Strength ch 2

Felicity picked up her pace, dodging demolition crews, high heels teetering over broken sidewalk, sludge from a barricade smeared onto the muted suit she'd worn to Tommy's funeral. Nearly a week since the disaster and getting around the Glades was tricky, but she needed to get to the club. She knew he would be there. Alone.

Felicity exited from the ladies room changed from her dress into a more comfortable shirt and pants, and she saw him sitting there staring out into the darkness of the club. Oliver sat alone, the emergency lights casting a strange glow across his face.

She walked over and sitting silently next to him.

"Felicity, what are you doing here? You don't need to be here. You should go home." He spoke softly, the words a harsh whisper in the large empty space

"I'm here because I want to be here. I wouldn't be anywhere else right now." Felicity answered. She watched as Oliver turned, studying her expression, most likely for any sign of hesitation or wavering seeing none heturned back to the emptiness in front of him.

"I told my family I wanted to be alone."

"You told them you wanted to be alone so that you could come here."

Silence engulfed them once more.

"This whole place was Tommy's ideas, from the lightning to the chairs, and it is all gone just like him."

"The club's not too broken that it can't be fixed." Felicity said, adding. "Neither are you."

"What makes you so sure?" Oliver asked facing her.

"I'm the IT girl. Remember? I know when something is too broken that it can't be fixed – even if it's a laptop with bullet holes in it."

A ghost of a smile crossed his face at the reminder of their first meeting.

Oliver faced the blackness once more. "It's my fault that Tommy's dead. I should have been there. "

"Oliver." She spoke softly. "You couldn't have prevented Tommy's death. You did all that you could do. All anyone could have done."

Oliver shook his head.

"No one is blaming you for Tommy's death. You shouldn't blame yourself."

Oliver shook his head again. "Laurel does. She asked me why I didn't save him. I should have saved him."

"Oliver, look at me." Felicity got no response. "Oliver, please look at me."

Oliver turned; the utter sadness and vulnerability in his blue eyes pierced her. "This was not your fault. Tommy's father killed him when he set off that machine. Think off all the people you saved. Or if you want think of Tommy. Tommy wouldn't want you sitting here blaming yourself. You can't shoulder all of this guilt Oliver. It will eat you up inside."

She could see Oliver's stone façade beginning to slip back into place and decided to change tactics before she lost him.

"Oliver, when was the last time that you slept?"

Oliver shrugged. "I don't really sleep. Haven't in a long time."

"You need to get some rest or you will be no good to yourself or anyone else."

A small smile appeared on Oliver's face. "Okay, mom." She hadn't meant for it to come out sounding like nagging but if it made Oliver smile, it was worth it.

"Come on downstairs and take a nap while I work on some stuff." She reached out her hand, and he took it without question.

Felicity patted the metal table where she had operated on Oliver. "Good soft bed here." She felt better as she was greeted with another small smile. She grabbed a nearby towel tossing it to him as he jumped up on the table and curled it under his head.

She stepped back a few steps to not invade his personal space and pointed to a nearby chair. "I'm going to stay right here."

Felicity sat down getting her laptop situated, stopping briefly when she heard. "Thank you."

She smiled at the fact that his blue eyes though still heavy looked a little brighter. There was something there now. Hope.

A/N: Thanks to my lovely beta. Hope y'all enjoyed. Please let me know if you liked it.