Previously in Chapter 6

"It's already too late John! Look at her! She's…she's…so warm…why is she still so warm?"

That's when Diggle saw a moment of opportunity. From behind Oliver, he quickly grabbed the one arm that was now touching Felicity's face and threw it up and using his own arm, he grabbed Oliver around his neck successfully restraining one half of his body. Then pulling the other hand free from under Felicity he held on tight and shouted "GO!" and with that, It was just Oliver and Diggle in the empty warehouse. Oliver had felt his body starting to feel numb and even though he wasn't screaming then, inside was a different story. What was happening? Why was Diggle so determined to get him to let go of Felicity? Why? There had to be an explanation right?!

"Man stop struggling…I'll let you go, but don't hit me!" Diggle said

All Oliver could do was nod "Why…" he croaked out and Diggle slowly let go of his hold on him

"I'll explain in the van, let's go, time is wasting" Diggle said as he helped Oliver to his feet and then to the van parked outside.

Chapter 7: The Awakening

Felicity had found her target in an abandoned warehouse outside the Glades. The heat signatures in this area were bouncing off the screen. It was mostly an uninhabitable area and too far out of the city, that she didn't consider scanning it the first time around. Or the second time if she were being honest. Once she arrived, she had to wait for the area to be clear inside and outside of the warehouse. It took the team a bit longer to get rid of what seemed like a never ending supply of bad guys. When it was time she held the gun the way Dig had taught her, blowing out her last unsteady breath to shake the nerves and immediately put her strong face on. She had entered alone through the main entrance of the warehouse. Cracking the code was child-play for her and she walked in slowly and confidently. Her sneakers touching the cold cement floor at a steady quiet pace, wielding a gun, she aimed for Slade Wilsons head.

When Slade heard the door; that was security locked, open, he figured Oliver's trusting side-kick, the blonde with the glasses was here with their special band of merry men to save Oliver Queen; their leader. Slade was wrong though. As Slade turned around, he couldn't help the laughter that crept up from his belly as he was face to face with one Felicity Megan Smoak.

"She's braver than I gave her credit for….but stupid….really very stupid" He said turning his head back toward Oliver who was once again chained to a chair which was welded to the ground. Oliver was unconscious at the time and when Felicity caught sight of him, bruised and beaten, all she wanted was to get him out of there. Oliver's one eye was swollen. His body had purple patches where bruises were forming. He also had blood stains and open wounds from the sword-slicing Slade was doing on his body. She cringed at the sight and the thought of the pain he had and is going through. Oliver was dripping in sweat and from what she could make out, his ribs could have been broken. Oliver's wrists and ankles were shackled to the chair and it was clear by the visible blood that he had tried to get out of it a few times over the past days. Felicity hated seeing him like this. She gathered her strength and focused on the evil in front of her.

"Did you know I went to M.I.T?! I'm not physically strong…or even good withhh…." She paused turning the gun from side to side nervously and then straightened the gun at Slade's head again "…THIS…though i do know how to how to defend myself…but I am not stupid Mr. Wilson"

"Felicity…" Oliver said as he thought he heard her voice, he opened his eyes and slowly blinked in the harsh light of the florescent that was hovering over him. Oliver first thought he was dreaming of her again, like the time after Tatsu had saved him and brought him back to life…"but it is her this time, she is here, only her…confronting Slade, with a gun!?" he thought before he said "Felicity….What are you doing?!"Frantically looking around her trying to find Diggle and Roy 'did they let her come her alone?' he thought his eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

"Saving you Oliver! I thought that was obvious! I mean….i haven't actually saved you yet, technically, but I'm about to!"

"Felicity! Get out of here!" he screamed and then visibly winced in pain

"You're a monster!" she said almost growling at Slade, while moving to Oliver's side and inspecting him.

Slade just stood there, grinning, watching them intently. Something in the way Oliver was suddenly trying to burst out of his chair that he had been shackled to. The intense worry masked by an intense angry face. 'Oh Oliver….You always did carry you heart on your face' Slade thought to himself while smiling

"I'm sorry…..this is all my fault" Felicity said as she took some steps away from Oliver. Slade's head shot back to her instantly "What?" both Slade and Oliver said in unison surprise.

Felicity looked Slade in the eye saying "And I'm the stupid one?! Let me break it down for you…I am the women he loves….he was not the one who killed your love, not directly, but he had the choice and didn't choose her. So you promised him that you will take everything and everyone he loves…." Felicity said stopping short as Slade continued her sentence

"…away from him and then drive an arrow through his eye" Slade finished as a matter-of-fact whilst nodding to himself with pride

"I wasn't done…..wait! Really? That's your big plan? Doing the exact same thing he did to you? Not very original but…..what was I saying…" she said shaking her head of the ramble she nearly got lost in.

"Felicity…please…just go…I need you to go!" Oliver pleaded

She looked at Oliver, willing him to understand, she gave him a small endearing smile with hopeful eyes and said "I can't Oliver….i need to do this for you." She turned her attention back to Slade and continued "So this is my fault, earlier I said I was here to save him and you assumed I meant that I was going to do some heroic badass stunt, when in fact it's really very simple"

"Slade…please just let her leave…I will drive the arrow through my own eye….i will do whatever you and Malcolm want! Just let her go please!" Oliver was nearing breaking point, he could not stop pleading and hoping that somewhere inside this Slade was the man, no the brother he once knew. He wasn't above begging and he wasn't going to lose her.

"Oh but Oliver, she has presented herself to me, see I was expecting more of a fight from you, I was just going to make you suffer a while longer and then once you've helped us and when you think it's all over, I was going to release you…but only after I killed her first of course! See you would think you were coming in and saving her but you would have been too late to save her as I was with Shado and then…"

"Slade…don't please…I am begging you…just leave her be. She doesn't deserve any of this"

"But she's the one you love! Shado didn't deserve to die any more than she does!"

"Exactly…and that's why I'm taking myself out of the equation!" Felicity said in a very matter of fact tone interrupting the two men

Oliver looked at her in horror and his face dropped, she saw the confusion in his eyes.

"Oliver…If there is one thing in this world that I want for you, it's for you to live a happy healthy life. I would have wanted it to be with me, but because the bad guys will always try and use me to get to you, if I take myself out of this equation, then where to Slade?" she questioned turning her eyes back to Slade "What is your plan then?"

"Felicity what are you talking about!?" Oliver screamed in desperation trying to understand what she meant.

"It's alright Oliver…It's going to be okay…trust me" she said to him softly

"Felicity! What ar…No!"

"Slade. I will happily die so that you can find justice for your unrequited love, but then you must do something for me. You're a man of your word, right?"

"What?" he asked nodding

"Spare him and leave him and this city and the people he loves and knows alone"

"But how does that make it justice for what he did to Shado?"

"Because I will take my own life in exchange for his. Do you see? It would killed him too and it would be poetic justice…but you wouldn't get your hands any more dirty, that's not what Shado would want…or your sister" she said as Slade turned his head to her in surprise "I've been out there for a while…" she said shrugging her shoulders looking towards Oliver. He was stunned.

Slade narrowed his eye studying her features, she held his stare and knew that he was searching for something in her eyes. "….He lives. You die – but why would you want to die for him?"

Felicity walks up to Oliver, tears in her eyes "…so many reasons…he is a good man with a good heart. I didn't know my father and I don't want that for his kid…"

"You love him more than your willing to admit" Slade said

"No! She's only here as my friend Slade! Tell him you're with Palmer, that you love him! Tell him the truth!" Oliver shouted in fear. He thought if he told Slade that Felicity didn't love him then he wouldn't do anything to her…well it was lame attempt and a sad one at that, he knew it but he had to try anyways. Funny enough though, the fact that she was there at all told him just how much she felt for him, then hearing her say that she will kill herself made him understand just how much.

She walks over to him "Don't ask me to say that I don't love you Oliver.…" she says and holds his face in her tiny hands; because he is the most precious person in her life. Felicity kisses Oliver; softly, passionately pouring all of how she feels into it, salty tears mixing with their lips. Choosing not to linger, she took in the sight of him once more, stood up, straightened her clothes and put her hand into her pocket pulling out something small. She walked off a few steps, dropped her shoulders "It's now or never Smoak" she thought to herself. She turned around, faced Oliver and mimed 'I'm sorry'

"Felicity, please please don't…" he pauses as he watches her ingest a vile of green liquid and a strangled sound leaves his voicebox "NOOOoooooooo" and then his world around him slowed down as he watches her falling to her knees a few meters away from him, he sees the life drained out of her body as it falls and her head hits the concrete first with a hard thud. That was the sound that broke him out of his stupor, Oliver was practically breaking the concrete floor that the chair was welded down onto, that was the strength he found deep down inside, he needed to get to her, to get to a hospital, to save her, but as hard as he tried he couldn't completely break through and he internally cursed his weak body. Suddenly his bound arms were lose and he didn't waste any time at all, rushing to her he slid on his knees, bruised and beaten and bloody Oliver Queen scooped his beloved into his lap with piercing screams that made the old warehouse echo, rattle and shake in its wake. Felicity was lifeless in his arms and he couldn't stop her from saving him, he failed to protect her, she died for him, for their love. She wanted him to go on living, but how? How is he supposed to go on? And suddenly he realised this is how she felt when he was presumed dead…except she in heart of hearts knew he wasn't dead, "no body to hold and cry for, no lips to kiss, no….." Oliver thought and looked at her lying in his arms, her beauty was magnificent. He grazed his fingers across her cheeks and then slowly over her lips…he had forgotten about Slade, the world and everything her ever thought he was fighting for, because here in his arms lay the most beautiful person inside and out. "Stay with me Felicity….Don't leave me….i can't los…" he choked out and Slade could hear the pain and fear in his voice. Oliver's happiness was within reach but now he was too late. Nine minutes later, Slade's been apprehended and Diggle was trying his best to convince Oliver without freaking him out; when Oliver doesn't stop grieving or crying or shaking or rocking, there are hands on his shoulders trying to pull him out of his reverie.

"Oliver! Man, let her go!" Diggle shouts

"No no noonononononoo I can't" he says nuzzling his head to her forehead and rocking them both back and forth. "She is gone. She Is gone, but why does she still feel so warm…she's warm because I'm holding her Dig, I can't let go, I can't, she'll get cold, she could freeze to dea…" and then Oliver was frozen staring at her lifeless body in his arms realising what he had just said.

"Oliver, I'm going to take her now, she will be okay" Barry said slowly. Another minute had passed.

"What? No you can't touch her! I can't let go….." Oliver screamed at Barry in his Arrow voice and held on tighter to Felicity. Another minute had passed.

"Dig…It's been 2 minutes too long already" Barry said in a very concerned voice. Suddenly Dig was pulling him away and Barry had disappeared with Felicity leaving the warehouse shaking with Oliver's heart in his arms, Barry knew he needed to run as fast as was possible to save both his friends. Time was not on their side.

Diggle helps Oliver to the van through the back exit. As he opened the back doors he immediately feels the need to check on Lyla. Nyssa and Laurel had circled back to the van once they took care of Slade's men. Diggle and Oliver turned their heads to right and then the floor of the van to see an unconscious Slade. A relieved Diggle and Oliver got in the front of the van and Diggle turned back in Lyla's direction before pulling away

"Lyla is he?"

"Napping

Diggles lips formed a smile and his eyebrow lifted in a questioning way

********Flashback to the moment Diggle had put Slade inside the van***********

"Go Johnny! I got him" Lyla said urgently

"Johnny? You must be the missus…congratulations" Slade teased

"You must be tired of all that 'evil-ing' I think it's time you took a nap Mr Wilson" she said with a naughty smile ghosting her lips and a slight tick of her eyebrow

"A nap?...oooowwwww" Slade gasped as he grabbed his leg, his head snapping up to Lyla, eyes widening in realisation as he felt his vision go blurry and his body succumb to the numbness

Lyla had struck him in the leg with a tranquilizer dart. Her smirk growing and she turned to Diggle and Oliver shrugging her shoulders as she recalled the moment "What? I wasn't in the mood for a conversation" she admitted unapologetically. Her husband chuckled and shook his head playfully.

"Felicity?" Lyla asked concerned as Diggle started to drive towards A.R.G.U.S

"Barry has her" Diggle said to Lyla

"What's going on Dig?" Oliver asked coming out of his lost thoughts

"It was part of the plan…she's gonna be alright" Diggle said

"So she's not?" Oliver asked a flicker of hope making his heart beat a bit faster

"Let's get to ARGUS – times wasting'

"…you don't actually know…." Oliver said staring out the window feeling the cold run through his body anew.

"No but I know that Caitlin and the doctors at ARGUS will not give up, I'm sure of that…I believe she'll be okay…you have to as well…Our girl is stronger than that" Diggle said trying to not make the situation seem dire.

Oliver sat quietly trying to process everything. One minute Felicity is there in the warehouse with him and Slade, then she's telling him she loves him in the same way he had months earlier, then she's sacrificing herself for him, she's dead and warm and he can't find a pulse and then Diggle is making him let go of her and then in a red flash she was gone and now Dig is saying Barry has her and she will be okay because it was part of a plan….a plan he didn't know about. When did his team start keeping plans from him? When did they start lying to him? This was all so much to take in at once. He told himself to focus on one thing at a time, Felicity.

*********Hours Later*********

It had been many hours later and Oliver was exactly in the same room as when he had arrived. He'd gone from standing around, pacing back and forth, kicking chairs, sitting, slouching forward, sitting up straight to sitting back staring at the ceiling and then rinse and repeat the cycle of utter helplessness.

It was hours since he held her body in his arms and even though Oliver had showered in the men's bathrooms of the ARGUS facility where Barry had taken Felicity to since it was closer than STAR LABS in Central City and better than the med table down in the foundry according to Felicity they said, Oliver could still feel her in his arms and it was driving him crazy. Lyla had offered the use of facility and it's staff and some clean scrubs for him when John had told her about their plan to save Oliver. A.R.G.U.S has their own medical ward for agents; the perks as Amanda called it. It was pretty great and a relief for Caitlin. The A. .S medical staff, though small, we're brought up to speed by Caitlin when Barry had dropped her off before the team had set out on their mission since it was STAR Labs that had produced the serum and antidote. Barry had stayed for a while and then had to return to Central City but told Oliver he would be back in a flash when Oliver and the team came bursting into the medical ward.

*******Flashback to Oliver arriving at A.R.G.U.S*******

"Oliver!" Barry said startled by the force with which Oliver had burst through the door and the laser like focus coupled with anger and fear vibrating off him in waves

"Barry…is she?" Oliver asked stiffly

"I don't know, I just got her here as fast as was possible, she's in good hands, Caitlin has her" Barry said quickly

"The green stuff….she drank it, what was that?" Oliver asked, his ever need to understand the pieces as they fell in front of him.

"A serum we cooked up at S.T.A.R Labs, Felicity had a very specific one in mind, it…it had to give the illusion of death in every manner…." Barry said and then swallowed hard

"So there's a cure right!?" Oliver asked realising that was why Diggle kept saying she will be okay

"I mean…yeah there's a cure but…" Barry said nervously

"But what Barry?!The truth! Now!" Oliver growled as the hope that just crept up on him inside was so fragile and Barry had just knocked it once with a hammer causing a small crack to appear threatening to shatter into tiny pieces

"w-we could only get the cure to work against the serum within a 10min time frame…I got her here 13minutes later…but but I don't think…" Oliver had hit the wall so hard stopping Barry in his tracks, his emotions were bubbling over. If she didn't make it through this, it would be his fault. That sent Oliver crashing so hard, he sunk down, back against the wall, defeated. Felicity had thought of everything, she had planned this whole thing and he messed it up…she didn't really die for him….she was Felicity, smart and beautiful and her plan would have worked if he…"if only i had known" he thought with tears in his eyes. "I'm so sorry Felicity…" he thought.

"Oliver…come on, get up. There's a waiting room over there, no point in beating yourself up until we know for sure" Diggle said offering Oliver his hand to help him up

"Yeah…the doctors haven't said anything yet, it's been 40 minutes. We just have to wait okay"

"It's been that long because of me!" Oliver snipped

"You can't think that way Oliver…" John said quickly

"There is no other way to think John….Barry said it, 10 minutes not 13….it's my fault" Oliver said

"Look even at 10 min, she wasn't supposed to wake immediately, so really…" Barry said off from one side as Oliver and John's voices we're louder than his. They turned to him registering what he said and then John continued "What is your fault? We don't know anything as Barry just said and until we do I won't allow you to blame yourself for something you didn't know about….Felicity wouldn't either"

"Guys, I have to get back to Central, but I will be back, call me if anything changes okay" Barry said and then all they saw was a red flash

"Man…I am still not over that…" Dig said dryly

*******End Flashback – back to present – hours later and Oliver is still waiting******

Oliver had been sitting, pacing, biting his nails and running his hands through his hair and over his face every once in a while checking the hallway every five minutes in worry trying to get hold of someone, anyone who could tell him anything.

****Flashback to couple hours before****

"Mr Queen…I'm sorry I can't tell you anything. We may part of this facility and not open to the public, but I adhere to the codes of conduct and since neither of you are family, I just can not tell anything."

"Please doctor, I understand that, I don't need details now…I just need to know if she's going to be okay? You can nod your head if she is…please" Oliver pleaded

"I wish I could…I wish I had better news for you, I can't even nod…" the doctor said slipping up on purpose

"Oliver….we need to call her mother" John said upon hearing that

"I know Dig….but what do I say? How do I explain this?"

"You? I can do it"

"No…I will"

"Oliver don't worry…I got the explanation part…you just get her here okay"

Oliver walked away nodding taking his mobile phone out of his pocket and calling Donna Smoak.

********End Flashback*******

On the last check he heard the familiar 'click clack' sounds of high heel shoes against the tiled hospital floor. Oliver jumped up nervously at the sight of Ms. Donna Smoak. Her eyes were puffy and she looked no better than Oliver. She had changed her outfit to something more comfortable on the airplane ride but in her hurry she had forgotten sensible shoes. They locked eyes from across the room and Oliver lost his will to keep it together.

Donna walked up to him, John and Roy (who had not left his side at all) and opened her mouth to speak but no words came out. Instead Oliver pulled her into a hug and held on tight 'a piece of Felicity' he thought. It was not something Oliver would have normally done, but then again these were not normal circumstances. Oliver had been through so much and was really missing the comfort that only a mother could offer in times like these. So he hugged her, for himself and for Felicity. Donna cried into Oliver's shoulder and when she finally calmed down some, she had lots of questions and Oliver had no answers because he was really bad at lying after all. So Dig did the talking.

"She is in Intensive Care right now, has been since we brought her in…only family members are allowed in. Doctors say she is still unconscious but that she is stable for now."

"What happened John, why is my baby girl here?"

"She was a victim of a random kidnapping is all….the kidnapper didn't let her go once he got what he wanted, instead he gassed the place and she inhaled a high dose of poisonous gas."

"Oh my…..!" Donna cried into her hands and Dig offered her a seat

"They say if she remains stable she can be moved tomorrow"

"I hope they catch the son of bitch who did this to her!" she said angrily "What did he want anyway? Money?"

"No…it's complicated Ms Smoak"

"We don't know all the details yet" Roy said convincingly handing her a cup of coffee

"I promise you I will find the person and make him pay!" Oliver said in a very Arrow-esque growl

Donna's head shot up and she looked at Oliver, taking in his appearance and that of the other two men. She noted that they hadn't left her daughters side at all for which she was grateful.

"Have you guys eaten at all?" She asked in concern. The fact that they were there for her daughter in this way meant the world to Donna. Knowing there were people in Felicity's life who cared for her the way family do only brought on more tears, because they weren't family and she was and she was so far away from her only child. The guys just shook their heads 'no' in response being unable to speak…not wanting to speak actually. She understood that, she hadn't been able to speak, think or eat since she got the call and an all-expenses paid trip to Starling City from one Oliver Queen. This was no visit, no party stop over, this was the news a mother would never want to receive. Her baby girl was rushed to hospital, she was in critical condition. Donna packed a small bag and raced straight to the airport.

There was something about Oliver that Donna just couldn't ignore any longer. There was something going on between her daughter and him.

"You're in love with Felicity" Donna said smiling while staring blankly into the bottom of her coffee cup stirring the already dissolved sugar for the umpteenth time with a small smirk on her lips. Oliver didn't look at Donna, he hung his head instead, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, he put his face in his hands as a new wave of tears threatened to drop from his eyes…he wasn't ashamed to love her, he wasn't ashamed that anyone knew. He was ashamed that this is where his love for her has gotten him. She died for him, in a manner of speaking. She was a hero, brave and beautiful person both inside and out. How was he so lucky to have met her, to have her in his life? Then he felt the small hands of Felicity's mother rubbing soothing short stroked up and down his back. "She's a fighter, she's gonna be okay" Donna said strongly

"She is the strongest, bravest person I know….I…need her to be okay" he said sadly fearing the worst, because really his life sucked. Donna took a stunned breathe in as she heard the fear in his voice as he said that.

"Ms Smoak? I heard you were here"

"Yes Doctor? How is my daughter?"

"Can we talk over…."

"No, they are family too, you can talk here"

"Ok, your daughter is going to be okay, but she had quite a bit of…" the doctor stopped short and glanced towards Dig and Oliver as they both stood behind Donna. The two men nodded in agreement and the doctor continued "…of the poisonous gas and at this point I'm just keeping her in the critical ward for observation. You may go see her one at a time though. Five minutes is all I can allow"

"Thank you doctor! Can I go now?"

The Doctor nodded and a relieved Donna turned around with a huge smile and deposited her coffee cup on the nearest side table as she left the waiting room following Caitlin who had been helping the head doctor at A.R.G.U.S.

******Inside Felicity's room*******

Donna was overcome with happiness at hearing that she was able to see Felicity. She had not realised what she would feel once she saw her daughter, she just needed to get to her and make sure she was alright.

*****Flashback to Donna receiving a call****

Donna Smoak's coffee mug fell from her shaking hand and she felt her entire body give in at her knees.

"Felicity is in the ICU…I organised you a flight out to Starling City. There is a private jet waiting at the airstrip, be there in 30min. She needs you Donna"

Donna couldn't speak. Of all the things she has seen and have been through as a single mother working tables for tips at Grand on the Las Vegas Strip, nothing, no moment has ever left speechless, until this one. Oliver Queen's voice was shaking; she could hear the pain and worry in his voice as he told her the news. Now she didn't know why or how, but she knew billionaires like Oliver Queen didn't just call or make flight arrangements for mothers of their friends unless it was serious. Her worry consumed her thoughts, she packed a bag, she didn't know what, she just stuffed things into her bag and grabbed her keys and headed straight for the Las Vegas Airstrip

*******End Flashback*******

Donna entered the room slowly, stopping while she closed the door to the room taking in the sight on her daughter hooked up to numerous machines, one included an oxygen tank. Donna let out an audible gasp while clutching her chest.

"Oh…my baby…" she said softly as tears filled her eyes and started rolling off her sight made her feel so helpless, Felicity looked so weak. Donna sat by her side for a while saying prayers and kissing her hands. There was nothing else she could do and she wanted to stay longer but all she could she see was Oliver and she knew how badly he wanted to be here so she decided to leave "I'll be back in a bit okay? I love you"

*******Back in the waiting room******

"Thank you" Oliver said stretching out his hand to shake to which the doctor returned the gestured.

"We're not out of the woods yet Mr. Queen…it's still very touch–n-go at this point…"

"…anything could go wrong I know…the first 24hours are crucial…" Oliver said finishing the doctors sentence "but thank you for everything just the same" John said finishing Oliver's sentence to which the doctor nodded at them both and turned to leave.

Oliver threw his hands over his head and then brought them back down to sweep across his face and tired eyes

"Take a load off man…you need some rest…"

"I can't Dig…" Oliver said sadly as he sat down in the hospital chairs with his head resting back against the wall, eyes wide open by force "…every time….E.V.E.R.Y.T.I.M.E I close my eyes all I see is her falling…and my chest tightens...I can still feel her warm limp body in my arms…" he says as he swallows hard while looking down to his hands which he didn't realise were shaking until just then "…and every time the quiet sneaks into these halls I hear her voice "Let me go Oliver" and Dig I just can't…"

"It's gonna be okay Oliver, she's gonna be okay. Those memories…those feelings, should serve as a reminder now going forward. What is it that you really want Oliver? What are you fighting for? Go get some fresh air at least, you've been cooped up inside here for hours, I'll call you if anything changes."

Oliver had just gotten up from his seat ready to take a short walk on the grounds around the A.R.G.U.S facility when Donna re-entered the room

"Oliver…do you?" Donna asked Oliver

"Yes! If I may?" He asked politely and Donna saw a spark in his eyes and smile on his lips at just the thought of seeing her. Donna knew she had done the right thing.

"Of course, it's down the corridor to the right. 501"

"Thank you" He said as he brushed past Donna hurriedly with what started as a brisk walk and ended up being a quick jog. He came to a stop outside her room without even looking at the door numbers. There was this strong pull inside of him; their connection. It was seeking him out and leading him straight to her door. The closer he got the stronger it felt. He knew she was on the other side of that door before looking through the window.

Looking in through the glass to make sure, the sight that greeted him was one he had always dreaded; seeing a loved one hooked up to various machines with tubes going in and out of them. In a weak attempt to calm the growing fear inside him, he closed his eyes for a beat and took a deep breath in. When he felt his heart calming down a bit, he turned the door knob and entered the room. The different sounds of the different machines created a sombre tune inside the room; it was very different to what was going on inside him at that moment.

There she lay, the one who he had sworn to protect, the one he relied on, the one who helped him see another way, the one who patched him up, the one he could call when he needed her, the one who understood him like no other, the one who could make him smile and laugh no matter the terrible circumstances, the one he loves the most, the bravest and strongest of them all. The words "She is still unconscious" playing in his head as he walked up to her slowly trying to be as quiet as possible. It was all he heard Donna say as he was rushing towards Felicity's room. She was still unconscious. Those words only hitting him now as he took in her still form.

Oliver stood beside her and placed his hand over the top of her forehead and brushed back towards the pillow, then gently placed a kiss on top of her forehead feeling the warmth radiating off her. 'She's still so warm' he remembers saying to Dig and he felt his chest tighten at the memory because in that moment he couldn't believe that she was really gone despite holding her limp body. Tears welled up again and he wondered when he had become this emotional…"Do you see what you have done?" he teased quietly smiling to himself remembering the look on her face the last time he had said those words to her; she had formed a pout with her lips…"God how he love when you do that" he thought

Stepping back, he closed his eyes, this helpless feeling washed over him making Oliver feel a whirlwind of emotions. Although he was thankful for all she did for him, Oliver couldn't stop the fury growing inside him. How could she be so reckless? How could she put herself at risk like that? How? How did she expect him to live after she had died? So many questions filled his mind and he knew that maybe seeing her now would be a bad idea. So without a step further, Oliver turned on his heel to leave not trusting himself to calm down. With his hand on the door knob he turned it slightly opening it as quietly as possible 'She's unconscious Oliver! She doesn't even know you're here' he mentally scolded himself and then suddenly he heard a sound so beautiful he questioned if it was real or not. He didn't think he would hear her voice, not for a while still.

"Hey…." Felicity croaked out. Oliver stood with his back to her dropping his head and shutting his eyes because he was caught.

Turning around slowly he replied "Hey…"

**********In the waiting room*****************

"How is she Ms Smoak?" John asked in concern as Oliver had left

Shaking her head she walked past John to sit down "I don't know John…she was unconscious…" Donna said sadly as the tears started to well up "there are so many tubes and…."

"Yeah…it must have been hard for you to see her that way"

"She looks so weak just lying there…that's not Felicity…she's always so bright and warm and it's so cold in there…I walked in and I just..i used everything inside me to stop from breaking down. She's gonna be okay right John?"

Not really having received any positive news from the doctor, John smiled at Donna "I believe she will be…It's all we can do for her now, believe, pray and stay strong for her…"

"…and Oliver…"

"Yeah…he's not taking this very well…"

"None of us are really…I told her I would be back…I just couldn't stand to see her like that…is that bad…that's terrible of me right?! I should go back!"

"It's not terrible of you Ms. Smoak…you haven't seen your daughter in a long time and when you do it's like that, it's understandable that you needed a moment…and I feel like you did it for Oliver too…you cut your visit short so he could see her…that's to me is being an awesome mother"

"…" Donna was caught out and all she could do was smile at John who returned her warm smile. Just then his mobile phone had lit up and it was a text from Lyla.

"Johnny, I got something you need to see"

"I've gotta go upstairs for a bit Ms Smoak. I will be back soon. Please have something to eat from the cafeteria" John said as he stood up to leave the waiting area and Donna just nodded in return with a small smile.

*********Inside Felicity's room*************

"Going somewhere?" Felicity asked slowly

"I-I was only allowed a minute…just to see you" he said standing by the door too afraid to move closer. His emotions were all over the place.

"Oh….Oliver?" Felicity said slowly as her throat really hurt "S-S-lade? Did – J-John get him?" She croaked out and then swallowed hard

"Shhhh…it's okay, yes he did. He won't be able to get out this time" Oliver said as moved closer quickly grabbing a cup that sat on the little basin in the room and filling it with water. He was trying to stall by looking in the drawers for a straw and then found one and brought the cup to her.

Felicity nodded in relief and as Oliver walked up to her, she looked him up and down scanning his body "Are y-you okay?" Oliver couldn't help the smile that formed on his lips but he could never lie to her "No…" he said stepping back a bit. The truth came out. It wasn't physical but emotional.

"…he…he can't hurt you again…or an-anyone you love" she said slowly whilst swallowing hard between words. "How long have I been out?" she asked looking arounf the room and trying to sit herself up a bit but failed

"Too long…Felicity…."Oliver walked towards her and then stopped short right in front of her. In his eyes Felicity could see the battle inside him.

"What's wrong?" she asked as her worry brow began forming

"I….." taking her small hand in his, he caressed it slowly and then shut his eyes for a second gathering himself as all his emotions swirled inside him threatening to fall out. If he didn't it could be a disaster of epic proportions.

"Oliver?"

"I thought you died Felicity….i held you in my arms a-and you were dead" he breathed out slowly saying the words softly as if not to curse whatever miracle had happened in here when he walked in.

"But I didn't Oliver…"

"But you did!" he said a bit louder almost snapping at hearing her be so flippant

"Oliver…"

"No Felicity! You were dead in my arms and then you were flat lining here a few hours ago and now you're acting like it was nothing!"

"But I'm okay now Oliver, so are you! The plan worked…"

"If I had known about this plan, I would not have let you do it"

"I know Oliver! That's why…" the truth almost falling out of her mouth as she tried to make him understand.

Oliver heard her and shut his eyes. That was the last thing he wanted; for her to feel such a need to save him that she was willing to risk her life.

"So you lied to me…" he said softly realising that maybe just maybe he was rubbing off on her too much

"Well I wanted to tell you, many times but then Slade got to you first and…" she said quickly and Oliver smiled internally thankful that his ways didn't rub off on her. But that didn't stop from feeling defensive. She had time to tell him, a long time and she planned this out with the others and none of them told him. So what him getting caught when he did didn't fit the timetable of 'let's tell him today' "And it's my fault?" he asked angrily

"What? No! It was just the way the chips fell and I'm….I'm glad it did because I didn't have another plan"

"This thing you called a plan was terrible! You put your life at risk! Not to mention the others" Oliver said as his anger was boiling inside.

"I'd do it again if I had to…" she said softly biting at her bottom lip staring ahead of her

"No! You will never do that again! Not for me, not ever!"

"Yeah? So me risking my life for yours makes you mad? Well tough Mr, you're going to have to deal with this, because our lives are complicated we have to make tough decisions to protect the ones we love"

"Of course it does and I get that better than anyone else, but you will never do something like this again, do you understand me?!"

"Oliver! What makes me and what I did different than what you do daily when you suit up? When you swear up and down that you are doing it for those you love? Why is it okay when you do it, but when I do it, it's not?

"I can't lose you Felicity! Don't you see that?"

"Do you see that I couldn't lose you either? Do you see that I was willing to do anything to save you…even it meant…"

Oliver's eyes met hers and even though his eyebrows were furrowed in an altogether 'don't you say it' way, his gaze sent shivers down her spine. He visibly gulped and it took everything inside him to rein in his emotions. This was quickly getting out of hand

"…Okay so I was really hoping that I wouldn't die…in every plan there is a 50/50 chance of it going south or not, it was a risk I was happy to take." She said quickly locking eyes with Oliver whose face was dumbstruck and she realised she had actually said that out loud. There was no stopping it now. Oliver couldn't get over it and he snapped

"Why!? Why would you risk your life for mine? I'm not worth it! Why would you think I could just go on after…" He said taking another gulp and turning away from her walking to the window "So many things could have gone wrong; including the fact that you did die!"

"But I didn't!"

"Only because Slade didn't do it first!"

"No because it was a fool-proof plan!"

"It was reckless!"

"Coming from you that's rich!..

"Fel…." He was cut off by the sound of his mobile phone ringing

"John?"

"Oliver. Are you still with Felicity?"

"Yes, you?"

"I'm with Lyla, we have a problem man. 5th Floor in 5 minutes"

"I'm on my way up"

"Something's come up, but we are not done here" He said to Felicity as he hurried out of the room

She nodded at him and said "yes we are" under her breath

Oliver left without another word. The sound the elevator quickly and was on the 5th floor three minutes later.

"Hey! Oliver Is everything okay?" John asked schooling Oliver's features. If he had learnt anything after all this time; it's knowing when something is bothering his brother.

"No…yes…that depends what you got?" Oliver said knowing he couldn't fake it with John

"Oliver, tell me you did not just have a fight with Felicity!"

Oliver just looked at him and turned to walk inside the office where Lyla was waiting but Diggle grabbed his arm and said "If you're mad at her, then you're mad at me, Roy, Barry, Caitlyn, Cisco and Dr. Wells too"

"It was dangerous! I just don't understand why would you of all people agree to that, she could have.."

"Oliver! Man get your head out of your ass! She did it for you, to save you! A simple thank you would suffice you know"

"Dig….i can't get over the feeling…just the feeling of her body…the thought of her…."

"I know man…it's why it worked"

"What?"

"The plan….it's why we didn't tell you about it in the first place, not because you wouldn't go along with it, not because you'd be mad, but because it needed to be real"

"That's what Felicity meant…but it was very real….and so many things could have gone"

"Makes me damn happy to know a speedster and the S.T.A.R labs team"

Oliver nodded, his lip pressed tight as he couldn't get to grips with it all "…I just hate the risks of the plan"

"Oliver, every day you take risks, she sits and waits for you and for us to get back, to be successful. This time she took a risk and her plan worked, and with a small hiccup,

"Which was my fault! If I had known…"

"Yeah okay so you held on longer than we anticipated, but you didn't know so it's not your fault and it worked out at the end. She is fine and so are you. Slade is in A.R.G.U.S lockup here. We can keep a better eye on him here than on Lian Yu. Sounds like a win/win to me."

Oliver exhaled and blew out a sigh, he knew they were right, both Felicity and Diggle. He turned back to Diggle and gave him a little nod.

"Alright…" he said then motioning his head towards the office in which Lyla was waiting "Fill me in" he finished saying as he opened the office door and walked in.

"Lyla"

"Oliver"

"It's the League of Assassins Oliver…they're in town and calling you out" John said closing the office door behind him.

**********End Chapter*************

A/N: Hi there As always thank you for reading and sticking by this story, it's a learning journey for me and hopefully an enjoyable read for you! I apologize for the delay in this chapter, having both technical and some personal difficulties meant I haven't been able to dedicate enough time to this, but I promise I will not abandon this fic!

Hopefully this fic is satisfying your reading needs and please I do love comments and fav's as do all writers! So keep those coming (I do respond as soon as I can) Please join me for the next chapter, it's not too many till the end

Xoxoxo

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