STAR Labs

Caitlin Snow tapped her fingers against her worktable as she watched Barry's heart rate climb. Her eyes moved over the monitors and narrowed attentively as the numbers rose and fell.

"Okay Barry, that's enough for today." Dr. Wells' voice instructed.

Barry slowed down, until finally the treadmill came to a complete halt. He let out a puff of breath and hopped off. "You're getting faster Barry." Caitlin's voice floated over the com.

He grinned. "Cool!"

She was waiting for him with a towel and a bottle of water when he walked out. He took them appreciatively and dropped into a chair, wheeling it towards the monitors. "I felt a shift today, like my body physically broke through some kind of barrier. I felt myself run faster."

Cisco cackled. "Oh man, the possibilities!"

He and Barry bumped fists while Caitlin rolled her eyes, a shadow of a smile floating around her lips.

Dr. Wells wheeled towards them, his expression pensive. "There is still a long way to go Barry, before you reach a speed high enough to challenge the other speedster. Focus on that."

Barry's expression sobered and he nodded, his eyes glazed over as he thought about the man who may have killed his mother.

"But-

Dr. Wells said, nodding at Barry, seemingly sensing the dark nature of his thoughts. "-very well done today, Barry."

Barry's lip turned up at the corner. Praises from his mentor were few and far between. "Thanks Dr. Wells, but you're right. If I have any chance of fighting the Yellow Man, much less beating him, I have to run faster."

"Well that's something I didn't think that I'd ever hear coming from your lips."

Barry, along with everyone else, turned around in surprise, to find Felicity standing at the doorway, her eyes dancing with amused incredulity.

Barry's face exploded with a large grin.

Felicity smiled. "Hey guys, long time no see."


Caitlin rushed forward and threw her arms around Felicity's shoulders. "It's so nice to see you." She greeted happily.

"Yeah, we miss Starling City's finest." Cisco piped.

Both Barry and Caitlin turned around in amusement and he blushed red. "I meant crime fighting-wise...in case you thought I meant something else...which I totally didn't. Not that you're not, you know...fine- I'm just going to shut up now."

Barry snickered on the side as Caitlin shook her head in exasperation.

Felicity laughed. "Thanks Cisco...I think."

Dr. Wells pushed his chair forward and offered her a warm smile. "It's always a pleasure, Miss Smoak."

She gave a sheepish grin and bounced lightly on her heels. "Thanks, but something tells me it's going to be less of a pleasure, when I tell you the real reason I'm here."

Barry stepped forward and crossed his arms curiously. "What do you mean?"

"Can you all...follow me?" Felicity asked, slight hesitation coloring her voice.

Barry and Dr. Wells exchanged a glance, before following Felicity outside. She cleared her throat and looked up towards the sky nervously.

Barry followed her eyes before glancing back. "Um Felicity, what is it that we're supposed to be doing, exactly?"

"Just wait for it."

He thought he heard her mutter something along the lines of 'trust me, you'll know it when you see it' though he couldn't be sure.

Certainly enough, a few seconds later, they spotted something glimmer in the sky.

"What- is that-

"-a bird?"

"No, it looks like a plane."

They shifted back in alarm as the object in question shot down towards them at incredible speed. Felicity simply sighed in dejection as Ray landed in a heap of armour.

"It's my boss."


"Felicity, what the hell were you thinking?! Were you thinking?!"

"I was thinking that the CEO of Palmer Technologies was going to get himself killed trying to build an Exosuit, unless I did something to help! And I was right. He went out a few nights ago and tried to take on a bunch of thugs and nearly got himself shot to death. I didn't know who else to turn to."

Barry let out a long breath and dragged his hands across his face in frustration. "How much does he know about me?"

"Absolutely nothing." Felicity answered steadfast. "For all he knows, we're just here to get help from Dr. Wells."

He groaned. "You know, when I said I'd help you no matter what, this wasn't exactly what I had in mind."

Felicity shot him an appreciative smile. "I know. Believe me, if there was any other way, I wouldn't be doing this. I honestly didn't think we'd be able to pull it off. I was counting on that."

Barry gave her a disbelieving look. "You're kidding, right? Felicity, you are one of the smartest people I know- and I work with STAR Labs. With you helping him, it was only a matter of time."

"Great, thanks. That makes me feel a lot better." Felicity deadpanned.

"I'm not trying to make you feel better; I'm trying to make you realize how dangerous this is."

Felicity turned away and gazed at something in the distance. "I know. But you weren't there Barry, you didn't see how determined he was... how close to the edge he was." She swallowed the swell in her throat, before turning back to him.

"He lost his fiancée, last year during the siege. He thinks it's his fault for not protecting her. We've both seen how dangerous that grief can be." She whispered pointedly.

Barry closed his eyes and sighed. "I'm assuming Oliver has no idea about any of this." The question was rhetorical. "He's gonna kill me, oh god he's gonna kill me." He muttered. "And this time it's going to be a lot worse than an arrow through my shoulder."

Felicity patted his shoulder consolingly, before walking back to the cortex. Needless to say, Barry was not reassured one bit.


"So Barry seems nice. I get the feeling he doesn't like me too much though."

Ray had insisted they have a proper meal after spending the entire day at STAR labs, which was how Felicity found herself dressed up in a pretty blue dress she'd had the good sense to pack, and seated in a quiet corner, in a small, yet tasteful Greek restaurant close to their hotel.

For some reason, Felicity found herself to be nervous. She forced her nerves to settle, as she drank back a sip of wine, before smiling apologetically. "He doesn't hate you; he just...doesn't know you. Believe me; Barry Allen couldn't hate anyone, even if he tried."

Ray smiled back, before staring at his hands contemplatively. "He thinks it's dangerous, being around me- or rather the suit."

Felicity made a derisive noise, but he raised his brow. "I have an IQ level above 150, Felicity, give me some credit."

She rolled her eyes and sank back in her seat. "Yes, fine. He thinks me helping you isn't a good idea. But he respects your reasons. The two of you are more similar than you know."

Ray gave a huff of laughter.

"What?"

He shook his head. "Nothing." He hesitated. "If you don't mind me asking, are you and him..." He trailed off as he watched her pointedly.

Felicity's eyes widened and he took her surprise as discomfort, raising his hands quickly. "You don't have to tell me. It's none of my business."

Felicity sighed. "No, Barry and I are not...a something, if that's what you're getting at. He's just a really good friend."

Ray cleared his throat. "I see."

The nerves were back, Felicity noted, and she took another- large- sip of wine.


Felicity and Ray walked back to their rooms in silence, both lost in thought. Felicity's heels dangled at her side in her hands, having taken them off on the elevator ride up.

Finally, arriving at her door- directly across from his- she turned around and pursed her lips in a smile. "Well, this is me." She said, unnecessarily.

Ray smiled; his eyes faraway as he nodded. "Goodnight, Felicity. Thank you...for today. For everything really."

She shrugged. "Yeah. No problem." She bit her lip and their eyes met. "Goodnight, Ray." She murmured softly and before she could dredge the room key from her clutch, Felicity found herself pushed against the door, as Ray leaned down, his lips firmly against her own.

She didn't respond at first, shock clouding her ability to think clearly, but when she felt him pull back, discouraged no doubt, she dropped her shoes to the floor and raised her hand, gathering his hair in her fingers and pulling him back to her mouth.

She parted her lips gingerly, allowing his tongue access, before nipping his lower lip and pressing against his lips again, soft and tentative.

They broke away a few moments later, and although she wasn't breathless, or flushed with desire, her nerves buzzed.

There was no denying she was attracted to Ray Palmer. He was handsome, yes, but he was also a good man, they had a great compatibility, and he was here. He wasn't running away- at least not yet- and he wasn't making excuses; shying away from living his life while also trying to save the city.

He wasn't Oliver.

And that in itself was the problem.

Ray pulled away and straightened, but not before cupping her cheek tenderly. "I know that I messed up before- when I kissed you, and ran away. But I won't do that again. I won't apologize for kissing you, and I certainly won't apologize for having feelings for you."

Felicity's mind flitted with a thousand different emotions, all of which were visible on her face.

He removed his hand and stepped back. "You still love him-

Felicity's head snapped up.

"-the friend you lost, the one you said was... more. If anyone understands that, it's me."

Felicity's face was pained as she bit her lip. "Ray."

He shook his head. "You don't have to explain, you never have to explain. Just know I'll be here." He turned around, pressed his key card and disappeared behind his door.

Felicity slumped back against her door and slid down, staring into nothingness.


To his credit Ray didn't bring it up again and continued on with their relationship without any awkwardness at all- confirming to Felicity that Ray Palmer was probably the perfect man.

After sitting in the hallway for an hour, lost in her thoughts and then crying in her pillow for the rest of the night, Felicity accepted that romance was just not in her future and made several great realizations, before collecting herself, just before her alarm clock went off.

By the end of the week, Felicity was ready to head back to Starling City.

As they made their goodbyes, she was convinced that Cisco would be leaving with them. He and Ray had automatically taken to one another and Felicity had heard Cisco refer to the ATOM suit as his 'baby' more than a few times.

With Cisco's help and Dr. Well's knowledge, Ray had managed to find a solution for the power source and although Felicity knew Barry was hesitant about the ATOM suit, he couldn't deny that Ray's intentions were genuine and much like him, Ray only wanted to protect the city and those he cared about, which - after a few days of observation- Barry realized included Felicity.

Ray extended a hand to Barry, which he accepted without hesitation. "Thank you." He said firmly.

"Cisco did all the work."

Ray smiled. "Thank you for trusting me."

Barry nodded. "Felicity trusts you. That's all the assurance I need." He shot her a smile and she wrapped her arms around him in gratitude.

"Bye, Barry." She whispered.

He grinned. "Bye, Felicity."


"What are you going to do, Oliver? Just drive around until you find him again?" Laurel exclaimed, glaring at Oliver as he paced around the foundry, clad completely in his Arrow suit.

Digg stepped forward. "She's right man. There's not much we can do. We lost him- for now. We'll find another lead, or flush him out somehow, either way we'll get him, and everything he knows about the shipments, but for now, all we can do is wait."

Oliver pursed his lips and pressed down the simmering anger. He didn't want to wait. He wanted to find Aaron Sanchez and put a few arrows in him, preferably after he confessed to the exact time, place and cargo number of the illegal M-16 shipments, but before worked just as well for him.

He wanted to yell, he wanted to blame someone- blame everyone. He wanted to pull out his hair. But John was right. There was nothing they could do at the moment and if he succumbed to his anger now, it would be misplaced and unproductive.

He settled for slamming his gloved hands against the table. It rattled under his force.

Roy stepped forward. "Maybe I can hit the streets again, see if I can get any intel on where he might have disappeared to?"

"Or, maybe I can help."

Oliver's breath caught and he whirled around in shock, his eyes widening. Everyone looked up with varying measures of relief and surprise as Felicity descended the steps.

Her heels clacked familiarly across the floor, echoing around the room and her eyes met his with a steely determination that dissolved all of his anger and frustration.

He breathed.

"So, what do you need me to do?"


Notes:

Hello and my apologies! It's been a while since my last update. I wanted to iron out a few details for the story going forward before I posted anything more. Just fyi, I am super pumped to post the rest of the chapters- a whole lot of content coming your way!

It's funny, because some of the things I'd planned for the story are actually happening on the show and it's so exciting to get to see how the writers are playing it out.

Two words: Damien Darhk.

Uh-huh. Yeah.

If Damien Darhk doesn't turn out to be Felicity's father, the writers have seriously failed this city.

So Darth Oliver...you're... interesting...and completely evil. I'm still holding out hope that he's playing Ra's. I can't believe that he would ACTUALLY- in ANY WORLD- kill Diggle unless he knew for certain it wasn't actually him. Nope. Not believing it. (Also, did anyone catch Oliver just step off that rooftop like a COMPLETE badass? So hot. *fans self)

I'm not entirely surprised about the Nyssa/Oliver wedding. Ra's is EVIL INCARNATE.

Reallllllly interested to see how the writers get Oliver out of this. The show has taken him so far down the rabbit hole, I literally have no idea how they plan to bring him back, or what's going to happen- IN JUST TWO EPISODES.

Crazy business...