Sometimes A Surprise Is Just What You Need

Untitled Part 16

Felicity entered her office, throwing her bag to the floor and flopping down into her chair. Holy mother of moses! Felicity knew without a doubt that she had made two big mistakes today. The first had been letting Oliver kiss her at the office. The second had been attacking him in the elevator. Felicity always tried to be honest with herself, and she knew without a shadow of a doubt that she had fallen for Oliver, and fallen hard.

Suddenly she heard a tap at her door as it swung open. Laurel and Lyla stepped in, both grinning from ear to ear.

"Soooooo...", Laurel said. "I heard through the grapevine that there was some excitement downstairs earlier."

"Was there also some excitement in the elevator?", Lyla said, leaning forward to look closely at Felicity's face.

"Don't be silly guys. He's technically my boss. There is nothing going on between Queen and I." Felicity really tried to sound nonchalant. She failed miserably.

Lyla quirked her eyebrow at her while Laurel crossed her arms across her chest.

"So how do you explain the beard burn you have on your chin then?", Lyla asked.

Felicity's eyes got big before she finally groaned, leaning her head down on her desk. Taking a deep breath she looked at them both.

"Ok, so he might have kissed me at the office today, and I might have attacked him in the elevator earlier.", Felicity grimaced.

Lyla and Laurel both sat across from Felicity as she continued. "It's just I don't know what to do. Half the time I want to slap his smug face and the other half I want to climb him like a tree. It is so complicated right now. I technically work for him. Not only at QC, but he is the lead on this mission. I just don't know if it is the right time."

Lyla, leaned forward, her hand setting on Felicity's arm. "Felicity, I have known you for a long time. I know you are thinking about what happened with Ray. That was a long time ago Felicity and you are a different person now. A stronger person. You can't let what Ray did stop you from something that could be really great. You have to decide if it is worth seeing where this thing can go with Oliver on it's own merit."

Laurel leaned forward too, her voice soft, understanding. "And for what it is worth Felicity, Tommy has told me a lot of good things about Oliver. He is a good man. Don't walk away from something that could be amazing."

Noticing the time, Felicity stood up and walked around her desk. Hugging her two friends she smiled. "Thank you ladies. I don't know where I would be without you two."

Lyla and Laurel both smiled, before opening the door and heading out. Picking up her tablet and her notes, Felicity followed close behind.

Oliver was sitting at his desk looking out his window. He kept thinking back over the day and how his relationship with Felicity had gone from one to one hundred in the span of a few hours. Hearing a knock on his door, Oliver turned in his chair as Diggle entered, closing the door behind him.

"You want to talk about it?", he said. He knew Oliver well enough that he did not have to mention Felicity's name to know who was on his mind. Diggle leaned forward, his forearms resting on his knees.

"Look man. Let me give you some advice. I have known you a long time Oliver, and I have never seen a connection with anyone else like the one you have with this girl. I think she could be good for you. However you have a bad habit of sabotaging your relationships. Felicity is a good, strong woman Oliver. She can handle anything you throw to her. She can handle our life. Don't blow it just because you don't think you deserve her man."

Oliver looked at Diggle, giving him a curt nod. Standing he walked around his desk, opening the door as Diggle slapped him on the shoulder.

"It's not easy to find a woman that can kick your ass man. Why do you think I asked Lyla out as soon as we were done sparring? Don't let her get away.", he chuckled.

Oliver grinned shaking his head as they both headed to the conference room.

Felicity took her seat, setting up her tablet with the notes she had taken. Everyone was there including Tommy and Laurel. Oliver and Diggle entered the room, each taking a seat as Oliver looked at everyone, then turned his eyes to Felicity.

"So Miss Smoak, tell us what you have for us.", he said, his expression shuttered.

Felicity stood, addressing the room. "So during the course of my search today, I was able to pinpoint the exact location of the warehouse where the Triad is hiding their server. The address is 4930 Marina Rd. I was able to trace a large heat signature at the location showing that one of the rooms houses a server. I can say, fairly certainly, that it is well guarded. I traced 10 human heat signatures in the room, along with 10 others throughout the warehouse."

Diggle looked at her confused. "Why would the Triad have a server at the Marina? What could they possibly........DAMN!!", he stopped and looked at Oliver. "Their going to try to sell the weapons data overseas."

Oliver's jaw was tight as he nodded.

"And you can bet that those guys are heavily armed", Slade said, leaving forward and placing his arms on the table.

Felicity continued. "One more thing. For me to be able to destroy the server, I need to have access to it.....",she paused, knowing Oliver would not like what she is about to say. "Direct access to it."

"No way!!!", Oliver said, his voice not open for argument.

Sensing the tension mounting, Tommy spoke up. "Surely there has to be another way for you to gain access without putting yourself in their crosshairs, Lis?"

Roy spoke next. "Blondie you know that I am your biggest fan and always on your side, but I agree with Oliver and Tommy. There has to be a way to access the server without putting you in their direct line of fire."

Felicity gritted her teeth, turning her gaze to Lyla. She knew her friend agreed with the guys on this one, but she also knew she would not say anything, knowing when Felicity had her mind made up that there was no dissuading her.

"Look I appreciate everyone's concern, but there is no way I can destroy their server without gaining access to it. You all seem to have forgotten that I am a trained agent. And I won't be alone, I will have you guys as back-up. It is my life, my choice. If we want to stop this information from falling into the wrong hands, then this is the only way." Felicity turned, her gaze falling on Oliver, her face stubbornly set.

"I said no Felicity! End of discussion.", Oliver said, his jaw ticking.

Felicity was fuming. "I think we are done here Mr. Queen.", she said. Picking up her tablet, she walked out, slamming the door behind her. Stalking down the hall, she entered her office slamming the door behind her. How dare he!!!!! How fuckin' dare he!!!!

Felicity gathered her things, and headed to the elevators. She really had to cool off. Especially if she was going to be civil to Oliver at the office tomorrow. Taking the elevator to the garage, she threw her stuff in the back seat, started her car, and sped out of the parking garage, heading home. Maybe a nice hot bath would calm her down.

Oliver had been so livid at the thought of Felicity putting herself in danger with the Triad, that he had not said a word for several minutes after Felicity left.

Looking up, he saw all eyes on him, a smirk on Slades' lips.

"Let's call it a night everyone," he said before heading out the door, going straight to Felicity's office. it was empty.

Grabbing his keys and his motorcycle helmet from his office, Oliver stalked to the elevator. He knew he should just go home and calm down and talk to Felicity tomorrow, but his brain just would not register logic at the moment, and so when he got on his bike, and started out of the garage, he headed straight for Felicity's apartment.