After John and Luke had been questioned by the SCPD and confirmed that they'd both been acting under duress, they were allowed to leave and Luke brought John to Oliver's Community Center.

"Why did you bring me here and not to whatever hospital Lyla's at?" John asked.

"Just trust me." Luke said as he led John into the computer lab and activated the trick computer, revealing the hidden elevator.

"Wait, is this what I think it is?" John asked.

"Yep. Step inside. Your bio scan's already been entered into the system." Luke said as they got inside the elevator.

When the doors opened, John was stunned to find Oliver and Laurel waiting for him.

"Welcome to the Barracks John." Oliver said with a smile as he clapped John on the back.

"Oliver, what is all this?" John asked, trying to wrap his head around this.

"First things first, let me take you to Lyla." Oliver said as he led John over to the medical area where Abby was treating Lyla.

"Lyla." John said as he rushed forward and kissed his wife.

"Kind of reminds me of our reunion after you came back from Lian Yu." Laurel said and Oliver nodded.

"How is she?" John asked Abby.

"A few days of rest and she'll be good as new. That bruiser Tavaroff didn't do anything to badly harm her or the baby." Abby said.

"Wait, you're pregnant?" Oliver asked.

"Gaynor told me when that bastard was blackmailing me into working for him." John growled.

"That is not how I wanted to tell you." Lyla said.

"All I care about is that all of us are okay and I'm thrilled that I'm gonna be a father. Especially after all the time I spent helping Laurel take care of Jasmine after the Gambit went down." John said.

"And I can tell you from that experience that you're going to be an amazing father." Laurel said.

"Thank you. But now, what's going on here?" John asked.

"It's a long story." Oliver said.

"Well, I think we've got some time." John said.

"I'm still performing a routine check up on Lyla, so this will be awhile." Abby said.

"And I need to go meet up with Sara on something else and Luke, we'll need your help with it." Laurel said, making it clear that she was not asking, she was telling.

"Yeah, let's go." Luke said.

"Come on, I've got some beers in the lounge area." Oliver said.

"Wait, this place has a lounge?" John asked.

"And so much more." Oliver said.

"Go, I'll be fine and I'll join you once Abby gives me a clean bill of health." Lyla promised and John nodded as he let Oliver lead the way.

"Damn, that is a lot to process." John said to Oliver after he'd been the told truth about Oliver's five years away.

"Try living it." Oliver said.

"And I'm guessing Laurel knows all this?" John asked.

"I told her the first chance I got. I'm not keeping secrets in my relationship." Oliver said and John nodded.

"Smart move." John agreed.

"And I need all the help I can get protecting this city from threats that the cops can't or won't protect it from. Threats like the ones Batman faces in Gotham." Oliver said

"Wait, you think that lunatic is real?" John asked.

"I've met him multiple times. He's the one who told me I can't do it alone and he's right. I have Tatsu in the field with me and Laurel will be joining us soon, long story and I get the feeling that Sara might be joining our ranks soon too, while I have Luke as tech support and backup and Abby as medical and mystical support, but I need a fellow soldier, someone I served with, someone I know I can trust to have my back in the field and no one fits that criteria more than you." Oliver said.

"Magic?" John asked, raising an eyebrow in disbelief.

"You need to see it to believe it." Oliver said.

"Fair enough. And while I won't say anything to anyone about your operation, I'm not sure if I want to join your team." John said.

"Would it help if I said that one of the first people I took down was Andy's killer?" Oliver asked.

"You got Deadshot?" John asked.

"It's complicated, but I know that he won't be hurting anyone else for a long time, if ever." Oliver said.

"I have to admit, Gaynor did have a point about private security not really doing it for me. But I think that this vigilante work might actually give me that same rush I felt overseas, but for the right reasons, since I'll actually be protecting people again." John said.

"So?" Oliver asked as he held out his hand and John nodded.

"I'm in." John said as he shook Oliver's hand.

"Welcome to the team. Spartan." Oliver said, since he'd been thinking of that codename for John ever since he'd started thinking about recruiting him.

"I like the name. Do I get a costume?" John asked.

"How else are you going to keep your family safe by concealing your identity?" Oliver said.

"As long as I get some design input." John said.

"Don't worry, you will. Now come on, there's something I want to show you." Oliver said as he led John to the playroom, where Jasmine was lying on a bed, fast asleep.

"She knows?" John asked.

"About as much as a five year old can know. And she's the main reason I'm doing this. Originally this mission was to honor my father's memory, but the moment I saw her it evolved into something more important. Creating a safer future for my daughter to live in." Oliver said.

"And for my child to live in once he or she is born." John said and Oliver nodded.

"You're gonna make a great father John. I'm thrilled for you. Especially since you'll get to have all the moments with your kid that I missed with Jasmine." Oliver said.

"Oliver, you didn't have a choice about missing those moments and there are still plenty of other ones you get to have. Including using several of the guns I saw in that armory of yours to scare away any boys who look at Jasmine." John said with a chuckle.

"I look forward to it and Quentin even said he'd give me tips." Oliver said.

"I'm sure. But I get it. Everything you do, you do to make a better future for your daughter. And I respect that and it's another I'm signing on." John said and Oliver smiled.

"Then why don't I give you a full tour of the Barracks." Oliver said and John nodded.