Title: All's fair in love and war
Author: Dustmite
Pairing: Chlark (Eventually)
Spoilers: None
Disclaimers: If I owned the characters, there would be a lot more Chloe-loving and a lot less Lana-lusting.
Author's Notes: Takes place three months after the season finale. Both Chloe and Lana are alive. Lex has been released from police custody. The action in the first chapter takes place in Star City. Clark and Lana are together at the moment……

Enjoy!

Chloe pushed at Oliver gently, ushering him out of her bedroom "I'm fine Oliver" She licked her dry lips. "Really I am" She said in response to the skeptical look he gave her. Leaning against the doorframe she looked up at him with what she hoped was a convincing smile.

Oliver sighed, unsure. "I don't mind staying with you Chloe not if it makes you feel safer." He looked down at her, concern marring his handsome features.

Chloe breathed deeply, "I wish it were that simple Oliver." She moved closer to him, resting her head against his chest. The sound of his heartbeat beneath her ear was soothing. "I'm not scared of monsters that go bump in the dark" She continued in a low voice "I'm worried that I can't control my own body and I don't think anyone can protect me from that."

Oliver wrapped his arms around her, hugging her close. "We'll figure something out Chloe" He promised, his voice determined. "We will" He leaned back slightly so he could look her in the eye. "And you don't have to go through this alone, we're all here for you. All of us."

"I know" Chloe murmured gently into his chest. "I know and it means the world to me." She laughed softly. "My own team of superheroes. What more could a girl want?"

Oliver chuckled in response, hugging her tighter. "I meant what I said earlier Chloe, if you sleep easier with me close by then I'm only too happy to sleep on your couch."

Chloe shook her head. "No, I'll be fine" She repeated stubbornly. "The nightmares haves stopped. I've got to get back to normality."

Oliver sighed again but didn't argue. He didn't feel comfortable leaving her alone but he already knew that once Chloe made up her mind she rarely changed it.

Lost in their thoughts neither of them heard the footsteps walking towards them.

"Am I interrupting something" Clarks voice seemed very loud in the silence and they sprang apart. Chloe stepped out of the cradle of Oliver's arms as he turned and flashed Clark a bright smile "No, not at all, I couldn't sleep. Neither could Chloe" He explained.

Chloe inclined her head towards Clark. "And it looks like you're about to join our little insomniacs anonymous club."

Clark's smile didn't quite reach his eyes and he looked at them warily, eyes darting from Chloe to Oliver suspiciously before finally replying. "I've been counting the hours since I went to bed. I keep tossing and turning. I didn't want to wake Lana, I thought a drink might help." He nodded towards the kitchen to indicate where he was heading.

"I think I'll join you." Oliver said quickly "Chloe?" He raised an eyebrow in question.

Chloe shook her head. "No, I think I'll go to bed." She rubbed her eyes tiredly. "I think you finally wore me out with all your talk." She smiled up at Oliver.

"Hey!" Oliver pouted, feigning hurt. "Are you implying that I'm a bore?"

Chloe laughed. "Well……..if the cap fits" She said teasingly.

Clark shuffled uneasily at the exchange, clearing his throat loudly. For a moment there was an uncomfortable silence before Chloe spoke, slicing through the tension. "Well, goodnight guys." She said cheerily. "See you in the morning." She turned and closed her door behind her softly, leaving Clark and Oliver looking at each other awkwardly.

"Right," Oliver moved towards the kitchen, rubbing his hands together, "I'm going to have a coffee," He glanced behind his shoulder at Clark, "Do you want one?"

Clark followed him into the kitchen slowly. "Yeah I might as well. I don't think I'm going to get any sleep. I might catch up on some research."

Oliver nodded thoughtfully as he got the coffee ready. "Yeah, that was my plan too." He handed Clark a mug of coffee and took a sip of his own. "I've had some reports from the men I have watching Lex." He grimaced slightly. "I don't think we'll find anything but Lex might have slipped up somewhere. He's not been as careful as he should have lately."

"Good idea." Clark said distractedly, sitting down heavily at the breakfast bar. "Oliver" He began, his voice tight. "I don't know if I've thanked you for everything you've done lately." He met Oliver's gaze briefly. "It means a lot to me….you letting Lana hide out here…….. and then there's everything you've done for Chloe…He trailed off uncomfortably.

Oliver shrugged. "There's no need to thank me."

Clark gave him a small smile. "Yes there is." He took a sip of his coffee. "Lana's not safe in Smallville, not with Lex released from police custody and Chloe needs somewhere safe to heal. It means a lot to me."

"Like I said," Oliver joined him at the breakfast bar. "I'm glad to help."

Clark cleared his throat, clearly not finished. "I don't want you to take this the wrong but…" He spoke in a rush before pausing to fiddle with the handle of his mug "…Chloe's been through a lot and I don't want …." He paused again, choosing his words with care. "What I'm trying to say is that she's very vulnerable…

Oliver laughed wryly and set his mug down on the table with a loud bang. "You have nothing to worry about Clark" He arched an eyebrow "I told the truth when I said we were just talking in her bedroom."

Clark's cheeks coloured and he dropped his gaze. He shifted on his chair uncomfortably. "I…what I'm…" He stumbled over his words. "It's just that she's only recently broken up with Jimmie and with everything else that's been happening." He left the sentence unfinished, not meeting Oliver's eyes.

"I would never hurt Chloe." Oliver said calmly. "And I know you're just looking out for her but she is an adult Clark."

Clark's eyebrows shot up in surprise at the ambiguity of Oliver's reply. "So you guys are…..Chloe didn't mention anything."

Oliver held up a hand. "That's because there's nothing to say. There's nothing going on." He reassured Clark.

"But you'd like there to be." Clark pushed, ignoring Oliver's hesitance.

"No…not yet" Oliver said "But Chloe's a big girl Clark, She's old enough to make her own decisions." He ran a hand though his hair agitatedly "Can we change the subject?"

Clark let out the breath he'd been holding. "Your offended." He noted.

"No" Oliver shook his head. "We're on the same side" He looked at Clark defiantly. "I want to protect Chloe just as much as you do" He shrugged self-consciously, a smile lighting up his face and he said in a softer voice "She's become precious to me awfully quickly."

The gesture was so unlike Oliver that Clark could only stare for a moment. "Yeah." He finally conceded. "I don't think she realizes how much she affects other people" He looked down at his hands "I thought she was dead Oliver" He said so softly that Oliver had to strain to hear him. "I thought I'd lost her" His voice wavered "Sitting by her bedside waiting for her to wake up" He shook his head "I never want to go through that again."

"You won't have to" Oliver replied watching Clark carefully, noting the anguish on the other man's face.

Clark frowned. "How do you know that? I can protect her from most things but I can't save her from her power, from herself."

"No." Oliver said slowly. "But we know more about her power now, it's only activated when she holds a person near to death."

"There might be more to it." Clark argued.

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it." Oliver propped his legs up on the chair opposite him. "I know you're worried about her but we don't want to scare her. She already feels so helpless." He rubbed the back of his neck

Clark frowned, frustration lining his face. "She hasn't talked to me about it much." He admitted. "I don't know why she's holding back like that, she normally confides everything in me."

"Well, you've had a lot on you plate." Oliver gestured with his hands. "Between the zoners and Lana fleeing Lex, you've had you hands pretty full."

Clark bristled "I would make time for Chloe" He frowned again "Surely she knows that" He looked at Oliver questioningly, green eyes glittering "Doesn't she?"

"I'm sure she does" Oliver placated him. "But you can't save everyone Clark." He said pointedly "We're all here for her, it takes some of the pressure of you."

"I guess so." Clark sounded unconvinced.

"We just need time for things to settle down." Oliver said reasonably.

"I don't think things will settle down, there's still Lex to deal with."

"Lex." Oliver said, his voice steely. "I haven't forgotten about him." He reassured Clark. "When he least expects we'll bring him down and his army." Oliver glanced towards Chloe's bedroom unconsciously "He won't know what's hit him."

Clark leaned forward, resting his forearms on his thighs. "It won't be easy." He warned.

"I know." Oliver smiled humourlessly. "But something's are worth doing the hard way."

Clark nodded. "I still need to get Lois out of the way." He said. "Now that she know Chloe is safe here, she's even more determined to stop Lex. I don't want her caught in the cross-fire." He ran a hand over his face tiredly. "She almost died once already."

Oliver winced. "Well, technically speaking, she did die." He clenched his hand into a fist to stop it from trembling. "We need to get her somewhere safe."

"She won't listen to me, I've tried but you know how stubborn she is."

Oliver nodded thoughtfully. "I'll have a word with the editor at the inquisitor."

Clark raised his eyebrows in amusement. "You mean you'll send her on a wild goose chase."

Oliver smiled deviously, prompting a smile from Clark. "As far as Lois will be concerned, she'll be chasing the story of a lifetime."

Clark sighed in relief. "Well, with Lois safe and Lana and Chloe out here in Star City, there's nothing to stop us from going after Lex."

"No." Oliver agreed good-naturedly. " I think it's time Lex Luthor got a taste of justice."

Comments would be adored!!