Oliver walked in the line towards the mess hall, as he did he was hearing what had happened the night before. Apparently a fellow prisoner who fit the description Mia gave of the man who drove his knife into Laurel was found dead. The official explanation is that he had killed himself with a noose made from his bedsheets.

It still amazed him how quickly information gets passed around in a place like this where time didn't really exist. From what he could gather from what he had overheard from fellow prisoners was that no one, including himself, believed this was a suicide. It had to be Damien Dahrk.

He had the intelligence and the resources to pull a stunt like this. Ra's al Ghul had issues locating and killing this man. His cunning was infamous. Oliver was starting to believe that Darhk had been the puppet master from the beginning. He had one of his Ghosts pose as Billy Wintergreen to keep him on the backfoot. To be paranoid.

After he had his breakfast, Oliver walked back to his cell to see Ben Turner, standing beside a few of his thugs, and surprisingly Stanley Dover. "Turner, Dover." Oliver then noticed that The Star City Slayer was holding Mia's copy of Hamlet.

"I will ask this just once, Dover. Hand over the book." He then glared darkly at the smaller man.

"Chill, Queenie." Bronze Tiger said before snatching the book from his ally and handing it back to Oliver. "My apologies, Queen. This was not a visit with the intention of pissing you off. In fact, it was to form an entente between you and us." He said gesturing between them with his hands.

Oliver gently held the book behind his back, so that his daughter's possession wouldn't be damaged in any potential confrontation. Right now, apart from his photograph and wedding ring, her book was the only way he could be close to Mia, to William, Speedy...and Laurel.

"And what is this coalition banding together against or for?"

"We can supply you with something to gut Darhk. Just like he had Cable did to your wife. There is no way a man can survive with his guts hanging to the floor."

Not so much an alliance, but for Oliver to be their hitman. A man to do the deed, and take the punishment. And as to whether or not a man could survive being disemboweled, he had his doubts, all it would take is a certain kind of mystical water and Darhk is back to his psychopathic life.

"I appreciate the offer, but I'm not in the market for anything."

"The only thing that was going to be the price was allowing me to have front row tickets. You sure?"

"Do you really think I'm the sort of man that would slice open another man's belly on conjecture and hearsay?" His heart panged, his argument sounded so much like Laurel. Maybe the saying about loved ones living within our hearts is true? He hoped not; Laurel didn't deserve to be living in that cold, inhospitable place.

"I know that you were a party boy, a failed businessman, and a public servant. Now, though… I'm not even sure that you know who you are in your bones anymore. Prison changes you, makes you harder, colder."

Oliver gritted his teeth at the unlikely and unwelcome reminder of Laurel. "Do not presume to know me, Turner. That's not a mistake that you want to make."

"Fine." Turner raised his hand in surrender. "Fine, just a piece of advice then. You don't shank Darhk, you won't be feared. And if no one is afraid of the boy who was born with a platinum spoon in his mouth, what's to stop them from stabbing you in the throat, or the liver? Reputation and fear are the only commodities here."

"Get out of the way! Move Convict 6180"

Oliver, Turner and his men, including Dover, looked over the railing to see the commotion below. Oliver's eyes widened in shock. "It can't be…."

Turner chuckled beside Oliver and patted him on the shoulder. "You can kiss your big bad reputation goodbye now, Queen. Looks like the man behind The Siege of Starling has come to play in the jungle, just how many people have it out for you and yours?"

"Too many to count," Oliver mumbled as he saw Slade walk to his cell with his armed escort.

What the hell was Slade doing behind bars? Hadn't Slade had his fill of prison after The Mirakuru on Lian Yu?

A few moments later, the prison died back down to its usual self. Oliver returned back to his cell and sat on the bed after playing Mia's book underneath his pillow.

Benjamin Turner wasn't exactly wrong, prison had changed him. Changed him back to the hardened stone-cold man that he was before he had returned home. If Darhk was the one to kill Laurel and rip his family in two... If he got his hands around The Former Horseman's neck, would he be able to stop him from snapping it? Would he want to? Or could he even stop himself?

He had tortured Matthew Shrieve for killing Akio. A little boy he adored, but Laurel was so much more, she was his whole world. She kept him alive during those five years in hell, and even afterwards. She was his rock. The mother of his kids.

"Oliver."

Oliver looked up to see Darhk's favorite pawn. Andy Diggle. "Still under Darhk's thumb?"

Andy ignored the question. "Mr. Darhk would like to have a quiet word in the yard tomorrow afternoon."

"I look forward to it."

:-:-:-:-:-:-:

Oliver sat alone in the mess hell like he did every day since he was brought there. One of the few advantages of people thinking he was Green Arrow was that he was given a wide berth most of the time.

It seemed however, things were changing. "Hey Kid, enjoying your Brekkie?"

Oliver looked up to see Slade make himself at home next to him. "What do you think, Slade?"

His friend, his brother hummed slightly. "I don't know what to think. I'm not even sure the man that I had mentored is still in there." He said pointing at Oliver's chest. "Everyone from Star City to Central, hell, even Seattle are hearing in the news that you have lost your marbles."

Oliver looked up, "You saw Mia and William?"

"Kid, in here you are locked not just inside these walls, but inside your own mind. You're stewing about things that you have concocted in your own mind. Reality is distorted here. if it didn't contort and distort your perception, you would have known it was me, when people started mentioning Billy." You have more in your life than your friends, your sister, and your kids. "

Slade then pulled out a small business card and handed it to Oliver. Sherwood Florist. It was the one thing that I was allowed to keep, and I'm giving it to you. There are things happening, gears moving that you had to be left out of the loop to make this work."

"What do you mean, Slade?"

"Better watch your back, Deathstroke! You killed a lot of people's families during The Siege. " A fellow inmate moved slowly towards Slade in an attempt to intimidate the former ASIS agent. One of the most dangerous people Oliver had ever met.

"I'll show you how to bloody watch their back, mate!" Slade roared as he jumped out of his seat and slammed the convict's head against the table before wrapping his hands around the man's neck.

"Stop Slade!" Oliver said, rising from the bench.

Slade turned to look at Oliver with his one eye. "So the man that your precious Birdy loved so much is still in there. It's important to remember who Oliver Queen is. He isn't Convict 4587." No Oliver Queen is a father, husband, brother, friend. " I'll be around, keeping an I on you, mate," Slade said before walking off in the direction of his cell.

"Queen! What the hell happened here?" Asked one of the guards.

Oliver stopped and shrugged before getting up to leave for his own cell, to get ready to meet Darhk later in the day. "He just fell, Yorke. He slipped and fell." Oliver then silently left the mess hall. He was glad that someone who knew the real him was inside with him. And perhaps he was not as far gone as he thought he was.

Oliver tapped on the card. Sherwood Florists sounded like something that Thea or his daughter came up with to make fun of him. He found himself slightly smiling at the name. Was that where Mia was staying or working?

:-:-:-:-:-:-:

When Oliver returned to his cell, he noticed that his sheets were disturbed, he moved the sheet on his bed to reveal a sharpened toothbrush. Oliver let out an annoyed sigh, Turner and his gang had given him an unwanted gift. And yet, he picks up the improvised weapon and tucks it in his pocket.

Why did Turner, Dover and their gang want him to fight Darhk so badly?

Was today going to be the end between him and Darhk?

Oliver walked slowly towards the yard, he could hear the murderers of fellow prisoners, and guards making bets on who would be the one to walk away from the meeting. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed one person who was watching him from afar. Slade.

Once they made it to Darhk and Andy Diggle. "Oliver, my old friend," Darhk said jovially. "Take a walk with me." The longlived man said in a tone that suggested it wasn't a request.

As they walked along the side of the prison walls, Oliver watched as Slade moved closer. His mentor was still far enough not to be considered a threat, but close enough to intervene on his behalf if things went south. A big brother looking after his kid brother.

It felt like old times. Slade watching his back, just like he had during the better part of two years on Lian Yu.

"Why did you want me here? You won, alright? You killed the love of my life."

Darhk tsked. "Is that why you agreed to this meeting, I'm disappointed in you. As both mayor and vigilante you possessed more vigor, intelligence and cunning, or was that just you following Dinah Laurel Lance? Was she wearing the pants in your relationship?."

"People heard you laugh when Laurel was being killed in front of our daughter!" Oliver growled, opting to cut through the nonsense that the other man was weaving. He wasn't going to take the bait.

Darhk chuckled, "Oh sweet Oliver. I was laughing at your pain. Don't get me wrong, if she hadn't used that cry when I had her, she would be six-feet under already." He then had a toothy grin and opened his arms. "If you don't believe me, use that shank in your pocket and kill me."

He should. If anyone deserves it was him.

Instead, Oliver shoved the man against the hard stone walls of the prison. "Who killed Laurel!? Who!?" Oliver bellowed.

"You were never the brains. Use that head of yours, surely there is more than gray matter in that head of yours? Who would benefit from you and I attacking each other, starting a war in here?" He then gestured for a handshake. "We need to rise above our differences. There is a war brewing here, and it will be headed our way. And.." He looked towards Slade. "You are not averse to breaking bread and being friendly with the man who killed your own mother."

Oliver walked away, much to the irritation and ire of people, including Ben Turner and his group.

Who would benefit?

Turner at every turn had been manipulating him, forcing him to look at different people to force Oliver to raise tensions within the prison walls. What does he have that could be to his benefit if Slabside is on fire? Does he have an escape plan?

Oliver walked over towards Slade who was sitting on a steel bench enjoying the sun. "Not the harsh sun of home, but it's still the sun. Some things just never change, no matter where you are, even if it seems to."

"Why are you here Slade? And don't bullshit me by saying that you came to see if I had lost my mind."

Slade stood up and directed Oliver to a part of the yard that wasn't currently being used by any prisoners. "I gave a significant amount of money to Thaddeus Cable's family for him to be my inside man. I ensured that his family was safe, and they have enough money to live comfortably."

"You killed Laurel?"

"Cable was an old acquaintance from my ASIS days. He owed me a favor and was already a lifer. So he pulled what you and your friends did to your protege, Roy Harper. Your anger and lashing out was necessary to believe that she was dead. It was necessary for you to be able to be with your family after I broke you out. You were never going to be acquitted, so I put this plan into action."

Oliver froze. Slade saved Laurel. All so when he had escaped Oliver could live with his family. Slade had everyone including Sara aim their ire and attention at him to let Laurel set up their new life somewhere else. "Is Laurel alive?"

"Pipe down." He snarled. " She's living in a flat above a store called Sherwood Florist with new IDs. She and your daughter are waiting for me to break you out. It was the only way that you could be with the people you love."

"Did Mia know?"

"Only Laurel, Mia, your sister, and Allen knew the details. We had to keep it quiet. If it's any consolation, all three of your girls have been feeling guilty about making you believe that Laurel was killed." Slade the clapped Oliver on the shoulder and looking at Oliver with sincerity. " I'm giving you a new chance at life, I suggest you let whoever has taken your mantle to continue, leave Yao Fei and Shado's hood to him. It's time to rest and live and raise your family, mate. That's what Yao Fei and Shado would have wanted. Allen will inform your son's mother, and Miss Lance of what has happened after we have broken out of this place, I have had enough of these sort of places."

"What's the plan?"

"Bronze Tiger, and Dover will be causing a massive disturbance. They had killed Cable because they knew they had a mole. They are going to break out the firearms from the security area, once they have caused anarchic destruction, they will leave by helicopter. That's our way out."

Oliver was going to go home. Laurel was alive. His family was safe and whole. How did he not realize?

Prison Distorts Reality.