"That Bitch!" Lois repeated Chloe's curse as she held her desk phone to her ear while shuffling her papers at the same time. Several colleagues turned to look at her with disgust only to be met with Lois' glare.

"I can't even begin to tell you all the things I imagine doing to her when I find her." Chloe said on the other side of the telephone conversation.

"Use my Christmas gift." Lois said referring to the extra strength mace she had bought Chloe as a stocking filler.

"I need to know if she's there at the Planet."

"No. She hasn't been here at all today. I'll give you a yell if she turns up." Lois paused for a moment "On second thoughts, you will probably hear her yelling if she turns up. I'm going to kick her ass."

"No! Don't say anything. If she's crazy enough to pull off what I think she's trying to do, then confronting her this early on might make things worse. She could hurt Oliver."

Lois huffed. "Fine! If that Lex-wannabe bitch swans in I'll give you the heads up. Just call me if there's anything I can do."

"Thanks Lo. Speak to you soon."

Chloe hung up and placed her cell back in her bag. She was in the elevator leading to Oliver's penthouse. She had let herself in many times before, however this time was the only time she did so with overwhelming feelings of nervousness.

Part of her wanted to find Oliver here safe and well at home, but the other part knew that wherever he was Tess was sure to be close by. Right now she had no doubt that Oliver would take Tess' word over hers no matter what she said.

As the elevator doors opened she realised that she wouldn't be finding him here anytime soon. She had only been in this apartment earlier on this morning, but it seemed as though Tess had wasted no time. Without investigating the living room Chloe could tell that someone else had been there. Drawers were left slightly open and his desk was not as tidy as Oliver normally left it.

Chloe walked purposefully to his bedroom and found that his wardrobe had been partially emptied and that the chest of drawers held nothing apart from the odd pair of socks.

She sighed from the small relief. If his clothes had been taken then Tess couldn't be planning to hurt him or turn him in to Checkmate. It also meant that a substantial part of Oliver's collection of leather belts had been taken too. Once Oliver had recommenced his life as a hero he had agreed to let Chloe keep her tracking devices for emergencies, and after being kidnapped as Green Arrow he had asked that she install one into each of his belts in case they came after him as Oliver Queen and not his alter ego.

He had given her the means to find him. Chloe smiled and started to walk from the apartment with the intention of heading to Watchtower.

There was a good chance that Tess had Oliver at the mansion but it wouldn't hurt to have confirmation, especially if she chose to move him. Oliver trusted Tess, it wouldn't be that hard for her to convince him to do as she asked.

She knew how to find him, all she needed was a plan to get Oliver home and help restore his memories.


Tess sat at her desk having finished her most recent telephone conversation. Everything was going according to plan and she could feel the confidence in her plan building. She knew that Oliver's memories would eventually return and that would just not do. The equipment she required was already in her possession - she had used it on Lois Lane to access her repressed memories. Doctors were now perfecting the technique to permanently erase memories with a lower risk of inducing a catatonic state. As his memories resurfaced she would escort him to the labs for the 'groundbreaking treatment' for amnesia and memory repression. All memories of his double life would be erased. Oliver would believe he had led the life of a playboy billionaire since his initial separation from her, and that he was truly happy with her now. She would have to take care of those that tried to interfere, already having her list of suspects.

She couldn't believe that fate had provided her with such an opportunity and she knew she was justified in her actions. Yes, she was selfish in that she could have Oliver to herself again, reliving a time when she was at her happiest. But she was also protecting Oliver. Without his memories he would forget all about being the Green Arrow, keeping him safely away Checkmate's radar and he would feel no need to take on the Kandorians. Queen Industries would also benefit from a full time CEO and pave the way for the company to bring the world into the twenty-first century.

Her actions would ensure the safety of Oliver Queen and at the same time give him the loving relationship and guidance he had been lacking. They could save the world together and make the future bright once again.

She smiled to herself and got up from her seat. It was time to have dinner with her beloved.


Oliver was sitting on the bed in Tess' bedroom. It was more than strange that she now lived in the home of Lex Luthor his old boarding school adversary. The story surrounding her rise to the head of his corporation was stranger. She had done it for him in the hope that one day Queen Industries and LuthorCorp would join to pave the way to a promising future.

He felt more comfortable now that he was wearing his own clothes. Aside from Tess they were the only things that had felt similar to him since waking up in hospital the previous night.

He had had time to think while taking his shower. He was trying to come to terms that he ran his business alongside Tess and that they were only recently thinking about taking their relationship public. His life seemed to be full but it felt as if he was missing something. Something important, that there was more to his life than being a CEO and doting boyfriend.

He began to pace the room. He was feeling twitchy and jittery like he needed to release these pent

up emotions. He looked at his hands and saw the calluses on his fingers. He had taken up archery as a means to survive on the island and he knew that it was a skill he had kept up with upon his return, hoping to put it to good use. Shooting arrows always cleared his mind and allowed him to relax.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

Oliver jerked from his daydream to find Tess leaning casually against the doorframe. Her hair was hanging loose and she was wearing a simple green dress.

"I'm just feeling out or sorts." He put his hands back in his pockets "Say, when you collected my things you didn't happen to find my archery gear did you?"

"Archery?"

"My bows and arrows. I used to practice all the time, remember?"

"Of course I remember Oliver, but you gave that hobby up years ago."

"I did?"

"You were in a car accident about four years ago and you injured your shoulder. You still have scars all over your body from all the cuts you received. Your arm never fully recovered enough to allow you to take up some of your old hobbies. I had to take those rock climbing lessons we planned together on my own. Don't you remember any of this?"

His arm felt fine. Physically he felt great. He swore he was in the best shape he had ever been in. Something just didn't feel right. "I don't remember any of it."

Tess walked towards him with an expression of sympathy. It's okay Oliver it will all return in time, you just have to trust me. You do trust me don't you?"

He had to let this go. She wouldn't mislead him on purpose - what would be the point?

"Of course I do."

"Come on." She smiled, slipping her hand in his and leading him into the hall. "Dinner is prepared. I thought we could eat it by the fire just like that time in Aspen?"

"Sounds great."


After eating their meal, Tess and Oliver sat cuddled together by the fire drinking the last of the wine. Despite the familiarity and enjoying the closeness with Tess, Oliver didn't feel quite right. No matter how comfortable he felt something was eating away in the back of his mind, never allowing him to relax completely.

"So Mercy, tell me about this Clark Kent. What's his game?"

"Money, power, who knows." Tess said, turning her neck to look at him. She was comfortable and enjoyed feeling his body heat at her back. "When I took over LuthorCorp I came across some files of Lex's. Clark Kent was a close friend of his for years going right back to when Clark was in high school in Smallville. Over the years Lex tried to use Clark's genuine and innocent appearance to infiltrate your social circle in the hopes of undercutting Queen Industries. Kent tried to integrate himself into your life when he was given a lucky opportunity. He has tried to use it to his advantage ever since."

"I think I'm a better judge of character than that."

"For all outward appearances there is no reason to doubt him. He even fooled me. He comes from an honest, well rounded family. His mother is even State Senator. Who would suspect?"

"But he betrayed that trust?"

"Clark was one of the reasons that Queen Industries lost the Star City Towers to LuthorCorp. You haven't trusted him since." Tess sipped her wine and turned back to the fire. She smiled to herself waiting for the inevitable follow up questions.

"You mention his 'circle of friends'. Is that something I should know about?"

Tess turned fully in his arms and stared up at his face. "Oliver, baby, do you really want to go into all of this now? You have had such a rough day, I don't want to burden you further with all of these heavy conversations."

"Please Tess, I want to know."

She sighed and sat up straight. "Kent is well connected, and thanks to Lex he had all resources he could ever need at his fingertips. There are two main associates of his with whom you should be concerned. Lois Lane and Chloe Sullivan."

'Chloe. That was the name of the woman at the hospital. Could they be the same person?' He thought to himself.

"Tell me about them. Who are they, what do they do, what do they look like?"

"Lois Lane has been a pain in the ass for many reasons. She is Clark Kent's lover but unfortunately she is not an idiot. She is a reporter at the Daily Planet and has an uncanny gift for sticking her nose where it doesn't belong. When Kent failed to get close to you Lois played on your weakness for beautiful women. I believe you dated her for around six months when you first began to branch Queen Industries into Metropolis. You never told me why you ended things. I always assumed you found out where her true loyalties lay."

"And Chloe?"

"A known associate of Kent's as well as Cousin to our dear Ms. Lane. She has a nasty habit of trying to hack our systems and sneaking into places she doesn't belong."

"Do I know her too?"

"I think you have met her on occasion. I think she is the brains behind the group that is where her danger lies. Lex removed her from her job at the Daily Planet to set her up as his personal little troublemaker."

"Should I be concerned that the local media is a breeding ground for industrial espionage?"

"No. All you should be concerned about is recovering your memory." Tess turned around and snuggled into Oliver's chest, his arms automatically embracing her. "I have some of the best doctors in the world working on a solution to your amnesia. LuthorCorp has had successful experiments in the past with memory retrieval. The doctors believe they can use their past research and adapt it to your circumstances."

"Are you sure it's a good idea? That it's safe I mean."

"The doctors at the hospital have no idea if your memories will even return. We know this science has been successful in the past. Don't you want to get your life back?"

"Of course I do."

"I only want the best for you, you know that."

Oliver kissed the top of her head and drew her in closer. "It's just frustrating. I don't mean to be questioning you every step of the way, it feels like a large piece of my life is missing and I'm scared of making mistakes."

"I'll tell you what, you get an early night and let me finish up some loose ends from work, then tomorrow we'll spend the day together and try to jog these memories the old fashioned way."

"That sounds like a plan." He gave her a swift kiss on the lips before getting to his feet and offering her a hand up.

"Don't be too long." He told her smiling as he left the room.

Tess couldn't help but smile back. Everything was going perfectly.