He had watched them down by the creek, secretly amused by his target's quips. This would have been easy if she was alone. The man, Oliver Queen seemed more observant; he would stop and pay attention to any sound that seemed out of the ordinary. So on edge for an ex billionaire, perhaps it was residual PTS from his years on the island. Slowly he retreated back through the green rainforest to their cabin. He had to hurry unsure of how long his target and Mr Queen would be.
During their short walk back Felicity did what Felicity did best, she babbled.
'I just want to check if everything is ok, I have a horrible feeling… like I left the iron on even though we don't have an iron because unlike this place, most places supply one.'
'You want to check if you left the non-existing iron on?' Oliver teased.
'No, that's not my point. I know there is no iron. I was trying, and failing miserably to explain the uneasy feeling I have at the pit of my stomach.… I know I am being crazy but …'
'It's a good thing I like your crazy' he smirked
'Hey' she lightly slapped his chest amused.
Oliver caught her hand and held it to his chest and he looked out beyond the woods.
'Its ok, we are safe. There is no one for miles.' She said soothingly. The unease returning as she felt him tense up.
The hair on the back of his neck stood to attention, his brow creased and he focused on the tree line.
'Oliver?' she muttered as she followed his gaze.
'Its nothing' he said looking back at her, he kissed her hand and followed her in. There was something, someone out there, he could feel it.
'As you can see the cabin is still standing, no imaginary iron burnt it down' he teased with a straight a face.
'No, but I am glad to be wrong...' she smiled. 'oh...it looks like Thea tried to call. I'll call her back.'
Oliver frowned, slightly concerned but then settling on the likelihood that she was just checking in on them again. The last call had been a little strange, she urged them to ignore the world and take all the time they need before heading back. He later realised that what Thea was trying to hide was the fact that Ray, more accurately Felicity's x Ray… Ex-boyfriend Ray Palmer had been announced dead after one of his robotic experiments went wrong. He knew that all Thea wanted was their continued happiness. He understood that she just didn't want them caught up in the next threat to Star City. They, Thea, Laurel and Dig, could take care of it.
'Hey I am sure it's nothing' Felicity reassured him running her thumb across his cheek as she waiting for the satellite call to go through. 'hmm no answer…which is no big deal, I'll try again in bit' she winked making light of it.
She was pulling on a pair of jeans when she heard the front door open.
'Oliver?'
'I am just going to go for a run' he called out.
'Ok, I'll just start on …' Felicity stopped mid sentence at the sound of the front door closing ... 'dinner' she finished shaking her head.
He had been so relaxed the last three months but this past week she could feel he was on edge again. Sure he would smile and effortlessly distract her but she wasn't fooled.
A deep sigh escaped as the thought that these days of utter bliss could at any moment be interrupted entered her mind. She was secretly conflicted because happy didn't begin to describe how Oliver made her feel, she didn't want to lose this. On the other hand knowing what he and she were capable of doing made her skin itch as she was dying to help and truth be told … she missed kicking a little cyber ass. Then again…she could hardly imagine going back to world where she and Oliver didn't share every meal. How empty her life would be without him now that she knew what it was like to have him. A silly grin would take over her whenever she thought of all the little… unexpected things he did. Things she didn't know about him like how he loved to cook and that he was actually good at, annoyingly better at it than she was. Who knew that Oliver Queen would sing in the shower when he was happy?
She smiled widely and shook her head. They were here and right now they were happy and expecting the worse was a sure fire way of ruining this precious gift of peace. This precious gift of time was time she would forever cherish because she was with the man she loved. No Slade, No League of Assassins and no masks, just Felicity Smoak and Oliver Queen.
Oliver conducted a thorough search of the property line. He felt an unease settle on his back a few days ago. He couldn't figure out if it was real or if it was just his imagination. He was happy and deep down he knew that, that meant the bottom was going to fall out any moment. A reflection amongst the leaves on the ground caught his eye.
Oliver sprinted back to the cabin heading straight to the bedroom and pulled out the suitcase from under the bed. 'Felicity!' he called out.
She hurried in and stood for a moment before asking him what he was doing.
'There is someone out there, I found indentations, foot prints and this…' he placed a small combat knife on the bed and looked at her gravely.
She picked up the knife and looked at it. 'Oliver it might just be kids, did you actually see anyone? Why would anyone want to hurt us?'
Oliver stopped packing and reached out to her, she took his hand and he stepped closer. 'Felicity, whoever is out there is not a kid, the shoe size is definitely a man's and this…this is not a butter knife. Something is not right, I am…'
'You are being paranoid' she said softly not ready to leave this bubble of happiness.
'…not being paranoid' He placed his hands on her shoulders and looked at her as if he was trying to reach her soul 'trust me, please'
She stared into his eyes and her stomach turned, she was well acquainted with that look. She pursed her lips and nodded. 'Ok we'll go, maybe next we can go find a place near the beach or anywhere with Wifi' she forced a smile.
He huffed out a smile 'Ladies choice'
Felicity grabbed a smaller bag and headed to the bathroom. She reached out ready to step in and flick on the light switch when Oliver yelled and had an arm around her waist throwing her to the floor.
'Oliver' She looked over at him, her heart beating out of her chest.
'Tripwire' he said pointing to the almost invisible wire across the bathroom doorway. That moment on he did what he did best, he was going to make sure Felicity survived this. He hauled her up, picked up the bag and headed into the kitchen.
'Don't move, don't touch anything' the stern warning sounded very much like a hero she once knew.
'Trust me I am too terrified to do anything right now. What are you thinking? The League? Tripwires are not really their style. Maybe Slade? Surely Argus would have warned us if he escaped. Has to be someone one else.' she said quickly.
'Damn it' Oliver slamed his hand on the kitchen bench
'What?'
'They took the sat phone' he said spinning her around practically pushing her out the door.
'But that's not possible, I used the phone when we got back…oh unless they, he…whoever, was in here with me! …. I might throw up'
Oliver blanched a little but then anger took over 'Get in the car' he urged her. I'll get that spare gas container from the shed and we'll go.'
'Ok but um glove box, I've got a spare sat phone, in the glove box'
Felicity sat on the passage side and looked in the rear view mirror as she fastened her seat belt. She saw him jog to the shed and she held on to her bag once he disappeared out of sight.
An explosion sent a burst of light momentarily blinding Felicity.
'Oliver!' Felicity screeched as her vision adjusted. She tugged frantically on the seat belt that refused to release her. 'Oliver' she yelled again, finally freeing herself as she almost tumbled out of the car.
She tried to enter the shed but the flames kept pushing her back.
'Oliver no..' she howled just before she heard it. It was just a faint groan and rustling leaves.
'Oh my god Oliver'
The blast had thrown him clear against an old oak tree.
'Are you hurt, where does it hurt, ?"
'We have to move, it wasn't rigged to blow, he detonated it and ran into the forest' Who ever was after them waited for Oliver to open the shed door.
Oliver tested his limbs, he was injured but there was no time to catalogue wounds so he pushed the pain away for later. He needed his legs to move, he needed to get them out of there, so he forced himself up.
He stumbled a little and Felicity did her best to offer him support as he struggled back to the car.
'What are you doing, you can't drive' she steeled her eyes until he gave in tossing her the keys.
'Felicity we need to get out here, fast.'
'Reading between the lines, you mean drive like someone is trying to kill us'
'GO!'
The tyres kicked up a light dust funnel behind them. Her knuckles whitening as she gripped the steering wheel, willing the car to fly them out of there.
The way out was narrow and windy, dangerous on a good day. It's the price you pay for privacy when you are Oliver Queen.
'Careful' warned Oliver as he felt the back tyre briefly leave the earth on a particularly tight manoeuvre. He was glad she was too distracted on the road ahead to notice the steep drop they could plummet to, should she lose control.
'Felicity the road is blocked ahead' Oliver said calmly reaching behind for his gear. He got a brief glimpse of it when the road wound back into the side of the mountain.
'Speed up?'
'What? No, too risky'
'What then?'
'I… I don't know, there is nowhere to stop between here and there' Oliver kept looking for a way out. 'You are going to have to turn the car….what are you doing?'
Felicity stopped the car at the first tree obstructing the view 'Get out Oliver'
'No' he said catching her train of thought and looking at her as if she were insane.
'Felicity get out and run, run as fast and as far as you can' he half ordered but mostly begged her.
'Oliver, they will chase us and they will find us, you're injured. Yes they will take me but fingers crossed they won't kill me, they should know that whatever they want, even if its you, me alive is more valuable than me dead. Right? So you getting out is our only play, they likely assume their shed bomb did the trick. So get out of the car Oliver, then come and save me'
'No, absolutely not.'
'Oliver, I know this goes against your every instinct but you know it's the right move, you are injured, you don't have your arrow and unless you have a sniper rifle hidden in your back pocked we are cornered'
'The cabin is probably rigged to blow' he said looking around, desperately searching for another way.
'Oliver I am not scared, ok maybe I'm a lot scared but …' she steadied her voice as a tear escaped 'I know you will find me. Take the phone' she placed it in his hand and kissed him briefly. In her loud voice he ordered him to go.
His eyes stormed as he thought it through. If they were both captured he couldn't save her. He got out of the car, reached in for the backpack and before she could drive away he said ' Wait.'
He leaned into the car and kissed her, wiped away the tears she shed 'I promise you that I won't stop until I get you back'
'I know ' she squeezed his hand. He gave her knife he found and she drove off full speed, the wheels spun kicking up dirt and providing him with a little extra coverage.
Oliver hobbled to the tree line and pulled out the binoculars taking photos of the road block. There were two cars, but only one man that he could see. He took a few photos of him and pulled out the phone. 'Dig, Felicity has been taken'.