I opened my eyes slowly. Eminent pain coursed through my body, which I was unable to move. I looked to my left and spotted my tablet, which was now cracked and shattered, pieces of glass and plastic dotting the ruined floor. I was laying under a collapsed wall and, my legs creating a four shape. My right leg held the debris that entrapped me. I let out a few strained coughs. There was billowing smoke, and the soot level was uncanny. I was not only trapped underneath debris that I couldn't escape from, but the building was also on fire. Just my luck. The flames were small, but the heat permeated and gathered within the room, making the sweat rise on my forehead.
"Oliver? Oliver! OLIVER!" I screamed.
Then my stomach dropped. Maybe the reason I couldn't see him was because he was trapped underneath all the rubble, more than I was. The mere thought brought tears to my eyes.
The pain in my leg suddenly increased to an unbearable searing sensation. The room was dark – the heat from the flames causing my heart to beat rapidly. I didn't know whether it was from the pain, or heat, but suddenly, everything went black.
Beep. Beep. Beep. A sporadic beeping noise entered my ears – it was steady. A whiff of lemon, and… antiseptic filled my nose. I could feel someone's hand tucked under mine. It was calloused and rough, my hand almost a perfect fit inside theirs. My throat was as dry as a desert when I attempted to swallow, and suddenly my eyes fluttered open.
"Ah. Miss Smoak. You're awake." A nurse wearing mint green robes was standing beside my bed, clipboard and pen in hand.
"Hey you." I whipped my head around at the familiar voice – it was him. Oliver was sitting beside my bed, his hand tucked underneath mine; a stupid, goofy smile was plastered across his face.
"Oliver?" It came out as a question, even though I knew exactly who he was. He was my Oliver. My best friend, my partner.
"Do you remember anything?" He asked. His thumb was now softly stroking the top of my hand. I sighed away my stress and smiled.
"I remember the discussion we had: get to the warehouse, shut down the central cortex, and get out. Obviously that part didn't go as planned." An escaped giggle escaped my faded red lips.
"Felicity… "His look was stern. " When you didn't give me the signal we were worried. Diggle and I thought you just forgot, so we went back to the foundry, but you weren't there. We saw the fire on the news and rushed over. You were knocked out, but I got you out."
He looked so solemn now. Oliver is the toughest person I have ever known, hands down. He always pushes his feelings and emotions away because of the life he leads – he never wants anyone he cares about to get hurt. He is also the most compassionate person I have ever known. Sometimes, the two can be a deadly combination.
"I'm alive, aren't I? And the central cortex was destroyed, which means you don't have to rally up the troops and take down Slade's goons."
A small smile formed on his lips, which then made me smile. A silence filled the air before Oliver spoke again.
"You're never coming on another mission again. This whole thing was my fault." He hung his head. Frowning, I placed my left hand on his cheek, lifting it up to meet my gaze.
"This is not your fault, Oliver Queen. There is nobody to blame – well, maybe the construction workers who were in charge of the building, but really, there's nobody to blame." His gaze met mine. "Oliver… you did a good thing."
I took his hand, squeezing it tightly so he knew I was serious. I leaned closer, our faces inches apart, before I whispered, "You saved me."