6 years ago
The Gambit' was sailing through stormy weather.
Inside the yacht, Sara Lance lay back on Oliver's bed, clothed in only a black silk robe with floral patterns and white lacy underwear, while she talked to her father over the phone.
"Yeah, Dad, college is great." She lied. "No, me and my new roommate totally hit it off." She grinned at Oliver, who sat in a chair facing the bed. "We're like besties. Ok. Yeah, dad, I got to get back to chem lab."
Oliver laughed quietly and rose, stalking playfully towards the bed. He whispered 'Get off the phone!' as Sara tried to wrap up the call. "Yes. It looks like I got a long night ahead of me." She giggled at Oliver. "Love you, Dad. Bye." She hung up and tossed the phone to Oliver, who in turned tossed it to the floor. "Ollie. You are trouble." She said with a smile.
"How is Detective Lance?" Oliver asked.
"Ah, he's clueless, as usual." Sara said, then taking note of Oliver's face as it was begin to swell up, "What happened to your face?"
"It's was my brother. He's jealous that you're on board here with me." Oliver proclaimed arrogantly.
Sara said nothing, though it pleased her that the man she really loved was jealous. Hopefully, she'd only have to put up with Oliver for a little bit longer. She really didn't want this to be the way she got to together with Nate, but damn it! Nothing else seemed to work. She loved Nate but he was so clueless when it came to her feelings for him.
She finished off her glass of white wine, then held it out to him for a refill. "Guess I was thirsty." Oliver walked over to refill her glass as more thunder boomed around them. Sara looked at the dimming lights in worry. "Did you hear that?" she asked nervously. "It's getting closer."
"That's not very scientific." Oliver said teasingly.
"What would you know about science, Mr. Ivy League dropout?" she asked as he brought two glasses of wine to the bed.
"I happen to know a lot about science." Oliver said, handing her a glass. "I know about fermentation. I know biology…" he trailed off as he kissed her. The broke apart and Sara leaned back smiling.
"Laurel's gonna kill me." She said, putting the glass down on the nightstand. "Oh, she's so gonna kill me."
"Your sister will never know." Oliver assured her, pressing her down into the mattress. "Come here."
Sara laughed and they kissed some more, and suddenly there was a loud crack of thunder. Sara broke away, slightly panicked. "Ok, that one was really close." She said nervously.
"Sara," Oliver said, grinning at the girl, "we're gonna be fine." Suddenly, without warning, The boat was rocked apart by an explosion. The wall split apart and a pipe ran Oliver through, the point coming out of his chest. Oliver gasped as blood filled his mouth. He reached the for the pipe that was sticking out of his chest. But within seconds, he fell limp, the light going out behind his eyes.
"Aah!" Sara screamed.
Nate sprung up at the feminine scream and ran outside to see everyone running, as a red emergency light flashed repeatedly. Sprinting down the hallway he opened the door to see a pipe had fallen through Oliver's room and ran him through while Sara was on the ground sobbing.
"Sara! Come on, the ship is going down."
'"Ollie, he's dead!" Sara sobbed.
"Sara, if we don't move we will be too, now come on!" Nate said just as the ship turned over causing him to fall over onto the wall and Sara fell through a window and water flooded the room, "Sara!" In the stormy ocean, Sara shot back above water. She gasped for breath, frantically thrashing about trying to keep her head above the rolling waves. She looked around and saw the 'Gambit' slipping into the ocean; heard Nathan cry out for her. "Nathan!" she shouted futilely-
Flashback End
Then Sara gasped as she woke from the nightmare- one of the milder ones, she knew, but still unsettling. She looked around; taking a moment to recognize the room at Queen Manor that Nathan had lent her.
"Can't sleep?" Nate asked, figuring that was it. He was sleeping in the same bed as her, but he was sleeping on top of the covers while she was sleeping under them, and he was catching of up on A Dance with Dragons.
"I don't do well with my eyes closed." She replied as she flopped back on the bed. "Hey, thanks for letting me stay here. I know you got a lot going on with your mom."
"Thea's mostly staying at her boyfriend's, and even though I own this whole mansion, I mostly stay at my loft uptown." Nathan explained. "So… don't worry about anyone finding out that you're back."
"Thanks for understanding." Sara said.
"I really don't understand." He replied, as he flipped a page. "You know, not a day goes by that your family doesn't miss you." He told her.
"Yeah? How would you know?" she asked snappily. Nathan closed his book and looked her dead in the eye.
"Because I missed you. Everyday, for 5 years." He admitted with passion and sincerity.
Sara sighed. "I don't think they'll be as happy to see me as you are." She said.
"What makes you say that?" Nathan asked as he readjusted his position so he was laying on his side. "I know how hard it is to come home when you've been gone for so long."
She smiled sadly as she turned on her side to look at him. "I'm guessing my father and Laurel weren't too happy to see you." She said.
"No." Nathan chuckled. "No, not at first."
"I wasn't sure if you and she ever tried to get together." Sara wondered.
"There was one time where we could have." He admitted. "It's too much for me back then."
"Yeah some things, you know, it's better left in the past." Sara advised.
Nathan moved a little closer to her, wrapped his arm around her shoulder, while she laid her head on his chest, and they both tried to sleep.
Iron Heights
Next Day
At Iron Heights Moira, Janet and Thea sat across from Donner and his second on the case waiting for Nathan to arrive. Finally, though, Donner had had enough.
"I'm done waiting for Mr. Queen. Let's get started." He said briskly.
Just then, Nathan was escorted in. "Apologies for the tardiness. I was catching up with an old friend who's… in… town." He trailed off as he saw Laurel sitting next to Donner.
"I just finished explaining to your mother and sister that Miss Lance will be sitting second chair for the prosecution." Donner said smugly.
"This is a conflict of interest." Jean replied brusquely. "Miss Lance practically grew up in the Queen house."
"I think you're overstating matters." Donner shot back confidently.
"Oh, we'll see when I move to conflict Miss Lance off this case." Jean replied. Nathan stared at Laurel in shock. Laurel, for her part, couldn't meet his eyes.
"Maybe there won't be a case much longer." Donner said, reaching into his briefcase. "I come here not just with Miss Lance, but also with a plea offer." He pulled out the offer and slid it across to Jean. "Life, with the possibility of parole."
"No." Jean shook her head, sliding it back. "We are not pleading out. Mrs. Queen is innocent."
"She aided and abetted an act of mass murder." Donner said.
"Under duress from a homicidal maniac named Malcolm Merlyn." Jean reminded him.
"With Malcolm Merlyn dead, a jury's going to want to have to blame someone." He pointed out.
"If she doesn't take the deal, then she's facing the death penalty." Laurel added.
"Sounds a lot like blackmail." Thea spat back at her.
"Try reality." Donner said smugly. "And here's some more- we've subpoenaed over a decades' worth of phone messages, phone records, letters and emails. I'm willing to bet I find something that crushes your duress defense to powder."
"Mr. Donner. If you don't mind, I'd like a few days to consider your offer." Moira said, speaking for the first time.
"Of course." He said with a smile. He grabbed his case and rose, allowing the guard to open the door.
Laurel quickly grabbed her things. "Excuse me." She said quietly, not making eye contact, and then hurried out after her boss.
Moira looked at her son, noticing the look on his face, and placed her hand on his, "I know that look."
"Hmm?" Nathan asked.
Moira stared her soon, who was clenching his fist so hard the knuckles on his hand had turned white. "Nathan, the last time I saw that look on your face was when you're 7th grade classmate was bullying Thea, and you beat him up so bad that you put him in the hospital. Whatever you're thinking, don't do it. He's still a Assistant District Attorney."
Nathan stared after Laurel. "I'll be back in a sec." He told the others, and then exited as well.
Nathan caught up to her just after she exited the prison. "Laurel?" he called out, halting her in her steps. Both she and Donner turned towards him, and Nathan stopped right in front of Laurel, sending a harsh glare at Donner that said 'I'll fuck you up right now if you don't leave.'
Donner took the hint. "I'll meet you at the car." He said, moving off towards their vehicle.
After he left, Nathan turned on Laurel. "You're prosecuting my mother?" he hissed incredulously.
"I didn't ask for this case." She protested. "I was assigned."
"So say no!" Nathan demanded.
"It's a new job, Nathan." She argued. "I don't have a lot of pull. And what pull I do have, I used to get that plea bargain for your mother." She added, hopeful.
"This was your idea of good deal!? Life in prison!?" Nathan replied angrily. So much for hope.
"The D.A. is serious about the death penalty, Nate." She told him. "We both know what it's like to lose someone. So think about it and save your mother's life."
Nathan stepped back and regarded her. "Are you ok?" he asked.
She huffed in annoyance. "In case I wasn't clear last week I'm done answering that question." With that, she turned and walked off towards the car.
Queen Manor
Noon
Sara was in the foyer, circling around the small table set there and looking at the pictures displayed. She smiled at a picture of a young Nathan, then stopped and reached out to a picture of the 'Queen's Gambit'. She picked it up and stared at it, then looked past it to the sun shining through the windows, remembering…
FLashback
6 years ago
Sara, having survived the sinking of the 'Gambit', lay on a piece of floating debris, half delirious from exposure and dehydration.
Something catches her eye, and she turns her head to see a yellow canary land on another piece of floating detritus. The bird chirps happily at her, then flew away-
Heading towards a large steamer ship.
Sara looked at the ship and felt hope for the first time in days. Weakly she started waving her arm and calling out to them. "Help! Help! Over here!"
"Sara?"
Flashback End
"Sara." She looked up to see Nathan walking in, and hastily put the picture back down. "You ok?" he asked.
"How did everything go with your mother?" she dodged.
"I ran into your sister." He said with a frustrated sigh. "She's working on the case."
"You didn't tell her…"
"No." he assured her with a tight smile. "I know a little something about keeping secrets and respecting them, even though I don't totally understand why you're keeping yours." She sighed and turned away, crossing her arms. Nathan moved around the table towards her. "Is this- is it because of what happened on the island?" he asked hesitantly.
"No." she said, turning back towards him. "After. There were things that I did; things that I had to do to survive." She explained vaguely. "Things that there's no forgiveness for."
"Well, that's the thing about forgiveness- you can't get it until you ask for it." He told her.
Then the window over the front doors shattered as a man leapt through it. He landed on the banister in a crouch, and then jumped down to the floor. He rose; a sword in his hand, but Nathan was mad. And for a good reason.
It was a member of the League.
"Great," He said, "as if my day wasn't already bad".
The man said nothing, merely attacked. He swung his sword at Sara, and she moved back. Nathan landed a kick to the back of his leg, and then ducked as the man swung the sword at him. They traded blows at a furious pace, and then he and Sara fell back to the sitting room, tossing a chair over to slow the assassin. The attacker leapt and rolled over the chair to pursue.
Sara reached up and yanked down a long piece of solid wood molding, using it as an impromptu staff. She hit the man in the stomach, driving him back a few steps, but missed the follow up swing to the head. The Assassin brought the sword down at her head, but she used the staff to block it, allowing Nathan to land a solid punch to the assassin's head. The attacker struck back, sending Nathan crashing into the couch, then fended off Sara's attack. He grabbed the end of her staff with one hand and brought his sword down, cleaving through it. He used the broken piece against Nathan, smashing it into his head and sending him stumbling back, then whipped it around at Sara, stunning her and leaving her open for several quick jabs to the head with his sword hand. The added weight of the hilt stunned her even more, and he quickly sent her to the ground.
Nathan pulled out a Gerber Mark II that he kept on him and renewed his attack, using it to block the assassin's sword and making several cuts to the man's head and chest. The assassin swung his sword around at Nathan's head but Nathan grabbed his arm, twisting the wrist until the assassin dropped the Kris. Nathan grabbed the Kris and kicked the assassin in the chest, sending him stumbling to the floor. The impact stunned the man long enough for Nathan to stalk over and haul him to a sitting position, where he reached up and ripped off the man's mask. He looked at the old Arabian man underneath the mask. "Who are you?" he demanded.
"Just a warrior." He said. He looked past Nathan to Sara, who looked back in dread. Then he looked back at Nathan. "Like you." He replied.
"Did the Demon's Head send you?" he growled, causing Sara to look at him in shock, as Nathan held the man's sword to his crotch. "Or was it the Heir?"
The man responded by knocking away throwing a dagger at the chandelier that was hanging over Sara's prone form. There was a bright flash as the power cord was cut, and the chandelier fell down to the ground, just missing Sara who rolled out of the way. It landed with a deafening crash, and when Nathan tuned back to the assassin, the man had disappeared.
Lair
Later
Sara and Nathan, cleaned up, were in the Lair. Sara was looking around while Nathan sat at the evidence table, examining some he had collected from the attacker.
Sara stopped in front of the glass case, looking at Nathan's old uniform, which he kept on display. "I remember the first time I saw this hood." She said in fond remembrance. "Shado was wearing it. It was Green back then." She turned back to Nathan. "This is quite the set-up that you got here." She told him. "Where you're launching your one man war for Starling."
"While I admit I'm currently the only man down here, I didn't say anything about being the only one waging a war on crime." Nathan said, turning in his chair as Lyla, Helena, and Chien came into the room. "These are my friends. This is Lyla Michaels, Helena Bertinelli, and Chien. There's another member but she's not here right now." He introduced, then looked to Sara. "Guys, this is Sara."
"Welcome home, Sara." Lyla said.
Sara smiled. "Thank you."
"We just had an uninvited guest in the Queen mansion." Nathan continued. "Trained. Highly skilled. An assassin from the League."
That got their attention. "Why would they be after you? Don't tell me they're trying to avenge Merlyn." Chien said with her arms crossed.
"That's because he wasn't targeting me," Nathan said as he looked at Sara, who's back was turned, "He's after Sara."
Sara stood tense, her arms crossed, still facing the glass case. "How did you know?" She said suddenly, turning to face the group.
Nathan looked at her. "The way you moved." Sara looked at him for a explanation. "When we teamed up against Xavier Reed, the way you fought gave you away. Let's just say that I know some of the League's way's myself, from some of my teachers."
Sara sighed.
Nathan pressed onward. "Who is he?"
"He's called Al Ow-al, 'The First'." She told him. "And he's Elder of the League of Assassins."
Nathan looked at her in confusion. "What do you mean, Elder?"
"Ra's al Ghul is a title, just like Elder is. The title of Elder goes to the oldest member living who is not Ra's al Ghul. There are several positions of Power within the League. There is Ra's al Ghul or Demon's Head, and overall leader of the League. Warith al Ghul, or Heir to the Demon, is right below Ra's al Ghul, and their orders are superseded only by Ra's himself. Horseman is the title given to the League's best hunter and Ra's personal right hand. The Elder is responsible for overseeing the majority of the Training that the recruits undergo. The Savant is the head Librarian and keeper of Knowledge within the League. And finally, the Dhanvan is the League's head physician. They can typically be identified by the fact that they are the only one's in the League allowed to wear necklaces, to denote their status."
Sara stared up at him sadly. "After the freighter, a member of the league rescued me; took me in and brought me to Nanda Parbat. They remade me into what I am." She told him. "And I swore them my allegiance."
"Why are they kicking down doors trying to find you now?" Lyla asked.
She looked over at the bodyguard. "Because I left." She said. "And short of a blessing from Ra's, there's only way that you leave the league."
"Is that why you didn't want to see your family?" Nathan asked.
Sara sighed and turned back to him. "A year ago, I was in Guyana. I was sent there for a man named Suarez. He was a local diplomat. And I slit his throat." She explained, looking over at the girls. "In his bed. And his kids…" she shuddered. "They found his body in the morning." She looked up at the she loved. "I'm a murderer, Nate. You think that my family will be happy to see me?"
"If you're looking for someone to tear you down, Sara, you've come to the wrong place." Nathan said coldly as he gestured to himself and his girlfriends. "Everyone in this room has killed people."
He gestured to Lyla. "Lyla here is a former Special Forces veteran, serving several tours in Iraq, before she joined up with Argus. She's had to kill her fair share of people."
He gestured to Chien next, "Chien here grew up with abusive parents before she was given a new lease on life by the Triad and became it's #1 assassin. She's killed plenty of people."
He gestured to Helena next. "Helena killed members of her father's organization that she had known her whole life, before ultimately killing her own father to get revenge for the death of her former fiancée."
"And me," Nathan said as he walked up to Sara until he was barely 2 inches apart from her, "I killed a man I once brother after he betrayed. I tortured a corrupt military official for murdering a young boy that I called friend to the point where most men would vomit themselves. I was forced to kill a woman that I loved to save her from herself because she became corrupted by dark magic and was a danger to everyone. And just last year, I killed the man I once happily called Uncle!"
He calmed himself down and and then addressed Sara again, "So, before you go accusing yourself of being a monster, remember this. A true monster feels no remorse, no guilt, no sorrow, no love. The fact that you do, means you are not one."
Nathan's phone buzzing grabbed his attention. He pulled it out and looked at and saw a text from Thea- ::Where Are You?:: "I have to get back to Iron Heights." He said, putting the phone back into his pocket. "Use whatever means necessary to find AL Ow-al." he looked briefly back at Sara, then turned and walked out.
Sara stared back, but her mind was in a different place.
Flashback
"Thank you, thank you." Sara was said as she was led through the dimly lit corridors of the Amazo, escorted by two pirates.
"What were you doing out there?" the leader asked.
"The boat that I was on, and we got caught in the storm." She stammered out. Annoyed, the pirates grabbed her by the arms and started dragging her along. "Wait, wait, wait, guys!" she screamed in a panic. She tripped and started to fall, so the two men simply lifted her off her feet and walked with her down the corridor. "Wait! I-Robert Queen. Robert Queen. It was his boat, and-and- he'll pay whatever you want, please!" she begged. They dragged her into the main area of the ships, and she looked on in horror as she saw all of the cells. "Please, please! Please, no! Please, please!" They dragged her over to one and threw her in, slamming the door shut and ignoring her cries. "Please, no! No! You've made a mistake. Please let me out!" she cried.
Flashback End
Iron Heights
Nathan was let into the visitor's room, entering just as Thea exclaimed "You cannot be serious!"
"What's going on here?" Nathan asked.
"She wants to take the deal!" Thea exclaimed.
"What!?" Nathan turned to Moira. "Mom, if this is about the death penalty—"
"I've been explaining this to your mother." Jean said with a sigh. "Even if we ever get to sentencing, you were acting under duress. I have everything I need to keep them from sentencing you to death." She argued.
"The death penalty doesn't scare me, Jean." Moira said calmly.
"Then why aren't you fighting?" Nathan asked.
"I have my reasons."
"Name one." Thea demanded.
"Because I'm tired of fighting." Moira shot back tiredly. "I am not confident that I can win over a jury. And I'm not altogether certain that I deserve to."
"That was actually three." Thea growled.
"Thea—"
"No, seriously, you're just ready to give up?!" she said hotly. "Just take your medicine and spend the rest of your life in here. We still need you. I still need you!" she emphasized. Thea shook her head and threw up her hands. "I-I can't take this." Thea said, storming out of the room. Jean sighed, and walked out after her. Moira sat down, tiredly.
Nathan regarded his mother. "Growing up I didn't think that there were secrets kept between us." He started. "Last year I learned different. And I've gotten pretty good at knowing when you're hiding something from me." He took her hands in his. "So, Mom… what are you hiding now?"
Moira stared back at her son. "Help your sister come to terms with my choice, because it's made." She told him, to his disappointment.
Lair
Later
Lyla looked up as Nathan made his way down the stairs. "How'd it go with your mother?" she asked.
"Badly." Nathan replied tersely. He walked over to Lyla. "Have you found somebody for me to skewer yet?"
"Could be." She sat at her computer and pulled up a map of the city. A location was marked per her results. "Spectro analysis of the dirt from your house had trace amounts of aldicarb in them."
"What?" he asked in confusion.
"It's a pesticide. Starling City used to have its own aldicarb plant, but per the EPA, it was shut down three years ago."
"What's it being used for now?" Nathan asked.
"Nothing." She replied. "It's abandoned. But my guess is, it's the home base to one League of Assassins Elder."
Nathan walked over to the weapons case and grabbed his bow. Sara was right behind him. "He will kill you." She said.
"If I were really easy to kill, Merlyn and Slade would be the ones alive right now." Nathan shot back.
"This is my fight." Sara tried to argue.
"He made it my fight when he came into my house." He looked her in the eye. "And when he threatened the life of somebody that I love."
Aldicarb Plant
Inside, Al Ow-al was sharpening his sword on a whetstone. He finished and lifted the blade, running his hand gently over it to inspect it. Suddenly, he sensed another presence in the factory and smiled. Without turning, he caught the arrow that would have split his skull… then turned with a grin.
"Arrows. Such an ineffective projectile." He called out in amusment. "I find it strange anyone who still fears them."
"Tell that to 1000+ people I've put 6 feet under with those arrows. You'll learn the hard way if you don't go back to Nanda Parbat, Elder." Prometheus called out from the shadows. "This is your only warning."
"And it would be effective, were you to pose a threat to me." He called back cheerfully. "You barely defeated Malcolm Merlyn at the cost of your mentor's life." He pointed out, unaware of the connection between the Arrow and Prometheus. He came around a corner and saw The Prometheus standing on a small ledge above him "What hope would you have against the man who trained him?" he asked.
"If you're the one who trained him, then you'll die just the same as he did." Nathan replied, causing Al Ow-al's cool expression to break just a little at the obvious insult. "Plus, it helps that I didn't come alone."
Al Ow-al turned to see Huntress on the catwalk next to him, and The Canary standing on a catwalk behind him, her staff slung over one shoulder. "The child of Ra's al Ghul awaits your return." He called out to her.
"I'm not going back." Sara said.
"That's not your choice to make." Al Ow-al replied. "I have orders to return you- alive or dead."
"You're not going to kill me." Sara said.
"You overestimate your importance to the League." He said. "Regardless, you're coming back with us."
Nathan didn't miss it. "Us?" he growled.
Al Ow-al turned back to Nathan with a grin. "Like you, I did not come alone."
Two more assassins climbed down from the rafters, flanking Sara. She took a beat to look at both before beginning the fight. Another dropped behind Helena, to which she turned around as he pulled out his katana and she did the same with her machete. As two girls took on the three, Nathan fired an arrow at the Elder, who dodged neatly out of the way.
Seeing as arrows weren't enough for this guy, he jumped down, engaging the assassin in hand to hand combat. He blocked his sword with his bow and punched back. The group moved on two levels, trading blows but never landing a critical hit. Al Ow-al swung high, but Nathan duck and his sword punctured a steam pipe. Nathan followed that up with a low kick that sent the assassin sprawling to the floor. Helena managed to successfully get the upper hand on her assassin when she stabbed him through the chest. On the catwalk, Sara was holding her own, but one of the assassins finally managed to slash her in the back. Sara cried out in pain, drawing Nathan's attention. He quickly fired an arrow that took away one of the assassin's blades, allowing Sara to knock him down. Nathan then fired a zip line, then rode it up, grabbing Sara and Helena as he went. They rose to the roof, crashing through the skylight as Al Ow-al looked up at them escaping.
"If you will not return willingly, we'll stay to bury your family." he called out.
Lair
An hour later
Sara was leaned over a table, her shirt off and her face impassive as Nathan stitched up the wound near her spine.
Nathan finished and touched her on the shoulder. "Done." He said. He turned away and moved over to Lyla as Helena handed Sara a new shirt. "The League of Assassins." He whispered to her. "Why wouldn't she tell me what happened to her all those years?" he wondered.
"Traumatic experiences have a way of making one closed off to their humanity. You should know that better than anybody." Lyla observed.
Nathan sighed. "We need to protect the Lances." He said. "I'll handle Laurel."
"What can I do?" Sara asked.
"Nothing." He said at once. "That cut was close to your spine. You need to give that a chance to heal, and you need to stay here."
"What about my father?" she asked.
"I'll shadow him." Helena offered.
She watched as the pair left, then turned to Chien. "You four are quite the team." She offered.
The white haired woman smiled. "We have our moments." She replied.
Flashback
6 Years Ago
Sara lay in her cell, cold and alone. Her eyes snapped open as she heard men banging on her cell door. "Get up." The pirate ordered as he opened the door. His partner stalked into the cell.
"Get back." She said, panicked. He ignored her and grabbed her arm, yanking her up. "No, no, please!" she yelled as he dragged her out of the cell. The two men started dragging her across the room towards four other men. She started struggling even harder. "Please, please, no!"
"The more you struggle; the more it'll hurt." The pirate said.
"No, no, please! Please!" she screamed.
"Wait." A new voice said. The men parted to reveal another man, white with graying hair dressed in casual clothes and a windbreaker. "Let her go." He ordered.
The pirate sneered at the man. "You don't give me orders." He growled.
"No, that would be the Captain." The man said, walking forward towards the pirate. "But he works for me. Doesn't he?" he asked rhetorically. The pirate growled in annoyance, but obeyed, throwing Sara at him. He caught her and wrapped his arm around her.
"Help me, please!" she begged.
"Come here." He told her softly, leading her out of the cell block and away from the would-be rapists.
Flashback End
D.A.'s Office
Laurel was shutting down her computer for the night when Nathan came in.
"Hey." He said with a smile.
"I should have said this earlier, but it's not appropriate for us to be discussing your mother's case." Laurel said at once.
"Actually, I was in the neighborhood, so I thought that I would swing by and see if I could give you a ride home and maybe get a bite to eat." He said with a smile.
Laurel sighed as she hefted her purse. "It's been a long day." She said. "I don't need an even longer night of you trying to talk me out of your mother's plea agreement."
"Laurel." Nathan said, getting her attention. "I promise, this has nothing to do with my mother's case. You've had a rough couple of weeks." He continued. "You really going to tell me you couldn't use your oldest friend?" he smiled at her, and she returned it. He took her arm. "Come on." He said, leading her out.
Lair
2 hours later
Lyla looked up as Helena walked in. "Hey. How'd it go?" she asked.
"Badly." She said, tossing her coat onto her chair before dropping into it, before she began working on treating her wounds. "I had to fend off another attack." She looked up at Lyla. "What should we do? We can't fend them off forever."
Sara made the decision for them by grabbing her coat and hat.
"What are you doing?" Helena asked.
"Nathan told you to stay put." Lyla added. "I thought you didn't want your father to know you're still alive."
"I don't." she replied as she walked to the exit. "But it's better than him not being alive." She stopped, staring as Lyla slipped a fresh clip into her gun. "Where do you think you're going?" she asked.
"With you." Lyla replied, tucking the gun into her waistband. "I'm not going to let you go out there without any back-up."
"Lyla, you may be a three tour Special Forces veteran, but I was trained by the people that make the Special Forces look like a kindergarten class." She said harshly. "So step aside or get put down."
Lyla stared at her, but then stepped aside. "It's your funeral, Sara." She said.
"It wouldn't be my first." She said, walking past him.
Lance's apartment building
Lance walked out, intending to head to his car but as he looked around the darkened streets. He paused, looking around but saw nothing. He moved on to his car, and had just about reached it when a small group of kids crossed the street behind him, chattering loudly and startling the cop. He watched them go, and then shook his head in annoyance. He pulled out his keys, and then froze as he heard someone behind him.
As fast as he could, he jammed his keys back into his pocket and reached for his gun, drawing and spinning around to see a female figure shrouded in darkness. After a moment's hesitation, she moved forward, revealing herself as Sara.
Quentin shook his head, his gun still fixed on her. "No, it can't be. It can't be Sara." He said in a raspy voice.
"It's me." She said tearfully. "It's Sara." She staggered over to him, her emotions running wild, and gently reached up and pushed his gun down. "Daddy… It's ok."
"Sara?" she collapsed into his arms. "Sara?" he said again, unable to believe it. Finally he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly. "Sara!" he cried as the tears started to fall.
FLashback
6 Years Ago
The man led Sara into a large room in the rear of the ship. "I'm afraid it's not much, but, uh It's home." He said, turning to close and lock the hatch behind him.
Sara spun and looked at him fearfully. "Why did you lock the door?" she stammered out, eyes wide.
The man instantly realized what it looked like. "No, no, no, no. It's not because…" he held out a calming hand and sighed. "It's just a habit." He told her. "My shipmates aren't exactly the nicest bunch." He walked down the small staircase to the center of the room. "Please, come in. Have a seat." He offered. Sara timidly followed him down and sat in the comfortable looking seat while the man walked over to a desk.
He was flipping through his notes, but looked back when he heard her crying. Sighing, he grabbed a stool and walked back to Sara, setting the stool down in front of her before taking a seat. "My name is Ivo." He said, introducing himself. "Dr. Anthony Ivo. And you are?"
"Sara." She said softly.
"Nice to meet you, Sara."
"Why do you keep those people down there in those cells?" she asked.
"It's my work." Ivo said. "I need them."
"What work?"
He paused a moment before speaking. "I am going to save the human race, Sara." He said, and then leaned in close. "Maybe you can help me."
Flashback End
Laurel's Apartment
Nathan was walking Laurel back up to her apartment.
"I noticed you didn't have a drink at dinner." He said pleasantly.
"No. I didn't." she replied, a bit smugly. "So will you now admit that you and my father overreacted last week when you thought that I was becoming a drunk?"
"I am prepared to admit that I care deeply about you." Nathan hedged.
"Is that why you insisted on walking me to my door?" she asked coyly.
"You know me." Nathan replied. "I just wanted to make sure you were safe."
"This is safe." She said with a smile, leaning in for a kiss.
He pulled back. "This..." he said, holding her gently away. "We shouldn't."
Laurel looked at him in confusion. "Then why did you come all the way up here?" she asked.
"I'm really sorry. I wasn't trying to send that kind of message. I'm not the guy who cheats on his girlfriends, Laurel." Nathan started.
"No! No, no, I got the message." Laurel said, sobering instantly. "I get it loud and clear every day. Run. Run, run away from Laurel, run as fast as you can."
"Laurel, don't say that." He tried.
"Sara… she got on 'The Gambit' with your brother." She said. "My father, he- he climbed into a bottle. My mother, she-she climbed into her car and she drove away, and then Tommy…" she took a shuddering breath and tears. "What is so wrong with me that everybody leaves?"
"Hey, Don't say that." Nathan said firmly. "There is nothing wrong with you, I'm the one with the problem. I just feel like too much has passed between us that we wouldn't work as a couple."
"But I swear to you, I will always be here for you." He promised.
"Until you're not." She said sadly. She turned to go into her apartment- only to see the door was slightly ajar. She looked at it, frowning. "I thought I locked that." She said.
Nathan looked at the door warily. "Stay here." He told her. Cautiously, he entered the apartment. He moved slowly through the darkened apartment, and his frown turned into a scowl when he saw the blade stuck into the frame of a door. He pulled it out and began examining it. He gripped it hard, his teeth grinding in anger. He put the knife away.
"Nate?" Laurel called, walking into the apartment. "Anything?" she asked.
"All good." He said. "I have to go." He said softly.
"Listen, I'm sorry about what I said—"
"Don't be." Nathan replied, gently touching her arm. "Just stay here." He smiled and walked out, closing the door behind him. Laurel sighed and dropped her purse onto the end table, then opened it to pull out her bottle of Oxycodone. She popped a few pills and closed her eyes, feeling the drugs beginning to take effect.
Out in the hall, Nathan was calling the Lair. "Lyla, Al Ow-al was at Laurel's place." He said when she picked up.
"What? Is she ok?" she asked.
"She's fine." Nathan replied. "Looks like he moved on long before we got there."
"But if Laurel's not his target…" Laurel started.
"He's after Lance, and I need a location now." Nathan finished.
Lyla relayed the coordinates to Nathan.
Clock Tower
"Well, I can't believe I didn't think to look for you up here." Lance said as Sara led him in to her hideout.
"It's a good vantage point." She said. "You can see the whole city."
"Like a bird on a wire." Lance said dryly.
Sara chuckled. "Where I was, they have you choose a new name." she said. "I chose Ta-er al-Sahfer. It's Arabic. For Canary."
"I bought you that Canary when you were ten." Lance noted, watching as Sara moved around, gathering up equipment.
"I was as far from home as you can get, but I never forgot where I came from." She said. She turned back to her father. "You know how they say the first thing you forget about somebody when they're gone is their voice?" she asked. "You can remember their face, and the way they move, but you can't hold on to the way they sound." She touched him gently on the cheek. "I never forgot your voice, Dad."
Sweetheart—" he started.
"We're out of time." Sara said, sensing more people in the room. She spun, whipping out her staff, to face Al Ow-al and his two minions.
Lance stepped back, drawing his gun.
"So, this is where you wanted your father to die." Al Ow-al said.
"What the hell, Sara, who are these guys?" Lance demanded.
"Associates of your daughter, Officer Lance." Al Ow-al said.
"Well, she always did have the worst taste in friends." Lance noted sarcastically.
"Did you really think we weren't going to find you here?" he asked.
"No." Sara said, holding her staff out in front of her with both hands. "I knew you would."
"Go!" Al Ow-al Ordered. The two minions rushed at Sara and Lance-
Only for one to get caught in a rope snare. He was pulled upside down and five feet into the air, leaving Sara to face Al Ow-al and Lance to face the second minion.
Lance opened fire, but the assassin leapt and dodged, slipping around the bullets with contemptuous ease. Sara split her staff in two and used the pieces as escrima sticks, pressing the attack against the more experienced assassin. She landed a hard blow against his face, spinning around him and maneuvering him to just the right place. Al Ow-al stepped on a loose board, which in turn activated a nail gun. The gun fired a burst of nails into the man's thigh, sending him to his knees. He looked up at Sara, who stood with her escrima sticks at the ready.
"You should be mindful of your surroundings." She advised. Al Ow-al forced himself back to his feet and resumed the attack. Sara attacked with a new found ferocity, but in the end she was no match for his skill. He landed a slice against her calf, sending her to her knees, and then placed his sword at her neck. In the meantime, the second assassin finally managed to cut himself down.
Al Ow-al pulled off his hood and stood, staring contemptuously at Sara-
Then an arrow flew through the glass face of the clock, embedding on the far wall.
A moment later Prometheus arrived, sliding in on his zip line. He landed in a kneeling skid, taking Al Ow-al's feet out from under him, then attacked the second assassin, blocking the man's axe's with his bow and knocking him out with one punch.
Off to the side, the third assassin was beating down Lance, who had run out of ammo. Lance landed hard on his back as the assassin towered over him.
"Guns are a coward's weapon." He spat. "What are you without your side arm?"
In reply, Lance pulled out his back-up piece- a snub-nosed .38 revolver, and shot the man once in the heart. "A guy with a spare." He quipped dryly, forcing himself to his feet.
He staggered out, standing next to Sara, looking at Prometheus holding Al Ow-al at his mercy.
"You think because you are the beloved you will be granted your freedom?" he assassin spat at Sara.
"There's only one freedom from the League." Prometheus said coldly. "Let me grant you yours." With that said, he pulled out the same dagger that Al Ow-al had left at Laurel's and stabbed him in the chest with it. "You forgot this at Laurel's. Figured I'd return it for you."
He stalked over to the second assassin, grabbing him the same way he had held Al Ow-al.
"Tell Ra's al Ghul that Sara Lance and her family are under my protection. Tell him that if he sends any more assassin's after Sara, they will be killed on sight. The League is not welcome in my city, and if I catch anymore members in this city, I will mail their heads back to Nanda Parbat in a box." He told the second assassin. "He wants Sara so badly, he can come and say it to my face." He threw him to the ground, and in an instant he was out the broken clock face, escaping on the same zip line Nathan had rode in on.
Sara tossed Nathan her staff. "I'm sorry you saw that." She told her father, not looking him in the eye. She was too ashamed for that. "I can't imagine what you must think of me."
"I think you're a survivor." Lance said at once. "I think you're one of the bravest people I've ever known." She looked up at him. "You're my daughter. It's time for you to come back home." He said, pulling her into a hug. She let him hold her for a moment before pulling away.
"I can't." she said sadly.
"Why not?" he demanded.
"They are never going to stop looking for me." Sara said.
"I'll protect you. We'll protect you." He looked back to Prometheus, who was standing silently behind him. "Tell her it's safe to stay."
"Dad," she brought his attention back to her. "If they hurt you or Laurel or mom, then I really would die." She said.
"But they need to know." Lance said.
"They can't. They can't, Daddy." Sara protested.
"Why not?"
"You know why! I came back to make sure that my family was safe, and you are." She explained. "But if they knew I was alive, Laurel and mom, they would never stop looking for me, and that could get them both killed."
Lance pulled her to him again. "I can't let you go." He said, breaking down. "I can't let you go!"
"I have to-Dad, I have to-I have to go." She said pulling away, tears in her eyes as well. "I love you." She looked to Nathan. "Keep them safe." She said, before turning and running out.
"Detective," Nathan said through the voice changer, "She's right. You have to keep her secret."
"It's already the hardest thing I've ever had to do." Lance said sadly. "How do you live like this?" he asked the vigilante. He wasn't okay with his daughter knowing the murderer, but there was nothing he could do about it. Sara always did dance to her own tune.
Nathan had no answer.
Iron Heights
Later
Nathan and Thea entered the visitor's room and have a seat at the table their mother is already occupying.
"I never mind getting a visit from my children, but I know why you're here." She said at once.
"We just have one more thing to say." Nathan began.
"Nathan, we've already been through this." She said. "I am not going to change my mind."
"This is about me changing mine." Nathan interrupted. "Because I thought that you didn't want to go to trial over a secret. Then I caught up with an old friend, and I watched as she struggled to tell her family hers, because she was afraid… that they wouldn't love her if they knew the truth." He told her.
"Whatever you are worried about, it will not make us love you any less." Thea added.
"You don't know." Moira protested.
"Who do you think you raised?" she shot back. "You taught us to be strong. That we could overcome any obstacle that we faced; to fight. Do you really think that we are going to scare that easily?" Thea asked.
"Whatever comes out- you won't lose us." Nathan promised, taking her hand.
"Ever." Thea added, adding her hand to theirs.
"Wow." Moira said after a moment. "I'll instruct Jean to reject Mr. Donner's offer." She relented.
DA's Office
Later that night
Lance stood outside, looking through the glass door at Laurel with a pensive expression on his face. Finally, he entered.
"Hey." Laurel said, seeing him come in. "Dad. I know I owe you a phone call." She sighed wearily. "I have a lot of work. Can we- can we do this another time?" she begged.
"I just had to see you, Laurel." Lance said sadly.
Laurel was instantly worried. "Did something happen?" she asked. "Are you ok?"
"One day, honey, when you have a daughter of your own, you'll understand that being a parent, it means you just never stop worrying about your children." Lance said.
"Dad, I'm-I'm sorry I didn't call you back." She said. "I've-I've had a really long week, and-and I'm tired."
He placed a hand on her arm. "Are you all right?" he asked.
"I don't know." She said after a moment. "I wish that there was- there was something, a ..." she sighed. "A sign that it gets better."
"It does, honey." Lance promised. "It gets better."
"How do you know?" she asked.
Lance enveloped her in a hug. "I wish I could tell you, sweetie." He said after a moment. "I wish I could tell you."
FLashback
5 Years Ago
Nathan was dragged to Ivo's quarters, where he was thrown down on the floor. The two pirates left, and Nathan struggled to push himself up. He paused when a pair of boots appeared in front of him. He continued looking up following the legs to the torso, to finally the head-
Of Sara Lance.
"How are you—" he started, but was cut off by a sharp kick to his ribs. He collapsed back onto the floor as Sara stood over him, a knife in her hand.
"Prisoners do not speak." She said, then turned and walked out, leaving a hurt and confused Nathan behind.
Flashback End
Nathan's Loft
Next Morning
Nathan was in eating breakfast when he saw a tv report about Supergirl over in national city and he instantly knew it was Kara. Seems she took his advice and came out as a superhero.
HE smiled and made a decision. He formed a clone of himself and told him, "Handle all my responsibilities while I'm gone."
Grabbing his stuff, he headed out, intent on making it to National City by nightfall.