A/N: WinterRain36, yes her mother is Talia, and you gave me a great idea that I think I'll use. Thank you!
BatBabe66, technically no, it isn't a Dark Knight crossover because it just features themes. nothing actually crosses over.

Episode 8: Trade

"Kill you?" Oliver asked. "Anna, what are you not telling me?" Anna looked at him a second before averting her eyes. "In time this will all make sense, but until then…I think we should take a break," she said, somewhat reluctantly. "I know now it's not some band of small-wage murders after me, Oliver. These people could hurt you, or my sister and her husband, and they could hurt your family, too. It's not safe."

She then put the stick back, grabbed her jacket, and started up the stairs quickly. As she went to exit, silent tears streaked her face. Thea was in the main part of the club when Anna surfaced and saw the tears. "Anna, what happened?" she asked. Anna walked past her quietly and left Verdant without a word.

She got in her car and shut the door. She gripped the steering wheel tightly until her knuckles turned white. Her hurt was replaced by anger. Anger for everything that she'd been put through in the last two weeks. And everything that happened in the four years she left Star City. She pulled her phone out of her pocket and pressed seven on speed dial. "Hello?" came through the phone in a female voice.

"We need to talk. Meet me at the harbor" Anna said, before hanging up the phone. She put the phone into her pocket and started the car.

Anna parked a little ways from the harbor at a frater yard. She got out and shut the door loudly to announce her presence. She then put her hands into her pockets before walking to the backside of the yard—an empty section of gravel behind the crates stacked to the heavens. She stood facing the harbor and waited in the silence. "Took you long enough" she said.

"What is it?" the same woman that was on the phone asked from behind her. Anna turned to face a blonde woman that looked to be Anna's age or a little older. "Do you still have connections in the League?" Anna asked.

"Anna, you know I'm trying to cut those ties" the woman said.

"I know…and I'm sorry to ask this. But I need to set up a communication system with Ra's" Anna said.

"Why would you risk that?" the woman asked. "You know what he'll do if he catches you."

"I don't have a choice, Sarah. Can you do it or not?" she asked. Sarah was quiet a moment before answering. "I think so" she finally said.

"Get him to have someone meet me to discuss my release tomorrow night, right here" Anna said. She and Sarah shared a nod before Anna walked back to her car and got in, shutting the door behind her and starting the car.

Anna sat still on the end of her bed, where she'd been the whole night. She couldn't bring herself to sleep. And she couldn't stop replaying her break up with Oliver over in her mind. It might have seemed easy, but inside she was screaming and crying and trying to change her mind. She sighed and ran a hand over her face. Suddenly her phone rang and she startled. She picked up her phone and found herself looking at a picture of Thea.

Anna didn't know if she should pick up or hang up. She chose to hang up and hit the reject button. As second after she did, Thea called again. Anna sighed frustratedly and turned her phone off. Thea had become like a sister to Anna but she couldn't risk bringing her into it, too. Anna stood and started pacing. She sighed angrily and went downstairs.

She had just stepped off the bottom step when a car came speeding into her driveway and stopped by the door, causing a wave of dust. "What the hell?" Anna asked, quietly. Thea stepped out of the car and came to the door just as Anna opened it. Thea looked distressed and Anna couldn't tell what about. "I've been trying to get a hold of you! Didn't you get my messages? Or hear my calls?" Thea asked.

"Thea, what is it that you want?" Anna asked.

"It's Oliver! He's missing. I mean, he left a note, but it's addressed to you so mom didn't open it. That's why I've been trying to call you. I haven't seen him since he left Verdant yesterday" Thea said.

"He's…what? How could he be missing?" Anna asked herself. She turned to Thea. "Can I see the note?" she asked.

"Yeah, come on" Thea said. Thea hurried into her car and Anna slid into the passenger's seat. Thea sped through Star City to the Queen Mansion and parked by the door. She hurriedly ushered Anna into the house and to the sitting room. Moira, Walter, Diggle, and Felicity were all standing in the middle near the couches. Moira held the note when Anna walked in. she quickly walked to Anna and held the note to her.

"I'm sure he's not really missing," Anna assured, opening the letter. "He probably just left town for a few days." She unfolded the paper and started reading the note. Anna tried keeping a blank face while reading to avoid panic from Moira or Thea, who were intently staring at her while she read. Anna looked up from the letter. "He'll be back soon. Apparently he needed to get away for a while, clear his head…Diggle, Felicity, could I speak with you? Privately?" Anna asked, walking out of the sitting room.

Felicity and Diggle met Anna by the front door. "What happened?" Felicity asked.

"Oliver negotiated a trade" Anna said.

"A trade of what?" Diggle asked.

"Him for me. The League has been on my ass since I left home. They wanted me or Sophia and Sophia is married and in Chicago with a life so now they want me. I don't know why they would allow a trade. They never settle for less than what they set out for" Anna said.

"Unless they did it on purpose" Diggle said.

"To lure me out."