Three

Chapter 8 - Three

Chapter 8 - Three 

AN - I believe this brings this one to a close! Again, many thanks for playing with me!  

Disclaimer: No change here as I have no legal claim to CW's Arrow! 

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"They've made their choice to fight each day. They've made their choice to stay together each day." 

The women stared at one another for a long moment. Both slightly outside of Team Arrow and yet intimately connected to them too. 

"You will have to make your own choice Thea." Lyla paused for just a moment before choosing to enter the room and take her place beside John. 

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More days passed with little change as Oliver continued to remain unresponsive even though the last of the herbs had been used and his body was clear of the healing paste. Team Arrow continued to split their time between locations as they still helped protect Starling City and yet they stayed as close as possible to their partner. Thea had also split her time as she wanted to be near her brother but she was having difficulty making the same choice that those surrounding him had made. She did continue to allow blood tests though as she found that she needed answers for herself.  

As Barry and his team had requested assistance and Thea hadn't yet returned only Felicity remained in Oliver's room. She had listened to the comms and kept her tablet up and running during the mission even as she had kept a watchful eye on the machines that monitored Oliver. The room was now quiet as she stared out the window into the night. 

"Three." 

Oliver's voice was guttural, rusty but Felicity heard him and almost broke down at the welcome sound. She instinctively moved to his side and hugged him joyously but, at his sharp inhale of pain, she quickly leaned back so that she wouldn't hurt him. Tears did well in her eyes then as she met his eyes and saw that they were clear of pain and confusion. It was the first time Oliver had truly seemed aware since they had found him...since he had left her and sacrificed himself to protect Thea and to save Starling City by battling Ra's al Ghul alone. Felicity's wide smile trembled slightly and her breath caught as she stared happily at her partner.  

She had first thought that Oliver had killed so she had rejoiced when they had found him alive. That joy had quickly become painful torture though as it seemed like she was going to be forced to watch him die before her very eyes. Looking at him now with his eyes open and aware was nothing short of a miracle. 

"Three." Oliver repeated as he returned Felicity's gaze. He had awoken by degrees and was surprised that there were neither sharp icy pinpricks nor any overwhelmingly hot flames of pain to torture him. As his eyes had opened and he had finally seen the real Felicity instead of his dream version he had forced the single word from his mouth with difficulty. He tried to speak once more but the woman he loved cut him off again by lightly pressing her lips to his. 

"Three." Oliver repeated for the third time once Felicity had pulled back. He wanted to kiss her again but his body didn't seem to be under his command. Frowning, he noted that the lingering pain was barely discernible but that his arms didn't reach for her as he wanted them to do. Felicity speaking brought his focus to her. 

"What?" Felicity didn't understand why he kept saying the word but then she realized that she didn't care. He was alive and that was all that mattered. "Let me get Caitlyn and Dr. Wells in here to check you." 

"Felicity." Oliver couldn't let her go so he said her name and watched as she turned back to him. Just like in his dreams, there were tears in her eyes. Movement caught his eye and he focused on the door. Just like in his dreams, he saw Diggle smile as he placed an arm around Lyla and held baby Sara. Just like in his dreams, he saw Roy's grin even as he noticed in surprise that the younger man was positioned next to Thea. Just behind them he also spotted Barry, Cisco, Caitlyn and Dr. Wells. All were smiling in various degrees of relief and concern. Despite the presence of so many, including his own sister, Oliver ignored them to look at Felicity when he spoke again.