"You had to do it, didn't you," J.T. said, before Vincent could even get one foot in the door.

"J.T…" Vincent began.

"No, don't 'J.T'. me, big guy. It was really simple. All you had to do was nothing – just get up and go to work at the hospital like any other day."

"I did go to work at the hospital."

"Yeah, but you made a little detour first, didn't you? The Tale of Two Beasts has been the hot topic of the afternoon – well, that and the best place to find a reasonably priced evening gown in New York City. Holy crap there are two of them and I don't think they're Mirakuru soldiers are pretty much all I've been hearing."

"And?"

"And they're going crazy with all kinds of theories. Felicity's been glued to the computer looking for footage for the last three hours, and I've been giving Queen a wide berth because he looks like he wants to break someone's jaw since he couldn't hurt the other Beast."

"Has she found anything?"

J.T. sighed and appeared to calm down a little. "Thankfully, no. Apparently you were out of sight of any security cameras at the Martin's and there was no other surveillance on the street. You must have been in full Beast-mode, too, because none of them recognized you."

"So why all the fuss? And what's this about an evening gown?"

J.T. laughed. "Trust you to zero in on that one. You and Cat always find a way to turn an investigation into an excuse for fancy dress. Why don't you come on back and you can ask yourself. Cat and Tess showed up about an hour ago."

Vincent nodded and followed J.T. into the large expanse that served as his living room, computer room and occasional research lab. Felicity was seated at the computer with Catherine and Tess huddled around her. Queen and Digg stood off to the side, with Oliver watching Felicity as if he thought the Beast might break in and try to steal her at any moment. Vincent studied the two Starling men's reactions carefully when they spotted him, but saw nothing that would signal them recognizing him as the second Beast.

He breathed a little easier. Despite his casual response to J.T., Vincent had had misgivings about Beasting-out near the Martin's house earlier. His life was finally back to something resembling normal and he was thrilled to be practicing medicine again. He knew that could all disappear in a second if his "other self" were made public. However, he and Catherine had also agreed that they could not let the trio from Starling walk into a potential ambush in which they stood no chance. So they'd settled on him staking-out the Martin's place until Queen, Digg and Felicity had safely gotten out of there. As Catherine looked up and flashed him a warm smile he felt his reservations disappear; her expression confirmed that he'd done the right thing and managed to get away undetected. All was well.

"Felicity's been invited to the Martin's hospital benefit tomorrow night," Catherine announced.

Vincent chuckled. "Ah…so that explains the search for the reasonably priced evening gown," he said to J.T.

"And as I was telling Felicity," Catherine continued, "I know some very good consignment stores. The three of us can shop tomorrow as soon as the places open." She grinned at Tess.

"You don't have to work tomorrow?" J.T. asked.

Catherine shook her head. "Tess and I signed up to do security at the benefit. If you remember last year, the mayor and a number of the city council members attended. The captain decided it would be a good idea to have a few officers in plain clothes there this year just in case. As soon as she found out, Tess volunteered both of us." She smiled ruefully at her partner. "An opportunity to mingle with the rich and famous. So, anyway, we've got the day off and will be on duty at night."

Vincent nodded. He wondered if "plain clothes" meant Catherine would be dressing up in evening attire as well. He loved it when she did. Of course, she was beautiful no matter what she wore, but somehow when she changed from her working outfit of jeans and a shirt to a long dress she looked like she could be royalty from an earlier century. It was a cliché, he knew, but she really did have timeless elegance.

Oliver Queen's voice brought him back to the present. "Felicity, I'm not sure we should still go to that gala, not after what happened this morning."

Felicity frowned. "You think that…whatever he is…will come after me at the benefit?"

"I think it's more than a coincidence that he found you right after you spoke with Jeff Martin. You had just left the house two minutes ago. There's no way he could have travelled there from somewhere else – he had to have already been there and known exactly where you were headed. I think it is Martin."

Diggle stared at Queen. "You think Jeff Martin is the guy who attacked us? That he somehow transformed himself into that…creature…right after we left the house?"

Queen nodded. "Do you have another explanation? Come on, Digg, we've seen what," he paused and glanced cautiously at Vincent and J.T., "…drugs can do to a person. Given the timing, I think it's got to be him."

"I don't know, Oliver. If he transformed, it had to have been almost instantaneous. Something on the genetic level, not some drug he took right after we left. Even Mirakuru needs time to work. Maybe he called someone."

"And the guy got there in two minutes? Jeff Martin didn't know you and Felicity would be at his house this morning. No…I think it is Martin."

Diggle shook his head. "That's some crazy science."

"Yeah, well, we've seen some crazy science before," Queen said flatly. "If you have any other theories, I'm willing to listen."

Digg shrugged and said nothing.

Vincent noticed that J.T. was looking at him with an I told you so expression on his face. He could almost hear his friend's voice saying: They're figuring it out…that people can morph into Beasts. I told you there was something funny about those three. They're going to keep on investigating. How long before they figure out that you're one of those creatures too?

Vincent frowned back, refusing to panic. Even if they eventually uncovered the existence of Beasts, it didn't mean they would discover that Vincent was a Beast himself. He glanced at Catherine and took comfort in the fact that she appeared unperturbed. He suspected she wanted to get to the bottom of this thing with Martin as much as anyone. They'd thought Muirfield had been shut down months ago. If they were back to creating Beasts in NYC, well then there were bigger problems than Oliver Queen discovering Vincent's secret identity.

Felicity was staring at Queen thoughtfully. "I suppose it's possible that the creature could be Jeff." She paused. "Still, I think I should go to the benefit. If it was him, he didn't come after me in the house; he waited until we were down the street. I don't think he's going transform in front of a couple hundred people. The ball is still a good opportunity to investigate."

"Felicity…"

"Seriously, Oliver. I spent the entire afternoon hacking and came up with nothing. Nothing from city surveillance cameras, nothing in his email. Digg was right. We need to see if we can find physical evidence. We'll never get a better chance than the benefit."

"Felicity…"

She stood up out of her chair and walked over to him. "Come on, Oliver, you know the drill. My life, my choice." She held his eyes with a determined expression while Queen's face wore an exasperated one. Vincent got the impression that this was a fairly regular occurrence between the two of them. For all of Queen's imposing height and physique, Vincent wasn't sure he would bet against Felicity. She looked every bit as stubborn as Oliver.

He took the opportunity to slide into Felicity's now-empty chair next to Catherine. While the blonde and her boss continued to debate, he said softly to his girlfriend, "If they're right about Jeff Martin and she ends up going to that ball, she's going to need more protection than Queen can give her."

Catherine smiled and glanced over at the pair from Starling. "I can tell you right now, Felicity's going to the ball. Oliver doesn't stand a chance." After a short pause, she added, "And, while I also think it's unlikely that Martin will Beast-out in front of everyone, it probably wouldn't hurt to be prepared. Tess and I will be there and we'll be armed. We'll keep an eye out." She turned alongside Vincent to watch Felicity still arguing with Oliver. Diggle was observing his friends with an amused smirk.

Vincent took Catherine's hand gently in his. "I was thinking even more protection than that."

She looked at him knowingly but said nothing.

"Would you mind, Catherine?"

She shook her head. "No, it's probably a good idea."

"Thanks."

She smiled. "You know Oliver's going to hate it."

"Yup."

"Still, maybe it will be a wake-up call for him. He needs one."

"Yup."

They turned back toward Queen and Felicity. Felicity was standing inches away from Oliver and emphasizing her points by tapping one finger repeatedly on his chest. Queen's face had taken on a slightly desperate appearance. Catherine was right; he was losing this one.

Vincent cleared his throat. "Felicity?" he called out. The two stopped arguing to turn and look at him.

"Yes, Vincent?"

"This benefit is all about the local hospitals."

She nodded. "Yes, I remember that."

"I think it's important that the donors hear about what the hospitals really need from someone who knows. You know, like a doctor?"

She looked at him, not quite getting it. "Sure, that makes sense," she said neutrally.

"So can I be your date to the benefit?"

Her eyebrows rose in surprise and then she smiled.

Oliver Queen's eyes narrowed.

As they walked to a hotel a few blocks away from J.T.'s place, Oliver was reconsidering his appreciation for John Diggle. Yeah - the guy was good in a fight, and yeah - he was pretty damn smart, but for all his experience he could be surprisingly naïve. Take now, for example. Digg had clearly decided he could trust a friend he hadn't seen in ten years with Felicity's life. Okay, Digg and Vincent had served together in the army and probably been in numerous harrowing situations, but was that sufficient reason to leave Felicity with him and J.T.? Digg seemed to think so. Oliver shook his head.

"You want to tell me what has you tied up in knots over there, Oliver?" Digg sounded faintly amused. "I can almost hear your teeth grinding."

Oliver gave a sigh that was really more of a snort. "I can't believe we're leaving Felicity with your friends for the night. She should have more protection, she's clearly what this man-creature wants." He strode forward angrily. "And what's with your army pal, Keller, anyway? We're in his city so he gets to give the orders? He just about kicked us out of J.T.'s place."

Digg glanced briefly at him, but kept walking. "I don't know about you, Oliver, but I spent last night on a couch that was much too small and the night before in a postage stamp of an airplane seat. I could use some real sleep. A hot shower and a king-sized bed are sounding pretty damn good to me." After a few seconds, he added, "Vincent was just trying to do us a favor by suggesting we find a hotel. I'm betting you could use the sleep too, if you were honest with yourself. We'll be more help to Felicity if we're not half-dead on our feet."

Oliver wasn't convinced. "Digg, if that thing shows up at J.T.'s…"

"He didn't follow us this morning, Oliver. He doesn't know Felicity is there. And, if by some strange coincidence he does show up, he'll find Vincent, J.T., and their two detective girlfriends with guns. I'm guessing he's not bullet-proof."

"We don't know that. Look at the Mirakuru soldiers."

Diggle pursed his lips, glanced skyward, and then sighed. "Fine. If he does go to J.T.'s and turns out to be bullet-proof, we're only ten minutes away; five minutes if we run. But it's not going to be necessary."

There it was, that annoying Diggle optimism. It was really getting on Oliver's nerves. "You're awfully trusting of Vincent," he said sharply.

"Yes, I am, Oliver. That's what happens when you've spent time with a guy facing the Taliban in Afghanistan." When Oliver didn't respond, he added more evenly, "Look, you know I care about Felicity, too. I wouldn't risk her life. She's in good hands. It's not going to come to it, but if it does, Vincent can keep his head in a fight."

"And what about asking her to be his date to the benefit? How does that fit in with the plan? Does he often request dates with other men's…" Oliver stopped. He had been about to say other men's girlfriends, which would have been stupid. Felicity wasn't his girlfriend. She was his partner and his friend and his…Felicity. He glanced over at Diggle, but if Digg had noticed the gaff he was wisely keeping silent. Oliver amended his question to say, "Does he often ask for dates with other women in front of his girlfriend?"

"You heard the reason, Oliver. It's a benefit for the local hospitals. Vincent is a doctor in one of those hospitals and he wants to speak to the donors about the need for new equipment. And Catherine is working, so it's not as if he can go with her."

Oliver frowned. Yeah, it all made sense, but still…

"He's not really the guy to help her investigate, Digg."

"And once again I remind you that he was in the army, with much of the same training I had. He knows how to do reconnaissance." Digg gave him a smile that Oliver assumed was intended to reassure. It didn't work. "It'll be fine, Oliver," Digg added, as Oliver continued to frown. "He just needs to watch the door when she checks out Jeff's bedroom and distract anyone who might come by. It's not rocket science."

Oliver sighed. "Fine. But Felicity's not going to be comfortable investigating with Vincent. She's used to being in the field with us. She won't like this."

"You just keep telling yourself that, Oliver."

What the hell did that mean?

Catherine and Tess really did know how to shop. This was their third consignment store that morning and Felicity had tried on at least six dresses that she would have been perfectly happy with. Cat and Tess had stared at each one critically, turned toward each other, then gently shaken their heads.

"Close but not quite," Cat would say, or Tess would remark, "Almost, but it's missing something."

Felicity wasn't sure it was necessary for the dress to be perfect. This was a mission, after all, and not a date. She and Vincent were going to show up at the Martin's for the benefit, mingle a little as Vincent spoke to various donors about the need for hospital equipment, and then quietly disappear for twenty minutes to check out Jeffrey's room. Not exactly a romantic evening. And, at any rate, her options for the gown were somewhat limited. Given the state of her stitches, anything with an open back wasn't going to work. That took half the dresses they'd looked at out of the running.

She stepped out of the dressing room in a red, one-shoulder gown with a high slit up the side. It was a relatively simple dress, but the ruching around the waist was flattering and it fit as if it had been custom-made for her. The gown covered her back, but left one shoulder and both arms bare. And she'd always loved red.

Catherine and Tess studied her silently for a long moment.

"Turn around," Tess commanded.

Felicity complied as the two detectives assessed her carefully. She spun back slowly to face them.

Catherine and Tess looked at each other with their eyebrows raised, and smiles gradually emerged on their faces. "Partner," Cat said at last, "I think we've achieved gown."

Tess nodded. "Damn straight, we have. That's the dress." They both turned back toward Felicity.

"Felicity," Catherine said cheerfully, "you're going to knock his socks off."

Felicity frowned. Knock his socks off? Whose socks? Vincent's? Should Cat really be urging Felicity to look good for her boyfriend? That didn't seem right.

"Catherine," she said slowly. "This evening is about the investigation. It's not a date. I promise you I'm not trying to…"

Tess interrupted her with a laugh. "Not Vincent's socks, you idiot. Oliver's."

Felicity was confused. "Oliver and I aren't in a relationship."

Cat smiled. "Yes, you told me that already. And maybe you aren't in one right now. But the man looks at you as if you're a glass of water in the desert. And he clearly wasn't happy about leaving you at J.T.'s last night. Sometimes, guys just need a little encouragement."

"I would have said push," Tess corrected with a grin. "You should ask J.T. about Cat and Vincent," she added to Felicity. "J.T. told me that Vincent had plenty of concerns about getting into a relationship, but Cat just wouldn't take no for an answer. She kept coming back, even when he asked her not to. J.T. figures she wore Vincent down. And now look at them. They're so happy, it's sickening."

Catherine wore Vincent down? She kept coming back even when he'd said he didn't want a relationship? Felicity thought about Oliver's because of the life I lead speech. Had she accepted it too easily? Like, Cat, should she have challenged him, pursued him? She wasn't sure it was in her makeup to do that. And anyway, Oliver couldn't have really meant what he'd said because he'd tumbled into a relationship pretty quickly with Sara - and he clearly cared about her. Still, she supposed there was caring and then there was caring…

"Hey," Catherine said gently, interrupting her thoughts. "what's going on up there?" She pointed to Felicity's head.

Felicity shook her head. "Just…junk," she answered, and then added with a rueful smile, "I'm not sure I could do what you did… ignore what Oliver says and keep…pushing him."

Tess shrugged. "Well, everybody's different. But I think you need to ask yourself what you really want, and what you're going to do if you don't get it. You're a beautiful and clearly talented woman. It's a shame not to share that with someone, even if it's not Oliver."

Felicity couldn't argue with that.

"And anyway," Tess added, "we've got more important matters at the moment."

"We do?" Felicity asked.

"Of course." Tess looked at Catherine and they both said together, "Shoes."

"Oh," Felicity replied. "Right."

Vincent Keller looked really good in a tux. Oliver didn't like it.

They were assembled at J.T.'s about an hour before the benefit. Felicity, Catherine and Tess were all dressed in their evening finery and Keller was sporting a penguin suit that clearly wasn't a rental. The tux emphasized his broad shoulders and narrow waist, and he looked like a male model in one of those magazine ads for a ridiculously expensive watch. And he was standing very close to Felicity.

She also looked really good. The red dress she was wearing showed off her curves and a lot of leg when she walked, and exposed one of his favorite parts of her body - her beautiful shoulders. The neckline wasn't particularly plunging, but there was a subtle sexiness about the outfit that he was certain any male would pick up on. He wasn't sure he liked that, either.

He tried to take comfort in the fact that Vincent's girlfriend, Catherine, also appeared stunning in her gown. She was wearing a green number that complemented the color of her eyes. The waist was fitted, but the skirt was slightly full and Oliver was sure that any little girl seeing her would think she'd found a fairy princess. If he had any brains, Keller's eyes should be directed toward Catherine, not Felicity. So far, however, Keller's brains must be taking a break because he kept leaning over to make quiet jokes in Felicity's ear. Once, Oliver thought he even put his hand on her lower back.

Tess was rounding out the group in a slinky brown dress that emphasized her slender height and endless legs. J.T. was clearly appreciating it. He kept grinning at her goofily.

"Well," Catherine said to Tess, "I suppose we should get going. We're supposed to be there an hour early to do a walk through." She turned to Vincent and Felicity. "You've got the comm links in your ears?"

Vincent replied, "Yes."

Cat turned to Oliver, Digg and J.T. "And you've got yours?"

The three of them nodded.

"Tess and I are going to have to work off two different frequencies," Cat explained. "There's one for the police and another one for you guys. Whatever you do," she said sternly, "don't get into the middle of any police discussions. I'd rather they not know that we've got a little extra help tonight. And anyway, these comms are just a courtesy. If all goes well, none of you will need to come inside and do anything."

"Got it," Digg responded.

Tess turned toward Catherine. "That purse is awfully small," she said, pointing to the sparkly, green bag hanging by a tiny strap off her partner's shoulder. "Were you really able to fit your weapon in there?"

Catherine shook her head. "No, I figured this dress has a pretty full skirt so I went with a holster strapped to my thigh. I can get to it quickly if I need to."

Tess grinned and nodded. J.T. whistled softly then turned to Vincent.

"Tell me you don't find that a little hot?"

Vincent smiled. "I find all our women to be hot tonight," he answered cheerfully. He glanced down at Felicity and rested his hand lightly on her bare shoulder.

Oliver's eyes narrowed. They seemed to be doing that a lot lately.