Author Note: I have no Betas so all mistakes are entirely my own. All comments and reviews are appreciated - they are like crack to me!
I know amnesia stories have been done before, and characters have been in similar positions. I've yet to come across one that his Oliver in this kind of situation yet. Tess is also still with Checkmate and not on their hit list.
Chloe practically flew through the doors at Metropolis General Hospital and headed straight towards Oliver's room. Clark had let her know what room he was in as she made her way from Watchtower.
'He's alive, that's the main thing. He's going to be okay. He's always okay.' She had been repeating the thought to herself like a mantra on her journey over. She mentally kicked herself for allowing this to happen.
'Why couldn't you be like a normal girlfriend? Lana would have stomped her feet and insisted he came home immediately and took her out like he promised.' She thought to herself.
She knew the reason she would never, could never, do that. He was a hero and she was his partner. It was what they did, saving the world one day at a time. That had been the beauty of their relationship, they both knew how important the work was and there was never any bitterness when it bled into their personal lives. An occupational hazard they both expected and respected - there never had to be any secrets or lies and that was why they worked.
"Clark!" She called out as he stepped out of one of the private rooms.
"Chloe!" As she reached him he pulled her into a hug. "What took you so long?"
"The traffic was unbelievable. It's like the whole of Metropolis knew I had to be here." She took of her coat "How is he? What happened?"
"It looks like one of them hit him with this." Clark produced a tiny dart from his pocket.
"A tranquiliser dart?"
"It's short acting. He's pretty tired but he's awake."
"But he's okay, right? You said he had a head injury."
"Yes. He must have hit his head as he fell. They've given him an MRI and they say there is no permanent physical injuries but…"
"But what?"
"He doesn't remember Chloe. It's like the past few years of his life never happened."
"Amnesia? So he doesn't even remember his… fancy dress activities?"
"He thinks it's about four months after he got off that island. He's taking it well after the doctors proved today's date with the newspaper. I took his costume and communicator back to Watchtower just in case."
"At least we won't be dealing with Oliver at his playboy worst. What are the doctors doing about it?"
"There isn't much they can do, all we can do is hope his memory gradually comes back. We have to jog his memory."
She pinched the bridge of her nose. This was bad, but things could have been a lot worse.
"There's something else. He's asking for Tess Mercer." Clark was giving her 'the look'.
"I'm not a mind reader Clark, just tell me."
"He still thinks they're in a relationship."
Chloe shook her head. "Well this night just seems to be getting better." She took a deep breath "Okay, I need to see him. Maybe I can try to jog his memory before he makes a complete ass out of himself."
"I'll wait out here."
Chloe nodded her head before opening the door. Oliver was in the only bed within the room, a small white bandage on his forehead. How could one small knock do so much damage?
"Oliver?"
He opened his eyes to look at her and he greeted her with that wide smile that always caused the butterflies to rise in her stomach.
"A bit overdressed for a nurse aren't you? Not that I'm complaining."
"So you don't remember me either?"
"You're someone I should know?" He looked over her, taking in her appearance. She was definitely too dressed up for visiting hours. "Because I am sure I would remember you."
Chloe rolled her eyes. It seemed the Queen charm was innate, no memories required. "I take it Clark left me out while he tried to fill in the blanks?" She shrugged off her coat before taking a seat next to him. "I'm Chloe. Remember?"
" I'm sorry, I don't. We're friends?" Oliver rarely had female friends, for obvious reasons. Any friendship quickly ended shortly after he slept with them. But the way she was holding his hand, and the concern on her face…"Or maybe we're more than that?"
He was sure he was still in a relationship with Mercy, but that hadn't stopped his wandering eye from leading him astray. If what that tall guy Clark said was true that relationship was long over, and the blush forming on this woman's face was almost as good as an answer.
"Friends, colleagues…and the rest. I was on my way to meet you when I got the call." She released his hand and sat a little straighter. She pulled herself together before meeting his eyes. "We'll get this figured out. I'll speak to the doctors and see what we can do about getting your memory back. Is there anything I can get you from your apartment?"
"I have an apartment here in Metropolis?"
"You've been dividing your time between here and Star City for the last couple of years. You have an apartment at the Clock Tower in the city."
"And you have a key?" He raised his eyebrows. He had never given anyone free access to his homes before, not even Tess.
"No need to look so surprised Ollie, you may not remember but we trust each other. I can grab you your overnight bag for you but is there something else you need? Maybe I can bring you your laptop and see if there's something on there that can jog your memory?"
"That would be great. Thank you."
"It's no problem, Ollie. I'm going to let you get some rest, the doctors will probably be keeping you awake all night. While you're currently synaptically challenged you'll need this." She took out a scrap of paper and pen from her bag and began writing. "It's my cell number. If you need anything at any time you just call. I can be here in the blink of an eye."
"This has to be the most unusual way a girl has ever given me her number."
For a man who was knocked out cold and sustained a head injury less than an hour before, Chloe couldn't believe he was still able to pull out the famous smile and flirting eyes.
"You can save the flirting for the nurses Ollie. You know I'm virtually immune to that charm of yours." She put her coat back on before giving him a kiss on his cheek. "I'll come by first thing in the morning. Play your cards right and I may just bring you some breakfast."
"Immune to my charm?" The disbelief was evident on his face.
"Yes. Unless I choose not to be." She smiled at him before closing the door gently behind herself.
Clark was still waiting for her like he promised.
"How did it go?"
Chloe could feel the tears starting to well up in her eyes. The man she had been falling for didn't even recognise her.
After Clark had told her the doctors' diagnosis she knew that he wouldn't, but there had still been that small glimmer of hope that he would. She had wanted to believe that the man who had fallen for her would at least find her familiar.
Chloe tried to answer Clark but all she could was wave a hand in front of her face as the tears began to fall from her cheeks. Clark pulled her in for a hug and whispered encouragements into her ear.
They needed him back to how he was. She needed him back.
Oliver had always claimed she had saved him once before. Chloe was determined that she would do it again.
Tess had been pulled from an international conference call to speak to a doctor at Metropolis General hospital. She didn't know whether to laugh or feel sympathy for Oliver Queen. There was a time when she was so in love with him, she would have believed anything he told her. Since they had met on the island there was more trust between them than any other couple she had met. Then things had turned sour. He had betrayed her trust in the worse way.
But he didn't remember any of that now. The Oliver Queen sat in a hospital bed ten minutes away believed that they were still in that doomed relationship according to the doctor and was insisting on her presence.
Maybe this could all work to her advantage. She clicked on her intercom to her personal assistant. "Mary, have my car brought round to the front."
She had a lot to do before the end of the evening if this was to work.