Chapter Fifteen
Words were all important sometimes and completely unnecessary at others. For several minutes Felicity and Oliver just stared at each other. The first time he came back from fighting Ra's Al Ghul Felicity had hoped something had changed about Oliver, but she could tell immediately that he had the same fences and rules. This time she didn't care. She just wanted to look at him and know that he was alive.
Oliver drank in Felicity. He wasn't sure when it happened but sometime in their relationship he fell in love with her on a level that he had never fallen before. She was his world, so much so that he didn't care if he was happy just as long as she was happy.
"I'm happy you're here," he croaked.
"Do you want some water?" Felicity asked hearing the dryness in his voice.
"Ice chips," he answered.
Felicity looked at the table for ice chips. She finally found a cup full of melting ice chips, which she handed him. Oliver took a few pieces of ice into his mouth and sucked on them. A smile lit his face, as he kept his eyes on Felicity.
"Rest, Oliver, when you're feeling better we'll talk," said Felicity.
"Sorry," he croaked.
"For what?" asked Felicity surprised at his apology.
"For upsetting you," he said softly.
"I'm not upset, Oliver. I'm happy that you survived," she told him. "I'm very happy that you survived."
He smiled then a yawn cracked his mouth. Felicity's hand caressed Oliver's forehead. He closed his eyes.
Oliver drifted back to sleep. As he slept, Felicity laid her on his shoulder and closed her eyes. She had no idea what they were going to talk about, or where she stood now with Ray. All she knew was that Oliver lived and he was home.
Arrow
Oliver awoke to hear familiar voices, as Roy, Diggle, Laurel, and Felicity talked along with Thea and Tatsu. He sat up in the hospital bed to see them in the computer area. It appeared that Felicity was criticizing his new system, which brought a smile to his face.
"Some of these consoles are the most up to date and cutting edge, he doesn't have the skills to use them properly," she said.
"Think you'll be able to trace the arms dealer we are looking for with these computers?" asked Diggle.
"I hate to point out that I have never failed you guys," she said with some pride.
Oliver smiled. It was nice to hear his team back together. Slowly, he turned so that his legs were dangling over the side of the bed. This brought everyone's attention.
"Should you be doing that?" asked Diggle, as he looked over at Oliver.
"I am feeling much better," Oliver assured them.
The group gravitated away from the computers and towards the medical area. Oliver smiled as he noticed how close by Thea Roy like to stay. He also noticed that Roy's right arm was in a cast. Felicity was the one who stayed in the background. His eyes sought her out.
"So, you defeated Ra's Al Gul," said Laurel. "Is it finally over?"
"I think so," said Oliver. "Before I ran him through with my katana I told him to remember that I could have taken his head. They rushed him off to a Lazarus Pit to revive him."
"Um… what is a Lazarus Pit?" asked Felicity.
"Believe it or not, it's a natural forming pool of God knows what that can cure any wound and even bring you back from the dead if you get to it within a certain time," explained Oliver. "The problem with it is that you use it once and it cures you, but if you use it a second time it drives you insane. Ra's is the only one known to use it more than once and not gone insane."
"So, he's dead but probably not dead," said Roy.
"He won't bother Starling City or my family again. Now, Nyssa I'm not too sure of," he said.
"Where is Malcolm?" asked Diggle.
Oliver took a deep breath then said, "His work help to save my life. He is no longer wanted by the league, but he is still a fugitive from the law."
"Does that mean we add him to our list of fugitives to bring into the Starling Police?" asked Diggle.
Oliver looked at Felicity who just stared at him. He wanted to talk to her, but now was not the time.
"For now my father is off limits. He's earned a chance to change and maybe redeem himself, but if he slips up then I expect Oliver to take him down," said Thea.
Diggle smiled and nodded his head. Roy offered Thea a reassuring smile.
"I'm not sure I can live with that," said Laurel.
Oliver looked directly at her and said, "I don't blame you. I just ask that you wait a few weeks before you do anything."
"I'll think about it," said Laurel.
Oliver nodded to her. He knew he'd have to keep an eye on her, though, because Laurel didn't have the skills to deal with Malcolm.
"Are you hungry?" asked Tatsu.
"Soup?"
"I think I have some ramen left if you don't mind that," she said.
"Sounds good," Oliver smiled.
"Then you must stay here in bed," she said.
"Tatsu, I'm fine," said Oliver.
"You don't give your body enough time to recover. If you want to eat then back to bed," said Tatsu.
Oliver shook his head and grinned then he looked for support among his friends. Diggle shook his head no and Roy shrugged. Laurel and Thea just stood there with their arms crossed and stared at him. Finally, he looked at Felicity.
"Get in bed, Oliver," she said then thought about her phrasing and said, "I mean you should get back into the bed to rest."
Oliver's face lit up with a smile and he lay back in the bed then adjusted the hospital bed to a seated position.
"Better?" he asked.
"Yes," said Tatsu, who then addressed everyone else. "If you'll join me downstairs, I have plenty of food. I believe it is lunch time."
"I'm hungry," said Roy.
"Me, too," added Thea.
Everyone seemed to be in agreement, except Felicity. She looked at Tatsu, who seemed to understand what she wanted.
"I'll bring up a bow a ramen for each other you. Why don't you keep him company?" Tatsu said.
Felicity grinned. Everyone filtered over to the freight elevator, opened the security door, and got into the elevator. They left. Felicity walked over to the hospital bed. When she was close enough, Oliver reached over and grabbed her hand and held it.
"I really don't want to talk about Malcolm right now," he said.
"Neither do I," said Felicity.
"Felicity," Oliver started then he stopped. Words had never proven to be his strong suit. "I've really missed you. Even if you don't want to be a love I love, I still want to be, at least, your friend. If you won't be my girl, I still want you as my friend."
Felicity looked at him and felt herself softening, melting, starting to realize the difference between love and attraction, the difference between what was good for you and what just couldn't be stopped.
"I'm your girl, Oliver. I'll always be your girl," she said.
"So, we are friends?" he asked her.
Felicity nodded yes. She was ready to tell him that she loved him, but she was starting to understand what she felt for him was easily defined. Ray was a good man, who made her feel good about herself. And it didn't hurt that he was very attractive. Oliver. Well, Oliver was something different, something that frightened her. He was a fire she was drawn to and she was started to realize that she didn't care if she was burnt.
"Tell me what is going on in Starling City," he said. "I heard that Ray has his suit working."
"It is working. I'm not too sure that he understands how powerful it is and how he act when wearing it," she said.
"Did he break Roy's arm?" Oliver asked.
She heard the tone of his voice change. This was the Arrow concerned for one of his people. This was the protector.
"We should talk about Atom," she said.
"Talk, Felicity. I'm here for you," Oliver said.
Arrow
Oliver arrived for the Board of Directors meeting. He was finally feeling himself and was ready to deal with Ray Palmer. According to Felicity he was a good man, who just might be putting too much faith in his own invention. Oliver reviewed accounts of the Atom and saw that collateral damage was a problem. Several innocent citizens, as well as Roy who was a potential ally, were hurt by the Atom in his dealing with criminals.
Although he felt out of his element in a business suit, Oliver came dressed to impress. He was going to expose Ray to the Board of Directors and force him to curtail his activities. He entered the conference room to see Ray and Felicity together. Ray had his hand resting on Felicity's arm. It bothered him, and he knew why, but he also knew that he wanted Felicity happy. The way talked about Ray as a good man wanting to do good left him with the impression that she cared greatly for him. Maybe he could make her happy. He had to accept that. He also had to make sure that Ray was under control and doing the right thing. It was for Felicity's sake as much as Ray's.
Felicity noticed that Oliver took a seat. They had talked but it was about Ray and not what she really wanted to talk about. She had meant to talk to Oliver about them. It was becoming clearer and clearer to her that she couldn't deny her feelings for Oliver. Ray was wonderful, but Oliver… he was the man that made her melt.
Before she ended things with Ray, she wanted to talk to Oliver. She had seen her mother go from man to man without thinking things through after her father left and vowed never to be like her mother. She wanted to have some control of things and not just go from man to man. Long ago she decided not to be her mother. She needed to know if Oliver and she had a future before she ended what she had with Ray. It would not be above Oliver to say that he loved her but couldn't be with her because he was the Arrow. No, she wasn't going to let that happen again.
"Looks like everyone is here," said Ray. "Take your seat, Miss Smoak."
"Yes, Mr. Palmer," she smiled.
She took her seat at the table. Ray took his seat at the head of the table. Oliver didn't want to waste time so he readied himself to confront Ray.
"Gentlemen and ladies, it's time for another Board of Directors meeting. Shall we get started?" started Ray.
Oliver cleared his throat and drew everyone's attention. He looked at Ray. Felicity was reminded of the look he gave his prey before pouncing on them. She found that her heart started to beat faster.
"Mr. Palmer, I'd like to start this meeting with an important issue," he said.
"And what issue is that, Mr. Queen?" asked Ray.
"How is it that you being the Atom and spending millions on the A.T.O.M. exo-suit benefits this company?" asked Oliver.
Ray was shocked. Several people knew about the Atom, but he was trying to keep the information flow tight about him as the Atom. It was something he was going to announce once he had gained a reputation.
"Mr. Queen, what gives you the idea that I'm the Atom?" he asked.
Oliver slid a thumb drive down the table to Ray. The other Board of Directors talked to each other. Ray grabbed the drive and downloaded the information on to a computer near him. It had enhanced photos of him in his suit showing his face. There also were spread sheets on the cost of the suit.
"Okay, I'm the Atom. I have spent money, my money, on making this suit in order to save this city from crime and violence," said Ray.
"So this is a completely private matter and should not involve this company and money from this company," said Oliver.
He wasn't in love with this argument but he wanted to get the Board of Director on his side and they understand dollars and profit.
"This suit can save this city," said Ray.
"The suit is a tool. It is people who save this city," countered Oliver. "You are the suit, Ray, and you have hurt innocent people saving this city."
"I have paid for their medical bills," said Ray. "They were collateral damage, a mistake."
"There is no room for mistakes out there. You are an amateur. Leave this to those who are trained for it," said Oliver
Felicity looked at Oliver and knew he was now speaking to Ray personally. He didn't want Ray to get hurt or to hurt any more innocent civilians.
"I am learning and the suit is built to do the job," said Ray.
"I think you should have cleared this whole project with your Board of Directors before you started off to become a vigilante hero," said Oliver.
Ray stood up and looked to be about to lose him temper. Felicity could feel the anger wafting off him.
"I am the majority stakeholder of this company," he stated. "I can do whatever I wish and there is nothing you can do."
Oliver stood up and glared at Ray then said, "Being a hero is more than a suit, Ray. You might be a hero, but you aren't one yet."
"You have a problem with me because I bought your family's company, Mr. Queen. I'm sorry that you have to revert to a show like this one. You should have just confronted me man to man," said Ray.
Oliver walked over to Ray and got so close that they were almost touching. He then leaned in and whispered, "I am the Arrow. I know what I'm talking about, Ray. I've made the sacrifices and paid the price."
"I'll be patrolling tonight. I guess I'll see you out there," said Ray.
"You'll see me," said Oliver.
Oliver looked quickly at Felicity then he turned and left the conference room. Ray now had to deal with the mess that Oliver made. Tonight Oliver will teach him how the Arrow deals with things.