'Help.'
Oliver yanked away his voice distorter to speed dial.
"Chloe, what's wrong?"
He could barely see her silhouette from his perch on the fire escape. Jesus.
"Oliver?"
Her voice was one note under a whisper. Imbecile, you scared her to death. "What do you need?"
"I didn't know who to call… I'm sorry."
"I gave you my number for a reason." He forced himself to sound calm. Matter-of-factly. A sound board. He felt anything but. "Where are you?"
"I'm downtown. I…"
Her voice shook and died. He saw her wrap both arms around her torso in the distance. Oliver swallowed guilt and focused on a plan. "Do you have a car?"
He could transform himself into Oliver Queen easily enough. Since he made an appearance at the mayor's event earlier, no one would question him being in the vicinity. But his closest way of transportation was the bike he pulled farther up in the alley before jumping on the fire escape. So picking her up was not an option.
"No. I can find… a cab? Oliver…"
He couldn't meet her at her own place. Damned it, think Oliver! "Good. Take a cab to Summer Plaza. Have it drop you at the Elysian Gardens. Their underground parking has a door connecting it to the Queen Tower. The access code is R15A. Go down one floor then to the end of the corridor. Down another two floors. You'll find another door. The code for that one is 0471O47. The elevator will take you to the penthouse. Can you remember all that?"
"Yes."
"Good. Do you want me to stay on the phone until you're in the cab?"
It would cut his reaction time to get to his place short, but he couldn't get to his bike until she left the alley anyhow.
"No… No, it's okay. I… Thanks. Oliver…"
"Don't mention it." Her petit frame wobbled. He was on his feet in an instant.
"Chloe? Chloe!"
Secret identities be damned. He had to get down here. His heart did its best to punch its way out of his chest.
"I'm all right. Just a little lightheaded. I'm all right." Chloe steadied herself with one hand on the wall. After a moment, she started to move toward the light. His breathing eased. "I'll see you in a few minutes, Chloe."
He cut the communications before he added something stupid. Like, "sorry my alter ego gave you the scare of your life".
Oliver rushed down the fire escape as soon as he saw her turn the corner on the alley into the bright lights of the main street. Grabbing his bike, he guided it toward the narrow passageway on the other side then sped toward his place. He stuck to dark streets, following her progress through the system connected to his bike. He got to the discreet entrance behind Queen Tower with only minutes to spare.
His back protested when he undressed in record time as he climbed to his apartment three steps at a time. Oliver threw the last of his gear in before he locked the paneled hiding the secret passageway. He was pulling on a pair of faded jeans when a chime alerted him someone was in the elevator. He glanced at the security monitor.
Oliver hadn't had a good look at her in the dark alley, but now, in the merciless light of the elevator, her image almost stopped his heart. Her deep blue jeans and black turtleneck emphasized how pale she was. Pale, so pale, and so very young.
The climb seemed to last forever. When finally the door swished open, Oliver opened his arms and she staggered into his embrace.
"I've got you."
Her vice-like grip around his waist plunged a white-hot knife into his back. It matched the one twisted in his heart. Oliver sucked in a breath while he let her cling to him. Soon, the blinding agony dulled to a now familiar ache. When he was sure he could step away without doubling in pain, he slid his hands from her back to her elbows, gently easing her off him.
"Come on."
Chloe followed him to the kitchen then dutifully sat on a stool while he busied himself with a kettle.
"You're not making coffee?"
Her pout was adorable. "It's nearly 3 a.m., Chloe. Besides, I don't have any."
The horrified grimace which painted on her face made him laugh. "I'll call for some in the morning. But for now, we'll have tea."
He stretched to grab two mugs. Chloe gasped in his back. "Oliver! Your back!"
Cool fingers grazed his spin when she lifted his tee-shirt. "What happened?"
Her hands skimmed over the bruise skin, soothing. He would lie if he said he didn't like it. Oliver concentrated on their tea while he sought a plausible explanation. Her touch was distracting. "Training partner forgot to pull his punches."
When he couldn't ignore the caress anymore, he turned gently, looping his hands over her wrists to still her movements. Her eyes gleamed with innocent concern.
"I have a doctor I trust on call. I want— I'd like him to examine you as well."
Her nails dug into his side, not in a good way. He overlooked the discomfort.
"I know PTSD when I see it, Chloe." Her mouth firmed into a forbidding line. Oliver insisted, "Tell me how I can help. Please."
He kept his hold light even as she took a step back, not releasing her gaze. Her pupils dilated to the point the irises were only a circle of green around the black. Her skin covered in goosebumps. Her pulse ran too fast under his thumb. Her breath shallowed. Sensing she was on the verge of another crisis, Oliver yanked her back to him without thinking.
Her heart beat a panicked staccato against his chest. Unsure how to help her, he pressed his cheek to the top of her head and concentrated on his own respiration. After a few moments, he felt her chest moved in sync with his own as she calmed down. Then the words came.
"My name is Chloe Sullivan. I grew up in Smallville in Kansas. When I was sixteen, I found documents that proved that Lionel Luthor orchestrated the murder of his parents to gain access to a group called Veritas. My testimony at the trial was supposed to sentence him to prison for life. In exchange, the FBI arranged for me and my father to enter their witness protection program. But Lionel pulled some strings and walked free and… It happened. I… I let everybody believe I died along my dad in the explosion and escaped. Lex helped me. We were… are… friends. Chloe Sullivan disappeared in Colorado. Dorothy Gale appeared in Munich. I lived in Germany for a while, graduated there. Then I went to Canada. And now I'm here. I am tired…"
A friend of mine is relocating here. Living in Metropolis is... unhealthy for her.
He was going to kill Lex.
