Previously:
Isabel wasn't helping China, she was scratching her once itch, now obsession. She had wanted to take that smug look off Felicity's face for almost a year now. With nothing left to lose, Isabel listened to China, her eyes darkened as her heart further chilled.
"I'll do it" were the only words she spoke that night.
"It's been six weeks" muttered Felicity, rubbing her eyes, the glare of the computer monitor becoming hard to ignore. As soon as she was mobile she had insisted on getting back to work. She needed to find out what the Triad were after; they needed some sort of advantage, because right now …Team Arrow was completely in the dark.
In the background ran yet another news report on the disappearance of Isabel Rochev. Felicity ensured that the public were warned not to approach her, she was considered highly dangerous.
News reporters relentless questions had Oliver beyond frustrated. They questioned his relationship with Ms Rochev, his knowledge to her mental condition prior to employment. Oliver repeated himself countless times, she was not employed by QC . Isabel had bought into the company after the quake.
The press found the truth hard to believe since they had worked so closely for the past year. The board questioned every decision made during Isabel's association with Queens Consolidated. While this, admitted Oliver, was a good idea, it was also time consuming. Time he'd preferred to spend helping Felicity hunt down the Triad and Isabel.
Whist the investigation into Isabel was tedious it did produce some interesting results. It unveiled her misuse of company money to fund her little vendetta against Oliver. Miss high and mighty was doing exactly what she once accused Oliver of doing with the company jet.
"We will find them" he said his hands kneading away the tension she carried on her shoulders.
"What if we are looking at this completely wrong? What if they are not after me? Isabel could be dead. Maybe China killed her? Maybe it was a coincidence that I was at the hospital that night. We could have nothing to worry about..."
"Felicity, we will find them" he said pulling her up from her chair, he held her for a moment. She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest. He wanted this all to be over, he needed her safe.
Pulling back she looked up at him and smiled. They had put 'them' on hold, it was an unspoken agreement. Their relationship had changed; there was no denying they were closer. While she was injured, his focus was split between her recovery and keeping her safe. She was on the mend now but neither of them could risk a distraction.
He constantly pushed away every other thought, every other desire, there was nothing more important then her safety. She could feel the tension in his muscles underneath her hands; his back was taut and stiff.
An alert on her monitor stopped her impending babble and she threw herself back in her chair.
"What is it" he asked watching the screens flicker as her fingers tapped over the keyboard.
Felicity's eyes moved from left to right, getting wider as the information began to mean something tangible. "She is alive"
"Isabel?" asked Oliver
Felicity nodded "She is alive and it looks like she misses me, she wants to meet"
"Where?"
"It's an encrypted message…just give me a sec…"
Oliver called in Diggle. "Digg, Isabel has made contact"
"On his way?" asked Felicity
"Yes, he's not far. Five minutes."
"Ok, Oliver, you are not going to like this because… it's clearly a trap. I mean I am surprised she didn't sign off with 'yes this is a trap and you are going to die a horrible death….'"
"I won't let that happen." He said softly.
"I know" she nodded and turned back to the computer. Felicity pulled up the location of the meet. She expected an abandoned building but Isabel had other ideas.
"I don't like this, it feels wrong. I mean, of course it feels wrong it's a revenge plan…but why would she want to meet in such a public place?" asked Felicity
"To keep The Arrow away" said Digg as he came down the stairs to join the team.
"No Arrow means no Arrows" Felicity bit her lip anxiously.
"I don't need them, I just prefer them" Oliver smirked.
"This can work in our favour" said Diggle "If Oliver Queen happens to be there so will his body guard" he winked at Felicity.
Felicity smiled. "Right now we need a plan, a plan to foil her plan. Her plan ,which is the plan we know nothing about.. "
Oliver placed his hand on her shoulder; it was an act of reassurance that worked time and again. She allowed herself to breathe, and listened as Digg and Oliver put some ideas forward.
"You're quiet. You don't like the plan?" asked Oliver
"Thinking" she muttered as she ran her eye over the screen and then moved her keyboard forward.
Oliver and Digg eyed each other. They both remain silent until Oliver could not stand the silence any further.
"Felicity" he said.
She held up one finger, asking for his patience.
He sighed and shifted his body weight. What he would give to have a five minute glimpse into the mind of Miss Felicity Smoak.
She tore her eye away from the screen and stood up, she smoothed her skirt down and clasped her hands together. "So, I like the plan, it's a solid plan, but I have an idea".
Two hours later
Felicity's heels clicked as she walked through the centre's foyer. People crowded every inch of the place. Looking up she could see that the escalators led to several floors of more chaos.
She paused for a moment, her brightly painted lips parted as she looked around for Isabel. "Where are you?" she whispered to herself.
She continued to scan the crowd from left to right.
"Breathe" she heard Digg say over the coms.
"I'll breathe once a house falls on her and see her striped socks sticking out from under it…otherwise I will breathe when this is all over"
"I've have eyes on you Felicity, you are not alone" said Oliver
Felicity smiled and lifted her head a little, suddenly taller. There was a plan and it was a good one. She shouldn't be afraid of Isabel. Her boys had her back, she was not alone anymore.
Isabel wore plain worn off jeans and a cropped leather jacket. She felt a small tremble down her back when she saw the always vivacious blonde enter the building. She noticed that the Arrow's girl didn't seem her perky self. Good, she wanted her rattled. Today Felicity Smoak was going to feel panic, she would remember this day.
"If there is a Felicity Smoak in the building could she please make her way back to Zen Massage on the second floor? That is a Felicity Smoak to Zen Massage please." Isabel's voice boomed throughout the Centre's intercom system, she had some nifty little tech of her own made up. She had made some adjustments to the Triads plan.
Isabel watched her blonde nemeses walk off the escalator and towards far right side of the second floor. She waited for Oliver Queen or The Arrow expecting them to follow her closely. She was almost disappointed; it would have been enjoyable for Oliver or The Arrow to watch her die.
Felicity approached The Zen Massage palour "You don't think there is any chance she is actually going to offer me a massage do you?" she said softly to Oliver and Digg.
"No chance" said Oliver, a little out of breath.
"You sound, are you running? Everything ok?" she asked
"We are fine Felicity, keep your eyes open. We are right here with you." Said Digg
She gulped and looked around before entering the massage parlour.
There was a lady behind the counter; she wore a dark blue scarf which half covered her head. She smiled at Felicity. "You are a very hard person to find Ms Smoak" said China White.
Felicity recognised her and stepped backwards. That's when China place an oxygen mask over her face and mist poured out of the air vents. Felicity tried to cover her nose and mouth and moved towards the door but her legs wouldn't carry her. It was too late, her eyelids fluttered as she fought against the darkness. The store front doors closed her in as it rolled from the ceiling and stopped on the floor in front of her.
"Oliver.."
"Felicity…talk to me" was the last thing she heard.
