Previously:
"Ollie, she still has a pulse. Do you hear me?..." She smacked his shoulder as hard as she could. "We need you. Ok? She needs you." her eyes pleaded with him, and she let out a deep breath when she saw her words finally registered in his mind.
Digg handed the two guards standing outside of Felicity's hospital room a cup of coffee each, they nodded in appreciation letting him past.
He placed the morning's paper in front of Oliver and tapped on the front cover. "You are not going to believe this. Here I brought you Starbucks, when Felicity finds out you actually drank that instant sludge she is going to break her stitches" said Digg.
Oliver looked at his friend but didn't manage a smile, his eyes returning to the very place they had been fixed on all whole night. Oliver and Digg spent what could only be described as an eternity in the hospital waiting room. It gave him hours to worry, to blame himself, to imagine a world without her, hours of torture. Once they were allowed to see her, he didn't take his eyes off her.
"I don't feel like reading."
"It's about Isabel, they found her" said Digg.
"Found her?" Oliver frowned and picked up the paper. The article on page three was about a severely dehydrated lady found in an elevator downtown who was taken to Starling General. The woman was identified as Isabel Rochev. Upon being admitted, due to the suspect conditions in which she was found, the hospital contacted the police. Her name raised a red flag in their system as a person of interest with a history of mental illness.
"Mental illness?" asked Oliver.
"Yes apparently she spent time in an Asylum in Gotham that caters for the criminally insane. It's curious that previous background checks haven't picked this up. I can't imagine Stellmoor International ignoring something like that during the recruitment process." Digg smirked and gave Oliver a knowing nod to their dear friend who lay there fighting for her life.
Oliver smiled and took Felicity's hand in his "Outstanding" he muttered.
Digg saw his smile fade and the ache and worry etched on his face returned. He knew how deep his feelings for Felicity ran. His friend wasn't yet aware that Felicity had gradually taken over his heart. Digg could see the exchange piece by piece, it was clear in every look they shared, every special smile, reassurance, every unexpected laugh she produced.
"Oliver, go home, get some rest. Felicity is safe and there is nothing more you can do. I will stay here, I'll watch over her." Said Digg
Oliver rolled his lips inward and bit down on them as he shook his head. "No. I don't need to go…I just need her to wake up."
They didn't notice that Sara had returned until she cleared her throat.
"I thought she might like these." She placed bright bouquet of flowers on the window sill. "How is she?" she asked gently as she leaned down and kissed him swiftly on the lips.
Oliver rubbed his face out of frustration and slightly shook his head. "No change, she is …she's stable." he said almost inaudibly, he noticed Felicity's breathing changed momentarily and wondered if she sighed or was fighting an eternal battle, and if she was, did she know he would die to help her through it?
Her nurse entered the room; she was small English woman with rosy cheeks and a warm smile.
"Do you all mind stepping out to the waiting room while we check her wound and run some checks on her please?" she said.
"Can't I stay?" Oliver asked.
The nurse shook her head and placed her hand on his back. "She will be ok, you can wait right outside the door" she added gently.
They stood outside her door opposite the guards and waited. Waiting seemed to be the theme of the night…day.
"You look like hell, I think it's time you took a break, let's go. Take a shower, you will feel better for it. She is asleep and I'm sure she would tell you to do the same thing." Sara smiled supportively.
"No, I am staying but you go, I'm fine." He felt slightly uncomfortable by Sara's presence but wasn't quite sure why. He didn't have the energy to process it and a big part of him just wished he was left alone to look after his friend.
The code alarm started screaming above Felicity's doorway, the two guards opened the door only to be thrown out by the nurse. Medical staff ran in and out of her room, they called out numbers and stats that made no sense.
Oliver tried to get in; he needed to see her, to hold her hand, to help her. He was nearly by her side when hands and arms pulled him out, the nurse threatened to remove him from the hospital grounds if he didn't calm down. Digg separated him from the guards that held him and told Oliver to come with them to the waiting room. He made a nurse promise to update them as soon as she was stable again but Oliver wouldn't leave the hallway.
"No" he growled at Sara and she slipped her hand in his and tried to pull him away.
"What's going on?" asked Thea. She had just arrived with Roy and held a bunch of roses for his EA.
She narrowed her eyes as she saw her brother's eyes brimming with tears.
"Ollie?" she asked as she approached him faster with every step.
Thea wrapped her arms around her brother; holding him together so he wouldn't fall apart. "Hey." She patted his back awkwardly, "She is going to be ok" he towered over her but right now he seemed so small "She is going to be ok" she repeated and looked over to Roy silently screaming for help. She was surprised and heartbroken for him, obviously that girl wasn't just anyone to him.
"Our friend is in there, can you tell us what's going on?' Roy asked one of the nurses walking in the room.
"Right now she needs our full attention, let us focus on her and we will come talk to you all later, please move into the waiting room." she replied.
Digg closed his eyes tightly, trying hard to stay in control; he wiped away a stray tear and silently walked to the waiting room. Roy and Sara followed and after failing to persuade Oliver, Thea joined them.
"He won't leave her door" said Thea.
They all remained silent until the code alarm stop ringing.
Digg sprung to his feet and moved back toward her room, he was met with Oliver half way down the hall. He was wiping away tears and his head was low. Roy, Thea and Sara all stood behind Digg silently waiting for Oliver to say something as they feared the worse.
"They stabilized her, she was having trouble breathing but she is… ok. They said family only for now..."
"Isabel is here, somewhere in this hospital. Felicity is not staying under the same roof alone with that psycho" said Digg before Oliver could finish.
"I know that's why you and I are staying here, I told them she was my partner and you were my bodyguard" explained Oliver
"Mr Queen, she is awake, the nurse in charge asked me to find you."
Felicity woke up alone in a hospital room. She pulled off her oxygen mask and tried to sit up but a blinding pain seared down her spine. She must have yelled out as when she reopened her eyes a tall freckled nurse was speaking to her.
She didn't know what she was saying; she could only hear her panicked heart beating in her ears. She touched the cannula inserted in her arm and followed it, she noticed she was hooked up to various things, heart monitor, IV drip…oxygen.
"Miss Smoak, Miss Smoak, do you know where you are?" asked the Nurse
"Hospital?" said Felicity laying her head back down.
She closed her eyes as everything came flooding back. The video, interrogations, Helena, Isabel, The Lasso, The triad ….The last thing she remembered was being in Oliver's arms, safe, and then darkness. Oliver…why wasn't he here...? Sucking in a gulp of air she sat back up. "I have to go." she said.
"Wait please Ms Smoak..." said the Nurse.
"I'm fine…"
"No you really are not, Ms Smoak please."
"I have to find Oliver …OWW …Oh god I am going to need some super strong aspirins to go please?" she said as she took the bed sheet off and tried to pull out her cannula.
"Ms Smoak stop." said another nurse walking in. "Mr Queen is here, Tori please go get him. He was here just a moment ago."
"He was? Is he ok?" asked Felicity laying back down gritting her teeth in pain, she was beyond relieved to hear she didn't get him killed. "Is Digg ok? What happened?"
"You sure are chatty, you were shot with an Arrow, I am sure your partner will fill you in as …" said the nurse as Oliver reached the doorway, followed closely by Diggle.
"Here he is…Mr Queen if you can keep her from leaving her bed and pulling out her cannula I will give you two some time to catch up?"
"Deal" he said nodding rapidly at the Nurse.
Felicity saw her two closest people walk through the door and she felt like time slowed down. The irrational fear of drowning in a sea of emotion rendered her speechless. She felt relief and joy but most of all she felt regret, regret with a disabling serve of guilt, she knew she had caused them pain.
"I am so sorry" she whispered to them both through trembling lips. "I am so sorry" she repeated. Her breathing became harder as the emotional agony beat inside her chest and tears spilt down her face as her head hung low.
"Felicity oh thank god" said Digg
Oliver grabbed her hand and squeezed it gently, and exhaled. He cupped her face, like he had so many times before, and smiled when she leaned in. His thumb wiped away her tears and he eyes looked over her.
"You're ok. You're are safe." He said and she nodded.
He watched her as Digg embraced her and told her never to get shot again. He watched her as she told him that it wasn't part of her plan or she would have invested in some body armour.
He brought the hand he held up, kissed her fingers and buried his face in her hand. He felt her other hand rest on his head.
"Hey, I am ok, I am safe." She repeated his words as he looked up at her. Her hand dropped and she grabbed Diggs again.
"That is not entirely true….I am ok for now but you guys are not." She said urgently. Then her eyes widen as a thought entered her mind. "Oh god, Isabel. I didn't let her out. I need my tablet quick" she flapped her hand urgently.
"So you do know something about that?" Digg chuckled.
She looked at Digg with wide eyes and grabbed her chest as if it hurt.
"Felicity breathe, you just ….we nearly lost you because you weren't breathing so please…." Said Oliver
"You don't understand Oliver, I need to let her out before she…"
"She is out Felicity, she is in this hospital" Digg interrupted her hoping the news would calm her down and feeling a little guilty his teasing scared her.
"She is alive then?" she asked
"Yes not that she deserves to be" growled Oliver.
Felicity looked down at the hand he was holding and caressed his hand with her thumb.
"Slade gave her the gloves, the gloves with the lasso of truth threads that made you guys….say what you said." Her voice trailed off as if hurt to say the last few words.
"Lasso of Truth?" asked Digg
"Long story but that is how she manipulated you both, but the worst part is Slade gave them to her and told her what to say. He is behind this whole thing. He is why everyone is, everyone is hu..uu..nting me down." Tears choked her and she tried to wipe them away but more came.
Oliver sat on the edge of her bed and pulled her into an embrace. "You have been so brave Felicity, so brave. Let them come, you are not alone anymore. Digg and I will keep you safe. You are not alone." He whispered over her head.
When she stopped shaking she patted his arms and he let go. He cupped her face, she was all pink and splotchy, wet eyelashes over deep blue eyes. He smiled and kissed her forehead, holding his lips there for a moment, they both found peace in the contact.
"Oliver I might still have a way to get to Slade, I put some things in motion, he was supposed to show up last night once you were all away safe but he didn't but…"
Felicity held her tongue as the Nurse walked in the room.
"Mr Queen, the Doctor is here to see her now and there is also a detective outside wanting to question Ms Smoak."
"Lance" Oliver sighed, he gave her hand a reassuring squeeze "I will go deal with the detective and Digg will stay right here with you ok?" he said gently.
"That's not necessary" said the Nurse
"He has been reassigned to protect her. She has a target on her back; he is not to leave her side." Oliver channelled his inner Arrow.
They all turned to Felicity as a small chuckle escaped her lips. She noticed the attention and apologised. "I am sorry, it's just, that's funny because I was shot with an arrow…on my back" No one laughed, Oliver smirked and left the room to deal with the detective. "Too soon?" she asked Digg tilting her head.
"Oliver"
"Mr Lance"
"How is she?"
"Alive"
"There are lot people here with a lot of questions, has she said anything about last night?"
"No, and she is in no condition to answer any questions." There was a deep threat in Oliver's tone.
"We have reason to believe she might be behind Ms Rochev being admitted to hospital last night do you know anything about that?"
"No" he scoffed "Have you met Felicity?"
"Yeah I have but sometimes people are not exactly what they seem. We have questions that need answers. Step aside Queen"
