AN – another chappie for you lovely lot. Thanks for all of the attention so far. We may be drawing towards the end but there is still a fair amount to happen before this journey is done with. (the motorway driving is over but there are still the country lanes to go as it were) Enjoy and sorry if there are any mistakes
I do not own Arrow or Thunderbirds just this steadily growing fan fic about them
CHAPTER 36
John walked as fast as he could and idly chatted to Felicity to keep them both distracted from what was going on. It worried John that she couldn't connect with her body, he didn't voice his concern though that was for another time.
When he reached the door to medical he just waltzed straight in forgetting that Oliver was here and sat next to Felicity, he turned towards John annoyance and anger on his face as he realized who it was.
Virgil had caught up to them and as he passed through the door rested a hand on John shoulder.
"What's going on?" Oliver demanded at the interruption standing to face the incomers.
"Sorry but this couldn't wait until you left." John spoke with his authoritative voice. He continued striding forward towards Felicity ignoring the hand on his shoulder. There would be plenty of time for talking.
"That doesn't explain what your doing?" Oliver growled his voice dropping to the Arrow tones.
"Helping Felicity." John replied. He watched Oliver take up a defensive position as he neared as though he was protecting Felicity from him.
"Ollie let him do what he has to he knows how to get Felicity back." Laurel spoke up she over took John and confronted Oliver.
"What's going on?" Felicity's voice broke into the room.
"Felicity?" Both Oliver and Virgil questioned.
"Nothing. I'm going to put the phone in your hand okay?" John replied turning his attention down to the phone.
"Okay." Came the reply. John had reached the other side of the bed to Oliver and he slipped the phone into Felicity's hand.
He watched the screen ignoring the rest of the room.
"Did Felicity?" Virgil asked Scott in a whisper but with the silence in the room everyone heard.
"Yeah John got the idea to look for her from Alan earlier." Scott replied.
"I can't believe I started to think…" Virgil started to guilt trip.
"Don't go there you weren't to know." Scott rested his hand on Virgil's shoulder.
Everyone watched Felicity intently, John watched the phone screen where Felicity seemed to concentrate for a while before vanishing from the screen.
The silent waiting grew longer and longer, John rested his hand over his phone and Felicity's and with the other stroked fingers through her hair. "Come on City." He cooed.
The door to the room burst open again drawing everyone's attention away from Felicity except John. "What's going on? John your late Alan and Fermat are ready for launch." He boomed.
"Father." Scott jumped in to defend John. "He found Felicity."
Jeff's steps stopped instantly as though he had hit an invisible wall. Had he heard right? It had been so long since that night, Virgil and Brains had been researching coma patients' recovery after such a long period and it hadn't been positive. The words echoed and one struck him as odd 'found'.
He met his oldest son's eyes. "Found?" he queried.
Scott nodded but before he could continue another voice projected into the room, quiet, croaky but it brought happiness with it and relief. "Can't… Rid."
As one those not near the bed crowded around to see the miracle that was Felicity Smoak. The annoyance Jeff had towards John completely forgotten. The missing member of the family was back and sounded like her old self.
Felicity heard all of the talking and things did not sound great, why was Oliver and John arguing? When she tried to find out John brushed over it, there was a lot to talk about when things settled down.
When the phone touched her skin she felt the connection immediately but she had to concentrate to shift back into herself, it didn't feel as easy as moving amongst the software and hardware.
Once she was back inside the difficulty continued she had to really remember how to use her body, apparently three months was long enough to forget. She could feel herself breathing and her heart pumping away and she focused on that.
Something warm touched her hand drawing her attention to feeling, and following that she felt fingers raking her hair and it brought a warm fizzy feeling back to her.
Then she heard John calling her quietly, so she concentrated on hearing things next and remembering how to talk and open her eyes. A loud bang reached her ears and without thinking she jumped and she felt her whole body react in a twitch, the hand holding the phone and John squeezed and her eyes opened wide for a second before she was blinded by the light.
Jeff's baritone voice cut into the silence of the room and Felicity carefully opened her eyes slowly getting used to the light and the heaviness of her eyelids then she started to flex her throat ready to speak. At least relearning wasn't as slow as the first time around she thought.
She kept along with the conversation between Scott and Jeff as her eyes adjusted to the light they found John's baby blues, she cracked a weak smile it was hard to move her lips. A good point to butt in arrived and she tried to speak. "Can't… Rid." Her voice sounded terrible and her throat felt worse. It ached and felt dry as a desert but it was worth the effort as her field of view filled with faces, Oliver and Laurel, Jeff, Scott and Virgil. They all looked relived she felt a pang of guilt for taking the action she had against the Hood's invasion.
"So…" She tried to apologise but the soreness in her throat sent a wave a sharp pain causing her to stop.
As she opened her eyes again after the pain subsided Virgil had vanished and a concerned look was etched on all of the faces. With a lot of effort she put a smile on her face to try and stop the worry, she was fine just needed to get a drink.
Virgil arrived back in her line of sight next to John and he held a cup up showing her what she desperately wanted. She tried to nod but her neck muscles protested at taking the weight of her head and moving. "Don't try to move too much, you have been immobile for a few months it's going to take a lot of physiotherapy to get you moving again. John will help raise you up." Virgil explained noticing Felicity's attempt at moving.
John stopped his ministrations in Felicity's hair and carefully slid his hand under her head and gently lifted her as Virgil lowered the cup. Felicity pulled faces at the sore protesting muscles but when the water touched her lips it felt heavenly. If only she could have managed to swallow it rather than showering herself and everyone around her in a fit of coughs as it went down the wrong way.
"Easy." Virgil soothed as he removed the cup away. "It's going to take a while to get used to that too." Virgil moved away to dispose of the cup before returning with his tablet making notes.
Once the coughing and spluttering subsided John lowered Felicity back down onto the pillow.
"It's good to have you back with us Felicity." Jeff said smiling kindly.
Rather than speak Felicity tried to raise her thumb to acknowledge his compliment, but her arm felt like lead. It twitched and her thumb moved marginally but it wasn't the expected move. Now she felt frustrated she closed her eyes in annoyance from one entrapment to another great, she thought. When her eyes opened she was face to face with Virgil.
"O-okay that is new." She stated confused.
Virgil looked surprised with his finger hovering over the screen. "What the? Felicity how did you do that?" Virgil asked.
"I don't know, I just got so frustrated that I can't move or talk and I found myself here."
"Can someone explain what the hell is going on?" Oliver demanded. He could hear Felicity talking but she was no longer awake on the bed and her voice seemed to be coming from Virgil's tablet.
Felicity felt her stomach drop she had a lot of explaining to do. "Turn me around Virgil?" Felicity asked.
"Sure." Virgil rotated the tablet around to face Oliver.
"Hey uh so bit of a long story but I have a better understanding of IT than the average MIT graduate I will explain better later but right now there isn't anything you can do to help me. I need you to not interrupt." She stomped her foot in a petulant child way and waggled her finger at Oliver.
John felt a smile grace his lips, yeah the three months missing had not changed her one bit.
"And you can't keep me out of this." Oliver argued like a child.
"I'm not keeping you out it's a long story and right now I need to talk to Virgil and work out what's been going on and secondly I need to talk to John then we can talk. I'm not arguing and its not up for discussion, do you still trust me as your IT girl?"
Oliver averted his gaze slightly even on a computer screen going toe to toe did not go in his favor. "Yes, fine. You have a lot of explaining to do and don't think I'm happy that you have been lying to me." He complained.
"Call it two for two you don't tell me about your time on the island I don't tell you about my island adventures. Go get coffee, some sun and tell Dig, Roy and Sara I'm okay." Felicity ordered.
Oliver went to argue but he didn't have a leg to stand on once more, Laurel grabbed his arm and encouraged him to leave. "I'll give you all some privacy." She added meeting Scotts eye.
"Thanks Laurel." By the time the door closed the tablet had been turned to face Virgil and Jeff, Scott and John were crowded around.
"There seems to have been a lot of changes in three months. The biggest right now is I can't move or talk unless I merge." Felicity started.
"Well I'll go first, three months is a long time to be inanimate your muscles have atrophied and will need physical therapy to build them back up. You will remember how to do typical movements but your body won't be able to do them for a while. When your ready we can go through some tests to see exactly how much muscle you have lost and I can draft up a training program."
"Did I ever mention how I hate gym class?" Felicity groaned.
"You can just stay in the computers if you want." Virgil offered.
"No I want to get back up and moving, nothing can replace the greatness of using a keyboard and walking along the sandy beach in the sun." Everyone laughed. "Next topic." Felicity looked between Jeff and John. "Are you skipping out on your duties?"
John went a little red faced. "Yes and no. I got the idea and I had time but the time went by faster than I expected. Thunderbird 5 is finished we are heading up for a week of testing and final touches." John answered.
"It's alright I'm sure…" Jeff started to interrupt.
Felicity butted in. She could see how happy he was but when he mentioned his 'Bird a brighter spark flickered in his eyes something she hadn't seen since he first told her about his space station. "Go and get finished, poor Alan and Fermat must be going crazy waiting for you and the 'Family Business' is a little more important than me. I am fine, I'm back and as I said before I am not going anywhere. Plus I can come visit anytime apparently merging is a lot easier now."
"Actually Felicity, I was going to say we will postpone for a day I think everyone would like to know your back with us and it won't affect the schedule much now." Jeff offered.
"Thanks Dad." John beamed.
"That plan is much better. I feel like I have been a nuisance for so long without realizing it I didn't want it to carry on."
"Nonsense, what you did was extremely brave and beyond anything I would have expected." Jeff replied he seemed to burst with pride.
Felicity felt a blush creep over her face. "What happened to the Hood?" She asked.
"We can debrief later with everyone together that way everything can be covered in one go." Jeff said.
"Okay." Felicity said.
"Do you want to get these tests out of the way? We can make a start as soon as you like." Virgil changed the subject no one wanted to dwell too long.
"Sure. Can you both let everyone know I'm back and fine?" Felicity instructed Jeff and Scott.
"FAB." Scott replied with a smile and Jeff nodded. They left the room together and all focus turned back to Felicity.
"Can I have some more water before we start. Only asking now so I don't have to struggle." She said with a cheeky smile.
"Sure." Virgil agreed.
"I'll get some ice flakes they might be less of a danger to drowning." John joked.
"Laugh it up but remember I may not be able to move but I can still hack your online details."
Virgil held up a hand in surrender. "I am not part of this."
"It's okay your online secrets are safe with me." Felicity tormented Virgil.
"What! I mean I have no secrets. Go back to your body before I refuse treatment on grounds of abuse towards the staff." Virgil teased back.
"Yes doctor. By the way I can still feel the connection now." She called out to John before returning to her body.
"What connection?" Virgil asked confused. "You drop a cryptic line like that and vanish. You and John are meant to be together."
"It's the reason we lost her for so long. She merged into the tracking device and it seems when I cut the transmission her conscious remained there until I activated it earlier. But even when she moved into my laptop she couldn't connect to her body that's why I put my phone in her hand." John explained as he returned with the cup of ice flakes.
"Not." Felicity croaked her throat was dry and sore so she couldn't finish. She had forgotten to tell John everything.
"Shh. Have some of this." He said sliding his hand under her head and lifting her carefully to the cup tipping a few flakes in her mouth. Gently he lowered her again.
"Don't talk lets just concentrate on checking everything else for a few minutes." Felicity tried to nod but once gain her neck muscles protested so she smiled a twitchy smile. "Neck needs work unable to support head. Facial muscles working to a degree." Virgil said out loud as he typed on his tablet.
"Can you move your fingers?" He asked.
Felicity thought hard and tried to flex every digit on each hand, she realized John's phone was still in the one hand and as he realized he removed it.
"Small movement possible." Virgil noted. "Can you raise your arms?"
Felicity tried but it felt as though she were glued to the bed, she strained but nothing moved.
"No movement." He mumbled and typed away. Slowly he wandered to the bottom of the bed. "I'm just going to uncover your legs is that okay?" Virgil asked and glanced up at Felicity to receive a twitchy smile. He flicked back the sheet exposing pajama clad legs and pink feet. "Can you wiggle your toes?" He asked.
Felicity felt them twitch as her fingers had but it was hard work. Virgil jotted on his tablet. "Now try to raise your knees."
Felicity tried but everything felt heavy. "Okay, that's enough to be working on for now. I'm going to consult with Gordon on this too he's the resident physio expert. It will be hard but we will get you back fighting fit again, as much as you can keep tensing and relaxing your fingers, arms, toes and legs that will help get everything started on working again even if there is no movement. I'm going to find Gordon and plot a plan of action. If you need me I've got my watch." He waggled his wrist before departing the room.
"Ice." Felicity managed to croak. John moved quickly to repeat his earlier motions helping Felicity out.
"Never imagined the roles would be reversed. Did I ever thank you for all the help getting me back on my feet?" John asked.
"Yes." Felicity croaked.
"Sorry I shouldn't be making you speak. I am grateful for everything you did then and after as well as before. Not sure what I would have done if we hadn't found you today." John felt the despair that had been building steadily over the last three months suddenly erupt with the tears that started to fall.
Felicity felt her heart break at the sight of John crumbling and there was not a thing she could physically do about it. "No… Don't." She croaked then tried a growl in frustration. Deciding she needed to talk to John more than anything else she reached out with her mind and jumped across into his phone.
It was dark, she had forgotten that John had taken his phone back. "Hey let me out." She cried and activated the vibrate mechanism trying to grab his attention. Colours blurred for a few moments then settled down to reveal John's worried face. "That's better. Next time I'm going for the watch it makes your head swim with all that movement."
John laughed, he couldn't help it, hearing Felicity after all this time was the best feeling. "Maybe I should return this now." He said as he slid his free hand into the neckline of his shirt and pulled free a silver chain followed by a locket.
"My locket. I AM so sorry I took that off, well I didn't take it off the Hood made me take it off, believe me I did not want to." She babbled.
"It's ok City. I'm sorry he came after you." John apologized.
"It's not your fault, I knew what I was getting into when I signed the papers. I'm glad your dad didn't give into him. If there is anything in the world worth fighting for – giving my life for – it's you and your family. I'm sorry I ran away."
"You have nothing to be sorry for you were really brave and extremely stupid you shouldn't have done all of that I really had thought I'd lost you."
"No John I, the Hood tried to get in my head, I couldn't fight him off that stupid mind thing he can do is really creepy even for a bag guy. I ran away at the time I didn't know how I did it but I remember feeling like I had cyber merged but the Hood was still trying to follow me so I closed everything off. I cut the connection to me it wasn't you closing the tracking beacon down." Felicity finally explained. She watched John's face carefully, worried that he might now blame her.
John listened to Felicity, it was a good job Oliver had killed the Hood. "I'm so sorry I didn't get to you sooner." He started to apologise once more
"Stop." Felicity put on her loud voice. When John stopped open mouthed poised to finish but respecting her instruction. "I don't want you apologizing, none of this was YOUR FAULT do you hear me. The Hood was working with Slade that one none of us saw coming, and I signed up ME because I genuinely wanted to help you. Falling in love with you and the added dangers that entails I gladly take on because you are worth it. What you have been going through the last few months I'm sorry but I'm back and I won't stay down for long especially now I have a few more tricks. So no more apologizing got it?"
John now understood how Oliver felt, when Felicity put her foot down it was firmly routed and exactly on point, it was a little intimidating being on the receiving end. Scott wasn't even this scary. John surrendered. "Alright no apologizing but that goes for you too. It's done and in the past now."
Felicity pouted a little at her words being turned on her but she agreed non-the less. "Deal. Do I get my locket back then?" She teased John was still clinging to it. "Or do I need to go and ask Brains for a new one?"
John's bright smile returned and the bags under his eyes seemed to fade drastically with the change in the conversation. "I see why you choose this over a watch."
"Not thinking of converting are you?"
"No it suits you better." He replied. "I'm going to put the phone down." He informed Felicity.
"Alright." In the blink of an eye Felicity had gone from the phone and back to herself and croaked out her reply. As much as she loved using technology there was nothing quite like talking with her own vocal cords.
Catching up with what had happened John lowered the phone and looked down to Felicity meeting her eyes. "That is going to take some getting used to."
"I know." She croaked and tried a twitchy smile.
John slipped his phone back into his pocket and then using both hands he slipped the chain over his head. Gently he dropped the chain and locket over Felicity's head and carefully he slid his hand under her neck and raised her head allowing the chain to slide down around her neck. Then he lay her head back down.
"Tha…" Felicity tried to thank John but the dryness caught her throat out once more.
Hearing the catch John fetched the cup of water again and helped Felicity with a sip of liquid this time. She managed to swallow it down.
"Thanks." She croaked. "What wrong with…" Felicity tried to continue she was determined to at least get speech back. John helped her with another drink. "You and Oliv…" She almost finished her question.
John sighed. He remembered the last argument he had with Oliver, Felicity was probably going to kill him. "Promise not to get mad?" He helped her take another drink.
"Depends." She croaked. As she waited for the explanation she decided to do as Virgil instructed and tried flexing her muscles.
John sat down next to Felicity and slid his hand in hers for moral support and out of habit. "We may have argued about who's fault it was over your kidnapping. He doesn't like me or our secret and thinks I am being selfish by admitting I love you."
"Love you." Felicity croaked and tried to smile the warm feeling and butterflies at hearing John's declaration beat down the annoyance of Oliver.
"When everyone was arguing over who was to blame when the Hood sent out the call to us I shouldered that." John held up a finger silencing the protest he knew would be coming. "Don't argue it needed to be done, in so many ways Oliver is right if I hadn't tricked you at the conference we would have gone our separate ways and the Hood would never have had you in his sights. If Oliver had been more considerate he would have found you in the basement during the Undertaking then we would never have met." John took a breath and concentrated on Felicity's eyes there speared to be a storm of emotion swirling around them.
"Blame is from both sides but I could handle him calling me a selfish rich playboy because I know its not true but I know you chose to stand by me I wasn't forcing you, at least I hope I haven't been, and when he threatened me I lost my temper. I banned him from seeing you unless I wasn't around. He didn't like it but by all accounts Diggle and Laurel have been keeping him in line." A twitch flicked across Felicity's lips and a broken giggle, it made John smile.
"Good." She said.
"Your not mad?" John questioned.
"Yes men." She said and rolled her eyes John guessed how the sentence was supposed to be but he would take her wrath gladly. "Water." The last one seemed to ground out of her mouth he really needed to stop making her talk.
John helped her drink then returned to sitting and holding her hand. "What else?"
"I probably shouldn't say but Scott clocked him one when he found out you had been used to bait Slade and I'm not exactly thrilled at that either, why would you put yourself in danger?"
"Debrief." She said, internally she kicked herself remembering how Oliver had tricked her, used her and kissed her. Secretly she was glad Scott had got a lucky throw in. She promised to tell John about Oliver but she would omit it from the brief and wait until she was about to move about again.
"Alright, Dad pulled a lot of strings and got Queen Consolidated back after news of Isobel and Slade working together got out. He has handed the site running to Oliver on the provision that he learns to work by Dad's business etiquette. He has been coming to the island to see you and work with Dad. While he's here I go up to 5 with Alan and Fermat for the week it's the only time I have left you. I didn't want to but I also didn't want to stop your friendship with Oliver."
"Thank you." Felicity croaked.
"Anything for you. I uh, after Virgil cleared me for flying I took a detour before getting to Starling City. I was waiting for a good time to give it to you but one thing then another I never did and after this I don't want to wait."
Felicity looked confused, she remembered when John had come to hers she had been shot saving Sara. She watched him shift and take something out of his pocket.
"I got this made for you. I hope you like it. It was for something else but I want to give it you now as a promise that as soon as your well enough I want to ask you properly but for now City I love you more than anything and I want to keep for the rest of my life." John lifted the little box and he opened the lid revealing the contents inside.
Felicity Felt her heart rate picking up, John's words couldn't be real. When the box appeared she felt like her heart had jumped up into her throat. As the lid opened and her eyes fell on sparkling insides her stomach flipped. He was saying what she thought.
Inside the box nestled in the fold of the cushion was a small diamond that shone like a star. It was wrapped around a silver and gold band, The silver band came away on the left side of the diamond and curved around into the cushion and on the other side the gold did the same. As the tails of both metals reappeared the curved back up towards the diamond and wrapped around the opposite colour. It looked like two separates coming together around one fixed point – the diamond and ring.
Felicity didn't hesitate. "Yes. No repeat. Only once." She croaked out straining to get her point across before her throat cut her off. He didn't need to wait for her to recover this was perfect in its own way apart from her lack on mobility.
John beamed before leaning down and catching Felicity in a kiss. She returned as best as she could and it was the best feeling in the world. She was engaged, a fiancée, going to get married – HER.
As John pulled back Felicity risked the pain of her throat once more. "Love you."
"I love you too." John replied, he moved further back and took the ring out of the box and slid it on her left hand ring finger.
AN – so thoughts probably not what you expected and well neither did I but the muse does these things.