A/N: Thanks for your patience! I got way busier than I had anticipated. But I promise, the next chapter will be up quicker, and we will have our IT girl back to babbling in no time ;)

Also thank you for reviewing, following, and sticking with it!

**This was my least favorite chapter to write, and I probably rewrote it a dozen times. As for medical stuff - my extent of medical knowledge and GSW's comes from Grey's Anatomy haha so don't judge that too harshly. I googled gun shot wounds and researched them in the abdomen, and basically came up with it's all dependent upon the person & how quickly they get to the hopital, people either get lucky or they don't.


Oliver's blood ran cold, the gunshot ringing through his ears. Everything stilled, the room going silent around him. His worst fears were crashing down over him like a tidal wave.

Felicity lay bleeding out, hurt because of her involvement with him and his failure to protect her.

He felt hands pushing him out of the way, a faint echo of a familiar voice pulling him back into reality.

"Oliver!" Diggle came into view suddenly, but he couldn't fathom when and how he had gotten there. He was tearing at the side of Felicity's dress, revealing the soft crimson flesh underneath. He was moving quickly to evaluate her wounds, his trauma training taking over.

Oliver looked at his friend, the blood crawling up his tuxedo shirt. He saw the gun by his hip and Sherwood's lifeless body a few feet away.

Once again, John Diggle had saved his life.

Oliver felt his eyes sting as he watched his friend using his field training to stop the bleeding. "Digg, I tried," his voice cracked, threatening to break.

Diggle's hands kept pressure on her abdomen; fresh blood pooled through his fingers. "Oliver, you have to focus. I need you to keep pressure here," he nodded his head towards the wound. Oliver nodded solemnly and replaced his partner's hands with his own.

He watched her face, pale in the moonlight that spilled in through the windows. He shut his eyes tight, pulling his focus together. He knew he couldn't afford to break just then.

Diggle took his jacket off, quickly removing his tuxedo shirt and tossing it to Oliver to apply to the wound.

Roy rushed in, Laurel directly behind him, and both stopped short, caught off guard by the sight of their friend.

They had all known they were risking their lives – they had signed up for it. But it still couldn't prepare them for what they were witnessing.

"Call 911!" Diggle shouted.

Roy complied quickly, dialing from his cell. "I need an ambulance," he shouted to the operator. "I'm on the executive floor of Palmer Technologies, there's been a shooting."

Diggle worked in silence while they waited.

Oliver leaned over her, pressing his forehead to hers, stroking her hair. "You'll be okay," he reassured himself. "I love you, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry," he whispered again and again.

Sirens wailed through the night, getting closer every second.

"Oliver you have to leave," Diggle's voice was foggy, not registering in his mind. "Oliver, man, I got it from here, you have to get out before the cops get here."

He didn't move, his body like lead.

"Roy! Get him out of here!"

Roy nodded, and wrapped his arm around his mentor, attempting to tear him away. Oliver resisted, elbowing Roy sharply to get him off. "No! I'm not leaving!" He bellowed.

"Man, I know you want to help her. The best thing you can do right now is let her go," Diggle urged.

Oliver shook his head, tightening his jaw.

"Come on," Roy tugged again and Oliver turned and stood, slamming him into the wall behind him.

"I said I'm not leaving her!"

Roy put his arms up defensively, looking to John for guidance.

"Ollie, we have to go." Laurel whispered.

He relaxed his grip on the youngest vigilante when he felt Laurel's soft touch on his shoulder.

She approached with caution, turning his face so he looked her in the eye. "Felicity will be safer if we leave. The less they know about our involvement, the better for all of us, especially Felicity."

He nodded then, giving up the fight. They were right. He looked to Diggle when he heard the approaching footfalls of police and medics down the hall.

Diggle nodded, a silent promise to keep their girl safe.

He dragged his feet away from her then, looking back as Laurel and Roy directed him away.


Roy sighed. "Dude, if you keep pacing I'm gonna lose it," he sat, slumped down in the waiting room of Starling Hospital. Thea was tucked into his side falling in and out of consciousness.

Oliver sat across from him, opting to bounce his leg up and down impatiently instead. "It's been hours."

Diggle yawned, adjusting slightly but being careful not to disturb Lyla, who had been using his lap to rest her head. "No news is good news, it means they're still working."

Laurel walked in quietly. She held a coffee in front of Oliver's nose. "Here, drink."

He took it gratefully, nodding his appreciation.

She sat next to him, sipping her own coffee in silence.

Waiting was always the worst part. There was nothing to be done. Oliver was a doer, a man of action. He slumped back down into his seat leaning his head back and shutting his eyes, feeling helpless.

There was a throat clearing, bringing everyone to alert. Oliver sat up right, ready for news…any news.

Ray Palmer stood sheepishly in the doorway. He nodded, acknowledging their presence. His suit was untidy, his eyes tired and hair ruffled. His wrist bore a hospital wristband, evidence of his injuries.

Oliver glared, but deciding it was best to not say anything he laid his head back, shutting his eyes in an attempt to shut out the world, even if only for a moment.

"Any word?" Ray asked no one in particular.

Laurel shook her head apologetically. "How are you holding up?"

He took it an invitation to have a seat, but kept a good distance between himself and the rest of the group. "Just superficial wounds mostly, a small concussion, but I'll be fine…"

Laurel smiled softly. "I'm glad you're okay."

Ray dropped his eyes in shame. "This is all my fault," he whispered under his breath.

Oliver sat up then, seeing his opening to pick the fight he so desperately needed. "Yea, yea it is. Remember that," he snapped.

"Ollie," Laurel warned. "It's nobody's fault."

"No! He should know that if it weren't for him, she'd be fine." He stood then, making his way out of the room.

Ray followed quickly. "Oliver, I care about her too," he started.

Oliver rounded on him. "She has a bullet in her stomach because of you!" He roared. The hallway hushed, patients and staff coming to a halt to watch the interaction unfolding before them. "That's one hell of a way to show how much you care," he snapped. "Dragging her into your little side project…you put her in danger the moment you asked her to help you with the A.T.O.M.!"

He struck a nerve and Ray met his eyes with fury. "What about you?" He invaded his space, getting up into Oliver's face. "I know how you're spending your nights, Oliver Queen." He hissed and looked him dead in the eye, waiting for a reaction but Oliver gave nothing away. "You're risking her life every day."

"I can protect her," he growled through his teeth.

Ray took another step closer, causing Oliver to take a step back. "Oh? Like you protected her tonight?" He shoved Oliver further away from him.

Oliver charged at him then, his blood boiling. He knocked him down to the ground, pinning him down and decking him across the face.

A nurse shouted for help while someone else called for security, the hallway suddenly erupting with noise.

Oliver continued to hit him, taking out all of his rage. "What the hell?" Laurel rushed out. Ray pushed Oliver back and the two scuffled on the ground. "Knock it off!" She shouted.

Diggle and Roy rushed out, attempting to pull the men apart. Diggle managed to get a good grip on Oliver and yanked him back, pulling him to his feet. "Walk away!"

Ray picked himself up off the ground panting and Roy held his arms out between the two, effectively separating both men.

"Ollie!" Thea shouted in disappointment. "This is not the time or place!"

A security guard appeared in his rent-a-cop uniform. He hiked his pants up, taking stock of the situation. "There a problem here?" He asked.

The group turned to look at him. It was almost comical, the thought of the small framed, bald security guard breaking up a fight between the two muscular men before him.

Oliver shook Diggle off his shoulder. He and Roy exchanged a look of distaste.

"I got it from here, Scotty."

Scotty rubbed his hand over his round belly. "Captain Lance, what brings you here?"

Quentin Lance appeared in full uniform. "Official business, with this fine group before you, I'm afraid." He stepped past them and held his arm out, directing the group back into the small waiting room.

They shuffled in, heads down. Oliver and Ray went to opposite sides.

"So, does someone want to tell me what the hell is going on here?"

Laurel stepped forward. "Daddy," she started.

Lance gave her a harsh look, "Don't," he snapped and redirected his attention to Ray. "Now, Mr. Palmer, I understand you and Ms. Smoak were together when she was shot, so let's start with you."

Ray swallowed, not sure where to begin.

"I've got two dead bodies, and a girl lying in a hospital bed, so someone better speak up!"

"Daddy, it's complicated," Laurel said in a hushed tone, her eyes widening as a warning.

Lance nodded. "Let's start with the events of the evening, you were at a wedding?" He asked the room.

They all nodded.

"And you and Ms. Smoak were abducted?" He turned his direction back to Palmer.

Palmer shook his head. "No sir, I was outside, speaking to your daughter, when I was jumped."

Lance glanced at Laurel, checking her for signs of injury. He was angry with her for keeping Sara's death a secret, but was relieved, proud even, that she was okay. Once again he directed his gaze to Palmer. "Where was Ms. Smoak?"

Oliver cleared his throat. "With me."

"What were you two doing during Mr. Palmer's attack?"

Oliver looked at Ray for a moment, and for the first time since he walked into the hospital he felt a little bit sorry for him. "We, uh…" he coughed. He looked away sheepishly, but he knew that Ray knew. A guy that smart knew how to read between the lines.

Lance rolled his eyes. "Good to know you're as classy as ever, Mr. Queen."

"We were discussing a personal matter," Oliver squared his shoulders in defense, "when Ms. Smoak got a call. She sounded concerned, babbled something about Ray and needing to get to the office, and she was gone."

Ray's jaw tightened and there was a flash of anger and hurt in his eyes, but he nodded. "Thomas Sherwood was holding a gun to my head. He lured Felicity to my office because they needed her to access some files," he explained. "Everything happened so fast, the gun went off and…"

Lance held his hand up. "I'm going to stop you there. What files?"

Ray shrugged. "Finances, trying to see what projects we had going on, anything that was going to make him a quick buck I suppose."

"And at what point did the Arrow come in?"

Ray gave Oliver a look, and gave the slightest nod, letting him know that his secret was safe, at least for now. "If it weren't for him, neither Ms. Smoak or I would be here."

Lance nodded. "You guys have had a long night, so I'm going to give you a break for now, get some rest, we'll deal with this later." With that he left, Laurel chasing his steps out the door.

Palmer slumped into a chair, relieved for a moment.

Oliver took a seat next to Thea, worry etching his eyes.

"Really Ollie? While she was on a date?" Thea questioned quietly.

Oliver signed. "Thea," he warned.

"She's cute, I totally get it. I'm just saying –"

"Shut up," Oliver said. He looked across from him to find Diggle glaring with a heavy look of disapproval.

The doctor stepped into the room, a petite woman with a strong stance. Her hair was pulled back, a chart in her delicate hand while her other hand was tucked into her lab coat. "You're here for Felicity Smoak?"

Oliver jumped up, "Yes, how is she?" He asked anxiously.

She nodded and held out her hand. "I'm Doctor Connors, Ms. Smoak's surgeon."

Oliver nodded, shaking her hand. "Is she going to be okay?"

Dr. Connors stepped back, addressing the room. "Your friend was extremely lucky. Considering the circumstances, her injuries were fairly minor. She had a GSW to her abdomen, but it was a clean shot. A centimeter in either direction could have very well resulted in something much more serious and life threatening. She lost a lot of blood, so she's going to be very tired. She'll be in pain for a few days, but she's going to be just fine."

Oliver placed his arms behind his head, sighing in relief. "Oh thank God," he breathed. He felt as though his heart had started working again, his lungs finally taking in air. "Can I see her?"

"I'm sorry, after hours visiting is restricted to strictly family. Are you the boyfriend?"

Ray stepped forward. "That would be me, Ray Palmer," he shook the doctor's hand politely. "Thank you so much for all you did for her."

Dr. Connors blue grey eyes flashed between both men, the wheels turning trying to figure out the dynamics. "Nice to meet you. Does Ms. Smoak have any relatives?"

Oliver nodded. "Her mom, she's in Vegas."

"I've already arranged to fly her out, she should be here in the morning," Ray explained.

The doctor nodded again. "Well, I suggest you all go home and get some rest, she's going to be just fine. Freshen up and you can visit her first thing in the morning."


There were quiet conversations of relief as the team discussed their visiting arrangements, taking shifts for the next day. Oliver didn't hear any of it. He just sat, relieved that his girl was going to be okay, but frustrated that he couldn't see her.

"Oliver," Diggle placed his hand on his shoulder.

Oliver looked up. "Digg, I can't thank you enough. You and Lyla…God you should be on your honeymoon right now," he signed.

Digg smiled. "We are right where we need to be," he said. "But we're going to go home, relieve the sitter for a while, get some rest."

Oliver nodded.

"She's gonna be fine, man."

"Thank you." He was relieved that whatever lectures John Diggle had regarding his relationship, or lack thereof, with their girl would wait for another day.

The room cleared out, one by one. Thea said her goodbyes to Roy, hanging back to give Oliver a ride.

She stood in front of him, but he didn't look at her, just continued to stare ahead. "Ollie," she nudged him. "Let's go home."

He shook his head. "I just, I need to be here. I know she's okay, but I just need to see for myself."

She nodded in understanding. "Okay," she stated simply. She took a seat next to him, and they sat, waiting in silence.


A/N: Thanks again! :)