Title: White Blank Page

Author: Bunny

Rating: T

Disclaimer: Nope. Still don't own.

Summary: Helena comes back to town to finally finish business with her father, demanding Oliver's assistance once more. However, her end goal is one that Felicity cannot allow to come to pass. Post 2x10.

A/N: The talk between Felicity and Helena was what inspired this fic; harkening back to that bit of insanity I mentioned last chapter. Gotta love crazy Helena. Enjoy all!

A white blank page and a swelling rage; you did not think when you sent me to the brink

If anyone had asked, Felicity was annoyed. Not that there was anyone around to ask as the other three people who were in the basement with her earlier decided to trail up to the upper club level per Oliver's suggestion. He told her to call when she got something. Leaving her all alone. To work. Alone. She heaved a sigh of frustration as she willed her programs to calculate quicker.

As soon as she leaned her head down to tap the table top, the beep of a positive match went off. Spinning to her phone, she sent a quick message upstairs. Hearing footsteps coming from the stairs, she announced, "I think I've made headway on finding Deadshot."

"So he's definitely here." Diggle's statement was not meant to be mistaken for a question as he rounded to the front of her computers.

Eyes flicking up, she bit her lip giving her affirmative. "Yeah."

"And what about finding my father?" demanded Helena. Her urgent tone seemed stressed, something that almost bothered Felicity.

"Oh, I found the safe house Frank Bertinelli is being held at before you guys, you know, abandoned me down here," she pointed out, slight bitterness lacing her words as she looked to Oliver. He did not return the glance.

"Where?"

"He's in town," she answered elusively, focused on the monitors and bringing forth various accounts and diagrams she had looked into. "After getting that address I started sweeping nearby buildings for anything out of the norm. Problem was everything in this part of town screams just a little bit out of the norm. You want to be a shady person, this is the sector to do it. Drug deals, cheaters, under ground gambling; you pick it. So, instead I decided to look for something behaving normally. Someone who paid a room up for days instead of a few hours, someone who received emails or phone calls that weren't necessarily from overseas."

Helena made a 'tsk' noise with her teeth, her lips quirking smugly, "That's a very vague list."

"A vague list that came up with only two possible outcomes." Observing her face falter from her self righteous demeanor was the highlight to Felicity's day. Well, second highest. Seeing Oliver behind her barely not keep a prideful smile down topped the unofficial list. "They might lead to nothing, but it's probably worth a look."

Not even needing a prompt she sent the information to Oliver and Diggle's phones. Upon the beep of the message arrival, Oliver went to the display case to remove the hood. Before he could reach it, Helena stepped in the way. "I'm coming too."

Oliver scoffed, trying to brush her to the side. The brunette took his arm, pulling it up to attempt a hold; but he easily rebuffed the move. Having her in what appeared to be a relatively simple hold, he sternly rasped, "Not a chance. It's just recon. Don't want you getting too trigger happy."

"I'll stay with her," offered Diggle, effectively breaking the stare off between the two warriors. "I've got a few calls to make anyway."

"And I'm going to keep running down the money trail," added Felicity, observing their closed off shoulders. She was not too pleased to be counted out of the conversation. "In case anyone was interested."

Helena stepped back, ripping her arm from the hold. She backed up until she leaned against a steel table, only breaking eye contact and the palpable tension when she suddenly found her nails extremely enticing. Felicity sucked in a deep breath, raising her eyebrows as she turned back around to her work; leaving Oliver to get dressed to investigate, Diggle to his private conversation, and Helena to loiter.

What Felicity didn't expect to feel was Oliver's warm hand pressed to her back. She jumped lightly, peering up to his concerned expression. She knew what he was going to say before he licked his lips to request, "I'd prefer you did that from somewhere else."

"Somewhere else meaning away from her." His gaze ticked down as he sighed deeply, telling her she had hit the nail on the head. Leaning in closer, she lowered her voice, "I'm not stupid. Why don't you want me anywhere near her?"

"It's complicated."

"Is this some sort of psycho ex thing? Because I know you two slept together, I know you cared a lot about her. None of this is anything new."

A muscle in his cheek twitched, emotional walls still up but wavering just enough. "It's not that."

"Then what is it?" she pleaded. When he sighed again bouncing the bow in his hand, she knew she was close to getting through to him. His hesitance to admit anything was nothing new, but Helena was a relatively recent player in his list of personal demons. The things that had transpired between her and Oliver were, for all intents and purposes, public amongst them. His reluctance indicated an issue beyond Helena. Felicity tilted her head sideways, trying to catch his eye at a different angle. "Come on. Don't hold out on me like this. Please."

"Anything you two want to share with the class?"

Helena's snide side comment broke the moment. Felicity sat up clearing her throat unnecessarily as Oliver strode towards the stairs out. "I'll be back in a little while."

"Aren't you going to threaten me to behave?" Oliver merely stopped inches from her, giving her a pointed stare before continuing his exit. The door up top closed leaving the basement quiet with the exception of Diggle's muffled voice yards away. Felicity didn't realize she had spun her chair again until Helena gradually turned her head to face her. The not so subtle turn unsettled the blonde deep down, the hollowness she saw in the other girls face made it difficult to breathe for a moment. Pointing to the tech at her back as a desperate excuse, she then awkwardly returned to her work. She wasn't certain of the time that passed before Helena asked, "Who is he talking to, anyways?"

"No idea, none of my business, and therefore; definitely none of yours." Felicity was almost positive Lyla was on the other side of the line, but wasn't willing to offer that information. Her hacking speed was slowed by the consistent need to watch the other woman observe the lair. Helena's wide eyes scanned everything ceiling to floor and the bits in between, wandering slowly around. Stopping at tool drawer, the huntress used one finger to slide it open revealing medical supplies. "Close that," Felicity ordered eyes glancing over the large monitor. Helena simply raised an eyebrow before lightly shutting the drawer. "I arranged everything to have a place so we know where it is when it's needed."

"So you're the one who redecorated down here?"

"Yes. I guess you could say it was a summer project."

Pursing her lips with faint approval, she ran her hand across the table holding the arrow display. The blonde pushed down a spike of anxiety at her proximity to pointed weapons. Out of the corner of her eye, she noted Diggle's attention to every move the other woman made regardless of his phone call. "You certainly added your womanly touch down here."

"In a very sleek, modern, utilitarian way. I suppose, yes?" she offered now turned to give her complete attention, uncertain if the comment was an insult or compliment.

"Oliver's certainly allowed you to get close since I was last in town." The brunette moved towards the table Felicity worked at. "I mean, he trusts you an awful lot, especially if you're organizing his personal effects."

"Again, I suppose, yes."

"And yet you two have yet to sleep together."

Felicity faltered in her relatively impassive demeanor, face flushed and stomach dropping. Pushing her glasses up unnecessarily, she replied finally flustered, much to her annoyance. The stab of jealous regret lingering in her gut did not help her mood. "No. But I fail to see how the two connect."

"Heard about that nasty business with the Count a few months ago," she continued on, leaning on the table to the blonde's side as she tucked a long strand of dark hair behind her ear. Sarcasm and disdain dripped from her voice like a poison. "I found it rather interesting, particularly the part where he died with several arrows in his chest. Despite Oliver's new found mission and vow to not kill, I read the Count probably died before his body struck the car on the street below him."

"Are you going to keep babbling, which is something coming from me, or is there an actual question?"

"The unnamed employee he kidnapped was you, wasn't it?" The blonde cut eye contact as guilt dug in her heart, attempting to turn her attention back to her work. Helena smirked smugly. "It's amazing to me, how much a person can say when they don't speak."

Trying to appear unmoved by her words, she hurried out, "Yes, I was in the office. But what–"

"He has gone out of his way, to extremely difficult lengths, to not kill anybody since the Glades were destroyed. Except… when it comes to you." Helena leaned in close, breath tickling Felicity's ear. The level of emptiness in her whisper caused a tingle to run down Felicity's spine. But not one from fear of the verbal threat. "That's the only reason I haven't tied you up, yet. I know what my fate holds when that happens."

"Hey, back off," ordered Diggle. Finished with his call, he crossed to the room to where the two girls sat closely. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, you know, John. A little interior decorating, boys, bondage. The typical girl stuff," replied Helena, pushing off from the table. Heels clacking as she once again took in the architecture, appearing bored with what transpired around her.

He made sure to have eye contact with Felicity, nonverbally asking if she were alright. Grateful for the interruption, she smiled lightly and nodded. Turning back to study the code on her computer, once again a shudder chilled her as she contemplated Helena's last private comment. Something about it did not settle right with her.

X~X~X~X~X

The first address was correct though Lawton had already left, but not by more than a few hours. Traces of Curare were found around the night stand, indicating his preparation for his imminent target. Diggle's call into Lyla proved more helpful as everything now came down to an A.R.G.U.S. assisted sting operation. Frank Bertinelli was to have a meeting with law enforcement at a secondary safe house, meaning he would have to be transported to said location. A.R.G.U.S agents would replace the regularly scheduled transport officers while Oliver and Diggle hid in around the perimeter.

After much debate it was decided Helena was to come along, just without the courtesy of her crossbow or any other projectile weapons. So here she stood, masked and in the black and purple suit she obtained from Oliver. As Diggle packed the necessary tech and Oliver restocked his arrows, Helena appeared to be wandering aimlessly around the basement. Felicity kept discrete watch, noticing her actually pacing in a figure eight pattern and muttering to herself. Though she couldn't actually hear what was being said, the facial ticks and lack of sparkle in her eyes showed the turmoil of rock bottom.

Drumming her fingers on the smooth table surface, Felicity bit her lip struggling to decide if now was the right time to mention her suspicions. As the two men double checked their gear whilst heading to the exit, Helena faced her to blow a kiss and a sarcastic wave in her direction. The action went unnoticed by the others present, but it was what caused Felicity to stand so forcefully her chair slammed back a few feet. "Oliver, wait, I need to talk to you."

Furrowed brow, he shook his head signaling this was not the time. "It can wait."

"No, now." She came forward to take his arm, leading him back to the work space. Indicating with a flick of her wrist that the others should head up, she added, "He'll follow in a minute."

Diggle led Helena out of the room. Once the sound of their footfalls vanished, Oliver sighed, "What?"

"It's about Helena," she rushed out, knowing he was annoyed at the delay she just caused. "We talked while you were out earlier and I'm worried about some of the things she said."

"Hey, you don't need to," his hand came up to grasp her arm in a reassuring manner. Though she usually relished physical contact with him, it did little to assuage the worry mounting in her. "We do this, then she leaves."

"That's exactly why I'm worried." Clearly confused, he dropped his arm to allow her to continue. Heaving a breath as she massaged her forehead, she laid her apprehensions on the table. "Oliver, she has a death wish. Once her father is gone, her mission is completed. She has nothing else to live for."

"Then she leaves town for good. Figures out her life elsewhere."

"No. I'm pretty sure she's going to get you to kill her."

He exhaled a hollow laugh. "How? Is she going to run and jump onto one of my arrows?"

Felicity didn't have to speak, she simply tapped her fists together as she tightened her lips together. It didn't take long for Oliver to connect the dots as he let out a growl of anger, turning away to rest his hands on the counter and hang his head. Barely able to keep tears out of her eyes she stepped up, hand hovering over his back for a moment before setting it on him. "I don't want to be the reason you kill again. I'm not worth it, not that burden."

She didn't realize he had turned until she felt the weight of him wrapped around her. She tensed momentarily at the hug before returning it, burying her face in the green leather and breathing in its scent deeply. His words were slightly muffled by her hair, "Of course you're worth it. You're always worth it, Felicity."

"It's time to go," called a tense Diggle from the top of the stairs.

Leaning back, he put on his grin and bear it reassuring smile. "I'll keep a close watch on her. And I think it's time we have a talk when I get back."

"Promise?"

Oliver took a beat as though truly considering her simple question, before leaning in to press his lips to her forehead. She closed her eyes as the simple action warmed her inside and out. "Promise."

X~X~X~X~X

For Felicity, the worst part of a mission was the radio silence. Comm links could easily be hacked, but someone, most likely Deadshot, jammed all communication channels they were rendered useless. No CCTV's to watch either. The never ending money trace continued to run on her far left screen. So she sat straight, eyes closed, forehead tipped in her clasped hands.

Nearly two hours after their departure her phone vibrated on the shiny surface of her desk. Clicking the earpiece to answer she spilled out, "What happened? Is everyone alright? Or is someone dead? Why did the comms go down? Where are the –"

"Felicity," came Oliver's voice, calming her rapid fire of questions instantly. "Frank Bertinelli's dead, we were too late for that. Lawton killed him."

"And what about Lawton himself?"

"I put an arrow around his kneecap." Felicity gave a twinge at the visual there. "Then some A.R.G.U.S. agents over ran him. Pretty sure he's in critical condition, but he deployed some sort of tech block around the building. It's why we couldn't stay in contact. Dig needs to stay behind to be debriefed, but we're pretty much done here."

"And how does Helena feel about this new development?"

His pause was more than enough to answer her question. "She…disappeared in the chaos following the kill shot."

The far left screen beeped, numbers no longer scrolling across its surface as a name and location popped up. After back pedaling through various accounts, the payments for Deadshot were all paid from Barcelona by one H. Hamnet. She pushed down a wave of nausea as her college history of British literature course filtered to the front of her mind.

"Oh, crap! She played us!" exclaimed Felicity, gripping onto her earpiece. "It was Helena. She's the one who paid Lawton to take out her father."

"Are you sure? Did the trace come back to her?"

"Not specifically, but it came back to one H. Hamnet."

"Is that name supposed to ring a bell?" he questioned with a frustrated tone.

Felicity typed away to find security footage of the vengeful huntress setting up the bank account as she patiently explained to the man on the line. "Hamnet. As in the child of William Shakespeare who died at age 11. As in the one who inspired the play Hamlet."

"Didn't we establish when we met that I don't do Shakespeare?" he queried again, causing her lip to momentarily quirk up at the memory.

"Basically, to parallel Helena's life, Hamlet is about an heir who is betrayed by the patriarch of the family and strives to kill him for revenge. And in the end he gets his revenge, only to die himself." Helena's taunts from earlier echoed in her ears, worry gripping at her gut. "I found security footage, it's definitely her. You sure she's still not there?"

"Positive," explained Oliver with gritted teeth. "I'm working on tracking her down now."

Suddenly feeling exposed she stood slowly, spinning to observe her surroundings. "Come back here," she requested, voice cracking with nerves.

"Is she with you?"

"Not yet," Felicity whispered, working to keep her tremors down. "Call it a hunch. And hurry."

"Stay on the line, I am heading back, I'll be there –"

His sentence was cut off by the thwack of a cross bolt imbedding into her mobile phone. Angry she couldn't keep the shriek of surprise down, Felicity jumped looking at where the flying object originated. Helena's empty smile greeted her, elbow cocked with the crossbow pointed towards the ceiling. In her other hand were zip ties. Offering the bits of plastic, she taunted, "This is me asking nicely." She then aimed the weapon at her and Felicity felt her pulse quicken in fear. "But I kind of hope you don't make it easy."