And here's the final part! Alex, Slade, and Evelyn prepare to fight Reign, help arrives in the form of a time traveling Daxamite, and Ruby is in for a nasty shock. Also, if you haven't figured it out yet, I'm ship teasing.

Enjoy the final part of "Shelter From The Storm!"

***

"Hey," William smiled when Ruby came back into the room. "We were wondering where you were. Those idiots finally got the projector working."

"Excuse me!" Alex's jaw dropped as Slade's head shot up. "We are not – !"

"Is that my phone?" Evelyn interrupted suddenly, pointing at the device Ruby was sneakily trying to put back down. Ruby froze like a deer in the headlights, and both Alex and Evelyn were suddenly by her. "What were you doing with my phone?" Evelyn demanded, tapping in her passcode.

"I'm sorry," Ruby burst out, tears in her eyes. "But nobody's telling me anything, and I thought maybe – "

"Ruby," Slade narrowed his eye. "Who did you call?"

"Sam," Alex swallowed, recognizing the number. "She tried calling Sam."

William dropped the DVD case he was holding. "But doesn't that mean – ?"

Alarms started blaring through the building, and Ruby flinched, holding her hand over her eyes as red lights flashed. "What is that?"

"That's Reign," Alex answered, looking around. "Get downstairs, now. Go!"

"Reign?" Ruby paled drastically.

"Come on!" William grabbed her hand, yanking her off.

Evelyn snatched her duffel and took off, and Alex and Slade exchanged looks. "Please tell me you brought your suit?" Alex asked hopefully.

"I didn't plan on taking chances," Slade nodded, and Alex sighed in relief as they both rushed to find their own bags.

***

"Winn!" Felicity shouted, drawing everyone's attention towards the tech area.

Winn swallowed hard, seeing the satellite images pulled up. "It's Reign," he turned to face the others. "She's at Lex's mansion."

"Which means she knows Ruby's there," J'onn grimaced, rubbing his shoulder.

"With Alex and William," Kara paled.

"And Slade and Evelyn," Oliver nodded.

"I can use the Kryptonite," Laurel volunteered, looking around the circle. "The rest of you have physical weapons you need to use against her."

"I'm injured, but I could use it," J'onn pointed out.

"Or I could!"

Kara and Oliver turned around quickly, and Kara laughed gleefully when Mon-El strode into the room, clad in his Legion suit. "Mon-El!"

"The future – !" J'onn began as Kara ran over.

"The future's fine," Mon-El shook his head, hugging Kara when she made it to him. "Brainy and Imra are still on the way."

"Then why did you come back?" Oliver asked, walking forward as well.

"To help you with your fight against Reign," Mon-El answered with a smile. "And if he's still around before that's ended, Diaz, too."

Oliver blinked, then chuckled and extended his hand. "It's good to see you back."

"It's good to be back," Mon-El shook his hand. "So . . . Reign?"

"At least there's another person to give people a lift, too," Max smiled.

"Not helping," J'onn sighed as Kara grabbed Oliver's and Malcolm's quivers, Dig and Laurel joining Mon-El.

***

"But Evelyn was – !" Ruby tried to look behind her shoulder.

"She went another way!" William shook his head. "Come on, we need to hide!"

"There's nothing past this room!" Ruby insisted.

Footsteps rounded the corner, then Alex hurried after them. "Then good thing backup's on its way!"

Ruby almost tripped over her own feet. "You're – ?" she sputtered.

"The Black Wolf?" Alex checked the suit she was wearing, grimacing. "Yeah, that's me. Hurry!"

The ceiling collapsed inwards just as they reached the door at the end, and Alex shoved the kids through, turning and closing the door as Reign's heat vision fired. She sighed in relief when the heat vision hit the door instead of her. "How long will that door hold?" Slade asked, he and Evelyn walking forward, both fully suited without their masks.

"It's a Kryptonian Worldkiller, Slade, I don't know," Alex shook her head.

"Both of you?" Ruby's head looked like it was on a swivel as she looked between Slade and Alex.

"Ruby, we'll explain," Slade crouched down, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Right now, you and William need to stay back, all right?"

"Promise?" Ruby gulped.

"I promise," Slade nodded, pointing. "Hide back there."

"Got it," William nodded, following behind Ruby.

"Evelyn, stay with them," Alex ordered.

Evelyn nodded, tightening her grip on her bow and running to join them. "Deathstroke and the Black Wolf?" Ruby's eyes were comically wide.

"It's a really long story," William winced, then blinked when he saw the black collar around Evelyn's throat. "Isn't that – ?"

Evelyn nodded, tapping her Canary Cry. "Every weapon I can use, right?"

William smiled nervously. "Brainy wouldn't have given it back if it could hurt you again."

Evelyn nodded, shifting on the balls of her feet. "That's what I keep telling myself."

Slade listened to the traps outside activating, he and Alex pulling out their guns. "Just noticed," he looked at her, "no claws."

"If I get close enough to Reign where I need to resort to those, I'm already dead," Alex shook her head.

Slade snorted. "Not on my watch."

Alex shot him a quick look. "You may be dead, then, too."

Slade barked out a laugh. "I never imagined myself going out against a Kryptonian. I don't plan on it today."

The steel suddenly dented in the shape of a fist, and Alex tensed, tightening her grip on her gun. "Drinks on me if we get through this."

Slade smirked. "You're on, Danvers."

The door suddenly flew towards them, and both took a step back, letting it clatter at their feet. As Reign stepped into the doorway, nails extending into claws, a rotating gun dropped down from the ceiling and started peppering Reign with bullets. She stumbled back into the doorway, and Slade and Alex started firing their red sun bullets at her, too. They followed Reign jumping over the walls, then Reign screamed at them, and Slade grimaced, dropping to one knee and pressing his hands over his ears. He heard the others cry out in pain as well, but a creaking noise above him distracted him enough to look up and see what was wrong. "Alex!" he shouted. Alex looked up as well and barely managed to roll out of the way before the rotating gun crashed down on top of her and into the ground. "Alex!"

"I'm good!" he heard her respond and look up, extending her gloved hand, reaching for the gun that had clattered away from her.

The magnets kicked in, and the gun started moving towards her, but Reign kicked it out of the way and turned to sneer Ruby's way. The brunette whimpered and William wrapped his arms around her, pulling her back as Evelyn clenched her jaw and placed herself between the Worldkiller and her friends. "Evelyn," William whispered.

Evelyn just reached back to find an arrow, but just as Reign's eyes started to glow red, several pairs of feet landed on the ground at the same time. "Reign!" Kara shouted, zooming forward.

"Get away from them!" Oliver roared at the same time, he and Malcolm reaching for arrows simultaneously.

"Supergirl!" Ruby cried in relief.

"Dad!" William called at the same time.

"Your dad?!" Ruby stared at him.

Kara crashed into Reign, knocking her to the ground, and as Dig ran to help Alex, Mon-El looked at Laurel, who was holding the case in her arms. "Ready?" he asked.

She nodded, and without further ado, Kara flung Reign across the floor towards them. Laurel flipped the case open, aiming the Kryptonite down at Reign, who groaned in pain, trying to rise to her feet. She aimed a punch at the case, but Mon-El caught her fist and punched her in the stomach. Reign stumbled back, then backhanded Kara away from her and fired her heat vision at Laurel. The metahuman tried to evade, but she caught the heat vision in her back, and with a shout of pain, she collapsed to the ground, the Kryptonite clattering away from her. "Siren!" Malcolm spun around.

Reign turned to him next, but Mon-El slid in front of her, Kara getting to her feet and blocking Reign in from behind. They kept Reign between them, trying to keep her away from Oliver, Dig, Slade, and Alex, all of whom were trying to find a shot as Malcolm checked on Laurel. "Anyone?" Oliver ground out.

"No!" Dig shook his head.

"None of us have a shot!" Alex barked.

"Artemis?" Oliver turned.

She rose to her feet, too, but shook her head. "Nothing!"

"Not without hitting one of them!" Slade added.

Malcolm looked over his shoulder, seeing the three aliens duke it out, then put a hand on Laurel's shoulder as she tried to raise herself up. "How bad is it?" he asked.

"I can't believe I'm saying this," Laurel gritted her teeth, "but I'd rather face Diaz right now."

Malcolm raised an eyebrow, then saw Laurel's eyes brighten. "What?"

"The Kryptonite," she pointed. "Get the Kryptonite!"

As Malcolm ran for the case, Kara blocked a blow from Reign, then Mon-El lashed out with his cape, wrapping it around Reign's wrist. With a sneer, Reign tried to punch him as well, and Kara whipped her cape around her forearm. At a nod from Mon-El, she did a flip over him in midair while Mon-El somersaulted on the ground, spread-eagling Reign so she was wide open for Alex and Slade to take their shots, their bullets emitting golden energy nets, dropping Reign to the ground.

Laurel turned to Malcolm as he collected the case. "Get it to Mon-El," she urged, pointing to the gun. "Physically hit her with it!"

Malcolm's eyes widened in understanding, and he nodded as Laurel raced to join the others. Just as Reign burst out of the energy nets, Laurel screamed at her, making Reign grit her teeth and try and raise herself up. Oliver fired off the Kryptonite arrow he had, and when it sank into Reign's shoulder, she howled in pain, her veins lighting up green. Slade, Alex, and Dig continued firing their red solar bullets, peppering Reign and trying to keep her down. As Kara slowly inched away, green showing in her veins as well, Mon-El took the Kryptonite from Malcolm and crushed it in his hands, turning the rock into smaller pebbles the size of bullets. "Ready?" he shouted.

"Hurry!" Oliver shouted back as Reign yanked the arrow out of her shoulder.

Mon-El hurriedly put the bullets into the chamber of the rotating gun, then aimed it at the Worldkiller, firing as quickly as he could. With each Kryptonite bullet to the chest, Reign's face paled and she collapsed to her knees, gasping for air. Slade, Alex, and Dig came in closer, firing the remaining red solar bullets in their guns, Laurel screaming at her. At a raised fist from Oliver, all of them finally stopped and looked down at the unconscious Worldkiller on the floor . . . her mask knocked off and on the floor.

And a strangled gasp from the kids' hiding place made Alex and Slade immediately turn. "Mom?" Ruby croaked, eyes wide in horror.

"Ruby," William whispered, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"That's my mom!" Ruby sobbed, scrambling backwards as far as she could, though she didn't fight William when he carefully hugged her. In fact, she curled into him, clinging tightly to him as William looked up at his father with a surprised look on his face.

Alex swallowed and walked over, Evelyn backing up, an uncertain look on her face as the vigilante crouched down. "Ruby," she whispered.

"That's my mom," was all Ruby seemed able to say as she hiccupped.

Alex rubbed her back, and Oliver sighed, looking down at the unmasked Reign. "Let's get her to Lena," he said softly.

Mon-El only nodded, bending down to pick her up as Oliver walked over to check on Kara, who was still leaning against the wall she had ended up against.

***

"How are you feeling?" Lena asked as she looked Kara over nervously, peeking over her shoulder as Mon-El carefully put Reign down in the chamber Lena had made.

"Like a boulder of green rock punched me in the gut," Kara answered, rubbing her chest. "But I'll be fine. All the Kryptonite was used on Reign."

Lena sighed. "There's something about using Kryptonite to help a friend . . . but it also hurts the other one, too."

"Hey, in a way, you were helping me help Sam," Kara smiled at her. "It's what we needed."

"That only makes me feel slightly better," Lena huffed.

"Better some than none," Kara shrugged.

"I still can't believe you said you'd rather face Diaz than Reign," Malcolm was saying when they tuned into the conversation happening.

Laurel snorted loudly. "Because who wouldn't want to face a regular human being than a Worldkiller?"

"I don't know," Dig tilted his head side to side. "Diaz basically playing a game of cat and mouse against a Worldkiller who prefers to go all out and taunts 'beat me if you can?'"

"Thank you!" Malcolm nodded pointedly.

"Just get me to Diaz and I'll gladly punch him for you," Mon-El offered.

"That's seriously very tempting, considering Reign is handled for now," Oliver admitted.

"Great, back to Star City, then?" Dig guessed.

"Yeah," Oliver sighed. "Back to Star City . . . and I may have thought of a way to appeal to Anatoli. I want to keep chipping away at Diaz's resources. Something's gotta give at some point."

"Let's hope the give doesn't take you with it, brother," Dig clapped a hand on his shoulder.

"We'll meet you at the D.E.O.," Laurel smiled.

"Thanks," Oliver nodded. "We may be bringing an additional guest."

Malcolm merely raised an eyebrow. "Copy that."

Mon-El watched the trio go, then looked back at Oliver and Kara. "You think Ruby will be with you for a while?"

"A break from this Earth may be good for her," Kara admitted. "And another Earth? I hope that'll distract her. Alex, Slade, William, and Evelyn are pitching it to her, I think."

"Ruby doesn't stand a chance," Mon-El chuckled, then looked at Lena. "There you go."

"Thanks," Lena nodded, tapping the button that put the forcefields in place. "Now I'm gonna go work on a cure."

"You've got this," Kara smiled encouragingly.

Lena smiled back, walking off, and Oliver turned to Mon-El, raising an eyebrow. "So . . . how you came back?"

"Ah, yes," Mon-El winced. "Well, it seems that Brainy might have put a nanny cam in Winn's dirt."

Kara blinked rapidly as Oliver barked in laughter. "That's . . . upsetting."

"So Brainy ran some calculations," Mon-El rocked on his heels, "and mathematically, the odds of you beating Reign in her new form exponentially increased if one member of the Legion comes back to help."

Kara giggled. "As always, I am thankful for Brainy's calculations."

"It looked like you didn't need me, though," Mon-El began.

"Oh, you definitely helped once we started using Kryptonite," Oliver assured him. "Considering our other super strength player was out with an injury. We needed you."

Mon-El smiled, bowing flamboyantly. "Well, I am yours to command until your missions are complete."

"And we are ever grateful," Kara smiled warmly at him.

Mon-El nodded. "So . . . Star City?"

"Yeah," Oliver nodded.

"But with one stop to make first," Kara's smile faded.

***

J'onn closed the door behind him, walking through the living room, then looked up when M'yrnn came in from the kitchen, a wide grin on his face. "I have discovered the most incredible thing today!" he beamed. "Did you know, if you grind the coffee beans with the cocoa beans, you get the most delectable mixture? It makes the flavor sensors of my mouth smile!"

J'onn chuckled, nodding. "It's called a mocha, Father."

"Mocha," M'yrnn tested it out slowly. "Hmm . . . I would have thought 'choco-coffee.'"

J'onn tilted his head. "'Choco-coffee,'" he repeated thoughtfully. "You know, that does kind of have a ring to it." He smiled, walking forward and patting him on the shoulder. "It's so good to see you up and around, Father. You should know, your advice about the White Martians was extremely helpful, but we found a way to catch Reign after all."

M'yrnn's face was completely blank as he looked at J'onn. "I have no recollection of what you're talking about."

J'onn slowly nodded. "Well, all you need to know is that you helped."

M'yrnn nodded, then perked up. "J'onn, did you know, if you grind the coffee beans with the cocoa beans, you get the most delectable mixture?"

J'onn slowly shook his head. "I did not know that, no," he said, heart sinking. "I'd like to try it." M'yrnn extended his mug eagerly, and J'onn smiled. "Thank you."

M'yrnn chuckled gleefully, returning to the kitchen, and J'onn's smile faded as he looked down at the mug. His father's memory was getting worse.

***

"That was her face," Ruby whispered, curled up on the couch at Alex's apartment. "I saw her face."

"It looks like her, we know," Alex nodded. "We know. But I promise you, that's not your mom."

"Why should I believe you?" Ruby sniffed. "You promised she was gonna be OK."

Alex sighed, closing her eyes. "You're right. I didn't tell you the truth."

"Ruby," Slade said quietly, drawing the brunette's attention to him. "Years ago, I lied to my son as well."

Ruby sniffed, looking up at him. "You have a son?"

"I do," Slade nodded. "You know who we are after today, right?"

Ruby nodded shyly. "The Black Wolf. And Deathstroke."

"Years ago, I was an agent for an organization called ASIS," Slade told her. "Think of it like the Australian CIA. And I went on a trip with my son, and I promised him it would be the two of us, nothing for work. He didn't know I worked for ASIS. He thought I worked for an airline." Despite the seriousness of the story, Ruby raised an eyebrow, giving him a dubious look. "I know," Slade smirked, making her giggle. "Bad lie. But the worst part of the lie was . . . he saw what we were really doing on that trip. And it changed his view of me." He sighed, looking down. "That mission I was on led me to meeting Oliver for the first time, and when we parted . . . we weren't on very good terms."

"That's a bit hard to believe now," Ruby said quietly.

"Let's just say never take a drug when you don't know how it'll change you," Slade warned, and Ruby's eyes widened before she nodded quickly. "That drug . . . drastically changed me. It took all of my bad qualities and made them worse. That was when I saw Joe again, after Oliver and I parted ways. He had joined up with ASIS, just like I had. And I was fine for a few years. The serum I had taken had simmered down; I was almost back to normal. Then my hallucinations began again, and I got steadily worse." He closed his eye, Alex swallowing when she saw the pure pain on Slade's face as he recalled what happened. "I was at a point where I wanted nothing but revenge on the man I once saw as my brother in all but blood," he confessed to Ruby, her eyes wide as she listened. "The man I was then . . . he was a monster. That's not who I am, but that was what something turned me into. I lost my son because of that. He wanted to become who Deathstroke used to be, and who Deathstroke used to be, that's not me. Everything that happened with Joe is because of a lie that I thought would protect him. We thought we could protect you, too, which is why we didn't tell you the truth. That was wrong. But just like who I used to be with that serum isn't who I really am, Reign is not your mother. Do you understand?"

Ruby slowly nodded, and Alex scooted forward, putting her hand on Ruby's shoulder. "Ruby," she whispered, "I give you my word that we will do everything within our power to keep you safe. And from here on out, we will always be honest with you."

"That will include all of us," Slade added. "Can you trust us with that?"

Ruby sniffed, but she nodded, then she looked up at Slade. "What happened to your son?" she asked timidly.

Slade stiffened, and Alex looked at him, worried he wouldn't answer. "I don't know where he is right now," he finally said slowly. "I found him one time last fall with Oliver, Kara, and Malcolm. But because of what happened between us . . . he's gone. I'm hoping I'll find him again." He looked at William and Evelyn, who were pretending not to listen as they looked at something on William's phone, then at Alex. "But until I have even a vague idea of where he is, my family here needs me more right now."

Ruby nodded. "I'm sorry for what happened."

"It's not your fault," Slade shook his head. "Why are you apologizing?"

Ruby shrugged. "I felt like I needed to say something."

Alex smiled at her honesty, then looked up when the curtains rustled. "Ruby?" Kara asked quietly.

Ruby's head shot up, and Slade silently stood up to join Alex as the other two walked over. "You're Supergirl and the Green Arrow," she said almost inaudibly.

"Yes, we are," Kara nodded, crouching down in front of her. "And neither you nor Sam knew because – "

"To protect us?" Ruby asked expectantly.

Kara blinked, and Slade cleared his throat. "That may have been mentioned already."

"Yes," Oliver nodded, sitting down across from Ruby. "The more people who know who we are, the more people we care about that are in danger. In fact, where I come from, I am currently under investigation for being a vigilante."

Ruby frowned in confusion. "I thought that would be in the news."

"It's been very big news," Oliver nodded, gesturing to himself, Slade, William, and Ruby. "Back on our Earth, anyway."

Ruby blinked. "Your Earth?"

"Our Earth," Oliver nodded.

"Wait," Ruby looked around. "Like . . . parallel universes?"

"The multiverse," Kara confirmed.

" . . . that's real?!"

"It's real," Oliver nodded. "Slade, William, Evelyn, and I, along with several of my friends, are from the universe known as Earth-1."

"And our humble abode is Earth-38," Kara added.

Ruby frowned. "Why is your Earth labeled number one?"

Slade laughed loudly at Oliver's grimace. "Bet you weren't expecting that as her first question, kid!"

"This is why Barry and Cisco explain the multiverse," Oliver grumbled.

"Apparently their universe is in the center of the multiverse," Kara rolled her eyes playfully.

"Oh," Ruby nodded. "That makes sense." Then she grinned. "You're gonna marry someone from another universe!"

"Yes, I am," Kara grinned widely. "And I'm very happy with that decision." Ruby giggled, still seeming awed by the thought of a multiverse, and Kara licked her lips, mentally apologizing for what she was about to say. "Ruby . . . there's something you need to know about your grandmother, Patricia."

Ruby blinked, looking up at her. "Mom never talked about her much," she said, confused. "Is she OK?"

Kara swallowed. "No, Ruby. She died early in the evening."

Ruby froze, her eyes the size of dinner plates. "It was Mom, wasn't it?" she asked, voice trembling violently. "My mom killed her?"

"It was not your mom," Kara shook her head, sitting on the couch and scooting close so she could hug Ruby. "Reign is not your mother. And we are going to help her, I promise." Ruby whimpered, and Kara closed her eyes. "Before she died, she told me to tell you she loved you. She really did."

Ruby buried her face in Kara's shoulder, and Oliver carefully sat on the coffee table in front of her. "Ruby," he said quietly, "would you like to come back to our universe with us for a while?" Ruby peeked over Kara's shoulder to look at him, and Oliver smiled encouragingly. "I know it won't make what happened here go away, but it could provide you with a chance to see where we come from and just take a break from what's happened."

Ruby sniffed. "Well, I don't want to stay at that mansion again."

"I still need to shoot Lillian's portrait," Slade said thoughtfully.

"Really, there was a picture of her in there?" Oliver wrinkled his nose.

"It's the Luthor mansion, Oliver," Alex pointed out.

Oliver sighed. "Still awful."

Ruby looked like she was trying to hide a smile. "I would be able to stay with you?"

"Yes," Oliver nodded, looking past her at William and Evelyn, who looked hopeful. "Think of it as an extended sleepover with William and Evelyn."

Ruby peered over at them, and finally, she started to smile. "I'd like that."

"I think they would, too," Oliver stage whispered.

"Yay!" William bounded over, Evelyn giggling and following.

Ruby let go of Kara, giggling as well as both Evelyn and William hugged her. "Thank you so much," she smiled at Oliver.

"Anything that helps you," Oliver promised. "Because any family of Kara's is family of mine."

Ruby beamed, then gasped. "Oh, my God, I need to pack!"

"Well, let's go!" Kara grinned, standing up. "Want to fly?"

"Oh, yes please!"

Kara extended her hand. "Hey, be careful!" Alex called.

"I'm always careful!" Kara retorted as Ruby grabbed her hand, and the girl yelped as Kara flew out the window.

Oliver shook his head with a chuckle. "Guess we're meeting them in Star City!"

"We'll meet you at the D.E.O.," Alex nodded.

Oliver nodded, heading towards the door. "What do you think, Ev?" he asked, his son and the dark-haired young woman following. "Think you can share with Ruby?"

"Definitely!" Evelyn nodded, following him out the door. "I like her!"

"Bye, Slade!" William managed to call. "Bye, Aunt Alex!"

Both adults waved, then Slade chuckled, shaking his head. "Teenagers."

"Oh, man," Alex snickered, heading for the kitchen. "I need a drink after that." She turned and walked backwards, pointing at him. "I promised, didn't I?"

Slade snorted. "Drinks here may be better than a bar."

"How about this is part one, then we definitely get drunk somewhere else?" Alex raised an eyebrow.

Slade shook his head in mock disappointment. "You drive a hard bargain, Danvers."

"We got Reign and we avoided being killed," Alex counted off on her fingers. "That is two victories for us."

Slade conceded with a nod. "Pick your poison."

Alex got two wine glasses down from the cabinet, taking a bottle. "I know I initially wanted to argue with you about you helping out," she said as she poured their drinks, "but really . . . thank you for being stubborn and coming with me."

Slade chuckled, taking the glass she handed him. "Of course. Family watches each other's backs, right?"

Alex nodded. "I'll drink to that."

They clinked their glasses together and drank at the same time. "I'm just glad the others arrived in time," Slade said.

"Me, too," Alex looked down. "If Reign had actually killed Ruby . . . "

"I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy," Slade shook his head. "The guilt the parent would feel after they killed their own child . . . "

Alex watched him down another drink, and she bit her lip. "Talking from experience?"

Slade grimaced. "I assume you know most of what happened while we were in Kasnia?"

Alex quirked an eyebrow. "A wise man once told me 'assumption is the mother of all failures.'"

"Touché," Slade tilted his glass in her direction. "Well. What do you know?"

Alex thought back. "Joe was the leader of the Jackals and planned on blowing up part of the water supply. You and Kara fought him while Oliver and Malcolm went after the rest of the Jackals. Joe dropped the bombshell about Grant and escaped." She eyed Slade when he sighed. "What am I missing?"

Slade silently extended his glass, and getting the message, Alex refilled his glass. "What hasn't appeared to have gone past the four of us is what happened before the water supply was attacked," he said grimly. "Joe had Oliver captured and wanted me to kill him. An eye for an eye, he said. The worst part? For a few seconds, I was tempted to do it."

Alex's eyes widened. "Kill Oliver?" she repeated, and when Slade nodded miserably, she sighed and took a drink of her own, swallowing hard. "Wow."

"After telling Ruby that wasn't who I was?" he chuckled bitterly. "I know."

"The Deathstroke you described while on mirakuru definitely isn't who you are now," Alex assured him. "What I just heard? Sounds like a father who found his son."

"I did," Slade nodded. "And Oliver mentioned William, and it snapped back. Joe had changed." He closed his eyes. "And I thought there was only one way to stop him from what he wanted to do to Kasnia."

Alex's jaw dropped. "Damn."

"It didn't end that way," Slade nodded. "But to have that thought even cross your mind while it's you in control and not some monster of yourself . . . "

"It didn't happen, Slade," Alex leaned across the counter towards him. "Joe is alive. Maybe it wasn't a win when Joe refused to go with you, but you can find him again. And we stopped Reign from killing Ruby. We had a good day today. Concentrate on that."

Slade slowly nodded, then pointed his glass at her. "Much better option than saying all this to a bartender."

Alex barked out a laughter. "Are you kidding? The bartender would send us to an insane asylum."

Slade tilted his head side to side. "Not entirely positive we don't belong there."

"Well, hey," Alex extended her glass. "At least we'd be committed together. We made a pretty good team, we could get through an insane asylum together."

Slade chuckled, clinking his glass against hers. "That we did."

Alex smiled fondly, taking a drink. "Why haven't we done that more often?"

Slade considered. "Because previously there haven't been many individual team split-ups where I haven't been at Oliver's back."

"Point," Alex nodded. "You can never beat a sibling team-up, can you?"

"Never," Slade shook his head. "Must be why we made a good team."

"Yeah," Alex nodded in agreement, though her smile faded a little as she poured more wine into her glass. "Must be."

Slade finished his glass, setting it down. "I should head to the D.E.O. and get ready to go back to Star City."

"Yeah, go ahead," Alex nodded quickly. "Thanks for the drink." She blinked rapidly. "I mean, having one here."

"Thanks for the offer," Slade nodded. "See you there."

Alex nodded, giving him a small wave as he left, then blew out her breath in a rush when the door closed behind him. She and Slade had made a good team at Lex's mansion, and . . . yeah, they pretty much were siblings, considering both Oliver and Kara saw Slade as their brother.

So why didn't that last exchange feel . . . right?

***

Had enough ship teasing yet? It's gonna die down for a bit since we're not on the Supergirl side of things right now.

Also, because I really need to think of where anything could fit in for the next episodes. Because next up . . . the final two Arrow episodes before we get to the finales book! Next time I update (not sure when it'll be), get ready for "Shifting Allegiances!"