Disclaimer: WB/DC own these characters. I'm only borrowing them for a while. I own the original ideas found in this.

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Previously:

"Slade. You're working for him," Oliver said in a low, controlled voice.

"With, Oliver. Not 'for'. With." Isabel laughed in his face, lifting her chin defiantly at him. "He knew planting me in your family's business would draw you back to Starling City. Truth be told, I was skeptical, but it worked out perfectly, wouldn't you say?"

Just as Oliver's fingers began to tighten around her throat, four security guards entered the office, revolvers drawn. Isabel's voice was raspy but calm as she said, "You better leave now, Oliver."

Oliver looked back at the four men and their guns drawn on him. He reluctantly removed his hand, and Isabel rubbed her throat as she stepped away from him.

"Let's go, Dig," Oliver said. As he passed by the cart, he grabbed the handle and pulled it out after him.

"It was a pleasure doing business with you, Oliver," Isabel's voice a pitch higher than normal and filled with triumph and scorn, followed him down the hall.

Silence filled the elevator as it slowly descended to the lobby. Diggle followed Oliver as he led them and the carts outside to the car. Dig hit the automatic lock opener, and Oliver opened the back door and began to throw boxes into the back seat, barely noticing them landing every which way. Dig placed a hand on his arm when he reached for yet another box. "Why don't you let me get this, and you get in?" he suggested in a quiet, controlled voice.

Oliver could tell his vein at the temple which tended to pulse when he was upset was doing it now. He gave out a breath and got into the front passenger seat. Carefully controlling his movements, he closed the door with the right amount of force. During the few minutes that it took Dig to straighten out the boxes Oliver had thrown into the car, load the others into the back seat, and pull the carts off to the side of the parking garage, Oliver attempted to get a handle on his uncontrolled anger.

Before Oliver knew it, Dig got into the driver's seat. He looked like he was about to say something, but Oliver couldn't bear to hear a calm assurance from Dig…yet.

"First he appears from the dead in my family home, supposedly to threaten my family. He then attacks Felicity in the worse possible way, trying to take away her innocence and break her trust in me. Then he takes away my family business." Oliver thrust his head into his hands. "He's succeeding, Dig. He's taking away, bit by bit, everything I hold dear. We haven't been able to find him. We haven't been able to stop him, or to guess his next move."

"I know, Oliver."

His voice muffled, Oliver asked, "What can we do, Dig? How can we stop him?" Raising his head from his hands, Oliver closed his eyes as Dig watched him. "He has had years to plan all of this. He hasn't said so, but it is apparent. How did he meet Isabel in the first place? How do they know each other? How could he find out all about me to do all of this?"

"We'll figure it out."

"But when, Dig? How?" Oliver slammed his fist into the dashboard. "Who's he going to go after next? Sara? Laurel? You?" His mouth open, Oliver searched for words as Dig drove the car out of the parking lot. "We just can't seem to get a handle on what his next plan is. How are we ever going to beat him?"

"You need to stop running scared, Oliver. I've seen you go through a lot, and I've never seen you as afraid as you have been since Slade appeared." Dig turned a corner onto a street taking them towards Verdant. "To think like him, you need to get that fear under control."

Oliver sighed heavily, and raked his fingers through his cropped blonde hair. "I know, Dig, I know. Don't doubt I haven't been trying to do that very thing, but…"

"I know, Oliver. And this thing with Felicity…"

"I cannot believe he used his raping Felicity to get control of QC. She wasn't at work Friday because she's still recovering from his attack. Supposedly she wasn't able to get the email notifying me of the most important meeting of my business life." Slamming his fist down on the dashboard again, he said, "How can something so devious occur to someone?"

Diggle could only shake his head in sympathetic agreement as he continued driving them home.

~~OQ~~FS~~OQ~~

That night in the Lair, the Arrow team was getting ready to go patrolling and Felicity was momentarily away from her computers in the far corner taking inventory of office supplies. As she walked by the computers on the way to getting her outfit, something on the computer screen caught Sara's eye.

"Oliver!" Sara's voice held a degree of panic Oliver hadn't heard since the island. He looked over at her and realized she was pointing at the computer screen. His heart jumped to his throat as he saw Captain Lance and Laurel tied up and gagged, kneeling on a rooftop somewhere, with Slade standing in between them, a revolver in his hand.

"Hello, Sara!" Slade's gravelly voice echoed through the Lair.

"How'd he get through my security walls, again?" Felicity mumbled, freezing in her steps as she heard that dreaded voice once again. She shook her head to break the hold fear held her in and quickly walked to one of the other computers and sat down. Her fingers flew as she attempted to trace Slade's signal.

"Good evening again, Felicity. How wonderful as always to hear from you," Slade's voice purred through the airwaves.

Felicity's fingers paused. Oliver observed her complexion grow white but her lips were pursed and her look determined as she resumed her search of the internet without further interruption or reaction. Oliver noticed a few drops of perspiration appear on Felicity's upper lip as an indication to the stress which she was under.

"What do you want, Slade?" Sara asked, subconsciously moving closer to Oliver, who put a hand on her shoulder to steady her.

"It's your turn, Sara. I considered offering Oliver this type of choice instead, since it was his fault it happened on the island. However, you also need to suffer the consequences of that decision. So this is your punishment."

"Like you said, Slade, it should be me you deal with, not the Lances," Oliver said, his tone low but deadly.

"But Oliver, Sara also should pay for her sins, for her part in Shado's death."

Sara couldn't restrain herself from screaming, "It wasn't Oliver's fault, Slade! It also damn well wasn't mine. You let my family go!"

"No, Sara. Like I said, it's time for you to pay."

Recognizing how fruitless it was to continue to argue with him, Sara asked, "What do you want, Slade?"

"You. On the rooftop of the Grandy Warehouse at the corner of Baker and Ninth. Within the hour. Or they're both dead." Slade laughed as he added, "Oh, and Oliver? If you have the guts, you can join her."

The group in the Lair could hear as both Quentin and Laurel began to yell loudly through their gags indistinguishable words. Felicity didn't doubt they were trying to tell her not to meet Slade.

"Now, like I said, Oliver is free to join you. But no surprises, Sara, or both your loved ones get a bullet in the brain before you can reach them. See you soon, Sara," they heard as the transmission ended.

Felicity turned in her chair. "What are we going to do? And what does he mean by all of this?"

"Oliver, you know what Slade is thinking about doing, don't you? He's going to make me choose between them." The panic Sara was feeling was apparent in her voice.

"Yeah, I know. We don't have much time. How do you want to handle this?" Oliver asked Sara, leaning back against the desk, his muscles tight as if in preparation for a fight.

"How do I want to handle this? I want them out of there, and I want Slade dead. Dead, Oliver, dead!"

"Sara, try not to panic. We will get them out of there," Oliver tried to soothe away her nerves.

"Does he really expect this to work? He didn't demand you to come alone, Sara, so what is he planning?" Diggle asked.

Sara looked at Oliver helplessly, and waited for him to answer. Oliver combed his fingers through his hair and said, "I agree, it does seem like a rather weak plan. Unless he has something else planned." Before Felicity could ask her question, Oliver shrugged and said, "I don't know what else he could be planning, but I agree. It is totally possible he's trying to distract us from something else. But what, I don't know."

"Well, I don't care what. We have to figure out how to rescue Dad and Laurel, and we have to do it now."

"Unless…unless it's Slade's way for me to expose my identity to them," Oliver said. "As well as yours, I suppose."

Looking around the Lair, Oliver could see Sara visualizing what her family saw while Slade had talked to them. Her face paled. "I didn't think of that, Oliver. Laurel must now realize I'm the Canary and you're the Arrow. They both must have gotten a good look at the Lair." After a pause, her eyes wide, she added in a flat tone, "And Dad now knows you're the Arrow."

Sighing, Oliver nodded. "We'll just have to deal with any fallout after we rescue them. After all, their lives are more important than keeping our secrets."

"No matter what happens?" Sara asked, not bothering to hide her skepticism.

"There's a chance, I suppose, your father will arrest all of us, but I think he more than suspects I'm the Arrow. He simply chooses to ignore it. Makes his job easier." Pursing his lips together Oliver considered his next statement. "Laurel is tougher to call. Even though she's been angry at the Arrow…she might change her mind knowing it's me behind the mask." He shrugged. "I guess we'll wait and see. But first, we need to get them out of Slade's hands."

Dig looked at his watch. "I think we better get going. I suggest Felicity stay on Overwatch, as usual, but Roy and I provide background. Perhaps while you two distract Slade, we can go in and snatch Lance and Laurel."

Felicity was biting her thumbnail as she followed the discussion. Her face troubled, she broke into the conversation. "I hate to be a worrywart, but…really, do we stand a chance? You four against Slade might have a chance, with his Mirakuru super strength, but what if he has men with him?"

Sara turned on Felicity. "What do you suggest? We not go? I go by myself?"

Felicity lost her temper. "I don't know either!" she yelled. "I don't know, but…what if?"

Oliver stepped in between the two women. Placing a hand on Sara's shoulder, he said, "You're not going in alone." Turning to Felicity, and placing his other hand on her shoulder, he said, "Don't worry, Felicity. We will beat him. Especially with Roy with us. It'll be all right."

Felicity wasn't completely convinced Oliver believed what he'd just said, but there was no other choice. She watched as Oliver walked over to his cache of arrows, picked up his quiver and loaded up with the specialized arrows needed in their fight against Slade. Diggle went to the storage bin for bullets and began to load up his revolver. Sara hurried up to change, as Roy walked over to Felicity.

"You're doing okay, Blondie?" he asked softly.

Felicity looked at him, giving him a small smile. "Yeah, sorry for the outburst earlier. I…I'm just on edge with all of this."

Roy nodded, letting silence say what he couldn't. "You know, I wouldn't let anything happen to him out there."

Felicity placed a hand on Roy's lower arm. "Thanks."

~~OQ~~FS~~OQ~~

Oliver, Sara, and Roy rode their motorcycles to the meeting place, Dig drove the van. Oliver and Roy wore their uniforms, but Sara didn't bother. There was a slim chance the Lances didn't know of the secret identities. Dig parked a few blocks away from the building while the other three rode past the building and parked a few blocks away on the other side. All four of them had comms switched to the channel Felicity was monitoring.

"Guys, I was able to hack into the building's security. I only see three heat sources, all on the roof," Felicity told them as she continued to monitor the surrounding area as well. "Nothing and nobody else shows up on surveillance camera either, by way of traffic cams."

"So far, so good," Roy muttered.

"Thanks, Overwatch," Oliver said, his body in fighting mode, all senses aware as they made progress along the side of the building. He observed a side door, motioned Roy to take that route. Dig motioned he was heading to the back of the building to check it out and go that way. Oliver nodded.

At the lair, Felicity was able to gain from computer access that the building was a three-story warehouse, with a large roof. Knowing Slade probably would know they were on their way up, Oliver figured they would climb the stairs instead of rappelling up the building.

Before they started up the stairwell, Oliver asked through the comms, "Overwatch, any traffic cam on the rooftop?"

"Nope, sorry, but the heat sources have hardly moved. The one doing the moving, it seems to be pacing the edge of the roof probably behind the other two. Away from the door."

"Thanks."

Oliver looked at Sara, who nodded. Oliver took the lead in climbing the stairs. Senses alert, they heard no one throughout the building. Reaching the door to the roof, Oliver rested for a moment, closing his eyes, and meditated for a moment. Opening them, he looked at Sara again. Nodding, she sighed and indicated he should go first. She would then take the lead going forward.

Oliver opened the door and took a cursory look around. Looking across the roof, he wasn't surprised to see Laurel and Lance facing the door, still tied up, kneeling in front of Slade, who had his revolver in his hand as he slowly paced behind his prisoners. Slade stopped and looked up, watching as Sara joined Oliver on the roof and began to walk towards them.

"Hello, Sara."

"Hello, scumbag." Sara's chin was up defiantly as she walked towards Slade, bow ready at her side with an arrow dipped in Tibetan Pit venom ready to be grabbed. She didn't want to look, but she couldn't help glancing at her sister and father. At least to make sure they weren't hurt.

"Stop right there, both of you. Place your bows down on the ground. Now." Oliver wanted to take the chance and shoot Slade full of arrows, but knew he couldn't beat Slade while he was holding a gun. He nodded at Sara, who knelt at the same time as Oliver to place her bow on the ground beside his.

"Now walk slowly toward us, if you please, hands up."

As they did this, her father met her glance head-long. She wondered how he could look so calm and accepting of her. Slade must have told them something of the island, something of their history. He closed his eyes and gave a small nod, instilling his trust in her…and the Arrow to get them out of here.

Laurel, by contrast, tried not to show her fear, but she had so little experience in these types of situations it was understandable she wasn't completely successful. Sara could tell she was a little shocked with her newly gained knowledge when she looked at Oliver standing beside Sara. Sara gave her a quick wink, which Laurel met with a surprised look, which was quickly hidden when she remembered Slade standing there watching them.

When they had crossed half the distance between them, Slade ordered them to stop. "You know how this all goes, Sara. Since you already lived it."

"Don't be ridiculous, Slade. Even with how desperate you are, you wouldn't kill a police officer and have the entire force after you or kill a police officer's daughter in front of him as a witness. So…I don't think you're going to kill either one."

Slade showed no emotion but for a twitch in his lower lip. Suddenly he pulled the revolver in front of him, aiming straight at Sara's heart. "Well, maybe I should just kill you then. Even if you are also the man's daughter. Perhaps I'd get more pleasure killing you in front of your family."

Sara tried not to show it, but she was waiting for signs that Dig and Roy had reached the roof. They would have to take the alternate doorway and come around so they wouldn't be seen. At least have a chance of not being seen by Slade.

"Slade, why don't we quit this charade. You're not going to kill them, like Sara says. What is it you're really after with this little fiasco of yours?"

"Oh, Oliver, yes, I will call you Oliver…you should have seen the surprise on these two individuals' faces when I told them you were the Arrow." Slade walked over to Lance and gestured with the gun. "He showed surprise, but I can tell, he was beginning to suspect. I wonder how long? I could've asked him, you know, but…alas, I had him gagged."

Walking towards Laurel, he placed an arm around her neck, pulling her suddenly against him. Laurel squeaked through the gag. "Now she, Oliver. It was interesting. She didn't know either. Very interesting, since supposedly she's the love of your life. At least you acted like that on the island." Holding his revolver to her head, Slade asked, "Should I take her out of the misery of finding out her young love is now the masked hero of Starling City? She didn't look happy with finding out about it, Oliver. Tsk, tsk, keeping secrets from the one you love. Makes me wonder if you really love her." Suddenly letting Laurel go, Laurel fell forward but Slade caught her before she fell on her face. He straightened her up, then he got up and walked back to the center between his prisoners.

"So they know. Is this what this fiasco is all about? Destroying whatever love Laurel may still have for me, and revealing to the police my secret identity? Well done."

"Yes, if I say so myself, it will be interesting to see what Captain Lance will do with this information." Slade, Sara and Oliver all looked at Lance. Sara wished she knew what her father was thinking, but his face remained expressionless, not giving any kind of a clue.

"Or what Ms. Lance, assistant D.A., will do." Everyone's gaze was drawn to Laurel, whose tear-streaked face looked helplessly at Oliver as she shrugged. "Who knows? Looks like she may still love you, Oliver, despite your infatuation with your sweet, sweet Felicity." At Laurel's confused look, Slade walked over to Laurel and bent down. "Oh, you poor girl. You didn't know you've been replaced in Oliver's heart by his assistant? Sorry to break it to you, sweetheart, but I think you have been." He stood up and walked back to the center, smiling broadly at Oliver and Sara.

"Anyway, this has been lots of fun, but I suppose I better go." Fingering his revolver, Slade first looked at Laurel, then at Lance. Despite herself, Sara couldn't help releasing a small gasp before regaining control. She could swear what was going to happen next, and she still hadn't seen Roy or Dig to come to the rescue.

"Sorry to disappoint you, Sara, but I've decided not to kill anyone. Tonight. Until next time, Oliver," Slade said as he quickly turned, shot an arrow with rappelling rope from it from a small bow hidden in his sleeve, and began to slide to the ground.

AN: Whew! All the Lances are safe (at least for now, it seems). What will Slade do next? Has he grown soft, charitable? (hint: no way!) Or did he decide to change things up and only irritate the Arrow team? Return for the next chapter to see what else Slade is planning…he is not done yet, not by a long shot.