That moment that seems to be missing in 2x14
One-shot
Oliver stood from the crumpled bodies of the two men and clicked on his comm, ignoring the wreckage of the main entrance. "What's happening?"
He waited for a beat but did not get any response.
Frowning, he started making his way back towards the computer in front of the safety deposit vault, irritated at the radio silence coming out of his ear. He jumped over the body lying on the stairs and ran towards the computer when finally Diggle's voice came out of the small earpiece. "Tockman disabled the gas main release." He panted. Oliver could hear Diggle's voice echoing in the halls as opposed to just within his ear.
He was finally at the top of the stairs leading to the vault when he realized that it was empty. Instantly he felt a wave of anger crash over him, nearly rendering him senseless. He could feel the low rumblings of a growl in his chest as he hurried down the steps. He stood at the barren podium as Diggle approached him. "Where are they? Where's Felicity?!" Oliver roared.
"I left her with Sarah right here." Diggle breathed deep. Oliver let out a loud grumble and furiously grabbed the mouthpiece to his comm. He felt his heart constrict, making his breathing more labored as his eyes darted around his surroundings as if a clue would suddenly materialize out of no where.
"Sarah! Felicity! Where the hell are you?" He barked, waiting for a beat for an answer, then he turned to Diggle. "You just left her?!"
"I left her with Sarah." Diggle glared at him eliciting a frustrated grunt from Oliver. No. No this can't be happening.
Sarah was one thing but Felicity was not built for this kind of fieldwork. She doesn't have the training to properly defend herself. He tried their comms a few more times, each time he was going more and more frustrated.
"How could you just-" He started, his fingers tightening around his bow until his hand began to shake.
Diggle stood up straight. "I had to Oliver! Or else this bank and everything else in the next three blocks would have exploded!"
Oliver was about to retort when a beep echoed in his ear. "Felicity found him." Sarah's voice said into his ear, the faint sounds of running footsteps audible behind the words. "We're going through the side door outside." At those words Oliver ran down the hallway looking for a hanging red sign, Diggle quickly behind him.
"Don't go in. We're on our way." He grunted at the mouthpiece as he pushed himself to go faster, his footsteps echoing in the large hallways as he furiously tried to look for an exit close by.
"Don't be an ass, Ollie. He's in there now. I'm not waiting any longer." He heard the determination in her voice and cursed. He had to get there. They finally managed to find an exit and opened the door into the brisk night air, the silence only serving to amplify the loud thumping of his heart. He tried to reach Sarah a few more times to no avail.
Diggle pointed out a small alleyway towards the back of the bank and they both charged towards that direction when suddenly they heard a shout and a gun being fired. Oliver felt his blood run cold. "No." He whispered as he ran harder. He threw a brief glance and Diggle whose eyes were wide and alert, a shimmer of worry behind them. They finally spotted a low ramp going towards an open door with light spilling out of it.
They both ran as fast as they could down the ramp. Oliver could feel his throat closing up when he saw Felicity lying on the ground. He barely registered Sarah kneeling down in front of her and Tockman lying not far from them, his eyes focused on Felicity's crumpled form. He froze near the entrance as Diggle went on to check Tockman's status. For a brief second his world stopped as the worst immediately came to his mind, but then he heard her whimper. He took long strides until he reached her. He could see the grimace on Felicity's face and his mind clouded over for a second. He shook his head to clear it and gave Sarah a quick once over and noted that she was okay before his gaze returned to Felicity.
"Felicity." he whispered as he hurriedly knelt towards her side.
She winced as she tried to sit up with Sarah's assistance. "It's nothing. Ow. I'm fi-..fuuudge. Ow."
Sarah moved to the side as Oliver grabbed Felicity's arm, dropping it immediately when she hissed in pain. His eyes glanced towards his hand, noting the amount of blood that pooled there in the brief second he made contact. His eyes darted across her face, making sure that the pain has ebbed before he loosely wrapped an arm around her waist to hoist her up, his open palm supporting her back. "Here let me see." His voice controlled unlike the turmoil of emotions going on within him. He inwardly winced at all the blood on her shoulder, slowly dripping down her arm. It wasn't fatal, which lessened the constrictive feeling in his throat and chest.
Sarah immediately took off her jacket and used it to stop the bleeding from her shoulder, making Felicity grimace.
He released her back once Sarah had a good handle on her and then held Felicity's face between his hands as he let his eyes roam her face searchingly. She was okay. She tried to give him a smile, wincing at the pain from her shoulder making Oliver's eyes unfocus for a second, so he closed them before his emotions betrayed him.
Oliver let go of her face as his worry eventually morphed into anger as he stood up. "What the hell were you thinking Felicity?"
"Hey! Don't snap at her. It's just a flesh wound Ollie! If it wasn't for her I would've been hurt worse." Sarah bit back, dropping her jacket and placing herself between Oliver and Felicity.
"That doesn't change the fact that…" Oliver stopped when Diggle placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing tight, briefly clearing the haze of anger that he has fallen into.
"We need to get Felicity some medical attention. She's losing blood." He said in a low voice as he dropped his hand. "Sarah and I will get Tockman."
Oliver took a deep breath and nodded. Taking her in his arms as Diggle and Sarah carried the Clock King's unconscious form. He made sure that his arm applied continuous pressure onto her shoulder as he carried her. They started moving slowly, weary from the night's adventures as Felicity groggily reminded him, insisting that she can walk fine by herself, but he would not let Felicity down, much to her chagrin. He gave her a sharp look, effectively ending the discussion. Felicity grumbled softly but acquiesced. Deep down she knew that she has lost a decent amount of blood, enough to make her lightheaded, and that she wouldn't have been able to walk a straight line anyway. She rested her head against the crook of his neck, her breath coming in sharp rasps against his throat, the feeling stirring something deep within him. He has never held her so close before and it was…different. Her body was so warm, and her presence so profound that any anger and anxiety that he had earlier melted away. He had her. She was safe now.
They made their way to the car quietly, Oliver very careful not to jostle Felicity in his arms. He bent his head down until his lips were mere centimeters from her ear and whispered "Thank you."
"For what?" Felicity jumped a little at the sudden sound making her wince in pain, her eyes widening at their proximity and searching his face questioningly.
"For Sarah. For getting Tockman." He replied. He looked into her deep blue eyes, so warm and open, and whispered the next few words reverently. "For everything."
She was quiet for a few seconds, her eyes searching, for what he didn't know. "It's what I do." She replied with a sad smile. Oliver remembered the talk that he and Diggle had earlier about her feeling left out. He averted his gaze, not knowing how to proceed.
Their journey back had been uneventful. Sarah sat on the front seat next to Diggle, recounting what happened after he left to tend to the gas problem as Felicity fidgeted in her seat, fussing about her bloodying the interior of the car.
Oliver gazed at the petite blonde next to him as she tried to swallow the pain that she couldn't hide on her face, letting Sarah's praise float through his ears. He really has been hard on her lately, he thought remorsefully. He didn't even know when it began. All he knew was that ever since the break in at QC and the reemergence of mirakuru he has been taking out his frustrations on her, which she did not deserve. He didn't even realize that she's been feeling left out.
In reality he didn't know what he'd do without Felicity; what would happen to their operation if she left. He didn't want to dwell on that possibility, his heart constricting. He knew that he was close to making that a reality once. Maybe he has been taking her for granted. But he'll fix it. He knew he has too. Before eventually she'll finally come to the conclusion that he, this crusade, wasn't worth it anymore and she'll go to someone else she knew needed her and would appreciate her. He'll let her know more often how much he needs her. They need her.
He leaned back and sighed, taking his hood off. Felicity turned towards him and gave him a brief smile through her pain, making him smile back, a reflex that he has developed from the first time that he ever laid eyes on her.
She never ceases to amaze him.
"You'll always be my girl"
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