A/N: This is my second Arrow fanfic, I had to put my first one on hiatus while I tried to find some inspiration for that. This one just blindsided me as I finished the 19th chapter of a TVD/TO fanfic titled "Original Sin" (shameless plug) that I just opened a new file and had to write this.

I hope this fic is shown the love and support, I will need it. This takes off from the end of Season 2.

"When all is lost and we feel like we are falling off the edge. We all need something to hold on to. Let it be me." – may this be Felicity's mantra for one Mr. Queen

In the meantime, read on shippers.

Let it be Me

Chapter 1

Felicity had been off for the last two weeks. She was entitled to it she thought after all the events of two weeks ago had given her an emotional whiplash. The he said it-he didn't kind of whiplash. She knew she was highly literate, she was almost always quick, hell she had an IQ that was considered Genius level. But her Mensa club had obviously never encountered Oliver and his verbal and non-verbal way of communicating.

So two weeks after he had said what he did in the Island of Li Yuan, all but said that it was all a ruse, the 'I love you' words that had her heart soaring for a few seconds and he didn't even give her a minute to lap on it, he sent her heart crashing and burning and stepped on it for good measure with his 'we both did' re-joiner in Island.

So yes, she was entitled to be off balanced these last two weeks. The new 'lair' was still just as it was the one only time she and Diggle had gone there was to get Oliver. Though she had given him her usual words of encouragement and support, because yes she really did believe in him and yes despite the trampling of her heart, she still did. She was human, she was a girl, she was a simple ordinary girl and not a woman-of-the-world who did the breaking of hearts. Rather, she was the one who usually had her heart broken.

Two weeks, these last two weeks she had indulged in self-destruction so to speak. Outwardly, she was fine, less the usual babble. But inward, she was struggling, an empty, lonely shell of herself. Felicity Smoak, jobless, heart-broken and all alone in the world. So yes, she was entitled to a pint of her favorite Mint Choco Ice Cream. She had strolled the short distance from her apartment to the store in the corner that hopefully had her hearts' desire on stock. Hopefully this corner store wasn't going to break her heart even more if she would learn that they were out-of-stock of her favorite flavor. The God's wouldn't be so cruel on her wouldn't they be?

As she took that last steps to the corner store she thought about her 'partners in crime' so to speak. Roy had disappeared somewhere, he had come around once to twice but that was it. Just like her, Roy needed time to heal. He had technically chosen the team over Thea even if it wasn't really intended to be a choice. But Roy's momentary departure had allowed Thea to snoop around and find the arrows hidden underneath the bed.

Digg had been around a few more times than Roy, but Digg had a major event he focused on at the moment. He was going to be a Father. How that happened, well it was really simple, he and Lyla just and will always be destined to be together. And now they were to be parents. Despite the turmoil in her life, Felicity was happy that at least one team member was having a happy moment. Digg deserved it after all.

Her thoughts shifted to Oliver Queen. The man was just remarkable. Not always in a good way, at least not for her. The man returned from the Island homeless, jobless and familyless, so many things had happened that the guy deserved a break. She should have given him a break, it was only fair as a friend she should give Oliver Queen a break. A break for breaking her heart, for her being jobless, it was almost laughable how much her life revolved around one Oliver Queen who even at the risk of losing her as a friend, had still used her obvious feelings for him against her to save the love of his life, Laurel Lance. Well Laurel Lance, Felicity tested the name on her tongue, it always came back to her as far as Oliver Queen was concerned. Now Laurel Lance knew Oliver Queen's secret, he was the Arrow, now the world would finally be righted by the lifting of that secret. Now, Oliver Queen and Laurel Lance would live happily ever after, together and forever.

Sure she had seen Oliver Queen during the past two weeks. They flew back from the Island and he had dutifully brought her back to her apartment. He and Digg had helped her straighten out the minor damage to her apartment brought about by the army of Slade. He had even stayed a night, that first very awkward night, at least for her. After he had said what he said on the Island, she continued to try to be the friend that he needed by offering her extra bedroom to him. And he had accepted albeit reluctantly. She wasn't crazy enough to think it was because he thought she was still in danger, that he needed to protect her or that he wanted to be with her the most. She was a realist when it came to one Oliver Queen. The simple reason was that he had nowhere else to go, at least during that first night back.

He never returned after that. Maybe he had found better dwellings, a better offer or most likely, he was staying with one Laurel Lance. She tried, she really tried not to dwell on that thought. Heartbreak was just really consuming her.

So now she was about to enter the corner store and indulge in the one thing that would never break her heart. Her constant, her mint choco ice cream.

As she entered the store she noticed two things immediately, one the store was empty except for two people. The second thing she noticed which really should have been the first thing she had noticed was that the store was being robbed. A lone gunman was pointing a gun to the store clerk who was anxiously emptying the cash counter.

Her sudden entrance had thrown both of the men inside the store, it felt like it took minutes but in truth it was just took a few seconds, a few seconds for the gunman to shift his gun from the store clerk to Felicity who had taken about five steps into the store. She registered the fact that the gunman had fired a shot in her direction as an automatic reaction and a second later she felt the impact of that same bullet course through her body throwing her about two feet from where she was presently standing. Her eyes fluttered, her reflexes registering the fact that she had been shot. She tried to stay conscious, Digg's training had set in, but the pain and the shock were just too much that she finally gave into the darkness surrounding her.

Oliver Queen was on his way to Felicity's place. It had been his nightly ritual to watch her in her apartment from across the street. Sure it would have been best if he had just taken Felicity's offer to just stay with her inside her apartment. He did take up her offer that first night back. But it was just too much for him. His emotions were all over the place. His life was falling apart, it felt worse than his first homecoming after being marooned on the Island for five years, harder than his return after the death of Tommy Merlin. This was the hardest for him, this time he lost everything. His company, his legacy, his home, his family and Felicity. Oh he wasn't as dense as his friends thought he was. He knew what he was doing, he was pushing her away again. Maybe this time for the last time. But now more than ever he just couldn't, wouldn't, shouldn't, not Felicity. So never mind what Digg, Roy and Felicity thought he was doing. Never mind if Felicity thought he had gone back to Laurel Lance. If he needed to make her hate him to keep her safe then he would.

It wasn't just about Slade. Granted with Slade locked up he should feel safe enough to finally indulge in his secret. But it wasn't just about Slade. It wasn't just about all his enemies, be it as the Arrow or as Oliver Queen. It was so much more than that, it has always been so much more than that. After everything has been said and done, Oliver Queen just didn't deserve Felicity Smoak.

So he continued his vow to protect her, his girl, his Felicity. From afar, she deserved a life, a real life without him. She would never say it out loud but he, Oliver Queen was responsible for breaking her in every way, she lost her job, she had been shot and almost died several times, he brought all of the darkness into her life when she deserved so much light, so much happiness, so much love.

And he never lied to her when he said what he said in the Mansion that faithful day, he really did love her. But loving her and deserving her were two very vastly different things. No, he did not deserve her. He did not deserve the love he knew she thought she felt for him. She had never hidden that from him, Oliver Queen may have dropped out of four colleges, he may not be a genius with a high IQ, but he could read Felicity Smoak like a book. He knew she loved him. And he loved her. He loved her so much but he knew he wasn't good for her. So he did the best thing he could do for her. He pushed her away.

He looked at her window from across the street and frowned. She should be home already. But her apartment was dark. Was she asleep, he knew her routine by heart. It was too early for her to sleep, she normally would still be in her living room for about two more hours either watching one of her netfix movies or dabbling in her tablet. But she was doing neither. Where was she? Oliver had a sinking feeling about this. His gut was telling him Felicity needed him.

Felicity had momentarily gain consciousness but was in extreme pain. She felt like she was run over by a train and feel pain on her chest. It was difficult for her to breathe. She could hear faint shouting voices around her and anxious movements. She tried to focus but all she could she where bright lights that caused her eyes to strain.

She could feel her body being poked and more voices surrounding here. Try as she might, she just couldn't stay conscious and again she succumbed to sleep.

Oliver felt that vibration of his phone. He knew it was his Oliver Queen phone not his Arrow phone that was signaling that it had an incoming call. He hesitated for a moment to pluck his phone out. He had been fielding calls from investors, friends, the press and just about everyone during the last two weeks. He almost wanted to have his number changed but had never gotten around to it.

As he finally fished his phone from his pocket he noticed that the number was unregistered. He shook his head, it was probably one of the people who he didn't want to talk to so he just rejected the call. A few seconds later, his phone vibrated again the call from the same number, just as he was in the process of pocketing his phone.

With a tired sigh he answered the call. It only took a name to register for him to realize that his careful plan to keep his distance from one Felicity Smoak was down the drain. Shot. Critical condition. These were words registered with him. The God's must really be loving him, he wanted to stay away from Felicity Smoak not to lose her completely. Now he knew he had finally hit rock bottom, the world had tilted and the last verge of control of Oliver Queen was finally slipping away from him. He closed his eyes for a few seconds to gather his bearings back. He needed to go the hospital now.

It took all of ten minutes to change from his Arrow outfit into his casual clothes and drive away in his Ducati. Another fifteen minutes and about almost ten traffic violations and near road accidents later to get to the hospital and burst into the emergency room.

"I'm here for Felicity Smoak!" Oliver shouted around the chaos of the emergency room. Lucky for him, his face was still recognizable.

"Mr. Queen, I'm the nurse Helen, the EMTs brought in a Ms. Felicity Smoak about thirty minutes earlier. Gunshot wound on the chest. She is currently in emergency surgery. The EMTs where able to collect her belongings so we were able to identify her and we tried to get in touch with her next of kin, as you are here now Mr. Queen, you are her next of kin on record."

Oliver could only nod, "how is she?"

"Ms. Smoak will be in surgery for awhile. The doctor will give you an update when he can but right now they are doing their best for her. She lost a lot of blood. Stumbled on a robbery the EMTs said."

Oliver closed his eyes for a few seconds. Robbery, he wanted to laugh. She was shot not because of anything related to the Arrow. Or the fact that she was identified with Oliver Queen. She was in critical condition because she had the misfortune to walk into an ongoing robbery. He could lose his Felicity. He looked the nurse in the eye and tried his best to collect himself but to no avail. The nurse finally registering his distraught, directed him to a private waiting area.

Oliver slumped down on a chair and pressed his hands on his face while his elbows rested on his thighs. He prayed for the first time since his days in the Island. He prayed that the God's would save Felicity. He bargained with them, he vowed that he would never again leave Felicity's side. That he would show her how much he loved her. Today taught him that he couldn't be without Felicity in his life. He prayed he would be given that chance as he silently sobbed.

And a few minutes later, this was how Diggle had found him. Broken, beaten and so unlike the Oliver Queen who always had his emotions under control. As Diggle approached and squeezed Oliver's shoulder, Oliver finally registered the presence of his friend.

Oliver slowly lifted his face to Diggle and Diggle registered the display of emotion on his friends' face. "Felicity was shot. I wasn't there to protect her."

Hmmm….reviews please.