Guest: You'll have to wait and see.

Bar

Morning

It had been a few weeks since Oliver had officially become a member of the Bratva. He had spent it trying to figure out which of his 'brothers' was Kovar's contact but no luck. At the moment, all Oliver could do was follow Anatoly's lead, let his friend guide him through the waters. Which was how he found himself in a bar, following Anatoly's instructions as he tried to make a bomb.

"I failed chemistry in High School. Twice," Oliver grumbled.

"Then learn how I did, in school of, how you say, hard knock," Anatoly said and Oliver sighed.

"How does this help me get closer to Kovar?" Oliver asked in exasperation.

"You must be like sponge, Oliver. Making bomb, working with electronics, welding metal, Bratva spend off hours learning many trade," Anatoly explained patiently and Oliver sighed, giving in. "Now, attach one to igniter, other one to battery terminal. And be very careful not to touch circuit board."

Oliver carefully tried to guide the wire into the designated spots, but something went wrong. The device sparked and Oliver let go, throwing in into a nearby trashcan as everyone braced for impact. It went off, the trashcan vibrating as smoke came out of it. Anatoly got up and put the lid on it, laughing good-naturedly as Oliver stood up, frustrated and embarrassed.

"It's okay Oliver, I nearly lose finger my first try," Anatoly said, holding up his finger for emphasis.

Before Oliver could respond, he whipped his head towards the window as he heard the sound of screeching tires. His instincts screaming at him to duck and cover, Oliver tackled Anatoly to the ground a mere second before the people outside started shooting. The window shattered as the patrons, in terror, ducked for cover as well. The liquor behind the bar shattered as the bullets hit them. Then, as quickly as it started, it ended as the people outside got back in their vehicles and left.

"What the hell was that?" Oliver demanded as he and Anatoly sat up, sitting with their back against the bar.

"Declaration of war to Bratva," Anatoly said grimly.

"From who?!" Oliver exclaimed.

"Your friend. Kovar," Anatoly said grimly, to Oliver's shock.

"What?" Oliver asked as he and Anatoly got to their feet and the patrons quickly ran for their lives.

"I told you Kovar has army. Who did you think his enemy was?" Anatoly asked pointedly as he began cleaning up the mess.

In hindsight, it made sense, Oliver realized after a moment. Why Anatoly was so adamant that Bratva was the only way to take on Kovar, it hadn't just been about helping him, Oliver realized. It had also been about helping the Bratva.

"You should have told me this before," Oliver said angrily.

"I am telling you now. You wish to get close to Kovar, now you might get your chance," Anatoly said grimly.

SHIELD safe house

Same time

In her bathroom, Bobbi stood in front of the mirror before slightly lifting up her shirt, revealing her still flat stomach. She placed a hand on her stomach, imagining a point where she would be able to feel her baby kick. Would it be a boy or girl, she wondered. Would they look like her or Oliver, perhaps both of them? She let out a sigh, trying to stop the smile that threatened to cross her face. Despite everything, she was excited. She'd tried not to be, but she was. No matter what happened, she already loved this baby. She just hoped Oliver did as well when she told him.

Bar

Not long after

"Pakhan is going to be here any moment, he will explain everything. Tidy yourself up, show him your respect," Anatoly said hurriedly as he tried to clean up.

Not even two seconds later, the door opened. Oliver looked over as two men in leather jackets let in a man with greying brown hair in a suit. There was little doubt in Oliver's mind that this was the Pakhan, the leader of the Bratva.

"Ah, Anatoly! It is good to see you again, old friend. I wish it were under different circumstances," the Pakhan said as he approached Anatoly.

"The honor is mine, Pakhan Gregor," Anatoly said as the two embraced. "Please, let us drink."

Anatoly poured them both a shot and the two quickly drowned them. Gregor then looked over at him and Oliver felt like he was back on Lain Yu, being interrogated by Fyers.

"So this is the American Puppy you have adopted?" Gregor inquired and Oliver narrowed his eyes.

"That's not my name," Oliver said annoyed and Gregor smirked, amused.

"Ah, the puppy speaks. The infamous Oliver Queen," Gregor said as he smiled at Oliver's surprise. "Did you think we would not learn of your past? That we would allow a rich American into our brotherhood without special circumstances?"

"I've earned my place here," Oliver snapped.

"So I hear," Gregor said coolly.

"Then why don't you tell me what the hell is going on?!" Oliver snapped.

"Oliver, respect," Anatoly scolded but Gregor waved him off.

"It's okay Anatoly. I appreciate his eagerness," Gregor said as he walked over to Oliver until they were standing face to face. "Kovar is planning on expanding his territory. A casino. Attack was warning to stay away. But we are not going to do that."

"So what are we planning on doing about it?" Oliver inquired, carefully watching Gregor's reaction.

"Kovar's casino will need investors. Such as, say, a rich American," Gregor said pointedly and Oliver scoffed as he caught on.

"Come on, you want to fund Kovar?" Oliver complained.

"No. You get a meeting with his people. And when you get inside, you're going to blow up his new casino," Gregor, said, surprising Oliver.

"This s why you had me working on a bomb," Oliver muttered as he looked over at Anatoly.

"And you thought learning how to make it was waste of time," Anatoly said cheekily.

"What do you say Oliver? Read to paly rich American playboy again?" Gregor said as he placed ah and on Oliver's shoulder in a way that was meant to seem friendly but just made a pit form in Oliver's stomach.

Gregor reminded him far too much of Fyers when Oliver had first met him. He seemed reasonable; almost friendly….but Oliver's instincts were screaming at him 'don't trust him Oliver'. Oliver just hoped they were wrong for once; otherwise this mission was going to get a lot more complicated.

SHIELD safe house

Late morning

Bobbi was reading a book in the living room as Dragon walked in, a towel thrown over his shoulder after a hard workout.

"Would've thought you'd be hitting the gym," Dragon noted.

"Some of us just like to relax," Bobbi shot back, not looking up from her book as she fought to keep her voice even.

She felt his gaze on her and she hoped he wasn't suspicious. Someone who really knew her, like Clint and Natasha, would not have been fooled by her excuse, would have known something was up once she'd stopped working out every day. But she couldn't tell him, wouldn't tell him. She wouldn't tell anyone before she told Oliver.

Before a word could be said, her cell phone, which had been placed on a nearby table, rang. Picking it up, she saw that it was Oliver.

"Oliver," Bobbi said as she answered and Dragon's attention snapped towards her.

"Well, it looks like I'm moving up in the Bratva," Oliver said sarcastically.

"Put him on speaker," Dragon ordered and Bobbi nodded.

"Hold on, Dragon's here, I'm gonna put you on speaker," Bobbi said before she did so.

"Do you have anything new to report?" Dragon asked immediately.

"Well, it turns out the Bratva and Kovar are at war. Some of Kovar's men shot up the bar Anatoly and I were in this morning," Oliver said and Bobbi's heart jumped into her throat. "No one was hurt; it was just a warning from Kovar to stay away from his new casino. Gregor, the Pakhan, wants me to blow it up."

"You've met Gregor?" Dragon asked, interested and Bobbi looked over at you.

"Yeah," Oliver said and his tone made both the agents feel like he was holding something back.

"What's going on Oliver?" Bobbi asked.

"I don't, I just…I get a bad feeling from him is all. Look, I gotta go; I'll try and report back within the next few hours. Try not to panic if you hear about a casino getting blown up," Oliver said before hanging up.

Kovar's casino

Afternoon

Oliver, in a business suit, stood next to a Bratva member whose name he couldn't remember as they stood in the casino. Then, Kovar's contact, a dark haired man a few years older than Oliver, walked into the room.

"Mr. Queen, so glad you could make it," Kovar's contact said, holding out his hand for Oliver, which he quickly shook. "My employer thanks you for your time."

"Well, let's not waste it. Let's take a look around, shall we?" Oliver asked and Kovar's contact nodded. "I'm sorry; I didn't catch your name."

"You may call me Boris, Boris Volkov," Boris said as he began leading Oliver and the Bratva member inside. "I know it's not much to look at right now, but with your investment, we can make it a premiere destination in the area."

"I don't doubt it but, listen; you gotta fill this place up with girls! Lots and lots of girls!" Oliver said as he began looking around. "Where there's money and girls, rich bottom feeders will come. Trust me."

"All of your requests will be met, Mr. Kovar will see to it," Boris said and Oliver nodded.

"I'm convinced, but my associate would like to see the blueprints, just to make sure you're all buttoned up," Oliver said as he gestured to the Bratva member.

Boris nodded, heading over to the bar and returning with a rolled up set of blueprints.

"I can have copies sent to your hotel," Boris said as he rolled the blue prints out on a table.

"Good. Show the man the money," Oliver said, glancing at the Bratva member.

Nodding, the Bratva member pulled out a briefcase and set it on the table. It was opened and Boris eyed the money eagerly.

"This will do nicely. So, if you don't mind me asking, why have you not returned home? Supposedly, you are big deal back in America," Boris said, not taking his eyes off the money.

Oliver then quickly grabbed Boris and slammed his head against the table, knocking him out. As Boris went down to the ground, out cold, Oliver picked up the money and placed it on the table, revealing the C4 charges underneath.

"We'll want to set the charges there and there for maximum damage," Oliver said, pointing at the designated areas before seeing the look on the Bratva member's face. "What?"

"You play, what is American word, 'douche' very well," he said and Oliver grimaced.

"Had a lot of practice. Let's get this over with," Oliver ordered and he nodded.

Oliver had no sooner placed the charges than he heard someone enter the room. Oliver looked up and saw a big man with sunglasses enter the room. He stood up, prepared to fight him, when he felt something hit him in the shoulder. He looked down, seeing a tranq dart in his shoulder before he passed out. Behind him, the Bratva member pocketed his gun as he got to his feet.

"As the Pakhan promised," the Bratva member said and the man nodded.

To the Bratva member's shock, the man then pulled out a gun and fired. The Bratva member flew back, landing on the ground, bleeding profusely from his chest as he stared without seeing.

Later, Oliver came to to see Boris standing near the bar as a grey haired man poured himself a drink. As he realized he was tied to the chair with rope, Oliver saw the Bratva member with his shit stained with blood on the floor. He almost missed what the grey haired man said, his mind still blurry.

"As a child, my mother told me a story. My grandfather, he grew a turnip so large he could not pull it from the ground. He asked his wife from help, together they could not pull it. They asked my uncle, my aunts, everyone in the family and they still could not pull it. I ask her, 'Mama, Mama, did they ever pull it out of the ground?' She said 'Yes. But not until they asked everyone in the village for help'. Every man, woman, and child. Every farmer, every vagabond. All the animals even," the man said as he walked over and sat down in a chair in front of Oliver.

"Does your story have a point?" Oliver grumbled.

"Yes. That we are nothing without unity. As I got older, I realized it also meant something else: that scum will never amount to anything without help. That includes you and your precious Bratva," the man said, taking a drink before saying something Oliver had realized from the moment he saw him. "Hello Oliver Queen. My name is Konstantine Kovar."

Kovar then, to Oliver's shock, pulled out the cell phone Dragon had given him.

"This phone, I know it was not given to you by the Bratva. So tell me, where does a 'dead' American get a cell phone while in Russia?" Kovar inquired.

Oliver did not respond and Kovar shrugged before throwing it. The phone hit the wall and shattered into various pieces upon impact.

SHIELD safe house

Same time

"He said he'd try and make contact in the next few hours. Not only has it been over two hours, but there's been no news of a casino blowing up," Bobbi said as she and Dragon argued. "Something like that, we would have heard about. Something had to happen."

"Let's not jump to conclusions. Oliver is under deep cover, if we call this wrong, the mission becomes compromised," Dragon warned her.

Bobbi opened her mouth to argue when his phone vibrated, making a sound that sounded a lot like an arm. He pulled it out of his pocket and paled as he saw the screen.

"Shit," he swore.

"What is it?" Bobbi asked, trying not to let her mind go to the worst case scenario, that it had something to do with Oliver.

"Looks like you were right. The phone I gave Oliver had a failsafe built in, if it was destroyed or damaged, I would get an alert with Oliver's last known location. Come on, let's go," Dragon ordered, already moving to get his gear.

Bobbi quickly followed, using her training as a specialist to put her fear for Oliver aside. She had worried the whole time that something like this could happen, that something could go wrong. She wished she had been wrong.

Kovar's casino

Night

Dragon and Bobbi bust in, him wielding gun while she had her Battle Staves out. The made their way through the casino but lowered their weapons, finding it empty.

"It's clear," Bobbi said after checking the area.

Dragon nodded as he walked towards a car. He stopped, staring at a body that had been shot a short range. Glancing at wall, he saw the shattered remains of a phone.

"Oliver was here…and if I had to guess, I'd say Kovar was as well," Dragon said as Bobbi walked in, seeing the body. "Kovar has Oliver now. The mission just got a lot more complicated."

I know it's still not too different, but the next few chapters will have much more creative liberties.

Honestly, the writers didn't seem to have any idea what the Kovar angle was going to be. First we're told the Bratva and Kovar are at war, then the next episodes tells us Kovar and Gregor are working together. At least here, I'm able to play it up as Kovar's contact angle.