Please Don't Take My Sunshine Away

Part 5

Author's note: Wow! You guys are awesome readers thanks so much for the reviews! This was a really fun fic to write and now it is fun to share. I hope you all enjoy the story! 

"Felicity is alive," Oliver announced when he came into the HQ. Diggle was sitting at the computer. 

He stopped typing and turned to face Oliver. "Excuse me?" 

"I just saw her." Oliver's voice revealed that he was in a panic, that he was spiraling into a hole he would not be able to crawl out of. 

Diggle stood up, seeing the seriousness in Oliver's expression. "Where? What happened? How is that possible?" 

Holding up a hand, Oliver said, "I had a meeting with Malcolm Merlyn." 

"Why didn't you bring me with?" Digg was furious. 

"Because I thought-"

Digg cut him off. "You thought what exactly? That you could take him out and get your revenge?"

"Yes, that's exactly what I thought!" Oliver yelled. He sighed and closed his eyes. "But when I got there, he said he wanted me to meet somebody. Then Felicity walked in."

"What happened?" Diggle asked. Obviously something had gone wrong, otherwise Oliver would not have left without her.

"She was... different. Merlyn did to her basically what he did to Thea. But this wasn't the same. He said his company developed a new serum. He said it was painful..." Oliver's voice cracked he looked away, his eyes burning. 

Diggle rubbed his tired eyes. "What do we do? We have to get her back." 

"Don't you think I know that?" Oliver slammed his fist on the table. 

"Calm down," Digg said calmly.

There had been many outbursts from Oliver over the past month, ones where he had broken a few things. Diggle had watched his friend fall apart, but never saw him put himself back together. How many times could he keep breaking?

Oliver grabbed his bow, even though it was still daylight out. He stumbled over to his suit and took it out. 

"Are you drunk?" Diggle asked angrily.

"I had a scotch this morning," he grunted.

"You can't go out like this, Oliver." 

"Try and stop me."

Diggle seized his arm and looked into his eyes. "Oliver, don't do this. Don't destroy yourself. We can save her if we work together." 

Oliver stared back at his friend, his brother, knowing he was right. He dropped his things and collapsed to the floor, letting out a childish sob. Diggle slid down next to him, not saying a word. They sat there like that in silence, niether one not knowing what to say. 

Later that night, when Oliver was sobered up, they prepared to take Malcolm down. 

"I'll trail him in my car," Diggle confirmed as they exited the HQ.

"And then I'll set up an ambush based on where you tell me to go," Oliver continued. He took a deep breath as he straddled his motorcycle. 

Diggle placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "We'll get her out of there, I promise."

Oliver just nodded then took off. A few minutes later, he heard Diggle over the comms. He was now following Malcolm. Oliver took back roads, still heading in the same direction as Diggle and Merlyn. 

"He's heading north on 2nd Street." 

"I can cut him off before he gets there. Be ready." Oliver increased his speed, taking to an alleyway. "Diggle, where is he now?"

"Approaching 2nd."

"I got him." Oliver drew an arrow and aimed it on the road. A limo drove by and he released. The arrow went straight into the tire, blowing it out. The car spun out and swerved into a lamp post. 

It was already late, and the road they had stopped on was not a main one. No one would disturb them. 

"I'm approaching you," Diggle said. 

Oliver came out into the street and saw Diggle's car pull up behind Merlyn's limo. Carefully, Oliver approached the car. The driver was unconciouss, he could see from where he stood. Diggle came up beside him, aiming his gun. He pulled open the door, and a large fist connected with his face. Diggle staggered back.

Oliver backed away, aiming an arrow at the man who came out. Two more large men came out, wearing suits. 

"Looking for Malcolm?" one of them said.

"It's a decoy," Diggle muttered, standing up and whiping his mouth clean of blood. 

Oliver cursed then let an arrow fly into one of the men's shoulder. It was chaos then as Diggle and Oliver struggled to take down the rest. In a matter of minutes, the two vigilantes stood over the men. One of the thugs cell phone began ringing. 

Diggle took it out of their pocket. "Hello?"

"You didn't really think you could sneak up on me, did you?" Malcolm Merlyn's voice rang through the cell phone speaker. The line went dead. 

Digg turned to Oliver. "Got the tablet?"

Nodding, Oliver took out his tablet and began typing. "I can trace the call Merlyn just made to his most recent location. Got it. He's only a mile away from here."

"Then let's go before he suspects anything." 

Diggle returned to his car and followed Oliver to the location. They parked a street over then walked to the office building where Merlyn had called from. It was almost deserted, except for the top floor where Malcolm had been meeting with an overseas contractor. 

Oliver entered through the main door, surprising everyone there. Diggle stayed back, waiting for the most opportune moment. 

"Everyone get down!" he shouted, raising his bow straight at Merlyn. 

There were two men standing in the corners of the room. And Felicity was standing behind Merlyn, who sat at the head of the table. She wore a black leather jacket and black pants. She reminded Oliver of Sarah. 

"Oliver, you found us," Malcolm said, not looking worried.

"I said get down," he growled back. 

Instead, Malcolm rose from his chair and walked over to Felicity. He ran his fingers up her arm, knowing this would get a rise out of Oliver. He stroked her hair as she stood obediently still. "I don't think so. Put your weapon down, or I'll shoot her." He drew a gun and pointed it at Felicity. She showed no fear.

Oliver pressed his lips together in vexation. "You won't do it, you've invested too much in her." 

"Maybe, maybe not. But you won't take a chance with her life." 

He lowered his weapon, knowing Diggle would come to his aid. His friend busted through the door then, holding up two guns. He shot one at a man in the corner, and one at the other man. They both dropped, howling in pain. 

This gave Oliver time to reach for his bow. Merlyn ducked, pushing Felicity out of the way. Oliver let his arrow fly, nearly hitting Malcolm in the shoulder. He jumped and rolled on the table, landing in front of Malcolm. He threw a fist, but it was blocked. 

Malcolm, the dark archer, had been a better fighter in some ways. And for much longer. He twisted Oliver's arm then punched him in the abdomen. But Diggle was behind Merlyn and took him from behind. Malcolm kicked Oliver back and he stumbled down as Diggle and him struggled. Oliver stood up and was about to help, then he felt a cold pressure on the back of his head. 

He froze and turned, only to see Felicity holding a gun to his face.