A/N: Just a drabble that's been floating around my head since seeing the preview for 2x14. If you want to read what I REALLY want to happen, please go read the amazing "there is a place only you can go" by hopedreamlovepray on Tumblr.

She'd felt him watching her through it all, through the climactic encounter with the Clock King, through the aftermath, all during the drive back to the lair. She could read his emotions. She knew those looks, the disappointment and confusion they denoted. She'd been waiting for him to confront her. As usual, he waited until they were alone.

"Felicity." This time her name was a softly spoken plea. When she looked up from her computers he finally asked. "Why?"

"He threatened me, Oliver. This is my thing, what I do. Computers and hacking, all of this," her hand flourished in the air. "That's why you need me."

"That's not the only—"

She talked right over him, glaring and stuttering. "That is what I bring to this partnership and you know it and I love that you know it and need me and I want to mean something."

For once he correctly interpreted her emotional needs. He wanted to hug her and tell her that she meant so much more to him than her hacking skills. But he stayed back, crossed his arms over his chest and let her finish. She didn't need to be hugged and coddled. She was angry and needed to let it out.

"Oliver think about how you felt when Merlyn started using black arrows to kill people all over town. He took your thing and made it dark and hurtful. Think about how much you wanted to take him down, to take back what archery meant to you. That's how I felt." She hung her head for just a moment. "And yeah I know it was stupid and that there's always going to be someone better than me out there. Pride goeth before a fall and all that. I just…" She shook her head, looked away to hide the tears. "I really like it when you're proud of what I can do."

"Felicity…"

"No." She held her hand out, palm vertical, holding him off. "I know you have this inherent need to fix everything. It's what makes you so wonderful. I need to work this out on my own, ok?" She grabbed her purse and practically sprinted out of the lair.

Oliver watched her go, a frown marring his features.

An hour later, when there was a knock on her door, Felicity looked through the peephole and growled, "Of course it's you." She yanked open the door. "Oliver what part of 'on my own' wasn't clear?"

He stood there in jeans and his bike jacket holding a paper bag. He wasn't smiling though. He looked serious and concerned.

"I thought about what you said. I understand how you felt, having your talents challenged directly like that."

She folded her arms across her chest. "And?"

"And I want you to remember how I finally defeated Merlyn."

Now she frowned. Fine lines appeared on her forehead as she thought back to the night of the quake.

"I had help, Felicity," he whispered. "I couldn't have beaten him without my team."

Tears threatened again. She swallowed twice before nodding her understanding. When she met his eyes, they both smiled.

"So what's in the bag?"

That adorable, loose, playboy smile lit up his features. "Mint-chip."

"Gimme."

He held the bag behind his back and shook his head. "Nope. Teammates don't let each other face a challenge alone."

She laughed. "Fine, but I don't need your protection from ice cream, Oliver."

"I might need yours."