Chapter 6

System Failure

"Felicity!" Oliver's voice echoed through the lair and she looked up.

"I'm already on it!" she replied, without turning around.

As soon as she woke up that morning, the news bombarded her and she ran to the lair to start the investigation. She knew Walter would be affected by these events and even if she was a bit mad with him for lying to her, he was still a friend.

"Good. I'm going to see Walter and check how everything is going. Diggle will be here shortly, so if you find anything we can work quickly." Oliver said. He sighed and turned around to leave.

"Let Walter know that I'm sorry. And that it didn't change my opinion of him." Felicity said and Oliver looked at her confused.

"Just tell him that." she said and without waiting any longer she started typing once again.

"Shouldn't you rest a bit? It's almost 9 p.m." Diggle said and Felicity shook her head.

"You can go if you want." Felicity said.

"Felicity..." Diggle sighed. "I have been wanting to talk to you... About your behavior... Oliver noticed and he is worried." Diggle said and Felicity had to bit her lip to keep herself from answering.

"You know he worries about you, but with everything that is happening: Roy's change, Sara's return... It's been too much too quick.." Diggle said and Felicity couldn't stop the thought that her friend was acting like Oliver's defense lawyer.

"I don't know what you guys have been talking about when you think I can't see you, but everything is fine." Felicity said, while her eyes flew over the screen.

"So you are saying that I didn't see you finding the remains of Oliver and Sara's actions and leaving this place, returning one hour later?" Diggle asked.

Felicity eyed him with incredulity and shock.

"I was next to the medicine cabin. When I saw your expression I went to see what was there and I found it."

"So it was you that took it..." Felicity whispered and Dig nodded.

He opened his mouth to say something else when all the screens changed. A warning message blaring in front of Felicity.

"Oh no!" she gasped and her fingers turned into a blur of activity almost making John dizzy. She cursed under her breath, while her eyes flew over her screens, a cold sweat running through her back. This could not be happening, her system was impenetrable. She had to stop it! If he entered he would take control and he would find out about her work and researches and even if there was nothing in there that could implicate directly Oliver, whoever it was would know she was working with the Arrow and where she was. Verdant would be implicated and then Thea as the owner and finally Oliver. She had only one option since she was unable of stopping him.

"I'm sorry." Felicity whispered, before stroking a few keys. The system started overheating, sparks flew from her computers, the lights tingled and exploded.

"Felicity!" Diggle yelled and grabbed her, pulling her from the sparks.

And then, everything was suddenly quiet.

Her breath came in raspy puffs of air and behind her, Diggle was looking around, trying to make sense of what just happened.

"Felicity?" he said once again, this time with a doubtful tone.

"Call Oliver right now!" she said in a hard tone. She walked away from him towards her desk. She could hear Dig's voice speaking with Oliver and she could imagine his disappointed face. It was her own fault! Because of her failure their job was now much harder, she was unable of keeping up with this person! She failed them!

When Oliver arrived her words were hollow.

"I tried entering the bank's computer to follow the signal from the person that disconnected the cameras and the doors. I found him, but before I could do anything I was caught and our system suffered an attack. I had to auto destroy it before someone could find the location and the files in it." Felicity explained, simplifying what was a much more complexe situation. "I don't know how he did it." she admitted.

She wouldn't be surprised if he shouted at her, and that's why his next words surprised her so much.

"Felicity!" Oliver called. She could feel him right in front of her. "Don't worry, we are going to find him." his warm words and the strong hand squeezing her shoulder made her feel worse. She was the one that messed up and he was the one assuring her. She bit her lip to stop herself from screaming and nodded simply. They were her babies, her beloved computers, the things that helped her through her teen years and her mother's lack of maternal concern.

"There is nothing we can do tonight." Oliver sighed, clearly worried about her lack of reaction. "You should get some rest. Do you want me to take you home?" he asked and Felicity shook her head. It was obvious from her tired eyes she needed it and he would gladly take her home, just to make sure she arrived safely.

"I have my car. And don't worry, tomorrow morning I will restart everything!" she vowed and before any of the men could say anything, she was already out of reach.

The two men watched her leave, frowns stuck to their faces, their eyes following her figure until she disappeared behind the door.

"I'm worried about her, Oliver." Diggle said in a low voice. It was obvious how much the man worried about Felicity, like an older brother and Oliver wanted to answer, but couldn't.

So, he sighed, his hands squeezing his hair. He kicked a chair and saw it fly against the wall.

His friend watched him lose his composure, but didn't say a word. He was already used to Oliver's explosions when it concerned Felicity and not for the first time he wished he had found the clothes first and hide them from view.

It's different than the show's situation since I made Felicity auto destroy her system. Just imagine how painful it would be for someone like her to have to destroy her computers, the things she loves and that, probably, for the first time in her life, made her feel special.