A/N: Okay, so, I'm just going to take a minute here and talk about the show again. It's basically just a few thoughts about the last episode – make of it what you will… a pashmina, a jaunty hat, a feather boa… whatever tickles your fancy… or just ignore it completely – probably the best thing. Cupid was a tough episode, I admit that but I have to say, I'm 10000% on Felicity's side with this one. She is doing absolutely the right thing and I have to take my hat off to the writers in actually giving a real backbone and sense of self-worth to the love interest of a super hero. A lot of the time they're there to be a foil, to be periodically rescued and inspire the hero to be the best he can be. Yeah, great, but that makes it all about the hero. What about the actual love interest? So often they end up being defined by their love for the hero. Why limit them like that? It's why they always come across as secondary characters in a lot of comic books. Sure, they often give them smarts and gumption and feistiness but a beating heart, a sense of who they are outside of the hero, not always so much. A lot of times they're there to inform the hero's journey. And yes, we're seeing that with Felicity but this season Felicity has become a whole lot more than that.

The way I see it, Felicity has given Oliver everything the last 2 years. She's been at his beck and call, she's given every waking moment to him and his crusade, she's supported him, encouraged him, had his back – without question, without hesitation. She always brought her A game for Oliver. And she wasn't looking for anything in return. There were no strings. Sure, I'm sure she wondered 'what if' but Felicity was willing to give her all, knowing that there was no future for her and Oliver.

And then what happened… oh yeah, Oliver dangled a future in front of her.

For a brief moment, what was in Felicity's head and heart was suddenly a reality. Oliver chose to cross that line, he's the one who opened that can of worms. Everything changed, because even though he tried to take back that hope, it was too late. Once something is seen, it can't be unseen and Oliver did that. He didn't intend to be cruel but it was. I don't hold it against him, he's genuinely torn up about it, he's not intentionally playing with Felicity's heart, just like she isn't intentionally playing with his.

So, now Felicity is faced with the reality of a man who could give her everything she ever wanted but won't let himself. It's Oliver's decision, she can't do squat about it. That old adage about you can't make someone else change but you can change yourself. Felicity couldn't force Oliver to rethink his reasoning, she just couldn't. So, the big decision – stay there with him and watch the man you love wait for death and die with him or choose life. Here's the thing – Oliver's wrong. He's wrong about thinking he has to compartmentalize Arrow and Oliver and that there is no real place for Oliver in the world anymore, only the Arrow. He's wrong. Diggle knows it, Felicity knows it and I have a feeling even Oliver knows it, deep down. Yes, Felicity loves Oliver but does love mean you have to agree and get on board with every dumb thing your loved one thinks or says? Of course not. Imagine if the person you love more than anyone else in the world suddenly came to you and said that they are no longer going to pay taxes because they don't like the guy running the country. Do you just go along with them and do what they do because you love them or do you still pay your taxes because, you know, it's the law and you don't want both of you to end up in jail.

Just because Felicity doesn't want to rot with Oliver in the Arrow Cave doesn't mean her love for him isn't deep and abiding. It's the opposite and to be honest, her getting on with her life, taking that job with Ray, even kissing the guy, is the absolutely most loving thing she could do for not only herself, but for Oliver too. If she'd allowed nothing to change… then nothing would ever change. Basically, if Felicity was to remain at Oliver's beck and call, in a pseudo relationship that gives Oliver just enough to keep going, then all she is doing is enabling him in his poor decision making. It's like with kids, you try and tell them not to do something but sometimes the best lesson is just to let them lick that damn power socket and find out for themselves! Oliver needs to lick the light socket. He needs to sit in the consequences of his decision to turn his back on a real relationship with Felicity. The reality is his decision means that Felicity will move on, find another man, build a life outside of Oliver and he has to know that… more than just in his head as a vague possibility but as a reality. And that's what that episode was all about.

I'm sorry, but I'm bloody cheering Felicity on! She's made of all twelve flavours of awesome! She loves herself enough not to be content with being Oliver's crutch. What man isn't going to fall in love all over again with that kind of strength? Felicity is a complete person outside of Oliver. Oliver is not a complete person outside of Felicity, not yet. He needs to work on that so he can deserve all that Felicity is. Look, I feel for the boy, I really do but there are only so many cuddles and hugs you can hand out to a person who is on a path of self-destruction before you become part of the problem yourself. If Oliver wants the life of the stoic, solitary hero, then he has to know what that feels like, I mean really feels like without the pain relief of Felicity whenever it all gets too bad.

As for Felicity being involved in reshaping QC with Ray – here's the thing, Oliver did to QC exactly what he did with Felicity – remember, on the stairs after Ray got the vote – he gave up. How can Felicity fight for a company with Oliver when he has said he doesn't even want/deserve it anymore… because QC means Oliver has to exist and so far, Oliver has been hell bent on trying to get rid of Oliver Queen and all his ties – starting with QC and ending with Felicity. He doesn't think Arrow and OQ can co-exist – he's wrong but telling him he's wrong won't work, he has to work that out for himself. So, in the meantime, what's Felicity meant to do… once again join Oliver in his defeat, in his lack of belief in himself and what he has to offer the world as OQ… nope, our girl is too awesome for that! She takes all that drive, all that brilliance and fire and she makes something with someone who isn't sitting around, waiting for death.

Now, does anyone really think for one minute she wouldn't much rather be doing that with Oliver? She was practically glowing at the thought of Oliver getting QC back in Ep1, ready to be by his side, no matter what. And who was it who bailed? Oh yeah, Oliver. Felicity can't be by the side of a guy who isn't there. Ray is there. It doesn't mean what it could have meant with her and Oliver but it's something… rather than the nothing Oliver is offering. Does that make her disloyal – not for a second. It makes her a woman with drive and smarts she wants to use to make something good with. And she hasn't given up on Oliver. She's still there, with Arrow, that flickering hope that Oliver will show up again but she's not putting her life on hold waiting anymore. The ball is in his court. Felicity has done all that she can to show her love and devotion to him. She was all in. Oliver is the sticking point and until he unsticks himself, there is nothing Felicity can do.

And as for her being uncaring of how this might all come across to Oliver… well, she's not being deliberately cruel. Just like Oliver wasn't being deliberately cruel when he hooked up with all those women, knowing full well how Felicity felt about him. Felicity had to watch him kiss other women countless times and she just had to suck it up. Oliver was kissing Sara in front of Felicity, back in the day. This time, the tables are turned but Felicity didn't know Oliver was there, and yes, it sucks for Oliver but Felicity knows all about that and he can man up over one kiss that he basically set up when Oliver's done it so often to Felicity. It's not a tit for tat thing, but honestly, as far as putting up with crap, Felicity's cup over runneth a hell of a lot more than Oliver's on that front.

And that's why, in my humble opinion, despite all the pain and angst of the cupid episode, it was a fantastic one for Oliver and Felicity and Olicity. Growth is painful. Oliver has to suffer to grow and this time he's the one causing himself his own pain. Not Felicity. She's innocent. There is no betrayal on her behalf. It's Oliver who gave up, not her, he betrayed the hope he offered her. And she can't believe for the both of them, that just isn't a thing. Oliver has to own the decisions in his life and Felicity, wise woman that she is, is helping him do that by moving on with her life. That's how much she loves him. That's how much she's sacrificing for him. It would be the easiest thing in the world to keep on living in their pseudo-relationship that was never going to being fully realized. Think how easy that'd be for Felicity. Better something than nothing, right? Nope, not if you really love someone. If you really love someone, you want the absolute best for them. Felicity wants Oliver to have the best in life because she knows he deserves it but until he knows that for himself, she's not going to enable him in the half-life he's chosen. This woman is magnificence personified!

Boy, you weren't expecting that feisty diatribe, now where you? Lol I guess my main reason for the story dissection above is to try and present Felicity's POV (I'm a fiend about balancing arguments). Arrow is telling the story of Oliver and it's easy to forget the other characters but the writers are actually trying to make Felicity a whole person herself, just like Oliver and not just the 'licity' in Olicity. That's awesome and to be commended and appreciated. Which, circles me back around to my point. They're putting a lot of effort into defining Felicity outside of Oliver… while still firmly having her impact very deeply on Oliver. I'm working hard to enjoy that, despite the pain of seeing them apart. As much as it's excruciating watching them flounder around each other, this is it, this is THEIR story – I'm not going to wish it away. And I'm sharing this from a purely selfish motivation because I want people to appreciate the angst in my story too (and all other ones out there) for what it adds to the characters and their journey, not just wish it away.

As a person who has shipped more than one doomed relationship in the past and had her heart broken, I've tried to adopt the strategy of enjoying what I'm given and not looking too far down the track, as I'm sure a lot of you have too. The story is what happens before the end… I keep telling myself focusing on the endgame takes away from the joy of the journey. Look, I don't know if Olicity will ultimately be end game but if I get an awesome, emotionally fulfilling story arc between them before the end, well, isn't that the point? My hesitation to get fully into Arrow was because after S2, I wasn't sure they were going to try and tell Olicity's story. SA and the writers have convinced me and what I've seen on my screen proves that they're telling Olicity's story. Will it be a HEA or a tragedy? I don't know… I have to watch the story to find out but the important thing is that they have a story. My mantra is enjoy the good bits, eat chocolate through the bad bits and know that all of it ultimately ends up being a part of Olicity's story. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst – that's my go to… and hang out with likeminded people who understand my pain and don't think I'm a lunatic for investing so much in a couple. *big hug*

Hmm… Hank's just mentioned to me that all of the above sounds a bit preachy. I see his point… although obviously I'm not going to tell him because the guy has a big enough head as it is. It wasn't meant to be preachy, not at all. I guess I was just trying to find a way that people might find feel a little less pained about the state of Olicity right now. I hate seeing people upset or a bit down, not if I can maybe help show a different perspective. Or maybe I've just made it way worse, I don't know. Lol Ship how you like to ship, it's all good. :D There is no right or wrong way… although that woman who killed a squirrel with a shovel and brought it in a plastic zip lock back to give to Norman Reedus at a Walking Dead Comic Con event… I feel like that is possibly edging over to the wrong way to ship… yeah, don't do that. .

But now, the last chapter. Do you even have the strength to read it after all of the above? Probably not. It's possibly a good thing this is the last chapter and I can get on with the next story, Under My Skin. I'll stop talking now because this is a ridiculously long AN's which I'm deeply embarrassed about. I'll just let you read the rest of the story and catch up with you quickly at the end…

CHAPTER FIVE

Roy quickly crossed the street and hurried back to his house. It was dark and two of the three street lights were out but he still had his red hoodie pulled up as he looked around anxiously. He set down the bag of items he'd just bought at his feet and fumbled to put the key in the door. It still felt alien to use his left hand for these menial tasks, so it took longer than it should. It also didn't help that he kept casting nervous looks over his shoulder. The door was finally open and Roy picked his bag back up and went inside, immediately closing the door behind him and locking it. He looked around the dingy room of his house, eyes darting everywhere and looking for any sign of movement. After snapping Felicity's neck, the hand had suddenly scarpered from the room and disappeared out the window Felicity had wiggled through minutes before. Roy hastily walked over to the same window and checked that it was locked securely. He repeated the process with every other window in the place, even though he'd performed the same task over and over again before leaving his house previously. That thing was out of his house and he wanted to keep it that way.

Roy still didn't know what he'd witnessed. The shock of it all was still numbing his body. He had so many questions and just didn't understand how this could be happening. He walked by his bedroom door and was given a violent reminder that it was indeed very real. Felicity's body was laid out on the carpet, her bloodshot eyes staring up at the ceiling as her neck was bent at an unnatural angle. Some of the delicate bones of her neck were pressing against the skin, not breaking it but making a sickening picture of just how violent the final death stroke had been. Roy swallowed hard to force back the bile which had just risen to the back of his throat. He'd panicked after the hand had left him with a dead body to deal with. Roy knew he couldn't ring the police. What could he tell them – that a dismembered hand had strangled a woman to death in his house and he was the only eyewitness? And as it was his hand, technically he'd killed Felicity… although he hadn't. There was no way he wasn't going to end up in a cell with that kind of story. The only question would be if it was padded or not. He had no one to turn to. Roy knew he had to handle this himself. Retrieving the bags he'd left at the front door, Roy dumped them on the table before fishing out a roll of black plastic bags. Steeling himself, Roy dealt with Felicity's body. He wrapped her completely in the black plastic, taping up the body until he was no longer forced to look at her lifeless face.

Roy drew in an unsteady breath, willing himself to keep doing what needed to be done. It'd be dark soon and when the darkness came he could load Felicity's body into the trunk of his car and drive her to the river. He hated the thought of such an end for someone he'd called a friend but there were no options. No one could discover her body. Roy glanced out the window, impatient for it to be dark already. He just wanted Felicity gone from his house. He didn't want the reminder of her violent demise. But Roy knew he needed to work out what was going on. He stood up from where he'd finished securing Felicity's body and hurried back to the bags he'd brought in with him. In one of the bags was a series of small cameras and Roy quickly went about setting them up throughout his house. He needed photographic proof that this hand existed and also, some kind of early warning system. It had killed Felicity for no reason. Who was to say he wasn't next? It was a frightening thought. Once the cameras were set up, Roy made sure they were all feeding to his laptop. He looked at the split screen on his laptop, showing images of all the rooms in his small house. Roy went to run a shaking hand through his hair but stopped abruptly as once again he was reminded there was no hand there. Another look outside the window told him that it was getting dark but it still wasn't dark enough. Not enough to move Felicity's body. He'd still have to wait to do that but at least he could move the car closer. Roy grabbed his car keys and headed to the door. He opened the door and made a shocked noise as Thea was revealed on the other side, her hand lifted in a fist to rap on the door. "Thea!"

Thea frowned up at him. "Hi," she said seriously.

"Wh-what are you doing here?"

"Seeing as you're not taking my calls these days, it's the only way we can talk," said Thea in frustration. "And we need to talk, Roy. Can I come in?"

"No!" Roy hadn't meant to say that as loudly as he had. He was very conscious of Felicity's body still lying on his bedroom floor. Thea could never know. "You have to get out of here, Thea," he said sharply. "I don't want you here."

"Well, tough because I'm not going anywhere until we talk," said Thea determinedly.

"I'm not interested in talking," said Roy harshly. "Just go, okay?"

Thea's jaw hardened. "You either let me in the house to talk or I sit on your front step until you do." She arched a challenging eyebrow. "Those are your two options, Roy Harper. You don't get to dismiss me like you have everyone else. That's not how it works."

Roy grimaced. He couldn't have Thea sitting out on his front step. He had no idea where that damn hand was out here. It could attack her without warning but he couldn't leave Felicity's body in the house. What if Oliver or Diggle came around again and let themselves in? He made a frustrated sound. There was no easy answer but Roy knew he couldn't have Thea sitting out on his stoop in danger. "Two minutes," he ground out. "And then you go, got it?"

"It'll take as long as it takes," said Thea primly.

Damn her stubbornness. "Just give me a minute to clean up," he said quickly.

Thea rolled her eyes. "I don't care about the mess, Roy. I only care about you."

"I'll be right back." Roy closed the door in her face and then quickly ran over to his bedroom door and closed it. Then he was back at the door, letting Thea in.

She walked in and looked around at the general state of filthy disarray. "How bad was it before if this is you after cleaning up?" Thea asked laconically.

"You don't have to stay," said Roy tightly. "You can leave, right now." Leave, please just leave.

Thea looked back at him, that familiar determination in her eyes. "Roy, I'm not letting you shut me out of your life anymore. I get that you're hurting but locking me out isn't going to help make you feel better." Thea took a step towards him, laying a hand on his arm. "Roy, I love you," she said emotionally. "I want to be here for you, be a part of your life."

"How can you say that?" asked Roy bitterly. "Look at me, I'm a monster." He shoved his stump up between them.

"You're not a monster," said Thea, not flinching. "You're someone who's had something horrible happen to you. It doesn't change anything about the way I feel about you."

Roy needed her out of here. He had to deal with the body in his room and this crazy hand situation. Thea wasn't safe around him. Roy steeled himself to do what needed to be done. "Maybe I don't feel the same way about you," he growled. "Do you really think there is any hope for us after what your brother did to me?"

"Oliver saved your life," said Thea quickly.

She was saying exactly what Felicity had and it rankled even more. "He took the life I had and flushed it down the toilet," said Roy bitterly. "How am I meant to look at you every day and not think about that?"

"It's all still very fresh to you right now," said Thea earnestly. "You're going to—"

"What?" he asked angrily. "Get over it? Is that what you think?"

"You're still in shock," said Thea, trying to placate him. "You're not thinking straight. You'll see, the day will come that you'll realize that your life isn't over and that day will come sooner if you let me back into your life—"

Roy caught a tiny flash of movement out of the corner of his eye and he turned his head just in time to see something moving on one of the split screens. It was the one in the kitchen. His stomach dropped as he realized the camera had just caught the hand. It had somehow found its way back into the house. Roy felt himself begin to panic. "You have to leave, Thea, now!"

Thea's attention was now on the laptop as well. "What is that?" she asked in confusion. "Have you got cameras up around your house?" Thea walked up to the laptop. "Why on earth would you do that?" She leaned closer, taking in the small split screens. "What's that in your bedroom?"

Roy felt like he was frozen to the spot.

Thea was looking at him in real concern now. "What is that in your room, Roy?" she demanded to know. Not waiting for an answer, she pushed past him to get to his bedroom.

Roy went to grab her but once again, he attempted to use his right hand which just wasn't there. "No!"

Thea slipped by him and then she was opening the door to his bedroom. Roy's blood ran cold as he chased after her. Thea stared down at what was obviously a body, tightly wrapped in black plastic. "Roy," she breathed in horror, "what is this? What have you done?"

"I didn't do anything," said a stricken Roy, standing in the doorway to his bedroom. "I tried to save her, I really did." He could barely hear his own words over the pounding of his heart.

Thea looked at him with wide, frightened eyes. "Who-who is it?"

Roy shook his head at her. "I didn't do it, I swear, Thea," he said in desperation. "Felicity came over and—"

"Felicity?" repeated Thea in distress. "That's Felicity in there?"

Roy swallowed hard. "I tried to save her," he said weakly.

"Are you telling me someone came in here and murdered Felicity in front of you?" asked Thea, still clearly trying to work out what happened.

"I-I—"

"We have to call the police," said Thea hoarsely. "We have to tell them what happened."

"No!" said Roy loudly. "No, we can't call the police, we can't tell anyone."

"Felicity is dead, Roy," said Thea in horror. "You can't just dump her in a river somewhere."

Roy pulled back a little, looking guilty.

"Oh my God, tell me you weren't going to do that?" choked out Thea. "How could you even think of doing something like that?"

"I didn't have a choice, nobody would believe what really happened," said Roy defensively.

"What really happened, Roy?" asked Thea intently, face drawn and taking a step closer to him. "Why have you wrapped Felicity up like this? Why didn't you just call the police?"

Behind Thea, Roy saw something dart under his bed. He drew in a fearful breath. "Thea, you have to get out of here," he said urgently. Roy grabbed her arm. "You have to leave, now!"

She shook his hand off. "I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what is going on," said Thea sharply.

"Thea," he pleaded with her, "please, it's not safe. There is something in here." Roy tried again to drag her out but suddenly the hand lunged out from under the bed and ran at him. He took an instinctive step backwards and then the door was abruptly being slammed in his face. Roy tried to open the door but there was the sound of the handle being snapped off on the other side. "Thea!" he called out in a panic. "Thea!"

"Roy!" she cried out and then there was a strangled noise from the other side of the door.

"No, Thea!" yelled out Roy in horror, throwing himself against the door but it was no use. He could hear choked sounds coming from the other side of the door. In a panic Roy ran to his laptop so he could see what was happening. Thea was on his bed, thrashing about as the life was choked out of her by the hand. "No, no, no," whimpered Roy as he stared at the sickening images. He whipped around and this time ran at the door with all of his might. The door tore off its hinges and it and Roy landed on the ground. Roy scrambled to his feet and raced over to Thea, kneeling beside her on the bed. He bent over her, hot tears stinging his eyes. "Thea, Thea, wake up, baby, please, open your eyes," he babbled at her. Roy didn't want to look at her neck, didn't want to see it snapped at the same unnatural angle Felicity's had been. He just kept looking at her face, willing her to open her eyes and end this nightmare for him. But it didn't happen. Thea's lips were blue, her skin ashen and she wasn't moving. A rage curled out in Roy and then exploded out of every cell in his body. He grabbed the baseball bat he kept by the bed and went on the hunt for the creature which had killed the love of his life and destroyed what was left of that life. Roy dropped to his knees and looked under the bed. There was a flash of movement as the hand scurried out from under the bed and Roy was immediately swinging the baseball bat at it. He missed it and the hand kept running out into the living room. Roy chased it down, wildly swinging the bat around in an attempt to kill the thing which had taken Thea's life. Lamps were smashed, shelves splintered in Roy's wild attempts to destroy the hand. The whole time he was screaming at the hand, bellowing at the top of his lungs at what it had done and swearing vengeance, not caring who might hear him…

"He needs a voodoo priest," said Roy knowingly. "Voodoo priests always know what to do with dismembered, reanimated things."

"On what are you basing that statement?" asked Oliver wryly.

Roy snorted. "Everybody knows voodoo priests are your go to when it comes to possessed hands. It just makes sense."

"I thought you said it was all down to an Egyptian curse?" said Felicity with a little smile.

"Voodoo, Egyptian curse, they're all in the same ballpark," said Roy blithely.

"That's a pretty big ballpark you've got there, Roy," said Oliver dryly.

"The point is, you can never kill anything supernatural with a baseball bat," said Roy firmly. "When you think they're dead, they're not. They always come back to get you in the end."

Bunny looked at Diggle. "Is that what happens in this story, brown bear? Does the hand come back for more vengeance?"

'You know, if you all stopped interrupting me, we'd already know," said Diggle in exasperation. "Seriously, how hard is it to sit quietly for ten minutes and just listen?"

"Finish your story, boo," said Bunny encouragingly. "You won't hear another peep from me, promise." He mimed locking his lips and throwing away the key.

"It's unlikely," sighed Diggle. "Now, where were we?"

"Guy's gone crazy with grief, breaking up the place with a baseball bat," Roy reminded him. "Don't tell me, the hand takes him out, right?"

"Wrong. It's a bit worse than that…"

"Mr. Queen, you can come through now."

Oliver inclined his head at the orderly and walked on through the door the man was holding open for him. In the middle of the room was a metal desk and on one side of the desk was Roy, strapped to his chair in a straightjacket, face flushed and sweaty. He looked up as Oliver walked into the room.

"Oliver!" he said hoarsely. "Thank God you're here. Something terrible has happened."

Oliver already knew. He'd just come from identifying Felicity and Thea's bodies in the morgue. It was officially the worst day of his life and in his life, that was really saying something. When he'd gotten the phone call from Detective Lance he hadn't been able to believe it. He still didn't believe it, even though he'd just seen the physical evidence of what Roy had done to the two women he loved most in the world.

"You have to help me, man," said Roy desperately. "No one believes me but you've got to. I know you will."

Oliver sat down at the desk and tried to collect his thoughts. "What happened, Roy?" he rasped. "What happened to Thea and Felicity?"

"I didn't kill them," vowed Roy urgently. "It wasn't me."

"Then who was it?" asked Oliver dully. "The police got multiple phone calls from your neighbors about you screaming and busting the place up and when they got their they found-they found—" His voice broke, unable to finish that sentence. The horror was still too fresh.

"It wasn't me," said Roy again, eyes wide. "I tried to stop it but it locked me out of the room. I couldn't save either of them and I tried, Oliver, I really tried. You have to believe me."

"Then who did this, Roy?" said Oliver, looking at him intently. "Tell me who killed Thea and Felicity if it wasn't you." There was a note of pleading in his voice. Oliver needed it not to be Roy but every bit of evidence pointed to the contrary.

"It was the hand," said Roy unevenly. He dropped his voice and looked around furtively. "A hand got into my house and killed the girls. I tried to stop it but it was too fast for me. I knew something was wrong when I found all these pictures of me sleeping on my phone and I didn't know who'd taken them. The hand did it all."

"A hand?" repeated Oliver slowly. "Taking pictures of you?"

Roy's head bobbed up and down. "Yes, a hand," he said eagerly. "I know it sounds crazy, I know that, okay? But it's true. This dismembered hand just attacked them. It's the thing which killed Thea and Felicity, not me. You know me, Oliver, you know I'd die before hurting either one of them."

"A hand?" said Oliver again, feeling his hopes sink.

"Look, I know how that sounds, I do," said Roy fiercely. "But you have to believe me. I don't know how or why but that hand is what is killing people, not me. I swear to you, Oliver, I didn't hurt anyone. Tell me you believe me."

"Roy, can you hear what you're saying?" asked Oliver in distress. "Are you seriously asking me to believe that some kind of zombie hand was responsible for Thea and Felicity's death?"

"You don't have to take my word for it," said Roy urgently. "After what happened to Felicity, I put in cameras. They recorded everything. It'll show you that I didn't hurt Thea, that it was the hand." Roy leaned over the table towards him. "Just look at the footage on those cameras. It'll prove to you I'm not crazy, that everything I'm saying is true and that you've got to find that thing and destroy it, okay, before it hurts other people," he said hoarsely.

"Roy," said Oliver quietly, "what you're saying is impossible."

"No, no, no, it's not," said a panicked Roy. "You have to believe me, Oliver, you're the only one who can stop the hand before it kills again. Then you can get me out of here." His expression was pleading. "Please, Oliver, I'm not crazy, I don't belong in this place. Don't leave me here to rot. I didn't kill Felicity and Thea, it was the hand. You have to believe me."

Oliver looked away, his heart sinking. "I've got to go, Roy," he said quietly. He looked back at the other man. "I'll make sure you get the best care money can buy."

"No, no," said Roy in horror, "I don't want that. I want you to believe me!"

Oliver stood up. "I don't blame you. I know what happened with us—" He stopped abruptly and cleared his throat. "You have to know I never meant to destroy your life just like I know you never meant to hurt Felicity and Thea—"

"I didn't hurt them," said Roy in desperation. "Oliver, listen to me, I didn't do it. I swear to you!"

Oliver turned away, feeling his grief all but overwhelm him. "I'm sorry, Roy," he said softly. "I really am, for everything."

"No! No! You can't leave me like this!" screamed Roy, struggling within the confines of his straightjacket. "I didn't do this! You have to stop the hand! The hand killed the girls, not me! Oliver! Don't you leave me! You have to believe me!"

Oliver walked towards the door, trying to ignore Roy's hysterical rantings.

"Look at the camera feed!" Roy yelled at him, still wrestling against his bonds. "They'll prove to you I'm not crazy! Oliver! Look at the camera feed!"

The orderly closed the door behind Oliver and now Roy's demented shouts were muffled. Oliver was met by a sober looking Detective Lance.

"I'm sorry for your loss," said the older man tightly, face drawn in unhappiness.

Oliver's expression was pained. "Thank you," he said hoarsely.

Lance looked over Oliver's shoulder to the door, which Roy's shouting could still be heard behind. "I have the confiscated cameras from Roy's house. I was just about to look at them." He paused. "It's not by the book… but do you want to take a look at them with me?"

Oliver looked at him and then swallowed hard. "Yes," he said hoarsely. Roy's story was insane and there was no way it could be true but there was this niggling doubt Oliver couldn't quite shake. Roy was so convinced of his story about the hand. It was madness but then, this whole day had been nothing but madness.

Lance inclined his head and then silently walked them into another room, where a laptop had been set up. He indicated for Oliver to take a seat and then took the chair beside him. Lance looked at Oliver. "Are you sure?" he asked tightly. "What we're about to see… it ain't gonna be easy to watch."

Oliver's jaw hardened. "I know," he said unevenly, "but I owe it to Thea and Felicity… and to Roy."

Lance nodded. "Okay." He pressed a key on the keyboard and the camera feeds were played back. Lance sped them up until Thea was in the house and then brought them back to normal speed.

A lump formed in Oliver's throat to see Thea alive and talking, even though he couldn't hear her words. It was the last time he was going to see that and Oliver was forced to blink away tears at the thought. His gaze was caught by images of Roy's bedroom. There was a plastic wrapped body on the floor of the bedroom and Oliver felt sick at knowing he was looking at Felicity. His stomach lurched to think of her in there and what she must have gone through in the final seconds of her life, the terror she must have been feeling. Had she called out for him? Had she begged Roy for her life? It was too hard to think about. Oliver looked away for a few seconds, trying to collect himself. When he looked back it was to see that Thea had just noticed Felicity's body. Oliver watched her react, pushing past Roy to get to the bedroom, Roy chasing after her. His stomach clenched, not wanting to see this but knew he had to, just to be sure. Roy and Thea were arguing in the bedroom, over Felicity's corpse. It looked like Roy was trying to defend himself but Thea wasn't buying what he was selling. Oliver knew the feeling. "Roy said it was a dismembered hand," said Oliver shakily. "That was who… what killed my sister and Felicity."

"Yeah, he was singing that song when we arrested him," said Lance flatly. "He busted up the place pretty good on the hunt for this supposed killer hand."

"You didn't find anything?" Oliver didn't even know why he was asking. It was all just too bizarre for words.

Lance gave him a look which said he was thinking the same thing. "What do you think?"

Oliver grimaced and turned his attention back to the screen. Suddenly Roy's face darkened. He turned and slammed the bedroom door shut on him and Thea and then he was advancing on her. Roy gripped Thea tightly around the throat with his left hand as she struggled to break free, her eyes wide and full of fear. Oliver stood up abruptly and walked away. "Turn it off," he rasped.

Lance complied and then was standing to talk to the other man. "I'm sorry but were you really expecting anything different?"

Oliver drew in an uneven breath. "No," he said raggedly and then looked to the heavens. He hadn't been but seeing it confirmed was just another level of hell to be endured.

"Roy's up for a lot of psyche evaluations," said Lance soberly. "He just snapped, couldn't handle reality and attacked those closest to him and when his mind couldn't handle what he'd done—"

"His brain created the reanimated hand persona to deal with killing Felicity and Thea," said Oliver dully. "I know." He looked at Lance. "Roy really believes that hand did the killing and not him, I can see it in his eyes."

"We did an initial polygraph and he passed," agreed Lance. "His brain his totally blocked out what he did. It's going to take a lot of medication and therapy to get him to accept what he's done."

Oliver looked at him, torn. "How would you rather be, believing in a lie or waking up to a truth which is going to destroy you all over again?" He shook his head. "There is no way for Roy to come out of this okay."

Lance nodded his head. "I don't think okay is an option anymore for that kid. It just comes down to which kind of hell he's going to live out the rest of his days in."

Oliver's face crumbled and he put a hand to his face, knowing this was all his fault. He'd lost his entire world along with Roy and all because he'd tried to do the right thing.

"I don't know what to tell you, Oliver," said Lance sympathetically, "except that no good deed goes unpunished."

"Ohh… nice tie in with the title, brown bear," said Bunny approvingly.

"That poor man," said Felicity in sympathy. "Both of them."

"That guy should have let the other guy die on the train tracks," said Roy knowingly.

Oliver arched an eyebrow. "Really? If you were in that position, that's what you'd want?"

"Hell, yeah," said Roy emphatically. "I'd hate to lose a hand or arm."

"That's not going to happen," said Felicity firmly. "That's why we're a team, we look out for each other."

"You're all so cute," said Bunny appreciatively. "You're like a little family."

Diggle half-smiled. "I guess we are, in a way."

"Still no lights," noted Roy. "Who's up next for a story?"

"Oh wait," said Bunny quickly. "I have to powder my nose." He looked at Felicity. "Come with me, honey?"

"Excuse me, what?" asked a taken aback Oliver.

Bunny patted his leg. "It's alright, monkey, we're not going to talk about you." He put his hand up to his mouth and did a loud aside whisper to Felicity. "We're totally going to talk about him."

Felicity giggled. "Good."

"Ah, no, not good," said Oliver unevenly. "Bunny, just go to the bathroom alone. You're a grown man."

"I'm a grown man who's just heard about nine-fingered strangers waiting for you in your house and dismembered hands strangling people," said Bunny. He wrinkled his nose. "I'm not going anywhere in the dark alone." Bunny belched noisily. "I'm getting gassy just thinking about it."

"I thought you farted when you were scared?" noted Roy dryly.

"The tummy gas is a precursor to the actual main event," said Bunny blithely.

"I'm so sad I know that now," sighed Diggle.

"Forewarned is for armed, brown bear," said Bunny knowingly.

"My point is, if you're scared, Felicity isn't the best pick to protect you," argued Oliver.

"None taken," said Felicity calmly.

Oliver wrinkled his nose. "Sorry. I just mean that out of the four of us, your skill set isn't particularly in that area. You know, not like mine is."

"You hear that, Bunny," said Felicity mischievously, "Oliver's volunteered to take my place."

"What, no," said Oliver hastily. "No, I didn't."

"It's alright, monkey," said Bunny blithely, "I don't bite." Another loud aside to Felicity behind the back of his hand. "I absolutely bite."

Felicity laughed again as Oliver rolled his eyes. "Roy, you go with Bunny."

"What?" squeaked Roy. "How come I've gotten the short straw?"

"Trust me, darling," purred Bunny. "My straw… definitely not short."

Felicity bit her bottom lip to try and stop from laughing again. She and Diggle shared amused looks.

"I am not watching another guy pee," protested Roy strongly.

"You're the reason Bunny is here in the first place," countered Oliver, just as strongly.

"Diggle is the one who made the deal about the favor," said Roy sharply.

"Bunny is hiding out from the brother of the guy you killed," said Oliver flatly.

"He was killed by chickens!" said Roy hotly. "I keep telling you. I was an innocent bystander."

"Roy, just go with Bunny," said Oliver in exasperation.

Roy pulled a face and reluctantly stood up. "I'm a second class citizen in this team," he grumbled. "I get all the crappy jobs."

"It's alright, honey, I just need to tinkle, no twoesies," said Bunny cheerily, standing up as well.

"Small mercies," muttered Roy.

Felicity leant over and picked up her phone which still had the fire app playing. "Here, you'll need this."

"Oh yeah," said Roy sarcastically, "that's what this situation needs, more light. Yeah, no."

Oliver smiled at the younger man's ire as he and Bunny walked off together into the gloom.

"This is fun," said Felicity happily. "We should do this more often."

"Stop grabbing at me!" said Roy irritably off in the darkness.

"I have terrible night vision, kitten," complained Bunny. "I can't see where I'm going."

"You go any further south of the border and bad night vision will be the least of your problems," said Roy hotly. "No touching!"

"Can't I just hold your hand, to get my bearings?"

"No!"

There was suddenly the sound of someone tripping over and things being broken.

Felicity sat up straighter. "Bunny, are you alright?" she asked in concern.

"I'm fine, poppet, that was my kitten."

"Son of a bitch," muttered Roy unevenly and there was the sound of him clambering to his feet.

"Seems like me you hitched your wagon to the wrong star if you're hoping Roy to get you there safely, Bunny," said Diggle wryly.

"I tripped over Bunny," complained Roy in annoyance. "He just stopped walking."

"I couldn't see. I had to stop walking."

"Oh, for the love of—" ground out Roy. "Here."

Oliver's lips twitched. "Are you holding Bunny's hand now?"

"No," snapped Roy.

"Ohh… soft hands," said Bunny approvingly.

"He's imagining it," growled Roy. "Come on, let's get this over with already."

Oliver couldn't grinned, wishing the lights on so he could see Roy leading Bunny to the bathroom by the hand.

Felicity nudged him. "See, I told you Bunny would be fun to have around."

"Only when he's torturing Roy," conceded Oliver. "But the guy is still a liability."

"You worry over things which don't always need to be worried about," said Felicity firmly. "I have a good feeling about Bunny. I think this is going to work."

"Diggle, please tell Felicity that Bunny isn't joining the team, that he's only here until you can take care of Ross Ross and get Bunny out of our hair," said Oliver determinedly.

"So, you want me to lie to you?" said Diggle, straight faced.

"No," said Oliver in horror, "I want you to tell me the truth, which is that Bunny will be out of our lives soon."

"Now who's setting unrealistic expectations," said Diggle dryly.

"You can't be serious?" said Oliver in distress. "You want to keep Bunny around?"

"You're asking the wrong question," pointed out Diggle. "The real question is, do we have any possible hope of getting Bunny out of our lives now that he's in them?"

"Yes?" offered up Oliver hopefully.

Diggle arched an eyebrow.

Oliver's shoulders sagged. "This is ridiculous," he complained. "Why are we being undone by one man?"

"It's not one man, it's a Bunny," said Diggle wryly. "And if you have a plan to make him go away after all this is done, I'm listening."

"We tell him to go," said Oliver and then pulled a face. "Okay, yeah, that's not going to work."

"I don't know what everyone's problem is," said Felicity. "I think Bunny is awesome."

"That's because he's not sexually harassing you every five seconds," said Oliver in agitation.

Felicity gave an inelegant snort. "Like you all can't look out for your own virtue."

"Okay, let's put it this way," argued Oliver. "How would you feel if Bunny was a woman and was propositioning me all over the place?"

"Nope," said Diggle firmly, "abort, Oliver, abort."

Oliver gave him a confused look, not understanding the warning. "Why? What did I say?"

Felicity arched an eyebrow. "Are you being serious right now?"

"Yes. I don't think you'd be this relaxed about Bunny's behavior if he was a woman and was always trying to get his hands on me," argued Oliver, not giving up on making his point, particularly if he could win Felicity over to his way of thinking.

Diggle shook his head. "So pretty and yet so unbelievably stupid."

"What?" demanded Oliver. "What am I saying that is so wrong?"

"Oliver Queen, are you really this disconnected from your own life?" asked Felicity firmly. "And the life of people around you?"

Oliver frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"I wouldn't be trial dating you if I was worried about other women."

"I know," said Oliver quickly, "and you don't have to… worry about other women, I mean."

"Because when it comes to you and other women," continued on Felicity, as though he hadn't spoken, "there is a lot of fuel to add to that particular fire."

"That's all in the past," protested Oliver. "I only have eyes for you. Tell me you know that, Felicity."

"Your effect on women is not in the past," said Felicity calmly. "Just yesterday a woman handed you her phone number in that coffee shop we were having lunch in."

"She probably was just looking for a job," hedged Oliver.

"The phone number was written on her panties," said Felicity flatly. "I think we all know what job she was angling for."

Oliver grimaced.

"And then there was the woman at the bank, who wanted you to sign her breasts." Felicity gave him a pointed look. "Or are you going to try to tell me she mistook you for her cardiac surgeon when she ripped open her blouse?"

Diggle sighed. "Told you, no good can come of these conversations."

Oliver ignored him as he looked earnestly into Felicity's eyes. "Look, it doesn't matter what those other women do, how much they proposition me, that doesn't change my feelings for you, or my fidelity in this relationship." Felicity just held his gaze steadily and then Oliver realized something. He looked over at Diggle. "I just shot down my own argument about why we should get rid of Bunny, didn't I?" asked Oliver in resignation.

"Even the slowest train pulls into the station eventually," said Diggle, lips twitching.

Oliver banged his head back against the wall. "Damn it." He rallied quickly though. "Okay, I want to change the premise of my argument."

"Sloppy debating practice," noted Diggle.

Oliver didn't care. "He's a security risk. You see how much that guy talks. Bunny is a liability with all that running off at the mouth."

"Nope, bad choice," offered up Diggle.

"I talk a lot," pointed out Felicity. "Is that how you see me, Oliver, as a liability?"

"No," said Oliver hastily, once again realizing too late his argument was on shaky ground. "No, that isn't what I meant. I trust you."

"Well, I trust Bunny, and, doing the math, if you trust me and I trust Bunny, then by extension, you must trust Bunny too," said Felicity easily. "It's simple."

Oliver opened his mouth to try and form some kind of rebuttal but Diggle got in first.

"At some point you're going to have to realize that everything you say just digs yourself a bigger hole when it comes to the Bunny debacle," said Diggle dryly. "Your only chance going forward is silence."

Oliver scowled at him for that, even more annoyed because the other man was most likely right.

"I guess if you're really worried, I can always use the amnesia serum I've been developing," said Felicity casually. "That'll wipe all of Bunny's memories from the last couple of weeks."

Oliver look at her in amazement. "We have amnesia serum?"

"No, of course we don't," snorted Felicity. She rolled her eyes at him. "What am I, a Bond villain?"

Diggle gave a little bark of laughter, which Oliver really didn't appreciate.

"You made the exo-skeleton suit," argued Oliver. "And fixed the plumbing in this place and somehow managed to fit in becoming Bunny's personal shopper. To be honest, Felicity, I feel like when it comes to you, anything is possible."

"I would make an awesome Bond villain," conceded Felicity in satisfaction. "You're just lucky I'm choosing to use my powers for good, rather than evil."

"I think the whole of Starling City is grateful for that," said Oliver in amusement.

Suddenly the lights came back on and they were all forced to blink in the abrupt flood of light.

"Arrggghhh!"

Roy's scream bounced off the foundry walls. The younger man staggered out of the bathroom, face screwed up. "I did not need to see that!"

Bunny strolled out after him, tying up his robe more securely. "Oh honey, what's a little full frontal nudity between friends?"

"Bad!" snapped Roy. "It's bad!"

Felicity was reaching for her phone. "The phone service is back." She flicked through a few screens. "I've got some missed messages."

"Is the power back on everywhere?" asked Oliver.

"I'll check," said Felicity absently as she stood up and retrieved her messages. She took a seat at the computer and squinted at the screen. "Dang it, I really do need to keep a spare set of glasses here." Felicity started to tap away at the keyboard regardless, as she listened to her phone messages.

"So, we can get out of here?" asked Roy hopefully.

"Yes," said Felicity over her shoulder. "The doors have unlocked."

"But you're still not going anywhere," Diggle reminded him. "You're pulling Bunny duty. I've got a party to go to."

"Don't I get some kind of time to recover from my PBSD?" asked Roy unevenly. He clarified as the others looked at him. "Post Bunny Stress Disorder."

"No," said Diggle without hesitation, "you don't."

"Damn it," scowled Roy.

"Power is up all over the city," confirmed Felicity, leaning closer to the screen to read the reports. "Only one or two black spots left but they're working on them."

"So, I'm good to go?" asked Diggle.

Oliver nodded at him. "Yes, go, don't keep the lady waiting." He half-smiled. "And have fun."

"That's the plan," said Diggle in satisfaction. He headed towards the stairs, the monster bobbing up and down from his chest. "See you all later."

"Shall I wait up for you to tuck me in tonight?" asked Bunny hopefully as Diggle started up the stairs.

"That would be a no," said Diggle calmly, as he reached for his phone and dialed. "Lyla, hi, it's me. Sorry, got held up but I'm on my way now."

Diggle was out the door now and Bunny turned his attention to Roy. "Looks like you get the honors, kitten," he said brightly.

"Can you hear that?" asked Roy, a deadly serious expression on his face.

Bunny cocked his head. "Hear what, honey?"

"That's the sound of me screaming 'no' so high-pitched, only dogs can hear it," said Roy flatly.

"I love it when you play hard to get," purred Bunny.

"I have to go too," said Felicity suddenly.

Oliver looked at her and smiled. Finally some alone time. "Sounds great, let me get my coat."

Felicity wrinkled her nose and hung up her phone. "Actually, I just got a message from my Mom, she's sounding pretty down – rehab blues. She wants to Skype with me." Felicity bit her bottom lip and looked at Oliver. "Is that okay?"

"Of course," said Oliver swiftly, hoping his disappointment didn't show. "Go and talk with your mom. We'll make plans for another day."

"Sorry," said Felicity apologetically. "It's just that our talks can last for awhile. I think Mom is missing her life and gets a little stir crazy."

"I understand, Felicity," said Oliver reassuringly. "Your mom has to be your first priority. It's okay."

"I'll make it up to you," promised Felicity as she collected her coat. "How about I take you out on a date tomorrow?"

Oliver grinned. "That sounds great. Where are we going?"

Felicity pursed her lips and looked thoughtful. "It's a surprise. Dress accordingly."

Oliver laughed, already looking forward to it. "How do you dress for a surprise exactly?"

"Layering," advised Bunny knowingly.

"Something waterproof," offered up Roy. "Maybe fire retardant too, seeing as your last surprise date involved arson."

"It wasn't arson, it was an accident," said Felicity quickly. "And there won't be any fire where we're going." She walked up to Oliver and gave him a quick kiss.

"Do I get a clue?" he asked, reaching out and taking her hand.

Felicity scrunched up her face. "I don't want to give it away but be prepared to end the night on your knees in front of me."

Oliver arched an intrigued eyebrow. "Really?"

"Way more sexual than I intended," said Felicity ruefully.

"Do you hear me complaining?" asked Oliver playfully.

Bunny gave a sigh along with a faraway look. "All my best dates ended up with at least one of us on our knees."

"Don't ruin my enjoyment of this moment," said Oliver in vague annoyance.

"I'm just saying."

"Can you not, just this once?"

Bunny shrugged. "Okay, but this point feels moot now."

"It's the mootiest," agreed Roy and then hesitated as everyone looked at him. "If moot means what I think it does."

Oliver rolled his eyes and realized something. "Wait, you can't drive, Felicity. I broke your glasses." He smiled, happy to have an excuse to stay with her longer. "I'll drive you home."

"I have spare glasses in my car."

"Oh," said Oliver, disappointed. "Okay, how about I pick you up for a breakfast date? That's be number nine and then our date that night will make it an even ten," he said in satisfaction. "Half way there to our twenty quota in a week. Not bad."

"I can't work out if this trial dating quota thing is cute or stupid," said Roy flatly. "I'm leaning towards stupid."

"It's what Felicity wants so it's not stupid," said Oliver sharply.

"I think it's romantic," said Bunny approvingly. "You hardly ever see romance anymore."

"You sure you don't want me to drive you home?" asked Oliver, a little wistfully.

Felicity gave a short shake of her head. "No, it gets too complicated with cars then. It's fine." She headed towards the stairs Diggle had just disappeared up. "You stay here and have fun with Bunny and Roy."

"I don't think that's possible," said Oliver, sounding less than thrilled by that plan.

"Ohh… a challenge," said Bunny happily. "I love those."

Felicity gave Oliver a playful wink. "I'll leave you in capable hands then. Night, boys."

"My hands are so capable they come with their own accreditation paperwork," called out Bunny brightly after her. "You give Mummy Poppet a big hello from Aunty Bunny."

"Will do," laughed Felicity as she climbed the stairs.

Oliver couldn't help but admire Felicity shapely backside as it swung from side to side as she climbed the stairs. That was until he noticed he wasn't the only one doing it. "Hey," he said in annoyance to the other two men as Felicity headed out the door. "You're dating my sister and you're gay – no ogling of Felicity's butt, got it?"

"Sorry, just kind of draws the eye," said Roy sheepishly. "I didn't know I was doing it."

"I did," said Bunny candidly. "I like bottoms. I'm not gender specific when it comes to magnificent buttocks."

Oliver was about to tell him he should start when Bunny clapped his hands together, rubbing them excitedly. "Right then, who's up for another story?" He looked expectantly between Oliver and Roy. "Any takers?"

Oliver looked at Roy, trying to work out how the romantic Halloween evening he'd planned with Felicity had come to this. He pulled a face. "I should probably just work out."

Bunny's eyes lit up. "Also a most excellent suggestion. Tell me, where's the best vantage point one might find as to not miss any of the sweating and heaving gorgeousness?"

"Okay, I'm rethinking the exercise thing," said Oliver dryly.

"I'm eating the last of the pizza," said Roy. "I'm stuck in here for the duration, so, I'm whatever."

"Your call then, monkey," said Bunny. "What do you want to do?"

Oliver exhaled loudly and tried to make up his mind…

A/N: Okay, so, confession time. I was planning on doing 3 horror stories in this little anthology but I think I'll leave it at the two for the moment. I'm going to put complete on this story but I may well come back at some point and add a couple more chapters because I do have an idea for a final story – there is a lot of nudity in it, hope that isn't going to be a problem? ;) Anyways, in case I do, you may want to follow this story, if you haven't already. That is, if you want to, of course.

Thank you again one and all for joining me on this bout of silliness and for your kind reviews and follows/faves etc. I'm starting the next story now, don't know when I'll start posting but I do hope you'll join me when I do. I'll miss you all heaps in the interim.

Group hug, people… hey, hands! Wait, I didn't say stop… ;)