A/N: Firstly massive apologies that this is such a short chapter, I don't know what's happening my muse just couldn't get into adding more BUT I hope it's good enough and explains some of where this story may be going... Also thank you for every ones support! You're all awesome :)...

Oh I forgot to mention I am away on holiday over some of the next week so that means no writing so I don't know when I'll be back SORRY! But I hope you enjoy :).

2 weeks later

Felicity was stressed, for some strange reason work had become more hectic, thanks to her boss who was off sick. She had been given the task of managing the IT department in his absence. Apparently this was meant to be some way to prove herself, whatever that was meant to mean.

She was sat at her boss's desk sifting through his paperwork which was a complete and utter mess. She had no idea how the man managed to run this department. It had taken her just the two weeks to sort it all into piles now it was actually tackling it all. She started with the easier things, signing off on receipts, on holidays, etc, then she had a pile for past IT fixes that needed sorting, a proposals pile, and then a random pile of literally anything else. She sighed rubbing her eyes as she glanced up at the clock. 7.00pm. The rest of the department had gone home, and so she had the whole floor to herself. She left the door open giving her easy access to her own office too. She grumbled to herself as she went back to it all. A slight knock had her head bolting up.

"Go home." Oliver said leaning on the doorframe. "There are more things to life than paperwork." He stated flatly.

"I don't have anything else other than work going on in my life right now Oliver." She replied before thinking, sounding a little harsher than she intended, but he took it in his stride.

"Call Tommy, I'm sure he can take you out." He replied his arms crossing over his chest, he said it so softly but his smile seemed faked.

"Not tonight... though we really need to start arranging your bachelor party." He shook his head then rolled his eyes just as her phone rang. She glanced down to see no caller ID but she answered anyway.

"Hello."

"Miss Smoak?" A man's deep voice she recognised asked.

"Yes Captain what can I do for you?"

"I need you come to the precinct..."

"Oh wow really? I mean have I done something wrong?" Oliver watched in fascination.

"No Miss Smoak."

"Please call me Felicity."

"No it's about Mr Seldon. Cooper Seldon." She froze the air rushing out her lungs, causing her to bend over slightly.

"What about him?" She whispered so softly.

"Well there is no easy way to tell you this... He's escaped." The phone slipped from her fingers, Oliver watched at the horror and terror that appeared on her face. He walked fully into the room his hand landing on her shoulder.

"Felicity?" He asked squeezing gently but she didn't even move, it was as if she had turned into stone. He grabbed for her phone off the floor pulling to his ear.

"Felicity! Miss Smoak." He could hear Captain Lance shouting.

"Captain?"

"Oliver?" He asked with slight confusion. "Where's Felicity?"

"She's right here but she's kind of frozen..."

"Shit, it's shock. Can you get her to the precinct for me?"

"Of course."

"And don't leave her I think she's going to need a friend."

"Okay." Oliver replied ending the call. Felicity still hadn't moved her brain was thinking of the quickest way to get out of Starling to leave and never look back.

Suddenly she felt a pair of hands cup her cheeks and someone kneel in front of her.

"Felicity." Her eyes snapped to his then, so full of concern, searching her face. She looked at him and a wave of safety and security over took her as she took a deep breath. Her hands wrapped around his wrists, feeling his pulse strong and steady, grounding her, giving her strength.

"I'm okay." She whispered.

"I'll take you to the police station, Diggle will take us."

"Oliver I couldn't possibly ask that of you-"

"That is no problem, unless of course you don't want me there? I mean you might prefer Barry or Tom-"

"No." She pretty much shouted out, a trickle of fear running down her spine. He frowned at her his thumbs gently running along her cheekbones trying to calm her even further.

"It's okay." He whispered and suddenly she was up on her feet.

"We should probably get going we don't want to keep the Captain waiting." Oliver nodded rising to his feet.

They rode there in silence, Diggle parked around the back as to not alert the press of Oliver entering a police station. As soon as they all stepped inside Quentin was right there his hand resting on Felicity's elbow.

"Miss Smoak, you have nothing to be alarmed about I just want to talk to you." She nodded. "We'll do it in my office."

"Okay Captain."

"Please call me Quentin."

"Then I must insist, again, you call me Felicity." He smiled as he let go leading the way to the office.

"Felicity do you want Mr Queen and his bodyguard in here, or not? It is entirely your choice." She glanced at Oliver, whose eyes snapped to hers. He could see the fear, the uncertainty and he took a step closer.

"If that's okay, yes." He nodded holding the door for them to enter, Diggle choosing to wait outside the office. Felicity sat in the chair, Oliver beside her as Quentin took a chair the opposite side of the desk.

"So I don't know much about the actual circumstances..." Oliver stared at her as she swallowed thickly. "All I know is that he was sent away for psychiatric help, with an order to never contact you or come anywhere near you." She nodded swiftly. She could see out the corner of her eye Oliver's jaw clench and his fists ball up. "Can you give me some details? I mean paperwork only gives me so much, I want to know how dangerous he actually is..." She looked down at her own hands feeling both men's eyes boring into her head.

"I... Well..." She took a deep breath turning slightly to look at both men. "I broke up with him after he used software I devised to break through internet security... He used me so he could rob people. I didn't tell anyone but I destroyed the software and ended things." Oliver knew this, but what hadn't she shared with him. "He stayed away, for about a month. Then I started getting letters, flowers, and gifts randomly whilst in class or at work, it was all just too much. Then he turned up, and I told him things were over but he just wouldn't have it. For 3 months he just kept showing up, each time looking more and more dishevelled, more and more desperate." She sighed then blinking a little.

"Is that it Felicity?"

"No..." She could see Olivers jaw clenching, his teeth grinding. "He kidnapped me at gunpoint, he tied me to a chair in an abandoned warehouse, forcing me to eat and drink with him, to make him more software. I... He kept me there for 3 days before I was found." She swallowed thickly.

"Did he hurt you?" Oliver asked and she froze.

"Mr Queen..." Quentin said staring at him.

"It's okay Captain. He force fed me, roughed me up a bit when I didn't comply but nothing severe Oliver." She answered looking him directly in the eye. He nodded and said nothing more.

"I am sorry Felicity. The van he was on moving him from Massachusetts was involved in a road accident, he somehow managed to get the cuffs off but believe me he must have sustained some injuries."

"But you think he's going to come for me again?"

"Lets just say all the signs indicate so yes." She nodded slowly, shuddering at the meaning behind those words. "I want to have some men shadow you, protect you-"

"I'll do it." Oliver blurted out and both their heads shot to him.

"Mr Queen you cannot be with Miss Smoak 24/7."

"No but I… we, my family have top security, my bodyguard and his team can equip her with latest technology plus whilst at QC she'll have my protection." Quentin glanced at Felicity.

"I can't ask that of you Oliver."

"Miss Smoak, I mean I can offer you protection and we'll be there at the drop of a hat..."

"But Oliver has more means." Quentin gave a swift nod his lips pursed.

"I just..." She sighed. "I don't know what to say." The room fell silent for a moment before Quentin spoke up.

"Well there is an alert out for him especially within the Massachusetts area, we don't even know for certain he's heading here but we have the word out... Just keep us informed Felicity." He stood up handing her his own personal card. "That's a direct line to me; I'm going to protect you, we will catch hi." She took the card and nodded.

"Thank you." She said shaking his hand. "You didn't have to inform me..."

"It's my job Miss Smoak." He smiled as Oliver got to his feet too.

"Still thank you." He nodded and they both left the office.

As they stepped outside Oliver turned to Diggle explaining the situation, and he instantly was on the phone making enquiries.

"Oliver you don't have to do this for me... We haven't even had sightings of him here."

"It doesn't matter." He replied sharply as he opened the door for her. She waited for him to walk around and join her in the back. They sat in silence as Diggle stood outside on the phone. She couldn't help but stare at Oliver, his face stoic as he tried to hide his true feelings. His hand was lay between them on the chair, his forefinger and thumb rubbing together, the only tell he was anxious. She gently placed her hand over his stopping the action.

"Oliver." She whispered and instantly his head snapped around to hers. She could see the concern there but then a look of sadness, of hurt and she frowned squeezing his hand.

"You never said anything." He said it so quietly, so softly.

"Oliver it was a time in my life I try to forget, Barry is the only other person that knows... No one and I mean no one else does, not even my own mother."

"You should have told me." He said his voice dropping turning his whole body to face her.

"We... We were in a bad place when it all happened." She said staring into his eyes, she saw him flinch it was so subtle but she saw it.

"But we've been friends again for 4 years now... You could have said something..."

"Like what Oliver? Oh by the way that year we didn't talk my ex Cooper kidnapped me, and had me tied up for 3 days in a warehouse. Don't worry though everything's fine." She said it with such sarcasm and a shake of her head.

Suddenly his hands were back to her face like earlier in the evening, since when had this been a thing between them? His voice dropped so low, so tender as he looked deep into her soul.

"Felicity... Promise me... No matter what, when it comes to something important like your safety you'll tell me okay? I don't want you to ever think you're alone." Her mind froze, her heart aching as her eyes dropped to his lips, oh she wanted to kiss him, wanted to feel safe with his arms wrapped around her. Then suddenly the driver door opened and she pulled away from him.

"You have Laurel to worry about Oliver not me." With that she turned her whole body, looking out the window trying to calm her beating heart.

"I'll take you home Felicity, and we'll make sure the flat is secure tonight then we'll get everything set up, okay?" Diggle asked looking in the rear view mirror.

"Of course, Mr Diggle."

"Please my names John but you can call me Dig Felicity." She nodded.

"Thank you Dig." She replied staring back out the window, feeling Oliver's eyes boring into her head and the heat radiating from his body.