Alright, everyone. Back with another chapter.

I'm glad that my readers seem to be enjoying this story so far, although not as many people are reading this as I hoped. Still, I love writing this story, so I don't really mind.

This chapter starts the events of season 5 episode 12, which will probably last for two or three chapters, depending on how much I want to cram into each chapter. And yes, Anatoli and the Bratva will still be involved. And, we'll finally see Laurel's existence officially revealed to the public, albeit with her story she's concocted for how she's supposedly survived Darhk.

BTW, Quentin knows about Laurel. I'm not going to cover that, but he is aware of her, though hasn't gotten to see her really.

Let's get started.

Chapter 8- The Escape

The whole team, except Laurel, waits eagerly in the lair, excited for the expected arrival. They don't have to wait long before the elevator doors open, revealing Diggle, a bag over his shoulder.

"Welcome back, Diggle," Bucky says with a grin. Felicity then hurries forward and hugs John.

John chuckles as he hugs Felicity back. "It's good to be back guys," he says before letting Felicity go. He looks up at everybody and just smiles. "I can't tell you how much I've missed this."

"Well, we will have plenty for you to do. Glad to have you back," Bucky says.

Diggle nods, then looks around the lair. "Where's Laurel?" he asks.

"Wellllll…that's complicated," Bucky replies.

Diggle looks confused, as does everybody else. But, before they can ask any questions, Felicity's phone rings. She looks down at it before answering it with a simple, "Hello?"

Everyone looks at Felicity for a moment. Then, Felicity looks up from her phone and says, "That was Thea. Apparently, there's something on the news we need to see."

She races over to her computer and types a few things. The screen is suddenly taken over by the news channel, as the reporter is in the middle of talking.

"..City Police have not confirmed all the particulars of the incident. But we know that the woman was spotted on the side of the road by a truck driver on his way to make a delivery. Police have confirmed her identity as Dinah Laurel Lance, the former District Attorney who was believed to have been killed by Damien Darhk almost a year ago, and who was revealed to have been the vigilante known as the Black Canary. Miss Lance was admitted to Starling General with multiple injuries. We do not yet have any information as to how she is still alive, and will keep you updated as new information is released," the reporter says.

Everyone looks at the screen in surprise, then everybody turns to Bucky, who is grinning. "Okay, hoss. What's going on?" Rene demands.

Bucky lets out a single chuckle, and says, "This is our clever plan to let Laurel build a life in Star City."

(Starling General, the following afternoon)

Bucky smiles as he walks down the hallway of the hospital, with Diggle and Thea following him. As they reach Laurel's room, they find a doctor standing outside.

"How is she?" Bucky asks, trying to sound concerned.

"She'll be fine. We're actually gonna release her in an hour. Most of her wounds were very superficial. She has lingering scars and evidence of a fractured arm, but other than that is relatively healthy. Her wound from being stabbed by the arrow reopened during her escape, but we were able to patch it up. She'll need to take some time to heal, but she's just about ready to get out of here," the doctor replies.

"Thank you. Can we go in?" Bucky asks. The doctor nods in response, and Bucky, Diggle, and Thea walk in.

Laurel is just finishing changing into more comfortable clothes. As they enter, she turns towards the door and smiles upon seeing them. "Hey, guys. I was wondering how long it would take you to come visit me," she says.

"I am hoping that arrow didn't hurt you too bad," Bucky says apologetically.

Laurel laughs. "I've had worse," she replies.

"So, this was your plan. Stab Laurel with an arrow so she'll have the same scar as our Laurel?" Diggle asks.

"Yup, pretty much," Bucky says.

"Do you think it's gonna fool everybody?" Thea asks.

"All Laurel is to do is be as convincing as she can when she delivers her story to the press, and we'll have everyone believing her," Bucky says.

The door opens and the doctor walks in, so everyone stops talking about the plan. He looks at his chart before looking up at Laurel and says, "Alright, Miss Lance. I want to run one more X-Ray on your right arm. Once I get the results from that X-Ray, you'll be good to go." Laurel nods, though it is clear she wants to leave.

Bucky, Diggle, and Thea all wait for Laurel as she has that last X-Ray done, and waits for the results. After a wait that is frustratingly long for Laurel, the doctor comes back into the room, this time with his clipboard and a box.

"Well, Miss Lance, the X-Ray came back mostly okay. I did spot a sprain in your wrist, so I'd like you to wear this wrist brace just to prevent you from hurting it further. You should be able to take it off in a week or so," the doctor says. Laurel is clearly not happy, but she accepts it, and Thea helps her put it on.

"Alright. Everything else checks out, so, Miss Lance, you are free to head home," the doctor says with a smile.

Bucky is sure if she could, Laurel would go sprinting out of the hospital at this point. However, she contains herself, and walks with Bucky and the others down to the checkout desk.

Once they reach the lobby, the group stops short upon seeing Quentin waiting there for him. Quentin sees them enter the lobby, and his eyes just fall on Laurel. It takes him a moment, but he finally stands and walks over. Bucky, Diggle, and Thea step back to give them some room.

For several moments, Laurel and Quentin just stand there. Then, Quentin reaches out and pulls Laurel into a hug. Laurel is stiff for a moment, then slowly hugs him back.

"You know I'm not really your daughter," Laurel says.

"I know. But you're as good as my daughter. And I'll try and treat you as such," Quentin says, tears coming to his eyes. And Laurel feels herself getting a little emotional too, remembering her deceased father.

Finally, Quentin releases her, looks her over once, then says, "Let's get you checked out of this place."

"Yes, let's," Laurel says with a relief, and almost runs to the checkout desk, drawing smiles from everyone else.

It doesn't take long for Laurel to get checked out. Finally, she is able to leave the hospital.

As she walks out, Quentin by her side, and Bucky, Diggle, and Thea following her, reporters outside see her and begin shouting question. The Mayor Security Detail moves to restrain them and quiet them down.

Laurel raises her hands for quiet, and the reporters slowly quiet down. She looks over them all and says, "I'm feeling very tired, and want to go home, but I'm willing to answer a question or two."

"Miss Lance, how did you survive? It was reported you had died after being stabbed by Damien Darhk," a reporter calls out.

"That's what HIVE wanted you to believe. Damien Darhk laced the arrowhead with a drug before he stabbed me with it. It is a secret drug created by and stolen from the government, intended to give the image of death. Once the drug took effect, I appeared dead in virtually every way. However, after I had been put away to be prepped for burial, agents of HIVE snuck into the hospital and stole me away. I was taken to a HIVE facility, given the antidote for the drug, and imprisoned. HIVE intended to subject me to brainwashing techniques to turn me into one their agents. The death of Damien Darhk and loss of so many of their operatives set them back and forced them to go underground. I was moved multiple times, until just earlier this week, when I was finally able to get the chance I needed to escape from HIVE. I don't remember where the facility they had me at is, however, and my memory of the last year is somewhat spotty, due to the experiments I was subjected to. However, I was able to figure out the way to Star City, and was trying to get home when the kind driver found me on the side of the road and brought me the rest of the way to Starling," Laurel answers.

"Your friend Oliver Queen confirmed at your funeral that you were the vigilante known as the Black Canary. Is that true?" another reporter asks.

"Yes, it is. However, that life cost me much, and I'm not in as good of shape as I used to be. I don't plan on returning to life as the Black Canary anytime soon," Laurel replies simply.

There's silence for a moment before a third reporter asks, "There's been recent reports of a masked woman in a black uniform, possessing a strong scream, who has been working with the new vigilante known as the Winter Soldier. Do you think she's following your footsteps, and what would you say to her?"

"I think she may very well be attempting to fulfill my legacy. And before you ask, I do not know who she is. I would say to this woman that I don't mind you following in my footsteps, or even using my old alias, but I would advise her to be cautious. Still, I am proud of the initiative she has shown and her determination to protect this city," Laurel says.

She pauses briefly, then says, "I'll be taking no more question at this time." Reporters start shouting, but Quentin and the security detail get her through the reporters and down to the limousine, with Bucky, Diggle, and Thea following behind her.

Once everyone is in the limousine, everyone takes a deep breath. "I've always hated paparazzi," Laurel finally says, breaking the silence and drawing some laughs.

"Alright. Where to?" Quentin asks.

"Big Belly Burger," Laurel replies with a grin, drawing more laughs.

"Carl. Take us to the nearest Big Belly Burger!" Quentin calls out to the driver, who starts driving towards the nearest Big Belly Burger.

The group starts slowly chatting, trying to make conversation. That is, until Thea's phone goes off. She pulls it out and looks at the screen, and her face is instantly filled with worry.

"Thea. What is it?" Bucky asks, seeing her face.

Thea looks up at him, her expression grave. "It's General Walker. He and his men have escaped from military police custody. They shot their way out, and killed at least 30 men. And…the nuclear trigger they stole is missing. Local police and Air Force planes have been searching for him, but they can't find him anywhere."

Everyone looks around at each other, and Diggle looks very angry. Bucky is the one to speak up as he says, "Alright. Change of plan. We need to head to the lair. We have to find Walker."

(The lair, hours later)

Bucky sits there, sighing, knowing this is the best option.

For the past couple of hours, they've been working furiously to find Walker. Through ARGUS, they got intel that Walker was on his way to Russia to sell the nuke to some Markovian terrorists. Because it was in Russia, neither ARGUS nor the US military could help them. It was up to them.

But, from reading about Oliver's career as a vigilante, Bucky has an idea for what to do. He had Felicity collect a phone number for him, but has been slightly second guessing himself.

But not anymore. Bucky presses the call button, and waits as the phone rings. After a couple of rings, he hears the phone get picked up on the other end, and a man with a distinctive Russian accent on the other end demands, "Who is this?"

"My name is Bucky Barnes, a friend of Oliver Queen's, and I need to talk to you, Anatoli Knyazev.

У нас серьезная проблема, и мне нужна ваша помощь (We have a major problem, and I need your help)."

I'll end there.

I hope this chapter wasn't too bad. I know it didn't have a lot, but I promise there will be more in the next chapter. I didn't expect everything I put in here to take up so much space.

Also, just so you all know. I'm not currently planning to include Susan Williams in this story. I'll figure out a reason for her absence, but since Oliver isn't in this, i see no reason to include her.

Until next time, please review, and stay tuned.