Couch, Chapter 2

Spoilers: This takes place after Dodger, but references Unfinished Business too.

Disclaimer: Sadly, still not mine, but its fun to write about them

Summary: Felicity wants a couch.

Author's note: First of all, thanks for all the reviews, favorites, and follows! They made posting my first story in years a lot less scary, so thank you again. And you guys are the reason there is a second chapter to this! I also have another chapter planned after this one (not written yet) and I'm maybe not entirely happy with how this one turned out, but it's necessary for the next chapter, so here it is!


Flopping down on the couch, Oliver pulled out his phone. Lance seemed satisfied, but Felicity should know what had happened just in case. She was at work, so a text message was the easiest way. He started typing and then paused after two words. Now that the nightclub was open calling this place the 'factory' just didn't fit. Oh, what the hell. He might as well just go with it, if only for Felicity's reaction.

O: Lance found lair. Couch worked. He knows you know.

That pretty much covered everything, but he wasn't surprised when the phone buzzed a couple of seconds later with a reply.

F: Lair? Everything okay?

O: Your couch is fine.

F: Not what I meant.

O: I'm fine. Will explain later.

F: Lair :)

Oliver grinned. It was kind of adorable how she could get excited by the smallest things.

Across town, Felicity let out a happy squeal. She worked in a lair now, how cool was that! There was obviously more to the story, like why Lance had been in the club in the first place, although it was probably something to do with the Vertigo investigation. The fact that Oliver said everything was fine, kind of twice, meant she didn't have to worry, especially since after the thing with Helena he had become rather overprotective, something which she found to be a confusing mix of sweet and annoying.

Putting Oliver Queen out of her mind, Felicity got back to work. Someone had tried, and eventually failed, to hack into research and development last night, and now she was trying, and failing, to replicate what they had done to prevent it from happening again. Always appreciating good puzzle Felicity worked steadily until the clickety clack of her computer keys was interrupted some time later by a knock on her office door.

"Ms. Smoak?"

The voice jolted Felicity physically and mentally out of her tech zone and she looked up to see Detective Lance standing in her doorway. Her brain was still stuck in computer-network-land, but the detective must have taken her confused look as some sort of response because he said, "There is something I wanted to clarify with you. May I come in?"

"Ummm, yeah, sure...just...I need to...really quick, so if you don't mind sitting, maybe?" She gestured to the chair adjacent to her desk, inwardly cringing at just how nonsensical that had sounded.

Saving her progress and making a few notes on what to try next gave her the time to collect her thoughts as the detective wordlessly sat in the chair and waited. She really wasn't looking forward to this given her tendency to ramble and reveal things when nervous, and Lance definitely made her nervous. Her one interaction with the man had gone well when he had taken to her statement about Walter, but she had heard enough to know that he was very observant and determined when it came to Oliver Queen. It seemed like the best plan was to follow her own advice and mix in as much of the truth as possible. That and pretend like she was dealing with her nosy Aunt Muriel and only answer actual questions.

She took in a calming breath and swiveled her chair to the detective, "Yes Detective Lance. What can I help you with?"

"I'm surprised you remember me."

"You interviewed me when Walter, I mean Mr. Steele, disappeared. Wait, did you find Mr. Steele?"

"No, I'm sorry. Unfortunately we don't have anything new on that case. I'm here to talk to you about Oliver Queen." Lance let the statement hang, obviously expecting her to say something and not knowing that Felicity was chanting 'Aunt Muriel' in her head.

"I searched Verdant today for the Vertigo investigation" Lance continued, studying her carefully. "Imagine my surprise when I found something that was not listed on the building plans submitted to the city. I believe Mr. Queen called it a man cave."

Upon hearing those exact words Felicity couldn't stop the laugh that escaped and suddenly Lance didn't seem quite as intimidating.

"So you do know about it?" Lance confirmed with raised eyebrows.

"I'm sorry Detective, about laughing I mean. It's just that Oliver hates the term 'man cave' so I'm a little surprised he used it, especially since he made me promise to stop calling it that, but um yes, I set the computers up, for the man cave and the club too. I'm not sure why you would need to clarify that with me though." Felicity took a sip of her tea, feeling rather proud for smoothly turning the conversation back to the detective.

"I'm just trying to make sure that it's really Mr. Queen's, shall we say, personal office and not somewhere to sell drugs or a sex basement."

Felicity started choking on her tea. Sex basement? She could feel herself blushing at the idea and hoped Lance would attribute it to attempting to breathe liquid rather than the image that had just flashed through her mind. She wiped a few tears away and managed to gasp out, "Sex basement?"

"You know where Mr. Queen hookups with women from the club. I'm not sure how long you've known him, but trust me it would be entirely consistent with his past behavior, as would dealing Vertigo at the club. Tommy Merlyn too. They both ran with that crowd five years ago and Merlyn even more recently than that."

For a moment Felicity could only stare at the detective whose sharp eyes were cataloging and analyzing her every expression. The realization that this reaction wasn't the best for Oliver's sake shook her out of her stupor and after drawing in another calming breath she said, "Detective, I don't know of any drugs being sold out of the club. And considering what happened to Thea Queen not that long ago and what Oliver was willing to do to figure out who was selling Vertigo I think its highly unlikely that he would deal out of the club. And Tommy is close to Thea too. As for women….would that really be illegal?"

"No, but bribing an inspector would be. Thank you for your time Ms. Smoak" Then the detective stood, apparently satisfied with whatever he had gleaned from her response, and started towards the door.

Felicity wasn't sure what to say. Thank you for leaving didn't seem like the best idea, but she was happy to see him go. To her disappointment, Lance stopped short of her door and turned back. From his expression it was clear that he was weighing his options about something and then made a decision which caused him to walk back to her desk.

"Ms. Smoak, it's probably none of my business, but you should be careful with Mr. Queen. His track record with women isn't the best and I can tell you that every instinct I have tells me that he came back from that island changed, in a bad way. So do yourself and your family a favor and keep your distance from Oliver Queen."

"You're right Detective. It is none of your business." Felicity didn't know quite what came over her, but she locked eyes with the detective, voice not wavering at all. "I know Oliver Queen and I trust him. And while I appreciate that you aren't his biggest fan at some point you're going to have to decide if he's that thoughtless billionaire from five years ago or the damaged man you claim he is now because constantly declaring he is both is frankly just irrational and sloppy."

Lance was visibly shocked. After a beat of silence he managed to unclench his jaw and say "Have a good afternoon" before stalking out of her office.

Now that the moment was over, Felicity's heart was racing. Well crap, she thought, that really hadn't been the smartest thing to do. And it seemed like Oliver wasn't the only overprotective idiot.

Speaking of Oliver- sex basement? The man definitely had some explaining to do.