NOTE – THANK YOU to all reads since the last chapter, it feels great to be getting this story moving and excited for the plans through season 3 of Arrow as well as some TAG stories too.

Elucidator83 – thanks especially for the highest compliment of being the best thunderbirds fic for you so far that's a real honour and I hope I can continue along that high praise, and I am glad you enjoyed the re-read back into the new postings.

BeachGirl114 – I am very glad you liked the latest and I al working hard on much more hope the wait isn't too long for you ( I mean a few weeks to years is an improvement right?)

Fire1 – glad you liked the first chapter, I have tried to make it inclusive of both shows so you can be a fan of either only and still know what is happening hopefully. Do let me know if you get further and still enjoying it.

As always I do not own either show I am just borrowing for everyone own enjoyment.

CHAPTER 40

Oliver had skipped out on his next visit to Tracy Island, Jeff was annoyed, he had consulted with Felicity and although she had been monitoring the use of her Lair setup the team had been working well by themselves so there was no reasonable excuse. Oliver was also not taking any calls from or returning messages to Felicity.

It was decided that she would return to Starling City for a few weeks, check in on the company, figure out what was happening with Oliver and get back home before John's rotation change. Scott volunteered to take Felicity as he wanted to visit Laurel for a few days and provide some back-up for Felicity with the company.

Felicity had called in with Laurel herself, explaining about her trip over, and that Oliver was seemingly ignoring her. Laurel hadn't realised, now that she knew about Oliver they had been working together well he was catching the crooks and she as part of the DA's office 'sticking it to them' in court. They both hatched a plan to get Oliver in the same room as Felicity and to make sure no one else took any blame were keeping Roy and Diggle out of it for now.

Laurel told Felicity that her Dad, Captain Lance, would be giving a press conference to exonerate Oliver, well the Arrow and she would be taking Oliver giving him a front row seat. She can then use that as the excuse to celebrate somewhere but it would end up being Felicity turning up not Laurel.

Scott and Felicity arrived in Starling City early afternoon the next day, Felicity sat up front on the aeroplane and Scott casually walked her through some of the operations for flying in-between topics on QC and what plans he had with Laurel.

It also came up in conversation that the Tracy's now had a penthouse condo in the city for when they visited. Scott had admitted it had been heart-breaking going to her house while she had been gone so they had taken up their own condo it had enough rooms for several of the family to be there at one time if needed. With him being with Laurel, Tracy Engineering in with QC and of course being Felicity's city it was ideal to have a place rather than keep staying in hotels especially as they might come and go at unusual hours this allowed them more privacy.

"As we didn't know how things would turn out we kept your house covered with bills and checked in on it but there is space for you in the penthouse if you want to stay there instead." Scott awkwardly explained. Felicity reserved the right to make any decision until she saw the place.

She fell in love instantly. There was a Tracy Juliet model waiting for her at the airport and Scott had his Sierra model. Scott led the way through the city with Felicity following to the penthouse. It had it's own parking in the basement, theirs was in its own secured section. Private elevator and the views of the City were beautiful, not Tracy Island but still, it was higher up than QC and more on the edge of the City so you could see more of the suburbia.

"So when can I move in." She instantly said to Scott.

Scott laughed, full belly laugh that caught Felicity off guard at the ferocity. When he calmed enough to talk he said, "John owes me $20. He figured you'd prefer your house."

She felt pangs of guilt that she was so quick to move in here being so overwhelmed with the beauty that she was forgetting her little house, but then really the only place she most wanted to be is Tracy Island. "Your both wrong." She stated. "I'd rather be at home." She gave Scott her biggest knowing smile, this earned her several chuckles from Scott and a fierce hug.

After a room was sorted for Felicity they parted ways Scott had the afternoon with Laurel so Felicity had a few hours to wait until her 'meet up' with Oliver so she went in search of some supplies for the Lair and her setup.

While at the tech shop she had been so focused on her search for what she needed she accidentally bumped into someone else scouring the shelves.

"I am so sorry." She instantly apologised before even taking account of who she had collided with. As her eyes moved from the shelf to look directly at the person just steadying themselves she felt her cheeks heat in embarrassment as she realised it was quite a good looking man.

"Not a problem no harm done." He answered as he steadied himself and rested a hand onto Felicity's shoulder to seemingly steady her as well. "I should pay more attention I was just reading the box." He explained tipping the box he had in his hand.

Felicity sheepishly smiled, slightly uncomfortable at the man's touch on her shoulder she politely ducked and took a small step back out of his immediate reach, glancing at the box as he moved it. "That's a satellite frequency communicator TX40." She stated.

"Yeah, I'm trying to breach a tor-secured firewall and I need something to help me piggyback off a keyhole hexagon satellite, so..." He explained.

"I did that once." Felicity blurted, "Hacked a public Wi-Fi signal, piggybacked using crowd-sourced stealth processing." She continued to boast, smirking slightly as she saw the man's expression take on an amazed awe at her.

"You're Felicity Smoak you work for Queen Consolidated right?" He asked almost gleefully.

"How do you know who I am?" Felicity asked suddenly feeling dread sink to the pit of her stomach, the last time someone knew who she was it had been the Hood and it didn't go so well in her favour. She slightly moved further backwards trying to be subtle about it.

"I have dealings with QC and I have heard you mentioned a few times." He explained, Felicity relaxed a little but still remained wary.

"You shouldn't buy this." She deadpanned.

The man nervously laughed, "Well it's kind of why I am here." He replied.

"The next gen model, the TX50, comes out in a few months. I got to touch one last year. Pure bliss." She babbled as she showed the stranger over to the display a few isles away from where they were. "And if you want to breach Tor-level security, you should really deploy a remote administration tool. I have a good one." She gloated as she picked up the stand leaflet and pulled a pen from her handbag jotting it down. "Here's the URL." She handed over the leaflet happy to help a fellow hacker even if him knowing of her was a little odd.

"Thanks." He absentmindedly replied as he took the leaflet and scanned the contents.

"Happy Hacking." Felicity proudly chanted at him.

"I certainly hope so." He replied glancing at her again while tucking the leaflet into his back pocket, and walking away.

Felicity went back to the previous isle she was in before getting side tracked and continued on her hunting of supplies.

PAUSE

Felicity was the first at the restaurant and she found the reservation was in Oliver's name so she got herself seated and waited for him. She knew he was out on patrol, a quick check of her systems had shown he'd gone out after another thug so she guessed he could be a little late.

As she sat down she glanced over to her left and caught sight of Oliver, she smiled warmly, for all his faults and their fights, even his recent stupidity with ignoring her she realised she had missed him. As she met his eyes his happy features seemed to dull slightly and she saw the mask slide into place.

He walked over to the table and Felicity stood again to meet Oliver. They faced off awkwardly. "Hi." They said almost in unison and Felicity reached up and hugged Oliver. A second passed before he reached around Felicity's shoulders returning the hug.

She stepped back and Oliver released her. Then she glared at him, "You have been ignoring me." She stated. She saw him glance away and take a second to think.

"You're not Laurel." He stated back.

So that's the way it's going to be, Felicity thought. She glanced down at the table and went to sit. Oliver followed shortly after.

"Well you weren't answering my calls, returning my messages and now you've skipped your visit with Mr Tracy." Felicity retorted.

Oliver went to say something, paused, thought on it, then tried again. "I don't have anything to say, and I've been busy taking down this gang which is important right now I can't just waltz off like everyone else can." He said.

Felicity felt her blood boil slightly but the waiter stepped in and asked for drinks orders. "Scotch. Neat." Oliver answered.

"Just a water for me, thanks." She answered.

Oliver stopped the waiter, "Are you sure?" He questioned. "The booze might help with the whole..." he stumbled over saying how awkward it was right now.

"The alcohol is not going to mix well with my physio." She whispered, she didn't want to make it any harder for herself than getting around still was.

Oliver had almost forgotten, he had been ignoring everything that had happened on Tracy Island on his last visit.

"Oliver I have been keeping a check on the computers." She dropped her voice a little, "You all have been managing there isn't any reason that the others couldn't have managed without you. You fought so hard for the company and Jeff has done what he can for you and what now it's all settled you just go back to how it was?" She jumped straight in.

"I... It's... Felicity everything changed and I don't know how to deal with it, it's a little out of my element." Oliver admitted.

"So you bury your head, ignore it and what Oliver?" Felicity pushed.

The waiter returned with their drinks and Oliver took a hearty helping while Felicity took a sip and waited for him to continue.

"There are still things you don't know about me." He started

"Please. Name one." She insisted.

"The five years that I was away, I wasn't always on Lian Yu." He continued.

"I thought so." She thought, only she actually said this out loud. "Where were you?"

"Hong Kong... For one. And I have been thinking a lot recently about my time there. The choices that I had to make." He grimly went on.

Felicity tried to make things less dark, "Those years sound like they were full of a whole lot of suck." She didn't understand where this was going in relation to what was happening between them.

"The entire time that I was gone, I could never completely trust someone. And when that goes on for so long, you stop seeing people for people. You see... Threats... Or targets. And when I decided to come home, I... I just didn't know how to turn that part of me off." He looked broken, his mask was slipping and Felicity could see the real Oliver. "But then I walked into your office. You were the first person that I could see as a... A person. There was just something about you."

Felicity felt nervous now she remembered that encounter, "Uh, yeah, I was chewing on a pen." She added.

"It was red." Oliver noted. Felicity felt so happy that Oliver remembered that kind of detail after everything he had paid such close attention to her but it was too late now. She deeply loved Oliver and that wouldn't change but it was more brotherly/best friend love than what she thought it had been. She whole heartedly loved John and that wasn't going to change even if Oliver fought for her now she had made her decision, she thought she had made that clear to Oliver.

"Oliver..." Felicity started to ask where this was heading. She noticed Oliver get distracted looking elsewhere. Suddenly he was out of his seat, throwing the table to the side and next he was throwing them to the ground.

The explosions were incredibly loud, Felicity closed her eyes against the noise and the bright flashes then everything stopped.

PAUSE

John heard the alert of something happening in Starling City, he had adjusted the program they used for identifying distress signals to trigger a different alert for himself and Felicity for anything specific to Starling City. The alert was for a restaurant explosion. John found it highly suspicious considering Felicity was meeting Oliver at a restaurant tonight of all nights for one to explode.

He called through to Scott, when Scott finally picked up he just jumped straight in with it. "Can you ask Laurel the name of the restaurant they picked to meet Oliver?"

Scott looked confused for a second but he recognised his brothers serious face and the fact he was using the secure channel to ask this wasn't just his brother being jealous over Felicity. He glanced up to ask Laurel.

John heard her reply and swore, completely out of character for him but it was the same location as the current incident. It wasn't a disaster they would typically respond to but he needed to know if Felicity was okay, the locket was not being answered currently.

"Scott there has been an explosion at that location." He stated.

"WHAT!" He heard both Scott and Laurel chorus in shock.

"Felicity's not answering her communicator." John continued.

Scott glanced at Laurel, "We will go check it out." He told John.

"FAB" John answered before cutting the transmission.

John listened to the radio chatter of the incident and had the news feeds in the background.

Felicity's tracker started to move, he watched it closely and realised it was working towards Verdant. He called it through to Scott.

Scott accelerated the car towards Verdant focussing on the traffic and making sure not to create his own incident. They pulled up outside in under ten minutes, he was out the car in record time and he grabbed Laurel's hand as he passed bringing her at his pace. So help Oliver if he yet again was the reason Felicity was in danger, it could so very easily been Laurel right now too, he gave a squeeze through their joined hands.

Laurel input the code for the basement door and they surged down the stairs, "Yeah, I didn't think it was the best idea to stick around and answer questions." He heard Oliver, then he saw him.

Oliver heard the noise on the stairs and looked up as Dig and Roy did the same.

"Laurel." Oliver growled, as he recognised her and also Scott. Of course if Felicity was in town there was going to be a Tracy too. He knew Laurel was interested in Scott but he was hardly in town because of their line of work so he ignored what was going on.

"John told us something had happened, Felicity wasn't answering." Laurel defended herself at Oliver's anger then she noticed the state of Oliver and as she focussed she realised Felicity was on the table in front of Oliver. She and Scott must have realised at the same time as they both quickened their decent and Scott jumped in.

"What the hell happened!" He shouted rushing over to Felicity not in the least bothered by Oliver's attitude.

"She's just knocked out." Oliver growled.

Scott checked over Felicity making sure of Oliver's assessment. She had a head injury, so possible concussion and minor cuts elsewhere probably bruising later, there didn't look like any severe trauma though which was lucky. "She should have gone to the hospital." He demanded.

Dig tried to diffuse the situation and bring them back onto figuring out exactly what happened. "You don't think you and an explosion at the same place is a coincidence?" Oliver turned to glare at Diggle, he did not want this in front of Scott.

Roy chose that moment to interrupt however drawing Oliver away from Dig, "Hey check this out. It's a GPS tag. I found it on your jacket, it's wasted now."

Oliver steeled his features he had lost his focus and this was the result, after Captain Lance exonerated him and the team of their actions doing what they do and then excitement of celebrating this he let his guard down.

"You took out one of Steelgraves' crew earlier tonight." Dig started to piece together what had happened.

"It was a set up so they could plant that thing on me." Oliver finished turning away from the group walking away. Diggle followed. Roy stood awkwardly.

Scott muttered, "I don't believe this." Laurel placed her hand on his arm and she stroked Felicity's hair back in a comforting venture even though she wouldn't know.

When Oliver finished with Dig and worked out his next steps he turned back to the room Scott watching Oliver made his own decision, rested his hand on Laurels for a second before moving around her and the table to confront Oliver.

"You did this, a reckless mistake and she's paying for it again." He shouted at Oliver. Oliver not appreciating the judgement from Scott felt his hands reflexively go into fists and his face scrunch in anger. Just as he was about to react there was a terrified scream.

Scott reacted the fastest at the scream he pivoted to face the sound and caught Felicity as she was about to fall from the table.

Laurel had jumped back in her own shock from Felicity's reaction, having not expected it at all.

"Shh, it's okay Felicity your safe." Scott soothed as he pulled Felicity closer to him and moved himself towards the table.

Felicity felt panic and screamed, the last she remembered was Oliver tackling her and then explosions, it was so loud and bright. She threw herself before realising her current surroundings. Someone caught her and she heard a calm voice with soothing words and she focussed on them. Slowing her breathing and as she realised there was no chaos as there should be from what she remembered she paid more attention, the person holding her tightened their embrace grounding her further.

The smell was the basement, she was on something hard and cold, must be the metal table. Then she recognised the voice, it was Scott. She pushed back and looked up into Scott's worried face. "Oliver." She panicked more and looked around, if Scott was in here was Oliver seriously injured or worse.

Movement caught her eye and Oliver stepped next to Scott, "I'm here." He coldly stated.

Felicity relaxed then panicked Scott was in the basement. "What happened." She asked, she felt a throbbing starting in her head and reached up, wincing as she caught the wound on her hairline.

"Easy you've taken a knock to the head." Scott explained. Laurel rested a hand on Felicity's shoulder drawing her attention she glanced over.

"John told us there was an explosion at a restaurant." She gave their side. "He couldn't get in touch with you and knowing who Oliver is it's not exactly coincidental really." She deadpanned giving a side glance at Oliver.

"I got bugged before I turned up, it was a set up, Steelgraves' crew are retaliating. Captain Lance is finding out who's at the top and I'm going after them." Oliver stated angrily.

"I'm not even back a day and in the thick of it." She joked. "Oliver thank you for getting me out of there, mistakes get made all the time, we are only human. I'm okay, nothing an aspirin won't fix." She caught Dig's eye at that comment trying to get out of the glum atmosphere. "Go suit up Oliver Captain Lance won't take long to get you that information."

Oliver gave one last look at Felicity and went to get changed grabbing the bag from Roy.

"It's good to have you back Felicity." Dig complimented, she always had a way with organising them.

"Yeah just don't scare us like that." Roy added. He went to go restock Oliver's quiver and Dig made himself scarce.

"So, John uh checking up on me." She tried to joke. She didn't want to dwell on how close it was again.

"You had better let him know your okay, then I'll get that head wound cleaned up." Scott gently ordered.

"Sure on a scale of 1 to 10 how much trouble you think I'm in? Medical supplies are over there." Felicity joked while getting her locket open and directing Scott.

"I am not even answering that." He replied heading over to where Felicity pointed. He gave Laurel a half hug and kissed the top of her head as he passed.

Felicity took a breath and opened the locket, "Calling Thunderbird 5." She stated. The screen almost instantly flipped to a live feed of John. "So got myself into something." She sheepishly smiled at John. She saw his features soften into a small smile and relief.

"No kidding. You can tell me the whole story later. Are you okay?" John asked.

"I'm fine..." Felicity started but was interrupted by Scott.

"She has a head injury I'm about to clean up, minor cuts and bruising and was out cold for a while so mild concussion." He shouted over.

"You didn't even give me a chance to.." Felicity argued.

"We both know that was not going to happen." Scott continued."

John just looked pointedly at Felicity, "You look like hell." Was all he said.

"Sorry, Oliver's gotten into something, this caught us all of guard but I am okay promise. When I get back tonight I'll pop up." She reassured John, her heart broke a little at the worry she had caused him.

He raised an eyebrow. "I can't wait to hear the full story." He said. "Make sure you do let Scott sort that cut out." He instructed.

"FAB." Felicity and Scott both said at the same time in reply to John. Felicity giggled and saw John smile properly this time reaching his eyes before he cut the transmission.

Felicity let her shoulders slump slightly, this really hadn't been the return to Starling she had expected.

Scott placed some supplies next to her and came to stand in front, Laurel hovered watching ready to help if needed.

They sat in quiet while Scott worked on the cut, it turned out to be much smaller than the blood made it seem and Scott managed to use butterfly bands that Felicity could cover with her hair.

He had another look over her and everything else was superficial.

"Lance called we got a location." Oliver announced as he charged through the area to exit.

"I'll cover the coms." Felicity announced.

Oliver was gone before either Roy or Dig could ready themselves as backup.

Oliver had the coms. Disconnected, Felicity couldn't access them unless she cyber-merged and she still didn't feel very comfortable where she was to do that so they waited on awkward silence.

Suddenly the coms. Sprang to life, Felicity had them set to loud speaker in the room and the Arrow's message came through, "Felicity call an ambulance, it's Lance!"

"Dad!" Laurel cried out confused as to why he was there and what could be wrong. Scott kept Laurel back from Felicity giving her room to deal with the situation.

She hacked into the SCEMT system and directed a vehicle to the Arrow's location, she saw as Oliver's tracker moved away as they got closer. She kept the radio link with the EMTs and listened with held breath, they reported coronary artery spasm, stabilised on scene and taking to Sterling General.

"I have to go." Laurel immediately declared.

"I'll take you." Scott insisted and he started to follow her out. He glanced at Felicity.

"Go I'm fine just keep me posted." She answered Scott's silent question.

After Laurel and Scott's departure the rest waited for Oliver's return to make sure he was okay.

"How's the Captain." Were Oliver's first words as he came down the stairs.

Felicity relayed what the radio chatter of the EMTs had said, explaining that Laurel had gone straight over to see him and Scott was taking her.

"Oliver what happened, you locked me out of the coms.?" Felicity pushed.

Oliver put his bow back in the case, "Werner hit me with an amped up Vertigo. Lance distracted him enough that I got a shot on him. Werner's agenda can't stop with me." Oliver turned to Roy. "You need to keep an ear to the ground on the streets for me."

"On it." Roy said and left it was late at night now so not much they could do.

"I'll back him up." Dig offered.

"Roy's got it. Go home to Lyla." Oliver ordered.

"Oliver, if this is about what happened earlier, risk is part of the job." Dig argued.

"Diggle, it's just intel gathering. Roy can handle it." Diggle reluctantly left.

"I know we need to talk." Oliver started when he heard the door close behind Diggle and saw that Felicity was getting her things together to leave also.

"About the dinner topic, or it getting blown up." She retorted.

"Both." He answered.

"Its okay we'll talk about it after we catch this guy. You can give me a lift to get my car it's back at the restaurant." She replied. "And don't forget it's a board meeting in the morning." She added as they left the basement.

PAUSE

The car journey had been awkward, Oliver had voiced his annoyance at Scott turning up and the fact John was taking too much notice. Felicity annoyed at Oliver, it was like with Barry all over again, told him that it wouldn't be a regular occurrence and that he shouldn't make such large scale happenings in the City to be noticed in the first place. The Thunderbirds monitor every communication, it's how they get their call outs. Oliver sulked the rest of the journey to where Felicity's car was.

She got herself back to the penthouse, took a long hot shower to get rid of any trace of what happened. After getting herself dry and ready for bed she slipped into bed and headed for John.

Felicity found him in his room at his desk, the local authorities had handled the restaurant and the rest of the world was quiet so he was taking down time and impatiently waiting for her visit.

He leapt from the chair and grabbed onto Felicity pulling her in for a hug. She wrapped herself around him tucking her head under his chin and listening to his heart beat. She felt him tighten the hug and she replied in kind, the emotions of the night resurfaced for them both in full force and they both did what they could to chase them away for the other.

"For the behind the scenes, you get a lot of the danger situations." John stated after quite a while but he didn't let up on holding Felicity.

"I mean this wasn't planned, not that any of the others were planned for me to get hurt or so involved but Oliver went from patrolling to the restaurant and must have stashed his gear out the back. The latest gang that he's taking down didn't like him hijacking their supplies so they tried to track him. It worked I'm just thankful it wasn't back to the basement they might have succeeded but I feel terrible for everyone involved. Oliver's pushing me away and I worry this mistake will tip him down a path of self blame." Felicity spilled out what had gone on that she knew. "I'm sorry I worried you, thank you for sending Scott, Oliver was pissed but I don't care and he was there when Laurel needed him too, her Dad was rushed to the hospital, he will be okay but it's the second time. Laurel was..." Felicity slipped into babbling as the weight of letting everything go finally slipped away.

John cut her off he knew her spiralling babble and he twisted himself that he could stoop and catch her in a kiss. John didn't think he would ever get used to kissing Felicity as her digital self but it felt familiar enough that it soothed the last of his worry away. It wasn't Felicity as he had first met her but they had spent a lot of time together with her using the hard light to be on Thunderbird 5 with him that it was just another unusual normal.

John felt Felicity relax her shoulders dropping more and he smirked at the success. He pulled back, "You don't have to be sorry I knew what you were involved with, we know the risks that we both take and neither of us would walk away or ask the other to walk away either. As long as your safe, and in one piece that's all I need." Felicity smiled at him completely lost for words, John wasn't wrong. She gave a firmer squeeze in acknowledgement.

"Come on it's getting on for nearly 1am you need to get some rest. Are you staying?" John asked. Felicity nodded. John guided Felicity over to his bed and lying down first she curled up into him.

"How did you like the penthouse?" John asked.

"It's gorgeous but I already miss home." She answered sleepily. "I don't think I'm going to stay full time anymore, I mean if that works okay for everyone else. I don't want to be a burden needing to keep flying back and forth." She continued.

John chuckled, "You are not a burden in any way. We could always work on teaching you to fly." John joked.

"I think Scott is already trying. He talks a lot about flight theory when I've helped him with Thunderbird 1's maintenance." Felicity was careful to avoid revealing her cockpit excursions with Tin-Tin and Scott she wanted to surprise John.

John laughed, "Sounds like Scott. There is no rush on anything."

Felicity felt her eyes getting heavy. Being with John was comforting and just what she needed after what had happened. She was so very grateful that they now had the hard light technology to give her this freedom to still be with John even though he was so very far away.

John was just starting to drift to sleep himself when his watch bleeped. He answered it to see Scott at the other end. "Hey Scott." He whispered, Felicity was still curled up into him so he knew she wasn't fully asleep yet.

"How you holding up?" Scott asked.

"I'm okay, Felicity explained what happened and she's still here just going to sleep." John answered. "How is Laurel? Felicity mentioned her Dad was rushed to the hospital."

"She's upset and angry, but not allowed to see him until visiting tomorrow. He is stable though so I've brought her back to the penthouse. I didn't want either of them by themselves." Scott told John.

"That's fair thanks Scott. You get yourself some rest. It's quiet up here so I'm grabbing my down time too." John said.

"FAB. Good night John."

"Night Scott, thank you." John shut the call off. He snuggled back in towards Felicity dropping a gentle kiss to her hair.

"You both worry too much, I'm fine I love you." Felicity mumbled sleepily.

John chuckled, "Go to sleep."

They both let the abyss of sleep take them.

PAUSE

Felicity woke in a panic, the room was lighter than she was used to and it confused her at first. She could feel the sweat on her cooling as she took deep steadying breaths and trying to forget the dream reminding her of the previous nights horror.

As the panic subsided she reached out for her phone and checked the time. 5:30 was on the screen. Felicity groaned it was too early but she didn't want to go back to sleep to face what twisted scenarios her mind could concoct.

She slid from the bed and grabbed her over robe and went in search of coffee. Scott was at the breakfast bar coffee cup within reach and tablet propped in front of him.

"I thought you'd be at Laurel's?" She asked not remembering her sleepy conversation with John earlier that night. "How's Captain Lance?"

Scott placed the tablet down and turned towards Felicity. "Hey you what are you doing up so early?" He countered.

"I asked questions first." She smirked. "Is there coffee, I need caffeine." Felicity went to hunt around the kitchen area.

"The pot should have some still in it." He pointed. "Cups are in that cupboard."

Felicity dug out a glass cup and poured out the coffee, she then doctored it with milk to how she liked it and joined Scott at the bar.

Scott answered one of Felicity's questions. "Captain Lance will be fine, they wouldn't let Laurel see him last night but they assured he is stable. Pretty sure Laurel will be giving him what for when she sees him today, I'm going to take her after the board meeting."

Felicity listened to Scott and gave him a side glance that he only answered her one question. "And..."

"That's all." He played dumb.

"Shouldn't you be at Laurel's?" She reiterated her earlier question.

"She's here. I wasn't going to leave you on your own either." He replied. "Now why are you up so early?" He countered.

Felicity blushed she was still not used to the dynamic of siblings, and having people there for her, she hid her face into her cup and drunk her coffee.

"Nightmares again?" He gently asked.

Felicity nodded as she pulled away from her cup. "I'll be fine just won't get any more sleep now. At least I have plenty of time to get ready for the board meeting." She tried to change the topic.

Scott took it as it was and let it drop, he'd made the right call being back here and he would keep his eye on her for the next few nights. "What if we all grab breakfast together this morning, take your mind off things and I'm sure Laurel will appreciate the distraction too." He suggested.

"Yeah works for me better than moping around here or going in crazy early as I was thinking about." She agreed.

"Great." Scott chatted about some company topics, not just related to QC but Tracy Engineering in general, that he had been reading up on before Felicity had joined him while they finished off their drinks.

They both parted ways when finished and readied themselves for the day ahead.

Felicity stepped out onto the executive floor with Scott, they rounded the corner towards the meeting room. As felicity walked past she glanced into the room, the board were all present, she heard the lift 'ding' behind her and she paused at the doorway to glance back to see Oliver step out onto the floor. "I'll just be a minute." She said to Scott and stepped back on herself while Scott continued into the room.

She greeted Oliver and matched his pace back towards the meeting room, they joined the board and Tracy Engineering in the room, Felicity went into the seat next to Scott who was next to Jeff's trusted associate. Oliver sat next to Felicity and there were two empty seats remaining on their side of the table. The board were all seated opposite.

"I see Ray is late again." Oliver muttered. Felicity looked to Oliver for more information on who Ray was while she dug her tablet out of her handbag. Oliver just shrugged at her.

"So sorry I am late." A voice announced to the whole room. Felicity went from glaring at Oliver for his lack of help and towards the new voice in the room, only it sounded like she had heard the voice before. "Heh, traffic was terrible, so I switched to the helicopter."

Felicity felt her mouth drop open when she realised who had just walked into the room, it was that guy from the tech shop yesterday that she had spoken to. As he said helicopter his eyes met hers and he grinned, "Nice to see you again Miss Smoak."

Felicity felt her cheeks heat at the attention then she heard Oliver mutter next to her, "You two know each other?" She smiled at Ray and kicked Oliver under the desk as subtly as possible.

Ray waltzed around the room, and sat in the next empty seat right next to Oliver.

The meeting focussed on QC's next steps now that it had stabilised after Stellmore and Isobel Rochev. Oliver proposed to the board to focus on making the company more family orientated, team building with the employees, working closely with trust as a family would as that's what his mother had taught him was the most important thing in life.

Ray on his turn had a whole digital presentation, he had taken the raw data of the company from the entire time Oliver had been running the company and showed that Oliver's leadership was not what the company needed right now. The root issue, as was being discussed regularly on the news was the City itself. People were leaving for less 'dangerous' places, that included employees and because of the national coverage no one was willing to come to Starling City either, the City was dying. He proposed using his company branding, being well known, and that of Tracy Engineering to show that the City is a place that can be trusted, rebrand the City to 'Star City'.

Felicity although fully supportive of Oliver couldn't actually argue with Ray's data or idea, it had good basis, however she was still very much salty over the fact she had ignored her own gut feeling in the shop and been the Trojan horse of her own system. Tracy engineering and the board were all prepared to back Ray and his company Palmer Technologies.

At the end of the meeting with majority vote Ray's proposal was to be implemented and Oliver stormed from the room. Felicity excused her self to Scott before she dashed after him, he made it into the elevator and the doors closed before she reached him. She caught the next one and managed to reach Oliver outside. "Oliver! Look I'm sorry." Oliver slowed and then stopped. "I really thought it was going to go our way."

Oliver sighed, "So did I. But maybe the company's better off with Palmer. I couldn't make time last year for QC, and trying to get the company back now, its selfish. That's something the old me would have done. And if the past 12 hours have reminded me of anything, its that two years ago, I made the decision to put Oliver Queen aside and be the Arrow. Its not a choice I get to unmake."

"Oliver, you have been trying so hard, Jeff has been tutoring you, you seemed to be different last night." She tried to convince.

"Look what happened Felicity."

"Oliver, the explosion wasn't your fault, well I mean not noticing a bug was but what they did isn't on you." Felicity tried to exonerate Oliver of his self inflicted blame.

"When Werner hit me with the Vertigo dart, he told me that his formula, that it shows us our worst fear. I saw myself." He admitted.

"You don't really think you're afraid of yourself, do you?" She asked sceptical.

"I think I'm scared of what would happen if I let myself be Oliver Queen." Oliver looked resigned.

"Oliver you're thinking too much into this and that is from someone who overthinks regularly."

"I need to clear my head Felicity." Oliver cut the conversation there and walked away. Felicity watched him slip into the crowds and vanish. She headed back in to the building and up to the executive floor to finish up.

NOTE – well that's another chapter down, I hope that I blended in the Tracy's to the Arrow storyline and I've gone with introducing Ray, not sure where I'm heading with him yet. I hope I am getting angsty Oliver right its so hard to do broody grumpy hero.