Not How The Story Ends

[Oliver Queen]

"It's part of why I lovee yyouu..." Oliver paused for a moment . . . not that he was moving but, every other thought fled out of his mind as he focused on her words. He knew she had not meant to say them because while Felicity let things slip, that was something rather . . . big. It was her drifting state that had caused them and, Oliver had no idea how to react. He had known she had felt things, or at least there was some attraction -- mostly based off her little rambles here and there. But this, was not something he could say he had expected. Did that make him oblivious? Maybe he just didn't want to accept it. Because loving him was dangerous. Because anyone who loved him was in constant danger, such as now. And to say that it was not entirely mutual, would be a lie. He cared about her. A great deal. But he could not admit the words to himself or her or anyone. He had to remain in this state of denial and fight whatever feelings he felt for her.

He closed his eyes. Not because he was tired or getting ready to sleep, but to regain his composure, signs of frustration evident on his face. Under any other circumstance, if he was anyone else, he would have longed to hear those words from her. But it was now. And he was a vigilante. And had enemies that were extremely dangerous. This proved it. So no. He couldn't say the words back, even if he was certain she was sleeping. He could not let himself even think them, no matter how much he wanted to. Things would have be different when they returned. He knew that. He needed to make sacrifices because if it was a matter of her staying alive, or letting himself love her . . . he would pick the former. He couldn't be that selfish to let his heart have what it wanted. The last few times he had done that, people had gotten hurt . . . people had gotten killed.

He remained awake the entire night, on full alert. It semeed to be a night of minimal threat. The occasional rustle here and there but it was either some small wild life or the wind. They were safe, for tonight. He held her the entire time, making sure he didn't move so that he didn't disrupt her sleep. When he felt her stir in the morning, he lowered his head to see that she was awake, and released his hold around her so that she could stand and stretch. "Good morning," he greeted, deciding not to mention the words she said last night. When they were back in Starling, he would address things then. But right now, he needed to focus on keeping her safe and alive. He rose to his feet as well, stepping on the few lit ashes that was left of their fire. "How did you sleep?" He asked. He didn't feel or hear her wake up all night so he hoped that it meant she was in a restful slumber. But he just wanted to ask to be sure.

[Felicity Smoak]

Felicity smiled over at him, and tried to not look as sore as she felt from sleeping on the ground. It must have been hard for him too when he first got here. Only she hoped that they would not be here long enough for her to grow used to it like him. She happened to like her nice soft bed, and her thick blankets--her Queen sized bed.

"Better then expected." She told him, knowing it was true but only because he was there beside her. Kept her warm and safe. "Are you sure you do not need sleep? I could stay up and watch. I promise the watch all the areas." She wanted to help him in everyday but Oliver was stubborn sometimes and she knew that she had to kept offering in order for him to even begin thinking about it.

[Oliver Queen]

She asked if he needed sleep and the thought had not even crossed his mind. He would be alright for a while. "No," he answered, not about to let his guard slip and allow himself sleep. Besides, this wasn't the first sleepless night he had had. "We can go to the river to freshen up, and then keep moving." He would get some fruit for breakfast as well, since they needed to be on the move. If Slade's men were tracking him all night, it would only be a matter of time until they came to this area. He looked around to make sure they hadn't left anything they needed.

"Let's go," he said, walking outside the cave and waiting for her to join him before he went to the direction of the river. On the way he had done what he planned and picked some fruit so by the time they got to the river, he was able to wash it with water and then set it aside for Felicity. He then splashed water over his own face and took a few large gulps of it. When he had freshened up, he handed the fruit to Felicity. "If you need to do anything else, now would be the time." Aka, use the non existant ladies' room.

[Felicity Smoak]

She could tell by his actions, the way he held himself that the night must have been hard for him. He seemed distant and she could only assume it was from the stress of being here. So when he offered to let her go do anything she needed, Felicity tried to lighten the mood but sticking her tongue out at him. "Just keep and eye out for any monkeys."

The joke had not worked, not did any of the others she made on the way to the river. Splashing him lightly had not gotten too big of a reaction. So she sobered up for the rest of the afternoon until bed time. Nothing exciting had happened that day--thank goodness! They had gotten fruit to breakfast and Oliver fished for lunch which had turned out to be rather good! At bed time, they found a place thick in the woods that they could curl up in. Not a cave, but it kept them concealed. Once again she tried to talk him into letting her take part of the watch--even an hour! And once again he refused.

[Oliver Queen]

Oliver could tell that Felicity was trying to make him smile and while he would have otherwise done so, perhaps even teased her back a little, not now. He wasn't revealing the words she had said to him, but he also knew that they had changed a lot between them. Because he couldn't allow her to keep being near him. With that, and of course the fact that they were here and on the run didn't help anything. So he had to put as much of his attentions on that as he could. The day progressed relatively unevenetfully, which was a relief. The less excitement, the better. They managed to find a good spot for the night and as she offered to keep watch, he had rejected the offer and stayed awake for a second night to make sure no danger would befall them.

The next day went as the one before. They followed a similar routine: river, meals, and then a good place at night. What Oliver wasn't telling her was his growing concern for their uneventful days. Something didn't feel right. If Slade's men were looking for him, he should have encountered at least a couple more right now. Oliver didn't know what game they were playing, but he knew that with the less of them he saw, the more concerned he grew. Something didn't feel right at all. He remained awake again, this time, finding it slightly more difficult, but not impossible. He couldn't risk it. He couldn't risk them getting to Felicity and himself at night. He needed to stay awake. He only hoped that Diggle found a way to get to them soon, and that Oliver could find some way to communicate with him, because Diggle was undoubtedly searching for them both.

[Felicity Smoak]

The day following the night was long, and she had trouble keeping up with the pace sometimes, but every time he noticed he would adjust to help her. He did not however relax any around her, and take time to help her lighten the mood. Instead og trying more often she tried to give him time to adjust to island Oliver, assuming that was what was wrong. They had no more shared moments, no more intimate talks.

She missed them. The night was always spent at his side, and he always hugged her close to him but it felt more for warmth then closeness. The days that followed she bean to notice a real pattern building--one that said they might be here longer then just a few days. Nothing major came up, which meant whatever he is doing was keeping them away from the men. That was good! It meant he was better then them. She liked that thought. With luck Diggle would find them soon, and these men would face failure. They would fail this island!

[Oliver Queen]

Oliver wasn't sure how many days had passed. Maybe four? Maybe five? Possibly six? Could be more. He knew he was becoming delirious from the lack of sleep, and Felicity was getting more insistant with keeping watch. But . . . he couldn't let her. He had gotten through worse, he just needed to remind himself of that. If he stayed focused and channeled his attentions onto the right things, then he could stay awake. He had to. There was no alternative. He tried not to let his pace slow down, or let his fatigue be known to her. Though unfortunately, she knew him well. But Oliver was stubborn by nature. He wasn't going to admit that he was weakening. They needed to keep moving during the day and he needed to be alert at night. The night that came, they settled in a spot that gave them some concealment. Once again, Felicity told him she was going to keep watch but he shook his head and refused to let himself sleep. She eventually fell asleep and so Oliver no longer had to convince her not to stay awake. Now, he just needed to convince himself. Unfortunately, he didn't do a very good job because witohut even realizing it, he slipped into a sleep that he should not have. A sleep that would have dangerous repercussions.

Oliver had heard something that caused him to wake up and so when he opened his eyes, he saw legs. His eyes opened more and the first thing he saw was Felicity; a hand covering her mouth and a man keeping a firm grip on her. He leaped to his feet, but the man standing in front of him shoved the back of his large gun into Oliver's chest, sending him back to the ground. Oliver took the opportunity to look around. There were at least fifteen to twenty men. So this had been their plan. To group themselves and attack when he was weak. No. He couldn't accept that. He turned his head toward the man who was keeping hold of Felicity. The thoughts of what they would do to her in forms of torture was even motivation to make him stand on his feet again and punch the man in font of him across the face. The others were quick to react, waving their weapons and fists at him, but Oliver managed to dodge most of them, returning the favor but making sure he didn't miss. He pulled the daggers from his pocket and managed to stab some of the men, but he was still outmatched. That hardly meant he would admit defeat. Not when Felicity's life was at stake.

Unfortunately, he was not his usual self either. With the sleep deprivation, lack of weapons, being outnumbered, and . . . anything else that worked against him, he was well aware that this was not a battle he would win, though he kept trying. "Well this is boring," the man who had been standing in front of Oliver when he awoke, said. In one quick motion, he raised his gun, aimed toward Oliver and pulled the trigger. The impact of the bullet hitting Oliver's chest caused him to fly back to the ground. He felt everything spinning around him, and though he tried to raise his head, it was futile because his body -- and the bullet -- were winning. He had nothing left in him, and found himself saying Felicity's name under his breath. He felt his body turn still. One of the other men came up to him and put his head near his heart, and then placed two fingers at his neck. "He's dead." Those were the last words that Oliver heard as he let darkness consume him. He had failed. He had failed Felicity.

[Felicity Smoak]

Oliver was pushing himself too hard and she knew it. Unfortunately she didn't know how to make him see it himself to he could get some rest. Nothing she said would ever work, and even when she tried to stay up with him, she fell asleep. The days were too active for her not too, and she wasn't used to it. Or the warm days and cold nights with nothing but Oliver to keep her warm.

She was sleeping when it happened. One moment she was curled into his side, then something covered her lips. Felicity tried to scream, but the muffled sound didn't travel! Oliver awakened, and she he had fallen asleep from not doing do, so many nights. "NO!" She tried to scream as he fought. It almost even seemed like he might win. Might once aging rise up and take control of the impossible. Until one man shot him! At first she heard nothing over the screams, then she knew they belonged to her! 'He's dead.' One called as they pulled her away, and Felicity knew she was too.

They split up and traveled almost a day before they reached camp. She spent the night in the tent with her hands bound behind her. That day they ignored her. They seemed to be waiting for something. Was it Slade? Why wait to kill her?

That night one man came to let her to pee in the woods. One they were in a few feet she stepped behind a tree, and when finished made her move. It was one man. He thought her weak. Diggle had taught her. Oliver had shown her some moves. Be quick! Lifting a stick, she called for help. When the man turned around the tree she swung and then ran!

He didn't stay down but she had a head start. He fired his gun at her, and let out a scream before ducking--NO! Keep running! Tell the world who Slade Wilson is! Go into every computer and make him a wanted man!

Running more she could hear him catching up. It wasn't until she heard him say the F word that she looked. He tried to stop running but fell forward as an explosion rocked her back. Letting out a scream she fell back! Then got up to run. And run. And run. And run.

She found a hollow tree and crawled in. Stayed there, and didn't move all night.

It did however give her too much one to think. Oliver! Oh Oliver! He was gone and she had no idea how to survive! She wasn't even sure she wanted too. It was only the thought of telling his family and ruining Slade that kept her from giving up. Felicity didn't leave the tree all night but she also cried the whole time. She'd failed Oliver. Her fears of loosening him came true. He had been her one good thing, and now she wasn't sure how to keeping going. "Oliver," she whispered "I love you." The words she never had spoken to him, forever now unsaid.

[Oliver Queen]

When Oliver opened his eyes he was in an unfamiliar place, his hands chained to a bar at the roof of whatever tent type place he was being held prisoner. Well, this felt familiar. Last time he was like this, he had been tortured by Slade's former friend. Seemed the man learned from someone he had grown to hate. Ironic. Oliver attempted to pull the chains, but they were strong. That was no surprise. Slade knew what he was capable of. But he needed to get to Felicity. That was all he could think about right now. He needed to get to her and get her far away from these people. The more he moved however, the more he cringed from his wound. A painful reminder that he had been shot . . . but he wasn't dead. Another surprise. But he wasn't going to try to get himself killed until he freed Felicity from the captivity of these animals. Ignoring the pain it caused, he continued to struggle against the chains . . . that is until the man who had shot him entered. "Oh good. You're awake." That was hardly good for the man. Oliver was going to snap his neck and then make his getaway. He remained silent though, staring intensely at the man . . . a murderous look. The main was unphased, assuming that just because Oliver was chained, he was restrained. How wrong he was. Someone he cared about was in danger and they were underestimating his devotion to that person.

"Slade wants us to keep you alive until he gets here. That shouldn't be too hard. Try not to get yourself shot again though. We were almost unable to stop the bleeding." Oliver knew that. He could feel himself weak from the blood loss, but he didn't care. He didn't care about anything else right now, except Felicity. He wanted to wipe that smug grin off this man's face for he seemed to enjoy his gloating far too much. He was now standing in front of Oliver, about to say something else when one of the other men rushed in. "We just got word that the woman escaped." This peaked Oliver's interest. He looked at them both, desperately hoping that Felicity went far far, FAR away from these men. That Diggle would find her in time and take her back. That neither of them looked for him. That she didn't come back for him -- though he seemed to distinctly remember that the man had stated he died. Is that what Felicity thought? Now was not the time to think about it, she had escaped and she could get away from--

That was when he heard the scream and the explosion. His eyes slightly widened, hoping for the best but fearing the worst. Another man came into the tent. "She triggered a landmine. She's dead. We have confirmation." Oliver was unaware of anything else in this moment. He focused on those words words alone. She was dead. The man who seemed to be in charge over here, smiled at Oliver. "I'll give you a moment to grieve." He sounded sarcastic, but he left with the other two men, perhaps to see for himself. Oliver didn't care about their reason for leaving. He felt like he was suffocating, that he couldn't catch any air. He felt his entire body begin to tremble, blinking back the tears that threatened to form in his eyes. He closed his eyes, the man's words repeating over and over in his head. She was dead. She was dead. She was dead. Whether it was the adrenaline from this moment, or the pain of the news, Oliver let out an angry cry as he pulled down the chains, breaking them from the bar as the pieces it was attached to came crumbling to the ground.

But he didn't run. He didn't bother. Instead, he just fell to his knees and stayed there. He had failed her. Someone else he cared about was dead. Someone he loved was dead. Because of him. There was nothing that these men could do that would out do the pain he felt right now. He had thought he'd died on the island six years ago, but no, this was the moment where he felt truly dead. The sound had caused the men to rush back into the room. They weren't far but everything sounded so distant right now. "Restrain him!" One of them yelled. He felt two man grab him, taking hold of either of his arms, pulling him to his feet. Slade had won, because Oliver was done. He was done with all of this. He loved Thea, his mother, everyone left in his life back home . . . but he knew that as long as he lived, they would be in danger. So he was done fighting. This would be his grave, and this time, he would not return from the dead. He would just let himself die. And as he came to accept this decision, all he thought of was how he wished he had said those three words back to Felicity. How he had told her that he loved her, instead of trying to fight it. Until Slade came and finished off what was left of him, he knew he would dwell on this, so all he could do was say the words in his heart and mind. He would no longer let himself deny it. He accepted it, and hoped that they would be reunited soon, since not in this life, then the next. Though . . . he knew he deserved a far less kind fate.

[Felicity Smoak]

Oiver told her to keep moving His words from the first few days here spurs her toward. Live. Move. Run. So she did. Brokenly she kept moving the while day until she found a lake. It was Tue sight of the large metal submarine in the middle that made her pause. "Oliver, what happened on this island?" She asked him, but like Oliver in life, Oliver in death did not answer questions about the island.

She waited until dark to swim out too it, and once their it took her half an hour of treading water to find a way up. And two tries to actually get up. Once there she went in and found a place to hide.

The next morning she slowly explored. "What would Oliver do?" How would he survive? How would he stay alive? She found some old radios and began trying to wire them to work. She had to use ever battery and power source to get even one to work. Oliver would have liked this idea. She could see that expression now, the reluctant almost smile.

Turning it on she waited to hear someone talk. Nothing. It took her half an hour to tune it to a channel. What she hear sent her into a panic.

'--arrive in two days. Keep Queen alive until then. Keep reminding him the girl is dead. Slade wants him him to have a constant and detailed reminder.' "OLIVER!" Alive! He was alive! Everything burst inside of her! She laughed and cried at the same moment! HOPE! There was hope now! He was alive!

.....but not for long! She had to help him! But how?

She quickly gathered supplies. Made a plan.

Picking up the talkie part of the radio she paused a moment. Forcing herself to breathe she tried to imagine the arrow's voice and it's confidence. Sarah. Diggle. Yeah! Be Sarah.

Lifting the radio she spoke, "Bad news boys. I've just won the game. My help has arrived and if you don't give me Oliver Queen I will fire on your little camp, since your planning to kill him anyway. " it was almost 2 minutes before someone replied back. 'Your help? You don't have help'

"Where did the radio come from? I have help. His body guard and hired men are here! Ready to open fire! Bring Oliver to......" crap! Looking over the map she guessed the distance. "The waterfall a few miles south of you. If there is more than four of you we will open fire. If you do as we say, you live to deliver a message."

[Oliver Queen]

Oliver wasn't sure of the passage of time. Things had little meaning when one was awaiting death. He was given enough food to live, but he didn't bother eating. He had no appetite. He felt his spirit was broken and with that, there was no need for food. He would just sit there, hands and legs bound, and say nothing. There would always be at least three men keeping watch of him, though he did not look at them for a single moment. His gaze remained unfocused, staring into nothingness. His mind was working though, and how he wished it wasn't. For it was so much more painful to remember. One day came when things took a bit of a different turn. The man in charge came in and informed his 'guards' of something. "Get Queen ready. We're going for a walk." If Oliver cared more, he would have been curious. But he didn't care. The men raised him to his feet, unbinding his legs so that he could walk, but kept his hands tied in front of him. And as if they needed extra assurance, two of them each held an arm as they walked.

Before he was able to leave the tent type place, the man came back inside and put a bag over Oliver's head. That led Oliver to realize that they were not going to meet Slade. For if he was going to see him, then he would not be returning, and they were keeping the location of their camp a secret for a reason. So he was not on his way to his execution. Too bad. He mindlessly walked through the wooded area, unable to see anything of where he was going or coming from. He could sense things though and if he had a reason to fight right now, he would have made his escape. But again, there was no point for that anymore. Once again, unsure of the passage of time, they came to a halt. He could hear the 'leader' speak to someone. "We have what you asked for," he said. Was this some sort of bargain? That was when something hit Oliver . . . Diggle! He must have come here to save him. But, how? Why? Oliver suddenly realized he had some feeling in his heart left, when he began to acknowledge the onsetting pain of losing Diggle too. Another close friend; another person Oliver cared about. He shouldn't have come. It was more blood on Oliver's hand and he didn't know he had any feeling left to feel devestated all over again. "Now why don't you tell us why we should believe anything you said," he added. Oliver wanted to tell Diggle to run. To save himself while he could because . . . Oliver wasn't worth it.

[Felicity Smoak]

hey agreed and she wasted no time! She managed to find a pack to carry everything in. Everything but the gun she found. No bullets but that would not matter once it got wet. Everything she had would be wet, so everything she did would be a bluff! She just had to make it believable.

Just as she was leaving one room she froze, as something caught her eye. "No way." She grabbed it to, along with another pack of supplies. It took two trips to get everything to the mainland, and once there she drug the heavier one while carrying the other. Once to the water fall-picked because it was closer to her then them-she hid the one pack at the bottom and drug the the other to the top. There she pulled out the defective landmines and set them up with a coil connecting them. It would loom like if one went off they all would--but they wouldn't. They were soaked inside but no one new that. It also was set up so they wouldn't notice it until they were already within the circle.

She stood there, her back to the fall, with a gun in one hand and a grenade in the other. When the men came toward her she lifted both of them up and stayed there while they came into her circle. Oliver! Was that him? She knew it could be a trap but it was worth the risk--he was worth the risk. Same clothes, he still looked injured. One spoke, but another picked up on her trap. 'We've walked into a trap! Landmines!' They all noticed them then. The lead looked at her them. "Very impressive for a ghost." Yeah!

'I am assuming this was really just a bluff, Miss Smoak.' It was in so many more ways. "I graduated from M.I.T. at the top of my class and do know what it was in? I'll give you a hint, it wasn't sitting behind a desk and looking pretty!" She was smart too Damn it! "Now pull the bag off my friends head, and without injuring him, cut his ropes and let him walk to me--because either we all live, or we all die."

[Oliver Queen]

It wasn't until the other presnce spoke that Oliver instinctively stepped forward, though felt two hands pull him back. Was it . . . it couldn't be . . . could it? He recognized that voice though, and surely he hadn't gone that insane -- yet. When the man referred to her as 'Miss Smoak' that was when Oliver knwe for sure. He felt a burst of hope suddenly flood him, as quickly as the news of her death had devestated him. She was alive. But . . . she was also here. Why? Why hadn't she stayed far away?! What if he had her back now, only to lose her again? And . . . what was this plan she was talking of?! Oliver remained silent, wishing someone would take this damn sac off his head so that he could see her for himself, just to further prove that he was not imagining this entire scenario. She was giving them instructions and . . . well, Oliver had seen parts of this Felicity before, but never this full side of her. It made him proud and terrified for her all the same. What was her escape plan? These men had guns and -- he stopped right there. They were going to get out of here. But Oliver suddenly found his reason for fighting again. He had all the incentive and drive he needed.

One of the men pulled the sac off his head and pushed him forward, guns still aimed toward them. But Oliver wasn't looking at them right now. His gaze was fixated on Felicity. Seeing her alive, breathing, and in one piece. "We'll let you have the honor of untying him yourself," the man in charge said sarcastically. Oliver didn't care about his hands. Or that they could release fire at any moment. He eyes were just locked on her as he went closer to her, until he was standing in front of her. "You're alive," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. The moment however was broken when the man spoke again. "Now, what is your plan Miss Smoak? We are both armed, and we cannot let you walk out of here with our prisoner." Oliver slightly turned his head to the side but not fully back to look at him. He regained himself, the shock of her not fully gone, but for the moment, determination took over. His expression transformed from one of relief to one of sternness. "Untie me," he said in a low voice. However they got out of here, he would need his hands unnbound.

[Felicity Smoak]

They pulled the bag from his head, and her felt herself smile for a moment--forgetting she was supposed to be calm and in control. "Oliver." She said his name quietly, though surely he would read her lips. He came forward and his face was the best thing she had seen in years, in this moment this was so much better then anything else to have come before. His words told her that he had thought her dead. "I thought you were dead." She admitted to him as well.

Unbinding him meant putting the gun down. The leader spoke about wanting to know her plan. Time for the last step. Run like hell. Holding up the grenade she reminded them she had it. "I am going to put the gun down to do it, but if you open fire, I will let this go and we are all going to be blown to bits."

Since the gun was no use, she set it on the ground and used her free hand unbind him. "Just like the wolves." She whispered into his back, knowing he would know she meant they were going over the waterfall. Then she stepped to his side and took his hand in her's. "You remember that message I said I would let you live to deliver if you gave me Oliver back unharmed?" The one from the radio. She had planned to threaten Slade but now that Oliver was here, she couldn't.

"It's duck!" She through the grenade at them, and while they all jumped and ducked thinking everything was about to go off, she turned to the edge and jumped, letting Oliver's hand go as she did so she could hold her glasses and clear the edge.

[Oliver Queen]

Oliver was going to follow her lead since she seemed to have some sort of plan that would involve an escape from here. She was threatening them with the grenade and he wondered where she had found those functioning weapons from. Had Diggle come after all? No. He wouldn't let her come here on her own. She then told him that it was going to be just like the wolves, and he knew full well what that meant. So that was why she had selected this particular location. When she unbound his hands and took his hand in her own, he gave it a gentle squeeze. Then, she spoke a few more words before throwing the grenade, causing everyone to take cover while he and Felicity leaped over the waterfall. This was becoming a habit of there's but right now, it was their way and fastest way to escape. Because the men would not follow them down this way.

As before, they landed hard in the water and as before, he raised his head, immediately looking for Felicity. Seeing as how she was better prepared this time, it wasn't too hard to find her amidst the water. Despite the heavy water splashing, he could hear gunshots. The men were firing from above, and Oliver moved toward her, using his body as a shield as they swam to the shore, getting out of the men's reach. They could try to come down here the long way, but he and Felicity would be far gone by then. He helped lift her onto land, before doing the same, sitting on the edge and taking a moment to not only catch his breath, but look at her, the relief over her being alive spreading through his body once more.

[Felicity Smoak]

The fall was longer, and the impact was harder but this time she was at least more ready for it. Felicity came up coughing, and looked for Oliver, making sure that he had jumped too--while normally she would just have assumed, after thinking him dead she needed the visual aid to be sure. The men from above started firing, and she tried to swim faster. Once on shore, she looked at Oliver again. "They're probably just mad that none of the bombs or guns were real."

"Well, real but too water logged to work." She admitted leaving the water to run to where she had hid the bag of supplies. One of which was the last thing she had found on the submarine and was still VERY excited to show the alive Oliver! In the bag was also a few water canteens, some knives that looked dull, but maybe Oliver can sharpen it--and the prize was a bow. He would have to make his own arrows, but if they could do that then they would be set. Oliver never missed.

Pulling the bag onto her shoulder, she ran back to him and reached for his hand. "Where?" Where to run too? He knew the island better then her. Better then anyone. Being she had drug the bag from the submarine then men would know where she had been hiding. They could not go back.

[Oliver Queen]

The relief and joy over seeing her alive was quickly numbed by the shock over hearing her admit that none of the weapons were real. "Felicity!" He said, his voice not in a high volume, but the tone was serious and well . . . less than happy. "You took an enormous risk, threatening them with defective weapons. What if they had called your bluff?!" Oh no. Oliver was not happy at all. Things could have very easily gone against their favor up there. She had been banking on what, the men's stupidity?! That was a dangerous thing to anticipate. "You shouldn't have taken tht risk," he repeated, disapproving of her plan. Disapproving that she had taken the risk for him, just to save him. He shook his head as he watched her go to pick up a bag and could only imagine what was in it. She then reached for his hand and asked where they were going next.

"Give me the bag," he offered, his hand already on the strap to take it. It wasn't to see what was inside, but so that she didn't have to carry the extra weight. Seeing her extended hand, he felt his expression soften a little from the annoyed one he had upon hearing her revelation. How could he remain angry with her when he was just so grateful that she was alive. So he took her hand in his, deciding that they would talk about this later. Right now, they needed to take advantage of their position. "This way," he said as he began to head toward a place that was in the opposite location of where most things seemed to be situated. The camp was not far from here, since the distance he'd traveled to get to the waterfall had not been long.

[Felicity Smoak]

Oliver fussed at her for saving him. Felicity almost pulled her hand back but she was still so glad to see him, and for having that support back that she couldn't think of his hurtful words right now. Once they were done running, she was going to . . . yeah! Soon! She'd saved him with his actions! She'd cried when she lost him! She'd tried to live days without him knowing he'd been shot and killed for pushing himself too hard for too long--FOR HER! When she risked the same for him she was what, a fool?

He took the bag before she could demand she carry it, and if they were not being chased by men with guns she would have been stubborn! Instead she took his hand and ran with him, letting him lead them to wherever he thought would be safe. "There is water in bag, we don't have to stay near the rivers." Which would make them harder to find.

[Oliver Queen]

He wondered what the rest of the content of this bag was, but didn't want to stop right now to find out. They kept running, slowing down a bit, and then running again. It would be a few hours until they stopped for rest. Oliver had a destination in mind, and it was not too much further. Judging from the sky and dark clouds forming it was going to rain. Which, would work in their favor because it would hinder the men looking for them. He brought them to a halt so that they could stop for a bit.

"Here," he said, passing her the bag. "Drink some water before we continue., The next time we stop it'll be for the night." He didn't want to dig around her bag, though he continued to remain curious about what was in there. Instead, he just leaned against a tree, getting his version of rest, though remaining very aware of everything going on around them. He kept his gaze on her, thinking of all he had wanted to say when he thought she wa dead, but now unable to say any of it.

[Felicity Smoak]

Felicity ran with him for as long as she could, and managed to keep up though she was tired and hungry. The emotional strain from the past few days was hard on her since she wasn't used to thinking her friends were dead and she was on an island with a much a of strange men before. Oliver stopped them for water, and he just gave over the bag, before moving to lean on a tree.

Assuming ti was safe enough to stop, then it was safe enough to talk. Walking over to him she smacked his arm once, then twice then lifted her hands and made them do her grrr thing. "I thought you were dead! I watched them shot you! They told me you were dead so I ran and left you there! I spent days on my own scared and heart broken!" She smacked him a few times on the arms and chest away from his injury. "And the only thing that kept be going what thinking 'What would Oliver do?' and when I do it, you . . . . you . . . . "

She paused and looked at him for a moment trying to form words. "Guh, Oliver! I can't lose you! . . . Do you not see that? Your my friend, your my best friend."

[Oliver Queen]

Oliver continued to watch her as she approached him and then . . . started smacking him. His gaze fell to her hands as she smacked him on the arm, once, twice, and then began to speak words of clear frustration, and then smacked him some more. Her words did not fall on deaf ears though. He felt immensely guilty that she was left to endure this island alone. Had he known she was alive, he would have fought a lot harder to free himself. He would have come up with some sort of plan to get out of there. But he had felt defeated. And he had given up. Saying these things would not help anything thuogh. In fact, maybe saying nothing was best until she was done getting it out of her system. She had claimed that she would not have been able to survive on this island, like him, or like Sarah, but if she realized what she had done . . . how she had gotten him free from those men, then she would recognize that she was indeed a lot stronger than she gave herself credit for. As Oliver had suspected earlier.

She said she couldn't lose him. And the feeling was mutual. For he could not lose her either. "Felicity," he began to say, as he gently took hold of her wrists to stop her from smacking him any more. Not that it hurt, he just wanted to help her calm down. He silently looked at her for a few moments, before he pulled her toward him, and wrapped his arms around her in a hug. He closed his eyes, basking in the relief of her being alive, and here with him. "I thought I had lost you too," he whispered in a soft voice near her ear. The feeling had been unbearable, but unlike her, he couldn't just let the words flow out. He couldn't just speak about how he felt. He had to choose his words carefully most of the time, and especially with her. So all he could do now was hold her in a hug, and let whatever emotions she wanted to get out, come out. She had gotten the anger out of the system, if there was more, he was here to let her express them.

[Felicity Smoak]

Oliver pulled her into a hug and apart of her just wanted to keep smacking at him but the other part--the one that reacted--wrapped her arms around his middle and held him tightly, while burring her face into his chest and inhaling deeply. "I know. I over heard them, and that was how I knew you were alive."

She began explaining things so he would know where they had to avoid and why. "I got away and one of them chased but he stepped on a mine. I kept running and running, until I found this lake and a submarine in it. I got the radio working, and over heard parts of their plan. Slade wanted you broken before he got there."

Pulling back just enough to look at him, she lifted her hand to touch his face. "So I had to get out of there. The only thing I had on my side was outsmarting them. Everyone is so afraid of the island, and I used it against them." Her hand moved to rest over his injury but she didn't touch it. "I don't want to feel like that again. The thought of you dead . . . Are you alright?"

[Oliver Queen]

She seemed to be past the hitting him part -- at least for now -- and with her calm manner, further described the details of what had happened. She explained how she had escaped, and wondered if the men truly assumed she was dead or had just told him that. What he did know was that Slade wanted him broken. It was why Felicity was brought here in the first place. Slade was well aware that physical torture would not do anything; it was the emotional and psychological torture that could bring down an otherwise strong man. And that was what Slade wanted of Oliver. But he would not have it. Because Felicity was alive, and that was how it was going to remain.

She seemed to have thought out and planned her bluff rather well, and while Oliver still didn't like it, it had worked. He knew that was what he should be focusing on right now. "You won't," he assured her when she said she didn't want to feel like that again. Just like he didn't want to experience the belief that she had died again. Her words went on to inquire about his injury. The pain had been nothing compared to the pain of losing her. "I'm fine," he told her truthfully. "It's nothing," he further added, referring to the injury since he noticed her hand was near it. Nothing she needed to worry about right now.

"I don't like that you took such a huge risk, Felicity," he began to tell her, this time in a calmer voice because he didn't want to get her worked up, nor did he want to speak angrily or with annoyance to her. "It worked this time, but don't ever do anything like that again." Especially not for him. And because the next time she may not be so lucky. "And thank you," he added in a softer, sincere voice. Because she had saved his life, not by freeing him from the clutches of the men, but by existing. By surviving. She had saved him by surviving. Because when he saw that she was alive, he too was resurrected. Wanting to avoid saying any of that, he motioned to the bag. "What else is in there?" He asked, wondering what else she had brought from the submarine with her.

[Felicity Smoak]

His words helped ease her worry over his injury, and make her feel guilty for hitting him. "You make it really hard to stay made at you." She tried to joke, but her emotions were still high. "If you want me out of trouble, then you stay out of trouble. You'd always come for me. I'll always go for you . . . . the bright side is, you can't stop me . . . because you wont be here." She joked again, finding it a bit easier. "How about lets just not get caught again?"

He asked about the bag, and she took a few steps back from him, her face taking on a grin. "I found some empty canteens, and filled them with water so we could travel. I also found some rubber bands, for my hair, and some dull knives I thought you might know how to sharpen."

"I didn't find a hood," She told him pulling out the bow, and holding it up, before tossing it toward him. "But I figured we could make due." Oliver with a bow was nearly unstoppable, she hoped this made him feel more on control.

[Oliver Queen]

She was right. Oliver would always come for her. No matter what. He was only sorry he had taken so long. Though, he wished it was more one sided. He wished she wouldn't come for him. He had rather she stay somewhere safe. Yet, he couldn't deny that it was part of what made him feel so strongly for her: her loyalty and devotion. Her considerate nature. Once again, he had to fight saying the words that he had thought previously. He had regretted saying them when he'd thought it was too late, so why wasn't he saying them now? "Deal," he said instead, in agreement to her suggestion about not getting caught. Meaning, he would have to let her keep watch. Because he would not going to let his stubbornness in that aspect lead to their capture again.

She went on to explain that she found some canteens now filled with water, rubber bands, and knives. Perfect. All were necessary -- well, maybe except the rubber bands, but whatever she needed. He had lost the daggers he had collected before, but could easily sharpen the ones she had. Just when he thought it couldn't get better however, she held up a bow and passed it to him, teasing about not having a hood. He slowly reached out for it, taking a hold of the handle of it. For the first time since being here, and perhaps a while, a smile spread on his lips as he held the bow in his hand. A single object gave him so much hope. It was the most ideal weapon he could have wished for. Better than knives. Better than guns. Better than grenades. Better than anything else. He had his bow. He would make some arrows. And together, they would get off this island.

"It's perfect," he said, finally speaking through the awe and conceleaed excitement over having his weapon of choice in his hands. "Thank you," he said once again, slowly letting the smile fall though he could feel signs of it there. And he no longer cared. "You are just full of surprises today," he added, finding his mood lightening and easing a bit with this precious gift she had given him. He took one of the canteens of water, offering one to her, and taking a small sip from one of the others. He was no longer going to deprive himself of food, drink, or even sleep. They had a grand chance now. And he would not do anything foolish to jeapordize that. "Whenever you're ready, we should get moving." He didn't want to let go of the bow. Though he had no arrows, it just gave him a sense of security to have it near him.