Disclaimer: I do not own Smallville or any of these characters

AN:For my sanity Oliver is not a big fan of Lois. I don't find Lois annoying at all I love the character and the actress. This is just a Chlollie fanfic so expect Lois not to play a to big a role besides that of pest and plot tool(Forgive me I really do love that character).

Chapter 2: a spark is all it takes

"Chloe, how could you let him take it from you?" Lois exclaimed as she was busy organizing her small corner of the talon apartment she was using for a work place. If you could call a desk that size a workspace?

"I told you Lois he knocked me out and took it, you know as smart as I am," Chloe apologized for the hundredth time in the last 12 hours. It amazed her how quickly her cousin started the one man hunt for the green bean. "Genius doesn't count for much when someone gases you?"

"I still don't get it. This guy steals my boss's necklace, then gasses the both of us, all within a 24 hour period? You think he's got a thing for me." Lois said staring off into space for a second contemplating it then going back to her work.

'God I hope not, he's already got it in for me' Chloe thought to herself as she finished putting her laptop away and getting ready for work.

She had so much to do today, she would have to go and see the bane of her existence known as Oliver Queen. The guy just couldn't seem to stay off her radar. Besides stealing back his ring which she had recognized as his the moment Lois showed her the trinket. It was one of the few things she remembered fondly from their night together. He showed it to her and spoke affectionately about it belonging to his father.

"So long day planned cuz?" Lois asked bringing the young reporter out of her thoughts.

"Yeah, the editors are really working us down to the bone with these new deadlines" Chloe said as she put her bag over her shoulder heading for the door. "Can't be late so I'll see you tomorrow."

"Wait a minute tomorrow? What does that mean, let me guess you're staying with Jimmy tonight aren't you?" She had such a happy expression on her face Chloe didn't know whether to tell Lois the truth or not so she went with the other possible explanation.

"Get your mind out of the gutter Lois. I have serious deadlines and I'll be pulling one of my famous all nighters at the planet."She was about all the way out the door at this point when…

"Hey, do you need a ride home, I'm sure I can-"Lois chimed in with a note of concern in her voice.

"No, no…Clark said he would give me a ride in the morning don't worry about it." And with that Chloe was finally out the door. She would have to ask Clark later about that ride home. But right now she had work to do, important work.

"Did she suspect anything?" The older man sounded testy today and Chloe knew it was for good reason.

They had almost been seen on their last mission. Yes they had the Intel they needed and there plan went on without a hitch, but it seemed there was another team out there going after 33.1 facilities.

"Not a thing, but I still don't like lying to them." Chloe said into her phone as she put the duffel bag full of her mission clothes into the trunk of her car.

"You know better than anyone that sometimes we have to lie to those we love to protect them." After hearing those words of wisdom he hung up and she knew he wasn't being rude. He was right she knew that part, but it still didn't make her feel better.

It had been two days since Oliver had stolen his ring back from Lois, well more like given his ring back by Chloe. He knew he shouldn't have been too surprised that Chloe's cousin had gone straight to her for help in her investigation and it didn't even surprise him when Chloe just handed him the trinket and told him to flat out leave. With any other woman he would have had them in his bed by now with just a look.

But he wanted to take his time with Chloe Sullivan and earn her trust, well more than that he just wanted her respect. Oliver had never found himself wanting such a thing from a woman but he also never met a woman that matched his confidence either. The whole situation was just so frustrating. The woman he wanted didn't want anything to do with him and her cousin was hell bent on revealing his identity. Maybe his life was starting to be some cosmic joke.

At thinking about his alter ego he reminded himself of his run in with the great Clark Kent, he seemed just as Chloe described him and Oliver finally found out the reason for Chloe's amazing secret keeping abilities. There was more to Clark Kent then met the eye, that much was true. The first time he met the farm boy was after the party. The senator's son apparently was asking all the party guesses if they knew anything and had missed Oliver at the party.

Oliver could see what Chloe saw in her best friend and hero, the young man was honorable even if he was a little bit of a yellow belly. The second time he had run into Clark Kent was on what was supposed to be a quick get in get out mission. But nothing was ever that easy he could still feel the bruise on his back that the Boy Scout gave him. Oliver wasn't aware that a vase could leave such a mark.

"Ring…Ring"

"Queen here what is it?" Oliver answered his phone suddenly losing his train of thought.

"Hey boss man another job done, but there was a problem." Victor said with the hint of worry in his voice.

"What now? Tell me you got the Intel." There was a bit of frustration in his words.

"Yeah we got the Intel, but there's a chunk of it missing." None of them knew what to make of this missing information.

This was happening more and more. Every time they infiltrated a 33.1 they always found that they were a step behind, of whom none of the team could even guess. But what they did know was that whoever it was sure knew their way around a computer and had an amazing knack for not leaving a trace.

"This Green Arrow Bandit's got a lot of gadgets. He slipped right through my fingers." Clark said as he and Chloe walked down the stairs to where she worked. Chloe wished she could tell Clark that she was already familiar with the Green Arrow and more than she wanted to be. But it was not her secret and her conscience told her to keep her mouth shut.

"Gadgets against that iron flesh of yours?" Chloe replied trying to sound surprised but for some reason she wasn't. The Green Arrow was a lot to handle; she mentally kicked herself getting her head of the gutter.

"He's good." Oh if you only knew Clark so much for keeping her mind out of the gutter.

"And I'm guessing from that look on your face you weren't able to ID him?" She asked already knowing the answer, but she asked anyway.

"No, but I will next time." He stated with conviction. "I have to get that necklace back for my mother."

"You know normally my competitive streak would have kicked in by now, but since your moms involved I'm gonna let Lois have this one." Chloe hoped she sounded sincere; it was hard to tell though.

"So you've got something then?" He looked so hopeful that Chloe told him the truth a little of it anyway.

"Yes, I didn't tell Lois but I took a few shots of that ring with my cell before I was knocked out."She figured that she could show him, since he had never been to Oliver's apartment before(To her knowledge anyway.) Clark wouldn't recognize the crest.

"Well that's not going to get me anywhere." Clark lied knowing perfectly well that he had seen the crest before.

"Sorry Clark that's all I've got, besides the Safetex report on the arrows. They're made from an advanced titanium alloy." Chloe handed him the report. "But they're untraceable."

"Thanks Chloe, you've done the best you could." He said trying to reassure her.

"Ring…Ring" Her phone interrupted them, "Hey Lo any news on the…"

Chloe didn't finish because she could hear her cousin screaming from the other side of the cell, Clark could hear it as well and before Chloe could speak he was already gone. To Chloe it was obvious who did it, people that were after the Green Arrow. Again Lois had gotten herself in over her head the girl was going to get herself killed. Without another thought Chloe grabbed her coat and headed for the door. As much as she didn't want to she knew that she had to see him.

Not that he was repulsive but there was no room in her life for a man like him, he was too impulsive, arrogant and full of himself. To a point anyway, Chloe knew she wasn't being fair. Oliver Queen was really a good man and a hero in his own right. It wasn't his fault that her cousin was like a pit-bull on a pant leg and never let anything go.

This was his fault and Oliver knew it too. He should've been more careful with his little hero act. It was inevitable though that someone would get hurt because of something he did, but he didn't blame himself completely, Chloe's cousin just didn't know when to stop. She had gotten kidnapped because she was trying to unmask him.

Placing the last arrow into his quiver Oliver put his hood up shutting the doors to his secret room and headed out to find the bane of his existence known as Lois Lane. He found out about the little brunettes mishap thanks to his connections to Safetex security and do to the fact that he had Chloe's apartment on his radar of places to keep an eye on. He wasn't spying on her, he just cared for her safety and it wasn't that hard to find out where the petite blonde lived.

Clark entered the apartment and knowing this was the place he had seen the crest before, it wasn't that hard for him to find the secret room where Oliver kept all his gear and weapons. Snooping around he found more than he was looking for, news paper clippings from the Green Arrow's pass exploits.

Apparently Oliver Queen had more of an ego than Clark first thought. A loud sound followed by computer animated voice caught his attention causing him to look at the LCD screen hanging on the wall.

"There you are Lois." Clark said out loud and sped off to rescue his best friend's cousin.

"Who's the Green Arrow?" Oliver heard the thug's voice from where he was hiding waiting for his moment to strike.

"Bandit - Green Arrow Bandit. And like you don't know. That Errol Flynn wanna-be put you guys up to this." Then he heard her voice thankful that it was Chloe he met first. In truth that was the only reason he was doing this besides the fact that it was the right thing to do.

"That's enough. This Bandit... has made a joke of the firm I've worked my life to build. He's walked off with more than $30 million from my clients." That was who kidnapped her, well that made a lot of since.

Oliver hacked into Safetex security weeks ago and was using their own systems against them. It wasn't too hard to believe someone in the company had a vendetta to settle with him. He heard a few more splashes and could see that Lois was now laying on the ground unconscious.

"She doesn't know anything. Kill her." That was his cue, as the thug fired a shot Oliver's arrow stopped it mid-flight. Swinging into the fray he took two guys out on his way in. Taking out the leader with one arrow and it was done, Lois was safe.

"Clark, what are you doing here?" Lois asked as she walked up to the entrance to the talon.

The night did not go as planned a quiet night at home was turned into a fight for her life. But the worst part about the whole thing was she was close to finding out the true identity of the Green Arrow and she was thwarted by some bill board malfunction.

"Looking for you," Clark stated checking Lois over to see if she was alright. "Chloe said that you called her. Are you okay?"

"Nothing a gallon of Ben and Jerry's can't cure, but could you stay awhile?" She replied hugging the farm-boy and then realized what staying the night implied. "Chloe said she was pulling an all-nighter and I'm…Well I just got kidnapped."

"It's okay Lois, I know but why don't you come back to the farm I'm sure my mom wouldn't mind the company." Giving her a one of his comforting smiles.

The penthouse seemed more tranquil without the presence of its owner, Chloe Sullivan took the time to notice the way the place was set up. Oliver Queen sure had a thing for green, but of course she already knew that bit. The last time Chloe was here it was hard to notice anything besides the floor. She had tried everything to keep her eyes off the half naked billionaire in the room.

Oliver took the secret elevator up to his penthouse and threw back his hood the moment he walked in. The night had gone as planned and then some. He saved the girl but then the girl tried to unmask him and then there was Clark Kent who helped him keep his identity from the ungrateful damsel.

He didn't think life in Metropolis would be easier than life in Star City, but he never thought it would be this eventful on the hero side of things. He met or heard of someone new with abilities every day. How did Chloe live a normal life, that's right she didn't.

"How is anyone in this city sane?" Oliver voiced his last thought, pressing the button to open his secret room not bothering to turn around to look in just yet.

"I feel like there's a punch line to that question." Her voice startled him but he knew perfectly well that it was her. "And before you ask, I have many hidden talents; I'm a halfway decent hacker."

"And here I thought your cousin was the only one that was stalking me? You two should start a fan club… I guess my security system was no match for you." He said as he relaxed his stance leaning against the glass desk and turning around to look at her.

"Lois was never one to have a battle plan. I just wanted to thank you for saving her, but I also wanted to warn you. You should be more discreet with your extracurricular activities." Chloe's expression turned from one of empathy to one of accusation.

"You mean like Clark?" Oliver didn't stutter as the words came out of his mouth. "Yes I met the super speeding farm-boy. He's taller than I thought he was. And I'm as discreet as I need to be its not my fault your cousin has a thing for stalking my leather-ass."

"He told you his secret?" She asked knowing she shouldn't be too surprised.

"More or less… so he saved me from Lois figuring out mine. How do you live with her?" He said starting to unzip his vest. Chloe diverted her eyes she knew what was under that leather but this was hardly the time to think about such things.

"Cheap rent, good food? Besides you get use to her." Chloe answered and noticed that he was still stripping off his gear. "You're not one for modesty are you?"

"You deserve better, and you should know the answer to that by now." Oliver put on a new shirt and forwent changing his pants for the moment, and turned around to look at her again.

An awkward silence fell between the two, neither of them not knowing what to say next. Chloe had come here to ask for his help with her cousin and in doing so found that he already was on said mission. The next best thing to do was to thank him and she did, in a not so friendly thankful way. She sure had a way of making him feel guilty for his hero tendencies.

"Do you know who it was that kidnapped her?" Oliver broke the silence and diverted the conversation.

"Yeah, it was Safetex security and from what I hear you're making them look bad. Which I'm sure isn't too hard with all your skills." Chloe didn't mean the way it sounded and surprised herself at her lack of edit button.

"I thought we were keeping our minds out of the gutter, Miss Sullivan." He winked at her, but she just rolled her eyes at his comment.

"I get the Robin Hood impersonation. I really do, but you should be more careful if not for your sake than for the sake of the orphans." She said revealing the fact that she knew he wasn't stealing things for purely selfish reasons.

"Orphan's? Do you have a crystal ball or something or are you really stalking me?" Oliver was not surprised nothing about this woman surprised him anymore.

"No crystal ball just the right contacts and clues." Chloe smiled for the first time that night, he loved that smile.

"You don't give yourself enough credit; you were the first woman to get under the Green Arrow's leather." He was now only a few feet away from her and she could feel his predator like gaze wash over her.

"You had a broken rib," She rolled her eyes again, "It's not that I don't like you and there is definitely an attraction, but we barely know each other and with the lives we lead there's no time for a relationship."

"Is it your life or is it Clark's life you're living?" The look on his face was serious, and one of accusation, the tables had just turned on the young reporter.

"I don't know what you're talking about. Clark has nothing to do with this." Chloe motioned between them trying to make a point. Oliver could tell he had hit a sore spot.

"He's got everything to do with this. I remember the way your voice sounded when you talked about him that night. You told me there wasn't anyone that loved you or that you loved, but you were lying weren't you? " He knew she didn't like talking about that night, but he was trying to make a point.

"The way I feel about Clark…it isn't what it used to be," Chloe tried to sound as honest as she could without giving away the other half of what she was thinking, since that night she knew perfectly well how she felt about Clark and the fact that it wasn't that type of love.

"So what does he have that I don't. A tractor? Is it the farmers tan, super speed?" Oliver knew he should just shut up or he was going to scare her away again. "Look I'm not saying that I don't want to be more than your friend. I'm attracted to you and I won't apologize for it. But if your friend is all I can be right now than that's what I'm willing to be."

"One more time Mrs. Sullivan, make him do it." The doctor said as his latest test subject did as she was told.

It was remarkable this little ability he had discovered, who knew that Chloe's mother possessed such power. Lex Luthor mused to himself as he watched though the two way mirror at the experiment in front of him. He could do so much with this woman; make her make others do what he wanted. All he had to do was promise her a reunion that would never come.

"The subject is making great progress, Mr. Luthor." The good doctor looked at his clipboard jotting down the patients vitals.

"How long, until the subject can be activated?" He demanded to know, Lex had things to do, a world to save from these meteor freaks, and he wasn't above using some of them to do it. This woman would help him make a pre-emptive strike.

"Her condition may be worsening; she's only able to be fully coherent 3 hours a day." The older man piped up knowing he was about to get a verbal thrashing.

"That's alright doctor patience is a virtue. We have time." With that he walked out of the corridor and out of the facility. Lex's thoughts shifted to the woman that was waiting for him at home, Lana she was another that was important to his plans. However her role was more important than others.

"You did well today Mrs. Sullivan." She heard the nurse speak to her and she kept quiet. It was easy to let them think that she was catatonic.

As Moira was escorted down the corridor she could hear that man's footsteps, he was heading in the opposite direction. It was only a matter of time before she would have her revenge on him for what he was doing. The days of Lex Luthor were numbered, as far as Moira Sullivan was concerned.

Chloe her dear daughter, how dare that snake think he could bait her with a promise he never intended to keep. She would see her daughter again, this she promised herself. There was nothing that would stop her from her goal.

AN:Thanks for the reviews and thank you for reading, Constructive criticism is appreciated,