Previously:

He remained silent until he saw another tear race down her cheek as she turned from him trying to hide her face. Without her he was nothing but the remains of a man who was once lost on an island.

"I love you" he said softly

She stilled and slowly turned her head around. Eyes wide and her heart in her throat she asked "Did you just…?"


"Yes" he gulped down his fears and said it again. "I am in love with you".

Felicity held her breath waiting for the inevitable "but" … it never came.

Instead she watched his eyes illuminate as he gently traced the trail her tears had left behind. Leaning in, he softly and ever too briefly pressed his lips against hers.

She knew she looked like a deer caught in headlights but it couldn't be helped, the expression came out of genuine shock. He said it…

"Are you ok?" he asked as he stroked his thumb across her bottom lip.

"Clarify, in love with me?" she smirked raising her eyebrows.

He was no stranger to loss, he had survived horrors no one should ever live through but this week, he had come too close to losing her. The thought alone was disabling. He could not be who he was if he didn't have her eyes looking back at his. She lit his path, without her he would be lost.

"Can't breathe" he narrowed his eyes and leaned in to kiss her once more "...without you"

She placed her hand behind his neck before he could pull away. He felt her warmth consume him as she held him close. Forehead to forehead she closed her eyes and he felt her smile.

She had pressed the nurse's buzzer before he spoke those glorious words, and as her horrible luck would have it, two nurses came in and he was swiftly ushered out.

She could hardly hear them, the sound of her heart beating in her ear drums drowned their voices as she watched him walk outside.

"Miss Smoak, how are you feeling? Any pain? " She faintly heard them say, she dragged her eyes from the door way and took a deep breath looking straight through the nurse.

It was hard to concentrate with the knowledge that Oliver Queen was in love with her, his words not hers. She couldn't think, much less answer their questions.

They took her general observations, her blood pressure and heart rate, and then once the Doctor arrived they carefully redressed her wound.

Oliver paced in the hallway several times. The sounds of the elevator ding lead his eyes towards it but it was the two men in black suits that walked out that caught his full attention. They discretely glanced at him and quietly walked towards the nurse's station. Felicity's guards relaxed once they heard them ask for Chien Na Wei.

Oliver narrowed his eyes and started to walk towards the two men, something about that name knocked on his memory.

The two men left towards the next ward. "Excuse me, those two men…were they here to see someone?" he asked one of the nurses. When her eyes locked on his she flushed a soft colour pink and shook her head. Dragging her eyes back at her screen, in an effort to avoid turning a deeper shade, she told him they were on the wrong floor.

He turned to see the medical team leaving Felicity's room. He made his way back to her side, where he planned to stay as long as they would allow him.

They talked about the events of the past week, he couldn't believe the strength of the beauty that was his Felicity. She slept while he held her hand. He watched her sleep and slowly as his eyes wandered to her bruises he entertained his concerns again. He was putting her in danger but he was done living without her. What kind of a person did that make him? All he could do was be there for her, protect her with his life and love her.

"What is it Oliver?" she whispered, she had woken up and read the thoughts weaved in his brows.

His eyes snapped back to hers "Nothing" he shrugged.

"Don't say nothing, it's clearly something" she squeezed hand.

In her eyes he could see her worry; the last thing he wanted was to concern her.

"Talk to me Oliver" she insisted

He smiled; Felicity normally didn't push him unless she believed she could be helpful. 'I am sure it's nothing…" he said as his eyes met hers.

"Ok" she nodded and then gestured for him to continue.

His smile widened as he looked away briefly and contemplated changing the subject. "Does the name Chien Na Wei mean anything to you?"

She thought about it for a minute and shook her head. "No why?"

"I just heard the name outside, I am sure I have heard it before but for the life of me I can't place it."

"I just need Wi-Fi…" she said while her fingers air typed.

"I know with Wi-Fi you are dangerous!" he laughed "No Wi-Fi, you need your rest, I am sure it will come to me. It's in here somewhere" he smirked tapping his head.


After visiting hours was emphatically enforced Oliver met up with Digg at Verdant. He found Diggle piling up all the rubble from the blast downstairs. There was a lot to be done before they could safely work there again. John wanted to get it back to normal before Felicity saw it, to save her feelings.

"Digg talk to me about her protection detail, I only saw two men at her door" said Oliver as he rolled up his sleeves to help Digg move one of the fallen servers.

"Marc and Andrews are Special Forces; she couldn't be safer if it were you and me."

"It should be you and me but we have to work out how we are going to remove this massive target off her back." Oliver said as those two men came back to mind.

"Oliver, I don't want to state the obvious but only Felicity can fix this" said Digg

"Digg you think wiping records away is going to cut it this time? Criminal's memories are harder to erase.

"So you are saying we need to put them all away?" he asked half amused and half confused "Because I am all for that but that will take some time"

"Yes, no, we will eventually but I was thinking more along the lines of discrediting Isabel's story."

"How do you plan to do that without discrediting Felicity?" asked Digg

"I'm not sure yet. I'll speak to Felicity tomorrow but Isabel's current mental state could work in our favour. Maybe we give the press a few breadcrumbs and let them do what they do best?" Said Oliver

Digg nodded "I can see where you are going with this but if you go down that road….Felicity's life will be open slather. Don't you think she has been through enough?"

Oliver nodded as he picked up his bow and quiver.

"Where are you going?" asked Digg

"I am not taking any more chances with her life Digg" he answered.


The Arrow crouched hidden by the shadows of the night across from the hospital. The fire escape did nothing to stop the cool breeze from reaching his bones. The cold was of no consequence to him, as long as he could keep watch over her, it could snow.

Hugging her tablet she looked outside her window squinting to see if she could spot him, he said he would get some rest but she knew he was out there.

Movement a few rooms down caught his attention. He pulled out his binoculars and focused on the scuffle. The lights went off before he could get a proper look. Springing to his feet he made his way to the roof top.


NOTE:

Thanks again, It means a lot to me that you take the time to read my work and share your thoughts. I am on Twitter Bianchi_Claudia . If you let me know you found me here I will be happy to follow back anyone who is obsessed about Arrow as I am. Why is October so far away? Bring on Season 3! :)