Author's note: Thank you all for your positive reviews! I will try to update as often as possible so you're not left hanging. For those who are curious, this story is set in early to mid season 3 - probably just after Sara's death.

Disclaimer: I do not own Arrow. This is just the writing equivalent to doodling and I promise to return all characters relatively unscathed.

Warnings: See chapter one - same warnings still apply.

PURGATORY

Chapter Two

The rest of the day passed quickly for the trio. Oliver kept a watchful eye on Felicity, who had regained consciousness a handful of times to take a drink, only to pass out again. Diggle had said it was to be expected with the combination of heat exhaustion and being drugged; her body was much smaller than theirs, so it would take more time for the pentobarbital to metabolise. It didn't make Oliver feel any better. He was anxious and wired, not to mention furious, and it was driving his bodyguard insane.

Of course, John was just as concerned about Felicity's well being - he nearly had a god damn heart attack when he felt the heat radiating from her burnt skin - but she was OK, or she would be once she was rested and re-hydrated. So while Oliver was busy being a mite over protective, Diggle emptied the three bags and sorted through their contents meticulously.

Setting aside the abundance of protein bars to ration later, he separated the other items into piles according to their usefulness. Between the three of the packs, he managed to compile a pretty decent first aid kit complete with several doses of morphine and some suture kits (which he hoped wouldn't be needed). At the moment, it was the most precious of their commodities - so that had started his 'most useful' pile. Next were the thermal sleeping bags, vacuum sealed in plastic to save space, and the spare change of clothes for each of them. They also had a compass, three bowie knives, a five metre coil of rope and a box of tampons - which he quickly tossed into the most useful pile. There were a few other odds and ends, but for the most part they would have to survive off the land. He had no doubts that Oliver would have that covered.

Looking up from his task, Diggle rolled his eyes as he watched Oliver stalk back and forth across the length of the fuselage like a caged tiger, frustration rolling off him in waves.

'It's getting dark, maybe you should go and collect some firewood,' he suggested, not missing the glare that Oliver shot his way. The look, which Felicity would have described as "growly" told him that the young man wouldn't be leaving her side for some time. 'Fine, how about I go and collect some firewood?'

Anything to escape the restless energy that Oliver exuded and tempted Diggle to suggest he sit the fuck down.

As he exited their home away from home, the young man let his shoulders slump as he blew out a sigh. This was not an ideal situation for any of them, but he had to keep his head in order to get them all through whatever the hell this was. Crouching by Felicity and pressing a calloused palm against her brow, he was pleased to note that her temperature had reduced drastically and she was no longer sweating buckets. She moaned and leaned into the touch, her eyes flickering open to meet his.

'Hey there,' he greeted with a soft smile, his eyes crinkling at the edges in a way that always made Felicity's heart flutter. She returned the smile and managed to sit up slightly, using the wall of the fuselage to hold her.

'Hey yourself,' she replied, wincing as her muscles protested against the movement. 'How long have I been out?'

He handed her a bottle of water, still left over from the stash he brought last time. 'Most of the day. Drink slowly - you're probably still a bit dehydrated and you don't want to throw it back up again.' Oliver said, relieved that she was finally awake and recovering.

Nodding, she took a couple of small sips before handing the bottle back. 'So,' she began, wringing her hands anxiously in her lap. He covered them with his larger hands and brushed his thumb against her knuckles to stop her fidgeting. She looked away, seemingly interested in a climbing vine that had made the interior of the damaged plane its home.

'Felicity, what's on your mind?' He asked as she blew out a shaky sigh and turned back to him.

'We're on Lian Yu, with no memory of how we got here. How could Waller do that to you? After everything you've been through here? I want...when we get home...oooh I am so going to hack into their computers and sabotage their systems. Possibly with an untraceable trojan virus...'

Oliver allowed himself to chuckle. The way her eyebrows drew together and her nose scrunched up when she was angry; more specifically, angry for him. Even though this situation was unfair on all of them, selfless and compassionate Felicity, in her quiet and utterly adorable rage, was worried about how it could affect him. He wasn't quite aware of when exactly Felicity had wormed herself into his heart and found a nice big corner to curl up in, it may have been when he took Deadshot's laptop to her, riddled with bullet holes and a lame excuse that had her eyebrow quirked in stunned disbelief. She was so different to the many other women who had come and gone from his life - so vibrant and honest and beautiful in a way that neither of the Lance sisters could be.

Shaking his head, he compartmentalised those intense emotions to be dealt with at a later date and focused his attention back to Felicity, who was, unsurprisingly, still rambling about the injustice of their situation.

'...It's like mission rape,' she was saying, her hands waving about as she spoke. 'I mean, we probably said no to whatever they asked as to do, otherwise we would have remembered coming here, but they drugged us and shipped us off anyway. Did they drop us off a plane or did they keep us drugged for days on a boat? Oliver, I am going to ruin them for this! That woman...she's...oooh, she's a fucking bitch!'

Oliver nearly choked. Felicity wasn't one for foul language; she was patient and usually opted for made up profanities like frack, wherever the hell that came from. He was still staring at her when Diggle returned with an armful of wood.

'What's going on?' He asked with a smirk at Oliver's look of disbelief.

'Oh, I just had some words to say about our friend at A.R.G.U.S. I don't think Oliver was expecting my choice of language.' Felicity explained. 'Do we have food? I'm hungry.'

John laughed and tossed her a protein bar, which she glared at distastefully. John cocked an eyebrow a she tore the packaging with a grumble.

'Sorry girl, I couldn't find the local Big Belly Burger. It's all we have for now - we should be thankful that Waller at least had the heart to give us those.'

Felicity snorted and nibbled at the bar slowly, her brows still drawn together as she chewed carefully. 'I'm not thanking her for anything. Her brainless minions left us in the sun to roast, and you two were lucky to come out medium rare.' She ran her fingers across the blisters on her cheeks and her eyes darkened.. 'I smell like a pork roast...I even have the crackle to go with it.'

Oliver couldn't help it. He let out a bark of laughter as he reached for another leaf of aloe vera, cracking it easily. 'Only you Felicity, would compare yourself to a Sunday dinner.' He chortled, eyes twinkling with mirth. This genius was possibly the only woman on the planet that could make him smile in a way the old Oliver Queen never could.

She offered him a bright smile and leaned back, allowing Oliver the smear the pleasant smelling sap across the bridge of her nose. 'Don't worry,' he added, pressing a chaste kiss to her temple. 'I love pork roasts.'

Flushing, she slapped his chest lightly but her grin widened nonetheless. There's always that one hypothetical question he was asked constantly when he returned to Starling City after being a ghost for five years: "If you could have had anything on the island the time you were there, what would it be?"

He never answered, but he supposed now - looking at Felicity's broad smile and Diggle's raised brow, it would've been them.

His girl and his best friend.

→ → → ARROW ← ← ←

Very soon, as though their conversation had been beyond exhausting, Felicity was asleep again - the light of the fire dancing across her pale features. Oliver sighed and met John's gaze as he rationed out the bars and continued to organise the contents of their bags.

'I can't believe they dragged you two into this.' Oliver whispered darkly, his brow furrowed as he watched Felicity sleep.

'I can't believe they dragged all of us into this...and for what?' Diggle replied.

Mumbling quietly, Felicity burrowed further into her sleeping bag, a curl of blonde falling across her cheek. Oliver itched to brush it away and tuck it behind her ear - because that was all he could do. If A.R.G.U.S wanted them on the island to complete a mission, they wouldn't be allowed to leave until it was finished.

They sat in silence for a while, listening to the sounds of life in the jungle around them until a frightened whimper brought their attention back to the sleeping IT girl. She was frowning, her hands clutching the edge of the sleeping bag until her knuckles were white.

'Felicity?' Oliver called gently, reaching across and shaking her leg.

She shot up, breathing heavily and running a hand through her salt matted hair.

'I just thought of something...we're all idiots! We should know why Waller sent us here. It's so obvious!' She rushed, her hands trembling visibly in the dim orange light.

'Felicity...'

She turned her gaze first to Diggle, then to Oliver - and she was terrified, but not for herself.

'What did A.R.G.U.S put on this island, to keep people of Starling safe? Who did they put on this island?'

Oliver just stared at her, his brain ticking over until he caught on to her realisation.

'Slade,' he growled.

'What if he got out, Oliver? What if he's out there right now, watching us?'

Diggle scrubbed a hand across his stubbled jaw with sigh. 'Why would it matter if he got out of the cell? Fact remains, he's on a deserted island with now means of escape! Why send us here? What the hell can we do about it?'

'More to the point,' Felicity added, composing herself. She would not break down now - not after everything they'd survived. 'Why put me here? Oh that sounded really selfish. Sorry. What I mean to say is, I'm pretty much useless without something to hack. What am I here for? To charm Slade back into his cell?'

Oliver growled, his jaw clenched in fury at the sudden thought that dashed through his mind.

'You're the collateral.' He hissed, balling his hands into fists and shoving them under his armpits so he didn't punch something.

'I'm what now?'

'I see where you're taking this...but seriously? Would they do that? Never mind, of course they would...' Diggle trailed off, glancing at the blonde girl who absolutely should not be there.

'Hello? I'm right here! Can you stop with the glaring and the manly muscle flexing and tell me how I'm collateral!' She demanded angrily.

Oliver stood and moved to her side, crouching by her as she sat up completely.

'Don't be afraid, Dig and I will make sure you're safe,' he assured, trying to divert her attention - but it wasn't working.

'Don't change the subject Queen - and I'm not afraid!' She insisted, not missing the pain in the stormy depths of his eyes.

'You should be, Felicity. I am. Think about it. If it were just Dig and I here and we knew what Waller was up to - would we play along?'

Felicity shook her head.

'Exactly. You're here to make sure we do as we're told. You're here so we have no choice but to eliminate the threat...because you're the one who foiled his plan...you are his way to hurt me the most!'

There it was again - he had the same look in his eyes when they set the trap for Slade.

He took the wrong woman...

That look of grief and fear and possibly something else that made Felicity think they could be happy together. That she could be his girl-girl.

He brushed his lips against her temple and gave her a sad smile.

'I can't lose you and they know that. They're using you to make us do as we're told.'

'You're not going to lose me.' Felicity assured, tapping his nose with a lopsided grin. 'And when we get back to Starling, A.R.G.U.S is going down.'

And hell, she meant it.

There is chapter two! So they've figured out the who and the why, now its time to get into it. I'm not sure how many chapters there will be, these things write themselves so I guess it'll finish when it needs to. Enjoy and don't forget to review!