Line Of Fire •L.A•

14. Stronger Than Most

When Felicity was 9, her parents had gone out for the night and left her alone without dinner. So she had tried to make herself a meal. She had cut herself badly on a big kitchen knife and fainted at the sight of the wound. When she finally woke up on the kitchen floor in a small puddle of her own blood, it was dark outside. Her moms purse and dads keys were haphazardly laid on the table and when Felicity went to look for them she found her mom sprawled on the living room floor and her dad on the couch. Both too drunk to even stay awake.

They had walked right past their bleeding little girl without even caring. And when Felicity cleaned her wound by herself that night, and watched the red wash down the drain, she decided two things. One, nobody would ever truly care for her. And two, she would have to get use to doing things by herself. She'd clean up her own blood, she'd wipe away her own tears and she'd be her own parent.

As an adult, that mindset had never really left her. And therefore, when she received a message saying she was booked to have a session with the EAU therapist, she was angry. She knows  immediately it is Luke's doing.

She'd done just fine at taking care of herself, she doesn't need him trying to do things behind her back. Especially something like this.

The next day when she enters the bullpen, he is already there. Speaking to Matt. He looks over as she enters and his smile fades. Her eyes are full of venom as she stares at him but they turn sweet when she looks at Matt. She gives him a smile." Good morning, Matt."

He smiles but not before his eyes shift uncomfortably between Luke and Felicity."Good morning, Fel."

"Good morning, Flick." Luke says, eyeing her.

She turns to him and her eyes harden.
"Morning, Agent Alvez."

She takes a seat at her desk. She's aware she's being petty but at the moment she doesn't care. She wants him to know she is angry with him and what he did.

Luke sighs and walks to the coffee maker before pouring himself his second cup of the day. Matt follows, still eyeing Felicity. When they're out of earshot, he raises an eyebrow at Luke." She's angry angry. She used your last name. What happened?"

"It's a long story." Luke mutters, taking a sip of his coffee.

"Well you better make it better before Emily has a talk with you two." He answers.

"I'll try my best." He sighs and drinks the last of his coffee, dregs and all.

Matt gives him a reassuring pat on the back before everyone shows up and heads up to the briefing room. There's an empty seat beside him but when Felicity enters she sits on the opposite end of the table.

When the briefing ends and the day continues, she ignores him best she can. The appointment she booked him was at 3 and she wishes she could just stare him right in the eyes as it ticked past but she knows not attending will earn her a call. So she stands from her desk, gathers her things and without another word makes her way to the 1st floor. Everyone watches as she leaves but no one said anything.

She enters the woman's room and washes her face before straightening her shirt.

The door opens and Luke slips in. For the first time that day, she shoots him a confused look instead of an angry one." What the heck are you doing in here?"

He steps forward." We need to talk."

"You should've thought of that before you booked an appointment for me, Alvez." She mutters drying her hands under the air dryer.

"You need to talk to somebody, Flick. Dr. Davidson is one of the best counselors in the BAU. I would know." He says quietly, his eyes never leaving hers.