Chapter 25

"Felicity, when I started the private security company all those years back, I wanted to save lives. But, after all these years I feel like I missed out the purpose. I only felt like helping people, fighting for the right cause, only when I helped you in your little missions." Diggle was saying.

"Then start it again, Dig. It's just that I won't be there. But, Oliver will be." Felicity tried to reason.

"I don't trust Queen, Felicity. I don't trust his ways. He is Bratva, for god's sake." Diggle exclaimed.

"I trust him, Dig. I know his methods are much more different, but we can come in to a middle ground. To some non-kill thing. But he needs you. I and Tommy both offered to help him, yet he didn't accept it. He only asked from you to help him."

"Should I be honored by that, Felicity?"

"Yes, No. that was not what my meaning Dig. It's that he doesn't want a side kick. He wants a friend, a brother."

"I can't think of him as a brother, after what he did to you, Felicity."

"If I could forgive him, why couldn't you Dig?"

"Because, you didn't see your friend, whom you consider as your little sister fading out in front of your eyes, Felicity. You didn't see yourself getting broken by him, piece by piece. I saw it. Roy saw it. That's why it's so hard for us to forgive him." Diggle roared.

Felicity flinched. She didn't expect such resistant from Diggle. She was so confident that he would come to see it, when she explained it.

"I… I'm sorry Dig. I shouldn't have asked this from you. I'm sorry." Felicity said apologetically.

"Don't Felicity. I do want to help the city. This city needs saving. It's just that I don't like doing it together with Oliver." Diggle sighed.

"Can't you give him another chance? For me?" Felicity asked him. Diggle stared at her for a moment.

"You still believe in him, Don't you Smoak?"

"I do."

"Okay, I will help him. But, there is one condition."

"What is it?"

"You can't be involved in his missions."

"Dig."

"No, Felicity. This work is too risky. You have a child to care about, whose dad is wearing green leather and running around the city shooting criminals, at night. So, you are not involving. It's a deal breaker."

Diggle made sense. Felicity knew. So she nodded in agreement.

"Smoak, open the door."

Both Diggle and Felicity stood up from their seats in her living room, when the voice, which resembled Tommy heard from the front door with a heavy knocking on the door.

They both moved to the door quickly and Felicity opened the door.

Tommy was out of breath and he went straightly to her living room and sat on the couch.

"What happened Tommy?" Felicity asked.

Tommy signed for a break and they waited for him to catch his breath.

"Ollie has been arrested." Tommy said, just as he calmed down.

"What?" Felicity asked.

"Thea called me just now. I was coming here to meet you. She called me. SCPD thinks that he is the vigilante. They have arrested him."

"Oh man!" Diggle exclaimed.

"But, how? Do they have any evidence?" Felicity asked.

"They claim they have. Captain Lance himself has arrested Ollie. I called Laurel too. She says id they have any evidence, it will be hard."

Tommy said.

"Did you tell Laurel about Oliver?" Diggle asked.

"No, god no. I wouldn't dream on it. She doesn't suspect him to be the vigilante. I just asked for the legal advice." Tommy replied.

"We have to do something." Felicity said.

"That's why I came to you running, Liz. If they have any digital evidence against Ollie, you have to erase them." Tommy said.

"No, I can't. Tommy." Felicity replied.

"What? Don't you want to help him, Liz? Do you want to see him go to jail?" Tommy asked bewildered.

"No, if I do that I won't be helping him, Tommy. I have worked for SCPD for so long. If I erased the evidences they will be assured that Oliver is the 'Hood'. Captain Lance will know that I did that. We have to think about solving this legally." Felicity replied. Wheels of her brain were turning erratically.

"She is right, Merlin. We need a good lawyer." Diggle agreed.

"Laurel?' Tommy asked.

Felicity and Diggle shared a look.

"I don't think it's a good idea, Tommy." Diggle said.

"But, it's Captain Lance who arrested Oliver. I think if Laurel fought for Ollie, it will help the case." Tommy argued.

"I don't know, Tommy." Felicity was reluctant to accept that idea.

"If you can't help him, at least let Laurel help him, Felicity." Tommy snapped.

Felicity grimaced. She didn't like it. But, Tommy had a point. So she agreed to it.

"Okay, let's just run this idea with Oliver first." Felicity said.

…..

Oliver liked that idea. So it was Laurel who dealt with his case. She managed to get him out under bail and on the condition of being in home confinement and monitored by electronic device attached to his leg.

Oliver didn't like that condition but, the family was relieved.

Felicity didn't attend the court and waited at Queen Mansion for the family to return.

They came with Laurel.

Laurel looked at Felicity swiftly and walked past her. Moira and Thea hugged her and told her about the judge's decision. Then Oliver came in and he asked her about William. She said that she left him with Raisa and Roy.

"Ollie, the SCPD officer will be here in an hour, to attach that electronic device to your leg. Why don't you get to you room and get ready for that?" Laurel turned towards them and asked sweetly.

"Yeah, I'll be ready." Oliver left the room.

"I really don't like this. She is being too sweet." Thea muttered to Felicity's ear.

Felicity watched Tommy's face changing a bit, but he composed himself quickly.

After the SCPD officer came and left, Oliver announced that he was going to have a party tomorrow after his polygraph test.

"Oliver, I don't think it's a good idea." Felicity voiced her concern.

"I'm going to be confined in this house for a seeable future. I think I have to do something to not to be bored. I think we should have a themed party. Prison and jail. That's good." Oliver said.

"Ollie, I agree with Felicity. A party is not the best option now, considering the circumstances…" Tommy started.

"Tommy, these circumstances ask for it. I support Ollie on this. He should show that he is not shaken by these accusations." Laurel said.

"Laurel, you can't be serious. This is insane." Felicity said.

"You, I think should stay out of this, Smoak. You were not there when Ollie needed someone. I was there. I was the one who got him out. So, it's not your place to give your ideas." Laurel snapped.

"Laurel" Tommy was angry.

"Yeah, yeah. Don't speak to your sweet little Felicity like that. I know, Tommy." Laurel scoffed.

"Laurel, I asked you once to respect Felicity's place in this family and my life. I'm very grateful to you for coming for my aid this time. But that doesn't give you the right to talk to Felicity like that. Sorry Tommy. She needed to hear that." Oliver turned to Tommy and finished.

"Yes. Go attack Laurel. After all it seems like she can't resist helping Queens and Merlins. Then insult her and humiliate her in front of others." Laurel said.

"Laurel, don't try to make a scene, please." Tommy said.

"Drop it guys. I have to have some rest. This took a toll on me." Oliver got up and left the room.

"I would have gone to the law college myself and be a lawyer, if I'd known that we have to go to Laurel each and every time we need a lawyer. If she wasn't engaged to Tommy, I know what to do to get rid of her." Thea muttered.

…

They were in Oliver's room. Felicity was pacing around the room. Tommy was sitting on the window sill. Diggle was standing near the closed door. Oliver came out of the room and stared at each of them.

"Hey guys, leave it. This is a good thing." Oliver said.

"How could this be a good thing, Ollie?" Tommy asked.

"Think about it Tommy. Tomorrow night there will be hundreds of people here, who will vouch that I was here with them whole night. And there is that electronic gadget too."

"And.." Diggle prompted.

"And there is a machine gun deal to be take place at glades at the same time." Oliver looked expectantly at Felicity. She stared at him. Then a smile appeared on her face.

"If the vigilante make an appearance there, when Oliver is clearly here, and if we make sure that there are plenty of people who saw vigilante there…"

Felicity slowed.

"Then Oliver will be freed. The SCPD will be forced to drop the charges." Diggle completed.

Oliver grinned.

"But, how can the vigilante be there, when Ollie is here?" Tommy asked.

"It shouldn't be Oliver, Tommy. There should only be a hooded man." Felicity said.

"Oh.. I got it. Then who is the lucky guy? Me?" Tommy asked expectantly.

"Sorry to break this to you, Tommy. But you will never be able to get out of there alive." Felicity patted him.

Oliver chuckled and turned to Diggle.

"John, Tommy said that you agreed to help me. If you like, this will be your first mission. I'm not asking you to risk yourself to save my life, though."

Diggle stepped in front of Oliver.

"Oliver, I'm not signing to be your side kick. But, you clearly need help and this city needs saving. I'm going to help you because, even though you are doing a war, you don't know what a war do to you. It scrapes your soul. I'll be there to remind you who you are. That's all I can do for you. But, you can't lie to me. Never. Okay?"

Diggle offered his hand. Oliver took it and shook.

"Okay, now that's settled. I'll be helping you to pin down the location of the gun deal, Dig. Tommy can arrange the party." Felicity clapped and set to leave.

"Yeah, leave all the boring parts to Tommy." Tommy muttered.

"I thought you loved partying, Tommy." Oliver said.

"It lost its taste when it became my job, Ollie." Tommy returned.

…

The party was going well in downstairs. Felicity was in the study of Queen's mansion. She was directing Diggle on his mission, using her tablet. Oliver wanted to be there with her but she pointed out to him that the objective of the party was to Oliver to be seen among the partying people. So he left her to it after assuring that no one will be here at night.

Diggle successfully finished his mission and Felicity sent several pictures from the CCTV cameras around the area which had caught the image of the vigilante, to the SCPD.

Diggle was returning to the Arrow cave and Felicity was tired. After a long time she felt the rush and excitement of conducting the secret missions. She felt the adrenaline rush, the contentment at the end of the mission, knowing that she did something to help the city.

She went towards the party ground to find Oliver and tell him the news.

But she couldn't find him anywhere.

"Thea, did you see Oliver?" She asked from Thea, who was dancing in the terrace among the drunken dancers.

"No. Liz. Come here dance with me." Thea waved towards Felicity.

"No Thanks. Thea. I have to find Oliver." Felicity said.

"Oh, come on Liz. Loosen up a bit. You are always too serious nowadays. Where is my old sunshine best friend?" Thea shouted above the loud music.

Felicity knew it was best to leave Thea that way. She was not in a mood to dance. So she left there and went towards Oliver's room.

Oliver's room door was opened. Felicity knocked and there was no reply. So she entered. The door to the balcony was open. She saw Oliver standing there, his back towards her.

"Oliver…" she called. He turned to her. His face was in shadows. He made no move from there, so she went to him.

"Everything is alright. Mission went well. Dig made the appearance and I made it sure that SCPD has the pictures." Felicity said.

"Thanks." Oliver replied, still standing in the darkness.

"You don't have to thank me. I did nothing. It's all Diggle. I just stayed at the other end and took care of the tech side." Felicity said.

"You don't have to do this, Felicity. Why are you helping me?" Oliver took one step towards her.

"I… I just wanted to help the city." Felicity replied.

"You did so much than just helping the city, Felicity. I'm asking about rescuing me from SCPD four years ago. I'm asking about not revealing my Bratva connection to anyone. I'm asking about taking care of my family after I went missing. I'm asking about raising my son, as your own, Felicity. Why are you doing these? After all the things I did to you. After I hurt you and humiliated you badly. Why?" Oliver asked in a broken voice.

"Oliver…" Felicity stuttered. She didn't know how to explain him. She didn't know how to tell him that she didn't regret anything.

"You did all these for me even though you hate me. Why?" Oliver took another step.

Felicity stood there rooted to the spot.

"I don't hate you, Oliver." she whispered.

Oliver was so near to her now. She could see his eyes now, they were dark blue.

"You should hate me, Felicity. You should." He said.

"I tried. I tried so hard to hate you Oliver. For a long time, I tried. For some time, I thought I had achieved that, until the day they found you alive." Felicity said. Her voice was equally broken now.

Oliver was listening to her silently.

"I understood that day, that until then I was angry at you for what you did to me. I was angry at you for leaving all of us. I was angry at you for not being a father to William, even though I knew that it was not a choice taken by you. I was focusing my frustrations at you. But the moment I got to know that you were alive, was the moment I realized that I never thought about what you went through. If you were alive for all those years, you must have been put through so much. I didn't wonder for a moment what could have happened to you. I thought you were dead and I felt like I betrayed you, somehow."

Oliver was staring at her as if she was holding his lifeline.

"Moira told me about your scars. And I couldn't stop thinking about the torture you must have had to endure to get all that. Whatever you did to me and the others, you didn't deserve that, Oliver. You didn't deserve to be tortured." She trembled.

Oliver watched her. They were staring into each other's eyes.

"Can I see them?" Suddenly Felicity asked. Oliver took a step back.

"Are you sure?" He asked her.

"Yeah. If you are not uncomfortable…" Felicity whispered.

Oliver opened the first button of his shirt. He was staring into her eyes. She didn't even blink. He opened the rest of the buttons and Felicity touched his shirt. He let her move the shirt away and watched her intensely.

She gasped.

His torso was fully decorated with scars. There was a Tattoo, which she recognized as the Bratva tattoo. Other than that there were numerous scars she hadn't seen the last time she saw him naked. There were bullet scars, knife wounds, burns, teeth marks and several other marks of torture she didn't recognize.

Felicity felt her heart burning for him, for the pain he went through.

She touched his scars. She ran her fingertips along them. Oliver stiffened at her touch first. Then he relaxed with her further touches.

"I'm sorry…" Felicity whispered.

"You don't have to be. It's not your fault." he replied.

"No, I'm sorry that you had to go through that, Oliver. I'm sorry that you had to feel the pain alone." She returned.

She didn't know she was crying, until his thumb trailed on her cheek and wiped the tears on them.

He cupped her face by his hand and looked into her blue eyes.

"Felicity, you are the purest soul I have known in my life. I don't want to contaminate you by getting near to you again. Yet, I'm here. Showing you my scars, something I try to hide from even the closest people to me. I can't stay away from you even if I tried. Believe me, I tried. I failed at that. I'm not comfortable at talking about that island or what happened there. I don't show my scars to people because, if they saw them, they will stop seeing me. They will see the broken man inside me. They will know that I'm damaged." Oliver said.

Felicity touched his hand which was holding her face.

"You want to know what I see, Oliver? I see a man who suffered, yet was brave enough to go through all that pain to come back to his family. I see a man who wears his scars as a shield to hide the scars inside his heart. I see a man who risks his life every night to bring justice to a corrupted city. I see a man who went through hell and returned to his home. You are a survivor, Oliver. I see a man who survived. May be you are a little bit lost. But, it's nothing we can't solve together." Felicity knew she was opening her heart to him, again. Yet, she couldn't stop herself.

They stared at each other. Oliver touched her hair with his other hand. She held on to his shirt, which was still open.

She didn't know the exact moment it happened, but she was in his arms. He held on to her as if his life depended on it. She melted in his hold. Then his head dipped and his face was on her neck. She felt the wetness of his tears before she heard his silent sobs. He was trembling. She rubbed his back and held him tightly. She listened to his erratic heart beat until it became calmed.

After a while he loosened his hold. She felt him placing a kiss on her hair. And after a second he stepped back from her. She looked into his eyes. They were clear now. He tucked a lose strand of her hair back of her ear and smiled at her.

"Thank you, Felicity."

She smiled back.