This is it boys and girls. You get to find out something I think you've been waiting for. I won't keep you any longer.

Artemis looked at the contact in her phone. She hesitated before calling it. Granted, she had set the tracker far enough away so that, if it had the ability to, it wouldn't be able to trace her phone call. She hadn't gone home yet, and it was nearing midnight. He had told her to call for only important things, and she'd be damned if this wasn't important.

She clicked on the number, tapping her foot on the ground as she waited for him to pick up. Which he did. She didn't let him get one word through before she said, "You knew, didn't you?"

"You're going to have to be more specific," Slade said. She could hear the amusement in his voice.

"You knew," Artemis said, "that Oliver Queen was going to be at the gala where the Triad was. That was why you encouraged me to make a move. Wasn't it?" She knew, from their talk before, that he had known who Oliver Queen was almost from the start of his days as the Hood.

"Such accusations," Slade said, baiting her. Artemis narrowed her eyes, though he couldn't see her anger. "Yes, I knew. Now tell me. You wouldn't have called unless something happened, I hope?" While the threat meant nothing to her, it was still in his words loud and clear.

"Yeah, something happened," she replied, letting her anger seep into her tone. "I saved his goddamn life again. And then he came back as the Arrow and fought off China White. And then he took me for a little chat and wants me to work for him or some shit."

"What?" Slade asked. She could tell she had thrown him off with her story. Unfortunately, her frustration and anger with the situation kept her from feeling accomplished at throwing him off.

"He gave me some device if I decide to join him or I need him or something. Relax, I haven't taken it back to my house and it can't track this phone, I'm not stupid. But this is your fault." Slade was quiet for a moment, and Artemis couldn't tell what he was thinking. After a moment, he spoke again.

"What was your response?" he asked her.

"My response?" Artemis laughed. "I told him exactly where he could shove a cactus, that was my response. Why the hell would I agree to that?"

"Because I'm telling you to," Slade said. Artemis frowned.

"What?" she asked, making sure she had heard right.

"You are going to go to Mr. Queen, and accept his offer," he said simply.

"No! I'm not going to work for that dick. He's the reason I'm in this mess in the first place," Artemis protested.

"Listen here. You work for me now, understand? We agreed upon this earlier. You are going to do what I say, when I say it, and how I say it. And in exchange, you get my protection from the Triad and the Arrow. And, by extension, from me. If you pull out, if I think that you aren't performing to your best capabilities, you can say goodbye to anyone you've ever loved. Your mother, your sister, that girl you meet at the park. If you don't do this, Artemis Crock, say your last goodbyes," Slade growled.

With each sentence, Artemis' face had grown paler. Sure, when he had come to her apartment his offer had seemed enticing: protection from her two greatest enemies when she was almost out of time would sway anyone to his side. She hadn't accounted for his plans for using her, since he had just said he needed her as a pair of eyes.

I should have known this was too good to be true, Artemis thought.

After a moment, Slade asked, "Do I have your understanding?"

"Yes," Artemis said through her teeth.

"Yes..?" Slade asked. She could tell it was to piss her off.

"Yes sir."

"Good. I trust you know how to go undercover. And don't despair, I haven't revoked my offer yet. That, my dear, all depends on you," Slade said. She was sure if they were talking face to face and not over the phone, she would've had more to say about it but Slade hung up on her before she could answer.

"This is just fucking great," Artemis muttered to herself. She threw her head into her hands, massaging her temples.

There was no backing out now, not by a long shot. She would have to go along, to play this game. And it wasn't looking fun.

Oliver opened the door to his house – though the word 'house' could hardly be used to describe the Queen mansion – as slowly and quietly as possible. It was late, later than he had thought it would be upon arriving home. No doubt, if any of his family was still awake, he would be in for it. His family was as dysfunctional as dysfunctional could get, but deep down they all still cared about each other.

The door closed without a noise, and he breathed in relief. He began to walk to the kitchen, desperate for something to fill his stomach since that last time he had eaten was before the gala. Eight hours ago he thought.

Quietly, he rummaged through the fridge before feeling the presence of someone else in the room. Crap. Oliver turned to see his mother standing there, wrapped in a robe as she gave him a death stare.

"Where have you been?" she asked him. Oliver sat there for a brief moment, not having a good enough lie. Really, no lie could be believable enough to explain his absence. "Your sister got home an hour ago with Mr. Diggle worried sick. I saw that the gala was taken over by that gang. Oliver, we thought you were dead!"

"Mother, I'm fine," Oliver said, trying to calm her down. Another pause, and he realized he had to explain further to make both of them happy. "I hit my head while I was running out, and I just wanted to make sure nothing serious happened. The hospital took a little longer-"

"The hospital?" Oliver took a breath to continue on his train of thought, which was more believable than he could have hoped.

"I just wanted to make sure nothing was seriously wrong. That was it," Oliver said slowly, reassuring Moira. Shrugging, he added on, "I'm fine."

"Oliver, why didn't you just call us to let us know you weren't dead in the street?" Moira asked.

"Didn't realize you'd care," Oliver muttered, even though that wasn't the real reason. "My phone broke during the confusion."

"I heard that. Oliver, just because you're angry with me doesn't mean I don't care about you. You are still my son," Moira said.

"We've discussed this. 'Angry' doesn't even begin to cover it. What you did - what you've done - to our family is inexcusable. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go to bed," Oliver said, his tone deepening with anger. Sure, he would keep appearances, and like earlier he would let his mother know what was happening. But having an affair, and keeping it secret from even Thea… that was just wrong. Oliver could forgive a lot of things, but not that.

Moira straightened at his tone. "Good night Oliver," she said, knowing she couldn't push her son any more. She let him leave, staying in her kitchen for a moment wondering exactly when her life started spiraling downwards.

I know I know. After that horrible incident, Moira is... no longer on the show, but in this story she's alive and well so deal with it. Let me stay in denial.

Well, now you know the relationship between Slade and Artemis. What do you think? Especially that phone call... that was fun to write.

Let me know what you thoughts are, predictions are, or anything you want to see. I have quite a few chapters planned out in my head, but I'm willing to consider adapting if there's anything big that you guys want and will fit in.