A/N: Really not my best work.

Synopsis: When Malcolm Merlyn reveals himself to be alive, he also makes his first move: targeting both Oliver and Roy. While Roy is framed for murder, Oliver battles the dangerous ramifications of Doctor Death's mind-controlling drug. Felicity and Diggle find themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place, finding help in a most unexpected place.

3x19: Soul

Police Officer Paula Gonzalez stepped out of her police car and onto the asphalt. The dark evening was especially icy tonight and snow and rain hung like a thick cloak in the air. Not fifteen feet before her stood a young man in the middle of the road. He was stiff as a board and seemed to be trembling from the cruel grip of the cold, but still he stood his ground. Gonzalez could only see the man from behind as he kept his back resolutely turned towards her. The young man wore a pair of torn jeans and a simple burgundy-colored hoodie, hiding his features easily beneath the rim of the hood.

Gonzalez slowly approached, one hand coming down to rest on the gun in her holster. "Are you okay, kiddo? You shouldn't be standing in the middle of the street like that. Might get yourself run over and we don't want that... do we?"

She reached his side and slowly, as to not scare the stiff man, reached for his shoulder. In a heartbeat, the young man whirled around on her and something metallic in his hand glinted in the glow from a nearby lamppost. He impaled her with the black arrow and Gonzalez stumbled back as the pain invaded her small frame. As her breaths grew more and more raggedy, soon fading into nothingness, she slumped to the ground in a heap. It wasn't long before darkness consumed her and everything simply stopped being.

The young man glared down at the arrow protruding from the woman's chest, standing tall as if to attention. The man made sure to keep his face still covered as he ran off down the street, putting as much distance as possible between himself and the dead body. He could already hear the sounds of terrified people stepping out to see the dead policewoman in the middle of the street. Still the guilty party ran as fast as his legs could carry him.

Eventually he slowed his steps and pulled out a phone from his pockets as he gazed about to make sure the coast was clear. He dialed a number and pressed the hard phone to his ear. It didn't take long for someone to answer. "It's me. It's done."

Malcolm Merlyn's voice seemed content as he cooed in response, "No, it's started. Now disappear. If I ever see you again... I'll kill you with my bare hands. Is that clear?"

"Yes," the young man answered impassively and hung up the phone without further ado.

He walked over to a trashcan standing forgotten in the dark alley and dumped his phone into the dirty contents. He whipped out a lighter and set the whole thing aflame. He watched the brightly colored flames dance playfully, devouring his secrets, for a second before he disappeared into the dead of night.

Jane arrived to the office early in the morning, as was usual to her routine. With a take-away coffee in one hand she strolled into her office. She set down the hot cup on her desk as she turned around to remove her blue coat. When she turned back, Jane was startled to realize she already had a visitor.

"Thea...!" Jane breathed in surprise. "I wasn't expecting you."

The young Queen slowly stepped closer, the sound of her stilettos sharply drumming against the floor. Thea wore a black dress beneath a simple, pale cloak which matched her indifferent grimace perfectly.

Thea gazed about her lazily as she replied, "I don't have an appointment."

Jane exhaled tersely. She tried to read her old friend, but came up short. Thea had certainly evolved into a strange woman and there were little remnants of their friendship left. Jane disliked not knowing the reason behind all this, but remembered only all too well how the younger woman had attacked her at Walter's funeral only a month ago.

"Well, then, you'll have to forgive me," Jane spoke, keeping her voice as neutral as possible as she reshuffled a few papers on her desk. "I'm swamped at the moment. But I might have an opening... a year from never. Does that work for you?"

Thea snorted in amusement and sat down in the chair opposite the grand desk without waiting for an invitation. This was no casual visit then. Jane leisurely sank onto her own seat and tensely leaned her elbows on the tabletop.

"We both know why I'm here," Thea began. "My partnership with Simon Cross is going better than ever. You and Oliver are losing."

Jane was inclined to disagree and vaguely remarked, "We'll see about that."

Thea once more chuckled with a quick shake of the head. The cunning glint to her eyes suggested Thea knew something - a secret - that Jane did not. It irked Jane to not be included in whatever cruel joke of fate that lay ahead, but still she wore her impassive mask. She'd be damned before anyone saw her weaknesses.

"I've come to once more ask you to reconsider the whole ordeal," Thea breathed, her voice bearing a lot of resemblance to the calm before the storm. "Sell to me directly. In the end, the result will be the same no matter what... I will have majority interest in QC, one way or another. I'd just prefer if there weren't so many hurdles in the way."

Jane grimaced and sank back in her chair. She eyed her childhood friend and couldn't help but reminisce on those lost days. "... I remember... when you fell off your horse and broke your arm that one time. How worried we all were... We thought you had died. I've never seen your parents more concerned than that day in the hospital. But you? You merely smiled and laughed as if you hadn't gone down at all. You were back in the saddle within days. You didn't let a broken arm beat you down or stop you."

"As I won't be stopped by you now," Thea inclined her head.

"I wish we weren't on opposing sides in this feud, for whatever reason," Jane sighed deeply and let her mask slip briefly. "You've taken a lot of falls since that horse... but you haven't risen as gracefully as you did as a child. In fact, I'm not sure you've risen at all."

"Jane, I've- Oh!" Felicity entered the office then, having just arrived for work. She stopped short at the sight of Thea in the office and lingered in the open doorway. She could feel the tension in the air and knew she'd stepped right onto a battle field. It made her wish she'd brought a bullet-proof helmet. Felicity grimaced apologetically, "... Am I interrupting?"

"No," Jane shook her head and rose from her chair with ease. "We were done, weren't we, Thea? Off you pop."

Thea's grin was aloof and distant as she rose from the seat, picked up her handbag and threw one final glance in Jane's direction. The same mysterious twinkle ignited Thea's pale eyes and she offered a victorious grin before she turned towards the door. Thea easily slipped past Felicity without breaking character. Felicity's gaze trailed after the Thea as she brunette headed for the elevators.

"Felicity?" Jane asked, her voice low and dancing with barely concealed irritation. "Is it done?"

Felicity turned back to her employer. She knew exactly what Jane meant and simply inclined her head. "Yes."

Jane stretched tall and inhaled with confidence. "Good."

"Will you excuse me, I just need to...?" Felicity trailed off as she jerked her thumb in the direction of the elevators and then hurried away down the corridor.

She rushed down the hallway and cut a corner in time to see Thea press the button for the elevators ahead. Felicity inhaled briskly and called out, "Thea!"

Thea turned around in surprise and faced the blonde with curiosity. "... Felicity Smoak, right?"

"Right," Felicity nodded briskly as she came to a halt before the other woman. "I know we haven't really talked except for exchanging pleasantries at benefits or when you came to see your brother in his office, but... What I meant was that I don't know you, but I do know your brother."

"People like to think they know Ollie," Thea snorted and her attention drifted back to the elevator, impatient for it to arrive and whisk her away from this place that threatened to crack through her defenses. "No one seems to really do, though."

"No, I know who Oliver is. He's trying to be both Oliver Queen and..." Felicity stepped closer and lowered her voice to a whisper as a couple of her co-workers passed them in the hall, "... and Arrow. But I fear that without you he's just lost between the two."

Shock flashed through Thea's eyes momentarily as she tried to read Felicity's gaze. Eventually she sighed in disdained amusement and shook her head. Thea muttered a low, "... He's not the only one lost, Felicity."

Felicity grimaced in understanding and said, "... Look, I had a teacher in college once who held up this book. It was a black cover but he insisted that it was blue. My class vehemently disagreed until he turned the book over. Turns out it was blue on the back cover. The gist of that lesson was that he didn't want us to say that someone was wrong until we'd seen things from their point of view... I mean, I don't understand why you're doing this and it's not my place to blame-"

Thea interrupted with a puzzled expression, "You're babbling."

Felicity shrugged. "I have a tendency to do that. It's a gift."

"It is amusing," Thea waved a hand in the other woman's direction.

"Look, Felicity... I get what you're doing here. I do. And it's... appreciated."

"Is it?"

Thea inhaled and paused a beat. "... Honestly? I'm not certain. I'm uncertain about a lot of things these days."

Felicity saw through Thea's facade then and wished she could offer the younger woman some kind of reprieve. In the end, she offered the only thing she could at the moment, "Oliver wants to do the right thing by you and... I know he's done a lot of lying, but he's changed. He's changing. And the man he's become deserves a second chance, if nothing else... Don't make a mistake that will get both of you lost."

Thea shook her head and turned as the elevator doors opened. She hastily slipped inside, letting the distance clear her mind for a second before she turned back to her company. Thea held her chin high as she confidently said, "This is the right thing to do."

"Right?" Felicity frowned and pressed a hand against the elevator to prevent the doors from closing. "Turning on your brother and using his affection for you is the right thing to do?"

"That's not what I meant," Thea shook her head as a frown swiftly spread across her features like wildfire.

"...I hope not," Felicity remarked as she stepped away from the elevator. She watched the doors close and tiredly shut her eyes.

Malcolm jogged down the stairs to Hellfern's laboratory. His lungs heaved with victorious delight and he strolled further inside the familiar place, gaze locked on the man in the white coat ahead. Seth Hellfern didn't even turn to acknowledge the new arrival as he kept working, but he did remove his safety goggles.

"You said you had it ready for me?"

"Come here," Hellfern spoke as he waved the other man closer. Malcolm stopped on the other side of the table as Seth turned to face a machine beside him. He opened a glass lid at the top of the device and reached inside. He tenderly removed a test tube from the inside of the machine and Malcolm watched the purple liquid swirl within the tube. He patiently watched as Hellfern transferred the liquid into a syringe and turned back to his boss.

With some trepidation, Hellfern stepped back over. He seemed to balancing precariously close to an edge as he spoke, "I haven't had time to test it on anyone."

Malcolm extended his hand with a smirk. "I trust your capabilities."

"It's only enough for one person," Hellfern glared down at the expectant hand but stayed immobile. At length, his gaze travelled up to meet Merlyn's. "Do you have someone special in mind?"

Malcolm merely shrugged his eyebrows in jest. "Redundant question, don't you agree?"

Seth sighed as he tipped over the edge of his mental abyss and handed over the syringe. "I've linked the naniterium in the drug to your command. Whoever you inject with it will be yours to control. But to what extent I can't know without trying it on someone first."

Malcolm hypnotizedly eyed the purple liquid as he asked, "Worst case scenario?"

Hellfern shrugged. "Death within minutes."

Malcolm tilted his head to the side as he glared up at his business partner. A dark, amused shadow spread across his strong features. "I asked for the worst..."

Seth cleared his throat. He felt something crawl up his spine, a suspicion he couldn't quite shake in the present company. "... Hallucinations, fainting spells, the control might slip because the drug overloads the brain... Aneurisms, strokes, heart attacks..." He risked a glance back at Merlyn. "...Or that it doesn't work at all. The results might not be much different from the last attempt, so it's possible that the victim won't survive many hours."

The last part didn't seem to faze Malcolm as he pocketed the syringe in his coat and smiled widely. "I only need a few hours to win my case and remove all competition. Thank you, Doctor Death."

As Malcolm turned to walk away, Seth grimaced and took a step forward. His voice filled the underground hideout as he growled, "Soul was designed to control entire cities... not serve a single man's vengeance. My drug has the power to be so much more."

Malcolm rolled his eyes leisurely as he sighed. He slowly turned back around to face the other man and bitterly questioned, "Who says my final intentions don't match up with yours?"

"You do."

"I intend to once more have Starling City in the palm of my hand," Malcolm disagreed vehemently. "And I will do so one step at a time. Now, time has come to set my grand plan in motion. I've already begun with one chess piece and your drug will be the second," Merlyn dangled the syringe in his hand briefly before he once more put in his pocket. "Be satisfied with that... or die complaining. Your choice, Hellfern."

"I don't know, Abercrombie," Sin mused as she jumped onto the bar counter and watched as her friend worked beside her. She didn't want to admit as much aloud, but Sin was grateful Roy had returned to Starling. He'd been sorely missed for awhile. It was early afternoon now as she eyed his frame, and the club mostly abandoned except for the two of them. "You couldn't pull it off."

Roy snorted as he proceeded to clean the dirty dishes. Since Verdant had closed down, he'd worked as a bus boy in the only other hot club in town: Poison. He wasn't particularly fond of his new boss, but then again; nothing could beat having your girlfriend as manager.

"I didn't say I wanted to...I just said it would be cool to learn some Krav Maga. Expand the repertoire, you know."

Sin grimaced as she pondered the suggestion. "If that's what you really want to do? Cool. But I'm not taking the classes with you. My repertoire is plenty hot."

"I know, I know," Roy grunted. "You could probably take me in a fight."

Sin chuckled and played along as she swatted a towel in his direction. "Don't you forget it. Seriously, though... If you go through with it you could probably give Arrow a run for his money."

Roy shook his head honestly. "Not even close."

Sin eyed her friend curiously and remained silent for a few, long seconds. "Are you ever gonna tell me what you're hiding? Cause I know you, Roy... this is big."

"Believe me, Sin," Roy shrugged his eyebrows tiredly. "I don't want to lie to anyone anymore or keep secrets... but it's for the best. For now, at least."

"I'll buy that," Sin pursed her lips and glanced about to make sure there were no eavesdroppers present. "It's just... Is it a secret, though? Cause I mean... A red-hooded guy join Arrow's little legion just about the time you became unavailable to hang out. Coincidence or something else? And, be warned, I coincidently believe life is too illogical for coincidences."

"Who said that?" Roy snorted amusedly, ignoring the rest of her remark.

"I did," Sin grinned easily. "You can quote me if you want."

"I might," Roy drawled mockingly.

"Seriously, though, Abercrombie, if you ever-"

The front door to the extravagant club opened then, letting the bright light of day filter in through the opening. Roy and Sin turned as Captain Lance strolled inside, carrying himself cooly as he gazed about and caught sight of the two figures further inside.

"Long time no see, kid," Quentin said as he briskly stepped over.

"Detective Lance?" Roy merely frowned.

"Captain."

"... Why are you here, Captain?"

Quentin shrugged his lean shoulders as he stopped a few feet in front of the bar counter. "What can I say? You can't take the Detective out of the man. I volunteered for this."

"For what?"

"I was hoping you'd gotten your act together... Guess I was wrong," Lance cryptically commented and nodded his head for the other man to come closer.

Roy frowned as he leisurely stepped around the counter. "What are you talking about? I haven't done anything... Recently."

"A police officer was murdered last night. I don't think I need to tell you this is top priority now. Which is why I'm on the case in the first place and can pretend to still be a Detective," Lance smiled tightly. "Surveillance from last night proves the killer was a kid wearing a red hoodie. Looked uncannily like you."

"So? Doesn't prove anything. Red is in fashion. Every kid's wearing it these days," Roy frowned and kept his chin high. "I didn't do it."

"I'm still taking you in for questioning on suspicion of murder," Lance spoke and casually pulled out a pair of handcuffs, dangling them expectantly in the air.

Roy distantly shook his head as he tried to process the news. "No... No, I-"

Quentin swiftly interrupted in a monotonous tone, "Save it for the police station. You know the drill. You have the right to remain silent-"

"Yeah, I remember this part," Roy interjected with an irritated grimace. "I've heard it enough times to memorize it."

"Hey! Come on," Sin interrupted and jumped down from the counter to intercept the events that were unfolding before her. "You can't do this. He's innocent!"

Lance turned his attention down to the short, dark-haired woman and frowned, "And who the hell are you?"

"I am..." Sin jerked her thumb over her shoulder towards the exit." ...getting out of here."

"It's okay," Roy assured her in a hushed tone. "It's fine. I didn't do anything. I'll be okay."

"See you... soon then," Sin nodded stiffly and her eyes danced with concern for a friend. "Okay?"

Roy winced as Lance put the handcuffs on his wrists but still held her gaze. "Sure. Yeah."

"Come on, kid," Quentin placed a hand on Roy's shoulder and pushed him towards the door.

Thea opened the door to her hotel suite with a mild frown. "Oliver? Two visits in a row, that's-"

"Roy's been arrested," Oliver huffed as he decided not to beat around the bush. The stunned silence was deafening and Oliver took the offered window of opportunity. He pushed ahead and stepped around his sister's thin, shocked frame. As he walked inside, he inhaled slowly, giving himself time to collect his thoughts and stay in control of his own actions. He was starting to think maybe this visit wasn't such a good idea, after all. But he'd felt the need to come here, to prove his fears incorrect.

Thea's voice was raw and low as she breathed, "For what?"

Oliver whipped back around to face her. He offered her a strained grimace. "He's being accused of murder."

Thea swallowed thickly. "... Did he do it?"

Oliver shook his head firmly. "He says he didn't. I believe in him."

Thea gazed up at her brother with something akin to curiosity barely veiled. She crossed her arms over her blue blouse and asked, "Why did you come here to tell me?"

"I thought you might want to know," Oliver offered. "I'm heading down to the station to see how he's doing and came by to see if you wanted to come with me."

Thea briskly shook her head and her short, brown curls danced around her face, framing it beautifully. "... We're not okay, Oliver. If that's what you think. Don't delude yourself. You made a grand gesture the other night, but I haven't forgiven you. Or decided to take you up on your offer."

"This isn't about you and me, Speedy," Oliver breathed impassively. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other and eventually cleared the air, "It's about Roy."

"I still don't get-"

"I think he's being framed," Oliver interrupted heatedly. He grimaced as he felt tension evade the space between them, keeping them on the opposing sides they'd created for themselves these past few months. The shrinking abyss was suddenly as wide as before, but Oliver did his best to minimize his damage as he bit down on his tongue.

"And you think..." Thea frowned as something sharply flashed through her pale eyes. She evidently still read him like a book. "... that I framed him?"

"No," Oliver shook his head once. "But I think you know who did. I think you know who nearly had him killed the other night, too. And for whatever reason you don't want to tell me, which tells me it's someone you're protecting... and that scares me, Thea."

"I'm not protecting anyone. I don't know who's doing this, Ollie."

Oliver held his sister's gaze for a long second, hoping to see past the walls she kept between them and coming up short. He sighed wearily. "... I'm ready to share all my secrets with you, Thea. I'll tell you anything you want to know... and I mean that. But we can't move forward until you can be as open with me again."

"I told you the other night; maybe that ship has sailed. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have errands to run," Thea breathed and stormed out of the room without another word.

Oliver gritted his teeth as he stood abandoned in the hallway. He took a second to collect his thoughts before he turned to walk away from the hotel suite.

"Going so soon? I thought we could have a chat."

Oliver's blood froze in his veins as he recognized the unexpected voice and he slowly turned around.

Malcolm Merlyn casually leaned against a wall further into the suite and offered the younger man a warm grin that was all too familiar.

"... You're alive?" Oliver growled in a whisper, finding the truth too illogical.

"Surprise...!" Malcolm mocked and strolled forwards.

Oliver's mind rebelled at the notion, but still he was washed over with one realization after another. He lowered his gaze in disbelief and tried to contain his growing rage. "... So you're the one behind all of this? You've brainwashed Thea to follow you? When? How? Why?!"

"So many questions," Malcolm sighed. "So little time. I came to save her the night of Slade Wilson's onslaught on Starling. And I did."

"If anything, you condemned her, Merlyn," Oliver disagreed fiercely and tensely tried to keep from punching the other man in the face.

Malcolm squinted his eyes. "Let's agree to disagree, shall we? Thea needed a father figure in her life. Someone constant who she could always depend upon... I simply gave her what her heart desired."

Oliver snorted and shook his head. Everything was starting to fall into place, unraveling before him like a puzzle at last. It made sense all the sudden, everything that had transpired these few months. Everything from Drake Constantin's involvement to Thea's strange, cold behavior. Oliver hated himself for not seeing the truth sooner.

"Tell me," Oliver ordered impassively.

Malcolm inclined his head leisurely. "You've already guessed it, I'm sure. Komodo, Barnes, The Blazing Infernos, Doctor Death, Mr Constantin... Slade Wilson."

Oliver felt his throat go dry at the last part and everything else faded away for a second. "... Slade?! You sent Simon Cross to Lian Yu to rescue Slade? Why? He killed my mother!"

A dark shadow crossed Merlyn's face at the mention, but Malcolm quickly turned his back on his company as he spoke, "I don't need to explain my reasons to you, Oliver. Though, I admit, I want him dead, just as much as you do."

Connecting the dots easier with each passing minute, Oliver said, "Then you intended for me to kill him on Lian Yu."

"Yes," Malcolm agreed as he spun around to face his enemy once more. "To prove that you cannot live by two names. That you are and will only ever be Arrow. A killer."

"You're wrong," Oliver shook his head. "That's who the vigilante was, not who he is."

Malcolm eyed his company with mocking suspicion. "Are you so sure about that?"

Oliver clenched his jaw as he took another step forward, moving into Malcolm's personal space. "Whatever you have planned, Malcolm? I'll stop it."

"Oh, this isn't anything like the Undertaking, Oliver," Malcolm exhaled easily. "The prize is small. I only want your life."

Confusion spread through Oliver's body as he frowned down at the elder man. "If you wanted to kill me, there are easier ways than to scheme all these plans."

"You misunderstand. I don't have to kill you to win, Oliver. No, this isn't like the time I ordered the destruction of the Queen's Gambit to kill your father..." Malcolm teased and thoroughly enjoyed the storm of emotion that played across his enemy's face. "All I have to do is kill the idea of you. You and Arrow. And if I managed to convince your sister... Imagine what I can convince the rest of the world."

Oliver firmly shook his head. "...Why are you really doing this?"

"You're the reason my son is dead, Oliver..." Malcolm exclaimed, his own voice lowering an octave as he gravely held the younger man's glare. "... and you're the only thing standing in the way for my daughter's success."

"Tommy's dead because of you," Oliver growled, feeling his anger boil to the surface. "And I will not let you destroy Thea, too."

Malcolm raised his chin and held Oliver's gaze for a few seconds. A thunderstorm raged in Malcolm's azure eyes, and yet he smiled peacefully. Without warning, Malcolm suddenly pulled something out from his pocket and pressed a needle into Oliver's arm, injecting him with the powerful drug.

Oliver stumbled backwards as he felt the drug enter his system and threw the syringe away. It clattered against a wall and rolled beneath a mahogany table further away. Oliver staggered as his mind reeled and everything swirled around him, making it almost impossible to focus on his surroundings and present company.

"Feeling light-headed?" Malcolm asked in a light, jovial tone that seemed to echo in side Oliver's head, rolling from one side to the other like a ship braving high waves. "No one can stop what's about to come. Not even Oliver Queen. In fact, I'd rather intended for you to... help me in the right direction. But I'll give the drug some time to adjust to your system first. Ta-ta for now, Oliver... Stay alive, will you?"

Oliver heard the door close and found himself alone in the hotel room, feeling as if he was about to drown in an endless sea somehow unable to swim. Oliver blinked heavily against the seductive control of the drug and tried to think clearly. He shook his head and staggered towards the table as he fumbled for his phone. He fell to his knees beside the sturdy mahogany table and distantly seemed to gaze at his left hand as it searched for the small item like a clumsy log of wood. Somehow he found the syringe and leaned back, collapsing against the wall as everything started to spin like a mad merry-go-round once more.

He still managed to dial his phone and pressed it close to his ear as he heard the sound of his heartbeat drum both louder and faster in his ear.

"Fe-F-licity?" Oliver slurred and closed his eyes in hope of gaining some control. The deceptive lull of the drug threatened to pull him in deeper. "...We've got a problem."

Felicity nervously wrung her hands as she gazed down at the shivering man on the medical table. She and Diggle had found and brought their friend to the foundry not long ago, easily having tracked him down at the hotel. Oliver had gone in and out of consciousness ever since, and now seemed to attempt to rest while the effects of the drug wrecked his body and soul.

"This is bad..." she muttered under her breath as she saw the cold sweat on Oliver's pale skin and the tormented expression that contorted his features with each intake of oxygen. "Malcolm Merlyn back from the dead, Roy arrested for a murder he didn't commit and Oliver drugged by Doctor Death's infamous drug. This is really bad."

Lyla offered the blonde a comforting smile from the other side of the table, but knew there were no words that could relieve the stress they were all feeling right now.

John rejoined them in that moment, carrying a glass of water in his right hand. As soon as Felicity caught sight of it, she stepped over and took the glass from his hand, drinking the contents in one swift swig.

"Hey!" Diggle breathed in surprise.

Felicity grimaced meekly as she eyed the empty glass. "That was just... water."

"Since when do I drink stronger stuff during working hours?" John asked in good humor.

"I don't know!" Felicity's voice rose an octave and she shrugged. "Since criminal master minds started returning from the dead to make Oliver's life a living hell?!"

Diggle nodded in understanding. "The water was for him, you know."

"I'll get some more," Felicity grimaced apologetically.

"I can do it," Lyla spoke calmly and stepped into the blonde's path. She took the glass and said, "You... take a couple of deep breaths."

Felicity nodded as her wide eyes held Lyla's for another second. She drew a shaky breath and ran a hand over her ponytail. "Yeah... Yeah."

Lyla nodded once before she walked out of the room. As soon as they were alone, Diggle turned back to face his friend. Felicity looked more disheveled than he'd seen her in a long time and he knew he needed her to calm down if they were to get through this. He had to admit that everything seemed a bit bleak at the moment, but it was far from over. Merlyn's return and Oliver's current predicament was the tip of the iceberg, for sure, but not the end.

He placed a hand on her shoulder and Felicity jumped from the unexpected touch. "You okay, Felicity?"

"It's Doctor Death's drug, Dig," Felicity's voice trembled as she spoke. "Which, I know, sounds like a fun tongue twister and all, but only means trouble. Most likely it's an altered version of the drug we've already seen in use. Meaning it's potentially lethal for Oliver and we don't have a cure for it!"

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," Diggle gently exhaled. "We're not there yet."

"Don't you remember how that girl - Frida - collapsed right here and..." Felicity's voice broke and she shut her eyes tight. As she opened them once more, she discovered Lyla had returned with the glass of water and stood beside John. Felicity sighed and her shoulders slumped low as she wore her heart on her sleeve, "I can't lose him."

John and Lyla exchanged a glance before the man took a firm step forward. John offered Felicity a tight smile and made sure she met his eyes before he said, "Oliver's still reactive. Granted, he seems pretty far-off, but he's not unconscious like Frida was by now. I take that as a good sign. And he managed to find the syringe, so we have a sample of the drug that we can send to Cisco and Caitlyn in Central City. That's a good place to start."

"Yeah..." Felicity agreed but still started to pace the small area beside the medical bay. Her stilettos tapped frantically against the tiles as she walked back and forth before she eventually stopped dead in her tracks. A desolate expression crossed her features as she turned back to Diggle and Lyla. "This place really isn't big enough to pace..."

"Take a seat?" Lyla suggested with a friendly smile.

"Can't," Felicity shook her head and stepped back over to her friends. Her eyes wandered back to Oliver's worn frame where he lay on the steel table. "Wonder if he's in pain. He certainly looks worse for wear."

"Can... hear you, you know," Oliver breathed through gritted teeth and his entire body rocked with a tremor. His eyes opened and they glistened feverishly as he turned his head in her direction. "And... Doesn't hurt, Flissty. Just... swirls."

"You're getting some color back in your face," Lyla offered. "You don't look as bad as you did an hour ago."

"Don't feel as bad," Oliver grunted and moved to sit. Felicity was by his side in an instant to steady him, but he managed to remain upright and clutched the sides of the table for support.

Diggle eyed his friend with concern. "Maybe you ought to lie down again, man. Relax. Don't push your body before we know just what is in your system."

"... Hey," Oliver's frown intensified as he tried to collect his mind but failed miserably. His eyes glistened and he seemed to sway in place, not as steady as he pretended to be. His voice still slurred heavily as he managed a booming, "You should call what's-his-name; Angular Jaw!"

Felicity eyed the man confusedly as her hands rested on his shoulders. "You mean Roy?"

"He needs to know we're trying to help him, too." Oliver managed as his gaze trailed over the woman's frame. His hand came up to play with the hem of Felicity's dress and she swatted the hand away.

"You shouldn't worry yourself about that right now, Oliver," Diggle breathed gently. "Roy can take care of himself. Felicity already spoke to Captain Lance. All we can do now is wait things out."

"I don't know!" Oliver contended fiercely out of nowhere, struggling against the intoxicating influence of the drug. His eyes slowly dropped shut. He tried to keep them open but seeing the losing battle, Felicity gently pushed on his shoulders and he lay back down.

"Call Angular Jaw..." Oliver repeated with sincere momentum before he slipped into unconsciousness.

Diggle watched the man's even breathing for a second before he turned to Felicity. "Alright, I'll admit, I'm a little worried, too."

"Well, Roy does have a very angular jaw," Felicity feigned innocence, but the terrified expression on her face gave away the truth. "He's not off-point on that one."

"Send the syringe and a sample of his blood to Central City, will you?" Diggle suggested.

"On it," Felicity commented as she swirled around and set to work.

"And you," Diggle turned back to his life-partner. Lyla stood firmly beside him, offering all the unspoken comfort he needed right now. "You check in with A.R.G.U.S and see what you can find out about this. In particular about Doctor Death and this drug."

Lyla inclined her head sharply. "I'll call you when I find anything useful," She squeezed John's arm and held his gaze tentatively. "Oliver will be alright."

Roy shifted in the uncomfortable chair at the police station and leaned his elbows on the table in the ever familiar interrogation room. He eyed the Captain seated across from him, perusing a file with mild disinterest.

"You should really consider repainting this room," Roy joked after a lengthy silence.

Quentin shot him a weary glare before he turned his attention back to the thick folder before him. "I'll suggest it to the superiors."

"Look, I already told the police who interrogated me an hour ago; I didn't do it!" Roy contended. "And I really don't see why you had to come in and interrogate me, too. I'm telling the truth."

"First of all; I'm questioning you, not interrogating you," Quentin sighed as he closed the file and held the younger man's gaze. "And second of all: It's a favor. I want to keep the others' suspicions away from you for as long as I can, so I'm doing the dirty work. Benefits of being a Captain, I suppose. I get to call some shots."

The admission took Roy by surprise and he flinched back. "... Why?"

"Because my daughter believe in you, for some reason," Quentin shrugged his shoulders. "Laurel spoke highly of you before she left. She respected you... especially in the wake of Slade Wilson's appearance. Said you had changed for the better and that you were a good kid. And Felicity Smoak says you're innocent, too, so..."

Speechless, Roy closed his mouth and remained silent as his mind processed the information.

"There is also this: The killing yesterday was all too familiar to another police murder that occurred during Slade Wilson's war," Lance explained slowly, letting his words sink in. "A young man in a red hoodie had an anger attack... and killed a cop in cold blood. Know anything about that? Now, either you're right and the red hoodie is simply in style... or you've got something to hide."

"... It was the Mirakuru," Roy's voice was low and heartfelt. "But I didn't do anything last night!"

Quentin closed his eyes tight and nodded. "That's what I thought. But the supervisors caught wind of this and are connecting the two murders. And they don't care if you were under the influence of a crazy drug or not. They want to see you go down for both murders. I think... that you really have changed. That you're telling the truth right now."

Roy's gaze flew up to meet the Captain's and he hopefully asked. "Can you let me go then?"

"Afraid not at the moment," Quentin grimaced as he rose from his chair. "You're still our lead suspect. It seems someone very carefully wanted this to look like you were to blame, and wanted us to connect this to the first police murder, too."

"But you know I didn't do it!"

"That's not how the system works, kid, and you know that," Lance drawled. "I wish it was simpler... but being a Captain means I have to follow the rules. You're staying a while longer while I look into this."

Felicity's fingers flew across the keyboard as she worked on her monitors, every now and again gazing back over her shoulders at the unconscious Oliver. She felt tension linger in her neck and shoulders, unable to relax even a fraction while all of this was going on. She needed to hear from Caitlyn and Cisco soon, to learn how to help Oliver. She hated seeing him like this and feeling like there was nothing she could do to help.

Her phone suddenly rang and she answered it in a heartbeat. "Dig? What've you got?"

"Lyla just called with some news," Diggle's voice was firm but strained as he explained, "Apparently A.R.G.U.S and Waller knew more about Doctor Death than they wanted to let on. Apparently his drug is called Soul and A.R.G.U.S recently managed to track down Hellfern's hidden laboratory."

"Okay, that's-" A clattering noise made Felicity turn around and she gaped in panic. A plate had fallen to the ground beside the steel table that stood empty in the room. Felicity's eyes darted across the room as she felt fear rise inside her chest like the tide. "Uh-oh."

Diggle's voice cut through her panic. "What's wrong?"

Felicity swallowed thickly as she realized the truth. She was all alone in the lair. "Oliver is gone."

"Can you track him?"

"I... don't know. No," Felicity admitted. "He didn't take his phone. He didn't... He just left. I didn't even hear him wake up. What do I do, Diggle? What do I do?!"

"Focus," Diggle offered tensely. "One thing at a time. Where do you want us to start?"

Felicity tried to quiet her screaming mind as she stood in the center of the lair, feeling out of touch with reality and the world. She inhaled slowly and let the air clear her mind somewhat. "We go after Doctor Death. I have a feeling Oliver won't hide for long..."

"Hellfern it is," Diggle agreed. "Meet me at the corner of West 22nd and Frary Lane."

Felicity nodded and gazed about her in the empty foundry. Her voice was small as she breathed, "I'll be right there."

Roy leaned back in his chair in irritation. He'd been brought back into the interrogation room for no apparent reason and the whole ordeal was starting to get to him. No cop explained anything to him, no one even seemed to have an inch of respect to share with someone they believed to be a police murderer. Everything was spinning out of control and he needed to find a way to escape or get out of here, yet he knew he had to play things cool.

Truth was, though... that a part of Roy believed he did belong right where he was. Obviously not for the murder he was falsely accused of, but for the murder he'd committed while influenced and controlled by the Mirakuru. That murder had been him, though he still had no recollection of the incident. He'd seen the security footage but could still barely believe it was his actions that had killed an innocent man.

Roy raised his head as the door to the room opened and he frowned unkindly at the unexpected face. "What are you doing here?"

"I needed to see you," Thea admitted as she shut the door behind her and leaned against it.

"How did you even get in?"

"Money talks," Thea shrugged. She gazed down at him with a tormented look he couldn't quite read. "... I didn't mean for this to happen."

Roy snorted and rolled his eyes. He did not have the patience right now to take tender care of Thea's feelings. "So you set me up then? You're framing me for murder? How about you stop acting like a scorned ex-girlfriend and grow up?"

"I'm not doing anything!" Thea vehemently disagreed and pushed away from the door. She sank onto the chair opposite him and her gaze fell to the table. "... But I'm not stopping it either."

"I don't get a word you're saying," Roy sighed. "Who's doing this to me?"

Thea grimaced and she seemed to struggle with the words as if they were trying to get past barbed wire inside her throat, "... Malcolm Merlyn."

Roy blinked. "Merlyn? He's... alive?! Why am I even surprised...?"

Emotions danced barely hidden in Thea's deep eyes as she gazed at him. "... I played along. I helped set the stage. At the time, it all made sense. The vendetta... the justification. I believed it all. Even the part where you were blamed for a crime you hadn't committed."

Roy shook his head slowly, unable to wrap his head around what she was saying to him. "Why... are you framing me?"

"You were supposed to be a diversion," Thea admitted meekly.

"For what?" Roy bitterly questioned.

"My dad's return," Thea confessed at length. "Malcolm and I had a plan. Have. I'm sorry it came to this."

"Can you even hear yourself?" Roy growled. "How brainwashed you sound?"

"No, I don't..." Thea trailed off as she combatted whatever demons inside of her mind. "The end justifies the means, Roy."

"... Get out," Roy's voice trembled with fury even as he tried to keep it locked down. "If you came here to apologize but not offer me help, I don't want none of it. Get out."

"It's not what it seems like!" Thea contended furiously. "You don't get it!"

"You're right, I don't! What? Did you nearly have me killed the other night because of your secret?"

"I didn't have anything to do-"

Roy interrupted angrily, ignoring her attempts at rectification, "And what about all the pain you're inflicting on Oliver? Or Walter Steele?"

Thea did a double-take and blinked. "...Walter?"

"I'm assuming your dad was behind his death, too, wasn't he?" Roy questioned, his eyes wide and mad. "You have to agree that makes a lot of sense. You know what; screw you, Thea Queen... or Merlyn. I don't want anything to do with you."

"Roy, don't do-"

"Officers!" Roy hollered loudly. "Officers! Thea Queen is ready to leave!"

Thea rose as the door was opened behind them. Her gaze held Roy's for another second and he could see her anger mingle with despair on her fair features before she briskly turned and walked out of the interrogation room.

"Lyla said this was the place?" Felicity asked and turned back around to face her companion.

Diggle merely nodded as he withdrew his gun from his holster and checked it. "Let's hope Doctor Death can tell us something useful."

The two of them faced the simple, grey building that didn't look much different from the outside of Verdant. It was clearly an abandoned factory, forgotten and demolished by the cruel hand of time. As a team, the two of them crept closer and spotted the door on the backside.

Diggle took the lead as he stepped towards the door and gazed about as Felicity used her tablet to unlock the code to the door. She pulled it open and glanced up at the larger man. John nodded once and more took the lead, heading down the stairs with his gun raised.

They could see a fluorescent light further inside and a room littered with machines and equipment befit for a laboratory indeed. As he reached the base of the stairs, Diggle didn't let his guard down as he spun around with his gun raised to clear the vicinity before he nodded for Felicity to join him. She stepped off the stairs and took another step inside the laboratory, gazing about at all the unfamiliar gadgets with trepidation.

A low voice suddenly spoke from the shadows of the room, "... When I lost my son, I lost my mind, too." Diggle and Felicity spun around to face Seth Hellfern. The man sat on a stool further into the room, his disfigured face have bathed in shadow as his eyes seemed lost down memory lane. He spared them a quick glance before he continued, "What little I had, I mean. I saw no purpose to the world if my Charles wasn't in it... I stood at his funeral and couldn't believe that I was forced to bury my only child. My Charlie... I went mad. It's true. I listened to the voices in my head... and let them guide my hands."

Felicity swallowed past her fear and asked, "Tell us how to help Oliver."

Seth didn't seem to listen as he continued in a calm voice, "Before I lost it, your friend - Nightwing - and that Batman stopped me from saving my son. I only ever wanted to save Charlie's life. I know Nightwing wanted to kill me but that dark knight wouldn't let him. Said they couldn't kill for the sake of vengeance," Seth swallowed. "I'll tell you a secret... after I was pulled out of the burning rubble, after my son had died while I was recuperating... I wish I had died that day in my laboratory. I had lost everything anyway. My wife, my son... I had been branded with this beastly face," the man spat and waved a hand towards the scars on his face, "When they let me live, they drove me over the edge. I came here to find myself, but only ended up more lost. My drug - Soul - came to me in a dream. A vision, if you will. The answer to my prayers. What if I could control others? Wouldn't that change everything?"

"So it is Soul..." Felicity breathed. "What's in the drug? What are the active components? How does it actually work?"

"I couldn't have made it without the vital ingredient," Seth confessed. "And Merlyn was the one who brought it to me. I thought he was helping me, saving me... so I followed his command blindly. I realized too late that I was being played, that I, ironically enough, didn't control even myself. I never assumed I would relent control of Soul like I have..."

Diggle frowned. "What do you mean?"

Seth turned his gaze back to the intruders and they could see his eyes danced with tears and strange conviction. "You think I'm controlling your friend? I'm not. Merlyn made me give him the power. He's madder than I am... Makes me look sane."

"Why's he doing all of this?" Diggle pried for more information and took a slow step forward.

"I don't know..." Seth admitted in a distant voice. "He refused to share his secrets... And I'll die because of it."

"We're not here to kill you," Felicity frowned as she exchanged a glance with Diggle.

"No," Seth nodded in agreement. "But he is. "

Both Felicity and Diggle spun around in the direction Seth pointed and felt confusion enter their bodies at the unexpected sight. Oliver stood several feet behind them, looming in the shadows. He was still clad in the same jeans and blue sweater as they had last seen him wear, but that was all that remained familiar about his presence. A strange expression crossed his face that was both inhuman and twisted at the same time. The cold, dead look in his azure eyes held no life, no resemblance of the man they knew.

Seth's voice trembled, but yet he sat still, "Merlyn's ordered my death."

"Oliver!" Diggle breathed.

Before he could say or do anything else, Oliver reached for something on a nearby table. The knife glinted beneath the overhead lamp as Oliver swung it forward with accuracy and speed. The blade penetrated Seth Hellfern's chest and he fell to the floor. Felicity yelped at the sudden commotion and as her gaze flew from the fallen man to the place where Oliver had been, her gaze only met the darkness. Oliver had already fled.

"What do we do?" Felicity's question echoed in the silence and turned back to face Diggle, who was kneeling beside the dead man.

Jane rose from her chair and rubbed at the tension of her neck and shoulders. The clock was already turning late evening and she still hadn't gotten out of her office. It was time to go home.

No sooner had the thought entered her mind that she heard a knock on the door to her office. "Do you have a minute?"

Jane glared back over her shoulder. "I was heading home, Simon. You should, too. There's time for more work tomorrow. Can you save it for tomorrow?"

"I need your signature," Simon Cross declared as he stepped over and placed the piece of paper on the desk before the blonde woman. "It can't wait."

Jane eyed the paper suspiciously. "... You waited all day to give this to me? How did you even know I would still be here this late?"

Before the man had a chance to answer, a third person entered the office without even knocking.

"Is now a bad time?" Oliver asked as he stiffly stopped in the middle of the office.

"Oh, hey, Oliver," Jane breathed in surprise and frowned at her half-brother across the office. Oliver's skin was pale and almost sallow, and he seemed beyond exhaustion as he gazed at her with impassive eyes. "Wow, you look like shit."

Oliver's voice remained strained as he commented, "Thanks for noticing."

"I'm serious. Are you okay?"

Oliver shrugged and stepped up next to Simon Cross. The latter eyed the younger man with amusement and commented, "It seems to be a little bug."

"You're actually swaying," Jane frowned in concern. "Can I get you anything, love? Coffee? Water? Defibrillator paddles?"

Without warning, Oliver suddenly lashed out at the man beside him. Simon had expected the sudden attack, however, and easily parried the blow. Jane jumped back in surprise as Oliver caught hold of the other man's suit jacket and threw him down onto the desk. Simon managed a right hook and Oliver stumbled back.

Simon took a defense position as Oliver came at him once more, blocking each and every of the swift blows that came his way. Still, he was unprepared for the kick Oliver managed towards his midriff and Simon felt the air leave his lungs as he fell towards the ground. Oliver took the offered window of opportunity to disappear into the evening once more, leaving without a single word of explanation.

Jane gaped at the open doorway before she stepped towards the fallen man on the floor. "Are you hurt?"

"Bruised ego," Simon mocked as he pulled himself to his feet. "I'd say Oliver Queen was quite high or drunk just now, wouldn't you?"

"No, no, I..." Jane trailed off. "Something's wrong with this picture."

"Well, I think the world will agree with me," Simon smirked and smoothed a few wrinkles in his suit. "And we have the surveillance tape to confirm it."

"What?" Jane frowned and glanced up at the camera on the roof. "What are you talking about?"

"The past-CEO of QC drunkenly beats up the current-CEO," Simon cooed. "Can you imagine the headlines? Because I can see them now. They'll be all over this like sharks ripping a victim to shreds. Good luck getting the company back to him if he's tainted."

Jane fiercely gripped the man's sleeve and held him in place. "I don't know what you're playing at, Mr Cross... but I do know this; If you take this to the press... you'll not only taint Oliver's reputation. The world will also see the supposedly peace-loving, harmless CEO prove he's skilled in martial arts and possibly other questionable dealings. You ought to think twice before you go through with it, because I will rain down brimstone upon you so hard, you'll wish you never met me."

The triumphant smirk quickly faded from Simon's lips and he exited the office without another word. Jane exhaled tensely.

Thea stormed into the hotel suite and looked about for her father. Her gaze strayed to the open doors to the balcony and she caught sight of his suit clad frame outside. She inhaled sharply as she walked forward and stepped outside. The cold air didn't faze her as she held her chin high and stepped forward.

"Release Roy," she commanded.

Malcolm turned around in surprise. "Thea! I didn't here you come in!"

Thea stood her ground resolutely. "Back off from him. I know we had an agreement, but I changed my mind on this."

"On this?" Malcolm questioned. "Only on this?"

Thea paused at the expected question and for the first time felt her determination waiver on the matter as if it was a flag in the wind, whipping every which way the wind blew it. "I... Yes. The rest of the plan is good, but not this part. Not Roy. Not like this. I know you have the power to stop this. I'm asking you to do so... for me."

Malcolm searched her eyes for a long, tense second before he inclined his head. "Fine... Your boyfriend will be released from all suspicions and the charges dropped. But forgive me, honey..." Malcolm began smoothly and took a step towards his daughter. His eyes offered concern as his hand came up to land on her lean shoulder. "This doesn't make any sense, not after what he's done to you... Or have you forgotten all of that?"

"No, but not like this, please," Thea pleaded. "There are other ways to win."

"You're right, of course," Malcolm inclined his head and turned to gaze out at the skyline of Starling City. The blood-red sun was just about to set on the horizon, casting an eery, yet beautiful, shade over the city.

Thea's voice was cautious, yet intrigued, as she prodded for more, "And... what about... Oliver?"

"No," Malcolm simply shook his head, refusing to give her more power than she already possessed. "If you've chosen a path, sweetheart, you stay on it. It's the only way to succeed. We have a plan. Roy Harper's release I can help with, but you know there is no other way as far as the rest of the plan is concerned. Do not falter now, Thea, not so close to our goal."

A hurricane whirled inside Thea's eyes as she held her father's gaze for another moment. At length, she nodded and walked back inside. She didn't speak another word as she walked towards the door and once more exited the hotel suite.

Malcolm lingered in the open doorway to the grand balcony, his eyes on the closed door. He heard a thud behind him and spun around.

Oliver Queen rose to full height and stood beside the railing like a marionette awaiting orders.

"Perfect timing," Malcolm mused and gave the man his full attention. He gazed into the soulless eyes of Oliver and had to admit to the wonders of Hellfern's capabilities. The man before him was truly nothing more than a puppet at present time, willing and able to do anything Malcolm ordered him to. "Did you do it?"

"The man is dead," Oliver's monotonous tone replied. "I killed him."

Malcolm clapped his hands together eagerly. "Then how about we reach the grand finale, eh? You know what I want from you, Oliver? It's very simple. Destroy yourself. And I don't mean take your own life, not at all... But I am ordering you to kill the person you love the most."

Felicity glared down at the phone in her hand as she hung up and sank back in her chair.

"Not good news, I take it?" Lyla asked as she leaned against the blonde's workstation.

"Nope," Felicity admitted with a sad grimace. "Caitlyn said the proponents of the drug were very similar to the drug Frida had in her system. She... believed it would over-power Oliver's brain soon enough. That his brain couldn't handle it... just like..."

Diggle firmly shook his head as he crossed his arms over his chest. "I refuse to believe that. He won't die."

Felicity distractedly ran a trembling hand over her green peplum dress and felt all the energy drain from her frame. "... I'm afraid, John."

Lyla cleared her throat and gently asked, "Did she say anything else?"

Felicity nodded once. "Caitlyn didn't recognize the active proponent that was the major difference between the two drug-batches. Apparently there's nothing in any database to confirm what exactly it is." Felicity's phone suddenly started ringing again and she glared down at the unfamiliar number. "Hold on." She took the call with a confused scowl, "Hello?"

"Felicity?"

The blonde turned in her seat to face Diggle and stuttered for a few seconds before she found her voice, "T-Thea?"

"I..." Thea seemed to hesitate briefly. She inhaled sharply before she confessed, "I know what's going on with Oliver. That he's been drugged."

"Oh... Oh!" Felicity's eyes widened as she realized the truth and babbled, "Of course! Your return and Merlyn... You two are working together. Everything about you these past few months just became so unbelievably clear. Did you both control the Legion of Super-Villains or was that just Merlyn?"

"No," Thea swallowed. "I'm included in all of the plans. He's my dad... He's only looking out for me. I know you don't see it from my perspective, but he means well."

"I'm not judging. Did you know that Antonio Egaz Moniz got the Nobel Prize in 1949 for his discovery of lobotomy. Which obviously turned out to be a horrible decision. My point is that people sometimes root for or help the wrong people. Like the really wrong people," Felicity closed her eyes tight and calmed her mind. She lowered her voice and pleaded, "I don't care, Thea. All I want to know is if he told you something that might help me save Oliver."

"What have you got so far?"

"Not much."

"The main ingredient, or whatever it's called, comes from Lian Yu," Thea explained hurriedly. "It's a substance derived from the dried leaves of a flower; naniterium. I believe it's quite rare. I don't really know much about it, but it functions very similar to electricity in the brain. Or that's what Malcolm said. He compared it to nano-technology in the mind. A controlling chip, almost, that's linked to a second set of blood - in this case my father. He can tell Oliver what to do and the naniterium will force Oliver to follow the command."

Felicity nodded. "Anything else?"

"That's all I know. Be careful..." Thea warned. "I don't know what Malcolm's planning for Oliver. I don't know what he'll make him do next under the influence of the drug."

"Thanks," Felicity sighed and hung up the phone. She inhaled shakily as she eyed the quiet phone in her hand and rose from her seat.

Diggle impatiently waited for the woman to speak, but ultimately cleared his throat and spoke up, "What did she say?"

They all turned around at an unexpected sound at the other end of the room. Oliver loomed in the background, having managed to creep inside without anyone hearing him approach. He'd gotten hold of his bow and an arrow lay against the string, aimed at the trio ahead. Diggle exchanged a worried glance with Felicity as he tensed beside her.

"Oliver..." Felicity began but her voice faded into the quiet corners of the lair.

Oliver's head turned in her direction and Felicity gasped. Beneath the lights, she could see that his usually vibrant, colorful eyes had turned entirely white and icy. The image was too familiar and she froze in her spot as he glared at her without empathy or care.

Lyla calmly reached for her gun, but Oliver saw the motion out of the corner of his eye. He swiftly spun around and fired the arrow at her. The arrow pierced her shoulder, and she fell back to the floor with a grunt.

"Lyla!" Diggle breathed and whipped out his own gun. He glanced back down at Lyla, feeling a wave of relief crash against his body as he saw her pained eyes looking up at him. Diggle nodded towards her before he turned his attention back to Oliver, shifting slightly so he was standing in between Oliver and Lyla. Oliver had lowered the bow to his side and glared at Diggle.

"I don't want to shoot you, Oliver," Diggle managed through gritted teeth.

Oliver merely tilted his head to the side and took a stride forward. Diggle fired a warning shot to the man's shoulder, but it barely grazed the man's frame as Oliver dove forward. Oliver managed to tackle Diggle to the ground, knocking the gun from the man's hand. Diggle got the air knocked out of his lungs but quickly recovered.

He pushed Oliver off of him and stumbled onto his feet, preparing himself for a battle. He'd taken Oliver in many sparring games before, and he tensely exhaled as he gazed into the alien eyes of Oliver now. With more speed than John had expected, Oliver attacked. The two danced around each other, avoiding each other's punches and trying to get a good hit at the other at the same time. It was an even match for a short while, but before long, Oliver managed to plant a solid hook to John's ribs and the man clutched his sides. As he tried to recover, Oliver aimed a firm punch to the man's head and Diggle fell to the ground, blood seeping from his nose.

"Johnny!" Lyla breathed and gazed at the steady rise and fall of the man's chest before she calmed her wildly beating heart.

Oliver paid neither of them any heed as he whirled around towards Felicity's workstation only to find the blonde woman gone. He growled in irritation and felt something stir within his chest.

"Stop!" Felicity breathed from behind him. He whirled around on her and Felicity felt her heart thunder inside her chest without control. This wasn't her Oliver, this wasn't the man she cared for. She stood at the heart of the room and watched as he slowly circled back towards her.

"This isn't you..." she whispered as he took another step closer to her. She felt panic invade her frame, but still she firmly held her ground and refused to run. "I know you, Oliver, this isn't you. It's the drug and you can fight it."

Oliver didn't say a word as his features distorted into an unkind snarl and his hands wrapped around her neck.

Felicity gasped for air as he pressed tighter. She winced in agony as she tried to focus on breathing what little air she could manage. "This is Malcolm, not you, and I know you're still in there. I can't lose you, so please fight this. Not done fighting, remember?"

"My hand are wrapped around your throat... and you're not scared?" Oliver frowned uncomprehendingly.

Felicity swallowed and gasped for air, something which was becoming increasingly harder to do. "N-no... Because I... I love you. I love you, Oliver."

The lair fell silent in the wake of her soft admission. Oliver blinked as he gazed down at her and suddenly his hand fell away from her as if he'd been badly burnt. A scowl spread across his face and he seemed to fight the impulse to once more reach out and choke her.

Felicity grimaced as she rubbed her neck and held his confused gaze. She shrugged and breathed, "I'm sorry."

Without missing a beat she whipped out her hand and pressed the small device to the nape of Oliver's neck. Much as when she'd used it to deactivate and destroy the chip in Lawton's spine, she now used the device to send an electrical current through Oliver's frame. Thea had told her the active component in Soul had electrical abilities and she could only hope an EMP would be enough to overload them, thus making the drug lose its control of Oliver's brain.

With her body pressed so close to his, Felicity felt the electrical current flood through Oliver's body, making him spasm against her frame and gasp in pain. Within seconds he was falling and Felicity was dragged down with him towards the hard ground. They landed in a heap on the floor, with Felicity beneath the still man.

The wind was knocked out of her and everything swirled as she tried to grasp onto reality.

"Felicity? Felicity!" Lyla breathed and the other woman's face came into view above the still body that rested on top of Felicity. "Are you okay?"

Felicity nodded and together the two of them rolled Oliver off of the blonde woman. Felicity swallowed as Lyla reached a hand towards Oliver's pulse point. "Is he...?"

"He's alive. You did good, Felicity," Lyla reassured as she tenderly touched the arrow in her chest and applied more pressure to stop the bleeding. As Felicity eyed her warily, Lyla merely shook her head. "It's superficial, didn't nick any big arteries. I'll be fine."

"John?"

Lyla glanced back at the other man. "Just unconscious."

Felicity distantly caressed Oliver's face as she watched his relaxed features. He stirred beneath her touch and inhaled sharply. He tried to sit up but Felicity held him in place.

He blinked a couple of times as if he was stepping out from a thick fog and Felicity exhaled in relief as she saw the familiar azure color ignite and lit up his face. He frowned up at her tearful face and hoarsely breathed, "... Felicity? You okay?"

Felicity grinned widely and merely nodded, not trusting her voice to hold. She leaned her forehead against Oliver's and exhaled shakily. Oliver smiled.

Two hours later, Felicity found herself back in her flat. She'd remained in the lair for as long as the other had allowed her. She'd refused to wind down before making certain Oliver was indeed getting better from the effects of the drug. She'd even stayed long enough to see John start to stitch up Lyla's wound while Oliver waited for the updated blood results on his current status.

Felicity still felt her heart beat irregularly with thoughts of 'What ifs?'. She'd come close to losing Oliver and she'd never been more afraid in her life.

When there was a knock on her door a little while later, Felicity practically sprinted towards the door and pulled it open.

Oliver stood in the hallway with a guilty expression, holding a bottle of Lafite Rotschild in his left hand and a carton of mint-chip ice cream in the other. Felicity laughed at the image and beckoned him inside.

"I take it your blood's clean?"

Oliver inclined his head. "Yep. The naniterium was rendered useless thanks to your quick wit." He extended his hands in her general direction and sheepishly smiled. "Barry thought I might suffer some withdrawal symptoms, but nothing I can't manage. And Jane tells me she's got Simon Cross under control, so apparently Oliver Queen's image stays intact despite it all."

"... I hope this isn't an apology," she smiled as she accepted his gifts and walked further into her home. Oliver followed her close behind but stopped in the doorway to the kitchen, watching as she walked around the room with great ease. He watched as she put the ice cream in the freezer and then held up the bottle, gazing at him expectantly.

"Please," he nodded.

Felicity opened a cabin and placed two wine glasses on the counter top while Oliver searched for words. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other as he decided to not try so hard. "How can you behave like this? I killed today, and I could have killed you not three hours ago. You-"

"How much of it do you remember?"

"Everything. But its like seeing something happen from afar. Like it wasn't actually my body doing it."

"Precisely. It wasn't you," Felicity argued. "That was Malcolm Merlyn controlling you with a really creepy drug. You couldn't control your actions. Any of them."

"I know," Oliver grimaced. "But still-"

"Frankly..." Felicity began in a low voice that immediately caught Oliver's attention. "I was just afraid of losing you tonight. That you would die the same way Frida did. You have no idea how grateful I am to Thea... It was her information that made me think of the EMP device in the first place. We're just lucky it worked, Oliver."

Oliver frowned. "Thea? ...She helped you?"

"I'm beginning to think maybe she's seen the light," Felicity admitted with a supportive smile as she turned her attention to the wine bottle and searched through her drawers for an opener. She found one and made quick work of the cork. "Maybe she's got a long way to go yet but I think she can do it. Just like her older brother did."

Oliver frowned in amazement and the low hum of his voice filled her kitchen, "Felicity, I'd be lost without you."

Felicity snorted in good humor as she poured them both some wine. "Of course you would, I send you in the right direction most nights."

He chuckled at her words and accepted the glass she offered him as he searched for the right words. "No, I meant, Oliver Queen would be lost without Felicity Smoak. Arrow would, too, you're right. But you keep me intact and on the right course."

Felicity took a sip from the wine and then shrugged. "I try. We both try."

"Yeah, we do. Felicity..." Oliver held her gaze almost transfixed. Something warm filled his eyes as he simply looked at her. At length, he continued, "When I first met you - I mean the very first time I came to your little cubicle -... The man that I was then was so unhappy. I had one mission with life and that didn't really include getting a life for myself. I was going to be the Hood and that was it. Then I met you and... for the first time since getting off Lian Yu, I smiled. A genuine smile, I mean... You completely took me off-guard. And ever since, you've made me a better man. You're truly are remarkable, Felicity, and I owe you everything."

Felicity's cheeks blushed a dark crimson as she looked up at him in turn. "Well, if we're having this conversation... You do know how important you are to me as well, don't you? Even from the start, you believed in me. You trusted me and no one had ever trusted me like that before. You gave me a chance to grow and evolve... and you've never held me back, Oliver. You've helped me come out from behind my monitors and be braver. I've done things with you that I would never have believed myself capable of before meeting you. You saw something in me... and I believed you. I love you."

Oliver pursed his lips as his eyes twinkled. "I do seem to remember those words from earlier tonight."

"Please, Oliver," Felicity muttered with feigned mockery. "You said them before we were even dating. Not good form."

"No?" Oliver shrugged his eyebrows and took the wine glass from her hand. He set it aside on the counter and closed the last distance between them. He watched as her pupils dilated as his gaze wandered across her features, landing on her lips at last. "Is that so?"

"Uh-uh," Felicity shook her head feebly but no other word escaped past her lips.

"If I'm ever half the man you see in me..." Oliver whispered. "... I'm not half-bad."

Felicity wrapped her arms around his neck and stood on her toes as he wrapped his own arms around her waist. "You're already better than that."

He leaned down to kiss her, letting his emotions carry into the kiss as he held her close. Felicity moaned against his lips as she deepened it, giving his tongue access to her mouth. He gently pushed her back up against the wall and trailed a path of kisses down the side of her face and neck.

"Are you sure about this?" he muttered against her hot skin.

"Yes. Definitely yes," her voice was out of breath as she tugged on the hem of his shirt.

Oliver smiled in amusement as he followed her mute command and discarded the shirt. Felicity's smile widened as she intertwined their hands and tugged him towards her bedroom door. Her hand fumbled for the handle as she pulled Oliver back down for a kiss that made her mind swirl with joy. She finally managed to push the door open and Oliver chuckled at her cheeky grin.

Felicity backed into the room with one hand still intertwined with his. Oliver grinned widely as he followed her inside and closed the door behind him.

To be continued!