Disclaimer: Characters owned by WB/DC, not by me. I only own any original ideas found in this.

AN: I wish to thank you for returning to read this final chapter of the story. I hope you enjoy it.

Previously:

Only after she had gathered all the information she needed, and grabbed several weapons, Sara hurried out of the Lair and got in her car. Even though she got some information, on-site surveillance was needed to further plan her attack. She wished Oliver was at her side, not having to be rescued, but she still was confident she could rescue all three, if they truly all there as captives. If only she could have figured out who was holding them and why

After reaching the building where she believed the missing vigilantes were being held, Sara parked several blocks away and made the rest of the way on foot. With the hacking into the security tapes of the building she had discovered six people in the building. Three of the images stayed in one room, while three others roamed around the various rooms on the first floor. Because of this intel, she was certain that all three vigilantes were there, as well as only three kidnappers.

She found a vantage point where she could see both the front and a side entrance, and watched for thirty minutes. There was no activity noted, and she was comfortable with the next step. She cautiously entered the building via the side door, keeping her eyes and ears peeled for any cause for alarm. None was heard, so she continued to make her progress into the building. There was a hallway, which she knew led to the room where the three forms were. Suddenly hearing someone approach, Sara hid behind a corner. When the man came into view, Sara was able to quickly administer a choke hold, rendering the man unconscious. Sara dragged the man into the room close by and closed the door. Listening for the possible approach of the other two men, Sara snuck a look around the door jam.

All was quiet, so she made her way down the hallway, looking for the other henchman. She assumed Hendricks was with his prisoners. Suddenly she heard approaching footsteps and ducked into the nearest doorway. As the second henchman walked by, Sara caught him in a chokehold and crab-walked him into the room. As he lost consciousness, Sara lowered him to the floor.

Two down, one more to go.

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

Previously:

Felicity's reply was cut short by the look Diggle gave her. "Okay." She sighed. "So, it's possible Sara will come find us. What else can we do in the meantime?"

Diggle looked at Oliver, concern clearly showing on his face. "I think we should rest and conserve our strength."

Felicity attempted to assist Oliver lie down more comfortably. Felicity and Diggle exchanged another glance as Oliver fell asleep quickly. Diggle leaned back onto the wall, choosing to stay somewhat alert. Felicity cautiously laid down next to Oliver, keeping her eyes on him until she fell into an uneasy sleep.

"I hope you got a good rest. You will be needing it."

Oliver jumped, being startled out of his sleep by the sudden voice of their abductor. He looked at Diggle, who shrugged and said, "Sorry, I fell asleep as well."

Oliver looked up at Hendrick, again leaning against the door jab with a smile on his face. "What do you want now, Hendrick?"

"Funny you should ask that, Oliver." Turning he nodded to someone out of sight. The two men from before again entered the room and walked towards the Arrow team. "I do believe we will start today's fun and games with you, Oliver."

Diggle and Felicity attempted to protect Oliver, but they were pushed aside roughly. The two men grabbed Oliver by the forearms and brought him quickly to his feet. Despite the rest, dizziness clouded his vision and preoccupied his thoughts, preventing him from attempting an escape. His feet dragging behind him, Oliver found himself being taken to the room where he had been before. He attempted to escape the grip holding him, but it was impossible due to the weakness from the blood loss and injuries. His arms were held up and Hendrick once again placed the manacles around his wrists. Smiling, Hendrick pulled on the chain, and Oliver found himself strung up once again.

"I have to say, I'm getting bored with your so-called type of games," Oliver said in an attempt to appear nonchalant to cover up his fear.

"Nice try Oliver. Let's see, should we start with something different? Or should we just go to the fun of electricity again?"

Oliver tried to steel himself for what he was afraid of what was to come. As Hendrick went back to his duffle bag, Oliver was dreading what else he would take out of it. Hendrick pulled out a bullwhip and turned to face Oliver with a sinister look on his face.

"Nothing like using the classics, right Oliver?" Hendrick cracked the whip several times, appearing to take extreme enjoyment hearing the crack. He then turned and walked slowly behind Oliver. "Yes, today, I will start…" Oliver watched as Hendrick appeared in front of him. "On your front." Hendrick looked up and down Oliver's chest, bound with gauze and ace bandages. "Sorry to disturb your colleagues' wonderful attempt at repair, but I still have some scores to settle with you."

Suddenly, loud noises were heard from outside the room. Hendrick ran out, leaving Oliver to wonder what was happening. Oliver could now hear what sounded like a fight, with the sound of an altercation interspersed with cries of pain.

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

Sara entered the hallway, intent on finding Hendrick, when she narrowly avoided a head shot from the man himself. She struck out at him in a flurry of strikes and kicks, attempting to get the upper hand.

"You bitch! Oliver didn't tell me you were in town. How nice of you to arrive."

Hendrick was far more skilled at fighting than Sara remembered. He matched her punch for punch, kick for kick. However she feigned weakness after one of his punches. Hendrick got cocky and attempted to take advantage of her weakness to get her in a choke hold. Before he could, Sara grabbed his arm, twisting it backwards and flipped him into the wall, where he hit his head. Attempting to regain her breath she waited to see if he'd get up again. When Hendrick stayed crumbled in a heap on the floor, Sara nodded and ran into the room from which Hendrick had exited.

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

Through spasms of pain, Oliver saw a vision in black, blonde hair flowing, coming towards him as Sara ran into the room. She rushed to Oliver's side and wasted no time in checking his condition.

"Oh, Oliver. I'm so glad I found you. What did Hendrick do to you? I was so shocked to find he was the one who had kidnapped you."

"Thank God you found us, Sara. I don't know what we would've done."

Sara examined the set-up binding Oliver. "Have you been chained up all night?"

Knowing she was concerned about whether they had to be careful about blood rushing into his limbs once he was lowered to the ground, he replied, "No, I haven't been strung up too long, so you should be able to lower me by yourself without difficulty." Otherwise, if he had been strung up for hours, he would've needed to be lowered slowly to avoid complications in circulation.

"Where are Felicity and Dig?"

"In a room down the hall."

Pulling out a set of keys, Sara said, "Luckily I didn't have to search Hendrick totally to find these. He had them in his side pocket." She unlocked the manacles and supported Oliver as he almost fell to the ground. "Oh! I forget how heavy you are," Sara said as she shifted her weight to support him.

"Let's get Felicity and Diggle and get the hell out of here."

As they walked into the hallway, Oliver noted Hendrick lying on the ground. He resisted kicking him as he passed by, but only because he was afraid he would fall over. Besides, he needed to get them all out of there as soon as possible. The others needed medical attention.

Suddenly, Oliver almost lost his balance. Sara barely made it over to the door of Digg and Felicity's cell before she was about to lose her hold on him. She gently guided him to the floor, turned to the door, tried several keys, and found the correct one. She opened the door and said loudly, "Hey guys, it's us. You can come out."

Felicity peeked out. "How'd you know we were waiting behind the door, ready to hit someone on the head?"

Sara looked at the other woman and smiled. "You're so cute."

Felicity rolled her eyes, then quickly went to Oliver's side and knelt down. "Are you okay? What else did Hendrick do?"

"Luckily he didn't have time to do anything else. Our cavalry arrived in the nick of time." He looked up at Sara and smiled one of his bright smiles.

Felicity was about to say something when sirens were heard. Oliver looked at Sara in alarm, then down at his outfit. His Arrow outfit.

"Oh. I didn't think about that." Sara shrugged. "I told my father to wait two hours. I guess he jumped the gun."

Thinking quickly, Oliver nodded towards Hendrick and said, "Take off his slacks. We're about the same size. I'll stash my leathers somewhere."

"But wouldn't the police think it odd? Him not wearing any pants?"

"I don't care. Let's do it."

They completed the transfer just in time for the police to enter, with Lance taking the lead. He stopped suddenly as he observed Oliver lying on the floor, in an undershirt and jeans, with Sara standing over him, and Diggle and Felicity watching them.

"Oh, Queen, I hadn't realized you were here."

"Yeah…um, this former employee of ours had a grudge against me. He decided to take it out on me and some of my employees."

"Humph," escaped from Lance, who then shook his head. Looking at his daughter, dressed in black wearing a mask, Lance quirked an eyebrow and asked, "And what do we call you?"

"A concerned citizen. I…..I heard screaming in here and decided to investigate. I found all of this."

Lance rolled his eyes at his daughter, ensuring she was the only one who saw it. He wasn't too impressed with her cover story. Turning to his colleagues, he instructed, "Load these three up. Smith, did you call for an ambulance?" As he left to carry out his duties, Sara sighed and decided to make her exit.

Lance returned and looked at the three teammates. "That guy really did a number on you three. Now, you will go to the hospital and get treated. We will take your statements there." As Oliver was about to say something, Lance stopped him with a look. "I said, all of you," he looked at Felicity and Diggle, then back at Oliver, meeting his eyes headlong, "will go to the hospital and get checked out. No arguments. Wait here."

Oliver watched as the detective stormed off. Before he could say something, Felicity said, "Don't you even think about it, Queen. You heard what the man said." She added softly, "Remember, possible broken ribs."

Oliver reluctantly agreed, and didn't make a fuss when the paramedics arrived and took the three of them to the hospital. He even, more reluctantly, agreed to stay overnight for observation. Felicity was shocked, but decided it was to show team solidarity. Because Oliver knew neither Felicity nor Diggle would stay either if he didn't. Felicity would be the first one to admit, though, they had gladly resorted to subterfuge to get the stubborn man to accept help.

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

After all three of them were discharged the next day, Diggle picked up carryout from Big Belly Burger for them. Eating their lunch in the foundry, Team Arrow was able to decompress after their ordeal. Sara also was there, now gladly considered to be part of the team.

Oliver looked at some of his closest friends and wondered again how dare he expose them to such dangers. It was almost a daily battle for him, struggling to control his overwhelming need to control the lives of his loved ones. Protect them from harm. Keep them safe. He knew, if he dared to even express such thoughts, the individuals sitting in front of him would practically skin him alive. But he couldn't seem to help this inclination of his.

"Ollie, I know what you're thinking. And you're wrong."

Oliver looked at Sara, who was smiling at him with her "smart aleck" grin he had once loved so much. "And what is that?"

"I'm sure I speak for these two, but we all decided to help you with this mission of yours. It's not your fault Hendrick came after you for revenge and took them as well."

"But it is, since you brought it up."

Felicity glared at Oliver. She stood up, walked over to Oliver, and punctuated her speech with carefully spaced pokes in his chest with her brightly painted finger nail. "You are not the boss of me. Or Diggle. We decide what we want to do. What we choose to sacrifice our lives for."

"But…"

"But nothing, Mister. You listen, and you listen good. I have told you repeated times, it is my life, my choice. I can walk away at any time, if I choose. I choose to be here and help you, and Diggle."

Diggle decided he better speak up as well. "Man, I know you have this overwhelming need to try to control everything in your life. But you need to get over it. We're a team; we are in this together. You gotta start believing that, okay?"

Oliver looked at the group in front of him. A small smile began to sneak across his features. "Well, all I can do is try. And I will."

"That's all we ask, Oliver," Felicity said with a bright smile. Returning to her seat, she picked up her burger once again. "Now we should finish our lunch."

A lesson learned, a new team mate added. What more could a man want, Oliver asked himself as he watched Sara tease Felicity with Diggle observing with a sly smile on his face. No matter what happens next, Oliver was determined to do what he could to continue to keep his loved ones and his city safe. No matter what.

AN: Thank you again so very much in reading this short story. For something I thought might only be a one-shot did grow into something a little more. With even a little personal growth for Oliver thrown in. Definitely AU at this point of the series, ha. Anyway, if you like, a review would really be appreciated. Thanks again so much!