Oliver's Retirement
Chapter 1
Disclaimer: My mother's spine and bone problems had me thinking about this awhile back and I'm only now getting around to it. I figured all the intense physical activity Oliver did as Hood/Arrow/Green Arrow over the years would eventually cause him some serious problems. The Crisis has not happened yet. I'm assuming by now at this point, he would be close to his 40's, but if I'm wrong, mistakes do happen. William did NOT leave.
The arrival of Dr. Schwartz with a frown on her face as she looked at several things in her hands had Oliver instantly alert. "Its bad, isn't it?"
Dr. Schwartz looked up at him for a long moment. "Well, its not the kind of bad that can kill you."
"But its still pretty bad, isn't it?" Wondered the archer worriedly.
As for the last 4 months after reaching his 39th birthday, Oliver had been finding it harder and harder to get out of bed. It didn't help that when he did get out of it, he still had issues moving around and would be in pain longer than usual where his back and legs were concerned. Felicity had finally had enough of him putting things off and arranged for a visit to the Doctor. One that Diggle and Kara ensured he got too in order to ensure he actually went. Both were also somewhere around to also ensure he didn't sneak away the entire time he was there. He'd been forced to endure several hours of scans and blood tests as Schwartz and his family's old doctor, Dr. Lamb, had wanted to be as thorough as possible.
And thanks to advances in certain areas of Medical Science, the results were easier than ever to quickly get. "Unfortunately? Yes."
Oliver sighed. "Alright, hit me. Is it cancer? Some kind of poison?"
"Neither. Or anything else you might be able to think of, Mr. Queen." She told him, making him frown.
"Then what is it?" Asked the man gruffly.
Letting out a deep breath, Dr. Schwartz began to speak. "Your years of intense physical activity as a Vigilante, and most likely whatever you did to survive on Lian Yu for five years, has left the bones in your knees and below it, along with your spine, rather brittle. In a sense, you essentially have Osteoporosis, Mr. Queen. Quite frankly, its a miracle you're even able to get out of bed thanks to how bad the damage is."
"Strong amount of willpower."
"You'd have to have that in your line of work, I would imagine."
"Is this curable?"
The shake of the head was the answer he was given and it wasn't one he liked much of. "No, but it is manageable with treatment plans. But you WILL have to give up being Green Arrow, Mr. Queen. Otherwise, the damage to your body will worsen to the point it could leave you paralyzed." Informed the good Doctor as bluntly as possible.
Knowing he'd appreciate it considering he could be rather blunt himself. And I had hoped it was something that would be easily dealt with. This sounds anything but. Thought Oliver to himself.
Intending to do as much research as possible once he got out of there. His thinking had led him to missing the sympathetic look being shot his way from his doctor. Who a few minutes later, would begin to discuss options with him. And once that was done and he was cleared to leave, he'd make his way out of the hospital with a troubled frown on his face as Diggle and Kara joined him. Each looking rather concerned for their friend and being told he'd talk about it during their upcoming group get together. Which had only made the two that much more worried.
Author's Notes: I will be doing a second part.