A/N:Some of ya'll had some thoughts about the last chapter! And thank you so much for sharing them with me if you lived close enough I'd bake and bring you some cookies! I LOVE getting comments like that, like it makes my day! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! And because of those comments I tweaked this chapter a bit! So what ya'll say does have a affect on the final product.
With that being say, this is one of my favorite chapters simply because Hurt/Comfort is like my favorite tag ever and there isn't enough of it in the Arrow fandom! So in the scene where Felicity finds Oliver in her backseat - Diggle talks about how it missed the carotid and is a zone 2 wound. Both of those are referring to the neck. So it is my assumption that the writers wrote it as a neck wound then when it was moved to the shoulder the dialogue wasn't changed. Also if Oliver's heart stopped it would have been because of massive blood loss, which would have kept him down for much longer than a couple of hours. So while this is still very much in the world of fiction it is not as quite far fetched as it was on the show. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. And Thanks to Trauma Fiction group, ya'll were very helpful
Lastly, the posting schedule might be changing. This is the last chapter my amazing wonderful beta has gotten back to me and I'm waiting to hear back about a job where I won't have access to the internet as much and would move my posting day to a weekend day. So if the next chapter takes a bit, I'm sorry! I appreciate each and every person who is reading this and my story.
Oliver felt hands touching him and moving him and sharp pain shooting through his body, he tried to take a quick breath and then panicked when he realized that he couldn't breathe. Dig, he needed to call for Dig! Before he could struggle against whoever was holding him the pain overtook him and he started to drift back into unconsciousness as he heard a voice calling to him.
"Mr. Queen! Mr. Queen!" A firm voice demanded as again pain spiked in his chest as he was moved. He tried to take a breath so that he could acknowledge the voice, but all it did was to pull a cry of pain from him. The pain washed over him again, but quickly disappeared as darkness provided relief and became his friend once more.
The next time that Oliver woke up there was still a stabbing pain in his chest. Panic seizing him he opened his eyes and attempted to sit up but, Dig, who was the first face that he saw gently pushed him down. After getting the pain and panic under control Dig updated him on his condition, which consisted of a pneumothorax, three broken ribs, and a concussion. Judging from the run down that Dig had given him didn't include any of the numerous cuts, bruises or arrow wounds that he knew he had also suffered. Dig also let him know that his family was waiting anxiously for him to wake up. Dig went to the door to let them know that Oliver was awake ushering Moira, Thea, Walter and Felicity quickly into the room. They paused for a second before surrounding his bed.
"Oh man, you look terrible," Thea said, wincing.
Walter nodded, "Well thank God you were wearing your helmet." Oliver was confused and looked over to Dig for clarification. Dig explained the cover story by reminding him that he was riding his bike with Dig following for security and that a semi had pulled out right in front of him causing him to wreck. Oliver hoped that Dig hadn't done anything to his Ducati to sell the story, because he really liked that bike.
"Where's Olivia?" Oliver asked, anxiously remembering the last time he had seen his daughter she had told him she didn't like him.
Felicity took ahold of his hand, "Right now she's asleep and Tommy stayed at the mansion with her. She doesn't know that anything has happened yet." Oliver nodded, wincing as he struggled to keep the pain off his face.
Moira looked concerned, "Oliver, what were you even doing out on your bike at that time of night?"
Thea added, "Yeah, you bailed on your own party!"
Oliver wanted more than anything to tell the truth and say that it was because he had to save some hostages and because nothing was going right at the party, but he went with, "I could tell that things weren't going great, and I needed to breathe so it seemed like the right move." He tried to shrug, but immediately regretted it since the movement pulled at the chest tube in his side, "Like you said, it wasn't the best timing."
Rolling her eyes Thea said, "Yeah, but when I was saying that it was because I was being a bitch."
They all reassured him that the party had indeed brought them closer together, and it did appear that Walter and his mom were in a better place. He smiled at them and tried to shift himself into a more comfortable position, but the broken ribs sent a sharp pain through his chest that he wasn't able to mask.
"We're going to go and let you get some rest," Moira said bending down to kiss him on the forehead before she and Walter left.
Felicity was still holding his hand, her eyes a bit misty, "You do know that Livy loves you, right? She was just way over-tired and over-stimulated from the day and because of that she was acting out."
That did make Oliver feel a little bit better and he gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Thank you."
"Please be more careful next time! Having grown up without one, I want Livy to have her dad in her life for a long time." She gave his hand one last squeeze and left the room leaving just him and Thea. After a good talk and Thea letting Oliver win the candy cane eating contest a nurse came in to give him more pain medication.
"I don't want any more medication." Oliver tried to protest. But Diggle overrode him.
"Listen man, it's been proven that people heal faster when they aren't hurting. You're safe and there is absolutely no reason that you need to be in pain. I've got the watch." Oliver sighed and nodded his agreement, Dig was right as usual, and the drugs made him drowsy or maybe it was the concussion, either way he went to sleep.
He woke up periodically to nurses doing their rounds. He also received another dose of pain meds before they removed the chest tube, which was not a lot of fun. Every time he woke, he instinctively checked around the room, just to make sure that everything was fine and that he was safe, and every time he saw Dig standing watch. He woke up early the next morning to Sara slipping into his room, when he looked over to Dig, he saw him indicate that he was going to step out to give them some privacy, and Oliver nodded slightly.
"Hey," he said quietly, his voice raspy from sleep.
"Hey yourself," she smiled gently, walking over and grasping his hand. She was dressed for work in her scrubs with her hair pulled back. "You gave us quite the scare vanishing like that. Then Mr. Diggle called letting us know that you had been in an accident." Still holding his hand, she sat beside him on the hospital bed.
Oliver sighed as both physical and emotional exhaustion pulled at him and he started to explain. "I had to go help the hostages."
"It was a trap set by the Dark Archer, wasn't it?" Sara asked.
"Yeah, but I couldn't leave those people there, plus I thought that you were trashed."
"I'm sorry Ollie, I wasn't drunk. That's Dad's thing." She paused, "Or was his thing." At the quizzical look Oliver gave her she elaborated, "When he and Mom got divorced it was nasty all around and Dad turned to alcohol to try to cope. He's doing better now." She paused and sat on the edge of his bed taking his hand in hers, she said. "I was jealous… It had always been you and Laurel and I was just that tag-a-long little sister. I felt like the sun was shining on me when you started paying attention to me." She paused again, "I never really took into consideration how much our affair hurt Laurel until after you were gone, and now all of those old inadequate feelings keep rising back up even though we are dating, and she has Tommy."
Oliver was confused, "What are you saying Sara?"
She looked down at where her hand was clasped around his, "I want to take a step back with our relationship. I want to go from dating to friends with benefits. It's obvious that I have some things that I need to work through before I can pursue a serious relationship with you. And I know that you aren't ready for a serious relationship with anyone, yet."
"Friends with benefits huh?" Oliver asked. He tried to chuckle, but his broken ribs didn't agree with that, and pain shot through his torso again.
"Once you get all healed up and stuff. You really do give the best orgasms." She shrugged, not at all ashamed. "Are you okay?" She asked, and he understood she wasn't just talking about physically.
"I will be," He answered truthfully.
"Good," Sara leaned over and gave him a sweet kiss on the cheek. Standing up she shifted into nurse mode. "Next time don't let the bad guy put arrows in you, and for goodness' sake use the PCA." she said handing him the remote for the machine that controlled the pain mediation and watching him push the button.
"Will do," Oliver said as he drifted off to sleep as the pain medication worked its way through his system. He was asleep even before Sara left his room and Dig returned.
***ARROW***
Oliver sat in the living room watching the flames flicker in the fireplace. It was Christmas Eve and he had been home from the hospital for almost a week. After getting home from the hospital he had been on Olivia duty since both Thea and Moira had social engagements and Felicity had work. Tommy had come by several times to cheer Oliver up and to entertain his favorite niece. Plus Oliver was pretty sure that Tommy was sent by Felicity to make sure that he hadn't pulled a disappearing act or feed her too much sugar or something along those lines.
The tree in the corner of the room tinkled merrily and the mound of presents under the tree was unreal. He may have gone a bit over board with presents for everybody, but mainly for Olivia. Tommy had helped him with his shopping while he had been party planning so he hoped that everybody liked what he had gotten them.
"Hey," Oliver was pulled out of his thoughts by the sound of Felicity's voice. He looked over to see her coming into the cozy room holding two mugs. Handing one to Oliver she settled at the other end of the couch. Suddenly Oliver was transported to five years ago of them sitting just like this after hearing Olivia's heartbeat for the first time.
"Hey," he said back as he took the mug.
"It's eggnog, spiked of course. How else is one supposed to enjoy it? And don't worry I won't rat you out to Sara that I gave you alcohol wile you are still on paid meds." Felicity said as she took a sip of hers.
Oliver wasn't about to tell her that he had gotten rid of the medicine a few days ago. Instead he said, "Don't worry about Sara busting you, we broke up."
Felicity's face fell, "I'm so sorry."
Lifting one shoulder in a shrug, "It's okay, she was right when she pointed out that neither of us were ready for a relationship, much less with each other." He took a sip, it was a bit strong, but not too bad.
"But still," Felicity said. "Ending a relationship is hard, if you need to talk." She let the offer out hang out there.
He gave her one of his rare smiles, "Thank you." He sat the mug on the coffee table and gave her his full attention taking a deep breath, "And I need to apologize to both you and Livy." She started to open her mouth, but he held up his hand. "Being in the hospital gave me a lot of time to think, and I have been slacking in the father department." He sighed and looked at the fireplace not wanting to meet Felicity's understanding eyes. "When I got back I swore that I was going to be a wonderful Dad that Olivia Meghan would be the light of my life, but I lost my way. I know I'm not the best dad or co-parent, but I will be better." He wanted to say he didn't want his darkness to somehow rub off on his daughter, she was a bright light in his life and he didn't want to mess with that, but the fight with the Dark Archer brought many things to light including that if he didn't make the father daughter relationship work, darkness or not, by the time he felt like he was worthy she might already be gone from his life and he couldn't have that.
"Thank you," She opened her mouth then closed it. After taking a sip and making a face at the strength of the drink she said. "When I learned you were alive and coming home I made a deal with myself. I wouldn't hold you to any promises you made before you left and to always be flexible. I don't know what you went through, but it couldn't have been easy so I try to take everything into consideration before getting upset or mad at you. I do appreciate you trying and your determination to do better." She let out a loud yawn. "Also, you've done great these last few days. So let's go to bed," she stopped realizing what she had just said as pink colored her cheeks. "I'm going to go to bed, by myself, in my bed. And you can go to sleep in your bed, by your self or not by yourself that's your decision. Oliver why aren't you stopping me?" She ended the sentence with a whine.
He gave her a true smile, "It's still cute."
With a roll of her eyes she got up taking her mug with her, "Night." She turned around so that she was walking backwards. "Word of warning, your daughter likes to get up early on Christmas, and she takes after her Aunt Thea when it comes to presents."
Even with everything that had happened it was the best Christmas Oliver had had in a long time.
***ARROW***
"You need to go to a hospital." Dig told Oliver as he stumbled exiting the elevator on his way to talk to Felicity. Oliver was on the hunt to find the man who called himself the Count, the only supplier in town for the new designer drug, Vertigo. The night before Oliver almost apprehended the Count but had been dosed with the drug instead. Due to Oliver's quick thinking, they had a sample, so after sleeping off the overdose he was bringing the sample to Felicity to see if she could analyze it and find out where the Count was manufacturing the drug, however in Diggle's opinion Oliver should still be in the Foundry basement sleeping off the effects of the drug.
Diggle's opinion hadn't changed any while Oliver gave a ridiculous story to Felicity. He was been pretty sure that Felicity knew that something was going on, and how she reacted to Oliver's questionable story of Vertigo being an energy drink and the reason that the sample was in a syringe was due to not having any sports bottles handy, pretty much cemented his thoughts. After leaving the sample with Felicity for analysis and getting both of them back into the elevator Dig tried again to get Oliver to rest, "Will you at least let me call Sara? You passed out at the mansion and you're not looking so hot."
It was a testament to how bad Oliver must have felt that he agreed. Getting into the town car Oliver laid down across the backseat and threw his arm over his eyes. Dig got in the driver's seat, started the car and called Sara, keeping the call off of speaker.
"Hey, we need your help."
A groan came from the other end of the line, "What did that dumbass do this time?"
"Got himself dosed with Vertigo last night. He slept it off but he looks like complete crap. He's already passed out once, is unsteady on his feet, and currently looks like he has a migraine." Dig started up the car ready to roll to wherever Sara would meet them.
Her voice serious now, "What is your location?"
"At QC, he needed Felicity to try to trace the water in the Vertigo to find the location where he's making it."
Sara snorted, "What stupid story did he give this time?" It was becoming a game between Dig and Sara as to what the dumbest excuse Oliver gave Felicity. They also had money riding on how soon she was going to accuse Oliver of being the Hood. Sara was betting on sometime in the next three weeks, while Dig chose to say in the next one to two months.
"A hangover cure, but he ran out of sports bottles to put it into so that's why it's in a syringe." Diggle said trying not to laugh.
Sara had no such issues and started laughing, "I think that's the worst one yet. He knows she must suspect something, right?"
"Yeah, but nothing can top the first 'I spilled a latte on my laptop, and it's in a bad neighborhood." Dig said with a laugh. He knew Oliver could hear him from the huff that came from the back seat.
"True, bring the big idiot to the Foundry, I've got all of the supplies that I need to help him there."
"Thanks Sara," Dig said as he backed the car out of the parking lot.
"See ya, Dig."
While there was lots of construction going on upstairs, the lair was blissfully quiet, thanks to the soundproofing that Oliver had installed when he first started using it as a base. Dig led Oliver over to the computer chair and kept a steady hand on his elbow so that he could catch him, just in case he decided to do another swan dive to the floor. Dig knew that the effects of the drug must be worse than he had thought at first since Oliver wasn't fighting his assistance.
Sara came down the stairs a few minutes later. Spying Oliver slouched over in the chair, with his head cradled in his arms she exclaimed, "Damn Dig! You were right Ollie looks like roadkill."
"Thank you so much for that Sara." Oliver said dryly, turning his head so that he could see her.
"Don't worry, nurse Sara's here to make it better." she said placatingly. She rummaged through the tool cabinet that held all of the medical supplies that she had deemed necessary. Taking what she needed from the stockpile, she meticulously arranged them so that they were ready for use.
"As I constantly tell Oliver, it's really weird to refer to yourself in the third person." Diggle said from he was perched.
Sara straightened up with a yellow IV bag, and the IV kit. Holding up the bag she informed her audience, "This is a banana bag or sometimes called a rally bag. It's packed full of vitamins and minerals and is guaranteed to make you feel better. It's what we give for all of the hangovers."
Oliver offered her his arm even before she stopped talking.
"Why is it in our supply kit?" Dig asked.
Sara pulled the band tight across Oliver's upper arm and made quick work slipping the needle into his arm, securing the line, and disposing of the used needle. While she worked and finished getting the IV started and cleaned up the area, she explained, "Well I put it in the kit for several reasons. One, we both know Ollie's reputation, both in and out of the hood. Two, we're located below a night club, and someone is bound to get a hangover sooner rather than later. Three, it's good for if someone is dehydrated. And four it never hurts to be prepared. Now, it is my professional opinion that he should take a nap while the bag finishes." She turned to Oliver, "You should feel much better after that, if you don't then come and see me tonight, I get off at midnight." She smiled at him and with a wink said, "Come see me anyway." She grinned at Dig, "See full service here." With that parting quip she sashayed her way out the door.
Under Diggle's watchful eye Oliver took Sara's advice and laid down on a cot to take a nap, secure in the knowledge that Dig would keep watch. While Oliver napped, all Diggle was left to do was see if he could level up on Angry Birds. It was a difficult job, but somebody had to do it.
***ARROW***
Oliver stepped out of the club making sure that the investors that had toured it made it to their cars safely. Tommy walked up behind him and clapped him on the shoulder. "Well, I think that went pretty well."
"All thanks to you Buddy." Oliver agreed, as he ruefully shook his head patting his best friend on the chest. "If you hadn't started rattling off those numbers when they asked, we would have been sunk."
"I guess all those years in college didn't go to waste after all." Tommy said, his grin growing brighter,
Slipping on his nonchalant mask Oliver shrugged, "Glad you got something out of college."
Tommy must have realized that he had hit a sore spot for Oliver because he looked down at his watch. "Do you need me for anything else? I'm supposed to pick Laurel up; the family's having dinner at Mr. Lance's house."
Shaking his head Oliver was glad to see his friend go, he had a lot of things he needed to get done both upstairs and downstairs. Prior to the investors arriving he had sent Dig down to the basement to get started on putting together some more storage shelves. "You're good, don't be late though, you know how Lance is."
"Yeah, but he likes me way more than he ever liked you." Tommy said, grinning ear to ear. With a wave he got in his car and drove off.
Watching Tommy drive away Oliver heard a noise in the alleyway next to the club. He started to turn towards it to investigate, when, out of the corner of his eye, he saw an arm suddenly reached out and he felt all of his nerve endings firing as he was hit in the neck with a stun gun. He was rendered immobile as his muscles all tensed up in reaction to the current running though his system. His thoughts spinning Oliver tried to assess the situation because he knew that, thanks to his Bratva training, he would be up on his feet a few seconds after the stun gun was released and he would have to coming up swinging. But he didn't get a chance to fight back because as soon as the taser was removed from his neck he was injected with something. Oliver could feel the drugs coursing through his veins; whatever he had been injected with was quick acting and didn't knock him out but made him feel as if he was deep underwater. He must have lost track of what was happening and where he was, because when he came back to himself, he was still in his club, but was sitting in one of the private VIP booths. His head was still swimming, and he looked down and noticed that his hands had been duct tapped together and that his feet were also bound in a similar fashion. It would take a little time, but he knew that he would be able to get out of the duct tape.
"Well, well. Look who's decided to join us back in the land of the living. Hey there Queeny," a weaselly voice said across from where Oliver sat bound on the built in couch. A chair had been pulled over and a man of similar skin and hair tone sat across from him. Thea would describe the man as looking like a used car salesman; he had an oily and greasy quality about him and a bit of a potbelly gut going on. In one hand he held a gun, which was currently aimed at Oliver, and in the other a black case. "I just bet that you are wondering what is going on!" He grinned at Oliver, "Now, I'm here as a friendly local businessman." Oliver's eyebrow arched as he gave the man an evaluating look, "I know, I know, I don't look like much, but I'll have you know that I am the best dealer on this here block. I'm so good that the Hood guy hasn't even looked my way." He leaned in closer to Oliver and dropped his voice, "How's that dose treating you?" He nodded, "It's a recipe that I cooked up myself, well I didn't cook it per-say, but rather added a bit of this and a bit of that. It makes for a really sweet high, doesn't it?" The dealer sat back radiating how amazing he thought he was.
"What do you want?" Oliver ground out.
"Not in the mood for small talk I see." the dealer sighed, "Fine, let's talk business."
As he talked Oliver didn't pay any attention to what the man was saying. He was trying to decide how to handle the situation, when he could concentrate, the drug was still messing with his head. He could easily escape out of his bonds and kill the guy, but then he would have to dispose of the body, and that was always a chore, and chores weren't fun. He could also wait until Diggle came looking for him and let him 'rescue' him like a good bodyguard should, but Oliver didn't like that option either. This man was really annoying Oliver, and he was getting very frustrated, not to mention that he hadn't had the opportunity to punch any bad guys for a few days and he was getting a bit testy, plus Sara hadn't returned his call last night. So, he decided to go with the third option.
"Are you done?" Oliver interrupted.
"Huh?" The dealer looked startled, as he hadn't expected Oliver to interrupt him while he was laying down his terms.
"I asked if you were done." Oliver noticed that he had slurred the last word, but it wouldn't be the first time he had fought someone while high.
"Yeah, I guess." The dealer said looking puzzled, he continued sounding unsure of himself, "If you don't let me deal in your club then they'll find you dead." He held up the slim black case, "Nobody will think twice about playboy Oliver Queen dying from an overdose."
"Okay. Now do you want me to tell you what's wrong with your little plan?" Oliver asked.
"And what's wrong with my plan?" the dealer said, scoffing, but looking very nervous, sensing that the power dynamic was about to change.
Oliver let his true feeling about the situation show on his face. Anger was oozing out of every pore, then he stood up to his full height and slipped the tape off his wrists, his feet already loose. He leaned over the dealer, who was still seated on the chair and said in a conversational tone. "What if I told you that the papers were right, and I am this Hood guy? What if I told you that those five years where I was gone turned me into a cold blooded killer? What if I told you that if I found you or anybody else dealing drugs or anything else in my club, that I would make sure that every single one of you would end up in an early grave?" With every word that he spoke he leaned closer and closer to the dealer, his voice going from genial and conversational to downright threatening and menacing, the drugs in his system making him more talkative than he normally would have been.
While Oliver was threatening him the dealer started to panic and was shaking so badly that he accidentally pulled the trigger on his gun. The bullet merely creased Oliver's leg and caused him to stagger and lean against the table, but it scared the dealer so badly that he let out a scream worthy of a teenage girl and he lost control of his bladder. While Oliver was regaining his balance, the man took the opportunity and ran out of the club urine dripping down his leg.
Slow clapping came from the doorway and Diggle stepped out of the shadows of the room and into the light. "I think that you just put the fear of God into him."
Oliver growled at Dig and then looked down at his leg where he could see that blood was dripping down it and soaking into the carpet. "I just hope that I put the fear of the Hood into him instead." He tried putting weight on his leg and winced when the bullet crease sent jolts of pain through his calf and the Earth did a strange whirl.
Dig slid his arm under Oliver's taking some of his weight, "Let's get downstairs and give Sara a call."
"I think all I need is…" Oliver started to say.
"If you say those herbs and some water, I'm going to push you down those steps myself," Dig said cooly, cutting off whatever Oliver had been about to say.
"Fine, call Sara."
When they reached the bottom of the steps and Oliver was seated on the chair, Dig looked at him. "Good job man." Oliver quirked a questioning eyebrow at him. "You didn't kill him."
***ARROW***
Felicity massaged her forehead in hopes that the massive headache that was building behind her eyes would just go away. So much had happened in the past few months that she was having a hard time wrapping her head around it. Walter had disappeared around New Years, and then Oliver's club had been burned down. Thea had gotten into an accident and had been arrested for drug possession, and Oliver had given her yet another ridiculous story to ask for her help, but he was doing much better by being present for Olivia, most of the time. Which was what had led her up to this moment. She knew that he was involved in something dangerous, but all of her instincts were telling her that whatever it was that he was involved in, he was on the side of greater good, which was why she was about to knock on his bedroom door to speak with him after they put Olivia to bed. Taking a deep breath she knocked on his door, half hoping that he had already pulled his normal disappearing act. Instead, he called out, "Come in."
Opening his door Felicity slipped in and turning from his desk and seeing the look on her face Oliver frowned and asked, "Is everything okay?"
"Yes," she paused, "no. I don't even know anymore." Felicity walked over to where he was sitting and took a seat on his tidy bed, directly across from him. "Can I trust you?" He frowned, she elaborated, "You've had me look up some pretty weird things and given me some really pathetic excuses, and even with all of that I have trusted you with the life of my daughter. So, I need to know. Can I trust you?"
Understanding where she was coming from he looked her straight in the eye and said firmly, "Yes."
Felicity sighed, "I thought so, but I needed to know for sure." She hesitated before she reached into her pocket and pulled out the book that Walter had given her. Handing it to Oliver she said, "Walter gave me this and had me looking into all of the names on that list right before he disappeared."
"Did he say where he got it from?" Oliver asked as he flipped through it, his expression not giving anything away.
"Here, from your mom." Oliver's head up shot up and a surprised look crossed his face. "He also had me looking into your mom and what she was doing right before he disappeared and I have to say, I'm worried."
"Thank you for trusting me with this Felicity." Oliver said, tucking the book into a pocket.
Felicity felt like a great burden had been lifted from her shoulders. She got up off of the bed, "you're welcome. Now I better go and get some sleep, tomorrow's a school day and your daughter gets cranky in the morning."
"Night." Oliver said, chuckling.
**ARROW**
Sighing, Felicity glanced at her watch; it was the one day a week where she had to work late, and she hated it. With Moira more involved in the company since Water was still gone, Thea doing community service at CNRI, and Oliver off doing whatever it is that Oliver snuck off to do that meant that Tommy was left babysitting Olivia. But she saw that she was finally done for the day and started gathering her things together to go home. As she headed to her car she was preoccupied by thoughts of food. Once she reached her car she planned on calling Tommy to see what had been served at the Mansion for dinner and then decide if she wanted to grab something else on the way or not.
Opening her car door, she tossed her purse in the passenger seat, started the engine, put it in reverse, and was about to back out when she heard a groan from the backseat. Startled she slammed on the brakes and looked into the back seat where she discovered the Hood laying against her daughters' car seat, blood seeping out of a wound in his shoulder. She couldn't help but gasp in her shock and was reaching for her phone to call for help when the Hood said with a groan, "I'm not going to hurt you, Felicity."
Her eyes got big; how on earth did he know her name?
She must have said the last part out loud because he reached up and pulled the hood back to reveal his face. To her shock she discovered that the Hood was the father of her child! "Oliver! Oh wow, everything about you just became so unbelievably clear!" The quick exits, the disappearances, the lame excuses, and so much more suddenly made sense. "Don't worry, I'll get you to the hospital."
Felicity started to turn around, but Oliver's gasping voice stopped her. "No, no hospital. Take me to the nightclub,"
She frowned. "Oliver, you don't need a construction worker, you need a doctor."
"Promise me that you'll take me there." Oliver said firmly.
"Fine! I promise!" She said as she jammed the car into reverse and quickly exited the parking garage.
"One last thing," Oliver said his voice growing faint. "Call Sara, she'll help."
Felicity looked back in the mirror to reassure him that she would but saw that his eyes were closed. She gulped back her nausea and panic and dialed Sara's number.
"Hey, wanna go get some drinks tonight? It's been too long." Came Sara's lisping voice over the car's Bluetooth connection.
"I need help, Oliver needs help I mean." Felicity said in a rush.
"Take a deep breath for me then tell me what's going on." Sara said calmly, immediately switching into nurse mode.
Following Sara's direction Felicity tried again, "Oliver's currently bleeding all over my backseat and Olivia's car seat. How do you even get bloodstains out of upholstery? Can you even get bloodstains out of upholstery? I'm taking him not to a hospital with all the pointy safety things, but to the soon to be nightclub because that where he insisted, I take him." Felicity was breathing heavily, on the verge of having a panic attack.
"Good, that's good, Felicity." Sara said soothingly. "I'm on my way and I'll meet you there, and I'll have Dig meet you at the front to help you bring him in, okay?"
Felicity nodded, but then realized that Sara couldn't see her do that, so she vocalized it, "Okay, meet Dig out front, help bring Oliver in."
"Good, I'll see you soon. Drive safe." Then Sara hung up.
Realizing that she probably wouldn't be home anytime soon, she called Tommy. Felicity was so thankful when his voicemail answered, and she hoped that Olivia didn't have him tied up somewhere. She left a voicemail trying to sound normal, "Hey, I hope you can stay with Livy until Moira or Thea can get home. There was a major attack on our system, and I have to stay here late until it's fixed. Thank you! If you can't get ahold of me, it's probably because I'm elbow deep in the servers." Then she disconnected. With her heart pounding, she finally saw the outline of the old factory building and pulled in beside a vehicle that she recognized as Dig's and as promised he was waiting just outside the door.
Dig ran to Felicity's car and ripped open the back door. "I told him not to do this." Dig growled. He leaned in over his friend's motionless body and called his name, when Oliver didn't respond Dig took his knuckles and rubbed his sternum hard. Oliver moaned weakly and tried to move away.
"Why'd you do that?" Felicity cried hating to see Oliver in more pain.
Talking while he worked, Dig quickly grabbed Oliver in a fireman's carry and hustled them all back inside the club and down the steps to the lair with Felicity following quickly behind. "I wanted to make sure that he was still with us. The moaning is a good sign." He laid Oliver onto a stainless-steel table and rolled it back to the middle of the room, where the lighting was better.
"Grab that toolbox and move it over here." Dig commanded. Felicity hurried to follow his instructions while Dig pressed a large absorbent pad hard against Oliver's wound, trying to staunch the flow of blood. At the pressure on his wound Oliver moaned weakly and tried to move away from the pain. Once she had to toolbox close Dig instructed her, "Okay help me get this jacket off of him." Felicity unzipped the jacket and when Dig tipped Oliver over he groaned lowly and she slipped the jacket off of his lip arm. Switching places they preformed the same maneuver fully removing the jacket. While she laid the jacket aside Dig kept holding pressure on the wound. "In the second drawer, get out the cardiac leds and gloves then wheel the heart monitor over here."
Felicity opened the right drawer then froze, "Uhhhh, what's a cardiac led?"
"The sticker things that monitors his heart."
Seeing what he had described she grabbed the package several pairs of gloves and followed Dig's directions to get it hooked up. Then she pulled on a pair of gloves and passed the other pair to Diggle.
The door to the lair burst open again and Sara flew down the steps, "I may have broken a few traffic laws to get here. Talk to me Dig."
"A through and through in his upper left shoulder. He's losing a lot of blood and is currently unconscious but responsive to pain. I'm trying to stop the bleeding."
Sara looked over what had been assembled thus far, "Felicity come relieve John. I need you to press down on the wound as hard as you can. Do you understand?"
Felicity hurried over while Diggle stepped away. She placed her hands on the pad and pressed as hard as she could.
Sara turned her attention to Diggle, "Get an IV going. One of blood and another of ringers. I brought a sedative and some antibiotics. You know the doses?"
"Ten-four." Dig answered as he hurried to do as Sara asked.
Felicity frowned, "Why are we giving him a sedative?"
"Right now, he's unconscious due to blood loss and pain, but when we reverse those, he'll start waking up and that won't be good for anybody, least of all him. It's much easier on him and us to treat an unconscious patient." Sara explained as she gloved up and walked over to Felicity. "Hold this light while I examine the wound."
The three people worked at their assigned tasks quietly for a bit. "IV's in and I've pushed those meds," Dig said.
"Good, I need you to help me roll him so that way I can see the exit wound, so I know how bad it is." Sara said. She had Felicity hold the light again as she searched the area. "Okay, let's lay him back down." The three of them eased his body back onto the table. "First thing we need to do is get this bleeding under control, and then I'm going to debride the wound of any foreign bodies. Felicity you are doing a wonderful job with that light, keep holding it just the way you are. John, if you could get some gauze to help keep the blood out of my field of vision, that would be great."
Working together the three of them were able to get the bleeding stopped. "Now comes the fun part. We get to pick out all of the stuff that's not supposed to be there." Sara said sarcastically. "John in my bag there should be a flush container and once you grab it you'll be back on gauze duty." The three worked for another hour cleaning out the wound.
Once the wound was cleaned Sara sighed and took a step back stretching out the kinks that had formed in her back. The two others also took a second. "Normally I'd say let's give him some more antibiotics and we'll get it stitched in a couple of days. But it's Oliver, so I'm going to go ahead and stitch this up now. However, Felicity." Sara made sure that she had Felicity's attention. "You need to make sure that he takes the antibiotics that I'm going to give him."
Nodding, Felicity agreed.
"Alright let's get this bitch finished." As she was suturing the wound, she looked over at Felicity, "Haven't you ever wanted to play doctor with Ollie?"
"Not like this!" Felicity exclaimed. Then realizing what she had said she quickly backtracked, "Not that I've thought of undressing him and." Realizing what she was saying and that she was rambling again Felicity zipped her lips. Everybody had a good laugh at her disgruntled expression, making the atmosphere in the lair much more relaxed.
Once Sara was finished, she yawned. "Well, I have a shift in a few hours, and I desperately need some rest. Keep an eye on him, watch for fever and infection and let me know how it goes." Sara left a few things behind from her pack and was soon gone.
**ARROW**
"Well, I guess I didn't die, again. Cool." Were the first words Oliver said after he woke up. Dig resisted the urge to roll his eyes while Felicity reveled in the fact that she had helped to save his life. Dig helped Oliver to carefully sit up and handed him the mirror to see the damage that had been done to his body. "It's not bad. So how am I going to explain this one?"
"Hickey gone wrong?" Dig suggested, sarcastically. Oliver didn't look amused, and he pulled the blanket that Felicity had dropped over him during the night, more firmly around his shoulders. Sliding off the makeshift gurney he wobbled for a second before he slowly wandered over to where Felicity had been sitting while she upgraded his computer set up.
"I hope you don't mind? Your system looked like it was from the '80's and not the good part of the 80's like Madonna, and, well leg warmers. I really liked leg warmers." She didn't know why she was suddenly nervous. They freaking had a kid together and she had just been playing doctor with him.
He sat watching was she was doing for a bit and finally said, "That's a lot of work. Does that mean you're in?" He sounded hopeful. "I mean you're already an honorary member."
"So, Dig said, but, no," She hated to let him down, but she had been thinking about it the whole night as she set up the computer system, wandered the lair, and interrogated Dig about working with the vigilante.
With a bite to his voice Oliver asked, "So then why did you upgrade my system?"
She sighed, "First, because seeing a network that poorly set-up hurts me deep in my soul. Second, if I was to join the team, who would watch Livy? I want to help you find Walter. He's a good man, and a wonderful grandpa to Livy, the only one she has. So, I'll help you rescue him, but then that's it! I want to go back to my boring life of being an IT girl and mom to an exceptional little girl."
"Okay," Oliver nodded.
Felicity relaxed, "Okay, so where's the bathroom? I've had to go since we got here." As Oliver pointed the way Felicity quickly made her way up the stairs thinking that if she was going to be spending any amount of time here, they were going to need to install a bathroom downstairs. While she took care of business, she opened her phone and unsurprisingly she had a missed call from Tommy and several messages. The first message was just a thumbs up. Then there was a 'call me'. Then a longer message, 'Moira was attacked by the Hood tonight, she is shaken but is at the house. Livy is asleep with Thea watching her."
Finishing up and quickly washing her hands Felicity fairly ran down the steps, "Your mom was the one who shot you?" She demanded.
Oliver nodded then grimaced in pain as he moved his left arm while putting a shirt on. "Yeah, I was confronting her about Walter's disappearance."
"Wait! Moira is involved in Walter's disappearance?"
Oliver answered, "No."
The same time Dig answered, "Maybe."
"We can talk about this later." A flustered Felicity stated. "Livy's got to be at school in an hour, so I at least need to go back to the mansion. Oh, Frack! My backseat's covered in blood!"
"Thea, Mom, and Tommy, have all texted me, so I need to go there also." Oliver said, struggling to button up his shirt with his injured shoulder. Felicity strode over and batted Oliver's hands out of the way so she could take over the job.
Dig being the voice of reason said, "Here is what we're going to do. I'll drive you both back in the town car. We'll tell everybody that Oliver sent me to pick Felicity up after she spent all night working on the QC servers. Felicity, leave me your keys and I'll have the car detailed and back to you by tomorrow morning. Both of you take the day off and rest." He handed Oliver two orange pill bottles. "Sara left those for you. Take one of the pain killers now." At Oliver's stubborn look Dig added, "I didn't say please. You need to rest." Oliver opened his mouth. "I know you and pain, but seriously take the meds."
With a mulish look on his face Oliver dry swallowed one of the pain pills. Felicity gagged, "Ugh, I don't know how you do that." Then she let out a huge yawn. As a group they headed up the stairs and towards the door and to the car. "Do you think that you could call my supervisor, who really sucks as a supervisor by the way, and get me out of work for today?"
Oliver graced her with one of his smiles, "Of course." Once they were on the way to the house Oliver made the call. Pulling up to the mansion they saw a police car parked out front.
Taking a deep breath, they both exited the vehicle and went inside the house. Felicity pulled her coat tighter around herself hoping that any blood stains were covered up. Oliver went into the drawing room to talk to Detective Lance, his mom, and sister while Felicity quickly went up the stairs to change clothes and get Olivia ready for school.
While getting Olivia up, dressed, and fed, Felicity didn't have any time to think about what she had agreed to do to help Oliver and the events of last night. Walking out of the house she remembered that she had left her car at the club so that Dig could get it detailed. Thankfully Dig remembered and was waiting for them with the back door of the town-car open and Olivia's seat buckled in. "Mr. Dig!" Olivia shouted excitedly and ran for him, her unicorn backpack bumping with every step and her matching lunchbox clutched in her hand.
"Ms. Livy," Diggle responded, dropped to one knee for his hug.
She giggled into his shoulder. "I'm so glad that you're driving us today! Did you know that I'm going to a new school, and I have a new teacher?" She asked excitedly as she let go and clambered into the back seat buckling herself up and glaring at her mother when she tried to help.
"You'll have to tell me how to get there." Dig said from the front seat. "Or I just might get lost."
Olivia giggled again, "Just tell your phone and then she will tell us how to get there. Did you know that I am in Ken-ter-garten now? At my old school I was in Pre-K, but now I'm moved up."
Felicity was thankful that Olivia was thriving at her new school. The class sizes were smaller, and Olivia was keeping up with the more advanced assignments, so things seemed to be working out. She was just nervous about the first parent-teacher meetings that were coming up soon. After getting Olivia signed in at school and heading back to the mansion Felicity's eyes started closing of their own volition. The next thing that she knew Dig was telling her that they were there. She slowly climbed up to her room, kicked her shoes off, dropped her jacket somewhere on the floor and fell fully clothed into the soft bed. She was sound asleep within seconds.