Usual disclaimers apply, I don't own them, though I wish I did, let me tell you I'd make some changes with the writing of some of the show's characters.

As I don't, I'll have to be satisfied to writing about them here.

Felicity and Laurel 48

An hour later they strolled out of Baccarat as Felicity sighed.

"That steak was amazing and the sauce…" Laurel rolled her eyes at her friend.

"Given all the moaning coming from your side of the table I was wondering if you and your new love interest needed to get a room"

Felicity just smiled, bumping shoulders with her friend as they headed towards where they'd parked the car. Laurel was about to say something when she saw movement out of the corner of her eye, spotting Robinson and his friend walking after them. In a flash she had turned, putting herself between Felicity and the men, something that had happened so fast she didn't have time to realise just how instinctual the need to protect Felicity had been.

"What the hell do you want" Her voice came out low and dangerous. "We told you to leave us be" Robinson smirked as he walked towards them.

"Just giving you the chance to make up for being so nasty back inside" Laurel's eyes narrowed.

"Why don't you and your friend leave us the hell alone?"

"Hey babe, no need to get hostile" Robinson shrugged. "You just needed to get laid, I could tell that night we went out. Sorry for offering you what you wanted" Laurel slowly pushed Felicity further behind her as she spoke.

"What in god's name made you think I wanted your hands all over me you idiot" He leaned in, leering; both women could smell the alcohol.

"You were the one who suggested Table Salt babe, you knew what was on offer, and what it was gonna cost and hey, you agreed" Laurel's voice was an angry hiss.

"I agreed to dinner you idiot, nothing more, how goddamned stupid actually are you?" Robinson was unfazed.

"That dress you were wearing screamed fuck me, so I was happy to oblige, obviously I didn't realise you were going to go all PMS on me" He shook his head. "I didn't know you were a cock teasing whore" Robinson looked past her to take in Felicity, his eyes raking her up and down. "Or are you a dyke, is this your little lezzie lover?" The other guy, Kirby, laughed.

"Not that I'd mind, watching you two together'd be nice, before we both fuck you" Laurel's expression was sheer incredulity.

"You idiots, if we were gay, do you think we'd actually give you the time of day?"

Felicity started backing away, she could tell this wasn't going to end well; Robinson and his friend were getting too close while she could see Laurel tensing, carefully moving into a Krav Maga stance she recognised from watching her sparring sessions back in the lair.

"At the moment this is harassment, turn around and walk away before it gets upgraded to something more serious" Felicity noted that both men were spreading apart, forcing Laurel to split her attention.

"Hey, were not offering you something you don't want, c'mon girl, you can make it up to me for being such a bitch' Robinson leant forward, one hand reaching for her; as Laurel automatically moved sideways Kirby stepped forward and wrapped both arms around her. Robinson's demeanor changed dramatically.

"I wanna know how the hell you know about the TSA, I paid a shitload of money to keep that quiet" Felicity took a step to the side and raised her hand and her voice, catching their attention.

"Uh, hello, that'd be me" Both Robinson and Kirby turned to look at her, which was all the distraction Laurel needed, driving her elbow back into Kirby's ribs hard as she grabbed his thumb and wrenched it down and back, breaking his hold and stepping free. Robinson barely had time to speak before she was on him.

"What the hell?"

Laurel stepped close into Robinson's space then unleashed a quick combo of an forearm smash to the face and a palm strike into the sternum, then sidestepping to deliver a savage kick to the back of Robinson's knee, watching as he fell before kicking him hard enough to have him roll over. As he did she placed her stiletto heel in Robinson's groin, a little pressure there stilling him.

Kirby meanwhile had stumbled back from Laurel's assault before spotting Felicity standing there, turning and grabbing for her. Seeing Laurel about to intervene Felicity caught her eye and shook her head as she easily avoided his grasp; compared to her teachers he was almost lamentably slow and clumsy.

Stepping to one side and remembering the words from John and Oliver and Laurel, she flashed a hand out to snatch Kirby's pinky and ring fingers, savagely yanking them back, probably dislocating them as he fell to his knees, trying to lessen the excruciating pressure. Keeping hold as she stepped to the side out of his other hand's reach, Felicity kept the pressure on as Kirby groaned in pain, before speaking quietly.

"Stop struggling, it'll hurt less" Laurel meanwhile had her heel planted hard into Robinson's groin, her voice low and angry as she fought the desire to shove her heel right though his balls.

"You have no idea just how much I'd like to maim you right now. Given what you did last time I'd enjoy it, probably too much. So here's what's going to happen. I'm going to let you up then you and your friend are going to get the hell out of here. If you ever come after me or my friend again, I will rip your dick off with my bare hands, do you understand?"

Robinson nodded frantically through the pain then sat up once Laurel removed her heel from his groin, his hands flying to his abused genitals, his low moan of pain easily heard.

Seeing that Felicity let Kirby's fingers go and stepped back, Kirby clutched his hand with its obviously dislocated fingers to his chest as he struggled to his feet. Felicity watched for a moment then shook her head.

"I'd recommend you go and see the team doctor about that. It's going to need some icing, painkillers, physiotherapy and lots of time to heal" Kirby gave her a filthy look as he stood up.

"Fucking bitch, you'll get yours" He took a step towards her before Felicity stopped him with a raised finger.

"Or on the other hand you could do something really stupid and I do the same to the other hand and you get to watch the rest of the season from the sidelines as your hands heal" She shrugged. "Your choice" Before Kirby could speak Laurel had stepped up behind him and was twisting his arm high up between his shoulder blades.

"Apologise to her now, or deal with a broken shoulder" She flashed a quick grin over Kirby's shoulder at Felicity. "Your choice" With that she forced his arm a little higher, dragging a groan from him.

"I'm sorry OK, it was all his idea, he got pissed and wanted to get some payback" Laurel's face hardened.

"If I ever see either of you two come near either of us again, I'll leave you unable to play, not for the rest of the season, but for the rest of your life, understand me?" Kirby nodded frantically as Laurel twisted his arm a fraction higher. "I didn't hear you"

"Yeah, sure, never again, I got you" Laurel nodded once and shoved him aside, taking a few steps to stand by Felicity.

"Now get the hell out of here before I have you arrested for intent to commit sexual assault" Kirby and Robinson nodded quickly, then turned and walked away, Robinson somewhat awkwardly, much to the satisfaction of both women. Finally Felicity spoke.

"Wow, nice job Laurel" Keeping her eyes on the retreating men Laurel nodded once.

"Thanks, good to see all that hard work's paid off" The hacker nodded and smiled.

"It sure has. Thank you; that could have gone a lot worse" Laurel shrugged as she looked across to meet her friend's gaze.

"I'm not the same person I was the last time he saw me, neither of us are" Felicity nodded, her eyes drifting to where both men were moving away.

"That's for sure" She pursed her lips, looking at Laurel. "I do have one question though" Laurel's head tilted.

"Oh?"

"How come you let Kirby close enough to grab you?" Felicity frowned. "John and Oliver will be really disappointed" At that Laurel laughed.

"Oh that, I saw him coming and let him" Felicity's eyes opened wide.

"Why would you do that?" Laurel shrugged and smiled a little shyly.

"Because when he was focused on me he wasn't going after you" Felicity's mouth opened then shut again. Finally she spoke, her voice small and soft.

"Oh" Laurel turned and rested her hands on her friend's shoulders.

"Felicity, it's my job to protect you, you're my friend and I'll always stand between you and danger, the same as Oliver and John and Roy and Sara would" Felicity bit her lip as a hint of tears appeared in her eyes.

"I don't want you putting yourself in danger for me; I don't want to be the helpless one all the time" Laurel's voice tightened with emotion.

"We don't do it because we have to, we do it because we want to, you're too important to all of us Felicity" Laurel smiled softly. "We all love you too much to risk anything happening to you, so you can't blame us for watching out for you" Felicity nodded slowly, taking in Laurel's words, thinking them over before a slow smile broke though.

"So, you love me?' Laurel's heart did somersaults before she managed to nod, hoping she hadn't said something to make everything awkward between them.

"Yeah, course I do, we all do" Felicity nodded once, before looking up at Laurel through lowered lashes.

"Enough to buy me a triple scoop of choc chip gelato at Gelatissimo?" Laurel felt a relieved smile appear on her face.

That was Felicity, she knew what was being left unsaid and chose to make sure it wasn't awkward, no matter what they'd still have each other. Laurel turned and linked her arm through Felicity's as she guided them towards Felicity's car.

"I don't know if I love you that much, maybe only a single scoop worth…"

"C'mon babe, you know you love me and I'm worth at least three scoops" Laurel let an eyebrow rise.

"Maybe you'll have to prove it to me" Felicity pouted a little.

"Bet Oliver would buy me three scoops…" The pout drew a chuckle from Laurel at her friend's expression.

"Oh honey, I've told you before, that pout doesn't work on me, my name's not Oliver" That got Laurel a tongue poked out at her.

"Spoilsport"

"A spoilsport who might, might, just possibly buy you a gelato, if you're nice to me" Felicity's voice rose hopefully.

"Have I told you how much I like those abs of yours…"