"Guessing Roy's in the room with the police outside." Green Arrow asked Spartan as they stood on a rooftop across from the hotel that Alena had tracked down.

"Yeah, reading the wrong end of a phone book," Spartan said as he used a new trick Cisco had included in his helmet, being thermal scanning, "It's risky terrain."

"You just told me he's getting beaten on. You still not sure we should do this?" Green Arrow asked him incredulously.

"Two-man team on the balcony. If we can get past them, that's our best bet." Spartan said.

"John, he's in there because of me. He's been on the run for 3 years." Green Arrow told him.

"Oliver, that's his choice." Spartan reminded him.

"I know that, but did I learn anything from it? Roy put on the hood. He sacrificed himself for me, and I asked you to do the same thing at the expense of your safety and your family." Green Arrow said.

"The only difference is that I wanted the hood, and now I'm not sure I'll get it back." Spartan said.

"What?" Green Arrow asked.

"I overheard your conversation with Laurel back in the bunker. The reason you haven't given me back the hood is because you don't feel like you can." Spartan said.

"Can we please discuss this when Roy is not being held hostage and beaten on." Green Arrow said, getting them back on task.

"There it is. There's a 15-second opening. That is our window." Green Arrow said as they left.


"There is a 15-second window where neither roof guard is watching the HVAC vent. We can get in that way." Oliver said as he and John entered the Bunker to find Laurel and Thea waiting.

"All right." John said.

"Well, did you see him? Is he ok?" Thea asked.

"We can get him out." Oliver assured her.

"I know, and I'm coming with you." Thea said, surprising everyone.

"So am I." Laurel said.

"Hell no Laurel. We already discussed this, you are nowhere near ready to get back in the field." Oliver said before turning to Thea.

"I thought you didn't do this anymore." He said.

"Ollie, it's Roy." Thea argued.

"Right, but, Thea, you shouldn't do this, and I understand it's hypocritical pointing out that you have a personal involvement. Doesn't make me wrong. More importantly, you have not been field ready since you got out of your coma." Oliver said concerned.

"I'll be fine, ok, and did you guys even measure the vents? Because you should be asking if I'm the right size to fit through them. Don't think either of you two can." Thea pointed out.

"She's gotta point Oliver and since Dinah, Curtis and Rene are on our hit list after we deal with Diaz and Anatoly, we're shorthanded." John said and Thea nodded at him gratefully for his support.

"Where are you guys keeping my suit?" Thea asked as she went over to where her bow was being stored and grabbed it.


After Oliver and Thea left, Laurel decided to talk to John.

"You realize that I was totally listening into your conversation with Oliver over the comms right?" Laurel asked.

"I do." John said, not wanting to get into it with her.

"I know that you're upset that I encouraged Oliver not to give up the hood, but I'm not apologizing for it. While I'm sure you were a good Green Arrow for a time John, you don't bring the same things to the mantle that Oliver does. The Green Arrow is more than just codename or a hood to him. It's something that represents everything that has turned him into the man he is today. It's a part of him. And a reason for that is because unlike you, he never wanted to be a hero. That role was just kind of placed on him. But he does it well. Don't you agree?" Laurel asked and John sighed.

"I know. And honestly, I agree with you, since I know deep down that contrary to Oliver's beliefs, he is a much better Green Arrow than I ever was. Last year this guy named Prometheus, totally jackass, convinced Oliver that the reason he killed as the Hood was because he liked it and because he was monster." John said.

"While I can't say that Oliver is completely innocent, I can't believe that he'd ever think that." Laurel said.

"Prometheus tortured him for a week. Made him doubt himself and caused him to forget why he began this crusade in the first place. He no longer wanted to be the Green Arrow. But I reminded him that the hood is who he is. If he didn't think he deserved it, than he should work to become the man who does. Now I guess I've become a hypocrite, since I didn't want him to be the Green Arrow anymore." John said.

"The fact that you acknowledge that proves otherwise. I'm not saying that you did a bad job as Green Arrow, though frankly, since I was being held prisoner at the time, I really can't judge, but it's just not what you were meant to do." Laurel said, right as the comms went live.


"You ok?" Green Arrow asked Speedy as they stood on the rooftop.

"It's just like riding a bike." Speedy said confidently and she had to admit, she'd missed this a bit.

"It really isn't. I can buy you a few extra seconds." Green Arrow said.

"I'm ready." Speedy said.

"All right." Green Arrow nodded as he fired an arrow out into the horizon, which exploded into fireworks.

"What's that for?" One of the guards asked as they turned, not seeing Speedy slip past them on a zipline before sneaking into an AC unit.

"There's not a home game tonight, is there?" the other guard asked.


"Unh! Agh!" Roy groaned as the cops put a beating on him.

"Want to keep going, or you gonna testify?" one of the cops asked.

"You know, I'm not a lawyer, but I'm pretty sure torturing your witness isn't gonna be great for your case." Roy said dryly.

"You don't think we know how to put you in a world of hurt without leaving a mark? No." the cop asked as he beat Roy more with a phone book.

"Are you getting this?" Speedy whispered over the comms as she watched this from the air vents, horrified.

"I'm enhancing their badge numbers." Alena said as they saw that both cops in there were actual members of the SPCD.

"Just when you thought Oliver took down all the crooked cops last year." John said dryly.

"I'm going in." Speedy said.

"I wouldn't. They got 6 more guys in the hall." Alena reported.

"Stand down. I know it's hard, but you have to wait." Green Arrow said.

"I'm working up an appetite here. Hey. We're gonna get some Big Belly Burger. You decide to play nice, I might give you the fries." one of the cops said and as both cops were gone, Speedy jumped in.

"Is that my hood? It looks good on you." Roy said, right as Speedy kissed him.

"I-I'm sorry if you're seeing someone." Speedy said after they broke apart.

"- I'm not. I didn't take your advice. No kids, no wife, and I really, really hate minivans." Roy said and Thea couldn't stop herself from chuckling, despite the circumstances.

"How did they find you?" Speedy asked.

"I was in St. Roche, and the Star City cops, they tased me, and they threw me in the back of a Van. They knew everything. They knew about Oliver, they knew about me faking my death, they-they knew it all." Roy said as Thea freed him.

"SCPD SWAT incoming." Alena said over the comms.

"Speedy, you want to get out of there now." John said.

"Speedy, move!" Green Arrow ordered.

"Ok. We're leaving." Speedy said as she helped Roy up.

"No. You're leaving. I'm in no shape to be swinging from rooftops." Roy said.

"I'm not leaving without you." Speedy insisted

"They're coming in hot!" Alena warned.

"You gotta go right now." Roy told her.

"Damn it, Speedy! Get out of there!" Green Arrow said.

"I'm getting you out of here." Speedy told him.

"No, no, you can't. You have to go." Roy insisted.

"- No. I'm not leaving you." Speedy said.

"Speedy, they're right outside the door!" Green Arrow said right before she shut off her comms.

"I'm not losing you again." Speedy said as she turned and aimed her bow at the door, only to have a cable wrap around her waist and pull her out the window.