Over a thousand words more from last chapter's . . . wow, that's a lot of words.

Things continue to come to blows at the D.E.O. before J'onn reveals what's going on, Lena shows Sam who she is, and . . . words are had between parties. And more blows. Again. Thank you, M'yrnn, for giving me a way to deal with the arguments that happened in "Brothers in Arms."

Enjoy!

***

"Really, coward?" Demos narrowed his eyes as Winn pushed the barrel into his chest. "Have you ever even held a gun before?"

"I'm holding one now," Winn pointed out, clicking the safety off; it gave Demos enough time to bring his hands down quickly and grab the gun, pulling it out of Winn's grasp.

"Go on," Laurel glared at Dig. "Do it. Do you really want to shoot Laurel Lance right after she's been brought back from the dead?"

"But you're not Laurel," Dig shook his head. "You will never be Laurel."

Laurel faltered, opening her mouth, and Dig tightened his grip on his gun. "John!" Felicity shouted.

A dark grey blur just narrowly missed her, and Felicity jumped back, yelping in surprise. That morphed into a shriek as Dig yelled in pain, dropping his gun and reaching for the knife embedded in the back of his hand. "Back away from her!" Malcolm's yell rang through the D.E.O., and Dig whipped around as the assassin approached, the man twirling another knife into his hand. "Or this one won't miss your heart!"

"Ever trying to be the hero, huh, Malcolm?" Dig narrowed his eyes, pulling the knife out of his hand with a grimace, even as Laurel backed away, still massaging her throat. "Not sure it suits you."

"Because every hero's resume is only covered with glitter and gold," Malcolm scoffed as he walked forward, blue eyes like ice. "You wanna try that again?"

"It's funny," Dig scowled. "Every time I hear someone say you and Slade have changed, I almost believe it . . . then you go and pull something like this!" he gestured to his injured hand.

"Then next time, you should be smart," Malcolm growled. "Don't pull a gun on someone I love!"

Laurel blanched, but before she – or a suddenly speechless Felicity – could respond, Dig had readjusted his grip on the knife he held and lunged. Malcolm effortlessly dodged, letting Dig stumble past him before throwing his knife. It clattered against Dig's, the force of Malcolm's throw knocking both to the ground. Dig glared at the black-haired man, about to lunge again when Laurel finally opened her mouth and screamed, trying to hit Dig, but with how close in proximity they were, both men were caught in the scream, flying over the center console and sprawling on the ground.

Laurel gave Dig a dirty glare, then turned and rammed her fist into Demos's gut. The agent staggered back, then Laurel gave him a swift uppercut, knocking him over the table. "See?" she told Felicity, pointing at Winn. "Cleaning up messes!"

"Get that out of my face!" Winn swatted her hand to the side.

"Oh, you want me out of your face?" Laurel spat, grabbing his hand and twisting his arm violently.

Winn cried out in pain, then Alex was running across the floor. "Laurel!" she shouted.

Laurel looked up, eyes narrowed to slits, then she doubled over, groaning as she reached for her head. She staggered away from Winn as he collapsed on the ground, his own hand on his forehead. Alex blinked rapidly, looking around to see other D.E.O. agents seeming confused. "What the hell just happened?" she asked.

"It was a psychic anomaly," J'onn answered as he walked over. "I put a barrier up to protect you all."

"What the hell?" Oliver's stunned voice came from the stairs as he ran down.

"What happened?" Slade looked around.

"Yeah," Malcolm grimaced as he got to his feet, pinching the bridge of his nose as he leaned heavily against the console, Kara skidding to a halt as she ran in from the training rooms. "That wasn't fun."

Laurel grimaced as she stood up, offering her hand to Winn. "I'm sorry. Are you OK?"

"I kind of – I feel like I'm gonna bleed," Winn grunted, reaching up to check his face. "Yup."

Laurel winced, looking over the table. "Demos?" she asked, watching the agent get up. "I'm so sorry."

He held up his hand, assuring her he was fine. "I'm sorry for what I said," he told Winn.

"For the record, I think you're super smart," Winn smiled weakly.

"What was this?" Kara looked around in bewilderment.

"Everyone just went psycho on each other and then started fighting!" Felicity stammered, not seeming to know who she should check on. "Literally everyone!"

Kara blinked. "Just like what I saw the Kalanorian do in the bar?"

"Yeah, exactly," Demos nodded in agreement.

"So why didn't it affect Felicity?" Winn frowned.

"Probably because Demos went after you and then someone went after me," Laurel guessed.

"That's . . . not very comforting," Felicity grimaced.

"I told you she needed more observation," Alex grumbled.

"Well, it's still visiting hours," Kara shrugged. "Let's go see her."

J'onn nodded. "In the meantime, Agent Schott," he turned to where Winn and Demos were. "Round up the inhibitors we used against Psi. Recalibrate them. Make sure there's enough to go around. I didn't take enough precautions last time. I will now."

Winn nodded, and Felicity smiled at him. "I'll help."

"OK," Winn nodded.

"Anything we can do?" Oliver asked as Kara and Alex headed for the cells.

J'onn opened his mouth, then blinked and turned to Laurel. "Perhaps get Ms. Lance checked out."

Laurel blinked, reaching up towards her throat. "Bruising?" she guessed, wincing at how raspy her voice sounded.

"Holy crap," Winn blinked.

"Who did that to you?" Slade frowned.

"John did," Malcolm gestured to the man still working on getting himself upright, which was difficult considering one hand was bleeding. "And then he pulled a gun on her and didn't seem to like it when I intervened."

"No, he didn't," Laurel agreed, narrowing her eyes at Oliver. "Seems like that conversation you two had earlier isn't over yet."

Oliver and Dig exchanged wary looks as she headed for the stairs, Malcolm giving Dig a long look as well before he went after Laurel. Winn cleared his throat awkwardly, reaching down to pick up the gun he had taken from Demos. "It's a good thing you came when you did, man."

"Yeah," J'onn agreed, looking between those still left. "Good thing."

***

"You came in around the same time I did," Kara told Alex as they walked through the cells. "Do you know what happened?"

"Barely," Alex shook her head. "I heard the shouting, and when I got there . . . I don't know. I've never felt anything like that. It's like something was inside my brain. I couldn't control it. Are you OK?"

"I felt it, too," Kara admitted.

"Wait a minute," Alex stopped short. "You were affected?"

"I hit Mon-El," Kara told her. "Hard. We were training and I was frustrated 'cause I wasn't getting it, and then he brought up our past, when I used to train him, and that's when the rage set in."

Alex raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you were affected?"

Kara blinked. "What do you mean? Of course I was."

Alex shrugged. "It seems like you two still have some unresolved issues. Maybe it's not a good idea you train with him."

"That's ridiculous," Kara scoffed, walking on with her. "No, whatever issues I had with Mon-El before, those are behind me. I've worked it out with him, he and Oliver have worked things out. This is just about getting Reign."

They stopped in front of the Kalanorian's cell, and Kara stopped in her tracks, eyes wide. "Oh, no," Alex gasped, running to open the cell, seeing the Kalanorian seizing on the bench. "No, no, no, no! Turn her on her side!"

"OK," Kara ran to do just that.

"Prep the med bay," Alex ordered into her comms. "We got incoming."

The Kalanorian suddenly froze, eyes opening wide. Kara and Alex both backed away as she started whispering the same three words over and over. "What's she saying?" Kara asked.

"I don't know," Alex shook her head. "But it is definitely Martian."

***

"I just wanna go home, Lena, please. Please let me out of here."

Lena took a deep breath, then turned away from her computer and walked over to the edge of the containment unit. "I wanna get you home to your daughter as much as you do," she said. "Believe me. I am just trying to protect you. Both of you."

"I told you this before," Sam sighed. "If I had hurt people, I would remember."

"You're right," Lena nodded. "You would remember. On some deep level, you would feel what you had done." She tapped on her tablet, bringing the clips up again. "When you look at this, do you remember what it was like? Attacking Morgan Edge?" She watched Sam sigh and look up, and Lena smirked. "What I wouldn't have given to see that one up close." Though it had been very satisfying to see Harry, Lucy, James, and Joe gang up on him. Sam closed her eyes and turned away, and Lena tilted her head. "No? No recollection?" She tapped the tablet to continue on. "Supergirl. I mean, that's a difficult one to forget." She spoke through gritted teeth, still remembering her and Harry being unable to do anything as they watched Kara fight. "I mean, you took out those other heroes without even batting an eye. But toe to toe with Supergirl? The most powerful hero on this Earth? How could you forget having your fist connect with something so solid, so powerful?"

Sam abruptly stood up, starting to pace. "This is insane!"

"How did it feel to obliterate?" Lena pressed on, bringing up the next reel. "You tore those men apart! You ripped the limbs from their bodies and you dragged them across the beach!"

"Why are you doing this?" Sam demanded, turning to face her. "Why? I just wanna go home to my daughter!"

Lena steeled herself, then said coldly, "Like I'd let someone like you near Ruby."

Sam stopped short, then glared at Lena. "How dare you?"

"What did it feel like?" Lena asked, stepping closer to the forcefield. "Living in that house, day in, day out, pretending to be her mother? Watching her sleep, so vulnerable, knowing that any minute you could rip her apart with your bare hands?" Sam turned away, and Lena gritted her teeth, bracing. "You're not a mother. You're a monster. And I will make sure you never see Ruby again."

"Enough!" Sam burst out, moving to the forcefield and banging on it.

Despite knowing she wouldn't be hurt, Lena staggered backwards, watching the forcefield ripple, and she swallowed hard, seeing Sam's eyes glow red with heat vision.

***

Sam opened her eyes, and she stared in shock, seeing she was standing in what looked like a wheat field, the sun glowing innocently in the sky.

Except then the sun turned into the moon, and the sky turned from blue to black. Everything around her shifted, and Sam swallowed hard, finding herself in a dark forest, everything shrouded in night and shadows.

***

"Thanks," Laurel took the ice pack Malcolm offered her, pressing it against her throat with a wince.

"You're welcome," Malcolm nodded, pulling a stool up to sit next to her. "It didn't feel like anything was broken."

"Guess he didn't punch hard enough," Laurel grimaced.

Malcolm's eyes darkened. "He threw the first punch. You just hit him back."

"Yeah, but whatever caused that psychic attack made me goad him into it," Laurel sighed.

"What exactly did you say to him?" Malcolm frowned.

Laurel tilted her head. "I think it was 'if you can't punch Slade, you might as well punch me.'" Malcolm raised an eyebrow, and Laurel gave him a look. "Oh, come on. You know as well as I do that most of his problems with us probably lie with Slade. Considering all he did with the mirakuru, and now he's working practically as Oliver's second in command?"

"Except the mirakuru warped what he did," Malcolm pointed out. "And after all he's done after he's had the cure?"

"Well, somehow I don't think John sees it that way," Laurel sighed. "Since according to him, I'll never be Laurel Lance."

Malcolm blinked. "You're not Laurel Lance." Something flickered in Laurel's eyes before she looked down, and Malcolm put a hand on her shoulder. "Personally, I think you're better than her."

Laurel's lips quirked up in a smirk. "Is that just because I like you better than she liked you?"

"Well, partly," Malcolm smirked back. "But you also know there's plenty of grey in black and white. And you're always willing to do what's needed to get something done." He sighed, looking down. "But you're also Laurel Lance from Earth-2. You know who that woman is. You still don't know entirely who Earth-1 Laurel was. That can be a good thing. Black Canary Laurel looks uncomfortable on you. Now, Black Siren Laurel is a badass and a woman comfortable in her own skin. Own that. Diaz may have tried to force you into being Earth-1 Laurel . . . but a siren is much more powerful than a canary could ever be."

Laurel ducked her head, hair falling to hide her reddening cheeks. "Sometimes I think you just like to hear yourself talk."

"Sometimes," Malcolm shrugged. "It's better if others like hearing what I'm saying, too."

Laurel snorted, looking up at him with a smile. "I did."

"Good," Malcolm nudged her with his shoulder. "That was the goal."

Laurel leaned her head on his shoulder, smiling when he wrapped his arm around her waist. "Thank you, Malcolm."

Malcolm kissed the top of her head. "Anything for you, Siren."

***

Kara was still trying to comprehend what she had just heard. "J'onn, you knew?"

"I didn't wanna believe it was getting worse," J'onn sighed, looking at her and Alex. "My father has been using a Martian practice called Ta'ar Kar'iq to move his memories and emotions from the decaying parts of his mind to the healthy parts, but it takes tremendous amounts of energy. Sometimes psychic bleeds can happen. And the more powerful the Martian, the more powerful the bleed. Other psychic species, like Kalanorians, would be the first to feel the effects. When an attack intensifies, it can affect anyone in close proximity, and not just other psychics." He sighed, leaning his head against the doorway. "I brought M'yrnn to the D.E.O. because I felt I could put a shield over this place and keep you all safe, but . . . my father's angry about what's happening to his mind, and his aggression was being funneled into all of you."

"Can't you help him with the dampening technology?" Alex frowned.

"He has relied on his mind his entire life," J'onn frowned. "First as a theologian, and then as a prisoner." He sat down at the conference table, looking down at the floor. "It's what kept him alive for three hundred years. The White Martians may have had him locked in a cage, but he was still free. This technology would make him reliant on me." Kara frowned and sat down across from J'onn. "It would strip him of the one thing the White Martians never could. His independence . . . his dignity."

Alex sighed, walking over to stand on J'onn's other side. "I remember sitting in my kitchen when my mom got the call that my grandmother drove through a traffic light. By the grace of God, nobody was hurt. That was one of the hardest things my mom had to do, taking away her keys. She told my mom off, and she cried. Suddenly, she's in this position she's never been in before: she's an adult being treated like a child. And it was ugly and painful, but it's what had to be done for her protection, for everyone's protection."

J'onn sighed, putting his head in his hand. "I can face down the toughest adversaries without fear, but talking to my father about this . . . " He cleared his throat, tears clogging his voice as he kept speaking. "I don't wanna take away more from him than he's already lost. I just got him back. The practice of Ta'ar Kar'iq keeps him as close to the man I've always known, and I . . . I don't wanna give that up."

Kara reached over and put her hand over J'onn's. "My uncle Jor-El used to say 'The son becomes the father, and the father the son.'"

J'onn sniffed, holding tears back, and Kara squeezed his hand tightly, watching him nod.

***

Sam woke with a gasp, her body trembling from pain she couldn't feel. She slowly sat up, gasping for breath as she sat up. She looked down in confusion . . . when had she fallen asleep on the floor?

A familiar conversation played through speakers, and Sam slowly looked up, seeing herself and Lena speak on the screens in the containment unit. She slowly scooted towards it, eyes wide in horror.

When red heat vision sprayed from her eyes and she sped around the containment unit, Sam burst into tears. "Oh, my God!" she cried. "Stop! Stop!" She screamed, looking down and closing her eyes, but the rageful screams of herself in the video rang in her ears. "No, make it stop!"

She heard the video shut off, then heard Lena's voice. "I needed you to see it for yourself."

Sam shuffled on the floor, turning to look at her friend with wide eyes. "All those people," she sobbed.

"It wasn't your fault," Lena told her, walking forward as she turned off the forcefield. "You weren't in control." Sam closed her eyes, whimpering as Lena crouched next to her and ran a hand over her hair. "When you transformed, I was finally able to get some data of Reign's DNA, OK? We have knowledge now, and knowledge is power." Sam sniffled, and Lena put her hand on Sam's cheek. "Hey, we're gonna get you through this. It's OK."

Sam let out her shaky breath in a rush, nodding numbly as Lena pressed their foreheads together in a comforting gesture.

***

Alex walked towards the lab to where Winn and Felicity were finishing the psychic dampeners when she caught sight of someone pacing one of the training rooms. She paused, looking at her tablet, then sighed, shutting it off and walking towards the conference room. As she saw this situation, if she could help in any way to settle it, the sooner it would be over.

So she raised her hand and knocked on the door, startling the man inside into looking up. "You look like you could use a distraction," she said.

"Oh," Dig cleared his throat, rubbing a hand over his face. "Sorry. I didn't know someone needed the space."

"No one does," Alex shook her head, closing the door behind her. "You apparently do, though."

Dig sighed. "I just . . . I don't know."

"Well, I have an open ear if you need it," Alex shrugged.

Dig snorted softly. "You're not gonna be biased?"

Alex raised an eyebrow. "I'm gonna state the obvious and say I've known all of you for about the same amount of time, and while I've admittedly been around a few of you more than others, my job kind of dictates me being unbiased. And the way I see it, the sooner everything gets settled, the better."

Dig sighed, stopping in place and putting his hands together, looking like he was trying to figure out what to say. "Oliver told me he's keeping the hood," he finally began. "And at the same time, he apologized for stringing me along about it. It was actually a good apology."

"Which you sound slightly surprised by," Alex tilted her head.

"Well, apologizing isn't exactly Oliver's strong suit," Dig snorted.

"Still sounds like you've accepted it," Alex told him.

"I did," Dig nodded, though there was a small frown on his face. "I thought we cleared the air. But then that . . . psychic attack happened, and I attacked Laurel. She's OK, isn't she?"

"Yeah, she is," Alex nodded. "Do you think what's bothering you has to do with Laurel?"

"I don't know," Dig admitted, running a hand over his face. "But when she mentioned Slade, it set me off . . . and then Malcolm cut in . . . " He shook his head. "I feel like it's staring me right in the face, Alex."

"I don't know what to tell you," Alex shook her head, walking over to him and putting a hand on his arm. "But I think that after all you and Oliver have been through, and with everything that's been going wrong in Star City nowadays, you owe it to him to figure out what the problem is."

Dig nodded thoughtfully. "Thanks, Alex."

"Like I said," Alex smiled as she headed back to the door. "Open ear when needed!"

***

Kara was moving through the techniques Mon-El taught her, feeling as though she was dancing. She finished facing the windows, taking a deep breath.

"Footwork looks excellent."

Kara turned to see Mon-El by the door, and she nodded, hands on her hips as she turned back the other way. "Thanks."

"So, you, uh . . . " Mon-El cleared his throat awkwardly. "You punched me."

"Yeah," Kara confirmed.

"Didn't feel like part of the sparring. Can we talk about it?"

"I'm really sorry," Kara turned to look back at him. "I think it was M'yrnn's psychic episode." She frowned thoughtfully. "Why weren't you affected?"

Mon-El held up his fist. "Yeah, the Legion ring acts as a shield."

"Huh," was all Kara had to say about that.

"Another perk from the future," Mon-El nodded, walking over. "Are you sure that's all it was?"

"Yeah," Kara told him.

"Nothing between us?"

"No."

"'Cause, look, I thought we were in a good place, but if we need to stop, we'll just – "

"No, it's fine," Kara shook her head, gesturing between them. "This is – this is a good thing. There are Worldkillers out there, we have . . . " She took a deep breath. "Let's do this." She adjusted her stance, looking at him. "I'm ready."

"OK," Mon-El nodded, walking forward.

***

Dig nodded to himself, finishing his thoughts and heading for the door to the training room. He opened it and stepped outside –

And nearly ran straight into the man he was about to go look for. "John," Oliver blinked, backing up at the same time he did. "I'm sorry, I didn't know you were in – "

"It's fine," Dig shook his head. "The door doesn't exactly have a way to see out of it."

"No," Oliver agreed, clearing his throat awkwardly. "Um . . . " He took a deep breath. "I think – "

"We still need to talk more?" Dig finished.

"Yeah," Oliver cringed.

Dig nodded as well, stepping back. "In here?"

Oliver nodded, stepping inside. Dig was facing Oliver as he stepped inside, so he didn't see Slade walking down the opposite hall. He also didn't see Slade pause and look down the other hall, a small frown forming on his face as Dig closed the door.

***

J'onn opened the door to the room he was moving his father into, and he tapped a panel on the wall. M'yrnn watched lights on the walls activate, then turned towards his son. "Why did you bring me in here?" he asked.

"Just to talk," J'onn answered.

"I'd prefer to go back to my prayer room," M'yrnn frowned. "Or, better yet, take me home."

"I'm afraid I can't do that," J'onn said heavily. "As you've been struggling with your illness, your psychic waves have escaped. It's . . . it's affecting people."

"No," M'yrnn shook his head, backing away. "I would know if it did. I've done nothing wrong. I would never hurt anyone."

"No one thinks you're trying to hurt them, Father," J'onn tried to assure him. "It happened with the Kalanorian."

"A Kalanorian?" M'yrnn frowned. "On this planet? Why didn't you tell me about this?"

J'onn frowned, too. "We spoke about it."

"We did no such thing," M'yrnn denied.

J'onn sighed, putting a hand on his forehead. "Dad, you're forgetting."

"No!" M'yrnn insisted. "I will get control of it!"

"I'm afraid you are not able to," J'onn said apologetically. "Not by yourself."

"Don't you dare tell your father what he is or isn't able to do!" M'yrnn snapped, and J'onn winced, feeling M'yrnn's anger rise in another psychic attack.

***

Oliver leaned against the wall, watching Dig pace. "I should've told you sooner," he began.

"That's not what this is, Oliver," his friend shook his head. "Um . . . thanks for a bit of time after . . . " He cleared his throat. "You know."

"Sure thing," Oliver nodded, not sure what else to say in response to that. "You doing OK?"

"Yeah," Dig nodded. "I just needed some air. And, uh . . . a word with Alex, apparently."

"Alex?" Oliver raised an eyebrow curiously.

"An open ear when I need one, apparently," Dig smiled.

"Yeah, she has that effect on people," Oliver agreed. "So . . . did it work?"

"It did," Dig nodded, stopping his pacing. "I got some clarity." He turned to look at him. "Oliver, it's totally within your rights to keep the hood. It's yours. I've been . . . off, lately, regarding wanting it back."

"I've noticed," Oliver smiled dryly, hoping a bit of humor would diffuse the tension a bit.

Dig's lips quirked up in a small smile. "Well, I realized my frustration hasn't been with the uniform. It's been with the man underneath it."

That made Oliver blink and frown. "I don't understand."

"I didn't, either," Dig shook his head. "Not at first. I so appreciated your apology, but something about it gnawed at me. That you needed to be the Green Arrow, that it completed you. This was supposed to be about saving Star City, helping the people, not ourselves."

"I know that," Oliver nodded. "It's a little too dangerous, and I've lost just a little too much along the way for it to be about that."

"But yet, here you are," Dig gestured. "Raising a son, engaged to be married. You've become the mayor of Star City."

"So what?" Oliver asked, genuinely confused.

"So, Oliver, you were never supposed to stretch yourself so thin and in so many different directions, literally even another universe, that the people suffer," Dig answered.

"We have been in tough spots before," Oliver frowned, unease growing.

"We have, with a team," Dig nodded. "Even before Curtis, Rene, and Dinah, there was Roy, there was Thea. But, Oliver, the way you lead alienates everyone and everything around you."

"And I've alienated Slade?" Oliver pushed off the wall, narrowing his eyes. "Malcolm, Laurel?"

Dig continued as if he hadn't spoken. "Look, putting the team under surveillance was a mistake. We had an opportunity to save the Vigilante. You made a different call."

"I wasn't the only one to make those decisions," Oliver scowled. "They aren't magically mine alone. I seem to remember you right there next to me."

"Begging you to exercise restraint, caution, Oliver, but that's not you," Dig countered. "You have changed, and you've grown so much, and it's been my honor, it's been my privilege, to watch you, but Oliver, you're still you, and if you're just doing this for you, like you just admitted – "

"I didn't say I was doing it just for myself!" Oliver protested.

"If this isn't one hundred percent for Star City, then you are not the hero that it deserves, and you never will be," Dig told him, making Oliver's mouth shut with a click.

***

"Good," Mon-El nodded, watching Kara's footwork. "That's good." Kara stumbled suddenly, not swinging her cape correctly, and she seethed, almost stomping her foot in frustration. "Hey, we survived a black hole, we can get through this together," Mon-El told her optimistically. "Come on, try it again."

Kara gave him a dubious look, but sighed and turned around. She went through the steps again, and Mon-El finally saw what was wrong as she growled angrily. "You just missed the pivot. Keep your left foot – "

"Will you shut up?" Kara finally turned around and spat angrily.

***

Oliver's eyes narrowed to slits as he finished comprehending what his friend had just said. "Just Star City?" he asked. "So I can't try and be here, in National City, when my help is needed? Where my fiancée could need it?"

"Oliver, right now, National City's biggest threat are Kryptonians who are more powerful than your fiancée," Dig told him. "You, and us, don't stand a chance. Ricardo Diaz is who we need to focus on. And he has the police force and God knows how much of our city in his grip!"

"So you're picking now to lecture me or to whine about not getting a promotion?" Oliver asked incredulously.

"This isn't about a promotion, man," Dig scowled. "This is about you. And yes – now, because Diaz can't wire up another universe! Unless maybe he gets here under your watch?"

"My watch?" Oliver repeated angrily. "Like hell I would give him anything to get to this universe. And he showed up while you were the Green Arrow! You bought drugs from him, John! You funded what he is doing right now! The entire time I put you in that hood, and you hid having a drug problem!"

"And I was putting my body through hell for the sake of our city!" Dig snapped.

"No, you put the team at risk by lying!" Oliver retorted. "Kara dove after Rene to save his life because you were in the field, you weren't one hundred percent, and nobody knew it!"

"You really want to bring up Rene right now when he is still hospitalized?" Dig growled.

Oliver opened his mouth to come up with a counter to that, but paused, realizing something. "Why are you putting that on me?" he demanded, his confusion back.

The door to the training room shut, and both Oliver and Dig spun around, not realizing it had ever opened in the first place. "Because, Oliver," Slade leveled Dig with an expressionless look as he closed the door behind him, "I think he's just reached his main point – the hood isn't his biggest problem."

***

"Please," J'onn whispered, wincing as he tried to contain the psychic waves. "Please, Father, just – "

"What are these for?" M'yrnn demanded, gesturing around the room.

J'onn looked at the lights glowing on the walls. "They're just in case," he answered. "They suppress our powers."

"Is that to help me, too?" M'yrnn scowled.

"It's to help quell your mind, Father," J'onn shook his head. "So that I may assist you in the practice of Ta'ar Kar'iq."

"You would cage me?" M'yrnn demanded.

J'onn grimaced in pain, working harder than ever to contain the psychic waves. "Never," he managed to ground out.

***

"You're right," Kara glared at Mon-El, her tone laced with bitterness. "We have been through a lot together. Like that time when you promised you wouldn't leave the D.E.O., and instead you ran off. You got wasted. You were reckless, selfish, you lied, and you didn't apologize."

"Kara, I – " Mon-El began.

"And then there was the time I got you a job at CatCo," Kara plowed on. "I vouched for you at my place of employment. And then you had Eve do all of your work for you, and then you screwed her in the closet. You didn't apologize for that. And, shocker, I apologized to you for trying to make you into a better person!"

"I hear you," Mon-El nodded, hiding a wince. "I get it."

"No, I don't think you do get it," Kara spat, her voice trembling in anger as she got in his face. "I don't think you get that I gave my heart to a lying jackass who was unaware of his behavior towards me, who disrespected me at every turn, and now is this reformed person who . . . what, he wants to reminisce about the good times?"

The door to the room opened, and Felicity's nervous voice cut through. "Kara?"

She looked past Mon-El to see the blonde looking past Alex, who was holding the door open, both with inhibitors attached to their temples. "Put this on," Alex held up one of them.

Kara gave Mon-El one last look before storming over She plucked the inhibitor from her sister's hand and fastened it on her temple, and she froze in shock. "What did I just do?" she breathed.

"Most likely, poured out whatever crap you felt about him," Felicity smiled nervously.

Kara took a deep breath, then paused. "Wait . . . " She looked at Alex, who looked back when she spoke. "Who else has these?"

"Us, Winn, Malcolm, and Laurel," Alex answered. "John was next on my list to get one."

Kara swallowed hard. "Before Mon-El and I started training, Oliver went to talk to John."

"And we haven't found Slade yet," Felicity blanched.

All three women looked at each other, eyes wide, before Kara sped off, Alex and Felicity stumbling to run after her because none of that boded well at all.

***

"I don't think you were invited into this conversation, Slade," Dig scowled.

"I wasn't?" Slade raised an eyebrow, folding his arms and leaning against the door. "So you weren't about to blame Oliver for putting Rene in the hospital for a wound you were partly responsible for?"

"Well, now that you're here, I'm perfectly capable of blaming you," Dig turned to him, Oliver still blinking in confusion behind him. "Since it was you who put that beating on him."

"After he pulled a gun on me, and Malcolm, and Laurel," Slade narrowed his eye. "And after I asked him repeatedly to stand down. That was when he decided the best course of action was to pick up a bloody axe and swing it like a madman. He ripped that wound open himself due to choices he made. Did I beat him? Yes, I did. That was after he threatened our lives. Pretty self-explanatory, if you ask me."

"And you seemed all too eager to give them a beating," Dig snarled. "Didn't you?"

"If that's what it took to get them to back down, then that's what we were willing to do," Slade retorted. "You clearly weren't."

"Because I still think they could have been talked to!"

"Words weren't going to work with them," Slade countered. "Actions spoke louder. We told them not a single step. Rene took that step. And we upheld our word."

Dig snorted. "Because a villain's word means so much."

"John," Oliver began.

"No, Oliver, let him say it," Slade shook his head, chuckling darkly. "That's his biggest problem. It's not the hood. It's that three former supervillains have more trust than he does. It's just like Laurel suggested . . . cheetahs don't change their spots, wasn't it? Actually, you seemed to imply it was more regarding me and Malcolm." At Dig's surprised look, Slade rolled his eye. "Believe it or not, the top-secret government building has security cameras. I checked to see what happened. I heard every word you exchanged."

"And what do you plan on doing about it?" Dig narrowed his eyes.

"Simple," Slade held out his hands as he pushed off the wall and walked forward. "Keep the fighting where it belongs. It didn't belong with Laurel. She's fine, by the way, if you were actually concerned about her."

"I was," Dig scowled. "I asked Alex."

"Good to know," Slade said curtly. "But it wasn't the villains changing their spots that set you off. Not entirely, anyway . . . though I imagine it burns to know Oliver trusts us watching his back."

"The girl impersonating a deceased teammate, the man who was responsible for the Gambit sinking and his father's death, and the man who tried to break him and burn his city to the ground, not to mention killing his mother?" Dig snorted. "Forgive me for being a little wary."

"Laurel is not impersonating her doppelgänger by choice," Slade growled lowly. "That was because of Diaz's actions."

"Yeah, remind me who let him go when she was kidnapped?" Dig tilted his head, pretending to think. "Right . . . that was you and Malcolm."

"So we were supposed to let the cops figure out who we were and that two of their most notorious terrorists were alive," Slade scoffed. "What a brilliant alternative. As for the wizard – "

"Magician," Oliver felt the sudden need to cut in.

Slade's warning growl made him glare at him. "You clearly were blind or deaf when the Guild came to visit," the Australian continued, not taking his eye off Dig. "Because he has changed."

"He's the magician because he's an illusionist, a manipulator," Dig countered.

"So all he's done in the past year has been an illusion and a lie?" Slade scoffed. "Not bloody likely." Dig shook his head, and Slade stepped forward. "And yes, I've been a villain. I had the mirakuru running in my veins. I tried to burn Star City, I killed Oliver's mother. I will always regret those actions. But just because I have earned Oliver's trust again does not mean that you take out that anger on Laurel. Because that was what made you throw the first punch . . . you don't like that the first teammate Oliver saw as his brother is back."

"Maybe if it wasn't the man who tried to kill him, make his life hell, and once again killed his mother and tried to burn his city, I wouldn't feel so off about it," Dig snapped, eyes flaring. "I can't say much for Black Siren, but you and Merlyn, you leave trails of bodies every damn place you go, whether it's in Star City or here in National City. You've both killed a Queen once, you could damn well do it again!"

Slade's snarl almost drowned out the end of Dig's sentence. "We've both also killed for Queens before. One of my bodies you mentioned? That was my son's godfather. He was like a brother to me. And I killed him to save Oliver."

Dig snorted loudly. "You killed one surrogate brother before. You could do it again."

"I would rather take my other eye before I killed my brothers and sisters again," Slade growled lowly, stepping forward. "But that's one thing you have over me . . . my trail of bodies doesn't include my blood brother."

That was when Dig threw his punch at Slade. "No!" Oliver shouted, lunging forward.

Slade snarled and ducked under Dig's fist, throwing his arm out and knocking Oliver back. As the archer stumbled back, Dig spun around, eyes flashing murderously. Slade just turned back to face him and revealed the combat knife he had in his sleeve. "Like I said," Dig growled. "Every time I hear it said you and Malcolm have changed, I almost believe it and then you go and pull that."

"I'm not the one who threw the first punch," Slade countered, prowling in a circle opposite Dig. "But that doesn't matter to you, apparently. After all, you never trust a villain's word."

Dig charged again, and Slade held up his hand, catching his fist. He pulled the same move he had pulled on Rene in the forest: he used Dig's momentum against him, dropping to a knee and pulling Dig over his shoulder, sprawling the other soldier on the floor behind him. "Hey!" Oliver finally recovered, running to put himself between the two men. "Stop it!"

The door to the training room banged open, and Oliver heard Laurel's startled yelp, closely followed by Malcolm's furious voice demanding "What the hell?"

Dig scrambled to his feet, about to turn on Malcolm when Laurel sent a sonic scream in his direction. Dig flew back into the wall, and Oliver quickly ran to hold him back, Malcolm and Laurel grabbing Slade's arms before he could charge. "When I said conversation, I didn't mean tear each other apart!" Laurel ground out as Malcolm managed to get one of the inhibitors on Slade.

Kara flew into the room next, eyes wide as she took in what was going on. She quickly sped over to Oliver, seeing Slade take a few deep breaths, blinking rapidly as he regained his bearings. "Put this on," she said quickly, handing an inhibitor to Oliver before reaching up to put one on Dig.

Oliver quickly did so as Alex and Felicity ran into the room, Felicity bent over double as she gasped for breath. "What the hell?" Slade finally managed to ask, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"That was my exact reaction," Malcolm glared between Slade and Dig. "What was that?"

"Laurel was right," Oliver answered as he took a deep breath, seeing understanding, followed by disbelief, dawn on Dig's face as well. "That conversation definitely wasn't over."

***

I was actually really worried about how the argument between Dig and Slade would go. Hopefully I did both characters justice in the end.

So on the topic of updating . . . these next few weeks are when midterms are happening, and some of those tests determine a large portion of my grades in classes so I can't afford to do horribly on them. Those exams will be my priority over this book, so if I don't update in the next few days, please respect my time and my life outside of this site.

Thank you in advance for understanding, and I will see everyone when I update again!