"Did you sleep?"

"No," Felicity responded without looking at him as she sipped on decaf coffee while looking at the newly installed windows. Connor would be up at any moment. "Did you?" she asked as she turned to look at Oliver.

"No."

"Sara made coffee," Felicity said as she motioned towards the pot on the counter.

He sat down next to her instead of pouring himself a cup. "I wanted to make sure you were okay," Oliver spoke softly, his hand on her back. "Diggle, Roy, and I went out...but we haven't seen any signs of the League, Ra's, or your mother…"

"I tried to hack into her e-mail," Felicity whispered as she stared out the window. "She's had the same password for years now… Hasn't ever changed it. She bought the ticket after we talked last." She sucked in a shaky breath and looked down into her cup of cold coffee. "I even hacked her phone. She hasn't quite figured out texting...still." It was almost funny, if her mother hadn't been being held captive by Ra's al Ghul. "She had almost texted-"

"Almost texted?"

"It doesn't look like she always remembers to hit send," Felicity explained. "Like I was saying, she almost texted one of her friends going on about how excited she was to come out here. How she wanted to fix things between her and I. How she'd always regretted what had happened between us." She went quiet. "I don't want to lose her, Oliver…" Her eyes turned to him. "I didn't have the best relationship with her...and...and I've already lost Malcolm...I don't think I can lose her too," she told him shakily, her voice breaking when she said Merlyn's name. Even though he was horrible and did appalling things to her...he was still her father...and he'd loved her...and Tommy and Thea...in his own twisted way. He had love for all three of them, he was just broken and hadn't known how to show it. He'd given his life for his children. Felicity just couldn't lose another parent.

"We're going to get her back," Oliver promised. "Ra's al Ghul is going to know better than to mess with our family…"

"He could have killed us all tonight," she whispered the reminder. Sara and Thea had cleaned everything up in the apartment and were now out getting breakfast, Sara had insisted that Felicity eat something since her dinner had been interrupted. "That entire time I was in that closet with Connor, all I kept thinking about was keeping him safe...I didn't once think about myself or the baby...does that make me a bad person? A bad mother?" she questioned as tears fell from her eyes, though she felt numb to them.

"Hey, no…" Oliver was obviously trying to soothe in his whisper voice that he only used with her, Thea, and Connor. He pulled her into his arms and she just let her head rest on his shoulder. "No," he said more firmly this time. Her fingers curled into the stiff fabric of his jacket. "You might not have been thinking of yourself or the baby, but you more than proved that you were keeping all three of you safe in that closet," Oliver said.

"I could have killed you."

"Yeah, but you didn't."

"How did you know?"

"I didn't."

"That doesn't make me feel any better," Felicity commented as he held her.

Oliver pressed a kiss to her head. "I don't think it's going to feel better until things are set right," he breathed. "We're going to get your mother back, Felicity, I promise you that."

"Why are you here?"

It was something she'd asked herself on moments before when the elevator doors had closed, as she moved towards her office all she wanted to do was to be able to hold herself together for a little longer. Even though she'd complained about it, today her bodyguard was Diggle. Oliver was stationed at Connor's school with Roy in tow. Sara and Nyssa were out patrolling the city in civilian clothing. Diggle had told Thea that someone had to slept, so it was her.

Tommy was following her into her office, but that was a normal thing. No matter how much they were supposed to keep the fact that they were siblings from the public, they couldn't keep the worry from permeating through their feelings for the other. Felicity felt like Tommy especially felt an extra sense of guilt over things and his feelings of protectiveness for her and Thea were only heightened.

"I would just give her space," she heard Diggle tell Tommy.

"Good morning, Mrs. Queen," the far too beautiful and cheery assistant greeted as she stood up. "Do you want me to get you anything?"

Felicity just wasn't ready to deal.

Diggle, though, apparently stopped because after setting down her purse, she found Tommy standing in her office with her with the door closed behind him, his arms crossed over his chest, and she could see Diggle on the other side of the glass talking to the assistant. He was waiting and she knew that he wanted all the answers to all of his questions, probably the first two were why they hadn't called him and then why she wasn't home sleeping (or in the Foundry sleeping).

"There's still work to be done here," Felicity started. "And with Oliver not in the office-"

"Felicity-"

"Tommy, look," she said as she squeezed her eyes shut and held up her hands. "I'm completely and utterly exhausted in pretty much every way possible. I almost shot Oliver last night. I've haven't eaten nearly enough in the last twenty-four hours. I can't have caffeine and right now I just want my supportive brother rather than the overly protective one," Felicity finished as she opened her eyes and pretty much collapsed onto her couch. At least the thing was padded and comfortable, she'd made sure of that when they'd been setting up their offices.

Silence.

It was like something clicked or that was just what he needed to hear. Tommy was so ready to get on board with being the overprotective brother, but Felicity had become quite used to taking care of herself and taking care of others. Being protected or cared for was something she was still learning and it was far easier to let in Oliver, Diggle, Sara, and Thea simply because she'd known them longer than Tommy. Her brother crossed the room and sat silently sat down next to her. He reached out and took her hand, normally she wouldn't allow it because...glass walls and the last thing they needed was to end up on some tabloid's front page, but right now...she appreciated the gesture and the silence.

"Oliver told me that they have your mom," Tommy finally spoke up.

"I haven't seen her in years...and...and it's my fault," she said, barely able to keep it together.

"They're looking for her."

"Yes."

"You need to sleep, Felicity," he whispered as he squeezed her hand. "Even if it's just for a few hours. Why not eat something, check the e-mails, and then nap for a little bit?" Tommy was gentle and quiet with his suggestion. "I'll look at Oliver's stuff and I'll try to pick up the slack-"

"It seems like we've been doing that since we merged the companies," Felicity pointed out.

"Maybe we need someone else we can trust who can help handle things," Tommy suggested. "Hasn't Walter said that he'd step in before?"

"Yes, but he does have a job-"

"Well then maybe he can suggest someone?"

It wasn't a bad idea. "I just...I won't let the League win," she whispered as she stared at him. "They attack our family, that's fine, we attack them right back...and we're going to get my mother back, but we can't let what we have...the life that we live on a daily basis...in crumbles when we finally are done with all of that."

"I get it," Tommy replied with a nod. "But you also need to take care of yourself."

And she knew that.

Diggle entered her office and closed the door without a word or a knock. The door being closed was generally so that the assistant couldn't overhear on their conversations. It was something that she swore only happened in her office. "Your assistant is going to have food delivered," Diggle said. "And Nyssa and Sara texted to say that they have a lead, but they had to wait until night to investigate it fully...so they're going to crash at the Foundry for a few hours."

"We all need to sleep," Felicity said.

"That's true, but you should nap now. Food will take at least an hour."

"I could catch up on paperwork in that time," she pointed out. Diggle seemed to just frown at that. "E-mails have to be returned and such...then I can eat and lay down for a bit."

"You promise?"

"Unless I fall asleep at my keyboard first," she mumbled to herself. Right now, it felt like it might be a highly likely thing. Though Felicity knew that she wouldn't allow it, she'd force herself to stay awake, just to get things done.

"Well, then let's get you through e-mails and I'll start going through Oliver's stuff," Tommy spoke up a moment later. "Do you want me to work in my office or yours?" he questioned.

Felicity was certain that Tommy only asked this because he wanted to be protective and be close by, but he was trying to give her a choice in it. "I think I'll be okay, unless you're really afraid that I'm not going to be safe in here...with Diggle…"

"He's going to nap."

Diggle shrugged and made himself comfortable on the other couch that had a throw and a pillow. "Like she can't take care of herself."

"If you really must," Felicity told her brother as she got to her feet. "Just know that if your lack of typing or computer skills grates at me, I have like no patience or nerves left." She shrugged. "So...up to you…"

"Is this like a warning where I risk my life if I come in here and work at your desk with you with my less than stellar skills?" Tommy questioned, obviously slightly amused by it.

"Yes," Felicity said seriously and without skipping a beat as she made her way over to her desk chair.

"Maybe I'm willing to risk it…"

"I don't like your odds, Man," Diggle put in his two cents from his nap spot on the other couch.

Tommy just looked extremely hurt as he moved away from Felicity's one couch and headed out of her office, leaving the door open. She just shook her head and turned to her waiting e-mails and the list of everything she had to finish before food got there.

Somehow by the end of the day, everyone had managed to get at least a handful of hours of sleep. It hadn't been easy, there had been a lot of nap staggering, but they'd done it. Felicity felt a little clearer, but she was still so tired. There was a new energy behind being in the Foundry for her. It was odd, though, because they had Connor staying with Tommy, who was having dinner with Melanie and Clarke. Her brother hadn't been thrilled, he'd wanted her to be someone else...somewhere far away that he felt was safe and secure, but Felicity couldn't do that.

Staring at her suit, she wondered if she would still fit into it. She'd really not gained any weight and she wasn't really showing. Felicity already knew that if she asked or said anything about going into the field that she'd be immediately shot down.

But this was her mother.

"Do you seriously think they're going to let you go out with them?"

The voice was unexpected, but the words weren't surprising. She turned to see her sister standing there only a few feet away. "I can't just stand back while my-"

"You're pregnant, Felicity, and you're talking about going toe to toe with Ra's al Ghul and the League of assassins? What if something happens?"

"Oliver, Sara, Roy, Diggle, and Nyssa are all going out there to face Ra's and his assassins on my behalf to get my mother back...why shouldn't I go with them besides being pregnant?"

"You know women in the military-"

"You aren't those women, Felicity, you're the head of our combined households," Thea told her without missing a beat.

Felicity just blinked for a moment before confusion clouded her face. "What?" All she could think was that Moira was still very much alive and she definitely would fight anyone who would say that she wasn't the head of the Queen household. And-

"You are the heart and soul of this team, this family, and no matter what last name you claim or take...that's never going to change," Thea told her. "You're the one who has to be protected for the sake and sanity of everyone else." She shrugged. "It's not about protecting the queen because she's fragile because we all have seen you...you'll kick ass...but if you're out there-" Thea paused for a long moment before finally continuing. "If you're out there, then they're not going to be able to concentrate. Their focus will split and that will be dangerous for all involved." Thea crossed her arms over her chest. "Plus, it's not like you won't be contributing...you'll be here. Watching the entire thing and calling every single call even though Oliver will think that he's the one in charge."

"You give me far too much credit," Felicity told her sister.

"It's the truth," Thea told her as she moved a few steps closer. "And one day...you're going to really realize that. You're the glue that holds us all together, the light in this gloomy place, and the one who keeps us from falling into dark corners."

Felicity tilted her head and just smiled at her sister as she shook her head a bit. "You fall into a dark corner?"

"There's still so much that you don't know about me...about all of us," Thea told her. She reached out and placed her hands on Felicity's upper arms. "You're truly the best one of us all...and you don't even know it yet." Thea pulled Felicity into her arms and held her, her fingers going through her sister's hair. "Please don't go… I don't want to lose you." Thea's voice broke now in the hushed tone. "I can't lose you."

And all she could do in that moment, besides hugging Thea, was to think about her sister's words.

Oliver and Sara were both suited up and on motorcycles while Diggle and Roy followed behind in the van. Nyssa had gone on ahead. All Felicity could think as she watched from the safety of the Foundry was that she should be out there with them. It wasn't even about suits, it was about being able...and she was. As much as she hated it though, Thea was right...she'd seen Oliver's face when she'd been looking over her bow when he'd entered the Foundry...and then the look of relief when she'd said that she'd be watching them from the Foundry. It hadn't just been Oliver, though, she'd seen it in all of them, even Nyssa.

Felicity was thankful that at least the area they were headed towards had a good amount of cameras, it meant that she could be more with the team even though she wasn't there. She also had monitoring going on at Tommy's, just in case a move was made against him and/or Connor. She didn't want to leave anything unthought of. "Are you sure you don't want me to bring Quentin in on this? Or at least...maybe...apprise him of what we're doing? Or that the League is definitely in town, including Ra's al Ghul?"

His voice didn't come over the comms right away, but when it did, he sounded slightly irritated. "No, I think we're good for the time," Oliver finally said. "I don't want to possibly bring the police into this and there be some kind of miscommunication that leads to casualties."

That was a good point though, when police were called in it wasn't always as smooth as it should be. Either someone wasn't listening to instructions or they'd missed them because their radio was off. They couldn't risk it. She was just nervous about her mother.

With no contact with Nyssa or any idea where she was, Felicity had yet to pick her up on any of the cameras. They were just supposed to be heading to the same location she was at. "Maybe we should play this safe," Sara spoke over comms. "Oliver and I go in first...Digg and Roy stay back, just in case."

"You don't think Nyssa would double cross us, do you?" Roy brought up.

Felicity was just glad that comms were open. It made her feel less out of the loop. She wanted to know everything that was going on and she knew that once they got closer to the location that she'd be able to keep tabs on them less and less. The building that they'd be going into would leave her blind and the closest camera was some ways off.

"No," Sara replied instantly.

Even though she knew that Oliver wasn't one hundred percent sure about Nyssa helping them, Felicity was certain that they wouldn't be double crossed. Nyssa had fought with them, she wouldn't just turn her back on that. If anything, Felicity was certain that she wouldn't do it in case there was any way of winning Sara back (and away from Diggle).

"Let's go with Sara's plan," Oliver voiced.

"How far back do you want us?" Digg questioned.

"Here is good."

"That's a whole block between us."

"Ra's will have his people all over the place," Sara explained. "They'll not be seen. They'll have a perimeter set up, the farther back you two are, the better so that you're not noticed."

That was it. There was no other conversation, but Felicity could see on her monitor that Oliver and Sara had left Diggle and Roy and were heading for the building that had been earlier identified by both Sara and Nyssa. It was only a minute more before Oliver and Sara disappeared from her sight. Felicity didn't like it and was working on hacking a satellite to repurpose and use for thermal imagining. "Sorry, ARGUS," she whispered as she typed away. She knew that ARGUS didn't appreciate her hacking their satellites, but theirs was the one that was closer and more convenient.

"What was that?" Digg asked.

"Nothing," Felicity replied back. "I'm just borrowing an ARGUS satellite. Thermal readings…"

"Waller's not going to appreciate that," Oliver replied. "What do you see?"

"You and Sara are definitely not going to be alone in that building. There's got to be at least twenty bodies in there," Felicity told them. Her fingers kept flying across the keys, trying to see if she could do anything to get a better number for him, maybe figure out which one was her mother. "Look, normally I'd say that you and Sara would be fine...but we're talking assassins who are part of the League of Assassins."

"Nyssa's also here," Sara chimed in.

Felicity took a moment to try and calculate that in. Even with Digg and his gun...and mirakuru powered Roy...she still worried about them...and her mom.

"We'll be careful," Oliver spoke up, confident.

It didn't ease her worry.

She didn't have eyes in there. The thermal scan wasn't enough. It only gave her a peek. Felicity's stomach was in knots and she found herself unable to sit down. She started to pace, waiting to hear something.

Anything.

The longer that comms stayed silent, the the more desperate she got to be out there in the field with them. She stopped and stared at the glass case that contained her suit, the one that she'd not worn for a while. She remembered Thea's words, but what else could she do? She knew that Diggle and Roy were there, but still…

"I think we see your mom," came Oliver's voice.

It startled her and she turned away from the case. She touched her headset button. "How does she look? Okay?"

"She's alive," Sara confirmed.

"Can you get to her?" Felicity asked as she pressed her finger to her lips. Her mother probably didn't even understand what was going on, unless Ra's al Ghul told her. Even then, she wasn't sure her mother would believe it. It had been so long...and Felicity had so many regrets...and she was certain that her mother did as well. She just couldn't lose someone else.

Silence.

"Oliver?"

Silence.

"Sara?"

Silence.

"I think they cut comms," Diggle spoke up. "I can see Sara from here."

Why would they cut comms?

Her head spun and all she could think of was all the bad things. She couldn't just stand there doing nothing, so she reached into the case and pulled out her suit. It was time to suit up, grab her bow and quiver, and head to back them up.

TBC…