A/N: Here's the next chapter, I hope you enjoy it. I apologize for any mistakes.
Felicity worked tirelessly pulling up the man's file only to realize he was Andrew Evans, ex-boyfriend to Deniece Carter.
Deniece was one of the first women she took in. She had been 24 and was hospitalized on several occasions with signs of not only physical abuse but sexual abuse. It was recorded that she had a miscarriage due to her fiance's abuse. She hadn't known she was pregnant until she lost the baby.
Deniece had been hesitant to come to the shelter. She had refused Felicity's help on several occasions. Felicity had kept trying because she wanted better for the young woman. Deniece changed her mind however when she learned she was pregnant for the second time. Wanting to protect her unborn child she sought out Felicity for help.
Deniece stayed with the shelter until the baby was born and then Felicity had set her up in a small town in North Carolina with a job at a newspaper thanks to Deniece's reporter degree. She had set her up with a new name and identity and paid for an apartment lease for the next sixth months, she had used money from freelance jobs at major companies to do so.
She kept in touch with Deniece every now and then. She knew Deniece was doing well and her daughter, Megan, just had her second birthday.
Andrew Evans had a record that would make anyone cringe. Assault, drunk driving, drug possession and so on. He was someone to be wary of but Felicity wasn't going to let his sudden appearance shake her up.
If he was showing up now and approaching her directly, it was because he was trying to find Deniece again and Felicity wasn't about to let that happen and clearly, he couldn't be that bright approaching her and thinking she couldn't figure out who he is.
She pulled up the files and printed them out, she gave a call to Lance, planning to meet with him. She was just hanging up the phone when Oliver pushed his way into her office, followed closely by Diggle.
"So what did you find out?" Oliver asked, sitting in the chair in front of her desk.
Felicity stood from her seat and retrieved the papers she just had printed out, placing them in a folder. "What makes you think I found something already?"
"Because you're Felicity Smoak and there's nothing you can't find out once you set your mind to it," Oliver responded without missing a beat.
Felicity smiled, she loved how much faith he had in her abilities.
"Okay, so the man who approached me at the bar is Andrew Evans, he was the boyfriend of one of our former girls, Deniece Carter." she moved around to the front of her desk, leaning against the edge and held the folder out.
Diggle accepted the folder. "I remember her, she was pregnant when she came to us. She had a little girl, she named her Megan." He opened the folder, looking over the information she gathered and the picture of Andrew Evans. "Felicity, you need to be careful, we know what that man was capable of doing to Deniece, a woman he claimed to love, there's no telling what he's capable of doing to someone he has no connection to."
Oliver frowned. "How bad of a guy is he? I thought we were dealing with the run of the mill woman beater."
"He's possessive, controlling, has rumored ties to a local gang in the Glades who deal out crank and opioids, had girls working the streets." Felicity listed off the facts they knew about Evans. "And physically and sexually abused his girlfriend. He caused her to have a miscarriage with their first child. His own family is so terrified of him they got restraining orders and ex parte just to keep him away."
Oliver jaw clenched at what he was hearing. "Sounds like this guy should have been locked up long before now." He hated the idea that a guy like this had gotten so close to Felicity. It made him feel like he was failing at looking after her and that was not acceptable. Not by a long shot.
"You can say that about a lot of criminals doesn't mean it's going to suddenly change," Felicity stated. "I was able to find his current address and phone number. No employment currently. No shocker there."
"Oliver and I will check it out and find out exactly if he was the one behind the threats and the break-in. In the meantime, I'm putting Sara on your detail until we get back," said Digg
"What are you planning on doing?" Felicity wondered.
Oliver's jaw clenched tossing the file onto her desk next to her. "We're going to find this scum bag and put the fear of God into him." he stepped toward her, his jean-clad legs brushing against hers, his hand locked around hers. "Last night is the only time this guy is getting anywhere near that close to you as he did."
She nodded, squeezing his hand. His words sounded like a promise to her. He was so damn determined to protect her. He never failed to make her feel safe.
Oliver drummed his finger against his pants leg impatiently as Diggle drove down to a neighborhood in the glades, passing by a corner where a business deal was being made and pulling up to a rundown two-story apartment building, the windows boarded up, furniture littering the porch, empty bottles scattered across the broken fenced yard.
"Are you sure this is the place?" Oliver asked looking out the window. "You would think a drug dealer could afford a better place than this."
"Maybe, he doesn't care about living in a rundown house. Could be he wanted to stick close to his area of dealing." Diggle suggested. "Keep an eye on who was moving in on his old streets."
"He used to deal in this area?" Oliver looked around, noting the two men in hooded sweatshirts on the corner, the streetwalker just across the street, talking to a man through a car window, her chest barely covered.
"He used to run this area and a couple more but this was the area he was most known for selling his drugs and working his girls." Diggle turned the ignition off to the car.
Oliver exited the vehicle and walked up the path to the house, Digg rounded the car and fell into step with him.
Oliver stepped over shatter glass from a broken bottle and onto the porch, kicking away the pile of newspapers that littered the porch.
"Doesn't look like he's been here in a while," Digg commented, crouching low and sifting through the dates on the old roll-up newspapers. "The latest is dated back at least three weeks."
Oliver tried to peer into the windows but it was too boarded up for him to make out the slightest detail from inside. He moved back toward and knocked on it. His fist rapping loudly on the door.
Digg listened closely shook his head. "I don't hear any movement from the inside."
Oliver nodded, he looked around and saw no one seemed to be paying the slightest attention to them, he brought his knee up and slammed his foot into the door, kicking it open.
Digg and Oliver entered the home, their guns raised and searched it room from room, taking in how the doors had been emptied, a few stray packed boxes scattered through the house.
Oliver moved toward the bedrooms while Digg moved toward the kitchen.
Oliver frowned, stepping into the bedroom, the mattress was stripped, the closet wide open and empty of clothing, plastic and wire hangers littering the floor, drawers pulled out of the dresser.
He cursed under his breath realizing the man had cleared out. He heard a noise behind him and saw Digg in the doorway, slipping his gun back into its holster. "The rest of the house is clear."
Oliver nodded, holstering his own gun. "He's gone. Looks like he cleared out."
Diggle nodded his agreement. "I'm under the same impression, The kitchen's been cleared as well as the other rooms. All emptied out and by the amount of dust gathering around this place and the newspapers on the porch, he's been gone a couple of weeks."
Oliver nodded clenching his jaw. "Let's get back. Hopefully, Felicity can find another way to find his location."
Felicity had been disappointed to find out Andrew had already cleared out of his old address. She sent Oliver and Digg to scout out his old hangouts but he was a no-show.
She gave Lance a picture of Andrew Evans and filled him in on the situation as much as she could. Lance circulated Andrew's photo around the precinct with little detail other than he was a person of interest not having a lot to go on as of his whereabouts.
Felicity had spent the rest of the day, using facial recognition and every tracking program she knew but she was coming up empty. Oliver let her work without disturbing her hoping she would get a hit, only interrupting to urge her to take breaks and eat something.
She barely noticed when the sun fell, barely noticed that she had worked all through the night and that morning had come again. She was a little surprised that Oliver hadn't insisted she call it a night. Obviously, he really wanted to find Andrew just as much as she did.
She chanced a glance at him, he stood by her open door, tension clear in his body.
"Why don't you take a walk, Oliver, or you can go home and get some rest," Felicity suggested in concern.
Oliver turned his gaze to her, his eyes piercing through her. "I'm not leaving here without you and I don't need rest."
"You've been up almost twenty-four hours." Felicity countered.
"So have you, I'll rest when you do," he said, arching a brow at her pointedly.
Felicity pursed her lips. She would not be resting until the end of the day. "Oliver," Felicity sighed. "You're tense."
"I don't need to be told that," he said shortly then grimaced. "I'm sorry I don't mean to be so short with you. I'm just frustrated about not finding this guy yet."
"I know, so am I." she slipped her glasses off and rubbed at her forehead. "I'm running out of ideas."
Diggle appeared in the doorway. "I think we're on edge with this guy out there possibly painting a target on your back." He looked between the two. "You guys have been here all night, haven't you?"
"Is it that obvious?" Felicity wondered.
"Just a bit," said Diggle, looking at Oliver. "You look about ready to climb the walls."
Oliver shot him a look. "I just have some frustrations to work out."
"Then hit the training room, I've got our girl from here."
Oliver opened his mouth to protest but she cut him off before he could get a word out. "Go. I'll be fine. It might do you some good."
Oliver huffed out a breath. "Fine." he looked to Digg. "Make sure she gets breakfast in an hour and another cup of coffee. She's running on nothing but fumes already."
Felicity rolled her eyes as he headed out.
Diggle moved into the room. "Are you sure you don't want to take a moment, too? You look stressed. Maybe taking a moment to relax will help."
"Of course I'm stressed. This bastard's in the wind and I have no idea what he's planning." she snapped but a moment later, she was looking at Diggle apologetically. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to snap at you. I'm just feeling on edge."
"It's understandable," Digg assured her. "I think we're all a little on edge. No one can blame you for that. I'm here if you want to talk though or if you just want to take a moment to yourself and decompress."
Felicity smiled at him gratefully. "I know and I appreciate it."
Oliver's fist slammed into the bag repeatedly, ignoring the heat burning through his muscles, or the sweat that slid down his back and neck, gathering on his arms, his brow. He didn't know how long he had been at it, just that the ache coursing through his muscles was a welcome distraction as he pummeled his frustrations into the bag.
"Hit that bag any harder and you might just tear a hole through it." Sara's voice sounded from behind him.
He gripped the bag stopping its motion and turned to her, wiping a hand down his face. "Better the bag than someone innocent."
Sara nodded. "If you wailed on some poor soul as you did on that bag you would be going to jail for murder but hey, maybe my dad will give you a pass if its a scum bag like Andrew Carter."
Oliver didn't react to her attempt at humor. "Did you know who he was when he approached Felicity that night?"
"Hell no, I wouldn't have let him anywhere near our girl if I knew who he was," Sara said fiercely. "I would have beat the crap out of him before delivering his ass to my dad for questioning. I mean, it's a hell of a coincidence this guy pops up right after the break-in at Felicity's home."
Oliver nodded. "I was thinking the same thing. Did you come early because of what is going on?"
"Oliver it's almost midnight, I figured you might want to call it a day," Sara suggested.
"I didn't realize." How the hell did he spend the entire day in here working off his frustrations?
"Clearly." Sara tossed him a towel and a water bottle. "Hit the shower, Digg's gonna head home once you and Felicity clear out for the night."
Oliver nodded, he followed Sara out of the gym and split off from her without a word heading for the showers just across the hall.
"Nice talking to you, too," Sara called after him, moving back down the hall.
Oliver kept his shower short, while the water felt amazing against his aching muscles, the need to check on Felicity and her progress was more important. He changed into a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt and headed for Felicity's office. Diggle was standing guard, speaking with Sara but turned to him as he approached. "How are you feeling? When I said work out your frustrations, I didn't think you be in the gym all day."
"Did Felicity have any luck in finding new leads on Carter?" asked Oliver.
"No, hopefully, tomorrow she'll have better luck when she's more rested," Digg answered. "As it is, she at least needs eight hours."
"You made sure she took breaks to eat, right?"
"I did. She's good on that front but she needs rest."
Oliver nodded, clapping Digg on the shoulder. "Go on home to your family. I got it from here."
Digg nodded and exchange his goodbyes and headed out.
Oliver pushed the door to Felicity's office open, frowning when he saw her slumped over her desk, having fallen asleep at her desk.
He moved around her desk, quietly powering down her systems knowing she had a prior system for running programs that would keep going.
He grabbed her bag with one hand settling it in her lap and gently lifted her into his arms. Her body seemed to curl into his instinctively, her cheek pressed into his shoulder and her hands gripping his shirt.
"Do you need any help?" Sara stood just outside the doorway of Felicity's office.
"No, I got it," he answered, passing by her. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Sara nodded and even though she said he didn't need any help, she walked out with her to Felicity's car and held the passenger door open.
He settled Felicity into the seat and she didn't so much as stir. He reached over buckling in her seatbelt and quietly closed the door.
He nodded at Sara and rounded the car, getting into the driver seat and pulled away.
Oliver gently pulled back the covers on the bed and generally laid Felicity down, taking her hands in his releasing her grip on his shirt.
He paused, debating whether or not to wake her up to change into something more comfortable to sleep in but one look at her peaceful expression he decided against it.
He moved down to her feet and eased her high heels off her feet, before gripping the covers and pulling them up to her shoulders tucking her in.
He smiled softly when she turned her head to the left, turning on her side and burrowing further into her pillow.
His hand reached out moving a strand of her hair away from her face, leaning down he pressed a kiss to her forehead unconsciously, the action coming to him so naturally.
He stood slowly and moved out of the room, casting one more look at her sleeping form.
He moved into the kitchen and whipped him up something quick and fast to eat, a simple turkey sandwich not really bothering with anything more.
Once he finished his food he checked on Felicity one more time. She was still resting snuggled into the covers her hands curled in the fabric.
He couldn't help the small smile that pulled at the corner of his mouth. Closing her door back, he slipped into his own room and kicked off his shoes, and stripped out of his jeans and shirt, too tired for anything more now that he was home with Felicity sleeping close by.
He collapsed onto his bed. It didn't take long for him to fall asleep.
Oliver tensed, spatula in hand, hearing the tell-tale sign of his front door being open. Other than himself and his sister no one else had access to his home.
"Ollie, are you home?"
He relaxed at the sound of his sister's voice and turned to the doorway just as Thea entered the room.
"Hey," Thea smiled in greeting. "Something smells good."
"I was just fixing breakfast. Did you want some?" Oliver asked as Thea took a seat at the counter.
Thea glanced down at all the food spread out. It looked like there was plenty to go around. Toast, bacon, sausage and gravy and pancakes. "I could eat besides I doubt you could eat this all by yourself."
"Oh, I wasn't planning on it," Oliver responded as he got down a set of plates.
"Oh, do you have someone coming over then?"
"Not exactly." Oliver glanced at her.
"Not exactly?" Thea repeated. "Wh-"
"Hey, Oliver, is there coffee made yet?" Felicity stepped into the kitchen still dressed in her clothes from the day before, expecting to see only Oliver but that wasn't the case.
There was a very pretty brunette seated at the counter.
"I'm sorry, I didn't realize Oliver was having company over this morning." Felicity apologized, she looked at Oliver uncertainly.
"I was gonna say the same thing except maybe I should say I wasn't aware he had company staying over." Thea turned her gaze to her brother. "Really, Ollie, I thought you were done with taking random women to bed?"
Felicity flushed. "It's not like that. I did not spend the night in his bed. The chances of that happening are very low."
Oliver arched an eyebrow at her and Thea sent her an unconvinced look and it only made her flush harder.
"Not that you're not attractive or that I haven't thought about it," Felicity told Oliver. "I mean, clearly a night spent in your bed would no doubt be great-" her eyes widened. "Oh, for the love of God can someone please stop me before I embarrass myself further."
Oliver chuckled, turning the stove off low, laying the spatula down and placing it on the counter before moving toward Felicity and settling his hand on her shoulder. "You have nothing to be embarrassed about. I enjoy your rambles."
"I'm sure that's not all you enjoy." Thea scoffed, scrutinizing them with her gaze.
"Thea," Oliver said sharply. "I would appreciate if you didn't make snide remarks about Felicity."
Thea's arms fell to her side. "Felicity?" her eyes widened. "Your new boss, Felicity?"
"Yes." Oliver nodded.
Her brow furrowed. "Why are you sleeping with your boss?"
"We're not sleeping together. Felicity's had some threats to her safety and her home was broken into. She's staying with me until her contact with the police catches the one responsible."
"Oh," Thea's eyes fell, looking contrite. "I'm sorry. I didn't know." she stepped forward holding out her hand. "Thea Queen. Ollie's little sister."
Felicity cast a look at Oliver. So this was the little girl in his photos around his place all grown up. "Felicity Smoak." she shook her hand.
"I know. Ollie's mentioned you a few times." Thea cast a teasing look at her brother.
"Thea," he sighed, ears turning red.
"Oh, yeah?" asked Felicity.
"Yeah, he said how much he enjoyed working with you." Thea paused. "I don't know exactly what you do. Ollie, wouldn't tell me much other than that you help people in bad situations. I think that's admirable."
"Thank you." Felicity nodded. "And it's great to meet you."
"You too," Thea looked her over and then looked at her brother. "You're really not sleeping together?"
"No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no." Felicity shook her head. "That is in no way happening or ever will. For one I don't mix my personal life with my business one and secondly, I'm not his type. Oliver doesn't see me that way."
Felicity took a step back. "I'm gonna hit the shower, get changed into something else. It was great meeting you, Thea."
"You too," Thea called as the blonde disappeared out of the kitchen and turned to her brother. "So that was Felicity."
Oliver frowned, looking at where Felicity had been standing. Felicity had denied so vehemently that they were sleeping together and while that was true that wasn't what bothered him. It didn't even bother him all that much that she was under the impression she wasn't his type.
No, what bothered him was that she didn't even seem to consider him beyond her obvious attraction for his body.
"Ollie, you okay?" Thea asked in concern.
"Yeah," he answered after a moment moving back toward the stove, returning to fixing pancakes. "I'm fine."
Thea smiled sympathetically. "She has no idea how you feel about her, does she?"
Oliver's head jerked up. "What?"
"Oh, C'mon, Ollie, it was clear as day, the way your whole face lit up when she was talking. It was like Christmas morning." Thea insisted.
"Doesn't matter." Oliver dismissed, flipping the pancake he had going. "You heard her she's not interested in started something with someone she works with."
Thea clucked her tongue. "You can't control how you feel and if she returns your feelings even a little bit, it's only a matter of time."
Oliver's lips tugged up at the corners at her words as he made her a plate and slid it across to her. "Enough, playing matchmaker, Speedy. Eat your breakfast."
Thea sent him a playful glare and made a show of taking a bite from a strip of bacon.
Oliver chuckled in amusement, shaking his head fondly.
Breakfast with Oliver and his sister had been interesting, to say the least. Felicity had enjoyed listening to them bicker playfully which only increased when Thea had started telling her embarrassing stories of Oliver from their childhood much to her brother's dismay.
She loved seeing Oliver laugh with his sister, the way his eyes softened. It was heartwarming to see.
Felicity genuinely liked Thea once they got past their first initial meeting, she seemed like a nice young woman. She was witty and smart and kind and she loved teasing her brother for the fun of it. Felicity could see the love they shared easily and it made her think of her own mother and that she should make an effort to talk to her more.
She has been so busy with the shelter and her freelance work, she barely had time to focus on other things to the point she hadn't spoken to her mother in weeks and hadn't seen her in over a year. Maybe when this was over she would take some time off and leave John and Oliver in charge for a bit and head out to Vegas and visit her mom for a week or two.
Thea left shortly after breakfast and Felicity and Oliver headed into the shelter. Felicity checked on her running programs, she still had nothing regarding Carter but after a good night's rest, she was confident it was only a matter of time before she did get a hit on one of her programs.
She looked up when her office door was pushed open by Oliver. "Roy is here with Miss Waltkins." he opened the door wider and admitted Roy and Gina inside.
Felicity stood from her desk, rounding to greet Gina as she stepped in her office. "Welcome, Gina, I'm glad you are here. You're doing the right thing."
Gina nodded. "I hope so."
"You are," Felicity assured her. "I hope you finished up with the things you said you had to do before coming here."
"I have." Gina nodded, she glanced at Roy. "Thank you for looking after me."
Roy nodded. "It was nothing."
"Thank you, Roy." Felicity nodded at him. "You can return to usual post starting today."
"Got it." Roy nodded in confirmation and knowing that was Felicity's polite way of dismissing him from her office, he turned and headed.
Felicity turned her attention to Gina focusing completely on her. "Have a seat, please." she gestured to the chair in front of her desk before rounding it and taking a seat behind it. "Now, I'm just gonna need a few things from you and then we'll get you settled in a room and I'll show you around so you can familiarize yourself with the place."
Gina nodded slowly. "What do you need from me?"
"You're cell phone if you have one but don't worry I'll be giving you a new one. I will need your family and friends contacts information, business contacts. Then I will need your email and social media handles, I know it might seem drastic but I'm just covering my basis so I can monitor if Michael tries to contact you. Your safety is my top priority."
"Okay," Gina nodded accepting the clipboard Felicity held out to her and placed her phone on Felicity's desk.
Felicity reached into her desk and pulled out a burner phone and handed it to her. "Your welcome to talk to my family but you should avoid contact with Michael or people who are in contact with him as a safety precaution."
Gina nodded, accepting the burner phone and began filling out the information Felicity requested.
Felicity rested back in her seat, turning her focus to the programs she had running. Still no hit on Evans
"Now we do offer self-defense classes if you're interested. It's not required but it is an option we give everyone here." Felicity said as they finished up the tour, she pushed a door open and stepped inside.
Gina followed her in and she was surprised by how much it looked like a dorm room more than anything except instead of two beds there were four and the room was bigger than your average dorm room. "This place isn't anything like I expected it would be."
"I hope that's a good thing." Felicity smiled.
"It is," Gina nodded. "I know I gave you a hard time when we first met. It just this is hard."
Felicity took her hand in a show of support and understanding. "I know, it's hard to admit there's a problem when the person you love is the one who is hurting you and I'm sure it doesn't make it easy when your heart is telling you, you're still in love with him after everything. But you did the best thing for yourself." she dropped Gina's hand.
Gina nodded, opening and closing her mouth as if she wanted to say something but couldn't quite get the words out.
Felicity frowned. "Is there something else?"
"No," Gina shook her head. "I was just wondering if I ever just need someone to talk to.." she trailed off uncertainly.
Felicity smiled comfortingly. "My door is always open and I may talk a lot but I'm also a really good listener."
"Thank you," Gina said gratefully.
"Your welcome." Felicity turned to leave. "I'm going to let you get settled in." she offered Gina one last smile.
Walking back down the hall, she checked the time on her phone. it was almost time for her self-defense class with Digg and Oliver.
Oh, joy, her favorite part of the day.
Well, at least she will have the beautiful sight of Oliver shirtless.
The thought had heat fanning across her cheeks. It wasn't very professional of her to ogle her employee but she was only human after all.
Felicity hit the mat hard, she grunted against the floor.
"You're leaving yourself open," Oliver stated, grabbing her arm and pulling her back to her feet.
"Clearly or else I wouldn't be getting flattened into the ground." She muttered rolling her shoulders.
"I didn't flatten you," Oliver stated, moving behind her and rubbing her shoulders. "You okay?"
"I'm fine." Felicity bit her lip to keep from making any sounds. His hands felt good on her shoulders. His hands felt good on her body. Period.
"Here." Digg handed her a towel and a bottle of water. She accepted the towel wiping the sweat from her arms and torso and then placed the towel around the back of her neck, opening the bottle of water and taking a large drink.
Her phone buzzed on a table at the edge of the room where she left it.
"Do you want to get that?" Oliver asked, dropping his hands from her shoulders, accepting a towel from Diggle.
"No, let the voicemail get it." She murmured distractedly as her eyes followed the movements of Oliver's hand as he wiped down his glistening chest and abs. She swallowed thickly, her eyes jerking back up when her phone fell silent only to start ringing again.
"Has Lance had any luck on his end?" Diggle questioned.
"No." Felicity shook her head. "I talked to him earlier but he assured me he's not giving up on finding him. He's looking into other leads, searching for some of Evan former contacts."
The sound of her phone ringing again filled the air and she sighed, wiping her sweaty palms on her black yoga pants and crossed the room to answer her phone, frowning when she didn't recognize the number flashing across the screen.
After a brief moment of hesitation, she swiped her thumb across the green answer icon and placed her phone against her ear. "Hello?"
"Hello, I'm looking for a Miss Felicity Smoak. This is detective Miller."
"This is her," Felicity answered, her voice falling into her business tone when she heard it was a detective she was speaking to. "What can I do for you, Detective?"
Felicity listened carefully, her face paling as his next words echoed in her head, her eyes widened in shock.
"I'm sorry to inform you Miss Smoak but Cooper Seldon escaped prison 5 days ago and with your history, it is a high possibility you could be in serious danger until he is found and apprehended.
Felicity slowly lowered her phone from her ear, her face ashen, his words echoing in her mind on a loop.
Cooper Seldon escaped prison 5 days ago.
Cooper Seldon escaped prison 5 days ago.
Cooper Seldon escaped prison 5 days ago.
Her heart pounded against her ribs, her chest tightening.
How the hell did this happen? And why the hell was she just finding out now?
A/N: Reviews our encouraged. I'd like to thank everyone who's favorite, follow or reviewed! Thank you:)