A/N: Approximately 700 words into this chapter, I hit writer's block. As well, I wasn't too satisfied with what I'd written so I ended up starting again from scratch. Sorry for the long time in between updates and thanks so much to everyone that has taken the time to read and/or review!

Also, for those are you that are interested, I've been writing an AU series of one-shots featuring Oliver and Chloe. It's posted on my LJ (link on my FFN author homepage).

Chapter 7

In the present...

Chloe watched silently as another arrow hit the center of the target.

It was a familiar scene, only the man standing in front of her was definitely not the blond archer she was used to. As she watched, Connor loaded up another arrow and drew his arm back.

"Connor, do you have a minute?"

There was final thwack! as the last arrow hit the target.

"What is it?" He'd sensed Chloe's presence when she'd entered the area, but he decided to wait for her to speak first.

"How would you feel about taking over as Green Arrow for the next week or so?"

She must have sensed his surprise because she explained, "Normally we have AC or Clark patrolling when Oliver's away. It makes his absences less conspicuous."

"Makes sense. I'll do it."

Chloe raised an eyebrow when she heard his quick acquiesce. "Just like that?"

Connor shrugged. What he didn't tell her that he already did his own patrolling during the night – usually keeping a watchful eye out for Green Arrow in case the latter needed any back-up.

He knew it was kind of weird, but the part of him that had lost his parents so long ago wanted to do everything that he could to ensure their safety, no matter what. Not to mention the fact that they still hadn't figured out who had hired that mysterious assassin that had attacked Green Arrow.

In the future - Northern satellite cave, Gotham City:

"I can do this!" Sarah insisted even she stumbled a bit getting to her feet, "Just let me try again."

"You're going to faint from exhaustion soon," countered Nathan, "Sarah, you need to rest."

"But-"

"Connor wouldn't want you to," Alana interrupted gently, her calm tone masking the disappointment she felt, "I don't think he would want to find out that he saved your life only for you to hurt yourself trying to rescue him. If he's really gone back in time, another day or two shouldn't make that much of a difference."

From his spot on the ground from Alana, Jay stirred, "It seems that we may have to think of a new plan, since this 'brute force' method isn't working."

"Damnit!" Nathan's fist hit the ground – a crack immediately appeared in the concrete.

"Nate…." Alana said warningly.

"Sorry."

Nathan had arrived back a few hours ago with the bad news – the legion ring was gone and Clark had no idea where it was.

"What do you mean you don't know?" Nathan stared at his father, "How can you just lose something like that? This isn't a library book, for crying out loud!"

"The last time I saw it was many years ago and that was a very dark time in my life…" Clark paused, "Nathan, I know it seems tempting to use it, to change things, but sometimes just because we can, doesn't mean we should." His father seemed weary, "I know you want to save Connor, but it could also result in dire repercussions."

However, Connor's original mission was unchanged. "So where did you last see it?"

"The last time," Clark looked off into space, "I think…yes, I think Chloe had it."

Considering it had been more than a decade since his Aunt Chloe had passed away, that didn't help at all.

"Say… You sure we don't have a spare one lying around?"

His father did not look amused.

"Yeah," mumbled Nathan, "Didn't think so."

At that moment, the familiar roar of an engine echoes throughout the cave and the four of them jumped onto their feet in alarm.

"I thought you said nobody used this cave?" Jay asked Alana.

"That's what I thought." Alana's brow was furrowed as she headed towards the main area. Had her father managed to discover their plan already? She certainly wouldn't put it past him.

To her relief, it was not her father that had arrived.

"Dick!" she gave the man she considered her eldest brother a hug. "I wasn't expecting you to be in town so soon. What's up?"

"I could be asking the same of you," Dick gave her a curious look, "Why are you holed up over here? Is Bruce in one of his moods again or something?"

"No, no," Alana shook her head, "Just…hanging out."

She could see that Dick didn't quite believe her, but thankfully he didn't press the issue. "I left some of my gear here the last time I was in Gotham. I was just dropping by to pick them up," he tossed over his shoulder as he headed towards the costumes area as Alana trailed along behind him.

"Oh and that reminds me," Dick removed a small flash drive from his pocket and handed it to her, "Babs wanted me to give this to Bruce. Can you do me a favour and drop it off?"

"Sure," Alana turned it over in her hand, "What is it?"

"I think it's something to do with Queen Industries. I've been seeing that logo on her computer screen for the last three days."

At that point, snippets of a conversation drifted through her mind.

Her mother's voice, "Embezzling….board of directors….think one of them did it?" followed by the rumble of her father's voice, "…had a part in Connor's death somehow….numbers don't match up….Barbara to look…."

"I'll see that he gets it," Alana heard herself say as a million thoughts swirled through her mind.

Present - Connor's apartment, Star City

ACCESSS DENIED.

Connor swore as the message popped up on his computer screen again. Over the past few days, he'd hit a roadblock in his attempts to hack into Queen Industries servers. But then, he thought ruefully, he really shouldn't have been surprised.

Watchtower's computer systems cross his mind, but with Oliver gone on his business trip, Chloe was spending almost all her time at JL Towers, save for the unofficial coffee breaks in the afternoons where she and Connor now shared.

Even if his mother were away, inwardly, Connor knew that there was only so much Watchtower's computers could do.

"Might as well kill two birds with one stone," he thought to himself. He still remembered the memories he had gleaned from Oliver's attacker and just the day before, he'd gone for a stroll around Star City's downtown core. The view from the office in that memory was on the southern side of the building, he was sure of it.

Breaking into the office building at night was an idea he'd briefly considered and discarded. It wasn't impossible, but he would have to switch the security system offline and that would raise suspicions.

He sighed before powering off the computer.

Two hours, a haircut and a shave later, Connor grimaced as he looked at himself in the mirror. People had often told him how much he resembled his father – now he going to see how true that was.

Present - Queen Industries Tower 1, Star City

"So far so good," Connor thought to himself as he watched the flashing numbers above the door as the elevator went up. There had been a few polite "Mr. Queen" acknowledgements as he walked through the lobby and the security guards had nodded as he went through the entrance.

He really shouldn't have been surprised. About a year ago, he'd helped put away a criminal who'd been a master of disguise, using his skills to rob numerous banks and stores before Connor and his team had managed to crack the puzzle. From what he'd seen, it was all about the way you carried yourself. People usually saw what they were used to seeing.

The pass Chloe had given him worked and to his relief, the passwords he needed to gain access to the upper levels hadn't changed from his time. He frowned. That was a potential security risk. Somehow he would have to tell Oliver to change it.

Finally, he reached the floor where his father's office was located. Turning to the right, he immediately came face to face with two familiar, albeit much younger figures.

Timothy Weske. Noah Browne. Weske was a serious, dour looking fellow with a shrewd eye for business. His father had once joked that the man had probably been born with an account book in one hand.

In contrast, Noah was a naturally cheerful man who had been like a mentor of sorts to him after his father had died. In those first few months after he'd taken over as CEO at Queen Industries, Connor knew he would have been utterly lost without the man's help.

"Oliver, I thought you were still in New York."

Connor forced a laugh out, "We were clearly offering the better deal, so they were hard pressed to refuse it." Now he was just bluffing, "There were some contracts that I hadn't had time to look over before I left."

"Hmm," said Timothy non-committedly.

"We were just heading off for a quick bite." Noah smiled, "Care to join us?"

"Maybe next time," Connor said as the two of them entered the elevator. "I've already eaten."

"Later then."

He watched the doors close before he turned on one foot towards his original destination. It occurred to him that both of them had offices facing the side he'd seen in the attacker's memories. But then the idea of one of them being the attacker's employer was so far-fetched to be almost impossible.

But then, Dominique had also seemed like that, a small voice inside his mind reminded him, That's why you weren't expecting it.

Feeling oddly unsettled by the encounter, Connor punched in the code for Oliver's office and made his way in. A sense of familiarity struck him as soon as he closed the door.

Not surprising, considering the many long days and late nights he had toiled away here when he wasn't away on JLA business.

Shaking his head as if to rid himself of the memories, Connor crossed over to the desk to begin his search.

Late that night at JL Towers:

Three attempted muggings and one belligerent drunk later, Connor wearily made his way to the costume vault to change out of his Green Arrow outfit.

Connor had just finished doing up the buttons on his shirt when he picked up the sound of someone walking in.

"Ollie!" he heard his mother call out, "I didn't think you'd be back so soon."

"It's not Oliver."

Chloe gaped as Connor turned around. "Connor?"

From a distance, Connor's resemblance to Oliver was uncanny, right down to the infamous chin dimple. It was only closer up that she noticed the many subtle differences - such as the cynical green gaze and the slightly more rounded curve of his face.

Connor's lips curved into an ironic smile, "Surprised?"

"You never said that you were a shape-shifter."

He just laughed, "No, I assure you, this is how I normally look."

"You look so much like Oliver," Chloe breathed as she stepped up to him, "Heck, you even have this," she tapped his chin.

"Yeah, I get that a lot," Connor chuckled, "It's a Queen thing." The statement was out of his mouth before the implications of what he was revealing hit him.

It was too late though.

"Care to explain what you meant by that?" From his mother's expression, it didn't seem as though she'd be taking no for an answer.

Oh shit.

Thanks for reading!