Thanks for your continued interest in this story. What I thought was only going to be 6 chapters is obviously not the case. I might shoot for 10 chapters as long as the material keeps flowing to me and I can wrap up the story on a good satisfying note. Thanks for the reviews. Keep 'em coming. I appreciate each and every one of them.

(4:30 a.m.)

"Hello, Ms. Smoak, miss me?" said a faint but alarming voice that appeared to be a close distance away.

"Hmm, who's that?" I said as I tossed in my bed while my eyes were still closed.

"Because I've definitely missed you," the haunting voice grew closer and more clear.

I gradually cracked my eyes open and caught a glimpse of a shadowy figure hovering over the side of my bed. I wasn't fully awake yet and my grogginess pulled my eyes back shut momentarily.

"Fuh-lis-uh-teeeee, wake up."

The jolt my body felt when I realized what I was hearing forced my eyes to fly wide open. I immediately knew I was not alone in my bedroom. The thought alone terrified me so much I was now fully awake and my heart was pounding.

"You didn't think you were gonna get away so easily, did you, you little teasing bitch?" The voice appeared to be taunting me.

I glanced over while lying on my side and felt my adrenaline pumping. The only thing I felt was extreme fear and it froze me completely. The ghostly silhouette started to slowly move toward me when it passed through a beam of light illuminating from my bedroom window.

I screamed out for Oliver as I managed to finally move. I turned to my side to jump off the other side of the bed and someone grabbed my arm and yanked it back so hard that it threw me back onto my pillow and straight into my headboard. It dazed me long enough that I couldn't move for a few seconds, a few seconds I couldn't afford. The next thing my eyes registered was his hand coming in toward me and seeing a flash of white. As my eyes began to focus again, I could see the white rag in his hand coming down on my face. Just before it made contact, I let out a blood curdling scream.

"Aghhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

"Felicity, Felicity, wake up!"

I continued to call out in horror. "Get off of me! Get off of me!"

"Hey, it's me, Oliver. Open your eyes. I'm here."

I kept screaming until Oliver's voice finally registered and my eyes burst open to confirm it was him sitting next to me, his arms clutching my shoulders.

"Oliver?" I said in shear relief.

"Yes, it's me. It's going to be okay now. You just had a bad dream."

What I did next could legally be considered as assault and battery. I hurdled myself forward into Oliver's arms as hard as I could and held on for dear life, forgetting my arm was still in a sling and feeling the onset of pain immediately. I began to cry uncontrollably in his arms.

"Shhh, I'm here, sweet girl. Be careful with that arm. You'll hurt yourself more than you already are."

"I'm sorry, I don't know what's happening to me."

"It's okay. Let it out. Let it out."

"It was JD, he was in my dream. He said he came for me, Oliver," I said as I cried harder.

"Calm down. I've got you. I've got you."

"I can't erase his awful face from my mind. I can't take it anymore," I yelled out through the tears.

"Stop, look at me, Felicity. Look at my face." He grabbed my one good arm and put my hand up to the side of his face.

"It's me. I'm here with you, no one else. Do you see me?"

(Taking a deep breath) "Yes, I see you."

"Do you feel me?"

"Yes, I feel you."

"I am here right now. I'm gonna protect you. No one will get to you again, I promise. Do you believe me?"

"Yes, I believe you, Oliver," I said as the tears rolled down my face.

Oliver wiped my tears and pulled me up into his strong arms and cradled me there. He didn't talk, he just held me, exactly what I needed. He just let me cry in his arms until I finally got a hold of myself and was able to catch my breath again.

"I'm sorry I messed up your shirt," I spoke out as I looked up at Oliver. "I guess I was more freaked out than I realized I was."

"Don't be sorry. You've been through an ordeal. Anyone would be shaken after that."

"But I love this shirt."

Oliver looked down at his shirt and smiled while shaking his head.

"I'll get another one."

"I'm the one that ruined it."

"It's just a shirt, Felicity."

"I know, but..."

"You're more important than this shirt. I could never replace you."

He always knew what to say to make me feel better.

"God, I must look like a blubbering mess, huh?"

"You're anything but a mess, Felicity. Nothing you can do could make you less beautiful. It's not possible," he said as he held my face in the palm of his hands.

How can he say something like that to me and expect me not to want to kiss him right now?

My subconscious rang out in my head: "It's all about the slow burn, Felicity. Don't rush it."

Rush it? It's been two years.

"What's going on in that pretty little head of yours?" Oliver interrupted me and my dilemma.

"I was just thinking about how glad I am that you're here. I don't know what I would have done if you weren't."

"I'm here and I'm not going anywhere. I'm here as long as you need me and probably even when you don't need me anymore."

"I'll always need you, Oliver."

When I said it, I meant it, but after I said it, I didn't know what to say. I was looking at him and he was looking at me and all I can say is we had a moment that couldn't be put into words. It was just that…a rare, uncomplicated, defining moment when two people look at each other and realize at the same time how much they truly need each other, pretty much the moment when you realize this person in front of you is the person you want to be with from that point on. Whether you are ready to admit it out loud or not is irrelevant, whether you keep quiet about what you feel is irrelevant. Because saying it isn't what makes it real; feeling it is what makes it real. Now it was just a matter of getting enough courage to speak up and start living what it is that you feel with the person that you feel it for.

In that moment everything changed. Whether either of us was ever willing to admit that remained to be seen, but if my gut had anything to say about it, one of us would have to admit it eventually. I didn't know where Laurel fit into this, but whatever I just experienced with Oliver isn't something that just goes away. It gave me hope there was a chance, as far off as that may be.

Oliver stayed with me in my room holding me in his arms for the rest of the night. I had never in my entire life ever felt safer or more in love with anyone.

"Good morning, Sleepy," Oliver said as he entered my bedroom holding a tray of food.

"What is all this?" I said as I sat up in my bed and yawned loudly.

"I made you breakfast. Well, at least, I tried to make you breakfast."

"Really?"

"Really."

"First you shop for me; now you cook for me. I'm impressed."

"Don't be too impressed until you've tried it."

"So what are we having?" I asked all giddy like.

"Well, we were having bacon and eggs, but I burned the bacon and you don't want to know what happened to the eggs. So it's toast, fruit and orange juice."

"Perfect," I said as I smiled and grabbed for the tray.

Oliver sat down on the edge of my bed and put the tray in my lap and picked up a slice of burnt toast and began to eat it.

"Hmm, maybe I should take you out for breakfast instead, Felicity."

"Don't be silly. It looks wonderful…you're wonderful."

"Don't thank me yet. Take a bite."

"It'll be delicious because you made it. Now stop hovering. Shouldn't you be at the office? I've taken so much of your time already. I'm sorry to be such a huge distraction."

"Felicity" – Oliver pauses and shakes his head as he takes a breath – "you can distract me any time you want."

I smiled at Oliver as he grinned back at me. Then I ate my fruit and drank my orange juice and ditched the toast when he wasn't looking.

"Felicity, I do need to follow up on some leads on this creep Joshua Donovan and whoever these people are who wanted you kidnapped. I won't rest until that scum is caught and thrown in prison for what he did to you, unless I get to him first and he won't be so lucky. He obviously had orders to take you and we need to find out who from. Until we find JD, Diggle and I will be sticking to you like glue, along with a few armed police officers."

"Oliver –"

"Felicity, don't argue this point with me. You'll lose," he said in a stern tone.

"You didn't let me finish, Bossy. I was just going to say, I want to help in any way I can. I want to get these bastards as much as you do."

"Well, Diggle, will be here shortly and stay the morning with you, and two well-trained guys are outside your front door. I"ll be back this afternoon."

"Oliver, I really could get more work done at the office."

"Felicity, just one day, one day will you just stay home and rest? For me, will you?"

I sighed loudly but I knew after seeing Oliver's face and after everything he had done for me since this ordeal began and last night during my breakdown, I was going to have to surrender this time and just do what he wanted me to do.

"Okay, Oliver, I do have my laptop here. I can do some research" –

Oliver's head cocked to the side, eyebrows raised, as he gave me his best disapproving look.

"Like I said, I can do some research here alone...while relaxing…in my bed…under the covers...no heavy lifting...no way to get my little ol' self into any trouble."

I managed to get half a smile out of him.

"Okay, okay, but Diggle will let me know if you overdo it, okay? I'd like to avoid a major heart attack where you're concerned today, understood?"

"Understood. The last thing I'd ever want to do is mess with your heart."

"It's a little too late for that, Felicity," Oliver said as he turned and walked out of my room leaving me with my jaw open and my mind dancing with a million thoughts that were trying to decipher exactly what he meant by that statement.

I spent the afternoon trying to find all I could on Josh Donovan, formerly known as Josh Donovan Teller. How did such a sweet guy like Jax get such a despicable creep of a brother like JD? I didn't even know that Jax had a brother, but then again, who would want to talk about a brother who was such an evil person. All I knew is the sentence that JD said in my nightmare kept ringing in my head. "I've come for you."

It was almost 6:00 p.m. and I hadn't heard from Oliver all day. Diggle spent most of the afternoon checking in on me and making phone calls. As I sat there working, my cell phone rang and it was Oliver.

"Hey, Oliver, what's up?"

"Felicity, I'm sorry I haven't had a chance to call you. I'm on my way there now to see you. There's something we need to talk about."

"You can't tell me over the phone?"

"No, I – I really can't."

"Uh, okay." I immediately panicked by his tone.

"I'll be there in five minutes, okay?"

The sound of his voice had me more than concerned.

"I'll be here waiting," I said as I hung up the phone.

That was the longest five minutes of my life.

I heard the door to my apartment open. I was still in my bedroom. I heard Oliver's voice and then Diggle's. They were having a conversation that I wasn't privy to and I was about to jump out of my skin anticipating what it was Oliver had to tell me. His tone of voice always gave away when something was not right. I heard the front door to my apartment open and close again. I jumped out of my bed and ran over to my bedroom door when I saw the doorknob start to turn.

The door opened and there was Oliver, all six-foot-one of him. The serious look on his face was so intense, it distracted me from my usual wandering thoughts that went through my mind whenever he entered a room. His expression and stance gave me the impression that what he was about to tell me was anything but good news.

"Let's sit down."

"I don't want to sit down. I want you to tell me what's going on."

He exhaled loudly and I immediately felt uneasy and began to walk backwards until the back of my legs collided with my bed and the momentum pulled me down onto it. I sat there on the edge of the bed rubbing my free hand up and down my thigh in nervous anticipation.

"Can you look any more serious, Oliver? Will you say something?"

"There's been a couple, uh, developments. I wish I didn't have to tell you one of those."

"Just say it. Your reluctance is scaring me."

He walked over to me and sat next to me on the bed. He reached for my hand and put it in his.

"I don't know how to say this to you, Felicity. I wish I didn't have to."

"God, what is it?"

"JD was caught trying to catch a flight out of the country this afternoon and was arrested, booked, and charged on the various felony charges he has been accused of."

"He was caught? Isn't that good news?"

"Well, that part of it is, but I'm not finished with this story."

"Okay, I'm listening."

"Well, he was brought in for interrogation and after a few hours of telling them nothing, he decided to talk about one specific thing."

"Did he give the name of my kidnappers?"

"No, that part they're still trying to get out of him."

"Then what is it he did say, Oliver?"

"He's trying to make a deal."

"A deal? What kind of deal?"

"He alleged he had information on a recent kidnapping, but he wouldn't talk or offer any information without certain demands being fulfilled on his behalf."

"Screw his demands," I angrily said.

"Felicity, the Feds consider JD small time compared to these other guys he's doing business with. They want the men who bought these girls and are using them for their own selfish and disturbing needs. The Feds want information that can help them find these innocent victims. One of the girls missing just so happens to be the daughter of one of their agents, so they are willing to play ball with JD in exchange for information that could lead to the multiple arrests of his so-called associates."

"But what does that mean for JD? This guy is a kidnapper and a drug trafficker. Hell, he could be a murderer for all we know. We don't know what happened to these other girls. He's just as responsible for what happened to them as the creeps he sold them to. And who knows what else he's done. Let the FBI do their job and find these other scum on their own. They can't let JD get away with this."

"Oh, no, Felicity, you've misunderstood me. They wouldn't let him go. His charges are too severe for that. He's charged with I don't know how many felonies for the kidnappings alone but also for the sale, manufacturer and purchase of over 28 grams of cocaine. They found a key to a safe deposit box on him when they stopped him and in that box was the drugs he had just purchased a couple of days ago. He knows he's fucked. He just wants the life sentence off the table. He's willing to plead to 15 to 20 years."

"Well, who cares what he wants."

"Felicity -"

"Is this why you were so upset? You were worried about my feelings on this?"

"No, it's more than that."

"Look, maybe I should talk to these FBI agents and tell them what I went through and maybe they'd reconsider giving this guy any kind of deal."

"You can't do that, Felicity."

"Why the hell not?"

"Look, the FBI wasn't going to just give JD some deal on his word alone. They turned it around on him and told him that unless he gave them the name of the most recent kidnap victim to show he was willing to cooperate, no deals would even be offered or made and they'd charge him with everything he had pending, including a total of 18 felony kidnappings and the trafficking in cocaine which meant life in prison. The name was the starting point and if he gave it, then they'd base their decision to make any future deals on the information he gave them about the kidnappings."

"And?"

"He gave the name."

"And?"

"I'm so sorry."

"Oliver, who is it, for God's sake?"

"They took your mother, Felicity. I'm so sorry."

"What do you mean? That's not true."

I looked at Oliver and his face told me what I didn't want to hear.

"No, that's not possible. I talked to her just yesterday before you came over. She was going to come by last night and -"

Suddenly I felt sick to my stomach.

"Oh, my God, I've been so busy with JD's mess and feeling sorry for myself I didn't even realize she never showed up last night. She was supposed to come over at 8:00. I even gave her Dig's number since I still don't have a phone in case she needed to call me. She's just like me, Oliver. She's never late for anything. She would have called. God, how could I have not noticed my own mother didn't show up?"

"Listen to me, you're under a lot of stress right now. It's only to be expected that your mind is spinning in all directions right now."

"But it's my mother, Oliver."

"Hey, hey, listen to me," Oliver grabbed my shoulders gently and turned them towards him.

"We will get her back. I will get her back for you."

"Why would they take her? She's doesn't fit the criteria or age range of these other women that they've abducted."

"That's what we have to find out. It seems that this kidnapping may not involve the human trafficking ring. It looks to be a completely separate thing. It looks to be personal."

"Where is JD now?"

"Right now he's downtown at police headquarters being held without bond."

"Take me to him."

"No, absolutely not."

"I've got to see him. He's going to tell me where my mom is and why they took her."

"Felicity –"

"Oliver, don't try to stop me. I have to do this. As sick as this guy is, he seemed to take a weird, creepy liking to me. I have to try to get through to him."

"I don't want you in the same room with him."

"Look, you will be right outside the glass to watch over me. Nothing will happen to me. Please, will you take me there?"

"I don't even know if they'll let you in to see him."

"I have to try, Oliver."

"Okay, but if you're allowed to see him, I'm only giving you five minutes with this guy and if he won't talk, I'm getting you out of there."

"Agreed."

(Police Headquarters, 7:00 p.m.)

"Now, Felicity, they're only letting you do this because he refused to give up any further information and they are willing to see where this goes. I'm going to be on the other side of this glass watching everything with Agent Salter. If he tries anything, I'll be in there in a matter of seconds," Detective Lance said trying to put me at ease.

"Here's the paperwork."

"Thank you, Detective."

"I'll be in with Detective Lance watching everything too," Oliver spoke up. "You sure you want to do this?"

"I'm sure."

Oliver moved in closer. "Now, stay calm and don't let him get to you. We'll be right here if things get out of hand, okay? Please be careful."

Oliver came toward me like he was going to kiss me on my cheek but awkwardly stopped mid lean, realizing Detective Lance was standing there witnessing it. He maneuvered smoothly to shake my hand instead, which immediately felt just as awkward. Lance shot Oliver a strange look, shook his head, and said, "Um, I'll be in the room."

Lance walked off mumbling something inaudible under his breath, "Is there anyone Oliver hasn't dated?"

"I'll be okay, Oliver. I need to get in there. We have no time. I"ll see you in a five minutes."

Oliver raised up his hand holding up all five fingers and mouthed the word "five" as he walked off.

As I walked into the room, JD was sitting at the table slouched over with his head down and his hands outstretched over the top of it.

"Didn't think you'd see me again, huh?" I said as I sat down across from him.

He immediately sat up and his eyes zoomed in on me with a creepy sense of excitement.

"On the contrary, Ms. Smoak, I always knew I'd see you again."

I was repulsed at the sight of him and the sound of his voice.

"But I didn't think it would be so soon. This is definitely a very pleasant surprise. You look...ravishing as ever."

"Cut the bull, JD," I snapped at him, sitting up in my chair.

"I know you want to make a deal, but you can kiss any deal good-bye if you don't tell me who's got my mother."

"Well, you get straight to the goddamn point, don't you?"

"I have to, you gave me no choice."

"Well, I haven't decided yet if I wanna talk or not. I am not fond of getting my head blown off."

"You told them my mother was kidnapped., didn't you?"

"It was only a matter of time before that became public knowledge, so I wasn't telling them anything they wouldn't have found out on their own."

"Well, if you don't talk, you're facing life in prison and you'll die there anyway."

"I will need assurances before I say anything. If I turn over all my buyers, including the one that arranged to have your mother kidnapped, how do I know they still won't give me life in prison?"

"Because I have a copy of a signed and notarized document stating as much. If you turn over all evidence, documents, recordings, etc., leading to the capture and arrests of those involved in this human trafficking ring and any other individuals who are directly or indirectly involved in any of these kidnappings and cooperate fully in all police efforts to bring home any of the missing victims and you plead guilty to your charges, they will offer you a 20 year sentence."

"Twenty years? What happened to fifteen to twenty?"

"JD, you are looking at 60 years for your crimes if you don't sign it and with my full cooperation and testimony against you, you will get that. With good behavior, your worthless self probably won't even get the full twenty."

JD studied the document and handed it back to me.

"Although, I think you deserve a far worse punishment for helping these men prey on innocent victims, including my mother."

JD cocked his head to the side studying my expression. I felt an overwhelming sense of uneasiness.

"Okay, I'll play. What do you want to know, Ms. Smoak?"

"Where is my mother?"

"I don't know that exactly."

"Don't lie to me. You know damn well where she is. Who runs this trafficking ring and why do they want my mother?"

"Oh, Felicity –"

"I told you before not to say my name."

"As I was saying...Felicity...you have it all wrong. I told you I work with a wide variety of questionable people. This kidnapping was special, not part of any trafficking ring. This was a completely different type of buyer. They only had one specific request."

"So why my mother?"

"Do you still not see the big picture? She wasn't the target, honey. Do you fucking get it now? They wanted you and when they didn't get you, they decided to take the closest thing to you in order to bargain."

"Wait a minute, are you saying the person who hired you to kidnap me is the same person that has my mother?"

"Ding, ding, ding, you finally found your answer."

"You're sick, you know that? How do you live with yourself?"

"Tsk, tsk, Felicity. I rather enjoy my company and I think deep down you rather enjoy my company too. Why don't you come over here and give me a proper hello? Maybe another kiss, shall we?"

Suddenly I heard a loud pounding sound against the glass behind me. I knew without a doubt who it was doing the pounding.

"Hmm, so it seems you have another admirer behind the glass. Are you trying to make me jealous?"

"Just shut up. Stop it. Where is my mother?"

"Well, if you must know, I dropped her off at the prearranged location and I have no idea what happened to her from there."

"You're lying!"

"That's what happened. Deal with it."

"Who has her?" I demanded again.

"Nah, I think it's in my best interest to keep my mouth shut."

"Why are you doing this? I thought you wanted to make a deal."

"I was just playing with you. It's so fun playing with you, Ms. Smoak."

"Why would you do that?" I thought you wanted -"

"I changed my mind."

"You can't! Where is my mother, you son of a bitch. Tell me who has her."

"I said I DON'T KNOW!" he yelled as he slammed his hands down on the table and stood up.

I jumped back in my chair as the door to the room flew open. Detective Lance and Oliver ran in.

"Let's go." Detective Lance yanked JD out of his chair, pulling him toward the door.

"Where are you taking him?" I yelled out.

"He's going to lockup until he can calm down."

"He hasn't told me what I need to know."

"Felicity, he's a worthless, no good, lowlife asshole, excuse my language. He was playing with you. He was never going to give up the name or names of his associates. He's nothing but a sick dirtbag who will spend his life in prison before he tells us anything."

I yelled out across the room to JD. "You know who it is, don't you?"

JD just smirked at me and his devilish smile was enough to make me want him dead.

"I'm sorry, Felicity. Let the FBI handle him from here. Maybe they can get a thing or two out of him," Detective Lance said as he turned to pull JD out of the room.

"We both know there's only one person who can get anything out of him, Detective."

Detective Lance looked back at me and then took JD away as I ran into Oliver's arms.

"Felicity, I need you to go home with Diggle."

"No, I can't go home."

"I'll handle this."

I looked at him and realized what he meant.

"Trust me, I'll get the truth out of that piece of shit."

"Okay. But promise me you'll call Dig if you find out anything."

"I promise."

(Felicity's apartment, unspecified time later.)

(Knock at front door)

"I've got it, Diggle," I said as I ran to the door.

I opened the door and there he stood. I couldn't read his demeanor clearly as he came through the door.

"Dig, can you give us a minute, please?" Oliver asked.

"Sure. I've got some things to take care of. I'll be back in about 15 minutes."

Diggle walked out and closed the door behind him.

"So what happened? What did you find out?"

"Let's just say I, the Arrow, called Detective Lance and he arranged an unofficial visit between the Arrow and JD."

"And?"

"You need to sit down, Felicity."

"Oh, God, now what?"

"I pretty much had to beat it out of him and I must say I never felt better putting a beating on someone, especially after what he did to you."

"You're not gonna get a lecture from me on this one. So where is my mother?"

"Well, that was the only part of his story earlier that was true and, that is, he doesn't know where exactly your mother is, but he does know the name of the person who set this all up."

"Person? Was it one guy?"

"He only dealt with the one guy, but he said he's got many dangerous associates who do some of his dirty work for him. He kept using 'they' as a way to keep his association with this one man confidential."

"So who is it, Oliver? Who would want to kidnap me and my mom and why?"

"I'm sorry, Felicity."

"Why are you sorry? Who the hell is it?"

"The name JD gave me before he passed out was Anthony Smoak, your father."

to be continued...