Disclaimer: I do not own Arrow.
"Where the hell are we?" Diggle asked as he looked around the wild party taking place.
"Isn't this Tommy's house? Well, I guess Malcolm's house really." Thea said as she looked around.
"This isn't just Malcolm's house, this is Tommy's twenty fifth-birthday bash." Laurel realized as she looked around.
"But Ollie was gone when that happened." Thea said stunned.
A guy suddenly turned the corner and was immediately followed by someone in a hoodie. The guy was slammed against the wall and a familiar voice spoke up.
"You stay away from Thea Queen." Oliver growled.
"Who the hell do you think you...crap. You're Oliver Queen," the guy realized, "You're supposed to be dead. Crap, people are gonna lose their minds."
"Stay away from my sister." Oliver growled as he shoved the guy back into the wall.
"Oh yeah? How'd you like to actually be dead?" The guy said as he pulled out a knife.
He tried to stab Oliver but Oliver easily subdued him. Oliver whirled around and had the guys neck in a neck lock. With a regretful look, Oliver moved his neck and there was a loud crack. Oliver then lifted the body over his shoulder and threw it over the balcony.
"He killed Jordon." Thea said stunned.
"More importantly, he was in town to kill Jordon," Laurel said just as stunned as Thea, "why wouldn't he try and contact anyone, tell us he was alive?"
"Waller," Diggle said and they turned to him, "Oliver was forcibly in Waller's employ for a while. He was probably here on a mission and he was more use to Waller if the world thought he was dead. You know about Waller, what do you think she would do if anyone found out?"
"Kill them." Thea said softly.
"Hey, he's moving." Laurel said and they followed him.
The scene changed and they were surprised at where they ended up. It was what one pictured when they thought of a house with a white picket fence. A woman around Laurel's age was sitting in a lawn chair next to a young boy who was obviously her son, who was playing with a Flash action figure.
"Samantha?" Laurel said surprised.
"You know her?" Thea asked.
"Yeah, she went to college with me, Tommy, and Ollie." Laurel said not sure what was going on here.
They saw Oliver approach and Samantha stood up like he was a gun wielding psycho. She sent her son back in the house as Oliver walked into the yard.
"Can we talk for a minute?" Oliver asked as she walked off the porch.
"Oliver, I'm not sure what you're trying to accomplish here-"
"I know Samantha," Oliver cut her off firmly, "I know that William is my son."
The other three were stunned by this news. Well, Laurel was stunned and angry, as she quickly realized that this meant Oliver had cheated on her with Samantha.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Oliver demanded angrily.
"Okay, keep your voice down," Samantha said as she walked off the porch, "Your mother told me not to."
"What?" Thea said at the same time as Oliver.
"She offered me a million dollars to tell you I miscarried." Samantha explained.
"My mother was a complicated person but she wouldn't do that." Oliver said firmly.
Samantha sighed and led Oliver inside her house. The other followed them inside and Samantha walked into a room, returning momentarily with a check.
"Here," She handed it to him and Oliver looked down at it stunned, "Never cashed it. I didn't need her money to know I never wanted her around my child."
"Or me around him." Oliver said bitterly.
"So what, he could be just like his dad? Punching out paparazzi and getting young girls knocked up?" Samantha asked as she and Oliver walked into the kitchen.
"Samantha, I'm not that person anymore." Oliver told her.
"I know. You're running for mayor, your mother died, your friend Tommy," Samantha said and Laurel and Thea both flinched, "but can you honestly tell me that your life isn't any less crazy? Can you tell me that William isn't any better off with your world kept away from his?"
"I know I'm being selfish but I want the opportunity to get to know my son and I think a young boy should get the opportunity to know his father." Oliver told her.
"Oliver, he's happy, he's well adjusted. I don't want to run the risk of him getting sucked into your orbit. Which means he can't know you're his father." Samantha told him.
"What!?" Thea exploded, enraged on her brother's behalf.
"And no one else can either. I know that sounds harsh but I'm his mother and I will do whatever I have to to protect him." Samantha told him.
"Samantha, there is someone in my life now. Please don't make me lie to her." Oliver begged.
"You will if you want a relationship with my son. These are my conditions. You've already asked the world of me, I'm just asking the same in return." Samantha told him.
"Okay." Oliver said lowly after a moment.
"He's not gonna fight her?" Laurel asked surprised.
"She is right," Diggle pointed out and they turned to him, "This life...it's very dangerous. Yes, it's unfair to make Oliver lie to Felicity but I can understand why. And it may be unfair to keep this from Felicity but this isn't about her, it's about Oliver. If I found out I had a kid from a previous relationship and the mother made me choose between lying to everyone and seeing my kid, I can't say I wouldn't make the same choice as Oliver."
Samantha began to lead Oliver upstairs and the three followed them. As they did, the scene changed again. Oliver was unsuccessfully fighting against a man who had a gun to him. Suddenly, a sword went through the man's chest. Slade pulled it out and the man went down.
"You had one job to do and you manage to screw up even that," Slade said as he walked over and picked up a radio, "I'm gonna go make sure everything is clear. Stay here and keep the door locked, do not let anyone in except for me. You got that?"
"Yeah." Oliver nodded.
"Here," Slade handed Oliver a pistol, "try not to shoot yourself."
Slade turned and walked out of the room. Oliver put the pistol down and walked over to a phone he spotted. They watched, mesmerized, as Oliver dialed a number. After a few rings, the person on the other line spoke up. Laurel stiffened in shock and Thea and Diggle were also.
"Hello?" Laurel's voice filled the room, "Hello? Is anybody there?"
Oliver opened and closed his mouth but no sound came out. Slade walked in and, seeing what Oliver was doing, sprinted over and ripped out the wires. Oliver was startled and dropped the phone.
"Have you lost your mind? They're going to be monitoring the calls." Slade snapped.
Suddenly, the radio came to life.
"Island tower. This is Skyhawk 801 Foxtrot, we are 700 kilometers southeast of your position. ETA, three hours, 22 minutes, over." A voice over the radio spoke up.
"Island tower," Slade spoke up as he picked up the radio, "Skyhawk 801 Foxtrot. Acknowledged."
They watched as nothing happened. Slade frowned before repeating.
"Of all the creatures that breath and move upon the earth." The voice said and paused.
"The Odyssey." Laurel said.
"What?" Diggle said as he and Thea looked over at her.
"It's a quote from the Odyssey." Laurel explained
"What is that?" Oliver asked.
"It's a challenge code, they're trying to verify our identities," Slade explained before speaking into the radio, "Skyhawk 801 Foxtrot, please repeat."
"Of all the creatures that breath and move upon the earth."
"Wait, I know this," Oliver said excitedly, "they picked the one book I read in college."
"what are you talking about?" Slade demanded.
"It's a quote, from The Odyssey. Of all the creatures that breath and move upon the earth, nothing-nothing is born that is weaker than man." Oliver told Slade.
"Bred, not born. It's bred Ollie." Laurel said in fear even though she knew he was alright.
"Are you sure about this? Because if you're wrong this plane will turn around." Slade snapped.
"I'm positive. Nothing is born that is weaker than man. Say it" Oliver told him and Slade picked up the radio, "Wait! I'm sorry, I'm sorry. It's bred. Nothing is bred that is weaker than man."
Laurel released the breath she didn't realize she was holding as Slade did as he was told.
"Roger that, see you in a few hours." Oliver and Slade sighed in relief.
"The Odyssey?" Slade said.
"Yeah. It's a story about a guy trying to get home, so." Oliver shrugged.
"well, after a few days at Langstughl Airbase, you'll be on your way home." Slade told him.
"You sound like you're not coming with me." Oliver noted what they all noticed.
"Oh, I'm coming with you. Right after I order an airstrike on this place. I'm going to send Fryers and his men straight to hell." Slade told him.
"Wait. You can't blow up the island. Yao-Fei is still on the island. He's the whole reason you're here, rescuing him is your mission." Oliver said heatedly.
"Well the mission has changed. Edward Fryers is a mercenary and he is not on this island by mistake. He has plans for Lian Yu and they involve Yao-Fei. Whatever they are, they must end." Slade sneered.
"Yao-Fei saved my life." Oliver said simply.
"That is your debt to repay, not mine." Slade told him.
Oliver nodded and began to walk past Slade. Slade reached out and grabbed Oliver's arm, preventing him from going any further.
"Where are you going?" Slade demanded and Oliver yanked his arm back.
"All my life, all I have ever thought about is myself. I took my family for granted, I betrayed people that I loved. And I'm not gonna be that person anymore. I can't leave Yao-Fei here to die. I won't." Oliver told him firmly.
"Our plane leaves in three hours. If you and your friend are not on it, I'm going to leave without you." Slade warned him.
Oliver nodded as he turned and began walking away. He paused at the doorway and turned back to Slade.
"If I don't make it back in time and you leave...I want you to call my family." Oliver told him.
"Sure kid." Slade nodded.
Oliver turned and walked out. As the others, still processing this, turned to follow, something happened.
The room seemed to shake and something appeared out of the shadows. It was a man who seemed entirely made of shadows. It let out an inhuman shriek and lunged for them.
So, what do you think? Please leave any thoughts or comments in a review, feedback is greatly appreciated.