Author Note: All comments and reviews are appreciated.
Chloe rummaged through her purse as the elevator doors opened. She really needed to take a moment to clean the thing out, she could never find what she needed when she needed it.
Stepping into Oliver's apartment, she felt a surge of triumph as her fingers found their target. Taking a few steps into the room her feet came to a sudden halt.
"Oh!" Chloe froze and the scene in front of her. She stood there for several seconds, her brain trying to catch up to her eyes.
The image of Oliver in just his underwear, kissing an equally naked woman would forever be burned into her retinas.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Chloe quickly turned around and faced the open elevator. At least he wouldn't see the blush that had crept across her cheeks.
"Chloe? What's the matter?" Chloe could hear the quick scramble for clothes, but she didn't dare turn around. She pulled the flash drive from her purse and held it out.
"I was just going to leave this in your office for you, for when you got back. It needs your attention within the next twenty four hours. I didn't think you would be back yet with company."
It was a complete lie. She had been hoping to find him alone, so she could go through the material on the drive with him; and for other selfish reasons.
Oliver never made her feel like an idiot. If anything she felt more like a woman when she was around him.
She could just kick herself for believing that his flirting had anything to do with attraction. It was simply who he was.
"I'll call you in the morning. Enjoy the rest of your evening." She placed the drive on the table near the elevator, and quickly stepped inside.
She hit the button, and only allowed herself to turn around once she heard the doors close.
"Argh!" She growled. "How could I be so stupid?"
After everything she had been through, no matter how much she thought she had grown up and matured, she was still that stupid girl, so starved of love, that she gave her heart to the first person who showed her a little attention.
Maybe she should have listened to her father, and gone to those therapy sessions when her mother left. Perhaps then she wouldn't be making the same mistakes over and over.
It was certainly an idea she should look into. It wasn't as if she had many friends who would lend an ear to her these days. Clark was swept up in his own world, Pete was long gone and rarely replied to her emails any more, and Lois? She already knew Oliver's Green Arrow identity, and she would sniff out Chloe's secret life if she dared to divulge too much. She knew the people involved, and would feel that it was her duty to interfere, and protect her younger cousin.
Nope, help wasn't to be found in her contacts list.
Two hours later, Chloe was back safe and sound in her apartment. Lois was nowhere to be seen, and she could only be grateful for the peace and quiet.
She immediately walked to her laptop on the kitchen counter, and switched it on. Within two minutes she pulled up a list of therapists within the Metropolis area. Luckily, she had the cash. It wasn't as if she had the social life to spend money anymore.
It was amazing just how many times her mind had drifted back to Oliver. It wasn't a rare thing to see him without a shirt; the man wasn't shy about his body. He had no reason to be! But to see him in a sexual situation, using all of that strength to hold another body close, instead of beating down bad guys, was distracting.
That Star City tan seemed to be flawless. There were no tan lines that she had seen. It wouldn't surprise her if he sat in the sun naked. It would play up to his old reputation at the very least.
Chloe would give anything to feel a pair of strong arms wrap around her, holding her close to a warm, hard body. Being close enough to smell his aftershave, and for him to run his fingers through her hair, before kissing that sensitive spot just below her ear. She could imagine Oliver's rough fingertips gently travelling across her skin, slowly removing her clothing, piece by piece...
A sharp knock at the door snapped her from her thoughts. It was for the best really. It would only hurt her in the long run thinking such stupid things.
Chloe got up to look at her visitor through the peephole in the door. The sight of her unwelcomed visitor fought a small smile to her lips. She opened the door and welcomed him with a genuine smile.
"Bart!"
Before she could blink, he grabbed her in his arms and spun her around several times, making her dizzy.
"You didn't call me, 'licious. I was worried!"
"Everything's fine."
"I'm sorry I had to leave the drive and run, but I was halfway through a mission."
"You could have emailed it to me, or Oliver." She chided. At least Bart had had the foresight to hide the drive in her apartment, away from prying eyes.
"I know, but I wanted the opportunity to say hi." Bart gently set her on the ground, and shut the door.
"Which you didn't." She reminded him.
"That's why I'm here now. Hi!"
Chloe rolled her eyes and laughed. "Do you want something to drink? All I have to eat is leftover pizza and half a packet of cookies."
"Sounds good to me."
Chloe switched on the coffee pot, before reaching into the refrigerator and pulling out the leftover pizza and two cans of coke.
Bart opened one of the cans, gulping the contents down before Chloe had even put the pizza into the microwave to reheat.
"It's okay, Chlo, I'll eat it cold."
"That hungry?"
"You wouldn't believe. I've been running non-stop today. I couldn't even stop for lunch." Bart opened the second can while Chloe pushed the cookie jar in front of him. It was a rare thing for Impulse to skip a meal.
"Do you want me to order something in?"
Conflict crossed his face. "I don't want to be a pain."
"It's not a problem. I went straight from Isis to Oliver's, and I haven't eaten anything since breakfast."
"Bossman didn't feed you?" Bart frowned.
"It was a flying visit. I doubt he's even looked at the file yet." An image of him kissing that leggy brunette again flashed through her mind. "He had company."
"The business kind or personal?" Bart asked.
"Oh, it was definitely personal. So personal, I turned tail and ran without looking back." She could feel the heat returning to her cheeks as the embarrassment came back to her.
"Ah, so that's why he didn't get back to me. "
"He'll probably be occupied for the rest of the evening." Chloe tried for nonchalant as she searched for the take out menus.
"I would have thought he would have at least spoken to you. The mission normally comes first with Ollie, y'know?" A confused looking Bart said around a mouthful of cold pizza.
Chloe simply shrugged and began to pour herself a coffee. She was only a search engine for heroes, a sidekick at best. Who was she to interrupt their lives at a drop of a hat?
"Chloe? Are you okay?"
Chloe turned to Bart, who was watching her carefully.
"Of course I am. Just tired. The commute from the city to Smallville is a killer."
Bart remained unusually quiet for a couple of minutes, just watching her, studying her. It was starting to make her feel uncomfortable.
"So what do you fancy? This pizza has put me in the mood for Chinese." Bart said suddenly, looking at the empty pizza box with distaste.
The quick turn from scrutiny to discussing food surprised Chloe.
"I could go for Chinese." She said, sliding the menus across to her guest.
"Have I mentioned how much I love having you on the team?"
"Is that because I live above a coffee shop full of cookies and muffins?" She asked with an amused smile.
"A beautiful woman who is willing to feed me, and open the door to me at night? What's not to love."
Chloe shook her head. "No need to throw on the charm, I'm already buying."
"Nah, this one's on me, senorita. I finally have some green of my own, now I'm on Ollie's payroll." Bart said pulling out his wallet. "And I wasn't kidding. You know I think you're beautiful."
He did actually look serious as he flicked through the menu. She liked Bart, a lot. He had asked her out back before she knew about his power, and she had turned him down. Life would have been easier if she could have fallen for Bart Allen instead. He would never abandon her, and would give her his full attention. In Chloe's opinion, the woman who eventually grabbed the young hero was going to be one lucky woman.
"What would you like?" Bart asked.
"Lemon chicken with mixed vegetables, please." She could at least pretend that she was eating something healthy with the added broccoli.
Bart whizzed over to Chloe's phone and placed the order.
Chloe settled over onto her couch, finding a note from Lois on the coffee table telling her she would be out until the early hours. Happy at not having to explain Bart's appearance to her cousin, Chloe switched on the television.
"Chloe, what's this?" Bart said, standing in front of her laptop.
"Oh, nothing. Just something Lois wanted me to check out."
"Lists of therapists? I know Clark's always said your cousin was crazy, but I didn't think he really meant it."
Chloe got up from her comfortable position and closed her laptop. "It's nothing to worry about. She's working on a story and wanted my help."
Bart looked at her curiously and then shrugged. "Come on, I think there's a Supernatural marathon on."
"I think our lives are spooky enough."
"You think our lives our tough? Watch these guys." Bart pulled her by the hand to the couch and switched the t.v. channel. "I promise you, it's awesome."
A hundred dollar's worth of chinese food and four episodes later, Chloe felt herself fighting her eyes.
"I think I have to call it quits for the night."
"Would you mind if I stay on your couch? I could run home in two minutes, but I think my pants might split if I move. That, and I need to see bossman in the morning." Bart patted his stomach, which really was rounder than it had been.
"Sure, no problem."
Chloe got up and grabbed a spare pillow and blanket from the closet and passed them to her friend. She then made her way to the bathroom to wash her face and get ready for bed.
When she finished brushing her teeth, she stared at her reflection. She looked tired and haggard. No wonder Oliver would prefer the company of that beautiful woman. Even Jimmy was out there somewhere now, flirting with Clark's gorgeous cousin. She put on her shorts and tank top, and piled her dirty laundry into the basket.
Stepping quietly out of the bathroom, she noticed that Bart was already unconscious on the couch, softly snoring. He hadn't even picked up the pillow and blanket. His sneakers were beside the coffee table, and his hoodie was haphazardly thrown over the back of the couch.
Leaving the pillow near his head, she hoped he would find it in the night. Gently, she laid the blanket over him, trying not to disturb him.
His company was unexpected, but much welcomed tonight. Who knew what kind of depressed downward spiral she would have thought herself into without Bart's cheerful presence. Her old friends might have abandoned her, but she needed to remember that she had new friends too, and a team.
Turning off the lamp in the room, she left him to sleep.
Crawling into bed, all Chloe could think of was how she complicated her own life. She should enjoy the simple pleasures in life, and let it just happen. She had family and friends who cared. If she was meant to find love, it would happen one day, and without having to search for it.