NOTE 1 – Well this just flew out the muses are clearly favouring me at the moment.

Thank you so much for the reads and especially to Beachgirl for coming back after all this time and dropping that review to feed the muses.

I do not own Arrow or Thunderbirds.

CHAPTER 39

Just over a week had passed since Felicity returned to herself and the physio part of her recovery was going slow or at least that's how it felt to her.

She was now just starting to be able to push herself up albeit shakily off the bed. She was able to sit upright and support herself for about half an hour which was enough for joining the Tracy family for meals so as Gordon had promised although just a few days late due to rescues and other things he turned up for the morning session of physio with a wheelchair for Felicity. Scott, Virgil and Alan were also part of the delivery group.

As upset as Felicity was at needing to use a wheelchair nothing could have prepared her for what actually turned up. Someone had decorated the outside of the chair into a vehicle of sorts. It seemed to have the shape of a plane with a jet engine type shape on the back of the seat and little stubby wings just in front of the wheels with enough room to use the wheels by the user of the chair. It was purple in colour with a number 6 on the tail that was above the engine and sat just above the back of the chair.

"There is no way I am going around in that!" Felicity remarked laughing. "Gordon you lied." She turned on him with a scowl.

"No lies I just agreed not to make it any worse. This is better it's a Thunderbird of your own." He replied with a huge face splitting grin and puppy dog eyes.

Felicity couldn't keep her face angry, she couldn't be angry at that. All of the Tracy's in the room we're happy smiling and waiting on her. She dropped her face into her hands and fake cried, "Brothers!" She stated exasperated.

The room erupted in laughter and Gordon came up to the side of Felicity's bed, manoeuvring the wheelchair into position alongside. He grabbed the bed controller from the hanger at the head of the bed and adjusted the height to match closer to the wheelchair the side had been dropped from the chair to allow for easier transfer. "Showtime." Gordon said enthusiastically. "Get ready to catch." He joked to his brothers.

Felicity glared at him again before sighing and working on carefully shifting her weight and moving across the bed to the chair. Scott had positioned at the opposite side of the chair, Virgil to his left followed by Alan so if Felicity did falter in any direction she was covered.

The move although tiring went successfully and she relaxed back into the chair proud she had gotten herself in without an issue. Gordon leaned around her to knock off the brakes and he whispered, "Proud of you sis." Felicity smiled at his compliment but she still nudged him in jest annoyance with her elbow as he slipped back past her. He chuckled.

"Let's get you settled back upstairs." Scott declared as he strode in front and opened up the room door. Gordon carefully pushed Felicity through the doorway and along the corridor.

They ended up on the decking where Jeff and Grandma Tracy, Tin-Tin and Fermat also joined. It was mid morning the sun was warm and Felicity just basked in the heat, there were drinks and just chatting and quality time together. Kyrano and Onaha had insisted it was for the family even though Felicity did not see three different families on the island but one big one. Brains unfortunately had a conference scheduled that he couldn't reschedule.

After about 45 minutes Felicity was feeling the fatigue from keeping herself upright as well as continually lifting the drink she had had. She was starting to sink into the chair and Gordon noticed. He hopped up from his spot and skirted around the group to behind Felicity. Leaning close to her he whispered, "Had enough?"

Felicity flinched a little she hadn't realised Gordon had been heading to her and his voice so close made her jump. She nodded and regretted it with the effort to bring her head back up straight. "Yes." She said.

"Time to say bye. Head Physio's orders that that is enough sun and excitement for now." Gordon announced. The group bid their goodbyes as did Felicity with very feeble waves that she felt super guilty about.

Gordon led her through the Villa and into the lift however they came out onto the first floor with the main occupants rooms. "Wrong floor Gordon." Felicity scolded Gordon when she noticed, but Gordon didn't stop.

"This is the right floor, I'm under the strictest instructions you get special privileges." He boasted back and brought Felicity to John's door. Felicity had only been in John's room while John was there and never intentionally stayed overnight she'd always returned to the guest room. She felt her cheeks burn. "John insisted, your closer to us if you need anything especially if your going to be walking soon and well your closer to John if your here to, three months is a long time to be apart. I know you both have something very unique with your cybermerging ability but well we all think you should be here." Gordon answered, in a serious and understanding tone in a rare display of caring.

Felicity felt her vision blur at the sentiment and Gordon's words. It meant the world to her that she could be here it had been a busy week and there was always someone popping in to check on her and she spent the rest of her time up on Thunderbird 5 with John but it was an infirmary room and very lonely in those on her own moments. At least here she was with the family, her family. Gordon was in front of her now and she looked up realising they were next to the bed, the patio window was open letting in the warm fresh air.

"Hey." Gordon said softly noticing Felicity looked upset her eyes glistening, as he crouched in front of her. Suddenly he had armfuls of Felicity in a hug. He heard a sob and felt her shake. "Hey it's okay if you don't want to be in here I can take you up to the guest rooms." He rubbed Felicity's back trying to calm her, this wasn't the reaction he had expected or was used to dealing with.

Felicity shook her head at Gordon's words she didn't want to be anywhere else. She waited another minute for the emotions to calm in her and pushed back from Gordon looking sheepish at her display. "Sorry."

Gordon let Felicity pull herself back and he shook his head at her apology. "No there is a lot going on and you are working so hard to get back on your own feet sometimes we just need to have a moment. Are you good now?" Felicity nodded. "Let's get you into bed and some rest it's a late lunch today because we had our little party so have a nap get your strength up for then, I want to try and get you in the pool this afternoon it will help you a lot." Gordon said as he dropped the side of the wheelchair closest to the bed and then manoeuvred the chair closer before locking in the brakes.

Felicity tried her best to push the duvet back she managed a small spot enough to fit herself on and then started the hard task of getting herself across. She slid her legs under the duvet once she was onto the bed before sliding more over and then flopping against the pillows totally exhausted.

Gordon kept close but allowed Felicity to get herself across and into the bed as she wanted. As she flopped herself down onto the pillows he chuckled, "I'll see you later." He said as he left the room.

Felicity didn't even say bye she just shut her eyes. She didn't fall asleep straight away she took five minutes to get some energy back to shuffle herself about to get more comfortable on the bed before she slipped of up to Thunderbird 5.

She found John in the galley he was having a coffee, he smiled as she came in and she looked at him suspiciously. John held his hands up in surrender at the look on Felicity's face. He suspected what this was going to be about. "Before you say anything I love you so much."

Felicity stopped a few steps short of John and at his words she smiled she couldn't help it she loved him dearly too.

"So you got settled into our room okay?" John casually said as Felicity stopped just in front of him with a heart stopping smile on her beautiful face. He closed the gap between them cupping her face with his one hand and the other sliding down her arm and entwining their fingers together.

"You just... You I... As soon as I can get to the wardrobe I'm stealing your hoodie." Felicity retorted if he was giving her free access to his room she was going to help herself.

John smirked he liked the idea of Felicity sharing his things she'd already proven orange looked good on her. He leant down and kissed her, it was going to be a long three months. He rested their foreheads together as the kiss broke apart. "You are welcome to help yourself to anything in our room, where do you think your clothes have been stored?" He retorted, smirking.

Felicity felt her mouth drop open, her revenge idea just seemed to amuse John and her clothes were already in his wardrobe? Their wardrobe, she corrected herself.

John chuckled at Felicity's reaction. "I want you to make the room your own too when you can and I can't wait to see what you do when I come back home." He added.

Felicity just tucked herself up into John's chest and hugged him tightly. She felt his arms wrap around her back she just didn't know what to say at all.

John held Felicity for a while just letting her process and enjoying the company. "Look it's quiet at the moment do you want to go watch the stars for a bit, have some rest for yourself." John suggested. He stroked down Felicity's hair and felt her nod her head before pulling back. He joined their hands together and guided her through the ship to his quarters. They curled up together and watched through the window at the slowly changing space as the ring rotated around, content to just be together.

PAUSE

Felicity was woken by Scott knocking on the door. He popped his head around the door, Felicity noticed he had damp hair and a kind smile on his face. "Come on sleepy head lunch is up. I was passing so I can give you a ride." He offered.

Felicity stretched out her arms and legs while yawning she hadn't realised she'd dosed off. Grateful for the help though she accepted from Scott and worked on getting herself into the chair while he made his way over to her. She lifted the side and locked it into place and took off the brakes before Scott said, "Ready." She nodded and he pushed her towards the door.

Lunch was it's usual chaos but it made Felicity happy to be around everyone again and as though everything that had happened was a lifetime ago. She had a sandwich and some fruit, her improvement in regaining her eating meant she didn't need the smoothies now but she'd asked Kyrano if she could still have them on a morning as she loved them that much, he of course was happy to oblige.

After lunch Jeff came to Felicity and asked if she wanted to go out onto the decking again for a little while before her physio. She agreed and he wheeled her outside to one of the tables and he sat opposite her. It was initially a little awkward Felicity didn't really know what to say at first but Jeff had his own agenda.

"I wanted to talk to you about what the Hood did. It's been playing on my mind and I know that during your debrief I cut you off, I don't think the rest of the room needed to relive it. I want you to know that if you need to talk about it you can my door is always open."

Felicity was taken aback at Jeff's topic. Things had been so busy that since the debrief she hadn't really thought much else on what had happened, or what she had gone through. Jeff had said that it had been playing on his mind however maybe he needed to talk about it. "I honestly haven't thought much on it, with helping John and Fermat on 5, physio and being exhausted. That being said talking about it can help deal with what went on, but it wasn't just me that was involved I know I had to go through it, it was my choice, you had to watch with no control over the outcome and no other choice to make but the one you did." Jeff had his hands resting on the table fingers intertwined and Felicity reached over she placed both her hands on top of Jeff's. "I would make the same decisions again, I don't ever want to be in that situation again but if it means protecting the organisation, the family, I won't hesitate." Felicity declared and she meant every word.

Jeff was the head, he shouldered all the responsibilities and the safety of everyone involved from his family to the agents network. Felicity's words, the sincerity in them and the unwavering devotion to them all lessened the weight on his shoulders and the dark mood he had been carrying of blame that ultimately it was his fault she had ended up as she had. He wasn't going to admit that the audio and video he had witnessed still haunted him some nights. When she placed her hands over his in a comforting gesture his heart melted she was truly selfless and an angel among them all. He shifted his thumbs and opened the gap between his palms slightly allowing Felicity's fingers to fall through and he placed his thumbs on top. "Thank you, I don't want you to ever be in a situation again that your life is on the line for any of us." He reaffirmed and he would do his damnedest to make sure this was the case.

"Now I want you to also know that I want to take over father of the bride responsibilities. Whatever you and John decide, please come to me." He offered.

Felicity's eyes nearly popped out of her head at the hugely kind and generous offer from Jeff. "I uh I... Thank you so much." Felicity stumbled over her words.

Jeff smiled, "Anything for you." He replied giving her hands another reassuring squeeze.

Kyrano came over at this point with a coffee for Jeff and a juice for Felicity. They exchanged thanks and sat in companionable quiet together.

They chatted about how QC was progressing and that although Jeff had gotten Oliver's shares back the legitimate Stellmoor International shares had been snatched up by another organisation and they were all working together however there were a lot of heads clashing between Oliver and the other CEO. Felicity wasn't surprised. She was upset that Oliver hadn't come to visit her again before he left and been the one to bring her up to date, it had felt like he was avoiding her after their last conversation.

Eventually Gordon turned up meaning it was Felicity's physio time she said bye to Jeff and Gordon took them both to the living quarters so they could get changed into swimwear. He left Felicity at the wardrobes and went to get himself changed.

It took Felicity a lot longer to get herself into her swimwear but she managed and for good measure she threw on one of John's hoodies over the top so she didn't feel so exposed.

Gordon knocked on the door. "Are you ready yet?" He announced.

"Yeah, I know why I'm so slow but what's your excuse?" She sassed back as Gordon came through the doorway. He was in his Hawaiian style shorts and shirt with two towels thrown over a shoulder. Which as he got close to Felicity he threw at her.

"For that you can carry the towels and get extra reps in the pool." He scolded playfully. He grabbed the handles and Felicity unlocked the brakes and they made their way back to the decking area and to the pool.

At the sun lounger nearest the steps down into the pool Felicity dropped the towels onto the main bit and took the hoodie off while Gordon removed his shirt. "Are you okay with me helping you in?" He asked Felicity as he dropped the shirt to the sun lounger.

"Sure." She nodded not thinking that by help she was going to be scooped into Gordon's arms and carried into the pool. She felt her face go bright red in embarrassment and clung to Gordon to steady herself from falling out. "Pretty sure there is a rule about carrying your brother's fiancée while half naked!" She protested.

Gordon laughed, "Well I can always just tip you out the chair? Or we can be civilised adults, and I already cleared it with John seeing as we don't have a pool lift. It's just for a few days, two weeks max and you'll be on your feet for short bursts."

Felicity huffed but he had a valid point and as her first time swimming in years she didn't fancy just being dumped in either. As Gordon walked down the steps into the water it came up around Felicity and she shivered at the slight coolness of the water compared to the heat of the air but once they were both up to their shoulders it felt warmer on her skin.

Gordon dropped Felicity's legs from his hold but kept his arm around her shoulders. "Put your feet on the bottom of the pool and start to let go from me so your taking your own weight." He instructed.

Felicity followed his instructions her legs moving easily with no real weight to restrict them and she started to loosen her grip of Gordon just keeping one hand on his shoulder.

"Let's start with a step forward." He instructed further when he saw that Felicity had settled herself onto her feet and the pressure through the remaining hand on his shoulder was not weight supporting.

Felicity stepped forward with one leg and brought the other to follow. Her arm not on Gordon's shoulder was balancing out to the side as the water flowing was making her unsteady.

"Great so we are going to the other side of the pool I want you to work on not leaning on my shoulder." He explained as Felicity completed the first step. She nodded and made for another step.

Each step she relied less on her hold on his shoulder and by the time they were at the other pool side she was unaided. "Great." Gordon praised. "How are you feeling?" He asked as they both grabbed onto the pool side.

Felicity thought about it for a few seconds before replying, "I'm okay."

"If we go across the pool again and then we can do some arm work. We don't want to push too hard as it will set you back." Gordon explained.

Felicity nodded and turned away from the pool side and walked again back towards the opposite side of the pool. She started to notice that after the half way it felt harder to push through the water and make progress. She gritted her teeth and pushed on glad to grab onto the pool side and catch a rest.

"You're doing great." Gordon encouraged he could see the struggle put up finishing the length. "Give yourself a few minutes then we can do some work with your arms." Gordon leant up against the poolside near to Felicity and waited on her to be ready again.

Felicity waited until her breath had calmed before focussing on Gordon and what he wanted her to do next. "We will just do two laps again this time I want you to try to do breast stroke only, keep your feet off the floor and your head above the water, I don't want John murdering me on his next rotation home." Gordon joked.

Felicity broke into a laugh before she pushed away from the pool side and attempted to swim across the pool. She only nearly drowned herself a few times, her arms just weren't fast enough to pull the water back to keep her afloat completely so she had to reset her head back up by standing and trying again. Gordon walked slowly alongside keeping easy pace with Felicity but there just in case she pushed too far and needed assistance.

At the far poolside Felicity stopped and she tried to hold on with her arms but they were just aching so she spun herself and propped her back against the poolside and feet down stopping her from sliding. She caught her breath and rested a few minutes before going back. She had more times of her face falling below the water keeping her arms moving was really difficult and required a lot of thinking now and it was very slow. Eventually she reached the pool side and just flopped her head back and let her feet rise until she was floating on her back. Gordon just let her be, though he kept close.

After about several minutes Gordon noticed that Felicity was blinking slower and worried about her safety in the pool while tired he gently took hold of her wrist to get her attention, when she glanced over to him he spoke to her, "I think it's time to get you out, dry and dressed." Felicity gave an agreement nod and allowed Gordon to pull her to him and carry her out of the pool to the wheelchair. Once she was sat he passed the towel over to her which she sluggishly patted over herself as much as she could to get dry and threw on John's hoodie and left the towel over her legs.

Gordon got himself mostly dry, and threw his shirt back on, towel over his shoulders and escorted Felicity back to her room. Tin-Tin met them in the living room as they were passing through and she offered to help Felicity get her hair sorted. Gordon left them both as he went to get himself changed and back to work.

Felicity missed the evening meal Scott had stopped by after his shower and several knocks popped his head in when there was no answer. He called out to Felicity but the light snoring told him she was deeply asleep and not waking, so he left her to her rest.

PAUSE

The weeks passed by, Felicity's strength in herself slowly returned and as it did she started to spend time with the different members of the Tracy family. Her physio was reduced to once a day so long as she was keeping herself busy with different activities.

It started with helping Brains and Fermat in the lab as she built up her arm strength and dexterity again. She would help with assembling small parts and plenty of theory talking with the two Hackenbacker's.

As her legs became more steady supporting her thanks to the swimming physio she would help in the kitchen at first, then she moved onto helping the brothers with the 'birds maintenance. She learnt a lot watching, fetching tools and even getting her own hands dirty under instruction. She was still in awe of the vehicles and the Tracy's, they knew the machines inside and out.

During the end of the second month of her recovery Felicity went with Tin-Tin to do the supply run, luckily whomever had picked up Felicity's clothes stash had had the foresight to grab her passport, ID and cards. Australia was the closest mainland to the island and Felicity sat up front with Tin-Tin. It wasn't so bad and they chatted most of the way there about different things.

They had grown quite close over the weeks as Tin-Tin had been the one to help Felicity with a lot of personal tasks until she could handle them by herself again.

Felicity had just thought that the supply run would be and in and out but Tin-Tin surprised her with lunch out at a fancy Italian style bistro followed by visiting a few select shops she'd found on a previous visit. Felicity stared at the wedding gowns in the window of the first shop in awe as it really hit home that she would be getting married, in something that beautiful.

With Tin-Tin's encouragement they tried on a few dresses together in different shops before they headed back to the plane.

Felicity was dead on her feet when they arrived back at the island it had been the most activity she had done so far, but it felt great to be almost back to her usual self.

She managed to get through left overs put aside for her and Tin-Tin before retiring to her and John's room. She hadn't yet made any changes in the room though.

After getting comfortable in bed Felicity whisked herself up to John, it wasn't a planned visit as she had been on supply run duty. She materialised in the Hub, it was running in quiet mode, the world was quiet so it was just monitoring communications. Felicity did a quick check making sure things were still as quiet as when John left them, after that she went in search of her Spaceman.

He wasn't where she had expected him, she thought he'd be in his lab room but it was all shut down. She actually found him in his quarters fast asleep, her heart panged at how peaceful he looked and even though she was able to be here how much she misses him. She silently moved across the room and crouching at the side of the cot placed a gentle kiss on the top of John's head and a feather light run of her fingers through his hair. He stirred slightly making Felicity freeze. Once he'd settled back down still asleep Felicity faded from the room and went soundly to sleep hugging John's pillow.

NOTE 2 – I hope everyone liked this chapter. It's a bit of a filler we will be moving into Season 3 of Arrow and maybe some TAG adventures. Reviews feed the muse and if there are any specific adventures or topics you want me to include I am open to recommendations