AN: I'm not sure how much sense this chapter makes. Hope it isn't too bad. :)

Chapter 8

Chloe

She had no intention of giving up her bag easily, after everything she'd seen and experienced Chloe didn't scare easily, so she pulled back on it. "Oooo feisty, we like 'em feisty." He laughed revealing slightly discoloured teeth and breath smelling of alcohol. Coughing she pulled hard on her bag, "Seriously get some new lines and maybe some mints."

The eyes looking at her narrowed and Chloe felt the figures around her close in, maybe smart talk wasn't the way to go. There was a click and a metallic object appeared in her face, a gun. Her hands went up as she quickly let go of the bag, "Down boy." It was quickly followed by nervous laughter, this wasn't going well. Leering right into her face, "Well we were thinking more up," their laughter wasn't nervous, more predatory.

She never saw where he came from, she'd closed her eyes by that point trying to block out their faces. All she knew was that when she opened an eye to see what was going on they were lying on the other side of the alleyway out cold. Slowly she opened her other eye looking around until a dark clad figure dropped to the ground in front of her holding her bag in front of him.

"I believe you dropped something." His voice was low, husky, sexy and inspite of the scare she had just had Chloe smiled, her tongue running across her lower lip. So this was Batman, tall, dressed in black, wings, yeah it was him. "Thank you," she reached and took it, making sure to run her hands over his gloves, another guy with a leather fetish? Maybe she would mention this to Clark for the future.

"You shouldn't be in this part of town, it's not safe." Chloe shrugged like what had happened was an everyday event, "I'm a reporter we like to see the seedier side of town." Before she could say anything else his arms lifted and she was wrapped in the blackness that was his wings? Or was it a cape? "Hold on to me." Instinctively she did as she was instructed and he wrapped one arm around her, the other firing some sort of grappling iron upwards into the structure above, and just as quickly she was being pulled upwards.

On the roof he let go and Chloe stepped backwards. "This is Gotham Miss Sullivan," an eyebrow arched, he knew her name. "It's dark, over run with the filth of crime. Criminals think they run the streets but I'm here to teach them it isn't true anymore. Gotham has Batman now." He had turned away from her while he spoke and Chloe was examining his back trying to figure out his outfit but when he turned even in the dim moonlight she could see the intensity in his eyes.

"I think its time we got you back to your hotel." Before she could even protest he had grabbed hold of her and lowered them down to the ground once more. "What you're gonna hail a cab?" She caught the smirk, "No I brought my car." A growl emitted from the alley over the road and Batman moved her to its source quickly. "A car? Are you sure its not a tank?" He said nothing merely opened the door and secured her inside.

He uttered not one more word until they reached the hotel, "Don't go into the wrong part of town again, I might not be there to save you next time." They were in another alley away from prying eyes. "You aren't the only hero out there." She waited outside the hotel until the growling vehicle was out of earshot. She hadn't exactly got an interview but at least she had managed a sound bite.

Her expression was thoughtful as she passed through the lobby and made her way up to the penthouse. It was only when she was inside she noticed the lights were on.

Oliver

He had called her cell a couple more times while he pulled out his gear and began to dress. Even as the door opened he was getting ready to call Bart to get him to do a sweep of the city, he could be anywhere but Oliver knew it wouldn't take him long to get there and get it done, and for Chloe he would do it double quick.

Hearing the click as the door opened he moved to a position where he couldn't be seen not sure if it was Chloe coming back through the door. Seeing her blonde headed figure he left out a huge sigh of relief before moving forward and sweeping her into a hug, tight against his leather clad body.

His chin rested on her head and he stroked her hair as if actually touching her would make the fact she had been gone vanish. "Oliver, can't breathe." He'd been holding on to her tighter than he had thought, "Sorry." Stepping backwards he kept his hands on her shoulders shaking her, "Just what the hell do you think you were playing at? Anything could have happened to you? Why weren't you answering you're cell?"

As she looked up at him Ollie could see something wasn't quite right, "Chloe?" His voice was concerned, worry in his eyes. "I walked a little too far, bumped into a few guys, but it's ok." A hand touched her cheek, while his eyes moved up and down her body checking for any visible signs of hurt. "Chloe," his voice was softer, "you should have woken me, told me what you wanted to do. I would have taken you where ever you wanted to go."

"I know, I just don't want to rely on heroes all my life. I need to take care of myself." She wasn't looking at him, her eyeline towards his chest. There was a small silent pause while Oliver decided whether he should hug her, let her go or tie her down so she couldn't leave again.

Chloe made the choice for him stepping backwards putting her bag down on the couch before tugging off her jacket and placing it next to it. She moved away from him into the next room and he began tugging off his suit before it was carefully folded and placed away. Had he been stupid bringing her? There was no point second guessing himself now, she was here, he just needed to make her understand she needed to take more care.

By the time he entered the bedroom she had put his shirt back on and had crawled under the sheets, he moved across now dressed in his boxers and joined her. He switched off the lights, leaving only the dim lights from outside to illuminate them. "I'm sorry," she muttered. Her head was turned away from him but he could see her shaking, "You scared me." He moved closer and pulled her against him, "what happened Chloe?"

"Some guys cornered me in an alley," her voice was light trying to play it off, "Batman saved me. Sorta swooped out of the sky, or at least I think he did I wasn't really looking then. He's got a bit of thing for leather as well, is there like a manual or something with a standard clothing list?"

He could feel her body start to relax and since she made no move away from him he decided to stay where he was, maybe if he actually had hold of her she wouldn't be able to leave again. "Seriously Chloe, next time just ask me to come with you."

Oliver wasn't sure if it was the idea of losing Chloe or the idea of having to explain to Clark, Lois and the team what had happened that bothered him more. Neither of them spoke again after that and Ollie waited until Chloe was sleeping before allowing himself to drop off again.