Hello all! This is the first in a loose series I've been working on with some songs as the inspiration. It's not directly a songfic, more of a standalone fic placing our beloved Olicity (and Diggle, because he's amazing) in some off screen circumstances with a bit of a soundtrack. They won't be chronological and I may cover the same concept multiple ways, so just FYI.

Enjoy! And please let me know what you think :)

Disclaimer: I don't own them so don't sue me. I'm just borrowing them for while :)

LOOK AFTER YOU

CH. 1

Oliver would never admit the half smile that came to his face whenever he returned from a patrol to see his blonde IT girl waiting for him at her desk. While she tried to hide it, there was always that bit of nervousness while he was gone and he could see it fade each time he came back in one piece, or at least without major injury.

Tonight, he was surprised to see her chair empty. She had been there when he left a few hours earlier. He wasn't sure what unnerved him more – her absence from her routine perch or the fact that it bothered him to start with.

Setting down his bow, he looked to Diggle, who was sitting against the wall with a concerned look on his face.

"Did Felicity go home?" he asked, trying to keep his tone light to not betray his disappointment or anything else that may come out.

The older man shook his head and rose to his feet, pointing back in the direction of the small bathroom they had added a few weeks before. "She's taking a shower."

Eyebrows furrowing, Oliver was struck by the oddity of her timing. Seeing his expression, Diggle came closer, lowering his voice, "She got a phone call from someone…and whatever was said, it upset her. She tried to hide it but I could still tell something was up. I tried to ask but she wouldn't talk, she just got up and went in there."

Worry lines creasing his forehead, Oliver looked over to the door, hearing the faint sound of water running. Turning back, he started to ask how long she had been in there when Diggle eyed him, "She has been in there for a solid 30 minutes man."

Concern blossomed in his chest as he nodded, moving towards the small bathroom.

It had been her idea to add it, pointing out that Oliver could use a place to change and shower after he came back "all hot and bothered..er…hot and sweaty…3, 2,1" after his missions.

Raising his fist, he knocked a few times on the door and attempted humor first, "Felicity, the city does charge me for water, you know." Waiting, he heard no answer. Frowning, he knocked again a little louder, "Felicity, you alright in there?"

He could've sworn he heard a sniffle but everything was muffled through the door, even her soft voice, "I'm fine Oliver. I'll be out shortly."

Lips set in a line, he stepped back from the door, knowing she wouldn't appreciate him crowding her. Resisting the urge to pace, he rocked back and forth on his heels until the door opened, billows of steam rushing out of the confined space. She exited, dressed in a pair of sweats and a t-shit that left in the lair, wet hair loosely braided over one shoulder, eyes downcast, avoiding Oliver's as she shuffled past him.

"It's free now to use." Her soft, shaky tone did nothing to alleviate the mounting concern he was trying to keep in check. Snaking out a hand, he caught her wrist and tugged her towards him gently.

"Hey, you alright?" He purposefully kept his tone light, not wanting to cross a line and make her shut down.

Her eyes shifted from her feet to his and then glanced nervously up. His breath caught in his throat as he took in the red rims and dull pain present in her normally clear blue eyes. His eyebrows furrowed in concerned response and he found himself take a step closer, his arms coming to rest on her upper arms.

"Felicity, what's wrong? What's going on?" His voice came out a little rougher than he had intended, but seeing his IT girl cry was pretty high on his list of things that scared him witless.

Clearing her throat, she looked away for a moment as if to muster some courage before turning back to him. "I'm going to need to take a personal day or two, if that's alright. I'll get everything set up here so the searches are running while I'm gone." Her voice was clear and almost too precise. In that moment, Oliver would've given anything for her to ramble on and on.

"Sure, of course. Take as much time as you need. Are you okay? Are you sick? I can take you home." He tried to be reassuring but the thought of her needing personal time, though a normal request, ratcheted up the alarm in his mind. Was she sick?

"I – I need to-" she paused, trailing off as her eyes swept to her desk. Oliver moved a hand to rest along her neck, stroking her jaw line with his thumb unconsciously.

"Felicity? Talk to me."

That shook her out of the reverie she was stuck in and she righted herself, taking a step back out of his reach before responding. "I need to leave Starling for a few days. I should be back early next week." Before Oliver could respond, she turned quickly on her heel and swooped towards her desk to grab her bag and her coat. "The searches I have running should be fine. Same rule as always, don't touch my babies." Her eyes avoided both his and Diggle's gaze as she moved towards the staircase. "I may not be able to respond if you call, but I'll try to check my phone if it's really an emergency."

Oliver had already hung up his hooded jacket and grabbed his brown leather and his car keys by the time she had finished, following her up the stairs. "Felicity, slow down. Let me take you home."

She turned on him then with a soft tone. "No, I need my car Oliver. I'm fine," she lied, shifting her eyes away from him.

"You guys take your car Felicity. I'll follow behind and give Oliver a lift back. We all need to be getting home anyway. It's late," Diggle spoke up from the base of the stairs, grabbing his own jacket after sharing a brief look with Oliver.

She didn't seem to have enough fight left to take them both on and merely shrugged, leading the three of them up and out of Verdant. Silently, she walked to her car and sat in the passenger seat, staring at her hands.

Oliver paused, grabbing Diggle's arms as they both eyed her with concern. "Dig, did you get a gist of what happened on that call?"

The former soldier shook his hand, brow furrowed towards the girl, "She didn't say much in response. Something about understanding and she thanked the person. Then she was up and walking to the shower. I don't know man. But something's not right."

Oliver responded with a brief nod before walking to her car and climbing in. He looked over at her briefly, noting that she had yet to put on her seatbelt. She barely looked up when he reached across her to grab it and buckle it securely across her lap. The knot of worry in his chest tightened just a bit.

The ride to her apartment was silent. Felicity seemed focused on her thumb nails, which were chipped and jagged by the time they arrived. Oliver wasn't trying to hide his concern at that point, but also trying to gauge how far he could push her. This was foreign territory for them. Felicity was the bright and happy one. The optimist. The most human of them all. And frankly, she was rather predictable and dependable. It was something he cherished about her. She provided a level of stability for their little team that they so desperately needed.

So sitting there with her now, silent, tense, he was completely out of his element and had to admit that he was off kilter as a result.

As they pulled up to the apartment, he turned to her, placing one hand on her arm. She stilled but kept her eyes down, "Felicity. The offer still stands. If you need to tell someone about your day. I'm here."

She seemed to consider his words for a moment and then reached to unbuckle her seatbelt, "Thank you Oliver, really. I'm fine." With that, her head was out of the door. He noticed she left her purse in the floorboard and grabbed it, jumping out to catch up with her. Only then did he notice that she was a bit unsteady on her feet. Diggle, who had parked right behind them, noticed it as well and they both jumped forward to steady her. For all her "I'm fines," she didn't turn down the help and seemed to soften as one of Oliver's hands went to the small of her back and the other to her elbow.

Nothing was said as the two escorted her to her apartment, checking to make sure the unit was secure and the windows locked. Diggle and Oliver shared a look and with a brief nod and a squeeze to her shoulder, the former soldier left the apartment.

She dropped her purse on the counter, seeming to not notice Oliver standing in her entryway as she moved into her bedroom. Giving her a moment to recoup, he moved into the kitchen, taking down two wine glasses and a bottle of her favorite red that he knew she had stashed for a rainy day. He wasn't sure what had happened, but his IT girl loved her wine, and he wanted it ready if needed. Leaving the glasses on the counter, he moved quietly towards the bedroom, pausing to lean against the doorway.

She was standing at the foot of her bed, unzipping a small suitcase, moving with a slow but steady purpose.

"Where are you going?

If his question surprised her, she didn't show it. Without looking up, she crossed to her dresser, rifling through the drawers for a few things to throw back in the suitcase. "Home. Coast City."

His heart started to beat a bit faster. Was this it? Was she leaving? Had he done something? Had he finally pushed her to her breaking point? With a deep breath, he willed his racing mind to stop getting ahead of itself and unclenched his tight fists.

"Why is that?" He wanted to demand answers, but something about her state told him to tread carefully, to treat her with a gentle hand. That this was not the time to push her.

She paused, a pair of jeans fisted in her tiny hands. She looked down at them for a moment, as if considering the role they played in the greater scheme of life, before tossing them haphazardly into the bag.

"I have some things to take care of. Like I said, I just need a few days. If it's not too much to ask I mean. I pretty much spend all of my time working." Her voice was still soft and despite the sharpness of her words, her tone held not anger towards him or bitterness about her work. He knew that she valued both her job at QC, even if it was beneath her qualification-wise, and even more her role on Team Arrow as she called it. She was the glue that held them together, and she reveled and thrived in that important role.

She turned to her closet, pulling out a few dressier items before reaching into the back to a garment bag. He watched as she held it up in front of her, hands trembling just a bit as she brought the zipper down. His curiosity was piqued and he stepped closer to her side, concerned at her sharp intake of breath. Inside was a simple black dress. Classic and straight-laced with a simple black leather belt, it seemed like something she would be very uncomfortable in. He was wondering why it was significant when he heard a slight sob coming from the petite blonde in front of him.

Alarmed, he reached up to gently take hold of her elbows, "Felicity? What is it?"

She ducked her head, not willing to meet his eyes, but didn't move from his grasp as she laid the dress across the suitcase. Sucking in a shuddering breath, he noticed her shoulders tremble with the weight of whatever it was she was holding back. Turning her slightly, he lifted a hand to tip her chin up.

Their eyes met for a moment and his heart ached in his chest when he saw the unshed tears threatening to fall.

Though he had never hugged her before, despite always wondering what she would feel like against his chest, he tugged her closer, wrapping one arm around her waist and the opposite hand cupping the back of her head.

"Shhhh. It's okay. Shhhh." He murmured against her hair, sensing her body relax into him. Her hands grabbed onto his shirt, her forehead falling to rest against his chest. He smiled softly against her temple, noting how she was a perfect fit in his arms, frowning only a moment later when the unshed tears began to fall and soak his shirt.

He rocked her gently, stroking her hair with his hand and murmuring comforting words in her ear. Her cries were silent but he could still feel her body tremble against him as the sobs poured out.

He wasn't sure how long they stayed that way, but when she made the move to pull back, he let her, knowing that he needed to be there on her terms, and not wanting to make her anymore upset than she already was. He tried to ignore the loss and sense of cold he felt when she left his arms, instead trying to focus on her face. She rubbed her eyes roughly, smearing mascara beneath her eyelids. For a moment, he observed her, noting how her vulnerability made her seem even younger, more innocent. Suddenly, he was in full possessive mode, wanting to take her away and watch over her, ensuring nothing so much as caused her discomfort. Her deep shuddering breath snapped him out of that train of thought, and when she moved to sit on the edge of the bed, he took the seat right next to her. Close enough to touch if she wanted his comfort, but far enough to respect her personal space.

"I got a phone call tonight – from the hospital in Coast City. My uh – my mimi – um, my grandmother, was found in her apartment tonight. She had a heart attack from what they can tell. She didn't make it," her voice was small as she spoke, small and measured. As if it was taking a tremendous amount of internal control to keep her voice steady.

Oliver reached out to put his hand over hers where it rested on her lap. "I'm so sorry Felicity. Were you close to her?"

Her eyes traveled to their hands entwined in her lap and she took in another fortifying breath before nodding. He stroked his thumb over her hand, desperately wishing he could wipe away the grief that was settling hard over her entire body. He had never seen her like this. Quiet, yet calm. She wasn't hysterical like Thea was when she was upset, and she wasn't crumbling against him like Laurel would have. She was composed, despite the tears he saw rolling down her cheeks and the slight tremble in her hands. As he silently observed her, a wave of something crashed over him. Truthfully, he was amazed by this woman. Not just by her beyond impressive resourcefulness as the brains of Team Arrow, but by her heart. Her strength. And right now, her grief. The way she carried herself on a given day brought a smile to his face. Right now, it was tugging on the strings of his heart and he wanted nothing more than to make this better.

As if knowing what he was thinking, she swallowed thickly and lifted her eyes to meet his. Her lips were set in a firm line, but her eyes showed the depth of her grief plainly, and if he looked close enough, a hint of need. Without thinking, he leaned forward to press a tender kiss to her temple, leaving his lips there long enough to convey a measure of comfort. Was it the professional thing to do, boss to assistant? He didn't really know because she was more than an assistant to him, and right now, she was a woman in need of comfort. And that was all that mattered.

His lips felt warm and soft against her skin and she felt the tenuous control she had over her emotions slip just a bit as she leaned into his lips. She shouldn't be soaking up the comfort he was giving like this. After all, he was just her boss. And he had made his position on this – whatever was between them – quite clear after Russia. She wasn't expecting this or looking for this from him. But she also didn't have the heart to turn it down.

He leaned back just a bit and she immediately felt the cold that had wrapped around her since the phone call rush back into her bones. A slight shiver ran up her spine and she returned her gaze to her lap, giving herself a moment to compose her emotions. She had already sobbed into his shirt once tonight, she wasn't about to let it happen again.

Before she could think, his hands had left hers and with a quiet murmur of something, left the bedroom. She barely acknowledged the soft noises coming from the kitchen and took the moment alone to wipe the moisture from her eyes, running a brief hand over her wet hair. Granted, at this point, Oliver had already seen her a mess, but she couldn't help wanting to retain some dignity in front of the man she cared so deeply for.

Willing herself to move, she stood and resumed packing, folding her black funeral dress into the suitcase without looking at it again. Crossing to her dresser, she opened her jewelry box, pulling out a few pieces she would need before reaching to the very back. Her hand shook just a bit as it brushed across a small black jewelry box. Her eyes welled slightly as she ran a cautious thumb over the top of the box before moving to stand by her suitcase. This was how Oliver found her when he returned, warm mug of tea in his hand for her.

"Felicity?" His soft voice shook her from her reverie and she glanced to the left, noting the mug with a soft look of gratitude. His eyes were equally soft and he wasn't trying to hide the concern he was feeling for her. That look in his eyes – directed at her specifically – hit her heart in a way she couldn't deal with right now. With a gentle nod, she took the mug gratefully with one hand, thankful for the warmth that it infused into her skin as she took a cautious sip.

His hand fell to her shoulder with a gentle squeeze.

"Thank you, Oliver. For the ride and… for the tea." She was proud of how put together her voice sounded, and mentally gave herself a pat on the back.

He nodded in response, sitting again on the bed, next to her suitcase. She narrowed her eyes slightly at him, fully expecting him to have given her some excuse about the office, or the fact that Diggle was downstairs. Instead, he was settling in, silently offering her comfort and companionship. She felt a tear fall and knew it wasn't from grief this time. His brows furrowed as he saw it, reaching a thumb up to brush it away. She rewarded his action with a watery smile.

"What's that?" His gaze drifted to the box still clutched in her right hand. "If you want to tell me, I mean. You don't have to."

His cautious tone did not go unnoticed, and she was overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness he was showing to her. This wasn't the Oliver Queen she accustomed to dealing with. But considering her current emotional state, she was grateful for the softness he was showing, even if she would probably be mortified later for allowing it.

She handed him the mug, lifting the lid of the small velvet box with one hand. Her eyes welled again seeing the box's contents. "Mimi gave me these, the day I graduated from MIT. She said every woman, geek or not, needed a pair." Oliver leaned over curiously, a small half-smile appearing on his face when he saw the delicate pearl earrings. Felicity rubbed a reverent thumb over them and swallowed down the sob that was rising in her throat. "She saved for months for these. Said I deserved the real ones." Oliver was watching her now with an open expression. His hand drifted to her elbow, where it offered a silent support.

Sucking in a shuddering breath, she carefully closed the box and placed it safely in her suitcase, tucking it amongst her other items as if it were made of crystal. "They are still the nicest things I own…I mean, I know that's probably silly to you considering your socks probably cost more than they do and I –"

A firm squeeze at her elbow stopped her nervous babble and she jerked her eyes to him. That half smile was still firmly in place, and Felicity saw the soft sincerity in his eyes as he spoke, "Felicity, they are absolutely beautiful. I can see why you treasure them." The genuine care in his eyes shook her and she closed hers in response.

He kept a supportive hand at her shoulder, hoping it was bringing her comfort. When her eyes opened again, she looked a little more put together and nodded softly, turning back to her suitcase to finish packing. He sat there silently watching her for a few minutes until she had finished and zipped the bag. He stood, setting the mug down on her dresser before taking the bag off of her bed for her and placing it on the floor.

For the first time since they had gotten there, there was a slight awkwardness between them as they both stood, unsure. He saw her start to stiffen and reacted quickly.

"When is the..when is the funeral?"

She bit her lip thoughtfully and slight furrow appeared between her brows. He instantly wanted to smooth it away. "I'm not sure yet. I'll need to plan that."

Confused, he took a step towards her, running his hand down her bare arm, "Isn't there someone else? Your mom or dad, or a cousin, that could help?"

He instantly knew he had said the wrong thing as he watched a veil of pain cross her normally clear blue eyes. She stiffened, a new layer of tension falling onto her shoulders before she looked away, anywhere but at him. "No, it's just me."

A heavy dose of regret and guilt settled in his stomach, realizing that for all the time he spent with this amazing woman, he knew very little about her family. He knew very little about her background period. He knew her little tells, her favorite wines, that she hated kangaroos, and other small tidbits she had let out over the last year and a half. But he didn't know much of her background beyond going to MIT.

A knot in his chest made itself known as he thought of her having to plan a funeral for her grandmother, a woman who she clearly adored, alone. Rubbing his hand up her arm to cup her cheek, he made up his mind.

"Felicity, I'd like to go with you. Help you, if you'd let me."

The surprise that shot through her eyes at his words showed that she definitely wasn't expecting that. And he wasn't sure what hit him harder, the fact that she didn't expect him to be there for her through this hard time, or the look of barely restrained relief that followed the shock.

She surprised him further a moment later when she stepped into him, resting her forehead on his chest and wrapping her small arms around her waist. He responded in kind, tugging her in close, one hand running through her soft hair and the other rubbing comforting circles on her lower back.

"Thank you."

He shut his eyes, resting his cheek against her hair, knowing that no response was needed. He had prepared his argument in his head in case she was going to fight him on this, but he was more than grateful that she was letting him be there, to look after her. She stepped back from the hug, looking a bit less burdened at the thought of not being alone and he felt a thrill of pride shoot through him when he realized he had lessened that burden.

"Why don't you lie down for just a bit, try to get a little rest. I'll get everything set up and have Diggle grab me some clothes."

She nodded mutely, the exhaustion clear on her face. He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and pushed her to sit on the bed. He waited while she kicked her shoes off and set her glasses on the bedside table before he lifted the duvet for her to slide under. With a sigh, her head hit the pillow and he tucked the blanket securely around her. Turning to leave, he felt a gentle touch on his hand and turned back to see her reaching out for him.

Something twisted in his chest as he took her hand, dropping a soft kiss to it and smiling at her.

"Thank you Oliver."

He nodded, squeezing her hand again before moving into the living room to call Digg.