A/N: Hey, I'm so sorry for leaving it this long to update I have just had so much on recently. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this chapter and I am introducing one of my favourite characters in it! R and R and enjoy :)

Men clothed fully in black piled into the room, a swarm of ants surrounding her. Felicity saw targets, threats. The moment one man laid a finger on Thea, she lost control. Throwing punches one after another, the satisfying crunching sound as her fist connected with her attacker's chins echoed off the walls. Felicity tore the men apart, knocking them out cold using every last bit of control in herself to remain from killing; losing her humanity like that would be something she knew she couldn't come back from.

At the sound of a pain-filled moan, Felicity glanced over to Thea's crumpled body; her pale skin standing out against her weakened body. Anger washed through Felicity at seeing her friend in this state, though she soon came to regret that temporary moment of humanity. Following her short lapse in concentration, Felicity felt a sharp prick in her neck, as rough hands grabbed her from behind. Flipping the attacker off easily, she tore the empty syringe from her neck, crushing the glass in her fist and crying out in pain as another pulled their gun on her. She collapsed on one knee, her thigh erupting with an excruciating burning pain. The remaining men snarled at her, closing in, preparing to tear apart their prey. Clutching the wound, she felt the blood soaking through her reddened hands. She knew that the Mirakuru meant the healing process was quicker but the pain was one thing it didn't take away.

The blinding fire in her thigh seemed to snap her out of whatever emotionless state she was in. As she glanced around at the thick bodied guards closing in on her, her eyes slipped past the men landing on the piles of bodies coating the bloodied ground. In that one moment every survival instinct in her that kept her fighting slipped from her very fingers. It left her bare, unprotected against the war going on inside her. Unable to tear her eyes away from the horror she had caused, Felicity felt her body turn numb. It made no difference that the guards were simply unconscious, the worst possibly with fatal injuries, because Felicity knew that she could have just as easily killed them and the thought horrified her. In fact, the angle at which one guard lay, a pool of blood cushioning his head, his dull eyes open and locked on the ceiling up above. Felicity knew in that moment that this was another life she had taken, a soldier with a family and life outside of this facility. Sure, the man wasn't innocent but there is nothing someone can do, no action on this earth that can justify taking a life from another.

No matter how hard Felicity tried to deny it, how much she tried to avoid her past, it always seemed to follow her around like an inescapable shadow. Felicity had become the very nightmare that had haunted her nights since she was a child; she had turned into her father, a monster with only one setting- to kill.

Her body numbed its senses, her mind drifting away from reality until it landed on one particular memory:

Her father had been so proud, beaming up at her, happy she had passed the first stage of his trials. Happy that his plan was finally working. However, just as suddenly his expression turned foul, fury lining the deep gashes on his face. As his eyes lay upon her trembling form, he spoke not like a father but a psychopath.

''Comforting yourself won't get you anywhere. You took your first life today. You watched his eyes as you drained his soul.''

''He attacked me. I had no choice.'' Felicity's muffled voiced sobbed out.

''You acted on instinct. Strip away the scars society has littered you with, drop the act of this'Felicity' that you call yourself, peel away the hatred you see me with, the humanity restraining the real you from showing and you are left with your raw self. Underneath all of that emotion and personality you crave to have, you are left with instinct. Your instincts, the subconscious mind letting out repressed desires, that's who you really are; a killer.''

Felicity barely felt it as two guards lifted her to her feet, their guns aimed in silent threat against her temple. She barely acknowledged when an arrow sliced the man's gun from his grip and a blur of green took down the figures surrounding her. The feeling of numbness coursed through her body, from her hands to her mind.

Suddenly Oliver's hands were gently resting on her chin, guiding her gaze away from the bloodied mess. As her eyes found their path to his, the throbbing pain in her thigh seemed to die away, a cold sensation sweeping through her legs. She lurched forward suddenly, all feeling lost in her legs. Unable to support her weight, she fell towards Oliver's outstretched arms, noticing a terrified expression painting his face.

"Felicity, what's wrong?" "Felicity!" "FELICITY, TALK TO ME!"

Her eyes flickered open, focusing on Oliver's face towering above her, his thumb rubbing slowly across her cheek. Leaning subconsciously into his touch, her eyes filled with panic; she couldn't feel Oliver's touch. Remembering the syringe with a jolt, Felicity began to speak, to warn Oliver, but her lips fell heavy, too heavy to move. In one desperate attempt, she lifted her outstretched hand, only succeeding in turning it to face Oliver, but it was good enough. His eyes followed hers and widened at the sight of the remaining shard of glass embedded in her once pure hands. A whimper escaped from her lips and that was the last thing she remembered before darkness once again fell upon the room.

…

This time when Felicity awoke, the coldness she had felt before had been replaced by Oliver's arms wrapping around her small frame, the panic replaced by a reassuring sense of safety, the darkness now dim lighting and the faint glow from the foundry's computer screens and the deafening silence replaced by warm chatter amongst the gentle humming from her monitors. The second Oliver realised she was awake, he was instantly closer, his face millimetres from hers. His hands ran along her arms, his voice desperate as questions poured from his lips.

"Can you feel this?" "Can you move your fingers?" "Blink if you can hear me?" "Does anything hurt?" "Are you okay?"

It was Dig that managed to pry Oliver away from her, claiming that Felicity needed space to breath. Felicity could make out the whispered argument between Oliver and Dig despite Sara's voice beside her attempting to drown them out. After a lot of grunts Oliver was finally sitting next to her holding her limp hand tightly to his chest.

"I'm so sorry, Felicity. But I have to check on Thea. I don't want to leave you but I have to see how my sister is and if Oliver Queen doesn't show up at the hospital people will start asking questions. I'm sorry. I will be right back, I promise." Pressing a lingering kiss on her forehead, Oliver stood up hesitantly and made his way out of the foundry.

…

Oliver barrelled into the double doors with such a force a nurse startled from behind, he rushed towards the reception desk demanding to see his sister. Trying to prevent his Arrow voice slipping through and failing, the now terrified receptionist pointed him towards one of the many corridors and Oliver was running off before the lady even had a chance to look up the room number. Spotting the numerous police officers collected in the hallway, he made his way towards them, demanding to know what had happened.

At the sound of the commotion, Moira stepped out of Thea's hospital room, catching her distraught son by his arm.

"Is Thea okay?"

Moira began to nod, "Broken arm and ribs and there are several bruises around her neck but she is mainly just shaken up."

Oliver visibly relaxed at the news, tension leaving his shoulders for a second before anger flooded its place.

"And Felicity?" he asked, trying to keep up appearances.

"I'm sorry Mr. Queen," a young-looking policeman stepped forward, a look of guilt washing over his face, "The Hood took her".

"WHAT?!" Oliver stepped forward threateningly. "YOU LET THAT PSYCHO TAKE HER?"

The officer's bravery escaped him at Oliver's outburst, shrinking back into the safety of the other officers.

"I'm sorry, sir. She was gone by the time our team got there."

"Oliver, calm down," his mother reached out to him, squeezing his arm in comfort, "I'm sure she will be fine. I know The Hood has killed but the police have men looking all over for her and he has never taken a hostage before."

Oliver hadn't realised the ferocity of the anger flowing through him until his mother brought him back. Following her into the closed hospital room, he eased his breathing, allowing the tension to flow off his body. Nodding discreetly to Roy who had taken up permanent position on one side of the bed, he stepped up towards her. When his eyes lay on Thea's broken body lying on the hospital bed his stomach turned to stone, weighing him down, every breath a struggle. Stepping forward, Oliver reached Thea's side, wrapping his hand around hers.

Recognising the sound of her brother's voice, Thea turned towards it, wincing as her movement strained her bruised body. At seeing her discomfort, Oliver was at her side immediately, helping her to manoeuvre herself to face them.

"I'm so sorry," she sobbed into Oliver's outstretched arms, "he took her and I couldn't stop him. B-b-but I think she is safe."

"Hey, it's not your fault Thea." Oliver began to stroke the wet curls away from her tear-stricken face.

"The doctors said you had traces of a paralysis running through your bloodstream." Moira jumped in, desperate to ease some of her daughter's pain.

"See" Oliver replied, "Thea, there was nothing you could do. Felicity will be alright, The Hood wouldn't save her just to hurt her later on," he reasoned.

Thea began to shake her head widely despite her throbbing neck, ''But if something happens…"

"It won't," Oliver replied simply. As Thea started to protest he repeated himself, "Thea, I promise, it won't."

…

By the time Oliver had finally left the hospital, claiming that he was needed at the office, Felicity had woken fully. He could hear Felicity's cheery voice, laughing alongside Dig's as he opened the foundry door. Rushing down the steps in hope of seeing his girl up and about, disappointment shook him at the sight of her limp body lying unmoved on the dull medical table.

Anticipating the first thing Oliver would ask, Sara began to speak, "The Mirakuru is fighting the paralysis off but due to the sheer concentration of the frequent dosages, her body has shut down meaning its taking longer to recover fully. The bullet wound on her leg should be a distant scar by now but the blood has only just started clotting."

"At least I can still speak! And I'm beginning to be able to move my fingertips slightly if I concentrate!" Felicity spoke up brightly. "How's Thea?"

"She'll be alright. Just needs time to recover"

"Good! I was worried." Felicity let out a relieved sigh. "Hey, so I know the answer already but is there any chance I can recover back at the mansion on a nice comfy bed rather than on this cold metal table?" Oliver began to protest, shaking his head violently back and forth. "No, please at least hear me out. You heard what Sara said, it's going to take a while to heal and the danger's gone now, hasn't it?"

"No, absolutely not."

"Please Oliver. I don't want to spend the rest of my life down here. It's not like I'm going to be leaving the mansion any time soon. I'll be perfectly safe."

"Fine. But I'm not happy about it." Oliver gave in, sighing exasperatedly. "But I doubt many people will believe that the vigilante contacted me."

…

Four hours had passed and the Mirakuru was left fighting off the final effects of the paralysis. The bullet wound on her leg had long since healed, leaving a vicious looking scar in its place. It was edging on 1am, the pounding music from the club a constant thumping against the foundry's silence. Both Sara and Diggle had left wordlessly, sensing the much needed unspoken words between the pair. Before Oliver had left for the hospital, Roy had returned briefly to the foundry to switch his suit for a set of spare clothes but his total stay had been less than a minute.

"Oliver, I know I'm not fully healed yet but that music is driving me insane. I know normally the constant thumping is relaxing which is weird if you think about it, normally you would think of classical music as relaxing rather than the monstrosity of noise whatever it is they are playing… Not that I think the music you play in your club is bad… I mean the DJ is good, I love him. Not love love him but…"

Oliver cleared his throat, a smirk forming on his lips. He had missed this carefree side of Felicity. After all the stress and danger they had been in in the past month, he had missed the girl that made him smile.

"Wow, that pain medication really is working, I guess! My point is, can we go to the mansion now, I can barely keep my eyes open and I just really want to go home. Wait.. I didn't mean home I don't…" Letting her eyelids drop shut Felicity let out a sigh, "I'm too tired for this."

Suppressing another chuckle, Oliver wrapped an arm around her waist, taking the brunt of her weight and the pair made their way to the foundry door.

The second Felicity slid into the back seat, exhaustion washed over her. Her eyes drooped shut on their own accord, keeping them open was a battle made to be lost.

…

Felicity woke to Oliver's frantic shaking of her shoulder, hundreds of lights flashing before her eyelids, a thousand voices shouting over one another, clawing at the others to be heard. Panic immediately flooded her senses, her exhausted body on alert, ready to fight if needed. Catching Oliver's eye she knew his worry was not of danger but something else entirely so dropped her tense guard, sinking back down into the seat.

"Felicity I'm sorry I thought they would be gone by now."

Reopening her eyes, Felicity glanced behind Oliver's muscular body taking up most of the door frame, her eyes immediately blinded by flashes. A small whimper escaped her lips, "I can't. Oliver, there are too many people and the noise- I can't."

His hand reached towards her chin, lifting it upwards until their gazes met, "Felicity I'm sorry this is happening."

Trying to calm her shaking hands, Felicity knew in this sudden state of panic there was no way she could stand by herself let alone walk. Silently, she closed her eyes again, her trust instilled in the man in front of her.

Using Oliver's outstretched arm for support, Felicity lifted her aching body upwards, only to find her legs buckling beneath her. Sensing the exhaustion weighing Felicity down, Oliver placed two arms underneath her frightened body, pulling Felicity closer to his chest. Her scent filled the air around him, sending a calming serum into his bloodstream. He felt her twist in his arms, burying her face further into his chest, her tear stained cheeks leaving wet trails along his shirt. Her hand instinctively grabbed a handful of his shirt, clutching on and using it as a lifeline, an anchor.

The paparazzi seemed to go wild, their frantic shouting a frenzy of chaos. Several police officers and the mansion's security team were pushing the crowd back and somewhere in the nightmare he spotted Detective Lance. Clutching onto the blonde in his arms, he scowled at the flashes, his arrow glare sending a few stray reporters that had made their way through the barrier sprawling away from them. Fastening his pace, he strode toward the mansion, blocking out the desperate pleas and questions from the crowd. Reaching the already open door, he hurdled them both in, the remaining security team slamming the door shut behind them, although it seemed that nothing could drown out the noise from outside.

Moira had appeared at the chaotic scene, watching stoically from the top of the stair case. One look from Oliver as he strolled past, immediately let her know that her questions were not welcome right now.

He ignored the raised eyebrow his mother sent their way as he took Felicity into his room and kicked the door shut behind them. Placing her delicately on the bed, he crawled in beside her already sleeping form, covering them with the thick duvet and hoping to forget the horrors of the day.

…

No sooner had he closed his eyes, a rustling noise sent him shooting from his bed dragging the half-asleep blonde behind him. A startled scream filled the room as his blurred vision began to clear.

"I'm sorry, Mr Oliver, I thought you would be gone by now."

Oliver glanced in confusion at Raisa, his heart rate gradually beginning to slow with every fastened breath. He watched as Raisa left his room hurriedly, a spot of fear settling into her expression at his reaction. A groan sounded from behind him as Felicity climbed back into bed, grumbling under her breath about his 'ninja reactions'. Glancing at the clock on the wall behind him, he left out a muffled gasp, it was past twelve in the afternoon. He had never slept that long since the island and it was odd to be woken from something other than a nightmare.

Placing a sloppy kiss on Felicity's sleeping forehead, he let out a chuckle as she grabbed his arm, pulling him back into bed. Wrapping himself around her, a warmth filled him, something he knew his life lacked and was pleasantly surprised when he drifted off again.

When they awoke in was two in the afternoon and Oliver knew that he could no longer hide in this blissful limbo anymore. Stretching out, against Felicity's protests, he crawled from the bed, making his way over towards the bathroom. Once he was dressed and ready he sat hesitantly on the bed, waiting for Felicity to appear from the room she was staying in before everything had gone wrong. A rare smile graced his face when he caught sight of her in a flowing summer dress, one he recognised from their eventful shopping trip with Thea.

When they reached the bottom on the stair case, a deep male voice floated from the sitting room. The playful tone was one Oliver recognised but hadn't heard in weeks. Entering the room, a cautious Felicity following sharply behind, his eyes settled on the source. A small smirk tugged at the edges of his lips.

"Well if it isn't the legendary Oliver Queen. If I didn't know any better I would say you were lost on that island again."

"Tommy Merlyn" Oliver breathed.

A/N: I finally introduced Tommy to this fic and I'm really excited as I love his character and can't wait to write scenes with him in! Also the new arrow episode! I really didn't expect there to be that many Olicity scenes it was amazing! Feel free to review and let me know what you thought or tweet me on ndubletmixer . Thank you for all your support and to my beta Rebekah99!