A/N: This is a drabble based on the pics/info that is out on episode 2x03. I wrote it up to the point that Felicity leaves to go on the mission because hopedreamlovepray did such an excellent job doing the aftermath of the mission I didn't think I needed to do that as well.
Enjoy, and let me know what you think!
Felicity wiped slightly damp palms on her skirt as she made her way into the basement. Typically she rode with Oliver and Digg at the end of the work day but she'd claimed dinner with a friend and was now arriving much later than usual.
Except dinner with a friend was actually answering a summons by Quentin Lance who asked her to meet him at a diner on the edge of the Glades.
Ever since they'd dismantled one doomsday machine together but missed another they'd had a sort of bond. He didn't push her to reveal who the Hood was, and she had helped him out during the five months when Oliver was gone, using the programs she'd developed to keep an ear to the ground regarding the seemingly unstoppable crimewave that was sweeping the city.
Oliver had been back only a month, picking up his mantle once again but Lance had never asked her where the Hood had been or why he was back.
So when she'd met with him that evening over stained coffee cups and a fairly decent Reuben sandwich she'd known something was up as soon as she saw him.
He had pushed a flash-drive across the table but stopped her with a hand on her wrist before she could take it. "This is dangerous." he said in a low voice.
She waited, with a tight chest as he explained how he'd put away a horrible man named Barton Mathis years ago and how he'd broken out during the earthquake. The prison in the Glades had been hit hard and there were several criminals still at large. She recognized Mathis's name from a list she'd compiled; still feeling guilty she hadn't caught the second device in time.
Mathis tortured and murdered young women and Lance felt it was his responsibility to capture him again, but this wasn't a sanctioned hit, which is why he was coming to her, and through her; Oliver.
He asked her to look over the file and let him know if they were willing to help. He knew he was asking a lot, but he didn't know any other way of drawing Mathis out.
She'd spent an hour in her car going over the information Lance had left with her, fear steadily growing until she found herself driving straight to the lair.
Three young women had disappeared from one neighborhood just outside the part of the Glades that hadn't been hit. All had been abducted while shopping in local boutiques near closing time. When they were found they been held for days, unspeakable things done to their bodies before they'd eventually been killed almost as an afterthought.
As she drove she knew what Lance wanted her to do. The tightness in his voice and the way he'd warned her made sense now. He wanted her to be bait, with Oliver as backup so Lance could put him away again.
So when she punched in her code to the basement she was frightened. Not just frightened of what a risk it would be to go up against a man like Mathis, but also frightened to tell Oliver.
The flash-drive was clenched in her fist as she made her way into the space on shaky knees. Oliver and Digg were talking near one of the work tables and it was Digg who spotted her first.
"Felicity? Everything okay?" he asked, already coming around and making his way towards her.
Oliver spun at his words and she felt his eyes cut over her, taking everything in. She didn't try and hide it, she knew he'd see right through her.
"I um...I didn't meet a friend for dinner, not really." she began, and winced when she saw a flare of hurt go across his face that she'd lied to him. "Lance contacted me...he uh...he gave me this." She held out the flash-drive, and he took it from her trembling fingers, the jolt of warmth she felt as he touched her actually helped center her some.
"What is this, Felicity?" he asked, looking between the small device and her.
"It's everything he has on a man called Barton Mathis."
His eye twitched at the name, "Why does that sound familiar?"
"He's on the list that I made of the ones that broke out of the penitentiary after the earthquake. He's probably the worst." she told him, licking her lips nervously as she waited for him to ask the question she was dreading the most.
It was Digg that did it for him. "That doesn't explain why you look like you're scared to death." he observed and she blanched, backing up until she felt the solid support of her desk behind her. She dropped her bag into her seat but didn't sit.
With her arms wrapped around her middle she looked at Oliver. "Mathis's MO is to abduct and torture young women before killing them. Three women have disappeared in the past two months. He's uh...he's due I guess you could say, to strike again. Lance wants…" she bit her lip and tried to control her ragged breath before she got out the last of this, "Lance wants to use me as bait so that you and he can take Mathis out and put him back in prison." she said the last bit in a rush, just trying to finish before Oliver erupted.
Oliver's eyes held hers for so long she thought time may have stopped. Then he did something so unexpected she didn't know how to respond. He barked out a sharp laugh and slapped the flash-drive on the table next to her before he shook his head and returned to what he was doing when she had arrived.
She turned to Digg in disbelief, but he had a hard look on his face and she knew she wouldn't get any help from him.
Her fear disappeared as she followed in Oliver's wake. "What are you doing?"
"You can't actually have thought I'd agree to this." he still didn't sound like he was taking her seriously.
"Oliver, this man has killed...countless women, and he's still out there. If we have a chance to stop him-" her words were cut off when he whipped towards her.
"You are NOT doing this!" he bit out, eyes flashing. This was the reaction she had expected.
"There are three more women who have died because of this monster. Because we didn't figure out there was a second device! The body count being painted all over the Glades should say 506 instead of 503!" she'd advanced on him until they were almost toe to toe.
She needed to do this. She needed to absolve her failures. Why couldn't he see that?
"And you want to make yourself number five hundred and seven? Because that's what I'm hearing, Felicity!" her eyes dropped at his words and she saw his hands were clenched at his side.
"That is not my intention, and you know it!" she countered, chin lifting until she was staring back at him defiantly. "This would go better if you were involved."
"The answer is no." he didn't yell this time, he said it so low and so quiet it actually sent a shiver through her.
He turned from her once again, this time so dismissively she saw red.
Fine, if he wanted to be like that he could, but it didn't mean she couldn't still help "You don't have to be there, Lance asked me-"
"Well Lance doesn't get you, you're mine!" he roared as he whirled on her. The words echoed around them and she knew she'd stopped breathing.
"Yours?" she repeated, voice completely unrecognizable.
His hands landed on her upper arms and a flare of frustration and anger and something she couldn't decipher flashed through his eyes. He looked as if he wanted to shake her or kiss her. The pulse in her throat was beating so fast she was sure he could see it, if he'd ever drop his gaze from hers.
"Felicity, this is beyond anything you've ever done before. I know you want to help, but this man is a killer, and I cannot...I will not, let you put yourself in danger. You are asking too much." the world had dropped away while he spoke. She didn't blink and neither did he.
"Too much for who?" she asked in a whisper,
"Too much for both of us." he replied raggedly, his fingers clenching slightly on her arms.
Wondering if she was crossing some sort of line, but unable to stop herself she raised a hand and hesitated only slightly before she laid it on his chest. "That's why we have to do it."
His head fell forward sharply, the ends of his short hair just brushing her forehead as he let out a heavy breath.
"I'll be on the comms, I'll have back up. Digg and Lance will be there. You'll be there. I know you won't let him hurt me. I trust you." she told him softly and ever so gradually she felt his hold release as he stood upright, and took a step back from her, her arm falling down to lay limp at her side.
She could still feel the heat from his palms and she resisted the urge to wrap her arms around herself and place her hands where his had been.
His eyes were still a storm of indecision so when he gave her a small nod she almost missed it.
She opened her mouth to thank him but thought twice and decided not to.
The next two days she kept him constantly updated on Lance's plans which he went over time and time again until Digg finally told him to stop. She'd feel his eyes on her when she was working and it took everything within her to ignore him.
The night of the mission she stood nervously clutching her purse. Digg had already left to park the car near the shops, she was going to take a cab over.
Oliver's hand caught her elbow and turned her towards him. "Hey, are you okay?" his voice was soft and low.
She gave him a watery smile and thought about lying but she knew he'd be able to tell. "No, I'm scared." she admitted. He let out a sigh and shut his eyes briefly before he tugged her to him. She sunk into his chest and let him hold her for just a moment. A hand stroked over her hair twice.
"You don't have to do this." he whispered into her temple and she couldn't hide the shiver that ran through her as his breath coasted across her skin.
"I know." she mumbled into his jacket, breathing in the comforting scent of leather that she only associated with him now.
He sat her back and gave her a hard look. "Be careful."
All she could do was nod and then her phone chimed, the cab Lance had sent for her was there. "That's for me." she said with a nervous laugh.
Oliver's gloved hand fell to cover hers where it was twisting in the strap of her purse, she latched on like he was a lifeline and shut her eyes tight.
When he leaned in and brushed his lips across her forehead she didn't startle, but she also didn't move until she heard the door shut behind him. Opening her eyes she steeled herself and headed out to do what needed to be done.