Enjoy!

Siren

Suddenly an alcohol soaked rag came out of the corner of her eye.

Biting her lip she tried to keep as quiet as possible, before yelping.

'OW! OW! OW!'

'Stop moving!'

'I can't help it! I'm sorry if my pain is getting in your way!' Chloe hissed as she drew her cheek away.

'I didn't touch it!'

'You were going to!'

Oliver looked at her exasperated, 'Chloe…I really need to look at it.'

'Tell me you know what you're doing?' she asked, closing her eyes trying to ignore the sting as he pressed the rag to her cheek.

Oliver grinned, 'I have done this before. You don't do what I do without a few bruises. But you were amazing.'

Chloe rolled her eyes as she hissed in pain again, 'yeah amazing …she dropped kicked me like a stuffed bunny rabbit. I was about as formidable as a revolving door. God, Lois would never have let her take the disk.' she trailed off, hissing again as Oliver dabbed the wound with antiseptic before putting a bandage on it.

'Hey' Oliver put his palm against her cheek, seeing her pale a little, 'Chloe you were good out there. And I shouldn't have asked you to put yourself in danger like that.'

Chloe rolled her eyes in frustration. 'Yeah, but you would think after how many years of being Clark's best friend I would have learned how to throw a punch or two? Maybe you should teach me a few things for the next time big bird decides to crimp our style' she teased.

Her grin slowly turned to a frown, as Oliver turned away from her. Getting up from the stool and putting away the med kit Oliver didn't turn back around.

'Oliver?' she hesitantly asked.

'….maybe it's not a good idea that you keep doing this.'

Chloe's eyes narrowed, 'Come again?'

Oliver sighed, turning around, running a hand through his already disheveled hair. 'Clark's going to be pissed as it is, but I'm angrier at myself. You almost got skewered by a knife tonight and then…'

'Hey, my ass was not the only one getting whooped, remember.' Chloe angrily shoved herself off the countertop, annoyed and frustrated with how this was going. 'As I recall she fried your arrow.'

Chloe rolled her eyes, 'Oh C'mon, I'm used to this, this is what I do. I mean, really she was nothing compared to being buried alive, or have a house blow up…or the numerous other things I did before I met you. If we want to talk scars, I'm pretty sure I've got you beat.' Chloe tried to lighten the mood.

Oliver just stared at her, his eyes refusing to soften. 'Forget it, you're done. Bart is way faster and victor can bypass any codes we need.'

'Yeah but you said yourself, no one knows Lex's firewalls better then me.' Chloe stiffened, she wasn't vain, but nobody questions her hacking skills. But still Oliver just stared at her.

Chloe grabbed her purse and shoved her things in it. 'We'll talk about this later' she snapped, charging for the door.

'Chloe…' Oliver called out, but the slam of the door indicated he was alone.

Turning he ran his hand through his hair, before all the rage bubbled up.

With a grunt he punched the wall with his hand, feeling relieved.

Two days later

'Lois told me everything'

Oliver looked over his shoulder to see Chloe standing in the center of his apartment, looking around, trying to avoid him. She had discarded the over sized trenchcoat in favor of a small jacket over her jeans and shirt, her eyes glinting from the green light.

Oliver sighed, trying not to curse his luck in front of her. He had been hoping to clean his apartment up, and in so doing magically think up how to explain to Chloe what had happened between Lois and him.

Oliver just looked at her, and Chloe bit her lip, trying to hold back the tears.

'Chloe…I'm-'

'Sorry?' Chloe raised an eyebrow, sarcasm tinging her words, 'so…its true…you really did ask Lois to give you a second chance.' There was still hope in her voice…and in her eyes, and she hated herself for it, she was begging the powers that be that Lois had it wrong as she made her way here. She thought she was used to this by now, the guys she liked going for other girls. But again, this was her luck she was talking about.

'it's okay. I'm kind of used to it by now, I have my ever reliable Ben and Jerry's at home as we speak.' Chloe tried to sound bright and cheery, as if she didn't have a heart literally breaking.

Oliver took a step forward, wanting to touch her, but Chloe quickly stepped away, her hand raised in front of her to ward him off, 'please don't touch me'

Oliver winced at the harshness and Chloe almost felt sorry for him. Almost.

'I wish things were different.' Oliver said quietly.

Chloe laughed bitterly at that, 'oh, Oliver, you have no idea.'

Slowly walking up to him, she stared up at him. 'I so want to ask you why? Why her? But I don't quite think I can bear the answer right now.'

She turned away, trying to gather her composure, without looking at him; she pulled the disc out of her purse and set it on his desk, 'I broke the code for you. You are free and clear to surf Lex's unfriendly skies.'

With that Chloe walked to the elevator.

'Chloe' Oliver called after her.

Chloe closed her eyes for a second before opening them, turning around to face him again.

Oliver hesitated for a moment, 'I don't know what I want, I didn't mean to-'

Chloe clasped her hands together as she took a step forward, 'please don't make me forgive you and don't tell me I'm the better person for this. I can't be that girl again, I just can't. Lois is my cousin, practically my sister, and I-I can't stand to see her unhappy, so if you make her happy…I'd give you to her with wrapping paper and a big red bowtie. So leave this as a fluke, a small blip on the relationship radar.' Chloe stopped just mere centimeters from Oliver.

Placing her palms on his cheek, she rose on her toes, pressing her lips against his.

Initially he stiffened, unsure of what was going on, but the urge to wrap his arms around her won.

But before he could, she drew away from him. 'I guess this was one of those 'what could have been'.' She whispered,

With that she turned and fought the urge to run to the elevator. But when she did, she couldn't help but look over her shoulder, biting her lip as she saw Oliver's back to her, his fists clenched at his side. He stood stiffly, the tension clearly across his shoulder.

Turning around she stepped into the elevator and slammed it closed.

As the elevator descended, she gripped her purse tightly, her lips pressed into a thin line.

Oliver stared blankly at the green wall, swallowing the lump in his throat and the gut feeling that what he did was so very wrong. Flinching when he heard the elevator slam shut.

Out on the street, Chloe looked up, biting her lip as she let the tears flow for once.

God what a fool she was, she should have learned her lesson, over and over. First Clark, then Jimmy, and now Oliver all people. And the worst of all of them was she lost Oliver to her cousin.

Feeling a buzz in her pocket, she took out her phone and looked down to see Jimmy's name.

Clark stopped just past the doorway, watching as Oliver slung back a glass of whiskey. He could hear the hiss between Oliver's teeth and almost winced himself at the burning sensation it must have felt like. Oliver stood at the bar, trying to enjoy the warm glow that came with the glass.

'Bad time?' Clark raised an eyebrow.

Oliver glared at him, before shrugging, 'isn't it always?'

Clark took a deep breath before walking closer, 'Lois told me the gist of what happened after, you okay?'

Oliver couldn't stop his teeth from grinding together. He really didn't need boyscout standing over him giving him advice when he was shacking up with his girl in blissful unawareness of the world out there. 'You seemed to already know everything else Clark, I'm surprised you can't tell she said no to me, couldn't handle a boyfriend who was the Green Arrow.'

Clark just smirked, 'but Chloe could…'

Oliver immediately shook his head, his automatic answer coming to his lips, 'there is nothing with Chloe'

Clark tilted his head, 'I know Chloe, better than anyone. And even after what you did, she still refuses to say a bad thing about you. And still insists on helping you with the League' Clark watched Oliver carefully, the silence between them tense with unspoken words.

Clark carefully chose his words, 'You knew Lois would say no, you knew that you and Lois were done, and things weren't going back. In fact I can bet you didn't feel anything when you guys said you're goodbyes this time.'

Clark stayed quiet for a moment, before continuing, 'so what begs the question is what is it about Chloe that scares you so much? Makes you turn tail and run?'

Oliver turned away, 'I didn't turn tail Clark' he muttered before pouring himself another drink.

When Oliver turned back around, he saw that smirk on Clark's face, and he badly wanted to wipe it off his face.

'I think I can handle my own love life thank you.' He sniped.

Clark raised an eyebrow, 'I thought you said there wasn't anything between Chloe and you?'

Oliver almost winced. Damn.

Clark glared at him, 'I told you not to hurt her. Leave her alone Oliver' with that he turned to enter the elevator.

Oliver stopped him; irritated 'And what about you? When will you stop hurting her?'

Clark turned and raised an eyebrow. 'And what's that supposed to mean.'

'She's bent over backwards helping you with everything while you feel no urge to leave your farm or Lana. She's the one that researches for you, broke into every government database, she's been shot at, almost blown up. She's been your coach, your babysitter, and ends up alienating everyone else because she's so busy hiding your secrets. Maybe you should also treat her better, treat her like an actual friend then your personal secretary.'

Clark stiffened, 'I don't-'

Oliver raised an eyebrow, and Clark shut up, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. His mind flashed back to just these last two weeks when every time he had a problem he ran to her.

Oliver watched with a bit of satisfaction as Clark realized just how lucky of a man he was.

'Yeah' Oliver said to him, 'maybe we both made mistakes in how we treated her.'

Clark just stared at him, before turning and walking out of his apartment.

As Oliver watched Clark leave, he shook his head.

A/N: All I have to say is I would throw a huge party if anyone on that show actually told Clark off like that. I'm sorry but Oliver had become my little voice after my frustration in watching this series.

And now for the ducking, I'M SORRY!, I know people wanted me to go more AU and have them doing the dirty deed or something in this, but I'm trying to work within the confines of the show. Its been really really difficult, but despite everything i still kind of like how this turned out.