Disclaimer: WB/DC own these characters. I'm only borrowing them for a while. I own the original ideas found in this.
AN: Thank you so very much for all your reviews, follows, and favs! I do apologize for not getting this chapter out sooner. I have returned to school, and it has kept me busier than I had thought.
Without further ado, let's see if Oliver survives his injuries.
Previously:
Diggle looked up at Felicity. "No respirations." Diggle then checked for a pulse at the side of Oliver's neck. "No pulse." As the other two men ran up to the group, Diggle commanded, "Roy, call 911, then go wait for the ambulance at the gate. Felicity, take over respirations." Diggle then moved next to Oliver's abdomen. "Merlyn, grab something and try to stop the bleeding. And don't get in my way."
Before she began giving respirations, Felicity took off her sweater and threw it at Merlyn, who had taken his place across from Diggle at the side of Oliver's abdomen. Merlyn quickly placed her sweater over the wound and pressed down upon it while Dig administered compressions. Silence covered the team until they heard sirens in the distance approaching.
The team barely registered the ambulance pulling up, paramedics exiting quickly and approaching them. One by one the Team Arrow members were replaced by the paramedics. As she stood up and stepped away, Felicity didn't appear to be comprehending the action, or Roy taking her into his arms into a hug. She clung to him, crying noiselessly for a moment. Then she pulled away only as far as to turn toward the group on the ground.
One of the paramedics, along with Dig, approached them. "I wanted to tell you, if he survives this, it will be because of you all."
"Have they determined what was injured?" Dig asked.
"Not yet for sure, but it appears as bad as it looks. Good news is, if his vena cava had been cut, he would've bled out by now. So that's why he has a chance; if he survives until he gets into an OR, he should have a chance."
"That's good news?" Roy asked.
"Because of you four, he has even that chance. So, thank you." The paramedic looked at Dig. "Why would Oliver Queen be here, stabbed and dying, on a personal estate?"
Dig shrugged. "I don't know. He was kidnapped earlier tonight by persons unknown."
"Were the police called?"
"Why no, not yet. Even though I suspected foul play, don't the police wait forty-eight hours to investigate a missing person?"
"For a person of Mr. Queen's standing, I would think the police would make an exception."
Luckily their conversation stopped because the other paramedics had loaded Oliver into the ambulance. "I will pass the information along to the police."
"I hope so. Mr. Queen's attackers must be caught," Dig said.
The paramedic nodded and got into the front seat of the ambulance. It took off, sirens blaring, as the four watched.
Merlyn said, "Well, my work here is done, I believe."
"And your company no longer wanted," Felicity said but quickly clapped her hands over her mouth in alarm. "I'm truly sorry, Merlyn. I…I didn't mean to say it. Thank you for helping us find Oliver. And saving him. You know about my brain-mouth filter not always functional, don't you? Of course…."
"Of course I do, Miss Smoak. However, if my company is no longer wanted…"
"We still need your help, Merlyn. If Oliver lives, will this Ra's continue to stalk him? What can we do about it? Do you know where this Ra's is now?" Dig quickly asked, not wanting to lose their only source of information.
Malcolm rubbed his chin, to give the impression of considering Dig's words. "Since you asked so nicely, Mr. Diggle, I will consider helping you. However, I think you should first go to the hospital and take vigil over Oliver. I'll contact you tomorrow." Malcolm turned to smile at Felicity. "And Miss Smoak? It'll be especially nice to see you." Suddenly he disappeared behind a cloud of blue smoke.
Roy and Dig ran to the spot where Merlyn had been standing. They all looked around, trying to catch a glimpse of the man, but there was no sign of him.
"I wish he'd tell us how he does that," Felicity muttered.
Roy nodded in agreement. Diggle said, "Let's hurry to the hospital and see how Oliver is."
Suddenly they remembered what had occurred, and they rushed to the van. They stopped in mid-step, taking in the damage from them crashing the gate. The front end was crushed in, and the sides were scratched up.
"Do you think it'll run?" Roy asked Diggle.
"Only one way to find out," Diggle said as he got into the front seat. Even with the damage to the front end, the engine turned over. Felicity and Roy jumped into the van and they took off.
Reaching the hospital, Diggle parked in the emergency department parking lot, and they rushed into the hospital. After inquiring about Oliver, and Diggle announcing he was Oliver's emergency contact, they were told to take a seat.
An anxious hour passed by. The men took turns getting up and pacing the halls, while Felicity attempted to distract herself with browsing the internet on her phone. She finally couldn't take it any longer and rushed to the desk before Diggle could stop her.
"We've been waiting for an hour. Surely there's word on how Mr. Queen is doing!" she shouted at the innocent worker behind the desk, who stammered at her before a nurse approached Felicity.
"Ma'am, please take a seat. The doctor will come out to talk to you when he's able."
"Don't call me ma'am; I'm not old enough! And surely we can get information on what's going on. I'm an internet expert. I could…." The rest of her words were muffled as Diggle covered her mouth with his hand.
"Felicity, why don't you sit down before you say something you'll regret." Dig then whispered, "Or something which could get you arrested."
Felicity rolled her eyes but sat down in the chair Roy held out for her, blowing out a huff of air and crossing her arms across her chest. She glared at the nurse's back as she went through the swinging doors to the treatment rooms.
Luckily a short time later, a man in a white lab coat entered the waiting room and walked over to the group. "Are you the loved ones of Oliver Queen?"
Diggle stood up, saying he was Oliver's emergency contact. The man identified himself as an emergency room physician, and if they'd follow him, he'd share some news about Oliver.
Felicity took in a breath and let it out slowly. She straightened her clothes as she stood up and followed behind Roy and Dig. Roy stopped a moment, allowing her to catch up to him, and placed his arm around her shoulders. "It'll be okay, Blondie. Oliver is tough."
"I hope so."
As soon as they were sitting around a table in a secluded room, the doctor began. "Mr. Queen is one lucky man. He survived the ride to the hospital, even though his heart stopped twice before entering the emergency room. He's currently in surgery."
"Any word, Doctor?" Diggle asked.
"So far, so good. It still is rather touch-and-go, though. The weapon cut through several organs, but luckily missed the major arteries. Like I said, he is very lucky to be alive. The surgery may take another two or three hours for them to repair all the damage." The doctor stopped as Felicity began to cry, loud sobs racking her shoulders. "Are you his girlfriend?"
Diggle shook his head. "She's simply a good friend. It's been tough for all of us."
"Sorry it's been so difficult for all of you." The doctor rose from his chair. "I'll tell them to update you as soon as possible. Is there anything else I can do for you?"
"Just don't let him die," Felicity said between sobs.
The doctor placed a comforting hand upon her shoulder. "We'll do our best."
The two men led Felicity into the waiting room once again. Diggle suggested Roy take her to the coffee shop but Felicity wouldn't hear of it. "I'm staying here, Dig. No buts about it," she said in her 'loud voice', which both men knew was pointless to argue with.
Roy left for the hospital coffee shop to get food and coffee for the three of them. Diggle sat down, and when Felicity sat down next to him, he patted his shoulder. She smiled at him and laid her head on his shoulder. Before he knew it, Dig heard soft snores from her. He smiled to himself.
Upon his return, Roy placed the items in front of Dig and Felicity, then handed Dig a cup of coffee.
Three hours later, a man entered the waiting room and walked over to the group. Felicity and Roy were sleeping, but Dig, noticing the man in scrubs approaching them, shook them both awake.
"I am happy to say Mr. Queen made it through the surgery. It was touch and go several times, especially when his heart stopped several times again. However, I'm guardedly optimistic about his status. If he survives the night, he should be fine."
"If he survives the night? What exactly do you mean by that?" Felicity asked, attempting to keep her nerves under control. Suddenly she felt numb.
"You must understand, Miss, Mr. Queen had sustained quite an extensive injury. It's a miracle he survived long enough to get to the hospital for us to help him."
Felicity nodded as Diggle asked, "What was done exactly during the surgery?"
Felicity felt her attention drift as the doctor updated them on the organs they were able to save, the length of recuperation time Oliver was looking at, and the length of his hospital stay. With all the near-misses the man had undergone, the tragedies he's suffered, to think this may have truly been the end it was unbelievable. Especially when it seemed so pointless, it being That Man Merlyn's fault. She shook herself and attempted to catch up with what the group was now discussing.
~~OQ~~OQ~~OQ~~
In spite of the odds, Oliver made much improvement in the next week. He was moved from Intensive Care to a private room within a week. If his hatred for hospitals weren't so intense, Oliver would have been concerned about such a rate of recovery would cultivate doubt in his playboy, high-society personae. Instead, he was happy to be that much closer in being discharged home.
Diggle had arranged for round-the-clock security for him, despite the assurances from hospital administration they were able to deal with any threat against one of the city's leading citizens. Utilizing the playboy sensibilities, Diggle simply fell upon the stereotypes of such a class wanting only the best to explain the need for extra security without drawing unwanted attention. His concern for Oliver's safety only increased once his move off the ICU wing. Despite Oliver's protests, Diggle arranged for two guards to be on-duty at all times.
However, such measures were only a hiccup for one such as the Devil's Head. One night, as he neared his discharge date, Oliver felt himself shake off the remnants of a dream to become more alert. He listened before he opened his eyes, wondering what had awakened him. Deciding there was no danger, he opened his eyes to see a man he had hoped never to see again standing next to his bed.
"I wondered if you were ever going to awaken, Mr. Queen."
Just as Oliver reached under his pillow to take out the gun Digg had snuck into the hospital for him, Ra's raised his hand, aiming the very same gun at Oliver's head.
AN: No, did I just leave it there? Sorry about that (not sorry). Hope you enjoyed this chapter, and return when I post the next chapter. I thank you for reading and hopefully reviewing. Let me know how you're enjoyed the story, or what you liked about this chapter. Always, always appreciated.