Disclaimer: Arrow does not belong me. All rights belong to DC Comics, The CW, and those persons associated in the creation of the show and comics.

A/N: Chapter 2 is done! Woo! This is one is inspired by the episode State v. Queen and involves the Arrow jacket, because I would love to see Felicity wearing that jacket. For science, obviously. As always, for anyone who would like to be tagged (or untagged), just shoot me a message! This fic is not beta-ed, so all mistakes are mine. I hope you all enjoy!

2.

His heart was racing. Not from exertion, but pure, unbridled fear. A feeling Oliver hadn't truly experienced in so long that it nearly stole the breath from his lungs. For this moment, he doesn't have the upper hand, and will comply with any demands – just as long as she is safe, unharmed. Just as long as she gets to walk away at the end of this.

The asshole had her in his arms and needles to her neck, going on and on in that cock-sure tone of his. Oliver had tuned The Count out for the most part and impatiently waited for his window of opportunity. Then there it was! Fortunately for Oliver, The Count was not only an asshole, but a dramatic one as well. So, the moment The Count pulled back to jam the double syringe into Felicity's neck, Oliver wasted no time in loosing three arrows straight into his chest.

Oliver winced as each arrow hit its mark, knowing he had broken his promise, but the other option was not an option at all. Sparing a moment, he let his eyes slip closed, and grounded himself once more. When he reopened his eyes, Oliver was moving. His focus completely on Felicity, assessing her for any physical pain as well as reassuring her that she was now safe. However, Felicity being Felicity, she pushed away her own distress and fretted over Oliver's wound - which he had completely forgotten about, truth be told.

Once convinced she was at least stable for the moment, Oliver made his way to the large, shattered window to confirm what he already knew to be true. Staring down at the where The Count's body lay, he let the shame and loathing wash over him, knowing he had let Tommy down once more.

After Oliver had walked passed her, Felicity took a moment to center herself – closing her eyes and breathing deep - before rising to her feet on shaky legs. Arms spread slightly in case she needed to catch herself, she tried to process everything that just happened, and the fact that it was also over. Her gaze slowly traversed the path of destruction that ultimately led her to the spot she currently stood. The sudden onslaught of memories took over her thoughts completely. They flew through her mind so fast they began to blur, leaving her feeling winded and dizzy.

Felicity's body began to tremble as she blindly searched for a table or chair to steady herself, but movement was becoming increasingly difficult. Her heart pounded in her chest, and her breathing was out of control. She felt her skin crawling, like The Count still had his hands on her. Somewhere in her muddled mind, Felicity wondered if this was what it felt like to have a heart attack? It was getting harder to breathe, and she couldn't take it any more!

"O-Oliver!" Felicity called, but it came out no louder than a whisper.

However, Oliver had heard her. Whipping around, he immediately returned to her side, cupping her cheek in concern. Her eyes were wild, like a spooked animal, and her body shook so fiercely he was almost afraid to touch her.

"Felicity, what's wrong!? What do you need?"

Swallowing thickly, Felicity's eyes slammed shut as tears threatened to stream down her face.

"I can feel him. On me. Everywhere." Her voice quivered as she tried fighting her emotions.

Oliver watched her struggle with a pained expression, feeling completely lost. He saw the strong woman he knew crumbling before his eyes, and he itched to help – to take those feelings away. Brushing his thumb across the tips of his fingers in agitation, his gazed darted about the office, looking for anything that would be of use. However, his searching didn't last long as a small cry escaped from Felicity and his attention snapped back to her. He watched in anguish as the walls she built crumbled and she lost the fight with her emotions.

Before Oliver even realized that he was moving, the quiver was over his head, and his jacket was coming off.

"It's ok, Felicity. He's not going to hurt you any more. I'm here, I've got you."

Oliver wrapped her in his Arrow jacket, not even caring that one arm was partially torn and caked in his drying blood. All that mattered was Felicity and trying to subdue the shock she was experiencing. Felicity felt his presence surround her as the fabric caressed her skin, helping overpower the sensation of The Count's fingers touching her.

Still warm from Oliver's body heat, she wanted to bury herself in the green jacket: zip up the front, throw up the hood and get lost in his scent. She wanted to drown in the leather, because even if the images from tonight still played behind her eyelids and the ghost of The Count's touch still haunted her skin, she knew she was safe. She would feel like she was coming home.

After securing his jacket around her body, Oliver encased her in his arms and held her as she shuddered and wept. Burrowing her face into the crook of his neck, Felicity breathed deeply, desperately grasping on to that feeling of peace and security. Oliver held on to her for but a moment when the sounds of the SCPD making their way to the office caught his attention. They needed to move.

Scooping Felicity up in a bridal carry, Oliver quickly moved them to the stairwell on the opposite side of the room and away from the arriving officers. The entire way down he kept whispering reassurances in her ear; hoping it would keep her calm as well as in the present. Luckily, the stairs he had chosen had access to a side entrance of QC and the car he drove here wasn't that far away.

Sprinting through the cold night away from the wailing sirens, Oliver got them to his car quickly and managed to get the passenger side door open without a problem. Before he placed Felicity on the seat, he paused and assessed her state of being compared to when they were in the office. She was still shaking in his arms, her face buried in the hood and collar of his jacket, and she gripped the black shirt he wore so tightly his heart broke a little further.

"Felicity, I'm going to set you in the car. I promise you're safe, and it's ok to let go. Nothing can hurt you now, hon."

Oliver's thoughts stuttered when he realized what he had called her; however, Felicity never said a word acknowledging what had slipped from his lips, just slowly loosened her grip until he was able to place her in the seat. He brushed off the moment. There was no reason to bring it up; she might not have even heard him anyway. Shutting the door for her, Oliver quickly rounded the car and jumped in before speeding out of the alleyway like bat out of hell, heading towards the Foundry.

Diggle met them at the base of the stairs once the pair made it to the "Arrow Cave". Still trembling from the affects of the Vertigo drug, he pushed those feelings aside, too worried about Felicity curled tightly in Oliver's arms. Oliver rushed Felicity to her computer chair, and once again cupped her face, searching it for any distress. However, for the first time all night, he began to relax. As if sensing where she was, surrounded by friends and familiarity, Felicity began coming back to herself, and her shaking lessened even if she continued to clutch Oliver's jacket tightly around her.

"What the hell happened?" Diggle demanded, part of him hating that neither of his friends had spoken yet.

"The Count got ahold of her," Oliver replied, never removing his gaze from Felicity, "He discovered my identity, and tried to bait me by holding her hostage. Nearly dosed her with a syringe of Vertigo as well."

"And where is the bastard now?" Diggle growled.

Finally breaking away from Felicity, Oliver turned to his friend and deadpanned, "No longer a problem."

Deflating with a long, slow breath, Diggle nodded once in understanding. After a beat he gestured with his head once more in Oliver's direction. "You're bleeding."

Oliver sighed, "Yeah, I know. Fortunately, it's just a deep graze."

Standing from his crouched position in front of Felicity, he moved quickly around their base grabbing supplies to quickly clean and bandage his wound. "I need to get back to the court house. The jury may have a verdict and I kind of just left Thea sitting there."

Diggle nodded, "Don't worry. I'll keep an eye on Felicity and make sure she's okay."

After wrapping his bullet wound, Oliver changed back into his business suit, and then returned to Felicity. Grasping her hand in his, he caught her attention and her face lifted to look at him.

"Hey, I need get back to court, but Digg is here. I'll be back as soon as I can."

Felicity managed a nod and Oliver gave her hand one last squeeze before he turned and raced back up the Foundry stairs. As much as it killed him inside to leave her so hastily, Oliver knew she was in safe hands. Thea and his mother needed him right now. However, time for his partners and their well-being would come later, because there was no choice to make. His family always came first. His whole family.

A/N: Thank you for reading! Please leave a review if you enjoyed the story, I'd love to hear what you think. I'd also love to give a time frame for when I'll get the remaining parts out; however, my November is about to get CRAZY. So, I'll do my very best to not have the gaps be too long, but I make no promises. Until next time!

-RedPens&GreenArrows