To Dance with a Prince

Untitled Part 21

Slade looked at Prince Oliver and Felicity as she told him the story of her Professor. Just the idea that someone would raise a hand to her made his blood boil and he could tell Prince Oliver was just as angry. Slade pulled Oliver to the side.

"I think now would be a good time for Felicity to help Cisco. She knows this Ray guy better than anyone and her skills on the computer could help us track him." Oliver placed his hands on his hips and lowered his head. He hated the thought of Felicity having to track the man who hurt her but he knew Slade was right. She was the only one who knew him and she would be their best bet for catching him. He walked over to Felicity and took her hands.

"Felicity. How would you feel about helping Cisco starting today? Slade suggested you know this guy better than anyone and he is right. You might be just the person to help us catch him." Felicity could tell he was hesitant to ask her to help, so she placed a reassuring hand on his cheek and gave him a small smile.

"If it will get us out of this room, I am more than happy to help." She wiggled her fingers. "Plus, it will give me a chance to get back into computers again."

Oliver gave her a soft kiss before he turned to Slade, "Slade I want someone outside the computer room door at all times, do you understand?" Oliver knew it was overkill, especially since they were in the Palace but he did not care. Slade nodded and took off down the hall as Oliver took Felicity's hand and led her to the computer room. Cisco turned with a huge smile when he saw them walk into the room.

"My new partner in crime has arrived." He smiled at Felicity. Prince Oliver had him set up a completely new system for her last week and he motioned her in that direction. "Here is your station Miss Smoak."

"Please call me Felicity."

She walked over and smiled as she let her hands gently glide over the keyboard. The computer was the best on the market and she could not wait to dive into it. She turned to Oliver and leaned up giving him an excited smile. "Well I guess I will see you for dinner."

"Ok. I am going to send Roy to get some things from your apartment for you."

She handed him her keys and then kissed him quickly before she turned and took a seat. Turning on the system it was only a few moments before her fingers began to fly.

Cisco watched in fascination and he gleefully rubbed his hands together. "We are going to do so much damage."

Oliver gave him a funny look before he kissed Felicity on the head and left to go find Slade. He nodded to the security guard outside the door and then walked toward the security wing. He quickly found Roy and then sent him on his way before he walked over to where Slade was talking with the rest of the security team.

***

Felicity sighed in frustrated two hours later. She had been working non-stop and had come up with nothing. She had traced the IP address of the email but it led to a dead end. She knew Ray was smart and so she stood and stretched realizing that she and Cisco were going to have to bring their A game if they were going to find him. His computer expertise was a match for her own so she needed to think of a different approach.

Cisco turned to her with a sigh, "This guy is good at covering his tracks. Slade said he was your Professor in college."

"Yes, he taught my computer science class." She sat down next to him as she remembered. "He was one of the smartest men I ever met."

"But he hurt you." Cisco said the words softly, knowing the memories had to be painful.

"Yes, he did. I told myself I would never let another man hurt me like that again." He could see the pain in her eyes and behind that the worry that she was trying so very hard not to show.