Fighting for the Heart

Untitled Part 16

Felicity hurried up the steps to Oliver's apartment puzzled. Why did he walk out like that? Why had he not waited to let her explain? She took a deep breath and knocked on the door and a few seconds later Oliver opened the door.

"May I come in?" she said softly.

He opened the door wider without saying a word and when he closed it behind her she turned and faced him. "You want to tell me what that storming out was all about?" she asked.

He walked into the living room and placed his hands on his hips before taking a deep breath and then turning to face her. "First of all let me say I am sorry." he said, giving her a soft look.

"Were you jealous?" she asked.

He walked closer and took her hands. "Yes there was some jealousy there. Walking in and seeing that man in your living room bothered me, I will admit. But there is more to it than that." he said. Felicity looked at him with surprise as he pulled her over to the couch and sat down, tugging her down beside him.

"There is something I need to tell you and I want you to know that I was not hiding anything from you. I just did not think it was an issue any more." He took a breath and then started speaking. "There was a woman by the name of Emily Thomas who was a nurse at the rehab facility where I was taken after the accident. She was my nurse while I was recovering. She was pretty and nice and we struck up a friendship over time." He paused and let out a breath.

"I was in a dark place during that time in my life. Sara was dead and I was not sure if I would ever walk again. She and I had sex. I needed something to help me forget where I was and what I was facing." he said and gripped her hands tighter, afraid she would pull away from him and leave. "I told her afterwards that I was not ready for a relationship and that I didn't know if I ever would be and she became angry. When I left Central City I thought I had left her behind me. But I recognized her handwriting when I read that note."

"Are you saying this note was written by her?" Felicity said, confused. "But how would she know about Tom?" she asked.

"I don't know." he sighed. "That is the part I don't understand, but I know that handwriting Felicity. I saw it every day for four years."

Felicity stood and walked a couple of steps away before turning to him. "But why would she show up now?

"I have been in the press a lot lately. Maybe she saw one of the articles and decided to see if she could start something with me." he said, not sure what to believe.

"But doesn't it seem odd that she would send that note to someone not even connected to you? Tom was connected to me. What are we missing?" she asked.

"We need to find out how she knows about us and what she is doing in Starling." Oliver said.

He stood and walked closer to her, "I agree", she said.

"I don't know where we start", he said as he gently rubbed her arms.

"I do." Felicity's eyes narrowed. "Laurel Lance. She must have noticed something at the dinner with my mother."

"That is a stretch don't you think?", he said, a little skeptical.

"It's our only lead right now." she said and stepped closer to him. "She has wanted to destroy you from the moment her sister died. It's not a stretch that she found out about Emily. She visited you in the hospital, right?"

Oliver nodded. "A couple of times actually."

"Do you remember if one of those times was after you slept with Emily?" Felicity asked, her voice tight having to say those words. The thought of him with another woman made her see red.