Author's Note: Thank you to all those who have reviewed and encouraged me to continue with this story. It's been along time since I have had so many alerts added to a story of mine. Keep the comments coming and I'll keep the chapters coming. That is a promise, mainly because I already have part of the ending of this story written which is very unusual for me.

To those who want Felicity to be the Black Canary, that's not going to happen, because Sarah Lance is already on track for that and I'm not a big comic book person so I don't feel I know enough about that world. If you remember when Sarah was talking to her Dad she said she went by Canary. This should be the last episode based chapter as I now have an idea for this story. That's not to say a scene or two that peaks my muse get added to a later chapter. Not sure when the next chapter will be ready but it probably won't be until after this weeks episode. It all depends on how much I get written and if I decide to take off in my own direction and not wait and see what the show does.

I must say a thank you to firebirdgirl for answering my call and being my beta. She really helped smooth the rough edges off this chapter.

Also I'm not getting any alerts, or reviews notices, there is a problem with gmail and fanfiction, it's been this way since late October, so if I don't get back to you quickly I apologize and I will try to keep on top of things. I have been doing pretty well now that I know there is a problem and figure out a quick way to check out those stats.


It's Hard To Fight When The Fight Ain't Fair

Oliver hurried down the stairs into the basement of the Verdant. He needed to tend to his bullet graze and get home before his mother was released from prison. He was still stunned by her acquittal. He thought she might be found guilty of a lesser charge or not all of the charges but he didn't expect her to get off scot-free. This was all too good to be true, someone had to have interfered with the jury, but who and why?

Then if things couldn't get worse, Isabel had called to yell at him because Arrow and The Count had gone head to head over his personal assistant and trashed Queen Tower. At the beginning of the call Isabel had called for Felicity's resignation or at the very least exile back to the IT department. Isabel wasn't a very happy lady, he hoped he'd managed to placate her, but he was pretty sure there'd be hell to pay tomorrow morning when he got to work. Isabel needed to understand one thing, and that was Felicity's position was non-negotiable, she was here to stay and there was nothing Isabel could do to change that.

Drawing a deep breath, Oliver pushed Isabel and her temper tantrum out of his mind. There wasn't time to think about her right now, Oliver needed to concentrate on getting home to celebrate with his mother and Thea. That meant taking care of this wound, and making sure his friends were alright, both Felicity and Digg had been through the wringer tonight, before heading home to his other family.

Removing his suit coat, he placed it on the table and began to unbutton his shirt, the wound had left a small spot of blood on the sleeve he needed to change shirts before he going home or there might be questions that he didn't want to answer.

Felicity's voice jolted him from his thoughts. "Congratulations…is that appropriate?" She looked around at the others in the room unsure.

Oliver fought the urge to sigh. How could explain his feelings without sounding unhappy about how his mother's case turned out? "She should have lost." He cringed as he removed his shirt, the movement of his arm reopening the graze and it began to bleed once more accompanied with a jolt of pain. "She should have been convicted."

Digg stepped forward to help but stopped at the look Oliver gave him. "Did you want her to be?"

Discarding the shirt on the bench Oliver sat down trying to ignore the ache in his arm. "I expected her to be. The verdict doesn't make sense."

Felicity stepped closer still wrapped up in the blanket he given her at Queen Tower. She had some color back but looked a little shaky. "Still your mom must be thrilled."

Oliver wondered if they would understand if he told them how he'd spent the last few months preparing himself to lose his mother, to have to visit her in prison. That when he had children, they would only get to see Grandma in a prison jumpsuit. "It's more like shocked, I think. They're processing her now. I just wanted to check in on you." He studied Digg trying to decide if his friend was really better from his Vertigo poisoning. Diggle looked much better than the last time Oliver had seen him, but he was sure the man could use a good night's sleep. Then he turned his attention to Felicity. He couldn't stop himself from softening his voice as he spoke to her. "And you."

His eyes sought her out asking questions that were better left unvoiced between them.

Felicity met his gaze for just a moment before she looked away and he wondered just what that meant. Was she upset with him because he'd killed again after he promised not to?

Digg spoke breaking the moment between him and Felicity. "I'm feeling better."

Oliver looks back at Felicity in time to see her smile for the first time since The Count almost killed her. and He hoped that everything might still okay between them. "And with the vertigo tainted vaccine, Queen Consolidated's applied science division was able to formulate a non-addictive treatment."

Relieved that one thing has truly gone well tonight, he responded. "Good. I need to meet my family at home, so you guys go home and get some rest." He got to his feet knowing that the clock was ticking, and Thea would never forgive him if he wasn't home when their mother arrived. She was already angry with him for leaving earlier tonight.

Digg came over and took his hand giving it a firm shake as though to show Oliver that he truly was all right. and then Digg left With a friendly slap on Oliver's shoulder, Digg left, leaving Oliver alone with Felicity. This was the first time they had truly been alone since their talk the other day about Isabel.

He reached out to touch Felicity's arm, needing to feel the warmth of her skin, to remind himself that she was alive, that The Count hadn't killed her, and taken her from him. If that day did come when he lost Felicity, he didn't know if he could survive another loss like that. So many other people had been wrenched from his life.

Torn between staying with Felicity to make sure she got home safely before finding more trouble and getting back to his family, Oliver made the choice he had to. It was time to leave her and trust her to be safe. "Goodnight."

"Night." Her voice was soft as he let go of her arm.

He turn back to the table to finish treating his wound so he could get out of here, but Felicity stepped toward him. He could hear the soft tap of her shoes as she took two the hesitant steps.

"Oliver, I uh…" she trailed off and he turned around wondering what was on her mind. "I just wanted to say thank you."

Nodding Oliver tried to shore up the wall that he'd put between them but she seemed bent on pulling it down brick by brick even if she wasn't trying to.. "Yeah?" There was nothing to thank him for, she should know that by now, she was in danger and it was his fault and so he would protect her- she spoke again cutting off his thoughts.

"And I'm sorry." Her voice was so quiet he hardly heard the words.

Now he was confused. What did she have to be sorry about? There is more to these words, he can see it on her face, and a horrible thought came to him. She's leaving him because he'd killed again? Had she finally had enough of the danger that the Arrow created for her? He stepped toward her, needing to know the answer to the next question. "For what?"

She was close to tears, and he felt a sinking feeling in his gut, she was doing it, she was going to leave him, but if she wanted to go, he knew he wouldn't stop her.

"I got myself into trouble again… and you killed him."

Oliver didn't meet her gaze fearing the accusation and disappointment he'll see there, but her next words surprised him.

"You killed again, and I'm sorry I was the one who put you in a position where you had to make that kind of choice." Felicity's voice is said, full of self-loathing.

Taking her hand Oliver squeezed it knowing this is was an important moment between them. She needed to know that for him, her life was more important than his vow not to kill. This instance was different than those other times. In those cases he had been the one in danger, and there were other options, but this time it was Felicity in danger. Her life had been on the line, and he had to save her. She wouldn't be sacrificed to in this vendetta. "He had you and he was going to hurt you… there was no choice to make."

He watched her reaction to his words to make sure she understood his meaning even if he couldn't say it out right. Then he turned and walked away before the temptation to break another vow he'd made to himself became too strong, this one much more important to his sanity.

Using the bandage as a distraction he began to unwind it from his arm so he could treat and bind the graze better. It would be difficult with only one hand, but he'd done it before. He could only hope she'd leave him alone this time.


Felicity watched Oliver turn away and she knew there was much more to be said between them. For the last few weeks they had been polite with each other, keeping each other at an arm's length, but she was tired of it.

She had been working hard to learn to protect herself but when the moment came to use those skills she hadn't remember anything. Felicity hated that she wasn't strong enough to keep herself safe.

It was even more important now to continue her training. If she was going to continue to help Oliver she needed to be able to protect herself especially if she planned to go rogue as she'd done tonight? She especially didn't want Oliver killing more people to save her life. She could see what it did to him, how it affected him.

She needed him to know that this wouldn't happen again, that there would come a time when he wouldn't need to drop everything and come running because she'd gotten herself into a spot of trouble.

There was another point she needed to make, this one even more important. She had to make him see that as long as she helped the Arrow, she would be in danger so his excuse that being with him would be dangerous was frivolous and self-serving.

She didn't want Oliver to shut himself away from her anymore. If she loved him, it was time to stop him from hurting her and himself. It was time to start pushing at and breaking down those walls.

"Oliver, let me help with that. You can't do it alone. I do a mean stitch these days." Felicity said coming to examine the wound on his arm.

She could tell that he wanted to refuse but she just glared at him until he held out his arm. Grasping the arm firmly between her fingers she turned to study the wound.

The bullet had left a deep bloody gash but it didn't look like it need any stitches. She opened one of the drawers and pulled out the needed supplies and placed them beside Oliver.

Leaning in close to him she told him what she planned. "I'm going to clean it and then put some ointment on it. I don't think you need any stitches, but it'll hurt for a while."

She could feel him shiver at her touch and she knew that her plan was working. Piece by piece she'd break through to him, this was a war. They needed each other, and it was time for her to fight for what's hers.


Thank you for taking the time to read this. If you liked it please let me know I have more to this story and if there is interest I'm willing to put the time in to write more.

Also if you like my writing and would like to see what else I have published take a look at my website by Googling my pen name. I have over 80 stories archived there and some have been posted here yet.

For future reference the chapters will be posted on my site a few days before is appears here. This one was posted there on Sunday and here on Monday. If you want alerts from there check out my Facebook page you find if by searching for my penname or there is a link on my website.