looked up and responded.

"I knew him when I was still a bratty playboy. Lost touch when I was shipwrecked. I didn't know he had changed, he never seemed like a thief to me. Knowing you though, you would try to force him to give it back. What of his did you take?" Anatoly smirked. He knew Oliver was quick.

"His twin. He continues to claim innocence, I do not believe it. He is who the evidence points to and I doubt someone was to frame him." Oliver nodded slightly. Trying to understand how he was going to accomplish this, not wanting to lose this friendship. Anatoly continued. "I know you do not approve, my friend, but I have no other choice. I tried negotiation, only to fail. I promise you I will return the girl as soon as my item is returned." Finished for now, the Russian drank. Oliver was still thinking.

"What is this object? If I help you, I need to know what I'm looking for. Other wise I will get nowhere." Oliver was hoping the team was watching, so the search could begin that much faster. Anatoly laughed, and reached into his pocket. Pulling out a photo, Anatoly stood.

"I thank you, Oliver. You need anything from me after this, I will help." He set the photo down and turned to leave when Oliver spoke.

"Of course you will, a favor for a favor. Remember? You will get your item, Anatoly. Just remember that she was my friend, and I hope she is unharmed and remains that way." Anatoly turned back to face him. For minutes, Mentor and Protégé kept eye contact. Mentor broke first, with a nod the Head of the Bratva left.

Oliver sagged with relief. Flipping the picture over sends him into another flashback.

He was surrounded by dead bodies and Bratva members. They had just been attacked by a rival gang, and obviously the rivals had lost. Anatoly came up to him and did a once over to ensure he was safe. Once his mentor was sure, he clasped his hand on Oliver's shoulder saying, "I have mission for you." Anatoly pulled out a photo and showed it to Oliver. "Retrieve this for me and a great reward will be waiting." Oliver took the photo with a smile and a nod. Oliver left with only his bow and quiver. He returned successful, without firing a shot.

He snapped back out of it only a minute later. Blinking, he realized he was face to face with his IT girl, her's showing nothing but worry. Oliver let out a huff and let his head fall to her shoulder. She responded by running her fingers through his hair. Suddenly the archer growled and lashed out launching the shot glass, still full, across the room and against the wall. Felicity yelped and jerked away from him. Shocked at the outburst she stood frozen while Oliver turned back to the bar and hung half over it taking deep breaths to help calm himself.

Tommy spoke first. "You okay buddy?"

Oliver gave a humorless laugh in response. It made the others uneasy to see Oliver this unsettled. Mark, on the other hand, moved closer, curious as to what caused this reaction. The emerald Archer stretched backwards, exhaled, and opened his eyes.

"No, Tommy, I'm not. I know exactly what Anatoly wants, and it isn't a normal object. He had me collect it for him, originally in Russia. It's a small, rare and beautiful gem. It is a mix of several gems mixed together. Emerald, diamond, amethyst, topaz, ruby, pearls. Him and his sister were attacked when they were young, and the jewel was stolen then. I retrieved it, luckily without bloodshed, and I am determined to again. The gem is set in a gold chain necklace." Oliver turned to Felicity an apology written all over his face. "Could you please, see if you can find out who might have it and how it was stolen? Check the evidence. On the surface, you'll get results for Mark, look deeper. Please."

Felicity was searching him to make sure he was truly okay. She found her answer in his eyes. He wasn't. Felicity knew that the only way peace would return to their world was if Vivian was returned and the Bratva left. The computer genius gave him a soft smile and nodded her consent. Oliver returned the smile and turned to his other partner.

"Digg, keep me occupied, and away from the Noss boys. Roy, hit the streets, see if you can find anything that she can't. Tommy, Laurel, can you keep the brothers busy? Thea, you need to check in with mom so she calms down, then maybe Felicity will let you help her." Team Arrow all gave a response in the positive and began to move. Felicity dragged her fingers down Ollie's arm as she walked away, Tommy and Laurel led the Noss' to another part of the club. Roy grabbed a hoodie and took off, while Thea gave her brother a small peck on the cheek and went with Roy, who would drop her off at the mansion. Digg waited for the younger man to move before he spoke.

"You know you can't avoid them forever. You're gonna have to talk soon." The soldier got a grunt in response as he was led down to the training mats.
Felicity looked up briefly as her boys came down the stairs. She knew this is what her love needed. Normalcy. The original three doing what they do. She put on some low music that she knew Oliver liked and went back to work. Digg smirked at how in sync the two were.

For the next few hours that was all that happened. Thea was with her mom, Roy following lead after lead that either he found or Felicity sent him after. Tommy and Laurel caught up with the Noss'. Digg and Oliver trained, with and without weapons. Felicity went deeper and deeper into the background of the lost jewel. All in all a dull evening. Or so they thought.

AN: I know, I know, bad cliff hanger. Sorry about the long wait. Anatoly is kinda in the middle between friend or foe. Next chapter will be a twist though. A new point of view. I hope you like it!