Onwards!

III.

She wasn't sure if her frustration was at herself for not being able to find anything, or at the stupid coin for being so damn featureless and hard to identify in the first place. Felicity had raced home that night to begin her work on the coin. There was something about it that just snagged her curiosity in way that nothing had managed since her very first introduction to computers.

That alone should have warned her that there would be something more to this.

But like any good easily involved person, she had very pointedly decided to ignore her better judgment. Still, that didn't mean that she would find much, and only after she had thoroughly cleaned the coin and uploaded its image to her computer only to find absolutely nothing on it did she stop to think about how dangerous the coin could possibly be.

That too only piqued her curiosity to new extremes.

She knew that there was always something to be found, the smallest clue or the slightest image that pointed to the origins of something. Only this time there was nothing. Nothing more than ways to find antique coins and trading and collecting. There wasn't anything that remotely resembled it, the features were too worn out to make anything clear anymore, but to Felicity it looked like maybe it could be a bird. There were some raised markings on the bottom of the coin, clear enough that she could see that they were supposed to a foreign language, but not so clear that her computed could make out which one.

The computers at the foundry however, could have much better luck. She looked quickly at the cat shaped clock that hung above the entrance to her small kitchen. It was 11:35 p.m. late enough that Oliver and John would either be out patrolling right now, or otherwise have decided to go home if nothing too interesting happened. Felicity estimated that by the time she got there, her predictions would definitely but true.

She donned a simple white cardigan and jeans, and opted for a pair of ballet flats that were merciful on her feet after walking around Queen Consolidated all day in high heels. Laptop, keys, and mysterious coin in hand she locked her apartment behind her and made her way as quickly as possible to her car. She never quite liked being alone and outside this late at night.

The foundry was mercifully empty when she got there, and instantly she felt a weight lift off her shoulders. Taking a deep breath of air she made a beeline for her computers. This was home. Sure her apartment was where she slept and watched all her Doctor Who seasons over and over - all of them, because classic Doctor Who was amazing and drool worthy in its own right - but this… the foundry with its computers and deadly weapons and workout equipment – of which she only rarely used - was where she felt like she belonged. The computers started within seconds and she went to work, her fingers flying across the keyboard as she lost herself in the familiar comfort of the virtual world.

She stifled a yawn and rubbed her eyes, the small interruption serving as a reminder to check the time. It was now three in the morning. The surprise that should have registered didn't, but she supposed that after this becoming and increasing occurance -especially when she was in the foundry - it really shouldn't surprise her anymore. So far the coin remained almost as much a mystery as before, except she had managed to use the computers to enhance the image on the coin. Her initially suspicion had been right, and she felt a little triumphant at having gotten it mostly correct. The bird had once been an owl, wings extended as it took flight. What kind of owl was still a mystery, but it had been a victory in her books.

While the prograrm she had quickly modified had done its work on the coin, she had scanned every possible department or bureau for any information anyone might have gathered or discovered about the Starling City vigilante. Everything that seemed a little too dangerous was either carefully modified to be incorrect, or deleted altogether. It would be too suspicious to just delete everything, and she didnt't want anyone suspecting that he could - or had someone who could - hack into government and local databases. While the challange of breaking past something more difficult was interesting, she dind't really want the added hassle whenever time was of the essance. She considered this taking one for the team.

She picked up te coin, desperately wishing that there was something more to it that could help her with it.

And then it hit her. Feeling slighly silly and stupid for not having thought of her new idea sooner she began her search anew, only this time deciding to focus on organizations with the owl as their emblem. It was a long shot, but she felt that the coin had been important for a reason, and in the state it was in she somehow doubted that its importance came from its monetary value.

It took her a little while to modify the face recognition softwhere, but once she had it done she set it so that it would instantly recognize anything and everyone with an owl shaped coin or emblem that even remotely resembled the one she had. Feeling satisfied with the work she had managed to do, she got up and looked around the foundry. It was now four in the morning and while the prospect of simply staying here to sleep instead of driving back to her apartment was tempting, she knew that the hassle to go home and change quickly before work was not something she wanted to deal with. Though she knew Oliver would barely bat an eyelash if she came in a little late, she wanted to maintain her image of professionalism, and that included punctuality.

Heavens forbid that her tardiness and subsequent lack of punishment be another reason everyone add to their suspicions that her promotion to excuive assistant was simply the result of her hiking up her skirt and spredding her legs over Oliver's desk.

She would have blushed at the thought, had her outrage at such thinking not overshdowed the small flutering of butterflies everytime she thought about the possibility of being intimate with Oliver in that way. Felicity had simply decided that some people were idiots, and that thinking the only way a woman could earn such a promotion was by offering special services made them even more so.

Still, it was nice to take her frustration out on Oliver who couldn't simply leave her and her potentially -but in all reality assured - amazing IT career alone.

Once again gathering her things, she left her beloved computers running to complete their task before giving the foundry a quick once over. It was always hard to imagine it the way it had been, completely destroyed and seemingly impossible to repair. But she had worked diligently to put it back to its former glory, quite possibly working harder than the others who seemed to think that perhaps it was time to move to a new lair.

The place had charm however, and she had vehemently fought any and all thoughts of simply moving somewhere else. A small part of her agreed with them, stating that this place was found entirely too often and was known by too many people, but for every reason this more reasonable part of her came up the emotionally attached side of her came up with barely passable rationalizations. She could always beef up the security, and considering how many of them now knew about Team Arrow and were either a part of it or in cahoots, there could always be someone present here.

Like she said, barely passable rationalizations.

She stopped by the small hooks attached to one of the beams by the stairs and examined the coat that now hung from one of them. It was obviously a womans, a simple black pea coat but with the waist tucked in to accentuate the curves. Her eyes narrowed just the slightest bit as she recognized where it was from.

Laurel.

It wasn't that Felicity didn't like Laurel, in all reality Laurel wasn't exactly a dislikable person - for the most part - but she was wary of her. Laurel seemed... fickle. Her reactions to and about the Arrow had always been changing from one extreme to the other. One day he was a savior, and the next he was a monster and a criminal. She could still remeber the slight feeling of exhasparation and confusion when John told her all about those moments. She hadn't been part of the team then, and she knew John would always do his best to make her as knoweledgable about the people they were dealing with as much as possible.

Speaking of which she really needed to start shopping for a crib or a baby car seat. Lyla was now six months pregnant, and Felicity was absolutley extatic at the thought of being an aunt. John had simply chuckled when she told him this and looked at her with a gaze that spoke of deep friendship and appreciation, and of that she was glad, after all she returned those feelings in full.

"Felicity?"

Ignore the feelings woman! The thought was instant in her head.

"Oliver," she smiled as gently as she could at him. He looked at her uncertainly, his eyes betraying the warriness that she knew he didn't want to show.

"I think you should head home for the day."

Her eyebrows rose at his words, and she could have sworn he leaned back just the slightest of inches.

"Why?" The question came out sharper than she meant it, but at the same time she was proud of the strength in her voice. She had expereinced trouble looking at him, much less speaking to him, for a little while after his "I love you" ruse. Of course she understood why he had done it, and given the results him managing to outfox Slade had solicited, she couldn't reproach him for it. At least not logically. But she wasn't as logical as her computers, and somewhere inside she knew that the desperation with which she had wished his words were true caused her to resent him. Even if only just a little.

"Have you looked in the mirror today?"

Her eyes narrowed, but he held his own. In that moment she seriously couldn't see how he had been such a player in his earlier years. The tact with which he spoke sometimes seemed more of a lifelong thing than something that resulted from five years on a deserted island.

She was of course, just speculating.

"As a matter of fact I didn't have much time to do so this morning, and I don't exactly carry around a mirror with me at all times." There we go! There was the strength she wanted in her voice. Solid and unwavering, much like her current baleful glare.

"You look like you haven't slept a wink, and I saw you nodding off earlier. Go home, get some rest, no one will say a thing if you leave early just this once." The tone he used - while gentle - spoke of finality, an order which she had to obey.

He should have known better than to expect her to take it kindly.

"You listen to me Oliver Queen! I will do what I damn well please with my nights and my sleeping habbits. Just because you are my boss, doesn't mean you get to tell me what to do. Well I mean I guess it does, but not when it comes to this. Honestly you'd think someone as smart as you would be able to figure it out by now. People are always going to talk, and while I'm here I will always be the girl with the loose skirt and the open legs that somehow managed to seduce her hunky boss to get her position. And wow I cannot believe I just said that! I'm going to stop right now in 3... 2... 1..."

The amusement on his face was apparent, and she knew the reason he bit his lip was to keep himself from saying anything in response, or quite possibly smiling at another one of her rambling moments.

"I just thought-"

"Well don't! Let me do my job, which is to help you do your job, which will in turn help us do our night job so that we can continue to do these jobs. Wow that was convoluted, it makes so much more sense in my head."

"I gathered."

Her eyes narrowed again and rather than risking opening her mouth again she pointed very sharply at his office. He took the hint, and even had the audacity to look a little like a kid being sent to his room, and left her alone.

It was only after she had continued to work half the day and taken a nap in her car during her lunch hour that she realized why the altercation with him had been so familiar yet so strange at the same time.

For the first time in weeks, the wall between them had been completely down, and he had let her back in.

Her cheeks started to hurt that night after having smiled so much that day.

The coin is incredibly important to future events, so I promise there is more to it than just a challange for our dear Felicity.

The next couple of chapters are crucial to the way this story will unfold, especially since it's still evolving in my head, so please comment/review/give feedback or guidance, it is truly very much appreciated.

Until next time my darlings.