Summary: Chloe is forced to work with the one member of the JL that doesn't see her worth. Will they be able to put there differences aside and trust one another? What happens when a man who has vowed to never get close to anyone again is forced to protect the one woman who can make him break that vow.

Chapter 1

It was going to be their first mission together. He was fighting hard against her coming with him. Preferring Dinah or Diana. Anyone but her. She tried not to be annoyed about it but it was hard. Old insecurities reared their head and she had exploded.

"I am the only one who can hack the system, so unless you want to cancel the mission you had better just deal!"

He turned his dark gaze away from Oliver and looked at her. "You're not the only one."

She sighed in frustration. "You're right. Victor can do it. I can just see the society pages now. 'Wayne arrives at Luthor's Charity ball with a MAN' "she turned and stormed away. It was hard not to stand there and fight but she was tired of it. It had been years since anyone else on the team had so openly questioned her qualifications. Sure she didn't have super powers like most but neither did he for that matter. No one questioned his ability to get the job done. She had thought she had moved past the this feeling of worthlessness. The tiny voice that told her she wasn't good enough, wasn't pretty enough, wasn't smart enough.

Somehow this man brought everything back to the surface. As she sat back down in front of her computer she fought against the urge to cry. She was stronger than this. She wouldn't let him get to her.

"He just doesn't know how awesome you are."

Chloe turned at the soft voice. "Dam it Ollie, this isn't my first day. I've been doing this since I was in pigtails."

"I know that professor. Give him time to see you."

"I shouldn't have to prove myself. He's the new guy. He should be the one bending over backwards trying to show me what he can do. Instead all of you cringe when he walks into a room. Christ! He even makes Clark nervous." She smiled slightly at that. Stupid big dumb alien was indestructible. She had asked him about it. Frustrated that he hadn't stood up for her the last time they had argued.

"I'm not sure. Something about his eyes." Clark had pretended a shiver went up his spine.

"You are such a girl." then he smiled at her and she forgot why she had been angry with her best friend.

She hadn't thought his eyes were cold. They reminded her of brandy. Warm and tempting with just the right amount of danger to make her pulse race. Which annoyed her even more. How dare he look so dam delicious when every word out of his mouth was like acid on her skin.

"You know I can do this. You know I'm not the same danger magnet I was 5 years ago. Hell I'm more seasoned than half the dam JLA!"

"Yeah which is what I told him after you stormed out."

"I didn't storm. I…" She turned in her chair she smiled up at him. "Okay maybe I stormed a little bit but he is so frustrating."

Oliver laughed again and Chloe tilted her head a bit. He had a look about him like he knew something she didn't. Come to think about it he had been giving her those looks since the first time this mission was brought up. "Well I'll be going now since you have a charity event to prepare for."

As he walked towards the door Chloe turned back to her computer. A tiny smile tugged at her lips. She would show him tonight. She was Watchtower! This mission was going to go off without a hitch and she was going to look fabulous.

Standing in front of her closet she was trying to decide what to wear. She was vain enough to know it had to be perfect. Like it or not she would be photographed and probably end up on the gossip pages. Such was the downfall to Bruce's life. Not that she wasn't used to it. She had already dealt with that aspect of life with a billionaire when she had assisted Oliver in the past.

Long since past the point where she refused Oliver's money she always kept a few dresses in her closet. Sometimes it seemed like just as many missions required her to wear an LBD as a ski mask.

She had just settled on a drop dead Carmen Marc Valvo gown she had picked up last time she was enjoying some retail therapy with Lois. It was a warm gold satin that clung to her every curve. The gorgeous beaded waist and the plunging neckline only added to it's appeal. It was nothing short or fabulous.

She was on her hands and knees digging for the perfect heels when she heard someone clear their throat. Backing out slowly with her prize in one hand she cursed under her breath. Of course it was him. She could just imagine how she looked. Worst of all was the tiny voice in her head that refused to let her be completely uncaring when it came to him. Why did it matter if he saw her looking less than professional?

"Can I help you with something?" She stood up and tried to smooth the wrinkles out of her skirt before tossing the shoes in the tables. "If you've come to question my skills again I'm really not in the mood. Can we just skip ahead to the part where you say you don't want me on the mission and I tell you tough?"

He stood there silent and still. She fought the urge to continuing talking to fill the space and forced herself to remain calm. Lifting one eyebrow questioning she waited.

"I think we should talk about tonight."

She signed heavily. He was exhausting. Like a broken record. She really didn't want to argue with him again. "Please, Let's not."

"I'll pick you up at 8." He waited another breath before turning and leaving. Chloe let her shoulders slump. Tonight was going to be a test or her acting ability. Not that she hadn't played the role of arm candy before but this time not only did she have to keep her mouth shut about her own thoughts but she would be forced to listen to Bruce talk all night. It wasn't going to be easy.

Story is going to be about 5 chapters and it's almost finished. I'm hoping to have the whole thing posted by the end of the week.

As always reviews are WELCOME.