I'm genuienly sorry for the huge delay. I've written and re-written this chapter more times than I dare to count, but I'm just not happy with how it turned out. I always had this idea of how I want this story to end, but I just couldn't find the right way to get there. I'm still not satisfied, but I eventually gave up trying a different approach, because no matter how hard I tried it always somehow ended up the same. I can only hope you'll like it though.

Summary: Oliver doesn't know about superheros, secret societies, villains, who are after more than just his business until he gets caught in the middle. Meeting Chloe will offer both far more than they'd have ever expected.

This is AU set a few months after Chloe graduated from college.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. The characters used in here belong to The CW and DC Comics. No money is made from this, it's for entertainment only.

A very big hug to prophet87 for correcting my mistakes and for being the great beta that she is :)

Chloe couldn't exactly say what made her utter the words. She hadn't thought it through, and it just came out of nowhere - anything to buy them time.

She knew all too well that if they took Oliver away he'd end up in some torture room, either in this mansion or someplace worse. She would never see him again, and that thought scared her more than anything else she'd faced since this all began.

"Alright, Miss Sullivan – now let's talk, shall we?"

"Call your goons and tell them to bring Oliver back! I won't say a word until I see him back here!"

Chloe was surprised by the strength of her voice; inside she was trembling badly. She had to stay strong, and hope for that miracle she had prayed for earlier to happen. Oliver just needed a bit of time to recover some strength and then they'd find a way out of this hell. Together they could pull it off - she had to keep believing that.

'Together' - she had no idea where that had come from, or why her mind was taking her to places which had absolutely nothing to do with their current situation. 'Don't think about that now of all times, Chloe,' she said to herself - this really wasn't the moment to explore her recent heartbreak any further.

Lionel made no move to fulfil her demand.

"I think I made myself clear, Mr. Luthor. Call them back - now."

She saw something flicker in his eyes - admiration, pride even. "If I had a daughter, I wished she were like you," he admitted.

For just a fraction of a second Lionel granted himself the luxury of thinking about a particular rainy day when he had said goodbye to a little redhead. But as soon as the thought had appeared it was replaced by the cold shell that usually surrounded him. This wasn't the time for sentiment. He hadn't allowed himself such weakness before, and surely wasn't about to begin now.

With a curt nod, as if to put a mental full stop to any thoughts related to that theme, he walked over to his phone. Punching in a few keys he ordered his men back to his studio.

0-0-0-0-

Chloe sighed with relief. This was an important first step, and she knew she would work it out from here somehow. Chloe knew enough about Clark to feed Lionel parts of a story without exposing the young man and his special origins. She was a reporter, and words were what she did best - surely she could come up with a story to at least satisfy Lionel's hunger for power for as long as it would take them to find a way out?

"Have him released and order your men to stand back."

"Chloe, what ...?" Confusion was etched into Oliver's features at the turn of events.

Chloe shook her head - this wasn't the time for questions. She searched his eyes, silently willing him to trust her.

"You've got your wish granted, Miss Sullivan, although I don't really see why Mr. Queen has to be part of our little arrangement."

"See, that is exactly where we have different opinions. I think he deserves some kind of closure, and you can't deny him that. He won't live long enough to hold it against you - you've made that crystal-clear," stated Chloe in a matter of fact tone.

0-0-0-0-

If Lionel hadn't pointed his gun dangerously close to Oliver's temple, Chloe would have started with "once upon a time." The whole situation felt completely surreal to her. But this wasn't a fairy-tale, it was deathly serious; the sweat that was moistening her palms made that all too clear. In an attempt to wet her suddenly bone-dry mouth she swallowed a few times before beginning to talk. Her eyes were glued to Oliver, as if seeking strength from his presence. Softly she began to speak, all the while weighing options about the best possible way out in her mind.

"The key Lionel is searching for belongs to a spaceship, that ...", started Chloe, immediately interrupted by a burst of laughter from Oliver.

"A spaceship? Oh my god, really? This isn't sick, this is downright crazy," exclaimed Oliver. "You killed my parents for a spaceship?"

Lionel, seething with fury, pressed the gun deeper into Oliver's temple. "I don't see anything remotely funny here, Oliver", he hissed. His composure was completely stripped away now, but he just didn't care anymore. He was so close to finally getting the key – soon, very soon now, the Traveller would be under his control. He'd have more power than he had ever had in his life, more power than anyone could imagine. The world would be his - and then these two would be dead, finally wiped off the face of this earth for good.

Soon – very soon.

0-0-0-0-

There was a short knock on the door, followed by a mumbled "Mrs Kent is here to see you, Mr. Luthor. I told her you weren't to be disturbed, but she insists on seeing you."

This was it, the chance Chloe had been waiting for. Without thinking about the consequences she jumped forward, pushing the slightly distracted Lionel away from Oliver. The force generated was enough to make Lionel stumble, but he didn't fall, nor let go of the gun.

Gesticulating wildly with it, Lionel pulled the trigger, aiming in Oliver and Chloe's general direction, but not really caring where the bullet hit. He wasn't going to lose it, not when he'd come so close.

Oliver sensed the lethal danger, and pushed Chloe out of harm's way. Stumbling backwards she crashed into the nearby standing table, hitting her head hard. The sickening crack of the gunshot was the last sound she heard as she slumped into unconsciousness.

The bullet hit Oliver right below his left shoulder blade, embedding itself into the flesh. Crying out in pain he lunged for the gun, wrestling with Lionel for the upper hand.

Another shot rang out, making him fall to the ground.

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