Once the cure has been moved from the vials, Felicity picks up her phone to text Sara an update. She knows she's probably being ridiculous, but keeping in communication—even one sided—makes Felicity miss Sara a little less.
"Who are you texting?" Oliver asks.
"Sara."
"Why?"
Felicity shrugs. "So she knows what she's coming back to. A lot of things have happened since she left and I want her to know."
"Has she replied?"
Felicity shakes her head as she sets down her phone. "But it's... it helps me... And maybe this time she'll answer, or at least tell me when she's coming back."
Oliver pulls Felicity into a hug. "She'll be back. She just needs to figure some stuff out."
"I know," Felicity sniffles into his shoulder.
"I needed two months back on the island after Tommy's death," he reminds her.
Felicity rolls her eyes. "I remember."
"Good," Oliver says, pulling away slightly.
…
The next afternoon when both their phones ring, they're both shocked and go to separate corners to answer them.
Not that it's needed, both calls are Queen Consolidated related and brief.
"Responsibility calls," Oliver says. "I better change."
Felicity nods as he goes to put a suit on. She wonders what the heck the emergency at Queen Consolidated could be. She's been monitoring all the news feeds and sources, while still accessing various things from the company computers and everything seems to be fine. She's supposes it could be Isabel Rachev tying to make a move, but it didn't sound like it.
It's odd sitting in front of the car as Oliver drives. But without Diggle, it seems like the only way to do things. Felicity prepares to switch gears. It's been long enough that it's taking a moment to remember how to be Oliver's executive assistant instead of the Arrow's source of tech.
Glancing at Oliver, she can see him preparing as well. As the light turns green, the car moves forward, only to be slammed into. Felicity is flung against her door an there's a roaring chaos as the glass shatters and metal crunches and then it's pain and finally darkness.
…
Felicity wakes up with a terrible headache. She lets out a groan and hears a chilling chuckle. Opening her eyes is a struggle, as is lifting her head. Eventually it registers that she's sitting on a folding chair facing a smirking Slade Wilson.
"Nice of you to join me, Ms. Smoak," He greets. He holds up a plastic bottle. "Water?"
Though thirsty, Felicity is wary of accepting anything from Slade.
"Beautiful and smart," Slade remarks, opening the bottle and taking a sip. "Kid knows how to pick 'em." He offers Felicity the bottle again.
She accepts it, but is still reluctant to drink.
"Is there a problem?" he asks.
"Aren't you like basically invincible?" she replies. "I bet there could be tons of things in here that you're immune to, that I'm not."
"Indeed there could be," he agrees. "But hurting you now isn't part of my plan."
"Oh."
"He has..." Slade looks at his watch. "A full fifteen hours before the deadline."
"Deadline?" Felicity questions, glancing around, trying to gauge her surroundings.
"In fifteen hours, my men will be taking hostages at Starling General Hospital. I will text him our location at the same time. He has a choice. Stop them or save you," Slade explains.
"And what's to stop him from finding me sooner?" Felicity asks.
"How?" Slade retorts. "Your purse and cell phone was left at the accident scene. And without you, he's all alone. And while the kid's smarter than I originally thought, I was very thorough in making sure he couldn't find us."
Not sure what else to say, Felicity takes a sip of the water. "So where are we, exactly?"
"Are you really so certain that he will choose to save you?" Slade questions.
"No," Felicity replies, trying to keep the fear out of her voice. "But I do know he will do what he thinks is right."
"How such a coward is able to gain such loyalty..."
"Oliver is no longer the man you knew," Felicity says. "And he was never a coward."
"Well shall see, Ms. Smoak."
…
The trip back to Starling City is a haze of impatience for Sara. The fact that Nyssa is with her and is using her contacts for a speedier return is more than Sara could have hoped for.
When they reach the lair, Sara is shocked to find Diggle and Roy beside Oliver, formulating a plan.
"What is she doing here?" Oliver asks, eyeing Nyssa.
"She's here to help," Sara assures him.
"Why?"
"I am not required to explain myself to you," Nyssa replies.
"Sara, good to see you," Diggle greets.
"When'd you get out?"
"An hour ago," he replies. "Though how'd you know?"
"Someone's been keeping me advised of the situation here," Sara tells him.
Diggle grins. "Of course she has."
"Roy," Sara nods.
He nods in return and eyes Nyssa cautiously.
Sara wonders if him being awake means that the cure works. "So what's the plan?"
Oliver explains the ultimatum that Slade has issued and the plan he's come up with. "Our only advantage is that he doesn't realize I have help."
Sara agrees. But with Felicity's life on the line, heading off to fight a dozen of Slade's Mirakuru army isn't where she wants to be.
"I'm coming with you," Sara tells Oliver.
"Sara..." he starts. "This is between Slade and I."
"It doesn't have to be," Sara replies.
"Slade's men need to be stopped," Oliver says.
"And we both know he won't go down as easily as the newbies."
Glancing over at the others, Oliver grabs Sara by the arm and drags her aside.
"You don't trust me to do everything in my power to protect her?" he questions.
"Of course I do," Sara replies.
"Then please trust me," he tells her. "I have a plan. So I need you to protect the city and I promise that I'll protect Felicity."
She wants to argue with him, but she can't. Felicity mentioned a plan and she has to trust that, no matter how much she wants to go with him. "Ollie... I..."
"I know," he says.