Lessons Learned

Chapter 12 - Vacation

Chapter 12 - Vacation 

AN - This chapter was expanded into a separate story Vacation Day. That story is available on Fanfic.net and even Archive of Our Own as I posted on both sites as Rennie75. Just as soon as I can I will post it here too but it won't be just yet (sorry)! 

DISCLAIMER - Arrow may be on summer hiatus but that still doesn't give me any ownership rights!

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Roy made his way to the lair door just as he normally did and was just about to enter the code when the door opened. Diggle was standing there with a slightly panicked expression that caught Roy by surprise. It was unusual for Diggle to ever seem, well, anything but calm, cool, collected. It was that single moment of hesitation that was his downfall...at least, that's what Roy would tell Felicity later when he blamed her for his day. 

"You're late." Oliver growled from somewhere close behind Diggle. 

Before Roy could respond he was distracted by Diggle first glaring over his shoulder then redirecting his glare to him. Diggle's voice was low when he addressed Roy. "You owe me." 

Roy still hadn't figured out what was going on but Diggle had already turned around and walked back to Oliver. He watched the two men cautiously as he made his way to Felicity's desk so he could find out what was going on. A lot had changed lately, but Roy had started feeling like a real member of Team Arrow again - he didn't like feeling like a totally clueless newbie as he did at this moment. When he was nearly to Felicity's desk he turned to speak to the blond, but instead he stood there staring...at nothing. There was no Felicity. 

"Hey, Felicity isn't here." Roy stated the obvious as he still stared at the dark computer screens and empty chair. He knew it was a stupid comment but that was the only thought in his head. "Where's Felicity?" 

Roy heard the edge in his own voice and turned to face the others for reassurance that all was well. At that moment though he finally realized the silence in the room wasn't just because there was no Felicity rambling. Roy also realized that he wouldn't be getting any reassurances. Neither man was training, but both were glaring at him. Oliver met Roy's eyes briefly, but then turned away to start pounding viciously on one of the training dummies. 

Diggle continued to glare, but he did offer a brief explanation. "Felicity took a vacation day." 

"I'm sorry...what?" Roy had heard Diggle but the words didn't make sense. Felicity was always here, always working, it was something Roy just realized that he took for granted. 

"Felicity took one day off last year - this same day." Diggle continued to frown. "She has her phone on but won't take calls. She blocks our, well, her tracking programs so we don't know where she is." 

"She won't take my calls." It was Oliver who snarled that clarification as he continued to pummel the dummy. 

Diggle again directed his frown toward Oliver before he turned back to Roy. "Unless there's another earthquake device or another invasion of Mirakuru soldiers, we are not supposed to call her." 

Roy caught Diggle's nod and picked up the paper lying on Felicity's desk. Sure enough, Felicity's note said only to call in those two specific situations. "You think she'll have to add another exception to the list this time next year?" Roy chuckled until he noticed neither man found his joke funny. "I just meant...okay, nothing. Felicity has a day off." 

Oliver's powerful punch broke a piece of the dummy. Roy caught the end of Diggle's eye roll before he focused back on Oliver. Roy finally saw the tension and anger rolling off the Oliver and understood once again just how important Felicity was to the Team. It was rare that Oliver showed emotion, but when he did, it often involved Felicity. Everybody repeat after me - Do not get (or try to get) between Oliver Queen and Felicity Smoak! Roy laughed to himself as he remembered just how many times he had needed to learn that Lesson. 

Roy wasn't laughing later though when he took the place of the training dummy and Oliver almost broke him too. He had stupidly asked where Felicity went to on her vacation day each year. Oliver's jab distracted him but the follow-up strike took him down hard. Over the ringing in his ears he barely heard Diggle's reply that Felicity wouldn't tell them. Despite seeing stars from Oliver's strike, Roy realized that it wasn't just concern for Felicity's safety that was bothering Oliver, but also the fact that she too kept secrets. 

Diggle stepped in to spar with Oliver as Roy continued to try and clear his head. He was also nursing a couple sore ribs so Roy sat still and watched as Diggle didn't fare much better than he had. Felicity had better come back soon or there won't be a Team to come back to, Roy thought as he suddenly felt the urge to smile. Roy barely hid his grin as he remembered another of his early Lessons. He hadn't added to the list of things not to mention in front of Oliver for a while but Felicity taking a vacation day definitely made the list now. 

Roy decided then to ask Felicity to post the official list as even if it didn't include his personal lessons it would help him remember. He knew he needed all the help he could get as without the Mirakuru forgetting the Lessons was a lot more painful now. 

For the rest of the day, Roy felt like he was in a combat zone and he just tried to keep his head down and duck for cover. As soon as Diggle suggested they go out for dinner Roy jumped at the chance. He also now understood why Diggle had told him earlier that he owed him - he had to assume that Felicity's vacation day last year hadn't gone much better, but then Diggle had been the only training dummy. Roy immediately made a mental note to be far, far from Oliver this time next year. Felicity was sometimes all that stood between him and an angry Oliver and Roy had no issue whatsoever with letting her keep that position.

-----NEXT MORNING-----

He didn't miss the Mirakuru, not even for the super strength, but today when every muscle and bone hurt Roy did miss the healing boost. As he crawled from bed groaning, Roy sent a quick text to Diggle to confirm that all was clear before he headed toward the lair. 

Roy had brought Felicity a cup of coffee, but he grabbed her into a quick, grateful hug before she could even touch it. He only let go and moved back when he saw Oliver moving his way. 

"I missed you yesterday." Roy mumbled sincerely as he had missed her and not just as cover from Oliver. Felicity laughed out loud as she returned his hug. 

"Thank you Roy...Oliver apparently didn't even notice I was gone." Felicity had turned to look at Oliver who now stood nearby smirking as he watched her. She then turned back and smiled again at Roy. 

Luckily as Oliver and Felicity often looked at each other longer than normal people did Roy had time to hide his surprise and disbelief. He wasn't sure what Oliver had said or why Felicity would think that, but he wasn't stupid enough to get between them. 

Roy did plan to tease Felicity later about his own Lesson #1 and see if he could get her to post a revised list of the Lessons - new lair, new list. It might be a good time to get Diggle in on the discussion too as Roy knew the older man would vote for the new Lessons even if Felicity didn't. They couldn't outvote Felicity, but Roy also figured Felicity owed him as she had left him and Diggle alone with Oliver all day yesterday so it was a good time to ask. 

Roy couldn't help but laugh as another thought occurred to him. He would have to make sure the List was posted at the official location too as Laurel and even Barry continued to visit there. Roy couldn't wait to see Laurel's or Barry's face when they read the Lessons. At least they couldn't say they hadn't been warned - Roy had been forced to learn the Lessons the hard way himself.