Trust Me, I'm A Professional

[Oliver Queen]

Oliver stood and waited for her give some sort of hint as to where he would be. In the beginning, it didn't sound promising. She had said that there were no credit card, or social networking sites that she could track him through. But then her tone changed and she seemed to have found something. She went on about how QC had wronged those people -- something he wanted to try and fix -- and then spun the computer screen around to show him a picture of Derek with a few of his friends. It was a bar, one that Oliver could easily recognize the background of, as it was very distinct. And, well . . . in his pre island days, he had spent his time in a fair share of bars. She said it was posted two days ago, which was recent enough to give him a lead. If nothing else, he could ask the bartender if he saw this man often. Besides, knowing Derek's history with the company, Oliver was going to approach him as himself, rather than as The Hood. Oliver waited until Felicity turned her screen around and look back at her computer, before making his swift exit, and then a few moments later, put the lights back on. He went to the Arrowcave, updating Diggle on these new findings.

The next day, Oliver went to the bar and conveniently enough, found Derek there. He had attempted to offer him a job at Queen Consolidated, but the man had his pride and refused to accept help from the son of the man who had screwed him over. Oliver understood that, to a degree. He had wanted to give Derek and his family an alternative to this life of crime they were leading, but he wouldn't have it. And it made Oliver realize that he could do more as the Hood, than he could as Oliver. Which meant, The Hood needed to stop them. And sure enough, the time came when they hit enough bank. But this time, it had gone to hell. Oliver hadn't planned to kill Derek; he was a husband, a father, and did what he was forced to do. He was not a rich businessman who's actions led to the suffering of others; he was a desperate family man forced into circumstances beyond his control. Still. What he was doing was wrong, and Oliver couldn't let him leave with the money. Unfortunately, he had not anticipated an armed guard to be there, and fired . . . shooting Derek as he used himself as a shield to protect his son. Oliver stayed with Derek until he died, even revealing himself to him, and felt the pang of regret and guilt as he watched the life leave Derek's body.

Later than night, Diggle tried to encourage Oliver, giving him words of hope and trying to make him understand the good he was doing. He appreciated it, but Oliver could only focus on his failure, rather than any success. Diggle's pep talk did end on a good note: that Stan had woken up. Oliver took some time of isolation to gather his thoughts, and recompose himself before returning as Oliver. He knew there was someone else ha owed a massive apology to and that was his mother. He kept breaking promises, and not being there for her the way he should. Talking to her about it had made him feel better about the situation, though he still wished he could be a proper son to her, not the shadow of one. The night helped improve Oliver's mood, for he and his mother went to Big Belly Burger and just enjoyed one another's company. It was nice, to at least try and forget about the rest of the world and just focus on them for once. But it was when the rest of the world was asleep, and he was left with his thoughts, that every thought and emotion came flooding back.

[Felicity Smoak]

He'd lied to her!

Felicity had turned her computer around that night, and by the time she'd looked up he'd bee gone. It had left her smiling because in her head she was already planning the next time. How she'd stare at him and give him no choice but to walk away rather then disappear. She felt in that moment, she could trust him.

But he'd lied to her.

Apart of her knew that he might not have been able to help it, but what was the point? He had killed before! How did one go in to talk and someone get killed? If he had told the police, they could have tried it with tazers or something! Maybe that was unrealistic but she had helped him kill a father! There was a widow out there, because she had helped track a man down! Sons who were morning a father! Kids! Not baby kids but still kids!

He's said no killing!

Felicity had saw it on the news and felt guilty and betrayed. The next day she ended up on the elevator with Walter and his step-son again. Only this time she didn't look at them. Couldn't look at Walter. When Walter asked her if she was alright, she told him she was fine, and he seemed to disbelieve her because he pressed the issues. Felicity repeated she was fine, but found it harder to be in the elevator with them. So the moment the doors started opening she squeezed out before the doors were opened all the way, and down the hall.

It was like that all day. It caused her to have to stay really late in order to get her work done because she was distracted. She'd even gotten a battery powered lamp, and aimed it at the door way so if he killed the lights, he could not turn that one off. He could not come in.

She knew she should tell, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. When she left, it was late, and she was tired. Walking to her car, Felicity pulled her keys out and just wanted to go home.

[Oliver Queen]

The next day started as it usually was. Oliver was going to the office with Walter however this time, when Felicity stepped in, he could tell something was wrong. And he knew exactly what that something was. In the few interactions he'd had with her, he knew enough of her personality to recognize when something was off. Even Walter noticed it for he seemed to repeatedly ask her if she was alright. She didn't encourage the conversation and left as soon as the elevator doors opened. Oliver had done all he could to not stare at her. Instead, he looked forward, slightly downward at the ground, forcing himself to stay quiet. He would need to speak to her but not as Oliver; as The Hood. She had trusted him with information and he was well aware that the police didn't reveal how Derek Reston had been killed. Maybe it would have provided some doubt had it come out that he was shot, rather than killed with arrows. He wasn't surprised though. The police were still trying to pain him as a criminal, as a murderer. But he didn't want those he had allied himself with thinking that. He wanted Felicity to continue to trust him, not only because she helped him . . . but to also ease her conscience.

That night, he suited up and told Diggle to take the night off for he wasn't working tonight. He was simply going to speak to an ally. Oliver didn't go to her work place though. He needed to get her attention in a different way, to make sure she had limited time to react to his presence. Because he knew that she would not want to see him. Which was all the more reason he needed to see her. So instead, he waited in the parking lot. She was working later than usual, but patience was one of the many skills he learned. That, and remaining concealed. Seeing her emerge from the doors and walk to her car, Oliver could see that she had her guard down. Now was the perfect moment to approach her, so he did. He waited until she was directly in front of her car, about to reach into her purse to get her keys, before he stepped out from his hiding spot. He kept a distance between them, ensuring he was at an angle to avoid the cameras, but with her back facing him, he had to say something to make his presence known. "Hello Felicity."

[Felicity Smoak]

It was that voice. Not a voice of comfort, but the overly deep false voice brought on by someone using something to disguise it. It was HIM. She jumped upon hearing it, spinning around and taking a few steps back from him. "Stop! Don't!" She demanded, taking a few more steps back. "Whatever you need help with this time, you need to find someone else!"

Because she wasn't going to help him kill ANYONE else! "I should have gone to the . . . I should have gone to the police when you first came to me. You lied to me. You made me look at his life! You made me see his family and then you lied to me." She knew that there might have been a reason behind it, but if one carried a gun--or bow--it was because they were going to use it.

Even though she was speaking about going to the police, there was doubt in her tone. As if she wasn't sure she could even now. Even while talking now, she wasn't saying she would be going. Nor was she moving toward her car.

[Oliver Queen]

Oliver had expected her to react this way, so he was fully prepared for it. He blamed himself a lot for what happened, this among other things, so hearing someone else place that blame on him was nothing new. It was even deserved. But, in this case, he needed her to believe that he had never gone there with the intention of killing Derek. So he let her get it all out of her system, saying that she should gone to the police, that he had lied to her, that he made her look her up and then lied to her face. Oliver waited until he last words, before he spoke. "Derek Reston died protecting his son." A concept Oliver was all too familiar with because, well, his own father had died to protect her. It was extrememly traumatic to see your own father die right in front of you like that. Out of all the things that Oliver had seen and endured, the image of his father pointing the gun at his head and pulling the trigger, was one that would never escape his memory. One that would forever haunt him. And all he could do was honor his memory but fulfilling his final request: right my wrongs.

"I tried to help him," Oliver further explained. In more ways than one; both as Oliver and the Hood, he had tried to help Derek. But he knew the man was too fargone, too desperate to provide a life with his family and using this as the only way to achieve that. While he knew that was only limited justification, since not all fired men delved into a world of crime, he could see that Derek was not a bad person. He deserved better than what the company he had been loyal to had done to him. "But it was too late." When Oliver had gone to him, it was too late because Derek was in too deep. When The Hood had gone to him, it had been too late because the guard had fired the gun and the wound was fatal. And he needed her to understand this; that he had not lied to her in the slightest. He may have failed in protecting Derek, but he had not lied to her. There was a significant difference.

[Felicity Smoak]

He was trying to explain but she wasn't completely sure she was ready to hear him out. Why go there to help him and then kill him? Protecting his son? So was he trying to kill his son? Felicity held up her keys while he talked and held her finger over the panic button, but she didn't press it.

Maybe even then she knew she wouldn't press it. His last words however, told her something wasn't right here. "What do you mean, too late?" She asked, lowering her hand from her actions that were meant to make him go away for fear of her panic button drawing attention. While her thumb was still over the button she wasn't trying to push it at the moment.

[Oliver Queen]

He could see that she had a backup plan, but he also knew she wasn't going to go through with it. If anything, she would get into her car and just drive away, rather than do something to get him caught. He knew that, in his gut. Because, truth of the matter was that she had not gone to the police. She had not given them the phone he left with her -- even if she disgarded it, she had not given it to the authorities. As much as she may hate him right now, or as little as she trusted him, she was not malicious. It was why had knew he could risk coming to a somewhat public area and not feel threatened that she would expose him. She questioned what he had meant by being too late and he could only explain why the vigilante part of him had been late, not why Oliver had been late.

"There was a guard there," he began to explain. Someone he had not anticipated being there, and he was even less prepared for the guard to open fire. "He shot at Reston's son." And well, Felicity knew what happened next as Oliver had explained that Derek died saving his son. "There was nothing I could do by then." Maybe he could have stopped it. Maybe had he been more in tune with his surroundings. All these maybes, regrets, and what ifs . . . but at the moment, Felicity only need know that The Hood had not lied to her; he had not manipulated her.

[Felicity Smoak]

"The guard killed him?" She asked needing that detail to be really clear! Because if he had not killed him, then it might have happened anyway. She wasn't responsible for helping him kill someone--and while yes it was sad and yes she would see not being to forget seeing into this man's life before he died--it would mean that her lack of judgment in trusting a stronger who would not even show her his face wasn't what got someone killed.

While waiting for his answer she didn't even know that she took a few steps closer, but not going too close. There was still a good bit of distance between then but she was approaching him, as if letting down the guard she ha put up when she saw him. She wanted to trust him. She had even liked helping him, and the challenge of finding the information but she could not do this if people were going to die. "Not you?"

[Oliver Queen]

He noticed her body language, as she grew less tense and rejecting of him, and even went as far as to take a few slow steps toward him. That was progress. He could see her starting to give him the benefit of the doubt, something that the police did not do. Which, he expected. She questioned if it was the guard that had killed him, not him, and Oliver paused for a moment. "The guard was doing his job," Oliver pointed out. While he wished he had not done so, the guard was protecting his station. He saw the other armed men and took advantage of the element of surprise he had on them. The guard was not a killer, but rather, someone who was defending his position and probably protecting his own life -- since Reston's son had shot a cop in the bank. It was why the situation had been complex and delicate. Oliver should have disarmed and possibly knocked out the guard long enough to get Reston out of there, in the hopes that he would stop living this life of crime.

"But no. I did not shoot Reston," Oliver stated. Plain and simple. Blunt and straightforward. That was what she needed to hear, and that was what he was going to tell her. After all, it was the truth. And this was not only about regaining her trust so that she would help him. That was not the priority. His main reason for coming here now and explaining himself to her, was to ensure she did not carry any guilt for what had happened. That she did not feel like she had anything to do with Reston's death. That she did not feel responsible for it. She didn't deserve to harbor that guilt and blame herself, and even if she refused to help him with anything else, as long as he could walk away tonight easing her conscience, then he knew his task had been accomplished.

[Felicity Smoak]

He did not kill the father. That was . . . something she needed to take in. Looking down at the ground, she thought over things for a long moment, trying to remeber that he was a killer and he had killed other people--but then why was it important for him to come here now and explain one life to her? Why come and try to make sure that she knew the truth?

That wasn't the actions of a killer. That was the actions of a human. For the first time she begin to wonder if there was more to him then the body count. If he cared about the men he was hunting, then maybe he could be persuaded to do things with less death if she tried to convince him. Don't shoot him, instead let me just look into his life and see what else you can use to scare him. Or something. She could help him, as long as he continued on this not killing (two job) streak that he had done with her. "I believe you." She told him, and looked back up at him.

[Oliver Queen]

She took some time to process his words and he stood there, letting her. He waited patiently, silently, allowing her the time she needed in this moment to reach a verdict. She finally looked at him and spoke words that caused a wave of relief to flood his body, though he showed no sign of it. She believed him. That was all that mattered. If she believed him, then it meant she would no longer feel guilty for having helped him. That was not something he had wanted her to feel in the process of aiding him with gathering information and tracking people.

"The phone I gave you," he began to say. "Do you have it with you?" Because he was going to give her the option now, as to whether she would continue to help him or whether he should not call her to. He would not pressure her either way. He simply wanted to know if it would be worth seeking her out in the future, or if she was far too reluctant to help him the next time.

[Felicity Smoak]

He didn't comment on her believing him or not, which was coming to not surprise her. He seemed to not speak unless he had something directly to say rather then casual conversation. Her believe in him might not even mean something. He could just need her help for later.

Felicity looked down at her bag, and pulled out the phone before holing it up to him to show him that she indeed had it with her. It was powered off though, because she had not wanted to speak to him. She wasn't sure why she carried it then, but she just knew that it was best if she did. "You want it back?" She asked, wondering if he could mean this was the end of her helping.

[Oliver Queen]

Oliver watched her as she pulled out the phone he had given her to get in touch with him. Or well, for him to get in touch with her mostly. She then questioned whether he had wanted it back. "No. You decide," he began to explain to her. "Either keep it or return it to me." Keeping it would mean that she was willing to continue to help him. Returning it to him meant that she was unwilling. And he knew she would understand the implications for both options. "Do you need time to decide?" He further offered. With their meeting today, and her believing that he had not killed Reston, did she need time to decide whether she wanted to keep helping him or not? If she did, he would give that to her.

He knew he was asking no small thing of her. That in some ways, it even put her in danger. But he did not want to create this air of uncertainty between them. Their relationship was strictly one of business, and he did not want to rely on her if she was not ready for this committment. He of course completely understood if she wasn't. As he previously recognized, this was something rather grand that he was asking of her. And just like Diggle had taken some time to consider helping him, he would grant Felicity that same courtesy.

[Felicity Smoak]

Felicity kept her hand on the phone, with it slightly held out to him as he talked to her, and asked her to choose between helping him, and him disappearing from her life. It was her way out if she wanted--but as she had just been thinking, she wasn't sure what she wanted anymore.

"What would you ask of me." Because she needed to know. Hew wanted her help, but she had learned recently that some times good intentions weren't all that was needed. "I won't help you kill."

[Oliver Queen]

She questioned what he would ask her to do, and then stated that she wouldn't help him kill. "Similar things that I have asked you to do thus far," he told her. Meaning, looking up information, tracking people, the things that she could do better and more efficiently than him. He paused before commenting on her next words, refusing to help him kill. "I do what's necessary," he stated. Meaning, he didn't kill for any sort of pleasure. He warned his targets first, and then used more forceful means to get them to do what he ordered them to. Something drastic needed to be done to save this city, and if it required him to be hostile and take lives in the process, then he had to do it.

"The less questions you ask, the better." For both of them. The less she knew about his business -- apart from what he directly told her and whatever she found out for him -- the better. Because she would have more deniablity if the police got involved. He knew that by her being involved, she was risking her own safety and breaking a few laws of her own, so she should only know the absolute minimum information.

[Felicity Smoak]

The less questions she asked the better? Felicity didn't like that. "If I was to do this, it would not be no questions asked. I get that I can't know more about you--I don't even think I want to know too much about you." Because as of right now she could still walk away. Knowing who he was meant she could no longer walk away--plus she was also a bit afraid of him still.

"But I am not just going to blindly help you hunt people, and just hope that I agree with everything you do. I would need to know the details. You could not just say 'find this man' and I would blindly just do it." She wasn't going to be a minion. "Besides the more information I have the better use I would be!----If I did this."

[Oliver Queen]

She wanted to know the details, and . . . no. She really didn't. She said she didn't want to know much about him, which was good. He would never have to deal with questions about who he really is, not that he would have answered them anyway. But she wanted all the intricate details, and he couldn't always provide them. "You won't always like the answers," he warned her. He was not going to promise to stop killing just because she didn't agree with his methods. He killed, because that was what had to be done. Because he had lost his humanity that had prevented him from killing anyone. This was part of the reason he could confidently say that Oliver Queen was dead . . . because Oliver Queen would never even consider killing. The man he was practically cried when he had to kill a pheasant. Killing then had been all about surviving, and now it was about justice.

"I will not tell you everything, but I will tell you what you need to know." For many reasons and part of the reason was that the less she knew, the less information she could provide to the cops just in case they managed to find out she was helping him. "You are either in or out. What's is going to be?" Because there was no half doing this. Which was why he knew it was a lot to ask of her, and why he had also given her the option of taking some time to think it over. He was well aware that right now, she was only focusing on the people she would potentially be causing harm to -- or well he would be. She needed to see it from the other side. "Don't think about the people who may get hurt, but rather, the amount of people who you will help save." Because with every penny from these rich men, every wrong they undid . . . those who were suffering were being helped. Being saved. Justice was being served to them.

[Felicity Smoak]

"You won't always like the answers," She knew that, but she needed to know everything so she could handle this, and not be blind sided by the news next time. She needed to know everything about the cases so that when it came time for him to go point an Arrow at someone, she could have done everything she could to make sure no one got killed.

"I will not tell you everything--" Wrong answer. She could not do this half way. She would not be a blind pawn. She looked down at the phone for a moment, trying to think about how to explain things, and tell him about--"You are either in or out. What's is going to be?" Apparently she would not change his mind. He would either demand her help while not giving her anything or, would not come to her at all. If she had to pick it would be the later.

"Don't think about the people who may get hurt, but rather, the amount of people who you will help save." "Is that how you sleep at night?" She asked him, "By thinking of the people you protected? Because the only thing I can see is the families of the men you go after. Some of them had children, who now have lost a father." Something she knew all too well, and would not help do to someone else.

Tossing the phone at him, she took a few steps back. "Thank you for saving Walter. Thank you for the offer, but I can't help you. I'm not the girl for job." Which sucked, because she could have really used a lot of her skills. Turning she began to walk away--though slowly because she almost hope he would call her back and change his mind.

[Oliver Queen]

Oliver was not going to call her back and change her mind. She had made her decision. And that was it. While he knew it would save him and Diggle a great deal of time to use Felicity's abilities, he was not going to force her or say things she wanted to hear when they were untrue. He would not lie to manipulate her into joining his cause. It was something she had to want to do, not be coerced or tricked into doing. The second she turned her back, he picked up the phone and made his exit from the parking garage. That was it. She was out. He knew it was the best for her . . . or safest for her, but it was also a slight disappointment. Her skills could have been beneficial, however . . . it was not impossible to continue his work. He had expected to do this all alone in the beginning anyway, and he had been lucky with Diggle. So the two of them would continue on, finding the next lead to follow. However, the list was put to rest for a bit as fate had another plan for him, and her name was Helena Bertinelli.

It had all started with his mother getting shot at, and ended with finding someone that Oliver wanted to help. A potential partner. Someone he felt he could train, and help channel her agressions and skills in the right direction. But he had been wrong. So very wrong. Because Oliver had found out the hard way that she could not be saved. It had cost him, cost her, and . . . Diggle had been right all along. That didn't mean that Oliver didn't feel massively disappointed. He had failed in helping Slade, wishing he could have done more for his friend. And now, he had failed in helping Helena. While the both of their circumstances were drastically different, they shared that commonality which rested in Oliver's failure to help those he cared about. And they were just a few names on that list.

Things went from bad to worse, because shortly after Helena . . . Walter went missing. His mother, Thea, and even himself, were all greatly affected by this disappearance of their beloved family member. He wanted to find him, needed to find him, but there was nothing to start with. No evidence, no leads to follow . . . it felt nearly impossible. So all he could do was pray for the best, as he continued to work his way through the list, and be there for his family as much as he could . . . though knew it wasn't nearly enough.

[Felicity Smoak]

Felicity made it to her car before looking back and seeing nothing. She felt oddly disappointed, but could understand why he stuck to his guns. While she was a bit glad it was over, she also missed the anticipation of seeing him again. That was until Walter asked her to do something new, and she agreed--then less then twenty four hours later he was missing.

At first she felt panic. They would come for her too. Every move she made was done with her looking over her shoulder. But as one week turned to two, she began to realize that no one knew who had the notebook, and Walter was not going to sell her out to whom ever held him--or had him before they . . . k-killed him.

She was waiting for the elevators when she heard some of the Queens in the lobby. The daughter looked upset still but trying to be brave, and Felicity knew how she felt. She knew because she lost a father too. Only Walter didn't leave them! He was taken! Her eyes moved from Thea to Oliver, and for a moment she almost sore he was looking back at her.

There was ding, and she turned to look at the doors opening for her ride put, but instead she turned and all but ran down the hall. Felicity had the information to save Walter if he was still alive! And she knew someone who was brave enough and had the skills to follow the leads.

The moment she got to her office, he fingers were on her keys, and she began hacking into street cameras and web sites. She began building a web of information that would help her find something on the Hood. Something to help her find him. It wasn't easy and it took her a few days to begin to be able to find enough information to track which people were making stuff up, which were crazy and which had some truth too it.

Once she begin to be able to tell the difference, track cams took over with her trying to find him on roof tops or ally. Most times she either just missed him, or he disappeared and she lost the trail. "DAMN IT!" She slammed her hands on the desk but then went right back to trying to track someone untraceable. The phone was a dud too, without it being on, she had no signal to even try to trace.

It was a few days later, that she ended up in the elevator with the step-son of Walter Steele. She was quite, and felt a bit nervous. "I'm sorry about your father." No! "Step-father." Who might be dead too. "Both of them." Damn it Felicity! She closed her eyes and mentally counted down from three, before opening them again. The doors opened to her floor and she stepped out but turned to look back at him. "I hope you see him again soon." She felt determined with she said it, because she knew she was running out of time.

That night she was working again, and happened to find her break, when she saw someone post a sighting, and then she caught him with the cams. She almost lost him a few times but she graduated from M.I.T.! She was not going to be undone by any dumb firewall that the city paid some community college graduate to toss up so they felt safe!

When she lost him the last time, she didn't give up. She only just noticed him in a window, from one camera. Hacking into the building's security, she killed their feed, and locked the doors so they could not go up and see what was happening. Her next step was to kill the phone lines so they could not call for help--it also meant she could not call in to warn him. "Fine, we will do this the hard way!" She muttered as she hacked into one of the computers that was still on. The screen that had been dark, blinked on and the light lit up the small room. It was about 15 seconds later that she had power over the speakers.

She took a few deep breaths before speaking into her mic, "Hi." Please know her voice! Cause they didn't have time to explain. "I've got the local security boys locked out of the upper floors for about five more minutes, so you might want to hurry!" Yeah, let him take that in and realize he needed her for more then just information! How do you like them apples--FOCUS! "When your done find me. It's very important! . . . . please."

[Oliver Queen]

Although Oliver was working through his list, Walter's disappearance was taking a heavy toll on his mother and sister. It made Oliver wish he cuold find him, and he even tried to, but with no success. He was getting increasingly frustrated with his inability to find him, and wished he could do more to help someone he was actual close to. These thoughts consumed his mind most of the time, and one particular day, while standing in the elevator, was no exception. He looked up when he heard a familiar voice speak to him -- only familiar as The Hood, because he never talked to her much as Oliver. She was expressing her condolences about his father, and then correcting it to Walter . . . but still inclusive of his father. Oliver looked at her, gave an ever so slight smile to be polite, and thanked her as she stepped off, and then further said she hoped he saw Walter soon. His interactions with Felicity were limited to the few times he had sought her assistance as The Hood. But now, they were non existant. And he knew it had to be that way.

One night, he was on his usual mission, working on the next name on his list. He fit all the criteria though there were mainly two: wealthy and corrupt. He had warned the man about what he needed to do, and that involved transfering a hefty sum of money to another account so that it could be redistributed. All he needed was hide a very customized arrow and that would take care of it. As he was doing that, the computer screen suddenly flickered on and he quickly turned around, looking at the now lit screen. Shortly after, a voice followed and Oliver immediately recognized it. Felicity Smoak. She told him that she had locked the security guards from the upper floors but that he had limited time so needed to be quick. There was no time to be confused as to why she suddenly wanted to help him. He finished what he had come here to do, and took her words seriously. He wouldn't be able to exit the same way he had come in, so he would have to use a less traditional means of escape. Her lastly spoken words did not fall on deaf ears. He stood by the window, pausing for a moment. He gave her instructions of a building to meet him at, the exact address and location.

"On the rooftop. One hour," he finished, so that she knew where he would be. He had also picked this location to make sure that she wasn't planning on having him caught. Part of him knew she wouldn't, but he had to be sure. Because this sudden desire to meet him was uncharacteristic of what she had previously told him. With those words, he smashed the window, shot an arrow, and swung from this building to the next, just in time to evade the security guards who had entered after they had access to this level again. Then, making good on his promise to her, he went to the nearby building, concealing himself, and waited. He would wait for her to arrive first, allow some time to pass, and then he would make his presence known. In the meantime, he quickly called Diggle, letting him know that it was done and that he would return later tonight. Oliver's curiosity was peaked. No doubt, she had done something for him, so now would want him to do something for her. It was the way this all tended to work: reciprocity. Lance was the same way. In many ways though, it proved Oliver's point: that the vigilante could do things that others could not. And then when something happened that made people realize this, they sought him out. Even if they would never admit it . . . their actions spoke louder than words.

[Felicity Smoak]

Felicity quickly turned off her computer, and got dressed in something beside her PJs (because she had not thought to find him tonight, even though she wanted too), before running out into the night. She almost got their late, because of all the steps--he couldn't pick a lower building! Nnnoooo!

Opening the top door, she took a few breaths to try to slow her breathing and looked around. She almost expected the police to here but it seemed no one was. Looking at her watch she saw she still had about five minutes, so she walked over to the edge, and looked over the side. "That's a long way." She muttered, backing up a few steps but not turning around.

[Oliver Queen]

Oliver watched her as she arrived at the top of the building. And he continued to watch her. She went close to the ledge, peering down. He waited until she was backing away from the edge of the building, so that when he made his appearance known, she wouldn't be startled and fall . . . not that he would let her anyway. So he began to make his way over there, appearing on the side where her back was turned toward. She didn't hear him arrive, which was the point of his inconspicious and sneaky ways. Turning on the voice filter he waited just a few more moments, before finally speaking.

"You called," he stated. He wasn't sure what she wanted from him, as she had made her disapproval over his actions rather evident. But as he had previously determined, he was convenient to blame when something went wrong, but the figure that others went to when they knew something could not get done any other way. And right now, he was that figure for her. But considering how much she had helped him, he knew he owed her this. To at least hear her out.

[Felicity Smoak]

Felicity backed away from the edge, only to hear a voice and jump to turn and look at the sound. He was there. "You know for a man your size, you're annoying silent on your feet." Sneaking up on girls on roof tops! Though he was here to meet her, and she needed to remember that.

"I need your help. I think a friend of mine might be dead, or . . . . or if they're not then they might be soon." Walter Steele. A father to a family who didn't have to loose one, if she could save him. "You're not the only one to ask me to look into shady things, and this two people might be dead."

"One for sure, and one not . . . . " Giving him the notebook was a risk. He could take it from her and never contact her again. Not let her help him, not let her help save her friend. "It's Walter Steele."

[Oliver Queen]

He had startled her, which was not a surprise since he purposely approached with silence. It was how he managed to get around undetected. After having done so on an island for so long, avoiding stepping on roots, leaves and anything else that could make the slightest sound . . . doing it in the city was practically a walk in the park. Before he had to ask anything else, she got straight to business. She said that she believed a friend of hers was missing, or possibly dead. While this wasn't usually something he dealt with, he had a feeling there was more to it otherwise she would not have called him.

He however ceased all thought when she revealed the name: Walter Steele. Her other words began to connect with this, as she said that she was asked to look into shady things? Oliver feared for Walter, and he knew that him and Felicity were friends, seeing as that was why she had initially helped him. He also knew that he could presume to know a little bit about his disappearance without giving himself away since it was all over the news. "What did he ask you to look into?" Oliver questioned. Because, if she knew something . . . then he needed to know as well. What exactly did Walter get himself involved in?