Disclaimer - I do not own Arrow.

Digg walked into Verdant hoping he could get a conversation out of Oliver, his footsteps echoing on the floor of the empty club. While he knew the other man already had the weight of the world on his shoulders, he would also feel guilty for everything that was going around him now. As misplaced as the guilt clearly was, he knew the younger man would pile the betrayal of his mother on top of everything else that Oliver felt he was responsible for. So Digg walked through the empty nightclub, trying to come up with ways to get Oliver to open up and hopefully unburden himself, if only for a couple of hours. Either that or let the poor guy spar with him to get the frustration and anger out. He sincerely hoped that none of his bones would be broken by the end of the night.

Walking down the steps he heard the sounds of grunting. The absence of metal on metal sounds giving away the fact that the salmon was not currently occupied. However the sight that greeted him was not one he expected, nor wished to ever see. Oliver and Sarah in a lust filled moment, leathers and gear spread out around them as if they were thrown about in hast. He couldn't put into words the disappointment he felt in Oliver.

"For fucks sake man"

At this Oliver's eyes flew open and his head swirled towards Digg's presence. Instantly realizing the position he had been caught in. Digg didn't miss the way his eyes traveled behind him, as if trying to find the other third of their trio hidden behind his thick frame. Thank God he had driven her home before coming into the foundry.

He wasn't blind to see the apparent attraction between his two partners. And while he knew and respected Oliver's wishes to stay away from Felicity on a more intimate level, this uncanny ability to hurt her was beginning to grate on his nerves. How could he be that careless with someone so close to him? A blind man could see the love in Felicity's eyes every time she stared at Oliver when she thought no one was looking. The panic she felt every time he went out on a mission. The clear relief as her body relaxed when he walked back into the foundry, safe and unharmed. Her rambles being another thing in themselves, always giving her away in moments of weakness.

But this was Oliver going too far. Russia he could maybe understand. He knew about Oliver sleeping with Rochev, and while he disapproved of his actions he knew accidents happened in the heat of the moment. Alcohol contributes to all the world's greatest mistakes and all that. But this was a whole other level of betrayal to their precious IT girl. This was in their lair, a place that she could easily walk into, only for her heart to be shattered into a million pieces. Their sanctuary was now ruined.

He had being in her apartment for days after the undertaking. Quickly realizing she had no one to look after her, he became a protector of sorts. It should have been Oliver but he had disappeared to parts unknown. He was the one for the next couple of months that woke her up from scream inducing nightmares. He was the one that had to see her jump at any and all sounds of a falling object. But they had lived though it together. She returned the favor later on after his breakup with Carly, and while he never talked to her about it, she was always there when he needed to just be. Whether to just sit in silence with someone over food, or to listen to her type profusely on her keyboard while she worked, to get out of his own head and to numb his brain in the hopes of avoiding unwelcome thoughts.

They had grown a connection over those months, and he felt responsible for her in a way. So while he knew that Oliver was going through hell at the moment, he also knew that the knowledge of the sight before him would absolutely crush Felicity.

He watched as they fumbled in front of him, pulling clothes back on while frantically looking for articles that where missing. Sarah quick to disappear into the shadows and leave.

"Look Digg…" he paused at the look on Digg's face and the hand being held up in the air.

"Save it man".

The tone Digg used pierced at Oliver's heart more than any string of words could. Anger and worst of all disappointment thick in the air. Digg let out a long-suffering sigh. While he usually did a fairly good job at keeping himself at a safe distance away from all the tension between the two, he now felt the urge to collide Oliver's head with a neighboring wall.

"I know that that she said you deserve better Oliver…" Digg started only to be interrupted by Oliver's "How do you kn…?"

Digg shook his head so that Oliver would let him finish.

"She said you deserved better. For once she was wrong. She's the one that deserves better".

And with that he left the stunned, half dressed and broken man, surrounded by his gear and arrows. On an island he had created for himself.

Hope you enjoyed. Each review is precious. As always would love to hear your feedback.

Love to all - Stace