Title: Headache

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Author's Note: Who's getting excited with all the Olicity teasers we're getting thrown our way? :D They sure are playing with our emotions before they crush our hearts, aren't they? Anyway, here's a tad bit of angst as we gear up for s3. Thanks in advance if you comment. Have a great weekend!


"Felicity? Felicity?!"

Felicity looked away from Diggle, her eyes scanning the crowd to where Oliver came rushing through. He looked impeccable in his suit, not a hair out of place, but his eyes were flashing with worry as he came to the back of the ambulance where she was sitting, holding an icepack to her forehead.

"Are you hurt?"

She went to shake her head no, then winced at the onslaught of pain from where she'd been pushed onto the pavement. "Ow. Just my head." His eyes surveyed every inch of her, steady and steely as if searching for any new bruise he could find. She remembered the wrist brace Michael the paramedic just put on, and waved her arm lamely to show him. "And this. I twisted it a little."

"She's okay," Diggle assured Oliver, his voice an octave lower as if this was a reassurance Oliver needed delivered to him in a softer tone. "Security managed to pull the guy off her in record time, but our girl was holding her own."

"Even in heels," Felicity added proudly.

"Even in heels," Diggle repeated with a grin thrown her way.

"So, he just..." Oliver swallowed back the guilt already choking him and tried once again to get the words out. "He knew you had been my EA?"

Felicity remained quiet, her eyes focused on him with a sadness he couldn't bear to see. It was like she knew that by answering her question, by confirming the truth, she'd only add to his already brewing guilt. So she remained silent.

Diggle answered instead. "You were a high-profile member of the business world while you were CEO, Oliver, and Felicity was at your side last year for the press conferences and black-tie events. I don't see how physically assaulting your ex-EA could get a guy his job back, but far be it from me to understand a junkie."

Oliver took a deep breath, shakily exhaling as he tries not to focus on the bruise he sees blooming on Felicity's forehead. But he can't help it - the mark of color on her pale skin only reminds him of another time, another evening, a date that went so wrong that her dress was streaked with blood and her hair soaked with tears.

"I'm sorry, Felicity," he said, his hands hanging limply at his side, ordering himself not to reach for her. "I'm so sorry."

Felicity gave him a forced smile, shaking her head at his apology. "It's not your fault. Unless you're the crazed druggie who tackled me in the parking lot, Oliver, you have nothing to apologize for." He opened his mouth to speak again, to contradict her, and she met Diggle's gaze, rolling her eyes in frustration. "And, of course you don't believe me, so why do I even bother?"

"I..." Oliver began, but realized she was absolutely right - he didn't believe her. No matter what she said or how many times she said it, he would still think it was his fault.

Once again, she knew him better than he knew himself.

And they both knew this was the reason they were't together right now.

"Felicity? Are you okay?!"

Team Arrow turned as the acting CEO of Queen Consolidated, Ray Palmer, approached them, hands outstretched in familiarity to reach for Felicity. With an ease that Oliver envied, the man walked right up to her, brushing back her hair and examining the fresh bruise with concerned eyes and gentle hands.

"Just a headache," Felicity told him.

Ray smiled at her gently, his hands framing her face as he looked into her eyes. "See, I told you you should never have left the IT Department. Would have saved yourself a headache right about now."

He pulled her into a hug, and Felicity closed her eyes to the pain she saw flash across Oliver's face at the gesture and at Ray's line.

"Yeah, you're probably right," she agreed absentmindedly as her head pounded furiously.

Would have saved herself a lot of heartache, too.


the end ~