Summary: An alternative ending to S2e3. What if Mathis had kidnapped both Laurel and Felicity, and had them both attached to that apparatus? Oliver has limited time and has to save both of them, in hurry; he makes this one decision that he will repent all his life. He saves Laurel first due to which Felicity...dies?

Oliver/Felicity.

Present

She was honest as honest could be. Her eyes could never hold back a lie and her smile portended nothing. She was soft, like the feel of a feather under the skin. His mind never marked her as important, which was too engrossed with the likes of his family and with those of Laurel, Tommy. Yet, her absence felt so heavy in his heart. She was a source of light in his dark life, though he had yet to realise that it was her who warmed his not-so-sunny days by reaching out and saying just the things he needed to hear, of course, mixed with her other words of futility. She had made such a difference in his life- she was the first one to show how much she cared and definitely the first one to have no expectations, no preconceptions of him. Until he crushed all the faith she had in him with his own hands. Innocence was the first part of her soul to be killed that day. And while it happened, Oliver stood still, helpless.

Oliver paced up and down the narrow corridor of the hospital, impatiently waiting for some news. Although he was aware of the intensity of his mistake, he expected Diggle to say a few words of sympathy, telling him that it was not his fault that Felicity was lying in the hospital, struggling to live.

After an hour of anxiety, a nurse came and asked Oliver and Diggle to come to the Doctor's cabin, and discuss a few things. The nurse wore a serious expression; Oliver's hopes went down and the guilt increased. Oliver couldn't see the doctor clearly; he could only hear what he was saying for his vision was too blurred, maybe because of the tears in his eyes.

'Mr. Queen," the doctor cleared his throat, "I'm Dr. Watson and I'm handling Ms. Smoak's case. You are here for her. I assume you relationship with her is...?"

Oliver straightened up. He tried to speak but couldn't find his voice. When he finally spoke, his voice came out to be rough and heavy, "She's my employee, and a good friend."

"I hope you realise what happened with her is something-

"Could you come to the point?" Oliver interrupted, "Just tell, is she...alright?"

"Well," the doctor sighed, "We had no doubts she would make it. But, Mr. Queen, the problem, here, is not this. The chemical which has been forced into her is a very strong one. As soon as it gets in contact with the human skin, it sets into a hard mass, forming strong bonds with facial tissues. It absorbs all the flexibility. Now, I'm aware that the police or the vigilante, as some people say, did not let much liquid flow into her. So, whatever amount of it flowed in, a large proportion of it collected in the lower jaw, the moving one. Which means... she wouldn't be able to move the lower one."

"And so?" Oliver said, in a small voice.

"Which means that...she wouldn't be able to speak. Ever. Even if she tried to, the tissues will tear apart, which will cause great pain."

Five hours ago

"I feel so tired right now." Felicity announced. Oliver was upstairs at his club, The Verdant, while she and Diggle were trying to track down Mathis, though all their efforts were futile.

"Do you think Oliver can do away with Mathis?" Diggle wondered.

"I'm sure he will, when Mathis will do something that will trigger him. Or when he will do something to that particular someone Oliver cares deeply for. You know what I mean?" Felicity said.

"Yeah, Laurel," Diggle replied, "If Mathis will even come near Laurel, Oliver will tear him apart." He joked.

"Yeah sure," Felicity laughed, her fingers moving rapidly over the keyboard and her eyes on the computer screen. "Oh my god Dig, you should see this. Looks like your prediction's correct. Mathis has Detective Lance and Laurel."

Instantly Diggle stood up and made his way towards the exit. He said as he left, "Inform Oliver and
track Mathis down."

"Okay, this seems to be a lot of work." She muttered under her breath. She messaged Oliver, asking him to switch on the news channel and, then, started to work on her computer to track Mathis. Felicity always trusted Oliver; she believed that he would never fail anyone. Even if he was unsuccessful sometimes, she wouldn't blame him. After all, Oliver was a man. He had the right to make mistakes. At least he tried, when others only criticised. She was sure he would never fail Laurel, of all people. She never said this in front of Oliver, but she felt that he was never at ease with Laurel. It was as if both of them were trying to prove their abilities to each other. But the cases where Laurel was involved were always interesting- because, then, it was so interesting to watch Oliver work-so anxious and enraged. Oliver came in between, changed into the hood attire and left.

Felicity had nothing left to do. But, she couldn't leave the place during a mission. So, she just sat idly, thinking of useless stuff. Like the expensive creams she had to buy the other day. Or about Laurel. She wondered how it felt like to be Laurel. Men went crazy for her. Oliver survived five years in that hellish island for her...

Felicity's phone rang, breaking her from the chain of thoughts.

"Hello?" She spoke.

"Hey, Felicity. It's me, Barry. Remember me? We met the other day." he said in a husky voice.

"Um...I don't remember," She dredged up hard, "I don't seriously remember you. You see, I actually tend to forget people I don't like- I mean, sorry, it's just that...Could you be a bit more specific?"

"Of course I can be. Wednesday night, you shopped for those particular cosmetics I like. You had a headphone hidden behind your ear into which you were speaking something absurd. And who were you speaking to? The infamous vigilante, Detective Lance. I assume they were your friends. Anyways, I grabbed you, you did escape. But, don't think that I forgot you."

A chill went down her back as Felicity sat still. She couldn't think straight until a pair of hands grabbed her from the behind. She screamed as much as she could but there was no one to help.

Felicity opened her eyes, the surroundings looked unfamiliar. Her body was tied to a pole, and an earth size pipe was fitted into her mouth which was attached to a monotonous apparatus. She was struggling to breathe. She further observed that she was inside a transparent glass cage, locked from the outside. She was inside some sort of a warehouse, dimly lit and the place smelled of chemicals. She suddenly remembered; she was going to be another victim of Mathis!

And there in front of her was Laurel, inside another similar cage, tied to a pole with the same life-size pipe forced into her mouth. She focused even more and discovered Detective Lance. As helpless as he was, he was shouting at Mathis. Requesting him, threatening him. Though there was no one to plead for her.

The apparatus started, a white liquid ascending the pipe. The higher it raised, the detective cried for his daughter. And Felicity, she cried for herself and closed her eyes.

As soon as the liquid touched her lower lip, it stopped rising. She opened her eyes. Oliver had arrived, shocked at the situation put in front of him. Mathis, whose location was not known, shouted at the top of his voice, "The Vigilante has come! I waited a long time for you. At one point, I had stopped believing that you would ever come. But, of course you had to; you two dearest ladies are here. But, to add to the game, I have a twist. You can save only one of these ladies. Now, don't say I'm the Hood; I can do anything, because I've this planned for a long time. You see, we have two apparatus here, which are pumping this divine liquid to each of the ladies. Currently the apparatus have been stopped. One of them will start soon, one will not. It will be the one attached to whomsoever you choose to save. I count till ten, you can save one of them. But remember, If you don't choose, both will die.

...10

...9

...8

...7

...6

...5"

Requests from detective Lance filled the air. As for Oliver, he couldn't think straight. Laurel was his girlfriend, the one person he would die for. And Felicity...

"...4

...3

...2"

"Laurel!" Oliver screamed.

Felicity's hopes crashed. She felt hot tears dripping down her face. She trusted Oliver with her life, and he just made a joke out of it. And before she could think of anything else, the white thing filled her mouth, giving her a burning sensation. The only thing she could think of was to survive.

Okay, what do you think of this? Should I continue?