Disclaimer: WB/DC own these characters. I do not, just the original ideas.

AN: Thank you for returning to my story. Hope you enjoy this new chapter!And I again apologize for lack of warning...it ends up being the last chapter after all. Thanks bunches for everyone who's stuck with it, and hope you're not disappointed. Thanks as always for all the favs, follows, and reviews! It indeed goes a LONG way in encouraging the writing.

Previously:

"We weren't sure whether they were holding Oliver here. Guess we were right. Maybe Isabel is in there with the others, while Slade is elsewhere with Oliver."

"I say we sit tight and observe. Perhaps Felicity will track down Oliver or be able to hack into whatever surveillance system they have inside the building," Diggle said.

"Yep, I've been trying to do both, Dig. No luck as yet."

Sara sighed. "I guess we are in for a little stake-out."

Team Arrow kept their sights on the building from the rooftop across the street. The factory was in the outskirts of the city, so the silence was mostly interrupted with only the sounds of animal life. Not much traffic passed by, so they didn't have to worry about someone wondering what they were doing on the rooftop.

The waiting was wearing on the patience of the entire team. Roy was having difficulty keeping his nervous energy under wraps. Diggle bit back angry words he wanted to hurl at Roy, who was having difficulty sitting still. Instead Diggle glared at him several times to control his leg from continuing to bounce, making unnecessary noise. Sara was also having an uncharacteristically difficult time controlling her desire to be doing...something. She had to continually resettle herself to focus on the mission at hand.

Meanwhile, things weren't any easier at the lair. With all of her expertise, Felicity was still unable to access any electronic devices within the building, so she wasn't able to eavesdrop at all. She was rapidly losing a battle with her increasing frustration at how well Slade had covered his tracks. She occasionally reported on the status of her investigations to the team out in the field, not liking the fact she still hadn't discovered any feasible location yet as to where Oliver could be.

Thea broke the tense silence. "Why don't we call the police and tell them about the warehouse? Surely they could capture the Mirakuru guys somehow, don't you think?"

"Several problems with that. Why would they believe us? We don't have any proof. And they haven't done anything wrong. Yet."

"So we're just sitting here, doing nothing?"

"I know you're frustrated. I'm also worried about Oliver. Very worried." Felicity rolled her chair to look at the computer at a right angle from her. "But we are doing something. We're ruling out possible places where Oliver might be." She drummed her fingers on the desk. "Once we get some evidence, such as Isabel, Slade or Oliver in the building we can act."

"I still don't like it."

"Me neither. Sometimes the most difficult part of the job is the waiting." She exhaled a short huff of air. "Except when we hear the fighting and we don't know how badly they're hurt. That's worse." At Thea's worried expression Felicity regretted her rash statement and quickly added, "Oh, it sounds a lot worse than it ends up being." As she turned towards the computer she mumbled under her breath, "Usually."

Thea shook her head. She was beginning to rethink the advantages of being in on her brother's "secret".

~~OQ~~FS~~OQ~~FS~~

Previously:

Malcolm looked at Oliver. "When exactly would I'd have time for a sit-down with you? Slade's been doing nothing but playing sick games with you the past three days, keeping you occupied. I decided to wait for him to make what might be his final move before I did anything."

Oliver rolled his eyes, bit back an especially biting insult, and attempted to center himself. He had to call upon any possible reserves of energy within himself for the fight ahead. Malcolm was right to question the wisdom of Oliver accompanying him, but in no way was he going to trust the lives of his family to an ex-criminal, even if possibly reformed.

As they headed out of town, Oliver felt his anxiety rise. He hoped they weren't too late. "So, do you have your eavesdropping device with you? So we know if it's safe to contact my team? Or to get a heads up with what's going on?"

"No, I don't. It's at my hideout. Can't you just call them?"

"I don't have my cell phone. Slade didn't bring it when he kidnapped me."

Malcolm reached into his side pocket and pulled out a phone. Without taking his eyes off the road, he tossed it to Oliver, who caught it without difficulty. "Call them."

"I'd rather listen in to see if they're in trouble..."

"Sorry to disappoint you. I was too preoccupied with saving you to think about packing up my entire office."

"Whose phone is this exactly?"

"Don't worry. It's a burner phone. I have it set to be anonymous."

Oliver rolled his eyes. Another problem was whether he remembered anyone's number. Luckily he did remember Felicity's. If she would only answer.

After the third ring, Felicity's lighthearted voice came on with her voice mail message. "Hey, for some reason I'm not answering right now. Who knows what I'm doing. Please leave me a message so we can talk later." Oliver rolled his eyes. "Felicity, it's me. I'm with Malcolm. Call me back." He looked at Malcolm in frustration. "I can't believe she's not answering."

"Well, I hope you are feeling a little better. We are almost there, so you need to have your fighting groove on."

Oliver's lips turned down in a look of frustration and he exhaled loudly.

~~OQ~~FS~~OQ~~FS~~

"So what are you planning? Sitting here waiting for me?"

Team Arrow jumped at the unexpected question. As one, they turned to see the interruption. They were happy to see Oliver limping towards them but cautious about Malcolm being with him.

"Man, guys, I thought I trained you better than that. You're making me look bad in the presence of our company," Oliver teased.

Sara said, "As Felicity would say, you two are just super bad Ninjas." At Oliver's scoff, she said, "I don't know; that's all I got. You guys did good in sneaking up on us." It suddenly occurred to Sara that Oliver was looking the worse for wear. "Hey, are you alright? I guess you were in Slade's company long enough for him to do some damage."

Oliver attempted a nonchalant air. "I'm fine."

Malcolm interrupted. "I tried to talk him into sitting this one out, but you know how stubborn he gets."

A chuckle escaped Sara's lips as she nodded. "Oh yeah, tell me about it."

Oliver was about to reply when an Australian accent broke into his train of thought.

"I say, you as a team are certainly slipping. I for one am glad to see you all here. It will give me great pleasure to take care of you once and for all."

Oliver's blood ran cold. He turned, and indeed found Slade approaching. "We agree on only one thing, Slade. This, this will end today," he said as he got into a fighting stance.

An evil grin crossed Slade's face. "Bring it on, Kid. Bring it on."

The rest of the team but Malcolm surrounded Slade. As he leaped towards Slade, fists at the ready, Oliver was set to pound into Slade when Slade caught him in mid-flight. He got in several punches, but Slade, due to Oliver's weakened state, delivered an upper-cut, sending Oliver flying back. Diggle leaped in, pounding into Slade's abdomen with strong, even punches, which seemingly had no effect. Slade caught Diggle's right arm, yanked it at an angle, and dislocated Diggle's shoulder. He then pushed Diggle away, sending him flying away from him, in the opposite direction from Oliver.

Roy and Sara had been circling around the fight, waiting for an opening. While Slade's attention was momentarily diverted by Diggle, Roy took advantage and got behind Slade. He grabbed Slade around the neck in one movement and applied as much pressure as he could. It took everything he had, but he was able to restrain Slade. As he was holding him, Sara got in a few punches, attempting to blacken an eye or bloody a lip but were only met with minimal success due to the Mirakuru within him.

Suddenly Slade was able to flip Roy over his shoulder. He turned, only to receive several arrows from Malcolm. Slade then slid to the ground to the Team Arrow's astonishment.

"How did you do that?" Sara asked.

"The League has been aware of Mirakuru for generations. They developed an antidote, to remove the superstrength. It works better with pit viper venom; thus, the reason for his unconsciousness."

"And we have taken into custody the twenty former super soldiers in the warehouse using a similar formula we have developed," Amanda Waller said as she approached the group. "As well as Ms. Rochev. They are all now loaded into ARGUS vans, ready for transport."

Oliver struggled to his feet. "Hello Amanda. What are you doing here?"

"Apparently saving all of your butts." Her heels managing to click-clack on the roof's uneven surface, she walked towards Slade. "No, 'thank you' isn't necessary." She paused to give Oliver a particularly snide laugh and grin. "Or expected."

"How'd you know we needed..." Oliver cleared his throat. "Help?" He forced from uncooperative lips.

"We've been tracking Slade Wilson, aka 'Deathstroke' across Europe. He's been leaving a trail of bodies behind. Acting as an assassin-for-hire." Amanda gave a small 'humph'. "Doubtless to fund his little revenge-fueled escapade here against you, Oliver."

"Undoubtedly." Oliver straightened up, looked Amanda in the eye and said, "Thank you for your assistance. And for taking care of Slade, Isabel and the rest of them."

"You're welcome."

"Guys? Hey, did you forget about us?" Felicity's voice came through their comms.

Amanda gave Oliver a different smile. "I will let you answer your colleague, and we will take our leave." She nodded behind her and three men in business suits approached Slade, picked him up, and headed back down the side of the building. Amanda followed.

"Overwatch, all is clear. ARGUS had arrived and is taking away the…."

"Evil men jacked up on Mirakuru? Yay!" Team Arrow smiled at Felicity's enthusiasm. "Hurry back so we can celebrate."

Roy smiled. "That is the best idea I've heard all day."

~~OQ~~FS~~OQ~~FS~~

It wasn't as though Oliver didn't trust Amanda. Why wouldn't he trust her? She had only always lied to him throughout the entire time he had known her. Because of their turbulent history, Oliver told Amanda he was going to visit Slade in the new ARGUS prison on Lian Yu. He was going to inspect the premises himself to ensure it would be effective in holding Slade. No, he didn't ask, he told Amanda he would be arriving the next day to verify the arrangements of Slade's imprisonment.

Oliver was impressed with the Super-Max prison now breaking up the horizon on Lian Yu. At last this terrible island is being used for a redeeming purpose.

He climbed down the unusual security tunnel into the lead-lined basement. He walked down the long hallway past empty cells, and approached a guard at a connecting door. After showing the guard his identification, Oliver went through the door and stepped into a brightly lit hallway lined on both sides with cells. He walked past the other criminals, who were surprisingly quiet. At the last one, the Australian met him at the iron bars.

"So, you couldn't stay away, huh, Kid?"

"I needed to see with my own eyes the type of prison which will be your home for the next twenty years, or so."

"This ain't over yet, kid. Don't doubt for one second. I will get out and finish the job. I will take away everything, and everyone, you love."

"That's what you think, Slade. How ironic, you are back where it all began."

"If I were you, Kid, I wouldn't be too cocky. You could so easily be in here as well. And some day, you will be. If you aren't dead first."

Oliver looked at Slade with a cold blue-steel glare. "Keep telling yourself that, Slade. You're going to pay for crimes you've committed since you left the island. Not just to me, my family, and my team. All those murders-for-hire across Europe you committed. ARGUS will make sure you will."

At Slade's incredulous look, Oliver said, "Oh yeah, you thought no one knew about those. There's not much ARGUS doesn't know about."

"You can be as flippant as you want, but I'm glad I've made your life hell. Has 'little sister' forgiven you yet for lying to you? Has 'mommy dearest' disowned you because you spend your nights in green leather?"

"Sorry to disappoint you, Slade, but my family totally supports me." Oliver fixed upon Slade his worse Arrow glare. "Don't you ever threaten my family or my team again. This…this vendetta? It is over. Over, Slade. Move on. I have."

Oliver turned around and kept on walking, despite all the threats and insults Slade continued to throw at him. He climbed the ladder, and pulled himself out of the hatch door of the prison. Sighing, he closed the hatch, ensuring it latched securely. And walked away without a second glance.

AN: Well, that's it, I guess. Hope you enjoyed the story overall, and this last chapter. (I'm beginning to realize I'm better at writing beginnings than endings, sigh. Just gotta keep practicing, I suppose). If you like, please let me know with a review. Also, thank you to the anonymous guest(s) providing occasional suggestions throughout this story. I've been able to use some of those suggestions for this story, so I thank you. Others simply did not fit. For this particular story. So we shall see. Hope you will come back to read my other stories; always greatly appreciated.