Chapter 3 - Nightmares
AN – Again, many thanks for all the support! I love that fanfic allows me to tell the story that I want but I love it even more when others enjoy my efforts too! :)
AN2 – Just as I always have to thank anyone who reads my stuff, I also always have to thank Mic Riddy! You are a wonderful beta and an even better friend! Thank you!
DISCLAIMER – Does this really need restating (again)?! I do not own CW's Arrow!
Felicity had been able to reserve the penthouse floor and had accessed the floor plans and started a search of the guests and employees while Oliver was driving her car to her place. He entered first and Felicity waited somewhat patiently as he cleared the rooms and then she went to her bedroom to start packing.
She packed the essentials only but as she wanted to have enough for several days her packing took a little longer than Oliver's had. He had followed her into the bedroom but after another quick glance around he returned to pace in the living room. She wondered briefly what he thought of her place in comparison to the Mansion but quickly realized the lair was his home and her place was nicer than Verdant's pantry. Felicity chuckled at her own wayward thoughts and focused again on the packing. She pulled outanother bag and started on her clothes now that her extra batteries, data cables, and burner phones were packed.
Oliver stopped pacing when he heard Felicity chuckle but as there wasn't a problem he resumed his vigil even as he took in the details of her place. The Mansion was certainly no longer his home but the lair lacked any feeling of warmth once his friends left each night. Felicity's place was decorated in bright colors and even without any clutter and limited decoration it felt warm. Oliver glanced around and realized there were no photographs though - nothing that hinted about Felicity's past or even her current life.
He couldn't help but remember she had only recently shared that her dad had left when she was young, but that was all he knew. Oliver realized he didn't like the fact that he knew so little about Felicity even though he knew it was his fault for not asking questions. He actually knew a lot more about Diggle than he did Felicity and that didn't feel right. I need to remind her that she can talk to me and I need to ask some questions, Oliver thought as Felicity walked back into the room.
He moved quickly to grab her threebags and Felicity let him as she moved to pick up her purse and open the door. She would have opened it without checking outside but Oliver's growl reminded her safety first and she peeked through the peephole before she opened the door with an overly cheerful smile just to tease him. Oliver's eyes were narrowed as he followed her movements and he didn't return her smile as he passed in front of her. They moved quickly to the car and headed toward the Plaza to meet Diggle.
Felicity again returned to working on her computer as she hacked into the Plaza's security and guest records. She called Diggle and included him on her update so she wouldn't have to repeat everything to him. Diggle was already at the hotel and was scouting out the exits and security himself as he listened to Felicity's intel.
"Do you have control of the penthouse's private elevator?" Diggle asked when Felicity paused.
"Hmm, didn't think of that - give me sec." Felicity responded with a distracted air as she went to work.
Diggle smiled to himself as she had sounded disgruntled that something has escaped her attention. While Felicity worked Diggle updated Oliver on hotel's security. "We need to check the roof access once you're here."
"Okay, I have control of the elevator. Still nothing suspicious on the searches. I added a facial recognition search as I did at QC." Felicity jumped back into the conversation as Oliver parked the car.
"What, no valet parking?" Felicity quipped.
"I wanted to know where the car is and you need to know as well. If we need to make a fast retreat then you need to know the quickest way here." Oliver replied as he grabbed their bags.
"Right, okay. This sleepover isn't nearly as much fun as I'd hoped...not that I had been hoping for sleepover or anything but since we are here together…" Felicity met Oliver's eyes and blushed before she continued. "Well I was hoping for the room service and hot tub access...stopping now." Felicity distracted herself with her bags but she could feel Oliver's eyes on her.
Get it together, Felicity chided herself. She hadn't rambled as much lately but this Oliver was like the Oliver she had first met and gotten to know - clearly he could still fluster her without even trying. She looked up again and Oliver was still looking at her. For a moment they simply stared and Felicity could feel her heartbeat pick up its tempo. The tension grew and Felicity found herself unable to look away.
"You guys know I'm still on the line with you right?" Diggle's voice broke the spell and Felicity gasped out loud.
"Sorry, John. We'll be right with you." Felicity mumbled before she clicked off the phone.
"There was nothing to apologize for Felicity." Oliver spoke seriously even as he smiled at the blushing blond. He knew his staring disconcerted her but it was just so good to hear her ramble again and even see her smile and blush. They hadn't been as close as they were previously once Sara returned and he had always known he missed that and that it was his fault. Now though hefelt the desire to be close to her again like a physical ache. Just before Diggle had interrupted Oliver had felt his heart pound and had fought the desire to step closer to Felicity.
Probably a good thing Diggle spoke, Oliver thought as he tried to convince himself distance was a good thing. As they got in the elevator, Oliver remembered telling Roy that anyone in their orbit was in danger and Felicity was more than just in his orbit. It seemed at times that he actually orbited around her and those were dangerous thoughts. He couldn't give Slade any additional incentive to target this woman even as he realized he wanted to be closer to her.
Oliver checked them in as Felicity went to stand with Diggle. If the concierge thought it bizarre that Oliver Queen carried their various bags while the man he identified as his bodyguard stood closer to the blond Mr. Queen hadn't identified he kept those thoughts to himself. Oliver requested room service and handed all but one bag off to the bell hop.
Felicity had moved toward him when the bell hop approached and Oliver reassured her before he even turned around.
"Yes, I've kept your babies. You do realize you packed more for them than yourself, right?" He couldn't resist smiling as he teased her.
"Thank you!" Felicity smiled back and ignored the teasing.
"How about food?" Diggle asked from his position close by as he had followed Felicity forward.
"Done - ordered room service." Oliver replied as they moved toward the elevator.
As the bell hop joined them in the elevator the trio remained quiet and without planning moved together to one side with Felicity between the men and a little behind them. The bell hop spared them one curious glance but wisely kept his attention forward and this mouth shut. He then opened the double doors that were just steps away from the elevator. The suite did include the entire top floor and it was spacious and beautifully designed to be an efficient work space as well as a welcoming retreat. Felicity was still working on her computer though and both Oliver and Diggle paid more attention to the stairs and cameras than the decor. Oliver tipped the bell hop generously and instructed him to just leave the bags in the living room.
As the door closed behind him Felicity flopped onto the couch still working on her laptop. Both Diggle and Oliver moved quietly throughout the rooms, checking the locks, measuring distances in their minds, scouting out hiding places and exits, and Diggle was even sweeping for bugs. They then moved to set-up security on their floor before they checked out the roof access. As they re-entered the room Felicity called out to them from the couch.
"You guys done yet?" Felicity asked as she finally put the tablet away and stood up to stretch tired, cramping muscles. She had monitored their progress as they carefully placed cameras and sensors she had given them.
The doorbell rang before either man answered but both returned to the room in mere seconds. Oliver gestured for Felicity to move away even as Diggle took a hidden position between Oliver and her. With a final look at both, Oliver opened the door and allowed the waiter to bring in their room service cart.
Oliver had ordered an array of food and all three dug in quickly. It had been longer than any of them would have liked since they had eaten and even longer since they shared a meal by themselves. They all enjoyed the company as they ate and simply relaxed for a moment. There were no serious discussions but there was stealing as Felicity pinched a few fries from Oliver's plate and he returned the favor by stealing a cookie.
"Felicity, you have access to all your computer searches and programs you're running?" Diggle asked as they finished eating. He already knew the answer but he also knew they need to focus on work again even if he would have preferred to just call it a night.
"Yep, we are all good – I have an idea too but I need to play around with it a bit. I think we may have a way to bring down the whole network even before we know all the players and we may be able to deplete Slade's resources while we are it. You guys may not like what I want to do so I want to make sure it's what needs to be done….yeah, I know I'm rambling. Okay, I'm going to bed now and we can talk about this in the morning…well, later in the morning than it is right now." Felicity waved at the guys and took a few steps away before she realized she hadn't been anywhere else in the suite and she had no idea where a bedroom was. She looked back to find both men grinning at her and she used what little energy she had left to glare at them both.
"Your room awaits – I'll grab your bags Felicity." It was Diggle who stood and answered her unspoken question. "You're in the back room. It's smaller but easier to secure. There's a bath next to it and then another bedroom."
It was obvious to both men just how exhausted she was as she didn't argue or even ask about the hot tub. They exchanged a quick glance before Diggle led Felicity away.
Oliver moved to the balcony but stayed inside despite feeling the need for fresh air. He didn't turn when Diggle returned to the room.
"She's fine – tired but okay. You want to review the security and exits again?" Diggle knew they were both tired but he also knew Oliver needed to wind down before he'd be able to sleep.
"We can still protect her right?" Oliver asked with his back still to his friend.
Diggle didn't need him to identify who 'she' was. "I think we can but it wouldn't matter Oliver – her choice is to be here with us and she's vital to the team. We all takes chances." Diggle paused as he could see the new tension invade his friend's body. "We'll do everything we can, man, I promise."
Oliver nodded his acceptance and tried to relax his muscles. "I'll be up a while why don't you get some sleep?"
Diggle waited but he knew there would be no changing Oliver's mind. "Okay, I'll take the room on the east side. I put your bag in the room by Felicity." He wanted to say more, more about Felicity and how he knew she was vital not just to the team but to Oliver personally but after a moment, Diggle gritted his teeth and walked away.
Oliver listened as his friend walked away and divided his focus as he listened to the sounds he made, the sounds from the hotel, and even the streets down below. If he was to rest at all he needed to know what was normal and what was potentially dangerous. Without thought Oliver moved to Felicity's bedroom and paused at the open door. He didn't know if Diggle had forced her to keep it open, or even if she knew or cared, but he was glad it was open. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness he could see her sleeping form huddled under the blanket – he resisted the urge to move closer but he couldn't force himself away just yet either. Oliver found himself in this position several times during the next couple hours while he kept watch but he made sure he was in the living room when he knew Diggle would be up.
Diggle entered the living room and was not surprised to see Oliver there and still standing by the balcony. He also wasn't surprised to see him shirtless and in cargo pants as he knew he would have needed to work out during his watch.
"All's quiet – Felicity's computers stopped beeping an hour ago." Oliver advised as he turned to Diggle.
"Grab a couple hours of sleep yourself – plenty of time to do what needs to be done today." Diggle responded as he moved to stand beside Oliver as the other man had yet to move. There were another few moments of silence before Diggle asked, "Nightmares gotten worse?"
Oliver didn't react for a moment but then he sighed and replied. "Sometimes." He then turned away and headed toward his bedroom. He did pause to again check on Felicity before he laid down on the bed, not bothering to get under the covers. It was nearly sunrise now but the room was still dark and quiet. Surprisingly Oliver fell quickly into an easy dreamless sleep.
It was an hour later that Oliver woke – alert, tense, but silent and unmoving as he tried to determine what had awakened him. He heard a soft muffled whimper and as he realized it came from Felicity's room he was up and crossing the doorway in seconds. Oliver could only see blond hair above the blankets even though the sleeping girl was tossing and turning as she whimpered. Guess I'm not the only one with nightmares, Oliver thought as he cautiously approached the bed.
He hesitantly brushed her hair away from her face and spoke softly but when Felicity whimpered again Oliver didn't think twice about lifting the covers and sliding in beside her. Felicity tensed further at his touch but after several minutes he was able to calm her enough to hold her. As he wrapped his arms around her Felicity sighed and curled into his side. After several more minutes Oliver dozed off as well and he didn't awaken until Felicity stirred a little over an hour later. Quickly making his decision, he eased away and got out of her bed. He paused for a moment before making another snap decision as he couldn't resist staying close.
"Felicity, wake up." Oliver tried to keep an objective distance and professional tone but between the recent sleep and the feelings this woman stirred in him he knew his voice was lower and rougher than it should have been.
Felicity opened her eyes and peered at him in confusion. In her own sleep roughened voice Felicity spoke his name. "Oliver?"
"Yeah, its me. Time to wake up." Oliver stepped away from the bed but there was still only a few feet between them.
Felicity fumbled for her glasses and simply tried to wrap her mind around Oliver standing beside her bed. "Oliver? Beside my bed? Not in my bed though, I'd have remembered that. So don't understand - I need caffeine." Felicity didn't realize she had spoken aloud until Oliver chuckled.
"I'll see what we have and order room service." He paused as she stood up and stretched. It was hard not to get distracted by the short shorts and camisole she had changed to for sleep. "You sleep okay?" Oliver blurted out the question more to distract himself than anything else. Felicity immediately tensed and it was concern for her that redirected Oliver's thoughts down a safer path.
"Felicity?" He questioned softly this time and stepped closer to touch her elbow in comfort.
"Nightmares – I'm sure they aren't as bad as yours but its hard to sleep sometimes. The past, the present, everything blurs. Too much darkness, too much fear." Felicity again seemed to be talking to herself as she looked right through Oliver.
Oliver waited for her to come back on her own but he reminded himself again that he knew too little about her.
"I'm sorry – I'm okay, really. Did you mention caffeine?" Felicity tried for a bright smile and she and Oliver both ignored the fact that it was more of a grimace.
"Yeah, I'll take care of you." Oliver had meant to say 'it', 'I'll take care of it'. He knew Felicity caught the Freudian slip as she glanced up in surprise. He couldn't help but repeat the statement. "I'll take care of you Felicity."
AN2 – Ok, I intended for this chapter to be a little fluffy Team Arrow bonding and even wanted to include a hot tub scene and yet that just didn't happen! I do still want a hot tub scene though! ;) BTW, the plan is still to post all 7-8 chapters before the Apr 16 return but keep your fingers crossed that the Muse cooperates with that schedule!
