Felicity could feel her hands shake as she cradled Oliver's head in her lap, trying to ignore the seeping coldness of his skin. The dark veins that painted his face and arms made her nauseous.

'Why aren't we going any faster?' Felicity croaked out.

'I'm going as fast as I can Felicity,' was John's curt reply and Felicity flinched back, gripping Oliver tighter as she watched the pavement and buildings blur together into an incomprehensible smudge.

I'm sorry I was mad at you. I'm sorry I was kind of mean and…urgh!

She recalled the gentle pressure of Barry's hands around her waist and the splash of freckles across the bridge of his nose. He had looked so bashful and unsure around her, the exact opposite of Oliver's projected confidence. It still sent a thrill down her spine knowing that she was the reason Barry fumbled and stuttered. She had asked him to Moira's party so she could show Barry how different she looked without her glasses and tablets and algorithms – that underneath all that was a woman semi-comfortable in her own skin.

The slight widening of Oliver's eyes when he had seen her enter the Queen mansion was just a bonus.

Oh who are you kidding Felicity? What are you even doing?

Right now she had to focus on Oliver.

Isn't that the problem in the first place?

The sudden abrupt screech of the car tore Felicity from her thoughts, her arm automatically reaching out to brace herself against the soft leather seat. Oliver let out a small groan, one tinged with pain, but the sound reassured Felicity – it meant he was still alive, still fighting.

Handing Oliver over to Diggle Felicity rushed forward to unlock the door to the club and then the foundry, practically throwing everything on the metal table on the ground so Oliver could have someplace to rest.

'Why aren't there more blankets in this place?' She muttered, wanting to find some way to make him more comfortable. 'You would think with the amount of time both of you spend getting sewn back toget-'

'Felicity,' John interrupted her sharply as she clutched the sole blue flannel throw to her chest. 'I brought him here because you asked me to. Now what?'

She swallowed. 'You need to get Barry.'

Predictably John found her idea sorely lacking.

'Are you kidding me? You want to expose Oliv-'

'He's been poisoned John! What do you want me to do? I'm not a forensic scientist! Barry can help. He's trustworthy.'

John eyed her skeptically.

'Look I know the two of you have been getting…close but-'

Felicity drew back as anger flooded her cheeks and blood.

'Do you really think I would risk Oliver's secret because I have a crush on someone? Seriously John. This is me. I've risked my life for you and him and I've gone along – generally – with whatever crazy schemes you guys cook up. Barry is the only one who can help us and not be a liability. Now the more time we spend arguing about what an idiot you are, the more time that leaves Oliver to, you know, potentially die. Could you please, for the love of god, go get Barry from the train station now?'

John stared at her for a beat before disappearing.

Felicity grasped Oliver's clammy hand in her own, wondering if she had done the right thing.

'You had no right Felicity,' Oliver told her through clenched teeth. Felicity took a moment to appreciate the flushed cheeks and perspiration dotting his brow, took a moment to appreciate how alive Oliver was once again.

'You told him who I was and that wasn't your call to make,' he continued, gazing down at her with narrowed blue eyes. Felicity returned the favour.

'Well I'm sorry but you were pretty much doing a matinee as an almost corpse so I didn't really think there was time for us to, you know, take a vote.'

Oliver hissed out a breath, rubbing his temple as his eyes flickered over her shoulder to where Barry and John were doing a horrible impersonation of two people not trying to eavesdrop on their conversation.

'How do we know he isn't going straight to the police the minute he leaves this place?' Oliver asked in a near whisper.

'He wouldn't do that,' Felicity answered.

'How can you be so sure?' Oliver asked, and there was something in his eyes that gave Felicity pause. It was as if her answer would help him fit a piece of a puzzle only he was attempting to put together.

'Because I trust him Oliver. I've trusted you from the moment you came to me with a laptop full of bullet holes. I would think after everything we've been through you would extend the same courtesy to me,' Felicity told him evenly, matching his intense stare without flinching.

'You trust him,' Oliver said and there was something like defeat in his tone, which confused Felicity slightly.

'Yes. He won't do anything to put you – or me – in any kind of danger Oliver.'

'I did my homework on you and Diggle before I told you my secret. I just don't…' Oliver sighed, rubbing a hand over his face and clenching his jaw.

'Well I did my homework on Barry too,' Felicity admitted, rolling her eyes when Oliver looked surprised. 'Please. He may be cute but there was no way I was going to work with this guy on something within the Arrow hemisphere without making sure he was legit.'

'So when I said he was lying about-'

'I already knew his cover story was bogus,' Felicity stated. 'I figured he had a good reason for being here – which he does – and like I said before, how is his lie any different from the millions we tell the people around us about what we do?'

Oliver studied her intently, Felicity resisting the urge to let her cheeks colour or her breathing to quicken under his scrutiny. A moment later he brushed past her to stop in front of Barry.

'Thank you,' Oliver reluctantly said to the younger man. Barry regarded Oliver warily as Felicity positioned herself between the two men, John with his lips quirked up slightly observing a few paces away.

'For the record Mr Queen I wouldn't tell anyone about your…alternative lifestyle. And you don't have to thank me. You should thank Felicity though instead of being kind of a jerk to her,' Barry informed him causing a particular vein in Oliver's temple to throb.

John let out a chuckle that he quickly disguised as a cough when Oliver glared at his friend.

'Just know that I'm still considering putting an arrow in you,' Oliver bared his teeth.

'He's kidding,' Felicity laughed nervously, laying a hand on Oliver's forearm. 'This one…always trying to show off his expert marksmanship.'

Oliver gave a tight smile and noticed Barry fidget when he saw where Felicity's hand was now.

Good.