Hey guys, sorry about my absense, family stuff, bridesmaid duty and college have pretty much kept me busy, but I managed to get this written. It's a combination of 1x13 and 1x14 and its really long so I hope you all like it.
Thanks to everyone who has read, favourited, followed.
I cannot say enough how much it means.
Felicity:
Felicity watched the number of emotions playing over Oliver's face. She wasn't sure what to say or do to comfort him, but she was glad that he wasn't angry with her. She didn't want to openly admit it, but she'd been scared that Oliver would freak out and that would be it; their fledgling friendship over. But it was early yet, and she still had something to ask him.
"Oliver?" He was starring down at the notebook again, running his fingers over the cover. He was so caught up in his thoughts she had to repeat herself again. "Oliver?"
"Huh?" He questioned absently. Felicity almost told him that it was nothing; to just ignore her, but then he looked up. "It's okay, Felicity. You can trust me, remember?"
"I just...I wanted to ask you something about the list of names," Felicity said, taking a deep breath. "You have one, too. Don't you?"
Oliver's head snapped up and he his eyes hardened, but just as suddenly he relaxed and tucked the notebook inside his jacket. "Your deductive skills are going to make far more difficult for me to keep secrets from you."
"Good," she interrupted, without thinking. Well, crap in a hand basket! Did I really say that out load? Judging by the look on Oliver's face, half incredulous, half amused, she most certainly had spoken aloud. "I just mean that I don't like been lied too and I'll understand if you need to withhold information, but please don't make up anymore stories." Felicity twisted her fingers together and held her breath. She was taking liberties with Oliver considering his side job, but she knew that they needed a clear ground rules for their relationship (of a professional nature, of course) to work.
It took a few moments of deliberation, but Oliver finally nodded. "I can agree to that." He reached out and wrapped his hand around her upper arm (it was big enough for his middle finger and his thumb to meet where it circled her bicep). "But you have be watch your back, Felicity. Knowing about this notebook does put you in danger and I wouldn't..." Oliver paused and turned away from her slightly, his gaze straying to the window. "I wouldn't want to see you get hurt...or worse." Felicity felt a shiver of fear travel down her spine, but stamped down on it. It did no good to focus on what could happen, she would just have to prepare herself.
"Felicity?" Felicity was surprised to see John Diggle walk through her door. She was accustomed to seeing him with Oliver, so she excused herself for the automatic scan for the wayward vigilante. She'd said goodbye to him last night in the café, but she could still clearly picture the lost look on his face when she'd told him where she'd gotten the notebook.
"Mr. Diggle? What can I do for you?" She shoved her glasses back up her nose and looked at him expectantly.
"I need to acquire a listening device," Diggle requested, smiling politely. "I was wondering if you could help me?"
"Isn't this Oliver's job? He is the one who usually hounds me...I mean not hound as in follow me around like a dog, but as in, hounds me to do stuff for him. It's just an expression," she finished, feebly. Felicity didn't want to make it seem like she thought that Oliver was running around after her or that she wanted him too (even if it did paint a really pretty picture). I'm lucky that my computer skills are so great, because I suck at talking.
"Right," Diggle said, his lip quirked in amusement. Maybe I should have been a clown? I am always amusing other people or making them outright laugh at me. "Oliver is, ah, indisposed at present and I need to get my hands on a listening device as soon as possible. Who better to ask, but our resident IT whiz."
Flattery had never really done much for Felicity. She'd been on the receiving end of too many 'flattering comments' only to be asked to do some task. Oliver had been doing it, up until she'd found out about his secret (although she still felt the when he'd called her remarkable he had meant it; much to her shame it still made her feel warm inside when she thought about it). Diggle was just following Oliver's lead in getting her help, but she wasn't going to hold it against him. He seemed like a gentleman, the type of man who said only what he meant. Besides, there was something she wanted to ask him. Quid pro quo ( which is latin for 'this for that'; usually means a more-or-less equal exchange of goods and services) and all that.
"This wouldn't have anything to do with what I gave Oliver last night?" Diggle's expression remained neutral and Felicity knew that she wasn't going to get anything out of him. So much for quid pro quo.
"All you need to know, is that this will help us in the long run. I can't get into particulars, because of the sensitive nature of the subject, but rest assured that I only have Oliver's best interests at heart."
Soldier speak for it's dangerous and more then likely illegal. Felicity had done her research on Mr. Diggle too. She nodded her acceptance of his explanation, much to Diggle's obvious surprise. He hadn't lied to her or made anything up, so she was inclined to respect him for that; his loyalty to Oliver notwithstanding. "If there is one thing I've learned over the past few weeks it's that no matter what you do it is generally in aid of the greater good. That, and the truth always comes out in the end. No matter how you try to hide it."
It was Diggle's turn to nod. "Point taken."
Felicity smiled at him, showing him there were no hard feelings. "Wait here and I'll get you that listening device."
Felicity walked toward her red jeep, her eyes scanning the near-empty garage for any bad guys. If she wasn't careful she'd end up jumping out of her skin over every little noise. Speaking of scaring the smarties out of someone...
"Felicity?" She was so startled by the sound of someone calling her name when she sat into her jeep and turned over the engine, that she missed the pain lacing the tone of her backseat (psychotic?) guest. She turned in her seat to see a hooded figure...
A green hooded figure...
"Oliver?" Felicity spoke incredulously. "If this is some new elaborate way of scaring me I'm going to kill you!" A short self-deprecating laugh escaped from Oliver's throat before he groaned and pulled back his hood to reveal a tight brow and a hard mouth. Felicity finally noticed the blood seeping from Oliver's shoulder, her eyes widening in fear and worry. "You're bleeding."
"I don't need too be told that," he huffed out, clearly annoyed at her for stating the obvious. She couldn't blame him though. She'd be cranky too if someone had shot her and she was then forced to huddle up in the back of a car in order too receive help.
"You need a hospital." Of course at the sight of an injured person, the automatic response is to get help or take them to somewhere where they can get it. But then Felicity stared to reason the scenario out. She would take him to a hospital and then what? His wound and attire would be fun to explain to the police and the medical staff. Yeah, I know the guy is wearing green like the vigilante, but he was going to a... a... a costume party and then got shot by a robber... Flaming pancakes! This was ridiculous. It didn't matter what the consequences were, he needed a hospital.
"My... My father's old factory in the glades."
"Y..You need a doctor, not a steelworker." Felicity was not accustomed to dealing with bleeding men in the back of her car, that was the only explanation she could think of to explain why she was arguing with him over this. She knew a doctor could help, but these wasn't the kind of situation easily swept under the rug.
"Felicity, you have to promise that you are going to take me to my father's factory and no where else," he implored, with both his voice and his eyes. She didn't have to think about it anymore. Not when he seemed so set. She had to remember that while Oliver might seem too be, an everyday rich guy, he was far more cunning and smart then he let on. He had to have a plan. She hoped.
"Promise." There was no way she was continuing to argue with him over semantics when his life hung in the balance. He seemed to know what he was doing. She had to have fate in him. Oh please don't let me be driving him to his ultimate death! "Something tells me bloodstains are not covered under my lease."
I was wondering when I was going to say something inappropriate for the situation.
Diggle was watching something on the computer. Felicity was surprised he didn't hear her approach sooner. She'd driven here as fast as she'd dared for fear she'd get pulled over by the cops for speeding. She'd tried to keep Oliver awake while she'd been driving, but she'd only managed a few minutes before he'd succumbed to the blackness.
She'd pulled over outside the factory and opened the back door. "Oliver, I need you to wake up." Felicity put a hand on his face and shook it gently. "Come one Ollie, I don't want to have to slap you."
"Ugh," he grumbled, his eyes opening a crack. "Fac..Factory?"
"Yes, we're at the factory. Now where are we going?" It took all of Felicity's strength to help him into a sitting position without causing him anymore discomfort.
"Under...underneath," he said, his words slurred. He still managed to hoist himself from Felicity's car with her aid, her arm wrapped around his waist, his around her shoulders. He was heavier then he looked. "Diggle... Help."
"Underneath? Right, so we are going inside?" Oliver nodded and together they slowly, with pauses and halting steps, made their way toward the entrance of the club. He directed her to the door off to the right of the future Queen establishment and jerked his head towards a hidden keypad. She reached out to uncover the keypad, but Oliver suddenly sloped sideways into the wall and she found herself crashing into his chest. Blood coated her skin and cardigan, but it was the fading look in Oliver's eyes that drew her full attention.
"Oliver! No! Stay awake. We're almost there," she commanded, worry making her voice sound harsher then she meant. "At least tell me the code."
"One...Two...One." She tapped in the code and then helped him slide down the wall so that he was sitting. "I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere." She thought she might of seen his lips quirk up in a smile, but she was rushing down the stairs before she could properly think about it.
"Excuse me?" Diggle spun round, face shocked, gun aimed directly at her. She didn't even blink, her entire focus on the man bleeding out upstairs. "Can you help me? His really heavy." Diggle didn't even ask who. He just sprung from the chair and followed Felicity to Oliver. Between the two of them they managed to get him downstairs and placed him on a long, rectangle table. He cut off Oliver shirt and handed a cloth to her.
"Put pressure on the wound while I get supplies." She did as she was told and watched Diggle pull the fabric out from under the unconscious man, before he rushed over to start gathering what he needed.
"Oh damn it! It just missed the carotid. It's a zone two wound. Press there," Diggle said, placing her hand back on Oliver's wound. Felicity was surprised to see blood on her fingers, but she bit back the fear that caused her on Oliver's behalf. Please, don't let him die!
"I should have taken him to a hospital," she exclaimed, as went to retrieve the defibrillator machine.
"No, Felicity," Diggle disagreed. "This is why he asked you to bring him here. Because he knew the police would want to know how and why he got that wound."
"How and why, are not two of Oliver Queen's favourite questions," she quipped, watching his sleeping face for signs of his awakening.
"Yeah, well, there's also when and where, his not to fond of."
"So we can't bring him to a hospital," she queried one more time. She already knew that there was no way that Oliver could be admitted to one and not get arrested, but it felt good to have someone else back it up verbally.
"We," he said, pulling out a blood bag from one of the drawers, "are bringing the hospital to him."
"Is that..."
"Yeah. His blood he stored up for a rainy day. I'd say right now it's pouring." Diggle stood beside her, his hand reaching out to move her out of the way. "I've got it. Go over there."
Felicity moved to the other side of the table and took the offered surgical gloves. "Do you know what you're doing?"
"I have some medical training. In the army," Diggle responded. "I just hope it's enough."
Felicity took a deep breath, briefly turning away from the image the wound painted when Diggle removed the cloth. Oliver was on the verge of death and she also knew that this precise moment, would be forever an image burned into her memory, to be used as fodder for the nightmares she was sure to have as the result of the potential (she prayed that he's pull through) loss of a friend. "Do you remember playing operation when you were a kid?"
"Yes," she answered, still looked away. Her stomach was in knots and she felt queasy like she was seasick on dry land. "But it never made me want to throw up."
"Hey Felicity, listen," Diggle intoned, reaching out to gently squeeze her forearm. "Trust me. He'll be fine. His been through a lot worse then this."
If Diggle considers this injury a minor blip, then I cannot began to fathom what other kind of wounds he had endured.
Felicity watched Diggle sow up Oliver's wound, holding long surgical clips in each hand. "Good job. I think." She placed the clips back on the side table.
"His heart rates elevated, but at least the bleeding stopped. Thanks for your help. You kept your head on." He almost seem surprised that she'd been so calm. And sure on the outside she may have appeared that way, but on the inside it was a whole other matter.
"Well, I always wondered how I'd react if I found my boss shot and bleeding in my car," she said, doing what she did best when she was out of her comfort zone; making satirical or sarcastic comments that broadened on making her seem kind of neurotic. "Not that I helped because his my boss," she continued, moving away from the table. "I'd help anyone who was shot and bleeding in my car." She finally trailed off admiring Oliver'd arrow collection.
"I was surprised you weren't more shocked by Oliver's alter ego," Diggle shared, watching her peruse the equipment. "Or the fact that he'd turn up in your car."
"Oliver brought me a laptop riddled with bullet holes, had me trace a black arrow and had me research company involved in armoured car heists. I may be blond, but I'm not that blond."
Diggle nodded, smiling at her. "Yeah, Oliver's not to great with the cover stories."
"At least he didn't have to give me one for the Vertigo thing, I'm sure it would have been really bad. Like energy drink in a syringe bad."
"You know you helped us take down The Count Felicity. Because of your research we were able to stop the sale of more drugs that would ruin people's lives or even kill them."
"But why did he come to me in the first place, Diggle?" It was question that she'd been burning to ask for a long time, but Oliver didn't strike her as the type to give her a straight answer. She thought she might be more lucky with Diggle. He was a straight shooter after all (unlike Oliver, whose arrows might stay true, but whose moral compass was severely skewed).
"Hard as it is for him to probably admit even Oliver needs help sometimes."
Felicity and Diggle both ran towards Oliver when the beeping started. He was ceasing on the table, his body thrashing around like a fish out of water.
"What's happening?" Felicity asked, fearfully.
Instead of answering, Diggle started commanding. "There's a syringe label Adavan. It should stop the censure. Go!" Felicity was moving to comply even as he spoke, but she had barely gotten the syringe out when Oliver flatlined. "His hearts stopped."
"I'm calling 911." Felicity was not about to watch him die.
"No. Wait." Diggle began charging up the defibrillator. "You can't."
Felicity didn't bother arguing, watching his place the electrode pads on his chest. She still had to question Diggle on his competency with the life saving machine (if it was used correctly). "You know how to use one of those?"
"We," he said, grabbing the paddles, "are about to find out."
The machine beeped its readiness and Diggle placed the paddles on the pads. "You didn't say clear," Felicity warned, pulling her hands from the table. The chances of her getting a shock were slim, but in this moment focusing on the small details were helping her not to start screaming.
But then nothing happened.
No shock to help jump start Oliver's heart.
"I heard the charge." Felcity moved around the table and opened the side panel of the defibrillator. "That's good news."
"How is that?"
"It means it might not be the machine, it could be the wiring." She found the tool she was looking for in the top drawer and began rewiring as quickly as possible.
"Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on." Diggle stood watching Oliver heart rate flatline until the charge was ready again.
"Try again!" Felicity commanded, hoping this would work. If it doesn't...
"Clear." It took two charges, but finally Oliver's heart started beating again. Both Diggle and Felicity breathed a sigh of relief to see that green line going up and down. "What the hell did you do?"
"I've been building computers since I was seven," she explained. "Wires are wires. What do we do now?"
"Pray we don't have a heart attack ourselves," Diggle advised, patting Oliver's chest. Felicity found it nice that Diggle obviously cared about Oliver and she knew that it was the same on Oliver's end. They might never admit it out loud, but Felicity knew with a frightening certainty that they would take a bullet for each other.
Felicity stared down at Oliver's sleeping form willing him to wake the hell up!
Twice!
Two times since she'd know him had he almost died. The first an almost overdose on vertigo, something that she'd Ben privy too only after it had occurred and now this. When he had flatlined, her heart had leapt into her mouth, constricting her airways. It felt like she was suffocating. It was only when The defibrillator had needed fixing that she'd been able to snap out of it. Having something to do always made her feel more capable - more able to handle what was going on.
The loud beep had them both running toward Oliver again. "His going into cardiac arrest again." If he's going to do this a third time, I'm going to strangle him when he wakes up!
Thankfully, Felicity discovered a loose lead to be the cause of their latest distress. "No," she said to Diggle. "The leads came loose."
"Arghhhh!" Diggle let a frustrated roar and collapsed into a chair. "It's less stressful when his jumping off rooftops."
Felicity smiled and began wandering again. Her eyes alighted on Oliver's bow and she couldn't resist the urge to pick it up. "This bow has put quite a few arrows in other people." She drew back the string, aiming an imaginary arrow into a imaginary target.
"Yeah. Bad people."
"That doesn't bother you?" Felicity relaxed her hold on the string, her mind scrambling to voice her feelings. "Cause...and I mean this in a good way you seem like the type of guy it would bother?" Felicity gently placed the arrow back down while she spoke. She had a feeling Oliver had the same affection for it as she did for her computers. She was curious to Diggle's motivation for joining Oliver on his crusade.
"When I was in Afghanistan my unit was tasked with protecting this local war lord. Quolem Qadir. He was less then human. He sold opium. Sold children. One day we were accompanying him to Mosul when my convoy was ambushed by insurgents. We had them outgunned. Firefight didn't last more then one minute. When the smoke cleared I moved in on their position. They were all dead. I knew which one I had killed." Felicity moved closer, her arms automatically coming up to comfort herself. Diggle's story obviously troubled him, it was clear in his face, in his tone. It spoke volumes about the type of man he was, that this still troubled him. "When I pulled off his mask I could see he was just a kid. No more then eighteen. Shot him in the throat. I killed this kid to protect this human piece of garbage and I thought, am I still good? Am I still a good man?" Diggle stood up, his gaze on the sleeping vigilante. "Doing this with Oliver. Doing what we do. I feel good again. For the first time in a long time."
Felicity followed his gaze to Oliver, before turning back to the man of the hour. Diggle still had a conscience; death did not sit easy with him. He was here with Oliver though and she suspected that he was trying to keep the other man from leaping off the deep end. She needed to know what she was letting herself in for and questioning Diggle's headspace seemed to be a good start. She already felt like she had a little more insight into what it was Diggle hoped they'd achieve in the long run. "And that's worth all the collateral damage?"
"I haven't killed anyone, if that's what your asking."
"But he has." Felicity turned, her eyes of Oliver's face. He looked almost peaceful in sleep. You'd never think his hands were stained with blood. But then it's the blood of people who had considerable more on there's... Dose the end justify the means? Felicity was going to have to figure that out for herself. She had to discover if she could work with Oliver despite the need for spilt blood.
"Unfortunately, they're always catches when you're fighting a war."
Ain't that the truth.
Felicity knew that she'd go crazy if she continued to stand idle, thinking only heavy thoughts. She needed to do something that would take her mind off the seriousness of there current situation. She had just the thing in mind after having had a good look around the 'Arrow Cave' as Diggle had referred to it. It hurt her very soul to lay eyes upon the archaic computer system Oliver was running and she gladly began rectifying his rookie mistake. If you're going to have computers for this line of work, you need to right ones. Oh, and the right programmes. Felicity just hoped Oliver wouldn't find too presumptuous.
"Diggle, there is something I desperately need to do if we're going to be working together?"
Diggle raised a questioning eyebrow at her, but nodded his head just the same. "Whatever you need to do to keep your mind at ease."
Felicity smiled at the older man. It was also nice that he knew she was freaking out a little (a lot), but didn't directly call her on it or her abrupt subject change.
The movement of Oliver's head had the duo rushing to his side once again. His eyes were open, his face curiously calm. "I guess I didn't die... Again. Cool."
Diggle rolled his eyes at Oliver nonchalant behaviour and Felicity smiled. She should have expected this. No way would Oliver Queen wake up and act like dying was a major life trauma. No, he made jokes, in much the same way that she made accidental inappropriate comments at really bad times.
Diggle grabbed a blanket and returned to the table, helping Oliver to sit up. The computer bleeped drawing Felicity's attention. She'd hacked into the crime lab system, because logically bullets in humans equaled blood. Oliver would have left some behind and they did not need the police having his DNA. She'd put an alert on the sample to notify her when it was entered into the system so she could order it destroyed, which she did so now. The cops had no other evidence that could link Oliver to the crime scene. Thank God!
"Good work." Felicity heard Oliver compliment Diggle's sowing ability while she typed away at the computer. "So how am I going to explain this one?"
"Hickey gone wrong."
Felicity smiled at Diggle joke, before informing the two men of her handiwork. "The police collected a sample of blood at Queen Consolidated. I hacked the crime lab and ordered it destroyed. Oops."
Felicity spun around in her chair to find Oliver eyeballing her, a mixture of confusion and amusement on his face. Again with the amusement. Then she realised that he was looking at the new computer system she'd set up while he'd been in cloud-cuckoo-land. "I hope it's alright," she began, standing from the chair. She preferred to be at semi-eye level if he was about to get testy with her for revamping his IT life. "Your system looked like it was from the '80's. And not the good part of the '80's like Modanna," (if asked she could never really explain why she felt the hand movement was necessary, but hey she was having an '80's love moment, so there), "and leg warmers."
"It's a lot of work. Does that mean your definitely in?" Felicity had never really given him a straight answer on whether she was going to work with him or not. The thing with The Count had been easy and basic, but she had a feeling it would be more hands on from here on out. Am I ready for that?
"You mean in, as in I'm going to join your crusade?" Felicity gestured at both men, talking to buy her some time to think.
"You're practically an honorary member of the team already."
"Hmm," she stalled. "I'm not sure."
"Then why'd you upgrade my system?" Oliver was playing hardball today. It was a good thing that Felicity wasn't easily intimidated. This was not something she was about to jump into without thinking it through. That didn't mean she couldn't help out for the foreseeable future.
"First, because seeing you with that poorly set up hurts me. In my soul. And second," she said ignoring Oliver's attempt to interrupt her," I want to find Walter."
"My stepfather?"
"He was nice to me." Something which Felicity had little experience with. "And since the notebook had something to do with his abduction and you have one yourself working with you will help me - help us - find him. I'll help out until we do, but after that... Well, we will cross that bridge when we come to it. That's my offer. Sound fair?"
"Okay," Oliver agreed. Felicity was prepared for an argument, so she had to swallow back the words she'd intended to use to drive her point home. It would never do to let Oliver Queen think you were a pushover. He was would definitely take advantage of that.
"So, I've been meaning to ask..." Felicity saw Oliver brace himself for her next question thinking it was going to be something serious, but she was about to disappoint or relieve him, "is there a bathroom? Because I've had to pee since I got here." Oliver chuckled briefly, the tension in the room dissolving with her confession.
"Yeah, it's upstairs, to the left." Felicity took a few (quick) steps towards the stairs, before Oliver called her back. "Felicity?" She turned expectant and Oliver offered her his hand. She smiled awkwardly at him and put her much smaller hand in his. "Thank you," he said, meaningfully. Felicity smiled and breathed a 'yeah', not knowing what else to do. In all fairness, it's now like she'd ever been in a situation where someone had thanked her for saving his life before; this was all foreign ground. She hoped he wouldn't have to think her (ever) again. She removed her hand from his, not knowing what to do with it and practically ran for the bathroom.
"Your phone has been ringing on and off since last night," Felicity informed Oliver when she got back from the bathroom. "It's been Thea mostly, but mom tried few times too."
Oliver breathed a bitter little laugh and slumped back into his computer chair. "Yeah, well, didn't you hear that my mother was attacked by a crazed vigilante last night." He paused to run his hand down his face, his shoulders slumped as if he carried the weight of he world on his shoulders. "Welcome to the dysfunctional Queen family, get your own personal demons at the door."
Felicity was once again unsure how to comfort him. It seemed like he was in more need of that then anything else, not that he'd ever openly admit it or he might not even be aware of it. She suspected it was the latter; men like him (the man he'd come back from the island at least) never thought they needed comfort. They always thought they needed to bury their emotions and act strong for those around them.
"You're a good person Oliver. You know that, right?" Felicity felt the overwhelming need to tell him that, because she also suspected that he thought he was the worst kind of man out there. In answer, he snorted and threw her a droll look. She found herself smiling at his disbelief in her statement. "I wouldn't be friends with you if you weren't."
Oliver laughed lightly at that, a small smile replacing his weary expression. "So it's not my charm or bad boy reputation that does it for you? Or even my fabulous choice of the colour green?" He shook his head in mock disappointment. "Damn, it's back to the drawing broad then? What colour would you like to see me in?"
"I don't know, maybe pink," she supplied, laughing. "You'd definitely draw attention then." While she'd been speaking Oliver's eyes had travelled down her face and neck and were now resting on her cardigan or more accurately at the skin exposed above the cardigan. Felicity's laughter trailed off nervously, goosebumps breaking out all over her skin. He stood up, his eyes never straying and moved toward her. She felt like an trapped animal, ensnared by Oliver's predator-like advancement. He finally stopped a foot away from her, before liking the pad of his thumb. Felicity watched his actions caught between confusion, embarrassment and stupid girl-crush feelings.
"Wha..." She barely had the word out when Oliver touched the aforementioned thumb to her chest and rubbed it back and forth gently. She started down at his hand, fascinated by the contrast her pale skin made with his tanned. Then, just as quickly and surprisingly as it had began, it ended and Felicity was left feeling...weird and overly warm.
"You had some blood," Oliver explained, drawing her attention back to his physical presence (he was starting to get to wrapped up in her every thought and that was dangerous). Felicity nodded and a charged silence fell between them. And what does Felicity Smoak do in times like this...
"I'll drive you home," she blurted out, startling Oliver with her forcefulness. That's right folks, you guessed it, my mouth goes and interferes. Oliver tilted his head to the side, his brow furrowed. "You can't drive home in your condition and my car is still here. So..."
"Alright. Makes sense," he agreed, after a moment. "I'll just go get dressed."
Felicity turned away before Oliver could drop the blanket. She kept her eyes firmly on the computer screens in front of her, least she get a look at a half-naked Oliver. It was different now he was no longer in danger of dying. It would be mortifying to get caught oogling her bosses buff torso. A few minutes past and Felicity grew curious as to what was keeping Oliver so long.
"Oliver?" She called without turning around. "You ok?"
No answer had Felicity turning around. Oliver stood with his back to her struggling to get his arm fully into his shirt. Felicity sighed. Of course, he wouldn't ask for any help. She had to handle this right or risk making him feel useless. Why men just can't ask for help! She stomped over to him and without saying anything or asking hair his permission she grabbed the fabric of his shirt and pulled it up his arm (gently, but firmly). Oliver tensed up at her touch, but she ignored it and moved to stand in front of him. Now, all she had to do was button him up and they would be good to go.
Felicity could feel him watching her while she put the buttons through the holes. Neither of them spoke, but the atmosphere was once again tense.
What the hell had she gotten herself into?