Chapter 13.

A/N: here at last hope its been worth the wait. I hope to have 14 with you soon.

Chloe

Heading up the stairs she shook her head already deciding she would find someway of punishing Bruce for this. There was no way she was going to make any money from this although even if one person bid for her then at least she could contribute to the good cause that the event was for. Climbing the stairs once more she felt the eyes of everyone there alight upon her, which made her rather uncomfortable but none the less she smiled and waited to see what happened next.

She could see Ollie pulling faces at her, trying to get her to laugh but she was determined not to, although not doing so was hurting her face as she struggled to main control over her cheeks. Tucking a lock of hair behind her face she answered the questions put to her by the mc, all the while she hoped she didn't sound like a complete loser.

Finally the bidding got underway and to her surprise it was going well, there was more than one bid, admittedly it was only Bruce and Oliver that were bidding but apparently that was enough. Looking down at them she was startled to hear to hear another bid come in over the telephone, although as soon as it was in it was bested by Bruce.

The wait was soon over though as bidding came to the close, looking around she saw the satisfied smile on Bruce's face and heard the announcement that he had won. Oliver was no where to be seen and Chloe noted she felt a pang of disappointment at the fact he hadn't outbid Bruce for her.

Moving back down the stairs she rejoined Bruce and Rachel as the next item came up for auction. "Where's Ollie?" she asked Bruce, looking up into his handsome face noting the smirk. "I believe he received a phone call," he grinned, "quite unfortunate." She bumped him with her hip, "I'd better go check nothing's wrong," it could be one of the boys with news but she didn't say that to Bruce. Leaning down he kissed her cheek, "don't be long and be sure to bring him back, he does have to place himself in harms way." As he spoke he pointed upwards where she had just come from. "Saving yourself for last," she said with a laugh before giving his arm a squeeze.

"I'll bring him back," and with that Chloe made her way through the crowd. The fact he hadn't returned straight away made her think that there had been some kind of news. Heading out into the lobby area she saw his blonde hair and tall frame covered by the white suit he seemed to prefer. His phone was attached to his ear and he was talking intently. Moving next to him she placed a hand on his arm so he knew it was her that was next to him, knew it was her who could hear his conversation, even above the din of the people talking and the sound of the microphone and the so called celebrity who was running the auction.

It was definitely one of the boys although at this point she couldn't tell who, although somehow she doubted it was Bart. He wouldn't have bothered with the phone preferring to make his way here by foot. "Sorry," he said to her ruefully placing his hand over the mouthpiece. Chloe shook her head and smiled, "it's alright." Somehow she thought Oliver would make it up to her. Not that he had anything to make up for. Frankly if she was honest she would have rather it had been won by Ollie, she knew him, knew where she stood with him. She was his Watchtower and he was the boss, Green Arrow. It made sense, so why did she had these pangs of desire fluttering inside her when she looked at him?

Oliver

Oliver smiled at Chloe briefly before finishing the phone call. "AC," he said by way of explanation. "News, the team are going to do some recon," he slipped an arm round her shoulders, "lets go back inside. I'll tell you about it when we get back to the hotel." It wasn't exactly something he could tell her in the middle of the gala but he was worried and wanted to get back to his team. Leaving now was an option but it wouldn't make any difference as his team wasn't close enough for him to get to before they went to check things out. A thought occurred to him, "I'll be right back." Holding up a hand he moved away from her once more and called Clark. While Ollie might not be close enough to get there in time, Clark could.

Returning he slipped the phone in his pocket, "I sent the Boy Scout to keep an eye on them," he whispered in her ear as he placed his hand at the small of her back and guided her back inside. "I'd say he'll keep them out of trouble but I'm guessing that might not be true." He kept his hand on her back as they made their way through the crowd towards Bruce and Rachel.

His mind kept turning back to the phone call he had with AC and the subsequent one he'd had with Clark, which he'd managed to keep short and relatively sweet. Lex was really stepping up his programme and that worried him. Where there going to be more facilities than they could take out? Maybe but that wouldn't stop them from trying.

He still wasn't paying too much attention to anything other than the fact he was keeping Chloe close, even as the bidding war took place for him and he smiled, waved and generally encouraged high bids he wasn't focused on it and when it was done he was entirely clueless as to who had been the highest bidder. Hearing Chloe's reassuring voice telling him it was her made him feel slightly better although really he could just have donated the amount without having to go through the rigmaroll of it all. "Thank god," he said in answer, "I was hoping that it would be her," he pointed to the figure of the woman who had accosted him with her Mother and Father earlier.

For Ollie the rest of the night passed in a blur, he wanted to leave still even though he knew that it would be no use for him to do so but it was the other part of his identity, the part of him that wanted to right the wrongs of the world felt the need to go. Several glasses of champagne later and it was Bruce who was up for auction. Still Oliver was distracted although he did note that Rachel placed no bids for him and Chloe only placed enough to make the figure rise enough so as to make it a decent size bid.

"You think anyone would be offended if we left now?" he asked feeling like he'd done his civic duty. Letting out a sigh of relief as Chloe nodded her head he leant down to whisper in her ear, "thank god for that." Moving over to Bruce he offered him a hand in parting. "Chloe and I are going, I have some urgent matters I need to take care of."

He didn't need to be a mind reader to know Bruce didn't believe him but that didn't matter, what mattered was leaving. Bruce leant in towards him, "Frankly I don't blame you, I'd leave if only I wasn't the host." The words were quietly almost inaudible above the other noise in the room and definitely only intended for Olivers ear. "Next time, don't leave it so long."

Oliver grinned and the friends hugged, "Don't go missing for so long next time." He heard Bruce chuckle as he withdrew from the grasp and took Chloe's hand in his, "Good night Rachel," he nodded before leading Chloe from the room and the gala.