Disclaimer: WB/DC own these characters. I do not. I just own any original ideas found in this.

Previously:

Ra's met Oliver's anger with a bland expression on his face. "Yes, you do bring up a good point." He shrugged his massive shoulders. "However, it will no longer be my concern." Rising, he nodded in the direction of the door, and two guards walked over to them. "Please escort Mr. Queen to his room. He is finished with the exercises, for now."

Oliver rose, not breaking eye contact with his greatest enemy, and with great restraint turned and followed the guards back to his room.

Oliver held in his anger until he reached his room. Without looking at his guards, he entered the room and shut the door. He turned and punched the wall beside the door. Biting back a cry of pain, Oliver shook his hand and swore at himself. I know better than to do that. Why did I do it? It was stupid. He flexed his hand and his fingers several times, clenching and opening his fist. Range of motion good, no increased pain. Good, at least I didn't break anything. Luckily.

All things considered, this situation was indeed worse than anything he ever faced with Amanda. Who would've thought he would live to say that? Oliver rolled his eyes, and began to pace in the room. He then decided pacing wouldn't cut it, so he decided to do some isometric exercises. It was a good idea, after all, since he hadn't been allowed much of a cool-off after the exercises.

After twenty minutes, he decided he needed to take a shower. Once he came out of the bathroom in a robe, he found a guard at attention next to the closed door of his room. "I apologize, Mr. Queen, but Master Al Ghul requests your presence for supper this evening."

Oliver nodded his agreement, and watched the guard leave. He quickly dressed again in the simple blue jeans and top he had found in the dresser the first day he was in the room. After collecting his thoughts once again, he knocked on the door and forced himself to remain calm as the lock was turned and the door opened. He then followed the guard to the dining room.

~~OQ~~OQ~~OQ~~OQ~~

Felicity had been notified she was to eat supper with Ra's tonight. Most evenings, she had eaten supper from a tray in her room. Which, without a TV, was mostly boring. So boring she wasn't nervous about the upcoming meal with the big, scary criminal holding her and her partner prisoner for some, nefarious scheme they could only guess at.

She was led down some hallways she hadn't been down before, but as always, the two guards with her managed to hide most of the details of the building from her as they walked by. It's becoming monotonous, not being able to see anything around here.

The dining room they walked into was even grander than the one in the Queen mansion. Rich wooden paneling covered the walls, a long mahogany table with overly stuffed chairs, in the style of Kingstown Pembroke with the big scary Ra's sitting at the head of the table.

"Good evening, Ms. Smoak. How are you?" The melodious voice of the man in front of her asked.

Why did the man still make her feel scared all the way down to her toes? "Okay, I guess," she attempted to say in an even tone and a smile. Which was more of a grimace, but perhaps he didn't notice.

"While we wait for Mr. Queen to arrive, I wanted to spend this time updating you on what he and I discussed this afternoon."

Finally, I get to know something, crossedFelicity's mind.

"Because of the excellent work you have done, we have all the data we need to begin my plan for the renewal of the earth in North America."

Recalling what Oliver had told her, Felicity felt her stomach drop. Forcing herself, she asked, "What does that mean, exactly?"

"It means, with your team's help, we will introduce my supervirus into the water supplies of three major cities, causing epidemics and mass deaths. Thus bringing new birth to this tired old Earth."

Oh my God, Starling City, Baltimore, and Sacramento. The cities I helped him hack into. Oliver was right. Biting her lip, she prevented the question she had wanted to ask: how could the death of millions bring about renewal? She kept her attention on the despicable man in front of her as he continued.

"And if you and Mr. Queen do not come up with a plan to get the virus into the waterworks of those three cities, then your life will be forfeit."

What? I didn't quite expect that, I guess. Felicity laughed. Ra's looked at her in puzzlement. "I must say, I did not expect you to react in such a way."

"It's just so cliché. Can't you think of something more original?" Felicity, her blue eyes widened, covered her mouth with her hand in alarm. "Did I just say that? I did, didn't I? Why would I say that to you? Three, two one…"

~~OQ~~OQ~~OQ~~OQ~~

Oliver followed the guards to the dining room where he and Ra's had shared their previous meals. To his pleasant surprise, Felicity was sitting at the table with Ra's. She gave him a nervous smile as he slid into the spot across the table from her. He gave her a wink, then turned his attention to Ra's, who was sitting at the head of the table.

"I am pleased you could join us, Mr. Queen. Ms. Smoak and I were having a most pleasant conversation." Ra's nodded across the room, resulting with waiters bringing in plates of food, which were placed in front of them. Felicity noted the superbly prepared veal, little potatoes, and green beans arranged artistically on the plates, with a side salad provided already at their place settings.

After the waiters left, Oliver smiled grimly and exchanged glances with Felicity. She gave a little smile and nodded her head slightly, indicating she was alright. However, he could tell she was flustered. He wondered what word babble she had completed before he had arrived. Considering his reply, Oliver asked Ra's in falsely casual tone, "May I ask what you were talking about?"

"I started to update her on your mission. Tomorrow, you and your colleagues will begin planning it. I trust you and Ms. Smoak will spend the rest of the evening coming up with possible ideas to bring to the table tomorrow." When Oliver was about to say something, Ra's continued. "I am sorry. I meant, after supper, you and Ms. Smoak will return to your separate rooms and begin to come up with possible ideas. You will then have the opportunity tomorrow to brainstorm with the rest of your team the best plans to carry out your mission."

"Wait, you said colleagues. Plural. Does that mean…?" Felicity asked, breathlessly waiting for the reply. She wasn't sure what she hoped the answer was.

"Yes, Mr. Diggle and Mr. Harper are here." Ra's raised his fork and took a bite of veal.

Felicity shot a scared look at Oliver. Oliver hurriedly said, "They are okay. A little worse for wear, but they were able to walk to my old cell on their own."

"What? Oh. In the basement? Why is that?" She shot a glance at Ra's.

"Because they disrupted some of Ra's plans. Which I don't know the details of." Oliver looked pointedly at Ra's and calmly took a bite of potato.

Felicity was able to swallow a wisecracker reply, but she had to cough in order to do it. Reaching for her water glass, Felicity wished she could have wine. And a battle cruiser. So we could get out of here.

Clearing his throat, Oliver forced himself to sound nonchalant. "Can you tell us any more about our mission?"

Ra's gave Oliver a searching look. "You really do not need any more information at this time. You will get everything tomorrow."

Oliver couldn't help himself; he rolled his eyes. Looking up, he found Felicity glaring at him. He gave a little shrug and returned his attention to his plate for several minutes. "So have you told Felicity what our 'incentive' is supposed to be?"

Felicity shot Oliver a look, fear in her eyes. Oliver sighed, knowing the answer. He gave Felicity a little smile, sheepishness in his eyes. I bet she's wishing she could tell me to behave.

"Yes, she has been informed her life is to be forfeited if you men fail at your mission." Ra's sounded like he was ordering pizza, not the possible death of a young woman. Oliver wondered about how he could sound so casual. But then again, the man was supposedly over 600 years old and responsible for thousands of deaths. He looked across the table at Felicity, to see her reaction.

"Oliver, don't worry. I mean, everything is going to be fine. Right? I mean…" Felicity's usual word babble failed her, and she looked at Oliver helplessly.

Oliver wasn't sure whether she was trying to distract herself or make him feel better. He smiled and gave her a small nod. Trying to come up with another item of discussion, he stated, "My compliments to your chef, Ra's. The veal is excellent."

"Yes, I must say I have been pleased with my kitchen staff while here."

"Otherwise they would lose their heads?" Felicity found herself asking. She clapped her hand over her mouth again. Shaking her head, she mumbled, "Why, oh why must I say such things?"

Ra's looked at Oliver. "She really is something, is she not? She must always keep things interesting for you, doesn't she?"

Felicity looked at Oliver just in time to catch an indescribable look cross Oliver's face. He then said, "Yes, she certainly does," catching her eyes.

Hoping she would redeem herself, Felicity said, "Yes, the food is delicious. I usually don't eat veal, because of all the controversy…" She looked at Oliver. "I'm just not going to say anything more."

Ra's reached out and patted Felicity's hand. "It is perfectly all right, Ms. Smoak. My daughter Nyssa did warn me of your…shall we say, interesting, way of communicating. She is correct. It can be charming."

Felicity kept her face from reacting to the touch of his hand, or the shiver down her back. "Speaking of Nyssa, is she here? It would be nice to see her again." I actually was able to say that without choking?

"No, she is currently on another assignment. However, you may meet my other daughter Talia. Mr. Queen already has."

Felicity bit her lip, so she wouldn't start another babble. She really didn't know what she wanted to say about yet another mad assassin running around. Realizing she still had food on her plate, Felicity returned her attention back to eating.

Several minutes passed with nothing but the clink of silverware as the three ate. Oliver wondered if it was going to be a battle of wills as to who would break the silence. After several more minutes, Oliver decided to change the subject. "Is there anything else you wish to discuss, Ra's?"

"No, but I would certainly think you and Felicity have a lot to catch up on. Feel free to discuss whatever you want."

Felicity suddenly became even more uncomfortable. How could Ra's think Oliver and she would ever talk freely in front of him? She looked over at Oliver, who shrugged and took another bite of food. Felicity usually wasn't tongue-tied, but at this time she was. Of course there were a million things she wanted to ask Oliver. However, nothing she wanted to ask in front of the big scary villain.

After several more minutes, Ra's took one last bite, put down his fork, and rose from his chair. "I am finished with my meal. I am going to retire now, for I have some business to check on." Ra's pointedly looked at Oliver's and Felicity's plates, not quite empty. "I see neither of you is finished. I suppose I will allow you to finish your meal. I apologize I cannot stay." He left, followed by two of the guards. Four guards remained, who were standing strategically around the room.

"I wonder how long we can stay here." Felicity asked as she started to finish her supper.

"Ra's didn't put a time limit on it. So, did he tell you he expects Roy, Digg, and me to actually participate in the contamination of three cities' water supplies with a megavirus?"

"No, he didn't! I don't think I like that. And how are we to plan for something like this anyway?" Felicity snuck a glance at some of the guards standing around. "What can we discuss right now with all sorts of ears around?" she said, in an attempted stage whisper. Of course, for Felicity, her stage whisper was only slightly softer than her normal voice.

Oliver hid a smile. "Not much." He also looked at some of the guards. "You still doing okay? Not irritating Ra's too much?"

"Well, as much as I could. I did try to slow down on my results, but he saw through it right away. So he didn't 'allow' us to eat together the night he found out."

Oliver didn't like the sound of that. "I told you to be careful and not try anything."

"Don't get all 'grr' on me, okay? I had to try something; I'm going bonkers here."

"I know," Oliver sighed. "Me too. Let's see how tomorrow goes."

Felicity looked at her plate. Her appetite had been so-so since this had all began. She pushed some of it around her plate, wishing she was at home with her mint chocolate chip ice cream and Dr. Who.

"I wish I could get you some ice cream," Oliver said with a smile.

"My hero," she smiled at him.

"We'll get out of this somehow," Oliver said softly.

"With our country intact?" Felicity tried to not have her voice tremble at the thought of everyone they knew dying, but wasn't successful.

"Yes," Oliver answered with as much confidence as he could. For her sake.

Felicity let herself settle into the comforting sound of that one word said in Oliver's Arrow voice. The voice which always brought her confidence.

One of the guards approached Oliver. "I apologize, Mr. Queen, but Ra's suggests you and Ms. Smoak retire to your rooms at this time. You both have a very busy morning tomorrow."

Oliver nodded. "Have a good night, Felicity. We'll talk more tomorrow, then." He winked at her and got up from his chair.

Felicity sighed. Getting up from her chair, she watched as Oliver was led out the door first by two of the guards, and another guard gestured to her to go next.

AN: Thank you again for reading. Please let me know what you liked about it. Hope you are enjoying reading this as much as I am writing this! Thank you for all the favs, reviews, and follows.