Inspired by 'Adam's Song' by Blink-182

"Fe-li-ci-ty."

Her gaze finally turned to him after the fourth time he'd said her name. Oliver furrowed his brows in concern at her unusual silence. Something was definitely bothering her, and he hoped she trusted him enough to tell him whatever was on her mind.

Felicity shook her head slightly. "Sorry. I'm a bit...unfocused today. I'm not feeling well."

Oliver could tell she was hiding something, but nonetheless said, "Do you want to go home? You've pretty much finished up everything here. I can drive you if you want."

She waved aside his offer. "No, I'm fine. Really. I can stay here."

As Felicity turned her head back to face the computer screens, Oliver was just as quick to gently grab her chin and give her a meaningful look.

"Whatever's bothering you, you can tell me. You know that."

Felicity bit her bottom lip and spun around in her chair to face him completely.

"I know I've never mentioned any siblings...but I had a brother." Her voice was soft, and Oliver had to try to not wince at the word had.

He could tell she was getting flustered by the way her cheeks were reddening and her hand motions became more frequent and rushed.

"He was my half-brother and about ten years older than me, but he took care of me when my mom couldn't and was the closest thing I had to an actual family. When I was ten...His long-term girlfriend broke up with him and he started drinking more. After a particularly nasty fight with my mom, he left the house and the police found him dead the next morning." Felicity knew that tears were streaming down her face, but she hadn't expressed these feelings in so long and Oliver was a really good listener. She knew that she would never have to repeat herself and that Oliver could fully process everything she said.

"Was it...?" His voice trailed off as he hoped she got his idea, not sure if the word suicide would trigger anything in her.

Felicity closed her eyes and nodded slowly. "Yeah. And a few days later was the wake and when I saw him in the casket...I lost it. His throat was swollen and all I could picture was him hanging-" Her voice cut off abruptly, quickly changing into a sob.

Oliver enveloped Felicity against himself, her head tucked beneath his chin. In between sobs, she managed to explain that today was the day he died, making Oliver hug her even tighter.

Why was it that the worst things happened to the best people? Felicity didn't deserve a loss like this. No one did.

He stroked back some of her hair. "Hey, hey, hey. Felicity, look at me."

She met his eyes hesitantly, taking in their deep blueness that almost made her feel better.

"I know that the pain hasn't gone away. I know that it probably never will. Trust me, I know." Oliver said quietly, his mind flashing images of his deceased loved ones.

"But you've still got me, and Dig, and Roy, and Sara. You are still surrounded by people who love you indefinitely. It doesn't make up for your brother, but maybe we can be a replacement until you see him again."

His words touched Felicity in a way she'd never experienced. They were so deep, so sincere...It made her start sobbing all over again.

Oliver held onto her as she cried, wishing he could take all of her pain away.