Please Don't Take My Sunshine Away

Part 2

Felicity had gone back to her apartment after she awoke alone in the morning. She had tried to keep tears from spilling over, but it was almost impossible. Fear now gripped her as she stress cleaned her apartment. 

She was afraid that she had done something wrong, that Oliver had left because he could not face her anymore. Had she ruined their relationship? Did she make a terrible mistake last night? These questions were all that filled her mind throughout the morning. 

Suddenly, there came a knock at her door. Shaking, she unlocked and opened it to see Oliver standing there. He looked rigid and uncomfortable, still wearing the same clothes from the night before. Felicity took a deep breath and tried to put on a smile.

"Hey, do you want to come in?" she offered.

Oliver remained where he was. "Felicity, I need to talk to you." His voice was plain, hiding all emotion. 

"Okay," she said carefully. "Sorry I left this morning, you weren't there."

"That's what I need to talk to you about." He took a deep breath then continued. "I woke up early and I... I went for a walk. I was scared and I couldn't be in that bed anymore."

"Oliver, did I do something wrong?" Felicity tried to keep her tone natural, but her terror seeped through into her voice.

"No, it's me. I... can't do this right now. I'm so sorry." His tired eyes flicked down to his shoes.

"What about what you said last night?" Her voice was so small, so quiet. 

Sighing, Oliver looked back up at her. "Can we just pretend last night never happened?" Felicity said nothing, so he went on. "I'm really sorry for doing this to you, Felicity." His voice sounded genuine when he spoke those words. But after, he returned to being cold and distant. 

She looked at him with watery eyes. Afraid to say something without her voice betraying her, she nodded and glanced down at her hands. Her fingers were wrung together, trying to distract her from the situation. Her heart was pounding in her ears. 

"I'll see you later," Oliver whispered then he was gone.

Felicity closed her door then let out a small sob. She had done something wrong, she just knew it. Oliver's words last night had been genuine, she could see it in his eyes. But now, all she felt were the cold words he had just spoken to her. 

How would she be able to ever face him again? 

***

Diggle entered the new HQ later that day to see Oliver pounding his fists against the punching bag. 

"Letting of some steam?" he wondered.

Oliver responded with a final punch to the bag. He turned to Diggle and let out an exasperated sigh. "Malcolm Merlyn made contact last night."

"What?" Digg asked in surprise. "Why didn't you call?"

"You were with Lyla. And I handled it."

He obviously didn't want to talk about it, but Digg pressed him. "Well what happened?"

Oliver drank from his water bottle then said, "Because I took Thea, he said he was going to take everything away from me." 

Diggle chuckled dryly. "Like we haven't heard that one before."

Oliver was about to continue when Felicity entered. He looked away from her as she sat down at the only computer. 

Diggle looked between the two of them. He could feel the tension in the air. Usually, Oliver and Felicity greeted one another with a happy smile. Today, it was awkward glances. "Hey Felicity, did Oliver tell you about Merlyn last night?" he asked.

Felicity kept her focus on the keyboard as she replied. "No, he didn't." Taking a deep breath, she asked, "Why, what happened?"

Before Diggle could reply, Oliver cut in. "It was nothing important. The thing we need to figure out now is what his next move is."

Diggle threw Oliver an odd look but kept quiet. Felicity began typing on her computer. "I'll keep tracking his activity, but he still has good security."

Oliver nodded then brought Diggle over to the arrow armory. "What is this about?" Digg asked.

"Merlyn said I needed to stay away from Felicity or she would get hurt," he informed him.

Diggle looked at him and saw his body language. It was stolid and tense, as if he was waiting for something bad to happen. Oliver's eyes held a look deep inside of them, they looked like he was being ripped up inside. 

Diggle nodded in understanding. "Why does he think that can get to you?" 

Clenching his jaw, Oliver said, "Because he knows how I feel about her. Somehow he knew we were... together last night."

Diggle's eyes opened wider, but he tried to conceal his surprise.  "Oh, I didn't know you two..."

"Not anymore. I had to tell Felicity it didn't mean anything, to keep her safe."

"Oliver, she would understand if you told her the truth. You don't have to hurt her like this."

Shaking his head, Oliver protested. "No, I had to end it for now. If I didn't, I don't know if I could stay away from her. And that puts her in danger."

"What are you boys talking about over there?" Felicity called.

Diggle gave Oliver one last look before going over to Felicity. Oliver followed a moment after.

"Okay, I found his schedule for today. It says at 9:00 p.m. tonight he has a meeting in a warehouse in the glades. I say you check it out."

Oliver nodded. "Thanks Felicity." He was about to put a hand on her shoulder as he usually did, but decided against it. He left to change into his suit without another word.

Diggle knelt next to Felicity. "Hey, are you okay?" 

She sniffled slightly but then looked at him with strong eyes. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"Whatever is going on between you and Oliver, just know that he still really cares about you."

Felicity looked back at her computer. "I think I made a terrible mistake."

"Hey," Digg put his hand on her arm, "I don't think you could ever make Oliver hate you. You know how he is, so just let him figure things out. He'll come back to you."

She nodded but in her chest she still felt the sting of his words he had said that morning. 

Oliver returned minutes later in his Arrow suit and grabbed his bow. Then he left.

"Hey," Diggle looked down at Felicity. "Why don't you go home, you look tired."

She shook her head. "I don't want things to change just because of Oliver and I. I can stay."

"Felicity, go home. I can handle this."

Looking up at him, she nodded her head. She really did not want to be in that room another moment. She just needed some air. So she grabbed her coat and left the HQ, leaving Diggle to man the computers. 

When she pulled up in front of her apartment, she turned off her car then got out. A black bag was thrown over her head and in a flash she was thrown into another vehicle. She hardly had enough time to scream.