Chapter 5 – Tears

AN – Probably 2-3 more chapters after this one! Many thanks to all who continue to stick it out with me!

Disclaimer: No clever way to deny ownership of CW's Arrow but rest assured that I have no legal rights!

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"Fee..lee..cee…tee." One old woman spoke a garbled version of Felicity's name and Barry immediately stepped forward eagerly.

"Yes, Felicity is Oliver's friend. She sent me to find him. Do you know where he is?" Barry spoke quickly in his excitement but when the women spoke to one another in an unrecognizable language he realized speed probably wasn't his only problem. However, the women gestured to him and turned away so he followed as he spoke softly to the Team.

"I'm going to follow them."

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Team Arrow and Thea anxiously tracked Barry as he followed the League Guardians. As he proceeded deeply into the mountain though the tracking disappeared suddenly and Felicity called out urgently.

"Barry, Barry! We've lost your tracking device. Are you okay?"

The silence stretched out for several moments and Thea watched as the others exchanged worried looks. It was Diggle who spoke next and his voice was authoritative.

"Barry, check-in now."

Again, silence.

Barry knew he needed to update Team Arrow but he was grateful for their continued silence as he tried to figure out what was going on. He had followed the two old ladies through a twisted labyrinth until they arrived at what felt like a fire pit. The smoke followed some unseen path through the rock ceiling and the fire blazed brightly enough to easily heat the chamber. There lying on a stone table next to the fire was a nearly unrecognizable Oliver Queen.

Oliver was not only cocooned in white fur as the women had been but what skin was visible appeared to be charred. Stepping closer, Barry realized that it was some type of paste. As he looked around at the small plants surrounding Oliver as well as various stones and crystals, he suddenly understood that it was some type of burial tradition. That thought froze him in place as he realized that he hadn't been fast enough to save Oliver. For a moment, he just stared in shock as he considered the loss of his friend and mentor. As he watched, a spasm shook Oliver's body and he spoke even though his eyes remained closed.

"Felicity!"

Barry's eyes widened at the realization that he was alive and they widened further as the old woman again repeated her version of the name.

"Fee…lee…cee…tee."

Nodding to the old woman, Barry knelt next to Oliver to speak. His tone was one of wondrous surprise and joy. "Hey Oliver – it's Barry. It's good to see you. Felicity sent me to get you and I think it's time we get you back to her, don't you?"

Oliver remained immobile and unresponsive. Barry frowned intently as he used the ATOM technology to quickly scan his friend. His body temperature was elevated as was his heart rate but there were no obvious signs of life threatening injuries which would prevent him from responding. He turned back to speak to the women as one stepped forward.

The woman carried a pouch and small tin cup. She met Barry's eyes as she placed a small pinch of herbs from the pouch into the cup and then added what appeared to be water. Moving slowly, she went to Oliver's other side, lifted his head, and poured the drink down his throat.

Oliver's eyes remained closed but his hand suddenly rose with his fingers outstretched as if he was reaching for something, someone. "Felicity, Felicity." His arm fell and it was quiet again.

Turning his attention back to the woman, Barry spoke even though he knew she wouldn't understand him. "What's wrong with him? What's in those herbs?"

Again, the woman's words were unrecognizable but as Barry watched she drew a sundial in the sandy cave floor and marked the hours. She then pointed to the pouch and Oliver before gently touching every other hour mark.

"Okay, every two hours, but is he okay?"

The woman didn't respond but she did hold out the bag for Barry to take. He took the bag with a resigned sigh and then moved back to Oliver. Staring at the paste covering his skin, Barry moved to touch it but the woman's angry, guttural response forced him back. While he didn't understand the words he did understand the motions to leave Oliver alone.

Holding his hands up, Barry nodded his agreement as he spoke. "Got it – the paste stays on him." He wasn't so sure Felicity would agree but he would leave that call to her and Team Arrow.

"Thank you…for doing whatever it is that you've done to keep him alive. He's a good man and he has loved ones who want him back." Despite feeling foolish, Barry bowed slightly as he continued. "Thank you."

Kneeling next to Oliver, Barry carefully pulled the fur over his face before he lifted the unresponsive man over his back and stood up. He then followed the woman back out of the maze of tunnels until he was again in the cold outside. Before he could thank her once more he heard Felicity's urgent call in his ear.

"BARRY! Are you okay? Do you have Oliver?" Felicity's voice caught on the other man's name and Diggle squeezed her shoulder in support as they call continued to stare at the now blinking dot that represented Barry on the computer screen.

"I do have Oliver and he's alive Felicity. He's alive!" Barry smiled when he heard the gasps then cheers of Team Arrow. "I'll be back…well, in a flash!"

Thea watched as the other three hugged in celebration. She tensed as Roy turned and hugged her as well. Their joy was almost as painful to watch as their earlier loss and Thea couldn't begin to understand why she felt that way.

"I'm calling Lyla and arranging transport out of here!" Diggle was grinning as he announced that and took out his phone.

"We'll need to take him to a hospital and get him checked out." Felicity's words brought everyone to a halt as they realized that they had no idea what condition Oliver was in. Barry hadn't specified and they all had to consider the reason for that choice.

In a flash, Barry entered camp to find them all outside waiting. He was surprised to read tension in their expressions instead of joy and he spoke immediately as he moved inside the cabin to place Oliver on one of the twin cots. "He really is alive. Those guardians even gave me medicine to use on him. He's not really responsive—"

"Felicity!" Oliver's voice was urgent and brought all eyes to him as he interrupted Barry. Felicity flew to his side only to find his eyes closed and his body still. She frowned in concern but still spoke quietly to him.

"Oliver, I'm here. Can you open your eyes? Please, it's Felicity. Just open your eyes Oliver."

The wait was nearly unbearable and all crowded around as they waited for Oliver's response. The man himself continued to lie still. Barry broke the silence as he couldn't stand to witness Felicity's bright, hopeful eyes dim.

"The women wouldn't let me touch the paste on his skin so I assume it's helping him. I did a preliminary scan with the ATOM tech and his vitals are elevated but there's no obvious sign of trauma. Here's his medicine and the woman put just a pinch in a small cup of water. He needs it every two hours."

Felicity continued to stare at Oliver while the others exchanged looks. Diggle broke the silence.

"Thank you Barry. We owe you." Offering his hand as he took the medicine, Diggle smiled as the younger man eagerly shook it.

Roy also offered his hand before he turned to Diggle. "We can't take him to a hospital – not like this."

"We can take him to STAR Labs. Dr. Wells helped me, he can help Oliver." Barry waited for both men to nod before he stepped away to contact his team.

Roy and Diggle again exchanged looks as they quietly discussed their return trip. Both lightly touched Felicity's shoulder before they moved off to pack their gear and hers. Felicity continued to kneel next to Oliver and she even continued speaking to him but her voice was too low for the men to hear.

Felicity was so happy to have Oliver back that she had never stopped to consider what it would take to get him back. She knew what she had been willing to do and she was grateful for Team Arrow and Barry but she hadn't thought about the cost to Oliver himself. He had struggled to put the pieces of himself back together after the Island and it seemed he had suffered through hell once more. Her heart broke for him even as her emotions welled within her though as it seemed she was whole again and no longer empty now that Oliver had returned. Smiling even as tears fell, she promised him that he would always have her and that she was there for him.

As Thea had silently remained close by, she heard the woman alternately chastise her brother for his reckless choice and then praise his bravery. She heard her alternately beg him to come back and then demand that he do so. She heard her promise to remain at his side and she even heard the love that the Felicity didn't share.

For a moment, Thea froze as pain again exploded in her heart – memories of all those that she had lost nearly brought her to her knees. Fears, doubt, pain, guilt assailed her but so did love and hope. She realized that like Felicity she would do whatever was necessary to keep Oliver with her even if that choice brought more pain.

As Thea continued to watch the pair, she also saw Felicity's tears fall and even saw her brother's eyes open briefly to stare at the woman crying over him.