You know . . . I really hate it when I underestimate how many words of original content I end up writing because then a chapter ends up being over twice as long as previous chapters. This is a whopping 6.8K+ word chapter, and a ton of it is original content. Geez.

Oliver tackles Hill with Lyla's help, Kara helps Armand with the Legion, and the remaining Team Arrow members save the day everywhere else. Does that mean everything ends up perfect in the end?

I apologize if I did not represent Armand's son correctly. I have no medical knowledge whatsoever, and I tried not to delve in depth to his son's condition because of it, so I hope his portrayal is OK for this chapter.

Enjoy the ending of "Brothers In Arms!"

***

Felicity was still deep in her work when Dig returned from A.R.G.U.S. Malcolm was maneuvering through practice dummies, sword a blur of silver as he moved through them like a dance. Dig watched him for a few seconds before he saw Slade checking over their weaponry. The Aussie looked up as he approached, giving him a nod. "How did it go at A.R.G.U.S.?"

"Good," Dig nodded absently, tapping one fist over the other. "It went good. Lyla's on her way to meet with Oliver and Captain Hill."

"That's a relief," Slade sighed. "The sooner she's no longer a threat, the sooner Diaz has less claws in the city."

"Yeah," Dig nodded, still staring at a blank spot on the wall.

Slade looked long and hard at Dig before picking up a particularly heavy handgun and dropping it down on the metal table. The resulting clang made not only Dig jump, but Malcolm and Felicity as well. "Hey!" Felicity complained.

"Sorry," Slade apologized as Dig blinked rapidly. "Had to snap John out of it."

"Thanks," Dig winced, rubbing the back of his head. "Sorry about that."

"Something's bothering you," Slade leaned back against the column behind him. "What is it?"

Dig sighed. "Thanks for backing my play with Katz," he said.

Slade did a double take. "That's it?" he asked in surprise.

"That's typically not Oliver's style of doing things."

"Oliver left this in our hands while he's at City Hall," Slade reminded him. "We're doing what we need to do."

"Exactly!" Dig pointed at him. "That's exactly my point! Out at City Hall, he needs to be careful with who he pisses off and who he talks with. Kara's good for that, but out in the field? We do what we've gotta do to keep the city safe. And every person we fail to bring down, that's another person Oliver has to protect the city from. That's another win for Diaz."

"And Oliver can't have that," Slade shook his head.

"Exactly," Dig nodded furiously, taking a deep breath and leaning back against the table. "Wow, I've been sitting on that for a while."

"I know what you mean," Slade told Dig. "Malcolm and I both do. On Earth-38, we don't have a history that could turn civilians against us. We're friends of Kara, we can walk freely. Here in Star City? One picture at the wrong time, and the city will be up in arms calling for our heads. All we can do is fight in the field, try and ease Oliver's burden for him so he doesn't carry everything by himself."

"And I can't thank you enough for that," Dig said genuinely. "I screwed up in how I was thinking of you, all of you. I'm sorry."

Slade nodded. "And I'm sorry for that verbal lashing I gave you."

"I deserved it," Dig grumbled.

"I won't argue that," Slade snorted. "But it could have been more civil." He held out his hand. "Water under the bridge?"

Dig smiled and nodded, clasping the Aussie's hand. "Water under the bridge."

A whoop came from Felicity's station. "Katz came through!" she announced, spinning around in her chair as the three men in the room turned to look at her. "I got the location of Diaz's Vertigo operation!"

"Where?" Dig asked, heading up the stairs.

Malcolm checked the location, then eyed Slade and Dig. "If you two want to keep your bromance moment going, I'll be lookout again."

"Did that seriously just come out of your mouth?" Felicity stared at the assassin.

Slade and Dig exchanged looks, then Dig nodded. "Let's do it," he said.

***

"Mr. Mayor, a Director Michaels is here to see you."

Oliver broke away from his tense conversation with Hill to answer the intercom. "Let her in, please."

"Right away."

Oliver stood from his desk and gave Lyla a very relieved smile as the woman stepped into the office, a tablet in her hand. "Lyla," he greeted. "Thank you for coming."

"Of course, Oliver," Lyla gave him a quick hug. "It sounded urgent."

"It is," Oliver nodded, gesturing as Hill stiffly stood. "Director Lyla Michaels, Captain Kimberly Hill."

"Director," Hill nodded curtly, extending her hand.

"Captain," Lyla returned in the same flat tone, giving her exact opinion of what she thought of the corrupt woman as she shook her hand.

It got a flinch out of the other woman. "As I said, Lyla, this is urgent," Oliver said, directing them to sit in the chairs in front of his desk, himself pulling his out to sit with them. "I'm sure John has told you about Ricardo Diaz."

"He has," Lyla nodded. "Your e-mail asked if I could set up a protection detail."

Oliver gestured at Hill, who nodded. "After I was promoted, I was sent surveillance photos by Diaz; my niece, my father, and my sister were all in them."

Lyla nodded, turning her tablet on. "Oliver informed me of it before I came here. I've pulled together a few different safe houses to go over with you that we can place you and your family in, including protective details."

"Wait," Hill blinked, looking at Oliver. "Me and my family?"

"You wanted me to prove that I could find a way to protect your family," Oliver raised an eyebrow. "What better way to do that than being there with them?" Hill's mouth closed with a click. "Take a leave of absence," he told her. "Be with your family. And when Ricardo Diaz is done, we will discuss your place in the police force."

"My place?" she repeated.

Oliver sighed. "We can make a deal for what you know about Diaz. But you will never be captain of the force again." Hill swallowed hard, and Oliver gave her a look. "I was ready to fire you on the spot before I had second thoughts. I could have easily refused to help you."

"You are very lucky you're getting a chance at all," Lyla added.

Hill lowered her head, taking a deep breath. "I'll clear out my desk," she said quietly. "I'll take the deal."

Oliver sighed in relief as Lyla nodded. "Thank you," he said gratefully.

"Do I get to choose my replacement?" Hill asked.

"Would it be a corrupt cop?" Oliver raised an eyebrow.

Hill's cheeks flushed. "No."

Oliver tapped his fingers on the arm of his chair. "I already have someone in mind."

***

As Armand parked in front of his house, Kara took a deep breath, fiddling with the ring on her left hand. "Will we need to worry about any of Diaz's men?" she asked.

"No," Armand shook his head. "Cameras, maybe. I've worried too much about my son to check."

Kara nodded. "Brainy can handle those."

Armand took a deep breath. "I still can't believe this is happening."

Kara smiled at him. "Believe it."

Armand nodded shakily, stepping out of his car. Kara did the same from the passenger's side, and Mon-El, Imra, and Querl stepped out of the taxi that had followed them. "Ready?" Mon-El asked Kara, raising an eyebrow.

"Are you?" Kara countered.

Mon-El held up Querl's device. "I've got the easy job."

Kara conceded with a nod, following Armand to the front door. The lawyer unlocked his home, and he held it open, gesturing Kara in first. "Rosa?" he called, following her in, the Legionnaires in the rear.

A young woman walked out from around the corner, a nervous look on her face. "Mr. Armand," she smiled in greeting. "Is everything all right?"

"Yes, actually," Armand nodded. "This is Kara Danvers, the mayor's fiancée. Kara, this is Rosa, who looks after my son while my wife is at work."

Kara smiled, holding out her hand. "It's nice to meet you, Rosa."

"You, too, Ms. Danvers," she smiled shyly, shaking her hand before looking at Armand. "He's in the living room, Mr. Armand."

"Thank you, Rosa," Armand nodded. "I'll be home for the remainder of the day."

"Very well," Rosa nodded, giving him a quick smile. "I'll be back tomorrow."

"Watch your phone," Armand advised.

"I will," Rosa nodded.

Kara saw Querl casually look around the ceiling and the walls as Rosa took her purse and walked out the door. As soon as it closed, he bowed his head and closed his eyes. Kara waited a few seconds until he looked up again. "Brainy?" she asked.

"Handled," Querl answered.

Kara nodded, looking at Armand, who looked much more anxious than he had out at the car. "Ready?" she asked.

Armand let out his breath slowly. "Now or never," he mumbled, heading the way Rosa had entered the room.

Kara watched him approach a young boy no older than ten, who was on the floor and playing with a few LEGO bricks. Kara sank her teeth into her lip, feeling tears sting her eyes as Armand crouched down and spoke quietly to his son, gently placing his hand on the back of his head. The small but genuine smile his son gave at the sight of his father made Kara turn her head, not wanting to witness such a private moment. She could now see, very easily, why Armand had chosen his son over what was right. If that had been William on the floor, appearing very sick with a cancer that could be very difficult to pay for, she honestly couldn't think of a situation where she wouldn't choose the boy she saw like a son.

"I have a few people I want you to meet, Jeremy." She was jolted back to the present by Armand's voice, and when he turned to her hopefully, Kara put a very real smile on her face and walked into the room, tailed by Mon-El; Imra and Querl stayed back by the living room. "They're here to help you," Armand continued.

"Hi there," Kara said quietly, sitting in front of Jeremy with her knees under her. "Jeremy, right?" The boy shyly nodded, and Kara's smile widened. "My name's Kara," she introduced herself.

" . . . hi, Kara," Jeremy mumbled, looking up at her curiously.

"And this is my friend Mon-El," Kara gestured to the Daxamite, who beamed and waved. She giggled at Jeremy's bewildered look. "It's a weird name, isn't it?"

Mon-El huffed as Jeremy nodded. "It isn't weird, it's unique."

"Still weird," Jeremy frowned.

Armand and Kara both snorted at that. "Thank you, everyone," Mon-El muttered, but there was a slight smile on his face as he said the words.

"Anyway," Kara bent down so she and Jeremy could see eye to eye. "Mon-El has something for you. Do you want to know what it is?"

Jeremy eyed Mon-El before nodding silently. Kara shuffled to the side so Mon-El could come closer, and the Daxamite did, staying on one knee as he leaned forward to speak to the boy. "So," Mon-El cleared his throat. "I'm gonna need you to keep a secret, OK?" Jeremy frowned, but nodded. "You sure?" Jeremy nodded, more sure of himself this time, and Mon-El bent down further, stage whispering, "I'm from the future."

Jeremy's eyes grew as wide as saucers. "What?" he asked in shock.

"I am," Mon-El nodded confidently.

"No, you're not!"

"Yes, I am!" Mon-El insisted with a grin. "And you know what? I have a way to prove it to you."

"How?" Jeremy asked suspiciously.

"With this," Mon-El held up the silver device. "You see this?"

"What is it?" Jeremy tilted his head.

"It's, uh . . . " Mon-El cleared his throat. "Actually, since it's from the future, I don't think it really matters what it's called. What really matters is that a really, really smart friend of mine made it. A name like Brainy, it's got to work, right?" Jeremy nodded in agreement. "You want to know how it works?" Jeremy nodded again, and Mon-El held out his free hand. "Can I see your arm?"

Jeremy looked up at Armand hesitantly; when his father nodded encouragingly, Jeremy held out his arm, which Mon-El carefully took. "Here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to put this on your arm, and I want you to wear this for a week, OK?" Jeremy nodded, and Mon-El fastened it to Jeremy's arm. "This is a vaccine and booster. It will automatically detect hostile cells and deploy antibodies." Already, if Kara strained her ears enough, she was able to hear a subtle change in Jeremy's breathing . . . and it was for the better. "And if possible, we would like to check in to make sure that the device is doing as it's meant to," Mon-El finished, smiling kindly.

"It already is," Kara smiled in relief.

Jeremy looked up at Armand with a wide grin, and Armand laughed in disbelief, wrapping his arms around his son. "Thank you," he told the two aliens, looking past them to the other two Legionnaires. "All of you, thank you."

"You're welcome," Mon-El nodded, Imra smiling happily while Querl bowed his head, acknowledging the praise.

"I'm happy for you, Sam," Kara told him.

Armand only nodded, seeming to compose himself as he held Jeremy close. It took him a few seconds to speak again. "I'll hand my resignation in to Oliver tomorrow," he said. "You've done this for me, but if he doesn't want Diaz in the government . . . "

"I'll let him know," Kara promised, putting a gentle hand on his arm. "Spend time with your son." Armand nodded, and Kara stood up, giving both Armands a wave before turning and walking away, Mon-El following behind her. "Let's go," she told them.

Mon-El gave a small wave towards Jeremy, who beamed and smiled back. He turned to follow Kara when he noted Querl stop in his step. "Brainy?" he asked.

Querl just held up a finger. "I think Dinah and Curtis are about to have company," he said.

***

"Felicity?"

Felicity jumped in her seat, spinning around to face her computers when the noise came out of her speakers. "Brainy?" she asked, looking around as the men, finishing with suiting up, looked up. "How – ?!"

"I am a twelfth level intellect whose primary strength is with technology and intelligence."

"Right," Felicity cleared her throat, not hearing the elevator open behind her. "What's going on?"

"Our endeavor with Sam Armand's son was a success. However, upon leaving, I found several men closing in on the location of Dinah Drake and Curtis Holt, as well as the cops that arrested Anatoli Knyazev."

"What?!" Laurel's voice came from behind her.

Felicity looked back at Dig, Slade, Malcolm, and the two newest additions to the bunker, Laurel and Evelyn, both of whom had arrived in time to hear the message. "Malcolm?" Slade looked at him.

"I can head that way if you give me the location," Malcolm said, looking back at Slade and Dig. "That's assuming the two of you can handle yourselves." They gave two identical snorts, making Malcolm roll his eyes. "Yeah, that's what I thought."

"Not alone!" Laurel protested.

"Laurel, if Diaz hears that you were out there, it's me or Slade on the line, especially if he's a man of his word," Malcolm shook his head.

"Brainy?" Felicity turned back to her computer. "Can you – ?"

"I'll go."

Felicity turned back around in shock, seeing Evelyn shrink under the sudden gazes on her. "Evelyn?" Laurel asked quietly. "Are you sure?"

Evelyn gulped, then nodded. "Diaz was never interested in me since I was Talia's student, but Vince taught me a few tricks. I can back you up. I promise I can."

Malcolm walked forward, bending so they were eye level. "That's the woman who wants you dead because she sees you as Vince's murderer," he reminded her.

Evelyn flinched, but never looked away from his gaze. "That's also one of Star City's last clean cops."

Malcolm slowly nodded, then straightened. "Then suit up."

Evelyn grinned, rushing off with her bag. "Malcolm," Laurel whispered.

"I'll look after her," Malcolm already guessed what she wanted.

She sighed in relief. "Thank you."

Malcolm kissed her forehead in response, looking at Slade and Dig. "Good luck," he wished.

"You, too," Dig nodded, he and Slade heading for the exit.

***

"So he just drops it casually, 'I hate vigilantes,'" Curtis told Dinah as they walked through the hideout. "Not hate, but hate, like capital letters HATES vigilantes." He sighed, palming his face. "This is Paul all over again!"

"Well, that's kind of a leap," Dinah told him.

"Paul divorced me because I was a vigilante," Curtis reminded her.

"Curtis, you're getting ahead of yourself."

"Yeah, you're right," Curtis nodded. "He's not gonna break up with me."

"That's the spirit," Dinah smiled proudly.

"He's going to arrest me!" Curtis hissed.

Dinah sighed, stepping closer. "I know I'm the last person who should be giving you relationship advice – "

"Yet you're about to give me some," Curtis nodded.

"It's more of a life philosophy," Dinah corrected. "Just live in the moment because you can only see the step that's ahead of you. You don't know what's at the end of the road."

Curtis nodded thoughtfully, then looked down at his tablet, frowning when a message from an unknown person popped up. "Huh."

"What is it?" Dinah asked, looking over his shoulder.

"Someone saying . . . " Curtis blanched. "Incoming." His tablet started beeping rapidly, and he balked as he swiped the message aside. "Someone just set off one of my proximity alerts!" He shook his head rapidly as multiple people appeared on the screen. "Make that some many! All headed toward the front door!"

"How did they find us?" Dinah demanded.

"Who?" Nick rushed over.

"Diaz's men," Curtis answered, gesturing to his tablet. "They're about to hit us from the west, the north, the s – they're about to hit us from every angle!"

"I know," a voice accompanied a gun click behind him, and they turned to see one of the officers aiming at them. "I'm sorry, but we can't defeat Diaz. We tried, and we failed."

He aimed at Dinah, but Curtis leapt in front of the shot, taking the bullet that would have struck her. "No!" Dinah shouted, shooting and killing the cop who shot her friend. "You stay with Curtis!" she barked at Nick, running off with the others.

Nick nodded, bending down and carefully pulling Curtis up so he rested against the crates behind them.

***

All the men were wearing various forms of masks over their noses and mouths when Slade and Dig found the Vertigo operation. "Thirteen bogies in this den alone, heavily armed," Dig whistled, impressed.

"No Diaz," Slade frowned. "Would've liked to put a bullet in him."

"Race you," Dig offered.

Slade snorted, looking around the tanks. "How much is this?"

"At least twenty million in Vertigo," Dig answered. "He's gonna miss it."

Slade examined the men below, hand tensing on the hilt of his sword. "The only way that we make it out of here is if we trust each other."

Dig looked long and hard at him. "I do."

Slade looked back at him and nodded. "Good to know we're on the same page."

Dig nodded back, pulling his handgun from its holster. "Call it."

Slade nodded. "Let's go."

***

One of Dig's guns fired a dart that hit the electronics box in the base, causing sparks to fly and the lights to go out. Grenades fired from the front door as buckets of product were hustled away, and Slade was the first into the factory, throwing a charge that exploded and sent sparks into gunmen's eyes.

He wove through the gunmen on his side, swinging his sword and firing his handgun in tandem. From the opposite side, Dig entered the fray, shock stick in one hand and gun in the other, handling Diaz's hitmen as easily as the mercenary.

When all thirteen were down on the ground, the two walked to join each other, storming the rest of the building side by side.

***

"Hold on, Curtis," Nick gulped as he shifted in front of Curtis's body, blocking him from the rest of the room. "We're gonna get you to a hospital, OK? Hold on!"

Curtis suddenly coughed violently, startling Nick backwards. "I'm OK," he grunted, making Nick laugh in disbelief. "Actually, that's a lie, I think my ribs are broken."

"You were shot point blank!" Nick said in disbelief, reaching to unzip Curtis's jacket.

"Wait, no!" Curtis protested, reaching up to stop his boyfriend.

He wasn't fast enough, as Nick unzipped enough to see the uniform Curtis wore underneath. "You're – " he stammered, eyes wide in shock.

"It's not what it looks like," Curtis began. He was cut off by one of his T-spheres whirring into view and electrocuting one of the hitmen coming up behind them. "OK, it is exactly what it looks like." His eyes widened when he saw another man coming up behind Nick. "OK, go!" he lunged.

The gunman took aim, but a very dark green arrow, darker than Oliver's arrows, flew from behind them and smacked into his hand, causing him to drop his gun with a shout. Another arrow hit him again, this time black, hit the man in the shoulder, and he went down for the count.

With a start, Curtis realized he knew those arrows, and he turned in shock. He was just in time to see Malcolm land in a crouch . . . and Evelyn, in her Artemis gear, dropped down behind him, hand clenched tightly around her bow. There was no Canary Cry around her neck this time.

For a few seconds, the two archers stared at the incredulous vigilante and his shellshocked boyfriend. It was Evelyn who finally shouted at him. "Move!"

Curtis obeyed without a second thought, grabbing Nick and yanking him out of the way as Malcolm drew his sword, rushing towards the fight with Evelyn behind him.

***

The hitman who decided it would be a good idea to charge Slade head-on came to regret his decision when Slade shot him once in the shoulder, and he fell in a heap on the ground. "The place is bigger than expected," he grumbled in annoyance, looking around. "How many more explosives do we have?"

There was a grunt over the comms, followed by the smack of an explosive on metal. "I'm all out," Dig answered.

Slade huffed. "Then we improvise."

"Vertigo's flammable in its liquid state," Dig volunteered.

"Headed there now," Slade nodded, walking back towards the operation room.

"You won't make it!"

"I wasn't expecting to get there alone!" Slade countered, breaking into a run.

***

Dinah heard the startled shouts of her officers behind her, but she kept her focus on the gunmen trying to kill them. She heard the familiar sound of what seemed to be ripping cardboard, and she almost dropped her gun in shock when she saw two different colored arrows take down two of the gunmen in the front.

Malcolm seemed to melt right from the shadows, sword going through one gunman's torso, his other hand grabbing one by the neck and slamming him into the wall behind him, knocking him out. She really did drop her gun on the ground when she saw Curtis run behind Malcolm, covered by who had to be Evelyn, the girl firing off arrows when the gunmen were distracted by the assassin. Only when Curtis ducked behind the table Dinah was taking shelter behind did Evelyn race back towards the gunmen, slinging her bow over her shoulder. The gunman she charged sneered, aiming his gun at her. Evelyn responded by grabbing the rifle by the barrel and appearing to trip, hanging on all the while. The gunman was tugged down by her momentum, and Evelyn ripped the gun from his grasp, ramming it into his head until he was unconscious. She blocked the next arm punching at her with both her arms, then used her leg to sweep the gunman's feet out from under him. She finally brought her bow back out to help her grab the next gun thrust into her face, and with a grin at the man's startled look, she shoved both the gun and her bow back into his face, stunning him and allowing her to slam an arrow into his kneecap, bringing him down.

Dinah was staring with an open mouth, making Curtis do a double take. "D?" he asked. "What is it?"

Dinah just swallowed hard. "Vince taught me that move," she whispered. "How does she know it?"

***

Slade found the massive tank holding the Vertigo inside, then rolled one of his charges towards it. It stopped with a gentle clink against the tank, making him smirk.

A gunshot came from his right, and Slade whipped his head to see the bullet fly past him and take out the gunman that was aiming right at him. Surprised, he turned to see Dig had indeed gotten there to join him, and the man nodded at him, lowering his gun. Slade nodded back, picking up his sword to rush out of the factory, Dig at his heels.

***

Malcolm was drawing half of the gunmen away from the cops, and as Nick rushed past her, Evelyn covered the cop as she backed up to where she could fire off arrows. Curtis watched Nick gun down one of the hitmen instead of Evelyn, and he turned back to Dinah. "He's just like John Wayne. It's better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all."

"Are we getting out of here or not?" Dinah glowered.

Curtis looked down at his tablet, then thought of another thing. "Artemis!" he shouted over the table. Evelyn gave him a quick glance, then jogged backwards to join him. "How did you get in here?"

"Still not entirely sure," Evelyn shook her head. "It was M – the Dark Archer who got us in."

"Of course it was," Curtis sighed, checking his tablet this time. "OK, there's an opening on the east side of the building!"

"No, no," Dinah shook her head. "There is no opening on the east side of the building!"

Evelyn fired off another arrow, then checked what she had left in her quiver. She bit her lip, seeing only two left. "I can make one," she volunteered.

"Then go!" Malcolm shouted.

"How can he hear everything?" Curtis couldn't help but ask, even as Evelyn took off running.

Dinah followed after her, and Curtis lingered to make sure nothing happened. Evelyn drew the two arrows she had, seeing their explosive heads, then looked nervously at Dinah. "You aren't gonna shoot me once I fire these, are you?"

Dinah looked down at her gun, then at her cops under fire, making a quick decision. "Get us out of here and I won't," she promised.

Evelyn nodded, nocking the arrows, drawing, and firing. They embedded in the wall, and with a press of a button on her bow, the arrows exploded. Sure enough, they took out a good chunk of the wall, easily enough for them to escape out of. Dinah nodded curtly at Evelyn, and the girl ran back to join Malcolm, using her bow like a quarterstaff this time. "You didn't kill her," Curtis smiled.

"Why are you so happy go lucky about her now?" Dinah scowled.

"She saved me and Nick," Curtis shrugged.

Of course that was it, Dinah thought in exasperation, though she didn't say anything else as she waved for her men. "All right, let's go!" she shouted. "Move, move, move, move, move!"

Evelyn kept an eye on everyone, watching them leave through the hole Dinah had made. Curtis hesitated, giving her a look almost with concern, then Nick tugged at his hand, and he was off again. "They're clear!" she called.

Malcolm drew another arrow and fired into the rafters, extending a hand silently. Evelyn hurried to join him, and he held tightly to the girl as they grappled up, avoiding the remaining bullets.

***

"Do it," Slade ordered.

Dig held up the trigger, and with a push of a button, Diaz's Vertigo warehouse went up in flames. Both men watched silently, then Dig sighed in relief. "One less burden for Oliver to worry about."

Slade nodded. "And one less win for Diaz." He turned his head to look at his partner. "Thank you for watching my six."

"Any time," Dig nodded, his tone completely sincere.

***

"That was quite the fireworks show you two put on," Laurel grinned as the two returned to the bunker.

"Glad you enjoyed," Slade said sarcastically.

"Well, good news," Felicity smiled widely. "Judging by the burn radius of the warehouse, looks like we got all of Diaz's stash."

"Good," Dig sighed in relief, closing his eyes.

The elevator dinged open, and Malcolm and Evelyn came out, the girl practically bouncing on her feet. "Someone's got the post-battle jitters," Malcolm smirked.

"You're both OK?" Laurel moved over to check.

"Fine," Malcolm nodded. "And the cops are, too."

"And Dinah didn't shoot me, so that's a win," Evelyn beamed proudly.

"Good job," Laurel grinned.

"How do you think Dinah and Curtis are gonna like that it was Brainy who gave them the tip?" Felicity wondered.

"Not," Malcolm snorted.

"What he said," Dig pointed.

"Well, I don't care about Brainy right now," Laurel declared, tucking herself into Malcolm's side. "I care about how the rest of you did without Oliver."

"Especially when you split up," Felicity grinned. "This was a good job done."

"Agreed," Slade nodded.

"So how do you celebrate?" Evelyn wondered.

"Not with champagne," Dig smirked, making Slade snort and Malcolm laugh.

***

Oliver heard the curtains in the bedroom rustle as he finished undoing his tie. He turned to see Kara step through the window, her eyes red. "Kara?" he immediately stepped away from the mirror, walking over to check on her. "Are you OK?"

"Yeah," Kara took a deep breath, removing her glasses and setting them down with a trembling hand. "Mon-El's device worked. Jeremy is already healing."

"Good," Oliver sighed in relief, then paused when he saw Kara shake her head. "Not good?"

"It's just . . . " Kara swallowed hard. "Seeing Sam with his son . . . how he cares so much for him . . . " She looked up, tears in her eyes. "I can understand why he chose Diaz. Even if it wasn't the clean route, he could get what he needed to save his son. What kind of parent wouldn't do that? I thought I would do that!"

"Kara," Oliver opened his arms, catching his fiancée when she collapsed into his arms, and he sat back on the bed, letting her curl up in his lap as she cried. "I know, angel," he whispered into her hair, hugging her tighter to him and feeling her shake. "I would, too."

***

"Thank you so much for helping me get Zoe off to school," Curtis told Dinah gratefully.

"Oh, yeah, sure," Dinah nodded, putting a few plates on the counter. "Just don't understand how a girl so small generates this much mess . . . "

"You know, I actually don't mind tidying up," Curtis kept talking, making Dinah turn to face him. "Kind of like it. Keeps my mind off of things like the fact that my boyfriend's gonna break up with me because he found out I'm a vigilante and he hates vigilantes."

"So he is your boyfriend," Dinah smirked.

"My mind works in hyperbole," Curtis winced.

Dinah raised an eyebrow, picking up a few folders and books from the table. "Ignoring for a second the operational risk of having a cop know your identity, do you regret him knowing the truth?" she questioned.

Curtis opened his mouth, speaking as there was a knock on the door. "Besides the fact that it means the end of our relationship? I don't."

"Well, then it was worth it," Dinah told him, putting her stuff down and checking the peephole. She raised an eyebrow and smirked at Curtis. "Speak of the devil . . . it's Nick."

"Wait, what?!" Curtis's eyes bugged open.

Dinah nodded and opened the door, making Nick do a double take when he saw her. "Lieutenant Drake!"

"Not looking for me, I assume," Dinah guessed, hand on her hip.

"No, but I'm glad you're here," Nick told her. "Hill just cleared out her desk, supervised by Mayor Queen and Deputy Mayor Lance. All three of them said you need to report to City Hall."

Dinah nodded. "That gives me a reason to leave," she reached out to take her jacket. "See you later, all right?" she told Curtis.

He nodded, and as Nick stepped into the apartment, Dinah slipped past him and closed the door behind her. Both men looked at each other before saying at the same time, "Hey." Curtis chuckled nervously, then both gestured and said, "You go first."

"OK," Curtis took a deep breath, bracing himself for rejection. "Look, I know you're not a fan of vigilantes, and so I get it if . . . if you want to step away from this."

"Curtis, I just watched my captain clear out her desk for being dirty, and last night, I got betrayed by someone I thought was my friend in the force," Nick shook his head. "Not to mention . . . those two vigilantes who showed up didn't have to, but they saved us. I haven't been on the receiving end of that before. I can see why people look to vigilantes now. They come when sometimes the force can't. I can't say I'm sure how I feel about vigilantes or vigilantism." Curtis nodded sadly, then Nick sidled closer. "But I do know how I feel about you."

Curtis's eyes widened in realization, and a slow smile spread across his face. "Really?" he asked hopefully.

"Really," Nick nodded. Curtis laughed giddily, and Nick smiled at the sound. "Who were they?" he asked. "The two who showed up last night?"

"Uh," Curtis swallowed. "The Dark Archer and Artemis."

"And Artemis was the one who covered us and got us out of that place," Nick nodded thoughtfully. "I haven't heard much about her."

"Yeah," Curtis took a deep breath. "Been a while since I've heard from her, too."

Nick hummed, nodding. "Thank them for me, the next time you see them?"

Curtis slowly nodded. "I will," he agreed.

***

Dinah rolled her shoulders back and stood ramrod straight before entering Oliver's office. He was waiting for her as she stopped in front of his desk. "Officer Anastas said you wanted to see me?" she asked.

"Yes," Oliver nodded, gesturing for her to sit. "I'm sure he also told you that formerly Captain Hill has stepped down." Dinah nodded, happy to hear that she was gone. "What he might not have told you is that she will be with her family to see that A.R.G.U.S. can protect them. She will never be captain of the SCPD again."

Dinah smiled in relief, but just as quickly frowned again. "That leaves us without a captain."

"Not quite," Oliver shook his head. "I had Hill's successor in mind, and she agreed with me. It was the one time I think we agreed while she was in the room."

He stood up and picked up what Dinah recognized as Hill's captain badge, walking around his desk. When he stopped in front of her and held the badge out to her, Dinah's eyes widened, her jaw dropping. "Me?" she whispered.

"You believe in the badge, Dinah," Oliver nodded. "You organized the op to arrest Anatoli, and when Diaz went after your men, you did whatever you could to protect them. That's the cop I want in charge of the force." He raised an eyebrow. "We may not see eye to eye much now, Dinah, but I want us to see eye to eye on this. I don't trust anyone else with this badge."

Dinah swallowed hard, then reached out and gingerly took the badge from Oliver's hand. To know that despite what had happened between their teams, even what had happened after Anatoli was arrested, that Oliver was trusting her with the SCPD . . . she examined the badge closely, then took a deep breath and stood at attention. "And I won't let you down," she promised, sharply saluting.

Oliver saluted back. "Congratulations, Captain Drake," he told her with a smile. "Star City is lucky to have you."

"Thank you, Oliver," Dinah nodded, a true smile on her face. Oliver nodded back, and sensing she was dismissed, Dinah turned and headed out the door, fiddling with the badge in her hands. She stopped before she left, then cleared her throat and turned around. "Um," she bit her lip. "Evelyn was with Malcolm last night. She personally saved Curtis and one of my officers." She fidgeted, then sighed. "Can you thank her for me?"

Oliver blinked slowly. "I will," he nodded.

"Thank you," Dinah nodded, then turned around and walked out the door. She slowed once she was in the hall, then pulled out her cell phone and dialed one of the numbers in her contacts.

Nick picked up on the second ring. "Lieutenant Drake?" he asked. "Is everything OK?"

"Everything is . . . great, Nick," Dinah answered, looking down at the badge. "Hey, can you go back to headquarters soon?"

"Absolutely," Nick answered. "When do you need me?"

"Whenever you can get there."

"I'll leave in a few minutes." There was a pause. "How did it go with the mayor?"

Dinah smiled. "He, uh . . . he promoted me."

"What?!" Dinah grinned wider, hearing Curtis react the same way. "That's amazing, Lieu – uh, Captain," Nick quickly amended. "I'm coming right over."

"Good," Dinah nodded, walking out of City Hall, a more confident strut in her stride. "We've got work to do."

***

Oliver sighed in relief when the doors closed behind Dinah. That took care of Hill's position, which was a relief. He was about to pull up a list of potential District Attorneys when he heard a knock on his door. Curious, he checked his schedule; nothing was scheduled for the morning except for Dinah stopping by. "Come in!" he called.

The doors opened, and he straightened when Armand stepped in, Kara with him. "Oliver," Armand nodded, looking like a weight was taken off his shoulders.

"Sam," Oliver nodded, looking at him in concern. "Kara told me last night that Mon-El's device worked?"

"It has," Armand nodded, giving her a grateful look. "I'm sorry I doubted you could help."

"It's OK, Sam," Oliver told him, walking closer. "I'm just sorry I didn't know how bad it had truly gotten. If I could have helped sooner, I would have."

"I believe you," Sam nodded, taking a deep breath and handing him a folder. "This is my resignation from the District Attorney's position. I don't need Diaz's money now, but I can't work this job now that I've been one of his lackeys."

Oliver eyed the folder. "Sam, right now you are in a better position than Hill," he told him. "I agree that you can't be the D.A. anymore; she'll never be a captain again. But I think we can make a deal if you give us everything you can on Diaz."

Sam blinked rapidly before looking at Kara. At her knowing smile, he cleared his throat and turned back. "That is much more than I deserve, Oliver."

"It is," he agreed. "But you would do whatever it took to get your son what he needed to survive. I would do exactly the same thing."

Sam finally nodded jerkily. "Thank you, Oliver," he said.

"You're welcome," Oliver nodded, taking the folder from him.

Sam turned to leave, only to stop when Quentin barged in. "Deputy Mayor," Sam blinked. "I was just – "

"Actually, you may need to stay and give a legal opinion," Quentin shook his head rapidly. "Oliver, we've got a problem. A big one."

"What's going on?" Oliver asked in concern as Kara hurried to close the doors.

"It's the councilmen," Quentin answered grimly. "They're talking, Oliver, and they're twisting Hill's and Armand's resignations."

"What are they saying?" Kara asked nervously, Oliver's knuckles turning white as he gripped the folder tighter.

"That Oliver forced them to resign," Quentin answered, making Armand blanch. "And he did it to impede the prosecution of his activities as the Green Arrow."

"That's not what happened!" Kara protested.

"But without either of us to say that, it's his word against theirs," Armand swallowed. "They'll see it as a gross overstep of power." He looked at Quentin. "They'll call it an impeachable offense."

"They are," Quentin nodded. "They're calling for your head."

Kara clapped a hand over her mouth, muffling her whimpers. Armand quickly pulled a chair over behind her so Kara wouldn't collapse where she stood, and he and Oliver exchanged worried looks at Quentin's words.

That wasn't how any of this was supposed to go at all. How far into the government did Diaz's claws actually go?

***

Whoops . . . that's not good, is it? I just like torturing Oliver and Kara, don't I? Also, Armand's son wasn't given a name in the show, so with the help of Lauriver1fanboy, I gave him one.

So next up is "Fundamentals" . . . we'll see how much better it goes than in canon. We may even see a face we haven't seen yet, so feel free to guess who that may be.

I go on vacation for a few days and have family coming after, so I am unsure when the next update will be, so keep an eye out!