Disclaimer: WB/DC own these characters. I'm only borrowing them for a while. I own the original ideas found in this.

AN: Thank you for all the reviews, favs and follows, and for returning to this story. Now we shall see what Slade is about to do. Thanks to all the anonymous reviewers who I couldn't thank personally.

**Just as a warning, this story continues to discuss and describe possible triggers of abuse and nonconsensual sexual touch.

Previously:

Turning back to the computer Slade hit several keys. "Now, on with the show." He leaned back against a table and began to observe the others. He caught Felicity begin to close her eyes. She jumped as Slade cocked a gun. "Now Felicity, remember what I said." Felicity swallowed and reluctantly turned her attention to the computer screen and shuttered as she immediately recognized the room on the screen to be...her bedroom. And her…on her bed….

Oliver watched as the camera focused on his Felicity tied spread-eagled to her bed, and heard Slade's voice say vile things to his girl. Then do vile things to her as she struggled, cried and screamed despite his hand over her mouth. He barely registered Sara's gasps and her attempts to loosen her bonds, as well as Dig's growls and his rocking his chair in his attempts to get his bonds untied. It was Felicity's quiet weeping next to him which was almost his undoing. He restrained the impulse to look at her as he continued to watch the screen despite the tears gathering in his eyes, the rage boiling in his gut, his desire to strangle the man holding them captive.

As the screen went dark with the taped Felicity's screams echoing in their heads, Slade turned the monitors off. Walking to Oliver's side Slade crouched down beside him. "See what you've been missing, Queen? She is quite tasty, your Felicity."

Oliver gathered all his strength and managed to rock his chair over, right into Slade, trying to do damage with his elbow to Slade's face. Of course, it hardly made an impression, for Slade was able to catch the chair and steady it back up. "Pretty useless attempt, Kid. Tsk, tsk." He removed Oliver's gag and asked with mock innocence, "And now, what was that you wanted to tell me?"

Oliver stared at his enemy and said in his Arrow voice, "You're dead. You hear me, Slade? Dead. If you know what's good for you…."

Slade laughed over Oliver's statement. "Really, Oliver? You think you will be able to beat me, to kill me? Remember, I taught you everything you know."

"Not everything, Slade. Not. Everything. And I will make you pay for what you did to Felicity."

"You can certainly try, Kid, but you wouldn't get too far. But don't worry, I will certainly be giving you a few more chances to try. While I continue to take away all you hold dear."

Purposely avoiding looking at Felicity, Slade walked over to Dig and Sara and removed their gags. "Some might question my judgment in inflicting such a show onto you innocent people. I simply argue with the term 'innocent'. Especially when it concerns you, Sara."

"You are the most despicable man, Slade. How dare you…" Slade cut her off by grabbing her chin and pulling her head up towards him.

"How dare I? How dare I? You, who should be dead, wonder why I'm doing this? You're almost not worth my time, but it will add to Oliver's pain for including you in all of this."

Sara was able to get her chin out of his grasp. Looking into his eyes, she said, "How low can you go using such a wonderful woman as Felicity for revenge? How despicable to involve others in this when it's only Oliver and I you should go after."

"Like I keep saying, what fun would that be? I promised Oliver on the island that I will leave him devastated. And I will."

Rising, he yelled for his men, who had been waiting to the side of the lair, and told them it was time to leave. They formed a line and marched up the stairs and outside. He turned to the group as the door closed above them. "I must take my leave now. I hope you enjoyed my show. I know I did. Oliver, until my next bout of revenge. It'll also be a showstopper. I promise."

Approaching Felicity, he again reached out to her to run his fingers through her hair, despite Oliver's protests. "Felicity, always so cheery and hopeful, how I hate to leave you, but I must. I'm so tempted to bring Sara with me, instead, but I cannot do that either. So until I see you next," and he brought out a knife and held it up as he caressed Felicity's cheek, looking at her neck.

Diggle and Sara began to yell for him to stop, thinking he was going to slit Felicity's throat. Slade only smiled, slowly shook his head slowly, and stepped behind Felicity and cut the rope binding her hands, dropping the knife safely in her lap. He then walked up the stairs, leaving the members of Team Arrow in silence as he slammed the door behind him. They sat in shock for several minutes, unable to totally process what had just happened. The spell broke when Felicity's sobbing suddenly increased as the full horror of what had transpired occurred to her.

Oliver hated to disturb Felicity, but she was the only one whose hands were free. He'd been unable to work his bonds free, and knew neither Sara nor Dig had been either, so he attempted to draw her attention. "Felicity, please, do you think you're able to use the knife to cut me free?"

When she didn't respond, Oliver begged, "Felicity! Please, Felicity, can you look at me?" He knew she wouldn't understand unless he could bring her back to the present.

Felicity stopped her sobs and blinked her eyes several times, looking at Oliver glassy-eyed while remaining silent.

Oliver again asked her, breaking down the tasks even further. "Felicity, can you take the knife in your lap and cut the ropes at your feet?"

Felicity nodded, took the knife mechanically and bent down to cut the bonds around her ankles, being careful of her fingers. She looked at Oliver, clearly undecided what she should do next.

"Can you now cut my hands loose, Felicity?"

She stood and walked over to Oliver and was able to cut through the ropes binding his wrists. Oliver rubbed his wrists gratefully and said, "Thank you, Felicity. May I have the knife now?"

Nodding, she handed him the knife. "Can you go back and sit down, Felicity?"

Felicity, her eyes still glassy-eyed, sat down. Oliver quickly cut through the rope tying his ankles to the chair, then Sara's and Diggle's bonds. Diggle looked at Oliver. "I say we go after him, Oliver, and string him up by his b…"

Having an idea that Dig was going to say a very descriptive word Felicity didn't need to hear at this particular time, Oliver interrupted him. "I'm sure Slade is long-gone."

Sara sat down at the computer and her fingers flew across the keys. "I'm seeing if I can locate him on the traffic cams. Maybe we can see…"

Oliver was about to express doubt, but Sara looked at him, causing the words to die on his lips. Instead, Oliver went over to Felicity and knelt down beside her chair.

"Felicity?" he whispered.

She turned towards him, her face continuing to show no expression, staring unseeing at him.

"Are you all right?" he asked, hating how ineffective it sounded to his own ears.

Felicity simply looked at him, appearing not to comprehend what he was saying.

"Please, Felicity, why didn't you tell us what Slade did? We'd only would've helped you."

He watched in horror as her eyes filled with fresh tears. Her slim shoulders began to shake and her small hand covered her mouth. "Why…why did he have to do that? Why did he have to show you? I…I…how could he have taped it? I didn't know he did that…taped it while he…while…"

"I…I am so sorry, Felicity. That shouldn't have happened."

Felicity looked up, her own blue eyes wide looking in shock at the blue eyes looking back at her with shock and understanding. She suddenly became angry. "You said I'd be safe, if I stayed away from the fighting. I tried to tell you I wouldn't be, but you didn't listen."

"What?"

Felicity shook her head and said softly, "What am I saying? Even if you had taught me how to fight, I couldn't have fought him. Not with the mirakuru."

Sara rushed to Felicity's other side and knelt beside her as well. "Oh, Felicity, I wouldn't have been able to fight him off either, or stop him from assaulting me. With the mirakuru, no one could." Reaching out gently, Sara stroked her hair, asking permission silently with her eyes as she did it. "I am so very sorry that happened. It was not your fault. It wasn't anyone's fault but Slade's," looking at Oliver as she said that last sentence, as if to remind Oliver of this as well.

"Felicity, did you get checked out by a doctor, after…after it happened?" Sara asked softly.

Felicity nodded, looking down at her tightly clasped hands in her lap, then into Sara's eyes. "Will I ever be the same again?" she asked in a small voice which sounded like a timid child and not a twenty-four-year-old woman.

Dig rose and strode quickly to the other side of the lair. The sounds of punches landing on the punching bag were heard. Oliver looked over at his friend, concerned he'd hurt himself, but knew Dig needed the expression of his feelings at hearing Felicity asking such a question in such a vulnerable way.

Sara swallowed the lump in her throat. "Yes, yes you will. It will take time." After closing and opening her eyes, Sara asked, "Have you…have you talked to anyone about this?"

"I…I have been going to the sexual assault center. They…I thought they were helping….at least I thought so, until…" Felicity started crying again, "until tonight."

"When…when did it occur, Felicity?" Sara again asked softly.

"Tuesday evening. I…he…he was waiting for me when I got home early from the lair."

Oliver quietly growled in frustration, stood up, walking away from Felicity. He couldn't believe what had happened. Not only did Felicity suffer one of the worst things possible, she didn't even tell him, tell any of them. And then to experience the humiliation of watching a tape of the experience, and in front of others yet…Slade was dead. Oliver was going to gladly break his vow and kill the man who had dared to bring such unspeakable pain and horror onto the most generous, beautiful, brightest woman he'd ever known.

After taking some cleansing breaths, Oliver walked back to Felicity's side. He gently placed his hand on Felicity's shoulder. She jumped, and started crying again. "I'm so sorry, Oliver. I…I don't know why I jumped."

"No…no, don't worry about it Felicity. I…we will begin to ask before we touch you, all right? That's the only way to handle this."

Such words only made Felicity cry harder. "I…I am so sorry, Oliver…."

Oliver was able to only somewhat stifle his gasp. "Oh, Felicity, I…I am the one who's sorry…I…don't know what to say…."

Looking at him with her bright blue eyes, Felicity swallowed and asked, "Will you ever be able to look at me the same way again?"

Oliver gently reached for her hand, looking at Felicity for permission. She nodded, giving it to him. He squeezed it gently, emphasizing his words. "Oh, Felicity…I will only be able to look at you as the strongest woman I know. For having gone through something like this and survived. And facing that SOB with such courage today…I have never admired someone more."

"You also have my admiration as well, Felicity," Sara said.

"And mine," Diggle said, walking up to them. "I am so very sorry, Felicity."

With the illogic that sometimes happens in these types of situations, Felicity rose and threw herself into Diggle's arms. Ever since entering their lives, Felicity viewed John Diggle as a surrogate older brother. Feeling his strong arms around her, Felicity felt safer than she'd felt since Slade's assault. Tentative at first, Diggle's embrace tightened as the young woman in his arms cried even harder.

Oliver and Sara looked on, happy to see Felicity reaching out to one of them, even though she had refused their embraces. They waited until the storm seemed to mostly pass, and her sobs quieted down as Diggle held her, and softly stroked her bright blonde locks, rocking her gently in his arms.

When the sobs seemed to stop, Diggle gently drew away from her. "You want to sleep on my couch tonight, Felicity?"

Her lower lip trembling, Felicity nodded. Sara said, "I'll go to your house, Felicity, and grab a bag for you." Felicity nodded and gave her a little smile. "Thank you, Sara." Swallowing a sob, Felicity continued, "And thank you for your words. They mean a lot."

Oliver exchanged glances with Dig. "I think we should hold our planning session at your house. We don't know for sure whether Slade bugged the lair before we arrived."

"Yeah, and he might have used some surveillance equipment we're not able to detect, knowing Slade," Sara added. "Dig, do you think Lyla could help us with that? Perhaps have equipment that would detect the latest in surveillance equipment?"

"Hopefully, I'll check with her tomorrow."

Oliver looked at Dig and Sara. "Grab what we need, and let's get out of here." He returned his gaze to Felicity. "Do you feel able to walk out to my car?" Felicity took a deep breath and nodded. Looking at the other two, he said, "You two make sure everything else is all right, and load up what we need. Is it all right to meet you two then at Dig's?"

"Sure, Man." Dig looked at Felicity. "My guest bedroom is clean."

Felicity nodded as she followed Oliver up the stairs.

AN: Another chapter ended. Now the planning begins. Can the team figure out how to get Slade before he does anything else to Oliver or the rest of the team? Hope you return when I next post to find out. Always appreciate it!