Felicity spun around in her chair, typing furiously at her computers. She watched as Roy's signal closed in towards the girl, but Oliver was still a ways out.

"You guys don't have much time," Felicity told them, "She's on the roof, she's about to jump."

"If that girl doesn't testify or give a statement the police will have to release Jackson in twenty-four hours," Oliver's voice came through the comms, "Arsenal, I'm five minutes out. You need to stop her before I get there."

"I know," Roy said.

Felicity knew that if they didn't get Emily to testify, the douche Andrew Jackson would get away. The police had suspected him of for prior crimes, but they had never been able to get charges that stuck.

Roy made it through the door.

"What- what are you doing here?" Felicity could hear the girl's voice tremble.

There was a pause, then, "I'll jump. I'll do it, I will."

"Roy," Oliver warned.

"I know," Roy said, cautious, "You don't have to do this, you know. Life sucks, I know, but it'll get better."

"Really?" There was a hysterical laugh, Felicity could feel her heart in her throat, "That's what you know, is it? I'm just some stupid girl who can't deal with the weight of life's problems, so I'm taking the easy way out. Well, that's not me." Another hysterical laugh, "That's not me."

Felicity felt another wave of sympathy for the poor girl. She had been stuck in a horrible situation, and she could do is pray that Roy could talk her down in time.

"Do you know what it's like when a man in bearing down on you and he just keeps hitting you and hitting you and he won't stop."

"Roy, you need to get her down from there," Felicity finally spoke up, hoping no one noticed how shaky her voice was.

"I'm still three minutes out, Roy, you can't let her jump." Oliver ordered.

There was a long a pause, and Felicity for a horrible, fleeting moment thought the girl might be gone. "Yeah, I do." Roy's voice came through the comm.

Felicity stopped short. No, not Roy-

"My dad used to hit me," Roy was saying, "when I was a kid. All the time, he was drunk and angry that Mom left and I was an easy target. He started beating me when I was eight and he never stopped."

Felicity felt a horrified, "Roy…" pass through her lips.

Roy didn't stop. "He would go into these fits of rage and he'd just keep hitting and hitting." Roy's voice faltered out.

She could hear Oliver's "Roy..." but she was still in shock. How hadn't they known?

"I still don't know how I feel about that."

Felicity did. She was hit by a sudden fury. How dare that man hurt her friend? She knew if Roy's father wasn't dead already she would have torn his entire world about, bit by bit, draining his bank account, blocking cell signals, and making it impossible for him to be even in the state next to Roy.

"I understand how hard it is to pick yourself up after that, but you can do it. I'm not saying it will be easy, but life's worth it."

He shouldn't have had to do that alone, Felicity thought miserably.

"Oh, and your just the picture of mental health. At least I don't dress up in a red hood and run around putting arrows in people."

Roy countered, "I'm not the one about to jump off the edge of a building."

"You don't understand what he'll do to me," the girl pleaded.

"He won't. I won't let him. If you testify, he's going away for good. He'll never hurt anyone again. He's not going to stop, you know. Hurting people, I mean. If you die he'll keep hurting other, maybe even another girl who knows that he's sometimes a nice guy and thinks she can change him."

"I guess I wasn't strong enough."

You were, both of you were, Felicity thought. You were stronger than any of us could imagine.

"He's a bad guy. Some people you can't change, no matter how hard you try. Come down from there. Please."

"And if he comes after me?" The girl asked.

"I'll put an arrow in him before he reaches you. You'll be safe. I promise."

There was a long silence and Felicity exhaled shakily in relief when Oliver informed her Emily had come down. She knew whatever had happened, things were a long way from over.

Oliver and Diggle arrived about seven minutes later. Oliver met her gaze.

"Roy not here yet?"

"No," Felicity said softly.

There was a long silence. Diggle leaned against the table, arms crossed.

Felicity spoke, "How could we not have known?"
"He wouldn't have wanted us to know." Oliver said.

"He's our friend." Felicity protested. "We should have known, done something."
"We will. Now that we know we'll do everything we can to help him back up." Diggle told her.

That's when the door to the Cave opened. They all turned and waited for Roy as he reached the bottom of the stairs. Felicity watched from her chair, and she could notice how he didn't meet any of their eyes.

"Roy," Diggle started.

"I don't want to take about it," Roy said harshly, but Felicity could tell his voice was trembling slightly as he moved forward, hanging up his bow. His back was to them now.

"Roy," Oliver said softly. "I'm sorry. You didn't deserve that. No one does. Not Emily, not... you."

"It doesn't matter." Roy's voice was hoarse.

"Yes, it does." Felicity spoke up, her heart aching for Roy. "Roy, you're our friend, our family. What your father did was not okay. It matters to us, and even if you act like it doesn't, it does to you too."

"Roy, I know how hard it can be to admit when you need help." Diggle chimed in. "But the truth is, if you never accept help you won't be able to pick yourself up."

Roy turned to face them, and Felicity was startled to see he was blinking back tears. Wordlessly, Felicity stood and took two sharp steps before pulling Roy into a hug.

She could feel him start at first, before he returned the hug. As Felicity stepped back, she look at Roy in concern. He swiped away at his eyes, exhaling shakily.

"You didn't deserve it," Felicity told him vehemently. "Whatever lies he told, however he got into your head, you never deserved it."

Roy nodded in response, seeming unable to get the words out.

"Roy, I've trusted you with my quest, my life, my sister. And I want you to know if you ever want to... talk, I'm here." Oliver told him, and he locked gazes with Roy. "It's okay to cry, you know."

That was when Roy fell apart. Felicity pulled him into another hug, murmuring softly to him as he cried. She could feel Oliver and Diggle make their ways over, surrounding Roy.

And Felicity wondered when they had become a family instead of just a team.