It took Oliver a conscious effort not to hug the girl. She looked so lost. In the end it was the sound of her voice that did him in and made him discard all caution.
"Fatal adrenaline addiction. You're stuck with me." The reply came flippantly but his voice betrayed him as well. The concern was evident. "I can't just leave you here, don't you see? I mean, how long have you been on your own? Fending for yourself? That's just..." Oliver gesticulated wildly, at a loss for the right words. "It's wrong."
Everything in Oliver longed to take the girl home, fill her up with hot chocolate and get her a good home-cooked meal, let her catch up on sleep and whatever else she lacked. Then common sense reasserted itself and he realised that even if she trusted him enough to accompany him - which she wasn't likely to - he couldn't just bring a fugitive to Percy and his flat. In fact, Oliver couldn't just take a young girl home. It was awkward in a way he didn't even dare to contemplate. But he couldn't just leave her alone either...
Suddenly inspiration struck and though it seemed like the perfect solution Oliver felt bad for possibly dragging an innocent woman into this. She would be safe with Alicia, though, he was sure of that. He trusted Alicia with his life - and the girl's.
"I have a friend," Oliver said. "She might be able to help. She has more common sense than I do, too."