A/N: Thank you all so much for the reviews! It's great to see that many Naley fans, like myself, have jumped onto the Olicity train. Here is the next chapter for you guys. It's not as long as the first one, since that chapter had a lot of setup for the story. The chapters from here on out will be around this length.

Also, if you want to read the dialogue tease for the next chapter on Tuesday, follow me on twitter (Bindy_417). Thanks again and I'm looking forward to your comments.


Chapter 2

Today was the day everything would change. The third and final phase of Felicity's plan was about to begin. The thought filled her with a nervous excitement. She'd spent the morning rechecking her equipment and putting the finishing touches on her programs. Everything was set and ready to go.

Unfortunately, Felicity couldn't avoid Cooper all day. She'd like to after the stunt he pulled last night. It wasn't the first time he'd tried to hit on her, but it hadn't happened for a while. Felicity had hoped he'd let it go already. There was no way in hell they were getting back together. It baffled her that Cooper still thought he had a chance after all the crap he'd put her through.

With a sigh, Felicity left her hotel room and knocked on Cooper's door. She was supposed to brief the guys on their operation and what their roles would be. Myron let her in, looking a little worse for wear from the night before. In fact, they all looked like crap. Felicity shook her head at them. "We're about to hack into Queen Consolidated, a company with one of the best security systems in the country, and you're all hungover. This is great. We might as well turn ourselves in right now."

"Can you not talk so loud?" Chase groaned.

"Unbelievable," Felicity huffed in annoyance. Truthfully, she was thrilled. The guys being hungover made what she was about to propose to them more feasible.

"We'll be fine," Cooper told her. He was having a hard time looking her in the eye.

Good, Felicity thought. He should be embarrassed about last night.

"So what's the plan? Did your little excursion last night prove useful?"

"Actually, it did. Some of Oliver Queen's employees were at Verdant last night. One assistant manager in the IT department was particularly chatty. Their system is a bit more complicated than I'd thought," she fibbed. Queen Consolidated did have pretty good security measures put in place, but she figured that out on her own by hacking in a few times.

"How complicated?" Cooper grumpily demanded.

"We can still move forward with our plan, but I don't think we should do it here in the hotel. It might be better to go to a different location just in case we're traced. And since you guys aren't exactly in peak condition right now, it's probably the safest option." Felicity told them about an abandoned warehouse not too far from Verdant that they could use. If they were traced, it wouldn't be out of the ordinary for illegal activity to be taking place in The Glades.

"The Glades are still a mess," Myron added. "Even if the cops did try to come after us, we'd be long gone."

"Fine," Cooper agreed, rubbing his temples. "We'll head out this afternoon and get it all set up for tonight." He looked to Drake. "Don't forget the guns."

Felicity's head snapped up at that. "Guns? Since when do we have guns?"

"Since always. I didn't tell you, because I know you hate them."

"Why do we even need them?"

"It's just a precaution. The Glades are rough, and then there's The Arrow roaming around. It's not up for discussion," Cooper warned. "I'm not taking any chances."

For a second, she thought about calling the whole thing off. The guys being armed wasn't something Felicity had been planning on. She didn't want anyone to actually get hurt. But when would she ever get this chance again? Felicity decided she could handle this new development. Her plan would need just a little reworking.

Felicity was headed for the door when Cooper halted her. "Can we talk for a second?" he asked quietly so the guys wouldn't overhear.

"We talked long enough last night," she retorted and was satisfied to see him grimace.

"I was really drunk last night and you looked so...anyway, that wasn't me."

Yes, it was. "Fine. Let's just forget about it."

"Are we okay?"

No. "Of course, Coop," she lied, her stomach in knots.

"Good." Cooper sounded relieved. He took her hand in his. "I know things have been rough lately. But I really don't know what I'd do without you, babe."

Felicity returned his smile. You're about to find out.


There was nothing like a grueling workout to clear one's mind and ease some frustration. Oliver swung himself upward on the salmon ladder and continued his pull-ups routine. The board members had agreed to donate money to Starling City's reconstruction, but it was nowhere near the amount Oliver wanted to give. It had taken everything inside of him to control his temper. Oliver suddenly had a new appreciation for his parents; he didn't know how they put up with such self-absorbed people for so many years.

"So what's the plan for tonight?" Diggle was getting some hits on the sparring dummy.

Oliver finished his last set and jumped down to the ground. "There have been reports of medical supply trucks being hijacked on the way to Glades Memorial Hospital. We need to figure out who's behind it and how they're picking their targets."

"There was a guy, a doctor, I served with in Afghanistan. He works there. I'll see what I can find out."

"Good." There was a soft ping from the computer. Oliver walked over to see what the system had flagged. "What the hell?"

"What's up?"

"Something's wrong at QC." Sure enough, his phone rang. It was Carrie. Oliver quickly answered. "Carrie, what's going on?"

"Oliver, we have a serious problem. The entire system is down at QC. It's been infected with some kind of virus," she explained. "IT is trying to get rid of it, but they're having a hard time."

"Do we know how the virus got in our system?"

"It's a little more complicated than that. There's this message running on all of the computers. It's from that cyber-terrorist group Brother Eye."

"Brother Eye?" The name sounded vaguely familiar to Oliver. He'd heard it somewhere in the media, but the details were eluding him.

"What should we do?" Carrie questioned, sounding panicked. "Are you coming back to QC?"

"There's nothing I'd be able to do. Tell IT to keep working on it, and keep me posted," Oliver replied and hung up. He turned to Diggle, who was already doing an Internet search of this Brother Eye group. "What'd you find out?"

"Brother Eye is a cyber-terrorist group known for targeting major corporations," said Diggle. His eyes were quickly scanning the information he'd pulled up. "Their M.O. is unleashing a virus on the company's system. It allows them to hack into funds and transfer the money to another unknown entity."

"Basically, they corrupt the system long enough to pocket the cash," Oliver summarized.

"Yeah. So far they've been untraceable. Their most recent target was Kord Industries."

"Damn it." It was one thing to hunt down criminals in the street. Dealing with cyber-terrorists was an entirely different situation. Far beyond Oliver's normal capabilities. He could kiss QC's donation to Starling City goodbye. If the hackers took a sizable chunk from QC, then they weren't going to authorize funds for any extraneous endeavors.

"What do you want to do?"

Oliver's phone pinged once more. It was probably Carrie with another update. "What the...?" A red glowing eyeball appeared on his phone. It was followed by a text message.

I know you're The Arrow. I'm on your side. If you want to save your company, meet me at 254 Stein Street. I'll direct you once you get there. Do EXACTLY as I instruct. Be warned, the men inside are armed.

Oliver looked to Diggle. "We have a bigger problem."

The adrenaline Oliver felt from his workout earlier morphed into pure fury. How in the hell did this group know that he was The Arrow? And what was with the cryptic message? They were on his side? It didn't make any sense. It was probably a trap, but Oliver would go anyway. At least now he had someone to hit.

It didn't take them long at all to get to the abandoned warehouse. It was very close to Verdant, which set Oliver further on edge. He didn't like that this Brother Eye group seemed to be one step ahead of him. Diggle objected to them going in blind, but what choice did they have? There was no way they'd be able to track this group after they lost contact.

"How exactly are we supposed to find this guy?" Diggle muttered.

Oliver felt his phone vibrate once more.

Use the side entrance on the right. You'll see the loading dock. Take the door on the left.

So it wasn't just that they knew he was The Arrow. They were also tracking his phone. Oliver bristled. "That way."

"I really don't like this," Diggle repeated. His gun was out and at the ready.

Oliver led the way to the loading dock and cautiously made his way through the door. It was clear thus far.

Now walk down the hall and take a right into the conference room.

They did as instructed and found the dark, empty conference room.

There is another door that will lead to an office.

They walked into the office, which was also empty. "If I wanted to play hide and seek, I would've spent the night with my nephew," Diggle quietly grumbled.

I'm in the supply closet.

Oliver spotted the closet door in the corner. From the crack at the bottom, he noticed a light flicker on inside. This was it. Diggle took hold of the doorknob while Oliver put his phone away and loaded his bow. After his signal that he was ready, Diggle pulled the door open quickly.

Oliver was completely floored as he took in the scene before him. Of all the things he'd expected, it definitely wasn't this. It took a second for him to recognize her. Her blond hair was straight and in a ponytail, revealing an industrial piercing in her right ear. She also wore dark-rimmed glasses. The only similarity to that night they'd met at Verdant was the bright pink lipstick on her lips.

"Felicity?" Oliver retorted, taken aback.

"Please don't shoot me," the blonde rushed out. "I really am on your side, Oliver, and I can totally explain." Her hands were up in a gesture of surrender. The only item she held was a small tablet.

"You're Brother Eye?" He lowered his bow and pulled back his hood. She already knew who he was, so it's not like he had anything left to hide.

Diggle kept his gun drawn, just in case.

"Yes and no."

"Which is it?" Oliver demanded.

"Yes, I am a member of Brother Eye. But it's not by choice. It's kind of a long story, actually, and we don't have much time."

"Why did you target my company?"

"Because I need The Arrow's help. I can't take down Brother Eye alone, and I can't go to the police. Not directly."

"Because you're just as guilty," he surmised.

"I've been trapped for five years in hell." She was trying to put up a strong front, he could tell, but she couldn't completely hide the desperation in her voice. "If anyone can understand that, it's you."

Despite his better judgment, Oliver felt the impulsive need to protect her. His frustration mounted as he tried to work out the details. "And just what exactly do you expect me to do? It's not like I'm some IT whiz. I can't hand them over to the cops without evidence."

"I know that. I've already covered that," Felicity informed him. "The digital trail is set. In fact"-she checked her watch-"they've probably already realized that they're in big trouble."

"Meaning?" Diggle prompted.

"It's really technical, but I compromised the virus that we usually use to hack into a system. Basically, I left a few digital breadcrumbs that your IT experts should be able to trace. They've probably already contacted the authorities. All I need from you is to make sure that the guys don't get away before the police arrive."

"Felicity!" someone shouted in the distance.

Felicity glanced at her tablet. "Crap. That's Chase." At their questioning stares, she elaborated, "I'm tracking their phones in the building. I hid in here because it's as far away from where the guys are stationed with the equipment. It gave me more time to contact you uninterrupted."

Oliver could feel a headache coming on. "How many guys are there?"

Chase called for her again. He was getting closer. "Oliver," Dig warned.

"There's four. They're not exactly skilled fighters, but they do have guns." She met his torn gaze, hope shining in her own. "Does that mean you'll help me?"

Oliver inwardly cursed at himself. Felicity had played him perfectly. Their casual run-in had been a setup from the start. That irked him more than this wild goose chase she'd sent him on. Now that she'd gotten him here and his company was directly involved, that didn't leave him many options. He didn't like being backed into a corner.

As if sensing his irritation, Felicity added, "I meant what I said about this city being lucky to have The Arrow to protect it. I know I don't live here and you probably don't trust me, but I really do need your help. I wouldn't risk exposing you or myself otherwise."

Oliver was skilled at reading people. Looking at Felicity now, he could tell that she meant every word. Underneath that sincerity was also a very real thread of fear. If he turned his back on her now, he'd be feeding her to the wolves. His decision was made. "Stay here with Diggle while I take care of them. Then you are coming with us and telling me how exactly you found out I'm The Arrow."

Felicity sighed in relief. "Deal." Her smile lit up her entire face before she was back in business mode. She gave Oliver detailed instructions to the main room where the guys were located. Diggle gave her his earpiece, so that she could speak with Oliver directly in case any of the guys tried to escape.

"Watch her," Oliver whispered to Diggle as he pulled up his hood.

"Oliver, wait," Felicity halted him. "Please just...I know The Arrow sometimes has to...please don't kill them. That's not what I wanted."

He stared at her for a moment before leaving the room. That was a promise Oliver couldn't make. The truth was he didn't know Felicity well enough to completely trust her, and he still didn't know all of the details of the situation. If the guys were armed and tried to kill him, then Oliver would defend himself by any means necessary.


"Felicity, talk to me," Oliver said in her ear.

The blonde was furiously swiping away on her tablet. They had a limited window of time. Felicity had been right about QC's IT team being able to trace Brother Eye. A call had already been placed to the police. They had ten minutes before the cops arrived.

"Chase is headed right toward you, around the corner." Felicity turned to Oliver's partner/bodyguard. She'd briefly noticed him in the background at Verdant last night. He was much larger up close than she realized. "Um, Mr. Diggle, is it? Can you watch my phone? I'm running a program that's monitoring the squad cars that were dispatched."

"You were able to hack into the SCPD's system?"

"Yeah. I need you to let me know when they are in the area while I help Oliver track down the others."

"Damn," Diggle muttered, more awed than appalled.

There was a scuffle over the radio and a thump. "Chase is down," Oliver said. "I'm heading for the main room."

"The rest of the guys are still grouped there."

"Your phone is vibrating," Diggle informed her.

It was probably Cooper calling her. He must be flipping out by now. "Ignore it." She touched the earpiece. "Oliver, don't shoot the equipment. That's evidence."

Felicity turned on the computer cameras remotely, so she could see inside the room. Cooper had his phone to his ear, cursing and pacing like a wild animal. Myron and Drake were furiously typing away on their computers while yelling at each other.

"Shut it down!" Drake shouted at Myron.

"I can't retract the virus! It's completely out of my control. What the fuck is this?" he hollered back. "We need Felicity."

"Fuck!" Cooper swore and slammed his hands down on the table. "Drake, track her."

"The GPS in her phone is turned off again."

"The bitch set us up. I told you something was going on," Myron growled. He'd never liked her, even in college. Felicity always got the feeling that he hated being bested by a girl. Once again, he had.

"Where's Chase?" Drake interjected. "He should've been back by now."

"Do you think Felicity took him out?"

Cooper was shaking his head. "No, she wouldn't do this to me. Felicity knows if we go down, she goes down. For all we know, she's in trouble too. Something isn't right."

"You don't think it's that green vigilante, do you?" Drake started looking around wildly.

Cooper and Myron were pulling out their guns. "The guy's all brawn and no brains. No way could he figure out what we were doing here so quickly."

"Guess again," came a deep, menacing voice.

Felicity saw the guys stare above the computer screens at what she assumed was Oliver several feet away.

"Brother Eye, you have failed this city." There was a swooshing sound before one of the cameras went dead.

"I said don't shoot the equipment!" Felicity exclaimed. Oliver didn't reply, much to her annoyance.

"He probably just shot the screen and not the actual processor," Diggle assured her.

"Does he always not follow directions?" Felicity retorted in exasperation. Even though the cops would be taking the computers, the very idea of such fine pieces of equipment being destroyed deeply wounded her inner techie.

Diggle's smirk quickly disappeared as he stared at her phone. "Tell Oliver the police are five minutes away."

"Oliver, you have five minutes before the cops arrive. You have to hurry," Felicity informed him.

The only reply she got was gunfire, making Felicity jump. She couldn't see the guys in the camera anymore. They must've scattered. She switched back to her tracking program. They were all spread out but still in the same room. Felicity hoped that Oliver was okay. She didn't mean to send him into a warzone.

"I swear I didn't know they'd be packing heat," Felicity murmured, worried.

"He's faced worse. I should get you out of here, though."

"The fastest way out is the way you and Oliver came in."

"All right. Keep your eyes open and follow me."

Felicity did as Diggle said and stayed close behind him. She wished she knew what was going on with Oliver and the guys. More gunshots could be heard on the other side of the warehouse. Farther off in the distance sirens sounded.

"Oliver, the cops are almost here," she warned.

"I've got one more to take down. He ran. You guys need to get out of there."

"We're already on the move."

"Give the earpiece back to Diggle."

Felicity handed it to him. Diggle placed it back in his ear as they left the warehouse. He was mumbling something to Oliver. "Felicity, he needs a location on the last guy."

Panic flared within her when she saw that it was Cooper who was still on the move. "He's at the front of the building, heading east."

Diggle relayed the message to Oliver before taking hold of Felicity's arm and guiding her in the shadows. There was a van parked past the neighboring building. "I'm taking you somewhere safe."

"But what about-"

"He'll handle it, but I have to get you out of here now."

Felicity got in the passenger side. She'd barely fastened her seatbelt before Diggle sped off. They went down a few sides streets. It was all a maze to Felicity, as she wasn't familiar with the area. Soon enough they were pulling up behind Verdant.

"Are you sure we should be going here right now?" The strobe lights were flashing inside, and the music pounded. It was another busy night at the club.

"Oliver had a private entrance installed. We'll go in through the back and wait in his office. Nobody should bother us there."

They snuck in through the back undetected, as Diggle explained. Oliver's office had its own alcove away from the main club area. It must've been heavily insulated, because she could barely hear the music once inside.

It was a typical office with a desk and chairs. There were a couple of family pictures on a side table but not much else for decoration. Felicity took a seat on the black leather couch up against the wall. The adrenaline she'd felt earlier in executing her plan was fading. Weariness set in. She'd spent years trying to find a way out of Brother Eye and to cover her tracks. It was only in these last several months that she seriously pursued it, tying up any loose ends. Now that it was almost over, all she wanted to do was go back to her hotel room and sleep.

"Would you like something to drink?" Diggle had walked over to a mini-fridge and pulled out a water.

"Um, do you have any Diet Coke?"

"Just regular."

"That's fine." After the night Felicity had, she could probably use the extra calories. She mumbled her thanks and took a long sip. "How much longer do you think Oliver will be?"

"He's on his way back now."

Felicity breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank God." She took a few more sips of soda. The caffeine was keeping her body from crashing. Though it felt good to rest her head back and shut her eyes for a minute. The couch was a lot more comfortable than it looked.

She didn't know how much time passed, but her eyes shot open at the sound of the door opening. Oliver had changed into a normal business suit, looking every bit like a CEO. It was kind of fascinating how he switched from one identity to the other.

"Did you get Cooper?" was the first thing out of her mouth.

Oliver shot a quick look to Diggle before shaking his head. "No."

"Oh my God, what?!" Felicity cried, her mind already going a thousand miles a minute. "How could he have possibly gotten away from you?" Cooper could be pretty slick when he wanted to be, but Oliver was The Arrow. She'd heard about all of the tough and agile criminals he'd taken down. Cooper should've been easy.

"I would've had him if the police hadn't gotten in my way," Oliver explained with a hint of frustration. "Unfortunately, their number one priority is still trying to catch me. I think Cooper realized that, because he started shooting again. That made the police open fire, which meant I was too busy dodging their bullets to get to him."

Felicity ran her hand over her face. "Oh, God." She felt sick.

"The police have the other guys in custody. I'm sure it won't be long before-"

"You don't understand," Felicity cut in. She was in full panic mode. "Of all the guys that needed to be locked up, it had to be Cooper. I might be smarter than him, but he's much more dangerous. He's the one who started Brother Eye. And when he finds out I betrayed him-and he will-he's going to come after me. God, I'm so dead."

Oliver took a seat across from her and put a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, relax. Take a deep breath."

Felicity did as he said and breathed. She was still shaking but felt a little calmer.

"Good. Now start at the beginning."