Oliver was standing out on the terrace of the loft, overlooking the view of the city while thinking about Tommy and how he was going to save his friend when he heard someone approach from behind him.
"I forgot I gave you a key." Oliver said to Laurel as she approached him.
"Oliver, I know what you're thinking right now and just for the sake of asking it, do you really think that you can save Tommy?" Laurel asked.
"Laurel, you know me well enough to know that I at least have to try to save him. Especially after I failed to before." Oliver said.
"And if he proves that he's too far into the dark to be saved?" Laurel asked.
"He isn't." Oliver said.
"Oliver, how can you say that after everything he's done over the past few months?" Laurel asked.
"Because if that's true then it means that I never left the dark after spending the past 10 years dealing with the worst of the worst." Oliver said.
"What are you talking about?" Laurel asked, confused.
"While I was Russia 5 years ago, the woman who brainwashed Tommy, Talia, she made me believe that if I gave my inner darkness an identity, the Hood, then I'd be free to be Oliver Queen. But after seeing Tommy I realize that she was wrong. The darkness inside of me is a part of me and I was a fool to think otherwise. But I also realized that I found my way back into the light and if I can do that, then I have to believe that anyone can." Oliver said.
"Oliver, I get what you're saying, I really do. But Tommy, maybe the Pit's effects on him took away whatever light was left in him." Laurel said.
"I refuse to believe that Laurel and I can't believe that you would." Oliver said.
"I don't want to, but I'm being realistic. Honestly Ollie, it doesn't look good." Laurel said.
"If I gave up when someone seemed too far gone to be redeemed, Roy would not be here right now. He'd be one of Slade Wilson's lapdogs. And I never would've come home." Oliver said.
"Oliver, why are you so determined to save him?" Laurel asked.
"Because saving him saves you." Oliver said.
"What?" Laurel asked.
"He blames you for his death as much as he does me and he plans on killing you." Oliver said.
"Damien Darhk already tried to kill me. It didn't take." Laurel reminded him.
"Doesn't matter. Laurel, your safety, your survival, it will always be my top priority. I've lived without you before and it was miserable. I can't ever risk losing you again." Oliver said.
"You won't. If anything, I'm worried about losing you. I've felt that pain before and I cannot, I will not, go through it again." Laurel said.
"What?" Oliver asked.
"Ollie, you of all people know how grief does strange things to me. After Tommy died, I became a drunk and drug addict. After Sara died, I tried to be like you. I mean sure, that ended paying off, but still. But I'm afraid of what the grief of losing you will do to me." Laurel confessed.
"Laurel, you won't ever lose me again. I promise. If there's one thing I've proven to you over the past 5 years, it's that I always find my way home. I'll always find my way back to you." Oliver promised her.
"I hope that's true. Because Ollie you have seen me deal with loss and grief, which is how you know it's ugly. And if I lost you again, it would be even worse than it was after Tommy died and that turned me into a drunk and if I lose you to, it will be a lot worse. As in rehab necessary worse." Laurel said.
Oliver cupped her face in his hand before saying "Laurel, I promise, when this is over, the only one dead will be Talia al Ghul for doing this to Tommy in the first place. I'm not going anywhere."
"I wish I could believe that, but Ollie, you and I both know there are no guarantees in our line of work." Laurel said.
Oliver kissed her before saying "I promise you, I'm not going anywhere."
"And, just for the sake of asking, if at any point you realize that you can't save Tommy without me getting hurt?" Laurel asked.
"If he hurts you, then forget everything I just said because I will kill him." Oliver said.
"So, tell me again why I have to pack?" Thea asked as Roy helped her pack.
"Because now that we know that Prometheus is Tommy Merlyn, Oliver thinks that you're not safe here in Star City, especially with the baby." Roy said.
"Roy, why would Tommy come after his own sister?" Thea asked.
"Because he died before we found out he was your brother and besides, he's not in his right mind at the moment, which makes him incredibly dangerous." Roy said.
"All the more reason for me to stay close to you guys." Thea said.
"Thea, Oliver and I need to be able to put all of our focus on finding Tommy and Talia and stopping them and we can't do that if we also have to worry about you." Roy said.
"Roy, I'm not running." Thea said.
"Thea, you are in no condition to fight him." Roy protested.
"I'm pregnant, not a paraplegic." Thea said.
"Thea, the answer is no. You're not staying here and you're not fighting Prometheus." Roy said as Oliver entered the room.
"She still fighting with you?" Oliver asked, knowing his sister all too well.
"Yeah, maybe you'll have better luck." Roy said as he walked out of the room.
"I'm not going anywhere Ollie. I thought that you of all people would get that?" Thea said.
"Thea, Tommy has already put Curtis in the hospital and he's killed at least dozen people. I can't worry about you and focus on saving him at the same time. I need to be able to put all my focus into helping my friend." Oliver said.
"You really think you can save him?" Thea asked.
"I think I have to try. After all, I managed to save Roy after the mirakuru. Please, Speedy, you're the only family I have left." Oliver said.
"If you think you can save my other brother, then go for it. I'll go stay with Felicity in Coast City. I'm sure she won't mind some company." Thea said.
"Great, I'll let you know when the situation's resolved." Oliver said as he hugged her goodbye.