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After what her brother had told her, Thea was shocked, tears pooling in her eyes. "Ollie, you were absolutely right to hit that guy. I'm sure the judge will think the same, but maybe the guy would accept money instead?"
"I don't think so. He wants me out of the way so he can go on harassing Felicity – or worse." Oliver's voice became harder and more dangerous. "I wish he hadn't survived."
Thea put a hand on his shoulder. "Ollie, you would be on trial for murder then. This way the matter can still be cleared up."
"You're right, Thea."
Thea got up to hug her brother and Oliver hugged her back.
Felicity had a bad feeling as she stood at the hospital's front desk asking about her stepfather. Edward Andrews was in room 367 with four broken ribs, a broken nose, a concussion and assorted hematomas.
Diggle didn't move an inch from her side and Felicity was grateful for it. She tried not to let it show, but she was close to fainting. The strength she had managed to gather was almost used up.
She stopped when they reached the door to her stepfather's room. Diggle placed a hand on her back. "Felicity, you don't have to go in there, we will find another solution, believe me."
The blonde shook her head. "I have to do this, John, and I want you to wait out here."
"No way", the bodyguard protested. "Felicity, I agreed to drive you here, although I still don't think it's a good idea. I will not leave you alone in a room with this bastard."
"Okay." With trembling hands Felicity opened the door.
Edward Andrews was lying in his bed, his eyes started to gleam and a vicious grin appeared on his face when he saw Felicity.
"Lis, my angel, I knew you'd come to visit your old man."
Diggle watched Felicity's body language; she was afraid and close to panic.
"Edward, I want you to drop the charges, this matter is between you and me."
"It was a matter between you and me, before the boss you're sleeping with got involved. I don't like it when other men touch something that belongs to me." His voice was filled with hatred, almost manic. "All those years in prison I have waited to see you again, Lis, to touch you, and then I see you with this guy and his bodyguard."
Felicity tensed, pictures from the past flashing before her eyes. Diggle moved closer to her. He noticed every change of expression and every gesture of Edward Andrews. the man was sick, volatile and frighteningly good at playing mind games.
"I love you, Felicity, I always have. Even before I met your mother, I noticed you there in the school yard. You had these big, sad eyes, I just had to get close to you. That's why I married your mother."
Felicity shook her head; she didn't want to hear that, it was all lies. He wanted to frighten her, just like in the past, when he had told her, that her mother would kill herself, if Felicity ever told her about it.
"That's not true, Edward, you want to break me, but it won't work, not anymore." She tried to put strength into her voice but failed.
Edward Andrews laughed out loud and sat up in bed. Immediately Diggle was at her side.
"Lissy, Lissy, I already have you just where I want you. Your friend has put himself in prison losing his composure like that. His gorilla", he pointed at Diggle, "will be out of a job soon with his employer rotting in prison. Who will be there for your then, my angel? I can wait for you, just like I have waited all these years, Lissy."
Felicity's whole body started to tremble and she reached for Diggle's hand.
"Let's go, Felicity. Don't let this man ruin your life. I'm your friend and I will protect you."
The IT girl nodded. Diggle led her to the door, he knew this visit had been a mistake. Oliver would fire him for this and that would be the most harmless outcome.
Edward laughed again. "We'll meet again, little one, maybe not today or tomorrow, but in a year or two.. maybe when you have children of your own."
At the door Felicity turned around again. "I wish he'd killed you", she said tonelessly and left the room. She let Diggle lead her outside almost in a trance. Her feet were heavy as lead and her legs felt like overcooked spaghetti. "Dig…" was all she managed to say before she fainted. Diggle easily caught her feather-light body and placed her in the car.
For what felt like the hundredth time Oliver dialed Diggle's number and got only voicemail again. Damn it, where were they, he was supposed to bring Felicity here an hour ago! Calm down, Oliver, he told himself, John will protect Felicity, he loves her like a little sister, he wouldn't let anything happen to her.
He pressed re-dial on his phone.
"Diggle", a voice sounded at the other end of the line, calming Oliver's tension a little.
"Dig, where the hell are you? You were supposed to be here an hour ago!"
"We were at the hospital, with Edward Andrews."
Silence. A deadly silence as the bodyguard knew. The next thing Diggle heard was the dangerous growl the billionaire usually reserved only for his enemies.
"How could you let that happen, Diggle?"
"Oliver, Felicity wanted to help you, she's old enough to decide for herself what she wants to do or not", he answered calmly.
The CEO knew that you couldn't talk Felicity out of anything once she had made up her mind, but still… she was just on the road to recovery, a visit like this could destroy all of that. "You could have just taken her to the mansion. How is she?"
"She fainted, the bastard really got to her", Diggle answered. He felt bad. Oliver was right, he really should have just taken her home. The two friends finished their call and a short time later the Bentley arrived at the Queen mansion. By then Felicity had regained consciousness.
Oliver opened the door for her, adrenaline coursing through his body as he saw his Felicity looking as pale as she had a couple of days ago. "Why did you do that?" he asked, helping her out of the car.
"I'm not letting you go to prison. I thought I could get him to drop the charges, but… he got to me again."
Oliver hugged her tightly. "It will be alright, I promise."