A/N I don't know if anyone is going to read this much less like it but I really felt like writing it out.

Chapter 1

The revelation of what was happening to him struck Oliver Queen like a lightning bolt and for the first time in a long time he was actually afraid. He was afraid for himself but mostly he was frightened for those he would be leaving behind. His mother, Thea, Diggle, and Laurel. Dig had dealt with the loss of friends before so while he knew his partner would grieve Oliver knew that his friend would be alright. Laurel and his family had lost him once before already and his heart ached at having to put them through that again but at least he knew that they could cope. This time at least they would have the chance to say goodbye.

There was one person, however, that he dreaded telling above all the rest. Felicity. She was his executive assistant, his ally in saving the city but above all she was his friend. Even though she had witnessed a great deal since the time she had joined his crusade, Felicity was innocent in so many ways. It was one of the things he liked most about her. Despite everything she had remained pure of heart. How could he even bring himself to tell her? When he imagined the tears streaming from her eyes he wondered if it was best if he just disappeared before the time came.

But he knew he had to tell her. She deserved that much at least. She had stuck by him through all the challenges he had faced both as Oliver Queen and as the vigilante. They had grown closer the last few months and given more time perhaps their friendship could have blossomed into something more. But as fate would have it time was the one thing he did not have.

For Oliver Queen was dying. To save his city he had given his all and more. Even with Roy and Dig's help he was no match for Slade and the terror he had brought to Starling. Through Blood Slade had been able to mass produce the mirakuru until he had dozens of super powered warriors. No amount of training or preparation in the world would aid him against men who could pick him up like he was paper weight.

Perhaps if Oliver had known that Slade was alive he could have gathered allies. He could have sent a message to Batman in Gotham or even to that new hero in Central City. Oliver had heard rumors that this hero, Flash, was faster than anything or anyone. Perhaps he would have turned the tide enough that Oliver would not have had to resort to such drastic measures.

By the time Oliver discovered the true mastermind behind Blood's schemes it was already too late. While the vigilante was chasing his pawns Slade had enacted his plan and taken his true target. Felicity. Apparently Slade thought that it was justice. Oliver had cost him the woman he loves so it was only fair that Oliver lost the woman he loved. It was for that very reason Slade had ordered Blood to worm his way into Laurel's heart. Through Blood he would corrupt Laurel and turn her against both Oliver and the vigilante.

It wasn't until later that Slade discovered that Laurel should not have been his target. Even from afar he could see the growing relationship between Oliver Queen and his executive assistant. His suspicions were further confirmed when the Hood killed the Count. When the copycat Hoods threatened his sister Oliver still showed restraint but when Felicity's life was at risk all the walls and barriers came down.

Oliver could still feel the heat of his rage when the captured Blood laughed and mocked the vigilante. It was too late, he had said. An eye for an eye, he promised. Slade Wilson's plans could not be stopped. At first Oliver was incredulous. There was no possible way that Slade was alive. But then the pieces of the puzzle started falling into place. How else could Blood have known about the mirakuru.

Then it really hit him. If Slade wanted revenge then there was only one possible person he would target. Oliver immediately tried to reach Felicity on the comms and when she did not answer he knew his worst fears were coming to pass. Felicity had become a target because off him. In his desperation Oliver Queen made a choice. He grabbed the mirakuru and injected himself not with one syringe but several. Consequences be damned.

Oliver thought he had known pain but he was sadly mistaken. The mirakuru brought on such agony that he almost wanted to die. His entire body felt like it was on fire. That blaze quickly spread until Oliver was sure that his entire body would soon turn to ash. If it was just him he was concerned about Oliver would have been more than happy to succumb to the pain but Felicity's life was also at stake. He was determined that he would live long enough to save her. As long as he did then it did not matter what happened to him.

He did not know how much he would come to regret those thoughts. He survived the mirakuru. He became stronger than Slade and all those he had given the mirakuru too. Like a man possessed he fought his way to Slade. Oliver's mind was bent on one singular purpose and that was to save Felicity. All those who got in his way paid the ultimate price.

Even with the added strength, his battle with Slade was brutal. He had sustained such injuries that under normal circumstances he would have never lived through. Through the whole battle it was Felicity's eyes on him that made him hit a little harder, move a little faster. When Slade finally fell it barely even registered in Oliver's mind. Before Slade had even hit the ground Oliver was already running past him towards the bound Felicity. Her normally neat hair was a tangled mess. She was covered in bruises and her glasses lay broken on the floor. Her skirt and blouse were torn in so many places that she was barely decent. When he cut the ropes that bound her hands he could see that her wrists were bleeding from her struggles to get free.

With a gasp she had flung her arms around him. He held her tight then whispering to her that everything was fine now. She sobbed into his shoulder until she eventually passed out from exhaustion and injuries. He carefully lifted her and was surprised to find that he hardly felt her weight. He took off as fast as he could towards the hospital with her cradled in his arms. For the longest time he had imagined how it would feel to hold her in his arms but now he would give anything for her not to be where she was.

Once at the hospital he left her in the care of the doctors and nurses under the pretext that he had saved her from some local gangsters. He disappeared before they could ask him anymore questions. He barely made it back to the lair and had just enough strength left to text Dig and tell him which hospital Felicity was in. Then with a loud crash he toppled to the floor, taking a table and all its contents with him. Diggle found him a few hours later. He had become concerned after not getting anymore messages since the text that told him which hospital Felicity was in. Dig was still sporting his own arm cast from his last battle with Blood's men. Even one handed he did what he could to nurse Oliver back to health.

That was almost two months earlier. Felicity recovered nicely and was able to go home after only a few days. Oliver, as well, seemed to heal quickly. The only evidence of the battle were the new scars that lined his body. He visited Felicity often, making sure she was as comfortable as possible. He brought her food and movies and made himself as accessible as he could.

It wasn't until after the first week that he noticed something wrong. He woke in the middle of the night to see several of his scars opened and bleeding profusely. He thought it was nothing at first and simply bandaged himself up. The next night he woke because he could not breathe. He rushed to the bathroom to find his mouth covered in blood.

Oliver had no idea what to do. It wasn't like he could simply walk up to his doctor and ask for a check up. So he decided to do the next best thing . He booked an impromptu trip to Central City and sought the help of someone who already saved him once before.

Barry was delighted to see his hero suddenly show up his lab but that quickly turned to anxiety when Oliver told him his symptoms. Barry's analysis of His blood confirmed Oliver's suspicions. His body was breaking down from mirakuru overdose. It simply could not handle the strain and there was nothing Barry could do about it. At least not in the time Oliver had left. Before he left Oliver made Barry promise not to tell his friends. He wanted them to find out from him and in his own terms.

For Oliver It turned out that telling those you care about that you are dying is harder than he thought. Several times he was on the verge of telling them but could not make the words come out of his mouth.

"Oliver, are you okay?" Felicity's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. She walked into his office holding a stack of papers for him to sign.

He smiled up at her from where he was sitting. Her beautiful blonde hair was tied in its usual spot. Her cheeks held that hint of flush that he felt so alluring and her bruises had finally disappeared. "Fine. Just thinking."

"I can see that. I had to call your name several times to get your attention." She slid the pile of papers on his desk. She walked around him, tapping her fingers across his hard shoulders, to grab a few of the files he had looked through earlier. He did his best to ignore the jolt of electricity her touch sent through his body. It didn't escape his notice that ever since Slade's defeat the amount of physical contact between them had increased dramatically.

He shuddered at what that meant so he quickly grabbed Felicity's hand and quickly stood at the same time. "Felicity I have something to tell you. I'm-"

He never got to finish his sentence. When Oliver grabbed her arm Felicity suddenly decided that she was tired of waiting for him to make a move. She was sure beyond any doubt that he cared for her. Their unlikely friendship had been blossoming ever since he showed at her office carrying a bullet ridden laptop. It blossomed until it turned into something else altogether. How could it not when thy spent almost all their waking hours together. It wasn't long until she saw him even in her dreams. She was in love with him before he had saved her and that feeling had only grown.

She tried to put all her feelings into that singular kiss. All the tension, frustration, love, and hope she felt. When he froze as their lips touched she thought that she had made a mistake but her fears were quickly quashed when he returned her kiss. Both of them reveled at each other touch and the fact that their lips seemed to have been designed to fit the other. It was a long kiss, full of passion and fire.

When they finally separated Felicity couldn't help but sigh in relief. She looked into his eyes and smiled contentedly. "So what were you going to say?"

A/N Hope that was okay. Let me know if it's good enough to continue.