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

AN: Thank you for returning to my story. Sorry it took longer than I wanted to.

Warning: Descriptions of violence and mention of injuries resulting from them.

Previously:

Oliver walked over to her, and took Dig's spot in front of her, Dig having gotten up and moved. He took her hand. "Felicity, I need you to take care of yourself. Okay? I will be fine." As she begin to protest, he raised a finger. "No, I will be fine." As a skeptical look stayed on her face, he continued, "What if we come get you if you are needed. Okay? And we will leave you a message on the progress, all right?" When Felicity continued to remain silent, Oliver captured her eyes and softly asked, "Please? For me?"

Felicity nodded. "Yeah, okay. I should have gone today, but, I was too scared to go."

"Understandable, but you need to go tomorrow. We will be okay." Oliver looked at Dig and Sara. "Let's go to the house. Nothing else we can do out here."

Once inside the mansion, Sara brought Felicity upstairs to her room to lie down. Oliver had forgotten they had left his mother wondering what was going on, so he had to figure out what to tell her. He needed to talk with Dig first, to clear his mind. He asked his mother to wait for him in her office, promising her he will be in shortly.

Rubbing his face so hard he was amazed he didn't rub his stubble off, Oliver pulled Dig aside. "I wonder why Slade set the trade for tomorrow morning. Why the delay?" He looked Dig directly in the eye. "I hate to even think about possible reasons for the delay."

"It's probably only meant to make you squirm longer. To get you unsettled, so you aren't able to plan an effective fight."

"I hope you're right. Just the thought of him…violating my sister…."

"To me, he doesn't seem like the man who would repeat himself twice. Not to mention doing that sort of crime. At all. He never raped anyone before, right?"

"Yeah, it does seem out of character…at least, for the man I used to know. All bets are off, though, with the mirakuru messing up his mind…" Oliver covered his face with his hands. The thought of his sister in the hands of the madman Slade was now….

Dig placed a hand on Oliver's shoulder. "Don't let the man scramble your mind so bad you can't think straight. We need to come up with a battle plan to get you, Roy and Thea safely out of there. No matter what this madman is thinking."

"Speaking of my sister, I have to figure out what to tell my mother. I really don't want to tell her anything, but…."

"She's going to notice Thea missing, Oliver." Looking Oliver square in the eye, Diggle said, "Maybe it's time to tell her about the Arrow."

"What? With everything she was involved with last year, can we trust her?"

"I think it might be wise to think about telling her, before Slade does. The Lances know, and the way Slade works, he just might have told Thea about it as well."

Diggle watched as the color in Oliver's face, which had finally returned, left again. "Oh no. I really didn't think of that possibility…" Trying to clear his head by shaking it, Oliver grimaced. "I'll see how the conversation goes. I…I just don't think I can handle telling her tonight."

Dig nodded and watched as Oliver left the room.

~~FS~~OQ~~FS~~

Oliver stood outside his mother's study. It amazed him that his mother still had the power at times to make him feel like a five-year-old in trouble. He squared his shoulders, knocked on the door, and entered when she gave permission. Upon entering, his eyes were drawn to his mother sitting regally behind the antique dark oak desk, fixing on him her trademark stern look.

"Mom, I apologize for what's been happening…."

"Yes, Oliver. I think I am owed an explanation. Everyone has been acting peculiar. And Thea has been gone all day…."

"I'm sorry no one had told you. She told me she was going to spend some time with Roy."

"That reminds me. Is this boy Roy good for Thea?"

"Yes, he is, Mom. He may be from the other side of the tracks, so to speak, but he is a good young man. And Thea loves him."

Moira cleared her throat and rose out of her chair. "Which brings me to asking again, what was that all about before?"

Oliver had come up with a story which he hoped would sound plausible to his mother. "I thought I had seen Slade in the back yard."

Moira's eyebrows crunched together as she considered her son's words. "But it wasn't?" After Oliver shook his head, Moira walked around her desk. "Are your friends staying another night, then?"

Oliver cleared his throat, to give himself time to think. They hadn't had time to discuss it, but… "Yes, they are. Diggle would much prefer to keep us all centrally located, to protect us better."

"It's interesting how Slade had decided to attack Ms. Smoak. Since she's only your EA."

Oliver fought to keep his face impassive. He hadn't spent much time thinking up an excuse to explain that away, hoping neither his sister nor his mother would realize that. "Well, it's because we are friends, as well, since last year she helped me with some computer issues. It's why I promoted her to be my EA. Because I knew I could trust her implicitly." He cleared his throat as his mother continued to look at him in silence. "So, somehow, Slade figured out how important she is to the business. It's why he targeted her."

Moira nodded, her lips pressed tightly in a small smile. Walking towards the study door, she said, "I better check on dinner. I suppose you didn't update Rose on the extra guests?"

His mother didn't give him a chance to answer, sweeping past him in a hurry. He rolled his eyes, and prayed his mother believed everything he'd told her. Without another word, he followed his mother to the dining room. Oliver wasn't looking forward to getting through supper with his mother and his friends, but he knew he couldn't avoid it. He was feeling the need to go patrolling, but knew his team wouldn't appreciate him being gone, again leaving them with his mother. Not to mention what his mother would think. He told himself he could handle this, and walked into the dining room as his mother continued towards the kitchen to speak to the cook.

He was pleased to see Felicity sitting at the table with the others. She gave him a small smile, which he returned with one of his own. "How are you feeling?" he asked her.

"Much better. I can't believe..." her glance went to Moira, who was looking at her with a speculative expression on her face as she took her seat at the table. "I can't believe how tired I am." She closed her eyes as she was thankful she had noticed Moira and had stopped herself from speaking about the attack.

Oliver gave a small nod, hoping Felicity would acknowledge it as gratitude for her quick save. "I have told my mother you all will be staying tonight as well." He looked around the table. "I hope it was all right."

The rest of his team nodded, and Oliver was relieved nobody argued with him in front of his mother. They proceeded to eat once the food was served, and Oliver did take a moment to enjoy his teammates appreciating the excellent food made by their family cook. Conversation flowed well, considering his mother's presence. She, for the most part, behaved herself as well, and refrained from making any veiled insulting remarks to any of the group.

After supper, his mother excused herself, saying she had work to do in her private study connected to her bedroom upstairs. As soon as she was safely out of earshot, Felicity let out a huge sigh. "Boy, glad that's over. For some reason I felt her eyes on me throughout the entire meal."

"It might be because she asked why Slade had attacked you, considering you are 'just' my EA."

"You couldn't tell her she is also a friend of yours, Oliver?" Diggle asked indignantly.

"Of course I did. I explained we became friends when I brought her my computer to work on."

"Whew!" Felicity wiped her brow. "Glad that explains it. Yeah, I was wondering why she kept looking at me."

"Maybe she's wondering if you are the woman to tame her son," Sara said with a smirk.

"Sara!" Felicity slapped Sara's arm as her face reddened. "Why would she think that?"

Oliver's eyes sought Felicity's as of their own will. When she looked up and noticed Oliver watching her, the blush turned even darker red. Oliver waited for a babble to begin, but none started. Felicity simply sat there fiddling with her food remaining on her plate.

"Oh, you didn't like it?" Oliver asked, head nodding at her plate, with only half of the serving gone.

"I…I wasn't too hungry. It was all so delicious, though," Felicity said.

"Would you like something else to eat? Some toast, perhaps?"

"No, I am full. Honest, Oliver, but thanks for asking." Felicity set aside her silverware, and looked again at Oliver. "I think I will make this an early night, though."

"Of course," Oliver said, and rose as Felicity stood up and began to head for the stairs. He looked at Sara, who quickly nodded.

"I'll accompany her, just to make sure she has everything she needs," she said as she hurried to catch up with her. However, turning back to them, she added, "Oh, I will see what I can find about the meeting place as well. I'll email what I find to you at the Lair."

Diggle leaned back in his chair and looked at Oliver, who remained quiet. "Well, I suppose you need to do some patrolling tonight."

Oliver's lips twisted into a scowl. "It's probably useless, but I would like to see if we can find anything out on Slade, at all." After a moment, Oliver thought of something else. "We should see if we can find the logistics on the meeting place as well. Following up on what Sara finds for us."

Rising from his chair, Dig nodded. "All right then. Let's go before your mother stops us with her questions."

After searching the streets for two hours for some sign of Slade, or for any clue any stray passer-by or their snitches on the streets could give, Oliver and Diggle found nothing at all useful. Diggle wasn't sure whether the activity made Oliver's worry better or worse. Finally, he suggested they quit for the night, so hopefully Oliver could get some well-needed rest.

"I suppose. I do need to get some sleep before tomorrow."

"It will be okay, Oliver." Even to Dig's own ears, the sentence sounded unhelpful and patronizing in its false platitudes.

Oliver patted Dig on the back. "Thanks for helping me try, Dig. We shall see. Why don't you head back to the mansion? I'll stop by the lair and check what Sara found."

"Uh-uh, Oliver. We both shall go, and I will make sure you get home at a decent hour."

~~FS~~OQ~~FS~~

Previously:

"I would think that would go against your boss' instructions."

"Oh, you think so, Ms. Queen?" Thea jumped as Slade entered the room. She hadn't realized he was standing outside the room. "You are using the tone you use to boss around your servants, I do believe." Thea unconsciously moved back further in her chair as Slade got into her face. "I would recommend against using that tone with us, Ms. Queen, if you don't wish the same punishment that Mr. Harper has received."

Thea willed herself to respond to such behavior defiantly, but all that came out was a nod and a "I wouldn't do that again." Unfortunately, her voice cracked as she said that. In answer, Slade laughed.

"Sorry, I shouldn't take such great measure in scaring a little girl like you, but after all, you are the Kid's sister." He rose, and walked towards the door. "Have a good night, Ms. Queen."

After it was clear Slade had left the room, Thea turned her eyes towards Roy, who was beginning to stir in his chair. "Roy! Roy, wake up. What were you trying to do?"

Roy groaned, his eyes shooting open. "Oh, Thea, I'm so sorry. I tried to get us out of here, but I didn't consider the guards having the power juice in them."

"That was brave, but foolish," Thea said, in a tone she tried to be gentle, but still had an edge to it.

"I know, but I had to try."

"Enough!" the guard who beat up Roy yelled at Thea. "Be quiet, or we will gag you."

"What's wrong with us talking, huh? Obviously we're not going anywhere." Thea suddenly remembered what Slade had said about her being defiant, but she continued to keep her chin up defiantly while looking at the guards.

"The boss will not like it. He might do what he threatened to do to you, little girl."

"Thea, I love you, let's try to get some sleep," Roy said, his eyes pleading for her to listen to him.

Thea decided to listen to Roy's unspoken pleas. "I love you too, Roy. Good night, then." Thea tried to stop the tears from forming in her eyes. She closed them tightly so she couldn't see Roy's expression of pain and worry in his eyes. Waiting for a smart remark from one of the guards, Thea was surprised they didn't comment on their "I love you's" to one another.

~~FS~~OQ~~FS~~

It had been a very difficult night for Thea. One, it was plenty uncomfortable trying to sleep tied to a chair. Two, she was very worried about Roy. Since she didn't observe the fight, she didn't know how badly he was hurt. Even though he seemed to be all right, all things considered. Third, she was worried about what Slade had planned, not only for her and Roy, but for her brother as well. She also wondered what was the reason for all of this.

Suddenly the door flew open, and Slade walked in. He nodded at his men, who left the room. Being startled by his presence, Thea's body without any thought on her part, cowled in her chair as he approached her. Slade smiled as he noticed this, and he smiled even wider when Thea realized what she was doing and straightened herself up. She thrust her chin out and looked him square in the eye, trying to communicate a bravery she wasn't feeling.

"Oh, don't worry, Ms. Queen. You might yet escape all of this unharmed." Approaching Roy, Slade began to punch his right fist into his left hand. "However, your boyfriend will unfortunately experience the painful consequences of helping your brother in his ridiculous mission." Suddenly, Slade's right fist flew out and connected with Roy's jaw in a loud wham. Roy's head flew so quickly to the right, Thea thought it would fall off his neck.

"Don't! Please don't hurt him! Didn't your goons hurt him enough last night?" Thea cried out.

"Thea, don't try to beg with him. There's no talking down a psychotic, is there, Slade?" Despite the pain of a busted lip, Roy smiled at Slade. "You think Oliver is going to be affected if you beat me up? He knows I knew the risks when I got involved in his crusade. Just because you're too much of a coward to make this a fair fight…." A blow to the side of his head prevented Roy from finishing the sentence.

"Yesterday's beating was all about teaching young Mr. Harper a lesson. Today's beating is all about teaching your brother a lesson." Slade proceeded to punch Roy several times in the abdomen, accompanied by a grunt from Roy.

Thea alternated trying to keep her eyes closed, not screaming and attempting to stop the maniac in front of her from beating up Roy. None of it mattered. Slade continued to punch and kick Roy until the young man was covered in blood and was unconscious.

Thea watched, her eyes wide, holding her breath, and a scream, as Slade finally stopped and bent over Roy, checking his neck for a pulse.

AN: Oh, no, did I just do that? Leave you guys there to wonder about Roy's fate? Shame on me. Don't worry, I should get the next chapter up soon.