A/N: Blame this one on scu11y22 wondering if anyone had written about Felicity going to get packed before they leave for NP. It made my muse lift her head. However, as these things go, it's not so much about Felicity packing and more about the time between the clip that was released earlier today and them getting to the airport. And maybe theres the Ray/Felicity breakup scene thrown in for good measure. Hope thats okay.

Thanks to hopedreamlovepray for putting eyes on it while I picked my kid up from dance and assuring me it wasn't total crap since I wrote it in a hot second.

Enjoy!!

"It's Thea"

Oliver's eyes locked on hers and the room faded away for just second. She knew everything he wasn't saying because he'd already said it. Nothing had changed since that night he'd left for Nanda Parbat the first time.

He'd do anything for his sister.

She couldn't allow herself to complete the rest of the sentence. The whispered 'I love you' she heard in her dreams would creep up on her during the day as well if she wasn't careful.

With a hard swallow she nodded once, John's huff of disbelief jerking her back to the present.

"Okay." she said, hardly louder than a breath, "Okay, but this time you're not going alone and that is non-negotiable."

Digg shifted forward at that, his arm brushing hers as they provided a united front and she watched as Oliver surrendered.

Her eyes pricked with tears that had been close to the surface ever since she'd gotten his phone call an hour earlier. He'd sounded destroyed as she'd coaxed the information from him. Barely breathing when he told her that Thea was on life support and not expected to survive.

How much else could he lose?

She remembered telling Ray she had to go, waving off his offer of a ride because she was already calling Digg to come pick her up.

Hearing talk of magical pools of water that brought back the dead was something she never thought she could believe in. But this was Starling City and she'd lived through a lot in the past three years.

She'd expected Oliver to fight her. To tell her she couldn't go. To tell her he had to do this alone. But instead he just let his head bow once and then looked up at her through sad, lidded eyes.

Surprised by his acquiescence she felt a babble of words rise within her, hands coming up as she motioned to the bag he'd been packing.

"So...you're all ready to go. But I'm not and neither is Digg. And we're going to need special equipment for Thea. And a plane, we're definitely going to need a plane."

Oliver's expression seemed to glaze over and she reached out to lay a hand along his arm, "Forget I said anything. I'll take care of it."

"I can provide-" Malcolm said quickly, her head whipping to the left to level him with a glare.

"I will take care of it." she bit out, each word punctuated. Merlyn was the reason all of this had happened.

The air stilled in the loft, the faint metallic trace of blood still lingering and when Merlyn didn't continue she turned back to Oliver.

"Make the arrangements for Thea to be transported. I'll meet you at the airport in an hour."

"Felicity…" his voice shook on the last syllable and it took everything within her not to throw her arms around his neck.

All she could do was squeeze his arm one more time, heading for the door, knowing that if she looked back she'd be lost.

Her phone was in her hand ready to dial Ray's number when Digg caught her elbow, "Felicity-"

"Don't, John. I know what I'm doing." she said without looking at him.

"That's what I'm worried about."

She didn't answer, instead she pushed call as she climbed into Digg's car.

"Ray! I need your plane."

"You sure you don't need the helicopter again, I just had it detailed."

"No. The plane, please I know it's a lot to ask and if I had any other options but…"

Ray was quiet for a long beat, "This has to do with why you ran out of here isn't it? It's about Oliver?"

The inhale caught in her chest, "It's...a long story. But yes, it's about Oliver."

He was quiet again, but when he answered there wasn't a hint of derision in his voice, "Of course you can have the plane."

"Thank you! Is an hour too soon? I don't know how long it takes planes to get ready. We'll need a lot of gas, it's a...it's a long flight."

"It'll be ready."

"Ok, I...I'm sorry for leaving so quick I'll...I'll make it up to you when I get back." she forced a small laugh that she knew he wouldn't believe, because she didn't know when or if they'd be back. She had no idea what would happen.

"Just get there safely, that's all I'll ever ask." he sounded resigned, without the spark she usually heard in his voice, but before she could ask him if anything was wrong she realized the line had disconnected.

Slowly her hand fell away from her face, thumb moving to turn off the phone automatically.

"Felicity. We're here."

Her head flew up to see Digg was parked outside her place.

"Oh! Sorry, I…"

"Just get your things, I'll be waiting."

"But you need...Lyla and...baby Sara…"

Their eyes met and she knew they were both considering just how badly this could all go.

"We're good, and I've got a go bag in the trunk."

"Okay," she licked her lips nervously, grabbing her purse, "I'll be fast."

Twenty minutes later she was heading back out, small black overnight bag in one hand. She'd shucked the stilettos and tight skirt for pants and low-heeled boots, knowing the long flight ahead of them wouldn't be comfortable, even in a luxury jet.

Digg nodded his approval as she tossed her bag in the back seat and joined him. She'd purposely distracted herself while she was hurrying around her place, selecting only the bare necessities. She couldn't allow herself to think about Oliver. Not just then.

"Oliver texted, the medical transport will have Thea here in fifteen." Digg said as they drove through the gate of the private airport.

Felicity twisted her fingers together, biting her lip as they made their way across the mostly empty tarmac. "Do you think this pit is real? Do you think it'll bring her back? And what about what Malcolm said?"

Digg just sighed, "I'd heard the rumors for...years before I even knew who Ra's al Ghul was. Oliver says it exists, that it's real. That's good enough for me."

She nodded once, stiffly, "Yeah. It's good enough for me too."

Digg pulled the car to a stop near an open hangar, a shiny white jet already sitting out with the stairs down.

"Guess that's our ride,"

"Since Palmer's right over there I guess you're right."

Felicity climbed from the car, making sure to grab her bag before she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and approached Ray.

"Hey, you didn't...thank you for coming." she smiled, but he didn't move any closer, didn't make any move to touch her.

"Felicity...I...I came to say thank you and to say goodbye."

"Goodbye? Wha-"

"I saw something tonight. The past few days actually and...you know how my brain likes to work on lots of different things at once, well, one of the things it was working on was this. And I saw something tonight that made all the pieces fit together."

She cocked her head to the side, confusion filling her, "What did you see?"

"I saw two people very much in love with each other who are staying apart for very noble but ultimately very stupid reasons."

Her mouth went dry, a white noise rushing through her ears.

"When I lost Anna...I knew that if I found that sort of love again I'd never let it go. Not for anything. You and Oliver, you have that sort of love, and I cannot be the guy that stands in your way."

"Ray-" her heart thudded in her chest as his words swirled around her.

"It's okay. I need...I need more time I think. Time for me and time for my suit. Oliver taught me a lesson I needed. I can't rely on just the tech. But, you have to know I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you. You're brilliant."

"Oh god, Ray...I…"

"It's okay. I'm not upset." he said almost offhandedly, and then paused, "Well, maybe I'm a tiny bit upset. I know I told you I loved you with a little 'l' but I...I was on the way to it being a big 'L' I'm pretty sure."

She sniffled back a sob, "I'm so sorry,"

"Don't be sorry. Just promise me you won't waste any more time. I don't know what this is about or where you're going but I will always care about you and if you ever need anything you know where to find me."

She nodded furiously, not trusting her voice until after she'd swallowed past the lump in her throat several times. "I don't deserve this."

His hand brushed along her cheek just once, "Of course you do."

Ray's sad eyes held hers and then he blinked, stepping back and breaking the mood, "And you can totally still borrow the plane. Same rules apply as the chopper though."

"Oh no. I can't." she protested, mind whirling because she wasn't sure what had just happened other than she thought maybe Ray had broken up with her and told her to be with Oliver.

"Yes, you can. I won't take no for an answer." he took another step back, shoving his hands in his pocket, "And don't worry, I told HR you were taking a sabbatical, duration indefinite."

"Thank you," she said sincerely, because she had no idea what else she could say.

"Goodbye, Felicity Smoak."

"Goodbye, Ray."

Flashing red and white lights spun around the inside of the hangar and when she turned she saw Oliver and Digg waiting for the ambulance.

It wasn't until she'd reached Oliver's side, hand slipping into the crook of his arm, pressed as close as she could to provide whatever silent support he needed that she realized the entire time she'd talked to Ray- she'd been holding her bag in her hand.